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Chapter Text

Accidental Acquisition of Happiness 

“But I don't want to sleep, Nee-chan,” the boy pouted, not resisting when covered in a blanket to warm him, his blue and blond eyes peeking over to see her smiling and ruffling his floofy golden hair. The woman that the boy called his older sister, poked the Boy’s forehead telling him to sleep, she was just about to leave the room when a child asked softly, almost afraid that he was asking “Hey, nee-san, can you tell me a story,” 

She stopped right in her tracks, resisting to sigh in front of the boy, not wanting to give any indication that she was annoyed momentarily by him, instead, opting to silently grab a small chair and sit right next to the grinning child. He smiles brightly as he waits in anticipation for his nee-san to tell a wondrous story from a penelope of libraries she had stored in her mind filled with adventure and excitement. His nee-san rarely talks to him, to anyone really, she is always quiet and only likes to talk when she has to. His nee-san is super weird like that but the child doesn't mind, he loves her with all his heart and that is all he truly cares about. 

“Well, Naruto,” her voice was tender, “ A fake hero, a drunk priest, a cowardly warrior, and a disgraceful mage walk into a bar. Do you know what they did?” his nee-san asked while she caressed Naruto’s arm gently and lovingly. 

“No,” the boy said with quiet anticipation, almost shaking in his bed if it wasn't for his nee-chan holding his arm. “Tell me, tell me, Ina, Neechan.”

The woman, who has brown mother-side plait hair, tilted her head to the left stifling a chuckle, “They saved the world.”

Inari or just Ina as she prefers, interests Hiruzen. Frankly, anyone who is close to the village jinchuriki is of interest to him. No living father, mother, sister, brother, nothing, she has no family and no one to support her, a sadly common thing to be heard in the elemental continents even in Konoha, a ninja village whose very purpose was to protect civilians and the next generation. There was nothing too suspicious about her, she isn't an immigrant who flees from the third war that would warrant immediate investigation if she was being close to the 4th legacy, by Amaterasu, she isn't even close to anything Ninja-related, no record of ever attending the Ninja academy, only a list that was given to him every year noting civilian that should be convinced to join the ninja force, she doesn't even have any interaction with Ninjas except the few that visited her shop to taste her… innovative food, to say the least. 

No, no, Hiruzen was never truly suspicious of her interaction with the village asset: the jinchuriki. She was under suspicion by him, not as the third Hokage, but the grandfatherly figure of young Naruto. He cared for that boy, although he may not show it often, much in fear of suspicion on why he showed obvious favor to him that would lead to Naruto’s identity being compromised, yet for the past 5-years in all of the boy’s life he was there for him in the darkness, only showing his face after he knows the time is right, while in the past before that only constitutes Hiruzen watches from his Crystal orb, making sure no one from the village be too ridden with grief to do anything foolish and funds everything for the boy not from his parents' inheritance but using his wealth. Yes, Hiruzen Sarutobi is just being protective of his surrogate grandson. 

That is why he is knocking on Inari's door, doing this unfortunately monthly (Not weekly, he still grumbles about not being able to pinch Naruto's round cheek every day) check-up on young Naruto and his surrogate mother is all but legally binding.

The door was answered promptly, a woman that just entered her twenties opened the door and bowed toward him, Hiruzen just stayed silent, already giving up on trying to tell the girl not to treat him so formally. She was also silent as always, “Hello Inari,”  the old war leader smiled genuinely. 

She raised her head from the bow, “It's again an honor for you to visit my lord,” she told him and then silently guided him to the dining table that was near the kitchen; there he saw young Naruto, practicing his Hiragana with crayons, the young lad notices him and instantly jumps like the ball of energy he is to hug him, “Jiisan!” he half shouts wanting to limit his voice, clearly an influence from the woman's parenting. The lad's arm was covered in a smear of crayons that colored his ceremonial robe, Hiruzen ignored it and just hugged the boy tighter. “You finally came, I thought that you were too busy to be here!” he disengaged the hug and finally pinched Naruto's round cheeks, much to the boy's dismay, “Jiisan… “ he protested. 

“I would recommend that you don't pinch him to hard lord Hokage,” Inari was sitting on the dining chair looking at the both of them while holding a cup of green tea. “I don't want Naruto to be a red plump after all,” she said dryly, which made him let out a good chuckle. For all her stoic mask, Inari has clear familiarity with dry wit and sarcasm. Naruto, hearing his neechan, just pouted and crossed her arms and looked away from her. She smiled briefly then returned to normal, “Naruto, why don't you prepare for your outing with the Hokage, didn't you say the two of you are going to be angling today?” Naruto looked at her once more then nodded, and immediately ran to his room not before hearing Inari saying, “Don't forget sunscreen and your hat,” she said a little louder than she used to. And Naruto replied with: “Yeah, mom!”

That made her freeze, putting down her glass of green tea and quietly muttering, “That boy. “

“Still not used to the child you surprisingly acquired unknowingly, ” Hiruzen walks toward the chair in front of her with a glass of green tea for him, he doesn't sit. 

“Only Naruto’s mother should be called mother by him, I'm just a girl trying to find a family to care for, and just so happened that a ball of sunshine appeared in my life with soggy cloth, grumbling tummy, and the roundest face you'll ever see, but don't ever tell Naruto that I say his face is round, he would throw a tantrum, “ Ina’s last description briefly made Hiruzen remember a certain girl that would be fuming being called her face was round. 

“I won't,” Hiruzen says. Not wanting to delve into the woman's clear imposter syndrome, and stating directly toward her that the both of them are good for each other and choosing for her to realize that at her own pace, he instead slides on the table an envelope. “Here, this month's check. “

“I'm not doing this for money, my lord, I'm doing this for Naruto,” the woman sipped the green tea, “all the money you've given me I've never used it once, if I know you want it back, which I know you don't, I'll give it back without a moment notice.”

“Ina, I've told you multiple times already. I can't let you be the only one being burdened with raising young Naruto, the boy is also my responsibility and I see him as my grandson in all but blood, please accept this, or I can't see his parent's face when I go to heaven if the gods let me,” he insisted. 

“No my lord, I'm perfectly able, more than able to support him, I appreciate your concern but I am capable,” there it is again her stubbornness leaking out. She has too much pride to receive any help, all her life she has supported herself, and being given money to help her do what she sees as her duty annoys her greatly. 

“At least can you save this money and give it to young Naruto when he is a genin?” Hiruzen pleads. 

“Chunin,” she countered, Hiruzen was silent then smiled. 

“Chunin then,” they both agreed with a nod, “Here, keep it until he is a Chunin.” He gave her the envelope which she accepted. “I’ll send the same amount every month for you to keep safe.”

“It will be done, my… “

She was interrupted by a loud running sound and heavy breathing as Naruto was holding his fishing equipment, covered in sunscreen, and an orange bucket head. “ Let's go Jiji!!! I'm ready!” His eyes were sparkling. Hiruzen smirked seeing the boy and chuckled when the boy's mother pinched the nose between her eyes. She glared at him, telling him a sign that Hiruzen clearly understood. 

“Alright let's go, Lad, “Hiruzen walks towards the house exit while motioning his arm for Naruto to come to him, “I have a perfect spot to catch river fish.'' The boy followed him with a giddy leap and they shut the door right before Naruto said their farewell to Ina and she reminded Naruto to be back before dark. 

As the both of them walk towards the river, Hiruzen, even if he is worried, can't help but know that this surprised adoption would do just fine, he also can't wait for Ina to cook the fish. She's good at cooking and any man that would be her husband would be one lucky man; there is no doubt about it.  

Kakashi didn't know how it happened but somehow he was Inari’s latest accidental acquisition, in what form he didn't know yet.  What he can tell is that he is happy with the accidental acquisition, while Inari is famous for super delicious experimental food, she is also good with traditional cooking and her salt-broiled saury and miso soup with eggplant is to die for. 

Genma told him that it was accidental Boyfriend acquisition, and Kakashi disagrees, boyfriend doesn't farts in front of their girlfriends and she doesn't minds that he does it, boyfriend doesn't fix things and only be called when there was something broken and a jar is too tight for her, no bf and gf would casually walks towards each other while taking a poo and none of them bat an eye or saying nothing flirty, and no girl want to see their boyfriend being a lazy bum and not saying a single complaint about it. No, whatever his relationship is with Inari it is not boyfriend and girlfriend. 

He still remembers it fondly:

It was a year ago, while Kakashi was walking at the Konoha market squares looking at books he was about to buy and fill his barren life with hobbies, he spotted Master Jiraiya’s new book, a new series he hadn't read yet or heard of, but liking his previous work: Tale of the Gutsy Shinobi, he was about to pick it up and pay it cash upfront when a woman just grab his shoulder and yelled: “You're perfect!” then proceeded to drag him towards a tree where a boy was crying looking up. The woman pointed toward the highest branch where a school bag was thrown up making it stuck. Kakashi, understanding the assignment, quickly jumped, retrieve the school bag which had a small handmade green frog crochet plushie strap behind it. He noticed the coincidence knowing what book he was about to buy. Then give it to the boy that has blond hair, blue eyes, a familiar round face, and a whisker mark that reminds him of his failure. 

He froze and was about to quickly leave the place before he heard something that he was not deserving of, “ Thanks niisan! You're super cool! Dattebayo!!“ he said with his nee-san verbal tic. 

“Kakashi you're going to be Naruto's greatest big brother you hear?! Dattebane!” A redhead talking alone in a room where Kakashi is hiding from. “Promise to be there for him always, ok.”

Kakashi was about to cry but he managed to hold it long enough to turn to his sensei's greatest creation and eye smiled toward him. 

Inari was judging him, as if knowing what was in his mind with hate, then she blinked eyes widened when she saw, “Niisan, why are you crying?” The boy asked innocently not knowing the turmoil he is currently having.

He didn't answer his question, instead looking at the woman's face and telling her, “I'll make up for it somehow.” He left both of them, forgetting to buy the things he wanted. 

Ever since that day, somehow the woman who he now knows as Inari always dragged him when there was something she couldn't fix or do because it was physically demanding. Kitchen equipment at her shop, fences, roof tiles, and more that needed fixing. Watching Naruto, retrieving Naruto’s stuff from bullies, or just teaching him what is allowed by the academy. And as payment, she gave him food or just did his laundry, he did it after a mission, before a mission, his free time, and even when he was talking to the Hokage and the council (both civilians and Ninjas. Can you imagine the embarrassment when a girl barges in demanding you to come with her?) who was greatly amused by it at his expense. He helps her so much that he practically lives with them, half his clothes were already stored in her home and he often sleeps in a room set aside for him in between missions, which he now grew to hate due to the frequency the Hokage gave to him, he wants to eat her food damn it! 

Inari seem to again knowing what he is thinking, which is a rare occurrence, usually she think he was thinking highly confidential Ninja stuff that requires high-level of competency and cunning a Kage should have when in reality his mind was blank while his gaping mouth was covered by his mask as he reads the news paper. She managed to this time get it right and every time he was about to leave for a mission she would throw a feast for him and everyone is invited that was going to the mission, Genma, Gai, Hayate, Aoba, or even Anko gave him a knowing look every time they are invited, which he just shrugs and chalk it up them still thinking he and Inari are boyfriend and girlfriend, which is wrong. 

Inari and Naruto always send him away at the gates when he is about to leave, Naruto being a child and having clear attachment issues always cries and Kakashi always has to mix up the same speech that basically says, protect your sister(mom), train harder, don't forget to study, and always eat your vegetables; that always worked with the brat. 

For Inari it's tricky, he does not know what their relationship is and she seems to be gullible with all they've basically evolved into. He is always still stiff, only looking at her onyx eyes and frankly very beautiful face. This always happens, Kakashi being the one not knowing what to do and Ina is the one who acts first, she hugged him tightly almost snuggling and he reciprocated, nose touching her hair. 

“Come back safe, “ she always whispers the same words. 

And he always replied, “I will” 

When he leaves with his team he occasionally looks back when he walks to see that she is still waiting until they are no longer in view of each other, a great smile always forms and motivation surged inside of him. For years and years and years he has no purpose. Doing mission after mission to fill that hole that is present inside of him, but now he has one, he wants to be back safely to be with this unknown thing he had made with her. 

He chuckled remembering essentially what has become a routine for the past year. Which was rewarded with an elbow from Ina as she glared at him to help her finish the paperwork.

This is one of Ina’s latest requests to him, to help her with her fight against the monster that is Tax form, her income stream is much, while only spending the bare minimum for them to survive and owning little property besides this house and a patch of land somewhere in the outskirts of the village, Ina has to pay more than the average citizen which in turn more paper to fill. 

“Agk, I'm sick of this!!” The woman slams the forms on the table they are working on, Kakashi braces to see her rarely breaking down in anger, she's funny when she's angry, and Kakashi doesn't want to miss it.  “Kakashi, you're single, right? “

“Yeah?” He raised his left eyebrow in confusion, why is she suddenly asking about his nonexistent love life? 

“Are you tired of paperwork and want tax breaks?” she asked him with a professional tone. 

“A tax break would be amazing,” Kakashi needs more funds lately, ever since he met Inari and reunited with Naruto, he's been training again to a level that could be almost comparable to low Kage, rather than letting his skill stagnate by just taking mission and not training, he was stricken by a sudden wave of motivation for the past year, and need of more training supplies like Kunai, paper bomb, and surprisingly fuinjutsu, knowing who he is living with, why not master it just in case, the first two isn't that expensive even if they still put a dent on his wallet, while chakra, he just has to eat Ina’s food and he'll be A-ok, it's the fuinjutsu that made him cry seeing his balance for the month, and he really, really needs money, he hasn't taken many missions as much he used to ever since he left Anbu, and just training and be with his family. So, yes, a tax break would be amazing.

“They want to get tax breaks and simplify village bureaucracy until the both of us die?” She casually said, eyes still on the Tax form she just slammed. He wants to say that he is surprised by the methodology of her asking him like that but that would be a lie. 

“Sure,” Kakashi shrugged. 

“Good, let's get married.” She stood up and once more dragged him toward somewhere. 

Well, at least he'll get great miso soup every day. 

That's nice. 

“You two want to adopt, Naruto?” The old Kage asked the couple, who want to get this over with as fast as they can. “May I ask why?”

“Insurance coverage for him,” Ina said as a matter of factly. Hiruzen looked at her husband who just nodded agreeing with her as if that was a good reason to adopt a child… Well, it is a good reason but Hiruzen won't admit it. 

Hiruzen was about to speak one more time when Kakashi; the twerp, just shut him off by passive-aggressively giving him a document and proposal why he should accept their adoption of Naruto, his work obviously, and their sustainment and expenditure plan for the boy, Ina’s work. Hiruzen twitches his right eye; the cigar he's smoking is barely coping with the stress that was just accumulated in his head. 

Reading the paper and what he read impressed him. Daily food expenditure, the insurance coverage they're talking about, easing paperwork for Naruto, Tax purposes… Tax purposes? The more Hiruzen reads the paper he begins to question whether they are trying to adopt the boy or want to buy him from the village. He smiled realizing the ridiculousness of all of it and how serious the two of them were with it. By Amaterasu, they share the same brain sometimes. 

They don't need all this extra stuff for him to approve the adoption of the young lad; the moment the both of them entered his office and stated their intention he already approved of it absentmindedly and was about to say it, if not for Kakashi shutting him off to talk by giving this well-made piece of proposal and documents. Even if Danzo and the rest of his squad mates do not approve of it, their main problem was giving legal guardianship of the Village jinchuriki to a civilian when they've know Ina was taking care of young Naruto, with her marrying Kakashi 3 months ago in the most anticlimactic way possible (they just signed the documents just had a priest and young Naruto who was kidnapped from the academy and that's that.) All of his squad mates' problems were answered and with Kakashi's growing skill in fuinjutsu with the note that Minato and Kushina left for him, he is well-skilled enough to contain the Kyuubi from escaping its seal. Kakashi had already passed his level of fuinjutsu months before and was approaching Jiraiya’s level. 

Now that he thinks about it, it's not just Kakashi's skill in fuinjutsu that has improved. Something to muse over, maybe he finally could retire when he's ready. 

Hiruzen put aside the impressively well-put proposal and shook his head toward the both of them, “Are you sure there is no other reason to adopt young Naruto besides just for him to be insured?” Hiruzen asked. 

“Yes, my lord, it’s purely for his benefit and for easement in documentation, “ Sure, Hiruzen believes her that this was just for realistic intentions and not because of subjective reasons such as motherly love or something like that, no, who would think like that? 

Covering the stamp on his left with ink, “Approved.”

Danzo Shimura is hearing a report from his agent about the Jinchuriki. He expects the same old report. 

“The civilian named Inari has finally adopted the Jinchuriki, my lord.” the no-name agent told him. 

Now that's big news. A good big news 

“Oh thank the gods she finally did it. “ Now the Jinchuriki have an emotional anchor to Konoha and love to help him to contain the Kyuubi. With this, he doesn't have to worry about the weapon leaving Konoha or rampaging inside it. 

This was truly good news. 

What? Did you expect him to be a villain and kill the young woman? Are you mad? He wants the Jinchuuriki to stay loyal, thank you very much. Besides, he doesn't think he can handle Hiruzen, Kakashi, and his friend’s fury

He’s smarter than that

Anyway, back to plotting to kill the Uchiha and take this village under his control wahahahah. 

“Sorry, Ina-san but are you ok? You've been vomiting since yesterday.” Kurenai asked the owner of the civilian restaurant. She was a lovely young woman younger than her by quite some years, yet she couldn't leave out the feeling that the young woman who managed to snare Kakashi into marriage had already mastered the housewife vibe she had even before she Married the pervert that was Kakashi. 

As Kurenai asked about the young woman's health she was about to barf once more and had to hold the chair next to her to stand, now that worried Kurenai, she stood up from her chair to hold her. “Are you alright, Ina-san? You've been like this since I've entered the restaurant.”

“I'm fine, Kurenai, just some light headaches that's all, no need to worry, nothing common medicine can't handle,” she smiled toward her, clearly not wanting to create a scene in the middle of the day as many customers are also watching the woman's situation. 

One of Ina-san’s waitresses brought to them a glass of water, “Is the miss alright, Kunoichi-san?” The waitress asked. 

“I'm fine, Minami, could you be a dear and bring me my medicine box?” Ina requested, the waitress nodded and was about to carry out her order before Kurenai also requested her. 

“Can you tell Kakashi to meet me in the hospital? I'll bring Ina-san there, he's here right?” said Kurenai. 

“Hatake-san is currently buying more ninja supplies, I'll tell him when he gets back,” the waitress told her before doing a quick bow then left to find Ina’s medicine bag. 

“I told you I'm fine, it's just a common headache, Kurenai-san,” she insisted and was about to tell her that this was an overreaction before holding back another puke. Kurenai grimaced; the woman was not ok. 

The boy who usually studies in the back corner of the restaurant notices his mother's troubles and quickly closes his notebook and approaches them both. 

“Is mom alright Ma'am?” The boy asked her. She smiled towards the Jinchuriki not showing her obvious biases towards him. 

“I think she'll be alright. I'm just going to bring her to the hospital, is that ok with you?” Kurenai asked the terrified child who was looking at her mother as if he was about to lose her.

“I…sure,” he said simply then hugged her mother. “I'll tell Dad what happened to you, “ he said with a reassuring smile. 

When the waitress had given Inari-san’s medicine box, they went their way toward the hospital. 

Inari was my new name, no clan or family name, just Inari. Born without anyone to greet my birth with cries of happiness, and a hug to warm me. I was born alone in this world with no father to protect me, mother to feed me, and brothers or sisters to lean on. The last of my family, the last of an insignificant line that had done no great deeds worthy of songs and legends. I am a commoner of no renown in my past life and so shall I be in this new one. 

The orphanage was a quaint small place with an old sister watching over a dozen children with all the love she could give with her frail old heart. She always tries and tries to give us a place of comfort, a tree to shelter under but a hand to frail, mind slowly losing grip and funds that diminish as the third shinobi world war is brewing in the background. The old sister was just too old for her duty. At her age, she should be surrounded by people taking care of her, not this. 

So I helped;  the moment I could walk and was strong enough to carry anything that wasn’t just some stuffed donated dolls. I was scrubbing the floor, cooking food for the other children, and even telling bedtime stories to the ones that are younger than me. Stories of legends, myths, and fiction from my past life. It was exhausting and rewarding, helping the old woman fill the loneliness in my heart.

The old sister adored me, calling me a dear, and always caressing my hair with gentle love, telling me her life story, her dreams of building a family with a dead lover, and words of wisdom that she imparted for me, and in turn, I loved her back, the old sister was my first friend in this world. Her death left a hollow impact that I was still reminded with sadness. The children in the orphanage were separated from each other across many orphanages in Konoha. I was months away from the age that was usual for an orphan to live alone, a reasonable age of 6. 

Given a new apartment to live in, the village just thrust me into its social fabric without anyone to guide me. I was quite lucky that Konoha, despite its extremity, was a highly efficient meritocratic monarchy: Is a great place to live in. There's a saying in my old life that it takes a village to raise a child, and Konoha had embraced this concept wholeheartedly. Children, even without parents, are cared for, every adult has a duty to treat every child as if they are family, and I think that is why it was so young for us to live alone. Konoha is a highly trusting society with a communal sense that beats everything I've known from my past life. It's not unheard of for neighbors that live near an orphan to cook for them. 

It's a great place to live, with beautiful greenery, and a tight sense of community. Yet, despite being surrounded by everything that is nice or perceived to be nice: I can't help to feel lonely. I have no friends to speak to and relate to. I'm too old for them, and no adult to be my equal for I am too old. 

When the option was given to me to join a civilian  or ninja academy, I chose to be a civilian. I'm not strong enough mentally to kill someone else. The shinobi recruiter that heard my choice was disappointed but after hearing my reasoning he understood quickly. He said to me: “You can have all the talent in the world but if you lack the mindset to achieve certain things you will never excel. I think it's great for you to know yourself, child.”That was a very considerate answer from him, I expected in the past for him to not want to hear my excuses with my talent to be one. Konoha is a great village for children. I thought back then. 

The next 6 years of civilian school were forgettable. I aced every test and subject they've given me and went through my second education without a hitch. And still I have no friends to make. My reputation of not wanting to converse with other children and always consider them to be not my equal bite me in the ass. With its effect, I was not able to make new friends even after I graduated. 

And that was me, 15-years old, without a family. Friends, any wealth to speak of. Just this diploma I got and the government mandated housing. There's an option for me to join higher level education but it costs me money I don't have, and the only equivalent education like college in my previous life was in the capital, something I can't reach because of course, money and the distance to reach the place. My only option after graduation was to be manual labor or being in the low wage service industry. 

For the next 3-years I switched jobs and saved money for… Something, I didn't know what at that time. Still no friends, just colleagues and business partners. 15-years of having no friends dulled my social skills. As a result I became blunt as a person and very quiet.

Three years of hard work paid off, saved enough money and acquired enough credits for the banks to put trust in me, and gave me a loan to open a restaurant. The food I made was—strange for the standard of this world, it was quite literally from another world. I opened the restaurant with high hopes, dreams of customer lining to be dined by my food was cut short immediately. The food was too strange for them and for a few months I was struggling. The food was good  gosh darn; the food was good, I just needed to convince them to eat here. And I realize that was a losing battle, being too original and innovative can sometimes be a curse. So I relent and put in my menu some familiar food, and customers started to trickle in. 

Sometimes they ordered my strange foods, and they liked it, spreading it even. I was hopeful again that this was the break for them to try spaghetti, burgers, and western food. And again to be dashed away as my restaurant was relegated as that strange place you go if you're bored with normal food. I can't convince them to think my food is normal, so I fill in a niche market with not too bad profit for myself and manage to hire sole staff. I wonder why my customers always wear formal clothes though: that”s weird.

Was it something—fulfilling? God, no; there's nothing fulfilling about working in a restaurant. I was just living for the sake of existing, just being there as something that was coincidentally human. Not trying to sound cringe, I was living but not living, an ehh. If I die there will be no impact, if I live there's nothing that would change. So yeah, ehh. 

That was my train of thought until I met my son. 

And I was so disappointed with Konoha.

It was accidental, accidental acquisition of happiness if you will. And it happens so-so cliche, of a child desperate for food and a woman lonely for a long time, trying to fill that gaping hole by feeding the sweet boy. 

And it all started from there and wouldn't you know it I met Kakashi who I met also and married a year later in a fit of rage to find convenience. It wasn't a marriage about love—yeah that's right, it was just about for the both of us to have insurance, Tax breaks, and speeding up bureaucracy. Sure the sex… Wow, yeah wow, but it was just platonic nothing behind it. Yeah… Yeah that's  right it was just for pleasure it wasn't like I found him attractive or anything, his eyes, and body sculpted for a maiden dream was just an extra touch compared to his personality that made him easy going to talk to, I'm not infatuated with Kakashi, God no, it was a marriage of convenience that's all!!! And nothing behind it. 

That's why when the doctor told her that I was 2 months pregnant , I was scared. How would Kakashi react?!! He's not the type of person to like kids if the indication of him dealing with Naruto isn't telling enough. Kakashi was there, he never told Naruto he loved him when the child asked leaving it for me to answer the question, always saying ask your mother, and I heard how when they fix the air conditioner or other things when Kakashi told the boy to hold the flashlight steady, he was always angry for no reason, and when Naruto brought the wrong tooling, I could see the silent repression of anger from Kakashi masking it with an eye smile and ruffling Naruto’s head then told him calmly and teaching him which tooling use without telling his buried complaint. And now I'm giving another child to him that would now burden him more!! He'll definitely leave me! I don't want him to leave me. 

So when Kakashi arrived quite haggardly, opening the door impatiently, he was clearly emotional at the news that I was sick. I knew that this business relationship was doomed. 

Kakashi hurriedly sat next to me, holding my hand and looked at me as if appraising my worth. “Are you ok?” He asked if I was still of use to him. Holding my hand tighter to know if I have the strength to resist. “I heard from Kurenai that you are sick,” an Intel from a friend to help him to make a decision in this business relationship. 

I smiled reassuringly, “I'm alright Kakashi.” He let out a breath of relief knowing I'm still of use to him. Until I told him the truth, that is, the truth that would make him emotional at me and the child in my belly that would impact my relationship with him. “Kakashi, “ I quivered, “I'm pregnant.”

He was still silent, I closed my eyes knowing what to come. He hugged me… he hugged me?!! I could feel tears from his eyes, and sobbed of happiness. 

“I'm going to be a father,” he said with gaping breaths, “ Father I hope you could be in this moment.” Wait, wait, wait, pause. WHAT??!!“I love you so much Ina, thank you, I love you so much.”

“ You're not going to leave me?”  I let out a faint fearful whisper. 

“Why would I leave you? You're my wife, the love of my life; the mother for Naruto and my soon to be child. Why would I ever leave you when you make me this, this happy. Thank you so much Ina.”

Then all of sudden it all clicked. 

All of that touches, that moment of us shouting angrily which walls were better for the house, slapping both Naruto and Kakashi’s before them, both touching food without utensils, seeing their most embarrassing moments and saving it with silly photos that I stored in my album.

It all dawn at me

I was happy.

Chapter Text

After story

(Going home-Shiro Sagisu)

Ina looked at his husband questioningly, he was hiding something from her. A few minutes ago he just sent Naruto and his little brother away with pocket money, giving them quests and promises of things he’d teach them later on. At other times, she’ll get excited about being alone with her husband, and him being obvious about what he intends to do in their alone time. Today, however, she finds it odd. Her belly, after all, is swelling for the second time in this life and she won't give him that even if he can be persuasive, and Kakashi, her perv of a husband, knows that too. So, such silence coming from him was concerning.

He walks around the table with a hand on his chin, sits up, and then stands up a few seconds later as he continues to lap the whole dining room while muttering something under his maskless mouth. Ina just watches his husband's latest action of peculiarity, while sewing one of Naruto's training shirts that was torn in one of her son's last few weeks of school. At first, it was amusing seeing the great Kakashi Hatake, wielder of the Mangekyou Sharingan, master of a thousand jutsu, and one of the strongest ninjas on the planet if not the known strongest by the public, reduced as some sort of a concerned and paranoid puppy….At first—that is. At this point, Inari had already finished sewing her son's torn garb and just folded it and put it on her lap sitting on a long sofa, she waited for a few more minutes, reaching the limits of her patience, waiting for her husband to say why in the first place he sends her two boys out on some far fetched quest is getting tiring. 

“Dear, “ she starts slowly, with a low voice that makes his husband’s honed senses automatically focus on her. One of the perks of marrying a Shinobi is that they’re very attentive to their surroundings. “What do you want to say?” Her husband blinks for a few seconds; mind still trying to explain his intentions. Ina sighed and tapped lightly on the lone single sofa next to her. This time her husband complied and sat next to her. She waited for a few minutes again as her husband opened his mouth then closed his mouth and repeated it several times.

Ina smile faltered a little, letting out a downgaze, and a sigh while closing her eyes to tell her stupid husband to tell her whatever she wanted to say already. A warm gentle touch was felt on her cheeks and Kakahsi's large hand caressed them which made her giggle.  ‘ Always know how to please his lady,’ she thinks. She accepted the gesture, nuzzling her cheeks to his palm while kissing it; then as revenge for being so irritable today, she bit them softly, Kakashi didn’t jolt but his eyes were flabbergasted and a bit disgusted and giggled seeing her antics. They hugged as Kakashi pulled Inari to his sofa and took Inari to his lap, her feet meeting the edges a bit pressed, while her head was resting on his broad shoulder. Ina wanted to say she loved him but a kiss on the cheek was probably the only word she needed to say.

“They want me to be Hokage,” Kakashi finally says the thing which nagged his mind.

“Hmm, they want you to be Hokage,” Ina mind wasn’t registering yet; Kakashi's broad shoulder was very comforting.

“Honey, didn’t you hear what I said?” he poked at her cheeks, a part of her body he likes to play with. 

“Yeah, yeah: They want you to be Hokage,” Ina swatted her husband's arm, irritated that her bliss was interrupted. A few seconds later, Inari's eyes blinked, “They want you,” she poked her shoulders a few times, “to be Hokage,” letting out a ruminating sound she blinked again this time in a blinking correspondence with her husband. With a flurry, Ina pulled away her hug while holding her husband's shoulders. “They want you to be fucking Hok!!!!....” Kakashi’s pointing finger silenced her mouth.

“Please don't yell, it’s a secret,” he told her. 

“When?” she asked.

“After the Chunin Exams, they’ll announce it before the finals. The third Hokage conditions are…severe, I don't think he will have it in him for another few years. The old man needs rest,” her husband looked away from the side,  Ina’s glaring was making him uncomfortable. “Besides, I think Sensei would appreciate me succeeding him. “

“What about you, Kakashi?” Ina turns his head to face her again. 

“I just told you that… “

“No, what do you think? I'm not talking about your duty to the village and your sense of responsibility to Lord Fourth. What about you?” she cupped his face with both of her hands.

“I want it, not only to succeed in sensei’s legacy but also because the last few years; there’s a nagging feeling inside me that made me want to change and become a better person. The me from 5 or 6 years ago would never accept it, now–now I'm a changed man; there’s so much to protect and to look after inside the village.” he smiled. “Don't worry Ina, I was not pressured into the position.” he smiled.

 Ina laughed and just hugged him more. “Well, okay then, if my husband wants a promotion, I’ll support you as much as I can.”

They just waited for their sons to return home while in a tight embrace.