Earned It

[kakanaru fiction]

Hatake Kakashi – focus

Uzumaki Naruto – later parts focus

After the 4th Shinobi War, all the fears of the aftermath came crashing all too heavily to those who have survived. Even after more than a little over three years, with the Village of Konoha, nearing its full restoration, there are still issues commencing here and there, that includes some slight disagreements between the Allied Shinobi Forces. But with the both fear and respect towards the hero of the battle, Naruto, everything always ended up ironed out. And Kakashi Hatake could never ever get his head wrap around how blessed all of them are by merely the fact Naruto exists. His feelings toward Naruto that has been pushed back deeply before and during the war are of different story though, now that the world is peaceful and he has the time to ponder on them. Especially when Naruto himself seeks for any familiarity that he boldly proposes the sensei can only provide. Kakashi knew though, his feelings and Naruto's are of not in the same page, yet.

i. Rokudaime

"Still reconsidering?"

Hatake Kakashi halted his way towards the door, while he thought his conversation with the godaime has already ended, he turned around casually forcing a smile on his eyes knowing well what the other meant by the reluctant question. "I still have something I need to do first." It wasn't the first time he used that reason, in fact, it was the same answer since the first time he has been asked. He is very consistent like that.

The hokage grinded her teeth, obviously annoyed but respected the jounin's decision anyway but as a born hard-headed that she is, she offered. "Tell me what this priority is. It seems like it was taking you too long to accomplish it, it doesn't seem like you at all. I'll help you."

Kakashi merely managed an embarrassed smile. Scratching his nape, he said nonchalantly, "That would be brilliant, but I think I got this one."

The hokage didn't respond for longer than a minute, trying to analyse what is making the jounin so hesitant when even the whole village and herself most especially are begging him to be taking the hat next. There wouldn't be any other shinobi around who deserved the Hokage title than Kakashi himself.

The village knew Tsunade had done her part gracefully before, during and after the war and that everybody agreed she deserved the days of rest and companionship of her beloved sake.

It's time for her to step down and the village is ready for that.

"Is it Naruto?" Tsunade asked, assessing the jounin's face. There should be at least one change in there, even just for a quick mini-second, that could give the jounin away.

Nothing.

Damn the mask. Tsunade curses. "Is the brat threatening you not to take the hat because he wanted it himself? Damn it, I already talked to him to do no such thing. In the end, he's still an idiot, stubborn, brainless brat!" Even though we all owe him our lives, tch. She added mentally.

Kakashi laughs and waved his hand, "No such thing." He explained, "Naruto knew about you proposing me to be your successor and he didn't show any disagreements whatsoever."

"Ow, really?" Tsunade raises her brow, unconvinced, "And Genma lied to me about you getting beaten almost half to death by Naruto two weeks ago after you two's sparring match, yeah?" She glared at the silver haired jounin, "I believe it was exactly two weeks ago I proposed about you becoming the Rokudaime."

Genma, Raidou better be hiding you well because I'll be coming for your neck. Kakashi thought, seeing how despite telling Genma not to report what happened to the Hokage, it got through anyway. "You probably heard wrong, hokage-sama." He said, keeping his voice as Kakashi-like as he can. Everybody knows how he sounded normally.

"It better be." Tsunade said. "Alright, settle things with the brat on your own, wake me up whenever you are ready for the hat." She stressed as she yawns, "Can't wait to do nothing but laze around… sake and…" the rest of her rumblings were kept low only her can hear. Everybody dreams of an easy and wonderful life after their retirement, even the hokages.

"Yes, hokage-sama." Kakashi replied as he turned around and to the door.

Tsunade opened one eye as she thought, so it's indeed the brat. She concluded, that brat better not be giving his former sensei a hard time. Don't know exactly what's going on but that brat is the only person left close enough for Kakashi to call his family. Ugh, I'll kill that idiot. I'll have a word with him.

"SHIKAMARUUUUUUU."

"No, and no…and no, Naruto."

Kakashi closed the door behind him outside the Hokage's office. He doesn't have to perch his head just to see who owns the two footsteps, the first one is as easy-going as the owner, Shikamaru and the next ones are of the stubborn Tsunade's brat, Naruto, hearing how the scratches of the footsteps make against the oaken floor.

"But you know, Shikamaru-kun. I don't have any ideas about these things. You don't need me for these." Naruto whined.

"I know that, you idiot." Shikamaru paused and looked at the golden haired boy, "But you woo everybody quite enough during the war that the Allied Shinobi Forces doesn't allow any meeting to commence without you in it. They trust you too much."

Naruto huffs, "Well, I still don't have any idea how to build a friggin' bridge! Things such that don't require me being in there at all."

True, Shikamaru secretly agreed. Yet, he defied as he is under a strict order, "Well, you dreamed of being a hokage, well, you better get used to such petty things as these." He said and also added, "It doesn't even come close to some other request of a meeting of Kages over an infestation of rice field snails in the Land of Wind."

"Ehhhh?" Naruto shrieks. "Such thing?"

Shikamaru nodded. "Still want to be the next Hokage?"

Naruto didn't answer for a moment and Kakashi studied his former student's face. Kakashi knew that Naruto hates dwelling over little things when he knew he meant to be doing something greater. And yes, even Naruto knows that what comes with being a Hokage means dealing with the littlest thing to the greatest of things. "I'll become a Hokage!" Naruto raised his fist in the air and then pouted towards Shikamaru, "And I'll elect you my right hand man and let you deal with all those smart matters. Deal, neh, Shikamaru-kun?"

Shikamaru sighs, "You should have just let the Tree absorbed my chakra and died there…haaa, this life ahead with you is troublesome…I could already see it." He muttered, more to himself than to Naruto. He then turned around again and found the jounin senpai, "Good morning, Kakashi- senpai."

"KAKASHI!" Naruto growled even before the said jounin could respond to the chunin.

"Yo…" Kakashi simply mused to his former student, steadying his hands on his pockets.

Lately, every time Naruto sees him the first impression would be wanting to brutally murder him, yet, it will only be for a few moments. The next will be Naruto wanting him as a shield to be able to get around Konoha easily without being taken away to do something else far more important than spending his days away doing absolutely nothing –the days when he isn't on missions.

"Where are you last night, neh sensei?" Naruto glided past Shikamaru quickly, almost as fast as his Yellow Flash father, holding Kakashi by the vest, demanding nothing but the truth.

"On a night long mission." Kakashi honestly answered, thus, the reason of his visit early this morning in the Hokage's desk to report his mission.

Naruto's forehead wrinkled and pouted, "Didn't hear about your mission. Straight to Hokage's desk…what are you now, an ANBU?" He let go of Kakashi and crosses his arms against his own chest.

"Nothing of some sort." Kakashi said. "Why, you looking for me last night?"

Naruto looked away, "My Sage mode says you are far away from the border, so I know you're on a mission. Your chakra is like a tiny flicker of a candle light from the distance…so…so…forget it." He huffs.

Kakashi laughs, "Why, did you need me for something?"

"No…"

"Another sparring match, I bet?" Kakashi asked.

Naruto looked at the only visible right eye of the jounin. Even though the other hidden one doesn't possess the sharinggan anymore, the other still has the habit to wear his forehead protector like the usual. And that is just exactly how Naruto likes it, it made him feel familiar…homey around Kakashi. Yet, that doesn't mean Naruto doesn't demand Kakashi to fix his forehead protector away from both his eyes. Sometimes, Naruto still liked to talk to his sensei earnestly about some things and that requires him looking at Kakashi's both eyes. Sighing, Naruto bellowed, "Just a tiny bit."

"Naruto, really…you should stop doing this to sensei!"

Both Naruto and Kakashi looked over Shikamaru's back and found the kunoichi with pink hair, piles of paper on her arms looking so heavy but the woman barely gave any look of difficulty.

"Sakura-chan." Naruto exclaimed.

"It's me who has to deal with his fractured ribs and limbs every time you needed to relieve your stress." Sakura explained and nods to Shikamaru as the latter offered to open the door for her. She also added, "Try to find other ways to do that without hurting sensei…and also without bothering me."

"Ehh…such other ways?" Naruto asked, bewildered.

"I'm sure there are more other ways than one. And beating." Sakura called out as she vanished with Shikamaru behind the now closed door of the Hokage's office.

Naruto fell into concentration. If there is more than anything he could do to deal with the stress of all the nightmares he gets every night since the day after the war, other than sparring with Kakashi every now and then, he wants to know how and what. "Sensei…what does she means?" He asked.

Kakashi shook his head, "I've no idea." He answered and muttered, "So, sparring?"

Naruto smiled and excitedly turned to his heels towards the exit but then stopped a few steps after, "Ah sensei," The golden haired boy smiles, "Rather than sparring, I wanted to do something else today."

Kakashi once again studied how the tender smile vanished oh so quickly from the boy's face to only be replaced by that deep sadness. Naruto had mentioned that he never regrets, regrets are the source of pain and pain leads to hate and hate becomes the end of everything. But Naruto is also human, so human that he's allowed to feel sadness and it was only to Kakashi he has been honest about that.

Thus, the sparring was the boy's only hope of forgetting the loneliness of losing friends, many of the sensei and everything else during the war –and only to Kakashi he trusts himself fully that the sensei would understand.

And Kakashi promised he would, promised he will protect this man from all the threats, pain –even from himself and his feelings he can't control.

When did he start feeling emotionally attached to his former student like this? Ah, it has been a while, he knew that. His mere affection towards his golden haired genin student he knew was there only intensified tenfold over when late Jiraiya-sama took him for three years' worth of training and after the genin returned from that, certain events only allowed him to see his feelings more than just innocent sensei to a genin affection.

He didn't of course approved to that that he shoved it down to darkness, never allowed out again but after dying in the hands of Pain and was brought back to life again, he feared that his love for the man only intensified even more…wanting to let his feelings known.

During the war, it wasn't only the events during the war itself almost drove him crazy, but the fear of losing Naruto there, the only person he learned to love more than anything in this world.

Even he knew there will be nothing ever to come off of this feeling for the young man, Kakashi, has already given his whole heart and life towards Naruto.

And Naruto doesn't have to know that this kind of love is there. All Kakashi wanted is just to be there for Naruto, whenever and wherever, how small or big his existence might be needed.

Kakashi walks towards Naruto and ruffled his hair gently, "Alright. Let's go."

Naruto gave him a whole-hearted smile.

And Kakashi swears he'll keep that smile on the younger one's face forever if he could, and try not to let his heart melt even more in the process. As if I wasn't so lost to it already, damn it. He mentally growled.

Kakashi doesn't have any idea where Naruto is leading him. He also remembered the Hokage has instructed him to go for a check-up to the hospital after their talk. Even though he doesn't have any serious gushing wounds from last night's mission, it was obvious he used quite enough chakra. That is enough of a reason to try see the medic-nins.

But of course he could be stubborn. And who is he to deny Naruto now? It seemed that the boy is restless behind those huge cheerful smiles directed to everyone who gave him smiles in return. It went on all through their walk to their destination.

Naruto earned all the fame, earned all the respect and love from everybody. He became a true hero. Even Naruto could be stubborn sometimes, he never tried to act all-mighty about it. He's still an idiot though.

Kakashi followed the boy as the latter turned left and he found himself facing the Yamanaka Flower shop. Kakashi waited outside, now slowly understanding what Naruto wanted to do. He waited silently from the outside briefly only hearing Ino talking to Naruto from the inside.

A few minutes after, Naruto came out with a huge bundle of mix yellow daffodils and lilies on his hands. Along with him, Ino smiled widely, teasing the other, "Ne, Naruto… tell me who's the flowers for…"

Naruto only grinned but didn't say anything.

Ino pouted, eyeing Naruto to tell her honestly but nothing was confirmed so the blonde kunoichi just turned and looked at the jounin that is Kakashi. "Sensei, don't tell me you are conspiring this away from me." Her voice sulking but excited at the same time, everybody wanted to know if the hero of the village has finally got his heart melted by certain person.

Kakashi gave an eye smile, "I'm not gonna get involved." Seems to be the wisest thing to say, he concluded.

"This is unfair." Ino crossed her arms across her chest. "I better not find it out from the others, or, I swear to God, I…I'll…well, I'll try to find it out myself." Ino swore but then she remembered something as she dashed off, panic on her face, "Sorry, Naruto-kun, Kakashi sensei, I forgot I have to go to the Intelligence Division today." She explained as she hurried off.

Kakashi and Naruto both waved her goodbye and the jounin looked at how Naruto's grip on the flowers tightened even more.

"It must be hard for her to take up such responsibility after her father died in the war." Naruto voiced out as he resumed his steps towards their second destination.

Kakashi followed and walked beside him, hearing how that really did affect the young man's emotion. "You know I'm sure Inoichi is proud of his daughter right at the very moment. Ino is doing her best now." He said.

Naruto nodded and silently walked through the not so busy road. At the end of the road, Naruto sighs heavily and entered the woods and towards the clearing.

Kakashi wanted to hold Naruto, pull him and embrace him, telling him it's alright and he did what he can to protect everybody and those who died had peacefully believed that the world will be just fine because they all got Naruto. And Naruto is the only who they can trust the world to.

Kakashi walked next to Naruto who had stopped before the great Memorial Stone, hands still imprisoned on his pockets. He wanted to even give Naruto a tug on the shoulder just to let the boy know he isn't alone.

Damn, Kakashi doesn't want to see Naruto the way he would have looked like every time he visits the Memorial Stone. The way Naruto looked now is exactly how Kakashi looked like every time he pays Rin and Obito a visit –everytime he feels extremely lost and sad.

It's just painful especially for him to see Naruto this way. He had promised he will protect and take care of the boy right next to him, but he doesn't know where to start.

He prepared to raise his hand to Naruto's shoulder but the boy ducked and kneeled just in time placing the flowers to the foot of the Stone. The boy sat there on the ground silently before making a quick hand seals, duplicating himself in multiple numbers. Each one of the Shadow Clones took a stem of flower and stood in front of all the tomb stones that had died in the battle, all silently giving their prayers –or Naruto's prayers.

Kakashi stayed there equally silently, each time thinking that there wouldn't be any other person who could have a bigger heart and compassion than the boy in front of him. It was even more for Kakashi's feelings to grow rapidly wild now in pure affection –how can he not fall in love with this young man over and over again.

His affection turned to admiration and his admiration turned into something more, and at this point, he even felt the dabs of slight possessiveness towards the boy.

This is madness, not only once Kakashi thought about it. Not only that he is the boy's sensei, the boy's father was also Kakashi's sensei –what would Minato think if ever he gets to find out that Kakashi is harbouring more than necessary emotions towards his son? Kakashi reckons that Minato would maybe try to come back to the land of the living just to murder him and bring him with him to death so he will be permanently away from Naruto.

Because what he's feelings towards Naruto is nearly a crime and should be subdued to the safest zone –never be spoken again. The least of what Naruto would need now is a sensei wanting him for a lover.

Kakashi mentally groaned. He should really deal with his feelings on his own and not bother Naruto at all. Stay by the boy's side and that's it. Just the way Naruto would want him to be.