Synchronization

Love Naruto and thought I'd try my hand at a few stories with these amazingly rich and deep characters. I hope you enjoy and will review to let me know your opinions good or bad. I do not have one problem with yaoi, but this story will not contain that genre. I am only stating this for those that do not understand that love is simply love.

I own nothing. Nothing.

Chapter Eight

Kakashi knew he was still asleep, but he could hear voices close. He tried to wake since he knew he was long gone from Iruka's mind, but no matter what he tried he couldn't stir yet.

"Anything, Yamanaka-kun?"

"No, Lady Hokage, I sensed nothing out of the ordinary. Kakashi seems in a very deep sleep, but I do sense the flow of energy and chakra he is expending that you mentioned. I tried to follow the flow, but hit a barrier. I've never seen anything like this before."

"Nor I."

"He is practically as white as his sheets, Lady Tsunade. This can't be normal."

"It's not, Genma. He must be with Iruka-kun again, but how is what I want to know. What is this and how is the brat doing it?"

"Mm," Kakashi hummed, pushing to wake up.

"God, finally! Brat, can you hear me?" the Hokage demanded as he shifted slightly, "That's it. Wake up for me. Open your eyes, Kakashi."

The Copy-nin fought a little more before finally blinking up to see Lady Tsunade, Yamanaka, and Genma.

"I'm not a brat," Kakashi blurted as the Hokage snorted, "I…I need Kotetsu-san."

Everyone blinked at the strange omission.

"Okay…um…why?" Tsunade asked, looking confused.

"Iruka doesn't believe I'm real," Kakashi offered, "Sent me to ask Kotetsu-san a question that only he would know the answer to. There is a wall. I've got to get it down."

The Hokage looked troubled as she shared a look with the other jonin in the room. The Copy-nin was ticked that he felt so tired.

"I've got to get the wall down," Kakashi repeated, closing his eyes again, "Kotetsu."

"You rest and we'll get him," Tsunade promised as Kakashi sighed, "Go back to sleep, Brat."

"Why does it feel like Kakashi is getting closer and closer to being as ill as Ru-kun?" Genma growled aloud once the Copy-nin fell back asleep, "What is going on here, Hokage-sama?"

"I'm not sure," Lady Tsunade admitted, "Somehow Iruka and Kakashi seem to be enmeshed. I have a small hunch that our favorite, masked jonin was doing a lot more than just cooling Iruka down when he first used that jutsu of his."

"What do you mean, Hokage-sama?" Yamanaka questioned.

"I think Kakashi has tied his own chakra to Iruka," the Hokage snorted, looking up at the other two jonin, "I think we would have lost Iruka on that first day, but the brat is anchoring Iruka until that chunin's system is strong enough to rally on its own. Kakashi's growing weakness is from trying to support both himself and Iruka."

"But…won't that mean that we might lose them both if Ru gets worse?" Genma demanded.

"Not if we can all help it," Tsunade denied, "I will up Iruka's chakra therapy to see if I can hurry and help his system develop chakra faster so he doesn't rely so heavily on Kakashi's supply. We will also continue to share chakra with the brat. Kakashi is doing this unconsciously. I don't think he'd be able to stop even if I ordered him to do so and I know next to nothing about how he is doing this so I can't undo this connection. Iruka has to pull through or I fear we'll lose Kakashi too."

"Then I will start helping him now," Genma stated, reaching to lay his hand on the Copy-nin's chest to begin sharing some chakra, "Yamato once asked if this could get any worse. I think the answer is clear that it can."

Tsunade huffed irritably. She could just kick herself for allowing this downward spiral for two of her shinobi. Iruka should never have been placed in the situation he had been in and now Kakashi was practically killing himself to keep the chunin alive.

"I'll get Kotetsu," the Hokage decided, turning to Yamanaka, "You see if you can contact Iruka-kun through your jutsu. It is imperative now that he know how much everyone is working to help him heal, especially Kakashi. That chunin would move mountains to keep from causing anyone harm. He's a good man."

"Hai, Hokage-same," Yamanaka agreed as he followed the woman from the room.

oOo

Kakashi came aware of soft voices and the feeling of several people's familiar chakra signature. Slowly he opened his usable eye as voices quieted.

"Hey there," Raidou greeted as Kakashi blinked at him, "We've been worried. You slept like the dead for two days straight."

The Copy-nin was surprised by this and glanced about to see Gai, Anko, Genma, Izumo, Kurenai, Asuma, and most importantly…Kotetsu."

"How did you win the survival training race while you were at the academy, Kotetsu-san?" Kakashi questioned as the chunin turned bright red, "Did you cheat?"

Most gaped as Kotetsu burst into laughter with Izumo joining in.

"That's what you needed me for?" Kotetsu asked around his snickers, "So Ruka is really talking with you in your dreams. Only he would still be harping on that."

"I need him to know that I'm real so that he can understand what I'm trying to share with him," Kakashi insisted, "This is his test so I can prove that I'm really me. Iruka is suffering badly. I think he's trapped himself within his own mind. I need to get the wall down, Kotetsu-san. Tell me how you won that race."

Kotetsu sobered quickly after sharing a look of horror with Izumo.

"I didn't cheat," Kotetsu began looking embarrassed, "I won by accident, but the sensei didn't realize that and lauded me in front of everyone so much that I went along with it. Made Iruka angry since he somehow knew something was strange. Um…well you see, I had taken the shorter path, but it had more pitfalls so most avoided that route on the outer hills. I accidently stepped into a yellow jacket nest and the critters tried to swarm me. I forgot about the race and remembered the stream that was just past where the race ended. I was actually trying to reach the stream in hopes of escaping the yellow jackets. I don't think I had ever run so fast in all my life. I out ran those bugs and won the race."

"It was the funniest sight you've ever seen in your life," Izumo snorted as Kotetsu turned red again, "Sensei grabbed onto him before he reached the stream and Kotetsu was completely unaware he had even passed the finish line, but the yellow jackets had given up the chase by that point and no one was the wiser. Ko has always been terrified of stinging bugs."

"I'm not anymore," Kotetsu snorted, looking away, "I'm past that childish fear, but I beat Iruka by only a bit and he wanted to know how for a long time. I was too embarrassed to admit being afraid of bugs and never told him the truth and Zumo was kind enough to keep my secret. Of all the things Iruka had to ask. Now I'll never live this down."

Kakashi shook his head as he closed his eye again. Bugs, huh?

"Kakashi-san?" Kotetsu called as the Copy-nin looked up, "Will this info really help Ruka?"

"It will. Iruka will find the story funny and no one else needs to know this info outside of this room, right, Anko?" Kakashi began as the kunoichi nodded quickly, "Thank you, Kotetsu-san."

"Anything to help Ruka," the chunin nodded out, "Please tell him how much Zumo and I miss him and want him well again."

"I will," Kakashi agreed, "Tell everyone to continue talking with him. Iruka is beginning to hear our voices and Genma's idea of reminding him why he is still needed here has a lot of merit. Don't give up on Iruka. His mind is still very active. I have another question. Why can I feel that I've got chakra within me that is not my own?"

"Because we've all been sharing our chakra with you," Genma answered, making the Copy-nin tilt his head in question, "Tsunade thinks that you might be anchoring Iruka since his chakra is so low right now. You're using up your chakra faster than normal which is why you are getting worn out so quickly."

"Anchoring Iruka?" Kakashi echoed before closing his eyes and concentrating to follow his chakra pathways, "Oh. I…I feel a flow. Can't feel where it leads though. Almost a steady stream, but…I don't…is Lady Tsunade sure about this?"

"No, Rival, but you are surely helping that youthful sensei survive," Gai nodded out, "Shikamaru determined that there is a pattern to the relapses of his fevers. It is when you are the most exhausted that Iruka cannot seem to fight the fever and his temperature rises to alarming rates."

"We are also sharing chakra with Iruka," Kurenai spoke up, "It seems the more we share, the less he has to rely on your supply. You cannot give until you give out, Kakashi."

"True," the jonin answered, "I remember that Yamanka was here. He used his mind jutsu on me. Did he do the same to Iruka?"

"He tried," Izumo reported, "He hit a wall, Kakashi-san. I think this is the same wall you have mentioned. Do you really think that Iruka has trapped himself?"

"I do," Kakashi hummed, "I am thinking that this is a survival habit that Iruka relies on. He shields himself as best he can from outside pain, but he is trapping himself with his misery so he can't mentally heal which is affecting his physical healing. The wall needs to come down. He's trapped himself to escape from pain, but he's…."

"He's what, Kakashi?" Anko demanded as the Copy-nin trailed off.

"He's too close to death," Kakashi whispered, staring out a window, "If he can't escapes from his mind, he'll be taken by death."

An uncomfortable silence filled the room before most startled as Gai stood suddenly.

"Kakashi, undo the connection," Gai growled as the Copy-nin blinked, "We can all continue to share chakra with Iruka. We won't let him falter, but you can't support both of you and I won't allow you to sacrifice yourself like this. You're getting sick and I can't stand by and watch if Iruka dies and accidently pulls you in after him. End the connection. Now."

"Gai!" Asuma snarled, "This is not the time for this. Kakashi just woke from a near coma like sleep and can't handle your fears."

"I won't let my rival die!" Gai thundered back as the two faced off with one another.

Other voices joined in as a full on debate began. Kakashi ignored the raised voices and felt along his connection to what he now knew must be Iruka. Could he break the connection? He closed his eyes and explored more. Probably not and there was no way he was going to try. Iruka wouldn't die. Kakashi wouldn't allow that.

"What is going on here?!" a voice thundered as everyone looked up to see an angry Lady Tsunade in the doorway, "This is a hospital. Show some respect for the ones trying to heal which also includes the brat trying to recuperate right in front of you bunch of annoyances. Everyone out now and leave me to see to Kakashi. Out!"

Shinobi piled out the door and flinched when said door was slammed in their faces.

"Idiots!" Tsunade snarled, walking to Kakashi, "So I guess the proverbial cat is out of the bag, huh?"

"About Iruka?" Kakashi questioned as he leaned up while Tsunade began her examination after she nodded once, "Yes. Hokage-sama, I have no idea how this happened."

"I thought as much," Tsunade hummed, pushing him back down to his pillow, "Can you undo the connection?"

"No," Kakashi denied.

"Liar," the Hokage chuckled, "I am sure you can figure out how you did this, but you won't, will you?"

"I can't," Kakashi sighed, "I can feel more and more of the connection and I'm sure with time I might be able to untangle Iruka and I, but I won't. I'd never be able to look Naruto in the face again if I do. Iruka has to live. He has to, Lady Tsunade."

"So do you," the blonde insisted, "Brat, there may come a time when you have to let Iruka go. He's not improving, Kakashi."

"He will," the jonin said, "I've got the answer for him so that he knows I'm real. He's beginning to hear us talking to him. Iruka will rally. When will Naruto get here?"

"A couple of more weeks," Tsunade answered, "Jiraiya just sent me a messenger hawk stating that the loud brat is near frantic with worry and driving him crazy. Naruto runs without stopping until the boy collapses in exhaustion. You, Iruka, and Naruto are going to make me lose my mind if you three don't stop worrying me so much."

"My apologies, Hokage-sama," Kakashi offered as he watched the lady change out the IV bag, "Thought I only needed this when I sleep."

"You will keep this in from now on," Tsunade insisted, "I wasn't kidding when I said you are draining yourself. Do you think you can try to cut some of the flow of your chakra to Iruka? He is on a regular rotations of jonins sharing their chakra with him so he doesn't need as much from you."

"I'll try," Kakashi decided, closing his eye to concentrate and imagining his chakra like a faucet so he could turn the handle to make the flow slow to a trickle, "Uhn!"

"Brat!" Tsunade cried as he arched in pain with a groan for a moment.

"I-I'm okay," Kakashi stuttered, panting softly, "That hurt for a second and just took me by surprise. I'm fine now and the flow is not as much as before."

"Hn," Tsunade grunted, "The pain means that you and Iruka are more enmeshed than I thought. You hurt because it was like you were deny yourself what was needed to function."

"I'm fine," Kakashi stated again, "I'm also hungry. If I use that damn wheelchair and keep the stupid IV in my arm, can I go to the cafeteria?"

"Fine," the Hokage laughed, helping Kakashi into a robe and into the chair, "Just…Kakashi, promise me that you will let Iruka go and not follow him if we can't save him. Sometimes nature just has to take its course. Promise me, Brat."

"We'll save him," Kakashi snapped, glaring up at the lady, "I won't have to let him go, Hokage-sama. There is no reason to make that promise."

Tsunade watched the Copy-nin wheel himself to the door with angry movements. Gai immediately sprang to push Kakashi's chair once the door was opened.

"I hope your right, Brat," Tsunade whispered as she watched Kakashi peek in on Iruka through the observation window before being wheeled to get some food, "I don't want to lose you both. Damn!"

To be continued…