Chapter 5: Bonding

The trip back home had been very uneventful; although the glares remained no one seemed eager to approach the hyperactive blonde whilst he had Kakashi and Iruka walking behind him.

"Kakashi-san come see my new room it is amazing!" Naruto chatted happily when they went through the door. Naruto suddenly stopped, turning to Iruka a look o fear washing over his features, "I mean Iruka-sensei is it still my room? Cus I don't really need a room. Honest".

"Of course it is" Iruka chirped happily although the anger was evident in his eyes. "You go show Hatake-san and I'll start dinner".

"Iruka-sensei, please, call me Kakashi", Kakashi said with his trade mark eye smile. Iruka fought the urge to blush but smiled back, "Well then you will have to call me just Iruka, for I have surely never taught you".

Naruto, oblivious to the sparks between the men tugged on Kakashi's pants. "Kakashi-san? Do you not want to see my room?

Xx- Naruto's POV -xX

Stupid Naruto. Of course he wouldn't want to see your room. He's an ANBU for Kami's sake.

"Sure Naruto, I'll bring in your new stuff", Kakashi said. New stuff, I still couldn't believe it. Part of me was telling me not to believe it that it had to be a trick. When had anything ever gone right? He had anyone ever been really nice?

I stepped into my room and looked around, I felt something nudge and turned around. I couldn't help but scream.

"Naruto!" I heard Iruka-sensei call, "What happened", he said skidding into the room.

"Hey hey, it's alright there pup, I ain't gonna hurt ya", replied a very small dog with a vest on. "The names Pakkun by the way who are you?"

"I'm Naruto" I stuttered out.

"Naruto, eh?" My heart sank; it was usually after I told people my name that they started hitting, although in Pakkun's case I expected more biting. Hana Inuzuka had once set her dog on me so from firsthand knowledge I knew nin-dogs were strong. "You're pretty scrawny kid".

"Hey!" Iruka screamed, but my head just went down. It wasn't really surprising; no one ever liked me when they first met me. Just not many people stuck around to get to know me, "I'm sorry".

"Pakkun", Kakashi had shown up and looked annoyed, "What boss?"

The little pug dog vanished with a poof, and Kakashi hissed into the air, "I'll deal with you later".

Iruka had already come over to me. I don't know if it was because of what Pakkun had said or if it was just because of how lovely Iruka had been all day but I couldn't look him in the eye.

I heard Kakashi's threat and my head snapped up. "Please don't hurt him. I'm sorry but don't hurt just because of me. I know I'm scrawny but please don't hit him".

Kakashi's eyes widened when I started begging. But I had been hurt so many times, how could I bare for anyone else to be hurt because of me? I wasn't worth it, really I wasn't.

"It's okay Naruto I won't hurt him".

Xx-Kakashi-xX

It was clear by the look on Naruto's face that he didn't believe me. I bent down to his level and raised my hand. I ignored his flinch and held out my right hand.

"I swear on my honour as a ninja that I will not hurt Pakkun. I don't hurt my precious people I protect them. I protect my dogs and my friends and now you. And Iruka of course", I turned to smile at the chunin who had decided to take a backseat during our exchange and flashed him an eye smile.

I loved the adorable blush that graced his cheeks, and knew under my mask I was blushing too.

"The soup!" It took all my shinobi training not to jump as Iruka yelled and ran from the room. Naruto unfortunately didn't have that training and jumped about two feet in the air.

We followed Iruka into the kitchen, were he was bravely trying to salvage the soup. Finally he turned to us and smiled.

"It's ready".

Xx-Iruka's POV-xX

Thankfully the evening passed without much more drama, although I knew looking at Naruto that this day had taken a lot out of him. He wasn't used to being supplied with basic necessities, never mind a room full of toys and books.

The clock on the kitchen wall read 10:34 and was way past Naruto's bed time.

"Bed time mister" I said to Naruto.

"What's bedtime Iruka-sensei?" I stared at Naruto for a tenth of a second, assuming that under his mask Kakashi's looked very similar before realised. Naruto didn't have parents; his guardians probably didn't even care if he came home at nights, or even worse told him to stay away. It seemed oddly sad, even after everything that had happened that this little boy didn't know what a bedtime was.

"A bedtime is when little boys have to go to bed so they sleep well enough to become good shinobi", as soon as I said good shinobi his eyes lit up.

"OK Iruka-sensei I'm going to go get ready for bed", Naruto hopped away from the table and I turned to Kakashi, slightly surprised he was already staring at me.

"I can't believe you just made a five year old eager to go to bed. You are one amazing father Iruka", I beamed a huge smile at him. His hand reached across the table and held mine. I blushed furiously red, and my smile turned rather shy.

"Nite nite Iruka-sensei, nite nite Kakashi-san", Naruto called from his bedroom.

I stood up, "I'm just going to tuck him in", Kakashi nodded.

I opened the door to Naruto's room, surprised it was pitched black. I flicked on the lights and my heart when I noticed the bed was empty.

"Iruka-sensei what's wrong?" I turned around to face Naruto who was curled up in the corner.

"Naruto why aren't you in bed?" I saw as his face dawned in realisation before furrowing in fear.

"I forgot to use the bed, I'm so sorry Iruka-sensei, so sorry. I won't forget again, I promise", Iruka stared at the child, who appeared frantic.

"No no, its okay Naruto, I'm not mad, let's just get you into bed". I lifted Naruto into my arms and settled him into bed. I walked to one of the shelves where Kakashi had unloaded Naruto's toys and grabbed the fox plushie. "Here you go Naruto".

He stared at the toy for a moment and looked back up at me, tears dripping from his eyes. "I'm so afraid that I am going to wake up from this dream, because it will be so much harder to go back once I've had a taste of a family".

I felt tears drip out of my own eyes, and noticed Naruto tense; probably afraid he had made me sad, or angry. "Naruto this isn't a dream, you were just long overdue for something really good to happen".

I kissed Naruto's forehead, and left the lightly dozing child, with a nightlight on. I got back out to the kitchen and was shocked to see the dishes had already been washed.

"You didn't have to do that", I said to the incredibly attractive ANBU. He did his eye smile again and stepped closer to me.

"I really should be off soon but first there is just one thing I want to do", Kakashi pulled down his mask and crashed his lips into mine.

I pulled back after a couple of minutes for air and couldn't but trace his flawless face. I was sure the mask had to be to cover battle scars, but all it was doing was masking the beauty.

I pulled him in for another kiss and we stumbled towards the bedroom.

Sorry no lemon this chapter I am so tired. But I will be doing a hot slashy lemon next chapter so be warned!