The morning of the parent-teacher conference arrived with complete chaos.
Which honestly surprised nobody.
"NARUTO."
"I'M READY."
"You are wearing your jacket backwards."
Silence.
Then—
"…No I'm not."
Ciri looked up slowly from where she sat drinking tea near the kitchen window.
"Naruto."
The blond menace looked down at himself.
Long pause.
"…Oh."
Drake leaned silently against the kitchen counter holding a mug of coffee while watching Naruto struggle violently against basic clothing orientation.
And despite himself—
He smiled slightly.
Because Naruto had very obviously rushed over before sunrise again.
The kid practically vibrated with nervous energy.
Which explained why he'd somehow managed to put on his jacket incorrectly.
Naruto quickly fixed it while muttering dramatically under his breath.
"This day is attacking me already."
"You woke us up by screaming outside," Ciri replied.
"That was enthusiasm."
"That was a public safety concern."
Naruto ignored her immediately before suddenly looking toward Drake again.
"…Do I look okay?"
The question came quieter this time.
More uncertain.
And Drake immediately understood why.
Naruto cared about this.
A lot.
Probably more than he wanted to admit.
Drake stepped forward calmly and adjusted Naruto's hitai-ate slightly where it sat crooked.
"You look fine."
Naruto relaxed instantly afterward.
Just like that.
Like Drake's approval mattered far more than it should.
Ciri watched the interaction with dangerously emotional amusement.
Yeah.
These two were completely attached now.
Naruto suddenly frowned afterward.
"…You sure?"
Drake blinked once.
"Yes."
Naruto hesitated.
"…Because some of the other kids' parents wear really fancy clothes."
Ciri's expression softened immediately.
Oh.
There it was.
Naruto rubbed awkwardly at the back of his neck.
"I just didn't want you guys looking weird because of me."
The sentence hit like a knife.
Because even now—
Naruto instinctively worried about being an inconvenience.
Drake crouched slightly so they were eye-level.
"Naruto."
The little boy looked up immediately.
"We crossed dimensions to get here."
Naruto blinked.
Drake adjusted the jacket collar one final time.
"I think we'll survive an academy meeting."
Naruto stared at him silently for half a second.
Then laughed loudly.
The nervous tension disappeared almost immediately afterward.
Ciri shook her head softly.
"You're really good at this accidental parenting thing."
"I continue denying the accusation."
Naruto pointed dramatically.
"You packed me lunch yesterday."
Traitor.
Drake looked betrayed.
"That was tactical meal preparation."
"That is the most dad sentence I've ever heard," Ciri replied instantly.
Naruto nearly collapsed laughing.
The walk toward the academy was loud.
Mostly because Naruto physically could not remain quiet while excited.
"And THEN Iruka-sensei got SO mad because I painted the Hokage Monument—"
"You vandalized national landmarks?" Drake asked.
Naruto pointed dramatically.
"It was ART."
"It was your face drawn on all four Hokages."
"ART."
Ciri nearly choked laughing.
Drake rubbed one hand over his face tiredly.
"How are you still alive?"
"I'm fast."
"Clearly not fast enough."
Naruto gasped in betrayal.
As they moved through the village streets—
People stared.
Drake noticed it immediately.
Not at him.
Not at Ciri.
At Naruto.
Some civilians looked confused seeing the boy walking beside adults so naturally.
Others looked openly suspicious.
A few looked irritated.
Naruto noticed too.
Drake saw the exact moment the kid's shoulders tightened slightly.
Old habit.
Expecting rejection.
Then Naruto glanced sideways toward Drake and Ciri.
And immediately relaxed again.
Because they stayed.
Because they weren't ashamed to walk beside him publicly.
Such a small thing.
Such a devastating thing.
Drake felt anger stir quietly again.
Ciri gently bumped his shoulder before he spiraled into eldritch violence.
Focus.
Not murder.
Probably.
Naruto kept talking loudly afterward anyway.
"…And then I accidentally glued Iruka-sensei's sandals to the ceiling."
Drake blinked slowly.
"How."
Naruto grinned proudly.
"I refuse to reveal my secrets."
Ciri laughed quietly.
"You're raising a menace."
"I am not raising anything."
Naruto looked deeply offended.
"You literally taught me how to throw knives."
"In my defense, you asked."
"That defense feels legally weak," Ciri replied.
Naruto nodded seriously.
"Very weak."
Drake stared at both of them tiredly.
"…I regret everything."
"No you don't," Naruto answered instantly.
The problem?
He was right.
As they approached the academy grounds—
Naruto suddenly froze.
"Oh no."
Drake followed his gaze.
A small group of academy students stood near the entrance.
Sasuke Uchiha.
Sakura Haruno.
Kiba Inuzuka.
Shikamaru Nara half asleep already.
Choji eating chips quietly.
And Hinata hiding nervously near the back.
All of them stared openly at Drake and Ciri.
Specifically Drake.
Because even while suppressing himself—
People noticed him.
Naruto immediately puffed up proudly afterward.
"HA."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Who are they?"
"My people," Naruto answered instantly.
Drake blinked slowly.
"My people?"
Ciri looked delighted.
"Oh that's adorable."
Naruto turned red immediately.
"I DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT."
Kiba pointed dramatically.
"YOU HAVE ADULTS?!"
Naruto looked deeply offended.
"OF COURSE I HAVE ADULTS."
"That sounded fake even to you," Shikamaru muttered.
Naruto gasped dramatically.
"BETRAYAL."
Sasuke continued studying Drake carefully.
Especially the calm confidence.
The dangerous stillness underneath it.
Young as he was—
Sasuke recognized strength instinctively.
And Drake radiated terrifying confidence without even trying.
Naruto grinned proudly afterward.
"This is Drake and Ciri."
Ciri waved cheerfully.
Drake gave a small nod.
Then—
Hinata quietly peeked toward Naruto.
"…Y-you look happy today."
Naruto blinked.
Then grinned brightly.
"I am!"
The simple honesty behind it made Hinata smile softly.
Sasuke looked increasingly suspicious afterward.
Mostly because Naruto genuinely looked different lately.
Lighter somehow.
Less desperate.
Before anyone could continue—
A calm voice spoke nearby.
"Naruto."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Several children straightened immediately.
Naruto turned quickly.
"Iruka-sensei!"
Iruka Umino stood near the academy entrance holding paperwork beneath one arm.
And beside him—
Two more figures.
One calm and unreadable.
The other carrying authority like a weapon.
Itachi Uchiha.
And Fugaku Uchiha.
Drake's eyes sharpened slightly.
Interesting.
Fugaku studied Drake immediately.
Cold.
Measured.
Clan-head instincts evaluating danger.
Itachi though—
Itachi froze.
Just slightly.
But Drake noticed.
Because unlike everyone else—
Itachi sensed it.
The impossible depth hidden beneath Drake's human appearance.
The pressure carefully restrained beneath layers of control.
For one horrifying second—
Itachi's instincts screamed at him.
Predator.
Ancient predator.
Drake noticed the reaction instantly.
And honestly?
That amused him slightly.
Ciri saw it too.
Oh no.
Drake tilted his head subtly toward Itachi.
The barest flicker of power slipped free accidentally.
Reality distorted behind him for half a second.
The shadows bent wrong.
Space twisted subtly.
Itachi's Sharingan activated instantly.
Fugaku's expression changed immediately afterward.
Because his prodigy son—
His terrifyingly talented son—
Had reacted like prey sensing death.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Naruto looked between everyone confused.
"…Why's everyone acting weird?"
"Nothing," Drake answered calmly.
Itachi continued staring silently.
Because something about Drake felt fundamentally wrong to his senses.
Not evil.
Not malicious.
Just…
Too vast.
Like trying to measure the ocean with a cup.
Fugaku stepped slightly in front of Sasuke automatically.
Protective instinct.
Drake noticed.
Approved slightly.
Iruka meanwhile looked completely exhausted already.
Then Naruto proudly grabbed Drake's sleeve.
"Iruka-sensei these are my people!"
Drake closed his eyes briefly.
Ciri looked moments away from death by laughter.
Iruka blinked.
"…Your people?"
Naruto froze again.
"…I KEEP SAYING THAT WRONG."
Even Itachi looked mildly amused now.
Iruka snorted softly despite himself.
Then finally looked properly toward Drake and Ciri.
And paused.
Because Naruto stood closer to them than he stood near almost anyone.
Comfortable.
Safe.
Happy.
Iruka had known Naruto for years.
And he had never seen the boy look this relaxed around adults before.
Something softened visibly in Iruka's expression afterward.
"You came."
The quiet surprise in his voice hit Drake harder than expected.
Because even Iruka clearly hadn't fully believed someone would show up for Naruto.
Drake answered simply.
"Naruto asked."
Like that explained everything.
Iruka stared silently for a second afterward.
Then smiled slightly.
"…Thank you."
Naruto immediately brightened proudly.
"Told you they'd come."
Iruka ruffled Naruto's hair gently.
"Yeah."
Then quieter—
"I'm glad."
That simple sentence carried years of hidden worry behind it.
Drake noticed immediately.
Iruka cared deeply about Naruto.
Not out of obligation.
Not duty.
Genuine care.
Drake respected that instantly.
The conference itself was chaos.
Mostly because Naruto apparently caused weekly psychological damage to the academy staff.
"…He painted all the training logs orange."
Naruto pointed defensively.
"They looked sad."
Iruka sighed deeply.
"He replaced the classroom chalk with exploding powder."
"It was funny."
"It exploded."
Naruto grinned.
"Exactly."
Ciri laughed so hard she nearly fell from her chair.
Drake sat beside Naruto quietly listening while the kid rambled proudly about increasingly terrible life choices.
And through all of it—
Iruka kept watching Drake carefully.
Watching how naturally Naruto leaned toward him.
How Drake corrected Naruto gently instead of harshly.
How easily Naruto trusted him.
Eventually—
While Naruto argued loudly with Ciri about whether prank warfare counted as art—
Iruka quietly spoke to Drake.
"He talks about you constantly."
Drake blinked once.
"…Oh."
Iruka smiled faintly.
"He's happier lately."
That hit harder than expected.
Drake looked toward Naruto automatically.
The blond boy laughed loudly while trying to convince Ciri that exploding paint bombs improved education.
Bright.
Warm.
Alive.
Drake's expression softened unconsciously.
Iruka noticed immediately.
And suddenly understood something very important.
Naruto had attached himself to Drake because Drake never looked at him with pity.
Never treated him like a burden.
Just…Naruto.
Iruka leaned back slightly afterward.
"You know," he said quietly, "I think he really needed this."
Drake stayed silent briefly.
Then softly—
"…So did I."
Iruka looked genuinely surprised by the honesty in that answer.
But before he could respond—
Naruto suddenly pointed dramatically across the room.
"DRAKE."
Drake looked up.
Naruto grinned widely.
"Look."
The little boy held up a crude drawing proudly.
It was terrible.
Stick figures.
Orange everywhere.
One figure clearly meant to be Naruto stood between two taller figures.
Drake and Ciri.
And above them—
Written messily in large uneven letters—
"MY FAMILY."
Silence.
Ciri's eyes widened instantly.
Iruka froze.
Even Drake stopped breathing for half a second.
Naruto blinked confused at everyone's reaction.
"…What?"
Drake stared at the drawing quietly.
Something painfully warm settled deep inside his chest.
And for the first time in a very long time—
The word didn't scare him anymore.
Silence filled the academy classroom.
Heavy.
Still.
Naruto blinked in confusion while holding up the crude drawing proudly.
Stick figures.
Orange everywhere.
One smaller figure standing between two taller ones.
Above them—
Written in large uneven letters—
"MY FAMILY."
Ciri looked like someone had physically punched her in the chest emotionally.
Iruka froze completely.
And Drake—
Drake simply stared at the paper.
Because Naruto looked so casual about it.
So natural.
Like it was obvious.
Like Drake and Ciri belonging to him was already decided in his heart.
Naruto tilted his head slightly.
"…What?"
Drake's chest tightened painfully.
Because the kid looked nervous now.
Like maybe he'd done something wrong.
Like maybe he shouldn't have said it out loud.
Then quieter—
"…I can change it if you don't like it."
That shattered whatever restraint Drake had left emotionally.
The sheer instinctive fear in Naruto's voice—
The expectation of rejection—
It hit something ancient and protective inside Drake hard enough reality trembled slightly around him.
Ciri noticed immediately.
Oh no.
Naruto flinched slightly as power flickered invisibly through the room.
Not because Drake frightened him.
Because Naruto could physically feel the emotion behind it.
Drake moved before thinking.
One moment he sat across the room—
The next he stood directly in front of Naruto kneeling down.
The little boy blinked in surprise.
Drake carefully took the drawing from Naruto's hands.
And very gently—
Folded it once before placing it inside his coat.
Like it was something precious.
Because it was.
Then Drake rested one hand against Naruto's head.
"You never have to change that."
Naruto stared at him silently.
Wide blue eyes uncertain.
"…Really?"
Drake answered instantly.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Just certainty.
Naruto's lower lip trembled slightly afterward.
Ciri immediately looked away before she started crying in front of children.
Iruka quietly covered his mouth with one hand.
Because dear god.
Naruto launched forward suddenly wrapping both arms around Drake tightly.
And Drake held him back without hesitation.
Carefully.
Protectively.
Like he already belonged there.
The little boy buried his face against Drake's shoulder.
"…Okay."
Tiny voice.
Tiny word.
But Drake felt it settle deep inside him like a promise.
And in that moment—
The decision became absolute.
The walk back from the academy happened in near silence.
Not uncomfortable silence.
Emotional silence.
Naruto walked between Drake and Ciri clutching Drake's sleeve tightly like he feared letting go might somehow undo everything.
Every few minutes Naruto glanced upward at them.
Still uncertain.
Still checking.
Like part of him genuinely couldn't believe this was real.
Ciri noticed every single glance.
And honestly?
It nearly destroyed her emotionally.
Naruto suddenly spoke quietly.
"…You really mean it?"
Drake looked down immediately.
"Yes."
Naruto hesitated.
"…Even though I'm annoying?"
"You are objectively exhausting," Ciri replied.
Naruto gasped dramatically.
"I knew it."
"But we still love you," she continued softly.
Naruto stopped walking entirely.
The word hit him visibly.
Love.
Simple word.
But nobody had ever said it to him like that before.
No expectations attached.
No conditions.
No obligation.
Just truth.
Naruto's eyes watered instantly.
He looked away quickly trying to hide it.
Drake noticed anyway.
And something inside him broke a little more.
Three hours later—
The Hokage Tower descended into complete chaos.
"What do you mean they requested an emergency clan council?!"
Hiruzen rubbed both hands slowly over his exhausted face.
Across from him—
Drake stood calmly beside Ciri while Naruto sat nearby eating ramen completely unaware of the political catastrophe unfolding around him.
"He drew us a picture," Drake explained.
Hiruzen blinked once.
"…A picture."
"Yes."
"And this resulted in an emergency council meeting?"
Drake looked genuinely confused.
"Well obviously."
Ciri nodded seriously beside him.
"The child emotionally adopted us."
Naruto raised one hand.
"I don't know what's happening anymore."
Hiruzen stared at all three of them in disbelief.
Then slowly—
"…You're serious."
Drake's eyes sharpened slightly.
"I have never been more serious about anything."
Silence.
The old Hokage leaned back heavily in his chair afterward.
Because somehow—
Somehow—
Naruto Uzumaki had accidentally acquired two absurdly overpowered dimensional travelers as parents.
And honestly?
Things could probably be worse.
Naruto finally blinked upward from his ramen.
"…Wait."
Slow realization spread across his face.
Then—
"…WAIT."
Ciri immediately burst out laughing.
Drake looked mildly alarmed.
Naruto shot to his feet so quickly his chair nearly exploded backward.
"YOU WANNA ADOPT ME?!"
The sheer disbelief in his voice nearly broke Hiruzen emotionally.
Like the concept itself felt impossible to him.
Drake looked up calmly.
"Yes."
Naruto stared at him.
Then at Ciri.
Then back at Drake.
"…Like for real?"
Ciri stood and walked over before crouching in front of him.
"For real."
Naruto's eyes widened slowly.
The ramen cup slipped from his hands onto the floor unnoticed.
"…You'd actually want me?"
The room went dead silent.
Because there it was again.
That awful uncertainty.
That deep-rooted belief that nobody could truly choose him willingly.
Drake stood instantly.
And the pressure in the room shifted dangerously.
Not rage.
Something worse.
Protectiveness so intense it bent reality around itself.
Drake stepped directly in front of Naruto.
"Naruto."
The little boy looked up immediately.
"You are not difficult to love."
The words hit Naruto hard enough his breathing stopped briefly.
Drake continued quietly.
"You are loud."
Naruto sniffed weakly.
"Yeah…"
"You destroy property."
"…Sometimes."
"You make catastrophic decisions constantly."
Naruto looked slightly offended.
"I make CREATIVE decisions."
Ciri snorted loudly.
Drake ignored her completely.
Then softer—
"And we still choose you."
Naruto broke.
Completely.
Tears spilled instantly down his face before he slammed directly into Drake again hugging him desperately.
Like he was terrified this might disappear if he let go.
Drake held him tightly.
One hand against the back of Naruto's head.
Ciri wrapped both arms around them seconds later.
And for the first time in Naruto Uzumaki's life—
He felt wanted.
Completely.
Absolutely.
No conditions attached.
Hiruzen quietly turned his chair slightly afterward pretending not to be emotional.
Word spread through Konoha terrifyingly fast.
By sunset—
Most major clans already knew.
The jinchūriki was being adopted.
And not by civilians.
Not by shinobi.
But by the terrifying outsiders who had somehow made Danzo back down.
Reactions varied wildly.
Confusion.
Suspicion.
Fear.
But underneath all of it—
Curiosity.
Because Naruto Uzumaki had never belonged to anyone before.
Now suddenly—
Someone was claiming him completely.
The clan council meeting that evening nearly became a war zone.
Clan heads filled the chamber beneath low lighting and tense silence.
Hiashi Hyuga.
Shibi Aburame.
Choza Akimichi.
Inoichi Yamanaka.
Fugaku Uchiha.
Homura.
Koharu.
Even Danzo lurking near the shadows.
Naruto sat beside Ciri nervously clutching her sleeve while Drake stood calmly before the council platform.
Hiruzen already looked exhausted beyond mortal comprehension.
"We are gathered," the Hokage began carefully, "to discuss the formal adoption request regarding Naruto Uzumaki."
Instant uproar.
"He is the jinchūriki—"
"Unknown outsiders cannot simply—"
"This is reckless—"
"Dangerous—"
"What happens if they leave the village—"
Naruto visibly shrank slightly beside Ciri.
Drake noticed immediately.
And the room temperature dropped.
Not physically.
Existentially.
The council slowly quieted as pressure spread through the chamber.
Ancient.
Heavy.
Wrong.
Drake spoke calmly.
"You will speak about Naruto respectfully."
The sheer force behind the sentence shook the room silent instantly.
Danzo narrowed his eye.
"The Nine-Tails is a military asset."
Drake turned slowly toward him.
And suddenly—
Everyone understood why Itachi reacted the way he had earlier.
Because for one terrifying moment—
Drake stopped pretending to feel human.
Power unfolded behind his eyes like endless collapsing stars.
The walls cracked.
Reality screamed softly at the edges.
Several jonin immediately reached for weapons instinctively.
Fugaku's Sharingan activated instantly.
Hiashi stiffened.
Even Hiruzen's breathing slowed slightly.
Naruto looked upward nervously.
Not scared of Drake.
Scared for everyone else.
Drake's voice came quiet.
Deadly calm.
"Say that again."
Danzo held his ground.
Barely.
"He belongs to the village."
Wrong answer.
The floor beneath Drake shattered instantly.
Darkness spread briefly across the ceiling like fractures through reality itself.
Naruto grabbed Ciri's sleeve tightly.
Ciri gently rubbed Naruto's back reassuringly.
"It's okay."
Drake took one slow step forward.
And every person in the chamber felt instinctive terror slam through them simultaneously.
Predator.
God.
Monster.
Something ancient wearing human skin.
"You do not own him."
Another step.
"He is not a weapon."
Another crack split the chamber wall.
"He is not a sacrifice."
Danzo attempted to speak again.
Drake's eyes flashed.
Every torch in the room extinguished instantly.
Pure darkness swallowed the chamber for one horrifying second.
Then glowing silver eyes opened within the black.
Dozens.
Watching.
Ancient things shifting behind reality itself.
Several clan heads physically recoiled.
Even experienced shinobi felt primal fear crawl down their spines.
Naruto stared upward wide-eyed.
Not afraid.
Just awed.
Drake's voice echoed unnaturally through the darkness.
"You will never decide Naruto's worth again."
The pressure intensified brutally.
And suddenly—
Everyone understood something very important.
Drake wasn't asking permission.
The lights reignited moments later.
The room returned to normal.
Mostly.
Except half the council looked traumatized now.
Drake stood calmly once more like nothing happened.
Then quietly—
"Naruto is our son."
Absolute certainty.
No hesitation.
"No law. No elder. No council will change that."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then—
Unexpectedly—
Fugaku Uchiha spoke.
"…The boy appears happy."
Everyone turned slightly.
Fugaku remained calm.
Measured.
"But for the first time since the Nine-Tails attack…"
His gaze shifted briefly toward Naruto.
"…he also appears safe."
Naruto blinked in surprise.
Hiashi frowned slightly afterward.
"The village may react poorly."
Drake looked entirely unimpressed.
"The village can adapt."
Homura leaned forward slightly.
"You would threaten Konoha over this child?"
Drake looked at him flatly.
"I would unmake nations for him."
Silence again.
No one doubted him.
Not for even a second.
And somehow—
That terrified them more than his power.
Because his love for Naruto felt absolute.
Final.
Irrevocable.
Hiruzen finally sighed deeply.
Then softly—
"The adoption request is approved."
Naruto froze completely.
"…What?"
Ciri immediately smiled.
Drake turned toward him.
And for the first time—
Naruto saw it clearly.
Not temporary.
Not conditional.
Real.
Permanent.
Family.
Naruto's eyes filled instantly.
"…Really?"
Drake walked over slowly afterward.
Then knelt in front of him again.
"Yes, son."
The word shattered Naruto emotionally.
The little boy cried openly before throwing himself at Drake and Ciri both simultaneously.
And neither of them let go.
Across the chamber—
Several clan heads watched silently.
And for the first time—
Naruto Uzumaki no longer looked alone.