Kakashi stared at his crew. Shikamaru was already had Naruto's gear on his back. He was about to lift him up when Kakashi walked up, "I'll carry him instead."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow in question, "Fine with me. It would be much too troublesome to carry him there anyway."

Lee started to hoist Gaara when Gaara looked at Shikamaru, "Mumbler."

Shikamaru winced. He hated that name more than 'pine-apple head'. He walked up to the two, "Yes, Kazakage-sama."

Gaara looked at Lee, "The Mumbler will assist me. You shall carry the packs. I have much to talk about with him."

Shikamaru paled, Why do I have a feeling this is that whole 'third degree' thing my dad told me about? How troublesome.

Temari smiled and placed her hand on her brother's shoulder, "Remember. I like this one so no bodily harm"

Kakashi spotted Rin walking out of the building with her pack. They shared a quick smile before Kakashi hoisted Naruto on his back. "Okay, I'll take front, after me is Shikamaru since he has the other load. Then the girls, then Lee. We go to Konoha directly to Hokage tower." He then disappeared.

---A few hours into the trip---

Naruto watched in amazement as the scenery flew by. He smiled, "Thanks for earlier."

Kakashi chuckled, "Yeah, well I know what it's like when women get possessive like that."

Naruto choked, "It's not like that. She's just upset cause…."

Kakashi frowned, "You going to leave as soon as we get back and Tsunade makes you a real Sannin."

"Yeah."

Kakashi chuckled, "You know, if you get that title you will actually outrank me."

"Surprised?"

Kakashi kept his smile, "Not really. I knew the second you three passed my test that all of you would do great things. I'm very proud of what you have become."

Naruto blushed at this, "Thanks."

"Just remember that you will have to stop by Konoha every once and a while for a sparing match."

Naruto sighed, "Um, could you take care of Sakura?...for Sasuke that is."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, "What about you?"

"Huh?"

Kakashi shook his head, "Do you know the one thing she talked about for the past 4 years?"

"No."

"All she could do was let me know how many more months till you got back. When you didn't show up after 3 years, I had to practically hold her back to keep her from going out and searching for you."

Naruto chuckled, "She just wanted to get her precious Sasuke back."

"See that's the catch. Sure for the first bit she would mention him, but after about the first 6 months she never mentioned her name. And it was not out of pain either I think."

"Then why?"

"Cause you took his place without her even knowing."

Naruto looked away, "Kakashi-sensei-"

"Kakashi. You'll outrank me soon, so drop the '-sensei'."

"Kakashi…you know about me. You know what I am. And you know how much that village hates me."

"Yeah, and?"

"Even if I thought for a minuet second that she loves me, which she doesn't, I still couldn't allow myself to care for her. If she was seen with me, outside of team stuff, they would hate her too. And she's too precious to me for me to put her though that."

"She's tough, she could take it."

"I know, but she deserves better."

Kakashi looked behind them and saw the girls. He smiled when he saw Rin smiling at him, "Trust me on this one Naruto. You want to take that risk. I let someone walk out a long time ago. And I just got her back."

"Rin?"

Kakashi nodded, "She was my other team mate. I've missed her a good bit."

Naruto's eyes narrowed his grin started to appear and widen, 'You like her don't you?"

---With Shikamaru and Gaara---

Gaara had spent the entire time explaining his favorite torture methods to Shikamaru. "So, do we have an understanding."

Shikamaru was slightly pale, "Yeah, hurt her and-"

"Let's just say that you will feel a whole new world of pain, and you know I could pull it off."

----With the Girls---

Temari ran beside Sakura, "So, I heard Kakashi yelling something about you being in Naruto's room."

Sakura blushed, "I was helping him pack."

"While sitting in his lap?"

Sakura shot her a death glare, "Shut up. At least Naruto has a chance of walking out of this with all his body parts attached."

Temari chuckled at this, "Yeah, my brothers can be a little over-protective."

Rin shook her head at the two, It must be nice to be young again. I've missed a lot of time. When I get back I'll have to catch up with Kakashi-kun.

"And beside Naruto-kun and I are just friends," yelled Sakura.

Temari smirked, "Oh, Naruto-kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun is it? Since when did that happen."

Sakura blushed, "That….I…..He….."

Temari's smirk grew, "Uh-huh. Just admit it and tell him already. I mean the guy used to worship the ground you walked on."

Sakura's blush deepened. She didn't know when it happened honestly. All she knew as time passed her heart belong less to Sasuke and more to Naruto. She smiled. It took her forever to admit it to herself. And she was not about to let this one get away from her.

---With Kakashi and Naruto---

"You here what she just called you back there?"

Naruto was silent, She has never called me Naruto-kun before. Why does she have to do that now. He frowned and then looked behind him, "Shikamaru told me Lee landed a hit on Doutsa."

Kakashi nodded.

"But I'm much aster than Lee now. If he hit him why couldn't I-" Naruto's eyes flew open. "I have an idea. Hang back and let Shikamaru catch up with us."

Kakashi smiled. The Number One Hyper-active Ninja had a plan. And somehow his plans usually worked.