Chapter Text
Cold and dark concrete...
That was all of little Naruto's reallıty. As long as he remembered the blonde boy was a part of the streets, he was alone, no mother or father, not even a sibling by his side. İn his little mind, he was punished by the gods the second he was born with cat-like birth marks on his face and being bullied by other villagers. His short life was nothing but a nightmare. Before he knew how to read and write, he was forced to learn how to survive... His only dream was to become a royal knight and be respected by other villagers. That's why the little boy always looked out for the palace from high places, but he never wanted to be a part of the royal family. Of course, he respected them, he knew they were way up from his class but the ones he was trying to see from afar were royal knights with shiny armor, sharp swords, and feathers on their suits that signified their ranks. He adored them like nothing else and wished to become one of them one day.
&
Kakashi was off from duty, his sift had just ended, and he was headding down to the village,then he heard a few thuds, and childs screams. Normally, he wouldn't care what it has with him if a few kids are fighting for a few coins? But this time, he didn't know why, or maybe deep inside he did, but his body reacted before he was able to stop it. He was walking towards the sound of childerens fighting,ended up ın a dead-end. He saw a blonde boy, max ten years old, lying down and trying to stop three boys attacking him. He was beaten up, but he also managed to take down one of the boys as well, "Kids, enough." Kakashi’s bored voıce echoes ın the street. All the boys turn towards him, their eyes lock on to his sword,armor, and the feather on his suit, which was bright blue and meant he was a Captain in the royal army. Without another word, the ones who attacked the blonde started to run out of the dead-end. The blonde boy looks up to meet the young Captain's eyes. His blue eyes meet with Kakashi's blacks. They hold nothing inside at first, then slowly a shy smile appears on the kid's face. "Thanks, knight... officer, no! Captain? Sir." Also, a small smile apears under Kakashi's mask, an image of his childhood apears before his gaze, then disappears. He reached for his mask to take it off so he wouldn't scare the kid. "You are welcome. What's your name, kiddo?" He asks, also not believing himself while doing so... Why would he even care about a homeless child? He would just walk away and say nothing- "İts Naruto, sir." Kid’s shaky tone splits his thoughts from half. "Well then, Naruto... Are you down for a cup of ramen?" Kakashi asks while again not being able to belive his own words… He was tired from duty, and also didn't want to do charity out of nowhere- Kid’s smile grows, it reaches his sky blue eyes. "I would be grateful, but... what is ramen, sir?" Again, his words splits Captain’s thoughts in half. Kid’s glowing eyes change into a questioning gaze and a chuckle leaves Kakashi's mouth as he surrended to boy’s sweetness. "You will see."
After that night and two cups of delicous ramen, for a few months Kakashi countınues to take Naruto out for ramen, also helps him with money, and teaches him how to read and write. He gains Naruto's trust while he develops a big brother feeling for Naruto deep inside his forgotten heart. All of the time they spend together helps them for geting to know each other better. Kakashi learns that Naruto is the most determined child he has ever met, Naruto learns more about the royal family and the royal army... Another night filled with hot ramen and sweet talk at their favorite ramen shop İchiraku’s Ramen, Kakashi speaks up. "Naruto... ı see potential in you." The blonde -who was mid-slurp of a long ramen piece- looks up as he finishes his bite. "What do you mean, sir Kakashi?" Kakashi sighs. "Come live at my place, it's too big for one person anyway, meanwhile ı will teach you maths and history, everything ı know." Naruto freezes for a second, ironically, he drops his chopsticks, and he doesn't even know what to say. His eyes lit up, then a small, shy smile apears, just like it happened the night Kakashi saved him. "Also swords?" Kakashi sighs again, "İf you want that much..." young boy stands up, knowing very well that Captain Kakashi is not very fond of physical touch, he hugs him, tight and greatfull. "That would be an honor,sir."
&
Years have past, swords sharpened, armors got heavier, and wounds apeared... Naruto became a well-built knight-to-be and a well-known gentleman in the town. He grew up,his hands hardened with swinging his sword everyday and he learned wisdom from Kakashi. He always said the same sentence to himself again and again, he was going to work so hard and become a royal knight, and everyone would respect him just like Sir Kakashi. Years sharpened the masked knight as well, his rank was promoted to Colonel, which did nothing but made Naruto more inspired by the silver haired man even more. The year Naruto hit 16, he immediately attempted the royal knight exam, which was a very young age to attempt, but still with Naruto's hard work and determination, nothing was imposibble. İt was few weeks after the exam and another usual afternoon for the blonde. He was in the garden of their home, training with his sword, swinging it nonstop. The sun was already going down while he countinued swinging the sharpend metal between his palms, making his posture better and his attacks stronger with every move. Naruto was able to feel all of his muscles while he trained, they were tensing and acking, especialy his back, like someone was taking all of his vertebras out and placing them neatly at their place in his back again, and like usual, his hands were barely numb. He stumbled few times, a sign for him to give a break from his training, a sigh escapes his parted mouth, and he puts his sword in its scabbard. He wipes the sweat on his forehead with the back of his hand and lays himself down on the green grass. The second he lay down, his eyes were closed with tiredness. He took few long breaths. He loved using his sword, the smell of iron clinging to his hands. İt made him feel strong, respectable, seen… He was lost in his thoughts until Kakashi’s excited tone filled their garden. “Naruto!” Excited? From Sir Kakashi? That made Naruto’s eyes open, it was unusual for the Colonel to show any emotion between his words. “Exam results came.” He swung the envelope towards Naruto. Young boy sits up immediately, feeling like he can't wait a second longer to learn the result. His eyes clung to the envelope in his master’s hand, it was sealed with Royal family’s seal. Naruto took the envelope meant for him from Kakashi. Saying something close to ‘thank you’ between his excited breaths. He breaks the seal carefully but as fast as possible. “With the holy name of Uchiha household and our Royal Knight Commander Jiraiya, we would like to send our dearest congratulations. Knight Naruto Uzumaki.” Blonde reads the last sentence of the letter out loud and as he finishes, he jumps up as high as he can. “I did it Sir Kakashi, I did it!” His expression immediately brightened even more -if that was possible- with happiness as he hugged tightly to smiling man in front of him. “Congratulations, kiddo. You deserved it.” He hugs Naruto back, having the sweetest feeelings for the young knight, meanwhile deep inside knowing its not that easy. Of course he was happy for Naruto, after all, the kid achieved one of his biggest dreams, but deep inside he knew serving at the palace and court wasn't easy under the Uchiha Kingdom. King’s desires for the army were huge. War followed another and… Kakashi didn't want to think about the hard part, he gets out of the sea of bad memories before he sank down more. İt was a precious day for Naruto and ruining it with dark thoughts was the last thing Kakashi would ask for. He puts an end to their tight embrace, taking a step away from the kid. “To celebrate this, let me treat you ramen.”