Two Years Later

"Good to know you haven't lost your edge, Taicho."

"Just because I'm a dad doesn't mean I've gotten soft. I'm still me, you know." Kakashi straightened, wiping his tantō clean on the grass. The ill-fated nuke-nin that had the misfortune of tangling with Hatake Kakashi stared at the sky, lifeless, even as blood continued to seep from the clean slice across his throat.

"Didn't think you'd had it in you to kill him like that. I guess having a kid hasn't softened you up."

Kakashi scoffed.

"If I was soft, Hokage-sama wouldn't have put me in charge of this team. Now I'm sure you have better things to do than questioning your commanding officer, Hayate."

"Sorry, Taicho. I'll get to cataloguing the dead immediately." The swordsman quickly made himself scarce.

Uzuki Yuugao materialized in a swirl of leaves.

"The caravan is secure, none of the civilians were injured in the attack. Myself and Aoba were able to neutralize the main attacking nuke-nin force without much trouble. Couple of no-name gēnin and Chūnin punks."

Kakashi nodded.

"Good work, Uzuki-san. Head back and reassure the civilians, then get moving. That cargo is pretty valuable, and I want to be home before sunset."

"Missing little Naru-chan, Taicho?"

"If you want that letter of recommendation so badly, you better move your ass, Uzuki."

"Hai, hai! Moving!" The purple haired tōbuketsu Jōnin retreated the way she came. Kakashi chuckled to himself. She was good, a solid kunoichi, and he knew she had been looking forward to the mission, getting to serve with the Hatake Kakashi had been a dream come true for the aspiring ANBU member. She had the skills for it, for sure, and Kakashi would be happily recommending her to Koza for the selection process. Most didn't make it, but he figured she had what it took.

He sheathed his tantō, sparing the rapidly cooling corpse one last glance. It had been a brutal murder of a fight, not so much a battle. The Nuke-nin was a Jōnin, from Kiri, judging from the man's forehead protector. Kakashi had ambushed him, forced him away from the nearby stream to prevent his usage of any Suiton ninjutsu. The man wasn't much of a close quarter duelist, he hadn't even needed to use his Sharingan to put him down. A clean kill, Inu would have proud. A momentary image flashed through his mind, and he tensed.

'I will not have you raising a child while murdering others in their sleep.'

Kakashi deliberately turned his back to the corpse. A cleanup team of Hunter-nin had already been dispatched from the village to identify and process any bounties. Kakashi pushed the dark thoughts out of his mind. Naruto would keep his innocence for as long as Kakashi could help it. Just for reassurance however, Kakashi flashed through a set of handsealsat a breakneck pace, the familiarity leading him a practiced speed that would have surprised even a jōnin.

"Reverse Summoning Jutsu." He murmured, biting his thumb before pressing his palm to the ground. A puff of smoke, and there before him was a rather disgruntled pug.

"Whaddya want now? I was busy!"

"Pakkun, what on earth would you be doing?"

"...stuff.."

Kakashi took stock of his ninken's appearance. Crayon markings were scrawled all over his ninken vest, and the ninken smelled distinctly of curry flavored ramen.

"I asked you to look out for Naru-chan, not indulge him, Pakkun."

"Kid wanted to eat, leave off, you grouch."

"Crayons?"

"He gives good belly rubs..."

"And you let your guard down?"

"Look man, Bull and Shiba were supposed to be watching him too, but he bribed them off with some kibble he found in the cabinet."

"Pakkun, he's four. No way in hell did he get the better of a team of trained ninken!"

"He's cute! Okay? I said it!"

"I'll be back soon, try not to let him burn down the house."

"We'll do our best." The pug growled before dispelling himself in another puff of smoke.

Kakashi groaned, head in his hands. The boy was growing more and more of a handful, a dynamo of never ending energy and playfulness. He was polite and responsible, but terribly mischievous at times. Kakashi didn't know what to do. He couldn't bring himself to really discipline the boy, he was too adorable and well-behaved most of the time, and he never did anything dangerous or irresponsible, just innapropriate and exhausting to deal with. Kakashi's episode resolved itself with a helpless smile and shake of his head. Kami, he loved that boy.

"Taicho? We're ready to move."

"Yeah, lets get going."

"Well done, Kakashi. The merchant wishes to convey his thanks to you. The cargo was delivered in perfect condition, and none of the civilians were injured. You've done Konoha proud."

"I do my best, Hokage-sama. The team performed exceptionally."

"So I've heard. You put in an ANBU recommendation for one.. Uzuki Yuugao?"

"Yea.. she's good. I'm sure she'll make the trials."

"Koza will be pleased. His teams are still far from full capacity, we can't be pulling too many shinobi off the active missions roster."

"Uzuki's got the temperament, and the skills. She'll make a good operative."

"I read the letter. Who would have guessed, Hatake Kakashi playing the role of mentor?"

"Having a kid changes you, if what everybody has been incessantly telling me is true."

Kakashi leaned back into the chair, taking another sip from his cup of tea. The sun was making its way down, casting long shadows across the face of the Hokage Monument as it grew hidden behind the trees.

"Where is little Naru-chan? I've never seen you so relaxed with him out of your sight."

"Tsume-san recommended a daycare for Shinobi kids. Most of the high-ranking Jōnin with kids and Clansmen patronize the place. Who would've thought that there'd be a lucrative market for babysitting the children of shinobi."

"Indeed! I was lucky Biwako-chan decided to quit the force to raise my sons. Most kunoichi would rather not sacrifice their career for their children."

Hiruzen was visibly afflicted with nostalgia, a peculiar expression coming over his face. Kakashi noted that it was a much better look than the looming weariness and stress that had become far more common on the Sandaime's aged visage.

"Well, security there's pretty tight. Daycare's run by a civilian, but they've contracted some former jōnin as cover. They've got some rudimentary Fūinjutsu too. Isn't the best, but we all can't have ANBU squads following us around."

"Fuinjūtsu?"

"Yeah, they make you channel chakra into these little fūin, helps identify the parents. Pretty useful for those kids who are targets." The hidden implication had not gone unnoticed by Sarutobi.

"Your son is safe, Kakashi. You've been back in the field for close to a year now, and there hasn't been any major incidents. Jiraiya-kun's keeping an ear close to the ground, any rumbling from Iwa and I'll put an ANBU squad right back on shadow duty."

Kakashi nodded, expression remaining thoughtful.

"You have any idea how the Shiki Fūjin works?" Kakashi asked, tone casual. Sarutobi lit his pipe, puffing slowly, and with a discreet gesture quickly dismissed his ANBU guards.

"I did help Minato-kun finish and apply the seal, but it was mostly my Sensei who did most of the technical work. Jiriaya-kun has the schematics of the seal for his own study. Why do you ask?" Sarutobi's face revealed concern. Any matter concerning the Kyūbi was never particularly good news.

"Naruto's four, his chakra coils are starting to solidify and expand for real. Pakkun asked me if Naruto's been near the forest the other day. Said he smelt like fox."

Sarutobi puffed a little faster.

"I do not know what the exact details of Minato-kun's seal are, but I would not be surprised if he had put in a filter mechanism to allow Naruto to harness his prisoner's chakra."

"Yeah.. well, those lines on his cheeks are starting to darken and grow. Weren't that noticeable growing up, but it's becoming more and more obvious every week that goes by. I deduced it was the demon's chakra filtering through his system causing some sort of physical reaction." Kakashi seemed unconcerned, but Sarutobi had known him since young, and could sense the undercurrent of agitation.

"That is... a problem." Sarutobi said slowly.

"I can't have my son running around with Fox whiskers and smelling of Fox chakra, that's too obvious. People will put two and two together, Hokage-sama."

"Have him wear your clan mask. You started wearing yours at six, he's not too young to start now. People will ask, but just tell them that he wanted to wear them."

Kakashi sighed, putting the tea down.

"I wore that mask as a mark of shame, for my father, Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen took the pipe out of his mouth, placing it back down on the table, before rising out of his chair and facing the window behind his desk. The juxtaposition between the shadows and the light of the setting sun was magnificent now, casting a dancing glowing aura across his village. A curiously bright ray of evening sunlight shone onto the Yondaime Hokage's stone visage, the carved granite catching the deep orange and yellow hues and casting a shadow around the corners of his lips, turning the stern, stately expression into one of a smiling, mirthful young man.

"Minato wished for you to raise him, Kakashi. He is your son."

"I... I know." Kakashi murmured.

Sarutobi turned back to the nineteen, going on twenty year old.

"You still doubt that you are an adequate father?"

Hiruzen's words cut straight to the heart of the matter.

"I'm.. I'm a killer, Hokage-sama. It's all I've done, all I know how to do. I cut down that Jōnin like it was second nature. My hands are bloody, and I still hold him with those same hands."

"Naruto-chan is a fine, well adjusted, terribly polite, playful, popular young man. He is well loved by the people of this village, and will make a tremendous ninja when he is old enough. You have done a superb job as his father, Kakashi, and he loves you more than anyone else in this world."

Kakashi didn't respond, still lost in his thoughts.

"I will contact Jiraiya-kun to look into the Kyūbi chakra situation. You should ask Naruto to begin wearing the mask. He will not wear it as a mark of shame, Kakashi. He will be overjoyed and proud beyond measure to wear it, to be able to emulate his beloved father."

Kakashi rose to his feet, and for a moment Hiruzen thought he saw the beginning of a tear in the Cyclops' good eye. In the shadows cast by the setting sun, it was hard to tell.

"Hai. It's growing late, and I need to pick him up. By your leave? Thank you, for everything, Hokage-sama." Kakashi bowed, before exiting through the door behind him.

The old Hokage turned back to face the Hokage Monument.

"You would be so proud, Minato.." Hiruzen whispered, to nobody in particular.

A/N

Some of you have been asking about the mask, and I was saving it for this scene. The mask is a pretty important part of Kakashi's life, representing loads of repressed emotions about his dad and childhood, so I wanted to save it to explore Kakashi's growing and changing psyche. Hope it serves as something a little more meaningful and not just throwaway coolfanwankservice.

Again, I know it's been mostly character development, I promise the action will be coming soon!

I apologize if the formatting gets abit wonky, I've been literally writing this on my phone as I waste away in camp, so please bear with it.

Read and review!