A/N: Ladies and gentlemen good evening! I hope you enjoy the story I've prepared for you, and don't forget the dessert that's at the bottom; a little preview for all of you of the next chapter. :)

Hehe, is it bad that I'm actually proud of myself for updating this no more than a month after the last chapter?

Yay! I can't wait to see what you guys (srry girls too!) think of this chapter. I don't think that any of you have figured the Kyuubi mystery out yet, but I don't know maybe I'm wrong. Here's to hoping that this chapter is surprising for everybody! :3

When Obito had died, Kakashi clearly remembered the weeks that followed.

Numb with guilt and sitting in a hospital bed with plenty of time to think on it, he'd had only one visitor; one constant companion in that room and the only one of his team that had come to visit him…though it hadn't been Rin. No, Rin wouldn't be able to look at him for months after Obito's death, and even when she did it was always with a clear favoring of his right side and an uneasy avoidance of his left.

He would always remember that one day…remember how alone he had felt until Minato-sensei had shown up at the foot of his bed, and how disappointed he'd felt when Rin hadn't.

"Sensei…why are you still here?"

"…Because you need me here."

It was silent for a moment, but Kakashi had no intention of denying the words.

"If…If I said I needed Rin here too, do you think she would come?"

Both their voices were hoarse. They hadn't spoken in days, hadn't done anything except think and stare and cry at everything they could've done better.

"Kakashi…" He swallowed heavily and blinked to get his emotions under control, to be as strong as he could for the fragile boy laying defeated there in front of him, "…give her time."

From his place beside the bed Minato saw him turn on his side, turning away from him as he nodded in agreement. He saw the slight shaking of his shoulders under the thin blanket and heard the soft gasping sounds he was trying so hard to hide. He saw everything he wouldn't show and heard everything he wouldn't say.

His hand fell to that shaking shoulder, feeling heavy with shared grief but grounding all the same. He turned him over, and Kakashi let him pull him forward into his arms; let him see him without his mask…a face no one had seen since his father's death.

"…You're strong Kakashi. The strongest I've ever met…stronger than myself if I'm completely honest…" Kakashi hid his face further into his sensei's shoulder, and wanted to say that he had never felt so weak. "But just because you can shoulder this without breaking doesn't mean you should. I'm here. I'm here so, let me help you shoulder this. Just this once let someone else help you."

He tried to pull away a little, to get a look into that unmasked face, but Kakashi wouldn't allow it. He felt too vulnerable like this already. Minato closed his eyes in pain and swallowed hard, rasping out to him, "You need to let this out Kakashi. TALK to me."

He was met with silence for several moments, and Minato wished more than anything that he knew how he could help his student. The Yellow Flash of Konoha, the one who Iwa had a 'flee on sight' order on, the future HOKAGE for kami's sake…and he had no answer on how to get over death.

"Just say something…please, Kakashi just…tell me how to help you."

Then, so softly he almost missed it…

"…Why?" A hand clenched on his sensei's familiar white jacket, "Why don't you…get angry? Punch me, hate me, tell me it's my fault. Tell me I should've gotten there sooner! I was so stupid…so stupid I didn't even see it until it was too late…"

"It wasn't your fault Kakashi."

"Yes—!"

"NO. No, I was the leader of that mission. I was responsible…It was no one's fault but my own."

Kakashi was silent again as he could tell that his sensei couldn't be argued with…He pulled away then, but didn't meet the man's eyes as he nodded in acquiesce. He didn't need to though; Minato knew he didn't believe him.

He lifted his students chin, his other hand still on his shoulder. "Don't let this consume you Kakashi. Don't let Obito's death be yours too…"

"I would never kill myself…"

"I know that…but I didn't mean it the way you thought I did." He smiled sadly down into the one un-bandaged dark eye flashing up at him angrily, and reached forward to touch his other bandaged one.

"He gave you more than just a new eye, Kakashi…he gave you a new life."

He could never forget the look his sensei had as he said this. He would always remember his words, words he hadn't realized he'd ignored until he met Naruto. He was always so upbeat…alive. He never gave into despair or hopelessness, not even when all of Konoha was rubble beneath them and his best friend the cause of it. He should've realized that he needed to stop living life as if it was Obito's, as if he was living only for the deaths he had caused, and started living instead for himself and for those that were still living.

It was sort of ironic how the student he had most ignored had ended up teaching him more than he could have ever taught.

But despite his student's infallibly sunny disposition, he'd also known him long enough to realize that sometimes…Naruto wasn't as sunny as he seemed. Every shinobi had to pull out a mask sometimes; Naruto's just so happened to be a little different than others. He knew for a fact that his mask had been firmly in place long before he'd even become part of team 7, and that Naruto—even now when he was this young—would be used to pulling it up over all his pain and his fears…but just because he'd gotten used to it, and just because he'd survived it so far, doesn't mean that he should be given any more reasons to pull that mask on.

…He remembered his childhood being just as full of such reasons. He remembered never taking that mask off…and no one had tried to either, until he'd met Obito and sensei and Rin. Although, little good that had done; once Obito had destroyed that mask he'd just found a different one.

He didn't want history to repeat itself here. He wanted Naruto to be happy. He wanted him to go on forever with that smile of his, and though he knew he could never destroy his mask…he at least hoped that he could stop Naruto from using it as often as he did in the future.

He looked down at the subject of his contemplation, his most fervent reason for being here…the boy who was staring up at him with open amazement and admiration. He thought briefly how odd it was that such a look would be directed at the man who had just nearly killed an old lady right in front of him and with a broom no less. He supposed it said something about the kids' desperate need for a role model…

He ignored it for now, and focused on getting them up the many stairs to his apartment, holding his small hand in his as he tugged him along. But he was struggling to keep up with the elder teen's long legs, and eventually Kakashi had to switch his grip to under his arms and swing him up onto his hip though not without a little trepidation, having never picked up a kid before where it wasn't to escape some bloodthirsty ninja after them. Naruto was startled by the sudden shift, let out a brief cry as it jostled some of the not yet healed injuries from before, and grabbed tight onto the shoulders of his protector. They made quick work of the long never ending (evil) staircase; though Kakashi was more careful of the remaining injuries Naruto had sustained and was as gentle as possible.

Though his 'gentle' wasn't doing much for the poor kid, considering they took the stairs much too fast for Naruto to even comprehend that the ceiling wasn't the floor…which really wasn't good on his stomach.

Thankfully it didn't last long, and soon they were in the small apartment and Naruto found himself being plopped down onto the small bed in the corner next to the window. When he looked up from the dark bed cover—after smoothing dirty fingers over it in amazement at the silky awesomeness of it—it was to find his idol rushing back into the room with a small tin box; a bright red medic symbol on its' lid. He knew what that was…for as long as he could remember he'd seen that symbol at least two or three times a year. He supposed that it was his version of the snuggly teddy-bear or cloth doll that the other kids all seemed to have had since they were babies. That symbol was his safety blanket, his oldest memory, the only thing that ever told him that things would get better.

Although, he really wasn't that hurt…he only ever needed stuff like that when he literally couldn't stand up anymore from the pain. It wasn't that often he sustained injuries bad enough that they weren't quickly healed.

Kakashi knew this of course; the whole healing thing. He'd seen it himself a million times but…seeing Naruto there, all curled up on the edge of his bed bruised and thin, made him need to do something to help him, heal him, anything. He couldn't just sit around and wait for things like that to fix themselves, so he brought out the medic box Rin had given him so long ago—though the supplies had obviously been changed and added to over the years—and squatted down beside his bed in front of his young ward.

He started at his forehead, dabbing away at the dried blood there until he could only see smooth skin beneath it, and continued on down his arms looking for any superficial wounds under the caked on blood. He found none until he reached his knee, where a deep gash was surrounded by discolored bruising. He wiped it down, not surprised when Naruto didn't make a sound despite the fact that it must be painful, and turned around briefly to grab the little shurikan printed Band-Aids he'd found at the bottom of the medic kit. When he turned back, he was greeted with the sight of Naruto's skin stitching itself back together, the bruising fading with the small line left over from the gash that had once been on his knee. He stared a little wide eyed at it, never having seen it heal that fast before, and he supposed his expression must have been funny because he heard a little snort come from Naruto's mouth.

He looked up at Naruto briefly but then turned back down to give a mock glare at the spotless knee.

He put the Band-Aid on it anyways.

…in fact, he put two on there, just for good measure.

When Naruto raised a little eyebrow at him, he only smiled and replied that "They were too cute to be wasted sitting in that box, weren't they?"

He didn't add that he hoped he would never have to buy more for it now that they were out.

Naruto scrunched up his nose a little, "Cute?"

He nodded, then cocked his head a little, "Just like that sleeping cap you always used to wear—Ah…no, wait I shouldn't have said that…"

What is wrong with me today? He really needed to work on reeling in what he was about to say; he seemed to be having a lot of trouble keeping his thoughts inside his head lately…and most of those thoughts were definitely not safe for little children! Especially once he remembered where the rest of his icha icha stash was in this time period…

"Eh? Sleeping cap…? Ano, Kakashi-sensei but I don't have one…"

Oh, he didn't have that yet? That's a shame; that thing really had been adorable (and really what was he doing using words like that!) though he still honestly had no idea whatanimal that thing had been…wait…

Had he just…? He hadn't imagined it had he?

"Kakashi…sensei?"

Naruto looked a little bit sheepish as he was called out on that. He rubbed the back of his head and gave a grin. "Well…you saved me didn't you? And…I know you are really really really strong, and so I…I just…"

His mask cracked a little, and for a moment he saw all the insecurities and fears hidden beneath it in those blue eyes. "…I just really wanted you to be my sensei…"

Kakashi's eye widened. All those times when he'd brushed Naruto off to another teacher, all those times when he had ignored him to focus his attention on Sasuke…this was his chance to change all of it.

"So…will you? Will you be my sensei...?"

He could finally get rid of the memory of Naruto's disappointed face each time he'd failed to be his teacher, each time he'd pushed him to a different person…like an unwanted chore he kept passing to other people. He could finally ease some of that guilt he felt, and hopefully do things the right way this time; he needed to be the teacher he'd never been, he needed to be like Minato-sensei…

This was his chance so…why couldn't he just say yes?

Maybe it was the young part of his mind rebelling against this all, rebelling against the thought of being like Naruto's dad, or maybe it was just old fears coming back up with all these fresh new memories; all the similarities between Naruto and Obito that had kept him away from taking him in all those years ago…but he just couldn't say—

"Yes…"

…uh…

"Of course he'll be your sensei, brat!"

…what? Wait…had he just said that?

He didn't get long to think on this odd turn of events before Naruto seemed to catch on to his words. With a loud cry of excitement he suddenly found himself being bowled over by an overly exuberant Naruto. "Yes! I don't know why you're speaking in third person Kakashi-sensei, but thank you thank you thank you!"

As he patted Naruto's head distractedly, he could only think of one explanation for the incident…Kyuubi. Oh, Kami what did that mean for him? Could he actually control him? What if…what if he took over completely? Why hadn't he already, he could've been halfway through destroying Konoha by now!

Kyuubi.

Yes, pathetic worm slave?

Worm slave? Wha—no, no don't get distracted…

What the hell did you just do?

What? I had to make sure you said yes!

So it was you…

Of course it was, who else in your head? You really think that creepy shadow of goggles kid could've done it?

Stay the hell away from my motor functions!

Hmmm, let me think about tha—no! Do you really think I'll take orders from a hairless worm baby like you? I'M in control here. You made a deal with ME to go back and fix things, so that Naruto—and therefore me as well—could live! I think that gives me a say in how things go here, since I sure as hell will not watch you screw everything up a second time!

I wasn't going to say no! I was just…thinking that's all…

Yeah sure, scar face, 'just thinking' about how you didn't want all that responsibility. You and your ridiculous aversion to commitment…Though I could tell that it came more from that annoying newly merged 'teen dream' version of you, so I'll give you that at least.

Yes, whatever is left of Past-kun does seem to be getting in the way a lot.

Exactly why you need me here. If you're not careful you could lose yourself entirely, you know. I'm the only thing that's keeping you here, so be grateful Kakashi-Kun!

Ugh…don't call me that…

Only laughter met that, and he knew that the Kyuubi definitely would NOT be listening to him.

So…so you can control me then?

Well…sort of. Didn't you hear me last time? This whole thing is much more complicated than that…

Then explain it to me damnitt!

And why should I exactly…? You agreed to any and all consequences of making a deal with me when you signed the contract.

I didn't sign any contract!

Oh, don't worry, I knew you would've anyways so I just saved us both the time you would've wasted agonizing over it and forged your signature. He gave a toothy grin. Much simpler that way, ne?

He felt a little dizzy with everything he was learning today, and nearly wanted to throw up a little as the Kyuubi's laughter echoed in his mind…but the still exuberantly chatting Naruto in front of him reminded him that he needed to keep his mask tightly on until later. He felt a horrible sense of foreboding in the pit of his stomach, and real fear ripple through him as he thought on how easily the Kyuubi had taken ahold of his actions…and when he thought back to the incident with the old woman, he couldn't help wondering if the Kyuubi had been involved there too.

"—it's gonna be so awesome! Everyone will see that I'm your student, and then no one will doubt that I'll become Hokage! With sensei teaching me, I'll become an even stronger shinobi and be the best most powerful awesome Hokage EVER! Believe it!"

Kakashi sweat dropped at the oddly 'Gai esque' posing Naruto had pulled; stars in his eyes fist pumped and a gleaming smile on his face. Ah, I'd forgotten about that stupid saying…

"Eh, Naruto-kun…I already believe you'll be Hokage one day…so maybe you could stop saying that? Please?"

And then just like that, Naruto was shocked into silence and his pose fell to pieces. He should've taken a picture…Gai would've been so proud.

"You…you believe me? You think I'll…I'll be Hokage one day?"

"Hmmm, of course. I've been a shinobi for a long time; I can tell you'll be a great Hokage one day."

…Ok, that wasn't technically a lie. He had been a shinobi for a longtime, and he'd always seen the potential in all three of his students…it was just that he'd only focused on one of them. More specifically; he'd only focused on Sasuke…for more than the bullshit reason of 'he needed it most' that he'd told himself too...

…oh crap, the kid was tearing up, what—what had he done? Had he said something? What should he—?

Little skinny arms wrapped around his masked neck and a snotty nose could be felt pressed against the cloth. He had a sudden sense of déjà vu for a moment…

Kakashi hid his face further into his sensei's shoulder, and he wanted to say that he had never felt so weak.

"Th-Thank you…no one's…no one's ever…" Believed in me. He wanted to say, but couldn't quite get it out.

Kakashi pressed his hand to his back in an awkward half return hug, and swallowed a little heavily.

"But…but I don't get it. Why? Why…"

"Sensei…why are you still here?"

"…Because you need me here."

"…Why don't you hate me? Why don't you get angry like everyone else does?"

"…Why?" A hand clenched on his sensei's familiar white jacket, "Why don't you…get angry? Punch me, hate me, tell me it's my fault. Tell me I should've gotten there sooner! I was so stupid…so stupid I didn't even see it until it was too late…"

"…" Kakashi didn't say anything. He didn't know what he could say. What could he possibly do to fix this?

"I mean…It must be my fault right? I must…I must keep doing something wrong for them to hate me so much…I'm sure you'll notice it soon too…and then you won't want to be my sensei anymore."

"It wasn't your fault Kakashi."

"…It's not your fault Naruto."

"Wh—what?"

"No, the others…they're wrong. They just don't see you like I do…they see something that scares them, something to blame all their problems on. They're weak and pathetic and they…they just don't understand."

Naruto sniffled into his neck, and burrowed deeper as his shoulder started shaking again. He didn't understand how this man could say things like that when he'd just met him. He didn't even understand why he had saved him like he did…but he was grateful for it anyway. Besides the Old man, no one had ever intervened on his behalf before…Kakashi was the first; and Naruto wasn't about to start questioning him on saving his life. He was too afraid he'd change his mind.

"But you have to prove them wrong; you have to make them understand. Show them that you can become Hokage, become even greater than you are now and…then one day everyone will see you like I do."

Kakashi let a gloved hand drift into the spiky hair and wrapped his other arm around him in the first real hug he'd given anyone in a very long time…he felt like he finally knew how his sensei had felt all those years ago. When Naruto's mask finally completely cracked and fell away against his shoulder, he just held him there in the space beside his bed, and tried to do what his own sensei had done for him so long ago; give him hope.

"It'll be hard…I won't lie. But I'll be here… hopefully to make it a little easier…"

I don't want everything to turn out like it had before…all my friends' dead, team 7 dead and you…you had become Hokage, true, but…it was at too high a price. I don't want you to lose yourself this time…

It was then—as he was shoving that part of him down that wanted to run screaming away from such a commitment, as he was pushing all those worries about the Kyuubi and just what exactly he had sacrificed for all this—that he realized something. Above all else, above all his worries and resentments and childish fears…Naruto was more important. He would always be more important. Team 7; Sakura, Sasuke, hell even Sai…they were all more important. They were what he'd come back here for. It was the fates of his friends that he most wanted to change, and he decided right then that no sacrifice was too much…as long as they were safe, he would sign that stupid demon contract the Kyuubi supposedly had a thousand times over. As long as they were happy.

He would always remember the weeks after Obito's death. Would always remember his sacrifice and the words of his sensei; words he hadn't listened to at the time.

He would always remember that day, just as he was sure Naruto would always remember this day. This right here was the true start of the new life Obito had given him.

A life worth truly living.

…See? Didn't I tell you that you'd have signed it anyways? Can you imagine if I waited for your permission on these things? Nothing would ever get done…you'd probably still be stuck in the Void drooling like a brain-dead vegetable!

…Oh, just shut up.

A/N: Okay, so did all my zombie readers like it? Was it surprising or did you already expect this to happen?

Also, I'd love to know if this chapter flowed well or not; I felt kinda like it was a bit all over the place, but I really wanted that cute kakashi/naruto moment in this chapter so I kinda stuffed it in there hoping it would fit. Tell me what you think in a review, because I love them! And btw; Thank you for all the reviews I've gotten so far (Up to 70! Whoo! That's the most ive ever gotten!) and for all of you who have been with me since the beginning of this fic, I Thank All of thee from the bottom of my heart! Especially MidniteCurse4Eternity and Prescripto13 who have reviewed every one of my chapters since the beginning!

All of your support has kept me going, and to keep all of you going too I'll give you a preview of the next chapter:

"Kakashi…you do know why you're here I assume?"

"Maa…I suppose it might have something to do with that 'harmless' old lady I nearly choked to death?"

"That and the reports of seeing you doing pirouettes and singing in the streets…" The old Hokage stifled a heavy sigh, "I believe a very overdue explanation in order, Kakashi, and it better explain what the is going on. Now, I understand the reasoning behind attacking the Orphanage owner—I've never liked that horrible woman either—but you've never been so blatantly stupid as to do it in public, in a crowd where all the witnesses would openly testify that they didn't even see Naruto in the vicinity! I need a good explanation now, or my hand might just be forced in this matter Kakashi…"

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Kakashi kept his face carefully blank, having prepared for this beforehand, "What happened was…well, it seems that I've been possessed by a spirit of mischief."

The Hokage's eye twitched in irritation as the ANBU captain in front of him sighed and nodded woefully. "It truly is an unfortunate turn of events, I know…

"Kakashi…" A gnarled hand came up to rub his brow. Was this seriously the same solemn boy he'd come to know as his youngest most talented ANBU? "This is not a joke! Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused?"

Kakashi nodded again, "You're right Hokage-sama, I'm quite sorry for all this trouble; ah! There must be so much paper work…I do not envy you."

"Wha—yes, there is, but that isn't—"

"But I assure you, I am telling you the truth Hokage-sama…I just can't tell you all of it."

"…"

"…"

"…so, you're going with 'a spirit of mischief made me do it?' that's your final answer?" Kakashi nodded, and the Hokage gave him a seeking look into his eye. "…You realize I'll have to send you in for a psych evaluation now right?"

Kakashi sweat dropped, "Yes, Hokage-sama…"

And that's it! :)

All constructive criticism is appreciated!