Kakashi Hatake, sensei of Team 7 and renown jonin trained by the fourth hokage himself. He had been through war, the death of his sensei, team and his father; the man seemed invincible and cold hearted through and through; except he had a soft spot of his team; especially the blonde haired knuckleheaded ninja (self-proclaimed) Naruto Uzumaki. That was why on October 10th, the day he knew the boy would be back from a mission, Kakashi was currently aiming to invite the young ninja out for his birthday. Kakashi figured something like ramen noodles at Ichiraku's would suffice as long as it was four or five bowls worth. The white haired ninja could already sense his wallet suffering, though for Naruto he didn't mind.

In truth Kakashi was worried about Naruto, know this day could be a bit of a rough time considering before he was a genin he was chased down and beaten by mobs of citizens and other ninja from the village. Kakashi found it to be absolutely detestable, having come to the child's aid several times over the years. Though he had long since retired as ANBU, when the boy became a student enrolled in the academy. He felt that learning through the academy teachers would better enable him to fight back or at least defend himself. Though he hadn't known about the sabotaging of his practices via the teachers (excluding Iruka) own hatred for the boy until he had already gotten them as a team.

Naruto was his project student, knowing he could push him to his limits and the boy would only get back up from anything that knocked him down with a retaliation ten times stronger. That was an admirable feature that was very rare in genin (in any ninja really). Though at times the boy could be annoying with his blabbering on, Kakashi could see between the lines, reading the boy like a book. He was a ball of pain and sadness that just wanted recognition by his peers for his actions, whether positive or negative. Iruka was similar too from what Kakashi remembered in passing. Though that was probably why Iruka went out of his way to help the boy despite any penalties the council gave him for doing so. It had actually been the reason why Iruka was permanently assigned to the academy, forever to be a teacher. Though the council was blind in seeing that Iruka enjoyed it, whether he was paid well or not.

Sasuke Uchiha, the heiress and prodigy of the all but extinct Uchiha clan; Itachi Uchiha being the only other living Uchiha (known at the time). She was a surprise for him, mainly because when she came on to his roster, she talked about killing her brother (she specifically said kill a certain someone but Kakashi knew) and how she wished to revive her clan. Sasuke was a moody, cold hearted bitch who would have likely ended up being part of the Ice Queens of Konoha, also known as Anko and Kurenai. Of course through their time as a team, and Naruto always being his hardworking and shiteating grinning self, he noticed how she went from belittling him and Sakura to admiring the perseverance of Naruto. Then when Lord Third had died, he watched as she kept close to him, even embracing him when he broke down at the funeral. He had expected something like that to happen but not so suddenly. Two of his three proteges had met each other, hated each other but ended up with one another. They surprised him and he was proud of them because he knew they would keep each other pushing further and further toward bettering themselves; he also figured Sakura would notice she was being left behind to a degree and would train harder.

Speaking of Sakura, he held out little hope for in the beginning as she was nothing but a kunoichi who cared about her looks instead of her training. There was nothing wrong with keeping herself looking well groomed as there was a special unit of ANBU for that, some just calling it the Seduction Corps. However they had a lot more training mentally and physically than Sakura had any chance of getting to in the beginning. He may have dropped hints here or there for her to pursue a more supportive roll due to her smaller but easily controlled chakra reserves, as he didn't want her or Sasuke to end up in the special ANBU unit. He had seen what it did to those that went in and it was not exactly the prettiest; it was downright cruel to see what became of the kunoichi involved with it. Most did not live past their thirties, and usually had a child or two resulting in them retiring or being forced to stay in the missions for much longer than planned. He had assassinated a couple of them who had gotten stuck and ended up living the lives of a wife to a criminal boss. They were once his comrades and fellow ninja but he had orders and everyone knew the risks of the occupation, whether they liked it or not. But regarding Sakura, she would not be able to handle it, he knew that so when she decided to pursue medicine, that was a proud moment. He also figured she had matured some as she could tell that Sasuke was not interested in other females and instead interested in orange wearing ninjas rather.

Kakashi figured it was enough time relishing in on his students progress for now, since he was trying to read before he started thinking about them but he had not turned a single page of the smutty novel. He had already read it several times so it was no issue that he was unable to progress in it further. Rising from his chair and setting his book down to stretch, Kakashi heard the pops and cracks of his bones while he twisted and turned. It was not that bad though, seeing as how his age and the level of injuries he had received over the years hardly affected him physically.

"I should check in and see if Naruto has returned from his mission yet. I am surprised they let him off on a solo mission, even if it was just the be a diplomatic visit to wave."

The man went and showered briefly, just to wash off the morning sweat of his exercising before he sat down to read and eat. Fresh clothes were donned by the jonin, and his mask was placed on him along with the headband covering his sharingan and he was out the door. First he stopped by the front gate, but apparently the night guards hadn't seen him. They had but just weren't telling him that as they were why Naruto was able to be chased down. It was disgusting and irrefutably ignorant and irresponsible but what others didn't know wouldn't likely come back to bite them in the hindquarters; or so they assumed. They had been under investigation along some other people in the village, so they would be expecting a visit from Ibuki.

"He probably just slipped past them, he is good at that."

Naruto was actually pretty decent at entering the gate without people noticing. How they didn't notice a short blond ninja in orange was beyond him but this was Naruto he was thinking about, who could do anything he set his mind to. That's why he would likely achieve his dream of becoming Hokage as long as he always stuck by his own beliefs. Deciding to check in at the mission desk at the Hokage tower, Kakashi set off for the several minute walk, least the weather was finally becoming something admirable again. He wasn't fond of snow, so spring time's cool but crisp air was welcome. After arriving to the tower, he entered the front doors and made his way to the mission room, wondering further if Naruto would even have remembered to check in last night since it was likely just Shizune working or Tsunade in her office passed out drunk.

Seeing Shizune, Iruka and Tsunade, he gave a half cocked wave as they all looked toward him. He further was shown as to why he was there as he spoke with them.

"Has Naruto checked in? I was trying to take him out for his birthday."

Shizune shook her head, her short hair bobbing as she did as well as an oink from Tonton further buffering what he had assumed on his walk upstair. Of course he had until this evening to return before the contract would either be held under review or if he hadn't arrived to the village then a search party would be sent as well as a team to check in with his mission target.

"I haven't seen him an I was here all night."

Kakashi nodded and turned to leave but was stopped by Iruka, who's chair was pushed back as he walked around the desk and came to Kakashi. He was obviously a bit worried now as Naruto was never one to not let somebody know where he was going to be on his birthday.

"Kakashi?"

The white haired jonin raised his lone revealed eyebrow to the academy teacher, questioning what the man wanted. It was Naruto related obviously but in regards to what he didn't know.

"Check his apartment of even Uchiha-chan's apartment. He was expected back late last night so he could have gone either, since you told me they had a fight a few days ago."

Kakashi did remember that, and figured it was likely Naruto went to Sasuke's apartment to apologize for upsetting her, even if he didn't do anything wrong. It was one of his character flaws was he was quick to feel he was to blame even if it was someone else's fault.

"Yeah, I'll check her apartment first. She was likely sore from yesterday's training and he likely went to see her. I'll update you on any changes once I see him. Or just bring him here least he forgets to collect on the mission he asked for."

Off Kakashi went, waving goodbye to the three others and Tonton. It was more to dispel the worry he saw on Iruka and Tsunade's face. He knew Shizune saw him as a younger brother but had faith in him. Tsunade and Iruka both did too but they had more parental views on it. Iruka having helped Naruto as much as he possibly could since he met Naruto and Tsunade always worried about the boy because she felt she was cursed to always lose her loved ones.