Recovery: Chapter 6
Summary: He became heartbroken and wallowed in his pasts, letting himself go. But on the return of a certain unpredictable Kunoichi, everybody believes that she will be the one to save him. Will she help? How can one girl bring about the aloof man and save him from himself? Just when she wanted was some peace in her life. Good-Sasuke. Akatsuki not really going to be used. Just pure Drama and Romance.
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"Kakashi, I'm fine. Let me get up." Naruto groaned as Kakashi wouldn't let her leave his bed. She just wanted to take a shower, get changed then eat and train Kakashi with his Ninken.
Kakashi lightly pushed Naruto back under his covers as he sat at the edge of his bed. "No, no. Y-you're tired, Naruto and it's my fault. Let me take care of you and we can train tomorrow. You…you have to rest first. Just stay in bed and I'll make breakfast for you." tucking her in and looked to her with a pleading eye when she smacked his hands away. "Naruto…" he almost whined to the annoyed blonde.
"I'm fine, Kakashi." Naruto grunted as she tossed the cover of her frame. "I'm a Kunoichi. I didn't lose much sleep and I can last the day. I'm pretty sure I know my body better than you, Kakashi. Let me up and out." Naruto bit back her growl when Kakashi pushed her back down and wrapped her back up. "Kakashi!" Naruto groaned in irritation.
"No! Now sleep!" Kakashi ordered as he pointed a finger at her sternly.
Naruto just glared at Kakashi as she sat up after he pushed her down. "Fine! If you're going to be stubborn, then I'll rest if you and your pack can capture me." A devious smile touched her lips.
"W-wait. W-what…?" Kakashi didn't have time to lunge at Naruto as she disappeared from his bed and felt the morning breeze on his shoulder as his window was opened. "Damn it, Naruto! Get back here!" Kakashi yelled and jumped out the window as he already drew blood and flew through the handsigns to summon his pack. Ordering at once. "Spread wide and hunt down that damn blonde woman. She needs rest. Report to my clones and have them dispel once you find the real her." Creating a shadow clone for each Ninken before he set off with Pakkun.
The dogs all barked in understanding as they fanned out in different directions to hunt down Naruto.
Pakkun looked to Kakashi and chuckled. "You're not wearing a shirt." He pointed out as Kakashi just had on his mask and grey sweat pants. The man wasn't even wearing shoes for the matter.
Kakashi resisted the urge to glare at his hound. "Well Naruto is fairing any better than I am. If I'm correct, she just wearing her pyjama shorts and a wife-beater. She's also wearing socks with her hair tied up and clipped back out of her face.
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Naruto watched carefully as she sent out the same amount of clones Kakashi did and had each of them follow a clone while she shadowed the original. She was tempted to go home and sleep, but she wanted to see Kakashi work alongside his pack. Yesterday, the pack had told her how much they missed being with Kakashi and that he didn't smell like the leader they remembered. Naruto felt sympathetic and promised Kakashi's nin-dogs that she would help their master get better. Naruto repressed a smirk as 4 of her clones were captured by a clone-Kakashi and his Ninken. She would have to admit that Kakashi and his pack had great teamwork skills despite not being in action together for some time. In fact, the real Kakashi she was following was getting frustrated at her as he too retrieved the clone's memories.
"Better step up my game." Naruto muttered when Pakkun turned his snout in her direction. Changing directions and went running over the rooftops towards the Hokage tower. "Good thing Ero-Sennin taught me how to hide my scent and chakra." She muttered, yet she couldn't understand how Kakashi could still find her clones. She shook the thought away for later and dived for Tsunade's window and rolled up into a stand. Giving a two fingered salute to the amused blonde Hokage. "Yo, Baa-chan. What's up?"
"Well first I'd like to point out that you look like shit, Naruto, and need get more rest." Tsunade first said and hid her smile when Naruto face-faulted. "Second, I would like to know why you are in my office, in your pyjamas and standing on top of jonin commander."
Naruto raised a brow and looked to the floor. Her eyes widening in surprise when she saw that she was indeed standing on somebody that looked ready to take nap. It was Shikamaru's father, Shikaku. Hoping off the man, Naruto quickly pulled the jonin commander to his feet and rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "Sorry about that, Shikaku-Ji-san."
"And here I thought I could take a nap. It's nice seeing you again, Naruto." Shikaku yawned and patted her head. "How's Kakashi?"
Naruto tilted her head and should've known better to withhold information from a Nara. Jiraiya always warned her that they were intelligent people despite being really lazy. "He's okay. Doing better than when I found him, but he can be a real baby at times. He helps around the house but complains a lot during training. Something about me running him 6ft under and killing him. Details." She muttered and waved her hand dismissively.
Shikaku smirked and could see why anybody would be captivated by the blonde. She was interesting to listen to. "Come by the Nara compound later with Kakashi, Naruto. I'd like to play shogi with you. By my leave, Tsunade-sama." He bowed to the Hokage before leaving.
Tsunade raised a brow and said. "Well I'm still interested as to why you're in your pyjamas and where Kakashi is."
"Ah right." Naruto scrambled to the seat before Tsunade and relayed. "Well I didn't get much sleep last night and Kakashi was trying to make me sleep more before I got mad and went running. I'm making him hunt me down with his Ninken to improve his skills and promised him I would rest once he catches me."
Tsunade found this amusing. She already knew the reason for her lack of sleep, but this was just too cute. "Yet you came to my office."
"Kakashi wouldn't think to come here, Baa-chan." Naruto laughed but soon paled when the office door blew off its hinges and in stormed a pissed Kakashi and a smug Pakkun. Naruto looked to Kakashi sheepishly and steadily walked backwards towards the window. "Kakashi, what a surprise seeing you here in Baa-chan's office. Your tracking skills are legendary indeed."
"Naruto Uzumaki!" Kakashi raised his voice and approached Naruto like a predator. He may be wearing chakra weights, but they felt like feathers with his annoyance for the evasive blonde.
Tsunade chuckled. The man didn't even care that he had run about Konoha in just his sweats and mask and left behind a trail of fainted women…judging by the females passed out by her broken office door.
Naruto eep-ed and tried to make a run for it, yet Kakashi was easily behind her and gripped her arm before hoisting her over his shoulder. Naruto squealed in surprise and looked to Tsunade for help. "Baa-chan?" Tsunade had just looked away and pretended nothing was going on. Naruto gasped scandalously as Kakashi jumped out the window with Pakkun staying with Tsunade. "TRAITOR!" Naruto yelled as she was carried off by Kakashi Hatake.
Tsunade chuckled and shook her head. Looking to Kakashi's Ninken and asked. "How long do you think those two will realise their feelings for one another?"
Pakkun hummed before answering. "I'm sure Kakashi has a vague idea what he is feeling but is in denial, but he unconsciously is drawn to Naruto and doesn't seem to notice it. Naruto won't do anything till Kakashi makes a move and being the stubborn brats they both are, this may take a while. Though I bet with the arrival of that Prince that wants Naruto as his bride might just make Kakashi kick into gear…"
"Or if Naruto sees Katsumi trying to coax Kakashi back into a relationship with her." Tsunade warned the pug. "Be wary of her and guide them carefully Pakkun. Those two are too thick-headed to get together on their own advices."
"Guide without pushing. Got it." Pakkun nodded. "I'll be off to make sure the children haven't killed each other, Tsunade-sama." Leaping out the window and towards Naruto's apartment.
Kakashi and Naruto:
Kakashi leapt back into his bedroom window and tossed Naruto on the bed. Ignoring her squeals and immediately tucked her under the covers and pinned her with a glared. "I won, Naruto. Stop struggling and rest now. You've made me run about trying to find you and now you have to live up to your word."
Naruto pouted and stopped struggling against Kakashi and allowed him to tuck her into the bed. "How did you find me, Kakashi? I hid my scent and chakra. Yet you still managed to find me and all my clones." She asked.
Kakashi sat at the edge of the bed once he knew Naruto wouldn't escape and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not too sure either, Naruto. Even if you somehow learnt genjutsu and hid yourself in that, I suspect I could still find you. It's like instinct almost."
"So really, I can't hide from you, Kakashi." Naruto voiced.
Kakashi nodded. He wasn't able to explain it, but he somehow was always able to find Naruto. Even when she tried her hardest to conceal herself, Kakashi could always find her. She was like a beacon to him in the foggy darkness. Kakashi reached towards the blonde and moved her bangs out of her eyes and voiced. "I'll make you breakfast. Something light. You can sleep afterwards." Retrieving his wondering hand and moved out of the bedroom. Leaving the door slightly open.
As Kakashi left, Naruto spotted Pakkun at the windowsill with a smug look on his dog-face. Naruto frowned. "You saw."
"If you mean by the way your eyes softened and Kakashi is too blinded to see that small fraction of a change, then yes, I saw." Pakkun replied and leapt on the bed. Snuggling next to Naruto's body and hummed in delight when she freed her hand to scratch her back. "Ahh this is the life."
"If you tell Kakashi, I'm going to kill you, Pakkun." Naruto warned. The pug was too observant for his own good.
Pakkun nodded. "It's not my secret to tell, kid. Doesn't mean I won't hold back from all the teasing I have in mind."
Naruto just sighed and looked to the ceiling. "Better than nothing I guess. So what held you up with Baa-chan?"
"Nothing important. Just about a certain royal coming to Konoha and that's it really." Pakkun yawned and treaded up onto Naruto's middle to rest.
Naruto growled. "Don't speak about that with Kakashi in the house, Pakkun."
"He's bound to see that downturned picture someday, Naruto. Kakashi may not being at the top of his game right now, but in no time the reliable and sharp Kakashi be both know behind that perverted and lazy demeanour will come home to us in a short time. Give two weeks. Three maximum."
Naruto looked to Pakkun in shock. "Nobody recovers from an alcohol problem that fast, Pakkun. It takes several months at the best. Even if Kakashi is a well-skilled shinobi, he will have drawbacks."
Pakkun grunted. "Kakashi is different, Naruto. His Hatake lineage is at best to help him recover and with you by his side, it will only speed up the process."
Naruto frowned. "What are you trying to say, Pakkun?"
"Have you ever wondered why Kakashi can find you so easily?"
"Yes, I even asked Kakashi about it but he doesn't even know." Naruto replied with confusion written all over her face as she sat up and leaned against the head board.
"Subconsciously, Kakashi knows what is going on, but consciously is completely different and might perceive it as luck. I'm sure Kakashi will tell you in time when he figures it out." Not that you'd ever be able to run from Kakashi. Pakkun mused happily. He knew exactly why Kakashi was always able to find Naruto. He couldn't wait till the two pups went up to the lake cottage. Kakashi should have everything in order once they got there and hopeful stake his claims. He also wouldn't tell Naruto that Kakashi had been listening to their conversation ever since he mention when Kakashi would recover "Perhaps by the time Kakashi has recovered, you can be a little more honest with yourself, Naruto and be happy."
Naruto replied and never noticed the sad smile on her lips. "I am happy, Pakkun."
Kakashi's eye had widened and had taken that as his cue to knock on the door and come on in with a tray of food. "Yo. Breakfast is served." He eye smiled and pretended that he heard nothing, but the look on Pakkun's face said otherwise. Kakashi couldn't help but noticed how natural Naruto looked patting Pakkun on his large bed as her tired looking eyes brightened at seeing him. Kakashi returned the look to the blonde. He was glad to see her too and resting.
Naruto shifted over on the bed for Kakashi to have room as he placed the tray over her legs as Pakkun moved to the end of the bed to sleep. "What have you made, Kakashi?" Naruto asked as she glanced to the array of foods before her.
"Well I didn't want to risk setting your kitchen on fire with pancakes…" he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly as Naruto snorted in amusement. "So I made a fruit salad, fresh orange juice and some toast. Simple yet light and healthy."
Naruto chuckled. "So we're eating in bed today."
"Yup." Kakashi chirped as he dished Naruto's half of the food and waited for her to eat before he did.
"Thanks for the food." Naruto muttered and placed a piece of watermelon into her mouth and nodded in delight. She saw Kakashi place a piece of fruit right through his masked and raised a brow. "Genjutsu?" she asked.
Kakashi nodded with a hidden smile. "I thought this would be easier than having you look down every time we eat together."
Both were completely oblivious to the fact that Kakashi was still shirtless. Pakkun only wondered how long it would take for the two to notice.
"So what I supposed to be doing all day since I have to 'rest'?" Naruto asked Kakashi as she sipped on the juice and found the taste refreshing.
Kakashi hummed in thought before answering with an eager eye-smile. "Well, we can…" his hands reached behind him and in a flash held a book in front of his frame excitedly. "READ!"
Naruto choked on her breakfast and looked to Kakashi scandalously. She pointed to the book with a flaming red face and squealed. "I'm not reading that smut!"
Kakashi pouted and shuffled forward with the orange book in hand. "Come on, Naruto. Just give it chance. I bet you haven't read the book before and it has a really nice plot line. It's not just filled with sex. Jiraiya-sama did a good job filling his Icha-Icha series with drama, action and romance. Come on, Naruto. It's a good read." His eye grew wide in plea.
Naruto's eyes widen before crossing her arms with a huff. "I'm not going to read that orange book." She saw his shoulders slouch and knew she was going to regret this later in life. "But, bring me my weapons pouch. There's something I'm sure you'd like."
Kakashi quickly scrambled off the bed with the tray of dishes and quickly got a clone to clean up as he entered Naruto's room to search for her weapon's pouch. Though his eye did stray to the lone photo that was placed down on her windowsill. Knowing better than to pry, Kakashi just grabbed Naruto's pouch and returned to his room and sat on the bed next to her.
Naruto thanked Kakashi and grabbed the pouch. Opening the bag up and searched through the items till she found a book. "I actually wanted to give this to you when I got home with Ero-Sennin, but y'know…things changed." Indirectly indicating to Kakashi's condition.
Kakashi held no hard feelings and understood what she was talking about. Though he did notice something and asked. "You brought back a gift from me on your travels?"
Naruto nodded and pulled out a green book and held it up to Kakashi. "Yeah. I completely forgot about it till now. It's Ero-Sennin's newest book from Icha-Icha that won't be released for another three months. Icha-Icha Tactics. Maybe we can read this one instead of Icha-Icha Paradise."
Kakashi's eye widen as he traced the book gently as he took it from Naruto's hands. Looking to her gaping. "For me?" she nodded. "Really? Are you sure?" Naruto frowned, but nodded again. Kakashi never felt so happy and did something out of his character that almost made Pakkun have a heart attack. He hugged Naruto first.
Naruto stiffened at the odd feeling of being hugged by Kakashi before relaxing and brought her hands around the man's middle before she stiffened again. She was touching his bare back. "K-Kakashi…w-why aren't you w-wearing a shirt?"
"Huh?" Kakashi pulled back and looked down to his frame. Seeing his pale skin and tight abs. How those didn't disappear from his months of neglect were beyond him. He lightly glared at Naruto and replied. "Well, someone happened to think it was funny to run of this morning when I was trying to get them to rest. I had absolutely no time to put on some clothes. At least I'm decent."
Naruto stared at Kakashi's body and noticed the few scars from his years as a shinobi. She nodded dumbly. "O-okay…but you better put on a shirt, Kakashi. You might catch a cold."
Kakashi and Naruto both swore they heard Pakkun snort in indifference, but when they looked to him he was sleeping.
Kakashi listened to Naruto and pulled on a tank, yet he muttered. "Yet you have the gals to face me half naked straight out of the shower." He didn't know Naruto had heard him, but all she did was roll her eyes. Kakashi re-joined Naruto on the bed and sat above the blankets as he looked to her expectantly. "Are you sure you want to read this book, Naruto?"
Naruto rolled her eyes. "Says that man that suggested reading Icha-Icha Paradise. And I'm straining reading for a reason." He took the book from Kakashi and held a hand up from him to stop speaking. "Nu-uh. You might read through this fast and leave me hanging. I'm in charge of turning the pages and you can hold the book." Naruto paused before saying. "This is weird. I'd never believe in a million years that I would read porn with you of all people. Ero-Sennin I can kind of understand."
Kakashi shrugged his shoulders. "We'll just call it bonding time. Training is for training and bonding is bonding."
Naruto laughed lightly. "Well just imaging you trying to explain to our friends that us reading porn together is bonding."
"I think it would be easy. You on the other hand would have difficulty. I don't think our friends would believe that you read porn and might just blame me for corrupting you." Kakashi muttered wisely.
"Please. I grew up around the Third Hokage and he's a shy pervert that reads Ero-Sennin's books. Then there is Iruka-sensei that has massive nose-bleeds with my Oiroke-no-jutsu. Ebisu-sensei passed out from a major nose bleed with my harem-no-jutsu and then there you are, Kakashi. The cool pervert with Ero-Sennin being the super pervert. I've been surrounded by perverts for as long as I can remember. I've been corrupt way before meeting you, Kakashi and quite possibly further corrupt by Ero-Sennin." She grinned and opened the book to the first page as Kakashi got comfortable beside her.
"Maah, what an analysis you have there, Naruto." Kakashi compliment and couldn't see the book properly, so he moved his arms around Naruto's shoulder to get closer.
Naruto didn't seem to mind as she leaned into Kakashi and both started to read the book. If anybody walked in on them, it would be a sight to see. Kakashi Hatake of the sharingan eye and elite jonin cuddling with Naruto Uzumaki, most unpredictable Kunoichi and reading porn together. It would be quite the sight that the person would remember for a long time.
After an hour, Pakkun had opened his eye to see how the two pups were doing with their 'bonding time' and couldn't help but chuckle. The book had fallen in-between the two as they had fallen asleep. Kakashi had somehow tucked Naruto into the side of his body as Naruto rested her head against his rising and falling chest. Pakkun shook his head at the cute sight and went to get a blanket to cover Kakashi with. He found it hilarious how the two were reading Icha-Icha together. Only Naruto would do such a thing for Kakashi. Any other woman would've given Kakashi a hard time for suggesting such a thing. "You better take care of your mate, Kakashi. She's the only woman your father and mother would accept if they were still alive." He whispered to the lightly snoring Hatake and looked to Naruto next. She looked at peace. "And you. Let Kakashi in and let him love you like you should be loved, Kid." Pakkun took his place on Naruto and Kakashi's leg and promptly fell asleep.
The three never a pair of envious amber eyes watching from across the rooftop. "I'll see to it that you are mine again, Saiai. Mine and mine alone. I won't ever let you leave me, Saiai."