AUTHOR'S NOTE

DREAMER1084: well... love sometimes made people drop their IQ... so he didn't think of that, but then he would know once he sees Kakashi in the village. lol

Prescripto13: I think when you are desperated, you would look for someone that you believe in for the most, and that for Naruto in this story, Kurama is one of the closest person that he has

krito1389: glad that you like it. With Kakashi, you will know that around 1/2 chapters later.

As always, reviews please. Doumo.

Vii

Naruto took the seat closest to the door, in a slightly stiff motion. He was slightly uncertain the presence of the men and he was not feeling right to talk about the issue that he wanted to discuss with the Kyuubi. "Kurama," he called uncomfortably, as if he was attending an interview. His sudden adrenalin rush fade off quickly and he felt slightly defeated.

"Naruto," Sandaime spoke as he obviously observed the stiffness. "Are you feeling alright? You looked a bit tired."

"D-daijoubu." Naruto replied rather loudly as he also wanted to cheer himself up. "So ji-san, what you up to with Kurama today?"

"We are having tea together, as we haven't catch up for a while, haven't we, Kazuhiko-san?"

"Hai," Kazuhiko responded smoothly as he lifted up his teacup, letting the steam to swathe his gaze. He wondered how Hiruzen would tackle such situation. Kurama did not have the chance to reveal his true identity before the blond dashed in. He doubted that the Kage could guess the hidden secret.

He thought of the conversation that he had with the silver haired leader, right before his work in the cellar.

Ooooo

"Kazu-kun," his master spoke softly under the moonlight, in the vampire's study. "The blood lily of the valley has been found. Are you still intending to keep your decision?"

Kazuhiko stood there in silence, looking at the vampire, trying to engrave the image into his mind. Of course he was informed by the perfumer, Kaori, on that night after his master paid a visit to the shop. He made his decision when he first saw the flower; and he would stick to the choice that he had made on that day. Even if the decision would endanger the existence of the Namikaze, he would. The name of Namikaze was a love-hate relationship to him. He was proud to be one and that he wanted to care for the name, yet he was suffocated by such burden.

The vampire took his silence as acceptance. He heaved a sigh and spoke, "I trust your decisions, Kazu-kun. If the time has come, your decision would also be mine, as well as the answer from the Sasaki. While I am away, maybe you should decide whether you still would like to live under this disguise that I have created for you."

Kazuhiko held his urge to express his true emotion, held back his desire to wrap the vampire within his arms. "Hai. I would not fail you, An-sama."

Ooooo

Kazuhiko withdrew his thoughts as he caught Kurama's gaze. He has been thinking deeply since he received the fox's message. He wondered why the fox decided to help out, removing the obstacles on the young men's love path. But then, he decided to take the invitation, to come to Konoha alone.

"You seem to want me to tell you something, Naruto. What are you up to?" Kurama asked as he decided to make a move, after getting the vampire assistant's attention. He did not like the idea that the child that he raised up would become a Sasaki in the future. But if it was the destiny, he would bravely face it, as what his creator has told him years ago.

Naruto hesitated, "ano-sa…" He tried to figure out what he would like to say to the fox. However, he decided to speak out, as he would not have his relationship underground. He would like his friends and relatives to recognise the person that he chose for life. "Kazuhiko-san has already knew and that I have mentioned to Kurama before. Ji-san, I just want to tell you that I want to go to the Sasaki village next year, to visit Kakashi. Just wondering whether you accept my leave, dattebyo."

Hiruzen stunned for a split second, but he regained his posture right away. "If it's out of friendship, I cannot see any reason to reject your leave, Naruto. However, if there's something more than that, I would like to be inform before we can make any arrangement." He looked at the young blond soft and firmly, "

"Hiruzen-san," Kazuhiko injected effortlessly, "it is a causal and social visit to the Sasaki. My student, Kakashi, has invited him when we were in Konoha last month. He has also informed An-sama and we are welcoming his arrival. And of course," he turned to the fox, "we are welcoming Kurama's presence too."

Kurama nodded simultaneously, "I was wondering when you would ask me to go with you, Naruto. I am getting a bit desperate for An-san's sake. However, it's not the time to arrange the travel plan, Gaara and Shukaku are looking for you. I will catch up with you."

"Hm… right…" Naruto ruffled his hair uneasily; "I guess I will see you later. Jai-na."

As the young blond walked out of the room, the tension arrived in the room again. "So… Kazuhiko-san, is there anything that I need to know?"

Kazuhiko nodded, as he wiped his left hand across his eyes, revealing his origial iris colour. With the eyes, he doubted that the Kage could not guess his identity.

Hiruzen inhaled as he noticed the change. No words are required to explain the situation. With what the fox has told him in the library, he already figured out the position that they were in. "Namikaze," he said. "You are the one that recorded in the history. The man who went against the teaching of the Namikaze."

Kazuhiko beamed dangerously. "You might say that, Hiruzen-san. However, Namikaze are physician first and only as the exorcist in second. I may have abandoned the clan duty. But I am still a Namikaze, no matter how I have disused the name for centuries. There are only few Namikaze remained and as a member of the main branch, I have the entitlement to exercise the relation that linked by our blood. I respect the fact that Naruto is half Uzumaki, but he is also half Namikaze. If he wants to leave the Konoha, as his great uncle, I will be there to support him."

"And for Kakashi…" Hiruzen spoke as his mind spin quickly. "He is a half Hatake, I believe?"

"He is, the son of the Shiro Kiba, once the legendary priest of the Church," Kazuhiko added. He didn't want to talk about the blood that the men have successed, as he had experienced such pain matter. He remembered the conversations that he had with his aniki before he firmly decided to leave his family, to stay and act as the vampire assistant. 'If you are not born as a Namikaze, I would not have prevent you from seeing the vampire. Sasaki is one of the noblest bloods in this world, yet, as your aniki, sadly, I have to say that we cannot have such blood-relation. Besides, how well you have known the vampire?'