You opened the door and stepped through, eyes wandering around the room. It looked much the same as it had a few years ago and the familiarity eased some of your nerves. The man in front of you wasn’t necessarily an unfamiliar face, either, and his smile further calmed you.

“Y/n L/n, it’s been quite some time since I’ve seen you,”

You smiled politely at him from your spot near the door. “It has,”

He gestured you forward. “Come, sit,”

You settled yourself down in the chair across from him, and he folded his hands on the desk.

“Thank you for coming in today,”

“Thank you for having me, Lord Sixth,”

“Call me Kakashi,” He waved his hand.

You just managed to keep your disapproving look from fully forming on your face. “Yes, sir,”

He rolled his eyes playfully. It made you shift a bit uncomfortably. You had never been close to the man, and when you had known him, he had been much more serious. He seemed to sense your discomfort, and switched back to a more professional tone.

“So, you’re here for the personal assistant position, correct?”

You nodded.

“Before we continue, I would like to make you aware that this position is not as an assistant to me,”

You frowned, confused. Who would be so important that the Hokage himself would interview for them? Surely he was incredibly busy. It was clearly evident that the aftermath of the war was still weighing heavily on Konoha’s government, even two years later.

He continued, “A close friend of mine has been struggling, and I believe hiring him some help is the least I can do,”

You nodded, curiosity replacing the nerves that had lingered. He drummed his fingers on the desk, eyes cast aside in contemplation. After a moment of silence, he started again, “I suppose I should re-title the position,” His eyes slid to yours. “It’s more of a caretaker job,”

Now you were really confused. “What exactly would I be doing?”

“Cooking, housework, grocery shopping, etc,”

Your lips quirked up and you nodded. You would call yourself an expert in those things after the last two years you had had. “And what would the hours look like?”

“Monday through Friday, starting at 8:30am and ending when you finish your tasks. The position is salary,”

He was ticking off each of your boxes the more he spoke. But, after struggling to find a job that fit all your needs for the past six months, you were quick to hold back your excitement. You were tired of being disappointed when you either didn’t get it, or something just wouldn’t work.

“That sounds like a good deal to me,”

His eyes crinkled into his little half-moon smile. “I’m glad to hear it. I have to ask, what brings you here today?”

“My current job just isn’t a good fit, and I want something that feels more rewarding - like I’m making a difference… I wouldn’t be upset about a pay raise, either.” You half-shrugged.

Kakashi chuckled. “I hear you. What do you think qualifies you for this position? I know it’s a bit different than what I advertised, so don’t worry about taking a second to answer,”

You shook your head, a little smile on your lips. “I’m more qualified for this type of work than what you advertised, so I can answer easily.”

You straightened up in the chair. “Before the last six months, I was a stay at home mom. I handled every piece of housework, managed our finances, did the shopping for the three of us, and took care of my son. It’s almost second nature to me to manage a household now,”

Kakashi nodded. “I was wondering about the gap in your resume,”

You quirked a brow. “Are you telling me you didn’t do a thorough background check before bringing me in here?”

He smiled widely, a sparkle in his eye. “Now there’s the little chunin I remember,”

You smiled bashfully, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.

“No, I have extensive investigations performed for each person before they enter this office for an interview. I like to see who is honest with me when I ask questions, though,”

You ignored the urge to roll your eyes. “Well, based on mine, how much of a chance do you think I have to get this job?”

He hummed. “Pretty high, I’d say,”

You perked up.

He tapped a tinger to his chin. “Actually, since you caught me, I think it’s only fair to offer it to you, if you want it,”

You blinked in surprise. “Really?”

He nodded, his face sobering quite suddenly. “Although I can’t divulge why at the moment, you are my first choice out of all of the applicants.”

You looked at him in bewilderment, but held your questions in. His eyes flickered around the room. He scratched the back of his head, and brought the smile back to his face.

“Starting pay is seventy-five thousand a year, would that be sufficient?”

It took you a moment to respond. Your head was spinning with the possibilities that would open up to you with that kind of money. The foremost thought in your mind, though, was: I won’t have to struggle anymore.

You finally managed a nod. “More than,”

“Perfect, how soon can you start?”

“Uhh, Monday, probably,”

He started to say something else, but you accidentally interrupted him with your next question. “Who am I supposed to be taking care of?”

Kakashi met your gaze with intensity. He searched your eyes for a long moment, and you tried so very hard not to shrink into yourself. After an eternity, he let loose a heavy sigh. His reaction was making your nerves rise back up at full force.

“Your.. ward, for lack of a better term, is.. Obito Uchiha,”

Your jaw dropped and you stopped breathing, your mind going completely blank. When your thoughts finally filtered in again, your first coherent thought was: So that’s the catch?

Why would you be his first choice for a war criminal’s babysitter? Kami, what would your family say if they found out just who you were working with? Despite your negative internal dialogue, you couldn’t help but think about the money. It would do you so much good, even if you only worked the job for a year or two.

You scrubbed a hand over your face in a jerky movement. It wasn’t much of a debate. You would benefit far more by taking the job than denying it. A sudden thought popped up - something that you should have thought of right off the bat.

“What if he tries to hurt me?”

Kakashi frowned, but his eyes were understanding. “He won’t. I wouldn’t have created the position if I thought he would try something.”

You nodded slowly. It tracked. He didn’t fight at the frontlines during the Fourth Shinobu War to put his people in danger. You knew he was a good man.

“Okay,” you said quietly.

“Okay?”

“Okay,” It was hardly more confident than the first.

“Alright, let’s go over the details then,”

Naruto isn’t usually this clingy. He’s never minded Kakashi’s lengthier missions because usually Obito, Rin and sometimes even Sasuke is there to keep him company when Kakashi is kept particularly busy. Which has been often lately what with him being an Anbu after all.

But it’s only been a week since the orphanage officially insisted that they didn’t have the manpower to look after Naruto anymore and somehow the Thirds solution was to stick this 5 year old in his own apartment.

Obito had to stop Rin of all people from marching into the Hokages office and give Sarutobi a piece of her mind. Obito is not used to being the voice of reason in his team and frankly he had half a mind to go along with Rin himself. Maybe it’s the fact that spending 5 years looking after a child has made him mature a bit faster than he would have before, but it doesn’t matter. Because at the end of the day, every action they took on Narutos behalf had to be done for his sake and safety.

He was the vulnerable one here. He was the one that needed protection. It’s been half a decade since the nine-tails rampage but somehow the villagers were still incapable of moving beyond their own grief to realize how cruel it was to project their anger onto an innocent child.

And because of that he knows it is still dangerous for any clan to show any open positive inclination towards Narutos well-being. He wishes that it wasn’t but that was unfortunately the current reality presiding over their village. Every clan licking their wounds over the loses they suffered from the Kyubi’s attack so soon after having sacrificed so many to the war. All of them pulling back from the collective to guard over their own.

No clan felt this reality more distinctly than the Uchiha. Being ostracized to the end of the of the village, far away from the other clans had done nothing but sow seeds of distrust among the other clans towards the Uchiha and vice versa. After all, what other clan had the ability to control the Nine-tails other than the Sharingan users?

So Obito knows more than most the political perspective that would be made by the other clans towards another that dared to show Naruto any welcome. A subtle grab for power. Because after all, what else was Naruto to them but a weapon and a monster.

Naruto was still too young to grasp the full scope of the situation but that didn’t mean he couldn’t feel the overwhelming bitterness and disgust directed towards him from everyone else with every whispered insult to volatile scoldings over menial things that left the child cowering.

And right now, Naruto was simply hurting. Hurting and doubly confused more than usual by the detest that emanated towards him from the rest of Konoha. Right now more than ever, he needed to be surrounded by people who cared about him. Rin, Obito and even to a minor extent, Itachi and Sasuke.

But most of all, he need Kakashi and he wasn’t here.

Not that it was Kakashis fault. It wasn’t on his own conscious choice that his skills had him chosen over and over to deal with more dangerous missions as he got older. He didn’t like it anymore than Naruto did but the money was good and every penny earned he spent in caring after Naruto. Almost everything that Minato and Kushina had owned in assets, from their house to their savings and belonging had all been stripped bare by the elders. Exactly why, Obito did not know though he had his suspicions. What he did know was that it reflected nothing in them but a cold disregard of Narutos well being. To scrub clean and bare the essence of the presence of two people who had loved Naruto oh so dearly in the minuscule amount of time they had with him.

If Kakashi and Guy hadn’t managed to sneak into their Senseis house before it had been cleaned out, they truly would have had nothing to keep as mementos of Minato and his life other than the headstone that laid among the rest of the other lives lost that day.

Even so, they had managed to grab only a few things. Among them being a photo album of the married couple filled with tender moments of their childhood up to their wedding and Kushina’s pregnancy. It had been the most important thing they managed to save because even in pictures, the love, affection and kindness that was the foundation of the two beautiful souls stood stark and clear as day in their faces. It was the most vital thing Naruto needed to see in Obitos own opinion. To understand who his parents were even if only through film.

There were a some other things. A blanket Jiraiya had gifted the couple for Naruto as a belated baby shower present. A frog shaped purse that used to be Kushina’s and a pouch of Minato‘s ‘Flying Thunder God’ Kunais.

They had already given Naruto the blanket and wallet. Both of which he loved dearly. The kunais they decide to give when the boy was much older. Because giving a five year old teleportation Kunais was probably a recipe for disaster and none of them wanted to risk meeting their sensei (or Kushina for that matter) in the afterlife and having to explain they lost his son because the boy teleported to god knows where.

Rin and Obito tried to contribute just as much of their own share in covering Naruto’s expenses but they didn’t earn half as much as Kakashi did and unlike them, Kakashi had no other family to use it for. Which sounds morbid but Kakashi had made the argument himself so Obito doesn’t feel bad about bringing it up.

But still, he doesn’t begrudge Narutos sour mood over Kakashis absence. He understands. The young boy already had so little. It wasn’t wrong for him to feel clingy for what little he did have and for all Kakashis faults (he was just 14 after all when Naruto was born) their Senseis son adored him.

So he pulls Naruto into his arms and though Naruto doesn’t hug him back, he seems to relax and lean into his pseudo big brothers hold.

Obito gave him a squeeze. “How bout we go to Ichiraku’s?”, he asked. Knowing the two boys attempt at making their own ramen was probably a current inedible mess from the weird smell that his his nose had inhaled when he entered the kitchen earlier.

Naruto perked up almost immediately at the suggestion and leapt off the couch to run into his room. Presumedly to fetch his wallet.

Despise the show of excitement, Obito can’t help but feel his heart clench at the sight. The three of them had been incredibly grateful to Teuchi when they found out about his easy show of kindness to Naruto by offering him a hot bowl off Ramen on a dreary rainy day. Naruto had been starving after having ‘missed’ another meal at the orphanage due to ‘wandering off and being late for dinner’.

The despicable behavior hadn’t been new to Naruto and it was not surprising that he felt like walking alone in the rain was better than staying in the presence of ‘caretakers’ who sneered at the very sight of him.

Still, it was nothing compared to their much colder, purposeful abuse and neglect in caring for Naruto’s well being before. That is until they received some very effective threats from some mysterious outsiders (The three of them had been seething but somehow still managed to find a discreet way to make their anger known. Don’t underestimate students of the fourth)

The three of them had tried to pay for the meals but Teuchi-San had refused to take a single coin from them. Citing offhandedly that Naruto didn’t even eat much. An absolute lie since they’d seen themselves the incredibly generous portions the stall owner unfailingly served Naruto every time (“He’s a growing boy. Let him eat”, the man had said when they brought it up)

Nevermind that the shop had to deal with a drop in their number customers. After all, no one wanted to be in the same vicinity as someone ‘housing a demon’.

“Good riddance”, Teuchi commented with a careless wave of his hand. Adding that those kind of people weren’t worth his time or his cooking.

But the stall was beloved enough for its delicious dishes and cheap prices that it still received a steady influx of loyal patrons. Even if most of them avoided coming around when they saw Naruto already sitting on one of the stools. Which actually worked well for the trio because it helped them to avoid too much attention from spending time in public with Naruto.

As reprehensible as it was for the orphanage to kick out a child from the only home he’s ever known, the arrangement actually worked well for Obito and his teammates because it allowed them to spend more time Naruto without having to sneak around and steal short moments with him in secret.

The Uchiha is brought out of his thoughts when the 5 year old came rushing back into the living room waving around his round green wallet.

“Can we get taiyaki after?”, Naruto asked with a wide toothy grin.

Obito brought a hand up to his chin as if giving the request a deep thought. “Only if you get some vegetables”

Naruto’s grin turned into an annoyed pout but he eventually let out a defeated huff. “Fine, but I want extra chashu”

“Such a brat!”, Obito replied but it was said with such an obvious fondness that it brought back Narutos smile.

“I’ll race you!”

Naruto ran and leaped onto his window sill but before he could jump out, Obito called him back.

“Here, an early birthday present”

Naruto took the small, messily wrapped package he was given and didn’t spare a second before tearing it open.

His eyes widened when he saw what it was.

“Your googles!”, he exclaimed in awe. Turning it around in his hands as if making sure it was really what he thought it was.

It was an old pair Obito used to wear when he was much younger but they were different than his current favorite orange ones. The lens were round and the leather band was a dark mossy green, the colour faded slightly over time. Still, Naruto didn’t seem to care at all. Raising his eyes to meet Obito’s, wide with barely contained joy.

Obito really had meant to give them to Naruto next month on his birthday. But after seeing how devastated his ‘little brother’ was over what happened (it will never get easier to see Naruto being forced to carry the burden of everyone’s hate and grief. Even so, Obito couldn’t even begin to imagine how much more difficult it was for Naruto having to actually deal with it), Naruto needed this. He needed this comfort. He needed this show off affection. That there will be people who want to be there for him no matter what. That he was important.

He needed to know he was so very loved.

“But….. why?”, came the shaky whisper. Naruto raised his sky blue eyes and the stark confusion and uncertainty made something inside Obito shatter.

“To remind you”, Obito answered with a smile. “I’m here. Rin, Kakashi even Sasuke despite the fact that both of you seem to insist on going for each other’s throats everytime you see each other, we’re here. Keep this with you and never forget that”

Narutos eyes glazed over and he barely managed a shaky smile before tears started running down his cheeks and he ran into Obitos arms. Legs trembling so badly that it was probably only Obitos hold that was managing to hold him up.

“Did I….. did I do something wrong?”, came the broken muffled shudder from between sobs. Obito had to clench his teeth to keep his own tears from falling.

“Why do they hate me? Why…. I tried to be good. I really did. I didn’t mean to be hard to take care off. I know I’m stupid sometimes-“

And that was the last straw for Obito. He crouched down and pulled back just enough for Naruto to meet his own eyes.

“Listen to me. Listen to me Naruto. You did nothing wrong. No-“, he gently hushed when Naruto tried to interrupt, “-listen to me Naruto. You did nothing wrong.”

Obito tried to fill his words with as much emphasis as he could and it seemed to work just a bit to put some life back into Narutos small, fragile form.

But even so, Obito could see it, deep inside him, the doubt and self loathing that he knows will never truly disappear. At least not so easily.

He’s seen the same look in Kakashi’s own eyes. On days when he’s had to go to his teammates cold, barren home to find him curled up under the blankets of his futon. Motionless and quiet. Barely acknowledging the Uchiha.

Strangely it was actually the truest way for Kakashi to show how comfortable he really was with Obito. If it had been anyone else, even Rin, Kakashi would have stood and met them at the door as soon as he’d felt their chakra signal.

But not with Obito. With Obito he knows he doesn’t have to pretend.

So he would lie there, deathly still. Silent as Obito knelt and lied down beside him on the hard wood floors. Counting his friends every breath as a small form of assurance and patiently waiting. Sometimes it barely took a minute and sometimes it felt like hours before finally Kakashi would raise his black orbs to meet Obitos own and letting his friend see clear as day and unbidden, the shattered pieces of himself that he hadn’t been able to keep together that day. And Obito would stay. For however long Kakashi needed him to, Obito would stay.

He will always be willing to do the same for this little boy in front of him. Hoping beyond hope that he would see in Obito everything that he needed to see and maybe believe him enough to sooth away the cracks inside him.

Today is not that day but that’s alright. Today he watches Naruto pull the googles over his head with a small crooked smile between his whiskered cheeks.

Today he’ll take Naruto to Ichiraku’s and allow himself to watch his little brother gleefully calling out to the Teuchi and rubbing his palms together when a steaming bowl was finally set in front of him.

Today he’ll take Naruto to buy custard taiyakis and then walk with him to the familiar Uchiha training ground. To that one specific spot deep into the trees where Sasuke always hid.

Today he’ll sit and lounge against a tree high up on a branch, half asleep but ears still open to the gentle, fond bickering between the two boys as they easily reconciled over fish shaped cakes. Resting his eyes but keeping just enough attention on the thud of kunai on practice targets to make sure none were flying astray because that’s really not a conversation he wants to have with Fugaku.