Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ If Only You Knew ❯ Breakthrough of an Unexpected Kind ( Chapter 14 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 13 Breakthrough an Unexpected Kind

Sakura and Sasuke were uncharacteristically silent the next morning.

Well maybe they actually feel ashamed, I mused, well maybe on Sakura's part. Sasuke doesn't have the mental facilities to filter such things as morality. Whatever the case I didn't question it after that. Silence was a solace I hardly ever got to enjoy these days.

Unfortunately it didn't last long.

"Good morning Sasuke, Sakura." Kakashi burst out as he came into the room, not displaying his usual stealth. Looking at the two he pointedly ignored my presence. "How are you two doing this morning?" he asked in a gleeful tone that set off tremors of suspicious throughout my body.

Sasuke gave his usual stoic "hn." while Sakura blushed and murmured a quick "fine."

"Both of you head to the bridge site with Tazuna and keep an eye on him." Kakashi ordered without once taking his eyes off of them.

Nodding their ascent, they did as he ordered taking off almost immediately as if the hounds of hell were snapping at their feet. And just like that I found myself alone with Kakashi.

This is not good, I realized the suspicion from before filling me with unease. I started backing away from him as he'd suddenly sat next to me with almost no room to spare.

"What's the matter Naruto?" he asked silkily, well aware of my actions. "Someone might think you were trying to get away from me." He wagged his finger. "We can't have that now can we?"

Moving faster than I'd anticipated, he scooped me up and ran to the bedroom Tazuna's daughter had given him to use while he'd been unconscious.

Without ceremony I found myself thrown on the bed, "What are you doing?" I asked in an empty voice.

"Just taking what you seem to give out so eagerly to everyone else." Was his short reply before he forced his mouth onto mine.

I shoved him off, not giving him the chance to attempt his usual tricks.

"And what exactly is it that I'm offering everyone else?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Your body." he stated.

I started laughing, the usual hollow sound that strangely sounded more pathetic than usual.

"Exactly how many people do you think I've been with?" I questioned.

"Sasuke and that kid that works with Zabuza." his forehead crinkled into a frown. "Which reminds me to ask you later how the hell that came about?"

"Kakashi two people aren't exactly everyone." I pointed out.

"What about Iruka? Weren't the two of you intimate as well?"

"Uh...no." I shook my head. "How the hell you came to that ridiculous conclusion I don't even want to know." I shook my head at him again. "You know for one of Konoha's most elite shinobi who tells everyone else how to act you are amazingly hypocritical."

"It's because of you!" he suddenly snarled bringing his face within inches of mine. "You confuse the hell out of me! One minute you're the typical happy-go-lucky idiot that everyone loves to hate and the next you're this completely different person who is so far above me that I'll never be able to reach! I have to bring you back to my level somehow!"

Once again his lips came crashing down on mine but due to the shock of his statement this time I didn't resist...

...But neither did I participate. I was listless, the echo of his words reverberating in my head and somehow in my heart.

"Respond damn you!" he demanded against my mouth, his hand going down to my cloth-covered cock, rubbing it attempting to coax a response.

Not surprisingly it worked. A whimper that I'd never thought I could possibly utter made its way out of my mouth.

"That's right." Kakashi murmured into my ear. "By the time I'm done with you, you'll be screaming my name and think only of me from this moment on.

A shot of fear went through me at his words and gave me the strength I needed to push him away. "I don't know what emotions you think you hold for me." I wiped my hand over my mouth as if to wipe away his taste. The words I was going to say next were never uttered due to Kakashi's next action.

He flinched.

"Emotions?" he laughed emptily, the sound causing me to now flinch. "What emotions don't I feel for you? At times I love you so much I think I'll burst! Other times when you purposely hide the real you, I want to shake you until your teeth fall out! I don't care if I don't know every orifice of you yet! I'd willingly spend the rest of my life finding out!"

My head was spinning from the sensations his words aroused.

Then it hit me, it was happening again. My emotions were resurfacing.

Not now! Not in front of him, I screamed inwardly. With Haku there had been mild, pleasant warmth but no threat of anything too intense. Sasuke had had an opportunity, but had squandered it. Now Kakashi of all people was causing emotion to once again erupt out of me. And instinctively I knew that if he succeeded it would be impossible to repress.

So I attempted to restrain them...and failed.

Out they came coursing, seemingly, almost visible they were so incredibly vivid. This time they were somehow stronger, especially hate. I hated Sasuke for what he had done to me and hated myself for not being enough. But with the hate there was another emotion just as strong.

Love.

But for who? Two faces popped into my mind. Once was obvious, Kyuubi. The other was a bit more unexpected. Kakashi? Where the hell did that come from?

To my horror liquid was once again spilling from my eyes.

"What the hell is happening to me?" I screamed.

Suddenly my body matched my head and felt as though it were being ripped in two. I hardly heard Kakashi yell my name before I fell into unconsciousness.

Brat, I head Kyuubi's voice calling. Are you alive? My groan was evidently enough to render me among the living.

You do know what's going on right?

Dread filled me at its words. No! How? And why now?

Your emotions, it stated matter-of-factly, evidently they were the key all along.

Panic started to fill me. This could not happen. It just couldn't. But if that's the case then why didn't this happen before with Sasuke? I asked it, hating the whiny petulant tone to my voice.

Because at the time your emotions weren't fully awoken. It was a 'test run' per se. But Kakashi's confession just now, brought them out fully, somehow.

All right fine then I'll just get rid of them again. Somehow.

No can do.

The panic welled up faster this time threatening to overwhelm me.

Why not?

Because once you get back all of your emotions there is no turning back.

How can you be so calm about this you stupid fucking fox! I cried. Don't you care at all that you're leaving me?

Of course I care. It's just that I knew this day would be coming soon. So I was already resigned.

Mentally slumping I sighed in defeat.

So there's nothing I can do to prevent this from happening?

Nothing, Kyuubi agreed.

So what do I do? I inquired, seemingly calm. After all I did have a plan.

Just let go, was all it said and before it lastly added, know that I love you, brat. You're like the child I never had. Be happy, that's all I could want for you.

Thank you Kyuubi, was all I could say to that. Tears were choking me up. Losing Kyuubi was not an option, nor had it ever been.

Let go now...and goodbye.

I don't think so Kyuubi. You're not getting rid of me that easily.

What...?

But before it could interfere I 'let go' except for the single stringent thought that Kyuubi's essence somehow remain. I held onto that one thought as long as I could. Before I realized it I had once again slipped back into unconsciousness.

This time it was Kakashi's voice was the element that brought me back from the brink.

I sat up rubbing my head as I did so. It felt as though a ton of bricks had been dropped on it. As I came out haze I noticed Kakashi had yet to say a word since I'd come out of oblivion. In fact he was outright staring at me.

"What is your problem?" I snapped. "Take a fucking picture it'll last longer."

"Maybe I should." he stammered out. "It might prove that what I'm seeing is just a delusion."

"And that would be what?" I drolled.

He held up a mirror.

"Oh." was all I could utter. My hair was still the same horrid blond and my eyes were still the same common blue. But that was pretty much all that had stayed the same. I had orange-blond furry ears in place of my old ones now, as well as a freaking tail of the same color coming out of my ass. My formerly normal hands now formed claw-like appendages, as did my feet from the feel of them.

I was officially fox man.

Oh God.

Kami, Kyuubi would...Pain shot through me as I remembered what had happened. My plan had failed.

What the hell am I supposed to do now? I shouted at the empty void it used to occupy. I don't know what to do without you here to guide me! As expected no sarcastic tone came back to answer me. At that moment any remaining hope I had retained shattered.

Shut up would you? I am trying to sleep here, grumbled a weary but still tangible, dear and familiar voice.

It worked?

Yes it worked. And if you ever attempt something so stupid again I'll kill you myself.

Yes Kyuubi, I mimicked not taking any of its threats seriously.

You are back for good this time, right? No more "One day I'll have to leave" bullshit?

That's right, we're fully merged now I'm afraid you're stuck with me for good now.

Oh gods, what was I thinking, I mocked it, I finally had a chance to be rid of you for good.

All joking aside brat, it's time you attended to that human. His cries are starting to irritate me. If you need me you know where I'll be.

As I felt Kyuubi's presence fade into back into the recesses of my mind I felt lighter than I had...well ever.

When I again looked at Kakashi he was still staring at me.

"Seriously, you have to stop doing that. It's making me uncomfortable." I snapped at him.

"Sorry." he apologized. "Now could you perhaps explain why you've been staring into space for the last five minutes?"

"I was speaking to Kyuubi if you must know." I said offhandedly. The look of shock on his face, however made me want to take the words back immediately. Fear once again took hold of me.

The realization that I was scared of what this man thought of me did not make me happy. I also did not like the clutching sensation that my heart kept repeating. I decided that if he was going to reject me it was going to be on my terms.

"Don't tell me you didn't know?" I sarcastically remarked. "The great Copy Shinobi Hatake, Kakashi was caught by surprise? I think the world is coming to an end."

When that failed to emit a response I found myself unable to look at him any longer, and so turned around. "Just leave." I said as coldly as I could manage. "I don't need you or really anyone for that matter."

My heart belied my words, "Don't leave!" it screamed, "Don't leave me alone!"

Instead of hearing a door shut behind me I felt a pair of warm arms wrap themselves around my middle.

"Stop being stupid." Kakashi whispered. "It doesn't suit you. And I was just surprised, you caught off guard." He chuckled. "Then again you are always doing that."

"How would you know what suits me?" I whispered back at him, shivers running down my back now with the prolonged physical contact.

Evidently he was just as shaken, the proof of this in the arousal that was currently poking me in the back. "Give me a little credit." was murmured as he bit down on my now sensitive-to-the-touch ear. At my moan of pleasure I felt him smirk through his mask. "I am not some prepubescent child who runs at the first sign of trouble."

Like Sasuke. The words were left unspoken but still there all the same.

The pain from his reminded betrayal stabbed through my heart all at once like a rusty knife, slowly and painfully. Yet the pain didn't send my emotions back into the void as before. This time it remained...and ruined the mood for me.

I pulled myself out of Kakashi's embrace and turned around to face him.

"What's wrong?" he asked genuinely confused. And who could blame him. I was the epitome of unpredictability, after all.

"I can't do this right now Kakashi." was my reply blunt and to the point.

"I see." is all he said, his voice already growing cold, his eyes as empty as they always were. "Sorry to have bothered you. Was all that was uttered before he started for the door.

"Wait." I found myself saying.

He stopped mid step and turned around to face me, his eyes alight with anger.

"Wait for what Naruto?" he demanded. "For you to go back to some moronic Uchiha, who, by the way, was screwing Sakura the other night? If you want to waste yourself like that go ahead. That is of course, your prerogative, but don't expect me to be there to catch you when you fall."

I shook my head at him, attempting to let my heart do the talking instead of my head. "You really are an idiot Kakashi." I said softly, slowly heading back into his arms, willingly this time, embracing him. "I knew about Sasuke and Sakura the entire time." I murmured into his jacket. "Try to understand Kakashi. I just now regained the ability to even feel emotions. Give me some time to sort everything out."

His arms came around me. "How much time are we talking Naruto?" he groaned into my neck. He ground his arousal into my hips. "I honestly don't know how much longer I can wait."

"I don't know." I panted, whimpering at the contact as his brushed my own growing need I bit my lips to keep from crying aloud. Despite my efforts the tightening of my body and growing erection must have alerted him to my own hesitation to wait.

"If you're really serious about wanting to wait, we'd better stop." he growled into my ear. "Before this gets any harder." His words caused my erection to swell even further.

Kakashi just chuckled. "Speaking of which."

In the end somehow we managed to back away from each other.

"It's amazing how much more attracted to someone you can be with emotions." I quipped, once I'd regained my ability to breathe, making an innocent and logical observation.

Kakashi groaned, "Naruto you'd better leave before I really do lose control."

"You're a jounin."

"So?"

"So that means you're one of the elite. Control should never be an issue." He laughed slapping one of his hands over his head, "Naruto do you think you're the only one who hides behind a mask?"

I eyed his mask speculatively.

"Not literally he argued. "I meant figuratively. Just because I fit all the specifications of a shinobi doesn't mean that's who I really am." Sighing, he looked at me in exasperation. "Do you get it now?"

I nodded slowly in ascension, "I believe so but why hide yourself? I do it out of necessity. Why do you do it if you don't have to?"

"Because." he went on to explain, "people have certain expectations of you and you do the best you can to satisfy them."

I frowned at him.

"What did I say?"

"You humans are so strange." I told him. "You say one thing and mean something else entirely. Why don't you just say what you mean?"

That rare look of confusion lit his face once more. "What do you mean by 'humans' Naruto? You're human as well."

"That is incorrect." I explained. "I have not been human since Kyuubi was sealed inside of me."

"Oh." was his response. "Alright I stand corrected." He scratched his head. "One day we're going to have to sit down and talk about this whole situation. However, right now we're on a mission so it will have to wait." By the way," he added on, "what do you plan on doing about those?"

He gestured toward my new appendages.

"Oh yes." I suddenly remembered my new little 'problem.' "A little glamour will take care of that."

"Glamour?" Kakashi tilted his head questioningly, not unlike a dog. "Don't you mean henge?"

"No I mean glamour." I stated matter-of-factly. "Henge is a transformation where for a brief time you are a copy of whatever person or object you choose to emulate. Glamour simply covers or adds something you want people to see. Or in my case," I pointed towards my extras, "what I don't want people to see. It's not real, simply an illusion. However to people with eye kekkai genkai such as Hyuuga, Neji or the Uchiha clan, glamour is easily discerned." So in that case I do have to use a hen-"

My explanation ended abruptly as Kakashi erupted into laughter.

I arched an eyebrow at him inquiringly.

"Sorry." he said in between fits of laughter. "It's just that Sakura's only real redeeming quality is her 'superior' intellect and now she doesn't even have that."

Getting serious again the laughter died down. "You really have done an amazing job of convincing people that you're a completely different person, haven't you? Hell you even had me fooled for a while."

I shrugged. "Desperate times."

"Well as I said before." Kakashi said straightening up. "We'll have to talk about all of this at a later time. Right now we'd better get to the bridge with the other two."

"I'm going to stay behind for a bit"

He took a step back at that. "You know just because I know you're not an idiot doesn't mean you don't have to listen to me."

"Do you really think you could stop me?" I looked at him daring him to disagree.

He looked at me appraisingly for a long moment. "Probably not," was his final deduction. Then his eyes lit up with amusement, "but it would be fun to try." With that he took off without any warning, but shouted behind his shoulder. "At least show up to help me out with that Haku kid. Taking Zabuza and him both on could be more than even I could handle."

"Fine." Is all I shouted back at him before he disappeared from my view.

So Gato decided to betray Zabuza, I thought amusedly. Now that was highly ironic.

You're going to help out, huh, Kyuubi remarked dryly. Well I am going back to sleep now. It's not like I can help you anymore, anyway.

Kyuubi you know you were never just a source of power to me, I argued.

I know, it's just a little frustrating not being able to help at all anymore.

Kyuubi, you stupid fox, as usual you are wrong, I teased it. I will still need advice. With your advanced years you have once thing I lack, experience.

Despite your attempt at humor, you are actually right. Thanks to the gods that be. I was going to be pissed if I was stuck with you and of no use.

Hey I resent that, I replied good-naturedly, you're lucky you got stuck in this body.

Yes, because I so love being stuck in a uke's body. You know if I was still in my body I would totally be a seme.

Gods all you ever think about is sex!

You try being sealed in a body for twelve years. See what else you find to think about .

Conceding defeat I turned my thoughts to the situation at hand. Apparently two chakra signatures were headed towards this house. From the color of their auras their intent was to kill.

Tazuna's daughter was behind the house hanging laundry when they made their appearance. Inari, the grandson, was nearby. I hid in the background and watched to see what the sniffling little brat would do once they took his mother hostage. My theory? He would sit and cry for someone to save him.

Much to my surprise once he'd gotten over his initial tantrum from his mother needlessly sacrificing her freedom and probably life for him, it seemed to instill some courage in the brat.

Although he went about it all wrong, charging straight at them with no strategy, and worse of all no weapon. One of them men saw him and went at him, and unlike Inari he was armed with a kantana.

I sighed, now I would have to intercede.

Using a replacement jutsu I quickly got Inari out of the way. Setting him aside I took the two men out and cut Tazuna's daughter out the rope the two had used to tie around her hands.

Shoving me out the way once she was free she ran over to Inari. "Inari!" she cried smothering his face between her breasts. "Mommy's brave little boy! Are you all right?"

I felt bile enter my mouth .

Is she trying to kill the kid herself? Kyuubi snickered.

I mentally shuddered. I don't want to know. Just as I was turning to go Inari's voice stopped me.

"Naruto?" he asked in a quiet voice.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks!" he launched himself at me. I awkwardly patted his back. I don't deal well with hugs and such.

I got down on my knee so I was eye level with him.

"Inari." I told him. "From now on I want you to be brave like you just were. Can you do that for me?"

"Sure." he beamed at me.

"Not that it's bad to cry." I reassured him. "Like when you're happy."

At that moment his eyes filled with tears.

"What is it?" I asked softly.

"I'm happy now." he sobbed. "Now I have a big brother!"

My heart melted at that. "Thank you Inari." I said sincerely. "I have to go help my teammates now. Be brave and protect your mom okay?"

"Sure Naruto!" he yelled after me as I left. "I'll get everyone together and we'll back you up!"

I smiled inwardly. The kid had come a long way.

I concentrated on the chakra signatures as I approached the bridge site. Sakura was guarding Tazuna, Kakashi was locked in one-on-one combat with Zabuza, and Haku had trapped Sasuke inside ice mirrors, fully utilizing his kekkai genkai. Out of the three Sasuke needed my help the most, as much as I was loathe to help him.

I'll do the minimum.

My 'mask' made its usual loud hyperactive entrance complete with no stealth.

"I'm here!" I announced loudly. Kakashi 'lectured' me with is voice but his eyes conveyed relief.

I smirked.

"Go help Sasuke!" he yelled at me.

"Yes your highness!" I saluted him and jumped into the mirrors where Sasuke was currently getting his ass handed to him.

When he saw me he was not happy to say the least.

"What the hell are you doing!" he screeched. "You should have stayed outside the mirrors! That way we could have attacked from both sides!"

"Save it." I snapped at him. "The only reason I am even helping you is for appearances sake. Don't piss me off more than you already have."

Before I could reply Haku's signature senbon needles came flying out. They deliberately missed me and hit Sasuke.

"Looks like you need to worry about yourself." I taunted him. "You're the one getting hit, not me."

He growled at me and I felt a burst of power from him.

Oh shit. His sharingan had been activated which meant he could now see through my glamour.

I performed a quick henge but it was too late.

"So." Sasuke sneered. "You merged with the Kyuubi huh?"

I shrugged. "Maybe you should concentrate on the situation at hand." I advised nastily as another attack of senbons came at him.

I laughed. "You really suck."

"At least I'm human and can feel." he retorted.

I froze for a moment letting his words fully sink in. The anger rose so quickly I barely held a leash over it. It overtook all of my senses until it smothered me. The henge I'd had in place dispelled with an audible pope. I grabbed a handful of nearby senbon needles and threw them at Sasuke.

With no expectation Sasuke's body took the attack and he went down like a ton of bricks. "Am I dying?" he asked me in a weak, pathetic voice when I'd walked over to him.

"No." I snarled at him. "But you'll be out for a while. Even with the sharingan you are only in the way."

"I-I see." was all he said as he fell into unconsciousness. Finally, with Sasuke out of the way I could settle this.

"You lied to me." I growled at Haku, still angry from Sasuke's earlier comment.

"About what?" he asked as he slid out of the mirrors, his eyes widening at my appearance.

Seeing myself in one of his mirrors I couldn't blame him. My hair, ears, and tail were standing on end. My eyes had bled red and were more canted than usual. My chakra was also leaking out at a steady rate and was a visible red.

"What are you?" Haku whispered in horror.

Inwardly I flinched. "I'm pissed." I growled at him. "Now tell me why you lied."

"About what?" he asked cautiously.

"Zabuza and you." I hissed. "I never would have let you do those things to me if I'd know."

He visibly paled. "H-How did you find out?" he softly stammered, fear evident in his voice.

"What?" I sneered at him. "You're the only one who can be stealthy? I watched you two fucking each other's brains out. Let me guess," I growled, not guessing at all, "he told you to attempt to seduce one of use to get information."

His silence gave me the answer.

"What I did to Sasuke is going to look like nothing compared to what I do to you!" I snarled at him.

Haku quickly ran back to the safety of his mirrors.

"That trick may have worked with Sasuke, but not me!" I yelled as I ran with my fist extended outward toward the direction Haku had run in. The mirror gave way shattering as if it had never been. Haku quickly slithered into another mirror.

So you want to play, huh? I guess I'm IT. He'll run out of mirrors eventually.

And sure enough he did. As I shattered his last mirror he attempted his little senbon trick. With a flick of my wrist I send them back at him.

Not expecting this he didn't have enough time to dodge and they hit their mark. Before he had a chance to dodge I hit him in the face, cracking his wannabee ANBU mask in two.

I was about to deliver the final blow when I saw something that stopped me just as I was about to hit him.

"Why did you close your eyes." I snarled at him, the rage I felt at him attempting to manipulate me still close, just beneath the surface. "And why are you crying? If this is your attempt at sympathy it's not going to work!"

"That's not it." he sobbed."

"Then what the hell is it?" I screamed.

"I've failed Zabuza!" he sobbed. "He is the only thing I live for! To be used by him is my only dream and now that dream is over!"

My anger dissipated as though it never had been present.

He continued to cry.

"Shit!" I exclaimed. "You're serious? "You do realize how pathetic that sounds, right?" I asked incredulously. He shrugged.

"Zabuza gave my life purpose when I had lost mine is life. There is nothing worse in life than not having a purpose." The seriousness of his features convinced me that he actually believed this ridiculous drivel.

"You really are pathetic." I drilled unsympathetically. "Because of your disillusioned belief how many innocents have you killed?"

Again he shrugged. "As many as Zabuza deemed necessary."

Steeling my resolve I grabbed a kunai from my pouch.

"I'm afraid I can't let you live any longer. Kyuubi appointed me to take care of anyone who used their youkai abilities—no matter how weak—to needlessly kill."

His eyes widened at that. "Youkai abilities?"

"All humans with kekkai genkai abilities at one time or another have youkai blood intermingled somewhere along their bloodline." I explained as I prepared to attack.

"I see." He quietly whispered, eyes closing in resignation, he lowered his arms in a waiting embrace, prepared to fully welcome death.

With no warning I took off, kunai raised to strike Haku directly in the neck to lessen suffering.

Just before I would have connected Haku's eyes shot open and he grabbed my descending arm mid-strike. "I'm sorry Naruto, I can't die just yet."

Taking off with a sudden burst of speed he headed in the direction of where Kakashi and Zabuza were currently engaged.

I saw with dawning realization what he planned to do.

The poor bastard, I thought, he really did love Zabuza.

I didn't have to actually see Kakashi preparing to plunge his Chidori into Zabuza only to have it land into Haku's waiting, willing body to know that it happened. The smell of blood and hearing Haku's final breath and gasp "Zabuza." as he died told me how the event had gone down.

Zabuza being the idiot he is, laughed in delight, saying something to the extent of what a treasure he'd found in Haku, a guttersnipe.

He attempted to attack Kakashi after saying those words, using the added weight of Haku's body weighing Kakashi down to his advantage, but in no way could he match the superior copy shinobi's speed.

Getting Haku's body out of the way, Kakashi gently laid it down nearby and closed his now vacant, empty eyes.

He looked up at Zabuza hi eyes lit with fury.

Just as they both went on the attack, Gato's gang of miscreants and mercenaries appeared along with Gato himself.

At Zabuza's blood soaked, haggard appearance Gato sneered.

"Looks like they did a number on yo-" his sentence quickly faded as his attention was diverted by Haku's still, still body. "So." he snickered at Haku's corpse. "They got you before I could. Too bad I still owe you for what you did to my arm!" This drew attention to his left arm that was encased in a splint.

Gato drove his cane into Haku's body.

A spark of fury raged through me. "Are you just going to let him defile Haku that way?" I yelled in accusation at Zabuza.

"Be quiet you food!" he hissed at me. "Haku is dead what does it matter?"

He and Kakashi had since ceased fighting since they no longer had a reason to.

"If you really mean that," I coldly uttered, "then you're even more of a fucking bastard than I originally thought."

"Naruto." Kakashi softly lectured. "He is no longer the enemy, not right now, anyway."

"I don't give a shit about Gato!" I informed him. "If Zabuza really means what he said I'll kill him myself."

Zabuza having overheard arched an eyebrow at that. "You kill me," he scoffed openly, "as if you'd stand a chance in hell."

I just looked at him, my eyes I'm sure mirroring my rage.

"Naruto," Kakashi admonished. "your eyes are going red."

"Good." was my only reply. Zabuza noticed this too, his eyes widening just a little before narrowing back again to his customary scowl.

Haku lived for you." I growled. "You took advantage of that unfailing devotion and had him commit acts that went against his very nature." I paused. "You knew this yet pressed him anyway. He didn't care, though. He was so devoted to you and your ridiculous dream it killed him, yet he died happily. That I do not take issue to, it's the fact that you don't care at all that he died. You...don't...care... You fail to see that one of the truly amazing things in life is have someone truly love you despite your flaws. And you're just going to throw him away as if he were yesterday's trash."

Water was leaking out my eyes as I said this. The whole situation was too close to my own for comfort, and as such, hit rather close to home.

"You talk too much." Zabuza muttered, his voice strangely thick, tears reluctantly making their way down his face.

At my look of surprise he let out a grim, brittle-sounding laugh. "Are you so surprised that I'm human? Even shinobi in the end are human. We try to forget this fact, but in the end we fail. Or at least I have failed."

I heard a ripping sound as he removed the bandages that had covered his mouth. "Kid." he ordered me. "Hand over your kunai."

Bristling at being commanded I stopped short of sharply retorting at the look in his eyes. "Sure." Was all I said and tossed the kunai to him, which he caught in his teeth due to Kakashi having incapacitated his arms.

So, I mused, he has chosen the same fate as Haku.

It was over incredibly fast. Zabuza raced over to Gato, despite being stabbed repeatedly by Gato's men. He decapitated Gato, sending the crime leader's body flying into the river below, but collapsed afterward.

Gato's men, pissed that their source of payment had been effectively disposed of, decided they would raid the village. Just as they prepared to attack, an arrow landed at their feet.

Inari and the entire village were at the foot of the bridge, armed with pitchforks and such, fully prepared to defend their village.

"Way to go Inari!" I yelled to him, genuinely proud.

I provided some doppelgangers to help out, as did Kakashi. That little trick was all that was need to tip the balance into our favor. All of them went scurrying back into the ship they'd come in.

As everyone celebrated I heard Zabuza ask Kakashi to carry him over to Haku. Kakashi obliged laying him next to Haku's smiling corpse. "I wish," I heard Zabuza murmur to him, "that I could go to where you have gone." Then he died. Strangely enough, snow started falling.

"Snow in summer?" I heard one of the villagers comment.

It was then I saw Haku and Zabuza's life forces go into the sky together. Haku had waited for Zabuza this while time.

I smiled sadly.

Kakashi came over to where I was standing. "Are you all right?" he asked worriedly, checking me over carefully .

"Kakashi," I protested, "cut it out! I'm fine. It wouldn't do for Sasuke and Sakura to see yo-."

My statement was interrupted as Sakura's cries that I'd been trying to ignore became louder.

"Is Sasuke...?" Kakashi trailed off questioningly.

"Unfortunately, no," I replied, truly regretting the fact that I had not, "I incapacitated him for a while."

Kakashi gave me a pointed look.

"What?" I asked innocently. "I didn't kill him, just knocked him out."

Kakashi started chuckling, but stifled it when Sakura's sobs, turned to squeals of delight.

"It would seem he'd woken up." I observed tonelessly.

"I almost feel sorry for him." Kakashi remarked just as dryly as I had. "Waking up to that hanging all over him. Almost."

We both looked at each other and started laughing.

When Sasuke finally gathered enough energy to stand he immediately sought me out. I had henged back into my normal human form, so all he saw was the normal me. He looked confused.

Good, I thought, let him think he was imagining things. It will make things easier on me in the long run. He looked about ready to kill Sakura, though, as she kept hanging all over him.

I hope you're happy with the choice you've made Sasuke, I conveyed to him silently. I'm just glad I found out what kind of person you are before it was too late.

One day he will regret it, brat.

How can you be so sure? I asked it bluntly. You no longer have precognition.

Some things you don't need precognition to see.

What abo- I went to ask it but Kakashi tapping me on the shoulder brought me out conversation with Kyuubi.

"Naruto you might want to limit doing that in public." he advised. Realizing he was right I made a note to ask Kyuubi about it later.

"Thank you for coming, though." He said out of the blue.

"It's fine." I responded offhandedly. "I said I would didn't I?"

"True." He conceded, scratching his head. An awkward silence followed soon after.

"So." I mused. "Should we bury Zabuza and Haku and then head back to Konoha?"

"Sounds good." Kakashi agreed.

As we buried the two Sakura bitched about getting her clothes dirty. At her blatant disrespect I snapped at her, "Sakura for once in your selfish life shut up."

Her mouth dropped open in surprise. "Sasuke!" she wailed once the initial shock had worn off. "Aren't you going to say something to him?"

I gave him a sneering glare, daring him to say something.

Ignoring my look, he glanced at her. "Sakura we didn't get married. We fucked, once." He emphasized. "And it wasn't even that great." He attached at the end just for added for cruelty.

Sakura's face flushed in humiliation and she ran into the forest, the beginning of deep, painful, and heartbroken sobs not escaping my ears.

Shit he does remember, I cursed mentally.

"You are such an ass." I hissed at him, once Kakashi was out of hearing range. "That was unnecessarily cruel, even for you."

"Awww," Sneered Sasuke, "Naruto went and got a heart. Pray tell when did this miraculous event take place?"

"When Kakashi made me come." I lied nastily. The result was immediate, his face fell, listless in shock.

I went back to burying the remaining corpse, ignoring the f act that he was now staring at me. "How long?" he questioned quietly.

"Not while we were fucking or whatever you want to call what we had." I snapped, not looking at him. "Disloyalty is your forte not mine."

He actually winced at the accusation. "If I hadn't..." he trailed off the unspoken question blatantly obvious..

I sighed. "It doesn't matter now Sasuke." I looked at him sadly. "Dwelling in the past has never solved any problems. I highly doubt it will start now. I'll put it this way. You broke my heart and killed off any emotion that I may have ever been able to feel for you, except hate."

What if-?" he suddenly quipped.

I shook my head. "Just stop it." I admonished him. "There's nothing you can say or do. You had your chance and blew it."

"I won't accept that!" he exclaimed. "I had you first! You are mine and always will be!" He tried to grab me, I dodged easily.

"Don't even think about touching me!" I hissed. "If you want me to even be able to tolerate your presence I suggest you cease and desist with this ridiculous, childish behavior!"

I sifted through the dirt of Haku's grave, sadness overtaking me.

Sasuke slumped in defeat. "For now I will give in to your demands, Naruto." he conceded. "But I will get stronger than you somehow and take you from Hatake by force if necessary."

"That will never happen." I said with certainty. "And I suggest you call Kakashi, sensei. Someone who is so substantially weaker than someone else has no right to be disrespectful."

He arched an eyebrow at that. "You really love him don't you?"

That statement shook me up. I realized right then and there that I loved Kakashi for certain. The emotion was much more intense and deep than it had ever been with Sasuke. "Yes." I replied wholeheartedly. "I do."

"Good." Sasuke shot back. "It will be that much more gratifying to rip you away from him."

He went back to work after that, nonchalantly, as though he hadn't just threatened my happiness.

Before I cold contemplate the situation any longer, Kakashi and Sakura made reappearance. Seeing Kakashi I suddenly felt a bit shy.

Shy? I reprimanded myself. Come on it's just Kakashi! It's not as though anything is really different.

It is with emotion, Kyuubi cut in.

Don't do that Kyuubi, I chastised it, Some thoughts are private, you know.

Yeah, yeah, it mocked, what else do you expect? It's not as though I have anything better to do.

That is no excuse!

Sure it is. Anyway I'm still astounded by how quickly you've taken to feeling, well feeling. I wonder why you were so unstable with the Uchiha bastard, it observed.

I shrugged.

"You're doing it again." Kakashi's voice against my ear, sent shivers down my spine. To my horror I felt an embarrassed blush making it's way across my face.

"Sorry." I mumbled.

Kakashi blinked.

"Are you blushing?" he asked unbelievingly. "And did you just apologize?"

"What about it?" I grumbled, his pointing it out making it worse.

I observed him smirking, evident even with the mask on. And I didn't like the sudden glint in his eyes.

"I-I've got to go clear my head." I stuttered an excuse and took off fast into the woods.

Kakashi must have given some other flimsy excuse because he was behind me before I'd noticed.

He grabbed me mid air and we both went tumbling to the ground. He had ensured that he was on the bottom so he absorbed most of the shock.

We were still a tangle of limbs when we finally landed. Quickly checking to ensure he was unhurt I untangled myself from him and attempted to once again take off.

Kakashi's hand grabbed mine and dragged me back down to him. Flipping our bodies so that he was now the one on top I felt myself blushing at the suggestiveness of our position. "What's wrong Naruto?" he asked, his voice taking on a husky note. "One might think you were embarrassed."

"Get off me!" I protested, attempting to push off his considerately larger frame.

"No." he said simply. "Not until you tell me what brought this on."

"What about Sasuke and Sakura?" I asked, desperate to change the subject.

"With my clone." was his prepared response. "Now quit trying to change the subject and answer the question."

I had officially run out of options, except youkai tricks, which I refused to resort to with Kakashi. "I love you." I blurted out.

"Huh?" was all he said his eyes going blank.

Ha, he hadn't expected that. With his shock I was able to lose my hands from his grip. I crossed my arms, or as close as I could in my current position.

"You heard m-." My statement was cut off by his lips coming down on mine. My lips automatically parted for his tongue, my arms going around his neck, letting him claim my mouth as thoroughly as he'd claimed my heart. Soon just kissing wasn't enough. My body grew hot with an all consuming need. A need that had not been present in any of my other sexual encounters. I ground my erection against his, satisfaction filling every pore of my body as the sound of his growl filled my ears at the contact.

"Naruto," he groaned into my neck, "I don't think I'll be able to stop this time."

"I don't think," I panted, "I mentioned anything about stopping did I?"

"Thank the gods!" Kakashi exclaimed. His mouth swooped back down on mine. Before his kiss had been somewhat controlled as though he were holding something back. Such was not the case now. His tongue demanded that I entangle mine with his, a mere mirroring of his later intentions.

Wanting to see his eyes I gasped as I saw his face fully in the light for the first time. The other times we'd kissed it had been dark or he'd kept his mask on.

It's said that no one's face is perfectly symmetrical, but his was pretty damn close. My hands were on his face before I could catch myself.

He flinched at the contact.

I quickly removed my hands. "Sorry." I mumbled.

"It's all right." he quickly remedied. You just caught me by surprise."

I hesitated after that, my hands itching to trace those perfect features to see if they were real. At my hesitation an amused smirk lit that beautiful, but still virile face. His warm, warm hands lifted my own to his face.

"Go ahead Naruto." he murmured.

And I did. I traced every contour of his face. The only mar was the scar on the left side where his sharingan was located. My mouth went to that scar, opening to trace it with my tongue.

From his gasped. "Naruto!" he must have liked it because he fisted my hair. I continued to explore his face with my mouth until I reached his own mouth. I traced his mouth with my tongue, biting his lips until I drew blood.

His breathing grew ragged as I licked away the red droplets that appeared on his lips and sucked to catch any remaining.

"You taste good." I murmured into his ear, delighting in the answering growl that rumbled from his chest at my words.

"Do I now?" he replied, his voice deeper than usual."

"Yes you do." I purred. "It makes me want you to fuck me until I can't even walk." His breath hitched audibly at that and he attacked my mouth with renewed vigor. Technique and finesse were forgotten, teeth clacked together and our tongues entwines.

The only important thing now was getting as close to each other as possible.

Discovering that he'd divested me of my shirt and jacket all rational thought disappeared as I felt a tongue encircle a cock. Obviously experienced Kakashi swirled his tongue around the head, adding suction to the tip at the same time.

I felt my eyes roll back into my head.

"Kakas-." was all I managed to whimper out, my hands fisting in his hair, welcoming more of that wonderful contact. Just as I'd reached the edge of orgasm, he withdrew that wonderful mouth, leaving my cock weeping at the lost contact.

"I can't have you coming without me now can I?" He growled, flipping my body so my ass was facing upward.

"What are you-?" I gasped out just before I felt something hot and wet enter an orifice of my body that in the past I never would have termed as a turn-on.

"S-Stop Kakashi!" I weakly protested as his tongue went in and out. "That's dirty!"

A finger was pushed in where his mouth had just been, instinctively, it seemed to know where that spot was located. "Oh Gods!" I cried, my hips bucking to meet the rhythm he set. "More Kakashi!" I urged him. "Give me more!"

Adding a second finger he increased the tempo, driving me into even more of a frenzy.

"I'm putting it in Naruto." He panted. And put it in he did. As he thrusted his length into me I froze. His cock was much bigger than Sasuke's and my body literally felt like would tear in two.

I didn't realize I was crying until Kakashi wrapped his arms tightly around me, licking the tears from my cheeks.

"I'm sorry." he growled. "Just wait a minute it will get better." After a long moment I moved, experimenting. I whimpered when his cock hit that spot dead on with my action.

We both groaned simultaneously. "I'm going to move now." he moaned into my neck.

He started out slowly, ensuring he didn't hurt me, which was totally unnecessary.

"Harder and faster!" I urged him.

"You sure?"

"Just hurry." I pleaded with him. "Fuck me." That seemed to be all the encouragement he needed. He withdrew until only the tip was in and then slammed into me full force.

"Just like that!" I screamed. We set a pace with him thrusting into me harshly and me raising my hips to meet his thrusts.

"Naruto." he growled out. "I can't hold on much longer."

"Just...a...little...longer." I panted out after a particularly hard thrust. I locked my legs around his hips, drawing him inside of me even deeper.

Neither of us lasted much longer after that.

With one final drive home, Kakashi came, emptying his seed into me.

That seemed to be all the provocation I needed. I came, screaming his name.

Little aftershocks remained afterwards, running throughout my body, and for a moment I just lay there enjoying the feeling. Finally he withdrew from me, my body instinctively tightening at the action.

"Hold still, Naruto." he cautioned. "We don't have enough time for another round right now."

My eyes widened and he laughed. "When we get to Konoha I'll keep you in bed for at least a week straight."

I sniffed haughtily at that. "If I feel like letting you."

He laughed again, then cursed as he realized how late it had gotten. "We'd better get back."

"Yeah." I agreed.

Quickly we, put our clothing back on, doing our best to remedy our crazy hair.

"We smell like sex." I observed as Kakashi's beautiful flawed face was once again covered.

"No one will know." he dismissed.

"Sasuke will." I stated quietly.

He frowned at that. "That kid has serious issues."

"Don't I know." I conceded. "He claims he's going to get stronger than me and 'rip me away from you.'"

Kakashi looked at me in amazement. "Seriously?" At my nod he shook his head. "Little Sasuke is in for a rude awakening." The sudden gleam in his eye did not put me at ease.

"Just what are you planning?" I asked suspiciously.

"Nothing really." he innocently protested.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, I'm going back now."

I started to walk away but Kakashi grabbed me by the wrist and slammed me back first into the nearest tree.

"Wha-." His lips took the words I was about to say as he thoroughly kissed me his tongue drove right through my lips which had already parted in surprise. It was a branding, possessive kiss that should have pissed me off but instead caused me to press even closer.

He broke off the kiss panting, yet looking extremely smug. "What the hell was that for?" I demanded.

He shrugged. "Just felt like erasing any thought of Sasuke you might be having."

I felt a spark of anger. "I can't stand that little fucker." I exploded, my glamour coming undone in my anger. "I tell you I love you and even have sex with you and yet you still think I have feelings for that rat? You know what Kakashi? Fuck you!"

He laughed! "Calm down Naruto." He reassured me, putting his hand on my shoulder. "I don't still think you love him. You looked sad for a moment so I did the first thing that came to mind to get him out of your head."

I felt my anger drain away and suddenly felt more tired than I ever remembered being. "Sorry." I mumbled. "I've been a little unstable lately."

"It's all right." he soothed. "I'm getting used to it." Then he sighed.

"We'd really better be heading back."

"I guess." I muttered, that being the last thing I wanted to do. Ensuring that my glamour was back in place before, we gradually made our way back to the others.

When we arrived, however, Kakashi's clone was nowhere to be seen.

We looked at each other in apprehension. This was so not good.

Sasuke, seemingly, innocent, was putting the finishing touches on the two graves. "I took care of your clone, sensei." Sasuke spat the last word out nastily, without looking up.

Sakura, at the obvious tension in the air, looked between Sasuke, Kakashi, and I nervously. "S-So where were Naruto and you sensei? She stuttered.