#Good boy Pakkun

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Small Comfort

Words: 2,349

AU: Boxer Kakashi AU

For: @mintehz

Hospitals were either eerily quiet or painfully noisy. There was never an in between. It was a fact of hospitals Gai had learned when he was a young boy sitting by his Papa’s beside as his life slowly faded from him.

Back then he’d thought that the hospital was just like that because it was all he could focus on. That he was missing those nice middle points where there was a little bit of noise outside the room. His mind was swimming with fears at the time, so he could forgive himself for missing something as small as some outside noise.

That wasn’t the case though.

Over the years Gai had been to the hospital three other times. The first visit was for his arm after he’d taken a spill on the ice and one of his teammates failed to stop before they collided with him. That day the hospital had been so noisy he’d gotten a migraine and forgot all about the searing pain in his arm that had occupied all his attention before.

The second visit was when Genma got into a car crash and Gai was still his emergency contact. He’d come barrelling into his friend’s hospital room, barely noticing any of the nurses or doctor’s standing just outside. That day the hospital could have very well been a morgue with how quiet it was.

The third time, this time, the noise in the hallways was almost deafening. There was someone screaming every five seconds, doctor’s calling out orders, nurses yelling at each other from across the hospital. Even in the safety of a private hospital room with the door closed, Gai couldn’t get even a second of quiet.

His head was splitting, and he wasn’t even the one in the hospital.

“Your timing is superb,” he grumbled, eyes locked on Kakashi’s unconscious form laying in the bed beside him. “You couldn’t take a punch to the back of the head from a dirty fighter tomorrow? Or yesterday? Maybe a week from tomorrow? Any time other than today.”

Any time that was quieter than right now.

Kakashi didn’t respond. Not that Gai expected him to. He’d passed out in the ring as soon as his opponent’s punch had connected with the back of his head. It wasn’t possible for an unconscious man to respond, so he’d have to be satisfied with a one-sided conversation.

“Woof!”

Looking over at the end of the bed where Pakkun had been sitting for the past two hours staring at Kakashi, waiting patiently for something to happen, Gai frowned. He’d known Kakashi and Pakkun for just over a year, and in all that time he’d never once seen the pug bark at anything.

“Woof!”

“Alright,” slapping his hands down against his knees he pushed himself upward and took three short steps to the end of the bed. “we can’t have that. Someone might start thinking Kakashi’s in trouble and-well, he is but…you know what I mean.”

Staring straight up at him, Pakkun tilted his head in that way dogs do when they’re confused or curious about something.

“don’t give me that,” he sighed. “what’s up?”

“Woof!”

“That doesn’t explain much,” glancing back over at Kakashi, he waited for a minute. Just stood there staring, as if that would make Kakashi wake up. When that didn’t happen, he sighed. “you’re the one who always knows what’s on his mind. I can’t do anything for him.”

“Cofe-44!” A scream came through the door and a sharp pain ran through Gai’s head. covering his ears, he pressed his thumbs into the space just above his temples.

“woof!” Pakkun started up again, but this time he was standing up and staring straight at the door with the convictions of a dog who was about to rip someone’s throat out.

He’d only seen Pakkun like this one other time. Months ago when Kakashi was in the midst of a panic attack and some journalist wouldn’t give him the space he was asking for. Gai had thought he was going to have to step in to protect Kakashi then, but before he could even move Pakkun jumped into action.

Just like now.

Except this time, it wasn’t Kakashi he was protecting. Kakashi wasn’t being hurt by the noise.

“Me?” he asked, his lips tugging upwards into a soft smile as Pakkun continued to stare at the door. “Are you doing this for me?”

  The pug doesn’t answer. He doesn’t even look Gai’s way, but instead continues standing there at the end of Kakashi’s bed staring at the door. Gai could almost swear he’s ready to jump up and fight someone to get his message across, though Gai’s sure he wouldn’t do that.

As protective as Pakkun was, he was also smart. He’d know the only thing that would come out of attacking someone would be his removal from the hospital, leaving Kakashi without his service dog by his side when he finally woke up.

That wasn’t a risk Pakkun or Gai was willing to take.

“Come here,” stretching his arms out, he watched as Pakkun turned his head to stare up at him. For a moment the two of them just stood there like that. Pakkun sitting comfortably in his spot staring up at Gai with soft brown eyes, and Gai standing in front of him with his arms stretched out in offering.

Then, with the same annoyed huff he always gave Kakashi when he told him he had to get off his shoulder, Pakkun turned to face Gai and jumped.

Catching the pug in his arms was no problem. As soon as his paws came down against his chest Gai closed his arms around his tiny body and grinned down at him. “See?” he chuckled when Pakkun responded by bumping his head up against his chin. “You really are something. I don’t think he could ask for a better dog.”

As he spoke, he turned his attention toward Kakashi. The doctor’s had filled him in as soon as they brought Kakashi back from his MRI scan. There seemed to be no permanent damage, but they’d told him that Kakashi had a concussion. An unsurprising diagnosis, given his opponent hadn’t held back when he’d punched him.

“Some people,” he growled, immediately regretting his response when Pakkun yapped at him. “Right, I know. It’s just…” staring down at Kakashi, he sighed. He’d known what he’d signed up for when he decided to date a boxer, and he’d even been excited about it.

Cheering Kakashi on in his matches was the highlight of his days and seeing him turn to him when even he won and offer him that sweet, cheerful smile that he only ever seemed to have for him, was the most rewarding part of dating a boxer.

The worst part was these moments.

Times when Kakashi was so injured he ended up in the hospital.

If he faced more honourable people this might happen less, but it seemed at least once a month someone would get upset when Kakashi beat them and take an unfair swing at him. This time, that swing just happened to connect with the back of his head.

Just as he was starting to spiral, anger boiling deep inside of him, the noise outside Kakashi’s room picked up against and a sharp pain shot through his head. Ducking down, he squeezed his eyes shut in a desperate attempt to will away the migraine he could feel creeping up on him.

As if sensing his pain, Pakkun bumped his head against Gai’s chin once again. It hurt, but he managed to force one eye open so he could stare down at the pug, a smile creeping onto his face when he saw the concerned look in his eyes.

“It’s nothing,” he promised, wincing when that pain shot through his head again. “ok, maybe not nothing, but I’ll survive. I’m in better condition than him.” As he spoke, he nodded toward Kakashi without even looking.

“Rude.”

The weak response surprised him. Whipping his head around, he stared down at Kakashi who still lay there in his bed with his eyes shut.

“Am I hearing things?” he asked, looking back at Pakkun. “Or are you talking all of a sudden?”

Pakkun opened his mouth at that moment, just as the words “you’re ridiculous,” were spoken.

Stunned, he just stared at Pakkun. He wasn’t sure what to believe, but he was certain his boyfriend’s dog had just spoken to him.

“Are you…no,” he shakes his head, which only made the pain worse. “it’s the migraine. I’m just hearing things because of the migraine.”

“Gai,” Pakkun settled back against his hands and tilted his head, his mouth no longer moving but the voice still speaking to him. “Gai, over here.”

Blinking, he glanced back down at Kakashi. This time he was greeted with soft black eyes staring back up at him with an amused glint.

“I-“

“You thought he was talking to you?” Kakashi asked, pointing at Pakkun who quickly wiggled out of Gai’s arms and jumped back down to his side.

“I did not!” he protest, ignoring the skeptical look that both Kakashi and Pakkun gave him. “I just…never mind,” waving his arms, he tried to physically remove the topic from his presence before focusing on Kakashi again.

This time when he stared at him, it was with fondness. Even if Kakashi was teasing him, it could only be good.

Teasing meant he was awake.

He was alright.

“You look terrible.”

“I feel worse,” Kakashi assured him. Lifting his right hand, he placed it on top of Pakkun’s head. “You been watching over him while I was out? Making sure he’s staying out of trouble?”

“Well of course-“

“I was talking to Pakkun.”

The words hit like a truck. Between the two of them, himself and a pug, Kakashi trusted the pug to keep him out of trouble.

“Woof!”

Thinking back to just a few minutes ago when Pakkun was barking at the door to try and silence everyone outside, he smiled. “he’s protective.”

“You have no idea,” moving his hand down, Kakashi slipped a finger behind Pakkun’s ear and began scratching in just the right spot. At least, Gai assumed it was the right spot because as soon as Kakashi started Pakkun’s back left leg began thumping against the bed. “What’s the diagnosis?”

“A concussion,” Not wanting to interrupt, Gai sat down just behind Pakkun and watched happily as Kakashi spoiled him with ear scratches. “Doctor say’s you should keep out of the ring for about two months.”

“Two months,” Kakashi bulked. “that’s two months of wages. I can’t lose that money just because some ass hole decided he didn’t like losing.”

“it’ll only get worse if you try to go back early,” hearing someone yell outside the door, Gai placed a hand over the ear closest to the door and took a deep breath.

“Are you sure I’m the one who’s injured?” as he spoke Kakashi dropped his hand down to the bed and slowly pushed himself up, so he was sitting face to face with Gai. “You look like you’re in more pain than me.”

“Just a migraine.”

Kakashi chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the sides in that adorable expression Gai loved so much. “Come here,” he held his arms out in much the same way Gai had earlier when he’d offered to hold Pakkun.

 “You’re the injured one.”

“It’s my brain that’s injured, not my arms,” he insisted. Looking his boyfriend over, Gai couldn’t help but raise a judgmental eyebrow. Although it was true that his head had taken the brunt of the damage, his body certainly wasn’t injury free. There were bruises littering his arms and face, and even some hidden under the hospital gown he’d been changed into when they first arrived. “Alright,” no longer willing to wait, Kakashi reached out with his left hand and grabbed a fist full of Gai’s shirt and yanked him forward.

With a small yelp, Gai fell straight into Kakashi’s body, his head thumping lightly against his chest.

“There,” wrapping his arms around Gai’s shoulder’s, Kakashi gave him a light squeeze. “Better?”

Closing his eyes, Gai smiled when the noise outside the room seemed to fade into the background. It wasn’t completely gone, but the sound of Kakashi’s heart beating against his ear and the feeling of his chest rising with each breath he took drowned it out.

“Better,” he agreed with a happy hum, sinking further into Kakashi’s body as he leaned back slowly. Once Kakashi was laying back down in bed, Gai’s head on his chest and Pakkun taking up his position at their side, he hummed.

“What a pair we make, hmm?” slender fingers buried themselves into Gai’s hair and began rubbing against his scalp. If he were a dog Gai was sure he’d be thumping his foot against the bed right now, but instead he simply melted into the touch. “The head trauma duo is what they should call us.”

Gai wanted to argue.

He didn’t have head trauma, his brain simply hated him. It was different.

There was no argument for him to make, though. Not with Kakashi’s fingers working so diligently against his sculpt, not getting rid of the migraine but easing the pain just enough so Gai could finally relax. His shoulder’s slumped, his eyes slid shut, and for the first time in hours he felt sleep taking him over.

He’d come to the hospital with Kakashi hoping that his presence would help comfort him while he recovered, but instead it was Kakashi comforting him while he fought back a migraine.

it seemed ridiculous. He wasn’t the one who’d been punched in the back of the head.

Yet, as he lay there in Kakashi’s arms he couldn’t help but think this was perfect. By holding Gai in his arms, Kakashi was forced to lay there. He wouldn’t be able to get up and train when he was supposed to be resting.

Gai got cuddles, and Kakashi got to heal.

It was a win-win.

[badninken]

I think it's your profile pic but every time you post about One Piece I'm like "oh, there goes baby Kakashi watching in between all those murders he's doing I hope this distracts him". Like Kakashi is just sitting in his living room with a giant blanket over him and a bucket of popcorn surrounded by his ninken speed running this series.

He's enjoying some relaxing down time <3

(this is a self portrait except it's also Kakashi)

[iamapoopmuffin]

My brain: Hey, hey Jinx, remember that time Akamaru bit Naruto in the ass?

[ladykissingfish]

Gai: Rival? Can I ask you a question?

Kakashi: Is there any way I could possibly discourage you?

Gai: If you had to pick between me and Obito, who would you choose?

Kakashi: In what context? Like, whose house would I go over to for dinner? Probably his, because his grandmother is a good cook. Who would I want to train with? Probably you because your stamina and endurance are better.

Gai: That’s not what I meant, Kakashi! *starts to blush* I mean, w-who would you chose to, um, go on a d-date with?

Kakashi: Ooh, that’s an easy one! Isn’t the answer super obvious? *long pause*  Well anyways, I’m about due home for dinner, so see you later. *turns and walks off*

Gai: 

Gai: What the hell did that even mean?!

Obito, falling out of the tree behind Gai: You’re dreaming if he think he means you, beast-face!

Gai: And you’re delusional if you think he meant you, goggle-boy!

*meanwhile Pakkun and Biscuit catching up to Kakashi on the road*

Pakkun: That was a mean thing to do to them, kid.

Biscuit: Right?! Next time just answer the question! Now they’re going to tear each others heads off competing over you!

Pakkun: Speaking of competing … *runs in front of Kakashi and shakes himself out* I’ve been eating raw eggs every morning to make my coat smooth and shiny. Don’t I look great?! I bet I look better than all your other —

Biscuit: Ah?! What are you saying? Sakumo’s been brushing MY fur out two hundred times a day; clearly I’m the best-looking boy here! Kakashi, which of us looks better to you?

Kakashi: Oh? You mean you can’t tell by looking at my face? *chuckles* C’mon guys, dinner must be ready by now! *runs ahead to the house*

Pakkun and Biscuit:

Sakumo, setting food on the table: There’s my boy! *gives him a hug* How was your day today?

Kakashi: Pretty good. Doing more to “encourage happiness and harmony among my friends and loved ones” like you told me.

*outside is the sound of Gai and Obito fighting each other and the dogs barking at/taunting each other*

Sakumo:

[incorrectkakagaiquotes]

Kakashi, holding Pakkun: Aww, who's a good boy who needs cuddles to feel better about himself? Kakashi, pointedly staring at Gai: And who's going to give me those cuddles?

[dilly-oh]

Lost and Found Family

“Come on, Pakkun, just shit already,” Kakashi sighs, tugging impatiently at his dog’s leash. The ornery pug gives him an annoyed glance, then keeps sniffing the same bush he’s been investigating for the past fifteen minutes. “Oh my GOD. I should have left you at the pound.”

Pakkun continues to ignore him, instead deciding that the bush doesn’t meet his standards and moving on to sniff at another, nearly identical bush. Kakashi wants to scream.

He’s still in his ratty pajamas, for God’s sake, with a vicious case of bed-head, not to mention it’s past noon, and passersby are giving him strange looks. One even tries to hand him a dollar, but Kakashi shoos them away irritably.

“Okay, enough. Here.” He rifles around in his pants pocket. “Do your business, and you get a treat, okay?” He pulls out a doggie bone and waves it enticingly. “Who’s a good boy? Who’s a good boy?” Pakkun just gives him a flat stare. “…Yeah I know it’s not you but take it anyway.” He throws it on the ground. The pug doesn’t even twitch. “Oh, come on. It’s not that stale.” Pakkun snorts. “Whatever. I’m sure some wild animal will come along and eat-”

And then a kid scurries over, picks up the treat, and starts gnawing on it.

“Um,” Kakashi says.

The kid looks up at him with wide, shockingly blue eyes, his hair a tangled blonde mess. He looks like a scruffy dandelion, complete with grass-stained elbows and knees. Kakashi blinks.

“…What’re you doing?”

“Looking for my dad,” the kid answers around a mouthful of stale dog treat. “You seen him, gramps?” Kakashi nearly chokes.

“Gramps?!”

“I’ll take that as a no.” The kid swallows and grimaces. “Ugh, this cookie tastes like ass. Also, I might be lost.”

Kakashi starts looking around for a policeman.

The kid suddenly scrambles up a nearby tree like a rabid squirrel and teeters out on an upper branch, shading his eyes with one hand as he searches the horizon.

“Christ, kid, you should be on a leash,” Kakashi says. The boy looks down at him.

“I was, I chewed through it.”

Kakashi starts looking for that cop again.

“Oh my God, chill. I’m joking. I did lose my dad, though.” The kid squints in frustration, still searching. “Damn, I still don’t see him. Where did he GO?” He glances down at Kakashi. “I’d ask you to look, but I don’t trust your eyesight, old man.”

“I am THIRTY-”

“So you’ll help me?”

“I did NOT agree- look, just get down from there before you- AWK!” Kakashi cuts off in a squawk as the kid pounces on him, nearly tackling him to the ground. “Good lord, you almost threw out my back-”

“Okay, boomer,” the kid says. Kakashi nearly walks away.

“Do NOT make me regret this.” He threatens, glaring at him. “On second thought, I already do, but nevermind that. What does your dad call you?”

“Well, let’s see.” The kid thinks for a minute. “There’s ‘buster’, ‘lazy-butt’, ‘Mr. Stinky McPoo-Pants-”

“I mean your name!”

“Oh. It’s Naruto.”

“…He named you after RAMEN?” Kakashi is completely appalled. He’s considering contacting child protective services.

“Yeah, but it’s cool, I love ramen.” Naruto catches sight of Pakkun and gasps with delight. “And doggies. Hey, buddy!” He actually gets down on hands and knees to greet the pug face-to-face. Pakkun is rather cordial and simply grunts in annoyance at the intrusion of his personal space.

“Why don’t you sniff his butt while you’re down there,” Kakashi grumbles.

“Are you gonna help me find my dad or what?” Naruto asks, getting back to his feet.

“That depends.” Kakashi quirks an eyebrow. “…He cute?”

“Okay, ew, nevermind-”

“I was joking, kid, get back here.” Kakashi sighs in defeat and pulls out his phone. “What’s his number?”

“I dunno.”

“How can you not- have you never called him before?”

“Course I have. Usually like this.” The kid takes a deep breath. “DAAAAAAAAAAD-”

“OKAY STOP. I meant with a phone.” Naruto just gives him a blank look. “…You don’t have a phone? How about a pager? Tracking chip? Anything??” Still the blank stare. Kakashi tries a different approach. “What’s your dad look like?” The kid shrugs.

“Like a dad.”

“No, that’s not- describe him.”

“Well, he’s pretty bossy. He’s always telling me to clean my room and eat my vegetables when I’d rather just eat ramen, and he doesn’t let me play Fortnite-”

“That is not what-” Kakashi has to count to ten. “What color is his hair?”

“Oh.” Naruto blinks. “Boring.”

“Boring is not a color. How about his height and weight?”

“I dunno. Boring, again.”

“And his face? For the love of God do not say boring-”

“It’s normal. Average. Standard.”

“…That’s my bad, I walked right into that one,” Kakashi says, deadpan. “Okay, so we’re looking for any adult man within a radius of five miles. He got a name?”

“Bofa,” Naruto answers.

“…Bofa?”

“Bofa DEEZ NUTS-”

Kakashi starts to walk away.

“No wait please I’m sorry-”

Against his better judgement, Kakashi stops and slowly turns around. “This is your last chance before I take you to the pound,” he warns. Pakkun barks, offended. “You too, pal.” He looks at Naruto. “Where’s the last place you saw him?”

“Umm…this way!” Naruto grabs him by the arm and drags him along. Kakashi makes a mental note to Purell vigorously once this is over, as he is unable to distinguish whether the brown smears on the kid’s hands are dirt, chocolate, or something much more foul. Pakkun grumbles at the fast pace but is able to keep up. Kakashi’s glad he’s at least getting some exercise.

What follows next is a mad scramble through the streets, as Naruto is easily distracted by every sight, sound, and smell. Kakashi has to pull him out of a fountain twice, break up a fight between him and an unruly pigeon, and is forced to buy him a hotdog from a vendor after he complains of missing lunch. Then he demands Kakashi carry him on his shoulders for ‘optimal dad-spotting’, as he puts it. Kakashi almost agrees, then notices Naruto’s funny little dance and hustles him behind a tree before he has an accident.

All in all, it’s a very hectic hour. Kakashi is considering taking the harness off of Pakkun and putting it on the kid. Which is obviously what Naruto’s dad should have done, seeing as he is partly to blame for this whole mess. What kind of selfish, irresponsible parent loses their kid like this-

“Naruto?” a voice says behind them.

“DAD!!” Naruto shoots from Kakashi’s side, squealing in delight.

Kakashi opens his mouth and turns around, intent on giving the man a piece of his mind.

His jaw falls open the rest of the way and swings in the breeze.

Naruto’s a fucking LIAR. His dad is most definitely not boring.

He’s a complete babe.

His boring brown hair is a lovely, chocolatey brown that drapes over his shoulders, clinging enticingly to his jawline. His boring eyes are a deeper, richer shade of brown, framed by long, dark lashes. His boring body is a gorgeously toned physique, highlighted by a pair of tight jogging pants and thin t-shirt.

And his face, dear God, his face.

If Naruto is a dandelion, he’s the blazing sun. The warm smile on his face as he hugs his kid warms Kakashi from ten feet away. He wants to bask in it for hours, but the warmth quickly diminishes as Naruto’s dad grows serious.

“Where did you GO?” he demands, holding Naruto at arm’s length. A scar across his nose wrinkles with concern, which is fucking adorable. “I look away for one second and you’re gone! What happened?”

“There was an ice cream truck,” Naruto says weakly. Iruka just stares at him.

“…Did you at least catch it?”

“No.”

“Good, because you definitely don’t deserve ice-cream after running off like that.” He finally looks up and notices Kakashi. “Oh, hello.”

Kakashi shuts his jaw with an audible snap. “Hi.” It comes out more of a squeak than a sexy, manly purr, and he quickly clears his throat. “I’m Kakashi. Nice to meet you. Uhh…”

“Iruka,” the man helpfully supplies, holding out a strong, fine-boned hand. Kakashi has to suppress the urge to go down on one knee and kiss it. With tongue. “Thank you so much for bringing my son back to me.” His grin grows slightly wicked. “Although I’m not too sure I should be thanking you.”

“Not funny, dad,” Naruto huffs at him. “It was an accident, I swear. I won’t leave aga- oh my gosh is that a quarter over there-”

“NOPE.” Iruka grabs him by the scruff of the neck like a mama cat and reels him back in. “We are going straight home, buster, and you are getting locked in the basement- I mean your room.”

Kakashi chokes on a laugh, faltering a little. He’s desperate to say something else to keep this lovely man’s attention, anything-

“I hope his mother wasn’t too worried,” he blurts out, then immediately wants to sock himself in the face. Way to kill the mood, asshole.

“Oh, hell no, I’m gay as fuck,” Iruka states bluntly. “He’s adopted.”

“…I see,” Kakashi says calmly, while hearing an angel choir singing a chorus of ‘Hallelujah’ in the background.

“I have a wine aunt,” Naruto says.

“Naruto, do NOT call Anko that-”

“But she is!”

“Let me finish. To her FACE.”

Kakashi’s grinning like a fool, watching the banter between the two. It’s incredibly entertaining. They should have their own sitcom.

“And what happened to your clothes?” Iruka goes on in exasperation. “Did you roll around in the dog park or did you let a dog poop directly on you?”

“Hey, at least I’m not still in my pajamas!” Naruto gestures at Kakashi, who freezes.

Fuck. He’d forgotten about that. Immediately he’s self-conscious, painfully aware of his worn pajamas and messy hair. And here’s Iruka looking like a whole ass snack. FUCK.

“Uh, yeah, sorry, rough morning,” he says, chuckling awkwardly.

“Don’t worry about it, I’ve been there,” Iruka replies with ease. ��One time I went to the store with puke on my shirt. Didn’t even care. I totally understand.”

Kakashi doesn’t think he could possibly be more attracted to the man.

“Oh my God, I love your pug,” Iruka says, and Goddamn if Kakashi doesn’t fall in love right then and there. “We should totally walk our dogs together.”

“You guys have a dog?” Kakashi asks in surprise. “Isn’t the kid enough?” Iruka laughs.

“His name is Kurama!” Naruto chimes in. “He’s a Shiba Inu.” He goes on in a whisper. “He’s such an asshole.”

“Naruto, language,” Iruka hisses.

“Pakkun is, too,” Kakashi says, nodding at the pug, who gives a surly growl at the sound of his name. “Oh, shut up. You know I love you.” Iruka laughs again.

“Well then, it’s a date,” he says with a wink, and Kakashi nearly cheers aloud. “It’ll be fun. Naruto can come with us.”

And just like that, the flirty atmosphere comes to a screeching halt.

Kakashi opens his mouth to object, and then stops. Because of course Naruto will come with them. He’s Iruka’s kid. It’s a package deal. If he’s truly interested in the man, he has to be willing to accept that.

Kakashi doesn’t know if he can.

He has almost no experience with children, seeing them as little more than puppies who can talk. They poop and pee everywhere, trash the place, eat all your food, and generally make a racket. They’re not even that cute-

“Thanks for helping me!” Naruto says, beaming up at him like a miniature sun, then throws his arms around his waist in a tight hug.

Kakashi is rendered speechless. He can’t remember the last time he’s been hugged. It’s…nice. He looks over at Iruka in bewilderment, and is stunned at the look of pure love on Iruka’s face, transforming it into something even more beautiful than before.

…Maybe this won’t be so bad.

“Later, gramps!”

And then Naruto whips around and runs back to his dad, elbowing Kakashi right in the dick.

…Still worth it.

-End-

(Written for @kakairu-rocks KakaIru Valentine's Week 2024, Day 1 prompts: Meet Cute and Found Family.)

[kakasaku-week-2023]

Thank you everyone for participating in this year’s KakaSaku Week and making it such a success! Don’t forget to reblog all the art, and of course co scream at the authors in their comments on AO3. Hopefully we’ll see everyone next year!

For future events and more KakaSaku goodness, be sure to give us a follow at @scarecrowsandcherryblossoms!

Here’s the 2023 Master List, under the read more!

Day 1: Historic AU

Trapped in a Small Space—Innocent—"Never cruel or cowardly."

Art 🎨

a barmaid and a pirate by @mayskalih Innocence, the language of flowers by @aerie-skysinger historic au by @this-is-my-canon WWII trapped historic au by @xenea-aesthetic

Fics 📝

Shield by @tsume-inuzuka Undone by xylazine Salvation and Slaughter by @petriikore My Fate is in Your Hands by fusionblitz28 Hey Princess, Let’s Go by kaoruhana08 Ruination Be Damned by @sakuradeservedbetter91

Never cruel or cowardly by Crystalina The Lady and The Coward by @alittlewooy Midnight Stranger by FeralSaturday My Cruel Lady, My Cowardly Samurai by Fountain_pen Sharp Tongues and Foolish Daydreams by @twofortea Stuck in the Middle with Pakkun by @mrssakurahatake (every chapter is a different prompt of the week, still in progress!)

Day 2: Someone Else’s Show

Domesticity—Wingman/Wingwoman—"Should I stay or should I go?"

Art 🎨

an earthbender and a waterbender by @mayskalih someone else's show-bleach by @aerie-skysinger pretty woman by @this-is-my-canon

Fics 📝

My Cruel Lady, My Cowardly Samurai by Fountain_pen The Battle in the Underground by @goldfishlover73 What Trembles Underfoot by @twofortea The Intricacies of Pokémon Breeding by Fusionblitz28 Healed with a Kiss by heartensoul Stay by @alittlewooy

Day 3: Modern AU

3 A.M.—Missed Connections—"You have my sword."

Art 🎨

assassins modern au by @mayskalih 3 A.M. missed connections by @aerie-skysinger

Fics 📝

When I Saw You Standing There by @tipsyraconteur Kill for Me by @this-is-my-canon An Ocean Away, A Moment Away by Fusionblitz28 Like To Get To Know You by @twofortea Morning Fix by xylazine Pretext/Postscript by @ax31s2 Missed Connections by @alittlewooy A Four Week Class in Flirting, Seduction, and Bagel Making by @goldfishlover73 the booty call that wasn’t by @sakuradeservedbetter91

Day 4: Fantasy AU

Hot Springs—Seduction—"I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."

Art 🎨

seduction fantasy au by @aerie-skysinger

Fics 📝

My Cruel Lady, My Cowardly Samurai by Fountain_pen Say What You Wish by @twofortea What The Sea Wants, The Sea Shall Have by @rosebrided Lady of Dreams by @alittlewooy

Day 5: Swap AU

Booty call vs. Butt dial—Beach—"Oops."

Art 🎨

oops by @aerie-skysinger swapped, beach by @this-is-my-canon office hours by @twofortea gender swap by @princessxgarbage

Fics 📝

One Long Mission by @goldfishlover73 Office Hours by @twofortea In Between My Legs by Fusionblitz28

Day 6: Mythology AU

Soulmate—Morning After—"Not if you were the last person on Earth."

Art 🎨

soulmate by @aerie-skysinger

Fics 📝

through violence by @this-is-my-canon On Wings like Wakinyan by by Fusionblitz28 Death and the Maiden by @twofortea

Day 7: Canon Divergence

Pakkun Makes a Startling Discovery—Arranged Marriage—"Why are you in my house?"

Art 🎨

Pakkun Makes a Startling Discovery by @aerie-skysinger married by @this-is-my-canon

Fics 📝

Dwindling Dreams and Infinite Nightmares by Fusionblitz28 What You Don’t Know (Sure Can Hurt You) by @twofortea a scent of floral by @goldfishlover73 From the Imperfect Start to the Finish Line by heartensoul

[cebwrites]

dinner (who's waiting for you)

oc | gen cw: brief suicide mention near the end (sakumo) word count: 1k

Tae's approached by one of his classmates in the academy, they're not close but they've talked on and off while passing around assignments.

The kid says he's fed up with his home life - his dad's snoring, his mom's nagging, the petty fights he gets into with his siblings over toys - he wants to run away and invites Tae to come with because he's "a good guy". Tae doesn't say anything to agree nor object, just wordlessly tagging along while his classmate complains.

They spend the day walking around the village, taking breaks to stop and draw, eat snacks, and practice with cardboard shuriken in the park. Tae even shows off simple techniques like walking up trees or on water to impress his friend for the day.

When the sun starts to set, Tae asks him what he plans to do for sleeping arrangements that night and his classmate draws a blank; obviously, none of this was thought through because they were academy students no older than eight, if even that. Both kids stare at each other while a crow flies overhead.

Tae offers his place after a beat and his classmate enthusiastically agrees, quickly trying to wave away any awkwardness.

On the way there, the other kid boasts about how worried his mom would be right about now and how maybe after today his family would start appreciating him the way he deserves to be. Tae doesn't respond but his acquaintance doesn't take it to heart; he's always been quiet so this isn't anything out of the ordinary.

As Tae fishes his keys out to unlock the front entrance to a house frankly bigger than most his classmate's been to, he mentions between sparkly eyes at the abode that since they've been out so long Tae's parents are sure to be worried too as the door slowly opens - his enthusiasm fizzles out when the darkened hallway and the corners of an empty living room come into view.

Without turning to meet his gaze, Tae simply says that Hyou and Gen-nii were out on missions and wouldn't be home for a while, his brother was staying over at a friend's house for a week, and his father was never here anyway. He... didn't have a mother. So there was no one at home for him to worry.

His classmate visibly shrinks, the weight of his faux pas sinking into and wriggling uncomfortably in the pit of his stomach as he comes up with a sheepish excuse to go home after all. Tae just stares as the boy waves an awkward goodbye and runs off.

A pleasant smell fills his senses as Tae walks through the threshold and turns on the lights, along with an undercurrent of something burnt underneath. A young Pakkun rounds the corner to greet him; Kakashi follows him a second later, panting and complaining that he looked around all evening for Tae.

Kakashi's dinner was simple; meat and potatoes, rice, and a few croquettes, one of which was almost blackened. He told Tae to ignore that one as he took his seat by the kotatsu, making a disgruntled squawk as Pakkun exposed him for being careless by reading comics when he should've been watching the stove. All in all though, not a bad spread for a twelve year old's cooking skills.

As the dog boys argued about the technicalities of burnt food, Tae sat and started piling meat and vegetables onto his and Kakashi's rice bowls; when he got to the croquettes Tae picked up the "charred" one and took a bite without hesitation, stopping the conversation in its tracks.

Pakkun was the first to mention that he shouldn't force himself - that he probably would've stolen it off the table himself later - but as the tears started to drip from his expressionless face, cheek-fulls of rice, and the statement that this was food that Kaka-nii made so he planned to finish ever last bite, even the bitter ones, their expressions softened.

Kakashi got a glass of apple juice from the fridge to help wash the taste down, ruffling the kid's hair as he got back to the table, and Pakkun spent the rest of dinner with his head in Tae's lap - valiantly resisting the instinct to paw for scraps, since his job now was to comfort the boy with his unfathomable cuteness - though he got pets and scratches behind the ear every now again, so he could live with it.

Taeru did, indeed, finish every last bite; to the point where it lead him to a food coma under the tatami afterwards, leaving Kakashi to clean up since Pakkun was tucked comfortably against his armpit.

Kakashi grumbled at first, at no one in particular since the house was empty aside from them, but as his complaints died down and he had a moment to him thoughts, alone again. He was grateful that he never really was truly alone.

When his father took his own life in shame and left a six year old Kakashi to fend for himself, the remaining member of Sakumo's team visited almost every other day to make sure he was alright - either in person or getting Genma and Hyou to make food deliveries. Being fair, Kakashi very much wasn't, but having someone to bother him meant it kept his mind from spiraling too fair.

Some nights he just wanted to be left alone and made that clear by kicking his childhood friends out, but on others it was a welcome respite from the overwhelming noise in his head. Whether Kakashi wanted to admit it or not, they had slowly started to come irreplaceable staples in his life. Almost as much if not more than Minato's guidance, Rin's kindness, and Obito's knuckleheaded behavior.

Being able to pay back the favor now, being asked by the two of them to keep eye on the collective baby brother while Gen and Hyou had to leave the village for a while?

Even Kakashi, as much as of an arrogant brat as he could be most of the time, would just feel like an ingrate if he declined.

[kankuroplease]

How would chiha's relationship with everyone be if it were the ninja world

I’ll just do the Konoha 12, Jiraiya, Kakashi, Gaara, and Iruka since those are some of the important people in Naruto’s life. We’ll just say they’re twins for the sake of not stretching out the timeline for her birth

Naruto - they get along great, but argue they argue like most siblings do over personal possessions and home decor. Naruto will also go and fetch her for free ramen when it’s offered. She wouldn’t know how to feel about his hokage dreams (if they were truly possible), but she would support him

Jiraiya - Gives her the ick. Like she gets that he’s a sannin and a sage.. But he’s a pervert. And he took her brother away for two years. Two thumbs down

Kakashi - She would probably ask him more questions than he’d be willing to answer. he’s so cool, but he’s also kinda weird (cause who just reads icha icha in public??)

Iruka - cool teacher. She’d like him for saving Naruto and looking out for them, and view him like their older brother

Sasuke - Doesn’t really know him, but he concerns her and she’s not sure why he and Naruto can’t just get along. THEY’RE TEAMMATES

Sakura - she gets along really well with Sakura, even if it’s in an annoying little sister way, and giggles over some crushes. She doesn’t get Sakura’s crush though, especially when they could become sisters if Sakura-Chan gave her brother a chance

Shikamaru - thinks he’s a smartass and Pakkun should’ve but him harder. They don’t get along, but he is kinda cute when he’s cloud watching and she will never admit that. Especially to him.

Choji - she likes Choji because he’s sweet and polite. Also gave her her first hug for giving him her bag of chips he apparently really liked. They’re good friends!

Ino - she wants Ino’s hair andeyes. Life’s not fair, but at least Ino is nice to her! They share village gossip and fashion tips.

Hinata - they know each other and Chiha thinks it’s funny to act like Naruto is there when he isn’t just to see that hard blush. Overall she thinks Hinata is alright, but needs to put some might in her words

Kiba - she told him she liked cats and dogs equally and they have not gotten along since

Shino - she forgets he exists frequently but doesn’t have an issue with him. In fact, he got her a roach to release in Iruka’s house once as a prank that went terribly wrong

Lee - his enthusiasm is funny to her and they get along well. She would probably make the mistake of challenging him to a exercise contest of some sort and never do that again

Tenten - now this would be her best friend. All the ghost stories and weapons to be had, plus some funny tales of how it is to work with Gai Sensei, Lee, and Neji

Neji - they wouldn’t get along simply because of their personality differences. No hard feelings though; he just wouldn’t want to entertain her hyper moments and she doesn’t enjoy getting angry glares for being silly.

Gaara - PANDA BOY! Not saying she would make him be her pen pal, but she would be very fascinated by him, who is a jinchuriki like her brother, and his sand. So once he’s made kage, she would send him a congratulations letter along with an origami gourd with glitter in it

[konohagakurekakashi]

Ohashii Drabble 🐖

Headcanon Update - Kakashi and Tonton

Crack piece written with the wayward thought of "If Kakashi likes to dress up the pack, then surely he would not be opposed to dressing his friends' familiars as well."

What first comes to mind when hearing 'oink' was Tokachi Butadon or Pork Shogayaki, rare dishes in Konohagakure; but a staple in the Fire Country Capital. Other than that, Kakashi has never paid pigs much attention…his heart and soul already captured in full by Pakkun's soft footpads. It was hard not to pay attention to Lady Tsunade however (her annoyed footsteps shook the sandy trenches of Sunagakure on a good day) so naturally one took notice of the tiny shadow that pattered at her heel. Tonton was plump and pink, the pearl collar not something you would expect a shinobi familiar to wear. In contrast to her appearance, she was surprisingly hardy and strong and her sense of smell (Kakashi was loathe to admit) on par with that of his ninken. Her devotion to her Master was admirable, and Kakashi would readily divulge to anyone who asked that he very much enjoyed watching the little pig nip at the heels of young Genin who dared to darken the Godaime's doorway with their complaints over yet /another/ babysitting mission. He….respected (?) the pig as an adept chakra user…he supposed, valued the many additional characteristics that she shared with the adorable, Inuzuka puppies he liked to pet whenever he took Pakkun and the boys to get looked over by Hana-chan. Perhaps respect was too strong a word for a pet, even for that of a Hokage's pet; but Kakashi has almost always given due regard for animals more naturally than his cohorts. Whatever the 'not-respect' was, it was enough of a compulsion for him to remember to purchase an extra, Tonton-sized vest when next he found himself in the shōtengai district, arm already laden with new vests and bandanas for the pack (their last sets well-worn and tattered as a result of one too many a tracking fang technique). Imagine the Godaime's surprise when her next Jōnin induced rant was interrupted mid-way by Kakashi plopping a tiny vest on her desk, shoulders already rising into a half shrug.

"Hai, hai…I get it. No more referring to my aggrieved colleagues by immature code names in official mission debriefs. The season's about to take a turn… maybe Pig-chan could use it?"

[mayhem-neverending]

The Big Bad Wolf

Part 14.5

Word Count: 1,286

Warnings: None

Note: This is just a lil thing. You can skip over it completely, it doesn't actually have an effect on the story. I just thought it was kind of fun to see a different perspective.

Hikaru and Kakashi stared at each other across the small kitchen table. Kakashi had picked him up from his great grandma’s house a couple hours ago, which ended up being perfect, because it gave him an excuse to escape the Elders. He hadn’t been intent on telling them he sent Obito with you, but the old bags were pushy and intrusive by nature and just had to know all the details. 

So, they spent the afternoon taking turns berating him while he made non-committal noises in response, scanning over documents that needed signing. He hadn’t started out being rude, but he did tune them out around the third time they repeated themselves. 

They weren’t pleased with any bit of the situation, to say the least.

Hikaru sipped on the juice Kakashi had bought him on their short trip to the grocery store, eyes never breaking contact. The way Hikaru seemed to read into Kakashi’s soul was absolutely unnerving. It had him wondering if this is what people had been subject to when he himself was a toddler. 

The silence stretched throughout their meal. Kakashi had picked up Ichiraku on their way back to his apartment, how could he not when he ran into Naruto around dinner time? He ordered a handful of things for the little boy - none of which he touched. He had asked your grandma what Hikaru liked to eat, but she just shrugged her shoulders and told him she didn’t really know before ushering him out the door. 

Kakashi fidgeted in his wooden chair and his fingers tapped an off-beat rhythm against the tabletop. He hardly touched his own food; the reality of him taking care of a child for the weekend fully setting in and making him queasy. He knew he could handle it, but he feared messing up - especially when it was your child. 

He crossed and uncrossed his ankles under the table, listening to Hikaru gulp down his apple juice when he suddenly had an idea. He wove his hands in the air, turning his body to the side. In a puff of smoke, Pakkun appeared with his usual grumpy expression. 

“What can I do for ya, Boss?” His deep voice broke the silence.

“Dog?” Hikaru asked, pointing to Pakkun.

“Uh, whose kid?” Pakkun raised a brow. 

Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, you see..”

Hikaru climbed down from his chair in a flash and came over to inspect Pakkun’s little face. Pakkun sniffed the air and shook his head, rolling his eyes. “Nevermind the question, this is Y/n’s kid… nice to meet ya, kiddo,”

Kakashi’s brows shot up. “How do you-?”

“Boss, the kid has her scent all over him. Smells like you do every Monday - y’know, when you call me over here and you’ve got that dumb look in your eye,”

Kakashi spluttered a little at the accusation, a deep crimson staining his ivory cheeks that he was grateful were partially covered by his mask. The dog only rolled his eyes again, holding in a scoff at his behavior. 

“You gonna tell me why you got the kid?” He asked while Hikaru roughly petted him between the shoulder blades. 

Kakashi gave him a quick rundown of the situation; the grumpy dog taking Hikaru’s clumsy affections in stride. At the end, Pakkun sighed out. Of course Kakashi would put himself in the position to take a child he had little clue of how to care for. 

Pakkun agreed to stay and help for the evening, and Kakashi nearly collapsed in relief. He wanted to do well with this task, just like anything else he did, but this specific one held extra weight. He needed to impress you and get in the good graces of your son, who was now side-eyeing him from his spot on the floor.

Hikaru and Pakkun ran around his apartment for an hour or so while Kakashi cleaned dishes, made the bed and got a bath ready. He had borrowed the bed set right from your bed when he had gone to retrieve things for Hikaru. He remembered reading somewhere that little kids were a lot like pups, and smelling their mom would soothe them. Your grandma had also informed Kakashi that he shouldn’t waste his time getting Hikaru to sleep by himself. He wasn’t the type of kid who slept easily in new places, and would keep him up all night trying to crawl in bed with him. So, what better way to keep him happy? Kakashi thought to himself.

Once the water was just the right temperature, Kakashi went out into the living room and corralled Hikaru, who was jumping on couch cushions and cackling at Pakkun, who was trying his darndest not to get stepped on.

Kakashi smiled to himself before flashing Pakkun an apologetic look. “Hikaru! Are you ready for a bath?”

Hikaru stopped jumping and looked Kakashi dead in the eye before stating a taunting, “No,”

He started jumping again, but Kakashi was quick to swipe him up. He carried him to the bathroom where the child didn’t put up a fight about getting undressed. He gladly got into the warm bath and played with the soapy bubbles filling the tub. 

“I’m heading out, Boss,” Pakkun called from the bathroom doorway. 

“Ah, already?” 

“I think you’ve got it handled from here,” 

Kakashi smiled gratefully beneath his mask, his eyes turning to crescent moons for a moment. “Thanks, Pakkun. You did a great job,”

He left Kakashi and Hikaru alone with a poof. Kakashi smacked a hand on his thigh. “Welp, just the two of us, now, huh?”

Hikaru looked up at him mid bubble-bite. In response, he splashed water up at Kakashi, who received the brunt of it on his mask. It seeped through and had him pulling it down to wipe his sleeve across his face. He shook his head and raised a brow at Hikaru.

“Do you do that to your mom?” He asked in a stern tone. 

Hikaru stared at his now bare face. He pointed up to Kakashi’s mouth and his little face suddenly broke into a bright smile. 

“Yeah!” He shouted enthusiastically, still pointing at where his mask had resided.

Kakashi was taken aback at the first smile pointed at him all evening. It took him a second before he realized - 

“Was- did you not like me because of my mask?” 

He started to pull it back up to test his theory, and was met with immediate opposition. Hikaru yelled, “No!”

Well, he figured as long as he kept the mask off, things would be a lot smoother sailing from this point forward. He smiled and Hikaru mirrored his expression, his little eyes wide with excitement. 

After an extended bath where Kakashi got himself soaked to the elbows from playing, he bundled Hikaru in a towel and plopped him on his queen sized bed. He dressed Hikaru and changed into his own pajamas before switching his bedside lamp on and the overhead off. 

The two boys crawled under the soft covers. He couldn’t help but inhale deeply at the scent of you mixed with detergent. His sense of smell was incredible, and having the mask off left him without his usual needed barrier. He supposed, as he inhaled again, that this was also an excuse for him to smell your scent without being a real creep.

Kakashi rolled over and grabbed Icha Icha off of his bedside table. “I forgot to grab your bedtime books; you think your mom would kill me if I read you a little of this? Nothing too raunchy, of course,” 

Hikaru shook his head of brown curls with an ornery grin. “Nooooo,”

Kakashi grinned. “Alright, let’s see…”

Part XV

[dark-elf-writes]

I just really want kakashi to use team seven wanting to pet his hair as incentive for training stuff.

Like if you all learn these three jutsu by noon you can each pet my hair for 5 minutes straight.

Kakashi who was raised mostly by Pakkun takes the paw pad thing and runs with it as “The Way You Raise Puppies” conveniently forgetting that A) His students are not puppies and B) the only puppy that Pakkun helped raise was Kakashi himself who was… a weird kid to put it kindly.

Yet it works.

Sakura who so desperately misses Ino the time they spent braiding each others’ hair takes to it immediately. Winding little braids through silver hair that fall out after her time isn’t done but she feels steadier, calmer, more ready to take on the world. Ino’s absence in her life starts to ache less too over time. And let’s her push forward to become something wholly herself not attached to any one person whether it be Sasuke to Ino.

Naruto who always watched the girls braid each others hair but was never allowed to join because he was too loud/too boy/too him trying to replicate her movements and apologizing every time he tugs Kakashi’s hair a little too hard as he tries to figure it out. What he is good at, however, is weaving flower crowns (those he could reverse engineer after finding a discarded one and he had plenty of time on his own picking dandelions to perfect it) which he adds to the top of Sakura’s braids with a proud grin.

Sasuke… is Sasuke of course. But he remembers the cats that used to call the complex home. Remembers chasing them for paw prints with Itachi’s amused chakra snapping at his heels, forever making sure he was safe until he wasn’t. Remembers the low rumbling purrs that made all the aches in his muscles disappear when he pet the cats after. Kakashi doesn’t purr, it’s more of a growl or rumble but… it’s similar enough that he always makes sure to earn his time

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Did Kakashi have any dogs on the farm? I can see him attracting a bunch of strays and his parents unable to say no but making sure he trainined them into good, working dogs.

I wonder if the hounds watchedd on a bit jealous, or, without Kakashi's godly power, they could not fully exist in their dog like forms. And until Kakashi returned to full power, his dogs were just stray clouds without conciousness... like his presence is what gave them conciousness/ the ability to interact with mortals.

But yeah, I wonder if Kakashi had any favorite dogs as a mortal... *pictures little 5 year old Kakashi curled up in bed with a new puppy that his parents SWORE wasn't there when they tucked him in at night*

*slams hands on desk* the hounds die out with Kakashi!

That last big storm that covers the world is his hounds dying out. They cannot exist without them. It may be darui’s lightning but it was Kakashi who formed them

His powers that keep them together

When he dies, so do the hounds.

And every single one of them is born as a new dog. A mortal dog.

And somehow, even the ones who were born inncompletly different villages, find their way to Kakashi.

First is Pakkun who was born in the same village and one day comes trudging up to one year old Kakashi and just- never leaves. He’s part of the family now and the parents get no say

Bull finds Kakashi and Gai playing together when they’re five and joins the fun. He’s the first dog Kakashi officially adopts for his family and his parents are a little concerned about their tiny five year old with this giant bull dog, but bull is such a sweetie and he has protected Kakashi from danger without hesitation.

And one by one all the hounds find their way to Kakashi through his life. Joining the family just as they did when he was a god.

Everyday Kakashi looks more and more like the god of storms, and the people in the village and struggling not to make the connection because they can tell Kakashi is mortal. They know this is not the same god who built the farm Kakashi’s family now lives in.

This is a regular boy growing up beside his best friends

[hellcifrogs]

Did i see right? Akamaru have a little cape??? He is a good boy, he deserve it

Yes✨️ It's like a little jacket like Pakkun's, but red

[rainbowfey]

Day 9: Chosen at first sight

@flufftober

Pakkun took his sweet time to notify Kakashi. He had already started to think that Pakkun wouldn’t show up at all when he finally heard the familiar scratching at his door. With a sigh, Kakashi got up and walked towards the door, opening it in a swift movement. He looked down and as expected, Pakkun sat on his hindlegs and gave him his typical displeased look. He ostentatiously and very slowly lifted his paw and licked it, all the while holding Kakashi’s gaze. Kakashi waited until it became clear that Pakkun wouldn’t speak up, then he asked, “Did you gather all available candidates?”

Pakkun gave his paw another pointed lick before he replied in a disapproving tone, “So you’re not going to even ask me inside?”

Kakashi stifled another sigh and crouched down so that he was at least a bit closer to his ninken. “I’m sorry, Pakkun. Would you like to come inside?”

Kakashi could’ve sworn that he saw a frown on Pakkun’s face when the dog replied, “So that you can waste even more time? No, thank you. Get moving, we’ve got a job to do.”

Something in his ninken’s small face told Kakashi to better not protest and so he did what Pakkun asked from him and followed the dog outside. He couldn’t help but notice that Pakkun was even grumpier and terser than usually. He had known that Pakkun was not happy with his decision and even less pleased with the fact that he had been outvoted by the other ninken but he didn’t expect him to hold this much of a grudge. And somehow, he had a soft spot for Pakkun and couldn’t just ignore his ninken’s feelings.

“How long are you going to be angry with me, Pakkun?” he asked while he followed the dog along the streets of Konoha.

Pakkun paused for a moment but didn’t look at Kakashi. “I am not angry with you, boy,” Pakkun growled.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow even though Pakkun couldn’t see it. “It sure seems like it,” he said.

This time, Pakkun came to a halt. He sat down on a fence post, almost the same height as Kakashi’s chest which was an improvement at least. The dog gave him a long look before he sighed himself – which was rather adorable, considering Pakkun’s pug-like appearance – and finally revealed what was bothering him. “What if the new guy won’t be a good fit? You won’t be the one doing most of the training, I’ll be the one stuck with it.”

Kakashi couldn’t help but smile in relief. “How about we choose the new teammate together?”

Pakkun’s ears perked up and suddenly, his eyes took on a hopeful look. “Are you for real?” he asked, his tail slowly starting to wag.

Kakashi nodded and felt his tension fade away when Pakkun’s face went from grumpy to almost cheerful. “Now that’s way better, boy!” Pakkun barked excitedly.

When he set himself into motion again, his movements were way more vigorous and Kakashi almost had to run to keep up with him.

After another ten minutes of brisk walking, they finally reached the remote training ground that Pakkun had chosen for the presentation of the candidates. Even though Kakashi didn’t consider himself to be overly delightful, he couldn’t help but mutter a small “Aww!” to himself when he saw the half dozen of puppies playing in the grass around an old, dignified ninken. He started smiling almost without noticing when they walked towards the older ninken. Pakkun didn’t seem to take notice of the puppies but Kakashi couldn’t help but notice their big dark eyes and the tiny pink tongues that stuck out while they were tussling in the grass.

When they reached the other ninken, Kakashi bowed respectfully. The dog replied with a graceful nod before he spoke up. “These are the candidates we would like to present,” he said in a raspy voice. “Please take a careful look at them before you make your decision.”

Kakashi nodded and after Pakkun and the other ninken had exchanged a couple barks, they both walked towards the pack of puppies. All of them were of different shapes and colors, big, small, light and dark fur, one had big spots and another had pointy ears that perked up when Kakashi and Pakkun came closer. While the puppies did seem somewhat interested in the newcomers, they didn’t stop playing with each other until Pakkun exhorted them with a bark. One after another came toddling towards Kakashi and Pakkun, each giving them a good sniff before they sat down in a rather chaotic line in front of them. The older ninken came closer and started presenting the puppies to them, mentioning their names and the personalities they started to show as they grew older.

Kakashi wasn’t entirely sure at what point in their life a ninken puppy started to take on the traits and abilities that made them a suitable companion for a shinobi. Pakkun had already warned him that those puppies would be too young to speak yet, at least in a way that Kakashi would understand. This was also one of the things that Kakashi’s other ninken would have to teach the new puppy. However, Kakashi could already see the wit glisten in their dark eyes when the puppies examined him. Choosing a ninken was usually a delicate process in which not only the shinobi had to make a decision, but also his other companions and especially the new puppy itself. After all, they would form a bond for a whole life span.

Kakashi let his eye wander over the puppies. All of them were more than adorable and they even showed their potential by sitting mostly still, obeying the older ninken’s orders. But while examining the puppies, something caught Kakashi’s eye. A bit behind them, the grass rustled even though it was a windless day. He exchanged a look with Pakkun who also curiously gazed at the moving patches of grass. Suddenly, the tip of a black tail appeared between the blades of grass, slowly moving closer as if something – or rather a little someone – was steadily creeping closer towards them. The other puppies did not seem to notice the threat closing in on them but Kakashi couldn’t keep his eye of the small tail which now started wagging excitedly. And just as he was about to say something, something jumped out of grass and into the line of puppies, sending them tumbling to both sides. Wild barking ensued when the startled puppies faced their attacker. It stood five against one but the small black puppy fiercely stood its ground, digging its little white paws into the ground. It bared its tiny teeth and growled, all the while still wagging his tail. And before the older ninken had a chance to get things in line, all of the puppies started chasing each other around again. The ninken let out a massive sigh and barked at them. The black puppy ducked its head and ruefully put its tail between its stubby legs. But in its dark eyes, Kakashi could see a hint of mischief.

Kakashi glanced at Pakkun and once he saw his amused look, he gave him a nod. Pakkun returned the nod, letting his tongue hang out in a rather gleeful manner. Kakashi sat down and ignored the stern look the older ninken gave him. The black puppy gave him a keen look and before the older ninken even allowed him to, it slowly toddled towards Kakashi, its nose wiggling curiously. Kakashi held out his hand and the puppy cautiously sniffed at it – and before Kakashi had the chance to react, the puppy gave his fingers a big lick and started wagging its tail cheerfully.

Kakashi started smiling and when the puppy askingly nudged his hand with its small head, he instantly started petting it. “Who is this?” he asked the ninken who eyed them with a whimsical look in his eyes.

“Her name is Kiyo. She’s the youngest of the bunch but she does show early signs of fierceness and perseverance,” the ninken said reluctantly. And while the puppy stared at Kakashi with its big, dark eyes, he added more softly. “She’s a kind spirit.”

Kakashi gave Pakkun one last glance to assure himself that his ninken had also made his decision and when Pakkun gave him an approving smile, he gave the puppy a solemn look. It did seem to notice that something grand was happening and it sat down in front of him, eyeing him patiently. Its little white paws shuffled slightly as if excited for what Kakashi was about to say.

Kakashi nodded to himself and gave the puppy a soft smile. “Would you like to be a part of our team, Kiyo?”

The puppy seemed to consider his question. It tilted its head thoughtfully and blinked two times. And then, Kiyo started wagging her tail excitedly. With a big hop, she jumped into Kakashi’s lap and started licking his fingers enthusiastically.

Pakkun grinned at Kakashi and came closer, sniffing Kiyo curiously. “Welcome to the team, little one,” he growled proudly.

[lowder-the-koopa]

"Oh, you can help. If you come with me... 60 years into the past, Nate/Katie."—Hovernyan, Yo-kai Watch 2

"An ancient mirror that embodied a soul and became a Yo-kai. It can make a portal between two mirrors."-Mirapo's Medallium biography

"Graaah! I want to be in a position to start Terror Time!"—Gilgaros, Yo-kai Watch Blasters

"I'll be hangin' around wherever Momonyan goes, nya!"-Chimpanyan in Blasters Camp

"A simple, serene Yo-kai whose calming aura is so effective, he can get even Roughraff to chill out." Sandmeh's Medallium biography

"The name's USAPYON! An' I'm no alien! I'mma Yo-kai!"—Usapyon, Yo-kai Watch 3

"Hmph...just 'cause my name's Toiletta doesn't mean I'm ALWAYS in a toilet."—Toiletta, Yo-kai Watch 2

"Why hello! My name is Whisper! At your service!"—Whisper, Yo-kai Watch 3

"A Wicked boss who is always all in. No Yo-kai can match Untidy for pure power."-Untidy's Medallium biography

"One of the Enma of successive generations who sealed away the legendary Stormweaver, him being the 5th. Ever since he was chosen as the 5th, he’s been anxious about the hitodama stuck to his back, and playfully attacking them."-Enma Neko'ou Matatabi's Medallium biography

"Through a freak accident during an experiment, an android researcher has become an android himself!"-Sighborg Y's Medallium biography

"A tiny, carnivorous plant Yo-kai that reassures those who hate insects. She lives off of bad insects that approach her loved ones, munching on every single one of them."-Pakkun's Medallium biography

“A tick that got hit by a futon dryer in tick-killing mode got turned into a Yo-kai. With their chubby appearance, they can catch their opponents off guard so that they could inevitably suck out the other Yo-kai's energy."-Daniel's Medallium biography

"A small guardian spirit that's inspiriting and always watching over a certain boy. His real name's different, but since he lost a lot of his power and memories, he's really ashamed that he doesn't consider himself worthy of bearing said name."-Suu-san's Medallium biography

"A cat that became a Yo-kai while it was still alive, due to having led a very long life. He's recognizable by his long ears and fluffy fur, and his nose works surprisingly well. His hobby and specialty is 'returning'."-Gusto/Nekomata's Medallium biography

"Thankfully, you can tell when a good omen is coming by the sound of his hammer banging against the cauldron. The cauldron on his head is always hot. He uses it to cook rice and boil tea."-Narigama's Medallium biography

"A Yo-kai with a cat-like appearance who can inflate his body like a balloon, going "poof", and freely change his appearance. Since he is little, he calls himself "Jī-tan".-Junior's Medallium biography

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Yo-kai Watch in Japan, I drew a Yo-kai from mostly every tribe.

Do you hear that noise?

"Kamen Ride: Koma!"―Transformation announcement

"Humans are... Humans are... They're my friends and I won't give up because of what they did in the past!"-Lowderverse Komasan when fighting Zazel during the Movie 2 section of his story

"You don't understand, Swartz. Is that no matter how much you try, Kamen Riders are forever!"-Shadowside Komasan when fighting Another Oma Zi-o in Yo-kai Forever

Behold! The design of my one of my original crossover Kamen Riders, Kamen Rider Koma. His design is mostly inspired by Kamen Rider Ichigo, Zero-One, and Decade, if you couldn't notice that already.

Reblogs are always appreciated.