"Blah" - Dialogue

'Blah' – Thoughts

"Blaaahhhh/blah' - Emphasis

For Those I'll Live For

Adoption Mayhem pt 1

Four Years Later

In the Hokage's office, the heads of Konoha's clans, Uchiha, Hyuga, and the Naras, all sit around the Hokage's desk. Kakashi Hatake and Guy Might stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out at the city that had finally finished repairs three years after the Kyuubi attack.

The Third Hokage stood up from his chair and addressed those that had appeared in his office. "Well, I'm glad all of you have shown up today. By your attendance, I assume that means you are all interested in adopting young Naruto Uzumaki. Correct?"

Everybody in the room agreed with either a nod or a yes, Guy giving an extra loud 'Yeah!'

Sarutobi nodded his head and started walking around the office, picking books off of shelves and putting them right back down. "Now, since there are so many of you, we will be taking Naruto out of the orphanage, and he will be given to each of you for the time period of one week each. Agreed?"

He stops and looks at all of the candidates as they agreed once again.

"Good. Now, what should the order be?"

Kakashi steps forward. "Hokage-sama, I would be honored to be the first to obtain Naruto."

Uchiha Fugaku, refusing to be stood up by the Jonin, hurriedly goes next. "Hokage-sama, the Uchiha clan would like to have week two with young Uzumaki-san."

After that, the list continued to be the Hyugas, Guy, and the Naras. They all departed their separate ways and would wait their turns with the four-year old.

Three hours later, the Third was at the Yoro Orphanage, where Naruto was staying. When Sarutobi walked into the small room, Naruto was sitting at the kiddy table by himself, as all the other kids feared him and the kyuubi he held inside of him.

Sarutobi kneeled next to the young blonde and ruffled his hair. "So, Naruto, how do you like it here?"

"It's not too bad… Though it's better when you visit!"

The Third chuckled. "Oh? Are you getting along with the other children?"

Naruto lowered his head and looked at his hands sadly. "Well, not exactly… They avoid me when I try to play with them… But it's okay!" He raised his head. "Because it gives me time to practice throwing kunai like a real ninja!"

The Third look sternly at Naruto. "You haven't been using the special kunai for practice, have you?"

He should his head vigorously. "No! It's too valuable to use for that! I found some left at a training ground one day."

The old man raises his eyebrow at the child. "So you left when you know you're not supposed to?"

Naruto shrinks into his seat, becoming eye-level with the table. "Maaaayyybe."

Sarutobi laughs. "Don't worry Naruto. I'm not here to punish you. I'm here to talk to you about something important."

The blonde, now excited, is sitting on the edge of his seat. "What is it?"

"Well, you see, Naruto, there are some people who want to adopt you."

He jumps up. "Really? Yay!"

The Third laughs at the boy's enthusiasm. "Calm down, calm down. You don't even know who wants to adopt you yet."

"That doesn't matter! Someone wants to adopt me! I might finally leave here! Are they rich? Are they ninja," He asks excitedly. "Oh! Is it a cool clan? Or is it some super famous ninja? Or-!"

"Well, actually, it's all of the above," the old man says, cutting him off.

The boy, who was practically bouncing off the walls, was now still and wide-eyed, staring at him. "Really?"

"Yes. There is a list of people, actually."

He was astonished. "A list? There's a list of people?"

"Mhmm," Sarutobi replies calmly. "And since there are so many, you get to stay with them each a week and decide who you want to live with."

"Really? This is so awesome! I can't wait!" He cools his excitement a moment to ask a question. "When do I leave to meet them?"

"Tomorrow morning you'll be leaving to live at Kakashi Hatake's house, if that's alright with you."

"Who is that?"

"He's a famous ninja known as Copy Cat Kakashi. He knows over 1000 jutsu and was a student to the late Fourth Hokage."

"And he wants to adopt me?"

"Yes, he does."

"Holy shit!"

"Naruto! Where did you learn to speak like that," The Third asks, confused as to how he came to know such repulsive and rude words.

"Well, the caretaker said that when he saw my necklace…"

"It's not proper language for a young boy, Naruto. I don't want to hear it again," He scolded the young boy.

"I'm sorry…" The blonde pouted and looked at his feet in shame.

"It's okay. You didn't know. Just be careful from now on."

Naruto smiled and looked at the old man. "Gotcha!"

"Well, I must take my leave, Naruto. Are you going to be ready tomorrow?"

"You bet! Bye!" He hugs the man.

Sarutobi smiles and leaves Naruto alone. As soon as he is gone, all the other children walk up to him with looks of hate and condescendence on their small, chubby faces.

A boy, three years older than Naruto, walks over and pushes his shoulder, his two lackeys, a boy and girl, smirking. "What was that about, Loser?"

"Yeah, why did the Hokage come to see you, of all people," Lackey one asked.

"Because there are people who want to adopt me!"

The girl, who was two years older than himself, stepped up to the plate. "I bet they are slave traders and just want to sell the one little boy that nobody would miss." She turned her nose up and laughed.

Naruto, with clenched fists, shouted, "No! They are ninja!"

"Sure they are," the leader said.

The girl turned away from Naruto. "Come. Let's leave this loser alone. We have better things to do."

The boy lackey turned and walked with the group, speaking a single, demeaning sentence. "Bye-bye, Slave Boy."

Naruto, left to his own thoughts, heads off to his room. 'What if they're right? What if I am just going to be sold off? Or worse! What if they just want someone to be a slave to them! Please. No. Just. Please no.'

The next day, Naruto stood outside the orphanage with the Third Hokage, waiting for his temporary foster parent.

Naruto kicked the dirt. "He's not coming, is he?"

Sarutobi placed a hand on the blonde's head reassuringly. "No, it's not that, Naruto. He just has a…. lateness problem, is all."

He wasn't completely convinced. "You sure?"

"Yes I am. Do you have all of your stuff ready to go?"

Naruto nods. "Yeah. I don't have much other than four outfits, and my kunai and necklace."

Kakashi shows up in a swirl of leaves in front of the two. Naruto, shocked at the appearance, stares in awe at the man.

"Sorry I'm late." Kakashi rubbed the back of his head. "You see what had happened was… You just want to add the lame excuse yourself?"

The Third shakes his head. "You're getting even lazier. Almost to a Nara's standards…"

"I'm not that bad, am I?"

Naruto cuts into the conversation. "Hey Mister! How did you do that awesome swirly thing?" His eyes were wide with excitement and wonder.

"Hmmm," Kakashi thinks. "You know what? I don't know."

Naruto was confused. "What? How do you not know?"

"Well, I've done it so often, it's just become second nature to me now."

The boy was still confused, but shrugs off the weird answer and moves on. "Oh… Can you teach me something cool like that?"

"Maybe."

Sarutobi intervened in the conversation. "I think you should be on your way now, Kakashi."

"Yeah, sure. Let's get going, Naruto."

They turn and Naruto starts to say something before Kakashi whisks them away in the swirl of leaves that he had arrived in.

The Third stared off into the sky and pulled out a smoking pipe. 'I wonder how this will go? Ha! I bet he comes in asking for an ANBU team to help control him one day.' He chuckles to himself at the thought.

At Kakashi's, which was a typical house for a male ninja. From the first step, Naruto the living room was trashed. Clothes and pillows were strewn about the room and the only thing neat in that room was Kakashi's ninja tools and a couple of books that were placed upright on a shelf. Kakashi leads Naruto to his room, which also had ninja tools on the wall and a huge bed in the corner of the room for him to sleep in. Nothing like his old, smelly, reused bed at the orphanage.

"Holy huge bed," Naruto shouts. "That's for me?"

A low grumbling sound comes from Kakashi. "Yup! But if you don't mind, I'm starving. Want to go to a place my old sensei loved to eat at?"

Naruto looks at the man, eyes shining. "You mean the fourth?" he asks excitedly.

"That's him. Now, are you interested?"

"Yeah!" Naruto was practically jumping up and down.

Kakashi laughs. "Ok. Let's get going then."

15 minutes later, the two had arrived at Ichiraku Ramen and Kakashi helped the four-year old onto the bar stool next to him.

"Sooo…. Have you ever had Ramen?"

"Nope!" When the cook, Teuchi, places a bowl in from of Naruto, the boy instantly starts to salivate at the concoction in front of him.

Kakashi shoves a pair of chopstick in front of Naruto's face. "Stop with the waterfalls and eat."

Nine, savagely eaten bowls and a stunned Kakashi later, Naruto finally finishes eating.

"You were right! That was amazing!" The child lets out a large burp that would typically only be heard from a larger man.

Kakashi stared at Naruto's tiny body in astonishment. "Where did it all go?"

"Where did what go?" Naruto tips his head to the side, not understanding.

"The Food! How did you eat all that food?" Kakashi was wide-eyed, and Teuchi was as well.

Naruto patted his stomach and belched again. "It was good, that's how!" He smiled big, all teeth showing.

Teuchi walks over to the two and starts grabbing the empty bowls. "Boy, if you eat like that all the time, you're going to be my best customer!"

"I bet," Kakashi murmurs under his breath. "Now, let's get going, Naruto. You ought to be tired by now." He pats the boy on the back.

Naruto hops from his stool and steps outside of the ramen stall. Kakashi pulls out paper and a pen and starts writing. He places it on the counter before Teuchi can see him and sneaks out of the stall after Naruto.

Teuchi turns around to find the two boys gone and a note in their place. "What the….? 'To be paid by the Hokage.'" Silence. "Kakashi!"

Walking down to street, heading back to home, Kakashi and Naruto bump into Guy Might.

"Kakashi! I see you're doing well with the young one," Guy says and slaps Kakashi's back.

Falling forward and catching himself, Kakashi replies, "Yes, we're doing fine." He stops to think for a moment. "Hey, Guy, aren't you watching Rock Lee this week?"

Guy nods and yells, "Yes, my enternal rival! I am watching my youthful comrade's son the entire week until his mother returns from her mission to Grass Country! Yosh!"

Kakashi stared at Guy for a moment before continuing. "I was wondering if you would want to go to a bar and let the boys keep each other company?"

"Going to a bar, such an unyouthful event! Why is my eternal rival so unyouthful? You fuel your flames of youthfulness!"

"I swear, if you say youthful one more time, I will Chidori you in the face. Then you won't look so… youthful. And think about it. There'll be girls. Youthful girls."

Guy drifts off in his own imagination, creating a twinkle in his eyes. "What a youthful event!"

Kakashi smacks him in the face and leaves a sticker on his cheek. "Tomorrow, 8 pm. They'll stay at your place." He grabs a sleepy-eyed Naruto's hand and leaves without another word.

Guy reaches for his cheek and pulls off the sticker. It revealed a mini Kakashi, pulling his eyelid down like a child and a Chidori in hand. Across the sticker were the words "You've just been Chidoried. In the face."

Guy burst into the flames of "youth" and anger. "Very well, Kakashi! I accept your challenge!" He disappears in a millisecond and a puff of air.

Kakashi and Naruto reach home in no time.

Kakashi, worn out, turns to Naruto and asks, "You ready to go to bed, Naruto?"

Naruto shakes his head violently. "No! I'm wide awake! Show me something cool from that wall of shinobi tools!"

Kakashi brings down a sword that was very well kept up. Its blade was sharp and unstained. All the embroidery and stitching in the hilt, gold and turquoise thread forming series of loops around one another, remained unfrayed. On the end was a string looped through a whole put in the hilt. "This sword was one I got from an Iwa ninja during the war…. He was a jonin."

Naruto was marveling at the sword, eyes glossing over with admiration. "Amazing! Hey! Can you show me any cool ninja moves tomorrow?"

Kakashi thinks for a while, placing a hand on his chin and pacing a little while he does so. "Well, I suppose there isn't any harm in showing you how to tap into your chakra…"

"Sweet!" Naruto stops for a second. "Wait, what's chakra?"

"I'll explain that in the morning."

With that as the final decision, Naruto runs off to his room, curling underneath the large covers.

'Yes! I get to learn how to tap into my charcoal! Wait, that's not right. Oh well. I'll be learning whatever it's called tomorrow!'

Naruto falls asleep in the over-cushioned bed without changing his clothes.

Kakashi sits on the recliner by his bookshelf. 'He looks just like them. I wonder how tomorrow will go… I hope the Hokage won't mind it… Ah, oh well. Now where is my book?'

He reads for only a few minutes before he falls asleep, with the book on his face serving as an echo wall and making his snoring seem even louder.

The next day, in the afternoon when sun is shining through all of the windows, Naruto runs into Kakashi's room, dodging the clothes, food, and trash. Naruto, seeing the ANBU mask hanging on the doorknob, puts it on and walks up to Kakashi. "Wake up! Wake up! Wakeupwakeupwakeup!"

Kakashi, being a well-trained ninja, was already up and in a fighting position. His hand had already reached in his pouch and pulled out a kunai, his other hand on the top of his alarm clock. Naruto takes off the mask and stares. "What're you doing?"

"Oh… Uhm… Sorry. It's habit." He puts his kunai back in the pouch and alarm clock back on the shelf.

"So, are you going to teach me how to use my charcoal today?"

"Chakra. And yes."

"Yay," Naruto yelled. He started circling Kakashi excitedly. "Where're we going to do this?"

Kakashi steps out of his room. "The front room will do just fine."

When he gets in the room, Kakashi sits on the couch, Naruto standing in the middle of the room, for distance.

"Ok now, Naruto. You make this hand seal. It's called the ram seal and you feel down in you until you feel the power inside you. Somewhere around in your stomach. When you feel it, you just pull it out like you would pull a rope."

"Okay!"

After only eight minutes, the blonde's face flashed a large smile. Kakashi was a bit surprised. 'No way he did it that soon.'

Bluish whisps started to form and surround Naruto, growing bigger and bigger, eventually creating a blue storm. When it finally reached its epitome, it blew everything in the room back towards the walls. Papers were strewn about, kunai and swords laying on the ground, furniture overturned, and bookshelves laying on their sides. The couch that Kakashi was sitting on and been flipped back and turned around, so he was laying upside and facing Naruto. Some of the papers had stuck to him.

"What the HECK," Kakashi yells.

"Did… Did I do it?"

"Yes. You did, and boy, did you." Kakashi makes himself upright again and starts to survey the massacred room when his eyes catch the bookshelf, empty of books. "Naarrruuuttoo!"

Naruto, sensing the incoming danger, ducks, closes his eyes, and covers his head. He opened on eye and answered the jonin. "Yes, Kakashi?"

Kakashi shakes his head. "Nevermind. We're done working with chakra today. You're to help me clean this up."

Naruto pouts, but stands up and starts picking up papers. "Alright…"

After the room is put back into place, and cleaner than it had been when he had arrived the previous day, Naruto decided it was safe to talk. "So…. Did I do good?" He tilts his head questioningly.

Kakashi stares at Naruto with a bland expression for a moment before answering. "Other than obliterating my front room, yes. Extremely good. For your age, I consider you a chakra beast."

Naruto jumps in the air, thrusting a fist up as well. "Yeah!" He starts to do a little happy dance, flailing his arms around madly.

Kakashi, finally showing emotion, smiles behind his many masks at the young boy. "Are you hungry?"

"Ramen! Rameeeennnn!"

"No! Uhmm… I mean, why don't we try something different?" 'After that humongous bill yesterday, Teuchi and the Hokage won't be too thrilled with me.'

"Awe…. Alright." Naruto pouts.

"Sit at the table and wait while I prepare dinner." Naruto takes a seat and waits.

About twenty minutes later, a bowl of eel stir fry sit in front of Naruto, and he had a disgusted look on his face. "What is this?"

"It's eel. It's good for you. Eat it."

"No! It looks nasty! How is this stuff even edible?" The child pushes his bowl away.

"Hey, Naruto, you wanna hear a secret? It's cooked in sake!" Kakashi whispers like its super secret.

"Eh?" Grabbing his bowl instantly, he devours the entire bowl in just minutes. "That was delicious!" He belches. "Can I have more?"

Hesitantly, he grabs him another bowl, which was also devoured quickly. Kakashi removes his hand as quickly as possible to keep it from getting caught in the piranha's mouth. 'At the rate this kid eats, he's going to make me broke!'

An hour later, Kakashi finishes his second bowl, while Naruto finishes his sixth.

"Are you done yet? Geez. You eat like a pig, kid!" The clock rings seven times. "Aw, crud. We gotta go. Sorry kid, you can't get any more helpings." Naruto, though he looked sad, was excited to know where they were headed.

Please review so I know if I need to change/add anything! Hope you continue to read this story!