"Kakashi." The voice of Lady Tsunade came from a distance as the Jounin trained on his own in the early hours of the morning. 

Sweat dripped down Kakashi's forehead as he breathed heavily from the rigorous training. He glanced behind him with a glare. Hokage or not, the man was becoming really annoyed with the number of interruptions during training.

"Lady Tsunade, how can I help?" He questioned, getting straight to the point.

"What's this I hear about over-training genin?" She questioned with crossed arms. Her blonde locks flowed through the gentle night breeze as her glare set the atmosphere.

He sighed and straightened up "The Third and I had come to an agreement-"

"I know that. I agreed to let it continue when I became Hokage but I've been hearing complaints as of recent." She interrupted with an agitated sigh.

It became clear to Kakashi that she wasn't annoyed with him but rather those that complained. The Jounin didn't really know what to say. There wasn't much he could do to fix it.

"All I can give you is that I'm not overtraining anyone right now. My team is undergoing stability training right now which means no harsh training that could jeopardize their mental state." He explained with a reassuring smile although he was sure it just creeped Tsunade out.

Tsunade seemed to think over what he said, not that there was much to process.

"I see...very well, I'll leave it be." She said with a look of finality around her and just when Kakashi thought she'd leave, she looked up - another conversation clearly coming to the front of her mind.

"By the way, why did you turn the position of Hokage down?" Tsunade questioned with curiosity.

Kakashi simply smiled with an eye closed "I'm sure you've heard the reason by now"

Tsunade smirked and shook her head "Yes but I want to hear it from you. It would have made more sense to have you take the position." 

This confused Kakashi as he didn't particularly try to win favor with the village, especially the elders. "I'm not sure what you mean."

Tsunade rolled her eyes "Oh come on now, you're strong, smart and patient enough for the role. The old man was even training you on the legalities from what I heard, so why?"

Kakashi stared at her for a moment in thought "Hm... Maybe I don't have as much patience as everyone thinks" He mysteriously said.

Tsunade grew an irk mark on her forehead as she told herself not to beat him where he stood.

"Fine, keep your secrets." She huffed "By the way, I've got a mission for your team if you're interested" she continued.

Kakashi thought about this and wondered whether the trio were up to it to take on a mission right now "What kind?"

"B rank."

The Jounin narrowed his eye "You're sending genin on a B rank?"

Tsunade grinned "Well, from what I hear - your team has quite the reputation. I want to see it for myself." 

He couldn't tell whether she was mocking him or truly giving him praise. He sighed "Very well, we'll take it."

Tsunade gave a nod "Good, pick up the mission scroll tomorrow. You'll be going to the land of rain."

"Hai" Kakashi waved as he turned back to his training. Tsunade stared at the man for a moment longer, trying to figure out what kind of man he was, but gave up as he disappeared in a flash. She sighed and trudged back to her office.

___

"Alright kiddies, wake up!" Kakashi called from the end of the hall. All doors were quick to open as the three stepped out, all dressed and ready to go. Kakashi quirked an eyebrow at Naruto as he was still a little out of it but ignored it.

The three walked over to Kakashi as he stood confidently with a white apron on. 

"What's for breakfast, Kashi-sensei?" Naruto mumbled as he rubbed his eye.

"Hmm?" Kakashi hummed and looked down at what he was wearing "Oh. No, I made for myself. You three are to hunt your chosen game in the forest of death" He casually stated while walking back downstairs.

The three groaned in annoyance and tiredness. "What happened to emotional stability training?" Sakura grumbled as the three follow him.

"This is part of that training" He said while taking off his apron and sitting down with a plate of food in front of him.

Sakura stared longingly at the food and Sasuke yawned while Naruto narrowed his eyes at the Jounin "I doubt that" The blonde stated, knowing full well he was playing with fire.

Kakashi glanced at him as the other two gave him nervous looks "What was that?" Kakashi questioned, giving him another chance to change his words.

Naruto suddenly smirked "How is it a part of training sensei? It was just a statement. Are you going to put me through more discipline training? I thought you were supposed to be sensitive with us for this trai-"

A loud sound interrupted the blonde genin as he disappeared from sight. Kakashi's hand smoked as he held it in the air while glaring in the direction Naruto flew. Sasuke and Sakura grimaced as they lost sight of their teammate and tried to move forward to help but one look from Kakashi and they quickly went back upstairs to prepare for the hunt.

Meanwhile, Naruto groaned as he stared up at a ceiling. The blonde looked around and before he could get his grip on reality, a broom came out of nowhere and smacked the genin in the face. Hard.

"Stupid Demon! Get out of my store!" A voice yelled as he kept beating on Naruto. The blonde covered himself as much as he could whilst trying to stop the world from spinning.

It was only once the attacker forcefully dragged Naruto from their store that the blonde realized Kakashi had punched him right into the next street and into a store. The genin grimaced as he felt the blood drip down from his forehead, unsure which attacker was responsible for it.

He knew he was walking on thin ice but couldn't stop the urge to see how far he could push his sensei. Despite the minor beating, the blonde grinned as he looked back towards their clan house. 

Through the broken pieces of wood barely hanging on, Naruto could see Kakashi still glaring at Naruto. The blonde still wanted to see how far he could push his sensei and so promptly stuck out his tongue before turning tail and jumping off.

Kakashi stayed put for a moment, wondering what insane thoughts were going through his student's head, before moving upstairs to the other two. He knew Naruto would come back eventually, the boy lived there so he didn't have much of a choice if he wanted a roof over his head.

"Alright, I expect you back by noon" Kakashi announced as he watched his two obedient charges grabbing their backpacks along with Naruto's. Kakashi grabbed Naruto's pack from Sakura's hands and threw it aside "He won't be needing that".

Sasuke and Sakura glanced at each other with uncertainty but left it be, they'd help their teammate if need be. That is if he showed up anyway.

The two walked out of the house and jumped toward the roofs, keeping an eye out for their blonde teammate.

Meanwhile, Naruto walked leisurely down a busy road with people throwing glares and muttering obscenities as he went. He ignored them but some words still cut into his psyche. 

The genin came upon the old swing he'd spend his time on in the academy. He looked down with sad eyes, remembering back to the days when things were simpler but still so complicated. Back when he didn't know about the Kyuubi or the harsh realities of the ninja world.

He was happy though. Happy that he found out the truth, found a family, and happy that he's become stronger than he was.

"Naruto? What are you doing here?" The voice of Iruka came as the man walked out of the academy. 

The blonde looked toward him "I could ask you the same, sensei. Aren't you supposed to be in class?" Naruto smirked cheekily.

Iruka chuckled "I don't have a class until noon so I've just been grading some papers".

Naruto smiled at the man, the only other constant parent figure he'd had his whole life apart from Jiji.

"You've grown, Naruto" Iruka smiled softly at the boy.

Naruto seemed taken aback but grinned "Yeah, I guess I have. Kakashi-sensei has pushed me beyond what I thought was possible. I'm really grateful for him but I'm also grateful for your guidance growing up, sensei" Naruto explained. His wisdom beyond years showing through the boyish attitude he always seemed to carry.

Iruka looked at him, almost in awe, before catching himself "Naruto..." He whispered.

"Dobe." Another voice joined the conversation before Iruka could say anymore, breaking the small bubble Naruto and Iruka had made.

The blonde glanced up at the tree beside them to see Sasuke and Sakura peering down at the two.

"Hm?" Naruto hummed in question.

"Sensei is looking for you." Sasuke explained.

"What were you thinking, To?" Sakura lightly scolded.

Naruto grinned "I want to see how far he'll go. I wonder if he'll actually end up killing me" 

"What?!" Iruka sputtered.

Naruto winced, forgetting the man was there.

"Idiot" Sasuke muttered as Naruto turned back to Iruka.

The blonde had an irk mark on his forehead from the Uchiha but sheepishly smiled at Iruka "Don't worry, sensei. I've got the Kyuubi, remember? It's pretty hard to-"

"I'd stop talking now, To." Sakura quickly interrupted.

"Naruto!-"

"What's this?" The man of the hour's voice interrupted Iruka's panicked stutter.

The three genin straightened up immediately "Sensei" The three chorused together in surprise.

"Iruka" Kakashi nodded in greeting to the flustered man.

"Sensei-" Naruto was stopped by Kakashi's subtle glare.

"You two" Kakashi looked to Sakura and Sasuke "why aren't you in the forest?" 

Sasuke and Sakura's stances became rigid as his gaze landed on them.

Naruto sighed and before they could respond "They were coming to warn me, sensei. You can't punish them because they were thinking about teamwork" Naruto grinned.

Kakashi eyed him with a low glare "Go on, you two. Catch your breakfast" Kakashi ordered. Sasuke and Sakura didn't hesitate as they quickly disappeared in a whirlwind of leaves.

Kakashi looked down at Naruto with a bored look.

Iruka gulped at the intensity of Kakashi's killing intent, wondering how Naruto wasn't breaking down but then realized just who he was thinking about.

"Let's go, kid" Kakashi muttered before walking off. Naruto grinned at Iruka "I'll see you around, sensei" The blonde waved before running to catch up with his Jounin sensei.

Iruka could only watch as the blonde fearlessly walked beside the man that was about to discipline him.

___

"What was the point of acting out?" Kakashi questioned with an arched eyebrow.

The two were currently on the training field. Naruto panted heavily from the intense workout he'd just been put through.

Cuts and bruises littered his body yet the boy still wore a tired grin "I wanted...to see...how much" He huffed, trying to catch his breath as he kneeled on the ground.

Kakashi waited patiently for him to calm down. when he eventually did, the boy stood up and looked at Kakashi with determination. Determination the Jounin had grown fond of.

"I wanted to see how far I could push you, sensei" The genin answered honestly.

Kakashi was actually a little surprised "Why?" 

Naruto shrugged "You know we'll be leaving the village soon. Sasuke and I-"

"It's not been decided yet" Kakashi interrupted.

Naruto stared at him with seriousness "But you know who it'll end up being and where we'll end up going" 

Kakashi remained silent as the boy stated his point.

"Either way, we still don't know anything about you, sensei." Naruto grinned sheepishly.

Kakashi arched an eyebrow "So this was about getting to know me?" 

"Hai!" Naruto grinned.

"Idiot."

Naruto sweatdropped at his blunt response which quickly turned into a scowl.

"All you had to do was ask, Naruto" Kakashi sighed.

"Would you tell us about your past then?" Naruto questioned immediately.

The Jounin laughed "In time. For now, you need to focus on your training"

Naruto's scowls deepened. He pushed out his hip and waved his hand about "You need to train more. Have you trained today? Training Training Training" 

Kakashi had to look away in order to keep himself from laughing at the knuckleheaded ninja. The Jounin moved forward and lightly punched the blonde over the head. Naruto winced deeply as it hurt more because of his other injuries.

"Watch it or I'll have to discipline you again" Kakashi's low tone sent shivers of fear down Naruto's spine.

"H-Hai" The blonde chuckled nervously.

"Kashi-sensei!" The voice of Sakura was heard from the distance.

The two turned to see Sasuke and Sakura coming back with two large deer on their shoulders.

Naruto's mouth instantly began watering at the sight of food but Kakashi shook his head "You won't be having any of that, Naruto." 

"Wha?-" Naruto almost cried.

"You didn't catch it. You were too busy 'getting to know me'" Kakashi sniggered "Therefore, you go without breakfast or lunch" He said with finality.

Naruto pouted heavily as he watched his teammates wave at them before heading to the clan house.

"Now, come on. The faster we get back to training, the faster dinner will come" Kakashi encouraged.

Naruto's eyes beamed up at him before rushing away.

Kakashi stared after him, confused, as training wouldn't start until his two teammates have finished their meals.

"I'm sure he'll realize...eventually"