"Naru-chan is growing well, Kakashi-kun. It seems like he has taken to you easily. How has being a father been?" Hiruzen asked easily. The God of Shinobi cut a rather undignified figure, sat cross-legged on the floor of his own office. Before him the blonde toddler cried out happily, grasping at the alphabet blocks that Hiruzen had provided.
Kakashi stood back, fondly observing his ward.
"Hard, Hokage-sama. I must admit that it's been as challenging as any mission I've ever done. But he grows on you, the little brat."
"All children do, Kakashi-kun. Even for the most hard-hearted of us all."
Kakashi inclined his head respectfully. He wondered… it was true, he supposed. The past year had changed him radically. Once, all he lived for was the next mission, to fight and to kill and to win. Obito and Minato-sensei had changed that a little, helping him to understand friendship and family, to a certain degree. Yet within the adorable child, still mewling and gurgling with happiness, Kakashi found something worth living for, worth fighting for. He wondered when his thinking had shifted, from caring for Naruto as his Sensei's son, to thinking of him as his own.
Sarutobi was pleased, no doubt. He had been worried for Kakashi, that the teenager bereft of family and friends would have been shattered by the death of Minato and Kushina, that he would become an emotional wreck with a dozen different coping mechanisms to deal with the extreme trauma he had experienced in his short life. Hiruzen had hoped beyond hope that the little Naruto would be Kakashi's anchor, would be something that the young Hatake could live for. It seemed that this was coming along nicely, which brought him to other topics that needed discussion.
"Kakashi-kun. I will be reinstating you as a jōnin of our village, effective from the end of this month. I do not wish to reduce your time with little Naru-chan here, but simply put, the village has dire need of your talents. Shikaku is stretched thin trying to cover up for what we lost during the Kyuubi attack, and we must have a shinobi of your capabilities back on the front lines. I do not need to tell you that Iwa and Kumo have been growing restless.. your reputation alone will go far in reminding them of Konoha's power."
Kakashi never took his eye off his son. Sarutobi continued.
"If you are concerned for Naru-chan, I can assign an ANBU team to look out for him. He will be safe in this village, anyway. I will not send you for any long term missions, you will not be apart from him for any longer than a week."
Kakashi finally looked at Sarutobi, lone eye searching his Hokage's face for something.
"I never understood why my father kept disappearing when I was young. Kaa-san passed away before I could even talk, and my father was never around. I grew up lonely, Hokage-sama."
"And how could I have known that my father was waging a secret war against Iwa? That he was single-handedly responsible for starting the Third Shinobi World War because he failed a mission?"
"Kakashi-kun.."
"I will not let him live my life, Hokage-sama. I will not let my son grow up without a father, let my son feel the loneliness and shame I did." Kakashi was quiet, but his voice carried such conviction as to give even The Professor pause.
"Kakashi-kun.. You are not your father. And do not let what the historians say about your father disgrace his memory. Hatake Sakumo was a shinobi without peer, far surpassing any before the Yondaime Hokage. His decision to bring back his teammates embodied the true Will of Fire, and I was proud to be his Hokage and friend." Hiruzen was gentle, for he could afford no mistakes here. This was a wound that had festered for far too long in Kakashi's psyche, and one that needed healing.
Kakashi's stare saw more than any Sharingan, searching desperately for absolution in his Hokage's visage. The year with Naruto had done so much for his repressed emotions, but it had also dragged forth so many skeletons from his closet it was a wonder the teenager could function properly. Hiruzen lamented the reality of the Shinobi's life. Raised to kill, they had no childhood, no innocence. Kakashi had lost his father to war, had grown up into a war, and had fought almost every waking moment from age six to thirteen. Sarutobi mourned for a child lost, and for the broken man that was now trying to pick up the pieces so that his son would not live the same life.
"I will leave you off the active missions roster for as long as you need, Kakashi-kun, or until Naru-chan enters the academy. You are quite right, your son needs his father, so much more so with the burden he carries."
Kakashi snapped out of his funk instantly at the mention of his son's prisoner.
"Have you decided if you are going to tell Naru-chan? About the Kyuubi?" asked Sarutobi.
"I have not given it much thought. Hokage-sama, only you have the authority to disclose S-ranked secrets." Kakashi's answer was curt.
Hiruzen sighed, weariness clouding his features. Naruto looked up from his toys, little face scrunched up in curiosity.
"You are his father, Kakashi-kun. You will know best, when to tell him."
Kakashi moved now, picking up the little bundle that had so irreversibly changed his life, holding him close, as if to shield him from the horrors of their way of life.
"Kakashi-kun… if you would take advice from an old man… Make friends. Trust people, love people. Friends and comrades are what will make this life of ours worth it, in the madness and the chaos of our wretched world, the people around you are what will keep the fire burning, the Will of Fire. You have walked a hard road, and the road ahead is harder still, but you are strong, and Naruto will need that strength for all the burdens he carries."
Kakashi was silent still, contemplating his Kage's words, clutching his precious person tightly to his chest. The little not-toddler squealed in happiness.
"Kaka? Kaka! Higyuuuuah!"
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
Kakashi turned, son in hand, and walked from the office. Hiruzen was reflective. Far too many had been lost, and if he could save just this one.. perhaps it would go some way to atone for his many mistakes.
2 Weeks Later
"Hatake has a kid? What the fuck?"
"No way.. Who would've guessed?"
"YOSH!! MY ETERNAL RIVAL HAS SURPASSED ME EVEN IN THIS! IF I CANNOT.."
"Aw shut the hell up, Gai."
Nara Shikaku, Jonin Commander, could only chuckle at the antics of his more lively subordinates. It was true, then. Rumors had spread faster than wildfire, word that the legendary Hatake Kakashi, Copy-Nin, Son of the White Fang, had returned to the village with a brat in tow. No doubt the Hokage would be busy interrogating the young man on how and who exactly he had gotten pregnant. Konoha was terribly protective of their secrets and bloodlines, and having the mother of a Hatake running around in some rural backwater was most definitely a security risk.
"Shikaku-san! You have any idea who Kakashi knocked up? Rumor has it that it was a super sexy Kumo ANBU operative who was trying to seduce him, but he turned it around and got her pregnant!" Now that was an utterly ridiculous notion, Shikaku mused. But it would explain the brat's startling blonde hair, if the gate guards' report had any truth to it. The hair color was so extraordinarily rare in Hi no Kuni… but then again who was to say what hair color was normal, considering the Hatake clan's trademarked silvery gray hair. After all, the Yondaime Hokage had been a true blue Konohan, born to two native Fire Country citizens, and no one had questioned his shockingly blonde hair. Perhaps Kakashi had knocked up a distant, distant relative of the Yellow Flash?
Shikaku chuckled to himself at the absurdity of that line of thought.
"No way! I knew Kakashi-san was badass.. but knocking up a foreign ANBU? Hot damn.." Shikaku's lack of a reply appeared to have fanned the flames of gossip. He briefly considered refuting the allegations, but decided against it. Kakashi could use some excitement in his life. The kid was one of the baddest men in the village, but he was a little uptight. Just a little.
"Alright alright, that's enough. I'm calling this month's briefing to order." Shikaku drawled, cutting off the buzz around the meeting room. Konoha's gathering of Jōnin and Tobuketsu Jōnin fell silent at the sound of their laidback Commander's voice.
"First order of business, just a routine update on the status of our missions roster. Last month we accomplished 48 B-ranked, and 17 A-ranked missions. While we have yet to hit pre-Kyuubi levels, it's still twenty percent higher than previous month's. Hokage-sama is pleased to note that other than several minor injuries, we experienced no major incidents or fatalities. Good work people."
Shikaku's words brought a tentative smile to many of the Jōnin arrayed before him. Morale was still shaky, even a year after the Kyuubi's rampage. It was telling that even despite a rash of promotions, the room remained not even three quarters filled. The Jonin Commander allowed the smile to reach his own lips.
"As for the second item on today's agenda, a quick update on personnel matters.." Shikaku was interrupted by a swirl of leaves right in the middle of the room. In an instant half the room was on guard, reaching for weapons. The leaves fell, revealing a sheepish looking Hatake Kakashi, rubbing the back of his head.
"My apologies for my tardiness! Do you know how hard it is to find a reputable babysitter for shinobi kids around here?" Kakashi sounded embarrassed, much to Shikaku's amusement. This was something totally unheard of. The Copy-Nin late for a meeting? Granted he had not attended a meeting for the longest time, having gone off the books during his term in ANBU, followed by his extended leave.
"You could've used the door, Kakashi-san."
"I was in a rush. Baby powder does not wash off the standard-issue flak jacket that well, did you know?" Kakashi's barely concealed disgruntlement elicited a chuckle from most of the room.
"YOSH!!! SO IT IS TRUE, MY ETERNAL RIVAL HAS DECIDED TO START A NEW CHALLENGE! IF I CANNOT HAVE MORE CHILDREN THAN.."
Kakashi tuned Gai out. The taijutsu specialist had just recently earned his Jonin promotion, and Kakashi was not looking forward to more interaction with his self-declared rival. The man might have been a true beast on the battlefield, but off the field he was for sure one of the most.. eccentric ninja around. Shikaku, eyes alight with hidden laughter asked him to take a seat. Kakashi obliged.
"As I was about to say, regarding personnel matters, Hatake Kakashi has been reinstated as a Jōnin of the Konoha Shinobi Corps. As he has not held this position for more than three years, any ranking Jōnin may submit an objection to his reinstatement. Does anybody desire to do so?"
Silence reigned in the room. Akimichi Chōza broke out into a hearty, booming laugh. Kakashi turned to the meaty Jōnin, single eyebrow raised in inquiry.
"Who in their right mind would do that? Come off it Shikaku, Hatake-san's return is more than welcome here."
With that, the awkwardness of the room melted away, and all around, Kakashi's colleagues were congratulating him and welcoming him back. He was the youngest Jōnin in the room, the only persons of similar age being Maito Gai and Sarutobi Asuma who had just earned his promotion to Tobuketsu Jōnin, but Kakashi felt right at home. This was far more welcome than the impersonal, machine-like efficiency of the ANBU, Kakashi mused. Here was friendship and camaraderie, the Will of Fire that Hiruzen was so convicted of.
Asuma slid over to his right, taking in Kakashi's appearance.
"You aren't sleeping much? You look terrible."
Kakashi grimaced under his mask. Was it so obvious that even with only a quarter of his face visible they could tell?
"I feel terrible, that's for sure. Naru-chan's teething, and it's awful. Cries non-stop, won't sleep for more than two or three hours. Haven't had a full night's rest since I got back."
"Jeez man, two weeks without rest? Sounds like being a dad's worse than being an active ANBU Captain."
"Ask your dad, I'd bet he'd say it's worse than being Hokage."
Asume grinned wryly. He had never been close to the aloof Hatake heir, despite being in the same class for a year in the academy. Considering Hatake had graduated after that single year, it wasn't surprising. Even after that the few times they had run into each other around the Hokage Tower, the other ninja had been cold, withdrawn, and with the death of his father, who could blame him?
Asuma liked this new Kakashi, one who showed emotion and could banter and joke. It seemed like having a kid was doing him well.
"You know, I'm curious. What's it like? Being a dad? I… I mean nobody would've guessed you'd settle down.." Asuma was tentative.
"You think I'd have left him to grow up without a father?" Kakashi's tone suddenly grew cold. Asuma winced. Still a sore spot, the topic of fatherhood.
"Of course not.. you know what nevermind. Who was she? Must've been quite a beauty to catch your eye!" Asuma tried to change the topic.
Kakashi looked away.
"I don't really want to talk about her. She was a good person, pretty, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Naruto takes after her." There was an odd note to his voice, tinged with… regret?
Asuma's eyes widened.
"She's.. she's not okay, isn't she."
Kakashi stiffened, and Asuma almost panicked, fearing he had pushed him too far.
"Childbirth. It was painless, at least."
Asuma looked down at the raw emotion in his voice. In the back of his head he was stunned that this was Hatake Kakashi, once the paragon of emotional control and discipline.
"I'm sorry. I'll drink to her, the next time I'm out with the guys."
"I'll drink one with you." Kakashi drawled, offering his hand. Asuma stared, disbelieving.
"You'll have to get a babysitter, Hatake, because the moment I can drag you out I am getting you so wasted."