December 16th, 2011

edit on May 30th, 2015

Disclaimer: I do not own NARUTO; it belongs it Kishimoto Masashi. No money was made by writing this.

Warnings: Do not read if you do not like homoerotica. Will be eventual SasuNaru and KakaIru yaoi. Kind of AU-ish. Academy graduates are older than manga/anime, around age 15-16 yrs rather than 12-13 yrs. Strong, ANBU!Naruto... Not super!Naruto, though.

Summary: Sasuke often fought with Naruto and called him moron based on how he acted on classroom - goofing off and playing pranks. Yet Sasuke was totally smitten with him. Then came the day of Academy Graduation Test. Naruto shocked everyone by revealing his true self. On team assembly day Sasuke and Naruto were placed onto same team, however Sasuke pretended not to care, like he always did. He had always hidden his true feelings he felt for the blond and so he continued to do so even now. But his problem was that Naruto wasn't as stupid as he had pretended to be. So, it was now only matter of time before his crush for his blond teammate would be discovered...

Keys for reading: "Normal Speech", 'Thoughts'
"Jutsu name [english translation]!", "Transmitter/mic/headset"

― ◦◦◦ ◦◦◦ ―

Stillnight Presents

Surprises

― ◦◦◦ ◦◦◦ ―

― Chapter Three: Team Test - Fail Or Pass? ―

Finally late that night Naruto got from his patrol duty and after quickly changing his cloth, he went back to his home, tired and hungry. After eating quick meal of cup-ramen, took shower and then he flopped onto his futon and fell asleep instantly. Soon only his soft snores was heard and mob of golden hair was seen under his blankets.

Naruto was always very restless sleeper and ended up into some sort bad sleeping posture or sprawling all over his futon and occasionally floor.

In morning when alarm clock finally blared into life he threw kunai to his obnoxiously loud clock to silence it, then he groggily got up staring blankly to wall for about five minutes before his senses finally kicked in. After cold awakening shower, long morning jog and short training session with his Kage Bunshin [Shadow Clone], he ate hefty breakfast and took another cold shower to wash off the sweat he had gotten from his morning work out. Only after that he felt like he was finally ready to meet his team again and their sensei.

Naruto liked his obnoxiously bright orange jumpsuit, and it was incredible help to increase stealth skills and subtlety, because it was so bright. And besides, he liked orange and black. Right before leaving he grabbed a couple of peaches from kitchen.

When Naruto finally arrived to training ground, Sakura and Sasuke were both there already looking tired, hungry and very annoyed. Duo was alerted by Naruto's arrival when blond took bottle of water from his pocket. He started to much his first peach humming and looking clouds.

"You're late, dobe", Sasuke stated, eyeing Naruto. Blond looked like he had just moments ago taken shower right before arriving in there for their test. "Why are you eating? Kakashi-sensei told us not to eat because we might end up puking", he frowned to Naruto and his peach to emphase his words. Why was Naruto going against their sensei's orders?

"I eat because I'm hungry. Period", Naruto said with raised eyebrow. "I ain't keeping meals from myself just because I might end up puking my meal later on."

Naruto leisurely started to do some stretches and then shocked his team mates walking straight up the tree trunk. He did chakra control excersises constantly because his reserves were humongous for someone of his age and generally... his chakra control sucked.

Sakura's and Sasuke's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets when they saw Naruto starting to jog up and down tree trunk as in running, not climping like normally. Naruto didn't pay any attention to them and continued to running in peace. After an hour of waiting their sensei to arrive Naruto was starting to get pissed off. He had clearly warned to not be late - or else... ! He decided that he was going to give a man a lesson that would not forget anytime soon.

BOFF!

"Yo!" tall, lanky silver-haired man whom hair seemed to defy all laws of gravity, stepped out from smoke cloud.

"YOU'RE LATE, SENSEI!" Sakura screeched.

"Sorry, sorry... I got lost on road of the life", Kakashi said waiving his hand calmly.

"LIAR!" Sakura screeched again, and Naruto felt like his ears were going to split soon.

"... Oh, sure you were, Hatake-san", Naruto remarked dryly to Kakashi with sarcastically raised eyebrow. "Can we already start this? Sooner we do this, sooner we know do we pass or fail to become your students."

Kakashi couldn't help but sweat-drop and sigh then. He had spend a whole night thinking about Naruto and what he had heard him speak with Sandaime, when he had eavesdropped their conversation. He hadn't found any reasonably reason why azure eyed teen disliked him so much. Because he was tired for not sleeping night before, he didn't feel like doing proper Genin test, but he had to do it nevertheless. Sighing he started to explain his test.

"Alright", he said and took two silver bells from his vest's pocket and showed them to Genins. "As you can see, I have here in hand two silver bells. You mission is to take them from me, and you can use any tool, jutsu or strategy you know. Time limit is one hour, and who doesn't get the bell by the end of the time limit, they will end up tied into the stump while I eat my lunch in front of them", he said and placed alarm clock a top of one stump.

Sasuke's and Sakura's bellies grumbled loudly and they looked embarrassed. So that's why he said not to eat breakfast, they thought sourly. Naruto quirked his eyebrows to them and looked then bells. Sakura seemed to notice too something out of the place in their test. "But... There is only two bells..."

Naruto snorted barely audible and said with crooked smirk. "That means that one of us will end up to stump anyways."

Kakashi gave him one-eyed smile behind his mask. "You figured it out quickly, Naruto-kun!" For some reason Naruto's crooked smirk gave him shivers and felt like something bad was going to happen soon. But he decided to ignore it for now and continued his explanation. "You won't get these from me, if you don't attack me with intent to kill and you can use even shuriken."

"But, sensei, you could get hurt!" Sakura screeched worriedly.

Naruto gave incredulous stare to pink haired banshee. "And what in the world makes you think that you could actually hurt Elite Jōnin, Haruno?" he asked his voice dripping ice and venom and left eyebrow twitching ever so slightly. "You are just a fresh out of the Academy brat with no skill nor talent what so ever, and he is battle hardened, experienced and seasoned Elite Jōnin, a former ANBU Captain. He could kill you before you could even scream help."

Sakura paled at Naruto's words and Kakashi sighed. "You can begin... NOW!"

― ◦◦◦ ◦◦◦ ―

All three Genins disappeared into surroundings quite well. Well... Naruto disappeared without trace and Kakashi couldn't even feel his presence at all, and that left Kakashi completely perplexed. How the hell Naruto did it?

Kakashi took off and started to lay some harmless but effective traps into ground. He tried to search Naruto, but it was just in vain. That is, until teen emerged from ground suddenly and engaged silver-haired Elite Jōnin into taijutsu battle.

Kakashi delivered some light blows into Naruto's arms and legs, but nothing drastic, and also easily blocked boy's hits and kicks. Then sudden smirk visited in azure eyed teen's lips and he dodged easily now all Kakashi's strikes.

Kakashi soon figured out that Naruto was just toying with him, like Jōnin could easily toy with Genin.

Naruto speedily pulled kunai from his holster, spinning it by its hole in handle and then grabbed blade firmly into his hand and started to attack with it. Naruto proved to be extremely tricky opponent, as good as any Elite Jōnin, but seemingly not quite as good as Kakashi himself. Teen still gave him decent Elite Jōnin level fight and some not so nice injuries and bruises, and cracked three of his ribs.

Then Naruto decided to made it even harder for Kakashi by creating three Kage Bunshins. Using them as a distraction, he made an attempt to grab bells and was successful. Victoriously Naruto jingled bells to Kakashi and stuffed them then inside his jacket's pocket before dispelling his clones and merged into ground again disappearing.

And Kakashi was left completely astonished and utterly flabbergasted behind with scrapes, bruises and cracked ribs. Finally, sighing Elite Jōnin left to look for Sakura and Sasuke to do some testing, even though he didn't have any bells for them.

― ◦◦◦ ◦◦◦ ―

Hour passed quickly. Sakura fainted after falling a victim of one the Kakashi's genjutsus, and seeing pink-haired girl to faint, Kakashi wondered if he had gone a bit too far with it.

In meanwhile both Naruto and Sasuke in their separated locations heard shrill, absolutely terrified shriek. "GYAAAAARRRH!"

"Ah, that was definitely Haruno...", Naruto said out loud. "I wonder what Kakashi did to her...", he pondered and leaned against one of the three stumps in clearing, twirling silver bells in his fingers curiously and eyeing small bells. He stopped playing with bells and lifted it from its red string to his eye level, staring it as wind swayed it gently making it jingle gently.

Sasuke fared only a bit better than Sakura, and Sasuke ended up miserably stuck in ground only his head above ground and after Sakura who saw it, fainted again.

And then alarm went off finally, alerting them that time limit had been reached. Sakura ended up being tied into stump.

Naruto was there already in clearing, sitting a top of one the stumps, waiting them humming quietly some unknown tune as he gazed sky and passing clouds, two familiar looking bells tied in his belt. His facial expression was solemn and nearly unreadable.

Sakura's and Sasuke's eyes widened and eyebrows shot into hairline. How dobe had gotten bells? He didn't even have any injuries, or bruises that indicated that he had been in battle.

As Naruto heard them and finally decided to acknowledge their presence, the turned to look them, stopping humming. He watched as Kakashi tied Sakura to stump and pulled their lunch boxes out from bag, and sighed. He finally took bells of from belt and looked them in curious manner.

'I know what happens when I give these to those two morons. We pass this test and become his official students... First ones to ever pass his test', he thought and his eyebrows furrowed together.

Kakashi saw Naruto's face and knew immediately that Naruto had known whole time this tests' purpose. Now their team's future was in Naruto's hands. It was now left to see what Naruto was going to do.

Naruto sighed and gave solemn look at Kakashi, before he separated bells. "Uchiha, catch", he said and flipped other bell Sasuke.

Sasuke catched the small, jingling object and looked then it more closely, and his eyes widened. "A bell... How in the world you got them alone from him? Even I had some damn hard time with him and I'm supposedly the Rookie of Year, but you don't have even scratch on you."

"Eh...?" Naruto looked positively puzzled, and shook his head and flipped another bell to Kakashi. "That bell is for Banshee, but she can't even catch it currently, being tied down and all, so I'll leave it to your care... Sensei." Small smirk flickered on Naruto's face as he said that.

"Sasuke, what you mean, even you hard time with him?" Naruto asked confused. "It was easy, really. Like easy, light spar what I do with my ero-kyōfu."

Kakashi felt huge sweat-drop form back of his head and he face-palmed. "Naruto-kun, you have to take account that your kyōfu, Jiraiya, is Sannin, a Kage level shinobi. You have been training with him your whole life him as your opponent, so of course your fight against Jōnin would feel like an easy and light spar. To me it wasn't that easy or light as matter of the fact. You should be Jōnin, not freaking Genin, Naruto-kun", he said and rubbed his aching ribs. "But... Anyway, good job for getting both bells from me. That isn't easy feat to do alone. No-one before you has done that."

Naruto snorted and amusement flickered in his eyes. "Oh, that's so weak. It's easy enough do alone, let alone with a team..." he said sarcastically and then he pointed Sasuke and Sakura. "What are you going to do to them? And our team as a whole anyways?"

"Maa maa, Naruto-kun. Don't forget Naruto-kun, that you are technically mid to high Jōnin level shinobi, if not Elite level just yet", Kakashi reminded him gently. "Your team... Yes, it would be just a shame not to pass you guys, because you, Naruto and Sasuke, show talents and skills and you have chances to become great in future. Sakura on the other... Until she decides to really concentrate her kunoichi career, she won't progress. You would become great team - if given enough time and motivation."

Naruto sighed. "Aa-ah... This just sucks. I have to be teamed with no-good fangirl. Uchiha is okay, I suppose, if he really try act like shinobi and concentrate in his shinobi career instead trying to be avenger for his clan", Naruto mumbled and gave solemn look to them. "Sensei, try be on time, if you pass us and train us really and not just laze around and reading Icha Icha. If you try anything stupid, I will start pranking you. Seriously, and you won't like it - at all."

Kakashi paled considerably. He knew Naruto's prankings and some of them were really notorious and gave nightmares years to come. "No, anything but your pranks..." he shuddered with fear.

Naruto gave him raised eyebrow. "Now, are we passed and official Team 7, or what?" he asked, Kakashi nodded. "We passed and all, so yahoo", Naruto said flatly and dryly.

"Meet us tomorrow morning on Red Bridge by Konoha River", Kakashi said and he was going to continue say something, but was interrupted by Naruto.

"I have now something else to do, I can't linger here with you lazing around. Duty calls", Naruto said and merged to ground leaving his team once again utterly confused behind.

― ◦◦◦ ◦◦◦ ―

Kakashi sighed utterly defeated. If something good had came out of this, it was that he knew how strong Naruto about was, and now teen called him at least sensei instead Hatake-san. "What in the world I can do with that boy?"

Sasuke stared down at his lunch that Kakashi had given him. "Probably nothing much. Dobe is very stubborn when he really wants to be", raven-haired theen commented to that. "It'll take some time before he starts to come around and finally accepts this." He knew from experience it, he had known him for quite long time after all.

Kakashi gave raven-haired boy questioning look. "And you know this, because...?"

"I was his seatmate for years in Academy and I've known him even longer than that", Sasuke shrugged and ate delicious tomato slice.

Sakura stirred from her dazed state she had been ever since she saw Kakashi's genjutsu. "Hey, Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke-kun", she said, and both of them turned to look girl. "Did you see yesterday ANBU patrols? You know, I saw two real ANBU yesterday, with masks, uniforms and tattoo, all that. They stood on roof one of the houses and apparently spoke with each others and motioned all different directions and communicated with shooks and nods. Then they disappeared in blink of eye. Just like Naruto does sometimes."

Kakashi was incredulous. "You saw ANBU patrol yesterday? They had masks, uniform and tattoos? How they looked like?" he asked now curiously, even though he knew what they looked. Hell, he himself was a retired ANBU Captain.

Sakura stared ground for moment thinking, wind fluttering her long pink hair. "They had black pants, mesh shirts and sleeveles turtle necks, and they wore light gray standart ANBU vests and they had swords in their backs. Taller one had light brown hair and rat mask. Other one was younger definitely, about our age perhaps. If I'm not badly mistaken he was about Naruto's size and he had blinding golden yellow hair, and he wore wolf mask", Sakura described.

Kakashi's eyes widened with sudden realization when he heard that. 'Could... Could it be really possible?' he thought. "Sasuke-kun, let Sakura free. I have to go meet Sandaime and inform you guys passing my test. You both just eat those lunches in peace. Meeting tomorrow morning at 8 AM in same place I mentioned to Naruto earlier. The Red Bridge by the Konoha River."

That said Kakashi Shunshin'ed [Body Flicker] away leaving swirl of leaves behind and the two freshly passed Genin to eat their lunches.

― ◦◦◦ ◦◦◦ ―

Kakashi knocked the Sandaime's office's window before slipped inside and leaned against wall calmly. "Sandaime-sama, I have some questions about Naruto."

Sandaime looked to Kakashi from his paper work he had been writing. "Kakashi-kun, I have been waiting you to arrive", he said to silver-haired man and put his pen down. "Tell me about those questions, and I answer the best I can", he motioned to young Jōnin to take seat.

Kakashi sat down in comfortable seat and started from the very beginning. "When I met Naruto team assembly day in Academy, he showed his dislike towards me very clearly. I can't stop thinking why he dislikes me so much. Sandaime-sama, I hope that you could enlighten that for me a bit", he said clear confusion in his voice and only visible eye. "When I asked him about it, he said that he doesn't need to tell me about it. And secondly..." Kakashi cleared his throat before continuing. "Today I heard from Sakura something very interesting. She said she saw yesterday two ANBU patrol members and younger of duo was, in her opinion, Naruto's size, age and had blinding yellow hair."

Small, amused smile tugged corners of Sarutobi's mouth. "That's very interesting indeed."

"You know something about it, Sandaime-sama", Kakashi said accusingly.

Sandaime picked his pipe from his desk and lit it calmly, inhaling deeply. "Indeed I do know."

Kakashi frowned and sighed. "Sandaime-sama, tell me honestly... What the hell Naruto is really? He is Elite Jōnin level, that much I could deduct from short fight we had in during my test. He's driving me up to walls slowly with his acting and words. Is Naruto an ANBU member, or what?"

Sandaime stood up from his comfortable chair and walked to personal file cabinet. He trifled files through and picked finally one specific file. He gave it to Kakashi. "This is Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto's true file, it includes everything from the moment he was born to latest mission he has done. That file is very confidental and has most highest security clearance available - you are exception to see this file now."

"As you know Naruto is Yondaime Hokage Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina's son. Gama Sennin Jiraiya the Gallant is his godfather, and he has been under his tutelage and guidance ever since Naruto was born. He has been teaching Naruto ever since boy could walk and taking care of him in your place when you were forbid to see Naruto. About four and half years ago Jiraiya came to me with Naruto and asked from me to permission to sign Naruto in ANBU to get experience in battles and field work. Naruto is, indeed, a full-fledged ANBU Operative and he has his own ANBU team to which he belongs alongside with mask he wears. He does hard missions, patrols and tests security with his pranks - that is the reason he does pranks in first place. Originally Jiraiya signed Naruto in ANBU just to gain knowledge and better training with teams, because Naruto is his official successor both of his titles, as Gama Sennin and Spymaster."

Kakashi sweated as he thought about everything he had heard thus far. "What does Umino Iruka has to do with Naruto, except that he was his Academy teacher?" he asked. He had seen in file that Iruka was close friend to Naruto.

"That is something very interesting actually", Sandaime said and his eyes twinkled curiously. "Originally Iruka didn't like Naruto at all, because of Kyuubi, but he soon saw true Naruto and how he was lonely despite the fact the lived with Jiraiya. Naruto somehow grew onto Iruka and soon they became like brothers. Iruka is very familiar with Jiriaya and he knows that sannin travels a lot, meeting his contacts and other informants. Jiraiya on the other hand knows that Iruka likes and cares for Naruto very much, and has asked Iruka to look after Naruto while he himself is away on a missions."

"I see. It's like that then", Kakashi said. Naruto was enigma to him, confusing him to the no end. "Naruto is ANBU Operative, but still just a Genin? Genin with Elite Jōnin level of strength and even greater knownledge?" he rubbed his face and closed his eyes. "This is going to be very unbalanced team..."

"So I take it that you passed your team then?" Sarutobi asked curiously, inhaling his pipe.

"Yes, it is true what Naruto said about our team. Sakura is delusional fangirl and she won't progress further if she doesn't stop fawning over Sasuke. Sasuke is kind of normal despite the fact that he is only survivor the Massacre that happened few years ago. He hasn't yet shown to me at least any avenger traits, and he doesn't like girls at all", Kakashi said and slight hint of amusement glimmered in his visible eye. "In fact, I think that I might have some sort of love drama in my hands before long."

Sarutobi's eyes widened in surprise. "Love drama in your team? Including Uchiha Sasuke, a boy known to be disinterested all sort of romantic things?"

Kakashi gave Sandaime grin that showed through his mask too. "You see, this is really interesting. As you know, my team includes Haruno Sakura, die hard Sasuke fangirl and she has huge crush on Sasuke. Sasuke on the other hand hates fangirls and doesn't want anything to do with them, and he doesn't like girls fawning over him. This is crusial turning point, and what I saw in Sasuke during our self-introductions... I think he likes Naruto, and is developing some sort of crush for him, not Sakura", he said amusement evident in his voice.

Sarutobi raised his eyebrows. "What makes you think that?" he asked curiously.

"During introduction he said that there is only one person he likes and gave some impercetible glances towards Naruto while saying it. Naruto is very indifferent toward the whole situation as whole. He doesn't care about if Sakura hates him and he's too dense to notice that Sasuke likes him. Sakura hasn't noticed anything yet, but she will soon, if Sasuke doesn't start hiding it better", Kakashi said with one-eyed smile.

"Well... If that is true, then there goes all hopes for reviving Uchiha clan. Not that it really matters to me personally, it's the Council that might go ballistic once they finds it out", Saruto said and chuckled mirthfully.

Kakashi chuckled slightly as he imagined how the Council would go completely ballistic once they found out that their beloved last Uchiha was possibly gay (bi at very least) and wasn't going to revive prized Sharingan [Copy Wheel Eye] bearing clan. "Ah, too bad for Sasuke actually that Naruto isn't girl, you know. If he were a girl, then Naruto would help him to revive the clan", he mused.

Sarutobi barked loud laugh hearing that. "This sounds like some sort of romance novel, albeit not so normal romance novel. Something that Jiraiya might write."

Kakashi's eyes widened as he remembered something and he hit his fist in his open palm. "Ah! That reminds me, why Naruto doesn't mind me reading Icha Icha series? And why Naruto is allowed to read them? Because last time I checked, he was still underaged."

Sarutobi smiled. "That's very simple. Naruto helps Jiraiya to write those books. He gives him information and inspirations. And Naruto's doesn't have to buy those books, because he gets those book straight from publisher as a thank you gift. Naruto helps him to keep his deadlines and deals with publisher from time to time, under the Henge [Transformation] of course so that he looks like adult", he said. "Open the book you carry with you all the time with you and look last page of book."

Kakashi curiously took book from his flakvest's secure pocket and flipped it open from last page. There was picture he hadn't earlier paid any attention. Under picture was a text.

"I want to thank my dearest godson Naruto, who has been very great help all the way from writing and publishing this book. He has been very great source of information and inspiration, and most excellent help to write this story."

Kakashi looked more closely picture and saw in picture where Jiraiya was widely grinning and thrown his arm over blond haired young man's shoulder who also grinned widely to camera. The young man in picture looked like older version of Naruto with whisker marks and all, something would be in four or five years. He looked very much like his father, Yondaime Hokage.

"Sandaime-sama... Is that young man is this picture Naruto?" Kakashi asked staring still picture. "He looks so much like our father."

"Indeed he is Naruto, under his specialized Henge. Naruto uses his special Henge when he is dealing with publishers and other stuff like that, so that everything would go without hassle", Sandaime said.

"Specialized Henge?" Kakashi asked, confused and snapped his book close, placing it back into it's safe pocket.

"Naruto developed his own version of Henge some years go. His Henge is solid, unlike the normal illusionary one, and he can hold it up months if necessary."

Kakashi let melancholy smile grace his face. "I still haven't gotten answer why he dislikes me so greatly."

Sandaime's earlier smile disappeared, leaving old Hokage look very solemn. "I know the reason, and I can tell you honestly, that he doesn't really dislike you. He will tell you when he is ready. Yesterday he told me honestly that he is worried about you, that you would be hurt if he let you too close to him emotionally. I can't reveal anything without his permission, so you have to wait until he is ready to tell, someone other person tells you about it with permission. Asking about it from Iruka could be good start."

Kakashi was confused. Naruto was afraid to let Kakashi get too close for himself emotionally, in fear that he could hurt him? The teen was afraid that he could hurt Kakashi?

Sandaime watched confused Kakashi with melancholy. Those two brothers had a sad history, both of them, and they deserved happiness in their lives more than anything.

"You asked me about how strong Naruto is, Kakashi?" Sarutobi said inhaling his pipe calmly. "You said it yourself earlier. Naruto is indeed Elite Jōnin level, and ANBU Operative to boot. He is very strong, most likely as strong as you are, if not stronger. He never has used Kyuubi's chakra or power, only what comes passively - incredible healing rate, immunity to all poisons, nearly limitless stamina and continually increasing chakra reserves", he said. "As told before, Naruto is Jiraiya's succesor and heir in everything. I'm seriously thinking that Naruto would be my successor for Hokage's title someday when he is older and stronger. Rokudaime, if I don't live long enough to appoint him as Godaime. He has a true potential be greatest Hokage of village in future, greater than his father was."

"So, Naruto knows about Kyuubi then, doesn't he?" Kakashi asked and looked up to wall where Yondaime Hokage's picture was. "How did he react to that? Was he angry?"

Sandaime sighed deeply. "Naruto knows about his parents and Kyuubi. Yes, he was at first very angry, furious even. But it soon went over, and his anger was turned to grief and sorrow for his parents whom he would never know or see. Finally as time passed on and he learned more about Kyuubi incident, he gained sad understanding why it happened and why Kyuubi was sealed inside him. He understood perfectly that his father didn't have any other options left", Sarutobi said, his eyes gazing over the Hokage portraits, finally his old and wisened gaze stopping to Yondaime Hokage. "Three generations of Uzumaki has been doomed to spend their life in loneliness. First was Mito-sama, Shodaime's wife, first Kyuubi jinchuuriki, and next was Naruto's mother Kushina-chan. And lastly Naruto himself. This village has wronged them greatly, especially Naruto, they see him as the Kyuubi, not a human that he is. If Minato saw now Naruto, he would be immensely proud of his son, and angry and ashamed of the villagers how they have acted towards his son", he sighed. "I know that I am."

Kakashi stared also Yondaime's picture. "I truly wish that Minato-tousan was still alive. Situation would so much different now", he said his voice laced with sadness. "Does Naruto know about me? That I'm his adopted brother?"

Sandaime nodded his head. "He does, and he understands your situation, why you weren't allowed to see him at all. It would be better that you don't mention about your relations for now... Wait for better moment, and I'm sure that everything will be fine."

Kakashi noddeed, and they both stood for awhile in silence watching Minato's picture. Then Kakashi sighed. "Now, what am I going to do with Naruto? I can't probably teach him anything and he will be only slowed down by being in team of Genins."

Sandaime hummed thoughtfully. "Don't worry about it, Kakashi-kun. I'm sure that Naruto trains himself regardless what you do or say. He can be very stubborn when he really want be so. Trait he inherited from Kushina-chan."

Smile tugged Kakashi's lips. "Sasuke said earlier same thing about Naruto's stubborness."

― TBC ―

Jutsu List:

Kage Bunshin [Shadow Clone]

Shunshin'ed [Body Flicker]

Sharingan [Copy Wheel Eye]

Henge [Transformation]

Another one... Three more to go.