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Kakashi sighed, leaning back in his chair, his gloved fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. Across from him, Naruto was perched on the edge of his desk, practically vibrating with excitement, his blue eyes locked onto the teenage boy standing before them.Fifteen-year-old Kakashi stood stiffly in the center of the Hokage’s office, arms crossed over his chest, gaze sharp and skeptical. His uniform was old—ANBU style but lacking any modern insignia. His silver hair, spikier and wilder than usual, framed a youthful face that was already shadowed with the weight of too many battles. Except, he wasn’t supposed to be here.Naruto let out a delighted laugh, rocking forward. “Oh my god. He’s so tiny!”Kakashi exhaled a slow breath. “Naruto, please—”“I wanna squish him.”“Don’t.”Teen Kakashi’s eye twitched, his grey gaze narrowing. “Touch me, and I’ll break your fingers.”Naruto gaped for a half-second before bursting into laughter. “Oh my god, he’s feisty too! Look at you, all grumpy and tiny. You’re like a little angry hedgehog!”The younger Kakashi scowled. “Who the hell are you, and why are you talking like we know each other?”Older Kakashi let out a groan, rubbing his temples. “I had so much unnecessary attitude at that age…”“I think it’s great,” Naruto said, grinning. “But seriously, what happened, kid? What’s the last thing you remember?”Teen Kakashi hesitated, eye flicking between the two of them. He clearly didn’t trust them yet, but after a moment, he let out a slow exhale and spoke. “I was on a mission. A scouting mission near the border.” His expression darkened slightly. “It was a setup. We were ambushed. I tried to fall back, but—there was a light. Like, chakra I’ve never seen before. Next thing I knew, I was here.”Naruto frowned. “A light? Like a jutsu?”Kakashi—the older one—leaned forward, eyes thoughtful. “That does sound like a space-time jutsu, but one powerful enough to rip you across decades? That’s rare.”Naruto scratched the back of his head. “We could get Sasuke in on this. He’s got all that space-time stuff now, maybe he can—”“Sasuke?”Teen Kakashi cut in, looking suspicious. “Who the hell is Sasuke?”Naruto blinked. “Oh. Right. You don’t know him yet.”Teen Kakashi crossed his arms tighter. “I don’t know either of you. And you, old man,”—he gestured at Hokage Kakashi—“better quickly help me get back home.”Naruto howled with laughter.Kakashi sighed, rubbing his face. “I am not old.”“You’re wearing the Hokage robes,” young Kakashi said, unimpressed. “That means you’re ancient.”Naruto was practically doubled over at this point. “Ohhhh, this is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”“Good to know my suffering is entertaining,” older Kakashi muttered.Teen Kakashi, still skeptical, turned his gaze back to Naruto, scrutinizing him more closely. “And who are you, anyway?”Naruto smirked, still amused. “Naruto Uzumaki.”Something flickered in the younger Kakashi’s eye at the name. “Uzumaki…?” His head tilted slightly, his mind working through the connection. The blue eyes. Blond hair. Then his gaze snapped to the older Kakashi. His voice was more urgent. “He’s not Minato-sensei’s kid, is he?”Naruto’s smirk softened into something more genuine. “Close. I’m his kid and Kushina’s too.”It was like something inside teenage Kakashi broke.All the sharpness, the suspicion, the wariness—it all vanished in an instant. His entire demeanor changed, eye wide with a rare, raw vulnerability. His breath hitched.And then he lunged.Naruto barely had time to react before young Kakashi crashed into him, arms locking tight around his waist.Naruto blinked in surprise, then let out a startled laugh, automatically wrapping his arms around the smaller boy. “Whoa, hey! Look at you, getting all soft on me.”Teen Kakashi didn’t respond immediately. He just held on, fingers gripping Naruto’s jacket like he was afraid he’d disappear. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, almost fragile. “You’re really… their kid? How old are you?”Naruto’s expression softened even more. He ruffled young Kakashi’s spiky silver hair. “Twenty-one. And you? You’re way softer than you wanna admit, huh?”Older Kakashi let out a long sigh, watching his past self cling to Naruto. “This is getting ridiculous.”But beneath his mask, there was a small, knowing smile.And Naruto? He was already plotting how to convince tiny Kakashi to let him carry him around like a backpack.Teenage Kakashi finally pulled away from Naruto, though his fingers lingered slightly on the fabric of his jacket, like he still wasn’t sure this was real. His expression was a complicated mix of awe, confusion, and something unreadable—something hesitant.Older Kakashi sighed and leaned back in his chair, watching the scene unfold with a quiet amusement. “I suppose I should properly introduce myself too,” he said, voice even. “You probably already guessed, but yes—I am you. Just… quite a few years older.”Teen Kakashi turned slowly, looking at the older man with open disbelief. He examined him—really examined him this time. The silver hair, still defying gravity but a little more refined. The sharp, experienced eyes that held more weight than a boy of fifteen could comprehend. The relaxed but unreadable posture, the Hokage’s robes draped over his shoulders as if he wore them out of necessity rather than pride.“I…” Young Kakashi swallowed, his lips pressing into a tight line. “…I became Hokage?”There was no awe in his voice. No excitement.Just disbelief.Older Kakashi hummed lightly, tilting his head. “Surprised?”Teen Kakashi didn’t answer immediately. His gaze dropped to the floor, his fingers tightening into fists at his sides. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter. “I don’t… understand. Someone like me has no business becoming Hokage.”Naruto blinked, expression shifting. “What? What the hell do you mean by that?”Teen Kakashi’s jaw clenched. He didn’t meet anyone’s eyes. “Hokage should be someone good,” he said, almost bitterly. “Someone strong, someone who can protect their comrades, someone who can lead others without hesitation. Like Minato-sensei.”Naruto felt something snap inside of him.“The hell are you talking about?!” Naruto nearly shouted, stepping forward, his face twisted with offense on the older Kakashi’s behalf. “Kakashi-sensei—my Kakashi—is amazing! He’s the strongest shinobi I know! He always fights with his life on the line for his team, and he’s saved this village more times than I can count!”Teen Kakashi finally looked up, startled by the sudden outburst.Naruto wasn’t finished. His blue eyes were burning, his hands clenched into fists. “I don’t know what kinda messed-up stuff you’ve got running through your head, but Kakashi-sensei has always been someone worth looking up to. He’s strong, he’s smart, and he’d throw himself into the middle of a war if it meant saving the people he cares about. So don’t stand there and talk like he’s not good enough!”The office was silent.Teen Kakashi just stared.Older Kakashi exhaled softly, eyes crinkling in something close to fond amusement. “…Naruto.”Naruto scowled, still riled up. “What?! He needed to hear it.”Teen Kakashi looked between them, something unreadable in his expression. “You really… think that highly of me?”Naruto crossed his arms. “Damn right, I do.”Young Kakashi lowered his gaze again, his expression unreadable. His fingers twitched slightly at his sides. “…I don’t understand.” His voice was quieter, almost hesitant. “How did I… become someone like that?”Older Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, watching his younger self struggle with a future he never could have imagined.“You’ll figure it out,” he said, voice gentle. “In time.”Teen Kakashi said nothing, his expression troubled. He wasn’t convinced.But Naruto wasn’t done yet.“Well, since you’re here, you’re gonna see how great you turn out.” Naruto smirked, jabbing a thumb toward his chest. “And I’m gonna make damn sure you get it through that thick skull of yours.”Young Kakashi blinked. And despite the weight in his chest, despite the darkness in his thoughts—he felt, just for a moment, like he could almost believe it.Older Kakashi exhaled through his nose, sitting up straighter in his chair. “Well, as much as I’d love to spend the entire day babysitting my angsty teenage self, I do have a village to run.”Teen Kakashi shot him a glare. “I don’t need a babysitter.”“You say that,” Hokage Kakashi drawled, “but considering you just fell through space and time and are currently having an identity crisis in my office, I’d say you could use a little supervision.”Young Kakashi scowled but didn’t argue.Naruto, still worked up from their earlier conversation, perked up at the words. “Wait, are you saying I get to hang out with mini you all day?”Older Kakashi’s eyes curved slightly in amusement. “I am Hokage, after all. My responsibilities come first.” He turned his gaze to Naruto. “You, on the other hand, are perfectly free to show our unexpected guest around.”Naruto’s grin widened. “Oh hell yeah! This is gonna be great!”Young Kakashi did not look nearly as enthusiastic. “I never agreed to this.”“You don’t get a say,” older Kakashi replied smoothly. “Naruto, take care of him. Try to keep him out of trouble.”Naruto puffed out his chest. “Pfft. Please. I can totally handle a tiny, grumpy Kakashi.”Teen Kakashi shot him a deadpan look. “You wish.”Naruto just grinned. “Aww, don’t be like that, buddy. We’re gonna have so much fun!”Older Kakashi waved them off. “Try not to destroy anything. And Naruto?”Naruto turned back. “Yeah?”A slow, knowing smirk formed under the older Kakashi’s mask. “Don’t let him out of your sight.”Naruto blinked. “Wait. Why do you sound like you’re setting me up for—”Teen Kakashi poofed.Naruto’s jaw dropped. “HEY! Where the hell—”A voice came from the open window. “I’m not a child. I don’t need to be babysat.”Naruto turned just in time to see teen Kakashi perched on the windowsill, making a casual escape.“Oh, hell no!”With a burst of chakra, Naruto launched himself at the window, barely managing to grab the back of teen Kakashi’s collar before he could disappear.“Nice try, buddy!” Naruto hoisted the struggling teen back into the office, grinning. “You’re stuck with me.”Teen Kakashi huffed. “Tch. Fine. But if I have to do this, I want food.”Naruto gasped dramatically. “Oh my god. I knew we were destined to be best friends. Ramen it is!”Older Kakashi just shook his head as Naruto dragged his younger self out the door. This was going to be interesting.
 
Naruto and young Kakashi strolled through the streets of Konoha, the older boy leading the way with an easy confidence while the younger walked beside him, still guarded, still analyzing everything.It was… strange.The village looked the same and yet completely different. It was bigger, more lively, the buildings taller and more refined. But it was the people that truly caught his attention. Shinobi and civilians alike walked together with an ease he wasn’t used to seeing. There was no tension in the air, no fear of war lingering in the expressions of those passing by.It was peaceful. Too peaceful.Kakashi glanced at Naruto, who was currently shoveling an absurd amount of ramen into his mouth at Ichiraku’s, sighing contentedly between bites.“You’re a Jinchūriki, aren’t you?” Kakashi asked suddenly.Naruto didn’t even pause in his eating. “Yup.”Kakashi stirred his own bowl of ramen absentmindedly. “But… people keep greeting you like you’re some well-liked celebrity.”Naruto glanced at him from the corner of his eye, swallowing his mouthful of noodles. His usual grin softened just a bit. “Well, I am pretty well-liked around here nowadays.”Young Kakashi frowned. “I don’t understand. Where I come from—”Naruto leaned back, crossing his arms behind his head. “Things are different now. People change. The village changes.” His grin turned mischievous. “I don’t want to reveal too much but I did play a big part in saving the world. By Kakashi sensei’s side of course. Though he wasn’t Hokage back then just yet.”Kakashi’s expression darkened slightly. He poked at his noodles without eating them. “…Is he really worthy of that title?”Naruto’s grin faded as he regarded the younger version of his teacher more seriously. “You really doubt yourself that much?”Kakashi’s fingers curled around his chopsticks. “I just… don’t see how I could ever be that kind of person.”Naruto exhaled through his nose. “Listen, I don’t know what kinda crap you’ve been telling yourself, but I know there’s no one better for that position than Kakashi.”Kakashi looked at him, searching for any hesitation, any uncertainty. But Naruto’s eyes burned with absolute conviction.He believed in him.It reminded him so much of Minato that it almost hurt.A small, almost reluctant smile tugged at the corner of young Kakashi’s lips. “…You really believe that?”Naruto grinned. “Of course! But don’t get too comfy—‘cause I’m gonna kick him off the post someday.”Kakashi blinked. “What?”Naruto jabbed a thumb at himself. “I’m gonna be the next Hokage. Let’s say he’s just warming up the spot for me.”There was something so pure in the way he said it. So determined.For the first time, young Kakashi let out a small, breathy chuckle. His sharp grey eye glimmered with something like admiration. “You really are like Minato-sensei…”Naruto beamed. “Damn right I am!”They finished their meal in companionable silence, the weight of their earlier conversation lingering in the air. But Naruto, ever the restless ball of energy, wasn’t done yet.As they left Ichiraku’s, he stretched his arms above his head. “Hey, Kakashi.”Kakashi looked at him warily. “What?”“I got a favor to ask.” Naruto smirked. “How ‘bout a spar?”Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “Why?”Naruto grinned. “I’m dying to know how strong you were at this age.”Kakashi scoffed. “And what makes you think you can handle me?”Naruto laughed. “Ohhh, now you’re talking my language.” He cracked his knuckles. “Let’s take this to Training Ground Three. No holding back.”Kakashi’s lips curled into a small, confident smirk. The air crackled with anticipation as Naruto and young Kakashi faced off in Training Ground Three. The familiar clearing, surrounded by towering trees, had seen countless battles—Naruto’s own training, his fights with Sasuke, even Kakashi’s infamous bell test.Now, it was about to witness something entirely new.Kakashi stood poised, one hand resting near the hilt of a kunai, his grey eye sharp and calculating. He wasn’t underestimating Naruto—he had seen and heard enough in just a few hours to know that would be a mistake. But still, the idea that this grinning idiot could actually push him to his limit?That, he had to see for himself.Naruto, for his part, was thrilled. He had always wondered how strong his sensei had been as a kid. And now he was going to find out firsthand.“Alright, kiddo,” Naruto teased, stretching his arms. “You sure you’re ready for this?”Kakashi scoffed. “I should be asking you that.”And then, in a blur of speed, Kakashi vanished.Naruto barely had time to dodge before a kunai zipped past his cheek, slicing through a lock of his hair. He blinked. Whoa, he’s fast.Then Kakashi was on him. He moved like a shadow—silent, precise, ruthless. His attacks were relentless, kunai and taijutsu flowing together seamlessly.Naruto blocked, ducked, and parried, his grin widening with every clash. Holy crap. He had known Kakashi was a prodigy, but actually fighting him at this age was a whole other level of crazy.Kakashi flipped back, hurling three shuriken at Naruto in quick succession. Without missing a beat, he weaved hand signs at a speed most adults couldn’t match.“Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!”Flames roared toward Naruto, the heat licking at his skin.Naruto leapt into the air, dodging just in time. Okay, okay—he’s really damn good.He landed with a smirk, dusting off his jacket. “Not bad, not bad! You’re even more of a beast than I expected.”Kakashi narrowed his eye. “You’re holding back.”Naruto grinned. “Well, yeah. I had to make sure you were good enough first. But since you can handle yourself…”He clasped his hands together.And then the air changed.Golden chakra erupted around Naruto’s body, flaring up like a miniature sun. His hair shimmered, his whisker marks darkened, and the slit of Kurama’s eyes glowed beneath his golden lids. The sheer pressure of his chakra sent a wave of dust and leaves scattering.Kakashi froze.His breath hitched.“What…” His voice was barely above a whisper. “What jutsu is this?”Naruto grinned, his new form humming with raw energy. “This? This is my Jinchūriki power. Kurama Mode.”Kakashi stared. His heart pounded. The fact that Naruto could not only control the Kyūbi’s chakra but wield it like this—effortless, refined, almost majestic—was beyond anything he had ever imagined. Suddenly painfully aware of the extent of Naruto’s strength he hurriedly uncovered his other eye, revealing his Sharingan.He barely had time to process before Naruto moved.Kakashi’s instincts screamed at him to dodge, but even with the Sharingan he couldn’t keep up.Naruto appeared behind him in an instant, grinning cheekily. “Yo.”Kakashi spun, barely managing to block Naruto’s palm strike with his forearm. But the force behind it sent him flying. He flipped midair, landing on his feet, skidding back several feet across the dirt.Naruto whistled. “Damn, you actually blocked that? Kid, you’re insane.”Kakashi exhaled slowly. His muscles tensed. His mind was racing.If he was going to stand a chance, he had to fight like his life depended on it.And so, he did.The two of them clashed again—Naruto moving like lightning, Kakashi countering with speed and skill that most fully grown shinobi could never hope to match. Kunai clashed against golden chakra arms. Rasengan met Chidori in a dazzling explosion of light.Naruto was careful. He never aimed to actually hurt Kakashi—just push him, test him, see just how far his younger self could go.And the results?They were damn impressive.Finally, after a particularly intense exchange, Naruto leapt back, raising a hand. “Alright, alright. I’ve seen enough.”Kakashi, panting slightly, eyed him warily. “…What?”Naruto grinned and crossed his arms. “You’re awesome. I’m calling it a draw.”Kakashi scoffed. “Tch. You weren’t even using your full power.”Naruto laughed sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. “Well… yeah. I mean, I didn’t wanna accidentally destroy you.”Kakashi scowled. “How considerate.”Naruto just beamed at him. “But still—damn, you’re crazy strong. You would’ve wiped the floor with my fifteen year old self. Just as badass as I expected from my sensei.”Kakashi blinked.And then… oh no.The tips of his ears burned. His fingers twitched slightly. There was a weird fluttering sensation in his chest, and he hated that he had no idea what to do with it.He looked away, scowling.Damn it.He might actually have a teeny tiny crush on Naruto.This was a problem.
 
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting warm hues of orange and purple over the village. After their spar, Naruto and young Kakashi had wandered around for a while, grabbing a few snacks and chatting about random things. Well—Naruto chatted. Kakashi mostly listened, occasionally giving short responses, though Naruto could tell he was more comfortable now.As they walked down the road toward Naruto’s apartment, the blond stretched his arms behind his head. “Alright, so where do you wanna crash tonight? You wanna stay at old man Kakashi’s place or my place?”Kakashi gave him a flat look. “You praise my older self like he’s some god and then you go and call him ‘old man’.”Naruto grinned. “C’mon, it’s funny! You should at least give him crap while you’re here.”Kakashi rolled his eyes, thinking for a moment. He could probably stay with his older self… but something about that felt weird. He wasn’t sure he wanted to see what his house looked like in the future. What if it was depressing? What if it was lonely? He wasn’t sure he wanted to find out.He shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I’ll stay at yours.”Naruto blinked. “Wait, really?”Kakashi glanced at him, his voice completely casual. “You said you wanted to hang out, right? This way, you won’t get all whiny about me leaving.”Naruto snorted. “Dude, you so wanted to stay over. Just admit it.”Kakashi scoffed. “In your dreams.” They arrived at Naruto’s apartment, and as soon as Kakashi stepped inside, he froze.“…What,” he said flatly, staring at the disaster zone that was Naruto’s living space.Naruto blinked, looking around. Clothes were scattered over the furniture, empty ramen cups were stacked in questionable places, and there was a mountain of scrolls and mission papers shoved into a corner.Naruto laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh… yeah, I might have let things pile up a little.”Kakashi crossed his arms. “This is a health hazard.”Naruto scoffed. “Oh, come on, it’s not that bad—”“It’s disgusting.” Kakashi turned to him, his tone utterly unimpressed. “You’re an adult, aren’t you?”Naruto’s eye twitched. “Oh my god. I can’t believe I’m getting scolded by a kid.”Kakashi shook his head, walking over to the nearest pile of junk and kicking at it. “We’re cleaning this up. Now.”Naruto groaned. “Ughhh.”“Now, Naruto.”Naruto grumbled under his breath but started picking things up anyway. “You’re literally the same as my sensei. I thought maybe you’d be more chill as a teen, but nope. You’re still a bossy neat freak.”Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “If I were really a neat freak, I wouldn’t be touching any of this.”Together, they managed to make the place semi-presentable. Naruto shoved his clothes into the laundry pile (aka, into a bag that he would probably take care of later), and Kakashi organized his scattered scrolls and mission papers into something that resembled order.After about half an hour, Naruto flopped onto the couch with a dramatic sigh. “Finally.”Kakashi surveyed the room and nodded approvingly. “Acceptable.”Naruto rolled his eyes but grinned. “Well, now that we don’t have to sleep in a trash heap, I call dibs on the bed.”Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “Well, it is your apartment.”Naruto winked. “Exactly.”Kakashi shook his head and took the couch without complaint. He laid back, folding his arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling as Naruto stretched and flopped onto his bed.For a while, there was silence. The kind that wasn’t uncomfortable.“…Hey,” Naruto said suddenly, voice quieter. “You doing okay?”Kakashi blinked. He turned his head slightly toward Naruto. “What do you mean?”Naruto shrugged, still staring at the ceiling. “Y’know. With all this time travel, future stuff… meeting me.” He grinned slightly. “Figuring out you turn into a total badass Hokage.”Kakashi let out a quiet breath. “It’s… a lot.”Naruto hummed. “Yeah, I figured.”A pause.Kakashi spoke again, softer this time. “…Thanks.”Naruto blinked. “For what?”Kakashi didn’t answer immediately. Then, “…For making me feel like I belong here.”Naruto stared at him for a moment.Then, with a bright smile, he threw a pillow at Kakashi’s face.“Oi—!”“That was too sentimental,” Naruto declared. “Go to sleep before you say something else that makes me wanna squish you again.”Kakashi scowled, chucking the pillow back at him. But his lips curled up just slightly.Yeah. This wasn’t so bad. The next morning Naruto and Kakashi strolled through the village streets, heading back to the Hokage’s office. The sun was warm, the streets were bustling, and for once, Kakashi didn’t feel completely out of place.Naruto stretched his arms behind his head. “Man, I slept great. How ‘bout you?”Kakashi shrugged. “It was fine.”Naruto smirked. “Aww, did you miss home?”Kakashi gave him an unimpressed look. “No.”Naruto snickered, then elbowed him lightly. “Betcha old man Kakashi’s gonna be real curious about what we did all night.”Kakashi sighed. “If he asks, I’m telling him you’re a slob.”“Rude!”As they reached the Hokage Tower, Naruto grinned. “Alright, let’s see what he’s got planned for ya today. Maybe we’ll finally figure out how to send you back home.”For some reason, the thought made Kakashi’s chest feel a little heavier than before.…Weird.He shook it off as they entered the office.Kakashi looked up from his paperwork, one eyebrow raised. “Still in one piece, I see.”Naruto grinned. “Of course! We had so much fun, didn’t we, Kakashi?”Kakashi rolled his eyes. “If your definition of ‘fun’ includes cleaning your disaster of an apartment, sure.”Older Kakashi smirked beneath his mask. “Good. At least one of us has standards.”Naruto groaned. “Not you too!”The older man chuckled, then turned his attention to his younger self, his eyes softening slightly. “How are you holding up?”Teen Kakashi paused.“…Better than I thought,” he admitted quietly.Older Kakashi’s gaze lingered on him for a moment, something knowing and unreadable in his expression.Naruto clapped his hands together. “So! What’s next? We sending him home today or what?”Kakashi exhaled. “I’ve assembled a team of experts to investigate it. For now, we don’t have any leads.”Naruto groaned. “Man, time travel is such a pain.”Kakashi gave him a dry look. “Yes, thank you for that groundbreaking observation.”Naruto ignored him and perked up. “So, what’s the plan for today? Am I just supposed to babysit him again?”“You say that as if I need a babysitter,” young Kakashi muttered.Naruto elbowed him lightly. “Relax, kid, you’re in good hands.” He turned back to older Kakashi. “We could just hang around again, but I dunno, I kinda wanna do something.” He grinned. “Can you give us a mission?”Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? You could just take it easy.”“Nah, I sparred with him yesterday,” Naruto said, jerking his thumb toward the younger Kakashi. “And lemme tell you—this kid is insane. Seriously, it’s wild how strong he is at fifteen.”Young Kakashi stiffened slightly, his grey eye flickering to Naruto.Older Kakashi did not miss it.The way his younger self’s ears darkened just slightly more. The way he looked at Naruto—like he was something fascinating, something impossible.
Oh no.
This was going to be a mess.Naruto continued, completely unaware. “So don’t hold back! Give us something tough.”Kakashi sighed. He reached for a scroll, unrolling it and scanning the details before tossing it to Naruto. “Fine. A group of rogue shinobi have been causing trouble on the outskirts of the Land of Fire. They’ve been stealing from travelers, and we have reason to believe they’re ex-ninja. Your job is to track them down and neutralize the threat.”Naruto caught the scroll with a grin. “Now that’s what I’m talking about!”Kakashi gave him a flat look. “Don’t get carried away. This isn’t a game, Naruto.”Naruto waved him off. “Yeah, yeah, I know. We’ll handle it.”Teen Kakashi nodded, all business once again. “Understood.”As the two of them turned to leave, Kakashi’s gaze lingered on his younger self.The slight tension in his shoulders. The way he kept sneaking glances at Naruto.And then they were gone.Kakashi let out a long, suffering sigh, rubbing his face with one hand.Why did it feel like something really, really messy was about to grow out of this?  The mission had gone smoothly—almost too smoothly.Naruto had expected Kakashi to be strong, but actually seeing him in action was something else. His strategy, his precision, the way he adapted on the fly—it was insane how skilled he was at only fifteen.Kakashi, in turn, had never seen someone fight the way Naruto did. He was sheer power and instinct, moving with impossible speed and confidence. But more than that, there was warmth in the way Naruto fought. In the way he protected him without hesitation. In the way he spoke to Kakashi—with genuine belief in him.And that was a problem.Because Kakashi was finding himself staring too much.At the way Naruto grinned after a victory. The way his golden hair was always messy but somehow still worked. The way his blue eyes burned with that endless fire of his.He hated how much he liked it.He hated how much his chest tightened whenever Naruto smiled at him like that.And now, with the mission complete and the enemies taken care of, Naruto was standing in front of him, looking so damn bright—“You really are a beast, Kakashi,” Naruto said, grinning wide. “You did awesome today.”Before Kakashi could respond, Naruto reached out—And petted his head.Kakashi froze.His entire body locked up as Naruto ruffled his hair, laughing warmly.“Seriously, you’re crazy strong,” Naruto continued, completely oblivious to the way Kakashi was on the verge of malfunctioning. “You should be really proud of yourself, y’know?”Kakashi’s heart slammed against his ribs.Something inside him lurched.Before he could stop himself—before he could think—He moved.Up on his tiptoes.A quick tug of Naruto’s jacket.A swift motion—He pulled his mask down—And pressed a featherlight peck against Naruto’s lips.It lasted less than a second.But it felt like an eternity.When Kakashi pulled back, his heart was pounding in his ears.Naruto was frozen.Wide blue eyes locked onto him, his mouth slightly open. His cheeks—Oh, god. He was blushing.Kakashi’s face went up in flames.Naruto swallowed, voice slightly hoarse. “Uh—Kakashi—”Panic. Panic.Kakashi whipped around, yanking his mask back up. “It’s nothing. Forget it.”Naruto blinked. “Nothing?!”Kakashi crossed his arms, determined not to let Naruto see his face. “You were being annoying.”Naruto gawked at him. “Excuse me—what?!”Kakashi scowled, keeping his back to him. “You were all over me, messing with my hair, acting like I’m some damn puppy.” His voice was strained. “I just… shut you up.”Naruto just stared at him.His own face was burning, still thrown by what had just happened.And the worst part?…He didn’t hate it.Not even a little.
Oh, shit.
 Older Kakashi was busy reviewing mission reports when the door to his office opened, and Naruto and his younger self stepped in.The first thing he noticed?The air between them had shifted.Naruto, usually confident and animated, was acting weirdly stiff. His grin was there, sure, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes, and he kept rubbing the back of his neck—a clear nervous tic.Teen Kakashi, on the other hand, was uncharacteristically quiet. He stood slightly behind Naruto, hands stuffed in his pockets, and—most telling of all—his face was tinged pink.Kakashi narrowed his eyes.Yeah. Something definitely happened.“So,” he said casually, setting down the report in his hands. “How did it go?”Naruto jumped at the chance to speak. “It went great! Totally easy! The little guy here was awesome!”His voice was just a bit too enthusiastic.Kakashi hummed, letting his gaze shift to his younger self. Normally, fifteen-year-old him would have thrown in some dry remark—maybe something sarcastic or teasing. But this time?Nothing.The boy kept his head slightly lowered, his blush not quite fading.Older Kakashi’s suspicion deepened.Still, he nodded slowly. “Good work, both of you.” Then he turned to his younger self. “Why don’t you wait outside for a moment?”Young Kakashi hesitated for a split second before nodding. Without a word, he turned and left, shutting the door behind him.As soon as they were alone, Kakashi turned his sharp gaze on Naruto.“…Alright,” he said, voice calm but firm. “What happened?”Naruto stiffened. “W-What? Nothing! Why would you think something happened?”Kakashi just stared at him.Naruto shifted uncomfortably. “I mean, okay, something happened, but it’s not a big deal, really, I don’t even know why it happened, and honestly, he probably doesn’t know why it happened, so—”“Naruto.”Naruto groaned, running a hand down his face. His shoulders sagged. “Fine. He… uh.” He cleared his throat. “He kissed me.”Kakashi blinked.“…He what?”Naruto waved his hands frantically. “It was super quick! Like, just a peck! And then he panicked and tried to brush it off, and I was just standing there like an idiot because—” He gestured wildly. “I did not see that coming, okay?!”Kakashi exhaled slowly.On one hand, he wasn’t entirely surprised. Given the way his younger self had been looking at Naruto earlier, it wasn’t exactly shocking.But hearing it out loud still threw him for a loop.And—Why did that annoy him?He couldn’t quite explain it, but there was a twinge of something in his chest. Something close to irritation.Naruto, still flustered, rubbed his arm. “Man, I had no idea you were even into guys.”Kakashi blinked again. “Excuse me?”Naruto scratched his cheek. “Like, I just figured you were one of those people who doesn’t care about dating. Y’know, since you never showed interest in anyone.”Kakashi folded his arms. “I do have a personal life, Naruto.”Naruto squinted. “Do you, though?”Kakashi sighed. “That’s not the point.”Naruto tilted his head. “Wait—so does that mean you do have a secret boyfriend stashed somewhere?”Kakashi rolled his eyes. “No.”Naruto hummed, unconvinced. “Could’ve fooled me.”Kakashi gave him a dry look. “Just because I don’t advertise my personal affairs doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”Naruto grinned. “Super mysterious, as always.”Kakashi ignored him. “Listen,” he said, voice firm. “Just don’t let him get any ideas.”Naruto blinked. “Huh?”“I mean it,” Kakashi said. “Don’t indulge him.”Naruto frowned slightly. “It’s just a little crush. He’ll get over it.”Kakashi exhaled through his nose. “Or not.”Naruto hesitated before realization dawned on him.“…Oh.”Kakashi nodded.Naruto looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well… I mean, it’s not like I’m gonna encourage it or anything.”Kakashi gave him a pointed look.Naruto held up his hands. “Seriously! I got it! No leading your baby self on.”Kakashi exhaled. “Good.”  Naruto left the Hokage’s office feeling weird.His heart was still beating a little too fast, and he couldn’t shake the way Kakashi had looked at him—both the young and the old one.What was wrong with him?It was just a dumb little kiss. A spur-of-the-moment, no-thoughts, heat-of-the-moment kind of thing. Right?And yet—Naruto ran a hand through his hair, exhaling as he stepped outside.Young Kakashi was waiting for him by the railing, arms crossed. His face had mostly returned to normal, but there was still a slight pink hue dusting his cheeks. When he saw Naruto, he straightened a little.“…Everything good?” he asked, voice even.Naruto blinked at him. “Uh. Yeah.”An awkward silence followed.Naruto had no idea what to say. Did he bring it up? Act like it didn’t happen?Kakashi was the first to break the silence. “Did he ask what happened?”Naruto huffed. “Of course he did. He’s you. He’s not stupid.”Kakashi sighed. “Figured.”Another silence.Naruto scratched his cheek. “Listen, uh… about that.”Kakashi turned to him, expression unreadable.Naruto hesitated, then gave an awkward laugh. “I mean, it was kinda surprising, y’know? I really didn’t see that coming.”Kakashi shifted slightly, gaze flickering away. “Yeah. Me neither.”Naruto blinked. “Wait. You didn’t?”Kakashi exhaled, looking mildly irritated—mostly at himself. “No. It wasn’t exactly planned.”Naruto watched him, noticing the way his fingers twitched slightly at his sides.Then—Kakashi suddenly turned his gaze back on him, serious now. “Did it bother you?”Naruto’s eyes widened slightly. “Huh?”Kakashi frowned, looking almost hesitant. “…That I did it.”Naruto opened his mouth, then closed it.Did it?He should have been weirded out, right? It was Kakashi. And not just any Kakashi—his teenage version.But for some reason, he wasn’t.And that was the weird part.Naruto exhaled, rubbing the back of his head. “I mean, I was just surprised, that’s all.” He gave a sheepish grin. “Didn’t really hate it or anything.”Kakashi’s ears turned red.Naruto didn’t miss it.Before the silence could get any more awkward, Naruto clapped a hand on his back. “Anyway! Enough weirdness! Kakashi-sensei said they’re still working on figuring out how to send you back, so in the meantime, we just keep doing our thing.”Kakashi seemed grateful for the subject change. “Which means?”Naruto grinned. “Dunno. Guess we could spar again, or just hang around the village. Or we could get another mission.”Kakashi studied him for a moment before nodding. “Mission sounds good.”Naruto smirked. “Yeah? You just wanna impress me again, don’tcha?”Kakashi scoffed, masking whatever weird emotions were swirling behind his gaze. “You wish.”Naruto just grinned, but as they walked toward the mission desk, he couldn't ignore the lingering flutter in his heart.  The next day and back in the Hokage’s office, older Kakashi handed them another mission scroll.Nothing too crazy—just some bandits causing trouble on the outskirts of a neighboring village. Should be easy enough, considering how well they had worked together last time.As Kakashi passed the scroll to Naruto, he gave him a look.A very pointed look.One that said, without a single word, You remember what we talked about. Keep it friendly.Naruto fought the urge to roll his eyes. “Yeah, yeah,” he muttered under his breath. “I got it.”Older Kakashi hummed but didn’t say anything, instead gesturing for them to leave.And so they did. The mission went smoothly.No awkward moments. No weird tension. No second kiss.Just two shinobi working together, doing their job with ease.Naruto found himself once again impressed by young Kakashi’s efficiency, the way his mind worked so quickly in combat, and the sheer amount of skill he had at such a young age.And Kakashi, in turn, was watching Naruto just as intently—except this time, it wasn’t just admiration in his gaze. It was thoughtfulness.They were walking back toward Konoha, the mission complete, when Kakashi suddenly spoke up.“Do you like Kakashi?”Naruto blinked. “Huh?”“The older me,” Kakashi clarified, glancing at him sideways. “Is there something between you?”Naruto nearly tripped over his own feet. “What?! No!” He waved his hands. “What kind of question is that?!”Kakashi just shrugged. “It doesn’t make sense to me.”Naruto gave him a confused look. “What doesn’t?”Kakashi’s brows furrowed slightly. “If I started liking you this quickly… then why wouldn’t the older me have feelings for you too?”Naruto stopped in his tracks.For a second, he didn’t know what to say.Young Kakashi continued, crossing his arms. “He’s me. If I like you, then it only makes sense that he would, too. We’re the same person.”Naruto ran a hand through his hair, exhaling. “It’s not that simple.”Kakashi tilted his head. “Why not?”Naruto sighed. “You might have the same roots but you’re not exactly the same person. You weren’t my sensei, were you? But he was.”Kakashi blinked.Naruto gestured vaguely. “We had that teacher-student relationship for so long, y’know? I met him when I was a kid, and back then, I was nowhere near as cool as I am now.” He smirked a little. “Pretty sure I just annoyed the hell out of him.”Kakashi was silent for a moment, then quietly asked, “So you think he wouldn’t be able to see you in another light?”Naruto shrugged. “I know he wouldn’t. That’s just how it is.”Young Kakashi frowned slightly, looking unsatisfied with that answer. But he didn’t argue.Instead, he just turned forward and kept walking, his expression unreadable.Naruto was starting to think that was the end of it—that young Kakashi had just dropped the subject.But then—“…Forget about how he might feel,” Kakashi said suddenly, his tone quieter this time.Naruto turned his head, blinking. “Huh?”Kakashi looked straight ahead, his gaze unreadable. “I mean, just for a second, don’t think about him. I want to know your answer.”Naruto frowned slightly. “What are you talking about?”Kakashi finally turned his head, his dark eye sharp and intent. “Do you like him?”Naruto  opened his mouth—then closed it.For the first time in a long while, Naruto was stumped.“I—” He scratched his cheek, suddenly feeling uncharacteristically sheepish. “I dunno. I’ve never really… thought about it.”Kakashi studied him. “Why not?”Naruto huffed, glancing away. “Because it never felt like it was an option, y’know?” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I think Kakashi’s really cool. I always have. And yeah, maybe I feel some kinda… pull toward him.” He shrugged. “But it never seemed like he felt anything like that, so I just… never let myself think about it either.”Kakashi was quiet for a long moment.Then, unexpectedly, he asked, “Do you think he’s too old for you?”Naruto blinked before bursting out in laughter. “Pffft—what?!”Kakashi raised an eyebrow, waiting for an answer.Still chuckling, Naruto shook his head. “Nah. I mean, sure, I joke about him being old all the time, but I don’t actually see him that way.” He grinned. “To me, he’s just Kakashi. A super cool guy and an amazing shinobi.”Kakashi stared at him, lips parting slightly—like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure what.Naruto gave him a playful nudge. “Why? You worried I think you’re too old for me?”Kakashi scoffed, quickly schooling his expression back to neutral. “Tch. Hardly.”Naruto just laughed again, but in the back of his mind, something shifted.Because now, for the first time, he was actually thinking about it.  By the time they arrived back in the village, the sun was starting to set, casting a warm glow over the rooftops of Konoha. The mission had gone smoothly, and Naruto was feeling pretty good.“Well, I guess I should go report to the old man,” Naruto said, stretching his arms behind his head.Young Kakashi glanced at him. “You want me to come with you?”“Nah, I’ll just send a shadow clone to handle the debrief.” Naruto waved him off. “You did great on the mission, so let’s get some food in you.”Kakashi shrugged, indifferent, but Naruto could tell he didn’t mind the idea of eating together.He formed the hand seal, and with a puff of smoke, his clone appeared. “Alright, you know what to do,” he told his copy.“Yeah, yeah,” the clone grumbled, heading off toward the Hokage’s office while the real Naruto and young Kakashi made their way toward Ichiraku Ramen. Naruto’s clone knocked on the office door before stepping inside. “Yo, Kakashi-sensei—”He stopped.Kakashi was seated at his desk, as usual, but there was something… off about him.His posture was a little stiff, his fingers tapping lightly against the wood of his desk. And when he looked up at Naruto, there was the slightest hint of something that looked like… nervousness.Naruto’s clone frowned slightly but shrugged it off. “Mission’s done. It went fine. No complications.”Kakashi gave a nod, leaning back slightly. “Good. Any, uh…” He waved a hand vaguely, then looked at Naruto with a pointed expression. “Funny business this time?”Naruto rolled his eyes. “No. No more kisses, if that’s what you’re asking.”He swore he saw Kakashi’s shoulders relax slightly.Was he actually stressed about this?Before Naruto could tease him, Kakashi cleared his throat and shifted gears. “Anyway, the team working on the time displacement issue made some progress.”Naruto’s clone perked up. “Oh yeah?”Kakashi leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “They found some old manuscripts that might hold the key to sending him back. It looks like some kind of space-time jutsu record, but it’s heavily encrypted. They’re working on decoding it now.”Naruto whistled. “So what, it’s gonna take a while?”Kakashi nodded. “It’s not something that can be rushed. But we’re getting closer.”Naruto hummed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Huh. Guess that means we’ve got some more time with mini-you.”Kakashi exhaled, glancing at the window. “Yeah…”There was something in his tone—something almost resigned.Naruto squinted at him. “…You good?”Kakashi waved a hand dismissively. “Fine.”Naruto wasn’t sure he believed him. But whatever was on his mind, Kakashi clearly wasn’t going to talk about it.So instead, Naruto’s clone just grinned. “Well, if we’ve got more time, maybe I should take him on another mission tomorrow. The kid’s got some skills.”Kakashi gave him a dry look. “Just remember to keep him at arm’s length”Naruto smirked. “No promises.” And with that, he dispelled himself. As the memories of the conversation flooded into Naruto’s mind, he nearly choked on his ramen.Kakashi had definitely been nervous.And he’d definitely been relieved when Naruto said mini Kakashi didn’t kiss him again.Naruto glanced at young Kakashi, who was currently focused on his own bowl, silent but clearly deep in thought.For some reason, Naruto felt like things were about to get way more complicated.  As soon as Naruto’s shadow clone disappeared, Kakashi exhaled and ran a hand down his masked face.He had definitely not expected this situation to get so messy.But just as he was about to return to his paperwork, another knock came at the door.Kakashi’s brow furrowed. “Come in.”The door opened, and to his mild surprise, young Kakashi stepped inside.For a brief moment, the older Kakashi just stared at him, then sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Another clone? Naruto already debriefed me,” he said, voice tired. “If that’s why you’re here, you’re a little late.”But young Kakashi didn’t move.He stood tall, back straight, eye sharp and determined.Kakashi’s gaze narrowed slightly. Something about his younger self’s posture felt… too serious.Then, young Kakashi spoke.“I know you know about the kiss.”The older Kakashi’s fingers twitched.There was a long beat of silence.“…I see,” he said finally, his tone unreadable. “And?”The younger Kakashi took a step forward, gaze unwavering. “I like Naruto.”Older Kakashi inhaled slowly through his nose. “You barely know him.”“You think that matters?” young Kakashi challenged, grey eye flashing. “I don’t need years to recognize something important when it’s right in front of me.”Kakashi exhaled, fingers steepling in front of his face. He really did not have the energy for this conversation.“You’re a teenager,” he said evenly. “Teenagers get caught up in emotions all the time.”“I’m not just some lovesick kid,” young Kakashi countered. “I know what I’m feeling.”Kakashi didn’t answer, just studied him carefully.Then young Kakashi’s eye narrowed further. “You do, too.”Kakashi froze.For the first time since his younger self had walked in, something uncomfortable flickered across his face.Young Kakashi saw it immediately.“I’m not blind,” he continued. His voice dropped slightly. “But it’s your choice if you want to lie to yourself.”Kakashi’s mouth opened slightly, but nothing came out.Young Kakashi took another step forward. “I’m not asking for your approval.” His voice was firm, unwavering. “I’m telling you not to get in my way.”The older Kakashi exhaled slowly.For a long moment, he didn’t say anything.Then he stood up.The room suddenly felt smaller as the two versions of Kakashi faced each other, one calm and unreadable, the other sharp and determined.“…I have no intention of interfering,” older Kakashi said at last, his voice measured and calm.Teen Kakashi narrowed his eye, waiting for the but.Sure enough, the older shinobi exhaled and added, “Because there’s no need.” He leaned back against his desk, arms crossing over his chest. “Naruto isn’t going to take you seriously.”Young Kakashi stiffened slightly. “What?”Kakashi tilted his head slightly, his tone almost bored. “Naruto thinks you’re cute,” he said, emphasizing the word with clear amusement. “Like a puppy. Or a bratty little brother. That’s about as far as it goes.”Young Kakashi’s expression darkened.“I wouldn’t waste my energy pursuing this if I were you,” older Kakashi continued smoothly. “He’s just humoring you.”For a long moment, young Kakashi didn’t say anything. He just stared at his older self, something unreadable swirling behind his dark eyes.Then, slowly, his lips curled into something dangerously close to a smirk.“Is that so?” he murmured.Older Kakashi’s eyes narrowed slightly.Young Kakashi took a step back, his form already flickering at the edges. “Well then,” he said lightly, “try not to be too surprised when Naruto shows up with a hickey on his neck.”And with that, he puffed into smoke.Kakashi stood there, staring at the spot where his younger self had just been.His stomach twisted unpleasantly.And he hated that.He hated the way those words made something ugly and complicated coil in his chest.Dragging a hand down his face, Kakashi let out a long, slow sigh.God.He couldn’t believe what an ass his younger self was.  Naruto lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, thinking.Damn that Kakashi brat.Why did he have to go and say all that?Because now, for the first time, Naruto was really thinking about it.He tried imagining it—being with the older Kakashi. Not as student and teacher, not as Hokage and subordinate, but as… something else.And to his surprise, he didn’t hate it.In fact, it was kind of… nice.But at the same time, it was hard to believe.Kakashi had never given the slightest indication that he saw Naruto that way. Not once had Naruto caught him looking at him with interest, not once had he flirted, not once had he done anything that suggested attraction.Wouldn’t he have noticed? Wouldn’t he have felt it?Naruto groaned, pressing his palms against his face.Great. Just great. Now he was getting depressed over the idea that Kakashi wasn’t into him.What the hell was wrong with him?!All of this was young Kakashi’s fault. That little menace had put the idea in his head, and now he couldn’t get rid of it.With a frustrated sigh, Naruto rolled over and forced himself to sleep.  Naruto was still groggy when he met up with young Kakashi in the morning after running some errands. They walked through the village, aimlessly chatting, when Kakashi suddenly said:“Go on a date with me.”Naruto froze.“…What?”Young Kakashi looked at him, his expression completely serious. “I want to take you on a date.”Naruto blinked at him, his brain lagging.“Hold on,” he said, rubbing his eyes as if that would help him make sense of the situation. “You actually wanna date me? I thought the kiss was just a spur-of-the-moment thing.”Kakashi shrugged. “I wouldn’t have kissed you if I didn’t mean it.”Naruto sputtered. “That’s—look, that’s not how this works, alright?! You’re fifteen! I’m not gonna—” He ran a hand through his hair, struggling for words. “We can hang out, but it’s not gonna be a real date.”Kakashi tilted his head, considering this. “Alright,” he said after a moment. “Not a real date, then.”Naruto narrowed his eyes. “…You better not be plotting something.”Kakashi just gave him an innocent look.Naruto sighed. “Fine. Let’s just go.” They wandered the village for a while, stopping by different food stalls and chatting about whatever came to mind. For a not-date, it was actually pretty fun.But then—“Naruto!”They turned to see Shikamaru approaching, his expression mildly annoyed.“Yo, what’s up?” Naruto greeted.Shikamaru gave them both a flat look. “I’ve been looking for you. The Hokage sent me.”Naruto blinked. “Huh? Why?”Shikamaru sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Because you didn’t show up to receive your new mission.”Naruto gasped.“Oh shit, I totally forgot! I told Kakashi I’d take mini-him on another mission today!”Young Kakashi, however, remained completely unfazed.He turned to Shikamaru and, with perfect ease, said, “Tell the old man that Naruto and I are on a date. He’ll have to find someone else.”Shikamaru stopped.His eyes flicked between Kakashi and Naruto, slowly processing what he just heard.“…What?”Naruto panicked.“N-no, no, no, that’s not what’s happening!” He waved his hands frantically. “It’s not a real date! I mean, he asked me on a date, but I said it wasn’t one! We’re just hanging out!”Shikamaru’s expression remained unreadable.“…So, just to be clear,” he said, his voice disturbingly calm. “You’re not on a date with a fifteen-year-old.”“NO, I AM NOT,” Naruto practically shouted, absolutely horrified that he even had to clarify this.Shikamaru just hummed, watching him squirm.“You seem kinda defensive,” he mused.Naruto groaned. “Oh my god, don’t say it like that! You’re making it sound weird!”Shikamaru smirked. “It is weird.”Kakashi just watched the exchange in amusement, hands tucked into his pockets.Naruto shot him a glare. “You are not helping.”Kakashi merely shrugged, looking completely unbothered. “I was just being honest.”Naruto smacked his forehead. “I’ll show you honest.”Shikamaru sighed. “Well, regardless of whatever this is, the Hokage expects you in his office. So I’d suggest wrapping up your totally-not-a-date and heading over.”Naruto groaned again but nodded. “Yeah, yeah. We’re coming.”As Shikamaru walked ahead, young Kakashi leaned over to Naruto and said, “You should probably check your neck before we go. Just in case.”Naruto almost punched him. Naruto was still fuming when they stepped into Hokage’s office, young Kakashi strolling in with his usual nonchalance while Naruto followed behind, looking like he was barely restraining himself from strangling his companion.Shikamaru simply sighed and slumped against the wall, clearly washing his hands of whatever nonsense was about to unfold.Older Kakashi glanced up from his paperwork, immediately sensing something was off. His sharp gaze flickered between Naruto’s twitching eye and young Kakashi’s barely concealed smirk.“…I’m going to regret this,” he muttered, setting his pen down. “What happened this time?”Naruto opened his mouth—Young Kakashi cut him off.“We’re not taking a mission today,” he announced.Kakashi blinked. “Excuse me?”Teen Kakashi shrugged. “We’re on a date.”Naruto groaned, dragging his hands down his face.Kakashi’s gaze sharpened. “A date?”“Yeah,” young Kakashi confirmed easily.Older Kakashi’s fingers twitched. He turned to Naruto.Naruto immediately threw up his hands in defense. “It’s not a date! He asked me, and I told him it wasn’t one, but he just keeps—”“I’m still considering it a date,” young Kakashi interjected.Naruto glared at him. “I swear to god—”Older Kakashi let out a slow, measured breath. “So to sum up,” he said, fixing his younger self with a flat stare. “You’re refusing to take a mission because you want to play pretend with Naruto?”Young Kakashi tilted his head thoughtfully. “Yes.”A vein in older Kakashi’s forehead pulsed.Shikamaru, who had been leaning against the wall in silent amusement, finally spoke up. “Well, this has been fun,” he said lazily, pushing off the wall, “but this has nothing to do with me, so I’m heading out.”Naruto shot him a betrayed look. “You brought us here! You’re just gonna leave?”Shikamaru smirked. “Yeah.”And with that, he strolled right out of the office, leaving Naruto alone to deal with both Kakashis.Naruto turned back to the Hokage, watching as he pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly exhausted.Older Kakashi looked up, leveling his younger self with a dry stare. “You do realize I’m the one in charge here, right?”Teen Kakashi met his gaze without hesitation. “Then as your younger self, I suggest you give yourself the day off.”Naruto groaned again. This was going to be a long day.Older Kakashi stared at his younger self, feeling an increasingly strong urge to smack him upside the head.Objectively, he knew there was no real harm in letting them go. It wasn’t like Naruto was actually going to entertain whatever ridiculous ideas his younger self had.But still—After what his bratty teenage version had said yesterday, Kakashi couldn’t deny he felt mildly anxious about leaving Naruto alone with him.Not that he didn’t trust Naruto—he did. But his younger self had been relentless, and knowing how Naruto tended to roll with things instead of pushing back, Kakashi wasn’t sure just how much damage his little counterpart could do.Unfortunately, it wasn’t like he could justify forcing them to take a mission either.So with a tired sigh, he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple.“…Fine. Go hang out or whatever,” he said.Naruto exhaled. “Okay.”Young Kakashi, on the other hand, just smirked like he had won something.Kakashi shifted his gaze back to his younger self. “…Just don’t be annoying.”Teen Kakashi turned toward the door, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he started to leave. But just before stepping out, he cast one final glance over his shoulder—his smirk sharp and far too knowing.“I won’t be,” he said smoothly.Something about the way he said it made older Kakashi’s stomach twist.And then he was gone.Kakashi let out a long breath and leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling.God. He was exhausted.  The day had been a blur of fun. Naruto and young Kakashi had roamed the village, stuffing themselves with food, getting into friendly competitions, and even pulling a harmless prank or two—though Naruto had to scold Kakashi several times for being way too good at deception.Now, as the evening settled in, they found themselves back at the training grounds, their laughter echoing in the cool air as they wrestled in the grass like a couple of rowdy kids.Naruto had no idea that young Kakashi had other plans.Pinned under him, Naruto was too busy trying to break free to notice the sudden shift in Kakashi’s expression. But Kakashi noticed something—his nose picking up a faint but familiar scent.
Him.
The older Kakashi was nearby. Most probably watching.A smirk curled at the corner of young Kakashi’s lips. Oh, this is perfect.Before Naruto could react, Kakashi pulled down his mask then pressed his hands into Naruto’s shoulders to keep him in place. And then—He kissed him.Naruto went completely still. His brain short-circuited.One second, they’d been rolling in the grass, wrestling, and the next—what the hell—It wasn’t deep. Just a firm press of lips. But the shock of it froze Naruto in place.His brain was just catching up, his hands moving to shove Kakashi off him when—Suddenly, the weight was gone.Naruto blinked up in confusion, his heart still pounding—until his eyes landed on the scene above him.There, standing in the dim evening light, was older Kakashi.And he did not look happy.With one hand, he lifted his younger self into the air by the back of his clothes, holding him like a particularly disobedient kitten.The expression on his face was dark—cold and annoyed, a stark contrast to his usual lazy demeanor. His jaw was tight, his eyes sharp.Young Kakashi, for all his bravado, had the slightest look of surprise before quickly masking it with a smirk. “Oh. Hey there.”Older Kakashi’s grip tightened. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”Naruto felt his stomach sink.Oh shit.Kakashi had seen that.He had seen that.Naruto scrambled up to his feet, his face on fire. “K-Kakashi-sensei, this—it’s not what it—” He stopped. What was he even trying to say? He wasn’t even sure what this was!Older Kakashi’s gaze snapped to him for the briefest moment—too fast for Naruto to read what he was thinking—before settling back on his younger self.Teen Kakashi simply grinned. “What does it look like I was doing?”Kakashi’s grip tightened even more.Naruto swallowed thickly, his heart hammering.This was bad. This was really bad.The air was thick with tension.Naruto had seen Kakashi annoyed before, even pissed off—but this? This was something different.Kakashi was seething.His grip on his younger self remained firm, fingers curled tight in the fabric of the boy’s clothes as he held him effortlessly in the air. His eyes were cold, sharp, and dark.And young Kakashi was not unaffected. His smirk was still there, but there was something behind it—like he was carefully calculating his next move.Naruto swallowed hard. Okay. This was bad.Kakashi finally spoke, his voice eerily calm.“You think this is funny?”Young Kakashi tilted his head, feigning innocence. “I think it’s interesting.”Naruto stepped forward instinctively. “Oi, Kakashi-sensei, come on—”Older Kakashi ignored him, his attention locked onto his younger self.“Listen to me, very carefully,” he said, his voice low. “I don’t care what kind of reckless thoughts are running through your head right now, but this stops. Now.”Young Kakashi blinked at him, gaze unreadable. “…Why?”Kakashi’s fingers twitched. “You know why.”For a moment, the young Kakashi’s expression flickered. It was subtle, but Naruto caught it—the slightest crack in his mask.Naruto’s gut twisted.He suddenly had a very bad feeling about this.He didn’t know what exactly was going through the younger Kakashi’s mind, but for the first time, he didn’t seem to be doing this just to mess with them.There was something else going on here.But before Naruto could figure out what, older Kakashi finally let out a long breath, as if reigning himself in. He turned to Naruto, his face smoothing out into something more controlled.“…I’m sorry,” he said quietly.Naruto blinked. “Huh?”Kakashi’s expression was unreadable again, but there was something almost tired about it. “For this whole situation.” He exhaled. “I’ll be taking him with me for the night.”Young Kakashi raised an eyebrow but said nothing.Naruto hesitated, still feeling the weight of the moment, but nodded. “Alright.”Older Kakashi gave him a slight nod and turned to leave, still gripping his younger self firmly.Just as they were about to step away, Naruto called out.“Wait.”Kakashi paused, glancing back.Naruto scratched the back of his head, looking a little sheepish. “…Don’t be too harsh on him, yeah?”Older Kakashi stared at him for a long moment before sighing. “…I’ll try.”And with that, he disappeared into the night, his younger self in tow.Naruto stood there for a moment, staring after them, before finally letting out a deep breath and flopping back onto the ground.“Man,” he muttered, staring up at the sky. “What the hell is even happening anymore?”  The walk back to Kakashi’s home was silent.Older Kakashi still had a firm grip on his younger self, though he had finally set him down once they left the training grounds. The tension between them was palpable, but neither had spoken yet—until they stepped inside Kakashi’s apartment, the door clicking shut behind them.That’s when young Kakashi scoffed and turned to face him, arms crossing over his chest.“You really think you have the right to butt in?” he asked, tilting his head with that same insufferable smirk. “Naruto isn’t yours, you know.”Older Kakashi’s expression remained neutral. “I never said he was.”“Then what was that back there?” Young Kakashi stepped closer, challenging. “You storm in, pull me off of him, and now you’re dragging me back here like I committed some kind of crime.” His smirk widened. “You’re acting like a jealous boyfriend.”Older Kakashi’s eye twitched.“I’m not jealous,” he said evenly.Teen Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So if I were to kiss him again, right in front of you, you wouldn’t care?”The silence that followed was dangerous.Older Kakashi’s eyes darkened. His entire body radiated something heavy, something that made even his younger self pause for a fraction of a second.“…Try it,” he said quietly. “See what happens.”The challenge hung thick in the air.Young Kakashi’s smirk faltered just slightly, the corner of his lips twitching downward. He studied his older self’s face, searching for something.Finally, he clicked his tongue and leaned back against the wall, casual as ever. “Tch. So touchy.”Older Kakashi sighed. “Look,” he said, his voice calmer now. “This isn’t about whether Naruto is mine or yours or anyone else’s.” He looked down at his younger self. “But you’re fifteen. And Naruto—he doesn’t see you that way. You know that.”Teen Kakashi was quiet for a moment. Then, in a much softer voice, he asked, “Are you sure about that?”Older Kakashi frowned.Young Kakashi looked away, his expression unreadable. “You didn’t see the way he looked at me after I kissed him.”Older Kakashi had seen the way Naruto looked—stunned, confused, completely unprepared—but not in the way young Kakashi was suggesting.“You’re misunderstanding something,” he said.Young Kakashi scoffed. “Am I?”“Yes.” Older Kakashi exhaled sharply. “Naruto cares about you. He’s fond of you. But that’s because you’re me. The version of me that he never got to know. He looks at you and sees a friend, someone he wants to guide, not someone he wants to—” He cut himself off, sighing.Teen Kakashi watched him carefully.A beat of silence passed. Then—“…And what about you?”Older Kakashi stiffened.Young Kakashi’s gaze was sharp now, his voice quieter but laced with something challenging.“You keep telling me what Naruto feels, but you haven’t once said what you feel.” His lips curled slightly. “I think you’re full of shit.”Older Kakashi inhaled slowly, willing himself to stay calm. “Go to sleep.”Teen Kakashi smirked wider. “Touched a nerve, did I?”Kakashi turned away, clearly done with the conversation. “We’re not talking about this anymore.”“You like him,” young Kakashi said suddenly, pushing off the wall.Kakashi froze.“…You like him,” young Kakashi repeated, his voice softer now, almost like he was just realizing how deep Kakashi’s feelings ran.Older Kakashi remained silent.The younger one stepped closer, studying his face. “…Is that why you’re so pissed?” he murmured. “Because I’m going after him first?”Older Kakashi still didn’t answer.But his silence was enough.Young Kakashi let out a quiet, almost amused breath. Then he smirked again, but this time, it was different—more knowing, less cocky.“Huh,” he mused. “Guess I was right after all.”Older Kakashi sighed and finally turned back to face him, his eyes unreadable.“Go to bed,” he said.This time, young Kakashi didn’t argue.But as he turned and walked toward the guest futon, he couldn’t help but smirk just a little bit more.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

When Naruto walked into the Hokage’s office in the morning, the first thing he saw was two Kakashis sitting side by side behind the desk.He blinked. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face.“Well, isn’t this the most adorable picture ever?” he teased, crossing his arms. “You guys look like father and son.”The younger Kakashi’s eye twitched. “I am him, you moron.”Naruto just laughed. “Yeah, yeah, I know. But it’s still kinda cute seeing you two together.”Older Kakashi sighed.Naruto took a step closer. “So,” he started, “I’m guessing you need me to keep the kid busy again today?”Kakashi shook his head. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll keep an eye on him myself.”Naruto tilted his head. “Oh?”“And I’ll be sending you out on a mission,” Kakashi said, tone firm.Naruto frowned slightly. “Wait, hold on, you’ve got Hokage stuff to do, don’t you? I can handle him just fine.” He scratched his cheek, looking a little awkward now. “I mean, I know things got… a little out of hand yesterday, but you don’t have to distract yourself from work just to babysit him.”Kakashi’s eyes darkened slightly. “I’m not letting you two be alone again,” he said flatly. “And that’s final.”Naruto blinked at the seriousness in his voice.For a moment, the office was quiet.Then—“Hm.” Young Kakashi leaned back in his chair, a smirk creeping onto his lips. He turned to Naruto with an amused glint in his eye. “Looks like we’ll unfortunately have to invite the old man on our next date.”Naruto groaned, face turning red. “Oh my god, it wasn’t a date!”Kakashi sighed again.  After three days away, Naruto was more than ready to be back in Konoha. The mission had been fine—nothing he couldn’t handle—but he found himself missing the odd little dynamic that had developed between him and the two Kakashis.So, as soon as he stepped into the Hokage’s office and saw them both sitting there like some kind of weird mirror image, a bright grin spread across his face.“Yo, I’m back! Reporting, the mission is completed. I did great, as expected.” he announced. His eyes then immediately landed on the younger Kakashi, who looked up at him with barely concealed excitement. “And you! How’ve you been? Did you give this guy a headache while I was gone?” He jerked his thumb toward the older Kakashi, smirking.Teen Kakashi smirked right back. “Of course. Messing with him was about the only entertainment I got around here while you were gone.”Naruto laughed, not doubting that for a second. He glanced at the older Kakashi, expecting a sigh or some kind of sarcastic remark, but the man simply looked… neutral. Expression blank, arms crossed.Huh. Weird.Shrugging it off, Naruto turned back to the younger one. “Well, if you’re free, wanna go hang out? Or do I need Hokage-sama’s permission first to take you out?”That earned him an arched brow from the older Kakashi. He didn’t say anything, but teen Kakashi’s whole face lit up in victory.“See that?” he said smugly, looking straight at his older self. “Told you he likes me better.”Naruto snorted. “Pfft—Yeah. Well, your charm is hard to resist.”It was meant as a joke. Just harmless fun.But then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the slight stiffness in the older Kakashi’s posture. The way his fingers curled slightly against his sleeve.Naruto blinked, his laughter fading. Something was wrong.Was it little Kakashi’s joke? Or Naruto’s response to it? No, Kakashi wouldn’t get weird about that.But.. Kakashi did say last time that he wouldn’t allow the two of them to be alone again. So maybe Naruto overstepped.„...Uh, about that permission—” Naruto asked, unsure.“I don’t care,” older Kakashi said, voice as flat and disinterested as it could be. “Do what you want.”…What?Naruto frowned, a strange feeling settling in his stomach. He studied Kakashi’s face, but it was back to that perfectly blank mask.He didn’t know why, but… it felt like he’d somehow messed up.Scratching the back of his head, Naruto hesitated for a second before asking, “You wanna come with us?”Kakashi’s eyes flickered to him for a brief moment. Then he shook his head. “I’m busy. You two should just get going already.”Naruto hesitated again, but Kakashi had already turned his attention to some paperwork, signaling that the conversation was over.“…Alright,” Naruto muttered, feeling like there was something he was missing.Younger Kakashi, on the other hand, looked positively smug as he tugged Naruto toward the door. “Come on, let’s leave the grump to his boring old Hokage duties.”Naruto cast one last glance at the older Kakashi before following.Something about this whole thing didn’t sit right with him.  Naruto and the younger Kakashi made their way through the village, walking mostly in silence until they reached the water reservoir, where they finally came to a stop and sat down by the edge.A dark cloud loomed over Naruto’s heart. He couldn’t shake the feeling—the weight of that exchange in the Hokage’s office pressed against his chest like an iron fist.Kakashi had never acted like that before.Kakashi was laid back. He teased, he played things cool, he never took anything too seriously—not even himself. He wasn’t the type to get weird about jokes, especially ones that weren’t meant to be anything but harmless fun.So why did it feel like Naruto had stepped on a landmine back there?The thought made his stomach twist unpleasantly.“Oi.”Naruto blinked and looked over. Teen Kakashi was watching him with a frown.“You’re making a face,” Kakashi said, studying him.“Huh?” Naruto blinked. “What face?”“The ‘brooding idiot’ face.”Naruto scoffed and looked away, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “I’m not brooding.”Kakashi hummed, unconvinced. “Then what’s up? You’re acting like someone just told you Ichiraku is shutting down.”Naruto let out a short laugh through his nose but didn’t reply.Because how could he explain it? That seeing Kakashi—his Kakashi—so closed off, so… not himself, had made him feel sick? That the whole thing left a deep, nagging ache in his chest that wouldn’t go away?The younger Kakashi was still watching him, and Naruto could tell that he wasn’t buying the silence.After a few moments, Kakashi sighed.His gaze softened, just slightly. “He’s jealous.”Naruto turned to look at him, startled.“What?”“The old man,” Kakashi continued, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “He’s jealous.”Naruto just stared at him, processing the words.But then he shook his head. “Nah, no way.”Kakashi rolled his eye. “You’re so thick.”Naruto scowled. “Hey—”“I mean it,” Kakashi said, cutting him off. “He’s jealous. But he’s also a coward.”Naruto frowned at that, crossing his arms.Kakashi smirked at his reaction. “What, you don’t like hearing that about him?”“It’s just…” Naruto trailed off, frowning. “That’s not Kakashi.”Cowardice wasn’t a word that fit his Kakashi.Kakashi was strong. He was brave. He fought with everything he had.“Well, how else would you explain what just happened?” Kakashi asked.“I dunno. I must’ve done something to set him off, but—”“Oh, you did something, alright.” Kakashi snickered. “I’d call you a mastermind if this had actually been your plan and not just you being your idiot, oblivious self.”“Hey!”Before Naruto could get too offended Kakashi started explaining. “You come back after three days. Barge into his office, give a half-assed report without addressing him properly. And then immediately turn your attention to me, his stunningly handsome rival in love, and you ask me to hang out.”“Stunni—”“And then,” Kakashi continued, ignoring Naruto, “You go for the final blow and shove it in his face that you like me better than him.”Naruto frowned, skeptical. “I was making a joke. Clearly.”“You and I know that.” Kakashi shrugged, “But he’s being a sensitive little princess because I got to lay two kisses on you already and his score is below sea level.”Naruto paused, imagining the whole situation in his head. “Nah, come on. This can’t be it.”But…Naruto bit his lip, his thoughts tangling.Jealous? Was that really what that was?“Hey. You like him, don’t you?”Naruto felt his face heat up instantly.“What?!” He whipped his head toward young Kakashi, eyes wide.„The last time I asked you this question, you told me you never thought about it because it didn’t feel like an option.” Kakashi said evenly. „How do you feel about him now?”Naruto stiffened. His chest suddenly felt full of cotton.“I’m asking again,” Kakashi said, tilting his head slightly, “because I want to make sure your heart is in this.” His voice was still light, but there was something unmistakably serious in it. “I don’t want his feelings to get messed with for nothing.”Naruto blinked, the younger Kakashi’s sudden protectiveness over his older self catching him a bit off guard.Naruto looked at him for a moment, eyes searching, then his expression softened. Slowly, a warm smile spread across his face. „You’re looking out for him.”Little Kakashi huffed. “Of course.”Naruto’s smile lingered, but it turned distant as he stared off into the horizon. The weight of the question pressed down on him, making his chest feel tight, like he was carrying something too heavy for his own good.He wanted to answer—wanted to just say it—but the words stuck in his throat like they weren’t meant to leave. He had never admitted it even to himself. He had wondered what Kakashi felt, if there was a possibility of something happening between them. But his own feelings were something he wasn’t keen on looking into.Because once he did then he would realize just how much he truly liked Kakashi. It would become real. And if it was real, then the crippling fear of Kakashi not feeling the same way or rejecting him would be real too.Naruto swallowed, suddenly finding it hard to breathe.His arms wrapped around himself, shoulders curling inward like he could physically shield himself from the thought. His fingers found his hair, fisting it tightly, a shaky, disbelieving, almost hysterical chuckle slipping past his lips.“Oh, man,” he muttered, shaking his head. “Oh, I’m so screwed.”But if he couldn’t even say it—if the words refused to come out—how could he expect anything to ever change?Naruto took a quivery breath, heart pounding. He could feel little Kakashi watching him, waiting. Maybe even knowing exactly what was happening in his head.Enough running.His fingers tightened in his hair, his pulse roaring in his ears.And then, finally, he let the words slip out.“…I like him.” Naruto breathed, almost on the verge of tears, the confession tumbling out like a secret he had been holding too tightly for too long. „So much.”The second he said it, his chest squeezed painfully tight, like he had just unraveled something inside himself that he could never put back together. He sat there, curled in on himself, heart hammering, breath uneven. His own words still echoed in his head, loud and terrifying.And then—A soft chuckle.Naruto blinked and looked up.Little Kakashi was smiling at him.Not in his usual smug, teasing way. It was different. Pleased. Almost proud.“Well,” he mused, tilting his head, “that was way more emotional than I expected.”Naruto scowled, his face immediately growing hot. “Shut up.”Kakashi just chuckled again. “What? I think this is a good thing. You’re finally being honest with yourself.”Naruto groaned, burying his face in his hands. “You’re an ass.”“Maybe, but you still like me a lot.” Kakashi’s smirk was practically audible. “Not more than the big guy though, am I right?”Naruto groaned louder. “Oh my god.”  After he and little Kakashi parted and the early evening rolled around, Naruto found himself staring at the Hokage’s office again, his chest tight.He had no idea how he was supposed to face Kakashi after all this.But he had to. Or else he’d go insane.He barely knocked before stepping inside, ready to fix things.Kakashi was where he always was—seated behind his desk, paperwork in front of him, his mask in place as always.Naruto hesitated.This was it. This was his chance to say something, to ask—to know for sure.But from the moment Naruto entered, Kakashi didn’t so much as glance up.Nothing.Naruto frowned. “Yo.”Kakashi hummed in vague acknowledgment, flipping a page in his documents.That was it.Naruto took another step forward. “You gonna look at me, or what?”Kakashi sighed, still not meeting his eyes. “I assume you’re back from entertaining my younger self?”Something about the way he said it—about how distant it sounded—made Naruto’s hands curl into fists at his sides.“Yeah, I am,” Naruto said. “Figured I’d come talk to you.”“I’m busy.”Naruto stared at him, waiting for the usual glance, the usual smirk, anything. But Kakashi just kept reading, like Naruto wasn’t even worth his time.It ticked him off.He wanted to say something, push somehow, but—But Kakashi had already built a wall between them.And Naruto… didn’t know how to break it.He stood there, a strange frustration boiling within him.Kakashi continued to work on his paperwork like everything was normal, like Naruto wasn’t standing there reeling from everything the younger Kakashi had made him realize.It was annoying. No—worse than that. It was infuriating.“Kakashi.”The older man paused but didn’t look up. “Hm?”Naruto clenched his jaw. “Are we good?”Kakashi’s fingers halted against the page for just a second before he turned another one. “…What do you mean?”Naruto made a face. “You’ve been acting weird ever since I got back. And you won’t even look at me properly, like I’m some stranger you don’t give a rat’s ass about.” He crossed his arms, staring at Kakashi, deadly serious. “If I did something wrong, just say it.”Kakashi exhaled through his nose, then leaned back in his chair, finally meeting Naruto’s gaze.“You didn’t do anything wrong.”Naruto narrowed his eyes. “Then what’s your problem?”Kakashi was quiet for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with that maddening calm of his, he simply said, “I don’t have one.”Naruto let out a short laugh. “Bullshit.”Kakashi’s brow arched, but he didn’t respond.Naruto took a step closer. “You were pissed when you saw me with the little guy. And yeah, I get it, I shouldn’t have let things get out of hand. But ever since then, you’ve been shutting me out, acting like you don’t care.”Kakashi tilted his head, his voice light. “I don’t care. Like I said, you two can do what you want.”Naruto’s stomach twisted at that.That wasn’t the answer he wanted.His fingers twitched at his sides. “Even if I—” He stopped, unsure of how to phrase it. His heart was beating too fast. “Even if I really did start liking him?”For a second, just a second, Kakashi’s fingers curled against the desk. A tension flickered in his shoulders, so subtle that if Naruto hadn’t been staring so intently, he would have missed it.But then, just as quickly, Kakashi forced himself back into that same infuriating neutrality. He lifted his shoulders in a half-shrug.“Well,” he said, voice smooth, “that would be your choice.”Naruto wanted to punch him.That single sentence made him feel crazy.He scowled, his hands clenching into fists. “You’re such a liar.”Kakashi blinked. “Excuse me?”“You do care,” Naruto accused. “But you won’t say it. Why?” His breath was coming faster, his frustration mounting. “You’re always acting like nothing gets to you, but I saw your face that night, Kakashi. You were mad. You were jealous.”Kakashi’s fingers twitched again, but his voice remained steady. “Naruto—”“What?” Naruto challenged. “Tell me I’m wrong.”Kakashi was silent.Naruto took a step closer, his chest tight. “Tell me you didn’t care when you saw him kiss me.”Kakashi’s grip tightened on the pen he was holding. “...And if it did bother me?”Naruto hesitated. He hadn’t expected him to say that so suddenly.Kakashi’s voice was strained when he spoke again. “What then, Naruto?”Naruto’s breath caught.For a moment, neither of them moved.Then Naruto swallowed, taking a step closer. “...Then it means you feel something for me. And I know I feel something for you, so—”“So what?” Kakashi interrupted, and for the first time since Naruto had stepped into his office he felt like Kakashi wasn’t putting up a front. “We’re gonna skip into the sunset, hand in hand? Live happily ever after? It’s not going to happen. Not with me.” Kakashi said, his voice edged with something raw and bitter. “You think you want this. But you don’t.”Naruto’s eyes flashed. “Oh, because you know better than me?”Kakashi exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. Then he shook his head, leaning back, putting distance between them again. “Just go home, Naruto.”But Naruto remained rooted in place, his piercing blue gaze burning into Kakashi, fists clenched at his sides.Kakashi let his eyelids fall shut for a brief moment, inhaling like he was steadying himself. When he looked at Naruto again, there was something caught between exhaustion and hesitation in his eyes.“You think you’re doing me a favor. That if you ignore this long enough, I’ll just move on.” Naruto’s voice dropped lower. “But that’s not how it works.”Kakashi’s jaw tightened.“You can’t protect me from this,” Naruto said. “It’s already here. And you’re gonna be the only one pretending it doesn’t exist. I have no intention of lying to myself.”He sent Kakashi one last look, sealing his words with the weight of his gaze and then turned to leave, because if he stood there any longer, he was going to lose his goddamn mind.But just as he reached the door—“Naruto.”Naruto froze.Kakashi’s voice was steady, but something in it made Naruto’s stomach flip. He turned back, watching as Kakashi slowly rose from his chair.Their eyes met, and once more, Kakashi wasn’t hiding behind a mask of indifference. There was something there—something deep, something complicated, something that gave Naruto hope.But then, just as quickly, Kakashi exhaled and looked away. “Sorry, it’s nothing. You should go.”Naruto clenched his fists.That idiot.That absolute idiot.Fine.If Kakashi wanted to keep running, let him. But Naruto wasn’t going to stand here and pretend like he didn’t feel anything.“…Yeah,” Naruto muttered, voice tight. “Guess I should.”And this time, he did leave.But the second the door shut behind him, he let out a frustrated breath, running a hand through his hair.Damn it.What the hell was he supposed to do now?He had felt it—that flicker of something in Kakashi’s gaze. But the moment it appeared, Kakashi had buried it under layers of indifference.It pissed him off.It hurt.And he had no idea what to do with either of those feelings.He wandered aimlessly through the village, hands shoved in his pockets, brows furrowed. People greeted him as he passed, but he barely registered their voices. His mind kept replaying Kakashi’s expression—kept digging into the way he had hesitated, as if he wanted to say something at the end but chose to keep his mouth shut instead.Why?Why was Kakashi making this so damn difficult?“Didn’t go well, huh?”Naruto blinked, snapping out of his thoughts as he realized he had somehow ended up at the training grounds. The younger Kakashi was sitting lazily against a tree, arms crossed, watching him with an annoyingly knowing look.Naruto huffed, dropping down onto the grass beside him. “Tch. That obvious?”“You look like you’re about to punch a wall.”“Yeah, well…” Naruto dragged a hand down his face. “Maybe I should.”Kakashi smirked but didn’t press. After a moment, he simply said, “He’s an idiot.”Naruto let out a tired chuckle. “No argument there.”They sat in silence for a bit, watching the sun dip lower in the sky. The warmth of the evening breeze did little to cool the irritation burning beneath Naruto’s skin.After a while, Kakashi spoke again. “He likes you, you know.”Naruto let out a bitter laugh. “Does he, though?”“He does,” Kakashi insisted. “He just—” He hesitated, then sighed, sounding almost… irritated. “He’s scared.”Naruto turned to him, frowning. “…Scared?”Kakashi scoffed. “Of course. I’m him so I know. Always holding people at arm’s length, always acting like he doesn’t care, because it’s easier than risking anything.” His expression darkened slightly. “It’s pathetic.”Naruto blinked, surprised by the sharpness in his voice.Kakashi sighed, rubbing his head. “It’s like—ugh. You know when you want something so badly but you convince yourself you can’t have it, so you never even try?”Naruto swallowed. “Yeah… I do.”Kakashi turned to him then, sharp gaze locking onto his. “Then don’t let him get away with it.”Naruto blinked. “What?”“If you leave it to him, he’ll just keep pushing you away.” Kakashi tilted his head, his eye narrowing slightly. “So don’t let him.”Naruto stared, heart pounding.Could it really be that simple?His fingers curled against his knee.Yeah.Maybe it was that simple.Maybe he just had to stop waiting for Kakashi to meet him halfway—and just yank him across the line instead.His determination solidified.Naruto pushed himself up, shaking out his limbs. “Alright.” His grin was sharp now, bright. “Time to shake some sense into a stubborn old man.”Kakashi smirked, watching him with an almost proud glint in his eye. “Now that’s what I’m talking about.”Naruto chuckled. “You better keep your fingers crossed for me, kiddo.”A beat of silence. Then, Kakashi gave him an unreadable look. “You really care about him, huh?”Naruto blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone.He hesitated—only for a second—then nodded. “Yeah. I really do.”Kakashi studied him for a long moment, then smirked. “Good.”Naruto furrowed his brows. “What do you mean, ‘good’?”Kakashi only shook his head, stepping past him. “You’ll see.”Naruto turned to watch him walk off, feeling like he’d just missed something important.Then he shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets.Whatever.And with that, he took off—heading straight back to the Hokage tower, heart pounding, fire in his veins.This time, Kakashi wasn’t getting away.Naruto didn’t even knock before pushing open the Hokage’s office door, stepping inside with the same reckless energy he brought to battle.Kakashi barely had time to look up before Naruto was in front of his desk, hands planted on the wood, blue eyes burning with determination.Kakashi exhaled slowly, setting down his pen. “That was fast.”“I didn’t feel like wasting time,” Naruto said bluntly.Kakashi leaned back in his chair, watching him carefully. “…Something on your mind?”“Yeah.” Naruto crossed his arms. “You.”Kakashi arched a brow.“I’m serious, Kakashi.” Naruto leaned in closer, expression hardening. “Why do you keep pushing me away?”Kakashi stilled.Naruto took a slow breath. “You keep doing this. Pulling back the second things get too real. You act like it doesn’t matter, like you don’t matter.” His fingers curled into his jacket. “And I’m sick of it.”Kakashi exhaled through his nose. “Naruto—”“Do you like me?” Naruto interrupted.Kakashi froze.His eyes widened just slightly, fingers tightening against the desk before he caught himself, slipping back into that maddeningly neutral mask. “Naruto, I—”“That’s a yes,” Naruto said immediately. “Or at least not a no.”Kakashi’s lips pressed into a thin line. “It’s complicated.”“No, it’s not.” Naruto’s voice was firm. “You like me. I know it. You know it. So why the hell are you acting like you don’t?”Kakashi’s jaw tensed. “…Because it’s not that simple, Naruto.”Naruto scoffed. “Why not?”Kakashi ran a hand down his face. “You were my student—”“Were.” Naruto cut in. “I’m not a kid anymore, Kakashi. I haven’t been for a long time.”“That doesn’t change the past.”“No,” Naruto admitted. “But what matters is the present.”Kakashi looked away, something flickering across his face too fast for Naruto to catch.Naruto took a breath, softening just slightly. “Look… I know this is a lot. I didn’t expect all this either, okay? But I can’t go back to the way we were before. I just can’t. So I see two options in front of us right now. Either we try to be happy together or we ignore what’s between us and gradually grow apart, reducing our relationship to an awkward shitstorm.”“Maybe an awkward shitstorm is still better than what’s going to happen to us if it doesn’t work out.” Kakashi said, ”You don’t know what this could turn into. Or what it could cost.”“Obviously!” Naruto shot back, desperation in his voice, “But does that mean it’s better if we don’t even try?”Naruto stared at him, heart pounding. Kakashi didn’t reply but Naruto could see his resolve crumbling.He took a breath."Do you want me?" Naruto asked bluntly.For a moment, there was nothing. No sound, no movement, just the weight of the question hanging in the air between them.Then, slowly, Kakashi exhaled."Naruto," he murmured, voice quieter than usual.But Naruto didn't back down."Be honest," he pressed. "Do you want me?"Kakashi was silent.Then—so quietly it was almost impossible to hear—"...Yes."Naruto’s heart pounded so hard he could hear it in his ears, but he didn’t hesitate.Slowly, he took a step forward.Then another.Kakashi didn’t move. Didn’t stop him. Just sat there, watching, like he was waiting to see what Naruto would do.Naruto reached out, slow and deliberate, and took Kakashi’s wrist.Felt the tension there. The way Kakashi’s pulse jumped beneath his fingertips.“Then please, don’t make me give this up,” Naruto murmured. “Stop pretending I’m better off without you. Stop pushing me away just because you think you’re supposed to.”Kakashi exhaled shakily.For a moment, he didn’t say anything.Then, finally, he whispered, “This is a mistake.”Naruto huffed out a quiet laugh. “Maybe.”Kakashi closed his eyes briefly, like he was waging a war inside himself. Then—A hand reached out, gripping the back of Naruto’s head and pulling him down until their faces were only inches apart.Naruto’s breath caught in his throat as Kakashi’s eyes locked onto his with a fierceness that made his pulse race. For a second, time seemed to stop—Kakashi’s gaze softened but his inner turmoil was clear.Kakashi’s hand tightened around his head, his fingers barely brushing the skin of Naruto’s neck. Naruto held his breath, his own hands twitching, his body tense with anticipation. Waiting. Hoping.Kakashi’s lips parted slightly as if to speak, but no words came.The silence stretched, pulling taut like a wire, until Kakashi cursed under his breath, barely audible.“…Damn it.”In that moment, Kakashi’s resolve shattered. With a swift motion, he pulled down his mask, his eyes dark with a raw, unspoken longing. The air between them crackled as Kakashi closed the distance, crashing his lips against Naruto’s in a kiss that was equal parts frustration and surrender.Naruto barely had time to react before he was gripping Kakashi’s robes, pressing closer. He felt something in him snap. A wave of relief so strong it nearly made his knees buckle. He let out a shaky breath against Kakashi’s lips, tilting his head to deepen the kiss, pouring every ounce of pent-up longing into it.Kakashi responded in kind.He pulled Naruto closer, fingers curling against his back, and Naruto nearly shivered from the warmth of it. His hands slid up, one tangling into silver hair, the other pressing against Kakashi’s chest to feel the rapid beat of his heart beneath his palm.They broke apart only when air became necessary.Naruto’s forehead dropped against Kakashi’s, their breaths mingling in the space between them. His hands still fisted in Kakashi’s robes, like he was afraid to let go.Kakashi let out a quiet, shaky chuckle. "You’re very persistent."Naruto grinned. "Well, one of us had to be."Kakashi sighed, but he was smiling.Naruto couldn’t stop the breathless giggle that escaped him, still leaning into Kakashi’s warmth. "You know what’s funny? That little squirt basically got us together."Kakashi huffed, shaking his head. "I kind of knew what he was trying to do."Naruto pulled back just enough to look at him, eyes alight with curiosity. "Then why’d you get so pissed and jealous if you knew?"Kakashi exhaled through his nose, looking vaguely irritated—though whether it was with himself or the situation, Naruto couldn’t tell. "Because just knowing he was doing it to get a rise out of me doesn’t mean it didn’t work."Naruto raised an eyebrow, prompting him to continue.Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I knew he was messing with me but that didn’t change the fact that he was still actually doing all those things. And you were letting him. So yeah, it was… hard not to have a reaction."Naruto smirked. "You really are a jealous old man.""Well, starting today you’re dating this jealous old man so you better behave." Kakashi deadpanned, but the corner of his mouth was twitching.Naruto laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. C’mon, let’s go grab something to eat. I’m starving. The little guy is probably too."  Dinner with both Kakashis turned out to be a chaotic mess.The younger Kakashi seemed to be having the time of his life making things as difficult as possible for his older self. The moment they sat down, he draped himself over Naruto’s shoulders, resting his chin on Naruto’s head with a smirk aimed directly at the older Kakashi.Naruto didn’t mind—he’d gotten used to the little guy’s antics—but Kakashi’s brow twitched as he took a slow sip of his tea, clearly restraining himself."You’re awfully clingy today," the older Kakashi remarked dryly."What can I say?" the younger one mused, snaking an arm around Naruto’s waist. "Naruto’s comfortable. And warm. And, oh yeah, he's mine.""You little—"Naruto nearly choked on his food trying not to laugh. "Oi, quit making it weird!" He gently peeled the younger Kakashi off him, but the little menace only latched onto his arm instead, looking smug. "I’m starting to forget what it was like to have both hands free to eat.""You love it," teen Kakashi said confidently."I regret I even left my bed this morning," Naruto deadpanned, which was a blatant lie.The older Kakashi sighed, propping his head up with his hand. "Why do I feel like I’m the third wheel here?""You’re the one who insisted on coming, even when I stated it was a date," the younger one pointed out smugly. "You jealous again, old man?"Kakashi’s eye twitched. "Eat your food before I send you back to your time through sheer willpower alone."Naruto laughed, stuffing his face with yakiniku while the two Kakashis bickered.Honestly?This might be one of the best dinners he’d ever had.The meal carried on in the same chaotic fashion, with the younger Kakashi pushing buttons and the older Kakashi begrudgingly enduring it. Naruto, for his part, was loving every second of it—at least until the younger Kakashi started getting way too comfortable."You know," young Kakashi drawled as he leaned against Naruto again, "I don’t mind sharing."Naruto nearly choked on his grilled meat. "Wha—?!"The older Kakashi set his cup down a little too forcefully. "You’re done."In an instant, he grabbed the younger one by the back of his collar and yanked him away from Naruto. "I knew letting you out in public was a bad idea," he muttered.The younger Kakashi was entirely unbothered, grinning up at him. "You’re so fun to mess with."Naruto wiped his mouth and laughed, shaking his head. "Man, this is wild. Who would’ve thought that underneath all that cool, lazy indifference, Kakashi-sensei was actually so easy to rile up?"The older Kakashi shot him a look. "I’m not easy. He’s just extra annoying.""But he is you," Naruto teased, waggling his eyebrows."That’s debatable," Kakashi muttered, finally letting go of his younger self, who smirked as he straightened his clothes."Face it," the younger Kakashi said, propping his elbow on the table and resting his chin in his hand. "You don’t like seeing me with Naruto because deep down, you know it should’ve been you all along and you regret you took your sweet time getting your head out of your ass."The words struck a nerve, Naruto could see it. For the briefest moment, Kakashi's expression faltered, something flickering in his eyes before he masked it."That’s enough," he said quietly. It wasn’t sharp, but it was firm, and even the younger Kakashi seemed to realize he’d hit too close to home.Naruto’s heart clenched at the tension settling between them. He glanced between the two silver-haired men—one smug but slightly hesitant, the other composed but clearly affected.Naruto set his chopsticks down and leaned back in his seat. "You guys are so weird," he said, but his voice was softer, thoughtful. He turned to the older Kakashi. "You know, you could just say what you’re thinking for once."Kakashi looked at him for a long moment before letting out a deep sigh. "I’m thinking that I need a drink.""Coward," the younger Kakashi taunted."Brat," the older one shot back.Naruto just grinned, a warmth settling in his chest. "Alright, alright, before this turns into an existential crisis for the both of you—" he clapped his hands together, "—who’s paying for this?"Both Kakashis turned to him simultaneously and said, "You."„ME?!” Naruto groaned but reluctantly pulled out his frog-shaped wallet. "Should’ve stayed in bed, dammit."  As they walked through the dimly lit streets of Konoha, the younger Kakashi shamelessly draped himself over Naruto’s shoulder, leaning against him like they’d been lifelong lovers. Naruto, for his part, just let him, laughing at whatever nonsense the little troublemaker was whispering into his ear.The older Kakashi walked a step behind them, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with increasing exasperation. Finally, he sighed."You know," he said dryly, "I don’t remember being such a Casanova at fifteen. I honestly don’t know how you’re even pulling this off." He narrowed his eyes. "You must’ve hit your head when you landed in this timeline or something and gotten brain damage."The younger Kakashi smirked and turned his head slightly. "Or maybe you’re just jealous.""Oh, I’m jealous," the older Kakashi admitted without hesitation, making Naruto glance back at him in surprise. "But not for the reason you think."The younger one raised an eyebrow. "Oh?""I’m jealous that somehow, someway, you get to act like an absolute menace with zero consequences," Kakashi said, eyeing the way his younger self was practically attached to Naruto. "Meanwhile, I actually have to act like an adult and a Hokage on top of that.""Boo-hoo," the younger Kakashi mocked, shrugging as he looped an arm around Naruto’s neck in an exaggerated show of closeness. "Maybe if you stopped overthinking everything, you’d be the one hanging off Naruto right now instead of me."Naruto snorted at that.The older Kakashi sighed again, leveling a pointed look at his younger self. "Unlike you, I can’t just be hanging off Naruto like a leech all day."The younger Kakashi tilted his head, completely unbothered. "Why not?""Because I’m an actual adult with actual responsibilities.""Sounds like a personal problem."The older Kakashi stared at him, incredulous. He had finally reached his limit. With an exasperated sigh, he reached out and grabbed Naruto’s free hand, his grip firm and possessive.The younger Kakashi immediately sent him a look, his single visible eye narrowing in clear challenge. Naruto, caught between them, looked down at both of his occupied hands and let out a helpless laugh. "Seriously? You guys are gonna fight over me like this now?""You started it," the older Kakashi muttered, glaring at his younger self."I’m just showing you how it’s done," the younger one replied smugly, tightening his own grip on Naruto’s hand.And so, with Naruto trapped between two very stubborn Kakashis, they continued walking like that—silent but very aware of the battle of wills going on.It was at that moment they turned a corner and nearly crashed into Shikamaru.Shikamaru stopped dead in his tracks, his sharp eyes assessing the scene in front of him—the younger Kakashi clinging onto Naruto on one side, the older Kakashi firmly holding Naruto’s hand on the other. He blinked once. Then twice. And then sighed."I don’t even wanna ask," he muttered. "But I feel like I have to.""Hey, Shikamaru!" Naruto greeted, grinning but looking just a little flustered at the position he was in. "What’s up?"Shikamaru gave him a flat look. "I was gonna ask you the same thing. You look like you’ve got your hands full… literally."Before Naruto could even respond, the younger Kakashi smirked and very casually said, "Naruto is dating us both now."A long beat of silence followed.Shikamaru just stared. Then he let out the biggest sigh of his life.Naruto choked on his own spit."What— NO, I AM NOT—!" he practically shouted, yanking both his hands free as his face turned a deep shade of red. "What the hell are you saying, you little—!"The younger Kakashi just grinned at him, entirely too pleased with himself. "Oh? But we just had dinner together and now we’re all holding hands… sounds like dating to me." he said innocently, tilting his head.Naruto spluttered, his mouth opening and closing like a fish as he turned to the older Kakashi for backup. "Say something!" he pleaded.The older Kakashi, to Naruto’s horror, just sighed heavily, wincing like he was getting a headache. "I don’t even know where to begin," he muttered. "This is all your fault anyway.""MY FAULT?!" Naruto exclaimed. "HOW?!""You entertained that little devil," Kakashi said flatly, gesturing at his younger self, who was looking way too smug for his own good. "Now look what’s happened.""This is ridiculous—!" Naruto turned back to Shikamaru. "You believe me, right? I’m NOT dating both Kakashis!"Shikamaru stared at him for a long moment. Then he shoved his hands in his pockets and muttered, "I mean… it kinda looks like you are.""SHIKAMARU!"The younger Kakashi cackled, clearly enjoying himself. "Well, if you ever do decide to make it official, I call dibs on first kiss.""YOU ALREADY STOLE IT, YOU LITTLE BRAT!"The older Kakashi coughed loudly into his fist. "Alright, I think that’s enough chaos for today."Shikamaru shook his head, already turning to leave. "You guys are a mess. I don’t wanna be involved in this. Just… don’t let me catch you in another threesome situation again, alright?""IT’S NOT A THREESOME!"But Shikamaru was already walking away, muttering, "Troublesome."Naruto groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "I hate both of you," he grumbled.The younger Kakashi just beamed at him. "Sure you do."The older Kakashi sighed. "This is exhausting."Naruto groaned again, rubbing his head as if that would somehow erase the absolute disaster that just unfolded. "You two are going to ruin my reputation.""Oh?” The younger Kakashi smirked, tilting his head. "So you care what people think about us?"Naruto scowled at him. "I care that they don’t think I’m in some weird love triangle with two versions of the same person!""You make it sound weirder than it is," the little Kakashi said, snickering."Because it IS weird!" Naruto threw his hands up. Then, he turned to the actual adult in the situation. "And YOU! You’re supposed to be the responsible one! How could you let this happen?!"The older Kakashi gave him a look. "You think I ‘let’ this happen?" he asked dryly. "As if I have any control over that little squirt?" He turned his eye toward his teenage counterpart, who was still grinning like a menace. "The brain damage must’ve been pretty bad, I was not such a pain in the ass when I was his age.""It’s hard to believe that at his point," Naruto muttered."Ah," the younger Kakashi teased, sidling up to Naruto again. "Our first lovers’ spat."Naruto choked for the second time that day. "Kakashi!""Which one?" the older Kakashi asked."BOTH OF YOU, SHUT UP!"The younger Kakashi laughed at his misery. Then, without any warning, he looped an arm through Naruto’s, pressing against his side again.Naruto froze. "H-Hey—!""Relax," the little Kakashi purred. "We’re just walking, right?" He cast an infuriatingly smug glance at the older Kakashi, as if daring him to do something about it.And to Naruto’s absolute horror—The older Kakashi did.With a piercing glare directed at his younger self, he casually stepped up to Naruto’s other side and draped an arm heavily around his shoulders, effectively sandwiching him between the two. "Maa, since we’re already the talk of the village, why not go all in?" he said lazily. "Let’s really give them something to talk about."Naruto yelped. "KAKASHI—?!""Which one?" they both said at the exact same time.   The walk back was mercifully quiet, aside from the occasional smug glance from the younger Kakashi and the occasional pointedly ignored glance from the older one. Naruto was so done with this whole thing.When they finally reached the older Kakashi’s apartment, the younger one sighed dramatically, stretching his arms. "Well, I’d say this was a successful date."Naruto groaned. "It wasn’t a date—""A kiss is due, then," the little Kakashi continued as if Naruto hadn’t spoken, turning expectantly toward him. "That’s how these things work, right?"Before Naruto could even process how to react, the older Kakashi suddenly lowered his mask, revealing his face. His expression was calm—too calm. And his eyes were locked firmly onto Naruto, waiting.Oh.OH.Naruto stared, heart skipping a beat. Was he actually expecting him to—?Well.Naruto snorted, shaking his head. "You two are ridiculous," he muttered.Then, he stepped forward and kissed the older Kakashi right on the lips.It was soft—just a brush of lips, lingering for only a moment. But it was enough to send a surprising shiver down Naruto’s spine. When he pulled back, he could see the slight widening of Kakashi’s eyes, the barely-there flush on the tips of his ears.Good. That meant Naruto wasn’t the only one affected.Before the younger Kakashi could get any ideas, Naruto turned and quickly pecked him on the cheek. "That’s all you’re getting, kid," he said, ruffling his hair before stepping back with a grin. "See you tomorrow."Then, without waiting for a reaction, he bolted.He didn’t even want to know what kind of expressions they were making right now.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The morning started like any other.Little Kakashi trudged into the kitchen, his hair still a mess from sleep, fully expecting his older self to already be absorbed in some Hokage-related nonsense. Maybe half-dressed, mask still missing, lost in a pile of paperwork because he just had to get ahead of things. But instead of the usual sight of a tired Hokage hunched over reports, he was met with something far stranger.Kakashi was standing at the stove, sleeves rolled up, cooking.Little Kakashi blinked.A fresh plate of grilled fish sat on the counter, alongside neatly arranged bowls of miso soup, steamed rice, and tamagoyaki. The smell of dashi filled the air. It was a proper, homemade Japanese breakfast—one that took actual effort.“…Are you cooking?”Kakashi glanced over his shoulder, perfectly at ease. “Good morning to you too.”Little Kakashi frowned, stepping closer. “No, seriously. What the hell is this?”“Breakfast.”“Is Naruto coming?”Kakashi let out a short laugh as he plated another serving. “No.”Little Kakashi narrowed his eyes. “Then why?”The older man just set down a dish in front of him and said, “Felt like it.”Little Kakashi dropped into the chair, still eyeing him like he was a particularly confusing puzzle. Then, realization dawned, and a smirk slowly crept onto his face.“Ohhh,” he drawled, picking up his chopsticks. “I get it now.”Older Kakashi hummed in amusement. “Do you?”“Yeah. Turns out all you needed to become a decent guy was getting a smooch from Naruto.”Older Kakashi didn’t react, simply sipping his tea. “Mm.”“You never used to cook,” little Kakashi pressed, grinning as he grabbed a piece of fish. “Gonna make me lunch for later too?”Kakashi sighed. “You really don’t know when to quit, do you?”“Nope.” Little Kakashi popped a piece of tamagoyaki into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “Though, I gotta admit, this is nice. You’re not half bad at cooking.”Kakashi just gave him a look.Little Kakashi rolled his eyes. “Fine, fine. Since you made me breakfast, I’ll stop messing with you for five whole minutes.”“I’m honored.”They ate in comfortable silence for a while, the kind that only people who were each other could share. But then, Older Kakashi spoke again, voice softer this time.“I suppose I should thank you.”Little Kakashi glanced up. “For what?”“For your help,” Kakashi said simply. He met his younger self’s gaze, eye crinkling slightly. “You could’ve spent your time here just messing around, chasing after Naruto yourself. Instead, you went out of your way to help me. Even though your methods were… questionable.”Little Kakashi snorted. “Unorthodox is the word you’re looking for.”“Annoying,” Older Kakashi corrected.“Effective,” little Kakashi shot back, pointing his chopsticks.Older Kakashi shook his head but didn’t argue. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, fingers idly tracing the rim of his teacup. “But really… Thanks. I know you like him too.”Little Kakashi’s smirk faltered for just a second.Kakashi continued, tone still light but laced with something more knowing. “You could’ve used this time to try to make him yours instead of helping me.”Little Kakashi scoffed, leaning back. “Look, it’s not like I was making some grand sacrifice or anything. Even if I had somehow made Naruto see me as an option, what then? I’d make him like me and then one day, I’d have to leave, and all I’d do is end up hurting him.” He exhaled, voice quieter. “I want him to be happy.”Older Kakashi studied him for a long moment before nodding. “You’re a good kid.”Little Kakashi scowled immediately. “Ugh, don’t say it like that. You’re making it weird.”Kakashi smirked. “That’s my specialty.”Little Kakashi groaned, tossing a piece of tamagoyaki at him. Older Kakashi caught it effortlessly with his chopsticks.And just like that, they fell back into their comfortable silence, eating breakfast together.  As they finished up, Older Kakashi leaned back in his chair, eyeing his younger self. “So,” he said, voice casual, “what do you want to do today?”Little Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “You’re actually giving me a choice?”“I try to be generous.”Little Kakashi huffed a laugh and leaned on his elbow, thinking.“I could drop you off at Naruto’s,” Kakashi continued, swirling his tea cup. “Or, if you’d rather, you can tag along with me to the Hokage’s office.”Little Kakashi smirked. “Look at you, all confident now. Not even worried about leaving me alone with our boyfriend anymore.”Older Kakashi gave him a flat look. “I doubt I have much to worry about now.”“Wow.” Little Kakashi placed a hand over his chest mockingly. “You really do trust me.”Kakashi sighed.Little Kakashi grinned. “Nah, I’ll let Naruto sleep a little longer,” he said, pushing back from the table. “I’ll go with you.”Kakashi nodded and grabbed his cloak.  By the time both Kakashis settled into the Hokage’s office, the morning had fallen into an easy routine. Older Kakashi worked through his paperwork while the younger one sat off to the side, alternating between skimming documents and tossing a kunai in the air to entertain himself.The steady rhythm of scratching ink and the quiet thunk of a blade flipping in the air carried on for a while, until little Kakashi—clearly bored out of his mind—abandoned the kunai and instead started rummaging through the Hokage’s desk.Older Kakashi didn't look up. "Do you mind?""Do you mind?" little Kakashi shot back, already yanking open a drawer and poking through its contents. "This is technically my desk too, you know. Just... in the future."Older Kakashi hummed, neither confirming nor denying it, as he continued signing off reports.Little Kakashi rifled through the drawer, pulling out random items—a broken pen, a stack of mission reports, an unopened pack of soldier pills—before pausing when his fingers brushed against something small and soft. He tugged it out, frowning down at a tiny, frog keychain. It obviously wasn’t new, the colors were a bit faded and the button eyes were scratched up from what seemed like years of wear."Huh." He held it up between his fingers. "Why do you have this?"Older Kakashi flicked his eyes up briefly, then went back to his papers. "Oh. That." He set his brush down and stretched his fingers. "It got detached from Naruto’s backpack before he left on a mission back in the day. I picked it up and meant to give it back, but…" He shrugged. "I forgot."Little Kakashi snorted. "Figures."Older Kakashi watched as little Kakashi turned the keychain over in his palm, running his thumb absently over the fabric. His usual teasing edge had faded, replaced with something quieter, more contemplative.After a beat, older Kakashi leaned back in his chair. "You should keep it."Little Kakashi blinked, startled out of his thoughts. "What?""Consider it a souvenir."Little Kakashi narrowed his eyes at him, like he was trying to figure out if there was some kind of hidden lesson in this. But older Kakashi just tilted his head, waiting.A long pause. Then, little Kakashi scoffed lightly and pocketed the keychain without another word. He didn’t say thank you.But he kept his hand in his pocket for the rest of the morning, fingers curled around something small and familiar. Something precious. When the afternoon rolled around the quiet was interrupted with the office door swinging open.Shikamaru stepped in, looking as tired and unimpressed as ever, followed closely by an ANBU member in full gear.“We got it,” Shikamaru said without preamble, tossing a scroll to Kakashi which was caught with ease.“The manuscript is fully decoded,” Shikamaru continued. “We’ve confirmed it—there’s a time-space jutsu detailed in it. A powerful one. And after breaking it down, we now know how to send him back.” He nodded toward Little Kakashi.The younger Kakashi’s posture went rigid for half a second before he schooled his expression.The Hokage scanned over the contents of the scroll. His eyes narrowed slightly. “…This technique isn’t something just anyone can perform.”“Yeah,” Shikamaru sighed. “It’s a hell of a jutsu. We’re going to need a coordinated effort from at least seven jounin-level shinobi to make sure the transition is stable.”Kakashi exhaled slowly through his nose, fingers tapping against the scroll. Then, after a beat, he closed it and gave a firm nod. “Alright. Start assembling the team and preparing the site. Report back when everything is ready.”The ANBU member saluted, then disappeared in a blur of movement. Shikamaru lingered for a moment longer, gaze flicking toward Little Kakashi before he sighed. He turned on his heel and left, shutting the door behind him.For a long moment, silence stretched in the office.It should’ve been a relief—finally, Kakashi’s younger self could go back to where he belonged, and everything would return to normal. No more headaches, no more unnecessary drama…Yet, when he glanced at the little brat sitting next to him, he noticed the rare sight of uncertainty clouding his younger self’s expression."What’s with that look?" Kakashi asked, tilting his head. "You were always going to go back, you knew that."Young Kakashi didn’t answer immediately. He was staring at the desk, fingers idly tracing along its smooth surface. "Yeah," he finally muttered. "I know."Older Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "Then why do you look like a kicked puppy?"The younger one scoffed, but it lacked its usual bite. "I do not look like a kicked puppy.""Right," the older Kakashi said. "So, what’s the problem, then?"Little Kakashi hesitated before leaning back in his chair, letting out a breath. "I guess… I don’t really want to leave."The admission hung in the air for a moment.Older Kakashi felt something tighten in his chest. He had expected this, hadn’t he? His younger self had gotten comfortable here—maybe too comfortable. He’d spent days running around with Naruto, teasing, flirting, and soaking in all the attention. He had been given a glimpse into the future, into a world that felt like it could belong to him.But it didn’t."I understand that. But that’s not really an option," older Kakashi said after a moment, his voice compassionate. "You don’t belong here."Little Kakashi frowned, his lips pressing together into a thin line. "I know that," he said again, but this time his voice was more strained. "It just… it doesn’t feel fair."Older Kakashi sighed. "What doesn’t?"The younger one huffed and crossed his arms. "You," he muttered. "Naruto. Everything here." He hesitated, then added, "I don’t want to go back to a time where none of this exists yet."Older Kakashi exhaled slowly. "You don’t have a choice," he said, not unkindly. "Besides, you’ll get here eventually."Little Kakashi let out a bitter chuckle. "Right. And I’ll be you."That made the older one pause.Because… yeah.Eventually, the younger Kakashi would live through everything that shaped the man sitting behind the desk. The years of pushing through life as if on autopilot after losing Obito, Rin and Minato. He’d spend years being an empty shell of a human, waiting for someone to fill him with love again.And one day, he’d meet Naruto.But by then, it wouldn’t be the same. He wouldn’t be the same."I envy you," little Kakashi admitted, voice quiet now. "You’re in a place where you get to have this. You have people, you have Naruto…" His fingers tightened into fists. "I want that too."Older Kakashi looked away. His heart twisted in a way he didn’t like. "You will," he murmured. "One day.""Yeah," younger Kakashi muttered. "One day."But not yet.And that was the problem.Kakashi stared at his younger self, his eyes softening slightly. He then sighed, running a hand down his face. ”...You know, we don’t have to do this now. If you want to spend more time with Naruto, we could postpone sending you back for another day.”Younger Kakashi scoffed, crossing his arms tightly over his chest. "I’m not a little kid. I’m a shinobi." he said, his voice firm, though the slight tension in his shoulders betrayed him. "I don’t know what kind of damage my being here is doing to both timelines. I'm not gonna risk completely messing everything up just because I want to get some more cuddles in."Older Kakashi studied him for a long moment before a small, proud smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "You know," he mused, tapping his fingers against the desk, "I was starting to wonder if we were really the same person. But now I can see that we totally are."Little Kakashi rolled his eye. "Thanks. That’s just what I needed to hear right now," he deadpans."Hey, take it as a compliment," Older Kakashi said, amusement lacing his tone. "You’ve got a good head on your shoulders. Always have. And you’re right—it wouldn’t be responsible to stay here longer than necessary just because it’s comfortable."The younger Kakashi shifted in his seat, his fingers gripping his arms a little tighter. "Yeah, well… doesn’t mean I have to like it.""No, it doesn’t," the older one agreed easily.There was a beat of silence, and then older Kakashi straightened up slightly. "I’ll send someone for Naruto. I imagine you’ll both want to say goodbye."The younger Kakashi exhaled through his nose, nodding once. "Yeah… yeah, alright." He hesitated for a second before adding, "...Just don’t expect any tears. I’m not a kid.""Of course not," Older Kakashi said, far too agreeable."Shut up," the younger one muttered, glaring at the amused glint in his older self’s eye.Older Kakashi only chuckled before calling in one of his ANBU. "Find Naruto. Tell him to come to my office immediately."The ANBU nodded, disappearing in a silent swirl of leaves.The office fell quiet again.Younger Kakashi shifted in his seat, staring at the wall. "You’re really sending me off just like that, huh?" His voice was lighter now, more casual, but there was something underneath it—something uncertain.Older Kakashi tilted his head. "Well, we could throw a goodbye party if you want. Get some balloons.""God no.""Then we won’t," Older Kakashi said with an easy shrug. "But just so you know..." He paused, his tone softening just slightly. "You’ll be fine."Teen Kakashi let out a quiet scoff. "You sure about that?""I am," Older Kakashi said without hesitation. "I’ve lived through everything that you will. And you’ll be just fine, even when it doesn’t feel like it."Younger Kakashi stared at him for a moment, then exhaled, rubbing the back of his head. He slowly left his seat and walked over to the windowsill, leaning against it. "Guess I’ll just have to take your word for it," he muttered."Guess you will," Older Kakashi agreed.And then, before the conversation could grow too heavy, the door swung open, and Naruto strode in. "Alright, I’m here! What’s so urgent?"Kakashi took a deep breath and explained.  The weight of the moment settled over the room like a thick fog, and Naruto felt it pressing against his chest."Now?" he asked, even though he already knew the answer.Older Kakashi nodded. Naruto exhaled slowly, his shoulders dipping slightly before he caught himself and straightened up. He turned to the younger Kakashi, their eyes meeting. Naruto could tell that the kid was trying to play it cool, but he saw through it immediately. The way his brows were furrowed, the way his jaw was set just a little too tightly—he was nervous.Naruto mustered up a smile. "It’s finally time, huh?"Little Kakashi scoffed. "Tch. It’s not a big deal." But his voice was a little shaky."Yeah?" Naruto tilted his head, watching him closely. "Then why do you look like you just swallowed a bug?"Younger Kakashi glared at him but didn’t argue. His lips pressed together in a thin line as he stubbornly looked away.Naruto chuckled softly before his expression turned fond. "I’m gonna miss you, y’know."Before the younger Kakashi could respond, the older one let out a loud sigh. "Excuse me, but I’m literally him, and I’m not going anywhere," he deadpanned.Naruto turned to him, grinning. "Yeah, but the little guy is cuter."Older Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "Unbelievable," he muttered.The moment was interrupted when the ANBU member reappeared in the doorway. "Excuse me, Hokage-sama. Preparations are complete," he announced, then bowed slightly before stepping out again.Silence followed.The younger Kakashi didn’t move.Naruto watched as his fingers curled into the fabric of his pants, his body tensing. He shifted his weight slightly, hesitating.Older Kakashi observed him for a moment. Then he took a slow breath, rising from his desk before he bent down in front of his younger self, meeting him at eye level."It’s going to be okay.” he said, putting his hand on little Kakashi’s head. „I know what’s waiting for you back home," his voice was quieter now. "I know how hard this moment must be on you."Younger Kakashi’s fingers tightened slightly. He didn’t say anything, but Naruto could tell he was listening."I don’t know if you’ll remember any of this, all the days you spent here." Older Kakashi continued, his tone steady but gentle. "But even if you don’t, I hope this feeling stays with you. The feeling of what your life could be like."Something flickered in the younger Kakashi’s expression, something uncertain but hopeful."Use that feeling to push forward," Kakashi said. "And become the kind of person that your Naruto could fall in love with one day, hm?"For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, slowly, the tension in little Kakashi’s shoulders eased. His expression shifted—still guarded, but there was something else there now. Something close to excitement. He nodded, determination flickering in his eye.And then, just like that, the moment was over.Little Kakashi straightened, his usual smugness slipping back into place. He turned to Naruto and the other Kakashi, lips curling into something downright mischievous.Then, suddenly, he pointed at both of them. "Okay. You two. Kiss."Naruto choked. "What?!""I’m not going anywhere until I see that I’m leaving you two idiots on the right track." Little Kakashi declared.Naruto gaped at him, his face immediately turning red. "You—That’s not—You can’t just demand something like that!""Watch me," Little Kakashi said smugly, crossing his arms.Naruto turned to his Kakashi for help, expecting him to brush it off, but—oh.Kakashi didn’t hesitate.In one fluid motion, he pulled down his mask, stepped up to Naruto, and cupped his face before pressing their lips together.It was not just a quick peck.It was real. Solid.Naruto froze for half a second before instinct kicked in. His hands moved without thinking, gripping the fabric of Kakashi’s vest as he melted into the kiss. There was warmth, steady and grounding, and the way Kakashi held him—firm but careful—sent a shiver down his spine.By the time they parted, Naruto’s breath was uneven. His heart was hammering in his chest, and his brain was still catching up.Little Kakashi noded, satisfied. "Good. This will do."Naruto let out a weak laugh, his face still burning. "You really don’t know when to quit, huh?""Nope," Little Kakashi grinned.Naruto exhaled before stepping forward and wrapping the younger Kakashi in a tight hug. "Thanks for everything, squirt," he murmured. "Take care of yourself, alright?"Younger Kakashi stiffened for a moment before, ever so slightly, his hands came up to grip Naruto’s sleeve. "You too," he mumbled, sounding a little wet.And then, with a deep breath, they turned to finally send him home.    The room felt quieter without him.Naruto stood there for a long moment, among all the shinobi who performed the jutsu, staring at the spot where little Kakashi had just been, feeling… empty. He had known this would happen. Had known the kid couldn’t stay here forever. And yet, a part of him still felt like something had just been ripped away, leaving an ache in his chest.Slowly, he and Kakashi walked back to the Hokage’s office and when the doors shut behind them Naruto looked at Kakashi with worried eyes. "He seemed so sad. What kind of life did he go back to?" he asked, voice quiet.Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably. His gaze flickered away for a moment, as if debating how much to say, but in the end, he didn’t sugarcoat it. "Not a good one," he admitted. "At fifteen, I had no one. My parents were gone. My friends were gone. Minato-sensei, too."Naruto’s stomach tightened."I lived every day weighed down by guilt," Kakashi continued, voice calm but heavy with the kind of exhaustion that lingered even after years had passed. "Guilt for not being strong enough to protect the people I loved. For being the only one left behind." He exhaled. "I was already in ANBU by then, trying to find some kind of purpose. But all it did was make the darkness inside me grow."Naruto watched him closely, a shadow crossing over his face. "What do you mean?""ANBU was… different," Kakashi explained. "I worked directly under the Hokage. I was entrusted with so many nasty secrets that my perception of right and wrong started to get skewed. Everything was highly confidential and mission files were classified so I couldn’t open up to anyone about anything I was doing. The missions I took were nothing like the ones we did as Team 7 too. Most of them were tracking people down and eliminating them. Over and over. Kill or be killed. That was my life from when I was 13, almost up until the moment I became your teacher."Naruto’s chest tightened painfully. "Shit."Kakashi offered a tired smile. "Yeah."Naruto looked away, his hands clenching at his sides. "I would’ve never guessed," he murmured. "The kid was such a little menace while he was here. He was always smirking, always up to something. It’s hard to believe he was carrying all that weight when he first showed up.""I was surprised too," Kakashi admitted. "But it was all thanks to you."Naruto blinked, looking up. "Me?"Kakashi nodded. "You gave him space to act like a kid again. Something I never really got to do at that age." His voice softened. "You made it easier for him to smile. To laugh. To be reckless without the weight of the world on his shoulders for once. And you became the first person he truly cared about in a really long time."Naruto swallowed past the lump forming in his throat. His vision blurred slightly, and before he could overthink it, he stepped forward and hugged Kakashi tightly."I hope he finds happiness as soon as possible," Naruto murmured against his shoulder, squeezing his eyes shut.
I hope you found happiness, too.
"He deserves it." Naruto choked out.
You deserve it so much.
Kakashi stiffened slightly, caught off guard, but then he let out a small breath and wrapped his arms around Naruto in return. "Yeah," he said quietly. "He really does." For a while, neither of them moved. Naruto kept his arms wrapped around Kakashi, holding on like he was afraid the moment would slip away. Kakashi, for once, let himself stay still, feeling the warmth of Naruto against him.It was strange. He wasn’t used to this—being comforted. Being held. But right now, with the weight of everything lingering in the air, he didn’t pull away.After a long moment, Naruto finally loosened his grip, but he didn’t step back completely. His hands stayed resting against Kakashi’s shoulders as he looked up at him, eyes still glassy. He quickly rubbed at his eyes and sniffled. "Damn it, now I’m all emotional," he grumbled. "And I know that brat would totally make fun of me for it."Kakashi chuckled, the sound light but genuine. "Without a doubt."Naruto sighed and finally took a step back. "Alright," he said, stretching his arms over his head. "I think I need some fresh air. My brain feels all scrambled after everything that just happened."Kakashi nodded, but before Naruto could turn away completely, he reached out and tugged at his wrist. "Hey."Naruto glanced back, eyes questioning."You okay?" Kakashi asked, voice quiet.Naruto stared at him for a moment, then huffed a small laugh. "I should be asking you that," he said. "You’re the one who just said goodbye to a past version of yourself."Kakashi’s lips quirked slightly. "Yeah, but he was your annoying little shadow for the past few weeks. I figure this probably hit you pretty hard too."Naruto hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Yeah. I’ll miss the little guy." He paused before adding with a smirk, "He was a bit cuter."Kakashi rolled his eyes. "Oh, shut up."Naruto grinned, giving him an affectionate squeeze on the arm before finally stepping away. "I’ll see you later, alright?"Kakashi watched him go, something warm settling in his chest. "Yeah," he murmured. "See you later, Naruto." The village felt a little different now. Naruto noticed it as he walked through Konoha’s streets—something feels quieter, like a presence was missing. He kept expecting to hear an amused scoff from behind him or to feel an arm draped lazily over his shoulders. But of course, there was nothing. Little Kakashi was gone.It shouldn't be such a big deal. He’d only been here for a few weeks, and Naruto had known from the start that it wouldn’t last. But still… he missed him.Maybe that’s why, even though it definitely hadn’t been more than an hour since he had left, his feet took him back to the Hokage’s office.Kakashi was there, as always, sitting behind his desk, flipping through some paperwork with the usual tired look on his face. When Naruto stepped in, Kakashi glanced up, his eyes curving slightly. "Back already?"Naruto shrugged and leaned against the door frame. "I dunno, didn’t feel like being alone.” He thought for a second and then walked closer to Kakashi. "Hey," he said, tapping a finger against Kakashi’s desk. "You wanna get some ramen?"Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Ramen?""Yeah," Naruto said with a grin. "You’ve had your hands full for weeks now, I figure you deserve a break from time to time."Kakashi chuckled, closing his paperwork with a decisive snap. "Well, when you put it like that, how can I refuse?"Naruto whooped as Kakashi stood, stretching before grabbing his Hokage robe. The two of them stepped out of the office together, and for the first time in a while, things felt… normal.And maybe it was the fact that he understood Kakashi much better now, or maybe it was the little Kakashi’s influence lingering in his head, but he was feeling braver.As they walked to Ichiraku, he reached out and laced his fingers with Kakashi’s without a second thought.Kakashi glanced down at their joined hands, then up at Naruto with a hint of amusement in his eye. "Bold," he murmured, but he didn’t pull away.Naruto grinned, giving Kakashi’s hand a squeeze. "What, you thought I’d leave all the flirting up to the little squirt?"Kakashi chuckled, shaking his head, but Naruto could tell—he was happy.At Ichiraku, Naruto took his newfound confidence a step further. As they sat side by side, he let their knees bump together under the counter, lingered a little too close when he turned to talk, let their shoulders press together. Kakashi didn’t move away. If anything, he leaned in, accepting every little touch with quiet contentment.It made Naruto’s heart race.By the time they were walking back to Naruto’s apartment, the air between them was thick with something new—something charged. Kakashi walked him all the way to his door, and for a moment, they just stood there, the street quiet around them.Then Kakashi exhaled, rubbing the back of his head. "Naruto. I know I’ve been…too passive about this —us— until now," he admitted. "But I’m not going to be anymore."Naruto’s breath caught.Kakashi met his eyes, his voice quieter but firm. "I’m serious about you. And I’m going to make you happy. No matter what."Naruto just about melted on the spot. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to break out of his chest. "...What the hell," he breathed, running a hand through his hair with a laugh. "You’re really good at this whole romance thing when you try, huh?"Kakashi huffed out a laugh, then stepped closer. "I guess you’ll have to stick around and find out."Then, before Naruto could even think of a comeback, Kakashi pulled his mask down, dipped his head and kissed him.It wasn’t rushed. Wasn’t teasing. It was warm and steady, and Naruto swore he saw fireworks behind his eyelids.By the time they parted, Naruto was dazed, grinning like an idiot as Kakashi murmured a quiet, "Goodnight, Naruto."Naruto barely managed a "Night," before Kakashi turned and disappeared into the night.He stumbled into his apartment, flopping onto his bed, kicking his feet like a lovesick teenager. "Holy shit," he whispered into his pillow, grinning so hard his face hurt.Yeah. This was happening.And he couldn’t be happier.  The next morning, Naruto woke up feeling ridiculously good. He stretched out on his bed, grinning to himself like a total fool. "Holy shit," he muttered again, the memory of Kakashi’s kiss replaying in his head for the hundredth time.By the time he got dressed and headed out, he was practically bouncing on his feet. He didn’t have a mission today, which meant—He was going to see Kakashi.He did all his errands for the day and when he arrived at the Hokage’s office in the late afternoon, he pushed the door open without knocking. "Yo, Kakashi!"Kakashi, sitting at his desk, barely looked up from his paperwork. "You do realize I’m the Hokage, right? People usually wait to be called in."Naruto strolled right up to the desk, resting his hands on it as he leaned forward with a wide grin. "Yeah, yeah. But I’m special."Kakashi finally looked up properly, and the tiniest smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I suppose you are."Naruto’s stomach did a weird little flip at that. "You free for dinner?""Technically, no." Kakashi gestured vaguely at the mountain of paperwork on his desk. "But for you…" He paused, then sighed dramatically, pushing himself up. "I guess I can make time."Naruto beamed. "Damn right you can." They ended up at a quiet place where they could sit across from each other without distractions. Naruto found himself watching Kakashi a lot—noticing things he had never really paid attention to before. Like the way he ate neatly but lazily, his posture relaxed as he listened to Naruto ramble about a dumb story from his mission."You’re staring," Kakashi pointed out after a while, amused.Naruto blinked, then shrugged. "Guess I am. So what?""So nothing," Kakashi said, tilting his head. "It’s just very cute."Naruto almost choked on his food. "You can’t just say shit like that! All of a sudden!"Kakashi chuckled, clearly pleased with the reaction. "Why not?"Naruto groaned, shoving more food into his mouth to avoid answering. After dinner, they took their time walking through the village. People greeted them as they passed, and even though none of them knew they were dating Naruto strangely felt like they were some kind of royal couple. The thought made him blush furiously so he quickly pushed it down.At one point, Kakashi casually took his hand. Just like that—warm fingers threading through his.Naruto’s heart practically stopped.He looked down at their joined hands, then up at Kakashi, who just raised an eyebrow. "What? You were the one getting all handsy yesterday."Naruto snorted. "Yeah, but—" He hesitated, then squeezed Kakashi’s hand. "I like it.""Good."It was so simple, so easy. And Naruto thought—Yeah. He really, really liked this. The afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the village as they continued walking, hand in hand. Naruto felt ridiculously warm inside—like if he grinned any harder, his face might actually split in half.They ended up near the Hokage Monument, where they sat side by side on the grass, looking over the village."It’s weird not having the little guy around," Naruto admitted after a while, leaning back on his hands. "I keep expecting him to pop out of nowhere and mess with you.""He was exhausting," Kakashi muttered, rubbing his temple like just the thought of his younger self gave him a headache. "I’m too old for that kind of stress."Naruto snickered. "I dunno, I think he grew on you.""Like a stubborn weed," Kakashi muttered.Naruto laughed again, but then his smile faded slightly. "He’ll be okay, right?"Kakashi didn’t answer right away. He watched the horizon, his expression thoughtful. "He will," he finally said. "He’s got a long road ahead of him, but… he’s strong."Naruto nodded, exhaling slowly. "Yeah."They sat in silence for a while, the wind ruffling their hair. Then Kakashi suddenly shifted closer, resting his arm against Naruto’s."You seem really caught up on him," Kakashi murmured, a pouty tilt to his voice. "Should I be jealous?"Naruto snorted. "You’re an idiot.""Mm. Only when it comes to you."Naruto turned his head to look at him properly, and for once, Kakashi wasn’t hiding behind teasing or deflection. His eyes were soft, steady.Naruto smiled to himself, "Sappy too."And he wouldn’t have it any other way.    A few days later Kakashi sat at his desk, both elbows on the table and fingers tangled in his hair as he stared down at the document in front of him. Today’s workload was particularly frustrating, and he had made it clear that he didn’t want to be disturbed. So when he heard a knock at the door, he sighed."Didn’t I say no interruptions?" he called out.The door cracked open, and Shikamaru stepped in, looking as done with life as ever. "Yeah, well, I tried. But there’s one particularly stubborn idiot who refuses to listen."Kakashi quirked an eyebrow, waiting."Your boyfriend’s here," Shikamaru deadpanned.Kakashi’s lips twitched in amusement. "Ah. Well, in that case, let him in."Shikamaru exhaled through his nose like he was debating throwing himself out the window before he turned and gestured for Naruto to enter. The moment Naruto stepped in, he was already complaining."Kakashi, you gotta tell Shikamaru that boyfriend privileges override whatever dumb rule he thinks I broke. I should be allowed in here whenever I want."Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "You’re not special, Naruto.""I literally am," Naruto shot back, then turned to Kakashi with a dramatic pout. "Tell him, babe."„Babe?” Kakashi tilted his head, puzzled. And then he caught on and hummed, tapping his chin as he pretended to consider it. "Hmm, Sugarplum… I don’t know. People might think I’m playing favorites."Naruto gasped, placing a hand over his heart like Kakashi had personally betrayed him. "But, Pookie Bear, I thought I was your favorite!""Okay, that’s enough of the roleplay. I stand corrected, please don’t ever do this in front of me again." Shikamaru muttered and then glanced at Kakashi. "I’ll leave you to deal with your problem. Don’t let him be a distraction.""Oh, he already is," Kakashi replied easily, earning an exasperated sigh from Shikamaru before he left and shut the door behind him.Naruto grinned in victory and immediately threw himself onto the couch like he owned the place. "Man, he really had it out for me today.""I personally asked him to let me have some peace, he was just doing his job." Kakashi mused, getting up from his chair and walking over to him."He called me a problem. I’m a boyfriend, not a problem!" Naruto crossed his arms over his chest. "Anyway, how’s the most overworked Hokage doing today?"Kakashi sighed and sat beside him. "Drowning in paperwork, going through mission reports, making sure no one sets the village on fire. You know, the usual."Naruto made a face. "Sounds awful. Good thing I came to save you."Kakashi smirked. "Is that what you’re doing?""Obviously." Naruto grabbed his hand, intertwining their fingers. "I mean, what else am I here for?""To annoy me?" Kakashi offered.Naruto scoffed. "Wow. See if I ever come save you again.""Mmm," Kakashi hummed, watching him with a certain fondness. "My apologies. Let me make it up to you."Before Naruto could ask how, Kakashi tugged his mask down and leaned in, kissing him.Naruto melted instantly, tightening his grip on Kakashi’s hand as he kissed him back.  Kakashi had expected Naruto to be a complete nuisance while he worked, but to his surprise, the younger man actually stayed quiet, keeping himself busy by staring out the window, napping or flipping through a random book on the couch. Every once in a while, Naruto would glance up, watching him with barely contained impatience, but he didn’t say anything. Not until—"Finally!" Naruto practically jumped out of his seat the moment Kakashi signed off on the last document from the pile. "You’re done, right?"Kakashi stretched his fingers and rolled his shoulders. "I’m never truly done," he said with a sigh, eyeing the next stack of work waiting for him. "But…" He glanced at Naruto’s eager face, the way he was practically bouncing on his heels. "I take it you have something planned?"Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "There’s a festival in the village tonight. I was hoping we could go together, wear a yukata and everything."Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "A festival?" He glanced at his unfinished work, then back at Naruto, who was watching him expectantly. It wasn’t a hard choice. "Alright, let’s go."Naruto’s face lit up instantly. "Hell yeah! Okay, go get changed and I’ll meet you there!"They parted ways, each heading to their respective apartments to change clothes. When Kakashi arrived at the festival in his dark blue yukata, he immediately spotted Naruto waiting for him.Naruto’s yukata was a deep orange with white wave patterns lining the edges. His usual headband was gone, his golden hair tousled slightly from the wind. He looked bright, youthful, and so effortlessly handsome that Kakashi felt something tighten in his chest."Whoa," Naruto said, looking Kakashi up and down with clear appreciation. "You look so good."Kakashi smirked. "So do you."Naruto beamed. "C’mon, let’s go!"The festival was bustling with life. Lanterns glowed in warm colors, paper decorations swayed gently above them, and the smell of grilled food filled the air. They started off by grabbing some street food—yakitori for Naruto, taiyaki for Kakashi. Naruto kept sneaking bites of Kakashi’s snack, claiming his own had mysteriously disappeared (which was a blatant lie considering Kakashi had watched him inhale three skewers already).They watched a lively parade, Naruto cheering and laughing at the performances, eyes filled with pure joy. Every time Kakashi looked at him, he felt warmth spread through his chest.As the festival reached its peak, they found themselves standing side by side, watching the firework show. Naruto had grabbed Kakashi’s hand at some point, intertwining their fingers like it was the most natural thing in the world. The explosions of color reflected in his blue eyes, his expression full of wonder."This is the best day ever," Naruto murmured, squeezing his hand, head still directed towards the night sky. "I’m so happy right now, I could die.""Let’s not test that," Kakashi replied dryly, though he squeezed Naruto’s hand back.As the sky illuminated with brilliant bursts of color, Kakashi’s gaze remained fixed on Naruto, his heart swelling in a way that was almost painful. There was something about the way Naruto stood there, eyes wide in awe, the warmth of his fingers intertwined with Kakashi’s, that made the world feel distant and irrelevant.Naruto’s smile, radiant and pure, seemed to outshine even the fireworks above them. It was like he was the most beautiful thing Kakashi had ever seen. Every time Naruto's laughter bubbled up, every time his excitement radiated, Kakashi felt an overwhelming sense of adoration. Naruto had been through so much, and yet there he was, lighting up the world with that same infectious energy. Kakashi couldn’t tear his gaze away.Instinct took over as he leaned in slowly, his heart hammering, mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions that couldn’t make sense of the moment, but his body knew. He pulled down his mask before his lips brushed against Naruto’s, soft and gentle.Naruto froze for just a second, surprised, but then he turned his body slightly to face Kakashi properly. His fingers tightened around Kakashi’s hand, and his lips parted slightly, the kiss deepening just enough for Kakashi to forget everything but the warmth of Naruto’s touch.Kakashi pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, both of them breathless, faces flushed. The fireworks still lit up the sky, but all Kakashi could hear was the rapid beating of his own heart, matching the rhythm of Naruto’s, as if they were finally in sync with each other in a way that felt so right, so perfect, that Kakashi didn’t know how he’d gone so long without realizing this was where he was meant to be.  When the fireworks ended, Kakashi walked Naruto home, their fingers still loosely linked. They stopped at Naruto’s door, the lanterns outside casting a soft glow on their faces.Naruto hesitated for a moment before looking up at him. "Hey… do you wanna come in?"His voice was casual, but the way he shifted on his feet, the way his fingers tightened just slightly around Kakashi’s—it wasn’t just an offhand suggestion.Kakashi studied him for a moment, his heart beating just a little faster. Then he smiled."I’d love to."Kakashi stepped inside and glanced around, taking in the space with mild curiosity. "Huh. This is way cleaner than I expected."Naruto immediately went stiff. "Wha— What the hell does that mean?"Kakashi smirked. "Oh, nothing. Let’s just say I was expecting a little more… chaos."Naruto’s face turned beet red. "Tch. Maybe I just like to keep my home nice now," he mumbled, crossing his arms.He definitely couldn’t admit that he had spent hours scrubbing every inch of his apartment because, in the back of his mind, he had been hoping for this exact scenario. That would just be too embarrassing.Kakashi hummed, stepping further inside and slipping off his sandals. "I probably shouldn’t look what’s under the bed though, should I?" he said casually, looking around.Naruto barely heard him. He was too busy mentally spiraling.Okay. He’s here. I did it. I got him inside. Now what?His palms felt a little sweaty. He discreetly wiped them against his yukata, glancing at Kakashi, who was now absentmindedly looking at the few framed pictures on the shelf.
I know what I want. But how the hell do I get there?
Should he sit down on the couch and wait for something to happen? That felt stupid. Should he offer Kakashi a drink and then accidentally spill it on himself so he’d have to take his clothes off? Okay, no, that was even more stupid. Should he just—should he just go for it? Just—jump him?His face burned. That would be weird, right? Too sudden. Too aggressive.But then again… if he just stood here awkwardly doing nothing, wasn’t that even worse?
God, how do people do this?!
Naruto barely registered Kakashi turning back to him, his eyes studying him with mild amusement. "You okay?" Kakashi asked, tilting his head. "You look like you’re having some kind of internal battle."Naruto stiffened. "What? No! Battle? Pshhh," He barked out a laugh that sounded very not fine.Kakashi just gave him a knowing look, and Naruto swore, if he didn’t figure out what the hell he was doing soon, he was gonna lose his mind.Kakashi arched an eyebrow, his amusement growing by the second. "Alright... if you say so." He took a step closer, his presence filling Naruto’s space in a way that made Naruto’s heart hammer against his ribs. "You’re acting a little weird, though."Naruto scoffed, crossing his arms tighter. "No way, weird? Me? Nah. I’m—" He forced another too-loud laugh. "—p-peachy!"Kakashi hummed, unconvinced. Then, slowly, as if testing something, he reached out and brushed his fingers lightly against Naruto’s wrist.Naruto nearly jumped out of his skin."Oh?" Kakashi’s voice dropped a bit, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. "I see. That’s what this is about."Naruto’s face practically caught fire. "Wh—what the hell are you talking about?!"Kakashi didn’t answer right away. Instead, he took another step forward, closing the distance even more, their bodies nearly touching. His fingers trailed up Naruto’s wrist to his forearm, his touch deliberate, slow."You invited me in," Kakashi murmured, his voice smooth and entirely too knowing. "And now you’re standing there, looking like you don’t know what to do with me."Naruto swallowed thickly. "I—"Kakashi’s hand slid higher, fingertips ghosting over the fabric of Naruto’s yukata sleeve. "Tell me, Naruto..." His voice dipped lower, softer, just the faintest trace of amusement still in it. "What do you want?"Naruto’s throat went dry. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Kakashi’s, his whole body buzzing from the featherlight touch on his arm.Kakashi was giving him an out. He could still laugh this off, shove him away, pretend like this was not exactly what he wanted.Or…Naruto steeled himself, taking a sharp breath. He wasn’t gonna wimp out now.So he did the only thing that made sense.He pinched the fabric of Kakashi’s mask to pull it down, grabbed his yukata, and yanked him down into a kiss.Kakashi let out a quiet sound of surprise before responding immediately, his hands coming up to steady Naruto by the waist. The kiss was slow, teasing, Kakashi dragging it out just to make Naruto squirm. And it worked.Naruto pressed in closer, trying to deepen it, but Kakashi pulled back just enough to keep it frustratingly light. His lips barely brushed against Naruto’s as he murmured, "I want to hear you say it."Naruto exhaled shakily, grip tightening on Kakashi’s yukata. "I want you." His voice was hushed but sure. "Stay with me tonight."Kakashi’s eyes darkened. He stared at Naruto for a moment,and then, slowly, a small, knowing smile curled his lips."Alright, Naruto," he murmured, brushing his thumb across Naruto’s cheek. "I’ll gladly grant your wish."And then he kissed him again, deeper this time, pulling Naruto flush against him.Naruto swore he was gonna combust.Naruto’s head was spinning, his whole body thrumming with heat as Kakashi deepened the kiss, hands firm on his waist. He felt dizzy, caught in the push and pull of Kakashi’s lips, the teasing way Kakashi kissed like he had all the time in the world."Damn it," Naruto mumbled between kisses, pulling at Kakashi’s yukata like he wanted to get rid of the annoying layers between them. "Stop messing around."Kakashi chuckled against his lips, warm and amused. "Messing around?" He nudged Naruto back a step, then another, until Naruto’s legs hit the edge of the bed. "I’m just taking my time with you."Naruto’s back hit the mattress. He huffed, heart hammering in his chest. "Not when I feel like I’m gonna die before we even get anywhere!"Kakashi tilted his head, pretending to consider something. "Hmm. That does sound dramatic. Wouldn’t want you keeling over before we’ve even started.""Kakashi!" Naruto whined, grabbing him by the front of his yukata and pulling him down. "Less talking, more—"Kakashi cut him off with another kiss, this one more insistent, more consuming. His hands slid up Naruto’s sides, fingers pressing just enough to make Naruto shiver.The yukata felt frustratingly in the way now, too loose yet somehow too much. Naruto fumbled with the sash, but Kakashi was faster, slipping his hands beneath the fabric, fingers splaying against Naruto’s bare skin.Naruto sucked in a sharp breath, eyes fluttering shut as Kakashi’s touch sent sparks down his spine. "Shit..."Kakashi’s lips moved to his jaw, then down to the sensitive spot beneath his ear. "Relax," he murmured, voice low and warm. "We have all night."That was both comforting and really unfair at the same time.Naruto swallowed thickly, his fingers tightening in Kakashi’s yukata. "Then stop teasing and—"A sharp knock at the door made them both freeze.Naruto’s eyes shot open, panic rushing in. "Oh, come on," he groaned, flopping back onto the bed in frustration. "Who the hell—""Hokage-sama," Shikamaru’s voice rang through the door, exasperated. "I know you’re in there."Kakashi let out a slow sigh, his forehead dropping onto Naruto’s shoulder. "How does he know I’m in here though?” he scowled. "We’re ignoring him, right?" Kakashi asked, his breath still warm against Naruto’s skin."Damn right we are."Another knock. Louder this time. "Perhaps you didn’t hear me. Kakashi, I know you're in there. And Naruto too. You might as well answer before I make this embarrassing for you."Naruto groaned into his hands. "I hate him."Kakashi sighed again, pushing himself up. "He’s not going to leave, you know.""I know," Naruto grumbled, already mourning what could’ve been. "I’m still ignoring him."Kakashi smirked, leaning down to brush one last kiss against Naruto’s lips before finally, reluctantly, pulling away. "I should at least tell him to go away before he kicks the door down."Naruto crossed his arms, pouting. "Fine."Kakashi chuckled as he made his way to the door, pulling his mask back up. „You’re cute when you sulk like that.”Kakashi pulled the door open just enough to peek outside, leaning lazily against the frame. "This better be good, Shikamaru."Shikamaru, looking very much like a man who did not want to be here, sighed heavily. "Trust me, I wouldn't be wasting my night if it wasn’t important." His eyes flickered past Kakashi’s shoulder, catching sight of Naruto still sprawled out on the bed, flushed and glaring. "Interrupting something?""Yes," Naruto deadpanned. "So hurry up and get lost.""I would love to, believe me, but unfortunately, there's a situation that requires the Hokage."Kakashi hummed. "You know, technically, I was off duty for the night.""And technically," Shikamaru shot back, "Konoha doesn’t care about your date night when we have a potential security issue. With all due respect."Naruto groaned into the mattress. "Ugh, of course it’s a security issue. It’s always a security issue.""You’re the Hokage’s boyfriend," Shikamaru said, crossing his arms. "Get used to it."Kakashi sighed, already bracing himself for whatever this was. "Alright. What’s going on?"Shikamaru’s expression shifted slightly, more serious now. "There was a disturbance near the village border—scouts picked up some unusual movement. No attacks or anything yet, but it’s got the security division on edge. They want you to take a look and sign off on a decision."Kakashi nodded, slipping back into work mode effortlessly. "Understood. Give me five minutes."Shikamaru nodded and stepped back. "Meet you at the gates."The moment he was gone, Naruto let out the most dramatic groan and flopped back against the bed. "Being the Hokage’s boyfriend is such a tough job."Kakashi chuckled, walking back over to where Naruto was still sulking. "I know, it’s a real tragedy.""No, what’s a real tragedy is that I had carefully crafted plans for tonight and Shikamaru stomped all over them."Kakashi leaned down, bracing his hands on either side of Naruto’s head. "Oh?" He smirked. "You had plans, huh?"Naruto huffed, crossing his arms. "Obviously."Kakashi kissed him again, slow and lingering, like a promise. "I’ll make it up to you when I get back."Naruto’s annoyance melted just a little. "You better."Kakashi smiled, running his fingers through Naruto’s hair briefly before straightening up. "Get some rest. I’ll be back before you know it."With one last kiss pressed to Naruto’s forehead, Kakashi left, closing the door behind him.Naruto groaned into his pillow. "Damn it."This better really be an emergency, or someone was paying.  Kakashi returned to Naruto’s apartment just an hour later. The lights were still on but he moved quietly, just in case. When he stepped inside the bedroom, he found Naruto sprawled out on the bed, snoring softly.Kakashi exhaled, shaking his head fondly. All that fuss, and he still fell asleep first.Without making a sound, he slipped off his yukata, leaving only his undershirt and pants, turned the lights off and then slid into bed beside Naruto. The warmth of the younger man was immediate, his scent filling Kakashi’s senses—comforting, familiar, his.And with that thought lingering in his mind, Kakashi let sleep take him.   The thing about falling in love was that it didn’t come with a manual.Kakashi had spent most of his life avoiding deep emotional entanglements. And yet, here he was, watching Naruto sleep, wondering how the hell he ever thought he could keep this idiot at arm’s length.Naruto’s mouth was slightly open, his hair an absolute disaster, and he was drooling on Kakashi’s arm.It should’ve been gross. But instead, Kakashi just sighed fondly and moved slightly so he wouldn’t wake him.Unfortunately, Naruto chose that exact moment to stir. His lashes fluttered before his sleepy blue eyes blinked up at Kakashi. Then, instead of saying something normal, Naruto smacked his lips and mumbled:"Why’re you starin’ at me, weirdo?""Because you’re drooling on me," Kakashi deadpanned.Naruto snorted but didn’t even have the decency to look embarrassed. "You love it.""I truly don’t," Kakashi muttered, peeling his arm away before it got any worse.Naruto yawned, stretching his arms above his head, before suddenly perking up. "Hey! I just remembered something!""Mm?""Didn’t you promise me something last night?"Kakashi barely had time to register what was happening before Naruto rolled on top of him, straddling his waist."You said I could cash in later," Naruto continued, leaning down so their noses were almost touching. "And it’s later."Kakashi blinked up at him. "You’re very eager in the morning.""Well, yeah. You ran off to Hokage stuff before I could properly enjoy you.""Mm. An unfortunate side effect of having responsibilities."Naruto huffed. "Just say you were afraid of me wearing you out."Kakashi chuckled, sliding a hand up Naruto’s back. "That’s adorable."His fingers trailed lazily up and down Naruto’s spine, his smirk widening as he felt the faint shiver that ran through the younger man’s body."Adorable," he repeated, his voice softer this time, almost like he was indulging himself in the word.Naruto swallowed, hyper-aware of the way Kakashi was looking at him—slowly, like he had all the time in the world to make Naruto squirm."You keep saying that," Naruto muttered, trying to sound unimpressed despite the growing warmth creeping up his neck. „Like I’m some kind of pet.”Kakashi hummed, tilting his head slightly. "More like... a particularly enthusiastic puppy."Naruto bristled. "Oi—!""Jumping on me first thing in the morning," Kakashi continued smoothly, like Naruto hadn’t spoken. "Too full of energy for his own good. Unaware that sometimes, a little restraint might be in his best interest."Naruto scowled, heat crawling up his neck. "I don’t need restraint.""Oh?" Kakashi’s hand slid up Naruto’s back, fingers pressing lightly at the base of his neck. "Then tell me, are you ready to handle what you’ve been asking for?"Naruto felt his brain short-circuit. He opened his mouth, about to fire back, but Kakashi was suddenly shifting, rolling them over effortlessly. Naruto found himself flat on his back, staring up at Kakashi’s smug, entirely-too-in-control expression.Kakashi leaned in, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "You’ve been getting awfully bold with me lately." he murmured dangerously, tilting his head slightly "You dare say I ran off in the morning because I was scared you’d wear me out?"Naruto blinked. "Uh... y-yeah?"Kakashi’s lips twitched like he was holding back laughter. "Naruto." His voice was rich with amusement. "You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into."Naruto felt like his soul just left his body. His face was burning."I—" Naruto made a garbled noise, unable to form a single coherent thought."I have to wonder," Kakashi mused, his free hand settling on Naruto’s hip, "if you’re actually prepared for what happens when I finally decide to stop holding back."Naruto’s breath hitched, his entire body locked up as his brain scrambled for words.Kakashi smiled. "Oh? Cat got your tongue?"Naruto let out a strangled sound, his face going up in flames."You—You’re doing this on purpose," he accused, struggling between mortified and dangerously flustered.Kakashi chuckled, his fingers brushing up Naruto’s waist, slow and deliberate. "Of course I am."Naruto squirmed, desperately trying to save face, but Kakashi was too damn smug."You know what?" Naruto finally snapped, shoving at Kakashi’s shoulder. "Your younger self would never torture me like this."Kakashi sighed dramatically. "Ah, yes. Little me. Such a helpful wingman."Naruto groaned into his hands. "I can’t believe he ever worried about you not making a move.""Me?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "He should’ve been worried about you."Naruto peeked through his fingers. "What’s that supposed to mean?"Kakashi smirked. "That for all your boldness, you turn red awfully fast."Naruto opened his mouth—then snapped it shut.Kakashi chuckled, deeply satisfied. "That seems about right."Naruto tried to shove him again, but Kakashi caught his wrists effortlessly and pinned them above his head.Naruto’s breath hitched.They locked eyes, and for a moment, there was nothing but quiet, charged air between them. Kakashi’s grip loosened slightly, fingers warm against Naruto’s skin.Then, with an utterly unfair smirk, Kakashi leaned in and kissed him, slow and deep, stealing whatever protests Naruto had left.Naruto barely registered the way his arms were freed because his hands were already tangling in Kakashi’s hair, pulling him closer, more.When they finally pulled apart, Naruto was dazed, breathless, and his brain was barely functioning.Kakashi took in his flushed cheeks, his glazed eyes, and chuckled. "I thought you were gonna cash-in?"Naruto, still struggling to reboot his brain, whimpered weakly. „Huh?”And just like that, Naruto completely forgot what they were even talking about.   Fifteen-year-old Kakashi stood outside the Hokage Tower, staring up at the darkening sky.He’d been summoned by the Hokage.Which meant another mission. Another target. Another life to take.He didn’t particulary care.He’d just be adding another body on top of his already towering pile. He was good at his job. It was his only purpose.With a bored sigh, he shoved his hands into his pockets and started walking.His fingers brushed against something soft.Kakashi blinked.His steps slowed as he pulled out a small, worn-out frog keychain, its fabric frayed and colors faded with age. He stared at it, his brows drawing together.Where had this come from?He turned it over in his palm, studying every detail, but it didn’t jog any memories. He was certain he’d never owned something like this before—he wasn’t the type to carry around childish trinkets. And yet, there was something oddly familiar about it.As he kept looking at it, warmth spread through his chest, swelling like a rising tide. It filled every corner of his being with a deep, aching joy that made his breath hitch and his heart race.Suddenly, the weight pressing down on him didn’t seem quite so heavy. The cold, dull emptiness he had grown used to felt… less suffocating.The corners of his mouth twitched into a small smile.He tucked the keychain back into his pocket and continued walking, his posture a little lighter, his mind a little quieter.