A/N: Finally, the fourth and possibly last chapter of this story! I may or may not add a fifth chapter, I'm still debating it. Sorry it took so long, but thanks if you stuck with me for this long and I sincerely hope you enjoy!

"Hey, Kakashi-sensei! You in there? Open up!" Naruto banged on the door, standing in front of Kakashi's apartment.

"Naruto, keep your voice down!" Sakura scolded. "Other people live here, you know!"

"Oops! Heheh, sorry 's just, it's not like him to miss out on training completely. I mean, sure he's late a lot but… still, he usually does eventually show up."

"I know what you mean…" Sakura pursed her lips in concern. "I hope he's alright."

The two shinobi stood there in silence for a few more minutes before trying again.

Naruto banged on the door again, "Kakashi-sensei! Wakey-wakey, get up! That's it, we're coming in!"

"Naruto, what're you-" But before Sakura could even finish her sentence, Naruto used his chakra to force the door open.

"Gahhh, what are you doing?!" Sakura cried. "You broke Kakashi-sensei's door!"

"Well, it was the only way to-"

But this time it was Sakura who cut Naruto off, with a punch.

"Oww, why do you have to hit so hard…?" Naruto complained, rubbing his head. "Anyway, the door's open now so let's go in!"

Sakura sighed, "Guess we might as well…"

But as soon as the two got through the door they ran smack straight into Guy-sensei, who was looking rather irate.

"Y- you! What do you think you're doing, causing such a ruckus?!" Guy yelled. "Can't you tell Kakashi is trying to sleep?!"

"Huh? What's bushier-brow sensei doing in Kakashi's apartment?" Naruto looked at Sakura. "And what do you mean he's trying to sleep?! It's 3 o' clock in the afternoon!"

"Shhh!" Guy shushed the two loudly.

Yamato peeked out from behind the corner, "Y- you guys… the three of you are making a ruckus now. And Guy-senpai, please try to keep your voice down, you're even louder than those two!"

"Ehhh?!" Guy cried.

Yamato winced and covered his ears.

"Kakashi-sensei, what're you doing sleeping in so late? Come on, get up! It's time to train!" Naruto pushed past Yamato and headed for Kakashi's room.

"Huh? W- wait for me!" Sakura ran after him.

"No, wait, Kakashi's sleeping!" Yamato ran after her.

"Nrgh, why does stuff like this always happen?!" Guy ran after Yamato.

Naruto threw open the door to Kakashi's room, "Kakashi-sensei! Yoo hoo! Kaka- huh?"

Naruto stopped abruptly. What? Why was his sensei lying in bed with his eyes squeezed shut? And why did he look so pale? Unless…

Naruto blinked, "K- Kakashi-sensei, are you- you're… sick?"

Kakashi sighed in irritation, opening his eyes, "Oh, Naruto, it's you. And you too, Sakura. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

Sakura scowled, "I see being sick has done nothing to curb your sense of sarcasm."

Kakashi smirked, "Nope."

Suddenly he started coughing and couldn't stop. He reached for the glass of water on his bedside table and chugged it down.

"Ugh, that's better," he muttered hoarsely.

"G- gee, you really are sick, huh? That explains why you never showed up to training today!" Naruto said, for once being serious.

Sakura chimed in as well, "Y- yeah… Naruto and I thought it was just you being lazy again but… Gosh, I'm so sorry Kakashi-sensei!"

Kakashi wanted to curl into a ball and die. This was so embarrassing!

"It's… fine," Kakashi lied.

"Can we get you anything? Naruto and I could run and pick up some groceries or something for you," Sakura said, noting the empty soup bowl on Kakashi's bedside table.

"No thanks, I'm good. Really."

Kakashi flashed them his usual closed-eye smile.

"Thanks for coming to check up on Kakashi you guys, but Yamato and I've got it covered!" Guy ushered the two towards the door.

"Yeah, don't worry about Kakashi-senpai. Feel free to take the day off or do some independent training," Yamato added.

Naruto and Sakura looked back and forth between the two of them.

"Umm, Guy-sensei," Sakura began tentatively. "How come both you and Captain Yamato need to be here to look after Kakashi-sensei?"

"Hn!" Guy made a guilty noise. "W- well, it's just…"

"We're his friends, you know?" Yamato chuckled, "Heh, Guy helped Kakashi get back to his apartment after he collapsed in the street, and I came to visit since I heard he was sick. I brought some fruit for him too."

But Naruto and Sakura were too focused on Yamato's previous statement.

"He… what?!" Naruto cried, his voice cracking. "He collapsed?!"

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura shot him a disapproving glare. "What does Captain Yamato mean, you collapsed out on the street? If you were that ill, why didn't you just stay home to begin with?"

"Uhh," Kakashi stuttered, caught red-handed. "Well, I mean, it's just… I… I had to visit some… old friends."

Sakura sighed and shook her head, "Old friends? Really? Well, whatever it was it could probably have waited till you were feeling better. I'm sure they would've understood. Besides, what would you have done if Guy-sensei hadn't come along and found you? Kakashi-sensei, you need to take better care of yourself!"

Kakashi flinched at Sakura's words. He hadn't really considered that. Would Rin and Obito understand if he didn't show up to clean their graves and speak with them if he was ill? Even so, Kakashi knew he probably would've gone anyway. There were times when he just felt an overwhelming urge to go visit Rin and Obito; to talk to them about some things. He found it kinda therapeutic.

Yamato intervened, "Ah… you're right, Sakura. But try not to be too hard on your teacher right now, okay? He's sick…"

"Honestly… sometimes you all give me headaches," Sakura put her hand on her head.

"She really is like Lady Tsunade in some ways…" Kakashi murmured, staring right at her.

"Huh?" Sakura looked up at him.

"Er! N- nothing!" Kakashi tried to play it off.

Damn, I said that aloud? I thought I was saying that in my head… How sick am I, to make such an obvious mistake?

Just then, yet another familiar voice called from the bedroom doorway, "Woah, what's with all the people?"

"K- Kurenai!" Kakashi uttered.

Asuma joined her, smirking, "We having a party in here or something? Hardly seems conducive to healing, you know."

"What are you two doing in my house?" Kakashi asked, somewhat testy.

"Well, we noticed the door had been forced open, so we came in to check it out and make sure your apartment hadn't been broken into. Plus, a little birdie told the two of us you were sick, so Kurenai and I figured we'd stop by and try to cheer you up!"

"Uh… Thanks…"

"No problem!" Asuma grinned.

Kakashi swore that, by the end of the day, the whole village would be standing in his apartment.

"Gee, starting to get kinda crowded in here," Guy complained.

Kurena giggled, "Sorry! We were just worried about our friend!"

"Seriously, guys, it's not like I have syphilis or something. It's just the common flu!"

But Kurenai and Asuma paid Kakashi no heed.

Half an hour later, the six healthy shinobi were sitting in a circle playing cards.

"Ha! Royal flush!" Naruto yelled, slamming his cards down on the ground.

"Dammit! How could I have fallen for that?" Yamato bit his lip.

"Alright Yamato-sensei, cough it up!"

Yamato sighed and drew a piece of folded up paper from his pocket.

"Here…"

Naruto snatched it away giddily, "Aw, yeah, a coupon for Ichiraku Ramen!"

"Since when did my home become a casino…?" Kakashi said under his breath, watching them.

"Alright, next round!" Guy announced.

"So then I said, that's not your wife! That's my student!" Guy chuckled.

Naruto, Sakura, Asuma, Kurenai, and Yamato all laughed.

"Hehe, I can't believe somebody mistook Neji for a woman!" Naruto clutched his stomach, he was laughing so hard.

"Yeah, and not just any woman! That man mistook Neji for his wife!" Sakura joined in.

Now the group was swapping stories about some of their latest missions. Kakashi ordinarily wouldn't mind, and may have even joined in, but right now he had a massive headache and just wanted to get some sleep. The poor jonin rolled over onto his side and covered his ears with his pillow, while the rest continued to joke and laugh loudly.

"Why me?" Kakashi whined, two rivers of tears streaming from his eyes.

Nobody heard him.

Finally, evening arrived and it was time for everybody to leave. Asuma and Kurenai bid their farewells, followed by Sakura and Naruto. Now it was just Yamato and Guy, and of course Kakashi.

"Haha, ah man, we've got to get together like this more often!" Guy chuckled.

"Mm, yeah!" Yamato echoed him.

Kakashi sighed. Finally, they were gone! While the others were playing games and having a good time, poor Kakashi had a splitting headache and was unable to get any sleep. His muscle soreness had returned, too, this time with a vengeance.

"Mmm? Kakashi, you okay?" At last Guy noticed him.

"F- Fine…" Kakashi had his eyes closed as he rubbed his temples.

"Ah, don't tell me, you've got a headache now? I guess we did get a little loud back there, sorry old friend."

"It's… fine. Just… er… don't you and Yamato need to be getting back home now?"

Guy put his hand on his chin in thought, "Well, ordinarily… yes. But…"

"What is it now?" Kakashi's patience was wearing thin.

"Hmm… if I go home, you won't try to leave again, will you?" Guy asked seriously.

"No, I'll stay put. Promise."

Guy looked Kakashi up and down, appraising him.

"Well… alright then, I guess. I'll go. But just… don't push yourself too hard, alright?" Guy made his way to the door.

"Yeah yeah, don't worry."

"Then I guess I'll be taking my leave, too," Yamato also made his way to the door.

"See ya!" Kakashi waved as the two left.

Ah, finally, peace and quiet! Kakashi appreciated that his friends cared about him but he hated being wet-nursed and, being an introvert, needed his alone time. Reaching for one of his Icha Icha books, Kakashi began reading.