Morning came with a ray of sunlight passing through a window in the outskirt of Konoha, where two people stayed. Those two people are known as Kakashi Hatake, and Naruto. Last night while most of people sleep, and in their dream land, these particular two was having a time of their life. Not a good time mind you, in fact quite the opposite.
The said sunlight was fell onto the closed eye of a silver haired man, causing him to wincing slightly from the intrusion, he made a motion to cover himself with blanket, but find nothing to grab. Then the man realized he was sleeping on a very uncomfortable bed, his bed was not like this at all. He grudgingly opened his eyes, and felt he was farther from the ceiling from usual.
Oh, right I am on the floor… Why am I on the floor?
Still not wake enough to recall what happened last night, the man made his way to the bathroom, while stretching his aching back, "That's what you get from sleeping on the floor.." he grumbled to no one, yawning he made it to the sink. Another thing was his mask is still on, and felt funny on the nose, like something has been left to dry all night. Being a genius he was, he quickly made a connection, seeing his blood shot and puffy eyes in the mirror since he took off his head band, only confirmed his deduction.
Crying. Kakashi Hatake was crying last night.
And it all came back to him; the choking, Naruto giggling, his snapping, and his crying. He found himself grabbing the sink for support. Too much memory in one night, for now he decided to make use of a cold water to clear his mind.
Standing in a cold shower, Kakashi really could not comprehend why he was so pissed last night. Now that he was capable to think things through it was just a simple choking, not a big deal for a shinobi his caliber; he knew how to handle simple things like that, after all basic things are the most important. To think he was enraged to a child – no, a baby – for things like that just, dumb. Shaking his head he finished his bath, and get ready as quickly as he could. He's got a baby to take care of.
Standing in front of Naruto's door, he hesitated to open it. At least he has a decency to feel ashamed to look at Naruto now. Steeling his mind he opened the door slowly as to make no sound, fearing it would disturb the baby's slumber. Kakashi stuck his head in, searching for a particular bundle in a crib, and checking if the child was still asleep or not. Satisfied the child is still asleep, he made his way in, Kami knew he could not deal with a crying baby right now.
Reaching Naruto's crib, Kakashi just stared at the sleeping baby; tear streaked whiskered cheeks. Feeling guilty he could not help it but say, "Sorry kid; got carried away last night." He knew it was not much, and the person he was talking to would not understand, but at least he admitted he was sorry for what happened.
As if the child knew Kakashi was talking to him, he opened his eyes, blue as ever. Staring right at a dark grey one. Kakashi tensed, preparing for another break out from Naruto, but what he got was beyond his expectation. Naruto was gurgling and cooing nonsense to him, well at least he assumed it was a nonsense. Unprepared for this Kakashi could do nothing but gaping at the child.
"Well, baby is a curious thing indeed." Kakashi mused out loud, and chuckling along the lines. He left the crib to prepare a formula for Naruto, who gladly and drank it with much gusto. Finished his bottle, Kakashi went to clean the bottle, but stopped wehen heard Naruto's whining. He thought he finally can make use of what he has been prepared for; he walked back to the crib, taking a big breath just to find Naruto reaching out for the dry bottle. Kakashi was really in awe, he could not figure it out, and he thought baby was supposed to be crying all the time especially after such an incident last night. But Naruto was not, he acted like that never happen in the first place.
Snapping back to reality he saw Naruto was sucking the bottle desperately, well, it looked like someone was still hungry, eye smiling Kakashi said, "There, there buddy, I'll make some more for you," he took the bottle from Naruto who started to whine again, being away from his food. "Here you go," Kakashi guide the rubber nipple to Naruto's mouth, and stopped. His decision made, and he put the bottle at the table, and scooped Naruto from the crib. Making sure he would not drop the babe, Kakashi reached out for the bottle then made his way to the back yard.
Sitting at the porch he began to fed Naruto with the formula, using his chakra to keep the liquid warm in a cold morning breeze for the child. Sometimes being a shinobi was handy, aside from handy in another area like killing, house chores and babysitting became much easier tasks. Thanks to the white chakra, a signature of Hatake clan. Kakashi was grateful he has two types of chakra; usually a Hatake only has one chakra, the white one, which amount is twice of the blue one, in some rare cases even thrice. Then again there were some of them that possessed two types of chakra, Kakashi was one of them. He has the white and the blue, this thing boost Kakashi progress in shinobi life, aside from he alone was a genius. While the white chakra is denser and more difficult to manipulate, the blue one was a regular meaning it was easy to use. At the young age Kakashi often use the blue one as a practice, and gradually moved to the white one. While having an all white chakra with a thrice amount of the blue sounded better, in fact it was harder, because one needed to master chakra manipulation and control perfectly. In Kakashi case he could use the white chakra if the need should arise, and he has almost a perfect control over it, but mainly he would depend on his blue chakra because it was easier to use.
Turned his attention to Naruto, Kakashi said "That will surely help me taking care of you kid."
AAAA
"Yo, Kakashi long time no see, eh?"
"Ne, Asuma I've been around you know, here and there… But mostly here." Kakashi was preparing for some dinner, not another cup ramen, he went to the market when Naruto was napping.
"The old man wanted to check up on you, so he sent me here," Asuma came in from the back yard, and went straight to the kitchen where Kakashi was.
"Paper work or council meeting?" Kakashi asked without looking away while he cut his precious beef. He felt meaty today, so he went for beef instead of pork, teriyaki in particular.
Sniffing around the kitchen Asuma find a cabinet full of cup ramen with various flavours, "Paper work I say," feeling the need to ask Kakashi about his sudden obsession of cup ramen Asuma said, "Hey Kakashi what's with the ramen? Are you having an obsession or somethin'?" He give Kakashi an incredulous, which the silver haired ignored.
"You ask the Hokage about that," Kakashi really did not know why, that particular cabinet always full of that overly savory food – if that even categorized as a food. He started to make the sweet sauce for his teriyaki, hmm do we need a sugar… Nah, just use some oyster sauce and… Where is… "Hey do you see my soy sauce?" Kakashi asked the tanned man.
"In the corner, left side," Kakashi murmured 'thanks' to Asuma. They stay quiet for a minute, the Asuma remembered why he was here, "Kakashi, old man told me about something… You know, the other occupant of the house." Asuma did not know the child name, Kakashi mused to himself.
"You mean Naruto? He was still sleeping I – Oh now he's awake, you want to see him?" Kakashi glanced at Asuma, who looked rather uncomfortable. Asuma knew Kakashi long enough to know that the man was not open to others especially about his private life, so he felt a little hesitant to answer the question.
"Yeah, if you don't mind," Asuma scratching his beard, feeling a little sheepish. Kakashi just looking at him for a moment, "Maa, maybe you could bring him to here as well," thinking a little Kakahi add, "The kid needs to know more people other than Gai for Kami's sake." He went back to check his cooking. The only person who knew Naruto was no other than his eternal rival claimed to be, Maito Gai. And Kakashi damn sure he was not a good influence for Naruto, his pup.
Yes, it's been a year, and Kakashi started to accept the fact that Naruto was hard not to like to, the kid was a refreshing thing for the man. In his entire life Kakashi never smiled or laughed as much as he was with Naruto. Aside from the mess the boy made – he was right about his dual cahkra being handy – he like to care and seeing the kid grow, is this what it's like to be a father? Nah, I'm not the kid's father… Am i?, brushing the thought aside. "His room is down the hall, with a blue door on the right."
Getting up, Asuma made his way to Naruto's room, and without knocking opened the door, only to be greeted friendlily with a wooden box to his face. "Shit!" he clutched his pounding nose, with teary eyes.
"SIIITTH!" A high pitched voice trying to repeat his word, followed with a laughter.
"Oh fuck no, you don't say what I said okay kid?!" getting on his knees to be level with the kid, he made a shushing motion. Asuma panicked if Kakashi found out his kid was cursing thanks to his slipped out. He would not risk it, thank you.
"'Kay." Naruto said cheerfully. He was back playing with his toys on the floor, he was no longer sleep in the crib, his daddy bought him a big boy bed because he was a big boy now. Naruto turned his attention to the tall man, he wore the same clothes like his daddy, maybe he was a chinobi like daddy. The stranger has a black hair, and brown skin not like his daddy who was pale. "Who're you?" asking the man with a curious blue eyes.
The man blinked, "The name's Asuma." This kid was something; he did not look scared seeing him. Mostly children got scared seeing him, with the beard, smoke, and all. The scare crow was raising him after all, what do you expect, he thought. "What's yours?" he asked.
"Hmm?" Naruto was still focused on his play did not bother to answer the question.
"Your name, what is it?" Asuma asked again, this time he got an answer from Naruto.
"Narutoooo." And he was back to his toys again. Sighing Asuma ruffled the blond hair, rewarded by a 'no' and hand shoving from the chibi blond, he just chuckled at the child.
"Naruto, your dad wants me to get you to the kitchen, come on." He stood up, and started walking to the door, when his pants were pulled by something. Seeing Naruto looking at him eyes twinkling, he asked, "What is it kid?"
"Up, up, up please?" now he was jumping up and down begging to be picked by Asuma. The black haired man just shrugged and picked him up. Happy Naruto just laughing all the way to the kitchen.
"DADDY!" he wriggled out from Asuma grip, jumped down, and landing safely on the ground. His little feet was making his way to the silver haired man who just finished his cooking. "Daddy, what's dinner?" Naruto asked eagerly to his dad, he really liked his daddy's foods.
"It's 'what's for dinner' chibi, and we're having your favourite tonight." Another reason Kakashi picked beef is because Naruto liked the dish he already prepared very much.
"YEAHHH! TERIYAKII!" Despite his small stature and young age Naruto sure has some serious energy source. He began chanting the dish name, and sitting at his high chair because he still too short for a normal chair. Kakashi just shaking his head and laugh a little at his pup antic, this was one of the reasons why he just could not hate Naruto, the kid was the source of happiness for Kakashi nowadays.
"Yes it is pup, we're having teriyaki tonight." Kakashi ruffled Naruto's hair while serving Naruto his portion, which is quite a lot for a child his age. "Come on Asuma, I have prepared for you as well," Kakashi take a seat and started to eat unseen as usual, because there was Asuma, if there were just him and Naruto he would eat like a normal people.
Asuma was a bystander all this time, and seeing something unusually rare. Kakashi was very relaxed and laughing too. Seeing Kakashi Hatake in a kitchen with a child seemed strangely normal. In his mind he was glad his friend could come out of his shell once in a while, after being locked in for so long. After Kakashi asked him to join dinner, he snapped to reality again. Smiling he said, "You sure? Well thanks, let's see how's your cooking is."
Hearing this Naruto as a good child he was, defending his daddy, "Daddy's foods is the best in tha world mister!" with grains of rice covered his whiskered cheeks, he added, "You try it, an' you can't stop eatin' it, believe it!"
With a sly look on his face Asuma reply, "Well, tell you what kid, I'll take you to eat at the best beef restaurant in Konoha, and let you be the judge of that," Asuma said, "What do you say, Naruto?"
The kid in question looked at his dad for a permission, Kakashi just eye smiled at him then, "'Kay." And he was back in his food.
Kakashi, finished eating from the beginning, just seeing the banter between them and said, "Finished your food, and we play for a while, how about that pup?" he asked Naruto.
No answer came up, just Naruto eyes got bigger and his inhaling his food with a renew speed.
AAAAAA
Asuma stayed until Naruto was sent to sleep by Kakashi. From what he saw it was no easy task, the kid refused to sleep, saying he was not tired yet and still want to play with his new friend, who is Asuma, despite his eyelids keep dropping. After fifteen minutes of bribing by Kakashi, Naruto passed out on his daddy lap and was put into bed.
After the silver haired man came back to the kitchen, and took a seat, Asuma started to speak, "Kakashi, the old man said that soon you have to be back on the field," Asuma started to lit up his favourite companion, cigarettes, "You don't mind do you?" he asked Kakashi about his habit, which the other man just gesturing him to the sliding door. Getting the message Asuma open the sliding door letting the smoke floating outside. "He said Naruto can get a babysitter or someone you trust to look after him while you're gone."
Kakashi ruffled his hair, "Babysitter? Not a chance, I'm not risking it. As to someone I trust? I'm afraid there are not much in that category." He looked at the black haired man's cigarette, sensing this Asuma said, "Want some of this?" knowing even Kakashi smoked sometimes.
"I already have some, thanks. I just can't take any mission soon you know; he is still young barely a year old. Can you tell the Hokage to wait a bit longer, maybe wait until Naruto at least 4 year old? At that age he'll know how to defend himself." Kakashi was planning to train Naruto as soon as he could, but this just too soon. And he might not have a choice.
"I understand, if I were you I'll do the same. Well then, I'll see what I can do," Asuma made his way to the back yard, when he stopped and turned back to Kakashi who still seated in the kitchen, "Hey Kakashi, we're your friends you know that? Meaning you can trust us." With that he was gone.
After a minute Kakashi made his way to the porch, and fished a cigarette from his pocket. He lit it with a small katon jutsu, and started to smoke. Sometimes smoking helped him to relax, he did it once in a while. Not like Asuma who smoke like a train, Kakashi did it just for fun. But having Naruto around he could not smoke as he wanted like he used to.
Finishing his smoke, he went inside and checked on his pup. Naruto was in a deep slumber; his blanket was astray while his head was almost hanging from the edge of the bed. Kakashi made his way effortlessly – he was a shinobi, so moving silently was no big deal – and fixing Naruto blanket and position carefully so the kid would not wake. He brushed the blond hair, and hesitantly kissed his fore head, earning him a smile from the sleeping child, making the man smile in return. That taken care of, he went to his room and once he hit his pillow, Kakashi was out.
A/N yohoo! Merry Christmas and happy new year… wow I am very late.. doesn't matter.. here is the new update for you dear raders, have fun! J ow, and about naruto doesn't like ramen I just want to make a difference here, and kakashi smoking I don't know it just like a sudden idea, seeing he had a bad and stressful life surely he will smoke at one point, right? Oh well, thanks for reading!