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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or these characters. Sadly.
Chapter 4
"Sooooo cute!" Anko cooed at the little blonde nestled in Iruka's arms, "He's such a good baby!"
Iruka smiled softly and pulled Naruto's cap down further on his head, it was still rather chilly out on the early February morning. The last of the snow was still stuck to the ground. He and Kakashi had had the little blonde for just over two weeks now and they were finally getting used to taking care of him. Kakashi had left on a short mission that morning, his first since Naruto's adoption. Iruka had come to the market to buy more clothes for Naruto but he had run into his old teammates and Gai who were curious about the baby in his arms.
"Such youth!" Gai exclaimed, tears running down his face, "what a joyous and noble decision of my rival and his youthful partner to adopt this young sunshine!"
Iruka blushed as the other patrons in the tea shop turned to look at the profusely sobbing man. Naruto stirred in his arms and let out a small cry, Gai's outcry awakening him from the nap he had been taking on his Papa's shoulder.
"Gai! You idiot! You just woke him up!" Anko hissed, whacking the green beast on the head.
"Oh no!" Gai sobbed, "As punishment I shall run two hundred laps around Konoha!" Gai wiped the tears from his eyes and cast them one last nice guy pose, before dashing out of the small tea hut to complete his punishment.
Iruka rocked Naruto slightly to calm his cries, "Shhh, hush Naruto."
"Geez," Izumo said, rubbing a finger across his bandaged nose, "I can't believe you guys are parents now."
"Well we weren't planning for this to happen," Iruka said, shifting Naruto in his arms so the baby could rest his head on Iruka's shoulder.
"I don't know if me and Kotetsu could raise a kid," Izumo continued, "we can hardly take care of ourselves."
Iruka chuckled at his old teammate. It was times like these that he missed his genin days when they would all just hang out together.
"Can I hold him?" Anko said, reaching her arms out across the table.
"Sure." He slowly detached the blonde from his shoulder and handed him to the kunoichi.
Anko cooed at the baby who was gazing up at her with big blue eyes, "Hi sweetie, I'm your auntie Anko!"
Iruka watched his teammates coddle over the child and felt a sense of relief that neither of them noticed that Naruto was the Kyubbi. While he was sure his friends would do nothing to hurt his baby, he wasn't sure if they would be so gentle if they found out.
"Don't you have work at the Academy?" Izumo said, turning back to Iruka.
"Yeah but Hokage-sama gave me the week off while we got adjusted. I go back on Monday."
"Aw. Who's gonna watch him while your teaching?" Anko asked.
"Kakashi can watch him during the days when he's not on missions and I'll bring him with me to class or drop him off at daycare when Kakashi can't watch him," Iruka replied.
"I could watch him!" Anko exclaimed, "Isn't that right Naru-chan!" She tickled the baby's cheeks, earning herself a loud squeal.
"Me too," Izumo said, "Me and Koe could look after him."
Iruka smiled at his friends gratefully, "thanks guys."
Iruka, Anko, and Izumo continued to chat some more over their tea for the rest of the morning before Izumo got ready to leave for his shift at the guard post.
"Right well I'm off," Izumo said, "Hopefully we can meet up again soon."
"We should," Anko said, "I miss you guys now that both of you are off with boyfriends. Shouldn't it be the other way around? You guys should be chasing after me and my boyfriend!" Anko exclaimed.
They all laughed at that. It was funny that both her teammates turned out to be gay. Izumo gave them both a quick hug and patted Naruto on his back softly before exiting the shop.
Anko cuddled Naruto some more until he started to get fussy.
"He's probably hungry and in need of a nap," Iruka said, taking the squalling baby back, "I'm gonna head off ok?"
"Alright Ruka!" Anko said, "Don't forget my offer! Auntie Anko is here for the rescue if you need any help!"
"Thanks Anko," Iruka said, giving her a quick hug and gathering the baby back in his arms, "Ja ne!"
The air felt even colder than before once Iruka entered the tea shop. His boots squelched in the snow. Naruto began to whimper in his Papa's arms, "I'll get us home soon," Iruka told the baby. He tucked Naruto inside the coat he had put on over his uniform.
….
Kakashi was bored. The last mission had been a success but a boring one. The A ranked mission barely even qualified as A rank, and he only met trouble once. But it paid ok, and he needed the money.
Kakashi was eager to get home. He had left for the mission very late last night and it was the longest amount of time he had been away from his son since they had adopted him. He hoped his boyfriend had fared well while taking care of Naruto alone.
Kakashi was leaping over the rooftops when he saw a familiar flash of brown. He stopped and saw his brunet talking to one of the vendors in the market. Kakashi smiled under his mask when he saw the blonde wrapped up against Iruka's chest. After making his purchase, some food item, Iruka thanked the vendor and stepped away. While he was walking, he placed a small kiss on the baby's cap covered head, and rubbed the baby's back. Kakashi continued to smile at the adorable sight before deciding he had watched enough.
He leapt from the rooftop and landed in the snow in an alleyway beside the bustling market. Trailing behind the brunet, he waited till he had stopped before he caught up to him.
Iruka jumped when he felt two large arms wrap around him, "Maa… hello Ruka."
"Kakashi!" Iruka exclaimed, whirring around, "You scared me!"
Naruto squalled indignantly at being jostled. If he had been a little older, Kakashi could almost see the gears working in his head as he wondered why his father had suddenly appeared after he had been missing all day.
"How was your mission?" Iruka said, as they continued on their way back to their apartment.
"Ehh..," Kakashi replied, "It was rather boring. The client was annoying and the only sign of trouble was some street bandit."
"Well I would rather have you completing a boring mission than a very dangerous one," Iruka mumbled, "I'm glad you're safe. We missed you". He gave the taller man a wide smile, brushing his shoulder against his.
Kakashi crinkled his eye to show Iruka he was smiling back, "Was everything ok with the pup?"
Iruka smiled down at the small head peeking out from his overcoat, "We were fine. I met up with some of my old teammates today, oh and Gai too."
"Oh? How was that?"
"It was good. Everyone loved Naru-chan!" Iruka replied.
"Did anyone say anything about…?" Kakashi began. Had anyone noticed Naruto was the Kyuubi baby?
"No thankfully. I don't think anyone looked close enough." Iruka was glad no one had noticed, although his teammates might not know what the Kyuubi baby looked like anyways. Iruka sure hadn't.
As they neared their apartment, Kakashi casually draped his arm around Iruka's waist and held Iruka's purchases in the other. He wasn't one for public displays of affection, but the cold weather was making him feel in a snuggly mood. And besides, Iruka's blush was too cute.
Naruto babbled and squeaked while Kakashi fumbled with the apartment key to open the door. It was getting rather late and it would be time to put the baby to bed soon. Once the door was open, Iruka slipped inside, Kakashi on his heels. Kakashi slipped off his mission gear while Iruka shrugged off his long coat. Now that Naruto was free from his Papa's coat, he reached out his arms to his father who was currently hanging up his vest on the hook. Kakashi smiled and took the baby from his boyfriend's tired arms.
Kakashi held him above his head while the baby squealed in delight, "Did you miss me pup?"
Naruto giggled and gave him a gummy smile in response as Kakashi continued to swing the baby up and down. Iruka would have been terrified of Kakashi dropping him, but he knew his boyfriend was being careful and besides, Naruto loved to be swung.
"I'll make dinner ok?" Iruka called over his shoulder.
Kakashi rested Naruto on his hip and followed the dolphin into the kitchen, "Do you need any help?"
"No," Iruka shook his head, "You should rest. You just got back from a mission."
While Kakashi wasn't that tired, he knew Iruka would insist he rested. Their living room was attached to the small kitchen so Kakashi slumped down on to the couch with Naruto on his lap, content with watching the brunet bustle about the kitchen.
"I'm making miso soup with eggplant!" Iruka called out as chopped up some vegetables. Kakashi grinned, Iruka knew that was his favorite.
Kakashi bounced Naruto on his lap when the baby began to get fussy. He reached across his lap to the coffee table and grabbed the old rattle- it had been Kakashi's when he was a baby- and handed it to the pup. Naruto's whines stopped once he stuck the rattle in his mouth. He had just begun teething so he chewed on anything he could get his small hands on. Unfortunately for Iruka and Kakashi, a teething baby was a grumpy baby.
Kakashi continued to entertain the baby until dinner was ready. When Iruka began to ladle the soup into bowls, Kakashi put Naruto into his high chair and set the table with utensils.
"Maa, this looks great Ru!" Kakashi said, lowering his mask. Iruka had seen Kakashi's face so many times that it barley even registered to him anymore. Kakashi hardly wore his mask at home anyways.
Iruka lightly blushed under his boyfriends praise. He knew he wasn't a great cook but he tried.
"Itadakimasu!"
While Kakashi and Iruka devoured their meal, Naruto screamed and banged his rattle happily on his high chair.
"Shh Naru-chan! Don't break your rattle! Your Daddy gave that to you!" Iruka said, trying to pull the rattle from the baby's fists to stop the banging. Naruto pouted stubbornly and stuck the rattle back in his mouth to chew on. Iruka didn't want the neighbors to complain about them again. They were already in trouble with their landlord!
Kakashi chuckled, "He looks like you when he pouts."
"I do not pout!"
"Oh really?"
"Yes really!"
"Fine than! Since I'm so pouty I guess you'll have to sleep on the couch tonight!" Iruka retorted.
Kakashi gave the dolphin a wolfish grin and reached across to tweak the brunet's nose, "Aw I'm just kidding Ru."
Iruka harrumphed slightly while he gathered their dishes, "Can you get Naruto ready for bed? I'll make him his bottle."
"Of course." Kakashi scooped Naruto up and put him on his hip. Naruto gazed up at his father, the rattle still dangling precariously in his mouth, while Kakashi walked them into his small nursery. Before they had Naruto it had been used as a storage closet. The room was pretty bare- it only had a small second hand crib, a small chest of drawers, and a changing table- but hopefully they would be able to make it nicer over time. Kakashi had some savings from his time as a jounin and Iruka had some of his parent's inheritance that they could use for more furniture and toys.
"Now pup, let's get you ready for bed quickly so Papa doesn't make me sleep on the couch!" Kakashi chuckled as he dug through Naruto's pajama drawer. In record time, Kakashi had the baby changed and dressed in a light orange onesie. Despite it being late, the baby was still full of energy as he rolled around on the changing table.
"Here, I have his bottle," Iruka said as he entered the nursery.
"He's still quite energetic for it being so late," Kakashi observed as Iruka coaxed the bottle into the baby's mouth.
"Hopefully the bottle will settle him," Iruka replied. He rocked the baby back and forth until his eyes began to close.
Once Naruto was asleep he gently laid him in his crib and turned on the small mobile on the side of the crib.
Iruka yawned while they left the nursery. Kakashi closed the door softly behind them.
"Am I banished to the couch?" Kakashi asked in mock horror.
Iruka smiled softly and shook his head, "Of course not silly. I'm not that petty."
"You sure about that?"
"Kakashi!"
"Maaa sorry Ruka! You're just so easy to tease!" Kakashi chuckled.
After securing that everything in the house was in place, the two ninja slipped into their small bed. Iruka rested his head over Kakashi's chest while Kakashi played with his hair.
"Are we doing the right thing?" Iruka asked, his voice was small and unsure, "I mean, do we even know how to be parents? What if we screw it up and Naruto gets sent back to that awful orphanage?"
Kakashi slipped his hands from Iruka's hair and cupped his cheeks softly, "Ruka we're supposed to make mistakes, that's what parents do. We just have to do our very best and support him all the way."
Iruka nodded his head slightly.
"I know sensei would be so happy and proud of what we have done so far. Don't doubt yourself Ru. We might be a bit of an unconventional family, but we are doing our very best and that's all that matters."
Iruka smiled at his boyfriend, "I love you."
"Love you too."
Before Iruka could even register what was happened, he was suddenly pinned down to the bed underneath the jounin.
"K-Kashi!? What are you doing?!"
"Want to show me how much you love me?" Kakashi grinned, kissing the soft tan neck beneath him.
"Pervert!"