Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter Two:

Puke and the Hokage

Yes, he knew all about nightmares.

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon when a bang awoke Kakashi. Heart pounding, he leapt out of bed in battle mode with a kunai in each hand. He quickly scanned every inch of the room searching for enemies before he realized that he was in his home. Still unable to shake the feeling that something was amiss, he crept out of the room to hunt for intruders. There was nothing in the living room. Suddenly remembering the events from last night, he ran back into the bedroom. The boy was not there. He dropped to his knees and looked under the bed and then the closet; he was not there. He wasn't in the bathroom either. With only one place left to look, he went to the kitchen.

The boy was behind the counter digging through the trash that was strewn around the floor. He was about to put something in his mouth. "No," Kakashi shouted in disgust before he could stop himself. "Drop that now! That's very bad."

Naruto's whole body jerked in surprise before he scuttled away to the corner of the room with his hand raised above him. Big fat tears rolled down his hollow cheeks leaving white streaks on his dirty face. "Em baa, me sawwy. Me sawwy. Ungy."

Angry at himself for scaring the boy when he yelled, he sighed, "I'm not going to hit you, calm down."

Naruto looked down at the floor, "Em baa."

Kakashi was torn between surprise that the kid had finally spoken and confusion at what he was saying. He finally thought he figured out what the chibi was trying to say. He said gently, "You are not bad; Naruto, but eating trash will make you sick. Let's get you a bath and then something good to eat, okay?"

"Eee?" he solemnly nodded then allowed himself to be led to the bathroom. Kakashi ran the bath water then began to remove the clothes in disgust. When he took off his shorts, he was surprised to see an old cloth diaper. The kid had it on for a while, he could tell. He started to peel it off him, but Naruto began to cry in pain. He stilled his movements and placed both hands gently on his shoulders. He tried to not let the way the child flinched affect him personally, but it still bothered him a bit.

Kakashi looked him in the eyes and said, "Naruto, I have to take off your diaper. It might hurt a little, but we have to do it. I'm sorry, okay? But I promise I won't hurt you again."

His body stiffened and he lowered his head, but he didn't try to squirm away. Kakashi peeled the diaper off to see the whole groin area in flames from a massive diaper rash. The backside was even worse. He put the crying boy into the tub and gently washed the grime away. He had to refill the tub again due to all the dirt, but eventually he got the boy all clean. He lifted him out of the tub, dried him off, wrapped him in a towel then took him into the kitchen. Setting him on a chair, he said, "Now you just wait here and I'll make you something good to eat, okay?"

Kakashi was about to walk into the kitchen, when he glanced back at Naruto. He had a serious expression on his face that looked just like Minato. Memories of their past together flashed through his mind. His heart began to race and he felt dizzy. "Oh no, not now," he thought as his hands became numb and his chest hurt. He stiffly walked into the kitchen and slowly slid down the counter until he was resting on the floor. With long slow breaths, he tried to control his harsh breathing. Knowing that this could take awhile, he shakily bit his thumb and summoned some of his ninken. He explained the boy's situation with them and asked for their help.

To Urushi, he said, "Watch the boy for me. Don't get to close though unless he wants you to. He gets scared real easy." He pointed to Shiba and Akino, "Go find the boy something to wear and a diaper." They nodded their heads and peeked around the corner to take a look at the little chibi, then ran out the doggy door to complete their mission. To Ūhei he said, "Go set up a meeting with the Hokage for me." Kakashi leaned his head against the counter and slowly began to count until his heartbeat returned to normal.

Pakkun sniffed then sat down next to him. After ten minutes, he asked, "Another panic attack, huh?" Kakashi just looked away from him and rose to stand.

He said in a toneless, I don't want to talk about it kind of voice, "I need to make the kid some food." He moved to the refrigerator and removed some items. He started cooking while Pakkun watched in silence for some time. As the minutes stretched on, Pakkun finally spoke.

"So what are you planning to do with the Jinchuriki-pup?"

Kakashi didn't stop cooking while he thought of an appropriate response. Finally, he shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Honestly, I haven't a clue. I just couldn't leave him there. I am all that he has. Minato would have been horrified to see what has become of his child. I have to do this for him."

Pakkun put his paw on Kakashi's leg and said, "You are in no shape to take care of a pup, especially one with problems of his own."

"Nevertheless," he said as he picked up the plates of food, "It will be done." He walked over to Naruto, who was staring suspiciously at Urushi, and said, "Are you hungry, little man?" He set the plate of food in front of the child and sat down next to him. "That's Urushi and this is Pakkun," he said pointing to each respective dog. "They are ninja hounds and they will not hurt you. They might be watching over you occasionally."

Naruto looked at each dog before glancing at his plate. His eyes widened at the sight of all that food. His stomach growled loudly. It was a traditional breakfast consisting of steamed rice, miso soup, broiled fish, tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), tsukemono pickles, nori (dried seaweed), and natto (fermented soy beans). He hesitantly reached out his hand towards it while looking at Kakashi. Seeing that he would not stop him, the blonde grabbed some tamagoyaki, shoved it in his mouth and began to chew furiously, while watching the copy-nin from the corner of his eye. Kakashi observed the kid practically inhale the rest of the food. A few seconds later, Naruto's face turned green.

Kakashi knew what was about to happen a second before it did. "Oh crap," he said to himself as Naruto turned his head and emptied his stomach contents all over him. One of the most dangerous and powerful ninja the village of Konohagakure had ever produced sat in his chair with puke running down his chest and pooling in his lap. Its cause; a tiny three year old boy, sitting next to him, weeping.

He looked wryly at himself and shook his head. "Well, I guess I should have known better, huh little man? You probably need something that is a lot easier to digest and probably smaller amounts. I needed a shower anyways. Lets get cleaned up then I'll make you some Okayu.

He took the towel that was wrapped around the boy and threw it on top of the vomit. Together they went to the bathroom and Kakashi turned on the shower. He took off his clothes with distaste and stepped into the shower.

As the silver haired man reached out for him, Naruto asked, "Gen?"

"Yes pup, again. You made quite a mess on yourself," he said pointing to the boy's chest. He brought him into the shower and cleaned him up. It soon became clear that Naruto had never been in a shower before. He held out his tiny hands and tried to catch the water as it fell. For one brief moment, Naruto turned his head up and flashed Kakashi a brief smile.

"How can one little smile make me feel so good?" he wondered to himself. A loud scratch came from the door so they got out of the shower and dried off. Kakashi opened the door to find his ninken with clothes and a bag in their mouths.

Kakashi dug through the bag to find diapers and diaper rash ointment. To Akino, he asked "Where did you find this?"

The tan, sunglass-wearing dog responded, "At the park. Some lady set the bag down and forgot it." He sat near Naruto and let the boy softly pet him.

Shiba found a pair of black shorts and white shirt. They were a little big, but it was good enough for now. Kakashi dressed Naruto them himself. "Alright guys," he said to the ninken, "Thanks for your help. Akino, you can return this to the owner then you all can go for now."

They went back to the kitchen. Kakashi set the boy on the counter, started the rice cooker for the Okayu, and cleaned the mess off the floor. The chibi's clear blue eyes watched the whole thing in silence. Well, he's definitely not much of a talker," thought the nin.

The fact that the kid barely seemed to understand him made him feel like talking while he cooked. Naruto wouldn't judge him or try to give him stupid, useless advice like his friends had. He hesitantly began to speak, his voice raw with emotion, "I'm so tired of hiding from everyone in my past because they bring up the memories of what has changed my life forever. I've been shutting them out for so long, experiencing anxiety and panic attacks whenever I am faced with someone or something that reminds me of what happened. I'm tired of living this way."

Naruto watched him the whole time with a somber expression that matched Kakashi's tone. "I see myself in you. You have been through a lot, huh? I bet you hate being scared all the time. We need to stick together, you and me. I want to help you learn how to trust again. And then perhaps you can teach me how to love for a second time. If we are lucky, maybe our nightmares will go away for good." Kakashi wiped a tear from his eye and smiled; a little embarrassed. "Meh, just ignore me kid. I'm not usually such a weakling. Your food is done now. You want to try to eat again?"

"Ee, yup yup."

"Alright, but this time I'm going to feed you." Kakashi fed him the rice porridge very slow so that he could keep it down this time. The boy had a funny look in his face the whole time. He clearly didn't know what to make of the man that was being so kind to him; he looked at him without hate in his eyes. He talked to him without a mean undertone. The man actually wanted to hear him talk. It scared him. It was so confusing.

"Naruto, we have to leave soon. We have some errands to run and we have to see the Hokage. We have to get you some clothes and more food for us." He set the plate in the kitchen, then pulled up his mask and put on his sandals. Ready to go, he turned to pick up the chibi. He wasn't there.

"Naruto, where are you? We don't have time to fool around." Kakashi searched everywhere until he finally found him in the closet curled into a tight ball under a jacket and whimpering. "Come on out. I won't let anyone hurt you," he said in a soothing voice.

"N-No," he said trembling under the coat, "Baa."

"It's not bad. I told you I would keep you safe," he said. He talked to the boy for quite some time with no success before getting a little frustrated. "Come on, lets go." He tried to gently pull the boy out, but he got bit for his efforts. Hissing in pain and swallowing a curse, he counted to ten and tried again.

"I tell you what; you can hide inside that jacket while I carry you. How does that sound? That way no one can see you." Kakashi waited until the boy reluctantly nodded then leaned into the closet and pulled Naruto out. He wrapped the coat around the boy and left the apartment.

Kakashi figured that taking to the rooftops might scare the kid so he walked. It had been a very long time since he had done that. The only time he ever walked the streets without his Anbu mask on was late at night when there weren't many people around. There were too many people pressed in around him, looking at him, wanting to talk to him, maybe wanting to… his heart began to beat fast. He felt sweat begin to trickle down. Naruto, pressed up to his chest must have sensed his fear because he began to squirm and whine anxiously. Kakashi peeked open the jacket, hugged him to his body tight, and whispered, "Shh, its okay. We are both okay. We both just need to breathe."

Taking his own advice, he breathed deep several times and willed himself to calm down. He felt like everyone was watching him, like an exhibit in a zoo. "Man, I wish I didn't have to look at all these people, too bad I don't have a book to read or something. Anything so that I don't have to look at their faces." he thought to himself. He opened the jacket open again and met Naruto's curious eyes. "Hey pup, you want to fly like a ninja does?" "Please say yes, please say yes," he thought. Talking about overcoming his fears was one thing, but actually doing it so suddenly was another.

"Fy? We fy? Yup, yup, fy." Naruto grinned up at the masked man and allowed the jacket to uncover his face. He pointed at the tall building next to them, "UP!" he shouted.

"Okay, don't be scared. I won't drop you." He smiled in relief, gripped the boy firmly and ran up the nearest building. Soon he was racing across the rooftops. Naruto actually stuck his head and arms completely out of the coat, enjoying it thoroughly. There were other nin traveling that way, but no one bothered them. Soon they arrived at the Hokage tower, Kakashi landed outside the office window and peered in. Sarutobi waved him in.

"You're late."

"Ah well, you see, I had a few issues I had to sort through this morning."

"Uh huh. Speaking of issues, I had an interesting visit with the head matron from the orphanage this morning." Sarutobi lit his pipe and continued, "It would seem that one of her charges was kidnapped by a certain one-eyed shinobi with silver hair."

"Uh, ha ha, that is very interesting, but I'll have you know, I have two eyes," said Kakashi in an attempt at levity. At the Hokage's lowered gaze he straightened up. "I didn't kidnap him, per say, I rescued him. He has been treated horribly and she was about to hurt him again." Just then the bundle in his arms moved and Naruto poked his head out of the jacket and looked up at the copy-nin.

"Fy gen?" he asked with a pleading expression.

Kakashi gave his famous eye crinkle smile and said lowly, "Yeah pup, we'll fly again. Let me talk to the Hokage for now, okay?"

Sarutobi, who had been watching their interaction intensely, was very pleased. He knew that the shinobi was slowly losing his humanity. He had suffered too many losses from such a young age and spent too many years in the Anbu Black Ops. Naruto needed someone to care for him and Kakashi did as well. This could work out very well, but that didn't mean he would make it easy for him. "So, what are your intentions?"

"I am going to take care of him from now on." It wasn't a question.

"What about your position within the Anbu? You cannot do both. Also, your apartment is too small for the two of you."

"I resign effective immediately. I have enough money to stop working for awhile. When the time is right, and we are both ready, then I will move into my family house. For now, my apartment is fine for us."

Hiruzen slow a drag on his pipe and exhaled slowly, the smoke encircling his head for a moment before dispersing. "Are you sure you can do this Kakashi? He has been through a lot in his short life and has been hurt many times. The villagers hate him, no matter what his father wanted for him. I am afraid if things continue, he will learn to hate Konohagakure. Can you give him the Will of Fire, Kakashi? Can you teach him to be a shinobi who will love, trust, revere and fight for the village's sake? You cannot keep him for a couple of months then just quit on him. If you agree to do all this, I want you to adopt him. Also, I know that you are such a loner. The boy will need to be able to go outside and make friends. He needs to become a true part of the village. Will you love him?"

For one brief moment, he froze in panic, his thoughts racing. "Am I really willing to do this? It is so permanent. Can I truly help him or will I do more harm? How can I help him overcome his fear when I have so much of my own?" An image of Minato popped into his head; helping him get over his father's suicide, teaching him about the Will of Fire, and sacrificing himself for the sake of the village. "Yes, for that man, I will do anything. To do any less would be an abomination to his name."

"I will take care of him, sir. He will get everything he needs from me; I won't quit on him. I owe it to my sensei. I will protect him. I won't fail sir."

"The tenth is fast approaching. Naruto usually winds up in the hospital on that day from some sort of "accident" or another. Some drunken villagers almost killed on his first birthday. It was just as bad last year. I was going to have the Anbu guard him this year." He looked at Kakashi expectantly.

"I will protect him, sir."

"Well," Sarutobi grumbled, "I will check up on you two from time to time. Come back tomorrow for the paperwork. Oh and one last thing, don't be afraid to ask for help. You have friends out there that would do anything for you if you would just let them in. Trust in them."

"Understood, sir." Kakashi bowed his head at the Hokage then shunshined out of the building. As he stood on the roof, he removed the jacket from Naruto's body and held him up by his underarms so that they were face to face. With a very solemn expression, he said, "It's just you and me now. It looks like I'm adopting you, I guess. I know I'm probably not the best choice for you, but I promise you now, Naruto, that I will teach you how to be a good man like your father and mother would have done. I can never truly replace them, but I can try and carry on for them. Guess you can call me daddy now. What do you think about that, pup? Can you say daddy?"

"Da?" at Kakashi's nod, the little chibi lit up with pride at doing something right. Just as quickly, a questioning look crossed his face, he asked, "Fy gen?"

He chuckled, "Oh yes, pup; we will fly again." He put the boy on his shoulders, told him to hold on, and raced across the rooftops toward the market.

Naruto twined his fingers through Kakashi's hair, gripped his neck in a choke hold with his skinny legs, and held on tight as they flew away. Seconds later, he laughed for the first time in his short life.

AN

Yes, Naruto is a little old to still be in diapers and talking like such a baby, but he has been neglected his whole life. No one taught him how to use the toilet or talk. Not to worry, that doesn't mean that he is stupid, he just has a lot to learn. Let me know what you think, what needs improvement, etc...