Chapter 2: Orders

Kakashi remembers when Minato-Sensei and Kushina-Nee were discussing how Naruto will be. Minato-Sensei said he will be a polite little boy, surrounded by friends and trying to make anyone and everyone happy. Kushina-Nee said he would be the king of the jungle gym, beat Sasuke's ass at every turn and have a harem.

He remembers Minato-Sensei chuckle nervously at the last part and then asked for his opinion. Kakashi hummed when asked and simply said:

"Instead of making him into something, I'll just be his cool aniki."

"Hatake-San."

This... shouldn't be happening. As he looked at Naruto dull blue eyes, no emotion on his face, just looking at him... this... is so wrong.

He is 5 years old... he is polite because he is a drone, he doesn't have friends, he doesn't care about making people happy... he never had gone to the jungle gym, never met Sasuke and even though he is still WAY too young for a harem, he isn't interested in anyone.

"You better be! Or else I will spank your pale ass!" Kushina said to him once he said he will be his cool aniki.

"Now, now Kushina; I trust Kakashi. He would never leave his little brother alone." Minato said and Kakashi... was about to break.

Behind Naruto, Inoichi Yamananka, had a hand on his shoulder and was seeing the turmoil inside Kakashi. "Naruto, why don't you enter? You will live here after all." He suggested.

Naruto didn't answer. He just... walked away. Inoichi sighed as Kakashi seemed to want to say something... but nothing came.

"Kakashi, let's go inside. You need to hear this."

As they sat, Inoichi sighed "When I entered his mind... I saw nothing." He raised his hand when he saw Kakashi want to ask "Let me finish. Whatever... happened there, it wiped his personality. The Naruto we saw, claiming to be Hokage... is dead."

"Where are you going with this?" Kakashi asked, balling his hands into fists.

Inoichi frowned "Are you sure you want this? Kakashi, I dealt with ROOT members before; they would kill themselves before doing anything that might bring them back. And even those who came back... they never where the same."

"Why are you asking me this?" Kakashi just looked at him shaking hands.

"I don't want you to end up hurt because of this."

Kakashi sighed and nodded "I'll fetch Naruto-Kun now. If you excuse me."

Inoichi frowned sadly "Kakashi..."

*Training Ground 3*

Naruto was throwing kunais and shurikens at a tree, no emotion on his face. Danzo-Sama ordered him to excel at throwing weapons by the end of the day or he will be punished. He thinks he is doing fairly well, but fairly well in not perfect.

"Hello Naru-Chan, training hard I see." Kakashi said from behind him.

Naruto nodded "Hatake-San." He acknlowdelge as he kept training. Kakashi stood in silence for a minute, trying to think something.

"Maa Naru-Chan, Hatake-San makes me feel old. Why don't just call me, Aniki?"

Naruto didn't look at him as he kept throwing weapons "Is that an order?"

Kakashi blinked at the odd question "No?"

"Then I will refrain from calling you that way, Hatake-San."

Kakashi chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head "Well, we will get there sooner than later. Say aren't you hungry? I know this great Dango place. Want to go?"

"I can't. As you can see, I am perfecting my aim."

"And you can't afford a little break for me? Your new favorite guardian?" Kakashi asked and Naruto didn't react in any physical way. He didn't seem annoyed or curious. Not even a nod or a shake.

"Hatake-San; I can't afford slack in my training. I must be ready in case an invasion occurs, or if we need the Kyubi if we attack." Naruto answered neutrally and Kakashi raised a brow.

"You are not the Kyubi."

Naruto didn't move, just kept throwing shurikens "I am aware. But as his jailer, and a weak one on that. If tomorrow we go to war, I am ready for the Kyubi to be extracted and unleashed."

He knows what happened when a Bijuu is extracted from the host. Death. Kakashi won't allow it but... he needs to breathe now.

"Well, Naru-Chan, just come home before it gets to dark." No answer. Only the sound of metal hitting wood.

Naruto didn't go home that night. Kakashi waited and waited, but nothing. The next morning, he made a breakfast and went to training ground 3, where Naruto was doing the tree walking exercise, while having 5 leaves stuck to his forehead.

Kakashi blinked as Naruto stood upside down on the tree branch "Hey Naru-Chan, working hard I see."

Naruto opened one eye before closing it "Hatake-San."

"I got you breakfast."

"I already took a ration. I am fine."

Kakashi nodded as he sat down. Naruto kept being upside down on the branch tree. But they weren't alone. Kakashi could feel another presence. He knew that ANBU were not being dispatched to protect Naruto anymore... ROOT.

"Naru-Chan; what am I to you?" It was a dumb question, but he needed to know. How Naruto sees him. What he thinks of him.

Naruto remained silent some seconds, before jumping from the tree "My superior."

That... wasn't something he expected "Your superior?"

Naruto nodded as he leaned against the tree "Danzo-Sama informed me that Kakashi Hatake will be my guardian, and by extension my superior. I must follow every single order you give me. If you say jump, I will ask how high. If you say run, I will ask how fast and how far."

Kakashi couldn't it anymore. He hugged Naruto who kept his emotionless look "Aniki... call me Aniki."

"Is that an order?"

"...Yes..."

Naruto nodded, his features not changing "As you order, Aniki."

Sensei... how had I failed you...

Next Chapter: One-Sided Rivalry