Being refrained from leaving to help with the mission to meet Sasori's spy had Kakashi seething. Once awake and together Sakura gave the information she was given and that they could meet the spy at the Tenchi Bridge. They had to act fast if they were to meet them, as Sasori gave them three weeks. Making his team up with Yamato was a comfort, he could watch Naruto and contain any of Kurama's chakra if needed. He trusted Yamato. He did not trust the kid from Root. How Danzo had snaked his way in Kakashi didn't know. But Yamato knew what they did. He wasn't blinded like others so... Kakashi could only hope that he would pick up on any threat to Naruto.

"This is ridiculous" Kakashi said as the team had left. Tsunade looked to him and sighed "I can move now. I should be with them"

"But your Chakra is still extremely low. So stop complaining"

"If something happened to Naruto at the hands of that Root ninja I cannot be held responsible for my actions" Kakashi warned

"Me either" Came Jiyraiya's voice from the window.

Poor Tsunade looked very stressed stood between the two men. He decided to sit back and try to be patient. But he was annoyed, Naruto had just come home, he'd just got him back.

Upon their return Kakashi could see that it did not go well. Sakura was tucked under Naruto's arm and he looked exhausted whilst Sai and Yamato walked behind with somber expressions.

"You had no luck?" Kakashi asked softly

"Oh, we found him" Naruto said his eyes suddenly burning with rage whilst Sakura sobbed and held him tightly.

"What happened?" Kakashi asked and Naruto sighed

"He's lost it. I don't know who that was but it wasn't Sasuke. He tried to kill her, for real there was no hesitation" he said and at that Sakura turned her head into Naruto's neck.

"He also tried to kill you" Sai put in but Naruto shrugged

"Let's get you to Tsunade" Kakashi said leading them in. He had gone that far? He never cared for them but he didn't want to hurt them, even jumped to help Naruto in serious fights. To be so far as to kill your old team mates... Kakashi sighed and wondered if this is what Itachi wanted from his younger brother.

They sat in the office and after the report Tsuande was speechless.

"Naruto?" Sakura said her voice cracking he looked to her and nodded "I want you to forget that promise"

"But..."

"You made it for me, right?" She asked

"Yeah, an-"

"And I don't want it anymore... he can become a rogue, he can get his revenge. I don't care. I don't want him anywhere near me ever again" her eyes were hard and she clenched the desk tightly. Kakashi felt bad for her but he was proud of her, she understood she deserved better. She put up with his rejection and comments but he had now essentially raised his hand to her, in the worst way. "Do not bring him anywhere near me" the last part sounded like a plea and he stepped to her

"Are you sure?" He asked

"He tried to kill us. You know he would have if you didn't react as fast as you did" she smacked his chest "but Sai had to save you because you just stood there" she looked angry

"I'm not bothered about me. I promised to bring him home for you. If you are sure, absolutely certain you want me to stop I will. But you're upset right now"

"I'm seeing clearly. You have always said he wasn't right for me. I... see that now. So, please? Naruto I am asking you forget the promise and keep him away from me" she said desperately clutching his jacket.

"You got it" he said without hesitation "no promise I got to keep" and he wrapped his arms around her and looked to Kakashi and Tsunade clearly worried

"Then we need to declare him a rogue" Tsunade said

"He will have no protection" Naruto said

"The only reason he hadn't been made one earlier was because you two asked it and I stood by it" Tsunade said calmly "but I was ready to do it the day you almost died"

"We were foolish children" Sakura said her head on Naruto's shoulder. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble with it"

Tsunade waved her hands dismissively

"Naruto?" Tsunade asked

He looked torn but one look at Sakura's head he nodded

"Understood" he nodded he looked Kakashi "Guess Sai is our new teammate" he smiled

"You two are dismissed" Tsunade said and the teenagers left with Naruto still holding the pink hair kunoichi protectively.

"Are you okay with this?" She asked him and Kakashi nodded

"It needs to be done. And perhaps this was the best path, they learnt for themselves why we originally tried to. And it was possible the closure they needed to move on from the loss of him"

"But not you?" She asked and Kakashi smiled under his mask

"I got mine a long time ago" he said and left.

Two Months Later

It was official that Sasuke was a wanted Rogue and the Konoha citizens were furious, many of the Ninja weren't surprised however and wanted this outcome three years ago. They took it personal that Sasuke had defected to the man who cost Lord Third his life. Sakura had spent a week locked away in her home, but after that she came back head held high. Ino had taken the news badly but being sent on a mission soon after hadn't been able to ask why. She returned yesterday and came charging up to Kakashi and his students with poor Shikamaru and Choji in tow.

"What happened? I thought you guys were stopping him being made rogue? This can't happen!" She yelled and Naruto narrowed his eyes at her while he shielded Sakura slightly from Ino

"We aren't trying to bring him home" Naruto said

"You're breaking your promise?" Ino asked harshly which had Shikamaru stepping forward

"I took it back" Sakura said "I don't want him here. Near me" she said through clenched teeth.

"But it is Sasuke!" Ino yelled and Sakura stood up tall

"You have a fiancé who is stood right behind you, it's very inconsiderate of you to get worked up over your childhood crush like he isn't there. And Sasuke is not worth it" she said before turning to Naruto

"I'm gonna go get ready" she said sweetly and he nodded

"You don't need to change, you looked great!" He said and shook his head "have a nice time" he waved

"Why is she dressed up?" Kakashi asked

"She has a date" he grinned

"A date?" Ino yelled "with who? What about Sasuke? I don't understand!"

"Sasuke tried to kill her" Ino gasped her hands shooting to her mouth "would have too if I didn't act when I did. She says she deserves better and is trying to forget him. So I'd like it if you stopped bringing him up"

"Oh my god!" She whispered "but he..."

"He's gone" Naruto said softly "I know he meant a lot to you but he's changed, and if I dragged him home he wouldn't be the guy you knew. She means it. She doesn't want to be near him again" he leant forward his hands on his knees and Kakashi was surprised by his seriousness "Don't force her to love him if she doesn't. Nobody deserves that" and Ino blinked stepping back slightly and looked to Shikamaru who only shook his head.

Kakashi had to bite his lip to stop the laugh. Naruto got sneaky, he thought. Using her feeling against her and pointing out that she and Shikamaru were in the same predicament. Kakashi tapped Naruto's shoulder causing the boy to lean back and look up to him

"I wasn't aware of a date"

Naruto grinned widely and it caused the four ninja to look at him curiously

"Who is she going on a date with?" Choji asked

"Lee!" He yelled the grin never leaving his face. Kakashi nodded and felt happy for the kid. He'd tried for years to catch her attention and now she had let go of her obsession it seemed as though he had succeeded.

"Good for him" Kakashi said while Ino stood there with her mouth hanging wide.

"LEE!?"

Kakashi decided it was a good time to leave them to their gossip

"I'll meet you later, training with Yamato" he reminded him and Naruto nodded

"I'll be there" he said

The training was going to be a lot but using the clones did seem to speed it along. So here they were in a secluded spot with a thousand Naruto's trying to master the leaf. Yamato had set up his spot in case Kurama's chakra began to leak out through the cracks that Naruto and Jiyraiya had made in loosening the seal. By the second day Yamato had created the waterfall. Naruto's job was to split it. The idea of completing a jutsu the Fourth Hokage couldn't complete was all the motivation he needed, if only he could know it was his own father he would surpass. Sakura had come with food pills and lunch to keep him going.

Day Eight and the Chakra began leaking out and before Yamato could react Naruto sat down and closed his eyes. It shocked both ANBU enough to watch and see the cloak recede and Naruto to sigh and open his eyes with a grin. Yamato looked at Kakashi with wide eyes. Jiyraiya had been scarred by Kurama, so Kakashi assumed it was out of control. He hadn't asked Naruto if Kurama had spoken to him more since leaving. Perhaps now he should. Naruto jumped down and took an apple from the basket Sakura had dropped off earlier.

"Think we should take a break" he sighed plopping onto the floor. Yamato lowered his hand and nodded

"Sure"

"Take ten" Kakashi ordered and Yamato left without question.

"How is it with you and Kurama?" Kakashi asked

"You remembered his name" Naruto smiled "it's okay. He's not so mean anymore goes from being okay with the situation to wanting out and fighting it. I think he likes me but is hiding it" Naruto grinned

"Oh really?" He asked amused "so what happened?" He asked pointing to the waterfall

"My Chakra is low, I was frustrated. He explained it once but I didn't really get it"

"So he wasn't trying to take over?" Kakashi asked and Naruto shook his head biting into his apple. Kakashi wondered if they needed to worry so much? Or if they weren't worried enough. For at least three years they have been communicating. It was entirely plausible that it was Kurama trying to trick him, but then again, it was as equally plausible that he had come to care for Naruto.

Yamato returned and Kakashi felt his stomach twist. Something was wrong. Naruto stood up and they both waited for Yamato to reach them.

"Asuma Sarutobi, has been killed in action" he said softly. Kakashi felt his heart become heavy as yet another friend had been lost. Naruto however had stood there eyes wide and holding Kakashi's wrist tightly.

"How?" He asked

"They fought Akatsuki memebers"

"They? What about the rest of the team?"

"They're okay, a few injuries but they are understandably upset" Yamato said

"Kakashi-"

"Go" he said and Naruto was gone. The boy was fast he thought "we will stop training today" he said to Yamato.