Chapter Fourteen: Congratulations

"Should we celebrate?"

"Okay." Kakashi glowed at the recognition of his accomplishment from Sakumo.

She wondered how many people recognized that Kakashi was a prideful person. Not egotistical, vain, or aloof but prideful. She's only ever witnessed him preen to praises from those he respected, which as far as she knew were a select few. His feelings mostly stemmed from his self-image, but he enjoyed when those he respected thought of him in the same light.

"Can I have a dog?"

Ptf.

Kakashi had to be feeling particularly good to have finally asked out loud.

"Shall we look into it?"

There were plenty of things to consider. Yuina couldn't imagine them getting a house pet. Dogs took too much effort and needed a lot of attention. What would happen to it when they were out on missions? Sakumo had to have some sort of plan to even entertain the idea. He wouldn't get Kakashi's hopes up for no reason.

"Would you like something?"

She thought about it. Was there anything she wanted? They've lived a pretty simple life that a sudden opportunity to be materialistic felt odd. There was the equipment that she would always stare at when walking by, but home wasn't exactly a good place to set it up. Her modern-day safety precautions wouldn't allow her. "Can I think about it?"

"Absolutely."

She grinned. She was going to think on it and ask for something that amounted to a reasonable trade for the circumstances. It couldn't just be for a meal out.

It was four days later Sakumo came home with a newborn pug wrapped in a blanket.

Kakashi stared at it in adoration as Sakumo passed the dog over to him.

"So cute," she whispered as she hovered around them. She wondered about his mom. He was definitely too young to be on his own. She looked up to Sakumo. "Where did you get him?"

Sakumo showed a scroll. "I had some tracking to do. My grandfather loved dogs too. It made it easier to convince them to agree to a summoning contract. They're trusting Kakashi and I to give this little guy back." What did Sakumo do to instill trust to take care of their newborn? Also, summoning?

"I can't keep him?" Kakashi pouted.

Sakumo patted his head. "They're willing to let you name him and help raise him. It's a lot of work so you can't slack off. As a ninken, there's a lot you'll have to help teach."
"When he's big enough he can help me? I'll train him well." She couldn't tell if he was excited to have a companion or scared the dog would get hurt helping him. "I'll name you Pakkun."

Sakumo got Kakashi to sign the scroll and showed him how to summon. Pakkun was passed to her as Kakashi followed instructions.

"It took you long enough." Was that a talking dog? There was clearly still a lot about this world she didn't know. Pakkun stirred at the sound of the other dog's voice. "You try having a litter. There's so many of them and they're always needy." Sakumo scratched the dog behind her ears causing her tail to thump in contentment. "What did you name him?"

"Pakkun! I'll take really good care of him."

After some brief explanations the mother took her son and poofed away.

That was certainly something.

Kakashi missed the dog already.

"Can we get a family photo?" Yuina had thought about it when she had to get a photo for identification. Cameras weren't exactly easily portable at this time. Still, it would be nice to have a picture of everyone together for a keepsake. She felt the dread that soon they would be seeing each other even less and so having a family portrait felt important.

"We'll get a photo, so think of something else as your gift."

"But—"

Sakumo placed his hand on her head. "Okay?"

"Okay."

They got their photo taken a few days later and received the physical copies just in time for team assignments.
Kakashi and Yuina entered the room they were told to come to. "Classes are off until next week."

Kakashi stared at the boy. "We're supposed to be here." From this angle his forehead protector was visible to the boy and the rest of class.

"Where did you steal that?"

"Haven't you heard, Arai? Two first years graduated." If his eyes were anything to go by, he was a Hyuuga.

"Yeah, right. Like I'll believe that."

"You really haven't heard? My sister mentioned it. It must be because you're a nuisance and no one likes talking to you." Arai swung his arm up to slap the Hyuuga's approaching hand away.

"Eh? Is that true?" Instead of asking them directly the room full of students chattered among themselves.

"That's it. Fight me you bastard."

"Are you really going to fight a kid?"

"Lose if you lose, and lose if you win."

"Quiet down."

"But Masato-sensei, what are they doing here?"

Masato placed a notebook down on the podium. "They've been approved to become genin under careful and thorough consideration. Let this be my last lesson to you as your sensei: don't assume talent based on age and don't let your pride blind you. I know you'll all do your best." He opened his notebook and flipped through a few pages. "If there are no more questions, I will now give team assignments."

The class was silent, so Masato took that as his hint to start.

Yuina listened to the cheers and groans of the class. She didn't know any of them so it was inconsequential to her. She would be placed with whoever and learn to deal with it.

Her name never came.

Neither did Kakashi's.

Masato looked down at the names of those assigned to the Hatakes. It was months ago when he had been at that meeting when their capabilities were mentioned. Even so, their arrangements were determined quite late.

Not only was it determined late, but he had to explain to Kakashi that Minato hadn't returned from his mission yet, and Orochimaru had sent an assistant to deliver the message that his hands were currently tied and to send the girl his way. Neither left a good first impression of their organizational skills.

Hopefully, they won't blame him for it.

Now he's glad that he decided to take a sabbatical. He deserved a vacation from teaching.

I enjoyed reading everyone's guesses! I've had a shortlist from the start based on dynamics and aspects I wanted to explore. Some were eliminated because they're fairly easy to incorporate another time even without being her teacher. Out of those left I had my own process of elimination but also looked for ways to integrate anything that may be potentially lost in the process. That's to say, a lot is coming :D