Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It had been two years since the defeat of Kaguya, two years since the world had been saved from the brink of destruction. Villages were rebuilding, old wounds were healing, and for the first time in what felt like forever, peace was a reality rather than a distant dream.

But for Naruto Uzumaki, the most unbelievable thing to happen in that time wasn’t the peace itself—it was the fact that his father, Minato Namikaze, was alive.

It had been a moment of raw emotion, an accident born from the depths of his heart. When the Edo Tensei was dispelled, Naruto had clung to his father, unable to accept the final goodbye. He had poured all his longing, all his chakra, into that embrace. He hadn’t even realized what he had done until he pulled back and saw Minato’s arms—arms that had been lost in the battle—fully restored. And when he looked into his father’s eyes, the eerie black sclera of the reanimation jutsu was gone. Minato stood before him, breathing, warm, alive.

The implications had been staggering. Tsunade and the other medical specialists had examined him thoroughly, but no one could deny it: Minato had been fully revived, a miracle created by his son’s sheer will.

Naruto barely understood what had happened, but later, as he recalled how he’d restored Kakashi’s eye, he realized: he had somehow done the same for his dad, just subconsciously.

What followed was a whirlwind of deliberation among the Kage and the village council. After much debate, it was decided—Minato Namikaze would reclaim his title as Hokage.

Two years had passed since that fateful day, and now Naruto lounged in the Hokage’s office, leaning back in a chair with his feet propped up on Minato’s desk.

“Do you know what I saw on my way here?” Naruto groaned. “Ino and Sai. On a date.” He exaggerated a sigh, throwing his arms behind his head. “I swear, lately, everyone’s pairing off. First Shikamaru and Temari, now these two. It’s like some kind of plague.”

Minato chuckled as he scribbled on a stack of paperwork. “That bothers you?”

Naruto scoffed. “I dunno. I guess it just makes me feel like I’m being left behind. Like… how come everyone else seems to figure this stuff out so easily?”

Minato leaned back in his chair, considering. “I don’t think it’s about ease. Everyone moves at their own pace. Besides, if it really bothers you, you have plenty of admirers. Finding a date shouldn’t be too hard.”

Naruto huffed. “Yeah, but dating someone just for the sake of it feels kinda weird, you know? Like, I don’t wanna go out with random strangers just ‘cause I feel lonely.”

Minato nodded in understanding. “That’s fair. Love isn’t something to rush anyway. You have plenty of time to find the right person, you know.”

Naruto frowned. “Yeah, but what if I don’t? What if I end up single at thirty, like Kakashi-sensei?”

Minato paused mid-signature, glancing up with an amused smile. “Kakashi, huh?”

“I mean, think about it!” Naruto waved his hands in frustration. “Have you ever seen him interested in anyone? Ever? All these years, and it’s like romance is some alien concept to him!”

Minato chuckled softly, setting his pen down. “Well, I know one person he was interested in.”

Naruto sat up straight, eyes wide. “Wait—what? No way! Who?”

Minato leaned back in his chair, a teasing glint in his eyes. “You’re looking at him.”

Naruto’s jaw dropped. “WHAT?!” He stared at his father, his mind refusing to process what he had just heard. “Kakashi… had a crush on you?” he repeated, dumbfounded.

Minato chuckled, leaning back in his chair with an amused glint in his eyes. “Oh, he was very obvious about it. And cute, too.”

Naruto squinted in disbelief. “No way. Kakashi? The same guy who always acts like nothing fazes him? No emotions, cool as a cucumber, that Kakashi? You’re telling me he had a cute crush?”

Minato leaned forward with a smile, resting his chin on his palm. “Yup. It was extremely endearing, it’s like he didn’t know what to do with himself.”

Naruto narrowed his eyes. “Alright, assuming it’s true, how did you know? What did he even do to make you think he had a crush?”

Minato’s smile turned knowing. “Honestly, I could tell just by the way he looked at me.”

Naruto sighed, dissatisfied. “That’s it?”

Minato chuckled. “Obviously not. But you’d be surprised how much someone’s eyes can give away. He had this way of watching me—like he was trying not to, but just couldn’t help himself. I’d catch him staring when he thought I wasn’t paying attention.”

Naruto tried to imagine it—Kakashi, young and wide-eyed, sneaking glances at his dad, only to quickly look away whenever Minato turned his head. The thought was already ridiculous, but Minato wasn’t done.

“And then there were the little things,” he continued. “Like how he always tried to touch me in ways that wouldn’t seem obvious.”

Naruto nearly choked on air. “What?”

Minato laughed at his reaction. “Nothing inappropriate,” he assured him. “Just small things—like brushing our shoulders when we walked, standing just close enough that our hands would almost touch, little nudges here and there.” His expression grew even fonder. “And he always wanted to sleep on the futon next to mine. He would pout if someone beat him to it.”

Naruto’s mind supplied an image of young Kakashi, acting all stoic while secretly trying to stay close to his dad. His lips twitched.

Minato continued, “And then there was the blushing.”

Naruto’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Blushing?”

Minato nodded with amusement. “Just a simple praise and a pat on the head would turn him red. He always tried to hide it, of course—lowering his head, looking away—but I noticed.”

Naruto could barely breathe at this point. He was actually hearing this. Kakashi—his Kakashi-sensei—had been an awkward, lovesick little teenager with a crush on his dad.

That was both adorable and hilarious.

“Oh my god,” Naruto breathed, covering his mouth in disbelief. “That’s—so cute.” He groaned, dragging his hands down his face.

Minato chuckled. “It was very cute.”

Naruto leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “So… did you ever confront him about it?”

Minato shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. “No. Even though it was obvious to me, I didn’t want to bring it up first and embarrass him.”

Naruto frowned. “Why not? Wouldn’t it have been better to clear the air?”

Minato leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers together. “Maybe. But Kakashi took things very seriously—his responsibilities, his relationships, his emotions. I think he took his feelings for me seriously too.” He sighed softly. “He probably knew nothing could happen between us, so if keeping it to himself was the way he chose to deal with it, then I wanted to respect that. I wanted him to have that control.”

Naruto was quiet for a moment, mulling over his father’s words. He could totally imagine it, how Kakashi might have struggled with something personal but chose to keep it locked away, handling it on his own like he always did.

“…You’re really a good person, Dad.” Naruto finally muttered, rubbing the back of his head. “You’re just… good at dealing with all kinds of stuff.”

Minato smiled, tilting his head slightly. “You think so?”

“Yeah,” Naruto huffed. “If it were me, I’d probably mess up and make things weird and awkward.”

Minato chuckled. “You do have a habit of charging straight into things.”

“Exactly!” Naruto groaned, throwing his hands in the air. “I’d probably be like, ‘Oi, Kakashi, why are you looking at me like that?’ or something stupid. And then he’d get all weird, and I’d get all weird, and it’d just be a disaster.”

Minato laughed at the image. “Well, it’s a good thing I was the one dealing with it then, isn’t it?”

Naruto sighed dramatically, slumping back into his chair. “No kidding.” But then, a slow, mischievous grin spread across his face. “Still… I am gonna mess with him a little.”

Minato shook his head in amusement. “It was a long time ago but... Be gentle.”

The thought of teasing Kakashi lingered in the back of Naruto’s mind, but he wasn’t in a rush. He figured he’d save it for the next time they were on a mission or something—drop the bomb at just the right moment to really get a reaction.

For now, he just wandered through the village, enjoying the late evening air. The streets of Konoha were still lively, lanterns casting a warm glow over the cobblestone paths. People laughed, talked, and moved between bars and food stalls, winding down after a long day.

That was when he spotted them—Kakashi and Yamato sitting at an outdoor table, plates of half-eaten food in front of them and a few bottles of sake between them. Kakashi was slouched back in his chair, as relaxed as ever, while Yamato… well, Yamato looked wrecked. His face was flushed, his eyes unfocused, and he was gripping the edge of the table like it was the only thing keeping him from falling over.

Naruto strolled over, grinning. “Yo, Kakashi-sensei, Yamato-taichou! Having a good time?”

The moment Yamato saw him, his expression lit up with drunken relief. “Thank god you’re here, Naruto,” he slurred dramatically. He gestured at Kakashi, then back at himself with an exaggerated sway. “This bastard is trying to drink me under the table, and he refuses to let me leave.”

Naruto blinked in surprise. “Uh… what?”

Yamato didn’t give him a chance to react. He gripped Naruto by the shoulders and practically manhandled him into his seat.

“Please,” Yamato begged, voice desperate as he patted Naruto’s arm in thanks. “You need to take my place. If I stay any longer, my liver will crawl out my mouth.”

Then, before Naruto could even process what was happening, Yamato stumbled to his feet, mumbled a hurried, “Good luck,” and wobbled off into the night.

Naruto stared after him, then turned back to Kakashi. “The hell just happened?”

Kakashi, unimpressed, merely eyed him with a slow, assessing look before grabbing the sake bottle. “Alright, you’ll do. Gimme your cup.”

Naruto glanced down at the table. There were only two cups—Kakashi’s and the one Yamato had been using. He raised an eyebrow. “Uh… I don’t have one.”

Kakashi hummed in thought. “Oh. My bad.” Then, without hesitation, he handed Naruto his own cup and took Yamato’s for himself.

Naruto snorted. “What kind of logic—” He shook his head, giving up. Honestly, he didn’t even care. With an amused smile, he let Kakashi pour them both some sake.

“Well,” Naruto muttered as he raised his newly acquired drink. “Guess I’m drinking with you now.”

Kakashi clinked his cup against Naruto’s. “Guess you are.”

Right after they downed the first round Kakashi picked up the sake bottle again and topped Naruto up, then gestured for him to drink. “Go on.”

Naruto raised an eyebrow. “What, no toast?”

Kakashi smirked. “We can toast after you catch up.”

Naruto huffed a laugh but lifted his sake anyway. He wasn’t exactly a seasoned drinker, but he wasn’t about to back down. He knocked back the second drink in one go, feeling the warmth spread through his throat and settle in his stomach. It burned a little, but not in a bad way.

The moment his cup hit the table, Kakashi was already refilling it. “Good. Another.”

Naruto raised an eyebrow but smirked. “I should warn you—I don’t have a lot of experience with alcohol. If you keep this up you might really drink me under the table tonight.”

Kakashi hummed. “Then you better pace yourself.”

Naruto snorted. “Great advice after you just poured me three in a row.”

But he wasn’t one to back down from a challenge. He picked up his cup and downed the third round. It went down smoother this time, and he could already feel a light buzz settling in his head.

“Damn,” Naruto muttered, shaking his head. “That hits kinda fast.”

Kakashi chuckled, taking a slow sip.

After a beat, Naruto leaned forward on the table, resting his elbow against it. “So, why wouldn’t you let Yamato-taichou go home? Pretty sure he was two drinks away from passing out.”

Kakashi let out a dramatic sigh. “Drinking alone in public is way too depressing.” He swirled the sake in his cup before taking another sip. “And besides, Yamato’s a lightweight. He needs more training.”

Naruto laughed. “That’s how you see it? Training?”

Kakashi nodded solemnly. “Of course. He failed today. Left his post. And to make matters worse, he picked a replacement who’s barely legal and also a lightweight.”

Naruto grinned, shaking his head. “That’s fair.” He leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms. “Saying I’m barely legal is a bit harsh though, it’s been over a year since my eighteenth birthday. But I guess it’s true I haven’t gone out drinking too much.”

Kakashi hummed in response, studying him for a moment before pouring them both another drink. “Then tonight’s a good night to start.”

Naruto eyed him with amusement. “You trying to get me drunk, Sensei?”

Kakashi’s eyes curved into a lazy smile. “My cute little student? No way.”

As they continued drinking, Naruto started to notice how the alcohol had affected Kakashi.

There was a faint, warm blush on his cheeks, a rare sight that made Naruto stare for a moment longer than he meant to. Kakashi looked relaxed—his usual cool and detached demeanor replaced with something much softer. His hand gestures were a little sluggish now, his fingers lingering when he reached for the sake bottle, his movements just a tad slower than usual.

Naruto smirked. “Heh, you’re looking pretty cozy right now, Sensei.”

Kakashi lifted his cup lazily, his eyes crinkling in amusement. “That so?”

“Yup,” Naruto confirmed, taking another sip. “So, if Yamato’s a lightweight in your opinion, then who do you usually drink with?”

Kakashi set his cup down with a soft clink and shrugged. “Whoever’s willing.”

Naruto huffed a laugh. “So just anyone, huh?”

“Well… lately, it’s been Minato-sensei quite often,” Kakashi admitted casually, swirling the sake in his cup. “I asked him today too, but he said he had some work to finish up.”

Naruto snorted. “Figures. Dad’s always buried in paperwork these days.”

Kakashi sighed dramatically. “A tragic loss.” Then, after a beat, he added, “He’s not exactly a drinking expert either, but…”

Naruto glanced up, watching Kakashi closely as he hesitated before finishing his sentence.

“He’s a pretty cute drunk,” Kakashi admitted, his voice light with amusement. “So, he scores a few points for that.”

Naruto blinked. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face.

“Oh man,” Naruto said, barely holding back laughter. “I was gonna wait but you really just walked right into this one.”

Kakashi blinked, tilting his head slightly. “Walked into what?”

Naruto leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand with an obnoxiously smug look. “So, uh… I may have had an interesting conversation with my dad earlier.”

Kakashi gave him a wary look, his fingers tightening slightly around his drink. “…Oh?”

“Yeah.” Naruto’s grin widened. “Turns out he knows something very interesting about you.”

Kakashi stared at him, silent for a moment, then sighed, setting his cup down. “Do I even want to ask?”

Naruto let out a chuckle, shaking his head. “Nope, but I’m gonna tell you anyway.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “So apparently, a cute kid named Kakashi had a massive crush on my dad.”

Kakashi went completely still.

Naruto could see the exact moment it registered because the already faint blush on his cheeks deepened just slightly. But to his credit, Kakashi didn’t react much beyond that. Instead, he simply reached for the sake bottle and poured himself another drink.

“…Is that so?” he said, tone as casual as ever.

Naruto snorted. “Oh, come on. You’re not even gonna deny it?”

Kakashi took a slow sip. “Would you believe me if I did?”

Naruto grinned. “Not a chance.”

Kakashi sighed. “Then there’s no point, is there?”

Naruto stretched his arms behind his head, rocking back slightly. “So, you really thought my dad was hot stuff, huh?”

Kakashi gave him an unimpressed look. “Don’t act like that’s some kind of shocking revelation. Your father is an objectively attractive man.”

Naruto grimaced. “Ugh. Don’t say it like that.”

Kakashi hummed, taking another sip. “You started this.”

Naruto shook his head, still grinning. “Man, I knew teasing you about this would be good, but I didn’t think you’d make it this easy.” He rested his cheek in his palm, watching Kakashi with amusement. “So. How bad was it? Were you writing ‘Namikaze Kakashi’ in your notebooks? Doodling little hearts when you thought no one was looking?”

Kakashi exhaled slowly, giving him a tired look. “Naruto… this is weird.”

Naruto tilted his head, the grin not leaving his face. “Why?”

Kakashi gestured vaguely in the air. “Because Minato is your dad. And I had a crush on him. Talking to you about it feels…” He paused, searching for the right word. “Strange.”

Naruto huffed. “So what? It’s not like I’m gonna be weird about it. I just wanna know!” He leaned forward, placing his hands on the table. “You never talk about your past. And I think it’s criminal that I know so little about a person I’ve known for so damn long already.”

Kakashi hesitated. He looked away, as if debating whether he really wanted to go down this road. But when he glanced back at Naruto—who was staring at him with an unrelenting, almost pleading expression—he sighed in defeat.

“…Alright,” he muttered. “But if you tell anyone about this—”

Naruto beamed. “Yeah, yeah, I promise. Now spill.”

Kakashi rested his elbow on the armrest, fingers against his temple, as he started. “Part of it was just a typical teenage crush. Minato was… well, he was cool. He was strong, handsome.” Kakashi’s lips twitched slightly, almost like he was amused by his own words. “But more than that, he was an insanely skilled shinobi.”

Naruto nodded his head, listening intently.

“When I was a kid, no one my age was a match for me,” Kakashi continued. “I never found anyone worth my time.” His voice was calm, matter-of-fact, not arrogant—just honest. “And then there was Minato. My sensei. He was on another level entirely. For the first time, I met someone stronger than me. Someone I truly respected. I wanted to learn from him, to be like him.”

He paused, staring at the cup in his hands as if seeing something else entirely. Then, more quietly, he added, “But it was so much more than that.”

Naruto remained silent, watching him carefully.

“I was so full of myself back then,” Kakashi admitted, his voice carrying a trace of self-deprecation. “I had an attitude, and people didn’t like me for it. It wasn’t hard to notice. I didn’t care much—until Minato.”

He exhaled slowly. “He was different. He didn’t treat me like an arrogant brat, didn’t look at me the way others did. He understood me. Even when I pushed people away, he was always patient.” Kakashi’s fingers idly traced the rim of his cup. “That only made me respect him more.”

A faint, almost nostalgic smile played on his lips. “To me, he was everything.”

Naruto swallowed. The way Kakashi said it—softly, with a kind of quiet sincerity—made something tighten in his chest.

He looked at Kakashi, at the blush dusting his cheeks, at the relaxed expression on his face, softened by alcohol and memory. There was something almost tender about the way he spoke about Minato, something deeply personal that Naruto had never seen in him before.

And he wondered—what was it like?

What was it like to like someone that much? To admire them, respect them. To want them so deeply. To have them take up space in your head, in your heart, the way Minato clearly had for Kakashi. 

Naruto wasn’t sure if he had ever experienced something that deep before. Sure, he had crushes, fleeting infatuations, but this? This felt like something else entirely. Something bigger. Something real.

He swallowed and found himself asking before he could think twice, “Did you ever feel that way about anyone else?”

Kakashi blinked, as if the question caught him off guard. He tilted his head slightly, considering. The silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant chatter of other restaurant-goers and the occasional clink of cups from nearby tables.

Then, finally, Kakashi exhaled and said, simply, “No.”

Naruto’s breath caught.

His chest squeezed in a way he didn’t quite understand.

So that was it?

Minato was it for Kakashi? The only person he had ever felt that strongly for? No one else, not in all these years?

Naruto didn’t know why that thought unsettled him so much. He didn’t know why he suddenly felt the weight of Kakashi’s words wash over him, heavy and quiet, pressing against something deep in his ribs.

He stared down at his sake cup, his fingers tightening around it slightly. “Huh,” he said, trying to sound casual. “That’s kinda… intense.”

Kakashi hummed, swirling the liquid in his own cup. “I suppose.”

Naruto bit the inside of his cheek, unsure why he suddenly felt restless. He didn’t know what he had been expecting. Maybe some kind of reassurance that it wasn’t that deep, that Kakashi had moved on, that someone else had eventually caught his interest.

But no.

For Kakashi, there was only one person.

His dad.

The rest of the evening passed in a pleasant haze—drinking, chatting, laughing. Naruto wasn’t sure when exactly they stopped, or when he and Kakashi parted ways, but he figured it must have been late.

Because when he woke up the next morning, he felt like death.

His head was pounding, his mouth was dry, and moving even the slightest bit made his stomach twist unpleasantly.

"Ugh…" Naruto groaned, pressing his face into his pillow. "Never again."

Except, he knew he was lying to himself.

Dragging himself out of bed, he somehow managed to make it to the kitchen and tried to eat something, but the moment he took a bite, his stomach protested violently. He grimaced, immediately setting his food aside. "Okay, bad idea." 

Defeated, he settled for chugging some water and throwing on his jacket before heading out to the Hokage’s office.

Maybe his dad had some kind of shinobi-grade hangover cure.

When he arrived, the office doors were slightly ajar. He heard voices inside—his dad’s and another familiar one.

Naruto pushed the doors open, stepping inside.

Kakashi was perched casually on Minato’s desk, one leg bent up against the wood, the other dangling. They were talking, voices casual, but… there was something about the way they were interacting.

Something so familiar.

They were close, the space between them practically nonexistent, their body language relaxed in a way that spoke of long-standing comfort.

For some reason, Naruto’s stomach twisted—not from the hangover, but from something else entirely.

He shook the feeling off and furrowed his brows. “Oi. What are you guys doing?”

Minato looked over first. “Oh, morning, Naruto. We were just having a little chat.”

Naruto squinted suspiciously between them.

Kakashi turned to him, then blinked. His eyes raked over Naruto’s face before he sighed, unimpressed. “You look like death.”

Naruto scowled. “You did this to me.”

Deciding he had no interest in dealing with a hungover Naruto, Kakashi turned back to Minato and said, "I’ll come pick you up later."

Then, just like that, he hopped off the desk and strolled past the younger man, leaving the room.

Naruto froze.

Pick him up later?

He turned to Minato, mind already spiraling.

His dad gave him a once-over, his lips twitching in amusement. "You’re looking a little green," he noted. "I heard you were out drinking with Kakashi last night. You feeling alright?"

Naruto groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Yeah, I just overdid it a little. Feeling kinda nauseous."

Minato chuckled. "That happens. You should take it easy today."

But Naruto wasn’t paying attention anymore. His brain was still stuck on what Kakashi had said before leaving.

"Why is he picking you up later?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

Minato blinked, then smiled. "Oh, we’re going for lunch."

Naruto stopped.

His entire body locked up for a second, and then—

What.

His mind immediately launched into an internal breakdown.

Lunch?

Like—a date lunch?

No. That was ridiculous. There was no way.

But then again… Naruto didn’t know.

Minato raised an eyebrow at his silence. "Naruto?"

Naruto swallowed. "Uh…" He hesitated, then, in what he thought was a totally smooth and natural way, asked, "Just a good old regular lunch, right?"

Minato tilted his head slightly, looking so genuinely confused that Naruto almost wanted to dig himself a hole and live in it forever.

"Are there other types of lunch?" Minato asked, amusement creeping into his voice.

Naruto coughed. "Guess not," he muttered.

Minato gave him a knowing look but didn’t press. Instead, he smiled and said, "Seriously, you should take the day off. Get some rest. You really look like you need it."

Naruto huffed, rubbing his face. "Yeah… maybe you’re right."

But even as he left the office, he couldn’t shake the weird feeling in his chest.

Naruto took his dad’s advice and went back home to nurse his hangover. The moment he flopped onto his bed, exhaustion hit him like a ton of bricks. His limbs felt heavy, his head still ached, and now that he wasn’t forcing himself to move around, sleep crept up on him fast.

He barely had time to pull the blankets over himself before he passed out.

In his dream, he was walking through the village. It was a warm, peaceful afternoon, the streets bustling with life, familiar voices calling out as shopkeepers sold their goods.

Naruto strolled without any real destination—until something caught his eye.

At an outdoor restaurant, sitting across from each other at a quiet table, were Minato and Kakashi.

Naruto slowed to a stop.

They were laughing—his dad’s warm, easy chuckle mixing with Kakashi’s quieter, amused hum.

Then—Naruto’s breath caught. He watched, rooted in place, as Kakashi’s gloved hand slid over Minato’s. Slowly, deliberately, he laced their fingers together.

Minato didn’t pull away.

They stayed like that, just holding hands, the conversation continuing as if nothing was out of the ordinary. But Naruto’s chest squeezed at the sight.

Then, their voices grew softer. Their gazes lingered.

They stayed like that, fingers threaded together, until suddenly, they started leaning in.

Slowly.

Closer.

And closer.

Their faces just inches apart—

And then—

Naruto jolted awake.

His breath was uneven, his chest rose and fell quickly, heart thudding harder than it had any right to. He stared at the ceiling, dazed, blinking rapidly as he tried to shake off the lingering emotions the dream had left behind.

Then, finally, he groaned and covered his face with his hands.

“What the hell was that?” he muttered to himself.

Why was his brain coming up with stuff like that?

Kakashi and his dad, holding hands? Kissing? What the actual fuck.

He groaned again, rolling onto his stomach. “I must be losing it.”

Two days later Naruto wandered aimlessly through the village, his thoughts tangled in knots he didn’t know how to untie.

Everything felt off. He wasn’t sure if it was just the remnants of that stupid dream messing with him, or if something had actually shifted between Kakashi and his dad.

Because every time he saw them together, something in his gut twisted uncomfortably.

Lost in his thoughts, he barely registered where he was going—until he stepped into a familiar clearing and froze. Speak of the devil.

There, lying side by side on the grass, were Minato and Kakashi.

Naruto’s heart jumped to his throat.

They looked so at ease, so relaxed, like they had done this a thousand times before. Minato was munching on some cookies, the kind he always liked—sweet, probably way too sugary. That part wasn’t odd at all, he always had a major sweet tooth.

What was odd—was what happened next.

Minato held out a cookie in front of Kakashi’s mouth.

Naruto expected Kakashi to wave it away, maybe shake his head. But instead, without hesitation, he lowered his mask and lifted his head slightly to take a bite.

Naruto’s eyes widened.

It was such a small, simple act—but it felt weirdly intimate.

Then, just as naturally, Minato popped the rest of the cookie into his own mouth, chewing contentedly before dusting the crumbs off his fingers.

Naruto was still too stunned to react when Kakashi suddenly paused, his chewing slowing to a stop. He made a face—subtle, but unmistakable.

Naruto knew for a fact that Kakashi didn’t like sweets.

But before he could spit it out, Minato’s fingers gently caught his jaw, holding it in place.

Naruto’s breath hitched as Minato started moving Kakashi’s jaw up and down, mimicking chewing, grinning like this was the funniest thing in the world.

"Come on, Kakashi, you can do it," Minato teased, clearly enjoying himself.

Kakashi just shook his head, exasperated, but let Minato do as he pleased, too amused to protest.

Naruto’s chest tightened.

It was too much.

The way they touched so easily. The way Minato’s fingers lingered on Kakashi’s face like it was nothing. The way Kakashi let him.

Naruto suddenly couldn’t take it.

Before he could even think about what he was doing, his body moved.

He stomped forward and dropped onto the grass right between them, forcing himself into the tiny space that did not exist there.

Minato made a surprised noise as Naruto wedged himself in, limbs sprawling, completely ruining whatever moment they were having.

Kakashi huffed. "Seriously?"

Naruto ignored him, staring up at the sky. "Nice day, huh?" he said, completely deadpan.

Minato blinked, then burst out laughing. "Naruto, what are you doing?"

"What?" Naruto grumbled and closed his eyes, refusing to look at either of them. "I can’t enjoy nature with you guys?"

Minato chuckled, his tone dripping with amusement. "You’re all grown up now, but you’re still cute as a button."

Naruto cracked one eye open and glared at him. "I’m not cute."

"Oh, you are." Minato grinned, ruffling Naruto’s hair like he was still a kid. "Did you just want to get some cuddles from us? Is that what this is?"

Naruto choked. "What—NO! What the hell, Dad?!"

Kakashi hummed thoughtfully. "It does seem like a classic Naruto move…"

"Right?!" Minato agreed, nodding sagely. "He loves throwing himself into people’s arms when wants attention."

"True." Kakashi mused. "I’ve been tackled into multiple hugs."

"And now he’s squeezing in between us—"

"Classic attention-seeking behavior."

"Adorable."

"Obnoxious."

Naruto groaned loudly, covering his face with both hands. "You guys are the worst," he muttered.

Minato just laughed, his voice warm and teasing. "It’s okay, son, you can admit you wanted some love. We won’t judge."

"I didn’t come here for cuddles!" Naruto insisted.

Kakashi made a noncommittal noise. "Mmm. Sure."

Naruto huffed, crossing his arms. "I just saw you guys lying here and figured I’d join. That’s all."

"Mmm-hmm." Minato’s voice was full of mirth. "Whatever you say, kiddo."

Naruto scowled at both of them.

Minato just smiled down at him, still ruffling his hair, and Kakashi looked smugly amused, his mask still pulled down slightly, revealing the small curve of a smirk.

Naruto buried his face into his arms.

At first, Naruto thought he was imagining things.

It had to be his brain messing with him, right? He had spent way too much time thinking about Kakashi’s dumb old crush, and now he was just seeing things that weren’t there. That was the logical explanation.

Except…

It kept happening.

Little things.

Like how Kakashi and Minato stood just a bit too close when they talked—closer than Naruto had ever noticed before.

Like how they seemed to communicate without even exchanging words—just a look, a tilt of the head, and they seemed to understand each other perfectly.

Like how Minato would casually rest a hand on Kakashi’s shoulder when he passed him by. Or how Kakashi, usually so aloof and distant, would lean in slightly whenever Minato spoke, like he was naturally drawn to him.

Was this new?

Or had they always been like this?

Had Naruto just never noticed?

It was messing with his head.

Because before, he never saw a reason to think about it. Why would he? His dad was just his dad. Kakashi was just his teammate, his former sensei. Nothing about them had ever seemed unusual. But now that Naruto knew—now that he had that knowledge in the back of his head—suddenly, everything looked suspicious.

And he really didn’t like it.

He didn’t know why, but the sight of them being so—so comfortable with each other, so in sync, made something in his chest twist.

The thing was, he couldn’t even tell if anything was actually happening.

Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was just how they always were.

But now, Naruto wasn’t sure if he could unsee it.

Naruto wasn’t proud of what he was doing.

He knew he was acting like a total stalker, creeping behind trees, masking his chakra just enough to avoid detection. But could anyone blame him?

It had started with another suspicious moment—Naruto overheard that his dad and Kakashi were going to train together.

Train.

Just the two of them. 

So, naturally, instead of minding his own business like a normal person, he followed them.

He told himself he just wanted to see. Maybe if he watched them, he’d realize he was being ridiculous, that he was making something out of nothing.

But as he trailed behind, watching them walk side by side, Naruto couldn’t help but notice how comfortable they were together.

Kakashi wasn’t stiff or distant. He wasn’t even acting like his usual lazy, unimpressed self. Instead, he was engaged, actually listening, occasionally making small comments that made Minato laugh.

And Minato—Minato just looked happy. Like he genuinely enjoyed Kakashi’s company.

And then the spar started.

Naruto’s jaw dropped.

He knew both of them were strong. That wasn’t the shocking part. But seeing them fight—seeing them move together, anticipating each other’s attacks, adapting mid-strike—was something else.

They were fast.

Ridiculously fast.

Kakashi matched Minato’s every move with precision, predicting attacks and countering them in the blink of an eye. But Minato was still Minato—his speed and reflexes just a step ahead, pushing Kakashi to his absolute limit. It was like watching a perfect rhythm, a dance of pure skill and experience.

Then, in a blur of movement, Minato won.

He twisted Kakashi’s wrist, forcing him to drop his kunai, and knocked him off balance. In a blink, Kakashi was on the ground, his back hitting the dirt with a muted thud.

Minato followed through, straddling Kakashi’s hips, a kunai pressed lightly against his throat.

Naruto tensed.

He expected them to part immediately—to put some distance between them and shake off the compromising position they ended up in.

But they didn’t.

They stayed just like that.

Minato, still perched on top of Kakashi, smirking slightly, breathing a little heavier from exertion.

Kakashi, lying beneath him, not even looking fazed.

They weren’t moving.

Instead, they were talking—like this was normal.

Like Minato wasn’t literally sitting on top of Kakashi right now.

Naruto felt his stomach twist.

He had no idea what they were saying—he was too far away to hear—but the way Kakashi looked up at Minato, the way Minato’s smirk softened slightly into something fond—

What the hell was going on?

Naruto clenched his fists, feeling a wave of frustration and—something else—rise in his chest.

He hated this.

He didn’t know why, but he hated it.

Naruto left before he could see how the moment ended.

Not because he didn’t want to know, but because something in his chest felt too tight, like if he stayed and watched any longer, it would be too much.

As he walked back to the village, his thoughts were a mess.

He knew he was being ridiculous. Knew he was reading too much into things.

But he couldn’t shake the feeling.

The feeling that he was… losing Kakashi.

Which was stupid.

Because Kakashi wasn’t his to lose.

But the thought wouldn’t leave him alone.

For years, Kakashi had always been there—his sensei, his comrade, the person who had watched over him and guided him when he needed it. Even after the war, after everything changed, Kakashi remained a steady presence in his life.

And now, for the first time, Naruto felt like something was shifting.

Like Kakashi was slipping away—gravitating toward Minato instead.

And Naruto didn’t like it.

He didn’t want to feel this way—jealous? Possessive? What even was this?—but no matter how much he told himself he was overthinking things, the feeling stayed.

And it left him with one single, undeniable urge:

He needed to be with Kakashi.

So, the very next day, Naruto went looking for him.

He didn’t know why exactly. He didn’t have a plan. He just knew that if he didn’t do something, if he didn’t remind himself that Kakashi was still his person—his friend, his former teacher, the man who had been by his side for so long—then this feeling inside him was going to drive him crazy.

After asking around, he finally tracked him down at a small tea house tucked away in one of the quieter parts of the village. Naruto spotted him through the window—seated alone at a corner table, casually reading a book with a cup of tea in front of him.

Naruto hesitated for only a second before stepping inside.

The little bell above the door jingled as he entered, and Kakashi glanced up.

His eyes blinked in mild surprise before settling into its usual lazy half-lidded state. "Naruto," he greeted, setting his cup down. "What brings you here?"

Naruto didn’t even hesitate—he walked right up and slid into the seat across from him. "Just saw you sitting here and thought I’d join you," he said casually. Then, with a grin, he added, "I see you don’t mind drinking tea alone. Unlike alcohol."

Kakashi’s lips twitched, amusement flickering in his eye. "Mm. Tea and alcohol are different," he said simply, taking another sip. "Drinking tea alone is peaceful. Drinking sake alone is... well.”

Naruto huffed a quiet laugh. "Yeah, I get it." He settled in, feeling oddly comfortable now that he was actually here with Kakashi. It was normal, just like always. Just the two of them talking, the way they had countless times before.

A small part of him relaxed.

Then, after a moment, Naruto glanced at Kakashi’s cup and said, "You actually drink tea? Like, for fun?"

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "I don’t see what’s so surprising about that."

Naruto scratched the back of his head. "I dunno… you just seem more like a coffee person."

"Coffee is fine," Kakashi said. "But tea is better."

Naruto made a face. "Never really got into it."

Kakashi smirked. "Of course you didn’t."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Alright, tea expert, if I were to try something, what should I get?"

Kakashi hummed, tapping his fingers against his cup. "Something light, probably. You don’t seem like the type to enjoy anything too bitter."

Naruto crossed his arms. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means you don’t have refined taste," Kakashi said easily.

Naruto gasped, scandalized. "I do too!"

Kakashi chuckled. "I’ll order something for you."

Naruto let him, watching as Kakashi called over the server and requested a specific tea—one Naruto had never even heard of.

When the tea arrived, Naruto eyed it skeptically. "This is your grand recommendation?"

"Just try it," Kakashi said, amused.

Naruto sighed, took the cup, and lifted it to his lips.

And—

…Okay, it wasn’t bad.

Actually, it was kinda nice—it was warm and slightly sweet with a hint of something floral. He liked it.

He swished the liquid in his mouth, pretending to think. "Hmm… not terrible."

Kakashi smirked. "That’s high praise."

As he set his cup down, he glanced at Kakashi. “Hey, you wanna go spar after this?”

Kakashi tilted his head slightly. “Maybe another time,” he said, his voice as calm as ever. “I already have plans.”

Naruto frowned. “Plans?”

“Mm.” Kakashi took another sip of his tea, then casually added, “Having lunch with Minato-sensei.”

Naruto froze.

His brain went into overdrive.

Was this… a thing now? Were they just casually meeting up for lunch all the time? Was this some kind of routine that Naruto had never noticed before?

His stomach twisted before he could stop it.

“Again?” he blurted out.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “People usually eat every day, Naruto.”

Something in Naruto itched. The thought of them spending all this time together, just the two of them, made him feel off.

Before he even had a chance to think it through, the words tumbled out of his mouth.

“…Can I join?”

Kakashi looked up from his tea, clearly surprised.

“You want to have lunch with your dad and me?”

Naruto held his breath for a second. He didn’t know what he expected Kakashi to say, but the mild curiosity in his tone made him feel ridiculous.

But backing out now would be even more ridiculous, so he just forced a grin and shrugged. “Yeah. Why not?”

Kakashi studied him for a long moment.

Then, after a pause, he exhaled through his nose in amusement. “Alright. But we’re not having ramen, just for your information.”

Naruto didn’t even hear that last part. After he heard Kakashi agree he let out a breath he didn’t even realize he was holding.

Kakashi went back to his tea like nothing was weird.

Meanwhile, Naruto’s heart was still racing, and he really didn’t want to think about why.

Lunch was fine.

At least, Naruto kept telling himself that as he sat at the table, watching his dad and Kakashi like a hawk.

He was hyperaware of everything—the way they spoke, the space between them, any possible secret glances or subtle touches that might confirm the weird feeling that had been eating at him.

But… there was nothing.

Just easy conversation, friendly exchanges. Minato laughed a few times, Kakashi’s eyes crinkled in response, but it was normal. Nothing suspicious.

Naruto should’ve been relieved.

But for some reason, he wasn’t.

Then Minato turned to Kakashi. “Oh, by the way,” he said, “can you come by my office tomorrow at noon? I need your help with something.”

Kakashi hummed, taking a sip of his tea. “Noon, huh? Sorry, Sensei. I already have plans. Can you ask someone else?”

Naruto didn’t know why, but something in him perked up at that. Take that, Dad. Kakashi isn’t a lovesick teenager anymore, he can totally say no to you.

But then Minato smiled and said, “Reschedule?”

Kakashi glanced at him, and Minato continued, “I really want it to be you.”

Naruto immediately turned to Kakashi, expecting him to get annoyed.

He would be if someone tried to rearrange his plans just like that, without even giving a good reason.

But instead of any resistance, any grumbling or teasing, Kakashi just—

Agreed.

Easily.

Effortlessly.

“Alright,” Kakashi said, like it was nothing.

Naruto’s jaw almost dropped.

Because it wasn’t just the words. It was the way Kakashi said them—calm, accepting, almost… pleased.

Like being needed by Minato was the highest praise. Like Minato asking for him—choosing him—was all that mattered.

Naruto clenched his fist under the table.

That feeling inside him—the one that had been creeping up ever since he overheard that first lunch plan—was back.

And this time, it was even worse.

After lunch, they parted ways with Minato, who had to return to work.

Naruto should've gone home. Should’ve gone to do literally anything else.

But the restless feeling in his chest wouldn't go away.

So instead, as soon as Minato was out of sight, he turned to Kakashi. "So. How about that spar now?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

Kakashi blinked at him, then sighed. “Naruto, we just ate.”

“So?” Naruto crossed his arms, desperate for a distraction. “Come on, what happened to training your students even after stuffing them full of rice balls?”

Kakashi gave him a look, unimpressed. “Never happened. Training you on an empty stomach on the other hand—”

Naruto huffed. “Come on. Don’t be lazy.”

Kakashi exhaled through his nose, considering. Then, with a dramatic sigh, he stood. “Fine. But if I throw up on you, it’s your fault.”

Naruto grinned. “You won’t get the chance. You’ll be too busy losing.”

Except, as it turned out, he was the one too busy losing.

The fight was fast.

Blows exchanged, jutsu flung, movements sharp and calculated.

But Naruto was distracted.

Not enough to make himself an easy target—he was still Naruto, after all—but enough that his usual instincts felt just a little off.

The whole time, his mind kept circling back to Kakashi’s stupid soft tone when he agreed to Minato’s request. The way he made it seem so easy, so natural, to just drop everything because Minato wanted him.

And that single thought—how much it bothered him—was what led to his mistake.

Before he even realized it, Kakashi had swept his legs out from under him, and Naruto landed hard on his back.

The next thing he knew, Kakashi was straddling him, a kunai pressed lightly to his throat. It was like deja vu.

Naruto blinked up at him, slightly stunned.

“Hm,” Kakashi mused, peering down at him. “Distracted today, aren’t we?”

Naruto opened his mouth to argue—but he was still on his back, with Kakashi sitting on him, and for some reason, his brain short-circuited.

And just as quickly as he had pinned Naruto down, he moved off of him and stood, offering a hand to pull Naruto up.

Naruto took it, dusting himself off.

Then, suddenly, it clicked.

His eyes narrowed.

His finger shot out, pointing directly at Kakashi. “See!”

Kakashi blinked. “Huh?”

“This!” Naruto waved a hand between them. “This is how normal people act!”

Kakashi stared, clearly lost. “…What?”

Naruto crossed his arms. “You won, you got off me, and that was it. That’s what normal people do when they’re sparring!”

Kakashi still looked confused. “…Okay?”

“BUT! When you sparred with my dad, he didn’t get off you right away!” Naruto took a step closer, jabbing a finger toward him. “You guys just sat there! Like it was normal! Like it wasn’t weird that he was literally on top of you!”

Kakashi blinked once. Then again.

“…Wait,” he said slowly, “you watched us back then?”

Naruto froze.

Oh, crap.

Heat rushed up his neck. He didn’t mean to admit that.

Kakashi looked at him with something like amusement, his lips curving up behind his mask. “Naruto. You were watching?”

Naruto scrambled for an excuse. “W-why are you saying it like it’s weird. I was just passing by.”

Kakashi hummed, clearly entertained now. “If you say so. Anyway, Minato-sensei and I go way back. What you saw—it’s not that weird.”

Naruto groaned, rubbing his hands down his face. He couldn’t take it anymore.

It had been days of this—watching, overanalyzing, feeling something strange coil tight in his chest every time his dad and Kakashi so much as stood next to each other.

It was messing with his head.

And now, after Kakashi’s latest infuriating response, Naruto’s heart was in his throat as the words tumbled out—

“…Do you still have a crush on my dad?”

Kakashi, who had been about to leave, paused.

And for the first time, he didn’t immediately brush Naruto off with a lazy quip.

Instead, he hesitated.

And just… stared at him.

Naruto’s heart pounded.

Then, after what felt like forever, Kakashi tilted his head and with an easy, teasing tone, said, “Don’t worry, Naruto. If you get a new step-daddy, I’ll make sure to let you know first.”

Naruto blacked out for a second.

Because there was no way he just heard that. He felt something twist deep inside him—something sharp, something close to fear. The idea of Kakashi and Minato, of his sensei and his dad—made his whole body reject it.

His brain struggled to process it. His stomach rolled, an intense, visceral reaction. He felt nauseous.

Before he even knew what he was doing, his hand shot out, grabbing Kakashi’s wrist before he could leave.

Kakashi blinked down at where Naruto was holding him.

Naruto swallowed, his throat tight. “Are you being serious?”

Kakashi’s expression shifted—just slightly, the teasing edge fading as his gaze flickered over Naruto’s face.

Then, in an entirely unreadable tone, he asked, “Why does it bother you so much?”

Naruto opened his mouth—then shut it.

His brain stalled.

“Because it’s weird,” he finally said, but the words didn’t come out as strong as he wanted.

Kakashi hummed, his gaze sharp in a way that made Naruto feel exposed.

Then—just as easily as Naruto had stopped him—he pulled away.

“You should probably think about why you feel this way,” he said simply.

And then he was gone.

Naruto was left standing there, his thoughts a tangled mess, with a sinking feeling that he had just opened a door he wasn’t ready for.

Naruto sat slumped on a bench, arms crossed, scowling at nothing.

The village bustled around him—shinobi coming and going, vendors calling out their wares, kids darting past in a game of tag—but Naruto wasn’t paying attention.

His mind was a mess.

He kept turning over his conversation with Kakashi—Kakashi’s teasing, his unreadable expression, the way he slipped away so easily after dropping that stupid, frustrating think about why you feel this way line.

It made Naruto’s stomach twist.

Think about why you feel this way?

As if he hadn’t been thinking about it. As if it wasn’t eating him alive.

He groaned, dragging his hands down his face.

Then, suddenly—

“Oi, Naruto.”

Naruto’s head snapped up.

Sasuke was approaching, hands in his pockets, giving him a flat look.

“Oh, hey, Sasuke,” Naruto said, quickly masking his expression. “How’d your mission go?”

“Fine,” Sasuke replied. He narrowed his eyes. “Why are you sulking?”

“I’m not sulking,” Naruto muttered, shifting his arms.

Sasuke gave him a look that clearly said, Liar.

Naruto sighed. “I don’t wanna talk about it.”

“Alright, see ya.” Sasuke said, and immediately turned to leave.

Naruto panicked.

“Wait, wait, wait!” He manhandled Sasuke back onto the bench, gripping his sleeve with desperation.

Sasuke glared. “Hands. Off.”

Naruto turned to him. “Listen, I—” He hesitated for a second before huffing and running a hand through his hair. “It’s my dad and Kakashi. They’re acting weird.”

Sasuke frowned. “Weird how?”

“I dunno!” Naruto threw his hands up. “I think… I think there might be something going on between them.”

Sasuke blinked.

Naruto groaned and slumped forward, burying his face in his hands. “And it’s making me crazy, and I don’t know what to do.”

Sasuke stared at him for a long moment.

Then, with the flattest, most done voice, he asked, “Why do you even care?”

Naruto made a face. “Because! Kakashi never acts like this with anyone. But with my dad, he—he’s just—different.”

Sasuke raised a brow. “What do you mean he’s different?”

Naruto huffed. “Like, okay—when they were training the other day, my dad straddled Kakashi—”

Sasuke’s eye twitched. “Naruto—”

“—and they just stayed like that! They didn’t move! But then when Kakashi straddled me—”

Sasuke physically recoiled. “Why the hell was Kakashi straddling you?”

“We were sparring, bastard, keep up!” Naruto snapped. “But that’s not the point! The point is—he got up right away! But with my dad, they just stayed like that! Chatting, like it was the most natural thing ever to be sitting on top of each other!”

Sasuke stared at him like he was the dumbest person alive.

Then he rolled his eyes and asked, for the second time, “Again. Why does it bother you?”

Naruto’s brows furrowed. “Because! Kakashi—”

Sasuke sighed, rubbing his temples. Then, under his breath, he muttered, “Of all people, why did you have to pick Kakashi to crush on, I swear to god.”

Naruto froze.

“What.”

Sasuke gave him a tired look.

Naruto’s mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again.

“What?!”

“Oh, for—” Sasuke exhaled sharply. “You’re jealous, moron.”

Naruto choked.

“I am not—”

“You are,” Sasuke deadpanned. “You’re freaking out because you think Kakashi is interested in your dad,” Sasuke said, voice dry. “Why else would you care this much?”

“Because it was weird—”

Sasuke gave him a long, unimpressed look.

Naruto’s stomach did another awful flip.

His brain scrambled for an answer—something solid, something that made sense—but all he got was a mess of feelings.

He suddenly thought back to the way he’d been feeling every time he saw Kakashi and his dad together.

The irritation. The twisting in his gut. The way he couldn’t stand seeing Kakashi act differently around someone else—

Naruto’s face burned.

“Oh, no.”

He groaned into his hands. "This is so bad," he muttered. "This is the worst thing that's ever happened to me."

Sasuke, who had just gotten back from a real life-threatening mission, gave him a look. "You're being dramatic."

Naruto snapped his head up. "I just realized I'm in love with my ex-sensei, who might or might not be dating my dad! I think I have a right to be dramatic!"

Sasuke flinched, looking alarmed. "Oi! You didn’t say in love before—"

"Doesn’t matter, I’m fucked either way!" Naruto slumped against the bench. "Ugh, how did this even happen?"

Sasuke exhaled. "That’s what I’d like to know. I was gone for one month."

Naruto turned to him desperately. "Okay, what do I do?"

Sasuke scowled. "How the hell should I know?"

"You always have some annoying, smart-ass answer!" Naruto argued.

“I wasn’t even here,” Sasuke said, crossing his arms. “I didn’t see any of the stuff you’re crying about, so I don’t know if it was actually as scandalous as you’re making it out to be.”

Naruto pulled a face. “It was!”

Sasuke ignored him. “Either the Hokage and Kakashi are together, or they’re not.” He shrugged. “If they are, then you need to get over Kakashi and let them be.”

Naruto’s stomach dropped.

His throat tightened.

He didn’t like that option. Not one bit.

“And if they’re not…” Sasuke’s expression turned unimpressed. “Then I refuse to get involved in whatever idiotic attempts you make to woo him.”

Naruto turned bright red. “I wasn’t—”

Sasuke stood up. “Figure it out, Naruto.”

Naruto grabbed his sleeve again, eyes pleading. "Sasuke, please. You gotta help me!"

Sasuke yanked his arm back. "Absolutely not."

Sasuke stood in front of the Hokage’s desk, arms crossed, his expression flat as Minato flipped through the final pages of the mission report.

"Everything seems to be in order," Minato said, stamping the scroll with approval. "Good work, Sasuke. This was quite a long mission so you should get some well-deserved rest."

Sasuke gave a short nod. He should have left right then, but instead, he lingered.

Minato raised an eyebrow. "Something else on your mind?"

Sasuke hesitated only briefly before saying, “Can I ask you a personal question?”

Minato blinked, visibly surprised. "A personal question? That’s unexpected from you." His expression softened. "But sure, ask away."

Sasuke exhaled through his nose, feeling vaguely ridiculous for even entertaining Naruto’s nonsense. But at the same time, the idiot had been relentless.

"Are you and Kakashi together?" Sasuke asked plainly. "Or is there something going on between you two?"

Minato’s surprise returned in full force. His blue eyes studied Sasuke for a long moment, unreadable—until a knowing smile tugged at his lips.

"Did Naruto send you?" he asked, amusement evident in his voice.

Sasuke sighed. "Not exactly."

Minato tilted his head.

Sasuke crossed his arms. "I found him sulking on a bench when I came back. He was freaking out because he thinks there’s something between you and Kakashi."

Minato chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "I see."

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed. He wasn’t one for gossip, but something about Minato’s reaction bothered him.

"You see?" Sasuke repeated, unimpressed. "That’s not an answer, Hokage-sama."

Minato’s smile widened slightly, but he hummed in consideration. "No, I suppose it’s not."

Sasuke didn’t drop his stare.

Minato exhaled, tapping his fingers against the desk before leaning forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand. "And what do you think?"

Sasuke clenched his jaw. He didn’t want to get involved in this mess. He really didn’t. But since he was already here…

"I think Naruto’s an idiot," he said flatly. "But if what I heard from Naruto is true then I also think Kakashi doesn’t act that way around anyone else."

Minato hummed again, watching Sasuke with an unreadable look. Then, finally—

"Kakashi and I are close," he said simply. "We always have been."

Sasuke frowned. "That’s still not an answer."

Minato’s expression didn’t waver.

"Are you together or not?" Sasuke pressed.

Minato leaned back in his chair, thoughtful. Then, with a slow, amused shake of his head, he said—

"Tell Naruto he should ask me himself."

Sasuke glared. "Seriously?"

Minato only smiled.

Sasuke turned on his heel. "You’re just as bad as Kakashi," he muttered, storming out.

Minato only chuckled again, watching him go.

Sasuke’s irritation was at an all-time high. He knew he shouldn’t have entertained Naruto’s nonsense. He knew it would end like this.

As he stepped outside, he briefly considered not telling Naruto anything—just to make him suffer. But he knew Naruto would only chase him down relentlessly until he gave an answer, so with an irritated sigh, he changed course and headed straight for Naruto’s apartment.

Naruto nearly fell over when Sasuke kicked open his window instead of using the front door like a normal person.

"Oi! You bastard, what if I was naked?!" Naruto shouted, scrambling off his couch.

Sasuke gave him a disgusted look. "Then I’d set this place on fire and leave."

Naruto scowled but waved a hand. "So? What did my dad say?"

Sasuke crossed his arms. "He told me to tell you to ask him yourself."

Naruto’s face fell. "What?!"

Sasuke shrugged. "He knew exactly what I was asking and still didn’t give a straight answer."

Naruto flopped back onto the couch, rubbing his face aggressively. "Ughhhhhh, this sucks."

"Get over it," Sasuke said.

"I can’t!" Naruto groaned. "They’re acting weird and I feel weird and you—" He jabbed a finger at Sasuke. "—you put some dumb idea in my head about me crushing on Kakashi, and now everything is even weirder!"

Sasuke exhaled sharply. "Don’t put the blame on me. You were being a dumbass so I just helped you connect the dots."

Naruto flailed. "Well, un-connect them!"

Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose. "Naruto. You’re an idiot. And I’m leaving."

"Wait, wait, wait—" Naruto scrambled to grab his sleeve before he could jump out the window. "What do I do?!"

Sasuke yanked his arm back. "You want an answer? Ask Kakashi or your dad directly. You want to deal with your feelings? Figure them out on your own." He shot Naruto a deadpan look. "Or keep whining about it and suffer. Either way, leave me out of it."

And with that, Sasuke disappeared.

Chapter Text

Naruto spent the next few days in an absolute crisis.

How the hell had he not noticed his feelings for Kakashi before?

It all seemed so obvious now.

He couldn’t believe he actually teased Kakashi about his crush on his dad. He’d dug up the past—probably made Kakashi remember how Minato was the only person he ever felt something real for.

Sasuke was right. He was a complete dumbass.

Naruto groaned, slumping forward with his elbows on his knees.

He’d had Kakashi mostly to himself for so long.

Kakashi wasn’t exactly a people person, so Naruto never really had to fight for his attention. The only time he ever felt like he had to compete for it was back when they were kids—when Kakashi had focused all his time and energy on training Sasuke instead of him.

But now his dad was back.

Minato—the one person Kakashi had liked more than anyone in the world.

And the second Naruto even considered the possibility that their relationship could mean something more, he immediately felt threatened.

He couldn’t eat properly. Couldn’t sleep right. Every time he saw his dad and Kakashi talking, laughing, existing within each other’s space like it was the most natural thing in the world, it felt like his chest was being squeezed by a vice.

He had to do something.

He couldn’t keep silently liking Kakashi and freaking out every time his dad stood a little too close or said Kakashi’s name with too much familiarity. That wasn’t who he wanted to be. He was never the type to sit back and do nothing.

He needed to bite the bullet and just tell him.

So after forcing in a toast for breakfast, with his heart pounding and palms sweaty, Naruto walked to Kakashi’s apartment, barely able to breathe the whole way there. He knocked once, and when Kakashi answered, he looked relaxed and a little surprised.

“Naruto?”

Naruto could barely hold his gaze. “Hey. Can I come in?”

Kakashi stepped aside, letting him in without question. “Sure. Everything okay?”

Naruto took a moment to compose himself before blurting out, “Last time we talked… you told me I should figure out why the thought of you and my dad together bothered me so much.”

Kakashi tilted his head slightly, watching him with quiet curiosity.

Naruto’s throat felt tight. “I figured it out.”

Kakashi blinked. “Oh. And?“

Naruto took a shaky breath.

“I like you.” The words were raw, heavy, and honest. “I like you, Kakashi.”

Kakashi froze.

For a long, agonizing moment, he just stared at Naruto, like the words didn’t compute.

His eyes widened slightly, he looked genuinely shocked—like he hadn’t seen this coming at all. A flicker of something crossed his face before he seemed to catch himself.

“Oh. That’s... I’m—uh…I’m flattered,” Kakashi said after a beat, voice light but awkward.

Naruto swallowed, pulse hammering against his ribs. His whole body felt tight, like he’d just walked into enemy territory without backup. ”You’re flattered? What kind of bullshit answer is that?”

Kakashi exhaled softly, like he hadn’t expected anything less from him. His fingers trailed through his silver hair, and for the first time ever, Naruto saw him look troubled.

"Naruto…" Kakashi started, and there was something gentle in his voice—something Naruto hated, because it made it clear Kakashi was about to let him down easy.

A lump formed in Naruto’s throat.

“Just say it straight to me,” he took a sharp breath. “Are you rejecting me?”

Kakashi hesitated. Not because he didn’t know the answer, but because he was trying to find the right words. Naruto could tell—he knew Kakashi too well.

After a moment, Kakashi sighed.

“…Yeah,” he said finally. His voice was quiet. “I guess I am.”

A pause.

“…Sorry.”

Naruto’s face drooped.

He was silent for a long moment, staring at the ground. His throat felt tight.

Then, quietly, he asked, “Is it because of my dad?”

Kakashi exhaled softly, and his gaze softened.

“There’s nothing going on between me and Minato-sensei,” he said. “We’re just close friends.”

Naruto stared at him for a long moment, searching his face.

Then, slowly, he nodded.

“…Right.”

A heavy silence settled between them.

Naruto let out a weak, shaky breath and forced a small, tight smile.

“Well. This sucks,” he said, trying for humor, but it came out strained.

Kakashi shifted, like he was about to say something else, but Naruto took a step back before he could.

"I should go," he said, voice flat.

Kakashi didn't stop him.

And Naruto didn’t look back.

Kakashi wasn’t even sure why his feet carried him here, but before he knew it, he was standing outside the Hokage’s office. With a sigh, he knocked.

“Come in,” came Minato’s familiar voice.

Minato glanced up from his paperwork as Kakashi walked in, his expression shifting from mild curiosity to open amusement when he saw Kakashi’s face.

“Kakashi,” he greeted, leaning back slightly in his chair. “That’s quite the look you’ve got there.”

Kakashi sighed.

“…Naruto just confessed to me,” he said flatly.

For a moment, Minato blinked. Then, to Kakashi’s immense frustration, his face broke into a grin—before he laughed.

Kakashi scowled. “I fail to see what’s so funny.”

Minato waved a hand as if to brush the words away, still chuckling. “It’s just—history really does like to repeat itself, doesn’t it?”

Kakashi’s eye twitched. “No. Don’t start.”

Minato’s grin was infuriatingly amused. “Come on, Kakashi, you have to admit—there’s something poetic about all this.”

“I thought we’d left all of that behind,” Kakashi grumbled.

Minato’s expression softened slightly. “Well, I thought so too. But now I’ve got an excuse to tell you that you were the cutest little bean and I had to actively stop myself from teasing you just to see you blush.”

Kakashi groaned and covered his face with one hand.

Minato chuckled, then leaned forward, resting his arms on his desk. „Alright, I’m done. Back to Naruto.”

Kakashi sighed and let his hand drop. “...I don’t know how to deal with this.”

Minato tilted his head slightly.

Kakashi crossed his arms.

“I was a kid when I had a crush on you,” he said. “You could chalk it up to a stupid teenage infatuation. Something that would pass on its own. But Naruto—”

Minato’s eyes gleamed.

“Exactly,” he said. “Naruto is an adult.”

Kakashi frowned.

Minato leaned slightly closer, resting his chin on his hand. “So,” he said, a knowing smile playing at his lips, “what are you going to do about it?”

Kakashi stiffened.

His head snapped up.

“…Are you implying what I think you’re implying?” he asked, voice slightly incredulous.

Minato just smiled.

Kakashi’s eyes widened.

“You’re his father,” Kakashi reminded him, as if Minato had somehow forgotten.

Minato shrugged. “I’m just saying—it’s something to think about.”

Kakashi gawked at him.

“I already rejected him,” he pointed out, voice more strained than he would’ve liked.

Minato’s smile faded slightly.

“Why?”

Kakashi blinked.

“…Are you serious? It was the only appropriate answer.” he said slowly, like it was obvious.

Minato’s gaze softened. “Was it honest though?”

Kakashi frowned.

“…What do you mean?” he asked carefully.

Minato tilted his head.

“I mean—do you really not feel anything for Naruto?” he asked.

Kakashi tensed.

Minato’s lips curled into a small smile.

“My son’s pretty cute, you know,” he said. “And he’s got a bunch of qualities I know for a fact you find attractive.”

Kakashi looked away, his throat tightening.

Minato continued.

“I’m not asking you to answer,” he said gently. “But you should think about it.”

Kakashi exhaled sharply through his nose.

“I was his sensei,” he muttered. “I shouldn’t be even thinking about this.”

Minato smiled softly.

“Even if Naruto’s feelings don’t just go away?” he asked. “Even if you have the power to keep him from going through what you went through?”

Kakashi’s breath caught.

Minato watched him carefully. “…Your feelings for me weren’t fleeting,” he said. “They lasted a few years, didn’t they?”

Kakashi swallowed.

“So might Naruto’s.” Minato said.

For a long moment, Kakashi was silent.

His gaze dropped to the floor, his shoulders tense.

Then—

“…The day of the Kyuubi attack, when you died...” Kakashi’s voice was low, almost fragile.

Minato’s chest tightened.

Kakashi took a shaky breath. “I—I was still—,”

Minato’s face softened completely.

A moment later, he was stepping forward—pulling Kakashi into a warm, steady hug.

Kakashi stiffened for a fraction of a second. Then, slowly, he relaxed into it.

“I’m sorry, Kakashi,” Minato murmured, voice thick with emotion. “I wasn’t strong enough. I left you behind, and you suffered a lot because of it.”

Kakashi let out a small, weak laugh.

“Who the heck apologizes for sacrificing themselves for the village?” he muttered, voice rough.

Minato chuckled.

Kakashi squeezed his eyes shut, pressing his forehead into Minato’s shoulder.

For a long moment, neither of them moved.

Then, finally, Minato pulled back, resting his hands on Kakashi’s arms.

“The choice is yours, Kakashi. I wouldn’t try to force you into anything against your will,” he said, voice firm but kind.

Kakashi nodded numbly.

Minato’s eyes held his, steady and unwavering.

“I’m just asking you to be honest with yourself and think about it,” he said. “Whether you’re really not even remotely interested in Naruto, or you were just trying to do the right thing.”

Kakashi rubbed at the back of his neck and gave a quiet, “I’ll think about it.”

Minato nodded, satisfied with that answer. He didn't push further. Instead, his expression relaxed, the weight of the conversation fading into something lighter.

“Good.” He patted Kakashi’s arm. “That’s all I ask.”

There was a brief, comfortable silence before Minato glanced toward the window, then back at Kakashi.

“Hey,” he said casually,  “Want to have a drink with me?”

Kakashi blinked at him. “It’s not even 2 p.m.”

Minato laughed, leaning back onto his desk. “I don’t mean now, obviously. I’ve still got a mountain of paperwork waiting for me. But tonight—after I’m free.”

Kakashi tilted his head, considering. Then he gave a nonchalant shrug. “Sure. Why not.”

Minato grinned. “Great. I’ll come get you.”

The sky outside had deepened into a navy twilight, and the small tavern was quiet, save for the gentle clink of mugs and the low hum of conversation. Minato and Kakashi sat at their usual corner table, tucked away from the rest of the crowd. A few empty beer mugs were scattered between them, the telltale sign of an evening well into its flow. The air between them was easy, warm in the way only long friendship could be.

Kakashi stared at his half-full mug for a moment, then looked at Minato with a soft, thoughtful expression. The buzz of alcohol had dulled his sharper edges, making it easier to say what he was feeling.

“…It’s really good to have you back, you know.” he said quietly, voice sincere.

“You’ve told me that already,” Minato said, amused, his smile warm and eyes slightly glazed from the alcohol. “Three times, in fact.”

Kakashi leaned back and swirled what was left of his beer, letting the amber liquid catch the light. “Well,” he replied with a shrug, “it’s because I really mean it.”

His voice was quieter this time, less playful.

Minato’s smile faded into something more subdued as he looked at Kakashi across the table.

“By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask—are you doing okay?” Kakashi asked. “I mean... really? Do you feel like you’ve adjusted to being here? Like, this place, this time—do you feel like you’re living in it now?”

Minato was silent for a long beat. Then he exhaled, leaning back against the booth. His expression turned thoughtful, distant. “Most days, yes. But sometimes...”

Kakashi watched him closely, letting the silence stretch.

Minato finally spoke again, his voice softer now, tinged with something heavy.

“When I died, everything was different. I had Kushina. Naruto had just been born. Jiraiya-sensei was still around. The world made sense, even in chaos.”

Kakashi’s chest tightened.

Minato gave a small, dry laugh. “When I came back, it was like I blinked and seventeen years had passed. Everything I remembered was gone. I didn’t even get the time to grieve properly.” He hesitated. “How do you mourn someone who’s been dead for nearly two decades, when to you it feels like you just held them the day before?”

Kakashi looked at him, silent, his hand tightening on his mug.

“I remember holding Kushina’s hand,” Minato murmured. “Feeling her warmth. Looking at Naruto’s tiny face and thinking we had the whole world ahead of us. And then… suddenly, she’s gone. Naruto’s grown. The village’s changed. Everything’s different.”

He smiled sadly. “Please don’t tell Naruto, I’d hate him to take it the wrong way, but... there even were moments I regretted being brought back.”

Kakashi turned toward him, lips parted in quiet surprise.

“I felt like I didn’t belong here,” Minato continued. “That maybe... it would’ve been better if I stayed dead. Even though—” His voice wavered slightly. “Even though meeting Naruto has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. I couldn’t have asked for a better son. He’s incredible, and I’m so proud of him.”

Kakashi’s throat felt tight. “Minato-sensei… why didn’t you tell me?”

“I couldn’t.” Minato said simply. “I felt so damn guilty. In my mind I had no right to feel this way when I had already failed Naruto so badly on the day he was born. So I did my best to push those feelings down and focus on the good things instead.” Minato looked up at him then, eyes glassy but clear. “The only reason I can tell you this now is because I don’t feel that way anymore. Not like that. Not now.”

Kakashi didn’t ask why, though the question was written all over his face.

Minato smiled, soft and sincere. “It’s thanks to you.”

Kakashi blinked, caught off guard. “Me?”

Minato nodded.

“You were the one constant,” he said. “When I came back, everything was different. But you were there. You were fourteen when I died and you were already your own person back then. I knew you. I trusted you. And when I saw you again, older, a little different, but still you… it helped more than I can say.”

He smiled, and it wasn’t sad this time.

“You connected the past to the present for me. You grounded me, Kakashi. You were my anchor and I’ll be forever thankful to you for that.”

Kakashi let out a soft breath and looked away, the compliment feeling too big to hold in his chest.

“You truly helped me stay,” Minato said. “In the beginning, when I wasn’t sure I could. You didn’t know it, but you did.”

Kakashi turned his head toward the window, blinking a few times. His voice was rough when he finally spoke. “You’ve always been too generous with your words, sensei.”

Minato smirked. “I just tell the truth.”

Minato poured them both another round of sake, his movements a bit looser now, a flush blooming across his cheeks that mirrored the one Kakashi had been sporting on and off all evening. The beer mugs had long been pushed aside, making room for the smaller cups and a nearly empty bottle. The air between them was easy, warm, the kind of calm that only came after a shared emotional gut-spill and just the right amount of alcohol.

They were leaning in a little closer now, voices lowered, but not out of secrecy—just comfort.

Eventually, the conversation circled back to Naruto.

“He thinks there’s something going on between us,” Kakashi said, lazily tracing a finger around the rim of his cup.

Minato hummed in response, a mischievous glint sparking in his eyes. “So I’ve heard.”

Kakashi raised a brow. “He told you?”

Minato shook his head, smiling. “He sent Sasuke.”

Kakashi blinked. “He what?”

Minato chuckled, clearly still amused by the memory. “Sasuke showed up at my office all stiff and annoyed, and asked me straight-up if you and I were together. Said Naruto was ‘freaking out’ and wouldn't shut up about it.”

Kakashi covered his face with a hand, groaning softly. “I can’t believe he managed to drag Sasuke into this mess.”

Minato’s grin widened. “You really can’t underestimate the power of Naruto’s stubbornness. If he wants answers, he’ll get them. Even if it means pestering his emotionally constipated best friend.”

Kakashi sighed and refilled his own cup. “Well. I shouldn’t be surprised, I guess. He’s been on my case too. He cornered me about that time you and I sparred, when you... you know. Straddled me.”

Minato lifted a brow. “He saw that?”

“Yeah. He got all huffy about it,” Kakashi said, frowning into his drink. “So I asked him why it bothered him so much. And he said it was ‘weird.’ And for a second—” he cut himself off, then groaned again, “It got under my skin a little. I thought he was being narrow-minded or something, that he meant it was weird because we’re both guys.”

Minato barked out a laugh. “Naruto?” He waved his hand, still smiling. “Kakashi, Naruto’s not straight.”

Kakashi shot him a look. “Well, I know that now. Obviously. But at the time...”

He trailed off and let out a breath, rubbing the back of his neck.

“It didn’t even cross my mind that the reason he was so bothered was because he might—” he paused again, expression almost dazed, “—like me.”

Minato didn’t say anything for a second, just watched Kakashi quietly, his smile softening.

“You really didn’t see it coming, huh?” Minato asked, his tone light but curious.

Kakashi gave a dry laugh, then tilted his head to the side. “Would you?”

Minato considered the question, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “No,” he admitted after a pause. “Honestly, until recently, I had zero suspicions that Naruto liked you. Not long ago, he was telling me how he didn’t want to end up single at thirty like you.”

Kakashi groaned and slouched forward, resting his forehead against the edge of the table. “Great. So even to him, I’m the village’s cautionary tale?” He lifted his head just enough to grumble, “It’s not like I’ve got no experience with romance.”

That only made Minato laugh harder. “Sex is not romance, Kakashi.”

Kakashi arched a brow at him in a silent question.

Minato smirked, then leaned back with an air of mock innocence. “You do know who the current ANBU squad consist of, don’t you?”

Kakashi’s eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into his gaze. “What are you getting at?”

“Oh, nothing,” Minato said, sipping from his cup. “Just that quite a few people you worked with back in the day are still ANBU. And you know how they get after a few drinks.”

Kakashi’s silence was deafening.

Minato grinned, wicked and amused. “Let’s just say I’ve heard some colorful stories about your, ah, adventurous intimate life.”

Kakashi closed his eyes and exhaled very slowly. “You’re kidding.”

“I wish I was,” Minato said, and clearly, he did not.

Kakashi sighed heavily. “In my defense I thought I was going to die young. It didn’t exactly encourage long-term planning.”

“I’m not judging,” Minato assured him, looking far too pleased for someone who just dropped that kind of bomb. “It makes me a little sad, actually. You were lonely.”

Kakashi didn’t answer right away. He stared at his cup, turning it between his fingers, then muttered, “Don’t psychoanalyze me.”

Minato only smiled. “Can’t help it. Comes with being a dad.”

Kakashi groaned again and reached for the last of the sake.

The night stretched on, the city quiet beyond the walls of the little bar they’d holed up in. Kakashi and Minato had long since abandoned sitting across from one another, now side by side on the same bench seat, their shoulders pressed together in lazy familiarity.

A few more empty sake bottles had joined the beer mugs on the table. They weren’t counting anymore.

Minato had taken to leaning just a bit too much into Kakashi, his cheek nearly brushing Kakashi’s temple every time he laughed. His voice had taken on that warm, almost sing-song quality it always did when he was tipsy—Kakashi quite liked it.

“Kashi,” he said now, tipping his head to rest briefly against Kakashi’s shoulder, “it’s nice that we can be close like this now.”

Kakashi blinked, a slow, unhurried gesture. He turned just slightly to glance down at the golden head beside him, warmth curling somewhere deep in his chest. “You’re feeling sentimental.”

Minato hummed. “Maybe. But it’s true. You know, your younger self would’ve lost it if we sat like this. All stiff and blushing and trying to pretend you weren’t flustered.”

Kakashi gave a quiet laugh, the kind that rumbled low in his chest. “Is it time to tease me again? Are we at that stage of the night?”

Minato lifted his head, grinning lazily. “I’m not teasing,” he said, tone almost childishly sincere. “I’m just glad. That you’re comfortable with me.”

Kakashi looked at him for a long moment. The drunken haze made everything feel a little too soft, a little too sharp all at once. Minato's face was flushed from the alcohol, his smile easy, eyes half-lidded but still clear. There was something earnest in the way he said it, something that tugged at the past—the boy Kakashi used to be, the man he'd become, and the bond they’d somehow carried through time.

“I always was, I think,” Kakashi murmured. “Even when I was flustered.”

Minato smiled at that, slow and pleased. “You were soooo adorable.”

Kakashi rolled his eyes. “Are you trying to test the limits of how much I can blush in one night?”

Minato laughed, nudging his shoulder gently against Kakashi’s. “Haven’t seen you blush once yet.”

“I’m older now. Harder to rattle.”

Minato smiled at that, but didn’t say anything. He just let his head rest lightly against Kakashi’s for a moment, soft and fleeting. Neither of them pulled away.

For a while, they sat there in silence, the kind that settled in easily between people who knew each other well. Their legs brushed occasionally under the table, neither bothering to shift. The world outside the bar could’ve disappeared and Kakashi wasn’t sure he’d notice.

Eventually, Minato spoke again, softer now. “You were such a serious kid. So closed off. I worried about you.”

“I was fine,” Kakashi said automatically, because it was always his answer—even when it wasn’t true.

Minato hummed doubtfully. “You’re better now,” he said. “I can see it. You’re more open. You let people in. Naruto, too.”

Kakashi didn’t know what to say to that. He stared at the table instead, one hand absently resting on the edge, fingers close to Minato’s.

Minato noticed.

Without thinking much, he nudged his pinky against Kakashi’s.

Kakashi glanced down, then up at him again.

Minato just smiled. “I like seeing you happy, Kakashi.”

“...You’re such a sappy drunk,” Kakashi muttered, voice too low to carry far.

Minato nodded, smiling lazily. “Yeah,” he said, “but I’m an honest drunk too.”

He sighed and stretched then, limbs loose and heavy with sake. “Alright,” he mumbled, voice slightly slurred, “I need to go take a leak.”

Kakashi turned to look at him, brows quirking with mild concern. Minato was steady, but just barely—the kind of drunk that made the floor feel farther away than usual.

“You gonna be alright by yourself?” Kakashi asked, eyeing him up and down like he was assessing an injury.

Minato gave him a mock-offended look. “You think your Hokage can’t handle a straight line to the bathroom?”

Kakashi lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug. “I think my Hokage just tried to cheers the salt shaker.”

“That was one time,” Minato said with a snort, then grinned wide, eyes glittering with mischief. “What, you wanna come hold my dick for me or something?”

Kakashi rolled his eyes so hard his head tipped back slightly. “You get so crude when you’re drunk.”

Minato cackled, not even denying it. “It’s your fault, you always bring it out in me.”

Kakashi muttered something that sounded suspiciously like “you were always like this”, but Minato was already stumbling off toward the restroom, waving a hand over his shoulder.

“Five minutes,” he called over his shoulder. “If I don’t come back, I either passed out or got lost. Come rescue me.”

Kakashi chuckled softly, shaking his head. “It’s a bathroom, not the Forest of Death.”

Minato’s laugh echoed faintly before the restroom door creaked closed behind him.

Kakashi was left in the quiet pocket of the booth, the low buzz of the bar fading into the background as his mind finally settled—no distractions, no teasing warmth pressed to his side, just space to breathe and think.

And with that stillness, came Naruto.

The image of him from earlier that day surfaced all too clearly—shoulders tense, eyes uncertain but determined, voice cracking just enough to betray the nerves beneath the confession: “I like you.”

Kakashi exhaled slowly, his thumb absently tracing the rim of his empty cup.

He hadn’t handled it well. He knew that now. The shock had frozen him. Words had stumbled out before he’d really processed any of it. A half-hearted “I’m flattered,” followed by an instinctual retreat. It was the safest thing to do.

But then he’d seen the way Naruto’s face fell. That spark of hope dimming into something small and silent.

He should’ve been more careful. Naruto deserved that—deserved something gentler than a half-assed rejection cloaked in surprise and deflection.

He closed his eyes for a beat, head tipping back against the booth.

The restroom door creaked open, and Minato returned, looking no worse for wear aside from the flushed cheeks and fond smile he wore like a badge of honor.

“Told you I could do it,” he teased, sliding back into the booth beside Kakashi.

“Color me surprised,” Kakashi deadpanned.

“Mean.” Minato grinned and picked up his glass. “So, what were you brooding about while I was gone?”

Kakashi tilted his head, eyes thoughtful. “Just… thinking.”

Minato studied him for a moment, smile softening. “Naruto?”

Kakashi didn’t answer right away. He didn’t have to.

Minato hummed knowingly, then leaned his chin in his hand, smiling. “Figured as much.”

There was no teasing this time, just understanding.

“Don’t rush it, Kakashi,” Minato said gently. “Naruto will need time to cool off after his confession too, things are still very fresh. So take your time to think. And... try to look at him with an open mind.”

Kakashi didn’t answer right away, but his gaze dipped to the table, pensive. It was comforting, the way Minato offered advice without pressure. Without expectation.

Minato stretched, then rubbed at his temple. “Alright,” he said, pushing back from the table with a grunt. “I think it’s time we call it. I like you a lot, but I’m not trying to end up like Naruto after your night out.”

Kakashi chuckled under his breath. “You mean his suffering was my fault?”

“I’m not saying you were the one to blame. But I’m also not not saying that.” Minato grinned, wobbled slightly as he stood, and waved for the check. “Besides, I have a meeting tomorrow. Hokage life doesn’t stop for hangovers.”

They stood side by side as they waited, the moment mellowed, softened by alcohol and the comfort of long friendship.

“Hey, uh,” Kakashi glanced at him and said quietly, “Thanks. For being here.”

Minato’s eyes warmed. “You always made it easy to care about you, Kakashi. I’m just glad I still can.”

Kakashi nodded, and together they stepped into the night. The air was cool, steadying, the buzz of the bar fading behind them.

Two days later Kakashi still wasn’t any closer to figuring anything out, his thoughts in complete disarray. Minato had always been good at reading him, at nudging him toward things he refused to acknowledge, but this time… this time felt different.

His words clung to Kakashi, worming their way under his skin as he strolled aimlessly through the village.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a familiar shock of blond hair.

Naruto.

Kakashi stilled on instinct. He wasn’t ready for another conversation—not yet. He still felt raw from their last one. But Naruto hadn’t seen him yet, so maybe if he turned around—

Too late.

Naruto’s sharp blue eyes locked onto him immediately, his whole posture going rigid. Kakashi braced himself, expecting Naruto to storm over and demand more answers, but… he didn’t.

Instead, Naruto’s face twisted in something pained. Then he turned and walked away.

Kakashi blinked.

Wait.

No shouting. No pushing for another conversation. No Naruto stubbornly refusing to let things go.

Just… walking away.

Kakashi didn’t like how that made his stomach feel.

He wasn’t sure what possessed him, but before he knew it, his feet were moving, following after him. “Naruto.”

Naruto paused but didn’t turn around. “What?”

Kakashi frowned. His voice sounded off.

“…Are you okay?”

Naruto let out a sharp laugh. “Oh, now you care?”

Kakashi barely managed to keep his expression neutral, but his heart sank.

Naruto’s eyes widened slightly, like he’d surprised even himself with the outburst. He winced, then sighed heavily, dragging a hand through his hair.

“Sorry…” he muttered. “I don’t want to be that person. I don’t want to stand here and say mean shit to you.” His expression was more guarded than Kakashi had ever seen it, and he hated that it was because of him. “Look,” Naruto said, voice strained, “I get it, okay? I shouldn’t have said anything. I just—It doesn’t matter.”

Kakashi frowned. “Of course it matters.”

Naruto scoffed. “Does it?” He shook his head. “You already rejected me. What’s left to talk about?”

Kakashi opened his mouth—then hesitated.

Naruto huffed, exasperated. “See? Nothing.”

Kakashi felt something in his chest tighten. This wasn’t how they were supposed to be. Naruto was never quiet like this, never hesitant like this. He had never looked at Kakashi like that—like Kakashi had hurt him.

“I just don’t want things to be weird between us,” Kakashi said finally.

Naruto laughed humorlessly. “Well, too late for that.”

Kakashi winced.

Naruto sighed again and ran a hand down his face. “I just need some space, alright?” His eyes flickered up to meet Kakashi’s, full of something heavy and exhausted. “I’ll get over it.”

The words struck Kakashi in a way he wasn’t prepared for.

The way Naruto said it—like it was inevitable. Like his feelings were something to be fixed and discarded.

Naruto gave him one last, unreadable look before turning on his heel and walking away.

Kakashi stood there, staring after him, and for the first time, he didn’t know if he’d done the right thing.

Naruto knocked on the Hokage’s office door and stepped inside when he heard his father’s voice call him in. Minato was seated behind his desk, as usual, a stack of mission reports in front of him. He looked up with a warm smile when Naruto entered.

“Ah, Naruto. Thanks for coming so quickly.”

“Of course,” Naruto said, his voice neutral.

Minato’s smile didn’t waver, but his sharp blue eyes studied Naruto for a beat longer than usual. “I have a mission for you,” he said, flipping through the documents in front of him. “It’s an escort mission—important, but nothing too complicated. The client requested you specifically.”

Naruto nodded, standing straight, hands in his pockets. “Alright. Where to?”

Minato gave him the details, outlining the client and the route he was expected to take. Naruto listened attentively, but his responses were short, his usual energy absent.

Minato wasn’t oblivious—he noticed.

When he finished explaining, he leaned back in his chair and folded his hands together. “That’s all there is to it. Any questions?”

“No,” Naruto said. Then, after a moment, he added, “I’ll handle it.”

Minato smiled at the confidence in his voice but didn’t dismiss him just yet. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, watching him. “You’re being awfully serious today.”

Naruto tensed for half a second before shrugging. “It’s a mission. I’m taking it seriously.”

Minato hummed, unconvinced. “Is that all?”

Naruto didn’t answer right away. He knew his dad could see through him, could feel that something was off.

“…What else would it be?” Naruto finally said, keeping his tone even.

Minato observed him for a moment longer, then smiled, though this time it was softer. “You tell me.”

Naruto looked away, jaw clenching. “I should get going. I need to prepare.”

Minato exhaled, but he didn’t stop him. “Alright,” he said. “Just be careful out there.”

Naruto nodded, turning for the door.

But before he could reach it, Minato added, “And, Naruto?”

Naruto paused, glancing over his shoulder.

Minato smiled knowingly. “If something’s bothering you… you know you can talk to me, right?”

Naruto’s stomach twisted uncomfortably. “Not about this,” he muttered.

Minato’s brows lifted slightly. “Why not?”

Naruto hesitated. He looked torn, like he wanted to keep it inside but also desperately needed to say it out loud.

Finally, he mumbled, “I got rejected by Kakashi.”

Minato hid his reaction carefully, though he felt a small pang in his chest at how dejected Naruto sounded.

“And it’s just—it’s so stupid. I know it’s stupid. But it’s like… I never even stood a chance, you know?” He let out a dry, humorless laugh. “He’s spent his whole life worshipping the ground you walk on. And now you’re back. Like, of course he wouldn’t want me.”

Minato’s heart squeezed a little at that. Calmly, he said, “Naruto… that’s all in the past. You shouldn’t let it bother you.”

Naruto scoffed. “Yeah. Whatever.”

Minato sighed again, but before he could say anything else, Naruto straightened up.

“I need to get ready for my mission,” he said shortly.

Minato didn’t stop him this time. But as Naruto walked out, he could still feel his father’s eyes on him, calm and knowing.

And somehow, that only made him more frustrated.

Naruto stormed out of the Hokage tower, his fists clenched at his sides. The conversation replayed in his head over and over, and no matter how many times he went through it, it still pissed him off.

"It’s all in the past."

Maybe to Minato it was. But for Naruto, it wasn’t just about the past—it was about now. It was about Kakashi looking at his dad like he hung the damn moon, about Kakashi being so close to Minato in ways he never was with anyone else. It was about the fact that Naruto had confessed, and Kakashi hadn’t even hesitated before rejecting him.

And that sucked.

He barely registered where he was walking until he found himself on top of the Hokage Monument, staring out over the village. The place had always been one of his favorites to think, but today, his thoughts were just running in circles.

It wasn’t like Naruto thought he actually had a chance with Kakashi before confessing. He’d gone into it knowing the odds weren’t great. But some dumb part of him had still hoped.

He sighed and plopped down on the stone head of his father, legs hanging off the edge. The breeze ruffled his hair as he tilted his head back, staring up at the sky.

He thought back to the moment Kakashi had rejected him.

Naruto scowled at the memory. That was what got to him the most—not just the rejection itself, but the way Kakashi had said it. Like it was an afterthought, like it wasn’t even something he had to think about.

Like Naruto had never stood a chance.

He squeezed his eyes shut.

"Damn it."

The worst part was, he still wasn’t ready to give up.

Naruto had no idea how to act around Kakashi anymore.

It wasn’t like they bumped into each other a lot. Their lives didn’t revolve around one another. But Konoha wasn’t that big. Occasionally, they’d cross paths, and every time, Naruto’s stomach twisted in a way he really hated.

If he spotted Kakashi from a distance, he turned and went the other way. If avoiding wasn’t an option, he’d do a quick nod of acknowledgment before making his escape. Short, simple, and totally not the way he used to act.

And his dad… well. That was a whole other thing.

Minato didn’t do anything wrong, technically. But Naruto couldn’t shake the irritation in his chest, the weird resentment toward him that had nowhere to go. He wasn’t mad at Minato for anything in particular—it was just this thing festering under his skin, like an itch he couldn’t scratch.

So he was a little less talkative than usual. A little less eager to spend time in the Hokage’s office. A little less warm when they did talk.

Minato noticed. Of course he did. He was his dad. But he didn’t push, just watched Naruto with quiet concern whenever they were together.

And then, one afternoon, Kakashi walked into Minato’s office to give a mission report, and Minato barely even acknowledged him.

Kakashi blinked. Minato didn’t usually act like this.

For a moment, Kakashi let it slide, walking up to the desk and placing the mission report down. But when Minato barely spared him a glance before murmuring a distracted “Got it, thanks.”, something in Kakashi bristled.

"You're giving me the cold shoulder now too?" Kakashi asked, frowning.

Minato’s head snapped up, eyes widening slightly in realization. Then, like a guilty child caught misbehaving, he sighed and rubbed a hand over his face.

"...Shit, I’m sorry," Minato admitted, voice softer now. "That wasn’t fair."

Kakashi watched him for a beat, unimpressed. "No, it wasn’t."

Minato exhaled again, leaning back in his chair. "Naruto’s upset with me," he admitted. "And I guess I just... took it out on you."

That made Kakashi pause. His expression shifted, irritation fading into something more contemplative.

"...Naruto’s upset with you?" he repeated slowly. "Why?"

Minato sighed, resting his elbow on the desk and rubbing his temple. For a moment, he debated how much he should say. But this was Kakashi, and he had already put him in this position without meaning to.

“He’s hurt because you rejected him,” Minato admitted simply.

Kakashi stiffened.

Minato lifted his gaze, watching him carefully. "And since he knows you used to have feelings for me, he's acting a little… resentful towards me."

Kakashi exhaled slowly, staring at the floor.

"He's being a little irrational," Minato continued. "But his feelings are still fresh, and he's not great at processing things like this. He just needs time." He paused, then sighed again. "None of this is your fault, though. And I really am sorry for taking my frustration out on you."

Kakashi didn’t respond. He knew Minato meant it, but the apology didn’t change anything. Maybe he hadn’t actually done anything wrong, but it didn’t feel that way.

Because Naruto was upset. Because Minato was acting differently. Because everything between them had become strained and awkward, and the only common denominator was him.

It wasn’t fair. He knew that. It wasn’t logical. He knew that too. But guilt didn’t care about fairness or logic.

And if he was being completely honest with himself, it wasn’t just guilt weighing on him—it was the loneliness of it all.

This entire situation had left him feeling like an outsider, like he was being punished for something he didn’t even understand.

For what? For rejecting Naruto? For something as stupid as an old teenage crush?

Kakashi let out a slow breath. “I didn’t want this,” he admitted. “Any of it.”

Minato exhaled through his nose, watching him carefully. “I know.”

Kakashi’s shoulders slumped. “Do you? I didn’t ask for Naruto to like me,” he said, voice strained. “I wasn’t the one who told him about my past crush. But now I’m the one paying the price for it.” He let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. “Naruto is avoiding me. You are treating me differently, even if you don’t mean to.” His voice wavered slightly, but he forced himself to finish. “Like I did something wrong just by existing.”

Minato’s heart ached at the words.

Kakashi rarely let his emotions show so openly. The fact that he was saying all of this meant he was really at his limit.

Kakashi exhaled shakily and ran a hand through his hair. “I rejected him because I thought it was the right thing to do,” he continued. “Because I didn’t want to lead him on. Because I care about him, and I didn’t want to mess things up between us. But it doesn’t feel like I made the right choice. It feels like I ruined everything anyway.”

Minato sighed. “Kakashi…”

Kakashi shook his head. “And now Naruto is mad at you, and you’re apologizing to me for taking it out on me, but I—” He let out a frustrated breath. “I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do. What do you want me to do?”

Minato stood up.

Before Kakashi could react, Minato placed a hand on his head, warm and grounding.

“It’s about what you want, Kakashi.” Minato offered him a small, but sincere smile. “I’ll support you, no matter what you decide,” he told him. “Naruto might be my son, but you are just as important to me. And I’m here for you, alright? I’d hate you to feel like you’re alone in this.”

Kakashi’s breath caught.

For a long moment, he didn’t say anything.

Then, finally, he closed his eyes and let out a quiet, shaky sigh. “…Yeah.”

Kakashi closed Minato’s office door behind him with a soft click, rolling his shoulders and exhaling a quiet breath. He turned—only to find a familiar figure leaning against the wall across the hall.

“…Sasuke,” Kakashi said with a slight raise of his brow. “Here for a new mission?”

Sasuke pushed off the wall and gave a curt nod along with a “Yeah.”, arms crossed tightly over his chest. His dark eyes didn’t leave Kakashi’s face—sharp, unreadable, and more than a little judgmental.

Kakashi sighed, the weight of the past few days catching up with him all over again. “What’s with the friendly stare?” he asked, dryly. “If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under already.”

Sasuke didn’t respond immediately. Kakashi pushed on, his tone edged with weariness. “Let me guess. You want to warn me off Naruto. I get it,” he added, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “He’s your teammate, your friend. You think I’ll or corrupt him or some other dramatic thing. No need to waste your breath—I'm well aware he’s too young for me.”

Sasuke scoffed. “You done?” he said, voice sharp, like Kakashi’s assumption had annoyed him. “I’m just pissed I got involuntarily involved in this whole mess in the first place. I was doing just fine not knowing a damn thing about anyone’s love life. Especially yours and the Hokage’s.”

Kakashi blinked. “...Fair.”

“And by the way,” Sasuke added, eyes narrowing slightly, “Naruto’s not a kid.”

That made Kakashi pause.

Sasuke’s arms were still crossed, but his voice was firmer now. “He’s been through more than most people twice his age. If you’re not into him, fine. But don’t talk about him like he’s some naive kid who doesn’t know what he wants.”

Kakashi furrowed his brows. “I wasn’t—”

Sasuke cut him off. “You kind of were. You said it yourself—‘too young for me.’ Like Naruto’s still some wide-eyed genin hanging on your every word.”

Kakashi opened his mouth to speak, but Sasuke cut him off.

“But he’s not,” Sasuke said, voice firm now, conviction clear in every word. “You were his teacher. You of all people should know how far he’s come. He’s carried the world on his back. So at least give him the credit he deserves.”

Kakashi studied Sasuke, genuinely taken aback. He hadn’t expected a defense like that—not from Sasuke, who usually kept his nose firmly out of other people’s business unless it directly concerned him.

Sasuke took a step closer, looking up at Kakashi with something dangerously close to anger. “And if Naruto was old enough to go to war and nearly die for this village, then maybe he’s old enough for you to take him seriously.”

The words hit harder than Kakashi expected. They landed somewhere deep and heavy, right beneath the guilt he’d been dragging around all week.

Then Kakashi gave a tired, almost reluctant sigh. “Sasuke, I’m not belittling Naruto. But even you have to admit... we’re not a good match. And Naruto could have literally anyone. Why would he settle for someone like me?”

Sasuke scoffed. “Beats me.”

Kakashi blinked.

“But that’s not for me to understand,” Sasuke said with a shrug. “And it’s not for you to understand either. It’s Naruto’s choice. And the least you could do is respect it.”

Kakashi was silent for a moment, staring at the floor. Then, with a weary breath, he nodded once.

They stood in silence for a few seconds longer before the office door behind Kakashi creaked open again, and Minato leaned out with a clipboard. “Ah, Sasuke—come on in.”

Sasuke gave Kakashi one last look before brushing past him and into the office.

Kakashi left the Hokage Tower with his thoughts churning and Sasuke’s words echoing in his head.

He let out a sigh, rubbing his face with one hand as he wandered aimlessly through the streets.

Kakashi wasn’t sure how he ended up there, but somehow his legs led him straight to Ichiraku.

And there, sitting at the counter, looking like the very picture of misery, was Naruto.

Kakashi froze.

Naruto hadn’t noticed him yet. He was busy wallowing, his expression pulled into a deep scowl as he poked at his ramen.

For a brief moment, Kakashi considered turning around and walking away.

Naruto wanted space, right? That’s what he had said.

But instead, before he could stop himself, Kakashi stepped forward.

His shadow fell over Naruto, and finally, Naruto glanced up—only to immediately stiffen when he saw who it was.

Kakashi hesitated. “...Hey.”

Naruto quickly looked away, his jaw tightening. “Hey.”

Kakashi stared at him for a moment. Then, carefully, he asked, “Can I sit?”

Naruto didn’t answer right away. But after a long pause, he let out a breath and shrugged. “It’s a free village.”

Kakashi took that as a yes.

He slid onto the stool beside Naruto. An awkward silence stretched between them.

Naruto broke it first, grumbling, “If you’re here to check if I’m okay, you don’t have to.”

Kakashi hummed. “I know.”

Naruto made a face. “Then why are you here?”

Kakashi thought about that for a moment. Then, with a shrug, he said, “I guess I just… wanted to.”

Naruto tensed slightly, but didn’t say anything.

They sat there in silence.

Naruto stared down at his ramen, expression unreadable. Then, almost grudgingly, he mumbled, “...You wanna split a bowl?”

Kakashi blinked.

That definitely wasn’t the response he expected.

But after a brief pause, he smiled beneath his mask.

“Sure,” he said.

Naruto passed him a pair of chopsticks but Kakashi just held them in his hand for a moment. He then cleared his throat, feeling uncharacteristically awkward. “I, uh… I wanted to say sorry.”

Naruto blinked at him. “Huh?”

“For how I rejected you,” Kakashi said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m… not good at things like this. I thought about it a lot and I should’ve went about it differently, picked some better words. Ones that weren’t so dismissive.”

Naruto stiffened slightly, shoulders going rigid at the mention of his confession. He didn’t say anything right away, just kept his gaze on his barely touched ramen. Then, after a long moment, he sighed. “Don’t worry about it.”

Kakashi glanced at him.

Naruto gave a half-hearted shrug. “I know I kinda just… threw it at you out of nowhere. You weren’t expecting it.” His lips quirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “And it’s not your fault I was dumb enough to catch feelings for my own sensei.”

The words barely left his mouth before Kakashi let out a quiet, breathy chuckle. “We have that in common, huh.”

The second he heard himself say it, his entire body tensed.

Shit.

He hadn’t meant to say that out loud. He really hadn’t.

Naruto was already touchy about the fact that Kakashi had once crushed on Minato. If there was one thing Kakashi shouldn’t have done, it was bring it up now.

He braced himself for Naruto to get mad—or worse, storm off—but instead, Naruto just blinked at him, his face unreadable.

Kakashi felt like he should say something to fix it, but before he could open his mouth, Naruto let out a quiet, amused snort.

Kakashi stared at him, thrown.

Naruto shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. “Guess I walked right into that one, huh?”

“…A little.” Kakashi watched him cautiously, still waiting for some kind of fallout. But to his surprise, Naruto wasn’t glaring at him anymore. If anything, he looked… lighter.

Naruto exhaled through his nose. “Man, this is so weird.”

Kakashi tilted his head. “What is?”

Naruto made a vague gesture between them. “This. All of it. I still don’t know how to act around you, but—” He hesitated, then let out another small laugh. “I dunno. That actually made me feel a little better.”

Kakashi blinked. “It did?”

“Yeah,” Naruto said, then fell quiet. He seemed to wrestle with something before hesitantly asking, “Did you ever tell him?”

Kakashi frowned. “Tell who what?”

“My dad,” Naruto clarified. “Did you ever confess?”

Kakashi blinked, then exhaled a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “No.”

Naruto tilted his head. “Why not?”

Kakashi let out a short breath, gathering his thoughts. “Because I wasn’t as brave as you, for one.” He glanced at Naruto, then looked away. “But mostly… I knew I didn’t have a chance. He was already in a committed relationship. And even if he hadn’t been, I knew I was just a kid in his eyes.”

Naruto hummed in understanding. He let that sink in for a moment before hesitating again, gripping his chopsticks a little tighter. He kept his tone as casual as he could manage when he asked, “Do you think of me as just a kid too?”

Kakashi stilled, caught off guard by the question. He didn’t answer right away, taking a moment to be absolutely sure of his words before responding. Finally, his gaze softened.

“…No.”

The atmosphere shifted.

Naruto’s fingers clenched briefly around his chopsticks before he let them relax. His mouth opened, like he wanted to say something, but he hesitated. He tried again, voice quiet, barely above a murmur.

“Then—”

He stopped.

He pressed his lips together, shaking his head. Then he let out a small breath and looked up at Kakashi with a quiet, almost sheepish smile. “Never mind.”

Kakashi watched him for a moment, something curious in his gaze. But he didn’t push.

Naruto went back to eating his ramen, acting like the conversation hadn’t just made his heart pound in his chest.

A few days later, Kakashi found himself standing in front of Minato’s desk, summoned without much explanation.

Minato leaned back in his chair, watching Kakashi with that familiar calm gaze. “How have you been?”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at the unexpected question. “Fine, considering,” he answered cautiously.

Minato hummed. “And things with Naruto?”

Kakashi hesitated for only a fraction of a second before replying, “Not as awkward as before.”

Minato nodded, pleased. “That’s good to hear.” He tapped his fingers against his desk. “I wanted to ask you something, and I’d like you to answer honestly.”

Kakashi inclined his head slightly, waiting.

Minato straightened up. “Do you think you’re ready to take on a mission with him again?”

For a moment, Kakashi just stared at him. He hadn’t been expecting that.

“…With Naruto?” he echoed, brows furrowing slightly.

“Yes.” Minato’s tone was steady, calm. “A joint mission. I haven’t given him the details yet, but before I assign it, I wanted to check in with you first.”

Kakashi felt an odd weight settle in his chest—something between guilt and shame. The fact that Minato even felt the need to ask him that meant he must’ve given off the impression that he wasn’t capable of separating his personal feelings from his duty. And that stung.

He straightened his posture slightly, shaking his head. “I apologize if I made it seem like I would let personal matters interfere with my orders,” he said firmly. “That was never my intention. I’ll do whatever you ask of me.”

Minato sighed, his expression softening. “Kakashi,” he said patiently, “I never doubted your professionalism. I know you’d follow orders no matter what.”

Kakashi blinked. “Then…?”

“I care about your feelings,” Minato said simply. “Just as I care about Naruto’s. And if this situation is still difficult for either of you, I’d rather not force it.”

Kakashi exhaled slowly, some of the tension in his chest easing at Minato’s words. He hadn’t even realized how much he’d needed to hear that—that his Hokage, his Minato, still trusted him completely.

“…I see.”

Minato gave him a moment before repeating his original question. “So, what do you think? Are you up for a mission with Naruto?”

Kakashi took a breath, turning the thought over in his mind. He and Naruto had only just started talking again after days of awkward avoidance, but… a mission wasn’t personal. It was work. And Kakashi could handle that.

“I’m fine with it,” he said. “If Naruto is as well.”

Minato smiled, pleased. “Good. I’ll ask him, too. If he agrees, I’ll summon you back with the mission details.”

Kakashi nodded. “Understood.”

Kakashi was summoned back to Minato’s office later that day, which meant Naruto had agreed to the mission as well.

As he pushed open the door, he immediately spotted Naruto, who was already there, standing across from Minato’s desk, arms crossed as he chatted with his father. Whatever they were talking about, Naruto seemed at ease—maybe even in a good mood. That was… reassuring.

Minato glanced up at Kakashi’s arrival and greeted him with a small nod. “Good, you’re here. Let’s get started.”

Naruto turned to look at Kakashi, his expression unreadable for a moment before he gave a small, almost imperceptible nod in acknowledgment. It wasn’t exactly warm, but it wasn’t cold either. Progress.

Minato leaned forward, lacing his fingers together on the desk. “The mission is in the Land of Rivers. There’s been some suspicious activity near one of the smaller villages along the border, and the daimyo has requested Konoha’s assistance in investigating. Several merchants have reported missing cargo and disappearing goods, and while it could be bandits, there’s reason to believe something bigger might be at play.”

Kakashi listened carefully, already forming a strategy in his mind.

Minato continued, “The two of you will go in under the cover of merchants and gather intel. If it turns out to be ordinary thieves, handle it as necessary. But if you uncover anything more serious, report back before engaging.”

Naruto frowned slightly. “Do we know if any other villages are involved?”

“There’s no indication that other shinobi forces are at play,” Minato replied. “But that’s one of the things I want you to confirm. Keep a low profile and assess the situation carefully before taking action.”

Kakashi nodded. “Understood.”

Minato looked between the two of them. “I wouldn’t have assigned you this mission together if I didn’t believe you could handle it professionally, but I’ll ask again—are you both comfortable working as a team?”

Naruto hesitated for just a second before exhaling through his nose. “Yeah. I’m good.”

Kakashi studied Naruto’s face, searching for any hint of unease, but Naruto’s expression was steady. He wasn’t forcing it.

Kakashi nodded. “I’m good too.”

Minato smiled slightly. “Glad to hear it.” He passed a scroll across the desk. “You’ll leave at dawn. Supplies have already been prepared, and you’ll be traveling as Tetsuya and Renji, two wandering traders. Details of your cover identities are in the scroll.”

Naruto picked it up and smirked. “Let me guess—you made me the loudmouth salesman, huh?”

Minato chuckled. “I thought it would be the most convincing role for you.”

Kakashi huffed a quiet laugh despite himself.

Naruto grumbled under his breath before rolling his eyes. “Fine, whatever.” Then, glancing at Kakashi, he added, “Guess we better get ready, huh?”

Kakashi met his gaze and nodded. “Looks like it.”

Minato watched them for a moment, something fond and thoughtful in his expression, before finally saying, “Good luck out there, you two.”

At dawn, Kakashi and Naruto set off on their mission, traveling under their assigned aliases as wandering merchants.

The road leading to the Land of Rivers was long, but the first leg of their journey was mostly quiet. They had to keep their cover in case of any wandering travelers, so they dressed the part—simple, worn clothing, a small cart filled with random goods to sell as a front, and nothing that screamed “elite shinobi of Konoha”. To avoid suspicion, Kakashi had also ditched his mask.

That part had been especially distracting for Naruto.

He wasn’t shocked by Kakashi’s face or anything—he’d already seen it before. But there was something about Kakashi casually walking around like this, completely unguarded, that threw him off. It made everything feel a little too new. Like he wasn’t just his former sensei, wasn’t just Kakashi, but a man.

The silence between them wasn’t exactly comfortable, but it wasn’t hostile either.

Still, Kakashi could tell Naruto was holding back. Normally, he was a chatterbox on missions, filling the quiet with whatever nonsense came to his mind. But now, he only spoke when necessary, mostly to confirm details about their cover or their route.

Eventually, Kakashi decided to break the silence.

“You’re not really committed to this loudmouth merchant role, huh?” he said, glancing at Naruto. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this quiet on a mission before.”

Naruto shot him a look, then sighed. “I’m just trying to focus.”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “On what? Walking?”

Naruto groaned. “You love doing this, don’t you?”

Kakashi’s eyes crinkled slightly in amusement. “Doing what?”

“Getting under my skin.” Naruto shook his head, but there was no real heat in it. “It’s like a hobby for you.”

“Well,” Kakashi said lightly, “I have to keep myself entertained somehow.”

Naruto made a face but didn’t argue. Another stretch of silence. Then, unexpectedly, Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his head. “I know I’m being weird. It’s just... I don’t know how to act around you right now.”

Kakashi considered that. “Then just act normal.”

Naruto snorted. “Yeah, ‘cause that’s so easy.”

Kakashi chuckled. “For you? Maybe not.”

Naruto scowled, but the corners of his lips twitched just slightly, like he was fighting back a grin. It was a small thing, but it made Kakashi feel a little less like everything between them was falling apart.

They found a good spot to set up camp near the river, a small clearing nestled between the trees. The sound of flowing water was steady but calming, the breeze carrying the scent of damp earth and fresh leaves. As the sky darkened, Kakashi started preparing a small fire while Naruto busied himself gathering extra firewood.

“I’ll set up the traps,” Kakashi said, standing up and dusting off his hands. “Try not to trip over your own feet while I’m gone.”

Naruto scowled at him. “Ha ha. Very funny.”

Kakashi gave him an amused eye smile before vanishing into the trees.

Naruto huffed and turned back toward the pile of wood he had gathered. He reached for a particularly large branch wedged between some rocks near the riverbank, grunting as he yanked at it. With a final strong pull, it suddenly came loose—too fast for him to adjust his balance.

“Woah—!”

Before he could even think to react, Naruto tumbled backward, his foot slipping on the damp ground. He flailed, trying to catch himself, but instead, he crashed straight into the shallow water with a loud splash.

For a second, he just sat there, stunned, blinking up at the darkening sky as cool water soaked through his clothes.

Then, a low chuckle made him snap his head toward the campfire. Kakashi had returned, standing at the edge of the clearing with his arms crossed, watching the whole thing unfold.

“Still as clumsy as ever, I see,” Kakashi mused, his tone light with amusement.

Naruto scowled, pushing himself up with a splash. “Oh, shut up.”

He shot Kakashi a glare before stomping his way out of the river, his sandals squelching loudly with each step. Water dripped from his clothes, and his hair was plastered to his forehead. With an annoyed sigh, he peeled off his jacket, then his shirt, tossing them over a nearby tree branch to dry. His pants soon followed, leaving him in just his boxers as he wrung out his soaked clothes.

Kakashi, still seated comfortably, didn’t react much beyond a raised eyebrow. “At least we won’t have to worry about you stinking up the place.”

“Okay, now you’re just being a jerk,” Naruto grumbled, shaking out his pants before draping them over another branch.

Kakashi smirked, then leaned back on his hands as he watched the flames crackle. The light from the fire cast flickering shadows across Naruto’s skin, highlighting the defined muscle of his arms and torso. It was strange, in a way—Kakashi had seen Naruto injured, covered in bruises and scratches, but in this moment, without his usual bright orange jumpsuit or ninja gear, he seemed… different.

Older.

He shut that thought down before it could go any further.

Naruto, unaware of Kakashi’s sudden inner crisis, wrung out his undershirt one last time before flopping down near the fire with a sigh.

“Well, that sucked.”

Kakashi hummed in agreement.

They sat in silence for a while, the night settling in around them. The awkwardness was still there, lingering just beneath the surface, but it wasn’t as suffocating as before.

Kakashi, perched on a nearby rock, glanced over at Naruto. "You should try sleeping," he said. "I'll take first watch."

And Naruto tried—he really did. He closed his eyes, adjusted his position, pulled his arms under his head, then flipped onto his side, but no matter what, the incessant buzzing in his ears drove him crazy. Every few seconds, a mosquito would land on his arm or leg, and he’d slap at it, only to have two more take its place. He tossed, turned, grumbled, and muttered curses under his breath, but the little bloodsuckers were relentless.

Finally, he’d had enough.

“ARGH!” Naruto exploded, sitting up and furiously swatting at the air around him. “I swear, I’m gonna lose my mind!” He swung wildly, missing most of his targets, but at least it made him feel better.

Across the fire, Kakashi sighed, clearly unimpressed. "You do realize we're on a mission, right? Maybe don't announce our location to the whole damn forest?"

Naruto shot him a betrayed look. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize my suffering was such an inconvenience to you.”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “Suffering?”

“Yes, suffering! I’m being eaten alive over here, and you’re worried about me being loud instead?” Naruto snapped, waving dramatically at the air around him.

Kakashi hummed, eyeing him with mild amusement. “I think you're exaggerating. There aren't that many flying around.”

Naruto scowled at him. "Maybe not around you, but I'm practically naked over here!" He gestured at himself, still only in his boxers. "I am the full-course meal, obviously attracting every single mosquito in a five-mile radius!"

Kakashi considered that for a moment, then tilted his head. “Hm. Lie down.”

Naruto frowned. “I told you, I can’t.”

“Just do it,” Kakashi said, his voice calm but firm.

Naruto squinted at him suspiciously but relented, flopping onto his back with a dramatic sigh. “Fine. But if you’re about to tell me some dumb meditation technique to ‘think away’ the mosquitoes, I swear—”

He cut himself off when Kakashi shifted closer, settling down beside him. He lifted one hand, and suddenly, a faint crackle of chakra illuminated his face in a pale blue glow. It wasn’t a full Chidori—far from it—but the air around them buzzed faintly with static.

Naruto stared, wide-eyed, as Kakashi held out his hand, waiting. And then, as soon as a mosquito dared to enter his range, a small zap of electricity snapped it out of existence. Every now and then, he would adjust the position of his hand, fine-tuning his control to make sure Naruto remained untouched by any stray electricity.

Naruto’s heart did something stupid in his chest.

This was, without a doubt, the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for him.

He suddenly had the horrible, gut-wrenching realization that he was never, ever going to get over Kakashi.

Naruto swallowed thickly, staring at the older man beside him. Kakashi, who had effortlessly rejected him. Kakashi, who had told him no, who had been clear and firm about it. And yet here he was, quietly doing something ridiculous and sweet just to help him sleep.

Naruto had to look away.

“...Thanks,” he muttered after a long pause.

Kakashi hummed noncommittally, still focused on his task.

Naruto exhaled slowly, closing his eyes. Maybe, for just tonight, he could pretend this wasn’t a one-sided crush. Maybe he could let himself enjoy it, just a little.

Even if it was only a fantasy.

The night air was warm, the sound of the river nearby a quiet, steady presence. Naruto lay still, his body finally relaxing now that the mosquito nightmare had been taken care of. Kakashi remained beside him, his occasional flickers of lightning chakra zapping away any stragglers brave enough to come near.

It was... nice. Too nice.

Naruto knew he should just shut up and let himself fall asleep, but his brain wouldn’t let him. His heart wouldn’t let him. He cracked one eye open, turning his head slightly to look at Kakashi.

“You know,” he started, voice quieter than usual, “you don’t have to keep doing that. I’ll survive.”

Kakashi didn’t look at him. “I know.” But he didn’t stop.

Naruto stared for a moment before exhaling through his nose, shaking his head slightly. He didn’t get it. Kakashi had turned him down. Clear as day. But then he went and did stuff like this.

It was confusing as hell.

“Kakashi.”

“Hm?”

Naruto hesitated, turning his gaze toward the stars above them. He felt strangely vulnerable like this—lying there, half-naked, under the open sky with Kakashi sitting so close.

After a beat of silence, he said, “Why’d you reject me?”

Kakashi’s hand stilled.

Naruto swallowed, his heart hammering. He hadn’t planned on asking that. It had just slipped out. But now that the words were hanging in the air between them, he felt like he had to push forward. 

“I mean, I have a general idea of what your reasons might be. I don’t want to guess, though. I wanna hear them from you.”

Kakashi was quiet for a moment.

Then he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “The moment you confessed, I already knew what my answer should be. It was the only right one in my head.”

Naruto watched him closely, his chest tightening.

“And yeah,” Kakashi continued, voice calm but a little tired. “The reasons are probably what you’d expect. You were my student. There’s a significant age difference between us. And you’re not even twenty yet.” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “You’re young. You have a lot of time to fall in love. And one day, you’ll find someone better suited for you than me.”

Naruto exhaled sharply through his nose, shifting so he was propped up on his elbow. “That’s what you think, huh?”

Kakashi didn’t respond right away. His gaze drifted toward the fire, unreadable.

Naruto searched his face, waiting.

“Yeah,” Kakashi finally said, his voice softer. “That’s what I think.”

Naruto let himself fall back against the ground, staring up at the sky. His chest felt tight in a way he didn’t know how to deal with.

“…I don’t like your answer,” he muttered.

Kakashi let out a small, breathy chuckle. “I figured.”

Naruto pressed his lips together. He sat up abruptly, twisting to face Kakashi. His expression was tight, frustrated. “See, if you gave me a good reason just now, then maybe I’d let it go.”

Kakashi arched an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting.

Naruto pushed on. “If you told me you were so repulsed by me that looking at me made your balls curl inwards—”

Kakashi made a choking noise. His Chidori dispelled.

“—or that you’d rather burn all your precious Icha Icha books than go on a date with me, then I’d accept that this whole thing is hopeless.”

Kakashi stared at him, expression unreadable.

“But the reasons you gave me?” Naruto continued, his voice unwavering. “They sound like a bunch of excuses.” He held Kakashi’s gaze, unwavering. “So I don’t accept them.”

For once, Kakashi didn’t have an immediate reply. His fingers twitched slightly where they rested on his knee.

Naruto leaned in a fraction, his eyes sharp. “You could’ve said no in a way that actually killed my feelings, y’know. But you didn’t.”

Kakashi exhaled through his nose, rubbing the back of his head. “…I didn’t think I needed to be cruel.”

Naruto scoffed. “You can if you want. As long as you’re being honest.” He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “Seriously. If you actually wanted to reject me, you should’ve done a better job.”

Kakashi looked at him then, really looked at him. Naruto was tense, shoulders squared, face flushed—not with embarrassment, but with conviction. There was no hesitation in his words, no self-doubt. Just unwavering certainty.

It made Kakashi’s stomach feel oddly heavy.

“…You’re really stubborn, huh?” Kakashi said finally, voice quieter.

Naruto huffed. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

A silence settled between them. The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across Kakashi’s face.

Naruto held his breath, waiting. Daring Kakashi to give him something real.

Kakashi exhaled slowly, tilting his head back slightly as if considering his next words carefully. “I’m still… figuring things out myself,” he admitted. “And right now, I don’t have any other reason to give you.” His voice was quieter now, more thoughtful. “Not one I know I’m sure about.”

Naruto stared at him, searching his expression, trying to gauge what that meant. He took a breath, then said, “If that’s the case, then my feelings aren’t going anywhere.” His tone was matter-of-fact, no hesitation, no doubt. Just a simple truth.

Kakashi looked at him for a long moment, then gave a small nod. “Alright.”

That was it. No argument, no attempt to change Naruto’s mind. Just that single, accepting word.

Naruto felt something settle in his chest. A strange mix of relief and anticipation. He wasn’t sure what exactly he had been hoping for, but this—this felt like something possible.

He sighed and lay back down, folding his arms behind his head as he stared up at the dark sky.

For the first time in days, his heart felt a little lighter.

With Kakashi still sitting beside him, close enough that Naruto could hear the quiet shift of his breath, he let his eyes drift shut.

And with a somehow hopeful heart, he tried to fall asleep.

Chapter Text

By the time Naruto woke up, the sun was already rising, casting a golden glow over the camp. His clothes, now dry, were folded neatly beside him. Kakashi was still sitting nearby, though he had shifted positions, leaning back against a tree with his arms crossed.

Naruto stretched with a groan, rubbing at his face. “Did you even sleep?” he asked, voice rough.

Kakashi hummed. “A little.”

Naruto gave him a look. “Liar.”

Kakashi just eye-smiled at him. “We should eat and get moving soon.”

Naruto stood up, tugging his shirt down over his stomach and squinting up at the sky. “Are we far from the nearest town?”

“Not really. Hour’s walk, maybe a bit more.”

Naruto perked up a bit. “Then can we just wait to eat there? I wouldn’t mind starving for another hour if it means eating something that isn’t a sad excuse for food out of a tin.”

Kakashi gave a soft laugh. “Fine by me.”

When they finally reached the town, the smell of fresh grilled meats and steamed buns filled the air, making Naruto practically drool as they walked through the market street. His eyes scanned the stalls like a predator on the hunt until he pointed to one cheerfully decorated cart that had a line but was clearly worth it.

“There,” he said, grabbing Kakashi’s sleeve. “You go snag that table before someone else takes it. I’ll get us something good.”

Kakashi didn’t argue. He wandered over to the nearby wooden table and settled in, stretching his legs out as he waited. A few minutes later, Naruto returned with a paper bag in his arms, the smell of warm food wafting from it.

“Smells good,” Kakashi said as Naruto sat across from him.

Naruto plopped the bag on the table and started pulling out their lunch. Kakashi reached for one of the containers, handed the other to Naruto, then popped the lid off his.

He was about to dig in when Naruto blinked and reached across the table, stopping him. “Wait—nope. That one’s mine.”

Kakashi froze mid-bite. “Huh? Didn’t you get us the same thing?”

“Yeah,” Naruto said, swapping the containers quickly. “But mine has coriander in it. I asked the auntie not to put any in yours.”

Kakashi blinked.

“You don’t like it, right?” Naruto asked casually.

There was a brief pause. Kakashi looked down at the food in his hands, then back up at Naruto.

“I—yeah, actually. To me, coriander kind of tastes like—”

“Like soap, I know,” Naruto said with a small smile. “You mentioned it once, a while ago.”

Kakashi blinked again, eyes narrowing slightly in amusement. “You remembered that?”

Naruto immediately felt his face warm. He rubbed at the back of his neck, suddenly unsure whether he should be proud of himself or horribly embarrassed. . “Uh… yeah. I guess I did.”

Kakashi was still looking at him, something thoughtful and almost gentle in his gaze.

Naruto ducked his head, mumbling, “Don’t make it weird.”

Kakashi gave a quiet laugh. “I’m not. It’s… nice.”

Naruto grinned despite himself, taking a big bite of his food to hide the pink tinge in his cheeks. And for a few moments, they ate in companionable silence—something that felt just a little more comfortable than before.

Naruto let out a satisfied sigh as he tossed the empty food container into the trash. “Man, that hit the spot.”

Kakashi nodded, patting his stomach lightly. “You and your bottomless pit of an appetite never cease to amaze me.”

“It’s called being an active shinobi,” Naruto said, standing up and stretching with a dramatic groan. The mid-day summer sun was now beating down with renewed strength, and sweat quickly formed along his temples. With a grumble, Naruto shrugged off his outer jacket and tied it around his waist, then rolled his T-shirt sleeves up over his shoulders. “Ugh. We didn’t even do any work yet and I’m already melting.”

As they walked through the lively street of the village, colorful stalls lining both sides and vendors shouting about sales, a large, broad-shouldered man leaned out from behind a stall that had a few weights and signs advertising strength contests.

“Hey, you two!” he barked. “Wanna earn some quick cash?”

Naruto blinked, turning his head. Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

The man grinned, flashing too many gold teeth for it to be anything but shady. “Put down 5,000 ryo, beat me in arm wrestling, and you double it. Simple. Easy. Fun.”

Kakashi immediately recognized the type—one of those roid-fueled meatheads who made money off tourists and people who underestimated his bulk. It was obvious what he was thinking—he sized them up, saw no hulking muscles and thought they would be easy money. Ninja rarely looked like body builders from the outside though. Lean muscle, not brawn, was what most shinobi strove for, anything more than that would negatively impact their speed and agility. Kakashi was half-tempted to call the bluff, but more than that, he was just not in the mood to wrestle with some sweaty stranger.

Kakashi sighed. “No thanks,” he said flatly, already stepping forward to walk past.

But beside him, Naruto rolled his shoulder with a grin, eyes gleaming with a spark of mischief. “Sure,” he said, already stepping up to the table. “Why the hell not?”

Kakashi stopped mid-step, turning his head slowly toward Naruto. “Seriously?”

The buff guy clapped his hands together with a booming laugh. “That’s what I like to hear!”

Kakashi leaned in, lowering his voice. “You do have the money, right?”

Naruto blinked. “Uh…”

He quickly pulled out his frog wallet and started counting. “Two, three, three-fifty… ah, crap, I’m short.”

Kakashi sighed, rolling his eyes in that long-suffering way he had perfected at birth. He fished out his own wallet, pulled out 2,000 ryo, and handed it over without a word.

Naruto beamed at him. “You’re a lifesaver.”

“You better win, or I’m charging interest,” Kakashi said dryly.

Naruto grinned wider, already stepping up to the little arm-wrestling table set up beside the stall. “Don’t worry. I’m about to make you proud.”

Kakashi stepped aside, crossing his arms and watching with faint amusement as Naruto sat down across from the burly man, locked hands with him, and grinned like he was already imagining the cash raining from the sky.

The sketchy guy cracked his neck and smirked. “Don’t cry when I snap your wrist, kid.”

Naruto’s grin just widened.

Kakashi wasn’t especially worried. He had a good idea of how strong Naruto was—he’d been on the receiving end of one of those punches before. So no, this wasn’t a white-knuckled spectator moment. It was more like watching someone else go through the motions of a nearly inevitable win.

Still, his eyes wandered a little, almost against his will. Naruto’s arm tensed, muscles shifting under the tanned skin, catching glints of sun and a shimmer of sweat. The veins in his forearm popped just a little, and there was a tightness in his jaw that Kakashi caught himself watching too closely.

He blinked, then looked away with a silent scoff at himself. Really, Hatake? You’re too old to be thirsting over some sweaty biceps.

There was a loud thud as the sketchy guy’s arm slammed down onto the table.

Naruto grinned wide and smug as the man’s expression soured. Kakashi couldn’t help the quiet satisfaction that bloomed in his chest—honestly, it felt just as good as if he’d won the damn thing himself.

Naruto jumped to his feet with a grin while the guy swore under his breath, rubbing his hand like he’d been hit by a brick.

“The money,” Naruto reminded him with a pointed look.

The man muttered something about "damn deceptively strong punks" but still grudgingly handed over the 10,000 ryo. Naruto accepted it with a mock salute, stuffing the bills into his wallet with exaggerated care.

As they resumed walking, Naruto nudged Kakashi with his elbow and held out half of the winnings. “Here. Your cut.”

Kakashi glanced at the money, then at Naruto. “I gave you 2,000. This is 5.”

Naruto shrugged, shoving it into Kakashi’s hand anyway. “It was equal effort. The guy was actually pretty damn strong, I only won ’cause you were watching.”

Kakashi raised a brow. “Huh?”

Naruto grinned, still walking forward with his hands behind his head. “Couldn’t lose face in front of the guy I like.”

Kakashi stumbled half a step, the bills crinkling in his hand as he tightened his grip around them. He suddenly felt a little warm in the chest.

Naruto didn’t look back, but there was the faintest dusting of red at the tips of his ears.

They reached the outskirts of their target town just before sundown. The small trading hub bustled with activity—merchants finishing up for the day, villagers gathering in the square, people heading into teahouses and small inns for the night.

Their cover was simple enough. They carried a few goods with them—mostly small trinkets and trade items—to make their presence believable. Naruto, with his naturally loud and friendly personality, fit the role of an eager young merchant perfectly. Kakashi, as usual, played the reserved and observant partner.

They checked into a modest inn, dropping their things in their shared room before heading out to gather information.

Naruto took to the task easily, chatting with villagers and shopkeepers, listening for rumors about the thieves they were investigating. Kakashi, on the other hand, was quieter—watching, listening, and subtly picking up on details Naruto might have missed.

Then they split up and after a few hours regrouped outside a small teahouse.

Naruto crossed his arms. “So? Find out anything?”

Kakashi hummed. “There have been multiple thefts in the area, but no one has actually seen the thieves. It’s always done in the middle of the night, no signs of forced entry.”

Naruto frowned. “Same here. A few merchants complained about stuff going missing from their locked storage rooms. No broken doors or windows. Like the stuff just vanished.”

Kakashi tapped his chin thoughtfully. “That means we’re either dealing with highly skilled thieves… or jutsu.”

Naruto huffed. “Guess we’ll have to do some more digging tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m starving.”

Kakashi agreed, and they made their way to a nearby restaurant. Over a simple meal, they discussed their next steps—who they should talk to next, which merchants seemed the most affected, and how they could possibly catch the thieves in the act.

The walk back from the restaurant was quiet, but not tense.

Kakashi had yawned twice during the stroll, covering his mouth lazily with the back of his hand. Naruto noticed, of course. He also noticed the way Kakashi’s steps lagged just a little on the uphill slope toward the inn.

“You didn’t sleep at all last night, did you?” Naruto asked as they reached the door to their shared room.

Kakashi glanced at him, slow and tired. “Didn’t feel like it.”

Naruto raised an eyebrow. “You, the king of naps?”

Kakashi offered a faint shrug. “I nap when I can afford to.”

Naruto opened the door for them, then asked, “Tea? Or straight to bed?”

Kakashi gave him a tired smile. “Tea.”

A few minutes later, they were on the small balcony attached to their room, two mismatched cups in hand, warm steam curling up into the night air. They sat side by side, their knees occasionally brushing when one of them shifted. The sounds of the inn had quieted, and the scent of the tea—something floral, mild—hung between them.

Naruto turned his head slightly, watched Kakashi over the rim of his own cup, eyes narrowing with subtle curiosity.

After a moment, Naruto broke the quiet. “I’m still not completely used to seeing your face out in the open like this.”

Kakashi glanced at him sidelong, lips curling faintly. “It’s a rare treat. You shouldn’t complain.”

“I’m not,” Naruto replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I actually… cherish it.”

Kakashi raised a brow, his tea paused at his mouth.

Naruto shrugged, eyes returning to the town lights. “It’s just… I never realized how much of you I was missing before. Like how you bite your bottom lip when you’re focused. Or how your smile is actually… softer than I previously thought.”

Kakashi blinked, clearly taken off guard.

“It’s just something I’ve noticed,” Naruto said, tone low, honest. “You’re a bit easier to read like this, too. And that I’m definitely not complaining about.”

Kakashi looked down at the cup in his hands and didn’t say anything at first. The silence wrapped back around them again, only this time it felt warmer. More thoughtful.

They sat like that for a while—sipping tea, letting the stillness and warm air fill in the spaces between words. Naruto could sense Kakashi unwinding beside him, the tension in his shoulders slowly ebbing away.

Eventually, the quiet stretched longer, and Naruto found himself sinking into the peace of it. He glanced to the side to say something more—and paused.

Kakashi had nodded off, his cup still loosely held in one hand, the rest of him perfectly still except for the slow rise and fall of his chest. His head had tilted slightly, chin lowered, silver hair casting soft shadows across his face in the moonlight.

Naruto smiled faintly.

He reached out carefully, twisting his body to take the cup from Kakashi’s hand. In doing so, Kakashi’s head tilted to the side in an awkward angle that made Naruto wince just looking at it.

“Come on, man,” Naruto murmured. “You’re gonna break your neck.”

Very gently, Naruto maneuvered Kakashi’s head until it rested against his shoulder. It took some slow shifting, a little delicate angling, but eventually Kakashi’s head settled there like it belonged, soft and warm against Naruto’s tensed arm.

He didn’t move after that. Didn’t even breathe too deep.

Just sat there, shoulder to shoulder with the man who’d rejected him, who still made his heart ache in the worst and best ways.
And yet—even knowing all that—this still felt right.

He tilted his head to rest lightly against Kakashi’s hair and closed his eyes.

Just for a moment.

Naruto woke to a gentle nudge at his shoulder.

“Hey,” Kakashi’s voice was low, still laced with sleep. “Wake up.”

Naruto blinked blearily, confused for a moment by the weight against his side and the faint chill in the air. His neck was stiff. His arm was numb. But Kakashi’s voice, close and groggy, pulled him back to awareness fast.

“Wh—what?” Naruto muttered, shifting just enough to realize that at some point, he must have slumped over too, leaning fully into Kakashi.

Kakashi didn’t move away. He just looked down at him, lips quirked into a crooked half-smile. “You fell asleep.”

Naruto groaned and rubbed his face. “So did you.”

“Yeah. Not sure how that happened.”

“You were exhausted,” Naruto mumbled, sitting up straighter and stretching his neck with a wince. “Your neck okay?”

Kakashi rotated his shoulders with a small roll and grimaced. “Could be worse.”

Naruto glanced at him through his lashes, his voice hesitant. “Sorry for, uh… using you as a pillow.”

“You weren’t exactly the only one leaning,” Kakashi said mildly, and the admission made Naruto’s stomach flutter in a way that was annoying and warm all at once.

He went quiet again, not quite sure what to say, not sure if he should say anything at all. But then Kakashi’s hand lifted—tentative—and reached past him to grab the now-cool teacups from the small table beside the bench.

Naruto watched his fingers, slow and precise. “Did you wake up on your own?”

Kakashi shook his head. “No. You talk in your sleep.”

Naruto stared at him. “I do not.”

Kakashi gave him a sleepy look. “You do.”

“What’d I say?”

“I think you were begging the king of mosquitoes to spare your life.”

Naruto groaned and buried his face in both hands.

Kakashi chuckled quietly. “I thought it was kind of endearing.”

Naruto peeked at him through his fingers. “…You think begging insects to be spared is endearing?”

Kakashi met his gaze with a look that was tired, but honest. “I think you’re endearing.”

Naruto’s breath hitched—just a little—but he played it off with a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, I’ll take it.”

They sat there for a few more moments in soft silence, until Kakashi gently nudged Naruto’s shoulder with his own. “Come on. Let’s get a few more hours of sleep before the sun’s up.”

Naruto nodded and stood.

Morning sunlight spilled softly through the window of their shared inn room, painting the wooden floors in gentle amber streaks. The air was still a little cool from the night, and the faint clatter of the town waking up drifted in from outside.

Kakashi sat on the edge of the bed, half-dressed, pulling on his clothes with a small wince. His shoulder was stiff, sore from how awkwardly he’d slept, and now the thigh pouch was giving him grief. The buckle had gotten twisted somehow, and his fingers just weren’t cooperating.

From behind, Naruto yawned. The sound was soft and real, and a moment later, he padded over barefoot, still tugging a shirt down over his head.

“You good?” he asked, eyes landing on Kakashi’s fumbled attempt with the pouch.

Kakashi gave him a sheepish look. “Apparently not awake enough for basic motor function.”

Naruto didn’t laugh or tease. He just dropped to his knees in front of him without a second thought. The movement was smooth and natural as he settled between Kakashi’s legs, reaching for the strap. “Let me.”

Kakashi watched him. Naruto’s face was creased with sleep, hair messy, eyes still puffy at the edges from rest. Yet there was something so steady in him, kneeling there in the quiet morning light, fingers working the buckle with calm confidence.

And something about that—about being helped like this, without hesitation, with so much quiet care—made Kakashi’s heart pull painfully in his chest.

Before he could think better of it, Kakashi reached out, fingers brushing through Naruto’s hair. Just a light touch, combing a few strands back from his face. He didn’t even realize he was doing it until Naruto looked up, head tilting slightly under the contact.

Their eyes met.

Naruto didn’t look startled. Or confused. He just held his gaze, warm and steady, eyes wide with something soft and unguarded that made Kakashi forget how to breathe.

The moment held for a heartbeat too long.

And then, as if jolted by the weight and intimacy of the moment, Kakashi quickly withdrew his hand. “Sorry,” he murmured, the word barely more than a breath.

Naruto didn’t flinch or move away. He simply looked at him for a moment longer and then said, “Don’t be.”

He turned his attention back to the pouch, fastening it with the final tuck and snap. “There,” he added, brushing imaginary dust off Kakashi’s leg. “That should hold.”

Kakashi stayed still for a moment longer, as if moving too quickly would break something delicate in the air. Naruto stood, stretching his arms overhead, then offered him a small, tired smile.

“Ready for breakfast?”

Kakashi nodded, still feeling the softness of Naruto’s hair between his fingers.

Later in the day Kakashi sat in the dimly lit pub, idly swirling the remnants of his watered down sake in his cup. After splitting up with Naruto he’d spent the afternoon subtly gathering information, but nothing concrete had turned up yet. The scent of alcohol, sweat, and something vaguely rotten hung in the air, mixing with the low murmur of conversation.

Then, just as he was debating whether to order another drink to have an excuse to stick around longer or just move locations, he felt it.

The shift in the room.

A presence closing in. Then another. And another.

He didn’t look up right away, taking a slow sip instead. But when he finally did, six men stood around him, effectively cutting off any escape route.

Not good.

One of them—a tall, broad-shouldered man with a jagged scar running down his cheek—leaned in, a smirk pulling at his lips.

“You’ve been asking a lot of questions,” Scarface said. “That makes people nervous.”

Kakashi tilted his head, feigning confusion. “I can’t imagine why. Isn’t it natural for a merchant to be curious? I just want to make sure it’s safe to do business here.”

Another man scoffed. “Safe, huh? Funny, ‘cause it seems like you’re more interested in people than business.”

Kakashi offered a lazy shrug. “People are business. If there’s someone going around robbing traders, I’d like to know before I set up shop, wouldn’t you?”

The men exchanged looks.

Scarface leaned in further. “If that’s true, you won’t mind proving you’re just a merchant.”

Kakashi stilled.

Here it comes.

“How do you want me to do that?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“Strip.”

The word landed like a hammer. Kakashi’s grip on his cup tightened ever so slightly.

Shit.

If he stripped, they’d see his weapons. His gear. His kunai holster strapped to his thigh, his hidden blades. All the things that definitely didn’t belong to an innocent merchant.

That wasn’t an option.

But fighting wasn’t a great option either. Six men surrounded him, but that wasn’t the real problem. The real problem was the other people in the pub—the ones sitting at their tables, sipping their drinks, but not looking away.

Watching. Waiting.

Would they intervene? Would they stay out of it?

Or worse—would they join in?

Kakashi forced himself to stay relaxed, giving an easy chuckle. “That’s a bit forward, don’t you think? Buy me a drink first.”

No one laughed.

Scarface’s eyes darkened. “You think this is a joke?”

“Depends,” Kakashi said, setting down his drink. “If you’re asking me to strip because you’re genuinely interested, then I’m flattered, but I have to decline.”

The tension in the air sharpened.

Scarface scowled. “You got a lot of smart things to say for someone who’s about to take a very good look at his own guts if he doesn’t do as told.”

One of the men cracked his knuckles. Another shifted slightly, like he was preparing to move.

Kakashi’s eyes locked on the man’s waist. A forehead protector was looped through his belt, a big scratch running over the Hidden Mist insignia. A rogue ninja then. Maybe all of them were.

Fuck.

This was bad. Really bad.

Kakashi subtly adjusted his posture, making sure he had space to reach for a weapon if he needed to.

If they attacked, he’d have to be fast. Take down at least three in the first few seconds. But even if he did that, he couldn’t fight the entire pub.

Too many eyes were on him, watching but not interfering. Not yet. If he made a move here, there was no telling how many of them would jump in.

Damn it.

He needed to get out of this room.

Kakashi let out a sheepish chuckle, scratching the back of his head. “Well, I won’t say I haven’t been in worse situations, but I can’t say I’ve ever been asked to strip before.” He exhaled dramatically, shaking his head. “Guess there’s a first time for everything.”

The men didn’t react.

Alright. Time to see if he could talk his way out of this.

He glanced around, making a show of shifting uncomfortably. Then he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “Look, if you guys insist on seeing me naked, at least let me keep a shred of dignity. I’d rather not put on a strip show for the entire pub.”

A few of them exchanged glances.

Scarface narrowed his eyes. “You shy or something?”

Kakashi shrugged, giving a sheepish smile. “A little. I mean, you might be comfortable getting naked in front of a room full of strangers, but I’m not really into that kind of thing.” He shifted again, glancing at the door. “If you really want me to strip, let’s at least take it outside. Somewhere, you know… private. Sketchy dark alley sounds good?”

The men didn’t move right away.

One of them frowned. “Could be a trick.”

Kakashi spread his hands. “If I was gonna try something, wouldn’t I just do it here? I’m outnumbered. I know that.” He sighed. “Besides, if you’re so sure I’m lying, what difference does it make where we do it?”

Scarface studied him for a long moment.

Then he jerked his chin toward the door. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Kakashi forced himself to relax. Step one: get out of the pub. Done.

They ushered him outside, leading him toward a dimly lit alley behind the building.

Step two: figure out how the hell to get out of this alive.

He still had no real plan. He’d just bought himself some time. He had zero information on those guys. Worst case scenario: they were all jounins and Kakashi would end up seriously injured or dead. He sincerely hoped he was a little more lucky than that though.

As they reached the alley, one of the men smirked. “Alright, let’s see it.”

Kakashi exhaled. He wasn’t going to get another chance. He had to—

An arm slammed over his shoulders.

“There you are, you bastard! Geez, man, I take my eyes off you for one second and you’re already sneaking off to some shady places?”

Kakashi froze.

Naruto.

One of the men narrowed his eyes. “Who the hell are you?”

Naruto finally glanced at them like he was just now realizing they were there. He furrowed his brows, squinting between them and Kakashi, then smacked a fist into his palm in sudden “understanding.”

“Ohhh,” he said. “Wait, lemme guess—he pissed you guys off, huh?”

No one answered, but their expressions darkened just slightly.

Naruto let out a dramatic sigh. “Yeah, he does that. Don’t take it personally, he’s just an ass.”

Scarface crossed his arms. “This your partner?”

Naruto beamed. “Unfortunately.”

Kakashi gave him a sideways glance. I could kill you, you know.

Naruto ignored him, waving a hand. “I’ve gotta deal with this guy,” he jerked a thumb at Kakashi, “every damn day. And trust me, I feel your pain.” He grinned at the group like they were old friends. “What’d he do? Insult your mothers? Cheat at cards?”

Scarface, the apparent leader, crossed his arms. “He was snooping around.”

Naruto’s brows shot up. “Oh. Ohh.” He turned to Kakashi, exasperated. “What did I tell you about sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong?”

Kakashi didn’t respond. He was pretty sure it was better to let Naruto do all the talking for now.

Scarface watched them closely. “If you’re his partner, then maybe you can answer some questions.”

Naruto sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his head. “Man, I’d love to help you guys out, I really would, but we’ve got places to be. Isn’t that right, Tetsuya?” He elbowed Kakashi in the ribs.

Kakashi gave a tight smile. “Right.”

The men didn’t look convinced.

Beard Guy stepped closer. “Funny how the two of you show up at the same time, asking questions, pretending not to know shit.”

Naruto waved a hand. “Pretending? My guy, do I look like someone who knows anything?”

One of the men scoffed. “You do have a dumb looking face.”

Naruto grinned. “I get that a lot.”

Scarface narrowed his eyes. “You got any weapons on you?”

Naruto blinked. “Me? Weapons? No way, I’m kinda scared of sharp objects. Besides, do I look like I could take on all of you?”

Kakashi gave him a sidelong glance. Yes.

Naruto let out a dry chuckle. “You guys are a tough crowd. Look, let’s just be real here—you’re not actually gonna kill us over a small misunderstanding, right?”

No one answered.

Naruto clapped his hands together. “Exactly! So how about we skip all the posturing, and we just go our separate ways, yeah?”

Scarface wasn’t buying it. “You’re too damn confident.”

Naruto shrugged. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”

Another man sneered. “Then prove it. Strip.”

Naruto made a face. “Ew, buy me dinner first.”

Kakashi, despite himself, choked on a breath.

Beard Guy stepped forward. “You and your partner are going to laugh your way into the graveyard with those jokes. You better start taking this seriously.”

Naruto sighed dramatically. “Look, if you really wanna see my junk, just say so. But I warn you, it’s dangerous. Thing’s a python, once I let it out who knows what will happen. Besides, I don’t want you all to feel inadequate or anything.”

The men bristled. Kakashi could see this was going sideways. He tensed, ready to jump in—

But then one of the men—the youngest of the group, barely older than Naruto—snorted.

Naruto seized the moment instantly. “See? He gets it. I mean, come on, guys. You’ve got better things to do than shake down a couple of clueless merchants, right? Let’s just wrap this up, I think none of us want authorities to get involved.”

Scarface glared at Naruto, then at Kakashi, then back to Naruto.

A long, tense moment passed.

Then, finally, Scarface exhaled sharply. “Get the fuck outta here. If I see you snooping again, you’ll be found in a ditch.”

Naruto grinned. “Sure thing, boss.”

And just like that, he grabbed Kakashi’s arm and pulled him away.

Once they were far enough away, Naruto finally let go, hands on his hips as he turned to Kakashi.

“Sooo… I saved your ass. You’re welcome.”

Kakashi exhaled through his nose. “That was reckless.”

Naruto snorted. “You say that, but you’re the one who got caught.”

“How much did you even know about what was happening in there?”

Naruto grinned. “Nothing. Just saw six guys surrounding you and figured I should do what I do best—talk my way into trouble and hope for the best.”

Kakashi stared at him. “…That’s the worst strategy I’ve ever heard.”

Naruto shrugged. “Yeah, but it worked, didn’t it?”

Kakashi sighed and changed the subject. “…What did you find out?”

Naruto’s grin widened. “Not much yet, but I have a plan.”

Kakashi raised a brow. “Oh?”

“I’m gonna befriend some old ladies.”

Kakashi blinked. “…I don’t even want to ask.”

“Anyway, that’s for tomorrow.” Naruto stretched his arms over his head and let out a long sigh. “The encounter with those guys was way too intense for an intel-gathering mission. I need a drink.”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at him. “Drinking while we’re still in enemy territory? That doesn’t sound like a very Shinobi-like decision.”

Naruto scoffed. “Oh, so you can lounge around in a pub and sip sake while working but now it’s suddenly a no-no?”

Kakashi exhaled deeply. “I couldn’t go to a pub to gather intel and order apple juice, could I? Besides, I was watering the sake down to stay sober.”

“Well, we’re still keeping our cover as merchants, aren’t we? Merchants drink. I’m not saying we should get hammered but after what happened back there, we could both use a little stress relief.”

Kakashi considered him for a moment. Truth be told, he could use a drink. The near-death experience, the weight of the mission, and the tension between him and Naruto were all pressing down on him. A little alcohol wouldn’t hurt.

He sighed. “Alright. But just one.”

Naruto grinned. "See? I knew you’d cave."

Kakashi rolled his eyes, but he didn’t argue as they made their way to a quieter-looking bar on the outskirts of town—one that hopefully didn’t have ties to the guys they ran into earlier.

The bar Naruto picked was smaller and less crowded than the last one. The lighting was dim, the atmosphere quiet, and the people inside were mostly older men drinking in peace. There was no tension in the air, no suspicious glances in their direction.

It was… safe.

They sat at a small table near the back. Naruto waved the bartender over and, in a much lower voice than usual, ordered them both a bottle of sake.

Kakashi glanced at him. "Sake?"

Naruto shrugged. "What? You think I was gonna order fruity cocktails or something?"

"I wouldn’t put it past you," Kakashi said, lips twitching.

Naruto grumbled under his breath but didn’t argue.

When the sake arrived, Naruto poured them both a cup. The warmth of the alcohol spread through Kakashi’s chest, dulling the last remnants of stress from earlier.

Naruto leaned back in his seat, stretching his arms above his head with a contented sigh. “Man, I needed this. Nothing like a nice drink after almost dying.”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “You almost died?”

Naruto grinned. “Hey, I was emotionally distressed, alright?”

Kakashi chuckled and took a sip of his drink. He exhaled slowly, letting himself relax for the first time since stepping foot in this town.

“So,” Naruto started, tilting his glass. “I’m assuming that whole thing earlier didn’t go how you planned, huh?”

Kakashi let out a short laugh. “Understatement.”

Naruto smirked. “Well, lucky for you, I’m great under pressure.”

Kakashi took another sip, then looked at Naruto. “You were pretty cool,” he admitted, voice low.

Naruto perked up. “Yeah?” He leaned forward, eyes twinkling mischievously. “Made your heart race a little?”

Kakashi snorted, eyes narrowing with a half-smile. “I think being surrounded by six guys who were itching to gut me was what made my heart race.”

Naruto smirked. “C’mon, you can admit it. For a second, you were like, damn, Naruto’s so cool, I can see myself falling head over hills with him.”

Kakashi gave him an amused look. “Guilty. Your talk about your dangerous python is especially what made an impression. Made me all weak in the knees and stuff. ”

Naruto burst out laughing, the sound loud and genuine. “So you’re saying junk talk really does it for you. Got it.”

Kakashi downed the rest of his drink and played along with an easy smirk. “What can I say? Nothing more romantic than panic-induced genitalia rants.”

Naruto chuckled as he leaned back again, warmth still clinging to his cheeks. “Well, glad to know I’ve got that kind of charm. Gotta keep things memorable.”

Kakashi shook his head with a smile. “That you definitely do.”

Naruto’s grin softened as he looked at Kakashi again. “But seriously… I was scared, y’know? I walked in, saw those guys around you, and I thought, shit, if I screw this up…”

Kakashi’s smile faded into something gentler. “I know. I saw it in your face. But you didn’t screw it up. You walked into a very delicate situation and managed to talk us out of it without a single punch thrown or our covers getting blown. That’s impressive.”

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, cheeks tinged with pink. “Well, if you thought I was cool, then it was worth it.”

Kakashi smiled slightly. “You handled it well.”

Naruto grinned, but then his expression turned sly again. “Y’know, if you’re so grateful for me saving your ass, how about you buy me another drink?”

Kakashi sighed, shaking his head. “I’m so glad I don’t have my mask on so you get to clearly see the pained expression on my face.”

Naruto snickered. “Aw, c’mon, just one more!”

Kakashi traced his finger along the edge of his cup, considering. Then, with a resigned smile, he motioned to the bartender.

“Just one,” he agreed.

Naruto pumped his fist in victory. “Hell yeah.”

They ended up drinking more than planned.

It wasn’t intentional, but once they got started, the drinks kept flowing, and neither of them was in a hurry to stop. The tension from earlier had melted into easy conversation, the kind that made Kakashi laugh more than he had in a long time. Naruto, animated as always, kept throwing his head back when he laughed, eyes crinkled, cheeks flushed from the alcohol.

And for some reason, Kakashi couldn’t stop looking at him.

It wasn’t just the usual glance or casual observation—it was something deeper. His eyes kept being drawn to the way Naruto moved, the way he talked with his whole body, the way his lips curled when he smirked. It was… distracting.

Eventually, they decided to call it a night, both of them more than a little buzzed. The walk back to their inn was filled with lighthearted teasing and bumping shoulders, neither really caring to walk in a straight line.

As they made their way back to their room, Naruto stumbled a little, digging through his pockets for the key. “Where the hell—I just had it—”

Kakashi leaned lazily against the wall, watching him struggle with a lopsided smirk. “And you called me a goldfish for almost forgetting to pay at the bar. Looks like someone’s memory is going first.”

Naruto scowled, still searching. “Shut up. You’re the one who probably lost it.”

Kakashi hummed. “Mm. Pretty sure I wasn’t the one carrying it.”

Naruto groaned dramatically. “If you’re just gonna stand there and be useless, you could at least help look.”

“Maybe you dropped it back at the bar?” Kakashi drawled.

Naruto shot him an irritated glance. “I have it,” he insisted, still patting himself down. “I just—shit, hold on.”

Kakashi chuckled. “You sure you didn’t drink too much? Your coordination’s even worse than usual.”

Naruto finally fished out the key and held it up triumphantly. “Ha! Told you.”

Kakashi hummed, unconvinced. “Alright, alright. Let’s see if you can actually get it in the lock.”

Naruto scoffed, shoving the key into the keyhole—only to miss the first time. He cursed under his breath as Kakashi chuckled again.

“You’re not helping,” Naruto muttered.

“I’m not trying to,” Kakashi replied smoothly, smirking as he tilted his head to the side. “This is too entertaining.”

Naruto finally got the door open and turned to shoot Kakashi a glare—but Kakashi was still leaning against the wall, watching him in that infuriatingly amused way. Naruto opened his mouth to say something snarky, but the words caught in his throat.

There was something about this moment—the dim lighting of the hallway, the warm haze of alcohol between them, the way Kakashi was looking at him.

Still leaning against the wall, Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Naruto didn’t answer. He just kept staring, his face suddenly warm for reasons that had nothing to do with the drinks they’d had. He licked his lips unconsciously, then swallowed.

Kakashi’s eyes flickered down for just a second before meeting Naruto’s again.

The air between them shifted, the teasing atmosphere from before giving way to something heavier.

Naruto took a small step forward.

Kakashi didn’t move.

Naruto took another step, close enough now that he could see the way Kakashi’s breath hitched. His own heart was pounding, but he didn’t stop himself as he leaned in.

And Kakashi—Kakashi still wasn’t stopping him.

Their breaths mingled, and for a long, suspended moment, neither of them moved. Naruto could almost feel the ghost of Kakashi’s mouth against his.

Then their lips touched, and for a split second, Naruto couldn’t believe it was actually happening.

Kakashi let him kiss him.

It wasn’t deep—just a soft press of lips, tentative, testing. But it was enough. Enough to send Naruto’s heart into overdrive, enough to make his fingers twitch with the urge to pull Kakashi closer.

But then—Kakashi pulled away.

It wasn’t abrupt, wasn’t harsh. Just a slow retreat, like he was only now realizing what he’d let happen. Naruto could see the flicker of hesitation in his eyes, the way his lips parted like he wanted to make an excuse.

Naruto didn’t let him.

He smiled, easy and lopsided, like this was no big deal. “It’s cool,” he said, voice light, and then turned to push the door open.

And it really was cool. He meant it.

Kakashi might have cut the kiss short, but the fact remained—it still happened.

Which meant Naruto had made huge progress.

Kakashi had let him in, even if only for a moment. And Naruto wasn’t dumb—he saw the way Kakashi looked at him, the way he hesitated, the way his body had leaned in before his mind caught up.

Kakashi wanted this too. Maybe he just wasn’t ready to admit it yet.

And that was fine.

Naruto didn’t mind waiting.

Especially now that he was sure he had a real chance.

The next morning, Kakashi woke up early, just as he always did. He turned onto his side and saw Naruto still sprawled out on his bed, one arm dangling off the edge, his face buried in the pillow. He was completely out.

Kakashi sat up and ran a hand through his hair, letting out a quiet sigh.

The kiss—they had kissed.

And Kakashi hadn't stopped it until after their lips had touched. He hadn’t wanted to. And that scared him.

Because it wasn’t just a slip, or an accident. He let it happen.

And now, there was no more pretending.

Naruto’s patience, the way he respected Kakashi’s pace while still being so unapologetically open about his feelings—that had an effect. It was disarming in the gentlest way possible.

A part of Kakashi wanted to protect that light in Naruto. Another part wondered—just maybe—if it was okay to want to reach for it too.

He exhaled slowly. He didn’t regret it. That was the strangest part. He should have—should have felt guilty, should have felt like he had crossed a line. But all he could focus on was how warm Naruto’s lips had been against his, how natural it had felt—until he had pulled away.

Kakashi pushed himself to his feet, stretching.

He figured he had a little time before Naruto woke up, so he decided to step outside and get some fresh air.

The village was already stirring to life, merchants setting up their stalls, early customers browsing, the smell of food drifting through the air. Kakashi leaned against a post near their inn, hands in his pockets, watching the people go about their day.

“Yo,” came a familiar, groggy voice behind him.

Kakashi turned to see Naruto stepping outside, rubbing his eyes and yawning. His hair was even more of a mess than usual. He was still in his sleep clothes, his shirt riding up just slightly, showing a sliver of tanned skin.

Kakashi quickly looked away.

Naruto smacked his lips. “Man, I can’t remember the last time I slept that good.” He stretched, then eyed Kakashi. “You’ve been up long?”

“Not really,” Kakashi replied.

Naruto hummed, glancing at the busy streets. “Did you eat yet?”

“No.”

Naruto grinned. “Then come get breakfast with me.”

Kakashi hesitated for a second too long, and Naruto raised an eyebrow.

“C’mon, don’t make me beg,” Naruto said, his tone light, but there was an underlying challenge in his gaze.

Kakashi sighed. “…Fine.”

Naruto’s grin widened, and he started walking ahead, waving for Kakashi to follow.

Kakashi took a steadying breath, then fell into step beside him.

They found a small food stall that smelled too good to pass up. Naruto hungrily eyed the sizzling dishes as they sat down and ordered.

When their food arrived, Naruto stared at Kakashi’s plate with clear envy.

“That looks way better than mine,” he complained.

Kakashi sighed. “Then why didn’t you order it?”

“I didn’t know it was gonna look that good!” Naruto argued. Then he brightened. “Hey, let’s split. Half and half.”

Kakashi rolled his eyes but slid half his plate onto Naruto’s and took half of Naruto’s in return. Naruto beamed at him, pleased.

They ate in comfortable silence for a while, until Naruto suddenly leaned forward, eyes glinting with mischief. “Hey, Kakashi.”

Kakashi lifted a brow. “…What?”

Naruto grinned. “Rate our kiss. One through ten.”

Kakashi froze mid-bite. For a second, he thought he had misheard.

“…Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Naruto said, looking entirely too entertained. “Come on, be honest. I can take it.”

Kakashi stared at him, then shook his head, focusing back on his food. “It was barely a kiss,” he muttered. “We just touched lips for a few seconds.”

“So no score?”

“No score,” Kakashi confirmed.

Naruto hummed, tapping his chopsticks against his bowl. “Alright,” he said after a moment, “then I’ll make the next one count.”

Kakashi’s hand faltered slightly as he reached for his tea. He glanced at Naruto, who was still eating, like he hadn’t just said something completely bold.

Kakashi wasn’t shocked. Not really.

Somehow, he felt that sooner or later there really would be a next one.

After breakfast, they set out to continue their work. The tension from the night before had settled into something quieter—something almost… comfortable.

Naruto walked beside Kakashi with his hands behind his head, looking unbothered. But Kakashi knew better. There was an energy to him, like he was waiting for something.

At one point, Naruto nudged him with his elbow. “Hey,” he said casually, “I was thinking.”

Kakashi hummed. “Sounds omnimous.”

Naruto rolled his eyes. “Shut up. Listen—I get why you’re hesitating.”

Kakashi tensed slightly but didn’t respond.

“I mean, you had all these reasons why you rejected me at first, but now you’re letting me kiss you.” Naruto smirked. “Even if it was barely a kiss.”

Kakashi exhaled through his nose. “Are trying to make me regret it?”

“Nope,” Naruto said cheerfully. Then, with a more serious tone, he added, “What I’m trying to say is… You’re thinking too much. And maybe I am too, sometimes. But I like you, Kakashi. And if you let the kiss happen then that speaks for itself too.”

Kakashi remained silent, his gaze fixed on the street ahead. He knew Naruto was right. He let the kiss happen and that was proof enough that something has changed.

Naruto sighed, then shoved his hands in his pockets. “Look, I’m not in a rush. I’ll wait for you.” His voice softened. “But don’t take too long, yeah?”

Kakashi glanced at him then, something thoughtful in his expression. Naruto just grinned at him and kept walking.

They spent the rest of the morning blending into the town, playing their roles as merchants while keeping their ears open for any useful intel. It was a slow process—too slow for Naruto’s liking—but Kakashi was used to patience.

Still, he was distracted.

Naruto’s words from earlier clung to his mind, weaving into every thought like an inescapable thread.

Naruto was so sure. So confident in his feelings. And Kakashi… Kakashi had been telling himself he was still figuring things out, but deep down, he had a sinking suspicion that wasn’t entirely true.

Naruto was getting to him.

His eyes drifted to the blond beside him, who was currently haggling over the price of dried fruit with a vendor, his whole body engaged in the conversation. He was just—so much. Loud, expressive, relentless. But also warm, steady, and earnest in a way that was hard to resist.

And Kakashi wasn’t resisting very well.

“Tetsuya.”

Naruto’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned his head just as Naruto shoved a piece of dried mango into his mouth.

“Try it,” Naruto said, grinning. “I told the guy I wouldn’t buy it unless my picky friend approved.”

Kakashi sighed but started chewing. It was good, obviously. He gave Naruto a small nod.

Naruto turned back to the vendor with a smug look. “Alright, I’ll take the whole bag.”

Kakashi shook his head, amused despite himself. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Naruto said, tossing a piece into his mouth. “But you like it.”

By early afternoon, they had finally gathered enough intel to confirm their suspicions. This was way bigger than just a gang of thieves—the people they were after were working with a larger criminal network, smuggling weapons and information across borders.

“We should head back,” Kakashi said, his tone all business again. “Report this to your dad before making a move.”

Naruto groaned. “You sure we can’t just kick their asses now?”

Kakashi gave him a flat look.

Naruto sighed. “Fine, fine. We’ll do it your way.”

They set off toward the village outskirts, keeping a steady pace.

But even as they walked in silence, Kakashi couldn’t ignore the feeling that something between them had shifted.

Naruto was waiting for him to really acknowledge it.

And Kakashi… didn’t think he could pretend he didn’t want to anymore.

They arrived back in Konoha just before sundown, heading straight to the Hokage’s office to report. Naruto pushed open the door first, grinning as he plopped down into the chair across from Minato’s desk.

“We’re back!” he announced. “Mission accomplished. No fights, no injuries, no disasters.”

Kakashi walked in more calmly, standing beside Naruto with his hands in his pockets.

Minato smiled. “That’s good to hear. What did you find?”

Kakashi took over then, giving a concise rundown of the smuggling operation and their intel. Naruto threw in his own commentary, dramatically complaining about the “mosquito massacre” he barely survived and how Kakashi’s cover was this close to being blown.

“But we still kicked ass,” Naruto added with a proud grin. “Not literally, ‘cause someone was super annoying about following orders and reporting back first.” He gave Kakashi a pointed look.

Minato smiled knowingly. “That someone was following protocol.”

Naruto huffed, but he didn’t argue.

Kakashi pulled out a small scroll and placed it on Minato’s desk. “We gathered as much intel as we could without tipping them off. It’s all in here—locations, names, their suspected supply routes.”

Minato picked up the scroll and glanced over it before nodding. “Good work. I’ll review this tonight and decide our next course of action. You two did well.”

Naruto stretched his arms behind his head. “So, we’re done for now?”

Minato chuckled. “Yes, you’re dismissed. Get some rest.”

Naruto didn’t need to be told twice. “Alright! I’m heading out.” He gave his father a casual wave before turning to Kakashi. “You coming?”

Kakashi hesitated. His gaze flickered to Minato, who was watching him carefully, as if waiting for something.

“…In a bit,” Kakashi finally said. “I need to speak with your dad first.”

Naruto raised a brow but didn’t push. “Alright, later.” He waved lazily and strolled out.

Once they were alone, Kakashi stood silently for a moment, his hands in his pockets.

Minato looked up at him with curiosity but didn’t push, waiting patiently.

“Hey, um…” Kakashi finally started, still sounding hesitant. “Would you really be okay with something happening between Naruto and me?”

Minato tilted his head, watching him closely. Then a slow, knowing smile crept across his face.

“Are you trying to tell me that nothing has happened yet?”

Kakashi blinked, startled. He wasn’t expecting that response. He stared at Minato for a moment before his ears turned pink. He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck.

Minato laughed at Kakashi’s reaction. “Naruto is an open book,” he said, shaking his head. “He was acting like he won the damn lottery when he came in here. I didn’t even have to ask. I just knew something must’ve happened to make him very happy.”

Kakashi sighed. He should’ve known. Naruto really wasn’t good at hiding his emotions.

Minato’s amused expression didn’t waver. “Kakashi. If you’re looking for my blessing you know you have it. I meant everything I said last time we talked,” he said simply, watching Kakashi with an easy patience.

Kakashi exhaled through his nose, glancing to the side before looking back at Minato. “Naruto is your son,” he said, as if saying it again might make Minato reconsider.

Minato’s smile softened. “And you’re my kid too. In a way.”

Kakashi blinked. His mouth pressed into a thin line. “I’m actually older than both of you now,” he muttered, crossing his arms. “You came back in your twenty-four-year-old body when Naruto was seventeen. Which means the age gap between you two is smaller than the gap between him and me.”

Minato raised an eyebrow, amused. “Where exactly are you going with this?”

Kakashi frowned.

Minato leaned in slightly. “Are you implying that I should date Naruto since I have a smaller age difference with him than you do?”

Kakashi choked. “What?!” His face flushed red, and he spluttered, taking half a step back. “What the hell, Sensei?”

Minato chuckled. “Kakashi. You need to stop obsessing over meaningless things.”

Kakashi scowled. “It’s not meaningless,” he insisted, bristling. “You’re just biased. If it were any other thirty-something-year-old guy going after Naruto, you’d probably send ANBU after him.”

Minato’s lips twitched like he was holding back another laugh. “If it were any other guy, maybe,” he admitted easily. “But it’s not. It’s you.”

Kakashi looked at him, feeling something tighten in his chest. He exhaled, looking away. “That’s not fair.”

Minato shrugged. “Maybe. But I trust you, Kakashi.” He stood up, moving around his desk until he was leaning back against it, arms loosely crossed. His expression was calm but certain as he met Kakashi’s gaze. “More than I trust anyone else in the entire world.”

Kakashi’s breath hitched slightly. He wasn’t sure why, but hearing Minato say it so plainly made something in his chest squeeze. His throat felt a little tight. He let out a breathy chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. “You really shouldn’t,” he muttered. “I don’t deserve that kind of trust.”

Minato gave him a knowing look, but before he could argue, Kakashi continued, voice quieter. “I already hurt Naruto.”

Minato’s expression softened. “You were right to reject him if you weren’t sure about your own feelings yet,” he said gently.

Kakashi didn’t reply right away. He stared at the floor, hands in his pockets, sorting through the thoughts that had been plaguing him since the mission. Eventually, he said, “Things between us changed a little.” He exhaled, shaking his head. “Naruto’s feelings don’t feel like a burden anymore. They feel like… an option.” He paused. “But I’m still hesitating. There are a lot of reasons why I think I should stay away from him.”

Minato’s gaze softened. “Well, I don’t want to be one of them.”

Kakashi looked up at him.

Minato pushed off the desk, stepping closer. “Whatever choice you make, I support you,” he said, voice steady and sincere. “For me, it all boils down to two things—what Naruto wants, and what you want. Nothing else matters.”

Kakashi didn’t know if it was the conviction in Minato’s voice or the way he was looking at him, but in that moment, he really, really believed him.

Minato spread his arms. “C’mon. Bring it in.”

Kakashi hesitated only for a second before stepping forward, letting himself be pulled into Minato’s embrace. The warmth of it seeped into his bones, and for a little while, they just stood there, silent, steady.

Then Minato spoke again, voice amused. “Kakashi.”

Kakashi hummed in response, not pulling away.

“I trust you’ll be a gentleman and stick to the three-date rule before putting your hands on my son.”

Kakashi jerked back like he’d been electrocuted, his face heating up instantly. “Sensei!”

Minato grinned, unfazed. “I’d like to hear a yes.”

Kakashi stared at him, wide-eyed and flustered. Then, exhaling sharply, he muttered, “Fine.”

Minato patted his shoulder. “Good boy.”

Kakashi sighed and rubbed his face, still feeling the lingering heat of embarrassment.

“I should’ve known you’d have some kind of dad talk prepared,” Kakashi muttered.

Minato just smiled innocently. “Just being a responsible parent.”

Kakashi gave him a flat look. “You just said I’m the person you trust the most in the world.”

“And I do,” Minato said easily. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy teasing you a little. It’s been a long time since I got to mess with you.”

Kakashi sighed again, shaking his head. “Like you don’t mess with me all the time.”

Minato chuckled. “My bad.” Then, more gently, he said, “But really, Kakashi. Just focus on what you want. The rest is just background noise.”

Kakashi hesitated, but then nodded. “I’ll… keep that in mind.”

Minato gave him a final pat on the shoulder before moving back behind his desk. “Good. Now get out of my office before I start giving you actual dating advice.”

Kakashi didn’t hesitate, immediately turning to leave,. As he opened the door, Minato called out, “And no training ground hookups. I will know.”

Kakashi didn’t dignify that with a response, just closed the door behind him—though the faint sound of his muffled groan could be heard through the wood.

Minato chuckled to himself, then returned to his desk with a smile, content that—for now—his two favorite people were finding their way toward something good.

Kakashi had barely made it a few paces from the Hokage’s Tower, hands in his pockets and mind buzzing with too many thoughts, when a familiar voice called out behind him.

“Kakashi!”

Kakashi turned just in time for Naruto to jog up beside him, hands stuffed in his pockets, grinning wide.

“You heading home?” Naruto asked.

Kakashi blinked at him, thrown by the way Naruto was looking at him—like he knew something. Like he sensed something.

Kakashi shook his head. “I was thinking of grabbing a bite first.”

Naruto beamed. “Cool. I’ll come with.”

Kakashi gave him a long look. “I didn’t invite you.”

“Yeah, but I invited myself,” Naruto said, clapping him on the back. “C’mon, let’s go.”

And just like that, Kakashi was being dragged along. He sighed, but he didn’t resist. He also didn’t bother hiding the small, barely-there smile that tugged at his lips.

They ended up at a small, quiet restaurant off one of the side streets—nothing fancy, but cozy and comfortable. After they ordered, there was a moment of silence where Naruto picked at the edge of his chopsticks, fidgeting.

Then, trying to sound casual—but failing spectacularly—he asked, “So… what’d you need to talk to my dad about earlier?”

Across from him, Kakashi stiffened almost imperceptibly.

Naruto didn’t miss it. He smirked. “Was it that scandalous?”

Kakashi hesitated, his fingers lightly tapping against the table. He could brush it off, he knew. Say it was just work-related, or change the subject. But Minato’s words were still fresh in his mind. Maybe he should really stop thinking for once and just do what felt right.

Naruto must’ve noticed his hesitation because he suddenly snorted and teased, “What, did you ask my dad for my hand in marriage or something?”

Kakashi let out a laugh, and in that moment, he made his choice.

“Yeah,” he said, exhaling. “Something like that.”

Naruto froze.

His brain completely short-circuited.

“—Hah?” His voice cracked.

Kakashi just sipped his tea, looking calm, like he hadn’t just sent Naruto’s heart into a damn seismic event.

Naruto finally managed to force words out of his throat. “You—Are you messing with me?”

Kakashi’s expression softened. “I wouldn’t joke about this,” he said, voice quiet but steady. “I asked Minato-sensei if he would be okay with… something happening between us.”

Naruto’s brain completely blanked.

He just sat there, staring.

His thoughts were moving at a million miles per hour but at the same time were completely non-existent. He was buzzing, electric, waiting for the inevitable punchline that never came.

Instead, Kakashi just sat there, looking at him like he was patiently waiting for Naruto to catch up.

Naruto finally managed to say something, voice slightly hoarse.

“…You really—?”

His heart was pounding. And when it all finally registered in his head his lips stretched into a wide, bright smile. He leaned forward, eyes practically sparkling.

“Holy shit,” he said, grinning like a fox. “You totally fell for me when I saved your ass back in that pub, huh?”

Kakashi sighed, shaking his head, but he didn’t deny it. He could let Naruto have this moment.

Naruto laughed, leaning back. His whole body felt light. He could barely sit still. “Man, I knew I looked cool back there,” he said smugly. “I should’ve struck a pose or something, really sealed the deal.”

Kakashi let out a small chuckle. “I think you were plenty dramatic as it was.”

Naruto smirked. “Well, it scored me a chance with you so I say it was a huge win.”

Their food arrived, but Naruto barely noticed. His mind was too busy celebrating.

Naruto leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand as he grinned at Kakashi.

“So, since you’re giving this a shot…” he started.

Kakashi gave him a wary look. “…Yes?”

Naruto’s grin widened. “We should treat this as our first date.”

Kakashi blinked. Then, to Naruto’s delight, he gave a small, amused nod. “Alright,” he said. “Our first date, then.”

The rest of their meal passed in a blur of laughter and teasing. Naruto was in a great mood, but what surprised him was that Kakashi seemed to be, too. The little creases of worry that had recently lingered around his eyes had eased, and his chuckles were a bit brighter. Every time Naruto caught Kakashi watching him, he saw something softer in his gaze.

And the more Kakashi saw Naruto smiling like this, the more he thought—I want to keep making him this happy.

They ended up spending the rest of the day together. They wandered around Konoha, getting pulled into a ridiculous competition at an arcade (Naruto won, but barely, and gloated about it for an obnoxious amount of time). They grabbed ice cream at a stall and Kakashi let Naruto inhale half of his without complaint. They even visited the bookstore, where Naruto dramatically read out loud from one of Kakashi’s Icha Icha books until Kakashi clapped a hand over his mouth, flustered.

It was almost midnight by the time they reached Naruto’s doorstep.

Naruto turned to Kakashi, still smiling. “Hey, come inside for a second,” he said.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“I wanna show you something.”

Kakashi tilted his head, clearly intrigued, but after a moment, he nodded. “Alright.”

Naruto grinned, stepping inside and holding the door open for Kakashi to follow.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, Naruto moved.

Kakashi barely had time to react before Naruto grabbed his shirt and tugged him down into a kiss. It was quick at first, firm and sure, like Naruto had been holding himself back all evening and finally had the chance to let go. Kakashi stiffened for half a second, caught off guard—but then Naruto’s warmth, his sheer certainty, seeped into him, and Kakashi found himself kissing back.

Naruto hummed approvingly, his fingers curling tightly into the fabric of Kakashi’s shirt, holding him close. He pressed forward eagerly, deepening the kiss, his lips parting slightly as he let himself get lost in the moment. Kakashi felt himself sinking into it too, his body moving on instinct—one hand finding Naruto’s waist, the other slipping up to the back of his neck. It had been so long since Kakashi had let himself have something like this, something so real, so alive, and it was intoxicating.

The kiss lingered, their breathing growing heavier as the space between them disappeared. But then, Kakashi forced himself to pull back slightly, though their foreheads remained touching.

“I thought you wanted to show me something,” he murmured, voice rougher than usual.

Naruto smirked, eyes hazy with warmth. “Hmm,” He exhaled against Kakashi’s lips, teasing. “Just making sure we don’t become the talk of the village tomorrow.”

Kakashi let out a soft huff of amusement. “Smart.”

Naruto didn’t waste any more time—he kissed him again, deeper this time, like he was making sure Kakashi really understood how much he wanted this. Kakashi let himself lean in again, enjoying the heat of it, the way Naruto’s fingers slid up to tangle in his hair.

But then, Naruto’s hands moved lower, trailing down Kakashi’s chest, fingertips skimming over the fabric of his shirt, before slipping toward his waistband—

Kakashi broke the kiss with a soft groan and caught his wrist.

“Three dates,” he muttered against Naruto’s lips.

Naruto made a confused noise, his breath uneven. “What?”

Kakashi exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself, his hold on Naruto’s wrist gentle but firm. “Promised Minato-sensei I wouldn’t touch you until the third date.”

Naruto pulled back slightly, blinking up at him in disbelief. Then he let out a sharp, incredulous laugh. “You’re joking.”

Kakashi smirked faintly. “I’m afraid not.”

Naruto groaned, tilting his head back dramatically. “You actually let my dad set rules for our sex life? Are you kidding me?”

Kakashi shrugged, trying to keep his face neutral even as his lips twitched. “It seemed like a reasonable request.”

“It’s not reasonable!” Naruto argues. “We’ve known each other forever! It counts for, like, a hundred dates at least.”

Kakashi just gave him a look.

“Oh my god.” Naruto ran a hand down his face. Then he narrowed his eyes at Kakashi, a slow, devious grin creeping onto his lips.

“Fine,” he said, voice suddenly smooth. “You don’t touch me.”

Kakashi raised a brow, confused for half a second. And then his eyes widened. “Naruto—”

But Naruto was already sinking to his knees, a wicked glint in his eye as he looked up at him. “Just relax, sensei. Let me take care of you.”

Kakashi’s breath caught in his throat.

Naruto’s hands settled on Kakashi’s hips, and he leaned in slightly, lips barely brushing against the fabric of Kakashi’s pants as he murmured, “A promise is a promise, right? Don’t worry. I’ll do all the touching instead.”

Kakashi swallowed, his heartbeat suddenly a little too loud in his ears. “Where did you even—. Aren’t you supposed to be a shy virgin?”

“Haven’t you heard?” Naruto whispered, looking up at Kakashi with a wild look in his eyes. “Virgins are the worst.”

Oh, Kakashi thought distantly, as Naruto slowly, deliberately started undoing his belt.

I’m in so much trouble.

Naruto and Kakashi stood outside the Hokage’s office door, waiting to be called in and receive their new mission.

Kakashi was nervous.

He knew Minato. He knew the way Minato looked at people, how he could peel back layers of bullshit with just a glance, and he knew—he just knew—that if Naruto so much as twitched in the wrong way, Minato would see right through them.

The thing was, Kakashi knew that the whole three-date rule was a little silly. Minato’s request had sounded more like a joke wrapped in fatherly overprotection. But Kakashi had agreed. And even if the crush he'd once harbored for Minato was long gone, the instinct to please him, to never let him down, had rooted itself so deeply in Kakashi that even the thought of disappointing him made him feel a little ill.

He turned to Naruto, gripping his shoulder. “Listen,” he said seriously. “You have to watch your face.”

Naruto blinked at him, unimpressed. “Huh? My face?”

“Yes, your face.” Kakashi squeezed his shoulder, desperate. “Minato can read you like an open book, and if he realizes—”

Naruto rolled his eyes, shoving Kakashi’s hand off. “Relax. There is no facial expression for ‘I sucked Kakashi off,’” he said flatly. “There’s no way he’ll figure it out.”

Kakashi looked at him, grave. “Please, Naruto. Just—just for today. Just… blank face. Dead face. Poker face. Do it for me.”

Naruto sighed, exasperated. “Fine, I’ll school my expression or whatever.”

Satisfied—though still deeply anxious—Kakashi nodded, and together, they knocked on the door and entered the office.

Minato greeted them with a small smile, already reaching for a mission scroll. “I’ve got something really good for you two. This next assignment should be—”

Then, he glanced up fully, his eyes raking over Naruto first, then Kakashi. There was a brief pause.

Minato’s smile didn’t fade, but something about the air shifted. His voice came out scarily calm.

“Kakashi.”

Kakashi froze.

Minato tilted his head slightly. “We had an agreement, didn’t we?”

Kakashi felt a bead of sweat roll down his spine.

“Three dates,” Minato continued, still with that calm, knowing tone. “That ring a bell?”

Next to him, Naruto muttered under his breath, “Holy shit.” He sounded almost… impressed. Like he was witnessing a god at work.

Kakashi turned to him in pure betrayal. “I told you to watch your face!” he hissed.

Minato hummed. “Actually, it was your face that gave it away, Kakashi.”

Kakashi stiffened.

Minato smiled a little wider. “It has guilt written all over it.”

Naruto grinned, smirking at Kakashi in pure amusement. Meanwhile, Kakashi felt his soul leaving his body.

Minato clasped his hands together, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “Well?” he prompted. “Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

Kakashi’s brain short-circuited. His survival instincts kicked in, and before he could stop himself, he blurted out, “Uh… Na—Naruto did all the touching?”

Silence.

Minato’s eyelid twitched.

Naruto burst out laughing.

Kakashi started to mentally write his will.

Chapter Text

It had been a few months since everything had changed — and in the best possible way.

Naruto had never known this kind of happiness before. He had chased so many things in his life — acknowledgment, peace, power, love — but this? This steady warmth at his side, this constant that never flinched or faded, was something he hadn't even known how to wish for. Kakashi was... everything. He was calm when Naruto was storming, gentle when Naruto was bold, teasing when Naruto got too serious, and always, always present.

And every time Kakashi murmured “come here” and pulled him close in the quiet of either of their apartments, or pressed a kiss into his hair like it was the most natural thing in the world, Naruto’s chest ached with a kind of joy he wasn’t used to. Kakashi told him often now that not taking the chance with Naruto would've been the biggest mistake of his life. And he meant it. Naruto could feel it in every touch, every glance.

But not all things were equal, and some days, the gap between what he had and what he wanted crept in sideways.

Naruto slurped up a big mouthful of ramen, the warmth of the broth comforting him as he sat at Ichiraku, sitting at the same old stool that had seen his worst heartbreaks and his best celebrations. He was halfway through the bowl, his thoughts pleasantly hazy, when the familiar sound of light footsteps and a bright voice drew his attention.

“Yo,” Ino greeted with a wave and a smile. “Look who’s keeping the place in business.”

Naruto laughed, chopsticks still halfway to his mouth. “You know me. Ramen’s my one true love.”

“Excuse you,” Ino said, feigning offense. “What about Kakashi-sensei?”

Naruto grinned. “Kakashi doesn’t come with miso broth.”

Sai offered a polite nod as he sat beside Ino. “It’s been a while. How have you been, Naruto?”

“Good,” Naruto said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Just got back from a mission. Thought I’d reward myself.”

The two ordered, and while they waited, Naruto found himself watching them more than he meant to. There was this quiet warmth between them—Ino leaned lightly into Sai’s shoulder while talking, and Sai’s eyes never strayed too far from her. It wasn’t showy or obnoxious, just… easy.

When their ramen arrived, Sai took a bite first and smiled. “It’s good,” he said. Then, turning to Ino, “Want to try?”

He lifted his chopsticks and gently fed her a mouthful. She took it with a laugh, noodles draping down her chin slightly. Without a word, Sai reached out and brushed a thumb over her skin, wiping the broth away like it was second nature.

Naruto looked back at his own ramen, suddenly a bit sheepish.

“You guys are really… lovey-dovey,” he commented with a crooked smile.

Ino snickered, pleased. “Well, yeah. We’re a couple.” She glanced at him with a sly grin. “I bet you and Kakashi are the same. Worse, even.”

Naruto gave a short laugh. “Uh, not really.”

Ino looked genuinely surprised. “No?”

Naruto shook his head. “He’s not really into PDA.”

“Oh,” she said, blinking. “Huh.”

Naruto shrugged and went on, “I mean, if I grab his hand when we’re walking somewhere, he’ll let me hold it. For a bit. Then he gets all fidgety and lets go. He tries, I can tell, but... yeah.” He scratched the back of his head. “It’s not a big deal though.” Naruto added quickly, not wanting it to sound like a complaint. “Honestly, he spoils me rotten when it’s just us.”

Kakashi was affectionate in his own way. In private, the man could be downright clingy—always pulling Naruto close, tucking him under his chin, whispering things that made Naruto’s stomach flip. But sometimes… Naruto wanted something soft out where people could see. Something that said, “He’s mine,” even in the most casual way.

Like what Ino and Sai had.

He didn’t say all of that. But maybe Ino saw it anyway, because she leaned in and bumped her shoulder lightly against his.

“Well,” she said, “if it’s important to you, you should tell him. Maybe he just needs a little push.”

Naruto gave her a half-smile, not sure if Kakashi could be pushed. Or if Naruto even cared about this enough to bring it up, and possibly make Kakashi uncomfortable. But maybe…

Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to try.

Later that evening, with his belly full of ramen and thoughts of Ino and Sai still turning in his head, Naruto made his way toward Kakashi’s apartment. It was routine by now—after a mission, after any time apart—they always found their way back to each other. No fanfare. Just presence.

He barely had to knock once before the door opened.

Kakashi’s eyes softened immediately. “Welcome back.”

Naruto grinned. “You too.”

Without another word, Kakashi stepped aside, letting him in. As the door shut behind them, Kakashi reached up, tugged down his mask, and leaned in. His hand found the back of Naruto’s neck, pulling him gently forward.

The kiss was familiar, warm, slow. Kakashi hummed against his lips. “You taste like ramen.”

Naruto laughed lightly. “Guess what I had for dinner.”

Kakashi leaned his forehead against Naruto’s. “Mission go alright?”

“Mmhm,” Naruto murmured. “Uneventful. Yours?”

“Same,” Kakashi said. Then, softer, “I missed you.”

Naruto’s chest gave a small lurch. That was all it took—the little words that carried more weight than any grand gesture. This—this—was what mattered.

He didn’t answer with words. He just pulled Kakashi back into a kiss, deeper this time. Kakashi responded immediately, his hands finding Naruto’s hips, holding him there like he’d been waiting for this exact moment since Naruto left.

The soft press of mouths gave way to heat. Clothes came off in a trail that led them to the bedroom, where kisses turned into something slow, tender, and grounding. Kakashi moved with a practiced grace that never felt detached—every touch was deliberate, every breath shared. He didn’t just make Naruto feel wanted. He made him feel known.

And Naruto gave back everything he had—his body, his warmth, his trust. He clung to Kakashi desperately, and Kakashi held him steady, whispering his name like it was something precious.

And in this moment, Naruto forgot all about the tiny ache he'd felt earlier. The doubt. The wondering. Because when Kakashi touched him like this—gently, purposefully—it didn’t matter what anyone else did in public or in passing. Naruto didn’t need anything else.

Not right now.

Just this.

Morning came with golden light spilling through the blinds and warmth still lingering in the sheets. Naruto stirred, face buried in the crook of Kakashi’s neck, and hummed softly as fingers began trailing slowly up his spine.

Kakashi’s voice was still sleep-rough. “You awake?”

Naruto grinned into his shoulder. “Mmhmm. You?”

“I will be in a minute,” Kakashi replied, pulling him closer, his hand wandering lower in a familiar way.

A quiet laugh escaped Naruto. “You’re insatiable.”

“And you’re conveniently naked.”

That was all the warning he got before Kakashi rolled him onto his back and kissed him, lazy and deep. Round two wasn’t as heated as the night before, but it was no less meaningful. It was the kind of lovemaking that spoke of comfort, of knowing each other’s rhythms, of trust.

When they finally collapsed side by side again, sweaty and thoroughly satisfied, Naruto was sprawled out like a cat in the sun.

“You know,” he said, breathless and blissed out, “for someone who claimed to be half-awake, you sure didn’t hold back. I think my soul left my body for a second there.”

“Hm,” Kakashi hummed thoughtfully, stretching his arms over his head with the kind of smugness that only someone confident in their bed game would allow themselves. “I do aim to please.”

Naruto snorted. “I’ll give you five stars on the satisfaction survey.”

“Right back at you.” Kakashi leaned in, brushing a kiss to Naruto’s cheek before sitting up. “I think we’ve both earned breakfast then.”

Naruto groaned contentedly as Kakashi climbed out of bed, grabbing a pair of boxers from the floor and tugging them on.

Naruto propped himself up on his elbows, eyes lazily trailing the length of Kakashi’s back—lined with soft muscle and faint scars that told too many stories—and then lower, to the curve of his ass, snug and annoyingly perfect in his black boxers.

“God,” he muttered under his breath. “That back. That ass.”

Kakashi glanced over his shoulder with a smile. “Eat first, flirt later.”

“I am eating.”

“Eggs, Naruto. Not me.”

They ate breakfast at the table—comfortably close, feet occasionally bumping underneath. Kakashi sipped his tea, then said, “I was thinking of going shopping later. Want to come?”

Naruto looked up. “Groceries?”

“Actually,” Kakashi said, “I want to get a potted plant.”

Naruto perked up. “A plant? Really?”

“Mm. I think Mr. Ukki could use some company.”

Naruto’s mouth curved into a soft smile. “That’s, what, years now? I gave that plant to you when I was like… twelve?”

“Twelve and full of chaotic energy, cutely thanking me for being Team 7’s sensei.” Kakashi said, amused. “I admit I was surprised by the gift. To think you’d be the thoughtful one.”

Naruto felt his ears burn. “Yeah, well… I was a sentimental little gremlin.” He leaned forward then, grinning so wide his eyes squinted. “But, it’s amazing that he’s still alive. When I gave him to you I imagined he’d be dead in a month.”

Kakashi smiled softly. “He’s precious to me. I’ve made sure to take care of him well.”

Naruto’s breath caught. The way Kakashi said it so casually, but sincerely. Like it mattered. Like he mattered.

He looked at Kakashi—messy-haired, sleepy-eyed, his bare feet tucked under the chair, the way morning light touched his face, at the gentle way he cradled his teacup, and something rose in Naruto’s chest so sudden and intense it made his breath catch—and for a second, the words were right there.

He loved him.

God, he loved him.

It wasn’t new, really. It had been there for a while now, creeping up on him in moments like these. But now it was pressing against his ribs like it needed out.

His mouth opened. And then clamped shut again.

He wanted to say it. He ached to say it.

But he didn’t.

They hadn’t said it yet. And Naruto—though usually impulsive and bold—was a bit hesitant. What if Kakashi wasn’t ready? What if he didn’t say it back? Not because he didn’t care, but because he wasn’t there yet. And then Naruto would be stuck waiting, wondering when—if—he’d hear it.

He didn’t want to scare Kakashi. He didn’t want to make him feel pressured. And maybe… maybe, deep down, he wanted Kakashi to say it first. Not because of pride—but because hearing it from him would mean everything.

So he swallowed it.

All of it.

Instead, he grinned and leaned in for a kiss. “Alright then. Shower first and then let’s go find Mr. Ukki a buddy.”

And just like that, they walked into the village together—shoulders brushing, hearts full, and love quietly blooming just beneath the surface.

The shop was warm and bright, rows upon rows of potted plants lined the shelves—flowers, succulents, ferns, things Naruto didn’t even know the names of.

“This one’s cool,” Naruto said, lifting a wide-leafed little plant with dark green veins. He turned toward Kakashi, grinning. “It looks kinda dramatic, right? Like it could belong to an exiled noble or something.”

Kakashi tilted his head, amused. “Dramatic plants. That’s a new standard.”

Naruto was about to launch into a whole bit about plant personalities when a smooth voice interrupted.

“Can I help you find something?”

They turned. A woman stood nearby—early thirties, pretty in a polished, magazine-cover way, with long hair and bright lipstick. Her smile practically sparkled when her eyes landed on Kakashi.

“Oh,” Kakashi said. “Uh, I’m looking for a plant for my apartment. Something smallish. Not too dramatic,” he added with a glance at Naruto, who snorted.

The woman stepped closer, placing a light hand on Kakashi’s back. “Of course. Right this way—I’ve got a few perfect candidates.”

Before either of them could say more, she began guiding Kakashi toward the far side of the shop, leaving Naruto standing there like a leftover sales tag.

Naruto blinked. Then frowned.

He followed at a slight distance, watching how the woman talked—her voice low and sweet, like she was giving Kakashi a private tour. Every few sentences, she tossed in a flirty remark—something about how Kakashi had “a good eye” or how “plants always thrive when the owner’s charming.”

Naruto’s jaw clenched. His hands went into his pockets, fingers twitching.

Kakashi didn’t flirt back—of course he didn’t—but he was polite, as always. 

Naruto knew he didn’t have much right to be mad. He and Kakashi had walked into the shop like a couple of regular dudes, they hadn’t touched, hadn’t called each other pet names, so it’s not like the woman knew. But still.

He hated how invisible he felt standing there while someone flirted with his boyfriend.

Kakashi seemed politely oblivious as he reached for a medium-sized plant with thin, elegant leaves that fanned out gracefully. “This one’s nice,” he said, then glanced over his shoulder. “What do you think, Naruto?”

Naruto stepped up beside him, just as the woman added with a bright smile, “Aw, that’s sweet. It’s good to get your friend’s opinion.”

Friend.

Naruto’s eye twitched.

He met her gaze, all pretense gone, and gave her a cool, sharp grin. “Boyfriend, actually.”

That wiped the smile off her face.

Naruto walked over, plucked the plant gently out of Kakashi’s hands, and turned to the counter. “We’ll take it.”

He pulled out his wallet and slapped down enough ryo to cover it, just a bit extra, because—well—symbolism.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The shopkeeper was suddenly very busy wrapping the plant in brown paper and avoiding eye contact.

They stepped out into the sun moments later, Naruto still carrying the plant, lips pressed together in a hard line.

Kakashi gave Naruto a sideways glance, unsure if he should be amused or concerned. “You okay there?”

“I’m fine.”

“…You sure?”

“I said I’m fine.”

But Naruto wasn’t.

As they walked, that bitter edge in his chest kept scraping raw. I bet Sai and Ino never deal with this kind of shit, he thought. They probably never had to deal with someone outright ignoring one of them to flirt with the other. People saw them together and just knew. There wasn’t even a question. No confusion.  

Just certainty. Acceptance. Obviousness.

Naruto’s gaze drifted down to Kakashi’s hand, swinging casually beside him.

Without thinking, Naruto reached out and laced their fingers together.

Kakashi glanced at him. His expression softened, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He gave Naruto’s hand a gentle squeeze.

And for a while, it felt good. It felt right.

They were just a couple walking home, hand in hand. No drama. No tension.

Until Kakashi’s hand suddenly slipped from his grasp.

It wasn’t the usual gradual, casual release Kakashi did when he got fidgety or distracted. This was abrupt. Sharp.

Naruto blinked, confused, turning his head just in time to see Kiba in the distance, heading their way on the opposite side of the street.

Oh.

The realization settled in fast and heavy. Kakashi had seen him. That’s why he let go.

Naruto looked straight ahead and kept walking. He didn’t say anything.

Not then.

When they got to Kakashi’s apartment, they took off their shoes. Naruto set the plant gently on the table, watching the way its leaves bounced softly with the movement.

Then, voice quiet but clear, he asked, “Why don’t you like touching me in public?”

Kakashi paused. He glanced up, surprised—not defensive, not guilty. Just a little caught off guard.

“Not everything needs to be done in front of other people,” Kakashi said simply, voice even.

Naruto gave a dry chuckle, walking away from the plant and turning to face him. “Yeah. That’s why we have sex at home.”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow but didn’t interrupt.

“But holding hands?” Naruto continued. “That’s not anything scandalous. It’s just… it’s nice. And I want people to know we’re together. I want it to be obvious.”

Kakashi’s silence stretched a beat too long. Not in rejection—just in thought.

Naruto swallowed. “I’m not trying to force you into something you’re not comfortable with. I just need to know if you’re… ashamed. Or if you think people will judge you for being with me.”

Kakashi went silent.

Naruto watched him, trying not to show how tightly his chest had clenched around that question. The seconds ticked by, thick with tension, until Kakashi exhaled, slow and heavy, and dragged a hand over his face.

He walked over to the couch and sat down, elbows resting on his knees. His head hung for a second like he was weighing every word.

Then he looked up at Naruto — tired, earnest.

“I made the decision to be with you because I wanted to be honest with myself,” Kakashi said. “Because I didn’t want to keep walking away from something that felt right just because I thought I shouldn’t want it.”

Naruto’s breath caught, just for a moment.

“But…” Kakashi continued, voice quieting, “I’d be lying if I said I’m comfortable with people seeing us together. And not because I’m ashamed of you. Or of what we have. It’s not that.”

Naruto’s lips pressed together, listening.

Kakashi continued. “You, of all people, know how nasty people can be. Sometimes it only takes one look, one word, to twist something good into something... ugly. And what we have is good. I believe that. I don’t want it dirtied by someone else’s comment or stare. And more than anything, I don’t want you subjected to that. Not because of being with me.”

Naruto’s chest ached a little—not from pain, but from how much he understood that.

“Okay,” he said slowly. “I get that. I do. But… you let go of my hand when you saw Kiba. He’s not some random, mean stranger. He’s my friend. And it’s not like he doesn’t already know about us.”

Kakashi rubbed at his wrist absently. “Knowing and being supportive are two different things. There’s a lot about us that already defies convention,” he said. “We’re two men, which is still enough to turn heads in most circles. But then there’s the age gap. And the fact that I was your teacher once. Strangers just see two guys, and maybe they stare or whisper, but it doesn’t mean anything to me.”

He looked at Naruto again, tired honesty in his gaze. “It’s harder with people who know us. Strangers don’t have the context. But someone like Kiba? He knows what we were. He remembers when you were twelve and brash and I was lecturing you about teamwork. And now suddenly we’re… this. Some people, friends or not, might not be able to separate what we were from what we are now. I just don’t want someone who knows us to look at us and see something inappropriate instead of what it is.”

Naruto looked at him for a long moment. Processing.

Then his voice dropped to something quiet and sharp. “So, to sum it up... you're ashamed.”

Kakashi blinked.

“You can use different words for it, but that’s what it sounds like to me. You said it yourself. You’re uncomfortable when people see us. You saw Kiba and you pulled away. Like we were doing something we shouldn’t. Like you got caught. Isn’t that what shame is?”

Kakashi stared at him. His eyes widened slightly, and then, slowly, they closed.

He turned away, head bowing, a long breath leaving him like he couldn’t even bear to defend himself.

Naruto didn’t feel angry. Not really. He just felt… hollow.

Sad.

The silence between them stretched. Then Naruto’s voice came, quiet and steady.

“I’m gonna go take a walk.”

Kakashi didn’t stop him.

He just stayed on the couch, still hunched over, the weight of Naruto’s words hanging in the air long after the door clicked shut.

Naruto wandered the village streets for hours with his hands stuffed in his pockets, head bowed slightly as his thoughts looped through everything Kakashi had said.

From the very beginning, Kakashi had made it clear that there were things—reasons—holding him back. Naruto had chosen to push forward anyway, hoping that their happiness would bulldoze through all that noise.

And in a way, it had.

Kakashi had chosen him. He hadn’t let those reasons stop him from being with Naruto.

But ignoring them hadn’t made them vanish.

Now they were just… lingering. Like shadows in the daylight. Not loud, but still very much there.

It was sad that Kakashi felt like he had to hide. That he couldn’t walk through his own village hand in hand with someone he cared about. That he had to brace for judgment just for being happy.

He’d thought once Kakashi finally admitted he wanted Naruto back, the hard part would be over. That they'd crossed the finish line.

Naruto frowned, his throat tight with helplessness. He didn’t know how to fix this. Didn’t know if there was a fix, short of Kakashi changing in a way he didn’t feel ready to.

He was so lost in thought that he nearly jumped when someone called his name.

“Oi. Naruto.”

Naruto looked up. Shikamaru stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, his expression as bored as ever.

“Your dad’s looking for you,” Shikamaru said. “Said to send you to his office.”

Naruto blinked again, shaking off the haze of his thoughts. “Right. Thanks.”

When Naruto reached the Hokage’s office, Sasuke was already there, standing by the window with his arms crossed and a half-bored look on his face.

Minato looked up from the desk and gave Naruto a small smile. “Good. You’re both here. Sorry for calling you here so late.”

He stood and handed each of them a scroll.

“There’s a mission,” he said, tone shifting into formal cadence. “We’ve tracked some movement tied to a suspicious organization near the north-east border. A potential hideout. It’s remote, so expect travel time—the round trip will likely take two weeks at minimum.”

Naruto unrolled the scroll and skimmed the summary.

“If you find anything—documents, jutsu scrolls, anything potentially valuable to Konoha—bring it back. Intel is our main goal. Understood?”

Sasuke gave a sharp nod. “Understood.”

“Good.” Minato returned the nod. “You’ll leave at dawn so go home and get plenty of rest.”

He then glanced between the two of them. “Sasuke, you’re dismissed. Naruto—stay for a moment?”

Sasuke gave Naruto a look that was almost amused, then left.

Once the door closed, Minato’s warm gaze settled on his son. He didn’t speak right away, just watched him for a moment—softly, carefully. 

“You alright?”

Naruto tried for a smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah.”

Minato didn’t say anything.

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, then sighed and admitted, “I kinda got into a fight with Kakashi.”

“I see,” Minato said gently. “You want to talk about it?”

Naruto hesitated, then met his father’s gaze again. “It’s nothing dramatic. Just… I confronted him about not wanting to act like… like a couple in public.”

There was a pause. Then Minato nodded slowly and gestured for Naruto to sit, which he did.

“Try not to be too hard on him,” Minato said softly. “You can probably understand where he’s coming from.”

“I do,” Naruto said right away. “I really do. But I also wish he was more like me when it comes to this. Like—I don’t care what people think. If one of my friends had a problem with us being together, I’d tell them to shove it.”

Minato chuckled, but it faded fast.

“You can afford to say that,” he replied. “Because in other people’s eyes, you’re not the problem.”

Naruto looked at him, confused.

Minato sighed. “If someone decides your relationship is wrong, they’ll see you as a victim. And Kakashi as a villain.”

Naruto blinked. The words made him feel a little ill. His mouth parted like he wanted to say something, but nothing came out.

“I’m sorry for being so blunt,” Minato added, voice soft. “But it’s true. That’s the weight Kakashi’s carrying. And he probably doesn’t care that much what others think of him—but he does care about what you could be subjected to because of dating him.”

Naruto looked down. His hands were curled into loose fists in his lap.

“I know it’s not fair,” Minato continued. “Of course you want to be comfortable in public. Of course you want to be seen. And you deserve that, Naruto.”

He reached over, placing a hand on his son’s shoulder.

“But just… be gentle with him, okay?”

Naruto swallowed hard and nodded, feeling the weight of it all settle in a little differently now.

“Thanks, Dad.”

Minato gave Naruto’s shoulder one last squeeze before letting go. “Get some rest. You’ve got a long trip ahead.”

Naruto stood outside Kakashi’s door, staring at the wood for a second before he knocked.

It opened moments later, and Kakashi’s face appeared in the narrow gap—wary at first, then softening into visible relief when he saw who it was. “Naruto.”

He stepped back, pulling the door open wider to let him in.

But Naruto shook his head.

Kakashi paused mid-step, eyes narrowing slightly in confusion. “…You’re not coming in?”

“No,” Naruto said quietly. “I won’t be staying.”

The air seemed to go still.

Kakashi stood frozen in the doorway, his fingers still on the handle. Naruto pressed on, keeping his voice level even though something about saying the words out loud made his chest ache.

“I got a new mission from my dad.” He said. “I’ll be leaving really early, so… I’m just gonna head home to pack and get some sleep.”

Kakashi blinked. “I see.”

“I just wanted to let you know,” Naruto added, eyes flicking up to meet his. “Didn’t wanna leave without saying anything.”

Kakashi nodded slowly. “…How long?”

“Two weeks, maybe more,” Naruto replied. “We’re going pretty far out, near the north border. It’s me and Sasuke. Dad said it’ll take time.”

Kakashi’s eyes dipped down, the faintest crease forming between his brows. “Right.”

Naruto offered a small, tired smile. “We’ll talk when I’m back, okay?”

Kakashi didn’t answer immediately. He just looked at him, and Naruto could tell he wanted to say something. Anything. But no words came.

“I feel bad leaving now,” Naruto continued. “But… maybe it’s not a bad thing. A little space. Time to think.”

Kakashi’s eyes lowered, his jaw tense—but he nodded.

“Alright.”

Naruto hesitated a second longer, then gave him a small wave and turned to leave, his footsteps quiet against the stone path.

Kakashi stood there in the doorway long after he’d disappeared down the road, the night cool against his skin, the silence of the apartment behind him echoing a little louder than usual.

Kakashi tried to train. Hard. Pushed his body until it ached, until he couldn’t think about anything else but the burn in his muscles and the sweat in his eyes. But inevitably, always, his mind circled back to Naruto.

He didn’t like the way they’d parted. The image of Naruto standing in his doorway, not stepping inside, still lingered. Not angry. Not cold. Just sad.

And worse than the goodbye was what Naruto had said: “Maybe it’s not a bad thing. A little space. Time to think.”

Think about what?

Kakashi knew they needed to talk. Figure out how to get over this obstacle together. That made sense. But “think”? That word haunted him. What was Naruto thinking about? Whether this relationship was worth it? Whether putting up with Kakashi’s discomfort and hang-ups was more trouble than it was worth? Whether he might be better off with someone younger, more open, someone who would kiss him in broad daylight and call him baby in front of the entire village?

Kakashi was spiraling. Fully, ungracefully spiraling.

He was in the middle of brutalizing a training dummy—its stuffing already spilling out at the seams—when a familiar voice cut through his thoughts.

“You know,” Minato said with a faint smirk, arms crossed as he approached, “I feel bad for that dummy, but also a little curious what he did to deserve this.”

Kakashi froze mid-punch, then let his fist drop and breathed heavily through his nose.  “Please tell me you’re here to assign me a mission.”

“If the mission involves alcohol and gut spilling, then sure.” Minato said, walking closer. “Come on. Let’s grab a drink.”

Kakashi looked down at his sweaty, dust-caked clothes and pointed at himself. “Do I look like I’m in condition for a bar?”

“Nope,” Minato said. “That’s why we’re going to your place.”

They made a quick detour to a shop, picked up a few bottles of sake and snacks, and eventually made their way back to Kakashi’s apartment.

Minato made himself at home, kneeling beside the low table and starting to unpack their haul while Kakashi disappeared into the shower.

When he returned, freshly washed and dressed in simple shorts and a t-shirt, he looked more relaxed—but the heaviness around his shoulders hadn’t lifted.

He sat cross-legged across from Minato, who poured sake into their cups without a word. They started off slow—sipping, playing a lazy game of cards, occasionally tossing peanuts into each other’s cups when one of them lost a round.

By the time they were a few bottles in, the quiet had turned comfortable. Loose, even.

And that’s when Minato set his cup down, eyes steady.

“So,” he said, “you gonna tell me what’s eating you? Or should I go get the rest of that training dummy and interrogate him instead?”

Kakashi didn’t answer right away. He stared into his cup, then gave a tired half-laugh.

“I don’t even know where to start.”

Minato leaned back a little, resting on one hand while taking a sip with the other. “Well, then maybe I’ll start and say that I know a little about what happened. Naruto and I talked a bit before he left.”

Kakashi exhaled slowly and let himself slide down until his cheek was pressed against the table, eyes turned to the side. “What did he say?”

“That you two had a fight. About you not wanting to be affectionate in public.”

Kakashi shut his eyes. “That sounds about right.”

There was a long pause, then Kakashi spoke again, voice a little muffled from the table.

“I let go of his hand when I saw Kiba walking our way. I didn’t think— I just reacted. And Naruto noticed, of course. That’s what started it.” He let out a dry, humorless laugh. “I mean, he’s not wrong. I didn’t want to be seen holding his hand. Not by someone who knows us.”

Minato was quiet, waiting.

“I just… I don’t know what to do,” Kakashi admitted. “I can’t force myself to stop thinking people will judge us. That they’ll look at him and see someone sweet and too good for someone like me. That they’ll look at me and see something… wrong. Something twisted.” His voice dropped. “I can’t brainwash myself into pretending the relationship doesn’t look weird to people. And I don’t want them putting that on Naruto. So I try to avoid giving them the opportunity to show it.”

He sighed deeply, fingers curling around his empty cup. “But Naruto… he wants to be obvious. Wants to show people we’re together.”

Minato reached across the table and placed a hand on Kakashi’s head. His fingers moved slowly through Kakashi’s hair, petting him like a worried parent with a stormy child.

Kakashi leaned into it.

Then he turned his head slightly, hiding his face in his arm. “This might be it, you know. He might come back and decide it’s not worth it. That he wants something simpler. Normal. Someone who doesn’t need to be hidden like a secret.”

Minato's hand stilled. There was a quiet tension in the air, like something fragile teetering.

“Kakashi,” Minato said after a moment. “You do not need to be hidden. You’re wonderful and Naruto would proudly flaunt you around if you gave him the chance.”

Minato poured them both another drink, then continued, “And he’s right, you know. He should be able to be himself with you. That kind of freedom would make you happier too, even if you can’t see it yet.”

Kakashi sat up slowly, swirled the liquid in his cup.

“But I get it,” Minato said gently. “This isn’t easy for you. Naruto is younger than you and that’s probably why you feel so responsible for keeping him safe from harm. But Naruto is strong. He can deal with a nasty comment. His lover keeping him at arm’s length though?” he gave Kakashi a pointed look, “That’s tougher.”

Kakashi’s eyes shifted, staring off into space in thought.

“I’m not saying you should go and make out in public.” Minato continued. “Just have a little more faith in your friends. And next time Naruto reaches for your hand—don’t let go. No matter who sees.”

Kakashi stared into his drink.

And nodded.

Kakashi was expecting Naruto back any day now. He didn’t know the exact date, but the mission had been estimated at around two weeks, and his instincts told him it was nearing the end. The thought of seeing Naruto again made his chest tighten—not just from anticipation, but from the vague, unfinished tension that had been lingering since they last spoke.

He’d thought a lot. Too much. And somewhere along the way, he’d formed a loose idea of what he wanted to say when they saw each other again. Nothing dramatic. No promises he couldn't keep. But he wanted to try. To be more open. Not all at once, not performative. Just… gradually. Until it didn’t feel like he was pretending to be okay with being seen.

Until he was okay.

It was a crisp morning. The village was quietly bustling, shops opening, voices murmuring over breakfast stalls. Kakashi walked through the main street, his hands in his pockets, half-focused on the world around him, half in his head.

That’s when he ran into Yamato.

“Kakashi-senpai! Hello.” Yamato greeted, adjusting the strap of his travel pack. He looked ready to leave—gear in place, face alert but calm.

Kakashi blinked out of his thoughts. “Hey, Tenzo. Off somewhere?”

“Yeah, mission to the southern coast. Shouldn’t take more than a few days.”

They exchanged a few more words, catching up idly. And then, as Yamato turned to leave, he paused and added, almost offhandedly, “Hey—by the way, I’m sorry about you and Naruto.”

Kakashi tilted his head, confused. “Sorry about…?”

Yamato turned back around. “I didn’t realize you two had broken up. You never talked about your relationship much, so I’m probably late with this but, yeah. Sorry it didn’t work out.”

Kakashi stared. “We haven’t broken up.”

Yamato blinked. “...Really?”

There was a short pause while Yamato looked like something had just clicked in his head, pieces shifting into a new configuration.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. “Why would you think that? Did someone say something?”

“No,” Yamato said slowly. “Actually, it’s probably nothing—”

“Tenzo,” Kakashi warned, his voice soft but edged, “if you don’t start talking,”

Yamato hesitated. He scratched at the back of his neck, clearly debating whether or not to say anything else.

Then he sighed. “Alright, but... take it with a grain of salt. I saw Naruto yesterday. With Sasuke. It was late evening, and they looked like they were just walking around. But—” he paused, “they were holding hands.”

Kakashi felt something sharp shift in his chest.

“…I see,” he said, trying for neutral.

“And,” Yamato added reluctantly, “I didn’t speak to them. But I overheard them bickering about whose place they were gonna sleep at that night. So, you know. I just kind of assumed...” he trailed off.

Kakashi’s throat felt dry. He nodded slowly, but his brain was moving faster than he could control.

So.

Naruto was back. Already. And instead of coming to see Kakashi—like he always did after a mission—he’d spent the evening walking with Sasuke. Holding hands. Talking about whose place they’d sleep at.

Kakashi’s instincts kicked in. Think logically. There were probably a dozen explanations. Maybe it was a joke. Maybe it was a misunderstanding. Maybe Yamato had seen it wrong, or misinterpreted. They had a small fight, sure, but Naruto wouldn’t—he wouldn’t just start something else while they were still together.

But…

The bitter taste curling in his stomach didn’t care for a single excuse. All it knew was that Naruto had come home. And hadn’t come to him.

Yamato shifted, clearly uncomfortable. “Sorry. Maybe I misread it. Could’ve been something else.”

Kakashi gave Yamato a short nod. “Thanks. For telling me.”

Yamato looked like he wanted to say more but decided against it. “I’m sure it’s nothing,” he said. “Take care of yourself, alright?”

“You too,” Kakashi murmured.

Yamato left.

Kakashi stood frozen for a moment on the busy street, Yamato’s words echoing like static in his ears.

He didn’t know what he was supposed to do now.

Should he just go home, pretend he hadn’t heard any of it, and wait? Wait for Naruto to come to him like always? Sit alone, maybe drink, maybe pace, maybe slowly lose his mind until Naruto eventually showed up at his door?

Or should he go to Naruto himself? Ask. Try to understand what the hell was going on, and why Naruto hadn’t come to see him since getting back?

But honestly, with the way his stomach was twisting right now, the thought of sitting at home and doing nothing felt like the worst possible option.

So he moved.

The walk to Naruto’s apartment passed in a blur. Familiar streets, familiar steps—but everything felt slightly wrong. Too sharp at the edges. When he reached Naruto’s building, he stood outside the door for a few moments, just looking at it. The curtains were drawn. He couldn’t see anything inside.

His heart was beating way too fast.

He knocked.

Waited.

No answer.

He knocked again, more softly this time.

Still nothing.

And then, like a cruel whisper, Yamato’s voice echoed in his mind. They were arguing over whose place they’d sleep at last night.

The silence from behind the door turned thick. Dead. Naruto wasn’t home.

He’s at Sasuke’s, Kakashi realized. Still.

That same sick feeling twisted tighter inside his chest. He stood there a moment longer, staring blankly at the closed door, unsure of what to do. Part of him wanted to wait. Part of him wanted to storm off. Part of him wanted to disappear entirely.

He turned away, heart pounding in his throat, and that’s when he saw them.

Naruto and Sasuke, turning into the street, clearly headed toward the apartment. Walking side by side. Holding hands.

Naruto was talking animatedly, his free hand cutting through the air as he gestured wildly about something. And every few seconds, he’d jerk Sasuke’s hand along with his, making Sasuke’s arm swing a little like an afterthought.

Sasuke looked mildly annoyed in that classic, put-upon way of his. But he wasn’t letting go.

Kakashi stopped in his tracks. For a moment, he thought—maybe he should just stand here. Let them see him. Wait for Naruto to explain. Maybe there was something he wasn’t seeing. Maybe it meant nothing.

But something inside him—fragile, already cracked—lurched at the sight. He couldn’t breathe right. Couldn’t think straight.

He realized, with terrifying clarity, that he couldn’t do this right now.

Couldn’t face Naruto with questions he didn’t know how to ask.

Couldn’t stand there waiting to be told that maybe this all was exactly what it looked like.

So before either of them could notice him, Kakashi quickly disappeared in a blur of movement—silent, practiced, efficient.

Gone.

And the street was empty again.

Kakashi walked home like a ghost—quiet, unseen, disconnected from the world moving around him.

When he finally reached his apartment, he didn’t bother with changing clothes. He dropped onto the bed like someone pulled the strings out of his joints. Flat on his back, he threw one arm over his eyes, like it might block out the world.

It was over. Just like that.

His brain didn’t seem to know how to handle it. He kept replaying it all in his head—what they’d had just two weeks ago. The lazy mornings, the cozy breakfasts, Naruto teasing him while admiring him in nothing but boxers.

And now Naruto was walking hand-in-hand with someone else while Kakashi stood in the distance like some unwanted shadow of a life Naruto had already moved on from.

It didn’t make sense. Naruto was never the kind of person to give up. He was relentless. Stubborn. Passionate. He fought for the people he loved.

So if he wasn't fighting now…

Kakashi lay there for hours, unmoving. His body ached with stillness, and his eyes stung, though he didn’t cry. Not quite. Not yet. His stomach churned, cold and angry, twisting itself into knots he didn’t know how to untangle.

A knock came at the door.

He blinked up at the ceiling. Then slowly, heavily, dragged himself to his feet. For a brief second, he thought maybe it was Minato. Maybe the news had somehow gotten to him and he was coming to soften the blow.

But when he cracked the door open, it was Naruto instead.

Sheepish smile, eyes bright and uncertain.

“You’re back,” Kakashi said, trying hard to keep his voice neutral.

Naruto nodded. “Yeah. I actually got back yesterday evening, but… I kind of found myself in a situation.”

Kakashi started to open the door wider—and that’s when he saw him.

Sasuke. Standing next to Naruto. Still holding his hand.

Kakashi’s stomach dropped so violently he thought he might actually be sick.

His gaze flicked down again, almost involuntarily, to their joined hands. Still together. Still connected.

What the hell was this? Some kind of announcement? Were they really here to tell him together? Was Naruto going to look him in the eye and explain that it had just happened, that he didn’t mean for it, that he hoped they could all still be friends?

Kakashi couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move. His hands tightened slightly on the edge of the doorframe. If he’d had more strength, maybe he would’ve slammed the door in their faces.

But he was too stunned. Too hurt.

Naruto seemed to catch the tension immediately. “I’m sorry for not coming to see you yesterday,” he said quickly. “We were supposed to talk, and I didn’t want to do it with Sasuke around.”

Sasuke muttered, “It’s not like I wanted to be there either.”

Naruto rolled his eyes, clearly used to that tone, and continued, “I hoped I could figure things out fast, come to you alone. But then I asked my dad and he didn’t know how to help either, and it got late and… I just decided I’d come today.”

Kakashi stared, trying to make sense of the words, trying to push through the haze of what the hell is happening crowding his thoughts. “I… what?”

Naruto looked around awkwardly, then gave a small laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh. Can we come in?”

It was surreal. The most surreal moment of Kakashi’s life, maybe.

But he stepped aside. Because whatever this was, whatever was about to happen—he had to see it through.

He had to hear it, even if it crushed him.

He let them in.

Naruto and Sasuke stepped inside, taking off their shoes by the door. Their hands were still tightly linked, which looked increasingly strange the longer Kakashi stared.

“Stop pulling,” Sasuke snapped under his breath as Naruto shifted a little too far forward.

“Well then stand closer,” Naruto shot back, annoyed. “You’re the one stretching us like this!”

Kakashi watched them with narrowed eyes as they made their way to the low table. The two sat across from him, clearly annoyed with one another, but still very much connected. Kakashi’s eyes kept flicking down to their hands. Despite everything in him screaming otherwise, a flicker of doubt had started to form. It didn’t look romantic. It looked like an inconvenience. A very annoying, inconvenient problem they were trying to ignore.

Still, the knots in his chest didn’t ease until Naruto sighed, giving Kakashi a sheepish look.

“Okay, so, here’s what happened,” Naruto began. “On the mission, we found this old scroll hidden in a sealed chamber. Looked like it hadn’t been touched in years. It was protected with some kind of jutsu—pretty high-level stuff.”

Sasuke gave a sharp, irritated huff, already reaching his boiling point. “I opened it. Safely. Which would’ve been fine. Except on the inside, there was a second inscription. Said something about a secondary binding jutsu that activates unless it’s properly unsealed.”

Naruto picked up the thread. “It said whoever opens the scroll will be bound to the first thing they touch that emits chakra. And I—well—I got excited because we actually noticed that part, you know? Usually that kind of thing is in tiny text—super easy to miss!”

Kakashi’s eyes narrowed further. “Naruto…”

Naruto winced. “Yeah. So. I kind of... high-fived Sasuke.”

Sasuke growled. “Like a complete idiot.”

Naruto threw him a glare. “Excuse me for expressing joy that we dodged the trap!”

“You didn’t dodge the trap!” Sasuke barked. “You walked right into it with your big dumb grin and now I’m stuck like this!”

Kakashi blinked, processing the information. He blinked again and glanced down at their hands. Still joined. Still tethered.

“So… it’s a jutsu?” he said slowly, testing the words, making sure he wasn’t losing his mind.

“Yup,” Naruto sighed. “My dad couldn’t reverse it either. Said it might wear off naturally if we’re lucky, but we’ll probably need a specialized release jutsu. He’s got a team working on it.”

Of course.

Of course it was a ridiculous, cursed scroll accident.

Kakashi exhaled a quiet, almost embarrassed breath. The pressure that had been crushing his chest all day lifted slightly, even as a self-deprecating bitterness washed in to replace it. He’d jumped to conclusions. Let his own fears spiral.

Still, Kakashi looked between them and said dryly, “So… you’ve been stuck together for a week.”

Sasuke scowled at Naruto. “All because of this dumbass.”

Naruto nudged him. “You’re lucky it’s me and not someone worse.”

“You’re worse.”

Kakashi let out a deep, heavy sigh, dragging his hand through his hair. The motion was slow, almost mechanical, like his body hadn’t caught up with the wave of relief—or maybe just hadn’t figured out what to do with it yet. His fingers trembled slightly from the adrenaline still coiling tight in his veins.

He looked at Naruto, eyes tired. “Why didn’t you come explain yesterday?”

Naruto winced. “I wanted to. I really did. But I thought… I thought if my dad could fix it quickly, I could come see you and it would be like nothing ever happened. Just a funny story, y’know? But then we got held up. They tried everything they could think of, but nothing worked. By the time we realized we were stuck for the night, it was late. I figured it’d be better to just wait until today.”

Silence settled for a beat. Kakashi stared at the tabletop.

“You should’ve come,” he said quietly. His voice was rough, almost hoarse. “I thought—…”

He cut himself off.

Then, after a pause, he looked up at Naruto. “Yamato told me he saw you and Sasuke walking around last night. Holding hands. Bickering about whose place to sleep at. That’s not the kind of thing you want to hear from someone else.”

Naruto blinked. His brain connected the dots. His eyes widened. “Wait—he thought me and Sasuke were… together?”

He sounded incredulous, nearly laughing, but the sound caught in his throat when he saw the look in Kakashi’s eyes. That vulnerable, quiet ache. A pain Naruto hadn’t meant to cause, but had anyway.

He felt a sharp pang in his chest, a stab of guilt that settled heavy in his gut. He hadn’t even considered how it would look from the outside. How it would feel for Kakashi—alone, waiting, probably wondering the worst.

“Shit,” Naruto murmured, leaning forward. He reached out with his free hand and gently took Kakashi’s. “I’m sorry. I should’ve come. I didn’t think…”

Kakashi looked down at their joined hands, thumb brushing across Naruto’s knuckles. He nodded slowly. “I know. You didn’t do anything wrong.” He paused. “Maybe just… not everything right.”

Naruto gave a small, regretful smile. “Fair enough.”

But Kakashi’s heart was still sore. The panic, the spiral of thoughts—it clung to him, and even though he could see Naruto’s earnest face right in front of him now, the echo of that fear hadn’t completely faded. He needed a breath. Just a minute.

He stood up and gently withdrew his hand. “Do you two want something to drink?”

Sasuke groaned and leaned his head back. “The strongest alcohol you’ve got.”

Naruto elbowed him. “It’s way too early to be drinking, idiot.”

“I don’t care. I need it to cope with you.”

“No alcohol,” Naruto told Kakashi with finality. “Just tea, if you have it. And water for the hothead here.”

Kakashi gave a faint chuckle and nodded. “Coming right up.”

He moved into the kitchen, grateful for something simple to do—something to anchor him as the emotional dust finally began to settle.

Kakashi returned with a tray a few minutes later—two mugs of steaming tea and a glass of cold water for Sasuke, who looked like he might either pass out or set something on fire. He set it all down carefully, then eased back onto the floor beside Naruto.

The silence between them wasn’t awkward anymore. It was tentative, soft. Like walking over ice you knew was beginning to thaw.

Naruto cradled his mug, blowing gently on the surface of the tea, then looked at Kakashi through his lashes. “So… are we okay?”

Kakashi exhaled, a deep breath that seemed to scrape out the inside of his chest. He looked down at his own mug, fingers wrapped tight around the ceramic. “Yes,” he said after a pause. “We’re okay. It’s just—these past two weeks, and especially today… I’ve been a total mess. And I’m still recovering from it.”

Naruto gave a small, understanding nod, then shuffled a bit closer, pressing up against Kakashi’s side. With some awkward maneuvering—thanks to Sasuke being firmly attached to his other hand—he managed to wrap Kakashi in a one-armed hug. Kakashi let himself lean into it, his shoulder sagging just slightly, like the tension had been holding him upright.

They stayed like that for a long moment, quiet and close. Then Naruto pulled back just a bit, cupped Kakashi’s face with his free hand, and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

The moment was tender, calm, and just what Kakashi needed.

Until Sasuke audibly jerked, yanking their linked hands with a jolt. “Ugh, I’m trying really hard to be respectful and let you two make up or whatever, but can you not?” he snapped. “I’m still right here.”

Naruto turned, half amused and half exasperated. “What, can’t handle a little affection, Sasuke?”

“I can handle a lot of things,” Sasuke growled, “but I draw the line at listening to your lips smacking together while I’m a literal prisoner in this situation.”

Kakashi blinked. “Smacking?”

“Don’t repeat it,” Sasuke snapped, ears tinting pink with a mixture of embarrassment and frustration.

Naruto snorted. “Alright, alright. We’ll behave.”

The hours passed, and the sun dipped below the rooftops, painting Kakashi’s apartment in a warm amber glow. By now, the tea had long been abandoned in favor of sake. Sasuke, having finally crossed the threshold into acceptable drinking hours, was well into his fifth cup. Kakashi poured another round, more than happy to drown the remnants of his emotional hangover, and Naruto joined in because—well, why not?

As the alcohol loosened them, the awkward edges of the earlier tension started to dissolve. Sasuke leaned back against the wall, half-glazed over with sake warmth, and waved his hand lazily.

“You know,” he began, voice thick with drunkenness, “I’ve had been through all kinds of traumatizing shit in my live. But nothing—nothing—compares to the psychological horror of holding Naruto’s hand while he took a dump this morning.”

Kakashi choked on his drink.

“I asked you to turn away!” Naruto shot back, affronted. “I was suffering too! I couldn’t even focus on pushing with your judgmental aura looming over me!”

“You grunted,” Sasuke said, like it was the final nail in a coffin. “I can’t un-hear it.”

Naruto groaned, burying his face in Kakashi’s arm. “This is so humiliating.”

“You're humiliated?” Sasuke snapped. “I had to feel you tense up. You squeezed my hand. I felt it happen.”

Kakashi was openly laughing now, his earlier stress finally dissolving into a haze of surreal hilarity.

Then Naruto winced and shifted uncomfortably. “Okay, since we’re already talking about body functions… I really need to pee.”

Sasuke tensed immediately. “No. Hold it.”

“I am holding it!” Naruto protested. “I’ve been holding it for a while! But we drank so much and it’s—well—it’s hitting me now.”

“You’re supposed to limit how many times I have to endure this nightmare,” Sasuke said, already dragging Naruto upright with resigned fury. “There’s a quota.”

“Well, I’m at the quota!” Naruto cried.

They stood—awkwardly, hilariously—like two conjoined action figures trying to move as one. Sasuke gave Kakashi a long-suffering look before storming toward the bathroom with Naruto in tow.

“I swear to god,” Sasuke muttered as they disappeared behind the door, “if you make any noises—”

“I can’t control it!” Naruto yelled back. “Do you want me to die from holding it?!”

The bathroom door slammed shut.

Kakashi stayed on the floor, alone now, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes and wondering how on earth this became his life.

And then, faintly from the bathroom, he heard:

“Don’t look!”

“I’m not looking! Who do you think I am?!”

“Why is your hand so sweaty?!”

“Because I’m nervous!”

Kakashi sat cross-legged on the floor, nursing the remnants of his cup while distant, echoing bickering filtered in from the bathroom. He couldn’t make out every word, but the tone was unmistakable—Naruto’s theatrical whining clashing with Sasuke’s low, annoyed grumble.

From what he could gather, Sasuke had apparently decided—grudgingly—that since they were “already doing this,” he might as well pee too.

Kakashi sighed, amused despite himself. They sounded like dysfunctional siblings. It was chaotic, undignified, and honestly… kind of cute.

Still, he couldn't quite ignore the tiny sliver of jealousy worming its way into his chest. They were getting… close, in a way he hadn't with Naruto recently. Not emotionally—but physically, in shared daily routines, awkward moments, forced intimacy. And Kakashi hated how petty it made him feel.

That was probably what spurred his next move.

When the bathroom door finally creaked open and the two of them shuffled out, Kakashi reached out without thinking. He caught Naruto by the waist and gently pulled him down into his lap. Naruto let out a surprised little laugh but didn’t resist, immediately settling in and leaning back into him.

 Sasuke, apparently tipsy enough to be beyond caring, collapsed next to them with a dramatic sigh, ending up shoulder to shoulder with Kakashi.

Kakashi let his arms wrap around Naruto’s waist, his hand splayed lightly over his stomach. He pressed a soft kiss to Naruto’s bare shoulder, just above the collar of his shirt, and let his eyes flutter shut for a brief moment.

Then he realized what he’d just done—with Sasuke right there. His body went tense with reflexive anxiety, eyes flicking toward Sasuke in a nervous glance.

But Sasuke just waved a hand lazily. “Don’t stop on my account.”

Kakashi blinked. “…What?”

Sasuke leaned his head back against the wall and gave him a sidelong look. “Think of it as training.” He sipped from his drink, looking thoroughly unimpressed. “Naruto told me about the fight. You know, the PDA thing.”

Kakashi shifted uncomfortably.

“You probably know it already, but I’ll say it anyway,” Sasuke continued. “You’ll never have certainty. Not with people. Not with how they’ll react, or what they’ll think. So screw them.”

Kakashi didn’t say anything, just watched him with a thoughtful expression.

Sasuke shrugged. “Start small. Like right now. You’re drunk enough to try. I’m drunk enough not to care. Do your worst. I promise I won’t draw a kunai to stab either of you.”

Kakashi looked at him for a long moment, then relaxed against Naruto again, tension slowly bleeding from his shoulders.

Naruto turned in his lap with a mischievous grin, clearly feeling emboldened. “Well, if Sasuke’s giving us his blessing…” he murmured, before leaning in to kiss Kakashi.

Kakashi barely had time to close his eyes before—

“Oh, hell no!” Sasuke barked, nearly spilling his drink. “Casual affection, I meant! Casual! I didn’t sign up for front-row seats to a make-out session, you exhibitionist pervert!”

Naruto pulled back mid-kiss, laughing so hard he almost fell off Kakashi’s lap. “What happened to ‘do your worst’?!”

“Kakashi’s worst! Not yours, you degenerate!” Sasuke snapped, now looking personally offended.

Naruto laughed, leaning back against Kakashi smugly. “A small kiss is far from my worst, trust me.”

Kakashi, still cradling Naruto in his lap, turned his head toward Sasuke with an amused gleam in his eye. “You know,” he said dryly, “you’re being surprisingly soft tonight.”

Sasuke, who was mid-sip from his drink, paused and slowly lowered the cup. He rolled his eyes with exaggerated disdain, but Kakashi caught the faint blush blooming on his cheeks despite the dim light.

“Tch.” Sasuke stared at the table like he was trying to burn a hole in it with his glare. “I’m only going to say this once, so shut up and listen.”

Naruto perked up in Kakashi’s lap, suddenly interested. Kakashi tilted his head, eyebrow raised.

“I think…” Sasuke starts, reluctant, as if the words physically hurt to push out. “You and Naruto… work. You’re weird as hell together, and it’s all very unconventional—”

Naruto: “Hey.”

“—but it’s obvious you make each other happy. Which is—not a terrible thing.” Sasuke finishes, stubbornly looking off to the side like he didn’t just say the most heartfelt thing to leave his mouth in years.

Kakashi stared for a moment longer, his mouth parted slightly in disbelief. Then a surprised laugh escaped him, warm and genuine. “Wow,” he said. “I never thought I’d hear something like that from you.” He shook his head with a grin. “I’m going to get you drunk more often. You’re an absolute delight compared to the hissy little kitten you usually are.”

“Shut the hell up,” Sasuke snapped, cheeks burning brighter. “This is exactly why I don’t say things.”

Naruto was smiling now too, wide and toothy, clearly touched. “Aww, Sasuke,” he teased. “You love us.”

“I tolerate you,” Sasuke corrected, lifting the cup again. “Barely.”

Kakashi gave a soft sigh, resting his chin on Naruto’s shoulder. “Even if it’s just the alcohol talking,” he said, “thanks, Sasuke. Really. That means a lot.”

Sasuke didn’t reply, but he did glance away with a look that was more bashful than annoyed. That, from Sasuke, might as well have been a full-blown love letter.

The three of them sat there quietly for a moment, the bickering fading into a warm, rare silence. The kind that came not from tension, but from understanding. From connection. From something like peace.

Chapter Text

As the night stretched on and the last bottle of alcohol sat half-finished on the low table, the mood in Kakashi’s apartment had softened.

Eventually, Naruto let out a long yawn and stretched his arms above his head, nudging both Kakashi and Sasuke in the process. “Alright,” he mumbled, “I’m not walking anywhere tonight. We’re staying here.”

Sasuke whipped his head around with an incredulous glare. “The hell we are.”

Naruto looked up with his best innocent face. “C’mon, I stayed at your place last night, remember? Fair’s fair.”

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. “You should be grateful I let you sleep at my place. Yours stinks like instant ramen.”

“It’s perfumed with ramen.” Naruto huffed. “Point is, I was nice enough to stay at your place, so now you stay here.”

Sasuke made a face like he’d just bitten into something sour. “Naruto. No. That feels wrong on so many levels. I’m not sharing a bed with you two. You’re a couple. A couple who—” he paused and gestured vaguely, “—have clearly had sex in that bed.  Do you have any shame?”

Naruto shrugged, completely unbothered. “Well, I slept in your bed and I’m sure you’ve jerked off in it before. Don’t act like it’s holy ground.”

Sasuke spluttered. “Not the same!”

Kakashi, who had been listening to the exchange in mild amusement, chimed in from the kitchen where he was putting away the cups. “If it helps, the sheets are fresh. Un-defiled. As virginal as they come.”

Sasuke gave him a long, suffering look.

Naruto grinned, sensing weakness. “See? We’re good. And it’s a big bed! Probably even more space than when we had to squeeze into yours.”

Sasuke looked up in thought, did some calculations in his head and then grumbled. “...Fine. One third of a double gives us more space than a half of a single. The bed math is on your side.”

“Awesome. I’m in the middle by the way,” Naruto said, grinning as he stripped down to a tank top and shorts.

“Obviously,” Sasuke said dryly, following him with a theatrical sigh.

Somehow, the three of them made it into Kakashi’s bed, an awkward, slightly drunken pile of limbs and grumbling. Naruto took his rightful place in the middle with a satisfied grin, pulling the blanket up to his chin. Kakashi settled on one side, draping an arm over Naruto’s waist. Sasuke begrudgingly took the other side, lying stiff as a board with his back turned slightly.

Then, as they were all starting to drift toward a drowsy silence, Sasuke suddenly spoke.

“I’ll just make one thing clear,” he muttered darkly, “If I wake up in the middle of the night to rhythmic bed squeaking, I will incinerate you both. No hesitation.”

Naruto burst out laughing, muffling the sound in the pillow.

Kakashi, entirely unbothered, murmured dryly, “Noted. No rhythmic squeaking. We’ll keep it syncopated.”

“Kakashi!” Naruto gasped between wheezes of laughter, slapping his arm.

Sasuke pulled the blanket over his face and groaned, “You both need to get locked up, I swear to god.”

A heavy silence followed. Then Naruto added, “So hand stuff’s okay as long as the bed doesn’t squeak?”

Sasuke’s hand shot out and karate-chopped Naruto in the stomach.

Despite the threats, the sarcasm, and the awkwardness of the whole situation, the three of them eventually settled under the covers. The room went quiet again, and this time, it stayed that way—save for the soft sound of Naruto’s breathing and the faint creak of the mattress as Kakashi inched just a little closer to him, content.

In the morning the light shifted over tangled blankets, bare arms, and tousled hair, slowly bringing life back into the small bedroom.

Naruto lay sprawled on his back, his legs tangled in the blankets, the handcuff-like jutsu still connecting his hand to Sasuke’s. His lashes fluttered slightly before his eyes slowly blinked open, adjusting to the light.

The first thing he saw was Kakashi—already awake, lying on his side facing him. His hair was a soft, rumpled mess, his eyes calm and fond as they traced the shape of Naruto’s sleepy face. There was a kind of peaceful quiet in his gaze, the kind that made Naruto feel like he was home.

Naruto smiled. Slow, warm, and drowsy. That unguarded, lazy kind of smile that came before thoughts fully formed. He blinked once, still sinking into the awareness of the moment, then without saying anything, he reached for Kakashi’s hand beneath the sheets.

He guided it gently—sleepily—to the front of his shorts, nuzzling a little closer and pressing Kakashi’s hand against the warm bulge nestled there. “Mmnh…”

Kakashi blinked, amused. A soft huff of a laugh left him at Naruto’s incredibly transparent, sleepy-brained suggestion. He let his palm settle there for a brief moment, his thumb brushing lightly, fond but noncommittal. Naruto’s eyelids were already drooping again, content and expecting.

But then Kakashi tilted his head slightly toward the other side of the bed. “Naruto,” he whispered, voice low, “you’re forgetting something.”

Naruto froze for a second, then visibly deflated as realization dawned. He mouthed a tiny, anguished right… and pouted up at Kakashi like the universe had personally wronged him.

Kakashi smiled. Before withdrawing his hand, he gave Naruto a small, apologetic squeeze.

Naruto bit his lip to keep from making a sound. He didn’t quite succeed — the smallest, neediest moan escaped him.

Sasuke sat up like someone had fired a kunai into the mattress.

“What the hell was that.”

Naruto snapped his head toward him, eyes wide in mock innocence. “What was what?”

“I heard something. A suspicious noise.”

Naruto rolled his eyes, turning over to face him fully. “I was stretching.”

Sasuke scoffed. “No, you moaned. Don’t think I don’t know the difference, you pervert.”

“Oh my god,” Naruto groaned, turning onto his stomach and burying his face in a pillow. “Paranoid much?”

Kakashi, stifling a laugh behind his hand, took that as his cue to extract himself from the nest of limbs and blankets.

“I’ll make breakfast,” he announced, getting up and pulling some pants on. “Try not to kill each other while I’m gone.”

After finishing a breakfast that was far more peaceful than their chaotic night and awkward morning suggested, the trio made their way to the Hokage’s office, hoping for an update.

The trip through the village was, as expected, a minor spectacle. Sasuke and Naruto were still hand-bound, and though most villagers were too polite to openly stare, the sight of two elite shinobi bickering like tethered siblings couldn’t exactly go unnoticed. Kakashi trailed behind them, hands in his pockets, watching the odd dance of coordination and annoyance unfold before him.

Once inside the office, Minato greeted them with his usual warm smile. “Morning. No miraculous developments on your end from what I can see?”

“The only development is that Sasuke’s patience has officially been reduced to zero,” Naruto muttered.

Sasuke didn’t argue.

Minato chuckled and gestured toward the chairs. “Well, sit down. Unfortunately, I don’t have great news. We’re still trying to decipher a way to safely undo the jutsu from that scroll. We’ve got our best seal experts on it, but it’s…tricky.”

Kakashi let out a long sigh as he dropped into a chair beside Naruto, watching as Sasuke begrudgingly sat too, their hands flopping uselessly between them.

“I’ll be honest,” Kakashi said, rubbing at his temple. “Seeing Naruto and Sasuke waddling around the village like handcuffed twins is kind of a cute sight. But I would really like my boyfriend back now. It’s already been over two weeks, we’ve literally never went this long without—”

He caught himself mid-sentence, eyes widening slightly as the words hung unspoken in the air. Too late. He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks as his gaze slowly, hesitantly, drifted to Minato.

Minato was smiling brightly—too brightly. “You did good not finishing that sentence,” he said in a tone so friendly it made Kakashi want to disappear into the floor.

Sasuke muttered, “At least now someone else knows what I’m going through, stuck between those horndogs.”

Minato cleared his throat. “I’ll let you know as soon as we have real progress. In the meantime, just do your best to… cope.”

They nodded. Naruto tugged Sasuke toward the door, murmuring something about maybe buying him a meditation book to help with his anger issues. But before they could leave, Minato turned toward Kakashi. “Do you mind staying back for a moment?”

Naruto glanced back curiously, but when Kakashi nodded, he and Sasuke left, the door shutting behind them.

Kakashi turned to Minato and quickly spoke up, rubbing the back of his neck. “A-About earlier—I didn’t mean to bring that up in front of you. I forgot for a second that—”

Minato held up a hand, smiling in a way that was almost amused. “Oh, that?” he said casually. “Kakashi, I’m well aware that you and Naruto aren’t celibate. You don’t need to explain yourself.”

Kakashi blinked.

“I just enjoy teasing you,” Minato added, tone light, “and watching you sweat bullets.”

“You’re evil,” Kakashi muttered, a faint blush coloring his cheeks.

Minato’s grin didn’t budge. “I’ve been told that before.”

Kakashi exhaled, half a chuckle escaping him. “Okay. So what did you want to talk about?”

Minato leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed. “Actually, I wanted to ask you a favor. I’ve been stuck in this office with nothing but paperwork for weeks, at this point I feel like a genin could do me in. I thought maybe you and I could have a quick spar. It’s been a while.”

Kakashi brightened. “Seriously? I’d love that. There’s a new jutsu I’ve been working on—I was hoping to show it off soon.”

“Oh?” Minato’s eyes lit up, full of pride. “My genius little student, always tinkering. I can’t wait to see it.”

They left the office together, stopping where Naruto and Sasuke were still loitering, arguing over who was worse at walking in sync.

“We’re going to the training grounds to spar for a bit,” Minato announced.

Naruto immediately perked up. “Can we come watch?!”

“I don’t see why not,” Minato turned to Kakashi with a raised brow. “Unless you wanted to keep your jutsu a secret?”

Kakashi shook his head, already stretching his arms a bit. “It’s not a secret. Naruto already knows about it. And I don’t mind showing Sasuke either.”

Sasuke looked mildly interested, he gave a faint shrug. Naruto grinned and pumped his fist in the air. “Yes! This is gonna be awesome!”

Minato and Kakashi exchanged a smile as they headed off toward the nearby training field, two connected shadows trailing behind.

Sasuke and Naruto settled on the grassy edge of the training field, far enough to avoid collateral damage but close enough for a perfect view. The air buzzed with chakra even before the match started. Kakashi and Minato faced each other with calm, focused expressions—two legends with a wide range of jutsu, both frighteningly fast and skilled.

And then it began—a rapid clash of chakra, smoke, and movement so fast it could make someone dizzy. Fire crackled. Water rushed. Lightning split the air, and gusts of wind stirred the trees at the edges of the field. Every jutsu was sharp, efficient, and powerful. It was obvious neither of them went all out, but they still pushed each other, testing limits and instincts.

Sasuke’s Sharingan was active, eyes flitting sharply between movements, dissecting every hand sign, every angle, every jutsu with the cold hunger of a true tactician. He was calm but focused, waiting—watching—for that new jutsu Kakashi had promised. He wasn’t there just to be polite. He wanted to see it.

Next to him, Naruto was decidedly less composed. His head rested against his palm, and he had a dreamy, faraway look in his eyes. “God, look at him. So graceful. So precise. Why are dangerous men so hot?”

“Shut up,” Sasuke snapped, side-eyeing him with murder in his gaze. “I can’t concentrate.”

“I feel you” Naruto muttered, eyes still fixed on Kakashi, “I can’t concentrate either. I’m literally getting horny right now.”

Sasuke turned toward him fully, face pinched with disbelief and disgust. “What the hell is wrong with you? Does your upstairs brain even work anymore or has it shrunk to the size of peanut ‘cause you weren’t using it? Keep it in your pants and watch the damn fight.” Sasuke growled, snapping his attention back to the sparring field.

And just in time.

Kakashi halted his rapid exchange of jutsu with Minato for a breath—just a moment—and raised his hand. A sharp crack of lightning rang out, and a thin, brilliant line of chakra streaked through the field like a live wire, zipping toward Minato.

Naruto’s mouth dropped open. Sasuke’s eyes widened.

The instant the lightning’s tip reached Minato, Kakashi vanished in a snap of thunder—and reappeared at the end of the lightning line, the charge in his hand forming into a dense, pulsing spear. He drove it straight at Minato, the air humming violently from the energy discharge.

Minato reacted just in time, vanishing with a golden flash as he used his Hiraishin to teleport to one of the marked kunai he had placed earlier. The lightning spear burst harmlessly against a scorched tree trunk where he once stood.

The field was silent for a moment as the smoke cleared.

Minato reappeared again a few meters away, panting lightly, but standing straight. His blue eyes were wide, shining with exhilaration and disbelief. Slowly, a huge, proud grin stretched across his face.

“Kakashi…” he started, still catching his breath. “You... You developed your own teleportation jutsu—using lightning as both a transport medium and an offensive weapon?”

“Still a work in progress,” Kakashi admitted, rubbing the back of his head. “It has one big flaw. The lightning line makes the teleportation point obvious. I can use it once for the element of surprise, but a second time in the same battle would be asking to get countered hard. I do have a couple of ideas how to fix this problem though.”

Minato ran a hand through his hair, laughing in disbelief. “You don’t understand, Kakashi. Most shinobi wouldn’t even be able to react fast enough. That lightning moved in a literal flash. And your teleportation was seamless. It’s—it’s incredible. You’ve created something entirely new.”

From the sidelines, Sasuke narrowed his eyes, his analytical mind chewing on what he had just seen. “He compressed lightning chakra into a conductive path and piggybacked his own teleportation along it. Like a current. Then reused that same lightning chakra to strike on arrival.” He hummed, clearly impressed but doing his best not to show too much admiration.

Naruto whistled. “Told you he’s hot.”

Sasuke shoved him with his shoulder, but even he didn’t argue this time.

Minato walked across the training field, brushing dust off his robes, still smiling like a proud parent at a school play. “It’s honestly so Kakashi of you,” he said, shaking his head. “Of course your teleportation method would involve a death beam.”

Kakashi chuckled sheepishly. “Well, it felt inefficient to waste all that chakra just to move. Figured I might as well strike something with it while I’m at it.”

“Yeah,” Naruto added from the side, grinning, “Like my heart.”

Sasuke groaned into his hand. “Can someone please deal with this guy because I can’t anymore.”

Kakashi walked over, chest a bit puffed up thanks to all the praises he had received, and Naruto hopped up to greet him, still tethered to Sasuke. They both followed Minato, who started making his way back toward the village.

“You know,” Minato said as they reached the edge of the training field, “when I became Hokage, I thought I’d seen the last of wild experimental jutsu that made my heart stop. Then you show up with that thing. It’s so cool it makes me want to get off my ass and come up with something new too.”

“You’re welcome, I’ll gladly take credit for your new jutsu.” Kakashi said smoothly, and Minato barked a laugh.

Behind them, Sasuke was rubbing his temple. “You two are getting high off each other’s genius. It’s disgusting.”

“It’s inspiring,” Naruto countered.

“It’s nauseating.”

Kakashi turned and smiled smugly. “Thanks for your input. I’ll pretend not to notice when I catch you practicing my new jutsu on your own.”

Sasuke scoffed, turning his head away—but not fast enough to hide the faint flush blooming across his cheeks.

Minato’s birthday rolled around a few days later. The weather had seemed really promising so he’d decided to throw an outdoor celebration in the backyard behind his house. It was nothing too extravagant—just close friends, good food, and the kind of low-key festivity Minato had always preferred.

Kakashi had shown up early, of course. He’d gladly offered to help with the preparations, wanting to keep himself busy—and, maybe, selfishly enjoy a few hours of peace without Naruto and Sasuke’s non-stop bickering rattling in his ears.

Naruto and Sasuke, predictably, had been banned from helping. Minato had laughed and told them point-blank that having two people stuck at the wrist bumbling around his backyard would be more of a hindrance than a help. So they showed up right as the party was beginning—hand-in-hand—and instantly drew attention.

Naruto beamed and waved to everyone with his free hand, entirely unfazed. Sasuke looked like he was being marched to an execution. His jaw was tight, his eyes focused on the ground, and the tips of his ears were already red.

The confusion began immediately. Naruto and Kakashi’s closest friends already knew about the situation and mostly didn’t even bat an eye. If anything, they seemed amused, offering Naruto and Sasuke subtle smirks and raised brows that said we heard. And when Naruto quickly explained exactly what had happened, they took it in stride, nodding and laughing with no further questions.

But those on the outer edge of their circle—the acquaintances, former classmates, even some retired shinobi who didn’t keep up with village gossip—were more intrigued. They saw Naruto and Sasuke enter hand-in-hand, looking like the world's most awkward couple, and immediately drew their own conclusions.

People began whispering. A few even approached directly.

“Wow, I didn’t know you two were together now!” someone said cheerfully, slapping Naruto on the back.

“Finally made it official, huh?” another grinned. “We all knew this would happen one day.”

Sasuke flinched visibly at the first, then audibly groaned at the second.

Naruto, for his part, smiled awkwardly and launched into what had become a rehearsed explanation. “We’re not dating—there was a scroll, a jutsu, a high-five, and now we’re stuck. Long story. Please stop congratulating us.”

But they didn’t really listen. “Oh, you don’t have to hide it,” someone said with a wink. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

“Honestly, it’s about time. You finally locked him down after all that chasing, eh, Naruto?”

Sasuke was mortified. He didn’t handle the attention well on a good day, but being mistaken for Naruto’s boyfriend in front of a crowd was pushing his limits. He stood stiffly, glaring at the grass, muttering threats under his breath that were just loud enough for Naruto to hear.

“I’m going to kill someone. Probably you,” he hissed.

Naruto laughed nervously and kept trying to redirect the conversation. “Really, we’re not dating. There was this scroll, and—look, it’s complicated, okay?”

Sasuke stood stiffly beside him, face flushed with embarrassment, dodging eye contact and clearly praying for death.

Kakashi, watching from where he was removing the last of the plastic wrap from the cold noodles, bit the inside of his cheek and looked away. He tried to focus on the food, on making sure everything was perfectly aligned on the table, but his eyes kept sliding back to them.

Kakashi could see Sasuke trying to quietly implode beside Naruto, jaw clenched so tightly it was a wonder his teeth didn’t crack. Naruto did his best to manage the conversation, laughing awkwardly and explaining things for the hundredth time, but no matter how often he said “It’s not like that,” the whispers kept coming.

“Oh, don’t worry, Naruto. You don’t have to hide it anymore.”

“It was obvious you two would end up together!”

Kakashi’s hand stilled on the plastic wrap. His chest tightened, that familiar twinge of jealousy rising in his throat. He shouldn’t have cared—he knew it wasn’t true—but something about seeing the situation unfold, seeing people cheer them on, thinking they belonged together… it burned.

But he stayed quiet. Kept his distance. Smoothed his expression and carefully arranged the gyoza on a platter, pretending none of it was eating away at him.

Minato stepped beside him with a warm smile, gently nudging Kakashi's elbow. “Keep glaring like that an my perfectly fried gyoza will end up burned,” he said lightly.

Kakashi exhaled and forced a grin. “They need just a bit more color.”

Minato chuckled. “You’ve already helped plenty,” he said with a grateful smile, his eyes flicking toward the still-growing crowd around Naruto and Sasuke. “You’re free to go and claim your boyfriend back.”

Kakashi didn’t look up from the tray he was arranging, his voice low and dry. “And do what?”

Minato arched an eyebrow, waiting.

Kakashi let out a quiet breath, finally straightening and looking toward the chaos. “Throw my arm around Naruto’s shoulder while he’s glued to Sasuke? People already think they’re dating. If I go there they’ll think that I’m trying to sabotage Naruto and Sasuke’s very touching love story. Or worse, that we’re a throuple.”

Minato let out a soft, helpless laugh. Kakashi looked so genuinely annoyed, his brows furrowed, his mouth tight with restrained jealousy. It wasn’t often Kakashi let his emotions show so openly. Minato, feeling a swell of fondness, stepped in and wrapped his arms around him.

“How can you be this cute?” he murmured into Kakashi’s hair.

Kakashi groaned as Minato pulled him into a hug. But he didn’t resist. In fact, he let out a soft exhale and rested his chin lightly on Minato’s shoulder, grateful for the familiar presence and the solid grounding it always brought him.

“You’re overthinking it, as usual. It doesn’t matter what people end up thinking,” Minato said gently, his voice close to Kakashi’s ear. “You know the truth. Naruto knows the truth. That’s enough. Just enjoy the party. Do what you want to do.”

Kakashi exhaled slowly, the tension bleeding from his shoulders. He let himself lean into the hug, eyes closing briefly. “Thanks,” he murmured. He squeezed Minato a little tighter. “And… happy birthday, Sensei.”

Minato patted his back fondly. “Best gift I’ve gotten today is watching you be such a wreck over my son.”

Somewhere in the crowd behind them, Naruto’s voice rose again, frustrated but still trying to keep it light. “For the last time, it’s a jutsu. I’m dating Kakashi, not Sasuke.”

The person he was talking to blinked, then turned his head toward the yard and pointed with his finger. “You mean that Kakashi?” he asked with disbelief. “The one currently wrapped around the birthday boy? Yeah, right.”

Naruto’s head snapped in the same direction.

There, in full view of at least half the party, Kakashi stood comfortably wrapped up in Minato’s embrace. They were gently swaying on their feet, held close in a way that clearly spoke of long-standing affection. Naruto didn’t actually care about the hug itself—he’d seen them like this more times than he could count, had long since accepted the easy closeness they shared.

What he did care about, however, was timing. Right now? Now? While he was breaking his back explaining to everyone that he wasn’t dating Sasuke and that his boyfriend was, in fact, Kakashi?

Naruto pressed his lips into a tight, deeply displeased line.

“Excuse me,” he said, his voice all strained politeness as he started walking, dragging a very unwilling Sasuke behind him.

Sasuke was barely holding it together. “For fuck’s sake. Just don’t cause a scene,” he said under his breath. “Please.”

By the time they reached the pair, Naruto had his free hand on his hip like he was ready to scold a classroom. He wedged himself between the two men and pried Kakashi out of Minato’s arms with the righteous fury of a man wronged.

Minato blinked, mildly amused.

“Do you have any idea how hard I’m working out there?” Naruto hissed, eyes narrowed. “I’ve explained to like twenty people that I’m not dating Sasuke and that I am dating you. And this—” he gestured between Kakashi and Minato, “—this is ruining all my progress!”

Kakashi blinked, startled. “We were just—”

“No! If you wanna hug it out with my dad, go do it behind the house or in the trees or something. Not in front of people I’m trying to convince that I’m not in another relationship entirely!”

Sasuke sighed, long-suffering. “Right. Because the implication that your dad and boyfriend are sneaking off to have an affair behind the house is way better.”

Naruto’s mouth opened. Then closed. Then he glared at Sasuke like that wasn’t helping.

Minato just chuckled. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to Naruto’s cheek, soft and fatherly. “Sorry, sorry. That one’s on me. Didn’t mean to ruin your PR campaign. Here—” he said as he placed a hand on Kakashi’s back and gently shoved him into Naruto’s arms. “—I’m giving him back.”

Naruto caught Kakashi and nodded, satisfied. “Thank you.” He turned as if to march off with Kakashi, but paused suddenly.

“Oh—crap,” he said, turning back sheepishly. “I didn’t even say it yet.”

He stepped back toward Minato, kissed his cheek, and smiled. “Happy birthday, Dad.”

Minato beamed. “Thank you, Naruto.” Then his eyes slid over to Sasuke, bright with expectation.

Sasuke recoiled slightly, bristling like a startled cat. “I’m not kissing you.”

Minato just smiled, waiting patiently.

Sasuke crossed his arms. “...Happy birthday,” he grumbled after a slight pause.

Minato chuckled. “That’ll do.”

Kakashi laughed quietly as he watched them. His arm was now wrapped around Naruto’s waist, Naruto’s hand still locked with Sasuke’s. The sight was absurd.

Minato waved them off with a smile. “Go mingle. Eat. Kiss somewhere visible. Whatever helps clear the rumors.”

“No kissing while holding my hand," Sasuke warned. "I did bring weapons and will not hesitate to use them."

Kakashi was still smiling as Naruto pulled him away again. “You know,” he said softly as they walked, “It was impressive how passionate you were, defending the truth and all.”

“Well, someone had to do it!”

Kakashi just leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to Naruto’s temple, drawing a disgusted groan from Sasuke, who was still being dragged along with them like a sullen third wheel.

“Kill me,” Sasuke muttered under his breath. “Just kill me already.”

“Cake, anyone?” Naruto asked cheerfully.

Another week passed with no development.

Naruto was at his wits' end.

One evening, when he was at Kakashi’s place and watching Kakashi do push-ups — shirtless, muscles flexing under his skin with every repetition — something inside Naruto finally snapped.

He turned to Sasuke, eyes wild.

“Sasuke,” he said, voice trembling with urgency, “close your eyes and cover your ears. I promise I’ll be done in ten minutes. Just ten minutes. That’s all I need.”

Sasuke, who had been lounging on the floor in relative peace, bolted upright in sheer panic. “What—what the hell are you talking about?!”

Naruto didn’t even blink. “I just need ten minutes with Kakashi. Please. I’m begging you.”

Sasuke nearly tripped over himself in a futile effort to back away, his face twisted in pure panic. “KAKASHI!” he shouted, pointing accusingly. “PUT A DAMN SHIRT ON! STOP AROUSING THIS PSYCHOPATH!”

“It’s not my fault he’s this horny,” Kakashi said, flipping onto his back and sitting up, towel in hand. “Though I do appreciate the compliment.”

Naruto crawled across the floor. “It’s been a month, Sasuke. A full month since we last did it. My body’s disintegrating. My soul is cracking. I will be silent, I swear. I’ll be quiet as a mouse. You won’t feel a single thrust.”

“STOP TALKING!” Sasuke screamed, face red, hands flailing to cover his ears.

Naruto pressed on, desperate. “Look. Until now, I was messing with you mostly because it was funny. But it’s not funny anymore. I’m dying. This needs to be addressed. We need to brainstorm and find a way Kakashi and I can have sex.”

Sasuke looked genuinely terrified. “Kakashi. Help.”

“Naruto,” Kakashi said evenly, pulling his shirt back on, “we’ve talked about this. We can’t do anything while Sasuke is still connected to you. I know it’s hard, but you need to find the strength inside yourself to pull through.”

Naruto glared at him like he had personally betrayed him. “Easy for you to say. You can shower alone. You can sneak off and jerk off whenever you want.”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “I haven’t been—”

“Bullshit,” Naruto snapped. “I dare you to say you haven’t jerked off even once since this whole thing started.”

Kakashi went silent.

Sasuke gasped, absolutely scandalized. “YOU HAVE?!”

Naruto collapsed dramatically onto the couch, groaning. “I knew it. I knew it. Betrayed by my own boyfriend and his hand.”

“I—it was just once,” Kakashi admitted, sounding vaguely embarrassed. “I woke up hard and dealt with it before it could traumatize anyone. It was very clinical. Very responsible. Like a medical procedure.”

“Oh, please. You gonna say you did it for our sakes next?”

“I did.” Kakashi argued. „Would you rather wake up and see my shorts tenting? I did it out of courtesy, I didn’t even enjoy it.”

“Liar.”

“...Okay, maybe a little.”

Naruto groaned and hauled himself off the floor. “I’m gonna go take a shower,” he declared, voice tight with frustration and desperation.

Sasuke perked up immediately. “Finally, a good idea. Maybe a cold one will reset your brain.”

Naruto grinned. “That’s the plan.”

But the grin faded quickly as Sasuke stiffened. “Wait—cold shower for you means cold shower for me, too.”

Naruto shrugged with faux innocence. “You’ll have to embrace the chill, princess.”

Sasuke snarled something under his breath as they disappeared into the bathroom, the sound of their mutual grumbling growing fainter behind the door.

Kakashi exhaled a long, slow breath and leaned back into the couch, tilting his head up to stare at the ceiling.

He heard the water turn on. A second later, voices rose again—muffled but audible. Sasuke was shouting about how the water was freezing and Naruto was yelling that his horniness couldn’t survive hot water right now. Kakashi swore he heard the word “shrinkage” in the mix and grimaced.

This had been… cute at first. Endearing, even. The chaos, the nonsense, the way they’d shuffle around with synchronized movements like a two-headed gremlin. But a month in and the charm was wearing very thin. The noise was constant. The arguing was constant. And above all, Kakashi’s jealousy was now a simmering pit in his stomach.

Because why did Sasuke—of all people—get to shower with Naruto?

Kakashi, the actual boyfriend, hadn’t even had a full kiss since Naruto came back. He couldn’t touch him the way he wanted. Couldn’t hold him properly. Couldn’t even look at him in the morning without Sasuke groaning about “smoldering eye contact” being too much.

And meanwhile, Sasuke’s was there, seeing Naruto wet and naked on a daily basis.

He glanced toward the bathroom, where the muffled sounds of splashing and Sasuke yelling, “My nipples are freezing, Naruto!” echoed faintly.

Kakashi groaned and reached for his book—not even to read, but just to hide his face and remind himself that one day, one day soon, this nightmare would end.

Probably. Hopefully. Maybe.

As the evening rolled around, the long-awaited summons from the Hokage finally arrived.

The moment the messenger finished speaking, Sasuke was already halfway out the door, dragging Naruto behind him like a man possessed. “Move faster,” he growled, “we’re ending this tonight.”

Naruto stumbled behind him with a grin, barely managing to grab his sandals. “I’m coming, I’m coming! You’d think you were the one trying to get laid.”

Kakashi followed at a calmer pace, but his heart beat just as fast—hopeful, finally, that this mess might be nearing its end.

When they burst into the office, Minato greeted them with a warm smile. “Good evening. How have you all been—?”

“No time for small talk!” Sasuke barked, eyes sharp with desperation. “Just tell me I’m getting my hand back today.”

Minato chuckled lightly, unoffended. “Fair enough.”

He gestured for them to close the door and explained, “We couldn’t find a way to fully reverse the binding jutsu directly, so we decided to take a different approach. If the jutsu is returned to the scroll it came from, the seal might deactivate.”

“Might?” Sasuke practically shrieked. “Might? I came here expecting to get my damn hand back!”

“We won’t know until we try,” Minato said evenly, then motioned for them to come closer. “Now, if you don’t mind.”

Naruto and Sasuke moved closer. Sasuke looked like he was about to pass out. Naruto looked like he’d already accepted the worst and just wanted it done.

Minato breathed in deeply, his expression turning solemn. He began weaving hand signs, fingers blurring with practiced precision. Finally, he clasped his hands together and channeled chakra into them. His right hand began to glow faintly as he placed it over the scroll, and his left hovered above their linked hands.

A tense moment passed—then, glowing patterns began to emerge.

Seal markings slithered and twisted along their joined fingers like threads of molten ink. They trailed up Naruto’s wrist, across Sasuke’s palm, and began to climb up Minato’s arms in a delicate, mesmerizing dance.

Sasuke watched with wide, unblinking eyes as the lines moved seamlessly from his skin to Minato’s, then down into the scroll. The moment the final line disappeared into the paper, the scroll glowed brightly before settling back to stillness.

And their hands—were free.

Sasuke stared at his now unbound hand like it was a long-lost limb. “Holy shit.”

“You did it, Dad,” Naruto breathed.

“We’re free,” Sasuke breathed. He flexed his fingers several times, looked skyward, and yelled, “Finally!”

Naruto’s first instinct wasn’t to celebrate the freedom—it was to move. In a blur of motion, he turned, sprinted the few steps to Kakashi, and threw himself into his boyfriend’s arms with so much force that they both nearly toppled over. Kakashi caught him just in time, wrapping his arms tight around Naruto’s waist, laughing under his breath as Naruto peppered his neck and jaw with kisses, murmuring, “Finally, finally, finally.”

Minato watched them with mild amusement. As he turned back to his desk, he called over his shoulder, “I’ll be praying for your furniture, Kakashi. Now get out of my office before things escalate. And please, not in the Hokage tower.”

“Can’t promise that,” Naruto said gleefully as Kakashi carried him out the door.

Sasuke barely muttered a goodbye before disappearing in a puff of pent-up frustration, heading straight home to reclaim his long-lost solitude. Meanwhile, Naruto and Kakashi made their way to Kakashi's place, the air between them crackling with days of tension and desire.

Naruto was already grinning as he slipped his shoes off inside the doorway, turning to say something teasing—but he barely got a word out before Kakashi was on him.

With a ferocity that caught even him off guard, Kakashi grabbed Naruto by the collar, spun him around, and shoved him up against the wall, lips crashing into his. It was messy and overwhelming, all tongue and teeth and breathless groans, and Naruto let out a shocked gasp before melting into it with a laugh.

“Holy shit,” he mumbled between kisses, “I was literally about to jump you, but okay—”

Kakashi didn’t answer at first. He just pressed closer, one hand sliding under Naruto’s shirt, the other fisting the fabric at his waist, holding him in place like he might disappear. When he finally pulled back for breath, his voice was hoarse and low.

“You were driving me insane,” Kakashi admitted. “With all your whining and begging and moaning about not getting laid in front of Sasuke. I was trying to be the reasonable one.”

Naruto blinked at him, breathless. “Reasonable?" he pouted "You were being unsupportive.”

Kakashi scoffed, dragging his lips across Naruto’s jaw. “I was trying to be nice to Sasuke. You were already traumatizing him enough, running your mouth like that.”

“Pfft,” Naruto huffed, though his fingers were already curling in Kakashi’s shirt, tugging him closer. “He could’ve gotten over himself and let us do it once.”

Kakashi pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes, something dangerous and amused glinting in his gaze. “Well, Sasuke’s not here now.”

“Nope,” Naruto grinned. “Just me and my incredibly hot boyfriend who’s been holding out on me for weeks.”

“Not anymore,” Kakashi murmured darkly, before lifting Naruto in one swift motion and carrying him toward the bedroom.

Naruto let out a startled yelp as Kakashi dropped him onto the bed, the mattress bouncing beneath him. His back barely hit the sheets before Kakashi climbed over him, pinning him down with a weight that was anything but gentle.

“With how you’re manhandling me right now,” Naruto panted, his legs already wrapping around Kakashi’s waist instinctively, “I’m guessing I should go ahead and say RIP to my butthole in advance.”

Kakashi paused, just for a second—long enough to shoot Naruto a look that was half-lidded and burning.

“You can do me in the second round,” he said, voice rough and low, like gravel rolling down his throat. “Just… let me take what I need first.”

Naruto’s grin stretched wider. He arched his back to grind up against Kakashi, the friction enough to make both of them groan. “You keep talking like that,” he murmured, licking his lips, “and you’ve got a free pass to do whatever the hell you want to me.”

Kakashi exhaled, sharp and warm against Naruto’s cheek. “Careful,” he whispered, dragging his hand slowly up Naruto’s thigh, “I might take you up on that.”

“I’m counting on it,” Naruto shot back.

Kakashi’s hands moved with purpose, sliding under Naruto’s waistband and tugging everything down in one fluid motion. The soft thud of clothing hitting the floor was punctuated by Naruto’s gasp when Kakashi gripped his hips, grinding down against him with no subtlety whatsoever.

And then the talking stopped.

Not in the romantic, soft way Kakashi sometimes went silent during intimacy. No, this time, it was like his brain had flipped a switch and he was operating on instinct. The only sounds he made were short commands—"Turn," "Up," "Open"—each one punctuated by touch, by action, by intensity that made Naruto tremble with anticipation.

It wasn’t gentle, but it wasn’t careless either. It was like Kakashi had been holding back a dam of emotion, of frustration, of longing for weeks—and now that it had broken, he had no intention of rebuilding it.

Naruto tried to keep up his usual banter. He tried to joke, to make a snide remark, to tease Kakashi about acting like a caveman— but he barely got a few sentences out before it all melted into nothing. His thoughts short-circuited from the first overwhelming rush of Kakashi sinking into him, deep and unrelenting. Words became moans. Moans became gasps. Eventually, he couldn’t even manage those.

He hadn’t known Kakashi could be like this.

He didn’t even think Kakashi had known he could be like this.

A low sound—half-growl, half-moan—rumbled in Kakashi’s throat when Naruto finally gave up talking and let his head fall back into the pillow, eyes fluttering, losing focus. That seemed to be exactly what Kakashi wanted. From that moment, he barely even bothered speaking at all. His hands said everything.

When Kakashi reached up and pinned Naruto’s wrists above his head, Naruto gasped. Not because he was being restrained—he could break the hold easily—but because Kakashi needed it. The look in his eyes, wild and desperate, made Naruto’s chest tighten.

Kakashi buried his face against Naruto’s neck, inhaling sharply, and Naruto felt the tremble run down his spine.

They moved together like magnets, pulled and pushed by something bigger than just desire. It wasn’t pretty or choreographed. It was chaos—heat, breath, sweat, and months of love crammed into a night of barely-controlled need.

When it finally ended—after Kakashi buried himself deep one last time with a low, groaned curse and rolled off Naruto like all the energy had been wrung out of him—Naruto could do little more than lie there, blinking at the ceiling, a melted puddle of nothing.

His brain was fuzz. His body was jello. Every bone in his body felt like it had been reduced to a pleasantly throbbing mist.

Kakashi turned to him with a flushed face and a satisfied, breathless smile. He reached out, brushing damp hair away from Naruto’s forehead, and pressed a soft kiss there.

“Thank you,” he murmured. “For being so good for me.”

Naruto tried to laugh, but it came out more like a wheeze. “You—god, that was—you’re welcome, I guess?”

Kakashi chuckled low in his throat and shifted closer, pressing lazy kisses along Naruto’s jaw and neck.

Then he muttered against Naruto’s skin , hoarse and serious, “Still good for round two?”

Naruto chuckled weakly, brushing his fingers through Kakashi’s hair. “Give me five minutes and a juice box and I’ll rail you into next week.”

Kakashi let out a laugh—deep, real—and finally, the wildness in his eyes softened.

They were back. And god, it felt so good.

After round two, Naruto collapsed on top of Kakashi, boneless and buzzing with satisfaction. Their chests rose and fell in tandem, sweat cooling on their skin, breaths slowly syncing again. Kakashi let out a long groan, tossing an arm over his eyes. “Fuck, that was so good.” he muttered, voice hoarse. “You completely drained my balls.”

Naruto snorted, the huff of laughter warming the crook of Kakashi’s neck. “Please. That was nothing. Anyone lucky enough to get a shot at your ass would give their all to pleasure you until their dying breath.”

Kakashi let out a strangled sound that might’ve been a laugh or a gasp. “Naruto—”

“No, I’m serious,” Naruto pressed on, grinning against his skin. “And the faces you were making? Fuck. You were so pretty I almost came on the spot. I had to look away a couple times just to get my shit together, I swear.”

Kakashi shoved at his shoulder weakly, his face already turning a deep crimson. “Shut up,” he muttered, though the smile tugging at his lips betrayed how amused—and flattered—he really was.

They lay in a comfortable silence after that, Naruto sprawled on top of Kakashi, legs tangled. Time passed lazily, neither in a rush to move. Kakashi had one hand running slowly up and down Naruto’s spine, not even consciously, just happy to have him in his arms again. Naruto’s fingers were playing absently with Kakashi’s hair, tugging occasionally, never too hard.

After a few minutes, Naruto’s expression shifted. He hesitated. “Hey… about that PDA thing. From before.”

Kakashi blinked, his body still warm and lax from sex, but the question tugged his attention fully. “Oh,” he said quietly. “Yeah.” He gave a little huff of a laugh. “Maybe we should…put on some clothes first.”

Naruto laughed too, soft and sheepish. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin the moment.”

Kakashi shook his head, reaching over to brush Naruto’s cheek. “No. I want to talk about it too.”

They didn’t dress properly—just tugged on soft t-shirts and a pair of loose shorts each, skipping underwear entirely. Naruto sat cross-legged on the bed while Kakashi leaned against the headboard, both of them looking a bit rumpled, a bit vulnerable.

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot,” Naruto said, eyes on his fingers as they picked at a loose thread on his shorts. “And I regret what I said back then. I didn’t realize… how heavy the burden is for you. I thought I knew what you felt but I didn’t, not fully. I was being ignorant.”

Kakashi looked at him quietly, eyes soft.

“I got caught up in my own wants,” Naruto continued. “You make me so damn happy. Happier than I’ve ever been, honestly. And yeah, I want to show that off because I’m so proud of what we have, y’know? But the truth is… I’d never choose that over your comfort. Not ever. So I don’t want you to force yourself and do things that make you anxious just for my sake.”

Kakashi stared at him for a long moment, then smiled — warm, genuine, touched. He reached out and gently squeezed Naruto’s knee. “Thank you, it really means a lot.” he said, voice quiet but sure. “I want to give this whole PDA thing a try, though. And not just for you… for me too.”

Naruto looked up at him, surprised.

“Hiding, holding myself back—it’s tiring. Doing that for the rest of my life sounds absolutely exhausting.” Kakashi went on. “And when I think about the future… when I think about you… it’s not temporary in my mind. I want to be with you. For a really long time. For the rest of my life, if you’ll let me.”

Naruto stared at him, completely floored. His eyes blinked rapidly, and then he blinked again, as if trying to make sure he’d heard right. “You… you really want that?”

Kakashi looked at him and nodded once. “I guess once you love someone, that’s just… how it starts to feel. Natural. Like there’s no other ending that makes sense.”

Naruto swallowed hard, his eyes going glassy. “Kakashi… you love me?”

Kakashi smiled, soft and unwavering. “Yeah. I do.”

Naruto didn’t say anything for a moment—he just stared at him like he was memorizing everything. Then, without warning, he surged forward, throwing his arms around Kakashi and burying his face into his neck.

“Say it,” he mumbled, voice shaking.

Kakashi chuckled, wrapping his arms around Naruto. “I love you.”

Naruto held him tighter, and this time, he didn’t even try to hide the tears.

Minutes passed like that before Kakashi finally broke the silence, his voice a little unsteady but laced with humor. “By the way... this is the part where you tell me you love me back… so I don’t spiral and start freaking out.”

Naruto snorted, the sound half a laugh, half a sniffle. He pulled back just enough to look up at him, his eyes still bright and a little damp. “Please. If you can’t handle a few minutes of suspense, imagine being me. Loving you for months, waiting for you to catch up.”

Kakashi blinked, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. “Months?”

Naruto nodded, a small smile pulling at his lips. “I kept wanting to say it. Like a dozen times every single day. Every time you kissed me, or held me, or made me laugh.” He let out a breathy chuckle, rubbing his cheek against Kakashi’s. “And like fifty times today when you were putting me through the mattress.”

Kakashi gave a choked laugh, eyes crinkling with something warm and disbelieving. “You’re ridiculous.”

Naruto grinned too, cheeks flushed, but it faded slowly when Kakashi pressed their foreheads together and looked into his eyes. There was something raw there. Something soft and fragile, even after everything they'd shared. A quiet vulnerability that Kakashi didn’t know how to hide, not anymore.

He didn’t say anything. Just looked at Naruto like he was searching for something.

Naruto’s smile softened into something gentler, warmer. He lifted one hand to Kakashi’s cheek and ran his thumb over the scar under his eye.

“I love you,” he said, simple and sure.

Kakashi closed his eyes for a moment, like he was letting the words settle inside his chest, taking a deep breath as if they filled some space in him that had always been empty before.

Then they kissed again, soft and slow this time—no rush, no heat, just the weight of truth behind it.

A few months had passed since the scroll incident, and peace had settled in its place—peace and an overwhelming amount of physical affection. Naruto and Kakashi had unintentionally become that couple in Konoha. The hand-holding, the casual kisses, the wandering hands that ignored all sense of time and place. PDA had become their trademark. And they were too happy to care.

One breezy afternoon, Naruto made his way to his dad’s house to pick up Kakashi, who’d stopped by for tea and to return some jutsu scrolls he had borrowed. He let himself in like usual, calling out as he toed off his sandals at the door.

“It’s me!”

He padded inside, stretching his arms overhead and rolling his shoulders from a long day of training. The scent of tea and something sweet lingered in the air, and when he turned the corner into the living room, he found his dad and Kakashi seated on the large, plush couch. And despite how wide and spacious it was, the two of them were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, their bodies angled toward each other like magnets. Minato was laughing softly at something Kakashi had said, eyes crinkled, utterly relaxed. Kakashi had his usual half-lidded, faintly amused expression—the one Naruto had learned actually meant I’m very comfortable right now and I like this person a lot.

Naruto didn’t even blink at the scene. It was just them.

He crossed the room grinning and, without hesitation, flopped onto Kakashi’s lap. “Hey, you two,” he said cheerfully, then turned to press a kiss against Kakashi’s cheek. Kakashi greeted him with a fond smile, already curling an arm loosely around Naruto’s waist.

Minato watched with an exaggerated pout.

“Wow,” he said. “Neglected by my own son. Where’s my kiss, huh?”

Naruto groaned, flopping his head against Kakashi’s shoulder. “I’m getting too old to be kissing you, Dad,” he complained, but he leaned over anyway and pecked Minato on the cheek.

“There,” he said. “Happy now?”

Minato grinned. “A little more enthusiasm wouldn’t hurt, but it’ll do.”

Naruto sighed and leaned back into Kakashi, nestling into his chest and pulling Kakashi’s arm tighter around his waist like a blanket. Kakashi went easily, resting his chin on Naruto’s shoulder with a low hum of contentment.

Minato watched them both with fond eyes. It was impossible not to smile when they were like this. His son, glowing with affection and joy. Kakashi, softer than he’d been in years. And the two of them, finally settled into something real. Something solid.

Minato leaned back on the couch with a sigh of exaggerated longing. “I know you two haven’t been together that long,” he said with a grin, “but I already can’t wait for grandkids.”

Naruto didn’t even blink. He tilted his head, deadpan. “Well, bad news, Dad. So far neither of us has managed to get pregnant, no matter how hard the other tried to make it happen.”

Kakashi stiffened.

“And trust me,” Naruto looked over at Kakashi, then back at his dad.  “We’ve been trying. Daily.”

Minato looked like he was biting back a laugh.

Kakashi, on the other hand, went a brilliant shade of red and suddenly found the ceiling, the floor, the far wall—literally anything other than Minato's face—fascinating.

“Between you and me,” Naruto leaned in, conspiratorially, voice lowered like he was about to share a scandalous secret. “—We’re not gloving up or anything so I’m starting to think Kakashi might be, y’know, shooting blanks.”

“For the love of—please stop talking,” Kakashi muttered under his breath, gently bonking his forehead against Naruto’s shoulder.

Minato’s eyes lit up with mischief, completely unbothered by his son’s revelation. “Aww, he’s blushing,” he cooed as he leaned forward and pinched Kakashi’s cheek, who groaned low in his throat. “You’re just as cute as you were as a kid.”

Kakashi sighed like a man who had known suffering. “Being with you two is exhausting. All I do is get teased.”

“Correction,” Naruto said smugly. “You get teased and laid. I take care of my man well.”

“Naruto,” Kakashi hissed, even redder.

Minato just laughed, shaking his head in amusement. “It’s always chaos with you two.”

After a bit more banter and entirely too much laughter at Kakashi’s expense, Minato clapped his hands together. “Alright. Are you boys staying for dinner?”

Kakashi’s head immediately snapped to Naruto, eyes wide and hopeful like a puppy waiting for a treat. Technically they had plans—a date night with an actual reservation and maybe a walk by the river—but Naruto knew just how much Kakashi loved Minato’s cooking. The pleading look in his eyes was almost tragic—he was trying so hard not to outright beg, but his whole soul was screaming, Say yes.

Naruto beamed, nudging Kakashi’s chin with his nose. “We’re totally staying.”

Kakashi gave him the softest, most grateful look imaginable.

Minato smiled like that was the answer he’d expected all along. “Good. But you’re both helping. I’m not leaving you two alone to make out on my couch again.”

Naruto groaned as he peeled himself off of Kakashi’s lap. “Yeah, yeah,” he muttered, stretching as he moved toward the kitchen.

Kakashi stayed back a moment longer, the living room suddenly quiet around him. He stared at the soft cushions, the empty tea cups, the quiet laughter drifting in from the kitchen, and felt something warm expand in his chest. It was strange how natural this had all become—being here, being loved, being accepted. He’d spent most of his life adrift, uncertain of his place in the world, collecting pieces of connection and loss. But now… now, he had something he never thought he’d have. Something warm, real, safe.

He walked into the kitchen and, without thinking, slid up behind Naruto, wrapping his arms around his waist in a gentle back hug. His cheek rested lightly on Naruto’s shoulder. He didn’t say anything—just looked toward Minato, who was standing next to them, already stirring something in a pan with one hand.

Minato must’ve felt his gaze. He turned and looked at Kakashi, their eyes meeting for a long, quiet moment. No words were exchanged—none were needed. Kakashi’s expression said thank you, in a hundred layered ways.

Minato smiled—soft, warm, and fond in a way that filled Kakashi’s chest all over again. He reached out and gently patted Kakashi’s head, ruffling his silver hair the same way he used to when Kakashi was just a tired little boy trying to be too grown too fast.

Kakashi smiled back. He gave Naruto a final squeeze, then let go and rolled up his sleeves to help out.

He naturally slipped into the rhythm of cooking beside them, shoulder to shoulder with two people he loved more than anything.

He had Naruto. He had Minato.

He had a home.

A family.