Sorry for the wait, enjoy (if you want to know the reason why I'm late, on below)
"You're my son afterall."
That is something Kakashi never thought he capable of. A son, he had a son now. He could accept Naruto as his son. Though not wholly, some part of him admitted Naruto as his son. The reminder of their lunch continued with silence, and occasional Naruto's munching.
When Kakashi was washing the dishes, Naruto tugged his pants, "Dad," he said, "Umm.. you aren't angry right?"
Kakashi looked down at Naruto – no his son – sensing the reason why behind the question, he dried his hands and crouched in front of Naruto.
"Hmm, what's wrong Naruto?" He asked anyway, trying to make the child to speak up his mind.
Naruto looked at the floor as if that was the most interesting thing in the world; he was afraid, what if his dad was really angry, what if his dad did not love him anymore. Insecurities written all over his face and gesture, also Kakashi was not an ex captain ANBU jounin for nothing he read the signs from the beginning. Trying to calm him down, he rubbed Naruto arms in a soothing manner.
"You were silent after eating and I don't know why, did I do something wrong dad?" Naruto looked up with teary eyes, and suddenly he hugged Kakashi, bawling, "Please forgive me dad, don't leave me alone, please I don't wanna be alone!" Kakashi hugged Naruto back, while thinking why Naruto had ever thought of him leaving? He was the one who nurtured the child since he was a babe, maybe deep down the child knew he was not his own. Just maybe, but that still a possibility however small that is, and somehow Kakashi wanted to clear things up sooner, than later.
But not now… Not now… Kakashi thought grimly.
"Hey buddy, it's fine… Dad 's not mad at you, how can I? You are the greatest thing ever happen in my life, and know this okay.. I WILL NOT leave you behind, no matter what happened you can count on me son." Kakashi replied, he untangle Naruto's arms from his neck, and looked him straight in the eyes, determined, "Remember what I told you, note that in the little head of yours, don't you forget that. Alright? Now, let's get rid this snot of yours hmm.." Kakashi's long hand reached out for a box of tissue, then Naruto blown his nose. "There, much better." Naruto smiled brilliantly, showing his sparkling white teeth.
Feeling better now Kakashi thought he needed to lighten up the mood, of course what else could make your day better aside from his ninken. With a poof his pack came out, "Hey boss, what do you want?" Pakkun said as he scratched his ear.
"Go on kid, play with them while I clean things up here." Ahhh, the joy of having a pack of ninken he thought. He watched as Naruto eagerly ran to their back yard with his ninken in tow, "Don't go too far in the forest Naruto!" He reminded the hyperactive kid, he heard an 'okay' from his son, and just shook his head, kids.
AAAAA
The blonde kid was playing with a pack of ninken, rolling in the puddle of mud, and eventually forgotten his dad message, which is… Well he forgot about it. He ventured deep in to the woods, well further than he ever before, he was having a blast. His dad was not mad at him, and still love him even he did not heard it, he knew it. Life was good for the almost 2 years old.
Naruto was playing go hide and seek with the dogs, they switched role each time. Of course Naruto got the hard part, he was having a hard time finding the dogs; dogs were small except Bull, though Naruto was not alone, he had Bull as a team mate. That did not help at all, since Bull was hardly talk and Naruto was hardly listen, they just the worst combination. When Bull trying to tell the kid the position of the dogs, the said kid was just give Bull a half-hearted glance and keep searching by himself, in the end Bull just following Naruto around, guarding him. And when the team switched, the duo was easily found; Bull with his big body, and even though Naruto was a capable hide-er, he was no match for the ninken's excellent sense of smell.
Time flew by, the sun almost home, darkness started to invade the sky. And a lone blonde child was sitting underneath a tree in the woods, holding his left leg close to his chest. Apparently he hurt his knee, and it was bleeding. Also salty water ran down his cheeks and some snot from his little nose. And what do you know; suddenly he remembered something he might regret later.
"Don't go too far in the forest Naruto!"
Yes, that was what his father had told him before, and he clearly breaking that rule hours ago. Of course the dogs were with him, circling him, making him comfortable. Why they did not go for his father you asked? The reason was simple, the little blonde kid was afraid if even just one dog was gone away. Oh, why did his father did not realize he was not home? Well, that was because his father was taking a very, very long nap.
Kakashi was having a great dream about a certain part of his favourite novel, when he suddenly woke up because he remembered something unquestionably important.
Naruto is not home yet! Where did that kid go?! He panicked; he looked at the clock, 6 o'clock already! Calling Naruto out to check if he was in the house, praying there would be a respond, and there was no respond. That was just making Kakashi went haywire. All worst scenario was playing in his head, neither of it was what he wanted thank you. Why the dogs didn't wake me or at least inform me?! Naruto where the heck did you go this time? He thought worryingly.
He jumped straight to the woods and searching his for his lost son, Naruto's chakra was still hard to detect because he was still young and his chakra was undeveloped yet; it's like a flickering candle, unstable, yet still there. Luckily Kakashi was smart; he was not searching for his son chakra, he was searching for his ninkens' instead. And boy it was easy; there were eight of them after all. He was rushing through the branches, running and jumping from tree to tree. And finally he saw them.
It was dark when Naruto heard his name called. He knew the voice instantly, "DAD! HERE!" He was screaming to his dad, and sobbing again. When his dad landed in front of him, the dogs was whimpering in fear for whatever reason he did not know. He did not care anymore, his dad was here.
Kakashi was relief beyond comprehension. Naruto was saved, his son was still alive, and he landed in front of him, hugged him tight. "AAWWW!" Kakashi let go of Naruto in shock, that was not a reaction he expected from Naruto at all.
"Ow, shit! Son, are you okay?! Do you hurt?! Where is it, tell me!" He was in panic again, since it was dark he vision was limited therefore he could not examine Naruto thoroughly. "Knee hurt so much dad.." without further question he held Naruto, careful of the knee and made their way home, with the dogs of course.
Arrived at home Naruto was put in his dad bed, while his dad went to the bathroom to search a first aid kit. Still dirty and all he was being picked up again by Kakashi, and sat on the sink counter, making it easy to wash the wound.
Kakashi was still a little bit panic when they arrived at home. He put Naruto on his bed and searching a first aid kit. That found, he went back to fetch Naruto, why did not he bring Naruto to the bathroom in the first place? Now his bed sheet had some dirt on it. He cleaned the wound with water, and peroxide to prevent infection. Throughout the process, Naruto was silence not a single protest was said. He was impressed, peroxide was not easy to handle, even sometimes he still flinched when that applied. After being bandaged, he slapped it a little bit making Naruto hiss and moved his knee avoiding another slap. Kakashi lifted Naruto chin up so he could make an eye contact.
"That is what you get for not listening to me."
"I was listening to-"
"Then why did you still disobey it?" Kakashi asked sternly. Sometimes he just did not get kids; he was not like that when he was young. His question remain unanswered, Naruto stare went sideways. He let go Naruto's chin and rubbed his head while sighing. "Do you know that is dangerous out there?"
"But I was with the dogs, and the-" Naruto stopped seeing his dad lifted his hand up.
"Naruto Hatake, just answer my question, please?"
There was a pregnant silence, "Naruto," his dad inquired. He just nodded the answer.
"And you know that the dogs can't really help or protect you if things got worse right?"
Another nod, and tears fell.
"Let me take a guess here, you forgot what I told you right?"
A reluctant nod, and more silence tears.
Not another word was said, Kakashi just picked Naruto up and bathed him with warm water he prepared before. Finished that, he dressed Naruto and took a bath himself. Then he tucked Naruto and himself in his bed, the kid was curling on his side.
"I'm sorry dad…" Naruto whispered.
"Hmm, for what kid?" Kakashi glance at the kid.
"For this." Naruto pointing his wounded knee.
Then the silver male embraced the blonde, "Nah son, you know, I never consider that incident as your mistake. The least I can do is telling you what's right, the rest is your choice. Also worrying is parent's duty you know. So you can do whatever you want, make me worry for you because you are my son. I feel no burden in it… But of course I really do hope you'd do what's right." Kakashi heard Naruto's breathing evened, already asleep. Then he slipped out from the bed carefully to take care the other business.
His ninken.
AAAAA
Pakkun and friends just sitting around in the living room, they knew what was coming sooner or later for they can smell it from their master's scents.
"Oh man, what will we tell boss?" Uhei asked, whimpering.
Guruko gruffly answered, "We could always lie you know… I mean I don't want to get any trouble with boss."
"Lie all you want, I bet my all treats that boss will know instantly." Akino warned them.
The other were minding their own business; taking a nap, scratching, sniffing around, dog things. Then they sense a spike of their summoner chakra, they instantly alert and sit. When the said man came into view none of them dared to look him in the eye.
Kakashi felt a bit proud when he saw his ninken, at least they know they did wrong he thought. He kept his silence for a while, then started, "Pakkun."
"Yes boss." Smooth as always, like a pug himself.
"Would you like to explain what happened back there?"
"Pup was climbin' hoppin aroundfrom tree to tree, and when he climbed this tree, he slipped and fell. And he was crying until you came boss." Pakkun was explaining the outline of the incident.
"I assume you stay with him until I arrived?" Kakashi was rewarded with eager nods. "I guess that's good." And he saw some tails were wagging a bit, he smirked in his mind. "BUT," the wagging stopped, "That doesn't mean you couldn't inform me, and called me sooner rather than making me realized it by myself knowing I was asleep, which makes it too late." He was stating the fact.
"If we could we would do it, but the pup was scared and went crazy even if only one of us go." Uhei explained.
"You could always howl you know." Kakashi deadpanned.
That simple thing, they can easily inform their master with their howls, even with a single howl would be enough! The guilt they felt was leaking out, Kakashi could literally taste it.
Kakashi as a dog person, could not get mad at his personal ninken, "Hey guys, it's okay I'm not mad just a little bit annoyed. Just… don't do it next time around, okay?" He crouched down.
"WE'RE VERY SORRY BOSS!" The dogs ran into him and tackle Kakashi.
Maa, maa… What a day.. He chuckled.
POOF, the furry friends gone. The man stood up and made his way to his bedroom, silently knowing that Naruto was asleep. Kakashi slipped in under the blanket, and fell asleep alongside his kid.
AAAAAA
He found it hard to breathe, something pressing his lungs, not too heavy just enough to make you suffocated a little. He did not dare to move, alert he scan his surrounding, no threatening chakra but there was clearly something on his chest, even just a flicker of chakra. Finding it was save he opened his eye, and what greeted him was… A butt. A blue-pants-covered-butt. And a snore.
PYUUUUTTT… A high pitched fart.
Poor man, he got a nose of a dog. Never in his lifetime had he ever thought of being woken up by a fart. In attempt to escape he shoved the butt away, causing it and its master fell to the floor with a thud.
Then realization hit him that was Naruto. And he remembered yesterday event, Naruto was hurt.
Hii everyone… I know you won't accept any excuses, but my internet provider blocked fanfiction recently and I just found out how to unblock it, so here you go.. short I know, I know… just wait the next chapter okay
And you know what, I just found out that I'm a really slow writer, so please excuse me for the long update interval.. because I'm that AWESOME! Oh and I have this blog of mine, you can check it out If you want.. link here and in my bio; (just remove the space) .com
(i just found out that i can't place link in here... just check my bio if you interested..)