The lone neon lights and the ache of the ocean
And the fire that was starting to spark
I miss it all, from the love to the lightning
And the lack of it snaps me in two
—0—
Snow Patrol
In all the wolrd there's nothing like the sound of falling snow, the only noise some people known that makes the clocks move slower. The sun hasn't reached it's peak yet, the dim light of the moon still shun on Konoha even though it was morning.
Kakashi woke gently, he hadn't slept one night without a nightmare since his past mistakes, he was lying on the side with his arms around the small boy who looked so peaceful in his sleep, Naruto's arms was between them one holding Kakashi's shirt and his other was supporting his head.
He didn't want to go up. He wanted to stay in bed with Naruto sleeping peacefully for once, no nightmares, no more torment he wanted Naruto to smile, be happy have a bright future.
Why must a three year old child fight for just existing, why must he be abused and shunned to be noticed, Kakashi realized he should have done something earlier not three years later. A child shouldn't bare so much pain.
Naruto stirred lightly and opened his eyes only to be meet with warmth and a broad chest, he let go of the shirt he was holding and stretched his arm over his head sighing in satisfaction, when he set down again he looked up in to the silver haired mans only eye that was open.
He looked strangely at the man, half of the face was covered and he had one eye closed, Naruto didn't know why but it bugged him. Kakashi watched amusingly at Naruto as he tried to stand on the soft duvet balancing his footing a little only until he promptly pushed Kakashi so he was on his back and climbed on on his chest.
Naruto watched the silver haired man curiously, he reached out and tapped his finger just under Kakashi's closed eye.
''Nan da'' he wondered why the eye was closed, Kakashi didn't know if he should show Naruto his eye but he knew that if it was gonna work he had too show his true self.
He sighed and opened his eye, exposing his Sharingan in front of the three year old the reaction he thought he was gonna get wasn't what he was expecting.
''Suke'' the child let out in a whisper making Kakashi chuckle, the silver haired man reached up and flicked Naruto on his forehead making him lose balance and drop back on Kakashi's legs.
''Itee''
Kakashi sat up and started tickling Naruto making the small child squeal and laugh until tears started running down his cheeks ''stawp, stawp'' said the cold between laughs, Kakashi gave in and stopped and looked down at Naruto. He was smiling and it warmed Kakashi heart to see that there still was a chance to save Naruto, he burned the picture of naruto smiling in to his head with his Sharingan.
Suddenly came a load growl from Naruto, the child blushed and scratched his head in a goofy manner Kakashi eye smiled at him and lifted him up and stood from the bed ''Mah, guess it's time for breakfast huh pup''
''Ungy'' answered Naruto.
As he enter the kitchen he settled Naruto on the table ''You wanna see a cool trick pup'' Naruto nodded swinging his legs excitedly.
Kakashi stood back and bit his thumb and hastily made some signs and slammed his plan on the floor ''Summoning Jutsu''
A thick layer of smoke appeared in front of Naruto it slowly disappeared reveling eight hounds, they all wagged their tails in excitement as they saw Naruto sitting on the table ''Pup this is my pack, and now your pack'' he lifted Naruto from the table and sat him down on the floor and crouched behind him. The child's eyes shined he's never seen so many dogs in one place.
''Now everyone greet the new pup'' the hounds jumped from their spots and surrounded Naruto, the child giggled at the attention he was getting.
''Tickle'' said Naruto as he was assaulted with wet tongues and sniffing noses covered him, Kakashi stood back and enjoyed the sight before him. It felt good, he never thought of himself getting children but Naruto wasn't a ordinary child. He was special, pure and his Sensei's legacy but if Kakashi was gonna be honest with himself he wanted Naruto to be his.
He quickly made a clone giving his twin a couple of things he would need to buy for Naruto, he hadn't noticed until now but he hadn't covered his Sharingan yet. It felt odd for him to forget something that he never does, but at the same time he understood it was because of Naruto. He made things just seem simple and okay.
His clone sunshined away, out to find clothes, food, toys and other things Naruto would need, Kakashi silently made his way to the stove and stared doing a simple breakfast for them both, he occasionally glanced towards Naruto and saw that the boy was sitting on bull's back as they wandered through the apartment with the other dogs following close behind.
He felt a weight settled on his shoulder, he looked and was meet with his smallest hounds paw on his cheek.
''Boss''
''Pakkun'' he answered, he already knew Pakkun was gonna say something about Naruto.
''So you brought the Uzumaki kid, took you long enough to make that choice'' grumbled the pug.
''What of it he deserves this, he deserves even more than this''
''You made a good choice boss, the best choice'' It felt good hearing that he made the best choice, he didn't feel any remorse for taking in Naruto, he actually needed him.
He quickly finished the breakfast and placed it on the table, he wondered over towards Naruto lifted him from Bull's back making him giggle as he cuddled in to Kakashi's embrace.
''Another trick pup'' he asked, Naruto nodded and clapped his hands together.
The silver haired man walked over to a bookshelf and took a scroll, he crouched down with Naruto secure in his arms and rolled out the scroll, he stood back and raised his hand and made the sign ram and mutters release. Again there was a cloud of smoke that vanished revealing eight bowls with dog food in them.
His ninken sat back and waited for approval as they've been trained ''Pup say iku'' Naruto looked at Kakashi with his head to the side wondering what he meant but did it anyway.
''Iku'' Naruto squealed at the sight when the dogs did as he said and started eating their food, his tummy growled once again making Kakashi chuckle ''Let's eat'' said the man as he settled Naruto on his lap.
Naruto looked at the food with wonder, he's never seen so much food in front of him ''wha thi'' he asked.
''It's Natto and a fried egg on rice with miso soup, it's really tasty here'' he held the chopsticks with a piece of fried egg and rice in front of Naruto's mouth who ate it enthusiastically.
''Yummy'' he smiled as he looked up at Kakashi who smiled back and continued to feed Naruto as he ate his own food at the same time.
After their food was eaten and the dishes were cleaned they settled down on the couch with all of the eight dogs, it was a tight fit but it worked and Naruto certainly didn't mind the attention he was getting.
His clone came in through the door with a couple of bags packed with stuff for Naruto, he set them down and disappeared with cloud of smoke, the silver haired man took out the content from the bags and laid them out on the floor, toys, clothes, a night cap, diapers and many other things.
Kakashi picked out a shirt that was black and had two stripes with orange going down on the arms and a pair of grey pants, when he'd dressed Naruto he showed him a mirror.
''What do you think pup, do you like it'' he asked the small boy, Naruto stared at himself in awe. He's never worn whole clothes that looked cool.
''Suke cool'' Kakashi shackled behind him and placed his hand on the boys head ruffling his hair ''Indeed you look really cool''
Now that both of them were dressed after weather Kakashi lifted Naruto in his arms hand held him against his chest, as he walked through the village he could see the hatefulness in the villagers eyes directed at Naruto, the little boy was hiding his face away from the glares, away from the hate. Even if his eyes were hidden everyone knew who that sun golden hair belonged too.
Kakashi glanced up towards the building that led to the Hokage and thought for a second, he nudged Naruto on his cheek gaining his attention ''How about some fun huh, do you wanna fly'' he asked the little boy who once again stared at him confusingly.
''Fly'' he questioned and Kakashi chuckled, he put Naruto on his shoulders and placed the boys hands so they held on his headband.
''Hold tight, I'm not gonna drop you'' he took hold of Naruto's legs and pushed chakra into his feet and jumped from building to building, Naruto was laughing he'd let go of the silver haired mans head and threw his arms out, it was the best feeling his ever had in his life. He felt like he was flying high up in the air that no one could see him or do anything to him, he simply felt free in the snowy weather catching snowflakes as they fell from the clouds.
Soon enough they stopped out side the hokages office, Kakashi looked in and saw the third sitting at his desk he gently tapped on the window startling Hiruzen.
Hiruzen looked out of the window and saw the silver haired man and oddly enough Naruto, he stepped forth to the window and opened it letting Kakashi and little Naruto get in from the cold. He gazed at the pair and saw Naruto trying to talk with Kakashi in a hyperactive manner, the silver haired man promised Naruto to fly again and chuckled as the little boy hugged his neck before realizing where he was and saw Hiruzen.
''O jiji'' Naruto exclaimed happily and reached out for the third Hokage with his small hands, Hiruzen took Naruto from Kakashi and hugged the child close.
''It's good to see you Naruto'' he said. He looked at Kakashi with a questionable gaze, the silver haired man simply shrugged at him.
''Hokage Sama, do you have a moment'' questioned Kakashi as he gathered Naruto close to his chest again.
''Of course Kakashi, I guess it's about little Naruto there''
''Yes sir, I would like to take him in my care''
Hiruzen looked at Kakashi and knew he was speaking nothing but the truth, he knew that Kakashi would never hurt Naruto and as he was thinking about it, it sounded like a good idea.
''So you're saying that you want to adopt Naruto, why'' he asked the young man as he watched Kakashi interact with the young boy who playing with the silver haired mans fingers.
''Because yesterday I found him being beaten by two men, and since then he's been with me he's my Sensei's legacy''
''Is that the only reason Kakashi''
''No Hokage Sama, he doesn't have anyone, he's a three year old child that deserves better than being beaten he needs me and I…I need him'' Hiruzen smirked at the pair, this was indeed good and right. Naruto needed someone as did Kakashi.
''You do realize that a child is a lot of work, what are you gonna do when you get a mission'' he questioned.
Kakashi stood straight, he wasn't gonna waver ''I have enough savings for at least two years sir, I can start taking missions again when he starts going to the academy''
It was simple a ninja could take leave for family if they had enough saving, Kakashi isn't the kind of man that spends his money because he doesn't have anyone.
''Hmm you do realize that adopting Naruto will be a big change, the people of this village despise him and want him dead''
''I know that sir, but please consider it I can protect him and train him as he gets older please Hokage Sama''
Hiruzen had already agreed to it, he knew that if Kakashi trained Naruto and cared for him as his own, Naruto would grow strong and be thought of how it feel being cared for. But somethings needs changing.
''If you're gonna adopt him I want you to dye his hair silver and keep it that way, to protect Naruto people need to forget how he looks and I want him to have your last name''
Kakashi didn't like the idea but at the same time it was the smart move to make and it would be more believable if little Naruto had the same hair color as him.
''I don't like it but I will do it for him''
''Good, you need friends in this Kakashi taking care of a child is a lot of work and a special child as Naruto needs a family as do you''
''Hai''
''Then it's settled from here on out you are the father of Naruto Uzumaki Hatake''
Kakashi lifted Naruto and held him up in the ear and smiled at him, Naruto squealed in happiness ''Well then pup, can you say daddy'' The boy thought of the word for a second ''Da'' he answered making Kakashi chuckle and hug the boy close to his chest.
''It's a start''
Hiruzen smiled at the pair, a new legend was born with a caring father who would train him and raise him to be so strong that no one would ever step on the boy again. Both would learn how love can be the most cherished thing in the world between a father and a son, a new chapter was opened and in it the story of Naruto Hatake was born as the son of Kakashi Hatake.