100 Themes fics

Title: Sorrow

Pairing: None

Chapter Characters: Naruto (centers around him) Kakashi, Minato (secondary) Iruka, Sasuke, Sai, Sakura (minor part here but probably more in later chapters)

Rating: PG

Warnings: No sexual content, little angst, One-shot, COMPLETE

Summary: Naruto finds out who his father is and well was.

Disclaimer: Wow it's amazing I still don't own Naruto and I still don't get paid to do this... but I still absolutely LOVE doing it.



"He'd be proud if he could see you right now."



Caught off guard, the young blonde spun around. "Kakashi-sensei, don't do that!" He growled. Kakashi merely smiled in response, his eye curving upward in obvious amusement. It bothered the younger man that he'd been so easily snuck up on. No matter how hard he worked, the copy-nin could seemingly appear behind him. It unnerved and irritated him, and it didn't matter that the one doing it was Hokage. Naruto's determination to surpass his teacher seemed undercut by that one fact alone.



"Come to visit your father?" Kakashi asked, walking past him to lay a flower on the memorial stone.



"Yeah..." Naruto frowned and stared at the stone again.



---



It had been explained to him months before, when the council had spoken to him. Kakashi, for once, hadn't been reading his book. Instead, the Rokudaime sat stiffly in his chair at the council table. Iruka laid a hand on the man's shoulder and his former teacher and team leader seemed to shake himself out of some reverie. Then, Kakashi had given a speech that sounded rehearsed, Iruka whispering in his ear whenever he paused.



Naruto was in a daze as he watched Kakashi approach him, Iruka trailing behind him. "My father was..." His heart clenched both from the joy and pride he felt at the revelation, and the sorrow that suddenly seemed to overwhelm him. Until now, he had only had dreams of what his father had been like. Now, he had something more. And yet, he felt like he'd lost something that he couldn't name.



"Yes." Kakashi laid a hand on his shoulder. "Sensei never wanted you burdened by the knowledge."



Naruto swallowed, blinking back tears, overwhelmed by the shock. Then, Iruka's arms were around him, tears streaming from the chunin's eyes. Smiling, Naruto wrapped his arms around the man, taking comfort in the familiar embrace.



After awhile, his teachers lead him out of the council room where Sakura, Sai, and Sasuke joined them. Naruto grinned, laughing as he shoved Sasuke and told him what he'd just found out. Sakura's eyes went wide, and Sai tilted his head to the side, considering the revelation. Sasuke shook his head and shoved Naruto back, muttering something like idiot.



---



Pushing the memories aside, Naruto studied the impassive face of the man standing beside him, but his former teacher's expression remained as it always was, unreadable. Kakashi gave away only what he chose to. Sometimes, it aggravated the blonde. Right now, however, with the anniversary of his birthday looming over him... it was a blessing.



"Kakashi-sensei..." Naruto frowned, unsure of whether he should ask the question that had settled like a dead weight inside of his heart since he'd found out.



"He was a great man, Naruto, and I don't just mean as Hokage or as my sensei," Kakashi said as though reading his mind.



And, for once, Naruto felt at ease simply listening.