#Godaime Kakashi | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

eggtoasties · 1 month

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black honey

Pairing: Hatake Kakashi/Haruno Sakura

Notes: Love a man in an ANBU uniform and I love fun team dynamics

Word Count: 2.082

Summary: Sakura, Kakashi, and Genma are pulled into Lord Ko’s idiotic scheme to get back at his ex, but they all get a little more than they bargained for. Not that anyone’s mad. Except maybe Genma.

“Tsunade-sama,” Sakura groaned, rubbing her temple. “You cannot be serious.”

“Sorry Sakura,” Tsunade replied, not seeming sorry at all. “Lord Ko asked specifically for a pretty kunoichi who could pretend to be his new girlfriend to make his ex jealous,” she responded brightly. “Wouldn’t you be offended if I had asked anyone else?”

“Ino. Hinata. Tenten.” Sakura listed, deadpan.

“Clan head, clean head, on a mission.” Tsunade responded.

Behind Sakura, two ANBU stood silently, watching the exchange between teacher and student with well concealed mirth.

“ Shishou,” Sakura whined, “don’t I have a reputation to uphold?”

“Ko is paying stupid amounts of money for this idiotic jealousy scheme. It's ridiculous. And he’s paying top dollar for the best escorts too, just to show his ex how important and powerful he is.” Tsunade smiled devilishly.

Sakura groaned and slumped in the chair in front of Tsunade’s desk.

“C’mon kid, think of it as a vacation. You get to sit pretty in some palace for a few days. Think of the food!” Tsunade exclaimed. Looking back at the two shinobi, still standing at attention, she said, “It’s a vacation for you guys too—easy peasy. Not that Sakura would need protecting anyways.”

Scowling, Sakura huffed, “How is parading around at a ball while I’m thrown around like an object, just so some idiot man can get back with his ex a vacation for me? ” Sakura said indignantly. “What if the crazy bitch decides to retaliate or something?”

Snorting, Genma broke his silence. “I’m pretty sure you could handle a civilian who’s never held a kunai.”

“Genma and Kakashi aren’t even the best,” Sakura complained, earning an indignant choke from Genma and a sniff from Kakashi. “Shouldn’t Shisui or Itachi be here?” Sakura leaned back in her chair, slowly accepting her fate.

“Wow,” Kakashi drawled, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Is that anyway to talk to your old teacher?”

Sakura snorted, “You barely taught and that was well over a decade ago.”

“Pft,” Tsunade shrugged. “This mission is something genin could honestly do. You and Hatake are there for the reputation. Doctor Haruno Sakura, Godaime’s apprentice, best med-nin across the Five Elemental Nations, co-director of the Konoha hospital, strongest shinobi on this planet—beautiful and intelligent,” she puffed her chest with each title. “And, uh, the Copy Nin,” she threw in, “are more than enough.”

“Hey!” Genma interjected, “What about me?”

“We just needed another ANBU guard.” Tsunade responded at the same time Kakashi said, “You’re just a pretty face.”

Folding his arms across his chest Genma pouted. “You can’t even see my face.”

Sighing once again, Sakura braced her elbows on the Hokage’s desk and cradled her forehead with her hands. “When do we leave?”

Tsunade handed Sakura a scroll. “Today.”

Slowly easing herself from the chair and throwing another exasperated glance at her mentor she wearily bowed.

“Sakura,” Tsunade started softly. Sakura peered up at her mentor through a curtain of pink hair. “Don’t forget to cover your Byakugo seal, ha!” Tsunade said, full of mirth.

Heaving out a breath and tiredly running a hand over her face, Sakura mock saluted her teacher and caught the scroll tossed her way.

“These have all the outfits, accessories, and makeup needed for the mission. Don’t ruin or lose anything—it was expensive as shit,” Tsunade warned.

“I didn’t realize the village had gowns in the vault for loan,” Sakura said wryly.

“I had them custom made for you,” Tsunade responded with a glint in her eye.

Opening her mouth in surprise Sakura squeaked, “What if I had rejected the mission?” her voice rising in consternation.

“Like you’d defy me, brat,” Tsunade with an eye roll.

Looking wearily over at Kakashi and Genma, Sakura said, “Meet me at the North gate at noon.”

Under the shadow of the North gate, Sakura hummed to herself as she double checked the contents of her pack and storage scrolls. She was looking forward to the mission. Despite her irritation in Hokage Tower, Sakura couldn’t remember the last time she was assigned to a mission that didn’t require her to be elbows deep in entrails or trekking through swamplands.

Plus, the company could be worse.

Light steps approached her. Two lithe forms in uniform, masks hanging at their hips, Sakura tried to fix her eyes on their faces.

“We’ll likely get to the palace around dinner time if we don’t rush. The ball is in three days and we can figure out security details when we meet with Ko,” Sakura said, securing her heaving pack on her back.

Kakashi and Genma exchanged nods and the trio started walking past the faded red of the village gate. Shoulder to shoulder, the spring breeze rustling through the Hashirama trees, the three of them could almost forget they were officially on a mission.

“For background,” Genma said, “I was on the security detail for Lord Ko a while back and he’s kind of a creep and kind of a loser.”

Kakashi chuckled behind his book and Sakura rolled her eyes.

“I figured if he had to pay women to be his date despite his status, he would be kind of a loser.” She tipped her face towards the sun and briefly closed her eyes. A vacation, a vacation, a vacation, she kept repeating. “I read the intel reports on him, my favorite was Anko’s. She basically just wrote ‘fucking loser’ over and over again on his personality section.”

Genma’s laughter carried through the forest and despite herself, Sakura laughed too.

“Behind closed doors, his own staff and advisors have been trying to get him out of power ever since his father passed,” Kakashi said, absentmindedly turning a page.

“A coup?” Sakura and Genma looked at Kakashi. Preventing political upheaval and getting information back to Konoha was a completely different mission than playing house.

Kakashi shrugged. “We’ve known this for years, his opposition won’t do anything rash. But the Lord is surprisingly politically savvy, he puts his foot down when necessary, loser or not.”

Wordlessly, they simultaneously leapt into the thick foliage of the forest and settled into a line formation with Genma at front and Kakashi in the back. Sakura considers this new intel.

“We likely don’t have to worry about any real political upheaval unless he proves entirely incompetent along with being an embarrassment,” Kakashi continued. “But just something to keep in mind.”

“How do you know this?” Sakura mentally cataloged the reports she read in Tsunade’s office, “I didn’t see any mention of this.”

All of a sudden, Sakura felt his breath at the nape of her neck. She fought the shiver that ran down her back.

“I do work, Sakura,” Kakashi whispered. He immediately fell back and Sakura felt a hot rush flood down her face to the pit of her stomach. She didn’t even hear him coming.

But looking back, that’s always how he operated. He’d never announce his presence, but she always saw him nearby. After slipping away from the village on confidential missions that even Tsunade wouldn’t disclose, she’d find him sitting in her office for his first post-mission check up in a year. After a hard week at the hospital, or a particularly grueling mission, he’d slide next to her at the bar and order their favorites.

Jokes under a whisper, the brush of a hand, the faintest outline of a smile, little peeks of what was under the mask.

I’m going to kill Tsunade, I’m going to kill Tsunade, I’m going to fucking kill Tsunade.

“I just know that we’re going to have such a great time, Sakura,” Lord Ko purred. His soft hands had imprisoned hers throughout lengthy introductions and while Sakura marveled at his scarless, uncalloused hand at first, she was ready to reduce it to a bloody stump.

She smiled and nodded as pleasantly as she could muster, trying to pull her hand back to her side. I’m going to kill everyone in this room.

“I’ve been following your work for quite some time,” he grinned, his wide face gleaming at her, not a pore in sight. He continued petting her captive hand while she felt a blood vessel pop in her eye. “I am quite the fan,” he crooned, leaning closer to her on the plush velvet cushion he insisted they share.

“I see, yes, thank you,” she said non committedly, and quickly glanced at the whispering courtiers to the side, hiding behind their fans, eyes pitying her.

“I can’t wait to see you in--”

“Let’s discuss the security details in private,” Kakashi interrupted, approaching the raised dais Ko and Sakura were seated on.

The hushed whispers in the room stopped immediately as Kakashi spoke. He and Genma had waited to the side, melting with the shadows of the columns. But as he stood in front of Sakura, it seemed unimaginable that he could ever be overlooked. He stood in stark contrast from the plush velvet rug underneath his boots, the rubies of the chandelier above him. All severe angles and brutal functionality. Genma slipped from the shadows and stood next to Kakashi, acknowledging Lord Ko with a curt nod.

There was an imperceptible twitch at the Lord’s brow as he assessed the masked pair below him and stared at Kakashi with an air of disingenuous affability. His smooth face broke out in a mild grin and he spread his arms wide--Sakura’s hand in tow.

“You’re ever so correct, ANBU, let the three of us discuss this in more privacy,” Ko said with a flourish of his robes. Surprisingly light on his feet for a large man, he quickly led Sakura down the steps of the dais, thick fabrics trailing behind him.

Without sparing Genma or Kakashi a glance, Ko brushed past the two while grasping Sakura by the hip.

Sakura reconsidered homicide.

The palace study, to Sakura’s slight dismay, was breathtaking. They sat at a great oak table, with chairs so wide they could fit two. The cushions were covered in an exquisite cream silk stitched in a pattern to resemble bound ropes. Lord Ko pulled Sakura’s chair for her and the heavy wood slid back on a plush green rug. He sat at the head of the table, facing a stained glass window that made up an entire wall depicting a dragon in flight through the sea.

Ko rang a bell he procured from one of his deep sleeves and servants filtered through the room and set up tea, water, and some documents. He leaned as far as he could towards Sakura, large belly heaving over his armrest, and Sakura scooted as far away as possible, thankful for the lavish chair. He poured her tea himself, allowing his servants to serve himself, Genma, and Kakashi on delicate porcelain plates.

Looking across the table, Sakura stifled a smile, watching Kakashi daintily sip from the white and gold teacup in full ANBU uniform.

“Lord Ko,” Genma said to Sakura’s left, “we’ll need floor plans of the palace, and the proceedings for the ball to best assess security measures.”

Genma, Sakura forgot, was a professional at the end of the day.

“Ah yes, the blueprints,” Ko said airily, “not sure where that would be, you both,” he pointed to Genma and Kakashi with his teacup, “are free to walk around the premises and draw a map.”

Sakura’s brows shot up, and she could sense Genma fighting the urge to lunge at Ko’s neck. The Lord pulled a fan from an inner pocket of his robe and fanned himself as he turned his whole body to Sakura.

“Sakura--”

“Do you have any enemies we should be aware of?” Kakashi interrupted.

Lord Ko continued fanning himself, rings glinting on his thick fingers. “Dig around in the files the servants brought, there’s bound to be some information in there,” he said, never turning his gaze from Sakura.

Sakura grabbed as many papers as she could and started examining them quickly, anything to distract herself from Lord Ko’s roaming eyes.

“If all the information is in these documents, we’ll reconvene tomorrow afternoon to discuss,” Genma stated, shuffling folders together and standing up.

Sakura made a mental note to profess her undying love to Genma as soon as she had the chance. As Sakura made moves to leave, Ko grabbed her armchair and pouted. “We didn’t discuss the ball yet or what the dress code is,” he said desperately, searching her eyes.

“That information isn’t in these files?” she asked weakly, hope seeping out her body.

#kakasaku #kakashi x sakura #kakashi fanfiction #kakasaku fanfiction #anbu kakashi

30 notes · View notes

sunstaar · 2 years

Note

Hello,

I love your writing style, and I would like to propose a writing idea of Kakashi x civilian reader. I dont know how requests work but here we go. :)

The civilian is a doctor in psychology, specialised in childhood traumas. She is a foreigner, came in to practice in Konoha, and opened her own practice. She is beautiful and intelligent, and would make any men fall in love with her,including our beloved Kashi. However,he was sooo shy to talk with her and would get nervous in her presence. He might experience love, a feeling strange to him. Sakura, works as her assistant and is fascinated by her knowledge and she sensed that Kashi is interested in her so she acted as the cupid to get them together👀💃🏼

My inspiration for the reader comes from 'Dr. Shanon Curry from Johnny Depps trial lol :))'

Thank youu🙇🏼‍♀️🙇🏼‍♀️🙏

Thank you so much for requesting! You are my first request, so I hope that I am doing this right :) I tried to make the reader as close to Dr. Curry as I could, based on the snippets I watched of her during the trial (Honestly, I'm not sure though if I got her personality down). I hope that's still okay! Since you didn't specify a time period, I just assumed that this takes place after the war. Enjoy!

Cupid's Arrow

Hatake Kakashi x fem&civilian!Reader

Word Count: 6,6k

Ao3

Summary: Kakashi can’t help but fall for Konoha’s new childhood trauma specialist and lucky for him, Sakura decides that it is time to play cupid for her sensei and new mentor.

Haruno Sakura was not stupid. No matter how often Ino-pig may have jokingly said that in the pinkette’s presence (and never meant it seriously, she knew as much about their ‘rivalry’), Sakura harbored more intelligence than the majority her peers did. Ever since she began her training under the Godaime Hokage and one of the Legendary Sannin, Senju Tsunade, she had become even more aware that her intelligence was not to be looked down upon. However, that aspect of herself was not what she was the proudest of, rather, it was the emotional intelligence she possessed that brought her the most pride.

While Haruno Sakura was undeniably brilliant, she was also very intuitive for her age. If she had to speculate now where her understanding of others and their feelings had come from, Sakura would first think back to when she had begun working in the Konoha hospital. Within the building with blindingly white walls, understanding how her patients felt was one of her priorities. While they sometimes wouldn’t speak, if they were especially proud and defiant, Sakura always had to know how she should treat the person who saught her out. That meant analyzing everyone down to their tiniest reactions and movement of a muscle.

It had come as no surprise to her that she had the one to been the first to notice their sensei’s unusual behavior. After seven years (and counting) of knowing Hatake Kakashi, Sakura liked to believe that she knew a lot about the man, or at least more than many others did. A majority of the time, he was a walking enigma. With his aloof personality and admirable intellect, the black piece of fabric that kept the lower half of his face hidden from the world, and his drive to succeed, Kakashi was sometimes unreadable, a blank piece of paper per se. Sakura assumed this stemmed from his time in the Anbu, one he had only talked about on the rarest of occasions.

When you had come along, her sensei’s behavior changed drastically. Suddenly, he became readable. Of all things happening, Sakura had not seen such a change coming along. Finding the source of the change had been easy enough as she only had to look for the center of Kakashi’s change in behavior, you.

(To say that a woman of all reasons caused his sudden change surprised Sakura deeply. Besides Hanare, she was pretty sure that she had never seen her sensei talk to a woman if it wasn’t for the sake of the mission.)

That meant in short: her sensei was inexperienced and based on his behavior around you, also both emotionally and socially constipated.

To get him to talk to you for more than a few meek minutes and without stumbling over every other word would be a challenge, so Sakura knew from the moment she saw her sensei practically drool at the sight of you. How he could aid in the winning of a war against a revived man but not talk to a woman, she did not know. Luckily for him, Sakura had assigned herself the position of the cupid that would bring two of her mentors together and hopefully, have them dating in at least a few weeks.

Sakura could understand why her sensei had fallen for you of all people. Undeniably, you, her current mentor and the new psychologist in Konoha were a true sight to behold. Standing at (height), one would think that you would blend in with the civilian population. Yet, with your (h/c) hair and (e/c) eyes, you instead stood out in the crowds of many. Beautiful and intelligent, that was how Sakura would describe you. It was no wonder her sensei metaphorically lay at your feet, as other men also did.

That gave Sakura more the reason to get you together with Kakashi.

In your life, you needed someone genuine and someone who supported you and your career. From the many talks the two of you had shared during lunch break over a cup of coffee, Sakura was well aware of the fact that finding a suitable partner did not come easy to you. One would think that with men at your feet, you had free choice.

You were a brilliant woman who was in search of a just as brilliant man. She knew that you were looking for someone who matched your intellect, someone with whom you could talk about just anything and could hold intelligent conversations. At the same time, you were also quite the hopeless romantic she noticed. You wanted someone who would love you for who you were, not merely and primarily for your appearance. Luckily for you, Sakura would (again) assign herself to be the cupid that would bring you into a relationship that will make you happy.

Undoubtedly, in Sakura’s mind the two of you, Kakashi and (Name) would be a perfect match. That was if her plan succeeded.

Kakashi felt weird. Unlike when he got sick (a number of times he could count on both of his hands) or got injured on a mission and received a countless amount of wounds all over his body, the feeling he felt now was not unpleasant. Rather, it was the complete opposite of the word. For reasons unknown to him, it felt like there were butterflies roaming around in his stomach.

Despite combing through an obscene amount of medical books, Kakashi could not figure out on his own what exactly was wrong with him. Kakashi would consider himself to be well-versed in many subjects, but medicine was not one he could consider being on that list. There were reasons why Sakura was the one to patch him up after rough missions.

The easiest solution to his persistent problem was to book an appointment with the doctor and explain his problem to a medical professional who would most likely know what to do. Alternatively, he could also ask for Sakura to listen to him and have his overly intuitive students help him. For a few minutes when he felt especially desperate, he had considered both options. In the end, he ended up dropping both of them, considering the prospect to be too mortifying for him.

That meant that now Kakashi was stuck with his stomach feeling weird every time he saw you. It must be a freaky coincidence, of that he was sure. When he was around you, his heartbeat suddenly spiked and his cheeks became warmer, turning a shade of pink underneath the mask he always wore. His most mortifying case of whatever sickness he suffered from had been during a coincidental meeting. You had stepped closer to him, your breath fanning over his mask as you reached out with your hand to rest it over his forehead, staring at him with furrowed brows.

With the most melodic voice, he had ever speak to him you asked, “Are you sick, Kakashi-san?” Your voice sounded like the lullaby he had always yearned to her and one he could hear forever without getting sick of it. Merely the way you stood in front of him had him breathless.

Frantically, Kakashi shook his head. He could not find it within himself to reply verbally, his tongue feeling tied.

You hummed in response, lifting your hand from his forehead to feel your own before returning to rest on his again. “Are you sure that you are okay, you feel a little warm. Maybe you should get that checked out?”

Undeniably, you were a very intelligent woman with an intuition that could barely be matched (according to Sakura’s tellings), but were somehow oblivious to how his thought circuited in your presence. Wasn’t it obvious that he did not feel well? When you touched him, his hands felt sweatier than they did before and his mind turned dizzy.

Most likely due to some illness I caught, Kakashi mused in his thoughts. On the last mission, Tsunade-sama sent me on I must have caught something, probably. That must be it. Maybe body heat triggers it?

If Kakashi’s last assumption was correct (spoiler: it was not), then removing himself from your presence would be the only solution to his problem. Maybe then his body would calm down from the sudden increase in temperature and as a result, he would feel much better again.

To him, it sounded completely plausible in the literal heat of the moment.

Kakashi cleared his throat, taking a step backward from your prying hands. “I-I must apol-logize, (Name)-san. But I still ha-have business elsewhere for t-the day.”

You made him so nervous that he began stuttering and Kakashi could confidently say that he never stuttered … unless he spoke around you. In your presence, it felt like every nerve in his body was lit ablaze, making his skin tingle with your every delicate touch. The effect you had on him undeniable and at the same time, one he had to get away from to keep his dignity.

When you lowered your hand, you almost looked disappointed, but Kakashi was sure that he was imagining that. You had no reason to be disappointed, right?

“Oh, I didn’t mean to take up your time. I’ll get out of your way then.” You said, your voice now missing its previous lull. With your head held high, you rushed past the silver-haired man and disappeared into the growing crowd, nowhere to be found.

Kakashi looked after your retreating figure and held his hand as though to reach for you. Though, when he realized what he was doing, he quickly lowered it again. For an, to him, unexplicable reason, the funny feeling in his stomach subdued once he completely lost sight of your figure. More so, his stomach felt uncomfortably empty and not at all as it did before he saw you. At the same time, he felt bad for lying to you to end the conversation between the two of you. You had looked so excited to talk to him, after all.

With his head hung lower than it did before your coincidental meeting, Kakashi continued his way into the opposite direction of where you went, his mind completely occupied by thoughts of only you.

Sakura had a clear mission and it was not given to her by the Hokage. It felt a little wrong to consider her doings a ‘mission’, but there was not a better word for her current doings: playing cupid. In her mind, she even had already begun to hatch out a mission plan, consisting of a total of four steps that had to be completed as smoothly as possible.

Mission Cupid’s Arrow (to be completed)

Figure out how Kakashi-sensei feels for (Name)-san.(Note: he won’t say it outright, read his body language).

Talk about Kakashi-sensei with (Name)-san, if needed, read her body language.

Following the completion of the previous steps, make plans to set them up on a date.

Kiss kiss kiss!!!

Not that she would ever reveal the existence of the plan to anyone or ever mention it, but Sakura felt quite proud of how she put her mind to the problem she presented herself with.

Luckily for her, completing the first of the four steps had not been easy. It came without much thought that Kakashi-sensei was a difficult target when it came to topics such as feelings, relationships, and similar. Already when she was a Genin, he had been clueless about what to tell her when it came to her crush on Sasuke and preferred to stay out of her love life. It was no wonder to Sakura that he didn’t have an idea of how to lead his own.

Sakura began her mission by inviting her sensei out for a bowl of ramen, ‘to celebrate’, that was how she had put it when he asked her why.

“Celebrate what?” Kakashi had asked, his growing confusion evident.

She let out a faux thoughtful noise, leaning back on her heels as she spoke, “Oh, you know. A lot has happened since the war ended. You are going to be Hokage soon, I’m an assistant now. It would be nice to celebrate that.”

Sadly enough, Kakashi did not buy her explanation that easily. With a raised eyebrow he asked, “Why didn’t you ask Naruto or Sai to come along?”

Bingo. The man just played himself, she thought.

“Because Naruto eats my earned money faster out of my pocket than I earned it.”

The excuse was believable since it really was true. Faintly, she could remember the last time Team Seven had gone out to eat some ramen and how Kakashi had convinced poor Yamato to pay for all of them. While Sai held himself back and eased Yamato’s incoming pain, Naruto meanwhile had taken it as a chance to go all out. Out of Yamato’s mistake, they had all learned.

Kakashi chuckled. “Fair enough.”

That was not when her first step had ended, however. Next, she needed to figure out as much about her sensei’s state of mind toward you as she possibly could, preferably without sending him running before she got enough information.

(Quite frankly, Kakashi was the master in disappearing without a trace. One moment he would be sitting beside her, somehow making his ramen magically vanish without her seeing, and the next the chair beside her would be empty as would be the bowl. By then, he would also have paid for his and her meal, which she always found quite thoughtful.)

If necessary, Sakura was ready to trap the man somewhere to have her mission succeed. She only had his happiness (and also yours) in mind, both of you deserved it in her opinion. Sakura hoped that with each other, you two could find it.

Sakura stirred her chopsticks mindlessly in her ramen, putting on a thoughtful expression before letting out a loud sigh. It immediately caught Kakashi’s attention, who gave her a questioning look.

“Say, sensei, what do you think is the most important thing in a relationship?” As soon as she saw the silver-haired man startle, she backtracked a little. “I mean, with everyone beginning to date, I’ve just been wondering what I am looking for and … I don’t know.”

Kakashi hesitated in his reply, “Are you talking about Sasuke?”

The topic of Sasuke was a delicate one to breach, especially for Sakura. It was why she sucked in a breath at the mere mention of the last Uchiha’s name. While that reaction came in subconsciously and not on purpose at all, it brought the conversation along.

Her sensei cleared his throat, the discomfort between them slowly growing. “I don’t know what to tell you Sakura …” He easily trailed off, pinching his nose.

His frustration was rolling off of him in waves and that was the moment Sakura had to strike. “Sensei, just be honest with me. Please.”

“Trust. I think that trust is an important thing. You have to be there for the other person and believe in them unconditionally. Trust them to …” ‘not leave you’. The words hung in the air, he did not even need to speak them. “You have to be honest with each other, about what you want and who you are, communicate. To be in a relationship means to be able to rely on each other and be there for one another. That is what matters.”

Time to be honest, Sakura did not think that her sensei had it in him to speak such words. In a sense, they did not only aid her with her secret mission but also struck a certain chord within her, so she wouldn’t forget what he said. Unsurprisingly, he was right with what he was saying.

(At the same time, Sakura couldn’t help but wonder if his addiction of Icha Icha influenced his ideals. It was a possibility.)

Sakura smiled at the man, knowing what it took for him to actually talk about his feelings, especially when it came to things like romance. “Thank you, sensei. This means a lot to me.”

Awkwardly, he rubbed the back of his head and smiled with his eyes closed.

For a moment, Sakura smiled brightly at her sensei, delighted that her mission was going well. That was at least until her green eyes fixated on the now-empty bowl that sat in front of her sensei. “You finished eating already?!” She screeched out.

“I did,” Kakashi confirmed with a regained nonchalance. “Why do you look so surprised, Sakura?”

No matter how much she planned ahead and thought that she was ahead of him, Kakashi always beat her by several steps.

“Huh?!”

Sakura couldn’t believe it! Underneath the table, she clenched her fists together to keep the quiet ‘Cha!’ from pushing past her lips. The pinkette would not give in that easily, she would not be defeated by a man over a decade her senior, who was so socially inept. It’d be ridiculous if he could just-

-with a poof, Kakashi disappeared from right beside her and Sakura could only stare in disbelief, her mouth falling open in shock.

“That bastard!” And with that, Sakura slammed her hand onto the table.

Little did Sakura know that the real challenge was yet to come.

You in comparison to her sensei were an absolute nightmare to figure out. Sakura should have expected it (really, she should have) that a psychologist was not an easy person to either read or figure out without the person willingly revealing information about themselves. Your profession was literally focused on knowing others' emotions and controlling your own, so it was no wonder that the questions Sakura thought were sly weren’t so sly at all.

She should have seen it coming, but stupidly enough, she didn’t. When she had asked you more non-work-related questions, it should have been obvious to her that you would become suspicious at the sudden onslaught.

“What’s this about all of a sudden?” You laughed, practically looking right into Sakura's soul. She knew that she was being watched carefully. “What’s with all the questions?”

Sakura had been able to shake you off of her trail, somehow. She herself was rather unsure of how she had managed to stop the reverse psychology and your onslaught of questions, but somehow she did. However, it was more likely that you let her off of the hook.

Unfortunately for you, that made Sakura even more determined to find a crack in your professional mindset, no matter how long it would take for her plan to succeed. She was not one to give up easily, after all.

Something was on Sakura’s mind, that much was obvious to you. Throughout the few hours that the two of you had been working together, it was obvious that the girl’s thoughts were somewhere beyond work. If she had a pencil in her hand, she would mindlessly drum it against the clipboard that she held in her other hand. When you asked her to write something down for you, whether it was reminders of lessons you two had to go over again or appointments you had to check, Sakura would make more spelling mistakes than she ever did before.

For some reason, your favorite (and only) assistant was distracted and you were determined to get to the bottom of it. The right time to do so would be the upcoming lunch break for the two of you, something you had been looking forward to since your third appointment of the day.

Your last patient before lunch break was a young boy of ten years. It broke your heart time and time again to see the young children come to your, to have their parent(s) or caretakers drop them off at your practice, and pick them up again later. No child of any age should be recquired to see a trauma specialist.

When the Fourth Shinobi War rolled around, everything had changed from one to another. Back in your homeland in Sunagakure, you did not have many patients to attend to. Due to the vast population of the smallest of the five Kage villages, your amount of patients was minuscule in comparison to the influx you were experiencing in Konoha. Save for the attack of Akatsuki years back and the murder of your Kazekage, there had not been much that drove patients into your practice, especially not young ones.

Following the end of the war, you had decided to take your practice elsewhere. It had been a suggestion of your young Kazekage, a charming boy by the name of Gaara, whose psychologist you had been for a short duration of his childhood. To strengthen the connection between the two villages, medical professionals of all kinds were sent to different villages to keep the exchange of information constant.

Whether it was a stroke of luck or else for you to be chosen, you could not exactly tell. The whispers following the selection had not been hushed. Conversations of nepotism and favoritism had reached your ears before you left, making you even more eager for your departure.

And now, now you were here in Konoha with an assistant who was obviously distracted. You could understand why that was the case. The profession of your and now also Sakura’s choosing carried many burdens with it, but you chose to bear the weight on your shoulders for the sake of others. No matter how heavy, you couldn’t just give in to it. The children needed you, after all. You couldn’t let them down, that wouldn’t align with your conscious. That was also why you needed Sakura at her full concentration, to avoid you in your mission to hopefully help these children.

Since lunch break rolled around, you decided that it would be the perfect time to have a conversation about what was bothering the pinkette.

Watching your assistant, you let out a small sigh and leaned back in your chair, crossing your arms over your chest. “What’s on your mind, Sakura-chan?”

She did not answer immediately and instead bit her lip, falling into deeper thought. You were pretty sure that she did not even hear you speak, never mind asking her a question.

“Sakura?”

In her seat, Sakura was visibly startled by your voice. “Oh! Sorry (Name)-san, I didn’t mean to get distracted.”

Another thing you liked about her was her good manners. She was always one to apologize for something that could happen to anyone, you found that to be quite endearing.

You let out a laugh, shaking your head at the dazzled expression your assistant wore. “Don’t worry too much about it, Sakura-chan. We all get a little distracted sometimes. Now tell me, what’s on your mind that bugs you so much?”

Sakura let out a groan, tilting her head back in a gesture of annoyance. “Was I that noticeable?”

You pretended to think about it before replying, “Yes. Couldn’t even not see that if I tried.”

She let out yet another groan and buried her face in her hands, obviously embarrassed.

You went to comfort her by placing a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it once softly with a reassuring smile. “It happens to the best of us,” You laughed, faintly remembering doing the same as her. “but seriously, what’s got you so unfocused? This isn’t like you.”

Sakura took a deep breath and removed her face from her hand, sitting up straight in her seat again. It was now or never. She did not even have to will a flush to her cheeks as it came along with her embarrassment about being caught slacking.

“Well, (Name)-san, I was just, uh, thinking about … whatitwouldbeliketobeinarelationship.”

Confused, you blinked at her. “Can you repeat that? I don’t think I understood.”

“I said that I was thinking about whatitwouldbeliketobeinarelationship.”

Now it was getting a tad bit ridiculous.

“Sakura. Focus.”

“Right, sorry,” Again, Sakura straightened in her seat. She rubbed her neck, obviously embaressed. “It’s a bit embarrassing … during work, I know I shouldn’t think about non-work-related things, but (Name)-san, I just- I couldn’t help but think about what it would be like to be in a relationship.”

That was random, you thought.

“Oh?” You were unsure of what to say. “Is it about that boy … what was his name again? Sasuke, right?”

You could see Sakura visibly cringe at the name and draw in a sharp breath before nodding. “Yes.”

There wasn’t a lot that you knew about the last of the Uchiha, Sasuke, but what you knew was enough. He was a boy your young assistant had a crush on since an early age (the academy, you believe) and someone she held close to her heart. About him, she had told you a few things and hesitated time and time again to speak his name aloud, only referring to him by his pronouns. It was evident that she had a difficult time dealing with his departure.

“I was just thinking about if one day, I might find someone to love, someone who loves me and be in a relationship. It’s a silly thought, I should focus on other things but I just can’t help it,” Sakura let out a laugh, one that sounded more self-loathing than anything else. Then, she looked straight at you. “What about you (Name)-san, do you have someone?”

“No,” You told her. “I don’t.”

“No offense, (Name)-san. But why is that?” Sakura asked, brows furrowed. “You are very beautiful and many others would agree with that. You must have many men practically laying at your feet.”

You found the fact that you had no significant life partner to be rather disappointing, maddening even. It wasn’t that you weren’t aware of the fact that there was an effect you had on men, because you were. You knew that you were a desirable woman, based on the fact that countless men had asked you out on dates already.

“I haven’t found the one for me yet.” You answered truthfully as you found no need to lie to her.

“‘The one’, who would be that for you?”

“A genuine man,” That is who you were looking for, your ideal partner. “Someone who looks past my appearance and puts in some effort to go on a date with me and that not to brag about it later to his friends. Someone trustworthy, someone honest, and someone I could talk to freely, without having to dumb myself done as we talk.”

The minuscule smirk tugging at Sakura’s lips confused you greatly, yet you let it slide, thinking that maybe you confused it with a smile. “You will find someone like that, don’t worry too much, (Name)-san.” Confidence in her words practically oozed off of them.

She made you wonder … “And how can you be so sure of that, Sakura-chan?”

Sakura grinned at you. “There are plenty of men that fit your description!”

“Such as …?” Admittedly, during your description, there was one man you could think of who matched it, who was a carbon copy of it, and yet you would not dare to utter his name in her presence. It was like wishful thinking to fantasize about a man such as him, to think of him as a suitor while he was practically untouchable for someone like you. A war hero and a psychologist were not on the same level, not even in the same field, and yet …

“My sensei Kakashi, for example!”

Your eyes widened drastically to resemble the ones of a doe. How did she hit the nail right on the head?

“Excuse me?!” You blurted out, panic invading your way of speaking. Your cheeks took on a light dusting of color, feeling warmer than they did before your conversation.

“You look flustered, (Name)-san,” Sakura leaned closer to you with a teasing smirk playing on her lips. “Is something the matter?”

You swallowed harshly to control your emotions. She was right, you really were flustered and you had to get yourself back under your own control. A few breaths later and you did not feel as light-headed anymore and leaned back in your chair to distance yourself from the noise pinkette.

Now was your time to strike back against her. “The thing that is the matter is that my lovely assistant is spending her time finding potential suitors for me instead of learning.”

That seemed to do the job as Sakura froze in her position, the smirk falling off of her pretty lips.

It was your time to be the one smirking. Quickly, you glanced over at the clock hanging in the doorway, almost signaling the end of your shared lunch break. “I liked the talk we had, really, I did, Sakura-chan. Now, however, it is time for us to resume our work.” You stood up and packed your bento lunch up, making sure not to leave anything behind.

With a heavy sigh and growling stomach, Sakura hurried after you.

Despite the horrendous turns her conversations with the two of you took, Sakura’s plan was perfectly set into motion. Not only did she manage to gather information about the two of you, but was now also able to judge whether you two would fit together or not. Intuitively, she came to the conclusion that her two mentors would do another well and be a good match, they just hadn’t realized that yet. That was what she was there for.

It was time to initiate step three of her ultra-secret mission.

“Come on, (Name)-san!” Sakura practically whined as she stood before you. “How can you just say ‘no’ to me?”

You had crossed your arms over your chest and looked at your assistant with a raised brow. “Easy as that: no.”

Sakura’s whining came to a sudden stop and she deadpanned, “Really?”

Admittedly, she had underestimated not only you but also your iron will deeply. Because of her miscalculation when it came to you, her plan was about to crumble right before her eyes if she could not stop that from happening.

“Listen, Sakura-chan, I appreciate the invite to go out to dinner together, but I must decline. How are you so sure that I do not have plans for myself this evening?”

The only thing that saved her right now was her crystal clear of a conversation you two had last week. “Because last week you said that this week you don’t have any plans and will only relax during your free time.”

Your mouth opened and your lips formed to imitate the letter o as you stared at her, saying nothing. A few times, you blinked, as though you were remembering the same thing she was remembering. Then, you lifted your hands in mock defeat.

“Alright, you got me,” You sighed and admitted with reluctance, “I’m not busy tonight.”

Excitedly, Sakura clapped her hands together. “Great! Congratulations, (Name)-san, I’ll make sure you are busy tonight, then.”

While trying to convince you, Sakura came to realize that you and her sensei had a few similar mannerisms, such as persistent doubt when it came to her intent.

“Again? But you have just invited me to dinner last week?” Kakashi asked, standing before her almost as a mirror image as you did an hour before.

If everything worked as intended, Sakura either created the best match ever (take that, Ino-pig!) or a double-edged sword.

“And?”

“And what?”

“What’s so bad about that?”

“You cannot buy me dinner every week, Sakura. It’s a bit much.”

“Can’t I spend some time with my sensei?” Sakura could see that he was becoming suspicious of her and that was not a good sign, not at all.

Kakashi appeared to be thinking carefully about his next words and that made her quite nervous. The feeling that welled up in Sakura was beyond nerve-wrecking.

“Sakura, I appreciate your kindness, but-”

She would not let him ruin her plans. “-What’s keeping you from just agreeing?”

He made an unintelligible sound from the back of his throat.

“Seriously, sensei, I know you aren’t required to do so, but when do you ever spend time with us? In a few months, you are going to be Hokage and then probably too busy to see anyone of us …” While on one hand Sakura really did want to spend some time with her old team again, almost all of them together if possible, on the other hand, she also wanted for both of you to be happy. So, she had to bare out her feelings and push them aside all at once.

“Sakura …” He was at a loss for words.

“Please?”

Underneath his mask, Kakashi bit his lip in thought before letting out a sigh. “Alright, but just this once.”

Sakura could not be happier.

Guilt was gnawing at Kakashi. His student’s words rang true because he did indeed not spend much time with them, especially following the end of the war. There had simply been too much for all of them to do, individual missions, the occasional life-threatening occurrence, and his training to become the next Hokage of Konohagakure.

There was no better time than now, he supposed.

Sakura had told him to meet her at seven pm at Ichiraku and for the first time in forever, Kakashi put in an effort to only be fashionably late instead of leaving his students to wait for over an hour. Just this once, he could do them the favor (but only once, they should not get their hopes up, it will not happen another time).

Up ahead illuminated the lights of Ichiraku ramen a figure, one who was tapping her foot against the ground and stood with her hands on her hips, appearing angered even from a distance. Upon coming closer, Kakashi could make out more of the woman’s features, among which were a familiar combination of bubblegum pink hair and green eyes and the angry scowl Sakura wore time and time again when he had been late. With an angry finger, she pointed at him and beckoned over.

(He would never say it aloud, but sometimes his only female student scared him to death. Sakura had an aura similar to that of her mentor, Tsunade, and one that had him internally cowering in fear. That was exactly why he quickened his pace to an extent that it would not be too noticeable.)

“You’re late,” This Was the first thing that Sakura said to him when he stopped before her. Her anger was obvious and so was the tension in her jaw. “but lucky for you, I expected you to be, so our guest did not have to wait for long.”

Our guest? Kakashi could only tilt his head in confusion, the gears in his mind turning in search for a detail he might have missed. Yet, he could not remember the information that seemed to have gone past his head.

The curtain protecting the privacy of those who dined in Ichirakus was pulled open and Kakashi swore that he could hear his heart stop. There was you, in person, sharing the same air as him.

In the most melodic voice, you addressed your assistant. “Sakura, who are you talking to- oh.” Then, you spotted him and your eyes widened.

Kakashi was pretty sure that time seemed to slow down to almost no movement in your presence. In the light of the streetlamps, you looked like an angel sent from the heavens above, an ethereal figure stemming from the myths of the gods. You were the most beautiful woman to have walked earth, he decided right then and there. Only his mask could hide his dazzled expression and the rising flush of his cheeks.

When you stepped closer, his last brain cell evaporated. “Kakashi-san? Are you alright? You look a bit pale.” The way you titled your head to look at him had him fixated and stole away his breath.

“I-I’m f-fine.” He managed to stutter out, too lost in your e/c staring at him to focus properly. Inwardly, he let out a groan at how the situation was turning out for him.

Immediately upon hearing that, a smile graced your angelic features as you looked at him. “I’m glad to hear that, Kakashi-san,” Then you turned on your heel with a glare sitting on your face to scold a certain pinkette. “Now let’s get to you, Sakura-chan. What do you think are you doing?”

At the tone, you used with her (reminiscent of the one of a scolding mother), Kakashi would have thought that by now your shared student would cower away in fear or at least show some regret, but instead, Sakura smirked of all things.

“Quite frankly, both of you are helpless when it comes to love and kami, I can’t keep watching you squirm around. It’s so obvious that the two of you are made for each other and fit well together and what do you do? You squirm around one another, seriously? I refuse to let this go on any longer and watch you two waste the opportunities you can have now! So stop acting like love-sick teenagers and man up and go on a date!”

Both Kakashi and yourself suddenly felt as though you were ablaze at the mention of the last word, both of you unsure of what to say.

Sakura decided to deliever the last blow she had in her arsenal. “No offence, Kakashi-sensei, (Name)-san, but it was getting really sad watching you two. I just had to do something. I hope neither of you will haunt me forever for this. See you tomorrow! Enjoy your date!” Before either of you could get a word in, the pinkette sprinted for her life as for away from you as she could, not even stopping once.

Between the two of you reigned a comfortable silence, one that you decided to break by clearing your throat. “Well, Kakashi-san, that just leaves the two of us,” You turned to face the flustered silver-haired, smiling at him so brightly. “How about we eat some ramen together since we are already here. What do you say?”

Kakashi swallowed harshly. “L-like on a d-date?”

To be reduced to such a stuttering idiot in front of you of all people was absolutely mortifying for the silver-haired Shinobi. For Kami’s sake, he was a war hero, the warrior of the Sharingan and the Copy-Cat-Nin, and yet, in front of you, he was merely Kakashi, a man who had to grow too fast. Nobody had ever made him feel like he did when with you.

While he didn’t enjoy sweets that much, your smile was the only thing sweet he would want forever in his life. “Yes. ‘Like on a date’, if that is alright with you, Kakashi-san.”

The silver-haired cleared his throat to regain his composure. “You c-can drop t-the honorific, (Name)-s-s-an.”

The giggle you let out was beyond adorable and sent a cupid’s arrow straight to his heart. “Alright then. I will, Kakashi. But I must ask of you to do the same.”

“Yes.”

With a teasing smirk, you leaned closer to him so your breath was almost fanning over his mask. “Yes, who?”

He swallowed thickly. “Yes, (Name).”

“We’re on the same page then,” With a click of your tongue, you again turned on your heel but this time not without taking the silver-haired with you. Your hand felt delicate wrapped around his as you pulled him along, right into the tranquil ramen shop. “Come on, pretty boy, let’s not waste any more time of our date.” Without a moment of hesitation, said pretty boy followed along in your steps, allowing himself to be pulled right into the shop.

(Secretly, Kakashi had always known that there was a reason why out of all of his twerps, Sakura and her metaphorical cupid’s arrow was his favorite.)

#yay this is my first request so i am excited #kakashi hatake #kakashi hatake x reader #hatake kakashi #hatake kakashi x y/n #hatake kakashi x you #hatake kakashi x reader #kakashi hatake x y/n #kakashi hatake x you #naruto x reader #female reader #civillian reader #sakura haruno #sakura haruno x reader #sakura haruno is the best wingwoman #haruno sakura #haruno sakura x reader #naruto imagine

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ohmyfairies · 6 months

Text

Onto another point I don’t understand about Konoha politics- the Sandaime was old as fuck so why weren’t any of the ninja clans grooming their clansmen to become the godaime and rokudaime hokages ??

Like at some point one of the kids of Naruto’s generation thereabouts was going to inherit so why weren’t they trying to ensure their clan was coming out on top politically?? Especially after the Uchiha massacre given it was likely expected that either Itachi or Shisui were going to be that generation’s hokage as they were already famous geniuses similar to how both Gai and Kakashi were obvious choices following Tsunade’s coma.

idk if I were Hiashi Hyuuga I’d have unsealed Neji and taught him politics since Neji was also a genius but also not a specific clan heir who’d have too many responsibilities to juggle to be hokage. Kiba also expressed an interest if I’m remembering correctly though I suppose the Inuzuka are too laid back to care about politics. Or Shino would’ve been a good choice. Idk I just think for a bunch of paranoid power hoarding nobles they weren’t really preparing for the future.

#key watches anime #Naruto #Naruto meta #this relates back to my Neji should’ve been hokage stance #tbh I could see Sakura as hokage too but that’s a whole different issue

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bansenshukai · 2 years

Note

ok i saw that post earlier about the bootlicking and now i am hit with the idea of Obito being like "ugh bakashi you're such a bootlicker why don't you lick MY boots for a change" and then there's a pause as both Obito and Kakashi come to the abrupt realization that they may, perhaps, be more into that then they expected.

and then they have sex in their gay little dimension idk

oh boy anon do i have just the thing for you! although it's not in kamui, i think the essence of the rest is there.

1.2k, snip of a unpublished fic

---

Obito’s face was veiled as they left the Godaime’s office. Kakashi glanced over at his mission partner, found that his eyes were sparking dangerously, and chose to keep quiet. Normally they would celebrate a successful mission by going out to grab drinks or dinner at one of the shitty dive bars in the southern district, where there was little chance of running into other Uchiha, but Obito stomped silently the whole way back to their apartment.

There were still no words by the time they passed through the doorway and reactivated the traps in the perimeter seals. Kakashi tried to break the silence.

“Obito,” he started out, placatingly, but Obito’s face twisted up all at once into a snarl, breaking out of his sullen rage into something darker.

“You think you can apologize? What about Tiger? Crane? Rabbit? You think that’s why we left Mongoose’s division? So you could suck up to Tsunade and wag your tail to her council, all for some fucking reputation?”

“Obito-”

“You think your father was that kind of bootlicker? Don’t be a coward, Kakashi,” Obito spat. “It’s not in your blood.”

Kakashi closed his eyes, letting the guilt of that accusation wash over him smoothly. “Fine,” he said, exhausted. “I know that wasn’t the right call. What can I do, to apologize?”

Obito dropped onto the couch and glared into the distance. “Nothing,” he said. “Unless you’re willing to get on your knees and b-”

Kakashi’s excuse, which was flimsy in retrospect, was that he was tired. He was emotionally exhausted from the mission and then the immediate verbal flaying they’d received from the Hokage, from the physical exhaustion of pushing your body too far and too fast, and all of it had piled up until his defenses were low and he’d entered a place where he normally had to make no decisions: his home. But in the end the truth was there-- that he’d dropped onto his knees faster than Obito could complete his sentence.

They both froze.

The moment stretched– Obito’s rage had completely disappeared and been replaced with a comically shocked expression. “Wha-”

Kakashi scrambled to get up, back onto his feet, but the damage had been done. He made the mistake of looking at Obito and something flared between them; a low, heated ache in the pit of his belly. He looked away.

Obito’s voice had dropped half an octave. “What was that?” he half-whispered. “Did you-”

"It was nothing," Kakashi snapped. "Forget it, Obito. It's none of your business."

Obito shook his head, his eyes bright with thought. Kakashi lamented; of all the times for Obito to suddenly find his emotional self control and common sense, this was not the ideal moment.

“You liked that,” Obito said slowly.

"Maa, Obito, don't you think you're reaching pretty far for one random moment?"

"Don't you trust me? Tell me right now if you don't, and I'll stop everything, I won't bother you again."

Kakashi was silent. For some reason the words weren't coming out of his mouth. Because he did trust Obito, and that was the crux of the problem.

There was a new glint in Obito's eyes. He gestured with his hands. "Come here."

Kakashi's awful, traitorous feet stepped forward until he was standing just before the spread of Obito's thighs. He stood there doing his best imitation of a wooden board, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

Obito looked at him, cocking his head with the light of comprehension. "You like this," he said slowly. "You like following orders."

Kakashi’s jaw clenched, his teeth tightening down like a vise and clamping down on his tongue so that he wouldn't blurt down something absurdly embarrassing.

Obito brought a gloved hand up.

"Take it off for me."

He was going to leave the room. It was clear in his head: he would open his mouth and say No thank you Obito, he would put his hand on that brass doorknob and shut the door behind him and they would never speak of it again. In eight years Obito would mention it in one of the ANBU post-mission bar crawls, and Kakashi would laugh it off and pretend that it had never happened at all. The future was bright and clear, tantalizingly close in reach.

Kakashi blinked, and found his hands already sliding the first glove off Obito's rough hand. He let it drop to the floor and swallowed hard, staring at the swirling pattern of wood grain so he wouldn't have to look at Obito's face, and live in ignorant bliss (agony?) of not knowing his expression.

"Good." The timbre of Obito's voice was rich with satisfaction, and something deep inside him shivered.

Once when Kakashi was young, his father had allowed him to pick which persimmons to take home at the market, but when he’d taken a bite of his carefully selected fruit, his mouth had dried out so quickly he thought he’d been poisoned. That sense-memory was back in full force now, and it nearly made him dizzy; the harsh, acrid taste of dryness, and the potent sensation of surprise. Not that Obito’s voice was toxic.

"And the other one too."

Kakashi considered that again, as his tongue flitted around in his mouth, searching desperately for moisture and finding none. He consulted old school memories and faded recollections of textbooks that he’d read over three decades prior; had one of the Shiranuis married into the Uchiha Clan in some long gone past? Obito’s voice must have had some kind of poison, because that was the only explanation for the physical effect it had on him.

Somehow Kakashi’s hands were moving without the input of his brain, and they carefully slid the leather off Obito's other hand and let that glove follow its partner. There was a little clink as the metal guards of the pair met on the ground.

Any moment now. Kakashi would turn around. He would leave the room, go for a drink at The Heron and flirt with 76 year-old bartender Makoto, or read the newest Icha Icha while watching Makoto flirt with the equally long-in-the-tooth barmaid.

"Sit, Kakashi."

He dropped down faster than a pre-genin at an endurance evaluation, but managed to at least prevent himself the humiliation of falling into seiza. He breathed slowly, once in, once out, and then deliberately let the curve of his spine slouch as he adopted a posture designed to look careless and lazy, his legs crossed beneath him.

"It's a lot of fanfare for some very tame roleplay," Kakashi drawled, pretending that he wasn't sitting at Obito's feet on his order. "Are you having fun with your game of pretend? Don’t tell me you read some of Rin's erotica and got excited over–”

Obito's bare hand dropped onto his hair, raking through the strands and gently scratching his scalp.

Kakashi bit down on his lip so hard he drew blood. The sharp burst of salt and iron was the slimmest rope tethering him to reality: the rest of him was floating adrift on a pleasant haze of obedience and reward, the simplicity of not having to decide what to do.

#i love my anons #u r so correct #kakaobi #obikaka #ddp #drabble #power dynamics #yknow and then kks gets railed. everyone has a good time

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electrasev5nwrites · 8 months

Text

Ninja Daily: AIC 27

"Thank you all for coming so promptly." The Sandaime seated himself at the end of the table, nearest the door. ANBU filed in to dot the walls and crowd his shoulders. "I'm afraid that we have a lot of news to discuss."

Genma kept his lips pressed shut and his back straight. Maybe no one would notice him if he was very, very still.

'Clan heads, commanders, councilors... This isn't good. Judging by this group, the news is above my paygrade.'

Tenzou looked similarly terrified and out of place. Genma would have saved the other ANBU a seat if he'd known the young man would be attending, but so much for that.

"First off all, we do have one more member." The Sandaime raised a hand, and the door opened once more. "You may have heard rumors. It is time to lay them to rest here, and then with the public. Namikaze-san, if you wouldn't mind?"

Inuzuka leaned back and let out a low whistle. Maybe it was shock, maybe it was commentary on how damn good the man looked. 13 years dead, and he was in his prime.

The long-deceased Hokage gave her a polite nod while he passed to the only unoccupied seat.

Tenzou looked absolutely mortified when he realized he'd wound up next to the Yondaime. He slunk down in his chair. It was hard not to smile at that. On Minato's other side, Jiraiya sat up to his full height and clapped his student on the back.

'I haven't seen Tenzou in months. This is not where I would have expected him to pop up. He doesn't look like wants to be here, either.'

"Hello." The Yondaime paused before he sat. He smiled around the table. "I apologize for the strange situation, but I am glad to be here." He met everyone's eyes one by one in that steady, personal way he had.

He got varying reactions. The councilors were clearly prepared for this introduction, a silent wall of solemn faces. Some of the shinobi who had been informed or involved in vetting Minato offered nods and bows. But Inuzuka Tsume was eyeing him critically, dark eyes clever and sharp. Hyuuga Hiashi was implacable, but probably pissed as anything that he'd been in the dark.

Genma gave up on being still and silent. He waved subtly. Because Kakashi wasn't there to do it, the absentee little bastard, and the Yondaime needed some support..

'He's either on a mission or something has gone wrong. He'd be here if he could, no matter that it would ruin his late streak.'

The last possibility was too dire to linger on for long, even direr than the chance that Kakashi might be dead- the possibility that the Sandaime had chosen not to invite him, because Kakashi would be too loyal to the Yondaime. The chance that the Yondaime might be judged as a traitor for whatever he'd probably done.

"As you know, Orochimaru was successful in reviving the First and Second Hokage for the purpose of fighting me," Sandaime said. "He failed, however, to revive Namikaze-san."

"Namikaze-kun was successfully revived for unknown reasons by the woman later determined to be the Godaime Mizukage." Kotaru raked her milky eyes down the table. "Following preliminary vetting, we are now confident that he is who he appears to be and is not under and compulsion from the Mizukage or other parties." She folded her hands on the tabletop.

Inuzuka let out a barking laugh and shook her head, her skepticism fading to sharp-toothed joy. Tenzou looked like he really needed to breathe in soon, but had forgotten about it in favor of gaping.

Genma mostly felt ill. 'The counselor didn't say that she trusted Namikaze. Nothing about whether he'll take up his old role.'

"On to current affairs." The Sandaime seemed impatient. That really did not bode well. "The breach of security was the entrance of two enemy shinobi, Hoshigaki Kisame, formerly of the Mist, and Uchiha Itachi."

"Dear god." Utatane's fingers fumbled on his glasses. Koharu's expression didn't change but she leaned back and her hands flattened on the tabletop.

Danzo glanced at his peers, expression serene next to their evident surprise. "This is bad news," he observed. "What was their purpose?"

"They attempted to kidnap two genin, including the Kyuubi jinchuuriki. In the process, they attacked jounin Hatake and genin Uchiha." Sarutobi seemed so tired. "The genin, Uzumaki-kun and Haruno-san, have been returned to Konohagakure and released from the hospital. Hatake and Uchiha are stable, but show no signs of recovery from genjutsu."

'That explains why Kakashi isn't here. Is Tenzou his stand-in?'

He glanced over at the ANBU. Tenzou was pale under his tan, but unsurprised. Yeah, he'd already been told. He was probably Hatake's medical contact.

"How were they returned?" Homura was incredulous. "Surely Uchiha Itachi was not outmaneuvered by genin."

The Sandaime turned to look at-

Oh, no.

'That's why he's here. So why am I here?'

Tenzou looked like he might faint at all that attention. He cleared his throat. "I have spent my last mission in Kirigakure determining what relationship we may have with the new leadership." The tone was so diplomatic that he had to be full of shit. "The Mizukage heard about the abduction. I do not know how. Using what I can only assume to have been a space-time ninjutsu or fuinjutsu, she took me and two of her private guards to engage Uchiha and Hoshigaki."

'Holy fuck.'

"She knew before we knew about the intrusion. From Kirigakure," Jiraiya said flatly.

Tenzou nodded.

"And came to Fire Country. In minutes. Before we knew."

Tenzou nodded again, miserable.

Jiraiya tilted his head back and said something to the ceiling that ought not be repeated in polite company.

Utatane ignored him, leaning forward over wrinkled hands. "Are we to understand that the Mizukage, engaged enemies of Konohagakure for no perceived benefit? She allowed the jinchuuriki to return?"

His tone was exactly as incredulous as it ought to be. Any reasonable person would be wondering what the hell was Uzumaki up to, what angle she could possibly have. Genma wished he was wondering. This felt like it was going to go badly, fast.

"She took him back personally," Minato-sama said. His tone was hard to read. He didn't seem surprised, but Genma didn't assume he'd be able to tell. "Along with Haruno-san. They chose to stop at training ground 7 and accompany Kakashi-kun and Uchiha-san to the hospital on their way."

That seemed like an acceptable time to bury his face in his hands.

'Uzumaki is a hard woman to predict. I wish I hadn't pissed her off. I want to understand the way she thinks.'

"The Mizukage chose personally to engage Uchiha Itachi," Tenzou added, because apparently he was going to get all of this over with. The Sandaime seemed too miserable to prod him for more answers. "She killed him."

The table erupted in a din.

The loudest voice was- "Holy shit!" Tsume slapped her hands on the table. "Uchiha Itachi, dead? Uchiha Itachi?"

That was interesting data. Genma turned it over in his head, considering just how the international community might react to news like that. It was a bold move, especially considering how weak Kirigakure had to be. Drawing that much attention was a risky move.

'I was wrong. I didn't piss her off that badly. She'd have killed me if she really wanted to. I don't think she gives a shit about consequences.'

'Still might be a good idea to send an apology. A fruit basket, maybe? And a nice card.'

Tenzou raised his voice to remain audible. "Working together, we drove off Hoshigaki-san. I remained with the Kirigakure shinobi to explain the situation to the border guards who came to investigate the fight." He sat back down and tried to sink under the table, as far as Genma could tell.

"How did she kill Uchiha?" Genma didn't realize the question was coming out of his mouth unless everyone was looking at him. But he didn't regret asking. He'd never really thought someone would manage to kill that monster. Not while he was still in his prime, anyway.

Yamanaka Inoichi nodded agreement. "I saw her fighting the Nidaime. If it had continued, I believe she would have lost the match. From that, I wouldn't have thought it certain that she could kill Uchiha Itachi."

Tenzou made an uncomfortable little sound from the back of his throat. He seemed to decide not to stand up again to answer. "It was faster than I could completely observe. I understand that Uchiha-san activated his Sharingan in preparation to cast a genjutsu. Uzumaki-san drove her hand through his chest in retaliation. She was using her bloodline limit at the time. I do not know if she managed to attack before Uchiha-san managed to use a genjutsu on her, or if she deflected it. The attack she used appeared to be suijutsu of some sort."

An elemental technique that the user drove through the victim's chest at speeds fast enough to counter a sharingan. That was uncomfortably familiar. And very specific. Didn't seem like the kind of thing you just came up with on the spot.

'That's an uncomfortable amount of high-level skills that she didn't feel compelled to use against the Nidaime. Why wouldn't she have used everything she had in her arsenal, if she really was pressed to win?'

"There is one final matter to consider. The Mizukage alleged in my office that her parents were Konohagakure shinobi."

The room fell dead silent. The air had changed.

The Sandaime looked around slowly. The weight of his attention and anger pressed down. "Is this true?" He paused. "Minato-san."

"Yes," the Yondaime agreed easily. He leaned forward and then stood up as though he was answering a question in class. "Aiko is my and Kushina's firstborn. I admit I had hoped for one of them to one day be Hokage, but this is something of a surprise, isn't it?"

'And that explains her benevolence to Naruto- it's familial loyalty.' The conclusion was not satisfying. He just felt tired.

The room erupted. Several people stood up. Homura cried out in outrage that could be heard over gasps and exclamations. For once in his life, Danzo looked like he'd been shocked silly.

Having the confirmation made things real, finally. What the hell had Minato been thinking?

The two Hokage matched stares, neither backing down. In contrast to the Sandaime's grimness, the Yondaime was calm and unbothered. He wasn't surprised. He wasn't ashamed.

'How did he hide this? What possessed him to do it?'

"This is why you recognized her when she revived you," the Sandaime accused steadily. His only answer was a nod. "You withheld critical information."

"I was choosing to evaluate the situation," Minato rebutted. "Surely you can understand a bit of caution at seeing the world of the living for the first time in over a decade." His voice was dryly amused.

Genma felt a shiver walk up his back. He had an unpleasant premonition that they were about to learn more than they really wanted to know.

"There is one additional, crucial piece of information that I have gathered in the weeks I have been here. I saw the first hint of it after being revived and I chose to hold my tongue until I understood where I had found myself." He smiled, miserable and cold. "This is not my Konohagakure. Aiko was not born in this universe. If she had been, she would be 13, Naruto's twin. As far as I can tell, she has found herself in an alternate timeline. When she was ordered to summon me, she rose the Minato that she had personally known. Not the soul of the Minato who lived in this world. He must still rest in the stomach of the death god."

The report was bland, slow. Insane.

"That... matches what the Mizukage claimed." The Sandaime seemed to understand something new. He leaned back slightly, but not in a relaxed manner. "I thought that she was mocking me when she said that Jiraiya might guess what I cannot." There was a hint of a wheeze in his voice.

"I don't know why she's here," Minato admitted. He didn't seem upset about it. "I do know that she specializes in space-time manipulation fuinjutsu. She relies heavily on a modification of my hiraishin. That's why she's faster than you can see, by the way, Yamato-san. I can only assume that Jiraiya gave her the materials after my death." He stopped for a few moments, but no one spoke or even breathed.

'Do I believe any of this?'

"That may be relevant to how she came to this place. But we have also seen that she has somehow found herself in the service of the god of death." His lips twisted in a bitter way Genma had never seen in his years working with Minato. "As she is Naruto's twin, I obviously did not know her long. I can provide some information." His eyelids slid low. "The dead are not entirely unaware of the living."

'Very creepy.'

Jiraiya cleared his throat. He looked up and down the table, cataloging expressions. When he looked at Minato, he seemed pained. "Well, shit."

"I am very pleased," Aiko said, because her jounin seemed kind of nervous. "Thank you for coming today."

Hayashizaki gave her a smile, but he still looked a little ill underneath the professional veneer.

'Probably, if I was the first person to publicly challenge the woman who became my kage, I might not be totally chill about her calling me in to a meeting. That seems like exactly the kind of person a different Mizukage might make an example of.'

Fair. His terror was well-founded.

"I am not displeased," she said again. Maybe it would sink in this time. "Actually, I decided at the time that you were one of the more sensible people present." Aiko nodded at him. "You were right to challenge my qualifications at the time. Any patriot would wonder who the hell I was and why I thought I deserved to be your kage. Only you were brave enough to demand an answer."

She flicked her attention to Sanbi, expecting an insult. It never came. Disappointing.

Well, then. Despite her best efforts, Hayashizaki was still waiting for the shoe to drop. She sighed and gave up being soothing as a bad job. Aiko wasn't suited to it. "You've never taught. Do you have any interest or inclination?"

"Not in particular." He was trying way too hard to look impassive.

"What would you say are your strengths?"

Hayashizaki faltered. "My suspicious personality?" He said, but it came out more like a question. "I am methodical and detail-oriented. I am quick to notice irregularities. My genjutsu is above-average." He seemed to get a bit desperate as she just waited. "My fire-nature chakra is an unusual asset in Kirigakure. Aside from the expected weaponry, I am proficient in Gunsen and manriki-kusari, which make me a valuable asset in non-lethal disarmament or in combat in open air and expand my tactical flexibility."

'Wow. He just keeps talking.'

"I bond well with others, as evidenced by my record of team cohesion and string of successful partnerships."

'This is a thing that works? I can just look at people and they feel uncomfortable and talk forever?'

He seemed to realize he was going a bit far. He tried to deflect with humor. "I can also make a completely edible nikujaga." Then he finally had the sense to stop talking.

She gave him a good minute and a half of pointed silence to see if he'd restart the babble, but he'd figured it out. She made a note to remember the nikujaga thing, though. Only a fool would let that slide. A possible source of meat and potatoes should not be passed up.

Aiko sniffed. "Weaknesses?"

"I've heard that I am not prudent about minimizing my words," Hayashizaki said promptly. "Prone to outbursts, and a disappointing swordsman."

Aiko thought back to their first meeting, when good sense but an underdeveloped sense of self-preservation had meant he was the only one with guts to ask her who the hell she thought she was. "I see."

'The Utakata was wary about exposing this person to you,' Sanbi said 'I had assumed that he feared your violent retribution for wounded pride. Perhaps he was instead concerned that you might intimidate the boy into incoherence.'

Plausible, actually. Utakata had said that they were agemates.

'I don't think he's actually timid,' Aiko decided. 'These are unusual circumstances. I think he's more generally hot-blooded. And I saw a strong sense of justice which was offended when he thought someone unworthy might become his leader. That indicates a healthy respect for social institutions. He mentioned his social skills among his strengths, which could be pandering in Konohagakure but in Kirigakure probably does indicate that he is socially oriented.'

Sanbi made a listening sound.

'I think he's a good fit. He's young enough to present an attractive face but old enough not to be dismissed out of hand, is less likely than the average to demonstrate controlling or abusive tendencies, and could build relationships on the ground. What do you think?'

"My only reservation is the allocation of your resources," Sanbi admitted. "Had you twice the shinobi you have now, I would wholeheartedly endorse this plan."

'Thank you for the input.'

Hayashizaki was still waiting, ramrod straight and expressionless. He'd do.

"We are expecting company," Aiko said in a mild tone. "Sunagakure and Konohagakure, certainly. That will mean a significant increase in guests passing through Wave Country."

Hayashizaki nodded, cautious. "I see."

"We will be establishing a temporary outpost on the nearest island of Wave country," Aiko continued. "As the shinobi traffic is at our behest, we are taking responsibility for ensuring that a burden does not fall on the civilians living there."

That was diplomatically prudent. The Daimyo of Wave clearly didn't know or care much about the inaka, but he might manage to be offended enough to get involved if she caused his people too much trouble.

"You will be posted there to provide assistance to our visitors and protect the interests of Higashi-Gyoson. Their village head, Tazuna, is working on reconstruction efforts here, so your contact will be his heir and daughter, Tsunami. Do you have any questions about this objective?"

"I do," Sanbi said. He sounded "Is that truly the name of that village?"

"Yes, Mizukage-sama. Other than myself, who will staff this post?" Hayashizaki didn't seem bothered at all. "What will the mission duration be?"

'The one with the kindly peasants? Yes.'

"An end time has not been designated, so prepare for a long-term mission. I'm looking into the possibility of sending a chuunin there on a different mission, but they would be under your supervision. Other than that, you will have a rotating staff of either one or two chuunin at a time designated as your assistant in problem-solving and maintaining peace."

He lapsed into thought. "It somewhat lacks in creativity. Is that why they do not often say the name?"

There was a pause while Hayashizaki clearly wondered what that chuunin's mission might be and if he could ask about it.

'I think the name mostly exists for administrative purposes,' Aiko decided. 'I mean, I've lived in plenty of safehouses out in the middle of nowhere and it never occurred to me to name them. I wouldn't think of it without an outside reason even if three other families built houses nearby. Probably it was just a small fishing village on the most eastern coast, and then some government representative either picked out "East Fishing Village" as a name, or the village head panicked or something. Whatever. The Great nations all have pretty underwhelming names, too. Any name is dumb if you think too long about it.'

Hayashizaki apparently decided to risk a question. "Have you identified a specific chuunin for the separate mission?"

"Not yet," Aiko admitted. "Tazuna-san, the village head, has expressed interest in allowing his grandson and a classmate to undergo basic training." She watched her jounin's expression carefully, wondering just what kind of asset she had here.

"Oh, he is intelligent," Sanbi noted absently.

The turtle was right. Hayashizaki clearly got that expansion was what she wasn't saying- a small outpost of friendly, professional shinobi would make a big impression on the locals. When they were protecting the civilians interests and deliberately mingling by dedicating one person's workload to training two local children, it was highly probable that other locals would want to send their children to benefit.

Which was the real reason to locate a suitable chuunin to do the mentoring on a long-term, fulltime basis. Almost anyone, even most genin, could conduct an Academy style training regimen. The only reason to have one person assigned to do it was to build consistency in the hopes of drawing in more candidates from the locals.

'Actually, there's no reason that the fulltime shinobi has to be a chuunin,' Aiko realized. 'I was replicating Konoha's academy system. But a genin can teach conditioning, basic weapon skills, and low level jutsu. If the students are all from civilian bloodlines, there's much less reason to be concerned that one of them might be kidnapped. So the teachers don't necessarily need to be strong combatants.'

"Actually, I may have just changed my mind about the mission arrangement," Aiko said. She leaned back in her chair. "Your assignment remains the same. I will update you about the rest of the outpost when we have a full mission briefing. This meeting was a preliminary assessment of your stability and character before I determined you were an adequate candidate." She smiled at the jounin, who was trying not to look too offended. "I believe you are adequate."

'I can spare a genin long-term much more easily than a chuunin. Actually, a team of genin would be good. Career genin, or at least ones who are a little older. An outpost/mini Academy with one permanent Jounin, three permanent genin, and a rotating chuunin or two is damn respectable. Wave would know I was serious about the relationship, and there would be enough manpower to allow Hayashizaki to conduct more operations at his discretion. And it would really only take a few months for any trainees to have some basic uses that would free up my people in case of an emergency- a decent runner, a couple people who know emergency protocols- that would provide a lot of flexibility and be a self-sustaining system.'

"I am flattered." Hayshizaki sounded like he was genuinely trying to be charming, but couldn't push down the edge of annoyance. Yeah, that was more like it.

"Don't lie to me," Aiko said cheerfully. She flashed her teeth at the other jounin. "It demeans us both. In any case, I'm sure you can gather that building and maintaining good relationships with the people of Higashi-Gyoson is central to the success of this mission." She tossed her hair and dropped the pretense. "Training Kiri shinobi in Wave is step one to annexing the country."

To his credit, Hayashizaki didn't look like he was considering questioning her judgment for a second. Yes, he definitely respected authority when it had been adequately proven.

"No comments?" Aiko prodded, lazy and predatory.

"My only concern is that your seal will need to be replaced when you are the Godaime Mizukage of Kirigakure, first Mizukage of the Land of Waves," Hayashizaki said. It was by far the smoothest thing he'd said in her hearing.

She eyed him. She thought about it. "Shit. I love that seal."

"You might simply use a second seal for the other office to save it," Hayashizaki suggested. "You may also argue that this is because you are holding the office in trust for your dear friends in Wave, who will one day soon rise to the occasion."

Aiko tapped her jawline. "That's rhetorically sound. I'm going to use that. Also, you're friends with Utakata, I didn't know that." She pursed her lips. "I didn't realize he had friends other than me. I don't like this. I'm going to have to have a talk with him."

Hayashizaki tried not to look unpleasantly surprised.

"That flattery was a little too tailored," she critiqued. "Not many people have heard me express my particular fondness for my seal of office, but one of the two who has is the person who provided me with your name. An agemate, ranking peer." Aiko raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, I just don't buy that you happened to stumble upon one of my vanities. Not impossible, but implausible when there is a more direct explanation." She pointed at him with her right hand, rather as if she was aiming a projectile. Hayashizaki certainly flinched. "You get points for pairing it with an attractive rhetoric I can use on Wave, but next time, I expect more subtlety in your compliments. Do you understand?"

Hayashizaki looked shell-shocked. Ah, yes, that was the most extreme expression she'd gotten out of him yet. "Yes, Mizukage-sama," he said woodenly. "Of course, Mizukage-sama."

"Good, good." She curled her hand back under her chin. "You may go, now."

"Thank you, Mizukage-sama."

He let the door shut just a little too loudly. She could see his flinch in the one-way glass at the top.

Aiko relaxed her body language into a slight slouch and stretched her legs. "What a nice young man," she said.

Sanbi agreed, with a rumble of laughter.

She pushed her chair back so she could open the middle drawer on her desk to pull out her itinerary. There was only one more evening appointment, but she double-checked the time. Ugh. Aiko spun on her chair. The light breeze was a relief in her stuffy office. Actually- she stood up and opened the window behind her desk.

There was no reaction, but she was well-aware that her watching guard was annoyed from his hiding spot. Ah, yes, opening up a direct line of sight into a lit room for anyone with a projectile. You fuck.

"Why do you criticize yourself in this manner?" Sanbi asked, curious.

Aiko lifted her arms into a stretch. 'I can't tell you how many times I had that exact bitchy thought when I was on guard duty in Konohagakure. It was a whole bunch, I resented every window.'

"What has changed?"

She let her arms drop and shrugged. 'Nothing. Except that I'm hot, my ass hurts from sitting, and it isn't my job to obsess over every way someone could possibly murder me.'

It was somewhat irritating to go back to the office after day one of construction work had wrapped up at 4pm. The challenge had been exhilarating, and working as part of a team was a treat she didn't get that often.

It had been good for her relationship with Gaara, as well. They had worked in tandem to terraform and lay foundation. It was kind of fun to discover new, practical ways to utilize shinobi abilities outside of combat. A shinobi who could control sand and a shinobi with fuinjutsu ability could make cement and move it a lot easier than a civilian could with a wheelbarrow. They were a good deal more efficient than even a shinobi using a wheelbarrow to move cement. Like, wheelbarrows, eat your heart out. Two jinchuuriki coming through to steal ya damn job. They would be the most powerful construction company in the world. Who could possibly hope to compete? Actually, that was an interesting thought.

"Must you?"

Aiko interlaced her fingers and stretched again. 'No,' /emshe thought apologetically. 'That was unnecessary and a bit weirder than I anticipated. I'm a little tired. I will stop talking about quitting to form a construction company with Gaara. I don't really even want to.'

"Thank you," Sanbi said. He let out a great huffing sigh. "Have you ruminated on the strange behavior of your ...puppy?"

She was still functionally alone, so it was totally okay to put her elbows on the desk and rest her head on her hands. 'I don't know,' Aiko admitted. 'I don't think I'll know until I talk to him. His hospital check came out clean, his debriefing didn't indicate any trauma, his teammates mentioned nothing unusual. I suppose it's possible that he just had an usually bad reaction to the time in custody, but it just doesn't seem like Yuusaku.'

He growled. Aiko put a hand to her chest for a moment, because it felt like her ribcage was vibrating under the low noise. But it wasn't. She put her hand back on her head and dug her fingertips into her scalp just enough to feel the points of pressure.

"This job sucks," Aiko mumbled. "Too many people. They are all so small and need help. So much help. I barely have time for writing policy and plotting and hunting traitors and committing malfeasance. What's life without a minimum of malfeasance?"

Sanbi seemed to cock his head. "Least likely to result in jailtime and international disgrace."

She made a rude sound. 'Not you too. I'm being very, very careful with my kage bunshin. But drug running is the only reason our economy isn't in the tank while we build up legitimate income and repair a fucking city. It is not cheap.'

"I understand," he said. He seemed much more reasonable about it than Utakata, the only other person in the world who knew about that source of income. "I merely worry about the effect that revelation would have upon your reputation and Kirigakure's international legitimacy."

'Reasonable fear. Can't afford to stop. Am very cautious.' Aiko rubbed at her eyes and then sat up straight. 'Pays very well because no legitimate party can be caught doing that kind of work, I have no travel expenses, is critically needed direct infusion into treasury.'

Her personal demon hummed, accepting the bullet point version of the argument she'd had with Utakata more than once.

Yuusaku was perfectly on time for his meeting. He slunk in with his gaze hovering a foot above the floor.

Her heart ached. "Yuusaku, what's wrong?" Aiko found that a soft tone came out naturally when she was talking to one of her kids. "You've seemed very down since you came back from Konohagakure. How can I help you?"

He swallowed and took a shaky breath. "I've failed you, Mizukage-sama. I don't deserve this." He pulled at his chuunin vest.

'What?'

It took a moment to work past bafflement and push out a level question that wouldn't make him feel any worse. "Yuusaku, I don't understand. Why do you think you've failed me? You met all my expectations. I'm proud of you and your team. I'm glad that we went to Konohagakure together."

He glanced up at her and away just as quickly. His eyes were red, she saw. Oh. Hell. Was he going to cry? Was she going to have a crying child in her office?

"The boy is 15, is he not?" Sanbi confirmed uncertainly. "Do human young cry even at that age?"

'Humans cry at all ages.' Aiko fidgeted. 'Are you thinking of the wailing babies tend to do? That's different. We don't do that after, like, three years old or so.'

"Ah. Should his parents be retrieved to soothe him?"

...Probably not? She wasn't an expert on human young, either.

"Mizukage-sama," Yuusaku said heavily. He blinked many times. "In Konohagakure, I believe I was identified as the weak link in the team. I was taken to questioning that my teammates did not experience."

"What." Her voice went totally flat. "You were situational witnesses, not captives. Are you telling me that Konohagakure subjected you to interrogation?"

'I'm going to kill them. I'm going to fucking kill them. I'm going to go over there and destroy their petty mountainside and use the leftover bits to crush the rats who run.'

"Yes? No? I don't know." Yuusaku rubbed at his eyes. "I was called in to personal questioning by the Hokage." He cleared his throat. "The Yondaime Hokage."

Oh. Oh, no.

'He was a wartime leader,' Aiko remembered. 'Minato is decades behind on diplomatic protocol.'

But it still seemed like common fucking sense that it was unwarranted intimidation to bring a genin, ostensibly a guest from a foreign nation, into questioning with the fucking kage. That was completely inappropriate. It was a dangerous precedent! Would Konoha fucking like it if she brought one of their genin into her office for private questioning? Your own country's military leader was intimidating enough. It was far too much to ask a genin to endure the pressure of a personal interrogation by a foreign military head. It was cruel and unnecessary.

She very carefully put her coffee cup down, because she didn't want to break the glass. "Please continue, Yuusaku."

"He asked me some questions." Yuusaku was talking faster now, like he just wanted to get it all out. "About you. About how long you trained us, where you came from, and what you would do if you wanted to get rid of him." He glanced up at her once again and then back to the floor. "I told him what you said about the timeline. I thought I was being clever with my other responses, ambiguous enough, but I wasn't, I was wrong. I don't know how but I knew it from his face that he got information from me. I'm so, so sorry." He stopped, choked up. "I'm sorry."

He turned to the side to hide his face. She still heard a quiet sniffle.

"Yuusaku," Aiko said. Her voice was exactly as calm as her heart was braying for blood. "A genin is not expected to match wits with kage to achieve promotion. That situation was completely inappropriate, and in no way reflects negatively upon you." She folded her hands very tightly, laced them together and squeezed until her skin turned white. "You performed up to expectations consistent with your rank and age. I would not expect the vast majority of my jounin to conceal information from a foreign kage. That you attempted it is to your credit."

She wanted to cross around her desk and try to comfort her student. But he was turned away- that indicated he wanted privacy. He wanted to protect his pride. She understood that.

"What did you tell him about how I would get rid of him?" Aiko asked, perfectly still and feeling so, so dangerous.

He took a few seconds to master himself enough to answer. "I said that I didn't know, because I hadn't seen you in a serious fight."

Ah. "He understood from that answer that I cannot remotely unwork the jutsu reviving the dead," Aiko explained. "That's the information he got from you."

Yuusaku flinched, waiting for a blow.

"I don't care if he knows that. The information is worthless to me, it's only valuable to Konohagakure because now they know that Minato-san is not about to drop dead at my convenience." She clenched her jaw. "That is acceptable. I am considering how I am going to murder him, and that seems much more satisfying."

Yuusaku gave her a wild-eyed stare. "You can't!" he protested. "A foreign kage?"

She opened her mouth to point out that she'd killed the previous mizukage before she was a citizen, but kept the words in. Wasn't worth it.

"It is politically imprudent," Aiko admitted. "But it is also righting the state of affairs. The Yondaime Hokage is clearly a relic of wartime, unsuited for modern leadership. I'm going to fucking kill him, and then I suppose Kumogakure will be our friend instead of Konohagakure." She paused, thinking about it. "That is also an acceptable outcome. They're closer, even. That's convenient. And that would open up a line of trade to the Outer countries. We could all have TVs, legally. That would be nice. See how it all works out when you murder the Hokage?" By the end, she was really warming to the idea.

"It could lead to war," Yuusaku pointed out. "And it would endanger our relationship with other nations." His voice was strengthening, more comfortable on this familiar ground. "If we were not already at war, a kage personally assassinating another kage is beyond the pale. We would never have another alliance. Who could trust us? We would be destroyed."

'Not if I kill enough of them that nobody wants to fuck with me. Fuck, I killed Itachi. He's shit-scum and stupid as all hell, but he was a loyal Konoha nin. I've already broken that taboo. What's ten more. What a hundred more.'

Aiko took a long, slow inhalation, and pushed down the murderous fantasies. Those were a lot more common lately. Sanbi? She really didn't think that was all her.

He gave a guilty little grumbled. Some of the rage peeled away. Some of it really was hers, though.

"Aa." She clenched her jaw, and then deliberately relaxed the muscles. "You would prefer that I did not kill him, then?"

Yuusaku gave her a look that was hard to interpret. "Mizukage-sama," Yuusaku got out tentatively. "I do not believe that a kage can be held responsible for mistreating foreign genin."

"He's not better than you," Aiko said darkly. "Minato really is not that great. He's selfish, academically unimaginative, makes way too many assumptions about people's competence, and is a shit parent all around. No wonder that he's a fuckup even when it's other people's kids. He did fuck up his whole genin team too, now that I'm thinking about it. The survivors are goddamn lunatics. I'll introduce you sometime, that'll be a laugh."

Yuusaku made a high-pitched sound. When she looked over, he was white. "Sensei?"

"Oh, right. "He's my father," Aiko admitted. "That's classified information, sorry. But he's a useless, stupid garbage human who behaved unprofessionally because he was emotionally compromised." She kicked back her chair and stood up. "And I'm going to make him eat it. Yuusaku, sweetheart, how would you like a personal letter of apology from the Hokage?"

He just stared at her.

"He's not better than you," Aiko repeated, feeling stuck on that. "He has no right to intimidate my people. He has no right to make you doubt yourself when you are doing a good fucking job." Her voice shook with fury on that last part. "You were a damn good genin, and you're on track to be a damn good chuunin. He doesn't get to make you sad."

"Once, when I was in preschool, my teacher made me write an apology to another student." Yuusaku sounded distant and confused. His eyes were glazed over. "Because I broke his toy ship."

"Your teacher was right." Aiko unfolded her hands because she didn't want to break any delicate bones. "When we wrong another person, we say that we are sorry."

She gave in to her urge and walked around her desk to give her new chuunin a hug. He put his hands around her back a moment later.

"I'm going to get an apology for you," Aiko promised into his shoulder. "And he's going to mean it. If he isn't sorry now, I will make him sorry. And then I will make him write a very nice letter."

"Um. Okay."

She hugged him a little harder.

#vapors #uzumaki aiko #electrasev5n #ninja daily #fanfiction #naruto fanfiction #clarity #AIC #Aiko in Canon

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retiredsenju · 16 days

Note

Could you tell us a little about the White Fang, Godaime-sama? I wanted to write my history paper on him, but the library doesn't have anything and Haru-sensei said I'm not allowed to go bother Rokudaime-sama again :(

Sure thing, kid! Have a seat, this might be long...

-pours herself some sake-

Let's get started with the basics: the legendary White Fang, as you already know, was Hatake Sakumo, head of the dwindling Hatake clan and father of the Rokudaime Hokage. Few people associate both names to the same person these days, mostly due to how his life ended, and I honestly hope this is due to their own shame in regards to how the village treated him back then, but hell, his story deserves to be told, even if it hurts some people's egos.

He was seen as a genius shinobi, mastering many techniques and chakra natures, and completing missions with an efficiency that made many mission scrolls mention him specifically as the requested team leader. That never got to his head, though, and he was one of the kindest men I've ever met. Jiraiya and I were not much past teenagers when the Second War started, and even after we (and Orochimaru) were labeled the Legendary Sannin, we still looked up to him -- and I'm pretty sure Jiraiya was the one who started all the talk about him being more powerful than the three of us; there's truth to the rumour, though, I'm pretty sure he could have taken the three of us at the same time if he wanted to. Jiraiya and I pestered him to go out for drinks with us, and I think we seemed to him like an annoying fanclub... I can't deny it, the man was as skilled as he was good looking!

-laughs a little and pours down some more sake-

Still, he took the three shinobi restrictions very seriously, and always insisted on coming home early to his wife. I suppose that's also why he was so compassionate towards his comrades, he valued family and friends, and wanted to make sure they always came back to their loved ones. That was actually the secret to his mission efficiency, his team formations relied heavily on teamwork, and making the best use possible of each ninja's particular skills and how well they fit into the team dynamics. It's also why he got so famous during the war, not only was he a tactical genius, he also had the respect of anyone fighting under him, and his presence alone was enough to boost morale -- they felt safe with him leading them, and made defeat seem impossible.

He was such a compassionate man, really, in some ways he reminds me a bit of Naruto... maybe he was born in the wrong generation, or maybe he was the precursor of what Konoha culture would become like, who knows... But I think he'd be happy to see such peaceful times, and to meet the brat his son trained, and the beliefs under which he was trained too... I damn well know how harsh those times were, I had to fight tooth and nail to defend the idea of medic nins, and people at the time did not appreciate medical jutsu at all.

-another dose of sake-

I think he would be proud of his son too, of course, but maybe a bit shocked he became Hokage -- not that he didn't trust his potential as a ninja, but Kakashi wasn't much of a team player back then, and such an impatient brat too! I remember him telling us stories about how he tried to get him to understand not everyone picked up skills as quickly as he did, and worked so hard to teach him patience with others, but he would always lecture his own father when he got home late from a mission!

-more laughter-

Yes, he was a good man... When his last mission failed because he prioritised getting his comrades home safe, the village turned his back on him, and I'm sure it took its toll on him, they built him up just to tear him down... I guess it's part of the danger of becoming a high-profile ninja, people put you on a pedestal... I remember the scrutiny when I became Hokage, and I can only imagine what it would be like to have your own people turn on you... You know, I think I will propose a revision to the history books to include more about him next time I'm on a council meeting... Kakashi probably hasn't done so because he didn't want to make it look like he wanted to self-aggrandize through his father, but there's no such fear coming from me... might as well make those council meetings useful for something.

#naruto rp #senju tsunade #hatake sakumo #anonymous

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konohagakurekakashi · 2 months

Note

Detective Verse - #Blind Incandescence

[Text - 12:44 pm]: Can you NOT focus on the formatting and actually work on FINISHING your reports for ONCE?

She isn't mentioning how they are actually HER reports that he is being made to type.

[Text - 12:46pm]: Yare, yare...and here I thought to provide some striking, visual stimulation in a drab, corporate environment.

[Text - 12:47pm]: Also, can these really be considered as /my/ reports, Tsunade-sama?

He highly doubts this, seeing as he's always been more of a coffee-ring-napkin kind of guy.

#Hatake Kakashi [The Scarecrow]#Senju Tsunade [Godaime Sake-sama]#konohagakurekakashi #senjutsunade #v: blindincandescence #detective verse

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riversimmone · 7 months

Text

In Remembrance

RiverOfTheSand

Summary:

One-shot. He had come back. She didn't want him. He didn't care. But there were expectations, and Sasuke would have Sakura whether she liked it or not.

Notes:

Another cross-post from fanfiction.net. This story is dub-con for how Sasuke is towards Sakura. Please do not read if this kind of content bothers you. Rated M. I hope you all enjoy. :)

It was her fear of this day that helped to hold him off until now. But Sakura Haruno wasn't stupid, and Sasuke Uchiha wasn't one to be so easily cast aside. She wasn't in love with him anymore; at least she didn't think she was. But just like Naruto, she wanted him back in the village so desperately and her dreams were full of images of him returning. After the victuals, her dream became hazy. She used to imagine that he'd walk up to her and propose; that she'd happily say "yes", and that they would then become inseparable.

But those images were gone now.

He no longer held any power over her. She'd grown up.

Still, he had pursued her. Shortly after he was placed in Kakashi's care and submitted to being followed around by Anbu until such time that the council and Hokage decided to remove them from his shadow, Sasuke had started making plans for the both of them. He didn't stop to ask her if she still wanted him, and the rumours being perpetuated by the gossipers of Konoha only strengthened his resolve. He would have her, and not let anything as trivial as her opinion on the matter get in the way.

He used to have his fan girls, his loyalists, but their numbers were so few now, and she wondered if he was focusing on her because of this. Was she his only choice now?

But no, Kakashi had told her that Sasuke had spoken of her before being released, and it was upon his discharge from prison that what was left of his fan girls became obvious to the last Uchiha. And as usual, Sasuke ignored them. It would seem that he only had eyes for Sakura. The copy ninja, unlike Naruto, was not surprised to see that the pinkette wasn't giddy over this. He'd seen her fierce love for Sasuke waver and crumble. He'd seen the light go out of her eyes whenever his name was mentioned in conjunction with other defectors from the village.

He understood she didn't want Sasuke, but the last Uchiha had given his intention to make her his to the council and they had readily agreed. Who best to marry Sasuke Uchiha than one of his ex-team mates, who best to start rebuilding the powerful Uchiha clan than the prized apprentice to the Godaime who had surpassed her shishou in every way possible?

And so Sakura both anticipated him, and dreaded him. She waited on his arrival, his attempts to woo her, but it wasn't to be. Sasuke wasn't interested in making Sakura want him. In his mind, this was a moot point – hadn't she always declared that she wanted him and no-one else? So there was no wooing, there was no courtship, official or otherwise.

He had no concern for her beyond his desire to mark her as his own.

Sasuke cornered her in her apartment, waiting for her in the darkness and giving no apology for entering uninvited. She knew exactly what he was going to do to her. He waited for her though, as she'd just spent hours tending to surgery and needed to shower. He didn't move as she cleaned herself. He barely breathed as she dried herself and wrapped a towel around her body. Sakura wasn't sure was he expected her to do or say, and she walked out of the bathroom, fully intending on striding straight into her bedroom and hope he left her apartment.

He stood up suddenly and before she could blink, he was standing directly in front of her. Her cry of surprise went unnoticed and she moved her arm quickly to deflect his as he shot his hand out to pull the towel from her body. She wasn't fast enough and cold air hit her naked form in the next moment. She trembled. No-one had ever seen her naked before. Not like this anyway, as she didn't shy away from the hospital when she was a patient as most medics ultimately did.

Sasuke took in her flawless skin for a second before lifting her up and carrying her over his shoulder. She complained, she tried to push him away, but ultimately, her efforts were futile. She grunted as he threw her onto her bed and scurried backwards against her pillows. Sasuke tore his own clothes off, half ripping his shirt and pants as he did so with no regard for care for the material. It was almost animalistic for Sakura, watching as he stripped down and her eyes flickered over his perfect form. There were scars, marks that hinted to the warrior lifestyle he seemed to thrive on and previous battles having marked him as he planned to mark her.

He climbed on top of her, covering her body with his and ignoring the reluctance in her expression.

She wasn't sure what to do, exactly, as she'd never been in this position before. But Sasuke continued on as if he was the only one that mattered here. It was insulting. But before she could say or do anything to complain, her throat clenched and she gasped, letting out a strangled whimper. His fingers had found her core and he was wasn't being gentle.

Her mouth was completely bypassed, as the only places on her body he wanted to kiss were currently defenceless and couldn't bite back.

Why wasn't she fighting him?

Sakura had realised upon his return that she was scared of him. For all her futile efforts when he'd thrown her over his shoulder, she'd already known it was all in vain. He always got what he wanted. She wanted to let her mind wander, to just pretend he wasn't touching her, that he wasn't eliciting moans from her she'd never heard the likes of before… but it was impossible. She couldn't ignore the shudder of pleasure wracking her body.

Again, Sasuke wasn't being gentle. He either didn't know or didn't care that she had previously been a virgin, and before she could comprehend the fact that he'd shifted above her again, he filled her quickly. Sasuke ignored her cry of pain as he tore through her sensitive flesh and she held onto him in the faint hope of making the pain fade by embracing the only warmth he had left – his body heat.

She cried as he held her. He wasn't doing this because he suddenly found himself in love with her. He was doing it because it was expected of him. Everyone was expecting Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno would get married and start rebuilding his clan, but no-one had asked them what they wanted. She had slapped him, cursed his name, and tried to move on.

But here he was, driving her to the brink of insanity… again. She couldn't take anymore heart break. Did she care about him? Yes. Did she find him attractive? Of course. But would she follow him to the ends of the earth?

No... not anymore.

But right now, he had her body, her screams of pain and pleasure as he rocked back and forth, pulling out of her before slamming back in, hard. But her heart was broken, and her mind and soul were on the fence. She didn't own any of it herself either. It was being torn from her as though she was some frail kitten with no fight, no skills, and no power of her own.

But if she didn't belong with Sasuke, then who?

No answer came to her and so she closed her eyes, moving her hips with him as the pain finally faded away. It was starting to feel better and she just let go, letting Sasuke take control, letting Sasuke take her innocence. She had seen so much, done so much… she didn't really consider herself innocent anymore anyway.

He was moving on instinct now, and she wondered if he'd even had sex before. She hadn't seen him for years and he was well above the early onset of hormones in your typical teenage boy. Except Sasuke was never your typical teenage boy. He was powerful, cut off from everyone around him and insane. Her fear of him was allowing him to do this to her. His thrusts were powerful, his body was heavy on top of her, and all she could do was try to keep up.

The smell of sex was invading her senses and Sakura's eyes flew open as a clenching heat twisted up her stomach. She swallowed heavily, resting her head back onto the pillows and ignoring Sasuke's grunt as he filled her womb, his warmth gathering inside of her as he peaked. She knew a little about what had just happened, being a medic, but had never imagined it could feel so… good.

It was her first time, and despite the awkwardness and lack of initial desire on her part, she figured it could've been worse.

'Sasuke wasn't a virgin,' she realised, and that made a difference, or so she had gathered from Ino.

Ever the expert on sex.

Sasuke pulled out of her and she made a strange grunting sound at the sensation, immediately rolling away from him. It was a few seconds before he pulled her back against him, the warmth of his skin lulling her suddenly into a lethargic train of thought. And a few minutes later, Sasuke finally said her name (he hadn't since his return, which was another reason she'd been shocked by his interest in her).

"Sakura…"

His voice was low and sensual. His baritone made her shiver and she felt the breath tickle the back of her neck.

"Sasuke?"

He didn't respond, other than to run his hand over her side and plant a feathery kiss on her shoulder. Maybe he did really like her beyond just wanting someone to rebuild his clan? She turned around to face him, staring into those onyx eyes of his. He was seemingly calm and collected, but the trail of his fingers along her skin made her wonder if he was thinking about engaging in another round.

But he just stared at her, as though the thought was more of a meeting assembly on the pros and cons of taking her into his arms again. He was a smug bastard, probably thinking she was still in love with him and he could have her anytime he wanted, especially now. Well, he was right about that second one. She wasn't so sure about the first.

"Why?" She asked.

'Why me?'

He had no answer for that. It was expected, it was an impulse, it was a hunter returning to familiar ground… he wasn't sure. So he didn't respond to her question, and instead pulled her body to him and parted her legs, wrapping her left leg over his waist before thrusting into her again. He had been getting steadily hard again and it was the reason he'd whispered her name, and waited out the engorgement, ready to fulfil his body's desire once again.

He was an Uchiha, and as far as he was concerned, that was reason enough.

Sakura buried her face in his chest, her arm wrapped around him as she moved with him as he took what he wanted.

But it was too late now. They could never go back to what they were. She was no longer that naïve girl who would do anything for Sasuke Uchiha, but she would marry him, and she would help him revive his clan. Because what was the point of living for the future if she constantly lived in the past?

She could remember the twelve year old boy who'd almost died saving Naruto in the land of waves. She could remember the young Shinobi who had inadvertently channelled his curse mark for the first time in order to avenge her in the forest of death. And she could never forget how angry he was when he'd challenged Naruto in that hospital room…

Sakura tried to forget it all. She tried to move on. She gripped tighter to Sasuke, wishing he would kiss her properly, but all he did was run his hand along her body as they had sex. It wasn't making love, it wasn't kindness, but she hoped, that given enough time, he would come to see that she wasn't just here for him.

After all, she had her pride too.

X X X

#sasusaku #sasuke x sakura #fanfiction #my ao3 #All images are not mine

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audaciousanonj · 10 months

Note

How goes Tsunade and Jiraiya in the Leaf rot (sorry for the butchering) au?

Like did the latter catch on why Naruto was spared?

On that note how is the kid doing?

On Tsunade:

Tsunade is the Godaime of a dying village. Like yes, it's a "major" village, but also they lost all their academy students- like not even a single class, it was all of them in all years and their teachers (give or take one student and teacher). Paranoia and mistrust run rampant. Tsunade has to burn out the despair that's keeping konoha twitchy and mistrustful, and if she has to put down a few shinobi (including one that may or may not be related to her) on the precipice to keep the village stable then so be it! It's enough to drive a woman to drink. Shizune will gladly keep the bottles coming. It's better than the alternative.

On Jiraiya:

It probably all went wrong when Sensei never spoke out against the treatment Sakumo got, he thinks. Not that he thinks letting a 6yo become chunnin or putting preteens in ANBU was a good idea, but that was probably where it started. Orochimaru and Tsunade may be back in the village, but he's not going to join them. Their place may be in the village now (and really?? Sensei let Orochimaru back in???) but Jiraiya still has his duties as a spymaster. Even with all the strife Konoha is facing from within, it doesn't mean Konoha's enemies from the outside aren't lying in wait for any sign of weakness. And Konoha is so weak right now. Plus, now that he doesn't have to track Orochimaru anymore, he might as well try tracking Konoha's latest high-rank missing nin. Maybe, he might be able to figure out why Kakashi did it.

On Naruto:

Root Operative 012607 is a better shinobi than ever. His training is harsh but fulfilling. He even is allowed certain privileges for his status as a jinchuriki, such as being allowed the name "Namikaze Menma", and occasional visits with Root Operative 011850 (Not too often though. Root Operative 011850 has his own training to complete.)

#rotted leaf au #aj answers

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thekatthatbarks · 2 years

Text

Your Teeth in My Neck

ao3

kibasaku, romance, resolved sexual tension

“You didn’t follow the plan, Kiba! That is why I’m being all pissy with you!” Sakura rolled her eyes at him as she threw another branch into their campfire.

He bristled and Sakura wondered if she’d ever be able to talk to the man for longer than a minute without them arguing. “Well, the plan needed changing and that was clear to –“

“I am squad leader and I get to make that call!”

“Ah, Kiba-kun, Sakura-chan –“ Hinata tried to interject as Kiba stood up from his place beside her on the log.

But she went unheard. Sakura was vaguely aware of Shino sighing and stretching out by the fire.

Kiba closed the distance between them and pointed an angry finger at her. “Don’t pull fucking rank on me, Sakura!”

Sakura crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “I wouldn’t have to if you gave me some confidence, Kiba! I had that handled and you –“

“Handled? I wouldn’t have called that handled. You had how many guys on you? Don’t be pissed at me for – “

“You broke formation, Kiba! You could’ve jeopardized the whole mission. And yes, I had it fucking handled!”

“I did not – “

Sakura threw her hands up as she felt a migraine come on. “Whatever! I’m not going to fight with you anymore. Take first watch. I need some rest.”

She turned away from him, not waiting for a reply and looked to Hinata and Shino. Hinata gave her a nervous smile and Shino nodded, so Sakura went to her tent without another word.

***

Sakura had already switched off with Shino and should’ve gone back to sleep, but she hadn’t been able to earlier and she didn’t think it’d be any different now. She could hear Kakashi nagging her in her head that bad rest never boded well for a shinobi and she should at least try. But she couldn’t sleep, and it wasn’t like he was one to talk anyway.

She turned away from her tent and walked towards the edge of the lake that wasn’t too far from their camp. When she got to the edge of the water, she noticed him sitting against a tree nearby. She was surprised to see him considering Akamaru was curled up by his tent. She sighed and looked over at him with a raised eyebrow.

“Shouldn’t you be getting some rest? Your watch was over hours ago.”

He leaned his head back against the bark, stretching out one leg and laying his arm on his other knee. “Could say the same to you, Captain.”

Sakura winced and rubbed at her temples, turning back to the water. “I’m sorry for pulling rank. You just like to piss me off.”

He huffed and she imagined him rolling his eyes. “I do not like to piss you off, Sakura.”

Sakura kicked at the sand and mumbled, “News to me.”

She heard him get up and walk over to her. “You just get mad at me because I’m not a pushover.”

She turned on him irritably. “I do not!”

“Yes, you do. You get mad because I don’t roll over for you like Naruto does. Because I’m not intimidated by you.”

Sakura looked at him incredulously. “Are you kidding me? You think Naruto listens to me because he’s intimidated?”

Kiba shrugged. “Look, I don’t care that you were the Godaime’s apprentice. I’m not saying that you’re not powerful. But I –“

Sakura interrupted him and poked him in chest angrily. “You want to know why Naruto listens to me or Hinata or Shikamaru for that matter? Because they respect me.”

He scoffed, stepping closer to her. “You think I don’t respect you?”

“Well, that’s certainly what – “

Sakura was cut off when Kiba’s hands twisted in her shirt and yanked her to him, pressing his lips against hers. It took her mind more than few seconds to catch up, but her body was already responding. She kissed him back, her fingers taking purchase in his hair and tugging on the strands. He let out a small groan and his hands were on her waist, his fingers digging into the skin beneath her shirt.

He dragged her down with him to the sand moments later and Sakura went without question.

This was a way better release for whatever tension they had.

***

It was one of those rare times when everyone had been able to make their night out at the bar. Sakura had been running late from the hospital, only having time to go home and change really quick. It wouldn’t matter if she got there late, but if everyone was able to make it, she didn’t want to miss anyone. As they got older, they didn’t have a lot of opportunity to see each other.

When she got there, she felt her heart stutter in her chest seeing where the only open seat was.

Tenten waved her over. “Sakura! We saved you a seat, you’re the last one.”

Sakura smiled at her and pushed any thought to the back of her mind as she slid onto the bar stool between Tenten and Kiba. They hadn’t seen each other since their mission two weeks ago and Sakura had been trying not to think about how they’d most likely ruined whatever friendship they’d held onto all these years.

She was saved from saying hi to him by Naruto pulling him into a conversation on his other side – he was the best friend a girl could ask for. They went most of the night without speaking to each other, but Sakura felt overly aware of him; every brush of his arm against hers at the crowded table, his knee knocking against hers. It wasn’t until she switched to sake that she finally looked at him after he reached over and poured her cup.

He raised an eyebrow at her, a smile on his lips. “What? Isn’t it bad luck for a woman to pour her own sake?”

Sakura met his eyes, seeing something playful there. A light laugh fell from her lips as she picked up her cup. “Thank you, Kiba.”

She heard him mumble in a low voice, “No problem,” and then felt a hand on her knee.

Sakura swallowed her sake, needing the burn in her throat to ground her a bit. He’d already turned back to whatever conversation he was having with Naruto and Ino and Sakura let his hand stay.

It might be a mistake, but she couldn’t find the energy to push him away.

“Sakura, did you hear what Ino –“

Sakura turned back to Tenten as the woman giggled into her own drink with a hand on Sakura’s arm. She felt herself smile as Tenten started gossiping to her about something stupid Ino did.

She’d almost forgotten about the warm weight on her leg as she talked to Tenten but then she felt his fingers start to trail up, curling around the inside of her thigh. Sakura glanced at him out of the corner of her eye but to any onlooker, his attention was completely on Naruto and Ino.

Sakura both wished she hadn’t worn a skirt and glad she did. She tried to focus on Tenten’s voice as his hand climbed higher. Sakura should’ve stopped him when he slipped under her skirt, but she felt dazed and only covered his hand with hers when the tips of his fingers toyed with the lace of her panties. He instantly stopped, pulling his hand out of her skirt to hold her wrist. He leaned over to refill her cup and turned back to his friends without comment.

Sakura swallowed as he ran a fingernail down her wrist.

“Sakura, are you even listening to me?”

Sakura broke out of her daze – for the most part – to look at Tenten’s face. She had a teasing smirk on her face and Sakura knew it was simply because she’d gotten distracted. She knew Tenten couldn’t see what was happening under the table, but she felt herself blush. She hoped the woman blamed it on her drinking.

She chuckled and rubbed her fingers at her temple. “Sorry, Tenten. Long day at work, I guess I’m more tired than I thought.”

Tenten waved a hand. “It’s fine. You gonna head out?”

Sakura nodded, moving her hand out of Kiba’s grasp to his leg and squeezed his thigh. “Yeah, I think I’ll head home for the night.”

She got up from the table, her friends eyes going to her. She smiled, glancing over them. “I’m going to call it a night. I’ll see you guys later.”

She laid down some money on the table as there was a round of goodbyes thrown her way. She didn’t know if she could control her expression and made sure to not look Kiba’s way and left the bar.

She’d only turned down two streets before she felt him come up behind her. It still didn’t prepare her for the way he grabbed her waist and spun her around to kiss her. Sakura gasped as he backed her against the nearest wall. He wrapped his arms around her waist to bring her closer and Sakura felt herself wrap her legs around him without thinking about it – not that she was thinking about anything at the moment.

He chuckled warmly against her skin as his lips left hers to kiss across jaw and down her throat. Sakura bit back a moan when his teeth scraped across her skin, reminded they were in the middle of the street. She used the hand in his hair to pull his face back. “Did you really have to feel me up under the table?”

He smirked as he met her eyes. “You didn’t seem like you minded.”

Sakura huffed, feeling her heart race the longer she looked at him, watching his eyes soften. She leaned forward to kiss him again. She heard herself tell him, “Come home with me.”

***

They still argued but it wasn’t as much, and Sakura wondered if their friends noticed anything different. The lingering touches, the gazes, how they started to gravitate towards each other. It wasn’t that Sakura wanted to hide it or anything, but she didn’t know what it was. A part of her wanted to tell Ino just get some advice but knew Ino would knock her upside the head, knowing exactly the kind of person Sakura was. Sakura didn’t judge people who fooled around but she wasn’t usually one of them.

But that was the only way she could think to describe what they were doing.

They didn’t talk about it and Sakura told herself she didn’t care, too much of a coward to bring it up. She had a feeling it was a little more than friends with benefits, or that it at least was turning into something more. She could see the way he looked at her sometimes, how he joked around with her while they were still in bed, how he stayed until the morning. But at the end of the day, Sakura had no idea what Kiba was thinking.

She shoved it the back of her mind with a sigh, telling herself it would all work out one way or another.

***

“Haruno-sama.”

Sakura looked to her left at the whisper to see one of her medics giving her a small smile. Sakura raised an eyebrow at her, wondering why she was being so quiet. “Yes, Misa-chan?”

Misa pulled at her collar and gestured to her neck. Sakura felt her eyes widen as her hand shot up to her neck, feeling the bruise there. Fucking Inuzuka. She healed it and mumbled with a blushing face, “Thank you.”

Misa chuckled lightly and shook her head. “It wasn’t very noticeable, but I thought I should tell you.”

Sakura nodded, not wanting to know if the girl was just trying to lessen her embarrassment with a white lie and continued down the hall.

Sakura knew it was him before the door even opened and dog paws clicked against her floor. She reminded herself she was annoyed at him but couldn’t stop her smile when he came around the corner and into the kitchen with Akamaru on his heels. He gave her a tired smile back as he walked over to her and kissed her.

Sakura smiled against him and reached a hand down to pet Akamaru. He leaned his head against her thigh, and she broke away from Kiba with a small laugh. She bent down to scratch Akamaru behind his ears and asked him, “Are you hungry, boy?”

He barked and his tail wagged. Sakura chuckled and glanced at Kiba as she stood up. “Do you want something too? I’m sure you’re hungry.” She stepped towards the fridge. “I think I have a couple steaks in here…”

He leaned against the counter beside her and glanced at the rice in a pan on the stove. “Haven’t you already started cooking something else? You don’t have to cook us dinner.”

“I don’t mind.” She shrugged and pulled out the steaks.

Kiba snorted and pressed a kiss to her temple before moving to help her with dinner. Akamaru wandered off, probably to the couch in her living room that had become his favorite spot in her apartment.

Sakura added more pots to the stove for some sides, making a bigger dinner than she had planned. Kiba moved behind her as she stirred something and wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning his head on her shoulder.

“What’s wrong?”

He hummed in response and Sakura snorted. “It seems like you’re more than just tired from your mission. What is it?”

He sighed and moved his chin to her shoulder. “I had a clan meeting as soon as we came back.”

Sakura chuckled, already having gathered how much he hated them. “Sometimes you make me happy I wasn’t born into a clan with how much you hate everything about them.”

He tsked. “I’m glad I’m not the eldest or an only child.”

Sakura leaned her head back to tease him. “Don’t want to be the big head of the Inuzuka, Kiba-kun?

He rolled his eyes at her. “Yeah, no, Hana can do that. I wouldn’t be any good at it anyway.”

Sakura chuckled and shrugged. “Well, that doesn’t mean anything. You’re a good shinobi without being clan head and being involved in clan politics.”

“Did you just pay me a compliment?”

Sakura huffed and looked back to him to see a sly smile. “I compliment you all the time.”

He laughed. “You do not.”

Sakura smacked him in the chest. “I’ll worship you in compliments later. Check your steak.”

“It doesn’t even need to be turned over yet,” he mumbled. Sakura felt him tuck her hair behind her ear and brush her hair back before kissing down her neck.

Sakura’s felt herself craning her neck and then remembered her earlier annoyance. She turned around in his arms and pointed a ladle at him. “You need to stop leaving marks all over me.”

Kiba laughed and held up his hands. “You’ve never complained about it before!”

“I had to have a medic point out a bruise you left on my neck before you left for your mission!”

Kiba leaned back to sit on the edge of her kitchen table with a smirk. “You always heal them. Not my fault you forgot one.”

Sakura grumbled, putting the ladle on the counter. “You could, I don’t know, remind me if you see I missed one.”

Kiba reached out for her hip and pulled her to him. “Okay, okay. I will.”

Sakura let him pull her until she was between his legs. She wrapped her arms loosely around his neck and glared at him without any heat. “I’m not a teenager, stop leaving hickies all over me.”

Kiba kissed the corner of her mouth. “They’re not hickies.”

“Bite marks, then.”

He chuckled lowly and moved his mouth to her ear. “I vividly remember how much you enjoy my bite marks.”

Sakura fought down a shiver and turned her head to kiss him, telling him against his lips, “Well, fucking remind me next time then.”

***

Sakura had just left the hospital when a heavy weight hit her back. She laughed and turned around as Akamaru started nuzzling her stomach. She glanced around for Kiba while she scratched his ears. She realized he wasn’t there at the same time Akamaru bit her coat and started tugging on her.

She felt her heart rate pick up and fell into step with him. “Okay, I’m coming. Where is he?”

Akamaru led her towards the training grounds and Sakura felt some of her anxiety ease away. She still felt frazzled though by the time they went through some trees to see Kiba laying on the ground with Hinata hovering over him.

Hinata looked up at her in relief when she came in to view. “Sakura-chan! I didn’t mean to hit him, I thought he would dodge it.”

Sakura tried for a smile as she knelt beside him, Akamaru lying down behind her. Kiba’s eyes were screwed tight and his breathing ragged. She put a hand on his shoulder and turned to Hinata. “Where did you hit him?”

“His side.” Hinata pointed towards the general area and Sakura felt herself sigh in relief that it wasn’t his chest. She remembered the Hyuuga fight from the chunnin exams and could only imagine how much worse it would be from a jounin.

Sakura hovered her hands over his side, her chakra glowing and seeping into his skin. “He’ll be okay, Hinata. Just some bleeding and shock probably.”

Hinata let out a breath, still looking guilty. “I really thought he would dodge it, or I wouldn’t have put that much force.”

Sakura started healing him, sending Hinata a comforting look. “I know, Hinata, and I’m sure he does too. Just think, I’ve probably damaged my teammates more than you ever will. I broke Kakashi’s ribs before, fracture Naruto’s collarbone, the list goes on.”

Hinata chuckled with a small nod.

Sakura had to pour her chakra in more pinpointed and it made Kiba’s eyes shoot open. His eyes found hers first and she felt her heart clench with how he reached out for her arm. “Sakura?”

She smiled at him. “Hey, hot-stuff, how you feeling?”

His head must’ve still been foggy, and he winced, asking her, “What happened?”

“You were sparring with Hinata and took a pretty hard hit. Akamaru came and got me.” Sakura didn’t know if Hinata had sent for her or if Akamaru had just decided himself. She thought Hinata was probably too relieved to think about any implications if it was the second.

“Right, Hinata was trying to kill me.” Kiba nodded against the ground as he breathed out. “I remember now.”

Sakura laughed at how Hinata glared down at him in response.

“Oh, I think you’ll live, Kiba.” Sakura finished healing him and combed her fingers through his hair without thinking about it. She took her hand back once she realized and he smiled up at her tiredly.

Sakura hated how much she wanted to kiss him but didn’t know if she could.

***

When Kiba came to her apartment not even half an hour later, Sakura scolded him in between kisses. “I told you to go home and rest.”

“I can rest here.” He gave her a smile and pulled her down on to the couch she’d been laying on before he came in through the door.

Sakura sighed but didn’t protest and made herself comfortable in his arms, reaching out for the book she’d tossed to the coffee table. He pressed a kiss to her shoulder and Sakura felt something twist in her stomach with how affectionate it was. He leaned his head against hers and let out a content sigh. Sakura smiled, wondering if he would fall asleep right there holding her.

She thought he had but then he asked her a few minutes later, “What’s with the mountain of blankets and pillows in the corner?”

Sakura felt herself blush, embarrassed for some reason and shifted against him. “For whenever Akamaru’s over. The couch really isn’t big enough for him. I thought that would be more comfortable.” She added before he could look too far into it, “Where is he, anyway?”

Kiba replied back softly, “Hana wanted him to help train some of the new puppies, so he’s staying with her for the night.”

Sakura hummed in response, her eyes about to go back to her book when Kiba turned her in his arms. He met her eyes and Sakura was reminded how soft he looked without his headband pulling his hair up. His hand came up to hold her face and he told her, “You know it felt like you wanted to kiss me in the training ground earlier.”

Sakura didn’t respond and he said in a soft voice, “Sakura, you can kiss me whenever you want.”

She smiled, her chest tight and leaned forward to kiss him. He kissed her back, his lips slow against hers. She didn’t think he’d – that anyone – had kissed her so tenderly before. He moved more on top of her and Sakura more heard her book hit the floor than remembered dropping it as her hands came up to bury themselves in his hair and slide under his shirt.

He kissed her until Sakura felt like she might actually sink into the couch.

They were laying in bed later that night and Sakura’s head was on his chest as he ran his fingers through her hair absent mindedly. She felt herself drifting to sleep when he asked her with a nervous edge in his voice, “Are you… seeing anyone else?

“No.” Sakura’s arm around him tightened and she asked back, “Are you?”

“No.”

Sakura felt herself relax more against him and then Kiba was pulling her up towards him so he could kiss her. “Mind keeping it that way?”

Sakura laughed softly and moved to kiss him again. “I don’t.”

***

Sakura felt like maybe they should’ve eased into it, but it was too late for that. Was it even really their fault?

Kiba had brought her lunch and Sakura had been more than grateful for it after not having any time to leave the hospital to go get something. He had been about to leave when she grabbed him by his jacket and pulled him down to thank him with a kiss. He only had a moment to lean into her before the door opened.

“Sakura –“

They broke apart and Sakura internally groaned when she saw it was Ino.

Ino looked at them with wide eyes and comically pointed a finger. “Since when has this been going on?”

Sakura sighed and raised an eyebrow at her. “You ever learn to knock, Ino?”

She huffed and opened her mouth again but Kiba interrupted her with a chuckle as he looked down at Sakura. “I’ll just leave the girl talk to you.”

Sakura rolled her eyes at him as he escaped with a small smile, slipping past Ino and out the door.

Girl talk? More like an interrogation.

Sakura moved towards the food on her desk but then Ino grabbed the bag and held it behind her back. “Ino-Pig, I am hungry! Cut it out!”

Ino smirked and took a step back, holding up the take-out. “Oh, did Kiba-kun bring this for you?”

Sakura glared at her, standing up from her desk. “Ino, I swear to –“

She shrugged. “Tell me what’s going on and I’ll give it back.”

There was a tense silence where Sakura debated just taking the bag back by force. She sighed and sat back down, holding out her hand. “Fine. Now give me my damn food back.”

Ino grinned and put the bag back on the desk, planting herself in a chair and crossing her legs as she leaned back. “Talk.”

Sakura sighed contently as she ignored Ino and opened up the takeout container. She shoveled a bite into her mouth seconds later and Ino bit out annoyed, “Sakura.”

Sakura waved her chopsticks at her. “What do you want to know?”

Ino huffed at her and held out her hands. “Since when have you been seeing Kiba?”

Sakura looked off to the side as she chewed another bite. She shrugged and said noncommittally. “A few months.”

“A few months?” Ino repeated back and crossed her arms over her chest, leaning forward. “What the hell? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Sakura gave her a sheepish smile and didn’t meet her eyes. “Oh, I don’t know. I didn’t know how and – “

Ino gasped and pointed at her again – Sakura wondered if Ino would ever lose her dramatics, probably not. “Is Haruno Sakura fooling around? Is that what this is?”

Sakura felt herself blush and looked at her annoyed. “Kiba and I told each other we weren’t going to see anyone else. So no, Ino, it’s not.”

Ino didn’t lose her growing smirk. “Oh, did you? Yeah? When?”

Sakura sighed and admitted, “About a week ago.” At Ino’s laugh, she groaned, “Ino, shut up.”

Ino quietened and leaned back in her seat after stealing an eggroll off Sakura’s plate. Sakura glared at her and pulled her plate closer to herself. Ino ignored her as she bit into it. “I never would’ve thought you’d even work out. I mean you argue all the time.”

“We don’t as much anymore,” Sakura mumbled as she picked up her own eggroll.

Ino paused in raising the eggroll to her mouth and then raised an eyebrow at her with a wolfish grin. “That’s it, isn’t it? I bet the sex is great. All that tension and –”

“Ino!”

***

Sakura had already laid down and was ready to fall asleep when Kiba slipped in through the door. He looked at her tiredly, then stripped down before crawling into the bed with her. Sakura rolled her eyes but opened her arms for him anyway. He laid his head on her chest, kissing the visible skin there and wrapping an arm around her waist. “You’re going to scratch my floor if you keep throwing your mesh shirt against it like that.”

He chuckled against her. “Babe, when you’re dating an Inuzuka, it’s not the armor you need to be worried about scratching the floor.”

Sakura laughed lightly, her fingers mindlessly combing through his hair. “Fair point. Is he in the living room?”

Kiba hummed. “Yeah, he loves that little pillow fort you made for him.”

“Good.” Sakura yawned and turned on her side to get more comfortable. Kiba adjusted his hold on her and Sakura smiled against his shoulder, continuously surprised by how cuddly he was.

He asked her in a sleepy voice, “When did you get in? I came by earlier, but you weren’t here.”

“Just now. I got pulled into another shift.” She leaned up to kiss his jaw. “Did you miss me?”

He snorted but still moved to kiss her on the lips. “I was looking for you to protect me against Naruto.”

Sakura laughed and moved to lay her head on the pillow beside him. “Protect you from Naruto? Why?”

He raised an eyebrow at her, and Sakura felt some giggles slip from her lips. “Oh, has Ino’s gossip train gotten around and Naruto’s started with his threatening big brother talk with you?”

Kiba groaned and leaned away from her. “Don’t laugh. He was going to kill me.”

She laughed anyways and followed him to lean on his chest to hover her face over his. “He was not. Besides, I thought you didn’t get intimidated?”

“Intimidation has nothing to do with it.”

Sakura snorted and folded her arms over his chest. “Oh, I think it does. Unless you told him something to make him threaten bodily harm.”

She watched with widening eyes as Kiba blushed beneath her, not meeting her eyes. She grinned, feeling giddy. “What did you tell him?”

“Nothing.”

Sakura hit him in the shoulder with a laugh. “Come on, tell me!”

Kiba’s blush deepened and he shrugged against the mattress. “I was just kidding. He wasn’t actually going to kill me.”

Sakura rolled her eyes. “I know. Now, Kiba, tell me what you told him. Was it something dirty?”

“No.” He grabbed the pillow behind his head and hit her with it. “Shut up and go to sleep.”

Sakura laughed and moved off him. “Kiba!”

Kiba raised the pillow again like it was the most threatening thing he had. Sakura bit back a smile at the image, feeling her heart constrict. She sighed. “Fine, but I’ll find out later.”

He shrugged and pulled her back to him, putting the pillow back behind him. “Just forget about it. Not a big deal.”

She patted his chest with a chuckle. “Okay, Kiba.”

***

Sakura forced another smile as the man across from her poured her another cup of sake. He was a nice guy, but Sakura wished she didn’t get roped into entertaining the foreign diplomats so much. Her mentor wasn’t even Hokage anymore, how was this her responsibility?

She fought back a grumble as she drowned her sake. Naruto should be sitting here instead.

Sakura was barely listening to whatever the man was telling her – she felt slightly bad about it, but she was tired from working all day – with her eyes fixed absentmindedly on a crack in the wood over the man’s shoulder.

It was probably why she didn’t notice him until he leaned against the booth beside her.

The man leaning into her field of view as he chuckled nervously was what brought her attention back and she looked over to see Akamaru sitting next to their table glaring at him the best a dog could without outright growling. “Akamaru.” She scolded and he looked over at her almost apologetically.

She heard the wood creak as Kiba leaned against the end of the booth. She looked up at him and though he spoke to her, his eyes and smile were on the man across from her, “Hey, Sakura, who’s your friend?”

Sakura internally sighed and held back a laugh.

Really, Kiba?

She looked over at the now nervous diplomat across from her. “This is Yamashita Nico. He’s an advisor from the Land of the Wind.”

Kiba hummed and Sakura made room for him as he slid into the seat beside her, Akamaru curling up at the end of their booth. She rolled her eyes at him when he didn’t let her sit too far.

Nico caught her eye and asked, “Friend of yours, Sakura-san?”

Before she could answer, Kiba grinned at him and introduced himself. “Inuzuka Kiba.”

The man nodded and Sakura had the heart to feel bad for him, knowing what kind of picture Kiba was painting himself in. She sent Nico a small smile and waved at their waitress to bring another drink for him.

The air calmed down a bit as more drinks arrived at the table. Nico relaxed, realizing Kiba wasn’t going to actually hurt him despite his sharp smile. The guys chatted and Sakura made the mistake of letting her guard down then Kiba put a hand on her leg.

It wasn’t as scandalizing as that first night since Sakura had her black shorts on instead of a short skirt. But it still sent sparks up her spine all the same. Maybe it was how heavy his hand was, how he curled his fingers possessively around the inside of her thigh. His touch felt surer, knowing Sakura wouldn’t push him away, that she liked it when he touched her.

He was driving her insane just like that night, his fingers slowly climbing up her thigh as he carried on a conversation like he wasn’t doing anything sinful to her under the table. Sakura almost made a noise of protest when he pulled his hand away, completely forgetting where they were and that she should not be okay with him playing with her in public.

He poured her another drink and then moved his arm around her waist. Sakura took a sip of her sake as Nico pulled her into their conversation. She felt Kiba’s hand slip under the band of her pants and fought back a laugh. It was innocent enough, his thumb just stroking across her bare skin. Then, he went lower and wrapped his fingers around the lace of her panties. Sakura shifted in her seat when he tugged on them and caught the satisfied smile he had to hide behind his drink.

“Sakura-san?”

Sakura looked over at Nico and cleared her throat. “Hm?”

He eyed her with furrowed brows. “Are you alright? Your face is a little red.”

Sakura felt her blush deepen in response as Kiba snorted. He tugged on the lace harder and Sakura felt them tear. “You know, Nico-san, Sakura is a bit of lightweight. Maybe we should call it a night.”

“Oh, of course.” Nico sent Sakura small smile and left the booth. He bowed his head to them. “I’ll see you next time I’m in town, then. It was nice to meet you, Kiba-san.”

Sakura nodded and watched Nico move towards the door. Once he was out of earshot, she turned on Kiba and hit him in the shoulder. “The hell is wrong with you?”

He laughed. “What?”

Sakura whispered through her teeth as he leaned towards her. “You can’t just rip my panties apart in the middle of a bar!”

He kissed her and Sakura couldn’t stop the build of want that had been keeping her on edge for the past hour. She fought back a moan when he gripped her hip harshly, telling her against her lips. “Maybe I just wanted to remind you who would be ripping them off later.”

“I never forgot,” Sakura breathed out, breaking away from him to meet his eyes.

There was a heat there that made Sakura agree far too eagerly when he asked her, “Let me take you home.”

“You don’t have to ask.”

Kiba had her shoved up against the door before she could even take two steps into the apartment. She felt her back slid up the door behind her as he hooked his hands hooked under her knees and yanked her up against him. Sakura wrapped her legs around his waist, her heart was hammering in her chest as his lips latched onto her throat. She moaned and buried her fingers in his hair as he grinded against her.

He spoke against her skin as his grip on her thighs tightened. “What did you expect me to do seeing you with some guy at the bar?”

“Kiba, they were work drinks. It didn’t mean anything.” Sakura groaned, feeling like she should’ve expected Kiba to be possessive.

His lips were back on hers, stealing her breath away and she pulled him closer. She caught his eyes in the dark, feeling that heat there, a lust mixed with deep affection. It drove her up the wall – both figuratively and literally – that she was the reason for it. His voice was low. “He wanted you.”

Sakura slanted her lips over his, telling him breathless in between kisses, “I only want you, Kiba.”

He kissed her harder, hiking her up more up his body as he leaned back from the door. Sakura locked her arms around his neck and continued to kiss him as he carried her to her bedroom, knowing the apartment as well as she did.

Sakura bounced on the bed when he threw her on it, and he was crawling on top of her a second later. His lips were on hers again as his hands stripped her of her clothes, managing to not rip anything she would actually be mad about. She tugged at his shirt as her nails scratched up his back. He only gave her seconds to pull it off before he was kissing across her skin, his teeth nipped at her breast and Sakura moaned, “Kiba.”

His kissed down her skin, his hands pulling her thighs apart. A whimper fell from her mouth when he did rip her panties off her, throwing the torn lace to another side of the room. She looked down at him just in time to watch him drag his tongue up her clit. His eyes met hers and Sakura threw her head back as a gasp left her lips, feeling herself grow wetter just at the sight alone.

His lips and tongue worked at her, groans escaping him as she grinded against him. His tongue flattened against her bundle of nerves and Sakura’s fingers twisted into his hair, tugging on the dark locks as pleased sounds fell from her parted lips. A hand came up to roughly grab at her breast and there were two fingers rubbing small circles at the edges of inside her and she felt slick with it, her hands pulling at him impatiently. It only took him slipping them inside her and curling his fingers for her to come, bucking her hips against him as she moaned out his name.

He lowered her hips and climbed back on top of her. Sakura’s heart was beating frantically in her throat and she reached out to pulled him down to her. He grinned at her as he lowered himself to her and she loved the weight of him on top of her. She didn’t think anything could be sexier than Kiba smiling at her with that heat in his eyes.

She could taste herself on his tongue and her lungs begged for breath as she snaked her hands down to the front of his pants. She barely restrained herself from ripping the fabric, the zipper taking longer than she would’ve liked. She slipped her hand into his pants to grip that hard heat that she longed for. He moaned into her mouth and Sakura ate up the sound as she stroked him.

Kiba didn’t let her tease him for long and broke away from her to rid himself of his pants. Sakura wrapped her legs around his waist to drag him down to her, holding him where she wanted him. One of his hands gripped at her hip, the other sliding underneath her head to twist into her hair. Sakura moaned when he pulled on her hair and thrusted against her, his teeth in her neck.

She thought about him ripping her panties and marks across her skin, then yanked his head up so she could whisper seductively into his ear, “Kiba, it’s yours, why don’t you just take it?”

She was rewarded with a groan against her throat as he lined himself up with her. She was more than ready, and he filled her completely in one motion. He didn’t waste any time before setting a rough pace that had the bed rocking against the wall. Sakura heard herself whimper as pleasure clouded her mind, Kiba’s name slipping out of her lips with every slam of his hips against hers.

She felt him all around her, his lips moving with hers, his teeth in her neck, hands on her breast and ass, fingers digging into the skin of her hips, him moving inside her. She was already reaching her peak, squeezing around him when he leaned his forehead against hers, telling her breathlessly, “Come with me.”

Sakura felt herself release and he kissed her, his hips stuttering as he came down from his own high. He pulled out of her as he peppered kisses along her skin, almost in apology for all the roughness, his thumb stroking against her hip. Sakura sighed contently, her fingers running through his hair much softer than before.

After they cleaned up, Kiba curled around her as she laid on her side. She smiled against the pillow as he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her back towards his chest. He kissed her shoulder and she told him teasingly, “I should get you jealous more often.”

He groaned and leaned his head against hers. “Please don’t.”

***

Sakura sighed when she heard the front door open but didn’t get up from her bed. It was probably Naruto, checking in on her again. She loved him and appreciated it, but she wasn’t in the mood to do anything besides lie in her bed.

But it wasn’t Naruto who opened up the bedroom door and Sakura glanced up at the sound of claws against the floor. Kiba gave her a soft smile and Sakura turned her head towards him. “Kiba? When did you get back?”

Kiba let his pack fall off his shoulder to the floor. “Just now. I ran into Ino… she told me.”

“Oh.” Sakura’s voice felt so small and she tiredly turned her face back into her pillow. Kiba slipped his vest off before climbing into the bed beside her. He didn’t touch her, just laying close beside her. It made her chest shake and Sakura swallowed thickly. “I don’t want to sob into your chest all night, Kiba.”

Kiba chuckled and put a hand on her hip before kissing her shoulder. Sakura felt her eyes close, relaxing into the bed as he told her, “I never said you had to.”

Sakura nodded, Kiba’s hand slipping under shirt to rub his thumb across the skin there. He asked her after a moment, “Have you ate anything?”

Sakura hesitated but decided she didn’t want to lie to him. “No.”

“I’ll make you something.” Kiba kissed her cheek and then, left the room. Sakura felt herself smile when Akamaru jumped up onto the bed to take his place behind her back.

By the time he came back, Sakura had rolled over and buried her face in Akamaru’s fur.

“I’d understand if you’d prefer to sob into Akamaru’s chest.”

Sakura let out a wet laugh and pulled her face away from the dog. “Something you do often, Kiba?”

He surprised her by his small smile and shrug of his shoulders, admitting quietly, “Sometimes.”

Sakura raised an eyebrow at him as he handed her a bowl of something warm. Kiba scratched the back of his neck and looked towards the window as he sat on the bed near her. “Not like it happens often, but I’ve known him my whole life. Probably can count on one hand the number of people who have seen me cry.”

Sakura felt herself relax at the admission. Even if it was simply because it was something else to focus on. She smiled at him and glanced down at the meal he’d made her. “Too many people have seen me cry.”

Kiba titled his head and looked back at her. “Maybe that’s a different type of bravery.”

“Crying?” Sakura snorted.

“Vulnerability.”

Sakura felt her breath stutter in her chest and let her eyes run away from that understanding gaze. They were quiet for a moment and Sakura carefully picked up her spoon to eat.

Kiba was patient with her. Didn’t push. Didn’t start an argument. Sakura knew that if she wanted, they’d never have to talk about it.

But she needed to be brave.

“I couldn’t save my team member today.”

She saw Kiba nod out of the corner of her eye. “Usagi right?”

Sakura nodded, a tear rolling down her cheek. She sniffled and cleared her throat. “Yeah. Paper bomb.”

“Sucks.”

Maybe someone else would've thought it sounded insincere, dumb even. A close friend of yours dies and your boyfriend says sucks? What kind of inconsiderate dumbass says that?

It was the right thing to say to Sakura, though. Not a pitied look or soft words about how it wasn’t her fault – she already knew that. It was honest and he didn’t think twice about what to say to her. She felt herself laugh as she started to cry in earnest. “Yeah, it does.”

Kiba let her cry, again not pushing her. He leaned his arm against hers as she cried. She knew she must look disgusting. Puffy eyes and the sound of her sniffing up her snot when it started to drip. But she also knew Kiba wouldn’t care.

He nudged her to eat at one point and Sakura couldn’t even be mad as her stomach growled. Her hand shook as she brought the spoon to her lip but Kiba let her struggle and she hadn’t ever appreciated him more. When she was finished, he did grab the tray off her lap and set it on the desk nearby. It was the closest he got to babying her as he came back to the bed to sit beside her.

“Don’t ever baby me.”

“Like I could even if I wanted to.”

***

Shino was the only person – to her knowledge – that wasn’t surprised.

“You suit each other well.”

Sakura looked over at him, surprised he’d broken their quiet comradery as they patrolled. They’d always gotten on well, considering each other friends but not having talked much.

Sakura chuckled. “You think so?”

“Yes.” Shino spoke matter-of-fact. “I think you... tame each other quite nicely.”

#kicks door open #im back baby!#kibasaku #kat writes #romance #7.4k

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