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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Important Notice: If you haven't noticed already, I'll be forgoing the 'Sasuke knows Itachi's secret' story line as now that I think about it is too...well, convenient and nice. Also, it does not in anyway fit into the story I have reinvented in my mind. This includes Kisame being the nice guy. I would go back to edit the very first Chapter but unfortunately the original file is on my old broken laptop and backed up on a USB I lost, along with all my other stories, and doesn't allow the copy and paste option to stop plagiarism on the site. I had spent months looking for the USB but my memory has failed me miserably the past year.

I'm dearly sorry for the inconvenience but I do hope you stick around and enjoy it till the end.

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Naruto quickly brought her arms up in defense as Kakashi landed a hit, though she smirked and slid her arm out and grabbed hold of his forearms. "You're no longer playing dumb now, Kakashi." She laughed and threw the man over her shoulder and aimed a kick for him middle as he was midair.

Kakashi whipped out his ninja wire in a flash as soon as the Blonde began to throw him. Using to wrap around a tree and pull him to safety. Landing on a branch, Kakashi smirked. "Maah, well I have to since it seems you're trying to kill me, little fox." He commented as he eyed the destruction of Naruto's arched kick. He raised a brow to say, "Are you adding in wind chakra into your attacks?"

Naruto wrinkled her nose at her mess as a few trees were uprooted and land turned over. "Yeah but I'm far from mastering it since Ero-Sennin is always running off to peek." Feeling the Hatake land next to her but not too close to make her uncomfortable. She was trying her best to get used to their new beginnings but not so fast that she'd lose herself. "I can only cut a leaf in half with my chakra."

Kakashi hummed in thought before saying. "Do you know the secret of the Kage no Bunshin?" Seeing the blonde nod out of the corner of his eye, he added on, "And the next step of Mastering the wind element?"

"Not really. Ero-Sennin only showed me the leaf and we had more important things to focus on with our limited time." The Uzumaki faced Kakashi in question, "Why'd you ask?"

"Maah, I could teach you the rest to mastering wind chakra. Asuma has told me a thing or two about it." He replied and faced her. Swallowing his urge to allow his beast free as her faint scent of pine and sweat filtered through his mask. Placing his hands in his pockets, curled in a fist, he said. "You've been taking care of me brilliantly, Naruto, and I'd like to show my appreciation...other than getting back into shape, of course." Kakashi smiled when her eyes sparkled. "She always loved to train."

"We'll see about that training, Kakashi." She replied at the tempting offer and gestured him over to one of the remaining trees to sit under. Naruto shuffled a bit before asking the older man. "I've noticed that there's something different with your chakra. It's very faint but I can still sense it there." Gazing to him sharply she went back to being serious. "Is there something I should be aware of, Kakashi?"

Kakashi groaned and rubbed his face. How could he forget that Minato-sensei was a keen sensory ninja? There was a chance of her inheriting it too.

Naruto waited for the man to answer him and poked his shoulder. "I can wait all day, yknow. This wouldn't have to do with your change in personality lately?"

Kakashi eyed Naruto a bit weary. "I can't hide anything from you, can I?" Chuckling a little when she shook her head. "Well then, may I have your ear for an hour?" Kakashi did plan to tell the blonde about his curse, though he hadn't asked Pakkun about the 'curse' part yet, he just hadn't expected to tell the blonde so early. It wasn't even a full day. Though Kakashi was sure to leave out that he marked her and didn't have much time to live. "Stupid Beast!"

"You had it coming, stupid human."

Naruto had a bad feeling about the upcoming topic she opened. "Maybe I should've kept quiet this time."

"You'd never get answers about that beast within him otherwise." Kurama replied wisely and it was true. They were both in the dark about Kakashi's split personality. Even Kurama's ability to enter Kakashi's mind to pry didn't help the legendary beast and only felt a savage protective instinct from deep within. Though Kurama would never tell the blonde that she had been marked. That was the silver haired man's mess to settle. -He would make a suitable partner. Ashame that the Hyuga girl is a female.- The great beast thought before going back for a nap. He'd visit Kakashi's mind another time.

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Sasuke:

Sasuke watched in satisfaction as the boulder he pierced with his chidori senbon shattered. "Almost there." He muttered before launching the jutsu again towards another boulder. Spending forward, Sasuke unsheathed his katana and sliced swiftly and accurately through larger pieces of the destroyed rock. Smirking, Sasuke stood proudly at his work. He'd been training for just over 3 days without breaks. Though the smirked vanished as his sight and balanced wavered and fell in a heap onto the grass. Breathing heavily, Sasuke deactivated his sharingan. "Almost there."

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelled as she saw the raven haired man tumble into a heap. Kneeling beside him, she got to work in healing his exhaustion a bit. "Sasuke-kun, you've got to take a break, please." She begged. Sakura had been coming and going the past few days keeping an eye out on the raven haired man.

The Uchiha grunted and pushed her hands away as he sat up. "I'm finished for today."

Sakura clicked her tongue in worry. "What would Naruto think of your behaviour, Sasuke-kun? You've been training non-stop ever since she got home."

"Why would she care?! Naruto is busy swapping spit with Kakashi." Sasuke muttered bitterly. Unsealing a bottle of water to sip from he ignoring the light slap on his shoulder from his team mate.

"You don't know that, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura voiced, strongly believing Naruto to not take advantage of anyone and genuinely help their sensei. Though she was wrong about the taking advantage part as the blonde was trained by a Spy Master.

Sasuke tsked and flicked his head away from Sakura. "Yet you and everyone else want to see those two together." Sasuke knew that he was jealous but nobody knew except perhaps Shikamaru and Shino. He had confessed his love to the blonde on numerous occasions and once had the privilege to make love to her when she was in need. She was an idiot and loud, yet she was a talented ninja and Sasuke would always love Naruto. No other woman would hold a light compared to her. "Why them out of everyone in Konoha? Kakashi could be shoved off onto Shizune. Everyone knows of her silly crush."

"Sasuke-kun," Sakura whispered, interpreting Sasuke's words as concern for their blonde teammate, "The age gap between them is certainly big but what everyone agrees on is that those two deserve to be happy and with each other. They have undiscovered feelings for each other and we owe it to Naruto to be supportive after abandoning her before with Katsumi."

Sasuke didn't reply. He wouldn't let anyone know how much it hurt to hear Sakura say that to him; that Kakashi and the love of his life deserved each other. He didn't mean to abandon Naruto. Just wanted her away from Kakashi and to look him more often. Sasuke gritted his teeth as that was just an excuse because at the end of the day he did abandon her for Katsumi just like Sakura and Kakashi. "The dobe deserves better than Kakashi." Sasuke stood up and sealed away his remaining water. Walking out of the training field, he called over his shoulder to Sakura. "I'm done training." He may not be able to be with Naruto now but his goal to slay his brother would never change and be his priority. However, that didn't mean the lingering thought of Tsunade's proposal was out of his mind.

Sasuke walked along the streets of Konoha towards his apartment. "I'll take a mission tomorrow out of the village."

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"...and that's all I know of the Hatake curse till i ask Pakkun for more information." Kakashi shrugged his shoulders after telling his tale to Naruto who looked to him in shock.

"You can grow ears and a tail?" She blurted out before gasping and covering her lips with her hands. Garnering a deep blush in embarrassment.

Kakashi's brow arched and leaned closer to her. "Maah is that all you're concerned about, little fox?" Growling slightly, surprising himself though he didn't, and saw the blonde's blush further pigment. "Did she like that?"

Naruto quickly stood up and backed a few steps away from the primal man. Cheeks still hot as she waved her hands before her. "No no no of course not, Kakashi." Overlooking the irritable pet name he had given her as soon as she heard his rumbled. "I'll have to find other means to supervise you when you train in your...curse." Clearing her throat she managed to collect herself to say. "I'll have to set you up in a barrier so you can train in your Beast forms and set aside time for Pakkun to educate you on your family curse. Of course, I'll have to inform Baa-chan about this and how to subdue you if your form goes out of control and your beast takes the front seat." Naruto then began mumbling to herself as she placed a plan together in her mind in how to help Kakashi train without harming anyone that would come close to him.

Kakashi chuckled when he noticed her mind wonder and moved himself into a crouching position. "Perhaps this will get her attention." Kakashi lowered himself and prepared to launch himself at his supervisor. With a startling howl, Kakashi darted towards the blonde in a semi surprise attack.

Naruto faintly heard Kakashi's howl and quickly allowed for her honed instincts to take over and whipped her arm out. Faster than Kakashi and grabbed his neck tightly before his arms could grab her and heaved his over her shoulder, slamming him into the grass with a vicious roar. The earth beneath Kakashi shattered as Naruto slammed her knee into his chest which released a harsh hiss from the man. Still holding the man down by the neck and knee on chest, Naruto quirked a smirk as her eyes blazed red with demonic slits. "You'll have to do better than that, Kakashi, because unlike you I harbour a real demon and not a curse." curling her lips back further to show her elongated fangs.

Kakashi growled as his body shuddered at the blonde's demonic appearance. The beast within him trying to claw to the surface at the dominate display that Kakashi's eye briefly glowed red before his dark grey colour returned. Shoving his beast back with his own will power. "It seems so if you could manhandle me so easily."

Naruto saw the change in colour and drew back in her own companion's power till she was back to normal. Though she didn't move off Kakashi and kept him firmly in place. "It seems I won't be able to train you how I have been with this new development. From here on now, you are to study with Pakkun and train with your Beast within one of my barriers till you have that side under great control. I will be monitoring you and your vitals from outside the barrier with my sensory abilities and will subdue you if your beast reaches the surface and tries anything."

"What barrier do you have in mind?" Kakashi asked as he understood why she would suddenly change tactics. He wouldn't want to force himself on his little fox. Ever. "I have suspicions that a regular barrier wouldn't be able to contain the beast. Do you perhaps know how to create a purple barrier?"

Naruto looked a bit uncomfortable as she replied. "I know many barrier fuinjutsu but with this unknown being added into account I can't be lenient. Only a handful know about it and I would appreciate it if it stayed between us."

Kakashi noted the nervousness in Naruto's eyes. "Does Hokage-sama and Jiraiya-sama know about this?"

The blonde nodded. "Yes and Shizune and a couple...of unmentionables." She released Kakashi and stood up. "Though before you can start on this new training, I'll have to set up a perimeter around the cabin to keep unwanted eyes out."

Kakashi hummed as he took Naruto's hand to stand up. "Maah I'd recommend a 5 kilometer radius." Taking her seriously. "I can help set it up."

"Sounds like a good idea. You mentioned the purple barrier, so does that mean you know how to create one?" She asked and watched as he nodded and tuck his hands into his pocket. "Follow me." she ordered and walked back towards the house. "The perimeter barrier I have in mind derives from the purple kind that Itachi taught to me while I was out on my travels with Ero-sennin…" The blonde glanced back to Kakashi unsure though his nod in acknowledgement carried on. They both entered the house and moved to sit in the living area. Naruto bringing over a large scroll to unfurl on the coffee table as she continued on. "When Itachi was my guard, unknown to me, he placed a barrier over my home to keep intruders and harm-doers out,"

"How's that possible? Anyone would be able to see the purple hue of the barrier." Kakashi commented. He knew of three coloured barriers, each stronger than the last. "And I'm sure the villagers would notice a giant barrier we are to put up."

A green barrier was considered the weakest of the three yet took a chunin to erect and hold. Able to withstand an onslaught of attacks from within and outside though would be able to shatter after several high ranking techniques.

Next was the purple barrier that few jounin were able to produce and was incredibly resilient against attacks and almost impossible to break. Only able to break the barrier by distracting the caster.

The strongest, that Kakashi knew of, was the red barrier only known to the Hokage that was rumoured to be able to withstand the power of the biju.

"Yes though people tend to forget that barrier ninjutsu is a branch of fuinjutsu and with a few well crafted and placed seals can render a barrier invisible." Naruto commented as she showed Kakashi the sealing arrangements. "I've learnt from Itachi the basis for making any barrier invisible to the naked eye though that won't stop dojutsu from seeing it. Itachi first made the barrier before using the slips he created to make the barrier invisible and to keep the barrier running and placed them at four corners of my apartment with Ji-chan coming around each month to replace the chakra within so it'd continue to last till it needed to be refilled."

Kakashi picked up the seal paper Naruto handed to him and revealed his sharingan to commit the seal to memory for future purposes. "Are we to make several of these?" He asked looking to her with an arched brow. "It'd take a while even with my sharingan and, I'm just assuming, your fuinjutsu skills you've learnt from Jiraiya-sama."

"It's nothing to brag about." She shrugged her shoulders. "But no we won't be writing out the seals because as you said it'll take a while and possibly too long to set up. Though I do need your help with your eye to keep my chakra flow steady and in check as I'll be doing your 5km perimeter. I've never created such a big barrier."

"A mixture of ninjutsu and fuinjutsu. You already know the seals?" He questioned.

Naruto snorted and rolled her eyes. "Of course I do. I've managed to upgrade Itachi and Ji-chan's barrier so there's no need for the slips, though, I'll be needing this one," she unsealed a single piece of paper with Kakashi noticing the difference but not knowing what it was for, "This here will allow animals to pass through the barrier as it'll recognise the small amounts of natural chakra within them and it'll tell the difference between a normal animal and a ninja transformed as one because of it. It'll also alert me to anyone outside of the barrier seeking entrance or to destroy it." Naruto pointed to the script before them. "We'll need to find a suitable centre for me to cast the jutsu."

This time Kakashi snorted and rolled his eye. "Nothing to brag about, huh? Barriers larger than 250 metres need the seals written on paper and placed at 4 locations plus the entrance yet you can do so much more."

Naruto blinked in surprise at Kakashi's words. "But it's really nothing to brag about. I still have to be watched over by Ero-sennin whenever I work on my fuinjutsu…" "And it'll be a long time before I can even rival kaa-chan." She added on mentally.

Kakashi dismissed her with a wave of his hand. "Maah, I know a talent ninja when I see one and you're one of them. I wouldn't be surprised if you've already surpassed me in every way."

Naruto's eyes widened in awe as her heart clenched. "Really?" she whispered. Afraid that her voice may crack. "Do you really mean that, Kakashi?"

The last Hatake looked her in the eye with a gentle smile. "Without a doubt, Naruto. One day, I bet, you'll be even greater than the Yondaime Hokage."

Naruto's eyes began to water and quickly wiped them away. Touched by his words, she replied. "Thank you, Kakashi. That means a lot to me."

The man hummed in response as he watched her fondly. Though she was a little rough around the edges, with a few grinds and polishes, he truly believed that Naruto would surpass her father and hopefully he'd be able to help her. "Sleep in her bed." Kakashi inwardly groaned as he heard his beast comment. Instead of replying, he got up and mumbled to Naruto that he'll make tea while she prepared herself for the jutsu. "You shared beds already. You've bathed together already. Make her ours already."

"Those were in moments of vulnerability. I will not take advantage of her." Kakashi calmly filled the kettle with water and placed it on the stovetop and turned it on. "We're finally in a good place right now. Don't ruin it."

"You're in love with her and you do nothing!" The beast howled as it paced the inside of Kakashi's mind on all fours. "I know you don't want to see her with another man and you consider death. A contradiction you are."

Kakashi released a heavy sigh as he prepared the tea leaves.

"Are you okay, Kakashi?" Naruto called to the man and noticed how his body seemed to sag. "Is it your beast?"

"That obvious, huh?" Kakashi glanced at her though heard her moved from the living room towards him. "How did you put up with it? With Kyuubi?" Watching carefully as she sat at the island counter opposite him. "Wise choice."

"Hmm I'm not sure. One day I had enough of him handing me over his chakra turning me into a mini kyuubi and just started talking to it. Kyuubi makes unnecessary comments every now and then so I'm guess my brain just learnt in time how to filter it." Naruto wondered if she'd need to reinforce her door though scrapped the idea quickly. It'll just show Kakashi that she didn't trust him. "The obvious is meditation...don't look at me like that, baka!" Naruto flared red at the cheeks by Kakashi's looked and folded her arms across her chest, looking away with puffed cheeks. "Ero-sennin was really strict on it."

"I'll keep that in mind." Kakashi caught the mass thrown at him by Naruto and noticed the familiar cover all those weeks ago. He gasped. "J-Jiraiya-sama's new book."

"Yeah I've finished it ages ago and thought you'd like to keep yourself busy during downtimes with it. But first let's put up this barrier, summon Pakkun and we'll start training tomorrow." Naruto stood up and stretched. Her shirt showing a bit of her midriff that she didn't noticed Kakashi's eye flash with red and for him to gulp.

"Wise choice indeed."