"Kakashi," Naruto noticed that the young Kakashi is sitting in a shade under the tree alone. Young Kakashi looked disinterested watching Obito making a fool of himself while Sasuke endlessly barked at the young Uchiha about everything Obito is doing.

Indeed, it has been a week, and Obito has not made any significant improvement. It is either that Obito is just a horrible student at learning or Sasuke is just a terrible teacher. Which is probably the case. Sasuke had always thrived to better himself to get close to avenging his clan, he did this all on his own without rest - he never ever had that moment to stop, meet someone he values to share his techniques.

Meanwhile, Naruto had Konohamaru at least and whether he had been a great teacher to Konohamaru or not, the young boy had learned harem no jutsu perfectly over the course of time. That has got to count for something.

But Sasuke is not really doing well with training Obito. It does not matter whether this is a feint training mission or not, a week should yield results already.

Thank kami that the other training ground is the complete opposite of the two Uchihas. Sakura and Rin are making huge progress with their training, so much that Rin had learned to control his chakra tremendously that Minato had to raise a shield around them. Otherwise, the two kunoichis will just destroy the landscape continuously.

"This training probably bores you out, huh?" Rather, you probably are just distracted. Naruto wanted to add.

Unlike Rin and Obito, this young Kakashi is far more calculative - he probably already figured out why among all the four of them who traveled from the past, only his older self had made an appearance. Naruto is sure that this young Kakashi is already thinking about how to gain further information, unsatisfied with what was provided to him.

The young Kakashi did not respond.

Naruto sighs, "Kakashi, have you seen Sasuke's Chidori yet?"

This seemed to pique the young Hatake's attention that he looked at Naruto, and Naruto had to fight the urge to pinch the young man's cheeks because damn it, the little Kakashi is just so adorable for words. "Hm." Kakashi responded.

"Does it remind you of your raikiri?"

The little Kakashi's brow perked. Has he shown them his raikiri? Minato-sensei had forbidden him to use it so casually.

"Maa lil' Kakashi, would you believe if I tell you that it was you who taught Sasuke his chidori?"

There is this apparent shock in Kakashi's eyes that lasted a few seconds before the young man looked away, "H-how could I…" Kakashi mumbled belatedly.

Naruto grinned, "Because you are our Kakashi-sensei and we are your Team Seven."

The young Kakashi gasped, his smaller frame trembled as if a shiver just ran down his spine. He might not want to admit it, but the intensity of those words had reached his current self despite knowing that what the blond had said might not happen until much, much later in the future - his future.

Kakashi's eyes stared at the pink-haired kunoichi, who is in the midst of hand-to-hand combat with Rin, with that brute force and immense chakra control, had made the young Kakashi wonder just what kind of a genin she used to be. Likewise, with this Sasuke, someone who has a really rare pair of eyes, with eye prowess transcending that of the regular pattered Sharingan.

Even this Minato-sensei's son, Naruto, who is dubbed the Hero of Konoha, the strongest of all Shinobi, even stronger than their predecessor, Senju Hashirama, the Kyuubi's jinchuuriki - the list can go on, just how can he start to imagine that these three have or in his current self, will become his genin team.

"We are what we are now, thanks to Kakashi-sensei," Naruto smiled at the young Kakashi, his eyes fixed at those set of black orbs of which will soon become Sharingan in its time. "You did well guiding us, sensei."

The young Kakashi's face heated up, and could not counter the blush creeping on his cheeks. He is not quite sure if the words of the blonde had affected him or just the mere sight of that pretty smile directed at him. It was indeed beautiful.

"Kakashi, I was thinking,"

Kakashi did not reply, he was busy desperately calming the redness coloring his face. He did not even try looking at Naruto's face.

"Aren't you curious what your older self is doing now?"

Kakashi stopped fidgeting before scoffing. To say that he was not curious is pretentious, but to care much about it either is also presumptuous. What is so interesting about being Hokage anyway? He is pretty sure it was all about dealing with paperwork about everything tedious.

"Ehh? So, you're not curious?" Naruto pouted.

Kakashi scoffed, "What is it to me?"

"Hn, here I was thinking I will bring you to Hokage tower to pay him a visit."

Kakashi looked up, a hint of interest flashed in his eyes again before he fought against it, "Did you not hear Minato-sensei and," He trailed off, "...that Hokage that we are not to leave this ground." He reminded.

Naruto nodded, "Yes, that's why we are sneaking out."

Kakashi's eyes widened. "Are you stupid?" Suggesting such a shameless way. Does he intend to break the rules? People who break the rules are disgraceful.

Naruto laughed, knowing full well what was playing in his little Kakashi's mind. Is it that time? He clearly remembers that Kakashi sensei's former self despises those who break the rules. So, it is indeed true.

"I am not playing according to your plans."

Naruto laughed even more, "You don't have to," He snatched young Kakashi's hand before he formed his hand seals, and off they disappeared in Naruto's chakra smoke even before the young Hatake could say a word.

Naruto and the young Kakashi appeared in the Hokage tower with the latter visibly frightened by the abrupt use of a transportation jutsu that reminded him of Minato-sensei's flying raijin jutsu. When Kakashi's feet landed on the hard wooden floors, he pulled away from Naruto's grip with a hiss, "...stupid!"

But Naruto only found this refreshing to look at. Was teasing the rigid kid Kakashi was always this amusing?

"Naaa...ru...to,"

Naruto instantly stopped his musing when he heard Iruka's voice seething behind him, he momentarily forgot where they were and the older Kakashi might not entirely be alone, knowing how the recent event would render the whole Konoha and Shinobi Alliance busy understanding it. "Iruka-sensei,"

Whereas, Shikamaru only shook his head at finding Naruto with young Kakashi in tow. This is just something so expected for Naruto to do. "Maa, Iruka-sensei, I'm heading to the Intelligence Division. Do you still have anything to discuss with Hokage-sama?"

Iruka looked away from Naruto, understanding the hint in Shikamaru's face. With much resistance, he gathered all the documents from the Hokage's desk, and answered, "No, I got what I needed. I have to meet Genma-san."

"Ah," Shikamaru instantly got what the sensei is intending to do, "Looks like the return of goei shotai, huh?"

"Hm, since Yondaime is back, it is time to gather his Hokage Guard Platoon," Such nostalgia will it be for the three elite bodyguards to realize that the previous Hokage they have served and taught them the Flying Thunder Formation Technique had traveled from the past. If anyone is capable of protecting the Yondaime, it will be those three, Raido Namiashi, Genma Shiranui, and Iwashi Tatami.

Shikamaru nodded, "That is for the better. It will free up a lot of Anbus and we can direct them to strengthen Konohagakure's barrier. If Ino will have progress with her research, we can start sending them out to gather more information to that location Yondaime mentioned."

Iruka nodded to this as he responded to Shikamaru, while their discussion began to pale as they approach the door out of the Hokage's office as if they are completely immersed to themselves, even forgetting to excuse themselves to the Rokudaime, who just quietly sitting on his seat.

"K-kakashi-"

"What is the meaning of this, Naruto." It was not even a question. Kakashi's eyes bore pointedly at Naruto with his chin prompt against his knuckles on top of the table. That scary sensei look that always successfully got Naruto sprinting for his life back during his genin days.

Naruto gulped, "You see, Kakashi, 'lil you here," He pointed little Kakashi, who had his arms against his chest visibly watching every rise and fall of his older self's breathing, "Has been curious where you are."

"You…!" The little Kakashi gasped, eyes now fixed at Naruto with a glare.

"That's unlikely," The Rokudaime saw through Naruto's obvious lie as he stood up, "The former me does not give a single care what the Hokage does, all he cares is carrying missions without a glitch."

The little Kakashi's brow raises, intimidated at how well his older self knows him -no, that's ridiculous even to think that his own self would not know him this well. He thinks of himself to be a lot more intelligent when he grows up. This is just one of his deductive flares, nothing to be surprised about.

"True," Naruto responded, "But sensei is forgetting the fact that the Hokage this time is his future self. No matter who the person is, will this be, even a little bit, make them curious? You know I would be."

Kakashi stopped on his track, eyes pulled away from Naruto and towards his younger self, who by now had deduced himself into looking at the floor. Perhaps, Naruto is right? His former self is curious - no, intrigued with his current self now?

"I am not," The young Kakashi belatedly said.

Both Kakashi and Naruto chuckled, which only made the young Hatake annoyed. They can see with the way his shoulders raised tensely, and the pout hidden underneath his mask. Realizing that the two future figures are making fun of him, he huffed and turned around, his eyes finally taking in the structure of the Hokage office.

And admittedly, wherever he looks, everything fascinated him. He could not stop himself from grabbing a scroll from one of the shelves - and soon enough, he forgot about Naruto and his Hokage self.

The older Kakashi cleared his throat, inching closer to Naruto, whispering, "Don't think I did not know what you tried to do there."

Naruto perked up, "W-what do you mean, sensei?"

Kakashi didn't reply to that, instead, he pulled Naruto gently, caressed his nape, and planted a haste peck on the man's forehead, "Sorry, I haven't visited you for a week now."

Naruto's cheeks burnt up, his chest bursting with both joy and anxiety knowing full well that the young Kakashi is just at the other side of the room. "What are you doing," He looked at the young Kakashi but thankfully, the young boy was still immersed in reading a scroll he had picked up.

Kakashi chuckled, "Don't worry, once his attention is fixed on something, he does not budge."

"S-still…!" Naruto argued, but relented as he replied, "I did want to see you, so…." So, I took the chance of bringing little Kakashi here -I haven't seen you in a while. He thought. "But you're busy, so don't mind us. We will just hang around here and not disturb you. We will be quiet, go back to your Hokage task."

Naruto walked towards the young Kakashi, sat beside him, and silently took a book to read. His lover, though, wondered how long the young jinchuuriki could keep up with this before he falls asleep.

The answer is, barely an hour.

Kakashi returned to his table right away to continue with the paperwork, and soon enough, Kakashi noticed that Naruto had fallen asleep in the middle of reading a scroll about the Legends of the original Three-way DeadLock. Whereas, the young Kakashi is already stacking a pile of scrolls he had read in that small amount of time, unbothered by the low snoring of the blond beside him.

Another hour had passed, Kakashi realized that Naruto will not wake up anytime soon and the hard floor will be too cold and cruel to his back lying there for that long. He stood up and walked over to him, and without a word, he picked the blond up and rested him carefully on the couch.

Now that he is staring at his lover's face closely, he can see that strain and dark circles around his eyes. It is obvious that Naruto may have not been catching on his sleep the past few days. Now, that made Kakashi apologetic. How did he assume that Naruto will be just fine conquering his nightmares especially now with the horror of his father appearing from the past? Will Kakashi continue to fail him like this?

Kakashi's chest felt heavy admitting to this as he rested Naruto's head on his lap. The recent appearance of Minato-sensei and his Team Seven had added strain on his workloads, he too had nights spent in this office without rest - he wanted to get to the bottom of this supernatural event quickly -so Naruto and the present will not suffer any irrepressible damage. No matter how one looks at it, a miracle like this does not warrant risk-free circumstances. They have to figure this one out quickly.

It also does not help that the Alliance is pressuring for information. They suffered equal amounts, if not more, losses from Minato's team before finally making their appearance last week. No one can blame them if they want answers or even compensation.

But it is easier said than done. The people involved this time had been quite influential during the fourth Shinobi war -handling this matter prematurely would yield disagreements between the Alliance.

How do they begin to explain that Minato and his team have crossed time and assure them that they bring no harm? Having Minato-sensei and himself in the present is one thing, but Obito who instigated the war will not guarantee a smooth-sailing discussion. He will be instantly branded a threat.

Not only the Alliance he is worried about, but the emotional and psychological impact of what happened in the past towards the younger version of the team. Like his former younger self for example. He could not imagine the pain of having him find out the truth about what went down even before he would become famous as Kakashi of the Sharingan.

Kakashi looked away from Naruto's slumbering face to look at the young Kakashi. Surprisingly, the young Kakashi is looking back at him pointedly, seemingly judging his actions towards the blond who is sleeping with his head on top of his lap. Ah, I was careless. Kakashi thought.

But this sight probably embarrassed even his younger self that the boy only looked away, back to reading a scroll, but from where the old Kakashi is sitting, he can see the red coloring the boy's ears.

Was I discovered? Kakashi wondered, but he would not let it get past his younger self. They're one and the same person, after all. If someone else can decipher him better, it would be himself. Maa, there is no point of pondering over it.

Kakashi formed a hand seal, creating a Kage bushin in front of him. That shadow clone immediately reached for the documents from the Hokage desk and handed it to his original. Kakashi resumed his task with Naruto sleeping with his head on his lap. Occasionally, he would pet the blond hair whenever Naruto rumbled in his sleep.

Other than that, he can also feel his younger self sometimes watching them secretly. You must be so curious and confused right now, huh, young Kakashi? Kakashi mused, knowing that towards his former self, this action towards another person, is difficult to comprehend. His former self has not even ever considered a mutual bond this gentle and loving can happen between himself and another. You will go through this process of understanding and falling in love in your own time, Kakashi. You just wait. It will be both the scariest and the most wonderful feeling.

It was late in the afternoon and Naruto still sleeps through peacefully without a care in the world. He must be really catching up on his sleep. But having the blond sleep more than this will only make it difficult for him to get proper sleep later in the night. "Naruto," Kakashi softly patted the jinchuuriki's shoulder, "Wake up," He whispered but Naruto only growled back in response.

Kakashi sighs.

"You're too soft on him," It was the young Kakashi walking up to them, commenting at his older self's discomfiting display of weakness. Well, he refused to call it affection.

Kakashi doesn't know whether to chuckle or sulk, having been reprimanded by his former self like this. "Someday, you will come to eat those words."

"Pft," The little brat Kakashi scoffed, "Is being the Hokage the only cool thing you have become?"

"You…!" Kakashi wanted to reach for his younger self and smack him in the head for sounding like, well, exactly how his former self would sound. Relenting, he commented on what the other said instead, "At least you think being a Hokage is cool."

The little Kakashi gasped, and did not expect such a comeback. But who is he kidding? He is dealing with his future self, after all. "By any means, having you taken a hokage role will shut Obito up for a while."

Kakashi chuckled under his breath, "You're being so hard on Obito. You know how much he wanted to be a Hokage."

"Well, he clearly messed up so bad he did not qualify to be one. Figures, he was a dumb-"

"Kakashi," The older Kakashi interrupted his former self's ignorant ranting. He can't blame the younger him, he just does not know what he is talking about, yet, having to hear it spoken in front of him felt like a brick falling onto Kakashi's head. How naive he truly was back then.

"What?" Little Kakashi snarled, "Everyone knows he will never become a Hokage. It was such a hare-brained dream."

"Kakashi," The Rokudaime sighed, "Obito redeemed himself befitting that of a Hokage. Mind your words."

The young Kakashi's mouth pursed, his eyes bellowing, in a conflicted manner. If the older Kakashi will analyze this look, it would be between being embarrassed and sad upon realizing that Kakashi just indirectly confirmed to him that in this timeline, Obito is no longer around.

The young Kakashi froze still from where he stood and the older Kakashi did not know how to make it any easier for the former to take in this information. Figures, his former self baited him into releasing another yet classified information of the current era.

"K-kakashi," Naruto stirred in his sleep, sensing the uneven breathing and hard thumping of his lover's heart. He opened his eyes gently, pulling himself up and worriedly studied Kakashi's face, "Hey, what's wrong?"

Yet, Kakashi did not respond to this so Naturo is left trying to make sense of what occurred between his lover and his lover's former self, who is silently watching the floor with fists curled on his side. The young Kakashi definitely looked upset. What happened between these two?

Getting out of the couch, he gingerly approached the young Kakashi, "Kakashi-kun," He called out but he almost bit back when the young man looked back at him with eyes full of gloom and terror as if he was resisting to cry. His eyes are full of contradicting emotions. But no matter what they are, Naruto does not need to know about it to understand because a young soul like this does not deserve to have that look filled with sorrow.

Naruto pulled the young Kakashi's lithe form on his arms and softly soothes the trouble. And it looked like it was what the young Kakashi needed as the boy returned the gesture and finally allowed his tears to show. "That's right, you've been through a lot. It is okay." Naruto whispered, knowing just how much this young Kakashi probably tried to suppress his tears and emotions since the day they have arrived in this present era. That this young boy had tried to push all the worries just so he does not put more pressure on his Minato-sensei and the team.

And on top of that, also seeing the disturbed look on the Rokudaime's face, something else transpired between them while he was asleep. According to the young Kakashi's trembling form, he had learned of something far devastating. Did he finally find out about what happened to the past Team Seven?

If so, this reaction is expected. Naruto tightened his arms around the younger Kakashi, hoping that this simple gesture will do in comforting the child. It must have been scary to find out how the future went for someone so young.

The young Kakashi finally calmed a long while later, enough for him to push away from the blond with an unappreciative look on his face. He looked embarrassed but somehow less troubled.

"Hey, lil' Kakashi," Naruto smiled, "Are you hungry? It is almost dinner time. Do you want to eat Ichiraku ramen?"

The young Kakashi, in the midst of drying his tears and sniffling, looked up, "That place still exists?"

Naruto laughs, "Yup, it does. If there is one place I will protect with my life in Konohagakure, it will be Ichiraku Ramen."

Kakashi blinked his swollen eyes, unable to fathom how mentally carefree this blond is, but it did tug a smile on his mouth. He has such a refreshing personality, something so contrasting to him. Is this why his older self found solace with this blond, no matter what kind of bond they have? This blond is so much like Obito, but less annoying. Maybe because of how he looks? This Naruto looks easy on the eye. He is indeed Minato-sensei's son.

"Naruto," The older Kakashi sighs, standing up from the couch, "Don't just decide to do something ridiculous. Going to Ichiraku Ramen is breaching the protocols."

Naruto pouted, "What, after making lil' Kakashi cry, he deserved a treat. Don't you think so?"

"But-"

"Come on, please?" Naruto pulled out his puppy eyes that utterly made the Rokudaime inwardly growl. His young lover definitely had mastered his lover no jutsu, if it is a jutsu and has a name. And Kakashi does not yet know how to counter them - or whether he is willing to find out.

Kakashi sighs, having thought it over deeply, he finally gave in, "But he needs to dress up, lose his mask or something. He cannot be walking in public looking like my younger self."

"Great!"

"I did not agree to this." The young Kakashi interrupted the older two.

"Luckily for me, I know exactly how to disguise myself." Kakashi chirped.

Naruto raised a brow. The young Kakashi gulped warily. Just what does the Rokudaime plan to do?

In Kakashi's apartment, Kakashi rummaged over his dresser looking for clothes and items to use while the young Kakashi wanted to run, while Naruto comfortably sitting excitedly.

A while later, Kakashi pulled his former self and dressed him up, with much resistance from the latter, in the bathroom. When the two came out, Naruto's eyes widened.

In front of Naruto stood a young man with dark brown's wig over his head, his eyes drawn in with vertical lines of purple paint showing a supple youthful pale face, and that unmistakable mole at the side of the lower mouth.

It reminded Naruto of that time in the past where he and his team seven tried to unmask Kakashi to find out how he really looked like, and this random media shinobi showed up to help them. Now, that he remembered about that person and after finally seeing his lover's face underneath the mask, comes a realization.

That media shinobi, Sukea, was Kakashi all along.

Naruto's face paled, his shoulders dropped as he went to the corner, lamenting to himself how he fell for his sensei's trick time and time again. How embarrassing.

"What's wrong with him?" The young Kakashi pointed at Naruto, confused about the blond's reaction.

Kakashi, after pondering, realized soon what made Naruto look dejected like that. "Ah, did I forget to tell him that Sukea was me all along?"

"Stupid Kakashi, stupid...stupid." Naruto continued mumbling from the corner.

"I don't know who you are talking about," The young Kakashi responded to his older self as he sighs, staring at the blond, "But I think you broke him."

Kakashi chuckled, "I guess," He smiled, calling out, "Right, Naruto, if you don't get over here, we will leave you. I know Ichiraku Ramen is your favorite."

"Ah, don't leave without me!"

The Rokudaime chuckled.

"He's such a simpleton." Whereas, the young Kakashi, disguised as Sukea, a much younger version too, headed to the door. He cannot deal with his older self and the blond's complicated relationship. He better leave it to the future.

Besides, it has been such a long time since he had Ichiraku Ramen. Now, he's already starving just by the thought of it.