Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“We have come to the conclusion that you are too unstable, and far too young to be in charge of a child. Let alone the jinchuuriki, Hound.” Lord Third says, taking a long puff of his cigarette. Hound nods quickly. He has a name. His name is Naruto Uzumaki. He cannot say, cannot speak out. It was far too risky to even dare ask.

Hound is one of the best the anbu have ever had in all their years. No point in letting him go so soon. “Along with that, we have also come to another conclusion.” Hiruzen says, looking him over. Hound just nods again.

“You are hereby prohibited to interact with Naruto. You are on his guard duty, but you are not allowed to talk to him. Only protect from the shadows.” 

Hound, instead of nodding, faltered; they couldn’t do this! That’s his brother. Silence was set among the Hokage’s office. Even their breathing was quiet, which wasn’t a surprise given that they were shinobi. “Lord Third,” Hound starts, but a flick of the wrist has other anbu leaking from the shadows, itching towards him. He isn’t going to get through to the man. “I understand.” But he doesn’t. 

Soon after that, he’s dismissed. For a moment (or rather a couple moments) he stands outside the office. He takes a deep breath, before body flicking to his apartment. His ninken perk up, tails wagging excitedly upon seeing him. A shaky breath escapes him while lowering himself onto the sofa. His anbu mask is shed and before long he’s surrounded. 

“Not good boss?” Pakkun asks, settling right in his lap. Kakashi soothes his hand over the fur behind his ears, nodding. His heart sinks heavily against his ribcage, his body feeling bigger than him. Big eyes stare up at him from all angles. At least he has them. He looks towards their food bowls, seeing remains of breakfast. Good, that meant Gai actually remembered his favour given to Kakashi. It leaves a warm smile on his face. 

January 10th. Harsh winter winds battle against Hounds cloak, thinner than paper. He’s perched on a tree just outside the villages local orphanage - Naruto Uzumaki lays in his crib, isolated. He’s been screaming bloody murder for at least 15 minutes, yet nobody has come to see him. It makes Hound wonder if some sort of seal has been placed around his room. It wouldn’t be a surprise. He should report this, shouldn’t he? 

He has not tried to obtain custody since that fateful day. The grief of his late sensei and his wife follows him round, clinging like a lost child, eating him alive day in day out. Not to mention the guilt; If Kushina Uzumaki knew that her son was being treated like some sort of monster, she wouldn’t stand for it. It’s been four months of torture for little Naruto, and all Hound could do was watch. 

Naruto wasn’t growing very much, but Hound didn’t think much of it. He didn’t really know much about babies in the first place. All he knew was that Naruto had big blue eyes accompanied by his vibrant yellow hair. He looked like Minato-sensei’s double. Ouch. Whenever he did get attention he was like a budding flower, not used to it. Everyday it was getting harder and harder not to interact with him. He was immediately put on watch shifts after his request was denied, making his frustrations worsen. Now, he wasn’t one to disobey the village rules (or was he?) by any means. But this is too much. It’s like the Hokage is stripping him of his last remaining family, tearing them at the seams. 

As soon as Hound gets home, he strips his identity and becomes Kakashi the jonin once again. It’s comforting, in an odd way. He refills the dog bowls, takes a long shower, and goes to bed even before the sun sets. The worn photo of his genin team stands mighty above his head, the corners crinkling inside the frame. Looking at it still hurts, all too fresh. To think, it all came crumbling down in a matter of three years. Even in sleep, he can’t seem to escape their innocent faces which were soon to be plagued with despair. Obito. Rin. Minato-Sensei.

Kakashi dreams of them and the newest addition to the nightmares are none other than Naruto. They always weigh on the heavier side of feeling real, and whenever he wakes up he is disoriented for a good couple hours. Maybe this is why he was rejected for being Naruto’s caretaker. Still feels highly unfair though. Naruto would feel better in a home, with his family. 

He’ll find a way to get his little brother back. All in due time. 

Chapter Text

Spring, summer, autumn, winter. Spring, summer autumn, winter. Spring, summer, autumn, winter.

Hound has been a consistent figure throughout the past three years in keeping a strict eye on the jinchuuriki naruto. If he’s not out on the highest ranked missions, he’s sat in the warn down tree by the top floor of the orphanage. Always watching. 

It’s on one of those days that, out of the blue, Naruto’s loud wails stopped. Although the boy was now over the age of three, it’s shown that he’s clearly behind on the developing side of things. He’s only recently learnt how to speak and even then it’s only in small portions; along with the simplest of words. The eerie silence alerted him and caused the tension to trickle up his back and seep into his skin like a venomous vine. 

Within seconds, he’s body flickering into the room. Naruto, curled in upon himself, cowers in the corner. Hound scans the room, initially finding no threats whatsoever. Confusion struggles against his normally adapt brain, as he takes in the small boys figure again. It’s the first time he’s ever seen him up close. He’s skinner than he should be and a little on the short side. His clothes are clearly too big for him, as well as his hair being greasier than oil. He’s still in the same position, but now, staring up at Hound with tears streaming down his face. He isn’t sure whether his presence is making the boy feel better or more scared.

“What’s the matter?” Hound asks, voice rough. It’s the first time he’s openly spoke in a couple days. Naruto flinches at the sound, clutching the small toy to his chest and whimpering. Hound himself cringes, setting himself down to a crouch. He puts his hands up, as if the blonde would know that he wasn’t a threat. It then hits that he shouldn’t be here, not now, not ever. It’s disobeying the Hokage’s rule completely- Especially since there’s no threat. And just like that, as quickly as he appeared, he disappeared. 

Summer.

The heat was unbearable in Konoha on an average day, but even more so during the summertime. Hound was lounging atop his usual tree, on watch duty. Luckily, anbu had a lighter uniform for days like this and he was utilising it. However, it seemed the child he keeps in his eyesight did not have those luxuries. 

His ‘caretakers’ (if you could even call them that) had hastily put him in a pair of baggy trousers and a two layered shirt. He had to be boiling. Yet, while all the other children got to play outside with the hose, Naruto was kept inside. For whatever reason, Hound doesn’t know. All he does know is that it’s wrong. In his heart, somewhere deep, he feels the chakra of Kushina Uzumaki berating him. And maybe that was what pushed him to get up from his spot with sweat clinging to his skin. Or maybe that’s what pushed him towards the window, stepping in through the thin crack. 

Naruto sat in the centre, babbling to himself as he played with some animal toys. Hound eyed him for a moment, before heading over to the chest of drawers to scrounge around for some slightly thinner clothes. It seemed that the small boy didn’t pay much notice to him, continuing his ‘talk’. Hound found what he considered suitable, and turned towards the boy. Carefully, he encroached on his personal space; once he was sure that he wasn’t going to be greeted by screaming and crying, he tried to pry Naruto’s shirt off. He quickly got him changed with ease. 

In a slight moment of doubt, he grabbed a hold of Naruto and body flicked him outside with all the other children. He set him down in the shade, then used the same technique to turn up behind one of the workers. “Let Naruto play outside. He is vital to this village, and if the Hokage knew, you’d be fired instantly.” Hound said, attempting to make his voice deeper than it actually is in his seventeen year old body. The woman gasps, and by the time she turns around, he’s gone. 

Winter.

Naruto’s fourth birthday had come and gone. The festivals to celebrate the day were steered clear of by Kakashi. He instead went to the small memorial stone, and stayed there until dawn when his body felt as if cold, bitter winds were the only comfort to him at that moment. 

Along with that, his eighteenth had also come and gone. Gai tried prying him out of his flat, but in the end they had just stayed in and watched a corny romance movie with his dogs. It was a nice change of pace. 

It was getting colder, and while on his duties as Hound, Kakashi had noticed that Naruto doesn’t have things fit for winter. They had started taking him out more with the other children, upon his threat, but that’s about all they’ve done. He still has thin covers to sleep with at night, no hats or scarfs or gloves. His shoes barely fit. It enrages him. 

Later that week, Hound slips into Naruto’s room while they’re all outside playing. He leaves a new blanket, much thicker than the rest, along with a bright red scarf and matching gloves. A small hat sits on top of his gifts. There’s also a colouring book, because he’s noticed that the smaller one’s taken a liking to learning colours. He knows there’s some worn down pens in his room somewhere. He’s recently started learning about animals as well, so he made sure it was a book based around the ones he knew; like dogs, cats, sheep, cows. The basics really.

It’s because of him learning those, that when Naruto happens to be dropped off to his room early, he gasps and exclaims, “Puppy!” Hound freezes. Then, finds it in himself to reply, “I’m not a puppy.” Naruto smiles at him, all tooth, and runs into the room fully. 

“Are too. Look at your mask!” He says, coming close and pointing. Hound crosses his arms, shaking his head. He sighs, looking everything over before leaving. 

Chapter Text

All available anbu were gathered in the Hokage’s office, earlier than most shinobi would even be awake for juty. Hound stands lazily, next to Cat. 

“Naruto Uzumaki is set to leave the orphanage.” Lord Third begins, catching Hound’s attention. He immediately stands taller, leaning forward slightly; some would say intrigued. The Hokage continues, “He is going to be living in an apartment around the edge of the village. He will be paid monthly allowances.” He explains, showing them an envelope. 

“All will have access to this apartment incase of emergency. However, very few will now be in his strict guard duty. He is starting the academy next month, and therefore won’t need watching as often.” This made Hound stiffen. What if he wasn’t apart of that watch? Then what? He couldn’t live with himself not knowing how Naruto is doing. He needs to know!

“Those apart of his guard will be Hound, Crow, Cat, Tiger and Viper.” His shoulders sagged, as if all his stress had been carried away by mythical beings. The others called out stepped forwards along with Hound, to bow to their leader. After that, they were quickly dismissed. Well, all but one. “Hound.” He stayed where he stood as everyone filtered out.

“Lord Third.” He replied once the room was empty apart from them two. The Hokage nodded, starting “You are almost 19, aren’t you?” He asks, lighting up his cigar. He gets a small nod in return. He hums. He takes a puff, before standing. He gestures for Hound to follow him. They walk through the Hokage tower, eventually going outside. He takes Hound throughout the village, almost the outskirts; there are very few buildings, most of which looking rundown. 

“This is where we originally intended for Naruto to live.” He explains, looking up to a small apartment building. Hound cannot help the wince that escapes his mouth. The Hokage’s expression stays grim. “I do not want this for him.” He says, looking over at Hound. “This is what Danzo wants. He says it’ll help keep the jinchuuriki. I disagree, as i’m sure you do.” He does, entirely. 

“Hound. I have recently been dwelling on your request from all those years ago.” This catches Hound off guard. He loses his balance slightly, jerking his head to look right into the Hokage’s eyes. This couldn’t be real, right? 

“I’m willing to allow such a request. Obviously, there would be a lot of precautions to be put in place.” He pauses. “Is this still something you’d like to do?”

Kakashi doesn’t hesitate. “Yes. Yes i would.”

A couple of weeks later, Kakashi stood in his apartment looking around the empty place for the last time. It wasn’t fit for a child Naruto’s age. He knew this, and was willing to sacrifice it. Although he’d been there for a good part of his life, he didn’t feel bad letting it go. 

The Hatake compound had previously been untouched for 12 years, up until the last week. Deep trauma is held within those walls, but Kakashi knew the place. He knew it would be good for a child like Naruto to grow up in. It had a spacious garden (also a perk for his ninken) and enough rooms for them both, and a spare room. 

Naruto would have Kakashi’s childhood bedroom, while the man himself would take the White Fangs abandoned room. Gai had offered to help clean it out with him, but he knew it was something he had to do on his own. He hadn’t visited the compound much since that night, mostly staying with Minato-Sensei before getting his own apartment. He only came back for his sparse belongings. But he knew that this was the right decision, not only for Naruto, but for himself.

After closing the door to his empty apartment, he undid the seals and left. He was set to meet in the Hokage’s office, in full anbu uniform. That’s how Naruto knows him, after all. It isn’t one of the many precautions, but they’d like him to be at least familiar with Hound instead of a stranger like Kakashi showing up. 

A list of precautions Kakashi has drilled into his mind were: No mention of Minato-Sensei or Kushina, No mention of the Nine tails, No mention of other anbu who would be keeping an eye on them, No mentions of the uzumaki clan. Simple enough.

Hound stepped into the office, where he saw Naruto being entertained by Cat as the Hokage sat and watched. A small smile dawned his elderly face.

“Ah, Hound.” He said, causing Naruto to turn to him. A big smile was on his face, as he run up to him. “Puppy!” Hound looked down, slowing reaching his hand out. He put it in the small boys hair, ruffling it slightly. 

“Lord Third.” He said, bowing slightly. “Cat.” He looked at his companion, nodding. The other reciprocated. “Naruto.” He said, looking down again. He couldn’t fight off the smile, hiding under his mask. 

“I trust you’ll take good care of him.” Hound looks up, nodding. In all honesty, he hopes so too. The only experience he’s had with children was when he was growing up. That wasn’t a very good experience. He only ever spoke to Obito and Gai, and that was sparingly. He grew up too fast, barely lived his childhood. He would make sure Naruto could experience his, no matter what. 

“You’re free to take him to the Hatake compound. Once there, don’t stay as Hound too long.” He advises, and Hound nods back at him. He reaches his hand out, and Naruto takes it. He can’t help but feel immense happiness bubbling throughout him. Naruto’s hand is so small, it barely wraps around his fingers. But his grip is strong, holding tight as if Hound would disappear any moment. But he wouldn’t; He never would.

It’s late afternoon by the time Hound takes his mask off. It’s only been about an hour since he and Naruto arrived at the Hatake compound, but he wanted the boy to adjust first.

“My name isn’t Puppy, or Hound.” He explains, putting the mask down on the sofa arm. Naruto sat next to him, closely observing his face. Of course, he only had half of it uncovered. He wouldn’t take his actual mask off (not yet at least.) The boy didn’t look that confused, But Kakashi still wanted to let him know. “That’s my code name, for when i go on top secret super ninja missions.” He says, trying to play on the boy’s imagination. He was far more intelligent then Naruto at his age, but he’s being reminded of Obito a lot. And Obito was imaginative. 

“My real name is Kakashi Hatake.” He says. Naruto nods. “Are you my dad?” He asks quietly. Kakashi immediately shakes his head, laughing slightly. “Nah, think of me more like your big brother.” That makes Naruto smile, nodding excitedly. He hears him mutter the phrase under his breath, before getting back to what he was doing before. 

Kakashi sat there, in the middle of the house where he’d wanted to escape, feeling at peace. And isn’t that odd? All thanks to little Naruto.