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rookie98writes · 2 days

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How Could You? —Chapter 3—

Part of the For Your Own Good Series Prev Chapter → Next Work

Relationship: Hatake Kakashi x fem!Reader

Rating: General

Warnings: the angst continues! canon rewrite. self-ship coded; please see author's note on series page if you are unfamiliar with plot-significant characteristics of reader.

Word Count: 4.4k

Work Summary: After waking from Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan attack, Kakashi finds there is still a lot of work to do; in rebuilding the village, restoring trust within his team, and in being honest with you. But will his efforts strengthen those bonds, or will everything only get worse?

AO3 Link

After a few more well-wishes to Naruto for a quick recovery, you made a half-hearted excuse to take your leave. You just didn’t feel like you belonged there. Sakura had left after telling Naruto her intentions to come along in the future, and Lady Tsunade started looking over Naruto’s chart and giving him updates on the others from the mission, while he and Shikamaru told each other highlights of the fights they both endured after being separated. But they were all…smiling. Naruto was describing one of Orochimaru’s henchman—some guy who used his own bones as weapons—and he was smiling. Laughing. Joking.

He had been on the brink of death a few times from the sound of it. But he only smiled and became more resolute. Same with Sakura, and even Shikamaru. It just didn’t seem right. You’d always known that shinobi were essential for the safety of the village, but for these kids to be reacting like this? And then Kakashi’s complete dismissal of you was the cherry on top.

You ended up wandering the village. You didn’t think your father or Ayame would be of any comfort. Neither of them would be able to actually be able to offer any insight, or probably even understand where you were coming from. You tried to see Iruka, but he was out on a mission since the village was still overworked. Most likely, Shikamaru would be given another assignment soon, considering his injuries were minor. Kakashi might have already been sent back out if Shizune had been able to find him.

You were nearing the big tree in the village center when you heard someone shout.

“Y/N!” Gai ran over to you.

“Oh, hello Gai.”

“I just returned from a mission, and I was just about to get some delicious dumplings! Please, come join me! It will be my treat!”

“Oh…I’m not sure I’m such good company right now.”

“Nonsense! You're better company than anyone! Please, I insist.”

And insist, he did. While you knew that Gai would be the absolute last person to ever force you into a situation you weren’t comfortable with, he linked his arm with yours and led you toward the dumpling stand with so much speed, you were tripping over your own feet. But this might be the best option you hadn’t considered. With Iruka’s absence and Kakashi’s evasion, Gai would probably be a uniquely perfect sympathetic ear.

The restaurant wasn’t too crowded when you arrived, and Gai continued herding you until you sat down at a booth in the back corner. The man looked completely in his element, greeting both the waitress and chef by name and placing an intimidatingly large order without even glancing at the menu. You were about to skim through to find something befitting your ruined appetite, but the taijutsu master plucked your menu from your hands and gave it to the waitress without a thought.

“Don’t worry,” he smiled. “Those combination platters I ordered cover every single type they serve here! Today, we feast!”

His enthusiasm was pretty infectious. As heavily as everything was still weighing on your mind, you couldn’t help but smile along with Gai while the waitress came by and gave you each a glass of water and a tea.

“Ah, there’s that springtime smile!” Gai took a full sip of his beverage before slamming it down on the table with his standard level of gusto. “Now, Y/N, tell me. Why would you ever say you aren’t good company?”

“Well,” you started tentatively, using one finger to draw a meaningless pattern in the condensation on your glass and avoiding eye contact. “Kakashi and I kind of had a fight.”

“Ah, Kakashi,” Gai sighed. “Sometimes my rival’s blood runs too hot for his own good.”

“It’s a little more complicated than that.” You took a sip of tea to collect your thoughts. It wasn’t easy to summarize everything that had happened, since Gai didn’t even really know the entirety of the mission to recover Sasuke. But you did the best you could, starting with Sasuke leaving in the middle of the night and all the events that happened as a result: the five-man recovery squad, Kakashi running after them, the state of everyone when they finally made it back to the village.

Gai’s order started coming out of the kitchen, but the man didn’t take his attention off you as you got to the immediate issue: Kakashi suddenly turning ice-cold, telling you all those heart-breaking things. You couldn’t maintain eye contact, but the array of dumplings was a great distraction. Turned out, you were hungrier than you realized, the smells of the food making your mouth water as you spoke.

“Eat something,” Gai encouraged you, “please.”

You smiled gratefully and gathered a few different types on your plate. “Thank you, Gai.”

“Anything for my rival’s beautiful and passionate girlfriend,” he beamed and popped a dumpling in his mouth. His face went through a range of emotion; bliss at the flavor of the food, then empathetic as he remembered what you’d been saying. He swallowed the full bite heavily. “I know how Kakashi can be,” he started. “Please, allow me to apologize for his actions!”

You shook your head. “I’m not upset with him; I’m worried about him,” you explained. “He’s blaming himself for what happened with Naruto and Sasuke. He acted like he had just abandoned them, when nothing could be further from the truth.”

“He has always put the full pressure on himself,” Gai agreed, “even when we were children.”

“I just hate how hard it is on everyone.” You ate another dumpling to try and squash the despair rising in your chest, but it wasn’t quite enough. “I saw Naruto before I left the hospital. And he’s just so determined to go back out there after Sasuke as soon as he’s healed. He’s so upset with himself, that he couldn’t get Sasuke to come home. And those other boys who went with him. Shikamaru is upset that his mission failed, and Sakura is a wreck even though she’s trying to hide it. And Kakashi…”

“He lashed out,” Gai nodded solemnly, a knowing look in his eye like he had been in your shoes many times.

“He said I have no idea what it means to be a shinobi, and after seeing those kids, I’m starting to wonder if he’s right.”

Gai sat thoughtfully for a minute, taking a sip of his tea before he stared at you meaningfully. “It’s true that Kakashi is right more often than he’s wrong,” Gai grinned. “But in this case, he’s undeniably mistaken. With your compassion, you have everything it takes to understand what it means to be a shinobi.” His look was just as compassionate as he claimed you to be. “Kakashi will realize that soon. Otherwise, people will start to say that I’m the smart one.”

You laughed despite yourself, finally feeling the weight lift from your heart. “I love him so much. And I don’t know how to help him. He says he wants to be alone and I can understand that but…I don’t want him to think that he really is alone, you know?”

Tears gathered in Gai’s eyes as he beamed a giant smile in your direction. “So beautiful,” he wailed, the tears beginning to fall and soak into the dumplings on his plate. “Kakashi is so lucky to have you, someone who cares so deeply for him and understands him. I truly believe that you are the perfect match for him.” He snatched you into a tight hug and you could feel the river of grateful tears flooding your shoulder.

His outburst distracted the majority of the restaurant, and even though they weren’t particularly busy, you felt heat in your cheeks as you noticed all the attention on you. “Th-thanks Gai,” you stuttered.

Gai leaned off of you, looking slightly chagrined. “I apologize. It just fills my heart with so much happiness to see how passionately you feel for my best friend and eternal rival!”

You couldn’t help but smile at the exuberant shinobi. Even Kakashi’s detached tone as he spoke of his friend couldn’t disguise the effect that Gai had on him or the fondness they had for one another. You had to admit that it moved you.

“Well, I’m just glad he’s had you all this time.”

Fresh tears welled in Gai’s eyes, but he forced them back. “Like I said, I know how Kakashi can be. But that just means I also know why he can be like that. And I have seen so many people give up on him.” He put his hand on your shoulder, absolutely beaming at you. “It makes me very happy that you are different.”

He ate another dumpling and you smiled. “Thanks for bringing me here, Gai. You and I should spend more time together.”

“ABSOLUTELY!” he pulled you into another hug, nearly knocking the wind from your chest as you laughed.

The rest of the meal just continued to lift your spirits, you and Gai sharing easy conversation and funny stories with one another as more and more of the feast of dumplings disappeared. You shouldn’t have been surprised, but Gai attacked the platters with the same level of enthusiasm as he did everything. Before long, you were both reaching your limits (although you suspected he would happily eat twice as much if this were one of his rival contests).

Gai excused himself to take care of the bill, waving away your offer of ryō so quickly you were worried his wrist might snap. As you waited for him to return to the table, you overheard the conversation of two men sitting a few tables down.

“Did you hear?” one asked his friend. “Sasuke Uchiha abandoned the village to join up with Orochimaru. And that kid Naruto nearly died trying to bring him back!”

Your posture stiffened at their topic. The man spoke so casually, it churned the partially-digested dumplings in your stomach.

“Man, I get that they don’t have any parents, but someone oughta take responsibility for them. Don’t they have a sensei or something?” the friend responded.

The guy scoffed. “Hatake?”

“Hmph, that explains it. Cold-Blooded Kakashi strikes again.”

“Ha, he ran out of friends, so now instead of Friend-Killer, I guess he’s Kid-Killer Kakashi!”

“HEY.” The exclamation was out of your throat before you even had a chance to think about it. But you wouldn’t have taken it back even if you had the chance.

The men both looked unimpressed by your interruption. “What?”

“Don’t talk about him like that.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Kakashi Hatake. You don’t know him at all. So get his name out of your mouths.”

The men shared an amused look, like they were speaking to a child. “Excuse me?” the first man asked, turning back to you and resting his chin on his palm.

“Kakashi isn’t cold-blooded. He was out of the village on a mission when Orochimaru lured Sasuke out of the village, and Naruto was gone before Kakashi got back. But he didn’t waste a second before going after them, even though he had just been through hell. So how dare you talk about him like that? Just who the hell do you think you are?!”

“Us?” the guy laughed. “Who’re you, Hatake’s cheerleader?”

“I said…get his name out of your disgusting mouth.”

“Hey now, what gives you the right to make assumptions about my mouth?” the man sneered, leaning closer and meeting your challenge. “You haven’t been properly acquainted with it.”

“That’s enough!” Gai bellowed, appearing out of nowhere and diving between you and the man to create a human barrier. “Y/N, you don’t have to listen to this.”

“Now hold on, she and I were having a conversation. I’m just dying to know why someone like her would bother defending that worthless—"

You launched yourself at the man before you even considered the consequences. Thankfully, Gai’s superhuman reflexes caught you before you were able to make any contact and likely hurt only yourself. And even better, you surprised both of the jerks enough that they finally shut up.

Gai set you back on your feet and gave you a quick look to either warn or ask you not to try something like that again. It really shocked you how quickly Gai could switch from carefree to serious without losing a hint of credibility. Quickly coming back to your senses, you folded your hands behind your back and looked at the floor.

“Now,” Gai began, looking back at the men at the table. “Simply apologize to my friend, and we’ll be on our way.”

“Why should I apologize?” the man scoffed. “She’s the one who jumped into our conversation, then got all hysterical. The way I see it, she oughta apologize.”

Like hell I’ll apologize. Gai must have felt the way you bristled behind him, reaching back and placing his hand on your arm to ground you. “Don’t worry about these guys, Y/N. They aren’t worth it. Let’s go.”

He waited to allow you to leave first, keeping himself between you and those assholes in case either side started up again. The men must have realized who they were dealing with and decided to leave well enough alone, keeping quiet. You did offer the workers of the restaurant a genuine apology as you passed them, but they waved it away as though you hadn’t caused a scene. Still, as you made your way back to the center of the village, you felt that one more apology was necessary.

“I’m sorry Gai. I should have controlled myself better back there. I’m not even really sure what came over me.”

“I know exactly what came over you,” he beamed with pride. “All of the hot-blooded feelings you have for Kakashi sent you rushing to his defense, and it was a joy to see. But to ensure your safety, I had to put a stop to it.”

“You were right to.” You smiled and hugged him. “I think I’m going to head home. Get my adrenaline back to normal. I’m not sure how shinobi keep this up all the time,” you laughed.

Gai responded with a loud guffaw and a clap on your back. “Thank you again for your company today!”

This time, you pulled him into the hug. “Thanks for everything.”

⁂

Obito…

Kakashi’s hair hung limp in his face as he stared at the Memorial Stone. His feet were planted in a spot so familiar, he could feel the indents of his sandals in the earth. Proof of how often he had to admit his shortcomings.

“I’m sorry, Obito.” Kakashi spoke evenly and quietly. “I’m no better of a jōnin than I was when I let you down. And now, I’ve let down the last member of your clan.” His breath hitched. “Obito, I let down everyone. I still haven’t learned how to protect my comrades. I’m still…I’m still losing them. I’ve lost my entire team. Again.”

Kakashi’s hands trembled at his sides. “I thought things would be different. I thought I could live up to what you said. I tried…I tried to teach them the same lessons you taught me. The way that Minato-sensei taught us. My students remind me so much of our team. I should have known exactly what they needed. But I failed as a sensei. I wasn’t cut out to teach them. I couldn’t even recognize that Naruto and Sasuke were on the brink of killing each other. I was…”

Naïve. Distracted. In love.

“I was happy, Obito.” The honesty opened a chasm in his chest. “I should have known it couldn’t last. But I didn’t, and it cost those kids everything.”

That. That was the crux of it.

Kakashi had made peace with the fact that you were too good for him, and his time with you would certainly not be endless. He had been prepared to be with you for as long as you wanted him. But it had gotten to the point where he needed to make that call for you. If he had accepted the truth sooner, stopped delaying the inevitable, maybe he could have prevented what happened to his team.

If he had just let you go, been less selfish, put all his focus on his students…this visit to the Memorial Stone could have been completely different.

“RIVAL!”

Not now…

Kakashi turned to see Gai walking up to him with that big, stupid smile he always had. Kakashi aimed his most withering stare at his rival, but Gai chose to take no notice, walking up as though Kakashi had invited him.

“What is it, Gai?”

“I had a feeling I would find you here, Kakashi.”

“…Is there a problem?”

“No, not at all. But I heard what happened. And I just wanted to check on you, see if there was anything I could do to help.”

Unless you know where Orochimaru is—where Sasuke is—what help could you possibly be?

“Also, I ran into Y/N in town.”

Every one of his nerves lit up at your name. “Y/N?”

“She was upset, Kakashi.” Gai softly chastised him. “I know that what you’re going through is horrible. But please, don’t take it out on her.”

I never wanted to, he mentally defended himself. But I had to.

“What’s done is done, Gai,” Kakashi answered. “It’s over between us.”

Gai seemed confused. “You…broke up with her?”

“Well, no,” he admitted. I couldn’t force myself to do it. “But I did pick a fight. And after the way I spoke to her, she would be justified in cursing my name.”

Gai started laughing. Kakashi looked at him with fury in his eye, but Gai held up a hand to beg his friend and rival to show mercy. “I’m sorry Kakashi. I don’t mean to laugh. But actually, it’s quite the opposite.”

“What?”

“When I found Y/N, I could tell she was upset, and I invited her to lunch. While we were preparing to leave, she overheard an off-color comment about you. And Kakashi, she went up to the men and responded with a white-hot youthful outrage that I didn’t think someone of her stature would be able to produce! Defending you with the passion and conviction of a woman who’s witnessed her lover hang the stars themselves!”

What the hell is she doing? Kakashi was torn. The idea that you felt strongly enough to defend him tugged his heart in all different directions. Whoever this was that you overheard, Kakashi was sure this would just be the start of it. He had understood the importance of being entrusted as the mentor to the last surviving Uchiha and the nine-tailed fox jinchūriki, and although he could think of a hundred reasons why he wasn’t fit for the job, he had agreed to the Third Hokage’s request, only to fail even more spectacularly than he could have imagined.

Soon, the entire village would be saying all the same things. He would never ask or expect you to take on that animosity. It terrified him. But more than that, it angered him. Infuriated him; that you would be subjected to such hostility—that people would direct even a small portion of that disdain toward you—because you still cared for him, despite the terrible things he had done.

Well then. The answer was simple.

If the problem was that you cared about him…he would make you stop.

“Kakashi?” Gai addressed him, pulling him from his thoughts. “What’s wrong?”

“She shouldn’t have done that,” Kakashi responded, his voice low and simmering.

“Rival, she—”

“I don’t want her to do that.”

Gai blinked a few times before softening his expression. “She loves you, Kakashi.”

“She shouldn’t do that either,” he snapped. “I don’t wa—”

“RIVAL.” Gai cut him off. “Don’t you dare say you don’t want her to love you. I won’t allow you to lie to me.”

Kakashi looked again at the memorial stone. His eye locked onto Obito’s name automatically. His old teammate, now only an etching on this monument, because of mistakes Kakashi had made and could never take back.

“I told her I love her…right before I left for that mission.”

Gai’s voice softened. “Kakashi, that’s wonderf—”

“No. It isn’t,” he argued. “Everything fell apart after that. Things I should have been able to prevent. I don’t want her to be dragged down by my mistakes.”

“Well, she—”

He faced his friend with venom in his uncovered eye. “I won’t let her.”

Kakashi ran, leaving Gai and Obito behind. He could hear Gai’s objections, but he wasn’t about to turn back and give his irresponsibly goofy friend the opportunity to try and change his mind.

He heaved a sigh of frustration. Why were you making this even more difficult than it already was? He had been an absolute jerk to you back in the hospital. He had taken your offers of help and reassurance and thrown them back in your face. When you’d heard whatever grievances the man at the dumpling shop had, you should have joined right in.

Not that the thought of you striking up a conversation with a new man didn’t turn Kakashi’s stomach inside out. His feet skidded on the ground. It had been hard enough accepting that you wouldn’t be his anymore, but he hadn’t considered that there would be nothing stopping you from giving yourself to someone else. Could he honestly stand it if he saw you hand in hand with someone new? Smiling that perfect smile at some other man?

A selfish instinct kept him perfectly still. Maybe he should change his mind. Maybe this was his chance to take it all back. He could just apologize, and you would stay by his side, offering him all your love without question. Sure, the rest of the village would still hate him. But he could keep you.

And then everyone would turn on you, as well.

No. This was the only way he could protect you, and that was what he wanted more than anything. He just hated that that meant he had to be even more cruel. It was sadistic, that protecting you meant hurting you. But it had to be done.

He couldn’t be selfish. He’d already had far more of you than he deserved to have. He would do it quickly; hurt you one last time, so he couldn’t hurt you any more in the future.

With his mind set in stone, Kakashi was able to track you down easily. You were just walking through the park, seeming a bit listless in the way you moved.

“Y/N.”

You whipped around at the sound of his voice. “Kakashi! H-hi.”

The look on your face could have broken his heart all over again. You were surprised to see him, but more than that, you looked happy. Hopeful, like you thought he had sought you out to take everything back.

And here he was, getting ready to hurt you all over again.

“I need to talk to you.”

A tremor ran through his body when he saw the soft, secure look in your eyes. You nodded and willingly stepped closer to him, blind to the fact that he was a danger to you. Like he wasn’t a threatening, cold-blooded monster.

Wordlessly, he quickly guided you to his apartment. It was close and private. Not to mention he wouldn’t invite himself into your home, especially under these pretenses.

As soon as he whisked you inside, he shut the door to block out the unnecessary hatred and negativity that nipped at his heels. He was about to create enough of that himself; he surely didn’t need help from the rest of the village. Kakashi refused to turn and look at you, frustrated by what he had to do.

“So…” You blinked a little nervously as he failed to speak. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

He sighed, letting his head fall against the door. “Gai told me what happened. In the dumpling shop.”

“Oh,” you blushed at the memory. “I—”

Abruptly, he turned to face you, cutting you off before you had a chance to continue. “Don’t do anything like that again.”

“I…I’m sorry…” you stammered, taken back by his tone. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“That’s not—” His fingers curled into tight fists before he pushed his hitai-ate up and pulled his mask to his neck. “Just…stay out of it, Y/N.”

“But…” The look on your face went firm and defensive. “Kakashi, he said that you—”

“I don’t care what he said.”

“I do care!”

“Well don’t!” he thundered. Your mouth dropped open, stunned that the two of you were falling into an argument again. “You shouldn’t have done anything, Y/N. I don’t need your help, and I don’t need your pity. So just leave it alone.”

“It isn’t pity, you—”

“Stop.” He could feel the way his stare was wearing you down. “Stop defending me, stop taking my side.” It hurt like a blade, inwardly acknowledging everything else that you would stop. Stop loving me. “Just stop.”

You held eye contact for longer than he would have expected of anyone else, but he knew just how persistent you could be. “Why?” The question escaped your mouth on a shaky exhale. “Why wouldn’t I take your side when you’ve done nothing wrong?”

Kakashi turned back to the door, hiding the pain that was threatening to show through the cracks. “That was all I had to say,” he finished, opening the door to let you walk out of his life forever.

“Kakashi…” You walked up to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. He refused to turn, wishing to just block out your words. “What are you doing? Please, talk to me.”

“There’s nothing else to talk about. You should leave.”

“I know that you feel guilty for what happened to Sasuke and Naruto. And I know I can’t understand it but…can’t we just talk about it? I don’t expect to resolve everything tonight, but I don’t want to leave you like this again.”

He had to say it. It was for your own good, and you weren’t going to give him a choice. He had used all his usual tricks on you; acted as immature as the arrogant child he used to be; the reason people saw him as cold-blooded. But you were refusing to see him that way. So he looked away, and said the only thing you couldn’t misinterpret, no matter how badly he wanted you to.

“I’m telling you to leave me, Y/N. For good.”

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#kakashi x reader #kakashi hatake x reader #kakashi angst #kakashi fanfiction #kakashi x y/n #reader insert #rookie wrote

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ereawrites · 8 months

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Book Club (Kakashi Hatake)

Chapter 2 - Another Ambush, Poorly Executed

You learn very quickly that Naruto Uzumaki has a big mouth.

word count 5.7k (chapter 2/9 - 7.6k words total)

read it on ao3 here

Kakashi arrives on time, for once. Part of you is a little disappointed - your genin only left an hour ago, and since you had them up at the asscrack of dawn, you were hopeful you'd be able to squeeze in a nap before Kakashi arrived to spar. You'd even spent extra time choosing a particularly comfortable tree to lean back against. As it is, you're only just finishing your lunch when you sense his chakra in the forest behind you.

"Good afternoon, Kakashi!", you call out through a mouthful of rice once he's within earshot. "Surely my watch is broken!"

"Aah... is my reputation really that bad?"

You snicker as he drops down from a branch, landing with his hands in his pockets. "I've heard rumours that Tsunade-sama has included in your file you're to be told missions start an hour earlier than they actually do." Lady Tsunade has taken fantastically to her role as Hokage, but you still see a shadow of worry pass over Kakashi. No doubt he's reminded of Orochimaru; you've heard rumours about the Uchiha boy, too, that are perhaps best to steer away from.

Kakashi is back to his usual, blank-faced self before you can think of something to say. "Well, old age slows you down, so they say."

You scowl at him and push to your feet. "We're the same age, Hatake. Didn't you ever learn not to call a lady old?" Unfortunately, you back gives a resounding pop when you straighten, which you feel rather takes the threat out of your words. He chuckles.

"You're slower getting up than you used to be.", Kakashi notes, not unkindly. You toss another scowl, along with your flak jacket, freeing up your arms to really stretch out the tension from your morning training session.

"Hey, my genin are getting stronger! Sometimes I actually have to try when we're sparring now. It's weird. And exhausting. I'm just counting down the days 'til they pass the Chuunin exams and I can get some peace and quiet." A few rolls of your neck have you feeling much better; you take back your jacket from Kakashi, then crouch to strap your weapons pouches back on.

He begins to prepare himself, too, rewrapping his bandages and checking his pockets. "I saw them in the market on my way here. You have the Inuzuka girl, don't you? She's... very loud. Almost as much Naruto."

"Keiko-", you groan fondly, "She's insane, Kakashi. I've never known a kid to be so utterly crazy. If I ever came up against her in a real battle I think I'd just kill myself to save the headache." He hums in sympathy - from what you've heard, his own team are even more of a handful. Since you started teaching Keiko basic fire-type chakra control, she's developed a particular affinity for blowing things up. You've since been instructed to keep these training sessions away from trees, homes, and anything else remotely flammable. But she's also an incredibly sweet kid when you aren't chasing her around, and her companion Aomaru is a real cutie.

Kakashi tosses his flak jacket against the base of a tree trunk, and you're pretty sure you see Icha Icha poking out one of the pockets. Come to think of it, it is pretty hot now the sun is up. You leave your own jacket next to his, then peel off your long-sleeve too, leaving you in a tank top that exposes the scar of your old ANBU tattoo. His eye flickers over it knowingly. You'd left the organisation just a few months after him, released back onto regular duty after the Uchiha massacre left the village short on jonin, and readjusting proved a challenge for both of you. You rub a palm over the faded skin there, and decide to put it out of your mind.

"Shall we focus on Taijutsu today?", you suggest brightly, leading the way onto the pitch.

"You sounded far too much like Gai just now."

You cackle, throwing yourself into a high somersault, and perform several flips before landing on the other side of the midway line to Kakashi. "It's because I'm so youthful and energetic, rival! All I need now is the green jumpsuit!"

"Stop it-", he grumbles, pinching his nose. "-I was looking forward to a training session that wouldn't leave me with a headache for once."

You grin. "When I'm finished with you, your whole body will be aching." You didn't even really mean that as an innuendo, but you're still pleasantly surprised to see how he stiffens for a split second. "So, Taijutsu?"

"Alright, then.", he nods, then he's vaulting into in the air and over your head and landing behind you without a sound, and you're sensing his familiar chakra start to thrum before you've even spun to meet him.

He throws a punch at the back of your head and you sidestep it, turning in to a high kick that he easily dodges; then he's coming at you again, a barrage of punches that you deflect and dodge and catch, barely even breathing hard. He's so relentless you have no chances to hit back, effortlessly guarding himself even as he rains down strikes on your forearms. It feels good to train like this, your movements flowing like water as you dance around him. You were always agile, even when you were a kid and you didn't even know what Taijutsu was. Sharingan no Kakashi is quick, but you are too.

The next time he strikes high you feint left, then right, watching his eye flash to keep up with you - there, he's watching your feet instead of your hands - you catch his wrist and use his momentum to pull his arm past your head, turning and driving your other elbow up into his ribcage. Kakashi grunts, twists free of you, and all of a sudden there's a foot driving into the back of your knee. You drop but manage to keep your balance, rolling around him and springing back to your feet just as he's on you again.

"It isn't like you to focus so much on offence-", you state matter-of-factly, letting him continue to bear down on you in the hopes of tiring him out a little. "You always let your opponents come to you, back in ANBU."

Kakashi doesn't so much as look at your face. "In those situations, I knew nothing about my opponents. It was better to stand back and let them reveal their weaknesses on their own." He's pressing you back so hard that you have no choice but to give ground. The trees are behind you and the sun is glinting off his hitai-ate and he mixes in a low kick, forcing you to leap backwards. At least he's starting to sound just slightly out of breath.

"On the other hand, I know how you fight. We've been teammates on enough missions for me to know your patterns." He says this as if he's discussing the weather, and not ramping up the intensity to push you backwards even faster. You cast out your chakra behind you and are instantly met with forest: he has you backed up against a solid tree trunk - you move as quickly as you can, darting left and pushing chakra from the soles of your feet to give you an explosive boost, flitting into the empty space behind him-

He catches you.

Kakashi's hand is around your neck and he's got you pressed against the tree trunk. "For example.", he continues, eye turned up in a smile. "You always go left when you're cornered."

...Damn. You do, don't you?

Despite your irritation at being read so easily, despite the fact you'd be dead if this was real, you laugh. Old enough to have a bad back, but at least not so old you can't learn. Kakashi's fingers are right up against your pulse point, surprisingly gentle considering the force with which he'd thrown you into the tree, and they loosen even more as you laugh. Now. You bring your knee up and kick him away square in the chest. It buys you enough time to slip into the cover of the forest, even if you're certain he let you land that hit on purpose.

The fight continues as you chase each other halfway around the forest and back again. You're determined to be more aggressive now, and to prove that you know him just as well as he knows you. So you hurl yourself at him over and over again, hardly letting him dodge around one tree before you're dropping on him from the boughs of the next, grappling with him when you reach clearings, even going so far as to drop a particularly large branch onto his head at one point.

Dodging it easily, Kakashi stares up at you. "That poor tree might miss that branch.", he deadpans, shoulders rising and falling rapidly with the weight of his panting breaths. He's stalling for time, but you're honestly glad of the break.

"Call it a casualty of war.", you say mournfully, too tired to think of a cleverer comeback. Your chest is heaving. Kakashi has always had more stamina than you, and the heat isn't helping even under the green-tinged shade of the tree canopy. A bead of sweat rolls from your hairline and all the way down your neck. There's no two ways about it, you're considerably more tired than Kakashi - but you're having so much fun. You haven't faced up against him properly since you were kids, and it's nice (if not a little strange) to see how far you've both come.

"Want to call it a day?", the silver-haired jonin calls. Clearly he can see how exhausted you are, and he sounds pretty tired too. You don't even pretend to consider his offer. He's already one-upped you, and you're no Gai, but you're not willing to accept any kind of defeat from a man who reads smut in public.

Instead, you pull a kunai from your pouch. "Absolutely not." Then you launch at him, and the fight continues. Sparks fly between your kunai with every strike, the sound of metal against metal and heavy breaths the only sound in the forest. Kakashi manages to back you up against another tree, but this time you jump and go over his head - he's smiling at you when you land, still smiling when he kicks you in the ribs, but it vanishes from his eye when you put a blast of chakra into your next palm strike and send him crashing back into that very same trunk. The forest is going to be ruined if you're not careful. Perhaps you can blame Keiko.

The battle has you dancing through the trees for what feels like only the blink of an eye, but by the time you're back out on the training pitch, the sun is lower in the sky than you remember. Every muscle in your body is screaming out in agony. You keep coming at him, pleased that even this tired your kunai is barely more than a quick glint in the sunlight. When the flow of motion takes you onto the river that rushes along the western edge of the pitch, you welcome it, pushing chakra from the soles of your feet and relishing in the cool breeze that comes off the water. Kakashi doesn't even cause the water to ripple when he chases you - an impressive display of chakra control even at your level.

Against a different opponent, you would hope to distract them from their chakra control, force them to plunge into the river rather than take a direct hit. But Kakashi doesn't so much as stagger when you go back on the offensive, not even when you sweep at his legs and he somersaults backwards onto the deeper water. It's frustrating, especially when you're this exhausted. So, you kick up a spray of water right into his face, a frankly childish move your genin have resorted to before.

He emerges looking distinctly like a wet dog, shaking his hair in a way that would be endearing if you weren't so focused on dashing forward into a shoulder strike; Kakashi lets you barge right into his chest, absorbing the impact, and he's wrapping his arms around you and then throwing you up over his head and it's all you can do to stay afloat as your back slams against the water - this is it, he's got you, you're too worn out and sweaty to roll away, so you just stare up at him and he - hang on, did he just glance at your chest? - the desperate wave of chakra you sent out to cushion your impact must have knocked his off balance because he's falling, one foot plunging into the river - you have your kunai at his throat before he's even on his knees.

"A draw?", you suggest, still on your back, practically gasping for breath. This is the best you can hope for against an opponent like him.

Kakashi is kneeling behind you, one hand on each side of your head, throat pulsing against the point of your blade. He's blank-faced for a moment, then blinks. "Alright, then."

You gladly drop your kunai, roll onto your stomach, and push to your feet with all the grace of an especially fat old dog. Kakashi's hand finds your bicep to give you a welcome boost. "I'd hate to have you as a sensei. I think I'd die if I had to fight like that every day.", you groan. As tough as you can be on your team, you've heard that Kakashi is much worse. It's a relief to get back onto solid ground and let your chakra melt away.

"Your endurance is really quite good, you know.", Kakashi replies. Although you do know, you can't help but feel flattered.

"Well, I must be getting lazy in my old age.", you tease, glad to see a sheepish crinkle to his eye. He brings both hands up in a mock surrender, hunching over, and he looks for all the world like a bedraggled cat with his floppy, dripping hair and one wet trouser leg. No doubt you look just as ridiculous - covered in sweat, with twigs in your hair and bruises already starting to form on your arms. Both of you are walking much more slowly than tiredness calls for.

By the time you reach the pile of your things, all you're really thinking about is a hot shower, and maybe a trip to the ramen stand this evening. You toss Kakashi his flak jacket and are reaching for your water container when you remember what you saw in his pocket earlier. "So, how are you finding that action novel?"

Kakashi splutters through his own mouthful of water. You quirk a concerned eyebrow at him as he pounds his chest. "Hah... I haven't had much time for reading this week, you know, my genin team have really been keeping me busy."

"That's a shame-", you shrug nonchalantly, starting to bundle your things into your backpack. You'll walk home without your jacket and enjoy the sun, you decide. "I'm looking forward to reading it. Take your time, though!" You don't want to seem too pushy and let him realise you're teasing him. "Right now I should really be focusing on preparing my team for the chuunin exams-"

"KAKASHI-SENSEI!!!"

The shout comes from the direction of town. You whip your head around and see a shock of orange racing across the training pitch. Kakashi barely has time to groan under his breath before Naruto Uzumaki screeches to a halt in front of you both.

"SENSEI! We've been waiting for you since noon, and we didn't even bring lunch!". The boy's blonde hair is sticking up haphazardly all at odd angles. "I only had one cup of instant ramen for breakfast, too!"

Kakashi doesn't react to the loud rumble of Naruto's stomach, and doesn't question how he found the two of you. "You see - well, I was helping (name)-san here catch a cat."

Naruto narrows his eyes and puts his hands on his hips. You're strangely reminded of Iruka Umino. "A cat? Then why have you been swimming?!".

Kakashi looks like he wishes he'd used his katon to dry off. A droplet of water rolls from his hair down his mask. "This was a special kind of cat that can control chakra to walk on water. That's why (name)-san needed my help."

His grey eye turns onto you, impressively blank, but you read the silent plea in it regardless. Naruto seems to notice you for the first time. "...Yes. The Hokage brought a shinobi cat back from her travels. He's very dear to her." You're pretty sure Tsunade-sama hates cats. Surely Naruto won't be fooled by this-

"Hmm...", he grumbles, seemingly accepting your poker face as trustworthy. Then his face splits into a wide grin, Kakashi's lateness apparently forgotten. "I'm great at catching cats. You should have got me to do it, Sensei!"

Kakashi pats Naruto on the head. "Well, we didn't catch him today. Your training session can be to find him before midnight." Poor Naruto suddenly seems so determined, you nearly laugh, but just about manage to turn it into a dignified cough that reminds the boy of your presence.

"Say, who are you, ne-san? I don't think I've seen you before!". It's entirely possible you're the only person in Konoha who Naruto hasn't pranked, yelled at, or otherwise inconvenienced. Your paths have simply never crossed. There are many people who would call this good luck.

You're careful not to say anything too incriminating: you know what your own genin are like, and this Uzumaki boy already seems just as troublesome in the way that children tend to be. "An old friend of your sensei - we went to the academy together, actually."

"HUH?!", he yells, arms flying up in the air. "No way you're the same age as Kakashi-sensei! You're so young and cute and you don't even have grey hair like Kakashi-sensei, I say! How-"

Kakashi claps a hand over Naruto's mouth, making a valiant effort to ignore the boy's muffled noises of indignation. "We should get going now so Sakura and Sasuke aren't waiting. That cat could be halfway to the Land of Fire border by now!" Naruto stops squirming just long enough for Kakashi to release him, and he starts to race off in the direction from which he came - then spins on his heel, splutters on the dust cloud he kicks up, and sprints back to you.

"Sorry, ne-san, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Naruto Uzumaki!", he chirps, sticking out a palm. You see Kakashi smile out the corner of your eye.

You can't help but smile too as you shake his hand. How could anyone ever be cruel to this boy? He's so infectiously energetic, and he definitely gets bonus points for calling you cute. "Naruto Uzumaki, huh? I'll be sure to remember that name."

He looks so delighted you nearly melt. Kakashi waves at you before they both disappear in the direction of the village; you smile all the way back to your apartment.

Konoha in the evening may be your favourite thing in the world. The sun is just setting when you leave your apartment, lighting the Hokage monument up gold and casting the streets of the village in a warm orange light. You're sore off your training session but a hot shower has done wonders to take the sting out of the pain, leaving you with the kind of ache reminiscent of a hard day's work. After your shower, you had opted to dress in simple civilian clothes: a light sweater and loose trousers, with your favourite pair of sandals. It's been a while since you've had a whole evening to yourself.

The street lights begin to come on as you walk to the market square, restaurants and bars switching on their neon signs, and porch lights flick on outside homes. You catch sight of a mother cuffing her academy-age son around the ear, scolding him for not being home in time for dinner. If your genin have any sense, they'll have already eaten and will be preparing for bed right now. They're going to be focusing on chakra control tomorrow - on the water, far away from anything they can set on fire - and you've got no intentions of letting them leave until they can at least cross the river.

Thankfully, there's an empty seat at your favourite ramen stand, despite how busy the marketplace is. The chef knows your order without even asking, and you're left with a few minutes to take in the atmosphere while he prepares it. Once the shops shut for the day, street food vendors move in with their carts, and the square fills with academy students and jonin and civilians alike. You spy the old man who runs the grocery store, the blacksmith's apprentice who makes the best kunai, and an old classmate's new wife looking incredibly pregnant. You'll have to drop by and offer them your congratulations soon, you note - it seems like only yesterday you were dragging Kurenai onto the dance floor at their wedding.

The ramen is good, as always, and you slurp it down noisily, as always. You're halfway through a mouthful of boiled egg when you get the feeling you're being watched. Your first instinct is to look over at the old woman next to you, apologise for eating too loudly - but she's unbothered, her nose buried in a gardening book. Huh. You suppose it could have just been someone in the market recognising you. The prickling on the back of your neck disappears just as fast as it came, so you go back to your meal.

When the time comes to pay, you find yourself having to dig around in your coin purse for an embarrassingly long time. "Sorry...", you laugh, finally fishing out enough money to put down on the counter. "I guess it's time I take my team on another mission, right?". The chef smiles wordlessly and hands you a tub containing a few dango sticks; he's never been much for chat, but you've always tried anyway and it seems he enjoys it more than he's let on.

That sensation strikes you again when you duck out of the stand, and you know that someone is trying very hard to keep their eyes on you through the crowd. There's a kunai under your sweater, but you don't reach for it just yet. It could very well just be a civilian who has had a few too many drinks and doesn't realise how much he's staring, you reason. You just hope whoever it is doesn't follow you. God... You just want to eat your snack in peace.

Of course they follow you. Of course they do, because Kami forbid you just want one quiet fucking evening. They follow you through six wrong turns, two instances of doubling back on yourself, and even a shortcut through a hedgerow. You finally give up and cast out your chakra in the middle of a small park. Whoever it is obviously hasn't really thought this through, because three distinct chakra signatures slam you in the face without any effort at all. There's one that simmers as if on edge, one bright and bubbly, and-

"Naruto?", you say aloud, turning to see a tuft of yellow hair poking out over a flower bush. A small hand tugs him down and you hear a yelp. Satisfied that whatever's going on here is no threat to you, you shove another dango ball into your mouth. "Get out from behind there, come on."

He pops up, flushed bright red and stammering out excuses. "What a coincidence seeing you here, ne-san! I was just-"

"All of you.", you insist. Naruto's eyes widen comically and his mouth drops open. There's a shuffling from behind the bush, and then a pink-haired girl emerges, managing to look quite dignified if not a little sheepish. She grabs Naruto under the arm and hauls him towards you - then the last one appears, the Uchiha boy, walking five steps behind and clearly trying very hard to look like he has nothing to do with them.

You just stare at them as you chew for a moment, relishing in how each of them blushes slightly. "So, Naruto - did you ever catch that cat?"

His eyes light up at the opportunity to change the subject. "Not yet! Kakashi-sensei told us we had to keep looking until midnight, but he fell asleep, so we snuck away to-"

The pink-haired girl elbows him in the ribcage. "We were just coming to get some food to take back and share with Kakashi-sensei.", she finishes, smiling sweetly at you. "Naruto said he recognised you and wanted to say hello!"

"Well, that explains why you were hiding.", you reply. Her eyebrow twitches but she does an impressive job of maintaining her smile. Naruto, on the other hand, dissolves back into frantic excuses.

"I wanted to... to try and scare you, I say-"

"This must be your team, Naruto." You pat him on the shoulder to console him. It's funny teasing these kids, but you're worried he might spontaneously combust in a moment, and you're not really annoyed beyond the distraction from your dessert. "Why don't you introduce us?"

"This is (name)-san!", he half-yells. Naruto then jabs a finger at the Uchiha, who is still staring very hard at the ground. "That's Sasuke! He's in a bad mood because I was faster than him today." You think Sasuke may burn holes into the earth with his eyes.

"And I'm Sakura Haruno!", the girl says. You're starting to recall her more the longer you look at her.

"Sakura... I remember seeing you at the chuunin exams." Your own team had been disqualified in the second round, but you'd still taken them to watch the individual battles. Sakura's smile drops into an expression of disappointment. "I thought you were very brave."

She preens under the compliment. Naruto, in a fashion which you've already come to predict, starts jumping around and demanding to know why you didn't think he was brave. Sakura smacks him once again - you're really starting to like her. "Just face it, Naruto! I'm braver than you, even a jonin thinks so!"

"A jonin? She doesn't look like one...", Sasuke finally speaks up, dark eyes taking in your outfit and snack with a hint of disdain. Back in your genin days, you had an Uchiha teammate, Ichiro. Sasuke has definitely inherited the clan's talent for withering looks; if you were a different woman, you might have been embarrassed. As it is, you brush the crumbs off the front of your sweater and laugh. Sakura looks as though she might pass out.

"Haaahhhh! Don't be so blunt, Sasuke-kun!"

Well, she definitely has a crush on him.

Sasuke huffs, and looks you hard in the eye for a moment. "Whatever. I really don't get what all the fuss is about. I'm going home." He vaults up onto the rooftops with a speed surprising for his age, and vanishes into the twilight. Oh, he's an Uchiha, alright.

"You've been making a fuss over me, have you?", you turn back to Naruto, cocking an inquisitive eyebrow. "Surely your sensei won't have been pleased you weren't paying attention to training."

Naruto sniffs. "He's a silly old man who doesn't pay attention himself! He just sat under a tree with his eyes closed for most of it."

Sakura is suddenly inching closer to you, all sweetness and innocence. "Naruto says that you and Kakashi-sensei searched for Tsunade-sama's cat earlier this afternoon, (name)-san..."

You quickly pray that this girl never decides to go into the interrogation unit. It's crystal clear what game she's trying to play. But those seven years in ANBU have left you with, at the very least, a great poker face. You nod and allow her to continue. Naruto leans in conspiratorially as she probes. "He's never told us much about his life. Aaaaand we've never seen him around a woman before... Are you guys maybe-"

Kakashi claps a hand down onto each of their heads and they scream. Sakura goes pink enough to match her hair, and Naruto wraps his hands around Kakashi's wrist, swinging wildly under his grip. He must have shunshined here because even you get a bit of a shock, reflexively starting to reach for your kunai, but you're quickly doubled over with laughter instead. Kakashi catches your eye; you can see him smiling at you through his mask before he spins his students to face him.

"Hello there, Sakura, Naruto.", he says, smile gone and voice expressionless. "I'm very sorry for napping all the way until midnight."

"You didn't-"

Sakura kicks Naruto in the shin. "We're sorry, Kakashi-sensei. We couldn't find the cat and it was Naruto's idea to go home."

Naruto kicks her back. "No, it was Sasuke!"

Kakashi pretends to look around, humming to himself. "Well, that makes sense, since Sasuke is the only one who seems to actually be at home. Can't you see that (name)-san is just trying to have a peaceful evening?"

They both have the good manners to look bashfully at their feet, although you doubt they're really ashamed. You catch Kakashi's eye over their heads and mouth, come on, they're just kids.

He rolls his eye and releases his grip on their heads. Kakashi has a reputation amongst the jonin instructors for being a hardass with his students, but you can see how much he cares for them too, and you try to never judge a sensei's relationship with their team. He seems to have wrangled them pretty well considering how strong each of their personalities are. "Go home and get some sleep. We can start an hour earlier tomorrow because of tonight's antics.", he instructs, smiling at them brightly for the first time.

They both groan, say a quick goodbye to you, and then walk away griping at each other. Kakashi sighs. "I hope they didn't give you too much trouble."

"Not at all. I actually think they're pretty funny.", you admit. This is more excitement than you'd planned for your evening, but it's nice to see kids being kids (and a pleasant surprise to see Kakashi again, if you're honest). "Especially that crush of Sakura's."

You've both started walking in the direction of the residential sector, feet falling in tandem. "Maa, it's been more troublesome than funny. She's struggled to keep her feelings separate from her performance in the past."

"Oh, don't be such a cynic, Kakashi! Don't you remember what it was like to be young and in love?", you tease, waving a finger at him. His breath hitches a little bit, you think. "She'll be oblivious to everything else until she's twenty. Has she even realised how much Naruto likes her?"

Kakashi chuckles. "Not yet. Although, I think she has some competition in you."

"Me?", you exclaim, nearly choking on air. "I don't think so. He's met me once and I was literally a mess."

"Teenage minds.", he shrugs. You've reached the point where the path branches off, one street leading to your apartment block and the opposite to Kakashi's - but he doesn't head off just yet, instead choosing to tip his head up and watch the last rays of light warm the top of the Hokage monument. You join him, a strange feeling twisting in your gut when you see that they've started to put up the scaffolding for Tsunade-sama's carving. The street is empty, just you and him and the setting sun.

"Can you blame him?", you ask softly, when the comfortable silence has stretched out for a few long moments. Kakashi tilts his head at you, seemingly coming back to reality. Your mouth starts to curl up into a smirk. "For having a crush on me?"

This time, he blushes fast and hard, all the way up to the tips of his ears. You raise your eyebrows expectantly and cross your arms. Kakashi doesn't say anything, but a tiny wheeze escapes his lips, and his fingers furl and unfurl several times.

You don't let him flounder for too long - this is an objectively nice moment, and you don't want to ruin it by risking him passing out and hitting his head. "Kami, Kakashi, I'm only joking! You've already called me old today, so you can't possibly say anything worse."

Kakashi laughs, a proper one and not his normal quiet chuckle, in a way that has warmth spreading on your cheeks too. You must hold his gaze for just a second too long, because he's quickly turning back to the monument. "Thank you for helping me out with that cat story."

"That's okay. But I have to ask - are you just late to mess with your students?"

"...Sometimes.", he concedes. "But sometimes I'm late for more important reasons."

"Like spending time with an old friend?", you suggest, voice lilting back into light-heartedness. You want so badly to poke him, but hold yourself back on the grounds that you are not Sakura Haruno with her teenage crush.

"I was thinking something more along the lines of encountering a particularly friendly dog."

You gasp and clutch your hands to your heart. Kakashi turns to you again, eye twinkling under the streetlamps. "Well, that does it! I'm going home. And don't bother using me as an excuse next time you oversleep!"

The sound of his laughter follows you up onto the rooftop - a shorter route home, now that the tiredness of the day is really hitting you. He remains stood in the middle of the empty street, watching you closely, and he's obviously smiling so you feel too bad to rush off without a goodbye. "Goodnight, old man!", you call down.

Kakashi raises one hand in a wave, and you feel his eye on you until you're out of sight, his chakra warm and golden like the sun.

#kakashi x reader #kakashi hatake #kakashi #naruto #naruto x reader

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moumouton4 · 1 year

Note

Orochimaru with an s/o who's just some guy? Like y/n is completely average for the most part. Y/n isn't like a shinobi or anything, their just some dude.

(For even for comedic value you could include kabutos or team takas reactions)

Dating Him And Being Just Some Dude || Orochimaru x gn!reader

A/n : I hope you'll like it 😂 The timeline is not respected, the Taka team has never been under the orders of Orochimaru

Warning : None !

Masterlist ⚜

I don’t give permission to repost my work, if you want to share it just reblogue it

Words count : 1283

Nobody would have thought that Orochimaru, one of the 3 sannin, the one who sought to master all the ninja techniques the world has to offer - and who occasionally wanted to take over Sasuke Uchiha's body to become the most powerful man in the ninja world - would one day fall madly in love with you

Like, you only had your love to give him and frankly - and to everyone's surprise - it suited him perfectly

You were from Konoha, you had an amount of chakra equivalent to the average person

You went to ninja school and after becoming a genin you stopped because you preferred to discover other hidden villages - in any case you weren't particularly good in kunai throwing or chakra mastery so frankly it wasn't a big loss for you

And you didn't do much during these trips except walking and meeting new people, Orochimaru was one of them

He had approached you without a second thought - a very unusual thing for him - and the love at first sight was mutual

As he got to know you better in the intimacy of his hideout he realized that you would not be of any use to him in his research, or in his goal of changing his body yet he kept you with him, the simplicity of your life bringing him great calm and serenity at night when he fell asleep in your arms

Your hobbies were not crazy either

You liked to play video games, sew, but it always took you a long time and you always ended up pricking your fingers a dozen times

You didn't speak many languages either, and sometimes you would burn the food you were making if you weren't careful

Orochimaru was endeared by the mere sight of you, you were so cute and harmless

Oh gosh how much he teased you about this and each time you slapped him shoulder he pretended to be hurt, but the smile he would give you was priceless

You still remember your first meeting with Kabuto

When he saw you he immediately thought that if you had some special ability you must be hiding it well, because he didn't feel it at all in your chakra

He thought that his master Orochimaru was with you only for his own interest but he realized little by little that you didn't have any special ability, you were just some dude, like the florist or the fisherman that we could find in a village

He was very surprised at the time, it was the first time he was in this situation

He didn't know if he should keep Orochimaru's actions secret, but Orochimaru explained to him that you knew everything, he also put pressure on Kabuto

"When you talk to them it's as if you were talking to me, so watch carefully what you're saying"

He nodded vigorously before saying goodbye and leaving to attend to his own duties

Your meeting with the Taka team was also memorable

You were next to Orochimaru when the little group came back from a mission

You barely had time to greet them when Karin and Jugo put their capes in your arms, hers half on your head, as if you were their personal coat rack

You barely had time to take it off your head when Suigetsu put his gigantic sword, Kubikiribôchô in your hands, it was so heavy that you almost dropped it on the ground if it wasn't for Orochimaru who jumped to your rescue, taking it on before it fell on your feet

"You fool, do you ever think before you act ?"

The white headed had looked at him with round eyes "Huh ?!?"

"Who is this ?" Karin asked, and that's when you finally introduced yourself to them, explaining that you were the s/o of Orochimaru

The red headed wasn't picky, and liked you right away knowing that you were with Orochimaru you weren't going to try to get close to Sasuke ( not that he would ever look at her anyways :') )

"Sasuke ? The boy from Konoha you told me about ?" you asked Orochimaru who simply nodded before answering "He is on a special mission for me. He should be back soon my Love"

Jugo had been very polite to you, he was still apprehensive about your ability to defend yourself if he were to lose control

One day while Orochimaru was working - at least that's what you thought - you were chilling in the living room with Suigetsu, who was very nice when he wasn't being flirty to you in front of your companion which forced you to do everything not to let him kill your new friend

You heard footsteps echoing in the cave ( or this Western movie music we hear each time Sasuke in on screen )

When the raven-haired boy entered the room he didn't pay any attention to the two of you, but when he heard Suigetsu laughing at one of your jokes he turned his head to you and asked you in a commanding tone "Who are you ?

You replied that you were Y/n from Konoha and that-

"What can you do ?" he asked thinking that if Orochimaru had brought someone back it must be because you had some unusual ability, he was already thinking of fighting you to compare your level

You decided against all logic to finish your answer to the question he had previously asked "I am Orochimaru's s/o"

Sasuke snickered before bringing his hand to his katana behind his back and drawing it, while you and Suigetsu looked at him with round eyes

Sasuke was sure that if Orochimaru was your s/o then you must be exceptionally strong so he couldn't help but test his theory

He stomped towards you with his sword brandished and Suigetsu interposed himself but fortunately Orochimaru came from nowhere and kicked him in the abdomen sending him back into a wall, the force of the impact causing cracks in it

"What do you think you're doing you insolent boy ?"

He couldn't answer as a fit of coughing took over him because of the intensity of the blow, he was holding his stomach as he got up

"I think he was trying to compare fighting skills"

Your partner chuckled darkly before taking a threatening step towards Sasuke but you grabbed his arm fearing he would hurt him but he pulled away from your grip

He looked at him menacingly, his eyes boring into his "If you dare to touch a single hair on their head I swear there will be nothing left of this body yours"

At that moment he was so angry that he didn't care about taking over his body anymore

It was only later when he was with the Taka team that they explained to him that you were and these are the words of Suigetsu "Just some hot dude" - this guy is only a threat

Sasuke had been surprised to learn this, knowing the rumor around the man who was supposed to make him stronger. He realized that he might not know everything

He still thought that you were special in some way for at least reaching Orochimaru's heart without him having any ulterior motive other than to make you happy

Over time everyone got used to having you around, eventually with or without supernatural ability you managed to get used to this renegade life and then you liked being the only normal person around

But if you ever wished to become powerful Orochimaru would be capable of any madness to make your wish come true

A/n : Again my requests are open 💙🎇

Taglist : @foxxymunson, @cl0vr, @ilovemanypeople, @glossy1pearl, @jane57sstuff

#naruto #naruto imagine #naruto shippuden #naruto shippuden imagine #orochimaru #orochimaru x reader #orochimaru fluff #orochimaru imagine #orochimaru x reader fluff #fluff #miri-writes #request

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happypanda101 · 2 months

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I've briefly talked about this on my other blog once before, but people REALLY seem to miss the point of the false love confession Sakura gives Naruto. Like, the fact that moment CONTINUES to fly over people's heads makes me feel mad.

Now, is this me saying it was totally justified? No. I believe it would have been better if Sakura just told Naruto the truth, but it's not like her intentions were evil in that moment. First of all, people seem to like to downplay of the part that Sai played in all of this. Sai, a member of team seven who has been conditioned to not feel any sort of emotion in Danzo's anbu and is still learning how to express his feelings. Someone who still doesn't understand the bond that the previous team 7 had. Now, this isn't me hating on Sai, I love Sai. But the fact is that he guilt-tripped Sakura into making that confession in the first place by comparing her to the curse mark on his tongue. He confronted her at literally the worst times. The village just barely managed to survive Pain's attack, Tsunade is in a coma, and Danzo has been appointed Hokage and has put a hit on Sasuke's head. And lets not forget Shikamaru literally telling her that if they don't take matters into their own hands, a war could break out between the leaf and the cloud. Sakura is getting hit from all sides without a moment to breathe.

The mere idea that she was hurting Naruto destroyed her. She's already witnessed the state he was in after he'd transformed into part of Kurama in the fight with Orochimaru. Not to mention that she tried to lie about how she got the marks on her arm because she didn't want him to feel guilty. But no. Apparently she doesn't care about Naruto at all. The only reason she felt that telling Naruto that she loves him would be the only way to stop him is because Sai has convinced her that that's the only reason he's continuing to chase after Sasuke. But that's not it at all, and I feel like that's also a fact that ends up going over people's heads. It was never about the promise. Even if Sakura hadn't made that request to him, Naruto would be fighting tooth and nail to get Sasuke back. Because he cares about him too. Sasuke was one of the people that made Naruto feel like life was worth living. Hell, he keep saying that he couldn't become Hokage until he'd saved him and brought him home. If anything, he was more selfish when it came to Sasuke. But that can be a discussion for another time. The fact of the matter is that Sakura isn't some evil bitch that tried to manipulate Naruto. Sure, her actions were a little misguided, but she had good intention. She couldn't bare the idea of Naruto hurting/dying because of her, and was willing to take his hatred if that meant she could keep him safe.

#pro sakura haruno #pro sakura #pro sakura uchiha #sakura haruno #haruno sakura #naruto uzumaki #uzumaki naruto #sai #naruto sai #naruto manga #naruto fandom #naruto shippuden #//thank you for coming to my ted talk lol

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yu-huuuu · 1 year

Note

:O I just saw your new post about Neji and a reader that ahs eyes like Gojo, Can you make one smiliar but with Itachi or Sasuke please?????? :O

[ 🌸 ] I'll go with Sasuke this time since I'll be posting something for Itachi this week, so stay tuned <3

characters: sasuke uchiha,, some character mentions

genre: fluff;; light angst (sad sasuke)

warnings: kidnapping mentions;; sasuke missing his family;; gn!reader(I hope you like annon);; sasuke experiencing love and denying being in love u.u

enjoy <3

- - -

he had done it

Sasuke had left his home to seek more power.

He wasn't enough, he needed more power and he wasn't going to get it if he stayed with his teammates.

Sakura had reached out to him, she had begged him not to leave, he had a hard time saying no and that made him angry even though he didn't show it. Despite his annoyance, he wasn't going to take it out on her, Sakura wasn't to blame for all his misery, it was Itachi's, his older brother.

Sakura was his friend, a very close one.

'I'm not going to hurt her' Even if Sasuke wanted to, he couldn't hurt Sakura, perhaps because he inadvertently became very attached to her along with team seven. They were almost like family to him.

Family.

How bitter that word had become.

"Sakura..." Sasuke heard the pinkhead's soft gasp as he stepped up behind her.

'I'm not going to hurt her' before he knocked her out, he let her hear the last words that would be directed at her. After all, maybe this would be the last time they would see each other, that she would hear his voice… 'thanks for everything' was what he wanted to say, but instead he just came out with a bitter “thank you”, before knocking her out...

Sasuke couldn't leave her at her house, that would take a long time, so instead he left her soft body on a park bench, in his mind it was the least he could do.

The next morning Naruto arrived. Both fought in hand-to-hand combat, between punches, kicks and harsh words that were given, sasuke remembered his family.

The death that hurt him the most was of his beloved Mother. His Mom who was so affectionate and the one who was by his side. Oh, how much he missed her. And it was too bad that the last time he saw her was when she was lying dead on the cold floor next to her father. Perhaps remembering his Mother would not be so painful if his last memories of her were when she said goodbye to him, giving him his breakfast that same morning of the massacre.

The feelings were confused with his Dad, but if what his Mother said was true, then his Father loved him too much and Sasuke loved him too, that's why he always tried to be the son his father would have wanted, fearing disappointing him even though he wasn't here anymore, Sasuke would always have that fear.

What hurt him the most was Itachi, he was his world and he was also the one who destroyed him until he did it in small pieces. Sasuke hated himself on the darkest nights when he missed his presence, and even so, despite declaring and swearing that he hated his brother, he had that feeling of hesitation in killing him, perhaps because if he did, he would be left alone

Naruto couldn't and never could understand him and his pain. How dare he compare his pain with his? Naruto was inept, a fool, a loser who was born with nothing.

And he wasn't going to leave without letting him know first.

Despite wanting to cut ties, wanting to kill Naruto, he couldn't, something stopped him. Perhaps later, in a few years he would realize what stopped him, was the fact that he by default was still a child and he was afraid of being left alone again... but Sasuke would never admit it, because sometimes his pride was too much. stronger than his own will.

When he arrived with Orochimaru he didn't feel intimidated and if he felt that way he wouldn't show it, as soon as he finished his training he would end the life of that disgusting guy.

'I'm an avenger' he was and he wouldn't let anyone hurt anyone else, at least not like he was hurt in the past.

Several months passed in which Sasuke could feel the difference, he felt stronger, much more than he was before. After having finished some difficult exercises to exercise his Sharingan, Sasuke was on his way to the showers and in the middle of his journey that's when he saw you.

You were…beautiful, well within what was possible, since the band for the eyes hindered the full view of your face, but with what he could see you were in fact very beautiful. Sasuke wondered in the back of his mind who you were, but he would never approach you with such a dumb question, this was not his goal.

With a snort he ignored you as he hurried to the shower, ignoring the wetness of his hands and the heavy drumming of his heart, when was the last time he felt like this?

"Ridiculous…" Sasuke muttered not realizing that you were paying attention to him.

"Mmm... what a strange boy" you dared to whisper when you stopped listening to the footsteps of the person who passed sulking next to you. 'Well, it doesn't matter, I need to give my report to Lord Orochimaru' you thought as you let out a long breath, this would be a long day.

.- - - - -. .- - - - -. .- - - - -. .- - - - -.

The next time Sasuke saw you, it had only been a few weeks. You were talking to Kabuto about something.

"Aa Sasuke you're here, great" the man said before turning to you "Y/N this is Sasuke"

"A pleasure" you spoke, but your voice. Oh, your voice was so sweet and soft, it reminded him of his Mother's voice. Sasuke felt a little worried by that line of thought.

"I'm saying the same" he half muttered, Sasuke definitely didn't expect to meet you. He could feel his hands sweaty again. 'How annoying'

"Well I have to go, take care Y/N" Kabuto said turning to you "Sasuke" he spoke as he leaned a little towards him in farewell mode before leaving.

"See you Kabuto-san" you spoke, raising your hand a little, waving it as a sign of farewell.

Sasuke really didn't want to be around you, you put him in a way that he didn't want to be with, but before he could even turn around, you spoke.

“You are… the weird guy from the other day. I heard you sulking when you passed me" you spoke, as you went on in your sentence your voice became more smaller but Sasuke hardly paid attention to it.

Have you heard it? oh, Sasuke could feel himself cringing internally.

“... hn. forget it,” he muttered as best he could before walking away. no, he definitely wasn't running, he wasn't running and he definitely wasn't sweating or shaking or…

Who could he fool, Sasuke was so deep in thought that he didn't even think if you'd be able to get anywhere in the base by yourself with that eye band, he only started thinking about it when he got to his room with his head spinning and his heart beating hard against his chest.

'Shit…' he thought when he realized his mistake, he had left you alone.

with the same speed with which he entered his room was with which he left. Sasuke didn't know why he was so worried about you, it was ridiculous and yet he kept running to where he had last seen you.

'He's gone. How rude-' you thought before being interrupted by the same types of footsteps but more hurried from that boy. The footsteps stopped abruptly a few steps from you, you could hear his heavy breathing. He really ran fast, huh?

"I... are you okay?" you spoke without knowing exactly what to say.

"Yes..." the voice spoke a little agitated.

"And why did you run back?"

"because I'm sure you're a fool to guide yourself on this basis"

…wait, he really-

you felt a little offended now, but at the same time a thought came to your mind 'did he care about me?'.

“ummm… thanks” you really didn't know what to say next, so you said the first thing that came to your mind.

"So, do you want to accompany me to the dining room? I think I'm hungry"

From that day Sasuke would accompany you to dinner. It became like a routine for the two of you, at those meals you just talked incessantly and Sasuke always listened to you talk, and if you took a while to finish your food he would wait for you until you finished your last bite. He was sweet, in a way, it was like he was taking care of you.

Sasuke, on the other hand, was beginning to understand a little more about his feelings for you. Sasuke wasn't stupid, he knew what these feelings were, Love.

he had seen that feeling first hand in the interactions of his parents, Fugaku despite being a serious man, even Sasuke could see his icy gaze melt when he looked at his mother. and now Sasuke could understand that phrase that his paternal grandfather told him; "Even strong men can fall for the women they love."

Oh, how foolish Sasuke felt for falling in love on his way to revenge on his brother.

.- - - - -. .- - - - -. .- - - - -. .- - - - -.

Tonight you had decided to dine outside right under the stars, even though you couldn't see them, you wanted your faithful companion to feel comfortable with the view.

“is the sky beautiful?”

"It is…"

Just those words were needed to create a safe environment between the two of you, the food was hot and the breeze was nice, it was a perfect environment.

Sasuke, on the other hand, had a question running through his mind, why were you wearing a blindfold, he never asked since it was none of his business, but on nights like this when you looked so gorgeous? he couldn't help but wonder what your eyes would look like under that piece of cloth.

"Y/N..."

"Yes?"

"Why are you wearing that blindfold?"

it was a simple question, but you were still surprised that he of all people would ask you.

"Well... I think it would be better if I show you" you spoke as you put down your tea, then reached your hands towards the blindfold.

when the blindfold fell, Sasuke saw you in the eye for the first time and you were more beautiful than he thought.

This was also the first time you saw him. You had already realized a few weeks ago that you were beginning to have feelings for Sasuke, always hearing his voice, but never seeing his face, now you understand why there was such a fuss when a woman saw Sasuke. he seems so ethereal.

"why do you hide your eyes?" You had almost missed the question, swallowing your nervousness and stopping the small blush, as you could you answered the reason why.

when you were born you had slightly weak eyes, you were five years old when Orochimaru kidnapped you for experiments. and they quickly gave results, your eyes became that way giving you various abilities but still your eyes needed to be at rest until it was time to fight. That was the main reason why despite your abilities Orochimaru did not possess your body.

After finishing your story, Sasuke let out a small whisper.

"I will become stronger"

"eh?"

"I will become stronger to protect you" he spoke louder this time.

Sasuke could make this promise to you for now, for while he would find a way to confess to you, perhaps he would when he has achieved all of his goals. perhaps he would think better of it when he had found the motivation to kill his brother again.

maybe he would put the hate aside, because Sasuke had found a new motivation protect you. Apparently his grandfather was right, how low can a man in love really fall...

* Sasuke is a love with you, but a tough guy towards others. * when you're a couple, he'll draw you when you're asleep, but shhh it's a secret that no one should know, including you. * will always follow you when he is not doing something important, which is usually training and getting stronger. * It is probable that Sasuke has lost interest in killing his brother, but who knows you already changed many things in him...

#naruto #Naruto Shippuden #naruto scenarios #sasuke scenarios #sasuske #Sasuke Uchiha #uchiha sasuke #sasuke x reader #sasuke uchiha x reader #sasuke x you #clan uchiha #everyone loves gojo eyes #u.u

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sea-owl · 6 months

Text

I'm bored, let's do a ROOT Sakura au.

Like many others, Sakura was recruited into ROOT young. She was taught to surpress her emotions and follow only Danzo's orders. During her training, it became obvious that she was good at manipulation and fooling others into believing she's nothing more than a weak girl.

This manipulation ability led Danzo to decide that he would send Sakura to watch over Naruto and later Sasuke. Having her make sure to tie bonds of loyalty to her so tight they wouldn't even dream of turning against her. Danzon did give her strict instructions that she was mainly to observe, and she would start her web when the time came. Until he says so, she does not interact, and should either boy die, then she would let it happen.

With her mission assigned, Sakura is enrolled into the academy. She would spend most of her days pretending to be a student and then doing ROOT missions during her off time. She was often assigned Sai as a partner if the mission required one.

It was when she graduated from the Academy that Danzo instructed her to start spinning her web around the boys. The team placements were . . . pushed in a certain direction so Sakura was on the same team as her mission assignments.

It took some pushing and prodding to figure what buttons to push, what facial expression gets what reaction. But once Sakura found a flow it made her mission much easier. Sakura doesn't fully understand what endearing the boys to her would do beyond the fact they'll care about what she cares about. No really explained that part to her. Her best guess though is that their emotions would make it harder to betray her, a living thing, than a concept like Konoha.

She's tried to practice the same tactics with Sai while on their joint missions, but it never quite worked the same with him. Like her Sai successfully got rid of his emotions, and their relationship was different than the one Danzo wanted Sakura to build among team 7.

Sakura continues to play the weak girl, the one who needs to be protected. A girl they would never suspect already doing anbu missions. She's thankful Kakashi barely pays attention to her. It makes her double life so much easier to maintain.

There's just one thing Sakura didn't account for. Those bonds she was building with the boys were a two-way street.

Her first slip-up was in the Land of Waves. On that bridge, she followed Danzo's orders to stay out of the fights. If either boy dies, they die. So, what was this feeling clawing in her chest? Why did she want to rush in and kill that masked boy?

When she saw Sasuke lying of the ground, dozens of sebon sticking out of his body, the tears that she cried were no where near fake.

Her second slip up was in the Forest of Death. Sasuke and Naruto were half dead from Orochimaru's attack. Why was she nursing them? It's not like she needs to pass this exam. She actually has strict instructions to fail them so she doesn't gain much attention before the third exam. So why was she doing this? Is it because she wanted to? She liked seeing them get better? It doesn't make any sense. Her mission would be easier if she let their injuries take them out.

When the three Sound genin appeared, Sakura knew she had to put on a different show. While she has strict instructions to not interfere if the boys die she also knows Danzo would have her head if that traitor Orochimaru got a hold of the last Uchiha. That pesky team 10 watching from the side lines also means she can't go all out. Fine feral weak girl act it is.

Sakura's change became even more apparent during that month before the final exams. When she made sure to end that fight with Yamanaka in a tie she knew it would knock her out of the exams and allow her to focus on other missions while the boys trained.

"Ugly, you are unfocused lately."

Sakura felt her eye just barley twitch behind her mask. Damn Sai and that damn friendship making book of his. Sai may have been the closest relationship she had and some would barley call them friends, but there were days where she could punch him.

"You are a lot more expressive lately, too. I like it."

Sakura paused. Expressive? That can't be right.

Sakura's third and biggest slip was during the invasion from Sound and Sand. It was too easy to forget her mission, to easy to get lost the chaos happening around him. Sakura transformed from the Haruno genin to ROOT anbu member. She felt nothing when engaging in combat, no hesitation to end a life. She would do anything to make sure Sasuke and Naruto lived. No hesitation when team 7 attacked the Sand jinchuuriki. Not a second thought when she took that attack to protect Sasuke.

Sakura slipped, and now there were witnesses.

It wasn't a surprise when Kakashi eventually cornered her. "Sakura we need to talk."

"Kakashi-sensei-"

"I heard and read the reports from the invasion. What you did no ordinary genin fresh out of the academy is usually capable of."

"Sensei please."

"Sakura I need you to-"

"I can't!"

"Sakura!"

Sakura stuck out her tougne, the seal fully visible. All arguments die on Kakashi's lips. "I can't sensei."

#naruto #haruno sakura #sakura haruno #root sakura #root sakura au

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dark-elf-writes · 11 months

Note

If we going for Orochimaru redemption in the red lights au then it has to start in the Tsunade retrieval arc. Just think, Naruto and Jiraiya leave Konoha and meet Tsunade and after a week end up on a battlefield with Orochimaru on the other side. Naruto beats Kabuto with the Rasengan and earns Tsunade’s faith and Tsunade is once again the strong women she always was blossoming out of her drunken suffering. As Orochimaru is defeated by Tsunade he decides to cut his loss but not before reaching out to Naruto, offering him power to hurt those who hurt him (just like he was hurt) instead to the shock of everyone Naruto reaches out his hand and offers for Orochimaru to come home. Tells everyone there about Danzo schemes that Orochimaru was roped in on (because Granny would know to warn Naruto about that man and all he ahs done), how his teacher failed and feared him (feared a child), how his teammates failed him (Tsunade and Jiraiya flinch at the truth) and that he doesn’t need to be alone and hated, that he can be more than what they say he is. He can come home, Granny Rin has missed him, they all missed him and they're waiting for him and Orchimaru who for years wanted those around him, to reach out. To be loved by those around him takes Naruto's (his reflection) hand and agrees to come home. Naruto returns and for the first time in years all 3 sannin are home, for the first time in years Granny Rin is reunited with one of her first flowers. And together they will make their village better. Starting with making Danzo face justice.

I am in tears?

—

There’s not mistaking who Naruto is.

Or, perhaps more importantly, there’s no mistaking where he is from.

Orochimaru had seen it immediately when he hand tumbled into the waiting area for the first part of the Chunin exam. Had taken one look at the Kyuubi and had seen a flower instead of a demon looking back at him. Through him like the little fox could see through his stolen face to the golden eyes underneath.

It was in the way he dressed — silken kimono purposely left loose to expose the mesh top underneath and glittering baubles that Orochimaru knew would be razor sharp adorning his golden hair — to both charm and be underestimated. It was in the way he acted — a tinkling laugh loud enough to draw the attention of the whole room and his head tipped back to expose his pale throat — another misdirect, pretending to be a mindless little thing to be discounted early. It was in his eyes — the brilliant blue shining nearly bright enough to hide the wicked mind behind them — flicking over the biggest threats before he turned back to his little friends and laughed again.

Orochimaru knew better than anyone where those habits came from. He had used them himself for so long still used them from time to time.

Rin’s Her guiding hand was practically written all over this child along with… something else Orochimaru wasn’t as familiar with. Something in the cold smile that screamed both beauty and threat when he stood between little Kabuto and his Sound team. Something in the way a senbon seemed to appear in his hand, nearly invisible to those who didn’t know how to look, ready to protect someone he just met in a way that would never be traced back to him Orochimaru was sure.

(It wasn’t until the final part of the exam over a month later that Orochimaru realized what that other part was. Wasn’t until he saw little Aki, the darling little moonflower he had been threatened with so often in those horrible years between the attack and when he left, tearing through his enemies with a vicious grace.)

So later, beaten and broken at the feet of this boy who could be his reflection, the day to his night, Orochimaru reached out.

“Come with me, little flower,” it took all of his remaining willpower to keep the desperation from his voice. The need to steal this boy away before they could shatter him like Orochimaru had been shattered. “I could give you the power to end those that hurt you.”

For there’s was a wary distance between the little fox and Jiraiya even now. A tension in the space between them that spoke of fear and hurt. It made Orochimaru’s fangs ache to split flesh when he thought of what the old pervert could have done to earn that fear.

What surprised even him was the hand that reached back. Above his own rather than taking it. A counter offer.

“They used us to hurt you didn’t they?”

Orochimaru, for the first time in decades, flinched.

(Danzo’s cruel laugh as he threatened to find the next round of subjects from Orochimaru’s old home. The picture of little Aki all of ten and all too wary of the world thrown at his feet as a clear message to work faster. Hiruzen’s horrified eyes as he raided Orochimaru’s laboratory unable to see the invisible shackles that kept him from laying the truth at the old man’s feet.

The truth he was complicit in even if he was not an active participant. The truth he was too blind to see.

Orochimaru had ran, knowing if even a hint of that truth escaped the familiar red lanterns would have burned and the streets of his home would have been bathed in an entirely different red.)

“I thought so.” The little fox’s smile was sad. “Granny said it was something like that. She also said that it’s not too late.”

Orochimaru blinked.

The little fox continued to smile. “The people who stole you. The people who were supposed to be your family and turned from you,” behind him Orochimaru’s former teammates flinched, “they don’t have to define you. There will have to be a trial, one where we expose everything that was done to you, but… you can come home.”

It hit harder that Tsunade’s fist. Hurt more than the ache in his arms.

Home.

There was no way they would let him off without punishment. No way they would allow him to remain unchained but…

Would it be worth it to drag Danzo along with him? To cage himself if it meant caging the other village monster as well.

Perhaps it would.

Perhaps it would be worth it just to see her again.

Orochimaru blamed the concussion and took the little fox’s hand.

#the elf talks #naruto #red lights and fox fire au #sobbing

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anyon-else · 1 year

Text

I’m in Ruins, but it’s What I Wanted All Along (The Red Room pt.2) | Sakura is desperate for Kakashi to see that you’re not a threat, but you’re not making it very easy for him to believe her. Still, as much as he distrusts you, he trusts Sakura more. (Marvel AU) – spotify playlist | read on ao3

Pairings | Kakashi Hatake x Black Widow!Reader + Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, Naturo Uzumaki, Orochimaru, Dosu Kinuta, Hinata Hyuga, Kabuto Yakushi (mentioned)

Warnings | Descriptions of scars, threats of death, allusions to torture, abuse, choking (non-sexual), violence, discussion of themes present in Black Widow

Word count | 6.1k

(previous chapter) | (next chapter) | (series masterlist)

Before he took over, Orochimaru had never imagined that HYDRA’s little pet project would grow into such a success.

The idea behind the Red Room was simple: women were less likely to be suspected of espionage than men. Women were more often thrown to the side, left with nothing and no one to care for them. The Red Room was created to solve this problem.

Orochimaru took all of his girls in when they were infants. Before him, they were unwanted—trash that he raised to be something important. Without him, they were nothing. After he took them in, they changed the world.

He gave them everything.

He took over for his senile predecessor when the program was expanding. Hundreds of girls were given to him by families who didn’t have the means to care for them. They believed in their country, and they believed in him as a guardian for their daughters.

Girls were an infinite resource. He was simply giving them a purpose.

And through them, he was creating an empire.

4 years ago, HYDRA Outpost

“Who is this?”

The room was a frenzy of flashing red lights and white-clad bodies. They shuffled past one another in their rush to collect anything classified and hurry out of the building. Orochimaru couldn’t say that he felt the same sense of urgency. What really interested him at the moment was the pink-haired girl who had just been carried in, unconscious and much older than his usual recruits. He wondered if he had been brought another defect and filed the thought away along with a reminder to kill whoever decided it would be a good idea to waste his time.

“Sakura Haruno, sir. We were moving her here, but we were intercepted. We thought we’d gotten rid of the threat, but it seems that we were followed.”

“Hm,” Orochimaru smiled, finally turning towards Kinuta. The boy was holding Sakura over his shoulder, fear-filled eyes wide as Orochimaru stared him down, “and tell me, how is it that you allowed yourself to be followed, compromising not one, but two of our bases?”

“S-sir, it’s Kakashi Hatake. She’s his student.”

Oh. That certainly changed things. He finally took a moment to look at the girl. She couldn’t have been younger than twelve, but he supposed that she would do fine. He could work with used materials.

“Hatake is here?”

The man was, for lack of a better descriptor, one of SHIELD’s most important assets. In his earlier years, he had completed missions with near-inhumane efficiency at a rate that not even seasoned agents had been able to match. However, he’d become less active as a field agent, and one of the primary reasons for that inactivity was being handed to him on a silver platter.

“Yes sir, he came with a team of agents and another one of his students. They’ve already breached the building,” Kinuta swallowed, glancing back at the thick metal door separating them from the rest of the base. He could hear the familiar echo of bullets hitting steel walls, “should we let her go?”

“No,” Orochimaru grinned, ignoring the chaos outside and taking the girl from Kinuta. “I’ll see that she’s relocated. Go join the others, but do not tell them about the girl. Signal for evacuation, and call for a code black. We’re abandoning this place.”

“Sir–”

“Are you really going to make me repeat myself?” Orochimaru looked up from where he’d been staring down at Sakura, eyes bright with something between fury and ecstasy. “Go.”

Kinuta scrambled through the door, and for a moment Orochimaru could clearly hear his men dying at the hands of SHIELD’s dogs before the door slammed shut. When he looked back at Sakura, an involuntary laugh escaped his parted lips. She was delicate—almost fragile in his arms. By the time most of his girls were her age, they already had some muscle to compliment their immense skill. He needed to tell Kabuto to accelerate her training.

He imagined that Kakashi was about halfway through the compound by now. It would be a headache dealing with the death count as a result of this misstep, but he couldn’t bring himself to care at the moment. He was too wrapped up in his buzzing thoughts; this opportunity had dropped itself into his lap like a gift from the gods, and he wasn’t going to let it go to waste.

“Now then,” he sighed, listening carefully as the gunshots got closer, “let’s get you home.”

Present day, SHIELD Compound

When you woke up in a cell, your immediate assumption was that everything you remembered had been a dream. It had happened enough times that the thought was easy enough to accept, but disappointment still ate at you. You tried to swallow it down, but all it did was leave a leave a sour taste in your throat.

You were so close. If that man and his little sidekick hadn’t interfered, you and Sakura would have gotten out. You would’ve been free–

It was a dream, you reminded yourself. It had to have been a dream. If it wasn’t, that meant you’d failed to save Sakura. It meant that she was still in the Red Room, likely being subjected to some kind of punishment for the escape attempt. The image of her at the hands of the Headmaster made bile rise in your throat. It was just a dream. It wasn’t real. She’s fine. She’s still on her mission, away from the Headmaster. Away from the tests and the pain and the–

“Hey...are you awake?”

You twitched at the unfamiliar voice. It sounded young—certainly younger than any of the HYDRA agents you were familiar with

Whoever it was shuffled towards the bars, close enough that their shoes scuffed against the metal.

Just a little closer...

You could hear him breathing now, as if he was peeking through the bars to try and get a closer look at you. When you opened your eyes, you searched his face for a split second before you shot up and grabbed his collar, yanking him forward with enough force that his head slammed against the metal. His eyes widened, one hand flying to his hip on instinct. You saw the slightest glint of a knife slipping from its sheath around his waist. With grit teeth and growing frustration, you kicked through the space between the bars, pinning his left hand to the concrete floor. His knife skid to the opposite side of the room, and you took slight satisfaction in his shocked expression. His surprise gave you enough time to grab his right arm, which was frozen in a defensive position. You trapped it against one of the bars and pressed his wrist back far enough that he understood it as warning. He winced, eyes wide as you ground harder into the hand trapped under your heel.

“Is Sakura here?” you asked carefully. His panicked breaths quickened each second that he was restrained, but his eyes didn’t hold the fear that you expected to find in them.

“Y-yeah,” he nodded, quick and nervous, “She’s here, alright? She’s fine! I just wanted to–”

“What are you doing to her?” you said through clenched teeth, hesitation forgotten. Fear swallowed you at his confirmation—you were right. Sakura wasn’t on her mission. It was all a trap, and you didn’t get her out quick enough. “You have five seconds to answer me before I break your wrist.”

“Nothing! I’d never hurt her!”

“Liar.”

This time, terror lit up his expression, but you only caught a glimpse of the it before he was gone—replaced by the man who was responsible for your capture. For Sakura’s capture.

“You,” you snarled, throwing yourself at the man and clawing desperately at the space between you, “you took her! I’ll kill you if you did anything to her!”

You kept your face pressed against the bars, fingertips barely brushing the material of his jacket. It was a humiliating admittance of your fear, but that didn’t matter now. Sakura was still in the Red Room. She was probably being tortured right now, and you were trapped. You had no way of reaching her unless you got out of this cell.

“Sakura is fine. I’m not your enemy, although I will be if you hurt one of my students again,” he said, calm voice juxtaposed by his tightening fists and harsh glare. You paused, and when you met his eyes, they hardened in silent warning, “you’re here because Sakura wouldn’t come with me unless I brought you too, which means that you get to stay on a strict set of conditions.”

You pressed your head against the bars, gripping them in white-knuckled fists. The man stayed silent for another moment, letting your panting breaths fill the space between you.

“Since you just broke the first condition, you get to stay in your cell a bit longer before I consider a probation. The second condition: you don’t speak to Sakura unless I allow you to. On the off chance that I do allow it, I will be present for any interactions. The third: if I suspect that you intend to harm any of my students, I will not hesitate to kill you. Understand?”

“Where am I?”

“The fourth: you don’t get to ask questions.”

“You’re full of shit.”

The man smiled, crinkling the corners of his eyes above his black mask. You couldn’t see the outline of his mouth through the fabric, but you could practically feel his smugness. It infuriated you to no end that the expression was justified—you were the one behind bars.

He took calculated steps to the edge of the cell, watching your hands carefully as they tightened around the bars. After a few moments, he knelt down in front of you, eyes alight with anger.

You imagined that your eyes held the same fury. You were itching to lunge for him and wring his neck until he let you see Sakura.

He was close enough now that you could reach him. You weren’t sure what your endgame was, but you couldn’t stop yourself from shooting an arm aimed for his throat through the bars.

“Kakashi-sensei!”

Your back was pressed against the cold metal before you could so much as touch him. You had barely registered his movement, but now he was holding your neck against the bars with one arm as the other encircled your wrists, grip tight as iron. Your hip throbbed, but you ignored it and focused instead on the unbearable feeling of someone holding you down by the throat.

“Don’t–” you gasped, wincing when the pressure on your neck tightened. You tried to force yourself to stay present, to keep yourself from being consumed by memories, but you still felt phantom hands holding your shoulders to keep you pinned down. You shook your head to dissipate the nonexistent touch, but unwanted memories still threatened to break to the surface, “don’t hurt her. I’ll stop fighting if you promise that Sakura won’t be hurt. You can do whatever you want to me, just...just prove that she’s safe.”

“I don’t know why you think you have any power to make demands, but you’re going to have to do better than empty words if you want to see Sakura. You just attacked me and my student completely unprovoked.”

“Unprovoked?” you spit, clenching your fists and prying them from his grip. He released his hold on you, but didn’t move from his position in front of the bars. Gasping, you backed away from the bars and involuntarily reached towards your neck. “You kidnapped me. You put me in a cell, and now you’re telling me that you can’t show me proof that Sakura is alive.”

He just stared at you, eyes empty and expression bored.

“Maybe I’ll be more understanding if you start being more useful,” he said casually. “Tell me about the Red Room.”

You remembered the first time you’d been interrogated as a training exercise. If you so much as said a word in response to your “captors’” questions, you were punished. Anything more than silence only led to pain. Even if you wanted to answer the man’s questions, it was conditioning rather than choice that kept your lips sealed shut.

“You know, for how desperate you are to see Sakura, you sure aren’t being very cooperative.”

You wanted to laugh. You’d gained your bearings now, and oriented yourself to the reality of your situation: you hadn’t escaped the Red Room, and you had to avoid any injury at the hands of this man, HYDRA or otherwise. Changing his to imitate someone that Sakura trusted was child’s play for Orochimaru. And if he really was the one sitting in front of you now, answering these questions would end in punishment. You were already injured, and any further damage would not allow for a successful escape, and that was still your goal. These attempts at manipulation wouldn’t so easily sway you now.

“I’ll let you see her if you answer my questions.”

You had been raised to tell lies, and a liar knew a liar when they saw one. He had no intention of letting you see Sakura any time soon. If all he had to offer was an exchange of information for proof of life, you weren’t interested. It was proof or silence.

“Hm,” he gave you a once over, resting his chin on his arm and keeping his expression flat and unimpressed, “maybe you’re not as interested in Sakura’s safety as you want me to believe.”

Your eye twitched. After a final moment of watching one another, the man stood and led his student through the metal door. It slammed shut, and it was only your heavy, uncontrolled breathing that filled the silence once the echo had stopped.

“You’re being cruel!”

“I’m only doing what’s necessary to keep you and the others safe. As far as I’m concerned, she is a threat until proven otherwise.”

“I told you, she just wants to make sure I’m safe! She probably thinks that I’m being tortured, or...or worse! She’s just scared!”

“She hurt Naruto.”

“Naruto’s fine! He was the one poking around her cell.”

Kakashi and Sakura had been going back and forth for nearly an hour. Kakashi was sitting calmly at a desk chair while Sakura stood over him, arms crossed and face as menacing as she could manage. Kakashi could admit that she had become a bit more intimidating since her capture, but he could still see her old habits from before. Her bottom lip jutted out when she was upset, she balled her hands into fists to keep them from shaking, and she never broke eye contact.

“It’s not as simple as you want it to be,” Kakashi told her carefully. “I haven’t even conducted a formal interrogation. There are procedures I need to follow before I allow any interaction–”

“Procedures?” Sakura looked close to breaking into a fit of laughter. “Since when have you cared about procedures? I’m sure kidnapping her and keeping her locked up isn’t in your procedure!”

“If it were up to me, she wouldn’t be here,” he narrowed his eyes, “and as far as SHIELD is concerned, she’s the enemy.”

“Oh, please. You’ve been going over SHIELD’s head for years! They don’t care what you do when you’re not on missions!”

In all honesty, Kakashi couldn’t find it in him to truly engage with this conflict right now. He was just happy that Sakura was safe, and he wasn’t sure he could risk that safety no matter how much she vouched for you.

Sasuke and Naruto were sitting on the far side of the room, doing their very best to pretend that they weren’t listening.

“Sensei.”

It had been two days since Sakura’s rescue. Two days of either petulant silence or arguments like this one. And in all of those interactions, this was the first time that she had addressed him like she used to. He leaned back in his seat, eyes burning.

“I’m grateful that you saved me. Really, and I couldn’t be happier to be back. I missed you more than anything, but...”

Naruto and Sasuke turned when they heard the break in Sakura’s voice. She hadn’t told them anything about the four years that she was gone. Two days of safety, and she was still forcing herself to put on a brave face. Kakashi knew from the deep bags under her eyes that the effort was exhausting.

“You weren’t there,” she whispered, shoulders shaking with days worth of pent up emotion. Probably years worth. “You weren’t there, and I don’t blame you for any of it...but she was.”

Kakashi blinked.

“I know you don’t trust her, and I understand why. She attacked you and Naruto, yes, but she’s been in the Red Room her whole life. And they...they gave us these tests where they would act like they were giving us a chance to escape. If we believed them and tried, we’d be punished for disloyalty. That’s why she doesn’t trust you. She thinks you’re testing her, and she thinks you’ll hurt me if she caves and believes that you’re really going to help us.”

Sakura was breathing hard, wiping at her face when she couldn’t bear to look at Kakashi any longer.

“She was there when you couldn’t be. She knows, and she...she understands. She kept me alive, sensei! Doesn’t that mean anything?”

Sakura was crying now, tears landing at her feet in her first real show of emotion since her rescue. Kakashi sat straighter, arms held halfway between them. He was at a loss. Nothing seemed right anymore, and he didn’t know if his old ways of comforting her would still have the same effect.

“They made me do things that I will never forget. Things that I’ll never be able to take back. But somehow, it was all okay because I wasn’t alone. She protected me. She hurt and bled for me. She made sure that I didn’t have to go through the same things that she did. She reminded me of you. Can’t you...will you just give her one chance?”

Kakashi wanted to say no. Now that he had gotten her back, he wanted to keep Sakura from any and all potential threats. But that wasn’t what he had been training her for, and it wasn’t going to do her any good now. He’d already failed to protect her once, and she was going to have to live with the consequences of his failure for the rest of her life.

She protected me. She reminded me of you.

One chance. He could manage that.

The second time Kakashi came to you alone, you tried not to let it confirm your suspicions.

He knelt in front of the bars, leaning one arm against them and pulling a sleek silver card out of his back pocket. You eyed it, unmoving against the opposite wall of the cell. You did your best to appear unconcerned by his presence despite the itch to leap forward and throttle him.

“Sakura tells me that you protected her.”

He’s lying. She didn’t tell him anything. Orochimaru is feeding you lies.

You knew that he was baiting you into some kind of trap, but you sat straighter at the mention of Sakura. Kakashi saw the change in your demeanor, and you hated him for it.

“I want to believe her when she tells me that you’re not a threat,” he continued, “but you’re not doing much to back up that claim.”

You clenched your teeth, jaw tensing as you stared him down. To his credit, he met your gaze unfazed and unblinking. There was nothing about him that seemed deceptive, but you knew that letting your guard down was exactly what he was waiting for. HYDRA was patient with their tests, but you had endured them before. This was nothing new, and nothing that you couldn’t handle.

“I’m not sure what you want me to do from here,” you bit back.

“If you push your luck, you won’t be doing anything.”

Kakashi swiped the silver card through the scanner connected to the lock on the door. With a flash of green and an high-pitched beep, the lock clicked, and Kakashi opened the cell with only a moment of hesitation. You stilled, observing his movements carefully. He did the same, and you both waited for the other’s approach.

The silence that followed was deafening. You held your breath in anticipation of movement, but none came. The expectation of immediate violence hadn’t been met on either end, and the stalemate that followed filled you with so much tension that your hip began to ache again. You rested your hands on the cool concrete floor, ready to push yourself forward at the first sign of movement from the man in front of you.

“If you think I’ll fall for some kind of trick,” you breathed, every movement of your lips carefully localized. Kakashi’s eyes darted towards them in the only outward sign of tension that you could see, “you’re going to be disappointed.”

More silence followed, though the tension in the room grew with each passing second. Was he waiting for you to look away? Waiting to attack? Was this all to test your reflexes?

“Come in,” Kakashi shouted over his shoulder towards the main door. As it opened behind him, his eyes narrowed at you. “If I’m making a mistake in indulging you, I promise that you’re going to regret it.”

Your lips were sealed shut. You weren’t going to give him anything; whatever you said would be weaponized and used against you.

“Y/N!”

The familiar voice startled you from your thoughts. It was the voice that you’d been waiting to hear since you woke up separated from Sakura, but you found yourself backing up a step when she opened the door. She looked the same, and she was relatively unharmed, but you couldn’t help the doubt that flooded you.

She’s okay. How is she okay? How is she unharmed after the escape attempt? After you were recaptured?

“Sakura...” you muttered. Kakashi narrowed his eyes at your reaction. It was the first time he’d seen any emotion on your face other than rage.

He hadn’t expected to see fear.

Sakura didn’t notice your hesitation. She rushed past Kakashi and into the cell before he could tell her to wait.

“Stop,” you held a hand out in front of you, and Kakashi was surprised to see that it was shaking. He took a step forward, searching for any hostile movements or intent in your expression, but you just took another step back. Sakura froze, eyes wide and devastated, “how do I know it’s really you?”

“It is,” she whispered, voice breaking, “I promise.”

“I’m sorry,” you shook your head, as if shaking away an illusion, “I have to be sure. Tell me something that only the real Sakura would know.”

Sakura stood straighter, face falling into something more calculated. Kakashi wasn’t sure if this doubt was something she had experienced, but he couldn’t help the prick of guilt that crept its way into his conscience as you watched Sakura like she was a time bomb.

“There’s something hiding in our closet,” Sakura whispered, barely loud enough for Kakashi to hear. His brow furrowed, but the words seemed to have the desired effect on you. You stood straighter, eyes wide as you watched Sakura, “but you’re gone, and I have to be strong enough to keep it inside.”

The silence that followed Sakura’s words was thick. It dripped down the walls, creeping past Kakashi and into the cell where you stood frozen. He thought he may have been able to see it pooling at your feet if he looked carefully.

Sakura took a tentative step forward, but stopped when your raised hand twitched.

“It’s me,” she repeated, holding her hands in front of her carefully, palms up and relaxed, “you’re safe. We got out. This isn’t a trick.”

Kakashi tensed when you launched yourself at Sakura, but held himself back when she laughed and wrapped her arms around you. You were trembling, face buried in Sakura’s shoulder and arms tight around her shoulders. Your breathing was ragged, and Kakashi wondered if you’d been holding it since you first heard Sakura’s voice.

The girl was crying, shoulders shaking as she buried herself in your arms. Kakashi couldn’t help the flare of jealousy that he felt at the sight. Sakura hadn’t been nearly this happy to see him and Sasuke. Somehow, seeing you made her happier than being saved from the Red Room.

He supposed he should’ve known better than to compare himself to you. There was something different about bonds formed in crisis situations, and if Kakashi’s assumptions were correct, the past four years of Sakura’s life had been one drawn-out crisis.

“Sakura,” he put a careful hand on her shoulder. She peeked past you and looked at him. There was no contempt in her eyes anymore. Just pure relief. He smiled.

“Thank you,” she whispered, grabbing his hand and pressing it against her cheek. She ducked back into your neck, keeping Kakashi close enough that she could have you both in arms reach. She looked so much younger than she really was. If he wanted, he could’ve pretended that she had never been taken. But he saw the scars on her knuckles and the muscle that she’d lacked before. He saw the toll that four years in the Red Room had taken on her.

“Sakura,” you grabbed her shoulders, pulling her back and cupping her face. You looked between her eyes, studying them with a steady, careful gaze. You glanced at Kakashi briefly, suspicion still clouding your gaze and making you hesitant to speak freely, “did you get out in time?”

When Sakura nodded, all of the tension melted from your shoulders. A weary smile lifted your face, pulling at the broken skin on your jaw.

Was this really all you wanted?

Kakashi had a hard time believing that. He just had to wait you out, see what else you wanted, and then get you out. If you stayed, there was every possibility that HYDRA would track you here, and he knew that he couldn’t protect his students against a large-scale ambush. There were too many unknowns to allow you to stay. It went against everything he’d been taught. If you were important enough for them to try and find you, everything that Kakashi had built for himself and his students would come crashing down.

His pity didn’t extend so far that he would risk Sakura’s recapture. Harsh as it was, that was the world that they lived in.

“Sakura,” he placed a hesitant hand on the girl’s shoulder. Despite feeling somewhat assured that you weren’t hostile anymore, you still hadn’t reacted well the last time he’d tried to touch her, “would you give us a few minutes?”

“Can she come out now?” Sakura asked, ignoring the request and looking up at Kakashi, eyes wide and pleading, “there’s an extra room, right? She could use that for now, and then–”

“I can’t stay here, Sakura.”

Your words were a shock, both to Sakura and Kakashi. After the fight you’d been putting up to get to her, you were becoming surprisingly compliant now that you’d gotten your wish.

Sakura looked horrified. She began shaking her head when you pulled away, giving her a sad smile and pushing her hair back where it had fallen into her eyes.

“What?” she breathed. “Of course you can! Where else would you go?”

“I don’t know. But they’re going to be coming after us. If I give them a lead, I can take some of a heat off of you. Distract them for a while so you stay off of their radar.”

“No!”

There was so much ferocity in Sakura’s voice that even Kakashi startled, barely recognizing the girl he knew in the person she had become.

“You promised, Y/N,” she spat fiercely, “you said that we would stay together. You said you would stay with me after we got out!”

“I promised that I would protect you,” you corrected, voice low, “this is how I can do that.”

“By giving yourself back to them?”

“Sakura–”

“I don’t want to hear it,” she spit venomously. “Things are different now. I’m back here with Kakashi and the others, and I’m stronger now. We can both be safe here. Things aren’t the same as when they took me!”

“I know,” you smiled, sad and understanding, “you’re one of the strongest people I know, Sakura. But you have people you care about here, don’t you?”

Sakura didn’t acknowledge the question. She just stood with crossed arms and narrowed eyes.

“I know you want to protect them. If I go, they’ll be safe.”

“I want you to be safe too. Why can’t you just accept that things are okay now? You can let yourself be happy.”

“She’s right, Sakura,” Kakashi finally interjected. Everything about the conversation had felt too personal before. He felt like an intruder in a world that he wasn’t supposed to be seeing, but now you were talking about a bigger picture. This was a picture that he was a part of.

“What?” Sakura turned on her heel and glared angrily at Kakashi. “You...I thought you of all people would be on my side! Isn’t our job to protect people?”

“Sakura, look at me,” you pleaded. Sakura glared at the floor, “please.”

When she finally turned towards you, you tried to smile, but it wasn’t convincing. Kakashi knew you wanted to give in. He could see it in your eyes. It was clear that you would do just about anything for Sakura, but this wasn’t about what she wanted. It was about what needed to be done. Kakashi had learned what that meant over years of experience with loss. He guessed that you had too.

“You’re going to leave again,” Sakura muttered as tears begin to gather at the corners of her eyes. She tried to hold herself together, but it was hard when she was watching you slip through her fingers. It was the second time, and she was just letting it happen. “Last time you left...”

“Last time I left, we were both still prisoners. That’s never going to be the case again.”

Sakura felt a tear escape, but she didn’t stop its descent down her cheek.

“We’re free. We have choices now, and this is what I’m choosing. I choose to protect you and your friends.”

You glanced at Kakashi as you said this. He held your gaze, still and blank.

“Please don’t go,” Sakura pleaded, desperate for you to understand. But there was finality in your eyes. You had already decided.

Something like respect bloomed in Kakashi’s chest. This was what he would’ve done.

“I’m sorry.”

Sakura shook her head, turning on her heel and storming towards the door with a sound between a scoff and a sob. You watched her go with a frown, then glared at Kakashi. He stared back at you with that same, infuriatingly blank expression.

“You change up quick,” he raised a brow. “Just ten minutes ago you looked ready to strangle me.”

“I told you,” you scowled, “I only wanted to make sure that she was safe here. I don’t care what happens to me now.”

“Well, it seems like you’ve already made up your mind,” Kakashi stepped back from the cell, opening up your path to the door. “And I’m more than happy to accommodate your departure. Stay the night if you want. You should leave in the morning, but I’d like some information first.”

You narrowed your eyes at him, taking a tentative step forward and watching for a reaction.

“Just like that?”

“Sure,” he shrugged. He seemed like a completely different person now than when he’d stepped into the room. You supposed that your interaction with Sakura had done enough to convince him of your good intentions, but the change was still dizzying. “But don’t think that you’re off the hook for attacking Naruto. I still don’t trust you, but I won’t make you stay in a cell. You’ll need your strength if you’re going to be a fugitive.”

“How kind.”

Sakura was waiting outside when you trailed Kakashi through the door. He glanced back at you for a moment, and you saw that previous distrust creeping back into his expression. However, when he shifted his gaze to Sakura, it softened, and he turned the corner swiftly.

His footsteps stopped at the end of the hall, but you didn’t hear the sound of a door opening. Within shouting distance, should Sakura need him.

Sakura was fuming, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed and her brows knit together. She looked like she was trying to decide whether she wanted to cry or scream at you. You wouldn’t have been surprised if you got both.

“I’m staying here tonight,” you told her quietly, “and I’ll leave in the morning.”

“Why?” Sakura turned on you, taking your hand and holding it tightly. “Why do you have to go? Shouldn’t we stay together?”

You felt like you were going in circles with her, and you knew that having this conversation again wouldn’t do any good. There was too much risk involved in staying. It didn’t matter how you felt or how much she begged. That fact wouldn’t change, so neither would your plan.

“Sakura,” you croaked, covering her hand with your own, “I don’t know if they have trackers on me. They’ve had enough opportunities that they could’ve put them under my skin. You know what kind of technology they have. Honestly, they might already know where I am.”

“Then they would have put trackers on me too! Then it won’t matter if you’re gone!”

“You were there for four years,” you silenced her, “I’ve been there my whole life. They could’ve done anything to me when I was younger knowing that I wouldn’t remember any pain from a procedure. The scar from the incision would’ve faded by now. I’m in more danger of being found. You know that.”

Sakura just glared at you. Her eyes were swimming with tears, but she was fighting hard to keep them at bay. You brought a hand to her cheek and held it carefully, just like you would do when she was younger and had that same look on her face.

Sakura was the only person you had who you could call your family. You would protect her at any cost, even if it meant leaving her again.

Hinata was dying.

You’d already driven a knife into her side, and you could see the blood leaking from the corner of her mouth, but she still had the strength to pin you to the ground with her hips, hands wrapping around your throat and squeezing until you couldn’t take in any air.

Her eyes were pained; she looked seconds away from keeling over, but her hands remained tight around your throat. She was putting all of her weight into choking you. She was trying to kill you before she could bleed out. You could see in her eyes that she would do everything in her power to win this match.

Her hair was in front of her face, falling into her eyes. Purple hair...

Pink hair.

You gasped awake, choking on your breath and struggling to inhale. It took you a few seconds to pull yourself from your disorientation, but when you did, you still felt the chill of cold fingers around your throat. When you looked up, Sakura was hovering over you, teeth grit and eyes determined. She looked poised to kill.

“Sa–Sa...ku...ra,” you rasped, wide eyes searching hers for any explanation, but you barely recognized her. She looked devoid of everything but pure anger and hatred.

You’d seen that look many times before. You’d seen it in the eyes of countless girls who’d been convinced that you and the others in the Red Room were enemies rather than allies. Girls who had been forced to kill one another as a test of strength and courage. But this was different. This was the first time you’d seen that look in Sakura’s eyes.

Black spots began to cloud your vision and, at an instinctual level, you knew that if you let yourself fall into unconsciousness, Sakura would kill you.

You gathered your remaining strength and channeled it into your arms, rocking to the side and using the momentum to jab her throat. She gasped, coughing and releasing her iron hold on your throat. When she met your eyes again, there was a foreign determination in them that sent a chill down your spine.

“Sakura, stop!”

Sakura’s lips split into a smile when she heard the deep rasp in your voice. The smile held something sinister. You could see the intent to kill in her eyes; she wanted to see you bleed.

Then, as if a switch had been flipped, she collapsed to the ground. You watched in frozen shock as her eyes rolled back and she fell, and you barely shook yourself from your paralysis in time to cushion her head from the hard floor. Once she landed, the only sounds filling the silence were your wheezing exhales.

Sakura’s face had settled back into one that you recognized, but you couldn’t erase the image of her smile from your mind. It was crooked and slim, just like Orochimaru’s. It was almost an exact replica of the expression that you still remembered so clearly.

“What did he do to you?”

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Author’s note | title is from “The Bomb” by Florence + the Machine

#kakashi #kakashi x reader #kakashi x you #kakashi x y/n #kakashi imagine #kakashi hatake #kakashi hatake x reader #kakashi hatake x you #kakashi hatake x y/n #kakashi hakate imagine #naruto #trr #emwrites

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sassykinzonline · 1 month

Note

who loved who first? when do you think you each fell in love?

im...not sure actually. it's like asking, "when did you know the sky was blue?" i'll try to sort it out.

he was attracted to me first. that much is obvious given the longing stares and bed time fantasies of his. i was aware of him, and i was curious, but at the same time i was afraid of what i thought my family would think so i didn't really let it go there.

there's a conversation in the itachi light novels that is pretty similar to an actual one i had with my brother. basically one day, super randomly, he asked me what i though of naruto and i said i dont have any special feelings but i think he doesn't like me. my brother asked why and i said because hes always yelling at me and trying to make me mad, so i just ignore him like everyone else who follows me around for no good reason. my brother asked me, "what if he has a good reason?" and then just walked off like a dickhead. but from that point on i tried to avoid naruto less and pay attention to what he was saying to me. i realized that he antagonizes people because he wants their attention and doesn't know how to get it, and the stuff he says to me were backhanded compliments and essentially invitations to train. so i started indulging him from time to time because it was fun and it made me feel good about myself.

then my family died and all of a sudden i realized what it was like to both be lonely and want to isolate yourself from everyone around you. on my first day back from school, of course everyone was talking about itachi going batshit and killing my family and how "maybe sasuke will do the same" "yeah hes super weird he never talks to anyone". that was the one day i can remember naruto not saying anything, and i was mad at him because i wanted him to. apparently what i didnt know is he fought with some of the kids who were saying really stupid shit. so that's apparently when i subconsciously knew i felt differently about him.

the day i realized i liked him was the day we kissed, then were put on the same team, then he flopped at trying to kidnap me (wtf was that about?). when i was tied up i realized i wasnt mad, just really happy that this was gonna be my life from now on. that's why when i saw him again i just teased him, and why i lashed out at sakura when she was badmouthing him.

if i try to trace back when the first time i realized i love him was, it was probably orochimaru's hideout. leaving him was painful, but eventually i just went numb. when i saw him again and the first thing he asked me was why didn't i kill him, with that sad and scared face...i thought about the way he cried at the idea of me leaving him and being in danger. i realized he still thought i didnt care for him and that he was weak, and i could tell he was upset at himself and not me. it made me realize how similar we are because that's exactly how i felt when itachi left, but more importantly it made me realize i never wanted him to think i felt that. so i must feel the opposite. that's why i told him i spared his life on a whim instead of just saying the same thing my brother said to me, i didnt want to twist the knife. and i wanted an excuse to hold him so i staged a death threat.

i know around the time itachi came back was when i started contemplating about him more seriously, so i probably "fell in love" when i woke up from the coma i was in and realized he had saved me. but that's also why i was so angry.

onto the easier question: naruto has always loved me but just didnt know how to express it. when i say "express", i dont mean tell me. i mean he didnt know how to show it and he didnt know what it entailed. it was just more platonic for him for a while, then when we were fighting right before i left, i think he realized it might not have been only platonic. this is just my guess because i never asked since i dont really care and i dont think he himself could answer me, but he probably realized it was romantic right after he defeated pain. i know that moment was empty for him. i also heard from him that inari asked about me, and the old guy asked if i left because of some sort of lovers' conflict? but the face he made when he told me that was like he was embarrassed. i dont see why he would be embarrassed unless it was somewhat true for him and he didnt like getting called out as a joke. he probably "fell" in love in haku's ice mirrors because hes a queen like that.

#ask #you already know if you ask me about naruto its gonna get long #i would hope that doesnt bother anyone anymore #sasunaru headcanons #sasuke headcanons #naruto headcanons #sasunaru #sasuke rp

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meowmeowuchiha · 1 year

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Fuck it I'm dropping my fave fics

All Naruto fics

A Second Chance by calibratingentropy

Summary: A Kisame time travel fix it. He's sent back to the day of his academy graduation upon his death. He decides to do things much differently than the first time around. Most characters are either OCs or were such side characters in Canon that we barely got scraps of personality, such as Yagura, Mei, and Ao. Wonderfully written and frankly a must for any Kisame lover imo

https://archiveofourown.org/works/45811153/chapters/115287730

Orochimama by Whoamama

Summary: When Orochimaru first attempts the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu, shit goes sideways and he ends up replaced by a woman from our world. Hilarity ensues as she attempts to fix the chaotic mess that is Otogakure and save the world on top of it.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27458050/chapters/67129078

Okay. That's Enough Lemonade Now. by Meeceisme

OC is the child of Hatake Kakashi and a Nara OC named Nara Miyu. Technically part of a series, but every one can be read as stand alone easily. An AU fix it type fic, and I adore all of the lore about the Nara, Hatake, Aburame, and even Kurama clans. The beginning is squicky, but as long as you can get past that it's a wonderful read. Same with the rest of the series, mostly the first installment. The ages are VERY squicky in the first one and it took me years to actually read these fics because of it. Either way, highly recommend..

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32294638/chapters/80049616

Plasticity by Misfit_McCoward

Hidan tries to summon a shinigami. Gets a science major college student instead. OC proceeds to have a terrible time trying to stay alive, and after winding up with Orochimaru ends up delving into ninja mad science. Eventually winds up with the Akatsuki. Unwillingly. An absolutely hilarious fic and I reread this at least twice a year. Everyone is beautifully in character.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16017161/chapters/37377839

Honōka by Yujina

A girl from 90s Tokyo is reborn in the Naruto universe. Due to her unique viewpoint, she regularly 'breaks' jutsu and uses chakra in ways that everyone is confused as to how tf she even came up with it. She's the same age as Kakashi. Winds up Orochimaru's apprentice. Good!Orochimaru AU, or at the very least a Not Terrible!Orochimaru AU.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/26225191/chapters/63828178

Parallel by Sora2131, stacyb

Kakashi time travel fix it fic. Team 7 winds up an actual family. A wonderful story. I don't want to say too much and spoil it.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/25498318/chapters/61857256

Homemade Dynamite by Misfit_McCoward

Itadei time travel fix it fic. Except Itachi tells Deidara absolutely none of his plans and Deidara is just along for the ride. Unwillingly. Deidara is back in his 10 year old body so Itachi is like 12-13. All from Deidara's POV. Despite being a ship fic, there isn't a super heavy romantic focus which for me personally is wonderful. The OCs are wonderful and I love them, both Itachi and Deidara are wonderfully in character. Another fic I reread like twice a year.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27201637/chapters/66442810

Shinobi Isekai!: Round Three! by Morrowyn

A trans girl wakes up in the Naruto universe in the body of Choumei's jinchuuriki (before Fuu) in the midst of escaping from Takigakure. Winds up living in a ruined temple in the middle of nowhere. Accidentally befriends passing ninja.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27205340/chapters/66452216

Second Bite at the Cherry by Sakinthra

Sakura decides she's going to be useful to her teammates in a different way. Things spiral out of control. Hidan is a protagonist, but he's still in character (still a gleefully murderous zealot. I love him). Builds up Jashinism as a religion very well and I adore it. A fic I reread at least once a year.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15001781/chapters/34770497

The Bloody Oracle of Kiri by Cannibalisticapple

OC with a very fucked up moral compass is reborn in Naruto during the third shinobi war and is picked up by Kiri. Specifically by the seven swordsman. Specifically specifically by Ameyuri Ringo. Absolutely wonderful and with plenty of hilarious moments along with more serious moments. I tend to reread this at least once a year.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13788408/chapters/31696218

The Unwoven Threads of Fate by Diadru

OC is reborn in Naruto universe and winds up replacing Naruto on Team 7. Befriends Sasuke and they wind up BOTH going to Orochimaru. Shit goes wildly wrong. Everyone is wonderfully in character, but there are a couple slightly OOC moments. The name of the MC can definitely break immersion, but as long as you can get past that it's great. Gets very angsty at times, understandably so, as the MC gets thrown headfirst into several moral crises and being around Orochimaru is not exactly conducive to staying a 'good' person. I reread this one about once a year usually. WARNING: ENDS ON A MASSIVE CLIFFHANGER AND HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2019.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11943924/0/

Seven by Shaydrall

Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura wake up in their bodies the day of team assignments. It was not done intentionally and none of them know about the others. A time travel fix it and it's absolutely hilarious.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13054671/0/

#naruto #Naruto fanfic #My recommendations #In case it's not obvious by going through these I'm not big on romance lmao

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atoriv-art · 5 months

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little asks compilation as to not spam ♥

thank you!! ♥

crying this is vaguely related but did you guys know neji appears in a time travel episode(/arc?) in the boruto anime. does it surprise you to hear that it makes me extremely mad

but also so true LMFAO i'm usually the type to give things a chance (or so i'd like to believe) but not much of boruto interests me 😔 some of the kids look cute and i like.... like..... a few of the timeskip designs (...like three of them? i like suigetsu karin and tenten's.) but it's not worth it and in fact i think having to see neji and hiashi alive in the same UwU Family space would have had me banging my head against a wall.

also what if they made him ugly. that's my perfect angel boy they can't do that.

HEHE ofc!!! part of the reason i love posting fanart is that i get to spread propaganda for the things i like LMFAO

and i'm glad people enjoy the funny sharky ears they're my favorite <3

ASDMKASD eu acho que esse é o maior contato com outros brasileiros que já tive quando posto arte e afins, é bem interessante

eu consigo imaginar o tipo de coisa da qual vc reclama, eu acho bem chato tbm GFKMGFM

fave i respect the movement though i'm more of a short king gaara truther myself bc i think it's cute. sasuke still the tallest of the boys tho

thank you!! and hehee this ended up being more me ranting about their general writing but :)

i'm veeeery fond of their og naruto dynamic, i think it often goes misunderstood/understated but to me it's one of the highlights to the original series! from stuff like kakashi shielding him from orochimaru and sealing his curse mark (which. btw. crazy. LOVE that scene) to the ENTIRE deal with chidori and the pride kakashi felt watching sasuke fight gaara with it... i think it's SURPRISINGLY well done! while i due to personal preference like to read it as specifically familial, i think you can read it anyway you want (not all mentor-type dynamics need to be familial in nature and not being so won't make it any less meaningful)

i don't think kakashi was a particularly great teacher (in fact i think tenzo is shown to be a MUCH better captain/mentor the moment he's introduced to team 7 lol) but you can certainly tell that he cares about all of the kids and wants to do right by them, it's just that with sasuke specifically to me it feels like it's of highly personal significance to him?

and it's not hard to see why, obviously kakashi and sasuke do not have the same trauma but i find it reductive to say that it means kakashi can't see himself in him at all, or that he can't be of any use to sasuke? one of my favorite scenes is the (... i think mildly controversial, from what i've seen?) one where he talks to sasuke on that tree and tells him to drop his revenge quest, because while yeah it was not a perfect effort, to me it's clear that 1. kakashi was being very genuine in his words and 2. that it like... almost worked? sasuke was very sincerely pondering his words before the sound 4 came along.

btw so funny that both kakashi and obito tie him up when talking to him. anyway

so you add that with the weird relationship kakashi has with the entire uchiha clan, starting with obito (the very reason kakashi is able to teach sasuke in any meaningful way at all), going through itachi if you treat team ro as canon WHICH I DO, I LOVE TEAM RO, and ending with sasuke, who is someone kakashi can still try to give a normal life to? yeah i can see why he might feel personally responsible for him!

sasuke's side is less in your face but like... sasuke sought kakashi out to help train him and very much echoes kakashi's words about not abandoning your comrades. he is also often the first one to understand where kakashi is going with something, him and kakashi have similar ways of going through life even if kakashi has majorly mellowed out with age.

there's also little things like how sasuke just had no qualms about walking into kakashi's house unannounced (after itachi beat his ass ty itachi looove u itachi), even before that, how when kakashi calls sasuke over while itachi+kisame are having tea, sasuke just kind of announces that he HATES sweets (so cute), as if he made the assumption kakashi either bought it for him or was thinking about it? like.

look at his baby face.

despite whatever route it ended up taking To Me it's very clear that they did have a special bond and that it was a VERY important part of sasuke's everything pre-shippuden, he was clearly comfortable around kakashi despite his standoffish attitude. it was not perfect and kakashi does hold blame for a lot of things (in general he has a very hands-off teaching style that doesn't work great with these kids), but that's like. part of why i like it you know! it's a little complicated but not through any ill will. it's just that they are both full of Issues lmao

it makes me ssoooooo saaaaad that they BARELY speak to each other at all in shippuden because like. that was one of THE dynamics in the original team 7 you know? and idk if it comes as a surprise but i'm not even OPPOSED to sasuke wanting to kill kakashi by the time they meet again? in fact i think it could be kind of awesome. because like he could have a lot of reasons to be angry with him, up to and including the mere fact that kakashi took SO LONG to even meet him again?

(remember when team 7 finally meets sasuke again w/ tenzo and sai, and he himself mentions kakashi? it's one of those things you can choose to dismiss as meaningless dialogue but i often do think about it lol)

but instead we have sasuke in the peak of his borderline-demonization by the writing, which just leads to there not being much of an interesting dialogue at all. i'm not opposed to kakashi's sharingan being something that sasuke comes to resent either — it could be very fun character writing as that is the very thing that encouraged them to bond in the first place —, but i don't like the way it was done and i ESPECIALLY hate how it was immediately dropped like BROTHER MY PLOT THREADS... THEY'RE FALLING APART...

i could go on about a thousand different other things, such as.

sorry to mention jiraiya but. the rasengan vs chidori thing is VERY telling; jiraiya is naruto's mentor, and kakashi is sasuke's, this is reflected best when the kids each use their respective Overkill Jutsu at each other and the adults each take responsibility for their own kid

again, i'm unsure if it's fully intentional but there is this opposition of orochimaru vs kakashi other than the obvious confrontational scene they have. the very fact that kakashi is the one to put a limit to orochimaru's literal influence on sasuke through the curse mark is a very interesting narrative choice! kakashi is also extremely afraid of orochimaru and highly protective of sasuke; again it reads as a Personal fear/protectiveness rather than purely Professional to me. it builds this idea of kakashi being one of sasuke's choices, and orochimaru being the other (and we know which one he chooses unfortunately lol)

chidori in general is like. crazy btw. it becomes sasuke's signature move. and it's kakashi's creation. hi

this is also something that was dropped but there was also the occasional pointing out of similarities between, fucking, lee and gai of all people vs kakashi and sasuke? and like i don't need to explain this one that much right. gai is lee's dad in like everything but name LOL (and much like kakashi he also has questionable habits when it comes to how he teaches his kid)

but this is way too long LMFAO my tldr is that I Like Them And I Wish They Had More Screentime </3

their dynamic concretely to me is about caring very much about someone who shares a lot of pain with you, but being a little intimidated by that shared aspect. nothing hurts more than failing / being failed By someone who you know DOES understand you, in the end!

it's all my personal preference of course there's no right or wrong way to read naruto (well the wrong way is thinking it's good.) (joke) but i WAS surprised to not see sasuke and kakashi's relationship being discussed more (esp. with empathy for both characters) because well. obviously it's one of my favorite naruto things GFKDMGKFDM

#ill start doing these to answer stuff from now on i think #esp since i tend to let them pile up. L #asks #not art #thank u for the infodump prompt 👍 sorry for the long ass response .

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madara-fate · 11 months

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I just got back into Naruto and I was wondering. What are your (and everyone thoughts) of the ending/war arc? I feel it was good but tbh I didn't like the introduction of "aliens" or "reincarnations" or that it was only one who wrote the entire story of shinobi. It just felt like this new villain that we just meet, no hints of mythical being who was controlling the cycle of hatred, and it just made it seem like the characters had their destiny written. Naruto and Sasuke, Madara and Tobirama. Making Neji character arc a bit weaken since that was his stance or something he had to learn, that his life is not pre-written or destined. It took away the free will. Made Naruto and Sasuke be God like (literally). And idk I feel I just wanted Sasuke vs Naruto fight not only on what is the right answer of being a shinobi (since the beginning Naruto wanted to change it. That why his promise to Nagato/Pain, Neji, Jinchurikis ext) and Sasuke wanted more control-like charge at least in the beginning when he found out the truth, on how corrupt it is. So maybe a fight about that (almost like Rocky/Creed fight drama plot. What are they fighting for, more than just a outdo eachother power but fight each other views and resolutions.) Or idk a fight more personal and deep than what we got... Because in the end Naruto didn't make the change, at least from what I saw in Boruto, he called himself his childself naive. Still sending kids into the world to fight the same thing that shook him when we saw his first real mission with Team 7 in the beginning of the story and manga. Or that this new being almost made what Orochimaru, Pain, Itachi fight be for nothing due to the pre-written curse of hatred the black Zetsu created or more like Kaguya. It just I saw it like the big evil is Orochimaru/Kabuto, nope, it is Tobi who is Obito (who created the war due to his love for Rin and hatred of Kakashi... So needed something more than that for a War), to nope is Madara, nvm is Black Zetsu, oh no is Kaguya. Now let's Naruto deal with Alien like characters in the end. Oh and about the shipping... even though I am happy with my favs being canon I feel like in the end it got too focused on shipping with everyone (even characters I was like okay why they are together cough cough Choji this is new and didn't saw it coming literally... No hints before like Shikatema). Or strengthen women characters, what are they goals more than chasing after their love interested and being string to catch up to them. Ik it would be too much to cover but maybe Hinata arc would be the Hyuga clan and Neji arc, the drive within that more person without involvement of love alone. What are their philosophy on the x topic?

Ik is long but wanted your thoughts and everyone thoughts. How will you fix it? What would you change. What to keep? Just open conversation with you and everyone. 😊 I am really curious how everyone thinks

I just got back into Naruto and I was wondering. What are your (and everyone thoughts) of the ending/war arc?

The war arc had its moments, but Kaguya should not have been the final boss. Kishi spent hundreds of chapters hyping up Madara to be the final boss, so that's who people wanted to see. But when Kaguya came out of nowhere and usurped his position, there was no hype, there was no excitement. There was only confusion, which soon turned into criticism. Madara was so entertaining, so charismatic, readers knew about him and his history. Conversely, no one had a clue who the fuck Kaguya was or why they should care, and that severely lessened the quality of the final confrontation with her, because there was no reader investment in her as a character.

It just felt like this new villain that we just meet, no hints of mythical being who was controlling the cycle of hatred

Yep, that's essentially what I said regarding how Kaguya just came out of nowhere with no hype or build up, and yet Kishi expected readers to care about who she was. People cared about Madara - he had endeared himself to the readers, Kaguya did not.

It just made it seem like the characters had their destiny written... It took away the free will.

This had been a thing since the Pain arc introduced the whole "Child of Prophecy" angle, so I can't really make this a unique criticism of the War arc when similar themes had been done previously.

And idk I feel I just wanted Sasuke vs Naruto fight not only on what is the right answer of being a shinobi... Or idk a fight more personal and deep than what we got

I don't really have an issue with the themes and incentives behind their final fight, because it is pretty much consistent with what had been points of contention before. As I'm sure you've noticed by now, I like consistency and continuity in storytelling.

Because in the end Naruto didn't make the change, at least from what I saw in Boruto, he called himself his childself naive. Still sending kids into the world to fight the same thing that shook him when we saw his first real mission with Team 7 in the beginning of the story and manga.

Naruto did make changes. I don't want to get into detail here, but I discussed just how unfair it is to criticise Naruto for apparently not having done anything as Hokage during this post and this post, and regarding the whole "sending kids into the world to fight"/child soldiers debacle, I specifically address that and go into a lot of detail proving that point (during the New Generation while Naruto is the Hokage) to be false in this post.

It just I saw it like the big evil is Orochimaru/Kabuto, nope, it is Tobi who is Obito (who created the war due to his love for Rin and hatred of Kakashi... So needed something more than that for a War)

That's not actually the case.

Obito didn't descend into darkness and start the War because of Rin. During his battle with Kakashi (who had a similar assumption), Obito clarifies that he did not start the war just because of what happened between himself, Rin and Kakashi all those years ago:

He explained that his resentment was directed towards the shinobi world itself, for incorporating a system which allowed the situation which took Rin’s life to happen in the first place. That is ultimately what caused Obito to adopt Madara’s “Tsuki no Me” plan, because he wanted to change what he deemed to be the “counterfeit” world, to one which was free from such circumstances.

Oh and about the shipping... even though I am happy with my favs being canon I feel like in the end it got too focused on shipping with everyone (even characters I was like okay why they are together cough cough Choji this is new and didn't saw it coming literally... No hints before like Shikatema).

I don't think the manga focused too much on shipping at all, but I think the fans definitely focused too much on the shipping, and gave the ships far more importance than they actually had.

Or strengthen women characters, what are they goals more than chasing after their love interested and being string to catch up to them.

With this criticism, I'll just stick to the main two female characters who the accusation is usually directed towards.

Sakura's goal wasn't to chase after Sasuke, it was to save him from the darkness.

Hinata's goal wasn't to chase after Naruto, it was to be more like him because she admired him.

With regards to what I would change or improve from the manga, I go into detail on that topic during this post if you're interested.

#Naruto Uzumaki #Kaguya Otsutsuki #Madara Uchiha #Obito Uchiha #Sakura Haruno #Hinata Hyuga #Sasuke Uchiha

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