The first night with Naruto in his house, was interesting is one word, awkward is another. Neither spoke much as Kakashi set out dinner, the take out ramen that Naruto liked. After dinner, Kakashi cleaned up, set up Naruto's cot and shortly after the two males went to bed. Kakashi woke up in the middle of the night on high alert. Two kunai were in his hands as he sat up looking for the danger. He didn't see anything that looked out of place. No smells that shouldn't be there, so it was a slight surprise to hear Naruto cry out in his sleep.

A nightmare, Kakashi thought as he put the kunai back under his pillow before standing up. Looking down at the little boy, Kakashi was once again struck with the thought of 'what do I do now?'. Slowly lowering his hand to gently pat Naruto on the head, with a quiet "It's okay, Naruto, you are safe." After a few minutes of this, Naruto's crying and whimpering didn't stop. Kakashi leaned down and ran his hand down Naruto's back, like how he would pet his ninkin. This seemed to have a better effect on the child. The whimpering had slowed and the crying moved from hysterical to a more controlled crying.

Naruto's eyes opened, seeing Kakashi standing there, Naruto did what any child does when seeing a safe adult. He launched himself at Kakashi. Crawled up into Kakashi's arms and buried his head into Kakashi's chest, continuing to cry, but not as hard.

Kakashi slowly ran his hand up and down Naruto's back. Listening to the crying boy drifting back to sleep, small hiccups spaced between the slow deep breaths of an exhausted sleep. Looking around, Kakashi tried to figure out what to do, he tried to set Naruto down, but Naruto tightened his grip on Kakashi. Finally unsure what else to do, Kakashi slowly walked back to his own bed and laid down with Naruto asleep on his chest.

Kakashi jerked awake for the second time. Before his brain caught up to what was happening; his body was already tossing the body onto the bed next to him with a kunai pressed into the person's neck. Once Kakashi's brain caught up to the fact it was Naruto and not an enemy, Kakashi quickly took both hands off of the boy, "Naruto, I am sorry.."

"That was awesome, Kakashi-san, can you teach me how to do that?" Asked the excited boy as he pushed against the bed to turn around. Yet the smile that lit up Naruto's face faded as the boy's face paled as he looked Kakashi. Wrapping his arms around his waist, Naruto started to rock back and forth, moving into the fetal position as he cried, "No, no, no, please no!"

Kakashi was shocked into stillness for a few minutes, trying to figure out what was wrong. The kunai was behind his back and besides, Hokage said that Naruto was at the Academy, so a weapon shouldn't cause this type of response. Naruto didn't act this way when they were introduced, so what was different. Lightning fast, the answer came to him. His Sharingan. Kakashi took off his mask and forehead protector while sleeping and this was the first time Naruto had seen his Sharingan. Reaching out to the nightstand, Kakashi quickly tied his forehead protector, so that his eye was covered before picking the boy up like he did last night. Slowly the boy came back to himself and Kakashi asked, "Naruto can you tell me what happened?"

Naruto shook his head in Kakashi's chest.

"Well then can you look at me?"

Naruto slowly raised his head, only to avoid looking at Kakashi's face. Kakashi waited patiently for Naruto to look at him. With a deep breath, Naruto glanced at Kakashi's face, only to take a longer look. His eyes took in the lack of a mask and the forehead protector covering Kakashi's eye. "What happened to your mask?" Naruto asked.

Kakashi smiled and replied, "I have the mask attached to my shirts, and since I am not currently wearing one, it is off. Besides it is nice to not sleep with a mask on." Watching Naruto nod a little, Kakashi asked again, "Naruto, why did you get upset when you saw my Sharingan?"

"Your what?"

"My eye," Kakashi gestured to his covered eye. "Have you seen one before?"

Naruto nodded, his face paling again.

"Did you want to talk about it?"

Naruto shook his head.

Kakashi shrugged, "I am here if you want to talk, Naruto. It is my job to protect you, from all the people in the world who want to hurt you until you are old enough to take care of yourself."

Naruto nodded, Hokage-jiji told him that when Naruto was introduced to Kakashi the first time. Jiji also explained that Kakashi would look after Naruto, like when he was at the orphanage, but better. Jiji also promised that Kakashi would become like a big brother to Naruto.

"So why don't you use the bathroom first and I will get started on breakfast. Do you have any requests?"

"Ramen?"

"How about some broiled fish and rice?"

"Okay." Naruto scrambled off of Kakashi's lap and ran over to the bathroom.

"First order of business. Ask Hokage about a bigger apartment. Second order of business, get Naruto some new clothes," Kakashi said. He looked at the worn tee shirt that might have been white at one time and the frayed dark blue shorts sitting on top of the cot Naruto slept in last night. Well at least he started to sleep there last night. Winter was coming soon, and the boy needed some warmer clothes. Kakashi pulled on a shirt but left the mask off as he took the five steps it took to go from the cot to his kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, Kakashi pulled out some fish he had in there and made some fresh rice.

Naruto walked out of the bathroom, and saw Kakashi drinking some tea and reading a book. "What are you reading?"

Kakashi showed the cover to Naruto, "A book Hokage gave me."

"What is it about?"

Kakashi looked at the cover. He felt that the title was pretty self explanatory. After all what else would a book called "Parenting for the First Time Parent" be about? "What does the title say Naruto-kun?"

Naruto looked at the title, tilted his head and looked at it from a different direction. Still he didn't say anything. Kakashi was suspicious about why Naruto was not answering, when it occurred to him. "Naruto, can you read?"

Naruto looked at the ground but not before Kakashi saw the blush that stained his cheeks.

"Okay then. We have some errands we need to run today. So we will stop at the book store and get some books for you to practice your reading."

"You are not mad at me?" Naruto asked, hope evident in his voice.

"Why would I be mad?" Kakashi asked confused.

"The teachers always accuse me of pretending so I get out doing my work, and they always send me out of the classroom." Naruto answered.

"No Naruto, I am not mad. I am disappointed in the teachers at the academy for not noticing this before. But don't worry, together we will get you to where your classmates are and surpassing them soon."

"Really?"

"Yes. Now I need to you to sit down and we will eat, then I will take a shower before we go to the Tower and get our errands complete. You will not go to the Academy for a couple days."

Naruto flew to the table and quickly sat down. Kakashi stood up and moved the cooling dishes to the table. Besides the rice and broiled sole, Kakashi made a quick cucumber salad. Making sure to put a little of everything on Naruto's plate, Kakashi handed him the plate and a set of chopsticks. Watching Naruto eat the rice and fish, Kakashi ate his food.

"Naruto, you need to eat your vegetables too, a shinobi must have a balanced diet in order to grow healthy and strong."

Naruto frowned, "I don't like vegetables."

"You need to try some and we are not leaving this table until you have tried a bite of your cucumber salad."

Naruto frowned deeper and slowly picked up a single cucumber. He moved the chopstick studying the cucumber from different angles. Then he moved the offending vegetable towards his mouth. First he stuck his tongue out and let the cucumber touch his tongue and he scrunched up his face in disgust.

Kakashi watched in fascination as Naruto opened his mouth and put the cucumber inside, then with a single chew, Naruto swallowed, grabbed the water glass and drank the whole thing as if to wash the taste of cucumber from his mouth. Kakashi nodded and stood up, "Okay, if you're done, lets head over to Hokage Tower, I have a few things I need to discuss with Hokage-sama."

Helping Naruto put his sandals on, making another note to buy Naruto another pair. Kakashi and Naruto walked out the dreaded front door. Kakashi put a hand on Naruto's shoulder to stop him from running down the stairs, and set the security seals on his door, before muttering, "Let's go."

The two males walked down the stairs and took the roads to Hokage's tower. Only a few people were out and about, mainly shinobi leaving for early missions or training. Kakashi could feel the chakra signatures of fellow ANBU as they returned from missions or training. He suppressed a sigh at being left behind but looking at the bright blonde hair of the child walking next to him, Kakashi remembered another blonde who became a second father to him. The constant guilt settled over his shoulders, Kakashi promised himself again that he would be the best guardian to Minato-sensei's son that he could. He wouldn't it be as good as Minato was, but he would do his best.

AN:

So there we go, my idea. I saw a picture of Kakashi holding a crying Naruto and thought, "What would happen if Kakashi was forced to take care of a young Naruto? How would things change?" Hope you enjoy.