Naruto was not his usual cheerful self, Shikamaru had gone which was enough but so was the rest of his friends save Sakura. He sat in his apartment alone and Kakashi couldn't help but think perhaps he felt a little, forgotten. Given how he had been treated his whole life it'd be hard not to. It was his last night in Konoha and he was predictably alone. Knocking lightly on the window he waved and Naruto's face split into a huge smile. Waving him in Kakashi opened the window and stepped in. Naruto never locked the window, when Kakashi had asked he was told it was so he could always get in. Kakashi never used doors.

"Finally come to question me huh?"

"Yes, and invite you to my house"

"Really?" He beamed and Kakashi chuckled nodding

"It's your last night, I don't want you sat here eating cup ramen" Kakashi shrugged and was pounced on by the kid who hugged him tightly.

"Thanks Kakashi!"

"Have you been to see Iruka?" He asked prying the blonde off.

"Yeah, he bought me a new bag for all my stuff" he yelled excited as he reached under his bed to show the grey bag "said it should be a normal non clan branded one. Something like that"

"Makes sense"

"He cried too!"

"That makes sense too" Kakashi nodded

"Okay, go on! What do you want to know?"

"You know about the Akatsuki?"

"Pretty much"

"Who is Kurama?" He asked and Naruto looked down a little guilty.

"Kurama is the Nine Tails" he said

"He has a name?" Kakashi asked surprised

"Why wouldn't he have a name? Shukaku isn't called the the One Tail"

That was a good point, he assumed that was something the Sand had given him. Names are given where would Chakra beasts get their names?

"He told you his name?"

"He's... a little more cooperative this last two weeks. Verbally anyway. He figured Jiraiya will want me to learn to use his chakra, but he told me that'll never happen"

That wasn't surprising. Well that answered the other question of if he knew what they were after.

"One more thing" he said and Naruto nodded "how do you always seem to know I'm there?"

Naruto frowned looking a little confused

"Because you're there" he said

"Obviously but it's not like I make myself known, even when I was following you on the mission for team Ten you knew I was there, I was concealed you shouldn't have known"

"I felt you"

Kakashi felt like his heart stopped for a moment

"Felt me? Naruto can you sense other people, ninja and civilian?" He asked

"Yeah" he frowned "you don't?" He asked

"Not civilians and not Ninja who are concealed, it's usually my experience and instincts that help there"

He's using sensory jutsu like it's nothing. Is he always using it? And he picks up civilians which is impressive given they have minimal chakra

"How long have you done that?" He asked

"It started after... the Uchiha Massacre"

"The night you were kidnapped" Kakashi corrected. Naruto nodded. He had been abused a lot by the villagers and ANBU were assigned to protect him, but even some of them never liked him. But only once did someone try to kidnap him.

"It'd happen when I was alone, or felt scared... then eventually it became something I did when on mission, or with Shikamaru"

"You can do it whenever?"

"Yeah"

Kakashi had no words and wondered when the kid would stop surprising him. Sighing he picked up the bag and stood up

"Is this everything?" He asked and Naruto nodded but ran to his room and came out with a box

"Can you keep this at your place? I don't really trust that this place will be standing when I come home"

Kakashi again felt his heart break for him, because it was a legitimate worry for him. Too often had he come home from missions to find this place ruined and robbed. He nodded

"What's in it?" He asked casually

"Just stuff. You know, trinkets and things people gave me"

Kakashi nodded and asked no more questions

Naruto had fallen asleep a hour ago and Kakashi was having hard time letting go. He kept telling himself this was for the best, and Jiraiya was more than capable of protecting Naruto but he was essentially a stranger, he didn't know Naruto, he didn't understand the masks he put up and to think he'd spend three years hiding himself with no rest bite from it had Kakashi more than a little nervous. His nerves were now going haywire the tension and feeling he had suppressed all month finally brimming to the surface. Saying goodbye was going to be painful and upsetting, and he didn't want to do it but he reminded himself it was only temporary. He wasn't losing Naruto the way he lost the others he cared for.

The only comfort he had was the knowledge that Naruto would be treated with kindness and Jiraiya, despite not knowing him, did love him. Kakashi knew in his heart he had nothing to worry about but still he did.

"Kakashi" Naruto's voice came, causing him to blink up and see Naruto lay there looking at him with a look of concern and the shadow of a smile. Kakashi looked to the clock to see it had been almost four hours. He had sat there in a internal panic for hours. Naruto sat up and came over wrapping his arms around the him and pressed his head onto Kakashi's shoulder

"I'll be fine, and I'm coming home" he said softly causing the usually composed and aloof man to laugh weakly as he couldn't resist the urge to hug the boy.

"I trust only one person more than Jiraiya. I don't doubt you would be safe with him" Kakashi said "But I still worry"

"I guess that's expected since you looked out for me since I was small" he shrugged "You've been the best teacher I could have hoped for and I wouldn't want any other father figure"

Kakashi tensed his heart pounding in his ears as he understood the meaning of the blondes words. Here he always had the idea it would be a brotherly bond, even if it wasn't the one he thought he'd get before the rampage. He never expected Naruto to feel that way never mind to see him as a father figure. He'd said it to himself on a few occasions when he wondered if a situation was the same as a parent but he never dared to see himself that way.

"What did you say?" He asked softly pulling back to look at him and Naruto turned red as he looked at the floor

"Well... you are" he whispered "I didn't know it but you looked after me my whole life. More than than the old man and I look up to you so much. Having the choice I'd want you to be"

Kakashi felt guilty. Because he hadn't been that great. As ANBU he had, he made sure he had food when he couldn't get more, bought him toys, gave him that connection he was denied. But as his sensei? He didn't think he had done enough to earn that, especially since he knew who his real father was, and he never wanted to replace him. Even if Naruto never had anyone to compare the role to. It made him happy though, to know Naruto trusted and loved him enough to consider him family. And it made him angry he didn't fight harder to adopt him. He wasn't the Uchiha, he wasn't ANBU because he was under Minato's orders when he died he had ceased to be an ANBU. When Lord Third denied him stating he was too young to take on a child he was too naive to to understand or see that that logic didn't apply to the shinobi world he had already killed hundreds at by that point. Granted not for a while since he was assigned to Kushina. Lord Third obviously didn't want to lose Kakashi's talent for the job.

"I tried adopt you" he blurted out and Naruto looked up at him eyes wide, mouth hanging open and Kakashi internally punched himself. Dammit. Well it was put there now he sighed "after the attack I tried to take you in. But it was denied" he said and Naruto nodded

"Makes sense. I don't think the elders really wanted me to have someone" tears fell from his blue eyes and Kakashi wanted to beat the shit out of himself.

"I wasn't the only one either. You mother had a friend and she also tried to take you in" he'd told him about himself why not Mikoto too

"So... I was... wanted?" He asked his voice breaking and Kakashi smiled ruffling the mess of blonde

"Most definitely" he wanted for the millionth time tell him everything.

It was a lovely day, and as the remainder of team Seven stood at the gates Kakashi felt the guilt of losing the Uchiha bite at his heart followed by his own sorrow at saying goodbye to Naruto. Sakura was smiling but it was clearly forced. Jiraiya clamped his hand on Kakashi's shoulder

"I've got him, try not to worry so much" he said

"It'll be strange not being bombarded with all that energy" he shrugged

"Ah I'm sure Bushy Brow Sensei will wear you out in my place" Naruto laughed which Kakashi believed. Naruto looked towards the Nara forest a wistful look on his face that quickly turned to pain as he pressed his lips together.

"Hey" Kakashi said and Naruto turned to look at him "I'll watch your home" he said and Naruto laughed to cover up his almost sob of relief

"Thank you" he smiled

"Right kiddo, time to go" Jiraiya said and Naruto nodded Sakura gave him a quick hug and told him to be safe and to write.

"There will be no details of where we are" Jiraiya said and she smiled

"Of course"

"Bye Sakura" Naruto smiled "and don't worry, we will find him"

"I know!" She said confidently and he looked so proud of her

He quickly hugged Kakashi

"I'll see you soon Pops" he said casually and despite the conversation the night before it still shook Kakashi. He smiled and nodded

"We will be here" he said ruffling the blonde locks one last time. Three years is nothing he told himself as he felt like his life was walking away with the kid. He'd been through enough, he didn't understand why Itachi was helping people to make his life harder. All he could do was hope Jiraiya gave him the right guidance to be okay when the Akatsuki came.

I'll take care of your friends Naruto, just come back in one peice. He thought as the duo were lost in the distance. A small sob had him look down at the pink haired kunoichi. He put his hand on her shoulder

"Ready?" He asked her gently

"They're both gone now" she cried softly and he nodded "You will be too"

He saw her fear, her pain.

"They'll be back" he said with certainty "and you'll be ready to back them up"

"And you?" She sniffed wiping her eyes. He didn't want to lie to her he knew he'd be gone on missions as much as possible.

"I'll be about but no doubt be on lots of missions" her face broke into sadness as she cried more "but I've already put paperwork in to be your captain again when Naruto returns"

Her face went blank and she looked at him

"With me?" She asked and he nodded

"Absolutely" he smiled down at her. This seemed to be what she needed to hear. She broke into a smile wiping her eyes

"I'll be better. Ready to help and not so much a burden" she said determined

"Well, then we better get you started" he said putting his hand on her back and leading her to the Hokage tower. The last couple of months she had changed and Kakashi could stand to be near her without wanting to request she be taken from his care. She had made a real effort to change her behaviour toward Naruto. And for that, and Naruto he was willing to stand by her.

"You're going to be quite the terrifying ninja when Tsunade is done with you" he said and she smiled

"As long as I can back up my friends. That's all I need" she said

Kakashi nodded, yes, she will be a good friend to him in years to come.