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pupkashi · 3 months ago

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a/n: kakashi word vomit i wanna make out w him

masterlist

kakashi is so attractive & he never believes it until you show him how much you’re attracted to him. when you first see him you’re doing a double take bc no one said the famous copy ninja was such a stunner ???

it takes a lot of courage and teasing from asuma and kurenai before you even think about talking to the silver haired shinobi. at first kakashi thinks you’re nervous because you’re scared of him, so he assures you he wouldn’t hurt you.

“you don’t have to be so nervous y’know, i don’t bite” he smiles, eye crinkling and it makes you flush.

“I’ve just never tried flirting with someone as attractive as you” you blurt out, cursing kurenai for encouraging the three shots you took before walking over to kakashi.

kakashi is shocked, his only visible eye now wide and mouth in the shape of an ‘o’ (even if you can’t see it). he doesn’t say anything, wondering how you could find someone as average as him attractive.

nevertheless kakashi doesn’t make you feel awkward, continuing the conversation. the two of you click perfectly, laughing softly and getting to know each other. kakashi is quick to ask you when he’d see you again, thankful his mask is hiding his profuse blushing.

four months later the two of you as sitting on his couch, the movie was mere background noise as you looked at your boyfriend, something akin to a magnetic force pulling your lips towards his exposed neck. you press feathery kisses all over it, kakashi sighs softly.

“thought you wanted to watch this movie?” he chuckles, moving his neck so you can kiss him with more ease. his words are airy, and you know he’s not complaining nor does he want you to stop.

“you’re too hot to not make out with” you breathe out between kisses, planting some along his jawline before finally landing on his lips.

kakashi is quick to move you, grabbing you by the hips and placing you on his lap. he’s never been one to deny your affection, and he wasn’t gonna start today.

he thinks maybe you’re just feeling clingy today, he’s been gone on a mission for a week or so anyway. that must be all it is. kakashi chalks it up to you missing him after missions for months, no matter how many times you tell him you just think he’s so fucking hot.

it’s not until a little over a two years into your relationship that kakashi lies awake in bed, realizing you’d never once stopped showering him with your affection and compliments. he’d figured once the honeymoon phase was over the rose tinted glasses you had on must’ve come off, but it seemed like they never did.

every day you still greeted him with a sweet smile and a flurry of kisses, “how was your day handsome?” or “hi pretty boy, how’d it go?” or any variation which included complimenting him.

kakashi lets his mind wander, grateful that you were as in love with him as he was you. you stirred in your sleep, flipping and curling into your lovers side unconsciously. it made his heart stutter as he closed his eyes, letting your warmth and steady breathing lull him to sleep.

kakashi comes home the next day with his vest already off, navy undershirt untucked and hair flopping naturally over his forehead.

“how was work toda-” you feel the words stuck in your throat as you drink in the look of your boyfriend. he usually gets home in uniform and immediately goes to the shower and you see him freshened up and changed. it’s a rare, breathtaking sight to see him as disheveled as he in right now.

“what? do i still have blood on my face?” he haphazardly wipes at his face with the back of his hand. you shake your head at him, not trusting your voice as you clear your throat and lean in to kiss his cheek. “what’s got you so flustered, pretty?” his deep honey voice has your cheeks burning as you stare at him.

“you look good” you admit, a small smile on your lips, not trying to hide how badly you wanted to jump his bones in that moment.

“hmm, do i? ‘m all sweaty” kakashi mumbles, letting a cocky grin play on his lips as he bends over slightly to allow his lips to hover over yours, “missed me that much baby? you made me late this morning” he smiles as your crash your lips into his, not able to hold yourself back when he was only mere inches away from you.

“not my fault you’re so fucking attractive” you say between kissing him, squealing softly when kakashi pulls you into him by your waist.

it’s in every kiss your place to his skin, ever gentle and needy touch, breathing your love into him as you hold him impossibly close. every action and gesture of yours is enough to reassure him as you shoo him off to shower while you finish dinner. kakashi lets the hot water hit his flushed skin with a happy sigh, forever grateful he paid for asuma’s lunch for a month in exchange for him to play cupid.

#hatake kakashi x reader #hatake kakashi fluff #kakashi hatake imagine #hatake kakashi x you #kakashi imagines #kakashi fluff #kakashi imagine #kakashi drabble #kakashi hatake fluff #kakashi hatake x reader #kakashi hatake x y/n #kakashi hatake x you #hatake kakashi drabble #hatake kakashi x reader fluff #hatake kakashi #kakashi hatake

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fool-tarnished · 4 months ago

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"Remember me" - Chapter 1 - Kakashi Hatake x Reader

Synopsis : Born in Konoha, [Y/N] wasn't necessarily known as the most impressive or powerful ninja, but rather for her kindness and compassion. She became like an older sister to Naruto and a loyal, faithful friend to many ninjas in Konoha. Without even realizing it, she had earned a special place in the heart of one particular ninja with grey hair. But everything changed the day the Third Hokage entrusted her with a mission from which she would not return unscathed. Pairing : Kakashi Hatake x Reader If you want to read Yamato's version, you can find it here.

Warnings : Violence, memory loss

Inspiration : Remember me - d4vd

Words : ~ 3000 A/N : Hello there ! Here's the first chapter of a new story for Kakashi. There'll be many chapters (i don't know how many yet) and i'll do the same one for Tenzo/Yamato if some are interested (with a similar first chapter, but the rest won't be the same). So I hope you'll like it ! Thank you all for the likes and reblog ! And sorry for the mistakes, I'm not a native english speaker.

Next chapter →

Long before Naruto left with Jiraiya, the Third Hokage entrusted you with a mission. A mission that, of course, you wouldn’t undertake alone, but whose duration was impossible to predict. A mission that wasn’t supposed to be particularly dangerous either, but it still worried the young ninja, who had asked you to decline it and stay in Konoha.

You and Naruto had known each other for a few years now, and a sort of sibling-like relationship had formed between you. You didn’t necessarily show it, but you cared for each other as if you were almost family. The young blonde deeply appreciated having someone by his side he could consider an older sister: because yes, you were much closer in age to his famous sensei Kakashi than to him.

On the day of your departure, Naruto couldn’t help but ask you to promise that you’d go to Ichiraku together upon your return. That you’d promise to come back as soon as possible and, of course, without a scratch. A promise you made without hesitation and one you hoped to keep.

Kakashi, on his end, with whom you had built a connection during your time in the Special Forces, also came to say a few words before you left. Your relationship with the Copy Ninja was quite peculiar. You were close yet distant, making it complex between the two of you and in the eyes of others. You had never really put words to what it meant, and it hadn’t seemed to bother either of you.

At least, until things began to change for you. You were afraid of not returning, not just for Naruto’s sake but also for Kakashi’s. Yet, the fear was drastically different for each, which led you to question how your relationship with him had evolved. The feelings you experienced at the thought of leaving without knowing when you’d return and see him again weren’t the same as those you had for your other friends—Kurenai, Iruka, or Asuma. Something had shifted within you, and you hadn’t had time to reflect on it before being assigned this new mission.

"Be careful, [Y/N]. You wouldn’t want to miss the promise you made to Naruto. And don’t forget, you also owe me a replacement for that Icha Icha volume you ruined during our last training session," the grey-haired ninja said, with a smile you could easily discern beneath his mask. You left with your team, giving them one last look and a wave. Kakashi didn’t take his eyes off you until you were out of sight. ________________________________________

Crossing the Land of Wind had proven to be more arduous than expected. Whether due to the weather, unfortunate encounters, or other unforeseen events, it took you several weeks to reach its far edge. The team leader was the only one privy to the mission's details, and your task was to ensure their safe passage and protection. After finding the messenger, you set out again, this time for the Land of Earth. It was a particularly lengthy mission, but it seemed to be of critical importance to the Third Hokage, who had strongly emphasized its success at any cost. As for the contents of these messages? None of you had the slightest clue.

The journey through the various lands and the delivery of these messages ultimately took several months. You hadn’t faced any overwhelming challenges—just minor injuries, small delays, but nothing insurmountable. Nevertheless, the desire to return home grew stronger with each passing day. Every team member began to feel the absence of their loved ones, some even missing their children. As for you, you missed Naruto’s antics, the humor of your friends, and… the Copy Ninja, but for reasons that had become much harder to define.

It was during the final leg of your journey that these new feelings surfaced most clearly.

In the Land of Lightning, things took a turn for the worse. While crossing the vast expanse of rocks and mountains at night, you encountered a group of ninjas whose origins and true intentions you couldn’t discern. Everything happened far too quickly for you to fully grasp what was going on. A confrontation broke out, and the team leader made the decision to prioritize delivering the message, splitting the group in two.

This left you with just one teammate to try to hold off the enemies and buy time for the other two to escape.

The opponents didn’t seem particularly strong, but fighting at night clearly put you at a disadvantage. Fatigue began to take its toll, likely contributing to the event that would change everything for you.

As you saw several shurikens speeding toward your teammate, you decided to deflect them with your kunai to prevent him from being injured while fighting one of the attackers. What you failed to notice, however, was the unstable ground beneath your feet. Perhaps it was a combination of exhaustion, an unstable surface, and a strike from one of the enemies that caused you to begin a long fall from the rock where you had been standing. Without fully understanding what was happening, you desperately tried to grab hold of something—but it was futile. Your head struck a rock, and everything suddenly went black.

________________________________________

After spending more than a year and a half on the mission and successfully completing it, the team leader and the member who had accompanied them set out to search for the two ninjas they had left behind in the Land of Lightning.

It didn’t take them long to find their first comrade, who had been taken in by the Hidden Cloud Village, where they were treated and waiting for the team’s return. As for you, however, the story was different.

They found no trace of you—only your headband, which did little to encourage their search given its poor condition. They spent several weeks in Kumo, hoping to uncover information or even the faintest clue about your status or whereabouts, but their efforts turned up nothing.

Eventually, they returned to Konoha, disheartened, but determined to deliver their report to the Hokage and hand over your headband. Yet, much had changed since their departure. ________________________________________

"The mission is complete, Lady Hokage. All the messages have been delivered."

Tsunade carefully observed the ninjas standing before her.

"However, we couldn’t find [Y/N]. Only her headband was recovered. We don’t know if she’s dead or missing."

After uttering these words, the ninja lowered their head and placed the headband on the Hokage’s desk. Tsunade furrowed her brow slightly before picking up the object and examining it closely.

"Tell me everything about this mission," she said, her gaze still fixed on the damaged headband.

________________________________________

"We’ll probably run out of firewood tonight. I’ll go fetch some."

The elderly woman standing beside you gave a faint smile and nodded. She was preparing one of her famous soups, a recipe you now knew by heart. Its aroma always brought you comfort, especially in the winter.

Dressing warmly to head outside, you opened the door and carefully closed it behind you, letting out a sigh. The cold was so biting that you hurried to gather the wood and return inside. It was a ritual you had carried out every winter for the past two years, and to you, it felt as though you had never known anything else. In truth, you weren’t even sure if you had known anything else.

Everything was hazy—you remembered nothing beyond these moments spent in the little house nestled deep in the forest. How had you ended up there? Where had you come from? Why did it seem as though you couldn’t recall anything from before this home?

Poor Yubaba didn’t seem to know any more than you did. She would simply tell you that you asked too many questions whenever you embarked on this inner quest about your past. She’d say that everything would come back to you one day, but for now, your mind and body needed rest.

And you didn’t understand those words either. Why would you need rest? Was it tied to the headaches you frequently experienced?

Taking a deep breath, you firmly grasped the bundle of wood before stepping back inside the house. You placed it in front of the large fireplace that illuminated the modest living room where the old woman spent most of her time.

"This should be enough for tonight. But I’ll have to chop more for tomorrow," you said.

She turned to you gently, lifting the large pot and carrying it over to the table.

"Take off that heavy coat, Fubuki, and come warm yourself up and eat. It’ll do you good. Don’t forget your tea—it’ll help with your pain."

Nodding, you finally shed your warm layers, returning to your usual attire, and sat down at the table. Fubuki. It sounded strange, almost like it wasn’t real. Like everything around you.

And yet, how could you truly question the only things you knew when the rest of your existence was nothing but a massive void?

"Thank you for the meal, Yubaba," you said softly.

________________________________________

"So, how did the training go? Did it pay off?" Tsunade asked, seated at her desk.

"You really think we’d have come back if we hadn’t made any progress?" Jiraiya retorted, hands on his hips.

"We’ll see about that," she shot back, before Naruto jumped in with questions.

Kakashi was outside, seated near the window. Book in hand, he was quietly listening to the conversation inside. Naruto was back, and while the Copy Ninja was glad to see his student again, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease at the possibility of a certain topic coming up.

Tsunade had informed him months earlier that your team had returned from its mission. While Kakashi hadn’t shown it openly, he had been eager to see you again. The unpleasant news of your absence had shaken him more than he let on. Something deep inside him had stung sharply when the Hokage mentioned your damaged headband, accompanied by a lack of any additional clues—no body, no clear information about your fate.

He had stayed silent, though his face betrayed more than he intended. The Hokage hadn’t known what else to say and had simply expressed hope: the absence of a body might mean you were still alive, somewhere. And that one day, you might find your way back to Konoha.

Kakashi hadn’t responded. Instead, he abruptly changed the subject, redirecting the conversation to Naruto’s return and what lay ahead. The abruptness of his shift had startled Tsunade, but she didn’t push him further. She could tell he had emotionally shut himself off, erecting a barrier around him that might take time to dismantle. While she had tried to offer hope for your return, even she was unsure if there was anything left to hope for after so much time had passed.

"Well, Naruto, you’ve certainly grown," the silver-haired ninja remarked as Naruto leaned through the window, looking for him.

"And you haven’t changed a bit!" Naruto shot back.

With that, Naruto vaulted through the window. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out a copy of the book that always seemed to brighten his sensei’s day.

"I’ve got a present for you, Kakashi-sensei!"

Shaking with surprise and joy, Kakashi accepted the book from his student under the watchful eyes of Sakura, Tsunade, and Jiraiya.

"By the way, do you know where I can find [Y/N]? It’s been so long! I’ve got a gift for her too!"

Kakashi’s gaze froze on the book in his hands. He took a moment to compose himself, considering how to respond.

Sensing that the conversation might take an unpleasant turn, Tsunade stepped in.

"She’s on a mission. She’ll be back soon, Naruto. For now, I believe you have plans with Kakashi."

Kakashi let out a soft sigh, closing his eyes briefly.

"I’ll be waiting for you at Training Ground 3. See you later," he said before disappearing.

Naruto turned to the Hokage, stepping back into the room with a questioning look.

"Do you know exactly when she’ll be back? She promised me ramen at Ichiraku!"

"Maybe we should head to the training ground, don’t you think, Naruto? You’ll see her when she gets back," Sakura chimed in with a soft smile, trying to steer him away from further questions.

"Fine, I guess. Anyway, Kakashi-sensei is probably already devouring his book—did you see his face?!"

________________________________________

After the young ninjas left the room, Jiraiya stepped closer to Tsunade. "Was she killed on the mission?" he asked bluntly.

"We don’t know yet. But I’m not sure it would be good for Naruto to know about the situation right now, especially since he’s just come back. Let him settle in first."

"I’m not so sure he’ll appreciate you keeping this from him. I only saw her briefly before leaving with Naruto, but he cares about her deeply."

"He’s not the only one. But I don’t think he’s ready to hear the truth just yet."

Jiraiya sighed and lowered his gaze. Glancing outside for a brief moment, he turned his attention back to the Hokage.

"The Anbu will eventually find her—or figure out what happened to her," Tsunade said firmly.

The ninja let out a small sound of surprise before smiling. "I see. You haven’t given up. Who knows about this?"

"No one, aside from the Anbu team assigned to the search. It’s better that way."

"And Kakashi?"

A brief silence hung in the air before she replied. "Kakashi doesn’t know either."

________________________________________

Months had passed, and Yubaba’s health had continued to deteriorate. The herbal treatments she made herself no longer seemed to be enough, and no matter what, she refused to see a doctor or go to a village to seek treatment. Despite your attempts to convince her to go to Kumo, she stubbornly insisted that it was pointless and that it would pass on its own. The day she could no longer even get out of bed, you decided, despite her protests, to take her to the Kumo hospital in one last hope of helping her.

________________________________________

After long hours of walking, you had finally arrived at the Hidden Cloud Village. Thanks to some passersby, you were able to get the old woman to a safe place so she could receive care. The doctors informed you that it would take some time, and that it was best for you to return in a few hours while they did what was necessary. This is how you found yourself wandering through the village, exploring the area as if you had never seen anything like it. It was pleasant to walk around in a place with other faces besides Yubaba's, to discover new places outside of the forest you knew by heart. But the noise of the passersby gave you a headache, and you would sometimes grit your teeth when sudden bursts of pain hit you. After a few hours of wandering, you made your way towards the hospital. Night was beginning to fall, and there were fewer and fewer people outside. The small street you were walking through was particularly quiet and empty, which reminded you of the calm of Yubaba's little house. But this calm only lasted for a brief moment. “[Y/N]?” The name you heard seemed to resonate inside you, but you didn't stop walking, simply furrowing your brows slightly. Your progress was halted when two figures suddenly dropped down from the rooftops and positioned themselves in front of you. Ninja uniforms, definitely, with a mask on each face. Exactly the same outfit. You stopped dead in your tracks, opening your mouth slightly as if to protest, before turning your head to see if you could retrace your steps. But two other figures had just landed as well, blocking your way. “I don’t know what you want from me, but I have nothing on me,” you said, your gaze filled with concern as you slowly raised your hands in front of you. The two figures facing you exchanged a glance before looking back at you. “You don’t recognize us, [Y/N]?” one of them asked. You couldn’t even identify who had asked the question, as fear was starting to rise within you. “You must be mistaken... I’m not [Y/N]...” “We’ve been searching for you for months.” “I... Why? I’m just here to care for the woman I live with. I don’t know what you want, but I don’t know you.” One of the two ninjas facing you leaned toward his colleague to whisper a few words before turning back to you. “Did you desert? And Naruto?” The headache was intensifying, and emotions were surging inside you, though you didn’t really understand why. “I... I don’t understand... What are you...?” Your vision was starting to darken, and breathing became more and more difficult. You began to feel an icy chill in your chest as the figures in front of you became increasingly blurry. Before you could finish your sentence or find your words again, everything went black.

#naruto #naruto x reader #naruto reader insert #kakashi hatake x reader #kakashi x reader #kakashi x you #kakashi sensei #reader insert

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skyahri · 1 month ago

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Shock Part Two |Kakashi Hatake X Reader|

Part One

Summary: It’s been two weeks since you showed up on Kakashi’s doorstep. How has so much changed in so little time?

Warnings: Idk where I was going with this so it's based around a ✨️vibe✨️

- - - - -

"How are the stitches?"

"Had them taken out this morning, actually. Your handiwork got a lot of compliments, by the way."

"I couldn't have you running around with such a grisly scar, now could I?"

"Oh, it's still a gruesome sight."

"I suppose you'll have to show me sometime."

"Never thought I'd live to see the day the great Hatake Kakashi would so openly flirt with me."

"Am I flirting? I don't think so..."

"So it's a common occurrence for you to ask to see your friends so intimately? Maybe that rumor about you peaking down Gai's jumpsuit wasn't so farfetched after all."

It'd been like this for the past two weeks.

Just because you'd left his apartment that night didn't mean you stopped seeing him. Several chance encounters in common areas had only solidified the rapidly growing tension between you two. It was never uncomfortable, more so just... unsure. You hadn't had any kind of specific dynamic to settle into, so there was a bit of an awkward trial period where you felt each other out, but really, it didn't last long.

"Hey, that was one time."

You paused just short of the market entrance and raised an eyebrow at him. Sure, the offhand comment of the event from Asuma had lived in the back of your mind for quite some time, but you didn't think there was any truth to it.

And you especially didn't think he'd admit to it.

You just shook your head and continued towards the shops, not waiting to give Kakashi the chance to expose any intimate details. Kakashi is one thing, but Lord knows what any story involving Gai may contain. He follows you around the booths, making idle conversation as you buy an assortment of items. Chicken, rice, cabbage, sure, he can guess what you're going for, but it's when you get to the spice stand that you lose him completely.

He watches as pick up and set down random jars, the furrow in your brow becoming more and more strained as you proceed.

"Did you have something in mind, or...?" He trails off, not wanting to outright accuse you of not having a clue as to what you're doing. You take a step back and look over everything, but nothing stands out to you. Everything is in generic packaging, nothing like the little jars your friends have in their kitchen cabinets.

"I wanted to try something like the teriyaki chicken that Kurenai makes, but think it might be a little too far off from my... particular skillset."

'Particular skillset' of course meaning no skills at all. Your parents took care of feeding you up until they died during the Kyuubi attack, and by then you were so busy in ANBU that there was really no reason to learn. You ate at food stalls while in town and roasted fish over a fire when you were out- a foolproof system that had yet to betray you.

But the past two weeks off had left you itching for something to do and street food had begun losing it's appeal.

Kakashi rolls his eyes, having learned good and well by now that you're a fire hazard in the kitchen on a good day. He steers you by your shoulders away from the ground herbs and spices and toward another stall where he can pick up some mirin. He ignores any questions you ask, opting to repeat the same "be patient" and "just wait" mantras over and over until you reach his apartment.

He's thankful that your knife skills transfer to the kitchen at least. He tasks you with butterflying the chicken as he washes the rice and gets out all the ingredients for the sauce he thinks you're aiming for. It's quiet as the two of you work- several nights spent just like this have you falling into the familiar motions with ease. Only when the chicken is searing in the pan, coated with a sauce you definitely added too much corn starch to, does Kakashi finally break the silence.

"Any idea when your leave ends?"

"Nah. The old man's been dodging me. I'm pretty sure he's going to retire me, though."

"Oh?"

He tries to sound nonchalant, but it comes out a tad too quickly. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't been enjoying your time together. He knows perfectly well that you'd carve out time for him should you return to active duty, but retirement had made him rather selfish these days, and he was wanting a bit more than that.

You huff and roll your eyes, what you assume to be his thirst for gossip still surprising you. "I'm a bit... difficult to work with. Recruiting and training a whole new squad when I've already pushed my luck this far might be a waste of resources."

Kakashi only nods. Fifteen years is a long time- longer than any other officer has been active- and while your track record is dazzling, he can't imagine Hiruzen sending you back out after such a clear sign from the universe. That's not even mentioning how warped your team structure was to accommodate your specific skill set.

"Is this," he pauses, not quite sure where his question is going, "Upsetting to you?"

It's phrasing is less elegant than he was aiming for, but the intent is clear enough.

You tilt your head back and forth in a silly manner to loosen the tension his question has caused in your head. It's definitely a loaded response. Rationally, you knew this wouldn't, couldn't, go on forever, and honestly, it shouldn't have lasted as long as it has. Anbu is incredibly hard on your mind and body, just the same with those before you, and sure to affect those who will come after. There were more kinks in your back than muscles at this point and the cushion of a mattress felt a little too good on your achy joints. The anxiety accumulated from years of sneak attacks and watch duty had pushed you to a point of exhaustion that a few measly nights at home couldn't erase.

You'd been robbed of your childhood (not there was much to enjoy during a war) and shoved into a plain mask- a half-assed attempt to protect you from the consequences and stigma of your sins. You'd been sent on missions you had no business even knowing about at eight years old and told to keep a straight face through it all. You'd worked through more teammates than you'd care to admit, each being lost due to circumstances you're sure you could've prevented.

All to say that the decision to put down the mask would be right and just.

Though you'd be lying to say you found any comfort in it.

This is your life, and although any parental figure you'd accumulated wished better for you, it's what you know best. The forest floor and rapid rivers feel more like home than your apartment ever has. Cooking what your friends call 'a balanced meal' is difficult compared to found berries and freshly caught cod. Being cautious of your facial expressions was taxing and the lack of routine was borderline disorienting.

But there was a glimmer of hope that kept you from tracking down that old geezer and demanding to stay on the roster, and that was Kakashi.

He was probably the furthest someone could get from well adjusted, and he's doing okay- great, even. He seems happier, less on edge, and much friendlier compared to the asshole you grew up alongside. He no longer snaps at Gai for 'trivial things' like lunch outings and friendly competitions. He's more willing to waste a day lounging around instead of dedicating his free moments to training.

All of this had been in the back of your mind since that first meeting with the Hokage, where he'd only wished you a fruitful recovery and sent you on your way.

But you sure as hell weren't about to say all this to Kakashi, so you settled on-

"It is what it is."

-and lifted the lid on the pan, letting the steam separate you from Kakashi's piercing gaze. He didn't say anything as you prepared dinner, just watched as you carefully filled the bowls and set the table. He should've known he wouldn't get anything out of you. You'd made it abundantly clear over the past two weeks that words were not your strong suit, oftentimes shutting him down with a pat on the back or a wave of your hand.

But that didn't make him any less unsatisfied with your lame response.

- - - - -

It isn't until a week later that you finally corner Hiruzen into giving you a straight answer, and just as you thought, he slid a stack of dismissal papers across his desk. He was uncharacteristically nervous as he did so, likely traumatized by past shinobi who reacted less than professionally about the endeavor.

You're walking down the street, mask in hand and dressed in the new street clothes you had no choice but to buy after your initial return, when you see your friends gathered in the dango parlor. You push the curtain aside and call out a greeting to catch their attention. Kurenai is quick to wave you over, scooting closer toward Asuma to make room in the booth for you to sit. You almost felt bad for the cramped bench, but neither of the pair seemed all that upset to be pressed up against one another.

They were, however, bothered when you set the porcelain in your hand down on the table. The air got thicker, any remnants of conversation dying out as their eyes shifted to the unmarked mask. Even Gai seemed to lose his usual lack of awarenness, falling perfectly in line with the others' distress. Lots of agents had similar masks- animals could only look so different when reduced to a few red streaks and a set of ears- but yours was one of a kind. No ears, no paint, no special eyes- its ambiguity perfectly matching your cover name.

"You know that's a bad omen, right?"

You furrow your brows at Kurenai, not sure what she meant. You look at Kakashi when he sighs, his hand moving to rub the crease in his brow. Kurenai takes the mask and sets it on your lap, beneath the table where it could be hidden from sight.

"That's the Calamity God's mask. It brings destruction and undoing."

Calamity... huh?

You thumb over the rim of the eye holes, not knowing how to respond to the apparent 'bad omen' tied to your anbu persona.

"Where did you even get that? No shops in the village are willing to sell them."

"I... um-"

Your mouth is dry and your brain is fumbling to find a response. You dart your eyes from her red ones over to the silver-haired jonin, only to find that he was already preoccupied with a silent conversation of his own with the boys. You settled on staring down at the porcelain in your lap, the empty sockets looking more and more life-like as they stared back.

People talked about you behind your back and you were far from oblivious to it, at least among the other black ops. It appears that civilians have their own rumors separate from anything that might grace your ears in the locker room.

Calamity was not new to you. It was stamped into bingo books across the foreign lands, right above the phrase 'do not engage' or 'flee on sight'. Though, the Godly title and associated lore that followed were ones you'd never heard.

And didn't care to hear again.

"I think I've made a mistake."

You're gone in the blink of an eye, flickering away from your friends and into the busy streets. Your breath catches in your throat, preventing you from moving any further towards the Hokage's office. You can feel your head spinning, the blood rushing in your ears and blurring the street life behind you. There's something touching your shoulder, but you can't be bothered to fight it off, the anxiety in your chest dulling any instinct you might have to run.

Your eyes sting from the unfamiliar well of tears. The slight tremor in your body makes your knees weak and unable to fully support yourself. Luckily, you're only stuck in public view for a moment before you're being dragged into an empty alleyway, away from others in the peak of your collapse.

You're set down against the brick wall, where you immediately slide down to the ground and shove your face into your knees. Your breathing is only getting heavier, the tears on your skin overstimulating you more than you'd ever experienced before.

You push your fingers through your hair and grip it at the scalp, desperate for some sort of distraction from the way your entire being is fighting itself. A sob racks your body. Then another and another, and it's so consuming that you can't even feel the hands attempting to untangle yours from your hair. It's only once they're gone and the comforting pressure is lifted that you notice. You can hear mumbling, can feel hands tightly compress yours and the light of the sun be slowly blocked by something.

"Y/n, you have to breathe,"

You shake your head and try to bury yourself deeper between your knees. It's too much. Actually living as a civilian for the past three weeks was easy- boring, but easy. You knew that everything would eventually fall into place and you could get to a point where life would come naturally.

This though?

This was something else entirely. Your reputation would haunt you, and not in the shiny way that Kakashi's had followed him.

Kakashi has experienced his fair share of panic attacks, but never has he been on the other side. He has his own remedies- simple things like hot showers or laying on the kitchen tile- neither of which being particularly useful in this situation, though. Not to mention, neither are really things that are guaranteed to work even if he could get you somewhere with the proper resources.

He hasn't been a particularly active person in your life until recently, but there's one aspect of your personality that has always been apparent; you communicate best through actions. Thinking back to the first night you spent together, he's positive nothing he said got through to you. It was only once your body was refreshed that your mind was cleared. You'd only relax when his skin was touching yours, like you needed a physical reminder that things were real and okay.

So he did the only thing he thought would ground you and pulled you into the most suffocating embrace he could manage. It's not as uncomfortable as he thought it'd be, especially once he's able to wrestle you into the spot between his legs. He's thankful for his size, making it easy to completely encompass you in his hold.

Luckily the alleyway is out of sight from the main road, your bodies hidden away by the curve of the building and a stack of empty produce boxes. It isn't until the harsh light of the setting sun is replaced by the chill night air and the chatter of passerbyers dies out that he's confident you're thoroughly relaxed. His arms have since eased up, but haven't been removed from their place. Your stiff muscles have been reduced to mush, the entirety of your body pressed into the jounin's torso, but he doesn't seem to mind.

"You want me to take you home?"

You shake your head, the movement muffled by your place against him, but the actions clear enough.

"Hmmm," he playfully nudges your head with his chin, "I could take you back to mine, but I don't think the girl I've been seeing would like that very much."

"Oh, as if anyone would willingly-" you pause, the gears in your head finally turning as you register his words. It doesn't take a genius to know he's poking fun at you and whatever odd situationship you've found yourself in, and what's even worse is you've unknowingly dragged yourself down as well by running your mouth. "Damn."

He laughs at you. Even with all the shit talk you dish out, he's confident that you're not, not interested. He can hear it in the way you speak with him- the mental block that Anbu creates between oneself and the rest of the world isn't present between you. He sees it in your subtle touches that may not stand out to anyone else, but are most definitely meant for him only. There's an easiness, a certain level of understanding that exists between you. It's a collection of feelings that Minato had tried and failed to put into words for him all those years ago, and now he knows why the man had stumbled over it so horridly.

He also knows that it's only been three weeks and he's already fucked, something his sensei had also been unfortunate enough to live through, so hopefully you're at least on the same wavelength.

Kakashi stands, dissolving any remnants of sentiment that may have been lingering. He hauls you up and over his shoulder with unexpected grace and turns towards the alleys entrance to go home.

"You know you don't have to carry me like a criminal, right?"

"How else would I carry you, hm? Perhaps like a princess? Or maybe damsel in distress is more your style?"

"Have you always been so annoying?"

"Depends on who you ask."

You pinch his side, making him almost drop you in his feeble attempt to swat your hand away. It's quiet, but far from uncomfortable. You settle into an awkward position that keeps at least some of the blood from rushing to your head and allow the white noise of the empty village streets to soothe any lingering anxieties in your chest. The wind is a little brisk but the chirp of crickets is still present. Most of the shop windows are closed but the restaurants remain full, faint chatter from the customers filling the air as you pass by.

"Hey, Kakashi?"

He hums in acknowledgment but doesn't say anything more, likely enjoying the peaceful air as well.

"Why-" you hesitate, not knowing if your question is one you should be asking and definitely not knowing if there's even a casual way to ask it, "Why didn't you tell me? About the rumors, I mean."

You can feel the slight misstep he takes but he doesn't show any other signs of distress. You can damn near hear the cylinders firing in his head, trying to piece together some semblance of a satisfying answer.

"I didn't want to stress you out."

"How'd that work out for you, big guy?"

He smacks the back of your thigh and exhales heavily, "Obviously, not too well."

He turns into his complex and navigates the halls until he's at his unit. He unlocks the door and brings you inside, gently setting you on the kitchen counter so he can flip on some lights and fill a glass with water. He watches as you down the liquid and your posture relaxes ever so slightly.

"I was hoping that when it came up, I could push the conversation a certain way."

"I would've preferred to hear it from you."

"I was trying to put it off for as long as possible. I wanted to give you as much time as I could for you to adjust so retirement would seem more appealing."

It's silent in the kitchen. There's nothing either of you can say to erase the tension in the air. You're not upset- not at him, anyway- a fact Kakashi is well aware of but still feels guilty about. He remembers being blindsided by retirement. For him, nothing had changed, only that one moment he was anbu and the next he just... wasn't. He's well aware that your situation is vastly different and your head is on a lot straighter than his had been, but that doesn't necessarily make things easier. If he had known that the topic would unravel like that, he would've rethought that decision in a heartbeat.

"Why all the calamity stuff, anyway? I mean, I know I'm a bit over the top, but it seems a little extreme," you fidget with the ends of your sleeves, pinching and rolling the knit material between your fingers. You look up when Kakashi sighs and watch as he fails to hide the frustration from his internal battle. He kicks off the counter he was leaning against to stand in front of you, his hands gripping the marble on either side of your thighs. His head hangs low and you can't help but laugh at the groan he lets out.

"You know how superstitious civilians can be," he finally straightens himself, one of his arms raising so he can tug off his headband to look at you, "And coming out with new folklore to point to when things go wrong is their favorite way to cope."

"Well, why can't I be like, I don't know," you huff, "Mother Nature? She starts floods and fires and rock slides, too, so why am I the only one getting a bad rap?"

As hard as you may be trying to keep your devious smile under wraps, Kakashi can see it clear as day. He bites back the many, many tempting retorts that overwhelm his brain, opting to give your stupid comment a pass just this once. "I think our line of work might be too dirty for such a shiny title."

"Says the mighty Copy Cat."

"Hey, no need to drag me down, too."

"Someone needs to," no longer interested in your own attire, you pull at the bottom of his jounin vest and tug at the straps to straighten it out, "Can't have you running around so-" your grip falters when your gaze finally flickers up to his. You hadn't realized how close he'd gotten- his face only a few short inches away.

"So, what?" there's that teasing tilt to his voice, one that's begging you to ignore his obvious intentions and continue as if everything were fine.

"So cocky," you eventually settle on, forcing your eyes away from his and focusing on his worn vest. You proceed with your attempt to fix his uniform, all too aware of the heat radiating off his skin, "Who flirts with someone not even an hour after a panic attack, anyway?"

"Someone who knows you well enough to provide an effective distraction."

"Distraction, huh? And here I thought we had something."

"A guy can have more than one reason for doing things," that's when you feel the pads of his thumbs rub against the loose fabric of your pants.

For a man so terrible with even the prospect of a connection with people, Kakashi sure is forward. You'd heard him threaten to lace Gai's protein powder once after the man had tried to hug him, but here he was, treating your personal space as if it were his own.

Not that you were complaining.

"I just realized we ditched our friends," your back straightens, eyes going wide when you remember that the others are likely still waiting for the two of you to return. Kakashi shakes his head, his now loose hair swaying a bit with the action.

"They won't mind."

"Yeah, but-"

"But nothing. They're smart enough to figure things out."

"And what happens when Kurenai shows up to my apartment to talk and I'm not there?"

"Like I said," his hands move upward, fingers running over your legs and resting at your hips, "They're smart enough to figure things out."

While he may not have said the quiet part out loud, his tone is more than enough to get his implications across. The way his eyes keep lingering on your features isn't helping either, especially when you notice his sharingan spinning, no doubt recording what ever was going through his mind for later.

It's not his fault. At the end of the day, he's still only a man- a man with someone so pretty sitting on his counter, allowing him to touch however he pleases. Your face is still splotchy from crying, hair a little messy from tugging at it so hard, but if anything, it's only adding to your appeal. Any guilt he may feel about the situation or its circumstances evaporates when he presses his thumbs deeper into your skin, fingers sinking into the fat of your hips.

“Kakashi?”

He hums but doesn’t give any further confirmation that he’s actually heard you. You see the moment he checks out of the conversation completely, the rough pads of his fingers pushing past your shirt to glide over your waist. He’s warm, not just in physical heat but in the way he sighs contently at the action, like hes been waiting for this. Hell, maybe has.

It’s weird to think that a month ago you were practically strangers. You attended the academy at the same time, been in anbu together, looked up to all the same people, and even shared the same friend group, yet you couldn’t have been less entwined. It took one night- just a single instance of mutual understanding- to bring you together after so many factors failed to do so, and now you’re a breath away from him hoping things will continue moving forward.

“Are you going to kiss me?” you ask, “Or are you just going to skip right to second base?”

He pauses, realizing just how close he had gotten to your chest. He swallows hard, his composure slipping a bit before steeling once more. “If you count that night in the shower, I’d say we were already there.”

“So, no kissing?”

Kakashi laughs and in one smooth motion detaches himself from your waist to pull down his mask. You don’t have any time to truly appreciate his features before his head dips down and his lips press against yours. It’s chaste, only lasting a second before he briefly pulls away just to return harder, his palm pushing on your back so your chest is pressed to his. His lips are a little dry, likely from the incoming winter, but soft and inviting nonetheless. Your hands move up, fingers gliding through his hair and settling on his neck to pull him in. Every motion is fluid, completely in tune with one another, and if you were the least bit of a romantic you’re sure this is what you’d call fate.

You’ve kissed other people before, but never like this- like the other person isn’t just on the same page as you, but like they’re reading the same sentence. He moves when you do, tilts his head in all the right directions, and knows just when you need a breath of air. When he finally pulls away, your gaze meet his. His cheeks are flushed and you’re sure you’re no better off. That red eye of his is still spinning, remembering everything about the moment and for a moment you envy the ability.

“Satisfied?”

You huff out a laugh and gently tug at his hair in retaliation.

“Not quite.”

“Damn,” Kakashi sighs dramatically, “Guess we’ll have to keep going then.”

You smile, already leaning in towards him.

“Guess so.”

#naruto x reader #Naruto #naruto shippuden #kakashi hatake x reader #kakashi fluff #kakashi x reader #kakashi fanfiction #hatake kakashi #kakashi hatake #skyahri #anime #shocked part 2 #shonen jump #kakashi hatake fluff #Naruto fluff

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ichxraaa · 3 months ago

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↳ shikamaru is not a genius all the time

just a bit of a not so smart shikamaru because of love

warnings; mentions of blood and injuries because shinobi world

It’s always funny, or at least peculiar when things go just the way you wanted, but not exactly the way you envisioned it happening.

It had been on his mind for a couple of weeks now, what would it be like to stare right into your eyes as your breath was so close to him he could call it sharing. It had been meddlesome and inconvenient at times, and it just so happened to be one of those things he simply could not take his mind off of no matter how hard he tried.

Like that time Asuma had beaten him after a particularly deceiving and bold move with a pawn and a daring knight, or that time Ino had called him overly oblivious for someone so smart, or like when Mirai Sarutobi had held his thumb for the first time after she and Kurenai had been released from hospital and those brightly crimson eyes looked like a king.

This moment was just like those, here you were, squeezed together between a pair of rusty and weathered buildings, the sound of explosion and gunpowder overwhelming his nose and the promise of a heavy bruise on his ribs after he had been kicked away from the top of a tree.

There is blood running from the split skin from your forehead and your eyes have a hyper aware stare as you listen to the hurried steps running alongside you. All you need is five minutes to find the runes you came all the way from the Leaf to collect, a hope to be able to understand if Kaguya has any more relatives ready to visit you again, or if the Hinata incident was only an isolated circumstance, which he honestly doubts.

And it’s irrational, cause he knows he can think of a way to distract your persecutors to give you enough time to go back into the forest so you can copy the information and he knows you would be able to protect yourself after the initial surprise attack, he knows he can lead most of the the other shinobi away from you, and yet he doesn’t feel like wanting to put you through that again.

How bothersome.

He sighs, thumb brushing over your bleeding forehead for, and only for a medical assessment, the low of his belly does an unnecessarily agitated flip as you look up at him, he tries to see if you are scared by the look of your eyes but he only ends up noticing how thick your lashes look from up this close.

A new explosion makes the back of his neck tingle, it’s not even close to the place where the two of you are hiding, meaning the persecutors have lost your trail and he can think of his next move to get you in and out of the cave in the middle of the forest without any new scratches.

He closes his eyes for a second, mind reeling with the best option to move forward, and an unfamiliar but recognizable feeling of how stupid he is being and how this moment will probably join the list of things to hyperfixate once he tries to close his eyes to go to sleep.

#i will always love #shikamaru nara #shikamaru x reader #shikamaru nara x reader #naruto imagines #naruto scenarios

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bogbees · 25 days ago

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*head in hands, sobbing* i am unwell ab Kakashi being stupid ab Iruka's smile

like! assuming they hadn't interacted much until Naruto became Kakashi's student, that's roughly 3 months of Kakashi watching Iruka smile around him, at Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke, Teuchi and Ayame, Hiruzen, Asuma, Kurenai, anyone else but him.

All Iruka gives him is these tentative smiles that are simply polite, nearly customer service, always with an air of nervousness. So Kakashi studies how the ppl interacting with Iruka behave to get those smiles. It's usually ppl he knows. But occasionally a stranger will compliment something he's proud of and it's. Damn. If only Kakashi could get that sort of smile directed towards him. It'd be like basking in the glory and warmth of the sun.

We can imagine him trying the waters, saying things to gauge the smiles, figure out what makes Iruka happy over the course of three months, getting more confident as time goes on, even after land of waves,

and then finally, a week before the chunin exams, he remarks he considers Iruka to be Naruto's hero, and there it is, a glowing smile that impossibly warms up Kakashi's frigid soul like the sun, that makes him inclined to melt into a puddle of joy where he stands.

half an hour later, he fucks it up, and gets the undiluted firey rage of the sun instead.

and seldom after that does he even witness a smile grace Iruka's lips.

↑ this is like. based on my observations that we really don't see Iruka properly smile until Naruto invites him to Ichiraku's post Sasuke coma wake up. Kakashi is literally the reason for his first smile like that and then literally the reason he doesn't do it for chapters on end. like he has this confident smile when team seven summons him, but it's not the same thing.

#bogs' muttering #kakairu

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ladykissingfish · 7 months ago

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*Asuma and Kurenai walk up on Kakashi standing motionless and plastered against a tree while Team 7 trains in the field*

Asuma: Oi, Kashi? What in the world are you doing?

Kakashi, barely moving his lips while speaking: Shhh. I promised my kids I’d take them for lunch after training but I’m broke. If I don’t move they won’t see me and think I’ve gone home.

Kurenai: Are you joking? You’re just standing there, you’re not even camouflaged! You really think they won’t see you just because you’re standing still and —

*Kakashi quickly closes his eyes as Naruto runs up*

Naruto: Oi, where’d Kakashi-Sensei go?? *looks around*

Sasuke: I told you that shitty old man was too cheap to buy us lunch. Let’s go home.

Sakura: Wait; Asuma-Sensei, Kurenai-sensei! Kakashi-sensei must have had to leave on an emergency mission or something, so he told you both to take us out for food instead, right? How sweet of him!

Naruto: Oh, that must be right! *grabs Sakura and Sasuke by the arms and starts dragging them towards the road* Let’s go! C’mon Senseis, I’m hungry get enough to eat ten bowls of ramen all by myself!

Asuma and Kurenai:

Kakashi, keeping his eyes closed and speaking in a low voice: Good luck.

@kakashiweek

#kakashiweek2024 #kakashi week 2024 #Day Seven: Stillness #team 7 #naruto #kakashi hatake #naruto uzumaki #sasuke uchiha #sakura haruno #asuma sarutobi #kurenai yuhi #yes I was thinking of Jurassic Park #ichiraku ramen

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13as07 · 9 months ago

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Friends #3

(Rock Lee & Shikamaru Nara)

[Artwork is not mine! Credit to Maxiuchiha22]

Requested by: Anonymous

Word Count: 3,699

Warnings and/or Pre-Notes:

Love Triangle

Name Calling: Pretty Girl, Good Girl

Sprinkle of Toxic Power Play

Sexual Tension

Unspecified Praying

Mentions of Scratch Marks

Asuma and Neji aren't dead cause I said so :)

Also, forever a believer that the Nara men call their women "Pretty Girl"

———————————————————————

Shikamaru's eyebrows are pushed together, annoyance coating his expression. He's kneeled down, hands busy messing with the bands of my safety vest, making sure they're done right. As always, Choji is oblivious to his best friend's recent fascination with me but it doesn't slide past Ino, who's side eyeing the hell out of us.

Sensei is outside of the room, on the other side of the door having a hushed discussion with whatever Sensei is responsible for the squad we'll be working with on this mission. The mission isn't a difficult one, just high profile, but that comes with any mission dealing with the family of another village's Kage.

"Why don't you tighten any of your straps? It's a drag having to fix them for you. Do you know how unsafe that is?" Shika lectures, a grumbly sigh being huffed out after my lesson on safety.

"Says the man who smokes a pack a day," I poke back, using the bad habit he's picked up from his father and Sensei alike. "That's not any safer."

"I don't smoke a pack a day. Three or four max."

"Per hour, maybe." Shikamaru's sharp eyes jump up to glare at me, slit and stressed and such a temptation to keep pushing his buttons.

The no-sex rule we agreed on last week during our heavy conversation about us was a dumb idea, and one I'm currently regretting. Why I agreed to that term during the walk home from the drugstore is beyond me. Whatever my thoughts were conjuring up then is no match for how sexy Shika looks on his knees, hands on my hip, mixed with the rooted glare on his face.

He's his sexiest while strategizing. Calm face, determination in his features, and not a single detail escaping the watchfulness of the melted bronze that make up his irises. But, stressed Shika is a close second. A very close second.

Slowly, he climbs back to his full height, keeping the close quarters between us as he stands. A tad of humor burns the edges of his expression, an expression I get a close look at as he inches his face closer to mine.

"Pretty Girl." The nickname comes out chilled despite the heavy humidity between us. "You are being both a bad shinobi and a bad clan member. Good girls don't mock their squad leader or their future chief." The slight squeeze of my thighs doesn’t go unnoticed, noted by a tip of Shika's lips as he pulls away from me.

The harsh whispers between the two of us caught more of Ino's attention, her nose scrunched and eyes swimming in confusion as they flicker between the two of us. "What was that about?"

"Somebody doesn't understand respect," he answers, sending me another pointed look. Shika settles against the wall, his body relaxed and counteracting the sharpness still present in his slit eyes. Even with our little heated moment, he's still focused on the mission. Definitely his father's son.

"With a squad leader like you, you can't really expect us to know what respect is, can you?" Choji teases with a slight chuckle in his voice, his focus on us now that his rice ball has been finished off.

"Shut up, Choji," Shika grumbles, his head rolling back, finally dragging his loaded stare off of me. I'm both glad not to be the center of his attention anymore and a bit unhappy with the torn-away heat of his stare, but I guess I shouldn't complain about the calm before the storm our mission is sure to bring.

The storm that's here a lot sooner than I expected. Just as everything is evening out, the door comes crashing open, slamming against the wall as it swings. "Hello, Team Ten! Team Gai is here to assist!" Might Gai yells, his excitement about everything including life itself shattering the relaxed vibe of the room.

All the chill from Shikamaru's position is gone, his muscles tight, especially his shoulders and his eyes heated again, but not in the way they warm up when looking at me. No, in the way that makes me fear he's going to burn Gai into a pile of ash. "You have to be kidding."

"I am just as unpleased with the situation as you are," Neji's monotoned voice filters into the room, a one-eighty to the sunshine and rainbows his Sensei oozes.

"Speak for yourself, Neji. I'm thrilled to be working with Team Ten."

If Shika's eyes could burn Gai to ash, they're now unleashing a thousand paper bombs on Lee, his temper hot enough I half expect actual flames to fill the sockets of his eyes.

Lee is unfazed by the glare my... I don't know what Shikamaru is to me anymore.

Lee is unfazed by the glare my future Chief is sending him, a full smile on his face and full attention on me. "I look forward to spending time with you again, Lotus-Chan, even if it is work-related."

"She told you to stop calling her that," Shikamaru butts in before I can reply, his tone not giving away any of the anger burning through his veins.

Dear Lord, help us on this trip. Or, at the very least, don't let Shika come up with any crazy ways to 'accidentally' get Lee killed.

"Oh, right," Rock giggles, his nervous playing between the two words. "My apologies. Still, I look forward to working with you again, Nara-San."

"I'm glad," I utter, trying my best to plaster a smile on my face.

For the most part, I've gotten over my little fling with Lee, chalking it up to miscommunication of my feelings caused by my enjoyment of his attention and the lack of Shika's attention because of his recent time spent with Tamari.

Now, with both the guys in the room, the only thing I can think about is running my fingers through Shikamaru's hair until he calms down. Lee isn't even a wisp in my thoughts.

"Great," Sensei drags out, looking at Shika with a mix of 'What the hell?' and 'What’s going on?' written on his face. "Great, I'm so glad we're all so excited to work together," he softly cheers, a bit of a hiss poking out and aiming at our squad leader.

"Me too!" Gai cheers, hooking an arm around Asuma's neck and yanking him down a bit. "This is going to be so fun!"

Dear Lord, please let me survive this mission, both physically and mentally.

———————————

Good note: Shika hasn't killed Lee yet. Bad note: the atmosphere is packed so full of his loathing that even Choji notices.

As I suspected, the mission isn't too difficult. The Tsuchikage's daughter seems to be at ease, too wrapped up in her one-sided flirting with Sensei to care much about her safety. Neji and Shika are on each other a bit, the two big brains pulling teeth to agree on anything. Aside from that, it's been a breeze. No attacks, no signs of enemies, and plenty of empty space to fill.

Gai is busy hounding Choji with failing attempts to get him to join his work-out regiment. Tenten and Ino are talking about her upcoming wedding with Sai. Shika and Neji are fighting again, debating where the next stop should be. That leaves Lee and me silent, the boy standing two people away from me without a lick of an attempt to hide his staring.

I keep my eyes forward, trying to focus on scanning the dark forest for any possible threats. It's better than stressing about Shika's constant fighting or Lee's constant attention on me. I can't ignore it for long though, the latter of the boys slowly weaving his way over to me.

"Hello, Lotus - er - Nara-San," he greets, his usual huge smile on his face. "How's this side of the carriage."

"About as eventful as your side," I answer, sparing him a tight worn smile.

Rock doesn't pick up on my silent command to leave me alone. Instead, he keeps up his loose posture and grinning expression. "I'm not too sure about that. It seems Neji and Shikamaru are about ready to brawl."

My eyes flicker forward, taking a peek at the two squad leaders. For once, Neji is actually expressing emotion. Anger, most definitely, but still an emotion. Shika on the other hand seems relatively calm, nothing but the spark of a new challenge in his eyes. I swear those two mix like water and oil.

"That would be a wonderful sight to see."

"Not as wonderful as seeing you," Lee answers, instantly making my nose turn up. There was a time I would have been thrilled to have him flirt back, but now all I can think about is how cheesy the line is and how Shikamaru would never waste his breath on something so overused.

Shika isn't much of a romantic, even less so when it comes to words, but he picked up his father's gift of speaking in ways that make poets jealous. There are reasons Shikaku is happily married and why his specific lineage is in charge of the Naras. Brains, bronze, and words able to affect others are those reasons. All reasons why his son is suitable to take over. All reasons why his son makes my heart and core burn in equal but different ways.

"But anyway," Rock starts up again, his attention tearing away from our squad leaders to focus on me again. "I really am happy to be working with you again. I know we haven't been..." his words cut off, a soft exhale and a shrink of his smile filling the gap. "I know a lot has happened between us recently and I respect your decision to take some space, but I do miss you. I miss talking to you and seeing you and getting to hang out."

My mouth clicks open, the words for a response stuck in my throat. Just as I finally muster the different syllables onto my tongue, I'm cut off. "Ya? Would you miss my foot up your ass too? Or maybe you just miss the makeout sessions. Is that what it is? Do you miss having a Pretty Girl fill the void of Sakura's rejection?"

All of a sudden, everything seems eerily quiet, like everything on and off the dirt path is watching the interaction unfolding.

"Hey, Shika," Lee greets, his voice weary and his eyes slowly peeling off of me.

"You don't get to call me that. She," Shikamaru motions towards me, eyes softening for a beat before they're back on his newest sworn enemy. "Gets to call me that. Hell, Ino and Cho could call me that if they wish. You don't." Before the older boy can answer, Shika's hand is around the arm loop of my vest, using it to tug me away for Lee.

After a step or two he freezes, slowly turning to look over his shoulder. "And another thing, for someone who says they 'respect her decision to take some space', you're not giving her any space. Learn to read body language and when the time is to back off," he hisses, pairing the lecture with another glare before continuing to yank me toward the front of the carriage.

Shikamaru finally lets me go once I'm situated in the front of the group, sandwiched between Neji and himself. The other squad leader flickers his eyes between the three of us, trying to read the situation before he comments on it. "Our teams may not get along, but I don't believe threatening those here to assist your mission is the smartest strategy you've had."

"I don't think poking at my anger is the smartest strategy you've had either so I guess we're even," Shika hisses, his glare now cemented on Neji instead of Lee.

Dear Lord, when I asked you not to let Shikamaru kill Lee, I didn't mean to let him kill Neji instead.

———————————

My eyes roll over Shikamaru, watching his reaction as he reads over the letter delivered to him a few minutes ago. His eyes are glued to the sheet, hands pressed into a triangle, and face scrunched in concentration. Slowly, I crawl across the length of my tent, settling on my knees behind him.

He's rooming with Choji and Ino was supposed to room with me, but she ended up switching and rooming with Tenten. I partly believe it's because she's catching wind of what's going on - which wasn't aided by the heated arguments earlier - but I also partly think it's because Tenten is more interested in the wedding details than I am.

With the change, Shikamaru had no shame sliding out of his tent and into mine to spend some time with me. Well, time that got interrupted by the letter from his father.

"If you keep thinking so hard you might blow a fuse," I lightly tease, sliding my hands up to start massaging his shoulders. They're littered with tension, giving me plenty of knots to rub out for him. "Why are you so stressed?"

"You don't need to worry about it. I have it all under control," he mutters, his shoulders relaxing under my touch. "You don't need to carry my stress around too, Pretty Girl. You have enough on your plate because of Lee and me."

"Your dad is still my Chief, Shik. It's my job to serve him," I whisper, tipping my head forward to paint lazy kisses up his neck. "Even if I don't serve him in the ways I serve you."

The double meaning of the word doesn't get lost in translation, evident in the hissy breath Shikamaru lets out. "We have an agreement for a reason," he utters, his body loosening even more despite the fact the head on his shoulders is keeping control. "I don't want your emotions and thoughts getting confused even more. Especially with Lee's constant attention and attempts at buttering you up."

"Lee isn't the man in my tent though," I coo, slowly trailing my hands off his shoulders and across his back, adding pressure to the scratches that have started to heal.

"I am now!" A chirpy voice rings out, shattering the heavy atmosphere that was starting to form. Slowly, Shikamaru and I both turn to look at the opening of my tent, being met with a toothy Lee. "What are you two up to?"

Shika tenses under my touch, sucking in a deep breath before slowly exhaling it. "Clan matters," he answers for us, wanting to keep whatever we are between the two of us until the whole love triangle thing is squared away for good.

"Oh, is everything okay back home?"

"Ya, it's fine. Just a small issue," Shika grumbles, tipping his head backward to gently knock it into mine. "I'm going to go relieve Sensei. Call if you need me."

"I will," I murmur, resting my head against his until he pulls away. Shikamaru takes longer than needed to get up and leave the tent, but I'm not surprised. Lee seems to be the biggest and easiest thing to get him worked up recently.

"Hello," I greet once I'm sure Shika has walked away and that we're alone.

"Hello," Rock echoes, taking slow and steady steps forward. Once he's no more than a step away, he sinks to the ground, sitting next to me on the floor of the tent. "So... Shikamaru is a little... protective of you."

"He always has been," I murmur, snatching up the letter left behind. It's technically not a lie. Shika and I have always been close, attached at the hip most of our lives. He knows every inch of me inside and out. The thought mixed with memories of our less-than-appropriate times together makes my skin heat up with the reappearing craving for the Nara Prince.

"Ya, that's true," Lee whispers, his voice seeming far away even though he's close enough that our knees touch. "Anyway," he chirps, head tipping toward me. "I want to apologize for earlier." I slowly blink as I stare at him, not sure what he thinks he needs to apologize for. "The fight and all," he explains before I can ask, a loose smile hanging on his face.

"Oh."

"I should have known you were going to tell Shikamaru and that he was going to be all jump-ity about me until things smooth out between the two of us. Especially after the whole scene at the store and all." Lee's shoulders jump up before falling back down again, a soft shrug to pair with his soft grin. "I'm sorry we got in another fight and that you had to be around for it again. I know how important he is to you."

"It's not that big of a deal, Lee. Shika will chill out after he's certain I'm over it all."

"Are you over it all?" He asks, the happiness falling from his face and being replaced with the rare seriousness Lee possesses. "I hope you're not over everything."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask, turning my attention away from the letter I've been roughly scanning, focusing my full attention on Lee. Like Shikamaru said, it's just a minor issue with the clan. Some way, shape, or form, someone misplaced a hundred pounds of venison and the Chief wanted to know if -

Before I know it, Lee's lips are pressed against mine, his hand gently cupping the side of my face. My body freezes, not a hundred percent sure what's going on, much less what to do about it. After a few beats, he inches away from me, still close enough that I can feel his soft breaths. The thumb pressed to my cheek rubs soft circles into my skin as his eyes roll over my face, waiting and watching for my reaction.

Dear Lord, it's me again. Are you actively trying to get Shik to murder Team Gai? If so, you're doing an amazing job.

———————————

"He what?!" Shikamaru yells, pulling the attention of our whole mini campsite to us.

"It's not that big of a deal," I whisper, eyes flickering around to see if everyone really is staring or if it just feels like that. Eight sets of eyes are on us; it's not the latter.

I knew Shika wasn't going to take the events of last night well, but I didn't think he'd get this worked up either. He's oozing more hatred than he has the whole trip, everything from his eyebrows down to his chest are pulled tight with tension, dark eyes slit more than usual and seeping into my soul as he looks at me. “I’m going to kill him.”

“No!” I yelp, trying to spring forward fast enough to grab him. I’m not fast enough. Shikamaru’s breakfast is disregarded on the ground, the man standing up and already two steps closer to Lee before I manage to scramble onto my feet. “It really isn’t that big of a deal!” I repeat, racing after him.

My arms wrap around him when I come into contact with him, my feet dragging and digging into the ground to try and stop him or at least slow him down. Neither happens. Shikamaru keeps trudging forward, skin burning and mind twirling with different ways to hurt Lee.

“It is a big deal,” he hisses, eyes locked on the man of the hour. “You asked for space and what does he do? Try to make out with you. I’m giving you space, do you know why? Because it’s not that goddamn hard.”

Neji stands up from his spot next to his best friend, chest puffed out but his usual calmness still in place. “It is too early in the morning for your attitude problem, Shikamaru. Honestly, for the laziest man in our generation, you sure have enough energy for your anger.”

Shika stops for a second, a sharp grin carving onto his lips. “Sit down, Neji, this doesn’t concern you.”

Before the other squad leader can respond, Shik has already thrown up a hand sign, one of his shadows wrapping around Neji’s legs and yanking on him until he falls back into a sitting position. The shadow stays wrapped around the man as I’m dragged forward again, the angry cloud back to his main mission.

“Hello,” his voice comes out dangerously cool, like a sharp end of an icicle. Shikamaru grabs a hold of Lee, balling up his body suit to drag him into a stand.

“Shika, please,” I whisper, tightening my arms around his waist. “This whole jealousy thing isn’t cute. It’s fine, really. Can’t you just leave it be?”

“I’m not jealous,” he utters, his main focus still on Lee who’s trying to fight free from his grasp. It’s a task he’s failing, courtesy of more shadows helping Shikamaru hold him in place. “If you want to be with Lee, fine. As your friend and your future chief, I want you happy first and foremost. I would prefer it to be with me but if it’s not, fine. I won’t force you into my arms or walk away from our friendship if you don’t choose me.”

“What I won’t do is let Lee repeatedly ignore your boundaries. Constantly shoving himself into your life like a goddamn thorn does that. Forcing you into a kiss does that too. That’s not giving you space. That’s forcing you into a situation you don’t want to be in. So, no, I won’t leave it alone.” Shika’s jaw is tight enough that I’m worried it’s going to lock and his knuckles are so white from his grasp that I’m surprised they haven’t popped yet.

“Walk away, Pretty Girl. It’s my job to take care of you, remember? I’m always focused on you.”

I let out a slow and deep exhale, reluctantly unlatching from Shikamaru. Once he’s free, he wastes no time walking away, dragging Lee along with him. Our Senseis fill in my gap, both of the older men racing after him and yelling at him to stop.

Dear Lord, I’m here to ask you again, don’t let Shikamaru kill Lee. Though, I’m pretty sure he’s going too.

———————————————————————

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