Naruto was discharged early thanks to his healing abilities. He spent this time in and out of the village trying to fill in for those who were still in the hospital so their teams lost as little work as possible. Kakashi was impressed with his energy given he knew how upset he truly was about the loss of Sasuke. He confessed to Kakashi that he felt a little guilty that the guys were hurt so bad because he knew they didn't go for Sasuke, they went for him. They knew he'd go off alone and wanted to make sure he wasn't alone.
"He's so determined and TenTen is a little overwhelmed with him and Lee together!" Guy laughed taking a drink of his beer.
"Let's not forget you" Kakashi grumbled "girl must have the patience of a saint"
A firm hand smacked him on the back with a loud laugh bursting from his best friend.
"She is amazing!" He praised loudly "we would be doomed without her"
Kakashi nodded and believed that, with him and Lee, then Neji's cockiness he imagine TenTen was the one who remembered the important things that the three men she worked with would forget.
"What will you do when Naruto leaves?" Guy asked looking a little concerned
"I won't be going back to ANBU, don't worry" he sighed. Truth was he didn't know, he knew he didn't want to take on anymore Genin. He'd be happy to just continue doing missions where he was needed. The less time he spent here reminded that Naruto wasn't the better. He'd already requested that once he returns that he become team captain with Sakura and Naruto once again. Tsunade saw no issues with that if all went to plan. Guy looked at Kakashi with that sad puppy look that Kakashi hated, it always made him feel guilty about the path he took after killing Rin. Guy had never given up on him though, made every effort to include him even after being ignored.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" He asked
"I don't want to lose you again" he shrugged
"I'm fine" Kakashi rolled his eye "Naruto is alive and he will be just fine with Jiraiya"
"You've never been apart for so long" he pointed out and Kakashi nodded
"True" he couldn't deny it and he worried how he would cope himself "but he will write, and I don't doubt you are gonna hover like a mother hen, how would I ever spriral down again?"
"You believe I could stop that?" Guy asked his voice a little surprised Kakashi nodded. Guy had been his light, forcing him to stay in touch with his emotions that weren't just Naruto. He'd never said it, never admitted it but he hoped Guy knew how much he trusted and cared for him.
"You did it before" he shrugged
"That wasn't me, that was Naruto"
"Naruto didn't get me kicked off the ANBU and forced me to face life" Kakashi said eyeing the taller man. Who laughed nervously
"You knew about that huh?"
"It was the right call" Kakashi reassured him "I don't think I would have been good at being there for Naruto if I hadn't had those few years back in the world without almost daily assassinations"
"So you aren't mad?" He asked
"Not in the slightest" he smiled taking a drink of his own beer.
Kakashi found Naruto sat in the Nara forest just in sight from where he stood at the border. He was sat crossed legged looking like he was meditating. Frowning confused at how he was even in there without a Nara escort was just as surprising as seeing Naruto look like he was meditating.
"Naruto?" He called the blonde opened his eyes and Kakashi felt his heart drop as he was met with the glowing blood red eyes. Did something happen? Was he hurt? He almost ran into the forest
"I'm fine" he called putting his hand up palms up, telling him to stay put. Shikamaru poked his head from behind a tree. Oh so he wasn't alone, Kakashi thought as Naruto's eyes returned to his blue
"I saw-"
"They're talking" Shikamaru drawled causing Kakashi to calm down but also worry. He remembered Kushina saying sometimes the fox would talk, but it was never good.
"How long has that been happening?" He asked carefully as Naruto stood up and walked over
"A little while, he's a huge grump though" he sighed
"He talks back?" He asked surprised, Kushina said he never talked back to her. Only goaded her when things got tough... while she was pregnant. Kakashi remembered her having a panic attack while he was assigned to her. When he calmed her down Minato arrived home and he heard them talking about how the fox had threatened the baby and to get loose while she was giving birth. Kakashi thought he was a real peice of work. They waited for signs of distress in Naruto as a kid. Worried that the fox would torment him growing up.
"If you want to call it that" Naruto shrugged "he's getting better though"
"Liar" Shikamaru called
"I'm not! He didn't ignore me today" he shrugged "I mean he told me to go away but that's better than ignoring me. But sometimes he'll talk" he laughed and Kakashi was taken aback. God he's going after the fox with that kindness of his next. He is going to try and be friends with the demon that almost destroyed the village, and the scary part of it was that Kakashi would not be surprised if he succeeded.
"What do you talk about?" Kakashi asked calmly. Because honestly the idea this thing would tell Naruto things he won't keep to himself was concerning.
"He tells me some Jutsu he knows, but won't teach me" he pouted "he told me I wasn't his first vessel though" he frowned "how he'd been passed down like some sort of hierloom"
"That so?" Kakashi asked and Naruto smiled softly at him.
"You don't need to worry, he didn't give me any details on her. But it was cool to learn I'm related to Grandma by marriage" His grin turned sad and Kakashi sighed. So he knew some "It's true, right?" He asked but it didn't sound like a question, he believe the fox. Kakashi sat down on the grass sighing heavily, Naruto followed. He looked into the trees and back to Naruto. Questioning of he was happy for Shikamaru to hear it, even if he knew the answer. Naruto only nodded and looked at Kakashi with eyes full of pain but that he was trusting Kakashi to be honest with him.
"Yes"
"You know who my parents were, don't you?" He asked calmly and Kakashi nodded "is it really so wrong for me to know? The Old Man just brushed it off when I asked"
"Why did you never ask me?" Kakashi wondered
"Because I didn't want you to do the same. But I always thought you knew. The way you are with me... being Dog and all" he shrugged
"It's not wrong for you to know... as a kid it was, even now. They were great people, and Shinobi but you running across the village declaring who they are and how cool they were is trouble that you can't handle yet" Kakashi told him honestly. Even now he was still targeted just for being Minato's only living student. Naruto frowned and nodded slowly, taking it in.
"They had enemies then" he concluded and Kakashi nodded he didn't move or say anything and Kakashi worried the fox was adding in more details.
"Okay... but why use Uzumaki's?" He asked
"The sealing powers of the Uzumaki is unparalleled, so it made sense, but also they have exceptional Chakra reserves. Some, like you and your mother have more than the average Uzumaki"
"He said something about sealing" he said absently then looked right to Kakashi "I'll stop digging for their identities. But you have to tell me one day"
Kakashi was taken aback by this, he was so rational about it, and he seemed as though he truly understood why and accepted it.
"I'd love to tell you" he agreed "You get your energy from your Mum" Kakashi said softly and Naruto tensed. He deserved to know this much "and that tick you have 'you know' she did it too. The way you laugh when your embarrassed and scratch the back of your head, that's your Dad. They were both brilliant Ninja, and strong too. But they were kind of dopey at times"
"Really?" He asked his voice cracking
"You got a lot from them, it seems even without their influence you still became a mix of them" he put his hand on the boys shoulder and leant forward to be eye level with him. It wasn't like Kakashi to be this open, or even comforting but if it kept that fire in Naruto going he could be the loving big brother he likely would have been if they had lived "so when people comment on your behaviour, the way you work, remember that it's them and you should be proud of it. Because one day... everyone who failed you, never gave you the chance you deserve, they are going to eat their words when you learn and announce those missing parts of you"
Tears welled in those blue depths and Kakashi felt his throat go tight as the emotions he kept hidden were pushing upward. Nodding Naruto pushed forward and hugged Kakashi tightly, he smiled under the mask hugging him back. Shikamaru was leant against a tree, eyes closed and a smile on his face. It had Kakashi's smile widening. That boy truly cared for Naruto.
Kakashi was aware that he shadowed Naruto more than he should, which is why he still didn't understand how he never knew about Naruto and Shikamaru being so close. But given he had seen it a lot since the day Naruto broke down his only logical conclusion was that Naruto knew he was being watched and took steps to hide it. But now, it's as though the boys didn't care. Jiyraiya had returned and Naruto was leaving at the end of the week. The rest of the Rookie 9 and team Guy wouldn't be in the village at the time so Naruto was saying goodbye to those that were here, before they left. Kakashi was more bothered by the fact these kids still called themselves the Rookie 9, two other groups of Genin had come out the academy since. He was perched on his tree and looking at the training grounds at Naruto and Shikamaru, in his defence he was here before they arrived.
"How was it?" Shikamaru asked
"Awful. Lee wouldn't stop crying which set off Hinata and that just made me feel bad. She is so kind and I don't want to make her cry" Naruto said "Why did grandma send you all on missions before I had to go?" He pouted. Naruto knew why. Because she didn't know when Jiraiya would return.
"I'm sure the hardest part is over" Shikamaru said laying on the grass. Naruto pouted more and looked down at Shikamaru. Kakashi felt his heart speed up because that look. Obito, Kakashi thought and at that moment he knew, he knew Shikamaru meant more to Naruto than anyone else. The look of pain, nerves and a little bit of fear. God he looked just like Obito the many times he almost confessed to Rin. It was painful to see, and he didn't want to invade in on this but he couldn't look away
"Sure, the hardest part" Naruto sighed closing his eyes and looking up to the sky.
"Your right, Kakashi" Shikamaru said and that had Naruto glaring at him. Kakashi could practically hear Naruto's frustrated thoughts
"You know for a genius, your a fucking idiot" Naruto snapped walking closer toward Kakashi and his perch. Shikamaru opened his eyes looking at the sky a little surprised.
"Naruto?" He called getting up and catching his arm "What the hell?"
Naruto stopped taking a breath and lowering his head
"Doesn't matter, I'm sorry" He apologised and the Nara eyed him carefully. Would he see it? Figure out what had caused the outburst. He sighed and let him go
"What a drag"
"I know" Naruto chuckled forcefully.
Bloody Nara's Kakashi thought amused, well he has until tomorrow before Team Ten leave.
Kakashi never used the word 'plop' for anyone other than Naruto, because it was the only word fitting for the way that boy fell to the ground to sit. He plopped to the grass and now it was Shikamaru standing over him. He looked back to the training ground and they stayed like that for a while. Naruto was getting fidgety, he'd been still for two long.
"I'll miss you too" Shikamaru said causing Naruto to jump. He looked to him and Kakashi wished he could see his eyes, whatever he was showing had Naruto looking up in awe
"I know that" he blurted out
"You'll be able to write, so we will all have something. What will you get to stay connected to home? Give you that motivation to remember to write" He asked
Naruto looked offended
"Why would I forget to write?" He scoffed
"It'll be like a new start, nobody will be cold to you" Shikamaru's smile was sardonic "Maybe find a girl better than Sakura"
He was insecure, and he didn't want Naruto to forget him. Maybe even knew he didn't see him as a friend and was worried about a new love interest "Let's face it we all know Jiraiya's reputation"
Kakashi smiled glancing at his book and back to the boys, thats true. Naruto will no doubt be roped into 'research' and helping with the manuscripts. Naruto's face softened as he smiled up at Shikamaru
"The only motivation I need to write is to keep you updated and annoy you with letters" he teased but Shikamaru didn't look amused "Do I really need to spell it out for you?" Naruto asked but again wasn't answered. Probably sensing this was a serious concern Naruto stood and reached for the taller boys hand but stopped for a moment
"I'm not as dense as you may think. It may have taken me longer but I understand" he frowned "the hardest goodbye isn't Lee, or Neji, or even Kakashi"
Gee thanks Naruto, he thought but he had a huge grin under his mask he couldn't even pretend that it offended him
"If you say Sakura I will hit you" Shikamaru deadpanned
"See, an idiot" Naruto snipped "it's you, I ca-" his voice cracked and Shikamaru's eyes widened in shock "I'm finding it really hard to go and you're going tomorrow and I don't think I have it in me to leave. Seriously I keep thinking of ways to convince them to let me stay"
"Why?"
"The same reason you don't want me to go" Naruto shrugged completely confident that he was right "because I love you" he was clearly terrified he said it but he didn't move or freak out. He just waited as Shikamaru composed himself
"You think I love you?" He asked dismissively and Naruto nodded grinning and bouncing on the balls of his feet
"Yeah"
"Brave of you to just assume and confess that" he shrugged but he didn't take his hand from Naruto's
"You can't assume facts" he said teasingly and Shikamaru rolled his eyes, Kakashi had the impression that was possibly being thrown back at him.
"You have to go" Shikamaru said
"I know... but..."
"I'll be here. If what I'm learning is right you have to go"
Kakashi sat up no longer thinking this was cute.
"It feels right. Especially after Itachi turning up. He was there for me, and if they are an organisation they're working for someone"
"I couldn't get a reason why, but it's safe to say its about Kurama" Shikamaru said
Kurama? Who was that? Naruto nodded and bit his lip and looked directly at Kakashi then back
"You can't tell anyone. About my feelings" he said and Kakashi felt his heart break. Shikamaru nodded "and stop digging. If they catch you-"
"I will be fine" Shimamaru dismissed "He's gonna help you right?"
"I'm not sure. He was very... uncommitted about it"
Kakashi had questions. Ones he would make sure he got before he left.
"It still seems reckless to send you out with only Jiraiya, Legendary Sanin or not" Shikamaru frowned
"I told you. I think he's strong. When he turned up Itachi and the blue guy didnt even try to foght him"
They had seriously talked about this Kakashi realised, gone over things in detail. Deciding not to interrupt their last day together he left, he'll ask Naruto his questions tomorrow.
Wow! Guys! Thank you so much it has really made me happy to see that you like the story!
