Disclaimer: I still do not own Naruto, sadly.

Chapter 3

Iruka awoke to the sound of crying. He was laying on something warm and large. Looking up blearily, he realized he had slept on top of Kakashi last night, Kakashi's chest serving as his pillow with Iruka nestled in between his legs.

Iruka quickly registered that the crying was coming from their temporary companion. Somehow the soft wails had yet to wake his partner so Iruka tried to sit up as carefully as possible to sooth the baby.

The baby instantly quieted once Iruka had scooped him up. He gurgled happily at the brunet. The baby boy's big blue eyes seemed to gleam in the dim morning light. Iruka glanced at the clock, it was eight o'clock. Luckily it was a Saturday so he didn't have to be in early for class. The brunet smiled down at the baby, the little boy was a good sleeper if he didn't wake up the two men during the night. Iruka knew from experience that little ones were prone to waking their parents up several times throughout the night.

Iruka could smell the little boy needed to be changed. Luckily he knew he had an extra soft cloth he could pin on the baby before they visited Sandiame that morning.

As carefully as he could, the dolphin slid out of his boyfriend's powerful hold with the baby in his arms. He was just inching his way to the door when he heard the scarecrow beginning to stir.

"Ruka…?" Kakashi mumbled as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Good morning love," Iruka smiled, "I'm sorry I used you as a pillow last night. Did you sleep ok?"

Kakashi grinned cheekily, "I slept just fine with you all pressed up against me."

"Pervert!" Iruka gasped.

Kakashi stuck his tongue out playfully before fully sliding out of bed, "hows the baby?"

"He's fine just in need of a diaper change," Iruka called over his shoulder on his way to the bathroom to grab the spare soft cloth.

Cloth in hand, Iruka laid the baby down on a spare towel to change him. After pulling on his jounin uniform, Kakashi leaned against the door frame and watched his boyfriend skillfully change the messy baby. The sores and welts from the baby's neglect were still there, but the baby still looked much better than when Kakashi first found him.

"I have to drop off my report to Sandiame this morning so you guys should come too," Kakashi said as Iruka now scooped up the clean baby. Iruka nodded in affirmation.

"Ok sounds good." The brunet pressed his lips to the baby's small forehead, "I'm gonna miss this little guy."

Although Kakashi wasn't really a baby loving kind of guy, he had to agree with his boyfriend on this one. He had grown attached the little blonde in the short space of time they had cared for him. Now getting a proper look at the baby-he wasn't half asleep like he was last night-something about the boys big blue eyes and blonde hair seemed familiar to him. There was no missing the odd parallel stripes that streaked the baby's chubby cheeks.

"Can you watch him while I get ready," Iruka said, handing the squirming baby to the older man. Kakashi awkwardly cradled the boy while his boyfriend hurried off to get dressed for the day.

Kakashi had to admit, the baby was rather cute. Watching his boyfriend care for the little boy last night had made Kakashi feel a little guilty. He knew his brunet adored children, hence why he worked at the academy. Although Kakashi knew his boyfriend loved him with all his heart, he knew it was difficult for the chunnin to know that someday, later on in their relationship, neither of them could carry their own children. It was the price to pay for being in a homosexual relationship.

The babys crying brought the jounin out of his darkening thoughts. Kakashi tried to hush the baby while awkwardly rocking him back and forth in his arms but the baby only continued to wail. Iruka Kakashi thought desperately save me!

"Kashi you need to support his head!" Iruka said, emerging from the bedroom while pulling his long brown hair into a ponytail. Seeing the jounin still had no idea what to do, Iruka showed him how to reposition his head so the baby could lay more comfortably. The babys wails were gone instantly.

"Maa sorry," Kakashi grimanced.

Iruka just smiled up at the older man before leaning up to give him a soft peck, "Let's get going ne?"

Kakashi nodded and pulled his mask up after Iruka took the baby from his arms. He pulled on his jounin vest hanging off the back of the couch. Iruka shifted the little boy into a better position in his arms so they could transport to the tower. The baby rested his head against the brunets shoulder while the man kept a steady hand supporting his back and bottom.

"Ready?" Kakashi said, as Iruka placed his hand on Kakashi's arm

"Yep!"

Kakashi formed the hand seals and Iruka felt a pull at his feet as they shunshi'd away. A few moments later Iruka opened his eyes to see they had appeared in the lobby of the tower. The baby giggled and grasped onto Iruka's vest, obviously enjoying ride.

"Be right back," Kakashi said, moving off to talk to one of the desk nins about the Hokage's whereabouts.

Iruka glanced down at the baby in his arms, who was currently chewing on one of his fists, "I hope we find out what happened to you," Iruka whispered into the babys golden hair, "You're such a cute baby."

Although the tower was pretty much deserted, those who were their shot curious glances at the young sensei cradling the baby. Iruka felt himself blushing under their scrutiny, he didn't like it when he felt people staring at him.

Iruka almost jumped when he felt Kakashi rest his hand on his waist, "You ready? We can go on up."

Iruka nodded and let his boyfriend lead him up to the Hokage's office. Even though he had been to Sandiame's office a million times before, he was still nervous.

Once they had arrived, Kakashi gave a curt nod to the ANBU positioned outside the office door before giving a sharp rap to the dark wood.

"Come in!"

Kakashi pushed the door open to walk in, Iruka trailing in behind him. The baby had gone unnaturally quiet upon entering.

"Ah Iruka sensei, Kakashi-san" Sarutobi began, "What can I do for you two on this fine morning?"

"Good morning Hokage-sama" Kakashi began, his eye curving, "It seems we have a little bit of a predicament."

Iruka stepped out from behind his boyfriends back and smiled at the Hokage, bouncing the baby softly against his shoulder.

"Hmm that is quite the predicament," Sarutobi responded, his eyes twinkling, "care to explain?"

Kakashi nodded, "Maaa, It's a bit of a long story…"

Sarutobi waved his hands nonchalantly, "Not to worry! You two are saving me from the mountain of paper work I need to do! So sit down and tell me your story!"

Iruka smiled at the Hokage's cheerfulness. He sat down in one of the chairs in front of the desk while Kakashi sat in the one next to it and began to relay their adventurous night.

Sandiame listened attentively, his expression hardening at the mention of the babys neglect, but his eyes twinkled when Kakashi explained about Iruka's impromptu bath for the baby and makeshift diaper.

After Kakashi finished, Sarutobi sat in silence, mulling over what had been said. Kakashi felt Iruka slip his hand into his, lacing their fingers together. Kakashi glanced at the baby who was dozing on his boyfriends shoulder, oblivious to the world.

"Well first things first, I am deeply grateful that you found and took care of Naruto last night," Sautobi said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his desk.

Naruto Iruka mused, what an interesting name for the little blonde. The name did seem familiar though to the brunet. Iruka felt his lover stiffen next to him after hearing the babys name. Did Kakashi know something Iruka didn't?

"Ah I see Kakashi has understood, but my dear Iruka sensei you probably don't know," Sarutobi said, looking at the brunet who had shifted the sleeping baby in his arms.

"Understand what Hokage-sama? I'm sorry sir but I don't understand," Iruka said. Kakashi ran his thumb over Iruka's hand softly.

"Iruka-sensei, what do you know about the Kyuubi attack?" Sarutobi began. Iruka's eyes widened. The Kyuubi attack was still a very sensitive subject to him, he had lost both his parents in it and he could still feel that pain every day.

"K-Kyuubi?" Iruka whispered, "What does that have to do with anything?" Iruka tried to stop the tears from welling in his eyes.

"Forgive me, but it contributes to my explanation," Saurtobi said gently.

"I-I do-don't really know much sir," Iruka said, "I lost my parents in the attack so I didn't really pay attention to much else afterwards." Kakashi gave Iruka's hand another caress.

"Do you know what happened to the Kyuubi afterwards?" Sarutobi continued gently, he knew talking about the attack was painful for both of the teens sitting before him.

"U-um the fourth Hokage defeated him?" Iruka said.

"Well in a way, yes, Minato-san did defeat the Kyubbi but he did so by…"

"Sealing him in a baby boy. His baby boy to be precise," Kakashi continued ominously, turning to look at the slumbering baby in Iruka's arms.

Iruka was silent. His brain felt like it was working on overdrive to process what he had been told. How could the Yodaime trap a monster in his baby?

Then it clicked.

That baby was Naruto, the baby currently curled up on Iruka's shoulder, a thumb in his mouth. Seeing the brunettes shocked face, Kakashi placed his arm higher on his shoulder to reassure him.

How could such an awful creature be trapped in such a cute baby? As if to reiterate Iruka's thoughts, Naruto let out a little squeal and touched his small fist to Iruka's cheek.

"I know this is a lot for you to take in. I will inform the orphanage matron that you are here and she can come collect him shortly," Sandiame said to the young men before him.

"Are you certain it's safe to send him back to her?" Kakashi asked, "She obviously didn't care if she left him out in an alley."

"I have no choice, Kakashi-san," Sarutobi said, "I will speak to her about her actions today but I can make no promises. I would care for the boy myself, but my duties make me too busy to give him the attention he needs."

Kakashi slouched back into his chair. He wished he couldn't do something about the situation. After all his sensei had done for this village, this was how they repaid him?

"no," Iruka mumbled softly.

"what was that Iruka-sensei?" Sarutobi said.

"We can take him with us, hokage-sama," Iruka said softly, looking up at his boyfriend first and then at the hokage.

Kakashi was shocked. There was no way he was capable of raising a baby but he knew he had to do this for his sensei. He had never felt more pride in his lover before, Kakashi knew Iruka was strong to suggest taking the baby when he encased the thing that had destroyed Iruka's life.

"Are you sure?" Sarutobi said, "You both are young, a baby is a big responsibility."

Iruka nodded softly when he felt Kakashi wind his hand tighter into his. He knew his parents would want him to do this. Just because that awful monster was trapped inside Naruto didn't mean he deserved to be neglected.

Sarutobi settled back into his desk chair, "well this was a surprise," he mused, "if you are completely certain then I'll get the paperwork for you. Normally you would have to do this at the orphanage but I'm willing to treat this as a special case," he continued, his eyes twinkling.

Several hours of paperwork and instructions later, Kakashi and Iruka were walking up the steps to their small apartment together. While Kakashi knew they were in for many hard years ahead of him, he knew they had made the right decision. Not only was he saving the last legacy of his sensei, but he was also given the opportunity to have a child with his male lover.

Iruka smiled at the baby who was squealing in his arms, "Welcome home, Naruto."