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It’s not an uncommon occurrence. Though it’d been happening a lot less in recent years, Kakashi figured he’d have to start getting used to it again once Naruto became Hokage. He sighed and burrowed deeper into the mass of muscle and fur around him, fingers curling into Urushi’s thick fur as Bisuke nuzzled under his neck.
The house was too quiet – though the quiet huffs of eight dogs did help a little. He focused on his breathing, making it slow and controlled. Unbidden, his face tilts away from where it was buried under Guruko’s and a low, unhappy whine escaped him. There was a scent missing, and he wasn’t happy.
A chorus of empathetic whines echoed his own, and then Kakashi’s breath was knocked out of him when Bull shuffled to flop his entire body weight over where he was curled up on his side. The warm, heavy weight helped, lulling Kakashi a little deeper into a state where he drifted, though not quite enough to fall asleep in.
He wasn’t sure how much time had passed – not much, if the dark blinds were any measure – before he heard, no, felt something enter the room. The chakra felt familiar, but different. Kakashi blinked bleary eyes towards it, not panicking only because his ninken had not reacted badly. Though, there were some warning rumbles that were starting up.
In the doorway stood Naruto, arms crossed and brow raised. On second look, Kakashi realized it wasn’t Naruto, it was Kurama. Kakashi’s brows furrowed in confusion, but the other spoke before he could, “that brat sure does have a sixth sense for you or something huh, wolf brat?”
“What do you mean…?” Kakashi rasped out quietly but was ignored as Kurama raved his sharp gaze over the dogs and warned, “if any of you bite me, I’ll tear you in half.”
The dogs growled, but stayed put. Kakashi huffed, knowing that it was just an empty threat, and watched with widening eyes as Naruto’s form melted and in its place was Kurama in his nine-tailed glory. Though instead of bursting out of the house, his form remained the size of a human, but on four paws.
Nine tails swished behind him as Kurama trotted over, uncaringly stepping on some of his ninken on the way – who thankfully only grumbled and didn’t nip – before shoving a few to make room for himself. Kakashi watched speechless until Kurama’s snout was in his face and then he yelped as a cold nose nudged his cheek, snuffling.
Pakkun took up a new spot by Kakashi’s chest, muttering about damned foxes under his breath. He’d been displaced when Kurama curled his form around Kakashi’s head, tails coming to flop like a blanket over his shoulder and chest, and head taking Bisuke’s place to cover Kakashi’s neck. The symbolism wasn’t lost on Kakashi – it was a weak spot for all animals, after all.
Hesitantly, Kakashi shifted his hands up; one landing cautiously on the side of Kurama’s face, and the other on one of the tails that rippled under his touch. The fur was softer than he’d imagined, and he buried his fingers deeper into the pleasing texture with a sigh, scratching lightly under Kurama’s jaw with the other.
Kurama made a pleased sound, deciding to nip at Kakashi with sharp teeth playfully before he grumbled, “sleep, Kakashi. The brat will be back before you know it.” Obediently, Kakashi took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The warmth Kurama was emitting – was it real or was it chakra? – helped pull him deep into a state of quiet unconsciousness.
Naruto feels bone-tired he drags himself through the door, seconds away from simply deciding that it’d be so much easier to just sleep right there in the entrance than make it all the way to the bedroom.
But he knew he had to – he’d sent Kurama ahead for a reason. Not wanting to disturb them, he quietly removed his clothes before slowly pushing the door open. There, his eyes took in the mass on the bed. Squinting, he could vaguely make out where one dog started and another ended.
The only part of Kakashi that he could discern was his silver hair, the rest buried under the ninken and Kurama. For once, he actually looked quite peaceful and Naruto debated just sleeping in the guest room to not disturb him.
Then Kurama peeked an eye open and stared at him with a pointed look, so Naruto huffed and slowly shuffled his way forwards. The dogs’ eyes blinked opened too before soft thumps on the bed signalled their happiness at seeing him. Naruto held a finger to his lips to try to quiet them down, but it was too late as Kakashi was already blinking his own eyes open with a curious, “mmh? Naruto?”
“Hey Kakashi-sensei,” Naruto smiled softly. “Got room for one more?” There was a quiet rustle and then hands were reaching out towards him. Naruto felt his chest tighten as he touched those hands and let them tug him down.
The dogs made room and Naruto brushed aside Kurama’s tails as Kakashi turned around to sleepily push his nose under Naruto’s jaw, inhaling deeply and body relaxing with a sigh. Naruto slid his hands up the elder’s back, his biological arm continuing further to thread into thick silver locks, scratching lightly in habit. The action elicited a soft sound from Kakashi, and the man snuggled deeper into the warmth between them.
Smiling, Naruto felt his chest aching at the sheer domesticity of it all, a different kind of warmth spreading throughout his entire being like honey. Tucking his own nose into the top of Kakashi’s head, he quietly mumbled, “good night.”
When grey eyes blinked open, it was to the bright sunrays peeking through the edges of his blinds. He blinked at the sight for a few seconds, distantly wondering how he’d slept in for so long. Eventually deciding he didn’t really care, Kakashi rolled onto his back and stretched out onto the bed.
It took him another second to realize that the bed was slightly colder and much emptier than before. Reaching out blindly, he patted around and landed on something furry. Gently pulling it closer, he blinked at the dark red tail in his fingers before following it up to meet blood-red eyes staring right back at him.
“Uh…” Kakashi said helpfully.
A long snout chuffed in amusement before nudging Kakashi’s cheek, hair and neck. Kakashi let it happen, barely registering it as his pack would often do the same when scenting him. It wasn’t until Kurama pulled back that his brain stuttered to the realization that it was Kurama doing that. His cheeks warmed slightly but he ignored it in favour of stroking the thick fur of the body still wrapped around him the way he would his ninken.
Glancing carefully at red eyes watching him, Kakashi slowly turned his head to scent the other back, shoulders loosening when he wasn’t pushed away or bitten in response. Rather, Kurama nudged Kakashi’s head so as to snuffle him under his chin again, warm breath puffing out on against his skin.
Eyes sliding closed in contentment, Kakashi let his body turn a little more to wrap arms around the warm furry body, burying his face in the soft fur and letting out a happy sigh. He almost drifted back off to sleep, if not for the sound of the door opening and an exclaimed “ah! That’s not fair!”
It took herculean effort for Kakashi to pull his face away enough to blink up at an affronted Naruto; eyes twinkling with amusement. “Morning,” he mumbled, then flopped his face back down into red fur. His brows scrunched up and a slightly annoyed sound escaped his throat when he felt hands slide under and around him, lifting him up and away from Kurama’s warmth.
“That’s enough sleeping! We have guests!” With no further explanation, Naruto started carrying Kakashi out the door.
Eyes snapping open, Kakashi wriggled, “wait, what guests? Naruto—stop! I’m not dressed!” But Naruto didn’t stop, aside from reaching with the arm curled around his shoulders to pinch fingers in the mask pooled around his neck and pulling it up.
“There. You’re dressed enough,” declared Naruto. Kakashi could only stare speechless, before finally exerting enough strength to leap out of Naruto’s arms halfway down the stairs and land on his own feet.
“I can walk on my—”
“There you are, Kakashi-sensei!” a bright voice interrupted him. Freezing, Kakashi’s head practically creaked as it turned to lay eyes on their ‘guests’. At the kitchen island, Sakura and Sasuke sat with tea and some sandwiches on the counter between them.
Recovering quickly, Kakashi relaxed into a slouch and raised a lazy hand, “yo. What’s the occasion?”
Sasuke’s brow twitched with a hint of a frown as he spoke, “the idiot said—” his words broke off with a soft grunt and a pinched expression when Sakura clearly jabbed her heel into his foot under the table.
“Do we need an occasion to spend time with our dear sensei?” Sakura distracted with a sweet voice.
Raising a sceptical brow, Kakashi shrugged, “I... suppose not.” Making his way over to the table, he slid into the seat beside Sakura as Naruto took the one opposite him, next to Sasuke. “You’re not too busy with the hospital today?”
As if triggering an explosive, Sakura let out a huge sigh and then tilted sideways, melting into Kakashi’s side. “Ugh, when is that place ever not busy? I suppose that’s what happens when you work at a hospital for a village full of active shinobi but still… you’d think peace-times would be, well, more peaceful!”
Kakashi was surprised at first by her reaction, but his hands instinctively reached out and steadied her, making sure she wasn’t about to fall but also not pushing her to sit up and away from him either. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and his face tilted towards her as he quietly scented that she was a little tired, but not particularly stressed. Due to the angle, he didn’t catch the way Sakura’s eyes seemed to gleam smugly at the boys across her.
Naruto grinned while Sasuke simply rolled his eyes in response as Kakashi quietly listened and placated her complaints. Affection shone in blue eyes as Naruto watched the ever-present tenseness in Kakashi’s shoulders minutely relax as they passed the time chatting amicably the whole morning. He felt pride and happiness bubble up inside him when Kakashi’s ninken pack wandered in from wherever they’d been lounging around the house to greet his teammates and pester them for food, and Pakkun sent him a quiet nod in return.
There was only so much that he could dig up about Kakashi’s clan in the village archives. Most clans kept their ways and traditions a secret on purpose, and if the other night with Kurama was anything to go by, Kakashi himself did not seem to fully understand some aspects of his own clan. Which wasn’t surprising, considering he’d had to fend for himself since he was five…
So Naruto was immensely grateful when Pakkun had trotted after him this morning and sat him down to talk about the importance of ‘pack’ to Kakashi. How the man might not realize that it extended beyond his ninken. And Naruto was glad he put it immediately to the test by dragging Sakura and Sasuke over; telling them the truth so that they’d take him seriously.
As he relaxed, laughing at a dry joke Sasuke had said, Naruto mentally patted himself on the back because it wasn’t just Kakashi who’d needed this. They all did. And it was great to have everyone spend time together again.