Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or Naruto.

Author's Notes: Not much to say, really. This is a multi-chaptered story that can be treated as one-shots. No bitter endings. Short (well, sort of) and sweet.

Child-Like

5/26/08

Minato stood dumbly in the doorway with one hand on the doorknob and the other around his body, barely keeping the large towel from slipping down his waist, as his mouth repeatedly opened and closed with shock. Words failing to describe his mixed feelings, he could only watch with wide-eyes as Uchiha Mikoto-san quickly pushed her son into his house – all the while sprouting off a list of do's and do not's.

"Wha-? W-Wait!" he spluttered, snapping out of his stupor.

"Thank you very much, Hokage-sama!" Mikoto bowed, oblivious to the panic that was beginning to blossom on his face as she turned and left, closing the door and leaving him with her only son.

"Huh?" Minato blinked, wondering how he always landed himself with odd jobs and problems that he didn't remember accepting. Looking down, he assessed the young Uchiha heir with a stern look – a look which the young Uchiha promptly returned with twice the iciness.

Minato twitched. An Uchiha indeed. Patience, he told himself. Deciding to try a different approach, he smiled and greeted, "Hey there." He hoped that by being friendly, the child would be more cooperative.

He thought wrong. The young boy stared back with a blank gaze.

"What's your name?" he tried again.

"'Tachi." He answered shortly.

Minato's jaw twitched. He had no idea that Uchiha arrogance was ingrained in children so early…or maybe they were simply born with it? Taking in a deep breathe, he mentally repeated to himself, Patience! "So," he questioned, carefully adjusting the towel so he wouldn't have to keep holding it up. "Why did your Kaa-san leave you with me? Do you know when she'll be back to pick you up?"

Itachi pinned him with a look that made him feel like an idiot. He got the distinct impression that he should already know the answer. But he didn't. He really, really didn't. He didn't even remember when he had agreedto babysit the Uchiha heir.

"Ah!" a happy voice chirped. "You're here!"

Minato turned, facing his wife with a surprised expression. "You knew about this?" he asked, beginning to piece together how and why he had "mysteriously" became the Uchiha's babysitter. "Kagome?" he questioned, demanding an answer.

"Fugaku and Mikoto-san are going on the mission you assigned them last week, remember?" she answered, shooting him a look as if chiding him for being so forgetful. "Somebody has to watch Itachi, ne? So, since you're the one who sent them out of the village, I thought it fitting that you watch Itachi."

"Huh?" Minato answered. What kind of logic was that? "Why couldn't the rest of the clan watch him?"

Kagome frowned in thought, trying to recall Mikoto's explanation of the situation. "Um, I think Mikoto-san said something about it being too dangerous to leave Itachi with the rest of the clan unattended." Seeing the confusion in Minato's eyes, she explained, "I think she's afraid that someone might try to kill Itachi since he's the Uchiha heir and too young to defend himself."

"Oh," Minato answered, silenced by the seriousness of the situation.

"So," Kagome continued, kneeling in front of Itachi so she was eye-level with him. "I thought that leaving him with you was the best solution. After all, who would be stupid enough to attack Itachi if he's in the Hokage's care, right?"

Minato nodded, crouching beside Kagome. "So…what are we going to do?" he asked, turning his head to face his wife.

"My, you're so cute!" Kagome giggled, completely missing Minato's question (to his chagrin). "How old are you?"

"I'll be five next month, Kagome-san." he politely answered.

Minato's eye twitched. Was this the same kid?

"Wow, you'll begin the academy soon, huh?" Kagome asked.

"Yes ma'am," he answered.

"Wah, how polite!" she laughed. "But please, just call me Kagome."

"All right, Kagome-san." Itachi answered. Kagome smiled, patting him on the head. What a sweet boy!

"So," Minato cleared his throat, completely put-off by the child's fake manners (for they could be nothing but fake). "How long's he staying?"

"A month or more," Kagome answered.

Minato blinked. Wha…?

"Come on, I just baked some cookies." Kagome smiled, taking Itachi by the hand. "We can chat over milk and cookies." Half-way into the kitchen, she suddenly turned and chided, "Oh Minato, don't just stand there like an idiot! Go dry yourself and put on some clothes before you catch a cold! Honestly, you're such a child sometimes!"

"B-But you told me to answer the door!" he spluttered, pouting.

"Yes, but not naked and dripping wet." Kagome answered, pulling Itachi along with her as she entered the kitchen.

Minato sighed. Life was so much easier when he was a bachelor.

TBC