Wrong Side of Heaven

The night seemed empty now that the fight was over. Fires burned all around Kakashi, as buildings crumbled from the attack. Carrying the now sleeping Naruto, Kakashi had no idea what he was planning on doing from this point on. When he had told Itachi to send him back to this day he was hoping to save Minato so Naruto would grow up with at least one of his patents. He hadn't factored on Itachi not sending him back far enough with enough time to get to his teacher in time. It made Kakashi wonder if he had asked to be sent back to the day he killed Rin if the outcome would have been any different. Like the raven haired man had said, some things just have to happen.

Perhaps this was one of them.

As these thoughts circled around in his mind he passed the Uchiha compound. The sight of it still in one piece, with people walking around inside as they rushed to help their fellow people, was shocking to him. It had been so many years since anyone had entered the compound. A few times Sasuke would wander into it Kakashi was never very far behind. He had figured the teen needed the closure of home sometimes.

Kakashi, as lost in thought as he was, didn't see Mikoto carrying a crying Sasuke, and holding the hand of a small Itachi approach him.

"Kakashi-kun!"

She called out. Her voice was trembling and the sound of it made his chest clench in pain. The time he was from she was long dead and her sons would cause more problems than most ninja could ever imagine. It was still weird to him to hear his name being called like that. He hadn't been considered a child for many years the last one before who referred to him as such was Minato. Turning to see her he noticed she looked frazzled like most of the villagers were this night. They had just watched a giant fox demon kill their friends, and family while destroying their homes. When he faced her was when the woman noticed he was carrying something.

"I thought you were guarding Kushina."

Mikoto's face changed as Naruto squirmed in Kakashi's arms while making whining noises. As if he was disturbed about his mother's name being mentioned.

"Oh my."

The woman whispered more to herself than anyone else. Taking her hand out of Itachi's tiny grip and covering her mouth with it. Mikoto was a smart woman it didn't take long for her to realize what had happened.

"Mikoto-san please keep quiet about this. I know she was your friend but,"

He didn't know what to say. His heart felt like it was trapped in his throat and Naruto started to make noises like he was getting ready to cry. Looking down at the fussing baby only served to intensify his own pain. Within in the span of a few seconds Kakashi had just lost the last two people he considered friends, maybe even family all over again. He was reliving his worst nightmare and the baby in his arms was going to suffer more than Kakashi wanted to think about. The hand tugging on his pant leg broke him out of his thoughts. He looked down to see a five year old Itachi looking up at him with sad little eyes.

"Did you get injured fighting the demon?"

It was then that Kakashi realized that while he was trying to talk to Mikoto he had started to cry. The tears had slid down his face without him noticing and the young Uchiha thought he was injured. Shaking his head he wiped the tears off his face.

"No. I'm fine I was worried he would start crying again."

Mikoto was silently crying as she stood behind Itachi with her hand still over her mouth.

"It's okay. Babies cry for lots of things. Sasuke cries all the time it doesn't mean their hurt."

The five year old smiled reassuringly up at him and Kakashi couldn't help but wonder how such a sweet kid could become one of the most feared Shinobi to ever step out of Konoha.

"Thank you I'll be sure to remember that."

Kakashi ruffled the small child's hair as he smiled slightly.

"Can I see him?"

Kakashi hoped he wasn't changing anything important as he did this but he knelt down in front of Itachi with baby Naruto. He shifted the baby forward a bit in his arms so Itachi could get a good look at him. The kid smiled and reached his hand up to the baby's face where the whisker like marks marred his face. Before touching him, Itachi looked up hesitantly to Kakashi who nodded permission for him to do so. The child stroked his index finger along Naruto's scarred cheek along the marks and smiled happily.

"What's his name?"

He whispered softly.

"Naruto."

Kakashi answered without much thought. He would make sure no matter what that at least that didn't change. He couldn't imagine Naruto having any other name. Mikoto sobbed and Itachi's head snapped over to look at the weeping woman.

"What's wrong mom?"

She shook her head as she attempted to calm herself down. Itachi ran his hand over Naruto's hair one last time before standing up and going to his mother.

"Did something happen?"

He asked desperately trying to comfort his mother. Mikoto calmed down enough to stop crying and answer her oldest child.

"No. No nothing happened. That name is just the same one a dear friend of mine was going to name her son."

Her eyes watered as she went on explaining at Itachi's confused expression.

"She passed away before she could get to see her son grow up and I was just thinking how sad I'd be if I didn't get to see the kind of men you and your brother grew up to be."

Kakashi felt like crying again. He knew for a fact she wouldn't be around to see either of her children grow into adults. And even if she had been alive with everything they did he wondered if she would have still loved them. Then he thought of Naruto, who that no matter what Sasuke did, still loved him enough to see him as redeemable. Not even he or Sakura could have said the same, both had attempted to kill Sasuke at least once already.

Then Kakashi realized he wouldn't see his students like that for quite a few years. He was alone without his team once again and that hurt almost as much as losing his sensei again. Naruto finally started to cry and Kakashi stood up from where he had still been kneeling with him.

"Will you be okay Mikoto-san?"

He asked softly. Itachi made a serious little face as he looked up to the taller teen.

"I can take care of ka-san and Sasuke until dad gets back."

Kakashi smiled to the kid and nodded.

"Alright then I'm counting on it kid. I have to go find the Sandaime so I'll be taking my leave now."

As he turned to go Mikoto called out to him.

"Kakashi-kun!"

Looking over his shoulder at the woman she smiled.

"If you need anything you know where to find me, right?"

He nodded and turned to find the old man. He thought it would be nice to see him again after all of these years. It had been about three since he died and Kakashi had missed the man greatly. Now that he thought about it in his time the only two Sarutobi's still alive were Konohamaru and Kurenai's little girl. Maybe coming back he could change that if not to save the Hokage but Asuma at least. He did miss his drinking friend and knew the man would be able to teach Naruto things he himself never could about Wind abilities. Kakashi decided he would need to make a list of people he wanted to save and why so he could determine if saving them would affect how the younger generation matured. All that mattered to Kakashi now was his team and being able to be with them again. They were his family and if going back in time didn't prove he would do anything for them, then he would find another way to prove himself. The world couldn't be cruel enough to take away his last chance at happiness.

After checking the surrounding chakra signatures in the village Kakashi flash stepped to where he knew the once again Hokage would be.

As usual the Sandaime was in the Hokage tower. A somber expression on his face as he listened to reports from ANBU, Jonin, civilians, anyone who had lined up to talk to him. Kakashi was beyond the point of caring, he walked past the people in line straight to the front. There was yelling and a few ninja in line tried to grab him. The second he turned his active Sharingan meeting the eyes of whoever dared stop him they would let go. Normally Kakashi would have gone in through the window but with all the ANBU surrounding the place he didn't want any confrontations. Naruto had stopped crying thankfully when he had flash stepped to the tower. Kakashi wondered if the movement had startled the child, but when he looked down the baby was sleeping with his small fist in his mouth. Thinking about it Minato had probably been using his infamous flying thunder god technique when fighting Obito and the Kyubi. Minato must have been carrying Naruto all the way to where he had found them in that clearing using that jutsu or flash stepping. Kakashi smiled slightly down at Naruto. It explained why the kid only had one speed and it wasn't slow.

"Kakashi Hatake what are you doing here?"

Happy moment ruined, Kakashi turned to Ebisu who stood guard at the door.

"I have critical information for the Sandaime. Let me through Ebisu-san."

Ebisu shook his head.

"Everyone wants to talk to Sandaime-sama right now Kakashi. Get in line like the others."

Without breaking eye contact Kakashi stepped within a breaths away from Ebisu.

"Let me through Ebisu or deal with me out here."

His voice and expression were both cold and deadly. While Ebisu was a skilled Shinobi he wouldn't delude himself into believing he could beat Sharingan Kakashi. Putting up a façade Ebisu pushed his shades further up his nose before replying to the threatening teen.

"If it is that dire Hatake then go."

Stepping out of the way Ebisu started calming down the angry people left in line as Kakashi kicked the double doors open.

"Such a noisy child."

The Sandaime muttered while Kakashi kicked the doors closed behind himself.

"I assume you know of your teachers passing."

It wasn't a question but Kakashi nodded all the same.

"And the child?"

"Thiers."

Sarutobi closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Let me see-"

The Hokage paused for a moment and Kakashi knew what the problem was.

"Him, the baby it's a boy."

"I see. Well give him here Kakashi."

The older man held his arms out for the child and Kakashi couldn't move. Back when this had happened it had been the other way around. Sarutobi had called Kakashi into his office after the funeral of his teacher and told him about Naruto. Jiraiya was long gone from the Village and the Hokage was trying to comfort the young ANBU captain.

Kakashi had only ever held Naruto one time after he was born. He had begged the Hokage to allow him to take the child. To raise him and be able to do something right for once. Sarutobi had denied him as did the council when he tried to appeal to them.

Kakashi Hatake was a trained killer.

Not a parent.

He looked down to the sleeping baby in his arms. Kakashi knew without a doubt that Naruto, no matter what would grow up to be the world's strongest Shinobi. He would be vibrant, and powerful, with a smile no one could match.

A fake smile Kakashi would have to face one too many times.

"No."

Sarutobi looked like someone had struck him. It wasn't often someone denied him, let alone one of his own men.

"Kakashi-"

"No. I know if I hand Naruto over to you now I'll never see him again."

He hadn't realized it but Kakashi had opened his left eye again as he spoke to the older man. Two ANBU guards appeared next to their leader and Kakashi quickly turned his anger to them.

"Leave us now."

Both guards froze up as they were trapped in the spinning gaze of Kakashi's Sharingan.

"Kakashi!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up as he called out the younger man's name. Kakashi closed his left eye and used one hand to move his hitaiate to cover it. He had woken Naruto up when he barked at the ANBU and the baby was crying once more. Kakashi rocked him gently as he looked down at Naruto's crying face. Shifting the baby so he was holding him in both arms once again as he held Naruto closer to his body.

"I can't. I can't give him to you."

Kakashi whispered pleadingly.

Sarutobi sighed as he signaled the ANBU guards to leave. He walked over to the silver haired teen with pity in his eyes stopping in front of him.

"I will give him right back Kakashi."

Kakashi looked up into the man's eyes with distrust.

"Believe me you won't once you realize what he is."

There was a change in the older man as he realized what Kakashi meant. As he put two and two together and his shock was clear as day to Kakashi who glared at him with anger.

"You don't mean to tell me that Minato? Into his own child? How could he have done such a thing?"

Kakashi shook his head.

"Sensei thinks the villagers will see Naruto as their hero. As someone who has sacrificed and lost everything for their sake."

Sarutobi smiled and nodded.

"Yes, we can only hope so."

The teen's glare intensified at these words. Kakashi stood up straighter and Naruto went from screaming cries to tiny whimpers of exhaustion.

"He's wrong. They will hate this child. He will be feared, beat, and neglected. No one will be able to defend him, and he won't fight back against them. Naruto will grow up to save us all and they will treat him like shit."

The pity was back on the old man's face and it only served to fuel Kakashi's anger.

"You don't know all of this for sure. He is Minato's son."

"I know. And if you take him from me you're going to be giving him the worst kind of childhood anyone can imagine."

The Hokage went from an understanding old man to a battle hardened leader right in front of Kakashi's eyes.

"If you will not hand him over I will be forced to remove him from your arms right now Kakashi."

Knowing there was no way around it Kakashi gave Naruto one final squeeze before willingly handing him over to Sarutobi. As he lost all contact to the infant Kakashi stepped closer to the older man now holding him.

"Call your Council I will take Naruto to Emergency care now. He needs to be checked, cleaned, fed, and then I will bring him right back."

Sarutobi said nothing as he moved the blanket to expose to seal on the infant's stomach.

"You've seen it now please give him back to me."

Kakashi couldn't remember the last time he was so formal. But he was worried that once Naruto had left his hands he wouldn't get him back until he was twelve again. He knew that's what had happened the first time around, only once had he held the infant.

Only once wouldn't be enough this time.

"Sar-"

"Yes. You can take him to Emergency care Kakashi."

He handed the once again fussing baby over to the teen and signaled for the ANBU to return. The previous two ANBU guards reappeared instantly.

"They will accompany you there, and see that you bring the child back here first thing in the morning."

Kakashi wondered if being in his younger body made him more emotional as he felt tears sting his eyes and threaten to fall. He had done it, Kakashi had succeeded in changing the past and he was holding Naruto in his arms once again. And all he wanted to do was cry. Yeah, he would definitely be blaming his teenage body hormones on this.

"Naruto. His name is Naruto."