#Kakashi’s sick of the elders

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Sunlights Warmth

prompt: True Loves Kiss

Words: 1207

@kakagaievents

“You have to kiss me,” Gai looked over the bottle he had just spun, grinning at Kakashi while their friends stood all around them watching. “That’s what the bottle says.”

As if Kakashi could have forgotten. He’d watched the bottle spin between them, whizzing past every other person until coming to a stop, pointing its nozzle directly at Kakashi.

He still wasn’t quite sure why he had agreed to partake in this game. Kissing wasn’t something he made a habit of doing with just anyone.

In fact, to date he’d only kissed two other people before Obito.

Yugao, who he’d kissed on a desperate last second attempt to keep their cover after she’d said something that could have tipped off their target to their true intentions. She’d slapped him as soon as they got back to Konoha and told him to think of some other way to deal with her mistake next time.

The other kiss was far more passionate. 

A sweet moment shared between him and Rin shortly before the day she died. A moment he’d granted her when she asked, hoping against all odds that there would be fireworks, or something. Anything that would allow him to return the love she so freely gave to him.

It hadn’t worked out, and it was the first time since Obito’s death that he’d seen her cry.

Now it was time to disappoint Gai, just as he had done with Rin.

To kiss him, just as he had done with the other two, and feel nothing in his cold, broken heart.

“Come on,” Asuma struck a hand across his back and laughed when he glared at him. “It won’t be so bad. I bet Gai tastes like dango.”

“Or curry,” Anko piped up. “Or maybe he tastes like Ramen. He did have some for lunch.”

Kakashi could do little but roll his eyes at the comments. Whatever Gai tasted like didn’t matter to him because at the end of the day it would end the same as it always had.

An empty feeling in his chest that would confirm what he’d already learned from Rin and Yugao. That he was incapable of Romantic love.

“Kiss!” Gemma lifted his drink up into the air and laughed. “Kiss, kiss, kiss!”

“Alright, alright,” Kakashi couldn’t believe he had agreed to this, but he was stuck now. There was no choice but to kiss his best friend otherwise the others would never let him hear the end of it. “Gai?”

“Ready when you are, Rival.” Gai beamed, as excited for this as he was for any of their challenges.

Now or never.

Taking a deep breath, Kakashi tucked a finger under the top of his mask and yanked it down as he leaned in. Mentally, he’d prepared himself perfectly for this moment. Gone through every possible scenario he could think of and ensured he wouldn’t do anything embarrassing.

Only when Gai’s lips met his did he realise his mistake. His failure to account for the exact scenario he found himself in.

Oh.

A pleasant, warm feeling bloomed in his chest. As if he was being dipped directly into sunlight.

His gaze locked on Gai, noticing right away that he’d already closed his eyes and submerged himself straight into this feeling.

Comfort.

Familiarity.

Love.

All of those words buzzed through his mind, taunting him as he stared directly at his best friend's face. Took in the sight of Gai’s soft expression while they lingered there, locked in a kiss that Kakashi hoped never ended.

The heat spread. Moving up from his stomach and touching his cheeks. Gathering in his face until he felt like he was overheating. 

At this moment Kakashi couldn’t imagine anything more beautiful than the man in front of him. The curve of Gai’s eyes seared into his mind, a treasured memory that he would cling to for the rest of his life. The feeling of his lips, which tasted nothing like ramen or dango but instead something new. Something unique to Gai. All of it made its home in his memories.

Precious, beautiful moments that he was certain would get him through even the darkest days.

“Aww, cute,” Anko snickered. “He’s blushing.”

Panick.

Wrenching himself away from Gai, he grabbed his mask and yanked it back over his face in a desperate attempt to cover bright red cheeks. 

“I-“

“I knew it,” Asuma stretched a hand out towards Genma. “Cough up the Ryo.”

Genma grunted his disapproval. “Damn, the one time I was relying on your Kakashi,” 

Kakashi might have rolled his eyes or made a snarky comment about not relying on others if it were any other day. If he was doing anything else.

In this moment, though, he could only lower his eyes in shame.

“I-“

“Ramen?” Gai asked, the grin on his face even widder than it had been before. “Did I taste like Ramen like Anko said?”

He simply shook his head.

“Ih, then dango!” Gai cheered. “That would make the most sense. Dango is my favourite food.”

“Uh, Gai,” Kurenai poked him in the side and chuckled when he let out a loud yelp. “Sorry.”

“What was that for?”

“Well,” lofting a hand, she extended a slender finger and pointed towards Kakashi. “I think you broke him.”

“Broke him? My eternal rival?” Gai almost sounded offended on his behalf. “I could never. Kakashi is the coolest person in all of- uh, Kakashi?”

He’s not really sure what happened next. All he knows is that the warmth in his face was begining to overwhelm him. As if he was standing in the middle of the desert with the blazing sun beating down at him.

An appropriate comparison to make, he thought. After all, Maito Gai was like the sun itself.

Bright, warm, always there for him.

“Kakashi!”

A cold hand came down hard against his forehead and it was only then that he realised he’d fallen over. All of his friends' faces hovered over him, each with their own worried expression.

There was only one he cared about, though.

Once he couldn’t drag his eyes away even now, with the ceiling hanging over him and an overwhelming heating burning his very soul.

“I-“

“Do you need someone else to kiss you?” Asuma teased. “I think Gemma is up to the job. “

“No.”

“Anko.”

“No.” He grunted when Anko responded by slapping his stomach. 

“Would you like Gai to kiss you again?”

Kakashi thought about it for a moment. If Gai kissed him again maybe he’d feel that pleasent warmth again. The one that enveloped him and made him feel wanted.

Loved.

“…maybe.”

Their faces disappeared suddenly, every single one except Gai’s, and laughter rang through the air. Kakashi didn’t care, though. 

Gai was there.

He was looking at him.

“One more,” his rival smiled down at him. “For good measure.”

“For good measure,” Kakashi agreed while Gai tucked a finger under the top of his mask and yanked it down. “Just one more.”

Love.

That’s what it was.

When Gai leaned down and kissed him again, there was a feeling of  love that squeezed his heart so tight it hurt.

A feeling that Kakashi would happily chase for the rest of his life, even if he didn’t deserve it. 

[narutocharacterpolls]

ROUND ONE

DEIDARA vs UCHIHA ITACHI

Reasons for submission under the cut

Deidara

he is an artist!

his clay models are cute, fun and dynamic!

cool hairstyle and sick eyeliner job

set up the mood for the rest of Shippuden with his introduction + fight with Gaara

4 mouths

wants to kill Oonoki

anti-nationalist

bombed several lands just for kicks

likes to appreciate art

faced Gai and his team ARMLESS armed with a kunai IN HIS MOUTH and escaped mostly unscathed

NANOBOMBS

trained one eye to counter attack genjutsus

likes birds and winged animals

fought against Sasuke (A HUGE honor of any character Kishi could have thrown at him he chose his GOAT 🫡)

deranged blue eyed blonde representation

can make his mouth hands make out anytime he wants, power move of the century

caught a Jinchuriki and a Bijuu all by himself

wears a crop top

wears black nail polish

lost both arms and didn't bat an eye

almost strangled Obito

explodes anytime he wants

beefed with Itachi

wanted to kill Orochimaru

long haired men

hates the government

he's annoying to everyone

youngest akatsuki member

hilarious one liners

intelligent, strategic, dramatic, hot, cool

looks like Ino

Itachi

he has one of the most compelling, gut-wrenching and beautiful sibling relationships in the entire anime

despite showing it in a peculiar way he does love Sasuke and honestly that's based

not to sound like a dudebro but his jutsu is honestly incredible and his fights are very interesting and entertaining to watch. Susano’o in particular is very beautiful as well

created Easter Kakashi. Lol

an incredibly intriguing and complex character, there's so many layers to Itachi and all of them are sad

he was groomed from the age of four because the Konoha Elders saw that he had such an intense reaction to witnessing war and realized that they could make use of that

loved his family deeply despite it all

is the reason behind one of the best plot lines and character (Sasuke) of the anime

he gave up his entire life because he thought this was the only way to guarantee Sasukes safety

he stayed with the akatsuki solely so that he could keep an eye on Konoha and Sasuke and to prevent the akatsuki from harming Sasuke by attacking Konoha

pushed Sasuke to his limit in their fight just to be able to get Orochimaru out of Sasuke for good

"you've studied a lot. You're like a snake expert now" is SO funny and he was so genuine about it

he was SO young and had so many voices telling him traumatizing things left and right, and that he was the only solution on both sides

truly genuinely made as one of the most heart breaking characters and character relations to exist

eye bags are real and relatable

men with long hair

bro's GORGEOUS

he was traumatized and manipulated since his childhood and deserved sm better

he just wanted to make eggs for his lil brother!

idiot fool boy

he's supposed to be a genius but his emotional intelligence is in the negatives

even his father recognized that he was a good kid and had good intentions when he found out about what Itachi was doing

malewife

[justice4sasuke]

Character Roundups Round 13: The Konoha Council

AKA the last one! (I think) AKA The People Who Did A Genocide.

Man, Kishimoto really is the master of adding in plot points that make previously "good" characters look REAL bad (probably without realizing it). Personally considering his importance to the main character I think he fucked up with Jiraiya most but Hiruzen is a close second. How are you going to go from the kind, fatherly leader of the village to a guy who doesn't have enough backbone/care enough to not let an entire clan in his village get murdered?

As for those other three I think it's funny how they are all set up as "not great". I mean Tsunade is completely sick of all of them. We are supposed to be mad at the two non-character elders for not letting Naruto do whatever. Danzo literally prevented Naruto from getting back to the village during the Pain fight sooner (not that I care but the narrative does), he's acting shady the entire time he is interim hokage, he's an asshole. BUT THEN when it comes to the Uchiha massacre suddenly we couldn't possibly make them look evil for that. Perish the thought! Kakashi is looking those two elders right in the face after he has been told the story by Obito (which he might not believe, but at least was like need to confirm) and the narrative does nothing with it. I think you can barely see them. And this wasn't in the original manga, but someone at some point was like "yeah, they are still around doing the same job" post-Naruto because they're there. No consequences or nothing. And Danzo, well, when Sasuke kills Danzo which was fully within Sasuke's right to do if he wanted, Danzo gets a sad flashback about how we wanted to protect the Leaf and was jealous of Hiruzen.

Here's the thing, I have no problem with giving some background to a villain obviously, but the way it's done here really makes me think it's not trying to expand on Danzo's character but make him sympathetic at the last second. If that wasn't supposed to be the case it would have been more effective to one, have someone mention that Danzo wanting the whole Uchiha clan dead was pretty fucked up and two, put Danzo's flashback somewhere else.

Finally, what do all these people have in common...the highest echelon of Konoha...oh yeah, they're all Tobirama's students. Because I probably need to say it again, I don't think this was Tobrirama's plan because if it was he would have had to be playing 5 dimensional chess to get things to happen how they did. It probably more so happened because Tobirama didn't trust the Uchiha clan, put them in a precarious position with the police force, and Kishimoto probably didn't think of it but if he was any good at writing it would be obvious Tobirama instilled the same idea into his students to an extent. And that's perfectly reasonable character/story-wise! These people could have just done something really horrible, by the time anyone who wasn't directly involved found out Hiruzen was dead, Danzo is literally the second worst (he threatened to murder a 7 year old to his 13 year old brother) so it should be at least a NEUTRAL thing that Sasuke killed him, and then those two other fuckers don't do anything anyway so I say jail. But rather than saying these four people fucked up, Kishimoto rather make Sasuke look evil because he can't make the institution of Konoha look bad and we need to set up some kind of Sasuke/Naruto parallel.

[wendyfulmother]

@believeandjump liked this post for a starter for Itachi!

Wendy couldn't believe her eyes.

It couldn't be...It just couldn't be...

At first, she had assumed that the two people in front of her were just ghosts, old specters from the past. But the moment that Lord B, the Raikage's younger brother and also the jinnchuriki of the eight tails, told her to look into their eyes, the young kunoichi did so and her eyes widdened. She had not recongized the young man to the left, white hair and purple eyes that spirled like rings. But she knew ALL too well who the one on the right was.

She couldn't believe her eyes. It really was him...brought back to life with a forbidden jutsu: Edotensei.

Tears soon found their way into her eyes upon seeing who it really was once she had calmed her nerves.

Itachi...

...It was REALLY Itachi.

Before Wendy or Naruto got down to the bottom of things, a fight soon broke out. It seemed that, according to Lord B, that the two before them were being controlled by the person who had casted the reanimated jutsu in the first place. Which made both Itachi and the other named Nagato to move against their own will. Everything was happening so fast for Wendy but she managed to keep her cool and fought valiantly with Naruto and B.

Soon, Itachi was out of the control that was placed upon him. It was all so confusing for Wendy but nonetheless, it meant that he was now able to assist her, Naruto and B. And soon enough, with Itachi's help, Nagato was sealed away. Even though Wendy did not know him, she couldn't help but feel so sorry for him. Being ripped away from peace to be used as a tool...and it made Wendy feel sick to her stomach.

Once everything had settled down, Wendy turned to look at the raven haired male in front of her. The person she looked up to as an elder brother there...right there. The last time they encountered one another was when Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi and Wendy had a mission to rescue Gaara from the clutches of the Akatsuki. It wasn't a fond reunion. In that moment, she had found out he was indeed alive and not dead as she had previously been told and that HE was in fact the reason Sasuke was now an orphan...but now, she knew that that was wasn't the truth.

He wasn't the mastermind behind it...he was forced to kill the Uchiha clan by Lord Danzo Shimura, an elder of the Leaf Village. According to the masked man, one Madara Uchiha, and during his little scuffle with Naruto, she had heard right from Itachi's mouth that it was true.

All she could do was stare at the man she once deemed an older brother figure to her. But soon, her mouth moved and words came out.

"...'Tachi..." Wendy's old nickname for Itachi from childhood slips out as she swallowed down a sob. "..It really is you..."

[dreadsuitsamus]

Blessings | Kakashi Hatake x Reader |

author's note: hello again! this is something i wrote a while back when i finished watching naruto. kakashi is one of my favorite characters and this is the first thing i wrote featuring him, and the only thing i actually finished with him. this story is a little different than what you would probably expect, as this is an AU and kakashi and the reader are the adopted parents of naruto and sasuke. i hope you enjoy this little fluff piece! i also apologize for any spelling and grammar errors!

pairing: kakashi x reader

warnings: modern au, naruto and sasuke are children, brief mentions of death and suicide, brief mention of sex

A soft sigh broke the silence in the kitchen. Your two boys, Naruto and Sasuke, were in the living room playing together. They were peaceful for now, but you kept an eye on them anyway. It didn't take much for your little ones to start arguing, be it over toys, the tv channel that was playing, or who got to hold mom's hand when they went on family walks. You smiled softly when Naruto hugged his adopted brother, and Sasuke happily returned it, perhaps under the guise that you wouldn't witness the moment. The picture you just took, however, would prove him wrong many years later.

With another sigh, you glance over at the timer on the oven. Fifteen more minutes and the frozen pizza would be ready. It wasn't your intention to serve pizza tonight, and especially not at this hour of eight o'clock at night. But your attempt at ordering Mexican food, a favorite of your dear babies, was foiled by the delivery driver stealing the food but marking it as delivered anyway. You'd have to treat them to it another time, since it would take too long for an attempted redelivery tonight. Maybe when their father returned home from his work trip you could go to the restaurant in person, as a family. And to sweeten the deal further, you'd let them invite one friend each.

Stealing another glance at the boys (it became much too quiet in the two minutes your attention was on your thoughts) you couldn't hide the smile when you saw them settled onto the couch and watching tv. They were four years old now and had been together since they were babies. Naruto's parents, your brother Minato and his wife Kushina, unfortunately passed away on the day of his birth. There had been a crash on the way to the hospital, and neither made it out of that hospital alive. They had asked you to be their precious son's godmother right when they learned of the pregnancy, and while you loathed to have to take the position, and especially so early in Naruto's life, you swore to protect Naruto and give him the life he deserved, the one his parents would've given him if they could.

Your husband had the same duties for your other son. Sasuke was just a few months older than Naruto, and he was placed in your care just weeks before Naruto was. Tragedy struck the young Uchiha in the form of his father getting a life sentence in prison for embezzlement and insider trading just to be able to afford Sasuke's elder brother Itachi's medical treatments. Consoling him on those late nights was no easy task. Even as an infant, he knew the people holding him were not the ones he was used to. His brother died of a rare sickness just one month after Sasuke was born, and his mother was overcome with her postpartum depression and grief. You thanked her in a prayer every morning for calling Kakashi that dreadful night before she ended her life. She didn't have the strength to continue, but she was able to make sure her baby would be safe. Her love as a mother was doubted by those in town, but that phone call was all the evidence that you needed to know she loved Sasuke.

To have two infants on your hands with such short notice wasn't easy (especially as you mourned your brother and saw him every single time you looked at Naruto) and it cost you your job, but Kakashi did as he always did and found a way to make things better. He worked hard to pick up the financial slack and also helped with the boys as soon as he would get home each evening. He was exhausted every night, you knew, but he didn't utter any complaints. He had his duties to those children and to you, his wife. Hatake Kakashi was the greatest man you ever knew.

Pulling yourself away from the tragic happenings of your children, you lit your phone's screen to view any notifications. Aside from a text from Gaara's mother attempting to set up another playdate, you had no messages. It wasn't very surprising, honestly. Kakashi wasn't expected to return home for a few more days, and while he was known to send messages throughout his workday with witty comments about those around him, today hadn't been one of those days. He'd sent a text that morning and called the boys around noon when they tried to refuse a nap (you loved his scary dad voice, admittedly) but other than that he was presumably busy with work and hadn't been able to chat much.

You always missed that man when he was away.

The oven's timer went off, and Naruto bounced up from the couch and rushed to the kitchen, giddy and ready to eat. "Peesha time!" He squealed.

You chuckled softly and scooped him up, setting him on his chair at the table, a little booster seat sitting atop it since he recently was able to graduate from the high chair, but was still just a touch too short and much too wiggly to have total freedom at the table. "Patience, darling."

Naruto pouted and crossed his arms while you removed the hot pizza from the oven, setting it on the stovetop to cool. Sasuke toddled in just after that and he too was swept up and into his own booster seat. He frowned at you, cheeks puffed out and eyes defiant. He simply didn't think he should have to be in the booster; and to his credit, you and Kakashi wouldn't have bothered with it at all if the boy was tall enough. He wasn't full of blossoming, all-consuming energy like his brother and you didn't have to worry about him running away to avoid eating his vegetables. It wasn't like Naruto hadn't tried that before (more like every night) but his fingers were just too clumsy to unlock the simple mechanism keeping him in the seat.

You kissed Sasuke's forehead, compromising with him silently and not latching the booster's belt. His frown vanished and his dark eyes then focused on the pizza on the stove. He could tell by the smell it was his absolute favorite: plain cheese with a crust stuffed full of more cheese.

"Eh!" Naruto whined, giving his own forehead an open-palmed whack.

"Naruto." You chided softly, smiling as you grasped his little hand and gave him a kiss as well. "Be gentle."

Naruto's smile was bright and he smacked his hands on the table as his stomach growled loud enough for you to hear, and even Sasuke's tummy rumbled unhappily. "Food!" The little blond yelled.

"I'm on it, babies!" You moved to cut the pizza and then further cut them into bite size pieces before setting the plates on the table. Sasuke was a neat boy and picked up his little fork to eat with, whereas Naruto used his hands like usual. With a grimace, you resigned yourself to your fate that you could not go even one day without having to bathe Naruto due to his messy eating.

The front door opened up and you frowned, panic striking instantly. But just as soon as it appeared, the fear was dispelled once you caught a glimpse of the supposed intruder. "Kakashi!"

Sasuke gasped and jumped out of his seat, which made Naruto start to yell and complain that he couldn't move to see his father too. "Pa!" Sasuke cooed, jumping into his father's large, outstretched arms. Kakashi stood and kissed his son's cheek, settling him onto his hip and moving to the kitchen before Naruto's tantrum could worsen.

He ruffled his blond boy's hair and leaned down to give him a greeting kiss, standing up straight to finally look at you too. He smiled gently, and you could see how tired he was when you looked into his eyes. "Surprise." He laughed softly, ignoring how Sasuke fiddled with the collar of his cotton t-shirt and then brought his hand to his mouth after Naruto shoved a piece of his pizza into his father's hand.

You smiled and stepped forward for a brief kiss that was interrupted by Sasuke's little hand pushing his dad's face away from his mom's lips. He wasn't much of a fan of sharing his mom's kisses. "Welcome home, my love." You wouldn't bother asking why he was home now until the boys were in bed.

Kakashi smiled and swooped in to steal another kiss, sticking his tongue out at Sasuke after. He set him back onto his chair and you served him his own plate of pizza too before you sat down again. Naruto patted the table in your husband's direction, and Kakashi sighed. "You sure like to cash in on favors early." He murmured with a tiny smile before returning a small bite of pizza to replace the one Naruto had lovingly given him just minutes ago.

Brat. You shook your head softly, but your lips curved up at the ends too.

Dinner was spent with the boys talking Kakashi's ear off about their last three days without him, and your husband was unable to even ask any questions himself between their barrage of talking. Sasuke was your quiet boy for sure, but even he couldn't resist being excited whenever his beloved Pa returned home.

As soon as dinner was finished, Kakashi sprang into action and started the nightly routine, which was officially behind schedule now as the time neared a quarter after nine o'clock. Naruto was bathed rather quickly, not leaving as much playtime as he would prefer, but his lack of protesting was mere proof it was past his bedtime. While you finished up the bath, Kakashi was getting Sasuke into his pajamas and helping him brush his teeth.

You couldn't help the swell of pride in your chest when the boys were finally in bed and listening to their Pa read them a bedtime story. Kakashi was sitting in between their little beds and animating the stories, as he did every time, with his voices and gestures. You had wonderful children, and the perfect man to raise them with alongside you.

You waited at the doorway for Kakashi to finish telling the story, and when he was done you both gave the boys goodnight hugs and kisses. They yawned and curled up in their beds, content settling in them for the night. With a soft click, their door was shut and they were officially down for the count.

Kakashi took your hand and led you to your own bedroom, kissing your knuckles before letting go. "Rest of the trip was cancelled." He explained simply, with a yawn he tried to hide in his elbow. "Bad weather coming."

"Not to be happy about work being disrupted but..." You cupped his face and smiled up at him, thumb brushing over his beauty mark. "I am glad you're home."

His strong arms wrapped around you and pulled you close, and he laid his head on top of yours. "Me too. It's far too quiet on those trips; I can't function without Naruto's yelling."

You laughed and stood there for a while, just taking the time to relax and ease your minds. Time alone was scarce ever since the boys came into your care. Moments like these were sometimes all you could steal together. It wasn't until Kakashi started to lose his balance that you let go and moved away.

"Uh-uh, you are not falling asleep standing up again."

Your husband merely whined just like your sons would, first pulling off his shirt and pants, then flopping onto the bed face first, his arms stretched out with a happy sigh. He loved this bed, and loathed the ones in the hotels he had to sleep in during various business trips. "I should work from home..." He yawned into his pillow.

"You don't think it would drive you crazy?" You hummed, slipping into a nightgown before you approached the bed. You pressed one hand to the bare, warm skin of his toned back before lifting one knee onto the bed and crawling forward.

"You manage just fine."

You couldn't help but laugh. "I think you've forgotten your boys aren't in school yet."

"Why are they my boys when they're misbehaving and mischievous, but they're all yours when they're sweet and loving?" Kakashi deadpanned.

You kissed his shoulder blade and started to gently work some of the tension from his back. "Because they learned it from you."

All Kakashi could manage was an offended scoff. Silence fell between you and your husband, comfortably, as you massaged him. Several pleased groans escaped his lips and you felt him relax beneath you with each moment that passed.

"Tried to treat the boys with Mexican tonight." You muttered. "Driver stole the food. Had to improvise."

Kakashi hummed, accepting the reason why bedtime was late. Not that it mattered that much to him; on the rare occasion that you were the one out of town, he let the boys stay up until they fell asleep on their own. Of course, you weren't exactly aware of that tidbit of his parenting. "We'll make it up to them soon."

"Karura wants to set up a playdate soon for the boys and Gaara."

"I'm sure Sakura is itching to come play with Sasuke soon too." Kakashi mumbled, his eyes closed and body fully relaxed. "God, look at us..."

You chuckled softly. "To think we'd be parents." You murmured quietly. "We went from nice furniture and plenty of money to this in the blink of an eye."

Kakashi hummed, not committing himself any further into the conversation. He loved every bit of his life; nobody could ever say he didn't. The same went for you. Those boys would have to be pried from your cold, dead hands.

But admittedly, it'd be nice to freely have sex again. A benefit to being in a neighborhood with so many children the same age was the playdates and sleepovers. He'd be pawning the boys off for a night as soon as possible; god, he couldn't wait for them to start school.

You bit back a yawn in an attempt to hide it, but unfortunately your husband was more perceptive than you gave his current condition credit for. "I'm plenty comfy, honey. Lay down with me."

Kakashi turned the lights off while you settled in, then came around to envelop his warm, muscled body around yours. One large hand rubbed your belly absentmindedly, the other hand moving to tilt your chin up for a gentle kiss. You maintained the contact until the awkwardness of the position started to strain your neck, breaking the kiss after and settling back in as you were.

Your husband's lips had kept busy, scattering small kisses along your shoulder and neck for a few moments more. He gave you a final squeeze and adjusted your body slightly, so your rear was pressed just to his groin area. In that way, your bodies fit together just right, like puzzle pieces.

Kakashi pressed a kiss to the shell of your ear. "I love you."

"I love you too."

He nuzzled his face in your hair. You clasped your fingers with the ones he had against your stomach, humming lightly. Just as you were about to succumb to sleep, little feet were padding against the hardwood floors of the hall, and with a considerable effort, your bedroom door was opened up. Kakashi held back his tired sigh and sat up to see his two boys standing at the door.

"Pa." Naruto whimpered, leading the charge to the king-sized bed. Sasuke followed closely behind him after closing the door back, Kakashi lifting them both into bed with you.

"What's wrong?" He asked, wiping at his eyes.

"Scary noise." Naruto was on the verge of tears at this point. You turned on your other side to face them and pulled the toddler into your arms, pressing a soft kiss into his blond hair.

"Probably the tree." Kakashi mumbled. There was a branch that would sometimes tap against the boy's bedroom window if it got windy enough. He just hadn't had any time to prune it lately.

He moved Sasuke to lay beside Naruto, pulling the comforter back over everyone. Sasuke snuggled deeply into Kakashi's chest once he laid back down. In the darkness, his eyes found yours as the boys quickly fell back asleep, now safe and sound with their parents.

"One day we'll get our bed back." He laughed softly.

"I'm in no rush." You murmured, cupping his face briefly. "Just as soon as the day comes that we get the bed back is the day that the boys will be too independent for Momma and Pa's bed."

Kakashi turned his head to kiss your palm before you settled it on Sasuke's tummy. He gently grasped Naruto's little hand with his finger and thumb, smiling when the boy instinctively closed his tiny fingers around his Pa's one big one. "You're right. As always."

You laughed softly and nuzzled Naruto gently while Kakashi gave Sasuke a few soft kisses on his rather chubby cheeks. All these boys were yours to love and love you in return. You would definitely savor each and every moment you had with them. As you learned four years ago: life was too fleeting to not appreciate everything you had. For the kid's sake, for you and Kakashi, for the four parents that wouldn't get to see their sons grow up, you would count your blessings and savor it all.

[komehyappyou]

Boruto Graffiti Mistranslation!

1st ->  バカbaka/Idiot: Tobira to Naruto: “Your a bigger バカidiot than elder brother!”

2nd -> インケンinken/.. DORK??? wwwWIENER? They must’ve confused インケン with インケイinkei/peeenis!!!! 🤣 inkei isn’t an insult...

3rd -> スケベ sukebe/perv, Jiraya, grand pervert himself, said スケベ to describe Hiruzen’s lewdness in flashback.

4th -> ジジイjijii/geezer, jiji can be geezer(insulting, calling them old) or grandpa depending on how you say it/context. same with baba grandma/hag. Minato is Boruto’s biological grandpa.

5th -> ババアbabaa/hag, naruto called her バアちゃんbaachan/granny. And she is quite old.

6th -> lips

7th -> アホaho/idiot, interchangeable with baka, fitting since reincarnations.クソオヤジkusooyaji/shitDad, boruto’s father...

the written insults seem to match

how translate インケン?

he shows up in images...

陰険: the surface appears good, but harbors evil intentions in their inner heart.

context: Tobirama is nicknamed 卑劣様hiretsusama/lordWretched, while eng fans joke “Tobirama hates Uchiha”, because started after war appearance, cuz said bad about Uchiha, jp fans joke “Tobirama bad guy” because started before cuz of edo tensei comments making mysterious kage look scary. Result is that there’s little surpirse Tobirama gets called inken at the end.

A joke/edits/randomthoughts collection post, don’t take too seriously! Up to individual fan interpretation. but why inken?

Edo Tensei!?

(Water)  Fighting other nation’s people is ok, but my own nation i can’t endure. the one who use this jutsu to bind us, orochimaru, so i hear, that punk ! Afterwards he’s going to pay! (Earth) Muu: We never got along, but this once we have the same feeling. (Rain) Hanzo: Youre” akatsuki” and then five great nation’s shinobi also both enemies of mine. I have no intention to help but... This technique seems most unforgivable ... my body moves on it’s own. (Water) Zabuza: using the dead... Some asshole is using me.... makes me sick... (Home Culture) Naruto: This edo ten whatever jutsu... makes me sick! People who don’t want to fight are forced to fight... it’s probably the same on the other battlefields right? LordWretched: AN APOLOGY? FOR WHAT? (Water) Zabuza: this edo tensei... it’s like where the dead doesn’t die... this jutsu again makes me sick... (Wind) Chiyo: Edo Tensei..... from the 2nd hokage Tobirama’s time, the jutsu has seen some improvement... to think that so many souls could be controlled all at once. (Earth) Muu: This is the 2nd hokage’s 卑劣(様)wretched technique. The dead from yomi are invoked and bound... you were all each forcefully summoned here. (Home Culture) Kakashi: Edo tensei... this jutsu can’t be forgiven!...etc

Home/surrounding cultures view edoten using the dead, forcing them to fight,, as bad. After muu’s statement, the jokes began. However, there was a 問題発言/problematic statement, which was a big deal

It’s the first time i’m using my own body, however  ??!?!! WTF

人間爆弾

Interesting, this isn’t a meme in eng circles. I think this has to do with translation of 戦術senjutsu.

-> fighting techniques/style -> imply in eng Tobirama used edoten in mid fight as a portable instant konan however it’s more like conflict strategy, tactics -> imply in jp a tactic you could use in a war involving bombs that look like humans.

Tobirama said something more like: I created edo tensei, in addition a suitable tactic; though it’s the first time i’m using my own body, however. (blows himself up in front of Obito)

edo tensei combined with the exploding tag jutsu was treated lot worse... i would say historical/cultural reasons are also a factor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjhtMvaYQMA(jp) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzcvon4taxA(eng) The contrast in reaction is hilarious. Also that eng sub mistranslated. Just try to watch/read/see for yourself.

this doesn’t fit, it’s more explaining Tobirama’s nickname.

Behavior!?

陰険 kanji break downs to yin,hidden, background, shadow, etc + danger, risk, evil scheme. Modern use, sterotypical inken person/behavior does plotting underneath the shadows underneath good cover. a dualistic aspect.

Hashirama popular person was elected hokage as per the will of the people in village/country.

tonosho142 tobirama’s page : 初代の没後,組織としての木ノ葉の確立に大きく貢献した,初代の弟/After shodai’s death, he made big contributions to Konoha’s establishment as an organization, the shodai’s kid brother.

hyonosho57, also dougaemaki178

jinnosho125; strange

Tobira on the surface seeming good/friendly, when he established  UchihaSenbei to Uchiha clan, but it’s a cover for the evil intention inside, to distance from govt, and collected to be darkpart watched. If i remember correctlywww.i’m too poisioned

Amusing, when Tobirama said “A clan possessed by 悪evil.” -> a zetsu possessed by creator of edo tensei, a wretched technique. Who was nicknamed LordWretched at the time.

InterestingNote: Obito say ninetails can detect 敵意/rival desire/hostile == as desire to fight, revenge, being an opponent/enemy but naruto/Shikaku say 悪意/evil desire== wicked, desire to cause harm, break moral laws,,, hostile vs evil different, someone can be hostile to you but not evil. Tobirama works nicely among heroes, no comment on evilness, but labeled インケン/hidden evil at the end. possible that Konoha culture/shinobi can’t differ “hostile” and “evil”, or determine “evil” based on “hostility”. But it could be like are people able to sense evil that is not directed towards them?

Legacy?!

jinnosho169 Tobirama’s page; surface seems good

jinnosho105 Danzo’s page; unpopular chara page hides secret bad

in original both use 師shi/master,teacher,  so when fans analysis the general idea is something like this...

Slide1: two disciples are 3rd hokage SarutobiHiruzen and anbu [Root]’s Founder ShimuraDanzo

slide2: respectively they inherited will of fire and the will of wretch, developing into top rank shinobi.

will of fire -> good side -> willingness to sacrifice self for village, ex tobira dying for to save squad mem -> will of fire, no wretch ->  Hiruzen, too soft, lets anyone do whatever. will of wretch(joke name of “cold-headed ideology”) -> bad side -> willingness to sacrifice others for village, ex edo tensei iutsu requiring life sacrifice is. -> will of wretch, no fire -> Danzo, too harsh, kills konoha nin for konoha.

インケン -> 陰険 -> hidden + evil  -> good outside + evil inside -> Light + Dark == tobirama dualistic chara == common interpretation.

Tobirama’s among the most interesting charas to me since unlike many who are yin/yang pairs,seems he is his own counterweight. I see tobirama being Izuna’s killer as symbolic. strange feeling tagging this “anti tobirama” because, there is cultural difference in reaction/perception/translation.

i hope found “wiener” instead of as funny as did. i don’t know where dork came from though.

[sasukeless]

so being serious what do you think the ending of naruto should’ve been? 🤲🏼

okay so i got three main different options because naruto's ending is so bad that you can make thousands of scenarios and all of them would look better that whatever we got.

1) the most reasonable in my opinion and that would've kept big chunk of the audience happy or at least they wouldn't complain so much: naruto and sasuke being co-hokages and actually changing the current system. getting ride of child soldiers, telling the truth about the uchiha massacre (in sasuke's own terms since its his clan), doing something about the hyuugas, uniting the nations, etc. basically the optimistic happy ending that even if it might not be what everyone wants but it wont feel like a sick joke where we get both characters making false promises and getting their characters arcs destroyed. also naruto and sasuke being co-hokages would be like a "parallel" of what hashirama and madara didn't do but should've since the beginning. oh and the elders imprisioned for life, or dead if i was the one writing it 🙏

2) okay this is more biased and its just sasuke and naruto just leaving because yeah, they deserve it. the system and konoha have already hurt them enough and they dont deserve them why do they have to be the ones to fix things? so yeah have them both just accept that they are tired and they dont own anyone shit, they will be better away. they do get ride of the elders or imprision them in this one too because.

3) maybe also biased but sns dying at vote 2. i made a post about this one so i wont make this long but yeah. they dying would've been really tragic and sad but even then i would've still prefered than them having sasuke become a dog of the state and naruto a fucking liar politician. also the elders also die or get imprisioned here, dont ask me how lets pretend kakashi grows some brain cells or smth.

also i would obviously take the whole hetero romance out of the ending because that was just bs for the sequel. and i dont say this to make sns canon or smth, i would be okay with naruto ending without any couple im general (698 already made sns canon for me so i dont realy care).

[animeomegas]

(infertile alpha request) oh, sorry! Preferably Naruto, Death Note or Obey me

(Thank you so much for clarifying! I’ve done Naruto and Death Note 💓 Enjoy!)

Naruto – He is a bit sad when he hears the news. He definitely wanted to adopt at least one child, so he’s not sad about never having children, because he knows he still can easily, but he was kinda really looking forward to being pregnant. He wanted to know what it was like, all the things he’d seen other couples go through (ultrasounds, cravings, birth classes), and it’s a little startling to have that dream suddenly ripped away from him. He’s not comfortable with any other conception methods, so he adopts all his children. But, when he’s cuddled up with his three adopted children, he can’t believe he was ever upset about not having biological children, and the thought that having biological children would have stopped him adopting all of his current children makes him feel sick because he can’t imagine a life without all his precious pups. Where would they be if he didn’t adopt them? Naruto decides that it was better this way, in the end.

Sasuke canon – Sasuke is very conflicted, at first. He had been clinging onto this dream of reviving his clan since he was a child, but now the only person he could ever tolerate having sex with can’t give him that… He’s not getting a donor, no way. There are no orphans from his clan to adopt. He honestly doesn’t know what to do, there seems to be no good answer. In the end, I think he would decide to just never use birth control and see what happens. The chances may be extremely slim, but he’s not comfortable with any other conception method, so it’s this or nothing. It might actually be quite a good experience for Sasuke in the end, because he is finally forced to examine some of the goals he clung to as a child to keep himself from breaking down and see if they are something he ever actually wanted. He might think about what life would have been like with his own pup occasionally, but he’s never been as happy as he is with his alpha and that is more than good enough for him (but not good enough for the council who harass him about having as many children as possible, constantly.)

Sasuke non-massacre AU – He doesn’t think it’s a big deal tbh. He got himself sterilised while he was in his early twenties because he didn’t want to deal with the possibility of getting pregnant, and he had to fight his clan for it! So, he’s glad that you won’t have to do that same, but it’s easier for alphas anyway. If you’re in a relationship with him, then you obviously don’t want pups, so he doesn’t think much about it. He’s like “Oh, okay,” then ends the discussion.

Shikamaru – This might be a problem… His child will be the next clan leader and they have to be of his blood, as is clan tradition. He would probably have to go for a donor to get pregnant, probably some distant clan member he’s never met before, but he feels really weird about it. He doesn’t like it, but he bites his tongue for once and gets on with it. He keeps it a secret from most people. The other biological parent is a clan member, so he just lets people believe that Shikamaru’s Nara genes were super strong, and that’s why there’s none of his alpha in their pup. I don’t think he would ever tell his pup that they weren’t biologically the child of both of their parents, he doesn’t think it matters and he doesn’t want to cause drama or have to involve the other bio parent if his pup asks after them. It’s better left as a family secret.

Shino – His situation is similar to Shikamaru’s. His child will be the next clan leader and in order to have a kikaichu and be trained like his clanmates, they have to be biologically an Aburame. Shino is also not comfortable with other conception methods, but mainly because he’s terrified of his alpha rejecting the pup if they aren’t theirs or reacting badly if Shino is pregnant with someone else. Some alphas have a hard time with those instincts and can’t accept non-biological pups or get violent when their mate is carrying someone else’s offspring. Shino is pretty scared. He also is so humiliated during the invasive insemination procedure. In the end, he had nothing to worry about, as his alpha was the perfect parent to their pup, but for about a year, Shino is constantly stressed that everything is going to change suddenly, and his mate will snap and leave them or something. It’s a tough time for him.

Neji – He’s actually quite relieved. It makes him feel a lot less guilty for his own fertility problems. If you’re both sterile, he’s sad that you’re both lacking something you want, but it makes dealing with his own problems easier. There are many orphans in the clan, so you both adopt from that pool, and Neji couldn’t be happier and prouder of his children.

Kakashi – Thank fuck for that. He got sterilised when he was in ANBU, just in case he had any missions that involved seduction. Kakashi might make a joke about how you’re lucky that you got to avoid the hospital and still be sterile. He wishes lol. Anything that helps him remain childless is good in his book.

Iruka – He makes sure his mate isn’t upset, but Iruka himself is totally fine. He wouldn’t mind not having children at all, and if they both decided to have children, Iruka would want to adopt anyway. He thinks it makes so much more sense to adopt when there are so many pups who need loving homes. He does get a little sad if his mate is sad though, but only out of empathy, not because he himself is sad.

Itachi canon – It is very helpful for him. While Itachi has issues with his heat and his health, he doesn’t have many problems getting pregnant, he just can't carry to term. And birth control is hard as a missing nin, so he’s very glad that he doesn’t have to worry about it. (Miscarriages are not fun, and with a fertile mate he would certainly have suffered through a few). It’s better for him this way, his circumstances prevent him from having children anyway.

Itachi non-massacre AU – He’s devastated. He doesn’t blame his alpha at all, but he’s very upset. His clan will never let him adopt, if they're losing one of their best shinobi to stay at home and raise children, those children better be the new top shinobi, so they have to be his biological children. He using artificial insemination, and he uses the sperm of another Uchiha (one that he's not directly related to). The clan elders are overjoyed that Itachi's pups will be 100% Uchiha blood rather than mixed. But Itachi is very, very firm about making legal protections for his mate as their pups' parent. He doesn't want his clan to pull anything to try and exclude his alpha or claim that his mate doesn't have authority over their own child. He's very firm about those conditions.

Sai – Huh, well, he hadn’t given pups much thought tbh. He’s totally okay with not having children, he genuinely doesn’t care that much. He likes it just being his alpha and him, so why change it?

Gaara – He’s another one who is completely devastated when he hears the news, but he is very stoic about it on the outside because he wants to be a good support for his alpha who might be struggling. He really mourns being able to carry his alpha’s pups. He doesn’t want to adopt because he really wants to carry a pup and breastfeed and everything, but he’s also worried about his alpha feeling betrayed or excluded if he goes for a sperm donor. He’s desperate for his own children, two at least, so he wants to use a sperm donor.

...

L – He nods and files it away in his brain with all the other information about his beloved, but he doesn’t file it as important. You have already agreed to not have children, so it doesn’t matter either way.

Light – Hmm, this is a problem for his plan. He needs someone to take over the perfect world he’s creating, and he was planning on it being the biological child of him and his mate. Well, it needs to be his child, but it doesn’t matter too much if it’s also his alpha’s biological child. Light isn’t comfortable with artificial insemination, but he’s down for seducing one of his fangirls/fanboys and using them. He wouldn’t tell them that the pup is theirs though because he doesn’t want to be tied down to someone he can’t stand. If they got too suspicious that his pup was theirs, they might find themselves the victims of a mysterious death.

Matsuda – He’s distraught for you and himself. He’s a very traditional person who wants traditional things, a couple of kids, a nice house, a dog, that kind of thing. He would want to try every possible method to conceive naturally, but after two years going back and forth between various fertility clinics, it’s clear that he’s not going to get what he wants. Matsuda goes back and forth between various other methods but eventually decides to adopt an infant. He never really stops hoping that he’ll magically become pregnant, but that doesn’t mean he loves his child any less, because he absolutely dotes on them.

[depressedkakashismut]

I don't particularly like april fools, but can I just say that Kakashi would probably have a blast into acting like a completely normal person for exactly one (1) day

Arriving in time, no trolling, nothing that's usually Kakashi-like

Everyone except Gai (who knows his rival) is freaking out because they don't understand what's happening. The next day Kakashi goes back to his usual self and never addresses it ever again

He does it only once (or maybe twice with enough years apart) because the second time people would catch on, but that one time is pretty funny

Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke debating among themselves if someone captured Kakashi and switched him out with a fake who doesn't know shit about him

Asuma settling in at the dango shop preparing to wait an hour or two for Kakashi to actually show up, only to have Kakashi appear directly in front of him all cheers and smiles like this is perfectly normal and he did not just give his friend a near heart attack.

Tsunade asking Kakashi to be there for a meeting with the elders (Danzo included) and wondering just how sick this man is when he not only seems to be paying attention but he doesn't sass them for even a single second??? she's pretty sure Danzo's plotting to have him killed because clearly this dude is UP TO SOMETHING.

And then Kakashi's just like "what are you talking about yesterday? I was away on a mission." because he is a troll and he's just going to make everything 500 times worse for everyone.

[sapphic-sasuke]

Hello, how are you doing these days? I'm back with another ask. Since we see the term 'potential' being applied to characters a lot now, do you think Itachi had any 'potential' to be an interesting character? It is a bit later that he became a mess of theme- and plot-related mistakes, but do you think in there's any basis in canon for him to have been a decent character? One that, if not complex, at least made sense? Thank you and have a great day!

OMGG HIII FAV MUTUAL i been okay these days so busy w my new job but good. howre u? 

I think Itachi had the potential to be an interesting character. Itachi’s character could have been extrapolated in so many different ways that seeing him shoved into a corner just ARGGH. there’s not much depth to him despite popular belief.

It’s crazy to me because part 1 Itachi HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL ARGGH. It’s like.. man the fear? The way all of the jounins and konoha just couldn’t match him at all! That build up was so nice. His confrontation with Sasuke where he chokes him. It’s so good!!!

I think the reason Itachi’s character fails so spectacularly is because of how the narrative wanted to warp him into someone who “wasn’t that bad” or “had good intentions to save the village but his method of action was flawed” (i see this argument a lot honestly) this argument is reiterated by obito and later naruto and kakashi. because itachi committed genocide to save konoha, he’s seen as morally grey despite the fact that the village he’s saving is highkey fascist and fucks over so many smaller, weaker villages (case in point, NAGATO!) konoha is LITERALLY a military dictatorship. there’s absolutely nothing good about that awful village and itachi killed his family for it

okay now back to my initial point, itachi killing the uchihas for konoha is fundamental to his character, it shapes him... but my god he would have been sooo much better as only an antagonist instead of someone in the middle. I understand that he was manipulated by the elders but Itachi as an antagonist would have still worked even after the plot twist of killing for konoha. He fails because his character sort of stretches out to shadow over everyone else. he’s painted out to be unbelievably strong and infallible even in death to the point it’s just laughable and it isn’t done well either because there’s no purpose to it. it does not forward the plot, it just feels like fanservice. he doesn’t fit into the story with the characters at all. it feels so forced, grating and awkward. suddenly these characters established to be the best of the best are tripping over their feet over a sick shinobi with eyes that are almost blind

His character isn’t that developed; his persona of being strong, deadly and calm is never questioned or challenged. He’s either this loving brother full of guilt or a perfect shinobi. It’s boring! Sasuke loves him when he finds out the truth, the hokages call him a hero and... that would have been a really good point to show how corrupt and horrific the shinobi system is but Itachi’s actions are never questioned! there’s nothing in the narrative in shippuden to make you believe that Itachi was wrong other than his regret (this is mainly because of how the Uchihas are viewed by everyone) And his regret is targeted more at making sasuke suffer than the killing of his clan.

Making Itachi a compelling character could have been done in so many ways so long as there wasn’t this suffocating attempt to justify him in the manga.

And I guess properly flesh out his motives. He kills his clan for konoha for Sasuke. Okay. He joins the Akatsuki to spy on them for Konoha. How would that have worked? If we’re going along with him being a spy, maybe we can be shown how he gradually loses all his morals, finds killing easier. Maybe there’s a moment where he’s surprised at how easy he finds it to fit in with Akatsuki. It would explain his torture of Sasuke more if his default reaction to anything that isn’t entirely numbing is violence. Maybe instead of everything being some greater manipulative bullshit, moments where he harms Sasuke are genuine lapses in control. He’s so obsessed with Sasuke he can’t even rationalise his actions.

(I’m still of the belief that him joining the Akatsuki as a spy was an awful plot point. It would have been better if he only joined the Akatsuki to amplify his villainous persona so Sasuke feels even more inclined to kill when he’s going around terrorising people. I feel like Itachi after killing the clan no longer caring much for Konoha, only Sasuke and a weird obsession for peace because that’s what he also did all of this for, would have been a far more interesting twist. He’s a very selfish character that gets interpreted as selfless for the “sacrifices” he makes because the shinobi think he’s right.)

We need to be shown just how horrific Itachi’s actions are the same way we were shown in part 1 Naruto. And other than the physical consequences, the mental ones too.

I guess what would make Itachi more interesting as a character if we went along with his canon actions would be to see his thought process more. This guy killed his entire clan—show us how twisted his mind can be. Show us how the guilt/self hatred/anger/apathy destroys himself until he’s quite literally begging Sasuke to kill him in his mind.

Rather than having his machinations work out, what if he fails? What if it goes wrong? We need more moments where he’s failing. Not beating legendary characters like Orochimaru. There’s no satisfactory release to Itachi, even in his death. It’s very bland.

I don’t think the plot twist of Itachi killing for konoha in itself was bad, it’s more the execution that was bad. Because we’re already shown in part 1 that Konoha is corrupt. The plot messes come from 1) the urge to make Itachi out to be infallible and righteous but deeply troubled and 2) the narrative trying its hardest to paint the uchihas out to be inherently evil and 3) the lack of accountability placed on individuals and more on “the cycle of hatred” ignoring that it’s these Kages in power who were perpetuating that system.

Okay so I will forever be salty at the direction Itachi’s character took. They took a mysterious older brother and turned him into a plot convulted mess with the worst fake deep quotes and annoying op attacks pulled out of his ass. almost damn well ruined Sasuke’s character too smh. So yeah bestie Itachi had sooo much potential. He could have properly been used as an instrument to show shinobi like the protagonists that Sasuke’s anger is valid and that the village they fight for is evil and not worth it or to properly allow the Uchiha to receive justice but nooooooo guys he felt bad :( and he loves sasuke :( and he was a spy for the village all the protagonists are from fighting terrorism in the shadows :( and the uchihas deserved it for rising up against the village that was discriminating against them :( clearly state sponsored genocide isn’t that bad :( yeah he tortured his brother and his spying did nothing to stop akatsuki but he tried :(

[uchihashisuii]

can i request 8. things you said when you were crying with akari + shisui and is it ok if you make our boy the one crying 🥺

8. things you said when you were crying

prompt list

okokok this is SUPREMELY self-indulgent and is a pseudo-continuation of my fic about Akari's dream in the Infinite Tsukuyomi cause I've had this scene bumping around in my brain for a while now

Read the first half on Ao3 here

Akari blinks awake, and everything comes rushing back through her mind. The battlefield, the war. Facing revived members of Akatsuki, fighting back-to-back with Sai. The way Kakashi's hands had trembled, when she showed up late to the climax of the war. The moon bleeding red, and then -

The nightmare giving way to peaceful days -too many to count- in a world of her mind's creation. The laughter of her closest friends, the orphans from the Foundation allowed to be children instead of weapons. Shisui's hand, strong and familiar enough it nearly brought her to tears.

It had been beautiful, a balm to her aching soul - and yet a lie. A facade. Akari knows she'll look back, fondly, secretly, on the time she spent in the dream - but right now there's too much to do, too much to focus on, as she awakens.

Relief floods her veins as Akari lets out a stuttering breath, pressing her palms to her temples. She isn't angry at herself for having fallen victim to the dream, more so the fact that she hadn't realized it was a dream in the first place. Her heart aches, just a bit, at having lost Shisui all over again, but Akari tries to remind herself it wasn't him, it wasn't real; it was her deepest fantasy brought to life. And now she's home, and there will be time to cry over it later. For now, she has her kids and her friends to worry over. She's going to hold Sai until he suffocates, and nag that he should wear a shirt that covers him more, and get that dinner Kakashi owes her, and perhaps find the bravery to visit a particular Uchiha grave.

There is a problem, however.

A rather stark one.

She isn't on the battlefield.

Akari stands in a dimly lit grove, oddly reminiscent of the one from within the Uchiha Compound, where she had spent long days and longer nights alone with Shisui. She hadn't been back here since before his death, and it's with a growing sickness in her heart that she remembers the grove is long gone, razed with the rest of the Compound when the Elders had decided to bury their secrets. Akari's brow furrows, stomach dropping somewhere around her knees as she realizes that perhaps she hadn't escaped the dream at all.

But she remembers, the distinct feeling of her mind jolting into consciousness; a sudden shift as her memories came roaring back, realization at being locked in a genjutsu making her dizzy. And now she's neither back in reality nor trapped in a dream, and Akari rakes a hand back through her hair in frustration. She turns on her heel, an attempt to gather her wits and her bearings, but goes suddenly still.

Anger immediately unfurls beneath her breast, as she finds herself scoffing with a shake of her head. "This is just cruelty, at this point," she says, more to herself than to the man that stands in the clearing nearby.

Shisui's smile is sad as he tilts his head to the side. "This isn't a dream," is all he says, and Akari snorts.

"Right. And I'm Hokage."

"Look closer," he says with a roll of his eyes, chuckling despite himself. Akari cocks a brow, hand curling into a fist at her side. She's tired - tired of tricks, of her heart being pulled apart at the seams. She just wants to go home -

Akari blinks, lips parting silently. Her heart begins to pound, nervous energy bubbling in her chest. He looks - well, he looks nineteen. The age he had been when he died, and not like the man in her dream, the man she imagined he would have grown into, had he lived. Her analytical mind races, and she realizes -

If he's dead, and he's here, and she's with him, that means -

That means -

"Oh," Akari cant bring herself to speak, words swallowed by the lump in her throat, a strange pang echoing in her heart.

"I'm sorry," Shisui says, voice breaking. He steps closer, hands held out and arms open, and Akari can no longer hold herself back. She trips over her own feet as she launches herself at him, nearly tipping his normally perfect balance. She wraps her arms over his broad shoulders, face buried in his neck as she laughs, airy and free.

And - there it is. What had held her back, in the dream; she slots into his arms and relaxes against his chest, his hands warm on her back and it's right there, familiar and beautiful and kami, she's missed this feeling.

Right. Belonging. Home.

She'll allow herself to drown in it, happily this time. He's here, in her arms, and it isn't fake this time, isn't wrong. They're together, and her heart is whole, and it's with a small bit of shame that she realizes right now, in this moment; she doesn't care if she's dead. Doesn't care if there was more for her to do. Her heart and body can rest, and she'll do it beside the boy who loved her.

"I'm sorry," Shisui says again, voice a low rasp that sounds suspiciously like tears, "I'm so sorry. You shouldn't be here, not for another forty years at least -" She snorts at that; the life of a shinobi is hardly ever a long one. "- you should've died old and happy and, and not yet."

"You waited," Akari whispers, gentle smile curving her lips as she ignores his words, desperate and despairing as they are. Tears spill down her cheeks as her arms tighten around him, her mouth pressed to his neck. "You waited for me."

Shisui sighs at that, turning his head to press a kiss to her temple and murmuring something about a stubborn woman and making her laugh.

"Of course I did. I promised you wouldn't be alone, remember? I might have left you a little earlier than I wanted, but hey. No way in hell was I gonna let you go once you joined me here," he admits with a sniffle, pulling back enough to catch her eye. "I'm sorry I left you. It was just - everything happened so fast, and I knew what I needed to do but - but I'm so sorry I hurt you, sweetheart."

Akari is shaking her head before he can finish, lifting a palm to his cheek and smiling at that old endearment he only ever used for her. "None of that, please. Your death, it broke my heart - but I know now, none of it was your choice. There's nothing to forgive, but - if it makes you feel better, I forgave you a long time ago."

Shisui grins, tears in his eyes, and then his mouth is on hers and Akari feels a warmth beneath her breast she hasn't felt in a decade. He fists a hand in her hair and tilts her head back, deepening their kiss as she melts into his touch.

The warmth in her chest rises, and though Akari knew she had burned for him like no other, she doesn't quite remember her feelings being this hot -

"Oh." It's Shisui's turn to be taken off-guard, it seems. He pulls away, dark eyes focused, unblinking, on her chest. Akari arches a brow, teasing words already poised on her tongue at his unrepentant staring, but then she feels it again.

A hot pulse, starting from her heart and surging through her chakra pathways. She feels it tingle through her body, choking on her breath as she feels phantom hands on her shoulders, her back, and one right over her heart. And when she looks, there is the soft glow of chakra, right between her breasts.

"You're still alive," Shisui whispers, tone coloured with wonder. He looks up at her with wide eyes, grabbing her shoulders with a bright and crooked smile. "You're still alive! Someone's healing you, pouring chakra into you, or - or something. But you're alive, sweetheart."

Her mind is a whirlwind of warring thoughts and feelings; Akari can only nod at Shisui's joy, swallowing down the tide of hurt that suddenly washes over her. Hope is forefront in her heart - she'll see the kids again, will be able to train Takumi with a tantō like she promised, will be able to sit in the shade and laugh and eat ramen and spar.

But the cost -

Akari looks wordlessly up into Shisui's face, palms moving to cradle his cheeks as she feels the smallest, gentlest tug on her heart. Pulling her free of this in-between place she's found herself in; pulling her home. She wants to go back, wants to live - but she wants him, too; wants her heart once more filled with his laughter and love.

"I love you," Akari whispers, almost forcefully. She needs - she needs him to know, right now, immediately - when she never had the chance to properly tell him before he was gone. "I'll always carry you in my heart."

Shisui kisses her soundly, tasting her confession and stealing her breath. "I've loved you since the moment I crashed into you on that branch," he whispers back, making her laugh even as her vision blurs from tears. He presses her forehead against hers, sharing the same breath and the same sorrow.

"I'll be here, when your time comes. Live, sweetheart. Live and love and then come back to me. Make it later rather than sooner, yeah?"

Akari is nodding eagerly, choking on the ache and stark burn of tears at the back of her throat. "I'll find you again," she whispers, tilting her head for one final kiss -

- And then she's blinking awake, sucking in a deep and shuddering breath. Shisui's touch falls away to dust, and she smiles, sadly, at their long overdue goodbye.

Akari tilts her head to see the source of those ghosting touches, now corporeal and utterly real. She is on mud-churned ground, laying back on Kakashi's lap with his hands holding her up by her shoulders. Sai has a hand on her spine, gazing down at her with too-wide eyes and naked fear on his face. There's a hand between her breasts, a dimly glowing palm pressed right over her heart, that pours a pleasant tingle of chakra through her battered body.

"Why," Akari croaks quietly after a beat, voice breaking from disuse as she looks from her son to the owner of that hand - the man who saved her from the brink, "is the war criminal touching my tits?"

Obito has enough decency to flush, though he keeps his hand where it is. "No one else had enough chakra to spare," he explains, voice low in his chagrin.

Akari snorts, eyes rolling before they drift shut. "You use that line on all the girls, or am I just lucky?" Obito barks a laugh, the last thing she hears before promptly passing out.

Her dreams are filled with Shisui, and she knows nothing but peace.

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Like i just really want to explore the idea of Kakashi actually getting the opportunity to search for answers after tobi told him, Tebzo and Naruto about the uchiha massacure

Kakashi using his Anbu skills to dig up information and find dirt on Danzo and the elders, and feeling sick to his stomach when he realizes that it was all true.

Him getting to the land of Iron just in time to see Danzo and Sasuke fighting, and hearing Dabzo order him to fight sasuke in his place, as if he ever even cared about protecting danzo in the first place (he did not)

And instead of even acknowledging what Danzo told him he looks at Sasuke and apologizes. Bows his head and apologizes for not knowing the truth. For thinking that the people he followed were good, when clearly they were capable of some of the most cruel evil

Danzo yelling at Kakashi to do his job as a Konoha shinobi, and Kakashi firing back that he is doing his job by allowing Sasuke to take out the trash.

Danzo still trying to use Karin as a shield, but Kakashi grabbing her out of the way just in time, maybe taking some damage from Sasuke’s attack in the process, because Danzo has taken enough innocent people down with him

[itachi-uchiha-deserved-better]

Kakashi has so many doubts when he learns the truth about Itachi. 

He learns about Shisui’s suicide. Now, Kakashi never believed for a second that Itachi killed his cousin, but hearing how it happened, how Itachi saw Shisui fall to his death in that moment, his cousin’s eye still clutched in his hand he can’t help but try to remember if there were any signs of what Itachi was going through. Any small changes in the boy’s body language that Kakashi should have picked up on. Surely there must have been something and if only he’d been able to recognize it then, to see past his own pain to see the kind of grief that Itachi was forced to swallow down, maybe he could have done something. 

And of course he knew Danzo was no good, but if only he’d looked harder, pressed Hiruzen more when the whole deal with Tenzo came to light. After all, Danzo had tried to orchestrate an attack on the Hokage, couldn’t Kakashi have made a bigger deal of that, pushed Hiruzen to actually take action against Danzo for his crimes against the leaf? And surely there must have been clues that Danzo was behind Shisui’s suicide. Something he could have picked up on, something he could have brought to the Jonin council and the elders to make them see Danzo for what he was. 

He learns of Itachi’s illness, an illness that ravaged his body, the pain he must have been in for so many years. Had Itachi always been sick? Certainly he wasn’t the sturdiest child, but Kakashi finds himself racking his brain, trying to remember if he’d ever seen Itachi coughing, if his exhaustion after missions was worse than his teammates. Had he brushed off the bags under Itachi’s eyes too easily? Surely he couldn’t have noticed, and yet he blames himself for not seeing it. 

Kakashi is one of a few people who regularly visit the memorial that Sasuke constructs for his brother. And every time he goes back, he can’t help but wonder if there was something he could have done differently to change the fate Itachi faced. 

“Why?” The question is a whisper on his lips. A question he knows will never be answered. Why didn’t Itachi come to him. Why didn’t he tell Kakashi when he started getting sick? Why didn’t he come to Kakashi when Danzo told him to massacre his clan? Why did he bear the weight of Shisui’s death alone in silence? 

When Sasuke and Sakura announce the name of their second child, a pink haired, green eyed boy, Kakashi is actually hesitant to become attached to the child. He can’t help but remember the infant’s namesake. He’s terrified that he will fail this child the same way he failed Sasuke’s older brother. But eventually he visits and he holds the baby while Sakura cooks and Kakashi’s fears start to fade. He knows that the village is changing for the better. That the world this Itachi was born into is not the same as the one his predecessor gave his life for. 

He enjoys babysitting little Itachi. The boy is far less trouble than his father ever was. He’s a quiet baby and when he starts to get older he is gentle and curious and will sit beside Kakashi and ask questions about anything that catches his attention. 

Until the day that Itachi calls him hound. Kakashi freezes, green eyes looking up at him with something that Kakashi can’t name but that chills him down to his core. This boy shouldn’t know that name. This boy never had dealings with hound. Baby Itachi calling him Taicho was one thing. He figured that he must have picked it up from one of his students or something. But in that moment the world flips on its head. 

Because the only thing that Kakashi can think about any time he sees little baby Itachi is that one day he might be able to get the answer to the question that’s haunted him for so long. Why, Itachi? 

*** if you enjoy my content, please consider donating to my Ko-fi. Any support is appreciated! https://ko-fi.com/ryder92994 ***

[justice4sasuke]

Alright, alright, I wrote a thing about Kakashi and Sasuke in the "if Naruto was good" universe. It got a little more away from me than I expected, but whatever. Kakagai heavily implied. If you don't like it people were asking for it so don't get mad at me. I take no responsibility for my own actions.

Concept: Naruto actually has a character arc and realizes he was putting his need for attention and validation ahead of not succumbing to ninja culture like he wanted to go against in the beginning. They work together to destroy Madara and Obito and both lose an arm. Naruto and Sasuke agree on a plan to make things better which involves a lot of overhaul of the current system, but it's going to take time. Kakashi isn't going to be hokage. Everyone learns suddenly how to process their emotions.

Sasuke left his hospital room as soon as he was able to shake off the nurses, fewer during the night shift, and the phantom pain from his missing arm wasn't keeping him chained to his hospital bed.

“I'm fine,” he gruffly told the couple nurses that tried to get him to continue resting.

So what if he might aggravate his injury and start hemorrhaging from his residual arm? What was the worst that could happen? He bled out and died? He'd almost prefer that at this point.

Better than sleepless nights with a non-existent arm itching and burning, feeling sick to his stomach laying around in a village he still feels wants him dead, endless cycling thoughts about what he's going to do next. How he's going to accomplish his goal. Does he really trust Naruto with this. Will something really be done about the remaining elders that took part in the death of his entire community. Will anyone believe him. Will people really care.

His brisk walk out came to an abrupt halt when he saw a light on in the otherwise dark hall, someone still awake despite the late hour. He could sense who is was. Even if he couldn't he'd heard from Naruto, who regularly bust out of his own hospital room to yammer at Sasuke until Sasuke got the energy to kick him out, that Kakashi was basically a constant of the hospital since the war ended. Specifically in Might Gai's room.

Sasuke knew it was useless, but he tried to walk past the room, not even glancing in the direction of his old teacher.

“Hey.”

Sasuke hit another abrupt stop just before he was out of sight of the door. He reluctantly turned his head to see Kakashi sitting on an uncomfortable looking chair, a book open in his hand and Gai asleep in his bed.

“Discharged already?” Kakashi asked like he didn't full well know the answer.

Nice to know Kakashi still liked to ask questions he knew the answers to Sasuke thought bitterly.

“I'm going,” Sasuke said bluntly, though where he did not know yet.

“Let me walk you out,” Kakashi slides his book into his pocket and stands.

“Don't you need to watch him or something,” Sasuke avoided looking at Kakashi as the older man moved closer.

“Nah, nothing's waking him up until morning,” Kakashi waved a casual hand in the direction of Gai, “Not even life-changing injuries can change some things, huh?”

Kakashi glanced at the empty sleeve where Sasuke's arm used to be. Sasuke didn't flinch, looking up into those two matching brown eyes defiantly.

“If you wanted to visit I've been stuck here for a couple weeks now,” Sasuke said, turning away to continue down the hall.

“We've all had a lot going on,” Kakashi said, following casually, “I got Naruto to update me.”

“That better not be the only reason he kept trying to bother me once a day.”

“You know Naruto, he was going to bother you no matter what,” Kakashi said. Sasuke could practically feel the shrug.

Sasuke turned to look at Kakashi as he reached the door to the stairs. “Understatement of the century.”

Sasuke thought the older man would leave once Sasuke stepped out of the hospital, but to his disappointment he was followed out into the cool night air.

“What?” Sasuke turned on Kakashi, voice and eyes harsh, “Are you supposed to be babysitting me or something? Make sure I'm not going to do anything?”

Kakashi sighed and looked at the ground. “I actually just wanted to talk,” he finally said after he looked up, slouched and hands in pockets.

“I believe the last time we talked we wanted to kill each other,” Sasuke said, looking away from Kakashi again.

“You might not believe it, but a lot has changed since then,” Kakashi said with his usual slow sarcasm.

Sasuke's body was still too exhausted for sharingan, but he figured the flash in his eyes was already severe enough when he looked at Kakashi. “Not enough.”

“But it will be eventually right.”

It was oddly hopeful for Kakashi so Sasuke sighed and went to one of the benches littered around the hospital courtyard.

Kakashi sat next to him and they were silent for several minutes.

It seemed Kakashi didn't know where to start, but Sasuke did.

“You told me you didn't have anyone precious left. That they'd all been killed already. That was a lie,” Sasuke finally said bluntly.

Kakashi leaned back on the bench, seeming to search his mind for something. “You remember that?”

“Wish I could stop remembering that entire night.”

“It it means anything I wasn't lying. I just...didn't realize. I never realize until it's too late,” Kakashi offered.

“It doesn't mean anything to me at this point,” Sasuke said. It's harsh but true.

“That's about what I expected,” Kakashi said.

“Listen, you don't know anything about me.”

“That's not what I was trying to say,” Kakashi said, still cool-headed despite Sasuke's venom, “More like I don't expect anyone to expect anything good from me.”

“I think we're both too fucked up to have this conversation,” Sasuke stood, turned away from Kakashi.

“I thought the point was to make things less fucked up. I get I'm not good at it,” Kakashi admitted, “But we both give as good as we get so we should be able to make something out of it, right?”

“I'm not like you,” Sasuke bit out, turning on his heel and bearing teeth, “I'm angry Kakashi. I'm so damn angry. And I'm allowed to be angry. It took me damn near seventeen years to learn that. Because no one would teach it to me. I wasn't allowed to just be angry.”

Kakashi sighed and put his head down. “I'm a shitty teacher.”

The admittance relaxed Sasuke's tensed muscles somewhat. “You weren't given the easiest students. I'll give you that at least.”

Kakashi looked up at Sasuke now standing over him. “Didn't expect any give at all from you.”

“Maybe I just want someone to take responsibility for their actions for once,” Sasuke said, “It's the only reason I'm still in this village for now.”

“I was wrong. For a lot of things,” Kakashi said.

Sasuke finally, slowly, sat back down on the bench, facing pointedly away from Kakashi.

“I'm an old man you know.”

“You're not.”

“For a ninja I'm ancient. Especially considering how young I started,” Kakashi leaned back on the bench again, propping his ankle against his knee, “Forgive me that it took seeing what happened to Obito, thinking I had lost Gai, and hearing what Naruto had to say before I could get it through my skull.”

“You knew what happened. You knew those elders ordered Itachi to kill our clan. You needed Naruto to talk to you before you got where I was coming from?” the phantom pain was back and Sasuke couldn't muster up more than a slow, simmering anger.

“You were a rogue ninja. The rule was to eliminate rogue ninja, anyone who was a danger to the village. I couldn't, didn't, think much farther than that. Couldn't think of another way. It's why I'm apologizing now.”

“Don't bother. I'm not ready for apologies right now, let alone forgiveness. I want to see some progress first,” Sasuke said.

“I think you and Naruto are the best choices for that. How can I progress when I can't see what's in front of my own face?” Kakashi pondered.

“You can move forward even if you're walking blind. I've learned that at least,” Sasuke offered.

“Are you the teacher now?”

“You haven't been my teacher for a long time.”

“Guess not. Which means this won't be inappropriate,” Kakashi reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a house key, holding it out to Sasuke.

Sasuke looked at the item suspiciously. “What?”

“I get you don't want to be in the hospital, but you probably don't want to camp out in the woods with your body still healing. You remember where it is right? I'm not going to be there for a while anyway. Water my plant,” Kakashi waved the key in front of Sasuke's face.

Sasuke grunted and snatched the key. “Watering the plant is the only repayment you're getting.”

Sasuke was trepidatious at first about living in Kakashi's home. He hadn't even stepped inside since that fateful day he learned Itachi was in the village. But it turned out to be a nice...getaway as it were. The only one who knew he was here was Kakashi, and probably Naruto because Sasuke didn't trust Kakashi not to tell him, but he had mercifully stayed at the hospital to recover, or more likely was successfully wrestled down by the nurses. He was alone and only saw anyone when he slunk out at night to get food, avoiding the eyes of everyone around him, knowing if anyone questioned his presence he would snap. It was a bit boring once he finished reading all of Kakashi's actually useful books, but at least it was peaceful.

Of course Kakashi had to show up at his own house eventually and he did about a week after Sasuke took up residence.

“Is this what you do all day?” Kakashi asked when he saw Sasuke on his bed, rereading a book on weapon making.

“Not much else to do,” Sasuke said, not even glancing at Kakashi.

“Did you have to face these down?” Kakashi asked when he stepped closer to see that his plant was healthy and noticed his two picture frames had been turned over.

“Forgive me if I didn't want to look at the guy that caused such a damn mess,” Sasuke mumbled.

“And the picture of you guys?” Kakashi asked, but turned and started opening his dresser drawers and taking out clothes.

“Just didn't want to look at it,” Sasuke said.

Kakashi was quiet for a minute, setting some clothes on top of the dresser and going in the closet to pull out a suitcase.

“Well, Gai is being discharged today so I'm going to be staying with him,” he said, “Feel free to keep doing whatever you're doing here.”

“My condolences to Gai. Your bedside manner probably leaves much to be desired.”

“It's about as good as yours would be,” Kakashi said.

“I'm not-”

“Like me. I heard you.”

Sasuke dropped anything else he was going to say. Sure it was Kakashi's usual flippant tone, but it was kind of nice having someone acknowledge what he said.

Kakashi put the clothes in the suitcase and shut it, heaving a sigh as he did so.

“I'm not built for this...emotional effort stuff,” he said, rubbing the back of his head, “I never said it when it mattered, but I admire the fire you, all of you kids, have.”

“Right now I feel like nothing but ashes,” Sasuke admitted, “Just like you wanted.”

“That's not what I wanted.”

“It was. You just didn't know it.”

“Guess I'm learning about a few things I wanted and didn't know it.”

“You really weren't lying when you said everyone precious to you had died? You're really just that dense?” Sasuke asked.

“I never wanted to show it to you kids obviously, that I'm not the cool teacher I wanted to be,” Kakashi sat down on his bed, Sasuke moving his legs to give him room.

“I thought you were,” Sasuke said, staring at the ceiling, “I really looked up to you. You were the first adult to make me feel safe in a long time. I wanted to be like you.”

There was a silence as the next part went without saying, but Sasuke was going to say it anyway.

“And then you let me down.”

“I do that a lot,” Kakashi said, “I really am sorry.”

“I am too,” Sasuke said, “I get there is a reason why you said what you said and did what you did, but that doesn't make it better.”

“My dad committed suicide when I was a kid,” Kakashi said abruptly.

Sasuke tensed and Kakashi, sensing it, just shook his head. “I'm not saying this to get you to feel sorry for me or to get you to forgive me. I just hope...maybe you'll feel better if you understand.”

“Whatever,” Was the only allowance Sasuke would give.

“My dad was disgraced for letting his teammates come before a mission and he killed himself. Made me a real stickler for the rules. Until Obito made me see the importance of our companions anyway. That's when I started trying to protect my team with all I had. It really didn't work out. My teacher, my teammates, who knows how many incidental people, and you saw what happened to Obito yourself. Losing so many people makes it scary when there might be someone else important, even if they've been there all along. So sometimes you pretend it doesn't matter even though it does. Of course it's me so I just ignore and ignore until I think it's too late and then what do you know I did it again.”

Sasuke sat up to look at Kakashi who is staring into the distance, clearly in his own world. Sasuke rolled his eyes. “I don't care if you practice your speech on me, but at least be upfront about it.”

Kakashi snapped out of his reverie. “Oh,” he rubbed the back of his head again. Sasuke is thankful for the mask because he's pretty sure Kakashi is blushing and Sasuke doesn't want to think about his old teacher blushing.

“Maybe you should get going you clearly have a lot on your mind,” Sasuke said.

“Yeah,” Kakashi stood up, “I wouldn't mind if you held down the fort here, but if you want to go you should go.”

“Really?” Sasuke asked, almost disbelieving.

“It's pretty obvious you don't want to be here,” Kakashi said with a shrug, “I hope you make plans with Naruto before you go since I know you two had a lot of work you wanted to do even if you can't start it now. Other than that, I don't blame you for not thinking this is your home.”

It was not and Sasuke didn't know where his home was now. Maybe he just didn't have one and that was okay.

“But until then, like I said, stay as long as you need to,” Kakashi said, turning to face Sasuke.

“You'll be at Gai's if I want to say goodbye before I go?” Sasuke asked, pointedly avoiding Kakashi's gaze.

He could still see Kakashi's eyes widen, surprised at the question. “That's where I'll be. If that's what you want.”

“We'll see,” Sasuke said, not making any promises.

“Alright,” Kakashi leaned down to pick up the suitcase with his things, “Maybe I'll see you around then Sasuke.”

Kakashi started walking out of the room, but Sasuke stopped him before he made it out the door. “I already told you we're not alike. But Gai and I are really not alike,” he said.

Kakashi turned to him with a curious look. “I'm well aware of that. And?”

“And I don't think you'll get the same response from him you would me. If you were to...explain yourself or whatever.”

“I don't doubt that. I'm not sure I deserve it though.”

“I think we all get a lot of things whether we deserve it or not so I don't think it matters. If you won't take it from anyone else take it from the kid you let down.”

Kakashi gave a short nod. “I think I'll take it.”

“And Kakashi, I'm not ready for forgiveness now, but I think I will be eventually. As long as you try.”

Please try, Sasuke didn't say.

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask.

“I look forward to earning it.”

[theshinobiway]

I Fix Team Gai’s Endings:

CAN I GET SOME LITERARY PAYOFF PLEASE?

Might Gai

How it Ended:

Gai fails to defeat Madara despite having the ‘best chance’ as a Taijutsu master. 

Gai narrowly escapes death and his leg is shattered, disabling him for life.

One of his precious students is dead. 

He’s forced to retire from the career he’s spent his whole life attempting to build. 

Well, be does get to spend his time with Kakashi (who is also in retirement), so he does have some silver lining.

What SHOULD have happened:

Gai defeats Madara, cementing his reputation as the legendary Taijutsu Master and gaining respect for Taijutsu users worldwide OR

Gai narrowly fails to defeat Madara, but Rock Lee avenges Gai by surpassing him (Possibly inventing a new level of Taijutsu that surpasses the 8 Gates).

Even if Gai is disabled, he gets the fame he deserves by being the most renowned Sensei in history. He becomes the model for all future Jounin instructors, and his training methods and philosophies (and by extension, Duy’s) become ingrained in Konoha’s teachings.

Might Duy receives the honor he deserves post-mortem because of Might Gai’s heroism.

People from all over come to battle Might Guy in his dojo, who still manages to defeat all of his challengers despite the lack of mobility in his leg. He accepts students who show particular grit, and it’s considered a badge of honor to receive tutelage from Gai.

Gai still spends retirement with Kakashi, going on trips and leaving his dojo to Lee and Tenten when he’s gone.

Rock Lee

How it Ended:

Rock Lee is an Average Dad

Despite being a romantic, his wife is nowhere in sight. He was never shown with a happy marriage with someone who loves him for who he is.

He has no particular fame or renown for his part in the war, and he has no major fights in the final war arc.

Lee doesn’t get a rematch with Neji OR Naruto.

We find out in the final war arc that Lee has a…CLAN? And then it’s never mentioned again.

What SHOULD have happened:

Lee needed way more screentime during the war. This would cement him as someone important and give us a chance to finally see Taijutsu at it's most advanced‐and I don't mean just the gates. I'm talking sheer technique and will of the human body that simply decimates.

Lee would either team up with Gai in the final fight (or attack) against Madara. If Gai gets defeated, it's Lee who steps up to the plate, delivering this badass monologue: "You all thought Taijutsu had its limits. You all thought I had my limits. Well, let me say this now: I, Rock Lee, have finally pushed Taijutsu beyond what you thought impossible. And how did I do it? Simple. You decide your limits from the beginning... and I reach them."

Lee, to the witness of the entire world, defeats Madara. No one is sure what to make of it at first, but it's clear: he's unlike any other Shinobi in history. He's created something they've never seen before and it's strong. And now, they believe in him like never before.

In the post-war, Naruto is approached with an offer about about a path to becoming Hokage. At the same time, he learns that the village is banishing Sasuke for the time being until they can sort out what to do. Naruto realizes political corruption exists so our precious war hero chooses going/being with Sasuke/his team. It's unintendedly a major political statement that has the elders clutching pearls and clamoring to pardon Sasuke. In his sendoff amid the uproar about him leaving, Naruto loudly nominates Lee in front of all the other Kage and drops the mic.

When finally confirmed after much drama, Lee makes for a FAR better Hokage. His arc goes from disadvantaged, talentless youth to the most impressive Ninja in existence by sheer hard work, the guiding theme of the series. No one worked as hard or stayed as humble as Lee, and Naruto recognized that.

Naruto can be his ‘War-Hero’ right hand when he returns. The "Hand of the Hokage." He still gets the “heroic” validation he REALLY wanted without the responsibility of governing.

Shikamaru is nervous about working with Lee since he's the opposite style in terms of, ahem, "actually working," but after a few early riffs and some honest communication, the two actually learn to balance each other out: Lee teaches Shikamaru be more diligent, Shikamaru teaches Lee to pace himself.

This also frees Naruto and Sakura up to actually accompany Sasuke on his redemption journey, be more present in the series, have relationships develop naturally, and explore the political repercussions of the war and everything that led up to it. It's a point of humility for Naruto to admit he wanted love and confidence over the real responsibility of governing, and let's just say the most effective ruler is always the one who never asked for the job. Naruto is better suited having his own squad as a jounin.

Shikamaru gets exasperated by the shenanigans Lee sometimes pulls in the office to train while doing paperwork. Lee often overworks himself too much and Shikamaru feels bad on his behalf, eventually encouraging him to delegate work. He has a much easier time guilting Lee into going home, though, because Lee would never choose to miss time with his family when it comes down to it.

Lee Clan? Don’t know her.

Lee surpasses Might Gai to become the most renowned taijutsu user in existence, paves the way for taijutsu specialists in shinobi culture.

Lee happily lives with his wife and Metal, who were definitely introduced either in a stand-alone novel or earlier in the series. They are the quirkiest, but most loving family in Konoha.

Their love story is meant to be cute and has the theme of “loving someone for exactly who they are.” I would love it if his wife was also disabled but excelled in her own field and Lee admired her for it. 

Lee invents a new style of Taijutsu techniques that he uses to defeat Madara. These techniques are on-par with some of the most legendary jutsu in existence.

Lee finally defeats Neji in a match, completing the arc we started in season 1. It’s a legendary fight that's still talked about to this day.

Lee’s condition is finally explained as being from a sickness he had as an infant that almost took his life. Gai had the same illness, but not as bad. 

He spends his adulthood looking for information on this sickness. He doesn’t want a cure for himself, but he has research done so it can save the lives of other children.

Lee does a training routine every morning. Academy students who idolize their Hokage eventually join in and try to keep up. It’s also endearing to the village that their Hokage makes time for the kids. 

Even if they can’t finish the routine (and none of them can) Lee congratulates them every morning on doing their personal best. 

Often, Lee teaches valuable life lessons at the end of his morning training sessions–just like Gai.

Tenten

How it Ended:

Tenten sets out to become a Legendary Kunoichi, but only manages to be legendary because she wields/owns all the Sage Weapons.

Tenten is never given a thorough backstory.

Tenten ISN’T the head of Konoha weapons research.

Tenten finally accepts that she isn’t like other girls and doesn’t want to have relationships or get married, her friends support her.

Tenten embraces her goofy side, becomes more like Gai and Lee and is heavily involved in their lives.

What SHOULD have happened:

Tenten originally sets out to be like Tsunade–the woman who could heal an entire army. She isn’t great at medical jutsu, but later discovers that her abilities mirror the Fourth Hokage.

Tenten vows to be legendary like the Fifth, powerful like the Fourth.

Tenten rediscovers and revives the Uzumaki’s sealing jutsu. This, coupled with her mastery of Minato’s jutsu, make her untouchable.

Tenten acquires all Sage weapons, gains fame for using them in battle to turn the tide of the war. Minato meets her and recognizes her as his successor. He gives her his blessing to revive the Uzumaki techniques as her own.

Tenten instead becomes the “Legendary One-Woman Army” In the war arc, she can teleport entire platoons of shinobi in an instant. She rains destruction down on the Zetsu army. 

Tsunade comments that her “strength of a hundred″ seal would have been wasted on Tenten; Tenten has the strength “of a thousand.”

Tenten’s mastery of seals lets her identify and rig the reincarnation seal; All deceased Shinobi that were forced to fight have their free will restored. Tenten has your army now.

Post-War, Tenten, at Hinata’s command, finds the way to remove the Caged Bird seal from the Hyuga clan.

Instead, a new seal is given to EVERY member (starting with Hinata) that functions to protect the Byakugan after death but has no other effect. It effectively halts all attempts by outside forces to steal the Byakugan.

Tenten keeps her weapons shop only because it suits her and her down-to-earth personality. She also likes the freedom to travel as she pleases, exploring the world and discovering more about the Uzumaki.

Tenten is famous for being Konoha’s #1 desirable single, but she will never settle down. It’s not what she wants.

Tenten deflects suitors with sharp objects as a gag. Everyone, though they may not understand, supports Tenten being exactly who she is, and they protect that. It remains a quietly apparent choice her character has made, and doesn't act as a challenge for the plot to fix.

She eventually becomes the sensei of Metal (and Neji’s child too, if he has one.) She pulls pranks on her team to both train them and remind them of who's in charge.

She still is involved in the lives of Gai, Lee, and Neji.

Neji Hyuga

How it Ended:

Sigh.

He begins his arc by cursing the fact that he’s going to die for the main branch and then…dies for the main branch. (And Naruto, I guess.)

Neji does not see his clan unified.

Hiashi’s throwaway comment during the war meant nothing. Neji and other branch members still had their seals. The Hyuga clan still went into the war with “head” and “branch” families. 

Neji does not get a rematch with Lee.

Neji doesn't speak to his father during the war.

What SHOULD have happened:

Hiashi dies for Neji, proving beyond a reasonable doubt that familial love comes before the hierarchy and reversing the old narrative.

Hiashi declares Hinata the new leader of the Hyuga with his dying breath, and tells her she knows what to do. He cryptically hints that Neji will lead the Hyuga to a brighter future. Hiashi knows the elders wouldn't accept Neji as head right off the bat, but he knows his daughter will stop at nothing to fight for her family.

This is also Hiashi’s redemption, finally repaying his brother’s sacrifice.

Neji gets to speak to his father during the war. It’s one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in the whole anime.

Post-War, Hinata stands before the elders and abolishes the status of head and branch families. She also has Tenten abolish the seal, as well as create an entirely new seal that goes on every member to completely protect the Byakugan from thieves but serves no other purpose.

Neji is the first to have his seal removed, Hinata is the first to have the new seal. 

Hinata then declares Neji the new head of the Hyuga while she finally gets the quiet, peaceful life she’s always wanted. If the opportunity did present itself, however, she may have her own squad with a similarly shy kunoichi. She comes to Neji often for advice on how to best train them.

Neji leads the Hyuga through major reform, abolishing harmful training methods and teaching the younger generation about the importance of family.

Neji is rightfully respected and hailed as the greatest Hyuga as he single-handedly creates new techniques that we see used in the next generation.

The Hyuga clan now selects their future leader from the most capable in the family. Hanabi is fine with this because she ‘knows she’ll be the best anyway.’ Neji teases her by saying he ‘isn’t so sure’, which pushes Hanabi to work harder.

The Hyuga are one of the most fiercely loyal and loving clans. Any affront against a single member will bring the wrath of the others. It's like one giant, close-knit family. Make fun of a Hyuga kid and now you’re getting drop-kicked by their third cousin.

Neji loses to Lee in a rematch, but warmly acknowledges his growth from when they were children. Neji is the first to officially support Lee becoming Hokage and is the one who gives him "the talk" that convinces him to accept Naruto's nomination of him to the council. Neji becomes Lee’s confidant and closest advisor.

Neji is an amazing uncle who is sometimes out of his element when it comes to dealing with his energetic niece and nephew. It’s all fluff.

When no one is looking, Himawari will stare intently (threateningly) at her uncle, who will slowly grimace and hand her a piece of candy from inside his sleeve, glancing around to make sure no one sees him complete the exchange. No one knows where Himawari gets her spontaneous candy and stash from. It's a mystery as to what he seems to be paying her off for, but it'd probably be a delicious secret to find out..

Neji’s relationship with his niece is heartwarming. He constantly threatens Naruto to be a good husband and father to his niece and nephew OR ELSE.

Neji trains Boruto and Himawari. He’s strict, but as kind as he is firm.

Neji teaches Boruto to have a closer relationship with Himawari, mirroring the relationship he had with Hinata. If he has children, they're the "cool older cousins" to the siblings and have their dad's clout for sure.

Neji might get married or have children. If he does, it’ll be the subject of a Gaiden novel. Perhaps also a quick throwaway scene in the epilogue post-war where he meets someone that catches his eye. His child(ren) will be on the same team as Metal, where they will also be rivals.

He might have twin boys if we really want to go hard with literary parallels, but it’s not necessary. He'd name his kids after his father first.

There, I fixed it.

[depressedkakashihatake]

Little five year old Kakashi kicking a chunnin inthe face for misgendering him and refusing to listen to him when he corrects them

Punching a Jonin in the stomach because he was walking by and heard them say something rude to Gai regarding him being gender fluid, and that just won’t do. He doesn’t like shitty transphobes

Absolutly staring down Danzo, a village elder, because this man thought he could take a pot shot at Kakashi for stealing Tenzo, by misgendering him, and Kakashi is going to stand there and wait until he uses the correct pronouns. you have a meeting? well guess who’s tagging along ass hole. you know what to say if you get sick of me