Chapter Text
“Lord Hokage, if I could speak to you for a moment?” Kakashi stood with his back ramrod straight, trying to appear serious, despite his usual lazy nature. It had the effect he hoped it would and the Hokage quickly dismissed the council members so he could speak to Kakashi privately.
Once they were gone, the older man turned to give Kakashi his full attention. “What would you like to discuss, Kakashi?”
“It’s Naruto, sir. I would like to adopt him.” Kakashi knew he needed to be as clear as possible with this request or it would be denied so he decided to get directly to the point.
The Hokage seemed a bit taken back from Kakashi’s rather bold statement. He leaned back in his chair, eyebrows raised slightly. “I can’t help but be surprised, hearing this from you. You’re aware of the difficulties surrounding Naruto’s situation. The council has long since determined that Naruto is too dangerous to be raised by a family.” Kakashi suppressed the eye roll that threatened to escape.
“With all due respect sir, that’s bullshit and you know it.” The Hokage’s eyebrows reached new heights, almost disappearing into his receding hairline.
“Would you mind explaining your reasoning that this decision made by our most respected elders is ‘bullshit’?” The man’s mouth was set in a solid frown but at least he seemed willing to listen so Kakashi barreled ahead.
“Naruto is a child. He could grow up hating this village if we treat him like an outsider. And I understand the concern about the nine-tails but his seal is holding just fine from what I’ve read.” It was a not so subtle reminder at just what Kakashi was capable of. All personal information was kept under lock and key, more often than not under guard as well. Child’s play for Kakashi.
The Hokage’s eyes narrowed. “And what exactly have you read?”
“There are reports from the orphanage, but you already know everything on that matter sir. You’ve read them as well.” It was difficult to not smirk but Kakashi managed to keep his expression neutral. He couldn’t blow this.
The other man nodded. “Yes, I have. They also say that Naruto is a notorious trouble maker, that he’s difficult to work with. He’s loud, abrasive, and rude to his caretakers. What makes you think you could handle such a child?”
“I’m one of Konoha’s elite. If I can’t handle one child then I should probably be demoted.” Kakashi gave a shrug at the end of his statement. He didn’t exactly have much experience with kids, that much was true, but he had always been a quick study.
“I think your reason for being able to handle Naruto is the exact reason you can’t. You have missions Kakashi and a responsibility to this village. We need you out in the field, not at home making dinner for a toddler.” Something about this statement didn’t sit right with Kakashi. He worked to keep the emotion out of his voice when he spoke again.
“I have a responsibility to this village, which means everyone in it. You’re telling me I should sit back and watch while the only person I can consider family grows up alone?” His tone might have been a bit more biting then he had intended but it seemed to have gotten through.
The Hokage paused. He gave Kakashi a hard look, one that dug deep into the younger man’s soul, all without leaving his chair. When he blinked, his face shifted into a small, melancholy smile. “The boy reminds me of them as well. But you have to understand, it’s not a simple situation. The council has determined that the boy will not be adopted, they insist it’s not safe.”
Kakashi could feel his only chance slipping away. If he didn’t convince the Hokage now it was unlikely the man would ever change his mind. He let go of his careful hold on his emotions and immediately felt tears form in his covered eye. Raw pain welled up in his throat, forcing him to swallow thickly before he gave it one last try. “Then who better to take care of the kid than me? I can hold my own should the worst happen. I have a working knowledge of how to use and maintain seals. I can train him to control his charka from an early age. I can work with him to keep his emotions calm. He can have a home in this village, rather than just live in it.”
For a moment Kakashi thought that the Hokage was about to turn him away. The older man had lowered his head, deep in thought. If this gamble didn’t work Kakashi wasn’t sure what he would do. He knew he had to do something for Naruto but if he couldn't convince the Hokage, a man who no doubt loved everyone in the village like they were his own, then Kakashi knew he would be pushed to take more drastic measures. It would end badly but he couldn’t help but feel that leaving such a powerful child alone without any guidance would likely end just as poorly.
Kakashi was ready to start fighting for his case again when the Hokage lifted his head and gave Kakashi a smile. “Well, I have to say you have me sold! I can’t help but agree with you, isolating the boy would no doubt lead to disaster. But I want you to understand, this isn’t going to be easy. You’ll need to find someone to care for him while you’re on missions. I’m going to put you on mandatory leave when you bring the boy home, for at least three months. You’ll need the time, I’m sure of it.”
Relief filled Kakashi and he finally allowed himself to relax slightly. He gave the Hokage a deep bow before he spoke. “Thank you sir. But you said the council doesn’t agree with us. How are you going to handle them?” Kakashi would be forever grateful for the support of the Hokage but he didn’t want a bunch of old bastards breathing down his neck at every turn.
“You’ve brought up some very good points today Kakashi, and when the council hears the strike you’ve organized if they don’t comply I’m sure they’ll be swayed.” Kakashi paused, trying to remember what strike the old man was talking about he couldn’t come up with anything.
“Sir?”
“It’s a brilliant idea Kakashi, I can’t help but admire the dedication you and the rest of our ninja have for the village. A strike of all high level ninja that you’ve organized should you not be allowed to adopt Naruto is quite a grand gesture. We can’t risk losing our elite all over a singular child, even if he does hold the nine-tail fox. I’m sure the council will see the concern that these ninja have over the care of such a powerful young boy.” The Hokage had the audacity to wink at Kakashi.
Kakashi had no other option but to go along with it. “Yes sir. The ninja of this village want to ensure that Naruto is loyal. There is no better way to do that than to give him a family here, especially one that is already quite powerful and strong enough to protect everyone involved.”
“I’m glad we could talk about this before you and your colleagues went on strike. We’ve managed to avoid a full blown crisis!” He pretended to wipe his brow, then started pulling out paperwork. Kakashi could make out the adoption papers from where he was standing.
“Yes sir, I thought it would be best to try and work out an agreement before things got out of hand.” By the time he was finished speaking the Hokage had finished writing everything up and motioned for him to sign on a few different lines. After quickly reading everything over Kakashi did so, almost not registering what those few pen strokes would mean. It all felt so sudden and surreal.
The Hokage clapped his hands together, looking absolutely delighted. “Then it’s settled! I’ll inform the council of what we’ve discussed and I’ll send you a message when you can go pick up the boy. I would suggest having a room ready for him.”
“Of course sir.” Kakashi gave the man another deep bow, knowing that if he wasn’t on Kakashi’s side Naruto would have stayed in the orphanage. Instead Kakashi had been given an unofficial mission. Get everything ready for the four year old to finally come home.
Kakashi left the office feeling both accomplished and more apprehensive than ever before. It was beginning to sink in and not even his first S-ranked mission could compare to the thought of inviting a child into his life. That apprehension, however, was vastly overshadowed by one detail. He would be taking care of his sensei's boy. Finally, he felt the overwhelming sadness that had plagued him for years begin to lift. This would actually make a difference, this would make things even a little better, this would begin to make things right. Naruto would grow up being loved and would never know anything else. Kakashi would guarantee it.
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Kakashi looked up at the building, then double checked the address he had been given. This was the orphanage? The building was falling apart, the plastered cracking and breaking off in small chunks, paint on the doors and window sills peeling up to reveal mildewed wood underneath. He took the steps carefully and winced when the wooden boards groaned loudly under foot.
The inside of the building was slightly better but also much worse. It looked like a proper institution and not a place that housed children. The furniture in the lobby was likely decades old, the lights above were too bright and disorienting. The floors were covered with linoleum that was stained and warped in places but Kakashi was happy to see nothing was actively falling apart like the exterior.
He made his way up to the reception desk, waiting for the woman to notice his arrival. When she made no move to look up from her magazine, Kakashi rang the bell on her desk. She looked up at him with a glare.
"What do you want?" Her tone was sharp and Kakashi would have recoiled if not for his years of training.
"I'm here to pick up Naruto Uzumaki." Kakashi was once again surprised when her face turned pinched.
"Oh good, we're finally getting rid of that demon brat. He was supposed to be moved into the apartments a few days ago but I suppose you're the reason he wasn’t. Thanks for that, had to put up with that monster for longer because of you." Without another glance she walked back into the compound, leaving Kakashi to gape at her back. She disappeared for a moment, there was some shouting and before Kakashi could get his bearings she returned to the reception desk and her magazine.
Without looking up she addressed the very confused man. "Someone will bring him out soon, wait by the door." Kakashi did as she asked, still reeling from her attitude.
And in no time at all someone came storming out, dragging a child by the collar. They stopped in front of Kakashi.
The boy was smaller than Kakashi had expected. He knew that children were small, but Naruto was tiny to the point that Kakashi feared a strong breeze would whisk the boy away. His hair was ratty, greasy, yet somehow cowlicks stuck straight up in a chaotic mess of bright blonde. When Kakashi looked away from the boy’s head to take in the rest of his appearance he was dismayed to find that his clothes were stained and ill-fitting. The older man had known they would eventually tackle a shopping trip but he had hoped it would be able to wait a few days. Looking at Naruto in that minute, Kakashi realized it had all been wishful thinking.
“Is this all he has?” The boy was practically dwarfed by the caretaker and while the bag seemed massive in such tiny arms, it couldn’t have held more than a few sets of clothes.
“He hasn’t needed more,” the woman responded, turning her nose up in obvious disgust, pulling her hand away from the boy as if he were contaminated. Kakashi didn’t think it was possible but the child shrank even more into himself.
“He’s four, of course he needs more than this. Does he have any toys? Any comfort items? A special blanket or something?” Kakashi was desperate at this point. They couldn’t have been so cruel to Naruto. It just wasn’t possible. Not such a small child, not when he was light enough to be picked up and thrown. Kakashi had known that many held a grudge against him but this was… this was just too awful to be real.
“No, he doesn’t. Mr. Hatake, could you please remove this child from the building, he’s upsetting the other children.” Kakashi had never felt such anger so quickly. It was obvious the boy was scared. He couldn’t understand other people’s hatred, no four year old would understand such a strong emotion from people he had never met.
Kakashi gave her a seething glare that she had the nerve to return before Kakashi kneeled down in front of Naruto. The little boy didn’t move other than to fidget where he stood. Kakashi took a quiet deep breath to calm his nerves, then smiled at the boy. “Hello, Naruto. My name is Kakashi and I’m going to be taking you home today. Do you understand what that means?”
The little boy shook his head slightly and Kakashi could feel his heart break just a little. He tried his best to continue in an even voice. “It means you’re going to be part of my family.” With that, Kakashi held out his hand for the boy to take. Naruto startled, his eyes peeking up at Kakashi through shaggy, thick blonde hair. Kakashi was nearly started by just how blue those eyes were but kept his features steady and calm. The boy looked so much like his sensei…
A tiny hand gently grasped onto his and Kakashi stood to leave, holding Naruto’s hand as they walked out. They were barely out onto the steps when Kakashi felt small shivers coming from Naruto. He turned and just caught a glimpse of Naruto’s hand wiping tears away.
“Naruto? What’s wrong?” Kakashi once again found himself kneeling down to be face to face with the boy. He had a feeling it was a position he was going to get used to.
“This… this isn’t a joke is it? If it is, please stop.” Naruto’s voice trembled but he still hadn’t let go of Kakashi’s hand. Fresh tears spilt down his face and Naruto rushed to wipe them away.
Kakashi was dumbfounded. Joke? Who would joke about something like adopting a child? Oh, that’s right, the same cruel people who told him that Naruto only needed a small bag of clothes and nothing else.
Gently and slowly so as to not scare the child, Kakashi lifted his hand to help wipe away Naruto’s tears. The boy’s breath hitched at this but his crying slowed to a stop. “Naruto, I would never do that. I promise you, you are my family now. I went directly to the Hokage about this, the leader of the village himself knows and gave me permission. And now that you’re my family I’m going to protect you like you’re my son. Understand? This isn’t a joke and I’ll fight anyone that tries to say it is.” By the end of his speech Naruto was crying again and Kakashi had a feeling it would be a very long walk home if they continued this way.
“Naruto, would it be alright if I picked you up? I want to get us home so I can show you your new room.” The crying continued but the boy nodded so Kakashi picked him up, noting that the boy was lighter than he expected. He was beginning to think that, upon a doctor's visit, Kakashi would find that the boy was severely underweight. That was for a later time though. For now, all Kakashi wanted was to get Naruto home and away from the orphanage.
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They arrived soon enough and Kakashi was relieved to open the door and start the process of getting Naruto comfortable. It was obvious by the way the people they passed behaved that they not only knew Naruto but resented the boy. Naruto, luckily, kept his head pressed into Kakashi’s shoulder and didn’t see the looks people were giving them.
When they stepped inside and the door was closed behind them Kakashi set Naruto down and got ready to give him a tour.
“Welcome home, Naruto.” The boy looked around, obviously skeptical of the rather bland apartment. There wasn’t much to see in the entrance way. The living room was in view but it was equally boring, with only a couch, rug, and small bookshelf. Kakashi had since moved any ‘sensitive’ books into his room. He led the boy further into the apartment, pointing out the kitchen, making sure to tell Naruto that he was not only welcomed but encouraged to eat any food from the fridge or pantry that he wanted. Through the living room was a hallway that led to the rest of the apartment. Kakashi pointed to the end of the hall where his bedroom was and made sure to establish where the bathroom was before leading Naruto to his new room.
On the plain white door were some bubbly letters tacked on with pins that spelled out the little boy's name. Each letter was a different bright color and covered in glitter that would gently fall to the floor each time the door was opened or closed. Even Kakashi would admit it was a little tacky, but Naruto stared up at the door with a reverence that was unmatched.
“This is really mine?”
“That’s just the start of it. Why don’t we go inside?” Kakashi pushed open the door to reveal the furnished bedroom. It was still rather bland but the older man knew just by the look on Naruto’s face that this was likely the first time he got a room to himself.
It had taken the Hokage three days to finally deliver the message that Naruto was ready to be picked up. In those three days Kakashi had been working non-stop to get everything prepared. The second bedroom had been emptied of weapons, scrolls, and dust bunnies, then filled with new furniture that Kakashi spent longer than he would care to admit building. There was a clean bed with little cartoon dogs printed on the sheets, a dresser for Naruto’s clothes, a desk with some blanks scrolls, paper and colored pencils for the kid to draw with, and even a colorful cubby at the foot of the bed, just ready to be filled with toys and stuffed animals.
“I know it’s kind of boring right now but you can’t blame an old ninja for not knowing what’s in fashion these days. We’ll go out shopping sometime soon to pick you up more clothes and decorations, maybe a fun rug and some posters.” Naruto nodded but didn’t seem to be listening. Instead he was taking careful steps around the room, touching each item like it was made of glass. His bag had been dropped in the middle of the floor, the boy obviously not caring about the items he brought with him. Kakashi let him explore for a few minutes before remembering one last thing he had bought but hadn’t put in the room. He wanted it to be a surprise for Naruto, a sort of welcome home present.
“Naruto, I got you one last thing. I’m going to go grab it, I’ll be right back.”
Kakashi desperately wanted to run to get the present, but he also knew he should give the kid a little time to let everything sink in. He took deliberately slow steps, holding himself back from darting between the rooms. It took him a few minutes to dig the item out of a chest in his room and by the time he got back he found Naruto staring down at the pack of colored pencils on his desk.
The little boy looked up, eyes wide. “These are mine?”
“They are. Everything in this room is yours.” That got Kakashi a tiny nod. Finally Kakashi held out the present he had been holding behind his back. “Everything in this room is yours, including this.” It was a stuffed dog plush, with large embroidered eyes and a soft fake fur coat. It’s tail was curved in a perpetual wag, a smile sewn onto its muzzle along with a few teeth peeking out from underneath.
Kakashi was expecting Naruto to reach out and grab it like any other kid might but that theory was blown when Naruto instead gently reached out and gave the stuffed toy a few light pats. The older man had never seen a person’s eyes grow that wide and yet Naruto proved just how amazed someone could be with a gift. It was at that moment that Kakashi knew that Naruto could ask for the moon and Kakashi would find a way to deliver. The boy would never want for anything in the world, not if Kakashi was still breathing.
“Here, take it. It’s yours.” Naruto took the toy and cradled it in his arms, quickly going from in awe to a blubbering mess. Kakashi felt clueless, not sure how to handle a crying child but he couldn’t help but feel better knowing that anything he did would be better than how Naruto was treated.
He ended up kneeling down again, holding the boy in his arms while he cried. Kakashi couldn’t say for certain how he ended up hugging the child. The only thing he was sure of was that this was his first hug in many years. In fact, he couldn’t remember getting a hug since before the attack of the nine-tail fox.
Kakashi looked down onto the head of bright blonde hair. Naruto was clutching onto Kakashi’s side like his life depended on it with one arm, the other still keeping a firm hold on his new stuffed animal. Both of their shirts were slowly going from might need washed territory to might need destroyed territory with all of the snot and tears they were collecting. Not of this mattered though. Today was the first day of Naruto’s new life and Kakashi would always treasure the memory of being able to give Naruto his very first toy.
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In comparison the rest of the day was rather uneventful. They hung out in Naruto’s room for a while after the boy stopped crying, sitting on the bed and talking about different ways they could decorate. Kakashi, during their discussion, made a mental list of things to get and was only slightly deterred by the idea of painting the entire room orange. Then again, when Naruto beamed at the idea of being allowed to paint the room his favorite color Kakashi knew he couldn’t say no.
After their brain storming they had dinner consisting of stir fried shrimp and sautéed vegetables, both of which Naruto ate with alarming speed. When Kakashi told him to slow down Naruto lowered his eyes and apologized before taking careful bites. Kakashi was then left to blubber on about how Naruto wasn’t in trouble, the older man just didn’t want him to choke on his food. Dinner was finished in relative, but awkward, silence and once they were done Kakashi was left a bit clueless. What was he supposed to do with Naruto now? He didn’t have much experience to fall back on when it came to kids, what did you do with them during the day or during free time? Luckily Naruto answered his questions for him.
“Kashi?” Kakashi inwardly winced at the nickname but looked down at the boy who was standing in front of him.
“Yes, Naruto?”
“You’re a ninja right?” Naruto pointed at his uniform as if to prove his point.
Kakashi nodded. “I am.”
Naruto shifted from foot to foot, clearly not knowing how to word his next sentence. Then, with a sudden burst of determination the little boy blurted it out. “Do you think you could teach me about being a ninja? I just started going to the academy but it’s kind of hard.”
Kakashi sighed with relief. This was something he could handle. “Oh, ok. Sure. What do you need help on?” Naruto ran to his bedroom and came back with his bag. He pulled out a textbook and notebook before plopping back down in his chair.
“We’re learning about vocabulary but I don’t really understand it. Why do we even need to know vocabulary to be a ninja?” Naruto’s eyebrows scrunched together and he turned to glare at the books like they had offended him.
“Well, it’s good to know the basics with everything you do, including being a ninja. Show me what you’re learning right now.” Kakashi pulled his chair over. Naruto paused, glancing between the textbook and notebook as if they would jump up and just give him the answers. Hesitantly he reached for the textbook and flipped it open to the first page, then looked up at Kakashi expentalty.
“Naruto… this is the title page.” Naruto looked at the book, then back up at Kakashi and nodded.
Kakashi elaborated. “This isn’t vocabulary terms.”
“Oh.” Naruto turned a few more pages then gazed back up at Kakashi again.
“That’s the introduction. Naruto, let me ask you this and try not to get upset. Do you know how to read?” Naruto suddenly found the tile in the dining room very interesting.
“I try but the shapes are weird. I don’t get how people can just,” Naruto waved his hand over the page, “get words from them.”
“That’s called reading Naruto. And I’m beginning to think that you’re struggling with it because you never learned how.” Naruto looked up at him, his eyebrows furrowed in obvious confusion.
“You’re supposed to learn how to read? I thought people just did it and that I couldn’t for some reason.” Kakashi had the urge to bang his head against the table. No, what he really wanted to do was bang Naruto’s previous ‘caretakers’ heads against the table. They had just sent a child to the academy without teaching him how to read and expected what? For the boy to magically do well? Kakashi's thoughts began to spiral as he thought about how this boy was treated. Could the villagers really be so cruel to a child? Naruto hadn't done anything wrong, Kakashi had been told he was a bit of a prankster but that didn't excuse such blatant neglect.
Kakashi shook himself from his thoughts to look down at Naruto. The boy stared back with those big blue eyes of his and Kakashi knew exactly how they would be spending the rest of the night.
"Naruto, I'm going to teach you how to read." Kakashi watched Naruto light up instantly.
"Really?" The boy was practically vibrating with excitement at the prospect of learning a new skill.
"Yes. Let's open your notebook and get started." The rest of the night was spent learning the alphabet. Naruto, for all his bubbling energy, was a fast study. They were slowed down, however, whenever Naruto got distracted. Which, according to Kakashi, was every two minutes. The boy was curious, asking questions about everything and the more Kakashi answered the faster the questions came and the more difficult they got.
By the end of the night both were exhausted but feeling accomplished. Naruto had memorized his letters and was well on the way to being able to sound out words. When he started to yawn Kakashi declared it a successful night and that it was time for bed. This reminded Naruto that he had his very own room and the boy suddenly had another burst of energy. He grabbed his backpack and books and ran off before Kakashi could blink. The man followed behind and entered the room just as Naruto dumped everything from his backpack onto the floor.
Kakashi chuckled. “Redecorating already?”
“Needed to find my sleep clothes!” Naruto replied, not bothering to look up from where he was digging through the newly made pile.
“How about we put everything away now so we don’t have to do it tomorrow?” Naruto tilted his head a bit in confusion and Kakashi was reminded of his nin-dogs. When it became apparent that Naruto didn’t understand what it meant to put things away Kakashi led him through the steps, teaching Naruto how to fold his clothes and put them in the dresser properly. While they did this Kakashi found himself filling the silence by reassuring Naruto that tomorrow they would go clothes shopping to get everything he could possibly need, and then some. Naruto nodded at the appropriate times but slowly began to withdraw the more Kakashi spoke. It only took a few minutes but Naruto went from bubbly and happy to reserved and almost scared. When Kakashi watched Naruto lower his head after the clothes were put away his need to understand got the better of him.
Kakashi knelt down so he and Naruto could be eye to eye while they spoke. “Naruto, can you tell me what’s wrong?”
“You don’t have to get me anything. I don’t want to be a burden.” That word coming from Naruto almost stung. It was another reminder about how poorly he had been treated.
“Naruto, you’re not a burden.” The older man tried his best to comfort the small boy by placing a hand on his shoulder, but it didn’t feel like nearly enough.
Naruto grew more agitated, shaking his head and crossing his arms over his stomach. “I am though. The ladies always said so. That I was a burden to the village and I know that’s bad. I don’t want to be bad.”
Of all the things Naruto could have said, this wasn’t what Kakashi was expecting. It broke his heart to think that Naruto thought so little of himself. “Oh, Naruto. You’re not a burden. You’re a child. A child is meant to be taken care of. It’s not a burden to take care of a child and if someone sees it that way then they shouldn’t be taking care of children. Do you understand?”
“Sort of.” Kakashi did the only thing he could think to do and held out his arms. Naruto, after some hesitation and a moment's consideration, stepped forward into the embrace. Once Naruto was in his arms, Kakashi gently picked the boy up before he sat down on the bed with Naruto in his lap, cradling the boy close.
They sat in the silence for a moment, both seeking comfort. It was a few minutes later when Kakashi spoke once again. “What I mean to say is this. You are important to me. I know you haven’t known me for very long but I’ve been trying to adopt you for a while.”
“Why? Why would you want to adopt me?” Naruto whispered in Kakashi’s shirt.
It was a question Kakashi knew he would have to answer but he thought he would have more time. According to law Kakashi wasn’t allowed to give the answer he wanted but he certainly wasn’t going to leave Naruto in the dark. “Well… I knew your parents.”
Blue eyes met a singular gray eye. “Really? You… you knew them?”
Kakashi nodded. “Yes, I did.”
“Can you tell me about them?” This had Kakashi stumped. He knew names were well out of the question but if he kept his descriptions general and based on personality rather than physical defining traits...
“Your father was very strong and very fast. He was smart and clever but also extremely kind. He took care of me after some very hard times. And your mother was fierce. She was probably one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. And I know they both cared about you very, very much.” Kakashi looked down at the top of a bright blonde head and let out a sigh. He could feel tears falling onto his shirt but what concerned him more were the tears that spilled from Obito’s eye. He couldn’t help but be grateful that it was covered and Naruto couldn’t see them. He didn’t want to worry the boy.
It didn't take long for the tears to stop, after all, it had been a long day. Kakashi carefully nudged Naruto off of his lap before gathering his sleep clothes and helping him change, despite a few protests. Kakashi had done something similar for injured comrades on missions but this situation was a stark difference from what he was used to. The clothes were much smaller and Naruto felt it necessary to struggle every step of the way. If this were being done on a mission the other person was usually unconscious. To hear loud complaints and dodge tiny feet was surreal. After taking about double the time it should have, Naruto was finally in his sleep clothes, including a sleeping cap that was too big for his head. The boy insisted that it helped him sleep so Kakashi wasn’t going to argue, no matter how ridiculous he thought Naruto looked. As he was helping tuck the boy in Naruto turned to look up at him, giving him an unidentifiable look, his eyebrows scrunched up, his eyes squinted, and his mouth in a hard line. Kakashi stopped adjusting the blankets to kneel down beside the boy, waiting for him to say what was on his mind.
After Naruto had scrutinized Kakashi and found what he wanted he finally spoke. “You’re really adopting me, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am.” Kakashi hoped the smile translated through his mask.
“I’m not going back?” He knew Naruto was asking for reassurance and Kakashi happily provided him with it.
“Never.” Not if Kakashi was still breathing but he decided that was a bit too intense to voice to a four year old.
Naruto was silent for a minute and didn’t meet Kakashi’s eyes when he asked his next question. “You’re a ninja… what if something happens? Will I go back then?”
“I actually have a plan in place for that. There is a man who I trust very much. He’s a bit odd but he’s kind. When you’re more comfortable here I would like you to meet him. If you like him then I’ll ask him to take care of you if something happens to me. I’ll also talk to a few more of my friends, just in case. Whatever happens in the future, you will never be alone again.” Naruto responded with some sniffles and nods but this time there were no water works. Kakashi couldn’t help but be thankful for that.
“Kashi?” Something in Naruto’s eyes spoke of determination. He met Kakashi’s gaze with confidence that no four year old should have.
“Yes?”
“I’m gonna be the best kid you could ever have, believe it.” Obito’s eye was crying again and this time Kakashi could feel his eye reacting too. He took Naruto’s hand and gave it a squeeze, trying to not break down in front of the little boy.
“Naruto, I’ve got a secret to tell you.” Kakashi took a breath, his voice thick with emotion. “You already are the best kid I could ever have.” Naruto let a few tears slip but gave Kakashi a huge smile in return.
After everything that had happened the exhaustion that suddenly hit Kakashi with full force shouldn’t have surprised him. He made a quick exit plan and made a show of standing up and cracking his back. The loud pops making Naruto giggle. “Well, looks like you’re all snug in there. Better get to sleep soon, we have a full day tomorrow. Goodnight, Naruto.”
“Night Kashi.” Before Kakashi even turned off the light Naruto’s eyes were drifting closed.
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The shopping trip that Kakashi had sworn would be easy quickly turned into a nightmare. The part that surprised him the most was that it wasn’t Naruto who was causing problems. Oh no, the boy was subdued to the point of it being disturbing. He had already shown that he was no less than a ball of energy when he was at home and yet the second they were in public his head went down and he got quiet. That hadn’t worried Kakashi too much until they entered the first store. It was a rather large clothing store that Kakashi knew also sold children’s clothes. They had only been inside for a few minutes before they were approached by an employee.
“Sir, I’m sorry but you’re going to have to leave.” Kakashi had been asked to leave stores before, but usually because they thought he was loitering. Now, when he was actually shopping, it made no sense.
“Why?”
“I’m sorry, let me be more specific. You don’t have to leave but that thing does.” Kakashi felt like he had been slapped across the face.
“Excuse me?”
“We don’t sell clothes to the beast, that thing is not allowed in here.” The word beast was sneered and the man turned his nose up at Naruto in disgust.
“He’s not a beast, he’s a little boy.” Kakashi’s voice was calm but anyone with a brain would have noticed the sudden drop in temperature and dark aura. The man in front of them apparently was missing his brain as he didn’t even blink an eye at Kakashi.
“We’ll have to agree to disagree. Now, I’ll say it again, either it leaves or you both do.” Kakashi grabbed Naruto’s hand and walked away, despite every cell in his body telling him to commit murder. If he was slightly less dedicated to the village he would have thought more about killing that man in broad daylight then running away to be a missing nin with Naruto in tow. As it was he settled on clearing the street of all other people with his intent to kill.
Kakashi hadn’t thought it was possible, but their experiences only got worse from there. The furniture and décor store they tried to go into didn’t even let them in the door and it seemed that once word was out most of the stores had someone waiting by the entrances to turn them away. By now his intent to kill had cleared all but the stupidest of people, meaning only those who were hateful enough to keep little boys out of their shops just because they were different remained.
“It’s ok, Kashi. I don’t mind the clothes I have.” Naruto fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, watching Kakashi with care. Kakashi, however, was too mad to notice the boy’s nervousness. He kept a tight grip on Naruto’s hand as he stormed down the street, too mad to even see if there were people in his way. If they were smart they wouldn’t be.
“Naruto, you have one pair of pants and two shirts. That’s not nearly enough for a kid. I don’t even remember being a kid but I know I had more clothes than that,” Kakashi snapped.
Naruto sniffled slightly but tried again to appease the man. “It’s fine, really.”
“It’s not!” Kakashi heard the first choked off cries and quietly cursed before walking off of the street so he could better comfort Naruto. He pulled them over to a quiet area and the moment they stopped moving Naruto immediately covered his face with his hands, tears falling between small fingers. Kakashi reached out to try and comfort the boy but stopped before he could touch him. He was afraid of making things worse and felt the anxiety of dealing with such a strange situation begin to build.
“I’m sorry, I’m not mad at you.” The boy's cries picked up and with them, Kakashi’s panic increased.
Kakashi became frantic, his arms hovering close to the boy but still not touching him. “It’s ok Naruto, really. I’m not mad, I’m sorry.” Naruto went from crying to sobbing. Kakashi, out of desperation, was about to teleport them both back to his apartment when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“You boys ok?” Both Kakashi and Naruto looked up into the eyes of an older man. He was wearing a while chef’s coat and matching hat. A quick glance told Kakashi that they were having their melt down right outside a ramen stand.
Kakashi didn’t know how to reply so he answered honestly. “I don’t know.” The man started to laugh but Kakashi quickly realized it wasn’t unkind. His face was bright, smile lines accentuated with mirth.
“I can’t tell you how many times my little girl made a scene in public when she was your boy’s age. Sometimes just going out is enough to overwhelm kids. Now, it’s about lunch time. How about you both come in and have some ramen?”
At this Kakashi stood up, standing between Naruto and the stranger. After everything he had experienced today he was on edge. Someone suddenly showing them kindness was suspicious at best and a planned attack at worst.
“If you’re trying something because of who he is then you had better stop now. I’m in no mood to be toyed with.” The icy tone would be enough to scare away a lesser man but apparently this ramen stand owner was made of steel.
The man blinked at Kakashi’s sudden mood swing then nodded. His eyes met Kakashi’s and the other man gave him a small, sad smile. “I can only imagine what you’ve been through today. I’m sorry you both had to experience that. Some people can’t look past their hate to see the truth. I don’t think the boy’s anything more than that, a little boy. I know this probably won’t do much to comfort you but how about you both come in for some food. On the house.”
Naruto had finally calmed down enough to be listening and seemed to pick up on the most mundane detail, in Kakashi’s opinion. He grabbed Kakashi’s pant leg and gave it a small tug to get his attention.
“Kashi? What’s ramen? Can… can we try it?” Kakashi sighed, feeling he had lost a battle of wills that he didn’t even know he had started, and motioned for the man to return to his restaurant before picking Naruto up and carrying him inside, gently setting him down on a stool at the bar. The rest of the restaurant was blessedly empty.
Naruto looked around curiously while they waited and his eyes went wide when a large bowl of noodles, toppings and broth was set in front of him moments later. The older man smiled at them and gave them a nod. “You two deserve a break after all that drama, enjoy!”
After a bit of instruction from Kakashi on how to attack such a food, Naruto dug in. Naruto took a cautious bite, then another, then Kakashi watched as the ramen disappeared in seconds. Kakashi ate his own at impossible speeds, careful so that nobody could see him with his mask down.
“That was really good!” Naruto beamed up at Kakashi, his bowl completely empty.
“I’m glad you liked it!” The old man was back, carrying a piece of paper that he handed over to Kakashi.
“Thought I would have more time to work on that but it’s a start.” Kakashi looked down at the paper, saw a list of addresses, then looked back up at the man expectantly. “It’s a list of different shops around town. I know most of the owners personally and they’re good people. They shouldn’t have too many problems with you two shopping there and if they do have a problem they’ll keep their mouths shut.
Kakashi had been ready to condemn the entire village but, staring down at the piece of paper, he reminded himself that the worst of the bunch were always the most visible. It took effort to find the good people. Or, in their case, it took a melt down in the right place at the right time. “I… thank you. That’s very kind of you.”
The restaurant owner waved his hand. “Don’t mention it. Just promise to come back sometime soon to tell me how the rest of your shopping goes!”
“Really, thank you again, um…” Kakashi paused to give the man a chance to introduce himself.
“Teuchi .” The man gave him a grin which Kakashi returned, using his one visible eye to show his smile.
“Kakashi. And this is Naruto Uzumaki.” Kakashi put a hand on Naruto’s shoulder.
Naruto gave Teuchi a smile that was so bright it rivaled the sun. “Thanks for the ramen! It was really good!”
“I’m happy you liked it Naruto! Make sure to ask your dad to bring you back here some time!” The word dad made Kakashi’s stomach flip so he decided a quick retreat was in order.
“I think it’s time for us to go give these shops a try. Goodbye, and thank you again. I appreciate your help.” Kakashi gave the man the most sincere look he could with three fourths of his face covered, then lifted Naruto up after asking permission. The boy waved goodbye as they walked out.
“We’ll be back!” Naruto replied. Kakashi felt impending doom at Naruto’s enthusiasm. He had a feeling it was going to become a challenge to convince the boy to eat anything else.
With more waving and their last goodbyes the two set off once again and this time they were much more successful. Naruto went back to being quiet but the ramen seemed to help his mood because he looked around the shop curiously rather than keeping his head down. When an employee approached them Kakashi prepared himself for the worst, only for the woman to ask if they needed help. Kakashi explained that he had just adopted Naruto. The woman jumped to his aid and before he could blink his arms were full of clothes in Naruto’s size and the woman had whisked Naruto off to show him t-shirts with different designs on them. Every time Naruto said he liked a shirt it was added to the pile in Kakashi’s arms. While he felt the need to complain about being treated like a work horse he kept quiet. The woman was smiling down at Naruto as he told her all about his new room and how Kakashi was teaching him how to read. It was good for him to be able to interact with people who didn’t treat him like a monster and Kakashi wasn’t about to interrupt. By the time the store clerk and Naruto had finished shopping Kakashi could barely see over the mound of clothes in his arms. When he dumped it all on the checkout counter Naruto finally realized just how much they were about to buy. He tugged gently on Kakashi’s shirt.
“Kashi, we don’t have to get all of this, it’s ok.”
Kakashi kneeled down to speak with Naruto. “What if I want to get all of this for you?”
“You don’t have to.” Naruto kept his head down but hadn’t let go of Kakashi’s shirt.
“But I want to. I want you to have nice things.” The woman who was helping them check out gave a breathy sigh and looked at Kakashi like he had hung the moon. Naruto nodded but that little furrow of his eyebrows never quite went away.
The next store went similarly. Naruto got caught up in the excitement of shopping and talking to someone who was kind to him, then when it came time to check out he got worried. Kakashi knew it would take time to convince Naruto that he deserved nice things, but he was happy to take the time to convince the boy.
They had gone to three more stores by the time they called it quits. Kakashi’s arms were now loaded with bags of clothes, decorations, and toys. The toy shop had been a particular challenge because Naruto kept trying to convince Kakashi that he didn’t need anything. His eyes betrayed him, however, as he would glance over to whatever toys he truly wanted. Kakashi had bought him everything he looked at for longer than a second just because he could. Naruto fought him on it for a while but eventually conceded. Kakashi wasn’t foolish enough to think that he was the more stubborn of the two but he was glad Naruto gave up the fight early. It didn’t go past Kakashi’s notice that Naruto was eyeing the bag that held the new stuffed animals. When they got home Kakashi decided he would let Naruto play for a while before they put everything away. Kakashi was slowly coming to realize that sometimes it was important to work on being happy first. He had a sneaking suspicion that his sensei would be laughing at him for having taken so long to figure that out.