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"Hey, Pakkun?"
The pug lounging lazily on his lap raised his head and looked up.
"Who would have thought we'd make it this far, hm?"
Kakashi was sitting at the base of the large tree in the backyard of the Hatake compound. Up ahead, his two boys were playfighting with the rest of the ninken in a blur of silver and pink and brown, while Sakura was braiding their daughter's long grey hair behind her; from this distance, he could see sakura blossom petals interwoven in the braid.
The old pug tilted his head. "I did, Boss. The ninken did. It was just a matter of when."
After everything that he went through in his life - losing his Dad at a young age, his team, countless of comrades in battle; his time in ANBU, in Team 7, as Hokage; going through two wars and fighting literal gods to finally pull Konoha into an era of peacetime - never would he had thought that a happy ending was in his future. He’d always thought he would die in battle. Now here he was, having restored both the Hatake compound and clan name to their former glory with the woman he'd never thought he'd love and be loved by.
"I don't think I've thanked you boys enough," he murmured, tone sounding slightly regretful.
"Don't sweat it. We know. But if you wanna repay us, a few more of those chewable bones couldn’t hurt." Kakashi laughed at the joking tone. Pakkun continued, a little somber. "Any time you need us, you know we're a scroll away."
"I know." He looked down at his summon - his constant companion since his youth - and gave him a grateful stroke on the head.
"You're being awfully sentimental today," Pakkun added, inquisitive. "What gives?"
Kakashi looked into the distance, at where his family was. "Maa, guess it's that time of month again."
Pakkun snorted. "And I thought only Floral Green had those." He shook his head then laid his head down back on his paws, but not before nuzzling his snout to his summoner's stomach. "Just relax, Boss. You have your own pack now. You deserve this."
"Kashi!"
A feminine voice - one he had always loved - called out to him, and he turned his head in its direction. His wife was walking to him, a hand waving to catch his attention. Behind her, Bull had taken his spot by their daughter’s side, and the large canine guided her to where her older brothers and the ninken were.
Once she reached him and was standing about a foot away from him, she bent down at the waist, her hands on her hips. "Everything okay?" she asked, sounding slightly concerned.
Kakashi pulled down his mask and showed her his full smile. The mask had always helped him filter the scents and smells of the world that tended to get overbearing on his sensitive nose, but her scent was one he could never get enough of. He inhaled her natural, calming scent before he replied, "Everything's more than okay."
Sakura raised a skeptical eyebrow at him as she looked directly into his dark grey eyes. "Huh, really? Then why are you staring off into space?"
Instead of answering, he carried Pakkun off his lap and onto the ground beside him. The pug grunted in slight annoyance at being jostled from his nap, but settled down quickly.
"Come here." He took his wife by her hips and tugged at her so that she tumbled down facing him, sprawling on his lap. She squeaked at the motion then adjusted her position, giggling.
Resting his chin on her shoulder, he snuggled his face into the crook of her neck. "Thank you for our children," he murmured softly into her skin. Pressing a gentle kiss there, he continued, "Thank you for turning this mansion into a home. Thank you for loving me, and thank you for letting me love you."
He ended his impromptu speech with a tender kiss on her lips. She smiled against his mouth, her hands coming up to cup his jaw. She leaned back to look at him, unshed tears in her brilliant, bright, gorgeous green eyes. "Goodness, why are you so sappy all of a sudden?" she laughed lightly, brushing a loving thumb across his cheekbone.
"Just grateful, is all."
She laughed again and bumped her nose against his. His heart swelled with affection, and he leaned in for another kiss.
"Papa! Where's the jutsu you promised to show?!"
An excited chorus of 'jutsu! jutsu! jutsu!' followed the shout. She pecked him on the lips one last time and got up. She offered her hand to him to help him up. "Come on, Papa! Duty calls!"
He took her up on her offer, letting her pull him up with her famous chakra-enhanced strength. He stood tall and proud before her, no slouch in sight. He looked down at her, and she smiled up at him with pride in her eyes.
Kakashi leaned down a little to give a small kiss on Sakura's Byakugō seal. He straightened up and pulled his mask back in place. "And this is the best duty I've ever been assigned to."