One More Light

Chapter 3

*Meanwhile at the Hokage's Office*

"I am not sure what you are implying Kakashi but I cannot subject Naruto to an interrogation based off your hounds instinct" Tsunade sternly noted. Pakkun looked rather annoyed at the fifth Hokage but could see her side of things. He really didn't have any proof that Naruto was in danger or that he was hiding something he just knew that something was off. Kakashi felt the same way. "I'm not asking you to interrogate him, Lady Tsunade, but he wouldn't lie to you. I don't think he would be game enough to lie to you if you asked him directly." Kakashi paused for a moment, thinking through his next sentence carefully, "I just wanted to let you know our suspicions in the hope that you would check in with him as a friend. I'm also going to ask Iruka if he has noticed anything different. Naruto is just not the same as he was. Its understandable with Master Jiraiya's passing but something else has shifted. Its like the light has gone off in his eyes."

Kakashi thought back to how he had been this morning. Still wearing that grin across his face, but the smile didn't meet his eyes and there was no life in his actions. Kakashi was drawn out of his thoughts as he realised the Hokage was talking once more. "Give him time. We all process grief differently and more than anyone, he has felt the pain of Jiraiya's death. He also fought with Pain and something strange happened there, the nine-tails seal, meeting Minato, convincing Pain to save those he had killed..." Tsunade spoke as her eyes narrowed on Kakashi, " He asked about you, you know, as soon as he got to the village that day, he asked why he couldn't sense you. He had thought he lost both his master and his sensei so lefts just give him some time. Keep an eye on him though, he feels too much but he has more than earnt time to process how he feels without us crowding him. Understood?" She asked tersely. Kakashi nodded and disappeared in a bloom of smoke along with Pakkun. 'Oh Kakashi, I can see why you are worried but you more than anyone should understand how unwelcome questions can be while grieving...' Tsunade thought as she allowed her head to fall to the desk in front of her.

*Following Kakashi*

Kakashi felt a sense of understanding wash over him as he dismissed Pakkun and went in search of Iruka. Of course Lady Tsunade was right, he couldn't be too pushy or he might make it worse but he was having trouble deciding the best course of action. He chuckled nervously 'For the person who is next in line to be Hokage, its pitiful I can't devise a strategy to help my grieving student.'

Iruka was finally found in the records room of the academy. In retrospect, the academy should have been the first place he looked, Kakashi internally face palmed. Iruka was sitting on the ground of the records room, sorting through piles of paperwork that had been spilled from the boxes during the fight with Pain. He looked rather miserable and Kakashi could guess he got lumped with this job after losing a wager. He chuckled slightly at Iruka's misfortune.

"Yo." Kakashi said into the dimly lit room as he entered. Doing his signature salute and eye smile. Iruka looked at, amazed someone else had ventured into this chaotic area. "Hey Kakashi, what's up?" he asked, slightly confused by the Jõnins presence. "Well," Kakashi started, "I actually wanted to talk to you about Naruto." Iruka's face showed a flash of worry before his features become neutral once more. "What about Naruto?" Once again Iruka's eyes gave away his concern. "Well, I'm a little worried about how he is handling everything that has been happening lately and was wondering if you had the same concerns or if he has talked about it with you or just anything really. He has been a little off lately and I am concerned." Kakashi let his emotions show far more than usual while talking about Naruto and Iruka left out a sigh of relief that Kakashi was so concerned and shared his thoughts. "After news of Lord Jiraiya had spread, I found Naruto siting on a bench, staring blankly with tears flowing freely. I've been concerned since then. He was sad which was understandable but more than that, there was despair and something I could only describe as him shutting down. I have been keeping a close eye on him and now I am sure he is in need of our help. I want to allow him the proper time and space to grieve his own way but I am concerned that her is handling this in an unhealthy way. So the question now is how do we intervene without pushing him further?" Kakashi sighed, exhausted, "I have been trying to figure that out all day..."

*Back to Naruto & Gaara*

Naruto was staring blankly at his friend, that feeling of shock and anger had been replaced with the numb despair once more. He almost felt like there was a black hole in his soul, sucking his emotions away and replacing them with despair, pain, grey... "I don't want to fight you Gaara...: Naruto said at barely more than a whisper. "Then tell me the truth Naruto! Tell me how you really feel, and we won't." Gaara shot back, knowing that this fight was going to happen, not because either of them wanted it to, but because Naruto needed to break in a controlled environment or the consequences could be fatal.

'What are you going to do Naruto? Didn't you swear to protect your friends, not hurt them?' The Kyuubi pushed, silently urging Naruto to talk to the main standing before him. The Kyuubi was impressed that this lone friend would not take 'I'm fine' for an answer. 'What is with you lately? You haven't talked to me this much, ever.' Naruto pushed back, genuinely wondering why he had become so boisterous, wondering if his despair was weakening the seal and inviting the Kyuubi to take more control. He waited for the fear and anger to register but he still felt numb to the whole situation. He almost craved that all-consuming anger that he had felt during is fight with Pain. He wanted to feel something. 'I've never needed to before, you have always done enough talking for the both of us.' The Kyuubi thought back, hoping to shake Naruto out of this void. 'Yeah... whatever, you should be enjoying the quiet. There no need for all that noise anymore..." Naruto thought grimly as he shut the Kyuubi out and focused back on the situation in front of him. On one had, he could fight Gaara. Fight the one person who could truly understand. On the other hand he could talk, but words felt so foreign now and he had nothing left to give, no emotion to muster and acceptable response so he took a deep breath and took on a fighting stance.