I'm back from Europe! For the record, Switzerland is absolutely gorgeous. Although, holy moly, is it expensive. Still, definitely worth going there if you have the funds!

I didn't get all that much writing done, but I did finally read Pride & Prejudice and finish my German book. And on the side there was some writing so Chapter 12 is done and I had far too much fun with one scene and then there's this chapter which I ALSO had far too much fun with. Can you tell where?

Thank you so much for all the lovely feedback! I am so thrilled that so many of you are enjoying this story. I haven't had the time to respond to everyone yet, but I have read all your feedback and appreciate it so very much. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this chapter! I hope it was worth the wait.

Chapter 9

The thing with Kakashi was that he was a great shinobi – a total badass and Naruto would be the first in line to beat anyone up who tried to insist otherwise – but he also had these tells whenever he was hiding something. Obviously these tells weren't screamingly obvious to people who didn't know him, but Naruto did.

Naruto knew him very well.

It wasn't even like Naruto could just ask him outright what was going on. When Kakashi got into these moods, he never answered questions properly, always sidestepping them or making stupid jokes. And on the really bad occasions puns. Kakashi's puns were terrible.

So Naruto knew something was up, but he had no idea what. He couldn't even badger Kakashi about it because they weren't supposed to know each other. Or, well, Naruto wasn't supposed to know Kakashi.

And Naruto was pretty sure that Kakashi didn't know that Naruto knew something was up. Or maybe he knew but he thought it didn't matter because he could hide it.

Which Kakashi was failing at because Naruto knew how to read him.

He was just a little shiftier than he normally was, not quite as willing to talk about what he had done over the day. He tended to eye Naruto speculatively when he thought Naruto wasn't looking, and he smelled like ink when Naruto stretched his senses. And when Kakashi thought Naruto was getting too nosy, he also tended to now summon his ninken and sic them on Naruto for "training." Naruto had never done so much running in a short period of time in his life. (This one, anyway.)

The training was getting results. It was also knocking Naruto out every night so he was sleeping. Which only left him to terrorize Konoha during the day with a series of escalating pranks.

Naruto hadn't seen Sasuke since the morning he'd left the Uchiha district. Or, well, he'd seen Sasuke, but he hadn't talked to him. Sasuke sure hadn't seen him; Naruto had ducked out of the way before he could be spotted. It would've been easier if he could actually use his usual stealth tactics, but the ANBU were nosy.

Naruto had less luck avoiding Sakura, since her parents weren't shinobi. That said, Sakura hadn't tried reaching out to him because Naruto hadn't given her the opportunity. He didn't want to try and then have it shoved into his face like it would be.

Which all added up to Naruto being lonely and bored to tears. If the village didn't want him pranking, then they shouldn't have been isolating him.

He had Kurama, but the seal made it practically impossible for Kurama to talk to him like he had before. Now Naruto had to meditate and drop into his mind space for them to have a conversation, which wasn't something he could do in the middle of a street in broad daylight. And their relationship had never been the kind where they spent time together for hours.

Yeah, they were kind of stuck together until Naruto died, but it was a different kind of stuck together than Naruto making himself at home where Kurama stayed. Kurama would kick him out before Naruto could try.

There'd been a little progress made on the jinchuuriki front, although no one had yet been able to connect on the level required so they could meet each other at the subconscious level. Personally, Naruto was both excited and anxious as hell about meeting the others now. He'd only known B once the other was settled into his own skin. He'd seen Yugito and Fuu for about five minutes, and he'd met Gaara when he was homicidal.

Naruto loved Gaara, but he had been scary when they first met. Five-year-old Gaara shouldn't be that scary, right? Shukaku hadn't done as much this time.

Sighing, Naruto pulled together the last things he would need for his latest prank. It wasn't up to the standards of painting the Hokage Mountain, but Naruto had time for that. Maybe. He still wasn't sure if he was going to go the prankster route this time in the Academy.

For his latest prank, he had gotten hold of a lot of glue. And he was sticking the glue in every container of soap he could find.

A lot of shopkeepers were going to be reeeaaalllyyyy unhappy by the time they figured out why their hands were sticky…

It was the sort of chaos Naruto loved. And it was less messy and incriminating than painting things.

Counting the glue to be sure he had everything he needed, Naruto started piling it into a bag so he could lug it around without looking like he was carrying a load of incriminating glue around.

"Huh," an unfamiliar voice said, "that's a lot of glue."

Naruto yelped, turning and throwing a bottle directly at the offender. The bottle missed the mark as the person tilted their head to the side in an oddly familiar move, sailing over the edge of the roof and landing somewhere in the street.

Shit, shit, shit.

"Don't move!" Naruto snapped, pointing a finger at the other boy's chest.

"Wasn't planning on it," was the cheery response, which was also freaking familiar but Naruto hadn't seen this boy before so why?

Two minutes later, Naruto had retrieved the glue bottle and was back on the roof, scowling as he inspected the boy who had so rudely interrupted him.

He was average looking so far as boys went, although there was a mole on the left side of his chin right under his mouth. His hair was a mousy brown and eyes a dark gray. There was nothing overtly familiar about his face except for the tilt of his eyebrows or sometimes even the slant of his mouth as the boy smirked at Naruto's obvious suspicion.

The boy also looked to be Naruto's age, but Naruto would have remembered seeing him around. Even so, Naruto had the odd suspicion that he knew the boy.

"I'm Sukea," the boy offered when Naruto didn't say anything else, his lips twitching.

"Uh-huh," Naruto muttered, eyeing the so-called Sukea suspiciously. The name sounded familiar as well, but Naruto was rather bad at remembering names when he didn't particularly care about the people they were attached to. Then, rudely, "What are you doing up here?"

"I didn't know rooftops were private property," Sukea drawled, blinking lazily. That tone, the words, the manner of speaking…even the mole. It was driving Naruto crazy.

"There are other roofs," Naruto pointed out, squinting at Sukea.

Sukea tilted his head, eyes closing as he grinned. "But this is a good spot for my photography," he said cheerfully, uncaring of all the "go away" vibes Naruto was putting off.

Sukea was a big fat liar. There was no camera on him.

Naruto said as much, waving the bottle of glue he had retrieved earlier threateningly. "So what are you really doing up here? If you're trying to get me to go somewhere so you and your friends can blame something on me that's not happening."

That got a reaction, although not the one Naruto had been going for. Sukea's smile slipped a little, eyes darkening dangerously.

"Nope," Sukea said after a stilted pause, cheerful smile back on. Only this time the smile was definitely fake. It was something about the eyes. "Just me. I suppose that happens often?" he added, seemingly as an afterthought.

Naruto didn't answer, eyes narrowing. Sukea didn't give off a chakra signature, which pegged him as a civilian. But that didn't explain why Naruto got the sense he should know him.

When it became clear Naruto wouldn't answer, Sukea sighed, shoulders slumping. He tucked his hands in his pockets, affecting a loose posture that pinged even more of Naruto's bells. "Ahh, so suspicious, are you? I just wanted to check out what you were doing with the glue. It seems rather nefarious."

"What kind of word is that for a kid to use?" Naruto blurted out unthinkingly. Shit, was this like Itachi again?

A grin flickered over Sukea's face, his eyes crinkling. "I read," was the cheerful response.

"Uh-huh." Naruto leaned in close, eyes narrowing as he inspected Sukea's face more closely. "And you do photo…graph…y…" His voice trailed off as he realized what was so familiar about Sukea.

That freaking mole.

Damn it, Kakashi.

"You," Naruto accused.

Sukea's grin was shit-eating. "Me," he agreed.

"What are you doing—"

Sukea tilted his head to the side, eyes innocently wide. Shit, that was definitely Kakashi's "I'm totally innocent" face. Minus the mask and the hair. "I can't hang out with someone my age?"

"Bullshit," Naruto said before he could rethink it. He remembered now. Sukea had been the photographer that had hung out with Team 7 back before Sasuke had left, tagging along on their mission to unmask Kakashi. The mission had failed, but apparently Kakashi had been an enormous troll and known exactly what they were doing. He'd even egged them on. The bastard.

"My, such language!" Kakashi-as-Sukea teased, leaning down to take one glue bottle out of Naruto's bag. He waved it back and forth. "So, what were you planning on doing with these?"

"I don't think you want to know," Naruto answered slowly, trying to figure out Kakashi's angle.

"Is this scented?" Kakashi pulled the bottle away, making a face. Well, you weren't supposed to sniff the damn things! "Why do you have scented glue?"

Naruto didn't answer, instead asking, "What are you doing? You shouldn't be here."

"Hmm." Kakashi looked up from the glue bottle, gray eyes dark. There was no sign of the Sharingan in the left eye, which made sense given this was some kind of henge. How he managed it without giving off a whiff of chakra was something else. Naruto had no idea his sensei had so much control back. "I didn't particularly feel like being alone today," he responded eventually, smile melancholy. "So when I saw someone else doing mischief…why shouldn't I join in?"

Blinking rapidly, Naruto found his sight misting up. And his nose getting stuffy. Also his throat was too thick for him to speak normally.

"I have another bag," Naruto managed eventually, rubbing at his eyes as he turned away. "Put the glue in there. I'll explain as we go."

"Okay!" Kakashi chirped, tossing the glue bottle back into Naruto's bag as he went for the second. "I hope it doesn't involve too much running. I can be delicate."

Ohh, how the hell did Kakashi manage to pretend to be a civilian with no chakra when this was a kage bunshin under a henge? When Naruto was still failing at reliably producing the three Academy jutsu? (Or two. He'd never managed the bunshin.)

How much training had Kakashi done to pull this off? Just to spend time with Naruto when no one would know?

When Naruto saw the real Kakashi next time, he was going to give him a big hug.

(The hug lasted all of five seconds before Kakashi managed to slip away. Not for the first time, Naruto cursed his short stature and inability to hug Kakashi properly and keep him in one. He settled for chasing after Kakashi and glomping him whenever possible. There were definitely not tears involved.)

Unfortunately, Kakashi-as-Sukea didn't happen as often as Naruto would have liked. For one thing, Kakashi's kage bunshin were nowhere near as resilient as Naruto's (at least when he had access to Kurama's chakra). For another, Kakashi needed his chakra whole when he went on his ANBU missions and not split in half.

Yet it was enough for Naruto. Sukea wasn't really Kakashi, joking just a little too much and more mischievous than Naruto was accustomed to, but he was Kakashi in all the ways that mattered. He also wasn't Kakashi as he had been at five or six years old. Naruto had asked, but Kakashi had gotten a vague look in his eye that signaled nothing good so he'd dropped it.

Spending time like that with Sukea was great, though. Especially since Naruto was no longer alone in his pranks. He had someone to spend time with, even if that someone was his sensei in disguise.

It also meant more creativity, since Sukea had some wicked ideas. Naruto had no idea Kakashi could be so devious.

Like the ninja wire strung up at ankle level throughout the village. It wasn't exactly dangerous given that they tempered it and made sure it couldn't cut any limbs off, but it was really annoying for the civilians. Even the shinobi who weren't paying attention.

Naruto thought it was funny, but Sukea kept sighing and muttering under his breath about standards having gone downhill.

Naruto didn't bother pointing out that Kakashi's standards were really high. Kakashi would just ignore him and grouse about situational awareness and that it was important even at home.

Kakashi had a point, but then Naruto felt it was reasonable to point out that they weren't currently at war. It was the newer shinobi who generally missed the ninja wire; older shinobi around Kakashi's age tended to catch it, even cutting it in some cases while glancing around suspiciously.

In that case…yeah, Kakashi was right about newer shinobi needing to up their game. They'd been part of the largest casualties during the last war, minus the shinobi from Naruto's class. But even then most of them had…

Shaking his head, Naruto jumped across the gap between two roofs, landing lightly on the other and avoiding the Uchiha military police below. They'd been giving him even nastier looks than normal, shooing him away if he even so much went close to the Uchiha district.

It was nice to know where he stood, Naruto supposed. Although it was worse than before.

Coming to the other side of the roof, Naruto crouched, head tilted as he evaluated the street and what he could do to make the lives of its inhabitants that much brighter.

He hadn't been paying attention to sorting through the mass of chakra signatures that buzzed at the back of his head. Which meant it was his fault that he didn't notice Sasuke until he found himself meeting Sasuke's dark eyes.

Fugaku was with him, but he didn't seem to have noticed Naruto on the roof. He was too busy talking to two Uchiha who were part of the military police.

Sasuke's eyes were wide, a furrow between his brow that meant he was feeling vaguely guilty about something. Or worried. It could be either one with him and Naruto couldn't know without talking to him.

Which he wasn't going to do even though he really, really wanted to.

Surprisingly enough, Sasuke took a hesitant step towards Naruto, mouth opening like he was going to call out.

But it was that moment Fugaku turned, saw Sasuke, and followed his gaze to where Naruto was frozen on the roof. His face darkened immediately, and he took hold of Sasuke's shoulder, dragging him away.

Aaannnddd that was all she wrote.

Naruto slumped, sprawling across the roof. If anyone asked, it was because he didn't want anyone on the street to see him. But honestly? He just didn't want to do it anymore.

Fuck, why did Kakashi have to be on a mission today? He could've at least left a ninken behind.

The last thing Naruto expected the next day was for Sasuke to somehow climb on the roof Naruto was on. Well, the climbing was fine. It was the fact that Sasuke was even there that had Naruto surprised.

Fugaku was nowhere in sight, and Sasuke was panting in a way that meant he'd exerted himself in some way.

But how did Sasuke know Naruto was on this particular roof? Had he gone around climbing roofs trying to find him?

It was a picture Naruto had to repress the urge to giggle about. This was a serious matter. No giggling allowed.

"Sasuke?" Naruto asked, blinking owlishly as Sasuke stood, determination writ in every inch of his tiny body.

"I'm sorry," was definitely not the first thing Naruto had expected Sasuke to say. Actually, he couldn't remember Sasuke ever apologizing before. He'd been under the impression Sasuke was allergic to verbal apologies.

Clearly that wasn't true at all.

"Uh," was Naruto's brilliant answer. Mentally shaking himself, Naruto tried again. "Why?"

This answer didn't seem to lighten Sasuke's mood. "We said we'd be shinobi together, didn't we?" he responded hotly. "Like – like a team, right? I've been a bad teammate. And – and a bad friend." His lips pinched, eyebrows furrowing.

"Oh," Naruto managed, stunned. "Um…it's okay, I guess?" It wasn't, really, but Sasuke didn't need to know that.

"No, it isn't," Sasuke insisted, coming closer. He ignored the backpack Naruto had lying by him, which was no easy feat given the large stick Naruto had stuck in it today. It also contained his food for the day, which was not ramen. Ramen was all well and good, but Naruto was trying to be healthy this time. Healthier.

"It wasn't your fault," Naruto said, giving Sasuke a small smile.

Sasuke shook his head."I could have tried harder. I just…" He looked down, face hard. "I should have tried," he repeated, shoulders hunching.

Naruto stood, stepping closer to Sasuke. It wasn't close enough to touch, but Naruto wasn't sure if Sasuke would want that. "It's okay," he said. "I told you before, didn't I? Parents don't really like me around their kids."

"That doesn't make it okay," Sasuke insisted. "Why – why aren't you angrier?"

Naruto wasn't sure if he wanted to say that he was used to it. It would probably only invite pity. Or make Sasuke angry. It was difficult to get a proper read on this Sasuke, different as he was from the Sasuke Naruto had known.

Eventually he just settled on a shrug and a sheepish smile, scratching the back of his head.

This didn't seem to settle Sasuke. He looked, if it was possible, angrier at himself. "I don't care what they say," he said, meeting Naruto's eyes defiantly. "They don't know you, and they're stupid for thinking that you're dangerous."

"Hey, I could kill you with a kunai now," Naruto protested weakly. Not dangerous? Naruto was probably one of the most dangerous shinobi alive. Y'know, once he had his chakra control back in order. Right now he was about as threatening as a high-level genin.

"I know you wouldn't," Sasuke said steadily. "Besides, I'm the one who taught you, remember?"

"How could I forget?" Naruto muttered, ducking his head and rubbing the back of his neck. "You don't…really know me either," he eventually added, raising his eyes to meet Sasuke's.

"I know enough," Sasuke said stubbornly. "I know you better than they do." He frowned. "Why are you arguing about this?"

Naruto didn't actually have an answer for this. "I...uh…" He cleared his throat… "I don't want you to get in trouble with your family."

Sasuke stuck his chin out, eyes narrowing. "They don't need to know who I'm friends with," he answered coolly, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. Still, he barreled on, arms crossed over his chest. "Besides…big brother's going to help," he added.

Eh? Itachi was going to help Sasuke meet up with Naruto? What planet was Naruto living on?

Well…it wasn't like Naruto really knew Itachi, was it?

"That's…nice," Naruto managed. "But I don't think Itachi can hide you from all the Uchiha police around."

From the twitch in Sasuke's jaw, it was clear he hadn't thought about that. "They can't stop me," he said mulishly.

They probably could, but Naruto would let Sasuke have that. Besides, they could also report back to Sasuke's parents, and then where would they be? Up shit creek without a paddle.

"So you…really want to do this," Naruto said slowly, scarcely able to believe this.

"You said it," Sasuke said quietly, relaxing slightly. "We're going to be shinobi together, right? Teammates."

Naruto's heart squeezed painfully in his chest. He had never actually said the word teammates, but Sasuke had. All Naruto had said was they'd be shinobi together, hoping that Team 7 would form again. But Sasuke had taken that statement and assumed that would mean they were teammates.

Damn it, Naruto was about to cry. He didn't want to cry in front of Sasuke.

"Are you crying?" Sasuke sounded vaguely horrified.

Shit, he was. Naruto frantically went to scrub at his eyes. "Shut up. I can cry if I want to, all right?"

"You're not sad, are you?" Sasuke sounded even more horrified at the notion.

"Do these look like sad tears to you?" Naruto shot back, giving the tears up for lost and laughing. "Damn it, Sasuke, I didn't – I didn't think you'd do this. No one else ever has."

Sasuke's cheeks pinked slightly. "Then they're idiots," he said bluntly.

No, apparently they weren't Sasuke, although even Naruto hadn't known about this tendency of Sasuke.

"Okay, then…" Naruto took several calming breaths, glad when the tears started drying. "Thanks, Sasuke."

"Hm." Sasuke shoved his hands in his pockets, eyes skittering off to the side. "We can't train anymore," he admitted grudgingly. "It's too close to the compound."

"I know," Naruto said simply. "But…there's other stuff we could do?"

"Like?"

"Well…have you ever tried pranking?"

The look on Sasuke's face suggested that no, he had never actually tried pranking.

Naruto shrugged, pulling the long stick out of his bag and handing it over. "First time for everything, yeah?"

Sasuke took the stick like it might bite him. Considering the stick was about six feet long, it dwarfed Sasuke. The sight was kind of funny. "What were you going to do with this?"

Grinning, Naruto reached into his bag, avoided the containers filled with food that Sukea had helped him buy, and pulled out a load of string, several hooks, and a bottle of insects. They were mostly dead, although they would start twitching if he dug the hook in just right.

Sasuke stared at Naruto in grudging admiration. "Where were you going to do this?" he asked.

"Right here," Naruto said cheerfully. "You wanna do the honors?"

For someone who had never pranked before that Naruto could remember, Sasuke reached for the bottle of insects with a remarkable amount of eagerness.

And if they targeted the Uchiha military police more often than not, well, it certainly wasn't entirely Naruto's idea.

Getting the four jinchuuriki on board regarding the bijuu took months longer than Naruto had initially expected. He'd probably been too hopeful; it was a failing of his that frequently tended to bite him in the ass.

That wasn't to say the bijuu weren't making progress at all. Gyuuki was on talking terms with B, although B was still too wary to fully trust Gyuuki. He hadn't yet gone through the full training regimen. Yugito talked with Matatabi as well, but less often and with a greater amount of wariness.

Fuu and Gaara were probably the closest to joining Naruto at the deeper level of the bijuu's subconscious. But even then, Fuu was too suspicious of Choumei to take everything she said at face value, and Gaara was wary given his earlier experiences with Shukaku.

So, when Naruto met with Kurama three months after the initial meeting they had on what to do with the jinchuuriki, he was rather surprised to see Kurama looking decidedly happier and less grumpy than he usually did.

"You're actually smiling," Naruto said slowly, squinting up at Kurama.

"I always smile," Kurama said.

"No, usually it's more like a snarl kind of thing? This is definitely a smile."

Kurama bared his teeth at Naruto, but the malice was missing. Naruto just grinned back, interlinking his fingers behind his head.

Huffing, Kurama withdrew from the bars until he was sitting upright. "I don't know why I bother."

"You love me," Naruto answered cheerfully.

"It's certainly something."

Laughing, Naruto stepped through the bars and stopped before Kurama. "We going or not?"

"Patience, Naruto," Kurama grumbled, but he pulled them in nevertheless.

The other bijuu were there as usual. There were also two small figures by Choumei and Shukaku.

Naruto blinked, looking again.

No, there were indeed two small figures by Choumei and Shukaku. One with green hair and the other with red, although Gaara didn't yet have the tattoo engraved in his forehead.

"Kurama?" Naruto whispered, hesitating.

Kurama laid down behind Naruto with a loud thump. "Mm-hmm. Go and do your thing, Naruto."

Naruto would have turned and shot Kurama a glare for being so damn unhelpful but he was too busy staring at Fuu and Gaara – Gaara, oh god – to do it. Because they were so damn tiny.

And they were looking at him like he was a complete stranger. Which…was true. But that didn't mean it didn't hurt in Gaara's case.

"Oi, brat!" Shukaku barked at Naruto when he didn't move. "You gonna stand there all day or are you going to greet Gaara?"

Naruto didn't run, although he probably would have before. He was keenly aware of how much larger he was than them right now. He didn't look like his physical age in this space, and he had no desire to begin doing so either.

Keeping his pace slow and his hands visible, Naruto approached Gaara and Fuu, stopping when he was several feet away. "Hi."

Fuu stared suspiciously at him.

Gaara was less wary. "Hi." His voice was softer than Naruto expected.

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto," Naruto said, smiling gently. "What're your names?"

"Gaara," Gaara volunteered first, glancing back at Shukaku. Shukaku just dipped his head

There was a low chitter from Choumei before Fuu spoke, voice as mistrustful as her face. "Fuu."

"Nice to meet you," Naruto said, still smiling. "Do you know what this place is?"

"A meeting place," Fuu answered, golden eyes narrowing slightly. "For the bijuu."

"For partners," Gaara added, again glancing at Shukaku.

"You're both right," Naruto said, eyes flicking up to Shukaku. He wouldn't have expected Shukaku to word it like that to Gaara. "This is the second level for the bijuu, where they can meet and talk. It's also where jinchuuriki who are partners with their bijuu can meet." He hesitated, then said slowly, "Do you know what a jinchuuriki is?"

"A monster," Fuu answered promptly.

Gaara looked at Fuu, confused. "Power…of human sacrifice?"

"We're not monsters," Naruto said, looking at Fuu, heart panging. Fuu wasn't even from a major village, and yet the prejudice was still there. "But yes. That's what the word means. To others, we're sacrifices. We're supposed to hold back the bijuu, be weapons they can use." B had spoken to him before about the expectations Kumo had for him and Yugito, even if Konoha had never treated Naruto as such thanks to the old man.

Gaara tilted his head. "Others?"

"I don't like thinking that way," Naruto said, smile broadening to a grin. "I prefer to think of it as partners. I'm Kurama's." He jabbed a thumb back in Kurama's direction.

Gaara's eyes were wide, but it was Fuu who said, "The Kyuubi."

"There's someone who knows respect," Kurama said, not opening his eyes.

"You know you love me," Naruto said without missing a beat.

Fuu and Gaara looked awestruck and disbelieving, eyes flicking between Kurama and Naruto.

"Partners?" Gaara whispered, half-turning to Shukaku, a trembling smile on his face.

Shukaku looked as shame-faced as a large bijuu could. "S'what I said, isn't it?"

There were grins on the other bijuu's faces, even though some of them didn't exactly have the facial muscles necessary. Yet Choumei was somehow grinning and Naruto could tell.

There was an amused snort from Kurama, but he didn't otherwise react beyond saying, "Twenty-two years and counting. Not like you and the big raccoon over there."

"Oi!" Shukaku protested. "Not like I've had that much time with the twerp!"

"Twenty-two years," Fuu repeated. "That's a long time."

"Son Goku has been with his for longer," Naruto said.

"Not partners yet, though," Son Goku said. He lowered his head slightly, eyes on the two children. "What about you two? What's your choice?"

Fuu folded her arms over her chest, frowning. "I didn't want this."

"None of us wanted this," Choumei said calmly. "But this is the hand we have been dealt."

Gaara watched Shukaku for a long moment before turning to Naruto. "This is why they're scared of me?"

Naruto dipped his chin in a nod. "Yes."

"I hate it," Gaara whispered. "I hate being alone. It hurts so much." He reached up to grasp the cloth over his heart, face twisting.

Fuu didn't say anything, but her face was cast down, her shoulders stiff.

Naruto looked between the two, weariness sweeping over him, along with a soft warmth that kindled in his chest. He moved to sit, crossing his legs. "I was lonely, too," he said quietly. "It hurts, doesn't it? Not knowing why, but only knowing that something's wrong. And it just…you risk losing yourself." Naruto had been so very, very close to that before Iruka had stepped into his life, treating him no differently from any other student.

"Did it change for you?" Fuu asked.

"Yeah." Naruto nodded, smiling wistfully. "I found my precious people. The ones who stand by my side no matter what. They're what make me strong." He paused, then lowered his voice to say in a stage whisper, "Kurama's one of them, too."

"Fuck you, too," Kurama growled, getting flinches from Gaara and Fuu.

"He's a big softie," Naruto reassured them, grinning wickedly.

"I'll show you who's a softie—"

Gaara and Fuu looked considering but sad, Fuu frowning as she stared at her feet.

Naruto leaned forward. "Hey, d'you want to know something else?" He waited until they were both looking at him before giving them a warm grin. "You two are my precious people, too."

Gaara's mouth dropped open, but Fuu looked skeptical. "You don't even know us."

"I know enough to see that you have good hearts." Naruto reached out with both hands to tap just left to their sternums. "You're here, aren't you? And you're two people I care about because you're so brave."

"I don't feel brave," Gaara said.

"But you still do what you need to, don't you? Even though it hurts. That's bravery, Gaara."

Gaara paused, mulling over what Naruto had said. "I still don't feel brave," he said eventually, "but okay."

Naruto couldn't resist a fond grin. "That's all I can ask for, Gaara."

"Who are you?" Fuu burst out, startling Naruto. "Why are you doing this for us?"

Blinking, Naruto said, "I'm Uzu—"

"Not your name," Fuu interrupted, stamping her foot and scowling furiously. "I mean who are you? What do you want from us? Why are we here?"

"Oh. Uh…" Naruto leaned back, pressing his hands against the ground right behind him. "I'm a jinchuuriki," he said eventually, eyes on the darkness above them. "I'm a shinobi. I'm a friend of the bijuu. I want to protect you – the other jinchuuriki – because there are people who want to hurt us because of who we hold. I want to make sure that this cycle is broken because it isn't fair to us or those who follow us.

"And…you're here because I wanted to meet you. I wanted you to know that you're not alone even if it seems like it. That if you need something, I'm here." He spread his hands demonstratively.

"What village are you from?" Gaara asked. "You don't have a hitai-ate."

Naruto fought a reflexive wince, smile twitching at the edges. His hitai-ate had been in tatters at some point, and there was no way to replace such a frivolous thing. Not when materials needed to go to more important avenues. It would so happen that even his mental self had no hitai-ate.

He was of Konohagakure, but at some point he had only identified himself as shinobi. A shinobi of Konohagakure, but overall a shinobi who fought for the good of everyone. Village loyalties meant little in the face of one such as Zetsu.

"Konohagakure," Naruto responded quietly. "I'm a shinobi of Konohagakure. You're Sabaku no Gaara, aren't you?" His eyes flicked up to Shukaku. "Only Sunagakure was in possession of the Ichibi." He turned to Fuu. "And you—"

"Takigakure isn't a major village," Fuu said, sticking her chin out. "But that doesn't mean we can't kick ass."

Naruto's response was a grin. "Hell yeah! They have you, don't they?"

Fuu's cheeks darkened, and her lips twitched into a small smile. "Yeah," she agreed. "Even if…" Her eyes dropped, and her throat rippled as she swallowed.

Naruto's own smile slipped at the reminder that things weren't okay in Fuu's home village. Neither were they okay in Gaara's. His father was probably already sending assassins after him.

"I know I'm not close," Naruto said quietly. "But you know how to reach this place, yeah? And if you can't, then ask Choumei and Shukaku. They'll help you. And Kurama can reach me, so if you ever need me, ask him. He doesn't bite…much." He winked.

A giggle burst out from Gaara, shortly before he clapped a hand over his mouth, eyes wide. Fuu looked amused, teeth glinting briefly before she wiped the grin away.

"Ah ha!" Naruto snapped his fingers, pointing at them. "Made you laugh!"

"Did not!" Fuu protested.

"Oh, what was that I just saw, then?"

"That wasn't a laugh!"

"Well, he definitely laughed!" Naruto pointed to Gaara.

"I…don't usually." Gaara looked amazed. "What is this?" He clasped a hand over his heart. "I feel…warm?"

Naruto's throat thickened, and he had to take a moment to clear it before speaking. "I…maybe I'm wrong, but you could be…happy?"

"Happy," Gaara repeated, voice wondering. "So…is that what it feels like? I'm…happy."

"What about this is making you happy?" Fuu asked, confused.

"You care about us," Gaara told Naruto, still sounding faintly wondering. "You said…we're your precious people."

Naruto nodded, unsure of how he would sound if he spoke.

"I think…" Gaara blinked, visibly swallowing. "Uncle Yashamaru is one of my precious people. And…can you be one of mine?" He reached a hand out, the limb trembling. "Would you…be my friend, Uzumaki-san?"

Naruto didn't hesitate before reaching out to clasp Gaara's tiny hand in his, grip gentle. "Yes, Gaara. Of course. It would be my honor." He smiled, eyes prickling. "And it's Naruto. Not Uzumaki-san. Just Naruto. Friends don't need stuffy titles like that."

There was a loud sniffle, and then Naruto found himself with an armful of Gaara, his old friend wrapping his skinny arms so tightly around Naruto's neck it was almost difficult to breathe. But he didn't want to make Gaara move, not when he was burying his face in Naruto's neck.

Tightening his left arm around Gaara, Naruto held his right out, raising an eyebrow at Fuu. He wasn't sure she'd accept, but the offer was there.

Fuu didn't jump into his arms, but she reached out to touch her fingertips to Naruto's, faint trembles running through her hand.

"I don't know yet," Fuu said quietly. "But I'm willing to give it a chance."

Naruto smiled at her, keeping his left arm tightly wound around Gaara. "That's all I ask."

Fuu's return smile was tremulous and shy, but it was there. And with Gaara clutching at him fiercely and the bijuu around him, Naruto had to call this endeavor a success.

As much as it was totally awesome, pranking wasn't the only thing Naruto did with Sasuke. He scaled his pranks down so they weren't as likely to get caught, but Sasuke wasn't as skilled as Naruto when it came to evading angry civilians/shinobi. Sasuke also didn't know how to hide.

He'd get better at it, but there wouldn't be a chance to get better if they got caught and the Uchiha stopped Sasuke from seeing Naruto. Itachi was a big help, but he was also only ten.

After a close call with some Uchiha which had led to Naruto tossing Sasuke into a trash can and leading the Uchiha in the other direction before Sasuke could protest, Naruto had to think of another solution to their problem.

One of the major tenets of hiding and staying low was to do things that no one else expected. And for five-year-old Naruto now, where was a place he could go to that no one would think of?

The answer was so simple that it made Naruto wince.

So after a brief discussion, Naruto and Sasuke began spending their time in the library. Naruto had hidden the request primarily under the guise of them reading ahead so they could kick the Academy's ass. That way Sasuke wouldn't be all pissy because Naruto didn't want to run from the Uchiha every time they got close to seeing Sasuke with him. (And he didn't want to toss Sasuke into another trash can. The novelty wore off fast once the stink became too much.)

Now, to be honest, Naruto had never actually set foot in the library before. Yeah, he'd known it was there, in the same abstract notion that he'd known Konoha had bars and that Kakashi bought his books from the bookstore several streets down from his apartment, but he hadn't actually known.

Going into the library made it real. Picking up a book and reading it made it even realer.

Especially since Naruto hated reading with a fiery passion. Well, maybe not the reading bit, but the studying. Every time he picked up a textbook, the words seemed to go in through one ear and out the other.

It didn't matter that he knew a lot of this stuff already through practical experience. It just didn't make much sense when it was written down. Hell, even the explanation of what chakra was made little sense and Kakashi had explained it to him twice.

But this was going to be a great excuse for knowing stuff that he shouldn't, Naruto reminded himself. Because that was important. Once the Academy started, he could show a few more skills, but there needed to be valid explanations behind it.

And he didn't want to have Sasuke jealous of him. Or suspicious because Naruto was so much better than he should be. And if Sasuke didn't get suspicious, it would be Itachi.

So this was a great idea. Even if it also really sucked.

That Sasuke couldn't stop smirking whenever he caught Naruto grimacing at a book didn't help. But aside from all that, Naruto had to admit it was working out great.

That said, he couldn't wait for the Academy to start.

It hadn't yet been a year since they landed back in the time, and since then Kakashi had gotten most of his chakra control back. Naruto was still struggling, but then he was also growing. It would probably be years until Naruto was back at the level he had been before.

Kakashi was fine with that. It would be nice if both of them were at their best shape now, but they had the time to take to make sure that they would be when things truly hit the fan.

For his own part, Kakashi had larger chakra reserves than he had last time. It was a pleasant side effect of so much training, although his spiritual and physical chakras were still wildly out of whack. They might never sync up again – probably wouldn't – but Kakashi hoped that they'd even out slightly.

Hopefully.

He'd deal with it if it didn't. It was getting to be second nature to rebalance his chakra for every single jutsu he performed. It was painful for the jutsu that he copied on the fly, since there was no way to estimate just how much chakra would be needed, but usually he got it right the second time around.

The worst that happened from his initial failures were some explosions. They worked wonderfully as distractions while he recovered and did the jutsu a second time.

Kakashi had also requested for more of his missions to be on Naruto's guard roster. Sarutobi hadn't done anything beyond puffing on his pipe, but the request had been granted. Kakashi had the sneaking feeling that Sarutobi was pleased about something, but he wasn't entirely sure.

As long as the objective was achieved…

It made it easier for him to send his kage bunshin out to spend time with Naruto. His alias as Sukea was convenient, although Kakashi would sadly be unable to use the same alias to mess with Team 7 or anyone else again. At least not as an adult.

Not that Sukea was needed as often given what Sasuke had ended up doing. That had been a complete surprise for Kakashi, albeit a pleasant one.

As it turned out, Sukea had also ended up meeting Sasuke. It had been an accident on his part, as he hadn't known that Sasuke would be meeting with Naruto that day. And once Sasuke had seen him, Sukea hadn't been able to leave, Sasuke insisting it was fine that he stay with them.

This potentially complicated things in the future, but Kakashi had already known that it may eventually come out that he'd spent time with Naruto under a henge.

In any case, he hoped that Sasuke's friendship with Naruto now would help. He knew little of how Sasuke had been before the massacre, but he hoped that this helped in some small way if they ended up failing.

Kakashi didn't plan on failing, but one never knew. He had a lot of information on Danzou and Root at this time, although he was still finalizing what he knew and piecing it together so that he had a relatively solid plan going in.

But that wasn't for months yet. Especially considering what he needed Naruto to do.

And so far, Kakashi hadn't been caught. There'd been no suspicion raised either. He was in ANBU for a reason, and he wasn't bragging when he acknowledged that he was good.

So he was, admittedly, just a little perturbed when Sarutobi summoned him to his office without any noticeable reason. There could be any numerous reasons for this, but usually his unexpected summons to the Hokage's office hadn't really ended well.

They sometimes tended to try to shove the hat onto him. Not that it was going to happen now. He was physically too young for one, and Sarutobi had never considered him for the position.

"Ah, Kakashi." Sarutobi's eyes crinkled in a small smile. "You're late."

Oh, was he? Kakashi shrugged loosely. "Well, I would've been on time, but there was a little old lady who needed help with her groceries, and I couldn't just let her be, could I?"

"Of course not," Sarutobi agreed, a slight note of bemusement in his tone.

It wasn't the first time Kakashi had used such an excuse. He'd slipped one or two times and been late over the last so many months, but it had been a good time to start using his favorite excuses. Gai had cried hysterically the first time he'd heard Kakashi's excuse about helping the elderly, shouting that his rival was "the coolest."

Upon hearing the black cat excuse, Tenzou had tilted his head and said entirely seriously that black cats should be watched. At the same time he'd put on a thousand yard stare that had made Kakashi seriously concerned about what kind of experience Tenzou had with black cats.

Still, it was the first time he'd been late to a meeting with Sarutobi. The Hokage was used to a Kakashi who was punctual.

Too bad. He got this one.

"Did you need something, Hokage-sama?" Kakashi prompted when Sarutobi didn't immediately continue.

Coughing slightly, Sarutobi set his pipe down and tapped it against the ash tray. "Yes, Kakashi. I wanted to inform you on Uzumaki Naruto's changing status."

Kakashi kept his stance casual. "Oh?"

"You've been on his guard quite frequently as of late," Sarutobi said, no recrimination in his tone. "ANBU's services will soon no longer be required."

Oh, it was that conversation. Which…hadn't happened last time. At least not like this.

Kakashi drew in a breath through his nose, thought back to how he would have handled this at this age, and then tried to channel some of that indignation and grief. "Why, Hokage-sama? Naruto is in no way able to keep himself safe."

"Naruto will be joining the Academy in a few weeks," Sarutobi explained. "He will no longer be a simple civilian; he is a shinobi in training."

"He's joining?" Kakashi paused, letting his chin drop. "He's going to become a shinobi?"

"Yes." Sarutobi's voice was soft, no sign of pity in it. "He asked me several weeks after his birthday last year."

Kakashi closed his eye. "He's so young."

"You were his age when you graduated," Sarutobi pointed out.

"And I'm the perfect picture of mental health," Kakashi fired back unthinkingly. He added belatedly, "Sir."

Sarutobi chuckled. "Point taken, Kakashi. But the times of early graduation have passed. Unless young Naruto displays skills such as Itachi, he will remain in the Academy until the set graduation age."

Nodding, Kakashi waited for what else Sarutobi had to say.

Several puffs of his pipe later, Sarutobi continued, "I asked him why he wanted to become a shinobi. Most young children at that age have little idea what it means, even those from clans. Naruto…" Sarutobi's gaze turned to the previous Hokages' pictures on the walls. "He said he wanted to be strong. He said he wanted the village to see him." His voice was weary.

Kakashi was silent for a moment. "I see." The words were quiet. "I'm not surprised."

"No?" Sarutobi's smile was as tired as his voice had been. "Perhaps not unexpected given how much time you've spent with him as of late. I admit I was surprised when you requested to be placed on his guard more frequently. You had never requested such a thing before."

Kakashi shifted, acting uncomfortable. "Ahh…well…he's sensei's son," he said eventually. It was all the explanation he was willing to give to Sarutobi.

It was enough for Sarutobi. "I know it has been difficult, Kakashi. I wanted to personally let you know that Naruto would no longer be requiring ANBU's services."

That Kakashi would no longer be allowed near Naruto under such an official guise. He bowed his head, allowing nothing to show in his voice. "Of course, Hokage-sama."

"Hm." Sarutobi blew out a ring of smoke. "Dismissed, Kakashi."

Kakashi let himself out the usual way, exhaling slowly once out of the office.

What Sarutobi didn't know wouldn't hurt him. Especially in this case.

Once upon a time Kakashi had been willing to do what Sarutobi said, going even further himself. He was no longer that young man. And Naruto was no longer that helpless child.

Outside of the building, Kakashi turned his face up to the cloudy sky. It wouldn't be all that much longer before they moved ahead with the first step of the plan.

Things had already changed drastically from before. After this…who knew where they would stand?

Covered quite a bit of time in this chapter! It was about time that we get ahead a bit to when Naruto joins the Academy, and this was the time to do it. Also now you know what Kakashi was plotting at the end of last chapter. :P

We have ever so slowly been getting to the good stuff, and this chapter is really going to start kicking things off. I mean, things aren't exactly going to be moving fast, but there will be more things happening now.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you thought of it! I hope to have the next chapter finished in a timely manner, if only I can figure out what to do for it.