KAKASHI WAS ROUSED from his sleep by the sound of Naruto's pitiful cries. It was the fucking time that night. Swearing loudly as he threw back the covers, Kakashi regretfully forced himself to leave the warm sanctity of his bed. Begrudgingly he plodded to the baby's room. He'd even gotten a play-pen for the near future. As he was reminded of how much the damnable thing had cost, he realized he was beginning to think he'd been out of his mind when he'd accepted the baby.

The room that Naruto was in had once been filled with all the spoils of Kakashi's past. Gone were his banners and small tokens of appreciation from Konoha, nothing left in their wake but the empty walls and lonely shelves. Soon they'd be filled with toys, knick-knacks, and the trophies of his adopted son. Kakashi was unsure how to feel about that; he wanted to do his best to care for the boy, but losing his identity along the way was not something he wanted to happen.

He lifted Naruto out of his bed and gently rocked the infant back and forth in his arms as he walked to the kitchen. He set Naruto in the high-chair next to the table—another expensive purchase made on a whim for this strange baby—and made to prepare some formula. The chair itself was adjustable;at the moment Kakashi had it tilted back so Naruto was almost lying down because the little guy wasn't strong enough yet to support his own head. The tray moved with the seat as it moved.

"You're gonna eat me out of house and home, kid," joked Kakashi, pouring the formula into the bottle. Naruto gurgled in response, slapping his hands off the tray of the high-chair in a jerky movement. For such a new baby, he sure did move around a lot. "Huh-uh! You're not gonna tell me how it is, you little runt!"

The little blonde-haired baby before shrieked in laughter, but his giggled subsided into a warm murmur of appreciation when Kakashi poked the rubber teet of the bottle to Naruto's lips. He smiled slightly as Naruto drank greedily from the bottle, wondering absently if it would be Minato or Kushina getting up in the middle of the night to feed their son it they hadn't—

Kakashi forced the thought from his mind, trying to ignore the blinding grief that threatened to wash over him. Instead, he refocused his attentions on Naruto and the task at hand. Though it had only occurred in the course of a brief second, Naruto could sense the change in Kakashi's body language. He pushed the rubber teet from his mouth, smiling at Kakashi with a wide, toothless grin. Kakashi smiled back, his visible crinkling in the process. His mask pooled around his throat, the lazy ninja too tired after so many trips to feed the infant to care about his face. There was no threat in the child seeing him without a mask, not yet anyway.

He pressed the rubber teet back into Naruto's mouth, waiting patiently as Naruto drank hungrily. Kakashi used his left to remove the tray from the seat, his right occupied with holding the bottle to the week-old baby's mouth. He threw a towel over his shoulder before he picked Naruto up. He was lucky he was smart; he'd only gone through one shirt before realizing that Naruto was going to spit up after every single time he was fed. He proceeded to burp Naruto as he slowly ambled down the hall.

When he gently lay Naruto down in the crib, he had a small revelation. Turning around the face the play-pen with a suspicious eye, he smiled. In no more than ten minutes, he had set up the square, fabric cage meant to contain an infant when a parent was too busy to hold them. He had a hunch that he would be feeding Naruto again that night; why waste the walk to Naruto's room and the additional sound of tears when he could get to him more easily this way? Kakashi silently climbed in, ignoring the slight squeak of the frame. He curled up into a squashed ball and soon fell asleep.


[.-_-.]


HIS DREAMS WERE no longer plagued with Minato's bitter and dissenting face; instead he had nightmares of other things. Constantly he was reminded of his youth and the terror of losing the teammate who'd changed his life. Kakashi wasn't sure why he had nightmares.

Normally he dreamed of the same events of that day happening over and over, with Rin and Obito saying different things to him. Sometimes Obito would plead with Kakashi, begging him to help him. Other times he would curse Kakashi for not helping Rin; he'd mutter again and again about how he didn't know why he'd bothered to save Kakashi but since he had Kakashi had might as well take his eye from him since he'd taken his life already. Kakashi usually woke up from those dreams with the taste of tears on his lips and the smell of vomit in his nostrils.

This time, however, Obito was perfectly fine. He was sitting cross-legged, turned away from Kakashi. This time, Kakashi had saved Rin. Casually he called out to Obito, asking him if he was proud of him. Obito did not answer him, only continued to play with whatever was in front of him. Kakashi called out to the boy again, saying how he'd saved Rin, just as he was supposed to.

Obito still did not answer. Frustrated, Kakashi demanded that Obito turned around. He reminded the dark-haired boy before him that this way was better, because he didn't die. He'd done it on his own. Finally, Obito turned around, a sad smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"I'm already dead, Kakashi," he said. His words were stony and cold. They fell on Kakashi's ears as stones, hard and unrelenting. Kakashi's eyes, normal and unchanged, noticed the baby cradled between Obito's legs. He couldn't see its head, because it was wrapped up in swaddling clothes. "Save the boy, Kakashi."

Kakashi cried out in fear, not knowing what was to be done. His words refused to come, his ability to speak having fled from him before he could even say goodbye. Before he could even apologize...


[.-_-.]


HE COULDN'T REMEMBER the last time he'd had a dream that didn't cause him to wake up in a cold sweat. However, this time, it wasn't the sheer awfulness of the dream that had forced him from sleep. It was the sound of a loud thump and a resulting shushing sound. Kakashi bolted out of the play-pen, startling the intruders. Terrified, they dropped Naruto back into the crib. He cried out at the injustice of being so rudely awoken and dropped so carelessly back into his crib. His thin cry rung out in the room, striking Kakashi with a surprising sense of clarity. 'Save the boy.'

Kakashi made quick work of the first man, who couldn't be any older than he himself was. Why would a teenager be trying to steal a baby? The other had escaped out the window, thankfully without Naruto. Kakashi ran to the window, looking out into the dark after the intruder. He sighed, knowing he wouldn't catch up with him. He closed the window and locked it, knowing that more could still come.

Stepping over the dead body in the center of the floor, he moved to pick Naruto up from the crib. He didn't know what he was saying, but it didn't matter; Kakashi's soothing words calmed Naruto quickly. Naruto was soon asleep again. After putting him back into the crib, Kakashi crouched down over the body on the floor, wondering just who it was that would want to steal an infant. It took him a moment to remember that the Kyubbi, who had destroyed a large part of the village, was sealed within the child.

Kakashi stepped back over to the crib, tugging gently on Naruto's t-shirt. Sarutobi had told him of how when hefound the baby, there had been a seal on the boy's stomach. If what the old man had said was true, Kakashi couldn't see any evidence of it now. The soft, smooth skin of Naruto's belly was stretched taut across a belly with hardly any baby fat.

Kakashi smiled, feeling slightly bewildered. How the little squirt was so... well little was beyond him. The little twerp ate his body weight in formula every day.

He knew that he wouldn't be able to sleep—and what would be the point anyway, if he was doomed to have nightmares- so instead he chose to spend the rest of the night as a sentry, standing guard at the foot of Naruto's crib for the remainder of the night.

"You won't get hurt, Naruto, not while I'm around," he swore vehemently, reaching into the crib. He gently used two long fingers to brush Naruto's hair from his face. "I promise."

Naruto had only been under his care for 56 hours, but the hours meant little to Kakashi. Time comes and time goes, but it was the value of the time spent or the time wasted that mattered.


[.-_-.]


SARUTOBI SAT UP in surprise at the loud thump of a dead body hitting the 's hand hovered in the air for a moment, the fingers splayed wide. Sarutobi took a moment to study Kakashi's demeanor and expression; he didn't like what he saw.

Kakashi's shoulders sagged with fatigue and his face was dark with the worry of a man much older than his youthful years. Sarutobi wordlessly stood, moved closer to the body, and pushed back the cloth that Kakashi had thoughtfully wrapped the body in. He frowned when, after peeling back the fabric, the smell of death and slight decay wafted up to his nostrils.

His frown deepened when he saw who it was. "Uchiha Akari... He's always been causing trouble for his family... Were there others?"

"One, but they both looked alike." Kakashi confirmed, his hold on Naruto tightening subconsciously. He still needed to take care of the other one; he was still viciously angry that someone would to steal his—Kakashi kept having to remind himself that Naruto was Minato's and not his.

"Mugai. He and Akari never really fit in as Uchihas.. I'm sure they didn't appreciate the Kyuubi killing their parents, as much as they didn't fit in with the rest of their clan. Alas, that cannot be helped," sighed Sarutobi, his gaze lingering for a moment. He pressed the fabric back to the body and stood to his full height. "I will have you moved to a newer, larger apartment with better security. Naruto is a hero, even though he is a baby, and he should be treated as such."

Kakashi nodded, then pause uncomfortably. "Now, you're surethat none of the children will know that... that he's... different?"

"Does it bother you that he's different?" Sarutobi asked calmly. Kakashi could see the peculiar look in the elder man's eyes. It angered him deeply.

"No," he snapped, "I just don't want them treating him differently. I wouldn't care if he grows up and decides to wear a pink tutu and call himself Naruto the Great Gonzonga Guy; he'll still be my—Minato's son, and as such I will care for him to my utmost ability. I don't appreciate you insinuating otherwise."

Sarutobi's smile surprised him. "Indeed; I was just checking to make sure that your motives are just. I know you are a fair man, but pride does strange things to people. But to answer your question, yes, it has been forbidden. Those who disobey that order will be sentenced to death, or in certain circumstances there will be other punishments. I can assure you that I am doing everything I can to ensure little Naruto will grow up as close to normal as possible."

Kakashi nodded, patting Naruto affectionately on the head. The sleeping baby murmured in appreciation, and wriggled closer into his chest.

"Oh and Kakashi?" Sarutobi broached absently. Kakash looked up lazily.

"Yes?"

"I suggest you change his last name to Hatake. It will be more convincing to him and to the town. If his last name were to remain Uzumaki, it might raise questions. Many Jonin, especially those whom you are close to, would be able to put together that Minato and Kushino are the birth parents. If he cannot be treated as a hero, I wish for him to at least be treated normally."

Kakashi glanced down at Naruto and then back to the Hokage. "What of me? Am I to tell him of his parents? Or shall I be punished as well?"

"Do not tell him until he's developed his skills and can control his emotions. I don't know how effective this seal is. It cost Minato his life; let us pray it does not cost us anymore, ne? I want you to help Naruto learn things as fast as you can." Sarutobi's tone was casual, accomodating even, but Kakashi didn't want to risk Naruto being used.

"He won't be used as a weapon. If the time ever comes that you try to-"

"This is not for our benefit of him as a fighter, Kakashi," Sarutobi admitted gravely, his face darkening. "I need him to be able to control himself. There's no telling how this seal will hold or what connection the Kyuubi will have with him. It's your job to ensure that Naruto grows up happy and able to control his body. If he brings up the fox inside of him, we will know it has contacted him and there is a connection. If not, we will wait until the time is right. Now go home, get some rest, and enjoy beign with your son."

Kakashi smiled slightly, the kind of genuine smile that didn't quirk his eye into a small sliver. "Hatake Naruto. My little boy... How do you like that?" he mused, brushing the thumb of his right hand over Naruto's smooth cheek. The three lines on Naruto's cheeks were just as smooth as the rest of his skin. "I like that, I think."

Sarutobi could hear the pride in the young but talented Shinobi's voice. "Indeed. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get back to my paperwork. Could you send someone in to get rid of this thing? It smells awful. Almost as bad as Naruto's diapers." Sarutobi made a face and Kakashi laughed.

"Sure," he said, his visible eye crinkling into a tell-tale smile.

A squeamish looking young man was sent in for the body. He gagged when he saw the pale flesh of the Uchiha staring back at him, but he dutifully hoisted the Uchiha up onto his shoulder. Then promptly passed out.

With a slight laugh, Kakashi signaled for the other shinobi in the hall to take care of it. The kunoichi dumped water onto the unconscious man's face, then proceeded to drag both him and the body out into the hall. Kakashi absentmindedly wondered where he'd be staying. After glancing at the clock on the wall, he realized it was past time for Naruto's feeding. He was quite surprised that Naruto hadn't woken up yet.

The rest of the day was rather calm and relatively normal. Except for the massive amounts of his that the baby produced. Kakashi was horrified when he looked into the diaper to see roughly six times the normal amount of poop; this time it was a nasty greenish brown. He grabbed a baby-wipe and prayed that he would survive.

Edited : September 17, 2012