Some asked for more so I tried my best to add onto it a little more. Not entirely sure where I'll go from here but I will see where this takes me.
Thank You so much for all the likes, and follows!
So they are older and the chunin exams have already happened. They had been Genin for almost Two years before the exams. That is where my timeline is for this story so I hope that helps keep anyone from being confused.
Tsunade was less than pleased, and Sakura was in more trouble than most given Tsunade had taken it into serious consideration to train the girl if she progressed well in the next year. And now she was down yet another desk.
"Is he okay?" She asked her voice deeper than usual with barely contained rage. Kakashi sighed and leant against the window
"I wasn't sure on the way home. He was ready to give up and be sent back to the academy. Though if that happens I'm not sure he'd stay there"
Kakashi could see he was giving up with getting the acceptance he deserved. But after seeing the way he held onto the Chunin he had hope that Naruto could make it.
"Why not? He still wants to become Hokage" Tsunade said
"Don't pretend you hadn't noticed it" Kakashi answered harshly "you know he isn't as happy as he usually is, all that boisterous attitude is just him going through the motions"
"So what do you suggest?" She snapped
"I told Sasuke and Sakura I will send them both back to the academy" Tsunade looked surprised "perhaps add Naruto onto another squad, or have him trail along with other teams until we can see if this threat will have them realise they need to change" he shrugged not really wanting that option. If he had his way Naruto would be in Suna with Gaara, his village and Shinobi seem to treat Naruto better that his own. But seeing Naruto and Shikamaru earlier he didn't think that would work.
"Shikamaru Nara almost choked the life out of them too" Kakashi finally told her "Naruto ran to him crying and Shikamaru lost it, even pushed his own teammate back. They seem to be close and I think if possible maybe keep them together for a little while" Kakashi suggested
"Was he not trying to scare them?" Tsunade asked her face like stone now. Kakashi shook his head
"I genuinely believe he'd have done it of Naruto didn't intervene"
It was the truth. The look in Shikamaru's eyes was a look Kakashi had seen far too many times in his lifetime, and it almost always ended with the receiver of the look dead. The shadows dissapeared from the forest where he had seen on his way here. Hoping the boys were calmed down he focused back on the hokage
"I see" she sat back in her chair clasping her hands over her lap "Let's give them a few days see how the other two have taken the situation. For now Team Seven missions are on hold. Team Ten are set to leave for a mission in the morning, do you think the would be okay separated?"
"I couldn't say. Choji and Lee seemed to be aware of their friendship so perhaps ask them? But I ask you don't" Kakashi said "I've never seen Naruto reach out for help before. Would it be possible to send Naruto along?"
Tsunade looked at her demolished desk contemplating, Kakashi didn't push but instead looked back out the window in hopes of seeing anymore odd placed shadows to locate the boys.
"Alright. I'll let Asuma know. You shadow them, I want a report on how it helps being around the Nara"
"Yes ma'am" Kakashi bowed and left through the window again.
The boys were in the Nara forest, another surprise. Knowing he could never follow without getting Shikaku he headed to Ichiraku's. Walking along the river as the sun was setting he couldn't help wonder what the relationship was. Neither boys had given any signs they preferred boys, Naruto spent most of his time fawning over Sakura. Though Kakashi knew well that Naruto masked a lot of his true self with what he thought others expected. Its possible his crush on his teammate was just that.
"Kakashi Sensei?" He froze at how small her voice sounded, looking behind him stood Sakura with red puffy eyes, snot hanging from her nose she looked as if she hadn't stopped crying since he sent her home.
"What is it, Sakura?" He asked and she looked down and began nervously picking at her thumb nail
"Can... can I talk to you please?" She asked.
He sat down on the grass and patted the ground next to him. She hesitantly sat next to him and pulled her knees up to her chest.
"I'm listening" he nodded she chewed her lip and looked at her feet.
"Naruto was bleeding a lot... and I have never seen him like that" she whispered that Kakashi had to lean in a bit to hear
"His wounds will be fine" Kakashi stated
"Do I really treat him so badly?" She asked "He's always so happy and he fires back all the time, and its not like he doesn't know he gets in trouble. I didn't realise I was so bad" she said and Kakashi sighed. He had to remind himself that she was a child, essentially a brainwashed child.
"Sakura, have you ever stopped to ask yourself why you don't like him?" Kakashi asked and he saw her frown at the question. Her obvious answers are ones she tells him to his face he knew. But she understood that wasn't what he was asking "and have you ever wondered why Naruto played up the way he did?"
He waited letting her take it in and think it through. At some point her eyes stopped blinking as she stared at her feet tears coming down her eyes
"I don't... I don't remember"
"What made you decide, when you met him that he wasn't going to be your friend?" He asked instead and she looked at him with wide, confused and scared eyes. Her chin quivered as he saw she realised.
"The grown ups said..."
Kakashi nodded looking up to the sky
"Has Naruto ever done anything to make you scared for your safety?" He asked and she shook her head "like he would intentionally hurt anyone?"
"But they said he was dangerous and that we shouldn't go near him. And even the teachers didn't want to go near him"
"And when did you stop being afraid of him? If he was so horrible and dangerous surely it's silly to provoke him the way people did, right?"
A sob broke out from her and she clutched her chest shaking her head. Sakura wasn't cruel, she didn't enjoy hurting Naruto the way he suspected Sasuke did on some small level. It was embedded into her and she was also a child, children do and say hurtful things without realising the consequences.
"I-I- I'm s-" she stuttered and clamped her hand over her mouth as her breath became erratic. Kakashi put his hand in her head and leant forward to look into her eyes
"Breath" he said "It's not too late to be better. He's forgiving, and he would accept your apology. Just... give him today" he advised knowing she will get more than that when he leaves tomorrow. She nodded and tried to calm herself down. Eventually she did and got up apologising to Kakashi for the trouble and left him there on the grass.
Maybe having her friends not come to her defence was a wake up call for the girl. Maybe team Seven wasn't lost after all.
Asuma was fine with having Naruto tag along, as well as Kakashi following.
"Choji already said Shikamaru and Ino are in a spat. Maybe having Naruto around will buff that" he had said. It confirmed to Kakashi that even Asuma wasn't aware of the friendship between Naruto and his star pupil. The mission was a simple escort mission. Naruto still seemed down but he was talking and smiling today. The siblings they were escorting were enamored with his hair.
"You're like the sun!" The girl giggled and clung to his arm
"Aw gee! That's nice of you!" He said loudly looking a little uncomfortable. Ino went to speak but Shikamaru stepping on front of Naruto had her turning her head to face forward again.
"Seriously! Its amazing. Did you get it from your Mum or Dad?" The girl asked neither of the sibling noticed the tension and Naruto did a wonderful job holding his composure and without missing a beat he beamed down to her
"My Dad! It's his color you know but his hair is longer and not as much as a mess as mine but I tend to leave it be" he shrugged ,
"That's so cool! Do you look more like him or your Mum?"
"My mum. I mean I have his hair and skin tone but the rest is my mum" he lied
Kakashi felt as though his heart was in a iron grasp causing each beat of his treacherous heart to hurt. He would never forgive himself for not giving Naruto the information he had on his parents. But the Hokage hid it for a reason, and Naruto being Naruto would shout it from the rooftops his dad was Minato, and he would have a bigger target on his head than the one he already had from he villagers, especially if the enemies learnt not only was he Minato's son but the Nine Tails Jinchurichi too. Kakashi knew Minato and Kushina would forgive him of this but he never felt he deserved it. Naruto deserved to know who his parents were, what they did for him. He wished he could tell Sasuke that his mother was a good friend of Naruto's and how they hoped they'd be friends, how she offered to take in Naruto. There was a lot Kakashi wished he could tell both boys.
The sun had set and Asuma had the camp set up. The siblings had gone to their tents and the others checked over their gear and supplies. Naruto had stayed close to Shikamaru and Kakashi noticed that when Naruto seemed to quiet down or space out a shadow would wrap around his wrist and he'd cheer up.
"Alright normal shifts for taking watch" Asuma ordered
"What about me?" Naruto asked
"It's okay, only four of us are needed for shift changes" Asuma assured him his face falling at Naruto's look of disappointment and sad acceptance
"I wouldn't mind a full night's sleep" Ino sneered dramatically "he can take my watch if he's too stupid to appreciate the chance" she avoided looking at him her tone not as full as the usual venom. It took a moment but Naruto grinned and nodded
"Sure! I'll happily take your shift for you" he cheered and she rolled her eyes half heartedly and went to her tent. Shikamaru smirked at Naruto who was all but missing a wagging tail when he looked back to the Nara. Kakashi couldn't help the smile that spread under his mask. They saw. Even Ino.
"Well then" Asuma chuckled "Choji will take first then Shikamaru, Naruto you after that and I'll take the last"
"No problem!" Naruto agreed. Kakashi probably should have warned Asuma that Naruto might not sleep. He didn't sleep on the first couple of missions and he knew it was to do with being with new people. He knew of his teammates but he didn't know them, and they didn't treat him nicely so he pretended until Kakashi had to put a end to it and explain he was the ANBU that followed him as a child. The speed at which the exhausted boy fell asleep where he sat hurt Kakashi. But to his surprised Naruto fell asleep against Shikamaru instantly when Choji woke him up for his watch. His head in Shikamaru's lap while his arms were around his waist. He wished he knew when they became this close? When Shikamaru had managed to earn so much trust from him. If there was anything else going on. Shikamaru ran his fingers through the blonde locks and smiled softly at the boy in his lap
"Tomorrow will be better still" he said softly as he relaxed against the tree. Kakashi settled on his spot in the tree and felt confident Shikamaru cared about Naruto more than any of their other friends. How much more he couldn't wait to find out.
Shikamaru woke Naruto up and informed him it was his turn to take watch. Offering to stay up a but with him Naruto had laughed and shook his head telling him to go sleep. He sat in silence for a while. Then he got up and walked to a tree opposite the camp
"Why're you following us?" He asked simply and Kakashi frowned looking about confused because he didn't sense anyone else. Then he felt his heart drop as he looked back to see Naruto looking directly at him. How did he know? Frowning further Kakashi jumped down and landed next to him
"Orders" he answered
"I'm fine" he deadpanned looking back to the camp
"No you're not" Kakashi replied and looked at his face "but you're better than yesterday at least"
Naruto smiles ever so slightly and nodded
"I didn't know you two were so close"
Naruto straightened up and blushed ever so slightly Kakashi almost missed it in he dark.
"Everyone has someone they trust completely, right?" Naruto asked "Even I get to have that don't I?"
"Yes" Kakashi smiled "I was actually worried you weren't going to let anyone be that for you" he admitted and Naruto nodded
"I don't want to make you worry about me" Naruto said
"Well, that's out of your hands" Kakashi sighed looking at the sky. Being off his ANBU detail had caused Kakashi some anxiety but knowing Yamato was there in his stead had reassured him somewhat when he was made to be a teacher.
"Is it cause you watched me grow up?" He asked
"Partly" he nodded he knew he'd opened up new questions but he leant back on his hands and looked to Naruto "Team Seven isn't taking missions for the foreseeable. And the Hokage is going over my request to send the other two back"
"Not me?" He asked surprised
"You aren't the problem" Kakashi said
"But they worked so hard, and they've improved a lot. It's not fair to send them back because of me"
"And its fair to send you back for their ignorance?" Kakashi challenged and the boy sighed heavily, far more tired from life than he should be. Kakashi sensed Shikamaru had woken up from the way Naruto turned his head to the boy slightly so did he.
"It's not their fault. They don't understand why they hate me. It was stupid to think being a ninja would work out" Naruto said moving to go sit next to Shikamaru once more. Kakashi followed and sat opposite them
Shikamaru turned toward Naruto his head going onto Naruto's lap and hugging him the way Naruto had in his sleep. The blonde absently took strands of the brunettes pony tail twisting the hair around his fingers. Shikamaru didn't care in the slightest and likely knew Kakashi knew he was awake too.
"We can't say" Kakashi said "Even if we are sure most of them figured it out after the chinin exams" he looked down to Shikamaru and back to Naruto "if they had questions, it's your right to tell them now you know. The idea of keeping it quiet was in part to reassure the children who remembered and to give you a chance to make friends and have as normal a life as possible. But that didn't work"
Naruto snorted and nodded
"Shikamaru knows, of course" he smiled and Kakashi nodded not surprised in the slightest
"Anyone else?"
Naruto shrugged
"Nobody else needs to know" he said
Kakashi nodded and decided it was enough for him, at least for now
"You don't want the other two sent back then?" He asked not missing the unhappy frown on Shikamaru's face
"No. I don't want that" he said
"You can't keep working that way" Kakashi reasoned and he nodded
"Probably not" he agreed "but I want to try"
Shaking his head as he internally dissagreed, Kakashi stood up and nodded his okay before leaving the boys.