I'm just feeling creative lately. I've updated two of my stories, more than once, and this is the third NEW one I've started. The plot bunnies won't leave me alone!

Kakashi was sitting on the roof of the book shop he'd just come out of with his nose in the pages of his new novel he'd bought to pass the time while he waited for Jiraiya to write a new Icha Icha. He was sitting quietly, not bothering anyone, not being bothered, at least, not until…

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto cried as he ran down the street towards the man.

Kakashi looked up to see his old student coming towards him. He hadn't seen him for the two years he'd be outside the village, training with Jiraiya. He wouldn't have admitted it out loud, but he'd missed the goofy little blonde. He still remembered the day he'd told him he was going away with Jiraiya.

"Sensei?" Naruto had said to get Kakashi's attention. He was lounging in a tree, reading, like always.

"Hm?"

"Um…can I talk to you for a second?"

Kakashi glanced at the child. For once, he didn't look like he was up to no good. He closed his book and dropped down to the ground in front of the boy. "What is it?"

"I just wanted to tell you…" Naruto trailed off, not sure how to finish the sentence. Finally, he gave up and, instead, hugged Kakashi tightly.

Kakashi was frozen, not sure what to do. Should he hug him back? Why was he being hugged in the first place? He ended up not doing anything; Naruto hadn't given him time to decide.

Naruto let him go and stepped back, "I just wanted to tell you thank you."

Kakashi blinked in confusion, "Uh…for what?"

"For being my sensei."

"Oh…well, uh…no problem."

Naruto looked away for a moment, "Um…I also wanted to tell you myself…before you found out on your own...I have a new sensei."

Kakashi was silent. A new sensei? Naruto was replacing him? "A…new sensei…"

"Yeah…um…pervy-sensei-"

"Pervy-sensei?" Kakashi cut him off, he had a pretty good idea who Naruto was talking about, "It's Jiraiya, isn't it?"

Naruto looked at him again, "You know him?"

"Yeah, he was my sensei's sensei." Kakashi was less hurt that he was being replaced by someone like Jiraiya. The man might be a shameless pervert, and he could sometimes be a complete moron, but he didn't just accidentally become a sannin. Plus, with Sasuke gone, Naruto with Jiraiya, and Sakura with Tsunade, he didn't have to teach anymore. He could spend all day doing nothing, just like he'd always wanted. Kakashi pretended like being abandoned by all three of his students didn't hurt...

"Oh…" Naruto looked down again, "Sensei…I want you to know…I appreciate what you've taught me. I'm not replacing you, you'll always be my sensei, I'm just…" Naruto tried to think of a way to explain it, "I'm putting another noodle in my bowl of ramen."

Kakashi smiled. He'd actually understood what the boy was trying to say. If you spend enough time with someone, you learn to understand their jargon. He was trying to say he was adding Jiraiya to his collection of senseis. First there was Iruka, then him, and now Jiraiya too. Frankly, Kakashi was surprised he'd come up with such a good metaphor.

"I see…so this means you're not going to be bursting into my house, uninvited, at any given time to interrupt my peace and quiet? This sounds too good to be true."

Naruto playfully punched Kakashi in the stomach, "You're such a jerk, Sensei."

Kakashi laughed and ruffled the boy's hair. Naruto looked up and smiled at him. Kakashi could see the relief in his eyes. Clearly, he'd thought Kakashi would be upset, and he was, but not because he felt like he was being replaced. He was upset because now he didn't have an excuse to see Naruto.

He loved Naruto. Naruto didn't know it and Kakashi refused to admit it, even to himself sometimes, but he did. Although, he wasn't sure if it was real…or just because he looked so much like Minato. Everyday he looked more and more like his old love, and it seemed Kakashi fell deeper and deeper in love with him everyday too. It was embarrassing sometimes. He felt dirty when he caught himself fantasizing about the things he'd like to do with Naruto. Naruto was so much younger than himself, after all. They could never be together.

I wonder if this is what Minato felt like.

"You be good for Jiraiya. He's not quite as kind as I am, so don't test his patience. And I expect to be the first to get a copy of his new book, got it?"

"Got it!"

Kakashi put his book away and watched the blonde's progress towards him. His eyes were glued to him. It had been years, and he looked like his father's clone. When those last bits of baby fat melted away from his face, and his hair got just a little bit longer, he'd look just like him…only with whiskers…and with an even worse fashion sense...

Kakashi smiled to himself while he remembered Minato's ridiculous white, flamed cape/coat. It was flamboyant to say the least, but not quite as flamboyant as Naruto's black and bright orange jumpsuit.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto cried again, waving like he wasn't sure if Kakashi had noticed him. The entire street had noticed him.

Jiraiya was further down the street, taking his time. He didn't like Kakashi enough to come running to him like a puppy to their treat-bearing Master. Even if he did, he wouldn't come running. He wasn't a stupid kid anymore…most of the time…

Naruto stopped to catch his breath in front of the book store and Kakashi dropped to the ground. "Welcome back, Naruto. You've grown," Kakashi said, noting his height. He was almost as tall as him. Maybe if he didn't have several inches of silver hair…they might be the same height. Naruto grinned proudly, putting his fists on his hips and puffing out his chest like he was displaying himself. "Nice outfit."

"You like it? Ero-sennin worked me so hard, my old one got all torn and tattered. I had to get a new one!"

"I like it better than your old one," Kakashi said truthfully. He'd never cared for the weird, white, neck thing his old outfit had. This one was much simpler in design and didn't have the poofy neck. He still didn't like it, it was orange, but it wasn't as bad as the other one.

"I got you something, sensei!"

"Me?"

Naruto produced a paperback book from his leg pouch and handed it to Kakashi, "The first copy, just like you asked."

Kakashi stared at the book, eyes sparkling, "This is the new Icha Icha…"

"Yup!" Kakashi remembered telling Naruto he wanted the first copy, but he hadn't really meant it. He hadn't expected Naruto to actually bring him the very first copy, or even remember his joke of a request. He'd even gotten a paperback, knowing he liked to carry it around and hardbacks made that difficult. "I even got him to sign it for you!"

Kakashi took the book and opened it to the title page where it was indeed signed. "Naruto…I think I just fell in love with you a little bit…" as soon as the words left his mouth, Kakashi wanted to die. He blushed like mad, but luckily he wore a mask so Naruto couldn't tell. Hopefully the boy wouldn't take it the wrong way, even though he should have because Kakashi had been absolutely serious.

Jiraiya caught up with them just then. He smiled lazily at Kakashi, "The look on your face when he pulled that out…that's why I still bother to write."

Kakashi laughed, "I can't wait to read it." He looked to Naruto again, "Thank you, Naruto."

"You're welcome, sensei!" Naruto gave him that grin the Yondaime had be famous for.

"Did you read it?" Kakashi asked, "Or did Jiraiya not let you?"

"I tried to read it…but it was just so boring…" Naruto kept talking about how boring it was, but Kakashi didn't hear him. He was staring at the boy again. It wasn't until that moment that he realized Naruto's voice had changed. It was deeper…like Minato's. His heart ached to hear it, but at the same time, it made him fell warm too. "Sensei?" Naruto said, "Seeeeenseeeeiii?" he waved a hand in front of Kakashi's face and he snapped out of his trance.

"Huh? What did you say? It was boring?"

"Yeah, SO boring, I only read the first couple pages."

Jiraiya was chuckling to himself. Kakashi looked over at him and received a knowing smile. Kakashi narrowed his eyes at him, which only made him laugh more.

"Ah, Naruto," Jiraiya said, putting a hand on his shoulder and leaning into him, "you just don't like reading. You've always preferred more…" he looked up at Kakashi with a mischievous smile, "hands-on activities."

Kakashi upped his narrowed eyes to a full-out glare.

Stupid Sannin…why do they have to be so damn perceptive?

"Hands-on activities?" Naruto said thoughtfully, "Like what?"

Still looking at Kakashi, Jiraiya grinned evilly, "Oh, I dunno…Kakashi, can you think of anything Naruto might enjoy doing?"

"Yeah!" Naruto said cheerfully, "We could do something together!" Jiraiya died laughing, going to his knees, and clutching his stomach as tears of joy leaked from his eyes. "What's so funny?" Naruto asked, oblivious to the joke.

Luckily, Kakashi was saved from whatever answer Jiraiya would have given, because Sakura ran up out of nowhere and grasped Naruto in a big hug. "Naruto! You're back!"

Naruto forgot all about what they'd been talking about and turned all his attention to Sakura. "Sakura-chan!" He hugged her back and thought about groping her ass, but refrained. He knew what the consequence would be if he tried.

Kakashi watched the two sadly. Naruto was still in love with Sakura. He could tell by the way he hung on her every word, smiling like crazy.

It wasn't long before Naruto asked Sakura out, just like he always did when he had the chance, and Kakashi was angered by Sakura's rejection.

Naruto is so amazing, how can she not want to be with him? Stupid pink thing…

Kakashi wasn't really angry at Sakura for rejecting Naruto. He was angry with himself for being envious of the attention Naruto gave her.

"Tsunade-sama wants to see you two in her office," Sakura said once they were done catching up and Sakura had beaten Naruto's in for implying that she was flat-chested, "And you too, Kakashi-sensei."

The three men followed Sakura to the Godaime's office. Tsunade was waiting, patiently for once, and was pleased when they showed up.

"Welcome back, Naruto, Jiraiya." The two smiled and nodded, Jiraiya a little lazier than Naruto's who was close to exploding with excitement. "Now that you're back, you and Sakura get to take a test."

Naruto and Sakura glanced at each other and then at Tsunade.

"A test?" Sakura said.

"Yup, I want to see how you've both progressed."

"What kind of test?" Naruto asked.

She smiled at him, almost maliciously, "You're going to take the bell test again, with Kakashi."

Both chuunin stared at the Godaime with dropped jaws.

"No way…" Sakura said forlornly. She knew she'd gotten much stronger, but not strong enough to defeat Kakashi.

Naruto, on the other hand, was, if possible, even more excited. He couldn't wait to show Kakashi how much stronger he'd gotten. He didn't even care that there was barely a chance of them getting the bells. All that mattered was that he would get to fight with Kakashi.

"Thanks for the warning," Kakashi said sullenly. Tsunade just smiled at him. He sighed, "Meet me in training ground seven in two hours. We'll do the test then."

Naruto thought Kakashi wanted the two hours to read his new book, but that wasn't it, although he might read a bit of it…He really needed some time to get over seeing Naruto again. Every time he looked at him, Kakashi wanted to gather him up in his arms and kiss him all over. He could not fight seriously with the boy in that mindset. He didn't really think he could completely get over him, but he was determined to bury himself deep enough in denial that he could function properly.

Kakashi escaped the room through the window and left to collect himself while the others stayed behind to talk about old times.

Question: is it ero-sennin or ero-sannin? I wasn't sure, but sennin just sounded better, so i went with that. Review, please!