"So, how are things going with Kakashi?" Kurenai asked. Gai jumped, as the stealthy woman had managed to completely sneak up on him while he had been watching Kakashi. They were at a party thrown by their mutual friend, Raidou, and Kakashi was busy chatting with the host and his boyfriend. Gai smiled as Genma laughed at something Kakashi said.

"Wh-what do you mean?" he stuttered out as he realized what the woman had asked him.

Kurenai laughed. "Oh, come on. You guys are about as sneaky with your relationship as Asuma and I. Plus, you talked to him, remember? And of course, he told me."

Gai's shoulders slumped, and he sighed. He didn't really remember, to be completely honest, but he was aware that it had happened. "Oh. Well, they're… good. We… have a good time together."

Kurenai raised one eyebrow. "A good time? Is that really all that it is?" she asked. Gai nodded enthusiastically to cover up the unexplained twinge in his chest that had been inspired by her words. She shook her head sadly. "You should end it, then."

Gai's eyes widened and he gasped. "What do you mean? I mean, how would you know?"

Kurenai smiled sadly at him. "Look, Gai, I may not understand what drew the two of you to each other. Hell, I didn't even know you were gay…"

Gai laughed. "Neither did we until… all this happened."

Kurenai bit her lip in thought. "Anyway, what I do know is that friends with benefits relationships never work. One person always inevitably wants more, and let's face it, it's not going to be Kakashi. You're setting yourself up for heartbreak when he either doesn't or won't acknowledge that he loves you back."

Gai spluttered at her. "Wh-what do you mean? I'm not in love with Kakashi!"

Kurenai again raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh, really? So you weren't staring at him with doe eyes like a lovesick puppy when I came over here?"

Gai stiffened. "I don't…"

Kurenai scoffed. "Oh, please, Gai. Lie to yourself all you want, but you won't convince me. I saw it. It's exactly how Asuma used to look at me, before he realized he could have me. But I'm serious. You need to think about yourself, for once in your life. If Kakashi can't or won't love you back, you're only setting yourself up to get hurt. Please, at least think about it." And with that, she gave him a sympathetic glance and walked off to join her boyfriend, off smoking on the patio.

Gai turned back to Kakashi, watching him with a critical eye. Of course he loved Kakashi; they had been best friends for years. But was he in love with Kakashi? The man was lazy, read those perverted books in public, and frequently ignored or refused to acknowledge Gai and his challenges.

On the other hand, Kakashi had been one of the first to acknowledge Gai as having the potential to be a strong shinobi. Simply by accepting that first challenge, he had kept Gai from losing hope and encouraged him to pursue his dreams and, in doing so, had given Gai the wonderful life he had now. His friends, his beloved students, none of that would have happened if he had given up on his dreams, and though he didn't like to dwell on it, he had been close to doing so for a time, until Kakashi had acknowledged him and made him feel like he had a chance. In addition, while it may not be obvious to others, Kakashi was loyal, compassionate (almost to a fault; in fact, Gai believed his over attachment issues were what caused him to distance himself from others as he was afraid of losing them after he came to care for them), and he was a strong and handsome shinobi. He was well-liked among the villagers, and rumor had it that he was being considered for Hokage following Lady Tsunade's inevitable retirement. He was a smart match, really, great husband material…

Gai gasped. He had just thought of Kakashi as husband material. Husband?! When had that even become an option?! He and Kakashi hadn't even talked about where they were going with this little thing of theirs, let alone marriage, though Gai was fairly certain that marriage was not on the table in Kakashi's mind.

Gai turned his attention back to the shinobi in question, watching him as he interacted with their friends. He frowned as he remembered back to the dark ANBU days for Kakashi, grateful to see that all of the pain and misery he had suffered had not left him hopeless and desolate forever. Gai liked to think he had been a big part of bringing Kakashi back to them, but of course, the man never really opened up about that time. If he was being completely honest, Gai didn't really think he wanted him to.

Now, as Gai watched Kakashi, talking and laughing with their comrades, his smiles genuine and laughter not forced. He thought about how far the man had come since his painful teenage years, and realized he may have been wrong. He was smiling like a mad fool as he watched the man, and his heart faltered. He realized now what Kurenai had seen first: he was absolutely and unequivocally in love with his best friend.

Gai sighed. What the hell is he supposed to do about that?

xXx

Kakashi was aware Naruto was staring at him. He could feel the boy's eyes on his back. He sighed and chose to ignore it. When the boy was ready, he would say what was bothering him. And he did so as they stopped to make camp, after Sakura had gone to find some herbs. The boy's eyes were practically burning a hole in his back, he could feel it.

Kakashi sighed. "Yes, Naruto?" he asked, turning to the boy. The blood rushed to the blond's cheeks, realizing he'd been caught staring.

"Oh, it's nothing, Kakashi-sensei," the boy said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. Kakashi looked back to the fire he was getting set up. "It's just…" He paused at the sound of the boy's voice.

Naruto looked around the clearing to see if Sakura had returned yet. Seeing that she hadn't, he spoke quietly. Kakashi was slightly surprised; he didn't know the boy knew how to be discreet. "It's just that I've heard some of those… rumors that you warned me about now. About you."

Kakashi stiffened, his heart pounding, the log in his hand trembling as it hovered above the wood stack he was building, frozen in midair. He had known this would happen, that the people in his circle would eventually start to hear the rumors, that even they might wonder… after all, he was well-known for keeping even his closest friends at arm's length. He tried not to think about how getting too close to his best friend, both physically and emotionally, was what had him in this conversation.

"I was just wondering if they were true," Naruto continued quietly, watching his sensei's back for a while. When he received no response, he continued. "I mean, I wouldn't care if they are, sensei. Honest, I wouldn't. For some people, that's just how it is, right? I mean, some people like boys and some people like girls, right?"

Kakashi forced his breathing to normalize and let out a sigh to try to cover his panicked response. He didn't look at the blond, just returned to building the fire. "Yes, Naruto, that's sometimes how it is," he said, knowing that even Naruto would notice that he hadn't answered his question.

Naruto waited another minute to see if his sensei would continue. When he didn't, he asked again quietly, "So is it true then? I mean, I don't want to force you to talk about it if you don't want to, but I just thought… I mean, if that's how you feel, it's got to be hard to try to keep that from everyone all the time. To try not to be yourself. I thought maybe you'd want someone to talk to about it…" the boy trailed off.

Kakashi sighed as he turned to face his extremely understanding and surprisingly compassionate student. "Honestly, Naruto, I've never given it much thought (a lie; it had been all he'd been able to think about lately). If you ask me, a shinobi's life isn't really destined for a happy ending. I've never seen much room for romantic interactions in my experience (at least that part was true). I guess if it works for some people, great. I just don't think I could ever be one of those people."

Naruto nodded sadly, watching his teacher return to building the fire for a few moments before he returned to setting up the tent. From across the campsite, he heard, so quiet that he thought he might have imagined it, "Thank you, Naruto." By the time Sakura had returned with the herbs, the tents were set up and the fire started. The conversation had certainly not been forgotten by either party, but had been pushed to the back burner. At least for now. Kakashi got the feeling that Naruto was not about to let this go, and Naruto knew he was right. After all, everyone deserved to find true happiness, right?