Hello everyone, it's nice to see this story got a good reception with its first chapter so thank you very much. Well you probably don't want to hear anything I have to say anyway so let's just get on with the chapter shall we?
Chapter 2: Adjusting
Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Naruto were currently staying in a hotel. Two months it had been since Jiraiya and Kakashi left the village with Naruto in toe. If Jiraiya was honest with himself he'd admit that it was by far the worst two months he'd ever experienced!
How hard could it possibly be for a renowned ninja such as he to take care of a single baby? Well if he were to put it into a class he'd place it as an S-rank. Naruto would constantly wine and cry at the worst possible times for the toad Sannin.
"Honestly it's like clock work with this brat!" Jiraiya shouted as Naruto once again went to wailing at a good two o'clock in the morning. "It's like he's determined to make sure we don't get any sleep." Jiraiya grumbled as he pulled his pillow over his head in a vein attempt to drown out the noise.
"Maybe he's hungry again?" Kakashi stated while turning a tired eye in Naruto's direction.
"Hungry again!?" Jiraiya shouted. "The damn kid just had two full bottles an hour ago, if were not careful he's going to end up looking like he belongs in the Akimichi clan!"
Kakashi shrugged as he pulled the covers off his body and made his way over to the bed Naruto was currently wailing in. "Maybe his appetite has something to do with his tenant?" Kakashi offered as he got to work on preparing another bottle for Naruto.
"Maybe" Jiraiya somewhat agreed, before pulling himself out of his own bed and walking towards Naruto. Kneeling over he reached down for Naruto and picked him up, and Naruto instantly stopped his crying. "Damn spoiled brat, you just want attention don't you?"
Naruto's answer was to simply stare up at Jiraiya.
"Well if that's the case maybe I should create a shadow clone to hold him all night." Kakashi offered as he caped the bottle and handed it to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya took the bottle from Kakashi and began feeding Naruto, whom drank the contents with uncontrolled haste. "That does sound like a good idea." Jiraiya stated. "And while were at it might as well have a shadow clone watch him when I'm out doing research." Jiraiya concluded as he thought about his many failed attempts to gather research when Naruto had been along for the ride.
Kakashi chuckled a slight bit as he recalled one of the memories as well. "Yes those women weren't too thrilled about us peeking on them while they bathed under that waterfall."
Jiraiya giggled as well. "If I didn't know any better I'd say the red haired one and the brunet were about to treat us to one hell of a show of the intimate kind until this brat had to start crying and giving away our position."
Kakashi sat back down on his bed still snickering about the situation they had been in. "It's a good thing I had Naruto at the time or I would have suffered the beating instead of you."
Jiraiya absentmindedly rubbed his cheek where one of the girls had managed to get a decent hit in. "Yeah next time I hold the kid." Jiraiya stated.
"Not a chance." Kakashi retorted. "He's like wearing a shield; no woman can find it in her heart to slug you if you're holding him."
Jiraiya grumbled some things under his breath while handing Naruto to Kakashi. "Hold the brat for a minute." Jiraiya commanded as he bit down on his thumb. "If the squirt wants' attention then I have a solution that just might be better then a shadow clone." Jiraiya summarized as he flew through some hand signs and slammed his open palm on the floor.
A small cloud of smoke erupted and when it cleared a small orange toad wearing a blue vest stood in its place. The toad stared up at Jiraiya with a confused expression on his face.
"Hey pops you must be Jiraiya, the man my father says is our summoner right?" The small toad questioned.
Jiraiya stared down at the small toad. "I'm guessing your Gamabunta's son then eh?"
The toad nodded enthusiastically. "Yep I'm Gamakichi, so what yah summon me for huh?"
"How old are you kid?" Jiraiya questioned the small toad, getting straight to the point.
Gamakichi stared at Jiraiya with a confused expression before answering. "I'm two years old, so what of it?"
Jiraiya grinned. "That's perfect, you're not much older then the squirt over there. So why don't you make yourself useful and keep the gaki company until he falls asleep would you?" Jiraiya commanded as he slouched down in his bed and worked on getting back to sleep.
Gamakichi quirked his brow as he turned to stare at Kakashi and then the baby in his arms. "Wait a minute, you summoned me here just to keep an eye on a baby!?"
Gamakichi got no answer considering Jiraiya had already fallen asleep or at least was pretending to be asleep.
Gamakichi sighed before hopping over towards Kakashi.
Kakashi smiled underneath his mask as he placed Naruto back down in his bed. "Thanks for looking after Naruto for us." Kakashi stated as he made his way back to his own bed and dropped himself on it like a ton of bricks.
"Yeah think nothing of it." Gamakichi replied irritably before turning his attention back to Naruto, whom was staring at him quietly.
"So what's your name kid?" Gamakichi questioned the small infant, but obviously didn't get much of a response in turn. "Not much of a talker then huh?" Gamakichi assessed as he debated on what to do with Naruto.
"Well I guess I could sit here and talk to myself, but that wouldn't be very fun. Oh wait a minute I'm already talking to myself, since you can't understand anything I'm saying." Gamakichi acknowledged as he folded his arms over his chest and eyed Naruto carefully, who looked as if he was about to fall asleep.
"So now what am I boring you or something like that?" Gamakichi stated mistaking Naruto's tiredness for boredom. "Fine I'll just shut up then if I'm so boring." Gamakichi grumbled, but Naruto had already drifted off to sleep.
Kakashi eyed the scene with a smile. 'After all that hassle the toad manages to put him to sleep in seconds.' Kakashi thought before sleep soon claimed him for the night.
(The following Morning)
Kakashi yawned and stretched his aching muscles as he wrenched his bed sheets away from his body. Staring around the room tiredly his eyes fell on Jiraiya who was still out like a light.
"I guess he must have really been tired." Kakashi summarized as he noticed the slight blush on Jiraiya's cheeks. "Even in his sleep he's having perverted thoughts, that's dedication if you ask me." Kakashi noted as he got up to check on Naruto, but stopped as he heard Jiraiya let out a perverted giggle in his sleep.
Quirking his eyebrow Kakashi watched Jiraiya shift around in his bed.
"Yeah that's it; oh I didn't know you could bend like that. Hehe I think that's illegal in this country but I won't tell." Jiraiya stated as a small trickle of blood dripped from his nose.
'I hope I never become that bad.' Kakashi thought with a sweat drop.
Turning his attention back to Naruto he noticed Gamakichi was no longer in the bed with Naruto. 'I guess he must have went back to his own home during the night." Kakashi assessed before he heard a loud scream coming from beyond their door. 'Or not.' Kakashi thought with a sigh.
"Talking frog!" A woman's voice echoed through the building.
"Hey whadya gonna do with that broom lady!?" Gamakichi's voice rang soon after. "Now just hold on would yah?" Gamakichi pleaded. "Ow you crazy bitch! That hurt, just wait until my pops here's about this!"
'I better try and clear this up before things get anymore out of hand.' Kakashi thought as he made his way to the door and opened it. The moment he did Gamakichi came flying into the room.
"Quick close the door, some crazy lady is tryin ta kill me!" Gamakichi shouted.
"Get back here you disgusting frog!" The woman shouted as she tried to enter their room only for Kakashi to step in her path.
"I'm sorry but that little guy is a pet of mine, and it would be most appreciated if you'd stop trying to kill him." Kakashi stated with an eye smile.
The woman placed her hands on her hips and stared at Kakashi sternly. "Well keep that thing with you at all times, were not running a zoo here you know?"
"Will do." Kakashi assured as he closed the door, and shot a glare towards Gamakichi. "Why did you leave the room?"
Gamakichi folded his arms over his chest. "I was looking for some snacks, and the lady freaked out on me and tried to squash me with that damn broom!"
"Sorry but were not in a ninja village, so people really aren't accustomed to seeing a talking animal." Kakashi explained. "It's only natural they'd over react."
"You call that overreacting!?" Gamakichi replied irritably.
Jiraiya let out a heavy yawn seeing the commotion had awakened him. Staring around the room tiredly Jiraiya sighed in defeat. "It was only a dream." Jiraiya stated with slumped shoulders.
At that moment Naruto reminded everyone of his presences, as he began to openly cry.
"Great does the brat have to wake up crying!?" Jiraiya grumbled as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. Prying himself from his bed he made his way over to Naruto, to see what was irritating the child now.
A very unpleasant smell wafted through Jiraiya's nostrils and he instantly figured out what was causing Naruto's discomfort. "Guwah… that's rank!" Jiraiya acknowledged while pinching his nose with his fingers.
"Ay Kakashi, the gaki needs a change." Jiraiya stated to his young apprentice.
Kakashi narrowed his eye on Jiraiya. "Didn't we agree on a rotation method for changing Naruto?" Kakashi protested. "If I recall correctly it's your turn."
"Come on, you're the one with the mask here you probably can't even smell it." Jiraiya pouted.
Kakashi eye smiled. "Tough"
"You're cruel you know that?" Jiraiya stated as he got to work on changing Naruto.
After Naruto had been cleaned and changed Jiraiya strapped him into his carrier, and handed him off to Kakashi. "I have in informant to speak with today, so babysitting duty is on you." Jiraiya explained to Kakashi. "Afterwards perhaps I can teach you a few things." Jiraiya offered.
Kakashi quirked his eyebrow. "I thought you said you had nothing to teach me?" Kakashi questioned.
Jiraiya shrugged. "You're strong Kakashi, but you aren't on my level yet. So until you reach that point I'll always have something to teach you. Besides I wouldn't be much of a mentor if you didn't learn anything from me."
"But why'd you decide to wait two months?" Kakashi questioned.
"For Naruto's sake really." Jiraiya explained. "We couldn't really have Naruto outside too much being how young he was. But I figure he' old enough to spend a bit more time outside now."
Kakashi nodded his understanding. "Well in the meantime I'll take Naruto for a walk around the town to get a little fresh air."
"Fine we'll meet up at that park district in an hour." Jiraiya concluded.
"Uh what about me pops?" Gamakichi piped in. "Can I go home now?"
"Oh, I'd forgotten about you Gamakichi." Jiraiya stated. "Sure you can get going now, thanks for looking after the gaki last night."
"No problem pops." Gamakichi replied before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
(Konoha)
Sarutobi looked out over the village from his position in his office. He was currently deep in thought as he pondered about how Jiraiya was fairing with taking care of Naruto. They weren't do back in the village for their routine check up for another four months, and the suspense was really getting to him.
Sighing to himself his mind ventured back to the council meeting that was held after Naruto had departed with Jiraiya. The mere thought of it was close to giving him a headache.
The council had been in an uproar at hearing that Naruto was permitted to leave. While some were glad to have their hands cleaned of the demon as they deemed him, others were less enthused at the news mainly his rival Danzo.
The old warhawk was one of the only few people that actually wanted Naruto to stay in the village. To anyone that had known Danzo his reasoning was crystal clear. Danzo was a man that pursued power for his village. Some might have seen it as admirable while others just simply thought his intentions for the village were meant in self interest.
Sarutobi was of those that didn't believe Danzo's intentions were admirable one's. He could hear it in Danzo's argument to have Naruto returned, was simply means for him to try and harness the power of the nine-tails for his own greed.
Unfortunately for Danzo, nothing could be done considering Jiraiya was Naruto's legal guardian and any decision on the boy rested upon him.
Another dilemma was the fact that he had allowed Kakashi to leave as well. Apart from the Uchiha's who had a general disliking of Kakashi for the fact that he wiled their pried and joy the Sharingan, everyone wanted his immediate return.
Sarutobi was able to refute that argument by explaining to them that Jiraiya had taken Kakashi as an apprentice. The council had given up after hearing this, for it was well within Jiraiya's rights to bring Kakashi where ever he went for the rules of an apprenticeship allowed it.
The last bit of discussion was on Tsunade herself. This had easily been the worst of them all. Not only was Konoha losing the last of the Senju, but the greatest medic ninja the leaf had ever produced.
Sarutobi had tired to explain how he had been in a bind with dealing with Tsunade. Had he made her stay she could have chosen to retire, and there for been free to leave the village regardless. He figured if he granted her a temporary leave, he could still keep her as an enlisted shinobi. At least with that decision Tsunade would be given the time to sort things out on her own, and with a little luck she may just chose to return to the village at some point.
Deciding to put those thoughts away for a later date Sarutobi turned his attention to mound of never ending paperwork stacked on his desk. Lighting his pipe Sarutobi got to work on his eternal nemesis as he deemed it.
(Elsewhere)
Kakashi was sitting in a local park with Naruto in his lap. For the most part Naruto appeared to be enjoying the scenery, as he looked on curiously at the kids running about. Kakashi smiled underneath his mask as he observed Naruto's wonderment. The masked ninja had been in a pretty good mood since he brought Naruto out with him. And the fact that he had a pretty good view underneath a girls skirt sitting on the opposite side of the park from him wasn't exactly putting a damper in his sprits either.
Kakashi sighed in content. "You know Naruto, it's the simple pleasures in life that are the most rewarding." Kakashi explained giggling like the pervert he was. "But all in good time, you'll learn to appreciate these things just as I do." Kakashi added, just as Jiraiya came trotting up to them.
"There you are Kakashi" Jiraiya stated as he took up a seat next to Kakashi. "So how's the gaki been?"
"Surprisingly Naruto's been on his best behavior today." Kakashi answered. "No crying or spitting up on me."
Jiraiya nodded. "That sounds like a good day in my book." Jiraiya agreed. "Not to mention that girls skirt panty just brightened my sprits." Jiraiya added.
"I noticed." Kakashi returned and the two snickered together.
"But anyway what do you say we begin that training I promised?" Jiraiya broke back in. "I bet Naruto's just dying to see a ninja in action."
Kakashi nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah it feels like its been foever since I've done some real training."
"It can't be helped the gaki has been keeping us pretty busy after all." Jiraiya summarized, as they stood to leave.
Naruto had a sour expression on his face as they began to leave the park. Protesting in the only way he could he openly began to cry again.
Jiraiya slapped his hand over head. "Are we ever going to have peace with this gaki around?"
Kakashi smiled. "We it's hell for the time being, but at least when he's older the perks of being his caretaker will reveal themselves."
"Like what?" Jiraiya grumbled.
"The fact that you'll most likely be his role model." Kakashi answered.
Jiraiya grinned at that prospect of having a miniature version of himself running around. "You know I think you may just have a point Kakashi.
Alright sorry for the short chapter but I'm about to install a new operating system on my computer so everything will be wiped off my computer. I'd already started this chapter and wanted to finish quickly so I could install the new OS. Anyway please review and I'll see you with the next update.
