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the slate gray charm

Summary:

The Sandaime is resolute when he shakes his head. “No, Kakashi. Naruto is safe where he is. Return to your post, as ordered.”

Kakashi doesn’t move. “I’ll give you time to reconsider,” he says, jovial tone chilling with how juxtaposed it is from his previous killing intent.

~~~~

Or, former Rokudaime Kakashi wakes up in the body of his 14 year old self, fresh from the Kyuubi attack. He may not have been allowed to save his first pack, but he sure as hell is going to save Naruto.

Notes:

I was in my Kakashi feels and decided to write this~

This fic is mostly just trying to work out the reasoning/counterpoints to the gag order on Naruto's heritage in a hopefully humorous way, so I hope you enjoy! And is also mainly just a set-up to future fluffy dad!kashi and baby!naru.

Just blanket warning this is probably (definitely) OOC but I did my best to keep Kakashi as cool and hip as possible. *high-fives Gai*

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

 

“No.”

Kakashi had expected it, but it still doesn’t soothe the white-hot fury that nearly overtakes him. The broiling rage that rises due to the injustice of the Sandaime’s simple denial is something Kakashi had rarely felt in his first life. Like a well trained dog, Kakashi had managed to push it to the side and continue on with his duty. After the Sandaime’s passing, Kakashi had even learned to excuse those memories in favour of fonder ones.

To think, there was a time Kakashi had respected the Sandaime and considered his word unquestionable. He wonders why it took uprooting the village secrets to realize just how fallible the old man was.

Kakashi meets the Hokage’s eyes and knows the ANBU around him are shuffling restlessly. It’s what gets Kakashi to control himself. He is far too old and far too young at the same time. A murderous intent that is Kage-level in the body of a fourteen year-old is disconcerting after all. 

Kakashi levels the Hokage with an expectant look. He does not say anything but something in his expression has the Sandaime on edge.

“You’re too young, Kakashi-kun,” the Sandaime explains, exhausted that he even has to say as much, “and you’re traumatized. That does not make good conditions for child rearing.”

In his first life, Kakashi would have accepted that. Did accept that. Afterall, Naruto was under the protection of the Hokage – had a dozen ANBU personnel on him at all times, had Jiraiya of the Sanin as his godfather. He didn’t need a broken down teenager in his life.

But Kakashi of that time had been wrong. He’d been too blinded by his own grief to think things through and his own wounds kept him from approaching Naruto until he was forced to. Naruto rarely speaks of those days anymore, but Kakashi knows the lasting damage haunted him even after adulthood.

Not this time.

Kakashi is a former Kage himself. And while there is a case to be made that it worked out decades later, Kakashi cannot forgive himself if he abandons Naruto to the same lonely fate. He knows he would never be able to face Naruto or Gai or any of his friends in the afterlife if he didn’t at least try to save those that he could.

“I have been…traumatized by a lot worse than the loss of my sensei, Sandaime,” Kakashi says, voice cold and calculated, a tone he has learned serves him well. All the men in the room stand to attention. One guard even reaches for her kunai. “I have been emancipated since I was five years old. I can figure out how to raise a child.”

The Sandaime is tired and perhaps his own stress is making him unable to think clearly. But he is resolute when he shakes his head. “No, Kakashi. Naruto is safe where he is. Return to your post, as ordered.”

In this world, Kakashi can gleam the steel resolve in the Sandaime’s eyes. He knows, even though it’s only been 48 hours since Minato’s death, that Sarutobi’s mental scape has been thrown asunder because of the calamity that requires him to take office a second time.

He knows that Sarutobi is thinking as a war monger that he has been for most of his ruling time. Knows he is thinking of keeping the son of the Fourth Hokage a secret because it will protect him from his father’s enemies. Hence his order for all affiliates of Namikaze Minato to stay away from Uzumaki Naruto.

More importantly, the Sandaime is thinking of how he needs to hide a live weapon. The seal on Naruto’s belly is foreign, Kushina is dead and Jiraiya is gone. Sarutobi has no way of knowing what will transpire if the seal should break. So, he will hide the baby away. And in the rebuilding of Konoha he will be negligent and not pay attention to any rumors until the vitriol will grow out of control. Until Naruto’s first guardian attempts to kill him. Until the orphanage refuses to take a monster in.

Sarutobi may be the Third Hokage of Konoha, the Professor of Shinobi, but he is a stressed old man with poor micro decision making skills.

Kakashi has little sympathy. After all, he’d become Rokudaime when Konoha had practically been wiped off the map and they had finished the greatest war known to man-kind.

“I’ll give you time to reconsider,” Kakashi says, jovial tone coming back in a way that is almost scarier with how juxtaposed it is from his previous killer intent, “please remember that I am a special jounin. He would be safest in my care.”

Without waiting for further dismissal, Kakashi walks out. He's going to need to prepare.

-

Two days later, he breaks into the nursery where Naruto is kept. It’s the first time he has seen his friend since he has arrived in the past. Another wave of grief hits him, reminding him that his friend is lost to him. He is sure his Naruto is thriving in his own time, a leader like no other. Kakashi had passed in his sleep with a smile on his face because he knew he had done everything he could for his team.

And then he had woken up here, in the past, after the fucking Sage of Six Paths roadblocked him on his ascent to the afterlife. If Kakashi had not fought the Mother of Chakra herself, he wouldn’t even believe this is his life.

But here he is.  Days after Minato and Kushina had passed and a wistful apology ringing in his ears that some things were not meant to change.

Kakashi will take it as the cue that it is that somethings can.

Kakashi drops a tiny, crocheted dog plushie into the crib. Nearly a hundred years ago, Kakashi had bought it to give to his sensei’s son. In that life time, grief and the order that he must stay away from his last connection to his team tore him apart, and he had tossed the thing into the trash.

Now, Kakashi tucks the doll under Naruto’s tiny pillow and caresses his fingers through Naruto’s baby hair. The newborn fusses for just a second making Kakashi’s heart leap in his chest. Naruto settles, a small coo leaving his teeny lips as he searches for more of Kakashi’s touch.

This might not be his Naruto, but Kakashi will always do right by any Naruto. It was the vow he made to himself when he realized how bad he fucked up his genin team. “Wait for me.”

The dog is squished happily under Naruto’s head and it makes Kakashi smile. Behind him, the ANBU guards he knocked out groan.

Kakashi takes his cue and leaves.

_

It only takes three more visits for Kakashi to get called back into the Hokage’s office, not a week later.

“Sandaime-sama,” Kakashi greets. He’s only thirty minutes late. It’s taking a while to get back into his old habits, habits being the Rokudaime Hokage and Shizune’s punching bag had unfortunately broken.

Sarutobi’s left eye twitches. “Hound.”

Right, Kakashi is still in his mission clothing. He lifts the mask. “Yo.”

The Hokage’s teeth gnash. “Can you explain to me why there have been multiple instances of my ANBU guard being knocked unconscious while on their duty to guard Uzumaki Naruto?”

Wow, the old man hadn’t even beaten around the bush. Kakashi severely underestimated how short of a leash Sarutobi’s temper must be under a state of emergency.

“Your elite guard were knocked out?” Kakashi repeats, a note of surprise mockingly added. “But Naruto-kun wasn’t taken away?”

Sarutobi drops his head into his hand, leaning it against the table. “No. In fact, the intruder has been leaving gifts.”

Kakashi hums. “Thoughtful of them. I think sensei would like his son being spoiled, don’t you?”

For a moment, Kakashi sees guilt flash through Sarutobi’s eyes. “That is not the point. Whoever is attacking my guard, they will be under arrest for treason.”

Kakashi nods. “A grave and heinous act, indeed. Do you need my assistance locating said person?”

The Third looks like he is ready to flip the table. “I already have my suspicions and they will be watched carefully from now on. Catching them in the act is all I need.”

What an adorable warning. Kakashi nods as if he understands. “If you need my assistance, I am at your command.”

“I’ve also been told that I have been neglecting psych evaluations of my guard.” Does Lord Third think Kakashi is crazy and looking to vent? The thought nearly sends Kakashi into a fit of giggles. “My sincerest apologies, Kakashi-kun, for not being able to spare you time to properly mourn.” This at least sounds genuine.

Kakashi stares the Sandaime straight in the eye. “I have my own mission to complete, Hokage-sama. I’m sure Minato-sensi and Kushina-san would be disappointed if I failed it because I was too busy grieving.”

Again, a barely there flinch flashes across the Hokage’s eyes. But he schools his features fast enough, a warning edge to his stern tone that reminds Kakashi how Sarutobi Hiruzen became as revered as he did. “I would like to remind you that personal missions must always be secondary to the Will of Fire and the future of Konoha.”

This really does alight Kakashi with amusement. He, better than anyone on this current Earth, understands what the future of Konoha is and how important Naruto is to it. “Understood, Sir. I will protect the future of Konoha.”

Sarutobi opens his mouth, an irritated tick on his forehead, before he pauses. This time, it’s unguarded the understanding that dawns on his face, followed by resignation. Still not convinced. “Dismissed.”

Kakashi gives a short salute before he flashes out of the office.

Outside, standing on the head of the Yondaime, Kakashi thinks. He should have figured it would take more than just making a mockery of the ANBU guard to get Sarutobi to understand.

Well, it’s not like Kakashi cannot exert his influence in other ways. He could probably make Captain in two months to add to his reputation. Worse comes to worse he could even offer to be the Third’s successor in exchange for this favour. But Kakashi isn’t ready to kiss his future goodbye without raising hell. After all, he has all the advantage right now.

So, on to plan B.

_

The first time around, Kakashi vaguely remembers he had barely been in the village in the aftermath of the Kyuubi attack. At the time, the constant missions were something he gladly embraced, not wanting to think, not wanting to let the realization that the last of his family, his pack, was lost to him.

This time, perhaps due to Kakashi’s suspected behaviour, the Sandaime is reluctant to give him as many missions as he had in his first life. Kakashi had cheerly gone through the psych evaluation, knowing exactly what to do to make the results and ambiguous as possible. So, harmless B and A rank missions that barely take any time and leave Kakashi plenty to plan.

Kakashi has spent the last two weeks doing his own recon to implement plan B.

One of the precious few things he learned during his time as a Kage is to never underestimate civilian influence.

He chooses Kawashima Yui. An old seamstress whose family has been here since the First Hokage established Konoha. She is in her early 50s, a stiff upper lip businesswoman with a shrewd mind and a guilty pleasure for gossip. What makes her perfect is her large network. The cotton and silk worm farmers, the textile producers, pattern makers, shop brokers, delivery caravans, even merchants from neighbouring cities. She was a name well recognized in her world.

And most important of all, she is connected to Watanabe Rina. Watanabe Rina, the wife of Yui’s nephew, a filial woman that stops by the Kawashima house every weekend. Watanabe Rina, who barely graduated to a chuunin unfit for duty and retired back to civilian life. Watanabe Rina, who works at the same nursery Naruto is being held in.

Perhaps Kakashi does not need to go through all this subterfuge. But even as lazy as he is, he has always been thorough.  

While his clone accepts his first external mission from the ANBU office for a three week surveillance mission to observe Iwa, Kakashi henges into a non-descript kunoichi, dropping by the nursery with a scroll in her hands while Watanabe Rina is on shift.

“Oh, shinobi-san, please wait a moment, I will get our Matron.” Rina is pretty, if plain. Friendly and bright, but Kakashi catches the bored expression on her face. She probably expected more drama and gossip when she volunteered to be part of the nursery detail for the Demon Container.

There is no awareness in her eyes as she stares at Kakashi’s henge. Kakashi barely contains the urge to sigh at the Sandaime’s staffing choices. Granted, Konoha’s manpower is stretched incredibly thin because of re-building efforts, but this is ridiculous. Even the ANBU observing doesn’t notice anything amiss.

Not that he would, considering Kakashi used the Mangekyo to put him under a genjutsu.

Thorough.

“No need,” Kakashi laughs, handing the scroll to her. “I’m just here to drop a list of the items needed for Uzumaki-kun. The account info is below.”

It was not difficult at all to find the account number for the Hokage’s office. They should probably hide it further than the reception desk’s C-grade seal. He’s sure Sarutobi won’t mind.

Rina’s face changes at the mention of Naruto. “More toys for that br – baby?”

Kakashi is semi-sympathetic. Naruto has never been quiet, not even as a baby. Kakashi knows since he’s visited the baby almost every other night.

And here, Kakashi plays his part, leaning forward eagerly and looking far too suspicious for his own good. Naturally, Rina startles but her natural curiosity brings her to lean her head forward too.

“Did you see him?” Kakashi asks, voice pitched as high as he remembers Sakura’s being ages ago. “The security around him is so tight. You must be important!”

Rina puffs up, as predicted. “I am part of his night watch,” she explains as if giving up that kind of information wouldn’t lead to her direct kidnapping and torture. “He’s a loud one, I’m sure it’s the demon – oh.”

A spill that could get her killed, this time for treason. Kakashi really didn’t think she would be this easy. He waves her off. “I am sure we’re all familiar with the rumors.” With a sly look he says, “It must be nice, looking after the hero.”

That stuns Rina. “Hero? That demon brat? He’s a monster!”

Kakashi doesn’t so much as twitch, grinning more and leaning forward conspiratorially. “Say, Ms. Nurse, would you be able to tell me what his hair color is?”

Rina blinks, surprised. Her briefing should have told her to remain tight lipped but clearly she does not seem to think the sentence of treason too high. “He is blond, why?”

Kakashi is all but leaning over the counter now, fake breasts pressed over the counter top in a way that has Rina blushing. So, he had observed right. “Are his eyes blue? Can you tell me?”

Rina nods, distracted. “Yes, they are. Is that important?”

Kakashi pumps his fist. “Yes! I knew it!”

Rina’s eyes snap up, filled with interest. “Knew what?”

Kakashi looks right and left as if to check for eavesdroppers. As if there were any that would escape his plan.  “You can keep a secret, right, Ms. Nurse?”

Rina nods eagerly, leaning forward.

Kakashi leans up, placing his lips delicately by her ear and politely ignoring her shiver. “There is a rumour that Uzumaki Naruto is the son of Fourth Hokage.”

Rina reels back, shocked. “No!”

Kakashi nods eagerly. “Think about it! Why would Yondaime-sama put something as powerful as the you-know-what in any random baby? Some of the older women at the office swore they saw his wife pregnant before the attack.”

Rina’s eyes are huge as her mind whirls, connecting the dots. For those that knew the Fourth, had seen him, it was impossible to mistake his golden hair and cerulean eyes. And Rina just so happened to have been a student during Minato’s last year at the Academy.

“He – he does,” she whispers, hand trembling as she lifts it to her lips. “Oh my god!”

Kakashi makes a show of realization dawning on her face, waving her hand around in embarrassment. “It’s just a rumour, though!”

Rina nods, but it’s clearly unconvinced. Kakashi grins, inwardly. “Anyways, here is the list for the little baby. I’m sure there is enough to spoil him with too.”

Kakashi drops the scroll in her hand and gives her a jaunty wave. “Take care!”

When his clone catches up to him and gives him the mission details, Kakashi finally allows himself to smile. Three weeks away. He’ll probably be summoned back in two.

_

It only takes a week and a few days.

It probably would have been shorter if the messenger hawk had found him where Kakashi had been hiding to do some personal recon instead of trying to fly out to meet his clone. Kakashi really will have to thank Naruto for showing him the versatility of the Shadow Clone jutsu.

Kakashi dispels his clone the moment the hawk goes out of reach. Bless the Sage for at least giving Kakashi his chakra control and reserves from his last life. His clone had been by the border of Iwa, but it was reconing for something different than what the Sandaime had intended.

As loathe as Kakashi is to admit it, focusing on the outside will have to wait. There is just too much Kakashi does not know of Zetsu’s mechanisms and if there is any hope of replicating enough key points to track him down, Kakashi will have to let him go.

And then there is the issue of Obito.

Kakashi had half been hoping, half dreading, that his clone would find the cave network that would lead to Madara. But for better or worse, the clone found nothing but empty tunnels.

There is a part of him, that sounds concerningly like Naruto, that demands Kakashi find his friend and bring him back. But a larger part of him, the part that took over his 14-year-old counterpart’s body still retains the fresh loss of his sensei.

Obito had killed Minato and Kushina and that is not something Kakashi can face, yet.

Not to mention, he needs to re-confront his scars anew. Old age, (forced by Sakura) therapy, and Naruto and Sasuke’s co-dependence on each other has shown Kakashi that he had built Uchiha Obito to be a mental pillar in his traumatized mind. This Obito still hates Kakashi with everything in his soul and Kakashi needs to prepare to face that again. It’s not like he has Naruto’s talk-no-jutsu to convince Obito.

Not for the first time, he wonders at the cruel reality that the Sage would not allow Kakashi change that which he wanted to change the most. But Kakashi has lived decades and decades more than anyone on his team, he’s found new family.

Which he needs to protect, right now. He’s not only been given an opportunity, but absurdly, time.

He will need every bit of it to plan. At the very least, right now, he knows what the various threat-levels of the Akatsuki are and it is within range of his calculations. Kakashi will leave them alone for now, the internal rotting roots of Konoha more important than the external.

He will find and save Obito, eventually. But right now, he has other priorities.

Kakashi sighs, turning back to carefully extract himself from the web that is the Root training base. He wishes he could teleport –

Kakashi halts, hiding in the tree shadows while he waits for Root trainees to pass. He looks down at a small puddle formed by the early morning rain. Huh. Kakashi stares at his distorted reflection, titling his headband up. The Sharingan stares back at him, a light tug of pain as it tries to siphon chakra. He can’t say he missed Obito’s gift. He’d spent more of his life without it, by the end. But if he has it again, at least for a while longer, he could use it.

Not for Kamui. Kakashi knows he can’t access that dimension without Obito’s other eye. But the Sharingan is far more useful than that. Afterall, the Uchiha had been prodigious because of the edge Sharingan gave in terms of procuring knowledge.

He is pretty sure he has all the notes Minato had while working on the Hiraishin, along with Kushina’s sealing notes. If he coupled that with his own knowledge and access to the Nidaime’s experiments from the future, the Sharingan and his own natural brilliance, he could make teleportation work.

And if the theory held true and he yielded the results he needed, he could start teaching sealing to Naruto. It’d be pretty nice to give Naruto that. Maybe he could even look up Kushina’s chakra chains…

Kakashi takes off in a run, realizing, for the first time, all the possibilities he has.

He holes up in his old Hatake compound for a few days, in accordance to how long it would have taken his clone to reach back to Konoha from Iwa. He spends that time cleaning up. The ghosts of this place are prevalent but Kakashi has decades of life lived. Rather than sharp hurt, there is a melancholy. After Pein, Kakashi had lost this compound. At the time he hadn’t cared too much but as he grew older the nostalgia of being the last of his clan had risen. It’s bitter-sweet to be back. But if Kakashi is going to raise Naruto, he’ll need a proper home.

Days later, Kakashi finally answers the summons of the hawk.

“Hokage-sama, you requested my presence?” Kakashi asks, sauntering into the Hokage’s office.

He’s only fifteen minutes late this time but that was because he had an escort that would not let him wander. Much. Kakashi did have to turn in his mission scroll and report his observations to a stressed ANBU staff who could not get a straight answer out of Kakashi.

“I did. I believe the order was for your prompt return.” Sarutobi looked as if he were torn between throwing Kakashi in a jail cell and amusement.

“I got lost on the way of life,” Kakashi responds.

Sarutobi stares at him, though he does not go as far as to openly gawk. Finally, he sighs, shoulders slumping and a hand coming up to pinch the bridge of his nose. “I admit, Kakashi-kun, your recent behaviour has been very uncharacteristic.”

Kakashi meets Sarutobi’s eyes levelly. “Did you recall me from my mission to talk about my feelings?”

Shikaku, by Sarutobi’s side, snickers.

Sarutobi frowns, staring searchingly as if Kakashi is going to provide him his answers. When Kakashi does nothing but meet Sarutobi’s eyes, the old man finally gives up. “No. I did not. There has been a breach of privacy and an SS-class secret has become public knowledge.”

Kakashi does not let anything show on his face. He has no doubts Inochi is shrouded in the room, probably probing with a low level empathy technique.

“That is unfortunate.”

Sarutobi’s face is grim. “It is. Uzumaki Naruto is now in grave danger.”

Kakashi twitches instinctively at that, but the reaction is genuine and called for in the situation. Never mind that the reaction is from the irritation at the hypocrisy Sarutobi’s statement brings.

After Kakashi assumed office, when there was a moment or two to think on the past and on his predecessors. Kakashi remembers when he first realized how foolish Sarutobi’s plan was. How Sarutobi had allowed the rumours of who the demon container was fan out of control, spreading so fast, there was no way to undo the damage done. And yet, the one thing that could have prevented it, Minato’s lineage, Sarutobi did not give up. Banning those that knew Minato and Kushina from interacting with Naruto was cruel, regardless of safety. The thought that Naruto would be more of a target of attack because he was the Yondaime’s son and not just the jinchuriki was absurd.

The choice the Sandaime had made was wrong. Maybe there is a part of the Third that had regretted it, especially with how far the vitriol hate from the villagers got . But he had also capitalized on it, using Naruto’s alienation to make him dependent on the Sandaime. In hindsight, it’s a wonder Naruto hadn’t latched onto the first person that treated him kindly with blind loyalty. Or, if the seal was any weaker, Konoha hadn’t been blown sky high from Naruto’s hurt and anger accumulated through years of abuse.  

This time, Kakashi is going to take the choice away from Sarutobi, regardless how many treasonous acts he might have to commit. Releasing the secret of Naruto’s heritage is hardly the worst Kakashi is going to do, not when he has a lengthy hit list of all those that need to die.

Sarutobi sighs. “I was not aware you would resort to such schemes, Kakashi. It is my fault for having underestimated your resolve.”

“I beg your pardon?” Kakashi makes his single eye look as wide and innocent as possible.

Sarutobi sighs. “As the parenthood of Uzumaki Naruto has become public knowledge, perhaps even spreading beyond the village gates, I will need a dedicated guard on him at all times. As a shinobi with no other personal commitments, a commendable record, and a personal tie, I believe it best if you raise Uzumaki Naruto until a time he can become emancipated.”

“And I can be spared for such a mission?” Kakashi asks, tilting his head to the side. He is sure that there must have been an argument at Council. Kakashi was not the strongest jounin, yet, but at his age but he showed promise to become the strongest. To remove him to be a glorified babysitter must not sit right with the Elders. Speaking of which, Kakashi will need to deal with them too. “That is an important responsibility.”

Sarutobi’s eye twitches in annoyance. “One I am sure you are ready to take considering your determination.”

Kakashi smiles brilliantly. “Of course, Hokage-sama. Naruto will be safe in my hands.”

Sarutobi sighs. “I’ll give you the details at a later date. You will be put in Reserves for the first two years, but will not be taken off the roaster. Do not let yourself get complacent.”

Kakashi barely hides his eyes widening at the time length. He’d thought he’d get months, not years.

There was so much he could do with that time.

As if sensing Kakashi’s thoughts, the Hokage continues dryly, “There will be rotational check ups on not only your security, but also your psychology. Child rearing is no easy feat.”

“Of course, Hokage-sama.”

How hard could it be? Kakashi has decades of wisdom under his belt. Surely it can’t be any different than taming an unruly pup?

Sarutobi smiles, large and devious. “Then Naruto is all yours, Kakashi-kun. Congratulations.”

Kakashi gulps.

_

He did it.

Kakashi blinks down at the baby in his arms before looking straight back up at the fussing Matron, panic in his eyes.

Oh fuck, he did it.

“No – support his head, yes – No! Not too far down!”

Kakashi is terrified.

He’s held children in the past, but only for a moment or two, showing his good will to former teammates and students. It is dawning on him – slamming into him – that he has just agreed to raise a baby on his own.

“You owe me for this,” he whispers to Naruto while the Matron fusses behind him with a baby bag.

Naruto is a warm and pleasant weight – tiny, fuck Kakashi is panicking and barely keeping a lid on his anxiety, fuck, he could kill the baby by accidentally dropping him or squeezing him too hard oh, fuck, fuck, fuck – just barely a few weeks old and only with the strength to lift his eyes lids for a few moments at a time.

Naruto does so now. Kakashi’s breath catches as nostalgia slams right into him. He sees Naruto’s baby blue eyes – still dark and not yet the brilliant blue he knows they will be – and tries not to cry. Naruto’s eyes are innocent and pure. There is nothing in them, really. No recognition. No happiness. Nothing but perhaps an expectant trust. Naruto looks to Kakashi and Kakashi thinks his world shifts, just a bit.

“Yo.” Fuck, leave it to him to be awkward with a baby.

Naruto blinks. He is small. His entire head is cradling in Kakashi’s palm. His entire body is lighter than the cumulative scrolls Kakashi has on his body. His hand is barely able to wrap around Kakashi’s finger. He is so vulnerable, so weak.

Naruto is –

Staring at him.

“I’ll protect you,” he vows, whisper soft.

Absurdly, it seems Naruto is satisfied with that answer, eyes slowly drooping close as he nuzzles into Kakashi’s hand. Kakashi’s arms are already aching with how tense he is. But he doesn’t want to put Naruto down.

“I’ve curated the best baby books,” the Matron comes back, nodding to a sizeable pile of parenting books. “I suggest you read fast. Newborns aren’t as passive as people seem to believe.”

Kakashi nods.

On cue, Kakashi’s nose twitches. Oh no.

Naruto whimpers.

Oh no.

The Matron catches on fast. “Oh look, you’re first lesson. How to change a diaper.”

Oh no!

 

{Omake}

Why do people decide to procreate?

Kakashi miserably stares down at his now questionably brown stained shirt. He weeps, firmly keeping his sharingan eye closed. Best for himself and Naruto if he forgets these months.

He’ll have to make sure he survives first.

Not even missions have tested the extent of his sleep deprivation like this before.

He’s going to need help.

 

{End.}

 

Notes:

Hope you enjoyed!

I have a few more snippets planned for the universe! It's mostly going to be Gen but hints of KakaGai (once Gai is older!).

If there is anything you'd like to see baby!Naruto and Kakashi get up to, let me know in the comments! No promises, but seeing ideas does prompt my muses to get jumping hehe.

{If you're interested in more, subscribe to the series! I'll be posting any continuations as separate chapters because there will be time skips that might get out of chronological order depending on my muse!}

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