Chapter Text
Kakashi Hatake was many things. Last of his clan, remaining member of team 7, a friend-killer and a bloodline thief in the eyes of many, but one thing he wasn’t was blind. Even he couldn’t lie to himself, because when he saw a head of blonde peeking through the roof of a closed restaurant, wet from the rain with nowhere to go, he hesitated.
Because that’s his sensei's son, Minatos precious baby boy who he sacrificed himself for, both him and his wife. Disappointed. That’s what they would feel upon seeing this. Because the sight of the blonde little boy watching the raindrops land on the ground before him was heart wrenching.
Kakashi finished his mission like always, perfectly and without questioning. A good shinobi, a prime example of how an ANBU should operate. The silver haired man learned from a young age what being a shinobi means, but that didn’t really do him any good, now did it?
Losing his father to the civilians who had no right to judge him on his decision, seeing his family on the floor with their own precious tanto cleanly struck through his stomach was traumatic. He doesn’t remember how long he stayed near his father, hands tinted red before he was dragged away. He kicked and screamed, vocal cords strained and eyes blurry from the tears. Afterwards, years later he stood before his sensei, Minato Namikaze, stern and cold. He had to be a good shinobi, not disregard the rules and to never put a life before a mission. He promised himself that he wouldn't end up like his father. Oh, how much that mindset broke the boy even further after Kannabi bridge.
Obito Uchiha, dead-last at the academy and his hero after that fateful mission. A boy too loud for his own good, following their female teammate around like a lost puppy in love. A one-sided rivalry - because it was all that, one-sided - built upon jealousy and anger, yet also dipped in a thin layer of affection and affirmation, admiration. Seeing said boy throw his life away for him messed with Kakashi's mind. Obitos last words and his gift - precious sharingan who someone else would die for - stuck in his mind and head as they left the boy to die. Kakashi kept the gift, even if he wanted nothing more but to tear it out of his eye socket - because he didn’t deserve Obito’s kindness - and spun his entire life around for the sheer fact that he wanted Obito to be there with him. Maybe it was a one-sided rivalry for the dark haired boy, but for the younger, it was a one-sided love filled with dread and regrets.
Rin Nohara, another ghost from his past. It was already too late to change the route of the chidori. Hand bloody as he pulled it out of his teammates chest. Rin, a bright girl with a kind heart, killed by the one she loved. She knew that she had something in her, every medic would know if something was wrong with their body. Dying by the hands of Kakashi, saving the village in the process. The nightmares of this event that followed still haunt him after six years. Skin glowing red under boiling hot water, scrubbing away blood that wasn’t there until his arm burned.
Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki were his only family left. One his sensei and only connection left from team 7, the other his older sister figure, caring and loud and there, forcing him to eat and stay in their spare room while he didn’t go on missions. His only ground to reality gone and behind was left a new life. He promised Kushina-nee that he would be an older brother to Naruto, but now he wasn’t even allowed to interact with said boy, no one was, only the hokage himself and Jiraiya.
His body hurt. Eyes burned behind his ANBU mask making him hold back a wince. His coat was drenched, the result of the rain currently pouring down. It was an impulsive decision, he knew. The hokage - not his Hokage, because Minato-sensei was gone gone gone - would be mad, probably brand him a traitor for disobeying his orders to stay away, but the sight of Naruto made him furious.
Dropping down in front of the kid, startling him in the process, Kakashi crouched down. Mismatched eyes met a pair of blue ones which were filled with fear and distrust. Lifting his ANBU mask, he let the boy take a look at his face - still masked but now a person visible.
“Hey little one. What are you doing out here?”
No reply. Raising an eyebrow, Kakashi watched as Naruto's hands clamped down on his shirt, knuckles turning a little white as he continued to stare at the shinobi with wide eyes.
“… why are you talking to me? I’ll leave, I promise just please don’t hurt me.”
“I won’t hurt you, I never will. Now, why are you out here and not in the orphanage?” keeping his voice calm, managing to exclude the rage he felt upon hearing the little one speak.
“They kicked me out, and said they didn’t want to look after a monster.” tears welled in the blonde's eyes, making it hard to see the face of the man. Naruto was scared, but he would never admit it.
Stretching his hand out towards the child, Kakashi asked a question he should’ve asked from the start, and fought more for his right to take care of Naruto.
“Do you want to stay at my place for the time being?”
»»-------------¤-------------««
Jumping from rooftop to rooftop Kakashi rushed past the hospital and decided that submitting his mission report could wait till tomorrow. Arms tightly wrapped around little Naruto's body as the child seemingly calmed down. After asking if he’d like to stay it the Hatakes place, the blonde bursted out into tears. The Hatake still had the smell of blood and burned flesh lingering in his nose from the mission, he hoped Naruto’s nose wasn’t as sensitive as his, because the smell was horrendous.
Kakashi went over the events of the last half an hour. Not only did he speak to Naruto, but also took him in without the permission of the Hokage, great. He sighed, he hoped to bargain a deal with the Sandaime, but it would be hard. Feeling something push his chest he looked down, Naruto stared up at him, eyes rimmed red and cheeks puffy and stained with tears. He looked so small and defenceless.
“Hound-san, is it really okay with me being there? I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“No worries, little one, you won’t get me in trouble. Even if, it wouldn’t be your fault.”
Accepting the answer the child nuzzled into Kakashi more, enjoying this moment while it lasted. Naruto's body stiffened when they landed in front of an apartment complex. Walking inside Kakashi used a body flicker to get to his door. Setting Naruto down after locking the door and closing the blinds he went to grab some clothes that may fit the blonde, some of his old ones should work.
They both were drenched and shivering. Kakashi's priority was to make sure his sensei's son wouldn’t get a cold, so sweeping the blonde up into his arms again he walked into his bathroom and filled up the bathtub with warm water. He waited for it to fill up before he noticed Naruto shifting in his arms, trying to find a comfortable position.
“Hound-san...”
“Yes?”
“Why are you doing this? I have nothing to give to you…”
Blue eyes watched as the ANBU agent focused on the water, seemingly thinking about a response. Naruto didn’t want to upset Hound, he was so kind and helpful and warm. Thoughts spilled over his head making him struggle to keep focus, losing the control he previously thought he had. Naruto was pulled back by the calm sound of the shinobi, making his eyes blurry once again.
“I should have done this a long time ago. I was a coward and so hung up on my own grief and sadness that I refused to acknowledge the one thing that kept me here.”
»»-------------¤-------------««
After taking a shower himself while Naruto stayed with one of his summons, Kakashi entered the living room in more comfortable clothes. The scent of blood finally disappeared and was replaced with something neutral. The mask is still in place as usual, hair falling over his face making him appear younger than one might think.
For today he’d rest, let Naruto sleep in his bed while he took the couch. Pakkun and Naruto both sat on said couch, the pug sprawled out on the child’s lap as he had his eyes closed, enjoying the attention he received.
Kakashi smiled at the sight, it made him feel warm inside, seeing the blonde all dried up and wearing clean clothes. Noticing another presence in the room, blue eyes quickly turned towards the silver haired boy, smiling brightly.
“Hound! I think the puppy fell asleep.” In a hushed voice the blonde said to the newcomer, hoping it wouldn’t wake the summon up. Turning towards the dog again he smiled down, tired eyes watching as the pug shifted a little before setting down again.
“Naruto, come on, let’s get you to bed, okay?”
“Can I take the puppy?”
“I don’t think he’d appreciate being moved around a lot, but you can play with him in the morning?”
“Okay!” the boy brightened, and kakashi had to suppress the urge to coo at his behaviour. He took Pakkun off the child's lap and laid him back down on a pillow. Taking Naruto into his arms he walked to his bedroom and placed him on his bed, tucked him in and went to leave. A small hand stopped him, barely heard in a whisper the blonde boy spoke.
“Will you stay here? Please don’t leave me.”
“… I can sit on the floor until you fall asleep? I won't leave you, little one, you’ll see me tomorrow morning, but for tonight you must sleep. How else are you going to be Hokage if you fall asleep during the day?”
That made the boy think, before laying back down, one of the Copy-nins hand tightly wrapped around his smaller ones. Kakashi sat at the edge of the bed near Naruto, just like he promised. It didn’t take long for the boy to fall asleep, so he carefully removed his hand and went to get a spare blanket.
Pakkun was still on the couch, now awake and levelling Kakashi with a look that could only be described as ‘do you know what you’re doing’ and ‘are you ready for this kind of responsibility’. Giving his summon a shit eating grin that could be seen even if he had his mask on, Kakashi layed down on the couch, Pakkun murmuring a soft ‘Goodnight boss’ before disappearing, smoke replacing his presence.
“What am I going to do…” He asked himself, the events from a couple of hours ago much clearer. The Hatake acted on instinct, seeing the boy outside in the rain because he was thrown out at the age of five, FIVE. What was the Hogake thinking, letting a child who has a tailed beast in them live in an orphanage, knowing that they would hate him. Why was his Jinchuriki status revealed anyway, that was a suicide move - and not for Sarutobi.
He knew he dug himself a hole, promising Naruto not to leave him, though regret wasn’t the first thing that came to his mind however. If he could get the Sandaime to agree, get him to approve of Kakashi taking care of Naruto, the child could get a normal childhood. Determination made its way through his body, his chakra buzzing beneath his skin as he made a plan.
‘Worst case scenario, I'll just leave the village with Naruto.’