Passive Aggressive
Kakashi pretended the ANBU didn't exist, or that he was covered in the blood of the men he fought off in the cave. All that mattered in that short walk to the EC was that he was still holding onto the future hope of the Allied Shinobi Forces. He had changed something about the past and the shock wasn't wearing off anytime soon.
But it was a short walk, and he had to hand Naruto over to the nurses and doctors in the EC all too soon for his liking. Even though the infant was out of his arms he was never out of Kakashi's sight. He followed the nurses as they took Naruto to be seen by the medical nin's there, and then the medics to the doctors after they cleared the baby. As the doctors checked his vitals, and cleaned him up Kakashi made sure they knew he was watching them. These people already knew what Naruto was carrying inside of him just from the medical ninja's inspecting him. The seal on his stomach was a dead giveaway to anyone with common Shinobi knowledge.
Kakashi couldn't see the ANBU who had followed him but he knew they were there. He could even point to their exact location if asked to. While he was there to make sure nothing happened to his future student, they were there to make sure he didn't do anything to the civilians caring for the infant. Kakashi could see the looks of horror on the medical team's faces, he could feel their hatred coming off of them in waves.
Even as an infant these people hated Naruto for what he was, and he wasn't even a day old yet.
"We're done."
The doctor stated as he handed the infant back to Kakashi.
"Thank you. Now bring me the means to feed him and something to dress him in so you can be done here."
Kakashi replied coolly to the doctors strained tone, as if he thought caring for the infant was a struggle when the baby hadn't so much as cried during the time he was there. The man nodded to one of the nurses who frowned but walked out to gather the things Kakashi had requested.
"She will bring you what you need for him. Now if you'll excuse me?"
He bowed and then the rest of the medical team followed the doctor out of the room. It was ten minutes later that Naruto started to cry again. The nurse who had been sent to get his things hadn't come back yet and Kakashi was pissed off. He understood that many were injured, and even more were dead with the Kyubi attack being a few hours prior. But Naruto was an infant who had spent the first few minutes of his life fighting said fox demon, and then losing every blood relative he had. And damnit if the baby didn't deserve to at least eat after suffering through all of that.
As Kakashi threw the door to the private room they had given him open, everyone in the hall jumped. His chakra was spiked with his anger and the screams of Naruto in the room behind him only fueled that anger.
"You."
He called to the closest nurse to him. She looked startled, Kakashi was glad. Hopefully her fear of him would outweigh any fear of Naruto.
"I expect you to bring me food for the infant, and clothes."
"I,I…I"
She stuttered endlessly.
"I don't care. Do it now and swiftly before I get angry."
She ran down the hall and Kakashi made sure to find that first nurse later to instill the fear of Kakashi of the Sharingan in her. When he slammed the door and turned around to comfort the crying Naruto he knew the ANBU would be standing there in sight again.
"Hatake-san we cannot allow you to threaten civilians."
"I will do what I have to for Naruto. He isn't even a few hours old and he needs food and warm clothes. If you want to be useful and keep me from causing anymore panic here you can always go and get it for me."
They must have sensed his extreme killing intent because they swiftly went back into hiding while Kakashi picked up the wailing infant. Most Shinobi knew better even in this time, than to piss off an already angry Kakashi. As he picked him up Kakashi realized that Naruto also needed a diaper changer. The nurses had put one on him when Kakashi handed him over to them but that was nearly an hour ago. That and the fact that the baby didn't soil Kakashi while he had him to begin with was slightly a miracle. He was just about to turn back out of the room to call another nurse to get him more diapers as well when the second nurse form the hallway rushed in. she was carrying a large bag filled with things.
"I brought you bottles, clothes, diapers, and a few more blankets. Um was there anything else Hatake-san?"
Kakashi felt like an idiot for mistaking the woman as a nurse. She was a few years older than he was now with short black hair and sure she was wearing scrubs and an ID tag but she was much more than a nurse. He had just threatened Shizune into getting him baby supplies when she was probably doing important things for Tsunade. But she was there and Kakashi realized he didn't know how to change a diaper. One of the most renowned Shinobi among the land and he had never changed a diaper in his life.
"I know it's a bit much but can you show me how to change him?"
Shizune's eyes were darting around to where the ANBU were hiding and Kakashi knew she was wondering why they were there. After seeing the hidden men as nonthreatening she looked back to Kakashi and smiled kindly.
"Sure I'll be quick so pay attention. I have to be getting back to Tsunade-sama."
The young woman quickly grabbed Naruto out of Kakashi's arms and laid him down in the small medical bed he had been laying in before. As she removed the blanket Kakashi had rewrapped the infant in she gasped. Kakashi had forgotten about other Shinobi's lack of knowledge in this time. He was behind her instantly.
"You do not speak of this to anyone when you leave here Shizune-san. Now show me how to change him and you may leave."
Shizune shook her head and quickly started to work.
"No I'm sorry it just startled me. I had heard the new Kyubi vessel was here in the hospital but I had no idea it was such a small baby."
A sad smile crossed her face and Kakashi deemed her trustworthy.
"How strong he must be to contain such a beast."
"You have no idea."
Kakashi replied. Thankful for her honesty and understanding. He had never know the woman to be unreasonable.
"There all done. Was that all?"
Kakashi nodded.
"Thank you."
He took the bag from her as she left the room and looked through it for the things he needed. Once Naruto was dressed and rewrapped in the blanket Kakashi sat with him in the chair he had been using while watching him. He held Naruto in one arm and fed him with the other. Thankfully the bottles Shizune had brought him were already made, and warm enough to use right then. He would have to thank her properly later, and apologize for scaring her too if he remembered.
There was so much he had to remember as it was.
Kakashi woke up to press a kunai against the neck of the ANBU who had the misfortune of waking him up.
"We must be going now Hatake-san."
The ANBU stated as he pulled away from the threatening weapon. Looking down Kakashi realized Naruto was sleeping in his arms, he must have fallen asleep while rocking the infant the night before. Kakashi's body still ached in ways he had never imagined, and he knew he over used his Sharingan the previous night. His chakra was drained, and so was he. Naruto was still asleep and Kakashi wanted nothing more than to join the baby in his slumber but he knew he had to face the Council now.
After noticing his appearance Kakashi sighed. He was still wearing his ANBU gear, there was still blood stains littering his body. He looked like the killer he was trained to be. Not someone who was pleading to care for a child. He looked like a child who killed people there was no way they would take him seriously dressed like this.
"Allow me to stop by my apartment to change then we can head to the Hokage tower."
Both ANBU shuffled nervously but said nothing. He knew their orders were to accompany Kakashi to the hospital and back to the Hokage with the child. But Kakashi was also hoping they would take in the fact that he was still covered in blood into account and allow him to change. When the one standing to the left nodded an affirmative Kakashi felt like a weight had been lifted.
He checked Naruto out of the hospital, and took to the rooftops to get home. Skipping fighting with the door Kakashi went in through a window he kept sealed with his chakra. The only way the window would open was if Kakashi was near and broke the seal. Naruto was still asleep so Kakashi laid him on his bed as he quickly changed. After washing the visible blood off of his skin Kakashi downed a chakra supplement tablet. That would at least keep him going for the rest of the day to deal with all of this. Maybe time traveling had been hard on his chakra. He would never really know though since he didn't have anyone to ask.
"Someday I'll return the favor Uchiha."
He muttered to the person responsible for his current state. The man had said he would be keeping an eye on him, and while he couldn't communicate with Kakashi the silver haired Shinobi wondered if he could hear him. Naruto started to cry and all thoughts of a future dead Itachi vanished from his mind and he went to check on the infant.
Naruto was squirming around on the bed and Kakashi rushed to pick him up before he moved off of the mattress. When he picked Naruto up it was clear to the teen what was wrong. Kakashi went to the bag Shizune had given him and pulled out a much needed diaper, and a bottle to heat up.
Once Naruto was changed and dressed in different clothes Kakashi grabbed the ready bottle on his way out. This time opting to walk, so he could feed Naruto on his way to the Council meeting. The streets were dead. The whole village looked like it was in mourning and for a moment Kakashi didn't understand what was wrong. When he walked by the destroyed half of the village it was all too soon that he did remember. He was fifteen again, his teacher had just died, and many people he knew his whole life as well. The village was destroyed and he was walking through its empty streets with the one thing between the village being leveled or in the state it currently was. Shizune had been right when she assumed Naruto was strong. If it wasn't for him the whole village would be gone and the nine-tails would have already been moving onto its next victims.
With how Naruto was treated growing up it seriously made Kakashi question humans comprehension of situations. Shaking the thoughts off Kakashi walked into the Hokage tower with the infant, flanked on either side by ANBU. As he approached the doors to the meeting the men there attempted to stop him. It was the ANBU men who changed the guard's minds. Naruto was once again sleeping after finishing off his bottle. Leaving Kakashi to hold the sleeping infant and attempt to look imposing to the questioning and judgmental eyes of those gathered to the Council Meeting.
It wasn't just the Hokage and his three advisors in the room. Every Clan head was there even Tsunade, Jiraiya and Orochimaru were standing around their sensei. Kakashi suddenly didn't feel so good about this. When he had first pleaded to be Naruto's guardian he only dealt with four people. Now he had to convince a room full of them. Kakashi had been rejected the first time with just a hand full to judge him, what would this many think?
"Ah Kakashi I see you have decided to finally join us."
Danzo spoke up from his seat around the Council table. Kakashi's single eye quickly cut to the future traitor and glared harshly at him. Reminding himself that the man had yet to do anything wrong he put himself in check. Kakashi couldn't go around accusing people of crimes they hadn't committed it would be a one way trip to a cell if he started that. So he softened his gaze and smiled innocently underneath his mask.
"I didn't realize I was such an important person in the village to warrant a meeting with the entire Council."
"Yes. Initially Sarutobi planned to have you meet with just himself and us Elders but-"
"Enough."
The Hokage cut Danzo off who sat like an obedient dog at the old man's tone.
"Kakashi come sit down and we shall begin."
Having no other choice Kakashi placed himself on the opposite end of the table putting him in between Fugaku Uchiha and Shikaku Nara. At this point Kakashi was fairly sure the Uchiha had lied about not being able to interfere.
Because this was staring to seem like a set up or some kind of messed up genjutsu, maybe none of this was even real.
"Now I know this is a difficult time to deal with this but even in this time of crisis we must think of the Village and not our personal sufferings."
Each person in the room grew quiet as the Hokage spoke.
"Kakashi has been watching the Kyubi child since last night and we need to think of a more permanent form of caretaking for him."
Kakashi bristled at the words.
"His name is Naruto, Hokage-sama and I would like to take care of him."
Someone snorted and Kakashi's eye cut across the room to Orochimaru who had made the noise. Just thinking about the day the snake man would take away one of his students made his livid with rage. But he tried to restrain it as like with Danzo he had yet to do anything wrong that the others knew of.
"You are a child Kakashi-kun there is no way you could possible care for an infant."
"I am old enough to kill for this Village but not to care for my Sensei's only child?"
Jiraiya was the first to react to this news as the rest of the room caught on to what he meant. It seemed Sarutobi had forgotten to mention that tidbit of information. Until then the older man had looked distant and hurt but at the mention of Minato he snapped back to reality.
"Minato and Kushina's child."
He whispered brokenly and Kakashi wondered if the older man was going to cry.
"Perhaps Jiraiya could care for the child then."
Shikaku Nara interjected into the conversation. Kakashi glared at him through the corner of his eye but said nothing. He could deal with this if Jiraiya took Naruto. It wouldn't be the same but at least Naruto would have a better life than if he had grown up without one of them. The room buzzed with the suggestion and the white haired Sanin looked to Kakashi and the sleeping infant.
"I have no right, I've failed Minato one too many times now."
Kakashi wanted to jump up and argue with the man. Make him see that it was the only way to make it up to Minato sensei but he could see the broken soul inside the older man. Kakashi could almost feel the self-hatred coming off of him in waves. There was no way he was capable of caring for Naruto properly.
"Allow me to take him then Hokage-sama."
Kakashi's head snapped to Fugaku so fast he disturbed the child sleeping in his arms. Naruto woke with a whine of protest and Kakashi rocked him before he could start crying. The baby didn't cry but blearily opened his eyes to peak up at the masked man holding him.
The room had exploded into cries of protest at the Uchiha's suggestion. The Uchiha were widely untrusted and no one wanted to hand over a weapon like Naruto to him.
Kakashi ignored them for the most part as he watched the baby looking up at him. Until that moment Naruto was either crying or sleeping, he hadn't seen the infant's eyes until then. They were blue like Kakashi remembered and curious as he peered up at him. The teen smiled softly down at the baby and shook his head.
"No."
He spoke loud enough to be heard over the arguing of the others, but he didn't yell in fear of startling Naruto. The room quieted as they looked to the youngest there. He met all of their eyes as he prepared to speak.
"No. I don't want to hand him over to the Uchiha's or some random orphanage to look after him. As I said earlier. If I'm old enough to kill for this Village than I should be allowed to care for Naruto. I can still go on missions there are plenty of nin with children who do it all the time."
He made sure to look at all in the room who had children and looked them in the eye as he said this.
"Many of them are in this room now. Some even had a child at my age or slightly older."
There was a moment of muttered words as they assessed what he had said. Then Koharu Utatane spoke.
"I believe someone who has already cared for a child would be better suited to this task. Perhaps even a family for the child to grow in."
Kakashi had to stop himself from laughing bitterly. He knew for a fact she was one of the first in the room to throw Naruto to the most abusive people she could think of. There was no way in hell Kakashi was going to let her do that.
"And who would you suggest Utatane-sama?"
Kakashi looked to the woman wishing he could uncover his Sharingan to intimidate her. She wasn't one to be intimidated in the first place. Utatane was older and had seen Shinobi come and go through the village over the years like the mountain watches the wind. He had to play it smart to convince her. He would have to play it very smart.