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“Day with Dad?” Kakashi asked, resting comfortably on Dad’s hip.
“Not today, darling.” Dad said, leaping into the trees. He paused for a moment, squeezing Kakashi’s side, before he took off running. Kakashi howled happily, tilting his head up as they raced through the branches.
Dad’s chest rumbled against him, and Kakashi glanced back and up to see Dad grinning.
Kakashi sniffed, stretching up a little into the swift wind of their passage, clinging to Dad for stability. They raced through the trees, and Kakashi sighed as they crossed over onto the rooftops of the village, heading in towards where there were more and more people.
Not today with Dad, Kakashi thought, and tugged at Dad’s vest.
“Stay with Mama?” Kakashi asked instead, and Dad crooned, bowing his head to rub their noses together. Kakashi giggled, winding his fingers into Dad’s hair.
“Yes, my little cub; you’ll stay with Mama today.” Dad said happily, and bounced Kakashi lightly. He smiled again, looking around, and recognised the big tower where Mama’s office was, still some way away but growing steadily closer as Dad ran.
“Mama!” Kakashi cried, reaching out one hand towards it.
“Shall we go down to the doors, or through the window?” Dad asked, and Kakashi giggled.
“Window!”
Dad hummed. “Why am I not surprised. . .” He laughed.
“Dad?” Kakashi asked, wriggling.
“Nothing, cub.” Dad kissed the top of his head, darting across one more roof and then leaping higher. Kakashi howled with glee as they started racing up the side of the tower, higher and higher.
It wasn’t as high - or as fun - as some of the trees they played in, but Kakashi enjoyed the ride anyway. And then Dad swung them up to the window, leaping lightly over the sill, where there were a few brightly-coloured snakes sharing the sun.
Kakashi crooned at them, and one lifted her head briefly to hiss at him in return, tongue flicking.
“Hello, my heart.” Mama said, rising behind his desk, and Kakashi yipped, letting go of Dad’s vest to reach for Mama. “Hello, precious.” Mama added, stepping away from his chair, and Dad moved towards him. Kakashi found himself promptly caught between them as they came in close together, warm and snug.
Kakashi snuggled into his place there and Mama crooned, fingers ruffling through Kakashi’s hair as Dad nuzzled Mama affectionately. Mama tipped his head for a kiss from Dad, and Kakashi nosed along his collarbone.
Mama and Dad talked about something Kakashi didn’t really understand, something to do with Dad’s next mission, and Kakashi sighed, wriggling in Dad’s arms and nestling higher against Mama’s shoulder.
“Be safe, my heart.” Mama said as Dad shifted Kakashi’s weight into his arms instead, and they traded one more kiss.
“Of course, lovely.” Dad said, nuzzling him gently. “Don’t murder any of your council.”
Mama made a sound that was not really a promise.
“Not until I get back, mm?” Dad said, laughing, squeezing the nape of Kakashi’s neck.
“I’ll do my best.” Mama said wryly.
“Have fun with Mama today, cub.” Dad said, ruffling Kakashi’s hair and hopping over the snakes on the windowsill again, dropping out of sight.
“When’s Dad back?” Kakashi asked, looking up at Mama.
“Only a few days, precious.” Mama said, two fingers stroking down Kakashi’s cheek.
Kakashi nodded, glancing back at the window.
“Hokage-sama- Ah, pardon me.”
Kakashi looked around at the open door.
Mama said something scolding at the ninja in the doorway, and he looked even more sheepish, taking a step back. Even Kakashi knew they were supposed to knock when the door was closed.
“Well if it’s important enough to disregard protocol and simply let yourself in directly, then come in,” Mama said sharply, a contrast to the gentle way he bounced Kakashi again before letting him down to the floor, “and tell me.”
Mama made a few seals and two of Manda-sama’s youngest hatchlings - who were already bigger than Nori - appeared in a puff of smoke near Kakashi.
“Play nicely.” Mama said almost absently as he stepped away, and Kakashi giggled, reaching up to greet the vipers as they leaned in and twined around him affectionately, their bright purple scales gleaming in the sunshine.
Kakashi fidgeted in Mama’s arms, and Mama murmured wordlessly, rocking him and petting his back. Kakashi huffed, slumping against Mama’s shoulder as the ninja in front of Mama’s desk went on and on, talking about the most boring stuff.
Kakashi shook his head, grimacing. The ninja was wearing a porcelain mask to hide his face - Kakashi thought it was silly, all those ninja who wore the masks still smelled like themselves, but Dad said most people couldn’t tell - and his voice sounded . . . funny, behind it.
It made Kakashi’s ears ring strangely, just at the edge of hearing, and the feeling was unpleasant. He lifted a hand to rub at his ear, whining, and Mama kissed his brow, hissing softly.
Kakashi dropped his hand and sighed, trying not to whine too much.
“Hokage-sama, you cannot possibly think to-”
“I am the Hokage.” Mama reminded, in a tone Kakashi had heard him slip into so many times in this office; impatient and irritated, and sharp with it in a way he never was at home no matter how much trouble Kakashi was in or what he and Dad were talking about, not even when Oji-gama was visiting. Kakashi lifted his head again, growling, teeth bared. Mama crooned, stroking his hair, then bent, letting him slide down into the support of Nori’s broad coils.
Kakashi wriggled, patting Nori’s scales, and he lifted his head to nudge along Kakashi’s jaw and neck. Kakashi snuggled into his coils.
“The ANBU were created for poor reasons,” Mama said, straightening once more, “and a division unanswerable to any checks on their actions is not something I wish to continue in my village. So yes, you will be phased out.”
“Hokage-”
“I have been working towards this since my investment,” Mama said as Kakashi growled playfully at Nori, receiving another gentle nudge in return; it was Mama’s I am being patient for now tone, and Kakashi thought the ninja was very silly to still be protesting, “the changes will not be too hasty.”
Kakashi ignored it as Mama and the ninja in his silly porcelain mask kept talking - as though it was ever possible to argue with Mama, Kakashi thought, shaking his head. Nori squeezed around him, and Kakashi giggled, tumbling over his best friend and baring his teeth playfully.
Nori laughed softly, a whisper of a sound, and then-
Kakashi lifted his head, mouth slightly open so he could smelltaste better as he listened.
“Daddy!” Kakashi howled, grinning, a moment before Dad appeared in the window, bracing one hand between the snakes sunning on the sill - they moved to make room, not protesting - and vaulting inside.
“I said you’re dismissed, Monkey.” Mama said, and Kakashi yipped, reaching up.
“There’s my cub!” Dad said happily, kneeling beside Nori, smoothing a hand over his head and down his coils, then reaching out to Kakashi.
Nori slithered aside, giving Kakashi a nudge as he scrambled towards Dad. He heard Mama’s voice growing sharper, the funny porcelain-edged sound of the ninja’s voice, and then, finally, the door closing. Kakashi perked up and Dad closed an arm around him, looking up.
Mama smiled down at them, and Dad glanced back at Kakashi, grinning crookedly. Kakashi whined, curious and confused, and Dad shifted, then lunged, careful not to put any weight on Nori.
Startling, Mama laughed as Dad’s arm looped around his legs, bringing him toppling down into the floor with them. Nori grumbled a little and moved, draping himself over Mama’s legs as he settled sideways, leaning into Dad.
“Welcome home, my heart.” Mama said, leaning his head towards Dad’s, his long hair falling across Kakashi where he was cradled between them.
Kakashi snuggled into Dad’s side and sighed as his parents kissed over his head. “Dad.” he said happily as Dad moved again, pulling Kakashi a little more into his lap.
“How have things been since I left you, lovely?” Dad asked, nuzzling Mama’s jaw.
“Tiresome.” Mama said dryly.
“Poor lovely.” Dad said, kissing Mama’s cheek. “How has it been, cub?” he asked Kakashi, ruffling his hair.
“Stupid ninja are boring.” Kakashi sighed, and Dad laughed. “And there’s lots of them.”
“There always are, bothering your mother, aren’t there?” Dad asked, and Kakashi huffed in agreement, grinning as Mama echoed the sound. “I don’t suppose you could be wheedled into leaving them to themselves early today?”
“Go home?” Kakashi asked, leaning up hopefully.
“Mm. . . I might be persuaded.” Mama said with a slanting smile, and Kakashi yowled happily. He knew Mama - that meant yes, he was just playing a bit first. Mama laughed softly, stroking his cheek, and Kakashi nuzzled into it.
Dad slid one hand along Mama’s jaw and into his hair, drawing him close for another soft kiss, then drawing away just enough to rub their noses together. “Home, lovely?” Dad’s voice was soft, coaxing, and he sent a conspiratorial look at Kakashi before nuzzling Mama’s face, stroking his long hair back.
Kakashi stifled giggles and cuddled into his parents as they traded lightly teasing words, Nori winding around him and draping over their legs.
“Yes,” Mama said, wrinkling his nose playfully and tracing a caress over Dad’s face, then down to hook his fingers over the collar of Dad’s vest, “we’ll go home.” He paused, toying with the spiky ends of Dad’s hair. “I’m glad you’ve returned, my heart.”
Dad smiled, and Kakashi clung to him as they rose, Mama supporting Nori higher around himself - hissing softly as he adjusted to the movement, head settling on Mama’s shoulder - before following.
“Home!” Kakashi said happily, bouncing on Dad’s hip, and his parents smiled.