Tenzou had opened his mouth but couldn't seem to get any noise out, Sai was just staring, he most likely didn't know how to even begin to respond to something like this, Sakura kept looking from Kakashi to Ran and back again with big eyes and her jaw hanging open, and then there was Naruto. Poor Naruto at first looked like he was having an aneurysm trying to say something, but then shifted gears to simply yelling. Kakashi awkwardly scratched the back of his head as he waited for the four to regain coherent thought while Ran shifted nervously from foot to foot.

Of course, it was Sai who broke the dazed silence, "huh, I had just assumed you were asexual, Kakashi-senpai."

He was going to hit this kid one day.

"THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS SITUATION?!" Naruto screamed, causing a few nearby birds to fly away.

It appeared as though Sakura was the next one to come out of it. It was good to know at least one of his team members was able to function after a shock. "She has your eyes… or well, eye at least…" She said as she bent down a little bit to get a better look at Ran. Who in turn gave the kunoichi a small smile. "I'm Sakura, what's your name?" She asked. At least she was good with kids, not much could be said for the rest of the team, though.

"Ran…" She answered shyly.

"What a pretty name," Sakura complemented with a sweet smile, "we're both named after flowers, cherry blossoms and orchids!" Ran's smile grew a little larger and she let out small giggle as Sakura patted her on the head.

"So your sensei's kid, eh?" Naruto said in surprise, finally coming out of his shock, opting to plop himself in the grass in front of her. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto and I'm gonna be the Hokage, dattebayo! " Ran just stared at him with blank expression, "ah, I guess you wouldn't know what that is… The Hokage is the strongest person in the village and protects everyone, 'ttebayo! These are our teammates: Sai and Yamato-taichou. Sai's the pale one and Yamato's the one currently having trouble speaking." That got a bit more of a reaction out of the girl, who nodded slightly in understanding. Before she turned to briefly look up at Sai and Yamato. "So, Ran, why are you here in Konoha?" The little girl promptly looked away and clutched the hem of her yukata tightly.

"She's going to be staying with me from now on," Kakashi said, finally joining the conversation. That declaration earned him a few odd glances from the members of his team.

"Senpai, are you sure that's a good idea?" Ah, Tenzou's back, Kakashi thought as he turned to his kouhai.

"Not really, but it's not like she has any better options since her mother passed two weeks ago…" He explained after he had covered Ran's ears; he really didn't want to deal with tears right now. The jonin received a puzzled look from the girl, but she didn't make any attempts to shake free from his hands. That was a good sign, right?

Naruto and Sakura promptly sombered while Tenzou let out a sigh and Sai looked contemplative. Everyone on Team Seven knew loss. There was Naruto, never knowing the warmth of his mother's embrace or the strength of his father's hand on his shoulder. Sakura had lost the boy and teammate she loved with all her heart. There was Sai, forced to kill the only family he ever had. Tenzou watched as his fellow child experiments died one by one. And then there was Kakashi-who knew loss like an old friend.

"Sakura, Naruto, why don't the two of you show Ran around the training field," Kakashi broke the silence they had lapsed into with a suggestion. It wasn't as though he wanted to get rid of them… ok, maybe he kinda did, but it looked like Tenzou wanted to have a word with him. More like words, but it would be better if Ran wasn't around for them. And it wasn't as though he disliked Naruto, but the boy lacked a certain… tact… that was necessary for conversations such as these.

Sakura nodded, after a moment, in understanding. She grabbed Naruto by the back of his collar before he could start complaining, "come on Ran-chan, there are some pretty flowers on the edge of the training field!" Sakura explained as she took the young girl's hand. Ran looked at the older girl in amazement as she dragged Naruto behind them as though he weighed nothing.

Kakashi quickly retreated to the shade of one of the trees on the opposite end of the clearing before Tenzou had the chance to bombard him with questions. If he was going to have this conversation he might as well be comfortable. Tenzou let out a sigh as he collapsed next to him, Sai opting to lean against the tree. The three watched Naruto and Sakura tried to get the younger, and far more subdued, child more interested in whatever they were doing. Ran was gazing around the large clearing, not paying attention to what the older two were saying, before her eyes came to land on Kakashi. She held his gaze for a few moments before moving on.

"So she's a mission baby, then?" Sai asked, the first to breech the subject, not even bothering to look at Kakashi.

"Yeah…" he replied, staring rather intently at the grass. Maybe he could make it spontaneously combust and get his out of this conversation.

"Do you even know the first thing about raising a child, Senpai?" Tenzou asked, his reaching a new pitch in slight hysteria.

"I'd imagine it would be something along the lines of 'make sure to feed and water them at least twice a day'."

"This isn't a joking matter, Senpai!" Tenzou exclaimed.

"You think I don't know that?" Kakashi snapped back, far more serious than he was a second ago, "you think I don't know I'm the least suited person for this job? But she doesn't have any other family… either I take her in or send her to an orphanage. Which I highly doubt Tsunade-sama or the Council would allow, not when they could possibly have another me or another White Fang their ranks…" Tenzou feel quiet as he began to think of just what that would mean for the girl.

The Hatake clan was known for its superb warriors since the warring states era, but their numbers had weaned over the years due to a higher rate of deaths than births. By the time Konoha was founded there were only a few dozen left to join the village, and even then their numbers continued to die out. Kakashi and his daughter were the last of a powerful all-but-dead race, and he had no doubt in his mind that some very dangerous people would want her for their own. If he were to forfeit his parental rights it would only make it that much easier for them to get their hands on her. No, by keeping her with him, he was keeping her safe… right?

"Maybe she won't inherit any of your abilities…" Tenzou said hopefully. He had obviously come to the same conclusion.

"You saw her teeth, didn't you? It's only a matter of time before her sense of smell begins to enhance, if it hasn't already," Kakashi dropped his head into his hands before looking back over to where his students and… daughter… were currently playing some sort of starting and stopping game.

For what felt like the hundredth time that day Kakashi wondered what he had gotten himself into.

Eventually, Naruto, Sakura, and Ran wandered back over to the tree that the older members of the team were residing. Ran still hadn't said much, but she seemed to be far more comfortable around Naruto and Sakura. Even more so with the latter. Unfortunately that seemed to fade as soon as the two groups rejoined, and Ran quickly reverted back to her distant and slightly skittish behavior. She seemed the most uncomfortable around Sai, Kakashi could have sworn he heard a mutter of "creepy" from the girl, but she showed no outward signs of having made the comment. He simply glanced down at Ran, who met his gaze unfazed, over the edge of Icha Icha Tactics. Kid has nerves of steel, he thought with a laugh.

"Ah! Kakashi-sensei, you shouldn't read dirty books in front of a child! Much less your daughter!" Sakura exclaimed, raising her hand as if to snatch the book right out of his hands.

"Mah, mah, I doubt she can read what it says," Kakashi responded in a placating manner as he moved the book out of her reach. He really doubted that she would actually be able to take it from him, but Kakashi wasn't about to risk it.

"Icha Icha Tactics," came a quiet voice from next to him.

"Come again?" Kakashi asked, blinking in surprise.

"It says Icha Icha Tactics," Ran said more firmly. Sakura promptly gave him a pointed look after her admission. Letting out a sigh, Kakashi stored away his beloved book for later, or when Sakura wasn't around to scold him about it.

"Heeh? You can read that, Ran?" Naruto exclaimed.

Ran nodded seriously once before saying, "I know the kanas and have started learning kanji. I already know 100!" She puffed out her chest in pride of her achievements.

"Oh wow! Why'd you start learnin' 'em so early? We didn't start learning kanji until halfway through our first year at the academy," Naruto said, thinking back to the squiggly lines Iruka-sensei wrote on the board and then were forced to learn. He shuttered at the memory; Japanese never was his best subject…

Ran's chest deflated at Naruto's question and she started to scuff her feet in the grass, not meeting his gaze. "Mama is… was… a calligrapher and she said it was important to learn them as soon as possible so I could write with her… and stuff…" Tears started to gather at the corners of her eyes and she let out a sniffle. Tenzou promptly took several steps back from the girl, as though she were a ticking time bomb, and Kakashi was sorely tempted to join him. Handling crying children certainly wasn't his forte.

Luckily, Team Seven came with two members who weren't emotionally stunted in some way, shape, or form, but they weren't much better at handling a crying child. Naruto made a noise between a shout and a cry as he frantically waved his arms as Sakura desperately looked for something to distract the child with. Sai just watched. He found this whole situation fascinating.

"AAH! Uhhh… ah! Ran I bet you're hungry, r-right?" Naruto nervously asked, hoping to distract her to .

"Uh-huh…" She replied, her voice a little shaky.

"Ah well, how about we get some ramen then? I'm starving, dattebayo!"

"Ramen…?"

"Wait, you don't know what ramen is?!" Naruto yelled in a mix of shock and horror that only grew when Ran nodded her head in confirmation, "ramen is only the best most amazing food ever created, dattebayo! That settles it, we're getting ramen, and Ichiraku makes the best ramen ever." Naruto nodded his head in determination before turning to Kakashi, "and I'm sure your tou-chan would be more than glad to treat all of us! Right, Kakashi-sensei?"

"Wait-"

"Ahh! Kakashi-sensei is so kind!" Sakura proclaimed.

"Senpai truly cares for his teammates," Tenzou added with a nod.

"W-wait! I never said I would-" Kakashi tried to explain, but it seemed that his team wasn't listening.

"I think I'll get miso ramen first, 'ttebayo, then maybe some tonkatsu… ahhh I wonder how many bowls I'll be able to eat…" Naruto murmured happily, a small trail of drool making its way out of his mouth. "What are you going to get Sakura-chan? Sai?"

"Hmm, I was thinking of getting some pork ramen," Sakura said as she took Ran's hand and the group started to make their way towards the ramen stand-without Kakashi

"I was thinking of getting shio ramen…" Sai added to the conversation.

"I said wait!" Kakashi ran after the group, internally crying over his poor wallet.

"Jii-chan! We have a ramen emergency on our hands!" Naruto yelled as he collided with the counter of Ichiraku. "This tiny child has never had ramen before, dattebayo!" He then proceeded to lift Ran above the counter so Teuchi would be able to see her. "We need your best ramen, stat!"

"Don't you think you're over exaggerating, Naruto? How big a deal can her first time eating ramen be?" Sakura asked as she removed Ran from his grip and promptly sat her on one of the stools.

"How can you say that, Sakura-chan?! Your first taste of ramen determines how you will view ramen for the rest of your life! It has to be perfect, dattebayo! Just look at Teuchi-jii-chan!" Naruto pointed one very enthusiastic finger at the owner of the ramen stand who was currently surrounded by a very serious and determined aura.

"Leave it to me, Naruto," Teuchi said with a Cool-Guy thumb's up and eye twinkle before he turned back to the kitchen.

"I suddenly feel as though I am very out of my depth here…" Sakura muttered into the palm of her hand. Team Seven plus one quickly sat down and placed their orders while Ran sat on Sakura's lap so she would be able to see over the counter.

Seems as though Ran has gotten rather attached to her, Kakashi thought as he glanced at the pair. He wasn't sure how it felt about it though. It made sense that Ran liked her, Sakura had a lot of motherly qualities when her temper wasn't flaring or she was punching holes in the ground. But why does Ran seem so much more comfortable and open with Naruto and Sakura? Is it because they are closer in age? Kakashi mentally sighed as he dismissed the thought, he was probably just over thinking it.

"Here you go! One bowl that's perfect for the first time trying ramen!" Teuchi exclaimed as he set a bowl in front of Ran and Sakura. Naruto watched very closely as the latter helped the former take a bite, his own ramen currently being ignored.

"Well, well? What'cha think?" Naruto asked excitedly as Ran chewed and swallowed.

"It's good…Can I have some more?" Ran asked Sakura, who was more than happy to oblige. Naruto let out a cheer and began rattling off the many different kinds of ramen to Ran as he attacked his own bowl.

Kakashi took advantage of his team's current distraction to quickly eat his own ramen in peace before looking down at his daughter who was seated next to him. He watched as Sakura helped her eat, all the while wondering if he should be the one helping her. It wasn't as though he had a lot of experience to lean on with his own father. Sakumo was incredibly dedicated to his son, but Kakashi had been a rather independent child. Having already graduated the academy at Ran's age, it wasn't like he could use himself as a guide for how a regular five-year-old acted, and a little girl at that. Kakashi knew he was way out of his depth here, and he was very tempted to bang his head against the table in frustration. Unfortunately he still had that small sliver left of his dignity and he wanted to preserve it.

Give him an S-ranked mission and he had no problems. Suicide mission? He had survived so many of those that he didn't even blink an eye at the title anymore. Kakashi had led ANBU missions like most chuunin led regular missions, but put him in charge of a bunch of children? That's where he struggled. Training a bunch of genin fresh out of the academy was hard enough, but a little kid was going to be so much more difficult.

At least his cute little genin only relied on him for the ninja aspect of their lives, but Ran was going to be relying on him for everything. Food, shelter, care and affection, life advice, teaching her the way the world works, friends, and possibly boys (Kakashi truly hoped she would go to someone else when that time came). This teeny tiny human would be relying on him from that point on to raise her into a proper adult, and Kakashi was sorely tempted to make a break for the hills. At least he had the option of failing genin. At least the day is nearly over, how much worse can it get?

A small tug on his sleeve brought him out of his thoughts and he realized that the current subject of his internal screaming was trying to get his attention. "Yes…?"

"Ne, ne, it's getting late," Ran said pointing at the setting sun, "when is Jii-chan coming to get me? I want to go home."

Fate was never one to shy away from a challenge, and suddenly Kakashi wasn't feeling so attached to that sliver of his dignity anymore.

A/N: When Ran said she knew her kanas she was referring to hiragana and katakana. They are a simpler form of Japanese writing that can be used to replace individual kanji with characters that represent each sound of the Japanese language. Of course that is just scratching the surface, but you get the idea. Japanese children know 1,006 kanji by the time they graduate elementary school. The 1,000 kanji are learned over the course of six years starting with 80 in first year, 160 in second, 200 in third, 200 in fourth, 185 in fifth, and 181 in sixth. Ran would be making her way through the second year's list.

So that was just a little background info/cultural blurb. I'll probably be going more into just how Konoha teaches their kiddos later in the story because that is one big open ended can of worms.