A Mask Through Time

AN: for the awesome Hatake Kazumi :) here is the first installment of my first ever NaruKaka fic. Hope you don't mind the time travel but I really couldn't resist writing this.

Spoiler warning! If you aren't passed the ten tails and war arc DO NOT READ THIS.

Chapter 1

Naruto was practically bouncing on his way back home to Konoha. A few months had passed since his nineteenth birthday, yet he had not lost "youthful" mannerisms, as Gai-sensei called them. He had endured a war, the deaths of loved ones and in his younger days the villagers' hatred, yet he still remained as happy, carefree and pleasant (or unpleasant according to Sakura-chan) as always.

The rest of Team 7 followed behind the hyperactive blond, Sakura asking him to slow down, Sai analysing their behavior with a blank face, and Kakashi at the back of the group with his nose casually shoved in an orange porn book.

As the village gates came into view Naruto stopped, jumping up and down on the spot with excitement.

"Oi! We're back!"

Sakura stopped beside him. "Yes, Naruto, we can see that, we aren't blind."

"Kaka-sensei used to be half blind," Naruto pointed out.

"if you're referring to Obito's sharingan, I covered it; never have I been blind."

"And that was years ago, idiot. What does that have to do with anything?!"

"Weren't you the one that restored his normal eye?" Sai chipped in.

"Alright, alright I'm just sayin'!"

"Saying what?" Sakura demanded. "Baka, you don't make any sense!"

"You won't be saying that when I'm Hokage!"

"You aren't Hokage yet!"

"Shouldn't that be if you become Hokage?"

"Shut up, Sai! No one asked you!"

Kakashi sighed. "Can't a guy read in peace around here after such a long mission?"

"When you stop reading pervy books in public, we will leave you alone."

"It's a romance novel."

"Yeah right!" all three said together.

Their banter continued as they walked back into the village gates and signed in with Izumo and Kotetsu. The two chunin exchanged pleasantries with the team and congratulated them on another successful mission. Naruto eagerly recounted the story of their epic battle with a drug lord and gang leader in the land of waves. Of course the hyperactive teen embellished a few things here and there, mostly involving the great strength of the enemy- who had somehow gone from a B rank to an S rank of Madara's skill- and also exaggerated Naruto's own role in defeating the gang.

"It didn't quite happen like that," Sakura rudely butted in. "Kakashi-sensei dealt the final blow with his chidori."

"Ah excellent work, Kakashi!" Kotetsu came around his desk to pat the silver haired jonin on the back. "Another triumph of our copy nin, eh?"

Naruto glared. He had walked all the way round the desk to touch a man who didn't even show his students much physical affection. Why should this guy get to touch him? Wait- why hadn't he removed his hand yet? A congratulatory pat back should have ended by now! And what was with the familiar way he called his sensei by his name, with no honorific? Naruto had known Kakashi-sensei for years and still didn't do that!

A sudden wave of irritation took hold of Naruto and he snapped, "He isn't the copy nin anymore- he no longer has a sharingan, in case you hadn't noticed!" When everyone turned to look at Naruto he almost blushed. Kakashi blinked in surprise. Kotetsu still had a hand resting on Kakashi's upper back. "Don't you have a job to do?" Naruto added waspishly.

Kotetsu frowned. "Err yeah, I guess. Was just giving credit where it is due. Good job, guys, see you later Kakashi."

"Come on Kaka-sensei, we have to go see Grandma-Tsunade!" Naruto jumped ahead, leaving his team stunned at his sudden change of attitude. Kakashi was too shocked to take any offence at Naruto's words.

"What's eating his ass?"

The two chunin looked at Sai questioningly. Kakashi sighed and Sakura face palmed.

"I believe the terms you're looking for are 'what's eating him' or 'what got up his ass'".

"Ah you are correct, sensei, thank you."

Kakashi and Sakura shot Naruto a worried look as they arrived by his side in the Hokage's office. The young man seemed slightly annoyed about something but seemed to have calmed down now. Kakashi sighed thankfully.

Tsunade smiled. "I hope I can take that as a good sign?"

"Mission completed." The Hokage's grin widened and Naruto air punched triumphantly.

After Kakashi finished the mission report Sakura asked to stay and train with the female sanin in some more medical ninjutsu. Sai said his goodbyes and headed home.

Naruto and Kakashi started walking side by side to their homes, which were in the same direction from the Hokage tower. Kakashi had his nose in his book once again and seemed relaxed now that Naruto's bad mood had faded away. Naruto may not have been annoyed anymore, but he was suddenly feeling nervous. He wanted to ask something of his sensei that he hadn't dared to before.

He glanced at the older man. His dark eyes were warm and relaxed, his slender frame hidden beneath the jonin uniform. The little Naruto could see of his pale skin glistened in the sunlight, like smooth and beautiful marble. Naruto was in awe.

"What are you staring at?" Kakashi didn't even look up from his book.

"N- nothing! I was just thinking-"

"You were thinking? I'm impressed."

Naruto glared. "Shut up!" he blushed. "I was wondering..."

Could he do this? He had wanted to ask for ages, but Kakashi always looked so cool, so aloof and as much as he dreaded to say it, so 'hip' as Gai-sensei always said. Maybe that's why Gai-sensei had never asked him either, he found Kakashi too smooth and hip. And come on the man was blatantly gay in Naruto's opinion. Why else would he dress like that? He made a brief mental note to ask Rock Lee about it.

Naruto took a breath. He could do this. He was Naruto Uzumaki, future Hokage, hero of the leaf! He was already almost as tall as his sensei, broader than him, stronger than him. He could do this, no sweat, believe it!

"Kaka-sensei! I was wondering if you wanted to go for something to eat with me?!" he purposely avoided the word 'date'. It was just too hard to say, felt too alien. None the less, a date it would be.

Kakashi chuckled and put his book away. He looked at his student, smiling beneath the mask.

"Of course! Ramen right?"

"Obviously!" they both laughed.

"Is that why you were grouchy before? You were just hungry?"

Naruto laughed nervously. "Err yeah, something like that."

"Well we had better get some in ramen in you then!" Kakashi poked the blond's stomach as he said it. His eyes were closed as he smiled. Naruto was glad becuase he blushed. "Hey how about we go ask Tenzo to join? He can pay heh heh. It'll be just like old times after our training together."

Naruto's stomach dropped. Kakashi looked so pleased with the idea of the little reunion that Naruto didn't have the heart to say no. Besides it would be too embarrassing to correct the man as to his real intentions, to spend some time alone with his sensei.

Instead he forced a weak smile. "Sure. That's a great idea; I haven't seen Captain Yamato for ages."

They walked on together, Kakashi chatting about Yamato's recent missions and the old days training Naruto, and Naruto listened obediently, suddenly not feeling so hungry anymore.