Idea: Hi no Ishi, The will of fire is starting to die out in the older generation, with the loss of the Yondaime; the older ninja just don't know what to do. It is up to ANBU!Kakashi and newly graduated Umino Iruka to keep the will of fire alive in the younger generation. But that's not all they have to do. With an infant Naruto left in their care, can this unlikely duo prevail? (Gender flipped Naruto and Iruka KakaIru)

Summary: The night of the Kyuubi attack, the Yondaime entrusts the care of his infant daughter to his genius student: Hatake Kakashi and the most promising Academy student: Umino Iruka. Not long after, the duo starts to notice the deep depression that the older generation seems to be falling into. It very quickly becomes apparent that the will of fire is starting to die. The Hokage, seeing this despite his own problems, tasks the young pair with protecting the younger generation. Can they do it when they have a charge of their own to look after? (Gender flipped Naruto and Iruka KakaIru)

Title: Hi no Ishi o Mamoru: Protecting the Will of Fire

(Prologue: Losing the Yondaime)

The Yondaime tried to stand tall and defiant as the Kyuubi bared down on him and his tiny family. There was much to do; he knew that it was very unlikely that his wife, vibrant, beautiful, fiery, loud, loving Uzumaki Kushina would survive. Jinjuuriki, as a rule, did not survive the extraction of their Bijuu, and his wonderful Kushina, despite the longevity of her clan, was a Jinjuuriki. The second Jinjuuriki of the Kyuubi. He turned to the only ANBU that had survived (who he suspected was) Uchiha Madara's attack on his wife. "Get me my student, and the most promising Kunoichi of the next graduating class!"

"Yes Yondaime-sama!" the ANBU bowed deeply and disappeared fractions of a second later, in search of his targets. The village was partly raised to the ground; it was a sad sight to see. The whole west edge of their home was in ruins, it was lucky that the Yondaime's home was not on the west side. But it was unlikely that the house would be occupied much longer. The mark of battle was everywhere; scorch marks dotted the ground and the surrounding buildings. It looked like the village had been attacked, and it had been. The ANBU shook his head to clear his mind, this wasn't the time to be fretting, no, he had a student and the most promising up-and-coming to find.

He paused when he heard panicked cries nearby. He turned to his left and found a twelve-year-old academy student hunched over Umino Mamoru. "Tou-chan!" He heard, so this was Umino Iruka, shouldn't she be with the other Academy students? He was taken aback when he saw a slight green glow coming from the girl's hands as she hunched over her father.

"Iruka…" Mamoru murmured, his breath growing short, ragged, and raspy, "Leave me here. You mush go find your mother…" his words began to slur slightly as his life began to fade, there was nothing his prodigy medic could do for him, she was wasting her time trying to heal him, he was as good as dead.

Her head snapped up, "But Tou-chan…" she sat back and watched the life fade in her father's eyes, and, as his eyes grew dark and lifeless she burst into tears.

The ANBU knew then that he had found the Kunoichi that the Yondaime wanted; she wasn't that much younger than Hatake-san either. The ANBU swooped in and scooped her up. She was so lost in her grief that she didn't even notice him. That wasn't good, but the ANBU felt that she could be forgiven; she had just watched her father die and the ANBU knew for a fact that Umino Mauri was also dead. (He had seen her lifeless body lying not very far from where he had found his leader.) The poor girl was an orphan and now had no time to grieve. "Chin up girl," The ANBU said sternly but not unkindly, "There is no time for tears, Yondaime-sama wishes to see you and another, who we will fetch now. You may grieve after the attack has been dealt with."

His monotone snapped her out of her shocked state, "Y-yes, ANBU-san, I understand." The ANBU found himself impressed by the fact that though her voice cracked and wavered, she didn't stutter once. "Who else did Yondaime-sama send you to fetch?" her wavering voice was quiet.

The ANBU didn't answer her, merely leaped up to the roofs and kept moving. He didn't stop until he found the young Jounin that he had been sent to retrieve. The girl relaxed in his grip trustingly. Her sharp eyes were taking in the surroundings and spotted the one the ANBU was meant to retrieve before he did, "Is that him ANBU-san?" Iruka asked, pointing to the silver-haired youth that was directing most of the younger generation of ninja to an out-of-the-way clearing.

"Yes, Umino-san, that's Hatake-san, Yondaime-sama's student." The ANBU answered her. She nodded; waiting as the ANBU put her down and then dashed to the slightly older boy's side.

"Hatake-san," she called as Kakashi turned to follow his friend Gai. "Wait please!"

Kakashi turned to look at the Academy student and then spotted the ANBU. "What is it? Has something happened to Sensei?" he asked almost urgently. There was no fear in his voice, but his eyes (mismatched as they were: one dark grey the other Sharingan red) were telling.

"Yondaime-sama is fine, for the moment at least Hatake-san." The ANBU replied, "He wishes to see you and young Umino-san."

Kakashi nodded, looking down at the short brunette standing in front of him. "Why does Sensei wish to speak with you?" he asked curiously.

Iruka shrugged, "I have no idea Hatake-san, I am only an Academy student, but according to ANBU-san, Yondaime-sama wished to speak to us both."

Kakashi nodded seriously, "Alright then, can you keep up?"

Iruka shifted nervously, "If we are going towards the Kyuubi… its killing intent will hinder me, I think I'd freeze somewhere on the way…" she blinked when Kakashi knelt in front of her. "Hatake-san? What are you doing?"

"If you will be hindered then I will carry you, so don't worry, now get on before something happens to Sensei." Kakashi urged her.

Iruka blinked, "Ok." She climbed onto Kakashi's back and he stood up easily, as if she weighed nothing.

Kakashi nodded to the ANBU and they jumped off in the direction of the battle.

Hi no Ishi o Mamoru

The Yondaime watched his wife as she struggled to subdue the Kyuubi with her dwindling strength, her chains were taught and Kyuubi wasn't going anywhere. The only worry now was if her chakra would hold out long enough. If the pair he had chosen to take care of his daughter didn't show up soon he's have to seal the beast before he could tell them what they needed to know! "How are you holding up Aisai?" he asked, his grip on the tiny blonde babe in his arms tightening.

"I'm fine Anata," the redhead replied with a grunt, "I can keep going for a while yet."

The Hokage nodded grimly as he waited anxiously for his student. 'Please hurry Kakashi…' he turned as the ANBU landed next to him. "Yes?"

"They will be here in a second Yondaime-sama." He was informed.

"Thank you." was his reply as Kakashi landed behind him with the girl on his back. The Yondaime smiled softly when he turned to them. "Kakashi and…?"

"Umino Iruka, Yondaime-sama," She finished for him; "You wished to see us sir?"

The tall blond nodded, "Come here, both of you; I have something to show you, Kakashi, you've been waiting for this, ne?"

Kakashi nodded, staring at the infant in his Sensei's arms. "Boy or girl?" he asked; his mouth dry. Iruka slipped off of the Jounin's back and approached the Yondaime to get a better look at the baby.

"Girl Kakashi," The Yondaime replied as he lifted the blanket for the girl so that she could see his child's face. Iruka thought that the girl was adorable.

"Anata, hurry please." The redhead's voice urged the Hokage. The three turned to see sweat streaming down the woman's face.

"Of course Aisai," the Hokage agreed. He turned back to the young ninja and ninja-to-be. "I have a task for both of you."

Iruka looked up at the older blond expectantly with somehow knowing eyes, as did Kakashi.

"Hokage-sensei…" Kakashi breathed as the baby girl was pushed into his arms, "What do you want us to do?"

"My daughter will need guardians Kakashi; I need you and Umino-san to be those guardians." The Yondaime explained, "Aisai will not survive the night and I doubt that I will either." He took a deep steadying breath, "The Kyuubi needs to be resealed, he can only be sealed into a child, the younger the better. I am leaving our Naruto in your care Kakashi-kun, Iruka-san, don't disappoint me. This will be the last task I ever give you," he paused, "do you accept?"

(End Prologue)

…Wow… Excuse me while I go strangle my Naruto muse…

Anyway, this is a new idea that I got several days ago that I wasn't expecting to get, having decided to let my Naruto fics rest for a bit thanks to the really rude flamer that made everything stall… hopefully now my muse will work for me now that the idea is on paper.

Anata is an affectionate term that wives use to address their husbands and Aisai is beloved wife.

And as usual, questions? Comments? PM me or review!

Neph