THANKS TO ALL WHO REVIEWED! TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL THROUGH THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THIS FIC!
LAST CHAPTER AND A SURPRISE AT THE END! hehehehehehe!
I hope you enjoy and please review!
sabireru: wow... you look so sad, I'll give in, even though I am loathe to end this fiction...
kaki-kun: sorry about the whole Li thing...suddenly school came up and swallowed my time, rushing me. I hate being rushed... grrr... anyway, glad you liked! I hope you'll enjoy my surprise...
crazyantman: yeah... kakasaku... hmmm... what can I say... I just don't like OCs and some people don't like KakaIru and besides... I want him to have white-haired kids... so unless the great Masashimoto comes up with something, Kakashi is going to be either stuck with his ex-student or somebody less known like... Suzume...
Kakashi: sweatdrops Nooooooooooooooooo!
allyluv: funny how you can get sad and there hasn't been a stabbing! I consider it a compliment. Glad you liked! I hope you enjoy this last chapter!
chidorimaniac: what can I say except that sugar and kakashi make for extreme high? I'm sure I wrote alot of this on chocolate! glad you're insane about it!
I do not own Naruto – if I did, Kakashi would really be great – like a Sannin etc etc etc… and we'd see what's under his mask.
Revelation of the Wolf: The Glory of the Hatake Clan
Together Forever?
Looking up at the gently drifting moon, Kakashi felt a small wisp of something. What it was, he couldn't really identify. It brought to mind, so clearly, that day (so long ago) he had sat in the Ichiraku Ramen shop with Iruka, harboring his feelings of excitement.
Except this time, he was sure it wasn't excitement. Not really.
What is it?
He wasn't sure and cursed his lack of knowledge when it came to feelings.
Perhaps it is contentment and anticipation?
Looking over the now quiet town of Konoha, Kakashi's mind's eye sped to the future. It was if he was there.
He could see the bright vision of the future.
Naruto returning home. Standing on top of the roof, he overlooks Konoha and finally hears Kakashi's drawling voice.
"My, Naruto, you've grown a lot, haven't you?"
And Naruto's gift.
The long awaited Make Out Tactics. Kakashi shakes in excitement. Taken to Cloud Nine, totally salivating over it.
Perhaps it was the best gift of all that he received……
He wonders why Jiraiya was so grumpy about Naruto's dismissal of the novel.
Then Naruto meets Sakura. After a couple years of separation, change has given them more maturity – and he sees how it is reflected in their dress.
Naruto's behaviour will never change, Sakura realizes. He'll never stop being the loud, obnoxious, super surprising, perverted ninja.
Sakura's short apron, utile boots, gloves and elbow protectors are not only attractive to Kakashi's eye, but are steps forward to maturity as a shinobi.
She will always like to look good, but ever since the Chuunin Exam she's gotten over the superficialities in life.
Thank goodness, too, Kakashi thinks, I didn't want to have to be the one to talk to her about it.
Naruto never really notices her.
But she notices Naruto. Kakashi is aware too. The kitsune no longer wears the eyesore colour of orange. Rather, Jiraiya has dressed the boy in darker colours of red and black.
Naruto can never live without colour in his life.
Kakashi is aware he looks like he is wearing the same uniform he met them in. He knows that as a sensei, he is allowed to return to civilians clothing.
But making a statement through clothing is a dangerous thing.
He is honest with himself.
He had gone into a store and looked at some pants and shirts that might go with Sakura's gift but he didn't know what looked good (he didn't want to look weird like Gai) and he was aware that a lot of money would be going into something that would get ruined in a matter of minutes…..
He stopped his shopping.
The fact that he always wore his Konoha Jounin uniform would have to be statement enough.
After all…. It's not like I can get back into those black clothing I wore as a kid – and wearing father's stuff is just…. Creepy….
So he watches Sakura's face gently smile as she takes note of her teammate's growth and 'maturity'. She allows him to treat her out. Kakashi decides to beat it before he is forced to pay for Naruto's large appetite.
Of course, a return home isn't complete without the meeting of friends.
Well…. A lot of them are out now on missions. Shikamaru is walking around with Temari and Shikamaru's revelation (all of Naruto's classmates are now Chuunin) takes Naruto to the Ramen shop for a therapeutic talk with Iruka.
Iruka always calms Naruto down. Always did. Always will.
He's just about ready for the Jounin test – Iruka will be taking it in a couple of days. Kakashi hopes the chestnut-haired Chuunin does well – but he says nothing to his newly recreated team – after all, he is sure Iruka wants it to be a surprise for Naruto.
Kakashi himself, fighting his two students, in the new bell test, is sure that Naruto himself is Chuunin material. He thinks better now, uses his jutsus responsibly (for the most part), teams up early with Sakura and leads her in a totally surprising attack.
Sakura isn't ashamed to admit that it was the blonde-haired boy's idea to use Kakashi's love of the Icha Icha series against him.
Damn brat!
No. It's a time of memories – sad (thinking on Sasuke's absence) and happy (watching them swing their bells) and embarrassed (Naruto complaining about dumb missions to Tsunade).
As usual, some things give him a sense of déjà vu.
He knows that Sakumo and the Yondaime would be pleased. But even more so, Obito. The last year of waiting for Naruto's return has been taken up with Sharingan practice. Kakashi has been hoping that his newest brilliant jutsu – the Mangekyou, will be kept secret for a couple more years. However, with the escalating news of war, he has a feeling that ANBU will be calling his name again.
Obito is proud. Kakashi knows it and is glad that his friend sees the future – with even more power than before.
And when they leave the Leaf Village on a super important mission to help the Village of Sand and to save Gaara's life, Kakashi knows that whatever happens, those who have gone on ahead are cheering him on.
And that those who have been patient enough with him – who drag him out to Friday night parties and make sure he takes a platoon mission every now and then – Genma, Raido, Iruka and Gai – are there to be his foundation.
Whatever happens he has a family – something important to protect.
It's Lightning's Howl, Sakura, Naruto. And even, Sasuke.
What does he feel?
He is sure that it's love.
And that is the greatest revelation of all.
Now it's all done.
I've been thinking of writing a post-war sequel to this:
Gentle Lesson: The Restoration of the Hatake Clan.
It will be more angsty – non-con, torture, violence, mind-games, solitariness, adult subject matter, language and romance…… Viewer discretion is advised…. RATED M...
It's up to the readers I guess.
PREVIEW! PREVIEW! PREVIEW!
------------------------Just so you know... Kakashihas just killeda little girl during the war with Sound----------------------------------
But as he looked down on her, he was so aware of what he missed – that in her short span of life, she had known what he had undeniably wished for – love, acceptance, peace, stability.
Although, here he was alive.
And she was not.
And that counts for something, right?
Right?
No.
Years later, he still agreed.
Living is over-rated.
What use is life without a heart?
He knew that such an organ of tenderness existed – but it was a weakness he could not afford to acknowledge.
So long ago – it seemed so long ago – he thought he had found himself again.
The three faces who had slowly – day after day – brought a sense of hope.
Perhaps it had been in their eyes.
Their dreams and ambitions – however positive or negative – had been unbroken.
He should have told them.
As he looked down at the girl-child.
He should have told them – along with his wise words on misusing jutsus or the importance of teamwork – that disillusionment was the work of time.
And time was the inevitable turning of the wheel of life.