Naruko Mitarashi met Sakura Haruno, they became instant friends through their shared love of anime, Naruko taught Sakura how to play Shogi, they played a number of games outside and even watched some clouds together, but most importantly Sakura shared her dream of being the next ordinary civilian to become Hokage, just as Naruko's father Minato Namikaze had done, and Naruko gave Sakura her support for that dream.

Naruko and the World Tree

Adoption Arc

Chapter 11 – Sensei's Girl, Kakashi Hatake

Hokage Tower

Ground Floor

11:00

Anko comes down the stairs and reaches the ground floor of the Hokage Tower. {Okay, I've just received an official order signed by Lord Hokage so that I can register Naruko at the hospital, get a full medical examination with a complete medical record, and then Naruko must receive the mandatory vaccinations that all children must receive to protect them from deadly diseases, since I have this official order with me, the hospital cannot turn me or Naruko away as it's a direct order from the Third Hokage himself.}

Anko is about to leave the Hokage Tower when she encounters Kakashi Hatake, who has just returned from a long-term mission and is on his way to give his report to the Hokage. "Yo!" Greeted Kakashi in a cool manner.

"Good morning Kakashi." Said Anko in a cheerful mood.

"You seem to be in a really good mood, I don't think I've seen you this happy in over three years, may I ask what puts you in such a good mood?" Kakashi asked, curious about the sudden improvement of Anko's mood.

"It's a long story, so I'll keep it short, once upon a time, there was an orphaned girl I found, I took her in, I was allowed to adopt her, she's now my daughter, I've become much happier because of her, and she healed my heart from all the traumas I've suffered over the last three years. I've just received an official order to make sure the hospital can't turn me or the girl away, so I can get her registered at the hospital, so she can get a full medical checkup, get a full medical record and get her vaccinated, the end." Anko answered in a deliberately vague manner, hoping to make her masked friend curious about the girl she adopted.

"You adopted a child, I never thought of you as the kind of person to do such a thing, so who is the girl? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious." Kakashi is genuinely surprised, even if it's hard to tell with his one visible eye and mostly covered face.

"I guess I have to tell you the whole story afterall, I don't want to stop you from reporting to the Hokage, so I'll come with you and explain on the way, Lord Hokage can vouch for me." Anko knows that Kakashi is notorious for being late to... everything, but she won't be the reason he gets in trouble with the Third Hokage for being late with an important report.

"I have to hand in my report soon, but of course you can accompany me." Kakashi carries on to hand in his report, Anko accompanies him.

On the way to the Hokage's office, Anko explained everything to Kakashi, from meeting Naruko to her adoption, Kakashi gave his mission report to the Third Hokage who confirmed everything Anko had told Kakashi, Kakashi wasn't happy to hear about what the elders had done, especially about trying to ruin the life of the Fourth Hokage's daughter, his sensei's daughter.

Ground Floor

12:00

Anko and Kakashi sit on a bench on the ground floor of the Hokage Tower, Kakashi dejected from what he heard. "I'm sorry I was so vague about Naruko earlier, I forgot how much Minato means to you." Said Anko apologetically.

"It's not you Anko, I know you were just being playful earlier, it's actually nice to see you so happy again and I promise I'm not saying that to make you feel better, it really is a pleasure to see you so happy again, especially after the crap you've been through the last three years." Said Kakashi with sincerity.

"I'm angry at the elders who leaked information about the Nine-Tailed Fox to ruin the life of Naruko, my sensei's daughter, which might also make the other villages, especially Iwa and Kumo, want to try something against Konoha if they have that information." Kakashi gave his honest thoughts.

"And that is why I have a very important request for you." Anko is serious.

"What is your request?" Asked Kakashi simply, without guessing or assuming what Anko is going to ask of him.

Anko looks directly at Kakashi. "Kakashi, I want you to meet Naruko?" Anko didn't beat around the bush, she got straight to the point.

"Anko I." Kakashi was about to give an excuse why he couldn't, but Anko interrupted him.

"Please Kakashi, I want you to meet Naruko." Without wasting a thought, Anko stood up and walked in front of Kakashi, she leans onto the bench almost as if she's going to kiss him. "She's the daughter of Minato and Kushina, the daughter of two people who were important to you, I know you're still grieving for those you lost who were very important to you, your father, Minato, Kushina, Rin, Obito. I know how you feel, I felt the same as you when my Mum was killed by the Nine-Tailed Fox, it got worse when my father betrayed me and then the abuse I suffered in this village because of false rumours spread by the elders." Anko moved away from Kakashi and sat down next to him again.

"I never thought I'd ever get over it, but then I found Naruko, I took her in and I was exposed to the same energy that made Kushina so special, that made you feel happy by just being in her presence, Naruko's energy has the same effect and she helped heal my heart from all the trauma I had suffered." Anko lets her emotions flow into her words.

Anko places her hands on her cheeks, closes her eyes and begins to smile sincerely. "After I took Naruko in, I experienced all sorts of new joys in my life, she brought out my femininity and I started doing the more girly things that Kurenai likes to do, all because Naruko brought out a part of my personality that I never thought I had. When my heart was healed I stopped looking to the past, I let go of my negative thoughts and feelings, I let go of my hatred, now I look to the future with Naruko in it, she's my daughter, I can't wait to experience all the milestones of her life, starting and graduating from the academy, rising through the shinobi ranks, teasing her for having a boyfriend or girlfriend if she sways in that direction, so, so much more to look forward to with Naruko." Anko's femininity came out in full force.

Kakashi was suddenly transfixed on Anko. {Is that really Anko, I've known her since we attended the academy together, but I've never seen Anko act feminine, ever, she looks so beautiful.} Anko acting so feminine in front of Kakashi as caused him to become infatuated with her.

"Actually, I'm a little embarrassed to be heard saying all this cheesy girly stuff, but I can't help it, Naruko has made me so happy that I just want to tell the whole world." Said Anko, feeling giddy about the girl she had adopted and looking forward to seeing Naruko grow up.

"I think it's wonderful Anko, I think this new you is much more attractive and makes it harder not to look at." Saying that he genuinely liked the new Anko, Kakashi looked at Anko and found that she was suddenly blushing.

{Shit! Did I really just say that out loud! The old Anko would never be touched by such words, but the new Feminine Anko might. Shit! Stupid, idiot Kakashi!} Kakashi panics inside, the old Anko wouldn't have cared less about such flirtatious words, but the new Anko looks like she actually cares.

{I never would have cared for such flirtatious words before Naruko came into my life, but hearing them now makes me happy, I've always thought Kakashi was cool, even the old me, but to the new me he definitely seems cooler, and hearing him say those words to me makes me happy.} Anko turns her head away from Kakashi, trying to hide her blush, but she smiles.

"Well, I can't guarantee anything, but meeting Naruko might help you too." Said Anko, trying to suppress her blush but failing. "Being around Naruko is like being around Kushina, but a Kushina with Minato's ability to learn things quickly, you could even help her become a powerful shinobi like her parents were." Anko manages to suppress her blush to look at Kakashi seriously again.

"Kakashi, everyone in Konoha and maybe even the whole world knows that Naruko has the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed inside her, she'll need all the support she can get from as many people as possible, besides there are things only men can teach children that women can't, I want her to have male role models in you, Asuma and even Gai, despite all his goofiness he's someone I can trust with my life just like I can with you and Asuma. Please meet her just once, if you don't want to see her again until she's an official kunoichi, that's fine." Anko stands up and walks back in front of Kakashi, blush rising to her face. {Kurenai, I'm about to put all of your lessons on being more feminine into practise.}

Anko puts her hands flat together and places them next to her left cheek, she presses her hands into her cheek, closes her eyes and forms the best natural smile she can, then tilts her head slightly to the right. "Kakashi, please meet Naruko, it would make me really happy if you would." Anko said with the most feminine and flirtatious voice she could manage without it sounding unnatural, accompanied by a peach background with pink flowers moving on it.

{What kind of genjutsu am I looking at? That's like Gai's beach scene genjutsu.} Kakashi knows this is what Kurenai uses on Asuma, and Anko is using it on him, it's not actual genjutsu but something more along the lines of what Gai does when being overdramatic.

{Damn it, it's working, I definitely think this new Anko is much more attractive than old Anko. I, I can't resist it. I'm, I'm being caught by her genjutsu, it's affecting me, it's super effective, no, no, no...} Kakashi suddenly sighs in defeat. "Alright, I have to meet Naruko sometime, might as well make it sooner rather than later." Kakashi stood up looking defeated, giving in to Anko.

"Yes!" Anko cheers at her success, she immediately wraps her arms around Kakashi's right arm. "There's no take backs or refunds, now let's go." Anko grinned in victory. Anko and Kakashi left the Hokage Tower.

Streets of Konoha

12:35

Anko and Kakashi walking together, Anko's arms still wrapped around Kakashi's right arm, they meet Asuma and Kurenai with Naruko and Sakura. Kizashi had brought Sakura to play with Naruko at the Mitarashi household, Anko told him that she needed to register Naruko at the hospital, do a full medical check-up, make a full medical record and have Naruko vaccinated. The problem is that the village still hates her and Naruko and the hospital will turn them away.

Kizashi was the one who suggested Anko to get an official order from the Third Hokage, since it's a matter concerning Naruko, Kizashi had no doubt that he'd give Anko that order, it's a direct order from the Hokage, failure to comply will lead to severe consequences.

So Anko called Kurenai on the house phone and asked if Kurenai could watch Naruko and Sakura for her so she could ask the Third Hokage for help regarding Naruko and the hospital, which Kurenai accepted without hesitation.

Asuma, Kurenai, Naruko and Sakura notice Kakashi with Anko on his right arm. {We're so going to get a few miles out of this.} Thought Kurenai and Asuma at the same time.

Kakashi and Anko were almost always among those who teased Asuma and Kurenai for being a couple, something they always denied, and now seeing Anko and Kakashi seemingly together as a couple, they wanted revenge.

"Yo! As it happens, I ran into a little lady in trouble and she dragged me here to help." Kakashi uses one of his many excuses for being late, or in this case, why he's with Anko.

"Kurenai, I used the trick you taught me to seduce him into meeting Naruko." Said Anko to her surrogate big sister, and Kurenai gave her surrogate little sister an approving thumbs up.

"I'm still going to tease you for this, call it payback for all your teasing." Kurenai said seriously.

"Ah, jokes on you, I can tease you because you deny it, but you can't tease me if I don't deny it." Retorted Anko shamelessly, Kakashi sighed as he realised Anko had just made him her boyfriend.

{Poor fool, I feel sorry for Kakashi, Kurenai and Anko are two girls who won't take no for an answer.} Asuma thought feeling sorry for Kakashi.

The moment Naruko and Sakura caught sight of Kakashi, they were immediately fascinated by how cool Kakashi looked, with open mouths, eyes becoming three times bigger and lots of sparkles in them. "He looks so cool..." They both said at the same time in a high pitch.

Naruko ran towards Anko and Kakashi. "Who, who is this super cool ninja?!" Naruko shouted, pointing at Kakashi.

Sakura ran up beside Naruko. "Are you Aunt Anko's boyfriend?!" Sakura is still a simp for romance.

"Yes Sakura, he's my boyfriend." Anko replied to Sakura without hesitation.

{Why didn't I take the long way to the Hokage Tower today? I could have told Lord Hokage that I ran into a big cat and that's why I had to take the long way, but no, I wanted to be on time for once and got dragged into this.} Thought Kakashi dejectedly.

{Damn, Anko went straight in guns blazing, I definitely can't tease her if she doesn't deny it, most of the fun comes from teasing someone for denying it.} Thought Kurenai disappointed because she couldn't tease Anko.

"Naruko, this is Kakashi Hatake, he was your father's student, I brought him here to meet you because he knew your father Minato." Anko stopped beating around the bush and told them why Kakashi was here.

"Oh wow, you knew my father." Naruko clasped her hands together in front of her stomach and then bowed to Kakashi. "It's a pleasure to meet you Kakashi, I'm Naruko Mitarashi, you can also call me Namikaze or Uzumaki instead of Mitarashi if you want." Said Naruko very politely to Kakashi.

It doesn't matter if Naruko says she is a Mitarashi, Namikaze or Uzumaki, they all became feared names during the Third Great Ninja War. Guren Mitarashi, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki all had enemies who would kill Naruko for just carrying one of these three family names.

"Which of her birth parents does she take after the most? Minato or Kushina?" Kakashi asked, looking to Anko who had let go of his arm, she had declared him her boyfriend, but she wasn't going to be the clingy girlfriend, whether she was the old Anko or the new Anko.

"So far I'd say she's a strong mix of both, she has the constant childlike energy that Kushina always radiated even as an adult, and it has the same effect of making you forget your traumas when you're around her, but there's definitely Minato in her, she's very mature for her age and she can absorb information quickly, down to the smallest detail." Anko gave Kakashi an honest answer.

"Yes, Kushina had that kind of energy, it's called "The Energy of a Pure Heart", the best way I can describe it, it is someone who was able to keep their innocence in childhood into adulthood and throughout their entire lives. But make no mistake, these people can and will kill if you pose a threat to them and the lives of their loved ones, if you aren't an enemy, their kindness towards others is unconditional, their friendship is the greatest thing you can have if you can meet someone like that." Kakashi explained what the energy of people like Kushina and Naruko is called.

Naruko tugs at Kakashi's pants to get his attention, Kakashi kneels down in front of Naruko, Naruko gives Kakashi a dandelion she picked. "This is for you, Kakashi." Said Naruko with a big smile full of innocence.

"Thank you Naruko." Kakashi took the dandelion, but was suddenly hugged by Naruko.

"Please don't be sad anymore, Kakashi, be happy." Naruko could somehow sense Kakashi's sadness, which shocked everyone except Sakura.

{Naruko is a good girl who likes trying to make everyone happy.} Sakura thought to herself happily.

{Anko was right, she does have the Energy of a Pure Heart, I can feel my heart starting to get warmer being in her presence.} "I'll try to be happier." Kakashi returned the hug, a tear escaping from his one visible right eye.

{After losing Obito and Rin, Kushina was the first person who tried to comfort me, I never said anything to her, but she could sense my sadness, during my grief she was like a mother to me, Minato didn't have the same ability, but he too comforted me because of Kushina, he was like a father to me. When I learned that they were killed during the Nine-Tailed Fox's attack on Konoha, it hit me even harder than the loss of Rin and Obito.} Kakashi remembered the special bond he had with Kushina and Minato.

"She's wonderful, thank you for persuading me to meet her, Anko." Said Kakashi from the bottom of his heart. "Would you mind if I visited her from time to time?" Asked Kakashi, looking directly at Anko.

"You'd better start visiting us, for Naruko and because you're my boyfriend now." Said Anko, crossing her arms and looking away from Kakashi blushing, she had told everyone that he was her boyfriend, she didn't want to be teased by Kurenai and Asuma for lying.

"Alright, I promise I'll come to see you, I don't want to incur the wrath of my new girlfriend." Said Kakashi coolly, before sighing exhaustedly. "But I've got to go now, I'm exhausted from my long mission, from what the elders did, from Naruko trying to heal my heart and Anko suddenly making me her boyfriend." Kakashi wasn't lying, he's exhausted both physically and mentally.

"Alright, go get some rest, Gai is also on a long-term mission, he should be back soon too, you're going to need all the mental and physical health you can get when he gets back." Said Anko cheerfully.

"Yes, my eccentric best friend Might Gai, I better go get some rest before he comes back." Said Kakashi, even more exhausted at the thought of interacting with Gai, and with that Kakashi Body Flickers away.

Naruko ran to where Kakashi was standing and tried to find him, she looked to Sakura. "He's so cool!" Naruko exclaimed.

Sakura ran to Naruko coming face to face. "Super duper cool!" Shouted Sakura just as loudly.

Asuma sighed. {Damn, I wish I had done that first to look cool in front of Naruko. But who am I kidding, Kakashi was born to look cool, I bet he was born with that mask on.} Asuma grinned imagining Kakashi wearing his mask as a newborn baby.

To Be Continued

Next Chapter - Chapter 12 - Fountain of Youth, Might Gai

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