After they left Kakashi watched the dying fire's embers, pushing a log with a stick and stirring the embers. Naruto woke and stretched.

"Where is everyone?" he asked, rubbing sleep out of his eyes.

"I sent them on ahead," Kakashi said. "We need to talk about what happened last night."

"Last night is over," Naruto said. "I just want to go home."

"I never knew anyone was beating you," Kakashi said.

Naruto looked at him sharply. "I had the oddest dream that Kurama came out and told you that."

"It was no dream," Kakashi said.

"He was out of line. I don't have any resentment toward you. He does."

"I wish... I don't even know," Kakashi said. "I missed all the signs. Did anyone else hurt you?"

"It isn't important," Naruto said.

"It is important," Kakashi said.

"It's too late to worry about it," Naruto said. "I got past it, and it's over. Let's go."

The chill morning air was tinged with the smoky smell from the forest fire, and the dampness of the storm clung to the campsite.

Naruto refused to meet eye contact, and they traveled silently until Kakashi's leg began to ache. He tried to hide it, but an hour later Naruto looked over and said, "I think we should make camp early. Sakura will kick your ass if you mess your leg up after she healed it."

The sun was still high enough they could travel at least several more hours, but Kakashi didn't want to deal with Sakura. He wanted to know about Gai enough to push on.

"I can make it," he said reluctantly. "Let's keep going."

"You'll have her and Tsunade-sama to deal with," Naruto said.

"Right. We'll stop then." Naruto spent the time silently setting up camp and avoiding eye contact.

"Why did you decide to become a ninja?" Naruto asked.

"I never really did decide. It was just always a part of my life. I was using chakra before I even knew what it was. My father taught me to spar as soon as I could grip a weapon."

"So you couldn't have been anything else if you wanted to?"

Kakashi remembered the few times he questioned his position. "There was no other path for me to travel."

"Do you hate your father for that?" Naruto asked.

"No. I used to hate him for failing and leaving me, but Obito helped me see past that."

"I hate my father," Naruto said.

"Noni?"

"All he did for me was curse me, even if he didn't mean to. But he did the right thing. If I hadn't been sacrificed thousands of people would have probably died."

"Yes, but I'm sure he never meant for you to be sacrificed."

"Does it matter in the end? You and Iruka and Jiraiya filled his place. How could I hate you when you tried to fix what he'd broken, even if you didn't know what you were doing?"

"That's something, I suppose," Kakashi said, "but still, if I had realized..."

"Jiraiya took care of that a few years ago," Naruto said.

"That recently? What did he do?"

"He taught me a few strikes that won't kill a civilian. They're hard to use, because civilians are so fragile, but I was able to stop the beatings."

"Why do you still live there?" Kakashi asked.

Naruto shrugged. "It's home, I guess. Anywhere else is just another place to be."

Kakashi thought of his own silent apartment, a neutral and unassuming part of his life. "I suppose an empty place can't be home," he said.

"I always felt like the Hokage Tower was home," Naruto said. "Gramps used to help me with math and spelling. The secretary always let me know she didn't want me around, but I never cared."

"I was too busy proving things to the world to ever make a home," Kakashi said.

"Like Sasuke," Naruto said.

"Very much like Sasuke."

"You didn't go nuts and start killing people in your father's name though, like he did for his family."

"No, but I turned my anger inside, and at my father for years after his death. I was brittle and hateful to everyone that I thought was lower than me, which was a lot of people."

"Like Sasuke."

"Hai. If I had someone alive to focus all of that on, and a mentor who offered me the power to gain revenge I might have gone the same direction."

"I don't believe it," Naruto said. "You did have someone you could have blamed for your pain and focused your anger on, but you never did."

"Who?"

"Me," Naruto said. "A lot of villagers did that. Kurama is full of shit. Team 7 was home to me. He had no right to come out like that."

"He made it sound like he was doing you a favor, like you were traumatized and needed to hide."

"No," Naruto said. "He spoke to me in my mind, and we started talking. I thought I nodded off at the fire and dreamed all that. He might be friendlier than he used to be, but he's still a manipulative bastard."

"He seems to care about you."

"Yeah, but we're going to have to talk about what he did."

Naruto had a bad habit of wanting to chat well past bedtime, but Kakashi decided to indulge him, and as they looked up at the stars he tried to remember the signs that he'd missed of Naruto's abuse.

"I don't think Sasuke will make it back to Konoha alive," Naruto said.

"I don't either," Kakashi said. "I was more concerned about you last night, and I might have killed him myself if I had to travel with him."

"But I thought it was important to get him back to Konoha," Naruto said.

"It would be useful, but I doubt that's going to happen. Sakura has a strong motive to get him back, but I don't know what Sai will do. I just want to avenge Gai."

"Gai Sensei is really strong," Naruto said. "He might still be alive."

"Sakura wouldn't have left him behind with an unfamiliar medic if there was a chance of him surviving," Kakashi said. "She must have lied to spare my feelings."

"The way Sasuke was fighting she didn't have a chance to stop," Naruto said. "He was too strong. If she'd stayed there would have been more casualties."

"Naruto, don't try to give me hope. It hurts more than accepting his death."

"I'll hope for us both then," Naruto said.

Naruto woke well into the night to find Kakashi gone, but he saw him some distance away, leaning against a tree and looking at the dark lake they had camped near. When he listened carefully he heard his Sensei's sobs.

Maybe Gai-Sensei lived, somehow, Naruto thought.

Why do you care? Kurama asked. I'm glad to see Kakashi miserable.

He's my friend, Naruto said to his mind mate. I don't care if you don't understand it. Leave him alone.

Kurama growled. If you ever change your mind let me know. I'd love to kill him and Iruka. The only one I would spare is Jiraiya.

I'm tired, Naruto said. I don't want to talk anymore.

The next morning Kakashi's leg was stiff, and he had to work out a cramp before they could travel.

"I thought Sakura fixed it," Naruto said.

"She had some chakra problems," Kakashi said. "I don't know if it is as well as she thought."

As they neared Konoha Kakashi became silent and morose.

"I'll go to the hospital with you," Naruto said. "Maybe Gai is there."

"I have to report first," Kakashi said. "I'll talk to you later."

Tsunade was irritated, as usual. He wasn't sure why, and he didn't care. He just kept pushing back the intruding thoughts of Gai lying broken and torn on the field.

"Am I boring you?" Tsunade asked with a dangerous edge to her voice.

"Sorry, Tsunade-sama."

He waited for her to get through with her rant about the general state of abuse he kept his body in, but he couldn't focus for long.

"Oh, just go see him already," Tsunade said. "You are no use to me."

"Noni?"

"I'm sure you've been thinking about either Gai or Sasuke. You obviously aren't listening to me. Go take care of your business and come back to give your report "

"I have no desire to see Sasuke, and I can visit Gai's grave later. Forgive my rudeness."

"What do you mean his grave? He's in the hospital."

"Noni?" He couldn't let himself believe her.

"He happened to be healed by an amazing medic. We didn't know the extent of her powers until now."

"You mean he's alive?"

"Yes. You need to be prepared though. He's deeply depressed, and the change from his usual attitude is shocking."

Kakashi disappeared in a swirl of leaves, leaving his Master alone. Tsunade buzzed Shizune.

"Get someone in here to clean up. Kakashi left in a hurry again."

"Yes, Tsunade-sama," Shizune said.

She looked around at the mess. "And find me someone that can put a chakra blocking jutsu on this room. I'm tired of him doing this."

Kakashi materialized outside the hospital, and he barely restrained himself from running.

He hated to see Gai alone in the hospital room, but it was full of flowers, cards, and a large stuffed turtle someone had bought him - probably Naruto. For just a couple of seconds Kakashi was jealous of Naruto, but he forgot uncharitable feelings as he watched Gai sleep.

He looked peaceful enough in his sleep, as long as Kakashi ignored the machines attached to him, but when he woke Kakashi saw the listless look of a man in pain. Gai pressed the morphine button.

"I heard you got him," Gai said.

"Hai. We thought he killed you, but I should have known better. You'll outlive me just to make a point."

"I'm not so sure about that," Gai said. "Not with what happened."

"How bad is it?" Kakashi asked.

Gai pulled the blanket down, revealing his chest. A large tube ran from his chest, and various tubes gave him a disturbingly machine like appearance. A medical apparatus was attached to his chest. It was the size of a cigar box, and various lights blinked, sending out fluids at intervals.

"It could be worse," Kakashi said. "I still can't believe you survived."

"The medic cauterized the wound. My stomach is destroyed. I'll never take a mission again. I'm done, Kakashi. No more students, no more challenges. My youth is dead, and now I have to keep going somehow."

Of all the things that went through Kakashi's head, none of them seemed right to say.

"It could be worse," he said.

"Don't you understand? I have no stomach! I'll never even eat properly again. They have to send pureed food directly into my intestines."

Kakashi knew he wasn't the best at situations that needed social grace. He just usually didn't care. He awkwardly made his way through the rest of the visit, feeling even more down than when he'd thought Gai was dead.

He passed Naruto on the way back to the Tower, but he ignored his question about...something. He wasn't listening enough to catch it, and he mumbled something about having a meeting.

Tsunade was with someone, so he had to wait in the lobby. He looked out the window, watching the village life as the people scurried around.

He slowly realized that Shizune was talking to him.

"What?" he asked as he was pulled from his trance.

"I said Tsunade-sama can see you now. Are you ok?"

"I'm fine," he said.

Shizune watched him walk into Tsunade's office. "Liar," she said quietly.

"Now that you've gotten that out of the way can you give a proper report?" she asked.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama," he said. Halfway through the report he trailed off absentmindedly, staring out of the window.

Tsunade cleared her throat loudly, and Kakashi stammered.

"Sorry Hokage-sama. I guess I got lost there for a moment."

"That's one way of putting it. Is there anything of importance you need to tell me? Because it's definitely time for you to sleep."

"That's the highlights. The rest is just details."

"Write it up later and give it to the mission director or bring it over here. I want you to take the next two days off."

"Yes, Tsuanade-sama." He couldn't keep the leaden weariness out of his voice.

"And Kakashi, try not to spend too much time in the graveyard while you recover. That can't be healthy."

He wasn't thinking about the graveyard. He was thinking about the most irritating, loyal friend he'd ever had, and he went directly to Gai's room, only to find it empty. A cold shiver ran through his body, and his mouth went dry. I should have been here, he thought. I hope he didn't die alone.

A nurse approached him. "If you're looking for Maito Gai, he's in surgery," she said. "We would have alerted his family, but it was an emergency."

"An emergency? What happened?"

"I don't know," she said. "We're doing everything we can for him. He has a strong fighting spirit."

"He does," Kakashi said, but he remembered the gaping hole in Gai's stomach, the one filled with tubes and fluids.

Suddenly the room felt claustrophobic, and the nurse felt too close for comfort. He called Pakkun. "Stay here until you get some information about Gai. I have to get away from all these people."

"You can't have a dog in the hospital!" the nurse said.

"He's a summon. They're clean," Kakashi said.

"You know where I'll be," he told Pakkun.

"Sure Boss," Pakkun said. He sat by the door to Gai's room and looked at the confused nurse. "Yo."

The graveyard happened to be near a busy street, and Naruto saw Kakashi there as he was passing. He hopped the fence. Kakashi didn't even acknowledge his presence. He simply stood and stared at the memorial stone with his hands in his pockets.

"Out here again?" Naruto asked.

"I feel more comfortable among the dead," Kakashi said. "They understand me."

"Ok Sensei. That's enough crazy talk. Let's go. I'll walk you home."

"Don't patronize me," Kakashi said. "I need to be alone."

"Then I'll be alone with you," Naruto said.

Kakashi sighed. "I'm just stressed. This is a good place to think."

Naruto stood quietly as a fine rain began to fall. 10 minutes passed.

"Thanks," Kakashi said. "I'm going to go check on Gai."

"I went by this morning. How is he?"

"In surgery. He might in up in the Home at this rate. I don't know how he'll take that. Some ninjas write books or teach small classes there, but it's hard to imagine Gai bedbound."

When they returned the room was still empty, but Pakkun was gone from his place outside the door.

"That's not like him," Kakashi said.

"Pssst. Boss," they heard whispered. Pakkun stuck his head out from behind the drapes. "They tried to get rid of me."

"Have you heard anything?" Kakashi asked.

"No," Pakkun said. "But he hasn't been in there long. It's going to be a long wait."

"I'll wait with you," Naruto said.

"Thank you, but I really do want to be alone."

"Well, you know if you need anything…" Naruto said. He patted Kakashi on the back.

"I know," Kakashi said. "Same here."

Naruto left him in the waiting room, and Kakashi thought the only thing worse in a hospital than waking alone or waiting for the morphine timer to count down was the wait for a friend to live or die.

He went to the waiting room. It was empty, for which he was grateful. It was in an out of the way part of the hospital, so he could hear distant discussions and the occasional clop clop of nurses' shoes. The faint new carpet smell and cheap blue fabric chairs combined to form a familiar atmosphere.

If he concentrated he could almost imagine that he was in a hotel lobby. They looked almost the same.

The TV became annoying, and he turned it off, leaving the room almost silent.

He couldn't imagine life without Gai, life without his best friend, and the only person who ever truly knew him.

He waited over two hours until eventually a nurse told him he could visit Gai.

Gai's eyes were open slightly, but Kakashi thought he was still barely conscious. He sat by Gai and studied his face.

At least he's still alive, he thought. That's something. Where there's life there's hope. Who said that? Seems like something Sensei would have said, or Jiraiya.

A large lump under the blanket showed where the machinery had been implanted into his chest.

Gai's eyes closed, and Kakashi wondered if they'd ever open again.