Disclaimer: I lay claim only to my family, cat, house and car.

This final chapter's inspiration was drawn from the adorable picture by Sakayume. It's Kakashi kissing a surprised and blushing Iruka as he covers Naruto's eyes, taken from the perspective of Iruka holding out a camera to take a picture of the three of them. I wish I could take pictures like that, but alas, I have short arms.

Picture This

Chapter 16

"This is just what I needed! Thanks, Iruka-sensei!"

"You're quite welcome."

Iruka had been running errands when he saw the normally exuberant blonde wandering the street looking deflated so he offered to buy him ramen, magic elixir to Naruto's soul.

"So what had you so down?"

"Huh?"

"You looked like you lost your best friend when I saw you."

Naruto's genial face fell and he turned back to stare at his bowl.

Iruka knew they had just returned from a mission because Kakashi had told him he would be gone for a few days. He hadn't seen Kakashi yet, but he smiled just thinking of their reunion. Maybe I'll stop by his place….

"I wouldn't say my best friend. And I didn't lose him, but…."

Naruto seemed to shrink as he sighed and exhaled, his ramen suddenly forgotten.

"Kakashi-sensei got hurt because of me."

Iruka's heart stopped and he hoped Naruto hadn't caught on to his extreme reaction. He'd been putting off talking to Naruto, trying to convince Kakashi to speak with the boy together. I've got to tell him, but now is not the time.

"What happened? How is he?"

Naruto shrugged.

"He and Sakura said he'll be fine. But it doesn't change the fact that it was my fault."

Iruka took a few moments to calm his insides and concentrate on the young man next to him. He's fine. It's Naruto I need to worry about right now.

"Why do you think it was your fault?"

"I should have known that the guy was going to come up behind us. I thought he was a goner so I left him to rejoin Kakashi-sensei and Sakura. But….he musta been faking or something 'cause he caught up with us and I would have taken the shuriken but Kakashi-sensei came between us and took the hit instead."

"Naruto, there's no way you can--"

"It's my job to protect my team and I failed!"

Iruka's eyes went wide at the angry declaration aimed at him, but then his features softened and he smiled.

"You're right. That's your job. And so you can understand that Kashi was just doing his. He was protecting his teammate."

Naruto's anger faded and he just stared at Iruka for a quiet moment and then hung his head.

"Yeah. But still…."

Iruka put a reassuring hand on the younger man's shoulder.

"I empathize with your situation, Naruto, but you have to get past this or you'll never be an effective shinobi. Overcoming adversity, learning from your mistakes……that's what makes you stronger."

"Thanks, Iruka-sensei."

Naruto seemed to perk up and he began eating again, which was a good sign. Now I have to find Kashi.

"I'm sorry, Naruto, but I'm still in the middle of running my errands."

"Oh, ok. But….did you call Kakashi-sensei Kashi?"

Iruka's cheeks became warm and his mouth opened and closed a few times before he scoffed and tried to laugh off the situation.

"Did I? Huh. Oh well. Just a mistake I guess. I can't imagine why I'd call him that."

Naruto just chuckled along and nodded his head.

"Yeah, that's what I figured. Well, thanks for the ramen, Iruka-sensei."

"You're welcome, Naruto."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Before the door even opened he knew who was headed his way. Why can I sense him no matter what?

A small smile curved Kakashi's lips as he pulled his shirt over his head, burying the grimace from newly healed and still tender flesh protesting against the stretching.

As the door opened to reveal Iruka, Kakashi spoke up, not giving the chounin a chance.

"Aw, Iruka, that's so sweet you came to escort me home but I'm a big boy you know."

Iruka stopped and just gaped as Kakashi stood up and headed his way, immediately enveloping him within strong arms.

"I'm all healed, let's go home."

Iruka closed his eyes and buried his face in Kakashi's chest while bringing his arms up to squeeze Kakashi tightly.

"I know I worry too much, but I just can't help it."

Kakashi's smile broadened.

"It's one of your more endearing qualities. Now let's go, I'm starving."

Iruka chuckled as they left the recovery room.

"You sound just like Naruto."

"Then feed me some ramen, Iruka-sensei."

Iruka stumbled a step as Kakashi leaned all his weight into him, draping his arms around the teacher's neck. The pair chuckled as they walked out into the daylight, and then Iruka shoved Kakashi playfully and the injured man feigned serious pain. But they fell into step together as they walked down the street, Kakashi casting curious side glances at Iruka.

"Speaking of Naruto…."

Iruka's brows furrowed and his shoulders slumped.

"I know, I know. I just…..I don't know what to say."

Kakashi shoved his hands into his pockets and looked up into the blue sky.

"My offer still stands."

"I will not have you telling Naruto about us using sketches."

Kakashi held his chuckle in check at the teacher's authoritative reprimand.

"I'm a decent artist."

"That's what I'm worried about."

This time Kakashi did chuckle and he threw his arm around Iruka's neck and kissed him on the cheek before being shoved away again.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"There's something I wanted to talk to you about, Naruto."

Iruka cast a glance to his left and just saw innocent blue eyes gazing at him expectantly. They were on their way to get ramen. Iruka had an idea to treat Naruto and discuss his relationship with Kakashi.

"I wanted you to hear it from me first, instead of whatever rumors are bound to surface."

Still Naruto just gazed on, patiently waiting.

Iruka cleared his throat nervously, wondering how to explain the situation. Sometimes he can be so naïve and I don't know if I'll be able to maintain my composure if I have to keep explaining myself over and over. How many subtle ways could there possibly be to say 'I'm dating your male teacher'?

"You see, Kakashi and I….well, we've become good friends."

"Really? Huh."

"Yes. And that friendship has….matured. We're not just friends anymore. We're….Kakashi is….."

Iruka felt the sweat begin to trickle down his back as he rubbed the back of his neck, struggling with his confession.

"Did you have a fight? Did Kakashi-sensei say something mean to you?"

"No, no, Naruto, nothing like that. Just the opposite actually. Kashi is very nice to me. He is a very caring boyfriend."

Naruto just blinked a few times, those blue eyes showing no recognition of what he'd just heard. And as the seconds ticked by Iruka became more and more worried. Maybe Kashi had the right idea about using pictures…..

"Naruto?"

He reached out and placed a hand on the young man's shoulder and this startled the genin back to life and he jumped back, face twisted in horror.

"WHAT?!"

Iruka took a step back from Naruto's outburst and rethought his strategy of telling Naruto before he'd had a chance to fill the ravenous youth's stomach.

"Naruto, please, calm--"

"No! It's wrong!"

Iruka frowned at the young blonde who'd come to be like a son to him. I never expected him to be so close-minded. Not after all the prejudice he's suffered.

"Kakashi-sensei is a pervert and I won't let him get his hands on you! I'll kill him first!"

Iruka blinked a few times at the empty space that once held the seething genin. So….he's just upset that it's Kashi? Not that I'm dating a guy? The chuunin visibly relaxed and he chuckled when he considered Naruto's passionate reaction.

"How cute. He's willing to kill Kashi for my sake."

The words hung in the air and Iruka's smile faded and his body tensed.

"He's willing to…No! Naruto! Wait!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

BANG BANG BANG

Kakashi dropped the plate he was washing in the sink, startled by the sudden noise. Who in the world? Before he could get a reading on the person's chakra on the other side of his door a very familiar voice sounded.

"Kakashi-sensei! Open this door right now! I know you're in there! Open up!"

BANG BANG BANG

Kakashi sighed and dried his hands, wondering what had gotten the youth so wound up this time. I can't remember doing anything. Or perhaps I forgot to do something?

As soon as Naruto caught a glimpse of Kakashi as he opened the door, he surged forward, shoving the silver-haired man backwards. He took a few steps into the apartment and slammed the door shut and then pointed an accusing finger at the still confused man across the room.

"If you think I'm going to let you lay one finger on Iruka-sensei you're crazy!"

"Naruto, what are you--"

"Stay away from him!"

Naruto launched himself at Kakashi. Despite his confusion, instinct had kicked in and Kakashi easily dodged the attack, but he cringed when Naruto crashed into a small table against the wall, and then used it as a launching pad, flying back at his sensei.

This time Kakashi caught the young man and slammed him down on the floor with a firm hand on his chest. But he tried to keep his voice even, if a bit louder.

"Naruto. Stop destroying my apartment and tell me what the hell is going on."

"Iruka-sensei told me that you….he was your…."

Naruto growled and punched his way out from under Kakashi's hand and the two faced off once again.

"I won't let you touch him!"

Kakashi was starting to put things together and he sighed and ruffled his wild hair. Now I get it. Iruka must have told him. I can appreciate his protectiveness, but this is a bit much, even for Naruto.

"Look--"

"No! You look! I don't know what you're up to, but I won't let you hurt Iruka-sensei."

"Naruto, listen to me. I would never do anything to hurt Iruka. I love him and would do anything for him."

"Huh?" Naruto dropped out of his stance and stood there, big blue eyes blinking in confusion. "You….what?"

"I love him, Naruto."

As Naruto slowly processed the reality of Kakashi's and Iruka's relationship, a smile started to break out on his cherubic face.

"So…this isn't some pervy scheme to take advantage of Iruka-sensei?"

Kakashi came out of his defensive stance and crossed his arms over his chest, fixing his student with an icy cold blue stare, his annoyance at Naruto's intrusion and behavior finally coming through.

"No! What kind of morals do you kids think I have?!"

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck and his cheeks became warm from embarrassment.

"Eh, sorry, Kakashi-sensei."

And just as was expected with the young genin, his mood immediately changed and he was beaming brightly at the silver-haired juunin.

"Wow! So you love, Iruka-sensei, huh?"

"You what?"

Kakashi looked up to see Iruka standing there, chocolate eyes full of emotion. He'd been so occupied with Naruto he hadn't noticed Iruka's arrival.

"Iruka…"

"I want to hear you say it."

Kakashi made his way over to the chuunin and lightly brushed his knuckles against a warm, rosy cheek.

"I love you, Iruka."

Iruka smiled and reached up, forgetting Naruto was still in the room and pulled Kakashi's mask down to kiss him.

"I love you, too."

Kakashi wrapped his arms around Iruka and kissed him again. Naruto watched for a few moments, his cheeks as red as an apple, until he heard Kakashi's voice.

"Don't you have somewhere else to be, Naruto?"

Naruto clumsily made his way to the door, trying not to look at the hugging pair, his nervousness apparent.

"Oh! Haha! Yeah! Uh, sorry about the misunderstanding, Kakashi-sensei! I'll fix that lamp for you and get you new frames for those pictures, ok?"

"Just leave, Naruto."

"Right!"

Naruto slammed the door behind him and leaned back against it, taking in everything that he'd witnessed and heard. He wasn't sure how love was supposed to work between two men but he thought they were both smart enough to figure it out.

He smiled as he thought of the unlikely pair. Maybe that's why Kakashi-sensei has almost been on time lately. He's trying to impress Iruka-sensei.

At the thought of his former teacher Naruto's smile fell and his brows furrowed.

"Aww man, Iruka-sensei was supposed to take me for ramen!"

Suddenly the door jerked open sending Naruto flailing for his balance.

"Here. It's on me. Now go away."

The young blonde didn't say a word as Kakashi shoved a bunch of money into his hand and closed the door again. Once he'd come to his senses, he raced for the ramen stand, deciding this new relationship was definitely a good thing.

The end.

In case anyone is wondering: Obviously there is no shortage of deliciously adult pictures of the KakashixIruka variety. But I didn't feel the need to write a chapter about it and so the assumption is made that after that first night they spend together, eventually they have sex.