Fading Scars

This is an Alternate Universe fic set perhaps a day or two after Orochimaru’s retreat from Konoha. A lot of liberties were taken from that point on in terms of time-line. This is also a very angsty (especially Naruto) and sexually graphic fic--just the way we like it!

This was written as a one-on-one RP, so the point of view of the story will change, usually with every paragraph. Scenes will also change abruptly and large periods of time will pass with little notice, though I’ll try to give some warning at the beginning of the chapter.

Please read and enjoy!

Fading Scars
Chapter Twenty:

Naruto beamed as they finally left the changing rooms to face the large, steaming pools. Forgoing modesty, he dropped his towel and ran for the edge. "I'm in first!" he crowed, jumping in up to his knees. "Aaah! It's hot!" Naruto jumped from foot to foot, lifting each out of the water in strange dance.

"Be careful, Naruto-kun!" Lee called, though he was grinning over the boy's antics, glancing at Gaara to see if he was at least amused by their comrade.

Gaara, meanwhile, was watching the hot springs with large eyes. He investigated cautiously, just dipping his toes in. "It smells funny."

"It's the sulfur," Shikamaru explained as he shed his towel and stepped slowly into the warm water. He sighed. "Just go in slow, it's really hot."

Lee followed with care, a little embarrassed to be leaving his towel behind. But the teachers were not far behind them, and he certainly wouldn't let Guy think him too scared. He eased his way in with a grateful sigh once he was hidden in the water. "It really is nice."

Naruto was already up to his neck, swimming in little circles in the deeper middle of the pool. "Come on come on! It feels real nice. But don't fall asleep, Gaara," he teased. "You might start cooking in this heat!"

Gaara frowned at the thought but he was quick to follow Naruto in. The water really was warm--his eyelids were already drooping. He quickly shook himself. This isn't for sleeping. With a deep breath he plunged his head underwater and quickly came back up.

Naruto paddled over, beaming. Somehow, it always lightened him to see Gaara trying something new--he imagined it was pride in his friend. "Come over to the other side," he urged, taking his hand beneath the water and tugging. "I wanna show ya something."

Gaara followed Naruto to the other side of the spring, splashing idly at the water's surface as they went. "What is it?" he asked.

"Shh--just wait and see," he giggled, pulling himself out of the water.

Lee found a little bench area carved into the side of the pool, and he settled into it with a sigh. The heat stole away all his aches, old and more recent, and he rubbed his arms gently beneath the surface. "This really is nice," he murmured to no one in particular.

Shikamaru settled nearby, taking a long moment to stretch himself. We could all use it. The three of them especially have been under such pressure lately…I hope it does them some good.

Guy beamed as he stepped outside, hands on hips as he surveyed the pools. "Ahh, smell that? Fine night!" He grinned over his shoulder at his fellow teachers. "Eh? You are not wearing that mask into the pools, are you Kakashi? There's no girls to be coy in front of here," he teased.

Kakashi shrugged, and with a laugh Iruka answered for him. "Maybe it's not women he's worried about," he teased.

"That's no way to talk in front of our subordinates," Kakashi told him, sinking down into the springs as well. As Iruka joined him he glanced across the water, and frowned to see Gaara watching them intently.

"Come now, these littles are already nipping at our heels, eh?" Guy sent a grin and a wink towards Lee, receiving a bright smile in return. "Soon we will be calling them comrades, don't you--"

A high yell echoed off the stones and water, and Naruto leapt from the edge of the pools. He curled into a tight ball as he struck the surface, sending steaming waves over the gathered bathers.

"Hey!" Shikamaru held up a hand as the water washed over him, Lee, and the three jounin. "Geez, Naruto."

Gaara ducked a little as the water splashed over him, too. When he looked up he found that everyone else was soaked and wiping the spring water from their faces. They all looked so disconcerted, and Naruto so triumphant…that he laughed, harder than he could remember laughing before--if he had ever.

Naruto cheered, punching the air. When he heard Gaara laughing behind him, he couldn't help beaming. That's the first time he's ever.... He was laughing then, holding his stomach.

Lee's eyes widened at the sound, watching Gaara as if he had momentarily gone mad. But then he was laughing, too, and with a shout pounced on Naruto from behind. "Naruto-kun! That wasn't nice at all!" he cried, forcing the boy's head briefly under water. When he resurfaced, the two promptly got into a wild splashing and wrestling contest.

Gaara stopped laughing to watch them, but only for a moment. With a surge of courage he sprang at the pair, catching Naruto around the neck and pulling them both under.

Still wiping his face, Iruka couldn't help but laugh himself at their antics. "It's really something, isn't it?" he commented to no one in particular. "What that Naruto of ours can do."

"I guess so." With a sigh Kakashi removed his facemask so he could wring the water out of it.

Guy glanced at his rival, but he decided better of making fun of him at the moment. "Maybe we should slip a little further away," he suggested, "before we get pulled into their mess."

Naruto laughed as he came up for air, still dragging Gaara around his neck. "Ahh, two on one! No fair!" He seized Gaara around the waist and lifted him halfway out of the water. "I'm gonna dunk you!" he crowed in warning before dropping backwards into the water again.

"Ah--" Gaara released him as they were sent tumbling, resurfacing so that when Naruto came up as well he was ready to splash him in the back of the head.

Shikamaru watched the trio, with...maybe a hint of jealousy. It had felt like a long time since he'd been able to fool around with his own groupmates like that. "What a pain." He swam closer, getting Lee in a surprise headlock. "Get him, Naruto!"

Iruka smiled as watched their continued play. "Come on--there's room at the far end for us." He gave Kakashi a tug, who was just replacing his facemask, and they started away to give the teens space.

"Wahoo!" Naruto spun around and began an enthusiastic attack on Gaara. "Now we're even!" He splashed recklessly, getting probably as much on himself as his opponent.

Lee was laughing too much at first to be able to respond, but he finally came around. He caught Shikamaru around the leg, giving a little hop before he pulled them both into the water.

They splashed back and forth for some time, until eventually Gaara had to pull away--the heat was starting to make his head spin. It's really warm. I like it here.... As he leaned against the rocks he closed his eyes, just content to relax a while.

Shikamaru cocked an eye at him as Naruto and Lee worked out the last of their energy against each other. "Hey--no sleeping, right?" He poked Gaara in the cheek, who pouted at him. "There'll be plenty of time for that later."

Lee finally called his surrender and pulled away, laughing breathlessly. He dropped into a seat beside Gaara, grinning at the flushed expression on his face.

"I win!" Naruto cheered. He paddled across to the other, wiggling his way between Shikamaru and Gaara. "We should go down to the lake tomorrow," he suddenly suggested, slinging his arms around his friend's necks. "The water's cooler, so we won't get as worn out, right?"

"I like it warm," Gaara protested, closing his eyes again as if determined to go to sleep. He wriggled closer to Naruto. "It's comfortable."

"Yeah, it's comfortable all right." Shikamaru rolled his eyes and reached across Naruto to poke him in the cheek again, making him open his eyes. "But if you fall asleep we won't have any more fun today." That seemed to catch Gaara's attention, and he settled.

Naruto beamed, fingers curling around their shoulders. Gaara's having fun. I'm glad--really glad.

Guy watched the group through the steam, relieved to see them settling at last. "This was a good idea, eh? Give them some time away. Hell! Give us a deserved break!" He nudged Kakashi in the shoulder, grinning.

"Yes, I suppose so." Kakashi rested his elbows against the edge of the springs. "Though it'd be even better with some sake."

"Ah, wouldn't it, though?" Iruka grinned as he slipped out of the water, returning a moment later with a jug and three cups for them. "We'll just have to keep it away from the kids," he chuckled as he poured some for each of them.

"Ah, it might do 'em some good," Guy protested, though he made no move to call the boy's over. "Make real men of 'em." He raised his cup in a silent toast before sipping at it. "Though maybe not Naruto--can't even imagine him drunk, though it would probably be a good show."

"Not one I'd be interested in," Kakashi replied. He frowned, and after a moment gave in; he removed his mask and set it aside so he could drink.

Iruka smiled but didn't remark, sipping from his own drink. "Though really, they're more adult than a few of us," he said lightly. "After all they've done."

Guy nodded his agreement. "They've been good for each other, those four. Whatever happened when they went after the runaways changed them." His eyes narrowed. "Especially Naruto." He glanced at Kakashi out of the corner of his eye. "He's gotten serious."

"Whatever happened, it wasn't because of me," he protested. "You remember, don't you? I got fired."

Iruka sighed. "It's not all your fault, you know," he reminded him evenly. "Naruto grew up a lot faster than any of us expected. And he's doing well. We should all be proud of them."

Guy grew thoughtful, watching the boys through the mist. "He may come after you again," he said, for once his tone sober. "I can only teach him so much when it comes to chakra--he'll reach my limit eventually." His eyes narrowed a bit, not liking having to admit such a thing but knowing it was true.

"By then, there won't be much more I can teach him, either," Kakashi replied. "Except maybe control. Naruto was never good at that...to his credit, I suppose." His eyes grew vague as he watched the water ripple around them. "You really should have seen them."

That drew his attention back. The boy's hadn't spoken much of their trip to the Sound village, and Guy had silently cursed the ill welcome they had received to drive them to their silence. He faced Kakashi hopefully. "What happened? What really happened, I mean? I only gathered that they worked together, but not even Lee would tell me everything."

"No, I didn't imagine he would." Kakashi paused to sip from his sake, but when he felt Iruka and Guy still watching him intently he sighed and went on. "They really did work as a team," he began to explain. "Honestly...I've never seen anything quite like it. Though I guess the planning was from Shikamaru's end--he was always good at that."

Guy nodded unnecessarily, waiting for him to continue. When he didn't right away, Guy downed the last of his cup and stole the bottle to pour himself some more. "So what was the plan?"

"As far as I can tell, it was to distract Orochimaru long enough for Shikamaru to get him with his Shadow Manipulation." Kakashi moved his fingertip idly against the water. "Naruto summoned the Frog Lord Gamabunta to defend them from the snakes. Gaara protected both Shikamaru and Lee with his sand to get them closer." He shook his head. The amount of chakra control something like that must have taken was amazing, even to him. "And that Lee of yours used basic taijutsu to finish it."

Iruka blinked in surprise. "You mean...?"

"That's right." Kakashi faced his rival seriously. "Without using Lotus, Lee snapped Orochimaru's neck with his heel. He's the one that killed the Legendary Third."

Guy sat back, his eyes wide with shock. To think that Lee, his Lee....

Reaching up, he wiped briefly at his eyes. "He did, huh? Lee did." He chuckled weakly, as if still disbelieving. "That little bastard, if I had known...."

Iruka smiled grimly, relaxing in the water. "That...really is amazing. To think that the four of them, by themselves like that…."

Kakashi poured himself a fresh drink. "I've told the Hokage, but for whatever reason she's kept her mouth shut on the story. Thinks it would make things worse, if everyone thought a couple of genin and one rookie chuunin took out one of the strongest ninjas Konoha ever produced. And I agree, but…."

Guy shook his head. "We'd have a Legendary Four is what we'd have," he pointed out, downing his second glass and pouring another. "I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised, though--you haven't seen them training." He looked through the steam again, seeing Naruto standing before the others and apparently telling some dramatic story that involved lots of arm movement. "I've had a few groups before, but never one that pursued teamwork like them. I can't even tell you how quickly Lee's been improving, just with them cheering him on...." He shook his head. "Makes me wonder if we've been doing something wrong until now."

Kakashi shrugged. "Well, this was my first time. So I guess I'm allowed to not know."

Iruka elbowed him. "It means," he said firmly, "that those kids have taught us all a valuable lesson. And we're going to learn from it."

Guy turned to Iruka, studying him thoughtfully a moment. "The rules on groups have been around for a while, haven't they?" he asked, receiving a nod. "Tell me, Iruka, if you could have chosen groups, would you have made them the same? Strongest with the weakest, I mean. Evening up between boys and girls--that sort of thing."

"Hmmm…." Iruka rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It's hard to say," he admitted. "Even as their teacher, it's hard for me to determine which students would best get along…. The other teams seem to have done well for themselves, for the most part…."

"But worked together?" he persisted. "I'm just saying…." Guy trailed off, sipping at his drink and considering his companions. "Maybe it's something that should be considered, how they are grouped. Maybe they should have a little more choice in the matter."

"Too much freedom in that could be a problem, too," Iruka replied. "But...you might be right. As teachers, it's our duty to find what's best for our students."

Kakashi frowned thoughtfully between them. "Well...good luck, then."

Guy smirked, nudging Kakashi's shoulder. "Don't think you're getting out of it as easily as that," he warned. "You think the rest of us have had an easy time? Lee is the first student I've had that was strong and determined enough for me to even attempt to teach Lotus to." He smile softened a moment. "And in the end, he didn't even need to use it." Shaking off his melancholy, he continued quickly. "In any case, there hasn't been a teacher in Konoha that didn't have a difficult time, and most of those were on their first." Guy threw an arm around Kakashi's shoulder and took a long sip of his own glass. "It's always gets better the second time around."

Kakashi rolled his eyes. And in the meantime, what about those students? But there wasn't any point in arguing. If he didn't feel like teaching again, he certainly wasn't going to.

Naruto flew across the pool, followed closely by Lee and Gaara, performing a trio of perfect cannonballs to completely and utterly soak their three instructors. Naruto rose form the water, laughing riotously. "Gotcha!"

Guy laughed as well, setting his cup aside. "Ah, you scoundrels! Ruining perfectly good sake!" He pointed an accusing finger at Naruto. "And this was your idea, I suppose, eh?"

Naruto crossed his arms and beamed. "And what if it was?"

Kakashi dumped his sake out on the rocks, now that it was ruined. Beside him, Iruka chuckled. "I guess we shouldn't have expected to get away with a peaceful evening."

Gaara slid to Naruto's side, and his eyes were drawn suddenly to the now unmasked scar running the length of Kakashi's face. A scar? Is that why he wears the mask? He poked his own now healed scar across his left collarbone. Why hide it?

"Well." Guy stood up, hands on hips to glare down at the three boys. "Normally I would say push-up punishment would be in order, but since you successfully scored on my Eternal Rival, I will forgive you this once." Laughing proudly, he cocked an eye down at Kakashi.

"Nice, sensei!" Lee cheered, punching the air excitedly.

Gaara echoed Lee's sentiments by sticking out his tongue.

Iruka sighed around a grin. "Well, you three. What brings you to this end of the spring, anyway?"

"It wasn't my idea," Shikamaru assured boredly as he finally made his way over as well.

"We got bored," Naruto replied. "And you guys were having fun all by yourselves."

"Adults have different ideas of what's fun than you kids do," Guy pointed out, still grinning. "Now, why don't you all run along?"

Naruto grinned darkly. "No way!" He pulled himself up onto a boulder, standing so that he was now taller than Guy. "I'm the king of these hot springs!" he declared. "I don't have to go anywhere!"

"Chicken fight," Gaara stated abruptly, which he remembered Naruto having mentioned earlier. He wasn't sure what it was, but at the time both Naruto and Lee had seemed rather excited about it. He glared at the jounin pointedly.

"Chicken fight?" Kakashi echoed. He suddenly didn't have a very good feeling about this. "Um, maybe it's time us adults left you four to your fun…." He started to get out of the water.

"No, you can't!" Naruto was just close enough to grab Kakashi's shoulders. Before the man could get out of the pool, Naruto easily hopped onto his back. "Kakashi's on my team, and no one can beat us!" he declared, heels pressed against Kakashi's ribs, one hand on his head for balance.

"Oh you think so?" Guy retorted, and immediately lifted Lee up into a similar position. "A challenge then!" Lee cheered enthusiastically as they started after Kakashi's turned back.

"Hey--" Kakashi dodged out of the way, and almost toppled with Naruto's added weight on his shoulders. "I didn't agree to this."

Iruka laughed. "Chicken fight, eh?" He crouched down and waved for Gaara to come closer. "Come on, Gaara. You and I can take them."

Gaara stared at him, but when he saw how much the others were enjoying themselves, he pulled himself up onto Iruka's shoulders. Iruka gave a triumphant shout as the two of them joined in the fray.

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