"Haahh…"

Sruk sruk.
"Haaaaahhhh…"

Sruk sruk sruk, sroooott.

"Haahh…HAAATCHUUU!"

Our favorite novelist shivering on his favorite rooftop, which gave him a perfect view of his favorite subject. Yes, Konoha's woman hot spring. What do you expect from this infamous pervert - a nice view of wilderness, waiting to be embrace by his soul- so predictable. Since today was a cold day, he was expecting women to be submerged in the hot water, away from the cold weather. And yes, he was right. It was rare for Konoha to be this cold; for it was known of its sun, and warm weather, well sometimes it was hot-but not scorching hot like Sunagakure.

Jiraiya was cloaked by a thick blanket from his motel, snot rolled out from his nose, and his breath puffing like a steaming kettle, content just by seeing naked women. He started to feel the chill of the weather, stinging his old bone. Five minutes later he could not take it anymore, so he ended his so called research. He jumped down, and walked aimlessly since he has nothing to do and have no appointment whatsoever-like he ever had any.

His thought wandering to Naruto,

How's the little brat doing, was he alright? Maybe I'll check up on him.

He made his way to the cottage where Naruto was placed.

When he arrived there, he discovered that the baby was still sleeping. Did not want to wake him up, Jiraiya just stood next to the crib and stared at Naruto. Sighing happily that Naruto was fine, he turned back and leave.

AAAAA

Whips of white hair peeking from the shiruiken motive blanket. The owner was overslept-which will become his habit-, since he has no mission. He was shielding himself from the cold. He woke up groggily, eye half lidded, which will closed again in any moment if he did not move. He made his way to the bathroom, dragging his led in doing so. He felt so lazy, and tired for no reason, he just want to cuddle with his bed. Swatting the thought aside he continued to walk. He washed his face, brushed his teeth, just as he started to wake fully he stared at his reflection. He looked at his face, slightly different, maybe from the shaving last night he concluded.

The seventeen year old boy, changed his clothe to his jounin attire. Then proceed to go to the memorial stone. Just before he stepped out from his apartment, he recalled the cold and decided to wear his cloak.

There he did the usual, praying for his fallen comrades, especially his father and team, and blaming himself for their death, or so he believed.

Maybe if I was in Obito stead, it would be different. All this wouldn't happen.

One death could change everything. One death could make a significant different. On e death could bring them back to life. His death could make everyone happy. Though he knew his death would not bring his father back. He knew if he died before his father, then the old man surely followed shortly. Because they only had each other.

He mourned for hours, could not get himself to leave the only place that made him feel home. But he realized, he achieved nothing by staying there. So he gave his final bow, and turned his body from the stone. He walked away from it, and his thought walked back to last night incident. The baby. Thinking of him made he contradicted himself, part of him wanted to see what he looked like, part of him wanted to ignore him, and never had any interaction with the babe. He made a decision to see the baby, in reason he needed to see what his target look like. Since he had no idea where the baby was he went to the hokage office.

"Oh, Kakashi, what are you doing here?" Genma looked up from pile of paper he arranged. "If you're looking for a mission, then I'm sure that you've lost it man. In this kind of weather, a mission," he jerked his head to the side indicating the weather, "It's not a good combination I tell ya."

Kakashi just stared blankly at Genma's speech. "I'm not a masochist fyi, but I know who is." From a distance both ninja heard an echo, it was horribly sounded like "YOOOSSHH! EVEN THE WEATHER IS COLD; MY FIRE OF YOUTH SHALL NOT BE PERISHED!" And a thousand of something followed. Kakashi and Genma knew who it was, they paled; they did not want to dwell on it, afraid it will come to them.

"Is the hokage busy?"

"Hmm, last time I checked he was on a meeting with the counsel. Maybe they finished, I don't know." He shrugged.

"Okay then, thanks." Kakashi made a bee line to the office, and knocked. Hokage's response could be heard from outside, and Kakashi revealed himself.

"Ah, good morning Kakashi, what brings you here?" Sarutobi set aside his paper works, and motioned the boy to sit.

"This concerns me and the baby." He looked the hokage in the eye, trying to send one of his intentions without saying it.

Sandaime caught his look, and he did not-would not- approved it. They already talked about this last night, and the boy just wouldn't listen. "We already talked about this matter Kakashi, and if you remember I was the one who told you, therefore I keep my stand." He said.

Flashback

Two men sat down opposite each other in the dining table, one in his youth, other in his twilight.

"I want you to give up ANBU." The statement was short, and right to the cut.
Kakashi just stared at the Hokage, like he said he should get married. He did not respond for a long time.

"Hmm, is that so?" he rubbed his chin as if in thought. "Sorry to disappoint you, but… i'm not someone who takes joke in the middle of the night. Then again, why you brought this up Hokage sama?"
Sarutobi sighed, "This is for your own good Kakashi. Also I want to be clear that, this is not a request, this is an order. However I will give you time until tomorrow." He stood up, and looked at Kakashi whom eye turned dark at the mention of order. Catching this, Sarutobi walked out into the night and went home.

End flashback

"I don't understand why you would make me stop. The only thing that keeps my mind out of it was ANBU," Kakashi stressed it. "You know this; I'll go mad if I did not do something!"

"You've been In ANBU for far too long child, it will do you no good, your sensei knew this as well. There are few ex-ANBU who can live normally after, that is the reason why a year regulation was made. To protect shinobi from mental disorientation. Even with this, many were KIA. I give you a chance to get out, yet you refuse it."

"You don't understand, I want it. And I want it with reasons! This is not some laughing matter hokage sama, yo-"

"But is it truly what you need?" Sarutobi deadpanned. "Think about it Kakashi, this will destroy you believe it or not. I say, you need to move on, move your home from your past."

The said boy contemplated for a moment. How can something that keeps you sane can make you insane in return? It just did not ring any bell for him. "Tell you what hokage sama, I am still me. Nothing changed since I joined the ANBU." He raised his voice, "I do this to keep me from madness! I do this to prevent myself doing the foolish thing that has always been on my mind! I do this to keep myself ALIVE! You don't understand do you? Of course, you still have family in this land. Someone who's waiting for you, take care of you, and give you reason."

"I will pretend that I did not hear you for speaking like that to me. I know, but you already do this thing for as long as I can remember, let alone in such an age. Why don't you try to do other thing that is less demanding, but still can keep you busy? And I suggesting, get rid yourself from ANBU and become a jounin." If this boy persists that he wants to stay at ANBU, I may have to use some force. Sarutobi thought.

"If I become a jounin, what next? A bunch of brats waiting for me to beat the hell out of them, forcing some lesson into their thick skull, and dumped them back at the academy?" Scoffed Kakashi, he would not have a team assigned to him.

"Who knows, you will find out yourself. After all you know jounins not only teach genins. They still can take high rank missions, if I may say the only difference between you and ANBU is now you work without a mask. Since your skills are one of the best seeing at your rank in ANBU, jounin is just like a holiday for you."

"I haven't decided it. I don't know if I can let go ANBU and live normally like nothing ever happened." Kakashi raked his silver hair, "I mean, it's like my daily medication. I just… Man this is messed up. You're not giving me any choice anyway." He said heavily.

"Glad you understand," Sarutobi smiled. "Now, that aside, if I'm not mistaken you mentioned the baby, first his name is Naruto. And I presume you know his parentage. And I guess you want to see him correct?" The boy nodded his head, "Well, since you don't know the place, then I might as well walk you there." Sarutobi took this once in a life time chance to abandon his paper works.

He leads Kakashi to his cottage; it was the first visit for Kakashi, he never knew Hokage had this. This was like a personal get-away place.

They arrived at the cottage, Kakashi let the older man lead the way through the remote yet cozy cottage. Then they were standing beside the crib, inside was a sleeping baby, the one Kakashi searched. He stared at Naruto for a moment, the baby was tucked in a thick blanket. Which was normal because the weather was cold, and windy. Then Kakashi clutched his head. He had this vision about something blonde, a room, voices, and a boy who was crying. It was just flashes of images, he could not make out of it.

"Kashi-chaaan!"

"You promised sensei, you made a pro-promise with me that you will come back no matter what. But you know what? You BROKE it! You broke it and you did not co-come back!"

Both of the human closed their eyes, in doing so, trying to perpetuate this instant calmness.

Kakashi fell onto his knees, while groaning. It was like endless needles stabbing his head, trying to dig out his brain. His mouth opened in a silent scream, eyes closed tightly.

"Kakashi-kun! Don't forget us ne? Live happy Kakashi-kun!"

"Hey brat! Watch my son will ya'? Have fun in there!"

"I'm proud of you my son, though you never see my face, remember my voice. Okaa-san is happy for you!"

"Kakashi you have become a great man. We all proud of you, be good, and be safe."

He was falling, and falling at a neck breaking speed he did.

He gasped, taking in air into his heaving lungs. Dark gray orb opened slowly, staring at the floor. Still trying to clear his mind from the sudden invasion to his brain, he felt someone kneeling beside him and a hand rest on his shoulder.
Seeing this Sarutobi frowned, "Are you well boy?" Kakashi could hear concern in his voice, he understood this, what do you expect from seeing someone falls on his knees, and looks in pain like him? He shook his head, dismissing the thought, and nodded in confirmation of the question. Strange, this was the second time, first at the hospital then now. And both triggered by blond hair, what's with it really? Well, it was not like he knew many people with striking blond hair, the least he knew were his sensei, his son, which still in his dreamland, oh and a nurse in at the hospital, he forgot her name though. Was it Tsumi… Tsaki… oh well it's not important.

He was back on his feet, Kakashi focused back at the sleeping babe, so small and fragile. Did he have a heart to hurt him? He started to doubt himself. Kami, he did not want to admit it but he had a soft spot for children. This is going to be hell, why,oh why he did not think of that before?! Behind his cold mask he was fond of children, oh and of course dogs. He remembered Tsume's daughter Hana, she was a cute child, bouncing everywhere, and a very active young girl. And to add thing up, she accompanied by three pups. A cute child plus three pups were too much for him to resist.

Now I'm not so sure anymore… Man, what a mess…

He rubbed his face, and mind the mask of course.
Sarutobi was staring at the wall, as if it would come alive and gave him something useful. And after a while, he broke the silence "Kakashi, I have an offer for you. I will really appreciate it if you take care of Naruto."

…

…

…

Still no response

…

And, 3… 2…

"THE HELL!" A very baffled Kakashi voiced out, looking at Sarutobi like a mad man. "The hell are you talking about dude?! Are you nu-… I mean, with all due respect hokage sama, are you serious? You can't ju… I mean… this is… I, I…" for a moment Kakashi lost his ability to talk. Just picture a silver goldfish, in a shallow pond, and gasping for air. That was the Hatake at this time.

"I am serious Kakashi," He snorted at the boy face. "You are the closest person to this boy, in a sense. You knew and close to his parent and you do not hold anything against him. Therefore I don't see any problems in it. Also you are an accomplished shinobi, means you can protect him."

Yeah right, I have nothing against him.

This idea was the craziest thing he ever heard. He knew none of babysitting, and literally speaking he never had an actual childhood experience.
Has this hokage lost his mind? I mean, sure he almost, mind you almost, has all the reasons why. But babysitting is not my caliber; scratch that, being a single parent… A SINGLE FUCKING PARENT, OH GOD WHY?! What a cruel world we live in!
In his mind Kakashi was curled up in a ball on the corner of a room, rocking back and forth, mumbling something incomprehensible. His outer visage was, open mouthed, well you can see it through his mask, eye wide as a saucer, arms limp on his side, and shoulders slouched. A pitiful sight to see it was.

"Ugaaahh…"

Two heads turned to the source of sound, Naruto was waking up. His blue eyes blinking tiredly at the faces, one he knew other was new to him. He was weird, this person face was different, only a single facial feature could be seen, his right eye. The rest were black, oh and his tall hair, tall white hair, it looked kind of sharp. Naruto blinked curiously at him, wondering what is this person? He looked different.

"Ooaaahh…" He cooed at the odd man, trying to free his arms he wriggled around his blanket. Succeeding at his attempt, he reached out his chubby arms at him in effort to touch him.

Kakashi locked his eye with the blond child; blue eyes stared back, wandering his face, and so did he. A blond hair, blue eyes, and a three whiskers mark on each chin, kyuubi courtesy he concluded. Those eyes stared curiously at him, especially his gravity defying hair. As if making his decision, the child started to wriggle, and freed his arms, which proceed to point at him, wriggling his fingers at him, like asking something. And Kakashi was lost.

The clock was ticking, and Sarutobi just looked back and forth from Naruto to Kakashi, when Naruto started to whimper, Kakashi looked at Sarutobi in question. Because a wailing brat was not why he was here. Thankfully, he caught Sarutobi eyes.

"… He wants me to…?" Kakashi make a gesture of holding a baby with his hands, eyebrow rose in question.

"Yes he does." Sarutobi flicked his head to Naruto direction, while encouraging Kakashi, "Go on, hold him."

Kakashi hesitantly reached out his hand to Naruto, testing Naruto hands first. Immediately small hands grasped his much bigger hand, and as all baby would do, he tried to sucked Kakashi fingers. But the shinobi saw it first and drew his hands away, which caused the baby to tear up, and whimper in disappointment. Seeing this Kakashi reached out both of his arms to now sobbing babe, and picked him up. It was uncomfortable at first both for him and the baby, seeing the baby sobbing was taking the next step, but thanks to Sarutobi being there, he helped the inexperienced shinobi on how to hold the baby properly.

"Your right arm goes under his body, while your left support his head… There you go." He fixed Kakashi's clumsy appendages. And behold, Naruto was now cooing again at his holder. He tugged at the black thing on his holder, it was Kakashi mask, causing Kakashi to hold him at an arm length, far enough for Naruto chubby arms to reach.

Naruto looked at the one eyed man; yes Naruto gave this man a name, he was close enough to reach out on the black thing, but sadly just when he touched it, the man steered him away. Now he was being held on his armpits, and quite far from his object of interest. His eyes traveled to the tall white hair, and reached his arms again

"Nyaaabuuhh…"

"Huh?" Kakashi responded intelligently, arching his lone eyebrow. He looked at Naruto's eyes and realized what it was. Complying the baby request, he brought Naruto closer to his hair, slowly of course.

"Aaahhh…" He cheerfully voiced his pleasure; Naruto's blue eyes sparkled with excitement. He grabbed at the tall-white-sharp-looked-hair, and tugged it. He laughed gleefully when discovering this tall hair was not sharp, it was soft, like his blanket.

Sarutobi while watching this smiled softly at them. It was somehow ridiculously right to see them like this. Kakashi hesitation and stiff action, Naruto who did not care a thing in the world, being cheerfull and all. He was just hoping for the best of them. So, he asked Kakashi once again.

"Say Kakashi, would you like to take care of Naruto?"

A/N so about something; Kakashi forgot that he was seeing Minato in his coma somehow, I'll tell you why latter of course. And he also confused as how he want to treat Naruto, seeing he has a soft spot for children (coutesy of me). Also I'm not really sure about the one year regulation for ANBU, because it has been so long since I read the comics, (and now I'm too busy with college to read it), is there any rule like that in Naruto? but if it works for this story why not, it's a fanfic anyway. What else..? well, I tend to forget what I want to say in A/N, so thanks for reading… ow very sorry for grammatical error.