#Also Kakashi is as ANBU just because but I thought this around the time between the first part and Shippuden

[wolfsban]

HAPPY HOLIDAYS dear @calmodus!! 

Here’s your Secret ANBU exchange huhuhu’’! 

Hope you’re having a wonderful time and that you can enjoy your gift - a little bit of comfort and candles for the lights ~

Also a huge THANKS to the @kakairu-discord-server for hosting this amazing event!

[dark-elf-writes]

“Naruto would also do so much for the red light district once he was in charge.”

Just absolutely love the thought of Granny Rin teaching Naruto how to use what little money he has and him taking it to heart as hokage. Him taking to heart all the love and care such a large part of Konoha (forgotten and ignored as it may be) gave him even when they had so little.

Him completely overhauling every financial system in place for the better. Correcting the money funneling for Root Danzo was probably doing, negotiating better trade deals with other villages, finding new trade routes, requiring careful documentation of how every dime is spent (suddenly undocumented spies are very rare), etc.

They don’t have to go with the cheapest “quality” goods anymore when Naruto can go straight to the source of the best and make negotiations himself. Shinobi get better gear, better pay, more benefits, better health care (therapy!!!), etc.

And when all that’s done with, turns out there’s actually hell of a lot of money left over without a Danzo shaped leach screwing with things. The academy gets more specialized teachers and more funding, the orphanage becomes habitable, and workers go through intensive screening before they’re allowed around the kids.

The red light district gets better housing options, the removal of dilapidated buildings that are more hazard than not, medical options, education options for the kids that don’t want to become shinobi, and the workers get full legal protections.

———

Maybe once it becomes clear that the changes to the academy lead to better/ more well rounded graduates, each one being better than or equal to past rookies of the year, they raise the graduation age. Give them time to learn more than the basics and put less stress on the Jonin taken away from their duties to train them in basically everything. Assign teams before they graduate to give them time to work with each other outside life or death situations and complete d ranks in the village for a year.

Fatality reports come in. Less genin dead than ever. They raise the graduation age again, diversify the lessons, call in experienced chunin to work with the older students, and incorporate specialization training with special Jonin. Again they’re better trained, more well rounded, more experienced. Every graduate comes out at least on mid chunin level. The majority makes special Jonin, Jonin, or ANBU within a few years.

The other villages take notice as they always do. They mimic Konoha’s success until there really are no kids on the battlefield. It’s a dream realized and finally made true. Even if it does take several hokage’s to get to Naruto.

I mean when you think about it ROOT would have been a massive suck on resources. Like even just keeping his little homegrown terrorist organization fed alone would have taken some serious cash much less training and outfitting each and every one of them. And for all the good Kakashi could do as Hokage, he has never had to think about money the way Naruto has.

How to make it stretch. How to barter for survival. How to ensure every last cent is accounted for because that could mean the difference between a meal and going hungry.

The finance department was shocked and a little horrified to see the Hokage himself, hat and formal robes abandoned for a messy bun and silken kimono, chewing on a senbon as he pours over every expense report in the last few decades and reworks the budget by hand.

It’s the most strict budget they have ever had.

It’s the best budget they’ve ever had.

He scribbles down a message on the back of a scrap paper they’re pretty sure is a receipt for his lunch and sends it off with a bird before anyone can stop him and gets a scrap of a puppet schematic with his answer written back. soon enough a trade contract is hammered out on scraps of paper and their relationship with sand has never been better.

He demands every teacher gets more stringent background checks and training for how to recognize abuse. In turn they see an upswing of kids who were thought To be sure washouts starting to thrive as they were taken out of bad environments. There is even a stretch where Naruto himself taught at the academy until more teachers could be found and trained. The kids why had him as a teacher end up as one of the best Shinobi Konoha has ever seen (if a bit unhinged in the same way he is)

He directs the budget into he poorest places in the village, starting with his home (because the red light district would always be his home) giving them the better world he promised them with a fanged smile.

Naruto fixing Konoha by learning the lessons the ‘lowest’ of the village taught him and through his skill of making alliances fixing the world and leading them all into a golden age.

[zabuza-d-annunzio]

Is Kakashi The Perfect Naruto Character?

"It's just for fun, but also deathly serious... It's an offer of peace, but also a declaration of war" - Paraphrased from Obito Kakashi Hatake is, for me, one of those rare characters that perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the world they inhabit. Like little gods, such characters are impossible to look at without being drawn to their actions, the will they imposed upon the world, because it is those actions that remain as the only solid foundation for them to define themselves around. Now, this is in no way an objective judgment. In fact, I'm going to spend quite a lot of time and character space below explaining just how subjective it is... But, I do hope that this post may be able to give words to thoughts and ideas that have until now remained unsaid. If you disagree with this post, then I'm guessing that the first sentence, purposefully placed right there, is what your objection is based on. We fundamentally disagree on what makes Naruto *Naruto*. That's completely fine. The things that draw us into fictional worlds form the lens we choose to view them with. I was drawn to Naruto by the dual nature of the setting, the interplay between childish fun, immature pranks, lightheartedness and assassinations, human sacrifice, realpolitik etc. When you let it take you in, it can toy with you quite nicely. The dedicated reader is forced repeatedly to gain and lose innocence, laughing or cooing at whatever antics we see on screen then facing the sober reminder next chapter that life is fundamentally cruel. What we had seen earlier had been a mere accident, an accidental alignment that for a little while allowed us to believe in a refuge from the struggle... And who else but Kakashi shows off this interplay between the light and darkness of humanity in the most complete way? A young overachiever, with a comedic rival... But also burdened by his father's suicide and feeling the weight of responsibility to restore the reputation lost.

A stoic, yet very helpful teammate... Who has a hand in the deaths of both his teammates (and arguably his teacher).

An eccentric, but friendly teacher... Who is famous for creating the Shinobi world's #1 most efficient assassination technique.

A shameless bachelor who reads erotic novels in public... Who was once an ANBU Captain.

A retired Hokage nowadays... Who once almost assassinated the Third Hokage. Kakashi's darkness mostly lies in the past, but you never know when it can resurface. It's always lying there, hiding in plain sight... or maybe its the other way around. What do you think?

[lemony-snickers]

petrichor for the prompts please? It’s currently storming and my are is under nearly every watch/warning imaginable right now (thunderstorm, flooding, and tornado being the big ones). Remembering that there’s new growth and life springing up around me helps me during gloomy days like this.

I’m happy to see you writing again, lem. It brings me joy.

Sending you warm and cozy thoughts full of your favorite warm beverage, blanket, a fire, and a beautiful view 💜

(aaah, stay safe! we had hail & massive thunderstorms here over the weekend and it was pretty scary! i hope it passes quickly and that there's no real damage where you are. also, i hope you don't mind i chose our beloved yams because when i think of petrichor, i think of forests, and, well, you can probably figure out the rest, ahaha. <3)

There are few things Tenzo likes more than being in the forest after a storm. The fresh smell of rain, of loam, of life bristling all around him, never ceases to induce a sensation of both contentment and excitement.

Appreciation for the humidity and the quiet, anticipation for everything new yet to come.

The moss is soft beneath him, squelching a little in places where the land dips and water has collected. He doesn't mind the wet feet, though. The one thing shinobi sandals are good for is that they drain easily. And it's warm enough he isn't concerned about his toes getting cold.

He pauses to take a long, deep breath through his nose, to enjoy the earthy scent all around him. It's like the heavy drops of precipitation have activated the world anew; awakening the dirt and the bark of the trees, coaxing them to life. He breathes it all in and feels like he is one with the forest.

Maybe his kinship with it has something to do with mokuton. Perhaps his tranquil nature and his love of the woods is all part of his complicated relationship to his own body; the cells that replicate inside him which were put there by someone else.

If so, perhaps his appreciation for nature is the only gift Orochimaru ever gave him.

The rains have been heavy in Fire Country this season, and the proof is all around him. The greenery is brighter than usual, the stems of flowers and ferns hardy and thick, brimming with strength. Birds chirp, fluttering their wings as they bathe in puddles left by the storm.

The forest swells with life, and it invigorates Tenzo on his journey. He has no destination today, no mission to complete. His time, for now, is his own, and amongst the damp leaves and sticky mud and biting insects is the only way he'd ever consider enjoying it.

The sound of an animal in the brush catches his attention and Tenzo alights easily to a tree branch overhead to survey his surroundings. At first, he thinks perhaps it's a fox--the copper fur catches his eyes between verdant leaves. But it seems much too small for a fox. Perhaps a kit, then.

Tenzo climbs down from his perch and approaches slowly, not wanting to spook the creature if he can help it. It might be injured or sick if it's wandering the forest so close to him in broad daylight, and he does not relish a trip to the infirmary if it decides to attack.

When he pushes aside the leaves, Tenzo has to stifle a laugh.

It's no fox, no kit, but a bedraggled, half-drowned looking orange tabby, who glares at him from beneath sodden, matted fur, ears flattened and hissing as it sneers.

"Got caught in the rain, huh?" he asks, smirking at the feline as it makes a ferocious rumbling sound somewhere deep in its belly. Tenzo just chuckles. "Yes, you're very terrifying. Now come here."

The cat hisses when Tenzo unzips his vest and scoops it up in his arms, but it's not as if this is any more difficult than wrangling a rambunctious ANBU squad at the bar or rousing Kakashi-senpai for a particularly early mission departure. So with minimal effort, Tenzo manages to secure the cat in his grasp, holding it firmly against his chest so he can use his other sleeve to dry the creature's head and back, letting the rest of the moisture seep into the front of his shirt.

At first, the cat struggles, digging its needle-like claw into Tenzo's forearms and chest. "Oh, knock it off, you're fine," he says, continuing to help the cat dry off. The method isn't perfect, by any means, but by the time he sets the cat back on its feet, it's much less drowned-looking than when he found it.

"There you are," he says, still chuckling, "try to stay out of the rain next time."

And then he's on his way again, marching back toward Konoha listening to the birds and the rush of water in a nearby stream, trying very hard not to let on that he can sense the cat stalking him through the undergrowth.

He's unsure whether it does so out of gratitude or irritation, but it hardly matters.

One cat to another, Tenzo doesn't find his new orange shadow to be much of a threat.

It's not until he's home he has to make a decision--leave it outside or let it in. It's not much of a decision, though, because as soon as his front door is open half an inch, the thing darts inside like it's always lived there.

Tenzo rolls his eyes, resigned to his evening. He'll put up posters tomorrow to see if the stray belongs to anyone, but for now, he's too tired and content to worry over it.

As he sprawls on his bed a little while later, the cat climbs up to join him.

"Oh, so you like me now, huh?" he asks.

The cat glares, but still settles on his chest to fall asleep, purring all the while. Tenzo's new companion still smells like the forest--like the damp earth and green leaves he loves so much.

He'll still make the posters, but it seems to him like maybe that's a sign.

prompt list for those interested. <3

[x-authorship-x]

your shisui pairings have me so excited for the real ship and shisui is so crush-able (crush as in like-love 🙈) can you tell us what/how everyone woild think of him like that? Validation for shisui please haha

Shisui is extremely...crushable... 😅

Also you've really done it now, Anon, because I can talk for hours about Shisui as a character but LOVING Shisui? It is my fandom-given CALLING

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned something like this in an A/N somewhere before, maybe in my College AU Squad2polyromcom (and murder mystery), but I'll do it again anyway

So *cracks fingers* it's time to make you love every Shisui Ship combo

Let's start of with the Squad:

Kakashi: oh god he's feeling an emotion. He didn't sign up for this, the Icha Icha isn't even helping distract him because Shisui just thinks it's funny and he's laughing with those dimples and rolling his pretty eyes and ignoring the filthy looks everyone is shooting them. And it's terrifyingly easy to image an honest-to-kami life like this, not just the vague blurry impression of remaining alive between missions, because Shisui is easy. He understands and he pushes but knows when to stop, he quirks sardonic smiles at Kakashi's fucked up humour and he never resents Kakashi for the things he can't give up, like his mask and his borrowed habits and his guilt. He survives Kakashi being, well, Kakashi- and he doesn't just survive it, he seeks him out, he seems to enjoy Kakashi, and- Shisui is strong and fast, all won through skill, but with an ace up his sleeve from the unfathomable power behind those eyes. Kakashi... has been saved by Shisui more times than he's had to do the converse and it's... Comforting. That Shisui isn't looking to Kakashi, Kakashi who is so broken and has mishandled so many things, to fix it, to guide. He follows Kakashi like an equal, waiting but never demanding, and Kakashi... breathes. That's what makes it so terrifying; that being with Shisui is, for the first time in Kakashi's life, so much easier than being without him.

Raidou: Meeting Shisui had been... A trip. Here was this rising star of an already legendary Clan, someone with genius and achievements to rival Hatake Kakashi - and Raidou knew first-hand what a dick he could be - and the ANBU higher-ups thought it was a good idea to match him in a team with a minor-clan assassin and a civ-born 'doorman'. Brilliant. Raidou would admit he'd been braced for the worst, defensive and professional and wary of dramatics. And it sounded so cliche and uncomfortable - if Raidou ever got around to admitting as much out loud - that Shisui just wasn't like that. His smiles were genuine, even at the start when Raidou brushed him off with barely-concealed suspicion, and the admiration for Raidou's jack-of-all, patchworked skillset wasn't concealing distain or condescension. It took time for Raidou to stop waiting for the other shoe to drop, longer than many of their fellow Shinobi would've had the patience for, but... They grew closer. There were things Shisui, raised in the centre of a historic Clan and so far ahead of his peers, didn't even consider; he asked why Raidou clung to the Konohan Standard Taijutsu, forgetting that it was all Raidou had ever had the opportunity to learn, and then, when the reason was pointed out, he blushed a mortified red and spent the next few months helping - with aid from his Sharingan - Raidou put his own flare on it. He didn't know why Raidou loathed bloodstains on his uniform, because Shisui's Clan sorted their own laundry whilst Raidou had to soak and scrub his own. He told Raidou the extensive history of the Uchiha that he'd been drilled in as a child... And then listened, dark eyes gleaming and intently focused on Raidou's face, as the other plucked at the inconsistencies and pondered over truth and bias. Shisui had been raised, no matter how sweet and earnest he was as a person, from privilege - rich in history and wealth and with an advantage as a Shinobi but... With no childhood, no simplicity, such little choice, and maybe Raidou was learning things about himself too - but he never looked at Raidou like he was less. Their Squad was chaotic, with Kakashi and Genma and Tenzo - although the latter was unwittingly complicit so much of the time - and Raidou caught Shisui's laughing gaze as the two of them looked on. Something shared zapped between them, an understanding and a knowing, and it was suddenly they who were united against the world. And maybe it was hopeless and messy and nothing more than a stolen moment like this, maybe Raidou - the civilian born boy with a scar on his face like a stamp of his shortcomings - had finally grown too big for his boots because - he wanted. Kami, how he let himself want.

Genma: Genma was a lot of things but a coward wasn't one of them. It was a point of pride, in fact, since assassins were so often viewed as the dirtiest in their world, killers who lacked the strength for a straight fight and who lacked the courage to show themselves from the shadows... Idiots, all of them. They were Shinobi, not samurai, and Genma's hands were only as dirty as his fellow Elites, maybe even less so. He didn't hide what he was, the lengths he went to in the name of his village and people, and he didn't waste time hurling playground slurs when he could be getting the job done. Being in a Squad with others who understood that...was, frankly, a small miracle. Kakashi was as fucking professional as they came - discounting his rampant, off-the-clock instability, but Genma was to blame for some of that so he wasn't gonna say shit - and Raidou was his partner in crime. They'd failed Minato, and they'd failed together - there was a bond there, of knowing and guilt that they'd never shake free of, and it was there to stay. Tenzo... Was fucked up in a different way but he kept going and Genma admired his guts, even more than his impressive skills. And then... Shisui. Genma had pissed off a lot of people in his life, civilians and Shinobi both, but Shisui was the last person Genma wanted to mess with. Kakashi was constantly prickly, so prodding harder didn't usually amount to anything but a sour mood and a swipe, and Raidou ditched him for a bit if Genma pressed too hard in his direction; Tenzo was a kicked puppy and even Genma had standards. But Shisui? Shisui just fucking took it. He laughed and complained and didn't move an inch. He deflected, blushing mottled red where he'd once been miles of perfect skin, and he hissed and bickered and he went precisely nowhere. He was light and friendly and patience and earnest... And ruthless. He was death so fast that the eyes couldn't even follow him, he was blood dripping from a tantō edge and the nightmare presence watching over them all, ready in a heartbeat to whisk them away from certain death. He looked at Genma, dark eyes burning even without the Sharingan, and plotted their assassination without censure and he never shied from either of their own darkness. Genma had lost his mother and sister the night he'd failed to protect Minato, he'd gathered a second family of friends around him but these things were never permanent... But Shisui... He was an expert at Permanent. He'd been a kid when he'd planted himself protectively in front of his kid cousin and he'd not moved a muscle since. He'd been in ANBU only a few years shorter than Kakashi and he'd sworn, with the rest of them, not to leave until he did... And he'd stayed strong to that, not just suffering through but staying alive-alive. And his eyes- Genma played with people because it was better than risking himself and fucking up for real. And he played with Shisui more than he'd ever done with anyone, pushing harder when Shisui did nothing to put space between them, push and push and- it was vulnerable in its own way. Because Genma hoped, somewhat desperately where no one could ever find out about, that there wasn't a limit. That Shisui, fastest Shinobi alive, would stay put.

Tenzo: this might be a little briefer but I feel like I've covered these two a bit more than the others (namely, the ship ficlet in And All The Stars Seemed Closer) but: Shisui was always there. Tenzo's whole life had been beyond his own control, he had been a tool forged outside of his own making and, when he was free, Tenzo was...untethered. Shisui, in a strange way, was as familiar to Tenzo as much as he was foreign; he'd been raised for the will of the Uchiha Elders, errand boy and then pawn and, now, soldier. But he'd kept a hold of himself, rebelled in small ways and smuggled Hsi cousins away for dango instead of the promised training, had bypassed the clan guards to sneak Kakashi to an old Uchiha healer to ensure his eye wouldn't become infected, had ignored summons from the Elders only to claim that he never received them. It was little things that combined into a larger picture and Tenzo, who had been gagged and leashed his whole life, knew nothing except that he wanted Shisui to teach him how to live like that. And Shisui had. They went for dinner and ate dessert beforehand, they lay in fields and Tenzo was coaxed into picturing the most interesting shapes formed by the clouds, Shisui's shoulder a source of warmth where he lay so close by. He taught Tenzo to smile again, small but organic, and he soothed him through panic-stricken tears. And Tenzo didn't know a lot still, even less so about how to negotiate with the tangle of emotions lodged deep in his sternum, but this felt... Different to Kakashi-senpai and Genma and Raidou. It was companionship and admiration and gratitude and hope and- the urge to reach out and feel the curl of that dimpled smile for himself. It was knowing, with a shuddery warmth so different but also the same as a patch of sunlight, that these discoveries wouldn't be the same if Tenzo didn't do them with Shisui. And that was something to discover in itself.

🥹

Others: there are more ships but, since quite a lot of context is based off HOPE AU, several characters haven't been introduced yet so idk if they'd do anything for you guys?

Kisame: I literally just posted a Soulmate Prompt and also he's had a lot of limelight in UDB so I cba 😅 BUT we're talking star crossed, they've both been betrayed but Shisui fought back and stayed loyal whilst Kisame fled and has found new purpose thanks to Shisui, we're talking Shisui sees Konohan loyalty in Kisame and Kisame appreciates the Kiri viciousness in Shisui, they are ride or die and Kisame wonders how far Shisui will let him in, what would happen if he pressed even closer... If he kept following wherever Shisui led...

Shizune: Shizune was raised on stories that both loved and loathed Konoha. Having met Shunshin no Shisui, the man who had been thrown into the very depths of the village's rotten core and somehow torn both himself free and revealed the perpetrator, Shizune would admit to being...curious about the Konoha that inspired such devotion. That Shisui was sharp, dark eyes made liquid in the firelight, and could meet her remark for remark, well. Shizune couldn't help but wonder, as he pushed forwards to breathe his counter argument so close to her mouth, what being the focus of the loyalty of a man like Shisui would feel like.

Anko: it's a hate crush. He's pretty and perfect and she knows he's fucked up but people don't seem to realise it, they haven't seen shisui tear into someone in an interrogation cell and they haven't seen the angry furrow to his mouth in an argument and they haven't tasted the tang of blood on his teeth when words didn't cut it and kissing the stupidity out of him was the only option. Frankly, anko didn't want anyone else to know any of that either.

Asuma: see my Shisui/Asuma marriage ask prompt from earlier, it's better than I could convey here.

Gai: There were few people who could meet Gai and match him blow for blow, fewer still who could continue to do so on a regular basis, and even less who would take such genuine pleasure in such a routine. Gai was not a man to conceal truth from himself, he faced challenges every single day and knew that the genuineness of his effort was bettering him, even if the projects themselves were no further forward. Befriending Kakashi had been akin to approaching a wounded, feral animal - and, indeed, it remained a worthwhile but troubled dynamic - whilst befriending his Genin teammates had been a lesson in moderation and humility. Genma and Ebisu were people different from himself but fundamentally akin, enough for fondness to form but not for the ease of close companionship; Gai loved and valued them but he was under no illusions that they would ever have been extremely closely knit in their personal lives. Meeting Shunshin no Shisui, however, had been...illuminating; he had sought Gai out first. He wanted to train and knew that such improvement required an extremely dedicated partner... In Shisui's eyes, that could only mean Gai. He'd been frank in his reasoning, gratified instead of disconcerted by the suggestions Gai had immediately launched into, and he'd been shockingly warm when he'd held Gai's hand between his own as he thanked him. They'd met and it had been... Revitalizing. Gai, with no one but Kakashi able to keep up these days, hadn't realised how much he'd missed having an equal. Shisui was admiring whenever he was bested, determined as much as good natured, and he continued so as the days passed. Gai's luck did not wear out; Shisui kept matching him. And, more than that, it wasn't a secret. Gai had instinctively called out a greeting to him, when he'd spotted Shisui in the marketplace whilst completing his handstand laps, only for Shisui to laugh - joyfully, never meanly - at the sight of him and shout that he'd see him at the usual time, uncaring for the disbelieving gawking going on around him. Gai had learned, from his sensitive boyhood to his emotionally-intelligent but matured adulthood now, to allow the negatives of those around him to wash over him and not linger, something his peers struggled with. Shisui, one of the most notorious Uchiha, seemed to have similarly mastered this skill. He didn't shy from Gai or attempt to tone him down. He didn't fade away or lose interest. He matched Gai, move for move, and Gai was determined to take another step forwards!

Ao: PFFFFT-

Just a little something-something to make the shipping worse~

Anyway, hope you enjoy this, anon 👋✨

[shiranuigenma]

bringing it down

TEEN+ // ALSO ON AO3 // HEADCANONS Words: 2,594 Warnings: Canon-typical violence, non-canon behavior, death, Missing-nin Kakashi, Kakashi is off the fucking deep end bro, the shinobi world is a mess of political corruption

I just had a lot of thoughts about a Kakashi who completely lost his faith in the shinobi system. Like he channeled his growing resentment and rage into killing people for Anbu but when the Third Hokage took it away to make him a Genin instructor, he went off the deep end. Sorry not sorry :)

Kakashi’s life exists in fragments.

Scattered memories, a puzzle with missing pieces long lost to time, snippets of emotion linked to things he can't quite picture anymore. People in his periphery, their presence hovering like ghosts that disappear when he gets too close. It’s for the best, maybe, because what little he does cling to is enough to make him believe he doesn't actually want to see the full picture, the full scope of tragedy that's scorched into every atom of his being.

It's a familiar, throbbing ache in his chest, a comforting death knell that echoes across a soul made of smoke and ashes barely held together by pale flesh and brittle bone, bearing the heart of a soldier. A tool, a weapon, a harbinger that hovers in the torn fabric of reality between life and death. A shadow that clings to dark corners with bared teeth and bloody hands that promise destruction, ruin, encapsulated in fingers sparking with electricity.

He bears the marks of that buzzing energy, lightning burned into taut skin. A livewire, always humming, always charged. Electric. Dangerous . The kind of danger that makes people turn their heads and double check the locks on their doors, as if that would stop him if they somehow found their names in his Bingo Book.

Innocents , Kakashi's raging mind tries to soothe him, sharp claws disguised as soft feathers, the whisper of his better angels. Not prey .

Tonight the prey he seeks sleeps soundly in a mansion, surrounded by the softest linens and guards that will never see him coming. The daimyō of the Land of Fire - a pathetic, simpering man from what he remembers of the one time they'd met, quick to bore and full of the pompous, lazy arrogance of someone in his position. Secure in the knowledge that he will not be challenged, that his word is law. 

He's wrong, of course. This world was not made for men like him, men who cower behind others while they kill in his name.

Kakashi creeps through the shadows, a ghost in the night behind white porcelain swirled in crimson, fingers itching to cross off another name.

He will. He does . The screams of the daimyō's wife, an innocent, follow him, but he's long gone, back to a sketchy inn in a neighboring village where no one questions the blood on his hands or the fresh streaks of lightning burned into his flesh.

It's only there that he allows himself to settle, to scrub his hands before gathering a dinner from the kitchens that he eats alone in his room. Mask yanked down around his neck, canines tearing into tough, chewy meat, overcooked and tasteless. Habit, a lonely routine he finds comfort in.

He's always been good at being alone. It's even easier when people can't look at him without shrinking away in fear.

Wiping his fingers absently against the rough material of his dark pants, he gets to his feet and pulls his mask back up over his mouth, covers his unnatural eye with the silvery hair that falls over his forehead. That eye is open more than it's not these days, capturing every detail of the broken, rotted world around him.

In a way, it's a twisted, final fuck you to Obito's relentless optimism, unwavering even in the face of death. A revenge of sorts for this curse the Uchiha had shoved on him- he had died hopeful for a better world, now all his eye would see is the despair that claws at the underbelly, digging deep, bloody furrows into a cracked veneer. 

The same despair that had been clawing at Kakashi himself since that night on a rocky outcropping, surrounded by enemies and singing birds with his hand soaked in blood that will never come off, one of the only memories he holds onto in perfect, agonizing clarity.

Rin's death will always be the memory that haunts his nightmares, wakes him from shallow, restless sleep and makes him scrub his hands until they're raw and red, keeps him up long past sunrise until he hits the road again with heavy, gritty eyes and tired limbs. He's so exhausted he can barely muster a transformation to disguise himself as he leaves, passing an increased patrol of shinobis sent from the Leaf, faces he'd recognize if he cared enough to look closer. He's stopped at the gate, his pack and identification checked, then sent on his way with a warning of caution. 

"There's a killer out there," the guard tells him, unaware of the way Kakashi wants to rip the hitai-ate off of his forehead and gouge through the symbol of the Hidden Leaf until there's nothing left, ignorant of the thunderous rage coiling like a snake in the spaces between his ribs. "Murdered the daimyō last night. Watch yourself."

Kakashi only grunts in response, the sound hoarse and abrasive from disuse. It's been so long since he's spoken that he's not sure he even knows what his own voice sounds like anymore. He quells his rage with a quick huff of air and trudges down the road, away from a sleepy village unaware that the very killer the shinobis were there to find had slipped so easily between their fingers, like smoke disappearing into the wind.

He gathers his weapons from where he'd hidden them in the forest, buried in a small copse of tall, broad trees, pausing just long enough to look at the next name on his list.

Hiruzen Sarutobi . The Third Hokage, who had retired from his seat but was a little too quick, a little too eager, to take it right back before the Fourth Hokage's body was even cold. An overseer in the manufacture of child soldiers, groomed practically from birth to know nothing but blind loyalty to their village and its leader, carving them with brutal precision into weapons before their brains had even fully formed. A man who had once looked at Kakashi, broken and drowning in the depths of loss and despair, a killer soaked head to toe in blood in the name of his village, and told him that he was better suited to aid in their corruption. To strip away their innocence, their illusion of free will, before they were even old enough to realize what was being asked of them.

He had told the Hokage he would think about it. Instead, he had sat in the dark of his father's house and repainted his mask, erasing Hound until something new was born, a creature of bloodshed and righteous fury, a harbinger of death and thunderous ruin. He wore a mask painted in the memory of blood swirling across the floor, the symbol of the Hidden Leaf carved on the inside and scratched through, a permanent reminder. Never forget. Never forgive .

From weapon to nightmare in the blink of an eye. A list of names in a book dripping with blood. A ghost that stalks his prey with lethal intent, that shadow in the periphery of their vision that disappears when they look too close. Until they reek of fear - putrid, rotten - and realize that death is knocking on their door. A demon of their own making, trained by their own hands.

It's a heady feeling, knowing that he strikes such fear in their hearts. That they toss and turn after hearing of the death of a high ranking government official, wondering if they're next. It feels like poetic justice.

That feeling sticks with him when he lands on top of the Hokage Rock, crouched down with his elbows on his knees. He surveys the place he'd once called home, shrouded in twilight shadows and bustling with life and joy. Children laugh, too young yet to be forced into the Academy, their parents telling them it's time to go home and blissfully unaware that one day they won't. Were he in his right mind, it would be a comforting familiarity. Instead it sickens him, nausea roiling in his gut.

They don't see the cracks that he does, the facade crumbling as he slowly rips it apart with every life he takes.

They'll know soon enough , he thinks, eyes drawn to the red tower below. He'll drag every ugly secret and dirty truth to the surface, burn this village to the ground if he has to. He'll expose its rotten underbelly, the labyrinth of greed and corruption that the elders would kill children to protect. Power at all costs, right?

Once Kakashi had been proud to be a shinobi of the Leaf. To bear their symbol, to shed his blood to keep it safe. It was his duty, his honor. 

Now, it's his disgrace.

Now, he knows that his sacrifices, the people he lost, were never to protect the village, but to protect power-hungry elders who would stop at nothing to keep their foothold in the world. They were, in ways, worse than the Hidden Mist, because while they didn't force tailed beasts into unwilling children, their machinations were subtle, buried in lies and secrets and backs stabbed clean through in their desperate bid to maintain the status quo. Gaslighting mothers into believing their children had died for a worthy cause. It disgusts him.

Minato-sensei had been the better of them, and sometimes when he hears his mind urging restraint, patience , he hears it in his sensei's voice. Maybe the Fourth Hokage could have changed things, but like Obito, like Rin, he'd been taken too soon. Another pillar of unrelenting hope, ripped from the world. Another unnecessary sacrifice.

Kakashi wonders if Sarutobi feels guilt for what he's done, what he's doing. If he lies awake at night and thinks about Minato like he does, if he asks himself if he did the right thing in taking back - and keeping - the mantle of Hokage.

Morbidly, he wonders if Minato had even stopped breathing before Sarutobi decided he wanted to be Hokage again after all. Maybe he'll ask him before he kills him.

Leaping off of one of the spikes topping Minato's carved head, he lands cat-like on the roof of the Hokage's Tower, dispatching the lone guard before he has a chance to react. His body disappears into the sealing scroll, no trace left of him. The thought of it being someone he knew, someone he'd worked with, twists a little uncomfortably in his gut, but he presses on.

He hopes Tenzou isn't on duty tonight. The kid had always been a little too naive, a little too innocent for this life, with a tentative flicker of hope Kakashi would hate to snuff out. Of course, Tenzou did his duty anyway, had never known anything else, but he didn't do it with the same cold detachment as the others. Like some primal part of his soul still cared. If the broken system Kakashi is razing to the ground deserves to be rebuilt, maybe Tenzou would be one of the pillars. Strong, unwavering, but still gentle. Someone who had seen the depths of the darkness just as Kakashi had, but instead of succumbing to the madness, continued to see the good.

Two Anbu stand outside the Hokage's office, neither with masks he recognizes. They don't see the shadow slinking along the wall until it's too late, their bodies sealed away to be dealt with later, too.

The Hokage sees it though. Hiruzen Sarutobi waits for him behind his desk, relaxed, like an agent of death itself hasn't come to claim his soul.

"It's been a long time, Kakashi."

The past few years haven't changed the Third Hokage much. He looks a little more tired, the circles under his eyes a little darker, the wrinkles on his skin a little more pronounced, but otherwise he was the same man that had stood over him on the rooftop three years ago, ordering him to put down the mask that had kept the fury that boiled in his lightning-charred bones down at a low simmer, the one thing that had allowed him to channel that rage into something a little less destructive to the system he'd lost faith in.

Kakashi takes that mask off now, clearing his throat to test a voice that hasn't been used since that day. It comes out cracked, hoarse, like the creak of a weather-warped wooden door that hasn't been opened in decades. "Not long enough."

Sarutobi hums thoughtfully in response, leaning forward and steepling his fingers. For someone staring his own end in the face, he looks decidedly unbothered. 

Kakashi's rage snaps its jowls like a starved dog fighting for a piece of meat.

"It was me." The words slip out, a rough timbre thick with bitter fury. His wrath is a tempest, a storm battering against his ribs desperate to be let loose, to do what it does best and destroy. "The council, the daimyō. I saved you for last."

"Why is that?" the Hokage asks, low and gravelly, still calm. Still infuriating. Pissing him off without even trying. Kakashi stalks forward, slamming the kunai clutched in his bloody fingers down into the desk, so close it cuts the side of the Hokage's palm. He wonders what he looks like to the old man, leaning over him like this. If he sees the storm Kakashi would have him break beneath.

He leans closer, eyes dark as they stare into the old man's, steel and fire burning into fabricated warmth. He sees beneath, sees the cold, calculating man that leads children like lambs to slaughter. Who tells their mourning families that their death was some honorable thing, a sacrifice for the greater good. He never tells them what that 'greater good' really is.

"So you would know what was coming for you." He rips the blade from the wood, leaving a deep score in the dark spruce. The demon you crafted with your own blood-stained hands, your own weapon turned against you .

Hiruzen Sarutobi doesn't need to ask why. Kakashi can see it in his eyes when he registers that Kakashi had wanted him to be afraid, to sate the raging beast with the acrid scent of his fear. The old man chuckles, low and deep in his throat.

"Not what you were hoping for, is it Kakashi?" His steady voice, his unwavering calm, only fuels the fire burning in Kakashi's chest, soot building up along the pleura of his lungs and making it hard to breathe. His vision is shaded in the all consuming color of blood.

Kakashi's hand is quick to force the Hokage's yell of pain back into his mouth when two kunai drive through his hands into the desk, keeping him from forming hand signs. Keeping him from escape. 

The Hokage, once a renowned shinobi who put his own kind of fear into the hearts of his enemies, has gotten slow in his old age, complacent. He's underestimated the lightning storm that lives in Kakashi's skin, the song of birds that is his thunderclap.

He moves quicker than a blink, speed trained into him just as sharply as force and precision, and strikes.

And like all the others, arrogant enough to believe they're invulnerable, Hiruzen Sarutobi too collapses forward, a hole plunged through his chest just like Rin's.

Kakashi has lost count of how many people's chest cavities he's known so intimately under the Hokage's orders, but this one is certainly one of the most significant.

With the Hokage Tower burning behind him, he finally puts a finger on what makes this one different.

It doesn't feel like tragedy or duty.

It feels like victory.

[xhatake]

anyways here's why people are strange by the doors applies to Kakashi. i feel like during the time right before/right after he leaves anbu kakashi is left feeling like an outsider looking in. he feels like he's got a reputation for being sort of a weirdo & feels super isolated about it. Plus i think this speaks to a few other habits he picks up.

during this time i think he spends a lot of time in low-key bars, gripping his drink for dear life & watching the people around him interact. he always sort of drifts on the outside of whatever is going on socially & wonders what people think of him. it's not something he'd really worried about for a long time because he assumed he would die before it mattered? plus i think he would assume during this time that his perception of himself was how other people saw him too. he hates himself for killing rin of course, he hates himself for cutting himself off from his friends, he's stuck in a loop of self-desprication that makes him paranoid as to how others view him.

a part of him wants to step out of his bubble on his own but ordering a drink drains his social battery hard enough let alone partaking in whatever is going on. He'll hang out until someone offers to buy his next drink or he goes home. He'll occasionally ask someone for a light if he can't find his, though he wouldn't be caught dead without a lighter BCS then he would have to ask someone for a light.

i think this habit also drives him to find connection in sex vs. connection. someone buys him a drink, he gets to feeling a little more alright about interracting with them, he ends up following them home & being gone before sunrise. he prefers to be a face in the crowd, a forgotten name in spirit whether or not he will be. ( he is kakashi of the sharingan, after all it's not like he's just going to be forggotten every time ) but regardless of that he still feels like the connection is immediately forgotten??? whether or not op forgets. which isn't very cash money of him but he was so wrapped up in his whole world & his perception of it that he really doesn't care whether or not he's hurting other peoples' feelings in the process.

he feels he's deeply misunderstood in this as well, though he's not. he focuses a little too much on his own loneliness during this time to acknowledge others' loneliness to the same degree. i think the time between him leaving anbu & him becoming a teacher is full of a lot of self-destructive thoughts & behavior.

i like to think that he has some sort of (brief) relationship with someone he may have met in anbu during this time but he second-guesses himself at every turn, denying his natural inclination towards romance & instead kind of hurting the person he's with. i think a lot of what happens is a lapse of communication, an imposed distance between he & his love interest. he doesn't make the effort to strengthen the bond, instead expecting it to just happen. he's just not healthy enough to deal with his own thoughts & emotions, let alone anyone else's.

Gai is really the best influence in his life at this time though because his enthusiasn for life is infectious, whether or not kakashi will admit it. Gai broadening his perspective is actually what drives him to reassess how he treats people. Gai helps Kakashi understand that the whole village is just as wounded as Kakashi is individually, thus making it a little easier to adjust his perspective of things. His kindness inspires kakashi to be kinder himself, whether or not he knows how to do that at first.

but yeah people are strange has me thinking about kakashi getting stuck in his own head & maybe not always treating people because of that. though his perception is actively changing throughout the events of naruto, it's not until the timeskip that kakashi takes the actual initiative to be better.

[semi-imaginary-place]

naruto blogging part 3.

naruto actually has a couple chapters where he introspects and reflects on his childhood. it also includes a fist fight against his persona 4 style shadow self. he is no less unhinged about sasuke for this. sasuke on the other hand oh yeah not a shred of reflection or lessons learned, he's running full throttle on emotions only not a single thought in that boys head. no thoughts head empty only angst and violence.

if the jinchuuriki seal weakens during pregnancy why do you keep sealing them in women.

make kakashi a part of anbu at like 12 and sends him of deadly assasinations. but no he cant fight the kyuubi at 15 like lol he's definitely seen worse at this point

538 kishimoto is so trying to make this a thing. he just thought of it and now is trying to retcon the series, again. because none of the spars or fights until now have had this finger thing.

Kishimoto is a master of asspull no jutsu and retcon no jutsu and sudden power up no jutsu but it usually its at least connected. Like with itachi/sasukes sharingan with the left and right eyes just like how amaterasu and tsukiyomi were born of izanagi washing his left and right eyes. And then susanoo finished out the trio of powers/gods. I guess also foreshadowing that izanagi is also a jutsu. Havent seen izanami yet tho.

oh im not done got about another 160 chapters but i've been skipping around and jumping back and forth between the anime and manga. the anime has filler but a lot of the filler is actually pretty decent (and the only time women get screentime) the anime also includes novel information and in some plaes the pacing and presentation of events is actually better. i also got nostalgic and reread some of og naruto

when i said i was talking about drawing naruto i wasn't saying the the series in general i mean the obnoxious hyperactive orange jumpsuit wearing idiot. idk how much you saw but mid 2000s had loads of fan art like this was just after shippuden released and when people drew naruto in his 20s it was always with longer hair which i think is interesting since kishimoto gave him short short hair for his 30s. there's also the changing artstyle from the first anime to the newest as well as in the manga and i find that all interesting so i was thinking of making a refernce sheet for naruto essentially detailing how his appearance changes over time filled with head canons of course.

oh when i say filler i dont just mean filler episodes. the episodes themselves are often paced slow to drag things out or have unnecessary flashbacks. so you have opening and sponsors 2min replay of last part of earlier ep 5min ed + preview + skit 3min +3 min of flashbacks and at a 23min run time theres only really about 10min of content per ep

i think i said this before but wow i feel bad for the ninetails and bijuu. confined and sometimes chained or speared to pin them in place, stripped of bodily autonomy. their chakara or even their body parts or physical form are controlled by another person. because people are jealous of their power, because they do not look human. i have much empathy for the Other, its quite reasonable they want to destroy konoha

Sasuke's hair after the manga ends sucks so like all of boruto im ignoring it. Thinking back a lot of 2010 boys had the cockatoo hair: sasuke, allen walker, noctis, riku?. Anyways long hair could look good one him, tied back like itachi but keeping the bangs. I can understand wanting to hide the rinnegan but sasuke already was THE emoboy of the 2000s he doesnt need to look more emo. But if he had long hair would it be flat like itachi or spikey like madara?

Back to the double suicide pact. I've mainly heard about double suicides in japan in the context of lovers' suicide (i think hxh references this too) where two lovers decide to simultaneously kill themselves because circumstances wont allow them to be together in this life in hopes they can be together in the next. And thats literally what naruto proposes. Ah where the quote... Its like if we die i will no longer be the jinchuriki and you'll no longer be an uchiha we will be free of our burdens. If i cant be with you in this life i'd rather die and wait to be reincarnated with you. Naruto chooses death with sasuke over life as hokage im not over this. I'll take all your hatred so that you are freed from it. Like, bruh, wow.

Another thing i dont like about boruto is that naruto and sasuke dont have matching arms anymore. Its important that they match

having the sharingan evolve into the rinnegan is classic kishimoto bullshit. he just wanted another power level up. the sharingan is so closely tied to the uchiha clan with shinto imagery and then the rinnegan… well its used to create cheap narrative tension to give naruto an op villian to fight via nagato. the rinnegan is associated with buddhist imagery and divinity in naruto-verse and gets like the most random mix of powers kishimoto was clearly scrapping the dregs of his brain for cool power ideas. the 6 paths worked for the pain aesthetic but does mesh at all with the rinnegan's status as ultimate eye. you get attraction/repulsion, mechs, soul extraction, big animal summon, chakra absorption, revive the dead, some other weird summon. basically its whatever kishimoto needed at the time to make pain threatening with his usual 0 thoughts given to the implication for the whole series.

[mokutone]

u posted a snippet of a comic where kakashi was coaxing tenzo to take off his anbu mask, i was wondering if u would ever post the full comic? it seems so sad and sweet and id love to have the full context of why tenz was keeping the mask on and why kk was afraid that he was doing so? if not its okay!

AH i'm surprised you remember that!!!! that feels like ages ago...back in may, i think?

i will post the full comic one day, but i have to ink it and muddle through a color palette first! because ive been so busy, i haven't had time to work on it so the pencils are still at 4/12 pages, but i can share with u what i have atm bc it'd be good to refresh my memory too. be warned obviously that like, these are pencils and not a finished, ready-to-consume product, so many things may be unclear! I'll add a little elaboration of my thoughts at the bottom of each one that should hopefully help!

page one. the top of the page and the box right below it are going to be flat black—the implication that Kakashi is speaking into a room which has no source of light. In the second one, Tenzō's pose is unclear, but he's curled up defensively into as tiny of a ball as he can manage, like a pill bug, even his speech bubbles fall along the outside of him, like he's trying to use them as another defense. In the third, we have Kakashi from Tenzō's POV. He's just opened the door, is standing tall and somewhat rigid like he's expecting an attack, taking in the situation. In the fourth and fifth panels, Tenzō sees this, and turns away, becoming deeply embarrassed that he's come to Kakashi for help at all, and that somebody he respects so much is seeing him in such a "pathetic" moment.

This is the panel you referenced—you can see by Kakashi's posture (low to the ground, loose limbs and no longer stiff or anticipating conflict, keeping a distance between he and tenzō) that he's not actually scared, per se. He's approaching Tenzō with the same gentleness that somebody might use in approaching an injured animal. If he's frightened at all, he's frightened for Tenzō's sake, but mostly he says it because he's having a trouble getting a read on the situation when Tenzō is wearing his mask.

It's true that like, as a former root agent, Tenzō is one of the least expressive people in Konoha, but even still, any movement of his face gives Kakashi more context than the cold porcelain of the cat mask, and walking into an unknown situation with a clearly unwell teammate, Kakashi wants as much context as possible so that he doesn't make the situation worse by accident.

Whether Tenzō complies because he doesn't want Kakashi to feel "scared" or simply because he was given a command is unclear at first, but Immediately after, he starts talking about how he's going to have to be re-evaluated for duty, and how hopsital dodging is a serious problem for a shinobi, etc, indicating that he's not really in a space where he can process emotional consequences very well.

I also make a point of not showing his full face during this page, because a full face will generally ask us to relate to the feelings expressed on the face, and I want those feelings to be as hard to read and unsure as they are for Kakashi in that moment, but I couldn't help but show his eyes when he removes the mask.

Top panel is Tenzo responding to Kakashi's command "let me see it," and him stretching his injured arm out for Kakashi to examine. The second panel should have Kakashi's hands gently grasping Tenzō's. Kakashi doesn't go into his space, and instead asks Tenzō to come into his, so that Tenzō can take his time if he needs it.

Idk, with a shinobi that's Going Through It, pushing their boundaries before they're ready is a good way to make their situation worse, or end up with a kunai in ur gut, so it's not something kakashi's gonna do. It's also, not coincidentally, the first panel we see Tenzō's whole face in (though it's still tilted away), and are therefore asked to try and imagine his feelings.

The next panel where he's observing his shaking hands is almost normal, but then the second he goes right back to covering his face with one of those hands and apologizing, stumbling in his attempt to be open. The two blank panels after that should have Kakashi looking directly at Tenzō, and then looking back down at the wound he's inspecting, and giving Tenzō the verdict "You'll be okay." (i know the speech bubble is low there and looks like it's part of the lower Kakashi panel, but I'll fix that in inks).

Then, like a record caught in a scratch, Tenzō just keeps apologizing, like he's forgotten he can do anything else. Kakashi mistakenly assumes it's because Tenzō thinks Kakashi's mad at him (Tenzō does not think this, both because Kakashi is rarely mad at all, and certainly not at him, and because he doesn't have the emotional space or skills in this moment to consider that Kakashi does feel any particular way about this situation)

Kakashi, who is trying his best but sucks at this kind of thing, is getting frustrated with the apologies, and uncomfortable because it feels like they're directed at him, even though they aren't. It's an unbearably uncomfortable position for him to have somebody apologize so profusely, especially somebody he sees as a trusted teammate and friend, and especially for something that's so clearly out of their control. He doesn't want it.

So, frustrated, he redirects. "What happened on this mission to fuck you up this bad?" the only real indicator of his frustration is that in this sentence his language is more coarse, where before he'd been very placatingly careful, and the expression he makes at Tenzō's arm.

He's thinking "well, this sucks and we're not getting anywhere with it, so I'm just going to ask what happened and get it over with."

Then we see Tenzō's full face again as he takes in the question. Around here, when I add color, the page will begin to shift green, and lighter green near the bottom.

Then, as his hair begins to lift, as though it's floating in water, with a blank face Tenzō will say that he doesn't know what happened.

Then, turning to fully face Kakashi (or us, the viewer) for the first time in these four pages he will correct himself, and say "nothing. nothing happened." But he will be green, and much like within the test tube he was raised in, he will be unclothed and his hair will be floating. The first time we're fully asked (by his direct eye contact) to understand and relate to his feelings, he will make it very clear to us the viewer (and Kakashi who is with us, listening to Tenzō say nothing happened when Clearly Something Happened) that the world he's experiencing for the moment is at odds with the body he's sitting in and the room he's sitting in it with, and that's why he's having such an incredibly difficult time processing anything.

[wind-becomes-lightning]

So I didn't request anything for a while so... I thought maybe some Obito x reader? Or if you really really really really want... Maybe my OC, Nariko x Obito? 👀

I leave the genre for you, whatever you have an inspiration for. Whatever hits you 😘

And happy bday, in advance this time ;)

my dear!! Thank you for sending such a nice request! I enjoyed writing for those two very much and pretty much had an idea from the beginning. I love your little girl and her grumpy bulky man so much, she is so much fun <3 <3 I hope this is alright!

Uchiha Obito x OC

warning: this includes a panic attack.

2308 words.

Post war Obito is living like a hermit in Nariko's apartment, too afraid to go out and face other humans. Nariko likes that as it stops her from worrying. One day, however, she comes home and Obito is not there.

After the war had ended and Obito Uchiha had miraculously survived, Nariko took him in. She didn’t have much, just recently dismissed from her ANBU position as someone who was too close to a declared war criminal, but it was alright for the both of them. Neither of them knew yet how to make this relationship-thing  work and Obito needed a lot of help, too much had happened to him in his past, too many things were also happening to him in the present, with people speaking in hushed tones when he came by or went anywhere.

His prison sentence had been brief, maybe shorter than he would have gotten if the hokage didn’t happen to be his best friend, and right after that he only went out at Nariko's side, when she specifically asked him to, otherwise he stayed inside. There were demons haunting him still, obviously and there was nobody there to cure him of it, least of all Nariko, even though she loved him, that could not heal all his wounds. Kakashi came by too, of course, long talks between the former best friends, but it could only soothe Obito’s soul so much. He stayed inside if he could, the world was shut outside.

When Kakashi was visiting he often joked about how cramped Nariko must feel with Obito by her side every second of every day. “It might be fine for a while as long as you are still head over heels”, he laughed a little, “but soon you’ll possibly be annoyed by him being around.” She laughed with him, quietly, but the reality was very different. Nariko was glad Obito was always around, she wanted to know him safe and sound always within her reach. She loved that she came home with groceries and he was already there.

Because Obito was not the only one battling demons in their relationship, Nariko had a few of her own hot on her heels. Years of ANBU work had left her souls scarred just as much as the other ANBU members she was friends with and Kakashi would have probably understood that if she’d told him, but more so than that Nariko had loved and lost before. And she was terrified of a repeat. Another partner dead in front of her eyes, another ten years of wounds that were without healing. She was sure she couldn’t survive the pain again, not with Obito, not with the way they were around each other.

So she cherished the fact that when she woke up he was right there, by her side, each time. NIghtmares couldn’t scare her because no matter where she went or how long, Obito was there when she came back. I stayed at home, in safety, away from the world that could cause him harm, that could take him away from Nariko and she liked that, as wrong as it was obviously. Kakashi was right, Obito needed to start living again, but he could take his time, at least in Nariko’s eyes.

Weeks passed without Obito ever taking a step outside. His many tries early on at Nariko’s side had left him anxious and nervous, so he stayed back in the dark shaded apartment. He was ashamed and worried about other people in Konoha, he assumed, not without reason, that they’d point and talk about him behind his back. Nariko knew it to be true, she could hear them talk behind her back too. Not that she cared. Old people didn’t matter. 

But gradually Obito improved, laughing more, being awake more, he freely talked about his time in Akatsuki now, even joked about it. When Kakashi came by, the friends were now spending hours together reminiscing with Nariko just sitting with her head leaned against Obito’s legs and listening. He was getting better and she was happy to see him getting better. Still, there was this lingering fear that she could not shake. In time, he’d get so much better than he’d want to go outside. Maybe with her at first again, but then alone. The outside brought the danger back into their relationship and though Nariko kept the anxiety pushed to the back of her mind, it was still there.

One day then, about half a year after Obito’s release from prison, Nariko came home to find the apartment empty. She had told Obito in the morning that she was going to run some errands and be back by dinner time, he’d kissed her and seemed in an especially good mood. After getting a small mission done - someone needed to pay the bills after all- she had rushed back home to him and noticed right away when she opened the doors that he wasn’t there. No shoes in the hallway where they had been for months. No jacket on the hanger. 

She dropped her bag and jumped forward without taking her own shoes off. Her apartment wasn’t big, it wasn’t hard to see that Obito wasn’t there. “Obito”, she called for him and ran a circle around the couch as if he was hiding behind it, which he wasn’t. “Obito!” She felt the panic lick at her neck like a flame and hurried from the kitchen into the small bathroom, he wasn’t there. There was only the bedroom left. She walked over slowly, mumbling his name over and over again as if that would change anything. Deep in her mind she already knew he wasn’t home, she had known since she had entered.

The bedroom was empty. The bedsheets were as messy as they had been in the morning and there was still the tea cup of the tea she had brought Obito in the morning. Before she could think better of it she let herself fall to her knees and looked under the bed, which was ridiculous of course, Obito wasn’t there either. He wasn’t hiding in the closet or behind it or on top of, of course he wasn’t. He was not there. She ran back into the kitchen to check if he had left a note, he had not. The scenery before her eyes started spinning.

Before she could help it the memories flooded in. A dead body, blood, a sharp pain in her chest. She could feel it again, now, in her chest, as if she was there. She grabbed her hand and noticed how it was shaking, her whole body was shaking. Where had Obito gone? Had he left her.. forever? Her legs were too shaky to carry her longer so she staggered back to fall on her couch. Nariko’s heart was beating a loud, fast drum in her ears and she felt hot and too cold at the same time. She knew what it was instantly, she’d seen it too much on other colleagues during her time in ANBU. Panic had grabbed her and was putting her to the brink of passing out.

Shallow breath, shaking hands, sweat on her forehead and the eyes burning and spinning. She grabbed her own heart as it was aching, she gasped for air and then when the moment came in which she was sure she would drown any minute now, that was when the door opened again and Obito walked in, carrying two large shopping bags. When he saw her laying on the couch holding her chest the way she did, his face turned white almost immediately.

He dropped what he was holding and was with her in a matter of seconds. “Nariko”, he touched her cheek and she could feel him, but the panic was still ruling her body so she couldn’t force her eyes to open clear enough. “What is going on?” He seemed helpless, moving to entwine his fingers with hers to press her hand in support. She could not speak or reply to him, her eyes pressed shut again to keep spinning away. Apparently unhappy with just watching, Obito wrapped his free hand around her shoulders and pulled her into him, pressing her shaking body against his sturdy one. Kisses against her cheek and hair. “I’m here.” The expression broke her flood gates.

It was curious really, how much panic could have you in its grasp and how just crying could loosen it up immediately. Nariko cried a waterfall into Obito’s shirt, crawling herself into the fabric as if it was the lifeline to bring her back to reality. He was here, it was reality. He was right here, his arms warm and protective, his voice soft and loving, his face beautiful and alive. He was here, he’d never left, everything was alright. Obito just held her through her sobs, he didn’t even ask again, just pressing her body as close to his as he could.

Finally, her shaking stilled and she could wipe the tears away. With a few deep breaths Nariko felt like herself again. “I’m sorry,” she said weakly to Obito, too embarrassed by her outburst to look into his eyes. “You shouldn’t have needed to see this.”

“On the contrary, I’m really glad I did.” As always when Obito was speaking, all of the words out of his mouth sounded truthful. Even when he’d been a criminal his intentions had been his truth, as misguided as they were. Nariko had always kind of liked that about him, even if she shouldn’t. “I didn’t know you could get panic attacks like that and I think I should know.”

She wanted to argue, tell him that she had it under control, but it was clear that she hadn’t. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Obito watch her and the question he wanted to ask was written all over his face. He took another minute to get himself to finally say it: “What triggered this?” Quickly he added: “If I know the trigger we can try to avoid it next time” as if to excuse his prying into her private issues.

“You” she said, voice still weak. His eyes went wide. “More so..that you weren’t here when I got back.” And then the words just poured out of her, the story she had never found the strength to tell him about. How a love previously had left her broken (she added the words “beyond repair”) and how it had taken her ages to get over it all. How she’d been glad he’d been inside her apartment at all times because it was a space she could control., that was safe and how the reaction came about when she noticed he wasn’t home without leaving a note.

When she was done Obito had his eyes wide open, one hand going through his hair. “Shit” he muttered under his breath. “If I had known…”

“It’s not your fault.” Nariko pressed his hand. 

“It is!” He lifted her hand up to press it against his cheek. “I - I just wanted to go out and buy some things for dinner. I thought I would surprise you, but I haven’t been out in so long that I got lost - Konoha really expanded quickly!- and so it took me way too long. I should have seen this coming, I should have left a note. I’m sorry, I promise it won’t happen again.”

She needed all her best mental strength not to start crying again. He’d wanted to do something good for her, that was all, he hadn’t meant to cause her so much turmoil, of course he hadn’t. If only she’d kept her usual calm and collected mind instead of being taken over by the panic. She bit her lower lip and looked away in embarrassment, but Obito softly tipped her cheek with his pointer finger so they could look at each other again.

“I love you”, he said without blinking, which left her speechless. It wasn’t the first time Obito told her that, but it had not lost any of its magic on Nariko. “From the moment I met you I felt like I’ve known you for years already, that you and I spent a million different lives in a million different worlds by each other’s side and always loved one another. I knew that I needed to be with you, no matter how difficult that could get. You took me in, you loved me when I was nothing but a ghost of myself and for the last months you’ve taken care of me like I wasn’t just a burden..”

Nariko interjected “You weren’t-” but Obito continued.

“I will never leave you. Never, not until we are old and time has run its course. When we are both too tired to get up in the morning and complain about young people. When technology passes us by. Until then I’ll be by your side. Now that I have you I will not let this world allow it to take you away from me, or me from you. I will never leave, I promise you this.”

“I don’t think you can promise such a thing..” There they were again, the tears burning in the side of her eyes.

“I promise.” Obito repeated and the look in his eyes showed her that he was serious about it. She couldn’t help himself, she leaned forward and kissed him, throwing both her hands around his neck to draw him in, closer to where she was, where he was always supposed to be.

His words were hard to believe in her messed up mind, but she wanted to. “I believe you”, she said, eyes shining at Obito. “I want to believe you at least.” He beamed and kissed her nose. Her eyes wandered to the shopping bags and back. “But please, next time you go away without telling me, at least leave a note, for my mental health’s sake.”

Obito leaned forward again to kiss her. “That is included in my promise.”

[panharmonium]

the other thing that i keep thinking about, especially now that i’ve been knee-deep in conversation about kakashi’s father for the last couple days, is the amount of politically/socially-charged context kakashi must be constantly navigating as a leaf shinobi, even though we don’t get to see much of it.  

the transformation of the hidden leaf village is obviously still a work in progress, and society never changes overnight.  we’ve heard at various points in shippuden about the still-present divide between hardliners like danzo and the (somewhat) more moderate senju line, and it’s clear that there are still plenty of reactionary/conservative forces at work in the shinobi world, which means there are absolutely still segments of the population who would view the kind of challenge that kakashi and his students pose to traditional shinobi values as a threat.  and back when kakashi first chose to reaffirm his father’s principles, i’m sure it was much worse - the way minato tells it, the entire village and the land of fire turned on sakumo, and it’s not like all those people just disappeared when kakashi finally allowed himself to recognize that all of them were doing something wrong.  they were still there.  they were his neighbors.  they were his colleagues.  he had to live with them.  he had to work with them - he had to work FOR them, even.  to this day, he still does.

like.  i am FASCINATED by the complexities of this situation, even though we barely see any of it.  just...thinking about thirteen year-old kakashi being a member of the Jonin Assembly alongside all of these grown adults who persecuted his father until the “great man who everyone looked up to” couldn’t survive it any longer.  thinking about teenage kakashi lost and “waiting to die” in the anbu black ops, but still breaking every rule to rescue little tenzo from a hardline conservative who tried to have kakashi assassinated.  thinking about adult kakashi, still a member of that same Jonin Assembly, still working alongside people he can clearly remember harassing and attacking his father for saving their lives, being asked to serve as a clandestine hokage under danzo’s nose, because foreign nations trust kakashi where they don’t trust the actual nominee, and then being nominated for real when danzo turns up dead (and having his nomination approved, i might add, by the land of fire, whose government officially blamed kakashi’s father for the damage that resulted from that abandoned mission years before).

we only get hints about the lingering controversy surrounding kakashi and his family via danzo and, occasionally, the village elders, but like.  kakashi occupies such a complex place in the hidden leaf village, because he’s become incredibly respected and renowned by many (if not most) of its residents, but he also spends every day of his life moving within a community where many (if not most) of the older people around him participated in a campaign of vicious harassment against his father, one that ultimately led to his death.  some of them may have had changes of heart after sakumo’s suicide - that seems like the kind of thing that might have shocked some people into reevaluating their positions, particularly given how respected sakumo was prior to that time - and some of them probably died later in the war, but we know there’s still a conservative faction active in the hidden leaf village, and some of those people are always going to be who they are.  and even the people who aren’t - even the ones who regret how they acted - it’s still so complicated!  how do you continue to live and work in that environment?  how do you navigate a history of being harmed in that way, when you still have to collaborate with and/or serve the same people who did the harming, some of whom likely view you with the exact same disdain they had for your father?

kakashi manages it, somehow, though i’ll bet he has complicated feelings about it, even if he keeps them to himself.  and that’s yet another reason why (if i can just take these thoughts on a slight detour to the present) i think kakashi’s relationship with sasuke is so vitally important, especially moving forward.  sasuke’s family was wronged by the village too, in horrific, unforgivable ways - the shinobi system swallowed itachi whole and sacrificed the entire uchiha clan on the altar of a mission, in exactly the kind of evil, inhuman decision-making process that sakumo and obito and kakashi said could never be justified.  the uchiha were victims of the same shinobi system that drove kakashi’s father to his death - the one that said “everything is acceptable as long as the task at hand is accomplished.  people are disposable in service to a mission.”  both sasuke and kakashi’s families fell to a cultural context that refused to acknowledge that it is never okay to sacrifice your comrades for a mission, a cultural context that embraced this belief to the point where even literal genocide became excusable.

if sasuke is ever going to really and truly Come Home, he’s going to need to learn how to navigate this situation.  not to excuse the wrong that was done, and certainly not to give up on getting justice for himself and his clan, but also to figure out, in conjunction with these important tasks, how to continue existing in an environment where so much officially-sanctioned harm was done to his person, and where so many people around him have at least a little bit of history of being suspicious of or uncharitable towards the uchiha clan, even though they obviously didn’t know about the impending coup or danzo’s extermination order.  

it’s an incredibly complicated situation, and even if kakashi doesn’t have all the answers, he can at least understand what it feels like to be in that kind of position.  he’s been navigating something like this for many, many years.  he’s the precedent, someone who can help sasuke wrestle with the perhaps unanswerable questions of how am i supposed to dedicate myself to a place that wronged me like this?  why should i protect people who hurt me so badly?  is there even a way for me to move forward here, if i can’t forgive the ones who took my family away from me?  can this actually be my home again, when i know what it did to my people?

kakashi has obviously managed to come up with answers to these questions that enable him to stay integrated in his community and keep building a future he believes in, though I doubt any of his answers are simple, and i’m sure there are some things that he’s just had to accept will never be fully settled in his heart.  it’s like what he says to obito in an episode i watched recently: “i don’t know anything for sure, either...i’ve thought that this world is hell, too...but...”  it’s the but that matters.  even in the face of confusion and complexity, kakashi has found a way to keep moving.  he’s learned to co-exist with the uncertainty and discomfort surrounding him, and to make his own meaning out of this life, regardless of how complicated his internal relationship with the village might be.  he’s found a way to keep his eyes trained on the light, whatever that light might look like for him, and even if said light is only, as gaara says, “the faintest glimmer.”  he has so much to teach someone like sasuke, who up until recently was responding to that same plea of gaara’s with a fatalistic “i shut my eyes a long time ago.  the things i seek now lie only in the darkness.” 

anyway.  i am just having Many Thoughts currently about the intricacies of the political and social context that kakashi is always navigating, even though he never says a word about it.  and i’m curious whether this family history will ever come up again in the last fifth of this show.  if i were going on instinct alone, i’d suspect that we weren’t quite done with sakumo yet - i feel like we barely even started with him, to be honest (and also - whatever happened to kakashi’s mother???) - but i should know better at this point than to try and predict what this show is going to do, so i’ll just wait and see.

[chemmerson]

the way you make me feel - chapter 4

Chapters: 4/?

Words: 4.0k

Warnings: a little kissin, swearing, same as other chapters

a/n: i live for the drama

masterpost (with all chapters)

read on ao3

---

the art of meddling

Kakashi didn’t seem to care that you were squeezing his hand with all of your strength, but it was the only way you could communicate with him that you felt very uncomfortable and needed to get out of this situation as soon as possible.

Avoiding eye contact with Itachi Uchiha with every fiber of your being, you took a look at the others that had arrived. Someone with long, messy blonde hair, another with slicked-back grey hair, and someone with short red hair. You thought you might have recognized them in some passing Instagram posts, but other than that, you had no idea who these guys were.

“Hey man, I wanna introduce you to these guys. This is Deidara, Hidan, and Sasori,” Obito said to Kakashi. Meanwhile, you had made eye contact with Rin who was standing next to Obito, both of you staring intensely in unspoken communication. She knew.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Kakashi give a single nod. “Yo. I’m Kakashi.”

During this whole exchange, you felt Itachi’s eyes on you. You wondered if he was feeling awkward, too. Maybe he was trying to figure out who that girl was standing in front of him. Oh you know, that’s the girl you were supposed to go on a date with and you stood her up instead and never said a word.

“You already know my cousin Itachi, right?” Obito went on. You went rigid.

Kakashi didn’t respond, just gave another single nod. Itachi nodded back.

The tension was hard to ignore at this point, and Kakashi being observant as ever knew it was time to get out of there. He started continuing to lead you to the hallway where his bedroom was while ignoring Obito’s confused “Hey, where you guys goin’?”

Relief was starting to flood through your body as you walked through the dark hallway and further away from that whole awkward situation.

“Hey.”

You froze, and Kakashi stopped when the handcuffs between you pulled taut. You didn’t turn around to face the voice that was behind you, but Kakashi did.

“‘Sup, Hatake,” Itachi said. You turned around at that.

Itachi glanced only a moment at you and Kakashi’s still interlocked hands, and then his eyes went back to Kakashi, but Kakashi stayed quiet.

It turned into a staring match between Kakashi and Itachi, and you were caught in the crossfire. Kakashi had said he knew Itachi from the camp he worked at, but Itachi was also Obito’s cousin. There seemed to be some…history there.

“I haven’t seen you at all this year,” Itachi went on. “Not since Camp Anbu.”

“I’ve been busy,” was all Kakashi answered back in a husky tone.

It was then Itachi’s piercing eyes finally met your gaze, and then he scanned you over.

“Clearly.”

Your blood boiled in an instant, skin flaring up in anger and reopening the wound that he had left weeks ago. You were angry, so angry that this guy was acting like you had been the one to stand him up!

Kakashi was quick to take several steps forward to stand in front of you and face Itachi.

“Do you have some sort of problem, Uchiha?” Kakashi’s voice rumbled.

“Are you two together?” Itachi shot back.

You tugged Kakashi in an attempt to end this before anything started, but Kakashi didn’t budge. “I don’t see why it’s any of your business.”

Itachi scoffed out of his nose and shrugged. “Guess it’s not.”

He turned around to walk away, then stopped. "Sasuke says hi."

Kakashi gave him one look before turning around. “Let’s go,” he mumbled to you. You followed without a word, mind reeling from the confusing exchange.

Kakashi on the other hand…was livid.

———

“Um,” you said as you followed Kakashi into his room and shut the door. “What the hell just happened?”

Kakashi sighed slowly out of his nose and ran a hand through his hair. His back was to you, and he didn’t really want to look at you, because he had to calm himself down.

“Kakashi?”

Itachi Uchiha. It was Itachi Uchiha that asked you out on a date.

Kakashi turned around. “I’m sorry.”

You just stared. “Why are you sorry? Is there…is there some sort of history between you and Itachi?”

Kakashi sighed again, thinking through his words carefully. “Well…there isn’t much to tell, but I guess you could say yes. Itachi and I worked together at that summer camp I told you about. We…didn’t get along too well. I don’t hate him, but I try to avoid him.”

You rubbed your arm nervously. “That must be hard because…well, your roommate is his cousin.”

Kakashi shook his head. “Obito and Itachi don’t hang out much. Itachi is usually with his frat brothers.”

You nodded slowly and chewed your lip nervously. Kakashi hated this. He hated seeing you caught up in things you didn’t need to be caught up in. Like Itachi Uchiha.

It was the truth that there wasn’t too much to tell between Kakashi and Itachi. They just didn’t get along well when working together as counselors. When Kakashi was made head counselor this last summer, Itachi was unhappy. It wasn’t Kakashi’s fault that he had another year of experience than Itachi, but Itachi had treated him differently after that. Itachi had always been a bit entitled and thought Kakashi wasn't a good enough counselor for his little brother. From then on, tensions between them were high.

The tension between them a moment earlier was evidence that things had not changed.

“So,” you piped up quietly, letting out a breath. “I guess…I should explain, you know. The whole thing.”

Kakashi watched you take a step closer to him so the handcuffs weren’t pulling between your hands.

“So, I was supposed to go on a date with him. We had met in a class last semester and had chatted a few times. Anyway, he messaged me in my DMs to catch up a few weeks ago and asked me out. Nothing crazy, but…”

You paused suddenly, brows furrowing like you were having trouble finding the words. Kakashi was patient with you as you sighed out again. “I…I don’t know why I said yes. I mean, Anko pushed me like she always does, lecturing me on how I should get out there in the world,” you laughed dryly, and then you glanced at his eyes for a moment.

“…it doesn’t sound like me, does it? I don’t…I don’t usually do that stuff. I don’t just go on dates with people I don’t know well. But he was Obito’s cousin, Anko was encouraging me and I just…I said sure. Because why the hell not? Of course, I told Anko not to tell a soul because it wasn’t a big deal. And I told myself that it was casual and nothing serious, that I didn’t care about it…but then he never showed.”

Hurt flashed across your eyes, and Kakashi felt himself want to pull you in for a hug. But he didn’t and kept listening.

You scoffed. “I sat there for two hours and he never came. Not a message, not a text, not anything. And I went home and I cried. I cried because the one time I put myself out there I get fucking stood up. I try to go out of my comfort zone and I get fucked over. Of course, then I told Anko to never, ever mention it to Obito because that would have just been awkward. It just—“

You looked down. “I’m sorry. I was babbling.”

Kakashi was careful with his words. “You don’t need to be sorry. You have every right to be upset.”

You shook your head. “I know I just…thank you for listening.”

“Of course,” Kakashi smiled lightly. “Except I feel like I have to mention Anko let it slip you had a date when she was talking to me a few Saturdays ago…I just didn’t know the outcome.”

You chuckled. “Oh yeah, I knew she babbled because Rin, Shizune, and Kurenai all texted me at the same time when I was at work.”

“Obito never said anything to me,” Kakashi said.

“Obviously. He looked completely clueless out there,” you laughed.

“I just can’t believe Itachi never said anything to him,” Kakashi mumbled mostly to himself. And Kakashi was beginning to become confused. How did Obito have no idea that one of his best friends was going out with his cousin? You hadn’t told anyone besides Anko who only babbled to a few people, but Itachi had to know that you and Obito were close. It felt like something was missing…

“Well, anyway,” you sighed with a smile. “Hopefully they leave somewhat soon. For both of our sakes.”

“So Itachi never said anything to you?” Kakashi asked.

“Uh, no,” you said awkwardly. “He basically ghosted me.”

Even though Kakashi didn’t necessarily like Itachi, it sounded weird that he would ghost you, considering he had to know you and Obito were friends. It didn’t sound like him.

“Kakashi?” You said, reaching forward to grab his hand. “Is something wrong?”

His hand still tingled whenever you grabbed it, and he had to force himself to not react. “No, everything is fine.”

You smiled. Kakashi smiled too because he couldn’t help it. You made him smile. A lot.

A silence fell between you too. And Kakashi could feel both you and him remember that just minutes before, you had almost kissed each other in the heat of the moment.

Kakashi felt his cheeks begin to heat with color, and he looked slightly up and away while clearing this throat. He never expected to be in this situation at all, so he was slightly unsure of what he was supposed to do.

Kakashi glanced down at you just to read your expression, and he was surprised to look like you were struggling to hold in a laugh.

“What?” Kakashi looked at you. “Did I do something?”

An amused left fell out of your lips, and then you were holding your stomach as lovely, full laughs kept tumbling out of you. Watching you laugh, Kakashi couldn’t help it. He grinned like an idiot, watching the purest form of your smile compliment your sparkling eyes.

“S-Sorry,” you stuttered in between giggles. “You’re just cute when you look like that.”

You continued to giggle, but Kakashi froze for a split second, his chest tingling at what you had just said.

Cute?

The furious heat in his cheeks grew even more, and he narrowed his eyes playfully at you. “Oh, like what?”

Your hand left him to put over your mouth to silence your incessant giggling. Eyes glittering with playfulness yourself, you spoke quietly. “Like you don’t know what to say."

Kakashi rolled his eyes. “Uh-huh.”

“Sorry,” you grinned. “I’m just joking.”

Joking, Kakashi thought. Which part?

It seemed to happen a lot. You and Kakashi ending up so close to each other somehow. It didn’t change the way Kakashi felt when it happened. A fluttering stomach and flushed skin always made him want to move closer.

“You are a good dancer, by the way,” you looked down to hide your smile.

“Really?” Kakashi smirked. “That’s nice of you.”

“It’s just true.”

“You’re a good dancer, too.”

You laughed. “Only when I’m drunk.”

“That’s definitely not true,” Kakashi answered.

“So you would dance with me if we weren’t drunk?”

It was an innocent enough question, but the implication was much more evident in your eyes. It was the first time tonight Kakashi actually realized that you might be interested in him.

That you might really actually like him.

And as you looked at him with those bright, honest eyes, he would still be okay with whatever happened.

“Absolutely,” he answered with genuine honesty.

Something in your face changed, something like relief and surprise all at once. Kakashi couldn’t tell because your faces were so close and getting closer, and he was reminded of the way your lips had brushed against his while dancing. He wondered what that would feel like again—

“Yo losers! Genma and Raido—“

The door to Kakashi’s room swung open with a violent force, and Kakashi watched your eyes shoot open while you took a giant step backward away from him. Kakashi’s eyes shot over to Obito and Rin who stood in the doorway with droopy eyes and lazy smiles.

Obito’s lazy smile shaped into a smirk while wiggling his eyebrows. “Oh, my bad, was I interrupting something?”

Both Kakashi and you started speaking together to make up some excuse, but it was no use. You were both obviously flustered and panicked.

Obito laughed. “I just wanted to tell you that Genma and Raido won. The game’s finally over.”

Coming to his senses, Kakashi took a step towards Obito. “Why the hell was Itachi here?”

Obito tilted his head. “What do you—oh yeah, they just stopped by for a bit. They just left.”

Kakashi rolled his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell anyone? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Obito shrugged. “Didn’t think it was that big of a deal?”

Kakashi narrowed his eyes and watched Obito look at you with a grin.

“Plus, the look on his face was priceless. I mean, you really dodged a bullet with him Y/N—“

Obito paused with his mouth open.

The silence was deafening.

Kakashi watched as Obito began to fumble for his words. “Uh, I-I mean…what I meant to say was—“

“Obito,” you spoke up. “What did you say?”

Obito laughed awkwardly. “I…I said, uh,” he cleared his throat. “I said—“

“I thought you didn’t know about Itachi and me?” You went on, eyes sharpening as Kakashi heard the edge in your voice.

Obito cleared his throat again. “…y-you and Itachi? W-Whaaaat? That’s…that’s crazy…”

“I knew something was weird,” Kakashi was beginning to put the pieces together. “There was no way Itachi wouldn’t tell you that he had a date with her. You knew.”

Obito scratched his head. “Okay…that is true…”

“So you knew he stood me up? And you didn’t say anything to me? What the hell Obito?” Your brows furrowed together in hurt.

Obito’s eyes widened. “He stood you up?”

Kakashi was confused again. None of this was adding up.

“What is going on?” Rin asked, confused as hell herself.

“Wait,” your eyes darted around, the wheels in your head turning. “You knew Itachi asked me out…but you didn’t know he stood me up?”

“I didn’t…I didn’t think…” Obito gulped. “Shit.”

“Obito,” Kakashi said in a stern voice. “Tell us what’s going on.”

Obito squeezed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. “Okay! Okay fine…”

He took a deep breath. “Itachi told me that he asked you out a few weeks ago and you said yes. But I wanted Kakashi to ask you out so badly Y/N, and I knew you didn’t really want to go out with Itachi because you secretly like Kakashi.”

Kakashi saw your mouth part open in shock, but you didn’t say anything. Kakashi had to keep himself from doing the same.

“So…I told—well, lied to Itachi a few days before the date and said Kakashi and you had gone out on a date recently. And I might have also said that Y/N told me to tell Itachi that the date was off because you guys were dating. I told Itachi he should text you and just cancel it himself, but I was definitely not counting on him just leaving you in the dust.”

Rin let out a long sigh next to Obito and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Obito…”

“You idiot,” Kakashi seethed.

“You told Itachi that Kakashi and I were dating?” You gaped.

“What? It worked, didn’t it?” Obito shrugged.

His stupidity almost made Kakashi not mad at him anymore.

“You lied, Obito,” Kakashi said. “Y/N was hurt by what Itachi did.”

“I didn’t know he was going to ghost you, Y/N,” Obito winced. “That asshole…”

Kakashi couldn’t help glancing over at you, his anger mostly on your behalf. Your expression was now blank as you stared at Obito, and that made Kakashi nervous.

“Look I understand if you’re mad,” Obito put a hand on his hip. “But I have been watching you both for three years. Y/N, you’re in cold, hard denial pretending you don’t like Kakashi. It’s painful to watch. And Kakashi, you’ve had a crush on her forever and have done nothing. So I just had to take matters into my own hands.”

Obito grabbed the doorknob, causing Rin to stumble back into the hallway. “And I am not taking your handcuffs off until you guys figure your shit out! You’re welcome!”

Obito slammed the door close.

It was silent between Kakashi and you. The only noise was Rin’s harsh whispers outside of the door, and Obito’s attempts at a protest.

“…You should have let them figure it out, Obi.”

“They weren’t ever gonna do a damn thing!”

“You don’t know that! You have to let the universe do its thing…”

Kakashi let out a stressed sigh, running a hand through his hair. His best friend was so incredibly dense. Of course, he convinced himself that his “plan” was good. Of course, he didn’t think about you getting hurt in the process, because Itachi wasn’t supposed to bail on you. And if Itachi didn’t hate Kakashi before, he definitely hated him now because he thought he stole his date.

And just when Kakashi thought he couldn’t be caught off guard anymore tonight, he heard a small giggle escape your lips.

Kakashi whipped his head down in surprise, not sure if the giggle was good or bad. But you looked over at him with your sweet smile, and he was confused.

“This just makes Itachi’s reaction even more priceless,” you said, and then you laughed even harder. “I wish I could’ve seen his face when Obito told him we were dating. Knowing that you guys have some tense history.”

“You’re…you’re not mad at Obito?” Kakashi spoke cautiously.

“Hmm..maybe a little,” you grinned. “I mean, I was pretty hurt when I got stood up. But at least I know it was Obito that was behind it. And that he didn’t mean for it to happen.”

You finally looked at him then, and Kakashi was taken aback by the smile you wore. He didn’t understand. You should’ve been more upset by this.

“Kakashi, I know you said earlier that we should talk when we aren’t drunk and handcuffed to each other,” you said, turning fully to him. “But I think we should talk now. We have a lot we need to say.”

Kakashi felt the urgency to reassure you. “We don’t have to—“

“No,” you interrupted. “We should.”

The look in your eyes told Kakashi you were deadly serious, so he swallowed the protest in his throat. “Okay.”

You looked down and began to fiddle with your handcuff. “I need to finish my apology from earlier. I really haven’t been a great friend to you, at least not as great as I could have. We have been friends for years and I never made an effort to get to know you. And to be honest, I always told myself excuses…and ignored the way I felt about you.”

Kakashi almost stopped breathing at those words.

“I’m sorry,” you continued. “For everything. But now, to make up for it, I have to be honest. Obito was right, Kakashi. About what he said.”

Kakashi had to pay close attention to your words because his heart was beating in his ears.

You finally made eye contact with him. “He was telling the truth. I do like you. I think I have for some time. And I’m sorry for pushing you away…you really didn’t deserve that.”

Three years of being content with never having his feelings returned and living with that. And you just told him that you liked him.

You laughed lightly. “I wasn’t planning on telling you like this…well, really ever at all. I didn’t think you…um, you know. But then Obito said—I mean, I guess I should just wait for you to tell me. You don’t have to, um, r-right now, just whenever you’re ready, I guess…”

Kakashi looked at you stumbling over your words and fiddling with your hands nervously. You pressed your lips together, looking anywhere except Kakashi’s eyes and Kakashi almost chuckled. But he didn’t.

Instead, he lifted his hand up to cup your face, and your sparkling eyes full of hope met his. His thumb swiped over your cheek gently, tenderly like he had wanted to do for years.

“Sweet girl,” he said as he moved to hook his finger under your chin. “Are you going to make me spell it out?”

Like it always did with you, the world slowed to a stop, and Kakashi was lost in your presence. It surrounded him and made him feel warm as he leaned down to draw your face closer to his. He saw your eyes fluttering close, and both of you moved ever so tentatively to close the gap between your lips. He felt your hand reach up to fist his sweatshirt in your hands, and Kakashi couldn’t take it any longer.

He pressed his lips to yours like he always imagined he would. And you pressed back like he always imagined you would. And he was completely, utterly drowning in your everything. Your touch, your lips, your hands, your kiss. And the crazy part was when you sighed into the kiss and ran your hand up to his chest, he didn’t care about Itachi or Obito or anything that had happened thus far.

Kakashi felt you smile against his lips, and he couldn’t help but respond in like. You giggled softly, grabbing the fingers of his hand that was handcuffed to yours. He brushed his thumb once again over your cheek and opened his eyes.

Sparkling eyes lit up with your smile. “I feel like that was a long time coming.”

Kakashi pressed a kiss to the side of your mouth. “I think so.”

“Kakashi,” you spoke quietly.

He hummed in response, tucking some hair behind your ear and still reeling from the kiss.

“As much as I, you know, wanna stay here,” you tried to fight down a grin. “I feel like we should go tell Obito we figured it out because these handcuffs are starting to hurt like hell.”

Kakashi laughed. “Yeah, let’s go.

“Then,” you looked away with that same lovely smile. “We can continue where we left off?”

Kakashi had to keep his composure at your words. “Sure.”

Inside, he felt exploding.

Kakashi never expected the night to turn out the way it did. It was going to be like every other Saturday night with his friends, and if he happened to talk to you at some point, he would cherish that moment. But it was even better than he could’ve hoped for. Talking with you, getting to know you, laughing with you, dancing with you. The unexpected had left him breathless and grateful, and although his best friend had been a complete idiot in more than one context, the art of meddling can do some crazy things.

As you pulled him to the door, holding his hand tight and a beautiful smile on your face, he really was grateful. Though he was definitely going to make sure Obito never pulled anything like that again.

You reached for the door, but for some reason, it wouldn’t open.

Kakashi tried and had no luck.

“I think he blocked the door with something,” you spoke reluctantly.

“Obito! Obito, open this door right now you dumbass,” Kakashi tried to yell through the crack.

“What the hell? It’s not even budging. What did he put in front of the door?”

“I’m going to kill him. I’m going to kill him.”

“Rin? Hello? Anyone still here?”

“He’s an idiot.”

“He’s our idiot, though.”

“Hello? Can anyone open this damn door?”

Yes, the night had been full of the unexpected. But Kakashi wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

---

headcanon: they dragged genma's drunk sleepy ass to sit and block the door hahahahaha

taglist: @apricitobio @hatake-kunoichi @silverhairsimp @ms-sasa @xjaneeeen @kerouacbridge @sonja3

[shycoconutt]

I Found My Light (Kakashi x Reader)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2

A/n: Sound the alarms! It’s my first ever writing post! I’ve had this written for a while tbh, and I feel like I’m ready to start getting into this.

Summary: A late-night walk turns into a rekindled friendship.

Word Count: 2300

Warnings: fem!reader, SFW (but might not be later lol)

You opened your eyes for what seemed like the thousandth time tonight. Staring at the white ceiling, you sighed. Sleep seemed to evade you recently, a side effect of the recent dreariness of your life. You found yourself living the same days over and over again. Because of this, the line between day and night started to fade.

The moon was full tonight, you noticed as it shined brightly through your open window. It was the perfect temperature out, warm but chilly enough to feel comfortable wrapped in your blankets. You love listening to the occasional sounds that occurred outside, the noise of leaves rustling in the wind being your favorite.

Your gaze left the moon and landed back on your ceiling. Why is something as simple as sleeping so hard? Gods, all you wanted was an escape. With a huff, you pushed the covers off of you and sat up from your lying position. Trying to force yourself to sleep would do more harm than good right now.

You make your way to your dresser and pull out your favorite pair of black joggers. You love them because they are tight on your ankles, loose on your legs, and have a cinched band at the waist. They are perfect for any lazy day. You slip them on over your underwear, you never go to bed with pants on, and exchange your sleep shirt for a cropped black hoodie made from the same soft, elastic material as your pants.

You turn to face your large standing mirror in the corner of the room to assess your appearance. The all-black look was your favorite, especially since it will help you blend into the night. Your hair was a mess, so you decided to put it up in a loose bun on the top of your head and pull out some strands to frame your face. It felt good to not look so polished and put together. Your jonin uniform was not the most comfortable piece of clothing, especially with the way it hit your figure.

You walked out of your bedroom and across the kitchen to the front door of your apartment. One foot after the other, you slide into your sandals and grab the key to your apartment hanging on the hook next to you. With that, you leave your apartment and head out into the night.

You walked the streets of Konoha at a gingerly pace. It was probably around 3 a.m. at this point, and there wasn’t a single soul on the street with you. You make your way past the line of shops on the main street, including your favorite bakery where you'd treat yourself to a lemon square after coming back from a long mission. You thought about that lemon square a lot when you were out risking your life, embarrassingly enough.

A couple of turns later and you found yourself heading towards your favorite place in all of Konoha, a little area of woods towards the perimeter that contained this amazing koi pond. Although it was nighttime and the fish wouldn’t be as active, you still want to check to see if you can watch any. To your surprise, your favorite koi, who you nicknamed “Nishi'', was out and swimming around by himself. You sit criss-cross in the grass and watch as he glides through the calm water, almost putting you in trance. Nishi didn’t look or act like the others; He was black with white, almost silver-looking spots and he was less frantic in nature. You sway from side to side as you watch him, thinking to yourself about how you would like to be more like Nishi.

“You look cute watching the koi.” You heard a soft, yet unwavering voice declare behind you.

“Holy sh-” You almost jump out of your pants at the unexpected presence. Surprised, you quickly turn your head around to see who’s voice that could possibly be. To your disbelief, there lies a figure perched up by a tree a couple yards away from you. Their feet were crossed, legs extended, one hand in the pocket of their pants, the other holding up what looks like a copy of Icha-Icha, head turned towards you, and wild hair moving with each passing breeze. How did I not notice him?

“Oh I’m sorry (y/n), I didn’t mean to startle you. I figured you knew I was here because you walked right past me.” He brought his hand up to scratch the back of his head and let out a small chuckle. “Guess I should have made my presence known right away.”

Still in disbelief, you get up and slowly make your way towards the figure, stepping into the shadow of the tree to see him more clearly. As you approached you immediately recognized the silver-haired jonin.

“Kakashi?” You say confused. “What are you doing out here? It’s late.”

“I could ask you the same thing.” He states, closing his book and setting it down next to him on the grass. He looked different. He looked… quite hot actually. The jonin uniform you usually saw him in was traded for a pair of comfortable-looking grey sweatpants and a tight, black tank top that connected to his mask. He wasn’t wearing his headband either, just keeping his left sharingan eye shut in a permanent wink. As you observed him, you couldn’t help but notice that he was doing the same to you.

“I suppose you're right.” You smirk and let out a small chuckle. “I couldn’t sleep so I figured that if I was up I should take a walk around the village to clear my head. This is my favorite spot, so I guess I just naturally ended up here.” You exclaimed, still standing in front of him.

“It looks like you and I are having the same issue,” he states plainly, “I came out here a little while ago after tossing in my bed for an hour. I hate trying to force myself to sleep; It’s a battle I never seem to win.” His eyes averted your gaze and moved to his now empty hands in his lap. You couldn’t help but notice a hint of pain in his voice and it tugged at your heartstrings.

You know about the things Kakashi has been through, as it was pretty common knowledge to all jonin in your mutual age group. You were pretty close with his friends, Gai, Kurenai, and Asuma, but Kakashi always seemed to keep everyone at an arm’s length. He also was an Anbu for ten years, which didn’t help the disconnect either. Fortunately, he was relieved from his Anbu position a couple weeks ago, and gradually you have been seeing him a bit more here and there. Though, this is the first time you are able to have a conversation with him in what seems like forever.

“Well,” you sighed, “I guess we have lost the battle together. We must be pretty shitty jonin.” You stated flatly.

Kakashi squinted his eyes and you both laughed. You couldn’t help but take a mental picture of his face at this moment. You really enjoy seeing him happy, as it makes you happy too.

You can’t kid yourself, having a chance to talk with Kakashi alone feels like such a treat. Little genin (y/n) would be ecstatic right now. Of course you had a crush on him back then, who didn’t?

“You’ve always had a natural talent for connecting with people,” Kakashi mused, “I haven’t talked to you since we were teenagers, and here I am laughing with you like we’re long-time friends.”

You could feel your eyebrows furrow at that statement. Yeah sure, you weren’t at his apartment every week for Sunday brunch, but you did have a history.

“Kakashi,” you started, “You are my long-time friend. Just because we drifted apart doesn’t mean I don’t care about you. To be honest, I was relieved when I found out you were no longer going to be a member of the Anbu. It wasn’t good for you.” You stepped closer and sat down next to him, leaning back on the tree stump. The grass felt cool under you, sending a small shiver up your body.

“I suppose you’re right,” Kakashi stated, quoting your words from earlier. “It amazes me that none of you gave up on me. I feel like I am undeserving of everyone’s effort.” You were baffled by his honesty; Kakashi wasn’t known to be much of an open book. It upsets you so much that he feels this way as you couldn’t imagine not caring about him or any of your other comrades in the village. The faces of your closest friends flashed through your mind and you grimaced at the thought of losing them.

Not knowing if you should, you felt compelled to reach over and hold Kakashi’s hand in yours. It's cold compared to the warmth spreading from your fingertips. Hmm, I wonder how long he has been out here. Giving his hand a small squeeze, you look at him in his onyx eye. “Trust me, Kakashi. You are deserving. You are deserving of a great life and people who care about you. I know the world may seem dark, but I promise that a light is always glowing. No matter how small or dim, it’s there.”

You stare at each other in silence for a moment before he changes the position of his hand and intertwines his fingers in yours. The change was small, but it ignites a feeling in your stomach you couldn’t describe. Slowly, you felt your cheeks flush and you turned your face to look towards the sky in hopes he wouldn’t notice. You knew this action was him telling you that he accepts your words, and thanks you for them.

You spent the next hour sitting under the tree together, you looking up at the stars and him looking at you. Your intertwined hands fell between your bodies, resting on the cool grass. You felt him start to graze the back of your hand with his thumb, sending a tingling sensation up your arm. It felt so good to be touched by him, even in such an innocent manner.

A strong breeze ran through the air and hit you suddenly. You began to shiver at the quick change in temperature, realizing that you should have dressed warmer if you were going to be out this long. Yet, you couldn’t have anticipated the situation you are currently in.

“Are you cold?” Kakashi questioned with a hint of concern.

“Yeah a little bit,” you answered honestly, “but I don’t want to go back home. I’m not really tired yet.” Truthfully, you didn’t want this little moment of shared bliss to end. You started to feel like you found your escape, and you refused to be torn away from it so soon.

“Neither do I,” he confessed, “Come here.” He released his hand from yours and slid his position higher up on the side of the tree. He then spread his legs and patted the ground in between, inviting you to sit.

You felt your face get hot again, as the position he was offering you was a very intimate gesture. There was absolutely no way you could refuse his offer. One, because you were freezing and, two, young (y/n) would never forgive you.

You got up and sat down carefully between his thighs, leaning until your back met his chest. He then wrapped both of his arms around you, one around your shoulders and the other around your waist with his hand resting on your stomach. The outsides of your legs met the insides of his and you felt an immediate warmth there. Lastly, your head tilted back and rested upon his left shoulder, with his face nuzzled against your temple. You both fit together like two pieces of a puzzle, no part of you feeling any discomfort against his strong body. Engulfed in his smell and warmth, for the first time in a while you felt completely relaxed.

“Thank you, Kakashi.” You looked up at him with a warm smile.

“Anytime.” He breathed, voice muffled by your hair. You wondered if he truly meant that. I mean, after all, this is the first time you have interacted in a while. Yet, the connection you felt towards him was unquestionable.

Does he feel the way I feel?

“Hey,” you began, “are you tired at all?”

He flexed his arms and held you closer to his chest. “Not really,” he answered, “I’m enjoying this moment too much to be tired.” You smiled, and there was a pause.

“Isn’t this odd?” you questioned again.

“What? You and I snuggled under a tree in a random corner of the village alone at 4 a.m. after we haven’t interacted with each other in years?” he questioned sarcastically, “Not at all.”

“Kakashi!,” you laughed, gently nudging your elbow into his ribs as he laughed along with you.

“Yeah it’s a little odd,” he answered honestly, “but I’m not going to question it. I found my light, and now I’m enjoying it.” He nuzzled his face into your hair and breathed deeply.

Completely and utterly relaxed, you let yourself succumb to the heaviness of your eyelids. Truthfully, this has felt like the longest day in the world and you are happy to end it this way. The sound of Kakashi’s breathing and the rise and fall of his chest acted as your personal sleep machine. It’s priceless.

Before you completely drift off, you swear you could feel the soft, pillowiness of Kakashi’s lips graze the skin of your temple, a soft hum escaping from them.

“Goodnight, (y/n)”

~~~

Queue Hilary Duff’s “What Dreams Are Made Of”. This kind of feels like the beginning of something. Should I continue? Idk if my writing is even good. If you read this, PLEASE let me know if you have any feedback. Again, this is my first story and I would greatly appreciate any feedback, advice, suggestions, etc.! I can’t believe I’m uploading, ah! - Klara

[depressedhatakekakashi]

I've been in Anbu Kakashi and baby Naruto hell lately- it just warms my heart thinking that even when Kakashi was in such a bad place mentally and emotionally at the time he couldn't resist doing little somethings for the kid he had guarded pretty much the entire time of Kushina's pregnancy, They were always little tiny acts but it meant so much to little Naruto who rarely had someone who would treat him nicely repeatedly and he could trust not to get angry at him.

But i think after Kakashi left Anbu he kinda lost an excuse to be able to go near Naruto without heavy repercussions i.e possibly never even being allowed to getting a glimpse of him at all (cuz i think it was like illegal? like a gag order that wouldn't make the people who knew about Naruto get too close or 'sum? maybe that's just fanon tho who knows) Iruka had to gently tell Naruto that Anbu don't really have the highest survival rate and for years Naruto grieved one of the few people who were nice to him until he finds out about Kakashi's anbu days and is basically like-

"Bruh?!?! You were that guy!! Holy shit i thought you died?!?!"

I can’t remember the exact specifics of the order. It was that they couldn’t tell Naruto who his parents were or about the tailed beast inside of him (which was stupid as soon as the entire village knew because it just stunted Naruto’s growth as a shinobi)

Kakashi did seem to go on a lot of missions. I think Team Ro was one of the top teams, hence why it was them that was given Itachi when he joined Anbu (i doubt they were the only one’s without a Third team member) but when he was home I like to think he would do the smallest things. Like check in on Naruto and make sure any bad food was taken out if his fridge.

But then as you said, Kakashi was removed from Anbu. He didn’t have an easy excuse to be there to check in on Naruto and he was still doing missions before he finally had a team. We see him do a mission that included Iruka (and iruka screwed up and ultimately chose to become a sensei because of it) so it’s likely he was still rather busy. That mixed with the fact he didn’t have an excuse to be around Naruto between missions would mean Naruto wouldn’t have ‘Hound-san’ visiting him any longer

But also like, imagine Naruto being really lonely some nights and wanting cuddles (as kids do). Kakashi being Kakashi wouldn’t be open to giving those cuddles himself so he does the enxt best thing. Summons Pakkun. Lets Naruto cling to the little pug until he passes out so hard Pakkun can wriggle out of his arms

Naruto realizing who Kakashi is during the attack on Konoha when his Sensei summons up that familiar little pug he used to hug as tight as he could

[thefairyletters]

I saw you rb a SaiSaku post and was curious if you had any fanfic recs for this rarepair?!

Do I have?!!!!! I am currently binging this ship so you couldn't have asked this at better time.

.

This pair is not a crack ship! Crack would mean they have not shared more than two words with each other. But SaiSaku interactions always bordered on romance and best friends who don't act like it. Not only Sakura was the first person to acknowledge Sai had human side to him and bonded with him over his painting, Sai was also the only person outside Sasuke (in part 1) to be able tell her fake smiles and he always understood her feelings better than other characters. Had Sakura ever only cared for good looks (something she don't) then with Sai she'd get that and so much more.

I have always considered SaiSaku as the next best thing after NaruSaku. They had too much potential as a couple. I am not bitter that InoSai became a thing but looking at them I only feel that "Ino didn't get Sasuke so she get his look-alike." Besides, Sai gave people nicknames that are opposites to what actually feels about them – Naruto as Dickless, Sakura as Hag/Ugly and Ino as Beautiful – which makes it worse. Both Ino and Sai deserve better than this. If Kishi has shown them together more often or had interactions between them similar to SaiSaku then I can understand why Ino is his light. I guess it is also SP's fault for showing them in different light. For all SP hates Sakura, they enjoy messing up with her fans by feeding them false hope.

Whenever I want to read something hilarious but deep, SaiSaku is my to-go couple. Usually angsty, or full bout of insults and punches. There's no in between with them.

. SaiSaku .

This list contains my favorite SaiSaku collection. I am not sure if you like SaiSaku only as romance ship but this list also contain stories that expands on SaiSaku friendship, something I absolutely adore.

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Could Roses Bloom? : RiseoftheBlossom || M || AO3 || Shippuden AU || GaaSaku, SaiSaku || Angst, Romance || Ongoing

Sai glanced downwards at his body, the sudden override of his thoughts causing his mind to blank. What did that mean? Had he been straying too close to a piece of information Danzo didn't want him to have or share? Or was it his mind's natural response to shutting down any form of emotion, even if it was just the slightest of inclination towards feeling something?

Go for it if you like: enemies-to-friends-to-lovers troupe, SaiSaku friendship, confused-over-his-feelings!Sai, slow burn, GaaSaku, boys who are bad at feelings, Sakura who is unlucky with romance, angst with fluff

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hello, bright eyes (been waiting on you) : mouseymightymarvellous || T || AO3 || Shippuden AU || SaiSaku || Angst, Romance || One Shot

“look underneath the underneath,” except no one has ever really bothered to look at sakura and see her. and then there is a boy (isn’t there always). maybe they’re both just ghosts, making each other real.

Go for it if you like: enemies-to-friends-to-lovers troupe, confused-over-her-feelings!Sakura, boys who are bad at feelings, Sakura who is unlucky with romance, Sai and Sakura who don't feel like they belong, angst with fluff, sad!Sai

.

Oh God That’s Heaven : blueberrysconesandfolkmusic || T || AO3 || Shippuden AU || SaiSaku || Angst, Romance || One Shot

Sakura finds Sai sick, alone, and in desperate need of a hand that doesn't hurt.

Go for it if you like: boys who are bad at feelings, bleeding-heart!Sakura, sad-and-lonely!Sai, Sai and Sakura who are secretly best friends, Sai with PTSD, protective!team7

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for everything blue and bright : sinemoras09 || M || AO3 || Shippuden AU || SaiSaku, SasuSaku || Angst || One Shot

The five stages of human arousal.

Go for it if you like: lonely!Sai, obsessed!Sakura, One-sided love, Unrequited-love-no-matter-how-you-look-at-it!SaiSaku, no-good-very-bad!Ending, pining!Sai, bittersweet lemon

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A mess of me : Dovey || M || AO3 || Pre-Shippuden AU || SaiSaku || Yandere Romance || Complete

In which Sai is a good ANBU agent with an unusual hobby, and Sakura grows up with a #1 fan rooting for her....even if she doesn't know it. Or: Sai starts stalking Sakura when they're both young to satisfy his curiousity about 'normalcy', gets attached, and eventually gets very frustrated that nobody else seems to notice her potential as a shinobi and takes matters into his own hands- and delights in being Sakura's prime source of validation because of it.

Go for it if you like: obsessed!Sai, manipulation, stalker!Sai, mentor!Sai, SaiSaku friendship, distraught!Kakashi, fluff, baby-Sai-stalking-baby-Sakura, abusive haruno household

.

There is sunshine on his forehead : amako || T || AO3 || Soulmate AU || SaiSaku but it's complicated || Angst, Hurt/Comfort || One Shot

Sakura is only three when she promises herself that Sasuke will die by her hand, whoever he is.

Go for it if you like: dysfunctional Team 7, Soulmate AU, Unrequited love feels, angst heavy, Sai and Sakura only want to belong, NaruSasu, NaruSaku but not really, betrayal heavy, no fluff only pain, SaiSaku, Team 7 taking Sakura for granted, Sakura is so done

.

In theory : nimblnymph || T || FFN || Shippuden || SaiSaku || Romance, Humor || One Shot

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Sai was about to learn that this theory applied to more than just physics. And that putting theory into practice sometimes gave unexpected results.

Go for it if you like: oblivious!Sai, teacher!Sakura, student!Sai, Sai getting educated, Sakura educating Sai, Kisses, Sai being Sai, Sakura with patience of god

.

Loathing : i AM the Random Idiot || T || FFN || Shippuden || SaiSaku || Romance, Angst || One Shot

Define "hatred."

Go for it if you like: oblivious!Sai, hurt!Sai, Angst, Onions, SakuSai bonding over mutual hate, love is overrated anyway

.

Bunk Mates : ice bitten || T || FFN || Shippuden || Team 7 || Humor, Friendship || One Shot

In which Sasuke and Naruto find out Sakura has been sleeping over at Sai's. Short stories surrounding Sakura, Sai, and the invasive people of Konoha.

Go for it if you like: sassy!Sai, protective!Team7, SaiSaku friendship, roommates, Sai being Sai, Perfect characterisation, Canon feels

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Paint me with Colour : PeregrineFlight || T || FFN || post-Shippuden || SaiSaku|| Humor, Friendship || Incomplete

Sai and Sakura must travel to the Land of Lightning to retrieve something for the Daimyo, they have to travel as a married couple. Much to Naruto's amusement.

Go for it if you like: lonely!Sai, SaiSaku friendship, roommates, Sai being Sai, pretend marriage, SaiSaku bonding over mission, fluffy angst, adorable!Sai

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Forget Me Not : Joy-girl || T || FFN || post-Shippuden || Team 7 || Angst, Friendship || Complete

Sometimes it's easy to forget how important someone is when the person is always in the background – but Sakura's boys still remember. Glimpses of her importance from each member of her team.

Go for it if you like: fluffy angst, Sakura's place in team 7, underappreciated Sakura, Team7 family, Family feels, sad!Sakura, protective!Team7 males, Sakura appreciation, SaiSaku bond, Team7Saku feels, avenger!Teammates

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Add Me Colour : Cella N || T || FFN || post-Shippuden || SaiSaku || Drama, Romance || Complete

"All my life is white. Paint me. Add me colour."

Go for it if you like: lonely!Sakura, Sai being Sai, confused!Sakura, angst, poetic translation, colors

.

Euphemisms : Nymbis || T || FFN || Shippuden || SaiSaku || Humor, Romance || Complete(?)

Drabbles about Sai, Sakura, and their strange attempts at bonding.

Go for it if you like: Sai being Sai, Sakura being Sakura, Hilarious friendships, SaiSaku friendship, loveggression, love-hate relationship, Insults, Sai's brand of humor, fluff with punches, Raunchy stuff

.

Ricochet : Strix 4 || T || FFN || Shippuden AU || Team 7 || Family, Drama || Complete(?)

Sometimes it's easy to see the familiar in the faces around you. Sometimes it sucks to figure out why.

Go for it if you like: fluffy angst, Sakura's place in team 7, Team7 as family, Family feels, wise!Sakura, SaiSaku bond, Sai's place in team 7

.

Pick up lines : Demoneyes 14 || T || FFN || Shippuden || SaiSaku || Humor || One Shot

Ero sennin's pick up lines! Guaranteed to get the girl or your money back! Well... it would be more guaranteed if it hadn't fallen on his face in the library, but heck, Sai will try anything once! Maybe it will save him a beating from Sakura...

Go for it if you like: Sai being Sai, Sakura being Sakura, SaiSaku friendship, loveggression, love-hate relationship, Insults, Sai's brand of humor, fluff with punches

.

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Special mentions...

Study of the Heart : teresa

In an effort to become a better friend, Sai undertakes a study of love, not really understanding how difficult it could be, and how surprising.

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The Blood of a Cherry Blossom : Slytherin Kunoichi

Originally, for Halloween, Sai hadn't decided what to go as, but once he glimpsed at the bleeding flesh on Sakura's neck, he suddenly had the urge to be a vampire…

.

Old Dogs, New Tricks : yuugiri

After an unprecedented turn of events, the Fifth Hokage has officially assigned Sakura Haruno the responsibility to make Sai recover what he had lost; his emotions. With a time limit of a month, will Sakura succeed in this mission?

.

Once More, With Feeling : Cynchick

Sakura didn't know what she was thinking when she showed up on his doorstep. 

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Ink Me : Krickitat

Exploring the art of bod-modification Sakura takes a step into the unknown world of the exquisite pain of art.

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The Uchiha Secret : Slytherin Kunoichi

Sasuke froze as he stared at Sai's eyes, which were identical to his Uchiha Sharingan eyes now: red with anger and black with hatred...One family secret could threaten and shake three lives forever. Bonds will be broken.

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My babies don't get enough love in the world.

[ayyyez]

can i request hcs of the bois kakashi, neji and itachi w a s/o who has a very high sex drive??? Thank u queenie

a/n: yeah sure thing, I also added Madara for myself haha warnings: sexual content below the cut 

Neji Hyuga

So. Overwhelmed. Like. Dead.

He struggles to keep up at first. It’s not that he doesn’t have stamina its just intimacy is so overwhelming to him and sex was never really a think before you and suddenly you want it a lot. His heart is constantly racing. 

That being said, the fact that you are so interested in him? BIGGEST TURN ON! Will honestly let you have your way with him most of the time but HAS to pay you back sometimes. 

Easiest way to get him going for another round is a blowjob. He loses his mind when it comes to blowjobs and he is just so sensitive. A blushing mess but he craves more. Also wants to return the favour. 

Neji really likes making out and grinding together (bit of the old dry humping). Could honestly cum from this. If you are very into teasing your partner its an excellent way to rile him up. 

Never understands when you get horny in the kitchen. He won’t say no to taking you on the counter (or vice versa) but only if there is no food around. 

Will only satisfy your needs at home. He knows that look on your face. That “I need you right now” face. He blushes when he sees it and usually asks if you want to go home. He power walks there lol with your wrist in his hand, pulling you along.

He is mortified you turned him on like this in public (all from a look) and now he needs it too. He needs a lot of loving sex though it can’t be too much wild or just quickies. He needs the intimacy of it or he will get anxious. 

Grinding your arse against him when he is spooning you in bed. If he’s tired but still wants it he will just wrap his arms tightly around you while you reach behind, pull his pants down and wiggle down onto his erection. Just thrusting drawn out and slow. Each taking your time until you both cum. He just buries his face against your neck/hair and enjoys the ride.

If it’s reverse and you enter him then just spoon him from behind and grind against his backside. He will whine and let out soft gasps every now and again. To really edge him start rubbing his clothed erection through his pants. 

Neji can deal with s/o with a really high sex drive as long as its loving sex and done in the comfort of your home. He will say you’re insatiable but just insist it’s because he is irresistible and he will melt. 

Itachi Uchiha

I can see him having a pretty medium sex drive. Its not super high but its not super low either so he can deal itachi can deal with a s/o with a high sex drive. 

He will have this smirk on his face when you get needy and touchy. Will know exactly what you want but will make you work for it a little bit. At first though he is a little surprise how much you want him? 

After the first time you had sex he thought wow, amazing and was coming down from his high but oh you want to go again? Won’t say no to that. And then again in the morning? And again when he came home? Can’t say no to that!

Then he realises you want it a lot. So he teases you a little bit just to get you both a little worked up. But it doesn’t last long because now he is hungry for you. He wants to touch you and he is lost in the mood. 

Climbing into his lap while he is reading is a big constant in your daily life. You’ll end up having sex wherever he was sitting, the book discarded beside him. He loves when you are on top like this, doing this for him. 

Likes kneeling on the end of the bed and eating you out/sucking you off when you are particularly needy. He is very much about your pleasure and doesn’t need you to reciprocate but melts when you do. 

Enjoys shower sex in the morning. Just the water running down your bodies while his body is pressed against yours. These sessions usually are filled with slow and intentional strokes, his hands exploring your skin.

Sleepy handjobs before going to sleep. Theres something about watching itachi look at you with half lidded eyes, his mouth open slightly, panting. He always cums hardest when you focus just on him. It riles him up to do you though. 

Itachi can never just take he must give, every time. 

Leaving hickeys just above his hipbones before giving him a blowjob. Kissing his neck while he squeezes your arse. Pulling his hair to pull his neck back and nipping at it. Him chuckling after you do. Just being in love and having sex a lot is fine by Itachi. 

Kakashi Hatake

It honestly depends. Like anbu Kakashi doesn’t always have time lmao you might have to deal with him being away a lot - even with jonin kakashi. But in saying that because he isn’t around you a lot, the time he is with you is more special so intimate times is a big yes!

That you have a high sex drive and want him so much? it reassures him big time that you are there and with him. He gets a bit concerned considering his trauma and dark past that one day you will leave too. He gets a bit needy and vulnerable during sex so it helps if you cater for that.

Just having sex against the front door (closed and inside) as soon as he gets home. What could he do? You greeted and practically mounted him lol. If you can’t do the door then. definitely on the floor in front of the door.

Lots of sex where you barely remove clothes. he is a busy man with places to be after all. Also likes sex from behind, him behind you with his arms around you and whispering in your ear. Sometimes he is still a bit funny with showing his face when he is intimate so this makes him feel secure. 

Then there are those wild days where you basically fuck against every surface in the house. The two of you only stopped too hydrate and eat and pass out in bed together, limbs entangled. Best sleep he has had in a long time. 

There are times though he is too tired or just cannot do the full sex so he is find with just getting you off or using each others hands. Likes a bit of pillow talk in between sex too. 

Can go for some rough needy sex but he also needs some loving sex too. Likes long drawn out sessions where the two of you just pour your feelings into each other. The orgasms always extra hard when this happens. 

Madara Uchiha

This gremlin omg. He gets so needy for sex and love so he will absolutely adore you for having a high sex drive. Just the idea of you wanting him as much as he wants you is the biggest hell yeah!

He just always needs to be touching you (in private) and just wants to run his hands over you all the time. Likes resting his head on your shoulder or against your face when cuddling you from behind. Just grind back a little and its enough to get him going. 

Will literally have sex anywhere in the house. Wants to mark his territory lmao. Oh you going to sit in that seat? The two of you have fucked there. Gives him pleasure to know this. 

He craves touch and intimacy which is why he is also needy for sex. Very grabby and always has to be pressed against you. Also likes looking in your eyes most of the time because its all about the feelings. 

Using the Sharingan a lot to imprint you on his memory. Likes having sex in the bath while you two wash each other. Just permanently inside you tbh, he lives inside you. 

If you dominate him constantly when you get in the mood too, he will love that. He just needs someone to take control of his mess lol. Also just riding him nice and hard. What a sight. Has a firm grip on your hips the whole time. 

Loooooots of pillow talk between sessions. Sometimes he is such a sap and just loves you so much - these moments he tells you. Other times you two just talk about mindless things. Then oop another session begins slowly and then you two are having sex again. 

This man needs to have a house away from neighbours in an isolated part of the village. But honestly he just loves you so much that he always wants you.