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Pakkun takes his job very seriously ever since he’d been working under contract with the Copy-nin of Konoha.
Kakashi has been good to him and and his pack. Always providing them with food after a mission and allowing them to linger around the compound for as long as they like.
However now, as Pakkun peeks through a window, he’s wondering if having Hatake Kakashi as a boss is worth it.
Pakkun’s nose twitches as it’s overwhelmed with the scents that come along with a place that houses a large section of children of various ages. Yep. The scent that his Boss ordered him to track and become familiar with led him to Konoha’s orphanage of all places.
Pakkun sniffs distastefully. He’s never been a fan of kids. Since he’s a smaller dog they tend to like to pick him up no matter how many warning snaps with his teeth he gives. He’s a ninken not a pet!
Kakashi’s words wonder back into Pakkun’s mind as he slinks through a slightly open window to gain further access to the orphanage.
‘Learn this scent and protect it with your life’
Not the average demand. Usually the scents he track spell someone else’s demise. Not a demand of protection.
Nonetheless a curiosity pokes at Pakkun. He mutters to himself with disapproval noting how easy it is to enter the premises of the orphanage. Not a seal in sight. No guards. Absolutely no protective measures besides the few ANBU Pakkun can sense perched in the trees surrounding the building for some reason.
Pakkun continues to follow the rather odd scent passing by several rooms of slumbering children. His nose twitches thoughtfully as he follows the scent trail. The scent is a strange mixture of human and animal. But the animal part is very animal-like. If Pakkun had to name it he’d probably go with fox. Which makes absolutely no sense accompanied with the very much human aspect.
Eventually Pakkun makes his way into a shabby room that could hardly be called a room. Much closer to the description of a broom closet. Somehow jammed in the small space is a crib. And oh. Pakkun approaches silently lifting his head and sure enough the scent’s source lies there slumbering peacefully.
A shock of bright blonde hair has memories stirring in Pakkun’s mind. He slowly walks up to the baby that can’t be older than three or four months.
As if sensing him the baby’s eyes flutter open showing a startling blue. A familiar blue.
The color scheme isn’t common in Konoha. Pakkun notes the whisker marks on the child’s cheeks and suddenly everything begins to make sense.
This mission wasn’t any mission. This is a mission to watch over Kakashi’s sensei’s son. That, Pakkun can see clear as day.
Well, Pakkun thinks as he stares at the child who’s eyes have fluttered closed again, he sure has plenty to report.
The next time Pakkun visits the child there’s a much stronger notable presence of ANBU around the area and multiple seals are placed down. Pakkun nods in contentment as he struggles just a bit more to infiltrate the place. He’s also pleased to find the child in a larger room that is less stuffy. However it’s notable the child still remains alone.
This time the kid’s around one year old. As Pakkun approaches he notes silent tears have fallen down the child’s face where he lies behind the bars of a crib. The child is making grabby hands and staring at a spot on the ground.
Pakkun notices a stuffed dog plushy lays abandoned on the ground a few feet away from the crib. It must have fallen at some point. But how long ago? Minutes? Hours? Days even? Pakkun wouldn’t put it past the orphanage staff to leave the child crying as they often do much to his and the Boss’ displeasure.
Pakkun huffs as he moves to pick up the stuffed toy. He raises it to the bars. Tiny chubby little hands gently take it from his hold. Pakkun backs up as the child pulls the toy through the bars hugging it tightly to his small frame. Pakkun winces as he’s then greeted with the brightest smile he thinks he’s ever seen. It’s near blinding. But even so Pakkun finds himself smiling in return if ever so slightly.
The Boss only ever refers to the kid as Minato’s kid or the jinchuriki so it’s not until the kid is two that he learns his name.
The child is standing up in the crib and Pakkun secretly wonders if he’s ever taken out of it. Does the kid get to explore? Play with the other kids?
Pakkun’s in the middle of considering the repercussions of kidnapping the kid and introducing him to the pack when the kid rips his thumb out of his mouth and loudly bursts out, “Naruto!”
Pakkun blinks momentarily, “Huh, you hungry kid?”
Naruto claps his hands happily in seeming amusement. Then he pats his chest roughly and repeats himself, “Naruto!”
Pakkun quickly picks up. Finally, a name for the little squirt.
Pakkun looks around the room for a moment before approaching Naruto, “The name’s Pakkun.”
He gets close to the crib so Naruto can pat at his fur. The kid is always gentle which is surprising considering how boisterous he can be.
And if he ends up curled against the kid in the crib as the kid takes his afternoon nap then it’s no one’s business.
When the kid’s three Pakkun has decided he’s had enough. The kid is always cooped up in that crib being ignored by the entire orphanage. He doesn’t get outside to see the sun. He doesn’t get time to even practice walking around. He’s malnourished and his speech skills leave less to be desired cause no one talks to him. They’ve for all purposes abandoned him. Pakkun’s watched their neglect happen for three years and it’s a wonder the kid hasn’t been stolen yet from enemy villages.
Pakkun tells Kakashi as much and declares he’s going to make a move with or without him.
That night within minutes the entire ANBU squad outside the orphanage is neutralized. Kakashi and Pakkun easily make it into the orphanage. It’s laughable if it no so concerning.
Pakkun leads Kakashi to Naruto’s crib. Pakkun happily gets close to the bars licking at the slumbering child inside.
Kakashi’s breath catches in alarm as familiar wide blue eyes stare up at him. They appear alarmed and on edge a little too much for a three year old until they soften upon landing on Pakkun.
Naruto mumbles a sleepy, “Pakkun?”
Pakkun grins up at him as Naruto rubs away the sleep in his eyes, “You’re coming home kid.”
Eventually Kakashi breaks out of his shock and carefully picks Naruto up careful not to jostle him. Naruto instantly curls against Kakashi’s side making Kakashi’s heart squeeze. He looks to Pakkun and they nod in agreement, leaving the orphanage and dazed ANBU behind.
Now, Pakkun thinks as he watches Naruto snuggle against Kakashi in his sleep, the pack is complete.