Disclaimer: not mine
Warnings: male/male pairing, AU, short chapter, unbeta-ed version
Naruto: 17
Sasuke: 7
Itachi: 13
Minato: 25
Kakashi: 18
Chapter 11
Once again Kakashi stood in front of his Hokage, ready to give his first weekly report on his new target.
"The boy seems still confused about his situation. This nervous behaviour only disappears if he is in contact with the younger Uchiha brother. He tries to stay out of Itachi's way as well as he can and behaves skittish and uncertain in his presence.
He hasn't asked any questions about the village so far and the only kind of ninja activity he participated in was when he assisted Sasuke in his training.
All in all it looks like he doesn't believe this to be real."
During the report the silver haired ANBU kept eye contact with his leader, his low voice still a novelty to Minato's ears.
The blond man frowned thoughtfully and asked: "What course of action would you propose to be taken?"
Kakashi sighed and replied quietly: "Honestly? I think he would react the best to direct questions asked during a friendly conversation. Usually Itachi-kun would have been in the top position to do just that if it weren't for the blond's obvious discomfort regarding him."
Minato nodded agreeing.
"Sensei?" Kakashi began hesitatingly. "Do you know why looks so much like you yet? If the council gets wind of his likeness to you they will use it to make trouble for you."
It wasn't often that his student was that blunt or open with his worries and it showed just how concerned he was about the issue.
"No," the blond sighed heavily, "according to Itachi's data the boy is an orphan who has never known his parents. There have never been records of any Uzumaki in Fire Country. As for his likeness to me...I am the last of my family. I have never sired any progeny either."
Silence settled on the room, growing heavier with every minute.
"I am changing your mission parameters, Kakashi. Show yourself to the boy, introduce yourself as his guard and try to befriend him.
You have one week to learn more about him and his past, then you will bring him blindfolded into ANBU headquarters where I will question him personally."
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Naruto sighed as he wandered through the vast garden of the Uchiha manor. The flowers and trees were blooming, colouring the whole garden in their reds, blues and whites. Still, the beauty didn't reach the blond's confused heart.
It felt like he was living in a dream. Waking up in a big, tastefully decorated room, eating regular, healthy meals, talking to and playing with Sasuke, Itachi being a considerate, polite host, it was all just too surreal.
But what if it wasn't a dream?
That question started to haunt him even in his sleep (and how could he sleep if he was already living in a dream world?).
It looked more and more likely that this was reality and Naruto wasn't sure if his mind could process that without breaking down.
If this strange world was real, than he would have to live a real life here. It would be his chance to build himself a new, a happy life. There would be no prejudice to fight, no expectations to live (or down) to.
Would he still want to live and work as a shinobi? He had sworn on Sasuke's grave to never lift a finger for Konohagakure again.
On the other hand, here Sasuke was still alive, alive for him to protect.
He was just so confused. If this was real, he would have to deal with issues of his own past he had never needed to confront, but that were staring into his face in this reality, like the man who had first sired and then used and abandoned him to rescue the village.
How was he to treat his host, who was a loving, concerned brother here while Naruto had only known him as a dangerous, kin-slaying traitor, always hunting for the Kyuubi sealed in Naruto?
If Sasuke's age was anything to go by, then Naruto would have to deal with the fact that every single last one of his previous friends and allies was half his age here. And just as Sasuke was too young to be thought of in a romantic way, the others were too young to be his equals.
Naruto was so deep in thought that he didn't realize he was one step away from falling into a koi-pond. Just as he was about to fall in, a pair of strong arms wrapped around his middle from behind and pulled him back.
Whirling around, chakra gathered and ready to strike, Naruto stopped dead at the sight of one silver haired, one eyed shinobi who grinned at him from behind his mask and greeted him with a cheery: "Yo!"
Naruto's blue eyes widened impossibly and his heart beat fast and hard in his chest. Air rushed haphazardly in and out of his lungs, making him dizzy.
O
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Kakashi had gotten many reactions to his appearance in his career, in and out of uniform, but this was the first time a male shinobi had fainted at first sight.
He didn't know if he should be angry, amused or flattered by it.
Carefully taking the light teen up bridal style, he went into the house. Delicate as the blond's constitution still was, it would be safer to keep him warm and in bed than out on the cold ground.
Quickly walking to Naruto's room, Kakashi was startled when the other teen unconsciously cuddled into his chest with a happy smile on his whiskered face.
As luck would have it, Itachi chose that moment to come out of his room.
The younger ANBU captain took one look at the unexpected scene and dark grey eyes changed into furious crimson Sharingan orbs.
"What are you doing, Kakashi-san?" Itachi asked with an impassive face. The question lost much of its menace when the thirteen years olds voice broke in the middle of it. Sadly it didn't deter any from the promised pain in crimson eyes.
Kakashi wouldn't have been himself if he didn't use any chance he got to get under the younger boy's skin. He just hoped that the possessiveness in the Uchiha's voice meant that Itachi would be unwilling to harm the blond without cause.
"I can't help it if the poor boy was overwhelmed by my handsome, manly looks, Itachi-kun." The silver haired ANBU replied cheerfully, his eye curved into a happy half-moon.
Bravely turning his back on the furious prodigy, Kakashi calmly opened the door to Naruto's room, entered and closed the door in Itachi's face.
Setting his light burden down on the bed, Kakashi made himself comfortable at the desk, patiently waiting for the enigmatic boy to wake up.
Personally Kakashi hoped the blond boy would be able to stay in the village. It looked like Naruto had gotten under the usually emotionless Uchiha's skin and resourceful shinobi that he was, Kakashi would never discard a way to tease Itachi with.
TBC