Recovery: Chapter 7

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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"Mou, Kakashi, I want to get up. Let go of me." Naruto struggled against the protesting copy-nin as she tried for the seventh time to get out of the bed.

Kakashi held onto Naruto tightly and dragged her back towards his frame as he mock-scolded. "Now, now, Naruto. It's too early to be moving around."

Naruto whacked Kakashi over the head and glared at him. "It's 6pm, Kakashi. We missed lunch and I'm hungry. Let me go!" she growled, only to yelp in shock and eyed Kakashi strangely. "D-did you just…?" she questioned suspiciously. There was an odd tingling sensation on her butt and reached behind to lightly caress the lumps.

Kakashi just looked to Naruto innocently. "Did I what, Naruto?"

"YOU SPANKED ME, HATAKE!" Naruto growled at the now chortling copy-nin and pounced on him. "That's it, you perverted scarecrow!" pinning the man beneath her and channelled chakra to the tips of her fingers before assaulting Kakashi's sides.

Kakashi stopped his laughing with a strangled surprise and tried his best to swat Naruto's fingers away from him. He failed miserably and whined when she started to laugh at him instead. "N-Naruto…" Kakashi begged the blonde above him as he tried to gather his breathing together.

"Submit to me, Kakashi or suffer infinite tickling!" Naruto threatened teasingly and never saw the dark look that flashed across Kakashi's features.

Something snapped within Kakashi when Naruto muttered 'submit' and quickly rolled them around till he pinned Naruto beneath him. Ignoring her little yelp of surprise as he straddled her wait and pinned her arms above her head. He panted down at the heaving blonde and growled lightly. "I don't submit to anyone, Naruto."

Naruto's eyes widen in surprise and flushed. "I w-was kidding, Kakashi. A joke. G-get it?" she would admit that the man would listen, but she would never have dominancy over the Hatake. He would never give her that luxury. All those times she pulled him through the ringer he did on his own free will and never because she forced him too. He could've quit anytime, but didn't because he knew he needed help and not to be reined in. That was why Kakashi chose her to redeem him. When she heard Kakashi growl again, Naruto tried her best to get her hands free, but to no prevail. "Kakashi…" Naruto whined and stopped fighting against the stronger man. "You're hurting me…" she whispered as the Hatake's grip kept getting tighter. Naruto didn't know why, but she wasn't dealing with Kakashi right now, but something…deeper.

Kakashi's throat rumbled and leaned over Naruto and got a whiff off her neck. He hummed in delight. The blonde smelt light…like peaches and cream on a warm summer's day. "Naruto, if I remember correctly, we were reading Icha-Icha together. I believe we are both perverts here and not just I. That spanking was in order, don't you think, Naruto?" leaning back and saw her blue innocent orbs widen as her whiskered cheeks dusted a lovely shade of pink. Kakashi chuckled and voiced sternly. "Stay in my bed. I shall get us some food, Naruto." It was an order really. He leant and quickly placed his masked lips on her neck before dashing out of the room and closing the door behind him to get some food for the little blonde helper.

Naruto was panting heavily as she looked to the ceiling and shakily reached a weak hand to touch the spot where Kakashi kissed her. "Who the hell was that…?" she whispered. Almost afraid of the answer.

"That, Naruto, is Kakashi's inner-wolf. You cannot run from him."

Naruto bolted upright with wide and embarrassed eyes as Pakkun was still there on the bed. "Oh my. You saw all that?"

Pakkun nodded.

The blonde Jinchuriki released a strangled noise before pushing the covers off her frame. Only to have Pakkun bit the covers and place them back over the blonde. Naruto glared at the pug. "What are you doing? I want to go rest in my own room right now."

Pakkun shook his head at the idea. "No, Naruto, you can't. Kakashi specifically ordered you to stay in his bed while he went to get food…all while his inner-wolf came out. You disobey his inner-wolf, Kakashi won't ever let you out of his sights…and bed for the matter."

Naruto frowned. "What are you talking about, Pakkun? It's like you're saying Kakashi is a descendant of a wolf or some shit like that. That's ridiculous." She snorted.

"And you inheriting fox-like traits from the Kyūbi isn't?" Pakkun scoffed back at the blonde. "You enjoy trickery and cunning. Your fighting style is based around the movements of a fox. You have enhanced hearing, smell; sight and taste of a fox and to top it all off, you go into heat once a year, just like a fox and you are due for your rut very soon; am I right?"

Naruto growled threateningly at Pakkun. "I swear, Pakkun, if anybody and I mean anybody finds out that I go into heat, I won't hesitate to drive you insane for as long as we both live."

Pakkun nodded and understood that Naruto was a private person. He only knew because he smelt her go into heat once when she was on the Wave Mission and endured the pain instead of releasing it. He was surprised that Kakashi never picked up on the scent of a female in heat. Very surprised. "You have my words, Naruto. But what I say is true. The Hatake family is from a line of wolves, very powerful, influential, wise and loyal wolves. Just like you, Kakashi goes into heat once a year, but he usually plays it off as having a fever and locks himself away. He has tried mating with Katsumi…" Naruto released a disgusted sound and Pakkun nodded too. "…But he can never complete the ritual at the end. Kakashi should be going into heat in a few months' time, whereas you start soon I presume."

"Kyūbi said around the time the new Daimyō arrives, so I'll have to be careful." She shrugged her shoulders. "But foxes are different from wolves, Pakkun. We don't mate when we go into heat. Just release. When I was out with Ero-Sennin, I would find somebody that wouldn't mind rutting for a week. You'd be surprised how many offers there were. This will be the first time I don't have a partner for my heat since I was 13…" she looked away with a distant look in her eyes.

Pakkun knew she was thinking about the first time she allowed somebody to touch her while in heat and couldn't help but wonder who it was. No doubt it was Sasuke Uchiha, but Pakkun would keep that piece of information locked away. Then Pakkun remembered something. "Naruto, what will you do after the Daimyō leaves?"

"Finish Kakashi's rehabilitation and then leave with Ero-Sennin again. We only came home because baa-chan ordered us too. My training with Ero-Sennin is far from over…why, Pakkun?" Naruto tilted her head to the side. It was also her idea to leave because to be honestly clear, her heart still couldn't handle being around Kakashi. He would be fine without her after their sessions were finished. This is what she kept telling herself.

Little did she knows, that Tsunade, the Konoha 12 and leaders didn't want for Naruto to leave.

Just as Pakkun was going to call Naruto out on leaving and that it was a bad idea, because by then, Kakashi wouldn't allow Naruto to leave and hunt her down, the Hatake came on back with boxes of takeaway in his arms and two bottles of barely tea. Pakkun sighed. Kakashi was back and the inner-wolf was put at bay once again.

Naruto tensed when Kakashi waltzed back into the room and saw in his biological eye that inner-wolf was put to sleep. She sighed in relief. Naruto hadn't planned for this because nobody had told her. She'd have to be careful with what she did and said around Kakashi now.

Kakashi grinned as he saw that Naruto was still in his bed. In all honestly, Kakashi didn't know what came over him but it felt right. He'd dwell on that later, right now his little blonde helper needed to be fed and he planned to keep her in his bed all tonight. "Dinner has arrived!" Kakashi bowed dramatically that made Naruto place a gentle hand over her lips and giggle at his dramatics. Kakashi tossed her a mirthful grin and crawled back into bed with her. Handing over her takeaway box, before serving Pakkun before himself. He waited patiently for Naruto to eat her food first.

Naruto noted what Kakashi wanted and broke apart her chopsticks. "Itadakimasu." She murmured before taking a bite of the chilli prawn. Seeing that Kakashi started to eat too and asked. "How was the trip to get the food, Kakashi?" she'd analyse Pakkun's words later with Jiraiya. He always gave good advice, despite being a super pervert.

Kakashi frowned at her chewed on his fried rice. Swallowing before answering. "I met Katsumi…" he was Naruto stiffen as her breath hitched. Kakashi felt his lower pit curl at her reaction and quickly explained what went down as he went to grab dinner.

Flashback:

Kakashi quickly tossed on a jersey and sandals before grabbing his wallet and out the door to get some takeaways. The burning need to hunt for some fresh game, gut, cook and serve it to the blonde in his bed was a high need, but the rational part of his knew that Naruto would get mad at him for causing such a mess and would most likely make his training hellish…or worse…he wouldn't be allowed to sleep with her again. That though momentarily made Kakashi depressed. He enjoyed the warmth Naruto brought whenever he slept. He felt…safe.

Walking down the street with a slight bounce in his step, Kakashi quickly entered a restaurant and placed in orders for him, Naruto and Pakkun. Though that urge to hunt fresh kill for Naruto and serve it to her was still dominate in him. Kakashi thought about how Naruto looked beneath him. She didn't submit to him and that confused him a bit. Why didn't she? 'Naruto is a fox, remember? Stubborn…no, not stubborn, confused. Nobody taught her our ways.' Kakashi cut off his train of thought as he felt something within him dim down just as something slim wrapped around his back and clung onto his chest. Kakashi stiffened as the familiar scent of jasmine entered his masked nose and looked over his shoulder to see Katsumi with a sultry smile. Kakashi responded dryly. "They sell rice down the road and for an extra dollar, they give you soya sauce."

"Mou Kakashi, are you implying that I cannot afford this restaurant?" Katsumi purred into his ear as she reached up on her toes for better access. "Perhaps you should treat an old friend and have our little picnics like old time sakes. Catch up, you know." Rubbing her hand all over his chest.

Kakashi grabbed his order and paid before easing out of Katsumi's hold and walked down the street. Ignoring her cutesy whine emitted from her and waved over his shoulder. "I'm already having a picnic in bed with a cute little fox that found me in the dark." Kakashi ignored the yell that she'd wait for him and would know where to find her whenever he needed service.

Flashback end:

Kakashi looked to Naruto sheepishly. She hadn't said anything or ever reacted after that hitch in breath and he was beginning to worry. Placing his chopsticks down, Kakashi reached over to gentle touch Naruto's face, only for her to flinch and pull away from him. He frowned and voiced tenderly. "Naruto…"

The blonde coughed into her fist awkwardly and packed up her dinner. She suddenly didn't feel hungry anymore and what Kakashi had said about her being that fox that found him went completely over her head. "I just remembered that I have a meeting with Jiraiya. Excuse me, Kakashi." leaving the bed and walked around to the door.

Kakashi quickly scrambled out of the bed and grabbed Naruto's upper arm. "Naruto wait. You haven't eaten yet. At least finish dinner before you go to Jiraiya-sama." Kakashi knew he said something wrong since Naruto had called Jiraiya by his name and not by Ero-Sennin. What did he say wrong?

Pakkun saw that Naruto really didn't want to say and called to his master. "Kakashi, Naruto has is already a day late to meet up with Lord Jiraiya. She can eat with him or when she returns. You should also rest too as you have training tomorrow bright and early."

Kakashi looked between Pakkun and the blonde that wouldn't look at him. "Naruto?" Kakashi whispered. Getting no reaction, he released the blonde and she swiftly left his room and locked herself in her own. Kakashi sighed sharply and growled as he slammed his fist into the wall.

Pakkun gulped. The wolf was back. "Kakashi, be level-headed here. Naruto is giving up a lot to take you in and take care of you."

Kakashi growled and slammed his door closed before pacing the length of the room. "What is her deal?! I brought home dinner and this is how she repays me!"

Pakkun didn't like how this was going. It had been almost two decades since Kakashi last allowed his inner-wolf to emerge. If he didn't stop Kakashi, the man was going to do something incredibly stupid and scare Naruto off for good and he would revert back into his drunken state. There is only one thing Pakkun could say to Kakashi in his current state. "Naruto is not yours to command, Kakashi. She belongs to no one but herself and her Master is Lord Jiraiya."

"I should've gone hunting instead of this filthy takeaway." Kakashi muttered.

Just as Pakkun was about to use logic on Kakashi, there was a light knock on the bedroom door. Kakashi perked up and quickly opened to door. Revealing a startled Naruto dressed in fitted pants and a tight long-sleeve shirt with a large jacket over her shoulders. Kakashi looked over Naruto critically and said sternly. "You are not going out like that to Jiraiya-sama."

Naruto ignored Kakashi's words and placed a hand over his chest and frowned. "I won't be home tonight, Kakashi, Pakkun. House rules: No one is allowed over no matter who it is. Even if it is the Hokage herself. No leaving this place unless either I say so or give somebody the keyword for you to leave. This will be: Kyūbi. Don't waste the food, you two and go to sleep early. I recommend this." Naruto let go of Kakashi's chest and turned her back on him, only for her eyes to widen when his strong arms wrapped around her shoulders. She shuddered when she felt his hot breath on her ear. How did things escalate so quickly today? She couldn't allow this. Calculatedly, Naruto looked over her shoulder with a cold look and voiced. "Release me, Kakashi. I have places to be and people to meet."

Kakashi frowned at the attitude she was giving him. "Stay with me…please, Naruto. Stay." Kakashi wasn't one for begging, but he would resort to such methods to feel that warm and safe sensation with Naruto. He almost growled and barked at Naruto when she got out of his embrace and would've hunted her down if it wasn't for Pakkun biting his hand to calm down and think. He would scare his blonde helper off like this. Instead, Kakashi just nodded and returned to his now cold dinner and heard the front door click close as Naruto left him. Kakashi stabbed his chopsticks into his rice and asked Pakkun. "What just happened, Pakkun? I thought everything was fine between Naruto and me."

Pakkun sighed heavily. "It seems you really are stupid. Both as a man and as a wolf, Kakashi." The dog didn't expect Kakashi to start showing signs so early that he was heavily interested in Naruto. Pakkun would have to make sure that Naruto was far away from Kakashi once she hit her heat; otherwise Kakashi wouldn't leave Naruto alone and wouldn't hesitate to mate with her. Pakkun had to make sure Kakashi didn't move so fast, yet get them together somehow. Pakkun was too old for this shit and was tempted just to leave it to fate, but he needed to teach Kakashi how to control his inner-urges that he had suppressed for nearly two decades.

Kakashi growled at what Pakkun said. "What does that mean?"

"It means that we will be going to be late and I will be teaching you what your father would've taught you if he were still alive. Now shut up and sit down. I have a lot to go through…" there was a knock at the door, but Pakkun barked at Kakashi when he moved. "Don't. It's Katsumi and you know what Naruto said about visitors. Don't annoy her even more than you have, Kakashi."

Kakashi listened to the dog. He didn't want to upset Naruto.

Naruto:

Naruto looked across from Jiraiya as he was sipping on his tea. "I'm not leaving am I, Jiraiya?" she asked sadly with her head bowed.

"Afraid not, Brat. Tsunade was quite verbal on you leaving again and this time she had pulled the Hokage card on you. As much as I'd like to take you out of the village from distractions…" Jiraiya didn't mention that said distraction was Kakashi, but by the way Naruto tensed, she knew what he was talking about. "…I will just have to train you around your schedule for Kakashi and once that new Daimyō has left and the marriage contract is gone…" Jiraiya trailed off and caught Naruto's curious gaze. He sighed. He couldn't lie to her like this. "Tsunade has something planned for you, Naruto…and to be completely honest with you, I agree to this too."

Naruto didn't like the feeling she got in her belly and swallowed her nervousness. "What is it, Jiraiya?"

"Tsunade and I want for you to get married." Jiraiya put bluntly and handed over a Will. Allowing Naruto's eyes to rack over the information. "That is Sarutobi-sensei's will, Naruto."

"Even Jiji wanted me to…marry…" Naruto whispered nervously as she tugged at her hair. "First the Fang's Daimyō and now this…Jiraiya, I can't get married. I'm still young and I have things to do before even thinking about settling down."

"Naruto…" Jiraiya said sternly and held her frightened gaze. He sighed and touched her knee in support. "I've noticed that every time your heat comes around, you get more vicious. You need a partner, Naruto and we're shinobi. Time is not what we have. Age means nothing to us in this context, Naruto. Tsunade had thought long and hard about who you should consider as a spouse and she believes that the first person you rutted with will be acceptable."

"Sasuke?" Naruto gulped with wide eyes.

Jiraiya bit his tongue. To be honest, Jiraiya didn't want Sasuke for Naruto. It was Tsunade's idea. Jiraiya had finally come to terms with Kakashi being with Naruto once they both overcame their obstacles. "I'm sorry if this is confusing and stressing you, Naruto. I do believe that you need a partner, but not Sasuke. I want for you to choose on your own. As you can see on Sarutobi-sensei's will he had suggested Iruka Umino, Maito Gai and Kakashi Hatake for your hand in marriage."

Naruto's mind froze. "I…I…"

"Naruto stop. I know what you're thinking and running away won't do anything." Jiraiya stopped the blonde from panicking. "I will handle your suitors that Sarutobi-sensei picked out. Please, Naruto. Don't run just yet. For now, focus on getting Kakashi up to par and push aside what Sarutobi has written. Focus of Kakashi. Focus on the Daimyō and nothing else. As for Sasuke…I'll make sure that Tsunade doesn't talk to him while you're dealing with Kakashi's recovery. In fact, Naruto, Kakashi isn't the only one who needs to recover. So do you and I want you to relax when you head to my cabin, okay? Naruto, look at me." Jiraiya ordered and caught her gaze. "You…one day, you'll have to submit…" he heard her whine and growl at the same time. "…But, only to the alpha you know who will treat you right…"

Naruto slammed her hand on the table and stood up. Leaving Jiraiya's place and disappeared into the night.

Jiraiya sighed. "Damnit, Naruto. When are you going to stop running away from your feelings?"

Morning:

Kakashi woke up with an icy scream that wasn't common from him and glared at the chortling woman. His eyes widening when who he saw wasn't Naruto, but Anko Mitarashi instead. "What do you want, Anko?" he hissed.

Anko chuckled and placed her hands up in a sign of peace. "Calm down, Hatake. I'm here on your supervisor's behalf to whip you into shape for today. The Kyūbi brat told me to do as I please, but no to kill you." she smirked predatorily when Kakashi paled as she used the keyword. "That's right, Hatake. Twenty-four hours with Anko dearest and there is nothing you can do about it till Naruto claims you back."

Kakashi whimpered when Pakkun poofed away and left him alone with Konoha's residential crazy woman. He swore in his mind that when Naruto returned to claim him, he would make dead sure that she was never leaving his side for him to deal with this shit…ever.

Little did Kakashi know that Naruto was watching from across the rooftops. She sighed and rubbed her temples. "Why am I upset that Kakashi was with Katsumi, Kyūbi?"

"You know the answer, Kit, but you refuse to accept it. Once you admit what you feel is 100% then you'll understand your emotions better. As for now, be a good little fox and give chase. That Uchiha is coming your way."

Naruto huffed and ran off form Sasuke. She didn't want to be around anybody right now. Last night's information was too heavy for her to deal with right now. Naruto needed space…a lot of space.