"Say Kakashi, would you like to take care of Naruto?"

Those exact words echoing in Kakashi mind. For now he was in his shock mode, he escaped to his private sanctuary which was his mind, or he called it Happy-nothing's-wrong-Land. He was running with his pug, Pakkun, in a grass field, blue sky above. He was running, and running, and running, while laughing with Pakkun. And then he jumped, with hands spread apart, twirling around… And anime tear ran down his eye, it looked horrifyingly like Gai's. He fell face first on the grass, still laughing merrily, and crying all together.

"Oi Kakashi, you better get back." Pakkun grumbled while tugging silver hair with his pug snout. With one last tug, and a hard one pull he poofed out of existence. The laugh-crying Kakashi still faced the grass, not budging a bit. Suddenly the clear blue sky disappeared, dark cloud tainted the sky, then out of nowhere a big wave roaring, it swallowed the field with a mighty force. It reached Kakashi in a nick of time, and the boy was carried away with it.

He snapped out from his mind, when his precious Happy-nothing's-wrong-Land became a Out-of-nowhere-tsunami-land? Aww, now he had no escape mind. Well, it could not be helped then, reality had to be faced and all. So he took a deep breath, he put Naruto down, much to Naruto disappointment, and then he made a bee line to the another-oh-so-sweet-escape-route. Never before in Kakashi's life had he seen a single door could be very welcoming, and beautifully tantalizing. Just several steps more, and he was out of this reverie, yes, just a wee bit more he was out to the welco-

"Where do you think you're going Kakashi?"

His dream shattered instantly, becoming pieces of shapeless picture. Kakashi stopped in mid step, he awkwardly turned around facing the questioner, "Why Hokage-sama, I'm going home of course. As you can see this expertly crafted door is the only appropriate way is it not?" He used his famous eye smile, and craned his head to the right, looked like an innocent man, which he was not.

Sarutobi's eyebrow twitching, he could not believed it; this boy trying to escape from this situation, and shockingly he pretended not to hear the question.

"I asked you a question, which you will answer right away," He approached Kakashi, and brought him back to the crib. "Now, would you like to take care of Naruto?" He held Kakashi by his shoulder, preventing him to leave.

"Hmm, I think I heard an old lady cry for help? Oh well It cannot be helped then, Ja ne."

POOFFF!

And Kakashi was gone.

Sarutobi stared wide eyed at the empty spot where Kakashi's clone was a second ago. "Damn, that brat. He is good, too good for his own good," He shook his head, and massaged his temple. "Well, Naruto, it seems you'll be alone tonight too." Sarutobi brushed the blond, while Naruto was cooing hearing his name.

AAAAA

Kakashi was leaping from tree to tree when suddenly his memory from his clone rushed back to him, resulting he lost his balance, and greeting earth with his face.

Why this is very familiar to me? Somehow today, grass and soil love to kiss my face.

Grunting he got to his feet, he looked back judging how far he was from the cottage. "Ma, it's far enough for a short run." He mumbled, scratching his head he continued to walk.

He pocketed his hands, what would he do? And God, he should know Naruto was a child, scratch that, a baby, a newborn, an infant. He should know it! If he did it would be much easier. Oh wait he already knew Naruto was a baby, and that was the reason (which he chose to ignore) he wanted to see him. On the back of the lad consciousness, he just wanted to see the baby, Naruto, there; simple and plain reason.

He kept walking aimlessly until he was out of the tree shades; his feet led him to the playground. Where children were running, screaming, and playing while their mother gathered up together talking about whatever women's things. He sat on the bench; when his sensitive ears caught something that perked his interest. It was a sound of a man and a kid, a boy to be exact. He directed his gaze to the sounds, what he saw was really surprise him, and seemingly nostalgic. A father with brown hair looked like in his late twenties, pushing his son on a swing. While his son laughing and screaming to go higher, which his father happily complied. They both seemed very happy, when suddenly the boy decided to jump out of the swing and went high up in the air. Before Kakashi went to catch him, his father caught the boy. The child was laughing in his father secure arms, while his father sweat dropped at his son antics, not long after the father just smiled at the boy, laughing along while listening to his son dramatic story telling on their way home.

Kakashi's gaze followed the two until their out of his sight. He remembered doing the same thing with his father, it was a good memory. He wanted to feel that again, but this time around he wanted to be the one who was catching, not the one who was being caught. The roles needed to be changed for the player were mostly gone. To simplify things, he just simply wanted to be needed, to be wanted by someone.

And I have the opportunity to do it.

With his mind resolved he walked back to the place where he was a moment ago.

AAAAA

Naruto woke in his room. The smell was different, and… and…

"ACHOO..!"

Yeah, and dusts were everywhere. Then he heard a tapping sound coming from outside the room, it's getting closer. And the door opened by the man from before, the one with sharp softy hair. He was making his way toward him.

"You're awake Naruto?" He asked him; well he did not understand a word the man was speaking. "I'm sorry if I woke you, you want to eat buddy?" The man leaned on his crib, making it creaked a little. Seconds went by, the man walked away to the table next to him. He watched the man with his curious eyes, wondering what was the man doing. Not long after that, he was being picked up, and offered a bottle of warm milk. "Here you go Naruto, it's still warm." Naruto being a baby could not resist the temptation of the rubbery-chewy-nipple so he eagerly sucked it in. Not long after that, the bottle was dry, "Well, well, look who's hungry." The man chuckled; sensing a happy vibe coming from the man Naruto giggled and clapped his chubby hands.

Kakashi was confused about his feelings, seeing the baby was happy like this, something inside of him was conflicted. This little man was indeed something, it was not even a day since he took Naruto home, but he could not helped it but like the kid, mind you like not love… yet. This kid was like a tiny little blonde puppy, that was always wiggling his tail with his stubby body, it's just that hard to hate him. The need to hurt him was receding, but not forgotten… yet.

Let's just see where this will go.

He eye smiled at Naruto and put him back. But, unfortunately he forgot to burp him, and the sticky milk goes straight to his mask. Cursing loudly, he took tissues and wiped his precious mask then cleaned Naruto who laughing merrily. Another attack came, this time around his sensitive nose will be gone in a second, and it was inhumanly reek. He was gagging, while held Naruto at arm's length, he took a deep deep breath, filling his lungs with precious air, and struggling to change Naruto's diaper.

Okay… this one goes here, and here… and, now the legs… don-wait, no it was wrong, God help me!

It was the longest 5 minutes in Kakashi's life since he did not have any experience. It was hard to change a diaper especially when the kid dropped the bomb and did not stop moving. He threw the cursed diaper into the trash bin, and sealed the lid tight to prevent leaking. He breathed out, and he was free.

Sarutobi watching the duo on the side line was smilling, somehow he did not feel burdened anymore. Seeing those two, especially Kakashi struggled against a baby make him happy, and quiet amused, after all not every day you see the jounin ex-ANBU rendered helpless against a baby. Sensing it was the right time, he announced the news.

"Naruto will be moving in with you to the assigned house that I have specifically chosen." Sandaime said.

Kakashi was silent for a few second as if he was forgot the Hokage was watching this whole time, then he blinked and turned to the Hokage "Maa, I guess it can't be helped then."

….

"…"

"Welcome to your new home, Kakashi, Naruto."

Kakashi took his surroundings. It was a fairly big house seeing children tended to need more space than adults since they loved to running around the house with mess trailing their way even Kakashi only has one. Mainly made from woods the house will be slightly cooler in any weather, lucky him.

There are two bedrooms, one with queen sized bed with gray and white colours dominated the room, with a wardrobe and a lamp table it was pretty simple, also a joined bathroom, now that was fancy since Kakashi usually has to walk in the middle of his sleep across the living room to relieve himself. As for the other room, right next to Kakashi's room is Naruto's. Filled with bright colours for the child mostly in blue and orange shade, a crib, various baby equipments, and other toys for the child were filled the room. Both rooms have the same size because Naruto will grow up here, so they have to prepare for the future. Oh, and a joined bathroom too. Walking to the kitchen Kakashi really appreciated it, because he never see the importance of a neat kitchen, since he was a bachelor so that was understandable. The kitchen was exceptional in his opinion; the kitchenette was put out of children reach, with a dining table in the middle, and a glass sliding door which lead to a vast background which really was a forest. Very suitable for training, Kakashi thought.

He opened the door to let the evening breeze through, the bundle in his arms wriggling because of the slight chill, unconsciously Kakashi tighten his grip on it just enough for more of his warmth to seep through. Then the two adults took their seats on the porch,

"Is it to your liking boy?" Sarutobi asked Kakashi.

"Well, to be honest Hokage-sama it is more than I expected," he sighed "thank you for all of this." He really never thought having his own house because he never thought he will have a son, in his mind a simple apartment would suffice even with a son, well he was wrong there. Luckily the Hokage was kind enough to help and provide him with this child-friendly-home.

After a few more talks the Hokage took his leave, he patted the young man thigh sending him a silent goodbye, and he was gone.

Kakashi and Naruto alone now the older one thinking about his feelings while the babe enjoying the warmth he was given. The young man did not know what he should do now, he took this kid - this cursed kid - because he had wanted someone to blame, someone to feel his pain. But now he was unsure because this kid somehow in this short time gave him a reason again, it was not a good reason, but still a reason. After what he's been through he thought he could never ever find a reason, someone to fight and live, but this kid did just that. Proving him wrong for once.

As a genius, he rarely made a wrong decision, he always found reasonable reasons to backup his doing, and people rarely doubt him. But when he do make a mistake, again he found a reasonable cause and people will accept that. Because he was known as a genius, a Hatake prodigy.

Naruto's gurgled brought Kakashi back from his thought, he shook his head and sighed. The sun was almost gone, leaving streaks of orange fading into purple. The breeze still coming though, filling the air around them. Seeing this Kakashi ponder if it was dinner time yet, he got up and make his way to Naruto's room, of course he was not forgetting his charge. He put Naruto in his crib while he was making formula, Naruto voice was the only sound in the room Kakashi did not mind though, because he was used to silence, so a little noise was a good change for him. Finished with the formula he walked to Naruto and feed him, Kakashi pull a nearby chair and sat down watching Naruto filled his stomach.

"Naruto…" the child blue eyes shifted to Kakashi black eye, knowing his name was being said, "Naruto… Hatake, hmm? I really don't know how to feel about you kid." Son he winced, he still would not admit Naruto as his son of course. The kid who killed him inside, who snatched everything away and left him nothing… Also the kid who gave him a reason. Kakashi leaned his head onto his left arm which was resting on the crib.

With a pop Naruto stopped sucking the empty bottle, Kakashi chuckled at the sound Naruto made, he did not know it could popped like that, putting the bottle aside he picked up Naruto who squealed, "Come on kid, let's get this done eh?" Kakashi walked out from the room to the kitchen, "Now it's my turn to eat." He said to himself. He opened the cabinet and found a dozen of instant cup ramen, "Well this is convenience," he mumbled as he reached for it. Boiling a hot water for his food was easy with one hand since the other was holding Naruto, while waiting he patted the child back to make him burped, and not long after he was done.

While Kakashi was eating, Naruto was looking at the long stuff which Kakashi ate with great interest. It seemed has no end, this thing kept going and going. And the smell was really good too, so Naruto wanted to try some, he was trying to get Kakashi attention by clapping, cooing, talking gibberish, but Kakashi ignored it. Until finally Naruto used all his strength to hit Kakashi chest with his arms, and that did the trick. Naruto was laughing while Kakashi was coughing and choking himself, he saw Kakashi hitting himself for a while and then took a big gulp of water, and glared at him.

He was eating his ramen quietly when something hit his chest pretty hard, surprised he was choking himself while hearing the brat laughing his ass off. Kakashi was hitting his chest hoping it would go away quickly, then took a drink. Done that, he glared at the kid, "Yeah, funny huh, seeing someone else choking like that," he spat bitterly at the now silent kid, "To think I could just die and you just thought that was a laughing matter, that just suited you well !" He was almost screaming now, while he still have the decency to put Naruto back to his crib not just leave him in the table, he did that. Then he stormed out from the room with a bang. And Naruto was wailing.

Then Kakashi snapped.

"JUST SHUT YOUR FUCKIN' MOUTH KID!" Kakashi screamed from his room, "YOU THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS A PROBLEM, THE ONLY ONE WHO NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF?! HUH, DO YOU!? WELL YOU KNOW WHAT? I. AM. THE. ONE. WITH. PROBLEMS! NOT YOU! NOT YOUUUU!" Kakashi was screming his gut out, trying to make his futile point to an infant. Kakashi's scream was mixed together with Naruto's wailing, then he slammed his door shut try to prevent Naruto's cry to his room.

He did not know why nor care, but now he was crying too, his legs gave out and he sank to the floor. Kakashi leaned to his bed and just cry his heart out. All the pain, anguish, guilt, sadness, disappointment that were being locked up securely inside was broken, once it broke it just flooded out. And adding the memories of all his friends and family he lost, it just not helping at all.

That night at the outskirt of Konoha, Hatake Kakashi broke.

A/N, well hellooo everyone who's reading this, as you can see I was out for a long while (those who follows will know). That because I am a moody writer, and this chapter has been on my laptop for far too long, so I finished it and there you go. I'll be honest with you I cannot update regularly like others, and I don't even know if this going to be completed or not, but just stay with me and you'll be surprised hehehe. And mmmmyeeeeaaaahhh, sorry for grammar and any question I'll answer it. Bye for now, thanks for reading. Peace out !