So far Germany has been pretty great, although the weather looks to be getting cooler over the next few days. As for Houston...I hope anyone who got hit by Hurricane Harvey has been staying as safe as possible.

I've been informed about some inconsistencies in my timeline compared to Naruto's, to which I really only have to say that Naruto's timeline is rather confusing to look at? So I pieced something together for my own personal use, which is based on the manga and not the anime. Some liberties have been taken in order to have things make more sense, but my timeline is for the most part coherent. Some things remain kind of fudged but I hope it's more accurate than what canon gives us.

In any case, I had most of the next chapter written while flying, so there was really only a little more to tack on before I could finish it up. And since the last chapter ended so brutally... I did say it gets better, right?

Thank you so much for all the lovely feedback! :D I haven't had the time to respond to most of it yet but I love and appreciate all of it! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 8

Kakashi knew something was wrong the moment he arrived at Naruto's apartment that night because Naruto wasn't home.

There was a note hidden where only Kakashi could find it, written in a code that Kakashi hadn't seen before but was able to crack after several minutes. It helped that it was a list of references to things he and Naruto had done and no one else knew about.

Naruto wasn't here because he was already at their training ground.

Pocketing the note, Kakashi set off, once again avoiding Naruto's ignorant ANBU guards. There was a brief close call with an unexpectedly sneaky cat that almost sent him teetering over the edge of a roof, but he quickly recovered and vanished into a shunshin.

When he found Naruto, the other was pummeling a training post, taijutsu form far sloppier than Kakashi had seen in years.

"Hey"—Naruto grunted as his knuckles hit the wooden post with a painful sounding thump—"sensei. Hope your"—his other hand hit the post—"mission went well." He whirled, roundhouse kicking the post in a form that Minato would have been ashamed to see. "Because everything here"—there was another grunt as he punched the post twice in rapid succession—"went awesome."

Kakashi hesitated, unsure of what had brought on this black mood. No one had died had they? "Naruto—"

Naruto's sharp head shake cut him off, and Kakashi let the words die in his throat. Not that he had any idea what he would have said anyway. Words were useless without knowing what the problem was.

Naruto's form evened out over the next few minutes, improving from the sloppy, horrible taijutsu that Kakashi had walked in on. It still wasn't as fast and smooth as what Kakashi was used to, but then Naruto was physically five and clearly not in his right frame of mind.

"I had dinner with Sasuke's family a few days ago," Naruto said eventually, long minutes later. He was still hitting the post, occasionally throwing in a few kicks. His hands were bloody – the sharp metallic scent stinging Kakashi's nose – but he didn't seem to care. "Just great, right?"

Naruto lapsed back into silence, the only sound that of his fists punching the wood. Then, "Fugaku doesn't want me seeing him again. He didn't tell me that, but I overheard it. And I haven't seen Sasuke since." He continued punching as he spoke. "So I talked to Sakura today. It worked out fine. At first."

Kakashi didn't say anything, waiting for Naruto to get it all out. He didn't react to the sounds of Naruto's abused knuckles hitting solid wood, even though Naruto's hands weren't at all accustomed to the abuse he was putting them through.

Physical injuries could be healed. What was happening now was more important.

"But then she wanted to introduce me to her parents." Naruto's bark of laughter was harsh. "Great idea, yeah? Introduce the demon brat to the civilian parents who can't tell the jinchuuriki apart from the bijuu. Not that she knew that. She just wanted to introduce"—his knuckles hit the post—"her new"—he kicked it—"friend." His voice broke on the last word.

Shit. Maybe no one had died, but it was still pretty terrible.

"Naruto—" Kakashi started hesitantly, not sure at all what to say because shit, he was so unqualified to handle this even years and an entire war later.

"I don't know what to do!" Naruto cried, his form slipping again as he punched the post. "I thought I could handle it! I did it before, didn't I? But it still hurts, and I don't know why because it's not like I didn't go through it last time!"

"Naruto—"

"I can't handle being alone again! I can't!"

Before he could think the better of it, Kakashi lunged forwards, wrapping both arms around Naruto and pulling him away from the post before he could punch it again and risk breaking something even more. "Naruto, calm down."

Naruto didn't struggle, going limp in Kakashi's grip. "I fuck everything up."

If it had been any other situation, Kakashi would have joked, said that was his line, but that wasn't the right way to approach this. He didn't know what was, but he didn't want to mess things up anymore than they already were.

"You know that's not true," Kakashi said instead, relaxing his grip once he was sure Naruto wasn't going to pull away and start hurting himself again.

"Isn't it?" Naruto was staring blankly ahead, hands hanging limply at his sides, blood trickling down his fingers. His feet weren't as battered, but then his sandals hid most of the damage.

"You mess up," Kakashi said slowly, carefully lowering both of them until he was sitting on the grass, holding Naruto in a facsimile of a hug. "That's normal. What matters is what you do afterwards."

Naruto's head bowed, but he didn't otherwise respond.

Kakashi sighed, eyes closing. "Living with our failures is something we all have to deal with. Some days it's easier, some days it isn't. But, Naruto, what happened today isn't on you. It's on the village. It's on Sarutobi."

"It shouldn't hurt so badly…" Naruto murmured thickly.

Kakashi had Naruto turn around, gripping hold of his shoulders as he met his eyes. "I would be worried if it didn't," he said quietly, "because that's who you are, Naruto. And it's something I don't want to see you lose."

Naruto broke their gaze, eyes dropping to the ground between them. "'Cause it's fun?" he asked dully.

"Don't be ridiculous," Kakashi said sharply, tightening his grip briefly in recrimination. "You know exactly why."

"If it feels like this all the time," Naruto blurted out, eyes watering, "then I don't want it." Tears streamed down his cheeks. "I don't, Kakashi. Because it hurts, and there's nothing I can do about it. And you're not here – I can't go and see you without fucking things up – and I can't make any friends now because they just leave—"

Kakashi pushed upwards and pulled Naruto into his chest in one seamless movement, one hand at the back of Naruto's head and the other wrapped around Naruto's small waist. Hugging wasn't something he was accustomed to, but he could push his discomfort aside for Naruto.

"I'm here, aren't I?" Kakashi said, relieved that Naruto had stopped speaking, clearly shocked into silence. "I'm not leaving. It doesn't matter what you do; I'll still be here. Not just because we came back together, but because I want to be. What happened today – it's temporary. It won't last forever. You know that."

Naruto didn't answer with words, but then he didn't need to. With a muffled sob, he flung his arms around Kakashi's neck, burying his face in the shoulder of Kakashi's flak jacket as he cried.

Kakashi didn't move, even though he was in a rather awkward position to put himself on the same level as Naruto. He exhaled slowly, chest loosening as he realized that he'd somehow managed to say what Naruto needed to hear.

Give him motivational speeches or a way to break down enemies psychologically and Kakashi could do it. Emotional support like this? He was lucky if he didn't somehow manage to mess things up.

When Naruto's shaking started to calm down and the tears didn't come so heavily, Kakashi drew away, relaxing his stance until he was kneeling in the grass. He took Naruto's bloodied hands in his own, glad to see that they were beginning to heal.

He reached into his bag nonetheless, pulling out a roll of bandages. "Let's bandage this up, hm? I know you'll heal, but it's better that there's no chance of infection."

"Okay." Naruto's answer was quiet, and he held still as Kakashi wound the bandages around both hands.

"If you need to hit something," Kakashi said, not looking up from his work, "then talk to me. It's better than hitting a stationary block of wood and hurting yourself like this."

"I was hoping it would break," Naruto admitted, fingers twitching briefly as Kakashi tightened the bandage. "But I've got a lot of work left to do."

Kakashi didn't comment on Naruto's sloppy taijutsu. He doubtlessly already knew that.

Once both hands were wrapped up, Kakashi wound up what was left of the bandages and put it away, moving to stand. He kept his voice light as he spoke. "Let's go back."

Naruto's head snapped up. "Back?"

Humming in acknowledgement, Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's head. "I just got back from a mission, and I don't really feel like training tonight in the rain." It was due to start soon. "And I've got some food in my cupboards that will go bad soon if I don't eat it."

"Oh." Naruto ducked his head, shoulders quivering. "Okay," he whispered. "That…sounds good."

There was a faint smile on Naruto's tearstained face as they left the training grounds. And Kakashi, so help him, was smiling as well.

Naruto was definitely in a better mood by the morning when Kakashi dropped him off at the apartment. He also seemed a little like he was trying too hard to pretend that his breakdown had never happened, but Kakashi would let him have it.

Naruto had sat through several of Kakashi's own, doing a much better job at bolstering Kakashi's spirits than Kakashi could return.

As it was, it upset Kakashi that there wasn't more he could do. That he couldn't go up to Naruto's apartment in the daytime and take him out to train or make sure that he was okay.

He wasn't even on Naruto's guard roster right now, Sarutobi needing his team for another high profile mission.

It was a mission Kakashi could do by himself if he wanted to, but more eyes were always a good thing.

His last two missions had been fun.

No injuries, but Kakashi wasn't sure if he'd overplayed his hand with the skills he'd shown. He'd purposefully limited himself to jutsu that he knew he would've known at this time, but there were other skills not so easily hidden. Like his taijutsu or his more refined senses.

Or that he was rather out of shape at using a tantou because he hadn't picked one up in years until he traveled back seventeen years.

This time around Kakashi was going to keep it up. It was always good to have another skill in store, and he would be able to pass it on to Sasuke as well. Better him than Orochimaru.

Not that Sasuke would go to Orochimaru this time. Not if Naruto had anything to say about it (which he did; a lot), and Kakashi had a fair amount to say on the matter as well. It had been bad luck which had placed him out of the village when Sasuke had defected before.

Letting out a small breath, Kakashi waited for the last of his team to confirm that they had all they needed for the mission before giving the order to leave. It wouldn't be a long mission this time, but it was politically sensitive.

Most ANBU missions were, which made it all the more imperative to leave no trace of their presence.

Once they left the outer wall of the village, Kakashi dropped to the back, signaling for Tenzou to take the lead. The transition went off without a hitch, and Kakashi was able to take a few brief seconds to check on Naruto's Hiraishin markers. He had placed them before, but these were Naruto's first batch in this time. It was always good to double-check.

Shinobi had been ruined by bad equipment.

Kakashi was not going to let Naruto be one of those shinobi.

Marker checked, Kakashi could put that fear to rest – at least for this particular one. The other markers were placed sporadically throughout the forests around Konohagakure and to the Land of Rivers, which had been where his last mission had been. Akatsuki had a hideout there at some point, so having a marker there was only good planning.

Today they were simply scouting the area in preparation for a trip the Daimyo's wife would be making. Another ANBU guard would be responsible for the trip itself, but Kakashi's team had to make sure that there were no traps and to be sure that nothing untoward would happen.

It was utterly useless, since excellent assassins would know such preparations would occur and would wait in hiding for the actual day. But politics were politics.

At least Kakashi was getting paid, and the mission didn't take all that long. He was back in Konohagakure by the early afternoon and able to take his mask off and relax.

He wanted to check on Naruto, but it wasn't safe for that. He could request to be put on Naruto's guard roster, but it would raise eyebrows since it hadn't been all that long since the last time.

Of course, Kakashi could just do it anyway. At some point he would need to just go for it and do things differently. Like request more missions on Naruto's guard. It would make it easier for him if he was able to keep a closer eye on Naruto and really be sure that he was okay. Or not okay.

Because yesterday…

Kakashi didn't know what he could have done if he had been on the guard when the entire thing happened. Probably absolutely nothing because ANBU didn't interfere in small disputes like that, but it might have helped Naruto to know that Kakashi was close.

And it bothered him that he hadn't known about Sasuke when it happened. Naruto had seemed a little down, but he hadn't been willing to talk about it. Not that Kakashi had asked.

Naruto was an adult. He could decide when to talk about something if it was bothering him.

Yet… Kakashi hadn't known.

Sighing, Kakashi settled down by a tree that wasn't too far off from the path leading up to the more official sections of Konohagakure. There was nothing he could do about it now except to make a resolution to pay better attention in the future. Naruto deserved that much.

Mind made up, he pulled out one of the books he'd gotten from the store, flipping it open to the first page and starting to read.

It was instantly apparent that this writing wasn't up to par with Jiraiya's. Granted, Jiraiya's writing was difficult to match, so Kakashi wasn't too disappointed.

That said, the plot was a lot more boring as well.

Still, Kakashi had bought the book, so he was going to read it. It would make walking around with his nose in the book a lot easier, too.

When he heard Gai approaching, Kakashi didn't move beyond turning another page. It was getting slightly more interesting now with the heroine trying to deny her desperate love for the hero but succumbing to the physical passion between them.

There was still no swooning.

"Oh?" Gai stopped before him, hands on his hips as he leaned forward at a right angle, feet stuck to the ground. "What's this you're reading, Kakashi?"

In lieu of a verbal answer, Kakashi shifted his knees just enough so Gai could read the cover.

"'Tender is the Storm,'" Gai read, sounding slightly bemused. "Not quite your usual reading material."

Oh, Gai had no idea.

"Isn't it?" Kakashi answered vaguely, not looking up from the passage he was reading. The sex wasn't quite what he was used to either. Less heaving bosoms and more focus on the male anatomy. He wasn't entirely sure penises worked like that? And who used the word 'turgid'?

"I see what you're doing!" With a vigorous fist pump, Gai threw himself down on the ground besides Kakashi, legs stretched out before him. "Well, rival, I won't have it!"

Kakashi glanced askance at him. "Huh?"

"That!" Gai pointed a finger in Kakashi's face. "Stop being so hip and cool!"

What?

Kakashi stared blankly at Gai and his finger for a long moment, silently wondering what was going on. When no answer was forthcoming, he decided to shrug it off and return to his reading.

There was some flailing from Gai, but no other words came so it couldn't have been that serious.

Not like the…sex currently happening.

Kakashi eyed the scene speculatively before turning the book over to look at the author. It was a woman. That probably explained a lot.

With a mental shrug, he flipped it back around and continued reading. It wasn't that bad. It was no Jiraiya, but then not many people could measure up to him.

There was a choking noise from Gai. When Kakashi looked, Gai's face was suspiciously red and he was deliberately not looking at Kakashi. Or, more specifically, Kakashi's book.

"You're reading that!" Gai proclaimed, voice rather thick.

"…Yes?"

Gai trembled furiously. "You are even more amazing than I thought, rival! Challenge accepted!" He flicked his fingers, then pointed them at Kakashi, almost jabbing him in the nose as he did. "I will do the same!"

Kakashi drew back, putting space between his face and Gai's finger. Then he registered what Gai had just said. "What?"

"I too shall find books of similar compare and read them until I can do so unflinchingly in public!"

Kakashi stared at Gai in mild horror, all thoughts of remaining aloof scattered to the wind.

This hadn't happened last time, had it? No, Kakashi would have remembered if it did. Gai reading romance novels in public was something Kakashi wasn't likely to forget.

"You don't need to do that," Kakashi eventually managed, voice rather faint. "This is…personal."

Gai shook his head. "I have decided, rival! It is an excellent skill you are cultivating! I'm dismayed I did not think of it myself!"

Kakashi almost wanted to ask what skill Gai was talking about, but that would be too revealing. So he settled for making a mental note to investigate later, opting to say, "Okay."

With a resolute nod, Gai set his face to one of fierce determination. It was a sight Kakashi was familiar with, and he had missed it. Only now he was dismayed to know that it was because Gai was planning on reading the same types of books Kakashi was.

God, what if Gai became known as the shinobi who always had his nose in a porn book?

Kakashi turned his gaze back to his book, but he wasn't reading a word. The thought was just too horrifying.

But Gai didn't instantly run off to go do what he had just set for himself. He settled back against the tree Kakashi had claimed, off to the side but close enough that their shoulders could brush if one of them moved.

After several minutes of staring at the page and wondering what he could do to fix this, Kakashi eventually decided that it would somehow sort itself out. And if it didn't, he could enlist Naruto to help.

Naruto had creative solutions to unorthodox situations.

Decision made, Kakashi let himself sink back into the book.

If he didn't compare the writing too much to Jiraiya's, the book was actually rather good. The sex was a little strange and not as funny as he was used to, but he supposed that was due to it being written by a woman. He had only read books by men before, which was his own fault. More exposure would make it normal, although Kakashi was definitely picking up Icha Icha when the first book came out.

But the romance was there. And that had always been one of his favorite things about Jiraiya's books.

Kakashi was nearing the end of the book when Gai broke the silence, voice pensive. "You've been different, Kakashi."

Not looking up from the book, Kakashi kept his posture the same. "Hm?"

"Not a bad different," Gai said slowly, posture shifting in a blur of green out of the corner of Kakashi's eye. That he had deliberately set himself on Kakashi's left side had his chest squeezing painfully. "But just enough…"

Kakashi tilted his head to the side to see Gai gazing at him, eyes dark and serious.

"Is everything all right?" Gai asked, no sign of his usual cheer in his countenance.

Kakashi turned away, eye no longer on his book but on the grass. He had known something like this would be coming, but he hadn't expected it to be this soon.

That didn't mean he wasn't somewhat prepared.

Letting the book dangle from his fingers between his knees, Kakashi carefully measured his words as he spoke. "It's been five years."

Gai didn't say anything, but his presence was reassuring.

"Five years since Minato-sensei died," Kakashi continued after a moment, watching the grass fluttering in the breeze. "And every year, I do the same thing." Take so many missions he didn't have to think about being all that was left of his team. Take so many missions that he was too exhausted to do much more than drop into a dead sleep at the next opportunity. Take so many missions that maybe – just maybe – the next mission would be the end. "Only this year…I realized he wouldn't have wanted me to live like this." He would have pulled Kakashi aside, ruffled his hair, smiled, and asked what he could do to help. Told Kakashi that his loved ones would want to see him living, not trying to kill himself.

"He's five now, you know?" Kakashi said slowly, eyes closing.

Gai started a bit. "Kakashi, you know you're not supposed to talk to him."

"Ahh, he's protected, not to worry." Kakashi lifted his head, giving Gai a closed-eye smile. His friend might be able to tell if he was smiling regardless, but this was the easiest way to smile without smiling. And Gai didn't need to know that what he had said hurt.

A frown flickered over Gai's face, followed by a faint pang of what seemed to be guilt. He dipped his head in apology, eyes downcast.

Kakashi watched him for a few seconds more before turning away. "He's five," he repeated, gentle. "Time passes. I figured…I should start moving with it, too." He looked down at the book dangling from his fingers, tightening his grip and running his fingers over the pages.

The only sound was that of the rustling of the leaves and the grass murmuring. Gai's breathing seemed to blend in with the surroundings.

Eventually, Kakashi turned back to Gai, giving him a more genuine smile. "I don't think I ever thanked you, did I?"

Gai's eyes were wide. "Kakashi?"

It wasn't something Kakashi said lightly, but he remembered – he remembered Gai hearing that only taijutsu worked against Madara. Remembered Gai opening all eight gates and glowing red with his own blood heating the air around him. Remembered the sounds of Gai pummeling Madara to hell and back while everyone else retreated.

There'd been a moment where they had hoped that Gai had succeeded where the five Kage had failed. Because Madara hadn't returned to battling immediately afterwards, and so they'd believed that maybe Gai had managed it.

And Kakashi…Kakashi had mourned the loss of another friend. A best friend. But it had been fine because Gai had gone into it with both eyes wide open and knowing exactly what the price was. And he had succeeded, hadn't he?

Fuck, they'd all been so blind.

Slowly beginning the process of returning home to their respective villages, mourning the dead and healing the injured, and then Madara had struck.

Gai's sacrifice had been in vain, and Kakashi had lost another friend for nothing.

But Gai was here now, even if younger and no longer the Gai Kakashi remembered. Gai was here and alive. And he was still Kakashi's best friend. He was still the man who somehow managed to know when Kakashi was at his worst and tried to pull him out of it. He didn't always succeed, but he always tried again.

So Kakashi reached out, rested a hand on Gai's shoulder, and squeezed it gently as he said, "Thank you."

Gai stared at him like Kakashi had grown two heads, unmoving and shoulder stiff beneath Kakashi's hand. Then he exploded, leaping to his feet and flailing, cheeks red.

"R-r-right! Of course, my rival!" Gai flashed a shiny grin, shooting Kakashi a thumbs up across his chest. "What kind of eternal rival would I be if I wasn't there for you?"

Kakashi bit back his chuckle and resisted the urge to grin, watching Gai scratch the back of his head in embarrassment.

This was nice. Now, if only he could be reassured that Gai wasn't going to start taking after Kakashi and reading porn in public.

Later that day, Kakashi could be found – only if he wanted to be found – discreetly checking out where he remembered Danzou's Root base to be. Surprisingly, it was exactly where he remembered it to be.

He would have expected a shinobi of Danzou's caliber and paranoia to have moved it around.

Or maybe this was the public base? It was certainly possible that this was only the one Sarutobi was aware of. Root hadn't always been a secret from Sarutobi; it was only relatively recently that they had to go underground.

Musing on this possibility, Kakashi took the time to scout the base, never entering it but moving around the outside and investigating the entrances and the size of the base. It was large, but then most of it was underground, much like the bunkers for ANBU.

Unless Kakashi wanted to go rooting around inside, he would have to settle for watching the patrol routes and gathering information that way. He didn't have any jutsu that would let him infiltrate to that extent; that had always been a task relegated to Sai or a Yamanaka.

Carefully matching his pace with a Root patrol, Kakashi kept himself hidden as he followed after. They were dressed as ANBU, although their masks were blander and more uniform than the typical masks handed out to normal ANBU members. It would fool a civilian or even the average shinobi, but genuine ANBUs would know they were fakes.

Root being Root, they went about their business looking absolutely normal. The mission they did was also normal, a routine patrol of the village borders, so Kakashi let them go once they rerouted back to the Root base. Then he settled in to wait for the next few hours, gathering intel.

It was boring work, but it was necessary for what they needed to pull off. Kakashi was hoping to manage it in about a year. Naruto would have recovered some of his finer chakra control by then and could help with a distraction.

Furthermore, they would need the time to start some kind of routine so whatever distraction Naruto caused wouldn't seem too out of the ordinary.

These types of assassination missions were always messy. Kakashi disliked taking them, and this was a self-inflicted one. There was too much room for things to go wrong, especially if the target was Shimura Danzou. The man wasn't just a shinobi; he was the leader of an entire shinobi force that was hidden within Konohagakure.

Fortunately, Kakashi wasn't just a regular shinobi either. Still, that didn't mean he could rest easy. His own paranoia would come in handy here, as would his skills in subterfuge.

Some hours later, Kakashi put distance between the Root base and himself before letting his presence make itself known. He had a fair amount of data gathered, which was a good starting point to compare against. He'd need to continue doing so at other times of the day, but fortunately shinobi schedules weren't exactly regular.

Root, with its strict adherence to rules, would likely be more regular than Kakashi's schedule. Although he would need to take the time to check that assumption.

Humming softly under his breath, Kakashi reached back into his bag to get his book, thumbing it open to the last page he had been on before beginning to read. The book might still have been new and unwilling to bend, but the action of reading and walking was comfortingly familiar.

As were the looks he received as he walked through the streets. Although most people seemed more inclined to stare in disbelief than scandalized outrage. Clearly this book didn't have the same reputation as Icha Icha. It was probably the lack of an age-restricted sign on the back of the book.

Kakashi sensed Tenzou coming a minute before the adolescent actually fell into step besides him. He didn't acknowledge Tenzou in any way beyond meandering over to the side of the streets, making it easier for the two of them to walk together.

"You're actually reading those?" Tenzou sounded incredulous.

Kakashi made a faint sound of agreement, turning a page. Then, "It's interesting."

"Is it."

Kakashi looked at Tenzou out of the corner of his eye, almost about to tease him when he remembered that he didn't quite yet have that kind of relationship with Tenzou. Mentally sighing, Kakashi returned his attention to reading, heart sore at the loss.

Teasing Tenzou had honestly been so enjoyable…

"You're reading it in public, senpai," Tenzou groaned.

"It's perfectly fine reading material," Kakashi answered blandly.

"Not in public."

"Oh? How would you know that?"

Tenzou didn't meet Kakashi's eyes, refusing to answer.

Wait…had Tenzou gone and read these books, too?

How many shinobi were going to start reading books just because they saw Kakashi do it?

If Naruto started, Kakashi was going to check for a genjutsu.

"You should have said," Kakashi said, unable to stop a hint of glee from creeping into his tone. "I could have recommended you some."

Tenzou squawked indignantly. "I-I'm not reading that – that trash!"

"Ahh, don't be so insulting… It's good to pass the time and relax," Kakashi said, waving the book back and forth in front of Tenzou's face, only to snatch it out of reach when Tenzou made a grab for it. "And it's funny," he added.

Tenzou's face was suspiciously red. "Those books are anything but funny."

"Hm…" Kakashi considered the book. "Maybe not that funny," he conceded. "I think it's the author." The sex scenes didn't have the same comedic flair as Jiraiya's…

"Senpai, they're romance novels, not comedy. Why would they be funny?"

Kakashi paused, side-eyeing Tenzou. This wasn't a conversation he'd ever had with anyone before. Largely because by the time he had picked up Icha Icha, his reputation was such that eccentricities like walking around with what was essentially porn were overlooked. Now he was nineteen again, his reputation impressive but not at the height of what it would eventually become, and clearly his choice of reading material wasn't scandalous enough to get people to not ask questions.

There was mild regret at not instantly going for the porn but starting with something tamer.

"Why not?" was what Kakashi eventually settled for. Clearly he and Tenzou didn't share the same kind of humor. That was fine. Tenzou was still his kouhai.

Tenzou stared blankly at him, unsatisfied with that answer.

Kakashi stared back.

Tenzou was the one to break first, turning away with a peeved exhale. He crossed his arms, shoulders hunched.

All too pleased with himself, Kakashi returned to reading, flicking a thumb over the dozen or so remaining pages he had left. He was looking forward to cracking open the other book. It was also by a woman, but a different one, so he was interested in seeing how the writing styles compared.

They were about five minutes out from Kakashi's apartment when Tenzou spoke again, voice subdued. "You've changed, Kakashi-senpai."

Rather than answer immediately, Kakashi finished the last page of the book, staying on it for longer than necessary while he mulled over his answer.

He hadn't been around Tenzou as often as Gai. He wasn't as close to Tenzou either, their relationship still more professional than friendly. Yet Tenzou was able to sense something wasn't right.

Either Kakashi was a shittier at undercover missions than he thought or Tenzou knew him better than he remembered.

"Have I?" Kakashi eventually settled on saying. "If it's the books—"

"It's not the books," Tenzou said testily. "Although they're definitely concerning," he muttered as an aside. Then, louder, "I'm not entirely sure what it is, but you're not the same. And I…" He noticeably hesitated, chin ducking.

Kakashi shut the book, tucking it inside the bag at his hip as he gave Tenzou his full attention. He'd been paying attention before, but now Tenzou could also be assured of that fact. "What?" he asked, keeping his tone gentle.

"I worry, senpai," Tenzou bit out, the words running together. "You were out for a week and now you're back, but you're not the same. So I can't help but think—"

"I'm not dying," Kakashi interrupted, barely managing to stifle the mild amusement he felt. He eyed the rest of the distance left to go until they reached his apartment. Deeming it too close, he stopped by the wall of another building, hands tucked in his pockets and right heel propped back against the structure.

"I know you're not dying!" Tenzou was frowning. "But thanks for reassuring me on that." He paused, then asked very seriously, "Would you tell me if you were?"

Kakashi had to think on that. "Er…yes?"

Tenzou was frowning even more now, his expression one that said he was making a mental note to never ask Kakashi in the future if he was dying because he knew he wouldn't get an accurate answer. Or maybe Kakashi was just projecting.

Sighing, Tenzou said, "You're not doing a very good job of reassuring me, senpai."

"My apologies," Kakashi said soberly. He reached out and patted Tenzou on the shoulder.

Tenzou eyed the hand like it would bite him. That was just insulting; Kakashi wasn't Deidara. "That doesn't help."

Kakashi retracted the arm, shrugging unapologetically. In retrospect, this behavior probably wasn't helping his case, but it was difficult to remember that around Tenzou.

"Is everything all right?" Tenzou asked after a moment, his dark eyes meeting Kakashi's. "I'm getting the sense that you're trying to prepare us for something – something big."

Kakashi dipped his head, not breaking the eye contact. "It's my responsibility to ensure you're taken care of," he said quietly.

"You do that." Tenzou's brow was furrowed. "You always have, senpai."

"Hm." Kakashi did break the eye contact now, looking up into the darkening sky. "If that were true," he murmured, "then why have I failed?"

"Failed?" Tenzou sounded confused. "Sen – Kakashi. If this is about what happened before, you didn't—"

"I see all the ways it could go wrong," Kakashi said, cutting him off. "All the ways I fail you." No way of knowing if Tenzou was dead or alive, but hoping – hoping he was dead because to be alive was a fate worse than death. And the knowledge that he hadn't been able to protect Tenzou eating away at him. "Maybe it doesn't happen, but I see it. And in this world…peace is only as stable as our superiors want it to be. If another war starts…I want to be as certain as possible that I did everything I could to protect the ones I'm responsible for."

"I…" Tenzou closed his eyes, head dropping slightly. He was trembling, entire body vibrating minutely. "Thank you, Kakashi-senpai."

Kakashi startled. "Oh?"

"I know you don't like it when I call you that," Tenzou continued, eyes still closed, "but you'll always be my senpai. Because you might be a jerk sometimes—"

"Hey now."

"—but it's because you care about your teammates and friends that brought me here." Tenzou looked at him now, dark eyes wide and serious. "So, thank you." He bowed shallowly. "I'll see you tomorrow, Kakashi-senpai," he murmured.

Heart beating just a bit too fast to be normal, Kakashi could only watch as Tenzou walked away, back straight and every inch the professional shinobi. How did he…?

Shaking his head, Kakashi slumped back more heavily against the wall, shoulders drawing in. His throat was suspiciously tight, and his left eye stung heavily, clearly on the verge of watering. His right wasn't too far behind, and he rubbed it, trying to clear the mist that had formed.

How did he end up with friends like that? With Gai and Tenzou? What had he done to deserve their loyalty? To deserve Naruto's loyalty?

Because it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that he had Gai and Tenzou even now, when Naruto was alone and without any of the friends he had made throughout his life.

But Kakashi couldn't help but be so damn grateful that they were there. That he could see that they had always been there, even if he'd been too blind to realize it.

And Naruto…he was going to do his damn best to be there for Naruto. It was the least he owed his student after everything Naruto offered him.

All right, first, Tender is the Storm is an actual romance novel title that I grabbed off the Internet. The cover page looked appropriate, too, so I borrowed it. I have not read the book, so I have no idea if it's bad or good. Only that I apologize to any readers who have read the book and may be offended by my taking the title and using it here. Especially since Kakashi is not very impressed by it... *coughs*

Anyway! Kakashi-centric chapter! And he's got something planned which will be unveiled in the next chapter. I will reveal nothing other than to say I had a lot of fun writing that scene. So I hope you guys like it. And I hope you liked this chapter, too. Plot appeared last chapter, vaguely appears this chapter, and then disappears to be seen at a later point.

I'm still in Europe, and it's likely I won't be posting anything for the next two weeks, so I hope you enjoy this happier chapter! I know nothing's really been resolved on Naruto's front, but Kakashi's there?