#Hints of Kakagai

[depressedhatakekakashi]

The Tortoise Hero

Words: 1,705

Au: Bookshop Worker Gai AU/Modern Au

For: @leaf-hurricane

Thursdays are Lee’s favorite day of the week.

Not because his mom takes him to the café in the morning to enjoy a nice warm hot chocolate while she does some work on her latest book. It’s not even the fact that she takes him to the biggest park in Konoha to run around until he’s too tired to walk on his own.

Lee loves those things, but the reason Thursdays are by far his favorite day is because it’s library day.

The day when his mom takes him to the bookstore, usually after letting run around in the playground, and lets him pick out one new book. The best part, though, is that after he picks out his book and his mom pays, the man who works there always offers to read it to him while his mom goes searching for a book of her own.

That man, Gai is what he told Lee to call him, always reads the stories with the best voices. Even his mom’s story reading voices can’t compare to Gai’s, though he loves when she reads him stories too. All week he listens to his mom’s story voices, but Thursdays were special.

Thursdays, Gai read to him and the stories sprung to life around him.

“This one!” he declared, holding up a book with a giant Tortoise on the cover.

“You want that one?” his mom stared at his choice with a skeptical look. “are you sure? I’m not sure if there’s any adventure in that one.”

“But it has a turtle!” he declared, pointing at the cover with that proud four-year-old smile that always won him an argument.

“Tortoise,” his mom corrected him with a fond chuckle. “it’s a tortoise, sweetie.”

Turning the book around in his hand he stared down at the picture. “Turtle,” he insisted, jamming his finger against the picture as if it would turn it into the beloved animal, he wanted it to be.

“What’s going on here?” looking up, he watched as Gai made his way around the counter and headed straight toward him. “Have you picked a book already?”

“Yes!” grinning, he held the book out in front of himself once more so Gai could see it. “turtle!”

Peering down at the book, Gai chuckled. “I see what your mom is saying. That is in fact a tortoise.”

Tightening his grip on the book, Lee jutted out his bottom lip and furrowed his brows. An expression that was quickly met with an exhausted sigh from his mom. “Turtle.”

“Lee, that’s not how it works,” his mom sighed while giving Gai an apologetic look. “it’s a tortoise. They’re like turtles, but-“

“You want to see one?” Lee’s eyes widened. “he’s not on sight, but if you just give me a second,” reaching into his jacket pocket, Gai pulled out a phone and opened it. While Lee stood there staring at him, excitement building up inside of his tiny body, he scrolled through his phone. “ah, here he is!”

Turning his phone around, Gai knelt down to Lee’s level and held the phone out so he could see the picture better. Intriqued, Lee stepped foreward and examined it carefully. On the screen was a large animal with reddish brown skin, a large red shell with some yellow around the edges, and a pair of orange leg warmers on its front two legs that reminded Lee of the one’s Gai was always wearing.

“tor-tus?” he tried to repeat the word his mom and Gai had said, but it came out funny.

Chuckling, Gai flipped to the next picture. This time he was in it, propped proudly against the large animal with a large smile on his face. “he’s my buddy. Had him since I was just a few years older than you, and he’ll probably survive long after I’m gone. Tortoises have a long-life span.”

“How long?” Lee asked, his arms wrapping tightly around the book he’d chosen. Protecting it from being dropped or taken away from him.

“Well, it depends on the tortoise,” falling backward with a grunt, Gai crossed his left leg overtop his right and patted the ground beside him. “It’s usually between eighty and a hundred-and-fifty-years.”

“Wow.”

“Wow is right,” he chuckled. “they’re amazing creatures, and they’re very similar to turtles. In fact, many people confuse the two. You want to know how I remember the difference?”

Unable to vocalize his excitement, Lee nodded with so much enthusiasm that he bonked his chin against the book. There was a sharp pain that followed the collision, but before he could even think about crying his mom had taken a seat at his side and wrapped her arms around him for a hug.

“Turtles have flipper-like legs. They help them swim in the water better. Tortoises-“ he turned the phone toward himself and tapped the screen a few times before turning back to Lee. This time instead of seeing the whole tortoise, the picture was focused on one of its legs. “They have legs that are better for walking on land. They still like the water, but they prefer to live on land.”

“With us?” Lee asked hopefully.”

“Kind of, yes,” placing his phone back into his pocket, Gai held out a hand and grinned. “You still want that book?”

“Yes!” he hugged the book a bit tighter, loving it even more than when he’d first picked it out. “I love Tor-tus!” releasing his grip on the book, he held it out to Gai. It was time for his favorite part of Thursdays.

Story time.

“Alright,” taking the book from his tiny hands, Gai turned it so that it was right side up for him and examined the title. “Tales of the Tortoise Hero,” his voice shifted from that kind tone Lee was used to, into a booming voice he liked to use for courageous hero’s. “From Hatchling to Hero.”

Not wanting to miss a second of the story, Lee wriggled out of his mother’s hold and crawled to Gai’s side. Once he was close enough to see the words he plopped himself down right there beside Gai and watched as he opened the front cover to reveal a beautiful picture of the Tortoise surrounded by all sorts of other animals.

“Dog!” he exclaimed while pointing at the animal right beside the Tortoise hero.

“It is,” Gai confirmed. “it’s the Tortoise hero’s best friend and most loyal supporter. And this,” he pointed at the animal on the Tortoise hero’s other side. “is a cat. she’s doesn’t always agree with what the Tortoise hero wants to do, but she’s willing to do anything to protect him and the others. Behind that,” his finger travelled upward to the large animal standing behind the tortoise. “Is a crane. She’s the Tortoise hero’s second oldest friend, and she’s always helping him and the others get out of trouble.”

A dog, a cat, a crane, and a tortoise.

It was the silliest combination of friends Lee had seen in any of his books, and he loved it.

“do they have names?”

“of course they do,” Gai grinned. “the Tortoise hero is called Gai.”

Lee’s head shot up, wide eyes staring up at Gai. “like you?”

“well, I would hope so,” he shut the book and pointed at the name on the front. “see that? That’s the Author.”

“Ka-ka-shi?” Lee read it out slowly, just like his mother had taught him.

“You’ve met Kakashi, remember?”

Thinking back, Lee recalled the silver haired man he sometimes saw hanging out in the bookshop chatting with Gai. He rarely ever said much to Lee or his mother, but when he did speak it was always with a kind voice.

The thing Lee remembered most about him, though, was the friendly dog that always stood by his side.

“The dog is named after him,” Gai continued to explain while opening the book back up so Lee could see the picture of the whole group again. “The cat’s name is ‘Tenzo’, and the crane is ‘genma’. They’re all people that the author knows.”

Thinking about what he was being told, Lee smiled. “Does the dog kiss the tortoise hero like Ka-ka-shi kisses you?”

He was certain that’s what his mother had said when he’d asked about what Gai was doing with the other man a few weeks ago. All he’d seen is Ka-ka-shi leaning over the counter so his face was right in front of Gai’s, and Gai looked even happier than usual when they said their goodbyes.

“I- where did you-” looking back up at Gai, Lee tilted his head. Gai’s eyes were darting around the room and his teeth were nibbling into his bottom lip. Lee wasn’t too sure what was going on. “I just…” stopping, Gai looked back down at Lee and sighed when he saw him staring up at him. “Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting such a question.”

“Is kissing bad?”

“No,” he shook his head, and then a moment later began to laugh. “No, kissing isn’t bad at all. It’s quite good.”

“So does he kiss the tortoise hero?” he repeated, pointing at the dog in the book.”

Getting his laughter under control, Gai reached up with one hand and wiped away some tears that had gathered in his eyes. “No, he doesn’t,” he finally answered, and Lee found himself feeling a little disappointed with that answer. “But,” nudging Lee with his arm, he grinned when he looked back up at him. “They go on lots of adventures together. You want to hear about them?”

“Yes!” throwing his hands up into the air, Lee giggled when one of his hands accidently slapped Gai in the face. “Sorry.”

Shaking it off, Gai answered his apology with a smile. “don’t worry about it, I know it was an accident,” he promised. “Now,” flipping through the next few pages, he stopped when he found the first story. “The Tortoise hero meets the determined crane.”

  Leaning into Gai’s side, Lee tried his best to follow along with the words while Gai read. It wasn’t long before he gave up on that task and chose instead to close his eyes so he could see the story play out in his mind while Gai read.

[meke57o9]

The Green Beasts

I been reading Gaalee & Kakagai fics. I love them all, but I notice not many focus on how scary Rock lee & Gai Sensai are. I know they are the happy emotional hyper shinobi we love and enjoy. Yet, I need someone to show how these two taijustu master are frightening. I need a fic that explore their 'Beast' side.

Like imagine, Rock lee decided to take on a mission in the Suna area. (This mission is a personal request from the Kazekage /Gaara because he miss his boyfriend). This mission is supposed to be easy, but something happens. Garra realize that the mission Lee went on is actually a trap of some kind. So Garra and his personal Anbus go to help Rock lee.

When they arrive, they see crowds of dead enemy Shinobus and Rock lee standing in the middle of it. His eyes close because the enemies decided to blind him (possibly with sand or another substance) to get an advantage while ambushing Rock lee. Rock lee for once isn't moving. His body is completely still, waiting for an vibration or sound. His usually smile is now a downward frown.

Despite his charka being detected, his charka is eerily calmed and controlled. When one of Gaara's Anbu tries to get close, in a flash, Rock Lee goes in for a strike at the Anbu's face. If it wasn't for Gaara's sand blocking his attack, the Anbu would have been killed instantly.

Rock lee feeling the familiar sand, his hand begin to feel the sand to make sure it is really Gaara's sand. Gaara speak, this making Rock lee smile. Rock lee' body completely relax. Rock lee walks to Gaara and hugs him. Clearly happy to know his boyfriend is here with him. Gaara helps Rock lee with getting the sand out of his eye. Rock lee back to normal, smiling and apologize to the Anbu about almost killing him. They all then return back to Suna village.

Since that day, the Anbus realized how strong and frightening Rock lee.

Or

When people who only seen Rock lee and Gai Sensai outside of mission duty. Then one day, you're partnering up with one of them. You realize how crazy they are. The green-clad shinobi you thought was super weird is effectively taken down hordes of enemies in a blink of an eye. And as your fighting enemies together, you can see the hint of a smirk on their face. You realize the two enjoy fighting. They are thriving in the fight.

And once they're done dealing with the enemies. They seem a little disappointed that the fight is over. They want to continue the battle, but they know the mission comes first.

Oh my gosh, don't get me started on how scary Guy sensai would be if he actually became an anbu for Kakashi.

Anyway, what's yours guy's thoughts.

Apologize for the grammar mistake...okay maybe I am not sorry.

[no-nic]

lighting study (painting in grayscale) turned extremely self-indulgent kakagai piece. it's yuri time 🍑

the problem with genderbend redesigns (cis-to-cis) is that these two look exactly the same: gai's bowlcut, kakashi's wild hair she can't be bothered to take care of, muscles and scars, and no outfit change either. literally the only changes here are slightly softer features & a hint of tittty

[mrmllde]

DIVING into your kankuro/kiba art 🏊🏻‍♀️ you said you were reading fic that reignited your love of them? Any recs 👀👀👀

tehe, thanks! while you're DIVING i am FLOODING tag with kankiba, hope this spring would stay abudant

okay so i haven't read much about them (i am picky reader, so to say), and most of stuff i've read is old, so you probably already have read 'em, but still.

Silica by deepestbluest (gaalee, shikatema, kankukiba, rated E). I've re-read this fella multiple times already. It has pinning, it has misunderstanding, it has sibling bonding - everything i like. I like how story is pretty succint but has all right lines to deliver mood and narration.

When He Walks In, I Am Loved, I Am Loved by thehoundisdead . Well. It's fluff. It's sweet. It has Kiba painting on Kankuro face. It makes me go "awwww"

Hide and Seek (Or Maybe Man Hunt) by 90sSlasherFan (sand sibling centris, background shikatema and kankiba). While it's not entirely shippy kankiba fic, i adore how sand trio portrayed here, and background relationships are sweet (esp Kiba grabbing handful of Kankuro's ass, yeah boi, go for it)

Bite by citronelle (rated E). When it comes to sex i personaly prefer bottom!Kankuro (tho i should mention that i think of them as verses), so i recommend this heavy smut with bottom Kankuro. thats it. That's smut. If you like other way, author has two more fics and they are tasty.

Cold Nose by LilacNoctua (hinted gaalee, kakagai, shikatema in passing). I love cranky Kankuro, okay. And it makes me think about stuff those two could do for fun in winter, so yeah, i love this fic.

YOLO by kranquro. (rated M) Pinning! Humor! Poor life choises! And heated reconciliation!

Love at First Bite by toocaffeinatedwriter (WIP). I'm glad i gave it a try, tho i don't really read wips. Two chapters in and i'm already hooked, waiting for continuation.

[sasubaeuchithot]

not sure if this would be sequel to kh spoilers, but who do you think is a good match for sakura? i've always thought her dynamic with lee could evolve into something lovely, given the right plot

i agree that i think Sakura would have a good dynamic with lee!! I liked her in part one the best when she would interact with him post chunin exams. he brought out the best side of her

but I won't be including any other pairings in the kizunaverse. this'll perhaps surprise y'all but i despise writing romance lmaooooo. if I can't write it in the most aquarius way possible (Super Special and Different™©®) i dont write it lol. the most I've done in that verse is hint at something possible with kakagai, but it's super ambiguous and I doubt I'll ever actually have it be addressed in the narrative. i also kinda want to keep other ships away so that no one feels off-put while reading. the story is sns, and i dont want to be the spark of any kind of ship war in my comments lmaooo.

but who knows!! the narrative tells me what to write waaayyyy more than i dictate the narrative. we'll see!

[godtierwallflower]

[sagemoderocklee]

Return to Sender (7/9) Chapter Seven: Redelivery Notice Rating: Mature Fandom: Naruto Pairing: GaaLee, mentions of NejiTen, mild ShikaTema, implied KakaGai Characters: Rock Lee, Haruno Sakura Warnings: discussions of homophobia Word Count: 7,121 Summary:

He's waiting for a sign, for even the smallest hint that forgiveness is possible. He'll wait forever if he has to.

CLICK TO READ!

AN: I am SO sorry for the delay in getting this out. Not only was my health an issue this past week, but also this chapter was just a BITCH to get edited. I hope everyone enjoys and that it was worth the wait!

[bougiebutchbitch]

Hello

First, allow me to say that I love all of your comics and art, you're do talented and your art style is stunning.

Second, I have been following you for so long and I noticed something but I hope you won't be mad at me for saying it but you said that Kakashi's nosebleed in the anime when he saw sexy jutsu doesn't count because it's a filler and dismissed it completely but yet you always tag kakagai filler posts as canon including the Rock Lee SD which is so not canon either so why the double standards? Why if it was Kakashi attracted to a woman then it's automatically filler and doesn't count but if it was even a small hint that he might be interested in a man then it's canon? I'm sorry but this makes me feel like Tumblr people hate women and this is making me sad.

god why is the naruto fandom like this skskskksksksk

Look, you've been polite, so I'll be polite, too. As polite as I can muster at this hour of the morning.

I started jokingly tagging all kakagai content including obviously filler as 'canon' because I've had anons coming into my inbox and yelling at me - and being BLATANTLY HOMOPHBIC - for the ultimate sin of tagging actual canon scenes as 'canon'.

It's literally me trolling those people, because this fandom feels like you have the nerd police breathing down your neck and demanding you interpret canon in THEIR cishet way. So yeah, it's my queer little 'fuck you' to everyone who gets so incredibly het up and angry about mlm pairings.

I love bi kakashi! Shizune/Kakashi hits A LOT of my buttons. But as the anons were specifically being shits to me because of mlm shipping, that's what I'm focusing on.

I'm gonna start tagging every scene where Kakashi is just in his tanktop as 'canon trans' too, because that's obviously a binder lmao. Let's see if that pisses people off, as well.

Obviously, Kishimoto believes that everyone is cishet and only the creepy pedophilic villain is queer. But as that's bullshit, WE IGNORE IT HERE.

I'm sorry that me tagging a post with a single word can cause you this much misery. Truly. But I don't intend to stop. If you can't take me having a laff on my own blog at the expense of genuine homophobic twats, maybe you should unfollow, mate.

And just - what a fucking reach to say I hate women when like. Naruto is pretty much the only fandom in YEARS where I've had mainly mlm ships, because the women are all written terribly lmaoooooooooooooooooooooo. I hate Kishimoto's flat and boring women characters whose arcs revolve around men. There's a difference.

I block this shit on sight from now on. You get one chance with this post, becuse you worded it politely, but you're on thin fucking ice.

Literally just unfollow me. It ain't that difficult. x

[huskymaine]

Unpopular opinion : kakairu ship is overrated

strongly agree | agree | neutral | disagree | strongly disagree

I am not actively ship it, but I can see the appeal of this ship. They got shy-shy in their conversation about Naruto, Kakashi’s ‘tough way’ and Iruka’s ‘soft way’ at handling Team 7’s Chuunin Exam, Iruka protected a kid and the Kakashi came and strongly grabbed the Pain’s hand from Iruka, those scenes are indeed very alluring and potentially create many romantic fluff and domestic scenarios. Because of that, I don’t think this ship is a crack ship despite the little amount of canon basis compared to other Kakashi ships like KakaObi, KakaGai, and even KakaYama. Also since KakaObi, KakaGai, and KakaYama are fully developed only on part 2 (KakaGai got some development on part 1 too and KakaObi was hinted) making KakaIru has the advantage of an early start. It’s really not weird or surprising that KakaIru has the most contents among Kakashi ships.

But I am admittedly very, veeerrryyyyy picky when it comes to consuming KakaIru contents like fics or fancomics. Why? Because I just love Kakashi’s canon story and characterization so much while in my opinion some KakaIru contents overrate the impact Iruka has on Kakashi and vice versa to the point that it massively deviated from their canon version.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to be a picky person in the sea of KakaIru contents and find one from the million KakaIru content that was ‘clicked’ for me haha. Very often I stopped reading KakaIru fics halfway because I just feel disagree downright annoyed with Kakashi’s (also Iruka’s) characterization as the story goes. So sometimes I filtered out KakaIru tag when I am in the mood to read fics or fancomics. Sorry.

I mean like, Iruka and Kakashi are acquaintance at best, stranger at worst. And truthfully, there’s nothing wrong with that. Romantic story between two acquaintances and even strangers are valid especially when they have common interest, in KakaIru’s case namely Naruto. But, sometimes its shippers try to push Iruka and Kakashi to be each other’s “one and only” too hard, and that resulted in a complete erasure of other people that was already in Kakashi and Iruka’s lives. For example, I read a fic that portrays Kakashi didn’t have any real friend before he met Iruka. That truly left a bad taste on my mouth because Gai is the realest friend you can ever get and there’s nothing fake in Kakashi’s friendship with Asuma and Kurenai. Or the description that “Iruka is the only one who can touch and melt Kakashi’s cold heart”. Uh, canonly Obito holds that role and then kinda bit Team 7. In canon when Kakashi and Iruka met and talk on the first time, Kakashi is already a quite warm person (see Kakashi’s conversation with Inari). Also those who portray Iruka as the only one who can surprise Kakashi, say hello to Kakashi’s beloved Most Unpredictable Number One Hyperactive Knucklehead Ninja (PLATONICALLY).

Then in Iruka’s case, I know that a filler episode made Kakashi to be the one who convince Iruka to accept Naruto, but on Chapter 1, it’s wholly Iruka’s effort to sacrifice his life for Naruto and acknowledge his existence. To give the credit to Kakashi for the sake of romantic story is quite bit....unsettling for me. Also about Iruka’s grief for his parents. You can hate Hiruzen all you want, but the one who told Iruka that he was not alone after his parents’ death is Hiruzen, not and never Kakashi. Lastly, indeed Iruka was dramatically saved by Kakashi from Pain and maybe also in other fillers episodes, but he was still a trained ninja. Him tearfully praying “Kakashi-san (or usually “Kashi”, when the fic is already at the point of calling nickname), please save me!” every time he encounters danger is a huge disservice for him, don’t you think?

Not to mention KakaIru contents that completely strayed from canon like secret ANBU Iruka or Popular Sex God Kakashi...

So yeah, while I understand the appeal of this ship and think there’s nothing wrong the fact that it was the most popular Kakashi ship, I was a bit saddened by the fact that majority of those huge number of shipper contents have a very little care of canon characterization to the point that it feel for me like I don’t read a story about Kakashi and Iruka, but a story about two strangers that were named Kakashi and Iruka. I know that it can’t be helped for them to go hard on headcanon land since KakaIru has a very little canon basis but still...

(Or someone can pretty please recommend me KakaIru fics and/or doujins that have Kakashi and Iruka in character?)

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Kakashi understands he got the hottest dude in all of konoha

He does NOT understand that gai also bagged himself a hottie and is constantly wondering wtf gai see’s in him

[depressedkakashihatake-fics]

Burden

KakaGai Week: Day One

Prompt: Burden

Words:1699

AU: Mafia Au

Edited by: @mireleth​

The stench of blood lingered in Gai’s nose, as strong as it had been when the first shot had landed on its target. His stomach churned with every breath that he took so he tried desperately to breathe through his mouth. To avoid that awful stench for just a few seconds. 

It never worked. 

Placing a hand over his stomach, Gai hoped that it would settle to queasiness just a little. He had already emptied the contents of his lunch onto the ground in front of him, and he wasn’t sure if there was any more food to come up, so he wanted to avoid a third round. The thought of bringing up his own stomach acid did not sound like an enjoyable experience. 

“You done?” Hearing Kakashi’s voice behind him, Gai brought his head up just enough so he could look back at his partner. As always, Kakashi was unaffected by what had just happened in the small building they had been in moments ago. A steel stomach that never failed him when he had to take care of the dirty work.

His face was as emotionless as always. Not for a second betraying how he was feeling about the firefight that he had just gotten into. Their job had been to exchange money for information from the Kirigakure gang, but the other group had decided that they wanted the money without having to give anything in return. 

Speaking of which.

“Did you…” Kakashi held up the suitcase, which only made matters worse for Gai when he saw the blood dripping from it. “Oh god.”

Curling over himself again, he twisted his fingers into the fabric of his shirt as his chest compressed and another round of vomit came rushing up his throat, this time with a burning feeling that confirmed he had reached the end of his lunch. 

This was terrible.

“You know, if you keep barfing on the crime scene it’s just going to make us look bad.” Kakashi’s voice was as calm as ever when he spoke, not for a second betraying the disappointment that Gai knew he must be feeling.

Eight years. They had been partners for eight years, three of which Kakashi had taken up the job as Shikaku’s best fighter. The guy who could go in and take down the enemy without flinching. 

The man who had just taken out seven Kirigakure thugs without blinking an eye. 

And even after all of those years Gai still couldn’t handle it. The bloody scenes that Kakashi created with his shuriken, gun, or whatever other weapon he happened to have on hand at the time. It always made Gai sick to his stomach.

When was Kakashi going to finally get sick of him and ask for a new partner? They weren’t kids anymore, getting sent out on all of the easy, bloodless jobs. He needed a partner who wasn’t going to be useless to him.

Someone who wouldn’t spew his DNA all over the scene of a crime like a five-year-old who just ate some bad hot dogs.

“Gai?” A hand came down onto his shoulder, squeezing gently when he didn’t respond right away. “Gai, are you alright? You’ve been standing there looking at your own barf for… well for a little too long, honestly.”

A hint of worry cracked through the calm façade that Kakashi always had up. A weakness Kakashi only ever seemed to show when it came to Gai. At least, that’s what it seemed like. He had never heard Kakashi’s voice waver when he was talking to someone else. 

Taking a deep breath, Gai stood up slowly just to make sure he wasn’t about to vomit again, and turned to look at Kakashi. It wasn’t just Kakashi’s voice that had allowed worry to seep into it, but his face as well. With his brows furrowed and eyes that screamed concern, Gai found himself feeling even worse for the position he had put Kakashi in.

Was he really so useless to his own partner that he couldn’t be there to support him during a firefight?

“Gai, you’re not talking.” The façade shattered. Worry dripped in every word Kakashi said and his eyes searched Gai’s desperately for an answer. “What’s going on? Did something happen, did you… did they hurt you?”

The worry morphed into anger, and Kakashi’s eyes started to search Gai’s body for any signs of injury. 

“I’m fine.” Dropping his hands to his sides, Gai couldn’t help but chuckle when Kakashi glared back at him. Somehow that annoyed look he always got for worrying Kakashi just a little too much always managed to bring a smile to his face. “I promise. I was not hit.”

“Good.” Removing his hand from Gai’s shoulder, Kakashi rested it against his hip and turned his attention back to the mess that Gai had made. “I guess we should clean up before we leave…”

“I’ll clean up?” Kakashi gave him an unimpressed look. “I haven’t done anything in this fight. Let me clean up.”

“It’s a firefight, Gai, i don’t expect you to do anything.” Somehow, those words didn’t make Gai feel any better. “You’re the muscle man. Your job is to scare people off and make sure I get out alive.”

Kakashi had never really been great at pep talks, but this was just painful. 

“I’m your partner,” Gai spoke through gritted teeth. “I’m supposed to support you. Not…”

Throw up? Leave you to do all the work? Wimp out?

There were a lot of ways to explain what he had done, but he couldn’t settle on the right one. 

“You’re my partner.” Hearing his words being said back to him, Gai forced himself to look up and meet Kakashi’s eye. A mistake in his opinion, because suddenly all of the guilt and shame he had been feeling just moments ago was replaced by a fuzzy warmth in the pit of his stomach. One he didn’t deserve to have after he had failed to stay by Kakashi’s side through the fight. “We work together well, Gai, just the way we are.”

“You don’t think I’m… well,” he averted his eyes, unsure of how to word himself in the right way, “I’m not in your way? You don’t want a partner who will actually help you out with these jobs?”

A hand came up to rest against his cheek, the leather of Kakashi’s gloves rubbing against his skin.

“Turtle.” He couldn’t help but blush a little at Kakashi’s use of that old ridiculous nickname he had come up with when they were fourteen years old on a job to deliver food to one of the communities that Shikaku watched over “You’ll never be in my way. In fact, I kind of like that you’re not interested in helping out.”

“You-you do?” 

“Ya.” He could almost see the smile hidden behind Kakashi’s mask. That soft, beautiful look Kakashi always reserved for the moments they could steal away together. “I used to always say I work better alone, didn’t i? Well that’s partially true. I work really well with you when we need to protect someone. I can’t imagine trying to keep Shikaku safe and alive without you by my side.” 

That wasn’t really a lie. Kakashi was extremely good at keeping Shikaku safe, but he could also be a little overbearing sometimes. Always on edge and looking over their shoulders. He seemed to relax just a bit when Gai was by his side, focusing more on keeping an eye out for anyone who could strike from far away while leaving Gai to deal with anyone who tried to go in for a close attack. 

“Still.” Kakashi’s hand moved down his face, his finger tracing over Gai’s jawline before settling on the back of his neck. With his hand firmly in place, Kakashi gave Gai a gentle tug, pulling him just close enough so that he could push their foreheads together without having to move himself at all. “I’m quite happy to be taking care of the bloody fights by myself.”

Meeting Kakashi’s gaze, Gai drew in a shaky breath. “Why?”

“Isn’t that obvious, Turtle?” His face only seemed to burn hotter with embarrassment when Kakashi used that nickname a second time. “If you were to stay and help in a fight, you could get hurt. If that happened…”

A dark look crossed over Kakashi’s face for a moment, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

“If anything were to ever happen to you, I would burn down the world.” He said it as if it was a promise. “And then… well I don’t think you want to know what I’d do next.”

A shiver ran down Gai’s spine. The words didn’t need to leave Kakashi’s mouth for him to know what he was talking about. Kakashi had always been a reckless man, considering his life secondary to those around him no matter how much he and Shikaku tried to get him to change his outlook.

Most days he could tell that Kakashi only held on for those people who wanted him to stay in their lives. On those days he felt almost selfish for wanting Kakashi to stay alive. For demanding that he take care of himself and keep breathing, when he could see how much Kakashi was still suffering in silence.

Perhaps it was selfish, but then of course Kakashi wasn’t any better. 

“Now,” pulling himself out of his thoughts, Gai focused on the feeling of Kakashi’s hand as it moved down to his arm and settled on his bicep, “let’s get this mess cleaned up and head back to fill Shikaku in. After that i can…”

Kakashi moved his head just enough to whisper the rest of his sentence into Gai’s ear, his lips brushing against the tender skin. Sweet promises of a long night, and Kakashi’s thumb rubbing small circles into his bicep helped to take his mind off of the bloodbath that they had left behind in the building, and the guilt he had felt over not staying by Kakashi’s side to help him. 

He was where he needed to be now. Where Kakashi wanted him, and that was all that mattered.

[depressedkakashihatake]

Could I get romance “are you drunk?” For Kakagai 🥺

You can always get Kakagai from me. I’m weak for my boys ❤️❤️❤️

One drink, that’s what he had agreed to when Asuma wouldn’t stop pestering him about hanging out with his friends. One drink, a relaxing evening, and an early night.

One drink had ended an hour ago and he’s not really sure how many he has had when he see’s Asuma holding another one out towards him, but he stopped caring a while ago.

Now his only goal was to... actually, he’s not sure what his goal is.

“Kakashi!” The sound of Konoha’s hapoiest Jonin calling out to him reached his ears, and for the first time that evening he didn’t down the drink he had been handed. Instead, he turned to look at Gai with the biggest smile.

A genuine, happy, excited smile.

If he was sober he would be able to understand the worry he saw in Gai’s eyes when he took a good look at him.

“Turtle!” He screamed out for Gai, throwing his arms open and accidently throwing his drink on Genma. “You’re here! When did you get here? did i miss you? Have you been here the entire time?”

He’s rambling. He knows he’s rambling but he can’t stop himself. This is the first time in a week he has seen Gai and he is excited, plus his filter was destroyed about 40 minutes ago with his third drink.

“Kakashi, are you alright?” Gai’s eyes darted over to his side, taking in the Alcohole covered Genma and the glare he was throwing Kakashi’s way,

Kakashi didn’t care though. Gai was here and that was all that mattered. His night was saved.

“It has been so boring without you,” He stumbled forward, collapsing into Gai’s arms as soon as he was close enough. That or Gai had moved to catch him when he tripped over his own two feet.

He’s not really sure which it is.

“Asuma and Genma are so boring,” wrapping his arms around Gai’s waist he buried his nose into the soft fabric of his jumpsuit and sniffed.

Dango. Gai smelt like Dango more than anything else at this moment, meaning he had gone out to get some of his favorite treat before coming out to join them.

“You got Damgo without me,” he turned his face and pouted up at Gai. “Why would you get Dango without me Gai?”

“A-are you drunk!?” Panic cements itself on Gai’s face as the realization sinks in. “Kakashi, you’re drunk. Who thought getting you drunk was a good idea!?”

“Asuma and Genma,” Kakashi giggled when he heard a ‘snitch’ being thrown his way from Genma. “s’ok Gai. I’m fine.”

“You and ‘drunk’ does not equal fine,” Gai protested. “You just threw Sake all over Genma!”

“Just Genma,” He can almost deel the hatred radiating from Genma because of his words, but he contonues to focus on hugging Gai. Gai was always so much more fun. “Oh, lets have a challenge!” pulling back a bit he beamed up at Gai, laughing bubbling inside of him when he saw panic give was to complete and utter horror.

“You’re too drunk for a challenge,” Gai insisted, using the space Kakashi had given him and ducking down. “We’re going back to your apartment.”

Before he could protest Kakashi found himself being thrown over Gai’s shoulder and picked up with a choris of whistles and ‘woo’s’ being sang behind him.

“Gai, put me down!” smacking his hands against gai’s lower back he grumbled when Gai ignored him and turned towards the exit. Fine, is that’s how he was going to be.

“K-Kakashi!” Gai nearly dropped him on his head when he reached out and grabbed two fists full of his ass. “Asuma put the camera away!”

“Too late!” Asuma’s voice is full of cheer when he responds. “That was beautiful.”

“Put me down,” Kakashi said with more force in his voice. “Or i’ll just have to enjoy myself and this great position you left me in.”

“Not a chance,” There’s a hint of amusement in Gai’s voice. “You want a challenge, fine. I challenge you to get me to put me down before we get back to your apartment. If you win i’ll buy the next drink and try again. If i win you go to bed.”

Ohhh, now that sounded interesting.

“You’re on, Turtle,” he grabbed Gai’s ass again for fun, laughing when Gai yelped. “I promise i won’t throw my free drink on Genma.”

He did not win the challenge. Far from it actually. Somewhere on the way he blacked out on Gai’s shoulder.

that’s ok though, because when he woke up he found himself laying in Gai’s arms with the smell of sweat and Dango everywhere.

of he had to lose a challenge to wake up like that everyday he’d gladly do it. This was easily the best ‘punishment’ he could think of for losing.

[sasubaeuchithot]

Do you see any potential for suikarin?

probably not in the kizunaverse. i will actively try to steer clear of adding other relationships in that story so as to not squick any readers with strong opinions- that and I don't really ship any other characters in Naruto besides sns enough lol. I may hint at like, kakagai, but that's about it

[garak]

say what you will about kakagai fans but i will tweet something only vaguely hinting at it without the ship name or anything and theyre still all up in my notifs. most devoted fan base on earth and absolutely deserved

[olliya]

Readers‘ engagement on AO3

This time it will be less scientific, and more like me writing down my stream of consciousness. But the methodology was really straight-forward, so I think I can spare us the details, and I wanted to show you a detour I made trying to untangle the reasons behind certain fandom reactions. Join me for a trip?

AO3 is rather infamous for its lack of readers engagement (see all the initiatives supporting the commenting: @ao3commentoftheday​, @longlivefeedback​), at least among the fics and writers I am in contact with (and I do pay attention to the stats, you can believe me 😉 ). Nevertheless, some people feel very comfortable on this platform and for quite some time already I wondered what leads to such diametrically different writers’ experiences.

I started with analyzing Comments for Sakura’s ships. Since I did the same analysis for four Sakura’s ships: SasuSaku, NaruSaku, KakaSaku and MadaSaku on ff.net, we can have a direct comparison, especially as the time scope of existence Pairing Option and AO3 as a platform are very similar, and fic numbers are also comparable.

Very briefly: I sorted the fics into the following bins: >500 Comments, 201-500 Comments, 101-200 Comments, 51-100 Comments, 21-50 Comments, 11-20 Comments, 6-10 Comments, 2-5 Comments, 1 Comment, 0 Comments. All data are presented in percentage to allow for comparisons between the ships.

So let’s dive in:

On the first glance the graphs look peculiar: there is always sort of a double maximum for “0 Comments” and “2-5 Comments” divided by a minimum for “1 Comment”. But once we remember that the Comments on AO3 include also author’s responses the situation becomes clear: the majority of fics have 2 comments: namely 1 real Comment from a reader and one answer from the author.

To put this hypothesis into a test I checked how many fics have 2 Comments, and it is 316 out of 839 of SasuSaku fics in “2-5 Comments” bin, 84 out of 204 fics for NaruSaku and 104 out of 315 fic for KakaSaku – which gives always ca. one third of comments in the “2-5 Comments” bin.

At that point I deliberated for a while whether I should modify my bins to include “2 Comments” as a separate category, but I opted out of it for the sake of (future) comparisons with ff.net (and because I think by bins are very good, thank you).

As a side note: on the first 4 graphs we can also see that MadaSaku has a different distribution than all the other ships, but it is worth mentioning that it was also an outlier on ff.net. We will come to this later.

Peculiarity of distribution aside – the feedback on 3 main Sakura’s ships is consistently miserable. But, I reasoned, AO3 is famously M/M oriented so maybe the F/M audience is simply not there. Therefore, I set off to check all the Naruto ships in the order of their popularity, which btw is the following:

So, working down the list we get this:

And, WTF Naruto fandom? Most of the fics for hugely popular, established ships have no comments??!! Or one comment and an answer from the writer??!!

That was a really disappointing exercise…

Until I found that:

MadaTobi was the first ship that displayed a different pattern of readers interactions! It has a maximum in “21-50 Comments” per fic which is perfectly decent and corresponds well with the values for the ships I examined before on ff.net.

Encouraged by this discovery I dug further: (And tbh for a moment I thought I have here a “Madara-effect”, since both MadaTobi and MadaSaku displayed encouraging results 😉 )

But Madara-effect was not the case (HashiMada displays the same distribution as all the other ships) and further data were even more disappointing. (Let me repeat myself: WTF, Naruto fandom?!)

Until I found another instance of good readers’ participation:

KakaGai! So, at that point we had three ships that were behaving differently than the norm: MadaTobi, KakaGai and MadaSaku.

I looked further to see if I can find more examples of fandom positivity, but, spoiler alert – No. For the sake of appearances lets look at the data though. GaaLee is sort of a borderline case, so let’s flag it as “tentative” for now.

So, what could be the reason for such a drastically different behavior of distinctive pockets of the fandom? Over the course of last year, I was observing how MadaTobi was rapidly gaining popularity, so that hinted me to follow this line of reasoning.

For each ship, I broke down the fics numbers into years when they were published. I ignored all the fics published in 2020 (because the year has only started and including those data would skew the image). To be able to compare the ships (which vary widely in term of fic numbers) I calculated the percentages of fics published in each year. I.e if a ship had 100 fics published until December 2019 and 30 of them were published in 2019, then 2019 had 30% of all published fics. It was at that point irrelevant how many fics were published in 2020, they weren’t counted either the way. I included only data from 2011 on, because earlier ones are very fuzzy due to back-dating customs that were in fashion at that time (for explanations see here).

Let’s look at the data. Tadaaa!!!

Isn’t it absolutely beautiful?! (yes, I know!) Does it look like a tangle of knitting yarn? (yes, I know that as well!)

So, let me break it down for you:

See that, that general trend? This is the growth curve that most of the ships follow – pretty linear, with maybe a bit of acceleration in 2019.

Now let’s focus on outliers: (3 most popular ships: SasuNaru, KakaIru and SasuSaku are included for reference – they illustrate the general trend pretty well).

The ships that grew more than 30% in 2019 are: SasuHina, MadaTobi, GaaLee, KakaObi, HashiMada, KakaGai, MadaSaku and InoSaku. So, among those eight, 4 (3 obvious, and 1 tentative) are the ones which showed outstanding readers’ engagement!

 So, are newer, more energetic parts of fandom also the ones with best readers’ engagement? That would be a very optimistic message… But what about four ships that grew tremendously, but still show very poor readers behavior?

SasuHina is an easy case. If there exist a ship that has a captain, then it is this one. And the captain is @365daysofsasuhina​ who contributed staggering 438 fics (out of total of 966) to SasuHina! (Seriously, a round of standing ovation, because this is amount of dedication, work and talent that we can all only dream about. Talking about being a change you want to see!). And 90% of that contribution was done exactly in 2019, which explains the growth spurt of the ship. Sadly though, the audience response didn't keep up with the supply of new fics, therefore great many of them remain with very few comments.

So what about the remaining ones: KakaObi, HashiMadara and InoSaku?

Scrolling through the fic lists I noticed that great many of KakaObi fics are written in Chinese, so I decided to look into it deeper.

I analyzed the percentages of Chinese fics for all the examined ships (and percentages of English ones, just in case there was a ship with overrepresentation of some other language):

And we can see that both KakaObi and HashiMada have a very strong presence of the Chinese fics!

At that point I thought I have it, and proceeded to look at the distribution of Comments for Chinese KakaObi and HashiMada fics. And indeed, the reader’s engagement is sadly, almost nonexistent (165 out of 182 HashiMada fics and 478 out of 630 KakaObi fics have no comments at all). The reasons for that may be multiple; one that come to my mind is that the Chinese readers are still to follow their writers to AO3, or that the fics published recently are in reality not new (which for sure they are not, given the sheer amount of them) and received already their share of feedback on other platforms.

But, even if one subtracts the Chinese fics from the overall fics, the distribution remains the same! ☹ KakaObi and HashiMada still display the standard Comment distribution, despite having grown 45% and 41% in the last year!

It looks a bit better, but still follows standard, not very flattering trend of most of other ships.

So, then I thought that maybe if I subtract the Chinese fics the sudden growth in 2019 will disappear?

The answer is unfortunately, no. The growth spurt is still there, language independent.

So, at this point I don’t know... I am convinced that there is some effect coming from the influx of Chinese fics, but I cannot put my finger on it. (It is also a beautiful example of how correlation does not equal causation.) I also have no explanation for InoSaku behavior…

  Nevertheless, I think it is possible to draw some conclusions, and those conclusions are of vital importance for the health of fandom as it is currently on the move from ff.net to AO3. And I would hate to see the good habits that are in place among ff.net readers getting lost during this move!

It seems that the readers response is better in the pockets of fandom that experience rapid growth, which in itself is very positive news. But one would think that the entirety of Naruto fandom is experiencing such growth (as the fandom is moving to AO3, remember…?). Unfortunately, it isn’t the case.

There can be yet another factor in play: namely the question if the ship is well represented on ff.net, and most of the ships are. Let’s take a final look at our three outliers: MadaTobi, KakaGai and MadaSaku.

Quick look into ff.net (by quick look I mean: sum of two main Ship Names plus Pairing Option minus fics that were double-tagged) shows that there are 174 KakaGai fics, 132 MadaTobi fics and 230 MadaSaku fics (my carefully calculated MadaSaku fic number was 232 in December 2019, so now I believe this number will be slightly higher).

MadaTobi and KakaGai are definitely underrepresented on ff.net (though MadaSaku is not). Therefore, new fics are not being published on ff.net in parallel to AO3, but rather on AO3 exclusively. It is a speculation only, but maybe if readers are given a choice between commenting on ff.net and on AO3, they are choosing the older platform.  That would imply that the authors who make a complete move can still count on feedback, as with absence of ff.net-uploaded fics the readers would have only one place to comment on. At least that’s my hope…

And finally, dear Naruto fandom – step it up. Those numbers are a shame, and I know that people can do better than this.

[lopithecusfanfiction]

Your Love is Deadly, It’s Like Fire

Author: Lopithecus Pairing: Hatake Kakashi/Maito Gai | Might Guy Rating: Teen+ Word Count: 8634 Alternate: AO3 Summary: Gai gets wounded badly when out on an important mission. Instead of continuing with the mission, Kakashi decides everyone needs to head back to Konoha to get Gai treated. Kakashi worries, Gai tries to lighten the mood, Tsunade just wishes people would listen to her. Warnings: 

Hurt/Comfort

Canon-Typical Violence

Getting Together

Protective Hatake Kakashi

Author's Note: I seriously needed more Gai whump in the KakaGai fandom. There isn’t nearly enough of it (though the ones I have read have been fantastic!) This is partly inspired by zuotian’s fic, Somewhere Between Retribution and Recovery. If you’ve read that, then you’ll know what part I’m talking about (hint: it's the tent scene.)

I will admit, I haven’t finished Naruto Shippuden and I haven’t seen a single episode of Boruto (except for some of the KakaGai moments during their honeymoon vacation.) I’ve just recently started a rewatch and I’m still on just Naruto. So I might get some info wrong but I’m just going to claim artistic liberty. ;)

I really wanted this to be in Gai’s pov but then, as I was daydreaming about it, I realized that it wouldn’t work in his pov. So, Kakashi’s it is. Also, Kakashi and Gai are not in a relationship at the beginning of this. Their getting together is more subtle. By that, I mean they never actually state that they are starting a romantic relationship. It’s never made into a big deal basically.

I’m sorry for any ooc-ness in advance. It’s been a very, very long time since I’ve written these two.

Please enjoy!

It’s not like Kakashi didn’t think it could happen. He is very much aware of his and his team’s mortality. He knows it will happen eventually. He just doesn’t want it to happen. The thought scares him. Not that he will ever admit that out loud, of course.

This was supposed to be an easy B-rank mission that very quickly and dramatically turned into an A-rank mission. It was him, Gai, Naruto, Sakura, and Shikamaru. A weird combination but they were all that were available. Sai is on a different mission and so is Choji and Ino. Gai tagged along because Kakashi requested him. It had sounded like from their briefing that they would need a taijutsu specialist. Now, Kakashi is regretting that decision.

“Damn it,” Kakashi rips off a bandage and presses into the wound at Gai’s side, watching as blood oozes out. Gai groans but he looks okay and coherent so far, despite all the blood loss. “I need to find Sakura. It won’t stop bleeding.”

Gai’s hands are shaking when he reaches for the already blood-soaked bandage. “I’ll hold it,” he breathes out.

Kakashi shakes his head, raindrops splashing into his eyes. “I can’t leave you alone. We’re still in enemy territory.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“Tt.” Kakashi bites his bottom lip. He looks around, trying to find something to conceal Gai’s prone body but finds nothing. With an agitated sigh, he turns his attention back to Gai. “I’ll be right back.” He rushes off, not waiting for an answer.

This mission.

This mission was supposed to be easy.

Their mission was to find a low-rank rogue ninja who was proficient in taijutsu and apprehend him, bringing him back to Konoha. They didn’t know nor did they take into consideration that he would have formed his own small militia made up of various strong ninja, with one of them having a kekkei genkai, according to one of the other men.

Once they had reached their destination and had realized what was happening, Kakashi put out the orders, telling Gai to focus on the one they came for since he would be best matched with him. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was when their target split off from the rest, Gai in pursuit. He had then gotten severely injured when their target met up with another person, the one with the kekkei genkai it seemed, from the militia.

Gai had gotten stabbed.

He had gotten stabbed because Kakashi got careless and didn’t stop him from following. Kakashi should have known better than to let Gai follow, especially out of sight. He knew there were accomplices, so why… why did he let Gai go?

Because Gai is strong, that’s why. Because Gai can handle himself.  Because Gai wouldn’t let something like this happen to himself.

Not unless he had been taken by surprise.

Gai never really has been that good with sensing others around him.

Kakashi bites into his bottom lip harder, drawing blood. He shouldn’t have allowed this to happen but the self-blame will have to wait until after Sakura heals him. Right now, he needs to focus. Quickly, Kakashi extends his senses, looking for Sakura’s chakra. He finds her on the ground, healing a wound on Naruto’s ankle.

He drops down beside her. “Sakura.”

“Kakashi-Sensei!” She stands. Perfect timing.

“Follow me.”

She stops him. “Shikamaru needs us.”

“Don’t worry, Sakura-Chan.” Naruto places a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll go help him.”

Sakura nods. “Be careful.” She turns back to him. “Alright.”

Kakashi nods and then leads her back to where Gai is, hyper-aware of the fact that the rain is slowing their progress. The limbs on the trees are slippery and though it’s no problem for him who is a seasoned Jonin, for someone like Sakura it would be much more difficult for her to change her chakra accordingly to stick to the branches. She’s always been a fast learner, though, and soon they are making faster progress until Kakashi spots Gai lying on the ground.

There’s a pool of watery blood surrounding his body and Kakashi’s heart immediately jumps into his throat to make its new home there. He drops down hastily, mud and water splashing up onto his shins. “Gai!”

He approaches quickly, noticing how limp Gai’s hold is on the bandage. It’s weird to see how pale Gai’s tanned face is but there’s a grimace there so Kakashi knows he’s at least alive. He kneels down at Gai’s feet, watching as Sakura wastes no time in her healing.

She peels away Gai’s limp hand and the bandage to look at the wound. Her face draws taut in worry and Kakashi’s stomach clenches. As Sakura’s hands glow green over the wound, Kakashi watches Gai’s face. It looks pained, something Kakashi isn’t used to seeing on the man. It worries him.

It scares him.

“Kakashi-Sensei,” Sakura’s calm and controlled voice snaps him out of his thoughts. She’s not looking at him, all concentration on the wound. “Naruto and Shikamaru are going to need help. We’ve already got Gai-Sensei out of commission. We can’t have you out either.”

He looks at her. Stares really. Does she know he can’t just leave Gai that easily?

Kakashi’s hands are shaking.

He swallows.

He knows she’s right.

His hands won’t stop shaking.

He gives Gai a glance, feels the bile threaten to rise up, and then stands, balling his hands up into fists. He hopes she doesn’t notice their quivering.

“Right,” he says. “I’ll leave him to you.” And then he’s off.

He helps Naruto and Shikamaru take down the last two of the accomplices but they’ve lost the target and the one with the kekkei genkai. He doesn’t sense them anywhere either. He could call up his ninken to hopefully find a trace of their scent but Kakashi wants to regroup first. He tells the two boys to follow him and they meet back up with Sakura.

“Sensei,” Sakura says in greeting, her face grim.

“Gai?” he asks right away, peering around her body. He doesn’t look any better but at least the blood has stopped.

“I’ve healed the wound but…” She trails off, not meeting his eyes. “He lost a lot of blood and there’s something else. I think he might have been poisoned. I’m going to need to analyze his blood but I can’t do that here.” She shrugs. “I’ve given him an antidote just in case but I have a feeling this might be a poison we’ve never seen before.”

Kakashi’s eyebrows furrow. “The kekkei genkai.”

“What?” All three of them say at once.

“There was a rumor when Gai and I were teenagers that there was a ninja that could make special poison inside his body. All he had to do was scratch you and you would be infected.”

“Gai-Sensei wasn’t just scratched,” Sakura exhales loudly. “He was stabbed.”

“Yes, but if the user had coated his blade in his blood…” he trails off, letting the others fill in the blanks.

“What should we do, Kakashi-Sensei?” Naruto asks.

Shikamaru speaks before Kakashi can. “One of us can go back to Konoha with Gai-Sensei while the rest of us go after our target.”

He knows Shikamaru is right but… Kakashi watches Gai, shaking in pain. “How much longer do you think he has?”

Sakura’s lips draw into a straight line as she peers behind herself. “It’s hard to say. A couple days, maybe two… maybe three.”

It’s going to take them at least a day to get back to the village. He looks at Gai again, feeling his stomach churn with unease. Tsunade is going to be mad at him. “No. We all will go back now. Report to the Hokage and see what she wants us to do.”

“Sensei,” Sakura starts, looking back towards him. “He needs to rest a little. Get out of this rain.”

Kakashi nods in agreement. “Let’s move away from here, set up camp and rest for a few hours. Then we’ll move out.”

They do as instructed, Naruto helping Kakashi carry Gai, one arm slung over their shoulders on each side. They move away from that spot and travel several meters before landing. They set Gai down by a tree, propping him up. His shaking has stopped and his skin color is turning back to normal which makes Kakashi’s nerves ease a little.

Kakashi helps Shikamaru set up the two tents. They’re lucky they even have them. Shikamaru had said that it might rain during their mission and so had packed them with his stuff. It’s not very often they carry them, even if it is going to rain, opting to instead take cover in a cave or alcove. Shikamaru’s excuse was that it’s too troublesome to find a place like that. When Kakashi asked him if it wasn’t “troublesome” to put up tents, Shikamaru just sighed and mumbled to himself tiredly. Now, he puts them up without complaint.

Sakura volunteers to bring Gai into one of the tents. He’s awake now, barely, and is able to lean on Sakura as she guides him into the structure. She claims she wants to check him over again. Kakashi’s nerves spike once more but relax when she steps out of it, not looking too concerned.

She goes up to him. “I’ve told him to sleep. He’s going to need as much energy and strength he can gather for the journey home.” There’s a crease where her eyebrows knit together. “He lost a lot of blood and is in definite pain even though he’s pretending not to be. I tried to get him to take a blood replenishing pill and something for the pain but he refused.”

Kakashi glances towards the tent. Of course, Gai refused. “Give them to me. I’ll get him to take them.”

Sakura scowls. “I’m technically not supposed to force these things onto anyone.”

“Then it’s a good thing you wouldn’t be.” Kakashi holds out his hand and with a reluctant sigh, Sakura drops the pills in it. “Get some rest, Sakura. Have Naruto take the first watch. We’ll leave in a few hours” She nods and walks away, peering back at Kakashi and the tent before reaching Naruto and Shikamaru to tell them the plan.

Taking a deep breath, Kakashi enters the tent. He finds Gai lying on the ground, covered in a blanket. Despite poison pumping through his veins, he looks considerably okay. He’s no longer pale and his shaking has stopped. Kakashi wonders how much pain he’s actually in. Gai has always been fantastic at hiding that sort of thing.

Gai is staring at him as Kakashi crawls over. “I hear you’re being stubborn.”

“You know I don’t rely on that stuff,” Gai says, sounding tired. That’s the first giveaway that something is wrong, Kakashi assumes.

“Well,” Kakashi drawls. “I can either add these to your food unknowingly and you will have to be suspicious of which one it’s in for the rest of the night or,” he smirks under his mask, “you can just take them.”

Gai stares at him, probably trying to figure out just how serious Kakashi is, and then finally sighs, sitting up some and holding a hand out. “Fine,” he mumbles.

Kakashi smiles in triumph and hands the pills over. “They’re just to replenish your blood loss and help with pain anyway. It’s not a big deal.”

“Kakashi,” Gai says in warning but it doesn’t carry any weight to it.

Kakashi ignores him. “What happened?”

Gai finishes chewing the pills and lies back down on his back with a hard thump. “I was following the target when another shinobi came out of hiding. She took me by surprise. It was weird, Kakashi. I couldn’t sense her at all.”

“Well, it’s never been your strongest suit.”

“No,” Gai says seriously. “This was different. I should have been able to dodge her but…” Gai’s face scrunches contemplatively. “Did you get them?”

Kakashi shakes his head, shifting to get more comfortable. “No. We’re going back to the village to find out what the Hokage wants us to do.”

“That’s not like you.”

“You’ve been poisoned, Gai, Sakura needs-”

“No, Sakura can bring me back herself.” He tries to sit up and it worries Kakashi with how much effort it looks like it takes. “Then you, Naruto, and Shikamaru can get the target.”

Kakashi shakes his head again. “I’m not abandoning you.”

“You’re not, you’re-”

“Gai, we’re all going back. I’m the leader, remember?” This shuts Gai up who stares at him again. “You need to sleep,” Kakashi finally says after a long pause of silence. “We’ll be leaving again in a few hours.”

Gai lies back down, pulling the blanket up to his chin. They stare at each other until Kakashi is sighing and shucking off his flak jacket. It’s soaked and heavy anyway, and he rolls his shoulders once it’s on the ground. Next, he takes off his Hitai-ate, throwing it beside his flak jacket. Gai is still staring at him and Kakashi can feel his whole body heating up.

He stands up as best he can inside the tent, pokes his head out to where Naruto is sitting, keeping watch. “Naruto.” He waits until he’s got Naruto’s attention. “I’m going to keep watch over Gai. He needs to sleep. No one is allowed in here for the time being.”

“Got it, Kakashi-Sensei!” Naruto solutes him and then turns back around to continue his vigil.

Kakashi slips back into the tent and zips the entrance up. He goes and sits back down next to Gai who is still watching him. Hesitating, Kakashi slips his mask off, ringing it out from the water and then setting it beside his flak jacket as well to dry. He can still hear the rain pouring outside when he lies down on his side, facing Gai.

“Stop staring and go to sleep,” he tells Gai.

A smile breaks out on Gai’s face before he, too, salutes him and closes his eyes. Kakashi shakes his head at his friend and watches him. He doesn’t know how much time passes, but at some point he falls asleep, despite wanting to keep an eye on Gai to make sure he was going to be okay. Apparently he had been more tired than he had thought. 

Kakashi startles awake by the sound of chirping birds. When he opens his eyes, the first thing he sees is Gai staring at him. He yawns and stretches. It doesn’t sound like it’s raining anymore. “How long have you been awake?”

There’s a faint sheen of sweat coating Gai’s skin. The second clue that something isn’t right. “Not long.” A small smile appears on Gai’s face, warm and soft. “Kakashi?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.”

Kakashi looks at him, confused. “For what?”

“For trusting me.” Gai reaches over and traces a finger down Kakashi’s cheek.

Kakashi looks away, his whole face heating up. “It’s not the first time, Gai.”

“Not like this,” Gai says. “This is different.” Kakashi meets Gai’s eyes, swallowing thickly. “You’re beautiful, Kakashi.”

Kakashi sits up, batting Gai’s hand away gently. “Haven’t I told you not to say that to me?”

“But it’s true.”

“This really isn’t the time.” Kakashi reaches over and pulls his mask back on. It’s still damp but nothing Kakashi can’t deal with. Next comes his Hitai-ate and then his flak jacket. “I’m going to go see if the others are ready.”

Kakashi can feel Gai’s wide smile as he leaves the tent. He shouldn’t allow Gai’s teasing to get to him so much but even so, his cheeks feel hot as he exits. He’s greeted by the sight of Shikamaru’s back when he finally gets back outside. The sun is bright and there’s a slight breeze. Should make the travel back home easier, even with an injured Gai. Kakashi walks up to Shikamaru, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Get Naruto and Sakura. We’re heading out now.” Shikamaru nods at him and heads towards the other tent while Kakashi goes back to the one with Gai. He kneels down beside Gai, hooking one of Gai’s arms around his shoulders. “You ready?”

“Hmm,” Gai hums and Kakashi heaves him up. They stumble a little awkwardly out of the tent but Gai can move mostly on his own for now, at least.

They have to wait for the others to pack up the tent but it doesn’t take them long. Soon, they are making their way down the main path back to Konoha. Sakura, Naruto, and Shikamaru walk ahead of Gai and Kakashi but the pace is still slow going. Gai leans heavily onto Kakashi and Kakashi supports him with an arm around his waist, gripping his hip tightly in order to keep Gai’s balance. It’s worrisome to see Gai in such a state.

Just a few hours into their journey and Gai is panting heavily, shaking with every step, and sweating profusely. He’s got a hand on his left side where he had gotten stabbed. Their pace has slowed significantly.

“Gai,” Kakashi starts, worried. He can feel his own heart beating in his chest rapidly with no sign of slowing down. “How much are you hurting right now?”

“I’m fine, Kakashi,” he answers stubbornly, gritting his teeth.

“Don’t lie to me, Gai,” Kakashi reprimands, tightening his grip. “How much?”

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

Kakashi stops walking, shifting so he can look at Gai but still keep him balanced. “Let me see.” Gai tsks but lifts the hem of his jumpsuit anyway. His entire side is black and blue, no doubt from the poison. Kakashi’s eye widens, heart now jumping into his throat to pound incessantly there instead. “Sakura!”

The group ahead of them stop and turn around to face them. Sakura is by their side in an instant, looking at Gai. Her lips are pursed and she touches the area lightly. Gai just barely hides a flinch. “How much does this hurt, Gai-Sensei?” She gives him a pointed look. “And I need the truth for an accurate reading.”

Gai rolls his eyes. “It’s really not that bad.”

“You have too much of a high pain tolerance,” Kakashi mumbles.

“Can you keep going?” Sakura asks, ignoring Kakashi’s comment and Gai nods, giving her a wide smile and thumbs up with the hand that isn’t wrapped around Kakashi’s shoulders.

“Of course I can!” he announces.

It irritates Kakashi when Gai pushes himself so much like this but when Sakura gives him a questioning look, all he can do is nod his head in defeat. Sakura straightens from where she was leaning over to look at Gai’s side, allowing Gai to lower his shirt. “Okay, but if you need to stop, tell us.”

“Nonsense,” Gai says, forcing a smile.

They continue on their way, Gai continuing to pant heavily. By their next hour, they’re practically going at a snail’s pace. Gai’s head hangs low, almost his entire body weight leaning on Kakashi. Kakashi adjusts his hold and Gai stiffens with a pain filled groan, causing Kakashi to stop his movements. Gai sways in his arms.

“Kakashi…” Gai says quietly, suddenly leaning his forehead onto Kakashi’s shoulder. He can feel the heat radiating off of Gai and the sweat through his jumpsuit. No doubt he has formed a fever.

“It’s alright, Gai, I’ve got you.” Once more he calls to the others. “Let’s take a break,” he says when they come back over to him. They all nod in agreement and Kakashi leads Gai over to a tree to lean against, with Sakura following. They’ll be out of the sun this way as well. “Here.” He helps Gai sit down on the ground and then sits beside him. Gai immediately leans into him, head flopping back onto his shoulder.

Sakura takes off one of her gloves and holds it up against Gai’s forehead. “He’s burning up,” she says to Kakashi, tone low.

“I thought as much.”

She digs around in her pouch, procuring a small pill. She hands it to Kakashi. “This will help with the fever… hopefully. Since it’s from the poison…” She doesn’t finish her sentence and Kakashi doesn’t need her too. “We at least need to try and get it down. Fevers can be dangerous.”

Kakashi nods, looking at Gai. “I’ll take care of him,” he says and means it. He won’t let anything happen to Gai. Not on his watch. Sakura watches him carefully and must find what she is looking for because she smiles at him and then gets up to join the others.

Kakashi nudges Gai. “Gai, I need you to take this.”

Gai lifts his head, peering at the pill with unfocussed eyes. “What is it?”

“You have a fever. This will help.” He places it in Gai’s weak, unsteady hand. He hates seeing how it shakes. “Don’t try arguing with me.”

“Wasn’t,” Gai mumbles and pops the pill in his mouth, chewing slowly. He then rests his head back on Kakashi’s shoulder. They’re silent for a few seconds before Gai starts talking quietly. “Hey, Kakashi?”

“You should try and get some sleep. We can’t stay here long.”

“Do you remember when I told you I could open all eight gates?” Gai continues, ignoring Kakashi’s suggestion.

Kakashi sighs heavily. Gai always ignored his suggestions. “Of course, I do.”

“You were really mad at me,” Gai complains. “Do you remember that?”

Kakashi nods. “Yeah. I didn’t want you to use them.”

“Because you thought I would use all eight and die,” Gai points out the obvious, not that Kakashi will admit to it. Gai chuckles. “You’re not as hard to read as you like to believe you are, my friend.”

“Maybe to you.” He sighs, shifting to get more comfortable. Gai is looking more and more tired. “We’ve known each other for a long time.”

“Hmm,” Gai hums in agreement, closing his eyes. “You’re not going to lose me, Rival.”

“Don’t say things you can’t promise,” Kakashi says, frowning.

“You won’t,” Gai says again, conviction lacing his tone.

Kakashi shakes his head in disbelief. “How can you say that?”

Gai takes a deep, shuddering breath, glancing up at Kakashi. “Our rivalry is eternal.”

“Gai…”

“It is,” Gai says pointedly. “It’s eternal so you’ll never lose me and I’ll never lose you. Because I said it, it’s true.”

Kakashi peeks down at him, amused by Gai’s reasoning. “I hate you.”

Gai’s mouth pulls into a large grin, all teeth and sparkle despite the sickly look to him. It makes Kakashi want to kiss him. Instead, he leans his head down and touches his forehead to Gai’s, closing his eyes against the sting in his eye. He just hopes Gai is right. That they will never lose each other.

Kakashi pulls away. “Get some sleep, Gai.”

“Right,” Gai sighs out, closing his eyes again. It doesn’t take long for the man to fall asleep.

Kakashi watches him. He seems peaceful in sleep, which Kakashi is thankful for. He reaches up, cards his fingers once, twice in Gai’s hair. It’s soft. He doesn’t know what he would do if he lost him. If Gai, the one who has always been there for him, by his side, died. The thought instantly makes Kakashi feel sick.

Gai is his everything.

They rest there for about two hours, Kakashi never leaving Gai’s side and Sakura coming to check on Gai’s temperature every half hour. The pill hasn’t lowered it at all but, according to Sakura, it hasn’t risen either. Kakashi is glad but he knows now that Gai has a fever, the trek home is going to be even more difficult.

Kakashi is just starting to doze off himself when Sakura comes back over. She places her hand on Gai’s forehead, who hasn’t woken since he fell asleep. “Still no change but we should probably start thinking about moving again. The sooner we get back to the village, the better.”

Kakashi nods in agreement and waits for Sakura to walk away before he attempts to wake Gai up. “Gai.” He shakes Gai’s shoulder a little. Gai groans, face scrunching in pain. “Gai, it’s time to move.”

“Okay,” Gai sighs, sounding even more tired despite his rest. They stand, with Kakashi mostly having to actually pick Gai up to get him off the ground. He’s still sweating badly and he’s out of breath along with being unsteady on his feet. Gai takes a deep breath, lifts his head, and smiles. “Ready.”

Kakashi briefly thumps his forehead against Gai’s temple before starting to walk, going even slower than they were going before. It doesn’t seem to strain Gai all that much, at least not at first, but Kakashi knows him. He knows how much effort Gai is putting in to make it seem like he is okay, that he can do this. With every exhale, Gai’s whole body shakes. Kakashi pulls him closer to him.

Gai watches Sakura, Naruto, and Shikamaru who are ahead of them.

Kakashi watches Gai.

“Kakashi,” Gai pants.

“Hmm?”

“I’m sorry.”

Kakashi’s eyebrows furrow in confusion. “For what?”

“I should be able to go faster,” Gai says, his own eyebrows furrowing in frustration.

Kakashi peers in front of them at the backs of the rest of the group. “You don’t need to apologize for that, Gai.”

“I can do better,” Gai complains. “I should be able to do better.”

“Your worth isn’t based on what you can and can’t do, Gai.”

“Isn’t it?” Gai looks at him, blinks slowly. “Wasn’t it?”

“When we were kids?” Kakashi asks, clarifying. Gai opens his mouth to answer but trips over his own feet before he can. Kakashi reaches out with the hand that isn’t already wrapped around Gai to catch him. “Careful.” Kakashi looks at him. “If you’re that desperate to go faster, I could always carry you.”

Gai laughs. “I wouldn’t let you embarrass yourself in front of your students like that.”

“You did when you carried me back from Suna,” Kakashi points out, continuing to walk. They’ve fallen farther behind now but he doesn’t mind. It just means the kids won’t be able to hear them talking.

“That was me embarrassing myself,” Gai comments. “I embrace it.”

Kakashi studies him, watching Gai’s expression as it turns sad. It’s not a look he often sees on Gai’s face and when he does, he knows it’s bad. “You’re not an embarrassment to me, Gai.”

Gai huffs. “Don’t lie.”

“You’re not.” Kakashi smiles at him, making sure Gai sees it. “I love you.”

Gai stares at him, not surprised but not knowingly either. He turns away, face turning red though Kakashi isn’t sure if it’s from being flustered or if it’s from the fever. “You’re an idiot.”

“Isn’t that my line?” Kakashi asks playfully.

Gai sighs again. “You and I, Kakashi, we had to prove ourselves when we were kids. In different ways but it was still always there. Trying to gain people’s approval. You were the genius who had to live up to the name. I was the loser who had to show I wasn’t.” Gai looks at him once more. “Our worth is based on what we can do.”

“You’re wrong,” Kakashi says plainly. “Everyone is worth something. Everyone means something, no matter what they can do.” He smiles at Gai again. “You taught me that.”

Gai watches him and Kakashi keeps smiling until Gai smiles back. “Thank you, Kakashi.”

“I told you, I’ve got you.” Kakashi lets his eye turn soft in order to convey the feelings towards Gai that he is feeling. “I always will.” Kakashi stops and helps maneuver Gai to behind him. “Now, let me carry you.”

Gai wraps his arms around Kakashi’s neck and Kakashi hoists him up onto his back, holding Gai under his thighs. “I’m not as light as I used to be.”

Kakashi adjusts his hold until it feels alright. “This is fine.” Gai presses his forehead into the back of Kakashi’s neck before shifting and letting his chin rest on Kakashi’s shoulder. Kakashi continues to follow the others once they are situated. “The last time I carried you like this, was when you opened the seventh gate for the first time.”

“You were really mad at me then, too.”

“Because you could have died.”

Gai laughs. “I knew it.”

Kakashi shakes his head. “Gai.” Gai hums to let Kakashi know he’s listening. “You’ve always been there for me. You’ve always been by my side and had my back. So, no matter your skill level or what you can and cannot do, I don’t care. You mean a lot to me, Gai.”

Gai is quiet for a long time, which is unusual and Kakashi almost wonders if he had fallen asleep, but then Gai finally says, “You mean a lot to me too, Kakashi.” He buries his face into the crook of Kakashi’s neck. Kakashi swears he feels a kiss being pressed there. “More than anything.”

A ghost of a smile threatens to appear on Kakashi’s face but he resists the urge, instead opting to say, “Get some sleep, Gai. I’ll carry you the rest of the way home.”

“Just like before,” Gai says softly, nodding off.

Kakashi’s face grows soft. “Just like before.”

It’s not hard to carry Gai back and their pace improves with doing so. They stop only a couple of times to allow Sakura to check his temperature which hasn’t changed and by the time they get back to Konoha, it’s already night. Kakashi brings Gai straight to the hospital, Sakura with them, and she gets right to work on finding out what type of poison was used and making an antidote. As much as Kakashi doesn’t want to leave Gai’s side, he knows he has no choice. He leaves Sakura to it, heading for the Hokage office where Naruto and Shikamaru should be waiting.

The two shinobi are already in Tsunade’s office when he arrives. She lets him enter, telling him that they were waiting for him. He apologizes but stands his ground firmly. The Hokage doesn’t look happy with him, as Kakashi had expected to happen.

“What happened?” Tsunade asks, looking to all three of them but giving Kakashi a pointed look. She wants him to explain and him alone.

He does as he’s told, not giving any hint to regretting his decision for all of them to come back to Konoha. Tsunade still doesn’t look happy and she asks him why he thought it would be a good idea to just let the enemy escape. When he opens his mouth to defend himself, Shikamaru beats him to it, obviously having been thinking of this for a while.

“The consensus is that  the kekkei genkai user can produce poison inside his body. If more of us got infected, then it would stem bad for the mission either way,” Shikamaru explains, looking bored. “All of us coming back means we can go after the target again once an antidote is made. That way, if one of us gets infected with the poison, then we can just take the antidote right there and then.” He shrugs. “It’s less troublesome.”

Tsunade is biting her bottom lip, looking at Shikamaru contemplatively. Finally, she tsks, sits back, and crosses her arms. “Very well. We’ll wait for an antidote to be made by Sakura.” She pauses, looking the team over. “I’m going to send different shinobi. You three, get some rest.”

“Eh!” Naruto immediately complains. “But baachan, we should be the ones to go back!”

Tsunade scowls and Shikamaru sighs. “Naruto, I’m not in the mood to have this argument with you. It’s better if you stay here and rest. It won’t do if I send you out there with only half your energy.”

“But I’m already rested!” Naruto yells, holding a fist up in a way to show he’s ready and pumped to keep going. “I have a lot of energy left!”

“Then go take it out on some training!” Tsunade yells back, standing up and placing her hands down firmly on her desk. “Now get out of my office.”

Naruto, shoving his hands into his pockets, turns and leaves as he grumbles under his breath. Shikamaru follows with a tired sigh, muttering, “How troublesome.”

Kakashi stays put and waits for the office door to be shut behind the two. He hears Tsunade sit back down. “What is it Kakashi?”

Kakashi turns back to the Hokage. “In the event of possibly angering you again, I have a request.” Tsunade’s eyebrow lifts in question. “I would like to be part of the team that goes after the kekkei genkai user.”

It’s Tsunade’s turn to sigh heavily, leaning forward to place her elbow on her desk and rest her chin in the palm of her hand. “You too, huh?” She tsks. “This is about Gai?” Kakashi stays quiet. If he admits to such a thing, she won’t let him. “Kakashi, you of all people should know that revenge isn’t the answer.”

“It’s not about revenge,” he says, partially true. “This was my mission that I failed.”

“So you want to make up for it,” Tsunade states. “And it absolutely has nothing to do with Gai.”

“Right,” he says and they both know it’s a lie but Tsunade just sighs once more, looking at him with piercing eyes.

“Fine.” She sits up. “Once Sakura has an antidote made and we find the location of the two targets, I’ll gather up a team with you as the leader. For now, go get some rest.”

“Thank you, Hokage-sama.” Kakashi bows and then turns to leave.

“I mean it, Kakashi,” Tsunade says, stopping him. He glances over his shoulder at her. “Rest. I need you at top form for this mission. Don’t go to the hospital and work yourself up waiting for results on Gai.”

She knows him too well and not well enough. He waves goodbye to her with a smile and leaves, heading straight to the hospital despite Tsunade’s warning. He asks the nurse at the desk if he can see Gai and she tells him he’s not allowed any visitors at the moment. So, he goes and sits down in one of the chairs in the waiting room. He sits there for hours as he waits for any news about his best friend. He’s so nervous and worried about the results that he can’t even focus on the Icha Icha book that he is carrying in his pouch.

He doesn’t know how many hours have passed but eventually Sakura appears in front of him with her hands on her hips. “I have a message from Hokage-sama.”

Kakashi guesses Tsunade knows him better than he had initially thought. “Oh?”

“She told you to go rest.”

“I am resting.”

“Not here.”

Kakashi shrugs, standing up and stretching his arms over his head. “How’s Gai?”

“I’ve come up with an antidote that will hopefully work.” She looks tired. “Only time will tell but I’m pretty confident in it. Anyway, Tsunade-sama wants you in her office. Apparently they’ve found the two men that got away on our mission.”

Kakashi nods. “So no time to see Gai, then, eh?”

Sakura shakes her head, face scrunching in disapproval. She gets more and more like Tsunade every day. “Even if there was, I wouldn’t let you. He needs to rest, Kakashi-sensei,” she reprimands. “Let the antidote do its work. Stop worrying.”

“I guess that’s it then.” He salutes her, feigning disinterest even though he knows Sakura sees right through it. “Bye bye.” He leaves in a puff of smoke, Sakura’s huff not going unheard.

When he enters the Hokage’s office for the second time, Tsunade glares at him. “I told you to rest.”

“I did.”

She tsks, knowing full well that he isn’t telling the truth but ignores it anyway. She turns her attention to the rest of the people in the room as Kakashi takes his place next to them. Neji, Ino, and Shino stand there, waiting for instructions. “This the team?” Kakashi asks.

Tsunade nods. “Ino is going with you for her medical ninjutsu. Since you said Gai couldn’t sense the kekkei genkai user, I thought Neji’s Byakugan would come in handy plus he is another jonin. Shino is going in case you need him to drain any chakras from either of the two.” Kakashi nods in approval. It is a good selection. “Here,” Tsunade places a small needle on her desk. “This is the antidote to the poison that the kekkei genkai user creates. Sakura unfortunately only had enough time to make two, one for Gai and one for this mission.” Kakashi picks up the needle and places it in his pouch. “We don’t have much time so you need to move out right away.”

Tsunade gives them the location of their targets. “We’ll get them this time, Hokage-sama,” Kakashi promises.

Tsunade’s mouth purses. “Don’t be reckless, Kakashi.”

Kakashi smiles at her. “I never am.” He then leaves with the rest of the group.

It would seem the enemy is headed towards the village, possibly to get revenge or wage a war on them for what Kakashi’s group had done to them earlier. Due to this, it doesn’t take them long to find the enemy, especially when using Neji’s Byakugan. They land out of sight and view the area that the two are resting at currently.

“Shino, Ino, you go for the original target. Neji, I want you to back me up with the kekkei genkai user,” Kakashi orders.

“Which is that?” Ino asks.

Kakashi gestures with his chin. “The man is your target.”

“Got it,” she says.

“So then that leaves-” Neji starts but Kakashi doesn’t wait for him to finish.

“Let’s go!”

They jump out of their hiding place, attacking immediately so not to give the enemy time to prepare. Despite this, the kekkei genkai user jumps up and produces a kunai to block Kakashi’s. They grapple with the kunai for a few seconds before jumping apart, the clang of the two knives loud.

Kakashi glances over to Ino and Shino who are in the midst of their own fight. When he confidently sees the two are holding their own, Kakashi turns back to his target, revealing his Sharingan. The woman in front of him laughs.

“Oh? Pitting me up against two eye users?” She crosses her arms. “How unfair.” She glances over to her companion. “Are you sure those two will be okay on their own? Kenji-san is pretty powerful.” As if to punctuate her point, Ino screams and is flung back quite a ways.

Kakashi doesn’t even flinch. “They’ll be fine,” he says, hoping he’s right.

The woman smiles at him. “If you’re sure.” She then does a couple hand signs and disappears.

Kakashi tries to find where she is using the Sharingan but can’t sense her anywhere. This must be what Gai was talking about. “Neji.”

“Byakugan!” Neji is quiet for a few seconds, the only sound being heard is the fight that is happening between Ino, Shino, and Kenji. Finally, he announces, “She’s over there!” He points into the woods. Kakashi still doesn’t see her but trusts Neji’s eyes.

He’s about to follow when he hears Shino grunt in pain and Ino screams again. He stops and looks over at them. They are both on the ground, wounded but nothing life threatening. Still, they look like they may need some help after all. “Neji, you stay here and assist them.”

Neji seems alarmed by this. “But-”

“I’ll be fine. Help them.” And then he’s off in the direction Neji had pointed in. It doesn’t take him long to get to a small clearing. He’s not sure why this woman wanted to be separated from her companion unless she didn’t want to risk having to fight all of them at once.

He looks around the clearing, suspicious as to why she hasn’t attacked him yet. He can’t sense her at all and-

Kakashi grunts as he just barely dodges an attack from the ground, a kunai slicing through his side. If he hadn't moved in time, he’d have been in the same predicament that Gai had found himself. He backflips out of the way, holding a hand to his side once he’s on the ground.

The woman laughs in front of him. “I can conceal myself perfectly. For you to dodge that attack… you’re good. A lot better than that loser in the green.”

Kakashi grits his teeth, resisting the urge to say anything back to her in irritation. He eyes the kunai. There’s blood that is dripping from her wrist down onto the kunai, covering it. The color of her blood is off, darker and more purple. So, that’s how she gets the poison onto the knife, as Kakashi had suspected. Which means, he’s already been poisoned himself.

She’s laughing again. “Do you know who I am?”

Kakashi meets her eyes. “I don’t really care.”

“Well, aren’t you rude.” She scowls. “I am Tadame and I possess the kekkei genkai that allows me to change my blood into poison.”

Kakashi sighs, feigning boredom. “Why do you people always feel the need to explain yourselves?”

Tadame huffs, annoyed. “Fine, let’s get this over with then. Shall we?” She disappears once more, the only sound around Kakashi being the wind.

He lifts his hand from his wound. It’s bleeding profusely with no sign of it clotting anytime soon. Kakashi thinks back to how much blood Gai had lost. The poison must prevent the blood from clotting, keeping it thinned out to speed up the process of the person bleeding out and for the poison to travel through the body easier. It’s an interesting way of doing things, considering bloodletting is a common practice of extracting poison from the body. Either way, Kakashi doesn’t have time to dwell on it. By the way Gai, someone who has a high tolerance for many things, reacted to the poison, Kakashi’s only got a few minutes before the poison starts to take effect. He doesn’t want to use the antidote quite yet, just in case he gets cut again.

“You know,” Tadame’s voice carries to him in the wind. “It’s not just my blood that will poison you. I can just scratch you and get the job done. Though less effective, I must confess.”

She appears in front of him suddenly, swiping her kunai down to cut Kakashi in the face. He brings his own kunai up just in time, blocking her blow. He understands now why Gai couldn’t dodge her. He can barely keep up while using the Sharingan. Without that, he’d be hopeless. She goes to swipe him in the face once again, but this time with her long nails. He jumps back before she can, his back hitting a tree. At the same time, he throws three kunai, each with an explosive tag on them.

They blow up on impact and Kakashi waits for the smoke and dirt to dissipate in order to see if he got her. He has a feeling it won’t be so easy. His side is on fire and he’s now panting, starting to feel the effects of the poison and blood loss. There is no body when everything settles.

Tadame giggles and Kakashi searches for her. “You really are hopeless. I’ve heard good things about the Copy Ninja. Is this all you can do?” She strikes at him from behind, causing him to duck. The blood soaked kunai cuts some strands of his hair. Gai isn’t going to like that. “I’m disappointed!”

She keeps striking at him, causing Kakashi to continuously dodge. His vision goes blurry for a second, making Kakashi stagger and Tadame gets a hit on him, slicing through his arm. Kakashi groans in pain, reaching up to the wound. His blood immediately covers his hand. He needs to find a way to end this quickly or else he’s not going to last.

Tadame laughs, twirling the kunai. “Pathetic.” She charges and Kakashi jumps away, throwing more kunai with explosive tags. As they fly through the air towards her, he does the signs for his Chidori. He staggers as he lands on his feet but keeps his footing, immediately going into a charge of his own as the tags explode around them.

“Chidori!” he yells as he approaches. Tadame is already in the process of escaping the explosion and, Kakashi having anticipated that, lunges at her, catching her off guard. His chidori clips her in the right shoulder as she tries to dodge, splattering her blood over Kakashi’s arm and rendering her arm useless. Doing so, however, gets Kakashi close enough for her to grab a hold of his arm with her good hand and dig her fingernails into him, holding him in place.

“You bastard!” she screams, leaning in to bite him. Kakashi kicks at her stomach, making her go flying and dragging her fingernails across his arm as he is ripped free of her grasp.

Tadame staggers to her feet, blood pouring out of her shoulder. Kakashi pants where he stands, stomach lurching with nausea and eyesight going blurry again. He was close. If he can just get close to her again then maybe…

“I’m going to kill you!” she howls menacingly and charges.

Kakashi leaps into the air, feels the world spin around him, and reaches into his pouch. He doesn’t have much time left. At this rate he’ll… he digs out the antidote just as Tadame changes course and jumps after him, an angry scream leaving her mouth as she aims her kunai. He doesn’t have the strength or the reaction time to dodge her attack this time. He has to rely on this.

He plunges the needle into his thigh just as her kunai stabs into him. She grins as they fall to the ground but Kakashi wraps an arm around her and pulls her closer to him. It digs the kunai into him more, causing him to flinch, but he needs to keep her still long enough to do his last move. They land and she tries to pull away but Kakashi can already feel the antidote working, restoring some of his strength. He holds her there, refusing to let go.

“What?” she asks in surprise, still struggling to pull away. “How are you-”

Kakashi’s eyebrows furrow in anger, his nose scrunching, and mouth turning into a scowl under his mask. “You hurt the one person I am the closest to.” Kakashi lifts up the hand that isn’t holding her in place, lightning crackling all around his palm. “The person I care about more than anything else.”

“What?” Tadame’s eyes widen, realizing what is about to happen.

“And you’re going to die for that.” He drives his hand forward.

“No!” Tadame screams, eyes staring at him in pure fury.

Kakashi ignores her and thrusts his hand through her chest. Her blood splashes up onto his face but he pays it no mind as he watches her take her last breath and the light goes out in her eyes. When he knows for certain she is dead, he drops her body and pulls out the kunai from his side, groaning in pain. He looks down at his wounds. The antidote must be doing its job. His cuts and scratches are starting to clot now.

Pressing a hand to his side, over the stab wound, he sits down and waits for Neji, Ino, and Shino to join him, hoping that they won’t need his assistance. He wouldn’t be any good to them in this state. He looks up at the sky. The sun is starting to set.

He wants to go see Gai.

The sound of rustling in the bushes catches his attention and he’s on high alert again until Ino comes rushing out and to his side. “Kakashi-sensei!” She kneels down beside him and starts to heal his stab wound.

Shino and Neji look around the small clearing. “It’s done then?” Neji asks.

Kakashi nods. “Kenji?”

“Dead,” Shino answers and holds up a bag that Kakashi presumes has his head in it.

Kakashi looks towards Tadame’s body. “Let’s take her too. We’ll want to study her body.”

Neji and Shino nod in understanding. It takes a few more minutes before Ino stands, having finished healing his wounds. “Are you alright, Kakashi-sensei?”

“Hmm,” he hums, standing up. He stumbles a little, getting a bit dizzy, but Ino steadies him with a hand on his arm. “I took the antidote. I’ll be perfectly fine soon.” He looks back to the sky. It’s almost dark. “Let’s get home.”

Kakashi wraps Tadame up and then lifts her body onto his back. They walk home, all four of them feeling exhausted. When they do get back, they head straight to the Hokage’s office, Kakashi dropping Tadame’s body on the floor next to her desk and Neji dropping Kenji’s head onto her desk.

She scowls at Kakashi’s appearance. “You’re getting blood on my floor.”

Kakashi shrugs nonchalantly. “Eh, it was a bit tougher than expected.” He turns more serious. “Some of this is Tadame’s, the kekkei genkai user, blood. I thought some could be collected and analyzed. I’m not sure if the blood in her body turns to normal after she dies.”

Tsunade stands and approaches Kakashi, looking contemplative. “So the kekkei genkai user was a female?” Kakashi nods in confirmation.

“Only Gai saw her so it makes sense only he knew,” Kakashi comments.

Tsunade hums, staring at the purple blood on Kakashi’s mask. She waves her hand and an ANBU member appears. “Take a sample of this blood and send it to a lab to be tested and analyzed. Take the body and Kenji’s head with you.”

“Understood!” The ANBU member does as told, disappearing shortly after with Tadame’s body and Kenji’s head.

The four of them then go into a debriefing, Tsunade looking displeased at learning that Kakashi fought the kekkei genkai user by himself, but pleased with the results nonetheless. She sighs when they are done. “Alright, the four of you get some rest. You’ll have a couple days off.” Ino, Shino, and Neji all nod and turn to leave the room. Kakashi turns to follow but is called back by Tsunade. “Kakashi.”

“Yes?”

“Before you go to the hospital, go home and at least clean yourself up.” Her eyes soften and she leans her chin in her palm, not unlike earlier in the day. “I’m sure Gai would appreciate you not having blood all over you when you see him.”

Kakashi’s heart starts beating fast in his chest and he can feel his ears heating up. He supposes he underestimated Tsunade if he thought he could hide his feelings from her. “Understood.” He leaves the office then, heading back to his apartment to take a quick shower.

Once done, he heads straight to the hospital. Visiting hours are over already but it’s not too hard to figure out what room Gai is in. He jumps up to the window and opens it silently, slipping into the room.

Gai is asleep, resting on his back with his limbs flared out. Kakashi smiles warmly down at him, reaching out to brush some hair out of Gai’s face. It causes Gai to stir, his breath hitching and he slowly opens his eyes. “K… Kakashi?”

Kakashi sits down on the edge of the bed, pressing into Gai’s side. “Hey, Gai.”

Gai smiles up at him. “I didn’t die.”

Kakashi runs a hand through Gai’s hair and down the side of his face. “No, you didn’t.”

Gai’s grin is growing larger, blinding in the dark. “We’ll be eternal rivals yet!”

Kakashi nods, leaning closer. “Yes, we will.”

“Plenty of competitions to still do.”

“Hmm.”

“Kakashi, I lov-”

Kakashi pulls down his mask and kisses him.

—————————————————————————————————

A/N: This ended up being super long… oops…

I wasn’t actually planning on it turning out that they would have to go back and defeat those two enemies but the story kind of drove its own plot forward, taking control of my writing.

I hope I made it clear enough in the story that Gai using she/her pronouns while everyone else used he/his pronouns for the kekkei genkai user was on purpose. It’s another thing I wasn’t actually going to explicitly say in the story, but I didn’t want people to think it was a writing mistake so I added in an explanation anyway.

I hope you all enjoyed this story! Thank you all for reading!!