To Love You
Disclaimer: Umm… Am I Masashi Kishimoto-sensei? Do I profit from this? (Besides your reviews?) No? Then I don't own Naruto!
Enjoy!
Legend
"Hi" speech
'Hi' thoughts
Hi person POV's thoughts
"Hi" Demon/summons speech or Kushina and Naruto's yelling
'Hi' Demon/summons thoughts
Hi Kuri and other spirits' speech or AN:-…
Chapter One
Flashes of my Life
First day at Academy
A four year old Kakashi gripped his father's hand tighter as the gates of Konoha's Academy of Ninjas came into view. He tried not to show it, but he knew, he just KNEW, that his father knew that he was scared. But he wasn't scared! Hatake Kakashi wasn't scared of anything!
…
Except maybe the monster hiding under his bed. And in the wardrobe. And the swirling water that went into the hole at the other end of the bathtub after his daddy gave him a bath. AN:- Oh, come on! Can YOU GUYS remember when you were that young and watched the water disappear down the drain? If you haven't, let me tell you: it's scary! Where does the water go? Is the hole a monster? Am I going to get sucked into it? AHHHH - ahem - on with the story…
Hatake Sakumo gazed down at his son with pride. Not many fathers could say that their child started at the academy at such a young age.
He knew that Kakashi knew that he knew that Kakashi was scared and was trying to hide it. Sakumo laughed and picked his son up, despite the weak protests that he was a 'big boy now'.
Swinging Kakashi around, Sakumo's thoughts turned to the day Kakashi was born and before that.
Flashback to How Sakumo Met His wife
His wife had died giving birth to Kakashi, but he didn't blame Kakashi for that though.
She was a black-haired, long-legged woman with dark chocolate brown kind, loving eyes who was injured in the war before he met her. He expected something like this would happen but she wanted to continue with it.
Her name was Maruyama Nami, age 23.
She was a medic at an outpost near Kusa(grass) where he and his team were returning from a raiding mission. He was put under her charge ¾ and boy, was she rough with his treatment!
He was barely conscious but noticed her every movements. Noticed the way she stops and winces now and then, grabbing her waist in the moment. The pain in her eyes was evident when their eyes met.
She quickly looked away, as if embarrassed- maybe she was- and replied, "Courtesy of an Iwa bastard whom I ripped to shreds…" Her soprano voice toned down to a murmur.
Sakumo chuckled and replied in his soft velvety, baritone voice, "That's quite a feat for one so tiny," which surprised her. She quickly spun around and injected him harshly on his left shoulder, smirking as he screamed in pain.
Kunai or shuriken wounds, he could handle with but a hiss of pain. But a smokin' hot lady with a permanent wound stabbing him with a needle? Yeah… That hurts like a bitch! Sakumo hated needles with a passion. Ever since he got the first shot that he could remember. Damn medics and their needles.
He must've said that bit out loud because Nami reached behind her to grab something before he pulled her onto him in fear, effectively cutting her off with a kiss to the lips.
He pulled away quickly when he felt her wince with discomfort and heard her gasp of pain.
She straightened herself as best as she could, with her face blazing red hot and resumed with his diagnosis in silence.
Sakumo missed her voice already. He wanted to hear this bird sing for him everyday, wanted to feel her by his side, wanted to live the rest of his life with her.
And with that thought, he realised she was done and pulled her to him again, cradling her injured body carefully, lovingly. When he had her settled down without any pain, one hand supporting her, his other hand reached up to coset her face, his eyes searching hers for any sign of pain, trouble, uneasiness.
But his search was futile; she welcomed the contact. There was someone out there who did not resent her crippled body. Somebody who accepted her. And that somebody was caressing her, asking for permission with his eyes.
Nami's eyes closed when their lips connected, relishing in the moment. Sakumo's strong arms supported her, staying in that position until he had to shift because she was in pain again.
"Return with me? Stay with me? Be mine?" Sakumo whispered as he kissed her after each question.
"Yes…" She hissed out in not pain, but pleasure. And he purred at that.
"I love you," he growled possessively.
Her only answer was kiss him back passionately.
Two weeks later, the way station was cleared up and the group of Konoha ninja took to the trees, Sakumo carrying Nami carefully in the front.
They were finally going home.
End of flashback
"Are you ready for the first day of school, 'Kashi?" Sakumo asked his son in concern. The poor boy was clinging to his left leg like there was no tomorrow!
Shaking his head rapidly, our young Scarecrow replied with a quick, "Of course, tou-chan!" before hugging Sakumo's leg again.
"Look 'Kashi," Sakumo sighed, running his hand through his unruly silver hair. "There's nothing to be scared of-"
"I'm not scared!" Kakashi retorted childishly, defiantly. And cutely.
"No. Of course you're not," Sakumo quickly placated his son. "But did you know, on my first day at the academy, I was scared to death?"
"Really, tou-chan?" Eyes wide in disbelief.
The elder Hatake nodded sagely.
"Did your daddy go with you for the whole day?"
Sakumo blushed, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment while thinking, 'Kawaii(cute)… my son…'
"For two whole days, actually…" Sakumo mumbled.
"That's okay, daddy. You can hold my hand for only one day, okay?"
"Thank you, 'Kashi," Sakumo tried to at least make his voice sound sincere while his mind was over-flowing with the cuteness his son was radiating.
Kakashi ended up leaving his daddy's shadow when he played with his new friends (who were older than he was.)
Sakumo leaned against a wall, smiling serenely. 'Can you see our son, Nami-chan? He's going to be a great ninja like you were…'
Sakumo's Seppuku Letter (Sakumo POV)
Kakashi, musuko. (son)
Please forgive me for what I am about to do.
The last mission was a complete failure. If only I hadn't gone back to rescue my team-mate, maybe the war might've been ebbing, huh?
But no. I could not have left his fate to death.
I know that you've noticed the whispers and glares about and sent at me and you right? Well, this is my burden alone. They had no right to include you into the mess that I made.
This is truly the only way I could redeem myself in the eyes of the village. Redeem our clan's name. Most importantly, to clear your name!
I hope I do not regret this, yet at the same time, I feel as if this is the only thing left that I can do for.
Do me one last favour 'Kashi-chan, despise me all you want, just don't turn your back on the village. Keep those precious to you close. Protect them, your home, with your life. I entrust my will of fire onto you and hope you pass it on to either your future students or children should you have any.
I'm truly sorry I could not be there for your chuunin exams. And nor will I ever be there for you any more.
Your mother must be hating me right now. Knowing her, she's very proud of you.
I'm proud of you!
Take care, and with love,
Hatake Sakumo
(end POV)
"Father… NO!"
A six year old newly made chuunin Hatake Kakashi ran to his father's side in the dojo. Finding the neatly rolled up scroll, he tucked it into his pocket before several ANBU and his sensei arrived with Tsunade, Jiraiya and Sarutobi.
Tsunade led him away while Jiraiya, Minato and Sarutobi overlooked the scene.
"Clear up this mess right away!" Sarutobi snapped. His ANBU nodded before reverting everything back to the way it was.
Minato left to consult his student while Jiraiya talked to Sarutobi.
'This needn't have happened' were what they all thought.
(Normal POV)
Blood.
There was a lot of blood on this peculiar night.
The guards stationed at the village gates were enjoying the quiet night when a horrendous howl cut the still air.
Humongous killer intent ripped through the hearts of those who were awake, killing some of those who were too old and too new.(the annoying crying dolls that smell and cries a lot until you feed or change them, and the weird wrinkly people who give you hard toffee or the likes…)
A woman's scream pierced the now awake villagers' ears as a gigantic red paw, raw with unhuman chakra, smashed the front gates of the village.
The guards stationed there were one of the first to die that night.
Ninjas rushed to and fro, saving the civilians and charging the unnatural being.
Nine glowing tails swished back and forth, one of them big enough to create tsunamis, overturn mountains, and above all, crush a village the size of Konoha.
Supernatural chakra lashed out and killed several ninjas and civilians in an instant.
Among the ninjas who were lucky enough to dodge to evil chakra was a chuunin by the name of Hiroshi.
He was enjoying his night with his lucky lady, Izumi, when the killer intent killed her on the spot. She was suffering from a heart disease. Her face was as pretty as her personality; she was very kind-hearted, with her black hair and eyes.
Hiroshi was still over come with grief over Izumi's death that he shouted, "Hold off the Kyuubi before Hokage-sama arrives!" before the tip of a tail took him and a building out.
His last thoughts were, Izumi, I'm coming…
Nothing remained of his brown-haired and -eyed self.
()()()()()()
Over on the other side of Konoha, the Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato, was preparing a baby Naruto for the seal. His wife, Uzumaki Kushina, a beautiful redheaded, blue-eyed woman, quickly applied the seal on Naruto before giving him to her husband.
Sharing a look, both parents nodded before Kushina activated the seal. No words were spoken because no words could describe what the two were feeling at the moment. Their eyes spoke volumes enough.
Minato kissed Kushina passionately one last time before doing his part of the sealing ritual.
Kushina rested peacefully on her cot, her eyes permanently closed, a smile occupied her face.
Gathering his things, Minato left to deliver several scrolls he managed to write to several people with tears in his eyes.
Once that was done, Minato comforted his son before steeling his resolve and made some handseals.
()()()()()
Kakashi watched the battle against the Kyuubi with apprehension. Minato-sen-
No.. The young Hatake thought.
His father-in-law, Namikaze Minato, ordered him not to confront the enemy.
The silver haired, black and red eyed teen watched the carnage going on around him, his mask and hitai-ate stained with tears of frustration.
He was USELESS!
A gigantic toad popped out of nowhere in a puff of smoke to battle the Kyuubi. On his head was a blond, blue-eyed man holding a wriggling bundle in his arms.
()()()()()()()
Minato rocked his son back and forth one last time before activating the Shiki Fuujin and exchanged his soul to the Shinigami for sealing of the Kyuubi into his son. Before he was lost to the world, Minato saw an ANBU, Uzuki Yuugao, and his ex-stu- No.. His son-in-law- arrive to catch Naruto and him respectively.
Gamabunta, the toad, bowed his head low before disappearing in another puff of smoke.
"I will take Naruto to Sandaime-sama," Yuugao informed Kakashi before leaving Kakashi to grieve in peace.
A while later, everyone around the vicinity could here an anguished scream in the air. Thinking it was just another lover to someone found dead, they turned their attentions back to saving the injured.
(Kakashi POV) Just after Kyuubi attack
"Kakashi.."
"No.. Sensei.."
"This scroll.. Is for you.." His voice was fading, quietly and quickly.
"Everything that you.. Need to know.. Is in here.."
"No.. Please don't.. No.." my voice cracked high with desperation.
"Thank you, 'Kashi.. Please take care.. Of Naru-chan.." He drew in his last breath, his eyes closed and his hand fell limp from mine.
Tears threatened to spill out. And I allowed them to.
He is gone. Minato-sensei died protecting us.
"Noo..!"
A few days after Kyuubi attack (Kakashi POV)
My lone eye stared at the Memorial Stone. The scroll sensei gave to me in my left hand. We just buried his body yesterday and I am too ashamed to visit his grave. Again.
How could you, sensei? My mind echoed over and over again.
First, Obito died by saving me from getting crushed by a boulder, getting himself squashed instead. He gave me his sharingan eye as a late gift and to replace the eye that I lost. Next, Rin was killed by Iwa ninjas on a recon mission after giving me her medical books and equipment. Not to mention that my father, Hatake Sakumo, committed seppuku(honourable suicide?) when I was only six! Leaving me his estate and sword to inherit!
Now…
Now you, Minato-sensei, just had to go and sacrifice yourself for the village by sealing the Kyuubi into your own son!
How could you, sensei?
Do you know that Obito's eye is crying for the both of us?
I may seem selfish for wanting you to be here with us but I can understand why you did what you did. Say 'Hi' to Kushina-kaa-san for me please?
I have read your scroll, sensei. Are you sure you really want to leave him with me? I know I promised before Naruto was born, but I am now beginning to doubt myself.
Flashback to a week before Kyuubi attack
Laughter floated through the house for the first time after Rin's death. Maybe it is because of Jiraiya-jiiji. Or maybe because of sensei's expression.
The laughter then died down to coughs and gasps. Kushina-kaa-san rubbed her bulging stomach lovingly, gazing at it with affection. She then glared at Minato-sensei and growled, "Well? Aren't ya gonna tell the poor boy? Or do I have to?"
Sensei gulped audibly then cleared his throat before looking at me. "Um.. 'Kashi.. We, that is, Kushina and I, we.. Erm.. Were wondering-"
"Just tell him about it already!" Both kaa-san and jiiji yelled. Mainly kaa-san.
I spared a glance at them before turning my attention back to sensei. He seemed to be staring at me more intently now. Okay sensei.. Now I'm really curious..
"'Kashi. We know that Naru-chan is a boy and not yet born. And we also know he is 13 years younger than you are, but… We want you both to be betrothed. Now, before you say anything," here, he held up his hands to silence my outbursts, "We know your clan has a demonic ancestry with ookami youkai(wolf demon) and that you need a mate before you turn 30, so we are setting you up with Naruto. Why? Because Kushina says Naruto kicks so hard it feels like he wants to come out early whenever you are near him."
I looked at him in shock, my left eye wide. But I knew he had more to say so I waited for him to finish before I could voice my opinions.
He took a deep breath before asking me the one thing I would have least expected in my life.
"Hatake Kakashi, I ask you and your inner ookami youkai to take my yet to be born son, Namikaze Uzumaki Naruto, to be your eternal mate."
I looked at him shell-shocked that he would go this far to ensure that Naruto and I be together. I felt nauseous and shocked all the inhabitants in the room, and myself, by passing out.
Kakashi's subconsciousness
I woke up in a clearing in the middle of the forest. I knew immediately where I was. I have only ever been here once before, and that was when I witnessed my father's seppuku.
It was always a full moon night in my subconsciousness. There was a waterfall to my left that pooled into a pond that flowed out into the river that stretched into the forest to my right.
There were statues surrounding the waterfall that looked like the previous clan heads of the Hatake clan.
I headed for the only place I knew that someone there could help me with this life-changing complication.
Behind the waterfall was a natural cave where my ookami youkai, Eien(eternal), lives.
I straightened out my spine and took a deep breath before ducking under the flowing water. Stepping out into the cave on the other side, I was greeted by a floating blue flame that could never stay still (and spoke in a high pitched voice). I rolled my eyes and half-heartedly swatted the annoyance away. Who knew I had such a thing in my mind?
Welcome, welcome, welcome! Young master! Good to see you again! Kakashi-sama is here, my most regal lord Eien-sama!
Good Lord! You could actually see the exclamation marks that ended each sentence!
…
Note to self: If this thing, Kuri, ever has a chance to get out - not likely, but just in case- keep it away from Gai! I shiver at the thought of those two together: a man with bowl-cut hair, caterpillars for eyebrows and wearing a green spandex in his "good guy" pose with a floating blue flame hovering around him… No… Just plain no…
…
Now that that was out of my system, I can now enter Eien's domain calmly. I need to tell him of the proposal straight away!
Kuri floated away as I walked deeper into the cave. A deep resounding voice stopped me abruptly.
"No need to inform me of anything, pup. I heard everything from here. And I must say, you shocked me as well by passing out." And with that, the voice laughed hysterically.
Two golden glowing orbs with black vertical slits in the centre peered at me from the darkness. They squinted as the inhabitant giggled, then closed completely. I sighed and rolled my eyes yet again. What was it with the inhabitants of my mind that made me do this?
A giant silver paw nudged its way towards me out of the darkness, hesitated, then continued with it's journey. With one paw out, the inhabitant asked me, "Would you prefer it if I were humanoid, pup?"
I shrugged back as a reply and the paw retreated. I narrowed my eyes at the action. Just what was he up to?
I got my answer soon enough as a giant silver wolf rushed at me and knocked me down, licking my face. The wolf retracted and two muscular arms pulled me up into a bear hug, swinging me around wildly.
The pale silver-haired, golden-eyed other male, Eien, mumbled, "Oh, my boy, my boy! My wittle pup! See! Now you can hab a mate to wub forebwer!(A/N:- translates as:- oh, my boy, my boy! My little pup! See! Now you can have a mate to love forever!… If you hadn't noticed yet, Eien is VERY childish!) And if you have a mate, I will be able to as well! Your poor Papa's mate passed away before I could have one! But now… Oh, wittle(little) pup! I'm so proud of you… So, ACCEPT THE EFFING OFFER!" He roared loudly at the end.
"E-Eien-oto-otouko-otoukooya(A/N:- I think it's what you call an adoptive father? Or a second father or something along those lines? Help?)… Can't… B-breathe…" I gasped out, flailing my arms pinwheel-style.
With an "Oops!" he released me and stepped back to watch me coughing and struggling to breathe.
"So?" Eien asked as soon as I looked capable of talking.
"So what?"
"…"
"…?"
"Accept the offer!" An eye smile, canines bared in a feral grin.
"… I'm… Not too sure about this…" My head drooped and my eyes closed.
"Why ever the hell not?" Waving his hands in the air.
"Well… It's to another male…"
"So?" A delicate silver eyebrow rose.
"I'm 13 years older than him…" My eyes narrowed in frustration.
"Annnnd…?" Face scrunched up in confusion, head cocked to one side.
"Oh, I give up!" I exploded. Taking a deep breath, I sighed. Then I began the long process of explaining why I couldn't accept the proposal to Eien.
"First, Naruto is male. I, too, am male. And males can mate, but they cannot produce young. Second, this one links to the first point, I am the last Hatake alive and need to continue the line. Naruto is probably the heir to either the Uzumaki or Namikaze clan - maybe both - and needs to continue his line. And third… I'm afraid to lose him… Everyone special to me is gone except for a precious few. They will be gone as well. And Kami, Eien, I'm afraid I'll lose him too!" My voice toned down to a harsh whisper near the end, cracking slightly. Tears dripped slowly down my unmasked face.
Eien stood silently in front of me, arms crossed and a look of anguish, sadness and pride shone in his eyes, his face as impassive as ever. He enveloped me in a bone-crushing hug, allowing me a moment to myself.
"Baka," he scolded me softly, slapping me lightly on the back of my head. "Don't you know who his parents are? He'll grow up to be just like them, regardless of the fact if they're there or not. Besides, he'll have you by his side, right? Hush now, musuko and revel in the now!" He patted me on the back comfortingly.
By now, my tears stopped but I stayed in his embrace for awhile longer, basking in the presence that he was there for me. My father of sorts.
"Besides," he teasingly asked me, "don't you know anything about the Namikaze clan?" At my confused look, otoukooya sat down, dragging me with him. I squirmed in his lap. I'm too big and old for this! So uncomfortable!
"No you're not," Eien rebuked me with his eyes closed. "Until you grow to the age of 421 years old, you're neither big nor old in my eyes." His eyes opened and he laughed as I huffed and settled myself more comfortably in his lap.
"So what about the Namikaze clan?"
"You see, the clan mainly consists of males. The few females who live were weak and were not permitted to be ninjas. The clan was that way before I was born. I'm still not sure when - ask Minato - but a curse was placed on the clan by a rogue kunoichi. She was the sister to the clan heir's wife and was jealous of her sister's position of power in the ranks. The curse was originally designed for the wife only, but because the rogue nin used demonic chakra for the seal - yes, the curse is a seal - the curse spread to the other females who were in the clan.
"The curse was supposed to make the wife unable to produce an heir, but because of the chakra, any female of the next generation were either stillborn, died just after birth - sometimes taking the mothers as well - or they grew up frail and died young. I only ever knew a handful who were competent kunoichi, but they too died young. Eventually, the clan dwindled to the main branch and only males were produced.
"About five generations back, a very clever clan head asked for help from a demi-god - daughter of Inari, I think - if she could help them with their problem. She apologized that it was too late to reverse the curse, but she could - and would - help them revive the clan. She gave some chakra to each clan member who were deemed worthy of her trust and gift to have the ability to produce children, blessed them with a prophesy that their clan would rear again, and left them without a trace that she's been there at all." I gaped at him openly, then tried to reply to his superior smirk.
"Again, ask Minato about this. Think on it some more, pup. But I still think Minato's made the right decision. I agree with him 100 percent. As your inner ookami youkai, I cannot force you to do anything you don't want to, but I still say 'yes' to the proposal." He combed my hair back and kissed my forehead tenderly.
"Sleep on it, pup. No one's forcing you to do anything."
With that, I closed my eyes and thought some more in a restless sleep.
(Normal POV) Real world - a few minutes after collapse
"-shi! Kakashi! Wake up! Are you alright? 'Kashi-!"
"Shut up, Minato! He just fainted at the thought of the proposal you put on him!"
"Well, it was your guys fault for pressuring me, sensei!"
" If we hadn't, you'd have stuttered like a fool for the entire conver-"
"Will you two SHUT UP!" Kushina finally got fed up and used her loud voice to silence them.
"Yes, dear."
"Yes, ma'am." Both spoke simultaneously.
"Look! He's coming to!" At that, the two men crowded behind Kushina to observe the teenager, who still lay on the floor, eyes fluttering.
Kakashi mumbled incoherently and blearily opened his eyes. Taking in his surrounding, the young Hatake tried to sit up by himself, but a pair of feminine hands helped him up. Murmuring his thanks to Kushina, Kakashi sighed and rubbed his head.
"Oww.."
"Are you alright, 'Kashi?" a concerned mother-hen Minato flustered above Kakashi.
"Yeah.. Umm.. Sensei… About the proposal, yeah? Well, I-"
"No need to reply right now, 'Kashi! You have a while yet and-"
"Can't you see the boy's tryin' to say something, baka?" Jiraiya saved Kakashi by punching Minato into the wall. " So what were ya saying, gaki?"
Kakashi amusedly watched Minato trying to claw his way out of the wall while replying, "I've talked to Eien and he said 'yes'."
"Yes!" Minato echoed loudly.
"Let him finish!" Jiraiya shoved Minato into the wall again. Harder.
"After spending some time thinking over it… I agree with the proposal!" Kakashi finished with his famous (or infamous) one-eyed eye smile while making the 'peace/victory' sign with his left hand. (A/N:- you know! The one were his eye goes into an upside-down 'U'?)
Minato's muffled cheer was heard under the rubble that was once a wall, one arm sticking out in a thumbs-up. Jiraiya giggled perversely and scribbled into the notebook he pulled out of nowhere. Kushina squealed happily and lunged at Kakashi, gasping as Naruto kicked hard rapidly.
At the gasp, Minato quickly scrabbled out of the rubble just in time to see Kakashi whispering to Naruto. He glanced at Kushina, who smiled back lovingly, and then Jiraiya, who stopped writing and just stared.
End of flashback
(Kakashi POV)
A cat-masked ANBU landed quietly behind me, carrying a small bundle in her arms. Behind her lazed another ANBU with an owl mask.
"Is that?" I started.
"Yes." The cat.
"Well?" My eyebrow cocked in question.
"Me and Yuugao are taking him in. Cough." Owl.
"As a last request from Minato and Kushina." Cat finished.
"Aa… I see…"
"Don't worry, Kakashi. Cough-cough. We'll prepare him for you."
"Thanks… Hayate. Yuugao." I nodded to each respectively before I shushin-ed home.
(Normal POV) with the now Gekkou family
"Do you think he'll be alright, Hayate? Minato and Kushina were practically his pseudo parents, you know?" Uzuki Yuugao fussed, rocking the now awake and crying Naruto back and forth.
"He'll be fine, Yuu-chan." Hayate encircled his arms around her waist and kissed her swiftly.
"Let's go home. Neh?" They both shushin-ed to their new property. The Namikaze compound.
AN:- Yeap! Naruto's Mama and Papa are Uzuki Yuugao and Gekkou Hayate! Didn't see that coming did ya?
So yeah, this was just a 'glimpse' of the events that lead up to Kakashi being mated to Naruto…
Thanks to the people who reviewed! Greatly appreciated guys!
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Hope you enjoyed it!