Title: Sneaking Around Konoha
Author: enchanted nightingale
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Naruto, or the characters from them and I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Summary: Loneliness was not for him, Harry knew that. Then he met Kakashi and he found a solution to his problem.
Pair: Harry Potter/ Kakashi Hatake
CHAPTER 35 – Clan Matters – Part two
"So, serious discussion," Kakashi said after the decided to sit down on the porch.
Harry made both something to drink and sat across from Kakashi, looking determined.
"Last time you looked this series was when you told me about your powers," the Jonin commented.
"Well, I want to stay serious and you looking all hot and sweaty outside and then flirting within me, does not help. At all."
Kakashi's lips quirked. "You pouting at me does not help to keep me from flirting!"
"Kakashi."
"Harry."
The two lovers stared at each other.
"So," Harry took a deep breath. "Clans. What can you tell me about Shinobi Clans?"
Kakashi blinked. "That's a loaded and heavy subject. Can I ask what brought this on?"
"We were talking about kids and gifts and it snowballed from that to how Clan kids have more privileges and are more sheltered from certain things that shinobi without Clan backing face other matters and it got me thinking of Clans. Tsunade had mentioned it back when we started working at the hospital together and Hirohito mentioned something about petitioning for the family to be registered as a Clan. Kurenai was talking about how Clan raised shinobi, at least from prestigious clans, have more … is freedoms the right word? And then Hirohito mentioned how even as a branch member they were well taken care of, at least regarding material needs. Teddy is a Shinobi with unique abilities, abilities that his daughter inherited. And it got me thinking that in four years we will need to enrol her in school. Should she stay civilian? Should she become a Kunoichi? Growing up in a Hidden Village, there will be a certain degree of indoctrination happening. Then again, I'm the only non Shinobi in this family. All our closest friends are Shinobi, and more importantly, strong ones, with reputation across the Elemental Nations."
Harry took a deep breath.
"All these thoughts gathered up in my head and I just… I have no idea what to do. Should I apply for my name and Teddy's to be recognized at a Clan? Should I ask Teddy if he want to do that himself? Should I breach the matter of Shinobi training for his daughter or do I leave it. Has he even thought that far yet?"
Kakashi could sense that his partner was getting more panicked as many thoughts and questions were slowly cropping up. So he reached out and grabbed Harry's hand, entwining their fingers.
"Then I thought to Sasuke, how he was basically blackmailed to start a family. And I remembered you mentioning that the Elders used to pressure you to pass on the Hatake bloodline," the wizard said. "A few years ago, I thought hard about it. About asking you if you wanted me and Teddy to join your Clan. I know you would never ask. But I had no idea if you would like it, or it was even a taboo subject to mention this. So… I said nothing. And now various thought and various insecurities all gathered together and…" Harry shrugged. "I needed to talk to you about all these thoughts. Here I am, rambling and I have no clue if what I just said makes any sense."
"That was a lot to unload," Kakashi commented. "Want me to give you answers?"
"You understood all that… mess?"
Kakashi nodded. "Some are questions and things that were cropping up in my mind as well. So, Clans."
The Jonin cleared his throat.
"I never met any Hatake aside from my father. And he committed suicide. So, not much family, at least blood related. I lost Minato and Kushina, Naruto's parents and my pseudo family, way too soon. Guy, he is like a crazy distant cousin. That is all the close family I had, for years. I have not clear picture as to how typical Clans work. My first teammates were a civilian born and an Uchiha, and they were not exactly the best examples."
"I mostly know this."
"What you do not know, is how suicidal I was in my teenage years, and self-destructive. I never expected to reach my twenties. And after that, it was mostly surviving as a tool for my village. Naruto hates that example, but it's the truth," Kakashi said. "I never expected I would live long enough to have children. You know my attraction is not gender based. It was just an unconscious decision, based on the fact that I never expected I would stay alive long enough to have kids. And if I did have, I would hate for them to be orphaned at a young age due to my self-destructive tendencies. By the time we met, I was at my most well-adjusted phase."
"You did have that attitude in the beginning. That first time you came to me covered in blood and dressed in ANBU gear, I was very worried for you," Harry admitted. "It looked like you were not present, like you were ready to slip from my fingers."
"There are good days and bad days. The bad days are fewer," Kakashi admitted. "You know I'm seeing a therapist."
"Teddy told me that you advised him to keep seeing his, long after what is strictly considered necessary."
"Trauma does not disappear just because the doctors suggest three sessions. Some people need multiple visits, some people never recover. Some people face trauma, upon trauma and they need a different approach each time," the Jonin remarked. "I was hesitant at first, but Guy… he made me go, deliberately dragged me to my first session and stayed outside until I was done. When he knew that I would keep going without me, he just met me at the end of my sessions. Sometimes he would make sure I got home, others he would drag me out to meet with other peers and comrades. Like I said, I was not the most well adjusted person."
"Well, I was a very angry teenager. My temper would flare, things would blow up," Harry shrugged. "You would have punched teenage Harry."
"Literally blew up?" Kakashi asked.
"Yes," Harry sighed. "Ask Ron sometime. He has stories."
Kakashi chuckled. "I think you would have also hated pre-teen and teen Kakashi. I was a little shit."
"I'm glad I met you when I did," the wizard admitted.
"Best thing that happened to me was actually going to that party," the Jonin replied.
"Look at us, getting sappy so soon."
Kakashi smirked. "You bring it out in me. So, back to the serious topics… Me and families, I never got to really experience a healthy environment. You and Teddy are the most domestic I have been. And I discovered that I actually liked it. I did consider asking you to formally … well, marry me," he admitted. "But neither of us seemed like the type. I mean… First I moved in unconsciously. I mean you noticed before I did. That made me feel good. A ceremony or a party… I mean we could have that, but…"
"We are really not like that," Harry agreed.
"I did consider asking you to join my Clan, you and Teddy," Kakashi said. "Multiple times. But I have not been to my Clan house in well over ten years. I could never move back there. I could not imagine you living there, where both my parents died."
"I would hate to live in the house my parents were murdered," Harry nodded, understanding the sentiment.
"Also, adding you to the register would make waves because of the Elders. Koharu-san had started becoming insistent about having little Hatake children running around, bleeding for the village," Kakashi commented, his tone dark.
Harry squeezed back at the hand that was still holding his.
"It's always an option. And you are correct, joining an existing, long established clan is much easier than petitioning to the Daimyo and the Hokage for approval. Naruto will be easy to convince. The Daimyo… not so much," Kakashi said. "And yes, Hirohito-san was correct, belonging to a Clan would be easier on Teddy and Sorano's lives. I can ask Teddy if he want to officially join my Clan at any point. You are welcome to it as well. And I could ask to change the Clan compound location to your place, perhaps demolish the old house, or burn it down. And yes, Hirohito-san was correct that you are starting to get noticed. You are very active in the Hospital, at Tsunade's side. You made breakthroughs we did not have before. That 'Blood Replenishing' concoction you made, the one that Shizune then turned into chewable drops, it will save so many lives out in the field. You will get noticed by the Daimyo. And yes, if you are in a Clan, they cannot pressure you into anything you don't want. Even outside the a Clan, we won't just let anyone bother you."
"Are you sure I'm not pressuring you?"
"No, wanting the best for Teddy and his daughter is no pressure. Wanting for all of you to be safe, is perfectly normal. Being under a Clan would help all of you. Would it make Teddy more enemies? Yes. But I think your boy is talented enough that he would manage that on his own," Kakashi commented.
"He can be a right terror," Harry grinned.
"So, I think I got family and Clan matters down," the Jonin said.
"You did," the wizard replied. "What's left is…"
"Sorano's future," Kakashi hummed. "You know, for a staunch opponent of the Shinobi lifestyle, you are very supportive. Don't forget I know that you think of most of us as brainwashed children soldiers that were conditioned to fight before anyone sane would consider proper."
"Wow, that was a direct quote," Harry was impressed.
"I have heard you mention this a few times by now," Kakashi said. "But, however much you hate it, you are the most supportive person towards shinobi. You practically made friends with a lot of us. You never refuse service to shinobi in your store, though many civilians have in the past. You even made a program for retired shinobi due to body disabilities to find proper, paying work, outside of Clan sponsorship, aside from personal feeling to this line of work. Your best friend is a Kunoichi. Most civilians think of them as little better than prostitutes, you know."
"That's the stupidest thing ever," Harry muttered.
"I have heard stories from other Jonin when they took on teams with civilian born. Their parents practically barred them from the house after their first C rank mission, or after they got the headband even. You are nothing like them. Instead, you went and invited one of the most dangerous killers in this place, in your bed, in your home. I'm not saying you did this lightly, but you never once, made me feel dirty. Or damaged. Or wrong. Instead you yell at me when I leave mud or blood stains on the floor," Kakashi shot a sappy smile at Harry.
"Are you aiming to make me cry?"
Kakashi shook his head. "I'm trying to show you, that she will most probably end up Shinobi. Will you stay up for her, like you stay up for me or Teddy? Yes. Will you hate it, probably yes. But until all the Elemental Nations change, that is our way of life. And so far, you have assimilated well yourself. You are making changes, you know. Naruto was considering what you did for Teddy, not letting young kids graduate early; and there has been talk of raising the graduating age limit, adding another year or two in Academy. Now that the Elders are, well, dead and buried, there is no one to pressure the Hokage. Most of the Clans love the idea of well-trained Shinobi; it would mean less loss on the field. Harry, things are changing."
Harry looked ready to start tearing up. "Merlin… If you make me cry…"
The Jonin smiled. "Well, I can make you angry instead. By pointing out that even if your darling baby girl ended up in civilian school, you would still feel just as worried about her. About the people surrounding her. She's marked as belonging to a Shinobi family, which means she could get shunned, or worse, bullied."
Harry blinked. "Those poor kids would end up dead. Between you, Teddy and half your peers."
Kakashi outright chuckled. "True. It would be worth the official reprimand. We are not supposed to kill civilians in Village. Bad for our reputation. And then who will sell us groceries, hm?"
The wizard rolled his eyes, then tried to dry a couple of tears that escaped.
The silver haired man stood and hugged Harry.
"I hate it that even for a moment you were afraid to talk to me," he told his partner.
"Not afraid," Harry replied even as he hugged back. "I just could not articulate what I was feeling, my fears and my wants." He pulled back a bit. "Thanks for listening."
"Thanks for talking to me."
End of chapter