Chapter 2: Dogs are the best baby sitters

A st. Bernard snoozing in the sun jolted awake to the sound of one of her charges' crying wails. "Nana, Kakashi pull hair!"

"No I not!" The boy pup immediately denied.

"It hurt!"

"Not!" Kakashi insisted.

Kama's face was scrunched up with tears as she tossed out her tiny fist at her brother. "Lying!"

Nana immediately swooped down to pick Kama up by the back of her onesie, carrying the crying pup away from her now crying brother. Hachiro the Great Dane immediately stood as she passed, heading off to lick and sooth the other child. The dogs dutifully wiped away the toddlers' snot and tears with their tongues and nuzzled their sides with their noses until the children giggled instead of cried. Then like clockwork they brought them back together, Kakashi and Kama facing each other dangling from the dog's mouths.

"You know what to do." Hachiro growled around his bite of onesie when neither child spoke.

"Apologise." Nana prompted. "One, two, three…"

"Sowwy." The twins mumbled in unison, neither willing to say it first.

"Good. Now who wants to cuddle on my tummy?" Nana asked. It was the best way to get the twins to fall asleep when both refused to take a naptime.

As predicted the two were both eager for the fluffy treat and were asleep between Nana's paws before they knew it. Hachiro huffed at the scene and padded off to warm up dinner, a pre-prepared pot of meat mush and two bottles of milk set in a pot of water. Two glass bottles of milk sat in a pot of water on the stove next to a pot of pre-made stew. All Hachiro had to do was turn the nob with his nose and wait for both to come to a simmer. Because of his height the Great Dane had little trouble taking the pot handles in his mouth and setting the meals aside to cool. By the time the twins awoke, each had a bottle of warm milk waiting and the dogs ate most of the stew, nudging the toddlers to try some of the softer bits.

After dinner they all played fetch and ride-the-doggie until both children were tuckered out enough for sleep. It wasn't until late at night did Sakumo finally come home.

Splattered in blood that wasn't his own and sweat that definitely was, the White Fang of the Leaf slumped into the nursery to check on his children. Hachiro met his eye from where he laid guard by the cradle and Sakumo gave a nod of acknowledgement. Finally he could relax. Still, out in the hall where the noise wouldn't disturb the sleeping twins Sakumo couldn't help but order, "Nana, report."

The st Bernard did her best impression of a doggy shrug. "Kakashi may or may not have pulled Kama's hair and Kama may or may not have punched him. We got them to both apologize. The way you set out dinner worked well and…"

Sakumo looked up from where he'd been unwrapping his shins. "And what?"

Nana huffed, "And you were right that we could smell when they were about to defecate and bring them to the potty on time. Doesn't mean it's pleasant though."

Sakumo wheezed out a laugh, the uneasy sound causing his ninken to look up in alarm. "It's fine, just bruised ribs." He gave Nana an affectionate pat. "Thank you for your work. You two go back to the wolf realm for now and I'll summon you back tomorrow."

She gave him a skeptical look. "We can stay you know. We're not actually wolf summons so it won't be a chakra drain to keep us here. Hachiro and I don't mind watching over your children." Sakumo didn't reply as he instead meticulously set about removing his wrapped thigh holster. "Was the mission difficult? You seem tired." Nana asked after a while.

Sakumo gave her a self-deprecating smile and a shake of the head. "Nah, just out of practice after my year off."

The dog nodded knowingly. "Ah, your secret paternity-leave. Hachiro and I will keep watch then. Sleep well."

And with the safety of his kids in the paws of his pack, sleep well he did.