Chapter Text
"You're Sensei's teammate?" Naruto asked, frowning at the girl a moment before grinning. "Well, since Sensei is our teammate and you are his teammate, I guess that means we are teammates. Welcome to Team Kakashi, Rin-chan!"
The girl stared at him a moment before smiling, "Thank you, ah...?"
"Uzumaki Naruto!" He introduced, rubbing the back of his head when he realized he just started talking without introducing himself.
Rin-chan let out an excited squeak that had her covering her mouth and he felt inexplicable fond of his new, if displaced, teammate when she spoke eagerly, "Uzumaki? As in Uzumaki Kushina?"
"Uh...yes?" He stalled a moment in shock over the girl whom looked as if she were about to tackle him in a hug or give a fan-like squeal. "She's my mom, if that's what you're asking."
She seemed to vibrate with barely-contained happiness and he chanced a glance to his other teammates, whom looked bemused, before she asked, "And your dad? It's Namikaze Minato, right?"
"Yes, h-" Naruto started, for once, warily.
The response was a very girlish and excited- or pleased- scream, "Sensei married Kushina-san! And they had a baby! This- this is amazing!"
"Uh," He said, confused. "I think so too? I mean, I'm glad to be born- dattebayo? Um..."
At another pleased scream-squeal ("You even have a tic like Kushina-san!") that was accompanied by an armful of new-teammate, he shot a pleading look toward his team. Yamato-taichō was laughing! Even Sakura-chan was laughing at him! And Sai would be no help at-
"Rabbit." Sai announced abruptly. "Nohara-san, from now on your nickname will be Rabbit."
Yamato-taichō seemed hesitant as he asked, "Why Rabbit?"
"Nohara-san is small, appears harmless and is exceedingly enthusiastic about sexual reproduction." Sai answered promptly. "She is Rabbit."
Rin-chan turned red in embarrassment and normally he would argue with Sai over the name, or the reasoning in this case, but Naruto was just glad to be free. And that the topic of his birth- of his parents having sex- was left alone as Sakura-chan proceeded to scold Sai.
Either Kakashi had been far less observant as a child or Tōsan was far more protective now then he was then. Though, he allowed, it was entirely possible that mentioning his death was what tipped the scale into overprotective as Sensei had went along with the insistence that he get a field-check even though it wasn't necessary; He had one broken rib to go with two cracked ones, he had a tenth of his chakra and he was flagging with exhaustion (had he been alone, he would have used his soldier pill by now to summon his ninken for a full night's rest as recovery) but he was fine.
Neither Tōsan nor Sensei seemed to believe him but, then, these days his team- barring Naruto, whom occasionally had his moments- didn't either when he said he was fine.
It was, he mused, as if they didn't trust him to take care of himself. Though, he allowed, his team knew when to press him into resting and when to listen to his assurances that he was capable of continuing.
Which made Tōsan's and Sensei's attempts to delay their departure the following morning all the more ridiculous.
"I know my limit, this is not it." He told them bluntly. "I have continued with worse injuries, the only thing for concern would be chakra- something that is not an issue after the full night's sleep you both bullied me into and I doubt any enemies we come across will require all three of us so the only chakra I will use would be for running, something which is hardly strenuous."
Back straightening and spine steeling metaphorically against an almost instinctive urge to obey the two people he looked up to most, Kakashi added. "I am aware that this is disconcerting for you but, while I respect your opinions, I find your attempts to coddle me- to tell me my limits- insulting. You, both of you, must see that I. Am. Not. A. Child. Not anymore."
It was something, he mused as he acknowledged that he almost folded under their attempts- that he would have if not for the people counting on him, that they would all need to remember.
Tōsan watched him and, when Kakashi met the gaze levelly, nodded in acknowledgement as the man's mouth quirked into a self-deprecating smile. There was worry in Tōsan's eyes and Kakashi doubted that his father would be any less protective but...
It was a start.
"You've been quiet." Sakura commented, taking a seat on the Nidaime's head beside her teammate as they both watched the crater fix itself thanks to Doton jutsu. "What's wrong?"
Naruto shifted as trees started to grow due to Yamato-taichō, "Rin-chan said Kakashi-sensei's Tōsan and Sensei are back also." She waited, knowing the blond would tell her. "My father is alive...why didn't Sensei let me see him?"
"Sensei has his reasons." She told him, mind flitting about in search of such reasoning.
The blond bit his lip briefly, "Yes but..."
"You can't help but feel angry at Sensei?" Sakura guessed, as that's how she would feel in such a situation.
Her teammate looked guilty, "I know it's stupid because Sensei wouldn't do this without a reason- a good one- but it's my father and- aarghh.."
Somewhat amused by how the blond let out the noise and flopped onto his back in exasperation but tactful enough (really, it was as if she were the only one on her team who wasn't a wreck when it came to social interactions- though Naruto got away with being so damn cheerful) not to do anything more then quirk a smile he couldn't, Sakura thought over something that would help.
Ah. "Since we're rebuilding the village, you can be the one to give him a tour when they get back."
"Really?" Naruto perked up before frowning, "But can we even build the village before they get back? The journey isn't that much..."
She sighed in exasperation, "Why did you even go to the Academy?" That got her a sheepish look but no response so she continued. "Kakashi-sensei will have to get an audience with the Daimyō first- which can take up to a week- and he'll have give a report on what happened along with explanations on how the three came back- which could take days if the Daimyō has other important matters to attend and needs something repeated- then he'll have to ask for help on the village's behalf which will take time as there will need to be a council to decide how much help will be given and what kind. Add to the fact that, being a renowned shinobi, it would be exceedingly rude if Sensei weren't to make an appearance- a formal one- at court."
By now the other was wide-eyed, "All that!? Why can't he just tell him we need help and bam! Help for Konoha!?"
"Because, that's just the way things are." She answered, adding musingly over the teen's 'The way things are is stupid, dattebayo', "There is also the issue of us being Hokage-less with Shishō in a coma which will have to be addressed and will likely lead to them being part of the Daimyō's escort as he'll come to Konoha since he has a say in the decision..."
With a teasing tone she added, "It's something to look forward to as future Hokage."
"Gah!"