Chapter 7 Naruto birthday

Kakashi made it home later over a week later than he had left, he had just came from the hospital and he felt like hell. The mission had been bad, he lost people, people got hurt, they got the missing nins but the price was high. He had a small stab wound that had been patched up, and a cut on his leg that he knew would be giving him problems for a few days at least. He walked inside and found himself in the living room.

He landed on the couch putting his wolf mask on the table and sighed, feeling like his body was nothing but lead weights. He closed his eyes just happy to be home.

'I can't keep doing this, it's killing me...' He thought to himself, 'I think it's time to quit ANBU, if I keep on doing this it will ruin me. I miss the life of a Jonin, sure ANBU is great status but I don't think I can keep this up much longer. I don't want to be just an empty shell for Naruto later on in life I want to enjoy his life.'

He had seen how some people who had cut out all emotion just to keep sane sometimes and he didn't want that. He knew that this was it, this was the last mission as an ANBU. He just wanted to sleep but the blood and screams came out of the darkness and wouldn't leave him alone. He suddenly felt a presence behind him and he jumped up and spun pulling out a kunai.

"Whoa there easy One-Eye," Anko said to him.

He relaxed seeing her, "Sorry."

"Hey it's okay we've all been there," She said seeing him jumpy like that she guessed he was still wound up from a mission. That was one of the risks with high level missions, sometimes you can be jumpy for hours, days or even a week after it. She sat down across from him taking in a look, he had cuts on his uniform, dirt and blood. Lots of blood and from the looks of it not all of it was his.

"You look like hell," she said with a forced small smile.

"I feel like hell," He sighed.

"How bad?"

"Very bad, lost two people, a few more wounded...one lost his leg, his career as a ninja is over."

Anko winced at that, there was only one thing worse for a ninja then death and that was not being a ninja. To get wounded like that was the worst thing that could happen, you spend your life doing something and then in a moment it's taken from you.

"I'm through..."

"What?" She asked surprised.

"I'm going back to being a Jonin, this was it for me I'm tired of the life. I want to be there for Naruto and being a Jonin will let me do that," he looked at her now, "So how was he?"

Anko smiled a bit, "Well we got off to a rocky start...but the brat is okay as long as you know how to handle him. I have no idea where he gets the energy," she sighed feeling drained.

"You gave him lots of sugar today didn't you?" He smirked seeing her tired nod, "I told you not to do that, he's got enough energy as it is. You add in a sugar rush and it's like ten times worse, you wouldn't believe what I had to go through the first time it happened."

"Oh trust me I would, how the hell can a kid be that hyperactive?" She asked him and he only gave out a laugh. It was good to laugh after all of this and he felt a bit better for it. Anko just smirked at him knowing that he needed to do that as well. "Besides that I actually had some fun with the little whirlwind of chaos, that Hyuga girl came by a few times and they played too. Never knew he was friends with one of them."

He nodded his head at that, glad to hear things were going well. "Yes that would be Hinata, Hiashi Hyuga's daughter."

"Whoa you mean Head of the Hyuga Clan, Hiashi?" Anko said surprised and saw his nod. "Damn, never seen the guy in person at least I don't think I did. Some guy named Hizashi dropped him off," She stopped as he started to laugh again. "What?"

"Hizashi is Hisashi's twin younger brother, how did you not know who is who?"

Now she was getting a bit pissed, "Hey it's not my damn fault! They all look the same to me, all with long hair, same eyes, same style of dress. It's like they're all freaking clones or something." She crossed her arms and looked away feeling a little embarrassed but didn't show it.

"Well at any rate glad there were no problems, although I really think I'll sleep now."

"Well I guess it's my time to leave since you're here," she went to get up feeling tired. She had to live an hour walk away too, she didn't like the idea of walking all that way at this time of the night.

"You can stay here," Kakashi told her and she looked at him surprised, "I'm not going to let you go at this hour and besides I think Naruto would want to say goodbye in the morning."

"So where are you sleeping?" She smirked and put her hands on her hips, "I've been using your bed and I'm not giving it up."

"Don't worry I don't think I can move from this spot, the couch is fine," He laid himself down and he was already feeling like he was about to pass out. Anko smiled seeing him like that and went to her room but then stopped. She waited for a few minutes and then silently snuck back, she could see he was passed out and it was just too good a chance. She had to see what was under that mask, she gently went to the couch and slowly started to put her hand to the mask. She held her breath and was just about there when his hand shot up and grabbed her wrist.

She jumped but stayed silent, "Okay fine you can stop faking...Kakashi...hey...this isn't funny."

Then she heard a slight snore and the hand dropped, her eyes widened by the fact that he was still asleep! He grabbed her hand out of reflex which was impressive if not a bit creepy that he knew how to do that. She would try again but figured to just cut her losses, she would find a way to get that mask one day and see what the big deal was with it. She checked to see that Naruto was still asleep and was tempted to get his stuffed toy and place with Kakashi and take a photo.

Too bad she didn't bring a camera, oh well always something to do later. She got to the bed and fell asleep pretty fast, Naruto wore her out that day. She woke up to the sun blinding her and groaned rolling over and pulling the covers over her head.

"God just let me sleep in," she muttered trying to go back to sleep. Unfortunately she was one of those people that had a hard time going back to sleep once she woke up. She tried for fifteen minutes and failing that sighed and went to go and get some coffee. She was on her way when she noticed the couch was empty, and the wolf mask still on the table. She arced and eye brow at that and took a look into the kitchen.

'I wonder where he is?' she thought but then remembered his bloody and torn uniform and the fact he had only just got back from a mission. 'He might be in the bathroom taking a shower or something, I doubt he wants the kid to see him all bloody like that.'

She started the coffee and after starting her own breakfast she felt someone walk in behind her. She quickly glanced behind her and saw it was Kakashi, she had to admit she didn't even hear him. He was in loose pants and a t-shirt but still had on that damn mask and kept his left eye closed.

"Morning."

"Morning," he sighed sitting down feeling all the physical pains of the mission settling in, "May don't you look all domestic." He just barely managed to dodge a kitchen knife that had been thrown at him although he guessed if she meant it, she wouldn't have missed.

"Got the warning?" She asked, and he nodded, "Good, cause there is no way in hell I'm 'domestic' in any way got it Cyclopes?"

Soon after that Kakashi was helping out since it was a long time since he had a decent meal, ration bars were not the best tasting food plus he wanted to make some ramen for Naruto. He always made it when he came back from a mission and he knew this would make Naruto's morning. It wasn't long after that said blond boy was walking into the room rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Mornin'..."

"Hey there son."

Naruto's eyes widened at Kakashi's smiling masked face, "Daddy!" He ran over hugging the man's legs. Kakashi ruffled Naruto's hair a bit so glad to see him again. Anko was looking at the scene and even she had to smile at the sight. She could barely remember her own family as a child, but what she could remember was that she had been happy back then. It seemed like another life time ago to her, but she could see just how much the two of them meant to the other.

She watched at Kakashi, one of the most feared ninja's to others outside of their village, a prodigy child that was a legend, act like a normal dad in front of her. She wasn't sure if it spoiled the illusion that many built up around him, but to her it just made him seem more human. They ate breakfast together which was weird since she always ate alone in her place.

Even the few times she had some male company over for the night, she usually either kicked out of bed that night or in the morning. She had figured she wasn't the type to get involved in relationships, they just complicated things. Although a small part of her did feel kind of nice like this, she almost felt like a normal person again. Just sitting here having breakfast with a loud energetic kid, his laid back father as he listened to everything his son said with interests. It was kind of surreal for her, to find herself like this but she enjoyed it.

After breakfast she got ready and was about to leave when Naruto walked up to her, "Hey you think you can come again sometime?"

She could see his hopeful expression and truth was she liked the kid, "I think so."

He smiled even brightly, "Cool, my birthday is next month you wanna come?"

"I don't know..." she was never one for that kind of thing.

"Well I hope you do," Kakashi said coming around a corner, "Naruto seems to have taken a liking to you and the more the better, right Naruto?"

"Yeah!" He grinned up at her and she shrugged her shoulders.

"Tell you what...If I'm not busy I'll stop by."

"Cool! Thanks Anti Anko I hope you come," Naruto took off running happy that someone else might actually show up for his birthday for once. It was nice and all with his dad but other kids got to have friends over and so far he only had Hinata, and Gai and Iruka. He hoped Anko would show up besides she was fun.

"Antie Anko?" She looked to Kakashi.

"Hmmm...you've really made an impression on him, he doesn't usually hand out his little 'titles' like that to just anyone. Looks like he really likes having you around," he smiled at her.

She gave a small grunt and turned to leave, although she didn't show it, it was kind of nice to know that.

-Naruto's Birthday-

Naruto woke up that morning and after getting fully awake he suddenly realized what today was. He jumped up and changed and ran into the kitchen where Kakashi was there with a breakfast already for him. Naruto jumped up and started to dig in right away.

"Slow down son," Kakashi smiled.

"Sorry dad, but it's my birthday! And this is going to be the best one!" He couldn't wait, for the first time in a long time he was going to have more people than ever. Hinata was supposed to come, Iruka was coming, the Old Man with the robes, Gai said he'd show up and he hoped Anko would too.

"Well since it's your birthday I think you can skip training today."

"Awww do I have to?"

Kakashi was surprised by this, "you actually want to train today?"

"Yeah how else will I get to be a great ninja?"

Kakashi smiled as he pulled down his mask to eat, it was one of the few times he actually took the time to eat slowly when he was alone with Naruto. He was also happy that Naruto had that kind of work ethic, although it seemed that Naruto seemed to equate training to fun for some reason.

"Okay then after this we'll train for a bit then the others should be here after."

Naruto jumped up with a shout and Kakashi had to laugh, there was no doubt that Naruto was the most spirited boy on the planet and he was glad to have taken him in.

Later that day Hinata Hyuga was walking towards Naruto's home with her gift. She hoped that Naruto would like it, and was a little worried he might not after all this was the first gift she got for a friend. Thankfully the presence of her mother beside her was comforting.

"Now you be a good guest okay?" her mother asked gently and she nodded her head. They arrived at the Hatake home and were welcomed in by an energetic Naruto who was happy to see his friend. He grabbed her hand and led her side glad to start things out. Her mother only smiled a little at the scene and walked in. She found Kakashi there with a young man with a scar over his face.

"Ah glad for you to show up," Kakashi smiled (at least she figured he was with that mask on), "This is Iruka he looks after Naruto sometimes and I think is like a surrogate big brother to him."

Iruka looked a little embarrassed by that, "It's nothing really, I got no family of my own and Naruto is...Well he takes a little getting used to but he's pretty fun to hang out with and I got to admit he's never boring."

She nodded her head, "Yes I've noticed that myself."

As the two children were playing a little other guests showed up, first came in Gai who got a nice welcome from Naruto and an impassive one from Kakashi, this led to Gai telling how Kakashi's attitude was always so 'hip and cool' all the time while he showed off his 'fires of youth'. Kakashi just responded by asking if he had said something making the other ninja face fault. In all honesty Kakashi just tried to tune Gai out when he got on a roll but he knew exactly what he was going on about, he just did this cause it was fun to tease Gai like that.

The next guest was someone that the Hyuga matriarch was surprised to see but the Hokage himself. He came in with his usual white robes and smiling as Kakashi welcomed him inside of the home. She was still composing herself not expecting to see him there, she had no idea that Naruto knew the Hokage personally.

"Hey Old Man!" Naruto yelled out running over to him, she thought that the Hokage would scold the young boy but he actually smiled.

"Hello there Naruto how are you doing today?" He asked bending down a little.

"Great, this is going to be the best birthday ever!" He smiled broadly at him.

"They have a special relationship," Kakashi whispered to Hinata's mother who was surprised that the man suck up on her like that. "He can get away with calling him that but to him it's actually an honorary title that he gave out. Like with Gai who he called 'uncle' and Iruka I've sometimes heard him call him 'big brother' at times as well. It's his way of showing special affection to those close to him."

She nodded her head in understanding now, it wasn't long until another guest showed up. A very sexily dressed young woman who she later learned was Anko. Now she understood why her brother's twin when he came back one day was muttering about unseemly female ninjas. Anko wore things that no Hyuga would dare be seen out in public and she really didn't like the idea of her only daughter exposed to such things at such a young age. But it was Naruto's birthday and she wouldn't ruin it.

"Ah Kakashi I must admit when I heard you were back as a Jonin I was glad to hear it," Gai smiled at him. "Finally I can truely test myself against the mighty Kakashi as who is the best Jonin in all of Kohona."

"What are you getting at Gai?" He asked confussed.

"Simple I hear you are the best and I want to beat you in a challenge of my choosing."

"Sorry not interested."

Naruto heard this and got an idea on how to get his dad to go along with it. "Dad are you saying that you can't beat Uncle Gai? Then maybe the flames of youth are stronger and I should train myself with the power of youth on my side!"

"That's the spirit Naruto!" Gai gave him the thumbs up pose.

Kakashi's visible eye twitched at this, he spent all that time taking away all of Gai's influence on his son there was no way he was going to let Gai poison his son's mind with that Power of Youth crap. He started to walk to the backyard and yanked on Gai's shirt hauling him with him.

"Come on and let's get this over with." Kakashi grumbled.

Naruto grinned at that, but then he noticed the Hokage and walked over to him. "Hey Old Man I hear that you're the Hokage right? Does that make you the strongest ninja in the village?"

He regarded the young boy, "Yes Naruto I suppose I am."

"Then one day I'll be as strong as you-no stronger than you, I'll be the strongest of all time!"

"And why is that Naruto?"

Naruto smiled up at him but his eyes were more serious as though they burned with a purpose, "Cause one day...I'll be Hokage too!"

"Why do you want to be Hokage, Naruto?"

Naruto thought about it, "Back when the scary man took me Uncle Gai saved me...I couldn't do anything...but he saved me. He goes out there and protects the people of this village just like my dad and Anko and Iruka. They all protect people and...Well I want to protect people too, I want to make sure nothing bad happens to them, so I'll become the strongest there is to make sure of it."

He was actually surprised by the young boy's statement, 'So much like his father, Minato you should be proud of your son.'

The party went on after that and Naruto had an idea, he had told Hinata about this but he actually wanted to show her for once. Besides it was really cool and neat thing that his dad could do.

"Hey dad can you let out Pakkun and the others?"

Kakashi looked down to see Naruto with Hinata, "You want them here?"

"Yeah I told Hinata that you can summon ninja dogs that talk and stuff! Besides I haven't seen them in a long time," Naruto looked up giving Kakashi a large blue eyed look.

Normally Kakashi would only use his ninja dogs for tracking although he did use them from time to time to look out for Naruto. Plus the dogs liked him and he was afraid they might spoil him sometimes but when he would only be away for the day usually he trusted them to look out for him. Besides it was his birthday so he figured they would want to come out for today anyway.

"Alright then Naruto," he said to the happy little boy. He pulled out a kunai and small a small cut on his thumb, he noticed Hinata gasp at this covering her mouth. "Sorry summons like this need blood." He went through the hand seals moulding his chakra. Sometimes he needed a scroll to do this, if he needed them for a battle but when he wasn't in a rush he could use the longer method. He was sure that with enough practice he could pull this off whenever he wanted to, he just never had much need to call them out before Naruto came around.

Finally he was finished, "Summoning Jutsu!"

He slammed his hand onto the ground and in a big puff of smoke stood eight dogs in blue clothing with strange child like drawings of faces on the backs, along with bits and pieces of other clothing. There was everything from Bull the huge bulldog to the smallest but most intelligent of his dogs, Pakkun a small pug who always seemed to have a depressed look on his face. He once asked about that and Pakkun had just said that this was just his normal face.

Hinata's eyes were large at the sight of the dogs and the small one came up to Naruto as he bent down to it.

"Hey Pakkun."

"Ah Naruto how is it going?" The dog said in a surprisingly deep voice.

"Great it's my birthday and I wanted you to meet my friend Hinata, hey Hinata come and say hello."

Hinata walked a little nervously over to the dogs, they looked at her curiously and a large one white one with small shades on started to sniff her a bit. She went rigid at this not sure what to do, the little one came up to her, "Don't mind him, he's just checking you out. But it's nice to meet a friend of Naruto's."

"Yep she's my very best friend," Naruto said smiling making the young girl blush as she fidgeted with her fingers as was her nervous habit. "Hey can she touch your paw? He's got like the best paws they're super soft and stuff."

Pakkun was glad to finally find someone who appreciated that, Kakashi never did that was for sure so he raised his paw up to the shy girl. She took a timid step before reaching down to the dog and felt it, she was surprised that it was super soft. "T-t-that's really nice pakkun-san."

'Finally people are appreciating this, they have no idea how hard it is for dogs to keep their paws like that,' he thought to himself.

"Hey you guys want to play?" Naruto asked, at that all the dogs looked eager. Naruto liked to play with them and since they only got called out for missions, this was always a nice break from it all.

Kakashi smiled at the scene as the two children began to play with his summon animals, he was thinking of one day showing Naruto that, after all if he could summon his dogs it would help things out. You didn't even need a contract with them since they were part of the family in a way, he was taught this by his father so it was only fitting to teach Naruto. Plus he would feel a bit better knowing Naruto had them for backup at times.

Iruka was standing there smiling seeing the two kids, somehow Naruto managed to convince Hinata to get on the large bulldog's back as the two kids road around on him, thankfully he wasn't going very fast but Hinata was holding onto Naruto very tightly and blushing bright red on her face too. "He's a very happy kid, I've never known anyone like him."

Kakashi nodded, "Yeah that he is."

"The boy is certainly surprising," The Hokage smiled with his pipe in hand. He could see the fire that burned inside of Naruto, if properly cultivated he could go very far in the ninja world. He cast a look at Kakashi, he was sorry to miss such a promising ANBU although Itachi was making very good progress filling in the role. But he knew what happens when an ANBU burns out, it wasn't pretty and he could see that Kakashi wanted to get out before that happened.

Still besides that he had to admit that Kakashi had changed a bit since taking in Naruto. Sure he was still late but not as much, and a few times he actually showed up only five minutes late. He still visited the monument to pay his respects but didn't spend hours there since he had to take care of Naruto. He also noticed that Kakashi had been actually happier. It was subtle but the old man knew what to look for, and he could see the change in the young man.

He cast a look to Anko who was talking with the Hyuga matriarch, and who was trying to keep on her proper mask while Anko was trying her best to crack that mask. By the looks of it she was giving one of her in depth stories either about something that would turn stomachs or make someone blush bright red. Even he had to admit she seemed a bit better knowing Naruto, it seemed that Naruto had the ability to touch the hearts and minds of those he came into contact with.

He smiled at that, it was definitely something he would need if he truly did want to become Hokage. A frown slipped into his face then, remembering all the things that had happened to the boy, 'accidents' and other things. It was a good thing that only rumours surrounded the boy and nothing concrete, although there were members of the council that still felt that the public had a right to know if the seal were ever broken.

It was silly of course that seal couldn't be just broken like a twig but still others were afraid. He was afraid what would happen if the truth finally did come out, he knew there were those that would stand by Naruto, but he was worried. Already he heard of how children were warned away from him and if that came out, then what would they think if they're parents started to outright call him a demon and monster?

He didn't like it, not at all.

After some playing, which Naruto managed to get Iruka involved in a little, it was time for Naruto's presents. His face lit up at the different coloured boxes. He picked up one from Hinata first, he opened it up and found a kimono that fit him, it was all orange and black his favourite colors, there was a headband too and there was even a new toy in there. "Cool! Thanks Hinata!"

Hinata smiled glad that he liked it.

He put aside the clothing except for the headband that he put on, from Iruka he got a book on ninjas, which he was eager to learn from. His dad gave him some new training clothing and blunted kunai set telling him he was ready for weapons training with him. Naruto was eager to try them out the next day. From the Hokage he got a couple of cool toys, Gai gave him a few leg and arm weights for his training, he was going to give Naruto another green jump suit but Kakashi had told him before hand if he ever tried to give Naruto one of those again he would use his Sharingan, last was Anko who handed him a box.

"Wasn't sure what to get ya brat but...I think you may like it," she told him.

Naruto opened it up and saw a few things in there, he pulled out a mask. In fact the box held at least four sets of the same mask. They were all black but had three orange slash marks that looked like his whisker marks on his face. Naruto's eyes lid up and put it on, now with the mask and headband he looked like a smaller and blonder version of Kakashi.

Kakashi smiled at the sight of it, as Naruto smiled back at him mimicking his dad's smile with how his eyes closed.

"Great now there are two of them," Iruka grinned shaking his head.

"You got a problem with my gift Scar-Boy?" Anko said dangerously and he immediately jumped back from the Jonin. She only gave him a wicked grin that sent shivers down his spine and not in the good way.

"Thanks Auntie Anko this is cool," Naruto thought it really was, with the headband and now his very own masks he looked a lot like his dad now. He wanted to become just as powerful as his dad even more so, he wanted to make sure that all the people that were precious to him were safe and he would train hard to do that. Today had been the best birthday ever and he went off to play ninja with Hinata as they had the ninja dogs to help out as well.