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depressedkakashihatake-fics · 3 years

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Bake Me up A Dream

Hatake Kakashi/Maito Gai

Kakagai Week Day 2- Prompt: Flowers

AU: Bakery Au

Edited by: @mireleth

The sound of birds chirping at the front door of his shop drew Tenzo’s attention away from the book that he was currently reading. The door chime he had chosen was perfect. Not obnoxious enough to annoy him whenever there was a new customer, but still out of place enough that he would look up from whatever he was doing without fail.

At his door stood a man wearing possibly the ugliest green tracksuit combo he had ever seen with long hair braided behind his back and the thickest eyebrows in existence. That last observation wasn’t even an exaggeration on his part. Were eyebrows really allowed to be that big?

“Hello.” Slipping his bookmark into place, Tenzo set his book down on the counter in front of him and focused his full attention on the new customer. “How can i help you today?”

A shy smile greeted him. “I’m looking for a plant.” Taking a step into the shop, the man’s eyes scanned the selection of plants that Tenzo currently had out on display. “Something that will survive a few months.”

That was interesting. Very few people bothered to specify that they actually wanted the plant to survive, let alone ‘a few months’.

He had a few plants that could survive quite a long time if given the right care, but finding the right one wasn’t as easy as knowing how long someone wanted it to last. Stepping out from behind the counter, he slowly made his way towards the other man.

“Is there a particular plant you want?” He pressed for more information. “Something that flowers? Or a plant that’s easy to take care of? Big or small?”

“Well…” It was clear that this trip hadn’t been well thought out. Tenzo could see that the questions he asked were now being carefully considered, which was more than he could say for most customers. A lot of people who came through that door just grabbed the prettiest thing they saw, paid, and left without speaking a word to him.

Clearly the man was on a mission.

“I don’t think a flowering plant would be good,” the customer muttered to himself. “He doesn’t like flowers, but he likes sturdy plants. Something that can grow well and doesn’t require a lot of attention. He tends to forget about other things when he’s really focused on tasks.”

That sounded like the type of person who would love Tenzo’s selection of herbaceous perennials. Though there still were quite a lot of them that flowered, he could think of one that might fit the customer’s preferences.

Waving the man forward he did a 180 degree turn and headed towards the back corner where he kept some of his less fragile plants. The ones that didn’t need constant care every day, or needed to be away from the sunlight that shone through the front windows from 7am to 8pm everyday.

“I think…” His eyes scanned the shelves, searching for the plant he was thinking of. “Ah, here it is.” Reaching out, he carefully picked up the small Zamioculcas zamiifolia from the shelf and turned back around, almost jumping out of his skin when he found his customer standing directly behind him. Releasing his grip on the potted plant, he watched in horror as it plummeted towards the floor.

Instead of hearing the sound of the pot shattering against the ground, Tenzo found himself watching as the man swooped down and caught the plant with ease, saving him from losing a sale.

“Sorry,” the shy smile that Tenzo had been greeted with was back on his face, “I didn’t mean to scare you.” With the apology out of the way, he turned his attention down to the plant now resting in his hands. Tenzo wasn’t quite sure what was going through his mind, but the way that his smile slowly morphed into a tender gaze told him that he had made the right choice.

Now he just had to lock in the sale.

“It’s an easy plant to take care of,” he explained, making his way back over towards the counter so he could put some distance between the two of them. “You, or your partner, only really need to water it when the dirt is dry, and even then if you forget a day or two it will still live.”

For a second he thought his words were being ignored. There was no verbal response to what he had said, and the man was still looking down at the plant with the fondest expression. Almost like he was hypnotized by it.

“He’ll love it.” The words finally broke through the silence that had fallen between them, bright happy eyes turning upwards to meet his gaze. “And it’ll go great in the bakery.”

Well, now that was just something Tenzo couldn’t ignore. A bakery sounded like a great idea, especially if it ended up somewhere nearby where he could sneak in once in a while to grab a treat.

Seeing the plant being set down in front of him, Tenzo turned his attention to the till and started to punch in the price, but his interest in the aforementioned bakery continued to nag at him.

“It’ll be ¥7000.” He smiled back at his customer. “And what is this bakery, if you don’t mind me asking? Planning to open up a new place?”

There was a moment of hesitation, but then the flood gates seemed to open. Tenzo hadn’t been expecting such a long, detailed answer to his question. A whole story was presented to him and before he knew it he was invested. This sounded like the best boyfriend ever, and if he was into bad clothing choices he might have been tempted to try to steal this one for himself.

Not that he really thought it was possible. The way that he said his partner’s name, the way his eyes lit up everytime he talked about him. This was a man who was head over heels in love. No-one could hope to steal him.

“Do you think it sounds alright?” Tenzo blinked, a little confused by the question. “I didn’t really talk to him about buying the location. I didn’t have time. It was such a cheap price and I knew if I waited to talk to him someone would swoop it up before I could get back to it in time…”

“I think he’ll love it.” His words were met with a warm happy look. “I mean, who wouldn’t want a boyfriend who listens to them gush about their dream of opening a bakery, and then as soon as he sees a small place on sale for cheap enough just swoops it up without thinking. He’s bound to love it.”

At least, that’s how he would feel if someone had bought him the small shop he now owned knowing that he wanted to open up a flower shop. One that specializes in living potted plants that would stay with a person for months or even years as long as they took proper care of them, unlike the Yamanaka shop down the street. He had never understood the obsession with flowers that had been ripped away from their roots and would die within a week regardless of how much care a person gave them. It seemed such a waste of a beautiful plant.

“Thanks.” Taking the money that was now being presented to him, Tenzo punched it into the till and stashed it away in the drawer. “He has done a lot for me since we were young. Without him I wouldn’t have the dojo, and we’d both be working shitty jobs we didn’t like. I want to pay him back. Give him something he actually enjoys instead of…” He stopped himself there, replacing whatever words he was about to say with a chuckle instead. “Well, I doubt you want me to bore you with the whole story.”

“Not that I have much to do,” Tenzo waved his hand towards the empty store to emphasize his point, “but you should get back and present him with his new gifts. I’m sure he’ll love them both.”

With one final goodbye, Tenzo watched as his customer made his way back out the front door, and as soon as the door chime went off he kicked himself mentally. All of that talking, and he had forgotten to ask where the bakery was going to be, or even what the man’s name was.

He was never going to get one of those delicious cupcakes that apparently made the world stop with their sugary greatness, and that was just upsetting.

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Numbers.

Even when he closed his eyes, all Kakashi saw was numbers. Equations, pay cheques, costs, and deductions. Numbers were swimming in his brain and he wanted nothing more to bash his head against the table until they disappeared.

Why did he have to have the worst job in existence? Why had he been given a brain smart enough to do this job with such ease, but the attention span of a five year old on sugar?

He needed to do something, anything, to take his mind off of all of the paperwork and the endless numbers.

A creaking sound snagged his attention. Gai . Gai was home. Only the front door of their tiny apartment creaked like that, no matter how much oil he put on the hinges to try and get it to stop.

Gai could help him think of more enjoyable things. He was great at doing that.

Bolting up from his seat, Kakashi rushed towards the front room and threw his arms around Gai’s neck, hugging him tightly as he tried to maneuver himself around the body that had suddenly appeared. Not that this was anything new for Gai. Kakashi had started making a habit out of greeting him like this years ago when they first moved into their apartment, and he had never missed the opportunity to greet Gai with just as much enthusiasm as the day before.

Behind him, Pakkun came trudging along after being forced to wake up from his two hour long nap on Kakashi’s lap. The poor pug dog was rarely ever happy to be awoken so rudely, but he usually forgot about his gripes with Kakashi’s sudden movements when he was presented with treats a few minutes after the daily greetings.

“You needed a break, I see.” As always, Gai could see right through him. Whether it was because he was vibrating with excitement or because Gai could see that he had made an absolute mess of his hair while running his fingers through it stressing over his paperwork, it didn’t really matter. Gai was home now and a few hours of relaxing before bed was exactly what he had been looking forward to all day. “Work sending you too much paperwork again?”

“You know how they are.” Hiding his face in Gai’s neck, he closed his eyes and relaxed while Gai set everything down on the small table they had by the door and wrapped his arms around his waist. “Whenever I finish paperwork they send me more. I’m certain they’re pawning off everyone else’s paperwork on me.”

There were actually more accountants than just him. There had to be, for a company as big as Hiruzen-sama’s was. He and his husband, Danzo-Sama, owned restaurants all over the country. One person couldn’t possibly do the paperwork for every single one of them, but some days it felt like they were determined to have Kakashi try.

“Well, I think you should quit.” Tilting his head to the side, Kakashi cracked his right eye open and stared up at Gai. “What? It’s true! You deserve a job where you’re not overworked and constantly stressed.”

“Are you going to find me one of those?” He huffed, forever amused by Gai’s insistence that he find a better job. He had tried to do that in the past and it never worked out. Either his new boss didn’t like him because he was smarter than them, or his new co-workers refused to work with him because he was socially awkward.

Usually the second one. His first day never went well enough for him to stick around and let his boss learn just how smart he was. Honestly, he was lucky he was always allowed to come back after every new attempt. Most bosses would have gotten fed up with him continuously quitting and coming back after three years, but Hiruzen always welcomed him back with a pile of paperwork twice the size as what he had left behind.

Feeling Gai’s arms retracting from his waist, Kakashi whined. He wasn’t done getting comfort hugs yet, but Gai seemed determined to pull away. No matter how much Kakashi tried to squirm his way back into that warm hug Gai continued to retract his arms until he was able to take a step back. With space now between the pair, Gai moved his hands onto Kakashi’s shoulders and gazed deep into his eyes.

It was a little unsettling if he was being honest with himself.

“What if I told you—well if maybe I…” Gai fell silent. It seemed pretty obvious that he was trying to break some sort of news to Kakashi, but he was having troubles doing it, which only made Kakashi worry.

Had Gai found him a new job? Was he going to have to go through the ‘quit, start new job, get fired, and go back to beg for his old job back’ routine all over again? Were they ever going to stop with this stupid game and admit he was stuck where he was?

“Oh, no. Don’t get that look.” Gai’s words cut through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present and to those soft kind eyes that always seemed to look at him with more love than he could imagine anyone having for someone like him. “It’s a good thing. I did a good thing, Kakashi. Well, I think I did.”

Another moment of doubt, and more worries rushed through Kakashi’s mind. There was no way this could end well for him at all. It never did.

“Gai,” nibbling at his bottom lip, Kakashi took a deep breath and forced a smile onto his face, “I’m good where I am. I know it’s not perfect and it’s a lot of work, but it’s a job. I get paid to be there and that job helped us buy the dojo so it’s a good thing isn’t it?”

There’s no way they would have been able to afford to support Gai’s dream without the money he was making under Hiruzen. No other job paid well enough for them to afford their apartment and save up the money they needed to get Gai’s dojo. The money his father had left him in high school had only been enough to buy the place, not refurbish it and get all of the equipment they needed, and Gai’s job as a trainer at the local gym hadn’t been paying him much at all.

He owed a lot to Hiruzen, so finding another job that wasn’t going to work out in the end wasn’t ideal for him at this point.

Unfortunately, Gai wasn’t convinced.

“It’s not just a new job, Kakashi.” He couldn’t help but roll his eyes a bit. Gai’s pep talks always started like this and he always ended up going with whatever new job his boyfriend had found for him. It was getting exhausting. “I mean it. I didn’t talk to someone to get you a chance at a new firm, or to have you doing more paperwork behind a desk.”

Ok, that did sound a bit new. It wouldn’t hurt to at least listen to Gai, would it?

“So,” he raised an eyebrow, still a little unimpressed, “what is it? Did you get me a fast food job? Am I going to be telling teenagers how to make hamburgers and deal with customers yelling at me because they got a pickle on their burger?”

Fast food workers really didn’t get paid enough for the bullshit they had to put up with.

“I would never dream of getting you a job like that.” Gai frowned. “No, I got… well, I found a small place near the dojo that was up for sale. It was really cheap and we still had enough money left over after all of the renovations.”

“Gai, please tell me you didn’t buy another place…” It was enough to have to do the finances for Gai’s dojo on top of all of the work he did for Hiruzen’s companies. Another place to take care of on top of all of that would probably put him in an early grave. “Isn’t one dojo enough? I can’t handle…”

A finger pressed against his lips, cutting off the rest of his sentence.

“I did not buy another building so I could have another dojo.” There was a hurt look in Gai’s eyes when Kakashi looked back at him. “Do you really think… Kakashi, you’ve given up more than enough for me already.”

Ok, he deserved that one. Gai was the sweetest person he had ever met. There was no way he was going to buy himself another building without consulting Kakashi. Especially when Kakashi had put in so many extra hours just so they could afford everything they needed for the first dojo.

“Then what is it?” He crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for an explanation.

“Well, it’s just a small place.” Tilting his head, Kakashi waited for clarification. “Just enough for a small display room and a large kitchen in the back for you to work in.”

A kitchen? That sounded an awful lot like something he had been dreaming about for years. A dream he had only ever dared to share with Gai while they were laying in bed drifting off to sleep.

“Gai…” He was almost afraid to ask. Scared that all of the excitement building up inside of him would come crashing down when Gai told him that his assumptions were wrong. “Did you… are we going to need money to set up a… a bakery?”

The last word left his mouth in a whisper, fear coursing through his veins as he waited for an answer.

There was no verbal response. Just a shy nod of Gai’s head and suddenly Kakashi was throwing his arms around the other man’s neck and hugging him tighter than he ever had before.

“A bakery…” He buried his face into Gai’s neck, taking in the sweet familiar scent of the cologne that Gai put on every day after his afternoon shower. “We’re getting a bakery.”

“One where you can spend your mornings making all of the goodies you can think of.” Gai’s arms wrapped around his waist once more, pulling him close to his chest. “And it’ll be a hit, Kakashi. The only accounting you’ll have to do once we open up business is for your bakery and my dojo.”

“Our bakery,” Kakashi corrected him. “We both know if I try to do the advertisements, PR or anything involving interacting with people that the place is going to flop within a month.” He really wasn’t the best at talking to people. It’s why he always worked from home when he could, and avoided his co-workers when he had to go into the office.

“Our bakery.” Gai chuckled, squeezing Kakashi just a bit tighter into his hug. “And I got the first decoration that we can put up when we open it. But you’ll have to take care of it until the bakery is ready.”

Feeling Gai letting go of him once more, Kakashi whined. He hated giving up Gai’s hugs to do other things. It was never as good as being engulfed by those comfortable, warm arms that he loved so much.

“I’ll give you all of the hugs later, I promise.” A hand came up to his shoulder, carefully turning him around so that he could see the potted plant that Gai had set down on the table behind him earlier. It was the most beautiful plant he had ever seen. “I was told this would be the perfect plant for you.”

Apparently someone knew him very well.

“I love it.” He looked back at Gai with the biggest smile, chuckling when he saw the fond look in the taijutsu master’s eyes “It’ll look great at the front of the bakery where everyone can see it.”

A bakery. His bakery. Part of him still couldn’t believe it.

Reaching up he laid his hand against Gai’s cheek. “Tell me, what did I ever do to deserve you?”

“That’s a very long list.” Leaning down just a bit, Gai pressed a tender kiss to his neck. “One I’ll make sure to give you while we’re celebrating after dinner.”

An amazing boyfriend, a chance at his dream job, and promises of celebrations? There was no way today could get any better for him.

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Three months of endless, grueling work. That is what Kakashi had to put up with to see this day. Ripping out old shitty flooring, more expenses than he had been expecting when he first saw the place, setting up the kitchen just perfectly for him to work in, and finding all of the staff that they needed for their opening day. There had been more than a few bumps in the road, but they had finally made it.

At five in the morning he had crawled out of bed already dreading the thought of going back to his computer to look at more numbers. The sick feeling he got at the mere thought of having to waste away another day organizing Hiruzen-sama’s company accounts had been more than enough to make him want to vomit. A feeling that he had, unfortunately, gotten far too used to over the years.

Then that moment of realization hit him. The date on the calendar he kept up on the kitchen wall beside the fridge caught his eye, and all of those sickly gross feelings washed away.

His last day had been a week ago. Hiruzen-sama had already called him two days after he had finished at the company asking him when he would be coming back, and had laughed when Kakashi told him that he hadn’t even been able to start his new job yet. It had made Kakashi angry but he had pushed it into the back of his mind and focused on finishing the work he and Gai were doing on the new bakery.

And now here he was. Standing at the front of the bakery after having finished making all of the cupcakes, cookies, cakes, pastries and other goodies for the day. His new designers, Sai and Shikamaru, were in the back putting icing on the cupcakes and cakes. The salesperson, Sakura, was in the midst of organizing everything into the display cases, and he was currently busying himself with finding the right place to put his plant.

The plant that Gai had gotten him when he had come home with news of his new purchase. A Zamioculcas zamiifolia according to every bing search that he did to find out how to take care of the thing.

Kakashi had been convinced he would kill it within a few days because of his habit of forgetting to take care of things (including himself), but it had somehow managed to survive until today. It was even bigger than when he had first gotten it which was, in his personal opinion, a miracle.

The sound of dogs barking at the front door alerted Kakashi to his new guest. One Maito Gai in the midst of trying desperately to rein back a large black bull dog and the much smaller, but no less feisty, pug dog that were currently attempting to follow him into the bakery.

“I told you to wait outside.” He could tell Gai was trying to scold the dogs, but his voice was much too soft and kind for it to really have any effect on them. “No dogs in the bakery. We’ll be right out, I promise.”

It was sort of cruel to keep them outside in his opinion. The pair were used to always being by his side at all times, and neither of them had taken it well when Gai dropped him off at the bakery at six in the morning and closed the door before either of them could jump out to follow him. Thankfully Gai’s dojo didn’t have the same health code laws against having pets inside, so Gai decided to spoil his morning class with a visit from his boyfriends hounds.

“You know, if you want them to listen you’re going to have to put a little more strength into your voice,” he offered, laughing when Gai turned to glare at him “Exactly. Take that look and put it into words.”

Gai did not seem to enjoy his humor as much as he did, simply rolling his eyes in response to Kakashi’s words and giving the dogs one final look with a soft ‘two seconds’ before allowing the door to close and turning his full attention to Kakashi.

His eyes seemed to examine Kakashi for a moment. A smile spread across his face as he stepped up to his side and leaned in to press a gentle kiss to his forehead.

“I think this is the happiest I’ve seen you since…” Hearing the pause, Kakashi couldn’t help but chuckle. Had it really been that long since he had been happy? How bad was his accounting work getting to him that Gai had to think of when the last time he was genuinely happy was? “Oh, since we adopted Bull!”

Well, that was pretty bad. They had adopted Bull 7 months ago and now Gai was telling him that he hadn’t been as happy as that moment since? That was sort of depressing.

Though, maybe this was just a turning point for him. If things worked out he was never going to have to return to that shitty desk space in their apartment, spending hours sitting and staring at a computer screen. The only finance work he’d have to do from now on was for his own bakery and Gai’s dojo, and somehow that didn’t feel nearly as daunting a task.

“Here,” holding out the Zamioculcas zamiifolia to Gai, he smiled when his boyfriend returned his gesture with a confused look, “I have no idea where to put it, and you’re great at making things look amazing. You chose the layout here after all, so you choose where this goes.”

Taking the plant from Kakashi, Gai took a few short strides up to the front till and carefully placed the plant off to the side, moving the small business card stand right in front of it.

“I think it looks best here, right out front.” He beamed, and somehow Kakashi found himself falling in love with that smile all over again. “It pulls the look together perfectly.”

Kakashi was about to respond when the sound of barking dogs caught his attention once more. Turning to look at the door, he smiled when he saw a brunette stumbling past Bull and Pakkun into the building.

“S-Sorry.” The man held up his hands towards the dog, giving them a smile when they continued to bark at him. “I didn’t see you there little guy.”

“Ahh, Pakkun’s hiding and trying to trip people again.” Gai chuckled, glancing over at Kakashi as he spoke. “You really must get him out of that habit.”

“It has been three years since I got him,” Kakashi argued. “At this point there is nothing I can do.”

Giving his head a shake Gai returned his attention to the customer now standing at the front door. “I see you found your way here quickly.”

“Kind of hard not to.” The brunette smiled back at them. “You’ve had this place under construction for months and it’s right beside my favorite coffee place.”

“At least people noticed us getting ready,” Kakashi muttered under his breath, noticing the moment that the other man’s eyes caught sight of the plant that Gai had put beside the till. “I see the plant is already getting attention.”

“Well, it’s kind of hard not to notice it.” Kakashi watched as the man brought a hand up to settle in his hair, his eyes lighting up when he looked over at Gai. “You made sure it didn’t die.”

“Actually, he took pretty good care of it himself.” Even though Gai was trying to say it with pride, Kakashi felt like he had just been insulted. As if it was expected that he would kill the plants if left alone with it for too long. Of course, he wasn’t wrong. Kakashi wasn’t known to remember to water his plants and most of them died within a few days of being left in his care. That still didn’t mean he needed to have his boyfriend act so surprised at his ability to keep one single plant alive. “Kakashi, instead of getting upset why don’t you offer our customer a treat?”

Taking his cue, Kakashi turned away from his boyfriend with a soft huff and picked up the plate of samples that he had made up for anyone who decided to wander into the store.

“Here.” He held it out towards the men, glaring at Gai when he gave him an unimpressed look. “What?”

“I can see why you said he stays in the back,” Sakura giggled from behind the counter where she was still putting treats out on display. “That was pretty bad.”

“I hate you both,” Kakashi grumbled under his breath, watching as the brunette ignored their little argument and picked up a small chocolate cupcake with just a little bit of frosting on top, and plopped it into his mouth.

His eyes immediately lit up, a smile pulling at his lips as he looked over at Gai.

“You must have hired the best baker in town.” He smiled brightly. “That’s amazing!”

“Well,” Kakashi met Gai’s gaze, smiling when he saw the proud look on his boyfriend’s face, “he might not be the best with people, but he is amazing in the kitchen.”

#Hatake Kakashi #Maito Gai #Kakagai #Hatake Kakashi/Maito Gai #It's very long #I'm sorry #it just #sorty of happened #Bakery au #XD #Kakagai week #kkg week #Kakagai week 2020 #Kakagaiweek

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depressedkakashihatake · 3 years

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Zabuza’s favorite hound js Bull. He has seen that dog carry Kakashi home after a long fight and protect him for even Mist Shinobi until him or Kisame could get to him. He adores Bull.

kisame’s favorite is Bisuke. He’s just so friendly and chill, sort of like Itachi but with a lot less angst

and Both of them love to bug Kakashi because his favorite is clearly Pakkun, but Kakashi doesn’t care. Oakkun is smart and can talk back just as well as him, but he’s also supportive. He’s always there if Kakashi’s about to have a panic attack, and he never holds any judgement for Kakashi having to break down.

#Mist Kakashi

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thousandbirds · 4 years

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hatake kakashi’s tropes ( as seen in canon ) are as follow :

--- the Ace. someone who is ridiculously good at what they do, whatever that happens to be, and everyone knows it. people look up to them, envy them, and are in awe of them. they have a reputation for doing the impossible, and may be Shrouded in Myth, as people are unable to separate their real accomplishments from unfounded rumors. they'll probably be extremely talented at everything they try. in direct relation to this, he is also affected by the Broken Ace trope. he's tall, charming, strikingly good-looking and extremely skilled, but underneath all that his inner self is a mess of self-hatred and parental issues ( more on the Broken Ace trope later on the list ).

--- Always Someone Better. the character who is the best-of-the-best with a supporting cast that Can't Catch Up. more powerful than the super hero, or more skilled than the ninja, or smarter than the professor, and so on.

--- Achilles' Heel. any seemingly Nigh Invulnerable character will inevitably have some key weakness that can and will be exploited. in kakashi’s case, this is his massive stamina issues, exacerbated by the use of his sharingan, which demands a ridiculous amount of chakra when used. almost all of his major battles have ended with him fainting or bed-ridden for over-expending his energy.

--- Badass Bookworm. these characters are quiet, smart, and seemingly physically unimposing, but with Hidden Depths of formidable physical and practical skills. naruto calls him as smart as shikamaru, which, combined with his status as the most elite ninjutsu specialist in konoha, would make him this easily.

--- Badass Teacher. they are just a regular teacher, until you threaten their students. after that you might want to start praying to whatever god is out there for mercy. you do not mess with their students. also related to the Sink-or-Swim Mentor, as seen in his bell test, which doubles as a Secret Test of Character for his students.

--- Bishōnen. the term bishōnen simply connotes a really, really attractive male. it is seen as somewhat of a gag through the manga, but the truth is that an unmasked kakashi is seen to give nosebleeds, provoke swooning, blushing, and in general cause strangers to stop and stare. related to this is the Even the Guys Want Him trope, as both the few females and males who have seen him unmasked are, well, very impressed to say the least.

--- Blessed with Suck. when a character is given a special ability that seems to cause nothing but trouble for them. because he isn't an uchiha, he can't deactivate the sharingan and it rapidly drains his chakra reserves whenever he uses it, leaving him bedridden after extended use. he keeps the eye covered when he doesn't need it in order to prevent this. the mangekyō sharingan, in particular, places a great strain on kakashi, and precipitated the deterioration of his vision until eventually his eye went blind during the fourth shinobi world war.

--- Broken Ace. kakashi talks about his broken past to sasuke, to try and convince him that revenge isn't everything and that living with the pain of his losses, while difficult, is possible. it doesn't work. later, in the battle against kaguya, kakashi tells obito that losing obito, rin, and minato all within the span of a year all but completely broke him, going on to state that there was nothing stopping him from completely sinking into despair except for the fact that obito had entrusted his sharingan ( and thus, his dream of seeing the future together ) to him. given the amount of characters that turned to darker paths for similar reasons, it's a bit of an eye-opener as to how close kakashi could have been to completely losing himself as well.

--- Child Prodigy. as youngest genin and chunin, kakashi graduated at 5 years old from the academy and went on to become the most accomplished shinobi of his generation.

--- Cool Teacher. team 7 was the first team that he ever passed, because they're the first one to catch his lesson on putting each other's safety ahead of the mission. look underneath the underneath.

--- Deadpan Snarker. always has a straight face on, no matter the absurdity of the situation. the mask probably helps in this department. [ kakashi: naruto, you can't kill the client. that's not how it works. ]

--- Despair Event Horizon. the line that, once crossed, destroys any last remaining sense of hope. it could be for a cause, a person, a situation, or simple survival. a character has given up on it, and there is no going back. it can lead soldiers to despair — or even suicide, if they don't simply lose the will to live. it can turn an ideal hero into an anti-hero or an outright villain. it's in his time in ANBU ( during and after the kyuubi attack ) that kakashi was dangerously close to this after the death of his sensei, leaving him the last living member of his team. it's implied that the reason why kakashi wasn't a big part of naruto's life until he became a genin was because he was so mentally anguished that he couldn't be trusted around small children, even if they were his sensei's son. he was barely able to take care of himself ; there is no way he would've been able to handle taking care of a baby jinchuuriki at the same time. it took a lot of time and support for him to move past this, and it wasn't until he was assigned to team 7 that he really began to heal.

--- Everybody's Dead, Dave. his backstory can be summed up in this one trope. when sasuke threatens to kill someone close to him so kakashi can understand his pain, kakashi replies that everyone he cares about is already dead.

--- Failure Hero. this is how he sees himself after watching his childhood team die and later on when he failed to talk sasuke out of defecting.

--- Friendly Rivalry. proud partner on the ultimate rivalry with maito gai, lasting from their early childhood, up into adulthood, and still very, very intense and showing no signs of slowing down.

--- Generation Xerox. this trope takes following in your parent's footsteps to a whole new level. they haven’t just inherited their parents' character traits and superpowers — they've inherited their entire life story. kakashi was mentioned to greatly resemble his father sakumo hatake, Konoha's White Fang, which made his enemies tremble in fear of him even when he was just about 13 years of age, mistaking him for his father. he's also a generation xerox of jiraiya. he lost his teacher, lost his student to the dark side, his closest childhood friend turned into one of the most reviled criminals in history and was indirectly responsible for their teacher's death, and has a near pathological Heroic Self-Deprecation as well.

--- Heroic Self-Deprecation. he literally calls himself trash when talking to obito. learning that his childhood friend obito, his idol and hero, the person who kakashi has modeled his entire life after, is responsible for nearly every tragedy that has befallen him over the years, starting with their teacher's death, all but broke him completely — the amount of self-hatred he felt after that revelation was almost insurmountable.

--- Hidden Depths. from naruto's point of view, he has this generally cheerful, constantly tardy teacher who is a Flat Character, someone he doesn't really think or worry about all that much. however, during the fight with obito, it turns out that that same tardy, cheery guy who's been protecting naruto all these years is indirectly responsible for creating the main villain of the story, and he has one of the worst background stories of all the characters in the series.

--- I Let Gwen Stacy Die. specifically, he killed rin himself... because she chose to jump in the way of his raikiri rather than become a Trojan Horse and be the catalyst of her village’s destruction.

--- Instant Expert. they are almost universally capable of instantly figuring out how to use their stolen powers, typically to the same level of skill or effectiveness, or even a greater level, as the character who had the power first.

--- The Leader. even though his students outclass him strength-wise during the fourth shinobi world war, kakashi remains their leader. sasuke tries to take over, but his strategies against kaguya fail miserably. kakashi comes up with an alternative plan in minutes, making use of his students' skills as well as his own, and it instantly succeeds. afterwards, even the Sage of the Sixth Paths compliments his leadership ability.

--- Mask Power. is never seen without a mask on. and in fact, he’s never seen with his whole face revealed. not for eating, not for drinking either. some distraction or accident will suddenly occur so that his face remains private. team 7 is shown trying to see under kakashi's mask but when they finally get him to remove it in front of them, underneath is... another mask. according to pakkun, he hates being photographed without it. when he becomes hokage, his face on the mountain still has the mask on.

--- Obfuscating Stupidity. kakashi is first shown as a goofy teacher who falls for one of naruto's unbelievably idiotic pranks, but he soon reveals himself to be badass. his enemies do know he's dangerous, and treat him as such, but he's far more dangerous than most of them have been led to believe. he makes deliberate misleading first impressions, which cause people to underestimate him, and then makes uses of that fact to his advantage.

--- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right! in the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum, that's true, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum.

--- Shell-Shocked Veteran. he lost his father to suicide, his childhood friend to an enemy attack, his teammate rin, who he himself killed, and his mentor minato to the kyuubi. the reason kakashi was always late for his training sessions with his genin team? every morning he spends hours just standing in front of the konoha memorial to honor his comrades' memory. in immediate aftermath of rin's Heroic Sacrifice kakashi suffers Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. he keeps seeing rin die by his hands, having nightmares, and as a result becomes far, far more withdrawn. due to the trauma he couldn't use his chidori anymore since he kept thinking of rin. it's stated that during his time in ANBU, kakashi became so depressed that gai literally begged the third hokage to either allow gai himself to join or to release kakashi from service altogether. it was only after his jounin instructor transfer and with gai's persistent friendship that kakashi's mental health started to improve for the first time in years.

--- Shrouded in Myth. a Living Legend, mysterious and untouchable. rumors and hearsay seem to surround their every word and deed.

--- The Stoic. probably the hardest character to get a rise out of in the entire series, except when the Icha Icha series or his dead childhood friend is concerned.

--- Team Dad. the opposite to the Team Mom, more often than not the disciplinarian, lead-by-example-kind of character. he tends to be strict and gruff, but he never hesitates to put his life on the line for his team members. sometimes the facade might even crack and he'll show undisguised pride over his kids.

--- Wise Beyond His Years. kakashi graduated from the academy at five, passed the chunin exam one year later, and became a jonin not much later. all through his childhood, people remarked how mature he was, an outlier from his peers.

--- Wishful Projection. kakashi is a strange case in which his projection was on someone who he thought was dead. obito, who is the one death he has never managed to move past. somewhere down the line, he went from deceased childhood friend whose last wishes I need to honor, to idol whose memory and ideals I need to live up to. a lot of kakashi's baggage stems from his over-idealization of obito ; some part of him genuinely believes that obito always would've succeeded where he failed. kakashi is subconsciously projecting his prodigious abilities and genius reputation on to obito, since it was his sacrifice and ideals that kakashi lives on for. learning that obito became the Big Bad almost broke him, but it was also the event that contributed to him seeing obito as a person again and finally being able to move on with his life.

#headcanon tag.#i used to have tropes in my bio for kakashi but i felt it cluttered a bit so i'm making a separate post about it #:DD #long post /

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myaekingheart · 5 years

Text

18. Man’s Best Friend

read the scarecrow and the bell on ao3

index | from the beginning | < previous | next >

“Kakashi? I’d like to have a talk with you” Sakumo called from the doorway. Kakashi turned to look upon his father, laying in the grass beside his giggling next door neighbor.

“Aw, ‘Kashi, do you really have to go so soon? It feels like we only just started!” Rei complained. Kakashi sat up and patted her gently on the head.

“I’ll try to come back later. This sounds important” he replied, then stood and ran off toward his father. The young girl watched him depart longingly, rolling onto her stomach and resting her chin in her hands. She hoped he’d keep his word.

Sakumo guided his son inside and closed the door slowly, inviting Kakashi to side across from him. This all seemed so formal, and for a moment Kakashi feared he was in trouble. The White Fang could sense his son’s apprehension, however, and bid him a kind, reassuring smile. “I’d like to talk to you about something, Kakashi. If that’s alright.”

“What is all of this about?” he asked his father.

“You’ve been progressing spendidly, and I’m very proud. You’ll be a fine shinobi in no time. I’m going on a very important mission in a week, and I’ve been thinking a lot about how you’ll be on your own the whole time” Sakumo explained.

“I won’t be on my own. I have Rei and Mr. and Mrs. Natsuki” Kakashi explained. So far, whenever Sakumo had gone on missions, he often entrusted Kakashi to the neighbors. Yuruganai Natuski was an old friend from all the way back in the academy and although he had given up becoming a shinobi long ago, they still remained close.

Sakumo nodded slowly, then sighed. “I know, but I want to make sure you can take care of yourself, as well. Mr. and Mrs. Natsuki will not always be there for you.” The thought of something happening to them made Kakashi uneasy. They had always been there, he didn’t know life without them right next door. And then there was Rei…

“So what does that mean?” Kakashi asked.

“It means I think it’s time I entrusted you with something very important” Sakumo explained. He then stood, bit the tip of his thumb, and in a puff of smoke summoned a large white wolf dog. “This is Tsuyoi, my ninken. She has been my summon since I was a young boy. Tsuyoi is the chief of a clan of ninja hounds who recently took in a group of orphaned puppies. I would like you to make a contract with them and train them as your summons.”

Kakashi blinked a few times, trying to comprehend everything that his father had just told him. He had never seen his father in battle, and therefore had never met Tsuyoi before but he could tell she was strong and powerful and capable. He imagined a litter of puppies just like her that would someday grow into beautiful white hounds with sharp teeth and rough barks. His own ninken.

He approached Tsuyoi carefully, extending a hand for her to sniff. She did so gladly, then nuzzled the young boy’s cheek to show she approved of him. “I expected nothing less from Sakumo’s son” a woman’s voice then spoke. Kakashi recoiled and blinked.

“Did that dog just talk?” he asked. Sakumo chuckled and nodded.

“Yes, she did. All of the ninken in Tsuyoi’s clan can speak” Sakumo replied. “Of course, much like human babies, I don’t expect the puppies to know how to speak yet but that’s just something you’ll have to teach them, as well.”

Kakashi’s head was reeling. This was unbelievable. He excitedly asked how to start the contract process and where the puppies were, he was so desperate to meet them. Sakumo pressed his palm to the floor yet and again and immediately they appeared in another cloud of smoke. However, the novelty suddenly vanished when Kakashi laid eyes on them. “These are the dogs?” he asked. “I thought they were going to be white wolf dogs like Tsuyoi?”

“You don’t want them now?” Sakumo asked. Kakashi knelt down to inspect the pups, mismatched and squirmy and small. The tiniest, a wrinkly little pug, squirmed between the others whimpering and yawning. Then, rolling over onto his back with his tongue lopping out of the side of his mouth, he blinked and looked up at Kakashi with his big, brown eyes. In that moment, something in the young boy shifted. He reached down and scratched behind the dog’s ear with his index finger, and the dog began cycling his little back leg in glee.

Kakashi laughed softly at the pup, murmuring “You’re such a little Pakkun.”

“Hmm? What was that?” Sakumo asked.

“It sounds like he’s already thought of a name” Tsuyoi replied.

“What? No…I was just…well, maybe…” Kakashi stammered. These dogs had enchanted him quicker than he expected them to. They all began waking up from their sleepy states, sniffing and licking at Kakashi’s fingers and leaping up into his lap. Eventually, they knocked him over and began licking his face. The young boy erupted in a fit of laughter.

“I’d say this is a done deal” Sakumo replied to Tsuyoi. The wolf dog nodded with a proud smile. Sakumo and Tsuyoi walked Kakashi through the contracting process and then by sunset, the dogs were his. He laid awake that night smiling to himself, every puppy piled onto his bed, and tried to brainstorm names for each of them. So far, the only one he was sure of was Pakkun. He looked over at the little pug curled up on his pillow and scratched his head affectionately. These dogs weren’t nearly what he expected but they were still good. He could learn to love them, not fully aware yet that he already did.

Rei peered over the fence of her front yard as Kakashi strolled down the lane after school. She balled up a piece of scrap paper from a drawing she didn’t like and tossed it at him, hitting him right on the forehead.

“What the heck was that for?” he shouted to Rei.

“Where did you go last night? You said you’d come back and you didn’t!” she shouted back.

“Is that what this is about?” he called back to her. She gave a strong, definitive nod, preparing another paper ball. “I had something important to take care of!” he called back.

“You just didn’t want to spend time with me, that’s it!” she refuted. “You don’t like me anymore, ‘Kashi!”

“Rei, that makes no sense!” Kakashi argued. The little girl wasn’t buying it, however. Jutting her bottom lip out, she launched her second paper ball toward her friend but instead of hitting his forehead again, this time a tiny tan dog leapt out from nowhere and caught it in his mouth. Rei yelped, fumbled with the gate, and then chased after the dog shouting.

“You come back here, you dumb dog! That’s mine!” she shouted.

“Hey, don’t call him dumb!” Kakashi shouted, running after her. The other ninken followed suit. “He’s my dog!”

Rei skidded to a stop and looked at him skeptically, her eyes then falling on the other dogs nearby. “What do you mean he’s your dog?”

“All of them are my dogs” Kakashi explained. “They’re my new summoning animals. My dad gave them to me last night. He said he was going on a big mission soon and didn’t want to leave me home alone, so he gave me these.” As he spoke, the tan dog trotted up beside Rei, nudged her hand, then dropped the paper ball at her feet, mushy with slobber. She stuck her tongue out and fought the urge to gag.

“But you’re not alone, ‘Kashi, you have me and my mommy and daddy” she explained. “What do you need all these dogs for?”

“They’re not just for when my dad’s gone, Rei. I’m going to train them to fight with me in battle” he explained. “They’re not just pets, they’re ninja hounds.”

Rei crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, not wanting to look the puppies in the eye. She knew exactly what happened around puppies: they steal your heart in five seconds, flat. “That’s still not a good enough excuse for leaving me, ‘Kashi.”

Kakashi sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Rei. Do you forgive me?”

Rei pouted and contemplated his question. “You’ve gotta make it up to me, first.”

“What? How?” Kakashi asked.

The redhead paused a moment before a sly grin spread across her face. “Let me name one of your doggies.” She thought it was a fair request. After all, they were the reason he abandoned her the night before. She deserved a hand in naming at least one of them. And truthfully, though he didn’t want to admit it, Kakashi had a really hard time thinking of good names for all the rest anyway. The only one he could think of so far was Bull for the black bulldog, even though he wasn’t sure he liked it much. He wasn’t sure if it was too stupid and obvious.

“Alright, which one do you want to name?” Kakashi asked.

“Well, which one doesn’t have a name yet?” Rei countered.

Kakashi paused a moment, then replied. “All but two.” He pointed to the pug and the bulldog, announcing their names accordingly.

“You’re terrible at this, Kakashi” Rei replied. “How could you possibly let these other doggies run around nameless? You’re gonna be terrible when you have kids!”

“Ew…” the young boy muttered. He watched as Rei knelt down and surveyed her choices. She turned first to a scruffy brown dog with sharp teeth and angry eyes. Without an ounce of fear, she lifted his upper lip up to get a better look at his fangs, and then nodded confidently. “This one is Urushi.”

“Where did you get a name like that from?”

“Because his teeth are shiny and protective, like lacquer!” Rei explained, then with a proud grin said “That’s a word I found in one of Daddy’s books. It’s a smart word.”

“Okay, Urushi it is. Now what about the others?” Kakashi asked. One by one, she inspected and assigned names to each of the puppies in the clan. The gray one with the mohawk she named Shiba because she thought he looked like a shiba inu, the golden tan and white one with beady eyes she named Akino because his fur reminded her of autumn, Uhei for the greyhound because in that moment he had trotted to the edge of the lake and began sniffing the sweet flag that grew there, and Guruko for the long-whiskered dog because he was the first to lick her which made him sweet like honey. The last one, who by this point was in her lap licking her face wildly, she named Bisuke because she thought naming a dog after a biscuit was a good idea. Of all the dogs Kakashi had acquired, she was certain that this one had to be her favorite, and he seemed to like her a lot, too.

Kakashi smiled at the two of them as he sat down beside Rei with the other dogs. She grinned at him proudly, saying “You’re welcome. Now these little doggies won’t have to run around without a single clue who they are!”

Kakashi had to admit, he thought her justifications for many of the names was rather clever and cute. She certainly came up with ideas he never would’ve expected, but he liked them just the same. They seemed to just fit. Now it was just a matter of raising them and training them to become the shinobi they were capable of becoming. A butterfly flitted past the group and Bull immediately leapt up and ran after it, panting with great determination. This was going to be a lot of work, but Kakashi was committed now. These were his dogs, they were his responsibility. He was going to love them and take care of them and train them to become the most loyal and skilled ninja hounds there ever were.

#i haven't updated my fanfic on here in a really long time whoops #i'm like three chapters behind on tumblr #kakashi hatake #rei natsuki #the scarecrow and the bell #naruto #naruto oc #fanfiction #ramblings

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hedgehoggery · 6 years

Link

Wait For You Forever - Chapter 6

Relationship: Hatake Kakashi/Yamato | Tenzo

Word Count: 3599 (chapter 6) ; 24,082 (total)

Trigger Warning: Suicide attempt

Somehow by the grace of whatever gods may be, the medic had stopped Tenzo’s bleeding and saved his life. Kakashi had gone with them back to Konoha, too relieved to care that he was clutching Tenzo’s hand and that the chuunins that Pakkun had found were staring at him suspiciously. And now, at the hospital, Kakashi had taken up residence in Tenzo’s room, sitting in a chair by his side and refusing to leave, even after visiting hours had passed. The nurses were all too familiar with Kakashi and his antics - though usually he was the one in the bed, not beside it - and they knew better than the argue with him if he was being particularly stubborn.

As the night pressed on, Kakashi was left with only his thoughts and the sound of Tenzo’s heart monitoring to keep him company. Now that Tenzo was safe and secure and not in danger of dying, Kakashi was able to think a little more critically about their mission.

Tenzo should never have gotten hurt in the first place. If Kakashi hadn’t been so distracted by his stupid feelings for Tenzo, maybe he would’ve sensed the enemies before they attacked. And even if he hadn’t sensed them, there was no reason for Tenzo to die. The kunai had been heading for Kakashi, not Tenzo.

Why would Tenzo have jumped in front of it? It made no sense. Maybe it was some weird leftover behavior from ROOT - an engrained lesson to sacrifice one’s own life for the sake of the mission leader. That seemed distinctly ROOT-ey. But Tenzo was so far from ROOT now, and surely he would know that Kakashi would never ask him to do something so foolish.

Just as the sun was breaking over the horizon, Tenzo stirred. Without opening his eyes he picked up his hand and started hitting the heart monitor, clearly confused by the noise it was making. Kakashi grabbed his hand to stop him from hurting himself.

“Senpai,” Tenzo said, opening his eyes. Kakashi saw the confusion in his eyes and waited for him to get his bearings about him before speaking. “Senpai…”

“Don’t worry about the mission,” Kakashi said, knowing full well that would be Tenzo’s first worry. “I’m just glad you’re okay.” His voice started to waver, and he found himself clutching Tenzo’s hand more firmly, as if it was the only thing keeping him from breaking down.

“Was it that bad?” Tenzo asked. Kakashi sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to think of how to respond to that question. There’s no way he could bring himself to tell Tenzo “You almost died in my arms” without losing his calm facade.

“You were bleeding quite a bit,” he finally said, settling on a half truth. “But you’re fine now. You’re going to be fine. You heal fast.”

“How are you?” Tenzo asked suddenly. “Your arm was injured.” Kakashi could hardly contain the anger that suddenly boiled up inside of him. This must be some ROOT programming causing Tenzo to act so stupid. Why would he be sparing a single thought for Kakashi’s wellbeing when he had been injured much more gravely?!

“Are you seriously worrying about the scratch on my arm right now?” he said. The anger seemed to open the floodgates of his mind, and the words he had been planning on hiding away forever suddenly came tumbling out of his mouth “Tenzo, what were you thinking jumping in front of a kunai? You could’ve died. You almost died. I almost…” Kakahi trailed off momentarily. I almost lost you. The words danced on the tip of his tongue but he couldn’t bring himself to say them. They felt too personal, too intimate. “Why would you do that?” he said instead.

“The kunai,” Tenzo said matter-of-factly. “It was going to hit you.” Kakashi heard a near growl escape from him.

“Then you should’ve let it!” he barked out, his anger finally reaching a breaking point. Kakashi knew his anger wasn’t really directed at Tenzo so much as at ROOT, but ROOT wasn’t here for him to yell at. “God, Tenzo, you can’t kill yourself for me!”

“You would’ve done the same for me, senpai,” Tenzo said, scoffing. Kakashi hesitated. If the tables were turned, he absolutely would’ve dived in front of the kunai for Tenzo. But it wasn’t the same. Kakashi was in charge of the mission, and therefore Tenzo’s life was his responsibility. And besides, Kakashi couldn’t really live without Tenzo, but of course Tenzo didn’t need to know that.

“That’s different,” he said finally, knowing it was a thin argument.

“How!?” Tenzo exclaimed, predictably. “How is it different, Kakashi?” Kakashi sighed.

“Because,” he said, desperate for any excuse. “I’m your squad leader and I -”

“No, don’t give me that ANBU bullshit!” Tenzo yelled. Kakashi jumped and looked at him - it wasn’t often Tenzo was this worked up about anything. “I saved your life! I did what I had to do. I don’t understand why you’re so upset about me saving you!”

“Because you almost died, Tenzo!” Kakashi thundered, standing up. “Fuck! I can’t lose you!” He hadn’t meant to say the words but now that they were out he felt almost lighter, like the secret had been weighing him down against his knowledge. Tenzo’s anger had subsided into an expression of surprise. “I can’t lose you,” he said again. “You’re all I have left. You promised me you’d never leave me behind, and dying is leaving me. Everyone else I care about has left me, Tenzo. I can’t let you leave me too.” Kakashi had expected Tenzo to be sympathetic and was taken aback when he rolled his eyes and scoffed instead.

“And what about me?” he said. “You think I can live without you? You’re the only thing I have, you’re the only thing I’ve ever had. You’re everything to me.”

Kakashi stared at him in surprise. As per usual, Kakashi had failed Tenzo. He had failed him spectacularly - because at some point along the way, he had given Tenzo the false impression that he was worth something. Friend-Killer Kakashi was worthless. He didn’t deserve to be friends with Tenzo, and yet here was Tenzo saying he was everything to him.

And suddenly it was all so very clear. Tenzo jumping in front of a kunai wasn’t so different from Obito pushing Kakashi out from under the falling rocks. The universe was back to rear its ugly head and take Tenzo from Kakashi, just as it had already taken everyone else.

“Tenzo,” Kakashi said. “You’re wrong. I’m nothing. I’m worse than scum.” He stood up with the intention of leaving and never returning, because that was what Tenzo deserved. He deserved to be free of the curse of Kakashi’s love and friendship. He deserved to live a life that wouldn’t be tainted by Kakashi’s colassaly bad luck. And it was certainly was Kakashi deserved, too. He deserved to lose Tenzo.

But before he could leave the door to the hospital room swung open and Kakashi was horrified to see the Hokage entering. Kakashi glanced back at Tenzo to see if he looked surprised or if he had been expecting a visit from Hiruzen, but he was winced over in pain. Kakashi fought back the urge to run to him and make it all better. Because nothing he could do would make it better. It would only make it so much worse.

“Please, please,” Hiruzen said. “Don’t hurt yourself for me, Tenzo. I’m glad to see you’re resting. And Kakashi - I’m glad to see you’re here as well. I thought I might find you here.”

“I was just leaving, Hokage-sama,” Kakashi said, trying to slip out the door.

“Could I trouble you to stay a little longer?” Hiruzen asked, forcing Kakashi to stop in his tracks. “I came here to speak with you both.”

“Of course, Hokage-sama,” he said, taken off guard. He had assumed the Hokage was there to talk to Tenzo about his recovery or something. Why he’d need both of them there was beyond him.

“This mission seems to have been somewhat of a disaster,” Hiruzen started. Ah, that was why. To reprimand them for a job poorly done. “Explain what went wrong.”

“Yes sir,” Kakashi said through gritted teeth. He launched into a technical explanation of their entire mission, as if he were writing his mission report. Which he only just now realized he had forgotten to do when he returned. Because he had been sitting by Tenzo’s side all night.

“Did you bring back any information from the three attackers?” Hiruzen asked when Kakashi had completed his debrief.

“No, sir,” Kakashi said somewhat sheepishly. He vaguely remembered his intention to search the corpses for information. In fact, he remembered suddenly that he didn’t even know where the attackers were from - he hadn’t been able to see their forehead protectors, and had never gotten around to checking their dead bodies. Because he had been distracted by Tenzo.

“Did you dispose of their bodies before leaving?” Hiruzen asked.

Fuck, Kakashi thought. Another thing he completely forgot to do. Normal protocol would’ve been to burn the bodies, or to seal them up and take them with him if Yugao was around. But he had just left their bodies where they fell in death. In fact, had he even picked up their campsite? In retrospect, he realized it was probably clear as day that Konoha had killed those ninjas. What an idiot he had been.

“No sir,” he said finally.

“Did you ensure the area was clear of additional attackers or spies before leaving?” Hiruzen continued.

Kakashi closed his eyes. Literally the only thing he had thought about after the attack was saving Tenzo. He had forgotten every single piece of training and protocol he had ever been taught. He’d been in ANBU for ten years, and yet he was acting like a rookie. And not even a smart rookie - one of the rookies he and Yugao would’ve weeded out immediately. And why? Because of his stupid obsession with Tenzo. An obsession that almost got Tenzo killed.

“No sir,” he whispered, realizing he had never answered.

“I appreciate the fact that you and Tenzo have been assigned to the same team for several years now and are very close,” Hiruzen said. “However, you are both assigned to ANBU and as such, there are rules you must follow. Rules which you both chose to abandon during this particular mission for the sake of each other’s safety. Sacrifices must be made at times during ANBU missions for the sake of the greater good. Without any information on your attackers, we have no intelligence on their motives. They could have been simple thieves, or perhaps they were seeking information on Konoha, or... perhaps they were after you, Kakashi. You’re no stranger to bounty hunters.”

Kakashi felt like Hiruzen had physically punched him in the stomach. Kakashi honestly hadn’t given much thought at all to the men who had attacked them - it wasn’t unusual for an ANBU team to be ambushed during a mission - but he certainly hadn’t entertained the idea that they had sought him out not for his position as an ANBU, but for the price on his head.

“You think Tenzo got hurt because of me?” he croaked out.

“Perhaps,” Hiruzen said. Kakashi was sure that Hiruzen had said more, but for the life of him he couldn’t make himself listen. It was bad enough for Tenzo to have almost died saving him - but if the attackers were specifically there because of Kakashi…

This was proof Kakashi was cursed. His friendship was a black mar on the lives of all who dared get too close to him. No one could hope to make it out alive.

Hiruzen suddenly got up and left, drawing Kakashi back to the present. Tenzo sighed and looked at him with sympathy in his eyes. While Kakashi had been expecting sympathy before, it seemed completely wrong and out of place now.

“Kakashi, I don’t think that - “ Tenzo started.

“You don’t think what, Tenzo?” Kakashi said, cutting him off before he could say something comforting. Kakashi didn’t deserve to be comforted. And Tenzo deserved the truth. “You don’t think I’m fit to be your squad captain?”

“What? No. Kakashi, you know that’s not true,” Tenzo said.

“It is,” Kakashi said. “If you got hurt because of me, I…” I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. But why should he be able to live with himself now? That Tenzo survived was a miracle, and not one of Kakashi’s doing. The damage had been done, just as if Tenzo had died. Just as if Kakashi had been the one to stab him. He couldn’t stay here, he couldn’t pretend to be Tenzo’s friend if he was the reason he had almost died. He stood up suddenly. “Goodbye, Tenzo.”

***

Kakashi’s apartment was dark when he arrived despite the sun shining brightly in the sky. He made no effort to turn a single light on though. It was easier to think in the dark. The light hid all of his impurities and distorted the image of the mess he’d created. In the darkness, he could see it more clearly.

The dogs had greeted him as he entered but he hadn’t so much as acknowledged them. It didn’t matter if he did or didn’t. They’d probably be better off if he treated them like dirt anyway.

He sat down on his couch and stared ahead blankly. Tenzo had sat on this very couch so, so many times before. Had each time been another notch in whatever universal tally book was being held against him? How many times did it take for the evil that haunted Kakashi to lash out and attack?

Because surely the evil had followed Kakashi his entire life. He’d taken his first life before he had even opened his eyes to this world - was it his fault his mother had died in childbirth? Maybe he’d never had a chance to be free of this pain, to be normal. Maybe he’d done something in a previous life and had been cursed to pay for it day in and day out in this life.

Mother. Father. Obito. Rin. Minato. Tenzo.

The names ran through his mind like a hit list. For that’s what it was, after all. A list of people the evil had killed or tried to kill. Tenzo had barely made it out alive. He couldn’t hope to survive a second attack.

Kakashi needed to make the evil go away. If he could rid himself of the curse, he could save Tenzo. But how did one lift a curse? Kakashi had never paid too much attention to such things, shrugging them off as nonsense. He wished now that he had. Maybe there was some simple solution, like hanging herbs over his doorway or something, that would make Tenzo safe.

You can’t lift this curse with magic, Bakashi, a voice said in his head.

Then how? He thought back.

You have to kill it.

That certainly seemed logical. If the evil was alive in some way, killing it would lift the curse. All he had to do was kill the evil. But how do you kill pure evil? It’s not like an enemy nin that you can simply chidori or stab. It had no physical being to inflict damage on. Unless...

You know how to kill it.

Kakashi clamped his hands over his ears in an attempt to block out the voice, but it was fruitless. He couldn’t think, not with that voice shouting in his mind. Not when it was making such horrible suggestions.

You could kill me that way, too, the voice challenged, sensing his hesitation.

“No!” Kakashi said aloud. “I’m not my father.”

“Kid, who are you talking to?” Pakkun asked. “Are you alright?” Kakashi couldn’t answer. He pressed his hands harder against his ears.

You can’t block me out, the voice said. As long as I live, the evil lives.

“Who are you?!” Kakashi yelled.

“Who’s who?” Pakkun said.

You know who I am, Bakashi, the voice said. He did know - but he shook his head anyway, hoping to somehow fool himself. It didn’t work. Say it. Tell me who I am.

Kakashi felt a sob forming in his chest as he answered.

“It’s me.”

“Kakashi, you’re scaring me,” Pakkun said. “Look at me. Who are you talking to? Talk to me, instead.”

Take out a kunai.

Kakashi looked down and found that he was holding one in his hands. When had he done that? Had he been holding it the whole time? He flipped it deftly around his fingers, watching the light gint off of it and his various places on the wall and, eventually, directly into his eye.

Maybe the voice was right. It certainly was logical, after all. All these years Kakashi had lamented the fact that an evil followed him wherever he went. It seemed so obvious, now. The evil had never followed him. The evil was him.

It’s your life or Tenzo’s.

Kakashi looked up at nothing. Tenzo’s life was at stake. The evil - Kakashi - was targeting him next. He’d never survive a second attack - so Kakashi had to prevent a second attack from ever occurring. He held the knife up to his wrist.

“Kid, stop!” Pakkun moved faster than light, and before Kakashi knew what had happened, Pakkun had the knife in his mouth. The other dogs crowded around, barking wildly.

“Stop it, stop it!” Kakashi yelled. “Leave me alone!” He stood up and walked down the hallway, absently noting that the sun was already setting. Hadn’t it just been morning? How long had he been sitting on the couch?

He started for his bedroom but thought the blood would stain the wood floor, and his poor landlady would have to spend money to renovate. So instead he went to the bathroom. The tile floor would probably be easier to clean.

Pakkun was right on his ankle but Kakashi slammed the door, locking him out. The dogs were scratching relentlessly on the door, but the noise quickly faded into the background as Kakashi took another kunai out of his pouch.

“This isn’t anything like what happened with my father,” he said to no one. “I’m doing this to save Tenzo. I have to save his life. I have to kill the evil.”

Without hesitation, he drew the blade down his forearm. He was sure it should hurt, but he couldn’t feel a thing. But the blood that poured out of the wound assured him he had done it right. Feeling more confident in his action, he slit the other wrist as well.

It won’t be long now, the voice said. Was it the voice? Or was it his own thoughts? Either way, he closed his eyes and laid on his back. The voice would be dead soon, too, so it hardly mattered.

Kakashi suddenly realized he was cold. Blood loss, he thought, thanks to years of field first aid training. He sighed. This certainly hadn’t been how he expected to go. After his father had killed himself, he had vowed to never be so selfish and cowardly. He had hoped to die on the battlefield many a time and had been reckless for that very reason, to no avail. But never had he considered killing himself.

But this was different. He wasn’t killing himself so much as he was saving Tenzo.

Tenzo.

Thinking the name reminded him of his face, the way he rolled his eyes when Kakashi said something stupid, the way his smile lit up his whole face when he was happy. Kakashi would never see him again, now. But that was just as much as Kakashi deserved, anyway. He didn’t deserve to see Tenzo ever again.

A noise outside the bathroom caught Kakashi’s attention but he was too spaced out to care. So when the bathroom door flung open it took him by surprise, but it was nothing compared to the surprise of seeing Tenzo standing over him, looking completely distraught.

I’m hallucinating, Kakashi thought. I guess this is the end.

Tenzo fell to his knees and stared at Kakashi in horror. Kakashi looked away. What a horrible vision to hallucinate here at the end - Tenzo looking so upset. Why couldn’t he hallucinate Tenzo smiling and looking happy?

“Okay senpai,” the hallucination said. ‘I’m going to save you.” He produced Kakashi’s first aid kit from the cabinet under the sink and lifted Kakashi’s arm - he was pretty solid for a hallucination. The feeling of gauze being wrapped around his wrist surprised him, and he realized suddenly that this was no hallucination at all. It was really Tenzo, in the flesh, completely oblivious to Kakashi’s endeavor to save him.

“Tenzo, no!” he tried to yell. “Don’t - “

“Senpai, shut up,” Tenzo interrupted with the same authoritative tone he seemed to have picked up on recently. “I promised you I’d never leave you behind, didn’t I? So stop arguing. I’m taking you to the hospital, and I’m saving your life.” Kakashi huffed.

“You’re so bossy,” he said, but he wasn’t sure Tenzo could even hear him. In fact he wasn’t a hundred percent sure he had actually said anything out loud. Suddenly Tenzo hoisted him into the air and the world started to spin dangerously around them. Kakashi closed his eyes and willed his life to end before Tenzo could save him.

He felt himself falling as if to sleep, and let himself drift off out of consciousness.

#holy italics batman #and of course they don't paste into tumblr #for full effect read it on ao3 #kakayama #kakashi #yamato #tenzo #tw: suicide attempt #my writing

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modernart2012 · 6 years

Text

Of Charms and Older Siblings (Shovel Remix)

@sumigakure Halloween Event 2017

Prompt 2: Harry Potter/ Hogwarts AU

Word Count: 1380

Rating: T (for safety)

On AO3

“Kankuro, why are we doing this.” Gaara followed his older brother as Kankuro crept through the halls. He didn’t know why Kankuro was trying to be stealthy - Kankuro had cast a “Don’t Notice Me” Charm when they set out from the Great Hall, and no amount of noise would make anyone not using the counter Charm notice them.

“It’s the principle of the matter.” Kankuro peeked around the corner evaluating the corridor for something. Who even knew what. “What if that smart aleck Ravenclaw figures out we’re headed up this way and flees? We’d have to chase him down and that’d alert everyone and then we’d all have detention.”

“Didn’t you put a Tracking Charm on him when you brushed up against him this morning?” Gaara could be playing Exploding Snap right now with Naruto, or raiding the kitchens for ramen and manju, but no. He had to follow his brother because of a matter involving their sister, and “family is important”. Not that it wasn’t true, but where do you draw the line at who was important? Uncle Yashamaru is family! But Uncle Yashamaru had frowned when Kankuro came over to the Hufflepuff table during dinner, and Uncle Yashamaru had the best hugs (after Mother) and was not to be disappointed because then he made sad faces and wanted to talk instead of giving hugs on request. It was a tragedy, but family and this is why he’s going to get sad faces and tea instead of hugs and Gaara really hopes Kankuro appreciates the sacrifices he’s making here.

Also, Holy Helga, please let it be so that Temari never finds out about this otherwise they are dead. Murdered. Thrown off the Astronomy Tower. Mostly Kankuro, because family or not Gaara can and will plead innocence because he still has no idea what they’re doing anywhere near Ravenclaw Tower stalking another second year. Dueling Club is just a club, they don’t need to worry about a match that had ended weirdly. Gaara wondered why he had to have such incomprehensible siblings, but then remembered the weirdo Slytherin Sasuke Uchiha and concluded that all siblings must be weird on principle. It still wasn’t fair though. Is there a Sibling Exchange Agency where he can get new (sane) siblings? Maybe he should ask Professor Sarutobi, he knew about everything. He also had the best stash of candy, but that wasn’t the most important thing.

“Look, magic isn’t infallible Gaara. If you don’t have the skills to back up your magic talents, then it’s all a waste. Which is why you need to learn to hold a conversation and step out of your shell; otherwise, you can be the most talented wizard in the whole world but everyone will overlook you because they’ll think you’re antisocial and/or a psychopath.”

“But I’m a Hufflepuff?” Hufflepuffs were known as friendly and kind, right? Why would anyone think he was a psychopath. Kankuro was probably the psychopath, they’d passed up and down this same hall 5 times at least.

Kankuro stared at him for a long moment, bewildered, then sighed the sigh of the long-suffering. Gaara suspected that was a Slytherin thing, since almost all the Slytherins he knew had that sigh. “It doesn’t matter right now. The stupid little deer is headed this way.”

“I thought Ravenclaws were eagles?” Okay, maybe that one was on purpose; Gaara was sure his ‘impeccable poker face’ meant that Kankuro had no idea if he was serious or not.

Whatever response Kankuro would’ve given was overtaken by Kankuro pouncing and sticking a black bag over Shikamaru’s head, then dragging him through a door that hadn’t been there before. Must be like the pear you had to tickle to get to the kitchens. Gaara followed

Kankuro roughly pushed Shikamaru into a chair that was smack in the middle of a bright spot of light. The ropes laid loosely around the base of the chair snapped into place instantly, holding Shikamaru fast. “Lumos.” Kankuro yanked off the bag, and shone the light from his wand in Shikamaru’s face. “We wanted to talk to you you scrawny baby deer.”

“Fawn.” Shikamaru blinked rapidly in the face of such a sudden light change. It couldn’t be comfortable.

“What.”

“A baby deer is a fawn.” Gaara helpfully explicated. Professor Uchiha and Professor Hatake let Naruto (and him!) play with the less dangerous animals from Care of Magical Creatures and the dogs - such good dogs! - on weekends. Gaara had learned a lot about animals, magical and not. Pakkun had the softest paws.

Kankuro covered his face with his free hand and groaned. “Sweet Salazar. Whatever, please just tell me you brought the thing I left in the greenhouses?”

Gaara reached into his satchel and pulled it out. It had been weird to get, especially since Gaara had to chase it, fight it, and subdue it with food and a dazing spell before he could meet up with Kankuro. He had no idea why Kankuro wanted it, but since it had been an absolute terror fully awake, Gaara could kind of see it.

Kankuro and Shikamaru blinked blankly at the tanuki Gaara had fished out. It was just shaking off the effects of the spell - Gaara had made the spell purposefully weak, since he hadn’t wanted to hurt it - and growling and lashing its tail and claws about cutely. Gaara pet it between its cute ears.

“That isn’t the sharpened shovel I left in the greenhouses.” Kankuro stated baldly.

“Why would you want a sharpened shovel?” Were shovels even meant to be sharpened?

“This is a shovel talk that was supposed to have a real shovel but has a crazy tanuki instead.” Shikamaru summarized. “Well, I have to say this is original.”

“Ugh, you know what, just pass me the tanuki. It seems wild enough to be a good threat.” Gaara dutifully handed over the tanuki to Kankuro, where it promptly went bonkers and bit the hell out of his hand. “Oh, sweet merciful Merlin!” Kankuro dropped the tanuki onto Shikamaru, who hissed when the tanuki swiped at Shikamaru’s chest. Then the tanuki skittered back to Gaara. He picked up the tanuki and cradled it close. It was still hissing, but wasn’t biting. Gaara thought it was progress. “Why do you even have the tanuki if it’s such a crazy bastard?” Kankuro babied his freely bleeding palm, inspecting the cuts. “It could have rabies!”

Shikamaru looked over the tanuki, the announced, “It probably doesn’t have rabies.” Then he stared at Kankuro’s hand and the cuts slowly stopped bleeding and closed.

“You know wandless magic?” Kankuro stared.

“Yeah, but it’s such a pain.” Shikamaru shrugged off the ropes and idly rubbed his head. “It’s just easier to do wand magic for now. Anyways, Gaara, are you going to keep the tanuki?”

Gaara looked up from where he was gently mashing a boiled egg he had taken from supper in order to feed the tanuki. “I think I’ll call it Shukaku. Isn’t he sweet?” Shukaku hissed and gnawed on his fingers, drawing blood.

Kankuro and Shikamaru exchange Looks. “Sure, let’s go with that.” Kankuro banished his wand light and opened the door. “So, uh, this was supposed to be a ‘hurt our sister and we hurt you’ talk but it’s failed to go to plan, so lets call it even? Just, uh, be careful of Temari. She’s got a temper.”

“Sure, we’ll be even if you’ll teach me that Don’t Notice Me Charm and the Counter Charm.”

“Counter Charm for wandless magic.” Both parties took the deal as fair, and shook on it. Gaara stepped out into the corridor and watched them walk back to their respective dormitories, and then watched as his sister stepped out of a hidden passage further down the way.

“Did you stop Kankuro from terrorizing Shikamaru for no reason?” Temari scowled from under her cloak hood. Why a cloak was necessary in late summer, Gaara couldn’t fathom. It didn’t matter either way, as long as Temari paid up; he held his hand out and received the promised item. A full bag of Honeyduke’s chocolate, the assorted variety with nuts and caramel truffle fillings. He stuck the bag into his satchel and bid his sister farewell. Tonight had been a good night.

#sumigakure halloween event 2017 #prompt 2: harry potter/ hogwarts AU #sand siblings #shovel talk #art writes

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kuriquinn · 7 years

Text

An Inch of Gold [10/?]

General Disclaimer

This chapter has been beta-read by: Sakura’s Unicorn

"Anyhow," Pakkun turns his attention to Kakashi. "Lady Tsunade is doing as you suggested. She sent out whatever squads were in Konoha to surround the bubble. They're keeping tabs on how fast it's growing and making sure no one else goes inside or comes out."

"Good," Kakashi says. "Since it's a gateway to another time, we don't want more people crossing over than we already have. When you go back, make sure you tell them that. I'm sure ANBU will need to be called in to ensure any of the nukanin they've been tracking in the area don't stumble in."

"What are you going to do?"

"We've immobilised the person we think is responsible—or at least someone who has been using the situation to his advantage. It's all just a matter of dealing with him."

"No offence, boss, but you look like you can barely sit up, forget dealing with a potential enemy. Time's an issue—I can summon you back home, Lady Tsunade can heal you, and there would be others around to help you out with the interrogation."

"No. We can't be sure if this person is from this time or our time," Kakashi replies. "We can't remove him until then. Even if we did, there would be no way to bring him back. Once I'm outside the bubble, you won't be able to travel back here."

"Can you reverse-summon Lady Tsunade?" Sakura suggests. "She can heal Kakashi and Sarada."

"No," Pakkun replies. "The only reason I can get here is because I'm tied to Kakashi. If I tried to bring anyone else along, we might get lost. It might be rare, but time-travel complicates things."

"So, we need to find someone in the Konoha of Sarada's time," Naruto realises.

"Lor—uh, Kakashi-sensei, you—well, future-you and my father would probably know more about how to deal with this," Sarada says, side-eying Sasuke warily as she speaks. "We only need to get a message to them and they'll be here in no time."

"I can summon a toad!" Naruto volunteers.

"Didn't you hear what we just said, idiot?" Sasuke snaps. "Your contract is tied to your time. That won't do us any good."

"And it'd probably be that tiny, gross baby toad, too," Sakura adds with a shudder. "We need someone who can summon things from this time."

"I could do it," Sarada says. "I don't have a contract with any summons, but I'm from this time. Once I get some of my strength back, I can try."

"You don't have a contract scroll," Sasuke points out.

"No, but thanks to my mother, I've always gotten along with Lady Katsuyu. So, at worst, I'd end up in Shikkotsu Forest for a bit."

"Who?" Sakura whispers to Naruto.

"Giant slug," he replies, and an expression of disgusted horror overtakes her features.

Sarada looks at her in amusement. "Lady Katsuyu could heal me and Kakashi-sensei."

"There's too high a probability that something might go wrong," Kakashi dismisses. "You're still weakened, for one. And it's not likely that a genin will be able to summon a creature as powerful as Lady Katsuyu the first time. There's no time for trial and error."

Unfortunately, he's right; as time moves differently in the places where most summoning animals come from, she might accidentally end up there for days or weeks. They need someone from this time who already.

After a beat, her eyes brighten with an idea. "Konohamaru-sensei."

"Huh?" Everyone watches her in confusion.

"Konohamaru-sensei can summon toads! I've seen him do it," she remembers.

Kakashi raises an eyebrow. “That’s interesting. The Sarutobi clan usually favour monkeys from King Enma’s court.” He frowns in thought, then shakes his head. “But that’s still complicated by the fact that we have no idea where he or the rest of your team are."

"Or if they're even alive," Sasuke reminds her.

"I don't care if you are my father, if you keep saying that, I'm going to punch you," Sarada informs him with false civility.

Naruto guffaws while Sasuke scowls at her.

Pakkun blinks, looking from Sarada to Sasuke, raising an eyebrow. "Well, that's not complicated at all."

"We're having a bit of a day," Kakashi admits.

"I'm getting that." The dog considers Sarada. "It's funny, you don't smell as much like him as I'd expect. You smell more like—"

"Time for you to go, Pakkun," Kakashi interrupts. "Keep me notified if anything major changes."

"Right, boss."

The dog disappears again, leaving Sarada and Team 7 alone in the dimness.

"So…" Sakura breaks the silence, sounding uncertain. "Underground river, right?"

It turns out that there’re more to having a plan than simply getting up and following Sasuke. Everyone’s still a little on edge, and Kakashi, although able to stand now, does so on wobbly legs. With their strongest member severely weakened, the squad can’t afford to have anyone else occupied with helping him walk.

“We could summon that big dog of yours,” Naruto points out. “The huge one.”

“Were you not just listening when we spoke about how hard it is to summon here?” Sakura demands.

“Well, we wouldn’t be sending him back and forth or asking him to take back anyone,” Naruto protests. “If we’re quick about it, maybe we can manage before summonings become too impossible!”

“No. I already suggested it,” Sarada says. “Lor—Kakashi-sensei’s too weak right now, both in terms of physical strength and chakra reserves.”

“Well, he doesn’t have to be the one to do it. We just need his blood, don’t we?” Everyone stares at him. “What? It’s true! I saw Kabuto do it once with Orochimaru, back when me and Pervy Sage went to get Granny Tsunade.”

“That’s…not a bad idea,” Sakura says, sounding surprised and admiring at the same time.

Naruto beams the way he usually does when Sakura notices he’s done something great. He might never have a chance with her, but it’s still nice to be acknowledged by his friends. Even if the other one responds not with praise, but with a scowl.

“That wouldn’t work unless the person using his blood has excellent chakra control,” Sasuke points out. “Which means you’re out.”

“Shut up! You’re not much better than me, asshole. Remember who learned to climb trees first!”

“It wasn’t you. And how many times would you’ve become paste on the ground if I hadn’t saved your worthless hide?”

“Not so worthless! Turns out, I’ve got as impressive a family as you do!”

“I don’t care if you are the Fourth Hokage’s son, you’re still a dead-last loser!”

“Say that again! I dare you!”

“Both of you, shut up,” Sarada cuts them off, the sharpness of her tone oddly reminiscent of Sakura. “I can do it. My chakra control is on point.”

“You’ve been pushing yourself all day—and you’re still healing from a major injury,” Kakashi reminds her. Sarada’s face flickers with pain, as though she’d completely forgotten about her injury and had just been forcibly reminded of it. “The only one with the right kind of control to attempt that right now would be Sakura.”

Sakura’s eyes bulge, and she wonders if she’s heard correctly. “M-me?” Her voice comes out cracked, and she swallows. “No way! I’m not strong enough to do a summoning! I don’t have enough chakra, or—”

“You’ll be fine,” Sarada tells her, inexplicably confident.

“You don’t know that,” Sakura protests. “For all I know, you just met me today!”

Sarada looks like she wants to say something to that, but abruptly changes her mind and instead replies, “I trust Kakashi-sensei’s judgement.”

“There’s a sentence that inspires terror,” Sasuke murmurs under his breath.

“Are you sure that’s really smart?” Sakura questions.

“Maybe she was dropped on the head as a baby,” Naruto wonders.

“You all know I can hear you, right?” Kakashi points out dryly although his students ignore him.

“I’d trust him with my life,” Sarada insists. “And my parents have always respected his judgement, too.”

Naruto snorts and grins at Sasuke. “You were saying?”

Despite his earlier remark, this information doesn’t surprise Sasuke. He might not say it out loud, but he respects his teacher more than anyone else in Konoha. All the other adults look at him with pity because of what happened to his family. Beyond that, there’s always an odd air of distrust that’s been there since as far back as he can remember. As for his peers (with the recent exception of his teammates), he has no use for them.

Ever since the day he passed the team, Kakashi has spoken to Sasuke as if he were an adult. More than that, he’s taken an interest in teaching him jutsu to strengthen him. Out of all of his teachers since the massacre, Kakashi has done the most to help him get closer to his revenge.

And, of course, there’s the fact that he’s the famed Copy Ninja. It’s hard not to respect a shinobi of such ability—which is probably why Sarada’s mother feels the same.

Whoever she is.

“… he always treated me like one of his own kids, so—”

“Kakashi-sensei has kids?!” Naruto demands, cutting off Sarada.

Her face takes on the deer-in-the-headlights look everyone associates with her accidentally revealing more than she should. “I-I didn’t say that. I meant, you know, if. If he had his own kids, he’d treat me like one of them. In the future.”

“Would that even be legal?” Sasuke wonders.

“Wait a minute, is this that girlfriend you were pretending to have?” Naruto guffaws.

“Kakashi-sensei has a girlfriend?” Sakura gasps.

Kakashi chooses this moment to speak up. “Sarada, this is the thing we talked about not doing, remember?”

“Right. Shutting up now.”

Except that doesn’t stop his mind from busily racing away, trying to parse the implications of potential kids.

Kids.

Not a kid, but several. Multiple tiny versions of him and—

And whoever is unwise enough to have children with him. Because really, what kind of crazy person has the patience (or insanity) to put up with him? Forget that—who would he ever get close enough with to even consider having children? He’s not even sure he deserves kids, even if he wanted any because he’s never really wanted to have—

Now is not the time to get distracted¸ he chastises himself.

“Sarada, whatever your relationship with us is in the future, right now, we can’t afford you treating us like friends or family members. For however long this mission lasts, or at least until we get back to your team, these are your comrades and I am your commander in the field. You do whatever I tell you, without question, and don’t let your feelings get in the way.”

“Right.”

“There’s a reason that family members are not meant to be on the same squad.”

Sasuke isn’t sure if it counts, considering they haven’t become family yet. He knows if he says anything about that, though, he’ll have his teammates emoting all over him, so he decides it’s best not to point it out.

“Okay.”

“I mean it, Sarada. I’m not your friend or whatever you consider me to be. Right now, I’m your superior.”

“Yes, sir, Lord Sixth.”

Everyone stares.

Sarada realises what she just said and resists the urge to smack herself in the forehead. “Can we…pretend that’s just from the overwhelming pain in my arm?”

“Good idea,” Kakashi says tightly, a vein near his temple twitching.

“Lord Sixth?!” Naruto sputters.

“Not now, Naruto.” There’s iron in their teacher’s tone, and everyone sobers. “Our focus has to be on the mission. And if we’re going to go with your idea, we need Sakura.”

She bites her lip, uncertain.

“Uh…right,” Naruto says. With effort, he tries to get his brain to stop blaring the words ‘Kakashi’ and ‘Hokage’ at him. He shoots Sakura a tense smile. “You’re totally strong enough to do this, Sakura. I mean, even Sasuke thinks so—”

The aforementioned squad member folds his arms in front of him but doesn’t refute the statement.

“—and if you need chakra, I can lend you some of mine. I’ve got lots!”

“You don’t even know how,” Sasuke reminds him.

“So? I’ll figure it out!”

“Naruto, your chakra is…unpredictable,” Kakashi reminds him, though that’s not exactly the word he wants to use. “And your control isn’t at the level you’d need to be entirely successful. We need a perfect mix of control and power, especially given the time differential we’re working with.”

Naruto pouts, the demon fox sniggering in his head; just because they have a point doesn’t mean he has to like it.

“Sasuke, on the other hand—while your control is less refined than Sakura’s, if I talk you through the process, you should be fine.”

Sasuke bristles at being referred to as second best, but he also looks at Sakura for the first time since he returned from his walkabout. He has to remind himself that Sarada never gave him a straight answer; there’s no point in acting as if Sakura is walking around with an expiration date—one he may or may not be responsible for.

She’s alive right now which is the important thing. If Sarada ever reveals different…

Well, he’ll deal with it somehow. He doesn’t know how, but it’s all he has right now.

He considers his teammate, who fidgets a little under his scrutiny then squares her shoulders in determination. There’s a tiny wrinkle in her brow, one he’s come to associate with resolve in the face of a new challenge.

“Okay,” she finally says and Sasuke finds himself nodding as well.

Kakashi draws his scroll out and tells them to face each other before once more biting into his finger enough to draw blood. After tracing the name of the summons on the parchment, he reaches for Sakura’s hand and presses it flat against the contract. Her palm presses into the blood causing small trails that haven’t been absorbed by the paper to seep between her fingers.

“Picture who we’re calling for, and keep his image in your mind,” he informs her. “You have to keep track of several factors when summoning—the size of your target, the reason you’re calling upon them—things like that. Then adjust the amount of chakra you draw in to the blood seal.” He gestures for Sasuke to place his hand over Sakura’s. “You will provide that chakra, but Sakura will channel it through the blood and into the contract. To do that properly, I need you both completely in sync.”

There’s a brief hesitation, but then Sasuke leans forward and covers Sakura’s hand with his.

The effect is immediate.

Sakura feels the blood rush to her face and any thought of what she’s supposed to be summoning is promptly replaced by the most irrelevant thoughts.

Sasuke’s hand on mine! That’s never happened before, not really. It’s almost like we’re holding hands, only we aren’t. Oh…oh, his palms are calloused! Why didn’t I ever imagine that? And…his hand is bigger than mine, it almost completely covers—

“Sakura?” Kakashi prompts, cutting off her moment of hyperventilation with the raising of an eyebrow.

“I’m fine,” she squeaks, mentally chiding herself to focus. There’s no point in getting excited—it’s all a moot point now anyhow.

“Hey, asshole. You’d better not take advantage of this,” Naruto grumps and then curses when Sarada steps on his foot.

“Would you be quiet? They have to concentrate.”

“I’m just sayin’.”

“Naruto.” There’s warning in Kakashi’s voice.

“Jeez, sorry…”

In the meantime, Sakura takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, forcing herself to focus—on everything else but the warm hand over hers. She’s only recently trained herself to sense the chakra of others—at least to the extent that any non-sensor type can. And that’s only because it seemed like the next logical step after considering her excellent chakra control.

It’s easy to pick out Sasuke’s chakra, even if she wasn’t touching him.

It’s strong and a little astonishing, but familiar to her in the same way Naruto’s and Kakashi’s are. With Sasuke, though, she feels other things—ominous power, but a sense of protectiveness. And beyond that—a dark something is curled there, deep inside, muted. It’s almost as if it’s been walled off, and though she’s not trying to touch it, her senses reach too deep and she recoils.

Her eyes shoot open, a cold, twisted nausea hitting her at the same time that Sasuke pulls back like he’s been burned.

“Sasuke?” Kakashi prompts.

“It’s nothing,” he grunts, and Sakura clears her throat, adding, “I’m fine.”

With only minor hesitation, she puts her hand back down in the blood and waits for Sasuke to do the same.

It’s the curse-seal, she knows. That’s where that terrible sensation comes from. She knows this because it’s the same one she experienced when Orochimaru trapped her and Sasuke with his killing intent, forcing them to experience their deaths. That ugly, disgusting chakra hidden within Sasuke, crouching like some kind of gremlin, is his and doesn’t belong.

Sakura grits her teeth.

She’s even more determined now.

Maybe if they get out of here sooner, they can question the teleporter that Kakashi trapped. If they find out more about the curse seal he has, perhaps they can find out enough to help get rid of the one branding Sasuke.

Which means she needs to focus.

Sakura’s chakra control has always been based on visualisation, and so, that’s what she relies on now. She imagines her chakra as if it’s a key: an incomplete, broken key that’s not quite sculpted properly to fit the door represented by the summoning scroll. Sasuke’s chakra is there, close enough for her to reach out and draw it to her. She pulls little slivers of it to herself and shapes it into the spots which are lacking on her key. She fits it into the cracks and grooves, pressing the tumblers on the metaphysical lock.

Throughout all of this, she has to be careful. If she opens herself to it too much, Sasuke’s chakra will overwhelm her. It already feels too hot—fire and lighting searing her skin where he touches her. But if she just opens up a little, like the floodgates on a dam, that’ll be fine. It’s just a matter of being careful and keeping in mind the creature they want to bring to them and—

There!

With a final pulse of both their chakra moving in tandem, the scroll bursts with light. Sakura and Sasuke quickly move out of the way, and a puff of smoke later, the space between them is occupied.

A large, hulking bulldog dressed in ninja gear sits there, frowning.

Of course, that could just be his usual expression.

“Boss?” he directs at Kakashi.

Sakura laughs out loud in genuine pleasure.

“We did it!” she cries. She experiences a peculiar wave of exhaustion, but it’s not enough to tamp down her sense of accomplishment. They actually succeeded in summoning an animal together! It’s an advanced technique that only Naruto has managed to date. It might not be a giant toad, but Sakura can’t help but think she’s moved up a level in her ninja training.

She beams at Sasuke, who looks as if he expected nothing less. There might actually be a hint of a smile on his face (and she refuses to believe that it’s just the shadows cast by the glow stick).

Their eyes meet.

For a second, she pretends that they share the look. The one he’s given Naruto many times in the past. The one somewhere between acknowledgement and grudging respect.

It almost feels better than the memory of his hand on hers.

“My summons are still better,” Naruto grumbles, and it’s as if he’s released a genjutsu.

Reality intrudes once more. Sasuke’s expression hardens, and he looks away. Sakura fights back a painful twinge in her heart, but does that same. Only to notice Sarada looking between her and Sasuke with an expression on her face that Sakura interprets as reproach.

Right, that’s exactly what she needs—to be judged by Sasuke’s daughter because of her overly obvious crush.

“Bull, I hate to ask,” Kakashi says, voice rising above her inner turmoil, “but we’re in a pinch…”

ナルト

Once Kakashi is draped over Bull’s impressive bulk, discussion turns to their next move.

“The place I found is this way,” Sasuke says, already turning to lead the ragtag group off into the unknown.

“Hey, hold on! Wait!” Naruto interrupts. “We have a dog now. Can’t we just smell our way out? You know, in case your way leads us to a dead-end or another monster-filled lab or something?”

Bull rolls one lazy eye at Naruto as if to protest having his importance limited to sniffer-dog. Sarada knows he won’t say anything though. Out of all of Uncle Kakashi’s summons, he’s the most reticent and doesn’t bother with sentences when a single word would do. Still, he makes his response plain by trudging off toward the tunnel Sasuke pointed out earlier.

“You smell something, Bull?” Kakashi questions.

The dog nods.

“Is it more half-dead bodies and rotting monsters?” Naruto adds. “Because we did that before and it didn’t really turn out all that fun for us.”

Bull snorts, almost in derision. “People.” He grunts. “Alive.”

“Oh, that’s a relief,” Sakura sighs.

“Blood,” Bull finishes.

“…That’s less of a relief.”

“No, wait. That’s good news,” Sarada interrupts. “Sort of. Mitsuki and Konohamaru-sensei were hurt, remember? Maybe that’s what he’s smelling! They’re alive!”

“Or it’s some unlucky hikers who fell down a hole in the forest and ended up wandering down here, lost,” Sakura points out.

“Well, we can’t be sure until we look, can we?”

“No point in arguing about it,” Kakashi cuts them both off. “If both Sasuke and Bull agree that this is the most likely path, we follow. So, stay sharp, and follow Sasuke.”

The surly teen doesn’t react beyond doing as he’s told. Everyone else follows, and soon, they’ve fallen into another defensive formation. Naruto, now over his momentary protest, wanders beside Sasuke, as if refusing to be led by his friend and rival. Sarada trails a bit behind them, keeping an eye open for possible ambushes (because, based on what she’s seen so far, she wouldn’t be surprised).

She wonders if Mama—Sakura—grabbed more than replenishment pills from the laboratory because her arm still stings like it’s filled with a million fire ants. She wants to ask, but the pink-haired girl doesn’t seem very comfortable right now. Sarada suspects it’s a few things, not least of which is Sarada’s identity, and she has to stop herself from comforting her. Mama would welcome it, but this young Sakura would probably get defensive. Also, her body is so tense right now, Sarada suspects any sudden surprises might lead to her throwing punches. Sakura might not have super-strength at this juncture in her life, but she can still do damage.

The tunnels continue to wind, splitting into several new branches. Sarada marvels that Sasuke got so far on his own so quickly before—and even remembered the way back. The marvel is somewhat diminished, however, by the overwhelming eeriness of the channels themselves.

After hours without seeing sunlight and being forced to breathe the dank underground air, Sarada is jittery. Every shadow seems like an enemy, and every sound, the portent of attack. One moment, all she can detect are the regular echoes of their party’s footsteps, the next, it’s a distant dripping sound. Occasionally, she imagines she can hear scraping or digging. Just as she tells herself it’s only the sound of earth shifting, more noticeable to her now because they’re all underground, it changes again. She imagines breathing or panting and can’t fight down the temptation to look behind their little group to make sure nothing’s followed them.

Hers isn’t the only unease because, after several minutes, Naruto decides he’s had enough of the silence.

“It’s not fair,” he complains—his voice, unnaturally loud in the tunnel, causing everyone to jump in surprise. “Why is he gonna be the next Hokage? He doesn’t even want to be!”

Sakura mutters quietly behind Sarada. “It figures he wouldn’t be able to let it go for long…”

“And what kind of moron chooses a porn-reading, always-late, mask-wearing weirdo to be Hokage, anyway? Hey! Wait a minute!” He lowers his voice conspiratorially although it’s still loud enough to be perceived. “If Kakashi-sensei becomes Hokage, they have to put his face up on Hokage Rock, right? They can’t do that if he’s wearing that mask!” He nudges Sasuke, ignoring the savage elbowing he receives in return. “We’ll finally be able to see it.”

“No, you won’t,” Sarada points out, unable to help herself. She justifies it because it’s not exactly something that will cause time and space to collapse. “The rock sculpture has a mask, too.”

Naruto groans, shoulders slumping. “Are you kidding me?!”

“Sorry.”

“No way…that’s just…that’s not right. So no one in the entire village knows what their Hokage looks like? What if it’s some weirdo, like Orochimaru, in disguise? How can you even tell it’s Kakashi-sensei?”

“There’re people who’ve seen him. Even I’ve seen him without his—”

“What?! How?” Naruto whirls around, gaping. “How’d you manage it?”

“Well…when I was little, he used to play inai-inai-baa with me. And he showed it to all of my Academy class at our graduation exam, sort of. It wasn’t really a big thing.”

“Are you kidding?! This is a huge deal! Tell us what’s under the mask! It’s a matter of…of village security!”

Sarada giggles because, right now, his earnest determination and utter exaggeration remind her so much of Boruto. The sound seems to startle Naruto and Sasuke because they both turn around and stare at her.

“What?” she asks.

Sasuke quickly turns around without answering her, but Naruto replies, “It’s only...I didn’t think Uchihas could laugh. It’s kind of scary.”

Sasuke clenches his fist.

“Hey!” Sarada protests, unable to stop herself from putting her hands on her hips…before remembering why that’s a terrible idea. She sucks in a pained breath.

Naruto is by her side. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“She shattered the bones in her arm, and you’re asking what’s wrong?” Sasuke mutters under his breath. “Idiot.”

“It’s called being considerate, Sasuke. You’d think you’d be able to at least fake that, seeing as how she’s your future daughter.”

Sasuke doesn’t have a response to that and returns to his sulking, slouching walk.

“Speaking of future kids,” Naruto continues, a smug note in his voice. “Do I have any? Or do I get to be a super popular ladies’ man with dozens of girlfriends, living the bachelor lifestyle?”

He pretends to flex his muscles.

“I can’t tell you that,” Sarada reminds him.

“Ah, come on! A hint?” he cajoles, he lowers his voice even further to his version of a whisper. “Come on. Kakashi-sensei isn’t even paying attention!” It’s true, when Sarada checks—it seems like he’s drifted off against the very large dog’s head. “I just wanna find out if I’m going to be super different!”

“Not really,” Sarada says, her lips twitching a bit. “You’re still the same kind-hearted person in both times. My father and you are still friends and rivals. You respect each other.”

“That doesn’t sound like me,” Naruto says while Sasuke mutters, “Like that would ever happen.”

They share a glare.

“You still do that, too.”

“I guess telling me if I get to be Hokage is pushing it, huh? Since you already let the cat out of the bag about Kakashi-sensei.”

“Just a bit.”

Naruto gives an exaggerated sigh. “Fine. I guess I’m just not meant to find out. But—” He jabs a finger at Sasuke. “If this guy’s dreams can come true, I know I can make mine come true, too! I will be Hokage after Kakashi-sensei!”

“Shout it a little louder, idiot. I bet they didn’t hear you in Suna,” Sasuke grumbles.

“And more important than that, I’m gonna be the best uncle ever and make sure you turn out normal. With a father like Sasuke, I’m amazed you’re not emotionally stunted. I mean, he hasn’t even apologised yet.”

“For what?” Sasuke demands.

“Sakura’s feelings are hurt. And it’s your fault. Again.”

Sarada turns slightly to see Sakura staring resolutely at her feet, pretending not to listen to the argument. Based on the clench of her fists and the flush of her cheeks, the reality is obviously different. She opens her mouth to tell the guys to knock it off, that this definitely isn’t the place for such a spat, but Sasuke speaks before she can.

“What the hell do you mean, again? When have I—” he cuts off his furious, hissing retort and exhales through his nose. “Even if I had anything to apologise for—which I don’t—what would be the point if it’s something I haven’t even done?”

“Yet.”

“Ye— Shut up. You have no idea what this is like.”

“Finding out secrets about your life, learning about family members you never realised you had, getting angry at people who don’t deserve the blame…” Naruto pretends to tick things off on his fingers. “Oh, of course not. I have no idea what that’s like.”

Sarada raises her eyebrows at that because sarcasm is usually her father’s weapon of choice. She’s never known her uncle use it. Of course, she’s never heard him—or eavesdropped on him—having a serious conversation with her father, either.

“It’s different,” Sasuke maintains.

“No, it’s not,” Naruto argues. “And that’s another thing! You’re making a huge deal about all this, like it’s the worst thing in the world you could find out—that you have a family. That one day, you’re going to have a kid and a wife and achieve your dreams and—”

“That’s all you see, isn’t it?” Sasuke demands, seemingly forgetting his earlier attempts to keep his voice down.

Everyone comes to a stop.

“That’s all you see! It’s all just a matter of hard work for you! A game, a competition! And you can ‘only ever go up from here,’ right? Well, that’s not how it works!”

Kakashi rouses. “Boys now isn’t the time—”

“Is that what you think?” Naruto demands, cutting off his teacher’s warning. Something flashes across his blue eyes that looks equal parts livid and hurt.

“You only ever see what’s right in front of you! You haven’t even thought to ask what the price is, have you?!” Sasuke continues. Sarada suspects she’s the only one close enough to notice his gaze flit toward Sakura and back.

So, that’s what he’s been brooding about. He’s still trying to figure out if Sakura is the person he will kill to get his Mangekyō Sharingan. Sarada is sick at the thought.

“What price? What are you talking about?” Naruto demands.

“Underneath the underneath,” Sasuke sneers. “You never learned that, no matter how much Kakashi tries to teach you. Face it, you’re not cut out for this life. It’s a life of blood and sacrifice and it’s not simply about hard work and believing in yourself. One day, you’ll learn that and, when you do, I hope I’m there to—”

WHUMP!

Sasuke reels backward, clutching his jaw. A bruising heat blossoms over the knuckles of Sarada’s left hand. She knows the only reason she landed the blow was because her father was expecting it to come from Naruto.

“You need to shut up!” she orders him. “The things you’re saying about the people who care about you—in what world do you have the right to treat people that way?”

Naruto is shocked, but still attempts to speak to her. “Sarada—”

“No!” she moves, physically putting distance between herself and the boys. “I’m tired of you taking out your anger on everyone else. Whatever’s bothering you, lashing out at the people who care about you will not fix it.”

Sasuke’s eyes narrow at her, glinting red in anger. “You understand nothing.”

“You’re right, I don’t,” she retorts, her own Sharingan rising to the surface. “All I ever wanted was to get to know you more—to find out what you were like when you were my age because you never talk about it! But you know what? I totally get it now. There’s a reason you don’t talk about when you were a kid because you’re a jerk! I can’t even figure out why my mother fell in love with you or why Naruto cares about you so much! You treat everyone like they’re stepping stones!” She jabs a finger in Naruto’s direction. “At least, he never stops being a completely genuine person! You? You are a disappointment!”

He turns to face her more fully, his stance reminiscent of someone expecting a second punch.

“You can’t say that to him!” Sakura cries and Sarada hears her stepping forward. “You don’t understand!”

“Why are you defending him?” Sarada challenges, fury turning briefly on this useless girl. She’s angry at her, too, mostly for not having become the mother she knows. “He treats you worst of all!”

“You…you can’t…He doesn’t—”

Sarada isn’t in the mood for her young, besotted mother’s attempts at defence. She continues to face Sasuke, willing him to understand she means everything she’s saying. “I don’t know what happens in the future to change it, but I hope it happens fast because you need a serious attitude adjustment! Shanna…eeeesh!”

She barely catches herself in time.

Or so she thinks.

Sasuke inhales sharply.

Naruto and Sakura have reflexively turned to Sasuke, expecting him to lash out or yell or do something. Even Kakashi has dragged himself into a more alert position, waiting to break up a fight.

No altercation arises, however. Instead, red eyes flit across Sarada’s face, searching for something. They linger on her forehead then dart beyond her for a second. It’s only for a second—a heartbeat—but it’s long enough for Sarada to notice. She knows the only thing—the only person—behind her is Sakura.

Sasuke’s eyes return to Sarada’s face, and she watches them flicker back to unfathomable black. The rest of his face smooths out into that familiar mask of blankness. Does she imagine it or have his shoulders relaxed a bit?

Before anyone can figure out what just happened, he abruptly turns on his heel and stalks down the tunnel.

Sarada is panting in still-simmering anger, although it’s quickly being replaced by confusion and a small note of panic. Sasuke continues to retreat—not fast enough for him to be stalking off, but the dismissal is clear. And given what she’s pretty sure he’s finally figured out, it makes no sense to her.

Everyone else seems wrong-footed as well, judging by the expressions on their faces. Even Kakashi looks like he’s trying to parse his student’s behaviour.

As usual, Naruto is the one to break the confusing and awkward silence. “You just punched your dad,” Naruto remarks with forced levity. “Better hope he doesn’t remember any of this, or you’re totally grounded.”

Sarada doesn’t bother telling him it’s the least of her problems.

つづく

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#an inch of gold #naruto fanfiction #naruto fanfic #ssfanfic #ssfic #sssfamily #longfic #sarada uchiha #sasuke uchiha #sakura haruo #kakashi hatake #naruto uzumaki #time travel #action/adventure #humour #drama #angst #sarada has a big mouth #holy cliffhanger batman

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groovy-hottub-llama · 7 years

Text

In gratitude, pt.2

Pairing: Kakasaku Rating:general, fluffy, like Akino’s squishy cheeks :D

Over the next few days she went about her business as usual, and when Hana got back she felt obligated to tell her about what had happened to Kakashi's ninken. It was after all, outside of her field, and was technically in the older ninja's territory, so she'd told her because she hadn't wanted to tread on any toes. Hana was thrilled at her intervention and glad that the canine was on the mend. When her brilliant smile turned into a toothy smirk though, Sakura felt that maybe Hana was hiding something.

"Ooh, I hope you like dogs, girl, because you are going to be seeing a lot of them for the rest of your days."

She had laughed along with Hana, and she had no idea what it was all about, so she put it out of her mind and forgot about it. That was, until the weekend rolled around.

It was her day off, and she'd slipped a pair of sandals on to step outside when she'd heard scratching at her door. Upon opening it, there sat a rusty coloured greyhound in a henohenomohegi vest, with a brace of hares dangling from her jaw.

When Uhei spotted her she lay her catch on Sakura's doormat, nodded quietly and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

* Over the next week alone she opened her door each day to find a new gift, each presented by a different hound. She knew she shouldn't be surprised when not only dead animals were gifted to her, but cloth bags of fruit and vegetables too. Ninken weren't just hunters, they could be gatherers too, since they were incredibly smart, and she soon found herself without need to do any form of grocery shopping. Her pantry was well stocked.

She noted that in addition to increase in food related gifts she received, her spending decreased impressively.

She was about to go out and get those boots she'd been staring at in the store she passed by on the way home from work, but then she opened her door and saw Kakashi dropping a bag neatly on her door step. He gave her a quick nod, just like his Ninken and, just like his Ninken, poofed away in a swirl of smoke before she could even begin to speak.

"You too Kakashi?" She called out, even after the man had well and truly disappeared.

She glanced down at the bag at her feet and just knew it was the boots.

It took a while to track him down, as it always did, but to find him sat comfortably at her favourite little cafe with an order of her favourite fruit tart let her know she hadn't found him at all. She made her way over and sat down, studiously avoiding looking at the tart.

"Kakashi, your pack has been bringing me gifts." She began.

"Have they now? How about that." He flipped a page and continued to read.

"So have you."

"Really? Fancy that."

"Fancy that?" Sakura repeated, confused. Kakashi made no move to solve that so she ploughed on anyway. "Kakashi, I appreciate the gesture, I really do, but maybe they- you- both or, well all of you could…stop now?"

He dropped the book slightly to cast a concerned, yet confused glance at her.

"You…don't like the gifts?"

"I do! I love them!" She blurted out as she waved her hands about. "But it's just that...it feels like it really is too much. I haven't had to do my own grocery shopping in a month! A whole month! And those boots…" They both glanced down at her feet and she flushed to realise she was wearing them and why did she have to bring up this conversation when she was wearing them!?

"I see." He sounded amused.

"You see? Can't you do anything?"

"Well not really."

"Not really? Explain."

"It seems like you've been adopted. I can't tell the pack that you're not one of us, because you are."

"Us?" She was flummoxed.

"Yes. Us."

"Oh. Okay? Maybe I could talk to Pakkun, he's their doggy boss isn't he? I didn't do this for the rewards, I just wanted to help Urushi."

"Doggy Boss?" He was smirking under that mask, she just knew it. He smiled that enigmatic smile that showed only at the edges of his eyes and then placed the book down. A sharp series of hand seals and the ensuing familiar puff of white smoke revealed the Pug she was looking for.

Kakashi plucked his book back up and resumed reading. She looked down at Pakkun who was looking up at her with something akin to reverence. Or at least as close to reverence as a pugs face can get. She tried not to find the wagging of his little tail adorable. She really tried. His body swayed slightly in time to the enthusiastic movements of his tail. She tried so hard not to find it cute.

"Hello Sakura. How's things?"

She failed. How could such a squishy looking dog be so adorable? She could never tell him. He'd never let her forget it. Neither would Kakashi.

"Good good. I was wondering, could you maybe-"

"-Shiba and Akino want to know if you enjoyed the Tuna."

She remembered the day before, when the blond dog and his grey haired partner in crime were standing on her doorstep soaking wet with a very large, and very dead fish in their grinning maws. The entry way was saturated with water and the two dogs winked at her (at least she thinks Akino did too, it was always hard to tell with those shades) gave the customary nod and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"Er, yes! Yes it was great!"

"Excellent. They'll be glad to hear that. And the peaches?"

"Those were wonderful, actually I wanted to talk to you about that-"

"You liked them that much huh? Well, Bull and I will go get some more for you then." The pug smiled up at her and before she could finish he was gone in a puff of smoke. She was left open mouthed and gaping. She heard a brief chuckle and snapped her head up and fixed Kakashi with an accusing glare. He had disappeared into his book again.

"Really Kakashi?"

He flipped a page of his book nonchalantly, and she swore she could hear him breathe 'one of us' under his breath.

"I found a moose on my balcony Kakashi. A moose."

Kakashi had the grace to look surprised. He even went so far as to lower his book to his lap, but not put it away, and turned to look at her with curiosity.

"I wonder how they got that up there?"

"It's very lucky I had Yamato-san, Naruto, Sai and yourself over for Barbecue or I'd not have had the room for it in my fridge or my freezer. Convenient much?"

"That's very convenient. It was very good though. Your cooking has improved a lot over the past few years."

"Don't try and flatter your way out of this you incorrigible man!"

He slid a bookmark into his novel and closed it gently. He turned fully toward her and gave her his full attention.

"Sakura. Just accept it. Ninken are very passionate about loyalty and honour. A debt of life is a deeply binding connection, to not show gratitude for such a thing is one of the greatest insults known to their kind. We love you. That's all there is to it."

She abruptly turned scarlet at his choice of words and Pakkun choose that moment to reappear, with Bull in tow, a bag of peaches was hanging from their jaws between them in a makeshift hammock of shining white cloth.

He paused and looked between his summoner and the young woman carefully.

"Hey Sakura," the pug began, as serious an edge to his tone as he could manage with a mouth full of fabric, "he didn't proposition you right?"

Bull cast an accusatory glare at his master and Kakashi looked affronted. Pakkun watched her carefully, concern lowered his already furrowed brows. Sakura tried to repress a smile at the smallest of Kakashi's pack stood up on all four of his tiny paws and puffed up in defence of her honour.

"You can tell us, Sakura, we'll set Pup straight." There was a puff of smoke and two more of the pack appeared. Akino and Uhei took up position on either side of her and turned two black looks towards their summoner. With another flurry of dust the rest of the pack appeared. Shiba padded over to sit beside Kakashi, his tuft of dark grey hair tilting as he stared balefully at his master. Guroku and Bisuke appeared along with Urushi, who turned and grinned at Sakura with a wide, open-mawed smile. His tongue lolled in time with the wagging of his tail.

Uhei leaned over and rested her head on Sakura's thigh and huffed.

"I can't believe it. How shameful, little Crow." Uhei spoke softly, casting a disappointed over at her summoner. Kakashi rolled his eyes and removed his novel from his pocket and then pointedly held up the book to hide behind. She could tell from the line of his furrowed brow that he was glaring at his ninken. Sakura smothered a giggle at the sight and sat back in her chair, feeling elated. She patted Uhei and the hound pushed her head up into the motion encouragingly.

The other hounds spotted this morsel of affection and within seconds the whole pack was begging for scraps.

Kakashi chuckled at the mass of dogs as they descended on the medic. Sakura laughed as she was met with several cold noses pressed to her cheeks and ears.

"It's okay, he didn't do anything." She finally managed to say.

Pakkun looked skeptical.

"Are you sure, Sakura? Just because we've got a contract with him doesn't mean we have to take his side."

Sakura absently scratched Akino behind the ears, who shot a smug look at his pack. There was a jealous rumble and a few nips exchanged as Sakura continued to pet the ninken at her side. Bull muscled his way through and placed his great head gently on Sakura's lap. It was so large he almost slipped off but Sakura caught him and held him up with her arms and hands. He turned his deep dark eyes on her and she coo'd at him. He chuffed appreciatively and shuffled closer.

As one the pack turned and smirked at Kakashi as his eyebrows twitched. Sakura caught the movement and decided to take pity on him.

"Aw, don't be jealous Kakashi." She chided. Kakashi relaxed back into his chair and looked the picture of indifference.

"That's certainly a change of tune." He said. "Weren't you saying just a moment ago that you no longer wanted such attention?"

Sakura wrinkled her nose at the comment.

"It was the gifts I was referring to, Kakashi, the company is always welcome." She emphasised this with a cheeky wink as she scratched Bull under the chin. This seemed to appease him as he nodded and resumed his reading.

From within the pile of ninken around her Pakkun emerged and assumed his place atop Bulls head.

"You don't want our gifts anymore Sakura?" The hound rumbled sadly. Sakura turned back to him. She gave a grateful smile.

"I love the things you bring for me, all of you," she turned and gave all of them a wide smile, "but I prefer seeing you all alive and well." At this she gave Urushi a pointed look as she bopped him on the nose with a finger.

She sat up and made a point of petting each and every one of the pack who jostled against each other for another token of affection. Instead she stood up and approached the man opposite her who, immersed in his book, was unawares. Sakura reached out and dropped a hand onto his head and laughed aloud when he startled at the contact. She made a show of petting his head and only laughed louder when he gave her an unamused glare.

"I'm really happy. Thank you."

He closed the book and looked her straight in the eyes. She paused her petting at the sincerity in his gaze.

“No, Sakura, thank you.”

#Kakasaku #ninken

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