Family Lines
When the attendant at the housing committee rushed off with a nervous expression Kakashi grew suspicious of their current situation. Naruto seemed nervous after the woman’s rushed excuse of having to get someone higher up to help them. The kid had let go of Kakashi’s hand to now stand a little behind the elder’s leg, looking down at the tiled flooring, quietly. Naruto only got quiet when he thought something bad was his fault. Kakashi was pissed, he didn’t move from where they stood and waited for whoever was fetched to show themselves. Requesting new housing when a family grew wasn’t uncommon. In fact, Kakashi was feeling a little guilty for not demanding new housing when he officially adopted Naruto seven years ago.
It was a long twenty minutes of silence later when the attendant returned to her desk with an older woman in tow. She was possibly mid to late fifties, a civilian with no ninja training from how she held herself. Grey-streaked hair was pulled back into a tight bun and simple make-up completed her look of authoritative figure and Kakashi had to hold himself back from moving.
Twenty-two year old Kakashi wanted to rage, he wanted to intimidate this pathetic woman for making him wait. For the both of them making Naruto think he did something wrong and Kakashi failing in his anger to correct the child. Twenty-two-year-old Kakashi Hatake would have done just that too. Except Kakashi wasn’t actually twenty-two. Sure, his body was but his mind was that of a thirty-eight-year-old. After being sent back to his younger body Kakashi had slowly noticed the duality he sometimes experienced over the years. There were moments when it felt as if someone other than Kakashi was thinking and acting and Tenzo had pointed it out a few times during missions as well. That there were times when he acted more reckless than usual. After a lot of consideration Kakashi came up with only one possible cause for it. Kakashi’s older conscious hadn’t completely replaced his younger self, somewhere his brain still functioned as his original self from this timeline. And back then Kakashi had been angry, reckless, self-destructive, self-doubting, and all around pathetic. But now that younger conscious had all of Kakashi’s future memories and left most of the day-to-day tasks to him. There were moments though of strong emotion that the younger consciousness would leak through. Crying over Naruto, attacking minor threats instead of calmly disarming them, and the blinding rage he had over being insulted or his brother being threatened.
Thirty-eight year old Kakashi Hatake smiled politely under his mask and reached for Naruto’s hand once more. The woman he faced looked as scared as her younger co-worker and it confused Kakashi. He knew his face was well known, and everyone knew who Naruto was but for these people to be so scared was confusing to him. Neither of them had threatened the women, Kakashi had simply asked for availability in the village for family housing instead of single living shinobi quarters.
“Hatake-san, please follow me. The Hokage wishes to speak with you.”
She looked down in shock when Naruto slowly stepped back out from behind his brother.
“Ah of course the child can stay in the lobby while you converse with Hokage-sama.”
Kakashi tightened his hold on Naruto at her words.
“Naruto comes with me.”
Playing nice smile still in place, his icy tone made the woman flinch and stutter.
“Right, right this way then if you p-please.”
Kakashi reigned in his anger and genuinely smiled down to Naruto as they started to follow behind the woman. Naruto looked like he was going to ask a question but Kakashi shook his head slightly to let the younger know now wasn’t the time.
It wasn’t often Kakashi didn’t allow Naruto to word vomit any and everything he was thinking of but Naruto was perceptive. Even as a small child he could understand and follow Kakashi’s lead instead of out right questioning him in what the kid mentally considered a ‘hostile situation’. He sometimes had to follow along with Asuma like this when he would pick Naruto up and take him to eat or play somewhere with mean people. Asuma like his Kakashi-ni was super cool and collected when villagers were mean or scary, and then he would somehow scare the people away with one look or sentence. Naruto never had to tell Asuma when someone was being mean to him or threatening him the man just knew and knew exactly who it was. When Naruto was with Gai and those situations came up the man would be really loud and encourage Naruto to yell with him to make those kinds of people go away. It was fun and just as cool as when Kakashi and Asuma did it. Naruto knew he would be okay as long as he acted as directed to by his older brother like always
They arrived at the top of the tower where the Hokage’s office was and Naruto almost laughed when Kakashi slammed the door behind the woman. Some of his anger from earlier slipping though but when he saw the restrained laugh and amusement on Naruto’s face it calmed him down a bit. Turning with a more level head to Sarutobi Kakashi was shocked to see who stood next to him.
Shikaku Nara stood next to the Hokage with a raised eyebrow at Kakashi, probably due to the youngers little outburst with the door.
“Kakashi please refrain from terrorizing the civilian workers in my tower.”
Sarutobi grumbled, not actually angry just as a reminder the Kakashi.
“Ma, ma I seemed to have closed the door too hard. My bad, it won’t happen again Hokage-sama.”
“Long time no see Kakashi. I’m glad you’re home I know our boys tend to stir up a lot of trouble when you’re not around.”
Shikaku smiled kindly at Naruto who audibly gasped beside Kakashi.
“It was Shikamaru’s idea to nap on the roof!”
He looked up at Kakashi with big eyes pleading for understanding and Shikaku chuckled lowly at the outburst.
“Yes, so he told me when I picked all of you up. I remember. He was very smug about how all of you snuck out without being caught due to his plan.”
Naruto snapped his head to the older man with a look of gratitude and admiration. Kakashi coughed lightly to bring their attention back to him.
“Thank you Shikaku-san for looking out for our little ring of trouble makers while I was gone.”
He bowed his head slightly, so Shikaku understood how much Kakashi actually meant it. There were very few adults aside from Kakashi’s own rag tag of trouble makers who looked out for the young jinchūriki.
“Now that we’ve mentioned it Kakashi you might want to stop by the Academy to talk to the headmaster. He wanted to crack down pretty hard on Naruto for their little skipping session. From what Shikamaru told me that old bat was blaming everything on Naruto, calling him a ringleader and bad example.”
Shikaku snorted.
“Like my kid needs any excuse to cut class and sleep under the clouds like the little lazy bones he his. According to Shika he even argued with the man and confessed to everything, claiming Naruto could never pull it off without him.”
Naruto made an insulted little huff and puffed his cheeks up like an angry squirrel but said nothing in his own defense.
“I see, thank you for the information.”
“Us active shinobi with kids have to stick together or the civies will run all over our families at home.”
Kakashi made a mental note to himself to grow his relationship with the Nara clan head. The man would be a good alley, and dangerous enemy to those Kakashi needed to fight in the future.
“I don’t appreciate two of my most reputable nin’s conspiring against civilians in my village.”
Sarutobi huffed from his seat and took his hat off to place on the desk in front of him as he took a long drag of his pipe.
“Apologies Hokage-sama.”
Shikaku said in a very unapologetic tone as he leaned casually against the windowed walled. Kakashi admired and looked up to Sarutobi, but his willingness to overlook the villagers mistreatment of Naruto always bugged him. With a single word the Hokage would have bettered Naruto’s situation but the man never stepped in personally to stop the harassment. In fact he often defended the villagers actions and made excuses for them. Kakashi swore to himself when he took Naruto in he wouldn’t turn a blind eye to their actions. He would stand up for Naruto until the boy could prove himself beyond worthy to those hateful people. No matter what Sarutobi thought or said about any of it.
“What is this meeting about Hokage-sama?”
“Yes, we got a bit off track there. I hear you are requesting new lodging for the two of you.”
Kakashi hummed in confirmation as he let go of Naruto’s hand when the kid pulled away to wonder around the office space. Leaving the adults to talk.
“I had informed the housing committee to send you to me the moment you did so. Granted I made the note in your file several years ago and didn’t expect you to take so long to come along with the request.”
Naruto laughed with a hand over his mouth to stifle it at the reprimand and felt his brothers eye on him but didn’t turn to meet the older man’s eye.
“And why is that sir?”
Sarutobi sat back in his chair, still smoking but his expression softened as he met Kakashi’s eye.
“You already own housing, and land. Quiet a bit a land if I do say so.”
Confused by the turn of events Kakashi blinked in shock.
“I’m sure I would have remembered purchasing a house, and land.”
Shikaku smirked and shook his head.
“How much do you know of your clan history Kakashi?”
Shikaku asked with amusement that only served to confuse Kakashi more.
“The Hatake? I know it was once as large as the Uchiha and Hyuga in Konoha. During the first great war many died and many remaining married into other clans and took up their names. To my knowledge Naruto and I are the only members of our Clan.”
Kakashi had made sure to put Naruto down in the Clan records as an adoptive member of the Hatake clan. It would ensure that if anything happened to Kakashi Naruto would legally get all of Kakashi’s assets and receive Kakashi’s condolence funds if he died in active duty.
“Is that really all you know about your own clan Kakashi?”
Shikaku looked puzzled and then looked over to the back of Sarutobi’s head as if asking the man a question.
“My father never told me much about it all, and I admit I haven’t looked into the records much myself.”
Shrugging in indifference Kakashi tilted his head to the side a bit as he continued.
“I am one of a dying breed Shikaku-san. I never felt the need to look into the history of my people.”
This seemed to be the tipping point for the older man. He pushed off of the wall and approached the Hokage’s desk and laid his hands on the surface as he addressed the man.
“Is this why you summoned me? No one has told him anything? In all these years. Kakashi has been of age since he made genin.”
“The elders deemed his age a point of issue at the time. Too young, and at the time I agreed.”
“And when he was thirteen then?”
Sarutobi shook his head solemnly.
“The fourth had his reasons, I was not privy to them.”
“Kakashi turned twenty-one last year.”
The man argued, clearly angry about something Kakashi was missing in this situation.
“He has been on an S-Rank mission for many years now that just recently ended Shikaku.”
Shikaku shook his head and sighed.
“What of the Uzumaki inheritance then?”
That Kakashi did know about.
“Naruto will get that when he is thirteen, and his parents condolence payments. I have it setup in a trust to be released to Naruto even if something happens to me.”
When Kakashi got custody of Naruto the elders had tried to push the entirety of the Uzumaki inheritance on him. He had taken the money, all the money the Uzumaki clan had left to Kushina the last surviving member and set it up for Naruto. Naruto who would never have to work if he didn’t want to once he got those funds. It was more money than Kakashi could even comprehend and wondered what and where that money had gone to originally in his timeline. And it also brought up questions about the Uchiha inheritance because to his knowledge Sasuke was living off of stipends before making genin and supporting himself like Naruto had been.
“At least.”
Shikaku grunted as he stood back up standing and bowing to Kakashi. Not the polite head tilt that most of them exchanged, or the shoulder bow some of them used, but a full-blown bow at the waist. Naruto was so curious as to what was going on with the grown-ups he came to stand next to Kakashi once more.
“I apologize Kakashi, believe me when I say the council had no part in detaining this information from you for so many years.”
Kakashi said nothing, too shocked and also beyond confused as to what information he was lacking apparently about his own clan.
“Kakashi you are the Hatake heir. It means much like Naruto you are the recipient of your clans entire treasury, and land.”
Shikaku stood up as he reveled this information.
“My clan has been diminished for many years, and to my knowledge at least for the last two generations there was only ever one member and their child. What does all of this mean for me?”
Now Sarutobi sat up, snuffing out his pipe, he placed his elbows on his desk and laced his fingers in front of his mouth as he addressed Kakashi.
“Kakashi Hatake, Sharingan no Kakashi, Jounin of the Leaf, you are the sole heir to the Hatake Clan compound and trust. All of the land, money, and homes acquired by your clan have been left in your name and are rightfully yours. You do not need the housing committee for you own dozens of homes you can choose to live in.”
Kakashi was shocked. Time traveling, future knowing, full time moron apparently did not know he had a whole gods damned compound. The village elders, three Hokage’s including his own sensei had kept all of this information from him for thirty-one years. In his own timeline no one had bothered to inform him of this vast wealth, and much like Sasuke’s supposed inheritance from his timeline wondered what became of it.
“Lots of big stuff. Are we rich?”
Naruto asked very seriously from the shell shocked Kakashi’s side. Shikaku laughed, not loud or largely, he sounded tired with the mess the Hokage had dragged him into.
“Sakumo left a sizeable inheritance that Kakashi would have gotten when he passed, so Kakashi was already rich kid.”
Naruto gapped and turned betrayed eyes to his brother.
“You said we didn’t have money for another bowl of ramen yesterday.”
Kakashi made a noise that he intended to be a laugh but wasn’t sure in his state if it actually sounded like one.
“Six bowls in I had to cut you off eventually.”
“I only wanted one more bowl!”
He tried to argue but Kakashi was no longer listening to the child, it was a lie anyway. Kakashi knew Naruto well enough to know that one bowl could have easily turned into another six if he let the kid keep going.
“I have never seen this compound you speak of. I’ve lived in this village my whole life and not once have I come across abandoned clan grounds.”
Shikaku nodded.
“Your lands aren’t abandoned. When your father was the head of your clan during the second and third war, he allowed my people to occupy it. The two compounds have always been next to each other, and the Nara clan increased over the wartime due to marriages and births. We didn’t have enough homes for everyone and Sakumo offered to help by allowing them to live on his land. On your land. The Nara are also not the only clan or shinobi family on your compound currently due to your father’s generosity.”
This information did bring to his memory the many Nara families from his childhood, and Gai’s family had been very close to his home when they were growing up. There had also been a small cluster of Hyuga for a few months one year down the lane from where Kakashi lived, and a very kind elderly Uchiha man next door. If he and his father had been on their compound at the time, and Sakumo did indeed grant these people homes the mix of clans and civilian shinobi around them made more sense.
“I sold my childhood home a long time ago to a widow with five children. And if the compound is occupied by these people I refuse to uproot them just because I was unaware of the land and homes being mine.”
Naruto nodded vigorously in agreement.
“Right, lots of people live there so we don’t want to be mean and kick them out.”
Shikaku pulled a scroll from his vest and motioned for Kakashi to approach the desk as he laid it out.
“This is your compound Kakashi. The houses marked off are currently occupied.”
He pointed to the small section close to the Nara compound border.
“This area is where my clan has been housing.”
Another small section to the left of the Nara area.
“Here is where displaced Inuzuka are currently living but to my knowledge those who occupy these houses only do so for a few months while homes are built within their lands.”
“Oh are there any puppies?”
Naruto peered over the map. He was classmates with Kiba and knew of the Inuzuka clan’s dog affiliation. Shikaku tapped the map.
“Possibly. I don’t visit this area much myself.”
He moved on and outlined an arc of space across the Nara and Inuzuka areas.
“This is the only other occupied area. There is a mix of mostly Uchiha who use it much like the Inuzuka families as transitional homes and some shinobi families your father allowed to live there. No civilians live on the compound at least that I am aware of.”
Sarutobi pointed to one of the marked-off houses. It was right on the edge of the space Shikaku had indicated.
“A displaced Mist father and son live here currently. Jiraiya lends this home your father gave him to some of his informants who need protection from their villages. I clear them before they are allowed in the village walls to ensure they aren’t a problem.”
The news brought new interesting information to Kakashi. After learning of the Akatsuki and some of the things that went down in the Mist Kakashi had his suspicions on who Jiraiya might have been harboring in a remote house on the edge of sparsely housed Hatake land. That and something a rouge Mist had once said to Kakashi during a fight in his original timeline in regards to owing Kakashi but having to make up for it another time. Another time that never happened due to that nin’s death.
“A swordsman?”
It was Sarutobi’s turn to be shocked. Difficult to do but with Kakashi’s knowledge he’s sure he isn’t wrong on this and the Hokage’s reaction only confirmed it.
“I am not in a position to discuss the displaced Mist family Kakashi you know this.”
Nodding Kakashi had already gotten his answer, and now had access to an important alley he had hoped to make but hadn’t gotten the chance. If anything this made up for the inheritance debacle, almost but not entirely. He would still be raising hell with the elders the first chance he got, but that was for a later date when he had time to plan a perfect attack.