By: Selim
Summary: When the newlywed Iruka wants to adopt a child, he meets a discriminated boy named Naruto with a dark past. Can Iruka and Kakashi obtain a small family with the boy, or lose him back to the boys original parents..
Pairings: Kakashi x Iruka, Sasuke + Naruto
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Information of this fiction: This is a slight AU. Though it has to do with Ninjas, has Kyuubi, and both Kakashi and Iruka are at designated jobs in the manga, some things are different. Instead of 25, Iruka is only 22, and Naruto is 9 along with all the other kids he grew up with in the manga. Beware of OOCness, because there are so many characters, and the amount of manga I’ve read only introduced a few.
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Iruka glared at his lazy husband. He thought he’d given the jounin a list of chores that would need to be completed before their guests would arrive. Judging by the copy-ninja’s laid-back nature, the man didn’t have any plans to even start putting breakables away so they couldn’t be broken. Slim fingers flipped a page in the small orange book – worth more now than before since it had the authors name inscribed on it with a note – before he started chuckling about something going on within it. “Kakashi…” He hissed under his breath. Bored eyes glanced up at him before returning back to the black and white pages. “You b*****d! Aren’t you going to help me straighten up like you promised?”
Glancing up again, Kakashi shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t remember promises. I said I might-ow!” He sat up to avoid the next projectile coming towards him only to be slapped upside the head by a wet dishrag. “What’d I say?” He glanced up just as the rag came towards his head again. On reflex, he caught it this time and yanked it from the chuunin’s hand. “What’s wrong?”
With narrowed eyes, Iruka marched back into the kitchen to continue making party favorite foods and some homemade ramen – Naruto’s favorite. The last few days had been nothing but trouble for the two shinobi. From various letters stating distaste that Naruto was still alive on this day to bodily threats came by the truckloads, all for one holiday - the anniversary of the Kyuubi attack, or Naruto’s birthday.
Iruka asked Naruto if he’d ever had a birthday before, when they had first brought the child home, but Naruto had said he never celebrated such. Most families that had children born on that day had changed their child’s birth date. Naruto was a child who didn’t get that option and would always be haunted by the fact that his birthday would be celebrated on a day where people felt remorse or mourned for the dead. It was also the day that the day that the Kyuubi Defeat Festival took place, where, to raise the mood, festival games involved defeating foxes. It wasn’t something Iruka wanted Naruto to see, ever.
“Don’t pull the silent treatment on me, Iruka. Tell me what’s wrong.” Kakashi wrapped his arms around his lover, swaying their waists together. When he didn’t hear a reply he brushed his mask against Iruka’s neck, coming up with his own answers. “Iruka was ‘o so horny’ last night, but his knight wasn’t home to deal with that boner-”
“Ew! No!”
“Then Iruka is horny now-”
“I’m not horny you b*****d! I’m pissed off that you aren’t helping me set up for Naruto’s first birthday! Unlike most kids who won’t remember theirs, he will, and I don’t want him remembering you reading porn, the party being a flop, and people throwing goddamn rocks against our window!” Iruka stormed into the living room where a clicking of rocks continued to slam against the glass. Throwing the window open, he began screaming outside for the delinquents to ‘leave them the hell alone’. Finally, Iruka collapsed on the couch, his head in his hands.
Sitting beside his lover, Kakashi laced their fingers together. “You’re dwelling too much on all this. Stop being a worrywart. I think Naruto’s enjoying today so far and can’t wait for all his friends to show up since they are coming. I’ll work, but you have three hours before the first kids will come. Itachi is bringing Sasuke, so they’ll be here first – Itachi’s seen our house at its worse so he couldn’t care less.”
Glaring over, Iruka stood up again and grabbed his broom to start cleaning the floors. “The Hyuugi Clan, Inuzuka Clan, Aburame Clan, Akimichi Clan, Haruno Clan, Nara Clan, and the Yamanaka Clan! They’re all so influential in Konoha and are going to be in this house! It’s a miracle that they are even accepting Naruto with the Kyuubi and they can give us a good word with the hokage during the final hearing!” He knew for a fact they didn’t have the Uchiha’s word if worse came to worse. The main clan had spoken with Kakashi about keeping their demon away from their sons. Itachi was sneaking Sasuke here because Naruto had asked. A soft clicking sound filled the room again causing Kakashi to roll his eyes and disappear from the couch just as the doorbell rang. Frowning, Iruka approached the door and stared down the peephole. “Who is it?”
“It’s Yuki!” A soft voice called back. “May I come in, Hatake-san?”
“Oh, sure. One second.” Iruka unlatched the door and allowed the woman to enter with a large, homemade cake. Vanilla frosting smothered the chocolate cake with orange foxes in random spaces, adding expression to the food. “Thank you for coming Shizuki-san. Naruto! Your mother’s here!” Iruka yelled down the hall.
From Naruto’s bedroom, a squeak echoed before the pounding of feet came towards them. Naruto was dressed from head-to-toe in an orange jumpsuit. In his arms was his pet fox, dangling midair in hopes to escape as whines touched deaf ears. “Mom! This is Karu-kun!” He held the small fox up, earnestly.
“Sweety, that’s a wild animal, you should have left it out in the wild.” Yuki put her cake dish on the table and reached her arms out to take the pup. The little animal squealed and tried to flee again, towards Iruka. “Hatake-san, where’s your husband?”
Squealing, Naruto took his pet out of his mother’s arm, cuddling it close. “Karu was orphaned after his mom was killed. Iruka said I could keep him only if I take care of him. Besides, Kakashi said that once I fed him that he will no longer want to do his hunting by himself, and the animal care centers don’t want foxes. I checked.” Kissing the fox on the nose, Naruto let it whine against his neck again.
“Naruto, go take Karu outside, make sure you pick up after him.” Iruka sat at the table, eyeing the party supplies he’d put out. When Naruto left the room, Iruka laid his head in his hands, explaining about the villagers’ actions recently with the Kyuubi attack anniversary. “He probably took those pedestrians to the hokage – probably just to get out of his chores. Shizuki-san, this cake looks positively delicious!”
Blushing, Yuki rubbed the back of her head. “Well, thank you for letting me make it. This is the first birthday I’ve been able to enjoy with my son, though I’m upset that Toshi didn’t want to come over tonight. He’s visiting family in Wave Country, like he usually does around this time. He…sends his regards back to Konoha.” Grimly, she stared at her hands, tugging at the base of her blouse.
“It seems more, to me, that he just doesn’t want anything to do with his son. Now does he, Shizuki-san?”
“Kakashi!” Iruka hissed.
“In fact,” Kakashi ignored his husband, “I don’t think he’s even serious about this entire adoption process. Hell, he would smile and laugh if Naruto was put in front of a firing squad. Don’t cover up for his disdainful actions, Shizuki-san. You’re much better than that.” With an air of dignity, the jounin walked past the shell-shocked woman and towards the stove, quickly scooping up some ramen broth to eat. Glaring over at him, Iruka placed a comforting hand on Yuki’s shoulder but the woman just brushed it away and walked out the patio door to sit with Naruto. “Mm. This is good.” Kakashi slurped some more broth.
“And it’ll soon be all you’ll be able to eat you b*****d!” Iruka grabbed the ladle and threw it back in the pot. “Why did you say that to her?”
“It’s the truth.” Kakashi sat at the table. “We’ve changed our ways – you, me, and Yuki – but he still hasn’t. Instead of remaining solemn all day due to the deaths of our love ones from the Kyuubi, we are celebrating Naruto’s birthday when no one else has. We were lucky to get calls back from his classmates, saying they’ll come – only after they pay their respects. We’re going later, after the festival when it’s less crowded to protect Naruto, but we’ve decided not to sulk anymore. Naruto’s our future! If that abusive husband of hers can’t accept that his life is going to have another man’s child in it, it’s his loss.”
Iruka sighed, staring out the patio door as Yuki played with Naruto and Karu. Kakashi was depressing him. “Where did you take those boys?”
“Dropped them off at the hokage residence, tied up. When the chakra seal is opened from their mouth, they’ll automatically say all the harassment they’ve done. Hokage-sama is in for quite a surprise when he returns to his office after ceremonies.” Kakashi dipped his finger into the broth and pulled out a noodle, sucking it down.
“Ew! Kakashi, don’t put your dirty fingers in that!” Iruka slammed the ladle against the side of the jounin’s head. Absently, Kakashi moved away from the stove and fell against the couch again. “Aren’t you ever going to put away the breakables, you a**?” Iruka hissed lowly.
Kakashi decided to ignore the Chuunin in favor of his little orange book. He never saw the ladle coming towards his head.
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“Thank you Itachi-kun.” Iruka smiled, putting goodie bags away above the refrigerator. The ANBU Captain gave a small upturn of his lips before putting the empty candy bag in the trash. Children’s laughter flooded the living room, covering a jounin’s body – a game Iruka favored as “Attack the Lazy Pervert.” Though the children just saw it as rough housing, each had banded together to bring the older, stronger, and supposedly ‘cooler’ man down. If Kakashi was actually trying to fight back, he wasn’t showing it.
Even though the house was filled with nearly nine children, only four adults (and one pre-teen wanting to be an adult) were present to care for all these children, but it seemed like the children were multiplying like rabbits. Sasuke, who was reserved and wouldn’t lower himself to roughhouse in the slightest bit without training purposes, sat on the couch, petting Naruto’s fox. Two other friends of Naruto’s, Shikamaru and Shino, were equally as reserved and preferred to sit quietly in a corner and watch the play. Both Hyuugi’s, trained only to be proper, sat quietly and watched the play, though Hinata seemed willing to join in the play.
Inuzuka-san, Kiba’s mother, had asked to help make ‘little Naruto’s’ first birthday memorable. Holding no grudged against the child, she smiled pleasantly at the child with no regret or hatred – one of the first Naruto had ever had. With her hair braided back, she explained when she arrived that she was aware none of the other parents planned on taking care of these children this night, since many (though told) held no real understanding for the Kyuubi attack, since all had been babies during the time. Optimistically, she laughed cheerfully at Iruka’s concern of what she meant, rubbing the back of her head. “I personally believe that Yondaime-san would have wanted us to go on with our lives, and not dread the past. I gave my blessing to those that died, but I wouldn’t want my uncle to see me sad anymore. He wouldn’t want me to pity him, since he died doing what he loved. These children, they’ll only know that a demon killed family members, but will hold no ties to that person, since they’d have never known them. Do you cry for your great grandfather? No, of course not.” With a quirky smile, she went towards the living room to talk with Yuki.
Blinking, Iruka couldn’t hold back the smile. He agreed, but he still planned on going to the memorial that night and showing his parents the child he was fighting for. “Itachi-kun, will you be joining us for the festivities after the party, or are you taking Sasuke home?”
The oldest child breathed deeply. “I think I will leave Sasuke with Naruto for a while tonight, it does him good.” With that said, he went out to the living room, leaving Iruka alone in the kitchen.
Smiling, Iruka leaned against the refrigerator. Naruto’s voice echoed in a squeal across the room as he was lifted up by Kakashi; all the children lowered themselves from their places, knowing that one man could easily out number all of them. Sasuke, who had been quiet the entire time, reacted by running towards the jounin, ready to attack the offending character that held Naruto in captivity. Wincing, Kakashi put Naruto on the ground, vanishing from the center of the children. Reappearing, he grabbed Iruka (who screamed angrily due to the action) and vanished again, outside on the patio.
When Kiba had arrived at the party, he carried his puppy (a newborn pup that no longer needed to be with its mother all the time), flaunting it towards Naruto. Not wanting it in the house, Iruka politely asked the hyperactive child to put the puppy outside with Naruto’s fox. At some point, they both had come back inside. Sighing, sat on the ground, glaring at his husband. “Why’d you take me with you? Now I’m their target as well.”
“No you’re the victim. They’re going to run out here to save Iruka-sensei.”
Snorting, Iruka leaned back. “I hope they eat you alive.”
“How would you ever get laid if I weren’t here?”
“Gai’s offered.” Iruka trained his expression, intently staring at Kakashi’s expression.
At first it was narrowed, as if he were thinking on how to kill the other jounin. Then he thought about if this was true, before he became thoughtful. After what seemed forever, he smiled behind his mask. “I don’t believe you, but I’ll take in what you said. Any other potential lovers you want to tell me about?”
Stifling a giggle, Iruka leaned his head on his knees. The children, who once seemed to stare at them eagerly from inside of the house, had chosen to go towards Naruto’s bedroom rather than continue going after Kakashi. “Well, Gai for when you’re not around. I always saw myself with one of the other academy teachers – but I’ll leave who it is to your imagination.”
“Hatake-san,” Yuki opened the door, staring at the two parents, “The children are whining for food, can we start serving them?”
Smiling, Iruka stood up (popping his knees painfully in the process) and walked in the house. “Yes, it’s about time now. Itachi-kun, go round up the children will you?”
Wearily, Itachi nodded. From the distance, Iruka could hear something about Itachi not handling his brother if kissing was going on.
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In two lines were eight children, giggling and laughing as parents tried herding them through crowds. They were trying to get to the center of the festivities where the children’s parents would be coming to pick them up. Though several remained quiet, like before a selected few gave off enough noise to multiply the amount of children. Squealing, Sakura (a young girl with, ironically, sakura blossom colored hair) wrapped her arms around Sasuke’s arm, trying to pull him towards a game she saw. Another little girl, a blonde, grabbed Sasuke’s arm and tried to pull him in the other direction, but being the cool ten-year-old he was, Sasuke didn’t yield to their request. Instead, he continued walking with the group, his eyes on Naruto.
The small blonde, who seemed to be having the best day of his life, had his hand clasped with his mother’s, swaying it in the air as he talked on and on about nothing. It was agreed that after the festival, Yuki would take Naruto home with her and, in the following days, later Iruka would take the child home with him from school. Kakashi was okay with this schedule, since for those days Toshi would not be in Konoha.
Said jounin was in the back of the group, his nose in his covered orange book. Though his eye would scan the pages, anyone who knew him personally would be aware that he was watching the people around them. Unlike the children who were pointing and ready to run off and play, he noticed the glares and whispers directed in their directions. It had seemed the other parents also noticed this, because they closed in around the children.
“Sakura!” A flowery voice called out, causing the small girl the squeal. Haruno-san stepped out of the crowds and took her daughter’s hand. “Thank you for taking care of her this evening, Hatake-san!” She bowed politely before turning back to the crowds. After her encounter, several other parents came forth to pick up their children; politely thanking the Hatake’s for caring for each child that evening, until only Kiba, Naruto, and Sasuke remained in the group. Turning towards them, Inuzuka-san smiled and bid her farewell with her son and the small puppy.
Turning to Itachi, Iruka prepared to ask if the man would leave as well, but the ANBU Captain beat him at it. “Sasuke-kun wanted to spend the evening with Naruto, for the fireworks, then we must take our leave. O-Our parents are unaware that he’s spent the day with Naruto, I have them believing I’m training him.”
“It’s all right.” Iruka smiled. “Though…we’ll be right back. Kakashi and I want to take Naruto to the Kyuubi Memorial. We’ll meet you on just before the fireworks.” Yuki relented her hold on Naruto’s hand, letting the child run towards his other parental figures as Kakashi’s orange book disappeared in favor for various, yellow flowers. “We’ll come find you, Yuki-san. Could you…maybe stay with Itachi-kun, so it’s easier?” Nodding, the three others disappeared in the crowds, leaving the Hatake family standing in the center of glares.
Carefully, the three maneuvered their way through the crowds (though it was much easier for Naruto since the crowds seemed to move away from him in waves), Iruka in front and Kakashi in back, ready to take care of their child. They didn’t have much to say as they approached the flooded memorial. Gifts upon gifts lined around the stone, flowers and teddies, candles and sweets. Though, within a few days, they’d be cleaned up, it looked beautiful at that moment. Careening light spread around the obstacles, fading in and out as they approached.
Kakashi handed the flowers to Naruto, and gave the child a small push forward. Breathing deeply, Naruto rested the flowers directly in front, never making eye contact with the glaring granite. “Obito-san,” Kakashi whispered, loud enough for only his small family to hear, “this is my family, the one I’ve told you about all year…” It was enough, before he fell silent, his eyes falling to the ground.
Staring up at them, Naruto’s lips twitched. “Conscience-san says he is sorry.” Though he was confused with what he had meant, he accepted it, letting his fingers touch the aged surface. Like that, he fell silent with Kakashi, his fingers continuing to brush the engraved names. Awkwardly, he started talking again, though not to either Iruka or Kakashi, or to any relatives he might have, but just saying the names after he touched them.
Mom, Dad, look at my life. I know you’ll be so proud of me. Iruka fell to his knees and bowed low. I didn’t marry a woman, as you would have wanted me to, but I now can’t see myself with any of them. Actually, I couldn’t see myself with anyone woman – or man – after I met Kakashi the night of the Kyuubi attacks. I’m not sure how I’m going to look at this day anymore, since it’s the day I lost you two, meet Kakashi, and it’s my son’s birthday, but I think I’ll manage.
Yes, mom. Soon, you’re going to be a grandma. We hope. Kakashi and I are in the middle of the adoption process. This April, we’re going to the Hokage to see who has full entitlement of Naruto – his biological family, or us. I hope we get Naruto, though I will always allow Yuki to spend whatever time she – and Naruto – want together.
That’s what’s happened this year. It’s been nerve racking, but I know in the end this will all be worthwhile. Standing up, Iruka laced his fingers with Kakashi’s, addressing Naruto that they were going to go back to see Yuki and the Uchiha boys. Even if Konoha doesn’t like Naruto’s existence, or Kakashi and my relations, I wouldn’t trade my life for anything. I love you, mom and dad.
“Iruka! Iruka!” Naruto grabbed Iruka’s hand as they started walking in the direction of the main hills, and Itachi’s alarming chakra signature. “Can we get ramen?”
Alarmed, Iruka stared over Naruto’s lithe form. “You had that for dinner!”
“So? I’m hungry for ramen!” Naruto squealed as Kakashi lifted him in the air. “Ramen! Ramen!”
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