Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Can I keep You ? ❯ Part 9 - Sacrifice ( Chapter 9 )

Can I keep you?

Sequel to Pumpkins and Ravens

Main Pairings: Kakashi/Iruka, Sasuke/Naruto and others

Part of my 100 themes challenge.

 

Part 9 - Sacrifice (57):

 

Kakashi watched the three other men in the room patiently, he knew from the way they had been hiding this that it wouldn't be easy for Naruto to discuss so freely - even if the other two already knew about it. He watched as the young blond began to pace back and forth gnawing on his lip. The jounin assumed he was trying to find a good place to start. His solitary gray eye caught the slightest hint of movement from the right and he turned, watching as Sasuke went to speak but was halted by Naruto's headshake.

 

The Copy-nin observed the odd exchange as their eyes met and he could see something pass between them, as the first real smile spread across Naruto's lips. The blond walked up to the last Uchiha, pressing their foreheads together, whispering just one word, “Teme.” Kakashi was surprised at how easily the normally antisocial young man responded to the affection laced in that single word - they behaved as though the two other adults weren't there.

 

The silence in the room seemed to soften as the two interacted and Kakashi couldn't help but feel his heart warm as a small smile whispered across his lips. It was about time these two got together - it had been unbearably obvious for many years that they loved each other. He watched for a few more minutes, before his eyes drifted back to the silent chuunin stood between him and the young lovers.

 

Iruka was watching the two young men together and the jounin could see such obvious emotion littered across his face. The chuunin was happy for them, but there was something in his chocolate orbs as they turned to look back at him, likely having sensed his gaze, that was only there for a moment and then gone - such deep longing it made Kakashi's heart ache for the young teacher.

 

Iruka watched the two young men together, he could see quite plainly how much they cared for each other and he felt such a conflict inside himself. He was happy for the two men before him; they had been through so much in their lives already. But he was also jealous of their closeness, the way they seemed to slip into their own little world when no one was looking - he wanted to share that kind of emotion with someone. He wanted to share that with Hatake Kakashi but he knew it would never be.

 

Iruka could feel a prickle at the nape of his neck, he knew instinctively he was being watched and turned to look back at the only man who wasn't paying attention to Naruto and Sasuke. The chuunin's hand rose to his neck and ran his fingers gingerly over the skin, trying to settle the odd sensation as his eyes caught and held one stormy grey orb.

 

What the young teacher could see in that eye made him hesitate, his breath snagging just so as his cheeks warmed. There was so much emotion evident in that one look he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed, his eyes shuttering and looking down at the ground away from the intense gaze. What that emotion was he didn't know but he felt like the Copy-nin had stared right down to his soul. He shuddered and let his eyes glance back at the other nin from under the veil of his eyelashes and though he was still being watched the gaze had softened and warmed and he felt his cheeks heat further at the rapt attention.

 

Both the older shinobi looked up when a throat was cleared from the doorway and they watched the sunny grin on Naruto's face as his eyes flicked back and forth between the other two adults and Sasuke. Iruka felt rather sheepish for being caught staring and rubbed his fingers along the bridge of his nose, the jounin didn't seem at all phased by the interruption - giving a crinkle eyed smile. “You ready Naruto?”

 

“Hai Kakashi-sensei.” The statement was followed by a firm nod and the young blond nin began his story.

 

Kakashi listened with rapt attention to the story that unfolded, his thoughts springing ahead as he watched Naruto stand firmly as he spoke, only the occasional glance at the dark haired avenger at his back.

 

“When I went to find Te...Sasuke for the last time I had already fought with other members of Akatsuki and though I have a lot of chakra inside me, I had already used up most of it, even using sage mode didn't help me restore what I'd used up. When I finally found him he had already been fighting with the other Akatsuki and was facing off against Tobi who we know is that slimy bas… uh… Uchiha Madara. Sasuke's team had been fighting relentlessly against that asshole. I arrived at the fight and immediately used what little chakra I had left to initiate a surprise attack on the evil bastard - but Sasuke assumed I was there for him and hit me with a Chidori. I got knocked out for a while due to the damage I had taken already. When I woke up Sasuke's guys were down, strewn around the battlefield all bloody. And that asshole was hovering over Sasuke threatening to take his eyes for his own - nasty son-of-a-bitch. Why would doing it again make it more powerful? When he saw me getting up he didn't hesitate to plunge a fist through Sasuke's chest before turning on me. For a while there I thought Sasuke was dead. Piece of shit gave me a nasty beating. I didn't think I would be able to help Sasuke after that, but I heard him yelling at me and it brought me back to consciousness. Sasuke was insisting that I use the fox - and Madara seemed to want the same thing. I knew better - using Kyuubi is dangerous, for friend or foe. I can't tell the difference and that's when it spoke inside me.” Naruto was focused on Kakashi and the story he was telling, eyes unwavering. He had come to terms with the things he'd had to do and was hoping that his old sensei would feel the same.

 

Kakashi was intrigued by the amount of information he was receiving and the fact that Naruto was remaining pretty calm for the usually excitable fox vessel. He was tempted to but in and ask questions but from the long streams of words Naruto was expelling it was obvious he needed to get this out as fast as possible. The Copy-nin kept eye contact with the blond and nodded his assent to continue.

 

“I will give you the power you need - for a price.” The Kyuubi was slinking around the cage as it spoke to him.

 

“And what is that price?” Naruto knew he needed something, aware that most other ninja's from the leaf were far behind him and that this beast may be his only shot at getting this whole fiasco stopped.

 

“Time.” The fox had grinned at that.

 

“I don't understand - what time?” The way the fox was speaking was making the blond exceedingly frustrated, wishing the beast would explain itself.

 

“Your time - for the three nights of the full moon you will voluntarily give over your body to me.” The beast came close to the gate, eye coming to Naruto's level so he could see the young man better.

 

“I will not - that isn't a deal - you'll slaughter everyone the first chance you get!” Naruto knew what this beast had done when it was free - he would never let it hurt his village.

 

“Stupid child - you are still young if I let my full strength go you would be consumed - and as much as I relish that thought I have grown oddly fond of you.” The way the words were spoken had Naruto uncertain of the Kyuubi's sincerity.

 

“I.... I can't.” The blond shook his head at the fox, fists clenching tightly to his sides.

 

“Do you want to save the last Uchiha? Will you give up your dreams to save one man?” Naruto's gaze fixed on the sole visible eye, blood red and enormous. He didn't know what to do but if this was his only choice….

 

“...Yes.” Naruto's head hung as the words whispered from his lips.

 

“Then approach me.”

 

“Inside my body there is a locked gate with a seal pressed to the opening, the fox can reach past it sometimes with its chakra, but not it's physical form. It had me reach out into the darkness of its cage and it bit into my shoulder leaving a new mark behind.” At this last comment the blond shed his orange jacket, revealing taught muscle under a fishnet shirt and deep but healed puncture wounds something like a dog bite bracketing his shoulder.

 

“When I came back to myself the chakra pulsing inside me wasn't his or mine, it had converged and twisted together. Just like when you taught me to use my wind chakra. I concentrated on reaching Sasuke I wanted to check he was all right. I went at that nasty bastard with a vengeance - the chakra that had covered my skin burnt everything it touched just like flames. When I reached Sasuke we had enough chakra between us for a final assault - when we hit that evil, manipulative bastard he was so surprised that we had caught him out. It was odd how he smiled at the end - he had no words just looked at us both and then he was gone - his body disintegrated as if he had never been there. Sasuke was severely wounded, bleeding everywhere and I had no option but to bring him back to Obaa-chan and his team agreed. I have never ran so far or so fast in my life - I thought I was going to lose him and yet the Kyuubi gave me more chakra to keep me going. The beast kept its word. We arrived here beaten and bloody but we survived and that's what's important.”

 

Naruto's eyes watched the jounin for a moment before shifting to chocolate orbs and finally to piercing obsidian, “I would do it again.”

 

Kakashi watched the two men once again seeing in them the depth of their connection and the gift they had given this country. They had protected the people with everything they had to their own detriment and he could safely say he was proud of them both. His eye turned to the silent chuunin and could see the silent acceptance and admiration he felt for these two young men.

 

Iruka watched Naruto with pride filling his heart as he spoke matter-of-factly about the events that had led to what had happened in the woods a few weeks ago. The chuunin had been there when Naruto had come through those great gates with Sasuke draped over his shoulders, coated with blood, demanding to see the Hokage. He had never seen the young man more clearly than on that day. He was a great shinobi much like the man currently occupying his bed. When his gaze shifted away to see how the jounin had taken the story - their eyes met once again and even though his face was hidden he could see clearly the emotions he himself felt reflected back at him.

 

Kakashi watched as the young teacher gave him a tentative smile and he gave a slight crinkle of his eye in return before returning his attention to the other males in the room. “So that brings us almost up-to-date, ne?”

 

“Not quite - it took me quite a while to admit what had happened to anyone - I was never certain how anyone would take it. So I started hiding myself every time the moon was full - I couldn't let the beast hurt anyone and I didn't want to go back to how it was before. But I made a few mistakes and Obaa-chan found out and Iruka, they tried to persuade me to trust that the others would understand but I... I couldn't. I regret that now. Sasuke's only known for six months and I should have known then that I couldn't keep it a secret forever.” Naruto's face fell, his heart quite clearly on display - his regret was a tangible thing in the room.

 

Sasuke went to him then, curling pale fingers into blond locks and kneading gently at the sensitive scalp. He knew it had taken a lot for the Dobe to admit all that and he looked so forlorn stood there by himself - he could do little more than try to make his blond feel better. “He gave up a lot to save this village.” He turned his gaze to Kakashi then, deep red swirling into being as he observed the other man. Not a threat perhaps, but a promise of retribution if the jounin decided something needed to be done.

 

Sasuke felt Naruto shift and then strong arms curled around his waist as he watched the injured man in his sick bed. He didn't try to move away - knowing how much Naruto needed this right now, but he gave a token, “Hn.” at his lover. His fingers carded through silky strands, as he didn't take his eyes from the jounin. When Kakashi inclined his head to him in acceptance he blinked and the sharingan dissipated once again.

 

Kakashi spoke in a thoughtful tone, “So you found out and apparently became - intimate with each other?” He watched with great amusement as Sasuke's cheeks coloured at the comment and it was what he had wanted, lightening a sad moment. Naruto raised his head and looked back at his old sensei, the corners of his lips tilted just a little.

 

When Kakashi spoke again he was completely serious, stormy orb focused on deep cerulean, “Are you sure that there is no way to undo what you have done?”

 

“Hai, Kakashi-sensei. I will not undo this, he earned it.” Kakashi watched the young man gaze back at him with trust and absolute honesty, unflinching. He understood what the blond haired man meant as much as it pained him now. What the Kyuubi had done was in the end the best they could do and the beast had kept his word.

 

“Naruto - you have given up a lot of things for this.”

 

He watched the blond look at the Uchiha again, a warm smile finally splitting his lips, “ I have and I would again. Sometimes we have to give up on some dreams so that we can have others. I will never be Hokage - but I protected what was precious to me - my home, my friends and my family. I will continue to do so - believe it.”

 

Naruto gave Sasuke a squeeze around his waist; it was his own way of reassuring the dark haired man of his words as he looked with determination at Kakashi-sensei. He felt Sasuke's hand tug at his wrist and when he assumed the other man would pull away from him he felt cool fingers lace through his own and smiled softly at his lover.

 

“I expected nothing less - from the future Hokage.” He looked between all three men and he knew without comparison that Naruto would forfill that dream - they would find a way. No one else could be a better Hokage for their village.

 

“Now tell me the rest of the story.” His eyes focused in on chocolate orbs and he gave the other man an eye crinkle of a smile, feeling his heart warm when it was returned with a soft, sweet curl of lips from the young chuunin he couldn't seem to keep his eye from.