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Chapter Text

Kakashi stared at the still lifeless bodies that was once Kushina and Minato. The closest thing to parents he had in over ten years, gone because of the god damn kyubbi.

All that was left of the three, the two heroes and the demon, was a small baby, barely born into this world, sobbing into the open air. Kakashi crumbled to his knees in front of the crib, pushing away some of the candles. He picked up the baby, ‘Naruto’ he think he remembers. Yeah. ‘Naruto’. It was the name of the protagonist of Jiraya-san’s book. They had it picked out long before this day.

Kakashi sniffled, picked up Naruto, and held him ever so carefully, his cries calming immediately. Kakashi rocked him and the baby, the former being brought to tears as the latter calmed down. He stared at the darkened sky, a choked and ugly sob coming from the very core of his being, his lungs shaking with the effort of the small task of breathing, his eyes burned, his mask was soaked, and he didn’t know what to do other than hold Naruto in his arms. Naruto had somehow managed to fall asleep through Kakashi’s sobbing, which Kakashi was thankful for.

He weeped. It was open, it was ugly, it was every emotion Kakashi hated showing because emotions meant weakness, meant distraction.

But right now, Minato was gone.

Kushina was gone.

Obito was gone.

Rin was gone.

And his father was gone.

All that was left of his precious people was the small bundle in his arms, with a mop of golden hair and whisker marks on his cheeks.

By the time Kakashi had calmed himself, his lungs finally inflating again, the Sandaime Hokage had appeared at the scene, assessing the damage. It had been extensional, but it was damage that wasn’t done to the main village.

“Kakashi.” Hiruzen had said, starring down at Kakashi.

“Yes, Hokage-sama?”

Hiruzen sighed. “Hand over the child, Kakashi.”

“But-“

“No.”

“He has no one, sir. He’ll be alone.” Kakashi argued against the Hokage for the first time in his life.

“Kakashi, you are fourteen. He needs adult to look after him. He’ll be fine in an orphanage.” Hiruzen said, taking the baby away from Kakashi.

“Wait- no- please!” Kakashi begged, loosing his grasp on the child. “Wait please, he’s all I’ve got, we’ve only got each other! You have to let me look after him!” Kakashi panicked, staring at the last price of his family walk away.

Hiruzen glared at the young boy. “Go help with clean up.” He turned away and usher some ANBU to help with the disposal of the bodies. “Go, Hound. That’s an order from your Hokage.”

Hound straightened, the porcelain mask clicking into place faster than Kakashi could register. He was off before anyone could take a second glance at him.

<>

It was autopilot from there. It was clean up, then it was mission after mission after mission. There were no breaks. Hound was pushed to the brink and further for months on end, muscles aching, feet pounding against the ground. There was no stop for him.

Blood was in the air, on his hands, in his very soul. His life was red with enough death surrounding him to become the grim reaper.

He was an unstoppable force. He could not be stoped because he was simply a tool. Something to better the village with because he could get his hands dirty while everyone else’s stayed clean.

He wouldn’t stop, wasn’t stopping, would never stop unless told otherwise.

Until he saw it.

He saw a little blond mop of hair out of the corner of his eye, making him stop right in his tracks. He was laying alone in the attic of the orphanage, his toothless mouth agape wide with a cry, tears streaming down his cheeks, and a grumble from his stomach so loud Kakashi could pick it up from the tree he stood in outside of the orphanage building. It was fine, surely it was fine. Naruto would be alright. He could do this mission and Naruto would be fed and be alright by the time he was back. He’d only be gone a few hours, so it was alright.

Oh how wrong he was.

He finished the mission in eight hours, coming back to find Naruto still crying, his stomach still empty.

Shit.

Kakashi stood in that tree for a couple minutes. He’d have to feed him. Of course he would. But what could he? He had no teeth and he himself couldn’t feed him, he wasn’t a mom.

But wait, that’s just it! He knew a mom! A mom that could help him!

But that involved breaking into the Uchiha district. Easy enough, Kakashi was desperate.

So here he was, sneaking past privacy seals, guards and police alike, sneaking into the main family’s house, and into the kitchen.

Kakashi hovered for just a moment, scared about what he was going to say, until the dark haired woman in all her elegance sat and teapot on the table, two teacups right across from each other.

“I was wondering when you’d showed up.” Mikoto said with all the grace and brilliance of a well trained shinobi. “Kushina was my best friend, it only made sense for us to talk eventually; no matter how much my husband hates you. I don’t. I never will.”

Kakashi slowly moved into the room, into the light, and took a seat with the tea already poured. He looked up at Mikoto, then looked down at his hands. He was in ANBU, he could do this!  But this, this was terrifying, this wasn’t something he could fight tooth and nail out of. This was the best friend of his almost-mother-mostly-big-sister, and he felt like his mere presence was a disappointment to her.

“Come. What’s bothering you sweetheart?”

Kakashi took a breath. “I wanna look after Kushina’s son someday. But right now he’s in the orphanage by himself, and they’re not feeding him. I don’t know what to do.” Kakashi said pathetically, his voice cracking and his eyes falling.

Mikoto hummed, stood, took a brush and paper, wrote a few quick characters on the sheet, and handed it to Kakashi.

Kakashi took the paper, then glanced at Mikoto for further instruction.

“There are no shortcuts or instructions on how to raise a child, there are no orders to be given or to give, it is simply your child and your parenting.” Mikoto started, turning to face Kakashi entirely now. “You take it one step at a time, and you can start by buying formula and feeding him. Simple as that.”

Kakashi nodded slowly. He stood, bowed deeply towards Mikoto, then left with haste.

He dropped into an all hours convenience store, a henge on his form as he grabbed a pack of formula and a bottle, paying quickly and leaving. He left to his apartment to grab a blanket and to make the formula, his day coming to a standstill. As the pot heated, he stared at the still water, his hair slightly showing in the reflection.

Someday, Naruto would find out what he has done. He would find out about the blood on his hands, the death in his wake, the lives he had ruined. So much blood, in his lungs, on his hands, in his very state of mind. Kakashi quickly took his hands to the sink and started scrubbing until his hand were rubbed raw and the water started boiling.

The sound of water sizzling over a hot element broke Kakashi out of his state of trance, him quickly pouring a bit of the formula into the water. He turned the heat off, stirred, let it cool, filled the bottle, and left his apartment through the window.

Naruto was still crying when he returned. Hi sobs had turned into hoarse wailing, his throat raw. Kakashi stepped into the room, bottle in hand. He checked the temperature against his hand, then placed the bottled in front of Naruto’s mouth. He stopped crying and latched onto the bottled, his noises reduced to sniffling and starved drinking. Kakashi stared at the child, his gentle hands not yet tainted with blood. He wondered if he would dirty him if he touched him now. If his years of killing and maiming would inherently make this sweet innocent being in front of him suddenly an awful person. He wondered-

His train of thought stopped when a small hand latched onto a finger, gripping tightly as Naruto drank, Kakashi staring in wonder.

He was still fine, and still Naruto.

He was living, breathing and no longer starving because of him.

Because of him.

He fed him, he helped a life instead of harming one. Maybe this was how he helped pay for his crimes. Maybe he could heal by simply being a parent to this child. This child who was every ball of sunshine his father was, and every bit of Uzumaki that his mother was.

Naruto let out a loud burp, the bottle empty and his cries subdued. He still gripped Kakashi’s finger tightly, but looked as if he was ready to sleep.

Kakashi looked through his hound mask, then gently picked up the boy and held him up, humming a soft tune he remembers his own father singing.

“Guess you’ll be tired after crying all day.” Kakashi muttered quietly. “I’ve got you now, whether you think so or not, I will always have your back.”

Kakashi leaned against the wall and slid into a sitting position. Naruto’s face was tucked into his neck, soft snores coming from his mouth.

“You’ve got me, too. For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel like the blood is still there, on my hands. It’s simply you, my Naruto, my pack.” Kakashi sighed, taking in and memorizing the smell of Naruto’s hair. “I’m going to quit ANBU. I’m going to do whatever I can to have you in my arms. I’m going to help you, I’m going to make you lunches for when you’re off to school, I’m going to help you with homework, I’ll help you throw a kunai and help you sleep when you have nightmares.” Kakashi slowly placed Naruto back in his crib, squating on the windowsill to make sure the blonde would stay asleep.

“I will love you forever, Minato and Kushina loved you, and I will love you just the same, whether one or one million miles away, I will always come back to you.”

Chapter Text

Kakashi stared at the head rolling on the ground, loosing its momentum, then coming to a stop. The body itself swayed for a moment, then fell to the bloodstained ground with a thud. Kakashi didn’t know who the man was, didn’t know if he had family waiting for him or a home to return to. It was for the mission.

The head was sealed into a scroll and tucked into his pocket, his eyelid was closed over his now throbbing eye, and his hands were now wiped of the blood now smeared everywhere over the room. How disgusting this was. Peace is what the village wanted, this was far from it. Peace was a cover for everything he did in the shadows. ‘The Village Hidden in the Leaves’. The shinobi her leaves, the trunk the Hokage. Once you stopped her of her leaves, all the was left was a rotting, dying, push-over of a trunk with no will left to fight true evil. No fighting against human trafficking unless it touched Konoha’s borders, no helping their allies unless it touched Konoha’s borders, and really, no help for the shinobi themselves unless the Hokage himself was touched.

Kakashi missed Minato. He can’t remember a time when he was working under Minato there wasn’t a reason for the mission other than a powerful shinobi was stalking the borders. Minato would send him to help the land of waves, would get him to help a human trafficking ring near the hidden grass village. Kakashi felt right with Minato. He felt like a true shinobi under Minato, his work towards help and his heart towards home. Hiruzen, he just wanted threats gone before new ones could arise, simply making enemies before even thinking about making friends.

That much was clear with Uzushio.

But Kakashi couldn’t dwell on that right now. All he needed to do was make his way back to the village and return this scroll, because he had found a loophole. He could get Naruto. He could have him in his arms every night, singing him softly to sleep, his belly full and a joyous laugh from the little one’s lungs.

Just get back, that’s all he had to do.

He could ignore his growing exhaustion, the bone deep tiredness making his head grow heavy absolutely nothing compared to his need to get back to Naruto.

“Hound-senpai, you seem…distanced.” Tenzo to the right of him muttered, concern evident in his voice.

Kakashi stopped dead in his tracks, they had made it a few kilometres past the Land of Fire border. He felt this was a good enough spot to camp anyways. He took a deep breath and sighed. He jumped from the tree to the ground, then turned towards the brown haired boy.

“I am, sort of.” Kakashi sat in the small clearing, lighting a piece of wood on fire in no time. “I…Can I tell you this in complete confidence?” He asked, eyes drifting up to look Tenzo directly.

Tenzo nodded once, and that’s all Kakashi needed.

“The Fourth’s son, Naruto, I’m looking to adopt him. He hasn’t been treated well at all, going days without being fed or changed. I’ve been looking after him and I’m just so worried.” Kakashi looked towards his hands, and held them against the fire for a moment.

“Attachment is dangerous, senpai.” Tenzo warned.

Kakashi smiled under the mask. “He’s worth it. So, so worth it.”

Tenzo nodded. “I trust you.”

“I’m glad.”

<>

Kakashi returned to Konoha just the day after, entering the Hokage’s office as fast as possible. He bowed deeply, then faced him without Hound’s mask on his face.

“Good morning Kakashi, what can I do for you?” Hiruzen said, clearly distracted as his brush rushed across a price of parchment.

“I’m taking my place in the shinobi council as the head of the Hatake clan.”

Hiruzen’s hand froze in place, ink bleeding into the grooves of the parchment. “You’re…taking your place.”

“Yes.”

“And you are quitting ANBU? Or continuing your duties?”

“As meetings are every sunday I will be taking missions that will take me no longer than friday.” Kakashi pulled a piece of parchment from his pouch. “These are the forms that need signing to officiate my spot on the council.”

“Kakashi, you need to be an adult.”

“By shinobi law, I have been a legal adult since the day I was granted the title of genin.” Kakashi explained. “This is the shinobi council, I have my rights to the spot.”

Hiruzen sighed, then signed the papers with a quick swish of his wrist. “Do you understand this does not make you an adult in the eyes of the civilian council?”

Kakashi paused, taking a deep breath. “No, why would it matter anyways?”

“Because to adopt Naruto, you would need to be an adult in the eyes on the civilians. Don’t deny this, I know you want the boy.” Hiruzen stared Kakashi dead in his eyes. “Like it or not, you will have to wait. Even then, with you being in ANBU, the chance of passing any mental checks is low.”

Kakashi’s stare hardened. This man in front of him, the man once praised for his leadership and spirit in battle, was here in front of him practically threatening him with the denial of Naruto.

He understood he needed help, he understood that he disassociated and often couldn’t handle human presence, but Naruto, oh precious sweet Naruto who was barely a babe, who would babble whenever he saw Kakashi’s Hound mask, would would grasp his fingers whenever he was being fed, who would fall asleep in his arms without second thought because there was nothing but blind love and trust in the sweet child.

Naruto trusted him with his life, and before the whisker marked boy could even talk Kakashi trusted his with him.

So when Kakashi left the room, he left silently with fire in his veins and a scowl in his eyes. He left into the day, leaping through buildings until he reached his own apartment. Through the window and into his room, he checked throughout and settled at his single chair and small table.

He’d need to get so much stuff for Naruto.

He had three more years to prepare, he’d be able to get a larger apartment for the two of them too. He never upgraded out of necessity. But with Naruto, he needed to. The boy would need places to colour and places to jump on the walls and a bed to bounce on with enough books and toys to keep his brain as active as his body. If he was anything like Kushina, which Kakashi was sure he would be, he would be hyperactive and loud with more energy than the sun.

Three years. He could do it. Three years in ANBU would get him enough money to move and have a place for Naruto, three years on the council would garner him enough respect from both shinobi and civilian alike that they would have no choice but to accept him as Naruto’s legal guardian, and three years in therapy would help him enough to allow himself to heal for Naruto.

He could wait.

So he waited, and Sunday came along, his first council meeting.

The extra seat at the Shinobi side of the table was enough to tip off the council members, eyeing it suspiciously until Kakashi sauntered into the room, a grace to his step and a confidence in his posture. He took a seat next to Fugaku and Tsume, bowing towards the both.

“Nice to finally see you, little cousin of mine!” Tsume all but cheered, rubbing Kakashi’s head.

“It’s about time, honestly.” Kakashi quipped, fixing his hair back into place.

Fugaku made eye contact with Kakashi, the two holding for just a moment, before Fugaku closed his eyes and bowed his head towards the silver-haired councilman.

Kakashi bowed back in equal respect, before the Hokage took his place at the head of the table.

“Alright, as you all can see, we have a new council member.” Hiruzen started, gesturing towards Kakashi. “Kakashi Hatake, head of the Hatake clan and son of Sakumo Hatake. Do I have any objections to this notion?”

A civilian raised her hand. “Yes, why is it that any clan head can walk in here and suddenly join the council? Anyone can claim they have a clan and just waltz in here now apparently!”

“That is far from the truth.” Kakashi stated. “My father was on the council a short while, though once the village started ostracizing him for a failed mission he quit and moved on. And you all should know how that went.”

The civilians and shinobi alike went dead still, the silence so loud even Kakashi could hear Fugaku and Tsume’s heartbeats.

The Hokage cleared his throat. “All for?”

The Shinobi council and a couple civilians raised their hands.

“Good. It’s decided. Kakashi Hatake is apart of the shinobi council.” Hiruzen then picked up a stack of papers, sorting them thoughtfully, then laying them out in front of him. “Now, let’s get down to business.”

<>

Kakashi was somewhat regretting joining the council. The meeting lasted three hours and it was basically civilians arguing about shinobi affairs and shinobi a wanting civilians to remembrance that no, your cousin who was a shinobi for two years does not qualify you to meddle in our affairs. Kakashi wanted to tear his hair out, but once things got down to business it was rather informative. He should start proposing some forms in the future, especially since he saw how poorly Fugaku alone was treated in that room.

Still some superstitions around the Uchiha he supposed.

The meeting was adjourned, most leaving the room as quickly as possible before Kakashi collected his thoughts and moved to stand.

“Hatake.”

He froze, glancing over to Fugaku who stood near the door, indicating Kakashi could not escape this conversation.

“Why are you truly joining the council?”

Kakashi stared ahead of him at the wall, clenching and unclenching his fists. “I…I thought I found a loophole. I’m trying to adopt a child, a child so very important and special to me. I thought if I joined the council I could use the clan ward laws to help me.”

“Ah.” Fugaku sighed. “You could have if this was before the third shinobi war.”

“I found that out the hard way.” Kakashi sighed. “I’m an adult in the eyes of shinobi law, but in civilian law? I’m still a child and unable to adopt him.”

“Is it Kushina’s child?” Fugaku asked simply, and quietly, as if saying it any louder would break Kakashi’s barely mended heart.

He simply nodded.

“I may have been harsh in the past. Obito’s eye was his decision to give away. I accept you now, Obito’s death was something no one could control. Especially you. I see that now.” Fugaku took a tentative step forward, putting a gentle hand on Kakashi’s shoulder. “You were a child, Kakashi, with the weight of the world on your shoulders and your teammates in the palm of your hand. I’m sorry for making that burden even heavier to carry. I trust you, and I trust that you will get this child in your care when the time comes. I’d trust you with my own sons if that’s any support to you.”

Kakashi breathed out, weight lifting off his lungs he didn’t even know was there. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“I will help you fight for this child, Kakashi. We owe it to the child, and its parents.” Fugaku muttered, a stillness to the room not there before. “Just promise me one thing, bring the little sucker over for play dates with Sasuke.”

Kakashi laughed, not a true laugh that he would have like to give, no. It was something deep and broken, but still held joy because at the very least, Fugaku had his back. He trusted him. They were on equal ground and he wasn’t going to let him down.

<>

Late that night, with a stillness to the air and a darkness to the light, Kakashi leapt to the window Naruto was always at, the one year old standing and waiting for when he was at the window. Kakashi popped into view, Hound’s mask on his face and the playfulness to his figure. Naruto gurgled and extended his arms, Kakashi gleefully picking him up and taking him to the roof. He sat with the child, playing to his heart content until the little one’s stomach gurgled.

“Figured you be hungry.” Kakashi muttered, taking out a small container and a spoon. He fed him his bottle first, moving on to peaches and a banana, and finally a little yogurt. Naruto laughed happily as yogurt dropped down his child, Kakashi picking it up with the spoon while Naruto giggled more. “Goodness, such a messy eater you are.”

Kakashi laid himself back, placed Naruto on his chest, and pointed towards the sky.

“That one, is orion’s belt. That one is ursa major, and that’s ursa minor.” Kakashi pointed out, Naruto clapping and moving in his place, lifting his hands towards Kakashi’s.

Kakashi placed a hand on his stomach and the other in front of Naruto’s oh so tiny hands. Naruto grasped his hand with both, Kakashi staring at his tanned hands without a care in the world.

Naruto eventually lost interest in Kakashi’s hands and simply turned over and smushed his cheek against Kakashi’s chest, falling asleep within seconds.

“Long day, huh Naruto?” Kakashi stated, placing a gentle hand on his back as he stood up. He placed him into his crib, placing the thin blanket over his shoulders, closed the window, and slowly made his way back to his apartment.

Three years. Completely and utterly doable.

It would be worth it for him.

Chapter Text

Countdown to adoption: One year.

Apartment hunting sucked.

Kakashi could get a shinobi apartment no problem, but that wasn’t safe for a child. Too many shinobi with minds that could snap in seconds. He’s gotten plenty of offers from the red light district, but that was the red light district!

He had been searching for months until finally, finally he had found the perfect place. A simple two bedroom apartment, three floors up with almost direct access to the roof where a public garden was placed.

Rent was great, his income would cover it, and he had so many ideas for Naruto’s room.

So he signed the contracts, paid first and last months rent, and stood in the centre of his new place.

How the hell was he supposed to get anything in here.

It was three floors up with no elevator, and he didn’t have sealing scrolls big enough to handle furniture.

Until it dawned on him.

One man, clad in green spandex.

Who was shouting right outside his window.

Kakashi poked his head outside to see the bushy browed man excitedly waving his hands around.

“Yo Gai.”

“Kakashi! My eternal rival! What can we challenge each other today?” He exclaimed loudly, his mouth full of some unarmed food.

“Actually,” Kakashi paused. “I was hoping for some help moving into my new apartment.”

Gai looked ecstatic that he asked for help. “Of course I will! I will simply make this a challenge, something to exercise my speed and strength!” Gait exclaimed, tearing off to Kakashi’s old apartment.

Kakashi shrugged. “I’ll meet him there.”

<>

Gai took moving in way too far. Kakashi had moved two bookshelves and his kitchen utensils while Gai had moved in the rest of his apartment. Kakashi doesn’t even know how.

“There you are Kakashi! Now you can relax for the rest of the day!” Gai exclaimed, sweat dripping down his temple.

“How about you relax and I’ll make some lunch, okay?” Kakashi said, sitting him down on the couch and leaving no room for argument.

“Lunch sounds great Kakashi!”

<>

Countdown to adoption: Eight months.

Meetings sucked.

Three years and nothing monumental was done with the council. Kakashi made his alliances with most of the clan heads, and shaken conversations with others.

The most notable one being Shikaku Nara, head of the Nara clan. His analytical brain and deep understanding of politics far outweighed his poor habits and lazy personality.

He was the perfect person to help him with his plan, especially since Fugaku got the two in a meeting together after the general council meeting.

The current meeting consisted of civilians wanting more militant rights, having mostly to do with civilians having higher positions under the Hokage. It was idiotic for them to think they were qualified for anything other than paper pushing.

Kakashi pinched the bridge of his nose, staring at the blonde haired woman. “Haruno-san, I get you’re coming from a place of concern but we report anything that may affect people publicly, there is no need to have civilians in high military ranks.” Kakashi leaned back in his seat and rubbed his temples to stave off the growing migraine.

“So what do you think civilians should be able to do shinobi wise?” Another asked.

“Handing out D-ranks to genin at best.” Kakashi answered honestly. “No offence, but civilians don’t know shinobi politics well enough to do paperwork for even a chunin.”

“Hatake-san is right.” Shikaku stated. “Any hiring goes through shinobi to make sure we don’t pick up any missions that may cause unrest at the borders. If a civilian were to be any part of the process, missions could get through that would be better for a different village, or worsen our ties with another.”

“I suppose…you are right.” Mebuki muttered, relaxing her posture.

Ever the mediator Shikaku was.

“Well, now that that is settled,” Hiruzen said, rising from his seat, “this meeting is adjourned. I will see you all next week.”

Kakashi sighed in relief, simply sitting in the room for a few minute whilst everyone trickled out.

“Hatake-san, we’re good for the meeting, my friend.” Fugaku said with his ever monotone voice, sitting across from the man while Shikaku sat just beside the Uchiha.

“Ah good. Good.”

Shikaku leaned into his elbows and stared Kakashi down, almost as if he was challenging him. Kakashi knew it was just Shikaku getting serious, rather than for intimidation.

“So, you two have been scheming about something together, enough that it caught my attention between hushed whispers and private meetings.” Shikaku started. “It’s nothing to do with ANBU or the Uchiha, you two don’t have much political or societal ground to offer one another. There are no common factors between you too. But between Mikoto and Kakashi? The common denominator was Kushina.”

Kakashi nodded. The man was a genius, he assumed his son would be even more so.

“You want to adopt her child.”

“Yes.” Kakashi confirmed. “And you know the Hokage better than anyone. He has been holding Naruto over my head like holding meat around a caged dog.”

Shikaku nodded. “So what do you need from me?”

“I need every possible scenario covered. What papers I need for adoption, for my ability as a parent, my mental health.” Kakashi paused, looking Shikaku dead in the eyes. “I’ve resigned long ago from ANBU and have been seeing a therapist for the past two years, but what do I need?”

Shikaku sat for a moment, looked down and the table and clenched his hands together harder. “Ultimately, he has authority, and if he really wants to dangle this over your head he will deny you no matter how many papers.” Kakashi visibly deflated. “But, if you brought this up with the civilian council in front of him with proper registration, verification of a place to live that would suit a child, mental health evaluation from your therapist, adoption papers, proof of income and the luckiest day of your life, then he will have no choice but to allow it. Adoption is controlled by the civilians and its council, if he denied all your papers the civilians would have an outrage. And believe me, you’re one of their favourites.”

Kakashi nodded slowly. “So it’s doable?”

“Very much so.” Shikaku’s gaze then softened, just a bit. “We have your back Kakashi, you’re one of us. And like you always say, those who abandon the mission are scum, but those who abandon their friend are worse than scum.”

Kakashi smiled genuinely, it reaching his eyes and painting a faint red on his cheeks. “Thank you, thank you both so much.”

“One thing though.” Shikaku spoke, a solemn look to his face. “Try not to interact with him much, you’ll want to avoid the Hokage using anything possible against you.”

Kakashi nodded, though saddened that the man was right.

Fugaku offered a small smile and a nod.

And that’s all Kakashi needed.

<>

Countdown to adoption: Two weeks.

Kakashi was in his new apartment alone, sitting with some roasted eggplant as he ate alone on his birthday.

His last birthday alone.

He’d have Naruto soon, he was sure. He was eighteen and all he needed now was his proof of income papers and his papers verifying he was eighteen.

He was so, so close.

And he was so ready for a nap all at the same time.

<>

Countdown to adoption: Three days.

Kakashi had been good at this for almost eight months, wearing his ANBU uniform to throw off suspicion whenever he had to visit Naruto. He was avoiding going in the room and simply sticking to the wall to assess his health.

He thought he was good at avoiding detection, up until Naruto spoke.

“I know you’re there.” Naruto spoke softly, his knees hugged to his chest. Kakashi’s heart jumped to his throat. “You’re here at lease twice a week now, I should know.”

Kakashi held his breath and braced himself against the wall of the orphanage, simply listening to Naruto.

“I can smell you. It’s…’memrable” Naruto said, looking out the window longingly. “You leave gifts that smell like you, and it’s always covered ‘n dog hair.” Naruto snorted. “You’d think you’re an Inuzuka like Kiba, but there’s too many different hairs for you to have just one dog.”

Kakashi watched as Naruto’s nose barely poked into his view, Kakashi shuffling further from the window. Three days, Kakashi couldn’t see him for three more days, he could handle it. He was strong enough.

“I ‘emember, barely, of a white and red mask, silver hair and the smell of dogs.” Naruto folded his arms and rested him head on the windowsill. “He looked after me. I think that’s you, but ’m not sure why you won’t look at me. Did I do somethin’ wrong? Am I really a monster like the mean people tell me?”

Kakashi was not strong enough. He slowly made his way towards the window, Naruto making eye contact. He back away slowly, staring at the much taller man. Kakashi crawled through the window, shook his head no, then gently brought Naruto in for a hug. Naruto clung onto his flack jacket tightly, Kakashi picking the boy up and into his arms.

“I knew you’d come back some day. I knew you weren’t jus’ a dream.” Naruto muttered into his shoulder, clinging in even tighter.

Kakashi simply hummed the song he always hummed, the one his father himself sang when he was a child. In three days, the council meeting was on and he had all his papers ready. He could finally take Naruto home. The boy in his arms could have a proper bed, a full stomach and a family. Even if it was just the two of them.

<>

Countdown to adoption: 3 Hours .

Naruto’s room was set up with bright paintings, orange coloured bedsheets, clean clothes that were definitely too big but would fit him nonetheless, and a little frog plush sitting on the bed as his first gift of many.

The fridge was stocked thanks to Mikoto’s guidance and suggestions, some places were toddler proofed and he had all his papers in a neat stack, put into a folder, and tucked safely into his flak jacket.

He just needs to take a breath. It would be fine. Worse comes to worse, he could pull the Clan Ward Laws card. That was a last resort though.

He sauntered into the Hokage’s tower with the same relaxed posture he always carried, though a stiff tenseness in his shoulders was the one difference only trained shinobi could pick out. He sat at the meeting table, in his same red oak chair as always right next to Tsume and Fugaku, the latter looking at him carefully as if to assess his feelings. Fugaku knew it was today, Shikaku knew before Kakashi even stepped foot in this room.

Hiruzen took his place at the head of the table gracefully, barely on time for the meeting. “Alright, only a few things to discuss today, so anything any of you would like to bring up?”

Kakashi gently raised his hand, placing the tan folder on the table. “I may as well do it now instead of waiting for papers to process.” Kakashi let out a strained, light chuckle.

He turned towards the civilians, looking directly at Hiriko, a browned hair woman who was in charge of children’s services.

“I have some papers to verify me as the legal guardian of Naruto Uzumaki.” Kakashi stated, handing the woman the folder.

She nodded, grasping the folder quickly. She flipped through the pages, nodding along for each one and reading through carefully. “Honestly I’ll be happy to get the little gremlin out of that orphanage. He keeps sticking bugs under the keeper’s pillow.” Hiriko joked, now placing the folder down. “We’ll head right over after the meeting.”

“Hold on, how are we sure he’s stable enough?” Hiruzen spoke, a hardness to his tone. “He’s been in ANBU for years and wars for even longer.”

“Oh, there’s a psychological evaluation in here from his therapist and Inoichi.” Hiriko said simply.

“What about his place of living? we can’t have a three-“

“New apartment in the general residence district.” Hiriko sighed at the arguing from the Hokage himself. “Not in the shinobi district.”

“But-“

Shikaku cleared his throat. “Now, why are you arguing against this so hard? He clearly has all the proper documentation.”

Hiruzen stared blankly at Kakashi, the narrowed his eyes so subtly that Kakashi barely noticed. “Fine. Let’s get to business then.”

<>

Countdown to adoption: 10 minutes.

“Come deary, let’s get that kid ready to go for you.” Hiriko said, taking Kakashi’s arm and walking him down to the orphanage Naruto was staying at. It wasn’t as if Kakashi has walked this exact road too many times to count just to see his blond mop of hair.

Absolutely he didn’t.

So when faced with the normal door of the orphanage he felt strangely out of place.

Inside the bottom floor he felt even more so.

There were a lot of kids, all looking at him with big eyes and curious expressions, many playing with a variety of toys but most in hand-me-down clothes. Kakashi looked around cautiously, slowly following the keeper and Hiriko. They were brought up to the attic, Naruto crouching in the corner.

Kakashi slowly walked up, Naruto peeking up in recognition but saying nothing. “Naruto? Hey buddy.”

“Are you here to get mad at me?” Naruto muttered, his head turned towards the wall.

“No no no, not at all.” Kakashi said sitting on the floor. “I’m here to adopt you, I’m hoping we can be each other’s family.”

“Are…are you sure?” Naruto asked quietly, turning towards the gray haired man.

“Completely and absolutely.” Kakashi muttered, holding his arms out. “Come on, come home.”

Naruto nodded quickly, then kept into Kakashi’s arms.

Kakashi turned to the two women in the room. “Is everything taken care of?”

Hiriko nodded. “Take him home Hatake-san.”

Kakashi smiled, readjusting his grasp on Naruto. “Will do, Hiriko-san.”

Then Kakashi was walking to his apartment at a leisurely pace, Naruto still in his arm as they walked along the bustling merchants’ district.

“I knew you’d come back.” Naruto muttered quietly for only him to hear.

“Always will, my child.” Kakashi muttered.

Naruto began to softly cry, barely making a sound as Kakashi crawled into his apartment. Kakashi took off his shoes as well as Naruto’s, put a sweater on him, and gave him the frog plush. He laid himself And Naruto down in his bed, covering the both of them with the comforter.

Naruto curled into Kakashi’s chest, frog strangled in his arms and Kakashi’s arms wrapped around his form.

Naruto and Kakashi had been through much, but this, this was peaceful, this was home.

For Naruto, this was the person that loved him since day one, this is the person that gave him blankets and food when he was struggling.

For Kakashi, this is the embodiment of his precious people, Minatos blonde hair, Kushina’s temper, Obito’s joy, and Rin’s dedication to her teammates.

And for the first time in years,

Both slept peacefully.

Chapter Text

Kakashi sighed, finally done another meeting with the council and heading home. Fugaku invited him and Naruto to dinner the next night, so he was already busy tomorrow and honestly, he still needed to prepare for Naruto’s upcoming birthday. He didn’t feel like cooking tonight, so he planned to pick up ramen from Ichiraku’s on the way home. Kushina liked it, he had a feeling Naruto would too.

“Ah Kakashi!” Teuchi waved as the man came into the store. “Good seeing you. What can I get for you today?”

“Ah just two takeout bowls of pork ramen.” Kakashi drawled, taking a seat at the counter for a bit. 

Aye giggled from the corner, laughing at Kakashi’s tired eye. “The kid giving you a run for your money?”

“He is so hyper!” Kakashi whined. “How am I supposed to get all that energy out of his system?”

“Get him a friend to play with.” Teuchi said from the pot he was stirring. “Kids can tire each other out faster than you can!” 

Kakashi nodded. “Might be able to do that tomorrow, actually.”

Teuchi put lids on the ramen and slid it into a bag for the silver-haired man, passing the bag along. His tone and posture suddenly took a turn to something far more soft, and far more sincere. “For what it’s worth, Kakashi, you are doing great.”

Kakashi took the bag slowly, a smile on his face. “That means the world coming from you.”

“Now go feed the little gremlin!” Teuchi shouted, the three waving their goodbyes as Kakashi continued on his way home.

He climbed the stairs, unlocked the door, and entered to see paper everywhere over his apartment. What had the blond been up to.

“Papa! Papa!” Naruto shouted, the boy covered in ink. He lunged and hugged Kakashi’s leg, making the man stumble. “You’re back!”

“Hey kiddo,” Kakashi paused, wiping a smudge of ink off his cheek with a small chuckle escaping his chest. “Why are you covered in ink buddy?”

“Oh! Oh it’s so amazin’ you’ll love it!” Naruto then rushed off back to the living room, Kakashi taking the moment to remove his sandals. 

Kakashi heard heavy footsteps make their way right back, Naruto trotting up to him with one piece of paper in his hands.

“I made this for ya!” Naruto exclaimed, ever the energetic one. Kakashi grasped the parchment, looking at the scrawled writting at the top. It was a simple drawing, really, it was two stick figures, one with one eye and the other with spiky yellow hair, holding hands with the words ‘me and papa’ messily scribbled at the bottom. “It’s you and me! I realized that you always give me things so I thought I could do somethin’ too!”

Kakashi’s eyes softened. “Oh Naruto, this is an amazing gift, thank you so much! You did so well!” Naruto needed at the praise. “This is going on the fridge immediately.”

“The fridge?”

“Yes!” Kakashi decided this was a very important thing to teach Naruto. “Important papers go on the fridge, like your drawing.” Kakashi placed a magnet over the drawing, it now hanging proudly in the direct centre of the door.

“So like, when I get pictures with precious people they can go up there?” Naruto asked, big blue eyes staring up in wonder.

“Absolutely.”

“That’s so cool!” He shouted, shaking his hands excitedly.

“Oh, volume kiddo.” Kakashi suggested lightly.

“Oh right!” Naruto immediately softened his voice. “I can only shout outside.”

“Very good. Now, you hungry?” Naruto nodded rapidly. “Great, we’re trying ramen tonight!”

“What’s that?”

Kakashi brought the bowls out to the table, Naruto taking his seat and staring at it. He broke his chopsticks, waiting for Kakashi. “It’s kind of like soup, but with long noodles. Go on, give it a try.” 

Naruto took off the lid, grabbed some noodles with his chopsticks, and shoved a bit in his mouth. The way his eyes lit up had Kakashi wishing he had a camera to capture that perfect moment, where Naruto finally had a food he enjoyed eating. It had been really difficult, he didn’t realize the boy was a picky eater until three days into the adoption. Naruto wouldn’t vocalize his displeasure until a lot of persuading, which luckily now the boy was consistently stating said displeasure.

But right now, Naruto was completely silent and devouring his bowl, even going as far as to drink the rest of the broth.

“That was amazin’.” Naruto muttered, a satisfied grin on his face. “Can we eat that again? Like every night?”

Kakashi chuckled, finishing off the last of his ramen. “Unfortunately not, we do need to have healthy things often,” Naruto’s face fell. “but I will start picking this up since it’s something you like.”

“Yes!”

“Alright, let’s get reading and then it’s bedtime.” Kakashi said, ushering the child out of the kitchen. 

“Can you read the one about the gutsy ninja again?” Naruto asked excitedly.

Kakashi sighed exasperatedly, dramatically picking up the book. “Again? Haven’t we read this already?”

Naruto giggled taking a seat next to Kakashi on the couch. “Yes! It’s my favourite! The main character has my name!”

Kakashi smiled. “Then of course.” Kakashi turned to page one. “‘Long ago, there was a gutsy ninja by the name of Naruto…’”

<>

“Why we have to wear these fancy bathrobes?” Naruto asked, tugging at the collar of his yukata.

“We’re going to dinner with some of my precious people.” Kakashi answered, taking Naruto’s hand as they walked through the village. “They have someone your age, maybe you’ll be able to make a friend!”

Naruto’s expression immediately soured. “No one wants to be my friend.”

“This one will.” Kakashi said, trying to cheer him up. “You know how you really wanna be a ninja?”

“Yeah,”

“He really wants to be one too.” Kakashi spoke, thinking it was pure destiny for Fugaku’s younger son to want the same. “Tell him what you taught yourself the other day.”

“You mean my smoke bombs?”

“Yes, he’ll find it so cool.”

“Alright!” The joyful smile was brought back to his face. “I will make a friend today!”

“Absolutely you will, buddy.” Kakashi and Naruto had arrived at the front of the Uchiha compound after a few minutes of walking, two guards stopping them at the entrance.

“State your business please.” One of them asked.

“We’re here for a dinner with Fugaku and his family.” Kakashi answered.

The other guard looked at the two of them. “Oh, Hatake-san and Naruto-kun.” She said aloud. “Come on in, and enjoy your dinner.”

Kakashi nodded, Naruto mirroring, and the two headed through the compound. Naruto was getting a little restless, his feet bouncing when he walked and his hand gripping and ungripping Kakashi’s.

The two arrived at the largest building in the compound, Kakashi knocking politely and letting go of Naruto’s hand. Mikoto answered the door, a smile lighting up her face once she saw the two.

“Oh Kakashi! It’s so good to see you, dear.” 

“The pleasure is all mine, Mikoto.” Kakashi said softly, a firm hand on Naruto’s head as he went to hide.

Mikoto then turned towards the blond child, who was now hiding behind Kakashi’s legs. “And you must be Naruto! I’ve heard so much about you.”

Naruto looked up with wide eyes and a small smile. “Really?”

“Yes, absolutely.” Mikoto then stepped back, allowing the two into the house. “Come in, come in. Dinner will be a while yet, so I have someone who would love to meet you, Naruto.”

Naruto nodded, stepping in with Kakashi, both taking their sandals off and slipping on a pair of slippers.

“Sasuke! Honey!” Mikoto called, hearing footsteps come trampling down the hall. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

“Who is it kaa-san?” Sasuke asked, coming to stand next to his mother.

She ushered Naruto forward, him coming out from behind Kakashi’s legs and towards Mikoto. “This is Naruto.”

“Uh, hi! I heard you really wanna be a ninja!” Sasuke nodded, a smile growing in his face. “Me too!”

“Yes! I wanna be one like my big brother Itachi!” Sasuke exclaimed. “He’s amazing. But I’ll be better than him someday!”

“You have a training ground here, right?” Kakashi asked Mikoto.

“Yes we do.”

“Great.” Kakashi then turned to the excited boys, talking about their dreams of being ninjas. “Hey Naruto, why don’t you show Sasuke that cool thing you taught yourself?”

“Oh can he?” Sasuke shouted. “We can go to the training grounds!”

Mikoto chuckled softly. “Of course, but be safe boys.”

“Yes kaa-san!” Sasuke then grasped Naruto’s hand, running off through the halls of the house again. “Come on Naruto, I’ll show you what I’ve learned so far!”

“You have distraction down to perfection already.” Mikoto complimented. “That’ll get all the energy out of their systems before dinner at least.”

“Thank goodness.” Kakashi sighed. “It’s so tiring, going on missions, doing council work and looking after him all on my own.”

“Yeah, but you’re doing it.” Mikoto smiled softly, sitting him down at the table and bringing him some tea. “Now relax, you don’t have to be productive for a good couple of minutes.”

Kakashi simply nodded, took a teacup and sipped at the bitter-sweet liquid. Mikoto left the room to continue cooking.

Only a few minutes it was before he was disturbed.

“Oh Hatake-san.” It was an unfamiliar voice this time, Kakashi turning to see the elder brother, Itachi, in the doorway, a tired expression on his face.

“Oh, hello Itachi.” Kakashi said softly, picking up a teacup and offering it to the man.

Itachi accepted gracefully, sitting next to the silver haired man. He took a breath, looking as if he wanted to say something, then resigned to sipping his tea again.

“What are you looking to discuss?” Kakashi asked, deciding if he didn’t push for it the other wasn’t going to say much.

“You…you were in ANBU, right?”

Kakashi nodded in confirmation.

“It’s…something is wrong.” Itachi said simply, taking another sip. “There’s a very evil core to ANBU, it’s rotting the forces from the inside out. I’ve only gotten assassination missions, and it’s going as far to attempt assassination on powerful people outside of our borders, which means the Leaf is attempting a take over if the nearby drug rings and mobs. It’s bad, really really bad.” Itachi took a breath. “The Hokage gave up command of ANBU and passed it to Danzo, and I worry for our political standing if it continues at this point.”

Kakashi sighed, setting his cup down. “It was bad when I was apart of it, but at least the Hokage was in charge. But Danzo? He’s an old war hawk with the mind of one. He has no regard for peace or borders and will stop at nothing until the Leaf is the last one standing.”

“He’s powerful too.” Itachi muttered. “This could put him in line for the next Hokage.”

“That’s a while away, for now.” Kakashi spoke, a rattle in his chest at the thought of the Leaf coming under Danzo’s rule. “When the time comes, we will simply find another candidate.”

Itachi nodded. “Thank you for confirming my suspicions. I just didn’t know if this was normal or not.”

“It’s alright, you just need to learn to trust your gut.” Kakashi picking up his cup again. “It’s what got me through most of my missions.”

“Thank you, Hatake-san.”

“It’s Kakashi, Itachi.”

“Right. Kakashi.”

“Onii-san!” Sasuke shouted as he came running in the room. “Come meet my new friend Naruto!”

“Naruto is…?” Itachi trailed off with a question on his tongue.

“Mine, I adopted him.” Kakashi answered.

The blond came tumbling in not long after Kakashi, his Yukata a little dirty but otherwise unscathed. “Sasuke is so cool Papa!”

“Naruto can make these huge smoke bombs with just some paper!”

“Sasuke can make a big ball of fire!”

“He’s so cool!”
“He’s so cool!”

Kakashi laughed lightly, hoisting Naruto into his lap. “See? I knew you’d like him.”

“Can Naruto stay here forever?” Sasuke asked Itachi and Kakashi.

Kakashi laughed again. “Unfortunately not, he already has a home to live in.”

“Awww.”

“But we can organize play dates and training with the both of you.” Itachi compromised, hating to see his little brother sad.”

“Yes!! We’ll be the greatest ninja ever together!” Naruto cheered. 

“Yeah!” Sasuke and Naruto high fived, going back to the training grounds to tussle around again.

About half an hour later dinner was ready, and the six of them began eating the delicious dinner Mikoto prepared. Naruto scarfed down more food than Kakashi had seen yet that night, making note to himself that maybe he just needed to grab some cooking lessons from Mikoto.

Eventually, Kakashi and Naruto did have to head home. It was very teary eyes from Naruto as he left his new friend, promising to meet him at the park the next day.

“Oh and Itachi?” Kakashi said as the pair were just leaving. “I’ve got your back, if you need anything, and I mean anything, I will not hesitate.”

Itachi nodded, it was something solemn, something stern but something that showed promise a trust.

Trust, what a funny thing. Seems like Naruto brought a lot of that with him. 

Naruto smiled all the way home, bouncing on his feet as he grasped tightly to Kakashi’s hand. Kakashi’s weren’t dirty, he no longer needed to scrub to his roots to clean his soul, but simply needed to hold the hand of a child so small in size yet so big in spirit.

He’d protect Naruto with everything he had. Kakashi realized with a sharp pang to his chest, that he wouldn’t die for Naruto, he wanted to live for him. He wanted to see him grow up, he wanted to die old.

Chapter Text

Naruto woke with a stir. Today was his birthday! And not just any birthday, it was his first birthday with a dad! He was so excited to see what they would do together, he hopped they could get ramen for dinner too!

Naruto jumped out of bed quickly, throwing on his favourite shirt and putting on some shorts before bolting it out of his bedroom and barreling straight into Kakashi’s legs.

“Someone’s excited.” Kakashi said with the same drawl he always did, but Naruto could tell his dad was excited too.

“Wellllll, it’s a very special day,” Naruto hinted, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Kakashi then turned around. “Special enough for something like this?” He spun back around, showing two brightly packaged presents, one large enough that it was as wide as Naruto, and the other small enough the it was about as big as both of his hands combined.

Naruto jumped and grabbed the biggest box, balancing the small one on top. “Thank you! Thank you papa, thank you!” Naruto shouted. He knew he wasn’t supposed to yell indoors, but he couldn’t help it! He was way too excited.

Kakashi chuckled happily. “Happy birthday, Naruto.”

He always saw kids at the orphanage with boxes like these, it was so exciting to have one for himself. He tore open the larger one and removed the lid. Inside was a frog plush so big Naruto was sure it could topple him over, and taking it out proved difficult. He eventually sat on the floor with the giant frog plushy.

Kakashi absolutely snapped a picture of that.

Naruto then opened the second package, revealing a navy blue pouch that clinked when he shook it. “What’s this?”

“That’s your very own kunai pouch, with your very own kunai.” Kakashi answered while he sat next to the boy. “We’re gonna start training you and Sasuke once you start the academy.”

The way Naruto beamed as he strapped on the pouch, bouncing in his place. “I’m gonna be a ninja! A for real ninja!”

“Yes, a ‘for real’ ninja.” Kakashi chuckled, rustling Naruto’s hair. “Now, we have many things to do, and first is breakfast with the Uchihas!”

“Yeahhh Sasuke!!!” Naruto cheered, hopping on Kakashi’s back as the man waltzed out of the apartment, leading the both of them to the Uchiha compound.

Naruto jumped onto the the ground once they had reached the compound, the smaller bouncing up and down as they made their way to the main house. Naruto knocked on the door lightly, grasping Kakashi’s hand. The door opened on its own, the room dark and the two slowly walked in.

All of a sudden, the lights flickered on, and the Uchihas all came out of their hiding spots, shouting “Happy Birthday!” There was one more Uchiha than usual, but Naruto couldn’t help but smile at all of his precious people in one place.

“Sasuke!” Naruto shouted, running forward and giving the boy a hug. Sasuke squeezed back just as hard.

“Happy birthday Naruto!”

Naruto laughed loudly. “You are the worlds greatest friend!”

Kakashi looked at the scene fondly, relishing in the loud laughter. Itachi came over to rest a gentle hand on his shoulder, smiling at him. Kakashi nodded back with an equal grin on his face.

“Kakashi, I’d like you to meet my cousin Shisui.” Itachi said, introducing the other Uchiha. “He is my teammate and best friend.”

Kakashi nodded and bowed slightly towards the other, Shisui bowing in return. “Nice to meet you, Hatake-san.”

“Please, it’s just Kakashi.” He responded, now bringing the younger to look him in his eyes. “A friend of Itachi’s is a friend of mine.”

“It’s good to know I can rely on you then, Kakashi.” Shisui smiled gently.

Mikoto came the stand with the boys. “Good to know my favourite boys are getting along.” She said happily, squeezing the cheeks of Shisui and Itachi.

“Mom!” Itachi whines quietly, rubbing his cheek.

“I don’t care if you’re one of the top ninja in the village.” Mikoto spoke. “You are still my child, and you are adorable.”

Shisui laughed at Itachi. Very, very, loudly.

“Breakfast is ready, everyone!” Fugaku shouted from the kitchen.

Kakashi sat at the table gracefully with Naruto at his side and Sasuke right next to the blond. Opposite was Shisui and Itachi, with Mikoto and Fugaku at the heads.

“This is the best birthday ever! Thank you guys!” Naruto cheered, relishing in all the food on the table.

“It’s our pleasure, young man.” Fugaku answered. “Now eat up, you’ve got quite the day ahead of you.”

The family dug in quickly, sharing stories over their meal with a smile of everyone’s face. Adopting Naruto was the smartest decision of Kakashi’s life.

<>

Later that night, after all the visiting and gift giving was done, Kakashi took Naruto to the top of Hokage mountain, sitting the both of them on top of the fourth’s head. They sat in content, watching the ongoing lantern festival happening around the anniversary of the defeat of the Kyuubi no Kitsune years ago.

“Papa, you know the fox?” Naruto asked, lanterns now going over their heads.

“Yeah?”

“Do you…do you think he was all that bad?” He asked gently, blue eyes sparkling as he watched all the lights fly overhead.

“Why do you ask?”

“‘Cause I’m not bad. I was real angry all the time but that’s ‘cause I was stuck in the bad building.” Naruto explained. “Maybe the fox was just sad, maybe he had precious people that he couldn’t see.”

Kakashi hated that fox, he was sure of it. He took so much of what he loved years ago, almost taking away the boy in front of him too. But seeing Naruto, seeing all the positivity radiating off him and all the hope that maybe people are just sad and angry for a reason, made him not want to ruin that.

“Maybe.” Kakashi settled with. “I…I think there’s good in everyone. I just think it’s harder for some others to show that good.”

“Maybe they just need you.” Naruto said quietly. “You make everyone around you love me.”

Kakashi’s eyes watered up softly. He sniffed once, hugged Naruto close to him, and said, “Yeah, maybe they do.”

<>

“Okay do you have everything?” Kakashi asked, rushing through packing a lunch.

“Yes!”

“Notebooks?”

“Mhm!”

“Pencils?”

“Yep!”

“Kunai?”

“Yes!”

“And do you-“

Naruto laughed. “I have everything Papa! Promise.”

“Okay, okay.” Kakashi said, closing the bento and handing to to Naruto. “Stick close to Sasuke, look after each other, and make as many friends as you can.”

“I will Papa.” Naruto answered. He shoved the bento in his book bag, then grabbed Kakashi’s hand. “Now come on!”

The walk was short to the Academy, taking only a few minutes. Kakashi dropped Naruto off with a sad smile, waving as he ran his way into the building. Goodness, he was worried. Either way, he had cooking lessons with Mikoto and couldn’t be late, so he made his way off.

Naruto had found his way to the classroom, seeing Sasuke about three rows back. He sat next to him carefully, energy bursting through him.

“Hi Naruto.” Sasuke said quietly.

“Hi Sasuke!” Naruto brought out one of his notebooks. “Are you excited?”

Sasuke nodded, a grin on his face. It wasn’t much of a reaction, but Sasuke was his best friend. He knew the other boy was ecstatic.

“This is gonna be awesome!”

<>

The academy was not awesome. All the teachers were so mean to him, they scolded him for being loud outside, even though that’s where the loud was supposed to be! They never answered his questions and just called him stupid, and even when he thought he got answers right on tests he was always wrong. Sasuke was doing it so easy, and no matter how hard he himself tried, he just couldn’t do well in anything but physical exams.

So that’s how he found himself running from one of the chunnin teachers after he rigged Mezuki-sensei to get covered in chalk dust.

“Naruto!” Iruka shouted. “Get back here young man!”

Naruto ran through the halls, up until he came to a dead end. Iruka grabbed his hand roughly, dragging the child along.

“You are staying in my classroom until your father gets here, young man.” Iruka grunted out, bringing the blond to the now empty classroom.

Naruto crossed his arms in his seat, a pout on his lips. It’s not his fault Mezuki-sensei was so bad at dodging. Even he could dodge his prank.

Kakashi arrived within minutes, rushing into the classroom in panic. “Is everything okay? Naruto are you injured?”

“No, I’m okay Papa.” Naruto grunted.

“You should be asking that about Mezuki-sensei.” Iruka said, staring at the gray-haired man.

“Oh?” Kakashi raised his one visible eyebrow. “Why’s that?”

“I just got chalk on him!” Naruto shouted. “It was a harmless prank!”

“He could have got chalk in his eyes.” Iruka shot back. “As you can see, he’s being rather unreasonable and will not apologize to Mezuki. I suggest disciplinary action.”

“Now now, we haven’t heard Naruto’s side yet.” Kakashi said, looking towards his son. “Kiddo, why did you prank Mezuki-sensei?”

“He marked my test wrong.” Naruto said grumpily. “I got so many answers right, I got Shikamaru and Sasuke to verify it! They’re the smartest ones!”

“How much did he mark wrong?” Kakashi asked.

“34 of the questions.” Naruto muttered.

“See?” Kakashi said, gesturing to the blond. “Now, why are the senseis here treating my child so unfairly? He is a clan head kid, and deserves the same treatment as everyone else.”

Iruka glared at him. “He’s the nine-tails.” Iruka whispered under his breath.

“My god you’re stupid.” Kakashi said bluntly. “He’s just a kid who wants to learn, and he can’t learn if you’re not giving him support. If you can’t tell the difference between a kunai and what it’s sealed in, then you should not be teaching these kids.”

“But-“

Kakashi sighed. “Naruto? Looks like Sasuke’s still practicing outside. Why don’t you join him?” Naruto nodded and left the classroom quickly, leaving Iruka and Kakashi alone.

“You need to discipline him.” Iruka said sternly, glaring straight into Kakashi’s eye.

“Sure.” Kakashi shrugged. “As soon as you do the same for the other teachers.”

“He deserves this and you know it.”

“He’s a five year old boy with a heart bigger than the villages’. He does not deserve any of this treatment.” Kakashi shot back, brow furrowing as his posture shifted into one of aggression.

“You didn’t lose your parents to the fox attack!”

“I lost what was left of my family!” Kakashi’s hands slammed on the desk. “That boy is all that’s left of my family. And I’m all that he has. So for fucks sake, look past your nose and past face value, and look at him for what he is!”

Iruka sat quietly for a moment. “And what is he?”

“A little boy wanting to become a ninja with his best friend.”

Iruka glanced outside. Naruto and Sasuke were play fighting, going through katas while fighting each other. He wanted so badly to hate the child, wanted to hate the fox. But the blond haired boy, the one currently outside training hard simply because he wanted to, really was just a child.

“Gods, gods I’m so sorry.” Iruka muttered quietly. “How…how could I have done this to him?”

“You better become the greatest teacher in the world to make up for all the damage you have done.” Kakashi said passively, eye narrowed and arms crossed. “Your choice.”

Iruka stared as the man left, sitting in silence staring at the papers he had to mark. He glanced outside to Kakashi grasp the hand of Naruto and Sasuke, guiding them away from the school with gentle steps and kind expressions.

The man in every way had a right to be angry, to be mad at the world, to shut it out and leave nothing for anyone to find. Yet here he was, acting in spite of the gods themselves to hold himself with kindness and treat the world gently.

And here Iruka was, spiting a child for the actions of a demon.

He’d follow in the older man’s footsteps. He’d fight to be kind and fight to be gentle. He’d be better than he’d ever been.

<>

Kakashi had just put Naruto to bed when he got a messenger hawk from the Hokage.

He took the scroll gently, reading through it before rushing himself over to the tower.

Diving through the window and in front of the desk, he landed neatly with his hands relaxed in his pockets and stood in front of the Hokage.

“I came as soon as I could, what can I do for you Hokage-sama?” Kakashi drawled, sleep evident in his eyes.

The Hokage huffed out a puff of smoke, the room evidently smelling of such. “You’ve had Naruto for about eight months now, so I’ve decided it’s time to lay out some rules.”

“Oh?” Kakashi’s eyebrow raised. “How so?”

“Simple rules, really.” He said. “You won’t be able to interfere with his academy work anymore. Mezuki-sensei has said that your favouritism toward Naruto and non-disciplinary actions is affecting the classroom and other student learning.”

“Oh really?” Kakashi drawled sarcastically.

“You will need to have him up to chunnin level by the time he is fourteen.” Hiruzen then looked directly at Kakashi. “And you will need to isolate him from the civilian district once he reaches genin.”

Kakashi stared, glanced at the parchment with the terms, then laughed.

Hiruzen looked stunned.

“What shit rules.” Kakashi laughed. “I don’t think you realize what power I have here. You isolate Naruto for the civilians, including the council, there will be outrage. They have practically become his aunts and uncles.” Kakashi gaze hardened into one of defiance and anger. “You have no ground for these rules. He is no danger to civilians, and the senseis at the academy are failing him without properly grading his work. I can make him chunnin level by fourteen, fine, whatever, but isolate my child? You’ll have all the Uchihas and an army of civilians looking to replace you within minutes.”

Kakashi looked to the parchment he was supposed to sign. He took it swiftly, tore it, and left the halves on the Hokage’s desk.

“So, Hokage-sama, have a nice day.” Kakashi then turned to the door. “And sincerely, fuck off.”

Kakashi left the room with weight off his shoulders, a shake that rattled him to the bones.

He just told off the fucking Hokage.

Honestly, he didn’t care. Naruto was more important to him than the village at this point.

Huh. What a funny thought.

Chapter Text

Naruto’s dad was sad. And he wasn’t sure why. Nothing had happened, he was sure, his Papa tells him everything he’s up to. He had eaten today and had been outside and they did training with Sasuke, so he just didn’t know!

He tried everything, he tried making food, he tried making gifts, he tried hugging him and he even tried just talking. But nothing worked!

So when it was late in the evening, and his Papa was still quiet with a saddened look on his face only Naruto got to see, he just walked over and sat next to him.

“Hey kiddo.” He said quietly.

“Hi Papa.” Naruto said quietly. “Why’re you so sad today? Did something happen?”

Kakashi sighed. “Let’s…lets go for a walk Naruto.”

“Alright!”

So he and his Papa went on a walk, hand in hand headed towards the training grounds. It took a lot of walking and eventually, they entered training ground three.

“What are we doing here papa?” Naruto asked in curiosity, as when they trained it was always at the Uchiha compound.

“I want you to meet someone.” Kakashi spoke softly.

“Oh? Where are they?” Naruto asked excitedly, looking around the clearing. “I love meeting your precious people!”

Kakashi took a seat at the foot of a large stone, gesturing for Naruto to do the same. “Here he is, that’s his name.” Kakashi said, pointing to one name.

“Obito Uchiha?” Naruto read slowly. Kakashi nodded. “Why’s his name on the stone?”

“He died protecting this village. He gave his life for me.” Kakashi looked towards the name, not once breaking his gaze. “He was my best friend.”

“Is this why you’re sad?” Naruto asked quietly.

“Yes.” Kakashi put a gentle hand on Naruto’s shoulder. “You remind me so much of him. He was so positive and would face an entire army if it meant keeping his precious people safe.”

“Was he good?”

Kakashi smiled softly. “I think he was too good, for this world and to have me as a friend.”

“But you are so good! You are amazing Papa!” Naruto argued.

“I’m not, there’s things I’ve done I’m not proud of and that are not good.” Kakashi said quietly, breaking his gaze with the memorial stone to look at his hands. “I put the mission over my teammates lives the day he died. And-“

“Papa?” Naruto spoke quietly and gently as tears spilled from Kakashi’s eyes.

“I’m alright kiddo.” Kakashi squeezed Naruto to his side. “I just miss him.”

“You’ve got more friends now.” Naruto curled up into his dad’s side. “And I think you’re good, even if you’ve done bad things.”

“Oh Naruto.” Kakashi fully embraced his son. “You’re such a good kid.”

“And you’re a good dad.”

<>

Naruto was still mildly focused on the conversation with his dad he had last night on his walk to school with Sasuke, that he almost missed the cry of terror. Almost.

“What was that?” Sasuke asked aloud.

Naruto was immediately put on alert. “I’m not sure, let’s go check it out.” Naruto and Sasuke tore off to around the academy building and against the wall, finding a pink haired girl crouched with her hands on her head and three other girls in front of her.

“Billboard Brow!”

“Look at her forehead!”

“Hey!” Naruto shouted, running in front of the girl quickly. “Back off! What do you think you’re doing?”

The three girls looked taken aback for a moment, before the leader of the group spoke. “Would you look at that? The demon child wants to defend billboard brow over there.”

“I’m no demon, you are!” Naruto declared. “She’s got a perfectly fine forehead, you’re just a bunch of bullies!”

The pink haired girl look up with tears eyes, but hope on her face.

“As if!” She shouted. “The entire village hates you! My mom and dad said it themselves, you’re a demon!”

“I would back up if I were you.” Sasuke threatened, leaning against the brick wall with his posture relaxed.

“That’s the Uchiha!” One of the girls muttered.

Naruto glared at the girls as Sasuke continued. “Naruto is a great brawler, I could take you out on taijutsu alone, and that girl over there has been lifting 30 pound bags at the grocery store since she could walk. We’d wipe the floor with you three.”

The lead girls scoffed, rolled her eyes, then turned around. “Fine.” The two other followed behind quickly after.

“Hey are you okay?” Naruto asked as he held out a hand to help the girl up. She took in tentatively, grasping tightly as she was hauled up.

“Yeah.” The girl barely whispered she was so quiet.

“Well, I’m Naruto,” The blond then pointed to his friend, still standing guard against the wall. “And that’s Sasuke.”

She nodded slightly. “I’m Sakura.”

Naruto beamed as she introduced herself. “Nice to meet ya!”

“Why don’t we walk to class now? We’re gonna be late.” Sasuke said, picking up his bag.

“Right.” Naruto picked up his own book bag, holding out a hand to Sakura. “Come on, let’s go!”

Naruto and Sasuke took their seats as always, right next to each other. Sakura didn’t sit next to them, but Naruto thought she’d at least be a good friend someday.

<>

When the school day was over, Naruto once again was left puzzling over the material. It just took him forever to get it right! It didn’t make sense like it did for Sasuke, who seemed to get the concepts down so easily.

The two friends found themselves outside, Naruto whining as they walked. “I just don’t understand, are you really supposed to do calculations before every throw?”

“Yes, even if they are very vague.” Sasuke muttered, already fed up with the whining.

Naruto pouted. “They’re so hard though!”

“Uhm,” Naruto and Sasuke turned towards Sakura, who had made herself known. “I could help, I’m pretty good at book stuff.”

“Could you really?” Naruto asked, excitement clear in his form.

Sakura nodded. “I’d just need some physical training help in return.”

“Absolutely!” Naruto exclaimed. “Sasuke and I practice at the Uchiha training grounds every Saturday, you can just come over to my house beforehand!”

“Are we sure we want to invite her?” Sasuke asked quietly. “She’s civilian.”

“Some of my papa’s precious people are civilians.” Naruto argued. “Sakura needs some help the same as I do, simple as that.”

Sasuke sighed. “I guess you’re right.” He then turned to Sakura who was still staring at the pair. “Come on, we’ll study a little bit tonight at Naruto’s.”

“Oh-“ Sakura was cut off as Naruto took her hand. “Alright then!”

Naruto brought his friends to his building, climbing the stairs and entering the home. “I’m home papa!”

“Naruto!” Kakashi said, turning the corner to see the new person in the room. “Oh? Someone new?”

“This is Sakura!” Naruto cheered. “She’s gonna help me with written work while I help her with physical!”

Kakashi smiled, ushering the three in. “Well I hope it goes well. I have a meeting I need to go to, but I’ll be back soon with Ichiraku’s.”

“Oh sweet!”

“Are you two staying for dinner?” Kakashi asked the other two.

Sakura went to shake her head but Sasuke stopped her. “We’re gonna be here a while, yes we will.”

“Lovely, what kind of ramen would you like?” Kakashi asked softly.

“Pork belly for me please.” Sasuke answered.

“Oh, uh,” Sakura shrugged. “Bamboo shoot?”

“Fantastic, two pork belly, two bamboo shoot.” Kakashi smiled, closing the door and leaving the three alone.

“Well, let’s get started.” Sasuke said with a clap.

<>

“Naruto, no!” Sasuke yelled in frustration, almost tanking his hair out. “It’s x multiplied by the speed, not distance!”

“Okay, Sasuke, shut up.” Sakura was incredibly annoyed, at first she was intimidated by the two boys, but really they were both idiots in their own rights. “He doesn’t get long explanations, you need to explain it in a way he’ll understand.”

“Oh yeah?” Sasuke turned to her with a challenge. “If you’re so smart, make him understand then!”

“I’m right here guys…”

“Okay, look at this.” Sakura took a book and set it up carefully, so it would stand on its own. “Say you throw a kunai with a lot of force from here, right?” Naruto nodded. “It’ll hit the book and stop. Say you throw it with less force and less speed, but it would stop there. So you’re not measuring the distance or speed, you’re measuring the force.”

“Oh, like how deep it’ll go into the book!” Naruto exclaimed happily.

“Yes!”

“I’m home kiddo!” Kakashi shouted from the doorway. He made his way to the living room, books and papers spread all over the floor. “You’ve all been busy.” He drawled, setting the ramen in the coffee table.

“Naruto just has trouble understanding textbook explanations.” Sakura explained. “I think I’ve got it down though, he just needs something physical to look at.”

“Oh yeah, he’s a kinaesthetic learner for sure.” Kakashi explained, spreading the bowls out.

“What’s that one mean again Papa?” Naruto asked.

“You learn by moving.”

“Right.”

“Alright, break time kiddos, got to keep your bodies fed as well as your brains.” Kakashi uttered, passing out chopsticks.

“Thank you Uzumaki-san.” Sakura said, everyone staring at her. “What?”

“Oh I forgot to tell you.” Naruto muttered through a mouthful of noodles. “I’m adopted, his last name’s Hatake.”

“You’re the one my mom talks about?!” Sakura shouted.

Kakashi smiled softly, food still untouched. “Haruno-san is your mother, I presume?”

“She says you told off the Hokage once!” Sakura exclaimed. “How did you not get reprimanded?”

Kakashi shrugged, using a napkin to wipe the table of a spill. “Not sure, guess I’ve got some special power.”

“Why did you argue with the Hokage?” Sasuke asked through a mouthful of pork.

Kakashi shrugged. “He wanted to hurt my precious people.”

“Like fight them?!” Naruto asked in alarm.

“No, no, no.” Kakashi shook his head rapidly. “Not physically. More like, socially. Like if someone were to start a rumour that Sasuke hates his parents, people would then, in turn, start disliking him.”

“Oh, that makes sense.” Naruto muttered.

Sakura nodded. “Well I think that’s a good thing to tell the Hokage off for.”

Kakashi smiled softly. “I’m glad you think so.”

Soon dinner was done, and Sasuke and Sakura had to head home.

“We should do this again sometime!” Sakura smiled, books and papers in hand. “It’s really fun studying with you two.”

“Honestly, you’re less annoying than I thought you’d be.” Sasuke muttered.

Naruto giggled. “That’s the best compliment you’ll get out of him. But yes, I would love to study with you again.”

The door closed, leaving Kakashi and Naruto to themselves again.

“You made some good friends, Naruto.” Kakashi stated, cleaning up the takeout bowls and chopsticks.

“I like ‘em, a lot.” Naruto smiled to himself, eyes still in the closed door. “I wanna keep them forever.”

“Then hold on tight, and keep them for as long as you can.” Kakashi said, picking up the five-and-a-half year old. “To bed with you.”

Naruto was laid down in bed, Kakashi by his side as they talked for a little longer. “What happens if I don’t keep them Papa?”

The man shrugged. “People come and go from our lives faster than fire. It’ll be sad, when someone leaves. But, the time you had with them is invaluable, and that’s what you should cherish.”

Naruto nodded, sleep coming to his eyes. “I’ll keep you, forever and ever. I promise.”

“And I’ll keep you.” Kakashi planting a soft kiss on his son’s forehead. “I promise.”

Chapter Text

It was supposed to be a normal day. Sasuke and Naruto had gone to school, didn’t need to study that day, and made it to the end of the Friday. It was the weekend tomorrow, which means they’d finally have a small break.

It was supposed to be normal.

It was until the two boys were finished their day at the academy.

“Ready to go home, Naruto?” Sasuke asked, book bag in hand.

The blond nodded. “I’ve got a shortcut we can try today!”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

So they marched on, taking a turn down a few streets and ducking into an alleyway. It was rather secluded, making the hair on Sasuke’s arms stand on their ends.

“Are you sure about this?” Sasuke muttered, glass cracking under his footsteps.

Naruto nodded along and continued his strut through the alleyway.

They made it about halfway through before a man stepped out of a door, stumbling and falling over as the door slammed behind him. He was big, Sasuke could see that. He had a bad leg which led him to believe he was and active duty shinobi at one point or another. He was big, scary, and coming right towards the two of them.

Sasuke tugged at his best friend’s sleeve. “Maybe it’s time to go.” He muttered quietly, eyeing the man still walking towards them with caution.

“It’s alright, he’ll walk right past us.” Naruto muttered back, holding Sasuke’s hand tightly.

“Oi, you brat.” The man slurred, pointing towards Naruto. “You fucking fox brat.”

“Uh, we’re just trying to pass sir, please let us through.” Naruto squeaked out quietly.

Sasuke glared at the man. “Back off, and he’s not a brat.”

“Sasuke, no.”

“He’s the fucking fox!” The man shouted, grabbing Naruto’s wrist. “You killed my wife you fucking monster!”

Sasuke held tightly to Naruto, trying to shove the man off of him. He held tightly, until he was shoved into the wall. The man grabbed Naruto by the head, slamming the small child into the wall with a stumble to his step and violence in his soul. Sasuke was knocked back and winded, chest heaving with the effort of trying to get air in his lungs.

“You killed my wife! My family!” He shouted, kicking Naruto. His head had split open, blood was everywhere, and the man just kept kicking.

And the world stopped. Naruto was there, on the ground, bleeding everywhere and he couldn’t do anything. His chest stopped, he wasn’t breathing. Naruto. Wasn’t. Breathing.

The world became sharper, clearer and more precise. It didn’t help his active panicking as the more blood Sasuke saw on the ground the more he panicked. His best friend was dying and all he was doing was sitting and staring.

He just needed to get Naruto out of here and back home.

“Hey, ugly!” Sasuke shouted, standing on shaking legs.

“The fuck you want?” He yelled, facing towards the young Uchiha.

He made a strong glare, standing strong. This was for Naruto. “Get away from him.”

The ex shinobi left the boy on the ground, bleeding heavily still. “You want to defend this little shit?”

“With my life.” Sasuke stated.

It was one swing from the stumbling man, and then it was over. Sasuke ducked easily, got to the man’s left where his bad leg was, and slammed his foot down as hard as he could. It broke with a sickening crunch, the man falling with a pathetic wail. Sasuke wasted no time in hauling Naruto up, and getting them out of there and straight to Kakashi’s apartment.

Sasuke dragged the blond up the stairs, adrenaline running high as he shoved his way into the apartment.

“Kakashi!” Sasuke shouted, almost tripping as he held his best friend. “Kakashi come quick!”

Kakashi turned the corner, eyes widening in panic as he ran towards his son. He picked him up with ease, laying him down on the couch and ducked away to the washroom quickly. He rushed out with a first aid kit, bringing out disinfectant.

“Sasuke, what the hell happened?” Kakashi asked, firm but kindly as to not rattle the boy.

“We,” Sasuke choked back a sob. “We tried to take a shortcut, but this guy cut us off, he grabbed him so fast! I couldn’t protect him and I still can’t! I’ve failed him!”

“Sasuke look at me!” Kakashi shouted, grabbing his shoulder. “You are five years old. You should not have had to fight off a grown shinobi in the first place. And you did succeed, he’s alive, he’s breathing and he’s safe now. I am so beyond proud of you for getting him here and keeping yourself in one piece.”

Sasuke simply started crying. Kakashi hugged the boy tightly, Sasuke hugging back just as hard.

Later that night Kakashi sent a note out to the Uchiha’s that Sasuke was with him and he’d probably be staying the night, before turning to the kitchen and making some tea. He brought out two cups to the living room, handing one gently to the boy still posted by Naruto’s side.

“It was very brave, what you did today.” Kakashi stated simply.

“I was stood still for so long.” Sasuke argued. “I saw him get hit and did nothing, once I thought he stopped breathing, I just, snapped, I guess.”

“You unlocked your sharingan, Sasuke.” Kakashi said quietly. “Not because of fear for your friend, or for anger towards the man, but for your unwavering need to protect your precious people. You felt the need to protect him so strongly that is gave you what you need for the sharingan.”

“Father tells me it’s only anger, fear and sadness that can unlock the sharingan.” Sasuke says, looking towards Kakashi.

“I thought that too.” Kakashi says gently, a softness to his voice Sasuke heard only in this apartment. “But a dear friend of mine unlocked his by simply wanting to protect. He wanted to love, to break the Uchiha curse of hate.”

Sasuke looked at him with a determined gaze, eyes blazing red once again. “I will do the same. I’ll be the one to break the curse.”

Kakashi smiled, stroking Naruto’s hair softly. “I can’t wait to see you succeed.”

Naruto woke up early the next morning, Sasuke waking with a start as he felt him move.

“Sasuke?” Naruto rasped out.

The Uchiha looked at Naruto with such a smile on his face, the other lunging for a hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

Naruto nodded, hugging back tightly. “You saved me, Sasuke.”

“Of course.” Sasuke uttered in barely more than a whisper. “I’ll protect you until the day I die.”

“And I’ll protect you.”

“Oh good, you’re awake kiddo.” Kakashi sighed in relief, handing Naruto some onigiri, the latter taking it greedily. “I’ve got to go, there’s an emergency meeting, but I’ll be back home as soon as possible.

“Wait Papa.” Naruto looked to his father. “That man, he called me demon fox, why is that?”

Kakashi looked to his son. He sighed. “I’ll tell you as soon as I’m home, I promise.”

“Okay.”

<>

“What is the meaning of this?” Tsume asked as the council members were finding their footing and taking their seats. “Who called us here early?”

“I called this meeting today.” Mebuki Haruno said, taking a seat. “The Hokage will not be joining us today.”

Kakashi took his seat carefully, looking to Fugaku for answers. He just shrugged.

“I come to bring our attention to the rotting police force that the Uchiha are.” Mebuki spat out, venom dripping from her voice. Fugaku looked taken aback, his eyes wide and posture stiff.

“What do you mean by this, Mebuki-san?” Kakashi grit out, trying to keep the room civil.

“One of the Uchiha police force attacked one of our veterans in an alley last evening. The Uchiha broke his leg in two, possibly crippling him for the rest of his life.” Mebuki explained. “The Uchiha need to be brought down from power and we need to bring more people of this village up in power.”

“How dare you accuse one of my own of-“ Kakashi place his hand on Fugaku’s shoulder, getting him to sit. He nodded towards the older man, and stood with a grim look on his face.

“I can verify, what Haruno-san says is true, to an extent.” Fugaku looked betrayed, but only for a moment. “The veteran was attacked, but not by Uchiha Forces.”

“And how do you know this?!” Mebuki shouted. “The Uchiha could be planning something right now, they could be planning to hurt us all!”

“The Uchiha are kind and have endless loyalty to the village!” Kakashi shouted, the first time he’s ever shouted in a meeting. “Fugaku and Mikoto are the whole reason I have my son, and my son was almost taken from me yesterday when that veteran,” Kakashi spat the word from his lips like it was a bad taste in his mouth. “almost killed him. Sasuke, was the one to break his leg. Sasuke, was the one to save my son. This was not an act of violence, this was an act of protection.”

“You could be lying!” Mebuki refuted, the glare strong as she held Kakashi’s gaze. “The Uchiha have only brought hate and anger to this village, they brought it with that damn fox too!”

Kakashi stood silently, the room suffocating with how thick the tension was. “The discrimination of the Uchiha’s since Madara’s founding has been going on too long. So, with that, I have a submission for the next Hokage.”

Shikaku stood, paper in hand. “Kakashi Hatake, you are making your formal submission for the next Hokage. Who do you chose?”

“I chose Fugaku Uchiha.”

<>

Suffice to say the civilians no longer like him after his submission.

The Third was on his last legs, he was already ancient in shinobi years. With his submission, most shinobi were wanting the same, with several submissions for Fugaku on its way. On the other side, with the civilians, they were vouching for Danzo Shimura, something Kakashi did not want to see come to fruition.

He returned home rather late at night, finding Naruto and Sasuke leaned up against each other, sipping tea and talking.

“Hey kiddo, I’m home.” He said with a tired drawl.

“Papa!” Naruto cheered softly. “Come sit, you look tired.”

Kakashi nodded, taking a seat next to the boys.

“What was that meeting about?” Sasuke asked, curiosity abundant.

Kakashi sighed. “Nothing you two need to worry about. Just civilians being civilians.”

“Alright.” Sasuke then looked down to his cup. “You still need to tell Naruto about why that man called him a demon fox.”

Kakashi nodded. “I wanted to save this for when you were older, but here we are.” Kakashi looked to Naruto and, with the most serious voice he could muster, “Naruto, the demon fox that attacked the village almost six years ago, it is sealed inside of you.”

“It’s…sealed?” Kakashi nodded. “Is that why the village doesn’t like me?”

Kakashi nodded again. “So much hate for the fox already, and with misunderstandings on top, the village thought you were the fox itself and not a boy who had the fox sealed inside.” Kakashi sighed sadly. “I tried to protect you, but there’s only so much I can do against a whole village thinking you’re evil.”

Naruto paused, took a moment, breathed in, then out, and looked into his cup. “He…he killed my parents, didn’t he?”

Kakashi nodded.

Naruto took another shuddering breath. “That’s…okay.” Kakashi looked at his son in wonder. “He had to have a reason, there us to be. I need to find out a way to talk to him.”

Kakashi nodded slowly. “Your mother talked about how she would meditate and sometimes she could see the fox. I don’t know much else that could help you.”

Naruto nodded. “Yeah, okay. I’ll figure it out, I always figure it out eventually.”

“I’m proud of you. Both of you.” Kakashi stated, looking at both of the boys. “You should start heading home soon, Sasuke. Your parents will be worried soon.”

“Just one more thing.” Sasuke said, turning to Naruto. He held him in a bone crushing hug, Naruto hugging back with much less force. “Please don’t scare me again.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Naruto smiled, the same old sore cheeks, blindingly bright and incredibly happy smile he always had. “Now get home! Your brother’s probably worried about you too.”

Sasuke nodded. He took his leave, Kakashi seeing him to the door. Sandals were put on goodbyes were said, and just before the door closed, Sasuke uttered “And thank you, Kakashi.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Chapter Text

Naruto was enjoying his time, eating Ichiraku’s in silence as he waited for his father to get back from his meeting, munching on some of the pork belly in his bowl. Just as he was about to finish the bowl, a figure took a seat next to him and ordered his own two bowls, setting some money in front of Teuchi.

Naruto looked up to find one of his senseis, Iruka, smiling at him. Naruto glanced with wary eyes, chopsticks held tightly in his hand. “Hi Iruka sensei.”

“Hi Naruto, how are you doing?” Iruka asked carefully, as if a misstep would scare the boy away.

The blond shrugged. “I’m eating ramen, so that’s nice.”

“Oh?” Iruka smirked. “Ramen’s one of my favourites too, especially Ichiraku’s.”

Naruto perked up a bit, Iruka counting that as a point. “It’s so good! Papa gets it usually when he has meetings, but tonight he said he’d be late.” Naruto pouted. “I was so hungry that I already ordered, and I couldn’t wait or the food would get cold!”

Teuchi then served Iruka his bowls, the sensei handing one to Naruto. “Here, why don’t you have my second one.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, just some extra good while you wait for your dad.” Iruka smiled softly, watching the boy  start to eat his second bowl. 

“Thanks so much Iruka-sensei!” Naruto cheered, cheek-aching smile on his face.

Iruka nodded. “So, what kind of shinobi do you want to be when you grow up?”

Naruto shrugged. “I thought you just became a shinobi and that was it.”

“There’s different types.” Iruka explained. “Your dad, for example, is an all around fighter. He’s got genjutsu, ninjutsu and taijutsu mastered, he’s great at the three primary factors of being a shinobi.”

“He’s amazing!”

“Right, but then you have shinobi like Genma, and he’s good at the three primary stages, but then he also has prowess in kenjutsu, and extension of taijutsu.” Iruka explained. “He uses weapons.”

Naruto rested his head on his hand a moment, pondering. What could he do? What could he be good at? Then it hit him, pranks, no even better, “Traps!”

Iruka raised an eyebrow, smiling at the child. “Traps?”

“I could make traps! Imagine it, ninja wire Sasuke could use, clones all over the place, smoke tags, bombs seals, it could be amazing!” Naruto cheered, handing moving up and down rapidly. 

Iruka nodded his head thoughtfully. “I’ve never heard anyone do that before, but I bet you’d be great at it.”

“Yeah I would!”

“And what’s this, kiddo?” Kakashi said, walking up to the counter and taking a seat. “Talking with your sensei?”

Naruto nodded excitedly. “He helped me find out I wanna be a trapper shinobi!”

“Oh a trapper shinobi,” Kakashi glanced to Iruka. “You’d definitely be good at that.”

Iruka couldn’t help but feel like he was being threatened, in the chillest, subtlest way possible.

Teuchi sat a bowl down in front of Kakashi, Kakashi nodding to the man. Iruka swears he only took his eyes off of the elder man for one moment, and in that moment the ramen was gone and his mask was still on.

“Something bothering you, Iruka-sensei?”

“Ah, no nothing.” Iruka coughed and placed his chopsticks in his bowl. “I’ll take my leave now, it was nice talking with the both of you.”

“Have a good night Iruka-sensei!” Naruto cheered, then turned towards his father. “He seems so much nicer now.”

Kakashi nodded. “He’s definitely improved. Let’s head home, we’ve gotta get you ready for bed.”

<>

Sasuke thought this was the most terrifying thing he could tell his father right now.

This was somehow just as scary as Naruto getting beat half to death.

So he took a deep breath, and took tentative steps into his father’s office. “Hey, Tou-san?”

“Yes Sasuke?”

“Can we talk? And you’ve gotta promise you won’t be disappointed.” Sasuke said quietly, pattering forward as his father turned to kneel towards Sasuke.

Fugaku’s face softened, a gentle smile on his face. “You could never disappoint me. Sasuke, you may not be where your brother is when he was your age, but you’re already amazing. You unlocked your sharingan at five. That’s a feat few achieve.”

“I know, I just,” Sasuke looked at his feet, then grasped his hands together. “I wanna be a medical shinobi.”

“A medical shinobi?” Fugaku questioned. “What brought this on?”

“I just, saw Naruto, and even after I defeated the guy, I still couldn’t do anything. I want to be able to help after the bad is defeated. I don’t want to show up, fight, then leave and help with none of the backlash.” Sasuke looked to his father with a determined gaze. “I want to protect my precious people.”

Fugaku smiled softly, then nodded. “Well then, how are you going to do it?”

Sasuke stood for a moment, then looked out the window. “I can help at the hospital!”

Fugaku smiled even more, ruffling Sasuke’s hair. “That’s my boy.”

<>

“Are you sure you have the umeboshi*?” Naruto asked Sasuke for the millionth time it felt like.

“Yes, I do!” Sasuke sighed frustratedly. “Kakashi tell him he worrying over nothing!”

“Sasuke he just wants to make sure Sakura has a good birthday.” Kakashi stated. “Now keep going, we’re almost to the park.”

The three barely crested over the hill when they saw it, pink party balloons, streamers, cakes and children galore running around the field, with Sakura sitting awkwardly to the side.

“Go and run off with your friend, but be safe you two.” Kakashi drawled, picking up the presents the two had, the two taking the chance to run to Sakura and start very animated chatting. Kakashi took the chance to place the presents down on a picnic table, taking a seat to keep an eye on Naruto and Sasuke.

“Hatake-san.” Mebuki snarled as she came to stand over the man, Kakashi paying no mind to her. “What a pleasure to see you here.”

“Nice to see you too.” Kakashi spoke, half his attention on watching Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura start to fight each other. Not for any reason other than to see who’s the strongest. Physically and intellectually, Sakura. In practice and technicality, Sasuke. Emotionally and performance-wise, Naruto.

“Are you listening to me?” Mebuki said as she snapped her fingers in front of Kakashi’s eye.

He glanced towards the woman. “No.”

“I said, that you’re always working against me and my ideas during council meetings. What’s the big idea?” Mebuki demanded, hands now placed on her hips.

“You simply have ideas that have no extra thought behind them.” Kakashi explained, watching Sakura pin Sasuke to the floor. “You can’t simply want something and have it happen, you need to think of your actions and their reactions.” Sasuke then swung his leg around Sakura’s knee, Sakura tilting and landing face first on the ground. Sasuke celebrated his momentary victory, before being tackled by Naruto. All three were covered head to toe in dirt. Looks like it would be a bath night tonight. “So I’m not working against you, I’m simply asking you to put more thought into your ideas.”

“Unbelievable.” Mebuki rolled her eyes. “And what are you starring at!?” She whipped her head around to find Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto all piled up, leaves sticking out of all of their hair, with Naruto being held in a choke hold by Sakura.

“Sakura! Oh my goodness honey!” Mebuki started running towards the pile of limbs and dirt, Kakashi trailing behind to cool the situation down if needed. “Get off the ground and act like a proper lady! Oh look at what you’ve done to your dress!” Mebuki fussed, trying to brush the dirt off.

Sakura looked down at her dress and shrugged. “It’s just dirt, we can just clean it.”

“You are not acting like a proper lady.” Mebuki scolded. “How do you ever expect to find yourself a husband when this is what you act like?”

Sakura muttered to herself, something about being a shinobi Kakashi couldn’t quite pick up.

“Now now Haruno-san, she’s just being a child is all that this is. She’s only seven, after all.” Kakashi tried to calm the woman down. “Children get dirty, it’s not the end of the world.”

Mebuki glared, then turned to the table where the gifts were. “Whatever. Sakura, come open your presents, then we’ll be leaving.”

“Aw.” Sakura pouted, heading over to the table and taking a seat.

Naruto and Sasuke watched and cringed every time Sakura would open a gift that was something like makeup, or a dress, sir something the both of them knew she just wouldn’t like. There weren’t toys, or treats, or plush animals, or anything fun at all. Not even shinobi gear to help her with school. Then it came to Naruto’s and Sasuke’s gifts.

Sakura’s face immediately lit up as she opened the first box. “Umeboshi! did you guys make them yourselves?” Sakura asked, plopping one of the pickled plums into her mouth.

“Yeah, we made sure to use all your favourite flavours for them!” Naruto cheered. “Now open the next one!”

Sakura opened the second box, finding a book about plant life, including the highly toxic ones. “Oh awesome!”

“We figured something that could help you be a shinobi and something that you could read would be great.” Sasuke said. “We hope you enjoy it.”

Sakura then stood up to hug her two friends. “Aw thank you guys.” Naruto and Sasuke hugged back twice as hard.

Once the gift giving was over, the cleanup started, and Naruto had already gotten himself distracted petting a dog. The blond eventually came over to tug on Kakashi’s sleeve.

“Hey Papa, do you think someday we can get a dog?” Naruto asked gently, looking the the small dog now pattering away with its owner.

“We already have seven.” Kakashi said as if the thought of seven dogs wouldn’t excite the boy into vibrating off the face of the planet. Naruto immediately started to flap his hands around, looking to Kakashi with wide eyes. 

“Really?”

Kakashi hummed, bitting his thumb and slamming his hand into the ground. The dogs all popped up in a cloud of smoke, all looking at Kakashi. “What do you need, Boss?” Pakkun asked.

“Meet Naruto.” Kakashi gestured, Naruto unable to hold himself still any longer, and lunging for Bull and wrapping him in a bear hug.

“Finally introducing us to the kid?” Pakkun asked, sleepy eyes looking at Naruto.

“Was about time anyways.” Kakashi spoke, leaning against a tree with his hands in his pockets. “Now keep him busy or he and the other kids will set something on fire.”

<>

“I don’t want you to be friends with those boys, Sakura.” Mebuki said as the two stepped through the door, Kizashi not far behind with too many presents in his arms. “They’re horrible influences for you.”

“Horrible- what do you mean mom?” Sakura asked, confused as all they did was play around on the ground. “We’re all gonna be shinobi, and they’re some of the best in my class!”

“You were supposed to drop out by now after finding yourself a boy.” Mebuki argued. “You’re a lady, not a shinobi.”

“I’m going to be a shinobi, just you wait!” Sakura declared. “I’m going to be stronger than both of them.”

“They’re dangerous, Sakura!” Mebuki shouted. “It’s and Uchiha and a demon you’re friends with, not two boys!”

“They’re nicer than you!” Sakura said, immediately shrinking back. “Wait, no, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it, I’m sorry mom, I-“

“Go to your room.” Mebuki glared at her daughter. “And I don’t want to see those boys again.”

Sakura trudged up to her room, closing the door softly behind her. She’d be a shinobi, whether her mother says so or not.

<>

Kakashi had just dropped off Sasuke and Naruto at the Uchiha’s house for a sleepover after the party, when Itachi stepped quietly out of the house.

“Itachi?” Kakashi said softly, gesturing the boy forward. “What’s the matter?”

Itachi looked around him, sharingan activated for a moment. “The Uchiha are in danger, Shisui and I have been excluded from meeting after meeting, and Tenzo has been warning us of something great. He doesn’t know what it is, but something dangerous is brewing.”

Kakashi nodded solemnly. He then summoned Pakkun, the small dog looking to the two. “Keep Pakkun with you. He can get a message back to me faster than a bird can. If you need anything, I will be there faster than the fourth Hokage.”

Itachi nodded. “Please look after Sasuke if something happens, I love him more than anything and I couldn’t bear the thought of him being alone.”

“You have my word, my friend.” Kakashi stated. “Be careful out there.”

“I will.” 

Itachi took his leave and headed back inside his house, more weight on his shoulders than Kakashi had ever seen before. Kakashi turned towards the entrance of the Uchiha compound, a question on his mind.

What the hell was going to happen?

————

*Umeboshi are pickled or brined ume fruits, commonly found in japan.

Chapter Text

Kakashi was sitting in sweet silence, basking his quiet afternoon away. Naruto was out with Sasuke and Sakura for the afternoon, to be back around nightfall, meaning he had some time to himself to do some reading. When the room suddenly filled with smoke and the scent of dog, Kakashi knew he wasn’t getting any rest tonight.

“What is it Pakkun?” Kakashi asked quietly, looking up from his book.

Pakkun’s eyes were wide, and the small pug seemed panicked and in a hurry. “Itachi and Shisui were sent on a mission. They were attacked by leaf-nin. They made it out okay, but they’re both injured and need help.” Pakkun then leapt to the nearby window, waiting on the windowsill for Kakashi.

Kakashi nodded, eyes narrowed and posture at the ready. He grasped one of his storage scrolls, slipped it into his utility belt, packed some of his knives away, left a note for Naruto to go to the Uchiha’s as he wasn’t sure when he’d be home, and leapt out the window to follow Pakkun out of the village.

Kakashi had never run so fast in his life. He realized, with a jump in his chest, that he was desperate to protect Itachi and Shisui. They were his precious people, a part of his pack and a part of his family. He had to try and save them, no matter what.

The silver haired man lifted his headband gently, tears coming from his own and Obito’s eye, fear prickling at the back of his mind. Kakashi didn’t know what state they’d be in, he didn’t know if the shinobi were there watching their every move, or if Itachi and Shisui were still running but losing ground quickly.

For Itachi to act selfish, to ask for help and make sure to send Pakkun to him, means that the two really were in danger, and in grave danger at that. Kakashi wiped his eyes furiously, hardened his gaze once again, and pushed himself to go faster as Pakkun ran.

“We’re almost there! Get ready!” Pakkun shouted. They had already been running for two hours, the relief in Kakashi’s chest overwhelmed just about every other feeling. The pug dived off of the tree branch he just landed on, leaping into the bushes, and sticking to the edge of what looked like a long abandoned cabin. The roof was partially caved in, its walls rotting from termites and wood-rot, with shattered windows and overgrown plants surrounding the area.

Kakashi glanced around the clearing, staying hidden within the tree while keeping an eye on Pakkun. Obito’s Sharingan couldn’t see anything, aside from dried blood in the shape of a handprint on the side of a tree. Kakashi took a silent leap off the tree, small silent steps afterwards towards the cabin.

Kakashi slipped in through broken window, a kunai now pointed at his throat. He could see a mangekyo sharingan he hasn’t seen before spinning wildly in the corner of his eye, Itachi looking at him with fear and the pure need to protect.

“Itachi, it’s me, Kakashi.” He said slowly, hands up in a surrender. “I’m here to help.”

All that Kakashi could hear for what felt like hours but was merely seconds, was his own steady breathing and Itachi’s panicked and laboured. The kunai lowed slowly, Itachi keeping his eyes on the elder man as he turned.

Kakashi looked to asses the damage. Itachi looked roughed up, clothes torn and dirtied, his usual ponytail hairstyle was loose and jagged, he had scratches all over him, and looking down further alerted Kakashi to his very broken leg. The boy was barely standing, his tibia had very obviously snapped in half with blood oozing out of a large wound.

“Shit, sit down Itachi, we need to get a brace on you.” Kakashi said in a panic, already bringing out the storage scroll while easing Itachi to the ground.

“No!” Itachi hissed out. “No. Shisui.” Itachi took a few laboured breaths. “Shisui needs help first.” Itachi’s hand raised with a shake, pointing towards a slumped form on the ground.

Shisui looked in far worse condition than Itachi.  Itachi’s cloak had been ripped up and tied to many wounds on Shisui’s body, with Shisui’s own cloak tattered but still wrapped around the teen to keep him warm. There was a large slash across his face, looking as if it were aimed somewhere else, and his breathing was barely audible.

“Okay, okay.” Kakashi agreed, shuffling over to Shisui. Kakashi brought out the materials from his scroll, varying from ointments, to needles and thread, to gauze, bandages and splints. He brought out scissors, a needle and some thread first, and got to work on the worst of Shisui’s wounds.

It’s was cutting the makeshift bandages, sewing up the wound, putting new, clean ones on, and using his limited knowledge of medical ninjutsu to stop the bleeding. Again and again he repeated the process, until Shisui was looking more like a mummy than a ninja.

“Now it’s your turn, Itachi.” Kakashi muttered, sitting beside the teen.

“Shisui’s still knocked out though.” Itachi protested. “Are you sure there’s nothing else you can do?”

Kakashi shook his head. “We’ve just got to take it easy. Now, bite down on this and don’t make a sound.” Kakashi handed a blue scarf, Itachi folding it carefully and shoving the wool into his mouth. Itachi looked at Kakashi, the latter very carefully placing his hands on Itachi’s leg.

“Just…” Kakashi took a breath of his own. “Brace yourself.”

Itachi nodded, before his face screwed into something of pain, eyes tearing up as something guttural came from his very soul as Kakashi pushed the bones and muscles into place. Itachi gripped Kakashi bicep, Kakashi shushing the teen quietly with soothing words.

It’s was an excruciating couple of minutes before the bone was finally in place. Kakashi heal what he could with ninjutsu, then sewed up the leg wound and tied the leg brace on quickly.

Itachi slumped over, Kakashi taking the scarf out of his mouth and placing it to the side to dry off. He then sat across from Itachi, back pressed against a fallen support beam.

“What…what happened Itachi?” Kakashi asked in a volume that was barely a whisper.

“We were sent on a mission.” He started, his voice gravely and tired. “It’s was doomed from the start. We got attacked, by Konoha nin nonetheless. They were definitely ANBU, just not our ANBU.”

Kakashi sighed. “Danzo‘s ANBU then.”

Itachi nodded. “They tried taking our eyes. If I had tried to continue with the mission, then Shisui…he would have died or lost his eyes. We got most of them, but there could still be some around.”

“I’ll stick it out until we can get you two on the move.” Kakashi then tried to focus on the sounds outside of the cabin. “If Danzo wants you dead, the two strongest Uchiha, then he’s not stopping until you’re dead. We can capture one of the ANBU, fake your deaths, and then you need to flee.”

“But I’d be abandoning Sasuke.” Itachi argued. “If they’re planning something against the Uchiha, that includes my family.”

“And that includes you.” Kakashi looked Itachi dead in his eyes. “You’ll be no use to Sasuke dead, I promise I’ll get this situated but right now, keeping you and Shisui alive is more important.”

A groan sounded from the corner, Shisui opening his eyes slowly, adjusting to the light levels. ”Itachi? Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m alright Shisui.” Itachi muttered. “How are you feeling?”

“Sore, but healed enough.” He answered simply. “Where are we?”

“An abandoned cabin, about 80 km away from the village.” Itachi sighed. “Kakashi is suggesting we fake our deaths and flee. We’re too injured right now to help the Uchiha back home.”

Shisui nodded. “The only way to stop what they’re trying to do is to take us out, clearly. I don’t think we’ll be able to stop the bloodshed.”

“I’ll protect who I can, but I’m against ANBU operatives in this.” Kakashi uttered. “This goes so much deeper, I can feel it.”

Kakashi then heard an unnatural rustle outside.

“We can’t just abandon them Shisui!” Itachi argued.

“We can’t die, Itachi. We’ll be of no help to them dead.” Shisui spoke back, his calmness leaving his voice.

“Quiet, the both of you.” Kakashi ordered, the silver haired man listening carefully. One rustle to the north. Second to the south. Two agents were surrounding the cabin carefully. Kakashi ducked under some debris, gesturing for Itachi and Shisui to stay where they were. The two agents stepped into the cabin, staring at the two Uchihas.

“Well, well, well.” The first one growled out. “Itachi and Shisui Uchiha. Danzo would love your heads.”

The second one snarled at the two. “You’ll die here, Uchiha.”

Kakashi leapt from his spot with animalistic intent in his step. The kunai slashed through the first agent’s jugular, blood splattering the walls as the body hit the floor. The second didn’t have time to react as he was grabbed, face forced to look at Shisui.

“Cast your genjutsu, get him to report your deaths.” Kakashi spoke quickly, Shisui nodding and looking into the man’s eyes. He seemed to slump in Kakashi’s hold, going completely still while Kakashi shoved Itachi and Shisui out of the cabin.

“Okay, time to go.” Kakashi urged them foreword. “The Land of Iron is in that direction, it’s your safest bet. It’s a neutral alliance, you won’t be in enemy shinobi territory.”

“I…I can’t leave my brother Kakashi.” Itachi said quietly. “He’s far too precious.”

“I will look after him, I promise.” Kakashi spoke in such a quiet and calm voice, looking to both of them. “Send a crow my way once you’re safe. I’ll keep in contact with you and make sure Sasuke is safe, but you need to leave before Danzo’s men catch sight of you again.”

“Come on Itachi. We need to get you rested from your leg as soon as we can.” Shisui said quietly, grasping the other teen’s arm lightly. Shisui offered only a small smile, Itachi returning the smile.

“I trust you Kakashi.” Itachi uttered, starting to run with Shisui towards the Land of Iron. “Stay safe.”

“You too.”

<>

Itachi and Shisui trudged through the snow, cloak wrapped tightly around Shisui with the blue scarf around Itachi’s neck. They had been running for a while, finally stumbling across a small house, the lights still on and a fire still burning.

“Are you sure we should go to them?” Itachi asked Shisui, wary and tired from running with his poor leg.

“We need to get out of the cold.” Shisui said quietly. “You’re going to get frostbite, Itachi.”

The younger nodded, following the elder to the cabin. Shisui lifted a gentle hand to the door, knocking softly.

When the door opened, an elderly woman stood, glancing at the two. “Oh my! What are you two doing out in the cold, this late at night, so far from any village?”

“Well um,” Itachi started. “My cousin and I ran into some trouble at home and we ran away. We were just hoping to come in for a bit to warm up so we wouldn’t get frostbite.” Itachi explained, rubbing his hands together.

“Nonsense! I have an extra room upstairs.” She gestured them to enter the cabin, the door closing right behind them. “Now, you two can call me grandma-Fuji. You help me out around the house and to run errands, and I’ll give you the room.”

“That’s so incredibly generous of you ma’am.” Shisui said with so much hope in his voice. “I’ll help you out as much as I can, while my cousin rests his bad leg. Would that be alright?”

Fuji nodded, an exasperated look on her face. “You’re children! Rest while you can before you get old and decrepit like me!” The woman joked, taking a teapot from a nearby table. “Take a seat the both of you, and tell me the real reason why two Konoha Shinobi are in the Land of Iron.”

“I’m sorry ma’am, I thought you’d kick us out if I told you we were shinobi.” Itachi apologized immediately, bowing as deep as he could muster.

“Nonsense.” She sat the two boys down. “Shinobi don’t run away unless something terrible happens. Now just take a seat, warm up, drink your tea, and tell me what you can.”

Shisui nodded softly, making sure Itachi was covered with a blanket. “It started with ANBU.”

<>

Five days after Kakashi had helped Itachi and Shisui, the announcement had gone out that’s Itachi and Shisui died. Sasuke had shown up to Naruto’s door with tears in his eyes, the blond not even questioning his friend once as he brought him into the living room.

Kakashi looked towards the boy, the two friends chatting on the couch to try and cheer the Uchiha up. He sighed. What was the village coming to.

He couldn’t risk telling Sasuke Itachi was alive. That would bring Sasuke’s demise faster, and Danzo would be far too suspicious. For now he’d keep Pakkun with Sasuke and send a note to Fugaku to be cautious.

A crow squawked at the window Kakashi was sipping tea at, a letter attached to its foot. Kakashi untied the parchment, looking at the letter with great interest.

It was definetly Itachi’s handwriting, and definitely his crow.

‘Kakashi,

Shisui and I have found sanctuary with a woman named Fuji in the Land of Iron.

We’ll be resting here until further notice, as Shisui tore some of his stitches and I have hurt my leg again.

We’re safe for now, and Fuji-san knows where we come from.

Please keep Sasuke safe in my absence, and please let him know I’m okay as soon as it’s safe for him.

Sincerely,

Itachi and Shisui’

Kakashi smiled softly. They made it there safe. Two of his precious people were safe. All he needed to do now was to keep Sasuke and his family safe.

He just hoped he could succeed.

Chapter Text

Itachi was dead. That was it. No more hugs, no more competitions, no more training and no more proving himself. It was just Sasuke in the house most days, by himself. Alone.

Sasuke was sitting in his room, buried in a pile of blankets, sipping a glass of water his mother had left on his bedside table. His plan currently was to spend all day inside to grieve.

A loud knock sounded at his front door, followed by loud footsteps as the intruders simply barged their way into his room.

“Sasuke!” Naruto said as he came in, a basket in hand. “Come with us for a picnic!”

Sasuke shook his head, hiding his face in his blankets.

Sakura sighed, took the edges of the blankets and pulled, dragging Sasuke along like a sack of potatoes with ease.

Sasuke began thrashing immediately, trying to escape the hold his friend had on him. “Sakura!” He whined. “Let me go!”

“Will you go on a picnic with us?” Sakura asked, now dragging the Uchiha through the kitchen.

“No!”

“Then no.” 

“This is abuse of power!” Sasuke shouted in protest.

Naruto grasped part of the blanket, dragging Sasuke along even faster now. “We’ve got to get you outside somehow!”

Sasuke stopped struggling, then sighed. “If I come with you, will you stop dragging me?”

“Yes.”

“Fine.”

They removed the blanket, picking up Sasuke and linking arms with him. They led him out of the house, running around the village. Sasuke didn’t smile, not at all. but at the very least he wasn’t feeling too sad. His friends were funny, and even if he was grieving, he figured a picnic with this friends wouldn’t be bad at all.

Sakura dragged the two up a hill, and sat the three of them under a cherry blossom tree, Naruto placing the basket on the ground.

“We’ve got sandwiches, onigiri, and some tomatoes.” Naruto pointed out as he laid out the plates of food. “So! What kind of shinobi do you guys want to be when you grow up?” Naruto asked with his ever blindingly bright smile.

“I wanna be a heavy hitter.” Sakura then jokingly flexed her arms. “I’m mean, look how buff I am.”

Naruto laughed, clapping his hands. “I’m gonna look into seals and traps myself! I’m gonna make sure they’re gone be the trickiest traps the world has seen!”

“That would be so cool!” Sakura exclaimed. “What about you, Sasuke?”

Sasuke shrugged. “I wanna be a medical-nin.”

Naruto’s eyes sparkled at the thought. “With a sharingan too, you’d be the best medical-nin in the whole world!”

“I mean, I’ve already learned basic stuff from the hospital, they let me heal scrapes and bruises sometimes.” Sasuke muttered, scratching the back of his neck.

“That’s so cool!” Sakura then got a mischievous look on her face. “If we work together, we could make me immune to poison, then no one could bring me down!”

“Oh and I could cover the battlefield in toxic smoke only you’re immune to!” Naruto cheered.

Sasuke smiled, for the first time in two weeks. “Thanks guys.”

“For what?” Naruto asked.

“For cheering me up after being in such an awful mood.” Sasuke glanced towards his hands. “You two are such amazing friends.”

“Aw don’t mention it Sasuke!” Sakura then lunged for a reluctant hug from the younger boy. “We have your back, always.”

Naruto joined in on the hug. “Now don’t shut us out again or we’ll drag you out in blankets again.”

“Noted.”

<>

It was a somber meeting the next time the council met for the shinobi side, and something resembling victory in the civilians’ eyes.

Hiruzen sat at the head of the table. “Now before we get to regular business, do we have anything you would like to discuss?”

“I would like to discuss the Uchiha’s position of power.” Mebuki spoke, raising her hand carefully. Kakashi and Fugaku looked towards each other with a look of suspicion.

“And what would be the problem with them?” Hiruzen spoke, inhaling smoke from his pipe and blowing it out into the room.

“Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha failed horribly their last mission, and reports state they fled and left no attempt to finish the mission.” Mebuki said simply, words falling from her tongue like silk. “They clearly did not have the interest of the village in mind, so if the two strongest Uchiha don’t have the village’s best interest in mind, who’s to say the rest don’t?”

“That is an entirely preposterous thought.” Fugaku stated, sternness to his voice Kakashi had not heard before. “The Uchiha uphold the values and laws of the village to the very precise grounds they were laid upon. We were chosen to run the police force for a reason, and I was nominated as Hokage for a reason.”

“Two of your best failed!” Mebuki retorted, pointing an accusatory finger towards Fugaku. “What says you won’t as Hokage, the most important position in the village?”

“Mebuki, enough!” Kakashi glared at the woman. “This has gone too far, this is just discrimination against the Uchiha simply because they are Uchiha. This isn’t for the betterment of the village, this is just to put the Uchiha into the ground.”

Mebuki looked to the grey haired man with a sneer on her face. “What? I simply found out what makes a shinobi a shinobi, and now I’m using it to better the village.”

Kakashi’s eyes widened, staring at the blond woman in front of him. She was trying to take the Uchiha out, and instate Danzo all at the same time. Danzo was trying to villainize the Uchiha and attempt a takeover all at the same time.

Mebuki didn’t know it ran that deep, of course she wouldn’t. But Danzo, offering any position of power to her, would be like candy to the woman. She’d do anything the man asked if it meant bettering her own position.

With the near slaughter of Itachi and Sasuke, he doubted Danzo would show any mercy towards the clan itself. 

Kakashi took a slow seat down, a blank stare on his face as Tsume, Shikaku, and Fugaku looked at him with questions in their eyes. The meeting stumbled on, subjects addressed and situated without a word from the silver haired man.

It had been hours, maybe a few minutes, Kakashi didn’t know. Most got up to leave, aside from three of the clan heads.

“Kakashi, what’s going on? What’s going to happen?” Shikaku said in a flurry of panic.

“Danzo…Danzo is trying to take over the village. He’s not going to stop at just trying to eliminate Fugaku from the running, he’s trying to eliminate the Uchiha.” Kakashi looked to Fugaku with something akin to primal fear in his eyes. “He thinks you’re a threat to the village. He wants you dead.”

“Shit.” Shikaku said, leaning over to rest his head on his hands. “That old war hawk has his perception skewed to a threat he can’t even see.”

“How are we supposed to stop them?” Tsume asked, Kuromaru growling at her side. “Little cousin, what can we do?”

“I…I don’t know.” Kakashi said quietly. “If I go after Danzo without proof, then I’ll end up in prison and Naruto will be alone. We don’t know what he’s planning and interrogating one of his agents will get us nothing.”

“Can we station guards at the compound?” Tsume asked.

Shikaku shook his head. “Guards will make the Hokage suspicious, and Danzo.” Shikaku then closed his eyes. “Any guards we can place need to be conspicuous.”

“I can set up my ninken.” Kakashi then bit his thumb. “I’ll place one with each of you, then one at the head family’s house in the Uchiha compound. If we can collect enough clans to help, we may be able to prevent whatever he may have planned.”

“We won’t be able to save everyone.” Fugaku spoke solemnly. “We don’t know what his forces are like. All I wish from you is to save as many as you can.”

Kakashi summoned his dogs, sending them off with each of the clan heads. “The plan is, if they disappear, head straight to the Uchiha compound.”

“I’ll fill in my best.” Tsume answered, leaving the room with two more dogs than before.

Shikaku took four of the dogs along, Kakashi leaving Pakkun and Bisuke with Fugaku.

“Kakashi?” Fugaku said as he was about to step through the doorway.

He looked up from his puzzled glare.

“Whatever may happen, I am glad to have known you in this life.” He smiled at the younger, offering whatever little comfort he could muster. “I do not fear death, I only fear the world I leave those alive in.”

“Don’t say that, don’t say that as if you’re going to die.” Kakashi whispered, eyebrows furrowed in worry.

Fugaku looked to the man with a small, sad smile on his face.

Kakashi shook his head. “I’ve had enough of losing people, don’t act as if this is the end.”

Fugaku sighed, turning around to exit. “I am a firm believer in fate, Kakashi. Whatever happens may just be what was fated to happen. The Uchiha are cursed, but my son, my beautiful talented son wants to heal. He wants to break the curse. He wants to love, and that’s all I could ask for. If only Itachi was able to do the same.”

In the still room, Kakashi came to an understanding. As the door was opened and closed, Kakashi was left watching the dust float into the air with the evening sun. The Uchiha were kind and gentle souls, meant to believe they were destined to hate. He knew that was untrue, he knew it was because he had experienced their kindness first had. First with Mikoto, helping him learn to be a parent. Then it was Fugaku helping him with the hole Minato left. Next it was Itachi confiding in him, looking for friendship with him. And finally it was little Sasuke, Naruto’s first friend and practically Kakashi’s second child. But the rest of the village simply wouldn’t see this, because all they saw was Madara.

Danzo was true evil to him. A man who wanted best for the village but neglected to include the Uchiha. The Uchiha was a founding clan, and Kakashi would make sure their legacy would not be forgotten.

So when Kakashi finally returned home that night, Naruto eating some ramen on the couch as a before-dinner snack, he simply thought of Fugaku in the same position. Fugaku would do anything to help him and Naruto, and he’d do just the same.

He’d just need to stop a war mongering idiot.

<>

Sasuke came into Fugaku’s study one night, after all was quiet and still.

Fugaku was drafting a decree to allow more funding to go towards orphanages and public services, Sasuke coming around and sitting beside him.

“What are you doing, Tou-san?” Sasuke asked, watching the careful brushstrokes dance across the parchment, Fugaku’s scarred hands precise and gentle.

“I’m drafting something that will help fund the orphanages of the village, as well as helping to fund shelters for newly displaced people.” Fugaku explained, placing his brush down on the table.

Sasuke’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why not just put more funding towards the Shinobi? Don’t they help the village a bunch?” 

Fugaku smiled. “Sure they do, but they are just part of a delicate system.” Fugaku then took a stack of books to his left and started stacking them in unstable, yet balanced ways. “Say this is the Hokage, the book right at the bottom.”

“He’s the foundation?” Sasuke guessed.

“Right, but say you built the same thing just without the Hokage at the bottom. The Hokage lifts the village up, but he doesn’t support it.” Fugaku then pointed to two books, acting as pillars. “Imagine this one as our shinobi, and this one as our merchants. They bring us money and goods, they support the village by giving us materials and money to keep us fed and well supported.”

“So what about orphanages and stuff?” Sasuke looked towards the stack of books. “Where do they come in?”

“What happens if a shinobi gets killed in action, and they have a child?” Fugaku asks. “It’s the village’s responsibility to look after the child, for the service the shinobi, or merchant, gave to the village.”

“They didn’t do that with Naruto.” Sasuke pouted. “They were so mean to him!”

Fugaku sighed. “Sometimes the village is told something that is wrong, and the innocent pay for it.”

“Do you…do you think Itachi would want me to be a medic?” Sasuke asked gently, as if whispering his brother’s name would break him and his father’s reserve.

Fugaku looked to his son, smiled, and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Itachi wanted nothing more than peace, and for his little brother to be a medic? He’d be so proud.”

“Are we all really cursed to hate?” Sasuke asked. “I want to be more than hateful.”

“No, not you my son.” Fugaku protested. “You have all the love in the world and enough of it to give that you can heal it. I have no doubt that no matter what, no matter where you are, someone will be there for you to love.”

“I love you, Tou-san.”

“I love you too.”

Chapter Text

The dog Kakashi had left with him and his parents was currently sniffing the ground weirdly, looking for something Sasuke wasn’t sure the dog would find. His father had been glancing at the dog all night, eventually retiring to bed after his father and his mother Sasuke to sleep.

Sasuke really just stayed up, looking at the moon outside. The moon always reminded him of his brother. A light in the darkness, an escape from the night. Sasuke hoped he could live up to what his brother was.

It was a few hours when he heard a poof sound from the living room, Sasuke stepping out carefully to investigate. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary when he walked through the long halls, grazing his finger across the shoji dotted along the walls. He took more steps through, starting to smell something strange, something that definitely wasn’t there when he had gone to bed.

The hair at the back of his neck raised in alarm as he swore he could hear screaming from a few houses down. From a mix of paranoia and fear, he activated his sharingan and found blood. So much blood. All leading to his parents’ bedroom.

Sasuke picked up the pace, throwing the door open and finding his father and mother actively bleeding out next to each other, large slashes decorating their body and necks.

“Kaa-san! Tou-san!” Sasuke shouted, dropping to his knees and willing whatever chakra in him to move to his hands, to create the healing chakra he had worked so hard to practice with. The wound on his father’s neck stayed, it stayed and his father kept bleeding, kept dying. So Sasuke just simply stopped, hands shaking and tears coming to his eyes as he focused everything he had into healing his mother.

“I’ve got you, Kaa-san, please just hold on!” Sasuke sobbed out, green healing chakra starting to waver as the wound on her neck finally started closing.

“Sasuke.” Mikoto said gently. “I need you to run, honey. Please.”

“I can’t,” Sasuke took a few sharp breaths, willing himself to keep going. “I can’t leave you here to die.”

“I want you to live.” Mikoto smiled softly, red smeared all over her face, sticky blood coating the tatami mats in a sickly deep red. “I’m so proud of you, I’m so proud of the shinobi you’ve become and are actively being. I love you so much Sasuke, so much. Please keep loving others, even if it’s hard.”

“What am I going to do when you’re gone?” Sasuke asked softly, hands null of any healing chakra, his strength sapped. “I don’t want to love anyone else.”

“You’ll love Naruto and Sakura, the same way you loved Itachi.” Mikoto answered simply. “Family is your choice, Sasuke. You’ll love them all the same.” Mikoto then took one final shuddering breath, eye widening as a shadow loomed over Sasuke.

Sasuke whipped around, to be met with the face of an ANBU mask, a sword drawn above his head. His sharingan spun out of control, the boy willing his body to move as the sword came down.

<>

Kakashi sat at the dinner table with Naruto, the two playing a card game to help with Naruto’s reaction time. Naruto triumphantly slammed a card down on the table, collected another, slammed two more down, then declared himself the winner.

“Good job Naruto!” Kakashi congratulated.

Naruto pumped his fists into the air. “It took twenty six rounds to beat you but I finally did it! This is so fun!”

Kakashi chuckled at his son. “Glad you had fun, kiddo.”

Pakkun suddenly took a nosedive onto the table, a proof of smoke following him.

“Boss! It’s happening!” Pakkun said in a hurry. Kakashi nodded, summoning the dogs to his location.

“Naruto, ninken, look after each other!” Kakashi said in a rush, head straight out the window without second thought.

Kakashi leapt off rooftop after rooftop, willing his legs to go faster, for his chakra to push him further. Seconds wasted could mean lives lost here. Kakashi made it to the end of the housing units, meeting Shikaku right outside the compound.

“Genma is on guard duty tonight, we’ll evacuate that way.” Shikaku said quickly, leaping to a couple and their child to get them to move out quickly.

“Get Tsume to crush the eyes of the dead!” Kakashi shouted. “Danzo cannot get his hands on any of these eyes!”

“Kuromaru, the dogs and I’ve got this!” Tsume shouted, leaping into action, several dogs following behind.

Shikaku worked on evacuating everyone in the right direction, herding them off to the north gate. He was evacuating house after house, destroying the eyes of the dead. His eyes locked onto a burning house, a cry coming from inside. Shikaku ushered off another young girl, before leaping into the building and searching through the fire and smoke. He found a crib in the corner, a masked man looking over it. Shikaku wasted no time in using  his Shadow Stitching Jutsu, impaling the man on the spot to be left in the fire. He grabbed the child quickly, making sure the bodies in the house would burn with it, before evacuating with the child.

Tsume and her dogs were attacking any ANBU in their path, tearing, ripping, and destroying any evidence. Any small children would get evacuated on the back of a dog, and anyone else had to run. Buildings were burning, most were already dead, but there were still some alive and still some she could save.

Kakashi headed straight to the head family’s house, kicking through the door and storming his way into the building with his sharingan exposed. The room was cast under heavy genjutsu, but not strong enough that it could trick a sharingan. He followed the blood trail to the bedroom, finding Fugaku dead on the floor with an expressionless face, Mikoto with a look of fear frozen in time, and Sasuke cowering under a man holding a blade to his head. Kakashi dashed forward, grabbing the hand the blade was being held in, and starting a struggle.

“Look away Sasuke!” Kakashi shouted, the boy closing his eyes and covering his ears.

The ANBU in front of him glared, twisting his hand out of the strong grasp Kakashi had held. Kakashi stepped back briefly, pulling out a kunai and holding the blade in place as the two shinobi clashed. Spark flew, the smoke billowed around them, and the ANBU was quickly losing the upper hand. Kakashi saw it, one minuscule movement someone could take for a twitch, but was enough for Kakashi. He swung, placing the perfect hit directly into the ANBU’s collar bone, and pushing down hard . The bone cracked with a sickening snap, Kakashi digging the knife in until it punctured the man’s lung.

Kakashi panted, resting on his knee a moment before gasping and flinging himself into Sasuke. “Oh gods, oh gods keep your eyes closed Sasuke.”

Sasuke sobbed as Kakashi hugged him, clinging onto his flak jacket tightly with his face rapidly getting whiter. Kakashi ran out of the house towards the north gate, Shikaku following suite while Tsume continued to destroy the eyes.

Around an hour later, Kakashi found himself with the seven-year-old Uchiha still in his arms, and several more in front of him. Shikaku was at his side, a baby in his arms, and Tsume had returned from her mission, blood caking her hair and clothing.

“One missing eye. The rest are accounted for and destroyed.” Tsume confirmed, looking at the escapees. “Fifteen? We got fifteen?”

“You are lucky that you got fifteen at all.” Genma said as he walked up to the group. “You went up against ANBU tonight, fifteen is a good number for going through that.”

“Where are we supposed to go?” The eldest of the Uchiha survivors asked, his face still not free of baby fat.

“Land of Iron.” Kakashi answered. “There will be help there for you, it’s neutral so you won’t be attacked by enemy forces.”

Sasuke looked up from his place on Kakashi’s shoulder. “You can’t send me off to the land of Iron! I want to stay here with you!”

“Sasuke they want you dead, I’m not sure how I can protect you.” Kakashi answered gently, looking to boy in the eyes.

“Please.” He begged. “I want to stay with you and Naruto.”

Kakashi sighed. The rest of the Uchiha started on their way out of the village, the baby Shikaku had now wrapped safely in the eldest’s arms. Kakashi looked to the group, then to Sasuke.

“Okay.” Kakashi sighed and hugged the boy tightly. “You just need to be careful Sasuke.”

“I will, I promise.”

Tsume then walked up to the gray haired man, a sad frown on her face. “Are you okay?”

Kakashi shook his head. “No, but I will be though.”

<>

Kakashi tripped through the door to his apartment, bringing Sasuke to the bathroom and running a bath for the boy. Sasuke sat and soaked for a while, Kakashi leaving to get food and something to drink.

“Papa? What’s going on?” Naruto asked, the ninken still at his side.

“Something very bad happened to Sasuke’s family.” Kakashi started, urging his son to sit with him. “He’s going to be sad, and upset, and angry. Can you do me a favour?”

“Yeah of course.” Naruto answered without second thought.

“Can you treat him the same as always? He’ll need more help than he ever has, especially now.” Kakashi spoke softly, eyes looking down to his hands as he remembered himself when his own father died.

“I will Papa.” Naruto then put on a blindingly bright smile. “He’s my best friend! And he’s staying my best friend wether he likes it or not!”

Sasuke stepped out of the bathroom, now in a pair of Naruto’s shorts and one of Kakashi’s shirts. The boy walked towards the pair, slowly coming to Naruto. The blond expanded his arms, Sasuke simply waking forward, dropping his head, a deep sigh leaving his lungs. Naruto hugged firmly, just standing there with his best friend in silence.

Kakashi slipped away to the next room, coming back out with water and some rice. He sat the two in the couch, placing the bowl on Sasuke’s lap.

“Sasuke’s going to stay with us for a while, is that alright Naruto?” Kakashi asked simply, handing the glass to Sasuke once he had gotten a hold on his chopsticks.

Naruto nodded. “It’ll be like a sleepover!”

“Now Sasuke,” Kakashi turned to the black haired boy. “I need you to tell anyone who questions how you survived, to simply say you were here for a sleepover. Anyone who saw you is dead, so as far as they’re aware you were with me.”

Sasuke nodded. “What going to happen to all of the other survivors?”

“They have a hawk they can send my way, they’ll be headed towards the land of Iron.” Kakashi explained, taking the now empty glass from Sasuke.

“Why there, Papa?” Naruto asked with a curious gaze.

“They’ll take refugees, any other place would feel they are dangerous, or enemies.” Kakashi explained, going to stand.

“Am I dangerous?” Sasuke asked almost so quietly Kakashi barely caught it.

“Oh Sasuke, no, you’re just a kid.” Kakashi rushed down to Sasuke’s side. “If you ever want to be dangerous, that’s your choice. It comes with being a shinobi. But you as you are, before you’ve made your choice, are not dangerous. You are simply Sasuke.”

Sasuke nodded slowly, taking another mouthful of rice.

“I’m going to go and set up the extra futon.” Kakashi spoke softly. “Then it’s time for bed.”

“Thank you Kakashi.” Sasuke spoke, sleep reaching his eyes.

“No need, I’ll protect you no matter what.”

Later that night, as Kakashi went to check on his boys for the fourth time, he saw Naruto with his hand draped off the side of the bed, Sasuke grasping it tightly. Sasuke was sleeping, which was good. It’s more than what Kakashi could have ever asked for.

<>

The next morning, news had spread quickly. The burning buildings, dead bodies and the smell of blood wouldn’t stay hidden for long. Kakashi made it a point to rush to the compound with Sasuke, the younger putting on the best act he think he’s ever seen. Some of it wasn’t even acting.

It was heartbreaking all over again. Sasuke barged through the doors to his house, and fell to his knees in front of Fugaku and Mikoto, reliving the night all over again. Kakashi simply followed him in, picked him up, and let him sob over his parents. He walked up to Naruto, the blond furrowing his brows in worry as he stood at the edge of the police line. Kakashi ducked under, dropping the boy to the ground, the two friends hugging immediately.

Danzo had, by this point, made his way to the compound, overlooking the ANBU who had come for the cleanup. His eye seemed to twitch once he caught sight of Sasuke, the boy now back in Kakashi’s arms.

“Danzo-sama, what happened here?” Kakashi asked. “I worry if this was an attack on the Uchiha that Sasuke may be in danger.”

“The Uchiha were planning a coup d’état, The Third simply asked that I take care of it.” Danzo explained, glancing towards Sasuke. “Was he with you?”

“Yes, the boys were having a sleepover.” Kakashi spoke softly, combing through the hair on the back of Sasuke’s head. “Who is he going to stay with now? Is there anyone left alive?”

Danzo shook his head. “Unfortunately not, my men had to kill everyone who stepped in their path. Sasuke may be the last loyal Uchiha.” The man then turned around, taking careful steps towards the Hokage tower. “Keep the boy for now, we’ll decide what to do with him at the next meeting.”

Kakashi nodded, grasping Naruto’s hand and bring the three of them home. Sasuke didn’t let go of Kakashi’s flak jacket until he was sat on the couch again, his bloodied clothes from last night now clean and stacked carefully on the coffee table. Naruto sat next to Sasuke, Kakashi leaving to do his day of work.

The two friends sat in silence for a while, Naruto simply offering his company.

“You know,” Sasuke started, eyes looking down to his hands. “I thought it was all some bad dream, or a genjutsu, or anything other than reality.”

Naruto looked toward his friend, frown evident on his face.

“But seeing their bodies, no genjutsu and everyone else knowing of the massacre? It’s like the image the sharingan permanently imprinted in my head becomes that much clearer.” Sasuke took a small breath in. “Please don’t leave me alone, Naruto.”

The blond shook his head, and wrapped an arm around Sasuke’s shoulders. “I’ll be at your side for forever, Sasuke. I’ll make sure to be your family as much as I can be.”

Sasuke rested his head on Naruto’s shoulder. “Thank you, Naruto.”

<>

Danzo was making an announcement to the village, addressing the massacre of the Uchiha. “The Uchiha were staging a coup. My men took them out, eliminating the threat from the village. Many of our loyal shinobi were killed in the attack from the Uchiha, but we managed to eliminate any threats before they reached the village.”

“I told you that boy was trouble!” Mebuki muttered to her daughter quietly.

Sakura looked more afraid and worried than anything else. “He is good! He wasn’t dangerous at all!”

“Pay attention!” Some whispered harshly from in front of them.

“Sasuke Uchiha, is the last Uchiha of the Hidden Leaf. He is the last loyal Uchiha.” Danzo explained. “Sasuke will become a loyal shinobi of the Leaf, and protect it well. I hope you all will continue on as normal, as we have no time for delay. Continue your days, an official statement will be released later this afternoon.”

Sakura almost cried in relief at finding out her friend was still alive, heart fluttering with adrenaline. “He’s alive.”

“And you better not be continuing this friendship with him.” Mebuki spat out. “No daughter of mine with associate with an Uchiha of all things!”

Sakura paid no mind to her mothers words, even as she was getting dragged back home. She simply reminded herself that Sasuke was alive, that he was okay, and that their dreams could still continue, that she could protect him, on and off the field. Who cares if the Uchiha were dangerous, Sasuke wasn’t and that’s what mattered.

Chapter Text

Walking through town was surreal, after weeks of staying inside. Sasuke only saw nasty glares or pitiful glances, all totalling to the reality that yes, his entire family was dead other than some distant relatives that escaped the village. Naruto was right by his side throughout the whole thing, taking his hand and glaring at anyone who gave him any trouble.

They made their way through district after district, coming up to the Yamanaka Flower Shop. Inoichi was stood outside, calmly arranging flowers until he made eye contact with Sasuke.

“Get away, Uchiha.” He spat, as the nine-year-old walked past the table.

Naruto went to yell, scream, shout and say anything, but hesitated when Sasuke grasped his arm. Sasuke shook his head, and the two just trudged along.

Then it was the most difficult part of their walk. Walking past the Uchiha compound. As Sasuke and his best friend turned the corner, there were people lined up with signs, civilian and shinobi alike. Many were shouting, mostly to the air but sometimes to people themselves.

The signs messages varied, but all had similar meanings. All meant ‘The Uchiha Massacre is Genocide.’

“Naruto, did you know they were protesting like this?” Sasuke asked quietly, avoiding any prying eyes.

The blond shook his head. “Papa hasn’t said anything ‘bout this to me, he’s been in and out of meetings a bunch.”

Sasuke nodded, picking up the pace to get past the compound faster. The protesters continued, yelling and waving their signs around.

It really didn’t matter to Sasuke. It wouldn’t bring back his family.

Naruto and Sasuke eventually arrived at the academy, catching the stares of every student in the room. Naruto simply ushered Sasuke along and into his seat, sitting down in the same spot they always sat in.

Whispers followed around the room, girls gossiping and trying to catch the eye of Sasuke, others avoiding him completely and very few just simply shooting him worried looks.

Sasuke hated it.

He hated that his family was dead. He hated that he was an ‘other’ to these people. He hated that the massacre was just some event for the village, that most weren’t painting it as the tragedy it really was because the Uchiha were staging a coup. It doesn’t matter if his family was trying to overthrow the village, they were still his family, they were still people with decades ahead of them to spend with their families.

And now it was just Sasuke with decades ahead of him.

“Alright class, listen up! Time to pay attention!” Iruka shouted, clapping his hands as he came into the room. “Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room.”

Sasuke’s heart stopped. He really didn’t want to discuss this, especially not at school.

Naruto made eye contact with Iruka, shaking his head no. Iruka looked back at the blond, nodding so subtly Naruto almost didn’t catch it.

Iruka pulled out something from behind him, showing to the class a small finch. “Well I guess this more counts as a small elephant in the room.”

Sasuke sighed in relief.

“What’s that Iruka sensei?” Naruto shouted from beside Sasuke.

“Raise your hand next time.” Iruka said softly, then held up the finch. “This is Koibito. He is a summon of one of our shinobi. Would anyone like to tell me what a summon is?”

Sakura raised her hand. “It’s an animal helper that shinobi can use in or out of battle.”

“Correct.” Iruka then let Koibito fly around the room. “Does anyone know someone that uses summons?”

“My papa has a bunch of dogs!” Naruto cheered. “He has seven, and they’re all so cool!”

“Fantastic! Anyone else?” Iruka looked around the room.

It was silent for a few moments, Iruka about to take a breath and move on, before someone muttered something quietly. “Sorry? Whoever that was, do you mind speaking up?”

“My uh, brother, had some crow summons.” Sasuke spoke slightly louder this time, timidly starring at his teacher.

Iruka smiled, then nodded. “Wonderful.”

<>

The academy went on break after a few hours of classes. Naruto and Sasuke took their bento boxes, (packed dutifully by Kakashi) and made their way to the yard. Just as the two were about to break away from the crowd of student, they were stopped.

“It’s you! The Uchiha!” A civilian girl said as she walked up, Ino Yamanaka right behind her. “So how’d your family die? I heard it was bloody and gruesome!”

Sasuke stared at the girl, frozen in place.

“Honestly, serves the Uchiha right.” Ino butted in, at the girl’s side. “I mean, staging a coup against the village? My father says it was a long time coming!”

“What- my family was massacred! I’ve got no one left!” Sasuke shouted angrily.

Sakura stepped into the group carefully, putting a hand on Sasuke’s chest. “Now now Sasuke, Ino. I’m sure this all a misunderstanding.”

“What’s not to understand?!” Sasuke got louder. “Those two are celebrating the deaths of my entire clan!”

Sakura stepped in front of Ino, facing Sasuke. “To be fair, the Uchiha were dangerous. They wanted to attack the village, they wanted to hurt people.”

“I’m an Uchiha.” Sasuke glared coldly.

“Guys, stop fighting, we can sort this out.” Naruto said aloud trying to get in between his two friends. “This is all really unnecessary.”

“No, no. I want to see what Sakura thinks.” Sasuke spat out her name as if it was poison to his tongue. “I’m an Uchiha, that makes me dangerous, right?” Sasuke raised his voice loud enough that the crowd that formed seemed to shrink in place, backing away from the scene slowly.

“No that’s not what I meant at all!” Sakura protested. “The village was just trying to keep its people safe!”

“My family was a part of that people!” Sasuke shouted. “We’ve helped generation after generation, we’ve been a part of this village since day one, and the Village decides to turn its back on some of the very founders!”

Sasuke stepped much closer to Sakura, squaring his shoulders and looming over the girl. “So is this dangerous? Am I fucking dangerous now Sakura?” Sasuke’s crimson sharingan spun wildly, boring into Sakura’s forest green eyes.

“Someone call a teacher!”

“Get Sakura away from him!”

“Get away from her!”

Sasuke looked around wildly, everyone looking on with fear and hate in their gazes. He looked back to Sakura, her petrified gaze looking at him wildly, as Ino slowly dragged her away.

Sasuke stood, rooted in his spot with Sakura’s terrified look permanently etched into his head like a jagged scar.

The crowd dispersed, everyone went back inside for school, leaving Sasuke and Naruto standing by themselves.

“Sasuke?” Naruto said his friends name with a worried lithe, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder. “What’s going on Sasuke, talk to me.”

“I…” Sasuke finally turned his head, and relaxed his sharingan. “I’ve done nothing to them but prove what everyone’s thinking.”

“That’s not your fault, Sasuke.” Naruto argued. “They think your family’s death was something good, something with no consequences.” Naruto slowly grasped his friend in a firm hug. “You’re Sasuke. You’re my best friend, and you’re not dangerous because you’re an Uchiha, you’re dangerous because that what you want to be. And we’ll be dangerous together.”

Sasuke nodded slowly, nodding his head into his friend’s shoulder, wrapping his hand around tightly, only letting a few tears fall. “Thank you, Naruto.”

“Anytime.” Naruto looked back to the school, to his friend, then in the direction of the apartment. “Let’s head home. School is stupid anyways.”

Sasuke nodded, and turned away from the academy.

<>

“What should we do with the last Uchiha?” Mebuki asked during the end of the council meeting, looking to Hiruzen.

“We can probably just leave the boy alone in his own house,” Hiruzen said, no thought to his word. “He’s got enough funds to last him until he can make his own.”

“Absolutely not.” Kakashi looked to Hiruzen with discontent and too many questions on his tongue. “Sasuke has far too much trauma from that house and that compound. That will worsen his mental state beyond repair.”

“Oh who cares.” Inoichi spoke, glaring at the silver haired man. “We all know what his family did. The last Uchiha deserves it, if you ask me.”

The room erupted into argument, many angry at the thought of Sasuke sitting for a minute more in that compound, while others were calling him a murderer and a terrorist.

“Enough, all of you.” Hiruzen spoke the words sternly, angry with what we’re supposed to be adults. “Sasuke will stay in his old house, and that is final.”

“No.” Kakashi pulled papers out of his coat, the ones he had kept on his since adopting Naruto.

“What did you say?”

“I said no.” Kakashi laid the crib lord papers out, the edges torn and burned, but any writing on it still legible. “I, Kakashi Hatake, am taking on Sasuke Uchiha under my guidance and help through the clan ward laws.”

“And how do these help you keep the boy?” Mebuki asked, almost sarcastically.

“Clan ward laws state that any clan, close to or near extinction may take on an orphaned child to be a part of said clan.” Kakashi spoke to the entire room, voice projecting and bouncing off the wall with the volume. “As the Hatake clan has only two members, I will be taking Sasuke on as my ward to be a part of the Hatake clan until further notice.”

Kakashi slammed the proper paperwork in front of the Hokage, crossing his arms defiantly, daring the man in front of him to deny him.

“So? What does it say? Will he keep the child?” Mebuki questioned, staring at the several sheets on the table.

Hiruzen took a puff of smoke, blowing it out, the picking up the papers with wrinkled fingers. He took a few minutes to read through the papers, eventually placing them down. “Just what he says.”

“What?!” Mebuki shouted.

“Quiet.” Hiruzen raised a gentle hand. “He has the proper paperwork, not even I could deny this. So there. Sasuke Uchiha, will now be a part of the Hatake clan as Kakashi’s ward.”

Inoichi seemed to sit back with a huff, Mebuki perfectly mirroring it, while Kakashi almost collapsed with relief. He had kept the clan ward papers in case Naruto was denied at his adoption, but he had always kept them in his jacket pocket just in case. He was just glad they had worked.

“Meeting adjourned. I will see you all next week.” Hiruzen rose from the heavy mahogany chair, taking slow and careful steps out of the room whilst the other council members followed.

Kakashi stayed in the room, Shikaku hovering at the door.

“Are you okay Kakashi?” Shikaku asked, watching as the grey haired man brushed a hand through his hair.

“Yes. Just, stressed I think.”

Shikaku took a tentative seat next to Kakashi. “I’ve got your back, Kakashi. I’d protect you over the village, any day.”

Kakashi looked to his friend, and nodded with the best smile he could give. “I just…I miss them. Fugaku was a close friend of mine, and Itachi, Itachi was the closest I have gotten to anyone in a long time.”

Shikaku placed a gentle hand on Kakashi’s arm. “I know he’s still alive. Though I imagine he’s practically radio silent as I’ve only seen three ravens since he disappeared.”

Kakashi let out a strained laugh. “Nothing can get past you.” Kakashi’s head dipped, hands unclasping then clasping on his neck. “He’s safe, but if I let Sasuke know, and he says anything about it, Itachi will become the worlds most wanted ninja.”

“It will offer the child relief, when he needs it.” Shikaku thoughtfully looked out the window. “But right now, we just need to keep whoever we can safe.”

“This is hard, Shikaku.” Kakashi whispered mournfully.

“I know.” Shikaku uttered back, turning to leave the room. “It going to be hard, but if anyone has this handled, it’s going to be you.”

<>

Kakashi came home that night to find his boys relaxing on the couch, not a care in the world as they munched down on some sweets. It was mostly mochi and dango, sauce sneered over both their faces.

“How was school today boys?” Kakashi asked tiredly, slumping down to the ground with his back to the couch, dango now perched in his hand.

“It sucked.” Naruto answered honestly. “But I think it’ll get better.”

Sasuke nodded in agreement. “We ended up skipping the second half.”

Kakashi sighed. “Had a feeling it would be rough. I’m glad you came home instead of staying. You were probably learning something you already knew, anyways.”

“How was your day papa?” Naruto asked, looking at the bags under his father’s eyes.

Kakashi shrugged. “I had to adopt Sasuke, so Sasuke, welcome to the family.”

“You what.”

Chapter Text

The wind blew harshly, Itachi pulling his coat closer to his body, slipping his scarf over his nose. The winters in The Land of Iron were harsh, the wind chipped at your skin and sapped any warmth remaining. But Itachi had been through worse, and all he needed to do right now was help Shisui finish up the structure of the greenhouse they were building.

Itachi hoisted another beam up, over, and onto the top on the structure, Shisui securing it into place, marking the finishing of the frame. The work Fuji-san had them doing was tiring, but good. Itachi doesn’t think he’d ever have been this strong had it not been for her pushing the two of them.

The two friends had fixed up the old barn and converted the loft into a training area, they had taken on horses a few months ago so the barn is where they resided, and the attic finally looked like a home with the decorations and books that were added to the ever growing collection.

The pair headed inside, Fuji sitting on her couch, finishing up something she was knitting.

“We’re back, Fuji-san.” Shisui muttered tiredly, flopping down on the couch next to the elderly woman. “We finished the frame.”

“Oh good.” She said, handing Shisui a cup of water. “What would you boys like for dinner? We may have to have vegetables and rice again, we ran out of meat.”

“Oh, I’ll go hunting. The sun’s not down yet so I have time.” Itachi spoke, already bundling himself up tighter than before.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea, hon? That cough of yours still hasn’t left you since you got pneumonia.” Fuji argued, already standing to help Itachi with his gloves.

Itachi smiled softly. “Nonsense, I’ll be back soon.”

“Stay safe.” Shisui muttered from his spot on the couch.

Itachi nodded, stepping out in the the biting cold. The snow sunk under his feet, his shinobi sandals long since replaced with heavy snow boots. He carefully opened the barn doors, drawing one of the horses out and placing a saddle and snow gear on it.

Itachi pet the horse’s nose gently, then clambered on top to start on his way to the tree line. The horse trotted carefully through the snow, puffs of breath visible in the stinging air.

Itachi glanced carefully around the area, keeping his ears open for any sign of movement. He mostly just heard small mice and the wind brushing through the overgrowth, but one rustle caught his attention.

Itachi stopped his horse, sliding off of it and landing on the ground silently. He picked his way carefully through the bushes, keeping in mind to stay downwind, and came upon a deer in the woods sipping water from a small stream of running water.

Itachi was quick to flick a kunai at the majestic creature’s neck, the animal falling with a thud. Itachi stepped forward, went onto his knees, and bowed towards the creature.

“Thank you dearest creature for the meal you will provide my family.” Itachi spoke softly, under his breath as to not disturb anything else. “I wish you safe journeys on the way to the afterlife.”

Itachi took out a knife Fuji gave him, getting to work on skinning the deer of its fur. As he was just about finished, packing the meat up into paper wraps and tying it off, the hair on the back of his neck raised as a large amount of chakra uncovered itself. Itachi continued as normal, tracking the strangers footprints as they circled Itachi. He just kept calm, making careful slices, packing up bones and whatever else of the deer he could to use for later. Nothing was going to go to waste, afterall. Fuji said so herself, everything has a use and she was going to use it.

The sharp whiz of a kunai knife sent Itachi’s body into action, his right hand raised faster than lightning and meeting the enemies’ kunai midair.

Itachi scanned the area where it came from, spotting a tall figure with blue skin and gills standing in the bush.

“Hm. You’re faster than I thought.” The man said, now stepping into the clearing. Itachi stood carefully, the food safely sealed into a scroll and tucked into one of his pouches, and his eyes holding the stranger’s gaze steadily.

“You’re not from here, are you?” The man asked, taking another step forward. Itachi glared.

“Are you going to let me leave?”

“Sure, if you give me that food.”

Itachi grimaced. “No.”

“No?”

“You heard me. No. I have a family to feed.” Itachi spoke.

“Fine. I’ll take it off your body then.”

The man lunged forward, hand aimed to grab Itachi’s face, stumbling when he came into contacting with nothing. Itachi lit up his sharingan as he ducked, taking his fist and hitting up at the man’s chin.

Itachi moved, and moved fast, grabbing his hunt for the day and running to the man’s blind spot before leaping into the canopy above.

The man spun around wildly, looking in every direction, until landing upon the crimson of Itachi’s eyes, just barely visible in the canopy.

Itachi cast the genjutsu as soon as he saw the other man’s dark eyes. The man’s eyes lost focus, searching wildly for a way out before raising his hands in surrender.

“I can see I picked the wrong fight here.” He said, closing his eyes, and disrupting his chakra flow momentarily.

Itachi hopped down, standing still in front of the shark-like man. At second glance, the man was rather thin. While he had muscle mass, his skin cling to his bones and his eyes were almost hollow in the way that he looked at him.

He held his hand out, in a vague gesture towards Itachi. “Truce? So no one has to get injured here?”

Itachi eyed his hand suspiciously, taking it and shaking gently. “Itachi.”

“Kisame.”

“Swordsman of the mist.”

“Yeah, I guess it’s pretty obvious.” Kisame chuckled lightly, the sword on his back bouncing with his shoulder. “And you, Uchiha. Though I’ve heard as of recently you’re all supposed to be dead.”

Itachi nodded, quietly turning to the direction of his horse. “A couple of us got out.”

“Say, wonder what the leaf would do with information like that?” Kisame joked, the grin immediately wiped off his face as he was met with a kunai to his neck, and the legendary sharingan spinning wildly in front of him.

“I will slaughter you and leave no remains.” Itachi said coldly, no joyful lilt to his voice and no weakness in his stance.

“Say listen.” Kisame bargained, sweat dripping from his temple. “You kill some more feed for me, and I won’t say a damn thing.”

“What, you can’t do it yourself?” Itachi taunted lightly.

“I don’t know what it is but I seriously can’t catch a meal in these woods.” Kisame said, letting out a puff of breath he didn’t know he was holding as the knife was lowered from his neck.

Itachi took the Kunai, marched off, then came back within minutes with another deer carcass. “Now, thank the deer for your meal.” He demanded.

“You want me to thank a dead deer.”

“Yes.”

“Seriously?”

“I can just take this as some extra kill for myself.” Itachi taunted.

“No!” Kisame cleared his throat, hoping the other boy paid no mind to the half-desperate plea. “No.” He then mimicked what he saw Itachi do earlier, bowing deeply towards the deer.

Itachi stared as the man said his thanks. He was desperate for food if he wasn’t even going to shoot his threat back at Itachi. It’s not like the land of Iron was barren, it was just a matter of different tracking.

Itachi placed the meat in Kisame’s arms, giving him a stern look. “You will use every part of this carcass, bones, guts and meat. You will not disrespect this creatures life by throwing away the very body it grew. Do I make myself clear?”

Kisame nodded, taken aback at the sudden change of mood. “Understood.”

“Then I will see you around, Kisame.” Itachi said, walking back to his horse with silent steps, his thick furs blowing in the wind.

Kisame cooked the fatter parts of the meat to cook into simple kababs, taking the guts and making the remainder into sausages he could cook for later. They were crudely made, Kisame going off of a faint memory of a butcher that lived on the corner of the street he lived on as a child. Some of the organs he turned into waterproof interiors of bags, using the pelt as an exterior. He used a small bone to sew it, and most of the other bones he turned into smaller knives as a way to restock.

The antlers he stashed away, hoping to find a use for them later. He didn’t know why he wanted to keep this promise to the ninja he found in the woods, but for some reason, it was important.

Funny things happen in the land of Iron.

——————

Itachi returned home with the deer, coughing into a rag as he entered the small house. “I’m back.” He announced, placing the small packages of meat.

“Thank you, dear.” Fuji said, taking one of the packages and starting to prepare their dinner.

Itachi took a seat next to Shisui at the table, crossing his arms and resting his head on his forearms.

“You look beat.” Shisui commented. “What happened?”

“Met one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist.” Itachi said simply, ignoring Shisui’s sudden look of surprise. “Have we heard anything from Kakashi?”

“Uh-“ Shisui stuttered, trying to process the fact that Itachi had come face-to-face with a Swordsman of the Mist and he didn’t even have a scratch on him. “Right. Letter. Uh, here.”

Itachi took the scroll from Shisui carefully, reading its contents.

Dear Itachi and Shisui,

I hope this letter finds you in good health.

Things in the village are stirring up, the council seems to be making poorer and poorer decisions each day. I am trying to keep things together here, the best that I can, but I am losing hope until either a new Hokage is elected, or the council is overturned.

Sasuke is in good health, Itachi. He’s struggling as you would expect anyone to do, but Naruto and I are keeping a close watch on him.

Also I unintentionally adopted him.

Sincerely, Kakashi.

Itachi looked to the letter tiredly, swiping a hand down his face.

“What will we send back?” Shisui asked, looking at his best friend worriedly.

Itachi stayed silent for a moment longer, then looked to Shisui. “Tell him we have a new ally. And to look after my brother.”

Shisui nodded, writing it down at the next blank area of the scroll.

The three of them made an agreement to keep all of their letter on one scroll, so it would be easy to keep track of and even easier to destroy.

Itachi summoned a raven, attached the letter, then ushered it off.

Fuji delivered food to the table, sitting down with the boys. “So, did you boys have a good day?”

Shisui nodded with a large smile, and Itachi nodded. “Met a new friend.” He muttered, smiling softly.

Fuji smiled back to her boys. “I’m glad.”

Chapter Text

Kakashi was tired. And stressed. With the recent fallout with Sakura, Naruto was needing extra help with his homework, help that Kakashi couldn’t provide. Sasuke was no help either. Kakashi loved the boy, he truly did, but Sasuke was a terrible teacher and teaching Naruto was too frustrating for him.

And with Sasuke here permanently, he was having to pick up extra missions to compensate for the extra mouth to feed. The council was terribly organized as usual, and keeping the peace between civilians and ninjas was difficult, to say the least. Kakashi had found himself at yet another weekly meeting, rubbing his temples in annoyance at another terrible bill the civilians proposed.

“And with that, I conclude my presentation on why we should start separating the ninja housing from the civilian housing.” Mebuki said with a proud smile, her diagrams placed for the whole of the council to see.

“Mebuki,” Shikaku started, sighing. “It would be a 20 minute walk for even the closest shinobi to get to any vendors. The way we have the city set up is fine, we don’t need to be completely separated from one another.”

“But you shinobi are dangerous. I don’t want my daughter intermingling with any of you.” Mebuki protested with a sneer.

“...Your daughter is becoming a shinobi.” Kakashi stated bluntly. 

“Alright, alright. Settle down everyone.” Hiruzen said softly, smoke billowing from his pipe. “This Bill will unfortunately not pass with the council. Put it away, Mebuki-san.” 

Mebuki grumbled to herself, and started rolling up her diagrams. She begrudgingly put them away, huffing and sitting in her chair once she was done. 

“Alright, then with that, this meeting is adjourned.” Hiruzen stated, standing quickly. “Kakashi, meet me in my office.”

The council members slowly filtered out of the room, some staying to talk while others were still writing frantically in books.

“Hatake-san, why don’t you come to dinner?” Shikaku offered before he moved from his seat.

“Ah, sorry, I can’t.” Kakashi mumbled, exhaustion clear in his posture and face. “I promised I’d try and help Naruto with his studying tonight. His grades have been tanking.”

“And so close to graduation too, that’s unfortunate.” Shikaku commented, before patting Kakashi on his back. “He’ll be alright, don’t you worry.”

Kakashi nodded, sighing. “I just worry is all.”

Kakashi said his goodbyes to some of the council members, before heading up to the Hokage’s office.

“You wanted to speak with me, Hokage-sama?” Kakashi asked as he walked into the office.

“Ah yes, just a quick thing.” He stated, not even looking up from his paperwork.. “I want you to be a genin sensei.” Hiruzen looked up at Kakashi. “Three of the students don’t fit in with any of our current teachers. I’d like you to teach them.”

“Hokage-sama, I can barely afford to feed my family as is, I wouldn’t be able to take care of my family or be home often enough for my kids.” Kakashi said, sighing softly.

“Your kids would be your students. As well as that civilian girl. Nobody wants them. You may as well teach them full time.” Hiruzen said off handedly, shooing Kakashi away

Kakashi sighed softly, leaving the room. He ignored his pang of annoyance, towards the teachers who didn’t want his kids and towards the Hokage who was only stoking that fire. Kakashi slouched over, scolding himself internally but finding no effort in correcting his posture. He wanted to go home, he really did, but he couldn’t blame himself for feeling exhausted. So the walk home was slow, and the walk upstairs to the apartment was even slower.

He walked into the apartment and kicked off his sandals haphazardly, calling out loud, “Naruto! Sasuke! I’m home!”

“Sasuke is out right now, Papa!” Naruto called out from the living room. 

Kakashi walked into the living room, sitting down at the couch and observing the diagrams and structures Naruto had made. “Where did he go?”

“Went to the hospital. They had a patient with a broken bone and they wanted Sasuke to try and heal it.” Naruto explained, eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he tried to make sense of the concept he was studying. “Why’s Sasuke so much better at school than me? Why’s he so much better at everything?”

“The teachers treat him fairly, Naruto.” Kakashi said softly, sliding off of the couch to kneel next to Naruto and wrap an arm around his shoulders. “You also don’t learn like everyone else does. To even start getting a concept down, you need to do…well, this.” Kakashi gestured to the various papers and models scattering the coffee table. “Someone like Sasuke can look at some writing and get the concept without a problem.”

“It’s stupid.” Naruto grumbled.

“I know kiddo.” Kakashi sighed. “Things will get better when you’re a genin.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

<>

Final exams were here, and Naruto was practically bouncing from his seat. Sasuke was doing everything in his power to keep Naruto under control, to keep him steady and focused, but nothing was working how it usually did.

“Come on, Naruto, stay calm, being all hyper isn’t going to help you.” Sasuke whispered, watching the next person stand up to do their clone jutsu.

“I know, I know, but I can’t help it. It feels like I’ve had too much sugar to eat even though I’ve barely eaten anything today.” Naruto sighed, calming himself but still letting his leg bounce up and down. “I just…I don’t want to disappoint Papa.”

Sasuke snorted at that. “I don’t think it’s physically possible for you to disappoint him.”

“I’m serious!”

“So am I!” Sasuke shot back. “You once managed to throw yourself through a wall, which took weeks to fix. He wasn’t even disappointed, he just worried about you getting hurt.” Sasuke gave his friend a hug. “I know you’re worried. But things will work themselves out.”

“Next up, Naruto!” Iruka called out, watching the blond shoot up and practically jump in front of Iruka.

“Alright! Here I go!” Naruto cheered, making his hand sign, and watching the plumes of smoke billow in the air.

His chakra almost crackled with how much was getting let out, until the smoke cleared, Naruto stopped pumping his chakra, and there they stood

Two alright clones and three clones that looked closer to piles of melted flesh.

Naruto immediately pouted, then looked up to Iruka with a worried gaze.

Iruka looked back to him, almost looking guilty. “I’m sorry, Naruto. You failed.”

Naruto just sighed, nodded, and left the building. He sat on the swing outside by himself, simply waiting for Sasuke to go so he could go home. He planned to slowly swing, to just sit and try and imagine what he could have done better, but he just couldn’t think of what.

Eventually Mezuki wandered up to him, crouching down to his height.

“Mizuki-sensei?”

“Hello Naruto.” Mizuki started, his smile almost kind, but unnerving more than anything else. “I heard your exam did not go well.”

“Yeah.” Naruto mumbled.

“Well, I have an extracurricular activity that you can do, and if you do it, I am positive Iruka-sensei will pass you.” Mizuki said with a grin.

“I’ll do it!” Naruto said without any hesitation.

Mizuki smiled even wider. “Wonderful. Now, here’s what you’re going to do…”

<>

Naruto was huffing and puffing, but he had the largest grin on his face. He had done it! He had learned a technique, he could graduate with Sasuke!

“Naruto!” Naruto spun to see a fuming Iruka glaring at him as he sat with the forbidden scroll.

“Iruka-sensei!” Naruto cheered, standing within seconds. “I did it! Mizuki-sensei told me if I learned something from here you’d let me pass! And I did it!”

“Mizuki-sensei…? Naruto, look at me,” Iruka said seriously, grabbing the boy’s shoulders. “Did Mizuki send you to get that scroll so you could graduate?”

“He did!” Naruto confirmed. “So can I graduate now? Please, Iruka-sensei, please?”

“Graduate? A little brat like you, graduate?” Mizuki said, hopping down from the trees. “I don’t think so. Hand over the scroll, Naruto.”

“Iruka-sensei..?”

“Go and hide, Naruto.” Iruka said softly, patting the boy on the head

“What..?” Naruto breathed out, his eyebrows furrowing in worry.

“Don’t turn your back on me, Iruka!” Mizuki shouted, sloppily chucking a knife in Naruto’s direction.

Iruka moved before he could even register, the knife embedding itself in his back. He used his body to cover Naruto, and didn't even hesitate. And really, Iruka didn’t mind. Naruto was going to be a great ninja, and an even better person.

“Iruka-sensei!” Naruto shouted, immediately moving to help keep Iruka upright.

Iruka coughed, but took Naruto by the shoulder to move the both of them behind cover. “Run, Naruto, run, don’t let Mizuki get that scroll. Go and find your father.”

“No.” Naruto said sternly, yanking one of his knives out from his kunai pouch.

“Naruto-”

“No.” Naruto repeated, before giving Iruka his famous blindingly bright smile. “Plus, I haven’t had a chance to show you my new technique!”

And with that, Naruto ran back into the clearing, charging at Mizuki. 

Iruka could only watch as Naruto created hundreds of himself, overpowering Mizuki tenfold. Iruka watched the hundreds of shadow clones attack, and attack, and attack, until Mizuki was beaten and on the ground, holding a newly broken arm. When Naruto was positive Mizuki would stay on the ground, Naruto rushed over to Iruka and slid to the ground, checking Iruka’s back.

:Iruka-sensei? Iruka-sensei, are you alright?” Naruto questioned in a blur of panic.

“I’m okay, Naruto, don’t worry about me.” Iruka rasped out, a gentle smile on his face. “Why didn’t you run?”

Naruto shrugged. “You're one of my precious people. I wouldn’t dream of leaving you behind.”

Iruka visibly softened, then reached his hands up to grasp at the knot of his headband. He undid the knot, and held it out to Naruto.

Naruto looked at Iruka incredulously. “What..?”

“Hundreds of perfect clones is definitely a passing grade in my book.” Iruka said with a smile. “You’ve passed, Naruto.”

Naruto teared up, then cried, slowly taking the headband from Iruka. He tied it around his head, then gave a happy, yet watery, smile. “Thank you Iruka-sensei!”

<>

“I still can’t believe all of that happened for you to pass.” Sasuke said as he and Naruto were walking to the academy.

“But I did! And now you’re stuck with me!” Naruto cheered, nudging Sasuke’s side playfully.

Sasuke swatted back at Naruto. “Alright, alright, let’s just get inside and get our team assignments.”

“Woah, I thought you flunked out, Naruto.” Kiba commented the minute he saw the messy mop of blond hair.

“Nope! Look at this right here!” Naruto flashed his leaf headband proudly. “I’m a ninja, you hear?”

“Yeah, yeah, alright. This just gives me more of a chance to beat you.” Kiba laughed, excited he could still banter with Naruto back and forth. “I’ll see you in the chunin exams, alright?”

Naruto laughed and nodded, heading with Sasuke over to their seats.

Naruto was, once again, bouncing in his seat from the excitement. He did it! He finally did it! He was going to be a ninja, finally, and with his best friend!

“Alright everyone, settle down, settle down.” Iruka said with a laugh, stepping into the room with a sheet of paper. “I’ll be announcing your teams, and then I’ll be leaving you here to be picked up by your genin senseis. Team one…”

“Team Seven will be Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. Team Eight…”

Sasuke has never gone through the five stages of grief faster than that point. On one hand, Naruto. On the other, Sakura.

Sasuke sighed. Then sighed again. The especially sighed when their sensei was late and he was left in a room with only Sakura and Naruto

“So…how is everyone feeling?” Naruto asked, trying to cut the tension that had been growing.

Sasuke grunted.

“Fine.” Sakura hummed.

There was another minute of tense silence.

“Isn’t this exciting?” Naruto said cheerfully, nudging Sasuke and grinning at Sakura. “We became genin today! And we’ll start learning all of the real stuff!”

“So exciting.” Sasuke mumbled quietly, crossing his arms and looking out the window.

Naruto sighed and just started kicking his feet back and forth. He looked at the ceiling tiles, started counting them, and resigned his fate to having two teammates who weren’t enthusiastic in the slightest.

The three perked up when the door opened, their sensei finally here.

When that fluffy silver hair poked through, followed by a familiar masked face, Naruto grinned the brightest he ever had.

“Papa!” Naruto shouted, running up to his dad and wrapping his arms around his midsection.

“Hey kiddo. Sorry I’m late, my last mission took a little longer than I had anticipated. ” Kakashi said with his infamous eye smile, ruffling Naruto’s hair. “Well, guess I don’t have to say this, but guess who’s going to be your new genin sensei?”

“Works for me.” Sasuke said, walking up and standing beside Naruto.

“Come on, Sakura. We’ll get the icebreaker done on our way to the training area.” Kakashi started walking with the boys, Sakura being left to trail behind the three.

“Alright, so hi everyone, I’m Kakashi-sensei.” Kakshi started walking through the village with his three genin beside him, Naruto gripping onto his sleeve, Sasuke at his side, and Sakura walking just beside Naruto. “Or Papa-sensei, or Papashi-sensei, whatever feels right.” Kakashi jokes, trying to lighten the mood between the three.

Naruto simply smiled, hopping along without a care in the world. “This is gonna be great. We finally have time with each other, Papa-sensei!”

Kakashi smiled, before guiding him and the kids down a different street. “Alright. We all know each other, so let's start off nice and easy. What is your dream?”

“Our dream?” Sakura questioned quietly. 

“Mhm.” Kakashi hummed. “Mine is to protect my precious people, and to see all three of you,” Kakashi looked at Sakura pointedly. “grow into incredible shinobi.”

“Oh! I get it!” Naruto said excitedly. “My dream is to create traps no one can escape from, and help my team become the best they can be!” Naruto then looked at his two teammates expectedly.

Sasuke sighed, looking at the ground as he mumbled. “My dream is to be a great medic, and to keep my precious people alive, even after the fight is done.”

Sakura nodded. “My dream…” Sakura trailed off, looking at the ground with furrowed brows. “Is…to…get a husband…?”

“Oh come on Sakura, that can’t be your dream!” Naruto protested. “What happened to the Skaura interested in poisons, the Sakura that would beat me up and pin me to the ground just for fun?” 

“My mom said-”

“We don’t want what your mom said.” Sasuke growled out, some annoyance dripping into his voice. “We want to hear what you want.”

Sakura looked at Sasuke, then looked to the ground with guilt. She tensed her shoulders, then sighed. “I…my dream is to become the strongest person alive. I want to move mountains.” She said determinedly, Sasuke nodding in approval.

“That’s more like it.” Kakashi ruffled Sakura’s hair, then brought the three into a training area. “Welcome to training ground 7, our home for the next few weeks.”

“Ooooo exciting!” Naruto cheered, already running around and looking over every spec of dirt.

“Alright, alright, gather round you three.” Kakashi said, corralling all three of them to be sitting in front of him. “So, unfortunately, I can’t say you’re officially genin yet.”

“What?!” Naruto shouted.

“It’s fine, Naruto.” Kakashi reassured him. “You three just have to pass a test I give you. So, without further ado, welcome to the bell test.”

Kakashi took out a piece of red string, two bells attached to either end of it.

The three almost-genin stared at Kakashi incredulously.

“Your goal is to take a bell from me. Whoever has a bell by the time the sun sets, will be the genin who passes.” Kakashi explained simply, Sakura visibly deflating at the news. “Your time starts now.”

Kakashi leaped away, into the trees, and away from the children. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, were all left feeling dumbfounded, confused, and most importantly, worried.

“We can’t let Sakura get a bell, or we’ll be separated.” Sasuke hissed out to Naruto.

“Sasuke!” Naruto scolded. “She deserves to be here just as much as we do!”

“It’s alright guys, really, I can just go back to the academy and try again next year.” Sakura reassured, attempting, and failing, to hide her sadness and disappointment.

“No.” Naruto said bluntly.

“Naruto!” Sasuke protested. “We’ve got an opportunity on a golden platter right here, it’ll be just the two of us, we won’t get separated, and we get to keep your dad as a teacher without having a civilian on our team!”

“Sasuke, shut up.” Naruto said bluntly. “What is the first, and most important rule in Papa’s book?” Naruto questioned, giving Sasuke a hard stare.

“...Those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum.” Sasuke mumbled reluctantly.

“Right. Now, sit! The both of you!” Naruto demanded, watching his two taller friends sit down, facing one another. “We are not moving from this spot, or doing this test, until you two talk and make up!”

Sasuke sighed and Sakura twiddled her thumbs nervously.

“I’m sorry, for the things I said about you that day.” Sakura started, voice cracking as she teared up. “My mother just, put all of these ideas in my head that you were bad, and dangerous, and I believed her. I shouldn’t have.” Sakura admitted quietly. “I hope you can find it in yourself to forgive me. And I will do anything I can to make it up to you.”

“And I’m sorry for scaring you so badly that day.” Sasuke mumbled reluctantly. “I was angry. And tired. And grieving. The things you said just really hurt me.” He sighed, then looked Sakura in her eyes. “And for the record, I forgive you.”

“I forgive you too.”

“Great, fantastic.” Naruto said with a grin, helping his two friends up. “Now that that’s sorted, we’re going to work together to get those bells. We’ll worry about who gets to stay later. Right now, we’re a team, and we work together.”

Sasuke and Sakura nodded, standing with Naruto. 

“Alright, now, does anyone have a plan?” Naruto asked, still confident, still smiling wildly.

Sakura furrowed her brows. “...You don’t?”

“Nope!”

“...oh boy.” Sakura sighed then stroked her chin. “We could always try overwhelming him with Naruto’s clones, and Sasuke and I can try and sneak in to grab the bells?”

“Best plan we’ll get on short notice.” Sasuke commented. “Alright, let’s go.”

<>

Needless to say, their plan did not go well.

They threw hundreds of Narutos at Kakashi, enough that it should have overwhelmed him, but however many they sent at Kakashi, Kakashi had groundbreaking amounts of force to push back. 

When Sasuke had tried reaching for the bells, his wrist got grabbed by Kakashi, and he was thrown into a bush, and when Sakura got caught, she ended up getting thrown into a nearby river. It was only moments later the original Naruto was caught, and Kakashi had strung them all up by their feet, hanging upside down from a tree.

“Oh come on Papa!” Naruto whined, wiggling around to try and escape from the ropes.

“Stop struggling, Naruto!” Sasuke said, giving the back of Naruto’s head a light slap.

“Would you two stop fighting!” Sakura shouted at them. “You two are idiots. We gave it our best shot. Even if we didn't get the bells, we gave it our best. Nothing more to it.”

“Sakura is right.” Kakashi said with a smile. “You gave it your best. And you worked together. So, you pass.”

“We what?” The three looked at Kakashi incredulously.

“You Pass.”

“But-” Sakura looked between Sasuke, Naruto, and Kakashi. “We didn’t get the bells.”

Kakashi let out a fond chuckle, shooting a kunai at the ropes holding the three up, letting them drop to the ground. “No, but you did look after each other. And you tried to take me down, as a team. That’s far more important.”

“You’re teaching us your number one rule.” Sasuke pointed out with a sigh. “It’s so much more obvious now.”

Sakura looked at Kakashi questioningly.

“Those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum.” Kakashi said with that same smile. 

Sakura nodded, a look of understanding on her face. “Well, then, I’m excited to be your student.”

“Alright kiddos, up you get.” Kakashi walked over to three very tall trees, lining the kids up in front of them. “We still have a few hours of daylight to burn, so we may as well start with the basics.”

Naruto looked up at the trees. “What do you want us to do?”

“I want you to walk up the trees.” Kakashi said simply, walking up to the tree, then up the tree.

“Woah!” Naruto rushed to look straight up at Kakashi. “How’d you do that?”

“Just put chakra in your feet, and walk up.” Kakashi explained. “First person to give me a high five, wins.”

“It’s gonna be me!” Sasuke shouted excitedly, running up to the tree, and placing his foot on it, before immediately getting blasted back and falling onto the ground.

“Hah! It’s gonna be me, Sasuke!” Naruto bragged, running to the tree, making one step up it, before falling to the ground, flat on his back.

Sakura stared at the two, furrowed her brows, before placing her foot on the tree. She then placed another, and then another, until she was unsteadily walking up the tree to Kakashi. She triumphantly high fived him, smiling proudly at him.

“Sakura wins!” Kakashi declared, hopping down from the tree. He reached up for Sakura, catching Sakura once she had dropped from the tree, putting her down gently.

“Aww man.” Naruto pouted. “Why did Sakura get it so easily?”

Sakura shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“It’s because Sakura has much smaller chakra reserves.” Kakashi explained, Sakura immediately looking dejected by the idea. 

She sighed. “Man, and I thought it was something  to be proud of.”

“Oh goodness no, Sakura.” Kakashi said quickly. “Smaller reserves are not a bad thing. With smaller reserves, you can be incredibly precise with your jutsu and usage. With your control, you could be a masterful jutsu user, and get thousands under your belt. Sasuke and Naruto might have more issues with some more precise jutsus because of their larger preserves.”

“I'm not quite understanding, Papa.” Naruto mumbled.

“Okay, uh, lets see.”

Kakshi collected a pile of leaves, and put it in a pile in front of Naruto. He then counted out ten leaves, and put those into a separate pile. “Okay, let’s say the big pile is Naruto’s chakra, and the small pile is Sakura.”

“Say a jutsu needs seven leaves to be done properly, and you have very little time to count. With Sakura’s smaller reserves, she can see everything she has with ease, and calculate the exact amount to use.” Kakshi explained. Separating the seven leaves, and tossing them. “Sakura doesn't have to use any more or any less than she needs to, so she is not wasting her chakra on a bad jutsu or outputting too much.”

“Alright, I get that part, but what does that explain with me?” Naruto asked.

“Okay, Naruto, I want you to pick up seven leaves, and you only have a second to do it.” Kakashi stated, gesturing to the pile of leaves.

Naruto did so, ending up with a handful far more than seven.

“See how you have much more than seven?” Kakashi said, gesturing to Naruto’s handful of leaves. “Your jutsu is going to succeed, but you’re going to end up using more chakra than you need, meaning you may tire quickly.”

“Oh, that makes sense!” Naruto said cheerfully.

“So, Naruto, Sasuke, I want you two to keep practicing tree climbing. I'm going to take Sakura by the water to get her to try water walking, which will be the next step.” Kakshi said, watching the two boys get at it. “We’ll get everyone heading home when the sun is setting.”

Kakshi took Sakura over to a nearby pond, stepping on top of the water himself. “Same concept Sakura, this is just going to be harder.”

“Right!” Sakura said cheerfully, stepping onto the water,

and immediately falling in, soaking herself to the bone.

<>

Sakura smiled her entire walk home. She was officially a genin! She was going to be a real ninja, and she had impressed Kakashi-sensei today! And not to mention, she had made up with Sasuke, and she got her old friends back. Who cares if she was covered in mud,soaked to the bone, and possibly sneezing from a cold, she was doing what she wanted, and succeeding.

She stepped into her house, kicking her muddy sandals off onto the mat.

“Young lady, where have you been? And why do you look like you look like a pig’s pen?” Her mother questioned the minute she stepped into the door.

“I was training with my genin-sensei.” Sakura explained quietly. “I got my team today, mom. I’m officially a leaf ninja.” She said, flashing her headband proudly.

“Sakura, I thought I told you to do this silly phase of yours.” Mebuki said sternly, ripping the headband right off of her head. “No daughter of mine is going to go out there and do a boy’s job.”

“Hey! Give that back!” Sakura shouted, reaching for the headband desperately. 

“No, you are no ninja, Sakura Haruno. You hear me?” Mebuki scolded, holding the headband out of Sakura’s reach.

“I am a ninja. I really am. And my teacher said I was going to be a great ninja, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do!” Sakura protested, fuming from anger. She never talked back, never fought her mother on anything, she was always too afraid to. 

Sakura wanted more for herself, though. She wanted to be more, to do more, to see more. She wanted to think more than what her mother told her. “I am going to become something. I’m going to be great, without a husband, without a boyfriend, because I am worth more than the men who want me.”

Mebuki looked at her daughter with anger. Then she looked calm. She let out a sigh, then slowly handed her headband back. 

Sakura took it with seconds, and tied it right back on her head. She smiled at her mother for a moment, before her face fell, looking at a cold and uncaring gaze.

“I said what I said. No daughter of mine will be a ninja.”

“Mom-”

“No, Sakura.” Mebuki stared at the child coldly. “You have ten minutes to get out of my house.”

Sakura stood, shocked, her feet rooted to the ground. She wiped the tears that had welled up, and replaced anything she was feeling with anger. She ran to her room, grabbed a bag, and packed any clothing that wasn’t pink. She tossed in her books on plant life in her bag, all of the ninja gear she had been stashing away, and promptly left the house without even sparing her mother a glance. 

It had been an hour before it all  hit her. She had just been disowned by her mother. She didn’t have a mom and dad anymore. Even if they were alive, they didn’t want her. Sakura collapsed to the ground on the dark street, and let herself cry, sobbing into her knees. She hugged her few belongings tight to her chest and sniffled, her cold not getting any better from the night’s temperature drop.

“What am I gonna do?” Sakura mumbled sadly, wiping her tears away. “Okay Sakura, you’ve got this. Think. You just need a place to stay. Would Ino let me stay?” She thought aloud, before she came across the realization.

She had Naruto and Sasuke back, as well as Kakashi as her teacher. Maybe they would let her stay.

So Sakura stood up, wiped her tears, and kept walking. She walked to the apartment, using her spotty memory to help her, until she found the building. The pink-haired girl walked up the three floors, and stood at the door. She raised her fist to knock, but hesitated. What if they didn’t actually like her? What if they didn’t want her the same as her parents?

Sakura shook her head. Only one way to find out. She rapped her knuckles against the door, and waited. She waited a while, almost bailing, before Kakashi opened the door, looking down at Sakura with furrowed brows. 

“Sakura? What are you doing here at this hour? You should be home.” Kakashi said softly, already bringing Sakura inside.

“My, uh, parents,” Sakura swallowed the lump in her throat, though it did nothing to stop the harsh voice crack as she spoke. “disowned me.”

“Oh kiddo.” Kakashi said softly.

“I was hoping, as long as it’s not too much work for you, I could stay here until I get things figured out? I’ll even pick up another job if I need to, I’ll help with rent, and groceries, and food, just- I need a place to stay.”

“Sakura, honey, you can stay.” Kakashi soothed, crouching down to Sakura’s level and wiping her tears. “You’re a child, Sakura. You shouldn’t have to deal with this.”

Sakura let out a harsh sob, and immediately lunged into Kakashi’s arms. She hugged Kakashi tightly, burying her face in his sweater.

“Don’t worry about anything, Sakura.” Kakashi murmured softly, hugging Sakura to his chest tightly. “I’ll take care of everything. I’ll take care of you. I want to see you succeed. So remember that you’re cared for, that you’re loved, that Sasuke, Naruto and I all love you. You’re okay.” 

Kakashi held her tightly, for as long as she needed. Once her crying had ceased, Kakshi picked her up, and brought her to his bedroom. He placed her on his bed and tucked her in. “Get some rest, kiddo. We’ll be here when you wake up.”

Sakura nodded, too tired to do anything but curl into the sheets. Kakashi walked out of his room, closing the odor behind him to let Sakura sleep. He stepped into the living room, stepping over his sleeping dogs, and flopped onto the couch, curling a blanket around himself.

“You could have put her on the couch, y’know.” Pakkun stated, hopping onto the couch, then crawling and laying on top of Kakashi’s chest.

“I know.” Kakashi mumbled. “But she was tired. I can spend a night on the couch, we’ll just get a futon for her tomorrow.”

Pukkun sighed, curling into a ball. “You’ve really become someone Minato would be proud of, you know that, right?”

Kakashi smiled, giving Pakkun a quick scratch between his ears. “I didn’t. But it’s nice to hear that.”

Chapter Text

Naruto had several dogs on several leashes in his hands. Sakura had even more, while Sasuke had a tiny puppy in his arms, healing chakra lighting his hand up to heal the puppy of a small scrape. Kakashi was overseeing them, dog treats in hand just in case, as they walked through a park.

“I never thought this would be a ninja mission.” Sakura mumbled off handedly. “We’ve been at it three weeks, and somehow this is the most difficult mission we’ve gotten. And that’s saying something, we already look after seven dogs at home.”

“Unfortunately this is a necessary evil to becoming a full fledged ninja. You’ll get your first C-rank soon enough.” Kakashi said, slipping one of the larger dogs a treat. 

“Papa. you can’t give them that many treats. They’ll start looking like Bull.” Naruto lightly scolded, the group turning the corner into one of the resident areas.

Kakashi shrugged. “I didn’t give them any treats.” Kakashi lied, sending a wink Sasuke’s way.

Sasuke shot Kakashi a stink eye, before putting the puppy on the ground to continue walking. “Whatever, Can we stop doing D-ranks after this and do some training instead?”

“Sure. You’ve already done a couple dozen. You’re ahead of the curve.” Kakashi said with a smile, slipping more treats to more of the dogs. “What are we thinking about training today?”

“I’d like to continue my strength training.” Sakura spoke, picking up one of the smaller dogs that looked exhausted.

“Chakra control.” Sasuke mumbled, already dreading it. “I hate it. But it makes medical ninjutsu so much easier.”

“I’m gonna train with my shadow clones. It’s too fun.” Naruto giggled, creating a clone for fun, then shooing it away.

Kakashi nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

The team returned the dogs to the various homes across the village, before heading towards the Hokage tower. Kakashi picked up snacks for the three kids, making sure they were fed and full of energy, before he brought the three back to the mission desk. 

“Team 7 reporting in, D-rank #49 complete.” Kakashi drawled out, hands relaxed and in his pockets.

“Good, very good, ahead of the other new genin teams by at least 10.” Iruka praised, handing the money to the three genin and Kakashi. “Any other missions for today?”

“Nope.”

“Alright. Then your four have been called to the Hokage’s office, he has requested your presence.” Iruka said professionally, though the look Iruka gave Kakashi had his neck hair spiking in anxiety.

Kakashi nodded. “Alright you three, come on.” Kakashi ushered the kids upstairs, the three barely registering it as they munched away at their snacks.

Kakshi opened the door, stepping in with the three genins just behind. They shoved their snack wrappers in their pockets, and looked at the Hokage. “You wanted to see us, Hokage-sama?” Kakashi said softly as they stepped into the room.

“Yes.” Hiruzen spoke, his pen dancing across a couple pages of paperwork. “I have a C-rank I want your team to do, Kakashi. My chunin teams are all out, so yours is the next most qualified.” He spoke, not even in an asking way.

Kakashi furrowed his brow. Usually genin teams would need at least 100 D-ranks to even be considered for a C-rank  “Oh, well-” 

“Can it.” Hiruzen said quickly. “This is not a request, this is an order. Bring Tazuna in.”

Kakashi was immediately overwhelmed by the fermented smell of sake, watching Naruto’s nose crinkle in displeasure.

“No, absolutely not.” Kakashi growled out. “I’m not letting a drunkard around my team.” 

“It’s an order, Kakashi.” Hiruzen stated harshly, passing him the information scroll. Kakashi reluctantly grasped it, looking at his Hokage pointedly. “You’ll be escorting Tazuna to the land of waves, protecting him from bandits.”

“What? You and these brats are going to protect me?” Tazuna slurred out, glaring at the three children as they inspected the man.

“Can it, I could toss you out a window in seconds you old senile man!” Naruto growled out harshly, putting himself in front of Sasuke and Sakura.

“Naruto-!” Sakura scolded, pulling Naruto back by the shoulders. She then turned to Tazuna with a sickeningly sweet smile. “So sorry about him. We’re happy to assist in escorting you.”

“What makes you think a little girl like you can even protect me against bandits, let alone a rabbit? ” Tazuna questions, leaning down to Sakura, making a point of making Sakura feel small.

“Alright, that’s enough.” Kakashi stated, pushing Tazuna’s shoulder, getting him away from Sakura. “We’ll see you at dawn tomorrow by the north gate. I expect you to be sober and awake, packed and ready to go. Are we clear?”

Kakashi glared at Tazuna, putting his kids behind him. He stared Tazuna down, waiting for the man’s answer.

“Yeah. Right. Understood.” Tazuna grumbled out.

Kakashi nodded curtly, then took off, back to the apartment with all of the kids.

“Alright, so we’re going to do a mission briefing. We’ll count this as your training today.” Kakashi said, ushering them inside towards the couch.

Sakura slumped over onto the couch, sighing softly. “I wanted to punch that guy so badly.” 

Sasuke glanced at Sakura, and took a seat next to her. “Likewise.”

Naruto dove onto the couch, and laid across both Sasuke’s and Sakura’s laps. “I can’t believe we have to escort that guy.” He grumbled, nose scrunched in annoyance.

“On the bright side of things,” Kakashi started, rolling the scroll out onto the ground for their instructions. “A C-rank mission under your belt will technically have you qualified for the chunin exams. I think we could get all three of you to chunin in your first year, honestly.”

Sasuke moved Naruto off of his and Sakura’s laps, instead letting Naruto just lean on him. “If I know the Hokage, he’ll put us all on paper pushing duty the minute we make chunin, just like Iruka.”

“Hey! Iruka likes his paper pushing and academy work!” Naruto protested softly.

“He does.” Sakura agreed. “But we won’t.”

“Alright, alright, now's not the time to worry about the future.” Kakashi shushed the children softly, kneeling on the ground in front of the scroll. “We’re going to go over tactical formations for protection, protocols, and anything else we may need to know or do for this mission.”

“That’s so lame Papa!” Naruto whined.

Kakashi sighed. “I know you hate learning like this, but you have to if you want to help keep Sasuke and Sakura safe.”

Naruto made a string of incoherent and grumbled words, before looking at Kakashi with a soft pout.

Kakashi shook his head, before moving on to the briefing. “Arlight, so first things first is I’m assigning roles. Sasuke, I’d like you to be Tazuna’s closest guard.” Sasuke had no reaction to the news, though Kakashi could tell he was annoyed by the slight twitch of his eye. “You’re good at close quarters combat, and your medical ninjutsu can help should Tazuna get injured.”

“I guess that makes sense.” Sasuke mumbled.

“Sakura and Naruto, you’ll take the left and the right, scouting for an ambush, and I’ll take the forefront.” Kakshi explained, looking between the two. “Stock up on paper bombs and smoke bombs, Naruto, you might need a lot. Sakura, I want you to bring as many knives and shuriken as you can.”

Sakura nodded, though didn’t say anything.

“Alright, now, for the rest of the mission.”

<>

It was far past dawn by the time Team 7 actually arrived at the North Gate. Kakshi strolled up with a happy eye smile, the three genin well rested and right behind him. 

“Where have the three of you been? I’ve been waiting here for three hours!” Tazuna questioned harshly, a glare on his face.

“Ah, we just got distracted helping an old lady cross the street.” Kakashi stated, the three genin giggling mischievously right behind him.

Tazuna looked even more annoyed, before letting out a huff of air. “Let’s get going.” He grumbled out, walking forward and out of the village.

Team seven took their positions around Tazuna, making pleasant conversation with each other while completely ignoring the bridge builder. Tazuna was grumbling, reaching for his bottle of sake every once and a while, Sasuke slapping his hand away every time he tried.

“If you reach for it one more time, I will get Naruto to start rambling to you.” Sasuke threatened, glaring at Tazuna. “And trust me, he can go for however long it takes us to get to your village.”

Tazuna shot Sasuke a glare, before crossing his arms and ignoring the alcohol.

Kakshi stopped abruptly, a puddle just a few meters away.

“Are we seriously stopping for a puddle?” Tazuna questioned harshly.

“Shh.” Sasuke shushed shortly, hand already reaching for his pouch.

The three kids didn’t know what was going on, but the way Kakashi had gone silent and still had the hair on the back of their necks already raising.

It took a moment, but something in the air changed, and Kakashi was there one moment, then substituted with a log the next as two ninja tore into it. Sakura Dashed forward and punched one of the two ninjas, pushing him back and distracting the two slightly.

Naruto took two of his smoke bombs, and slammed them on the ground, giving Sasuke proper cover and time to take Tazuna out of the range of the fight. Sakura punched again, then ducked, barely in time to avoid a metal claw and a chain whizzing overhead. Naruto, from the smoke cloud, sent clone after clone, giving Sakura ample time to grab the two ninja’s claws and chains, swing them into a tree, and tie them there.

“Everyone alright?” Kakashi drawled, doing a quick headcount once Sasuke had come out of the bushes, Tazuna in tow.

“All good here, Papa-sensei!” Naruto called out, stretching out his arms. 

“I’m fine. Tazuna’s also fine. Unfortunately.” Sasuke mumbled, regrouping quickly.

“I got nicked, but I’m alright.” Sakura confirmed with a smile, tying the chains together.

“Now, let’s see who we captured.” Kakashi muttered, walking up to the pair. The two ninja glared at him, their Kiri headbands shining in the sun. “The Demon Brothers. A couple chunin trying to assassinate a bridge builder for a tiny town on a C-rank mission . Now, that doesn’t exactly line up with the information we were given, now does it?” Kakashi questioned harshly, turning to look Tazuna in his eyes.

Tazuna looked ashamed, said nothing, before taking a large breath of air. “Listen, I’m sorry, but there was nothing else we could do. My village- we’re in poverty because of a local mob boss named Gato. If we can finish this bridge, to completion, that means we wouldn’t have to rely on him for imports. I wish I could have hired someone else, higher ranking people, anything but a pack of kids, I would have, but even with an entire village’s worth of extra funds, we could barely get enough for this C-rank.”

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. “With people like the Demon Brothers after you, and a rich mob boss with an entire roster of mercs for hire, this could easily qualify for a B-rank, maybe even an A-rank. You are endangering the lives of my team.”

“I think we should still help him, Papa.” Naruto said, tugging at Kakashi’s sleeve. “They look like they really need the help. We can do it.”

Kakashi sighed, ruffling Naruto’s hair. “Gather around you four. Let me look at your hand, Sakura.” Kakshi gestured the three towards him, taking Sakura’s hand in his. He inspected it, the wound an angry red and the area around in a sickly purple colour.

Sasuke looked at the wound for a single moment, before taking Sakura’s hand himself, healing chakra pouring out of his hand. “You got yourself poisoned, you dumbass.” He teased playfully, though his voice was laced with worry and concern for his friend.

Sakura scratched the back of her neck nervously. “Sorry ‘bout that.”

“You feeling alright, Sakura?” Naruto asked, watching Sasuke work away at the wound.

Sakura nodded. “I’m fine, Naruto. Sasuke’s got me covered. Keeping any of you from getting hurt was much more  important.”

“We can keep doing this mission, but if we do, we’ll need to keep the details under wraps and between the four of us.” Kakashi said quietly. “It’s going to be dangerous. You’re going to get hurt. You’re going to get challenged. You’re going to struggle. One of us could die.”

Naruto looked at Kakashi with furrowed brows. “But we won’t die. And if we don’t do something, good, innocent people will die.” 

“We have the ability to do something about them and their home, so why shouldn’t we?” Sasuke questioned, thinking back to his own family, and the way Kakashi helped him that night. “You helped me. And my family. We should do the same for them.”

Kakashi sighed. “When did you three get so smart?”

“Around the time we moved in with you.” Sakura said with a grin, her hand healed and ready to go. “Now come on, let's get this mission done.”

Kakashi sighed, gestured for the group to follow, and began walking towards the edge of Konoha’s border.

<>

Kakashi looked at the dingy boat with unease, Tazuna already stepping into it. He didn’t entirely trust it, but reluctantly stepped in. “I want you kiddos practicing water walking, you could use the practice.” Kakashi said with a smile, watching the three reluctantly step onto the water. Sakura and Sasuke were mostly good, but Naruto was struggling and unsteady on his feet.

Kakashi knew it would annoy them, but anything to avoid them being in the boat was a good thing in his book. The kids walked alongside the boat as it drove, the motor spitting and spewing as they went, until the man driving the boat shut it off.

“Complete silence, everyone.” He said sternly, especially looking at the kids. 

The kids nodded, Naruto especially making sure he was quiet.

The mist was clouded and thick in the area, Kakashi noted. This would make tracking by scent hard at the very least, and finding them impossible at the very most. Kakashi felt the hair on the back of his neck raise, his anxiety spiking as they kept pushing forward. Eventually, the boat was brought to shore, Kakaashi’s feet planted on the ground once again. He gathered the team around again, Tazuna in the middle, and stayed quiet, moving forward through the wooded area.

When they were well into the woods, Naruto looked awry all of a sudden. 

“Papa…somethings not right about the mist. It smells strange.” Naruto mumbled, bringing out a kunai, Sakura and Sasuke following suit. 

Kakashi sniffed once, then twice, and looked strangely towards his son. He couldn’t smell anything. “Are you absolutely sure it smells weird?” He asked quietly, trusting his nose, but trusting Naruto more.

Naruto nodded firmly. “Somethin’ isn’t right.”

Kakashi nodded slowly, before he perked up at the sound of a blade cutting through the air. “Duck!” He shouted, lunging for Naruto and Sakura, dragging them to the ground. Sasuke tackled Tazuna within seconds, the three on the ground looking up to the giant cleaver now lodged into a tree.

Kakashi was quick to stand, the three kids following closely behind, all four staring up at the giant sword, and the man standing on top of it.

“Would you look at that, Tazuna the bridge builder, playing pretend with a bunch of snot nose brats.” He taunted with a sicken grin on his face, covered by his mask.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. “Stay out of this one, kids.” Kakashi muttered lowly, staring the man down. “This is Zabuza. One of the seven swordsmen of the mist. He’s a rogue ninja, and he just shot this mission up to an A-rank.”

Sakura looked at Kakashi, then looked at her friends. She nodded firmly, falling back to stand beside Tazuna. 

Naruto reluctantly followed suit, his paper bombs in hand and ready to go.

Sasuke activated his sharingan, staring Zabuza down. Kakashi glanced at Sasuke once, raising his headband to expose his own sharingan. Sasuke looked at Kakashi with a shocked expression, his stature faltering.

“I’ll tell you later, I promise.” Kakashi said to him, turning his focus back to Zabuza.

“Well, if it isn’t Kakashi, the Copy cat ninja. I’m flattered you’re using that Sharingan of yours against me so quickly.” Zabuza yanked his sword out of the tree, dropping to the ground. “Though tell those genin of yours their efforts to protect that bridge builder will be useless.”

Zabuza appeared within the centre of their protective circle and was almost too fast for Sasuke. Almost . His Sharingan had him reacting quicker than Kakashi could, Kakashi one step away when Sasuke had slashed Zabuza’s throat. Water poured out of the wound, Sasuke taken aback by suddenly getting soaked.

Kakashi let out a sigh of relief, seeing his kids okay and Tazuna still alive.

“You can go first.” Zaubuza growled out from just behind Kakashi, Kakshi looking at the terrified gazes of his kids as Zabuza slashed through him.

His body, like Zabuza’s clone, fell into a puddle of water, Kakashi counter attacking out of the nearby tree with a knife aimed at Zabuza’s throat. The children watched on as they clashed, watching Kakashi get tossed towards the nearby lake. Kakashi and Zabuza clashed more, until Kakashi was sent stumbling into Zabuza’s water prison.

“Shit- he’s got my dad!” Naruto said in a panic, already itching to go after him.

“Naruto- wait, we can’t leave Tazuna unprotected.” Sakura said, grasping Naruto’s wrist firmly.

Sasuke looked over to Kakashi, and sighed. “He’s not unprotected. I can handle it. You two go and get him.”

Sakura and Naruto looked at Sasuke, then nodded firmly, running off towards the lake.

Kakashi saw their approach, quickly shaking his head no, anything to get them to stay safe, stay away, keep themselves alive . He doesn’t think he could live in a world without his kids, and here they were, charging into a battle with no certain terms of winning.

Naruto looked at Sakura, bomb papers in his hand that he was quickly shoving into his jacket. “Sakura, throw me at him!” Naruto shouted, jumping forward and in front of Sakura.

Sakura boosted Naruto forward, the blond shooting off like a rocket towards the two Zabuzas holding his father. Sakura let out a shout of rage, charging in right after Naruto.

“Little brat.” Zabuza growled, catching Naruto by the scruff of his jacket. “You’ll die, just like your sensei. A weak and worthless nobody.”

Naruto grinned. “Don’t worry, I’m not dying here.” 

A second Naruto popped up, and clung onto the second Zabuza, Sakura charging straight at him. She grinned wildly, punching Zabuza square in the face. Sakura used her momentum to flip over Zabuza, planting an exploding tag of her own on Zabuza’s back.

Zabuza took the punch, glaring at Sakura. “You little-” 

Sakura put up a single hand sign. “Boom.”

The explosive tag Sakura had snuck onto Zabuza exploded, causing a chain reaction of exploding tags on both of the Narutos. Both Narutos exploded, Zabuza’s clone getting flung away from the water prison, with Zabuza himself getting flung back onto shore for the force of the explosion. The water prison protected Kakashi from the explosions, then promptly fell, Kakashi taking a gasping breath.

He looked at Sakura with a mixture of disbelief and pride, grinning at her.

“Time to finish this. Naruto’s got more clones rigged to explode, and I’ve got a dozen tags.” Sakura smiled, already taking out another one.

“It’s alright, kiddo, I’ll take it from here.” Kakashi ruffled Sakura’s damp hair, then turned to Zabuza who was standing up from the heavy hit. “Sasuke is gonna need some help. I’m sure he’s working hard.”

Sakura nodded, and ran off.

Zabuza started running through several hand signs, but looked shocked to find Kakashi perfectly mirroring him. They completed jutsus at the same time, tore into each other with different water release techniques, until Kakashi was left standing, Zabuza on the ground below him.

“Never touch my students again.” Kakshi growled, bringing out his kunai to deal the final blow, until several senbon came flying out of the trees, and into Zabuza’s neck.

Kakshi glanced up to find a hunter-nin in the tree, his eyes narrowing.

“Thank you for taking him out. You assisted in the hunt well, it’s very appreciated.” He said calmly, walking over to Zabuza’s body, checking the pulse. “I’ll take care of things now. Thank you.”

Kakshi walked the hunter-nin hop away, Zabuza in hand. He sighed, his exhaustion taking over his body as he covered his sharingan again.

Kakshi slumped over, and limped back to the group, quickly scanning over everyone for injuries. “Everyone okay? Nobody hurt?” Kakashi asked quickly, touching and checking everyone over physically.

“We’re fine, Papa.” Naruto answered, though looked up at his dad with worry. “You look tired.”

“I am. I used too much chakra.” Kakashi mumbled quietly, though ushered everyone to keep walking, so they could get somewhere safe. “I’ll be okay. Sasuke, how are you on chakra?”

“I’ve got most my reserves still.” Sasuke answered. “Sakura, do you think you can carry Kakashi sensei so he’s not walking on that broken leg?”

“Damn. Can’t hide anything from you.” Kakashi commented.

“Absolutely.” Sakura answered with a grin, getting Kakashi on her back. The fit was awkward, Sakura being a good foot and a half shorter than Kakashi, but she made it work, effortlessly carrying Kakashi towards Tazuna’s house. 

Kakashi smiled gently, letting himself get carried. It felt strange, letting his kids look after him, but he supposed it was okay for now.

<>

At Tazuna’s house the team settled into the spare room quickly. Naruto helped Tazuna’s daughter, Tsunami, with dinner, running around with a couple clones to do a few of the house chores to thank her for letting them stay.

Sakura was helping out back, loading a cart that would need to be brought to the bridge the next day, with heavy materials and a couple blueprints. 

Sasuke was hard at work in the guest room, mending Kakashi’s leg, the silence between them palpable.

“Why do you have it?” Sasuke asked after minutes straight of dead silence.

Kakashi let out a soft sigh. “It’s a long story.”

“I have the time.”

Kakashi looked to Sasuke, who hadn’t even looked up from healing his leg yet. Sasuke was sweating, his brows furrowed, and an angry look on his face.

“My genin team.” Kakashi started softly. “Obito. He was my best friend, but I didn’t know it at the time. He was a lot like Naruto.” He explained, looking up at the ceiling and resting his head against the wall. “During the Third Great Ninja War, we were told to fight. We were only children. We got trapped, and Obito had half his body crushed with the other still intact. He gifted me his Sharingan. I wish every day he was still alive and I didn’t have it. Your father resented me for Obito’s choice for the longest time. I do hope you don’t hate me for it.”

Sasuke furiously wiped away the tears that had built up, his glare sharpening as he kept stubbornly healing Kakashi’s legs. “You should’ve told me earlier. I wish you did. You’re the closest thing I have to family and we share the same eyes too. Godamnit Kakashi-sensei, why’d you have to go out there by yourself? Finish the fight by yourself? Sakura and Naruto could have helped, you could have avoided getting hurt.”

“But one of you three could have gotten hurt in turn.”

“That doesn’t matter!” Sasuke shouted, slamming his fists on the floor, curling in on himself on the floor, resting his forehead against Kakashi’s healed leg. “That doesn’t,” Sssuke took a shuddering break, his voice coming out as a croak. “matter.”

“Oh Sasuke.” Kakashi mumbled, pressing his hand to Sasuke’s back.

“I can’t lose you.” Sasuke said harshly. “I can’t lose you too. You, and Naruto, and hell, even Sakura are all I have left. I can’t lose you.”

“Oh gods, Sasuke, you’re not going to lose me.” Kakashi mumbled quietly, slowly, and reluctantly bringing Sasuke into his arms. Sasuke seemed so small all of a sudden. Back to that terrified seven year old, clinging to his flak jacket trying to avoid looking at all of the bloodshed. “I didn’t want to lose any of you, that’s why I finished it by myself.”

“We’re a team now.” Sasuke mumbled out, getting out of Kakashi’s arms and taking a seat next to him. “We’re doing everything together now, alright? You’re never facing anyone alone, ever again.”

Kakashi chuckled slightly. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”

“No.”

“Dinner’s ready!” Naruto shouted as he burst through the doorway. “Oh. Are you guys busy?”

“Nope. We’ll be right there, kiddo.” Kakashi smiled, waving Naruto off.

“Your leg should be fine.” Sasuke said, standing up, and holding a hand out for Kakashi. “Let’s get you fed so we can go after that Gato guy.”

Kakashi shook his head, chuckled fondly, then headed down to the dinner table with Sasuke.

The team took a seat with Tazuna’s family, a new child sitting at the table with them.

The seven of them ate, with quiet conversations and small thank yous getting passed around.

“Why…” The child mumbled out of the blue.

Naruto looked towards the child, furrowing his brows. “What is it, Inari?”

“Why are you here? Why are you helping?” Inari questioned harshly. “You’ll die like the rest of them! You’ll die, you hear me? There are no heroes!”

“Inari!” Tsunami scolded.

“You listen here.” Naruto growled out, glaring sharply at Inari. “There are heroes. We’re going to help you, we’re going to save this village, and you’re going to regret every word you said.” 

Inari glared right back, his eyes watering. “You’ll die like the rest!” He cried out, before running from the table.

“Goodness, I’m so sorry about him, he hasn’t been the same since his step-father died.” Tsunami apologized, sighing softly. “He was executed by Gato for helping the village. Inari’s been in so much pain ever since.”

Naruto looked guilt ridden all of a sudden. “Do you know where he might be?”

“By the docks.” Tsunami said, Naruto running off the minute it was said.

“So sorry about all that trouble.” Sakura said with a smile, picking up all of the dirty dishes and bringing them to the kitchen. “Things will be alright, Naruto has a way of talking with people.”

<>

Naruto stepped onto the dock, watching Inari kick his feet back and forth off the edge of the dock. Naruto slowly walked up to the edge, then plopped himself down right next to Inari.

It was a few minutes of silence, neither comfortable nor uncomfortable. It was really just there. Naruto let out a huff of breath.

“I’m sorry for yelling at you.” Naruto stated simply, looking out over the water. “I felt a lot like you, y’know? I thought there weren’t heroes for the longest time. That I was on my own. That anyone who would have loved me was gone.”

Inari said nothing, and just sat in the palpable silence.

“Then my Papa came for me.” Naruto said with a smile. “He came back for me. Every time I thought I was on my own, he came back. Again, and again, and again. He’s my hero.”

Inari stayed silent, kicking his feet over the edge of the dock.

“So there are heroes. And they’ll come back for you. I’ll come back for you. I’ll make sure your village will turn out okay.” Naruto patted Inari’s shoulder. “I promise. And I never break a promise.”

Naruto stood and turned towards the house, walking back to his teammates.

If Inari cried, let his tears fall and felt something akin to hope enter himself again, well, then, Naruto was none the wiser.

<>

Team 7 was crammed into a guest room together, the floor more futon than wood at this point. Naruto stepped into the room and immediately flopped himself across Kakashi’s stomach.

“Ouf- Naruto!” Kakashi scolded, his hand already ruffling Naruto’s hair. “You are not a three year old anymore, you cannot flop on me like that.”

Naruto let out a grumbled noise, reluctantly sitting up. He sighed, looking at his teammates.

“So what are we going to do about this Gato guy?” Naruto asked, not a hint of humour in his voice.

Kakashi looked over to the blond. “We’re not doing anything. We’re staying here, protecting Tazuna until he finishes the bridge, then going home.”

“I say we go after the guy.” Sasuke said simply, currently leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. “Tazuna will be very safe if there isn’t anyone after him.”

“I agree.” Sakura said stubbornly. “We’re ninja, we could take out a bunch of thugs without a problem.”

“Zabuza could be alive, though. That hunter-nin was supposed to burn the body, so Zabuza could very well be alive!” Kakashi said harshly. “I’m not risking any of you getting hurt.”

“Well when are you going to let us get hurt?!” Naruto questioned harshly. “ We decided to become ninja, we know what comes with the job. Let us go out there, let us get hurt, let us do something about it!”

“No! None of you are going and that is final!” Kakashi spat out, glaring at his students.

The three backed down, grumbling a quick  goodnight to each other, before laying down in bed.

Kakashi sighed, wiping a hand over his face, before settling in to sleep.

<>

Kakashi woke hours later, the hair on the back of his neck standing up. He shot up in his bed, looking around the room wildly. 

His kids weren’t there.

His kids weren’t there.

Kakashi sprang out of bed within seconds, already summoning Pakkun.

“Aw boss, what’s with the early wake up call?” Pakkun complained, looking at Kakashi with a slight glare.

“The kids are missing. Find them.” Kakashi spat out desperately, jumping out the nearby window, ignoring his body’s exhausted protest.

“On it.”

Pakkun started sniffing around for the kids, eventually picking up a scent and taking off. Kakashi took off, running as fast as he could, thinking momentarily back to that night with Itachi and Shisui. Kakashi shook his head, steadied his breathing, and did anything he could think of to stave off the oncoming panic attack threatening to spill out.

Kakashi stopped dead in his tracks when Pakkun led him to an older looking building. Kakashi could smell hints of blood around the area, which triggered every instinct in his body to fight .

He broke his way in through a window, tearing the throat of an unsuspecting guard out, before moving through the eerily quiet hallways. Kakashi ducked through hallway after hallway, room after room, until he came up to what looked like a head office.

He burst through the doors, finding Sasuke and Sakura verbally berating a smaller man, with a pointed nose and small circular glasses. Sakura and Sasuke looked mostly alright, only a few scrapes and bruises on them.

It would almost be comedic if Kakashi wasn’t two steps away from a breakdown.

“Oh, hi Kakashi-sensei.” Sakura said with a smile. “We got all the guards tied up and knocked out. They didn’t see us coming.”

“You- my- oh Kami.” Kakashi visibly slouched over. “I don’t- why would you after I said no?”

“We can do something to help this village, permanently. Why shouldn’t we?” Sasuke said sharply, still glaring at the gagged and tied up mob boss. Sasuke then gave his a light kick, watching the man topple over.

“I taught you three too well. Wait. Naruto, where’s Naruto?” Kakashi asked quickly, suddenly flung right back into fight or flight mode.

“Oh, talking with Zabuza and his friend.” Sakura said simply, pointing down the hall.

Kakashi was back to running quickly, bursting through a door when he heard the familiar ring of his son’s laughter. He scanned the room quickly, eyes landing on Naruto, who was playing a game with a young looking boy with feminine features. He looked up at Zabuza, and made eye contact, but was brought to a loss of words when there was no hostility in them.

“Papa! You made it!” Naruto said cheerfully, standing up to bring Kakashi further into the room. “This is Haku. We accidentally broke into their room when infiltrating. We had a very nice talk. Haku helped us trash the place, and Sasuke helped with Zabuza’s broken hand!”

Kakashi looked positively overwhelmed as Naruto sat him next to the man who had tried to murder him just a few hours ago. Zabuza tensed up slightly, Naruto already running off with Haku to no doubt cause more Havoc with Haku and his team.

“So…” Kakashi trailed off, his body barely functioning from the stress he was feeling.

“You raised a good kid.” Zabuza commented. “Though you seem so afraid for them.”

Kakashi sighed. “I thought I’d be okay, letting them be ninja. Letting them follow in my footsteps.” He commented quietly, not quite caring if he was talking to a rogue ninja at the moment. “But I’m so scared they’ll get hurt or they’ll die.”

“Had some friends?”

Kakashi nodded.

Zabuza hummed. “I know the feeling. My genin exam was to kill the rest of my class. You don’t come back mentally from that.” Zabuza then turned his head to look at Kakashi. “You aren’t going to stop them from doing stupid shit. Look at what they did tonight, they went against your orders, got themselves hurt, but they survived . Those three are going to become something great, But they can’t grow if you don’t let them.”

Kakashi nodded. “I can’t believe I’m getting a pep talk from Zabuza Momochi.” He laughed, running his hands through his hair.

“Kids do something to you, man.” Zabuza laughed, standing up slowly with a wince. “Come on. Let’s go loot Gato’s safe. The kids promised me some of the cash as long as the rest could go to the village.”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, before shaking his head.

Maybe he really should trust his team more.

<>

Inari was having a normal morning. He was still sad, but today he had decided to go to the bridge to help his grandpa. The ninjas that were hired were nowhere to be found, which quickly fizzled his hope of a hero. Inari simply sighed, his shoulders hung low, as he walked towards the mostly built bridge.

Inari’s eyes were glued to the ground when he heard his grandfather gasp and shake his hand. Inari sent his grandfather a quick glare before he looked at the town square, his eyes widening at seeing a pile of thugs and mercs, as well as Gato, the man who executed his step-father.

The thing that had him reeling the most was Naruto, the ninja with sunshine yellow hair, standing with his team.

He came back. He came back for him, for the village.

Inari ran towards him quicker than he could process. He dove into Naruto’s side, wrapping his arms around Naruto’s torso.

“Wha- hey! Inari!” Naruto laughed, hugging Inari back with one arm while his other kept him propped up. “What’s with the hug?”

“You came back.” Inari whimpered back, tears pricking his eyes as he held Naruto tighter.

Naruto chuckled softly, moving to hold Inari with both of his arms. “Always. I never break a promise, remember?”

Once Inari had gotten over his tears, Naruto and his endless energy got to work helping finish up the bridge.

With hundreds of clones working away, bringing materials in and out, and assisting all of the workers, it was only a matter of time until the bridge would be done.

Sakura and Kakashi help Haul the dozens of thugs and mercenaries into holding cells, hopefully to be held on trial by the town.

And finally Sasuke, who was helping hand out Gato’s money to the townspeople and nurse anyone who was hurt or sick.

It was a few days later, the bridge only a few steps away from fully complete, when Haku appeared on the bridge in front of Naruto. 

Naruto looked to his friend with a smile. “Haku! What are you doing back here? I thought you were leaving with Zabuza.”

Haku looked back at the path where he came, then back to Naruto. “Zabuza wanted me to stay. He wanted me to help the townspeople here, to live a normal life, instead of being a tool for him.” Haku sighed softly. “I’m afraid I’m not sure how to do so.”

Naruto looked up at his friend, then gave him a blindingly bright smile. “Just keep them safe. Help them out, but do what you want, when you want. If you want to take the day off, you can! Or if you want to spend all day lazing in a pond or picking flowers, you can do that too! Just as long as you love the people enough to keep them safe, they’ll love you just as much in return.”

Haku let out a huff of breath with a smile, bringing Naruto in for a hug. “Keep in touch when you go, okay? I wanna learn what it’s like to be loved. It’s going to take some time. It’s going to take even more to try and become something other than a tool. But I promise I’ll try.”

Naruto hugged Haku back as tight as he could. “Good. I’ll see you someday. I promise.”

After a week in the Land of Waves, Team 7 was finally headed home, walking on the Dainanahan Bridge to the mainland. It was a disaster of a C-rank mission turned A-rank, but Kakashi was alive, his team was alive, and most importantly, the townspeople were alive, and so very close to thriving.

So when Sakura finally let herself be tired, and let herself relax on the walk home, Kakashi was more than happy to give her a piggyback ride. And when Sasuke had almost run out of chakra and scraped his knee falling, Kakashi was right there with a colourful bandaid to patch him up. And of course, when Naruto was running off, bound to do something he shouldn’t be, Kakashi was right there to talk some sense into him. 

It was strange, letting his love go both ways. It was strange to have his team care for him just as much as he cared for them. 

He loved them. And they loved him. Kakashi really didn’t need any more than that.

Chapter Text

The three genin collapsed into the living room, scattered across the floor and couch, not even bothering to take their dirty gear off. Kakashi himself haphazardly tossed his bag to the side, deciding he’d clean up later. He took his sandals off, placed them carefully by the door, then went to the three kids and took their sandals off, tossing them as well.

“Ramen?” Kakashi asked quietly.

A string of incoherent grumbles of agreement sounded out, the kids making no move to get up.

Kakashi let out a huff of amusement, already halfway to putting his sandals back on. “I’ll grab ramen. Don’t summon a god while I’m gone.” 

Naruto let out a noise to let Kakashi know he heard him, before burying his face into the couch out of exhaustion. 

“I told you to take it easy on the way back.” Sasuke mumbled from his spot at the foot of the couch. “You were lugging around materials all week, of course you’re exhausted.”

Naruto let out a whine.

“He’s going to complain about being sore tomorrow.” Sakura commented, sitting down next to Sasuke and handing him a steamed bun, Sakura herself snacking on one. “Anyways. Sasuke, do you mind coming with me tomorrow to get some shopping done? I’ve outgrown more of my clothes and I’m not great at looking for ninja wear.”

“Oh. Sure.” Sasuke took the steam bun and bit into it. “What kind of clothing were you thinking?”

Sasuke’s and Sakura’s chatter turned to white noise to Naruto. He curled up into a ball on the couch and let himself sleep after the two weeks long mission. He thought he was asleep, up until the point where he felt himself get soaked head to toe in disgusting smelling water.

Naruto shot up, coughing up water, looking at his surroundings wildly to try and figure out where he was. He stood in the water, slowly pressing his feet to the surface of the water so he could stand above it. He took his jacket off and wrangled it out, before he perked up at the sound of a low rumble. 

Naruto slowly walked through the grotesque halls, the rusted pipes and dirty water doing nothing for his nerves. He was looking around, the area unrecognizable. Konoha’s sewage system was much less vast, much smaller, and he definitely didn’t think anyone would pull a prank on him by throwing him in the sewers.

He walked for a few minutes, up until he came up to a larger room. Naruto took a few careful steps in, turning around in the place aimlessly. It was as dreary as the rest of the place, rusted over, dirty, and not a soul in sight, with long metal bars on the other side. 

There wasn’t a soul in sight, until something shifted, and the growling got louder.

Naruto looked as a giant fox moved, and moved swiftly, a pair of giant red eyes looking into his own, a large black nose breathing in his face, and bright orange fur shifting and moving in the little light there was.

“So…” The creature looked to Naruto coldly, his pupils in small, sharp slits. “The little brat has finally come to pay me a visit.”

Naruto’s breath caught in his throat, his eyes glazing around wildly. One, Two…nine tails.

“You’re the ninetails.” Naruto breathed out, looking at the massive fox in a mix of amazement and apprehension.

“Good. You at least know the thing you’re holding captive.” The fox spirit growled out, tails lashing angrily.

“I didn’t even know I could talk to you.” Naruto said softly, taking a step closer to the cage. “What’s your name?”

“My name?”

“Yes.” Naruto looked up to the fox with curious eyes, his fear and anxiety melting away by the second. “Your name. Everyone has one. What’s yours?”

“You want to know my name?” Kurama questioned with sharp laughter. “Fine. Kurama. My name is Kurama. Now get out of here.”

Naruto abruptly woke up, springing from the couch with a gasp.

Sakura looked at her friend with furrowed brows. “Naruto? You alright?”

Naruto ran a hand through his hair, and looked at his two friends. “I have things we need to talk about. Specifically something you don’t know yet, Sakura.”

“Okay…” Sasuke furrowed his brows, closing the book he was reading, and placing it back on the bookshelf. “What is it?”

“So, y’know the nine-tailed fox that attacked the village twelve years ago?” Naruto asked, looking between friends with a borderline-crazy look.

Sasuke and Sakura nodded.

“Well, he’s sealed inside of me. And I just had a conversation with him.” Naruto said seriously.

Sakura burst out laughing, slowly realizing no one else was laughing, her brows suddenly furrowing and a look of concern crossing her face. “Oh my god, you aren’t joking, are you?”

Naruto shook his head.

“Oh my god, you have a demon inside of you. Like, fully inside of you. And you can talk to him.” Sakura let out a huff of air.

“ Of course I can talk to him.” Naruto heard Kurama growl out sarcastically, the sound ringing and echoing in his head.

“I can hear him right now!” Naruto shouted excitedly. “Kurama! Kurama can you hear me?!”

“ Of course I can hear you! I’m inside of you! Stop shouting, kid, for Kami’s sake! ” Kurama responded, Naruto mumbling a quick apology before sitting down on the couch.

“He could come in handy.” Sakura commented. “He’s been around for a while, I bet he can identify plenty of poisons and weapons.”

“Or he could lend you some chakra.” Sasuke muttered, tired of waiting for food.

“Hey, come on guys.” Naruto whined. “He’s not my personal assistant. If Kurama wants to help he can, but just because I’m his prison doesn’t mean he’s required to.”

Sakura sighed. “I hate when you’re right.”

“I’m always right.”

Sasuke let out a snort of laughter. “He’s not wrong.”

“I’m home kiddos!” Kakashi exclaimed as he stepped into the door, takeout ramen in hand as he kicked his sandals off, putting them with the pile of sandals in the corner.

“Hi Papa!” Naruto grinned widely, looking at his dad. “I just talked with the nine-tailed fox!”

Kakashi paused in his footsteps, gave Naruto an incredulous look, then slowly placed the ramen on the table. “And you’re sure it wasn’t genjutsu?”

Naruto nodded. “He was nice! Told me his name and everything!”

“Alright.” Kakashi passed out bowls of ramen, bamboo shoot ramen to Sakura and himself, and pork belly ramen to Sasuke and Naruto. “Oh, by the way, I’ve signed you all up for the chunin exams. Did it on my way to get the ramen.”

“What?” Sasuke lit up, looking closer to an excited puppy. “You did?! You really did?”

Kakashi almost looked shocked. Sasuke was never this excited. He let out a soft chuckle and nodded. “Yeah. What’s with all of the excitement all of a sudden?”

Sasuke gives Kakashi a grin. “I can start getting medical books from the chunin wing of the library. Those ones have advanced techniques, like poison studies.”

Kakashi let out a nervous chuckle. “Don’t go around poisoning anyone, alright?”

Sasuke gave Kakashi a smirk. “No promises.”

Kakashi settled by the table on his knees, taking his ramen and breaking his chopsticks. “Now, I would really like for you all to succeed in these exams. I think it would be best if we figured out your specializations, then figure out a training schedule that will cover all the areas we need to in the next month or so.” Kakashi slipped his mask below his chin, shoving some noodles in his mouth.

“Aww we just got back from a mission.” Naruto whined, a pout on his face as he devoured his ramen. “You’re telling me we already have to train again?”

“You’ll have the rest of today and tomorrow off. But after that, I’m getting you to go all out with your traps.” Kakashi said with a smile. “And you, Sakura, we’re getting you to hit as hard as you can, and we’ll add a few new taijutsu forms for your brawling. And Sasuke, we’ll add a couple ninjutsus to your arsenal, to make sure you have the means of defending yourself and helping your team with the battle.”

“Great. That gives us time to go shopping.” Sakura declared happily. “I am going to replace all of my clothes.”

“Awww even that really comfortable sweater?” Naruto whined with a pout.

“It’s bright pink and I don’t want it. I’m gonna get a proper jacket.” Sakura said with a shrug. “You can have it if you’d like.”

Naruto threw his hands up in the air in a cheer. “Yes!”

“Aww come on Naruto, that’s a girl colour.” Sasuke grimaced slightly, already imagining yet another blindingly bright colour for Naruto to wear.

Naruto shook his head. “Nope! It’s a me colour now. It’s bright pink, and I’m wearing it.”

Sasuke sighed. “Fine. This just means we’re picking extra dull colours for Sakura.”

“I’m not opposed to that.” Sakura chimed in, smirking at Sasuke as if she had won a sparring match.

Kakashi chuckled at his students’ bickering, simply happy to eat his food and listen along.

<>

“Ooo what about this?” Naruto said enthusiastically, holding up a bright, baby blue t-shirt with a frog plastered on the front.

Sakura looked at the shirt and immediately grimaced. “That doesn’t exactly scream “I’m a strong and competent shinobi”.”

“But it does scream “I love frogs and the colour blue”.” Naruto countered with a grin.

Sasuke sighed. “Naruto, you have your own money now, just buy it if you want it.”

Naruto lit up at the mere thought of it. “Oh my Kami, you’re so right!” Naruto exclaimed, already running around the area to grab things he had left behind.

Sakura shook her head, but laughed nonetheless. “Honestly, you and I are about the same size. We could probably share a wardrobe.” Sakura commented towards Sasuke, holding up another long sleeve black shirt.

“You’d need to buy your own pants. You’ve got longer legs than I do.” Sasuke held up the shirt, and threw it into their growing pile. “But shirts we could easily share.”

“Should we pick up more camouflage for the chunin exams? Or do you think we’re going to go for speed in all of the trials?” Sakura asked, looking at the large array of attire.

“We are in no way a stealth team.” Sasuke chuckled softly. “Naruto’s hair alone is a dead giveaway.”

Sakura shrugged. “Ehh. We managed to sneak into Gato’s compound with Naruto.”

“He only tripped four alarms.”

Sakura let out a burst of laughter, entire body shaking as she clutched her stomach. “Come on! It wasn’t that many!”

“It was! He’s terrible at it! He could talk a starving lion down from eating him but he couldn’t even sneak past a civilian, dead asleep.” Sasuke laughed in turn adding the last of the clothes they needed to the pile. “He wants to be great at traps, but how is he going to hide his traps if he can’t even hide himself?”

Sakura sighed and shook her head. “He’s stubborn, that’s how. He’s going to figure out his own way to do it, whether we like it or not.”

Sasuke shrugged. “I’ve known him since we were four. He’ll turn out fine.”

Sakura nodded, adding a few pairs of cargo pants, slowly bringing the basket up to the front desk. “Anything else you wanna grab?”

“Nothing else in this store. I’d like to head to my old house for some things though.”

“Oh.”

Sasuke nodded, gave Sakura a half-pleading look, then hauled their clothes to the front counter to pay. Sakura paid for half, Sasuke the other, before exiting the store.

“Alright. Let’s grab Naruto and head over.” Sakura said quietly, giving Sasuke a reassuring smile.

<>

Sasuke looked into the abandoned Uchiha compound with furrowed brows. Sakura and Naruto were both just behind him, a comforting presence as he took a step in. He felt his anxiety spike, but he pushed it down in favour of making a beeline towards his old house.He made it to his front door, then found himself pausing, unable to move. He took deep, calming breaths, but just couldn’t find it in himself to move.

Naruto took a few timid steps beside Sasuke, glancing at his best friend in worry. He glanced at the door, back at Sasuke, then the door again, before placing his own hand on the door handle. Naruto turned the knob, and pressed into the house. Naruto stood just in the front entrance, his own memories of the house coming flooding in, before he turned to Sasuke and held his hand out.

Sakura came up just behind Sasuke, giving him a gentle push towards Naruto.

Sasuke moved, he was pushed and pulled by his friends, into the house, and through the hallways now clean of blood. Sasuke felt like he was still seeing blood, still smelling it. And he couldn’t bear the thought.

Sasuke let out a harsh sob, one deep and coming straight from the pits of his gut. Sakura was quick to grab just under his armpits, keep him held up, while Naruto hugged his middle and gave him quiet reassurances.

“Kami- I’m sorry.” Sasuke mumbled out, burying his face into Naruto’s hair, trying to keep the sobs wracking through his body to a minimum.

“Gods Sasuke, there’s nothing to be sorry for.” Sakura said quietly, actively wiping away Sasuke’s tears. “You lost your family here. I get why you’re feeling like this.”

Naruto looked at his friend with a smile. “We can call it quits today. Come back another time to grab whatever it is you need.”

Sasuke shook his head, taking a deep shuddering breath. “No. This is important. I can’t wait any longer.” Sasuke said determinedly, wiping the rest of his tears away.

Sasuke took a few careful steps towards his father’s room. He opened the shoji, bracing himself for what may be there.

But there was nothing. No bodies, no blood, just a musty smell in the air with the desks, bed and closets caked in dust. Sasuke felt trapped in a moment, in a single frame of time, the sunlight filtering in and washing the room in a golden glow.

“Are you okay, Sasuke?” Naruto whispered gently, as if anything louder would break the carefully crafted silence Sasuke had made.

Sasuke sighed softly. “Never better.” He muttered, stepping further into the room. He walked a few feet to the closet he was aiming for, opening it to find some of his father’s old clothing. He reached up to the top shelf, and with a pang in his chest he realized he could reach the top without help. 

He tugged a few clothing items down, looking at the fabric in hand sadly, before taking a small, calming breath. “Just one more thing.” Sasuke mumbled, leaving his father’s room to instead his father’s office.

Sasuke looked at the office, practically untouched for the years it was here. He took strides to the desk, picking up his father’s brushes and ink sets, before hightailing it out of the house.

Sasuke didn’t look back until he had reached the entrance to the compound. 

Sakura and Naruto walked with him back to the apartment they had come to call home, supporting Sasuke the entire way home.

<>

“What did you grab, anyways?” Naruto had asked once all three had gotten settled, and had long since put away their new clothing and gear.

Sasuke pulled the pile of clothing out again, placing it on the table. “They’re the jackets my dad’s team wore during their chunin exams. Itachi used one during his, and my dad said I could use one for mine. He said they’re lucky. I figured we could each use one.”

Sakura smiled, already looking at the three jackets. “Oh! You should absolutely use this one, Sasuke.” She smiled, pulling up a pastel purple jacket with white detailing. “It’s got all these extra smaller pockets you can use to store your medicinal materials.”

“That was my moms.” Sasuke says with a soft smile, already shrugging it onto himself.

“This one is absolutely yours, Sakura!” Naruto cheered, already shoving it into Sakura’s arms.

Sakura laughed loudly, looking at the stark black jacket, with a red interior. “Oh look at that, it has armour sewn in too! This one is so mine.”

Sasuke picked up the last jacket, a smile on his face. “Here, Naruto. This one was my dad’s. I bet he would have loved to see you with it.” 

Naruto took the jacket gently, and put it on with so much care as if the thing would break if he breathed on it wrong. Naruto smiled, and smiled brightly, zipping up the jacket. The navy blue and white jacket was almost strange to see on Naruto, the usual bright orange the complete opposite of what he wore now.

“There is no way we can lose the chunin exams now!” Naruto cheered loudly, standing up with a determined smile on his face.

“Oh! And one more thing!” Sakura reached into her shopping bag, and pulled out some necklaces with charms. “I bought these, it’s okay if you don’t want to wear them, but I thought they would be a nice gift.”

Sakura handed a necklace to Naruto, a simple chain with a sun on it, while handing Sasuke a necklace with a simple chain and a moon. Both boys took it, and tied it around their wrists.

“This is never coming off of me.” Sasuke stated bluntly.

Naruto beamed at the necklace-turned-bracelet. “It matches my hair!”

Kakashi stepped into the apartment noisily, tossing his sandals to the side. “I’m home!” He called out, heading to the kitchen, and starting to set up for dinner.

“Oh! Kakashi-sensei!” Sakura came sprinting into the front hall, crashing into Kakshi’s chest. “I got something for you!”

Kakashi looked at Sakura with a smile, clumsily moving around her to get to the living room. “Oh? And what would it be?”

“Here.” Sakura shoved the chain into Kakshi’s hand, a small globe charm at the end. “And a star for myself!”

Sakura put the necklace on herself, Kakashi following suit with his own necklace around his wrist. When Kakashi looked at the boys, he found similar charms on them too, and couldn’t help but smile.

“Thank you, Sakura.” Kakashi ruffled Sakura’s hair, then headed to the living room and took a seat. “Alright, so I went out today to figure out your training schedules and who I can trade you all off to. As much as I’d like to handle your training all by myself, I am only one person and you all need more attention than that. So! Let’s get your schedules for the next three weeks started.”

“Awesome.” Naruto sat at the table, his leg bouncing up and down from pent up energy.

Sakura and Sasuke followed, sitting next to Naruto.

“Sakura, we’ll get started with you. I want you to get some experience with poisons and toxins, which is what I’ll be teaching you. We’re going to get you more taijutsu and strength training with a friend of mine, Gai-sensei, and we’ll round off your training with some kenjutsu training with another friend of mine, Hayate.” Kakashi listed off, handing Sakura her schedule on a small piece of parchment.

Sakura looked at all of the things she’d be learning, and grinned wider than Kakashi thought he’d ever seen her grin before. “I’m about to be so dangerous.” Sakura breathed out.

Kakashi nodded, before turning to Sasuke. “Alright, now you, Sasuke. I’ve arranged some private training with the head of the hospital to give you some higher level medical ninjutsus. We’re going to get some extra taijutsu and strength training with Gai-sensei for you, and finally, we’re going to have you training Genjutsu with Kurenai-sensei the first two weeks then sharingan training the last week. Sounds good?”

Sasuke nodded, taking his parchment schedule next. “That’s a lot of stuff to learn. But it sounds more than good.”

“And finally Naruto.”

“I’m ready! What am I learning, Kakashi?” Naruto asked excitedly.

Kakashi chuckled fondly. “Like Sasuke and Sakura, we’re going to get you in on some training with Gai-sensei for strength and taijutsu, then we’re going to have you training with Iruka-sensei with seals. He’s actually pretty phenomenal with them, and many of the seals he’s going to teach you will come in handy for your traps. Then finally, we’re going to train technique with me. Good?”

“Very good!” Naruto confirmed, snatching his schedule with excitement.

“I know it looks like a lot of work, but I would much rather you all be over prepared than underprepared.” Kakashi stated. “Sunday will be your rest day, Thursday and Friday will be the days we train as a team, and Saturday is the day we’ll take D-rank missions. It’s going to be exhausting, but it’s going to prepare you.”

The three genin nodded along, taking the new schedules with stride, smiles all around.

“Chunin is the first three months of being genin? Sounds easy.” Sasuke joked bluntly, the other two laughing along.

Sakura was sore all over by the time she made it to kenjutsu training with Hayate on Wednesday. Gai on Monday had run her ragged, made every single one of her muscles ache in the best and worst way, until she physically couldn’t move. She already felt stronger than before. Then Kakashi ran her through so much poison and toxin making classes on Tuesday, that she was mentally exhausted.

And here she was, in front of one of the village’s most talented kenjutsu specialists, exhausted and weakly holding up a sword.

“You know, we can just take a break and do less training today if you’re tired.” Hayate mumbled, holding up his own sword, strong and sturdy.

Sakura shook her head fiercely, adjusting her stance to go for another round. “No. My rest day is Sunday. I’m not quitting.” 

Hayate swiped his sword at Sakura,  Sakura blocking and swinging back lightly, and with not much speed.

“You need to swing harder and faster, Sakura. You aren’t going to get anywhere anytime soon if you keep acting like some weak civilian.” Hayate taunted, swing back and pushing Sakura a few feet back.

“I’m not a civilian.” Sakura argued lightly, barely even fighting back.

“Then show me something other than a doormat of a genin!” Hayate shouted harshly, swinging and cutting the skin of Sakura’s cheek.

The two stepped away from each other, Hayate’s words simmering in the air. Sakura was embarrassed, then flustered, then just plain angry.

“I’m not a civilian.” Sakura croaked out.

Hayate looked critically at the girl. “Then stop acting like one. You are a ninja. Stop showing me mercy. I want you to try hurting me this time, because you won’t make it far in this world if you half-ass every punch you go for.”

Sakura looked up at Hayate, and started absolutely fuming. She let her anger and rage fester just under her skin, then shot off at Hayte aggressively. She let her anger loose, let her movement become harsh and aggressive, her swings faster than Sakura could even register.

And Hayte looked surprised. He attempted to hit back, but found himself blocking Sakura’s crazy hits more than he could find an opening to hit back. Hayate smiled, Sakura was an incredible student, she picked up on forms and techniques quickly, she was just timid was all.

Hayate jumped out of the way as Sakura swung down onto rock. The sword she was wielding shattered , leaving Sakura with only a handle.

Hayate took this as his chance to finish things off, but found himself surprised when Sakura grabbed the blade, tossed her broken sword, and punched his stomach so hard he saw stars.

Hayate dropped his sword as he got flung back onto the ground, coughing and sputtering, spitting up blood that had collected in his mouth.

“Oh my Kami! Hayate-sensei! I’m so sorry!” Sakura exclaimed, ignoring her own incredibly bloody hand in favour of rushing over to Hayate and helping him sit up. 

Hayate brushed her off after coughing one more time. “Don’t be sorry. You were incredible, Sakura.”

“Wha-?”

“You were incredible .” Hayate repeated, standing up with Sakura. “You are an incredible ninja, you’re just a timid one. Once you let yourself go, you let yourself be strong, you didn’t have a problem overpowering me and surprising me. Grabbing my blade? That was an insane move, but it got you the win. Your team is going to be safe no matter who you’re up against, because they’ll have you.”

Sakura smiled brightly. “Thank you!” She looked at her hand, and the shattered sword, scratching the back of her neck nervously. “Sorry about your sword.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Hayate ruffled her hair, picking up the old handle. “It was a training sword. I’ve got plenty more for the other two training sessions we have.”

“Thank you.” Sakura mumbled with a smile, wrapping her hand up with a bandage. “For teaching me.”

“It’s been my pleasure.”

<>

Sasuke shook his head clear of the genjutsu Kurenai cast, gaining focus on his surroundings again. He had been at this for what felt like hours, Kurenai would cast a genjutsu whenever she felt like it, and he would have to shake it off without the use of his sharingan.

“If it makes you feel any better, you get to try this on me next week.” Kurenai commented, checking Sasuke over.

“What are you doing to him anyways, Kurenai-sensei?” Kiba asked, looking between his teacher and Sasuke with furrowed brows.

“She’s putting me in genjutsus over and over so I can break out of them.” Sasuke explained grumpily, rubbing his temples to stave off his growing migraine. “It sucks .”

“Ooo! Put me in one! I wanna see what it feels like.” Kiba said excitedly, Akamaru barking in agreement.

Kiba screamed soon after that, running around like a headless chicken.

Sasuke sighed. “Can we take a break from the genjutsus for a bit? I’m starting to get a migraine.”

“Of course. You’ve had enough practice today anyways.” Kurenai said with a smile. “You’re already good at breaking out of them without your sharingan, you’ll be fantastic when you use it.”

Sasuke nodded with a small smile.

“Do you mind doing me a favour?” Kurenai asked, glancing at her two other students, sitting calmly under a tree.

Sasuke shook his head.

“Do you mind just sparring with Hinata while I do some one-on-one time with Shino?” Kurenai asked, gesturing the two over.

“Not at all.”

Sasuke brought Hinata over to the edge of the clearing, and just slowly got into the rhythm of sparring. They exchanged gentle blows and blocks, neither one really wanting to amp it up or punch hard enough to hurt each other.

“We should probably start punching harder.” Hinata commented quietly, not even breaking a sweat.

Sasuke shrugged. “Says who? We’ve got a nice rhythm going that gives us a nice exercise.”

“Aren’t we supposed to- I don’t know, hurt each other?” Hinata questioned, furrowing her brows.

Sasuke shrugged again. “We don’t always need to end up bloodied and beaten to a pulp to know we’ve gotten our practice in. Sometimes something simple and easy on us like this is good enough.”

Hinata hummed, and just kept up her quick, yet timid blows, neither going hard enough to bruise, simply because they never had to.

<>

Naruto was flying through seal after seal, tearing through the lessons Iruka had planned for him with ease.

“Damn, Naruto, if you learned like this in the academy you would have been top of the class.” Iruka commented, handing Naruto more ink and parchment.

Naruto shrugged, kicking his feet back and forth happily. “I wish I could always learn like this. I don’t know what it is about this, but it’s so easy to understand. It’s just symbols matching what you want to have happen, like drawing up a comic book!”

Iruka nodded, though internally he was incredibly distraught. What took him years to learn was as easy for Naruto as a colouring book. Even his calligraphy was flawless, even when his handwriting was no better than a six-year-old’s. 

“I’m gonna be honest with you Naruto, you picked this up far faster than I thought you would.” Iruka commented, watching Naruto flawlessly execute a mass storage seal, twelve others already decorating the scroll he had given Naruto. “I don’t think I have anything else to teach you.”

Naruto deflated, looking at Iruka sadly. “What?”

Iruka laughed softly. “It’s alright. That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop teaching you. It just means you’re going to have a chance to put your seals into action.”

Naruto lit up again, smiling wildly. “Hell yeah!”

Iruka ruffled Naruto’s hair fondly, before slowly starting to put his inks and papers away. “Alright. You head back home. You’ve got a long three weeks ahead of you, and you need to get as much rest in as possible as you’re training.”

Naruto nodded, fanning his scroll to dry the ink. “Thank you, Iruka sensei!”

<>

When Kakashi walked up the stairs to the apartment, he heard bickering before he even entered the door.

“Come on, Sakura, it’s not that important.” Naruto whined, followed by muffled thuds.

“It very much is!” Sakura argued. “My toxins aren’t potent enough, I need something heavier and something that induces sleep or paralysis, get reading.” 

Kakashi heard Sasuke chuckle softly in the corner. 

“You too, Sasuke!” Kakashi heard a louder thumb and a hiss of pain from Sasuke.

“Alright, alright!” Sasuke grumbled, a rustle of paper sounding out. “I’m reading, I’m reading.”

Kakashi finally stepped into the apartment, leaning against the door with a grocery bag in hand, taking off his sandals with the other. He looked at the mess his team had made in the apartment, sighing softly.

Sakura sat at the desk, working away at a book with florals, a mortar and pestle at her side as she focused on finding herbs and flowers. She had spilled a vial of ink, it was dripping down the table, and clearly onto Urushi who had a large black spot on his snout. Ūhei was perched in the window, looking outside excitedly, watching the world pass by. Naruto was smack dab in the middle of the floor, laying on the rug with a book in his hands, a bowl of ramen at his side. Guruko was laying with his head resting on Naruto’s back, looking content as he napped. Sasuke was lying on the couch, a scroll in hand, with Shiba and Bisuke running and jumping around, playing around Sasuke’s legs. Sasuke was slowly picking at a plate of tomatoes just on the floor, his annoyance showing as he kept reading through the scroll that seemed to get nowhere. Bull was taking a nap by the pile of sandals, while Akino and Pakkun were circling Kakashi’s feet.

“Aren't you all supposed to be resting for the exams in two days?” Kakashi asked, stepping around the various papers and books. “You’ve all been training for three weeks straight, you should take today to get some much needed rest.”

“Nope! Absolutely not because I do not have a toxin prepared for the exams, and I have been looking through these books for hours, they’re helping me, because I said so! We still have tomorrow to rest so today we’re doing poisons!” Sakura exclaimed, tense and hyper. 

Kakashi sighed, and picked up a book, flipping through a few pages. “What kind of toxin do you need?”

“Paralysis, lasting at least a few hours that acts within minutes.” Sakura described quickly, Naruto and Sasuke groaning in response.

“Oh. I’ve got something like that.” Kakashi reached into his back pocket, pulling out a storage scroll. He pulled the scroll out a few meters, before releasing a small bottle of toxin. “It’s a neuromuscular blocking agent. It works in just a few minutes, just be careful not to induce a lethal dose. After you work as a ninja for a while you get quite the collection of belongings.”

“You mean Sakura’s been forcing me to read for nothing?” Naruto whined, closing his book and tossing it away.

Sakura picked up the vial with a grin. “Great! I can start packing now!”

“You three haven’t packed yet?” Kakashi asked incredulously.

Sasuke shook his head. “Sakura was very determined to make toxins today. I had to extract poison from her nine times already.”

“Sakura…” Kakashi drawled in a scolding tone.

“Hey, to be fair, some of the stuff I made was super potent. I count that as a win.” Sakura argued, already unrolling a storage scroll.

“Alright, alright.” Kakashi sighed, bringing out two extra storage scrolls for Naruto and Sasuke. “Just get yourselves packed. Pack for every case scenario, Better to be over prepared than underprepared.”

“You worry too much.” Naruto laughed lightly, quickly bringing out some of the storage scrolls he made himself. “We’ll be fine. The training from the last three weeks is going to be great help. You’ve prepared us, now let us show you what we can do.”

Kakashi sighed softly. “Right, right, no hovering, force of habit.”

“We’ll be fine!” Sakura exclaimed happily, already packing away some rations. “I’ve got poison, Naruto’s got enough exploding tags to destroy the village, and Sasuke has more experience healing people than half the hospital. We’re gonna be fine.”

Kakashi let out another soft sigh. “Alright. Just promise one thing, all three of you, alright?” Kakashi said to the three, stepping over the mess on the floor, heading towards the kitchen.

“Yeah?” The three hummed out in unison.

“Promise me you’ll back out if you need to. There’s no use ending your careers over your first chunin exam.” Kakashi said seriously.

All three of his students nodded each with matching grins.

And when the three turned back to their packing, packing away their weapons and rations and deadly poisons with their potent medicines, taking up the entire floor and more, Kakashi realized his little family had outgrown the apartment.

The three barely fit in their bedroom, the three futons pressed tightly together. Their closet was quickly becoming one heap of clothing, the three wearing the same clothes day after day. Their kitchen table was made for two, and rarely used in favour of all of them sitting together. And somewhere in between years ago and today Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, had just become one thing. One machine working fluidly, despite spats and fights along the way. 

And that one thing had outgrown what Kakashi could give them, yet he never heard a complaint from them.

Kakashi got to work making dinner for his little family. He sighed. He had a solution, one that would give the three the space to grow, to let them thrive.

His mental health be damned or not. 

Chapter Text

Kakashi the next day looked at the three genin carefully, all of them sleeping peacefully in their singular bedroom, packed together like a can of sardines, almost shoulder to shoulder on their futons.

Kakashi spent the morning packing away the apartment. Naruto had made too many storage scrolls to count, so Kakashi put them to use by packing away the apartment. It was strange, to look at the place he called home for the last nine years, and have the walls be blank and the floors empty. All that was left to do was pack up the kids’ clothing and their belongings and get everyone moved into the other house.

His clan house. The Hatake Compound.

“Kiddos. Wake up, it’s time to go.” Kakashi called gently, flicking the light on. He had let them sleep in well past their usual time, so he wasn’t surprised at the mix of grumbles that sounded out.

“Wha…? Go where?” Naruto questioned, already slipping on his baby blue shirt with a frog right on the front.

Sakura grumbled and sat up in her bed, and brushed through her hair without even opening her eyes. “I thought we were resting today.” She commented, tugging her hair into strands to braid it quickly, before tying it off. 

“You did rest. For 12 hours, might I add.” Kakashi chuckled fondly, already taking out another storage scroll. “Now come on, we’re moving house today.”

“What? But the apartment is fine, we’re fine here.” Sasuke argued quickly, pulling his mother’s jacket onto himself. 

Kakashi shook his head, stacking a pile of the kids’ clothing on the storage scroll and sealing it. “You’re fine, but you’re not thriving. I have a place for us, where you’ll each have room and space to grow and enjoy yourselves.”

“The apartment is enough.” Naruto said simply, looking at the room that was quickly getting cleaned up. 

Kakashi sighed, and stashed the scroll away on his toolbelt. “I know. But I want better for you. I’m getting better things for you. All of you.”

Sasuke shook his head with a sigh. “Alright. Come on, let's get packed.” Sasuke called out to his friends, joining in collecting the various belongings that needed to be moved.

Naruto looked like a wounded puppy the entire time he packed up his belongings, hugging the plush frog Kakashi had gifted him so many years ago to his chest. He continued to look sad, giving a tearful goodbye to the apartment that had been his first real home. 

“Come on, Naruto.” Sakura said gently, holding her hand out for her friend. “It’ll be alright.”

Naruto sniffled, and grasped Sakura’s hand. “Yeah. Okay.”

The family of four walked out of the apartment, down the three floors, and out onto the streets, slowly heading into the shinobi housing district. 

Kakashi walked his team down the path his body never forgot, up to the house that hadn’t been opened in years. It was old, and worn down, and covered in overgrown plants, but it was still structurally sound, and just how he left it.

Kakashi took careful steps over the front porch, slowly sliding the front door open.

“Woah. This place is old.” Sakura commented. “All of this is architecture and building techniques from before the Third Great Ninja War.” 

Kakashi held his breath, shoulders tense as he stepped into the house. He kept his breathing steady, ignoring the anxiety that spiked when he saw the floor, where his father was. He glanced at the floor, trying to shake off the thought of blood soaking the carpet, and continued walking through the house with the three.

Kakashi nodded. “Welcome to the Hatake clan compound. It housed around two dozen people in its heyday, but now it’s just going to house us.” He explained, pressing into the house, lighting the lanterns as he went. “It’s a little dusty, and it’ll need some cleaning, but it’s bigger than the apartment and it has a training area.”

Naruto wandered around, eyes bright and wide in wonder. “This place is amazing!” Naruto cheered, running around, looking into every nook and cranny. “Don’t worry, Papa, I’ve got this!” He cheered, already making his shadow clones. Naruto quickly gave the three dozen clones instructions, all of the Narutos running off into every corner of the house, beginning to clean.

“I’m gonna get my medical supplies sanitized before tomorrow.” Sasuke commented, before walking off to a room just off the main wing.

Sakura unfurled one of the many sealing scrolls, quickly scanning for the couch. She quickly had it popped out, and moved it into place, before taking a seat and gesturing for Kakashi to come sit.

Kakashi complied, taking a seat next to the pink-haired girl.

“What’s got you so panicked?” Sakura asked gently, looking at her teacher with furrowed brows.

Kakashi glanced at Sakura, then sighed. “Just some bad memories in this house.”

“We don’t have to be here. We’re happy to be anywhere, as long as we’re with you, Kakashi-sensei.” Sakura said simply, leaning and pressing her shoulder to Kakashi’s.

Kakashi took his hand and rested it on top of Sakura’s head. “I know. But this is to help you three improve. I’d go through hell and back to see you three happy, moving to my old house is nothing.”

“We’d do the same, y’know.” Sakura commented, looking at Kakashi with worried eyes. “You don’t have to suffer to see us happy, that’s not a fair trade for you.”

“Stop worrying about me.” Kakashi chuckled fondly. “My goodness, always the protector you are, Sakura.”

“Someone’s gotta look after my dumbass friends.” Sakura jokes.

Then from another room, she heard Naruto shout in pain, followed by loud clattering.

“Speaking of which.” Sakura stood up, and dusted her pants off. She then turned to Kakashi. “We have your back, Kakashi-sensei. Let us help you, the same way you helped all of us.”

Kakashi nodded, a small smile on his face. “Yeah. Okay.”

<>

Kakashi was doing his rounds, checking over the house and its privacy seals, making sure everything was where it was supposed to be, and that the kids were safe.

He stepped through the halls quietly, memories playing on repeat in the back of his mind, of his father and himself. And, in the end, he didn’t find himself hurting all too much anymore. His father’s soul was written all over the walls, the memories of each room a whisper of what was, but a reminder of the wonderful person his father was.

His father was strong. Kakashi knew that. And that’s how he remembered him. That’s how he wanted everyone to remember him. But the village saw him as a failure and a disgrace to the title of ninja. His father was strong, but not strong enough to stay.

And part of Kakashi understood why. To have the whole of everyone against you, everyone you trusted suddenly turning their back on you for the sacrifice you made, he wasn’t surprised his father did what he did. Kakashi was sad, sad his father was gone, sad his father left him behind to fend for himself, but at the very least he understood.

Of course a part of Kakashi was angry, he couldn’t help it. He had Naruto as his official son, and Sasuke and Sakura as his not-quite-kids-but-almost-kids, and he couldn't dream of ever leaving them behind. No matter what he went through. 

Kakashi shook the anger off his shoulders. What’s done is done, and he’s got three genin to look after. And when he stepped into Naruto’s room, he widened his eyes to find the three curled up together. They had their own rooms, Kakashi made it clear that they did, but here they were, still sleeping like a team.

Kakashi lifted his headband, exposing his sharingan to the three.

“Do you see that Obito? They’re just like you. They’d chose each other over the village. You’d be proud.” Kakashi mumbled aloud, letting his sharingan memorize the scene, before pulling his headband back down, and walking away.

<>

Team 7 was posted at the very entrance to the building, Kakashi handing them scrolls and bags and checking them over.

“And you’re sure you all ate today?” Kakashi asked for what could have been the dozenth time.

“Papa- oh my Kami.” Naruto laughed. “This is like my first day at the academy all over again. Yes we ate, yes we have everything, yes we’ll be fine.”

“Alright, sorry, sorry.” Kakashi laughed softly, ruffling Naruto’s hair. “Then one last thing. Kurenai couldn’t make it because she’s with her team, but Iruka and Hayate are here to see you off.” Kakashi said with a grin, gesturing to Naruto and Sakura.

Kakashi backed away, Sasuke by his side, watching as Naruto ran and jumped, hugging Iruka tightly. 

Sakura was slower, but gave Hayate a small smile.

“Hello, Hayate-sensei.” Sakura looked to her teacher, hands fidgeting nervously by her sides.

“Hey there you little Hellion.” Hayate said with a cheeky grin. “I had to give you this, before you went into your exams.” Hayate pulled out an item from behind his back, the long item wrapped in fabric.

“Is that…?” Sakura breathed out, taking the item in hand.

“Yep.” Hayate grinned again, watching Sakura unwrap it. “You learned incredibly quickly for someone who had never picked up a sword in her life. You were born a civilian, but you’re being raised a ninja. You are making something of yourself, regardless of what anyone else says. You should be incredibly proud. So, it’s with great honor, Sakura Haruno, that I gift you your very first blade. Wield it well, and protect your team, like I know you can.”

Sakura teared up, looked at the sheathed blade in her hand, then shot forward to wrap Hayate in a bone crushing hug. Hayate let out a huff of laughter, hugging her back. “Alright, alright, go get these exams done. You’ve got a team to protect and a title to win.”

Sakura wiped her tears with a laugh, and slung the blade over her shoulder, then secured it into place. “Thank you.” She spoke with conviction, truly incredibly thankful for the teacher that forced her to push herself for three long weeks. “I owe you a lot.”

“You owe me nothing. Now go give ‘em hell, Sakura.” Hayate siad, waving her off.

Sakura returned to her teammates, her new sword secured tightly to her back. “Alright guys, let's go. Time to give these genin a run for their money.”

“Right!” Sasuke and Naruto both cheered, walking into the building with Sakura.

They walked up the floors, slowly heading to the third floor, when they saw a commotion in front of the classroom they were supposed to head to.

“Why aren’t they letting anyone in?” Naruto asked quietly, grasping Sasuke’s sleeve in his hand.

Sasuke looked around, then felt the familiar fuzzy feeling in his eyes when a genjutsu was cast. He flashed his sharingan, looking at the sign. “Wrong classroom.” Sasuke whispered quietly to Naruto and Sakura. “Just walk away.”

Naruto and Sakura just moved through the crowd of genin by following closely behind Sasuke, ignoring the stares they received. They just simply carried on, walking upstairs to the proper classroom. 

The three stepped into the room, and Naruto immediately let out a snort of laughter. “Oh my Kami, you’re telling me all of these old ass guys are genin? Oh that’s rich!” Naruto cackled, holding his stomach as he keeled over laughing.

“Naruto!” Sakura hissed through her teeth, covering his mouth with her hand. “Let’s try not to make enemies with everyone the first minute we’re here.”

Naruto huffed. “Yeah, yeah, alright.” 

“Kid. See the guy with red hair and a gourd on his back? ” Kurama murmured in Naruto’s head, the blond immediately putting his attention on the person Kurama had mentioned.

“...Yeah?”

“Go make him your friend. He’s like you. ” Kurama ordered firmly.

“Care to elaborate, fur ball?” Naruto mumbled, breaking away from his team to head towards what he could now identify as Suna-nin.

“He’s a jinchuriki. ” Kurama stated, annoyed that he had to talk more than he already had. “Just go talk to him, alright? ”

“Yeah, yeah.” Naruto had discovered over the last few weeks, his “roommate” for lack of a better word was helpful yet annoying on his best days, and the most annoying person/fox he’s ever met on his bad. 

But, another jinchuriki had Naruto excited. He could see if he knew how to communicate better, or how to work with his beast.

So while his team was distracted talking with his friends, Naruto marched right up to the red-headed boy, stuck his hand out, and introduced himself. 

“Hi! I’m Naruto! Pleasure to meet you!” He said with a grin.

The boy looked physically taken aback by Naruto, while the two people next to him stared in horror.

The boy tentatively took Naruto’s hand, and shook it slowly, before letting go. “Gaara.” He mumbled.

“I’ve decided you’re my new friend.” Naruto said simply, leaving no room for argument.

Gaara stared at Naruto blankly. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“No.”

“...Alright.” Gaara walked up closer to Naruto, and stared him down, making unblinking eye contact. “Mother says you are not trying to hurt me. So I will momentarily trust you. Though should we cross paths during the exams I will not hesitate.”

“I expect nothing less!” Naruto said cheerfully, pulling Gaara in for a quick hug. “Try your best, and good luck!”

Naruto then ran off, leaving Gaara and the other two Suna-nin bewildered.

“I’m just saying, you’d do a lot better for yourself if you married a ninja then went back to being a civilian. No matter what you do, no matter how many fancy swords you own, you won’t be able to be anything more than a paper-pushing chunin.” Naruto heard Ino taunt when he had joined back up with his team.

“You slimy, son of a half-wit-” Sakura growled out, taking threatening steps towards Ino.

“Hey, no- Sakura!” Sasuke grabbed Sakura by her middle, struggling to hold her back from decking the girl. “You’ll have your chance, not yet, just not yet.”

“Sakuraaaaa!” Naruto called out, leaping forward and wrapping Sakura in a hug. “What’s that one poison you have access to?” He asked with a cheeky grin.

“A neuromuscular blocking agent.” Sakura muttered, never breaking eye contact with Ino.

“Mhm, mhm, and what does it do?” Naruto asked, letting go of Sakura when he felt her no longer fighting against him.

“Seizes your muscles within minutes and makes it so you’re unable to move for hours, and given a lethal dose you’ll die of a heart attack within the hour the toxin is given.” Sakura explained as if reading from a textbook.

“And wouldn’t it be so much more fun to use that against her, rather than just decking her now when it doesn’t count for points?” Naruto giggled, giving Ino a sharp glare

Sakura breathed deeply. “Yes it would be.” She stated, walking away from the scene to instead sit at one of the many desks.

“Oh, and look at that, dead-last is defending her.” Ino taunted.

Naruto looked at Ino, gave her a smile, and walked close enough so only she could hear. “If you ever talk like that to her again, I’ll make sure your dose is lethal.” He whispered, keeping his same, happy-go-lucky smile plastered on his face.

Naruto then walked back to Sasuke. “Come on, Sasuke! Let’s go sit with Sakura!”

Shikamaru snickered as Naruto walked away and rejoined his team. “We’ve barely been here, and somehow you already have the happiest person alive rooting for your death.” 

“Oh shut up, Shikamaru.” Ino hissed out through gritted teeth.

“He is right.” Choji mumbled through a mouthful of chips.

Ino turned and glared at her two teammates.

“Alright you lot, settle down, get seated!” A man shouted as he entered the room, wearing a headband that wrapped around the entire top half of his head.

The genin scrambled to get seated, some unsure of what was happening, while others walked with confidence as if they had done this dozens of times before.

“My name is Ibiki Morino.” The man, Ibiki, stated, standing at the front of the classroom. “I’ll be your proctor for the first portion of this exam.”

“He’s kinda spooky.” Naruto commented off-handedly, Hinata snickering beside him in response.

“What do you think, do you think he’s in T&I?” Hinata asked with yet another quiet snicker.

Naruto nodded. “Oh yeah, definitely.” Naruto then shot Hinata a bright smile. “Good to see you again, by the way.”

Hinata nodded back with a smaller smile.

“Here’s how this is going to work.” Ibiki shouted, gesturing for two of the chunin behind him to start passing out papers. “This written test will include ten questions. Nine of those questions are on this sheet getting handed to you now. You will have one hour to write your answers. Then, once we’re 45 minutes into the hour, we will reveal the final question, and you will be given the opportunity to answer it.”

Naruto looked at the test in front of him, and his face dropped. This was going to be hard. The questions were a scramble of letters and numbers, all equating to questions he had no idea how to start answering. 

“If any of you are caught cheating, you and your team will be immediately disqualified. Good luck.” Ibiki stated, before standing stagnant at the centre of the front of the room, keeping careful eyes trained on the dozens of genin in the room.

Sakura was quick to already start scribbling the answers down. She had hoped Sasuke, who was sitting a few rows behind her, was already copying what he could. While she had the utmost trust in her teammates, the questions were something she was struggling with, and had no doubt even someone like Shikamaru would be struggling with too. Sasuke could easily copy her movements by just using his sharingan, she had no doubt Sasuke had already figured out that the point of the exam was information gathering, not an intelligence test.

Naruto, however, was a different story. He couldn’t read between the lines. He wouldn’t cheat no matter what he did, because he was told not to. He was told him and his team would be disqualified, which means he wouldn’t dream of risking anything for his team, not even for the answer to one question.

Sakura glanced at Naruto, saw him puzzled over a blank sheet, and all she could do was sigh, and continue to finish her quiz for Sasuke to copy.

And copy Sasuke did, every subtle movement, so much so that his handwriting was almost a carbon copy of Sakura’s. The training he did with Kakashi definitely helped, it had his sharingan refined and strengthened tenfold.

But unluckily, it could do nothing to help Naruto, who was halfway across the room, still puzzled over a blank page.

Sasuke just had to trust him. He just had to. 

And when the 45 minutes was up, Ibiki started speaking again, putting both Sasuke and Sakura on edge.

“Alright. The final 15 minutes.” The room of genin snapped their attention to Ibiki, Naruto especially looking worried but not voicing it. “I will reveal this question to you in a moment. First, some rules. Should you answer this question wrong, you will never get to participate in the chunin exams, ever again. If you forfeit beforehand, you, and your team, will be disqualified, but will be able to participate in the next chunin exams. Now, what would you like to do?”

Sakura nervously watched people trickle out of the room, raising hands and leaving with their disappointed teammates. Then she nervously watched Naruto raise his hand, and all she could do was hold her breath.

“Ibiki-sensei?” Naruto shouted, hand still raised.

Ibiki raised an unimpressed eyebrow to Naruto. “Are you quitting? Because if you are-”

“Fat chance I am.” Naruto exclaimed confidently, moving to stand on his desk. He pointed directly at Ibiki, and grinned wildly. “Me, and my team, and every other team left in this room are making it further, whether you like it or not, no matter what this stupid question is! You’re looking at a room of future chunin, so give us that last question!”

Sakura let go of the breath she was holding, and just chuckled to herself fondly. She didn’t even know why she was nervous in the first place.

Ibiki glared, and gave a hard stare to every team left in the room. He sighed harshly, then gave a slow clap to the room. “Congratulations, you all pass.”

A chorus of confused sounds erupted.

“It’s not answering the questions that made you pass. It is the willingness to take that risk, to be willing to take a mission no matter the danger or information.” Ibiki explained to the room. “If a genin is willing to face the unknown of the tenth question, they are ready to be a chunin.”

Naruto visibly relaxed. He was positively unsure of how that was going to go for him, so he let himself relax.

Until a crazy lady burst through the window, introduced herself as Anko, criticized Ibiki for letting so many teams pass, then yelled at all of them to meet her outside of the Forest Of Death.

<>

Naruto looked at the imposing forest with furrowed brows.

“Alright, so, remember what Kakashi taught us.” Sakura said quickly, stashing the scroll away in one of the inner pockets of her jacket. “I’m taking up the front of the group. Sasuke, you’re in the middle, paying attention for genjutsu, and staying safe since you’re our medic. Naruto, you’re taking up the rear, and sending out clones to scout the area.”

“Right.” Naruto nodded solidly, already summoning a couple clones.

Sasuke took his spot between Sakura and Naruto, flashing his sharingan before letting it recede. 

“We’re going to get a scroll as quickly as possible, then head to the tower.” Sakura said sternly. “We do not want to be caught out here for all five days, only for as little time as possible. Now come on, let's go.”

The three shot off into the forest the minute the doors opened. They were quick, Naruto already sending off clones in every direction he could. After running for a long few hours, Sakura had them stop at the top of a tree, getting everyone to rest. She brought out her compass, making sure she was keeping track of where they were.

“Any news on any earth scrolls?” Sasuke asked Naruto, Naruto furrowing his brows in response.

He took a moment, shuffling through the memories of different clones, before nodding firmly. “One team, in that direction. We can cut them off if we head straight north.”

“Alright.” Sakura turned, looking north, before stashing her compass away. “Damsel in distress?” Sakura grinned cheekily, looking at Naruto.

“Damsel in distress.” Naruto nodded, Sasuke already rolling his eyes and laughing.

<>

Sakura stood in the middle of a clearing in the forest, clasping her hands together, and hunching over to make herself look as small as possible. Naruto told her the team would be there in a few minutes, and she planned to lure them in, hook, line and sinker. 

The three genin appeared just at the edge of the clearing, having spotted her moments before.

“Oh my gosh! Thank goodness someone arrived!” Sakura cried out, bringing tears to her eyes easily, and walking towards the team. “I got lost from my team! I can’t find them!”

“O-oh, well, uhm,” One of the genin stammered, taking a few cautious steps forward. His two teammates also stepped forward, and Sakura took a few scared steps backwards. “Hey, no, we’re not gonna hurt you, it’s alright.” The genin cooed, taking more slow steps forward with his teammates.

Sakura internally rolled her eyes, but kept up. “I’m sorry, I’m just so scared, I Just want my teammates back!” Sakura cried out, rubbing her cheeks with her hands to wipe her crocodile tears away. 

“It’s okay, we’ll find your teammates.” One of the other genin said reassuringly.

“Oh, it’s okay.” Sakura suddenly said with a smile. “I found them!”

The three unknown genin looked confused, but quickly found themselves surprised when an explosion rang out and they found themselves in the bottom of a pit, tangled in ninja wire.

Sakura leaned over the edge and waved.

“You bitch!” One of them shouted, moving to get free, but quickly wincing when the wire dug into his skin and cut it.

“Hey! That’s not nice!” Naruto said as he leaped into the hole, balancing on the ninja wire, and poking through the genins’ belongings. “She put on a class act performance right there.”

“I bet she couldn’t even beat me in a one on one fight with one of my arms tied behind my back!” One of the genin challenged.

Naruto grinned when he found the earth scroll they were looking for. “I bet she’d knock you out in one hit. Anyways, see ya!” Naruto cheered, getting out of the hole, and running towards the tower with his teammates.

<>

Team 7 was making good progress towards the tower. It was eight hours into the first day, and they already had their scrolls, were only an hour away from the tower, and had sustained no injuries as of yet, which Sasuke was thankful for.

They were doing well, up until Sakura got flung out of their front line and slammed into a tree, two other Grass ninja popping up.

Naruto was quick to send two rigged clones up, pulling Sasuke away as they exploded.

“Where’s Sakura?” Sasuke questioned loudly, hauling ass to the trees for cover.

“Down there, she’s fine!” Naruto pointed quickly, already preparing two more clones rigged with smoke bombs and explosive tags. “I’m gonna give her some cover, prepare a chidori and take out the two I’m covering as quickly as possible!”

Naruto sent out his clones, covering the two extra nin and Sakura in smoke, before sending out an explosion to the two extras. Sasuke activated his sharingan, and flung himself down into the fray, before flinging through the hand signs Kakashi had drilled into him. He flew forward, catching the first shinobi in the shoulder, and the second in the stomach. They both went down without so much as a whimper, Sasuke running to join his team in the trees.

“Anyone have eyes on the third?” Sakura questioned, pressing a hand into her side.

“No.” Sasuke muttered quickly, sharingan scanning the area quickly. “You solid?”

“Yeah. Just bruised.” Sakura answered, watching Naruto send out more clones, the clones scouting the area quickly.

“We’re not dealing with genin.” Naruto mumbled, the memories of his clones coming back to him as they poofed. “This guy is using jutsus I’ve only seen papa use. We’ve gotta get out of here. Now.”

Sakura and Sasuke both nodded.

“Going so soon?” The unknown ninja purred, melting out of the tree they were standing on. The three leaped back, facing the assailant. “Oh I do love prey that puts up a fight.”

“What the hell are you?” Naruto questioned harshly, taking up the rear of the group.

“Get out of the way, little girl.” The ninja hissed, ignoring Naruto and walking menacingly towards Sakura, who had already yanked her sword free. 

“Get the fuck away from my team.” Sakura growled menacingly, eyes trained on the ninja with her sword held firmly in front of her. “One more step, and I’m not holding back.” Sakura warned.

The ninja took another step.

Sakura gave her sword a wipe, and swung at the ninja fiercely.

Sakura landed a singular hit on the ninja before she was flung backwards, into the arms of her teammates.

“Shit- what are we going to do?” Naruto asked, helping Sakura to her feet.

“Just give it a minute.” Sakura said, watching as the ninja took tentative steps forward, before crumbling to the ground, paralyzed. “Time to run.”

The three booked it away, Sakura lagging behind just a bit as she ran.

“Don’t you want to find out the truth about the Uchiha massacre?” A voice sounded out, stopping Sasuke in his tracks.

Sakura and Naruto were just a branch ahead, ushering Sasuke forward, away from the danger. 

“What do you know?” Sasuke growled out, sharingan scanning the trees for the shinobi.

The shinobi made himself known, dangling upside down from a branch near Sasuke.

The two made searing eye contact, Sakura and Naruto already rearing to pounce.

“The truth is, the village orchestrated it.” The shinobi hissed out with a sickening grin. “Your people were slaughtered by the very village they swore to protect! There was no coup, your father was simply in the running for Hokage, so the village had them killed!” 

Sasuke’s breath caught in his throat, and he found himself unable to move. He stared the man down, until the man’s neck elongated, and his teeth sunk into his shoulder. Sasuke shouted loudly in pain, already taking a kunai to the shinobi’s neck, and slashing hard, and deep. 

Sasuke watched the man glare and slink away. “You’ve made this body useless, damned children.” He grumbled, quickly leaving out of sight.

Sasuke held a hand to his throbbing neck, before he felt his eyes roll into the back of his head.

Sakura and Naruto watched the whole thing in horror, watching Sasuke drop from the branch. Sakura winced in pain as her broken rib jostled when she went to grab Sasuke, but stopped when Naruto had long since grabbed him.

“Shit. Okay, we need to move from this area.” Sakura said quickly, checking Sasuke over, and quickly bandaging Sasuke’s neck. “I need time to rest, and we need to try and get Sasuke awake. After that, we need to get to the tower asap, so a jonin can look at him.”

“Got it.” Naruto already hoisted Sasuke into his arms, a clone helping Sakura along. They made it hours away from their original spot, hunkering down under the roots of a tree. Sasuke was laid down, a cool cloth placed on his forehead, covered in whatever bedding Sakura and Naruto had to keep him protected from what was looking to be a nasty storm. 

“I should really learn some medical ninjutsu.” Sakura commented after hours of silence between her and Naruto, the latter actively keeping watch.

Naruto shook his head. “You’re our frontline, Sakura. You protect us. You take the hits, and you get back up. We just got unlucky today. Someday, we’re all going to be the strongest shinobi alive, and we won’t have to worry about taking the hits anymore. But until then, we’re a team. You don’t have to learn everything under the sun just to protect us, y’know.”

Sakura sighed, and moved to sit beside Naruto. She leaned over, pressing her shoulder against Naruto’s, putting her weight onto the blond. “I’m so worried. About everything. Nothing’s going to be the same when we get back.”

“Maybe Papa knows about what happened.” Naruto mumbled, hugging Sakura tightly. “He’s the one who brought Sasuke home the night it happened.”

“Either way, Sasuke is going to be shattered .” Sakura stressed, worry etching into her face. “He’s never going to be the same after this. He’s hurt, physically, is going to be hurting mentally, and all I can do is watch him fall apart.”

“ Rest , Sakura.” Naruto said sternly, laying her down to rest on his lap. “We’ll worry about these things once the exam is done. Just rest, I’ll take the first watch, then wake you up closer to morning so I can sleep a bit.”

“But-”

“No buts. Rest, Sakura. We’re right here. We’ll be here when you wake up.” Naruto said softly, keeping a hand on Sakura at all times as she laid on him. “You can protect us in the morning, but right now, you need to sleep.”

Sakura just slowly nodded, curling up beside Naruto, and letting herself relax for just a moment.

And all she could think about was what a terrible protector she was.

Chapter Text

Sakura was up early, mostly to let Naruto get some rest before they headed off to the tower. They were a little lost and disoriented, and if Sakura had to guess, they’d make it to the tower by the dawn of the third day. Just six hours, to keep an eye on things, to watch Naruto and Sasuke rest. The part that was worrying her the most was Sasuke was still dead asleep, he hadn’t even moved from his spot, while Naruto had been tossing and turning all over the place.

She sighed, and eventually stood up, and started stretching her aching muscles and joints. She ran through some of the quieter exercises Gai-sensei had taught her during her three weeks of training, anything to keep her mind occupied during the morning while she waited.

“I’m telling you, I definitely smell Naruto around here!” Sakura heard someone shout from the bush. She ducked back, covering Naruto and Sasuke with the camouflage blankets they had, before peering just outside of the roots of the tree.

She sighed when she caught sight of Kiba, Hinata, and Shino, all trotting around, Kiba sniffing around furiously.

Originally, Sakura was just going to sink back into the shadows of the tree roots, but then she remembered her teammate’s special skills.

His special skills surrounding traps.

“Kiba! Stop right there!” Sakura shouted quickly, making herself known.

“Huh? How come?” Kiba questioned, taking that step forward anyways. Sakura watched as Kiba got pulled into the air by his ankle, Akamaru falling to the ground and barking in distress.

Sakura sighed again. She was too tired for this. “I tried to warn you.”

“Oh come on! This is so lame!” Kiba whined, dangling uselessly.

“Thanks for the attempt to warn him, at least.” Shino stated, staying where he was for the time being.

Hinata also observed, her Byakugan activated out of force of habit. “Thank goodness it’s you, Sakura. We keep getting caught with enemy teams. I was worried it was going to be another fight.”

“No fight here.” Sakura stated, stepping carefully around the clearing, and avoiding any of the markings Naruto had carefully laid out. “Just resting before we’re headed to the tower.”

Sakura picked her way through the traps laid out, climbed the tree, then cut Kiba down. Kiba luckily landed on his feet, and Sakura jumped down to join them.

“Thanks.” Kiba grinned at Sakura. “You wouldn't happen to know which way the tower is, yeah?” Kiba asked sheepishly.

“I’m a little disoriented myself, but if you head vaguely in that direction,” Sakura pointed towards where she thought the tower was. “It should be near enough that you can catch a glimpse of it.”

“Alright!” Kiba exclaimed cheerfully, dusting himself off and picking up Akamaru again. 

Hinata then glanced towards the roots of the tree, and audibly gasped, her eyes scanning the chakra pathways of Sasuke. “What happened to Sasuke?” She questioned, stepping towards Sakura.

Sakura held a hand up. “Nothing that's my place to share with you.” Sakura stated, taking a step in front of Hinata protectively.

“There’s something blocking one of his chakra pathways.” Hinata stated, looking at Sakura. “Let me try and help him.”

Sakura furrowed her brows, looking back to her teammates barely covered up. She sighed. “Kiba, Shino, stay there, don’t move, or I’m knocking you out the minute you step closer.” Sakura threatened, taking Hinata's hand and bringing her under the roots.

Sakura stepped into the makeshift camp, picking up Naruto and putting him back down across the room so Hinata had some space around Sasuke. 

Hinata looked at Sakura, then down to Sasuke, and brushed her hand gently over the bite mark, and steadily growing black mark on Sasuke’s neck. Hinata looked carefully at the mark, scanning over the chakra pathways with precision and care. Hinata placed a hand at the base of Sasuke’s neck, and hit, chakra leaving her palm as she struck. The mark stayed where it was, but it stopped moving and simply stuck to Sasuke’s skin.

“It’s attached to his chakra network.” Hinata stated, looking it over. “I’ve stopped it from intertwining anymore…but it’s stuck on him. We need to get you three to the tower as quickly as possible, Sasuke needs help.”

Sakura nodded slowly, looking at the dead-asleep face of her friend. Sakura went and slowly shook Naruto awake, before she started packing their camp up.

“I thought I was gonna sleep for a while longer.” Naruto grumbled out, rubbing his eyes as he reluctantly stood.

“We need to get Sasuke to the tower. He needs help sooner rather than later.” Sakura explained softly, hauling Sauske’s belongings onto her back. She squatted down, gathering Sasuke’s limp form into her arms.

Naruto stood, collecting what was left of the camp. “Hinata?”

“Hi Naruto.” Hinata hummed softly, following behind Sakura as she left. Naruto joined up, spotting Kiba and Shino as they collected themselves. “We’re gonna head back together, all six of us. Sasuke getting better is more important than this stupid exam anyways.”

“Oh, okay!” Naruto exclaimed cheerfully, marching out of the zone of traps he made, and walking beside the five other Konoha genin. 

Sakura was well exhausted, but she ignored it in favour of carrying Sasuke. Naruto was already one step ahead, sending clones out to keep the small group of them safe. Within a few hours, while the sun was on its way to setting, the six Konoha genin wandered towards the tower at a steady pace. 

Sakura was on her last legs by the time a strange Konoha shinobi stepped into view. The six paused in their step. Staring the ninja down, the five conscious genin got ready to pounce.

“I’d like that Uchiha of yours, if you don’t mind.” He said simply, stalking forward.

Sakura placed Sasuke down carefully, and brought her sword out without hesitation. Naruto already had clones surrounding the man, an inhuman growl leaving his throat. “If you step closer I will cut your throat out.” Sakura threatened sharply, her lungs rattling with her still broken rib.

“You’re on your last legs, little girl, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” The ninja threatened.

“Who are you?” Kiba questioned loudly, setting Akamaru on the ground to possibly attack. Hinata had already placed herself in front of Sasuke, Shino just behind her.

“I’m Kabuto.” He said simply. “And I’ll be taking that boy from you.”

Kabuto took a threatening step forward, and faster than Sakura could register, her sword had swung, slicing a deep cut into Kabuto’s neck. The blood spilled quickly, gushing from the wound and painting the ground in a brilliant red. Kabuto covered his neck using his hand, coughing and sputtering, falling to the ground.

Sakura stared Kabuto down, wiping her sword off, but not stashing it away just yet.

Just as Naruto was about to let his clones poof away, Kabuto slowly raised to his feet again, blood no longer pouring from the wound, and a confident smirk on his face.

“What the hell…?” Naruto growled under his breath, watching the man practically come back to life.

“You really thought that would work?!” Kabuto cackled, a taunting smile to his face. “What a stupid group of genin. Oh how rich, and how beautiful it will be to see you all fall.”

Many of Naruto’s clones pounced, brawling with the man. Sakura stayed where she was, Kiba by her side, waiting for an opportunity to attack. Sakura slowly put her sword away, and brought her fists up. 

“Get ready!” Naruto called out, leaping back from the fray with a new cut on his arm, but mostly unscathed.

“Get ready for what?” Kiba questioned, glancing between Sakura, Naruto and his two teammates placed protectively near Sasuke.

Sakura looked at Naruto, and gave him a firm nod. “Jump to cover. Get the element of surprise.”

Kiba nodded firmly, whistling for Akamaru. Akamaru leaped onto Kiba’s shoulders, while Shino and Hinata picked up Sasuke. 

Naruto let out a loud shout, tossing half a dozen smoke bombs on the ground. The forest erupted into a cloudy haze, the smoke filling everyone’s senses. Naruto set off his rigged clones, the explosion rattling Sakura’s ears. She stayed put, listening to her friends jump to cover into the foliage, or above her into the trees.

She trusted Naruto. She had seen him measure out explosions and their radius in seconds. She knew she’d be fine where she stood, even as the second round of clone-bombs headed into the fray.

Sakura waited for the smoke to clear, Kabuto standing across from her, completely fine aside from a few scrapes and dirty clothes.

Kabuto sighed when he saw everything finally clear away, glancing around the trees and bushes for any sign of the Uchiha. “You’re being difficult, you do know that, right?”

“Hmm.” Sakura hummed shortly, reaching into her back pouch for her toxin, but finding nothing.

“Oh, you looking for this?” Kabuto questioned with a devilish grin, holding a now empty vial in his hand. “Quite the toxin you had. Neuromuscular. It made very quick work of your friend over there.”

Sakura glanced to her left where Kabuto gestured, and Sakura had to fight the urge to run to her teammate immediately. Naruto was on the ground, twitching and struggling to move. His face was caught in a tight grimace, looking at Sakura as his only lifeline.

Sakura looked back at Kabuto, then immediately had to redirect a chakra coated hand coming straight at her. She punched back, hitting Kabuto’s side, kneed his abdomen, then pushed Kabuto away to get some space.

“You solid, Naruto?” Sakura asked, trying to remember how much toxin was left in that vial, how much was in Naruto’s system, and if her friend was in any immediate danger.

“S-solid.” Naruto grunted out. “Roommate’s helpin’.” He slurred his words, something Sakura was only somewhat concerned with, but the thought that Kurama, as unwilling and unhelpful as the fox was most days, was willing to help out Naruto by filtering out the toxin put her mind at ease.

Sakura let out a sigh of relief, turning her full focus to Kabuto. 

She couldn’t tell what rank he was even close to, she couldn’t really tell his skills, apart from an incredible healing skill, and she definitely couldn’t tell who would win this fight.

On the one hand, she clearly outmatched the man in taijutsu skills. On the other hand, Sakura doubted she’d be able to take much more than one hit. Her broken rib was aching at this point, she was exhausted, and the group hadn’t stopped for a meal in hours. 

Sakura at least hoped Shino would be able to get some bugs onto Kabuto, or maybe Hinata would be able to lunge in and block a chakra point or two, Sakura wouldn’t even mind some back up from Akamaru and Kiba.

But, at the very least, standing in front of Kabuto with her fists raised, she would be the only one in harm's way.

Kiba growled as well with Akamaru, facing the two enemy ninjas that had managed to sneak up on his team as they were moving Sasuke. He and Hinata were already in front of Sasuke protectively, fighting off the two ninjas without remorse.

The two were incredibly powerful, Kiba had noted as the fight pushed on. He doubted Sakura was having an easy time, if the ninja she was facing was anything like the two he and Hinata were fighting off.

“Hinata! I’ll use Beast-human clone! Help Shino take Sasuke back to the clearing with Sakura so we can even the odds!” Kiba shouted, using his jutsu and watching as Akamaru turned into a carbon copy of himself.

Hinata nodded firmly, hopping back, and picking up Sasuke’s still limp form by the shoulders. Shino helped Hinata haul ass out of there, Kiba and Akamaru holding the two enemy ninjas back. 

Sakura watched the other team into view, and had to duck before Kabuto could slam a chakra coated hand into her head. Sakura used her downward momentum to stand on her hands, and kick both her feet into Kabuto.

She regrouped fully, bringing out her sword again.

“Hinata, I want you near Sasuke since you’ll have the most cover,” Sakura barked out, slicing forward to get one of the other ninja to back off. “Kiba! I want you on Kabuto, he doesn't do well with close quarters, you and Akamru should be able to overwhelm him! Shino, with me, get your bugs on them!” Sakura rushed forward, rushing into the fray with ease, her adrenaline spiking and numbing the incredible throbbing of her broken rib.

Hinata stayed glued to Sasuke, her byakugan activated, her eyes scanning the entire clearing. 

Shino and Sakura made quick work of the two ninjas, their lack of chakra hindering them so harshly, Sakura gaining easy access to cut and wound the two.

Kiba however, struggled. Kabuto had already hit him several times, deep lacerations covering his skin. It wasn’t long before Akamaru went down, Kiba changing his focus to go after Akamaru’s unconscious form, covering his dog protectively.

“Kiba!” Hinata shouted, already charging at Kabuto. They exchanged a few blows, before Kabuto got the upper hand, stabbing straight through Hinata’s thigh. 

“You damned children are wasting my time.” Kabuto growled, staring Shino and Sakura down.

Hinata fell to the ground and shuffled back, breathing heavily and pressing on her thing to try and stop the bleeding.

“Hinata and Kiba need immediate attention.” Shino muttered from beside Sakura. “I worry what will happen if we don’t get their wounds covered and the bleeding to stop.”

“Get them somewhere safe.” Sakura hissed out, looking to her two injured friends. “Naruto should be okay soon, just look after them.”

Shino nodded, and quickly ran off to see to his teammates, dragging them to a safe area.

“The Uchiha, now.” Kabuto demanded sharply. “Or I’ll take your life, little girl.”

“You’ll try.” Sakura muttered simply, glancing to Naruto once to see his state.

What she saw was almost straight out of a horror film. Naruto was growling deeply, the marks on his cheeks elongating and thickening, while his nails had turned to claws. She watched as Naruto regained his muscle use back, his immediate reaction to lunge for Kabuto.

“Naruto! Wait-” Sakura was halfway done with saying, watching Naruto go for a grapple, something he always did when fighting, watching Kabuto put a hand straight through Naruto’s stomach.

“Shit- Naruto!” Sakura screamed, her heart skipping a beat and her stomach sinking.

Sakura watched her friend crumble to the ground, blood pooling around Kabuto’s feet. She saw the red of blood, then the crimson of her own anger. She moved her body without a moment of hesitation, striking towards Kabuto with her sword raised high.

“Some ninja you are, you couldn’t even protect your team!” Kabuto taunted, moving with ease, and blocking every hit Sakura dished out.

Sakura felt hot tears stream down her face. Kabuto swiped at her, cut a large gash in her cheek, then slammed into her hands forcing her sword out of her grip. Kabuto grabbed Sakura by the hair, then, with his free hand, grabbed her jaw.

“Oh I will relish every second I have to kill you.” Kabuto grinned, tugging at Sakura’s hair, and gripping her jaw so tight it would bruise. “You and your little team have nothing on me. I’ll take your precious friend over there, and I will have him for my master and there isn’t anything you can do about it. You’ll always be a weak, little, girl.”

Sakura hit, and cried, trying to escape Kabuto, trying everything to get to Naruto, or Sasuke, or anything.

But all she could do was give up, listen to the silence of the forest, and the sound of what felt like a thousand chirping birds.

Sakura’s eyes widened.

One thousand chirping birds.

Sasuke flashed into her vision faster than she could register, the Uchiha slamming his Chidori straight into Kabuto’s chest.

Sakura watched Kabuto get flung away, so far, and so brutally into a tree. And Sasuke just stood there for a moment, before covering his shoulder with his hand and wincing in pain. He turned back to look at Sakura, then his eyes widened at Naruto’s body. 

Sakura looked at Naruto and wasted no time in getting to him. She could see Kurama’s chakra working away at closing the wound, but it just wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding.

“Shit- okay, Sakura, I need your hands. I need your chakra.” Sasuke spewed out quickly, placing his hands over Naruto’s steadily bleeding wound.

Sakura nodded, at a loss for words. She placed her trembling hands on top of Sasuke’s, and pushed her chakra into his hands. Sasuke worked away, closing the wound just enough to stop the bleeding. Sakura watched as Kurama finally got a hold on Naruto’s healing, Naruto slowly blinking awake.

“Sasuke?” Naruto mumbled, looking his best friend in the eyes. “Sasuke!” Naruto lunged in for a hug, wrapping his arms around Sasuke tightly.

“Yeah. I’m alright.” Sasuke mumbled quietly.

Sakura stood, and watched her two friends with furrowed brows. She stood, and looked over the clearing they had fought in. She fought back a sob, but found it impossible as she let out a strangled noise, and starting crying.

“I did so badly. Both of you got hurt.” Sakura cried, looking at both her friends. “You’re both hurt because of me. I didn’t protect you.”

“Woah, hey, Sakura, no.” Naruto spoke quickly, rushing over to his friend and lowering her to the ground. “You did great. I promise you did great.”

“I couldn’t take him down.” Sakura stressed, looking between Sasuke and Naruto as she gestured to the unconscious man on the ground. “I couldn’t take him down, it almost got me killed. It almost got Naruto killed. And if you didn’t wake up Sasuke, he would have taken you!”

Sasuke shuffled over to Sakura and Naruto, a tired look in his eyes. “I don’t even know how you can think that.” Sasuke said quietly, wrapping his arms around both of his friends. “I’m going to be honest. I’m scared.”

Naruto just buried himself into Sasuke’s arms, holding him tighter. “We can understand why.”

Sasuke nodded, tucking Sakura’s head under his chin. “But I’m less scared with you, Sakura. You carried me for hours, through your exhaustion, through the pain of a broken rib, and who knows what else because you're hiding things so you don’t scare us. You knocked down two of those guys. It’s okay if you didn’t get all three.”

Sakura let out another sob, clinging onto Sasuke’s shirt. “I promise I’ll protect you. Both of you. I promise I’ll keep getting better so I don’t ever have to be scared of losing either of you again.”

“Yeah. I know you will.” Sasuke said simply. “Let’s get to the tower today, yeah? We’ll get medical care there. Whatever that weird snake guy did to me, it’s causing me a lot of pain and I can’t use my chakra.”

“Shit. That’s gonna be a problem.” Naruto commented, standing up with a small wince. “Kami, never have I been more glad for Kurama. This is painful.”

“Sorry I can’t really help with that right now.” Sasuke mumbled tiredly, picking himself and Sakura up. “I’ll carry the stuff. We’ll make a quick dash to the tower.”

“Do you think Hinata, Kiba, and Shino are alright?” Naruto asked quietly. 

“I’m sure they’re fine.” Sakura said, her cries finally calming down. “I sent them away a while ago. They’re probably only an hour from the tower about now.”

“Well, let’s get going. Think we’re all good to run?” Sasuke asked, hauling their extra belongings up on his back.

“Just a half-hour in that direction if we run.” Sakura said quietly, standing up on shaking legs.

“Let's do this! We made it this far, let’s get to the final stage!” Naruto cheered loudly, already tearing through the woods to the tower.

Sakura shook her head fondly, Sasuke and Sakura quickly taking off after the blond.

<>

Team 7 found themselves at the tower, two days early, a blessing for them. They got themselves mostly figured out, getting bandaged up, cleaned up, and put into an extra room in the tower.

When the fifth day was up, they gathered in the main hall to receive what they thought would be congratulations, but it quickly turned sour when it was announced there would be preliminary exams. 

Sasuke was quick to drop out. It would be dangerous to go through the preliminary exams without chakra, especially when he was still physically weak.

“My rib still isn’t great.” Sakura mumbled, absentmindedly pressing a hand to the ridge of her broken rib.

“You’ll be fine.” Naruto whispered softly, taking Sakura by the hand and pulling her away. “Just take it one step at a time, yeah?”

“Right.” Naruto and Sakura joined Sasuke up on the balcony, all three glancing towards their sensei who stood at the front of the room with the other jonin.

Naruto glanced to the proctors, and saw Hayate, “Hey look! You can show Hayate how good you’ve gotten! Isn’t that great?”

Sakura made a groaning noise and buried her face into her arms as she leaned on the railing.

“You’re gonna be fine.” Sasuke stated firmly, giving Sakura’s shoulder a pat.

“What are we going to do once all of this is over?” Sakura questioned, anxiety brewing in her stomach.

Naruto sighed. “I was hoping we’d be able to ignore it.”

“I wish I could.” Sasuke mumbled, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. “I’m just sort of sitting here, trying to stave off a panic attack.”

“We need to go somewhere the minute this thing is over. We need to figure things out.” Sakura said quietly. “Who knows what’s going to happen. What if they’re after Sasuke just like his family?”

Sasuke groaned and wiped a hand across his face. “That is not helping, Sakura.”

“Sorry. Just worried, is all.” Sakura mumbled, scratching the back of her neck. “But really. We’ll leave the minute we’re done here. We can find somewhere to hide, somewhere away from everyone so we can figure it out ourselves.”

<>

It was the fourth match in, and Sakura had just been called up. 

To fight Ino, of all people.

“Well, this is an easy win for me!” Ino said cheerfully, hopping down to the field, and stretching her arms. “My mind jutsu will take you out in ten seconds flat.”

Sakura rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Face it, Sakura, civilians have no place here.” Ino taunted with a grin, stepping to the middle, right next to the proctor.

Sakura just walked up casually, and stood next to Hayate, giving her kenjutsu sensei a look.

Hayate looked back at her, and gave her a grin, mouthing the words ‘no mercy’.

Sakura looked back at Ino, and gave her a smile. She held her hand out, opting for Ino to shake it. “May the best shinobi win.”

Ino looked at her hand, and snobbily turned away.

That just stirred whatever anger Sakura was feeling straight to the surface.

Hayate raised his hand high, then let it fly down. “Begin!”

Sakura observed as Ino flung herself backwards, and raised her hand to prepare her jutsu. Sakura just slammed a smoke bomb she borrowed from Naruto onto the ground, covering herself from Ino’s sight. Sakura just sat in the smoke, in the silence, waiting for some smart quip from Ino.

“Wow, really? You’re hiding away? What do you think you’re going to achieve in there, billboard brow?” Ino taunted, keeping her hands free, looking at the smoke for Sakura to leave.

Sakura could hear Ino loud and clear, and wasted no time in bounding out of the smoke cloud without a second thought, slamming her fist into Ino before she could react, the other girl getting flung back into the wall, knocked out cold.

Sakura let out an angry huff of breath. “I didn’t even get to bring my poison out. A shame, really.” Sakura spit on the ground next to Ino, then walked away, towards her team.

Hayate grasped her shoulder, just before she could leave. “You did good, you little hellion. I’m proud.” 

Sakura grinned brightly, and nodded, then rejoined her team.

<>

Naruto was up in the seventh round.

He bounded down, giving Kiba a grin. “Wish I could be fighting you in the final exam rather than this!” Naruto exclaimed with a laugh, doing everything to distract himself from his festering nerves.

Kiba looked at Naruto, and furrowed his brows. “Naruto…are you…?”

“Begin!”

Kiba had no more time to question the strain in Naruto’s smile he saw when he was already covered in a swarm of smoke. Naruto had covered the entire playing field in smoke, smoke that was so thick and smelled so strongly of flowers, so much so that He couldn’t pick Naruto’s scent out.

“What the hell? Why does your smoke smell like this?” Kiba questioned loudly, Akamaru barking in protest.

He heard Naruto laugh from several different directions. “Because my smoke needs to cover my tracks no matter what!”

“You dirty-” Kiba moved one step forward, his stomach getting caught on some wire. Then his feet were swept from underneath him, the smoke getting cleared in one fell swoop.

When Kiba could see properly, he found himself suspended in ninja wire, a couple dozen Narutos stringing the wire between them, effectively trapping him and Akamaru.

Naruto grinned, let his clones poof when he was declared the winner, then returned to his teammates before Kiba even had the chance to ask him anything else.

<>

The matches continued on, Team 7 barely paying attention. Kakashi of course saw this, but he was barred from moving from his post at the front of the room.

Eventually the match became Gaara vs. Rock Lee, and boy was it a brutal match.

Lee was an offensive powerhouse, and Gaara had a near unbreakable defense.

Gaara gained the upper hand at the very end of the fight, his sand grasping tight to Lee’s leg and arm.

Naruto’s eyes widened, and before he knew it, he was already shouting for it. “Gaara! No! Stop!”

Gaara looked up at Naruto, and his hand dropped soon after. The sand loosened its hold on Lee, and from what Naruto could see, Lee was left with a broken leg and wrist, but at least he wasn’t bleeding. Naruto let out a huff of breath he didn’t know he was holding, watching Lee walk away alive, and better off then how he suspected Gaara was going to leave him.

“Come on. We’ve seen what we need to see. Let’s go, boys.” Sakura mumbled, already moving to sneak out of the tower.

Her two boys just followed right behind without a single word.

<>

Kakashi took his eyes off of his team for one second, one miniscule second, and apparently one long enough that they disappeared from the tower without a trace.

Kakashi was antsy as the Hokage congratulated the students that were there, but other than that, didn’t care to ask where a whole team went running off to. Kakashi was quick to leave when the whole stage was finally over, the group of ninjas filtering out of the tower.

Kakashi went home first, looking the house up and down for any sign of the three. Their rooms were untouched, the kitchen still clean, the courtyard empty, and no sandals at the door. Next was the school, then it was Hokage mountain, then the Uchiha compound, then their training grounds, just about everything he could think of, yet nothing.

Eventually Kakashi came tearing through the Hokage tower, looking through room after room, ducking in and out, looking for any sign of the children. He was two steps away from a full-blown panic attack, his lungs already heaving with the effort of keeping it together.

The only reason he stopped was a hand on his shoulder, which flung his instinct into fight or flight.

A knife was pointed at his assailant's throat, Kakashi breathing heavily as he stared them down.

“Kakashi! Breathe!” Iruka barked the order sharply, grasping Kakashi’s wrist.

Kakashi looked at Iruka, and took a shuddering breath. “Sorry.” He mumbled, quickly stashing his kunai away.

“Kami- what’s gotten you like this?” Iruka questioned, looking Kakashi over for injuries.

“The kids. I can’t find them.” Kakashi panted out, his breath not entirely caught.

Iruka nodded slowly, taking a breath. “Okay, well, where have you checked?”

“School, the house, the tower, the mountain, even Ichiraku’s, and even the Uchiha compound.” Kakashi listed off quickly.

“Okay, well, have you checked your old apartment? Your lease isn’t technically up on it, so they could have snuck in.” Iruka suggested gently, giving Kakashi’s bicep a quick squeeze.

Kakashi nodded slowly. “Right. I’ll check there.” And like that, Kakashi was off again.

Iruka sighed. That man was going to be the death of him.

Kakashi pulled out the keys to his old apartment, bursting through the door. He looked around wildly, until eventually bursting into Naruto’s old room.

And there, in the middle of the floor, was his three students, curled up together, staring wide eyed at him. Sasuke looked exhausted, his face caught in a grimace of pain, and a mark Kakashi could definitely recognize was on his shoulder. Sakura had an ice pack pressed to her ribs, from no doubt the broken rib Kakashi spotted earlier, and Naruto was already standing up in front of him.

“Papa.” Naruto stated seriously.

Kakashi already brought Naruto in for a tight hug. “Don’t ever disappear like that again.” Kakashi said firmly, holding his son firmly.

He was caught off guard when Naruto shoved him away. “Papa, we learned something. There was this man. He bit Sasuke, and put that mark on him.” Naruto stated sternly, placing himself between Kakashi and his friends. “He said some things.”

“Okay, tell me what he said.” Kakashi crouched down, on his knees but keeping space between him and his students. 

“He said-” Sasuke started, taking a breath to calm down the bile rising in his throat. “He said the village killed my family because my father was running for Hokage. He said the whole thing was orchestrated by the damn village my family swore to protect.” Sasuke had to take a soft breath after that, Sakura quickly wrapping an arm around Sasuke’s shoulders and holding him firmly.

“Oh Kami…” Kakashi breathed out softly. “Okay. What he told you is true to an extent.” Kakashi mumbled quietly, Sasuke’s head snapping up to stare Kakashi down. Kakashi held a hand up, indicating he had more to say.

Naruto settled on the floor next to Sasuke, pressed to his other side protectively.

“A few years ago, I quit ANBU. The Hokage found himself unable to take care of so many branches of Shinobi, so Danzo was quick to take over.” Kakashi started quietly, looking his three students in the eyes. “At the same time, I had submitted your father as a Hokage candidate. Danzo is the other person next in line, and I knew if he became Hokage, it would only be a matter of time before he waged war on another village.”

“Fugaku was the perfect choice. He was strong, he had seniority, he had what was best in mind for the village without a second thought.” Kakashi stated firmly. “Hell, half the bills he was bringing up was to help orphanages, or more funding to schools, or to send help to some of our neighboring, smaller villages.”

Sasuke nodded slowly, still buried in his friends’ arms.

“Danzo saw this. He sent Shisui and Itachi on a suicide mission, to get them out of the way so they wouldn’t interfere with his plans for the massecre.” Kakashi stated quietly, a sigh leaving his mouth as the memories came flooding in. “The night it happened, I brought whatever allies I had for backup, to stop as much of the bloodshed as possible. I’m not sure how much of the massacre you remember, Sasuke, but we couldn’t stop much. I wish I could have done more for you. More for your family. Your parents are the reason I have Naruto, they’re the reason I made it as far as I did. I have an eternal debt to them, and I plan to spend the rest of my life paying them back.”

“I hate this village.” Sasuke commented quietly, curling into Sakura’s uninjured side, to hide away from the world he was facing. “I want to leave. I want to get out of here, to be anywhere where I won’t be hated.”

“I’ll help you, then.” Naruto said firmly, pressing himself into Sasuke’s side even more. “You’re my best friend. And my family, Sasuke. I’ll never leave you behind.”

“I’ve got nothing left in this village.” Sakura said quietly, putting her icepack down before wrapping her arms around her teammates. She let out a soft groan after rattling her rib, but continued hugging her two friends without a complaint. “I’d go to the ends of the world to protect you two. If you want to leave, I’ll follow.”

Sasuke was then reminded of the jonin in the room with them, to which he whipped up, looking at Kakashi with stark fear. “Oh Kami, please don’t tell anyone. Please, I promise, we won’t bring this up again, just-”

Sasuke was cut off when Kakashi surged forward, wrapping all three of them in a tight hug. “I’d never do that to you.” Kakashi said softly, the tears that had built up over the years finally falling. He pulled his mask down, pressing his cheeks to the top of his student’s head, to feel them, to remind himself they were alive . “Kami, you’re mine, all three of you are mine. I’d pick any one of you over the world any day.”

Sasuke let out one short sob, before moving to cling to Kakashi’s jacket. Naruto moved to surround Sasuke in his arms, Sakura still keeping one arm protectively around Sasuke while her other gripped onto Kakashi’s flak jacket.

“If we want to leave, it’s going to be the most difficult thing we do.” Kakashi mumbled quietly, unmoving from his hug, waiting for the kids to pull away. “But it’s okay. We’ll figure it out, and I’ll make sure every single one of you makes it out okay.”

He felt the three nod against his chest, a soft smile gracing his lips as he buried his face into their hair again.

“Kakashi?” Sasuke whispered after a while. “What happened to Itachi?”

Kakashi pressed a kiss to the top of Sasuke’s head, and slowly stepped away from the pile of genin. “You’re old enough that I can tell you now.” Kakashi sat back, and brought one scroll out of his back pocket. He opened it up, and slowly passed it to Sasuke. “Your brother is alive.”

“He’s…alive?” Sasuke breathed out softly, taking the scroll in his hand, reading through the letters Itachi and Kakashi had been sending back and forth.

Kakashi nodded. “There isn’t a letter that goes by without him asking about you.” Kakashi smiled softly, watching Sasuke, reading through the letters with teary eyes, but a wide smile. “He stayed away, to keep you safe. Once we’re out of the village, we’ll find him.”

Sasuke just stayed silent after that, reading every single letter over through his tearful eyes. 

“I promise all three of you that we will get away from all of this.” Kakashi stated firmly. “We’ll come back someday, to fix the system that keeps screwing over kids like you three, but until then, we’ll leave. We’ll leave, and look after each other.”

Naruto looked at his dad with a smile. “I love you, dad.” He whispered, pressing his side into Kakashi. “Thank you. For loving them as much as you love me.”

Kakashi hugged his son tightly. “I should thank you for loving me.” Kakashi whispered back fondly. “You’re the reason I am who I am today. You have such a big heart, Naruto. After everything you’ve gone through, you manage to find it in yourself to love others unconditionally, no matter what they’ve done. I love you so much . I love you, and Sasuke, and Sakura.”

Naruto looked at his friends, then Kakashi, a smug smile on his face. “We know.”

Kakashi ruffled Naruto’s hair playfully. “Alright, back to the house, everyone. I’ve got a very special dish in mind to make, and you have some dogs back home that need petting.”

The team walked home, hand in hand, uncertain, hurting, but alive. Alive with each other.

Chapter Text

Kakashi woke up early a few days after the second exam. He was currently covering the Hatake compound head to toe in privacy seals, making sure every entrance was covered, including every window. Kakashi sighed. What a mess this was becoming for his kids. They probably couldn't stay, as much as Kakashi wished they could.

Naruto would grow up to probably be a weapon for the village, and barely have his own autonomy if Hiruzen had his way. That much was obvious with the ground rules he tried to lay out. If Danzo got a hold of him someday, that fate was only much more secure.

Sasuke was on the verge of a mental break, Kakashi could tell even though Sasuke was trying to hide it. He saw his family everywhere, his paranoia spiked through the roof to the point Sasuke wouldn’t step even a foot into the Hokage tower, and his anxiety spiked with the way he could barely use his chakra. That was currently sending Sasuke on a spiral of poison making, so much so Kakashi was going out day after day to pick up ingredients.

Sakura wasn’t doing much better. Kakashi saw a lot of himself in her, more than he would ever care to admit. She was stressed, and hiding it. She was still hurting from her broken and still healing rib, and hiding it. She was worried all the time about her teammates, and hiding it. Kakashi kept watching her shoulder so much, while training to build herself up from scratch, to keep being better, to keep getting stronger, all to protect her teammates.

Kakashi wished he could give them a gentle life. A life where nothing would touch them, where only kindness and love would come their way, where they could live at ease and not think for second about what they’d have to do to survive.

Kakashi wishes he could have it too. Lived a life that was gentle with him. Where he wouldn’t have to fight for his family. Where he didn’t have to fight to be kind. Where everyone else could be kind, too. 

He didn’t really have much time to dwell on his thoughts when he returned to the main section of the house, privacy seals finally in place, and a quiet thumping coming from the training grounds in the direct centre of the compound.

Kakashi sauntered over to the room, finding Sakura furiously practicing her katas, sword closeby to be used later, Kakashi was sure. There were various bundles of tatami piled in the corner, and a neglected bowl of rice slid off to the side.

“You’re up early.” Kakashi commented, leaning on the doorframe, observing Sakura work. 

“Mhm.” Sakura hummed, working through the katas with practiced ease. “Gotta keep training so we can leave.” 

Kakashi sighed. “We’re going to need to wait until after the chunin exams.” Kakashi said softly. “You and Naruto have too many eyes on you right now. And with Sasuke’s curse mark, leaving anytime soon isn’t an option. I know you’re eager to get your team out of here, away from the danger they’re facing, but we have to be tactical here.”

Sakura sighed. “I was worried about that.” She still kept up her rigged and precise katas. “Then I’ve got the chunin exams to train for. I’m against Gaara, and all anyone is expecting is a full slaughter. I’ve gotta figure out a way to break through that sand.”

Kakashi glanced towards the practically untouched bowl of food. “Have you had breakfast yet?”

Sakura halted her movement for a split second, before getting back to it, saying nothing.

Kakashi sighed again. “Come on, kiddo. If you’re wanting to build up the muscle you need, you need to eat properly.”

“I don’t have time.” Sakura stated, still working through her katas throughout the entire conversation. “I’ve got to keep training.”

“Eating is as important as your training.” Kakashi said in a matter-of-fact tone, already hooking an arm around Sakura’s middle, picking her up.

“Hey!” Sakura wiggled and struggled in Kakashi’s grip, pushing away from him. “This is kidnapping!’

“Nope.” Kakashi just kept walking towards the kitchen, starting to struggle to keep Sakura in his arms. Whatever training she was doing was working, and working well with how much of a struggle it was keeping her still.

“This is harassment!” Sakura then exclaimed, kicking her feet back and forth, trying everything in her power to escape. “I’m gonna call Iruka on you!”

“Oh no! Not your teacher!” Kakashi exclaimed sarcastically, keeping Sakura under one arm as he brought out some items to start making breakfast. “What ever will I do?”

“I’m gonna get him to burn all your cheesy romance novels.” Sakura threatened with a glare.

Kakashi chuckled. “I will simply seduce your teacher and live out my own cheesy romance novel, then.” Kakashi countered with a shit-eating grin.

Sakura audibly gagged, glaring at Kakashi. “Ew no! I’d have to live under a roof with two senseis then! You two would be disgusting!”

Kakashi chuckled softly. “Are you going to eat now?” 

Sakura let out a huff as Kakashi finally set her down. “Fine.”

“Good.”

<>

“You’ve gotta wake up soon, kid.” Kurama muttered, watching Naruto sitting on the water from his spot in his cage.

Naruto shrugged. “I’ve got time.” 

Kurama sighed, tails swishing in annoyance. Not at Naruto, of course. He could rarely find it in himself to be annoyed with the kid, nor angry. Naruto was stuck with him just as much as he was stuck with Naruto. The kid grew up with the entire village despising him, Kakashi being the only one to really give him a chance. Kurama saw more than anyone else the things Naruto went through, and the kindness and love he absolutely radiated.

It was almost inhuman.

Even to the child, Gaara, who hosted one of his siblings, Naruto gave him unwavering kindness. Naruto day after day would visit Gaara’s inn room and talk, even if Gaara wouldn’t. That child almost killed Naruto’s friend, Lee if Kurama remembered, and Naruto was still smiling and hugging and loving him. All because Kurama just asked him to make friends.

Which Naruto had that blindingly stupid trust in him that he barely thought twice about making friends with someone who very well could have been out for his throat.

That was the part that was annoying for him.

That stupid blinding trust.

“You do realize I’m the reason your parents are dead, right?” Kurama growled out, in an attempt to scare Naruto away, to do anything to get him to not put so much blind faith in him.

But that didn’t happen. Naruto didn’t run for the hills. He didn’t shout. He didn’t call him names or insult him. Naruto just shrugged, and said; “I know.”

“...then why even give me the time of day?” Kurama growled out, tails swishing faster now. “Why come here, night after night, talking to me? What do you want? Power? Chakra? Knowledge?”

“A friend.”

Kurama froze in his place, tails going limp on the ground. “I am a chakra beast, older than your human history, and yet all you want from me…is friendship?”

Naruto nodded, and stood up with a smile. He walked towards the bars, and put his hand through. Kurma sniffed cautiously, pressing closer to Naruto’s hand. All Naruto did was press a gentle hand to his snout, and pet him.

“I know you. I know your story, even if you won’t tell me.” Naruto started softly, his hand never leaving Kurama’s snout. “I know you’re angry. Just like I was.”

Kurama let out a snort of laughter.

Naruto joined with his own soft laughter. “I remember being so mad at the world. Mad with my teachers. Mad at the orphanage. Mad at the other kids. But then Papa showed up.” Naruto looked at his hand in Kurama’s coarse fur. “He loved me, no matter what I did. I remember I got ink everywhere in the house trying to make a drawing for him, and he didn’t even bat an eye. He took my picture, hung it on the fridge, then just asked me to clean up the ink with him. After I moved in with him, and had him with me, I stopped being so angry. Sure, I was mad at people a lot, even with Papa there, but it got so much easier. Then I got Sasuke. And Sakura. And the rest of my class.”

Naruto put his other hand on him, wiggling through as much as the bars would allow. “I think you just need something like that. You need your person. The one person in the world who, no matter what, just wants to love you.”

Kurama looked at Naruto, and sighed. “I don’t deserve you, kid.”

“Sure you do.” Naruto replied with ease. “You deserve love. And I love you. I don’t mind if you don’t love me, but I love you.”

Kurama sighed, and fully sank into the touch Naruto was offering him. “You’re the first human in thousands of years to even offer me some semblance of love.” Kurama sighed again, closing his eyes. “I think I love you too, kid. You’re an enigma of a human being.”

Naruto managed to just barely squeeze himself towards Kurama, giving him the best hug he could muster. “I’ve really gotta wake up now. Sakura’s yelling about something and Sasuke needs someone to make his coffee.”

Kurama chuckled fondly. “Alright, kid. You go help your family. I’ll be here.”

“I know you will.”

<>

Naruto blinked himself awake, staring at the ceiling of his room. He smiled to himself softly, sitting up and stretching.

“Sasuke! Stop poisoning my coffee!” Naruto Heard Sakura shout from the next room over.

“We need to bring your tolerance up somehow.”

“It tastes so bad though!” 

Naruto popped his head into the kitchen, laughing at the scene. Sakura was on the floor with her mug beside her, hand covering the liquid from Sasuke’s onslaught of poison. She was holding Sasuke up on her legs, Sasuke dangling like a toddler playing airplane, all the while attempting to drop the poison into Sakura’s mug.

Kakashi chuckled under his breath. “Perhaps we need to do some assassination training if you can’t get it into her mug, Sasuke.”

Sasuke looked over to Kakashi and glared. ‘No. She needs to know I’m poisoning her. Psychologically she needs to be ready so her body can unconsciously prepare.”

“I don’t wanna!” Sakura shouted, then she sighed softly. “But I should. Can you at least poison a glass of water instead so I can enjoy my coffee?”

Naruto laughed loudly, walking past his team. “Never thought I’d see the day Sakura would willingly drink poison.”

“What can I say? I like trying new things.” Sakura said, standing again and sipping her coffee. Sasuke in the meantime set a glass of water by her side, a sickly green in colour. Sakura downed it in one go, grimacing before starting to drink her coffee again.

Naruto squeezed past his teammates, starting up the coffee maker to start making Sasuke’s coffee. “What’s the plan for today, Papa?” He asked, stirring in an ungodly amount of sugar.

“A lot of rest, and a lot of theory work.” Kakashi answered, chuckling at the chorus of groans. “You need to rest after that last exam. I promise we’ll be getting the three of you some real practice in, just after you’ve gotten the proper rest you need.”

Sasuke looked over to Kakashi, furrowing his brows, taking the mug of coffee from Naruto. “What about…leaving?”

Kakashi sighed softly. “There is too much attention on the team right now. With two of you in the exams, the whole village is expecting you there.” He looked at the three children pointedly. “The most we can do is prepare the two of you. Win, or don’t win, both are good. You just need to fight, survive, then we can leave.”

Sasuke sighed, nodding. He understood where Kakashi was coming from, it truly was too dangerous right now. They’d have hundreds of ninja on their tail in no time. It would be best to catch them by surprise, and have less people after them.

“Alright, eat up. We’ve got work to do.” Kakashi put plates out in front of his genin, filled to the brim with a beautiful breakfast. “Today, we rest. Today, we breathe. You all did great work in your exams, but now you’re injured, and now you need a break. Theory work will come when you’re ready. Maybe an hour of it. Other than that, it's a lazy day.”

Sakura shovelled some food into her mouth. “Thank Kami.” She mumbled out. “This rib has been a pain. D’you think the hospital can heal it faster?”

Sasuke scoffed. “You’ve got me.”

“Sasuke, I love you, but your chakra is not working right now.” 

He just stuck his tongue out at Sakura.

“Alright, alright, you little hellions.” Kakashi moved, ruffling their hair. “Sasuke will be back up and running soon. This isn’t a permanent thing.”

Sasuke sighed. “I hope not.”

<>

Naruto had finally found himself alone with his father. Burning questions in his mind, especially after his talk with Kurama. In reality, he knew nothing about his parents. He didn’t know what they were like, he didn’t know what they wanted out of life, he didn’t even know how they died

So when the question, “Can you tell me about my parents?” spilled from his lips, his impulsive mind working in overdrive, he could understand the way Kakashi’s shoulders tensed as he looked back at his son.

“Huh?” Kakashi looked at his son wide-eyed.

“Can you tell me about my parents? Please?” Naruto requested quietly, the silence in the room deafening.

Kakashi said nothing for a while, before he slowly nodded, sitting on the ground, gesturing for Naruto to join. The blond sat right in front, looking at his father with wide, hopeful eyes. 

“Your parents…were some of the best people I have ever met.” Kakashi started, taking a slow, deep breath, trying to keep his hands from shaking. It was about time Naruto asked, really it was, he just didn’t realize how much this would make the pit in his stomach churn. “Your mother. Kushina Uzumaki, the Red-Hot Habanero. She was brought here from Uzushino to be the next Jinchuriki.”

“Just like me?”

“Just like you. She was a brilliant woman and an incredible ninja, with the ability to use the Uzumaki chains, a jutsu made of chains of chakra, capable of holding back even a tailed beast.” Kakashi described quietly, looking back fondly on the woman. “You may not look like her as much as your father, but you did inherit her personality. Brash, but fiercely protective and loyal.”

“She sounds amazing.” Naruto whispered, a smile on his face. “What about my father? My father that isn’t you?”

Kakashi chuckled fondly. “Minato Namikaze. The Fourth Hokage.”

Naruto’s eyes went impossibly wider, his smile growing bigger, his whole body leaning closer to listen even more carefully. “My dad was the Hokage?!”

“Yes, he was.” Kakashi ruffled Naruto’s hair. “He was incredibly intelligent when he put his mind to something, just like you. Not to mention you’re basically a carbon copy of the man.”

Naruto giggled and grinned.

“He had this undeniable talent for seals. Made the most incredible works out of them, like the Flying Thunder God seal. He was truly a master.” Kakashi sighed softly, looking at his son. “They were the closest thing I had to a family. The night everything happened, when the Nine-Tails attacked, they sacrificed their lives to protect the village, and re-seal Kurama inside of you. They loved you, so dearly, but they loved this village too. They would have hated to see what it’s become.”

Naruto nodded slowly, coming to a quiet understanding. “I think I would have loved them a lot.”

“I know you would have.”

“Do you think…” Naruto rubbed his hands together nervously. “Do you think they left anything behind for me?”

Kakashi stilled, looked thoughtful, then nodded. “Maybe. I know where to look. I’m gonna head out, you make sure Sakura and Sasuke don’t kill each other, yeah?”

“Aye aye, Papashi-sensei!” Naruto cheered, running off to his teammates.

While Kakashi left for the Hokage’s tower.

<>

Kakashi stepped into the Hokage’s office, looking at the man pointedly. “Hokage-sama, I have an important matter to discuss, that would be better done alone.” 

The Hoakge raised an eyebrow, before dismissing the Anbu hidden in the room.

“Completely, alone.” Kakashi said pointedly, a hard stare on his face.

The Hokage waved his hand again.

“The Fourth left something behind, I know for a fact he did.” Kakashi stated once he was alone with the Hokage. “Papers, money, anything for Naruto. I’d like to give it to him.”

The Hokage let out a puff of smoke, holding eye contact with Kakashi, “The boy does not know of his lineage, we cannot-”

“I’ve told him.” 

“You-?”

“He is old enough to know. He can’t go his whole life without finding out.” Kakashi starred the Hokage down. “I want what is owed to him. After what this village has done to him, and his entire family, he is owed at least this.”

“You are getting borderline insubordinate.” Hiruzen growled out, blowing another thick cloud of smoke into the air. “You have taken over much of the boy’s life, but you forget, he is destined to be a weapon for this village.”

“He will be if he decides to be. He is a young boy, orphaned, abused by the system this village created and the one you perpetuate.” Kakashi replied coldly. “The fourth’s belongings. Now.”

Hiruzen glanced at Kakashi, standing and heading over to the wall of portraits of their past Hokages. He pushed chakra into the portrait of the fourth, before  opening it up, taking the items out. He shoved three journals into Kakashi’s hands, leaning in close to his ear. “You better step carefully, Kakashi. One day you will piss off the wrong person with your actions, and it won’t just affect you.”

Kakashi looked down upon the Hokage. “Over my dead body.” 

Before Kakashi disappeared in a flurry of leaves.

When he returned home, he found the kids piled up, loosely studying a book about chakra theory as Sakura was reading out loud.

“Naruto, I got it.” Kakashi called out, the blond immediately standing and rushing, grabbing the journals out of Kakashi’s hands.

“Thank you Papa!” Naruto shouted, before barreling back into the pile of his friends, opening the first page and starting to read.

“He’s excited to read something?” Sasuke joked with a soft laugh.

Sakura laughed in turn. “Hell has frozen over.”

“It’s my dad’s journals.” Naruto explained, nose buried in the book. “My biological dad’s. I’m gonna spend all night reading these.”

“Tell us if you find something interesting.” Sasuke mumbled.

<>

Naruto was outside the next day, wandering around. Training was still on hold due to Sakura’s poor rib and Sasuke’s curse seal, but at the very least Kakashi had a temporary solution for it.

He still had his nose shoved into one of his father’s journals, reading through it. There were a lot of theories, mostly with seals, and other entries detailing the days coming up to his birth. Honestly, seeing his father’s writing and the excitement of who he was waiting for him to be, it eased an ache in his chest he didn’t know he had. He had Kakashi, and at the end of the day, he was his dad. Nothing would change that. But knowing how badly he was wanted by his parents, how loved he would have been, it eased most of the ache from his early years.

So he kept reading, entry after entry, absentmindedly walking through the streets of the village. Up until he accidentally ran into someone’s back.

“Sorry.” Naruto was quick to mutter out, too enraptured by the pages of the journal to even look up.

“Hey, kid,” The person said, looking at the journal in Naruto’s hands. “Where’d you get that?”

Naruto finally looked up, furrowing his brows. “It’s uh, my father’s journal.” He mumbled, looking up at a white haired man with red markings on his face.

The man furrowed his brows, before smiling. “Naruto. I taught your dad. I was his genin-sensei. I was…also supposed to be your god-father.”

Naruto looked up at him and furrowed his brows. “What’s your name, then?”

“Jiraya.” He answered simply. “Have you found an entry in there about something called a rasengan?”

Naruto nodded.

“Take some time to learn that one. Trust me.” Jiraya smiled. “I’ll help teach it to you. Do you mind telling me where you live? I’d like to come over and catch up on your life over dinner, if you don’t mind.”

“The Hatake compound.” Naruto said softly. “So…you’re part of my family?”

“I am.” Jiraya ruffled Naruto’s hair. “I’ll see you tonight, kid.”

<>

Jiraya stood in the darkened Hokage’s office, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. “You have some explaining to do.” He muttered lowly.

The Hoake raised a brow. “About what?”

“Minato’s son.” Jiraya stated bluntly, a near snarl on his face. “He’s alive, and you didn’t tell me. You never did. I could have been taking care of him this whole time, and yet you kept him hidden from me. Tell me why, now .”

“You know why.” Hiruzen stated, looking at Jiraya with contempt. 

“Please, enlighten me.” Jiraya stated, already annoyed enough as it was.

Minato’s son was alive. He was supposed to be the boy’s godfather, he was the one who was supposed to care for him, to look after him, to love him, but he was told the boy was dead.

“He is a tailed-beast holder. He needed to be raised a weapon so we may protect this village. The more attachments to this village he has, the more likely he is to fail.” Hiruzen stated easily. “You should see him as nothing more than a weapon.”

Jiraya sighed softly, staring Hiruzen down, saying nothing, before silently leaving the office.

<>

Jiraya found himself in the Hatake compound that night, sharing a dinner with Naruto and his team, finally learning about the boy he was supposed to look after.

He was healthy, at least. He was well fed, happy, not lonely in the slightest, and still had such a bright personality. That didn’t stop the guilt that riddled his mind, however. He was supposed to be the one to make him like that, to make him happy and healthy. It shouldn’t have been Kakashi.

So when he found himself sharing a bottle of sake with the younger man on the front porch, the kids playing in the training field and tussling around, he couldn’t help but apologise.

“I’m sorry.”

Kakashi hummed. “What for?”

“I’m sorry it was you.” Jiraya stated softly, looking at the ball of sunshine tackling his friends to the ground. “You were a kid. Barely an adult when you took him in. It should've been me- I should have been the one looking after him, it shouldn’t have been you.”

The silver haired man shrugged. “But it was. And I wouldn’t change it for the world.” He sighed, sipping the sake slowly, grimacing at the bitter taste. “Why didn’t you come back for him?”

“I thought he was dead.” Jiraya explained quietly. “The Third told me as much. It should have been me. I could have at least helped you- been a part of his life!”

“Jiraya.” Kakashi stated, looking at the older man with furrowed brows, before sighing. “You didn’t. You couldn’t have known. But you know now, you have a chance to catch up, to make up for the lost time. So take the time this month, train him, spend some time, and stop dwelling on the past .” He stressed, a hand gently on Jiraya’s shoulder. “Trust me, it only makes you feel worse.”

Jiraya nodded slowly, sighing. “I just hope he’ll forgive me.”

“He already has.”

Chapter Text

“Where’s Naruto?” Sakura asked as she stepped into the training field with Kakashi and Sasuke.

Sasuke walked over to Sakura with a glass of bright purple water, something she was not excited to drink. “He’s off with Jiraya, learning some new jutsu from him.”

Sakura hummed, grimacing at the sour and bitter taste. “Oh lovely.” She responded, coughing and spitting out the after taste. “What are we doing then?”

“We’re going to hit you repeatedly so your durability goes up.” Kakashi explained, also bringing out training weights, starting to strap them to Sakura’s limbs. “Also these. You can try to dodge. You won’t.”

Sakura huffed, her movements sluggish with the added weight. “What are these, 5kgs each?” She asked, getting ready at the opposite end of the training field.

“No. 20.” Kakashi responded with a cheeky eye-smile.

Sakura groaned. “Fine.” She grumbled out, raising her fists sluggishly. “Let’s get this started.”

<>

Jiraya-sensei was awesome to learn from, in all honesty. He was patient, tried to teach him all he could, and even gave him some awesome toad summons to help him out! The toads were judgmental, sure, but the little one, Gamakichi, was adorable and nothing but helpful.

Currently Jiraya was helping him learn rasengan, one of his father’s journal entries. It was…a long process and one that endlessly frustrated him.

Naruto groaned in frustration. This was the 30th waterballoon he popped. His chakra control was still the worst out of his team.

“You’re getting better, Naruto.” Jiraya said happily, handing him the next one. “You’ve got a lot of chakra, this isn’t going to be easy.”

Naruto huffed out a frustrated breath. “I know, but like, I just wish there was a way to speed this up, to get stuff going faster! To like…have multiple mes doing this.”

He paused for a moment, staring at the water balloon in hand, then grinning viciously as he popped his shadow clone Jutsu.

“Alright everyone! We’re learning rasengan today! Pick up a water balloon and learn!” Naruto declared, the army of hims running around, all starting to run through the exercise themselves.

Jiraya looked around, and let out a snort of laughter. “I can imagine Kakashi had quite the time raising you if you can have this many of you running around.” He commented as Naruto kept trying, registering new information every time a clone popped, before sending out a new one for more.

It took many many more tries before Naruto was able to get down a method that worked for him. Sure, he needed a few shadow clones to help himself out, but it worked! And he had learned one of his father’s jutsus! From his father’s teacher no less, and it made pride swell in his chest.

“Good job, kid.” Jiraya praised, bringing him to a nearby bench, handing him half of a popsicle.

Naruto smiled, taking the half and biting down on it, opening another page of the journal. He skimmed through a few pages, reading a lot about theories on seals and tags, even some of the early work on his biological father’s Flying Thunder God seal. It only had early entries from the amount of times he read through the whole journal. No instructions or even diagrams he could work off of.

“That book is quite stained.” Jiraya commented idly as he stared at the book next to Naruto.

Naruto nodded in agreement. “It’s over all of the pages. Looks like he was drinking coffee while working on this journal, though the other ones are spotless.”

Jiraya paused at that. “Hmm.” He took the journal carefully, flipping through pages, narrowing his eyes. “You’ve read through this a few times?”

Naruto nodded, looking at his godfather.

“Do all of the pages have a number somewhere on them?”

Naruto furrowed his brows. “Yeah. Think so.”

“And this is the only book you got that mentions his seals, right?” He questioned next, already standing, having Naruto follow.

Naruto followed Jiraya back to the Hatake compound. “What’s all this about?”

“...Your father never disclosed his secrets about seals.” Jiraya explained slowly, shouldering his way into the house, giving Kakashi and the other kids a quick wave over. “Something tells me we just found the storage scroll he kept his true journaling in.”

“Sorry, the Fourth’s information on seals?” Sakura questioned as she joined in on the conversation, Kakashi and Sasuke right behind her and Jiraya brought them to the basement. “He was a prodigy with those, the information that he had could be invaluable.”

Jiraya nodded, untying the leather chord holding the pages in the journal together. He slowly started to lay them out, Naruto joining quickly. “The kid never told me where he left his research, and clearly, not even ANBU was able to find it. Looks like the mad man hid it in plain sight.”

Naruto watched as the pages were laid out on the floor in the loose number order the stray pages gave. He could see the start of a storage seal taking shape, though many of the pieces were out of order and made no sense. “Hold on, Jiraya-sensei.” He mumbled quietly, shooing him away.

This must be the last test. For him. The numbers were nothing but a red herring, only a hint to what the pages truly were. Somehow, Minato knew that he’d be here. That he’d need to reassemble the seal.

“Let me assist.” Kurama spoke, coming to the forefront of his mind as he peered through Naruto’s eyes.

And truly, it was as easy as breathing for him. Kurama helped nudge the papers in the right direction, but other than that it assembled well. Overlapping pages, assembling the “stains” to line up with the construction of a seal. The inner parts, the outer ring, inner core, and finally-

Naruto smiled. The item, labeled vaguely as a paper containing item.

He placed the final page, before pressing his chakra into the different parts of the seal, watching as a poof of smoke, and a second leather-bound journal popped out.

Jiraya shook his head with a laugh. “Wow. I will always find that man’s intelligence incredible.”

Kakashi could only nod in agreement as he observed, watching Naruto start to collect the pages again with care, slipping them back into the leather cover. “To believe his research has been in that journal this whole time.”

Naruto opened the book carefully, smiling softly as Sasuke came up on his right, and Sakura on his left. He looked at diagram after diagram, one’s he understood with a glance, before coming up on a large one, one he had to unfold a large piece of paper for to get the full scope.

“What’s that one?” Sakura asked.

“...Seal removal on an organic being.” Naruto mumbled in amazement, before grinning at Sasuke.

<>

Naruto found himself out in the market the next day with Sakura and Sasuke, Kakashi a few doors down picking up the more dangerous of Sasuke’s ingredients. Turns out, for the many many seals his father created, he needed a plethora of materials, and a plethora more from out of country. He was currently sniffing at a particular type of fruit, grimacing at all the unripe ones, and grimacing more at the bug infested ones the vendor hadn’t caught yet.

A lot of stress was still there, brewing and underlining their thoughts, but unsaid in the hours of light. Sasuke was still, of course, without chakra use, Sakura had been running herself ragged for days already, and days more by the look of the weights under her clothing, and Naruto himself? Well, he had access to the world's best seals, his team was in imminent danger, and his father was barely with it as much as he tried to hide it from Naruto. 

“Do you think Kakashi will get mad at me if I start keeping a pet snake for venom extraction?” Sasuke asked absentmindedly as he scanned through some clothing.

Sakura shrugged. “You probably should ask.”

“Agreed.” Naruto mumbled, finally picking out some of the unripe fruits. 

“Guys!” Naruto turned his head to see Choji and Shikamaru coming down the street, Choji grinning ear to ear.

“Hey guys!” Sakura waved to them cheerfully. “How have you been? Training up well, I hope!”

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. “Unfortunately. Asuma sensei keeps waking me up himself. It’s such a drag, training from dawn to dusk.”

Naruto laughed softly. “Boy do I feel that.”

Shikamaru stared at Naruto for a long moment. “...Come with me.” He stated bluntly.

“Huh?”

Shikamaru said nothing else and just gestured for Naruto to follow.

Naruto looked towards Sakura and Sasuke, brows furrowed. Sakura just gestured him to follow, Sasuke waving him off without much of a huff. Naruto shrugged, mostly to himself, following along.

“What  d’ya think he wants with him?” Choji questioned, a bag of chips in hand, offering some to the two other genin.

“Could be anything.” Sasuke commented idly, grabbing a handful of chips.

Sakura turned back to the stall she was currently looking at, an array of knives and tantos that in all honesty, weren’t well made and were very clearly not from the land of Iron like the vendor was saying. “Hopefully they won’t go off and do something stupid.” She hummed, picking up one of the blades and peering down the edge, trying to hide her reaction at the uneven and bent blade.

“Young lady!” Sakura glared at no one in particular as Mebuki yelled at her from just down the road, footsteps thundering towards her. “I can’t believe you’re still on this death quest of yours!”

Sakura turned to look at her blankly. “I can’t believe you think you can talk to me that way anymore.”

Sasuke took up the spot beside Sakura, idly flipping a shuriken between his fingers, Choji not far away, observing things carefully, though his fingers twitched for his kunai pouch.

“Excuse me?” Mebuki looked at her incredulously, Kizashi only a few feet away.

“Don’t talk to me like I still live under your roof, like you didn’t disown me the day I decided to become a shinobi.” Sakura stated flatly, calm, voice cold and practically uncaring.

Mebuki grimaced, an expression that unfortunately looked much like Sakura’s own. “You should be a proper lady. You should be a bride, a wife, a mother, and yet here you are playing pretend with the damn Uchiha who will get you killed.”

Sakura glared at her, turning around without another word.

“Don’t turn your back on me young lady!” She went grasp a handful of Sakura’s hair, Sakura turning in a split second and grabbing her wrist without hesitation.

“You will not touch me.” Sakura stated coldly, a glare on her face. “I am a shinobi of the leaf, and you will not touch me.”

“Come home, and stop this nonsense. Get your head on straight.” Mebuki snapped harshly. “You were supposed to realize this wasn’t for you, you were supposed to come crawling back, you were supposed to realize I’m doing what’s best for you!”

“And the solution was throwing me out into the street?” She snapped back, finally letting go of Mebuki’s wrist, Sasuke once again taking the rear of Sakura, a hand on her shoulder. Sakura took a slow and calming breath. “I am not your daughter. If you don’t want a shinobi for a daughter, you have no daughter at all.”

Mebuki glared. “I’ll force you back if I have to.”

“And there isn’t a thing you can do.” Sakura responded simply, and calmly. “I am an adult in the eyes of Shinobi law, I am not a civilian, and I no longer live in the civilian district. There isn’t a damn thing you can do.”

Sakura spun on her heel in a split second, Sasuke following easily, Choji not far behind.

“She’s certainly something.” Choji commented idly. 

Sakura let out a long-winded sigh. “Yeah. That’s my mother, unfortunately. Can’t say I’m happy to have gotten her temper.”

“You handled her well there.” Sasuke complimented. 

Sakura looked over to her best friend with a guilty gaze. “I was horrible to you. She was too. I’m sorry. I think I’ll spend the rest of my life apologising.”

Sasuke shook his head. “And I told you. I forgive you. I don’t blame what you said with her as your mother.”

Sakura nodded, linking arms with both Sasuke and Choji. “Let’s go find Naruto and Shikamaru.”

<>

Shikamaru gradually brought Naruto out of the shopping district and right out to the park fields. He sat him down, put the other boys bags aside, and got him to lie down in the grass to stare at the clouds.

Naruto and Shikamaru just laid there for a long moment, staring at the clouds.

“You’re stressed.” Shikamaru commented after a while. “ Really stressed. More stressed than I’ve ever seen you. I don’t care if you don’t want to talk to me but you have two great teammates back there, and an incredible father. You need to talk to someone.”

Naruto stared at him for a moment. Papa always talked about the Naras with pride and affection, and often enough Naruto found himself wanting to talk to the Nara just like his dad did. He had heard how much the Naras had helped his Papa, the same as the Uchihas, and Naruto had always wanted to just…sit and talk with him. 

And he could talk. But could he? His teams’ loyalty outweighed their loyalty to the village, and his father would probably burn the village for the three of them. But Shikamaru’s loyalties could lie anywhere, even with Ino or the village itself.

“If…” Naruto took a breath, his brows pinched together nervously. “If I were to say something that you could get me and my team in a lot of trouble for, what would you do?”

Shikamaru stared at him for a moment. “Depends.”

“Depends?” Naruto echoed.

“If it would only put you and your team in danger, I wouldn’t say a word.” Shikamaru elaborated with a shrug. “If it was going to put a lot of people in danger, I’d probably say something.”

Naruto took in another short breath, letting the silence linger for a long time. The clouds drifted by, the sky the clearest blue Naruto had cared to observe in a while, the cool wind blew past them, and it…it was peaceful. He moved to look back at Shikamaru, sitting up, his fingers idly picking at the grass. “Uhm…”

Shikamaru followed suit, sitting and looking at him, his legs crossed and a serious, yet friendly look on his face.

“I’m the Jinchuriki of the Nine Tailed Fox.” He stated. “And I’m planning to run away from the village.”

Shikamaru’s eyes widened just a fraction, before he schooled his expression. “Huh.” He said simply. “I mean, understandable, but troublesome.”

Naruto nodded slowly, shoulders tense.

“I mean, I’ll make chunin this year, can almost guarantee that.” He scratched his cheek idly. “I can keep you updated on things while you're out of the village.”

“Huh?” Naruto blinked owlishly at him. “You’ll- what?”

“I’ll keep an eye out for you.” Shikamaru smirked at him. “You’ll need help, after all. The village Jinchuriki will be well sought after, they won’t stop trying to find you. Someone’s gotta watch your back.”

Naruto nodded, and smiled. It wasn’t his usual cheek-aching smile, just…a soft, happy and content one. “Shikamaru, thank you.”

He nodded, standing and stretching out his back. “Alright, here comes your team, and your father it looks like. See you at the chunin exams finals?”

Naruto smiled. “See you there.”

<>

The removal process of a seal in Minato’s journal was unfinished and needed extra work, Naruto could tell that much. His father’s handwriting was neat, luckily, and the scale was well drawn out and indicated clearly, but even with the expensive materials he had his father pick up from some Jonin-exclusive place, he needed even more. 

The seal required 5 different types of ink to access the five major chakra types, and in theory, Naruto would need five people with said affinities to infuse the seal itself. The ink types also need special materials to help conduct the chakra well, but some of the required materials for it were extinct according to Sasuke and Sakura, destroyed in Uzushio with the seal masters.

His father had given Sasuke a temporary solution, one that involved sealing the curse mark away, a seal made from blood and excessive amounts of pain, and one Naruto just hoped would last.

He sighed as he sat at the desk, redrawing the seal over and over, different combinations of different sections to just try and figure out a working configuration. “Come on, Dad, why couldn’t you have made a working seal?” He grumbled under his breath.

“I’m afraid seals aren’t my forte.” Kakashi commented idly as he stepped into Naruto’s room, setting a mug of hot chocolate on his desk. 

Naruto let out a snort. “Thank you.” He took a sip, staring at the seal for a moment more. “Sorry, just, frustrated. The seal just has a missing segment but nothing fits well enough, but it’s at a point I can’t add another ring because then the chakra won’t be concentrated enough, and, y’know, I just want it to work. For Sasuke’s sake.”

Kakashi nodded slowly, crouching beside the chair at Naruto’s desk. He stared at the diagrams all laid out on Naruto’s desk. “Looks kind of like a storage seal.” He hummed.

“Basically is.” Naruto hummed, leaning his head on Kakashi’s shoulder. “It’s unbinding the seal from their chakra systems and taking in and putting it in the seal itself. It’s just…the sealing away part is fine, the removing it safely part isn’t.”

Kakashi nodded, picking up one of his most recent diagrams, careful to not smudge the ink. “Yeah, this is…lost on me.” He laughed softly, putting it down, and standing. “How about you take a break, get some sparring training with Sakura, and come back to it with some clear eyes.” 

Naruto sighed. He wanted to keep working, until he figured it out for Sasuke, but…his progress had slowed. And his eyeballs did feel like they were going to fall out. He sighed again, before standing and giving his brush a quick wash, emptying his inkwell. “I think you're right. Thank you, papa.”

Kakashi chuckled, ruffling his son’s hair. Naruto simply followed him out of the room and towards the Hatake Compound training grounds.

<>

Kakashi looked at the kids as they all walked towards the stadium. Sakura was the most nervous out of all of them, her palms visibly sweaty and face contorted into a stressed expression. She was going up first, against Gaara no less, a defensive powerhouse and offensive god. It was a wonder he was still a genin.

He put her through as much strength training as possible, walked her through different jutsu techniques, even walked her through half a dozen strategies to hopefully help negate as much of the sand as possible. Her reserves were nothing more than average, so very similar to Kakashi’s own, and she still needed work to expand her reserves. There’s two justsu he taught her that would hopefully be enough, but…

Kakashi just had to hope it was enough. He had to hope that Sakura and all her smarts and strength could do what she needed to do, and have her survive. Anything and everything, just to have her survive. It was nothing more than a water jutsu and lightning jutsu, but it could work if she played her cards right. She had the affinity for water jutsus, but the lighting jutsu was a different story. It was hard on her chakra reserves and body, and it was a one-time use for her.

Naruto was as bubbly as ever, though Kakashi could see the underlying stress in his shoulders. He was trying to keep his team’s spirits high, and it was somewhat working, but really, how much would it work when one of them could be facing a career-ending injury, or even a gruesome death. Jiraya taught him enough, Kakashi knows the sannin did, but that didn't quell his nerves much.

Sasuke had packed heavy that morning. He had been in and out of the hospital ever since he got control of his chakra again, giving himself the practice he needed, but overworking himself tenfold. He had at least enough supplies to provide first aid to two dozen shinobi, not including his chakra reserves, enough poison to kill a tailed beast nine times over, and half a dozen antidotes in case a poison ended up in the wrong person.

Kakashi took a calming breath, stopping them right before they entered the stadium. 

“Papa?” Naruto questioned softly.

“Be safe.” He mumbled softly to all of them. “I’m not far if you need me. I’m never too far. But please, be safe.”

Sakura smiled softly, readjusting the katana at her hip. “We will be.” She reassured gently. “And come on, can’t let all your training go to waste, I’m gonna win, and I’ll keep winning. I’ll keep coming back to you.”

Naruto nodded with his cheek-aching grin. “We’ll win! No matter what, Papa, we’ll win!”

Kakashi nodded, gathering them for a hug quickly, pressing his cheek to their heads. “You’ll do great. I’m sure. Just…there’s no shame in retreat if it needs to happen. Live to fight another day, if need be.”

“Come on, Papa, that’s not my style!” Naruto exclaimed with a giggle. 

“I’m serious, Naruto.” Kakashi sighed softly, moving his mask down just briefly to press a kiss to his forehead. “Be careful. Please.”

Naruto nodded with a softer smile on his face. “I will be.”

“Come on, Naruto.” Sakura gestured. “Let’s go wait with the other contestants.”

He nodded, giving his dad one last hug, before heading inside with Sakura.

Kakashi and Sasuke walked together, Sasuke cataloging and counting his supplies for the umpteenth time.

“Your supplies aren't going anywhere.” Kakashi joked quietly, trying to keep the mood light.

Sasuke nodded. “Just…nervous, and worried, and I’ve got a bad feeling.” He sighed softly, stretching his arms up. “I’m worried about Sakura. That genin she’s going up against from the Sand is no joke. He’s brutal, and unforgiving, and almost killed Lee, and he probably would have died if not for Naruto stepping in. What if that happens to Sakura? She’s gonna need first aid. What if she gets hurt beyond repair? What if she gets paralysed, or killed or-”

“Sasuke. Take a breath.” Kakashi ordered flatly, watching the boy take a much needed breath, the panic attack slowly receding. “We have to have faith in her. You saw how hard she’s been training the past month, you saw what she can do now. You know she’ll succeed, you know she’ll live, because she’s promised to come back to us.”

Sasuke nodded slowly, wiping a hand down his face. “God. I’m gonna get gray hairs at this rate.”

“You’re telling me.” Kakashi grumbled, Sasuke letting out a loud, genuine laugh.

<>

Naruto observed the contestants from the back of the room, Sakura taking some space away to calm her nerves and think through the fight. He just watched for a while. He was used to watching, observing, figuring out things himself since people rarely had so much as the respect to talk to him.

Neji was his next match. And…well, he was nervous, especially after what he put Hinata through. It was a miracle she kept her sight. The boy wasn’t much older than him, and he held the same anger he himself had felt when he was alone, Naruto could recognize that look like the back of his hand. And when Neji came marching over, Naruto braced himself for the worst.

“You will lose.” He stated flatly. “It is my destiny that I win, and you lose. You should give up and quit while you’re ahead.”

“Nope.” Naruto grinned at him. “I made a promise to my precious people that I’d win.”

Neji glared, visibly agitated. “You don’t understand.”

“Then explain.”

“What?”

“Then explain.” Naruto repeated simply. “Make me understand. Talk.”

Neji paused for a moment, staring at Naruto incredulously. Was this boy really going to listen? Was he really going to sit and talk with him? Or would he be like all the others, talk to him like he was nothing, and make sure he was punished later?

And Naruto, well he just stood there, patiently waiting.

“The Hyuuga clan has two houses.” He started quietly. “The main house, and the branch houses. I’m a part of the branch houses. Since the byakugan is so powerful and home only to Konoha, the main house decided it should place a seal on the branch houses to keep it that way.” He grimaced, reaching up and uncovering his forehead, the caged bird seal on full display. “They also decided this would keep us in check, and kill us if they wished.”

Naruto immediately glowered. “That’s awful, no one deserves that.” He stated, hand reaching to look at the seal, on his tippy toes to get the best look he could. It was similar to Sasuke’s curse mark from what he could tell, though much more deeply rooted and connected to not only his chakra system, but his nervous system as well.

Neji was stunned as Naruto grasped his face gently, inspecting the mark diligently. “What the hell are you doing?” He hissed out, pushing him back.

Naruto ignored him, pulling out his own journal from his back pocket. “I think I can remove it.” He responded, furrowing his brows. “I will remove it, I should say. But…you’ll have to give me some time. A lot of the ingredients I need for this seal were from Uzushio, and…well, you know how that’s not possible.”

Neji just stared at him, looking in that little journal of his. “You…you want to help?”

Naruto nodded with a bright grin. “Course! I want to be a seal master someday, and that should involve removing curse marks if I do say so myself.”

Neji nodded. “I uh, I’ll see you in our match.” He mumbled in a complete daze, walking towards the viewing platform.

<>

Sakura stared down at the stadium with apprehension. She needed to win. If she didn’t, she wasn’t sure what would happen to her. It was the first fight, the first thing people would see out of the exam, and the very first time she could show the village who she really was. Or maybe she’d crash and burn and she’d go back to the useless civilian girl.

She shook her head rapidly. She could do this. She would do this. She would win, no matter what it took. She was a shinobi, and a good one, trained  by incredible jonin, and a genin-sensei who was counting on her.

She checked over her supplies one last time. Her katana was at her hip, an extra tanto blade at her back, soldier pills in her inside jacket pocket, kunai and shuriken aplenty, and a dozen smoke bombs courtesy of Naruto. She took a calming breath, steadied her nerves, and reached outward, sensing where her teammates chakra was. She was awful at sensing, it truly was her worst skill, but she could use it enough to know where her team was.

Kakashi was in the stands, Sasuke right beside him. Naruto was only a few feet away at the back of the room. One more breath. In, and out.

She steeled her nerves, lept down into the stadium when her name was called, and stared down the red-headed boy fearlessly.

She will win.

Chapter Text

Sakura heard her own pulse rushing through her ears as she stepped out into the stadium, Gaara angry and glowering at her. She checked over her supplies one last time, before steeling her nerves, allowing the pounding of her heart to carry her forward. Hayate sensei was just to her left, looking at her with what almost seemed like a blank look, but Sakura saw the smallest lift of his lower eyelids, the tiniest raise of his eyebrows. He was proud of her. He knew she was going to win. She offered a subtle nod in return.

Hayate let his hand fall, leaping out of the way of the fight, Gaara’s sand surging forward in one fell swoop to Sakura’s position. She leapt off with chakra infused to her feet, using the wall as leverage, flinging a knife at him, testing the waters. The sand surged up, protecting its user dutifully, the sand pursuing her faltering enough for her ro duck out of the way towards the trees. It was definitely sight based, that much she was certain of. It was fast too, but she knew exactly what needed to be done to succeed.

She just needed an opening.

Her body felt light after she took her weights off that morning, limbs no longer weighed down by a combined weight of 80kgs. She dashed out of the trees again, katana pulled from its sheath to slice at Gaara with precision that came as easy as breathing, just like. The guard went up, the sand chasing her unable to follow well, as it attempted to shield from the razor sharp blade. It didn’t hit Gaara, only glided through the sand as the blade was redirected to another spot. She pulled smoke bombs from her pocket with her free hand, slamming them to the sphere of sand before using her chakra and activating. She bounded back in an instant, sheathing her katana, starting the hand signs for the first justsu Kakashi taught her.

She could do it. The water from some of the nearby puddles and morning dew had to be enough, it just had to.

Ram. Snake. Rat. Water Release, Water Bowl.

The water came to her quickly, collecting from the morning dew, puddles, drain pipes, and even from much of the foliage itself and coming up from the ground. She had the control to pull water from whatever she could. It surged, billowing out in an instant towards Gaara, soaking him and the sand. It didn’t stop the sand from moving, but it did slow it down significantly. She bounded away as the smoke cleared, Gaara letting out a scream of rage, or frustration. She couldn’t quite tell, the sounds around her fading into not much more than her own heartbeat.

She took a calming breath, gripping her palms together tightly to ease the shake. She jumped up to the wall, the sands movement sluggish yet unyielding in its pursuit. This was almost won. She just had to hold out hope for another opening. She was getting tired, sure, but she wasn’t even near her limit stamina wise. Her chakra reserves were suffering, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle, and she still had more than enough left for her final jutsu.

She kept running on the walls in a game of keep away from Gaara, until her foot was just barely snagged by the soaked sand. She was pulled to the ground in an instant, getting slammed as she felt her ankle snap from what was definitely a clean break. Her body throbbed from what would no doubt be a nasty bruise, head rattled, but at least not concussed. She let out a rough shout, taking her tanto blade and slicing at the sand, letting the connection to Gaara’s chakra fall away as her adrenaline spiked. She leapt up back onto the wall, tearing her pant leg off, tossing what was left of her smoke bombs. She had seen Sasuke wrap ankles countless times, repeating it on her own ankle as quickly as she could. She was on a timer. Once her adrenaline wore off, she’d be dead slow, and she’d be done for.

One more breath. In, and out. You are a shinobi. You are strong, capable, and deserving.

In, and out. 

She glanced out towards the audience, through all of the smoke, barely making out where Kakashi and Sasuke were sitting. Kakashi looked like he was growing grey hairs by the second even though that mess of silver hair never changed, and Sasuke was visibly grimacing at the wrap job on her ankle. She gave them a wave and a smile, jumping to another wall of the stadium to look for Naruto next as the sand surged for yet another attack, sloppy and uncoordinated through the lack of visibility. She saw him cheering happily for her, grinning ear to ear without a care in the world.

Sakura watched the smoke clear again, the sand surging forward at her, still thoroughly soaked through, Gaara himself plastered with wet sand from their fight. She bounded forward, keeping off her ankle as she went on the offensive. Her Katana was out, slicing through the sand as it surged, disconnecting it from its chakra source for a moment to move closer and closer as she stabbed the blade into the wet sand. She heard a pained shout as the sand cocooned around Gaara, the wet sand struggling to stay together.

Her blade shattered into pieces as the sand crushed it, but she quickly flashed through the single hand sign needed.

She punched into the cocoon, the sand yielding to her strength easily, as she lifted her arm into the air.

“Lightning rod!” She shouted, the lightning coming down and surging through her, and especially, the wet sand. It conducted through the whole mess that the sand was, especially the cocoon, turning much of the sand to glass. Sakura was just thankful she had found a spot on the ground without sand to stand on, or her feet may have ended up burnt.

Gaara screamed again. This time, it wasn’t the scream of a boy, but something guttural and inhuman. “I’m bleeding!” He cried out as the sand fell into one heap, Sakura glaring at him, taking heavy steps back. The hair on the back of her neck prickled as she felt chakra release into the air, vaguely aware of audience members falling asleep in the risers, smoke billowing out of the Kages’ platform, and a loud explosion and crash coming from the outer defensive walls.

This wasn’t an exam anymore. 

This was a fucking invasion.

<>

Kakashi tensed as a genjutsu fell over the crowd, Sasuke and himself quick to clear it from their heads. Kakashi looked over to Shikaku just a few rows back and to the right, nodding at him as they leaped towards whatever genin didn’t manage to clear it in time. Kakashi was vaguely aware of the smoke billowing from the Kages’ viewing platform, collecting genin as he watch Suna and Oto nin swarm the place, many of the jounin stationed nearby keeping the civillians safe.

Kakashi watched for Sakura, anxiety spiking as he watched her dash off to pursue Gaara and his team. She wouldn’t last long on an ankle like that.

“I’m going after her!” Naruto called out as he climbed up to the civilian viewing platform, the other genin not far behind.

“Naruto, wait.” Shikamaru said, looking around. “This is an invasion, and if I had to guess, Gaara is their trump card.” He collected several of the genin, looking at Kakashi pointedly. “I’ll bring her back here. I’m going to take Naruto, Sasuke, Neji and myself to go after Sakura and Gaara. The rest of you should stay here, help the jounin out and keep the civilians safe, and evacuate to the safe point.”

Kakashi sighed. Shikamaru really took after his father. “I’ll send a tracking dog with you.” He stated, cutting his thumb with a kunai, and summoning his ninken. “Pakkun, with them. The rest of you, with me. We’re going to the outer wall, stalling for what we can, and evacuating where we can.”

Shikamaru nodded, Naruto scooping up Pakkun so he could sit on his shoulder as the genin left on Sakura’s trail.

Kakashi focused on the fight at hand. “Genin! Wake the civilians up and evacuate to the nearest safehouse. chunin and jounin, on me. Shikaku and I will be leading the charge for the snake summon!” 

<>

Sakura grunted as Temari waved her fan heavily, the trees billowing in response, branches and rocks alike getting kicked up. She had no idea when backup was arriving, nor could she spend much longer in this fight. Her ankle was still worse for wear, now swollen and bruised to hell and back, and she needed to figure out something, and fast. Her katana was fucked, nothing more than a fancy handle at this point, and her tanto would not last long against that giant fan.

She dashed up and above, moving in for something swift and silent, before she saw Temari turn her head and lock on.

Sakura thought she was close enough, just close enough that Temari wouldn’t have time to swing the oversized fan, but she was wrong. Temari put her full body weight into it, the fan hitting the tree she was standing on from the momentum alone. Sakura shouted as she was blown back several feet, her back slamming into a tree.

She grunted, wiping a hand down her face, ankle throbbing painfully as she stood for another round.

But Temari was still and unmoving, even though she still had her eyes on Sakura.

Shadows warped on the forest floor, wrapping around Temari easily, the shadows from the leaves a friend to Shikamaru, the forest truly his domain.

“Sakura!” He barked out. “Take the team! Head out, go get Gaara!”

Sakura saw several Konoha genin trailing behind Shikamaru. She nodded. Already gesturing them forward. “On me! We haven’t lost their trail yet!”

“Sakura!” Sasuke barked out. She paused only when she was out of sight of Temari and Shikamaru. 

“We have to go.” She stated, Neji and Naruto placing themselves right beside them, watching their flanks.

Sasuke nodded, picking up her bad ankle. He untied the makeshift wrap with ease, before pushing healing chakra into the broken ankle. The relief was palpable, and Sakura let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding as Sasuke healed at least a little bit of the break, wrapping it up again much better than she did. “Okay. Now let’s go.”

“I will assist as well.” Sakura nearly jumped out of her skin as Shino appeared from the treeline. “I apologize, Sakura. I attempted to assist with your battle against Temari, but my insects could not find an opening through the heavy winds.”

“That’s alright, Shino.” She reassured. “Let's go. Kankuro is going to try and stop us if I’m sure of anything.”

And her hunch was right as they sprinted through the forest, Pakkun at the front to track by scent. A puppet dashed in front of her, a knife slicing into her arm with what was no doubt a poison. She narrowed her eyes, staring at Kankuro.

Sasuke wiped the blood and poison from Sakura’s arm, sniffing it carefully. “...paralysis. Nothing you will need to worry about.”

Sakura nodded.

Shino stepped forward, Neji following suit.

“We’ll take this fight. You three, get to Gaara. Make sure he’s not going to be a threat.” Neji stated simply. “Shikamaru will need help, I’m sure of that. We’ll take care of things here, and loop around for him.”

Sakura nodded. “Stay safe. Keep that poison off of you.” She and her team were quick to dash off, Kankuro glaring as they leapt away.

Sakura could still feel her pulse pounding in her head as they finally came upon Gaara. Her team was just beside her, her Tanto already out and ready to fight. “Gaara.” She said calmly. “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to fight. You can walk away from this.” Sakura was vaguely aware of his genin sensei steadily backing away from the fight, towards cover, alarm bells ringing in her head.

Gaara snarled at her, already lunging for an attack through his injured form. A tail sprouted from him, his attacks faster, wilder, the boy losing control. Sakura grunted as her side took the hit, getting pushed back into Naruto as Sasuke already started to prepare a fireball jutsu.

Gaara went in for another round at Sakura, ducking as Sasuke spit fire in his direction. Sakura dashed in, slicing into his arm harshly, and getting out of the way of both the fire and the raging jinchuriki.

He let out another scream, holding his bleeding wounds, spinning wildly. He was surrounded. He was practically snarling now, his body contorting as sand covered his skin. Sakura watched in horror as he grew in size into-

Into a tailed beast.

The three of them were quick to run, quick to retreat and regroup in the trees, one thing they knew better than Gaara. They observed the beast in a blind rage as it thrashed at the trees and foliage, trying to figure out some semblance of a plan to keep him from continuing his rampage, at the very least to keep him away from the village until the jounin could get away from the outer wall to assist.

Sasuke glared. “He’s asleep.” He pointed out as the beast rampaged. “Gaara’s asleep. We need to wake him up.”

Naruto nodded. “Roommate says the less tails a tailed beast has, the harder it is to keep them sealed and in control. He probably hasn’t slept in a long time. I just need to get up to him, and Kurama can do something. He thinks so, anyway.”

“Thinks so?” Sakura grimaced. “We’re risking a lot on guess work right now.”

Naruto nodded. “I just need to get on his head.”

Sakura looked up at the rampaging beast one more time. “Well. Let's hope this goes well.”

“I’ll make a distraction with chidori.” Sasuke stated, crouching to look around. “Sakura, move in and launch Naruto, get him up there.”

She nodded. “Ready?”

The boys nodded, Sasuke jumping off.

Sakura stayed with Naruto in the tree, the sound of a thousand chirping birds sounds off in the distance. She saw Sasuke dash out of the bush, the lighting landing on the beast harshly. It let out a roar of pain, its body crumbling like sand as it hit Sasuke hard and away. Sakura jumped from the trees, one of Naruto’s hands in hers as she planted her tanto in the kyuubi's shoulder, Naruto dangling from her hand. She nodded, Naruto nodding back, before she chucked him up to the ichibi’s head in one fell swoop. 

The tailed beast thrashed, tossing her away and into a tree, hitting her head on a branch before blacking out.

<>

Naruto sprinted over to Gaara’s unconscious form. His teammates were down, but it was okay, Kurama only said he just had to touch Gaara.

He dove the last few feet, wrapping his arms around the other boy’s shoulders as he felt his vision swarm.

He woke up in a barren desert, much like the sewer Kurama was trapped in. Kurama was attempting to talk Shukaku into calming down, but Naruto didn’t think he’d be allowed in the headspace.

“Gaara!” He called out, the winds howling as it whipped up the sand. He started trudging through it, his feet unsteady on the soft dunes, the ground sinking under his feet. “Gaara! Where are you?!”

He kept walking, keeping his ears open more than his eyes once they proved useless in the sand. It was harsh, it whipped against his skin and rubbed it raw, his eyes only open a sliver against the billowing sands.

He perked up when he heard a soft cry come from his right, his body immediately sprinting through the sand towards the noise. It wasn’t fast, and reminded him of walking through too much powdered snow when a snowstorm happened to hit Konoha.

“Gaara!” Naruto called out in relief as he slid down the large dune of sand, tumbling a bit but stumbling towards the other jinchuriki.

Gaara looked up, and let out a sob. “Go away!”

Naruto shook his head. “I’m not leaving! Not until I know you’re okay!”

Gaara shook his head rapidly, fingers gripping his own hair tightly, yanking on the strands. “No! You’re not real! You’re another illusion by mother!”

Naruto grasped his hands gently, pulling his hands free from his hair, Gaara gasping in response at the contact. “How- how are you here?” He mumbled quietly.

Naruto pulled him in for a gentle hug. “I’m a jinchuriki too. My tailed beast helped me reach you, on accident though, I suppose. I know your burden.” He held the other boy firmly, though made sure it was loose enough that if Gaara didn’t want the hug, he could leave.

Gaara nodded, slowly leaning into the first pair of arms in a long time that didn’t intend harm on him. “Did the people hate you too? For what they did to you? For the burden they forced on you?” He asked in a  raspy, hoarse voice, near to tears again, sniffling quietly.

Naruto nodded. “Took me a while to come to terms with it.” He said in a quiet voice, gently sitting back on the sand, right next to Gaara. “A lot of them hated me. And I hated them. For the longest time all I felt was anger and resentment.”

Gaara, well he looked at Naruto through tired eyes and a wounded soul. Through everything, through all of the assassination attempts, through his siblings fearing him, the village hating him, and his use as only a weapon, he was looking at one of the very few people who would understand him entirely, and who has never once even tried to harm him. “How…how do you find yourself able to cope with it? How are you able to love the village?”

The blond scratched the back of his neck, looking at the ground regrettably. “In truth, I don’t love this village. But I have so many precious people here. You just need to find your precious person, and the love you receive outweighs any of the hate you’ll ever get.” Naruto offered him a bright and blinding smile, and Gaara couldn’t help but offer his own smile back.

Granted, his smile was barely more than a twitch of his lips, but it was there, all for Naruto. “Can…can you be my first precious person?” He asked quietly, looking hopeful.

Naruto let out a soft laugh, lunging in for a tight hug, the sand around them calming as the winds died down, Naruto getting pressed closer to Gaara as something pressed on his back and wrapped around them both.

He looked up at Kurama, now floating not far from him.

“We talked. Or, more I threatened and he listened.”  Kurama explained simply in Naruto’s mind, tone grumbled and annoyed, his body only wisps of who he truly is, though the projected form was still warm against Naruto’s skin as Kurama nudged his cheek, like the sun on a perfect spring day. “Suna has no seal masters, so Gaara has been stuck, unable to block Shukaku out. We need to repair that seal, kid.”

Naruto nodded slowly. “I’ve got my father’s notes on the seal, but…do you remember anything? From when you were sealed?”

Kurama nodded.

“Gaara, would you trust me enough to look at your seal?” Naruto asked next, looking at his new friend with gentle eyes.

Gaara nodded slowly. “Is there something wrong with it?” He asked quietly.

“They sealed Shukaku wrong, to put it bluntly.” He responded quietly. “I can take a look, and maybe even repair it, so you’ll be able to block him out and sleep properly.”

Gaara nodded, before letting himself wake up.

Naruto woke up with him, Gaara still in his arms on a pile of sand in the middle of the forest clearing. Gaara blinked awake slowly, looking at Naruto with something akin to adoration and wonder, before he moved to hug him tightly. Naruto hugged him right back, holding him and burying his nose in his hair. He could smell Gaara, of course he could, but through it all he could sniff out his teammates not too far out.

Naruto was quick to gently lift Gaara’s shirt with the other boy’s permission, before he pulled out Minato’s journal and studied the seal on the other boy’s back. Naruto furrowed his brows as he stared at the seal, Kurama looking through Naruto’s eyes himself.

“What’s wrong with it?” Gaara asked quietly.

Naruto pursed his lips. “Most of it.” He grumbled out, bringing out his calligraphy set, starting to whittle away at fixing the seal. “They didn’t add the outer rings or the inner ones, they did some of the most bare bones sealing I’ve ever seen. Hell, a sealing scroll has better properties than this.”

Naruto worked for a few more minutes, and with a mix of Kurama’s guidance, and his father’s notes, the seal was reinforced and just needed activation. “Brace yourself. It’s going to be a lot of chakra all at once.” He mumbled quietly, pressing his hand to the middle of the seal, and allowing Kurama to take over the activation process.

And Gaara- he let out a hiss. It was a lot at once. It rushed through his system like an electric shock and made his hands tremble as it rushed through. It was entirely Naruto’s biju’s chakra, so harsh and burning and entirely unlike Naruto’s, chakra that had been so warm and welcoming. It last a few seconds more, before finally calming.

And…it was quiet. Mother- no, Shukaku was quiet. He could still hear him, still knew where he was, but he was quiet, and he could chose to listen.

Once again, Gaara found himself staring at his new friend in wonder, and lunged in for another hug, because he found himself quite liking those. “Thank you.” Gaara rasped out, tears falling silently from him. 

“Always.” Naruto responded simply, sitting with Gaara for as long as he needed.

Sasuke walked back with Sakura’s arm slung over his shoulder, the girl limping from her bad ankle and lack of adrenaline, a gentle smile on her face. “Naruto?” Sasuke rasped out.

Naruto looked back, and smiled at them. “We’re okay.” He said quietly. “Are you two alright?”

Sasuke nodded. “Bruises and scrapes, fractured rib with Sakura over here and a concussion,but nothing I won’t be able to heal in the morning.”

Naruto nodded, keeping a hand on Gaara’s shoulder as he let go and stood slowly.

Gaara followed, standing with him. Naruto offered him a smile, a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Gaara. This is Sakura and Sasuke. Two of my most precious people.”

Gaara nodded, offering them the best smile he could muster. “I’m sorry. About all of this.”

Sakura shook her head. “From what we know, it’s hardly your fault. And besides, we were in a fight anyway.” She let out a soft laugh. “I hope I gave you a challenge!”

Gaara nodded, looking out over the forest. “I’m…going to go fetch my siblings, and try and get the Suna nin to back out. I’m going to find out the truth of this attack. And…and when I get back, I’m gonna try to find my precious people.”

The three nodded towards him, before slowly bringing him and his team back towards the main part of the village, Sasuke healing everyone he could on the way back, none of the injuries too severe.

It was calm now, the majority of the fighting over, the giant snake summon nowhere to be found on the skyline on the slow walk back.

Kankuro eventually limped beside Sakura, brows furrowed, hesitating to say something.

Sakura looked over at him curiously. “What is it?”

Kankuro hesitated again, before huffing. “How’d you resist my poison so well? That’s the strongest stuff I’ve been able to make, and you shrugged it off.”

Sakura laughed softly. “Sasuke poisons my food constantly.” She said with amusement. “I’ve built up immunity overtime, mostly to paralysis type poisons. If you had something that nauseated instead, I’d be having a hell of time trying to keep up.”

Kankuro nodded slowly. “So…what you’re saying is I should have different types on me?” He said with a mischievous grin.

Sakura giggled and grinned back. “You should talk to Sasuke here.” She gestured to her friend that was carrying her. “He’s probably become the best poison and antidote maker in the village.”

Kankuro nodded, looking at him like a kid in a candy store.

Sasuke sighed. He really didn’t want to talk to anyone. “I’ll get you a list of my best as long as you don’t attack me or my team again.” He grumbled.

Kankuro scratched his chin idly. “Ah. Yeah. We’ll uh…we won’t be doing any of that.” 

“I can get you a list of ingredients you can pretty much mix and match, though it's going to end up being a lot of flora native to Konoha.” Sasuke commented idly, readjusting Sakura on his shoulder, and keeping an eye on Naruto who was walking and chatting Gaara’s ear off at the front of the group.

Kankuro hummed, nodding. “I’ve got some Suna flora in my bag, some seeds too. We can trade.”

Sasuke hummed, nodding.

And as they marched back to the arena in a group, all together, the problem solved, their stomachs dropped when they discovered the Sandaime Hokage’s death, Orochimaru the killer, four of his ninja the accomplices.

<>

“The Hokage’s dead.” Shikaku said as he met Kakashi in his house, the kids were a few rooms over trying to keep themselves calm, Shikamaru and Jiraya joining them. “Shikamaru and I talked about what you’re planning to do. You can’t seriously be considering becoming a nukenin, right?”

Kakashi combed a hand through his hair, headband on the kitchen counter as he poured two cups of tea between them. “You know what happened that night with Danzo. Sasuke and Naruto could suffer immensely, and Sakura wouldn’t let it happen and she’d end up caught in this whole mess.” He set a cup of tea in front of Shikaku. Neither of them drank. “Jiraya won’t take the hat. After finding out about Naruto, he’s angry and unwilling. Tsunade would never take the hat, she’s got no loyalties here.”

“What if you did?” Shikaku asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m serious.” He stated bluntly. “What if you did? You are more than powerful enough, and most of the Clan families would back you up.”

“I can’t take that risk.” He stated softly. “Not with Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura around. If Danzo wants the hat enough, he’ll do the same thing to me that he did to Fugaku. Shikaku- we can’t stay.”

He sighed quietly, finally picking up the teacup to take a sip. “Troublesome.” He looked over to Kakashi, a bored look on his face, but Kakashi could read him better than anyone. He knew he was worried. And he could smell fear.

“Genma takes night watch three days from now at the East Gate.” Shikaku stated. “Anyone else is someone we can’t trust. You need to pack up your team, and get out of here.”

Kakashi nodded, his cup of tea sitting there, untouched. “Don’t get yourself caught with us, Shikaku.” He responded quietly. “You’ve been a good friend.”

“And I’ll still be your friend.” He drawled. “Just get the kids out of here. Shikamaru and I are never far, we’ll keep an eye out for you.”

Kakashi nodded with a quiet sigh. “Jiraya is due to leave tomorrow. He’s going to find Tsunade before Konoha does, and make sure she doesn’t come back here. Danzo will want a lot of power,  but we’re at least making sure the Sannin won’t come back, for any purpose.”

Shikaku nodded. “Konoha will survive. We have medics, we’re far from needing more.”

Kakashi sighed, nodding once again. “What am I going to do, Shikaku? Where can I take the kids? Suna is a no go for now, Kiri and Iwa won’t be great, Wave’s economy is still recovering, and there’s missing nin just about everywhere else.”

“Go to the land of Iron.” Shikaku stated. “And take a breath. You need to think clearly, you can not be thinking with a clouded mind.”

Kakashi nodded, taking a much needed breath. “Right. Itachi.”

“Let him know what’s happening. Have him rendezvous with you.” Shikaku spoke softer, quieter, keeping his eyes on Kakashi even as the other avoided his gaze.

Kakashi leaned against the counter, brows furrowed. “I just…I need to keep my kids alive and okay.”

“You have allies. You have help. Just one step at a time.” Shikaku nudged his shoulder, sitting with him in the silence a bit longer.

<>

“I’ll meet you in the land of Iron.” Jiraya said quietly in the dead of night, perched on Kakashi’s window sill. “We’ll meet up there in three weeks, and make a plan from there. Tsunade will come back with me, I’ll ensure it.”

Kakashi nodded, handing him a storage scroll. “A gift from Naruto. Time doesn’t affect what’s sealed in here, so there are a couple dozen prepared meals.”

Jiraya smiled. “Tell him I’ll see him soon, yeah? And that I’ll be sending him letters this time around.”

Kakashi nodded, waving him off, before closing the window and ensuring the seals were activated. He turned down the hallway where the kids’ rooms were, poking his head into Naruto’s first. No Naruto.

Sasuke’s? No Sasuke.

Sakura’s? No Sakura.

He looked around the house idly, quelling the panicking thoughts in the back of his head. They hadn’t gone somewhere, right? He would have known, it was the dead of night and they should have been asleep somewhere.

He continued looking, until he heard one of Naruto’s loud snores. Coming from Kakashi’s bedroom.

He walked into his room slowly, spotting all three of his kids curled up together on the bed, Sakura blinking awake slowly at the disturbance.

“Maa, you all are terrible bed-hogs.” Kakashi commented with a soft laugh, getting rid of his flak jacket and tools.

Sakura looked at him, scooching herself and the boys over. She was on the edge of the bed, an arm under both Naruto’s and Sasuke’s head. Sasuke was squished between them, head pressed into Sakura’s shoulder, Naruto half splayed out on top of them both. “We were waiting for you.”

“Sorry I took so long.” He hummed, getting underneath the covers, and taking his mask off. He laid down, Naruto pressed into his stomach, Sasuke still curled up tightly on Sakura’s shoulder, and Sakura herself close to falling asleep again. Kakashi pressed a kiss to the top of her head, pulling the covers up and over her. “Get some rest.”

Sakura hummed, before sighing under the warm blankets, and steadily falling asleep. Kakashi was quick to follow, his heart at ease with his precious people all together.

Chapter Text

Kakashi had gathered the kids in the training room the morning of the third Hokage’s funeral, one prepared quickly and without hesitation. It was over before long, all four of them soaked to the bone from the rain that fell, but changed into a set of dry clothing.

“We’re leaving in three days.” Kakashi said bluntly, and softly. “We need to prepare. We need to prepare to run, and to fight. We need meals, cash, weapons, and anything else we’ll need for at least a month on the road.”

The three genin nodded slowly.

“Why all of a sudden?” Sakura asked quietly, her wounds healed from the moment Sasuke recovered his chakra. 

Kakashi sighed softly. “Danzo Shimura is taking the hat. Everyone else who is qualified for Hokage,  won’t take the position, and I’m not putting any of you at risk if I try to myself. And I know you’ve all still been wanting to leave.”

Sasuke nodded, lips pressed into a tight line as he balled up his hands into fists. “He’ll do the same to you as he did to my father if you try to run for Hokage.”

Kakashi nodded, Naruto tense and distressed from the mere thought of it. “I’ll start making storage scrolls.” Naruto said quietly. “We’ll need a lot for all of our stuff, Kurama and I have enough chakra to pack up the house.”

Sasuke nodded. “I’ll get to work on poisons. It's best we try and avoid a fight for as long as possible, I really wouldn’t want to injure one of our own, even if we’ll be seen as traitors.”

“I’ll get to work on stocking and cataloging.” Sakura listed next. “I’m good with numbers. I can keep our weapons reserves and rations in check.”

Kakashi nodded. “Good. We’ll be leaving by the east gate. We’ll still be training the next few days. It’s going to be on chakra suppression, stealth, and leaving no trace. If we do this, we’ll be missing nin, and we’ll be traitors. Do you understand?”

The three nodded. Kakashi was certain that even if they didn’t understand, they’d follow each other to the ends of the earth and back again, just as long as it meant keeping each other safe.

“Right then.” Kakashi stood, the kids following. “Let's get some lunch in our system, then we’re going to play hide and seek with the ninken for chakra suppression and stealth practice.”

<>

Sakura sighed as she stared at the handle of her most treasured blade. Hayate sensei had made it for her, and she didn’t have time to ask for a new one, nor did she think he’d be willing to make one for her after she left.

She sighed quietly, packing the handle and sheath away in the storage scroll she was given. This was…a lot. The last 6 months have been a lot. She got disowned, kicked out, nearly killed a couple times, and now would be leaving the village without looking back. She’d follow Naruto and Sasuke anywhere they went. She was their shield, their protector. Even if she wasn’t as strong as she’d like to be yet, even if she couldn’t move mountains or shatter barriers, she was still improving. Still getting better. She just…needed to keep going. No matter what.

“Sakura.” Kakashi greeted as he entered the room, Sasuke and Naruto still running around with the ninken.

“Hi, Kakashi.” She mumbled softly, dragging out a pile of kunai, starting to sharpen them. 

Kakashi took a seat next to her, taking one of the many kunai and sharpening it himself. “Feeling alright?”

“Worried.” She responded simply, leaning against Kakashi. “I’m worried that I won’t be able to protect them. They both have huge chakra reserves and so many special things about them. I’m…I’m just a civilian girl who got lucky again and again. I’m training hard, but I’m nothing like you or the boys.”

Kakashi let out a snort of laughter, Sakura glaring at him sharply.

“Sorry, sorry.” Kakashi was quick to apologize. “It’s just- you and I are far more alike than either of the boys.”

“...What?”

Kakashi grinned, his mask off like most days when they were alone in the house. “I mean sure, my father was a Shinobi, and a good one at that. But the Hatake don’t have any bloodline traits or anything that makes us special. We made ourselves special.”

Sakura huffed, glaring at the knife she was sharpening. “Still. I’m not anything-”

“You really are like me.” Kakashi interrupted her with another gentle laugh. “Small reserves and unmatched chakra control. You have kage levels of chakra control, Sakura. I don’t think you realize how much of a gift that can be,” He looked over at her. “You have control most jounin would kill for. You could sculpt genjutsus so well done you could fool someone like Kurenai, you use ninjutsus so well that you barely dip into your reserves, Sakura, the possibilities are endless. Chakra reserves always grow with time, but so will your control.”

Sakura looked over to her teacher with wide eyes in pure awe. Suddenly, she was just like Kakashi. Suddenly everything felt… worth it. She was going to be a shinobi like Kakashi, she was going to be someone Kakashi could be proud of, she…she had the most wonderful idea.

“Kakashi, uhm, I’m gonna go do something possibly stupid.” She said, standing with an almost excited look on her face that she tried to quell. “I’ll be back before dinner.”

Kakashi blinked at her for a moment. “Well. Let me know if you need to hide a body.”

Sakura grinned. “Will do!” Before she ran right off.

<>

Naruto found himself wandering before dinner, out and about near the training grounds. He had been practicing stealth training all day already, something he found he was good enough at, but his control still wasn’t good enough to suppress his surplus chakra reserves. It was a lot of work, and even on top of all of that he hadn’t stopped making storage scrolls for all of their belongings.

He sighed, looking at the clouds and just taking a moment to breathe, when someone tapped his shoulder. He turned, looking to find Neji staring at him.

“I want to fight. Fight me.” Neji stated in a flat tone.

Naruto stared back for a long moment. “Why?”

Neji said nothing, just grabbed his wrist and dragged him to one of the many training grounds.

He activated his Byakugou, staring at Naruto in a fighting stance. Naruto took up his own stance, stretching his neck as he waited. Neji surged forward going in for moves Naruto could recognize easily from observing Hinata at the academy, though Neji was much more graceful and refined as he moved, the movements natural and well practiced to him.

But he wasn’t going for any openings. Wasn’t even hitting hard. Deflecting and dodging as Naruto fought him and tossed clones his way, sure, but no counter attacks to be seen.

Naruto stopped fully, Neji following suit.

“What is it?” Naruto asked bluntly. “You’re thinking of something. You can talk to me.”

Neji stared at him a few moments more. “I wanted to know if you made any progress on removing my curse mark.”

Naruto visibly grimaced. “If I tell you something in complete confidence, will you keep the secret?”

Neji furrowed his brows and eyed him suspiciously, before nodding slowly.

“I’m kind of…leaving the village. As a nukenin.” Naruto winced. “And I haven’t made any progress on the removal process. I promise I’ll come back, or find a way to get it off of you, I just…I can’t stay.”

The other boy grimaced, hands balled into fists as he huffed out a breath. “I can’t say I’m not upset.” Neji started quietly. “But I can understand why. Can’t say the thought hasn’t crossed my mind.”

Naruto let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “I promise I’ll be back. I promise I will remove that curse mark. I promise you’ll be free. And I never go back on my word.”

Neji sighed. “You know if you leave, and I’m ordered to capture or kill you, I’d have to listen, right?”

Naruto nodded. “I know the risks.”

“Good.” Neji spun on his heel, leaving the training ground. “You better put up a good fight.”

<>

The plants Kankuro had gifted Sasuke were potent and something completely new. Combining it with some of his recipes produced even better results, and he had no doubt Kankuro was in a similar boat.

He was tired. The curse mark was barely kept under wraps, but at least his chakra worked. At least he could heal. He sighed quietly, enjoying the calm and quiet of his study while he worked on processing powders and vials of poison. Sakura would need it for her weapons, Naruto would need the powdered version for his smoke bombs, and he’d need his own supply for self defence and not to mention enough antidotes in case someone took a lethal dose. 

His arms ached as he worked at his mortar and pestle, his desk lined with dried plants, bags of powders and two dozen vials varying in colour. He was the last line of defense for his team. He needed to be able to keep himself upright, no matter what. He could knock an enemy down no problem, but he needed soldier pills if he was going to have a contingency plan.

But leaving…leaving meant finally seeing Itachi. It meant catching up and fully having his brother back. It meant everything. He was angry with the village. The Sandaime Hokage, Danzo, everyone. His family was slaughtered, he was left to pick up the pieces, and he’s sure the only reason he survived that night was Kakashi coming for him.

Sasuke worked at the herbs and various items in his mortar and pestle to stuff into his soldier pills, working out his growing anger. He promised his father he’d break the Uchiha curse of hate, he promised he would. He couldn’t let him down, couldn’t betray his memory like that. He couldn’t let Kakashi, or Naruto, or Sakura down by letting the anger get to him, he couldn’t-

Sasuke paused, hearing himself sniffle. The tears fell from his eyes and into the mortar, his hands shaking against it. He pressed his hands against his desk, biting his lip to quell the sobs, to try and distract himself with a sharp jolt of pain, but it just kept coming.

Kakashi wandered into the room, his hearing as sharp as ever, saying nothing at all, making sure his footsteps were heard as he entered to not surprise the young shinobi. Sasuke let him come in, though made no move to leave the spot his feet were rooted to.

Kakashi walked over, easing a hand on Sasuke’s shoulder, testing the waters. Sasuke shuddered, a broken, quiet sob leaving his throat. Kakashi wrapped an arm around his shoulder, then the other arm, then pulled him in against his chest.

Sasuke pressed his face into the flak jacket, curling his fingers on the edge of the fabric. And suddenly, he didn’t feel like his 12 year old, genin self anymore. He felt like that little kid that Kakashi came to save him from that terrible night all over again, he felt small, but…but he felt protected. Kakashi came back for him that night. Kakashi came back for his brother years ago. He kept coming back for him and his family again and again, and as scared as he was, as little as he wanted to face the nightmare the world had become, Kakashi was safe. He wouldn’t let anything happen to him while he was here. 

Kakashi put a comforting hand in his hair, his cheek pressing against his head. “Solid?” He asked softly.

Sasuke nodded. “Sorry.” He mumbled quietly. “I got in my own head about a lot. I’m…worried about becoming hateful. I’m scared I’ll just prove what everyone’s thinking about the curse of hate, that I’ll disappoint my father, and you, and Naruto and Sak-”

“None of that now.” Kakashi shook his head, cupping Sasuke’s face in his hands. “You are a loving child. You’ve been through so much, and yet you still find it in your heart to love far more than you hate. Your anger is so very valid, you should be angry. Hell, I’m angry too. But you don’t let it change who you are.”

Sasuke nodded, gripping Kakashi’s flak jacket just that much tighter. 

“Why don’t we go for a walk?” The silver-haired man suggested. “We’ll need to pick up more clothing for all of us anyways.”

Sasuke nodded. “Yeah. Sounds good.”

<>

It was a few hours later Kakashi found himself making dinner in the kitchen, Sasuke and Naruto helping pack up their belongings in various storage scrolls, the house as barebones as it could get, the kitchen table, Kakashi’s bed, and a few miscellaneous items scattered around remaining. Sakura was just getting back from wherever she ran off to, walking into the kitchen with a giddy, yet nervous look.

“Mah, you’re excited.” Kakash Commented idly, poking with a spatula at a few slices of meat cooking in a pan.

Sakura nodded. “I uhm, you know, had an idea. And it needs your signature to approve it and all that, and I figured I may as well do it before we leave the village, but you can also absolutely say no if you don’t want it-”

“Sakura.” Kakashi chuckled fondly. “What is it?”

Sakura bounced on the balls of her feet nervously, taking a small breath, before walking over with a form in hand. Kakashi turned the heat on the stove down, before picking up the sheet and scanning it. “..This is-”

“Papers. For me to take the Hatake name.” She said with a gentle smile. “I know Naruto never took the name because Uzumaki is one of the few things he has from his biological parents, and Sasuke will always be an Uchiha at heart, but, you know.” Sakura let out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of her neck idly as she looked at the tiled floor of the kitchen. “I guess…Haruno is a name that no longer feels like family, and I wanted to have the name of the person who has been one of the biggest parts of my life, and who my actual family should be.”

Kakashi stared at the paper for the longest time. Kami, of course he would say yes. In every universe he would always say yes. Kakashi moved forward, his hands shaking as he tried to quell the swell of emotion, a lump forming in his throat as he tugged Sakura in for a tight hug. “Kami, of course I’ll sign the paper.” He mumbled, Sakura hugging him back, the largest smile on her face that he’s seen in a long time. 

She let out an excited squeal, giggling happily, bouncing on the balls of her feet again. “Awesome! Okay! I’ll bring it back to the chunin desk after dinner and-” she paused, staring at Kakashi’s teary eyes. “Ah- Kakashi-”

Kakashi wiped his tears with a soft laugh. “I’m okay. I’m just…really happy. And really lucky to have you as a daughter.”

Sakura inhaled softly, her lips pressed into a tight line. He called her his daughter. Not pack, not family, not student, daughter. She tried to hold in her tears, she really did, but she couldn’t help the happy sob and blinding grin that appeared. She lunged in for another hug, laughing happily again. “Thanks, dad.”

Kakashi pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “For you? The world.”

<>

Danzo Shimura grimaced. The jinchuriki and the last Uchiha were both flight risks from what operatives had seen as of recently. It was early, maybe 7 or 8 in the morning from where the sun was streaming into the Hokage office. Kakashi Hatake had proven to be a nuisance to the Sandaime Hokage, and would prove to be just as bad if he was Hokage.

He waved a ROOT operative forward, the guard coming from the shadows to listen.

“Send a team to watch the Hatake compound, and Team 7. Do not let them out of your sights, do not let them leave. Understood?” He muttered lowly. 

“Yes sir.” The operative responded, quickly bounding away to collect a team. 

It would all be fine, this was for the betterment of the village, to keep them inside its walls. He'd imprison all of them if he had to, to keep the village safe.

“Hokage-sama.” The operative returned within the hour, form unchanged and as blank as ever.

Danzo visibly grimaced. “What is it?”

“They are not in their home. It has been wiped clean and abandoned.” The operative reported, flat and as dull as ever.

Danzo swore under his breath. “Alright. We’re getting a capture team together. We can’t send ROOT or ANBU right now, not with the amount of S-ranks we’re taking.” He picked up a pen, beginning to write out a mission report. “Get me Team 8, Team 10, Team Gai, and an active duty jounin. This mission is capture, not kill.”

“Yes sir.”

<>

Three days had come and gone. It was early in the morning, the sun not even up as Kakashi woke the kids. Naruto had a backpack stuffed to the brim with scrolls, inks, and anything else he could think of, effectively keeping all of their belongings in one place. Sakura had her tanto at her back, a few weapons in various pouches, and baggy clothes to move freely in with her forearms and shins wrapped. Sasuke had scrolls of medical supplies in a bag on his hip, poison vials stashed away in another, and a few weapons at his thigh. They were all dressed in shades of blacks, greens and blues, a cloak on top of all of it obscuring their forms and their materials.

“You’re all ready?” Kakashi asked softly, checking them over himself, making sure they had everything possible.

“Yes, Papa.” Naruto answered quietly, Sakura and Sasuke nodded.

“Let’s go then.”

Kakashi walked with them towards the east gate at a steady pace, the fireflies dying out as the sun just barely grazed the faces of Hokage mountain. He ushered him and the children out of the gate, waving at Genma as they passed.

“Where are you headed, Hatake?” He asked with a grin.

Kakashi smiled right back. “Maa. Little training trip, we’re going to practise tracking and reconnaissance out in the woods!”

Genma nodded. “Have fun! Don’t get lost, ya hear?”

Kakashi nodded, smiling, before leaving with the kids in tow.

The moment they were out of sight of the gate, they were off running, towards the coast.

<>

“Good. You’re all here.” Danzo greeted as the teams entered, Hayate taking up the rear as a third jounin. “Kakashi Hatake has left the village with his team without permission, and even worse, we believe he intends to abandon the village in its entirety. Your mission is to capture and bring back Kakashi Hatake, Sakura Hatake, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha.” 

Shocked gasps came from the genin in the room, disbelieving looks passing between them.

“They have made off with an important journal from the Fourth Hokage as well. This mission is capture, not kill. You will need to bring them back at any cost, and recover that journal. Once they return, we will bring them to T&I to investigate their motives.” Danzo listed easily, handing Asuma the mission briefing. “You leave immediately. Team 8 is to take the forefront and track their location down. Team Gai, Team 10, and Hayate will take up the job of capturing the team, with Team 8 as backup. Understood?”

The thirteen of them nodded, Shikamaru stepping forward. “Do we know what direction they left?”

Danzo nodded. “Genma spotted them leaving the East Gate early this morning, barely past dawn. They’ve been out of the village for well over an hour now. Make haste. That journal cannot remain in their hands, nor can they stay away from this village. We will not allow traitors in our midst.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama.” Asuma confirmed, a grimace on his face as he stepped out of the office with the team in tow, cigarette smothered and tossed before long.

<>

Kakashi crouched on a tree, the kids scattered around the different branches.

“Caravan is coming down the path.” Naruto reported as his shadow clone popped. “We should take the long way. They have Konoha shinobi escorts.”

Kakashi hummed. They had been keeping away from main roads and even a few of the side ones to avoid being spotted as much as possible. The less leads they had on them the better, but there was only so much they could do.

Kakashi lept to the next trees, heading the long way around like Naruto had said, the three kids right behind him.

“We’re taking too long.” Sasuke commented impatiently, quietly, a grimace on his face.

Sakura sighed. “It’s okay, Sasuke. We need to avoid a fight here as much as possible, and the less of a trail they have to follow the better.” She said softly, easing a hand on his shoulder. “The moment we’re out of Fire Country, they won’t be able to do anything, not until we’re in the Bingo Books. Then we’re home free.”

Sasuke huffed, but agreed, feeling for his vials and for what he had stock of.

“Come on.” Kakashi spoke softly, lowly, the kids following without hesitation.

They jumped through the trees more and more, the coast within hearing distance as waves crashed against the shore, the smell of salt water wafting into the air. Naruto sniffed the air idly, enjoying the new scent as much as it smelled of fish, but…there was something else there. There was a tickle in his head, too, a flicker, one just large enough for him to register as a warning .

“Drop!” Naruto shouted, dropping from the branches as a volley of kunai flung overhead, his teammates following. Naruto sent a few shadow clones forward, backing his team up as more flecks of energy wafted into the air. His shadow clones went into the fray, exposing whoever was there one by one.

“Who are we looking at?” Kakashi asked quietly, summoning his dogs around his team.

Naruto grimaced as his clones popped. “Thirteen of them. The rookie genin teams, their senseis, and Hayate taking up the rear.”

Sakura looked visibly sick at the thought of her kenjutsu sensei being here, to capture her, or worse, kill her. “What do we do here?” Sakura asked quietly.

“Anything we can.” Kakashi responded.

Sakura sighed softly once again, staring ahead as the sound of moving shinobi got louder and louder. “Okay…” She took a calming breath. “Okay. Here’s what we do. We need to divide and conquer. Kakashi needs to draw the jounin away from their genin. Kurenai’s team is going to stay behind for back up since they’re a team suited for tracking, but that doesn’t mean we should underestimate them. Naruto, you need to set up traps. Keep a clone with all of us, make sure it has the chakra to last so it can point on the traps and draw people in. Sasuke, you’re back up. If you can nick them with a poison, do so, but you’re our last line of defense.”

“What are you going to do, Sakura?” Naruto asked in a tense and worried tone.

“I’m gonna lead all of the genin into Naruto’s traps.” Sakura stated. “I don’t have to win. I just have to stall.”

Kakashi grimaced. “Sakura-”

“This is our best bet.” Sakura interrupted. “We can’t beat them all unless we catch them by surprise. We’re not going to win head on, but we can sure as hell stall.”

“Right.” Sasuke pulled two vials out, handing one to Kakashi, and one to Sakura. “These are potent and will paralyse at the smallest wound contact, so be careful, even you, Sakura.” He then pulled out two pouches, handing them to Naruto. “These aren’t as strong, but the genin won’t handle it well and Sakura can breathe it just fine. I’ll take cover in the trees, and do some long range support.”

Sasuke bounded to the trees, taking cover and suppressing his chakra. Sakura looked over at Kakashi, nodding as they stepped into a large forest clearing, Nartuo making two dozen clones before they all started running through the woods, and the ninken hiding in the bushes.

Sakura stood, relaxed like her father, idly flipping a kunai between his fingers, Kakashi reading a book lazily.

The thirteen pursuers arrived quickly, and just like Sakura predicted, Team 8 lept back and took up the rear as backup, Hayate standing with them.

“Yo!” Kakashi greeted cheerfully, though Sakura could recognize the tension in his legs, ready to jump at any moment. “Quite the rude greeting with those knives, don’t you think?”

Asuma stepped forward, chakra blades in hand. “The Hokage told us you intended to leave, to betray the village.” He growled out, taking another step forward. “He told us you even stole a book from the Yondaime Hokage.”

Kakashi just smiled, stepping forward, Asuma visibly bracing. “He has betrayed my team. There is so much you don’t know about, Asuma.” He responded calmly, words dripping in venom. “We’ll be taking our leave. I wouldn’t recommend a fight with us.”

“Eternal Rival, you can’t seriously be considering…” Gai trailed off, unable to even finish the sentence, before he grimaced. “Nonsense! Return to the village and I’m sure we can all talk this out and find a reasonable explanation!”

Sakura was in front of Gai in a split second, senbon flying from her hand and into his shoulder. He did nothing more than wince, before he staggered back, falling flat on the ground. “It’s T&I we’ll end up in. I should know. I know the family quite well.” Sakura glanced over to Ino with a calm gaze, stepping back to Kakashi. Asuma swore, the genin getting into position, Kurenai stepping forward with him.

Sakura glanced over to Kakashi, his sharingan exposed and swirling, as he nodded towards her.

Kakashi dived in, stepping over Gai’s limp form, slashing at Asuma and Kurenai with a kunai, just barely ducking under Asuma’s blade in time. He lept back, tossing shuriken at the two, before they easily took the bait, pursuing him into the treeline, and out of sight of their genin. Good. Sakura just needed to take it from here.

Sakura stood calmly at the crowd on genin, six of them facing her for now, the last three high up in the branches of a tree with Hayate-sensei. She stared back at the crowd, immediately jumping back and flicking a senbon at Shikamaru as he knelt down to perform his shadow jutsu…taking the hit. Sakura narrowed her eyes at him as he fell to the ground, him looking at her blankly. He stared for a moment, glancing to Sakura’s left.

She ducked as she heard the pop of a storage scroll, Tenten launching a flurry of weapons at her. She scanned the mix, leaping through the fray and onto the side of a tree, a new blade in hand. It was heavier than the usual ones she used, but was more than enough.

But the important part was, Shikamaru warned her. He knew, and was on their side, and actively hindered himself to help her out, which meant she possibly had the smartest person in the village ruin his own team’s chances for capture. 

She spotted a blur of blond hair in the corner of her eye, already moving from one tree to the next, ducking under a charging Rock Lee. She moved back, light on her toes, grinning wildly as she spotted a clone following her in the trees, stopping just a few feet behind. Sakura blocked Lee’s blows, parried others, dodging and ducking and just drawing him in. She lept, seemingly at random to her pursuers, as something snapped in the air, a flurry of tight ninja wire pulling taut around Lee. Sakura flicked a senbon at him, the needle sharp weapon embedding in his thigh as he twisted free from the wire with his strength. He went to attack Sakura again, Sakura catching him as he fell limp from the paralysis, Tenten’s attacks from above pausing as Sakura took a temporary cover behind Lee. 

“Sorry Lee.” Sakura mumbled softly, setting him down as gently as possible.

“Sakura- why-?” Lee hissed out as he was set onto the mossy and grass covered ground of the forest. 

Sakura shook her head. “I’m sorry. You’ll know someday, I swear.” She mumbled quietly, plucking the senbond from his thigh gently. 

Sakura ducked under a volley of weapons from Tenten,  substituting herself with a log to take a breath and make some space. Neji, Tenten, Ino and Choji remained, not including Kiba, Hinata, Shino, and..and Hayate. Tenten and Ino would be the next priority to take out their long range capabilities, and staying behind cover was very needed. Sakura took a calming breath. Her arm had been scratched during Tenten’s initial attack, and she was incredibly lucky to have made it this far without getting hurt. Gai was a lucky shot that came from his underestimation of the team, not for thinking they were weak, but assuming they’d stop and talk. Shikamaru was also lucky, it was lucky he knew what was happening, that he was on their side. Sakura was smart, sure, but Shikamaru was no doubt smarter. If it came down to a fight between them, she’d have no clue who’d win. Lee was a good shot and well timed trapped, and she just had to hold out and hope they could keep getting lucky. Naruto rushing by in a blur of greens, blacks and blond hair signaled his next trap was ready, due east. Sakura brought the fight up to Tenten aggressively, the stolen sword assisting in keeping her hands off of her weapons scroll.

Sakura was practiced in taijutsu and kenjutsu, sure, but Tenten had an extra year of training under Gai, and an arsenal of weapons that had Sakura completely outmatched. Sakura simply continued with an aggressive game of leading Tenten east, keeping her hands moving and off that scroll to block her strikes.

“Lee believes you can come back from this!” Tenten called out almost desperately, blocking and parrying with practised ease, no attempts at a counterattack to be seen. “You don’t have to go! We can talk this out, if Lee believes you’re good, then you are.”

Sakura stopped on a branch when a clone stared at her long enough, allowing Tenten to catch her breath, fingers gripping her scroll. “You don’t understand. Not yet.” Sakura mumbled quietly, brows furrowed as she looked at Tenten. “All you need to know is that my teammates can’t stay, and I made a vow to keep them safe.”

Tenten’s lips pressed into a tight line. “I know how you feel.” She mumbled quietly. “I’m sorry, Sakura.”

Tenten launched a Kunai far too fast for Sakura to even register as it embedded into her thigh. Sakura grimaced, hissing as it nearly made her leg buckle from underneath her. Tenten stepped forward, with an almost regrettable look, before the branch dropped from underneath her in a split second, a net picking her up. Sakura flicked a senbon at her before she had the chance to cut herself free, before Sakura jumped to the next tree over, leaning against the trunk from a high branch. 

“Sakura!” A Naruto clone called out in a whisper shout. “Still good?”

Sakura nodded, sweat dripping from her temple as she worked a bandage around her thigh, stuffing gauze into the wound to halt whatever bleeding she could. “Pop. Alert Naruto. I need backup.”

The clone nodded. “He’s setting up that way.” The clone pointed back towards the original clearing, the clouds overhead rolling into a dark and lightning filled sky, drizzles of the first monsoon of the season. “I’ll get him to smoke the place.”

Sakura nodded, taking in a few more precious breaths, before leaping down and making herself known to the three remaining genin.

Neji stared her down. “You can’t run long on that leg.” He commented quietly, a cold chill to his voice. “You’re running out of time.”

Sakura rolled her shoulder with a sharp glare, before ducking into a bush. Ino wasn’t far. Neji was just attempting to stall her, the same as she was doing for them. Sakura rolled out of the way as Choji slammed an enlarged fist where she had been standing, wood splintering from the trunk his fist had grazed.

Sakura grunted as her leg buckled slightly, the bleeding wound in her leg hindering her far too much. Fuck it. She had an idea that Sasuke would no doubt kill her for later. Her fire jutsu was average at best, but it would do the trick. Sakura yanked the gauze free from her wound, chucking a kunai into a tree not far from Neji’s head. She ran through the hand signs, a fireball hurtling through the woods, Neji decidedly ducking out of the way, Ino making herself known next to Choji as the fire raged. Sakura picked up the kunai, now red hot, her gloves the only thing keeping her hand from getting singed as she pressed the blade to her thigh wound.

Sakura bit down on her hand as she worked through the pain, keeping herself upright against the charcoaled trunk, eyes open and staring out warrily for her opponents. She needed to run to the next trapped spot as soon as she could. They were expecting traps now, but a powder bomb of poison wasn’t something many could defend against. Neji surged forward towards her while she was catching her breath, Sakura ducking just in time for Neji to only graze past her shoulder. She felt her arm get hit, a chakra point closed and arm throbbing from what would no doubt be a bruise, before she sprinted towards Naruto’s location.

Her leg screamed for her to stop, to take a break, the cauterization not nearly complete enough as hot blood dripped from her leg. Still, she kept running. She just had to- there! Right there! 

Sakura dove for it, Ino, Neji, Choji already following up not far behind. Sakura held her breath as the powder bombs went out, the near translucent powder settling onto the ground and into the air, Choji choking back a heavy cough, unable to stop once it started, and Ino in much of the same boat. Sakura breathed in the smoke, lungs far too used to the thick of it. She had to get out soon, that much was true, but they all were on a timer.

Neji glared, spinning as a dome of chakra surrounded him, the powder getting blown away. He was the only one still standing.

“Sakura! Regroup!” Naruto shouted from the branches, moving to engage Neji with two clones coming in at his right and left. 

“On it!” She ducked under a lunge from Neji, one of Naruto’s clones meeting his hand to deflect and move him back. Sakura just ran, back towards Kakashi, back towards her father.

“Sorry, Neji.” Naruto mumbled softly, the clones surrounding him popping into smoke, Naruto emerging from the ground to uppercut Neji, a senbon in his bicep before long from Sakura. She took a heaving breath, Naruto coming up beside her to support her weight, keeping her off of her wounded leg.

“Kakashi’s in trouble.” Naruto explained quickly. “He’s gotten Kurenai down for the count, but Asuma injured him badly, and the backup team has stepped in. Sasuke’s fighting with him against the genin, but they need help.”

Sakura nodded, running the numbers in her head. Naruto and her had seconds before they met with the already clashing group, their resources trickling as they kept going. Kakashi was no doubt reaching his limits, Sasuke was good, but not good enough in a three on one fight, and Hayate was still at his full strengths and reserves.

“Okay.” Sakura took a breath. “Move them towards the shore. I can get water justus up and running easier there, even with the blocked chakra. You need to send out as many clones as you can, overwhelm them, use up their resources. It’s just five more.” Sakura took one more heaving breath, before moving herself from Naruto’s shoulder. “I’ll take on Hayate sensei.”

Naruto furrowed his brows, a displeased look on his face as he stared ahead, a flash of lighting only a few feet away. “You’re going to get injured. Badly.”

“Just get them to the water.” Sakura responded simply, already running again.

Naruto cursed under his breath, already summoning the clones needed.

<>

Broken ankle. Slashed abdomen. Mild concussion. Chakra exhaustion. 

Kakashi listed his injuries in his head like a mantra, moving with the rhythm of the fight, Asuma’s chakra blades deadly and unyielding. Sasuke has already been holding back the three genin, flames licking the forest all around them, smoke billowing from the fireball jutsus he was throwing left and right.

Sakura had joined the fight, injured, covered in dust, but standing and alive, a grimace on her face as Naruto joined the fight with a small army of clones.

Kakashi ducked under the chakra blades again, before he moved his shoulder just in time to avoid getting impaled by a kunai thrown from Hayate. It grazed the fabric, tearing through and exposing his ANBU tattoo. Kakashi ducked, vaguely aware of Naruto and Sasuke turning the attention away from Sakura, the young girl dashing through the smouldering clearing to meet Hayate’s blade as he went to attack Kakashi.

“Sakura-!” Kakashi gasped out, moving back to spit another volley of precise justus at Asuma.

“To the sea!” She shouted, no, ordered, Kakshi moving towards the ocean to comply. They were outmatched. They needed to take whatever advantages they had, no matter what. Kakashi was worn out between injuries from Kurenai and Asuma, chakra exhaustion coming close, and his constant checking on the three kids. He ducked under another slash of chakra blades, moving it to hit some quick and well-timed jabs to Asuma’s ribs before disengaging, the sea within reach, the kids not far behind.

“What’s the plan, Sakura?!” Sasuke asked, ducking under a lunge from Kiba- or Akamaru, it wasn’t clear- before kicking whoever it was in the stomach as he rolled onto the water. 

“Water! Now!” Sakura just ordered sharply, the boys complying. As little information as they had, as Kakashi himself had, He’d trust Sakura without a doubt. She had thought it through a dozen times, that much was certain, and she’d be able to do something.

Naruto jumped back, panting, but in the best shape out of everyone, his clones doing a lot of the heavy lifting in the fight. “Sakura?” He questioned, on edge as he summoned three more clones, one helping Sasuke from a nasty ankle wound.

Sakura cracked her neck, running through hand signs. “You can thank Zabuza for this one.” She mumbled, dozens of hand signs flashing by, Kakashi’s sharingan watching them.

“Sakura- how did you-?” Kakashi questioned, chakra flooding the air and water itself as Sakura finished the last of the hand signs.

“I watched the last of the fight to make sure you made it out alright.” She explained simply, the last hand sign in place. “I memorized the signs, read up on it when we got back to the village.”

And as the team of five that was left closed in, as Asuma grazed Sakura’s forearm with his chakra blade, the water dragon jutsu came crashing down, water pelting all five of who was left.

Sakura’s hands shook, her skin burning from chakra exhaustion, breath staggered and heavy as she pulled out her tanto. The genin were down. But the jonin were not guaranteed. Kakashi continued the clash as Asuma dove in, Sakura deflecting a heavy blow from Hayate and Kakashi kicking Asuma away from her.

Hayate made three decisive swings, Sakura fully on the defensive as Hayate tripped her onto the water, the rain only falling heavier. “Just come home, Sakura!” Hayate shouted. “You’re better than this! I saw it in you, when I was teaching you, you are destined for greatness, but you can’t do that as a rogue!”

Sakura grunted as she was pushed against the water, pushing chakra into her back to keep herself afloat. She braced her hand against her own blade, Hayate pressing down with strength Sakura was barely able to hold back. “You don’t understand, Hayate-sensei!” Sakura cried out, tears coming to her eyes. “I can’t stay!”

Hayate furrowed his brows. Whether or not Sakura wanted to betray the village, she believed in what she was saying. Sakura relaxed the chakra in her system after a moment, allowing herself to sink into the crashing waves of the sea, pulling Hayate under with her. She grabbed his blade, using chakra in her hand to snap it after enough wrestling, before pulling herself up and taking a breath, truly soaked through even through the pouring rain, her chakra coils burning with overuse.

Naruto stared out at the fight, Sasuke on the shoulder of a clone, grimacing as he healed a small wound on Naruto. “We need to finish this, now.” Sasuke grimaced, staring at the fight himself, sharingan glancing every which way to follow the fight. “They’re both chakra exhausted and running on fumes.”

“Naruto, let me-” Kurama started.

“ No.” Naruto interrupted without hesitation. “ I’m not using you. Using your knowledge when you are giving it up willingly is one thing, but stealing your chakra is another.”

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Naruto didn’t know what to do. He was out of tags, smoke bombs, and non-lethal poisons, Sasuke only having lethal ones left, and they didn’t want to kill anyone, if they could even land a hit in the first place. Naruto made more clones, but with the two jonin, they fell just as easily as they were made. He couldn't use a rasengan, not with the potentially lethal force, and with the rain making a new seal would be impossible with his water-based inks.

“Naruto.”  Kurama eased into his mind like a warm blanket. “Let me help. I know you don’t want to use me, I know you don’t want to take advantage of me. But I am asking you to let me help. I am asking you to let me gift you my chakra.”

Naruto paused, lips pressed into a tight line, brows furrowed. Kakashi and Sakura needed to disengage, they needed to get out of there. Naruto took in a small breath, giving his backpack to Sasuke, before stepping forward.

“Okay.” Naruto said aloud, hurling clones at Hayate and Asuma enough for them to back up just enough, other clones pulling Sakura and Kakashi out. “Kurama. I need your help.”

And in an instant, chakra washed over his skin, hot, unyielding, forming around him like a cloak, even two tails of chakra reaching out behind him. The water boiled under his feet, the air heavy with mist before long at the change in temperature. Asuma and Hayate stared as Kakashi and Sakura dissolved and disappeared into the mist, Naruto’s eyes red, pupils turned to slits, and entirely trained on them.

“You will retreat to the village with your team.” Naruto said calmly. “I’m not a shinobi that gives up, and your team is on a timer. Those who have been poisoned will need treatment soon, or they will die.” It was a bluff, Naruto had no idea if they’d fall for it, but it would bring time they desperately needed as Kurama helped the fog increase more and more.

Asuma grimaced. “Kakashi the friend killer definitely taught you well.” He snarled, voice low and deep as he went in for an attack, the blade sinking into Naruto’s bicep, but Kurama’s chakra healing the wound in seconds. Naruto grasped his arm, spinning and chucking him into a tree.

Hayate stood idly at the back and Asuma went in again and again, Kurama’s chakra keeping Naruto well protected.

Eventually, after one injury too many, Asuma laid limp on the beach, breathing heavy and staggered, only Hayate left.

Naruto looked at him calmly, though underneath he was nervous, and ready to run back to his family.

Hayate sighed softly, walking forward with his hands visible. “That poison isn’t deadly, is it?” He asked softly, Naruto shaking his head slowly. “Asuma made a lot of lapse in his judgments today. His father died, so really, what else should I have expected?”

Naruto eyed him wearily, brows furrowed.

“I’m done with the fight. The mist is too heavy, the rain is showing no sign of stopping, and I need to get the genin back home safely.” He explained quietly. “Just…tell Sakura for me that I hope she comes home someday, that she tells me whatever's happening someday, and that I’m proud of her.”

Naruto nodded, offering a smile. “Thank you.” He breathed out a sigh of relief. “And…stay safe. Keep your comrades close.” He said softly, before retreating into the fog, Kurama’s chakra receding around him as he disappeared from Hayate’s view.

The prickles of energy in the back of his head lead him back to his family in no time, Sakura visibly sagging against the clone he left her, Kakashi not faring much better, and Sasuke healing what he could for Kakashi on a bloody and broken ankle.

Naruto summoned a few more clones, helping haul them further out into the water. “Come on.” Naruto said excitedly, a smile on his face as he took over for the clone helping Sakura. “Home stretch! We’re almost out of Fire Country territory!”

Sakura laughed softly, the Naruto clone eventually lifting her onto his back to avoid her using what little was left of her reserves. “Can’t believe you're cheerful after a fight like that.” She tucked her head against Naruto’s neck, the braid of her hair falling down.

“Number-one knuckle-headed ninja.” Sasuke mumbled with his own snort of laughter.

“This knucklehead just saved all of you!” He pouted, turning his nose up in protest.

Kakashi laughed, ruffling Naruto’s hair. “You did well. I’m proud.”

Naruto smiled brightly at that. “Thanks Papa!”

“Come on then.” Kakashi hummed. “The mist is thick, but if we head this way we’ll be in the Land of Waves before long. Haku should still have his home there, we’ll be able to at least heal up.”

The three kids nodded, walking on the water with smiles. They weren't completely happy, or completely at ease, but they were brighter than Kakashi had seen since the Forest of Death.

<>

They had been travelling for hours at this point, far longer than it should have taken to get to Wave, Naruto’s energy wavering the longer he helped his teammates move.

“We’re coming up on a land mass.” Sasuke stated, sharingan working through the heavy rain and low visibility. “There’s a cave on the cliff face.”

“We’ll head there.” Kakashi stated simply. “We need to get out of the rain.” As if on queue, Sakura sneezed harshly.

Kakashi and the three kids walked up the sheer cliffside, and into the cave. It was sloped down, most of the cave dry, even a few old pieces of wood scattered around. Kakashi limped around, the other kids moving at their best to help collect what was needed for the fire.

Sasuke used the smallest fireball he could muster, the fire crackling to life before long, Naruto bringing out their sleeping bags and stacking them around it, the four of them soon sitting down.

It was silent for a long time, no one moving, just staring at the fire.

“Kami.” Sasuke breathed out. “We’re free. I can see my brother soon.”

Sakura let out a soft laugh, before it bubbled up into something louder, brighter, freer. Naruto and Sasuke joining in, leaning against one another as their energy left, even Kakashi chuckling fondly. 

“We’re alive! We’re free!” Sakura laughed again, hugging the boys tightly, Kakashi moving over to hold all three of them. 

Kakashi lowered his mask and pressed his lips to each of their heads, the three leaning into him, the fire casting a warm glow on their faces. “Time to rest.” He hummed softly. “It’s gonna be a lot of traveling as soon as we’re well enough.”

Sasuke shook his head. “No. Injuries first. I want to see all of them.”

Sakura laughed. “Always the worrier.” She mumbled softly, undressing to her cargos and tank top, Kakashi mirroring the movement.

Naruto sat at the side, cuddling up in one of the sleeping bags with a soft sigh, observing his family.

“You cauterized it?!” Sasuke shouted, flicking Sakura’s forehead.

She glared at him. “I needed a working solution! Tell me that again when you have Neji Hyugaa gunning for your head!”

Sasuke flicked her forehead a second time. “Don’t cauterize your wounds!”

Naruto laughed, watching Sasuke work away at healing Kakashi and Sakura, before he slowly drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Chapter Text

Naruto stirred as Sakura and Sasuke did, the early morning air doing nothing to warm his already chilled bones. His father was still out for the time being, his chakra exhaustion, injuries, and especially his concussion taking a toll on him.

Naruto blinked out at the cave entrance, the skies beautiful shades of orange and red of dawn, the sun peaking over the horizon. He stood and stretched, grunting at the pop in his shoulders, Sakura and Sasuke joining him soon after.

“Think we’re close enough to a forest to hunt?” Sasuke grunted out quietly, his morning voice making him sound ragged and raspy. “I could use some fresh food instead of those Kami-awful rations.”

Sakura groaned, touching her toes before stretching back and lifting her arms up. “Doesn’t hurt to take a look. We’ll just leave a note for Dad.”

Naruto grinned, already leaving a note on some of his spare seal paper, before heading to the mouth of the cave. “What should we do first once we’re safe? Oh! And where should we visit? Do you think the Land of Mist would be a good place? Or maybe not, but maybe Zabuza can give us some tips!”

“You are too loud for mornings.” Kurama grumbled in his head as the three of them climbed the cliff face, Naruto keeping an eye on his teammates, who were still mildly recovering from injuries.