Warnings: Scenes of a violent and sexual nature, graphic imagery, gender bending.

Pairing: Kakashi/Female!Naruto

Summary: AU. Naruto was born, and thus the Kyuubi attack occurred, a few years earlier than in canon. Minato did not die in the sealing but the council forces his hand and his worst nightmares come to life. Naruto's father might be alive, and she is very obviously the apple of his eye, but her childhood is the furthest thing from easy or happy.

Author's Note: This fic is actually quite fluffy and light-hearted overall. Very little angst here folks. All I really wanted to do was set up a universe that I've been itching to write. If there's interest, I might be persuaded into writing a sequel ;)


Chapter Nine: But To Me Know That You'll Always Be, My Little Girl

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them

Desmond Tutu

"C'mon Sakura, spill!" Yamanaka Ino urged as she leaned forward, eagerly hanging on to her friend's every word.

"About what?" Sakura asked, confusion knitting her brows as Inner Sakura began to sweat. Surely Ino didn't know about the box of cookies she'd left at the Uchiha's door, too nervous to ring the bell and drop them off in person?

"Don't play dumb," Ino scoffed. "Everybody's been talking about it. Your sensei and Namikaze Naruto went on a date!"

"Eh!" Surprise and indignation at being the last to know this titbit of gossip quickly wiped out any relief Sakura might have felt at not being caught leaving gifts for their crush.

"When did this happen?"

"Last night!" Ino crowed. "They went to Laverne's."

"Swanky," Sakura whistled. "Sensei's got taste."

"He cleans up good too, I've heard," Ino's tone was suggestive enough to make Sakura grimace.

"Ew! Ino! He's like, 30!" Sakura complained, Kakashi-sensei was good looking but he was old.

"Nope, 22." Ino grinned, "ten years isn't that big of a difference."

"You're gross," Sakura wrinkled her nose at her friend and took a sip of tea before getting the conversation back on course.

"But how do you know how he looked? Did you see them?"

"No but Mitarashi Anko did. I heard her talking to Team 8's sensei." Ino confessed.

"And?" Sakura prompted, eager for details. "What did she say?"

"What didn't she say? That woman has got to have the best memory in Konoha," Ino flipped her hair over her shoulder and leaned closer to Sakura, painting the perfect picture of gossiping teens.

"According to Mitarashi-san, they were both wearing dark colours. Hatake san wore slacks and a button down and Naruto-san had on this LBD. Strapless, mid-thigh and topped off with six inch open-toe pumps."

"Bordering on slutty?" Sakura wondered.

"Not a chance," Ino scoffed. "Have you seen Naruto-san? She's like the definition of classy."

"It's strange, isn't it?" Sakura voiced thoughts that had been niggling at her ever since she'd first met Namikaze Naruto.

"I mean, Naruto-sensei basically spent her formative years in the wild. How'd she end up so polished?"

"Must be in the blood," Ino offered. "Hokage-sama is very dignified. Maybe it's like inherited or something."

"Good genes," Sakura agreed with a sage nod. Some people really were blessed.

From the next table, unseen by either Ino or Sakura, Hinata stifled a sigh. She'd never been particularly close to her classmates at the Academy and although she got along well with Kiba-kun and Shino-kun, Hinata sometimes wished she had a girl her own age to talk to. Then she overheard a conversation like the one that had just taken place and was very, very glad to be excluded from such gossip.

Nothing Ino or Sakura had said was mean or spiteful in any way nor could it be interpreted as such and Hinata had been eager to hear about this date until the subject of Namikaze-san's exile had been touched on. Ino and Sakura might not have talked about the exile much but the mere mention of such a horrible thing was enough to make Hinata's tea taste sour. The entire village had an opinion about what had happened to Namikaze-san during those ten years and didn't hesitate to share those opinions loudly and with anybody who would listen.

Such interest amongst civilians was understandable. They had no concept of the dangers a ninja could face when exiled. Enemy ninja aside, without a protection of a village, a ninja was vulnerable. Sources of income were rare and, for a six year old, practically non-existent. Every day would have been a struggle to survive and that Namikaze-san had come out of it healthy in body and mind spoke of incredible strength of character.

The ninja of Konoha should know better than to make light of such an ordeal. Yes, Namikaze-san was one of the greatest prodigies the village had ever seen but she was, first and foremost, a person. She had a right to privacy. Gossip about who was dating whom or the latest in ninja fashion was harmless and kind of fun. Gossiping about something that had been difficult and best and possibly quite traumatic for not only a fellow ninja, but their Hokage as well, was an entirely different matter. The experiences ninja faced on missions were usually avoided. Everybody had faced tough situations and empathy was enough to keep ninja from speculating about other ninjas' missions. Why then could that same courtesy not have been extended to the Namikazes?

"Penny for your thoughts, Hinata-chan?"

Hinata startled as the voice invaded her musings, stumbling a little and gaze flying upwards to meet amused blue eyes.

"Naruto-san," Hinata managed to say. "G-good morning!"

"It is, isn't it?" Naruto grinned, tilting her face up towards the cloudless sky and drinking in the sunshine.

"It's a great day to be outdoors. Are you on your way to meet your team?"

"Not today," Hinata shook her head. "We're all training individually. Kurenai-sensei's been called away."

"Is that so?" Naruto glanced down at Hinata with a curious tilt to her eyebrows. "Would you like some company, or would you prefer to train alone today?"

"Um, well," Hinata stammered, "I was going to ask one of the clan members to spar with me but, if you're sure you have the time…I mean, I d-don't want to impose…"

"I offered didn't I?" Naruto smiled, the gentle reminder going a long way toward soothing Hinata's nervousness.

"Anything in particular you wanted to work on?"

"Ninjutsu?" Hinata suggested as they reached the training ground and started to warm up.

"Okay," Naruto nodded and led Hinata through a series of stretches, some familiar to the genin and others less so. "Is there something in particular you're working on?"

"Well, I'm trying to perfect the 64-palms technique," Hinata admitted.

A blush of embarrassment stained her cheeks as she remembered the last training session Hinata had had with a branch member. She had only managed to hit 50 points and she had a feeling her opponent had been going easy on her.

"Sure," Naruto grinned. "Sounds fun!"

The thing was, Hinata mused, Naruto sounded like she actually meant that. As Naruto dodged Hinata's strikes with seemingly little effort, she called out encouragement and pointers to help the genin improve. Hinata listened to them all but could not help but notice the way Naruto's eyes lit up as they sparred, her laughter flowing freely. It was strange that something as simple as training with someone far below her level could bring the older woman such joy. Not many ninjas would feel that way it was a testament to Naruto-sans character that she did.

The Yondaime was the most beloved Hokage Konoha had seen and it was for a very good reason. As powerful as he was, the Yondaime never failed to take the time every once in a while to put aside his official duties and stroll through the village, spending time with the civilians and just ensuring that his people were happy and prospering. It was what set him apart from his predecessors and it was a quality his daughter had inherited.

Naruto-san had been back for a few months now and every week, on her way to meet her team for their standing Sunday brunch arrangement, she inevitably came across Naruto-san leaving the orphanage. According to Ino, Naruto-san volunteered there every weekend. And when she wasn't spending her free time with orphans she was helping genin with confidence-issues. If Hinata wasn't already the poster girl for inadequacy, it would have been enough to make her feel 2 inches tall.

"Ne, Hinata-chan," Naruto tilted her head to the side as she regarded the younger girl. "You seem distracted."

"S-sorry, `Naruto-san!" Hinata quickly bowed in apology. "I did not mean to cause offense!"

"Relax, Hinata-chan. I'm not offended," Naruto smiled. "But you've been working pretty hard and its lunch time now. Maybe we should call it a day?"

"Of course! T-thank you for your time, Naruto-san." Hinata said.

"It was a pleasure, as always, Hinata-chan" Naruto smiled. "And for what it's worth, I think you'll do just fine in the genin exams."

"I hope you're right, Naruto-san" Hinata blushed. "Thank you, again."

Naruto waved Hinata off, a fond smile curling her lips as the genin left the training grounds. Hinata had a lot of potential but her low self-esteem was a major road block towards unlocking it. For someone as introverted and compassionate as Hinata, being constantly compared to Neji must be extremely damaging to her confidence. Especially when Neji was so hostile. The thing about it was, if they could ever relax around each other enough to get along, the cousins would be a formidable team. With Neji's talent and Hinata's compassion, they could revolutionise the Hyūga clan. Maybe the upcoming exams could help them see that. Or maybe Danzo would suddenly become a pacifist.

"You can both come out now," she eventually said, her voice echoing around the seemingly empty training ground.

After a moment, Kakashi and Itachi appeared, jumping from their perch in one of the trees bordering the area and landing lightly on their feet. Naruto smiled at them both but it grew when she met Kakashi's gaze. Three 'dates' in and their relationship was progressing very nicely indeed. They had a picnic planned for tomorrow and she was planning to drop all pretences then. She fantasised about what it would be like to kiss him all the time and she really couldn't hold out for much longer. If Naruto and Kakashi's eyes met for a moment longer than was strictly necessary, Itachi very politely pretended not to notice.

"So, what's up?" Naruto asked when the silence dragged on for a beat too long.

"Jiraiya's back," Kakashi said. "He's waiting in your Dad's office."

"So they sent both of you as escorts?" Naruto rolled her eyes even as a smile threatened to curve her lips. "Isn't that overkill?"

"We volunteered," Itachi replied and Naruto tilted her head at him.

"Bored already, Itachi?" she teased. "Being a regular ninja after all those years as a missing nin must be such a come down."

Itachi didn't verbally respond but amusement glinted in his eyes and he let the corners of his mouth twitch slightly so Naruto outright laughed.

"You know what I miss?" Naruto sighed as they started to make their way towards the Hokage tower. "Those free-for-all training sessions we used to have. Those were fun."

"Itachi and I ended up with chakra exhaustion more than once during those sessions, if I recall correctly," Kakashi reminded her.

"Not my fault if you're having stamina problems," Naruto had skipped slightly ahead of the two men but turned her head to wink at them and Kakashi's heart skipped a beat at the double entendre.

"One of these days, Naru, someone is gonna wreck you. Then we'll talk about stamina," Kakashi replied.

"Is that a…" Naruto trailed off sharply as all three ninja felt the oncoming attack at the same time.

Letting her friends do their jobs, Naruto stayed where she was when Kakashi moved in front of her and Itachi covered her back. The sound of metal against metal was loud in the otherwise deserted alley as the Konoha ninja deflected the shuriken launched towards them with their kunai. In the next breath the alley was crowded with Iwa ninja and Naruto fought the urge to groan.

"Should I call my Dad?" she asked, unwilling to risk either of them getting hurt.

Itachi glanced around the alley. There were around twenty Iwa ninja, all jōnin level and above, surrounding them. Then Itachi glanced at his companions, Hatake Kakashi and Namikaze Naruto.

"I do not believe that will be necessary, Naruto-san," Itachi assured her.

A battle like the one they were about to engage in was sure to attract attention and the Hokage would come whether or not Naruto called for him. This way, Iwa would find out that Namikaze Naruto was not a little girl cowering behind Daddy's protection. Itachi was merely taking the opportunity to be around to see them learn that lesson.

"I like the way you think, Itachi," Naruto smirked and Kakashi almost hung his head in exasperation. Why was he always stuck with all the glory hounds?

"Let's try to keep the body count to a minimum," Naruto suggested as she prepared herself to attack. "Papa's gonna want a word with these morons."

Until that moment, the Iwa ninja had been prepared to wait. After watching Namikaze Naruto for a few weeks, they had chosen this alley for the ambush. It was easy to block off the exits and the girl was usually alone, on her way to meet her friends after training. That there were two others with her was unfortunate but not a major stumbling block. The Konoha ninja were outnumbered and the girl would undoubtedly call for her father and, this time, they would be prepared for Namikaze Minato and his Flying Thunder God technique. This time that murderous bastard would get what was coming to him.

The Iwa ninja got what they were hoping for…kind of. A yellow flash did indeed dash through them, cutting through the assembled group with far too much ease but it was not Namikaze Minato that was attacking them. It was his daughter. Caught by surprise because the girl had done little more that train with genin and socialise over the past couple of weeks, the Iwa ninja were slow to react to Naruto. That was their first mistake.

Their second was disregarding her companions. So overpowering was their obsession with the Namikazes that they failed to recognise exactly whom Naruto was with and that was to their detriment. Kakashi and Itachi were well known throughout the Elemental Nations, their faces easily recognisable and their skills feared and respected. The gathered Iwa ninja recognised the blazing red threat of the sharingan far too late however and had too little time to prepare a proper defence.

Even if the Iwa ninja had been better prepared, Itachi's predictions ran true. None of the Konoha ninja made any effort to hide their flares of chakra. As attuned to both Naruto and Kakashi as he was, the fight had barely started before Minato arrived and his gaze hardened as he took in the scene. Holding up a hand to stop the growing crowd of Konoha ninja from interfering, Minato crossed his arms over his chest and watched his best ninja in action.

He was proud of all his people but, watching Naruto in action for the first time, he realised that the pride of a Hokage had zilch on the pride of a father. Naruto twirled her way through the Iwa ninja, kunai flashing. She barely even had to use ninjutsu, just the occasional call to her wind affinity augmenting her taijutsu as she disabled the ninja in her way with scary proficiency.

"Man, am I glad they're on our side," Minato heard Shiranui Genma remark and he almost smiled because Genma had a point.

Naruto, Kakashi and Itachi had grown up together. From the Academy, all the way through to Naruto's banishment, the three had been inseparable. Watching them now, it was clear that the years apart had done little to damage that rapport. Then Kakashi took a hit to his arm and faltered slightly and Minato almost saw red. Naruto was there before he could blink, however, dispensing justice swiftly and efficiently. From his vantage point on the alley wall, Minato could see the way Naruto and Kakashi raked their gazes over each other, cataloguing injuries, before turning back to the fight.

Minato held in a sigh and fought the urge to let his shoulders slump. Naru wasn't a little girl any more (as she was very clearly proving right this moment). It was inevitable that she was going to take an interest in boys. In fact, she had probably been doing so for a few years already. He'd even seen this particular romance coming a mile away. Neither of the two had been particularly subtle. Still this was yet another reminder that his little girl wasn't so little anymore. Then the ninja that had gathered were cheering and Minato was pulled from his musings to realise that all the Iwa ninja were bound and gagged and ripe for interrogation.

"We have a present for you, Papa," Naruto flipped her hair over her shoulder with a toss of her head and grinned up at him and something in Minato eased.

Naruto smiled at him like he was still her hero, even after all that happened, and that was more than enough for Minato. Jumping from his perch, Minato returned her smile and ruffled her hair before regarding the captured ninja. He didn't speak but all traces of the loving father disappeared, leaving only the angry and powerful Hokage.

"Take them away," Minato ordered and a few of Ibiki's men hurried to comply.

"Are the three of you okay?"

"I'm fine," Naruto shrugged. "Nothing that hasn't already healed."

"I do not have any injuries requiring immediate attention," Itachi confirmed.

"Okay then. Kakashi, get that cut on your arm bandaged then meet me at T&I. Naru, go with him. Itachi, you come with me," Minato said before Kakashi could try and brush off his own injury. He was predictable that way.

"Yes sensei," Kakashi intoned, bowing in agreement even as his jaw tightened with annoyance and Minato merely grinned at him.

"Come on, Hatake," Naruto laughed. "Let's get your slow ass to a medic."

"I can take care of Hatake-sans wound," one of the ninja that had gathered to watch the fight came forward.

Kakashi obligingly held out his arm and shot Naruto a sour look.

"I assure you, Naru," he said as the medic cleaned and bandaged the cut, "my ass is neither lazy nor slow as you are so fond of accusing."

"Prove it," Naruto raised an eyebrow in challenge, a smirk playing along her lips, and Kakashi's gut twisted itself into knots.

The medic chose that moment to softly clear her throat and both Naruto and Kakashi blinked, remembering they were in public. Naruto blushed slightly and looked away but the medic was already putting her supplied back into her hip pouch.

"That should do, Hatake-san." The medic said and Kakashi nodded his thanks.

Then Naruto and Kakashi were alone in the alley and an awkward silence was quickly building. Naruto peeked at Kakashi from beneath her lashes, something in her softening when she found him looking at her and clearly at a loss as to what to say.

"I was serious you know," Naruto said as she moved closer, her hand coming up to rest just below the bandaged would. The medic had cut away part of Kakashi's shirt and Naruto's fingers were warm where they rested over the bare skin of his arm.

"You really do need to learn to move faster."

"It's barely more than a flesh wound, Naru," Kakashi protested. "Not all of us have near unlimited chakra reserves."

"I know that," Naruto was looking at his arm and so Kakashi couldn't fully see her expression but her lips had taken on an unhappy slant.

"I'm trying not to suddenly become nagging and overprotective just because we're dating now but…but, I…"

"Naru," Kakashi interrupted and cupped her jaw, tilting her face up to meet her gaze. "It's okay. I get it."

His heart was working overtime. Maybe it was that Naruto had acknowledged their relationship out loud for the first time. Maybe it was left over adrenaline from the fight. Or maybe it was because Kakashi really did understand, the mere thought of a kunai slicing through Naruto's perfect skin was enough to make possessive rage cloud his gaze and he brushed his thumb across the skin near her mouth. The protectiveness was nothing new, it had always been there although not as intense as this so maybe it was just the change in their relationship talking. Then Naruto was turning her head, pressing a kiss to his thumb and Kakashi was intensely aware that anybody could stumble across them right now.

"My apartment?" Kakashi suggested and Naruto nodded before they both body-flickered into Kakashi's living room.

The moment they arrived Kakashi pushed Naruto up against the wall, burying his face in the crook of her neck and breathing in her scent. Naruto hummed contentedly, her hands threading through his hair and she tilted her head to give him better access.

"This is gonna take a bit of getting used to, huh?" Naruto noted and Kakashi lifted his head to look at her.

"Some parts of it, I guess," he admitted. "Maybe we should start practicing?"

"Maybe," Naruto murmured and her eyes took on a speculative gleam as she brushed her lips against his clothed cheek.

"I know what I'd like to start with."

"And what would that be, Naru?" Kakashi's eyes darkened as he caught on to her meaning and Naruto's smile widened.

She traced the edge of his mask with her fingers and, when Kakashi nodded his assent, pulled the material down. Naruto sucked her bottom lip into her mouth as she took in Kakashi's face for the first time. Her fingers brushed over his cheekbone, down his jaw-line and across his lips and Kakashi had to use every ounce of his willpower to stay still and let Naruto set the pace.

"You're gorgeous," Naruto breathed and then she was pulling his head down towards hers and cutting off any reply Kakashi could have made with her lips.

The kiss started off chaste but quickly deepened as Naruto parted her lips and Kakashi pressed their bodies together, his hands large and possessive on her hips. Linking her arms behind Kakashi's neck, Naruto stretched her body out against his, trying to get as much contact as possible. Kakashi tilted his head, his tongue chasing Naruto's and his pants tightened a little when she moaned into the kiss, a desperate and hungry sound that he immediately wanted to hear more of.

They broke apart when the need for air grew too great and Kakashi immediately set to work on Naruto's throat instead, mouthing at the veins there. Her head fell back, making her hair cascade down her back and a groan of encouragement escaped her lips. Naruto lifted her legs, wrapping them around Kakashi's waist and Kakashi swore when the movement pressed their groins together. Then Naruto rolled her hips, a filthy smile of her face, and Kakashi swore again.

"Who the fuck taught you how to do this?" Kakashi demanded because the wanton minx that was testing his control was a far cry from the innocently seductive woman he'd always imagined Naruto would be.

"I'm not sure whether I want to thank him or punch him."

"No-one," Naruto's laugh was husky and gritty with desire. "Nobody taught me anything but Jiraiya did get me to proof-read his books. They're kind of explicit."

Kakashi nipped at her ear lobe, relief mixed with something smug and possessive coursing through him. Naruto was untouched but far from innocent. He was going to have so much fun with her. Capturing her lips with his once more, Kakashi ran his hands up her thighs and beneath the hem of her dress, cupping her ass as he fucked her tongue with his own. They carried on kissing for a little longer, neither making any move to get much farther than they already were and eventually, Kakashi stepped away from Naruto with obvious reluctance.

"Sensei is probably wondering where we got to," Kakashi pointed out.

Naruto's lips were red and swollen, her cheeks flushed and eyes glazed over so Kakashi glanced away only to be confronted by her heaving chest as she drew in much needed air. Turning pointedly in the other direction, Kakashi rubbed a hand over his face and pulled his mask back up in an effort to compose himself.

"You know that Papa won't be mad, right?" Naruto eventually said, voicing something that just occurred to her.

"If we told him about us, I mean. You know he'll approve."

"You think so?" Kakashi asked. It had been troubling him for a while now, the idea of his sensei disapproving of their relationship.

"Yeah," Naruto's smile was soft. "I really do."

Kakashi couldn't help himself. He bent down to brush his lips over Naruto's once more, thankful that the mask helped keep things under control.

"Come on," Naruto grinned up at him and took his hand, lacing their fingers together. "Let's go interrogate some Iwa nin."