Chapter Text
It's still and peaceful, not that much can be said after the invasion. The entire Konoha crushed, but no one pays it any mind. Everyone's alive thanks to Naruto. By now, not a single soul in Konoha is unaware of his sacrifice, what he's lost. No longer the 'demon boy' or the 'demon container', villagers no longer sneered at the boy with disdain or contempt. Shop owners no longer throwing the boy out or hurting him. They acknowledge him, respect him, revere him. Everything Naruto's longed for, his dreams that the once 12 year old bright eyed genin told his sensei on the rooftop of the academy those years ago. The now 16 year old, still with a heart of gold, his heart too big for this world, whose belief and trust in his friends remain unshakable despite all he's faced and lost. After all, it's what his sensei taught him - "In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum". Ah yes, his sensei, the feared Copy nin, Kakashi of the Sharingan. An enigma of a sensei, of a man 90 percent of the time but Naruto likes to believe he knows his beloved sensei more than most. After all, in another universe they would've been brothers, would've been his 'Kaka-nii' instead of the 'Kaka-sensei' as most people hear the trio, now duo chorus.
Thinking of or about team 7 hurts, hurts everyone - Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, the rookie 9 and even the extended konoha 11. Team 7 as it seems has always been cursed, heartache following the members no matter the generation. Sometimes Kakashi wonders whether he cursed his kids with his own tragedies. Like a trickle, as though his own misery and pain has somehow affected his team, his team that he was reluctant to take who were just three big headaches, who somehow turned into three chaotic (but cute) genin, who had along the way, without his permission wormed their way and taken hold of his heart he was so sure was locked away. Three children who somehow became his kids, his pups. His to protect and care for. They’d somehow become his, unwillingly, begrudgingly. And yet, Kakashi can’t find it in himself to feel upset. Scared ? the word doesnt even come close. Undeserving sounds right, undeserving of the children who he was supposed to protect and care for. The brooding Uchiha, who was always too much like himself. The blonde who wore his heart on his sleeve like Kushina and whose bright light mimicked Minato’s too closely for comfort. The pretty, kind, strong pink haired kunoichi who reminded Kakashi too much of Rin to want to do nothing but wrap the girl in bubblewrap. Kakashi is no Minato, he knows that. God, if only his sensei were here, he’d know what to do, how to help, what to say. But he’s not. Kakashi knows that more than anyone.
The night sky twinkling with stars which is amusing considering the state of things. It’s late enough that civilians are all asleep in temporary housing or tents, but this is a hidden village after all, shinobi are still hard at work with reconstruction or on guard duty. Debris and dirt softly crunch under the Jounin’s feet, telltale book in his hand. Everyone greets the famous ninja, not that he was hard to spot. The lazy and calm air around him is normal, but chakra thrums around him, ready to kill before anyone could even blink. He stops for a while, visible eye softening. There’s a blob of pink and yellow heading his way, watching with fondness as they bound up to him. They may be growing up but they're still those 12 year olds he met those years ago.
“KAKASHI SENSEI !!!” comes the synchronised chorus of his two remaining students as they approach. It’s hard not to feel the kunai twist in his heart at the empty space where a certain raven haired brooding boy should be. He’s no fool, and it's a heartache that he wishes he could soothe in his remaining kids, heartbreak they shouldn’t even know. Maybe if he’d just … well there are so many things he should’ve done better he muses. Doesn’t understand why these two still trust him, still look at him with stars in their eyes. It makes his skin crawl sometimes at how undeserving he is of their affection but at the same time is learning that it’s okay to be loved the way he loved Minato sensei. Even if the blonde boy reminds him too much of what he’s lost while simultaneously thinking of what he’s stolen from his student - after all he’d received the love and affection from the boy’s father that he should’ve gotten himself. Well, he tries not to think about that too much.
“Hai Hai” he greets lazily but affectionately laying a hand atop of each of their heads. Eyeing them up and down subtly looking for any injuries. “We’ve been looking for you sensei” Sakura replies softly, melting under his touch. She’d always been the most affectionate in the team, despite wanting to prove she was strong. Kakashi had comforted the crying girl with soft touches and words he didn't even think he was capable of more times than he could count when she was still a genin. Now she was the second coming of Tsunade, he and everyone was sure she'd surpass the legendary sanin. “YEAH DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG WE’VE BEEN SEARCHING YOU ALWAYS DO THIS” the blonde huffs, leaning into the hand for just a second before ducking away. Naruto had always craved affection but despite how he was, surprisingly he always shied away from it. Whether it was embarrassment, or not being used to it, or just trauma from how he’s been treated all his life, Kakashi wasn’t sure. Yet another thing Kakashi didn’t like to think about. “Why were you looking for me?” Kakashi asks tilting his head slightly “You both should be resting, especially you” he says levelling Naruto with a stare. “Eh ? Why?” Naruto asks, clueless as ever. As though he didn’t just take down Pain, as though he didn't just save the entire village, as though he didn't just bring hundreds of them back to life, Kakashi included. “If anything it’s Sakura-chan who should be resting. She’s been working so hard with healing people and things. Tell her sensei” comes the childish whine Kakashi is so used to. “Mah Mah” the jounin drawls “You both should be resting, it’s been a long day” he drawls in that lazy tone that is somehow comforting to Naruto and Sakura. The two exchange looks, normally Kakashi is good at reading his kids, or maybe he’s not. He likes to think he is but who knows really. But in this moment, he has no idea what they’re thinking or silently talking about. He decides he’s going to blame it on the fact that he just got resurrected. It’s one of the more intense staring matches between the two before Naruto caves, he always did. “Just” Naruto pauses looking at Kakashi “Just … don’t go far okay?” Naruto asks softly. In a way that made Kakashi feel honoured. After all he, Sakura and Tsunade were the only people who saw the side of Naruto who wasn't just impatient and hot-headed. He supposed Jiraya also saw that side of Naruto but that’s yet again another thing Kakashi tries not to think about. But he knows, they all know there’s a hidden meaning to his words. “I better see you tomorrow for a full check up” Sakura threatens as well. Kakashi just eye smiles as Sakura starts threatening him under his breath before she just sighs and tip toes to press a chaste kiss against his cheek “I will hunt you down” she threatens again before she yawns “but I suppose you're right, I’m so tired” and wraps Kakashi in an admittedly strong hug, she forgets how strong she is sometimes Kakashi muses. He presses a chaste kiss to her hair and lets her go. Sakura murmurs something to Naruto that he can't hear but in his fashion, he beams at her and loudly proclaims not to worry. She punches Naruto in a soft way and holds his hand softly “I’ll find you tomorrow okay ?” she tells the blonde softly. “You know where to find me anyways” she says softly. The guilt in Sakura’s eyes, in her being, is palpable. The weight of what she’d inadvertently made him promise is so heavy but Naruto takes it in his stride. Sakura wants to take it all back, to beg the blonde to forget about the raven. But she’s nothing if not selfish she thinks, and wholly undeserving of the boy who seems to be made of sunshine. Naruto softens and places a soft kiss on her forehead, soft murmurs of reassurance. Sakura can do nothing but tell the universe that in her next life, she’ll be at Naruto’s beck and call and even that won’t make up for everything she’s put him through, continues to put through him. Kakashi watches it all with a soft gaze, grief is so thick between the three, binding them together for eternity. But so is love, you can’t have this much grief without having an extraordinary amount of love anyways. On one hand, this much love can only hurt, but on the other hand Kakashi’s done the uncaring cold route. He can't bring himself to go back there. Not when he feels how warm his kids are, how innocent and genuine their love is for him and for each other. Not when … it feels as though he’s got a family again, even if someone is missing.