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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With precision, Naruto tossed another rock at Sasuke’s window, waiting for the dark haired individual to open the glass and answer his hectic calls. He’d been doing this act for nearly an hour, and still had no response from the dark haired boy. Maybe this wasn’t Sasuke’s bedroom? Naruto darkened in color. His arm was starting to hurt, he’d hate if this was all for naught. Finally, the window was thrown open, and Sasuke snarled out hotly, “Stop that, idiot! I don’t want to talk to you!”
“But-!”
“Because of you, Itachi is a listed missing nin!” He hissed. “I never want to talk to you, again!” The window slammed shut, leaving a dazed Naruto in the yard, staring up with tear-filled eyes.
“I-I’m sorry!” Naruto wiped his eyes before turning around to leave before the other Uchiha’s found that he was on their property. Or that anyone found out he was snuck out of his mother’s house at two in the morning he’d be in trouble – again. He already felt really bad that Iruka and Kakashi were in trouble for his actions – he hadn’t seen them in nearly two weeks! Sniffling, he rubbed his nose, catching some running droplets of snot threatening to fall. “Stupid, Sasuke.” He didn’t know what he was missing!
Deciding it was time to go home, Naruto shifted his orange, bulky jacket, and picked up speed. He was going to ask Sasuke to join him in looking for Karu, who had disappeared in the training woods back when they were attacked by missing ninjas. He had asked Kakashi to look for Karu before he went over to his parents, but Kakashi had other things to do – like looking for Itachi – so he hadn’t been in Konoha more than five hours within the last week. Iruka had been locked up in his apartment, guarded by an ANBU member, so he wasn’t much help.
Passing the public bathhouse, Naruto stopped when he heard a voice around him, causing him to tense in fear. The person wasn’t talking to him, it sounded more like the person was talking to himself or herself, which made Naruto somewhat curious as he turned towards the bathhouse – and the source of the voice.
“Every damn time… Do they have to cover the hole…Maybe I should change the location, so it’s not expected…” An old man was bent on his knees, staring through a flimsy hole he’d just made. Unhappy with it, he began to make the hole bigger, never looking up when Naruto approached him – that was until Naruto’s stepped right next to him did he even bother to glance up. “What do you want?” He asked, not bothering to hide the fact that he was vandalizing a public building.
“What are you doing?” Naruto yelled, trying to look tough.
The old man narrowed an eye at the boy, but didn’t stop fixing his hole to the bathhouse. “What does it look like I’m doing, brat. I’m trying to have a look out for the next few days while I’m in Konoha.”
“I’m going to tell the own-” Naruto halted when the old man’s hand pressed against his lips. The two glared equally at each other before turning to glare at a wall. With his mouth uncovered, Naruto finished what he was going to say, “-er, you’ll have to repair this bathhouse.” When he and Kakashi were mock fighting in the living room of Iruka’s apartment, they’d broke quite a bit of objects that they had to repair before Iruka found out. Of course, the man did find out, mostly because Kakashi couldn’t glue a vase well enough to save his life.
The old man didn’t seem to impress by Naruto’s accusations though. “He lets me do this.”
To anyone else, it would appear a patent lie, but for Naruto it seemed reasonable. “Oh… Okay then.” He turned around to leave. “Okay then, old man. Just don’t stay out for too long.” He warned. As he was about to leave the area, his arm was grabbed, pulling him to a stop. “What’d you do that for, old man!” Naruto yelled, disrespectfully.
The old man just pulled the boy towards him, just in time as three kunais fell against the ground where Naruto had been, startling the child. “They’ve been following you for some time.” He stated. “I’ll take you home…uh…”
“This way.” Naruto pointed towards the right. “But I don’t need your help, I can get home on my own.” He pulled away and started to walk, the old man hot on his trail. “Leave me alone!” Naruto yelled behind him. The old man just ignored him. “Gr…” Naruto growled before picking up speed in a dead run, the old man (agile for his age, Naruto guessed) mimicked the movement. Not that long, Naruto stared at the house in front of him, his heart racing. Maybe this was why he was told not to sneak out anymore!
Running up the porch of the rickety old house belonging to his biologic parents (or so he knew), he grabbed the door handle, only to find the door locked. Tears fell from his eyes as he slammed a tiny fist into the door, yelling about how this old guy was chasing after him until the door opened and the child fell into his mother’s loving arms. “I don’t see anyone else, brat.” Toshi snarled, rubbing his shaved head in anger. “Get in here!” He pushed his wife and child into the house and slammed the door. “What the hell were you doing out there? Don’t you think you’ve caused more harm than good?” He yelled, causing Naruto to shiver in fear.
“Sweetie…”
“Put a sock in it, Yuki.” Toshi yelled. “Babying that brat isn’t doing any good. He thinks he can just break rules and get away with it, he has another thing coming!” He walked out of the room, towards one of the back rooms, returning with a belt at hand. Naruto’s eyes widened with terror, pulling himself from his mother’s arms and ran towards the back room, hands covering his butt cheeks in fear of being swatted with too much force.
In his mind, his own bedroom was the safest, like a haven made just for him. It didn’t come equipped with a lock - oh how he wished for a lock! Without defense, he knew it wouldn’t take much for Toshi to follow in behind him, but that didn’t stop him from sliding his desk in front of the closed door before crawling under his bed, carefully yanking the blankets to become a hideout, just as he’d done long before leaving the orphanage. It was his last barrier. Like a den where animals would hide until the hunter was gone. But this den didn’t work as such, it seemed to bring attention to him as the door was thrown opened and Toshi marched into the room.
“Toshi! Stop! You’re scaring him-!”
The man ignored his wife’s yelling as he reached under the bed and pulled Naruto out by the ankle, ignoring the child’s screams of fear. With quick motions, he threw the child’s lithe body over his lap, raised the belt to smack open cheeks.
Unbeknownst to them, black eyes from an aged face stared in the room, hidden by a tree that grew in the yard. The old man, Jiraiya, shook his head in shame, for who it was unsure, before disappearing without a trace.
~*~*~
Iruka’s eyes grew wide as he opened the door for the Hokage to step in their small apartment, followed by a very reluctant student of his, Jiraiya. The hokage smiled politely, thanking Iruka for granting them some time to talk, making light conversation before Kakashi returned with some groceries – milk, eggs, and other necessities they could get off the market. With the flow of money halted, they were balancing their costs.
Pouring them some tea he’d made with breakfast, Iruka sat at his usual seat, next to the head of the table (Kakashi’s seat), his eyes sparkled with delight that he could speak with someone besides Kakashi. “Jiraiya-san, why did you return to Konoha, if you don’t mind me asking.”
Gulping his tea, the man chuckled. “You’ll know in due time.”
“I feel he’s smothering me,” Sarutobi chuckled under his breath, “Two visits in one year.
Feeling Kakashi’s familiar chakra in the house, Iruka glanced over his shoulder before standing up to take the groceries from his husband’s arms to put them away. “Thanks.” He pecked his lover’s jaw. Smiling, Kakashi sat at the table and leaned forward.
“Here to tell us our house arrest was pushed to another two weeks?” He asked smugly. Sarutobi dismissed Kakashi’s words without problem. “What can we do for you, Hokage-sama?” He finally asked, playing himself in the proper role.
Sipping his tea politely, Sarutobi nodded. “Well, today your house arrest is over. I’m sorry for having to go to such lengths in punishment, but I couldn’t just let behavior slide.” Without waiting for their responses, he decided to continue. “I thought this over some, and spoke with Sasuke about what was going on there before the missing nins approached them. Sasuke says he was teaching Naruto how to control a clone.
“I’ve noticed from Naruto’s progress report, that he has a serious problem with chakra control. He isn’t able to perform the most simple of jutsus, which has me concerned about something. I want to see if he’ll have any problems with some more…complicated jutsus. I believe that, most children his age have a limited amount in their chakra reserves, which makes clones and other school age abilities simple, but Naruto leaks out the same amount of chakra a jounin would – just without control.”
Kakashi nodded with his arms clasped. “I’ve noticed this as well. He has so much chakra; he doesn’t know how much to apply to make a clone. Sometimes, older level shinobi fail to make a proper clone because they weren’t paying attention to their chakra level. It’s not that big of an issue though. He’ll probably just have to learn by starting off big, and narrowing it down on his own-”
“Are you suggesting that he start off with Kage No Bunshin?” Sarutobi breathed. “You know the council would never allow such – it could be too dangerous. But, you’re right. If he can understand first the basics of making a clone, we’ll see if the council will allow him to learn that one technique, then train down. No more no less.”
Jiraiya, who’d been sipping his tea observably, snorted. “What about other techniques? A Kage no Bunshin is just a group of solid clones. He may never learn to make a shadow clone that way. I suggest just forgetting a shadow clone, it doesn’t mean much. How often do we use one? Only genins do because no enemy is stupid enough to attack a fake Konoha ninja. Waste of chakra.”
Nodding, Sarutobi sipped his tea. “Let’s just wait for another day. I won’t bring this up again until graduation. I want a fully detailed report from both you and Mizuki on Naruto’s progress in that field, and we’ll go from there. I can’t pull strings for one child, it wouldn’t be fair.” That said, Sarutobi lit his pipe to prepare himself for a better discussion then that of Naruto’s academy education. “What I’m also concerned about with Naruto is if he’s getting a proper education here. It is…Yondaime’s wish that his son be seen as a hero, but we’ve failed to do that. It was also Arashi’s wish that his son not be narrowed in the light of opportunities.”
Jiraiya thanked Iruka when the nerve-struck Chuunin poured him another cup – like the proper host Iruka wanted to be. “At a point, I can tell he’ll have some…difficulties pushing himself because most of the instructors in Konoha either hold a grudge against him, or he’s just not powerful enough to control Kyuubi.”
Finally sitting down, Iruka clasped his hands tightly, to ease his nervousness. “Relax.” Kakashi whispered, reaching under the table to squeeze Iruka’s knee supportively. “I see. It’s also unethical for either Iruka or me to teach him, I know most of the other jounin instructors have no problem with Naruto.” Gai is trying to brainwash the kid into joining fake competitions between us…
Iruka blushed, pushing Kakashi’s hand from his knee. “What are you saying?”
Sarutobi leaned on his elbows. “We’ll have to have a jounin instructor start with Naruto. I know for a fact he’s going to graduate. Not this year, maybe next year, but he’ll get out of the academy. He has a strong will, like his father.” This caused Jiraiya to smile with a nod. “I want to observe how his relationship with a jounin instructor goes. If he’s being held back because a teacher is…unable to fit his needs, he’ll be switched to another instructor.”
“Any idea which one?” Iruka asked.
“His second one will be me,” Jiraiya said. “If the Jounin instructor is found suitable, I’ll return when he’s fifteen to teach him.”
“But, Jiraiya-sama, you’re never in Konoha very long, much less for the amount of time needed to train a child – no…” Iruka sat up completely. They couldn’t be thinking that! “Then why even allow this adoption to be if-” Iruka closed his mouth when Kakashi sharply glared at him for stepping out of line.
“The parents would have him for six years. This was arranged since he was little. You know the villagers wanted to kill him when he turns eighteen. If he’s out of Konoha training under a proper tutelage, then we don’t need to worry. Jiraiya will also teach him how to hold up defense on his own,” Sarutobi explained.
“Let’s see if I understand this,” Kakashi said, mostly to himself. “The final adopting family – we or the Shizuki –will further Naruto’s training with careful observation. If all goes well, by the age of fifteen Naruto will be placed under Jiraiya-sama’s care, which will require him to leave Konoha. If the jounin instructor is impartial to the fact that the boy is Kyuubi, or is unable to teach the requirements for Naruto to work with Kyuubi’s chakra, for Konoha’s benefit.”
Both Sarutobi and Jiraiya nodded. Iruka clutched his nails into his wrist, trying to remain calm as the Hokage and his old student stood up. “Thank you for your time though, if you have any questions, just come talk to me. Is this okay, Iruka? Iruka?” The old man leaned before the chuunin.
“Y-Yes.” The man whispered beneath his breath. From the corner of his eye, he could see Kakashi walk the Hokage out the door, properly departing them with best wishes before the house fell silent. It remained quiet for some time as cabinets opened and shut due to Kakashi. Finally, Iruka broke past his own bleared vision, glaring over his husband. “Why did you agree?”
“Agree?”
“To letting Naruto go with that -- that! -- Pervert!” Iruka slammed his hands against the table, his eyes narrowed with aggression. “We could lose him when he’s only eleven, damn it! Why bother adopting him if we’re not going to take care of him until he’s old enough to take care of himself!”
Kakashi remained calm and indifferent under his mask. “At least he would have had a family then, instead of suddenly being pushed from the orphanage into the care of a man he doesn’t know, out in a world he’s never seen before.”
“You call that reasoning!” Iruka slammed his hand again, allowing the pulsing to be a bandage on his anger, but not for long. “its preposterous thinking! Naruto’s going to loath Konoha for the way it’s treating him! He’s more of a secret weapon in war than a human being to the council! To the people he’s no more than another scum in society that should be destroyed!”
During Iruka’s ranting, Kakashi had begun cleaning the dishes. His mind played a mile a minute to the chuunin’s words. “Do you think he has anything else here? The minute Kyuubi was sealed in him, Naruto’s fate was sealed. Yondaime-sensei was stupid to think that Naruto would be seen as a hero! People are ignorant to what happens! Run by their emotions! You better drop yours as well, Iruka. You’re a shinobi. He’s our weapon, our perfect soldier-”
Slap!
Iruka brought his red palm down, clutching it towards his chest. “Don’t you dare call him a weapon,” he whispered in anger. “Don’t you dare say he’s another one of your soldiers; your trained killers.” His shoulders shook as his anger rose more. He knew he had trouble being the better man, his anger wanted to make him irrational; anger that wanted him to attack this man whom he loved out of rage. “When you went along with this adoption, you agreed to make him your son, or are you just doing this to gain favors with your Arashi-sensei.” I’ve stepped out of line, but I just can’t stop. “Does Naruto mean nothing to you? Or is he just another weapon to you, just like the council sees him? You sicken me if you are starting to think like these damn villagers.”
His words seemed to have struck something in Kakashi, for the usually laidback man gave him a look that could kill him ten times over. The man’s fist balled up, meaning he wanted to pursue the same animalistic rage that Iruka had nearly struck with violence. He’d be dead if Kakashi used violence to win this verbal argument, Iruka knew that.
“I won’t let them take him from me.” Iruka whispered. “Not at age thirteen, fifteen, or eighteen; he’s mine, Kakashi. My son.”
Grabbing the academy instructor’s shoulders, Kakashi snarled in anger. “Get your damn head out of the clouds! He’s not ours! He’s being considered for adoption, and we’re doing poorly for parents. He’s a shinobi anyway, he can’t have us holding him down the rest of his life. By the age of twelve, most genins are making money, and can be treated – and punished – like an adult. We don’t choose if he stays here, he does. You’re just going to have to let go!”
Shrugging himself out of Kakashi’s hold, Iruka marched himself into the backrooms (Naruto’s bedroom), and slammed the door shut behind him before falling to his knees with a flow of tears. “I won’t let him go. Not yet.”
~*~*~
Usually he could just teleport himself back to the hokage residence hall, but Sarutobi felt the need to take a walk with his old student. When they first left the Hatake house, Sarutobi could feel the heavy atmosphere Iruka was emitting, and knew it was best for his health to keep away from the chuunin. “That went well.” Jiraiya chuckled.
“Kakashi should get paid leave for being such a warrior.” Sarutobi chuckled. “But, not this time. Until a new ANBU Captain is assigned for Itachi’s team, Kakashi is taking the position.”
“Which is why I won’t get married.”
Taking his pipe from his mouth, the hokage couldn’t hide the laugh. “The ladies at the bath house wish differently. Maybe it’d keep you away from them if you had a little miss to hold you down.”
“Almost did, but she punched me.”
“Tsunade is a battle on it’s own. She’s as bad as you with commitment.” Jokes aside, Sarutobi leveled his eyes towards the old hermit. “Are you sure what you saw - The Toshi incident? Are you sure you weren’t mistaken for punishment for breaking the rules?” When his child was younger, he’d slap the child on the bottom repeatedly for disobeying.
Jiraiya frowned. “It wasn’t that. It didn’t seem restrained. He wasn’t punishing for going outside after hours, he was punishing for his own enjoyment. That look was the same of a torturer, Naruto his victim. That man – Toshi – is bad news. I know it. Watch him closely.” With that said, they parted.
~*~*~
Kakashi pushed Naruto’s bedroom door open, staring inside to find Iruka. As expected, the chuunin was still in there, crawled into Naruto’s bed, emotionally exhausted. Sighing, the jounin shut the door, stepping closer to the bed. “Iruka.” He addressed the man, in fear that something could subconsciously affect the man into attacking. His cheek still hurt from earlier. Sitting on the bed, he ran his hand through the flimsy pigtail before pulling the cheap rubber band out.
“Mm?” Iruka opened his eyes carefully. “Kakashi?” He glanced over his shoulder irritably at the jounin.
Leaning down, Kakashi pecked his lover’s lips. “I was out of line earlier about commenting Naruto was a weapon-”
“You called him a soldier too.”
“I never said such.”
“You were thinking it.” Iruka said, hotly.
Kakashi sighed, leaning back against the wall. “Maybe. What about you, being outrageous in your own claims. I’m putting too much into this just to please my old sensei, Iruka. Sure, I want to protect his only child, but I’m also doing this for you. Give me time before I can declare him my son, but I’ve accepted him as part of the family. Iruka, I understand your fears on letting Naruto go, but deep down, you know it’s for the best. He’s always going to be attacked because of the Kyuubi. It’ll only be worse if we don’t help him harness the power to protect himself. Besides, the minute we signed him up for the academy, we agreed.”
“Agreed to what?” Iruka whispered. He still saw students he taught every day. Maybe very few have ever died.
“Him being a weapon. We both know Konoha is going to use Naruto as their biggest force against enemies, and you know what?” He brushed his hands through Iruka’s hair.
“Hm?” Iruka reached over the clasp his fingers with Kakashi’s.
Brushing his lips against Iruka’s, the jounin couldn’t hide the pride in his uncovered eye. “Because he will protect Konoha on his own free will. He’ll use Kyuubi’s power for the good of Konoha not because he was told to, but because he wants to.” Climbing above Iruka, Kakashi held Iruka’s chin in his fingers. “That I promise you.”
Smiling, Iruka brought his fingers up against Kakashi’s mask and lowered it down, enough to see those lips that tried to conclude their fight peacefully. White skin from lack of sun, pale lips from being covered, those lips weren’t plump or full; they were perfect. Pressing his own with those of his lover’s, Iruka sealed that promise. “L-let’s, continue this in our room.” He finally breathed.
Hiking a leg over his shoulder, Kakashi laughed. “No need. We’ll just wash Naruto’s bedding tomorrow!”
“Eh-!”
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