Chapter 1:

The sight of the billowing thick red clouds of chakra.

The torn up village.

The scattered bodies of those who fought tooth and nail to defend the village.

The image of his adoptive parents, Kushina and Minato laying lifeless and tattered beside their newborn son on the practically destroyed field just outside the village.

He clenched his fists, as the memories forever burned into the back of his eyes played over and over. It'd been 2 months since the Kyuubi had attacked, and it's been two months since he was put on leave to save what was left of his mental health and was required to go to a psychologist to work out his problems. And now? Well, he sat in the waiting room of the reinstated third Hokage's office, hopefully to be put back on the on-duty roster, even if it meant doing low ranked jobs or hell he'd accept being the Hokage's personal assistant if it meant he could resume his life. The faster he got to work, the easier it would be to repress and forget.

"Namikaze-Hatake Kakashi?" he looked up at the sound of his official name, the name he took on when he was adopted by his sensei all those years ago... he should probably drop that name now. Or at least make it known that he goes by Hatake Kakashi again. Lifting his hand in acknowledgement, he stood up and slowly made his way into his leader's office. What he found, he honestly didn't expect. Old Sarutobi sat there at his desk with what looked like two baby carriers, one green, one orange, as he made goofy faces at the children inside.

"Sir?" at the sound of his voice the old man stopped what he was doing and looked at the silver haired teen.

" Ah, yes Kakashi," he stood up from his desk and walked around to shake his hand, " how have you been boy?" he asked, concern lacing his voice as he guided the young anbu to sit in the chair that faced his desk. Silently, Kakashi waited till Sarutobi sat back down in his chair to speak.

"I'm fine sir," he began to wring his hands, " Inoichi-san says i should be able to go on duty soon." he watched as Sarutobi closed his eyes and nodded sagely.

"I see," he opened his eyes and smiled, " well that's good news! Perfect timing as well, isn't it?" he cooed into the two carriers before looking back up at the teen. " I'm putting you back on duty. You're ANBU status shall remain."

"Thats great! Thank you, Hokage-sama," he stood up and gave a lengthy respectful bow.

"Stand up straight boy, you're making a fool of yourself," Kakashi did as he was told, " now about your first mission," he looked down at the two carriers on his desk, " as you already know, many children were orphaned after the attack. Many were placed in orphanages or taken in by extended family or friends. Those who couldn't be placed into orphanages or were taken in by family or friends have been assigned to shinobi in hopes that they won't be left on the street. But you see, we've managed to give all the children homes, with the exception of these two. You see, I took them into my home but it seems like this old man doesn't have the energy or means to care for two small children, one being a newborn."

Kakashi looked at the green and orange baby carriers in question with a raised brow. Sarutobi chuckled at the teens expression," Kakashi let me introduce you-" he flipped the carriers around so that they faced him,"- to Sakura and Naruto."

Kakashi was speechless, the two children stared at him in interest, " Pardon me Hokage-sama, but i'm afraid i'll have to decline this mission."

Sarutobi smiled, " Well this really isn't a mission. You're adopting them, you shall raise them and you shall be paid by me personally per month to buy stuff for them. You shall only take missions that you are specifically required or requested for," Sarutobi reached into his desk and pulled out two folders and handed them to him, "Its already been filed a and notarized, these are just copies for your own use."