Father Figure

*Shocked* Spotted Cow… how did you know about chapter eight? :P Kidding. Although I’m very tempted to add the integrity moment. However… why should I solely test Kakashi? Kakashi’s a pretty sexy dude himself, so maybe I’ll just have him sex Naruto up a little and test the blonde’s will power.
Also for anyone else who is wondering… there will be continued flashbacks to the time skip, and more will be revealed. Especially about the lack of Uchiha Massacre, and the identities to Raven and Snake, Wolf having been identified as Kakashi.

Faith In Each Other
Chapter 7

The villagers were sad to see the small group leaving. In the time that it took them to finally complete the bridge they had gotten to know Team seven, Haku and Zabuza very well. Kakashi, Sasuke and Sakura also found themselves growing closer to the two, finding out that they weren’t quite the demons they were made out to be... well Zabuza was, but in all honesty he was a pussy cat with the influence of Haku. Zabuza had mellowed drastically when compared to his former state, and the teen had gained an inner strength from him in turn. They fit each other.

Naruto had grown very close to Tazuna and Inari, playing small little games with the boy in his spare time and teaching him new pranks. He had even donated his time into helping complete the bridge through lifting building materials or even being taught various building methods by Tazuna himself. Naruto found a sense of completion and inner tranquility from performing menial work, and building something with your two hands. You were helping to create something beautiful instead of destroying it.

Tazuna grew extremely fond of the boy, he was like a second grandson to him, and like an older brother to Inari. He was intelligent, charming and full of energy. You couldn’t help but love him. It was the day of their departure, and the village had finally completed the bridge. As they stood in the village preparing to leave Tazuna announced that they would be naming the bridge after Naruto, the boy who had selflessly dedicated himself to a village that he didn’t even know. His kindness, and generosity showed no bounds.

Naruto was honoured to the point of embarrassment, convinced that they were making a mistake. “Are you sure you want your bridge to be named after a fishcake? I mean it won’t leave a lasting impression on those going to trade with you.”

Tazuna put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “If they ever meet you, then you’ll be the one leaving a lasting impression. Don’t worry. I’m sure that in a matter of years you’ll have accomplished so much that people from all around will come to see the Great Naruto Bridge.”

Naruto again opened his mouth to retort, but had it quickly covered by Kakashi’s hand. “The boy’s too modest to take any real praise, but he’s honoured that you’re naming the bridge after him. And don’t worry, I’m sure he will make a name for himself soon enough.” Kakashi said with a grin.

Naruto blushed through his skin, feeling a slight shiver go down his back when Kakashi’s hand removed itself from his lips. They tingled as if they were on fire. After regaining his composure he gave Tazuna a blinding smile. “I am deeply honoured, and I’ll do my best to make my name worthy of your great bridge.” He gave a slight bow before he was pulled back up to his regular height and enveloped in a hug.

“It is the bridge that will have to live up to your greatness.” Tazuna whispered in his head patting the teen on the back.

Naruto couldn’t help his eyes as they began to well up with unshed tears. Never before had he received such praise, or had someone put so much faith in him. He gave Tazuna a large hug, embracing him like a grandfather. Pulling away he smiled through his tears as he ruffled Inari’s hair, and slipped the boy a few paint tags. They whisper between one another, no doubt planning some ultimate prank. Inari’s mother smiled at her son’s happiness before giving the teen a hug, pulling him close to whisper in his ear.

“Thank you for all that you’ve done. You’ve made Inari into a better person, and he’ll love you like an older brother for it.”

Naruto’s tears began to fall from his eyes at her words. It made him feel on top of the world, but hurt him deeply in the same breath. He had here what he never had at home, these people were more of a family to him then his own. Upon being release from her hug he quickly turned around and scurried back to join the group wiping away tears as he went. Tazuna himself felt choked as he watched the boy go.

“Goodbye big brother!” Inari called out to them as they walked away.

“Remember you always have a home here!” His mother said in return.

As the group finally left out of his sight Tazuna turned back to his family, Inari grabbing onto his grandfather and burying his head in his chest. “Do you think we’ll ever see him again?” Inari mumbled into his shirt.

Tazuna smiled and ruffled the boy’s hair. “We will... we will.”

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After the boat dropped them off on the other side they began the long trek back to Konoha. Haku and Zabuza became tenser the closer they came to the village, while Sakura seemed drawn out and weary. Naruto felt the need to single her out, drawing her away from Kakashi and Sasuke, Zabuza travelling behind with Haku being the only one even close to them.

“What’s wrong?” Naruto asked the girl.

Sakura attempted to shake off his question, relaying that she was absolutely fine and that there was no problem. Being the kind of person he was Naruto refused to give up, persisting until the girl was worn down eventually giving in.

“I killed two men Naruto.” Sakura said, looking to the ground as they continued to walk.

Naruto nodded, schooling his face. “I had heard. You did the right thing Sakura. You saved Inari and his mother. If it weren’t for you they would be dead.”

“I know. I know what I did was right, and that they were bad men. I know. It’s just... I can’t take their faces out of my mind. I can still feel their blood on my hands, dripping down my face. It makes me sick. I can’t... I can’t kill again. I just can’t.”

Sakura was breaking down in front of Naruto. He knew that nothing he could say would ever comfort her. She had taken two lives. That was something that would never go away, instead of attempting to comfort her with meaningless words, attempting to share her pain he stood by her. Showing her support and giving her the strength of his presence. Although it took her a few moments to finally pull herself back together, when she did she decided to speak.

“I can’t be a ninja Naruto. I can’t kill on a daily basis. It would take too much from me.”

It was at that moment that Haku had overheard their conversation. He had attempted to give them space before, but he couldn’t allow the girl to give up. She was too much of a talent to be wasted.

“You don’t have to kill to be a ninja.” He said, stepping towards them.

Sakura seemed taken aback by his appearance, shaking her head to gather her thoughts before forming a response. “You don’t?”

Haku gave her a reassuring smile. “No. Not at all. Many ninja aim to incapacitate their enemies, not to kill them. There are also many ninja who are sent to retrieve people, rather than to bring back their heads they are sent to bring back a live body. I know hundreds of techniques meant to disable and disarm rather than kill. Not to mention that there are always medic nin’s needed.”

Sakura perked at his last comment. “Medic nin’s?”

“They are ninja who are trained in the art of healing. They are sent on missions to keep their companions safe and healthy. Although they know fighting techniques they are mainly a source of back-up and act as healers. The success rate of groups with medic nin’s are much higher than those without, and they are also known to keep down the death rate on missions. They are absolutely invaluable to villages.”

Sakura seemed surprised, a smile growing on her face. “So I would be able to save people close to me, without having to kill?”

Haku nodded. “You can protect your precious people, however I won’t delude you... there will be times that you will have to injure or even kill and enemy, but those times will not be as often as a regular ninja.”

Sakura had brightened. Here she was offered a chance to still continue along her path as a ninja, but taking a different route that would suit her better. Also she wouldn’t be letting down her teammates this way, but rather becoming an important part of the team.

“Can you teach me?” She asked.

Haku nodded. “I will teach you everything I know. There will be those that know more of the healing arts then myself, but for now I’ll school you on the vital points on the body. Pressure point, muscle relaxant’s –“

The pair continued to talk adamantly as they walked farther away from Naruto. Zabuza still seemed to be annoying Sasuke, and taking great pleasure in riling the genin up. He would raise his killing intent to cause Sasuke to go on alert, and then lower it again as the teen turned to scowl at him. He had done this at least twelve times since they had started and Naruto could tell it was starting to wear on the raven.

Kakashi began to slow, silently and unassumingly getting closer to Naruto. Eventually he was beside the boy, walking at the same pace, despite his longer legs. The pair remained silent, before a devious smile crept across Naruto’s face.

“Wolf?”

“Yes Naruto?” Kakashi answered turning his head to look at the boy.

Naruto just raised an eyebrow and looked at him with a little smirk on his face. It took Kakashi all of a minute to realize what the teen had just done. It had taken one word to expose his ANBU identity. One single goddamn word. Kakashi felt like smacking himself, or Naruto.

“Nothing.” Naruto said with a little grin, walking ahead.

Kakashi felt his shoulder slump, and his weariness set in. He should have known. He should have never let his guard down around the prankster. The question was how did he figure it out. Kakashi had prided himself on his ability to keep his jounin life separate from his ANBU identity. It had taken great pains to keep it hidden, so how did Naruto figure it out? He decided that he was going to find out for himself.

Kakashi’s plan was foiled though due to the devious planning on the part of one Uzumaki Naruto. He had gotten as close to Sasuke and Zabuza as he could, leaving no room for Kakashi to whisk him off to the side. Kakashi couldn’t just come right out and talk about his ANBU identity in front of the other two, so as it was he was SOL.

Haku began to sink into himself as they reached the last stretch before entering into Konoha. Zabuza putting a comforting arm around his shoulder. This was the make or break moment. What happened from here was out of their hands, and they had never felt so scared for it in all their lives. They were completely and utterly depending on Naruto. They only hoped that the blonde could hold true to his promise.

Within seconds of stepping foot onto Konoha soil they were surrounded by Hunter-nin and a few ANBU. Naruto’s eyes flashed for a moment when he caught sight of a raven mask. He allowed a small smile to grace his lips.

“You have two Missing Nin listed on the bingo books as your travelling companions. What is the meaning of this?” A faceless mask asked.

Kakashi stepped forward. “We would like to request an audience with the Hokage. We have something we’d like to discuss with him, and it has to two with these two individuals.”

The ANBU nodded. “Fine. But we will have to detain them. We cannot allow them to walk free within the village.”

Haku and Zabuza looked to one another worried, but if there was ever a time to show their obedience it was now. They had to gain the trust of these people, and struggling or making a fit would not make for a good first impression. They allowed themselves to be shackled, and led away. They gave Naruto a look of complete and utter trust before being led to lockdown.

Naruto closed his eyes. He felt as if the weight of the world was resting on his shoulders. He has a promise to uphold, and two friends to protect. He would do everything within his power to help his friends. Anything to help the two that showed him a demon could love.

Naruto felt a warm hand come down on his shoulder, looking up he could see Kakashi looking down on him. Naruto could see in his eyes that he could understand him, understand the emotions bubbling up inside and threatening to explode. Naruto quickly attempted to school his features, and turn away, but felt the same hand move to cup his chin.

“It’ll be alright, this will work out, and if it doesn’t well find another way together. You won’t fail them.”

Naruto nodded. He allow Kakashi to believe that that was his only worry... when in the back of his mind he couldn’t help but feel his heart shudder with the idea of asking his father for help. Sakura and Sasuke went to their respective homes, unable to do anything past this point. They would sit tight and await any news from the group.

The second Naruto stepped into his father’s office he knew, just knew somehow this wasn’t going to work out the way he had hoped. He nearly cringed when he felt a pair of strong arms envelop his body lifting him off the floor and into a solid chest.

“Oh god Naruto. I thought I had lost you.” Minato said holding his son as close as he could.

Naruto could have sworn he felt what seemed to be tears on his shoulder, but shrugged it off. After all his father had appearances to keep up, especially with Kakashi.

“I’m fine.”

Getting the hint Minato gave his son one last squeeze before setting him down to the ground. It really burned Naruto’s buns at the fact he was still so short. He was nearly 13 for God’s sakes. When the hell was he going to get his growth spurt? It didn’t help that every time he was around his father the man managed to find some way of making him feel short and inferior.

“When I thought I had lost you I couldn’t help but think that it would have been my fault. All because I had sent you out on a mission that got you kidnapped and killed. Don’t worry though. We’ll take care of those two missing nin.”

‘Of course he only cared that his reputation would be tarnished. That he was the one who sent me off to my death and not that- take care of them? Oh no.’

“It wasn’t like that! Please you can’t have them harmed. They helped us to defeat Gatou and his gang, and they even donated the money we took from him to the village. Please-” Naruto took in a deep breath, although the next words pained him to say. “Please father. They are good people. Of that I can promise you, and I gave them my word that they would be allowed entrance into Konoha to become citizens.”

Minato looked slightly taken aback, turning to Kakashi to affirm the story. Kakashi nodded and stepped closer to the pair. “He telling the truth sir. You’ll see more of it in my report, but he’s right. From what I’ve experienced of them they seem to be trust worthy, and their skills would be invaluable to the village. Haku has even begun teaching Sakura basic medical ninjutsu.”

“See father. Now that you have proof that I’m not lying, that second opinion you cherish so much, will you listen to me?” Naruto said, his tone borderline bitter.

Minato flinched, closing his eyes before opening them again. His look was cold, and he had completely cut himself off from the emotion that he had showed earlier. “I wish that there was something I could do. But this goes over even my head. I give my permission on behalf of the Hokage to allow them into the ninja ranks should they be accepted by council, but beyond that this is out of my power. Matters of great importance are left to the councils discretion, not the Hokage. I’m sorry Naruto.”

Kakashi knew that the battle was lost. The new council seemed nothing like the old one. This one mainly consisting of stricter and more rule prone leaders. All of them held one thing in common. They held an alliance to the only surviving member of the old council, Danzo, a corrupt old man who seemed intent on getting the power of the Hokage under his thumb.

Naruto left with a flash of orange, Kakashi chasing after him as Minato watched on in sadness. He had failed his boy.

“Naruto. Wait. WAIT.” Kakashi called after him, speeding up to grab the teen’s arm as he fled the tower.

Turning him around Kakashi saw that he was flushed red with anger, his eyes glowing an eerie red around the edges. ‘Kyuubi.’ Kakashi thought. ‘His presence becomes stronger when Naruto is feeling extreme emotion. I’ve got to calm him before he does something stupid.’

Kakashi wrapped his arms around the boy, leaning down to cradle the blonde’s head under his chin, while his arms slid around a lithe waist. He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of lust at the feel of the boy pressed against him. ‘God this is wrong. But it feels so damn right.’

He just held Naruto, stroking along the small of the boy’s back until his breathing evened out, and his eyes returned to their normal shade. With that the anger seemed to drain away from the teen. Leaving him weary, and still embittered.

“The first time I’ve ever asked him for help. Ever. And he denies me.” Naruto said into Kakashi’s shirt.

“There was nothing he could do-“

“Don’t be stupid sensei. My father may not hold the power to make a decision like that on paper... but don’t doubt for a second that he couldn’t make it happen.” The teen said pulling away from Kakashi’s hold, and looking at him his lips set in anger.

“You’ve tried your best. We’ll visit them and explain. Don’t do anything drastic, we’ll find a way.”

Naruto looked to the ground, biting his lower lip. He did not want to do this, but if it was what had to be done to keep his promise then he would. “No. I haven’t done everything I could ... at least not yet.”

Kakashi seemed perplexed by the strange emotions going across the teen’s face. Something big was going down. Just as he was about to ask him what he was thinking Naruto looked up at him, his piercing blue eyes set in pain.

“There’s something that I have to do. Please go tell Haku and Zabuza that I will take care of this for them and not to worry.”

With that Naruto was gone, a flash of orange swirling off into the distance. Kakashi did not attempt to flow. What he had seen in Naruto’s eyes along with his pain was his determination. Whatever it was he was off to do he would accomplish it. Kakashi decided to go relay his message.

Naruto reached the secret entrance to the council compound. It had remained the same, even after all these years. He was surprised that they hadn’t changed locations after the massacre, but he supposed it was a power play. A message of ‘You don’t scare us.’ If you will.”

Naruto decided that it was now or never. With that he stepped into the entrance, heading towards the council room. Upon opening the large slab doors he was met with the gaze of the entire council. Waiting just for him.

“Hello Naruto. We were expecting you.” Danzo said with a grin.

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Sasuke sat on a log just outside of the forbidden forest. No one went near this area anymore, except during the chuunin exams and other intense training missions. So the area was deserted... at the moment.

He felt a presence touching down in front of him, rather than hearing or seeing. He could just feel they were there. Just like he could always feel their presence. He opened his eyes to take in the figure before him. He had never expected to feel this way, much less for the person in front of him. But seeing Naruto with Kakashi like that... it just seemed to solidify something within his mind.

“Why have you called me here?”

“I-I have something I need to say to you.” Sasuke stuttered. He knew this was going to be hard, but he had to say it. Rejection be damned it had to be done.

The figure seemed to soften, lowering themselves to meet Sasuke sitting at eye level. “Go on.”

“I’ve been having these strange feeling for a while now, and I never really knew what they were, but I think I know now... and I just had to tell you.” Sasuke said looking the figure deeply in the eyes. He lightly grasped the other’s hand and put it right above his heart. “This beats only for you, because I love you.”

The figure seemed pale their hand still resting over Sasuke heart. The beating in the teen’s chest was irregular, beating wildly against his rib cage, as if begging to burst free from its confines. The figure couldn’t help but be drawn forward, they had never seen Sasuke looking so vulnerable before, after all he was a true testament to the Uchiha way of life, cocky, confident and coarse. Abrasive and completely unemotional, completely unlike the teen now. Nearly shaking with the weight of his confession. The figure couldn’t help but be drawn in to place a kiss on the side of the teen’s lips, then on the other side, before eventually placing a chaste peck on his lips.

“I’ll think about it.”The figure said before disappearing back into the forest.

Meanwhile Sasuke sat completely unhinged, but a goofy smile plastered on his face. He wasn’t rejected, in fact he had even received a kiss for his efforts. It was better than he had hoped, he could only wish that his dreams would come true, and that his love would someday be returned.

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Haku was shivering within his cell, not from the cold, but from fear. He had been merely a child when Zabuza had found him. A child with no life, and no future, and Zabuza had given him a purpose, raised him, fed and clothed him, and in return he had given all his love. He had devoted himself to the protection of the man he loved. But now locked inside a little cell without his lover, trapped with no way of protecting Zabuza should Naruto fail... well it made him feel sick, made him feel useless.

It had been nought but an hour before Kakashi showed up at his cell, having just left Zabuza’s on the other side. A small spark of hope that had been rekindled with his appearance was extinguished when Kakashi shook his head. Haku looked down to the ground, already knowing, but having to ask the question anyways.

“What did the Hokage say?”

Kakashi sighed. Although he had already expected the outcome of this, he had never expected to get to know them, and to find out how wonderful they are as people. It truly hurt him to face the idea that he might be losing people who he considered friends.

“He said that he would accept you as ninja of Konoha, on the condition that the council accepts you as citizens.”

“Which isn’t going to happen is it...”

“The chances are low. I’m so sorry, Naruto should have never promised you something that was out of his hands. I’m sure that he’d do anything to keep his promise. Please don’t blame him. He did all that he could... in fact...”

Haku looked up at the man. “Yes?”

“Well he left me with a message to give to you and Zabuza. That he would ‘take care of it’ and for you not to worry.”

“Naruto said that?” Haku said, looking slightly suspicious.

“Yes.”

At that the black haired teen smiled, and relaxed in his seat. “Then it’ll all be alright. He wouldn’t tell us not to worry unless he had an ace up his sleeve. He’ll take care of this no doubt. I have faith in him.”

Kakashi nodded his head. He could only hope that Haku was right. Nearly 30 minutes had passed before the doors to the area opened, and Minato entered into the room. Kakashi seemed worried. Perhaps Minato was sent to give them the dire message himself, however the smile on the blonde’s face told him otherwise.

“The council has reached a decision, and both of you will be allowed to join the ranks of Konoha. I hereby recognize you as leaf ninja.”

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A Half an Hour Ago...

“They were charged with attempted murder. Of a village leader! You can’t possibly believe that we can allow them to stay. It would be declaring war!”

“Then why not simply disguise them? It should not be that difficult. Haku could pose as a woman, he already holds the beauty, and Zabuza as his husband, a former fisherman recently turned ninja. People will not question it. You’ll find they do not want answers to questions they do not dare to ask. The citizens will buy it, and Mist will never have to know.” Naruto said.

“He spins a good tale.” Danzo said.

“Think about it. Not only will you get another ‘demon’, but you’ll also get a bloodline limit thought to have been destroyed. Superb manipulation of water, flying ice needles, and the fabled demonic ice mirrors. Not to mention he had the status of hunter nin before he became a traitor. Zabuza himself was one of the seven swordsmen before he attacked the Mizukage. He’s a skilled assassin, and powerful fighter, his skill level nearly equal to that of Hatake Kakashi. ”

“That’s all well and good but perhaps we require a little more persuading.”

Naruto stared hard at the men before him, his eyes lingering on Danzo’s form for much longer. The man was trying to get more out of him. He had already accepted the idea. They just wanted to see how much they could get in the deal. Without a doubt Danzo would probably even dismiss his idea just to spite him.

“I will relinquish any tie to the Namikage name and therefore pass the title of heir onto Yoshi. You won’t have to worry about you precious Hokage’s connection to a ‘demon’.” Naruto said, clenching his fists. It wasn’t as if he was part of the family anyways.

The men smiled. They had accomplished one of the goals set forth by their former members, now they would attempt to accomplish the other. “That should be enough to allow one of the nin into the country, perhaps the hunter nin... Haku did you say? Yes. That should do to allow him.”

Naruto felt his heart catch in his throat. “And what of Zabuza?”

“Well that surely isn’t enough to allow the passage of a “demon” into our village. He’s unstable after all.” Danzo said folding his hands and leaning back in his chair.

“He’s not! But he will be if you separate him from Haku.”

They merely smiled at him, tilting their heads to the side and looking at him. They knew and he knew what they wanted. The question was how far he was willing to go to go to keep his promise. Just thinking about the two together, smiling and holding hands, and the look of complete and utter trust that they had given him as they were lead away... Naruto’s decision was already made for him.

His chin trembled slighty as he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before opening them again. “On the basis that both Haku and Zabuza will be welcome in the village as citizen and ninja of Konoha. I Uzumaki Naruto do formally accept the offered position of ANBU nin loyal to the council.”

The council grinned. They had managed to do what there predecessors had failed to manage, gain the power of the Kyuubi vessel... and to think all it took was allowing two more powerful ninja to join them. It was almost too wonderful to think about.

“Welcome to the ranks. Codename Kitsune.” Danzo said holding out a small fox mask to the teen.

Upon looking at the pre-designed mask and ANBU equipment already prepared for him Naruto knew he had been set up. It had been pre-planned since the moment they entered into the village with Haku and Zabuza at their side... perhaps even before. If he was being tracked, and someone was watching him then he would have to take out the rat before he could find the nest.

“Hai Danzo-sama.” The blonde said taking the mask into his hand. This was going to be the beginning of the end of the Uzumaki Naruto he had known. He had worked so hard to stay out of the council’s clutches, only to fall to them now. But he had faith, and an ace up his sleeve.

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Kakashi felt ecstatic Haku and Zabuza were released, and were given their own apartment courtesy of Minoto. They were informed of their new disguises as well as names. Haku seemed reluctant at first to take up the change in gender, but was thrilled to find out that it would mean his relationship with Zabuza wouldn’t need to be hidden from the public. As a woman and not a man his public displays of affection would be viewed with amusement instead of disgust.

Kakashi was off to tell the wonderful information to Naruto. Having already visited Sasuke and finding him nowhere in sight he had visited Sakura to tell her the news. She was so overjoyed that she had immediately started to bake a house warming present for the couple, leaving Kakashi to stare off as a pink blur rushed to the kitchen.

Finally Kakashi reached the Uzumaki compound. He respectfully knocked on the front door, awaiting an anxious Naruto to answer. What he got however was a young boy with long red hair kept in a neat ponytail. His blue eyes with a hint of green glimmering in surprise and delight. He was the spitting image of Kushina, with a hint of Minato’s smile.

“MOM! Kakashi-san is here!” Yoshi called, opening the door wide enough to allow the man in, before he scooted off to drag his mother from the kitchen.

Kushina was as beautiful as ever, even despite her hair placed in a messy bun, and powder lightly coating her entire body. A grin crossed her lips as she reached forward and pulled the silver haired man into a hug, coating him in powder. There was no doubt in Kakashi’s mind that Naruto received his gift for pranks from her.

“Sorry Minato isn’t here at the moment, I believe he’s still filling out some papers to help create the identities for your two new friends. I didn’t hear much but, I heard they are missing nin... however did you become friends with them?”

“It wasn’t me, it was Naruto. He was kidnapped by them and-“

“Naruto was kidnapped?!” Kushina gasped, twisting her hands around a dish towel she was holding. “Is he alright? Why didn’t I receive any word? How could you let that happen?!”

Kakashi seemed confused. “Didn’t Minato tell you? Better yet, why didn’t Naruto tell you when he came home?”

Kushina went silent at that. A look of understanding crossed her face before she quickly schooled her features. “No. Minato didn’t tell me anything. No doubt trying to protect me from things he thinks I couldn’t handle. I swear that man does everything with the best of intentions, but ends up only making it worse. But Naruto hasn’t visited us in years, the last time he came to the house was... oh yes. It was for his 10th birthday.”

Kakashi seemed taken aback by the comment. “You mean he doesn’t live with you?”

Kushina shook her head. “No he lives on his own in an apartment in the downtown core of Konoha.”

“Since when?”

“Since he turned nine. He was always independent, so when he asked to move away Minato set him up with a place. We used to pay, but now he said he can take care of it himself.” A look of sadness crossed her face. “He doesn’t really need us anymore... “ As if realizing something Kushina suddenly perked up. “Would you like to stay for dinner? We have more than enough.” She said with a smile.

Kakashi’s world felt like it had just been put on spin cycle. No wonder the teen felt such shredded connection to his family. He hadn’t lived with them in four years. But how could Kushina think that he no longer needed his parents? He was still a teen, and no matter the age everyone needs their family. He decided that he needed to see Naruto now.

“I’m sorry, but I have something else to do of great importance... would you happen to know his street name and apartment number?”

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Naruto had just arrived home. Weary of the explanations of his role and the various rules he would have to follow. The teen was mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. He wanted nothing better than to curl up into his bed and close his door to the world.

He sat down on his couch holding his new mask in his hands. He had just given up a part of his identity, and a part of his soul to become Kitsune. Maybe the nickname Haku had given him was a curse. Despite his wiles and silver tongue he had come out with a raw deal. One that would change his life.

Sighing the teen got to his feet and went to hide the mask underneath his floorboard, his hiding spot for all his precious items, and well kept secrets. Upon placing the mask in the spot her picked up a dusty box, blowing the dust of the lid he perused the contents.

There was a small keychain of a fox that Snake had given him when he landed his first hit on the woman, mind she managed to kick the crap out of him before he landed that hit. He laughed as he picked up a small paint brush. Remembering the time when Raven gave it to him reminding him that he should practice on his art work more, because his drawings were crap. Naruto did practice after that, at least he had for a while until-

Naruto shook his head. He didn’t want to go into his darker memories. He couldn’t handle it, least of all now, after what had occurred today. Picking up a well worn picture he loving caressed the edges. There were three ANBU surrounding a small blonde, grinning his face off. Naruto couldn’t help but smile at the photo. It had taken him a lot to convince the three to actually be captured on film, but it was the only picture ever developed of the four together, and he cherished it. Naruto had lived for that year, and they were the first people to accept him for who he was, and not his title or what he harboured.

Looking down he saw Wolf crouching right beside him, his hand ruffling Naruto’s hair, while Snake had her hands on her hip, and Raven looked down on the pair. Snake always seemed so reluctant to spend time and joke with him, but he knew that she was one of the few who admired him, oddly enough. Raven was the one he looked up to. He was a brother to Naruto, and one of his closest friends. He was all that Naruto wanted to be not only in a ninja, but also as a person.

As for Wolf... well he was and still technically is his biggest crush. There was something so innately attractive about the man’s personally, that was before Naruto had ever seen his face. Now that Naruto knew who he was, and what he looked like... well let’s leave it at the crush didn’t diminish.

The teen’s finger loving traced “Wolf’s” mask, before sighing. He knew there was never a chance that Wolf would ever consider him. Let alone Kakashi. He was a man’s man. A charmer, and no doubt a ladies man... he doubted he was even gay, let alone attracted to a waif like Naruto. There was simply no chance, so why bother to dwell on it.

Naruto’s head pooped up at the sound of a doorbell. He quickly placed the items back into the box, and hide them beneath the floor board, before dusting off his legs and getting to his feet. Upon reaching and opening the door he was surprised to find the object of his affections standing in front of him.

Coming to his senses Naruto invited him into the apartment, before closing the door behind him. Kakashi looked the room around to see a large library, and a few splashes of colour in the room, mainly being orange. This led to a small hallway, connected to a small bedroom off to the side and a kitchen that’s connected to the living room. He assumed that there was a bathroom just down the hallway, but his sight was blocked. Just off the living room was a small balcony.

“Would you like something to drink?” Naruto asked, looking at his sensei with something unexplainable dancing in his eyes.

“Some tea would be nice.” Kakashi replied, smiling at the blonde through his mask.

Naruto nodded and left for the kitchen, watching over the counter as Kakashi walked out onto his balcony. He smiled at the man’s expression to finding a small rope ladder leading to the roof. Finishing the tea Naruto joined him on the balcony, motioning for Kakashi to climb up. The man raised and eyebrow before following directions, and making his way up. Stopping to allow Naruto to pass him the two cups and work his way up the ladder himself.

The roof was small, but the view was incredible. You could nearly see the entirely of Konoha from the space. The Hokage monument was just off in the distance, but clearly visible, while

“Haku and Zabuza are now citizens and ninja of Konoha.” Kakashi said, sipping his tea.

Naruto clenched the cup tighter momentarily before nodding. “I know.”

“You do?”

The teen nodded and turned towards Kakashi. “I had a small chat with the council. I guess they liked what they heard, because they accepted them.”

“Oh.” Kakashi was surprised. He had thought that Minato had used some of his power to help the two. However it shouldn’t have surprised him all that much. Naruto had a silver tongue, and the power to make friends over a brief period of time with very few words. It was something hot wired into his system, and as easy for him as breathing.

“Where are they? Have they gotten free yet?”

“Minato is taking care of them. He’s gotten them an apartment not far from here. Sakura no doubt already visited. They will be getting work soon no doubt, but I’m sure you can visit tomorrow.”

Naruto nodded. “Yeah. He’s good at getting people places to live.”

Kakashi couldn’t help but catch a slightly bitter undertone in Naruto voice, despite the honesty of his comment. He could tell that the boy loved this building. Just seeing the comfort in his eyes as he scaled the ladder and sat on the tiles told him of his independence. He just lacked companionship... Kakashi couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to the teen after the mission had finished, but for now he had another question to answer.

“Why do you live so far away from your family? I expected you to live in the compound.” Kakashi said staring off towards the monument.

“They aren’t really my family... not anymore.”

Kakashi stopped his appraisal of the village to give him a puzzled expression. Naruto sighed and motioned for the man to take a seat. Doing so Kakashi chose a sturdy tile near the teen and watched as Naruto perched himself near the edge, hugging his knees to his chest in a very endearing manner.

“I don’t live with since they refused to let me live in the family compound when I was nine. I decided that if they didn’t want me in the main home then they wouldn’t want me around at all. I found this place and Minato offered to pay my bills for me. I agreed, but only until I could finance the place myself.”

“You call him Minato?” Kakashi asked, clearly surprised at how Naruto referred to his father.

“He hasn’t treated me like a son in a long time, so why should I give him the title father? You’re more of a father figure to me than he is. I don’t even carry his last name. Since I was a bastard child to begin with I took my mother’s maiden name. She abandoned it for Namikaze, so at least the Uzumaki line from the lost Whirlpool village will live on through me.” Naruto said with a smile.

The teen appeared to drift off into himself, sinking deeply into his own thoughts. Kakashi sat silently taking in the information the teen had hit him with. The silence spanned for quite a while, Naruto caught in his own world, while Kakashi sat watching the boy, unwilling to interrupt his train of thought. The silence was suddenly broken by the blonde’s soft voice.

“You know I sometimes wonder what life would have been like if my mother’s family from Whirl had survived. What it would be like to have grandparents, and cousins, and aunts and uncles to love and cherish you. To have people surround you, and love you for simply existing. I’ve always wanted a family.” Naruto said with a sad little smile.

“What about your parents?”

Naruto shook his head.

“How about your little brother?”

Naruto’s bottom lip quivered slightly, causing the teen to bite it and close his eyes to stop the movement. “I was always alone, until Yoshi. I was finally allowed to play with the other kids because I had a baby brother to watch over, and someone who loved me. He was so happy every day I came home from the academy, he’d run to me as soon as I entered the door, clinging to my legs and asking me to tell him everything about my day. Then we’d go off and play together, or I’d make him a snack when Kushina was too busy. I had someone in my life that I could truly call family. Then my parents took that away from me, because they couldn’t trust me.”

Kakashi had no idea what to say to comfort the teen. He had never been one to deal with emotions, so he said nothing. After all, what could he say to make the pain go away?

Naruto stopped for a moment to take a deep breath; looking towards his sensei he admitted something that he had told no one before in his life.

“Sometimes I can’t help but think I would have been better off with none of them. If I had been an orphan, if I had never known them, if I had never felt what it was like to have a family.”

“Wouldn’t you be lonely though?”

“How could I possibly be lonelier? Having known the warmth of a family and having it disappear, leaving me cold. Knowing they are so close, and yet so far away from me. I’ve lost them as surely as if they had died.”

Kakashi flinched, but remained passive otherwise. “I still think it is better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all.”

Naruto couldn’t help but look to his teacher at those words, his eyes serious and questioning. He turned away after finding his answer, curling further into himself he lifted his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. “But it hurts so much.” He whispered.

Kakashi moved closer to the teen, and placed an arm around his trembling shoulders, “It’s the hurt that lets you know you’re alive.”

At that Naruto’s body began to shake as tears streamed down his cheeks. He couldn’t help but let out all the emotion that had been welling inside of him since he was eight. He had lost his parent’s love, he had lost the baby brother he had loved so dearly, and in turn he had lost a piece of himself. But now... now he had retrieved that piece of himself. Even if he never got back his family he would still be strong and whole by himself.

Kakashi held onto the teen for an undetermined amount of time, the failing light of the afternoon slowly fading away into the night, as the pair sat together. As Naruto tears finally dried up and his sniffles stopped he moved away from Kakashi to allow the man to get to his feet. As Kakashi stood he allowed himself a brief stretch to work out the kinks from sitting in such an awkward position on the hard and cold tile for so long.

“How did you know I was Wolf?” He asked, looking down at the teen.

Naruto gave him a small smile. “Your summons gave you away. There aren’t too many people in Konoha with speaking dog summons. “

Kakashi nodded. Despite the danger in someone else knowing his secondary position he felt he could trust Naruto with the information. As it was he had told no one else, and he felt as if Naruto knew the consequences should his identity leak out. But there was another matter he had to take care of.

“I owe you a ramen dinner.”

Naruto seemed puzzled for a second. “What for?”

At that Kakashi couldn’t help but smile. “Because you had managed to hit me that first day of training.”

Naruto shook his head at that. “No I didn’t. I blacked out. I never laid a finger on you.”

“I never said it was a finger. In fact to be exact it was your face to my chin, but a hit none-the-less, and a promise is a promise, despite how late it is.”

It was then that Kakashi was blinded with a bright smile from the boy. “I’ll take you up on that sometime.”

“You do that.”

Kakashi turned around and made his way to the edge of the roof before stopping at the heat and weight clinging to his back, as a pair of arms wrapped around his front. He felt a bit winded as the teen gave him a powerful squeeze, giving him a hug from behind, but it made him happy in the same breath. A small smile crossed his lips as he felt the boy nuzzle his head into his corded back and whisper a barely inaudible “Thank you.”

The teen pulled away finally, and allowed Kakashi to turn around and give Naruto’s head a small rub, smirking at the teen’s protest to the mistreatment of his hair, before putting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing. With that small action he received a brilliant smile that lit up the night. Turning back around and jumping from the roof, he whispered back a quiet, “Your welcome.”

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Conscience: Awwww...

Me: -Barf-

Conscience: What? You don’t think it was sweet? Hell you wrote it!

Me: Yeah. But it was almost sickly sweet.

You guys have no idea how much I wanted to cry when I was writing the first part. I want a cute and drunken grandfather like Tazuna... or Jiraya. Jiraya would be a kickass grandfather. Damn. I want a Jiraya grandfather... either that or a Jiraya Lov-er. :P

Oh! I wasn’t trying to stereotype Sakura as a “typical female” with the baking and crap. I just remembered one of the first Naruto episodes where she had made a boxed lunch for Sasuke to show her affection... she just seems like the kind of girl that would bake her love for someone if you know what I mean. So it makes sense to me that she would bake to show her happiness, and love for someone. Especially Haku who’s now one of her sub. Sensei’s.