By time they returned from the mission Naruto was back to his usual self. Ino had been a lot nicer to Naruto and it seemed to have been enough for Shikamaru to talk to her again and give her more freedom in coming near Naruto. Reaching the gates the squad was surprised to see Sakura waiting basket in hand. Shikamaru immediately tensed but watched Naruto to see what he should do. Kakashi was still amazed by how in tune the Nara seemed to be with him.
"Hey, Sakura!" Naruto almost yelled smiling widely at her and his face fell upon getting closer. She looked awful. Dark circles under her eyes and her hair unkempt "Hey, did something happen?" He asked stepping right up to her and she looked dumbfounded and guilty all at once. Her lip quivered and Naruto looked horrified he went to speak and she cried dropped the basket as she wrapped her arms around his neck making an effort not to touch his back
"I'm so sorry!" She wailed and he stood there frozen arms hovering over her as she sobbed into his shoulder
"For what?" He gasped out
"You're an idiot" Shikamaru grumbled and Naruto frowned at him
"I'm sorry!" She cried out again and he hugged her gently
"Seriously, what are you saying sorry for?" Naruto asked
"For everything" she yelled shaking her head on his shoulder. They stayed like that for a while
"We need to report in" Asuma said looking slightly uncomfortable.
Naruto nodded and began walking in while Sakura refused to let go. Ino picked up her basket and followed
By time they made it to the hokage tower Sakura had calmed down and released Naruto. She had asked to speak to him properly if he would be okay with that and he of course agreed. Maybe Team Seven wasn't finished after all, Kakashi thought as he jumped to the roof to allow team Ten to give their report before he gave his own.
He was exhausted, despite knowing someone was always on watch and that three of the five members of the squad were aware of his presence he still took minimal sleep. Tsunade would demand he go home and sleep before any new missions or decisions have been made. He did want to see the conversation with Sakura and Naruto before sleep though. Get some sort of gauge on Naruto's reaction and if he'd be truthful. He wondered if this exhaustion he felt from watching over and worrying Naruto was similar to being a parent.
After giving his report he followed Naruto and Shikamaru.
"Shedoesn't deserve your forgiveness" Shikamaru said
"Maybe, but she's getting it"
"Naruto are you really just going to let her off after how horribly she treated you?"
"Yes" he nodded and the groan of frustration that left the Nara was something Kakashi had never seen before.
When they saw her Shikamaru left and headed off toward the Nara compound. I wonder if Shikaku is aware of this? Kakashi thought.
Sakura kept herself together better as she apologised again
They sat on a park bench and she didn't look up to him.
"How is your back?" She asked
"It's okay. Doesn't hurt anymore"
"Kakashi said you get hurt a lot, on our missions?"
"Sometimes" he shrugs and she looked angry for a moment
"Why don't you say anything?" She asked and he hesitated "please be honest with me?" She asked and he scratched the back of his head nervously
"Well... After a while I just accepted that you didn't care"
She flinched her chin lowering further
"You saw Sasuke hurt and I just don't think you hear me, made no sense to take your attention from him while you're so worried"
"I don't mean to make you feel so bad" she said meekly and he looked at her "I mean, you are an idiot and you can be annoying" she frowned and he smiled at her amused
"Don't think insulting someone is how apologies work" he teased but she wasn't amused. She glared up at him.
"But" she said firmly "you are kind, and you look out for us. I realised after... Kakashi said some things and Shikamaru attacked us that you might not know that I don't actually hate you Naruto" she looked to him "and I never really told you..." she trailed off looking torn
"I can take it" he nodded she put her hands on his face and he looked a little scared
"I never thought you were some evil monster who was going to hurt me" she said and his mouth fell open "I remember it started with being told to stay away from you, and that you were dangerous. I don't remember why" she looked frustrated "I don't remember what you did that made my parents and family so determined to not have me play with you and its bothered me that it was the reason I never gave you a chance. Then you played up and I just didn't want to get into trouble" she explained and he nodded. This was something everyone knew about Sakura. She followed the rules, respected her elders and if Kakashi was honest even without the Fox issue he didn't think they'd have been friends as children anyway. "Being put on the same team with you initially scared me. Those fears from when I was small came back and I stuck closer to Sasuke for that and my feelings for him"
"Do I still scare you?" He asked softly hiding his pain and she smiled shaking her head
"I rely on you Naruto"
This was clearly something he was not expecting.
"Don't get me wrong, there are times... The Great Naruto Bridge, the fight with Neji... it's like you are consumed by some darkness but you... it's like you use it for others" she shook her head "I can't make sense of it because it doesn't feel like you" she sighed "do you know what I'm trying to say?" She asked desperately and he nodded. A sob broke from her and she wiped her eyes
"I'd like to start again... if you'll let me"
"Of course I will" he chuckled and slowly he wrapped his arms around her "You don't have to feel so ba-" he cut off as she smacked his head leaning back to glare at him
"I absolutely do, idiot!" She yelled at him and he stared at her in shock as she froze looking horrified. He burst out laughing rubbing the back of his head
"Guess you're just a hitter" he laughed. She let out a few breathless laughs before apologising again "I told Kakashi I didn't want you guys sent back. If I don't get demoted I said I'd be happy to stay on team Seven. If you guys want that, you know" he smiled awkwardly. A bright smile came to her face as she nodded
"I'd like that" she said and from the shadows of the trees came Sasuke
"Me too" he leant against the back of the bench "how else are you gonna 'beat me'?" He teased and as if things had rightened themselves out Naruto shot up and yelled at how he already was and Sasuke was just to sour to admit it.
Now is a good time to catch up on sleep, Kakashi thought. Naruto was still hiding but he was more stable and Kakashi belived he wouldn't get lost the way he had the other day. Spending all the time he had with Shikamaru seemed to bring up his resistance again.
He had thought things were going okay after the heart to heart with Sakura a few months back. He had thought his words reached Sasuke enough to get him to at least consider letting go of his pursuit of revenge. Because since Itachi came after the Chinin Exams, and Orichimaru's influence he had gotten worse. To return home to find Sakura and Ino sobbing in the Hokage office and being told Sasuke had defacted and Shikamaru was team leader and headed out this morning to retrieve him. He had no doubt Naruto was with them.
"I want you to head out and back them up" Tsunade ordered he didn't wait for anything else. They almost killed each other on the hospital roof only months ago he did not want to think how they would fight now.
The further from the village he got the more he found barely alive children. His relief to see Shikamaru conscious and talking to Temari almost had him light headed. If Naruto failed he knew if something happened to Shikamaru he may not keep himself in check and the seal may loosen.
"He went on ahead" Shikamaru informed him "there's been some pretty intense Chakra coming from that way, I was abou-"
"No" Kakashi ordered
"I'm the captain for th-"
"Shikamaru" Kakashi warned and was returned with a glare "this isn't a normal mission. I have seniority here you'll head home and report. I will bring him home"
Shikamaru gripped Kakashi's wrist in a iron grasp, Kakashi felt the boy shaking
"They aren't normal Ninja, and I'm not even sure that He is enough help" he said and Kakashi gave him a masked smile
"You'd be surprised. Naruto is a Uzumaki and with that will and stubbornness is more chakra, you understand?" He asked hoping the Nara knew that Naruto had a exponential amount of his own chakra. Shikamaru huffed and let him go.
The valley looked like a seasoned battle ground. Not one of two Fourteen year old children. It was somewhat ironic that their battle had been here. There was no sign of Sasuke, Naruto was unconscious but alive. Barely. He could practically feel the fox working to keep his vessel alive. Carefully picking up Naruto placing Sasuke's headband on his stomach.
"Thank you Kyuubi" he whispered hoping it reached him. There was no way to get him to Tsunade quickly and be gentle so he just ran. He sent a silent apology to Itachi, he failed his brother but even Itachi knew that Naruto was his priority. Even after the torture he'd endured from Itachi he couldn't shake his loyalty to the boy he knew and worked with. The entire situation never sat right with Kakashi, but he knew that was his own biased opinions of the boy he knew. He had faith the fix would keeo Naruto breathing until he reached help even with the added damage from his rush. He worried for Naruto's mental state when he woke to remember he failed. Sasuke may not have felt the loyalty and friendship Naruto had. He looked up to Sasuke, he was the motivation that pushed Naruto to get better. He was Naruto's Obito. The guy you loved but hated but knew you'd have their back in an intstant, no questions asked. He could only hope Naruto took this loss better than he did.
Everyone had pulled through, and Neji was still in the ICU. Shikamaru had taken the failure hard and hadn't left the hospital. Kakashi sat in Naruto's room. He wasn't alone, a certain Nara lay next to him head on his stomach arms around his waist. He turned up the moment Naruto was admitted, came in and out to check on the rest of his team and when everyone was cleared and hadn't left. Naruto woke up to the boy wrapped around him. That was two days ago. Naruto tensed put his arm protectively over Shikamaru looking to the door. Frowning and a little confused Kakashi looked to see Shikaku in the doorway
"This is where he's been hiding" he smirked and Naruto nodded slowly "should have known" he shook his head leaning on the doorframe. Naruto didn't relax he looked to Kakashi for some sort of guidance on how this was going to go. He couldn't blame him even now parents still were telling their children off for going near the boy. Neji himself had been punished multiple times just for spending time with him outside of work. Kakashi nodded and Naruto sat back on the bed but his tension had already woken Shikamaru up
"You don't need to worry about my Dad" he mumbled nuzzling into Naruto's stomach causing the blonde to blush profusely and the elder Nara laughed and looked to Kakashi
"Thought you'd be here" he pulled his head back to indicate that he needed to speak to him. Kakashi stood "I'll be back in a hour Shikamaru" he told his son who only grumbled in response. Kakashi was becoming more and more inclined to believe they weren't just friends.
As they exited the hospital Shikaku looked tired and Kakashi felt it was likely to hearing the squad were all in a bad way and was expecting to see his own son also on the verge of death.
"How is he?" he asked and Kakashi looked up to the clear sky
"He's detirmined he isn't done. That he is going to get him back" Kakashi smiled surprised he still isn't used to the boys will power and belief he can accomplish anything he sets his mind too. Even if sometimes he falls the way he had a few months back.
"Jiraiya is going to take Naruto on his travels with him. He believes the boy isn't safe here. Tsunade is going to take on Sakura"
Kakashi felt as though the ground had opened up and swallowed him. He had failed them, that was true but to have them taken from him was worse. Jiraiya was Naruto's Godfather so if he chose to take him Kakashi couldn't argue that.
"How long?"
"Three years"
Three years!? He'd never spent so long without seeing Naruto. To think he wouldn't see him until he was gone Seventeen was heartbreaking. He'd miss so much but his safety was more important. If he wasn't safe in the village, travelling with Jiraiya who can't be traced easily would be the best option. Not to mention what he would learn under his guidance. Minato was his pupil after all.
"Shikamaru is going to be so pissed about it" Shikaku groaned and Kakashi looked at him
"I haven't asked, I don't want to assume I know how that feels" he said yet again reminded of himself and Guy "but is something happening there?"
"I don't know if they know yet, but it's certainly growing into more than friendship. I've never seen Shikamaru this way with anyone else"
He could be wrong of course but Shikaku rarely is. Naruto may even try to refuse leave if he was right.
"Do you not want to teach us anymore?" Naruto asked him that night. Being told of the decision he'd not taken it well. He had to go find Sasuke, he had to be here to make sure Sakura was okay, his friends were here, he came up with lots of excuses.
"Of course I do" Kakashi reassured him "but Jiraiya wants to take you with him, and there isn't much I can do to change that and if the Hokage chose to take on Sakura I can't demand otherwise" he said
"Does he really have to take him away for so long?" Sakura asked
"He still has his job to do" Kakashi said which was the truth. He wasn't sure how honest Jiraiya would be with Naruto, so far he had only said he will help him get stronger to bring Sasuke home.
"I wouldn't have asked for his help if it meant he'd take me away" Naruto said softly
"I will be fine, Naruto" Sakura said "I'm going to get stronger and become someone you can depend on too! I told you, next time I am coming with you and we will bring him home, together"
Naruto smiled
"Who will have your back until then?" He asked
"You don't need to worry about me. I'll be here with our entire class. Your the one who needs to worry, I mean Sanin or not is that perv even able to protect you" she sneered dramatically
"It's usually the ones you don't expect who are the most feared shinobi" Kakashi said looking at Naruto pointedly.
"When do I go?" He asked
"A few months, he had to leave to complete some things he couldn't take you along for. You'll likely be put on short missions with other teams until then" Kakashi explained
Sakura looked sad, she had really changed her behaviour with him in the past months since their heart to heart. Kakashi could see she truly came to care for him. That saying goodbye to him was painful for her
"You'll come back though" she said her face cheerful but the shaking in her voice said otherwise. Did she feel like he was leaving her too? Naruto seemed to understand this too
"Believe it! I won't ever abandon my teammates"
She laughed out what Kakashi thought was a sob and looked at him with bright eyes
"I believe it" she smiled
