Just a chapter to fill in on the time of Naruto's departure from the village.
Time-Skip One Year after departure
Escorting the ninja from Suna was the last thing Kakashi wanted to be doing but apparently the information was vital and had to be delivered to Gaara in tact. Entrusted only to him to hand deliver, the Sand Ninja were here on other business and Kakashi was asked to come with them as he was coming anyway. Why Gaara and not the elders Kakashi didn't know but it wasn't his place to ask so he accepted the mission just for the sake of being out of the village. Naruto was right and last week someone had burnt down his apartment. Kakashi was just greatful he emptied the place a few months after he left. But it left a bitter taste in his mouth and he really couldn't stand to be in the village right now. Tsuanade had sensed as much and he thinks this is why she sent him on such a basic mission. He may or may not have found who did it and scared them senseless donning his old ANBU uniform. He smirked under his mask as the people who terrorised Naruto were nothing more than cowards who could only bully a child and when face with someone who would fight back they fell to their knees begging to be let go. Of course Kakashi couldn't act on his urge to give them a just a taste of what they have put Naruto through. His job was to protect them, not beat them to a pulp. He hated it.
"Kakashi?" A voice came and he faced the Sand Shinobi Jonin who had halted the squad. He nodded his head forward. He looked ahead seeing a figure ahead standing in the middle of the path. The bandages, sword and weapons pack made it clear they were a Ninja, the long brown hair was braided and hung over the shoulder.
"Mind if I..?" Kakashi asked lazily and the Jonin nodded
"Be my guest" he said stepping defensively in front of his own Genin. The girl, who Kakashi was told had sensory abilities was shaking not taking her eyes off the person ahead
"What do you sense?" He asked unblinking as tears came over her eyes
"They're strong, and... there chakra is so dark" she whispered her twin brother put his hand on her shoulder
"Alright then, I'll go see what they want" Kakashi drawled and walked on ahead stuffing his hands in his pockets. As he neared he realised it was a woman.
"Kakashi Hatake" she said amused "never had the pleasure"
He didn't respond. Honestly being so famous made work hard. He always felt greatful he had kept his face hidden
"Do you want something from me?" He asked
"Have something for you" she said looking as bored as he did. He kept his face neutral and got ready to move if she was attacking. Reaching into her pack slowly and pulling out a scroll with a necklace wrapped around it.
"Message from a friend" she said holding it out to him. He carefully took it and the moment it left her hands she nodded and shinshuned away. Waiting a moment and looked back to the sand genin to see her on her knees he knew she had gone. Making his way back he sniffed the scroll, he didn't smell any chakra or bombs. There was no jutsu on it.
As they had set up camp at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind Kakashi stepped aside and pulled the scroll out of his pack the chain wasn't familiar, he didn't see the point in having it wrapped around the scroll. Taking it off he prepared himself and opened the scroll. When nothing happened he opened it up
The border isn't safe, and Jun is untrustworthy. The children must be protected but what you're carrying has information that MUST reach Gaara. Do not let your guard down.
Kakashi looked to the Sand Ninja at the fire. Jun was the Jonin. He hadn't given any indication of being a threat to the children or the mission.
I'm sorry about sending Mikazuki but despite her... aura she is trust worthy.
I'll see you soon Pops
Kakashi tensed eyes widening at the last word. Was this Naruto? His writing was nothing like it had been last year... but nobody else but Naruto had ever called him that only Jiyraiya and Sakura heard it. Possibly Jiraiya then? Opening the scroll further there was nothing else. Sighing at the annoyance of dealing with a possible traitor and having to possibly kill him in front of his students was not how Kakashi wanted to end this mission. Throwing the scroll in the fire as he sat back down in the camp four Sand Ninja looked at him curiously
"Everything okay?" Jun asked
"Just some old enemies" Kakashi said the sun had gone down and everyone had eaten
"I'll take first watch" Jun said "kids off to bed" he ordered
"Thanks Jun" Kakashi waved lazily as he jumped into a tree over the sleeping bags of the kids. They were nice, seemed to really value each other even if one wasn't related. If the children were in danger that could only mean he intended to kill any witnesses, not just me, Kakashi thought. The scroll was secure and he had done a transformation jutsu to swap his book for the scroll and vice versa. But he didn't think that would be enough, hoping he would steal the scroll and leave was not smart.
Two hours later the kids were asleep, Kakashi acting to be asleep hoping he could do this without traumatising them, they may be ninja but nobody deserved to have to go through the person they trust with their lives and education trying to kill them. Sensing Jun move he quickly did a substitution justsu and jumped down behind a tree next to the children. Silently as Jun jumped above, Kakashi put the children in a Genjutsu to keep them sleeping should this get loud. Watching from his spot in the shadows of the trees he saw Jun pull out a Kunai and without hesitation slit the substitutions throat. Holding the jutsu long enough for Kakashi to appear behind him
"And I thought we were friends" he said casually, Jun tensed and when the body turned into a log he turned Kunai in hand to attack. Kakashi caught his wrist twisting so the kunai fell kicking it as it passed so it wouldn't hit one of the kids. "Guess traitors are everywhere these days" he sighed activating his Chidori and pushed his hand through the chest of the man who just attempted to kill him. Eyes wide with fear that froze as he registered what had just happened to him.
"These kids seemed to like you. Hope it was worth it" Kakashi said pulling his blood covered arm from the chest lifting the body. Moving into the trees leaving a clone to watch over the kids he dumped the body cleaning his arm and glove by a lake. When he got back he left the glove to dry by the fire. Naruto hadn't wrote in a while about three months and the others were worried, Kakashi was sure the scroll was from either Naruto or Jiraiya. So it settled his nerves about the wellbeing of Naruto. He'd have to tell Shikamaru too. He never asked but Asuma had mentioned he had been off and he didn't know why, that he wouldn't open up to him. Kakashi of course knew but the boy would never ask.
Arriving at Suna Kakashi wasn't expecting Gaara to be there himself. But there he was at the gate his sand encircling the three upset children
"Thank you Kakashi" he said nodding his head leading the children to a woman who lead them away "I believe you have something for me"
Pulling out the book from his pack and breaking the jutsu he held the scroll up.
"Don't suppose you have spoken to him have you?" Kakashi asked the smaller man almost smiled
"Yes, he seemed well, but stuck his nose into sand troubles for me"
"Sounds like him" he sighed holding the scroll out. He didn't release it to Gaara, they made eyes contact for a moment before Gaara closed his eyes bowing his head slightly
"It'll make you old, Pops, being paranoid like that" Gaara said smoothly and Kakashi smirked under his mask.
"My hair may be silver but I am far from old" Kakashi drawled relinquishing the scroll to Gaara.
"We have a place for you to rest. Come" Gaara said turning into the village his sand all but dragging Kakashi along to follow. No escaping the hospitality of Suna.
Time Skip
Two Years After Departure.
Letters had been frequent from Naruto the last five months. He must be somewhere safe or close by. The kids were thrilled talking about him and what he wrote. Except Shikamaru. Kakashi notice he only scowled at the sky when they brought up the blonde. He wondered if Naruto had not sent him anything.
"Shikamaru what is with you, come on you have been in a bad mood all day" she said hands on her hips
"Ino, drop it" he ordered but she sighed
"Look I know you aren't happy about being made to come but it's a clan thing"
He glared at her
"What's a clan thing?" Kiba asked
"Oh, Dad had spoken to the elders and asked that the head and hier come to dinner regarding some stuff, we are supposed to find out about some plan between the clans" she said
This isn't good, Kakashi thought concerned at the way the Nara had paled Kiba laughed
"Sounds serious" he looked at Shikamaru and snickered
"Shut it, Kiba" Shikamaru snapped
"Will you stop it, its not like we haven't had this before" Ino scorned
"This is different" he said and Hinata and Kiba nodded one looking ready to hug the two and the other holding in his laughter. Ino's face fell as she looked at the three clan hiers around her before she glared at Shikamaru
"What do you know?" She demanded he groaned
"What a fucking drag!" He almost yelled "they're setting us up to get married Ino" he told her and the pale girl somehow paled further
"What?" She asked weakly she began to wobble and Kiba stepped forward supporting her "Why?" She asked
"Something our great grandparents set up. But they're kids were always boys. Congratulations being the first female hier in three generations" he mock cheered "the elders won't let it go" he added closing his eyes. Kiba slowly sat her down and looked at Hinata concerned. Kakashi wondered of Shikaku was okay with this, given his suspicions about Shikamaru and Naruto. He wouldn't imagine him forcing this on his son or Inoichi for that matter. But still, this was going to break Naruto's heart when he comes home. He wished he could warn him.
Time Skip
Two years and Eight months since Departure.
The village was full of nerves, and a little bit of excitement. Nerves from the villagers and most shinobi, the excitement from the Rookie Nine, Team Guy and a few other shinobi. It is anytime that Naruto would return home. The Rookies and team Guy had been given only quick mission to give the most chance of them being home when Naruto returned. Kakashi was perched on his tree above the stone bench Obito and Rin used to have their talks and wondered how he would look. How much he had improved, and grown up. He was worried about how Naruto will come home to find out the boy he loved was officially engaged. Damned clan mentalities Kakashi cursed. Jiyraiya had released a new book a few months ago so that kept Kakashi reassured that they were doing just fine if Jiyraiya had time to write and publish a new book. Though that did put some worries for Naruto himself Kakashi chuckled. Kakashi had looked for a new place for Naruto so he didn't have to worry coming home, and it was under Tsunade's name so the villagers could and would not destroy it. She had furniture and a bed with all bedding put in along with the appliances he needed. Kakashi would add his belongings to the place when Naruto returned. He smiled down at the keys in his palm. Hopefully he still has that ability to focus on the bright side, because he's going to be so excited about it even if a little sad his old place was gone.
People had missed him and Kakashi only wished he could see it because he knew even if it was few it would make him happy that there were people who wanted him home. Closing his eye he leant against the trunk and hoped that he'd be here sooner rather than later.
"You know, he'd be impressed to know you spent so much time worrying" Guy called and the branch shook with the added weight.
"He knows already" He shrugged opening his eye. There stood Guy grinning down at him with more energy than should be needed for such a small thing
"I'm not in the mood for a challenge Guy" Kakashi warned and he laughed his obnoxious laugh that Kakashi had determined a long time ago... was real.
"I have a favour to ask" he yelled causing Kakashi to only raise his brow
"What's that?"
"I need a partner who can keep up with a sparring match. For the academy students"
Kakashi rolled his eye
"Guy you don't need to go all put for that"
"They need to see the powerful youth of the Jonin! To the fullest extent there is!"
"You do that, and you'll end up hurting one of them, or the building" he added and at that Guy faltered as if that hadn't occurred to him. It probably didn't either, never thought the fun things through.
"You are right!" He yelled laughing once more
"You don't need to check on me Guy" Kakashi said and saw the smile falter slightly "I have been just fine these last years, even stayed put and socialised" he pointed out.
Sure he'd probably spent Seventy percent of his time on missions but he thought that was good. And he was content with it because he kept his promise and had actually worked with Shikamaru quite a bit given his chunin status he wasn't always with team Ten. Or he was actually in the village learning with his father to become the next advisor. Sakura had been kept off long or high ranked missions due to her training.
"I am waiting for the wait to get to you. Especially since its not long le-"
"Kakashi Sensei!" A familiar voice called making both men look down.
"Is everything okay Sakura?" He asked sitting up
"We got word from Naruto! He says he should be home within the month" she grinned widely
"They're early" Guy stated but Kakashi didn't care. He'd see Naruto soon. A month, that's all that was left.
"Better go tell the others" He nodded to her and she whirled around and took off. He stood up stretching
"Where are you going?" Guy asked
"To speak to Shikaku, somethings bugging me" he said taking off
