"Jii-san!" someone shouted, followed by a blur of orange. It tackled the Hokage, who in turn chuckled, easily holding his arms out to envelop the child into a hug. "You're late!"

"Sorry, Naruto. I had some business to take-" he apologized, but before he could finish, he was interrupted.

"Ah, you!" Naruto shouted, pointing at Yusuke.

"Hey brat," he greeted with a grin, patting the child's blond hair as he reached the stool. Sitting down, he ordered himself a bowl of pork ramen.

"Not kid! Nar-u-to!" Naruto exclaimed, clambering on to the stool beside the raven-hair teen. "How come you don't remember that?"

"Cuz you are a kid," he replied, breaking apart his chopstick. He dug in as soon as his bowl came.

"Ah! No fair," he yelled at the sight of the ramen. He quickly turned to face the counter. "Old man, two bowl of miso ramen."

"And a bowl for me," the Hokage finally spoke, taking a seat next to the child he view as a grandson. While Teuchi went to prepare the food, he watched Naruto and Yusuke's interaction. The way Naruto reacted whole-heartedly to every little thing Yusuke did was somewhat amusing, along with how calmly the teen took it. He was reminded of the friendly rivalry between a certain gray-haired former ANBU and a bowl-haired jōnin. An idea slowly formed in his head and remained there even as his bowl of ramen came.

If he remembered correctly, Naruto's former caretaker had left just last week, stating that she can't stand him. Wouldn't it be perfect…? Glancing at the youngsters out of the corner of his eyes, he nodded. Yes, he believed it'll work.

"Naruto," he interjected, putting a calming hand on aforementioned child's shoulder. The child swirled around, nearly falling off his seat. "How would you like another caretaker?"

Naruto's nose scrunched up at the thought. "I don't want another one. I don't like them."

The Sandaime smiled kindly in reply. "What if Yusuke-kun is the one to take care of you?" he asked.

"Really!" Naruto asked excitedly, masking the sound of Yusuke spurting his fifth bow of ramen out, coughing as some got stick in his throat. What the hell was the old man thinking? He wondered as the girl, Ayame, hovered over him, looking worried. He attempted to smile, but bet it looked more like a grimace than anything. Nodding gratefully, he accepted the offered handkerchief.

"Oh, Yusuke-kun. You also think it's a great idea?" the Hokage asked at the exact moment. Yusuke froze before furiously trying to get the noodles down so he could speak, only to be rendered speechless when he did by Naruto's sparkling puppy eyes and the Hokake's kind, but twinkling one.

I will not fall for it. I will not fall for it, Yusuke chanted to himself. Just don't look at those eyes-

He sighed. "Fine, fine, fine," he groused out, giving in.

"Yatta!" Naruto shouted happily.

Yusuke scratched the back of his head, somewhat uncomfortable by Naruto's palpable happiness. "Don't blame me if I fail at taking care of him, though. I've never done this shit before."

"Language," the Hokage chided. "There's a child present. But as a matter of fact, I think you will do quite well as a parent."

"You may be a dimwit, but I know you'll try your best for your child," Genkai smiled at him in a moment of rare affection. "Rest easy, Yusuke, your kid can't hope for a better father."

His child passed before he could be born, in a moment of human foolishness. But no matter how much he tried, he could never hate mankind, the very people he risked his life for time after time. It didn't stop him from wishing things were different though. Yusuke live for the future, but at reflective times, he simply wished everyone could just live together in peace. It seems like Kuwabara and he are more alike than they think.

"Neh, neh," the hyperactive blond said, bringing Yusuke's attention to him. "Can I call nii-chan? I never have one before."

Yusuke smiled. "Sure," he agreed. He was rewarded with a bright, sunny smile. "It's nii-san, though. You're not chan-ing me."

"Okay, Yusuke-nii!"

And that was that.

Xxx

A few days later found Naruto and Yusuke getting along considerably well… Or not.

"Yusuke-nii, where are my socks?"

"In that same drawer where you put your frog."

A few moments later.

"Yusuke-nii, I can't find my pj."

"It's in your room.

"Yusuke-ni-"

"What?" he exclaimed, flinging toothpaste everywhere.

The sight of his nii-san with a toothbrush protruding his mouth along with a mouth full of toothpaste was too much. Naruto took one look at him and promptly laughed his ass off. In fact, he was laughing so hard that he didn't even notice his nii-san sneaking up on him.

"Gah!" Naruto exclaimed as he was tackled to the floor, and was proceed to be tickled to senselessness. He giggled and laughed, so hard that he was choking on his very own breath.

"That'll teach you about laughing at me, you brat," Yusuke nodded in satisfaction, finally stopping at the giggling lump before him.

It was decided that the two should move in together so Yusuke could take care of Naruto. However, one look at Naruto's former apartment had the two adults cringing. The Hokage was not pleased at all, so he moved them to another location. Telling Yusuke not to worry about the cost for now and he gave him a huge sum to take care of Naruto.

"Trust me," the Hokage said. "You'll need it."

Thinking back at Naruto's huge appetite at the ramen stall, Yusuke was inclined to agree. Now, Yusuke not only have to take care of a kid, but has to budget his money as well.

"C'mon, Naruto. Let's go to bed," Yusuke said, helping Naruto up. The hyperactive blond pouted, but complied.

Xxx

"Hokage-sama, is this wise?" Ibiki asked. "We don't know anything about the man's background, or even if what he said was true. If he turns around and betray the village after getting close to the jinchuuriki, Uzumaki might follow as well."

"Ibiki, if you've met Yusuke-kun, you'll understand. He is straightforward and not the type to do something like that. If you still don't trust my judgment-" the Sandaime held up a hand to stop Ibiki's protest. "You can observe Yusuke-kun and see for yourself."

The head of the Torture and Interrogation Force accepted the invitation and let the discussion slide as of that for now. He headed towards the door.

"Ibiki," the Hokage said when his hand was on the doorknob. "Please give me a copy of your findings as well."

His eyes widen just a millimeter before nodding, and turned the doorknob. For all that he appears, Ibiki thought as he stepped out of the room, the Hokage still has the subtly of a shinobi.