"So, what will Kakashi do now?"
In the Hatake household, Hikari was wrapped entirely around Kakashi, speaking in a coquettish manner.
"Since Mount Myōboku is a no-go, tomorrow we can only go find Tsunade and see about Shikkotsu Forest."
While finding it amusing that Hikari was clinging to him like an octopus, Kakashi laid out tomorrow's itinerary.
"Let me go with you, Kakashi. If that Shikkotsu Forest or whatever doesn't give you Sage Mode either, I'll..."
Saying this, Hikari revealed her little canine tooth, looking as if she would rob them if they refused.
Kakashi didn't doubt Hikari's intent for a second. He simply patted Hikari's bottom gently and said, "We can't have that. The Slug Sage once saved many people from the Hidden Leaf on the battlefield."
Hikari's cheeks reddened. Although her idea had been rejected by Kakashi, she asked happily, "Can I go with you?"
Kakashi smiled, nodded, and said, "Of course. Hikari is my wife, after all."
Hearing Kakashi say this, a smile rose on Hikari's face. She gave Kakashi a quick peck like a dragonfly skimming water, then jumped down from him and ran toward the kitchen, saying, "Let's eat first!"
Watching Hikari skip happily toward the kitchen, Kakashi touched his lips and smiled.
Now that he was Hokage and there were no longer any opposing voices against him in the Hidden Leaf, Kakashi wouldn't refuse Hikari wanting to help him within her capabilities.
At the dining table, Kakashi and Hikari chatted about Naruto.
"I don't know what kind of lovesickness that brat has come down with lately, but he's blatantly pursuing a girl named Sakura."
"He's only six years old; he hasn't even hit puberty yet, but he's already thinking about puppy love."
"I wonder who he learned that from."
Listening to Hikari's complaints as she chewed her food, Kakashi's eyes shifted.
"He learned it from his dad."
Kakashi quite calmly told Hikari about how Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki had fallen in love back in the day.
They were dead anyway; it wasn't as if his dead ghost of a teacher could crawl out of the grave to lecture him, right?
Besides, with Minato Namikaze's personality, he wouldn't do that anyway.
But as for his formidable mistress...
Hmm, better not think about it. Better not think about it. What if he jinxed it?
Kakashi was a married man now; he had no interest in experiencing Kushina Uzumaki's iron fist of love again.
"So that's how it is. No wonder that brat acts so precocious."
"Like father, like son."
Hikari came to a sudden realization.
Looking at Hikari before him, Kakashi looked thoughtful.
Should I find a chance to bring that Sakura Haruno to meet Tsunade?
After all, no matter how you look at it, she's a genius who went from a mediocre Genin who knew nothing to Kage-level in three years just by grinding.
That kind of talent surpasses ninety-five percent of the Ninja World.
Perhaps only Minato Namikaze, who was also of common blood, could compare to this Sakura Haruno.
"What are you thinking about?"
Seeing Kakashi spaced out, Hikari asked curiously.
"Thinking about the kid Naruto likes."
Kakashi said.
"Does Kakashi like children very much?"
Hikari looked at Kakashi, her face flushing slightly.
"They're alright. If they're too rowdy, they need to be educated properly. They can't be like Naruto."
Hikari ignored the latter part of Kakashi's words. Her pair of dark, shining eyes stared intently at her husband with a watery gaze.
"Then do you want us to make one?"
Kakashi smiled without speaking upon hearing this, simply putting down the chopsticks in his hand and reaching out to his wife.
Late at night.
In the bedroom, after a "battle," Hikari lay panting on Kakashi's body, looking completely satisfied.
Kakashi leaned back against the headboard, gently stroking Hikari's cheek. He kind of wanted to light a cigarette.
"Say, what would be a good name for our future child?"
Hikari rubbed gently against the hand on her cheek like a cat, asking quietly.
"Ichigo?"
Kakashi had a bit of a brain fart.
?
Hikari froze for a moment, not expecting Kakashi to blurt it out so quickly.
But...
It actually seemed not bad?
Kakashi was a man of action.
He only had the idea yesterday to bring Sakura Haruno before Tsunade for a look, and he went out with Hikari first thing this morning.
"Naruto, get up and go to school."
Since he was going to find Sakura Haruno, Kakashi didn't mind checking on Naruto along the way.
After all, this is the cub that calls him Dad.
Moreover, Kakashi was thinking about bringing Naruto into his own home after a while.
There were plenty of empty rooms in the house anyway; one more for Naruto wouldn't make a difference.
"Who... who is it?"
Naruto, not yet fully awake, rubbed his bleary sleep-filled eyes and looked at the two people standing by his bed through a heavy gaze.
"Big Brother Kakashi!"
That heavy sleepiness vanished instantly, and the little blond looked at the man before him with pleasant surprise.
"And me?"
Hikari, standing to the side, was somewhat dissatisfied that Naruto only had eyes for Kakashi.
?
"And Big Sister Hikari."
What do you mean "And Big Sister Hikari"?
And your attitude, you little brat, is way too perfunctory!
After I treated you so well!
Hikari glared at Naruto, who didn't understand anything.
"Get up. I'll take you to get breakfast in a bit, then send you to school."
Kakashi looked around the relatively clean room and nodded.
It seemed the last incident gave Naruto the habit of tidying up his room.
"Okay!"
Hearing that Kakashi was going to take him to school, Naruto immediately bounced up from the bed.
While Naruto was washing up, Kakashi walked a lap around Naruto's apartment, then looked out the window at the Hokage Rock not far away.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had chosen this apartment for Naruto back then. It was very close to the Hokage Building, so if Naruto encountered any danger, Hiruzen Sarutobi could arrive immediately.
"Naruto, pack up your things over the next few days. Get ready to move."
Kakashi looked at the brat in the bathroom who was brushing his teeth, his mouth full of foam.
"Eh? Move for what?"
"I'm living pretty good here."
Naruto swallowed the foam in his mouth in one gulp and looked at Kakashi in confusion.
Kakashi's mouth twitched watching Naruto's action, then he stepped forward, squatted down, tapped Naruto on the forehead, and chuckled lightly:
"Silly boy, to live with me, of course."
"From now on, we are family."
Hearing Kakashi's words, Naruto froze in place, looking at the man before him who was like a father with disbelief.
"Big Brother Kakashi!"
Naruto stood there holding his toothbrush, then suddenly lunged forward. Surprised, with tears in his eyes and toothpaste foam still on him, he rubbed directly against Kakashi.
"Hey, hey, hey, at least wipe your face clean before pouncing on me..."
Glancing at the foam stained on his clothes, Kakashi chuckled softly and patted Naruto's back as he held him.
Hikari stood to the side, watching the scene before her with a smile. She naturally wouldn't refuse Kakashi letting Naruto live with them.
After all, Naruto was Kakashi's teacher's son.
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