Sorry for the super long absence on the Naruto front.

I've been busy with my jewelry making (I have managed to make some beautiful 14kt solid gold, rare blue tanzanite earrings- complete with an appraisal from Zales jewelry store. that I've been trying to sell), my failing marriage, my cats dying and my younger cousin being placed in a group home. And I have been trying to update Second Chances- I have a few hundred words down- but I need to redo what I have.

Fight sense are hard...

So all that aside, here is Melt.

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Cheeky girl. Kakashi thought in vague amusement as everyone else quickly left the rooftop where he was standing in three teams. One to help defend Gaara while he had Shay in his protective custody, one consisting of Lady Tsunade and several others who were already on their way to sound the alarm and evacuate whom they could, and the third team was- much to his irritation- his backup.

Something that he wasn't all that wholly certain that he was going to need unless things really went south. And even then- they would be more of a hindrance to him than any help.

Another roar sounded not too far off as Kakashi caught sight of Naruto's form, quickly eating up the distance between himself and Shay. He was totally still for a moment, taking in his former student's form; his mis matched eyes looking for an weakness or opening that he could use to stop the boy before he did something terrible that he could never take back.

Naruto for the most part was still in his human form.

Hell even his demon cloak wasn't anywhere to be seen. Which was good since that meant that Kakashi may actually be able to knock some sense into him before it was too late. Though he didn't exactly like the idea of getting up in an enraged Narutos face just to punch the shit out of him.

Especially when just one blow wouldn't be enough to stop him.

The second the blow connected, the boy would be on him like white on rice, with every intention of beating him within an inch of his life and then some.

Seeing Naruto was only a short ways away from where he now stood, he exhaled softly through his mouth and took a small step forward, waiting... The moment that Naruto landed on the rooftop several feet from him, Kakashi waited for a moment to see what he would do and noticed that he kept tilting his head back on his neck and sniffing at the air before growling out, "Mate! Kit! Return them to me!"

"I'm sorry but I can't do that while your riled up like this Naruto. You could wind up hurting your mate and kit if I do." Kakashi said softly, coaxingly, trying to reason with the boy as well as the Kyubbi.

Naruto snarled at him in response and hissed out, "Rival male! Rival male take mate and kit!" Before Kakashi seemed to realize that he had made a mistake of some kind as Naruto launched himself at him and tried to split his throat, chest and stomach open with his claw-like nails.

Kakashi dodged two of the swipes made towards him, however managed to catch one of them with his arm- splitting it open before he got well and truly pissed at his former student and pulled out some wires attached to some kunai and decided to stop the boy by trying to immobilize him so that he could slap a seal on him and see if that helped him regain his senses before he decided to attempt ripping his head off of the fucking brat for hurting him.

His arm hurt like a motherfucker.

And it looked as if Naruto's nails had split his skin and muscle open all the way to the fucking bone. Sakura is going to be pissed about having to patch me up. He thought as Naruto tried attacking him again only to have Kakashi flip himself over his head and use his momentum to throw the kunai in a way that the wires wrapped easily around the blonds body, and tightened to the point where he couldn't even struggle.

Though he did try.

Kyubbi apparently had no intention of backing down until he caught up with Gaara and fighting him over having Shay returned to him. Which was a pity, Kakashi thought as he pulled out a seal and slapped it on Naruto's forehead and then used the chakra lacing the tag to force the demon into submission.

Watching Naruto's fiercely snarling expression slowly fade to one of confusion as the blond blinked several times and looked around before his eyes landed on Kakashi and he asked, "What- What just happen-" He was cut off when Kakashi smiled at him and said cheerfully,

"Welcome back. I owe you-"

"What?"

Kakashi then reared back his hand and then punched the blond as hard as he could. The sickening crack, followed by the muffled thud of Naruto's body hitting the rooftop echoing loudly even to his own ears as he slowly dropped down to sit next to the unconscious blond and glanced at his arm before looking back at Naruto and saying quietly.

"Sakura is going to kick both of our asses for this."