"Sensei… I'm sorry. I should have been here sooner… Maybe I could have made a difference… Now instead, Naruto will be… Who's there?!"

"Sentimentality? I wouldn't expect that after what you did to her. And to think I thought you would change after I had her give you that eye."

"You? No…Why would you do this? We were a team! A family!"

"It took you all this time to see that? Then why did you take her life?"

"…That's not what happened, Obito."

"Oh, enlighten me, dear friend. What did I miss?"

"She… The Three-Tailed had been sealed inside her with the plan of releasing it within Konoha… Just like what happened here. She asked me to kill her…"

"So you did?!"

"That's not what happened! She…"

"Enough! I know what I saw… Give me the child Kakashi. I plan on finishing this once and for all."

"I will not let you put a finger on him! After what you just did to sensei…"

"You have no choice! Give him to me!"

"I refuse! What is this… Wait, this feeling… No! I won't let you take him!"

"What? How do you… That's not how this should work! How did it activate within you?! Wait, Kakashi, stop! Something wr…"

"AH!"

"Master Kakashi!"

Feeling the warmth of the campfire lapping at his heels as the gentle sparkles of light flickered through the canopy of the trees above, his glazed-over eyes sharpened. He had lost himself in his memories. He couldn't have that.

"I got the water just like you said!" A young blonde, school-aged child called out as he held up two canteens to show his accomplishment.

Kakashi would have frowned as it was a simple task to complete. Instead, he shook his head. He could not compare his childhood to other children. He was different. What he could do at five most children were competent enough to do at twice that age.

Naruto showed remarkable growth at the age of five. He had learned things most children back home still would be learning. He had to. There was no choice in the matter. To stay safe here and keep hidden, he had to adapt.

And so did he to be able to raise a young child at his age.

"Too loud," Kakashi remarked quietly, swiping the canteen from Naruto. He took a sip as the blonde bitterly scowled before squirming under Kakashi's gaze as he stood from his resting spot against the tree. "We are shadows. We are to be hidden and not heard. To be heard is to be found, and to be found is to be killed, understand?"

"I'm sorry." Naruto meekly sunk his head, and his shoulders slumped upon hearing the disenfranchised voice of his master. He just wanted the praise for taking the initiative…

Kakashi exhaled at the pathetic display. Naruto was still just a kid. He may have matured faster in other ways, but in other regards, he was still a child who wanted attention and approval. He understood that well enough. In some ways, it was why he became the way he was.

"It's okay. It's just who you are." Kakashi lightly ruffled Naruto's hair, his smile hidden behind his mask as the boy's fox ears curled. Kakashi refrained from laughing, knowing that Naruto didn't like that gesture. He simply couldn't help himself. Riling him up was amusing.

"You inherited your mother's spirit and fiery temper. I'm glad you aren't louder." Kakashi winced at the memory of Kushina screaming at his entire team for tracking mud into her house after Minato brought them home from training.

If his Master hadn't stepped in to take her wrath, he feared what could have happened to them.

"You always say that." Naruto glowered and narrowed his eyes.

"Because it is true," Kakashi responded before impassively glancing at the campsite, examining what needed to be taken care of. "Put out the fire and erase any trace we've been here. Remember, we are shadows."

"And we can't be heard or seen," Naruto whispered, controlling his tone like his Master had taught him.

Kakashi proudly nodded. His lips curled into a smile beneath his mask as he watched Naruto move to put out the fire and cover their tracks. Naruto may have had his mother's personality and attitude, but he saw just as much of his Master within him. He was a quick study, at least when it came to what interested him, and could recreate what he saw only after a demonstration without many clues or hints… Usually.

Sometimes, things took longer as he couldn't wrap his mind around particular concepts, but that was expected for a five-year-old. Naruto was learning faster than most. And yet, he still didn't feel it was enough. For at any moment… Obito could find them…

Kakashi grimaced, reaching for his temple as various memories played through his head. His breathing turned ragged as his other hand clutched his chest. All that had happened… Was because…

"Master?"

Naruto's voice snapped Kakashi out of the flood of memories. His lone visible eye glanced over at his worried student. But his visage allowed him to regain control of his thoughts and focus on what must be done. He calmed his breathing and released his clutched chest and temple, stepping toward Naruto as he moved to sweep away their trail. "Just reliving a memory…"

Naruto's worry only visibly increased. Kakashi couldn't hide it. Naruto had known something was wrong for a while. And he would learn in time. He was still too young to understand the horrors and trials he faced.

He had his own trial to face. If only they could stay somewhere safely for a short time. Then, maybe, he wouldn't see that sadness in those expressive blue eyes…

He visibly strained his face into an impassive and neutral state. He needed a stable spot again. One where he could push himself and make sure he was ready, just as he was doing for Naruto. Perhaps it was time to call a favor in again from that corvid…

Let's get out of here and get restocked for our journey."

"We'll need to make good time to arrive at Kuroyuri while it is still daylight."

Sorry I haven't updated anything this week. Writing has been difficult. During a walk trip and skipped my head off the concrete and suffered a gnarly concussion. Been struggling to concentrate so I decided to put out this snippet of a story I'm trying to write off screen and finish it entirely before posting it.

The ship is Naruto and Blake and eventually Kakashi will have a relationship with SPOILER. :) The final two letters in spoiler are the same as who his planned ship is.

If you want to see more of this story, I would love to hear from ya and I just like hearing from ya regardless!

Hopefully this haze will go away soon so I can concentrate again!

Til next time my friends, Peace.