A/N: I know it's been absolutely forever, but I hope some of y'all are still interested in the story! So, without further ado, here's the long-awaited update.

(577)

When they arrive back at Konoha, Naruto goes to see Kakashi-sensei. Yeah sure he doesn't necessarily think too highly of the man, considering the constant porn-reading and otherwise ignoring his students, but Naruto did realize he had perhaps judged Kakashi too harshly.

Nothing like realizing someone could've died while you were gone to cause some self-reflection.

It was actually Kurama who helped Naruto consider things from Kakashi's point of view. Not directly, of course, because Kurama never really cared about any humans besides Naruto, Iruka being the only slight exception.

But when Naruto was having an internal battle about how he felt with Kakashi being hurt, mostly feeling concern but then wondering if Kakashi would've felt similar concern for him, it was Kurama's derisive comments that made Naruto defend his teacher.

Because could Naruto really fault Kakashi for not teaching him anything high-level when Kakashi didn't even know what Naruto was really capable of? Kakashi-sensei had taught Naruto, along with his other teammates, a lot of taijutsu, which was the area where Naruto's skills where the most lacking, so he did have something to be grateful for to the man.

To that, Kurama snorted and reminded Naruto about how Kakashi made Naruto repeat chakra control exercises at Wave despite Naruto insisting he knew them. And suddenly Naruto realized that knowing something didn't necessarily mean being good at them, so maybe Kakashi had thought Naruto needed practice. And it wasn't like Kakashi had been capable of really teaching back then anyway, what with being borderline bed-ridden from the fight with Zabuza.

To be fair, Kakashi had never really asked what all Naruto knew, although that initial fight for genin had shown Kakashi some of Naruto's skills.

And then it's Kurama's turn to have a sudden realization. Of course Kakashi would simply focus on teaching Naruto taijutsu instead of any big moves, because Kakashi knew taijutsu was Naruto's weakest skill, and Kakashi didn't know Naruto didn't have time to take his time with the basics.

After Kurama shared that with Naruto (begrudgingly, but of course he did because he didn't keep secrets from Naruto), the boy suddenly felt a lot more kindly towards his own teacher.

Of course that doesn't solve the problem of Kakashi not seeming to care for his students, but at least Kakashi has always treated Naruto in the same way he treats Sasuke and Sakura. And equal, unprejudiced treatment is something Naruto has had very little in his short life. (Besides Iruka, Naruto can't think of anyone who fits the description. Kurama is prejudiced too, but in his favour.)

So, as mentioned, upon arriving at Konoha, Naruto goes to see his sensei. He has never wished anything bad for Kakashi, and just like Sakura and Sasuke are his friends, Kakashi is another one of his almost-precious people.

It hurts to see Kakashi so hurt, and Naruto vows to get stronger so that he can protect even Kakashi-sensei someday.

(577)

It is on that same day that Naruto runs into Sasuke. Sasuke, for some inexplicable reason, seems to be upset at Naruto (what's new there?).

But if Naruto let himself get down from every negative attitude directed at him, he would never be able to smile. So he ignores Sasuke's glowering and greets him happily.

Then, suddenly, it's becoming a fight. Sasuke is yelling at Naruto and Naruto is yelling back, though he's not quite sure what they're fighting about besides Naruto's defeat of Gaara. It's confusing but Naruto does not appreciate someone challenging him for no reason, and even Kurama is wondering what in the world is going through Sasuke's mind.

It is then that Sakura shows up, and both Naruto and Kurama's respect for her goes up when she attempts to calm down the situation. The fact that she doesn't succeed doesn't speak badly of her but rather loudly of Sasuke's temper.

When Sasuke powers up the move he learnt from Kakashi, the move he used against an unstable jinchuuriki and achieved some damage with, Naruto mentally takes a step back and wonders how the situation escalated so quickly. And why. (Why does Sasuke hate him so much?)

When asked, Sasuke yells once again about Naruto getting stronger, and how Sasuke is the one who's supposed to be strong. Naruto responds by shouting how they can both be strong and help each other get stronger, so why is this even a problem.

Kurama knows it's jealousy, has seen it before every time Naruto achieves something quicker than Sasuke, but even he would not have thought Sasuke to go this far. Either something is wrong or Kurama should've judged even this young Sharingan user far more harshly (and he was never very kind in his opinions).

It is only Kurama's strong presence at the back of Naruto's head that stops him from getting into the fight, from letting Sasuke get to him. Sakura yells at the two, and Naruto can see how she's ready to move. He doesn't know if Sakura is capable of physically stopping Sasuke, highly doubts it in fact, but the fact that she's willing to try makes him feel warm. It means she's not only focused on gaining Sasuke's approval, has some sense to her, and perhaps even cares about Naruto's wellbeing a bit.

But Sasuke doesn't attack quite yet. He yells some more about how he's supposed to be getting stronger faster, and Naruto yells some more about he needs to get stronger fast too, and Sasuke shouts how he needs to be strong, and Naruto shouts how he doesn't have time so he needs to get strong quick, and Sasuke yells that he needs to be strong quicker because his brother could attack at any time, and Naruto –

"I'm dying!"

He doesn't mean to say it. It just slips out, with his voice raw with desperation and his eyes shining and his fists clenched. He's so frustrated because why can't Sasuke see sense, why does he refuse to see sense, and – and he's dying.

He doesn't have time.

His exclamation is enough to startle Sasuke out of holding the Chidori, and even makes Sakura whiplash to stare at him. And then, of course, they demand explanations.

A better way to put it would be to say that Sakura quietly asks what Naruto means, because Sasuke isn't yelling for once, and Naruto has to strain to hear her after all the shouting. But he knows what she's asking so it isn't difficult to understand her, and he flinches because he didn't mean to tell anyone about this.

He's never meant to tell anyone about this. Even when he first found out, he didn't think he needed to tell anyone about his short lifespan. Even now, when Iruka has shown Naruto care that he thought he'd never get from another human, Naruto doesn't consider it a good idea to share it. Because – because –

What if they wouldn't care?

Kurama rumbles in the back of Naruto's head and although there are no discernible words, Naruto feels reassured. It's not enough to stop tears from gathering in his eyes, but he feels a tiny bit stronger as he takes a breath and explains.

He doesn't mention Kurama, he doesn't explain why he's dying, but he does tell his teammates that he only has a few short years to make a name for himself, or rather to help those precious to him. It simultaneously feels burdening and relieving, because he has to get this right, has to explain this properly, but at the same time this is the first time he's ever actually said any of this aloud.

After he's done, after his cheeks are glistening with tears, after he has run out words and his words are too choked up anyway, he waits. He waits for the reaction of his teammates, friends, of the first people to learn that he will not live to be an adult.

He waits and he wonders if they believe him (and if they even care about what happens to him).

But Sakura's cheeks are glistening too, and Sasuke does not look murderous, in fact he looks lost, and Naruto hopes that perhaps, just perhaps he matters to them.

It's as Sakura rushes in to hug him, and Sasuke takes a hesitant step forwards, that Naruto has his hopes confirmed.

(576)

When Kakashi-sensei finally regains enough of his strength to meet his team again, it is a very different team from the one he last saw. For one, Sakura isn't glancing at Sasuke and blushing all the time, rather she's standing near Naruto looking a bit pale. For another, Sasuke isn't indifferently glaring at nothing, but instead (fake) indifferently staring at Naruto.

As for Naruto, well, he's beaming with happiness he had thought lost to him. And so Naruto jumps up and down and demands to know when they'll be training again, and Sakura gently punches his arm, and Sasuke grunts his agreement.

It is clear that Kakashi doesn't know what has transpired, but as always, he takes it in stride and smiles with his eye-smile that Naruto realizes he has missed tremendously.

(574)

Jiraya asks Naruto to go on a training trip with him. And Naruto doesn't know what to do.

He knows that Jiraya won't stay in the village. He also knows that if he leaves the village, it is likely that he won't see it again. And despite all the grief the villagers have caused him over the years, it is his home.

But Jiraya is perhaps best suited to help him get strong. On the other hand, what's the use in getting strong if he's away from those he wishes to help and protect and gain approval from?

Jiraya might agree on a shorter training trip if Naruto told him about his fate. But after getting promises from Sakura and Sasuke to tell no one of his inevitable death, it feels redundant to share his secret with Jiraya too. And, well, he doesn't really trust Jiraya.

Fact is, if there is one person who could've been expected to look after Naruto after his parents' death, it's Jiraya. Kakashi was his father's student, sure, but Kakashi was also a teenager when they died. The previous Hokage had some ties to Naruto, and maybe Naruto would've had a closer relationship with the old man if he hadn't been so suspicious of him, but Jiraya was his father's mentor. Jiraya doesn't seem to hate Naruto, so he honestly has no idea where the man has been all his life.

But those kinds of thoughts don't really inspire trust. And Kurama certainly isn't very supportive of telling the irresponsible man anything, especially considering his close ties to the current (or rather future) Hokage.

So, eventually, Naruto refuses.

(571)

When Naruto gets news of Sasuke's kidnapping, he rushes to help his friend. When Sakura asks him to bring Sasuke back, Naruto promises to do so with a grin.

And when Naruto finally reaches the last of Sasuke's kidnappers and sees Sasuke take off on his own, his heart breaks.

A/N: Yeah... I'm sorry! It's a short chapter precisely because I wanted to end it in a cliffhanger. Yeah I'm an asshole.

The first part was about Kakashi because I realized I had been too harsh on him (thanks to some reviewers). However, some people said the same about the Hokage (Sarutobi), but you need to remember that Naruto deliberately avoided being too close to him because Kurama damaged his view of the man.

Besides that, here we have the first people to find out about Naruto's condition! Again, I'd like to remind you that there will be no romance. (Also Kakashi wasn't around during the interaction in this universe, so no he didn't overhear Naruto.) No idea when/if other people will find out.

I really wish I could promise y'all a quicker update this time, but, I can't. I do think it'll be quicker but... Honestly who knows. Still, reviews are really appreciated and sometimes inspire me to write haha. Hope you liked this chapter!