Fate Had Other Plans
Hatake Kakashi was especially anxious today, something quite out of character for him.
Although this feeling had become more common after the recent events in Konoha. Exactly five days ago, on October 10th, something occurred that the villagers had once deemed unthinkable. The Kyūbi had appeared in the heart of the village and unleashed its fury. Many homes were reduced to rubble, and countless lives were lost — none weighed more heavily on the young ANBU Captain’s mind that those of his sensei, the Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato, and his wife, Uzumaki Kushina. The greatest tragedy was that they left behind their newborn son, Uzumaki Naruto, who had been born the very day the Fox attacked.
That in itself might not have been so terrible if not for the fact that Naruto, like his mother before him, was now the Kyūbi’s Jinchūriki. The only way to stop the Fox had been to seal it within a host, and the best — and quickest — option at the time had been the infant Uzumaki. Kakashi had begun to hear troubling rumors circulating about the child, all because of his new role. Though he understood the reasons behind it, that didn’t stop him from resenting many of the villagers.
If Kushina-sama were still alive, she’d have beaten half the villagers by now. Kakashi thought, a part of him wishing he could witness it and even join it.
Sighing, he pushed the thought aside. Making his way to the hospital room where Naruto was being cared for, Kakashi quickened his pace. Anxiety buzzed in his ears, but he knew he had to be there for the baby. With no one else willing to be in Naruto’s lie because of the Fox, Kakashi knew he could never replace the boy’s parents, but he could at least be present in some way. Reaching the door, he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, steeling himself for what lay beyond. With a swift motion, he pushed open the door, ready to face whatever awaited him.
The room was like any other in the hospital — sterile white walls and tiled floors, the scent of disinfectant lingering in the air. In the center stood a baby crib — white, naturally — where Naruto must be resting. The room was empty, most likely in anticipation of Kakashi’s visit. He walked towards the crib with measured steps, and what he saw almost brought him to his knees, his legs trembling slightly.
Uzumaki Naruto, his sensei’s son, looked strikingly like his father. With his spiky blonde hair and fair complexion, Kakashi could have sworn he was looking at Minato as a baby — if not for the distinct whisker-like marks on the boy’s cheeks. Gently, he lifted the infant, cradling him against his chest. His eye nearly brimmed with tears when Naruto opened his own, revealing bright blue eyes.
Minato-sensei… Kakashi’s lips trembled beneath his mask as he struggled to hold back the tears he had been suppressing ever since the death of his sensei and Kushina. If the two of you were still here, you’d tell me to take care of Naruto as if he were my own brother…
With great care, Kakashi returned the baby to his crib and wiped his eye, a newfound determination settling in. He had made a decision. Casting one last soft glance at Naruto, he turned and left the room, his destination clear: the Hokage’s Tower.
Kakashi exhaled deeply when he found himself standing before the door that led to the Hokage’s office. Part of him questioned whether the words he was about to speak to the village leader were truly the right ones, but the memory of Naruto’s eyes brought him back to resolve — there was no turning back now. His decision was final. He raised his hand to knock, but paused when he heard voices coming from inside. One of them was unmistakably the Hokage’s, but the other he couldn’t immediately place. He didn’t have time to linger, so he straightened up and rapped his knuckles firmly against the door. The voices fell silent, and after a brief clearing of the throat, the elderly voice of the Hokage answered.
“Come in.”
Stepping through the door, Kakashi found himself in the presence of the village leader, the Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Like many others, Hiruzen had suffered a personal loss during the attack — his beloved wife, Sarutobi Biwako. Yet, it hadn’t stopped him from dedicating himself to the village’s recovery. After resuming his position as Hokage, one of his first acts had been to initiate the village’s rebuilding efforts and pass a law forbidding any mention of the Kyūbi, and attempt to help the villagers move on and ensure Naruto might have a chance at a normal childhood.
However, standing before the Hokage was someone Kakashi, and many others in Konoha, despised: Shimura Danzō, a village councilor infamous for his extremist views, his deep-seated distrust of allies, and his philosophy that ‘Shinobi have no need for emotions’. If he was conversing with the Hokage, it likely didn’t bode well.
“Good morning, Kakashi. How may I assist you?” Hiruzen greeted in a gentle, measured tone.
“Sandaime-sama…Danzō-sama…” Kakashi muttered the councilor’s name with a trace of contempt. His eyes shifted back to the Hokage, seated behind his desk. It was hard to believe that just days ago, this desk had been occupied by his sensei, Minato… “I actually came to discuss Naruto. About a decision I’ve made.”
“A decision you’ve made regarding Naruto?” Hiruzen’s expression reflected surprise. “And what decision is that?”
“I would like to take care of Naruto, Sandaime-sama.”
Before the Hokage could respond, Danzō cleared his throat, fixing Kakashi with a cold, emotionless gaze. To him, the ANBU seemed like nothing more than an insect beneath his feet. “I trust you’re not serious with this request. You, caring for something as critical as Konoha’s Jinchūriki? I’d sooner trust a fresh Academy graduate than you.” His attention turned back to Hiruzen, and a slight smirk curved his thin lips. “Hand over the Jinchūriki to me, Hiruzen. I’ll raise him within Root. I’ll forge him into a powerful shinobi — loyal, unwavering, and ruthless. Exactly what a true ninja should be.”
“NO!” Kakashi shouted, his emotions slipping free of restraint. He knew Root all too well — Danzō had even tried to recruit him in the past. There was no way he’d allow an innocent baby like Naruto to be raised in such a cold, brutal environment. “If the issue is his training, Sandaime-sama, I’ll handle it personally. I’ll train him from a young age, as though he were entering ANBU. Please, trust me.”
“As if the Hokage would listen to you,” Danzō sneered. “Hiruzen, you know what the best decision is. Hand the Jinchūri—”
Hiruzen raised a hand, silencing the councilor at once. “Danzō, while I respect your proposal, I cannot allow Naruto to be raised in Root. His parent’s wishes — and mine — are for him to grow up with a normal childhood, as much as possible. Your organization would make that impossible. My answer is no.” His gaze turned cold as he addressed his old friend. “And please, show some respect. Refer to him by his name, not as ‘what’ he is.”
“Very well, Sandaime-sama,” Danzō replied, catching himself before using Hiruzen’s name. His expression returned to its usual emotionless mask. “If my presence is no longer required, I will take my leave. But remember, I’ve offered you the best option.”
With nothing more to say and no desire to remain, Danzō exited the room, though not without casting a scheming glance at both Kakashi and the Hokage, as if already formulating some plan neither of them was aware of. The moment the door closed behind him, Kakashi felt his anger dissipate, replaced by relief. If not for the presence of the Sandaime, he might have done something he’d later regret.
“My deepest apologies for my outburst, Sandaime-sama. I shouldn’t have acted that way, but hearing Danzō suggest raising a baby — my sensei’s baby — in Root made my blood boil. It won’t happen again.” Kakashi bowed, feeling ashamed of his loss of composure.
“There’s no need to apologize, Kakashi. I understand perfectly,” Hiruzen reassured him with a warm smile, his fingers interlaced in front of him. “Now, tell me — do you truly wish to take care of Naruto?”
Kakashi nodded, his resolve solidifying. “I won’t lie about something this important, Sandaime-sama. I am absolutely certain of my decision to care for and adopt Naruto. Minato-sensei entrusted me with protecting Kushina-sama during her pregnancy, and I know that if they were still here, they would both ask me to look after their child, like an older brother. That’s exactly what I intent to do.”
“I’m glad to see your dedication to protecting the last of Minato’s family, Kakashi. However, are you truly sure you have what it takes to care for a baby?” Hiruzen asked, not waiting for an answer. “You’ve faced many hardships over the years, and by that, I mean the significant losses around you. Your father’s suicide, the deaths of your teammates, and now, your sensei and his wife. I’m not saying I won’t consider your request, but you should truly reflect on it. Taking care of a baby is no easy task — I know this all too well. It requires time, patience, and a stable home. I know you possess many of those qualities, but at your age, I hesitate to give you such a difficult responsibility. After all, you’re only 14.”
“I may be young, but let me remind you, Sandaime-sama, that I am an ANBU captain and was promoted to jōnin at 12. I’m more than capable of taking care of a baby. It can’t be any harder than completing an S-Rank mission.” Kakashi dismissed the Hokage’s concerns with a casual wave of his hand.
“But you just said it yourself, Kakashi. You’re the captain of Team Ro, one of the elite ANBU squads, and you serve directly under me. You have a bright future in ANBU. Are you really willing to give all that up just to care for Naruto?” Hiruzen’s gaze remained steady, his expression unreadable, as though Kakashi’s answer would decide more than just his own future. “I can give you a few days to think it over, if you’d like. I don’t want to rush into a decision that could alter your life too quickly.”
Kakashi considered the Hokage’s words carefully. Yes, it was true — he was the captain of an elite ANBU unit. But what that really how he wanted to live his life? Though he hated to admit it, serving as Kushina’s bodyguard had brought him closer to her and the family she was building with Minato-sensei. Then he recalled Naruto’s innocent blue eyes, and knew his decision had already been made. “No, I’m certain. If necessary, I’ll resign from my position in ANBU.”
“There’s nothing I can say to change your mind, is there?” When the teen shook his head, Hiruzen’s smile widened, his face full of warmth and approval. “Good. I wasn’t planning on trying to. I’m glad you’ve come to this decision. My alternative was to hire a caretaker for Naruto, but you’re the far better choice.”
“Thank you, Sandaime-sama. I promise I’ll take care of Naruto as if he were my own brother.” Kakashi bowed deeply to the Hokage, his voice filled with gratitude.
“You don’t need to thank me. You were one of my first choices to take care of Naruto, but I wasn’t sure if it would be a good idea given your…problems. But now I see I made the right decision.” Hiruzen pulled out some documents from his desk and handed them to Kakashi. “These are the papers you’ll need to sign to formalize Naruto’s adoption.”
“I’ll review them carefully at home.” Kakashi placed the documents into a folder.
“And don’t worry, you’ll receive support with the baby’s care. Aside from the money you earn from missions, you’ll also receive a monthly stipend to cover expenses, especially for Naruto.” The old Hokage lit his pipe and exhaled a puff of smoke. “Another thing I’d recommend is purchasing a larger home. Now that you’ll be raising a child, you’ll need a space where he can move around freely. I suggest a home with a garden spacious enough for him to play and train in. I’ll help you with that.”
The young ANBU — if he could still be called that — had never felt so grateful. Smiling behind his mask, his eye revealed the happiness that his face concealed. “You’re very generous, Sandaime-sama, but I don’t want to inconvenience you or take up more of your time.”
“You’re not a burden at all. Minato and Kushina were dear friends. I simply want to ensure their son receives the best care possible. It’s my pleasure to help.”
“Still, thank you for everything.” Kakashi bowed for the third time, his gratitude clear.
With nothing more to discuss, Kakashi left the office, leaving the old Hokage alone. Hiruzen glanced at the four frames on the wall, each holding the photo of a past Hokage. His gaze lingered on the one of his deceased successor, the Yondaime Hokage. In that photo, Minato’s smile was soft and serene.
Minato, I’m sure you and Kushina are watching over Kakashi and your son right now with pride…
A small smile crept across Hiruzen’s face as he blew out another puff of smoke, before turning back to his greatest nemesis — paperwork. Being Hokage had its tedious moments.
Kakashi made his way through the bustling streets of Konoha, where both shinobi and civilians could be seen working hard to rebuild shops and homes. The restoration was slow, but everyone was committed to returning the village to its former glory, or perhaps even making it better. Soon, the Hatake found himself standing in front of his modest apartment. It was a bit small, but the rent was reasonable, and it suited his needs since he lived alone.
He was about to open the door to his first-floor apartment when he heard—
“Kakashi, my eternal rival! Our friends and I have been searching everywhere for you! Where have you been?” A loud voice echoed from the rooftops.
It could only be his self-proclaimed rival, Might Guy.
Sighing inwardly, he turned around, and his gaze fell not only on his best friend, Guy, but also on the figures of his other closest friends, Yūhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma. Unlike him, all the others were still chūnin at their ages, with Kurenai and Asuma being the oldest by a year. He understood while the bowl-haired chūnin was here — Guy always sought to compete with him in any way possible, even if it was through some trivial challenge — but the presence of the other two puzzled him. Had something happened? Or did they need his help in some way?
“What’s wrong?” Kakashi asked, eyeing them wearily.
“Nothing’s wrong, Kakashi! We just wanted to check on you and see if you’d like to spend some time with us. We thought you may need it, especially after the deaths of Minato-sama and Kushina-sama,” Kurenai said sternly, placing both hands on her hips.
“I’m fine, Kurenai. I was just speaking with Sandaime-sama, nothing more,” Kakashi replied, carefully avoiding revealing too much.
“Just talking to the Hokage, huh…” Kurenai regarded her ANBU friend with suspicion before her eyes landed on the folder in his hand. “And that folder — what’s in it?”
Aware of how nosy Kurenai could be, Kakashi instinctively moved the folder behind his back, but it was no use. As swift as the wind, Guy snatched the folder from his rival with a smooth motion, and before the silver-haired teen could stop him, he opened it. Asuma and Kurenai, just as prone to gossip as always, leaned it to read the documents as well. Kakashi made no further attempt to stop them; they would inevitably find out what he had done today.
“YOU’RE GOING TO ADOPT THE KYŪBI’S JINCHŪRIKI!?” The three chūnin exclaimed in unison.
“Shh!” Kakashi hissed, glancing around in alarm. People were now staring at them with mild annoyance, but thankfully, no one seemed to grasp why the trio had suddenly shouted. “Could you keep it down? For the love of the Sage of Six Paths, you’re so loud.” Snatching the folder back, he closed it hastily. “Yes, I’m planning to adopt Minato-sensei and Kushina’s child. Is there a problem with that?”
“No, not at all! I’m fact, I’m proud you want to support the baby in such a meaningful way, Kakashi!” Guy declared with his signature thumbs-up and a broad smile.
“I’m happy too, Kakashi. That poor baby will need all the help he can get — not just because he’s an orphan, but also due to his status as a Jinchūriki,” Kurenai added warmly, though her smile faded when she noticed Asuma looking away coldly. “Asuma, is something wrong? Are you upset?”
Asuma turned back to Kakashi, his expression icy. “You seriously plan to adopt that…thing?”
“ASUMA!” Kurenai and Guy cried out in shock.
“I hope I misheard you, Asuma…Did you just call Minato-sensei and Kushina’s son a thing?” Kakashi’s eye narrowed dangerously at the Sarutobi, his teeth clenched behind his mask, and a vein pulsed angrily on his forehead. “Friend or not, I won’t tolerate you referring to their son like that. Do you understand me?”
The two friends locked eyes, glaring at each other, until Guy placed a firm hand on each of their shoulders. “Perhaps we should continue this conversation at Kakashi’s apartment…People are starting to stare.”
Guy was right. Several civilians and shinobi were observing them with growing curiosity and annoyance, drawn by the commotion they were causing. With a sharp movement, Kakashi turned away from his friend and led the group to his apartment. Opening the door, he motioned for the others to enter and then closed it behind them. After removing his shoes at the entrance, he realized his apartment — small and modest — would be insufficient for both him and Naruto. Yes, it was clear he’d need to find a larger space.
“Asuma, how could you say something like that?” Kurenai snapped, arms crossed in disapproval. “Are you out of your mind? You know how close Kakashi was to Minato-sama and Kushina-sama! Even if you’re angry, speaking about a baby that way is unacceptable!”
“Tcht.” Asuma turned away, his tone dripping with passive-aggression. “And how exactly do you plan to take care of a baby? Being in the ANBU will make that nearly impossible.”
Kakashi was about to fire back with a sharp retort, but Kurenai beat him to it.
“Asuma, just because your mother died during the Kyūbi’s Attack doesn’t give you the right to take out your anger on an innocent baby — or on Kakashi for deciding to care for him!” Kurenai’s voice was fierce, her face flushed with anger as she shot a withering glare at the Sarutobi. “What you’re saying is despicable, and frankly, it only makes me disappointed in you! And for the record, Kakashi won’t be alone — I’m going to help him take care of Naruto in any way I can!”
“I feel the same, Kurenai! You’re not alone, Kakashi. As your rival and friend, it would be my honor to assist you in this noble endeavor!” Guy proclaimed with his usual exuberance, flashing his signature perfect-toothed grin.
“Do you really think it’s going to be as easy as you’re making it sound? Unlike you, I come from a large clan, and trust me — taking care of a baby isn’t like playing house,” Asuma said in a tone that bordered on mocking, though he was genuinely trying to make them see the reality of the situation. “I’ve had to care for babies and young children in the clan more times than I’d like to admit, and they’re like clingy, messy little demons…You won’t last.”
“That’s what you say, Asuma, but when we had to do D-Rank missions taking care of children and babies, they adored me! The real problem here is that you’re just being a drama queen.” Kurenai rolled her eyes at his so-called ‘exaggeration’, clearly not buying into his complaint.
“Well then, I hope you enjoy playing ‘Mommy and Daddy’ with Kakashi, Kurenai,” Asuma retorted, gritting his teeth as jealously coursed through him. His feelings, however, were completely ignored by the girl and the silver-haired teen.
Unbeknownst to Asuma, Guy had noticed his jealously. I know those two like each other, but does Asuma really need to act jealous when he’s not even Kurenai’s boyfriend? He continued observing the Sarutobi, who discreetly shot a bitter look at the ANBU Captain. Let’s see if this makes him finally confess his feelings! Realizing that the conversation was about to spiral into another argument, Guy cleared his throat loudly, pulling his friends’ attention back to him and averting the brewing dispute.
“So, Kakashi, tell me, how do you plan to take care of the baby? Your missions are far more dangerous than ours, and I’d hate for anything to happen to you…” Guy asked with genuine concern.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got it all figured out. Trust me,” Kakashi said, smiling behind his mask.
“It’s such a shame Rin isn’t here…She would’ve been the first to support you in this decision, and she would’ve loved to meet her sensei’s child! She always adored babies!” Kurenai suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth, realizing she’d touched on one of Kakashi’s more sensitive topics. “S-Sorry…I know you don’t like talking about Rin or Obito, but with all this talk of babies, I couldn’t help but think of her.”
Kakashi waved his hand dismissively. “It’s fine, really. I’ve been thinking about her too.” His mind wandered back to one of his first D-Rank missions with Rin and Obito, remembering how easily Rin managed the children while Obito struggled. Rin…Obito…You’d both be shocked by all of this.
“So…When’s the baby arriving?” Asuma asked, trying to sound casual but feeling far from it.
“I still need to sign the adoption papers to finalize everything for Naruto, so I’m not sure yet,” Kakashi replied with a shrug. Still, he hoped there would be enough time to find a more spacious home before that day came. “I’ll let you know when I find out.”
“YES, TELL US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!” Guy and Kurenai shouted in unison, their eyes sparkling with excitement.
“I can already picture it! Little Naruto will think of me as the coolest older sister and will beg me to teach him everything I know about genjutsu! I’ll turn that child into a master of illusions!” Kurenai exclaimed, her mind wandering as she envisioned the future of the Uzumaki baby under her guidance.
“And I’ll make Naruto one of the greatest taijutsu users in all of Konoha! I must also find him a worthy rival!” Guy chimed in, already imagining the blonde boy a few years older, dressed in a green jumpsuit like his own.
“GUY!”
“KURENAI!”
“GUY!”
“KURENAI!”
The two black-haired teens excitedly hugged each other, their enthusiasm so intense it seemed to conjure an imaginary sunset over a beach behind them. Kakashi and Asuma looked on, their eyes twisted in expressions of disgust — jealously added to the mix in the latter’s case — at the bizarre and overly dramatic scene before them. After a few seconds, the embrace ended abruptly when Kurenai, realizing what she had just done, shrieked and pushed Guy away. The genjutsu expert felt utterly repulsed, horrified that she had acted like Guy in a moment of overexcitement.
“Ew…How could I have joined in one of Guy’s antics!?” Kurenai shuddered, her face contorted in distaste.
“You didn’t have to get so aggressive, Kurenai…You acted like I gave you an incurable disease just by touching you,” Guy groaned, grimacing in pain as her push had sent him crashing to the floor, hurting his back.
Asuma helped the bowl-haired teen to his feet. “You say that like it’s the first time a girl has rejected you that harshly.”
“It’s not my fault they fail to see my inner beauty,” Guy replied, wincing but still optimistic.
“Guy, I don’t want to be harsh, but…Most girls notice your appearance first, then your personality. Honestly, you could improve both,” Kurenai said in a reproachful tone. “I mean, your personality and clothes are very attention-grabbing. And then there’s your look — between the bowl-cut hair and those eyebrows…”
“My personality is flawless, and my clothes have impeccable style! You just don’t recognize fashion when you see it!” Guy countered, scolding her with righteous indignation.
“Are you calling me blind just because I don’t like your green spandex suits!?” Kurenai’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped in an offended expression. She ten turned her gaze toward Asuma, who immediately felt a chill run down his spine. “Asuma, you’re on my side, aren’t you? Guy’s outfits and appearance are ridiculous, aren’t they?”
“Asuma’s obviously on my side. Men need to stick together!” Guy’s fiery gaze locked onto his friend. “Right, Asuma?”
“Uh…well, I…” Asuma stammered, caught between his two friends.
Before he could respond, Kurenai and Guy were already arguing, leaving poor Asuma trapped between them. Kakashi watched the scene unfold with his usual weary expression, but behind his mask, a small smile tugged at his lips. The bickering between his friends reminded him of his own squabbles with Obito, where Rin always found herself caught in the middle, often the one to step in and scold them. Though his teammates were long gone, it seemed their spirits still lingered in moments like this.
Maybe becoming an older brother won’t be so bad after all… Kakashi mused to himself.