A/N: I'm sorry this is so late! I actually did write it all up on Wednesday! But I didn't feel like it did what I wanted it to, so I asked my roommate to read it and give me suggestions. And she was like: "This is so awful I want to stop reading." And I was like, well shit. So she gave me some suggestions, but honestly I had to rewrite the whole chapter from scratch. I'll be posting the original version in a separate story titled Dangerous Outtakes, so you can go read it there if you want. Warning though, it's BAD. Chapter 6 should be posted tomorrow like normal.

To BG90: Ah, did it read like that? In the FT manga, it seemed weird to me that food lit on fire existed when ONLY dragonslayers could eat something like that, so I came up with the idea that say, having something lit on fire and then pouring a liquid sauce over it that doused the flames was just some weird meal that normal people would eat – thereby justifying the existence of a food that otherwise serves no purpose than to feed Natsu. Maybe I didn't explain it well in-story. But yeah, I didn't mean to imply that any wizard could eat their elements.

Admittedly, I have a bit of a pet-peeve of renaming characters in crossover/gender-swap fics, cause a lot of the time it feels like writers do that, and then practically turn the character into a self-insert, to the point where if I'd read it without reading the story summary first I wouldn't even know who it was, so that's a trap I'm a bit leery of falling into. I'm still a bit scarred by one absolutely BRILLIANT Harry Potter fanfic, except you will never ever EVER convince me that main character was supposed to be Harry. The story was good. The characters were good. Jen was not, in ANY way, Harry Potter. But, even though I don't want to change Natsu's name, I will still try to address his decision realistically in the story itself. Even if it's a little more complicated, I suppose I'm more comfortable like that.

Sorry for the long AN guys! Thanks for reading!

Kakashi walks out of the restaurant casually, idly turning the pages of his book and giggling at the illustrations. Natsu's chakra gets dimmer as he walks away, until he can no longer sense the pinkette. He breathes out in relief, slowly closing his book and tucking it away in his vest. It's rather unusual, the feel of that chakra. It feels like Sakura's, only something else seems to flow around it, sometimes mixing, sometimes clashing… Sitting next to it for so long, trying not to flinch every time the energies collide with each other, Kakashi is glad to be away from it. After all, despite Inoichi's lack of accusation, Kakashi knows enough about mindscapes to know the situation is at least partially his fault. That genjutsu may not have caused the possession, but Sakura did pass out, retreating into herself to avoid the trauma.

And then she got stuck.

If I hadn't done that, at least she might be the one in control.

Well. I always did say I'd make an awful teacher. As if I could ever live up to Sensei's legacy…

He sighs, coming to a stop in the middle of the road, ignoring the glares of the people around him as they move to avoid him. "So. What to do now?" he muses aloud, revelling in the looks the civilians shoot him. He brings his hand up to rub at his chin in a contemplative manner, offering a wink to a young lady who shakes her head in disbelief.

"I suppose I should go speak to my other students… but where's the fun in that! Maybe I could get Genma to take me out for dango…"

"Not a chance."

"Genma! Just the man I was looking for!"

His fellow Anbu gives him a look, and Kakashi doesn't need to have known the man for years to tell it said 'what task are you procrastinating this time'. Kakashi grins widely, offering a casual shrug. "I have no idea what you're talking about. So, about that dango…"

Genma shakes his head, lips curling into a smile around his senbon. "Gai made it back to the village about an hour ago - I believe the Sandaime was annoyed with you over something, because he immediately told Gai-san that you passed a team. He's been running all over, looking for you. You owe me one for the warning."

The man offers Kakashi a casual wave, leaping up to the rooftops and disappearing from sight. Kakashi's shoulders droop, and he groans dramatically. The people closest to him edge away nervously.

...Even if he agrees that this is my fault, encouraging Gai like that is going too far! I'll just have to be four hours late to the next meeting…

Probably best to go seek out the bratlings now, or Gai might actually catch up.

Kakashi offers one more dramatic sigh, just for kicks, before he shunshin's to the Uchiha compound.

The complex is as unpleasant as ever, hollow and empty and devoid of life. His left eye almost seems to throb as he walks through the derelict streets, but he's long-since used to such phantom sensations. On good days, he likes to pretend it's Obito's emotions bleeding through as he watches from the Pure World, but mostly it's just annoying.

He finds Sasuke rather quickly, practicing Taijutsu forms in one of the independent training fields. He settles himself, leaning against one of the posts for kunai practice, pulling out his book again. Sasuke doesn't even notice as the pages rustle, continuing to drill his kata.

Form's… decent for a genin. I think. Better than that girl on Gai's team at any rate, and Gai doesn't seem worried about her. Focuses too much on offense, he's nowhere near fast enough to be fighting with that style.

Will have to work on that.

Kakashi giggles at a very erotic illustration, and Sasuke still doesn't notice his presence.

...should probably start with situational awareness.

I honestly think I'm feeling second-hand humiliation here.

How odd.

Kakashi continues to flip through the book, reading some of his favorite passages, and always giggling over the artwork, but it still takes until Sasuke stops for a break before the Uchiha notices his company.

The boy steps back in shock, hand reaching for his kunai pouch, before he forces himself to relax.

"Sensei." he says curtly, crossing his arms and staring at Kakashi.

Kakashi grins, though he knows Sasuke can't see, what with the book being in front of his face. "Maa, Sasuke-kun. I've been here for twenty minutes now, and you're only just noticing? Seems like I have my work cut out for me, if this is what I've got to work with."

Sasuke bristles, like a wet cat. Kakashi giggles. "What do yo-" He bites back his accusation quickly, as he realizes what Kakashi implied.

"We passed then?"

Kakashi puts his book away and offers a slow clap. Sasuke's eyebrow twitches gloriously. "Took you long enough to figure it out," he offers, just to watch his student's face spasm, "but yes. Team 7 has been provisionally passed as a genin team under myself - please meet at the bridge at 8 am tomorrow morning so that we can discuss the circumstances the team will be operating with in the future."

Sasuke crosses his arms, staring intently. "Is this about Sakura?"

Kakashi isn't all that surprised. With how… distinct… Natsu's personality is, he rather expected Sasuke to realize what was going on considering the amount of time they spent together. "Hmm, close enough, I suppose." He says though, just for fun. "You'll understand tomorrow. IF you show up on time, anyway."

He chuckles darkly as Sasuke glares at him, fully aware of the hypocrisy. The blackette opens his mouth to say something, but Kakashi doesn't stick around to listen, quickly disappearing in another shunshin.

He stops in the main market square, sort of considering browsing the wares and taking his sweet time in the hopes that Inoichi will get tired of waiting for him, but a distant cry of "Where are you, my rival?!" has him grimacing, and taking a second shunshin to the street he knows Naruto's apartment is on.

I don't think just being extra late is enough payback for this…

Kakashi knows he's got at least a few minutes to stall, Gai prefers his own physical strength to run, and not the chakra-enhanced speed of a shunshin, so it'll be a bit before the green-clad man makes his way over to this section of Konoha, so he pulls his book out again, meandering toward his destination.

The apartments are rather empty, not many people willing to live so close to his blond student, but Kakashi appreciates the silence as he walks up the stairs, Naruto's chakra a literal beacon growing brighter with every step. He reaches the door almost too quickly, but doesn't let himself hesitate before he knocks.

The door flies open before he even pulls his hand away, the blond must have been standing there just waiting, and Kakashi bites back a laugh at the imagery.

"Sensei!"

Kakashi sidesteps and Naruto crashes into the wall, unable to stop his tackle fast enough. This time he does laugh, and the blond blushes sharply before physically shaking himself.

"How's Sakura-chan, is she okay? Did you guys get to the hospital alright, did they fix her, what even happened, when can we visit-"

"Maa, Naruto-kun. If you don't give me a chance to answer, I might wonder if you want to know at all."

The blond shuts his mouth so quickly he bites his tongue. He yelps, slamming his hands over his mouth as his eyes water, refusing to blink as he stares at Kakashi, and the man snorts a laugh, affecting to ignore his student's distress as he turns and walks into the apartment.

He finds a seat, shoving the scrolls in it off onto the floor, and Naruto glares, still not speaking as Kakashi makes a show of situating himself and getting comfortable. When he looks up, Naruto is still pressing his lips together, and he chuckles again.

"Take a seat Naruto-kun." He barely waits a moment for the blond to settle down, before he continues. "First, congratulations! You passed."

"Wait what?!" Naruto blurts out, eyes wide. He shuts his mouth again, staring suspiciously at Kakashi.

The sensei merely nods. "Of course. Team 7 will meet up at 8 am tomorrow morning for a team meeting. I will explain the details of Sakura-chan's situation at that time."

"Will she be there? Can I see her? Did that bast- Sasuke say anything? He was with her longer, did he do something? I'll punch him-"

"Maa, Naruto-kun, don't get carried away. Sasuke-kun had nothing to do with it. Inoichi-san will be there to help explain things, I'm sure you can wait until then."

Naruto groans, sliding out of his chair and onto the floor, where he sprawls dramatically. Kakashi fights not to roll his eyes. "You're not going to tell me anything at all."

"Of course not," Kakashi offers cheerily, "after all, that's what the meeting is for. Why would I go through the effort of saying it twice?"

He stands up, making a show of brushing himself off, but Naruto just gives him a confused look as he pushes himself into a sitting position.

Sighing at the wasted effort, Kakashi slides open the window. "Well, I've got places to go and people to see, so ja ne!"

"Wha-wait!"

Kakashi laughs, flipping from the windowsill to the roof and bolting, Naruto's cry echoing behind him.

He doesn't quite move at a leisurely pace, but he hardly rushes to Sakura's house, taking a few unnecessary detours anytime something bright green enters his line of vision. It's practically full dark by the time he draws close, and he lets his shoulders droop in disappointment to see Inoichi and Natsu sitting on the side of the road, clearly waiting on him. Natsu's head snaps up even before he reaches casual hailing distance, the pinkette announcing his presence, and Kakashi mourns the loss of his last chance to disappear.

"I was being silent." he says, affecting a mild tone as he studies the person who will act as his student.

Natsu responds as Kakashi has come to expect, not quite Naruto's level of brash, but certainly close enough to compare them. "You're upwind. An idiot could smell the dog on you from half a mile." Something about his new student is still rather tense, and Kakashi decides to humor the pinkette's clear desire to stall for time, turning to Inoichi to continue the conversation.

The look on Natsu's face as Inoichi mentions the headaches that can sometimes come with enhanced senses makes Kakashi wonder if it's still bothering the boy, but the pinkette makes no comment on it.

Inoichi turns to knock on the door, and once again it opens very quickly. At the very least, Mebuki waits until Inoichi is done knocking to open it, though perhaps, unlike his blond student, she was not waiting two steps from the door - the settee in the foyer with its slowly-expanding indent proves him quite right, and Kakashi smirks to himself as he moves forward to make himself at home, Natsu shuffling awkwardly behind him.

And here I thought Sakura-chan would be the least complicated of my students.