"He's cute," Sarutobi pats Sakumo's shoulder. "Takes after your wife."
"Thank you," Sakumo says. Kakashi gurgles from Sakumo's arms as he bats Sakumo's silver fringe.
The Hokage takes a small puff of his pipe. "When will you return to your squad? They loiter around Ichiraku's; haven't taken an A-Rank in your absence. While he may appreciate the revenue, ANBU is impatient."
Sakumo offers his ring finger to Kakashi. His son, pudgy hands and wide eyes (unfamiliar, vulnerable), gazes back and squeals.
"Three years."
"Three?" That long?
Sakumo smiles. "Someone needs to keep him alive. Guess the responsibility falls to me."