Disclaimer: I hereby decree that none of the Naruto series characters are mine and denounce any claim I have upon them, nor will I ever have claim on them. The story line however is my own and would like to denounce anyone who claims otherwise or chooses to claim as their own. (Haha I sounded smart :p)

Summary: L.E.A.F. and S.A.N.D. academy rivalries take place in a middle of nowhere city district, mostly considered a slum that no one cares to restrict order. Here the gangs rule no matter how young or old, if you can hold your own here you can hold your own anywhere. Eventually maybe SasuNaruSasu but maybe not… we'll see how it goes.

Alo! Hey again all you readers out there! Thanks for the reviews…(I haven't actually read them so… sorry but I promise I will). I hope you liked the last chapter. It took so long b/c I had to keep reviewing to make minimal mistakes so they wouldn't distract from the story. I tried also to make it longer. Oh yeah, for all of those who wish to see Sasuke and Naruto hurry up already and… you know what I mean. You'll just have to suffer. I like making suspense before… (foreplay lol) Well I hope you like this chapter. Yet again I don't know what I'm writing but… yeah. I hope it's good just as much as you do… well enjoy.

Finding Where I belong

Pessimistic Pasts

And

The Plan

"Kakashi! Wait up for me! I need to talk to you!" A brown hair ninja ran down the street where a certain silver haired man lived. Jogging up to the taller man who seemed to slow down his pace to allow him to catch up, he followed in silence pondering on how to ask his question. Lowering his Icha Icha Paradise to allow his full attention on the one falling in step with him, Kakashi patiently waited in contented silence. For as long as Kakashi could remember, he would do anything for his friend… And it always bothered him that they always simply remained friends. He knew he loved him but circumstances always got in the way… Damn circumstances.

flashback

Eight Years Ago.

It was cloudy and raining. The gloominess of the day didn't portray how the young prodigy felt. For he had heard the good news. The heir has finally been found. As far back as he could remember he was Iruka's best friend. His only one because of the incident that took Iruka's parents made the boy exclude himself from the other kids. The silver haired boy was unintentionally an outcast due to his extensive knowledge about everything. They didn't know how but they simply ended up being friend on the grounds that they both knew how it felt to not have parents.

Iruka himself has always been obsessed and on the look out for the little lost boy who he supposedly abandoned. Guilt used to constantly plague the young guy's conscious to the point where he wouldn't even eat. Kakashi always had to scold him to tell him that it wasn't his fault and he did what he thought was right. There was no way Iruka could foretell the happenings that passed. But now he was found. All was to be well again. Kakashi couldn't be happier for his best friend.

Walking towards the Uzumaki mansion he caught sight of Iruka outside the gate carrying a huge bag of who knows what. 'Ah just the person I was looking for' the wondering silver teen thought as he walked up to greet his friend.

"Hey! What's in that huge bag? Your not conspiring to do something are you?" Kakashi commented with a smirk hidden under her mask as he walked up. Iruka was a bit startled at someone talking to him on the street, let alone accuse him for conspiracy. He turned to look at who was talking when his eyes lit with recognition of his closest friend. A small smile had presented itself as if relieved to find a familiar face.

"Well hello Kakashi-san." He bowed his head sideways as best he could in spite of the heavy bag he held in his hands. The jounin couldn't help but smile at how cute he looked with the huge bag and a gentle smile.

"Hey I heard that the long lost brat was finally found! Congratulations! So where is the little squirt?"

"Well he's inside right now exploring his new house. This big bag is full of some of the things he will need; toys, clothes, shoes and blankets."

"Oh is that so. We should go and take him out for ice cream sometime. That would be fun wouldn't it?" Kakashi commented cheerfully but his brown haired friend's face seemed to falter a bit. The jounin was taken a little aback as if he crossed a line that wasn't supposed to be crossed. 'Was it something I said?'

"Well you see… Naruto is quite fragile right now. He refuses to leave the house. He still refuses his own name. He is also very behind in his studies…. so…" Iruka commented sadly and he reflected on all the tasks that were set before him. Then he lowered his eyes, for some reason he couldn't bring himself to look at Kakashi any longer.

"So does that mean he can't come with us? Well we can always just hang out here and I'll bring the ice cream." Kakashi was determined to continue his now façade cheerfulness. Something was wrong and it left a bad aftertaste.

"Well… you see. sigh He doesn't like strangers either… He almost freaked when he was scrutinized by the council. And I have been appointed as his full fledged guardian… so I can't let him leave my sight for very long…" With each passing of words his face seemed to grow sadder and sadder.

Kakashi continued to nod his head numbly taking a moment for each fact to sink in. Then he started to realize what he was being told. Iruka was going to be busy… very busy. So busy that he might not be able to…

"His guardian! You're too young to become a guardian. I mean. You just got out of school for crying out loud! Besides, you found him! They should be grateful, not load you with more responsibilities! And… when will 'we' hang out?" Kakashi had finally said it, in his own way, but he finally said it. He was scared to ask the question but he needed to know. He was getting uneasy and he didn't like this feeling he was getting. It felt as if he was loosing his best friend, no his crush, even though he was right there standing in front of him. He suddenly could feel his heart dropping and becoming heavy.

"I'm afraid that Naruto is the priority now. I'm sorry Kakashi, he needs me."

"And what makes you think I don't."

That phrase caught Iruka off guard. He finally lifted his eyes only to meet sad ones that spoke volumes and bore into his soul. He was entranced and frozen in place while looking at his best friend. 'Yes he was my best friend in the whole wide world. I don't want to lose him but… Naruto needs me.' At that thought Iruka seemed to find his words again. Shaking his head he continued to look Kakashi in the eye. No matter how much it hurt him.

"I'm sorry… Kakashi… I know this seems hard… but…" The bag fell onto the watery ground with a splat. Iruka was cut off as he was pinned against a wall by a body taller than he. But that wasn't important at this moment because the brunette found his 'best friend's' lips firmly placed on his. His heart seemed to skip a beat in his shock. What was more surprising was that Iruka could feel his knees go weak and that he didn't want Kakashi to stop. After a few more seconds, the silver haired teen pulled back just enough so he could look at Iruka's expression.

"No Iruka… I don't think you do know…" His mask was pulled down for the kiss but he made no effort to put it back. He was very beautiful; Iruka had no idea why he insisted on wearing such a thing. His intense eyes looked desperate and pleading of Iruka to reconsider and it was tearing at his heart. Also afraid of how Iruka might react, he stayed still searching his face for a reaction hoping that what he did wasn't received badly.

The brunette's own heart started to become crushed by the look of his own love's pleading eyes. He finally got his first kiss and it was wonderful but the look in his eyes was too much. However, Iruka knew that his life was no longer his own. That he had a duty to the Uzumaki family. As his parents sacrificed their lives, he would have to sacrifice his heart. He knew this but his resolve started to waiver. He had to end this now before he was lost his resolution altogether. He had to let him go, but right now. Just now. For this moment.

Reaching up he encircled his arms around Kakashi's neck and returned a tender kiss that was presented to him earlier. The jounin was caught off guard but wasted no time to respond. Moving his lips against the others, Kakashi took a chance and licked the bottom lip of his love asking for entrance which was granted light heartedly. It was slow and sweet. Exploring each other's mouths, they got to get their first taste of the other. Kakashi's heart was fluttering as if all the bad in the world lost its hold on him. Nothing mattered except this right here. The silver haired teen started to hold his love nearer trying to feel him closer, but was interrupted when Iruka placed a hand on the teen's chest and gently broke their affectionate kiss. He then sadly gazed straight into Kakashi's eyes and spoke in the most heart wrenching whisper.

"Yes… Kakashi. I DO know."

Picking up the bag from the ground Iruka started heading to the servants' entrance of the mansion. Hiding his face so Kakashi couldn't see his tears that started welling in his eyes, he didn't dare look back. Little did he know, the silver haired jounin was given a small euphoria right before his heart was ripped out of him and crushed. Hearing the distant sound of watery footsteps splash as they made their way farther from him the jounin contemplated what just happened. Then snapping back to reality he sprinted to the man he loved and wrapped his arms around Iruka's waist to hold him firm. Stopping him, right as he was about to turn the knob of the gate and leave forever. With all his heart he didn't want to let him go. Iruka in turn didn't want to be let go but both knew what had to be done.

Kakashi wracked his brain trying to figure it out. Something had to be done right? There just had to be a way. Right? Suddenly a thought dawned on Kakashi. It was the only way he could come up with 'not' to lose the man before him.

"I'll wait…"

"…What..?.." Iruka questioned trying to take control of his voice.

"I'll wait for you. No matter how long it takes, even if it means I'll have to wait until the boy's eighteenth birthday. I'll wait for you, okay? Just… don't avoid me please. I swear I'll keep my hands off as long as you want but…. I just can't take it if you leave me completely…"

They stayed that way with the rain pouring down on their torn hearts. Kakashi was holding his breathe praying to any god that would listen to take pity on him and give him this one solace if nothing else. After what seemed like an eternity Iruka finally spoke in a voice little more than a wisp of wind.

"…Okay…"

That was all the silver teen needed as he swiftly let go and started to walk the other way without another word. Iruka was still in a semi state of shock as he opened the gate and closed it with a clank behind him. Locking it, he then continued walking along a path next to the ground walls. After a few seconds his legs finally gave and he dropped to the ground. He allowed himself to sit with his back next to the wall as silent tears mixed with rain streamed down his face. He felt just like he did when he lost his parents. No. This was worse.

Kakashi was starting to calculate how long it would take. Ten years was his only answer. He'd have to wait ten whole years. Oh Kame. Now the weather finally reflected his mood. It's as if the sky knew what was going to happen. Damn sky.

End flashback

In the end (or at present time…) Iruka did come by throughout the years and require Kakashi's advice when it came to Naruto, for he didn't always know the solution on what to do with him sometimes. The silver haired man didn't mind being referred mostly to for advice because he felt a special sort of importance for being the one Iruka turned to when he was troubled. Right now the brunette still seemed at a lost for words. When Kakashi thought they would have to walk around the whole city, not that he'd mind, Iruka spoke up.

"Umm… Kakashi… I'm worried about Naruto," Kakashi looked up at the sky 'When is he not worried about Naruto…' a smirk appeared on his face. Not that anyone could notice because of his mask. Iruka continued, "He seems to be getting more distant. He keeps isolating himself from the world. Continuing his studies relentlessly when he doesn't need to anymore. Yet he still refuses to set a step outside. He went with me a few times to the store and such. But when he's there he keeps looking at everyone as if waiting for someone to ridicule him or attack him."

Kakashi contemplated this for a moment. It's true that the boy never left the mansion for long for any reason unless he absolutely had to. Maybe it was because he was spoiled by Iruka so much. But then again it didn't seem entirely true or entirely false. Some would not call it spoiled to be forced to study persistently, day in and day out.

But still, this allowed the boy to isolate himself intentionally without complications. He seemed to lack the capacity to socialize with others or even the will to try. Yet what he heard from Iruka was hard to believe. The brunette had commented many times that the brat had a troublesome sense of humor and could almost be mistaken for the former Hokage. That proved that he was good natured enough to joke and talk if he wanted to, so he wasn't insane… Maybe he lacks first hand experience. Then an idea dawned on him.

"Why don't you enroll him in the L.E.A.F. Academy," Kakashi stated as he looked straight ahead at nothing unparticular. But he could tell even if he wasn't looking that Iruka was in a state of shock and gawking at him. After a few steps more he started to stutter as he recovered his words.

"B-b-ut…, N-n-ar-uto… has ne-ever…," He coughed a little and cleared his throat putting his fist over his mouth. "He has never set foot outside the mansion more than a half hour at a time. Besides, he is too smart to go to a high school."

"But you see my dear Iruka, this isn't so much about the education as it is for the experience. To see what it's like in a social place where he can act like a normal teenager. It may just be the fact that he IS isolated in that mansion that may be bad for him."

They had slowed down by the park. Then Iruka suddenly stopped, crossed his arms and started tapping his foot. He was seriously contemplating this course of action, no matter how rash it sounded. "But I still don't like this. Even though he has grown up so much over the past years, he's still as vulnerable as an eight year old child. He does watch t.v. and listen to the same music as every other teenager but still, he was never put into a situation where he could get emotionally damaged. He could come back a lot more messed then he started. I also don't want to people to take advantage of him either…"

Kakashi lifted an eyebrow. 'My my, it seems that someone has already considered such an option very thoroughly." He too crossed his arms to think about the situation at hand. It seemed very difficult. All he could come back to was sending him to school. "We can't just send him there cold turkey. But then we can't keep an eye on him by following him through all the school either. If only there was someone we could count on to watch… after… him… HEY!"

"That's it!" Kakashi burst out, startling Iruka out of his contemplating state.

"W-what's it?"

"I have two words that could solve our dilemma!" Kakashi gave a triumphant look that you could see through the mask.

"…two words? Kakashi what are you babbling about?"

"Sasuke Uchiha."

Yay! I was actually going to start the meeting between our two heros but then their story kept getting longer and longer…. So I decided to wait until the next chapter (mwahahahaha I am so evil) so there. I think I could be considered a sadist on the grounds that I take pleasure at your expense even though I created it myself by telling you! Yay me clapclapclap lol

Well anyways, even though you wish to shoot me with flame throwers please review and I will update the story that much sooner. Laterz

From me