Recovery: Chapter 13

Summary: Kakashi 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. FemNaruto Good-Sasuke

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"Maah, so this is what you look like." Kakashi voiced stiffly as his surrounding was blindingly white. He was no fool to know where he was; he was inside his mindscape. Kakashi rolled his shoulders as he looked more around and saw nothing but white. Ignoring the imposing figure in front of him. "I supposed the inner workings of my mind could be worse...unless, of course, this place is yours." he stated. Last he remembered before being dumped into his mind was sparring with Naruto on the lake. "She knew i was faking my chakra control, of course. I guess she was at her wits end and just wanted to pummel me. I would want to pummel myself too if i were in her position." Kakashi talked bitterly before allowing his gaze to move to his 'companion'. "I guess a part of me figures she'll leave me once I get mission-ready and doesn't want our time to end. Another part knows I'm being selfish and that she won't abandon me because Naruto said so herself that we're friends. I'm pathetic when it comes to her, aren't I?"

The imposing figure snorted. Whether in delight at Kakashi's admitted defeat or amusement, he would never know. The figure was a good 2ft taller than Kakashi with dark grey fur covering the humanoid wolf that stood proudly on his hind legs. Flashes of silver glinted in the fur with sharp fangs overhanging its feral snout, claws extended as its strong arms crossed over its larger chest. Wearing nought but a...loin-cloth? Kakashi snorted at that, definitely in amusement. His inner-half had a body built for speed and death that was for sure. Even the gleaming red eyes just screamed 'murderer' at the Hatake.

"We're both pathetic when it comes to our mate." The wolf-man replied hoarsely. As if he hadn't spoken in years. Which wasn't far from the truth considering his human half blocked him out for many years. "I am reduced to nothing but a pup in her presence though i have no shame in doing so. Being within distance reduces my...urges to kill." He said. "You, on the other hand, have held me back with your will alone for years. Not the death of your father, teammates or beloved sensei broke you to the point of no return." The beast ignored the masked man's tensed body as he talked. "Your will was strong till you met that woman." He hissed out with barely contained rage.

Kakashi knew what his beast was talking about. He had been denying it for years but that wouldn't stop his beast from being brutally honest with him. His beast deserved to lash out on him for what he did.

"You dare to harm our mate for the sake of mock-love that lead you astray! You knew deep down with every word and insult you threw at our mate hurt her and destroyed you inside. Destroyed me!" He roared before making his move. Launching forward at a rivalling speed and socked Kakashi in his gut; sending the man flying a good distance away. The beast speed towards the tumbling body with his claws extended. Intending to slash at his human. "A part of you knew she was ours but time and time again you denied not only me but your chosen mate by the moon goddess!"

Kakashi quickly rolled out of the way just in time before contact. Rolling to his feet he jumped a good distance away from his enraged beast. He could see the bulging muscles constrict against its fur. "I know." he whispered painfully. That punch was shattering like Gai's though felt his other half was holding back. "I was wrong to hurt Naruto the way i did. Hell, I'm still surprised she can even stand being in the same room as me. Let alone take care of me!" Kakashi was getting angry now. He barely got angry and expressed it. "I know damn well what I did to her and you know well enough why I was so blinded by Katsumi. When Katsumi showed me even a glimpse of mock-love that I hadn't felt in a decade I was hooked like a fool!" Kakashi ran towards the charging beast. Ready to counter-attack.

"Fool!"

The two fought each other viciously. Like two wild hounds fighting to survive and gain the prize of freedom. The beast didn't hesitate to grip Kakashi's face and slam the human onto the ground. Not flinching in the slightest as Kakashi had broken his good arm just previously.

"You fool. How long are you going to keep being miserable?" The beast asked sadly as Kakashi looked back just as pathetically. Releasing the man he sat down beside Kakashi. Kakashi opting to stay laying down. "You need to apologise sincerely to Naruto and explain to her honestly for your actions. You'll be nothing but friends if you do not. She will not see our mark if you do not. If you're not honest we will lose Naruto forever. We're not the only ones with eyes on her and I'm sure you've noticed. That little Uchiha is very fond of her and when we caught them in that clearing I saw the eyes of a man in love."

"I know." Kakashi muttered in agreement. How couldn't he see the way Sasuke looked at Naruto? The way the Uchiha's eyes lit up briefly at the sight of the blonde or even the clenched fists of the pale boy when she briefly dated Kiba. Kakashi gazed into the dark silver eyes of his beast and replied. "I know there are many more than just Sasuke. I'm no fool about that even though it does look like I'm ignorant to it. Hokage-sama is looking for a husband for Naruto."

The beast's lips curled into a snarl. To anyone else it looked threatening and vicious but to Kakashi it was just an annoyed grimace. "So I have seen. Even that Green Beast is a candidate."

"Maah Gai wouldn't." Kakashi nodded before his eye narrowed. "Unless Hokage-sama ordered it, of course. Though I doubt I got sent here to talk about my misdeeds, get beaten upand talk about my lame dwindling love life."

"No. It's time you learnt more of your clan. Specifically I mean me and the mating ritual."

"Ritual?" Kakashi frowned and sat up. "Maah sounds foreboding. Hows your arm?"

"It'll heal in a few days give or take." The beast replied. "Remember this, I am you and you are me. In a way I'm Kakashi and you're a dashing beast." The beast grinned wide with a low growl. Though Kakashi just groaned at the display of the beast's predatory behavior. "You can call on my strengths though just like every other technique you'll have to learn and practice. You'll get 2 forms from the Hatake curse..and yes I do mean curse and not Bloodline. I shall explain that at a later time or you could simply ask your dogs. The first form is a partial transformation. Extended claws, teeth and mane. Heightened senses, quicker reflexes and your chakra will become twice as dense as it already is."

Kakashi nodded in understanding. "Meaning high consuming chakra techniques will cost even lesser chakra than I already use. Maah the curse part though i'll definitely have to ask about to Pakkun. I'll have to train at night with the senses unless i want to go blind by the sun and work that way...but 'partial' is where I'm getting a bit uncertain about. Sounds like I'll be looking more Inuzuka, so what's the catch?"

The beast chuckled. His human's sharp mind was coming back. "Oh how could I forget? Y'know if you hadn't locked me out since you were a pup you would know all of this by now." Lips curling at the indifferent man. "Just a pair of ears and tail. Whereas your human ears will be gone till you dismiss the technique. The only problem with this is that your urges will be increased by at least double. Which is why I'll keep beating your ass each visit because if I had access to you as a pup it wouldn't be hard and you'd be trained."

Kakashi didn't mind the ears and tail part though the urges could be a potential problem with Naruto around. He couldn't just up and dry hump her like a bitch in heat. At the thought Kakashi blushed before coughing into his hand to get rid of the thought. He had a lot of planning to do once he woke up.

The beast ignored Kakashi and continued on with a slight edge at having to train a grown man. They were meant to train together when both of them were just puppies so Kakashi wouldn't rampage in a random spout of rage or force himself on his mate should he meet them. The beast growled. Thankfully his human had a strong will to curb both instincts but it would start to get harder now that Beast was allowed to mingle with Kakashi. The beast's urges would be hard to contain.

"The second form is a full transformation into the form you see before you. Though we'll deal with my form once you've mastered the first transformation and control of your inner urges."

Kakashi nodded once more. "I do apologise for shutting you out though." He shrugged and looked away. "When I was little and heard your voice I simply thought I was going insane and, well, Dad never had time to explain our family curse. All I ever knew about the clan was that our chakra held a higher density making it easier to expel high level jutsu with half the chakra consumption." Kakashi stood up and patted the imaginary dust off his pants. "I understand that it'll be hard and I can't just up and be close with Naruto like you would prefer. It'd only scare her away and you've seen the way she freezes when I get to close to her. It'll take time."

The beast let out a miserable sigh. "We don't have time, Kakashi." Not bothering to stand up. "If we don't mate and tie ourselves with Naruto we will both perish and be nothing more than a wild wolf in Konoha's forest. Before that though, in a few months' time I will merge with you and we'll become one. If you're not fully mated after marking your mate by the next new moon then we will be gone for good." The beast inwardly snarled. Had his human not cut him out he would've had years to prepare and train together with Kakashi before his mate turned up but now he had mere months to get years worth of work done.

Kakashi stared blankly at the imposing wolf-man. He'd become nothing?

"Before you leave I must tell you about mating ritual. It's much more than just sex." Dark steel grey eyes bore through into his human side. "You have already completed the first step which is to mark your mate...granted I did take over briefly to do so. The second step is acceptance on both sides. Third, is to exchange blood and vows under the new moon. That, Kakashi, is the Hatake mating ritual. Blood exchanged to calm the beast and vows given to appease the human."

"You tricked me from the beginning. You're forcing me to court Naruto!" Kakashi hissed as he processed all the information given to him.

"Don't look so betrayed! You had this coming to you, Kakashi. Years I've laid in anguish and I want to have a taste of what I wished for the second I knew Naruto was ours to love! If I hadn't marked her, our mate, Naruto would leave us again and this time she'll never come back! If your courtship falls through and you become a mindless animal then you deserve it, Kakashi." Beast sneered harshly. Flicking Kakashi out of his white space he had called home for years. He was harsh, yes, but Kakashi needed to be pushed even if it meant putting his life on the line.

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Naruto:

The blonde sighed as she fished the sinking man out of the lake. "Maybe I was a bit too harsh." Throwing the bigger man over her shoulder and walked towards dried land. Laying down the man on the grass and removed most of his wet clothing. Leaving him in just his shorts and laid down next to him with the biggest sigh she could muster. Deep down, Naruto knew she was taking her anger about her marriage and Katsumi's scheme out on the man she's meant to be helping. She did feel guilty but at the same time it felt nice letting it out. Though not exactly in the best way that was for sure. To top things off Itachi was going to die by Sasuke's hands.

It pained her but it was Itachi's last wish. Pulling her knees to her chest Naruto looked to the lake. She was stressed and possibly lonely. She shook her head at the thought. She wasn't lonely. She had Jiraiya, Baa-chan, Shizune and all her friends yet that didn't dull the slight ache in her chest. "Who am I kidding? Even with the village I still feel lonely."

Glancing to the knocked out man beside her with an eyeroll and snort. "I know you're faking everything, stupid old man. Masochist is what Jiraiya would call you. It's so unfair. I'm the one always putting aside my happiness for the sake of others and not once do they do the same." She hissed out before realising, "Maybe Hinata but she's always been like that; kind but strong. Shikamaru is too lazy to do anything. You and the team, though, abandoned me when I needed you all the most. So much pain I hid from you all, just so you all were happy and smiling. The team that's meant to support and care for me was nowhere when I burdened myself to the point I accepted it and felt nothing." Naruto gripped onto her arms tightly as her heart restricted. Not once allowing her unshed tears to spill.

"I feel so stupid," she whispered, "forgiving you all, time and time again, hoping you'd change. When I left the village a weight lifted of my shoulders and I felt so," A bittersweet smile touched upon her pink lips, "So happy and at peace with myself. And I came back home with all intentions of taking control of my life but then you had to turn into a drunk and I'm being pushed into a marriage. If Itachi knew, if he knew. He would've taken me, I'm sure of it."

The young blonde ranted to the unconscious Hatake. It felt uplifting to let it out even if her listener wasn't listening to her.

Resting her head on her knees, Naruto closed her eyes. Listening to the even breathes of her companion and thought, "I hope you're okay, Itachi."

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Itachi:

Itachi sat across from Jiraiya in a rundown tea house on the side of a dirt road. Sipping gently on his brown tea as he addressed the legendary man before him. "Will she be okay?"

Jiraiya snorted. "You know better, Itachi. She won't be okay when you're gone and it'll take time for her to bounce back." Leaning back he added on, "If i had it my way, I would give you her hand." Catching Itachi's slight quirk of the lip, he quickly shut the Uchiha down. "But somebody had to be an idiot and tell her they wanted to die by their brother's hand. Honestly, you brats."

"I wouldn't have much longer to live either way. My eyes are slowly killing me and I couldn't burden Naruto with such a thing." Itachi rebutted. "Thank you for the consideration, Jiraiya-sama. I would've taken care of her dutifully."

"I know, brat." Jiraiya took a slow taste of his tea and sighed. "That's why I have chosen Kakashi instead."

"Kakashi sempai?" The Uchiha arched a brow slightly. "Is that why they're together, alone. So they can court."

"Unfortunately that's not the case. Naruto has taken it upon herself to help Kakashi return to the forces after a regrettable situation." Lacing his fingers before his face, Jiraiya mentioned sternly. "It is my hope that by the time they both return to the village they'll be in the stage of at least dating. If not, then I have no doubt Tsunade will have to force her hand and carry out sensei's will and Naruto will follow without hesitation."

"A marriage of convenience. Just for the sake of being married." Itachi replied. "Am I safe to assume that Tsunade-sama has my foolish brother as her candidate?"

"Indeed. How are things coming along with the Akatsuki?" The toad sannin questioned.

"They should be gone by the time Sasuke comes for me. Though I may have a problem with the Leader and true Leader." Itachi's eyes narrowed and noted Jiraiya picked up his hint. "It's possibly a suicide mission."

"If we," Picking up Itachi's request that he help aid the other, "Are going to do this then we must return alive, no matter what. We will need another to join our team. I have no doubt our combined forces can finish Akatsuki but there is no harm in having back up."

At that, Itachi smirked. "Then we won't have a problem." Sliding over a small photograph of a young and very attractive woman. "She has spoken to join our cause. The Akatsuki have gone too far and need to be stopped."

"No way-" Jiraiya's eyes widened as he picked up the picture in shock. "When the time comes, send for me right away and I'll be there." Standing up and handed the picture back to Itachi. "I'll be heading back to Konoha and keep Tsunade occupied. Do what you have to Itachi and do it quietly." Nodding gratefully to the young man, Jiraiya headed out. Pausing just at the entrance way to say, "Despite everything, don't forget you'll always be Itachi Uchiha of Konohagakure."

Itachi sat firmly in his place as his heart fluttered at the Sannin's words. A small smile etching its way onto his face.

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Naruto heard Kakashi stir and quickly knelt by his side. "Kakashi?" she called as his eye fluttered open.

Kakashi groaned as he gripped his head. His mouth uncomfortably dry as he pushed himself up and looked to the beautiful blonde. "How long was I out?"

"Not that long. Maybe half an hour." Naruto shrugged her shoulders and looked sheepishly at the man. "Sorry about that, Kakashi, but you should know that I see that you're holding back...i just got pissed. You've been acting odd lately."

The man in question sighed and stretched his back. "Maah, I guess I have been but I'm not the only one, Little fox." Looking back at her just in time to she her bite in her cheeks in annoyance at the nickname "I know that Weasel is Itachi Uchiha. I was his Captain in ANBU and gave him his mask." Seeing the signs that Naruto wanted to flee, Kakashi added on quickly. "He was my greatest operative and for a long time I didn't believe what he did to his clan. If anything, Itachi loved his clan so much but I knew he loved the village more. Out of all the shinobi of the leaf I've had the chance to know, Itachi was one of the few to harbour the will of fire greatly."

Naruto released her tense shoulders and muttered. "What made you change your mind? About Itachi killing his clan?"

"Seeing Sasuke for the first time." Kakashi answered with a dejected huff. "The look in his eyes were so much...too much. It wasn't till Itachi captured me in his ultimate genjutsu that I started questioning his motives again. If I was in the same genjutsu that Itachi placed Sasuke in then it would explain so much but there were so many blanks to fill in...I just became neutral about it."

Naruto sucked in a deep breathe, "He was ordered to. By the Elder council." meekly hiding her gaze from Kakashi's quizative look. She had only spoke about it in passing with Jiraiya as the man had already put the pieces together long ago. "The Uchiha clan- They were planning a coup against the village and Itachi…"

"Was the Elder's spy." Kakashi finished with a thoughtful look.

The blonde shook her head. "He was the old man's spy but the elders-" She hissed out with distaste. "-they went behind his back and ordered Itachi to eradicate the clan but he couldn't finish Sasuke and took him to the old man to watch over. Itachi came to me next and told me what happened; promising me to watch over Sasuke and to keep him loyal to the village." Naruto shuddered as she recalled the dark night. "I had begged Itachi to take me with him. To not leave me alone. He was my protector ever since he became chunin, y'know; he had watched over me and took care of me. I was so furious at Itachi and the old man and in time I became to despise Sasuke."

Kakashi listened intently. Perhaps his beast was right about being honest but the surprise of the Uchiha clan was something else entirely. "Did you hate Sasuke because Itachi asked you to watch over his brother?" He asked and saw her nod as her eyes watered. "You were just 8 years old."

"I know. I even knew Itachi was right when he said it was too dangerous to take me with him. I was just 8 years old and barely trained, after all." The blonde replied. "But I listened to him. I watched Sasuke from afar and riled him up so he'd focus on getting stronger in the village since I was always rivalling his strength. Constantly telling Sasuke I was getting stronger because of the village and saying one day i'd be strong enough to rival the past Hokage."

Kakashi nodded as he remembered all the times the blonde would spar with Sasuke evenly and bring the Uchiha out to gathering so he'd make more bonds within the village. "And now it's all back on you since our little Sasu-chan is madly in love with you."

Naruto barked out in laughter that her tears finally split and Kakashi grinned at his small feat. Lifting the sombre mood. "Oh Kami-" Naruto wheezed. "I would never. That bastard is too much work and my mind would be fried by the end of the first year."

Kakashi chuckled. "I believe that." swallowing his nerves when she looked at him with the biggest grin. He hadn't seen her smile like that for so long. She was beautiful without a doubt.

"Y'know, Itachi came to me…" whacking Kakashi's leg when he snorted like he didn't know. Though that just brought more smiles to her lips. "He said he was going to battle Sasuke and let the bastard kill him. He wanted to repent for killing his clan and doing so by having Sasuke end his life."

The Hatake listened as Naruto's voiced lowered by the word. He could hear the pain and bitterness she tried to hid.

"I tried stopping him but his mind was already made up. He promised to not hold back against Sasuke and that's all I could get from him. Other than that Itachi swore before he was gone that the Akatsuki shall be no more, his final gift to me."

"This might seem insensitive to you, Naruto, his gift to you is for all those years you've protected Sasuke for him." Kakashi voiced his opinion.

"I had a small feeling it was because of that." The Uzumaki replied.

Kakashi observed Naruto critically. Her body was relaxed from the burden she told him but her eyes held sadness. "Did you love Itachi?"

Blue eyes looked up in shock. Waving her hands in front of her body, denying Kakashi's claims. "N-no I d-didn't." Returning her hands to her lap, she explained, "I admire Itachi and I'm thankful to him. Besides, I don't even think Itachi has the capability to love anyone other than Sasuke. He does have a big brother complex, y'know."

"Well...that's new to hear." He replied lamely. Not once seeing the dangerous s-rank missing nin as such. "All in all, you've kept Itachi's secret to this day. Haven't you ever want to tell Sasuke?" All Kakashi got was a snort, thought about it, then snorted in agreement too. "Maah nevermind."

The two sat in comfortable silence and not once did Naruto feel put off. It felt like their time when she forced Kakashi to live with her. Friendly and accepting.

"Maah-" Kakashi started up this time and caught Naruto's raised brow, "I was lonely. For over a decade I had been so lonely and when Katsumi came barrelling into my life I simply didn't care and lost all common sense when I tasted the love she aimed towards me. It had been so long that I craved it and because of that I ended up hurting you and saying such vulgar things."

Naruto turned her body to Kakashi. Was he opening up to her all because she had?

"I ended up letting myself go when she left me and it was too late to realise my mistakes. You were already gone and my team had been apprenticed off to other people. I know you still can't forgive me, Naruto, I can see it in your eyes," at that the blonde looked away guiltily, "and I don't blame you for a second. You were trying to protect your precious people and in return we didn't listen and left you alone. For that, I'm terribly sorry. I was your teacher and I performed poorly."

"You're true about all of that." Naruto muttered. "It'll take along time to forgive all of you."

"I understand." Kakashi replied and held his hand out to the blonde. "Yo, my name is Kakashi Hatake. I like Jiraiya-sama's books, grilled eggplants and making people's ideas of me opposite. I dislike traitors and those who wish hard to Konoha. My hobbies are reading and surprisingly gardening and my dream for the future...maah, I really don't know about that."

Naruto laughed and took the offering hand and shook firmly. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I like ramen and my precious people. I dislike those that want to harm them and the village. My hobbies are writing and gardening and my dream for the future is to become the best Hokage ever."

They didn't speak and they didn't need to. They were going to start again and go slowly. Unknown to them both the Beast was grinning as the mark on Naruto's neck appeared very briefly.