A/N: So I'm back on the 'To Keep Them Close' Bandwagon, and I hope I didn't lose too many people with my selfish inactiveness. I'm sorry again, and I'm making up for it with more chapters, Yay!

This is when you all yell 'We love you and forgive you!' -cricket noises- Thanks guys.

I do not own Naruto, but this story is my original

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Kakashi's voice was strange, but even more familiar. Naruto tackled him in two bounds; one included knocking the table over, which spilled Naruto's forgotten ramen on the floor. "Kakashi-sensei!"

"Yes, Naruto, now get off of me." He shoved the excited boy from his chest and looked at the clock, and then at the spilled ramen.

"How did you..." Naruto stood and helped Kakashi to his feet.

"I'll tell you as soon as you clean up your mess."

"Okay," Naruto sighed, picking up the table and looked up to catch a wet sponge right in the face. "Hey!" He peeled it off and was about to shout when he found Kakashi's finger in his face, pointing. Naruto looked at the ramen and snorted. "Oh," And set to work as Kakashi sat down. "Well, are you going to tell me?"

"Yes, I'm trying to remember." He leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin.

"You forgot?" Naruto shouted.

"Just a few pieces, but I remember now." He shifted forward, folding his hands and laid them on the table.

"Hurry up then." Naruto growled and sat at the table, finished mopping up his spilled dinner.

"Okay," Kakashi cleared his throat and looked at Naruto, beginning his tale. "The night you were trapped, someone found Sakura's body at the front gate. Not knowing where you were, they took her to Tsunade's office. As she looked for the mission document, Gai, Lee, Shikamaru, and I were called to her office and she informed us of the exact mission. Something about people disappearing. She showed us Sakura and told us that no one knew where you were.

"We all left to follow your trail that night and by dawn, we were in that cave and found you. For months we tried to break you out, but nothing worked. Eventually, I decided that I would have the same technique done on me and tried to convince Tsunade to do it. Obviously, she wouldn't.

"Every day I would ask her and every day she would say no, until she finally told me of a potion she created that could put someone into a sleep where they wouldn't age or change. I accepted and Gai, who had been listening at the door, burst in, demanding he take it, too. I told him no, but Tsunade thought it would be a good idea for him to come with me.

"The next day, we took the potion and fell asleep for about fifty years less than you. When we awoke, Konoha was gone, replaced by this city. Gai and I realized this and, at first, we just stayed in hiding until we realized, in order to survive, we needed to carve out an existence. I can't remember the exact details, but we went to a college and, sort of ironically, became teachers."

"So," Naruto spoke after a pause, taking everything in. "Gai-sensei is here too?" Kakashi nodded and Naruto fell silent again, still trying to piece everything together. "When will I get to see him?"

"Eventually, once you get into school you will."

"How soon will that be?"

"As soon as you learn to function in this time period and get caught up with what you're supposed to know and learn what you need."

"Do you know how long that will take?"

"Depends," Kakashi shrugged lightly. "It all depends on how much effort you put into learning it all."

"Well," Naruto leaned forward, slapping the table with his hand, the usual glint of a challenge in his eyes. "I'll throw my whole self into learning everything I can. And I bet I'll get it done before the year is over."

"I hope you mean the actual year, because the school year is done next week." Kakashi leaned back, crossing his arms, thinking. "If we work all through summer and every spare moment you have, you're studying, we might have you ready by the second term next year.

"Well then, let's start now!" Naruto leapt to his feet, well, foot since his left one still needed to heal.

"Naruto," Kakashi pointed at the clock, which read 11:35 PM. "You need to rest and I have to teach tomorrow. There's also your clothes... Since tomorrow is Friday, I'll take you shopping when I get home."

Naruto looked down at his ripped and bloody tank top and shorts. Kakashi was right. He couldn't live in these clothes for another day. Not only for the shape they were in, but the memories that would never come back. "That's fine." He suppressed a yawn and looked around. "Where am I sleeping?"

Kakashi stood and went to the hall closet, pulling out a blanket. He walked over to the couch and unceremoniously tossed it on. "Here, until we can get my other room fixed into a bedroom. 'Night." He waved and disappeared into his own room.

"Thanks for finding me, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said quietly and lay down on the couch. He lay on his back, folding his hands beneath his head and thought about the series of events that had taken place since he had been found. It was amazing. That was the only way he could describe it. "Goodnight Kyuubi." He yawned.

"Goodnight Kit."

And Naruto fell asleep.