Chapter One-Brooding

I do not own Naruto.

Kakashi walked on to the busy streets of Konoha, hands shoved in his pockets as usual. He didn't bother to look around knowing what he would find. Villagers going about their daily life, kids running around and several shinobi buying groceries. Instead, his gaze remained glued to the ground even when he heard a familiar voice calling his name. It was like this every time, Gai would call over to him asking if he wanted to hang out with his group and Kakashi would oh so politely decline by ignoring him. Even in the loud village he could still hear the sound of heavy panting and feet thundering on the ground from behind him. There was no doubt in his mind that the person who lingered behind him was Gai. The suspicion was confirmed when a hand grabbed his shoulder stopping him from taking another step forward.

"My Eternal Rival!" Gai started, a silly grin on his face that made Kakashi want to roll his eyes," I was afraid that you couldn't hear my calls!"

"I heard you just fine," Kakashi muttered, roughly shaking Gai's hand off his shoulder. Gai began to pout though Kakashi averted his gaze to avoid feeling guilty. It wasn't like he was avoiding Gai and his friends because he disliked them, he still had a heart after all. Even if that heart was lonely, cold and quite numb. A part of him yearned to be happy and to enjoy life but the other knew the true reality. Life held no happy endings. That was a lesson that he had learned a while ago, first when his father took his own life and once again when Obito had passed away.

"Ever since you joined the ANBU you've been awfully cold," Gai fumed, "We haven't had a rival challenge in what seems like years!"

"What do you want me to say? That I'm sorry?" Kakashi asked once Gai was done talking. The prodigy crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes as the boy in the green jump suit shook his head. What possibly could he want from him if not an apology for his cold behavior?

"I just want you to hang out with us for once!" Gai begged surprising Kakashi. Even after how he treated him, he still wanted to hang out with him? He was even more surprised when the older boy fell onto his knees and grabbed onto his leg tightly, "Please?"

"Gai, we're in public. Let go," Kakashi hissed, attempting to get the green clothed boy off his leg as people began to stare at the pair. He awkwardly tried to push the thick-browed boy off of him and sighed heavily as he began to realize that Gai would not let go any time soon.

"I'll let go if you come hang out with us! Your on break till your next mission right? I'm sure that you have a few moments to spare!" Gai pleaded loudly, rocking back and forth.

"Fine," Kakashi gave up, "Just for a minute-"

As soon as the words left his lips, Gai grabbed onto his arm and yanked him forward. Kakashi let out a grunt as his friend roughly started to drag him towards the tea shop. The way Gai began blurting out things excitedly caused him to smile slightly, a rare thing that most people never got to see. Gai took no notice though as he marched into the tea shop, Kakashi being dragged behind him.

"Look who decided to join us guys!" Gai exclaimed excitedly as he entered. Two pairs of eyes turned to greet them as Kakashi stumbled in after him.

"Kakashi?" Asuma asked in disbelief, blinking rapidly as if he thought that he was dreaming. Kurenai just grinned, offering a friendly wave. Kakashi gave them an awkward smile, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yo," He said timidly. He mentally smacked himself, where had this shyness come from? These were childhood friends that he was talking to after all! Maybe it's because you've been ignoring them for over a year now.

"Kakashi! Long time no talk huh?" Kurenai started, gesturing over for him to sit next to her. He hesitated for a second before making his way over. Once he sat and Gai was sure that he would not bolt off, the green suited boy sat down across from him.

"Yeah," Kakashi agreed, crossing his legs under the table,"you guys haven't changed much."

It was the truth, they hadn't. Asuma still had a cigarette between his teeth, his hair still black and cut neatly although he had stubble and his brown eyes held more of a wiser edge then they had a few years back. Kurenai had certainly matured more, her black hair beginning to become wavy and her red eyes holding somewhat of a more mature gaze. By the way that Asuma looked at her there was no doubt in his mind that Asuma's crush on her hadn't changed either.

"You certainly look different" Kurenai pointed out. When Kakashi's eye flashed with uncertainty she quickly continued, "Although your good looks haven't changed one bit."

"Of course he's still got the looks-he's my eternal rival after all!" Gai reached across the table to pat his rivals shoulder, his signature wide grin on his face.

"I'm surprised your still single," Kurenai wondered outloud, "Maybe if you took off that mask..."

Kakashi shook his head quickly, pulling up his mask a bit further as she stated her opinion. The whole point of the mask was to not draw attention, taking it off after years of keeping it on would certainly get the whole village talking.

"He's too busy to get a girlfriend," Asuma butted in, earning a grateful glance from Kakashi,"from what I've head your making quite the name for yourself, Copy Ninja."

"It's nothing really," Kakashi said quickly not wanting any further attention on himself though he was cut off.

"Oh yes, The Copy Ninja Kakashi of Konoha," Gai boasted on his behalf, puffing out his chest as if he were talking about himself," I've heard you've become quite an intimidating opponent."

"Not really-" Kakashi tried to speak again but was cut off once more.

"-Which is why our next rival challenge should be a one on one fight! I shall not let my rival one up me!" Gai said loudly, grinning once more. Kakashi sighed, leaning back.

"Maybe another time," Kakashi told him as two masked ANBU came into the shop. Already knowing that they were here to fetch him he stood up from his seat giving his friends an apologetic smile and wave before walking up towards the familiar masked men. As the ANBU spotted him they bowed their head slightly in respect before gesturing for him to follow them. When they were finally outside and in the busy streets of Konoha the shorter ANBU spoke.

"The Hokage requests your presence immediently. "

Rin raced through the loud streets of Konoha, her eyes briefly scanning her watch. She was late by at least half an hour! Doubt filled her as she spotted the tea shop. Had they waited for her or did they think that she was a no show and leave? She got her answer when she darted through the door panting heavily.

"Rin! Over here!" She heard Gai say and sure enough when she looked up she saw the green suited teen waving frantically over to her. She waved back smiling widely. So they had waited after all. She walked over, watching as Kurenai moved over to make room for her on the bench while Asuma blew a puff of some out of his mouth.

"Sorry I'm late guys," she apologized as she sat down. She let her breathing get steady before she continued, "I was just-"

"-visiting Obito, we know. You don't have to explain yourself to us Rin, we understand." Kurenai told her softly, knowing that saying his name was hard for her even after all these years. Rin stared at the table for a few moments, the name alone making her feel unsteady before she looked back up, her usual cheerful smile back on her face.

"You know me too well," she said softly, her smile faltering a little as the thought of her old friend pinned down by a giant boulder ran through her mind. There was blood, so much blood...

"So Rin," Asuma interrupted noticing that his long time friend was zoning out, "How's working at the hospital?"

"Huh?" Rin asked, blinking rapidly. She hadn't noticed that he had spoken till he tapped her shoulder.

"How's working at the hospital?" He repeated.

"Oh!" Rin's expression immediantly brightened much to the groups relief, "It's been good, I'm learning as much as I can. They say that in a few months I may be ready to work on the field!"

"You'd be working with the ANBU right?" Kurenai asked. Rin nodded though she could hear the hidden meaning behind the question. She means Would you be working with Kakashi?

"Yes," Rin replied, thoughts lingering on the silver-haired jonin. Lowering her voice she added, "How's Kakashi? Have you seen him around?"

Rin had heard many stories of the Copy Ninja's great and marvelous deeds over the past few years. Sometimes little kids who came into the hospital claimed that they wanted to be just like him when they grew up. She remembered the pride and astonishment when she had first heard the news about the great Copy Ninja Kakashi. Was this the same person they were talking about? She had always known in the back of her mind that he would become a great shinobi but she did not expect him to be so famous at such a young age. But there was no doubt that it was him-silver hair, grey eyes and tall- that was certainly the same Kakashi.

The last time that Rin had seen Kakashi in person was a few years back when he had first joined the ANBU. She was still worried to this day about his decision, she knew she wasn't the only one that had heard about their cold blooded nature. If the mission requires it, leave your friend behind- that was their motto, and it wasn't a very good one in Rin's opinion.

They hadn't spoken since then, both of them too busy with Rin always working in the hospital and Kakashi earning a name for himself in the shinobi world. That didn't mean that she didn't miss him though. She missed her best friend with all her heart, she missed their deep talks and times where she'd come over to his house and fall asleep in tears.

Every time she'd walk past the Hatake estate, the big statue of a wolf greeted her. She remembered the first time they had met, chuckling every time at their odd encounter.

There wasn't a day that went by where Rin didn't think about him. Was he safe? How was he doing?

"He was actually here a few minutes ago," Kurenai's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Her eyes widened as she processed what her friend had said.

"He's home?!" Rin asked in disbelief. Kakashi was almost never back in Konoha.

"Yeah, he's off till his next mission though he just left-" Gai didn't have time to finish before Rin scrambled to her feet, giving them a quick wave and a smile before racing out the door. After she was gone, Kurenai smiled to herself. That was the first time in three years that she had seen Rin look so excited and she had a feeling that it wouldn't be the last.