I had an urge to write this and it wouldn't go away until I did. It's not really good, but I still like it. Enjoy

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

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Uzumaki Naruto ran through the village of Konoha, his expression one of terror. He would have gone to Umino Iruka, but the Chuunin schoolteacher was on a mission and wouldn't be back for another two days. Flashes kept plaguing his mind as he ran. A sob escaped him as he stumbled. He couldn't escape them. They wouldn't leave him in peace. Finally, he spotted his destination and surged forward.

A loud pounding jerked Hatake Kakashi out of his sleep. His dogs looked up as the man bad-temperedly walked to the door. Luckily it was an immediate habit for him to put his mask on. He had barely opened the door when a figure bowled into him, hugging him tightly around the middle, shaking violently. Kakashi stared down at the blonde figure in shock.

"Naruto?"

The boy flinched, but said nothing as his grip tightened around his sensei. Hesitantly, he put his arms around the blonde. Kakashi closed the door, a bit uncertain as to what to do. He had rarely showed his emotions, even as a child. Upon becoming an ANBU, he had more or less ditched them all together. Now looking down at his normally hyperactive student, he was finding himself wishing that he was just that; not this terrified twelve year old boy. It didn't suit him. It was wrong to see him this way.

"Naruto…what happened?" Kakashi asked, coaxing him to the couch. Tears formed as Naruto spilled out his nightmare, recounting every vivid detail. He left nothing out. Kakashi felt his heart sink as he listened. Either it had been just a very clear nightmare, or the Kyuubi had somehow influenced his dream as some sort of sick joke. The Jounin could see the horror return anew with each word Naruto spoke.

"Everyone was being attacked by Kyuubi. The Yondaime and a red haired lady were there too. The fox turned into me and he tore the Yondaime and the lady into pieces. Asuma-sensei was beheaded and he laughed as though it was fun! Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru were hit with some blue ball of chakra. Then he grew tails and clawed Shino, Kiba, Akamaru, and Hinata to pieces. You, Kurenai-sensei, and Gai-sensei tried to gang up on him but…he just laughed and you all fell to the ground, blood pouring out of your eyes and ears. You were just staring at nothing. Sakura was caught in a genjutsu and was cut in half! He picked up Iruka-sensei and looked at me and kept repeating that it was my fault, that I was the one who did this to everyone as he slowly tortured Iruka-sensei."

"I don't want you to die! I don't want to be left alone again!" Naruto said in a strained and hoarse whisper, hugging his sensei tighter. Kakashi and Pakkun exchanged glances.

Kakashi really didn't know what to do, but he ended up sitting down on the couch, hugging Naruto as the boy continued the shake and sob. A part of Kakashi was somewhat pleased that his student would come to him in a time of need, even if it was because Iruka wasn't around. As Kakashi became lost in his own thoughts, he didn't realize that he had started rubbing Naruto's back in an effort to calm him; or that Naruto's shaking was slowly coming to a stop. He remembered that the Yondaime had once done this for him as well. Sometimes Kakashi felt as though he failed both Naruto and the Yondaime for not being a better teacher.

He looked down at Naruto and saw that the boy had fallen asleep, still tightly hugging him. Carefully, Kakashi pried his arms from him and laid him on the couch, covering him with a blanket. Guruko leaped onto the couch and curled up at the sleeping figure's side.

Looking at Kakashi, he said, "You know, boss, we don't really know much about Uzumaki Naruto. It might be best if you did try to get to know him more instead of just labeling him as the hyperactive prankster brat. He's been alone all his life, never knowing a parent. You did. It's obvious that he sees you and Iruka-san as parental figures. I mean…being forced to endure of the hate people throw at him; never having someone to hold him and tell him that they love him…I don't know how he does it. And yet, he wants to become Hokage so that he can protect them? Most Jinchuriki would just leave or kill them all and he wants to do the total opposite! The kid has my respect. I'd never be able to endure what he's gone through. I don't think anybody could."

With that little speech said, Guruko put his head down and fell back to sleep. Kakashi sighed as he murmured, "You're right." The dogs all wandered over to Naruto and lay down in various spots.

"We'll watch over him for the night boss. I'll wake ya if the kid has another nightmare," Pakkun said. Kakashi nodded and walked back to his room. He didn't immediately go back to sleep. Instead, he stared at the ceiling, thinking about Guruko's words. While it was true that he had had a hard past, he had people who loved him and cared for him. Naruto never had that until just recently, when Team 7 was formed. As he rolled over to go back to sleep, Kakashi made up his mind that he would definitely get to know Naruto better. Maybe he should talk to Iruka, seeing as how the man knew him best. He listened as his dogs quietly bickered over who was going to lay where next to the sleeping guest and smiled. He liked the idea of being seen as a parental figure.

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I will be honest. I cried at some points while writing this. Then again, I cry every time I read something that involves Naruto and being alone with no one to love him. Please review. Peace!