AN: Thanks to the guests and Emijonks who commented on this. I woke up this morning with a free day, wondering what fic I should work on. Upon checking me emails I found a review asking for this fic to be updated so... presto!

Can I just ask the guest who commeted saying this fic fed made them shed tears... what was that brought on that reaction? I was happy to hear that my writing has made someone care that much :) I would love to know who / what you shed a tear for so I can work out where I am going right story wise :) thank you so much for sharing that with me xx

Chapter 10

Yamato knocked on the bathroom door. "Kakashi," he called.

No answer.

"Kakashi-senpai."

Nothing.

"Kakashi, answer me!" Yamato banged a fist against the door.

"Tenzo... please, just... I need to be alone."

"No, Kakashi, don't you do this to me. Don't you dare start shutting me out again. I thought we had got past all that."

"Tenzo please..."

"No! I want to be here for you. Just like I have been for the past year. I won't let you shut me out! Now anymore, not now."

"It's not about that... I just can't face any-"

"I am not anyone!" Tenzo almost choked out the words. He and Kakashi-senpai had made so much progress, and know the man was blocking him out again, losing himself in his own dark feelings. He couldn't leave Kakashi alone... what if he resorted suicide again? He couldn't lose his silver haired lover. "I am your partner."

Only silence from the bathroom.

Then the turning of the door handle and Kakashi stood before him with a tear stained face and red eyes. Kakashi had always hated people seeing him cry. He hated showing weakness. But Yamato had been by his side for so long, had seen the tears, and the tantrums and the heartache. And then he had seen the healing. Kakashi had been getting better, no longer wallowing in his guilt and misery, at the mercy of his ghosts. And now...

The return of Gai-san should be a wonderful thing. They should be celebrating with the rest of the village, but instead Kakashi was drowning in his guilt and grief, unable to decipher his feelings.

And then there were Yamato's fears, Yamato's feelings. What did Gai's return mean for him? He didn't want to think so selfishly, but he had always loved his senpai. When Gai had left, he had held, comforted him, saved him. The had grown so close. It had taken a long time, it had been hard for Kakashi's wounds to heal, for him to let go of his grieving and guilt, but they had both finally found some happiness i each other's arms.

And no his happiness could be taken from him. Just like that.

Gai was a good man, he didn't bear any ill feelings for him but... he loved Kakashi. He would fight to keep him. Now that he had his senpai, he couldn't let him go.

So when Kakashi just stood before him in the door frame, a mess, Yamato couldn't prevent his stomach clenching from fear, even as he put a comforting arm around his partner.

After some moments, Kakashi raised his arms and hugged him back. Yamato pulled him close and tightened his grip, almost crying himself. But he held himself together- mostly. Yet he couldn't prevent himself cracking just a little and letting his insecurity show. He asked what he desperately needed to of his senpai.

"Don't leave me."

Kakashi took a shaky breath. Kakashi, who was a couple of centimeters taller than his kohai, nodded against his shoulder.

"Kakashi... I love you."

"I know."

Tenzo was so proud. He and his ANBU squad stood before the Hokage, reporting on their successfully completed mission in his new squad. Kakashi Hatake was his squad leader, a teenager only three years older than himself. The rest of the team were older than he and Kakashi.

Tenzo had been given the code name Tenzo which he didn't mind. He had been Kinoe previously. There was something about the way Kakashi said his code name though that made him feel warm inside. The older boy was slim and quick on his feet, with a sharingan and the chidori. He was the perfect assassin. Tenzo's own role tended to be using his wood powers to trap and subdue enemies, or to create diversions. Often with his senpai using this to his advantage to sneak up on the targets.

"Well done, Squad Wolf," the Third said. He took the written report from Kakashi and dismissed them.

In the ANBU locker room after, after he had showered and was changing he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was an older ANBU he didn't know.

"Hey kid," the man said, voice quiet and low. "Look you're new around here, so I just thought someone should warn you." He paused and glanced in the direction of the showers where Kakashi-senpai was. "You'd better watch your back, kid, now that your on Kakashi's squad."

Tenzo frowned. "Why?"

"They call him, 'The Friend Killer'. He let both his old team mate's die, one by his own hand."

Tenzo jerked back out of the man's grip. This didn't add up. Friend Killer. That wasn't the Kakashi he knew. That wasn't the stoic young man who had shown Tenzo kindness, friendship, and given him a chance when he had left ROOT. The silver haired man owed him nothing, yet he had welcomed Tenzo to his squad as a friend, though he was sure Kakashi had few of those.

Tenzo glared at the other ANBU. "That's nonsense."

"It's not. Everyone know it. But fine, suit yourself, kid. Just don't blame me when he-"

"Enough!" Tenzograbbed the other man by his shirt. "Don't talk about what you don't know. If I hear you say anything like that about my senpai again, you'll regret it."

"Tch," the older man shrugged out of Tenzo's grip. "Whatever."

Naruto walked Gai and Lee back to their home, mouth still tingling from the chili. Maybe that challenge wasn't such a good idea. He shook Gai's hand and clasped his shoulder.

"Gai-sensei," Naruto said, voice deadly serious. "It's good to have you back. Really."

The green beast smiled and pulled the Hokage into a manly hug. "Thank you, Naruto. I am sure will prove to be a fine Hokage. Tomorrow I will get back to training right away!"

"No need for that, sensei. I want you to have some time to yourself to catch up with your friends. No more missions for you for a while. I will also allow some time off for those closest to you." He looked at Lee as he said this.

"I am perfectly capable of performing missions, Hoakge-sama."

"I know," Naruto smiled. "But I don't want you to. If anyone deserves some time off, it is you."

"That is kind of you. But no matter how well some time off is deserved, it won't stop the green beast of Konoha from training."

Naruto laughed. "I thought you'd say something like that, Bushier-Brow-sensei."

"Lee!" Gai bellowed, fist punching.

"Yes, sir, Gai-sensei!" Rock Lee stood to attention.

"First thing tomorrow, we train."

"Yes, sir!"