Wrong Side of Heaven

Once he had the compound in sight Kakashi took to higher ground. Walking right through the front gate with an infant Naruto so soon after the meeting had been settled was too suspicious. Even if the only reason Kakashi was going was because he would be near Sasuke again. No matter how the baby's older self-had hurt all of Team 7 Kakashi still craved to be near his students. Naruto was only one of the six-man group Team 7 had become. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Sai, Tenzo, and Kakashi were Team 7, they were family on a Shinobi scale of measurement. Held together by a common understanding that no matter the mission, nothing was more important than each other. Sasuke might have lost sight of that in Kakashi's timeline but the baby Uchiha wasn't there yet, Kakashi had a chance to change, to fix everything he had done wrong with the young teen.

Naruto stirred in his arms, shifting Kakashi's focus back to where he was.

"You're right I can't be getting lost on the path of life right now Naruto. If we're late Mikoto will have my mask."

The infant didn't respond, but his lip wobbled in a way that made Kakashi's stomach sink. He thought for sure Naruto would start crying and give away his position on a roof a few houses down from Fugaku and Mikoto's home. Kakashi shifted the infant so he was cradled closer to his chest, he held him with both arms, and started to sway back and forth. Naruto didn't cry, instead he made a sound like a hiccup and went back to sleep. Kakashi relaxed slightly and once again prayed he didn't get them both into something they couldn't handle. He felt drained, his chakra was nearly depleted, and he had slept a total of three to four hours in the last two days. Not to mention dying, traveling back in time, reliving one of the worst days of his life, and arguing with a roof full of dead people. Kakashi was about to send a dog over to Mikoto, thanking her for the invite but declining in favor of going home. He was so close to doing it, but then Kakashi saw them.

Itachi sat with Sasuke on the front porch of the Uchiha main house. The infant Sasuke was held in a wrap that kept him secure to Itachi's small body. Sasuke was crying, his older brother talking to him in hushed tones. Kakashi was too far away to hear what was said but the five-year-old had a soft smile on his lips as he spoke to his younger brother. Seeing the two of them was the straw that broke him. He wasted a little more of his chakra to flash step quickly to the two of them. He startled Itachi, who jumped up with his eyes spinning red. Kakashi smiled, he knew the mask wouldn't allow the child to see it but he couldn't help himself. Of course the Uchiha heir, and prodigy would have the Sharingan at five. It was common knowledge that the child had mastered it when he was ten but to think he hid the fact he could use such a thing for five years was incredible.

"You are full of surprises Itachi."

Kakashi greeted the now panicking kid. He wasn't screaming but all the color had drained from his face, and his eyes went back to black, and wide. Itachi was also breathing hard, and Kakashi couldn't help the laugh that slipped out of himself.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

Kakashi knelt to Itachi's level and placed a hand on his shoulder as the kid started to regain his composure.

"Why don't we take these two inside? I won't say anything about what just happened to anyone, but if you ever need help you can always ask me. I know a lot of things about the Sharingan, I could teach some to you if you want."

Itachi didn't say anything, just nodded his head and turned to go inside. It was all Kakashi could do not to sigh as he followed the boy, he hoped the child would take him up on the offer. Itachi's older self had told Kakashi he needed someone to simply be there for him. At the age of fifteen, even if he did have the memories of someone 16 years older Kakashi realized he had signed on for a lot of childcare work. So many damaged children had come out of this generation, Itachi, Shisui, Neji, Sasuke, Naruto, Gaara of the Sand, and so many more. Children with parents who were great ninja, but terrible providers. Most nin were emotionally compromised, too used to battle to be able to connect on an emotional level with their family. Fugaku was a grade A example of that one. Kakashi knew the man loved his family, his wife and children, he just didn't show it well. Not to mention the whole crazy take over plan he was leading.

"Ah Kakashi! You're early."

Mikoto stood in the kitchen Itachi had led him to. Sasuke was still crying and the woman took him out of Itachi's care without a word. As if the baby knew his cries quieted. Within moments the baby was asleep, and Kakashi was floored.

"Yes, I'm sorry for showing up ahead of time. I'm just not feeling like myself right now."

Mikoto stood there with her youngest in her arms, like how Kakashi held Naruto. Her face was one of pain, and understanding. She nodded solemnly.

"I understand. I assumed with everything that has been going on, no one should be alone right now."

Mikoto was a nice woman, and Kakashi was already starting to feel guilty for what he knew was going to happen in the years to come. He attempted to shake off his memories when the woman gave him a quizzical look after he took too long to respond. Kakashi smiled politely behind his mask and nodded his head in agreement with Mikoto's last statement. She took the wrap from Itachi to place Sasuke in before turning back to chopping some vegetables.

"Itachi dear why don't you show our guest the nursery, so he can lay that poor baby down."

Itachi nodded like the good little solider he was and quickly grabbed Kakashi's unoccupied hand to lead the teenager where his mother directed. Kakashi didn't even know how to respond. The small child's grip was strong and the force he used to pull Kakashi wasn't necessarily strong enough to move him unless Kakashi followed but his determined face told Kakashi it was best not to fight him. Even at five Itachi seemed to know how dangerous he could be, or maybe even was at this age. The image of Itachi with an activated Sharingan in a black cloak, with red clouds overlapped with the five year old's small frame, and he tried to shake the afterimage off. He had a moment where he wondered how he was supposed to stay sane with all the knowledge he had access to. How was he supposed to know what to allow happen, or try to prevent? It wasn't like the dead adult version of Itachi had given him many clues.

Itachi led Kakashi through the mansion to a room that was undoubtedly the nursery. There was a crib, changing table, basinet all kinds of baby toys and what not.

"You can put him in Sasuke's bed."

The younger child pointed over to the crib, and Kakashi hesitated to leave Naruto in the room. Once he put the infant down and leaves the room there was no telling what could happen. What if this was all part of Fugaku's plan to kidnap Naruto? It wouldn't be that hard for the man to have one of his men enter the nursery, fake an assassination on the infant, and then steal him away. No one would even question why this potential unknown man killed Naruto, they would simply pin it on his anger at the nine-tails.

"What's wrong?"

Kakashi was brought out of his attempted kidnapping fantasy by Itachi's question. He was being stupid, and paranoid. Fugaku would never harm the infant with his wife around. She would sooner kill her husband herself had he even suggested it.

"Nothing."

Kakashi placed Naruto in the crib, then just in case set up a little seal so if he was lifted from the crib Kakashi would know. It was a frivolous waste of chakra but he couldn't completely shake his paranoia.

"He's so small."

Itachi leaned over the railing to look at Naruto.

"Yeah he is."

They didn't say anything for a few minutes as the kid inspected the infant. His curious eyes seemed to trail every inch of him. Kakashi wanted to know what Itachi was thinking but also knew it was an odd thing to ask someone so young.

"Come on we should let him sleep."

Itachi nodded, his face serious once again as he stepped away and then nudged Kakashi to follow him. As they wandered back to the kitchen area in silence Kakashi let himself get lost in thought. He was trying to make a detailed list of things he'd need for Naruto. The baby was too young to need his own room so Kakashi's studio apartment was okay for now. He would need a crib for sure. Kakashi would also have to invest in finding a proper babysitter for the infant for when he was away on missions.

"You're his dad right?"

Kakashi ran into a partially opened screen door. He hadn't been expecting the question and now realized he didn't know how to answer. His brain was in the process of short circuiting when Fugaku chuckled from somewhere behind the younger pair.

"That is an excellent question."

The man patted Kakashi's shoulder, and ruffled Itachi's hair as he passed them on his way into the kitchen.

"I'm more like his big brother."

Kakashi settled on as he entered the kitchen as well. He took up a seat across from Fugaku at the table, and Mikoto served them tea.

"Will that be your answer his whole life, Kakashi?"

Fugaku sipped his tea as Kakashi still attempted to gather his wits. The white-haired teen looked to the older man and had a moment of pure rage. All the thoughts of everything this person causes to happen rushed through Kakashi's mind within seconds. Everything Fugaku puts both his sons through, everything Minato put Naruto through, everything Kakashi's father put him through.

"Kakashi!"

Fugaku yelled, kuni drawn, Sharingan activated, his wife and children standing behind him. Kakashi was jolted out of his memories. He was breathing hard, his eyes burned, and he stood quickly out of his seat.

"I'm sorry. It seems I'm not well enough to be around civilians yet."

He tried to rush out of the room, he had to get to Naruto, he had to get out of this house. Fugaku grabbed him before he could get completely out of the room. Without fully thinking it through Kakashi shoved the man away.

He was having trouble telling the present, and the future, was he fifteen, was he thirty-one?

Where was Naruto?

Where was Sakura?

Where was Sasuke, Sai, and Tenzo?

What happened to Obito? He was there, Kakashi remembered that, Obito was there and he was helping them.

Kakashi was panicking more by the second. He felt like his eyes were on fire, and then he was on his back. Fugaku above him holding the frantic teen down. Then the crying broke out. Sasuke's screaming wail pierced the air and made Kakashi jolt. He searched the room with his exposed eye and saw the baby in Itachi's arms. It was seconds later that another cry joined Sasuke.

Naruto.

Naruto was crying from the nursery. Probably woken up by the commotion Kakashi had caused. He took a few deep breaths, trying to regain his composure. When he felt his mind begin to settle and reminded himself where he was. Kakashi opened his eyes to meet Fugaku's gaze. That was when Kakashi realized why the older man was so shocked. His exposed right eye, if he was guessing right had the Sharingan activated.

"Fugaku-san, I know this looks odd but let me explain."

Shit! He had no idea what he was going to tell the man to explain this. 'Oh don't freak out, one of my amazingly talented students replaced my normal eye with a Sharingan.' Yeah because that would go over so well, seeing as he was fifteen, ANBU, and didn't have any students.

"Kakashi your Sharingan is widely known. You need to calm down or I will have to take you to a medic."

'Thank God'. Kakashi couldn't help but think. He sank into the floorboards, nearly boneless with relief as he nodded. Fugaku assumed he was just freaking out because of the war, and Minato-sensei. It was common, Kakashi was technically a kid and he had gone through something horrifically traumatic.

"Are you stable?"

Kakashi nodded again as answer, and the man let him up. Both infants were still crying, and Kakashi wanted nothing more than to run his fingers over Sasuke's head. The look Itachi was giving him let Kakashi know it would be a bad idea. The child didn't trust him now, and would sooner put Kakashi down then allow him to touch his brother. Instead Kakashi ran his hand over his face and consciously tried to turn off the exposed Sharingan. Once he knew it was off he removed his hand and stood up straight.

"Thank you for inviting me Mikoto-san. I apologize about leaving early but I believe it's for the best."

The woman said nothing as Kakashi walked past her.

"I'll just grab Naruto and be on my way."

That made her head snap up as she grabbed his bicep in an iron clad grip. Though the woman was a housewife now she had once been a Chunin level kunoichi.

"I don't think it's for the best if Naruto goes with you tonight. You need time to heal Kakashi."

Kakashi knew she was just worried about the infant's safety with Kakashi obviously so unstable. But her words pissed him off. He would sooner kill the whole Uchiha clan himself then let one of them take Naruto from him. Even for a few hours.

"Mikoto."

At Fugaku's sharp tone the woman released Kakashi. The teen said nothing as he rushed to retrieve Naruto. He heard hushed words being exchanged between the couple but chose to ignore them in favor of his charge. Once his eye fell onto Naruto he felt himself calming down. There was nothing wrong with the baby, he was just startled awake by Kakashi, and Fugaku fighting. Kakashi picked him up, wrapping the blanket tighter around his small body. He jumped out the window instead of attempting to go back through the large house to leave. He didn't want to run the risk of encountering one of the Uchiha clan members on the streets so he took to the rooftops. Kakashi smiled to himself as Naruto stopped crying the second he flash stepped onto another rooftop. The infant was destined to learn that Thunder God step he favored during the war. Kakashi wondered if teaching it to him earlier in life would be bad or not.

So much was running through his head Kakashi was surprised he was able to fall asleep so quickly. Naruto had fallen asleep on the way to the apartment, and Kakashi saw it as an opportunity to get rest when he could. After he cocooned Naruto in pillows he laid down next to the infant. Kakashi once again thought about buying things he needed but decided it could wait a few more hours. Just a few hours of sleep, that's all he wanted.