Before Ino had left the compound that night she found Kakashi to the side and smiled at him.
"What is it?" He asked and she lifted her hands and pulled off the ring she had been given from Shikamaru.
"I'm really glad he spoke up today. Shikamaru made comments, and I just thought he was being honest and a good friend because of course he realised I was getting close with someone"
Kakashi raised his brow but sensed she wasn't done "But this week he was... and I wondered if there was someone else. Never would have guessed" she laughed and shook her head frowning slightly "but it actually makes sense" she nodded
"Are you making a point?" He asked her patiently and she rolled her eyes
"I just feel the secrecy... going so far is more than not wanting to come out" her face became stern and she looked up to Kakashi with a look he knew well. The warning of violence for the person they want to protect. "He mentioned his Dad being dangerous for his Mum. Is Shikamaru in danger?" She demanded
Kakashi almost chuckled at the girl.
"Ah his mother was never in danger. Woman could squash the Hokage if she wanted. Don't misunderstand it" Kakashi sighed "I can't tell you much. But Naruto is worried the danger he is in would put Shikamaru in the line of fire"
Her eyes looked up with worry
"Naruto is in danger?" She asked and Kakashi was a little surprised by the concern
"Not right now but... one day"
"So it can't get out" She nodded putting the ring on her right forefinger "my lips are sealed. But I want answers"
"That's something you're going to have to ask them" Kakashi said and she nodded
After she left Kakashi felt his opinion of her become a little more positive.
-
The almost wedding was the talk of the village and everyone who attended the almost wedding was off the next day so Kakashi had decided to give Naruto and Shikamaru some space. Hoping Naruto hadn't chickened out and changed his mind, Kakashi couldn't cope with the tension anymore. But that didn't stop him being interrupted from his reading by the gossiping teens.
"So you have feelings for someone else?" Sakura asked
"Well... yeah. He has no clue and I'm not even sure I will ever get there but it felt wrong to marry Shikamaru"
"Who is it?"
Ino blushed and looked at her hands shaking her head
"No, I'm not ready yet. Anyway how is it with Lee? That sounds exhausting" Ino teased causing Sakura to roll her eyes
"He's actually very sweet" she smiled brightly and Kakashi was glad he could see she was truly happy "and when we talk it's not just him yelling, seriously I didn't even think he had a calm side"
"Couldn't imagine it" Ino agreed
"Well if you'd ask out your guy you would see it on a double date" Sakura chuckled "it's strange though, even though I know he is nothing like him... I'm waiting for an insult or a brush off"
"Lee would never!" Ino scoffed "that man worships you, has from the moment he met you. I'm... glad you have someone treating you the way you deserve"
"You're not mad? About him?"
Ino shook her head
"I was being a bratty kid... we aren't thirteen anymore. Its just sad our first love was such a bad guy" she shrugged
"I want to do something for Lee" Sakura blurted and it caused Kakashi to sit up on his perch
"Like what?"
"I don't know, he's been so good, and he literally will bring flowers if he passes some on his way to me, the surprise dates and the way he's been I just haven't made much if an effort. Whenever I've tried I've been mocked or shot down but I know he won't do that... I want to push through this hesitation"
Ino looked at her with sympathy stamped all over her face. It was true, and Kakashi wasn't surprised Sasuke's treatment had caused some sort of negative response. How could it not. And Ino never really knew how bad it could be.
"Well then, let's go! We can think of something"
"Well I honestly think Lee is the guy who would appreciate flowers" Sakura chuckled "but I'd like to do more than just that and a gift"
"We can think of something!" Ino encouraged dragging her away. It had occurred to Kakashi in that moment that Ino may be someone you would want as a friend. She's loud, annoying, bossy and nosy. But she seemed to be loyal, and it seemed like second nature to her to help her friends and look after them. He understood Asuma's love for the girl a little more now. He went back to his book, not really able to focus on it since the interruption. Sighing he put the book down on his lap and looked down to the bench. He hated it, but never could stay away. He was never able to predict how it would make him feel, sometimes it was bad memories, grief and anger, others it was a comfort, sense of belonging because this was where they were most. Like he could almost feel them. He couldn't deny seeing Naruto and Shikamaru's friends be there for them as they have, didn't have him thinking about Rin and Obito more. He glanced at his right hand with a heavy sigh
"Hey! Kakashi stop spacing out you're supposed to be a ninja ya know!"
Kakashi smiled under his mask as the familiar voice called to him and he looked down. Naruto seemed happy, completely at ease as he looked up to Kakashi from across the path.
"I thought you'd be with Shikamaru all day" Kakashi commented as he leapt down to land in front of him
"Shikaku came and took him away" he sulked folding his arms and Kakashi couldn't help the laugh that escaped, which only became harder when Naruto glared at him. He put his hand up in apology as he composed himself, clearing his throat for good measure.
"Did you talk?"
"A little" Naruto shrugged as they walked back toward the village "honestly I just wanted him to sleep. He looked awful and I felt like an asshole"
"You were trying to do the the right thing, of course once he was married you couldn't keep going" Kakashi assured him and Naruto nodded
"I know, but he was so upset and I mean... I burst in like I had every right to just change my mind"
"You did. And he is glad for it, I'm sure" Kakashi said pleased with the smile that came over Naruto's face.
They walked in silence for a bit and Kakashi couldn't help but like the way Naruto looked a little lighter.
"I need to talk to Ino at some point too, thank her" Naruto blurted "and I guess... ask her to..." he frowned
"I don't think you need to worry" Kakashi smiled remembering her the night before "she seems like a good friend to have, she seems to understand you guys aren't ready. But I would expect some questions"
Naruto nodded looking a little nervous.
"NARUTOOO!"
They both tensed and before Naruto could turn around a blur of green crashed into him causing them both to go crashing into the wall ahead. Kakashi internally winced, he had never fallen victim to Guy's attempt at such a thing, but it didn't look fun. Naruto groaned against the wall underneath Lee.
"I have a problem Naruto! I was going to the Hokage! You should know too!" He said
Naruto pushed Lee off with a little more force than needed
"What are you on about?!" Naruto growled
"I saw Orochimaru's henchman. The one from the Chunin exams" he said standing up and Naruto was on his feet immediately
"Kabuto?" He asked and Lee nodded Naruto looked to Kakashi
"Sakura is in the market, with Ino"
Kakashi nodded "Lee go let Grandma know, I'll try to locate him"
Lee frowned looking serious
"Do you think Sasuke is with him?" He asked and Naruto narrowed his eyes
"He better not be" he said through clenched teeth "I'll keep him away from her if that's the case. Don't worry, let Grandma know then go to her"
Lee nodded and took off. Naruto frowned and leant against the wall closing his eyes.
"It is Kabuto" he said and Kakashi nodded waiting for a moment when Naruto's brow came down in a deep frown "he is with someone, I don't know who they are. I don't sense Sasuke" he relaxed as did Kakashi "but I can't cover the whole village" he admitted
"That's fine, where are they?"
"In the forest of death" he gestured to the east. They weren't that far from there and Kakashi wasn't surprised he had picked him up so quickly. He should find out his range, he noted
"Go tell Lady Tsunade, I'll go intercept them. Keep looking as you go, just in case he is here" Kakashi ordered "Naruto" his tone was warning
"My only concern with him in the village is to get him out of it. If she sees him..." he shook his head and Kakashi nodded and they took off in separate directions. Kakashi should probably report Naruto's skills he knew of but honestly, he just felt the less people knew, the more of an advantage he had when it came down to the Akatsuki. He wasn't stupid, he knew they had their own traitors, in the Hokage office itself. As he made it to the forest of death he cloaked his chakra entering and using his nose to sniff out the foreign smells. Why come here? It was a risk to come to the village, what could be so important?
"We should retrieve Sasuke" a woman spoke and Kakashi stopped at the closest tree to see Kabuto and a woman with brown hair up in a messy bun.
"He will meet us at the rendezvous. Let him do his business"
"Letting him roam the Leaf alone is risky" she argued
"Yes, but the Uchiha Compound is not somewhere just am about to trespass with him there" Kabuto said his voice lowering as he glared at the woman. Kakashi clenched his jaw as he thought about Sasuke being here. The small part if him torn, that part that still felt an obligation to Itachi. But for the most part he wanted to go and bring him in and lock him up. And explosion erupted in the distance and all three Ninja looked toward the abandoned Uchiha Compound and Kakashi silently cursed at the wave of Naruto's Chakra with Sasuke's. The woman lifted her arm to point at the rising smoke
"I wonder who that could be!" He snapped and Kabuto only sighed as he put something in a vial and put it in his pack. They took off and Kakashi hung back to summon Pakkun
"Follow Kabuto, stay with him until he reaches a hideout" he ordered Pakkun nodded and Kakashi shinshuned to the compound. The sound of the fight reaching his ears immediately. Naruto cursed and Kakashi landed on a roof to see him holding Sasuke in place with a Kunai to his neck. His arm was bleeding from a slash Kakashi assumed came from the discarded sword on the floor. Sasuke had blood down his face from a wound on his forehead.
"Shouldn't have come back Teme" Naruto panted
"You won't kill me Dobe" Sasuke smirked and to Kakashi's horror Naruto grinned down at him
"Wanna bet?" Naruto challenged "you tried to kill me after all"
Sasuke scoffed as he completely relaxed against Naruto. Kakashi didn't reveal himself. He was questioning if Naruto had even noticed him yet, because he was confused. Sasuke dug his elbow into Naruto's ribs and Naruto chuckled in pain and let him go!
"What are you doing here?" He asked
"None of your business" he shrugged but pulled out a scroll holding it to Naruto who looked at him with wide eyes not taking it until Sasuke nodded.
"Look, it's almost time. You'll hear the news quickly and I'll move on to find him"
"You don't have to do this" Naruto tried
"Don't start" Sasuke glared and Naruto nodded "Thank you, for all the protection this far, I won't forget it"
"Maybe don't cut it so close next time and I consider helping you again" Naruto smirked rubbing his chest where Sasuke had almost killed him three years ago.
"Is she?"
"She's moving on, I think you did it"
"Good" he nodded Naruto tensed and glared at East "I'll see you again" he held out his fist and Naruto smirked at him
"You better, don't let the snake win" he put his fist to the Uchiha and before his eyes Naruto flipped his Kunai and swung for Sasuke who leapt back onto his hands kicking Naruto back before landing on his feet. Naruto pushed off a building throwing himself at Sasuke to land a punch on his jaw. They kept up with the taijutsu before Sasuke threw a fireball causing Naruto to have to fall onto his back and let it pass him as it exploded against the old pharmacy building. Kabuto landed next to Sasuke
"So much for laying low" he quipped and Sasuke scowled at the medic
"He just turned up" he shrugged
"Well, I suppose our job is done" he stated and Naruto dove forward as Kabuto pulled out a flash bomb but it landed before Naruto could close the distance. Kakashi closed his eye at the last second before jumping down to lift the disoriented blond up leaving Pakkun to follow them. Tsunade would be furious if they continues a full fledged fight here. And this way they could possibly get a location to a hide out.
Naruto blinked and when his vision cleared he smiled sheepishly up at Kakashi who was beyond furious.
"What. Was. That?!" He demanded causing Naruto to laugh nervously.
It has been a struggle to write my longer stories lately and I hope I am over the bump. So sorry it has taken so long! I can't promise the next chapter will be as quick as they used to be but I will do my best. If not I will no doubt end up uploading more one shots or the short ones that take residence in my head until I write them out :')
But I am alway coming back to this and Caged!
Thank you all