"Danzo-sama."
The windowless office was plain, unadorned save for the single painting that sat high above the wall behind the table that Danzo sat at. The painting depicted a sunny, beautiful Konohan summer afternoon, light beating down on an Konoha Oak Tree that towered above the shrubbery around it.
Danzo sat beneath the painting, shrouded in shadow. The office was lit by a pair of lamps, one at the table, the other by the door. His cane lay at rest beside him, but yet within easy reach. He looked up at the sound of the voice.
"Twelve. You have a report?" The masked, featureless shadow that knelt before him looked up, body language betraying nothing.
"Hai. Sabre Team has requested that the surveillance mission on Target White be extended and deepened. They have reason to believe that the subject has begun clandestine activities outside of Village Law."
Danzo gave no sign of agitation, continuing to write on the plain paper before him.
"Danzo-sama, the matter is urgent."
He put one hand up, silencing the agent instantly.
"Your conditioning must be slipping, that you would speak before I answered. Inform Sabre Team that they are to continue monitoring the situation, and I want a summary of observations and details of the nature of Orochimaru's actions before midnight."
"Sabre Team already compiled a preliminary report, Danzo-sama." Twelve reached into his tan cloak, withdrawing a scroll and placing it on the desk.
Danzo grasped the scroll slowly, deliberately, digesting its contents.
"Orphans?"
"Hai. I checked the missing persons list at the Uchiha Police Headquarters. Seven different orphanages did report missing children over the past month, almost thirty all together. The Police Force is stretched too thin to dedicate any serious amount of resources to tracking down missing street urchins."
Danzo placed the scroll back down on the table, face contorting into a frown.
"That is too much to be a coincidence. Have Twenty-Seven and Thirty-Five inserted into one of the orphanages, make it obvious. I want them to draw attention to themselves. Deep insertion will be the best way to gather information. Have Dagger Team reassigned, double the eyes on Target White, but take extreme precaution. The man is paranoid on his best day."
The ROOT agent straightened, coming to his feet in a fluid, efficient movement.
"Your will be done, Danzo-sama. The Tree grows tall..."
"When the roots run deep. Go, Twelve."
"Aw come on Kakashi, you gotta at least let us know her name?"
"It doesn't matter anymore now, does it?"
"Are you kidding me? Some mysterious villager in some backwater catches the attention of the Hatake Kakashi, and you're saying she's not important?"
"Take it easy, Raidou, Kakashi doesn't want to talk about it, okay?"
"Right. Sorry."
Kakashi leaned back into his stool at the bar, knocking back another saucer of sake. He blinked twice, feeling the burn all the way down to his stomach.
"How the hell do you keep drinking without taking off the mask? Is it porous? Chakra-enhanced?"
"Clan secret, also it's not porous, that's disgustingly unhygienic" Kakashi deadpanned. The group of Konoha-nin clustered round the bar burst out into laughter.
Asuma leaned forward, pouring Kakashi another drink.
"You know, we didn't figure you had a sense of humor. Always took you for the serious, badass, man-killing ANBU-captain."
A pretty, raven haired Chūnin across the table chipped in.
"Yeah.. you always were the hot, silent type." The beautiful Chūnin eyed Kakashi speculatively.
"Kurenai! Kakashi's a dad, leave him alone." Asuma chided. Kakashi noted the flush in his cheeks. Definitely wasn't from the alcohol. He made the wise decision to step away from that mess.
"Yuuhi-san, was it? I'm sorry but I'm not looking for anything with anybody right now.. only enough room in my life for a rowdy toddler, and a couple missions on the side." Kakashi gave her an eye smile.
Kurenai, her name was, definitely had had too many drinks. She almost pouted.
"I'll have to tell Anko-chan then, she's had her eye on you since you came back. Girls like the mature, family man you know.."
"Alright that's enough. Kakashi's been back for like, less than a year. Let him settle in before dragging him into your machinations." Asuma's voice was tinged with.. jealousy? Kakashi noted to himself to stay far, far away from that.
"Anyway, how's being a dad? Still not sleeping much?" Asuma changed the subject.
"Isn't that bad now. I think most of his teeth are out. They start to settle in around two, I think. He's a lot more talkative now, which is cute?"
The female shinobi around him almost melted, cooing.
"What was his first word? I bet it was Daddy!" A purple haired Tobuketsu Jōnin asked excitedly. One Uzuki Yuugao, if his memory hadn't failed him.
"Actually, no. His first word was 'kunai', if you can believe that."
"Whaaaaat?? No way! What the hell are you teaching him, Hatake?"
"YOSH! MY ETERNAL RIVAL IS RAISING A SUPER GENIUS PRODIGY! IF I.."
"Why are you so loud? Do you have to shout? Indoors voice Gai!"
Kakashi couldn't help the smile that broke out under his mask. Friendship was a strange thing, but not unwelcome. His life was definitely far more interesting, in a manner that didn't involve assasination and sabotage. It felt good to know that other people would have his back.
"Hey, Kakashi! I don't want you slowing down! It's been ten months since you started drinking with us, and you're the only one who hasn't gotten hammered!"
Kakashi nodded. Life was good. He downed another saucer.
"Chakra reserves, Asuma. When you have as much to burn as I do, it's a little hard to be inebriated."
"Nooo waaaaay is that true. Wait. Is it?"
"Kaka? Kaka!"
Kakashi grunted, rolling over. The shades were drawn, shrouding the room in comfortable darkness. Good thing, too, considering his head was pounding with a splitting headache.
'Holy shit how much did I drink last night?' Kakashi mused to himself, grasping in the dark blindly for his alarm clock.
"Hungry! Ramen?"
Kakashi groaned. The little toddler was on his futon, tugging at his pants in that adorable way that he always did.
"Alright, Naru-chan. Give me three minutes to freshen up." He finally found his clock.
'Four thirty in the morning? Are you kidding me?' Kakashi got to his feet, still feeling the headache. A quick self-diagnosis and he determined the obvious.
'Terrible hangover from massive alcohol consumption, and severe dehydration... damn Asuma, you finally got me.'
He moved out of the single room that he shared with his young son, to the common area that housed his 'kitchen', which was more of a stove on a table and a cabinet. The window facing the Konoha monument was still dark, the sun having not yet seen fit to rise. A bachelor pad, through and through. Kakashi had lived here since he became a Gēnin all those years ago, his ancestral clan home holding too many terrible memories. Minato-sensei had figured it wasn't a good idea for his already fragile psyche to continue living with the literal ghosts of his past, and had arranged for the then young ninja to move to the quaint apartment that was near the Hokage Tower. Kakashi had moved back in after his return from his sojourn in Grass, and it was quickly turning into a very well lived in apartment.
Kakashi turned on the lights, wincing at the sudden assault on his eye. The little toddler followed him out of the room, clinging on to his pantsleeve.
"Alright Naruto, no ramen for you, it's too early in the morning for that. Cereal?"
The kid nodded, before plopping himself down at the single table expectantly.
Kakashi rummaged through his cabinet for the bowls and the cereal, before grabbing a jug of milk from the fridge. Sometimes he wondered what the Kakashi of just three years ago would have thought of him now. Probably would have considered him an unorganized slob. The flak jacket lying at the corner of the living room, the unwashed dishes in the sink, three of his trademarked face masks still sitting in the laundry, all were things that would have driven him insane just three years ago. Kakashi contemplated ruefully that becoming a single dad had truly thrown all his habits out the window. Now all that mattered in his home life was keeping his boy fed and safe, tidiness and organization be damned.
'Need more milk. I've got time, I guess I'll swing by the market later. Does Naruto have a play date today? I'll have to check.' Kakashi mused.
"You know I gotta check with the medic-nins if a two year old is supposed to be on such a regular sleep schedule. No way this waking up earlier than me is normal." Kakashi grumbled even as he brought the cereal to the table.
"Not tired." Naruto shrugged, quite an adorable mannerism for a two year old.
"I don't think you're supposed to be able to understand me that well either, but then again, you're my son."
"Tou-channn" Naruto broke out into an infectious grin. Kakashi smiled back, before taking a spoonful of his cereal. The water was still boiling for his tea.
"Eat, you little rascal. I'll take you out later."
"Hey Kakashi! Don't leave your pup unattended like that!"
"Hm? He's right here, don't worry." Inuzuka Tsume was a very forceful lady, Kakashi decided. The spiky haired Inuzuka Matriarch strode purposefully towards the silver haired Jōnin. Kakashi nodded politely at the lady at the counter, handing her the payment for his milk. Tsume wasn't alone, her ever-present companion Kuromaru trotting along dutifully by her side. Her daughter, Hana, followed respectfully behind, hair neatly tied up.
"Mama! Fasterrr!" And that would be the Inuzuka heir apparent, Kakashi noted. The boy rode Kuromaru like a steed, wild glee alight in his eyes. Definitely took after his mother.
"Ohaiyo, Tsume-san. Fancy meeting you here."
"My clan runs this district, baka. I was taking my litter out for a walk and I smelt your scent from three blocks away."
"Ahh. I'm sorry, I must have not showered before leaving the house. I was just running some errands, and bringing little Naruto out to run off some energy."
"It ain't your stink I'm smelling. The boy smells like just like you. Also your own summons aren't very discreet in marking their partner you know!"
Kakashi liked the Inuzuka clan. He felt at ease around the fellow canine-nin and their no-nonsense, brash personalities. There was never any hidden agendas or political motivations with them, and his ninken always loved spending time with the Inuzuka's own partners.
"I'll make sure to wash him more thoroughly in the future, Tsume-san."
"Won't help, I'd still smell him from a mile away. Kid has a pretty potent chakra-scent. What the hell are you feeding him?"
"Ahh..." Kakashi scratched the back of his head.
"Never mind, none of my business anyway. Say, wanna head to the park? Let your pup get to know mine own. Kiba needs someone to roughhouse with."
"That would be fine, Tsume-san. I'll just go grab him, excuse me."
"You gotta stop letting him wander off, Hatake. He's barely a toddler." Tsume protested, but obvious mirth danced across her unguarded expression.
Life really was good, Kakashi decided. The sound of children playing in the distance was almost cathartic. Kakashi contemplated that this was one thing he had never experienced during his own childhood. He took in the almost rapturous expression of joy on his son's face as the little rascal chased Kiba who rode Kuromaru, and sighed contentedly. He sat peacefully on of the parks many benches, and for a moment, he found himself feeling free, happy. It was an odd feeling.
"Well, you look relaxed."
"You can tell?"
"Not from your face, you damned paranoid brat."
Tsume plonked herself down next to Kakashi, cracking open a can of soda.
"Damned kids, you would think they wouldn't have the energy to run me, a fully fledged Jōnin ragged, and you'd be wrong."
"It's more of your Kuromaru, really."
"Naruto's a stamina freak, kid doesn't get tired. What the hell are you feeding him?"
"Cereal, instant ramen, sometimes tea?"
"You can't feed a kid instant ramen, Kakashi, jeez."
Kakashi had the grace to look abashed.
"Sometimes I forget you're barely more than a kid too. Take it easy, Hatake. Got a long life ahead of you, I hope."
"I've completed more S-ranked missions than the rest of the entire roster of active Jōnin, you know." Kakashi huffed.
"And you're not even eighteen. Come on Kakashi, you can't raise a kid on your own, even if you love him to death. Get some help. The kid's gonna need some maternal figures in his life, too. Boys raised by boys usually turn out kinda whack." Tsume downed the soda.
"I appreciate the advice, Tsume-san."
"Eh, for you, it's free."
Kakashi chuckled, before returning his attention to his charge and his companions.
"Inuzuka-san, Hatake-san, I hope I am not intruding." Tsume and Kakashi turned as one at the voice.
"Uchiha Itachi? The hell you doing out of your compound?" Tsume's usual brashness greeted the new addition to the conversation.
"My apologies. I was bringing my brother out to play, and we noticed the gathering here and thought to join in." Itachi's serious words were made a little strange by his pre-pubescent voice. Kakashi noted his appearance and posture. A true-blue Uchiha, by the look of it, with all the poise and dignified condescension of the clan.
"Really? Your dad let you out?"
"Otou-sama allowed us a free afternoon off, yes."
"Ah hell, The Hatake kid's quarter Uchiha anyway, might as well. Go and play, have fun." The Uchiha heir bowed respectfully, before grabbing his younger brother's hand and running off the join the roughhousing boys in the grass.
"The kid's six, can you believe it? Just started early at the academy. My Hana says he's a genius, probably going to grad at the end of the year, just like you Hatake."
Kakashi was thinking hard.
"Was I that stuck up at age six? He's barely more than a boy and he's talking like he's in a council meeting."
Gleeful sounds of delight echoed from where the boys were currently engaging in some sort of attempt to wrestle Kuromaru to the ground. The grizzled war-dog patiently obliged the boys, deigning to allow them to shift him every so often.
Tsume turned to Kakashi.
"You were worse, Kakashi."
Kakashi looked her in the eyes, before turning back to the melee that the playing had dissolved into.
"I suppose I was."
A/N
Hello anybody who's made it this far into the story! This is my first attempt at a fanfic so please bear with me as I try to write something worth reading.
This story has been bouncing around my head for awhile, and I've planned pretty far ahead, so expect pretty rapid updates. I would appreiciate reviews and feedback, as I'm trying to improve my writing.
Please understand that I'm trying to remain as faithful as I can to how the characters are portrayed in the manga, just with the slow butterfly effect from Kakashi's decision to adopt Naruto. The changes will get pretty drastic as we head further into the story. Also, I apologize if the first few chapters are short on action, it's mostly characterization and world building for the future. Things will start to pick up soon, however.
Till the next chapter!