Wrong Side of Heaven

Sitting in a room full of people he could recite the death dates of was slightly distracting to the Copy-nin. While he argued back and forth with Utatane and Sarutobi, Kakashi was feeling exhausted and it was only noon. The room had dispersed to talk separately while Kakashi left the room to feed a crying Naruto. The infant was surprisingly quiet the whole meeting until his small stomach let him know it was time to eat again. With all that extra chakra from the Kyubi coursing through his veins Kakashi didn't blame the kid for kicking up a fuss when he was hungry. Not only that, but the teen needed a break from negotiations with the Elders. Oddly the Nara Clan's Shikaku was on his side, as well as Jiraiya and after Fugaku was denied he also vouched for the young Shinobi. Speaking of which the Uchiha was making his way to Kakashi.

"I can understand why you want to care for your teacher's child Kakashi-san but I won't feel right if I didn't ask you one thing."

Feeling skeptical Kakashi inclined his head for the elder to continue.

"What is Naruto to you Kakashi, aside from your Sensei's child, aside from the Kyubi vessel?"

"That was two questions Uchiha-san."

Kakashi spoke without thinking and by the serious look on Fugaku's face it was the wrong thing to do. Looking away from the man and down to the infant he had known as a teen he loved Kakashi knew the only right answer was the truth.

"Naruto is someone to die for, and someday I won't be the only one to think that way."

Kakashi walked away from Fugaku and back to his seat to wait for the others to once again gather around him. There was no way he was going to lose this argument he had let his team down one too many times already.

It was another three long hours of arguing. Utatane was insistent that Kakashi should take his job as a Shinobi as priority in this time of war and loss over parenthood. Sarutobi was attempting to stay neutral, while everyone else gave excuses or reasons as to why they should take care of Naruto. None of the ones who spoke up were trustworthy and the ones who denied either hated the demon child, or had valid reasons. Such as the Hyuga Clan which Kakashi had thought would have jumped at the chance to take him. The three representatives for the Hyuga clan all agreed that with the Lady of their Clan just giving birth to the future Head of their Clan the timing was poor to bring in this child. Outsiders and warring Villages would think they were trying to marry their Hinata-Hime to the Kyubi vessel and they didn't want those rumors.

It was taking everything in Kakashi's will power not to snicker at the excuse. Seeing as how Hinata would one day grow to love the blonde teen to the point she would risk her own life for him. Ah, young love knows no bounds.

"Do you find this situation amusing Kakashi Hatake?!"

Utatane shouted over the others speaking in the room. Apparently he didn't hide his humor well enough. Kakashi must really be getting tired if this affected him. Time travelling wasn't something that happened every day and he was still wondering if there were some facts Itachi, that black haired demon left out when he offered this situation to him. But for now Kakashi had had enough so he cradled the once again sleeping Naruto to his chest as he stood up from his seat.

"The only thing I am at this point Utatane-sama is tired. I am tired of the petty excuses, and invalid reasons for someone else to try and take Naruto from me. I am the safest option for him. With the Sharingan I was bestowed by my former teammate Obito Uchiha I can control the Kyubi if the time ever called for it. I have no love for the Uchiha Clan though, and I belong to no other Clan in this Village meaning my loyalty is to the Village above all else. I have only one leader and that is my Hokage to address in matters regarding anything. I take orders from no one but the rulers of this Village."

The room that moments ago had been bustling with noise quieted as he spoke. Only whispers Kakashi was too tired to try and listen to were exchanged around him. The older woman looked about ready to kill the teen and if Kakashi wasn't positive the woman hadn't seen combat in more than a few good years he would have been frightened. But he had more important matters to deal with than a pissy old woman, and with that thought Kakashi said the one thing he had been thinking since last night.

"Either you allow me to raise Naruto here in the Village where you can monitor him and I, or I take him and there will be nothing anyone in this room will be able to do to stop me from doing so."

Titling his head just right to get the Sharingan exposed as it span with his anger and vindication Kakashi awaited their response. He was done playing games and negotiations were over this was now a full on hostage situation and the Village was his collateral. Every face was pale and shocked in the room, all but the Hokage himself seemed shaken by Kakashi's threat. Had he only known what he did at this age Kakashi wouldn't have been so bold, but he could use Mangekyo, and Chidori to an advanced degree none of them knew of. He also had about sixteen extra years' worth of combat and mission experience to back him. At this point and time in the Village there really was no one left or ready to challenge him. Itachi was much too young to be a threat, and none of the prodigies from the rookie nine were out of diapers.

"You dare threaten our entire existence for one child, a demon who is the cause of death for your own precious Sensei?"

Orochimaru taunted and Kakashi nearly lost it right there. The only threat Naruto was to the Village was that he didn't take out Orochimaru before Sasuke could.

"Naruto hasn't killed anyone, and Minato-sensei would sooner place a blade in his own chest then allow you people to treat his son as if he had killed those people."

"Well I've had just about enough of this discussion and I'm sure everyone would like to take their leave to deal with the mess this Village has been left in."

Sarutobi stood from his seat for the first time that day and the room was dead quiet as he spoke.

"Kakashi Hatake after many long hours of debating the matter I'm positive after that last noble remark no one will argue with me in saying this. But you may remain the caretaker of Naruto-"

"Uzumaki. His last name shall be Uzumaki in honor of the woman who died so he could be born into this world."

Fugaku stated as he stood and left the room. Sarutobi nodded sagely in agreement with the Uchiha's words.

"Naruto Uzumaki he is then, shall be in the custody of one Kakashi Hatake until the time that he reaches adulthood."

The words seemed to penetrate the air with its authority and Utatane stood up to yell at the Hokage. But Kakashi could care less about any of that. Once he heard that he was granted custody of Naruto the rest of the arguing voices faded into nothing. Naruto fussed slightly in his arms at all the commotion and Kakashi thought would be better if he left before anyone could change their minds.

He said nothing to anyone and simply flash stepped out of the building. He took to the rooftops where he was more comfortable existing, slowing his pace to a walk instead of jumping run. It was around four in the evening by now meaning the pair had spent all morning and well past the afternoon in that meeting room. The tiny Naruto in his arms stretched and yawned blinking his eyes open against the harsh sunlight to look up at the teen who held him.

"Oh have you finally awoken lazy?"

Kakashi chided the infant who continued to give him his usual blank owlish gaze. He guessed being a day old didn't grant the kid too many facial expressions yet.

"I'm sure these quiet moments won't happen often if you're anything like I remember."

As an answer Naruto yawned once again and made what Kakashi considered a weak attempt at a wiggle in his arms. While Kakashi was distracted with messing with the infant Naruto, he didn't notice the Uchiha Head walking towards him till it was too late.

"Kakashi-san, my wife has just informed me she expects you and Naruto-kun for dinner."

The way Fugaku said the word 'expects' sounded like he meant demands, which knowing the Uchiha woman was probably the correct term anyway. Kakashi forced a smile and nodded once.

"Sure, let her know we'll be there around 7:00 I still have things I need to get for Naruto and I have reports to fill out for Hokage-sama as well."

Kakashi wasn't lying about the need to get Naruto things but he knew all too well Sarutobi wasn't going to demand those reports for a week. The Uchiha couple didn't need to know that though. He wanted time to scope out the compound, make sure no other Uchiha would be a threat to the infant before taking him there so soon. It would also be an opportunity to infiltrate himself in Itachi's life at a young age. He always thought if he had gotten to the young prodigy before his ANBU time he could have prevented what happened. It was a nice thought but Kakashi knew it was also a lie to himself.

After parting ways with Fukgaku it wasn't long till Kakashi reached home. Naruto was still awake gazing up at him like he was the most interesting thing in the world.

"I'm tired kid think. You think you want to go back to sleep now?"

Kakashi got no answer from the infant. The teen downed another chakra tablet and closed the window they used to enter the apartment. He placed Naruto in a pillow cage on the bed and started to remove some of his armor. An hour nap wouldn't hinder his plans to scope out the compound before Mikoto-san's dinner. Or at least that was the excuse he gave himself when he set an alarm and joined Naruto on his bed. Almost instantly Kakashi was asleep as he placed his head down and laid one hand on Naruto's stomach to make sure he didn't move while Kakashi slept. It seemed like minutes passed before the alarm was going off and Kakashi was forced to drag himself out of sleep and comfort the now crying Naruto. It seemed the infant didn't like being woken up by such a loud noise.

Kakashi sat up and lifted Naruto into his arms. He made hushing noises and rocked slightly to calm the obviously distressed infant. Kakashi hadn't been wrong when he knew the quiet moments wouldn't last because Naruto, even as an infant demanded to be heard. Once Naruto had calmed down to just little whimpering noises Kakashi laid him back down. The infant fussed slightly while Kakashi got up and grabbed the bag Shizune had given him at the hospital. He changed Naruto and dressed him in a clean outfit before it dawned on him that he would have to carry this infant sized Naruto to scope out the compound.

Now that he thought about it carrying an infant around while doing any sort of recon would be tasking, and what about missions?! Kakashi had pointed out before that many of the other Shinobi had children but those children usually had two parents, or aunts or uncles to watch when they were away. He knew he could always hire Genin to watch Naruto while he was away but he didn't trust the other villagers with his precious student. There was no way he would be able to leave Naruto with one of his ANBU underlings without Danzo knowing about it. His fellow Jounin from his time weren't his friends yet, well except Guy and he didn't seem like the best option to leave an infant of any kind with.

All of these things ran through his mind as Kakashi made his way to the Uchiha compound.