🦊Naruto Hatake🦊

Chapter 8

Homecoming

He was an assassin, a true shinobi. He felt vindicated.

With the death of Danzō, the Uchiha council canceled their plan of uprising. They knew there was no way to win without the support of root. Now that the curse seal on their tongues had disappeared, the Anbu were able to locate many of the former members. Ibiki was leading a unit whose sole function was to deprogram them. The Hokage vowed to bring about batter relations with the Uchiha. Kakashi had his doubts, but Itachi was closely monitoring his clan. Sarutobi felt confidant now that he had more time to work with.

Kakashi began taking more missions here and there. Six months later, he found himself in Suna finishing his escort mission when he passed through their market. A toy stand caught his eye. Thinking of his little chibi at home, he wandered over to it. He bought a little ninja doll, grinning as he imagined Naruto's face. That boy and his friends loved these silly little things. When he saw the Kazekage approaching, he hastily stuffed it into his weapons pouch. He definitely did not want to be caught buying such a thing or they might know about Naruto and he did not want that as per he too have many enemy that would love to get revenge on him.
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The three-day journey back home seemed to take forever. He had never been gone longer than a week before because he knew Naruto would get nightmares of him leaving the poor little boy all alone. As he approached the tall gates of Konoha, he summoned his pack of ninken. He missed his boy and did not want to waste any time searching for him. "I have to report my mission completion to the Hokage. I want you all to spread out and find the puppy for me. Do not let him see you so I can surprise him. Then report to the tower once you discover his whereabouts. Dismissed." The pack separated quickly while Kakashi continued towards the Hokage's office. Pakkun found him first and let him know where to find the chibi.
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"Daddy!" yelled Naruto when he spotted Kakashi across the park. The past six months had changed him a lot. He was no longer frail and sick, his chubby body bloomed with healthiness. His thick blond hair stuck up in spikes. He jumped up and down excitedly and hollered, "Daddy, I missed you. Didya have a good mission? Didya kick any evil ninga butts for me? Didya miss me, daddy? Didya bring me something? Didya ..." he stopped with a sudden high-pitched scream when Kakashi pulled a new ninja action figure from his weapons pouch. "Chouji, come see, come see! My daddy just got back from Suga-Suna-Sunaga..."

"Sunagakure, son." Said kakashi with a chuckle.

"Yeah, he just got back from 'ere. Look Chouji, he got me the Kazekage!" The two boys inspected the figure in awe, until Kakashi cleared his throat and gave him a pointed look. He jumped up and latched onto the nin, hugging him, then yelling, "Ichiraku daddy! You said you'd take me to Ichiraku when you were gone more'n four days. You said."

Kakashi laughed at the hyperactive boy. 'Always thinking with his stomach,' he thought. He looked at the chibi and said sternly, "Where is your babysitter pup? You better not have played too many pranks on poor Iruka again. That poor kid is going to go crazy if you do not leave him alone. You and Kiba have better not turned his hair blue again did you?"

"No Daddy, I swear I was good. And anyways, Ruka's not here. I got that guy." He pointed up at the tree behind him where a young masked Anbu sat. "He's no fun daddy. He wouldna give me a piggyback ride." He whispered into Kakashi's ear, "He wouldna help me at night with the scary dream, Daddy."

The copy-nin hugged his son then looked up at the tree in surprise. He had not felt the chakra signature at all. He noted the mask and smiled. "So, my pup treed a weasel, huh? You must have scared him good, excellent work son. Now could someone please explain to me why I have the Anbu Uchiha prodigy doing the job of a genin?" He set Naruto on the ground and folded his arms across his chest in unease. He wanted answers now from Itachi.