I started out wanting to write some KakaSaku fluff but I started thinking and this is what came out instead. Tell me what you think so I know if I should continue trying to write it or if I should just give it up. Thanks!

ninjapenguintime

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Or Kakashi for that matter...wistful sigh


Chapter 1. Thunder and Lightning

Walking through the threshold, Kakashi closed the door to his apartment and locked it. He giggled the doorknob to make sure it really was locked then turned to follow the chunin who had been sent to fetch him and make sure he wasn't late. Something urgent had come up and his presence was needed right away.

Once outside, they sent some chakra to their feet and jumped up to the rooftops. Kakashi flicked his uncovered eye up just in time to see the sky light up. An instant later a peal of thunder cracked overhead. It was a good thing he left all eight of the dogs with Hoshi.

By the time he and the chunin made it to Hokage tower, they were both drenched.

Kakashi shook his silvery head and sent water droplets flying, much to the annoyance of the equally wet chunin.

"This is when I leave you." the chunin growled. Kakashi watched silently as he stalked away in search of dry clothes, living a trail of puddles on the floor.

There were no dry cloths for Kakashi so he made his way up the stairs to the Hokakge's office.

Knocking on the door, the jonin waited until he heard the 'come in' before proceeding into the room.

Naruto was sitting in his char behind his desk. His whiskered face showed he was in one of his rare serious moods. Tsunade and Hinata flanked either side of him, their faces equally grim.

In front of Naruto's desk however, stood a boy with dark red, almost maroon colored hair cut just above his shoulders that stuck up a little in the back. The boy turned his head to see who had walked in and dark, black, obsidian eyes stared almost right through the silver headed man in the doorway.

Those eyes, those eyes reminded him of… Kakashi suppressed a shudder. He didn't want to go there.

"Hinata," Naruto gestured to his pearly eyed assistant. "Could you take him to get something to eat or drink?"

"Of course," she answered in her soft voice. She started towards the boy. "Come on now. You must be hungry." The boy followed her, his eyes not leaving Kakashi until he was out the door.

Naruto waited until the door closed before letting out a huge sigh. The blond closed his eyes and dropped his head into his hands. Tsunade turned to look out the window and watch the storm.

Lightning lit up the sky for a moment and the crackle and roar of thunder followed shortly after. Kakashi decided to wait and let the two gather their thoughts. Instead of letting his mind wonder about the strange boy and this still mysterious situation, his thoughts turned to Hoshi and how she must be fairing.

Finally Naruto sighed again and looked up, his bright blue eyes troubled. Tsunade turned to face them again. Her face was still grim.

"How's Hoshi doing?" the blond asked, stalling for time but still sincere. "I know she doesn't like thunderstorms." As if to prove his point, another clap of thunder rolled across the sky.

Kakashi paused for a moment hoping his words were true. "She should be fine. I left Pakkun and the gang with her tonight."

Naruto nodded and looked towards the door. His eyes were out of focus. When he spoke again, he sounded far away. "He's seven you know. Seven years old. Same age as Kin, my oldest. All this time and we had no idea, probably wouldn't have had any idea. His name is Raiden, you know."

The Hokage paused and looked Kakashi straight in the eye. The expression worried Kakashi. He didn't want to know what came next.

"Kakashi he's… Naruto hesitated and looked up at Tsunade. She nodded slowly. He looked back at Kakashi, is resolve hardened. He's Sasuke's son.

--

Sasuke's son. The words rang through his head triggering questions like a million tiny little bells, each trying to be the loudest.

Kakashi was shocked and that was a very rare thing for the Copy Nin. His first reaction was doubt, denial. Sasuke didn't have a son, he couldn't have a son. The Uchiha clan was gone. All of them gone. Extinct. The Sharingan was nonexistent except in him.

But no, he could believe it. All he had to do was look into the boy's eyes.

Sasuke's son. The bells were ringing harder now. The competition for his attention was getting fierce.

"Kakashi?" He looked up to see a worried look on Naruto's face. How long had he been standing in that trance?

Picking the loudest two questions he said, "So he has the Sharingan."

"Yes."

"And what exactly does this have to do with me?" He was afraid he already knew the answer.

"Lets start at the beginning." Naruto said after a moment of thought. He looked to Tsunade to explain.

"Raiden and his mother showed up a few hours ago," she began. "She told us she was looking for Sharingan Kakashi and that her son had them too. We were confused at first and when questioned she told him to show us. Sure enough, eyes went crimson. He's got two tomoe. His mother collapsed right after. She's in the hospital now."

Kakashi blinked trying to make sense of it all. "So she asked for me specifically." he prompted.

Naruto nodded. "We think it would be best for you to take Raiden. You know, keep an eye on him. Just until his mother is better and we can figure out what's going on." The blonde's voice took on an almost pleading note at the end unbefitting for Hokage. Tsunade shot him a look, but it was halfhearted.

Looking down, Kakashi took a minute to think. He didn't have to do it. It would probably be better, easier if he didn't. They would find someone else to stick the kid with.

The jonin closed his eyes. After an inward sigh and knowing he would regret it, "All right."

Relief was apparent on both of their faces.

"We also ask you to go see the boy's mother," Tsunade said with a note of finality. "She wont talk to us, but to you she might. And we don't want to try and force anything out of her just yet."

Kakashi nodded and turned to leave. There was nothing more to say.

"Kakashi." It was Naruto's voice. "I wana say thanks. I know it's hard for you. It's hard for me too. Hell, it's hard for all of us. But, I appreciate it."

Searching his face, the masked man found it serious and sincere, the Hokage's eyes betraying only a little of the great hurt the he was surly feeling.

"Not a problem." Kakashi brushed it off with a smile he didn't really feel.

Once out the door, he leaned against it closing his eyes against the harsh lights above. He took a deep breath and let his defenses down for a second. Naruto was right. It was very hard for him. The uncaring, indifferent look in the child's eyes mimicked Sasuke's perfectly. Sasuke. The one who betrayed them all and then committed that unspeakable crime. Two years hadn't given him nearly enough time to prepare for something like this.

Figuring he had stood there long enough, Kakashi pulled himself together. He wandered down the hallway in search of Hinata and the kid.

He found them in the staff room. Hinata had found Raiden some leftovers somewhere, and the boy was scarfing them down as if he hadn't eaten in weeks.

Kakashi crossed the room to the counter and grabbed himself a styrofoam cup. He filled it with hot water and added a tea bag then went to join the two at one of the small square tables.

For a while, the splatter of rain on the rooftop and windows was the only thing to fill the silence. Kakashi stared down at his tea, Hinata at her hands and Raiden at his food. Eventually though, Hinata's soft yet unwavering voice dared to break through the silence.

"How is Hoshi? I haven't seen her for a while."

"You know, me neither. She's out with her friends so often its like she doesn't live with me anymore." he said joking a little.

Hinata smile and opened her mouth to say something more when Raiden got up to throw his plate away. The long haired young woman turned her head towards him and Kakashi chose that moment to quickly down the hot drink in his hands before following the boy who was now walking out the door. Hinata followed close behind.

The small group made their way back down the brightly lit hall and stopped outside the Hokage's office. Hinata kneeled down to Raiden's eye level and put a hand on one of his shoulders.

"Ok Raiden, you're going to go home with Kakashi-san now." She smoothed some of the boy's dark red hair back in a motherly way. "Be good, and I'll come to see you very soon."

She stood back up and with a smile for Kakashi, she went into the office.

And they were left alone.

For lack of anything better to say, Kakashi mumbled "Come on kid." and led the boy further along the hallway and down the stairs.

Thankfully, the rain had stopped and the clouds were clearing away. They would have to walk back since Raiden couldn't control his Chakra yet.

The two made their way down the dark, wet streets of Konoha, skirting puddles and stepping over debris, Raiden a step behind and to the left of the older man. They didn't talk: Kakashi didn't want to say anything and he knew the boy probably wouldn't say much anyway.

When they reached Kakashi's apartment, the stars and moon were clearly visible and despite his best efforts not to show it, Raiden was tired. He stood up straight enough, but his eyes were half closed and he was frequently trying to stifle his yawns.

Kakashi fiddle with his pockets, trying to find his keys before remembering he put them in the one that held his trusty Icha Icha books.

He let them in and Raiden walked straight over to the couch and sat down. He wasn't even trying to cover up his fairly large yawn.

Pakkun, who had been waiting for him, padded up and looked from his master to the boy and back to his master.

"Later." Kakashi whispered, his voice for the dog only.

Kakashi left to get blankets for the boy, wondering how in the world he was going to explain everything. When he returned, the kid was already fast asleep. A little thrown off by how peaceful to boy looked when he wasn't glaring at anyone, Kakashi tucked the blankets around him and followed Pakkun back to his own room.

Opening the door as quietly as he could, he stuck his silver head in through the door. His one eye swept across the room and landed on a huge pile of dogs on his bed. Smack dab in the middle, with her back against a large, dark brown bulldog, was Hoshi. She was curled up cuddling a scarecrow doll in one arm, and her free hand was dug into the long yellow fir of one of the other dogs.

"Nice job boys." Kakashi whispered, his tone approving.

Slipping into the bathroom, he tossed his damp clothes into a pile and stepped into the warm, inviting shower. He let the water soak into his thick hair, run down his unmasked face, and then across his chest, still at a loss of exactly what to do. Now that Raiden had activated his sharingan, and at such an young age, he would need instruction. But what if he turned out like Sasuke or Itachi? And Hoshi would need an explanation in the morning.

Suddenly too tired to think anymore, his normally droopy eyes lower than usual, he shut the water off and toweled himself dry.

Back in his room, he slipped on some pants and a shirt, and slid into the spot the large bulldog had once occupied. He and some of the other dogs had opted to move to the floor, and there was much more room on the bed.

Kakashi pulled Hoshi close to him. He took a deep breath and breathed in the soft sent of her.

She stirred slightly, clutching her doll closer. "Storm's over." Her voice was small, barely a whisper.

"I know." he murmured reassuringly and ran a hand through his daughter's silver hair before falling asleep amid the warm bodies of his dogs and little girl.


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