Chapter Text
Takeko wakes up all warm and comfortable. It’s really nice and it makes her not really want to wake up at all, so she snuggles closer to the warmth surrounding her and tries to get back to sleep. But try as she might, she can't, because the warmth is being mean and moving. Takeko hides her face against it and whines a little and then there's a hand on her hair and she takes in the smell, and so she remembers. The warmth is Hound and he's taking them to this place called Konoha where Kurama was once imprisoned but that Hound thinks it's safe. She’s still not sure that she likes that but Kurama wants her to go and Hound is taking her, so maybe it’s alright. Takeko looks up and pouts at him but Hound is not looking at her, he's staring straight ahead and won't know that Takeko thinks he's being mean that way so Takeko has to tell him. “Meanie.”
Hound looks down to look at her and she realizes that Hound has her mask! But Hound takes her hand away when she reaches for it and gives her back her rock instead. And Takeko is happy that she hasn't lost her rock, she really is, but she wants her mask back. It's hers! And it was her first thing other than her clothes.
It’s important.
Kurama is still asleep when she calls for him but Hound sighs when he sees her cry. “You can have it in Konoha but I need it now.” He sounds sorry about it too.
Takeko pouts but dries her tears with her hands because Kurama has said to trust him and Hound hasn't lied yet. She still hugs her rock to her extra tight just in case Hound decides he needs her rock too.
After that, it takes her a while to calm down enough to realize that they're moving really fast. There are new things all around her and when she points to them and asks Hound what it is, Hound answers. And so, Takeko watches her first trees and birds. She doesn't get to touch any of them until night, though. Hound runs and runs all day, until there’s no sun and all the light comes from the moon and the stars. When they settle back on the floor, Takeko gets a little overwhelmed by all the new people moving around. So she hides inside Hound’s cloak and peeks around his back every now and then.
But there are so many new things and Takeko has never been in a place like this before. She really really wants to explore. And even then, only the trees. The birds all fly away.
Instead of a day, it takes them two days to make their way to Konoha, given the extra cargo. It might have been sooner but neither his team or he himself felt the need to make the pup travel all through the night. By the time the gates of his home are visible to him, Kakashi's arms are so tired, he has the distinct feeling they'd be useless as soon as he puts the pup down. So he doesn't. She's fast asleep. The trip has been tiring for her and a part of Kakashi wonders how that came to be since she spent the whole trip in his arms. It doesn't matter, it's better that she's asleep now. With any luck he'll be done with the whole bureaucratic nightmare before she wakes.
They go directly to the Hokage's Tower.
The Hokage let's them start their mission report with no comment about the bundle on Kakashi's arms. Loyal ninja or no, Kakashi is not sure that he likes or appreciates the calculating look that appears on the old man's eyes when they report the origin of the pup on his arms.
His team is dismissed but Kakashi doesn't move both because the Hokage looks tells him he is not free to go and because Kakashi himself has matters he'd like to discuss with the man. Even if he knows it breaks decorum, Kakashi talks before the Hokage can form the words in his mouth. “I will be filing for leave so I can settle the pup.” He can tell that the old man expected something along those lines and that the man disagrees with it. Or his plans do, one or the other. Kakashi cares for neither. He had not known he wanted a pack but now that he has it, they'll pry it away from his cold dead fingers.
He knows he has a tough fight ahead of him when the man behind the desk adopts his grandfatherly tone. But Kakashi is no longer 14, nor is he beyond himself with grief. He's Kakashi of the Sharingan, the Copy-Nin, ANBU Captain and one of the best jounins this village has ever produced. He knows his value in the military and he will use it for all he's worth. Even if it means defying the Hokage.
”Kakashi, I understand your desire but the child is also of Senju descent and the Village has missed its founding clans.” And it’s a good argument, one tailored to Kakashi’s own love for his village. It’s not enough.
Kakashi calls the Hokage’s bluff. "If she wishes to use the Senju name, I won’t stop her.”
Sarutobi sighs, ”Kakashi, it might be best for the child to be raised by her mother.”
With that, Kakashi wonders if Hiruzen realizes how much of his game he’s given away with that comment even as he processes the emotional manipulation. Kakashi has long known he’s never enough. Unfortunately for the old man, he also knows how difficult it is to grow surrounded by people who as much as they love you, do not understand the instincts inside you that make you who you are. “As it stands, I’m the only family member my pup has in the village. There’s also no proof that your student is the mother. About the leave, Lord Third?”
After that confrontation, Kakashi ends up in Gaku's house inside the Inuzuka Compound, surrounded by his team as they brainstorm ideas on how they will handle Kakashi’s upcoming custody battle because none of them is naive enough to believe that the Third is quite done with it. So when morning comes and there’s a summon for Kakashi to take his pup to the hospital, they’re all there. He doesn’t bother waking the pup. Genma and him walk calmly to the hospital to what Kakashi is sure is going to be a health check and a DNA test. Yugao has gone ahead of them to ensure a trusted medic will be handling Takeko’s case. The Hokage, after all, is not the one known for snatching small children.
Genma is with him both as emotional support and because as a former member of the Hokage’s platoon, his word and presence have weight. Tenzo is spreading the word among the ANBU who are likely to sympathize with Kakashi’s situation and Gaku has gone to talk to his clan head. Having the Inuzuka back him up will most likely bring the Hyuuga and the Aburame. It will be a great help.
The pup barely stirs when the medic-nin takes a swab for the DNA test but both him and Genma tense when they’re informed that they’re expected in the Council’s Chamber for an “emergency meeting”. Tenzo and some ANBU Kakashi has served with before show up just in time. The pup will be as well protected as he can afford with them around and he instructs his dogs in what to tell her if she wakes up before he comes back. It doesn’t take long for them to arrive and as he notices the set-up, Kakashi almost grimaces. He doesn’t let the anger show on his face. Still, he does not go to the front, where a lone chair sits, but to the Hatake Clan Chair that has long been empty. Genma settles with his back against the wall, clearly by Kakashi's side. It’s a casual reminder that he’s as much a Clan Head as any of them and that not many of them have a higher authority than him outside of their own departments. He can see Shikaku’s eyes following lazily. Kakashi wonders what’s going through Nara's mind.
If it bothers the Hokage, the man doesn’t show it. Instead he simply starts his meeting. “I have called this meeting to discuss an important matter to the clans. Recently it came to my attention that a child of Senju descent exists and is now being tended to in our hospital.” The Third allows the chaos to unfold and Kakashi swallows his anger. Sarutobi purposely omitted the Hatake blood on the pup. Danzo’s eyes are gleaming. “Kakashi wishes to be the one to raise her.” It's a good way to direct the conversation. The other clans will see that as an attempt of Kakashi to gain political power and will object almost on principle. If Kakashi interjects now, it will be seen as Kakashi covering his bases.
Fortunately, Tsume saves him from that before the council can once more descend into chaos. ”And what is wrong with that? It’s his pup!”
Perhaps there’s a flicker of annoyance in the old man’s face. Tsume siding with Kakashi so quickly was likely something the old man might not have accounted for but the man is not old for nothing.
It's Hiashi Hyuuga who speaks next: “Is the child yours?”
Kakashi answers with none of the laid-back attitude he's known for. “In a manner of speaking. My pup has both Hatake and Senju blood in her. The DNA results are not back yet.”
Hiashi nods at him but it is Shikaku who speaks next. ”In that case, Kakashi will have to raise her. He’s next of kin.”
There’s no time for anyone to say a thing before Inoichi interrupts. “Mr. Hatake is in no state to raise a child.”
Tsume's voice is filled with anger when she answers that remark. ”What would you know about pack, Inoichi?”
The Hokage doesn’t allow the man to answer. “I believe the best would be for the child to be raised by her mother.” The DNA results are being waved by his hand for all to see.
Danzo speaks before he can do it himself. “The girl’s mother is a missing-nin in all but name. Give her to me, I will see to it that she’s raised properly.”
Sarutobi, however, denies him immediately.
Kakashi bares his teeth against his mask, leaning forward. “No, no need for that. Lord Danzo, however, presents an important point. Unlike Lady Tsunade, I have not run away from my duty, I have given years of faithful service, and yet Lord Hokage sees fit to give her my own blood with one hand while he uses the other to protect his students from the consequences of their actions.” Kakashi is loyal, it doesn't make him a dormat.
There’s anger carefully concealed on the Hokage’s face now, there isn't much that angers the Third more than people messing with his students, but Kakashi will not be backing down. ”What are you saying, Kakashi?”
It is not, however, Kakashi who answers him but Shikaku. Which makes it even better, really. Shikaku is jounin commander for a reason. “Of the three Sannin, only Jiraiya can be counted as a ninja of the Leaf and even so, he’s as likely to answer a summon as he is not to. He no longer wears The Leaf’s head-protector, understandable as that might be, it doesn't take away from his unreliability. Lady Tsunade is not a missing-nin because you have refused to sign her as such even when that is what she is, and Orochimaru was allowed to escape.” He doesn’t add the “by you” but everyone can hear it anyway.
Lady Koharu twirls her tea cup, the picture of relaxation. “The Senju accounts are still available for her to spend in her ridiculous betting sprees and she’s even being paid the same pension our retired ninja do.” The anger in the chamber tells Kakashi that the Clan’s Council was not aware of that.
Surprisingly, though maybe it should have been expected, it is Asuma who speaks next. “When it comes to the pension, we can do nothing. That is a matter of the Hokage and his Council. The Senju accounts, however, are another matter. If this child is now the heir to the Senju and Hatake Clans, the accounts are now hers by law as Lady Tsunade has been gone for far too long to be considered Clan Head.”
The Hokage is not pleased with the way things are going. Kakashi imagines the man believed the Council would have jumped to use this as a way to bring his student back, as he has. “She will be recalled.”
Koharu waves her hand. “And be rewarded by being given the next generation to raise? No, I do not believe that to be wise.”
Inoichi talks once more: “That being said, I still stand by my assessment. Mr. Hatake is in no state to raise a child.”
This time, Kakashi gets to answer that. “And yet, you have seen fit to give me a genin team. If I am not fit to raise a child, then why am I being given a team with two orphans? I’m either qualified to do both or unqualified to do either.”
The Council stills as they hear his meaning. As much as a genin is an adult to the eyes of the law, in reality they are still children. A jounin captain of a genin team is meant to form them as ninjas, but it is also accepted that they will be a parental figure. Especially when the genin in question is an orphan.
It’s Homura who replies. “The matter of your genin team had nothing to do with your state of mind and everything to do with you being the only one who can teach young Sasuke to use his sharingan.”
Kakashi sees the opening for what it is, even if he's not sure why the old man is giving it to him. “I see, in that case it would be best for someone else to take over duties as jounin captain of team 7. I will be more than happy to teach Sasuke about the sharingan once he awakens it.” And nothing more. Kakashi knows they realize what he’s saying. Kakashi will have his pup or they can start finding someone else to worry about their precious Uchiha. He will not pass on his abilities either to his teacher’s son or Obito’s cousin. He sends a mental apology to both of them but he won’t lose her so soon and he has already lost them, long ago. He might lose her in the future but it won’t be without him fighting it to the bitter end.
Without him, Kakashi knows, there’s only one more person who could be team 7’s teacher. Tenzo, who will be able to contain a human sacrifice if Naruto loses control but won’t be able to teach Sasuke all the things The Council hoped Kakashi would. Wood Release is, after all, a bloodline limit. Kakashi allows the silence to stretch for a moment longer before continuing. “Of course, if my state of mind is so terrible, then it might be for the best for me to take a long leave. Maybe wander around, find myself. Since Lord Hokage saw fit to grant the same for Lady Tsunade and Jiraiya of the Sannin, it might be an option I should consider.” Kakashi doesn’t blink, doesn’t even take his eyes from Inoichi’s.
It doesn’t come as a surprise, then, that The Council grants him full custody of his pup. Or at least, until Tsunade can be recalled, by the insistence of the Third. Kakashi doesn’t think the Slug Sannin will answer the summon but even if she does, Kakashi will be ready for her. Tsunade cares little for any responsibility and even if Kakashi refuses to deny his pup more family, that doesn’t mean he will allow the woman any sort of legal power. Not until she proves herself capable, at least.
When Kakashi returns to the hospital, the first thing he does is request a copy of the results of the DNA test, since the Hokage saw fit to keep them to himself. All Kakashi knows is that the pup has Hatake and Senju blood and that Tsunade Senju is the mother. When the lady in charge of the labs assures him he can come pick up his copy of the results in a little while, Kakashi leaves for his pup’s room. He finds her with eyes still red but already cheered up by the collective effort of his dogs. Kakashi makes a mental note to buy them some treats. It takes her a little while to realize he’s there and he observes them meanwhile. Takeko is touching everyone’s fur and for the looks of it, she’s being the judge of a “who has the best fur” competition. An old trick of Pakkun's.
She abandons it as soon as she realizes he’s there. Takeko runs straight to him and Kakashi picks her up when she’s within his reach. She hides her slightly damp face on his neck and he nods over her head to the ANBU team that was kind enough to protect her from the shadows.
“You were gone.” Takeko tells him, soft and still a little bit scared.
"I’m sorry pup, I needed to take care of something.”
Takeko is clingy all the way to his apartment and it still takes a while for her to finally give into her curiosity and leave her perch on his chest. He stays laying on the bed. The day is only half-way done and he already is exhausted. He remembers about the mask as she emerges from investigating under his bed, covered in dust and he distantly wonders when he allowed it to become that dirty. He reaches for his mask, still clipped on the side of his weapon’s pouch of his ANBU uniform and offers it to her. Why she loves it so much he will never know but he doesn’t mind indulging her. Kakashi is supposed to be retired from the ANBU anyway and if they insist on pulling him from his retirement into jounin rank, then they can afford to give him a new mask. Takeko had been scared when she woke up in that place that smelled so strongly her eyes watered and she had realized there was no Hound around. Kurama had tried to reassure her but she could tell that Kurama hadn’t liked it either.
Crying doesn’t help but she had cried anyway. And then she met the dogs! They were a lot and very nice, she liked them very much. She still hasn’t decided whose fur was the softest. They were all great! Hound is still on his bed, she knows. She checks every now and then. She dives back under it. There’s a lot of the dust that makes her sneeze but there’s also a shirt that smells like Hound even stronger than the entire place. Kurama tells him that the strong smell means Hound lives here. Takeko thinks that Hound’s space is better than hers. His place has so many more things! The shirt is too big for her to wear, Kurama tells her. She still ties the sleeves around her neck.
If it cannot be her shirt, it can be her cape. Like the one Hound used while they traveled. Kurama tells her that it was a cloak. Takeko takes it anyway. She checks that Hound is still where she left him and he is, good. He offers her her mask back without taking his arm from over his face and she runs off with it. Takeko needs to find a good place for her rock, her mask and her new cloak. Just in case. She finds a good place on the very back of the place where Hound has all his clothes. She wants to go back to exploring Hound’s place but she catches the smell of the noodles Hound gave her through the window. Kurama tells her they probably sell them somewhere nearby. When she asks what that means, Kurama says she’s supposed to give them something for the noodles.
Takeko looks at her cloak, her mask and her rock and pouts because she wants the noodles but she doesn’t want to give anyone her new things. They’re all hers. Kurama rolls his eyes at her and tells her that Hound can get them for her so she runs right back to Hound.
Kakashi finds himself out of breath due to the pup’s sudden collision with his stomach and wonders if he should just get used to it. He still steadies her with one hand.
“Hound! Hound! The noodles!” She keeps bouncing on him and Kakashi feels vaguely grateful she didn’t land on his chest or a little further south.
“The noodles?” He asks and she nods at him, all excitement and happiness and as tired as he is, there’s a warm feeling inside of him.
There are small hands on his vest as she holds on so she can land on the floor and then those small hands are on his arm, trying to pull him along. He complies even if walking like that means he ends up walking half bent over. Takeko drags him all the way to the window and points happily outside. “There! It smells like noodles!”
He smiles at her. “Do you want some?”
She nods and starts pulling on him again. Takeko is trying to climb him and he looks at her amused. But she pauses after a second and pouts before looking back at him.
Kakashi is a little startled until there's a “please Hound” and big puppy eyes staring up at him. Kakashi picks Takeko up, “alright pup, let's just take a shower first.” They're both dirty from their days of travel and Kakashi doesn't feel like taking his chances with letting a maybe four year old shower on her own.
It means showering is a bit of an adventure. He discovers pretty quickly that letting the pup down so he can get the shower ready and undress means that there's a free and curious pup able to do as she pleases. Kakashi turns around to find her halfway inside the cabinet, little hands destroying what organization he used to have.When he pulls her out of it, she's holding the little container of lube and he's panicking on the inside.
“What is this?”
He remembers the trip all the way back to Konoha filled with the same question and recognizes that this is his life now. Whatever the DNA results say their relationship is, he's going to be the closer thing she has to a father. And a mother, too. What with the actual mother being a drunk gambler who cannot even be bothered to pay her own debts. Kakashi should probably deal with that, actually. That's a problem for another day, however, a day when Kakashi doesn't have the pup on his arms looking at him with curious reddish eyes and asking what the bottle of lube is.
Right, he needs a distraction. So he takes both of them to the shower and tells her the bottle is a ninja pirate before he starts waving a story about said ninja-pirates on their journey to find the best treasure in the world using all the bottles as his imaginary characters. He still cringes every time the captain/lube makes an appearance. Still better than having to explain what lube is, though. The bottle will just have to disappear when young eyes are not there to see it.
The outing to get ramen is mostly painless, even if he does have to ignore the people sending him weird looks. It’s a bit inconvenient that he can’t hide behind his Icha Icha but he’s not about to escape the matter of the lube to then have to explain to his pup what that book is about. So Kakashi concentrates on answering the numerous “What is this?” questions.
“What is this?” She asks, again .
Kakashi has lost count. Her finger is pointing to a basket filled with small little balls. Kakashi takes her there and ends up scrambling to hold her so Takeko won’t fall while she hangs on his arms trying to reach the balls. The man on the stall laughs amusedly at them and Kakashi chuckles, a little uncomfortable. He's way over his head, maybe he should buy some parenting books. Some of those thoughts must be evident somehow because the man at the stall smiles at him: “You’re doing alright.”