A/N: Updated as of 2020-08-16

Shockingly enough – not – Kakashi disappeared as soon as I got back to the hospital. I was seriously scolded once I walked through the doors and was spotted by the head Medic. I would have been totally fine with it (obviously, you are supposed to scold children when they sneak out) but they just... they were mad at the wrong thing. I was so confused at first. I logically understood, getting into this – Naruto was not treated well. He was neglected and nigh on abused by the citizens of Konoha. Because I'm here now, I would be too! I knew all of this. And yet...

"How can you be so selfish? We've given you so much – isn't that enough for you?"

And yet... it's happening...

"You're a monster. You don't deserve even half of what we've provided for you!"

Again. It's happening again.

My blurred vision stares blankly at the man's feet. The part of me – a part I had long thought buried – conditioned to take such treatment forces itself forward. I can't...

My body grows numb, the only thing grounding me it the warm, tiny body pressed against my chest. I blankly acknowledge how fortunate it was that Itachi had put a baby wrap into the basket, and I had been able to swap out my shadows for the stretchy piece of fabric. My arms fall to my sides, and I lock my shadows away. I won't hurt anyone – I am NOT a monster.

"–you even listening, demon brat?!" I don't respond. Even if I wanted to, I can't move. I can't speak...

A pause.

Smack!

My face is hit with a backhand, harshly throwing me to the side. The hospital lobby is silent. I am silent, despite the burning pain in my face. I stagger a few feet to the left but I do not fall. Naruto begins to loudly cry, frightened at the sudden sound and movement. I look up, my eyes peeking through my fringe. I see the medic's shocked expression, and when our eyes meet he stiffens. My glazed, empty eyes seem to frighten him. Good. He jumps into action and backs away when I break eye contact and slowly scan the room. There are civilians and medics scattered throughout the room, all staring at us. No one seems to know what to think... but no one steps forward. I spot my newly bought baby supplies, thrown on the floor. I start towards them, the frighteningly soft sounds of my tiny feet tapping on the floor echoing in my ears despite Naruto's cries. I gather up the clothes and put them into the bag that was tossed aside. I hold up the diapers and look to the Medic.

"My baby brother was out of diapers, 'ttebayo." I sniff, holding back genuine tears. A piercing cry from Naruto lends credit to what I'm saying. "No one would help me, and the door was locked. I didn't know what else to do, sir." A round of soft murmuring goes throughout the room. "Can you please take me back to our hospital room? I'm tired from walking around and carrying brother..." If anything, my words seem to make the Medic even more frightened, but he vigorously nods and gestures for us to follow him.

Soon, we arrive back at the room I've been staying in. Along the way Naruto's screaming dials down to whining and wriggling. The Medic opens the door and gasps when an ANBU – their mask bears resemblance to a monkey – appears in front of us. My mouth remains closed, my eyes remain empty of... everything. I move past the frozen medic and ignore the darkly dressed shinobi standing in the centre of the room, going straight to the bed. I quickly remove the wrappings around Naruto and lay him on the bed. With experienced fingers, I skillfully remove his dirty diaper, clean him, and place a new one on him. He stops his whining, and when I gently tickle him he starts to giggle. His blue eyes sparkle, and I can't help but smile. Sudden tears well up in my eyes and a single sob escapes me as I wrap my baby boy in my arms. I focus my attention inwards, and I feel the cage surrounding my dark power. After a moment of pained struggle, I release it with a sigh of relief. A wave darkness comes pouring out of me, filling the room with a blanket of liquid shadow. It quickly disperses itself, leaving only small tendrils that curl around in the corners of the room with a mind of their own.

The ANBU stands alone, the Medic having long since run off. I look up at him and find him standing not too far away. With a glance at the side table, I see a baby bottle and my dinner. I quickly reach for the bottle, sadly finding it completely cold. My shoulders slump. To my surprise, the ANBU reaches out his hand. I look from the bottle to the outstretched hand, then up at the ANBU's mask. The Shinobi merely nods his head once, sharply. I hand him the bottle. My eyes widen as he forms a handsign with his hands wrapped around the bottle – I feel a tiny fluctuation of chakra, and he hands the bottle back to me. I test the milk, and it's warm!

"Thank you, Saru-ANBU-san!" I thank him softly, with a small smile. I quickly turn back to Naruto, who is quickly swaddled and supported by shadows without conscious command on my part. I scoot to the top of the bed, and Naruto is placed in my lap. I slip the tip of the bottle into his tiny mouth, and he immediately closes his eyes and starts drinking the warm milk. "Itadakimasu, ne, Naru-tou?" I smile, absorbed in my boy's peaceful expression.

"You've been hurt." I don't move, save for my smile dimming slightly.

"Yes," I can't say anything but the truth. It would hurt no one but Naruto and I to keep quiet. "I have been."

"Why?" I laugh, bitterly. My mind flashes back to Kushina and Minato's death – not what I saw in person, but the words I know they spoke before I arrived. Kushina knew. She knew. Kaa-san knew that she was condemning her son to pain. She didn't want to make the choice, but she had to. She experienced it herself. The pain, the –

"Fear." I look up at the masked Shinobi. "They fear me, mister. The man – the medic – he called me many things. Demon, among them. They fear me so much," don'tcrydon'tcrydon't "It blinds them to the fact that I'm… I'm just a kid. Naruto is just a baby. A baby." Tears disobey my will and fall. "He hit me and then was terrified. Not at what he had done, but that I might retaliate." The ANBU shows no reaction, not surprising me in the least, but I can feel his chakra rumbling slightly with unhappiness.

After a moment of silence, I look down to see that Naruto's bottle is empty. I take it away, and he croons sadly but quiets. In a way to comfort the both of us, I start up my rumbling purr growl. I'm taken completely by surprise, however, when tiny, tiny Naruto lets out an almost silent purr of his own. An enormous grin lights up my face and I swing my head up to look at the ANBU who is still hovering.

"Did you hear that?" I squeal, and suddenly I pick up a flare of amused chakra coming from the man in front of me. I start up my purring once more and curl around Naruto. I sense the ANBU retreating, clearly falling back into hiding.

My shadows wrap around us is a soft, warm cocoon. Yes, everything will be okay. So long as I've got you.

(Push down the thoughts of another baby, another Naruto. Move on, you are happy now.)

Days later when the Hokage came with news of a new home for us, I was thrilled. Literally, anything would be better than the small hospital room surrounded by hateful staff.

Literally anything.

Except...

An Orphanage.

From what I recall of canon, Naruto lived by himself in a rundown apartment. I would rather be living by ourselves – I know how to do that! I've done it in my other life. But... I've also experienced Orphanages. Of course, literally the worst possible option (at least in my mind) is what the Hokage chose for us. I begged him not to place us there and promised him I could handle Naruto on my own. However, as he put it, "No matter how prodigious you may be, I cannot in good conscience leave a newborn with a five-year-old."

Thus, after he had a quick discussion with the Matron, the Hokage ran off. Once left alone with us, the woman sends us a kind smile. It shocks me to my core – a tight knot in my chest I hadn't noticed before seems to twist painfully. How long has it been?

"Welcome, child. Please call me Mother-Nonō. This place will be your new home!" I look up into her shining face, and nearly start to cry. Her green eyes are open and welcoming, simply sparkling with kindness. "Come, meet the others. It's about time for lunch, and you must be ready for a real meal instead of hospital food!" She laughs, and it's a beautiful sound. I simply nod, and she holds out her hand for me to grab. After a moment of hesitation, I put my tiny hand into her slender one. My other hand rests on Naruto's back, as he is wrapped to my front sound asleep.

She leads me inside, and soon there are around ten children all clamouring for attention.

"Mother! Mother! Is it lunch yet?"

"Mother-Nonō, who are they?"

"Mother-Nonō! Look I made something! Mother!" She laughs, smiling brightly at them all.

"Settle down! We have some new children who will be joining our family. Mishina, dear, would you like to introduce yourself and your brother?" As I look at the group of kids, my heart stops. Standing there in the back, in all his childish glory, is a chibi Yakushi Kabuto. Round, black glasses, ash-grey hair and all. "Mishina?" He is standing right there, looking all shy. He can't be much older than this body. "Child, are you alright?" Mother-Nonō – Oh gosh it's Yakushi Nonō – puts her hand on my shoulder, jerking me out of my shock. I quickly look at her and apologize.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. I zoned out a bit…" I turn towards the crowd of confused children and give them an enormous smile. "Hello! My name is Uzumaki Mishina, and this is my little brother Naruto! Please take care of us!" Instantly, the other kids are crowding around me and introducing themselves cheerily. My eyes once more find Kabuto, and a chill goes through me at his innocent gaze.

"Kurama?" I think, sending him feelings of uncertainty.

"Yes, Kit?" I can feel him looking through my eyes and get the feeling of his tails lashing about in irritation. "Ah. It's the self-proclaimed 'Dragon'. Well, this is sure unexpected. Something will have to be done about that cockroach."

"Hello, I'm Mishina! Though, you probably knew that already. Do you want to be friends?"

Kabuto stares at me incredulously, eyes wide in shock.

"I'm… Kabuto." A light blush covers his cheeks. "You want to be my friend?"

"Kit, this is NOT what I meant!"