#it might help kakashi after taking a scroll

[equill]

I never seen this man in my life

Extra: (you did this to yourself.)

[heirloomficinfo]

Heirloom Chapter 4

<<first <prev next>

Winter, Year of the Dog Hiruzen Sarutobi, age 48

Sakumo Hatake killed himself three weeks after Kakashi graduated from the Academy.

Hiruzen watched Kakashi from the edge of the graveyard as the boy stood over his father’s grave. He didn’t move; his shoulders didn’t shake with tears, he didn’t reach up to wipe his eyes. Only stood there in his black clothes, mask up and head down.

A little bell tinkled behind him, and he glanced over his shoulder to see Tsubame Atae approaching in a mourning kimono. He was growing his hair out, now just brushing his shoulders, and had his mother’s hair pin stuck in the front of his kimono. For what felt like the hundredth time, Hiruzen was reminded of his once-student Orochimaru. Except, of course, for those unnerving silver eyes.

Atae nodded politely to Hiruzen before passing him by and approaching Kakashi silently. Hiruzen watched as the boy stood next to his younger classmate, not saying a word, and reached a gloved hand out to take his. Kakashi’s fists had been clenched; the one he grabbed loosened until the two could weave their fingers together.

The next morning, the Academy report on Hiruzen’s desk included two early graduate requests: knowing about their secret progress, he allowed Might and Atae to take their exams just as Kakashi had done. He considered putting the three of them on the same permanent team - working with children his own age might have helped Kakashi adjust to life without his father faster - but decided against it. He’d been sorting their Academy class into teams for months, and none of these three were on the same team.

They would continue to work as stand-bys for other teams, as Kakashi had been doing.

Spring, Year of the Boar Kakashi Hatake, age 6

A week after his father’s funeral, Kakashi arrived at the muster to get his daily assignments and found both Guy and Tsu standing in the ranks. Guy was glowing with excitement, chatting excitedly with his father who had tears of pride in his eyes. Tsu was much calmer, and greeted Kakashi as he’d always done, as if his early graduation from the Academy was unremarkable.

That night, Kakashi was gathering supplies to go fishing at the river when he was interrupted by a knock at the door. Opening it, he found Tsu and Guy, bags in their hands. Tsu offered Kakashi a small smile and held up his bag.

“We bought the stuff for a hot pot,” he said. “You haven’t eaten dinner yet, have you?”

“I’m not your personal kitchen,” Kakashi protested. Tsu stepped past him with a shrug.

“You are tonight. Do you have noodles? I forgot to buy some.”

They didn’t bring up his father. They didn’t even bring up their recent graduation from the Academy. Tsu steered the conversation, debating the pros and cons of weapon storage scrolls and lamenting the price of chakra ink. They left room in the conversation for Kakashi, but didn’t press him to answer questions or join in the debate.

Tsu was trying to explain how to put a design into fabric with a floor loom when Kakashi realized that some of the tension in his shoulders had loosened. His stomach was full and warm; his home smelled like life again, and his friend’s voices filled the quiet house with noise. He watched Guy try to fish a mushroom out of the hot pot and realized there were tears in his eyes.

Tsu and Guy pretended not to notice when he swiped the tears away, clearing his throat. Instead, Tsu added more mushrooms to the pot as Guy asked him about the present Jun Uchiha had gotten him for graduating the Academy; a small embroidery kit, how-to guide included.

Guy left early; he wanted to go for a run around the village with his father before bed. Tsu stuck around to help with the dishes, drying them as Kakashi scrubbed. They worked in comfortable silence for a little while before Kakashi spoke.

“I don’t need you to take care of me,” he said. It came out harsher than he’d meant; he was grateful for the company, but he didn’t want Tsu to feel obliged to keep doing this.

“You’re my friend,” Tsu said with a shrug. The last of the bowls was put away, and the older boy leaned with his back against the counter, looking around Kakashi’s kitchen with sleepy eyes.

“But I can take care of myself,” Kakashi pointed out, scrubbing the sink as he spoke. The sink was already clean, but he needed to do something with his hands.

“Before his last mission,” Tsu said, rubbing the side of his head, “your father asked me to keep an eye on you. You’re not going to tell me to disobey a direct order from a jonin, are you?” Tsu looked at Kakashi out of the corner of his eye, one eyebrow raised.

Kakashi wasn’t sure how to answer that. He finished scrubbing the sink in silence.

“Guy and I are going to keep getting together to train when we can,” Tsu said a little later as he put his shoes on. “Every night right after dinner, we meet by the Academy gates. If someone doesn’t show, we just train on our own. You should join us some time.”

“…Yeah,” Kakashi said, “I might.”

As he closed the door behind his friend, Kakashi thought about the silence in his house. With a sigh, he turned toward his bedroom. Might as well try to sleep.

Tsubame Atae, age 7

Kakashi’s early graduation had driven Guy to distraction with envy, but it was his father’s death that had led both Tsu and Guy to request early graduation themselves. They considered Kakashi to be their friend, and it hurt to see him suffer his father’s death. The hope was that they would be put on the same permanent squad, spending as much time with Kakashi as possible and helping him through his grief. Tsu, at least, had some experience living alone as Kakashi now was; he knew that the silence was the worst part.

He might have thought that the appearance of Orochimaru at his door in the morning meant he would be their jonin leader, except that when he opened the door he found Orochimaru alone and dressed as a woman. With a polite greeting, Tsu stepped aside to let him in.

“Do you have any women’s kimonos that fit you?” Orochimaru asked, voice lighter than Tsu had ever heard it. If it weren’t for the purple markings and slit-pupiled eyes, Tsu might have mistaken Orochimaru for someone else. That, and the fact that Orochimaru’s thread was the same one it had been when they’d last met.

“I have two,” Tsu said, picking up the teapot. Orochimaru shook his - or her? - head in response. Shrugging, Tsu continued. “One is the black one from Hatake-san’s funeral. I’m guessing you want me to wear the other?”

“Yes,” Orochimaru said, inspecting Tsuru’s naginata in its display on the wall. “You and I have an undercover mission this morning.”

“I’ll get changed,” Tsu agreed politely. “May I ask why you, one of the legendary Sannin, would agree to a mission with a genin who only graduated the Academy two days ago?”

“Call it curiosity,” Orochimaru murmured, attention shifting to the pile of scrolls on Tsu’s dining table. Deciding not to press the issue, Tsu shrugged again and stepped into his bedroom to change.

“You’ll need to do better than that,” Orochimaru said when Tsu stepped out of his room. “You look like the same little boy from the Academy, and we don’t want our target to recognize you so easily. Take those gloves off, and do something with your hair. Do you have a hair pin that isn’t so easily recognizable?”

“Yes, sir,” Tsu said, turning toward the restroom. Another of his mother’s hairpins, this one a simple white bone pin carved on one end to resemble a dragon’s head, sat in a little box on the counter. Tsu pulled his mother’s favorite pin from where he’d stuck it to his kimono and placed it in the box. His hair was too short to pull all of it into a neat bun, so he only pulled the top half back, using a little water to try and keep any stray hairs in line.

“The gloves,” Orochimaru repeated when Tsu stepped out. “Very few little girls wear gloves with a pretty kimono.”

“Forgive me,” Tsu said, frowning up at her. “But if you don’t want us to be noticed, wouldn’t those purple markings and slit-pupiled eyes stand out more than my simple black gloves?”

With a smirk, Orochimaru passed a hand over her face, a surge of chakra making the thread between her and Tsu flutter gently. When her hand fell away from her face, Orochimaru had black eyes framed with thick eyelashes, purple markings nowhere to be seen and nose that was wider and flatter than it had been before. She even wore makeup now; a light pink blush on rounded cheeks and lips stained red.

“You’re beautiful,” Tsu said honestly. No longer able to argue, he pulled his gloves off. Closing his eyes for a moment, Tsu sank into a memory of his mother’s; an etiquette lesson from years before. He hadn’t realized how much his posture and walk had changed since he began at the Academy until he recalled his mother’s posture lessons; the differences in how one carried themselves as a noblewoman vice as a ninja were subtle, but he felt them all the same.

“Very well,” Orochimaru seemed almost to purr, her voice even more feminine than before. Tsu wondered briefly if the voice change was part of the jutsu that had altered her face.

Tsu shouldn’t have been surprised at their mission, given what he’d seen of Orochimaru in the past; they were following someone. With Orochimaru’s reputation, Tsu thought the sannin’s talents were being wasted on these little stalking missions within village limits.

The man they followed seemed to be a perfectly normal civilian, a traveling merchant stopping in Konoha to sell his jewelry. Orochimaru and Tsu followed the merchant for a few minutes as he tried to find a stall he could rent for selling his wares; when he turned back in their direction, Tsu put on his best innocent-little-girl impression and tugged at Orochimaru’s sleeve, pointing with his other hand at a nearby food stall and begging for breakfast.

Orochimaru’s smile was that of an indulgent mother, but her amusement showed in her eyes as she looked down at Tsu. They both turned toward the food stall and let their quarry wander off further down the street.

“I was serious about breakfast,” Tsu said. “You showed up before I ate this morning.”

“Our target may get too far away if we stop to eat,” Orochimaru pointed out. Tsu felt like she was testing him, a shimmer of curiosity and expectation drifting from the sannin.

“As long as he doesn’t get more than three blocks away, I’ll be able to get us back to him.”

“That’s an impressive range for someone your age,” Orochimaru said, turning to the vendor. Tsu shrugged.

“It’s longer when we’re not in such a crowded area,” he explained. Orochimaru bought them both some breakfast, and they sat down to eat in comfortable silence. When they finished eating and moved on, Tsu leading by only half a step, Orochimaru began talking again.

“Why would a crowd affect your range?” She asked. Tsu considered the question before answering, trying to find words for a sense he’d never tried to describe before.

“Crowds make my head hurt,” he started, rubbing his head. The headache seemed to be ever-present these days, but it did get worse when he was in a busy area like this one. “There are so many more threads, and they all get tangled.”

“Threads?” Orochimaru asked. They passed by their target casually; he’d found himself a potential stall and was speaking to its owner about how much it would cost to rent.

“People are like… pins, in a sewing project. And they’ve got a bunch of threads all tangled around them and heading off in different directions. Every thread is attached to someone else’s pin. I can usually follow the thread between myself and whoever I’m looking for, but it’s hard to do when there are so many people with all of their threads walking around.”

“And you see these threads?” Orochimaru asked, tapping Tsu’s shoulder to indicate they should turn down a side street. When they came to a stop, Tsu rubbed the side of his head again.

“No,” he said. “I feel them, like cobwebs on my face. In fact, it’s a little easier to sense and follow specific threads when my eyes are closed. Sometimes I feel the threads so well that I instinctively look around for them. When I look but they aren’t there, it confuses me and I lose track of what I’m doing.”

“Fascinating,” Orochimaru murmured. “The mission is over, Tsubame-chan. We’ll make our report to the Hokage now.”

“So you were testing me,” Tsu said, letting Orochimaru take the lead. Having focused so much on following their target, he’d lost track of where in the village they were.

“Of course,” Orochimaru said calmly. “Does that bother you?”

“I’m not offended or anything,” Tsu said. “But I doubt I’m going to get paid for this fake mission, and my savings are running out. Are you going to be my team captain, then?”

“The Hokage has decided that you will be a spare genin, attached to whichever squad needs you at any given time,” Orochimaru said. “We’ll report the results of this little test, and I’m sure my old sensei will have an assignment or two in mind for you.”

“Do you go on missions as a woman often?” Tsu asked. They were passing the Academy now, almost at the government building that the Hokage’s office was located in already.

“As needed,” Orochimaru murmured. “But I spend most of my missions wearing an ANBU mask. Would you like to join the ANBU?”

“Not really,” Tsu said bluntly. “I don’t mind doing missions for the Hokage and the Leaf, but I know ANBUs spend a lot of time assassinating people, and I’m not very eager to kill.”

“You’re a ninja now, little one,” Orochimaru said, stopping. She grabbed Tsu by the chin, forcing him to meet her eyes. “You’re going to be killing people eventually.”

“I know,” Tsu said, gently pulling out of the sannin’s grip and taking a step back. Amusement danced in Orochimaru’s eyes again, the corners of her lips turned up in a smirk. “But joining ANBU would be like asking permission to start killing, and I don’t particularly want that.”

Tsu and Orochimaru were met with startled glances by the ninja posted outside of the Hokage’s office. They might have been turned away, but Orochimaru reached up and tugged the mask she - he? - had created earlier that morning. A shock of recognition and confusion went through the ninja at the door, and he stepped aside with a polite bow. Tsu followed Orochimaru inside, hands tucked inside the sleeves of his kimono where they couldn’t do any harm.

The Third Hokage wasn’t alone in his office; Lord Danzo stood next to his desk, leaning on his cane and scowling at Orochimaru and Tsu as if they were trespassing. Tsu didn’t sense any actual hostility from the man, only a wary kind of curiosity. Tsu got the impression that Danzo Shimura trusted absolutely no one in his life. It seemed like a lonely existence.

Tsu stood quietly as Orochimaru reported his apparent range and the limitations he’d described. He didn’t like being put on the spot like this, his clearly unusual abilities spelled out in front of important people. It felt like all of that effort he’d made not to stand out at the Academy had gone to waste; though he knew graduating early would bring some attention to him, Tsu had accepted that risk for the chance at being on a squad with Kakashi and Guy. But, even as a member of their squad, Tsu had planned to support the boys quietly from the background. When the eyes of the three men in the room turned on Tsu, all he could do was sigh and bow politely.

“How may I serve you, Hokage-sama?” He asked, keeping his voice neutral.

“Why have you hidden your abilities?” Lord Danzo asked bluntly.

“I wasn’t hiding anything on purpose,” Tsu said, working hard not to show his nerves. He didn’t like where this conversation was going at all. “My instructor at the Academy never asked me about my sensory abilities.”

“But you’ve been hiding your skill with ninjutsu and taijutsu,” the Hokage pointed out. Tsu winced; the sense that he was being watched lately had been justified, it seemed.

“I didn’t want to draw attention in class,” Tsu said, staring at the wooden floor.

“Well,” the Hokage said, sitting back in his chair. “Most children your age are more than happy to be the center of attention.”

“Crowds give me headaches,” Tsu grumbled, feeling heat in his cheeks. Orochimaru laughed, and his ears began burning as well.

“What an odd child,” Orochimaru drawled. “But still only a genin, and untested.”

“I agree,” the Hokage said, looking at Lord Danzo. “You worry too much, old friend. Tsubame may be hiding the full extent of his abilities from his instructor and classmates, but he’s hardly a threat to the village at the tender age of seven.”

Tsu decided to take that as a compliment. Lord Danzo answered with a grunt.

“Report back in an hour or so,” the Hokage told Tsu. “There will be a mission for you to go on by then.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama,” Tsu said, bowing politely. Glancing at Orochimaru - slit-pupiled eyes watched him with interest - Tsu turned and left the room. He might have considered sticking around to try and eavesdrop, but the shinobi that had been guarding the door was leaning against the wall across from the Hokage’s office now, making it impossible.

Thirty minutes later, Tsu laid down on the floor next to his mother’s loom, hands folded on his stomach and staring at the ceiling. He’d changed clothes, but still had time before reporting back to the Hokage.

Rolling his head to one side, he looked at his mother’s loom. The latest project waited for him there, one quarter of a roll of pale blue and grey checkered cloth begging to be finished. The biggest relief to his wallet had been the three times since he started at the Academy that he’d been able to sell a roll of cloth to Master Jun. With the cloth as his only income, the savings his mother had left him were dwindling. Weaving was good money, but he simply didn’t have time any more.

Any money was better than what he had, but full-time weaving would be a much safer income than working D and C-class missions. Knowing now how little he made from missions, Tsu wondered briefly how Duy had kept himself and his son fed. Especially with the high-protein diet they both needed to maintain their exercise routines. The difference was probably in the fact that Duy owned the house he and his son lived in; he didn’t have to pay rent every month as Tsu did.

Tsu rolled his head to the other side, staring at his mother’s naginata. It could take three to four D-class missions per day to keep him in the apartment, fed, and rebuilding the savings his mother had left him. The fact that he rarely had to buy cloth for new clothes was a huge difference, as well as the discount Master Jun offered to turn the cloth he did create into clothes. One such outfit was being made now, with more pockets than what Tsu had worn to the Academy and much longer pants. Tsu was growing quickly, and Master Jun had suggested leaving extra cloth at every hem so that the new outfit would be able to grow with him.

That was assuming, of course, that the new outfit wasn’t torn apart right away in missions. He knew Kakashi had been on combat missions already, and expected the same. He’d made all of his plans on the assumption that he would be running mostly D-class missions until he was able to take the chunin exams and graduate to C and B-class. But it seemed his efforts to keep the extent of his skill hidden had been a failure, at least when it came to the Hokage, Lord Danzo and Lord Orochimaru. Those three, Tsu realized with some regret, could see right through his fake inadequacy.

With a sigh, Tsu pulled himself to his feet and walked over to his mother’s naginata. The belt he’d had made, based loosely on the one Kakashi wore, had several pockets for scrolls and kunai and settled on top of the waistband of his hakama. He pulled one such scroll out, unrolling it. He and Guy had been practicing how to store and retrieve items in scrolls for the last three weeks; now, he unrolled the scroll past stashed shuriken and bottled water to the open spot he’d left for just this occasion. Pulling his mother’s naginata from its display, he gently sank the weapon into the open spot on his scroll.

Tucking the scroll into his belt, next to a scroll he wanted to read in his free time about ninja animal summonings, Tsu turned to the door of his apartment and paused at the shelf next to the exit. His new headband, black cloth with a metal plate inscribed with the Leaf symbol, sat waiting for him there. He walked out of his apartment as he tied the headband in place, tugging his bangs out from behind it so that they wouldn’t tickle his forehead under the cloth.

The worst kind of D-rank mission, Tsu decided quickly, was the gardening type. He watched each morning from the back of the assembly room as missions were passed out. Guy and Kakashi were routinely sent on assignments with other genin, chunin and even the occasional jonin-led squad. Tsu, for whatever reason, seemed always to be running D-rank missions alone. Occasionally, he would be put with others; when he was, at least one would recognize his family name and complain about it. Kakashi was making enemies as he worked with others by being a stickler to the rules of a shinobi; Guy was teased a few times for not having any significant ninjutsu available, but proved himself useful in combat and physical labor quickly. Tsu’s enemies came naturally, his father’s legacy haunting his every relationship.

Tsu felt like he was being held back, anchored in a busy village that was a tangled mess of human emotion. Those few missions he was given outside of the village were a blessing, but they never seemed to last and usually involved a squad. The problem with working in a squad, other than the general hostility once the members realized he was the son of a traitor, was the fact that the earnings from a mission were split among all the members of the team. And not evenly, either - the highest ranking person on a squad got the most from a mission, and fresh-from-the-Academy Tsu got pennies.

The more missions he went on, the more he came to dislike the accountant who paid him for completed assignments. The man had a permanent scowl on his face, and his reaction to Tsu was always a mixture of hatred and amusement, as if he knew some secret joke Tsu wasn’t aware of. He had probably been part of - or at least affected by - Noboyuki Atae’s attempted rebellion, and hated Tsu as if he were the one who had done it. Tsu accepted the man’s venom with a blank face, knowing that his air of polite indifference to his obvious hatred grated the man’s nerves. The accountant’s frustration at Tsu’s apparent indifference to him was a small, petty relief for an increasingly exhausted Tsu.

Food became a problem; he learned how to make fish traps from a book and began setting them in the pre-dawn and checking them at the end of the day. Another book taught him what plants and mushrooms in the forest were safe to eat. He didn’t mention his struggles to Kakashi, as the other boy was likely struggling with the sudden change of losing his father anyway. And Guy seemed to be gaining weight and muscle at an impressive speed now that his father wasn’t the only income in his house. He needed the extra fats and proteins of his higher-quality meals, and Tsu refused to let him take from that to help a friend, as he knew Guy would want to do.

His hopes to refill his mother’s savings dwindled; though he was no longer cutting into the savings, he certainly didn’t have the money at the end of each week to add to them. Ninja tools, he learned quickly, were not covered by his missions. Kunai and shuriken left behind at training grounds or missions in the woods were replaced out of his own pocket. Almost afraid to lose it during a rushed assignment, his mother’s naginata remained stowed away in its scroll.

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Writing Home (Pre-War)

Prompt: Love Letters

Words: 647

Rival,

These past few days feel like a blur. Everything has happened so fast. 

First our village was destroyed, again.

Then you ran off on a fool's errand during a Kage summit and when you came back you’d been nominated as the next Hokage.

I know you must feel an immense relief over Tsunade-sama waking from her coma, though I'm certain that if she hadn’t you would have made a fine Hokage.

Still, I am glad she woke up. Now, here we are about to face the second war of our lifetime and i’m leaving with your precious student to ensure his safety while you stay back and make preparations. I wish there was more that i could do here, but i also know that when the time comes I will be standing alongside you in battle. 

There must be a flurry of thoughts running through your mind right now, Rival. The last war we took part in had so many casualties, and even after the war ended we continued to lose people. Precious people that we continue to mourn today. 

I can’t make any promises about what will happen. War is unpredictable and cruel.

People will die. That’s a reality we are all too familiar with, and it comes so soon after saying our goodbyes to Asuma. 

What I can promise is that no matter what happens, I will be at your side. We will fight this battle and win together. 

Just as we always do.

I don’t know when i’ll see you again, so I have one very important request. 

Please, take care of yourself. 

You’ve died once already but you were brought back before I could really comprehend that I would be living in a world without my favorite person in it. So, please Rival, take care of yourself.

I know you may not believe it no matter how many times I try to tell you, but you are precious to me. I do not want to know what a world without you in it is like. 

Your Eternal Rival.

The letter sits in Kakashi’s middle left scroll pocket. Stored away for safekeeping and easy access. 

Shizune had presented it to him when he went to Tsunade-sama’s office to discuss the preparations being made for the upcoming war. At first he hadn’t wanted to read it, afraid of what it might say. 

Once he’d gathered up the courage to open it, though, he couldn’t stop reading it.

Every free moment he got he would take it out of its safe spot, unfold it, and devour the words like they were the last thing he’d ever lay his eyes on. There was nothing special or all that surprising written on the page, yet he felt like he was holding the most precious treasure to ever exist. 

His heart swelled with love as he read the words aloud, committing them to memory. 

Through all of those re-reads there was one line that stood out above all others. 

You are precious to me. 

He’d never doubted that Gai cared about him, but those words indicated something different from the strong bond of friendship that he’d assumed they shared. Something that Kakashi himself had felt for years, but tried his best to deny because the fear of ruining what he and Gai had was always too powerful. 

“Take care of myself,” he laughed as he drank in the words that Gai had so carefully written out for him. “I’ll try my best.”

Folding the letter up once again he tucked it back into its safe spot and sealed the bottom of his pocket. Smiling while a war was looming over their heads seemed rather inappropriate, but he couldn’t help himself. 

His world felt just a little bit brighter with Gai’s words swirling around in his head. Almost as if for once in his life everything would be alright. 

[avengernomore]

Sasuke heaved a heavy sigh, leaning back in his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his thumb and two of his fingers. There was steam raising from a cup of tea on the desk, and strewn across it were various books and scrolls. The history of the Uchiha, and the history of Konoha regarding the Uchiha.

"...I'm starting to see why my clan was planning a coup." He said to himself after a few moments, taking a sip of tea, before adding something to a list. It was becoming quite a long list, and it was titled 'Things to discuss with Kakashi/Naruto when they become Hokage'. He was not going to worry Tsunade with this, especially since he had heard that she was preparing to retire. She had done enough for him anyway.

Accepting him back into the village, albeit with caveat of assigning ANBU to him to watch him (and, as it turned out, protect him as well), deciding not to punish him for escaping the ANBU watch during the attack on Konoha, due to helping to fight against Pein, managing to take down two of Pein's bodies himself, and because he surrendered to the ANBU immediately after the fighting was done. Verifying the things he had told her, helping him to get his hands on records of the Uchiha Clan and Konoha... she'd done a lot for him. And she if wanted to retire, he wasn't going to lump her with all of this on her last days as Hokage.

This was going to take a lot of work, after all. He was aware that Kakashi might not accept all of the changes that he wanted and the changes he needed, which is why he would talk to Naruto about it when he became Hokage as well. Naruto had a knack of making impossible things happen, after all.

Sasuke sighed, tapping his pen against the list he had written, his head aching, and buzzing with thought.

He didn't blame Konoha for voting Hashirama as Hokage over Madara. While Madara was more realistic, what the new village needed was someone idealistic, someone who would push for ideas that others would think were impossible, and he did at least listen to Madara's advice.

The real problems started with Tobirama. While he may have thought he was doing the Uchiha a favour by creating the Military Police, the placement of it, right next to a prison, did raise a few eyebrows, and the fact that it seemed like it was to discourage the Uchiha from governing the village in other ways. Whatever Tobirama's motivations had been, it had been the start of the real resentment towards Konoha. Which then culminated after the attack of the Nine Tails, when the Uchiha were all forced to live within the Uchiha complex, instead of living where they liked in the village. While it had been publicly stated to be necessarily for the reconstruction, it had been a way to keep the Uchiha controlled and to keep an eye on them. After everything the Uchiha had done for Konoha, and all the treatment they had endured, they were distrusted and forced into a pen, the council believing that they had been the reason behind the Nine-Tails' attack.

And while Sasuke couldn't say they were wrong, it was not any of the Uchiha that lived in the village who caused it.

Sasuke rose to his feet, taking his empty tea cup. He definitely needed a break.

He did understand more things now. Why some of the village distrusted the Uchiha. Why the Council were unwilling to trust him, trying to stall on various issues that were necessary for the Uchiha Clan to be restored.

He could see why some would think that he hated the village. Why some believed that the Zetsu clone masquerading as him was actually him. Although he couldn't exactly fault them too much for that, he would have killed Danzo in a heartbeat if he'd gotten half a chance.

He was at least thankful towards Hiruzen for having been wiling to negotiate with the Uchiha, even if it never got that far, due to Danzo and Itachi.

There was a lot of work that needed to be done not just to restore the Clan, but to change the clan's reputation. Sasuke was sure that it would not happen within his lifetime, but he could at least get the wheels turning. Get changes that needed to happen to happen. Prove he was trustworthy.

But he also could not allow his clan to be treated as they had been treated in the past, otherwise history would repeat itself. It was going to be a delicate balancing act.

Sasuke winced as his head gave a particularly painful throb, and he tried to quieten his thoughts, leaving his study.

He was going to have a nice, hot bath, be alone with his thoughts for a while. And then he would decide on how he was going to proceed.

[cyber-season]

** Shippuden appearance

Background:

✽ Zora [そら]

✽ Aged 22 in Shippuden

Story:

Meet Zora, the ultimate dumb self-insert ninja with an accidental isekai twist! Summoned into the ninja world at the start of Shippuden, she's on a mission to infiltrate the Akatsuki through Itachi's help to stop the fourth shinobi war (spoiler alert: she fails spectacularly). Zora surprisingly finds sympathy for the Akatsuki's goal of achieving world peace through military force. Afterall, isn't that how many nations found stability after our own world war: through nuclear power? Teaming up with Tobi in an Akatsuki reserve unit, the duo's camaraderie grows over dumplings and missions, and shared lighthearted attitude. Culminating in a bit of smoochy smoochy action. Post-Itachi's demise, Tobi nervously reveals himself as Obito (hubba hubba), a revelation met with Zora's playful "I knew it all along." She seals the deal by developing a groundbreaking communication jutsu, that allows users use their scrolls to write down messages to one another, regardless of distance. Which she hopes will foster understanding between nations and shinobi. Maybe it might help foster understanding between nations, much like technology did for own world. Everyone's happy and horny! But wait- cue the tension! Isn't someone forgetting their mission here, to take down the Akatsuki? As Obito declares war, torn between love and mission, Zora decides to part ways with the Akatsuki secretly. Realizing she can no longer take down the Akatsuki (sorry Itachi). After a steamy last evening, she promises Obito she will always love him, before leaving in the cover of night. During the war arc, Zora joins the leaf village, explaining her circumstances, connection with the Akatsuki through Itachi, and uses her newly developed communication justu as a bargaining chip of trust. It is apparent that this will be an invaluable tool during the war to communicate between troops long distance. She aids Kakashi in confronting Obito during battle, their efforts to convince him of a better path met with fierce resistance. Stuck in Obito's Kamui following Kakshi's battle with his old teamate, Zora heals Kakashi from the severe wounds he sustained. The war unfolds with the allied shinobi forces persevering, and Zora is recognized as an ally of the leaf from her efforts during the war, choosing to remain in Konoha as a resident transplant shinobi. She and Kakashi develop a strong friendship with one another following their battle together. But wait, there's more! She finds out that the little hanky panky with Obito resulted in her pregnancy. What in the Sims 3 drama?? Zora is touched by the support she receives from the shinobi of Konoha during this time, and truly calls Konoha her home. Fast forward to the Boruto era, Zora embraces her new role as a single mom, living a happy life in Konoha with her best buds. She and Sakura have become close friends over the years (in addition to her best bud Kakashi), the two of them sharing a bond as the protectors of the Uchiha lineage.

Abilities:

✽ Zora excels at chakra control, being her main weapon of defense and offense during battle. She wears bandages around her eyes to allow her to concentrate further on the chakra's around her without visual disturbances distracting her during battle.

Ranged

[1] Chakra Whips (ninjutsu, defensive and offensive)

[2] Chakra Disruption (genjutsu, offensive)

[+] Sword of Seven Souls (defensive)

[3] Hawk Summoning (defensive and offensive)

** I am using the ability system from Shinobi Strikers, which involves two main abilities, one weapon, and one special ability.

[rayshippouuchiha]

Hi Ray!

I’ve been going through a lot of my old notes recently and I’m just trying to put some of these snippets/prompts out there for anyone who wants to expand on the ideas. I feel like they’re just being wasted in my abandoned notes 😭.

In another life, Naruto would devote his whole being into becoming someone who’s admired, spending his love on miles of land and an idea instead of on people. But in this life Naruto is tired and there are too many plots of land that he hasn’t seen and too many ideas he hasn’t had enough time to fathom.

He wants to travel. To leave.

The Old Man probably thought that his thirst for the outside world stemmed from being stuffed in a room for the first three and a half years of his life, the main visitor being someone who was plotting to kill him all that time. The Old Man definitely thought that his want could be quelled with day time trips around the village; going to the Hokage Tower, strolling the streets during lunch, letting him take a heavily guarded walk home during the evening. But that’s not enough, Naruto wants to see everything.

Introductions pass, Naruto learns absolutely nothing new about his teammates�� or even his sensei for that matter, bar from the assumption that he probably has an affinity for being late to things. Still

“Naruto Uzumaki. I like being outside, plants, and ramen. I don’t like bullies, liars, or people who waste my time. My hobby?” He casts a glance to the sky, hands clasped in his lap as he ponders the thought before shrugging. “Gardening I guess, or maybe practicing seals, I like to do both. I���d like to travel in the future.”

Sakura huffs, “Idiot, where would you even travel?”

Naruto shrugs, not even bothering to look at her. “Any and everywhere. From big villages to small towns, everything in between. I want to see the world.”

For this snippet I always imagined Sasuke and Naruto leaving Konoha together, but instead of Sasuke going with Orochimaru it’s just him and Naruto traveling while trying to get stronger. Or maybe they do go with Orochimaru and then leave a couple of months later after they pull a “gotcha bitch move” and just takes a bunch of scrolls and half the population of Otogakure.

Ohh ohhh you're speaking my language here darling. And if you've got more prompts like this feel free to send them in!

Naruto tries to love Konoha, he does. And in a lot of ways he even succeeds. He loves the trees and the tall buildings and the faces on the mountain. He loves Iruka-sensei for the bits of kindness he's given him and Teuchi and Ayame for everything they are. He even loves the Old Man despite how sad he makes Naruto sometimes.

Naruto loves parts of Konoha but ...

(And that's the thing really, the fact that there's a but at the end of that sentence at all.

The fact that his love has conditions, that it's not consuming or eclipsing or any of the things the Old Man had always tried to press into him on their rare times together.)

But...

Konoha preaches the Will of Fire, teaches the preservation of the Great Tree.

It's what the Old Man has always talked about. It's what the Academy and Iruka-sensei have always taught.

It's never set completely right with Naruto.

But then Kakashi-sensei stands before them, something aching in his eye and something speaking of blood and pain and grief draped across the set of his shoulders, and talks about teams and abandonment and what it is to be beneath even whatever tenuous and shifting sort of honor shinobi might lay claim to.

Naruto hears what he does not actually say, picks up on the message between his words.

Better to die fighting at the side of those you love than to live in the shadow of the grief losing them will cast.

And that?

That settles just a bit easier within him.

Still, Naruto can't help but wonder if the other two can see the corpses Kakashi-sensei is so obviously carrying as clearly as he can.

He doesn't think Sakura can, not yet.

He's sure that Sasuke can.

Sakura takes to training poorly in the beginning but Naruto doesn't think it'll stay that way. She's rich steady earth down to her core. He's sure it's only a matter of time before she blooms.

Sasuke is roaring lightning and blazing flame. Consuming without even trying, ravenous by his very nature. Chafing at the bit and driven by a phantom only he can see.

Naruto's pretty sure he's the only person who looks at Naruto and actually sees him.

(That alone would be enough to make Naruto love him.)

And Naruto ...

Naruto has always been a creature of wind and water. Sea-sun gold in his hair and oceans in his eyes. Typhoons lurking in every breath, a maelstrom where his heart should be.

(Sasuke thinks that Naruto might be the only person in the entire village who looks at him and sees Sasuke instead of Itachi, instead of an Uchiha, instead of everything he's never been able to live up to.

He thinks that alone could make him love Naruto if the idea of loving anything again wasn't so terrifying.)

So, when the time comes, Naruto ignores the blood and the pain and wraps his hand around Sasuke's elbow.

Pulls him closer.

Presses their foreheads together.

Sasuke's eyes go wide, tears gathering at the corners.

For a long moment they stay there like that, Naruto's blood slick and burning on both their skin.

"Naruto," Sasuke finally rasps.

An apology. A plea.

"Sasuke," Naruto rasps back, blood thick and hot in his mouth.

Acceptance. Forgiveness.

"I have to kill him," Sasuke whispers, something young but wild lingering at the edges of his tone. "I have to."

"I know," Naruto tells him. "But that doesn't mean you have to do it alone."

"I can't stay here," Sasuke says but there's something fragile, something delicate and yearning unfurling in his eyes.

The tomoe in his eyes look different somehow but Naruto doesn't focus on that.

"I'm not asking you to," Naruto smiles as best he can. "I'm just asking you to take me with you. So we can do this together."

~~~

When Kakashi arrives neither Sasuke nor Naruto are anywhere to be found.

Just a ravaged battleground and a pair of discarded headbands laying overlapped on the shore.

[rainycitysworld]

Hi!! I love your blog and I was just wondering if I could please request headcanons for how either kakashi and/or shikamaru would react to a reader with a lot of older brothers who are super protective over fem!reader. And how they would win her brothers over! Thank you! :)

Oh thank you anon! This is a super cute request! Both of these are going to be written when they characters are in their early twenties so right before Naruto for Kakashi and right after Shippuden for Shikamaru

Kakashi

Kakashi gets it- he was protective over Rin (and eventually is protective of Sakura) so he understands it comes from a good place and he's actually happy his partner has so many people who love her

You would think being one of the Leaf's most elite ninjas would be enough to instill a little trust, though. Then again people do call him "Friend Killer Kakashi"

Definitely turns to Iruka for help, and Iruka tells him to de-ninjafy himself in front of them and be as non-threatening as possible. Look as little like a killer as possible.

Kakashi thought he was already pretty non-threatening but when he asked Kurenai for advice, she said the same thing. She also told him to lose the porn books.

So Kakashi goes home "de-ninjafys" himself, begrudgingly so. Reminding himself how much he loves his partner every two seconds

Replacing the headband with an eye patch wears a nice shirt and pants instead of his jonin uniform and decided to only keep one kunai and scroll on him.

The mask stays, though, obviously.

He has a couple of uncomfortable dinners with her family like this. Uncomfortable because he is not convinced that they're buying this act and because not being in uniform is weird for him.

But I think after a couple of visits, he starts to get more comfortable and casual. Maybe a few times he forgets to change his headband or has to rush from a mission and is still wearing his vest, so he feels a bit more in his element.

What ultimately happens is they just get to know Kakashi. It might take a while, but once people get to know Kakashi, it doesn't take long to realize he isn't some cold-blooded killer, he's just a guy.

Eventually, I think he'd win them over and even becomes friends with them. Kakashi would never admit this, but he's always wanted a family.

Shikamaru

What a drag

He's dating his girlfriend, not her brothers- why should he care what they think of him? Does he really have to win them over?

It would be moments like this where he really misses Asuma and his father, which just makes the situation harder.

I actually think it'd make him question if he was good enough for his partner.

But ultimately, he decides that's her call to make, not his, so with a big sigh, he gets up and tries to smooth things over.

Her brothers probably just think he's some lazy slacker whose only claim to fame was being in the same class as Naruto.

He isn't entirely sure how to disprove that, so he does the only thing that seems logical- show not tell.

Since the end of the war, he had been working under Kakashi with all the Leaf's non-military expansions, and he's actually pretty proud of his work. The train that connects the villages, trade deals, humanitarian projects who the areas affected by the war, and Sakura's mental hospital for orphans- so he invites his girl and her brothers to a fundraising event.

Usually, he hates these things, but he's gonna get all dressed up and show her brothers that he's just trying to make the world a better place for her to live in, and if that doesn't work, he isn't sure what will.

Kakashi definitely catches wind of this plan and makes sure everyone hypes Shikamaru up the entire evening in front of his girlfriend's family.

And sure- the brothers are impressed, they didn't realize the scope of Shikamaru's work, but ultimately that wasn't what won them over.

After dinner, there was dancing, and even though Shikamaru hates dancing, his girlfriend doesn't, so he very sweetly asked her to dance, and the brothers couldn't help but notice the giant smile on her face the entire time.

[dasomlimie]

Heyyy! I hope ur doing okay if ur requests r open can l request reader asking if she can see whats under sanzu’s mask like that one scene in naruto where he tried so hard to see kakashi’s mask something similar and funny like that take ur time l love ur work <333

%% BEHIND THAT MASK! #!/

characters : aged up!—Sanzu Haruchiyo

a/n : i cant believe im rewrtiting this sorry if this is half assed tumblr didn't save my draft earlier, enjoy ig

Sanzu Haruchiyo..... your masked bf sometimes you were wondering what behind that mask but ofc you wanted to respect his boundaries and dont want to make him uncomfortable, but curiousity start to eat you alive so you have a little plan in your mind

sometimes there's a lot of idea in your mind on why Sanzu didn't remove his mask, maybe he have big lips that unmatched with his face future? or maybe he have crooked teeth? or even worse he doesn't have mouth! but you scratched the last idea since how did he speak if he doesn't have mouth? his nose? yeah that idea once stuck in your head but you decided to remove it because it doesn't make sense at all

you called Sanzu to meet you up infront of a restaurant which he agreed since maybe you were hungry and he is too, you greet Sanzu before taking his hand and walk into the restaurant with him

"today is my treat" you said smiling he raise an eyebrow you were cheerful more than usual "did something good happen?" he ask you shook his head "nope i just wanted to spend time with my lovely boyfriend" you said he nodded start looking at the menu

"are you ready to order?" he ask after a few minutes you nodded letting him call the waiter, you both said your order as the writer write down your order, you noticed Sanzu's order was a heavy meal he probably going to remove his mask

you smile to yourself before mentally patting yourself for coming up with this idea as soon as your food arrived you stare at Sanzu causing him to raise an eyebrow "whats up my love?" he ask you shook your head "nothing eat up" he nod "you too" you nod

you stare as he was about to remove his mask until your phone start ringing you look at the caller ID noticing it was your boss you look at Sanzu "eat first i have to answer this call" you said he nod as he watch your figure walking out from the restaurant

you listen to your boss rant about how her husband keep cancelling their date and how she think he was cheating on her while you were wondering why the hell your boss telling you all of this as she finally hang up you walk into the restaurant only to be greeted by Sanzu scrolling through his phone you blink

"oh baby! what took you too long? oh and im sorry i finished my food first i haven't eat since yesterday" he said giving you closed eyes smile you nod sitting "did you forgot to eat again?" you ask he nod "im very busy yesterday and just go to sleep as soon as i got home" he said you nod

attempt 1 : failed

"want some?" you ask offering your food he shook his head "im full already" he said you nodded visibly deflated "whats up pretty girl? you were all cheerful a while ago" he said chuckling you shook your head from side to side finding a reason and decided to use your boss phone call as your reason "she did it again" you said he pat your head

"did she start ranting to you again? what was is about?" he ask you sigh "about her husband this and that you know the usual why don't they just divorce?" you said leaning to your chair

"maybe you should find a new job if you were that sick of your boss personal life rant" he said you nodded "yeah i should" you said

the second attempt might make him mad but what is life without a little thrill and spice right? right.

you took a deep breath before apologizing gripping the tray in your hand you walk inside the room smiling at Sanzu you walk toward him then purposely trip yourself

you watch everything happen in slow motion how the juice flew and wetting his mask you cheer silently before your face kiss the floor you groan but being muffled by your carpet Sanzu gasp ignoring his wet clothes and mask

"y/n?! are you okay? oh my why are you suddenly become clumsy?" he ask as he help you to get up you have to swallow your image its not even 6 month into your relationship here you are doing stupid things just to what behind his mask

he hiss when he saw your red forehead with a little bloody lips "we should get that lips treated" he suggest you nodded "let me put this away your hoodie was in my closet along with extra mask" you said silently before walking out from the room leaving a little space for you to peak in

you feel your cheeks heat up as you watch his half naked body you silently cheer as he was about to remove his mask when your doorbell rang causing you to curse silent

you keep debating either to look and discover what behind your boyfriend mask or to answer the door you were deep in thought when Sanzu clear his throat his cheeks tinted with rosy pink just like his hair

"i didn't know you're that type of person" he said clearing his throat again you look up before cursing yourself "oh no you got the wrong idea let me go and answer the door ok?" you said walking a little bit too faster "be careful!" Sanzu called as he look you who almost tripped twice

attempt 2 : failed

you look at Sanzu as you keep following—more like stalking—him you tried to make sure you didn't lost him maybe he would remove his mask at the most random time especially when he's alone? yeah thats what you think ,you were now dressed in all black outfit paired with black cap and black mask

yup much like a stalker

you watch him keep turning and leading you to a dark hallways wondering what he was doing here, little did you know he noticed you following him but didn't have any idea it was his girlfriend

"fuck" you curse silently as you lost him you were about to take another turn when someone pull you to opposite turn you yelped both in suprise and pain when your back make a harsh contact to the cold and dirty wall you hiss from how strong someone's grip on your hands is

"who are you and why are you following me?" he ask you stay silent too scared to answer him, Sanzu chuckle "why are you all silent? acting all scared are we?" he said you shiver under his sharp gaze

"i ask you questions" he said you shut your eyes he sigh annoyed and start to loose his patients then decided to remove both your mask and cap you felt his grip on your hands loosening

"y/n?" he said in softer voice than earlier you still shut your eyes tightly slightly trembling "darling look at me" he said as one of hand slither to your waist while the other cup your cheeks thumb caressing your cheeks "open your eyes my love im not going to hurt you" he said you open your eyes slowly meeting his soften gaze

"why are you following me like that? i thought you were one of those people who tried to get me again" he said chuckling you didn't answer instead hugging him burying your face into his chest

"did i scare you that much?" he ask you shook your head as a no, you were actually embarassed of yourself for doing dumb thing to get him to remove his mask

"then why?" he ask hugging you close to him "im sorry" you said he raise an eyebrow "why?" "im sorry for doing dumb thing lately and following you like earlier" you said he chuckled you look up to him

"i get it now" he said removing you from him gently then cup your cheeks with both of his hands "you know you can just ask right?" you pout "i just dont want to make you feel uncomfortable" he shook his head

"you will never im actually waiting for you to ask me by yourself" he said you nodded "then can i uh you know" he nod letting you remove his mask

heart beating loudly Sanzu was prepared from any insult from you yet nothing came our from your mouth, does he freak you out? he was about to apologize when you whispered out a very unexpected word he expects you to say

"beautiful" you said he froze not believing what he just heard "what?" he ask for confirmation "i said beautiful" you repeat before caressing his scars with both of your thumb he sigh in relief

"really? i thought you were going to freaked out" he said you shook your head with confused face while your attention was still on his face "why would i?" you ask

"people always told me its disgusting i thought you would too but apparently not im relieved" you heart broke a little from his words "who the hell said your scars is disgusting?! let me beat them up" you said with determination he shook his head "its okay you were an absolute angel i cant imagine you beating people up" he said pressing a kiss on your forehead

"you look hotter without mask" you whisper he smile "is that so?" he ask you nodded then cover his face with his mask "and only me can see you my beautiful and handsome and hot boyfriend without his mask no one can see your full face they would fall for you" you said he chuckled before ruffling your hair

"whatever you say angel" he said you smile as he lead you out from the hallway just so your know he would use your silly attempt to tease you in the future

attempt 3 : successfully failed

!%! © HNEULWH— i did not allow my work to be used or adapted in any form without my permission !#//

[angleapple]

Hello, so this is my first ever post here. Well a post that has something written in it by myself actually. If u choose to read it hope u do enjoy.

*****************************

Subject: Naruto Shippuden FF, post war, personal AU where Itachi (my favourite character from the series) doesn't die.

Characters: Itachi Uchiha, Amaya Kiohime, Jiraiya, Kakashi Hatake, (oc) Ren Tanaka, (oc) Pebble, (oc) Mamba, (oc) Sparrow, (oc) Demon

Trigger warning ⚠️: mention of violence, blood, physical abuse (?), mention of death, unrequited love, love confession, love rivals, , mildly suggestive theme towards this ending (?), kissing scene, mention of human sacrifices/pawns and that's all I think?? Mention if u think there should be something else added to this list. Aww yeah 'ducks' too maybe ?? That's all I guess.

Word count: a little over 9k.

And now on to the actual story without further ado, hope u enjoy!

**********************************************

Ok so, I was thinking about Itachi......let's be honest when am I not thinking about him..... anyway while I was daydreaming about braiding his hair in intricate, delicate braids so when he wakes up and needs to take them off it'll take him a hot minute I just was struck by an idea. A jealousy au.......tell me what do u think about it because I'm practically dying, over it, just losing it over this au.

**********************************************

So this starts with a rough ninja group that starts to target several households. All quite reputable and big households and they burn the houses with the people in it. Consider it after the war era so Kakashi is the hokage. Jiraiya decides to visit him on the issue over at his office while he was trying to go through the files to understand the situation better.

So long ago, like really long ago, there was a great prophet that saw a dream, and wrote about it in a scroll. The entirety of shinobies all together, afraid of what might be in that scroll decided to divide it in 5 parts and hid it under the wings of 5 families who generation after generation choose their successors and hand the scroll over. Now it's not known where the scroll is, if it is real or what might be in it.

This really made Kakashi and Jiraiya concerned. 3 out of 5 houses have been attached and destroyed by now, and they don't even know where these ninjas r or their next target. So Jiraiya suggests they wait for them to attack again so then they will have a clear idea where they will attack next. For that of course they had to talk with the few half dead survivors from 2 of the families. They gave away one location but couldn't give any information about the other.

**********************************************

Amaya was the one nursing the sick people back to health so they could live on. She heard about the scroll situation but didn’t know if it was her place to say anything because if it is as old and well known as they r saying then Madara knew about it surely, but he still didn’t go after it, so it must be something that’s not supported to be messed with. She was not sure but was uneasy stressing about if there will be another war at the door again.

Then she was called in the hokage’s office. Jiraya was the one who called. The rough ninjas were not to be messed with, they slipped through the fingers of quite some other groups of jonins of cloud and stone. Having a skilled medic in their team would be a great help, especially when she is also a sensory double. It’ll be a 4 person team, Jiraiya, her, Itachi and another guy who’s also a sensory and communicative expert in case they need more back up from the village later.

**********************************************

That day she was tagging along with Jiraiya the entire day for preparation and when around early evening they gathered all together for the sake of introduction and a plan and then setting off on journey, Amaya upon seeing Itachi called out as usual (screaming a very high pitched TACHI~~) and Itachi was about to yell a response back of his own, “shut up” that is, but kept to himself mumbling “how obnoxiously loud” holding his ears.

This piece of commotion brought out the former anbu and current officer in the sensory and communicative section. However the moment he saw Amaya his confusion evaporated and the empty space was full with a curiosity about what this woman was.

Needless to say the introduction period went on a little longer than initially planned. Ren Tanaka, the new man joining the team with auburn hair and grayish blue eyes, surprisingly started getting along with Amaya off the bat, while maintaining a professional relationship with Jiraiya and a cold shoulder to Itachi. They had so many interests in common, most of them were absurd and meant a total waste of time according to Itachi. That didn’t stop him from wondering if they actually shared such interests or he was just faking it, after all he can't really imagine anyone else being as obsessed with wanting to be a duck like Amaya, despite not knowing anything about them.

**********************************************

The formation was simple and direct, Jiraiya, the team leader will be behind tailing the rest in case of any abrupt ambush, Ren will be in the middle maintaining a sensory field with Amaya, while Itachi will lead with his sharingans. The basic plan after reaching the place was to wait hiding.

They weren’t sure if the rough ninjas will be attacking the place they have chosen tonight, especially not when they have emptied the place before hand to avoid casualties at least in one family. They however were not certain about what to do with the scroll. Something they didn’t even know where it was or what it was.

Amaya and Ren fooling around didn’t help Itachi’s thoughts. What were they laughing so much about?? They r supposed to be silent and stealthy, sneaky, not slowing the rest down with failed attempts at muffling their wheezing giggles. He wasn’t interested in the slightest bit in what they were talking about, it was just some old book, a ridiculous romance story that he has heard Amaya obsess over countless times. He didn’t even like the story at the very least bit, he only read it to analyze the characters and the theme and the plot(holes) and the setting, and the symbolism so that he can understand Amaya when she figures something new out and tells him but definitely it was a horrendous piece of literature, insult to art. There was no need for her to explain all the details he has heard a million times to this new guy with so much enthusiasm, and so loudly…….He has a headache.

**********************************************

He sure was startled when Jiraiya pulled him back. Apparently he was going too fast and went too far ahead of the team and wouldn’t hear them out. Amaya tried to call him so many times. What a joke, as if she called for him once after having met this gray eyed fish gasping for water with every breath……..no wonder it was so peaceful. Of course, he didn’t say those out loud, only said his mind was loud with what might be already going on there.

It wasn't all wrong. His mind was definitely loud, counting countless possible scenarios playing out in his head. However he didn’t like the excuse that the road they chose as short cut being hard to navigate was the reason why they were not as fast as his natural speed not because gossiping, why was he not having much trouble? Couldn’t possibly be his piercing eyes, sharp, swift reflexes, and natural ability to blend with his surroundings.

The good thing that came out of this was they were able to reach the place sooner than expected. The place was eerily quiet. Perhaps the evacuation was the reason, maybe it wasn’t a great idea and the thieves will be warned now, probably they should’ve just tried mixing in with the rest of the people here and catch the thieves red handed in action when they do come. But then again, what if they r out numbered and someone gets wounded. But even so they have Amaya, she can handle a household of people. What if the thieves think that the people here left the place and just took the scroll so they leave as well before even coming here. That being said……how r they even finding the scrolls to begin with if no one knows where they r…….

**********************************************

The train of his thoughts had to be stopped abruptly when Amaya screamed at the top of her lungs. Itachi sprinted towards where he heard her scream. What happened?...... Did someone come in? Was there a trap? Did she get in trouble? His mind was racing under seconds, not that he was worried about her, it’s her healing abilities r unmatched and so is her cooking, she also owes him 3 favors, what about the ducks she has made friends with or Mr. chick ken? She still hasn’t been able to win against the bird. Her herbs garden needs her back, he was forced into promising that he’ll go with her to the summer festival, not that it matters but he can’t break a promise or she’ll never let him live it down how he’s a liar. The scream sounded really serious and she stopped suddenly too what if-. OF COURSE. HE HAD NO REASON TO WORRY. Girl had everyone in a fit of panic over 2 cockroaches. Even master Jiraiya is frozen. Yeah yeah this kinda job is perfect for Ren. He seems eager as well. Yeah……he doesn’t need to worry too much about everything, he can share the burden with his fellow team-mates. Yeah he might not understand their work ethics completely, like he doesn’t understand why is there any need for him to be clasping Amaya’s hands on his crabby claws but it looks like it fits well. He might as well assign Ren the duty of being her personal big roach defender and free himself of the baggage of having to keep an extra eye out. He has only 2 anyway.

They were having fun, a little too much for being out to grab deadly criminals who could be here any minute. Itachi already talked with master Jiraiya about where they should set traps and where will be the best place for trapping a large number of people and/or ambushing them. He’s done with his jobs for now, all that’s left is to wait. Wait till his eyes melt off that is. Jiraiya went to get drinking water and Amaya and Ren are playing, like kids. Just unlike kids there’s absolutely no reason for him to be lifting her up and around so much. Hell kids can’t even lift themselves up forget lifting each other up. She seems to enjoy it too much too. Ughh……it’s loud. Too loud. She’s laughing too much, he’s not even funny at all. What is she laughing at anyway. He doesn’t think she has told him about it before. Wait it’s the movie about valentine’s day? It was so cliché Amaya is a normal girl so he understands but as a shinobi Ren definitely has bad taste. Yeah he too has seen it……with Amaya…….ugh it was so bad he had to sit through it and tolerate her whining the entire time and deal with it even while having dinner. But she doesn’t have to start talking about it with anyone he meets. He can’t possibly like everything can he.

**********************************************

Jiraiya has great stories to tell. He’s a legendary sannin, traveled the world and is experienced. He is a wise man, a pervert too but he’s responsible too…….sort of that is……..so it makes sense that when he speaks there’s a magnetic aura around him that draws in others to listen to him, especially when he’s seriously speaking. But right now, he understands Amaya but Ren….again….what is so enchanting about getting lost in a ghost city and finding his way back out through decoding a riddle given by an old woman (who might be a witch) and ending up falling from a waterfall but finally escaping. And she didn’t have to lie down on him. Look how he's patting her heads. She'll fall asleep no doubt. Itachi doesn’t know all the nightmares she might have, but he knows how to soothe them every single time. He has spent long nights stroking her head, against his will that is. All Ren has to do now is to make her a bowl of warm soup the next morning. A little bit more saltier than normal but nothing crazy. Things he might as well start teaching early.

**********************************************

Volunteering to be staying awake was a mistake. What’s up with her anyway. Usually she nags so that she too can stay up with him and talk his ears off. Tonight…….does she not understand that it isn’t appropriate for a grown woman to be clinging so much to a man, let alone sleep in his arms. What’s up with the night also anyway? Isn’t it deafening? Why is master Jiraiya looking at him and smiling so much? He’s not even trying to hide it. What did he mean by “one can’t hide everything behind a poker face”. As if Itachi needs to hide anything. He’s open. He says what he means, he means what he says……..for the most part that is. Sometimes he has to deal with his true feelings. Because a shinobi must always know what is truly important. A legendary sannin, an impeccable communication and sensory officer, village’s finest genjutsu user and a normal doctor that has learned how to run over time. A team where everyone must know their position. Itachi would try to distract himself from these thoughts. But the glint from the red beads on her wrist is interrupting it. Red beads that match the purple ones on his own wrist. He wish he left it home. Or didn't accept it. Now someone makes him wear it because so does she why does it matter. He wonders if it's finally time he would have to get rid of them. The purple hue keeps him up too many nights when his wrist isn’t drowning in ink of silk strands.

**********************************************

The morning was torturing. Everyone was feeding everyone. Master Jiraiya even tried to feed him a piece of mushroom, Ren would keep trying to pass him all the carrots, but doesn’t seem to mind being fed by Amaya. If he could he would shove every single bell pepper down her throat. But nop, he is the normal one out here that understands that they r not here for a picnic. They’re here to catch robbers that commit part-time murder. At least Amaya seems to think, she has fed Ren more than she has eaten herself. Well what’s his he'll finish his meal and go for a walk, and see things around. the air feels Heavy. Something may happen.

And happen it did. The house had a secret door. Somehow while entering the bathroom Amaya slipped and triggered the sensor in the bathroom mirror. How? Her slippers went flying and hit the glass on a 45° angle and the door opened leading to a staircase going down. That’s his girl, ahem, he means that’s the trouble he knows of, causing chaos while doing absolutely nothing. Of course she’s the one to find the path leading to the scroll. Right before lunch as well.

And then it went off. Ren and Amaya’s radars that is. There were people outside. 5, 7, 9, 13, 17, 25 no….30 in total. Yeah. 30 people , surrounded on all sides. They r entering the house. Near the entrance. Some of them are also sensory shinobi. Bad idea. It was a bad idea, to be underestimating Itachi’s calculation and Jiraiya’s traps. Simple but so effective. Perfect ambush, unsuspecting, silent and deadly. Just like how he likes them. What they did not like was having to face an explosion right at their face. Whatever it was Deidara would’ve thrown a fit over it being a piece of art……having ripped a whole in earth leading to outside where 3 of the leaders stood. Or they were underlings of the leader(s). Whoever they were, they were powerful, being able to use shadow clones to catch them all off-guard was impressive. They have a sensory one amongst them, who is also blind in both eyes, a real pain for Itachi for he seems to be staring at him constantly, visual paralysis doesn’t work on those without vision. No worries, he has plenty of other ways tho. But he isn’t the only one to be dealt with. There’s another man extremely fast on his feet and adeptly using both earth type and water type. Lastly the other girl who was also a user of genjutsu and a summoning user (birds).

How did he figure out her summoning? Well that’d be a nice question if there weren’t monstrous birds attacking from the sky while Amaya is screaming about what kind of Jurassic world game is going on. It’d be nice if Ren wasn’t playing along as if it was all a game, at least master Jiraiya is serious. Who is he kidding he’s definitely fighting seriously but because he is in middle of an argument over “front” or “back” with the earth-water user.

“Childish, aren’t they…..”

“-well they seems to be getting along so doesn’t matter”

“U r far calmer than I expected u to be”

“There’s not really any reason for me or us to be stressing over people like u.”

“Confident r we-“

He couldn’t finish his sentence when Jiraiya and his toads made their presence very much known. After all, he’d not be tolerating any mistreatment of his ideology. Ren too was able to get a grip on the girl. He seemed to be struggling a bit for someone who Itachi thought was pretty good on handling ladies. It was time for the final blow, just one more to take down and they’d leave for home, and get over with the drama. But for a mission ranked s class, it looks like everything went too smoothly.

“……..Pebble! Sparrow! We got the one we needed! Now’s the time to retreat!”

“Aww Mamba, we’re not done toying around yet”

“ Yeah, Pebble is right, let’s show these freak shows what we, right hands of-“

“ That’s enough! We r facing members of Uchiha clan and sannin trio here, let’s not joke around. Until next time, brats”

So that was their names, quite ironically fitting. Of course it was a mud clone…. Amaya! Wait did she….? Well it was indeed too easy. Is it now his cue to get involved in the game…….getting physical would be a pain.

“Direct taijutsu against me would be a pain no?!”

“ True, but creating preconceptions regarding appearance and assumptions can prove to be foolish for oneself, for I am not someone to be involved in direct battle with just about anyone. Neither have I gotten much patience.”

“ Careful now, u’d not want to hurt ur team mate would u”

“Amaya isn’t an important part of this group, unfortunately u went for the wrong one, a mistake u shall pay for now”

 Itachi took one look at the unconscious body of a very familiar girl, then within a second his iris focused on the view in front of him releasing a familiar swirl of black flames started to swallow everything on sight, now under more control and faster, Amaterasu, flames that can even bring fire. Then suddenly as if someone grabbed him from behind and pulled him, for better or for worse took him a minute to figure it out. The ground below him blew up and the roof collapsed, allowing the thieves to escape. He looked at Ren, and was about to say something but then Jiraiya pulled out something from his jacket.

“Well she’s not that important part of this group, and we already got the scroll with us, we also might as well run now ourselves, to deliver this scroll and take more people with us to hunt them down, until the whole scroll is together it’s not that much of any use, maybe we can even figure something out with this one piece-“

“ And exactly how will u face Naruto? What will u answer to lord 6th and lady 5th? What about the rule of never leaving a comrade behind as a leaf shinobi? –“

“ Itachi calm down we already have a clue on how to tail them!! I can track Amaya, through her bracelet, there’s a chip inside of it, without being captured by that eyeless guy they call Mamba. Also did you really think I’d let them get away with her? Know some difference between us man”

**********************************************

For a moment Itachi thought he imagined that looks in his eyes, but Jiraiya’s smile told him otherwise. Surely people don’t truly trust him, not yet-

“ And it’s not like I don’t trust u with the mission, I do, I know u r one of the best to have on this mission. What I don’t trust u with is Amaya. Man u really have to be a certain level of heartless to be this cold to someone so enthusiastic as her, she won’t even stop talking about ur endless patience and tolerance when all I could see was ur sheer disgust of her, if u will excuse me I’ll be taking a moment to actually start tracking her”.

She was actually talking about him? She’d rather talk about him than talk to him? That girl was crazier than he thought, maybe he himself should ask her about this. Just he hopes that she’ll be ok alone, it’s typical for her to volunteer, but for no one to tell him-

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell u anything, the way u were behaving already made us think u knew the plan. Don’t worry though, not that u look like u’re worried, but we’ll definitely find her faster than even  one of them can hurt her.”

Well a lot of people seemed to be seeing through him today, he didn’t know if it was good or bad. Didn’t have the energy to be thinking about it either.

**********************************************

Being splashed with water straight to the face was a rude way of being awakened. Maybe that’s the reason the man in front of her was called Demon. Well he looked nothing like a Demon, long green hair reaching his tailbone looked well taken care of, and matching jade eyes looking at her, cold, still, and so so dull…….as if dead. He had a pretty smile, if only it reached his eyes.

The man came closer and cupped her face, sighing deeply rubbing his thumb over her lower lips slowly,

“How beautiful, it’s a shame u r so stubborn. I like it however, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy feisty beauties to the depth of my heart”

“ My! U have one?!!”

“ Of course darling! Shall I dig it out for u to see myself or untying ur hands will do? Tsk tsk tsk tsk! How forgetful of me, no can do the later ma’am, will gladly do it myself only if u ask me to urself, just add a please!”

His hands clutched at his own chest, nails digging in his flesh deeper than she could tolerate.

“Stop!”

“Hmn?!”

“I said stop…….”

“My!! It’d be an interesting interrogation with u, I’d rather call it a pre-date planning. If u r a good little goddess I will marry u so fast”

Yeah…… This one was a definite creep, so much he made his underlings look normal, not that they were much disturbing anyway, she has seen Orochimaru. How hard will this be, his friends will be here soon, Ren knows what to do and master Jiraiya will definitely be on her tail and…… And maybe Itachi won’t be killing her when he sees her. Yeah, she should prepare for what would happen when he sees her next, no one will stand a chance against the amount of anger she’ll have to face.

“Careful now darling, I don’t like my woman to be distracted thinking about other men……”

Or maybe she should still be a little more careful. Just in case……

**********************************************

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ violence

A broken arm, both brown ankles and a beaten up face. It was just merely some make up being put on her, oh how pretty she looked like this. Lips busted, eyes swollen, jaw fractured and rope marks around her throat, a true beauty. The 4 together couldn’t figure out how she was still alive, let alone keep her composer and such a tight lipped woman. Demon’s expressions were unreadable, was he in love with her, annoyed with her, either way both would end in her death. Impressive was how she could stall it. They have never seen anyone capable of healing the injuries caused by their leader, let alone so fast. The minor cuts were already healed, the more deeper wounds would heal too without any external help within a few weeks. This woman they took here was excellent at the one thing she did, if only her teammates could value her as an asset.

Mamba had suggested her to join in, leave behind people who don’t care about her no matter her worth and join them where they’d treasure her priceless talent. But feisty as she was she refused to open her mouth unless forced open.

“Shall we cut off her tongue? Not like she’s talking much for us anyway”

“Maybe we should double our efforts so I can put her under my genjutsu, knocking her out may work too”

“ Isn’t that too much work”

“ Not when it comes to the-“

“ Now now”, Demon spun around in a dramatic way, “ it’s a rude way to be talking in front of our guest, we should prepare for her special treatment in secrecy, so we can surprise her! How wonderful it will be!”

Even Itachi himself can’t put her in a genjutsu, as if they will be able to use any sort of visual paralysis on her. Just fooling Mamba was a bit too harder than expected. He’s gotten an iron grip on her. And much like his name a filthy black mouth, teeth and tongue. For someone to have such high tolerance for poison, he was surely the least tolerant in the group. Pebble was a man of monstrous size, he himself could pass as a mountain, and Sparrow looked like an old witch trying to feed a poison apple to snow white.

Honestly, she made a hasty decision, they way the hide out is so deep in the woods so close yet so hidden, all the traps around and triggers, she doubts Ren will be able to find her here anytime soon. It’d be better if Itachi just takes the scroll and leaves, handling what is in something so important is of a bigger priority. Also if only she could get at least somewhere near the room where the scrolls r. They’d not need to worry about anyone here fleeing with the thing that matters the most.

“Aww darling, u seem worried, don’t worry though, I’d love u all the same even if u r a limbless puppet running on fuel and no longer alive, you’ll be my most beautiful bride”

Heh, he really thinks someone like him can get her to do what he wants, something no one else has been able to do. As if!!

**********************************************

He didn’t wanna admit it, but Ren appeared to be a way better tracker than they expected! He as in they that is. It’s been only 1 and a half hours and they have already found the base. It looked like a normal abandoned place where no one has lived for centuries. If not for the precautions they took about the triggers and traps. To add cherry on top the weather seems to be getting heavy as well. It will be hard for Ren to be doing his job if the sky is drowning with rain.

Suddenly a kunai passed right by Itachi’s left ear alerting everyone showing they have been trapped.

Sparrow revealed herself from the shadows and used her summonings to surround her victims. She might not be as potent at genjutsu as Itachi but her summonings r powerful. She laughed at them and asked what were they doing triggering every single sensor near the hide out instead of sneaking in. Ren laughed a little and replied if nothing they got at least some traps figured out, only they weren’t capable of using shadow clones. It’s a tough technique, but so was the shinobis on their tail. The last thing she expected was to be trapped inside toad stomach with Itachi himself, her summonings getting more and more stuck inside. Oh how he hated people who were only capable of living by their own assumptions, prejudices r a deadly killer.

At least the good part was that they had a sense of team, helping each other out when they needed help was a great trait to have. But Pebble wasn’t the most patient man there. Thankfully neither was master Jiraiya. Directly messing with him after he felt u have insulted his taste is always a rough ending.

“The mountain toad’s stomach is a hard place to escape from, there’s no point in dragging on and trying to free her, we might as well have a negotiation over materials we both want back now all right gentlemen?”

Ok so they didn’t have any sense of team. Neither did they have any sense of respect for women. To be dragging a woman, who’s injured with broken ankles, by her feet was not something Itachi was expecting to see. Her body twisted in ways which could not be normal, forcefully dragged across the surface, all beaten and broken. He thought she had more fight in her than this, he thought she would be able to carry herself for longer than this, HE THOUGHT MASTER JIRAIYA WOULD SHOW MORE EMOTIONS THAN THIS!! Especially when even Ren froze up.

“Oww and u want us to believe u r here for a deal because…?”

“Simple really, no one really knows what is in the scroll but we all can agree that it’s a powerful secret, so u may take ur remarkable medic and we take our scroll.”

“ And ur teammate?”

“ Mehh, we can always replace her. There’s nothing really good about her other than some pet birds u see. So might as well get her replaced. I’ll miss my beautiful to be wife though, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”

Wife………wife? To be wife? Who behaves like this with their to be wife, who trades her for a piece of rolled up paper, who the hell just casually dragged their so called to be wife by her ankle that seems to be broken anyway.

“u sure are bold”

“Well what can I say, big fan of the clan killer of konoha u can say”

“ What makes u think that we even have the scroll”

“ Simple really, Mamba can sense it.”

“ I see how it is then, does he also sense the danger he is in now”

“ Enough talking, I think it’s time to get down to business seriously.”

Itachi wasn’t sure how being so eager to attack was good, when they had Amaya’s half-conscious body tied up with them.

“……..tachi…….”

He knew this voice, what he didn’t know was it could be so quiet.

“Look at this! Wifie woke up and chose to call for another man before me, I’m heartbroken. Particularly when I care about her more than they do”

 “ It shows exactly how much u care about her u hypocrite! Dragging her around like a corpse when she’s still alive, u sure do love her so much!!”

“ Wow why is brick head blowing up suddenly……. No way! U don’t say huhh!!-“

He didn’t get to finish his rant or realization when Jiraiya’s fist landed square on his jaw. Well he did say he wants to get down to serious business. The Pebble guy seemed stunned as well at his speed. Maybe this was time for Itachi to start playing big, it’ll be over soon.

A faint red aura surrounded him, slowly growing brighter and as if almost taking in a form, his eyes glowing scarlet and droplets of crimson starting to pool in his eyes. Eyes that embodies his past, his relation with the woman in front and who he is at core.

 “Tachi……Move now!”

The voice was faint but he heard it clearly. In a fraction of a second he moved the ground beneath him shattered. He underestimated the 2 other people to deal with. Ren was keeping Mamba and his poison busy, but they left Pebble unattended. Or so they thought, everything was now exactly where he hoped would be, right in the line of his sight all aligned.

“ clever move, but u forgot that we r still holding her here with us”

“ And that’ll be an issue exactly because? “

“ Spoken like a true clan killer”

The retort came with a kick to the ribs Itachi barely dodged thanks to his susano. The damage this man deals seems to be unrecoverable, he has to be more cautious. Or not. Like always, even in the state she was in she already has connected her chakra with the 3 there, no one has to worry about healing while she’s there ever. A miracle medic as always.

“DAMN U WOMAN, MY TO BE BRIDE GOING AROUND HELPING OTHERS LIKE IT IS SOME KIND OF JOKE!! Ohh I know, I’ll show them joke. Pebble!! We need to do what we need to do. Mamba, deal with them.“

And as if they were waiting for this opportunity, pebble set off the earth bomb and mamba released his poison smoke. The difference was that when it blew up it was more violent than they expected. If master Jiraiya didn’t pull Itachi back he’d been blown to bits.

But the question was, where are the other bits, other than broken shards of red that is.

**********************************************

Itachi would’ve charged into the poison mist is Jiraiya didn’t hold him back, Ren seemed to have frozen up even forgetting to inhale. Faint screams of the sannin couldn’t bring them back to their senses that the enemies were escaping. As if to add to injury already so deep his last words drowned much around when the sky started to as well. Jiraiya had no choice he had to choose between attending to the unconscious member or facing a raging storm he had no hand over, not now at least, and as the wise man he was he chose the former.

3, 7, 15 he found every bead of red but he didn’t find any hint of the wrist they were attached to. The rubble mixed with the roof and the earth around, he never thought his mind would ever be capable of being so perfectly portrayed by nature around him. There had to be at least smudges of blood or did the rain already wash them away. He saw it. He knows what he saw, the moment Demon charged towards the opposite direction his minions executed his orders, his hands were empty, Itachi knows the hands were empty because he was reaching out to hold them himself. He knows what he saw, he saw the smile, he saw the very same smile that always told him it’ll be fine, they’ll work till it’s not, he saw it. Yeah sure the eyes and lips were a little busted, the face was a little swollen, but it was the same familiar picture just a bit dusty. He won't be giving up. He might need a bit of help, he doesn’t have to do everything by himself right, he’ll just go ask Ren. He’ll go ask for help just after he’s done rummaging through this portion of the ruin. He’s not lying at all. Definitely not. Why would he……..

**********************************************

He did not appreciate being dragged into the cave by Jiraiya. He didn’t care about the interrogation going on there. As if Sparrow will be about to spill all the details. He doubts she even knows any. Being played by the leader like a pawn and sacrificed when she was trying to help. She tried her best. She didn’t ask anything so she’d know nothing. She was keeping an eye out for everyone constantly. He doesn’t know this girl. He truly doesn’t.

He trusted when she said she knew nothing, he already looked through her mind, almost, and he trusted her. So the best thing to do was to release her. The flames were inescapable and they’d finish the job faster.

“Why’d u do that!!”

“Mind explaining the meaning behind attacking ur teammate?”

Itachi had a poker face on. He had a promise to keep, he will always keep his cool and not let his unstable emotions take over his rationality. Ren did punch him but he’s not looking for a fight, he’s shaken. It’s alright, they did lose a teammate and there’ll be hell to explain. He’ll keep his cool.

“Excellent control over ur face Itachi boy, but those hands balled in a fist turning those knuckles white shaking shows ur fury enough maybe hide them to be more convincing. “

“ Tell him to hide his face too. I don’t ever want to see it after we return to the village. Let’s not being him back as back-up, he won’t be doing much anyway “

He didn’t mean to let the snort out and definitely not so loudly. Ren is kind of heart and naïve of soul. He has a long way to understand his new teammate perfectly. Not something he’ll be able to do unless he calms down first.

“There’ll be no need for a back-up”

“The arrogance level is through the roof ehh Uchiha? U will stop at nothing no? Nothing else matters in front of the mission”

“It’s the mission that no longer matters. The mission was to capture them alive. So we can get the information behind their intentions and if more r involved in this mess. Now it’s no longer what it was supposed to be like in the papers. We’ve gotten one scroll, u take that back to konoha and figure out whatever possible from it. I’ll bring the rest. We’ll see if others r involved in this or not depending on who tries to stop me or not. And-“

“ What exactly makes u think we’ll just agree and follow by what u say. Who allowed u to think u can make decisions for us too.”

“ I’m not making any decisions for u, I’m explaining what I’ll do. It should be a guideline for things to avoid so u don’t end up against me”

“ And let’s say we do in fact follow ur words. What exactly will it end in. U chasing vengeance because u r stronger. Or everything going back to how it was because now u finally understand that some plans don’t follow through so u should know when to back out of one such situation.”

He knew Jiraiya spoke what he meant. But obviously he didn’t know the whole truth. Neither does Itachi have the energy to explain now.

“Ren, I know it’s unfair to u but can I talk to Itachi a bit. It’ll only take us a moment. If u will wait it out I’m sure u can see there’s more common in between the two of u than u r willing to believe. There there child, just a few minutes.”

Itachi didn’t like how calm he was, he didn’t like how he was treating him like a kid, as if he was some stupid child. He didn’t like feeling like everything he spoke was a joke when he spoke his mind on a firm ground. Jiraya should know better than to be thinking that he was talking empty. He-

“I know I know, u don’t like being cut off, or people reading u too much and many more……..things but I’m not here to go through the list. I just wanted to say, I know that the whole reason u wanted to avoid her was because u didn’t want her to be in trouble because of u. Itachi Uchiha, a name that’s followed by some sort of another negative attachment no matter where u go, to not associate with it is probably the best way to not be involved with it. But did u ever think how deeply she already was involved? The entire impression that u gave was that u didn’t care about her not that she wasn’t involved. Something u kept trying to maintain even in this mission”

“…….. “

“ C’mon now, staying silent won’t be helpful at all. Ahh ok let me say it like this. U wanted her to be safe right? Not following u around or worse someone else hunting her to get back at u. Now not saying u didn’t have faith in her or u didn’t trust her because it’s something u did 100% and I can’t deny something so blatantly obvious. But Itachi, she followed u around maybe for a reason?”

“ What could be the reason. Can u name one single thing that I can ever give to her? What did I not do to make it clear that there’s nothing I can provide her with. A home, a family, love, safety nothing at all. Can u tell me what didn’t I explain to her? “

“ Now now let’s not get so ahead so fast. Maybe all she wanted was a friend with a listening ear. That u did give her, tirelessly. Ur poker face does nothing to hide how intently u listen to her rambling away even when what she says makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. U gave her what she wanted, a friend a companion and someone who listens. Why r u judging her based on how u think she should feel or be like instead of how she really felt or was”

“ Was……I think whatever needs to be proved is already proved. Was, she was, she felt, she did it’s all in the past. There’s no point in dwelling on the last anymore not when I can’t bring it back, or change it. Least  apologize or to make it right. When-“

“She ran after u because she wasn’t sure if u will return to her”

“ I never said anything about it because I don’t know it myself.”

“If u didn’t succeed in pretending she’s not involved then u should’ve accepted the fact that she’s important. Ur name doesn’t only bring trouble to the people u care about, it also keeps them safe. Not many r insane enough to mess with someone u hold dear to ur heart because they won’t be able to pay the price. Think about now, they went after nobody u thought was important but the one u ignored. Instead of making it appear that she’s the least informed member u made it appear she was a sacrificial pawn; and they went for her.”

“ Telling me these will do exactly what if I may enquire?! “

“Avoid future casualties that results in negligence of the situation at hand assuming everything is going accordingly. Human psychology is unpredictable. Adaptation and fluidity is crucial.”

The toad sage walked away, but he sat there. Unpredictable. Human psychology is unpredictable. For everyone? U mean to tell him that Jiraya didn’t know the consequences of his words on Itachi? Maybe he didn’t. Because if he wasn’t going for vengeance before he is now.

**********************************************

Muffled coughing couldn’t reach any ears even if there was one out there searching for it. Thank goodness she asked Yamato for a carry on wooden clone of herself as her temporary summoning. She surely did exchange places with it at the nick of time but sigh she lost the friendship bracelet. Well it isn’t friendship much anyway, he seems to not really think of her as a friend. Even now she’s still thinking about it when trying to swim against the flow of the river handling 4 scrolls and freshly healed from broken bones. She’s not even that good of a swimmer. WHY did she even think it was a good idea. Well it’s a different thing that it’s Itachi who’s the brain of the missions, and executioner, and planner, and tracker, and…….well she’s not a shinobi to begin with. Dang she really needs to stop having inner monologues about Itachi and focus on surviving the river.

**********************************************

“Are u fucking crazy?”

At this point Itachi is sure Ren isn’t even trying to hide his hatred for him. Not that he cares but yes, someone else seems to care. However it’s no longer something he bothers with. He cannot just go back home and face Naruto. He can’t just return to the same places where he’ll never see her again. He can’t just admit he didn’t even acknowledge someone that cared for him so much she forgot to care for herself. Who does this brick head thinks he is anyway, he came in her life first, he was the one to be hearing her ramble away first.

Who was he kidding, he wasn't her first in anything, he wasn’t even the best one at that. The again of all he was to her is a failure, then doesn’t it mean that he has the most right to be seeking justice for her death. After all it is him to bear the responsibility-

“What do u think of urself huh!! U think I wanna see them dead any less? U think I-“

“I don’t even want them to ever achieve any memorial grave, because realistically speaking there’s not going to be a body to bury, either. Do not compare ur childish crush-at-first-sight on a girl u saw merely a few hours ago with the relation we shared or emotions we felt together. Nothing was one-sided as u assumed. Yes I know there’s no point in confessing them now. But there’s also no point in denying them now either. I refused to entertain all irrelevant curiosity u may harbor any further. If u will this shall be our parting now”

Jiraiya didn’t have the chance to call out to him either. His usual genjutsu tricks, he didn’t even realise until the boy in front of him flew away turning into a flock of crows. He half expected the shock on Ren’s face, but was half not ready to believe that someone like Itachi will be losing his cool. Learning is growth however, learning humans r not machines running on pure logistics and sometimes emotions taking over is normal, letting the emotional side out is healthy, lessons Itachi will be needing.

“We’re gonna chase after him.”

“What good will it bring?”

“ I wanna see if he really means what he said. I don’t believe him”

“………so long u don’t regret it.”

**********************************************

Did he know where he was going? No. Yes. Sort of……? There could be many potential answers. He’s Itachi Uchiha of the sharinagan, if he can’t even track a few murderers that killed someone who actually may have mattered to him what good is he for. And besides-

.............

Is there a waterfall nearby? The loudness of water is getting louder and louder. Waterfalls……. Someone seemed to be mesmerized when Jiraiya was talking about them when he was telling the stories about his travels. She loved water, hot springs, ocean, rivers, ponds and even long showers, water made her happy. He didn’t think clearly when he was already near the hidden waterfall. How will he be keeping his composer if every little thing now reminds him of her. Well if u can call a whole waterfall small.

Then his ears perked up, his muscles tensed. He heard it, clear shuffling behind the bushes. He doesn’t think whoever it is has noticed him yet. He doesn’t sense any chakra from the person but he’s certain it’s a person.

Itachi was swift and light on his feet, he moved fluidly and dived in the bushes. They’re female, long hair, fair limbs and bright eyes and a hard as hell head that just head-butted his nose and started screaming about how he, Itachi, scared her shitless and she was just trying to pass by unnoticed and then the sound got hazy. Maybe it was the impact of her head in his nose that stun him, but to see someone alive after……no no no. He won’t fall for this, it’s clearly a trap.

She was explaining herself. She was very lively and animated by nature so waving her hands and arms excitedly when she was agitated was natural to her. She was not expecting him to grab her both arms and pin then behind her, turn her on her stomach, press her against the ground and keep her there with one knee to her tailbone threatening with a kunai against her throat almost cutting the skin.

“Who are u?........what do u want?”

Simple questions, except the person asking those questions was Itachi. What did he mean? He knows her right?? Of course he does. Why is he so violent though……..

“UCHIHA LAD YOU HAVE ONE CHANCE TO GET OFF ME OR OR…….Or………or no more dango for u I’ll feed them to Mr. chick ken, for……for a whole week!!”

Amaya……..Threatening someone to not let them have sweets when they r about to kill her, bringing chicken into a pursuit of life in death’s face, that high pitch voice, the warmth of her hands, the same eyes confused as ever never knowing anything about anything……..It’s Amaya

“You’re alive…….”

“Damn straight I AM!! I-”

**********************************************

Feel free to skip this part.

She has just sat up and faced him then he decides to come a little too close. His hand supporting the back of her neck, lips against her own. His nose pressed against her cheek and eyes as if forcefully squeezed shut. For a few seconds she didn’t even process what just happened until he slowly started to move against her mouth softly sucking it in, using another arm to support her waist. She got one chance to exhale the breath she didn’t know she was holding and as if her body gave up against his. Thank goodness his eyes r shut or he'll see how red her face was glowing. Pretty sure he can feel the heat but it’s still better than seeing her right. His hands moved from her neck to her hair and as if his eyelids fluttered scaring her to close her own eyes. Is he looking, she doesn’t know what to do, how to respond but she doesn’t mind him either. Her hands balled on the materialbon his chest resting beside where her body was pressed against his. It’s almost as if he let go of her too soon if she wasn’t so out of breath gasping loudly for air. For a fraction of a second though, then his lips found her again and this time it wasn’t so much of a soft and gentle kiss. There were hints of underlying aggression, slight pulls and bites, teeth scraping against the lip and the tip her tongue, his hands were tense against her. She had to shove him apart to breath as if he didn’t want to let go at all, still breathing as heavily as her, voice horse.

Continue.

**********************************************

 “U r alive……..please tell me it isn’t a lie and u r alive…….”

What was he talking about, of course she is alive and well…….she’s right in his arms and awww-

“Of course! Tachi!! It was just a clone!! I don’t know what u saw, but it was just a clone. Aww I wonder what poor Yamato san must be feeling I’ve got to apologize to him-”

“It was a wood clone?”

“Oh My God yes I had it as my temporary summoning!!”

Human psychology was unpredictable. Yet it was something so common for her how could he miss it. He can’t believe himself, it’s the same trick over and over again and she manages to keep it up. Brother and sister are much alike here……..

**********************************************

Ren could sense Itachi’s chakra nearby. So when he just took the lead and went a bit ahead thinking to himself what a hypocrite this man was leaving Jiraiya a little behind, what he was least expecting was to tumble upon him sharing a moment intimately with Amaya. And she seemed to be holding on to him too.

Jiraiya was half shocked to see him return with his head down.

“Let’s wait for him here”

But he didn’t pursue the issue further. Ren has gotten the answer he was seeking. But still maybe he should clarify.

“I’ve tried to tell u both, but I wasn’t given a chance to. She brought a wood clone as a temporary summoning for this mission. She wasn’t as helpless and useless as she made herself appear-“

“She has the rest of the scrolls, if I’m not too wrong Mamba will be chasing us soon.”

“…….. Give them a minute, he also needs to collect himself”

**********************************************

He was half expecting Ren to be all over Amaya the moment he saw her but surprisingly he was so friendly yet formal. Perhaps that’s for the best. Ren already understands the whole situation. He knows that they’re just coworkers and maybe acquaintances at best. He still didn’t like the way Jiraiya knew everything yet said nothing. He was grateful, still so annoyed.

 “ Tachii!! What do u mean I can’t handle them?? I’ve been carrying these and I-“

“ I’m not saying that u r useless, all I’m saying is when Mamba comes chasing us I’d rather deal with him myself instead see u get hurt again”

“ It feels kinda weird hearing u talk like this”

“ Get used to this then, I don’t wanna regret the same thing twice in my life.”

“Looks like a touching reunion was taking place, tsk tsk, too bad I’m disappointed and thorough with my dear  cheating wifie to be partaking in the get-together”

“ If u don’t drop it wifie game I’ll make sure u never speak again”

“ U r underestimating my speed to be thinking u can match with me and I’m not the only one alone here”

It’s true, mamba was a great sensory shinobi. Too bad he isn’t a teammate against whom Itachi could afford to be kind with.

Pebble and Jiraiya had an old dispute to settle, Ren and Amaya were against Mamba and Itachi decided to even the score against Demon and the “wife” issue needed to end.

Not good at directing fighting scenes so I’ll be gently glossing over them here.

Pebble thought the toad stomach would be easy to escape from…….until he got stuck there. Mamba underestimated Amaya and her own knowledge over poison thinking nothing could ever have any effect on him and got sealed paralyzed temporarily after getting anesthesia. Demon wasn’t the only one to be dealing irreparable damage and Amaterasu was definitely harder to deal with.

**********************************************

Well they were supposed to catch them all alive but getting 2 of 4 would prove to be a lot of explanations. Half way though the return journey while everyone was thinking of best words to face the least damage and by everyone it means Ren and Amaya the rest of the 2 were silently going after them. Until they had to stop for a little break and lunch. It wasn’t much chaotic like the last time they ate together, just this time Itachi managed to shove those bell peppers down her throat as a small revenge, one of many small revenge. Amaya was getting a little curious though, she kept quiet the entire way, she gets to ask what was in the scroll right.

Master Jiraiya was the one to open them at first. Everyone was at least a bit curious to begin with. Ancient scriptures on the scroll, who knows what kind of prophecy was in there. More or less anything at all could prove to be of huge help.

If not to everyone then at least to master Jiraiya. It was a thorough research done on his interest. Let’s just say the 106th point said the worthy one shall be in the possession of this invaluable information. Though cursed through and through the ‘wife’ issue was definitely resolved without any regrets. Least to say that the people involved r not likely to know anything in it. Most likely the reason shinobies decided to divide the scroll and hide it was to save faces after the prophet’s death. Later on as time went by the secret was glorified and reached this point. Well, if nothing at least now Itachi can forever tease Amaya for being serious the one time she was serious……… according to him. No she’s not allowed to talk back to him about it, he knows how to keep things quiet. Grounding her from seeing her ducks was the best way to do it as usual.

********************************************************************************************

It's my first ever work posting here, Amaya is my self indulgent OC,

Black hair, purple eyes and fair skin. It's not coloured but it's my own art ✨

She's a medic, but she's not a kunoichi. I do have a backstory for her and I also have another au where Itachi doesn't die (neither does Jiraiya or Neji). She's 2 years younger than Itachi, and is like an older sister to Naruto (he saved her a few years back during the og Naruto timeline). Maybe I'll be posting about her au later sometime.

Anyway, I hope u enjoyed it, though it was too big for a first post. Take care and see ya later ���🏻✨🪄✨

[or0ch1maru]

Part Sixteen: The Delivery

***

Thud.

Down goes my partner.

“Stay here with y/n. I’ll get this one to his room.”

I tell Obito, our visitor.

I grab onto Orochimaru, throwing him over my shoulder. Inside his room, I lay him on his bed, throwing a thin sheet over him for the time being. He must have it good for y/n. I’ve never seen him react like this over anybody. Back inside the lab, Obito stands where I left him. Next to y/n’s bed, worrying about his old friend. She’s physically okay, mentally, not so much. She should be awake in a day or two. She needs this rest. Especially after this devastating news. Poor thing.

“Would you care to stay for a hot meal? Or are you expected elsewhere?”

I ask our guest.

“I’d love to stay but he’ll be expecting me anytime soon. I don’t want him to have suspicions of where I’ve been. If I can help you guys and keep her safe, I’ll do it.”

Explains the scarred man. His eyes haven’t left y/n. The way his brows furrow show me his genuine concern for her.

“That’s unfortunate.”

I say. It would be nice to have some company. Maybe find out more about all of this.

I give him some time alone with y/n before he departs. I begin a letter to Kakashi and The Hokage about the most recent update in regards to y/n.

“I can post that for you, if you wish.”

Begins Obito.

“I pass through the town to get to our hideout. It’s a long travel but it’ll make it easier on you. I know you don’t want to leave these two alone in their conditions.”

He continues.

“That’d be great. Thanks.”

I say as I roll up the parchment, handing him the scroll.

“I’ll be back with more updates and information as soon as possible.”

He reassures me as I escort him out.

“Thank you…Obito.”

I say before closing the door. He gives me a half smile as he slides his mask back on, disappearing into the dark.

***

It was great to see y/n again, after all these years. Even though my eternal rest has been kind to me. Even in the afterlife, I found myself thinking of her often, though some would find that impossible.

As I speed through the town, there’s no sound. Just the odd cricket chirping in the distance. It seems that most people are already in bed, or at least winding down.

Outside the Academy and Hokage’s office, I find myself double checking that no one is watching me. When I find that I’m in the clear, I slip into the Hokage’s office, leaving the scroll in the middle of his desk.

I sneak out the way I came, leaving everything as it was when I arrived.

The rest of the early hours of night went by in a blur as I ran to the middle of nowhere. HE wanted his hideout far away from everyone and everything, not wanting to be discovered even by accident.

“Did you enjoy seeing the town again?”

He asks as I close the door behind me.

“Yes. Not much has changed.”

I reply as I walk past him, retreating to my chamber.

“Did you find out any information on her whereabouts?”

He asks.

Time to put on my most convincing face. With his rebirth, and reanimation, he believes lies much easier now.

“No. Whenever she is, everybody is keeping that tightly bound. I was going to venture out again tomorrow. See if I can find something.”

I answer cooly as I pour myself a glass of sake. My mask now secured to a hook on my hip.

“Very well. Take as much time as you need to find out everything you can. Even if it takes months.”

He continues, standing a few feet behind me. I don’t have to look at him to know his mind and eyes are venturing off somewhere. He’s becoming distracted. Half the time I feel like he doesn’t even know what’s going on around him. Which, in a way, might make his demise easier this time.

“Sir.”

I say.

“May I ask why you have such an interest with this y/n? They’re just a girl.”

I say casually, trying to pretend that I don’t give a shit. Even though I care. I care way too much.

“With her powers, and how she was so quick to kill me, I enjoy watching her. I don’t even care that she has my old eye. She deserved it. I just want her.”

He spills.

What does he mean by want? There’s way too many possibilities for that one word.

“Want her for what?”

I ask, prodding.

“Well, for different things you see. She’d be a great asset for our little team here. She’s powerful, intelligent, and strong. The way she held on while I had her captured was tantalizing. She didn’t even shed a single tear.”

He continues on with his sick rant. I should just kill him where he stands.

“That and if I can’t have her, I’ll just kill her.”

He says. Throwing her life around so carefree. So…unimportant. Like she’s nothing.

I have to do all I can to appear normal. Not show him that his words are getting to me. I can feel my body heat rising as anger seethes through me. He sounds possessive over her. Some kind of sick fantasy most likely. I couldn’t imagine what other ideas he has.

“Hm. If you can’t have her, no one can huh?”

I say under my breath.

“Yes. Precisely.”

Says Madara, a smirk now spreading across his face.

“Good night.”

He says suddenly. Disappearing around the corner and into his room. I sigh when I hear his door shut and lock behind him.

As soon as the sun comes up, I’m going right back to Kabuto. I must explain to him what I’ve been told…

[depressedhatakekakashi]

With Mist Gai!!! There's an opportunity for him and Kakashi to meet under peaceful terms! Even after the scroll incident!

The Chuunin exams! If Gai has raised a strong enough team (which is why he was abducted anyways! To spread the 8 gates and improve The Mist village powet!) He could have had some baby Chuunins he's excited to let lose in Konoha. Maybe they're not super evil either, because they fed off his good vibes and he has taught them a morality that couldn't fully be taken out of him (like he's more cut throat but there's still lessons Dai imprinted on his heart that his head could not erase)... and Kakashi just...stalking him this entire time.

Maybe one or more of his kids gets to finals... so he has to pick to either help out the Sand/ Sound in this impromptu attack... or decide "I'm here not just for my kids but for a diplomatic mission. If Konoha is to fall it won't fall on the Mist's watch today. I'm going to help you." And he still teams up with Kakashi to help.

Kakashi being back to back with Gai and feeling ALL the nostalgia.

(Also does Gai wear blue in this? Blue tracksuit or did Mei be like "YOU. MUST. LEARN. TO. BE STYLISH."

"Yes Mrs. Kaze!"

Mei: *Feel depressed because she's not married yet!!!*

Ohhh…

By that point the Mist could take the risk of Gai being seen because it’s pretty clear where his loyalty’s lay (he has def talked to someone, probably Mei. Gonna give her some love her. About the Konoha shinobi who approached him so she knows that while Gai may have… questions, his loyalty is pretty clear)

Ohhh could this be a hint of where the sand and Konoha start to bond after the attack, but Mist and Konoha do it as well. Except where Suna reaches out a hand of friendship because of Naruto, The Mist does it because of Kakashi 🤔🤔🤔 thoughts for later

Anyways!

Loving the idea of Gai convincing Mei to let him enter his students into the chunin exam’s being held in Konoha both so he can see how other villages are doing and to kind of get out there

He wants to test his kids, and keeping them in the mist feels sort of limiting.

But i also want one of Gai’s kids Vs one of Team seven 🤔🤔🤔 that would be so fun. Perhaps Kiba faces a mist kid and Naruto faces a mist kid? Kiba still loses but it’s actually a super tough fight (that does not include him getting farted at) and Naruto win’s but just barely and Gai is DAMN IMPRESSED.

Like he was bot expecting any of his kids to lose, and does Kakashi look smug!? That rude little bastard it is ON!

However, i’m also kind of thinking of Lee and ‘Team Gai’ and how they don’t have the same Sensei so maybe Tenten’s still searching for her path or just getting on it. Meanwhile Lee is… no where near the shinobi we see in Canon. He’s struggling a lot more and is going starty eyed when he see’s these mist kids on the field using mainly taijutsu moves

(Mist/Konoha agreement for Lee to train with Gai? Hmmm might have to figure that one out)

But also, i think Gai would choose to fight with Kakashi mostly to protect his students (who are all unconscious in the genjutsu). He has no loyalty to Suna or Orochimaru, and while taking Konoha out would be beneficial to the mist it could also prove detrimental to the mist to have Orochimaru and Suna with that kind of success.

Him and Mei might fight about his choice later, but he chooses to fight alongside Kakashi to protect the village and more importantly his students.

For Kakashi it’s a moment of nostalgia

For Gai it’s just doing what he must to protect his students

[suimin-chan]

Another fic idea that I might never write.

What if Naruto didn't trust Kakashi at all at first? This is a child who has seen the worst of the village people. He's seen the ones who have no reservations showing their hate for him. Those that hurt him out of an anger he doesn't understand. Those that ignore him, like he doesn't even exist. Ignore his suffering and attention seeking. And those that plaster fake smiles, that pretend that they don't hate him. Those who keep a distance, pretend kindness in order to get him to leave faster. He hates that last one the most. He had learned to recognize those fake smiles better after Mizuki conned him into stealing the Forbidden scroll. Fake smile that didn't reach his cold eyes. Honeyed words encouraging him. When Naruto should have known, that this man with such a care free attitude, who never gave a damn about him passing, suddenly wanted to help. He nearly lost Iruka to him. Iruka who had just started to care about him. Giving him the attention he craved. Scolding him like a parent. Taking him out to ramen. Iruka who took a shuriken to the back and told him to run and not listen to the hateful words Mizuki was spouting about Naruto having a demon in him.

So he's rightfully suspicious, in his mind, of another pale haired man with fake smiles, cold and calculating eyes... eye? Who's too nonchalant to be truthful. Who is always late. Lies about everything. Doesn't show much concern as of yet to their safety. Can be too harsh with his words at times while others are sickeningly sweet at times. Manipulating is what Iruka would say. That's what Mizuki had done to him. Said things that made Naruto feel on top of the world, just to get him to do what he wanted.

So he keeps his distance. Doesn't try to show off to get the man's attention. Let him praise Sasuke all he wants. Doesn't take his bait when he tries to rile Naruto up. Keeps away from any hair ruffles. Doesn't accept the invitation to have ramen along with his other teammates. He's not hungry, Iruka is expecting him, he wants to grab something else to eat but will be right back when Kakashi and the other two are done.

He complains to Iruka constantly. Tells him he doesn't like the man. Who reads porn in public and around children? That had gotten a rant out of Iruka. He doesn't try to get to know the man, and Iruka had said that while he trusts Kakashi, he also knew nothing about the strange man; no one really does other than probably Guy. He won't force Naruto to trust the man, but tells him to be sure to follow orders. Iruka had tried to convince him to trust the jonin sensei, but after Naruto pointed out that he doesn't have the best track record when it comes to trusting people, it was dropped. Grudgingly.

Naruto thinks the man was forced to be his sensei because of the demon. And isn't sure if the man would let him die to rid the village of the creature and Naruto. Iruka can't reassure him either, it's a possibility. One neither of them like. Iruka doesn't ask the Hokage for advice, both he and Naruto know that their concerns would be brushed off. Kakashi is a very loyal ninja. And the Hokage is a bit of a tattle-tale. He would tell Kakashi.

Kakashi is obviously confused. Naruto is nothing like he's seen and heard of. Bribing him with ramen doesn't work in opening him up. Neither does teasing him. He's never home when he checks, apparently he stays with Iruka. Naruto violently chases him off when he tries to drop in on the both of them eating at the ramen shop, or drags Iruka away.

It's obvious Naruto doesn't like him. But Kakashi doesn't know why. Iruka, when cornered, refuses to betray Naruto's trust. All attempts at getting close fail. He tries to ask Naruto about it when he's alone. But that just gets him a sexy jutsu and a Naruto who hides better than some ANBU. Calling him out about his dislike in front of Sasuke and Sakura has an embarrassed Naruto closing up tighter than a clam and refusing to so much as look at Kakashi. It also makes Sakura fuss at the boy and makes Sasuke draw away from him too. Casting suspicious eyes on Kakashi. After all, Naruto likes everyone, mostly, so if he doesn't like Kakashi, then clearly Sasuke missed something. Sakura, the goody-two-shoes, trust the adult in charge and looks at the two boys like they've lost their minds. Kakashi just doesn't know what to do.

The mission to Mist, goes horribly. But it does seem to shine a favorable light on Kakashi. Sasuke is back to treating him just like before. Naruto only warms up a little. The chunin recommendations ruin that. Naruto picks up on Iruka's anger and who it's directed to. The trust is out the window in the blink of an eye. They pass the preliminary test, and Iruka's side ring up to him again breaks the cool glares from Naruto. Brushing off training Naruto and choosing Sasuke seems to sting like a rejection to the child. Who according to Iruka, sees at as Kakashi not wanting to bother with him anymore. But there's nothing for it, Sasuke can learn more from him than Naruto could. And there is not enough time to spare. Naruto would probably only learn one thing where Sasuke could probably learn four. Sending him to Ebisu might have been a royal fuck up. So he's surprised to learn that Juraiya trained him.

They are all a bit distant with each other after all the funerals have ended. Naruto and Sasuke are at each other's throats more often than not. Kakashi rarely has time for them. Itatchi's return sends the one he was worried about the most but though would listen to him more, right out the village and chasing Orochimaru. It also leaves Naruto feeling betrayed. Kakashi spends every day in the hospital with Naruto and Iruka. Naruto slowly opens up around him. But then Naruto is leaving and Kakashi thinks all chances of having the boy trust him are gone. Until he gets a letter.

He really cherishes that letter.

[dai-nana-han-agenda]

HIIIII!! I really realllly love reading your tags on your retweets! It's one of my favorite things to see while scrolling down my TL. I was wondering if you have any of your fave TEAM 7 gen fics you could recommend? 💖💕 preferably no ships and just something that focuses on their dynamic and growing solidarity with each other!

HELLO! thank you so much omfg 💖 i’m so so sorry it took me so long to respond, i had the answer all drafted out and ready to go and then my dumb ass CLOSED THE TAB and i lost everything 😭 i had to rewrite the post which took a while FJDFSJ but it’s here now!! i really hope these are fics you haven’t seen/read before (omfg could you imagine if you’ve read every fic on this list i’d feel so bad 😭) but yeah!! i hope this helps!! 💖

(also side note, your icon is SO cute, i always see it in my notifs but i never got the chance to tell you until now LOLOL)

MULTI-CHAPTER

komorebi by tomorrowsrain ─ okay, i know you said preferably no ships (we’re already off to a rocky start FDJFKSJ) but this is literally my favorite team 7 fic ever, it’s impossible for me not to include it. it’s kakaobi, and team 7 doesn’t come in until ch. 3 of the first part, but i highly HIGHLY recommend it. seriously, this is my absolute favorite characterization of the members of team 7 & their dynamic, the author does such a good job of building their relationship from teammates to family. i will say the first chapter is a little disorienting (it’s in first person POV, which i usually tend to avoid when it comes to fanfiction, but the author does it so well and it does shift straight back to third person POV for the rest of the chapters). the author is currently writing the chuunin exams arc and it’s literally everything i wanted. 

tides by edenfalling ─ omg, this was one of the first team 7 fics i ever read waaay back on ff.net when i was like, 12 years old. unlike most of the fics on this list, this is set in shippuden, but it’s very much AU/canon-divergent. good character dynamics with team 7 learning how to work together again<3

how to make a team by Pleasedial123 ─ basically, kakashi gets his head out of his ass and actually invests time into strengthening the bonds between the members of team 7. don’t get me wrong, i absolutely LOVE canon!kakashi & i know he did his best (he was traumatized + not ready to be a teacher, i get it)... plus, if he was a good teacher in canon, there literally wouldn’t have been a plot. basically this is me saying fuck kishimoto because LOOK at what we could’ve had!! 

and so, the sensei supports his students by ihopethelightwillshineupon ─ this is really more kakashi-centric and it focuses more on his relationship with each of his students than on the dynamic between naruto, sasuke, and sakura (but kakashi is technically part of team 7 so it still counts!!)

ONE-SHOTS

for warmth by magnificentbirb ─ a scene i wish we would’ve gotten in canon.... like you’re telling me there are literally HOURS of filler episodes and we couldn’t get ONE soft, genin team 7 moment?? kishimoto & studio pierrot, you’ll be hearing from my lawyers. 

believing in heroes by guycecil ─ another moment i wish we got in canon because like... can we talk about how, in their genin days, these kids are 12 years old. are you fucking kidding me. also, now that i’m skimming over the fic, this may be more sakura-centric than team 7 centric, but i’d still highly recommend!

the pretty one by theformerone ─ it’s tagged as ot3, but i promise there are no ships! like maaaybe if you squint? but i honestly read it as platonic. one of my favorite fics ever tbh. answers the question that i’ve been thinking about since the manga was released all those years ago: what could have happened if kakashi was too late?

take the fight from the kid by theformerone ─ someone tell me why these 12 year old kids aren’t allowed to process anything on screen.... like, right after the wave arc, everything just went back to normal. like okay, yes, naruto had that moment to grieve for zabuza + haku, but i really just wanted to see a shift in the team 7 dynamics and we never really got it. so take this beautifully written fic instead!! god bless fanfiction. 

pray my name by Chancy_Lurking ─ ok so this is a fic that i found today and i’m OBSESSED. i do want to warn you, since you asked for no ships: it’s not tagged as ot3, but it could be if you squint. or, you could argue that team 7 is just very affectionate/very codependent. either way, right after i finished reading it, all i wanted to do was curl up in my bed and cry (but like, in a good way). 

just killing time by edenfalling ─ a very short but cute little one-shot that i also just found today! same author as tides, so if you read that first and you like their work, you should check this one out! (or vice versa)

did you inherit a sickness? did you blame god? by hotgirl ─ i literally recommend this fic to anyone and everyone because like?? it doesn’t exactly match what you’re looking for but it does have team 7 moments (heads up: it’s implied sns). this is honestly one of the best sasuke characterizations i’ve ever read. 10/10 would recommend.

of bruised brains and dog baths by sweetpotatopie ─ okay so these last three fics might not be exactly what you’re looking for but i’m adding them if/when you’re in the mood for cute, feel-good team 7 one-shots. this one is just a happy, post-canon piece where they actually get along<3

another day in paradise by ohthelinsanity ─ modern au where sakura and naruto bully sasuke, sakura and sasuke bully naruto, and kakashi is weird as shit. the friendship between naruto/sasuke/sakura that i wish i got in canon. hints of past itasaku and implied inosaku, but it’s very much a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment.

gotta see! finally know! kakashi-sensei’s true face! by Lolistar92 ─ my FAVORITE face reveal fic EVER. episode 101 from naruto is the only filler that deserves rights (and maybe the curry arc because i love team gai, the ramen episode, and all the episodes with konoha 11. but mostly ep 101.)

[cyhyr]

Summer of Whump Day 16: Touch Starved

Fandom: Naruto

Rating: G

Pairing: Hatake Kakashi/Umino Iruka, pre-relationship

WC: ~1870

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

A/N: Are y'all ready for some whumpy fluff??? Cuz I got some kinda cavity-inducing treat here for those that're into that.

~

In theory, Kakashi should have been assigned a touchstone during his ANBU service. Looking back, he’s ambivalent about how he feels on the subject. Sure, a touchstone could have been helpful if they were trained well and able to calm him down from the nightmares he had as a teenager; but he’s also historically one of the deadliest shinobi enlisted in ANBU and the possibility of accidentally killing a touchstone would have gotten him discharged early at best or put down because of a psychotic break at worst.

He doesn’t casually touch people, and hasn’t since his fist went through Rin’s chest ten years ago. He’s okay with this. He doesn’t want to touch people anyway—it registers a part of his instincts that equates touch with mission and he doesn’t like being “on” while in the village. Even Gai keeps a respectable distance unless they’re sparring, especially after the last time they had been walking through the village and brushed elbows and Kakashi flinched hard enough that two on-duty ANBU flickered into view on the rooftops.

But really, he’s fine.

~

Then he becomes a jōnin-sensei and formally meets Uzumaki Naruto and, by extension of Naruto, Umino Iruka. And see, after a week of training with the genin, he thought he’d gotten used to being casually touched again. Naruto, in particular, likes to take Kakashi’s palm in high-fives without permission and run circles around his legs like an over-excited pup. But Sasuke also will lean against him for a breath if no one else is looking, and Sakura is a hugger.

This does not prepare him for meeting his team’s old Academy teacher, who invites all of Team Seven—including Kakashi—to his home at the end of their first week for dinner. It seems odd that Naruto knows where everything is in the home enough to help Umino-sensei finish cooking and set the table; even more odd is Umino ordering Naruto around and Naruto following those orders without question. After the meal, Kakashi resolves to pick the man’s brain to figure out how he does that.

But then he notices how the man is moving around the kitchen; stiffly, limping, one hand bracing his lower back if he needs something out of his reach. And how Sasuke and Sakura are also hovering, asking if there’s anything they can do to help—and Kakashi realizes that he’s missing crucial information.

He gets the story about the scroll, the betrayal, and the fuma shuriken after dinner, while he’s helping Umino-sensei clean up. They had sent the genin out of the kitchen—Umino hadn’t wanted to recall it around them, worried it might “upset them”—so it was just the two of them in a tiny space.

And he’s not ready for it. Every time Umino passes behind him while Kakashi’s washing up at the sink, he presses a gentle hand to his upper back. Their fingertips brush occasionally when Kakashi’s handing Umino freshly washed dishes to dry.

His fucking laugh is a touch of its own.

Kakashi starts out tense but minutes go by and Umino doesn’t seem to recognize that his actions are distressing so Kakashi just… breathes through it. And relaxes. And lets himself feel.

And, gods, it’s nice.

~

It doesn’t stop. Umino—

“Iruka, please,” he smiles and it’s like sunshine after a month in the Land of Frost. “I’d like to think we’re friends, Kakashi-sensei, and my friends call me Iruka.”

“Then just ‘Kakashi’ is fine,” he replies—

He’s still wondering why he said that, but it certainly happened; it was at the Mission Desk and there were witnesses—

Anyway.

Iruka doesn’t stop with these friendly, gentle touches. But after that first night he is always careful to do them in places where no one else can observe Kakashi’s reactions, which Kakashi is immensely thankful for.

He doesn’t ever turn on Iruka, but there are some close calls. He once followed Iruka down into the archives and while they were down there he said something—likely a crass joke, remembering Iruka’s flush and that particular smile. In hindsight, Kakashi realizes that the jab on his arm was meant to mean oh gods why are you like this in an amused air; at the time, he froze and his heart had started pounding and he briefly saw Iruka as a threat.

Iruka didn’t move, either away or closer, just waited until Kakashi’s tension released. It took almost a minute. He did, however, continue speaking; going into a story about Naruto and Shikamaru from their earlier days at the Academy. Once Kakashi was back to himself he stuck his hands in his pockets and Iruka finished his filing in the archives, walking around again as though he hadn’t just been in potential danger.

Kakashi wonders if Iruka has touchstone training. He wonders if Iruka would entertain being his touchstone; but, no, he’s not ANBU anymore, he doesn’t need one anymore.

~

It’s too much.

It’s not enough.

~

One day after training his team, he catches sight of Iruka lounging in the grass by the river, reading a novel. The sunset warms the deep tones of his skin even more than usual and Kakashi groans because he’s been psyching himself up to do something like this for weeks and here, here is the perfect chance. And he could absolutely keep walking down the road and keep his hands and body to himself and Iruka would be none the wiser; and even if he does find out, Iruka will never hold it against him or call him a coward.

He can do it. He takes a few steps down the hill.

He can’t do it—he turns back up to the road and puts his face into his hands. He resists groaning, as that would alert Iruka to his presence and then he’s fucked.

He turns back around and looks at Iruka, turning the page of his book and tucking an arm under his head. Gods, he’s…

If I go down there, I’ll destroy him.

If I don’t, I’ll destroy myself.

Kakashi doesn’t whine, he doesn’t. He fought in the Third Great Shinobi War. He’s a hardened ANBU operative—retired, but. He’s one of the deadliest shinobi Konoha has on its roster. He can approach a chūnin Academy sensei, his friend, for no other reason than to just sit near him.

His legs move before he can form the thoughts to stop them, and he’s dropping into a cross-legged seat beside Iruka.

“Hello, Kakashi,” Iruka says. He sets his book aside and sits up, shifting so he’s more facing Kakashi. And gods that smile. “How are you?”

Kakashi finds that he can’t quite get the words out, and so just holds out a hand between them hoping Iruka will understand.

“Ah.” Of course, Iruka does. He slips his fingers between Kakashi’s slowly, giving him the chance to pull away if he needs. But Kakashi isn’t here for need; he’s here for want.

He pulls Iruka’s hand up to his cheek and presses into it, his pulse quickening.

“Kakashi, is everything alright?” Iruka murmurs.

He nods. The lump in his throat eases enough that he’s able to mutter back: “Exposure therapy. My apologies, sensei, for using you this way.”

Iruka’s palm is warm through his mask. He wishes he hadn’t done this in public, that he could feel Iruka’s hand on his bare face.

“I understand. I have done this before.”

“Y-You have?”

Iruka nods, shifts closer and lays his other hand on Kakashi’s shoulder. “I’ve had other friends in ANBU,” he whispers. “I was a touchstone for, ah, three years? For them.”

Kakashi can’t help the bubbling laugh. “I had wondered where you got these kinds of instincts, sensei.”

“It’s certainly not from teaching pre-genin.”

Iruka continues lightly stroking his shoulders and cheek where Kakashi placed his hand, until Kakashi fidgets and shifts and reaches up to rub at the back of his neck.

“I was wondering if—um—could you—that is—”

“Whatever you’re comfortable with,” Iruka nods.

“That’s just the thing,” Kakashi sighs. “I’m not comfortable with any of this.”

“Okay, so then just ask,” he says instead. “I promise, it’s neither the oddest request I’ve gotten, nor will I refuse you.”

Kakashi quirks an eyebrow and Iruka chuckles.

“I’ll tell you later. Ask.”

He takes in a deep breath and on the exhale says it at once: “CanIputmyheadinyourlap?”

Iruka takes a second to decode what he says, and then his grin widens and he turns back to where he’d placed his book. He shifts it further aside and situates himself better, and then nods, making a subtle come here gesture with the hand near his book.

Kakashi turns and just about falls into Iruka’s lap, now laying parallel to the river and looking up at the reddening sky. In the east, a few early stars are coming out. But here, on the riverbank, Iruka runs his fingers through Kakashi’s hair and it’s heaven. Fingertips from his other hand stroke gently down the side of Kakashi’s face and neck. After a few minutes, Iruka settles his arm over Kakashi’s chest in a loose embrace and it causes a hitch in his breath and a stutter in his pulse but—

But he’s with Iruka and he’s in the village and the fingers through his hair are so nice and he’s safe and Iruka’s safe—

He relaxes.

“Let me know if it’s too much,” Iruka says softly.

“This is wonderful, sensei,” Kakashi breathes. “You’re just enough. Exactly what I needed.”

Iruka lightly scratches at his scalp and Kakashi groans. The arm across his chest gets a little heavier and Kakashi notices but doesn’t care because he’s in the village and safe and with Iruka—

“Can I… um. No, nevermind.”

Kakashi opens his eye, looks up at Iruka, flushed in the sunset, and says, “Ask anyway?”

Iruka bites at his lip and hesitates, but Kakashi has all the time in the world right now. Eventually, the sun goes beyond the horizon and Iruka asks barely above a whisper, “Can I kiss you?”

He’s honestly surprised, thinking that he was the only one harboring a crush. But then he thinks about the sensitivity of lips on lips and tongue and teeth and being that close and I’ll destroy him—Kakashi stops that line of thought fast and clears his throat to fight off the bile wanting to rise. He swallows hard and says, “Not yet. I don’t know if I can—”

“Shh,” Iruka presses one finger to his lips over the mask; it’s excruciating. “You don’t need to explain yourself. A no is enough. I’ve got this,” gesturing to Kakashi, laid out beside him, and then threads his fingers back in his hair, “and I'm more than happy.”

Iruka eventually relocates them to his apartment, where Kakashi goes along quietly and eats what he’s given and washes up beside Iruka like he always does at the Team Seven dinners he hosts. And when they move to the living room and Iruka sits in the corner of his couch and pats his lap questioningly, Kakashi falls into place like a good soldier and spends the rest of the night trying not to tear up at how good it feels to be touched so carefully, so gently, so lovingly.

[bakubabes-tatakae]

A Kunoichi’s Betrayal || Kakashi x Reader x Obito/Tobi

With the brilliant idea by @chidori-mint​ we bring you this (Kakashi x Reader x Obito/Tobi) collab! I hope you all like it. 🥰

Find Part Two Here!

Pairing: Kakashi x Reader x Obito/Tobi

Summary: Just when you decide to finally close a painful chapter in your life and to embrace a fresh start someone from your past will come to face you again.

A/N: Rin does not exist in the AU.

Warnings: angst, major character death in beginning, smut, unprotected sex, non-con, violence

Word Count: 4.8k

*Four Years Ago*

Ninja came back through the gates, your wandering eyes searched for one particular ninja, but the dark-haired weirdo was nowhere to be seen. You searched and searched, running frantically through the crowd of people that were flooding back in. No one would answer you as you begged for someone to tell you where he was. Obito had to be okay, you sat out one mission due to being ill before they left, there was no way that something happened to him. 

Finally, you saw the blonde hair of a familiar man. You ran to your sensei, Minato, and when he turned to you you knew. His face read nothing but pain, not physical pain, but emotional. Your arms immediately felt heavy at your sides. Your body was completely numb. The silver-haired ninja next to him saw you dropping and ran to your side. You dropped to your knees on the ground, falling into the arms of Kakashi Hatake. The only words that he could muster were something you didn’t want to hear. It would never make the situation any better. “I’m sorry.”

Kakashi pulled you into his chest, muffling the sounds of your sobs as the people around you started to stare. This was all a joke, Obito would come running out soon to apologize for how bad of a joke it was. He had to. But when no one came you couldn’t stop yourself anymore. Your screams made Kakashi cringe, he had never wanted to see you like this. He had done everything in his power to keep this from happening. He held you tighter as you shook in his arms. 

Minato walked up to you and knelt down beside you. “Y/n, I’m so sorry. We did everything that we could. I blame myself, if I had been there sooner, maybe I could have helped them.”

You never even looked up, the only reason he knew you heard him was that you stilled in Kakashi’s arms. 

Kakashi placed a hand on your head while the other held you close. “I promised him I’d protect you Y/n.” His voice broke with every word. “And that’s exactly what I’m going to do, even if it takes my life.”

*Present Day*

The butterflies that had made your stomach their home were new. And it was every damn time you saw that silver-haired Jonin. What was he doing to you? This wasn’t supposed to be possible. No, you had to just keep fighting through it. You were just nervous about the mission you were all about to embark on. Nervous about what might happen, you were heading for disaster any way you looked at it. 

Kakashi had promised to protect you and he had always done just that. There was a knock on your front door, it startled you out of the funk you had been in. Reliving every moment of the day you found out about Obito’s death and then dealing with these weird feelings you were developing for Kakashi. You shook your head quickly, hoping it would shake away these thoughts. You stood from your couch and sauntered toward the door. You still hadn’t even accepted Obito’s death, even after four years, you still questioned every day if it was all a big joke. 

The amount of time you had walked through the village and expected to see the black-haired goofball come around you and scoop you up from behind like he always did. As you reached for the door handle you let out a sigh, it was louder than you anticipated it to be as the copy ninja commented from the outside. “Y/n, it’s me. Are you alright in there?”

You slowly opened the door, wrapping the blanket that you had around you tighter. “I’m fine, just a lot on my mind.”

“Thinking about Obito again?” He slowly came inside as you stepped back and walked to the couch again. “I think about him a lot too.”

You pulled your legs underneath you as you sat and he took a seat beside you, sinking into the cushion underneath him. He placed a hand on your thigh hesitantly. The touch of his skin against yours made those same butterflies come back to their home. “I’ll be fine Kakashi.” You gave him a weak smile, but you could tell by his look that he wasn’t convinced. “It’s been four years. I have to let go sometime soon.”

Kakashi slowly stood back up, grabbing your bag that you had left behind the door. “Are you ready to go? The group is waiting at the gates.”

“Yea,” You dropped the blanket from your shoulder, feeling the cold air touch the skin that your vest didn’t cover. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

You closed your door, making sure to lock it behind you. The walk to the gates felt like an eternity. As you approached you saw the familiar faces of Kakashi’s team, you had almost forgotten that they were going to be joining you. Sakura and Naruto stood with Hinata and Kiba, patiently waiting for Kakashi and you to approach. When the two of you approached Yamato also made his presence known. Yamato waved to the two of you. “Are we ready to go?”

Kakashi nodded. “Let’s move out.”

* * * * * * 

Night settled in quickly as the group spent the day walking toward the Land of Iron. As the day began to end and it began to grow dark you could see a group of ninja flying through the forest, our presence still unknown to them. Kakashi tensed and pushed himself closer to you. The group looked around, you knew they didn’t know anyone was below them and you needed to find out where they were headed. Naruto was the first to jump toward the branches of the trees. They didn’t call him the knucklehead ninja without a cause. This left the rest of you to follow him, you could see one of them getting ready to attack, and as Kakashi saw the blue lighting forming around the ninja’s hand he knew who it was. “Sasuke!”

Naruto jumped for him, a Rasengan forming in his palm, but as he was about to hit him Sasuke changed directions. He was completely ignoring the group. Naruto ran for him, gliding through the branches of the trees with ease, but he was stopped by a kick from another unidentified male. This man wore a mask, an orange mask with a spiral pattern on it. Kakashi threw an arm around you and pulled you behind him. “Stay back.” He noticed his robe. “Akatsuki.”

Naruto jumped for him again, Rasengan locked and loaded, but was once again thrown back by a hit. Every blow that you threw at this man was dodged. The group did no good, the more they attacked the farther up the tree he climbed. Kakashi kept you behind him, shielding you from anything that could come your way. As Kakashi watched him you saw his eyes grow wide. 

As Kakashi was frozen in shock you took your opportunity, it was the first time you would be let off the leash. You grabbed a scroll from the pack on your hip and began opening it. As you came into the man’s view and started unrolling the scroll it was as if the man vanished into thin air. You looked around and grabbed a kunai from the pack, ready to cut your finger to get blood for the scroll. 

You all did circles around the area. Everyone on the ground spread out and Yamato, Kiba, and Naruto sailed through the trees, ensuring that the man was actually gone. When he was nowhere to be found you all decided it was time to call it a night. 

* * * * * * 

As night settled in Yamato pointed out the Inn that became visible in the distance and ran ahead of everyone, booking rooms before we even got there. Kakashi made sure to walk you to yours, wanting to be sure you were settled in. After the chaos of the day he was nervous to leave your side. You could see the fear in his eyes as he talked about leaving you alone. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay without me?”

You gave him a weak smile as you took a seat on the bed. “I’ll be fine Kakashi, you don’t have to worry about me so much.”

“I promised him Y/n, I promised that I would never let any harm come to you. I promised that you would always be safe.” He was being wracked by guilt, more than he usually was. 

“Are you okay Kakashi?” You hadn’t seen him like this since that day. 

“I… I’m just having a hard time today, that’s all.” He walked to the bed and sat down next to you, placing his head in his hands. “There’s just something that I want to say to you and I’m not sure if I can.”

Your heart began to beat fast, nervous about what he was about to say to you. “Just say it Kakashi.”

“I can’t,” He looked up at you and his eyes showed nothing but lust in them. That’s when you knew. He had been doing all of this for Obito but had gotten caught into his own feelings as he did. You had never wanted that to happen, but this was going to make you have to face your own feelings. 

“Then let me talk first,” He looked up, a puzzled look painted his face. “Just don’t speak, listen.”

He obliged rubbing his hand down his face before giving you his full attention. 

“Kakashi, I loved Obito so much… that it made me blind. I know exactly what you’re thinking right now.” You sighed. “I’m so sorry that it took me this long to see this. My feelings for Obito never faded and it made it so that I wasn’t able to see you. And when I say you… I mean the real you. It’s clear to me now Kakashi. All these years that you never once left my side… It wasn’t just about your promise to Obito.”

You took a second, afraid that your words would get jumbled if not. “I’ve been in denial. I convinced myself that you were just fulfilling your promise. I know that I made you feel like I was oblivious to all of this.” 

You stood from the bed, your anxiety overtaking you. “I was falling for you Kakashi Hatake. That’s my problem, that’s what I’ve been such a wreck about all day.” You could feel the tears coming, trying hard to hold them back. “I shouldn’t feel this way. How Kakashi? How can I be in love with you? You’re Obito’s best friend, it’s the ultimate betrayal.”

Kakashi was shocked by your revelation. He was so overwhelmed that he had no words, not because you had told him not to speak, but because he couldn’t believe that you had said the same things that he had wanted to. As he saw tears start to paint trails down your cheeks he felt nothing but guilt. He had never thought that the person that confessed feelings first would be you. 

Kakashi had been ready to be rejected if he had gotten the courage to tell you this. He would just continue to love you in silence, keeping your best interests first.

But this had been the other way around. Just the fact that he had feelings for you had given him guilt every moment of every day. But finding out that you had the same feelings as he made it all worse. But even after everything, his love for you would never falter. 

Kakashi stood from the bed and pulled his mask down his face. His hands planted themselves on your hips and pulled you toward him. The feeling of his hands on your waist made your heartbeat even faster. Afraid that he might reject you, afraid that he was about to leave the room. But he did the exact opposite. His lips met yours with nothing but passion. You followed his movements and placed your hands in his hair. 

His lips were soft against your own, his tongue asking for entrance. As you allowed him your tongues danced together. Kakashi spun you around toward the bed and pinned you down upon it. He unzipped your vest and started to pull it off your arms. You had waited for this moment for so long. You wanted to do this, but the farther the two of you went the more guilt you were feeling. As your vest was finally off your arms you felt his lips plant kisses down your neck and shoulder. He looked up at you, you could see the guilt in his eyes as well. “Are you sure you want to do this Y/n?”

You placed a hand on each side of his face and spoke softly. “I’m more than sure Kakashi.” You rubbed his cheek. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to do this.”

He pushed the tank top that you wore under your vest up, exposing your bra, his hands wandering your chest. His hands slid down your sides, his fingers hooking into the belt loops of your pants, using them to slowly slide your pants down your legs. He left a trail of soft nibbles down your stomach before pulling your pants off your legs and throwing them to the floor at the end of the bed. Kakashi hovered over you, his hand sliding down your stomach and onto your throbbing sex. His hand rubbed your folds before he found your clit, rubbing circles around it. 

You lifted your hands and placed them in his hair, moans escaping your lips as he ruthlessly pleasured your cunt. Kakashi placed his hands on your thighs, digging his fingers into your soft skin as he squeezed them. You grabbed at his vest, helping him strip it along with his long sleeve, black shirt before he pushed your thighs apart. He took in the sight of you whimpering on the bed, ready for him to continue to make you feel on top of the world. 

As his face neared your sex you placed your hand in his hair again, tugging him up toward you. “Kakashi, it’s been four years. Trust me, you don’t need to do that.”

Kakashi smiled at you, reaching for his zipper and pulling his pants down. The bulge that was pushing against his pants finally springing free. “Are you still sure about this?” He placed an arm on each side of you, holding himself over your figure.

You grabbed his face in your hands. “Stop talking.” You wrapped your legs around him and flipped him on his back. “I’m not waiting anymore.” You took his length in your hands and lined him up with your entrance, lowering yourself onto him slowly. Kakashi pushed his head back into the pillows as his length stretched your walls. You slowly moved up and down on him, pure pleasure washing over you, exciting every inch of your body. This was so much better than the toys you had been using at home for years. 

Kakashi held your hips as you bounced, the callouses on them rough against your soft skin. “I’m not gonna last long Y/n.”

You ignored him, throwing your head back, moan after moan escaping you. You could feel the tightness in your abdomen growing, your climax approaching faster than it had in a long time. Kakashi’s fingers dug into your sides as he let a couple pleasured grunts escape him. He tried hard to stay silent, but your movements were too much. “God, Y/n, you’re so tight.”

The lust in his voice put you dangerously close to your high. “Oh god, Kashi. I’m-I’m so close.”

Kakashi grabbed your hips and helped guide you, matching your movements, and pounding himself into you. “Come for me, do it, baby.”

Your walls clamped around him as you felt yourself come undone, Kakashi following you, his seed filling you. You stayed on top of him, leaning down against his chest. He pushed your hair out of your face, the both of you catching your breath. 

As you collapsed next to him you slid your way into his outstretched arm, placing yourself in the small space between his chest and his arm. Exhaustion took over for the both of you and within minutes you were asleep, the soundest sleep the two of you had achieved since Obito had left you. 

* * * * * * 

You were awoken by the sound of Yamato at your door, you had slept through the night, not waking up once. “Y/n, have you seen Kakashi? I went to his room and there was no answer.”

Your eyes grew wide at the sound. You shot up and grabbed a blanket off the bed, wrapping it around you. You cracked the door enough for him to see your face. “He’s in here with me. He came to wake me up earlier. We’ll meet you guys downstairs in a half-hour?”

Yamato looked confused, but as long as he knew where Kakashi was he seemed satisfied. You shut the door behind you and walked back over to the bed. Kakashi was still asleep, how in the hell had he slept through that?

You grabbed your clothes and headed for the shower, starting it and sitting on the toilet to wait for it to warm. A thousand thoughts ran through your head. Had you really slept with Kakashi last night? You thought about how Obito would feel about this if he was looking down on you. Would he hate you for sleeping with his best friend? Or would he just be happy that you had moved on? Even if it had been with Kakashi Hatake.

As the water warmed you hopped into the shower, the warmth of the water hitting your face, calming you some. You sat in silence, just letting the water run over you when you heard the bathroom door opening. Kakashi entered the shower with you, wrapping his strong arms around you, pulling you into him. 

* * * * * * 

It was about an hour’s walk to your next destination. Kakashi and you tried hard not to lead on that the two of you had spent the night together, but you knew that Yamato had probably figured it out.

As you walked you could feel a presence on you, a familiar presence. You were the first to notice it, “Do you feel that?”

Kakashi turned to you. “Huh?”

“Something's wrong, Kakashi. I feel like someone’s watching us." You could swear that something was wrong like something bad was about to happen. A cold rush of wind sent shivers down your skin.  

"Hi!" A playful greeting came from behind and as you tried to turn around you felt the cold metal edge of kunai on your throat.

It was the masked man from the Akatsuki. Everyone froze where they stood. Kakashi’s eyes grew wide. Where did he come from? I didn't even sense him.

"Hey, psycho! Get your dirty hands off of Y/n! Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" At least fifty Naruto clones appeared and encircled the team.

"Tobi's not a psycho. Tobi's a good boy!" Tobi's grip on your waist got tighter, you could feel the warmth of his body on your back as he pointed the Kunai closer to your skin. Any wrong move could kill you. "Please don't do anything stupid, Jinchuriki…” There was a sudden change in his voice. “After all, I don't want my princess here to get hurt." It became deep, chilling, and malicious.

With one wave of Tobi's hand, your bodies started to swirl and you both slowly vanished into the thin air. Your surroundings slowly changed. You felt dizzy and fell down on your knees, scraping them on the hard ground.

“What— where am I?” You started to panic and struggled to stand on your feet, barely keeping your balance. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Oh, I don’t remember my princess having a potty mouth.” Tobi took a step towards you but you stepped back. The deep voice still there.

“You better start answering my questions you sick fuck! What are you planning to do with me, huh?! Isn’t it enough that you took Sasuke from us?”

“Sasuke is merely a pawn. Well, let’s not talk about him. Let’s talk about us, princess.” He took a good look at you, scanning you from head to toe.

“Stop calling me princess. You make me sick!” You quickly grabbed a Kunai from your utility pouch but the man was quicker than you expected. The next thing you knew he was behind you again. He took hold of your left arm and twisted it, you groaned in pain. He grabbed you from behind restraining your movements.

You can feel him sniffing your hair, “Damn, you still smell so good. So... intoxicating.” He whispered in your ear. “No wonder you have Kakashi wrapped around your finger..” You felt goosebumps spread over your skin.

What does he mean? Who is this guy?

“I made him promise to protect you. Not to fuck you. Oh well, who could resist you, princess?” You froze. His words struck you so harshly that you forgot the pain in your left arm.

“Protect me?” You whispered in confusion.

“Allow me to refresh your memories…” His voice changed again. “Princess..”  It sounded familiar. It sounded like —

Everything around you distorted again. He brought you to a strange place. It was a very old bedroom. But what caught your attention was the picture frame on the bedside table. It was dusty but you recognized it instantly. It was a photo from long ago. Your sensei, young Kakashi on the right, you in the middle and —

He slowly loosened his grip on your arms. You didn’t realize it but warm tears were slowly running down your cheeks. He moved closer to you, lifting your chin to face him. And for the first time, through the hole in his mask, you saw his right eye. Sharingan. You could hear your heartbeat...

He held his mask and took it off. No. It can’t be. "This will refresh your memories…" His hands were on both sides of your hips. And his lips were on yours. At first, he was slow. Passionate even. It felt surreal. He brushed his lips gently against yours. His hands were roaming around your body. 

No. This is wrong. 

You tried to pull away from him, breaking the kiss.

"What? You didn't miss me?"

"How come you're alive?!"

"Doesn't matter y/n. I came back for you. I came to get you back from that scum." Anger filled Obito's eyes. "You're mine. And I don't intend to share you with Kakashi." He saw the guilt in your face. "You think I didn't know?" he laughed maniacally. "So what? Do you think of me when he's touching you? Did you wish it was me kissing you last night?” A demented laugh left his lips. “Oh I bet you did, princess. I will never let that scum touch you again. I'm gonna show you who you belong to, y/n. And then I’ll make you an Uchiha."

You couldn't believe your eyes. 

"No. This can't be happening. This is not real!" 

"That's your guilt talking. I'm here. I'm real." He leaned in again, locking eyes with yours. "You and me princess, we'll make a world of our own." 

Obito tried to kiss you, you attempted to push him, but he was stronger. "Fuck off!!!" You yelled at him.

"Ok that's it! I'm done playing nice with you y/n." He pushed you back against the wall. You were trapped between Obito and the cold, hard surface. His face was so close to yours. His hand ran across your throat holding you in place. 

"I didn't plan my reunion with you to be like this y/n. I have different plans for us. You may not know this, but I was always watching you. I had to make sure you were always safe. I witnessed all the nights you cried. I saw how much you wished that everything hadn’t happened. But I guess last night was a different story. It's clear that Kakashi is nothing to you but a one night stand. Sorry if you have to settle for scum like Kakashi to satisfy you. But I'm here now. Let me take care of you." You tried compressing your legs together, hoping it would relieve the aching feeling coming from your core. How could this man cause you to feel this way?

He roughly ripped your vest, “You won’t be needing this, princess.” Once again his lips crashed into yours. It was needy and desperate, his tongue was roughly seeking for an opening. You know this was wrong but your body was moving on its own. You kissed him back like a hungry animal. Your hands pulled his face closer kissing him hard and he took this as a sign that you had given in to him. That you had finally accepted him. Maybe he was right all along. You needed him. You’d been waiting for this moment for what seemed like your whole life.

You broke the kiss and quickly undressed your shirt. You were hot and sweaty, your chest rose up and came down hard due to your panting. His lips met yours again and slowly traveled down your jaw. You tilted your head to the side, giving him more access to your exposed neck. And as a moan escaped your swollen lips he unclasped your bra and took it off. His hands reached to cup your ass lifting you from the ground. He walked you toward the bed and laid you down. As he pulled off your pants, you felt a little embarrassed. 

Your face turned red as you tried to cover your breasts with your hands feeling too exposed. 

"You don't have to hide, princess, your body is perfect." He curled his finger underneath your panties and slipped them down your thighs, lifting each of your ankles to help you get out of them before tossing them away.

Obito settled himself between your parted legs, sliding one finger into your soaking cunt. "You're cuter when you're all hot and bothered, princess." He then added another finger inside you making your moans grow louder. 

"Damn it, Obito!" You gasped as his fingers went knuckle deep, scissoring and thrusting all at once. He hovered himself on top of you. You reached for him desperately, pulling him closer. He kissed you once more stifling your gasp as his fingers grazed a sensitive spot inside you. 

"Obito please," you groaned, you couldn't take it anymore.

"What is it, princess?" He asked as he set his eyes on you. "I need your words, y/n"

"I need you. Please. I need you inside me." He smirked as he pulled out his fingers and licked them clean. 

"I never knew you tasted so sweet, princess." He started to undo his pants letting his cock spring free. "I have to claim what's mine." He spat on his hand lubricating the swollen tip of his cock. 

With one swift thrust, he buried himself inside you making you groan in pain as he stretched you giving you no time to adjust. 

"Ah fuck, Obito!" You screamed his name, tugging on the bedsheet. 

"Holy fuck, princess. You're so tight." You arched your back meeting his thrusts deeper. You felt so full, you squeezed him as your walls tightened over and over. "You feel so good y/n. So good for me." 

His pace was fast, thrust after thrust sent you toward your climax. "Obito, I -- I‘m gonna cum!"

"You're mine y/n! You're mine!" He moaned into your mouth as you wrapped your legs around his waist pulling him further, fucking you harder.

"Come on y/n. Come now. Fucking come on my dick now!" 

"O-Obito!!" You whimpered and your legs started to become jelly, your walls quivering. 

Obito panted, his voice shaking, "That's it princess. Scream my name!" His hands grabbing your hips as he rewarded you with harsher thrusts. "I will fuck an Uchiha in you!" You felt hot spurts of his seeds coat your walls. 

He pulled out his semi-hard cock, your pussy dripping with his cum. He kissed your forehead as he collapsed beside you. You both fought to catch your breath. 

"Don't sleep yet, y/n." He gasped. "We're not even close. You’re not leaving this bed until I  make sure you carry an Uchiha. Not that Hatake scum."

Naruto Content Taglist 💕 @chidori-mint​ @praisingkuroosbedhead​ @korianrdr​​ @ari-hatake15​

[yeselbeethings]

konoha’s sublime green beast

10 relationship headcanons for Might Guy

pairing: might guy x reader

a/n: similar vibe to the last relationship headcanons - any suggestions for who to do next would be appreciated. 

synopsis: a few tender moments, scenes from your relationship with Guy

warnings: nsfw content for the last few: general sex, fingering, oral.. the standard

The first time you meet Might Guy, you are stunned to silence. He sits with you and the other jōnin at the local bar and shares stories and you are completely hooked. Everything about him entrances you; his vibrancy, the way he speaks, the jumpsuit, the body, the size of his hands... he's so bright and youthful? Anko is the first to spot you staring, and when she drags you to help her at the bar with drinks, she says "oh yeah, Guy is a bit weird, we should have warned you", and in your tipsy state you remember replying "I dunno, he seems kind of cool?" You spend the rest of the night trying to catch his eye and striking up conversations. A few weeks later, he asks you on your first date, and your shoulders shake with laughter when you accept and he cheers something about youth.

Guy goes through his signature jumpsuits at an alarming pace. Sometimes they rip straight through the middle of the crotch, other times they wear through at the thighs, more often than not they simply succumb to the general wear and tear of being a ninja. You take lurid green jumpsuits that develop rips on the arms from being snagged on trees, and thus are no use to Guy anymore, and repurpose them. You cut the top section off and cut the leg just above the knees and wear them around the house with oversized t-shirts and sweatshirts. The upcycled shorts become part of your casual day off outfit, and you take to wearing them when you need to run errands around the village. It’s only right to carry on the Might family tradition in your own way.

Guy loves poetry, so much so it has seeped into his general way of speaking - most people just think it’s his odd turn of phrase, but you know it’s from years and years of devouring any poetry he can get his hands on - especially after Duy’s death. Your tiny shared apartment is filled with poetry books, from every village and spanning centuries. Guy needs reading glasses and has done since his teen years - he can read mission scrolls etc. with little trouble but if he needs or wants to read for more than a few minutes he takes out the gold-rimmed round glasses that live in a basket full of odd bits and pieces that don’t have a true home in the apartment and slips them on. He pushes his hair from his forehead slightly and lies down on the floor to settle into the latest thing he’s picked to read. He keeps a small battered red leather-bound book on his nightstand; it’s a second-hand copy of a collection of Warring States era poetry. Guy scribbles in the margins of all his books, but this one is littered with annotations and underlinings. On rainy nights, while you rest your head on his broad bare chest, Guy will hold you close and read a poem or two from this book to you. Uncharacteristically quiet, measured, and serious, his voice is like honey. When he goes away on long missions, you’ll often find a note resting on top of the book with a page number and line number written on it, you know to save peaking at that passage for a particularly hard moment, when you wish his gentle voice and inspiring words were there to comfort you.

One of the major challenges of being in a relationship with Might Guy is the sheer volume of food he consumes. His strict training regime and huge energy output mean that Guy eats up to 14 meals a day; all carefully nutritionally balanced. So much of both of your free time is dedicated to bulk cooking, preparing bento boxes, dehydrating fruit and vegetables, boiling eggs, steaming fish... Guy appreciates every second you put into helping him with his training and diet. Whenever you both have a free day in the village he hand writes you a note and leaves it in the kitchen with a cup of fresh coffee resting on top inviting you to dinner. Guy always chooses the most comfortable places, with home-style food and free-flowing sake and beers. He insists you order anything and everything you want, reminding you to leave room for dessert. He holds your hand over sticky tables, wearing a T-shirt and standard-issue jōnin trousers, smiling at you widely as you share dumplings and scallion pancakes dripping with black vinegar and chili oil. When you leave the restaurant, completely full, he pulls you into his arms and kisses you deeply, a large tanned hand on the back of your head and his other pulling you into him by the small of your back. You don’t know what makes you feel drunker; the sake, the food, or the depth of his kiss.

After your first few dates, you promised to cook for Guy at your apartment. Already knowing his love of curry, you silently vowed to yourself that you would wean him off that S&B curry roux blocks he always seemed to be purchasing when you ran into him in the village. The first time you cooked him a curry, he leant his hip against your kitchen cabinet, sipping a jasmine tea, and with rapt attention listened to you explain which different spices you'd be using for the curry paste. Guy would explain the medicinal uses for each one as you measured them out, all of them known to him already due to his extensive herbal medicine knowledge. This is the moment you knew that you'd fallen in love, listening to Guy explain to you that to activate the medicinal properties of turmeric, you'd need some fresh black pepper, with Guy showing you the best time to add garlic to preserve the allicin to ward off colds. While he explained to you all the properties, you told him what would work together and what wouldn't, to ensure that the finished curry paste would actually taste delicious and not just be a mash of flavours and chili. When your relationship deepened and you eventually came to share an apartment, a weekly curry night for Team 10 emerged, with Neji, Tenten and Lee sat around your large dining table, eating whatever curry you'd made that week. You sit there, smiling, as Guy explains how each component in the curry will help them become even more splendid shinobi.

At some point, you acquired a small turtle-shaped chalkboard, that hangs from a red ribbon on the handle of one of the kitchen cabinets. In the back of your mind, you think it was originally for reminders, but somewhere along the way, it got commandeered to record the results of Kakashi and Guy's challenges. You remember searching the rubble after Pain's attack to find it, sifting through tattered pages and broken ceramics in the vague hopes that it would be intact enough to save.

It is Hana Inuzuka who holds you tight around the stomach when you see the sky fill red during the 4th Shinobi War. Years ago, Guy had told you that he believed the time would come when he would eventually open the eight gate and that he would become Konoha’s red beast. he told you what would happen, from what he had gathered from the limited research on the topic. That he would burn hot as the sun and his body would disintegrate and he would fill the atmosphere as hot ash. You had sat in stunned silence at the man’s resolve and acceptance. Hana’s firm grip was suffocating around your stomach, and you could feel the eyes of members of the allied forces staring at you as you struggled, screaming. When the Infinite Tsukuyomi takes hold of you, you dream of chubby babies wearing green with pitch-black hair and iron grips, and a sweet uncle with white eyes and flowing clothes.

After the war and Guy’s discharge from the hospital, you find yourselves lost in your relationship. Guy becomes a shadow of himself, constantly encouraging you to leave, to let him wallow in peace, and for a brief few moments, you let yourself think that you could. The strain is unbearable at times, Guy considering himself unable to be your partner and you unable to reach the lightest parts of him. It is the 6th Hokage, Kakashi Hatake’s arrival on your doorstep, a new turtle chalkboard in hand that begins to turn the tide of Guy’s grief, and the pain in your relationship. Each week, Kakashi arrives for tea, and each week he issues a new challenge. It takes 6 months until Guy caves and agrees to go along with the rock paper scissors battle. He wins, 50-47. You mark the turtle chalkboard. Guy: 1, Lord 6th: 0. It hangs in your bedroom, and slowly the board becomes a mottled grey, with old chalk stains and the ghost of numbers. Guy begins training with Rock Lee again. He begins reading poetry again. His appetite climbs and climbs, and in the darkness of the night, he holds your hands and tells you he’s so so grateful you stayed - you are too.

Guy loves giving you head. He licks short wide tongued across your clit repeatedly and waits to hear your breath hitch and feel your hips twitching before he switches his tactic, enveloping your whole clit into his mouth and humming deeply as he licks and sucks, his bottom jaw rhythmically moving until your moans become deeper and longer, his hands pressing your hips into the bed. He loves it when you card your hands through his hair and grind into him. Sometimes he lets you cum like this, hips rising to meet his mouth and your fingers grasping at the sheets crying out his name, other times he edges you by drawing you closer and closer to your climax and allowing two fingers to slowly stretch you out in time with the licks of his tongue. He stops when you’re beginning to feel the pleasurable heat build and build and throws your legs up, moving quickly and lining himself up with your entrance and thrusting into you before your pleasure completely dissipates. He fucks you, giving himself a moment of relief before stopping to continue where he had stopped moments before, head between your legs and eyes looking up at you, dark and heavy, watching your chest brace and your muscles tense, pushing you over the edge in a few minutes, switching back to being inside you before the waves of pleasure have subsided so he can feel the clenching of your muscles around him and bring you quickly over the edge for a second time.

Even within your relationship, Guy has set himself personal challenges. When he is thrusting into you, or his fingers are deep inside you while his thumb rubs circles over your clit and your mouth hangs open, gasping and your hair is sticking to your face as you groan underneath him, overstimulated and hazy, he leans down and whispers into your ear - one more, okay? give me one more.