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. Rated M to be safe.

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 Six: Surprise After Another ―

Team 7 was returning from their training and walking through restaurant area, when they saw something that gained their full attention fast. They saw two figure to wobble towards restaurant, and at least other of them was familiar to Genins. Other was wearing ANBU outfit minus porcelain mask, but his face was covered with black clothing like Kakashi had.

"Was that Iruka-sensei?" Sakura asked curiously. "But who was that with him then?"

"Well, let's go to see them. If Iruka-sensei is back from mission then it means that Naruto is also back", Kakashi said and looked his Genins. Sasuke brightened up immediately hearing that.

"Yeah, I agree with sensei", Sasuke said, and now then team 7 was on their way to same restaurant to where duo had earlier gone.

Inside the restaurant was shady and a bit smoky, but it was otherwise clean and nice place. They soon spotted the duo not far from them, and they were already eating.

Sasuke and Sakura rushed to greet Iruka-sensei.

"Hi, Iruka-sensei! You're back finally from your mission!" Sakura chirped happily to Iruka. "I take that your mission with Naruto was successful."

"Hello, Sakura-chan, Sasuke-kun, Hatake-san", Iruka greeted trio. "Yes, the mission was huge success."

"Kakashi-sensei, I assume that you have trained those two dunceheads while I was gone, no?" the masked figure buttet in, except that he wasn't masked anymore. His black mask was pooling down on his neck, revealing familiar whiskered cheeks.

Sakura and Sasuke were a bit shocked. "Naruto, is that really you? What's with your cloths? They are all bloody and dirty!" Sakura nearly screeched.

Naruto gave all of them his crooked, confident smirk. "My ANBU gear, as you can see. My mission was to kill missing-nins so it was expected that my jumpsuit wouldn't do. Also because my mission included hiding, killing and fighting, so it is pretty clear that my gear would get dirty. But no worries, it's all enemies blood, not mine."

Sasuke's stomatch went suddenly into knots and heart skipped a beat, and then started to beat furiously. He was forced to notice how good looking Naruto was in his gear, and he definitely was more than cool. His face started to heat up and faint blush rose to his cheeks and ears.

Even ever so dense Naruto noticed it. "What's up with Sasuke? His face is all red. He isn't sick, is he?" he asked, and placed his cool hand into raven's forehead. "No, he doesn't have a fever..."

'Thank you Kami, for making dobe so dense and oblivious to things like this', Sasuke thanked the gods in his mind.

"You three take a seat and order something to eat. My treat tonight", Naruto said. "We are going to go onsen tonight after eating. It's good for sore muscles after long and tedious mission."

Team took quickly seats around the table. Kakashi didn't want to pass free meal especially when he could eat what ever he wanted and he wasn't one who paid it. "So how your mission went?" Kakashi asked rather curiously.

"Well, it was a bit different that expected, but other than that, I suppose it went well. I got mildly poisoned, but I'm immune for all poisons, so no problem there. I got some scratches, but that's all", Naruto said and took long sip his water glass. "Iruka-sensei got some minor injuries and wounds, long laceration in his arm, but I healed it and it's only scar anymore, and minor chakra depletion, but that was really to be expected from mission like this one", he explained. "Iruka took alone 5 low Chūnin ranked missing-nins from Iwa, Kiri and Suna, along side the nearly 50 bandits."

Kakashi nodded and ordered food with Genins, and turned to look Naruto and Iruka then. "I see. You will sum a quite bit of money from this mission, more than originally expected", he said under his mask. "Iruka-kun can now buy his new bed, like Naruto said. Good job, Naruto-kun, Iruka-san."

Naruto smiled a bit and bowed his head. "Thank you very much. Mission wasn't pleasant, but it had to be done", he said solemnly.

Soon waiter brought food to team 7 and they fell in silence while eating.

― ◦◦◦ ◦◦◦ ―

After they all had finished their meal, Naruto paid for everything - it's not like he's poor or anything, even if he didn't do those missions, because Jiraiya left him a quite hefty sum every month.

Naruto and Iruka headed to Onsen and they were surprised to see that Team 7 decided to tag along with them.

As Naruto washed himself before heading to co-ed side of hot springs, Sasuke was openly gawking at him. Luckily for the raven-haired teen, it was good thing that Naruto was rather dense when it came things like that. Unfortunately enough for Sasuke, Iruka and Kakashi didn't miss it though. They had decided to go to co-ed springs so that Sakura could join them instead having to be alone.

Iruka sat a bit apart from Genin, just soaking and relaxing in hot water. It felt heavenly to allow warmth to seep into his bones and let his chakra to speed up his healing process. It did miracles to his battle sore muscles.

Kakashi allowed two Genin and young ANBU to mingle in peace while he himself headed toward Iruka to keep him company. Though he wasn't sure if the scarred Chūnin actually wanted any company, seeing that he had secluded himself from them. He stared at the tanned man for a good few minutes, wondering if he it would be rude to just sat next to him without asking permission. The Academy sensei sat there just, his eyes closed and cheeks pink from heat of hotsprings, seemingly blissfully unaware about everything around them. Kakashi absently noted that the Chūnin was lithe, compact and sinewy man - pure sinewy muscles - had natural, delicious bronze tan skin, which was littered by scars. The younger man had a dark coffee colored silky hair, which reached just slightly below his shoulders. That flushed look did look rather... delectable on Iruka-sensei's face. It enchanted Kakashi.

"Hatake-san. May I ask you a question?", Iruka's slightly husky voice interrupted the silver-haired man's thoughts and Kakashi swiftly reigned his thoughts in.

"It's Kakashi, since we are meeting as often as we are because of our students", Kakashi replied swiftly as he sat down next to tanned man, not wanting to be caught gawking at him so blatantly. "And yes, you may ask."

Iruka opened his eyes and gazed lazily at the silver-haired man next to him. "Then call me Iruka, Kakashi-san", he said softly, strecthing lazily, like a cat, his now more relaxed muscles feeling and utterly content.

Kakashi sunk even deeper down to water, gulping nervously. This man... He wasn't apparently aware at all how so utterly provocative and sensual a seemingly innocent movement was. It did things to his nether regions. "Iruka-san...", he mused, as if tasting the name on his tongue, liking very much how easily the tanned man's given name rolled on his tongue.

Iruka gave Kakashi a small, content smile. "About that question I had in my mind... What is exactly going on in your team? I mean Sasuke-kun? If I didn't know any better I'd say that he's gotten a rather massive crush on Naruto", he chuckled.

Kakashi replied in kind. "That? It's has been going on for some time now. If I have to guess, I'd say, it started even before they were assigned to teams together", he mused, trying to push the previous Iruka's naked and wet body from his mind. Thinking about Gai usually did the trick, and so it did this time too. "Back then it wasn't so pronounced yet, since they didn't spend so much time together, only what they had in classes. But now... They are team-mates, Naruto teaches him, meaning that a lot of physical connection and seeing him nearly every day for at least for 12 hours straight, some times even more. Sasuke has increasingly difficult time to hide his crush on Naruto, because Naruto is clever and intelligent, and very observant - of course he has to be, being ANBU Operative - but luckily for him, our young friend is rather dense when it comes to romance and crushes. He even all but confessed liking Naruto in our very first day, when I came to pick the Team up from class", he mused in amusement lingering in sole visible eye.

Iruka shook his head with laughter. "Oh dear goodness...", he murmured softly as he glanced at three teens not too far from them, but far enough to not hear their hushed up conversation. "Has Sakura-chan noticed anything yet?", he voiced his last question.

Kakashi's lips pulled into grin behind his towel covering his face. "She's smart and observant girl. Of course she has already noticed that something is going on with Sasuke. I think that she actually has already made a connection, if it was any indication how she went red-faced and screamed, before fainting dead away without any apparent reason during on one of our training sessions", he mused and shook his head head slightly, recalling that day. He remembered it because, Naruto had kicked his arse again and Sasuke had asked what he should do about Sakura because she was acting weird again, fainting without reason.

"I seriously hope that it won't hinder your team's progress", Iruka bit his lip with worry, looking at silver-haired man.

Kakashi swallowed and his hand clenched under the water on hem of his bath towel he had wrapped around his hips. He was sure luckly that his face was covered by small towel, and that what remained his face in visibility, the blush could be explained away by heat of bath. He forced himself to shrug nonchalantly. "They are good team. Sakura's obsession with Sasuke has gotten slightly better, even though she still tends to swoon and stalk him. They are very promising children, most promising ones I've ever seen - including myself. They will have wonderful careers ahead of themselves in future", he mused lightly. "And at the same time, they still never fail to provide me with endless amount of entertainment with their constant bickering, especially boys", he said fondly. "I'm sure happy that Naruto decided to lay off his animosity and train them instead."

Iruka may not have been able to see much of Kakashi's face, but he could see the amount of fondness and love he held for his students, especially for Naruto. "What about your and Naruto's 'spars'? He's mentioned often times that he spars with you, but knowing him, he's rough-housing you. Punishing for your constant tardiness, so to speak. He has cracked your ribs several times during the time he's been your 'student', hasn't he?", he asked matter-of-factly.

At this Kakashi visibly winced and grimaced at the same time. "Oh yes, that", he agreed. "He's regularly wiping ground with me, as it is. He sure is good, if bit rough sparring partner. I've realized that after I quit ANBU, I've grown lazy and slacked my training too much", he mused with a slight shudder. "He can be very cruel sometimes during our training sessions. Especially on me. That is something I'd be very glad to see go", he sighed with depressedly, and even his hair drooped slightly. Whether it was due the moist air or his gloomy thoughts, Iruka couldn't decide. Kakashi streched his legs under water, rubbing his legs. "There are a lot of things about me that doesn't know about me yet, but I cannot tell him because they might cause him to hate me even more than he already does."

Iruka blinked rapidly for few seconds. Did he hear correctly? Kakashi-san thought that Naruto hated him? He sighed and placed a hand to silver-haired man's shoulder gently. "I know better than that, Kakashi-san. He doesn't hate you, I think that it's rather to contrary", he said soothingly. "He talks about you a lot. In very favorably light and fondly. He trusts you so much."

Kakashi made a surprised twitch when the scarred Chūnin placed a hand to his shoulder, but when he heard his words, he was openly confused. And it must've shown on his expression as well, when Iruka continued. "I've known Naruto-kun since he was seven years old, Kakashi-san. That makes it eight - nearly nine - years. So I know him very well, in fact. And only ones who know him equally well are Sandaime-sama and Jiraiya-san", he added and stared at starry sky. "Naruto is afraid of letting people close to him, because of his jinchuuriki status. He tries to keep others at arms length away for a reason, you know. He tried that tactic with me as well, you see, that's why I'm so intimately familiar with it."

The silver-haired Jōnin listened the Chūnin's every soothing word. "What I told you about Naruto not hating you, but rather loving, is very much true. Do you know why he tries so much dislike and keep you away?"

Kakashi looked up at misty, star littered and moon lit sky and said, his voice barely above whisper. "I really want to know..."

Iruka shifted a bit closer to Kakashi, his hand still calmingly on his shoulder. "He's afraid. To let you close, because he's afraid to lose you. He knows a lot of things, that logically speaking shouldn't know yet because of his age. He knows that you, Kakashi-san, are his adopted brother. You are his only family member aside Jiraiya-san", he said quietly and glanced at Naruto's direction. The gold-haired teen was splashing water at Sakura with grin. Sasuke smirked as the pink-haired girl spluttered and then smacked Naruto. Iruka couldn't help a small, fond smile tugging corners of his lips.

"He doesn't want to get too attached to you, because he thinks that it's his destiny to die way before you. Because of Kyuubi. Naruto told me that he will gladly suffer from loneliness than see his loved ones to die or get hurt because of him. Sometimes I wonder how I managed to get so close to him, because he guards his heart so closely. He has tried to push me away when he was younger. By now, he has given up that, because he knows that I'm not going to go anywhere any time soon or let him go. So, Kakashi-san, just try your hardest to break through that thick wall he keeps around himself to keep others out. Behind that wall will you find gentle, kind and lonely child, that your brother is", Iruka said softly, squeesing encouragingly at his shoulder.

'He knows...', Kakashi thought his minds slightly numbing. 'Naruto knows that I am his brother. That photo...', he suddenly remembered. He stood up and nodded Iruka. "Thank you for telling me this. I really needed to hear that, Iruka-san. Now, if you excuse me, I need to have a talk with Naruto..." He murmured and wandered towards three bickering teens.

"It was no problem. You are very welcome, Kakashi-san", Iruka said softly and hummed as he looked up at misty, star littered and moon lit dark nightly sky.

Naruto was very much surprised, when Kakashi suddenly came to his and two Genin pool. He knew that Kakashi had been speaking with Iruka-sensei, but he didn't know what they had spoken about. It wasn't his place to know, if they hadn't included him. So when Kakashi suddenly then slipped into their pool and without any kind of warning pulled unsuspecting Naruto into tight, warm and wet embrace, he was truly caught off-guard. He tried to struggle to get free from those warm, pale arms, but no prevail. The man held him tightly against his bare and wet, warm and hard chest.

"Naruto... I finally realized why you try to dislike me so", Kakashi whispered to him even as Naruto tried to struggle. "And it isn't working at all. You are my brother, no matter how much you may try to deny it. And I won't let you go, push me away anymore. I will always be there for you, so stop being so stubborn and let me in already", Kakashi felt how boy went suddenly still in his arms, slumping against his chest, trembling. "I will love you no matter who or what you are. Aishiteru, Naruto."

Two Genin, Sakura and Sasuke had been taken by surprise when Kakashi-sensei had suddenly invaded their pool and then embraced Naruto. Sasuke was shell-shocked to hear their eccentric silver-haired sensei whisper Naruto that he loved him. He hadn't heard everything, but he had heard enough.

And much to Sakura's and Sasuke's utter shock and surprise, they heard muffled sobs from their blond team-mate, who now clung to silver-haired man nearly desperately, having buried his face to pale man's chest crying.

"Did... Did I just hear Kakashi-sensei say to Naruto: Aishiteru? Was that- Was that a love confession or something?", Sakura murmured to Sasuke in bafflement. "That should be illegal or something. Sensei is much older than we are..."

Sasuke had frozen to spot where he was sitting. What the hell Kakashi-sensei was doing?

Commotion had caught Iruka's attention and he was now approaching two perplexed and upset Genin. He stopped behind them and placed his hands to their shoulders, causing them to jump in surprise. "Sakura-chan. Sasuke-kun", he said. "Please, do not interrupt them. This is very important moment for both of them", he said with low voice, so that only two Genin could hear him.

"But Iruka-sensei... But Naruto is only fifteen and Kakashi-sensei is something like thirty or something", Sakura tried to argue against their Academy teacher, to defend Naruto, despite that she and the blond may not have gotten along too well, but he was her team-mate, and perhaps with time, a good friend, even.

"Age doesn't matter in matters of heart. This is a family matter. They are brothers through adoption", Iruka said quietly as he slipped into water. "Kakashi-san was adopted as a boy by Naruto's birth parents, before Naruto was born. But they both died at Kyuubi attack and after that Kakashi wasn't even allowed to see his new-born little brother, because of his unique back-ground and situation. Only now that Naruto has publicly made 'Genin', is he allowed to see and meet Naruto", he said sadly as he gazed to the blond teen and silver-haired man. "But Naruto is afraid to let people near him, because of his heritage", he added as he kept his eyes firmly at Kakashi and Naruto. "Naruto is in constant danger. Not because we are shinobi, but because of his heritage and who his parents were. You do not know how hard it has been trying to gain his trust when he was still just an Academy student, especially in very beginning, to get him to open to me. It took years to get this close as we are now at our current emotional level."

Sasuke's head whipped at Iruka's way and he started at him with wide eyes, understanding. "So, basically what you are saying is that Naruto tried to hate or seemingly dislike Kakashi-sensei, because he didn't want to get attached to him? He doesn't want to hurt Kakashi-sensei...", he murmured frowning. He wondered how this would affect him and Naruto...

Iruka nodded approvingly and then glanced at pink-haired girl, before he said. "So, what you are going to do now, Sasuke-kun? About your own attraction to Naruto? Now that you know truth about his behaviour", he asked teasingly from raven.

Sasuke flushed deep crimson red, and it had nothing to do with heat of hot springs. "I - I - I - I - I don't know what you are talking about, Iruka-sensei!"

Sakura blinked rapidly Iruka-sensei's question and then at Sasuke's stuttering. She pointed at Sasuke then and exclaimed. "I KNEW!", she laughed. "I knew you had a crush on Naruto! He may be too dense and oblivious to notice it, but I'm not!"

Sasuke sunk further down to water, red with embarrassment, but then he straightened. "You are one to talk about crushes, Sakura!", he shot back. "You have had one for me for ages!"

Iruka couldn't help but laugh at the two teens. Kakashi-san had been right. They were amusing and providing entertainment with their constant bickering. "Alright, stop bickering. You can sort it out later, ne?", he said amiable, mirth swimming in his dark eyes. "How about you save it for your training sessions and not here in hot springs were everyone can hear you. Just sit down and enjoy bath, and relax, ne?"

Two embarrassed Genin realized that they were standing, and sunk back down to water, red-faced and utterly embarrassed, Iruka-sensei between them acting as a buffer.

― ◦◦◦ ◦◦◦ ―

Naruto helped a wobbly-legged Iruka into his (Naruto's) apartment, as his home was closer than Iruka's, seeing that scarred Chūnin's house was other side of Village. What happened in Onsen was still very fresh in Naruto's mind. Oddly enough, it had lightened his heart and mind, as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders. It eased his mind that Kakashi now knew.

Iruka was going to be spend a night in Naruto's place, because it was closer and they both were tired to a boot. While Iruka slumped onto couch on living room, Naruto went to kitchen to make tea for them.

He nearly dropped a tea pot to floor when he noticed a plain brown parcel on table with note. As he hastily read the note, a wide grin formed to his face.

"IRUKA! Jiraiya dropped by while we were away and left two of his newest yet unpublished Icha Icha books for us!", he hollored from kitchen as he opened the parcel with excitement.

And soon enough, Iruka, despite his exhaustion, wobbled to kitchen with a grin very similar to Naruto's on his face. He sat to chair by kitchen table to wait.

Naruto picked up one book and opened it. Inside was dedication text, as usual. And of course, Jiraiya's handwritten message with signature signature. "To Iruka, my loyal and dedicated fan, my godson's most favorite teacher in world, yours truly, Jiraiya", Naruto read out loud Jiraiya's short note inside book. "Oh... What's this?", he mused when he noticed that there was continuation to under it, which he had somehow missed. "Ps... Good luck with my gaki now that he's Genin."

Iruka huffed a laughter and Naruto puffed his cheeks, but all in all, he was nothing more than just amused by it. He handed the book to Iruka with a chuckle.

"I doubt that I'm going voluntarily to sleep tonight", Iruka mused as he opened the book, starting to read it while Naruto finished tea.

"I suspect that the same case will be with me. Lucky for us that Jiji told us to take off from duty for a week", Naruto said cheerfully, their exhaustion forgotten. Begrudgingly Naruto admitted that his godfather's books were very addicting and they had good plot. And well, smut was just a bonus, in his opinion. Despite his young age, he read those books often, and it wasn't as if he didn't know what they contained as he did proof reading and dealt with publishers occasionally. But he digressed.

Soon both Naruto and Iruka had dived into world of Icha Icha with renewed vigor, tea getting cold, forgotten.

― ◦◦◦ ◦◦◦ ―

Despite that they had been so excited to read last night, Naruto and Iruka had both fallen asleep soon after midnight, due their exhaustion. Naruto woke up a bit late, around seven AM, and after showering and eating a hearty breakfast, he tucked his book to his weapon pouch and departed to their regular meeting spot.

Sakura and Sasuke were both there already when he arrived, which was showing that he was indeed late and had over slept. Naruto stopped to Red Bridge by Konoha River, leaning casually against railing, and pulled his Icha Icha Love out and continued to read from where he had left off last night after falling asleep middle of reading.

Two Genin gave weirded out looks at Naruto when they saw the blond. "Naruto is acting very Kakashi-sensei like this morning...", Sakura muttered. "Kakashi-sensei in Henge [Transformation]?", she suspected.

Naruto's sharp hearing picked up her mutterings. "Nope, I'm just me. I just got this new book from my godfather. He stopped by at home, but I was away on mission, so I didn't have chance to even meet him which is kind of bummer. Now that I've returned, I have time to read this. I've been waiting this for weeks", he said lifting the book so that two Genin could see the cover clearly, without taking his eyes off the book's pages, continuing reading.

Sakura's green eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute... Isn't that the book series that Kakashi-sensei always reads?", she asked dubiously.

Sasuke on other hand just merely shrugged. "Well, it can't be that bad if Naruto reads it, then", he stated matter-of-factly. "Naruto, can we see what it is?"

Now Naruto lowered the book and looked over the edge with a raised eyebrow. "Are you sure?" The Genin nodded. "Well, don't blame me if you get traumatized..."

Sasuke and Sakura both hurried to Naruto eagerly to take a look at the book the blond offered them. Realization hit them like a ton of bricks, when they read first few sentences and saw pictures. Both of them scampered away, red-faced and sputtering indignantly.

"What kind of book is that!?", Sakura stuttered and pressed her hands to her crimson red cheeks.

Naruto grinned at them. "A smut novel. It contains mature text and pictures. Normally it isn's available to those of under eighteen, but I live with the author himself, seeing that he is my godfather. I proof read his texts before they are published and deal with publishers sometimes", he said, returning to read, flipping calmly another page. "This one...", he said indicating the book in his hands, "is newest, yet unpublished edition. I always get new books straight from publisher through my godfather even before they hit the market. Well...", he chuckled at the thought passing his mind. "Me and Iruka-sensei, both. Jiraiya, my godfather, has taken liking to Iruka-sensei, so he gets the books free from him."

Sakura and Sasuke gave a shocked looks at him, but didn't say anything. Naruto took this as his cue to continue reading in peace while he had a change to do so. Iruka-sensei reads that kind of material, too? was a prominent thought running through their minds.

Not too long after that Kakashi decided to arrive with plume of smoke and leaves. "Yo!"

"You're late, Kakashi-sensei!", Sakura shouted at him, puffing her cheeks.

"Sorry, sorry... You see, I got lost on road of Life...", he said, sounding not sorry at all. And then his sole visible eye wandered at Naruto, and he spotted the Book in his hands. "Naruto, what are you doing here? You should be at home, sleeping. I remember Sandaime-sama saying that you are off duty until you are fully recovered and your chakra levels are back to normal", he said frowning. "You are officially for a week in off duty."

Naruto looked up from his book, seeing Kakashi, he sighed and snapped the book close. "Che, what a drag...", he muttered under his breath. "I'm perfectly fine, there's nothing wrong with me. It's Iruka-sensei who needs to resting and healing, not me."

Kakashi disapproved with him. "You will return back to home and rest. You hear me, Naruto?", he said sternly.

Naruto scrunched his nose and made a face. "But.. I'm perfectly fine", he argued back.

Jōnin's stormy eye narrowed. "Don't make me to take you back to home", he said. "I know that it's a bit too late to try to act like a brother now, but...", a hesitance entered to his voice as he drifted off.

"What do you mean, too late?", Naruto interrupted him. "You are my brother. I know the circumstances that forbid you from seeing me as a child, but its never too late for family. We're both still alive, thus it's not too late."

Kakashi's eye widened comically and he was gaping behind his face mask. "You... Naruto..."

Naruto signed, rubbing his face. "There is no point in acting like I did before, not when the truth is already out there. I don't hate you, I never hated you in first place", he admitted finally. "In public I will treat you as my sensei, but in private my brother", he said pushing himself from railing.

Kakashi's eye softened and he murmured. "You know that I love you, right?", he said softly.

Naruto flashed him a smile, a genuine one. "I do, Kakashi-sensei. I suppose you could walk me back to home to make sure that I really go to home rest, ne niichan?", he said teasingly.

The silver-haired Jōnin couldn't take it anymore. A comical, happy tears fell from his eyes as he glomped at Naruto. "Otouto!"

Sakura and Sasuke backed away from them, sweat-dropping. The smut novel was forgotten.

At the same time they heard a booming voice calling not far. "My Eternal Rival Kakashi! Your Fires of Youth Burns Very Brightly! Lee, Neji, TenTen; Follow his excample!"

"Gai-sensei! Indeed his Fires of Youth are Intense!"

Kakashi let go of Naruto and looked at the direction he heard the dreaded voice. "Gai, what are you doing here?", he nearly groaned. He really did not need the green-spandex clad, eccentric taijutsu specialist witnessing this.

The said green clad man with shiny bowl hair cut and blinding white smile walked closer, three teens trailing after him. "Kakashi My Eternal Rival! I came to Challenge You to Duel!"

"Ne, Kakashi-sensei... Who is this man?", asked Sakura warily as she looked suspiciously the spandex wearing man.

"He is Maito Gai, Jōnin-sensei like I am. See those three kids with him? They are his students", Kakashi said ignoring Gai who was spouting something about Hip and Cool attitude with practised ease.

Kakashi's three students turned to look at Gai's students. Sakura felt her eyebrow twitch as she noted the similarity between teacher and one of the male students.

Gai quieted down, looking curiously at Kakashi's students. He noted that blonde Genin was wearing clothing very close resemblance to ANBU outfit, but without ANBU vest. And the boy was also wearing a face mask, though it reached to his chin, not covering his face like Kakashi's.

"Well well, Kakashi. I see that you have infected one of your students with your mystery mask", said Gai and flashed a bright grin.

Naruto felt his eye twitch in irritation. "Excuse me, Maito-san, but I was in habit of wearing this thing even before I met Kakashi-sensei", he said. "A habit that I picked up when I entered at AN-", he suddenly clammed his mouth shut, realizing that he was speaking to people who didn't know about his back ground. "Well, never mind that."

Despite the sudden clam-up, Gai understood what the blond was about to say. Understanding flashed in his eyes. "I see, I shall not ask any questions about that then. I assume that your team knows?", he asked.

Kakashi draped himself over Naruto and pulled him to his chest. "Of course my kids knows. They have to take account his schedule and all that", he said giving his trademark one-eyed cheery smile. "Naru-chan is on off-duty for next week, but he still came to our team meeting. Sandaime-sama himself took him off-duty."

"Why so, Kakashi-san?", asked the pale-eyed boy with dark brown hair. "He seems rather fine to me."

"Hmm... He returned just yesterday from high A-ranked mission with Chūnin Umino Iruka. Bandit and missing-nin termination", he said, not giving away anything else about mission. "They were successful", he added with slight mirth. Gai's students eyes widened comically and they stared at the Naruto now.

"How they managed it just two of them?", TenTen asked sounding unusually awed.

"Naruto is good, better than your average Genin", Kakashi said simply. It wasn't his place to tell that he was actually ANBU Operative capable enough kicking Jiraiya's arse. "Though, he did graduate just about two or so months ago from Academy: he's really awesome just like that."

Naruto's eye twitched and he smacked Kakashi with his Icha Icha Love novel to face. "Sensei, don't brag unnecessarily. I don't need more attention than I already get, you big oaf."

Kakashi rubbed his sore nose and pouted. "Maa, Naru-chan, what happened to niichan? You called me that before Gai and his students arrived."

Gai's eyes widened huge as saucers.

"Deal with it", Naruto grumbled, holding his book threateningly at Kakashi's face again.

"I love you too, Naru-chan", answered Kakashi to that, his only eye twinkling with thinly disguised mirth. Naruto groaned and smacked him again into face.

Neji made a peculiar face as he snuck closer to Sasuke. "What's going on with Kakashi-san and that blond team-mate of yours?", he asked with low voice, nearly whisper.

"Just yesterday we discovered that they are brothers through adoption. Kakashi-sensei was adopted by Naruto's birth parents before Naruto was born, when Kakashi-sensei was still a kid. However, Naruto's parents died during Kyuubi attack and for some reason, Council forbid him even meeting his own brother, because of Naruto's heritage or something. Then Naruto was assigned to Kakashi-sensei's team and now he's allowed to see him as much as he want, because Naruto's Genin now", Sasuke replied with equally low voice. "And to me, it seems that Kakashi-sensei is determined to catch up all that time he was not allowed to meet Naruto at all."

Neji was astonished. "What was that when he mentioned something about his mask, but he then suddenly clammed up", he asked with frown.

Sasuke's eyes frosted. "This is not information that I can tell", he said glaring at Neji. "If you discover it and spread it around, I will close your mouth myself once and for all", he hissed with hint of ice in his voice.

"Proctective much, eh, Uchiha?", Hyuuga boy sneered.

"Extremely, as you will discover, Hyuuga", Sasuke sneered back at him. "Though he doesn't need to be protected, he can kick our sensei's arse to Suna and back with ease. If you go pick fights with him, then I'll guarantee you that he will kick your skinny behind to Kumo and back, and make it hurt so bad that your ancestors will feel it."

"And I have eagle ears, as well", came Naruto's ominous statement from Kakashi's clutches, off-handedly. Sasuke gulped. "Say one more word and you will be reading my whole Icha Icha book collection as punishment." At this Sasuke went crimson faced, meeped very unmanly and hid behind Sakura.

Neji's blindked rapidly at what had just transpired. He looked at Sasuke who was now hiding behind Sakura and then to blond teen, still by Kakashi. "Icha Icha?", he asked perplexed.

"Porn novel collection", Sakura piped up, cheeks heating up. "He's not supposed to read them until he's eighteen. He showed us one page."

Naruto smirked at flabbergasted looks of Gai's Genin were giving at him. "Perks of living with author of said novels", he said lifting his precious Icha Icha novel for them to see.

Gai's head whipped to stare at Kakashi, eyes questioning.

"Naruto is Jiraiya's godson", Kakashi replied loftily. "I got addicted to his novels, as you know Gai, when I was teen myself, a year or two younger than Naruto is now", he added and turned his attention to Naruto. "Ne, Naruto, can I borrow from collection those special editions that I don't have?", he asked. "And this new one after you've finished it."

Naruto smiled. "Ah, sure. You are welcome to browse my collection anytime you wish. When you take something, leave me a note stating what you took and when, if I'm not at home at the time", he said off-handedly. "So, Gai-san... What was that challenge you had in your mind for this time?", he asked curiously. He knew very well about Kakashi's and Gai's challenges.

"Ah! I nearly forgot my challenge", Gai boomed. "Kakashi, My Eternal Rival, I Challenge You to Sushi Eating Contest!"

Kakashi signed and Naruto cracked a smile. "I accept your challenge, Gai", Kakashi said. "But not today. Maybe tomorrow would be better choise? My team and I have today a lot to do."

"Can I came to see this contest tomorrow, Kakashi-sensei, Gai-san?", Naruto asked with hint of excitement. "What is your current win-loss state, Gai-san?", he asked openly curious.

"We are tied 49 - 49", Gai boomed proudly.

― TBC ―

Jutsu List:

Henge [Transformation]

Well, this kinda is it. For now. Finally this is actually starting to go somewhere plotwise. Yay... (note the lack of enthusiasm). Next chapter - a bit more KakaIru interaction and SasuNaru (maybe). Dunno. I have no actual plot plannet out or anything. This goes where ever my mood strikes and leads me to.

Regards
Stillnight