A House is not a Home

Kakashi kept one hand on Naruto's shoulder, while the other hand carried the groceries. The precocious two year old sat on Bull's back, hands clutching the big dog's collar, while he rode through the town. Other children watched as they passed, and begged their parents for similar treatment. The only good thing about that was that the many adults were distracted by their offspring's pleas and couldn't glare at Naruto. Naruto himself seemed pleased with his situation, and looked around eagerly with big blue eyes. Kakashi smiled at how observant his baby brother seemed.

"Kaka-nii," said Naruto, "how come all the people with the red and white circles are glaring at us? They always do that. I don't like it."

"They're Uchihas," said Kakashi. "They generally don't like anyone outside of their clan. They really don't like me because of Obito's eye. Remember I told you he gave it to me as a gift? They don't approve of that sort of thing. It's offensive to their clan pride."

"Oh," said Naruto. "Obito-san musta been a good friend. Is he watching over us from heaven?"

"Very likely he is," said Kakashi. "And I think he'd be proud of me for trying to have a life outside of my job. As would my sensei."

"Will you tell me a Yondaime story before bed tonight?" asked Naruto. "Please, Kaka-nii?"

"If you're good in the bath," said Kakashi, "I'll tell you a new story. How's that?"

"Are you bribing the kid, Kakashi?" asked a busty blonde from in front of their apartment building. The dark haired girl behind her clutched her pet pig and smiled at them.

"Lady Tsunade," said Kakashi, startled. "I didn't think you were coming."

"I've been thinking about it," admitted Tsunade. "Shizune kept reminding me, and a few months ago, I ran into Jiraiya. He showed me some pictures of Naruto and told me about the little brat. So here I am, back from my wild wanderings, to help you raise this kid and get the hospital into better working order."

"Welcome back," said Kakashi. "Naruto, come meet your Aunt Tsunade. She's going to be living with us from now on."

"Hi," said Naruto shyly. "Are you going to go away like Uncle Jiraiya does all the time?"

"Not likely," snorted Tsunade. "I always said that if I came back, I'd stay here. This is your cousin Shizune. She's going to be staying with us as well."

"It's nice to meet you, Naruto," said Shizune. "This is my pet pig, Tonton."

"Hi Tonton!" said Naruto, clearly more comfortable with animals than with strange humans. "Is she a Summon? Bull's a Summon. Can she talk at all? What's her specialty?"

"Naruto, you're being rude," chided Kakashi. "Poor Shizune hasn't even gotten a chance to unpack yet, and you're already chattering at her."

"Sorry Shizu-nee," said Naruto, abashed.

"It's quite alright," giggled Shizune. "People don't usually ask about Tonton, so I'm not used to that kind of enthusiasm. Why don't you and Bull help me take my things up to the apartment, and we can chat on the way?"

"What does enthusiasm mean?" asked Naruto. He led the way up to the apartment, asking Shizune all sorts of questions as they went.

"Our apartment is very small," said Kakashi. "I'm not sure we'll all fit very well."

"I was thinking that we should buy a small house," said Tsunade. "I think I can afford it, and still pay off my debts with my hospital pay. Shizune and you will both want privacy, and I'll need it. Naruto should have a room of his own as well."

"You've really been thinking about this," said Kakashi.

"And Jiraiya will want a guest room reserved for him," said Tsunade. "We're a fair-sized family. And we're all going to be busy people. The least I can do for all of us is give each person a haven to call their own to just be in. In a family of ninjas, it's saner than the alternative."

Kakashi winced. "Much more sane. We'll swing it, somehow. Naruto seems to like you both already. I'm glad for him, that he's going to grow up with a supportive family."

"Damn right he will," said Tsunade. "We'll start house hunting tomorrow. I'd like to spend tonight getting to know my nephew."

Ω

Tsunade bought the house while Kakashi was out on a mission and Shizune was working in the hospital. She took Naruto with her, much to the discomfort of the realtor, and considered his opinions of each place they looked at. The one he liked best was the one she bought, cackling as she signed the documents while Naruto played with the sweating man's shoelaces.

Everyone had laughed when he'd fallen on his face.

Shizune and Kakashi were both surprised and pleased when Tsunade informed them that they had a house. They were horrified when they saw the building the next day. Naruto, seated on Shizune's hip, reached over to knock on her forehead, which startled her out of her trance.

"Tsunade-sama," gasped Shizune, "we can't afford this. There's no way it's possible. I'm the one who keeps track of our finances. I just can't see it happening."

"Relax," said Tsunade. "Jiraiya paid for half already. I got us a pretty good interest rate on the mortgage, so I think we can pay it off in ten years. Besides, Naruto loves this place. And the Aburame clan is nearby; they may not be the first who come to mind when one thinks of friends, but they're good neighbours. And they have some pretty smart kids who are about Naruto's age."

"If he makes friends with them," said Kakashi, "he'll know people when he starts going to the Academy. That might make him a bit more comfortable with the transition."

"And it will certainly teach him some social skills," said Tsunade with satisfaction. "I thought about him, as well as the rest of us, when I bought this house. The rest of the neighbourhood is mostly ninja families, so coming and going at odd hours won't bother people too much."

"Is the third floor inhabitable?" asked Kakashi.

"Go and see for yourself," said Tsunade. Shizune handed Naruto to Tsunade and followed Kakashi into the house. Tsunade put Naruto down and walked with him to their house. Naruto smiled up at his aunt.

"We did good," said Naruto.

"We did very well," agreed Tsunade. "Why don't we go figure out which room will be yours? Shizune and Kakashi have probably already figured out where they want to be."

Kakashi, it turned out, had commandeered the attic. With its windows and its height, it was the perfect place for comings and goings at all sorts of odd hours. Shizune had claimed the master suite for her own, knowing that her teacher would want a room on the ground floor. Naruto claimed the room across the hall from her, and Tsunade designated the room at the far end of the hall as Jiraiya's. The final second floor bedroom was deemed a playroom, and Naruto volunteered to be responsible for making sure it was neatened up every night before he went to bed.

"We even have space to grow," joked Kakashi as they carried their furniture over. Shizune shoved the couch they were carrying into his chest, causing him to stumble.

"Can we please worry about that later?" asked Shizune irritably. "Like when you're actually dating somebody seriously and looking to settle down type later?"

"That'll be a while yet anyway," said Tsunade comfortably, supervising the group of Genin who drew the mission to help them move. "We all have some growing up to do before anybody settles down."

"Does that mean I don't have to take naps anymore?" asked Naruto eagerly.

"Not at all," said Tsunade. "You'll still take naps until you stop needing them. And we'll all know when you'll stop needing them."

"But Auntie!" protested Naruto. "Shizu-nee doesn't hafta take naps. Kaka-nii doesn't hafta take naps. How come I have to?"

"When they were your age," said Tsunade, "they took naps too. And now they're big and strong. So, if you want to be big and strong when you grow up, take care of your body and give it the rest and nutrients it will need to be strong. That's why we make you eat your vegetables and don't give you ramen all the time."

"Oh," said Naruto. "Okay then. How long until I'm big and strong?"

Tsunade sighed and left that question for Shizune.