Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The mission room was one of his least favorite tasks, just behind the Council meetings.  

It’s not that there was anything particularly wrong with the mission room; he knew that place by heart. He had stood on the other side of the table, waiting for a new scroll with instructions, more times than he could count.  It was his current role that filled him with boredom.  

Sitting there while his assistants and other ninjas, much more capable than him for this type of work, organized and delivered scrolls according to the mission log, was dull.  

Kakashi knew that as Rokudaime, he had no choice but to keep his head down, maintain a serious facade, and try to cover up as best as he could.  However, the shinobi beside him hadn’t stopped giving him disapproving looks whenever he felt him shifting restlessly in his chair.  

There wasn’t much he could hide from Iruka-sensei; the guy had hawk-like vision for bad behavior. It was probably a skill he had honed during his years working in the academy classrooms, and now used it to keep the Hokage in check. 

"Tamanomori Shizui"  announced one of the shinobi at the table when a new jounin entered the room.  Standing in the center, in front of the Hokage and the other members, he looked firm, though he leaned a bit on one leg.  His long, straight dark hair fell to the side, covering half of his face, but Kakashi could see the still-fresh scars on his skin. 

He wasn't seriously injured, but he hadn't full recovered from the last mission yet. He definitely needed some rest to regain his chakra, and yet, his name was already lined up for a solo B-rank mission. 

Kakashi could see the details in the notes that Iruka kept neatly organized— reconnaissance mission, information extraction .  There was a moderate to low chance of conflict, but they needed a specific set of skills, and Tamanomori had all of them. 

As he took the scroll in his hands, the jounin tilted his head solemnly, but Kakashi could notice the overwhelmed look on his face. 

He knew from experience how it felt to be on that side. Still, Kakashi preferred it over being there without being able to do anything about it. 

"Tamanomori-san, the estimated time for the mission is three days," Iruka mentioned. "In that case, you’re supposed to be back before the 16th. You won't be scheduled for any missions until after the 25th, for your full recovery." 

Upon hearing those dates, which had no special meaning for Kakashi, the jounin standing in the center of the room opened his one visible eye in surprise. 

"I think Kano-kun will be happy to have his dad around in the village for his birthday." 

The look of understanding and relief on the shinobi's face was immediate. Iruka sounded pleased to have made that point clear, and the morale of the shinobi with the scroll was high again. 

"Come back safe, shinobi-san." 

"Come back safe, shinobi-san," Kakashi echoed next to him. The jounin bowed in his direction and gave a smaller bow to the sensei, accompanied by a subtle smile. 

It’s unlikely he’ll go down in history as the best Hokage of Konohagakure. Damn... he’s probably the worst.  

He’s never more aware of his incompetence for the position than in those moments, when he was grateful to have people around him with the emotional intelligence he never developed. 

The way Iruka Umino handled that situation surprised him. Kakashi looked at him, impressed by the sensei's abilities. He was an admirable man, full of talents; it’s no wonder they made him one of his secretaries and unofficially, his personal babysitter. 

Shizune and Shikamaru were brilliant, navigating the bureaucracy of the Hokage mansion with experience and common sense. Iruka, however, was relentless. He was the only one not afraid to put him in his place, using whatever it took to do so when necessary. 

"Just two more missions, hang in there," the chuunin murmured, turning slightly in his direction.  Kakashi heard him perfectly. "Two more and you can leave. But you better leave a clone behind! And stay still, stop looking out towards the balcony!" 

Amused, he sat up straight in his chair, his back firmly against it. 

He only had to endure what the sensei promised: two more groups of shinobi receiving their scrolls, and then he was free to leave the room. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the expressions of indignation and boredom from his other two assistants when they realized that the real Hokage was using his high ninja abilities to sneak out of his duties through the balcony behind him. 

Kakashi left happily, feeling an immediate sense of relief. 

It’s not like those getaways were that frequent. But sometimes he just needed to leave  the Tower and get lost in Konoha. 

People used to see him jumping from rooftop to rooftop or hanging around the training fields with a look of respect and cautious distance. They respected him, some in the village even admired him, but most feared the imposing figure of the legend that the name Hatake Kakashi carried with it. 

“Yo!” he would try to greet citizens when they stared at him a second too long, somewhere between awkward and amused.  

He had never been the social type; on the contrary, he enjoyed provoking reactions that pushed others away. It was an immature pleasure he could no longer indulge in with his new status as the head of the village. 

He knew he couldn’t be the only Hokage who felt overwhelmed by routine and obligations from time to time. He didn’t remember his sensei doing it per se, but the image of Namikaze Minato shone perfectly in his mind, and over time, he realized he remembered little of the details that made him a vulnerable human. He hadn’t lasted long in the position, but the Yondaime would always be his idea of the perfect Hokage. 

Hiruzen, on the other hand, he remembered the old man frequently strolling through the village, interacting with civilians and shinobi. Almost everyone has at least one personal and routine, but ultimately significant memory, with the Sandaime. 

Tsunade used to sneaking off to drink and gamble at the best bars in the village. 

In the end, he will probably fall somewhere in between those two. The Hokage who walked around with an awkward expression among the villagers, but at least wasn’t getting drunk or publicly squandering his salary and/or family inheritance. 

Even when he pulled out his favorite Icha Icha book, made sure to do it when no one was around, especially minors. 

Being Hokage felt like winning a raffle he hadn’t even entered. The title given to the last man standing, the one who warmed the seat until Naruto was ready to lead the village. None of that really bothered him, and he accepted the role just like he had accepted every mission given to him in the past. 

Like when Namizake-sensei asked him to be ANBU. Without fear, without doubt, the obligation to the village came first. Because above all, he was a soldier and he always would be one. 

Maturity had also given him an extra incentive; the years had brought a peace to his heart that, although it still felt shaky like walking on thin ice, made him want to use all his strength and will to protect the people of Konoha. 

Every sacrifice now carried the faces of his comrades, his former students, and now also their children.  Kakashi wanted to protect that happiness. 

He was becoming a sentimental old man. 

The job was easier with people by his side who shared the same aspirations. People, like his assistants, who were much more capable than him for this kind of work. Working in the Tower, he discovered many others like them, shinobi who carried the Will of Fire, turning the gears of the village, not just on the battlefield where he had sheltered himself his entire career. 

The years had given him a broader perspective, a renewed respect for those who built up the village in times of peace. They had also made him a bit more aware of his own interpersonal relationships. He´d once been proud of his detachment;  today he can admit without shame that he had at least three people he trusted with his life. 

Three friends, even. 

Gai was his eternal rival; he could always count on him whenever he felt demotivated or just wanted to blow off some steam after sitting all day in his ceremonial outfit. Conversations with the green beast of Konoha had given him clarity more than once about key points in his life, and frankly, Kakashi couldn’t think of anyone better to hold the title of his best friend. 

One day he´d tell him, just to see him whine from excitement. 

His kohai Tenzo understood him in a way that only another ANBU could. They shared the same dark humor, and he had been a great support during this transition, taking charge of the new recruits. Cleaning up and organizing that unit, which was responsible for the best and most dangerous of Konoha, wasn't a task for just any shinobi, but Kakashi had no doubt his kohai was up for the job. Being able to see him and get together in the Tower often was a nice bonus. 

The third person he trusted the most, which had even surprised himself, was Umino Iruka. 

They had never been particularly close, even when they seemed to gravitate towards each other due to different circumstances. Kakashi had started to notice Umino back when he was in the academy, and in ANBU, rumors about the prankster terror under the Sandaime protection were already circulating. The first time he himself fell victim to one of Iruka’s glitter bombs, he was so surprised that instead of getting angry like others, Kakashi  just smiled with amusement beneath his mask. 

Impressed by his wit and entertained by his troublesome personality, Iruka had always somehow been on his radar. 

They shared a couple of memorable moments, a dramatic fight in front of Saindaime and some other jounin before the chuunin exam, which some still talked about (exaggerating it over time, in the current story  some people claim that a Raikiri was involved in the argument). Other encounters hadn’t been as passionate, but that didn't make them any less significant; they had even shared a couple of deep conversations, and he had saved his life a few times. Not that he was keeping score. 

The common link of Naruto had brought them closer in a camaraderie that allowed them to share the occasional ramen dinner with the son of his sensei, and some polite greetings when they crossed paths in the village. But nothing more. 

It wasn’t until the end of the war, with his rise to Rokudaime that their situation changed. 

When they realized that Kakashi was an expert soldier but that his genius status didn’t translate into the bureaucracy and protocols that also came with the job, the council suggested the sensei’s name as the right person to help him with that.  Iruka, that shinobi who seemed to never stop surprising him, was one of the most experienced, having spent so many years under Hiruzen's tutelage and then working in the tower during his and Tsunade's time. 

His knowledge wasn’t the only valuable thing; it was also his talent for simplifying and teaching concepts, even to the most troublesome kids. Those qualities made him the perfect assistant for the disastrous Rokudaime, and he didn’t have time to feel offended because when he started working with him, discovered with horror that he knew even less than he thought. 

Relieved, he begged him to stay for the entire duration of his term, to which the chuunin simply responded with an arrogant smile and a “we’ll see.” 

The council and his other assistants also seemed impressed by the sensei's ability not to be intimidated by his name, promptly putting him in his place when he started throwing a tantrum or showed any signs of inappropriate behavior (both intentional and unintentional). 

In those years, he had discovered that the legendary prankster, the admired sensei, and the unyielding secretary, besides being a man of many talents, was actually a pretty nice guy. Their conversations flowed easily, and there was something about the sensei that relaxed him enough to speak freely. 

"Are you going to keep loafing around on the roof, or are you actually going to come in for once?" 

The mask hid the little laugh that slipped out. Iruka was yelling at him from the balcony of the Hokage's main office, where he'd been sitting for the last hour, trying to hide his chakra without much success, apparently. 

Iruka didn't sense chakra in the traditional way; he had his own tricks up his sleeve or just a knack for sniffing out lazy Hokages. 

As he entered the office from the balcony, he noticed the dark hallways indicated that many of the employees had already gone home. 

"Someday you’re going to have to tell me, Iruka-sensei, how you do that. I’m sure I was hiding my presence pretty well." 

He heard Iruka huff in amusement, and instead of getting annoyed, he just smiled back. 

"Where is everyone else?" 

"Shizune had to cover a shift at the hospital, and Shikamaru went home. You do know the rest of us have lives that don’t revolve around you, right?" he added, noticing Kakashi’s surprise at the idea of no one else being around.  

"And yet here you are, sensei," he playfully remarked. Iruka just rolled his eyes and pointed at the desk, where a pile of documents awaited his signature.  

"Just wait until school starts at the Academy; then you’ll be stuck with your own ass, all alone." 

Kakashi’s laughter filled the office, and Iruka couldn’t hide his satisfied smile upon hearing it. 

"Just sign already, so I can leave in peace." 

Kakashi took a seat and started whittling down the mountain of papers. A closer look at the chunin in front of him made him notice how tired he was. With dark circles under his eyes and constantly rubbing between his eyebrows, like if a headache had already settled in. 

"You look wiped out, Iruka," he murmured without taking his eyes off the documents. He felt Iruka sit down on the other side of the desk, exhaling air with a sound that resembled a sigh. 

"I am. I just want to finish up here, go home, have a beer or two, and then sleep." 

"Sounds like a good plan." 

“Especially the alcohol part” 

“Is the reason you're feeling exhausted because of me, or does it have to do with that life of yours that doesn't revolve around me?” 

He barely lifted his gaze from the paper; Iruka looked thoughtful, as if he were carefully contemplating the question. 

“Academy stuff...“ he finally replied.  “But I don't want to think about that right now.” 

Kakashi simply responded with a sound of understanding and tried to finish reading and signing the documents as quickly as possible. 

He wasn’t completely convinced by the answer; he could tell how sometimes his irresponsibility weighed on others. He felt a pang of guilt in his chest. 

“Maah... sensei, I hope I haven’t caused you too much trouble today. “ He let the comment slip with a humorous tone, but his intentions were sincere. “ If I did, I'm really sorry.” 

Iruka didn’t seem surprised by the apology, but looked pleased to hear it. The sensei scratched the scar on his nose and nodded. 

“Kakashi...” he sighed. “ I understand how all this can be too much sometimes, I swear I do. But the mission room is important. It’s not a whimsical decision for the Hokage to be there.” 

“But it’s so boring, senseiiii.” 

He knew he sounded like a whiny kid, but Iruka was skilled at dealing with that. He expected some kind of challenge, but the answer the sensei gave left him speechless. 

Iruka had leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, and spoke calmly. 

“Kakashi, they see you as a hero, you know that, right?” 

He didn’t feel like one. He hadn’t felt that way before and definitely didn’t now. Still, he made an affirming sound. 

“Many of them served under your command during one of the most terrifying times we faced as shinobis; several remember the calm and steadiness you led them with. I know you don’t understand it, “ he added quickly upon seeing Kakashi's unhappy expression. “but seeing you on the battlefield, at the forefront, leading and protecting us; that’s the image all the shinobis remember, the one Konoha has of you. Sitting in that chair means to everyone that you are still at the forefront, and that gives us peace of mind and confidence that no matter what happens, we will fight. Kakashi... your presence in that room reminds the shinobis heading out on missions that you’re in charge, that you depend on them and expect their return. That’s the kind of hope we need to keep going.” 

Iruka's words hadn't carried any kind of complaint. He had spoken them softly, a whisper in the solitude they shared in his office, like a reminder. Settling in his mind, Kakashi repeated the sensei's words over and over again. 

Kakashi nodded, looking him in the eyes. Unable to speak at that moment, he hoped he could convey with his gaze that he understood the importance of the matter. Iruka smiled back, a barely perceptible gesture on his lips, but the furrow in his brow had relaxed. 

He was thankful, for the umpteenth time that week, to have someone like Iruka in his life to help him see things that were invisible to him. 

It wasn't long before they wrapped up, and when the sensei decided to end his day, Kakashi continued walking beside him, following him to his apartment as he had done many times before. Iruka let him tag along, carrying on a conversation that could range from a state matter to some gossip from the tower or anecdotes about the pre-genin from the academy. 

Those last ones were his favorites because his friend's face lit up every time he recounted their antics, trying to sound indignant but unable to hide how impressed and even amused he was by his students' mischiefs. 

"Karma is a funny thing, sensei," he replied, walking with both hands in his pockets. Iruka blushed and nodded, trying to contain a laugh. "I still remember that glitter bomb and how hard it was to get sparkles off parts of my body I didn’t even remember I had." 

Hearing Iruka's laughter echoing through the semi-empty streets of Konoha was one of the most enjoyable things he experienced that day. 

"Good point, Rodukaime-sama." 

"How is it that you always laugh so hard when we're talking about some misfortune of mine? Especially mine. You don’t laugh like that about anything else, Iruka," he commented, trying to make it sound like a painful complaint, but he was laughing too. 

The chunin was wiping tears from his eyes, starting to run out of breath from laughing so much. It was the first time he had mentioned the glitter bomb incident to the ANBU with the dog mask, almost twenty years ago. 

They stopped in front of a store, and the sensei excused himself for a few minutes to buy something and come back. Kakashi waited for him on the street, still with his hands in his pockets and a relaxed smile beneath his mask. It was a beautiful summer night, not as hot as some other nights that week. He could see that others had made the same choice and were strolling through the streets, enjoying the nice weather. 

When Iruka came out, he had some cans of beer and what looked like a bag of snacks in a plastic bag. Kakashi caught the can he tossed at him, realizing that the sensei had decided it was time to start drinking. 

They continued walking; he mentioned the nice weather, which led them to recall particularly bad times in the past. Heat waves weren't unknown to the inhabitants of Konoha, where the heat would settle in violently, but unlike other villages like Tsunagakure, the humidity made it unbearable. 

“That last time, five years ago, do you remember? It was the year I had a freshman course for the first time. The nightmare of trying to control irritable five-year-olds because of the heat… Kamisama…” 

“I still remember how the uniform would stick to me, constantly damp with sweat. At first, I used my chakra to dry it, but after a while, seeing that it wasn’t going to get better with the days, I just stopped wasting energy.” 

“Yeah! Ahh… that was horrible. I remember thinking about cutting my hair for the first time during that heatwave. Like... everything, I’d shave it off if necessary.” 

Iruka didn’t seem to have any intentions of going home anytime soon because he stopped at a nearby park by his apartment, and now they were both sitting in a kids' hammock in the play area, deserted at night. Kakashi didn’t push the issue; he just accepted the second can of beer and continued drinking beside him, not wanting to return to the solitude of the Hatake complex. 

“I don’t think I’d recognize you without your usual ponytail, sensei. It’d be really hard to get used to.” 

Iruka instinctively rubbed his neck, his hair tied up as always. 

“Ah… probably, I think I’d have a hard time recognizing myself in the mirror after so long. “ he confessed, offering Kakashi the silver bag full of chips that he had been munching on between sips of his drink. 

Kakashi wasn’t a fan of fried stuff, but drinking on an empty stomach wasn’t very smart, and his last meal had been more than ten hours ago. Plus, he wasn’t good turning down an offer from Iruka. 

He stretched out his hand and, with a nod of thanks, brought the snack to his mouth, letting his mask slip just below his chin, with no intention of pulling it back up right away. 

It wasn’t the first time he had shown his face. 

Iruka was among the few people in his life who had seen his features. The first time had been easy, especially because the sensei had never shown any signs of wanting to unmask him. Even in moments like that, Iruka would glance at him sideways, with a composed expression, but he’d turn his gaze back to the front or to his can, not wanting to invade his privacy too much. 

They kept talking for at least another hour about Naruto, as it was a never-ending topic for both of them. They could share childhood stories or make projections and share their hopes for the future. Their days as Hokage were getting closer, and that filled them with excitement, a thrill that Kakashi knew few felt with the same intensity as the two of them.  

"I think I've had enough for today, so if you'll excuse me, Hokage-sama... I'm going to bed." Using the honorifics as a way to tease him, Iruka gave an unsteady bow in his direction. Kakashi could see from the slight flush on the bridge of his nose that the alcohol was starting to kick in. 

"Yeah... yeah. I won't keep you any longer, good night Umino-sensei." 

He also felt his head lighter; his still exposed face didn’t hide the relaxed smile he wore in that moment. The teacher lingered for a second longer after saying goodbye, as if he wanted to add something else. 

Finally, he saw Iruka smile, exhausted, his chocolate-brown eyes shining pleasantly in the night light. 

"Good night, Kakashi." he finally said and left. 

The next morning, Shikamaru was the first to find him in the hallways of the Tower. The youngest of his assistants had a serious expression that he reserved only for when something was bothering him. 

"Hokage-sama." 

"Kakashi is fine... how many times do I have to repeat it, Shikamaru-kun?" 

The young shinobi nodded quickly, dismissing the issue. The urgency in his gestures was starting to unsettle him. 

"What’s going on?" 

"The council is currently in session and they’re requesting your presence." He pointed with his hand towards the room where they usually gathered. Kakashi turned back to head in that direction, with Shikamaru following closely behind. 

"Do you know what it’s about?" he asked, lowering his voice to be heard only by his assistant. The young man pressed his lips together but eventually shook his head. "You don’t know, but you have an idea of what it could be." 

That wasn’t a question, and from the expression on the other’s face, he hit the nail on the head. 

"Is it serious? Should I be worried?" 

Shikamaru gave him one last cryptic look before staying at the entrance of the room, where the Rokudaime entered alone. 

A quick glance at the people gathered that day and the folders on the table gave him an idea of what was about to happen, and he immediately relaxed. Those kinds of meetings had already happened at least twice before, and there was never a moment when certain members didn't push the topic, some of them more subtly than others. 

The papers on the table told him that this time the attack was direct and with heavy artillery. 

They started talking, giving an introduction about protocols, image, and good relations with neighboring nations. And immediately onto the need for him to find a wife. 

Kakashi understood that for some older members of the Council, a Hokage without a spouse like him could seem unusual, even offensive, especially in these times of peace. They had been pushing the issue of finding someone ever since he began his term. 

They didn't care how he did it. Whether he wanted to formalize a relationship, it didn't matter if she was a shinobi from Konoha or the alliance, or if he preferred a civilian. In their desperation, they even hinted that they didn’t care about the gender of his partner. Without a kekkei genkai to pass on, they were indifferent to whether the Hatake dynasty ended with him. 

And they had been patient, anyway. Kakashi had been avoiding this for quite a while. However, from the way he saw it that day, he wasn’t going to be able to keep pulling that string. 

“Alright.” He finally said, his eyes curving into a smirk. It was worth it just to see the surprise and pure shock on the old folks’ faces. 

“Hokage-sama!” exclaimed one of the women, a retired shinobi, looking very relieved by his answer. Next to her, the other members present had similar expressions on their faces. 

“Who do you have in mind this time? An ally clan leader, a princess, the son of some important daimyo?” he asked, flipping through the folder in front of him with amusement. This time they had even included photographs. 

The information was brief and the photos professional, probably taken only to show to a potential candidate for husband. It was of a young woman with her face painted white and lips shining crimson. Her elegant clothes were traditional, and her frame small and fragile. 

“Ah... a princess then.” He guessed. 

“Actually, she’s related to  the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, his niece.” 

“A princess.” He repeated. “Okay, set up the meeting. And please,” he added with a cocky expression, “let the princess know I have eight dogs and sometimes snore at night.” 

To be continued...

Chapter Text

“ The three of you? What do i owe the pleasure”

He´d been sitting at his desk for a good hour, working without bothering anyone. He was, in fact, carefully reading his official correspondence with the retired Mizukage, Terumi Mei, when his three assistants walked into the office all at once.

He looked up from the documents, noticing that the question hung in the air and none of the shinobis dared to speak.

“ Is it true?” finally, it was Shizune who broke the silence. Kakashi tilted his head to the side, pretending to be confused. The kunoichi clenched her fists and repeated the question.

“ You’ll have to be more specific, Shizune-chan.”

“ Is it true that you’re getting married?” This time, it was Shikamaru who spoke, arms crossed over his chest. His expression showed genuine confusion.

“ Ahh... that. Rumors sure fly fast in a ninja village.” with a chuckle, he went back to reading the letter.

His assistants didn’t move from their spots.

“ Hokage-sama...”

“ Kakashi! Why? “ Shizune snapped, starting to sound irritated. He set aside the papers; it was clear he wouldn’t be able to continue until the matter was cleared up.

Resting his covered fase on his hand, elbow pinned on his desk, Kakashi replied toward the two who had been speaking.

“ Because it’s an order.”

The calmness with which he said that seemed to irritate the shinobis even more.

“ I’m a shinobi of the village, after all; following orders is part of my job. You haven’t forgotten that, have you?”

Even he was answering to someone else, that´s what he wanted to make clear.

“But... Why not choose? You were allowed to choose on your own, why accept a wife imposed by the council”

He replied to Shikamaru with a shrug.

“I have no particular interest in anyone, Shikamaru-kun.”

“Have you even made the attempt?” insisted the Nara shinobi.

“I've met all kinds of shinobi in the village and in other nations, even some civilians, and I've never thought ´I'd like to marry this person.” He was using his joking tone, but he was also being painfully honest.

Shizune lowered her head, the tension in her body seemed to relax and she no longer clenched her fists. Kakashi couldn't guess what would be going through her head at those moments. Shikamaru, however, was a bit more predictable. There was understanding in his eyes, maybe even a bit of pity.

The sensei had been quiet all this time. He had barely turned in Iruka's direction, but he could see him standing there, his gaze riveted on him, undecipherable and stoic.

He wasn't used to seeing him like this. He shifted in his seat, uncomfortable.

“I don't care who it is, I just have to carry out the order.” He sentenced, hoping that would end the matter.

“Tsunade-sama didn't give in to that pressure, it's not inescapable.” The kunoichi added, the tone of her voice less irritated than before, she almost even sounded concerned for him.

Kakashi sighed, rubbing his forehead. The one who was starting to lose his patience was him.

“Tsunade had a war to divert attention. There's enough peace now that the Council will have time to push me on less pressing matters. It is a matter of time... Iruka-sensei! You're strangely quiet over there, is there anything you'd like to add?”

The three shinobi in the room turned to pay attention to the sensei, who standing with both arms glued to the sides of his body, had not uttered a sound since his arrival. Unperturbed by the attention, Iruka simply shook his head.

“It is a matter of a private nature, I have no say in it.” The formal and dispassionate tone only irritated him a little more.

“Ahh never better! Why can't everyone be like Iruka-sensei?” his voice had come out a little sharper in tone than he had intended. “ I'm not the first or last Hokage with an arranged marriage, it's not that much drama. Hashirama Senju had an arranged marriage with Uzumaki Mito and it was a success one, are you forgetting that?”

“They knew each other since they were children.”

“They were childhood friends.”

Shikamaru and Iruka spoke at the same time. Kakashi could tell he was reaching the limit of his patience with that situation. He hadn't expected that level of resistance nor was he prepared for the words of his assistants, partly his anger came from the surprise reaction.

“Well, in that case how unfortunate that none of my childhood friends are still alive.”

He had no idea what had prompted him to blurt out that comment in such a casual tone that only made the message worse. But the room finally fell silent.

“Is that all? If you'll excuse me, now I have to get on with this business of running a village.” He waved goodbye, to send them away.

Shizune turned on her heels sharply and walked out of the room stomping her heels. The other two shinobi simply walked away, Iruka even made a small bow to him before leaving.

Another out of the ordinary reaction.

But the situation was indeed out of the ordinary.

Kakashi wasn't so obtuse in social matters to understand that such an event could mean a big issue in other people's lives. He wasn't like many people, and his assistants seemed to have forgotten that for a moment.

The week went on without too many alterations to his planned schedule, and soon he himself began to forget about the outburst in the office.

His duties continued to happen as usual, he just had a vague feeling that he and Iruka hadn't crossed paths as often as they normally did. He knew he was in the tower, working normally, a couple of times he had caught a glimpse of a brown ponytail but it seemed that whenever he entered a room, Iruka Umino just left it.

“Hokage-sama! Can I help you with something? “ asked a short-haired blond shinobi whose desk was next to sensei's in their shared office.

“Mmm... no. I was just...” he made a vague and disinterested gesture in the general direction of the area where Iruka used to work.

“Ah! Iruka-sensei isn't here at the moment, he just went to the general archive. Shall I tell him you're looking for him Hokage-sama?“ the shinobi's bright smile and enthusiastic predisposition only reminded him that perhaps he should return to his own duties.

“No, that's all right. Thank you for your hard work. “ His eyes had curved into a polite smile and he left the office as soon as he could.

Later that day, as he passed through the office hallway on his way to an ANBU tactical team meeting with Tenzo, he saw that the door was open and it became unavoidable for him to glance in the direction of the sensei's desk. Still empty.

“Hokage-sama! Iruka-sensei was here a minute ago, he went to get some spare ink, I'm sure he'll be back very soon. “ The voice of the same blond shinobi from the morning, who had stuck his head out the door as he passed by, almost made him tangle with his own feet and stumble down the hallway.

“Mm... I'm...” he pointed to the hallway in front of him and the boy nodded vehemently.

“Oh! I see, I'll tell sensei that you were in a hurry. Don't worry Hokage-sama I'll take care of it!”

He opened his mouth to tell him it wasn't necessary, but the blonde head with the Konoha hatai-ate had already slipped back into the office.

Hours later and when the view of the night sky was already pouring through the windows of the Hokage Tower, Kakashi ended the meeting and left the ANBU barracks, but not before exchanging a few words with his kohai and a promise to drink together later in the week.

He was walking back to his office, just crossing the occasional night shift worker, with intentions to finish the day and return home, when he felt the presence of the shinobi who had started walking next to him.

“I was told you were looking for me today. “ Iruka said.

“That's what they said? “ He asked rubbing his covered chin, remembering the image of the hyperactive shinobi he shared an office with. “I'm not so sure that was the case... “

Iruka only made a sound of understanding, but continued to follow him.

“In any case I was looking for you.”

Kakashi turned to look at him with interest, the sensei had a determined expression he hadn't noticed before. He stopped and Iruka mimicked him.

“Something in particular, sensei?” he asked, leaning against a wall and crossing his arms, his attention undivided on the chunnin.

“I wanted to talk to you about something personal.” He admitted, lowering his voice even though the corridors were empty. At the mention of the type of matter, Kakashi felt his interest grow.

“Does this have to do with the matter of my engagement?” he hastened to ask. But to his surprise, Iruka furrowed his eyebrows in a gesture of confusion.

Feeling a little embarrassed by the question his mouth opened quickly to say the first thing that came to his mind.

“You were so quiet, sensei! Last time. I can't get used to the idea of an Iruka without an opinion on the matter.”

Still with a disoriented expression, the chunnin answered him.

“I have an opinion.” He assured him.

“Well?”

“Just because I have it doesn't mean I have to share it.”

“And if your Hokage asks you to do so?”

“And if your friend asks you to” was what he had thought, but had chosen to verbalize a cowardly version of that very question.

Iruka looked him in the eyes, contemplatively and finally with a sigh pointed to the door a few meters ahead.

“Kakashi, I have tea in my office, why don't you come in for a minute? I can prepare something for both of us.”

Nodding, he followed him into the same room where he had been earlier that morning. No one else was there at that hour, he discovered with relief. A part of him had feared that blond hair would appear under some table jumping up in surprise.

He settled back against a free wall between the filing cabinets, while Iruka kept his promise and made tea for them both.

“I'm all ears, sensei. “ He spoke, while the water was still boiling.

“My opinion on the matter... “ he exhaled, rubbing his temple, where a few strands of hair had come loose. “ I understand your position, I think I would do the same in your place.”

He said nothing, but Iruka realized that her answer had surprised him.

“Did you expect me to say something else?”

“Mm... I don't know. I always thought that between the two of us, Iruka-sensei is the one who's more in touch with his human side. I guess I figured you're the romantic type, sensei, marrying for love and all that. “ He confessed, shrugging, suddenly feeling a bit silly for what he had just said.

That elicited an amused smile from the chunnin.

“I don't know much about romance, Kakashi. I've been told I have bad taste and shouldn't trust my judgment in choosing a mate. I've been single for so long that I have no idea what romance means anymore. No, Hokage-sama, I know nothing about that. But I do know quite a bit about obligations and following orders. I admit to you that I don't envy your position, I wouldn't be as comfortable as you with being chosen the person I have to spend the rest of my life with. But if I were ordered to, for Konoha, I would not hesitate.”

He listened to Iruka's opinion carefully, and although his logic told him that this should soothe him or make him feel better about his decision, Kakashi felt that something was bothering him.

He received the tea Iruka offered with a small grateful smile, the scent of the brew mixed with ink, it was scent he had always associated with the sensei in front of him.

“There is something I would like to ask you.”

He made an affirmative sound with his throat, implying that he heard him. Iruka's eyes were fixed on the cup, but he finally fixed on Kakashi decisively.

“I'm glad you brought up the subject of your engagement, because it has something to do with that.” He began to speak, his tone a little lower than the one they used minutes before. “I would like to ask you something, Kakashi.”

“I'm listening, Iruka-sensei”.

“I'd like to ask you to spend a night with me.”

In the silence of the room, Kakashi repeated the phrase in his head again, as if to confirm that he had understood the words that left the sensei's lips correctly. Iruka didn't waver, neither in his words nor in how firmly he had planted himself.

“ Sensei?”

“Sex, Kakashi. “ He repeated, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up in the same way as when static filled the atmosphere prior to a raikiri. “ I´d thought on several occasions about proposing, but it never felt like the right time. And now this engagement thing... I think it's my last chance to do it.

Mouth dry, he looked at Iruka again, suddenly feeling that he was standing in front of someone else and not that of his friend and assistant. That side of him, was just as frontal as the regular Iruka, but he had never imagined he was saying those words to him.

“Sex. “ He repeated the word, and the chunnin nodded, finally a slight pink tinge appearing on his cheeks.

“One night with me, just that.”

He made it sound like very little.

Actually, it was no big deal, Kakashi had received that kind of proposal on several occasions and had never turned one down. Casual sex was commonplace among shinobi and in Konoha it was no different.

A quick encounter with a colleague was a good stress reliever. The one that lately he felt compressed in the muscles of the back of his neck and shoulders. But what Iruka was proposing, as casual as it sounded, didn't feel like the same.

He hadn't even thought of him in that way. Or maybe he had, on some night fraught with sexual frustration where his hand was the only relief and the Icha Icha stuff felt repetitive. Perhaps he had had one or two such thoughts with sensei, but he had never indulged that fantasy. Much less thought of carrying them out.

He wondered if there was something more beneath the surface of the proposal, maybe he should worry about that, but Iruka had made it clear that he wasn't the romantic or emotional type with such matters.

He had been quiet in thought for longer than he expected, and though Iruka was still looking at him with interest, he could notice the hint of anxiety in his gestures. He was starting to get nervous.

“Yes. Sure, anytime. “ he finally said.

Kakashi saw him relax at the answer, a satisfied smile on his lips and eyes. Iruka was very attractive, at that moment and given what they just decided, he allowed himself to appreciate it.

Lowering the edge of his mask to take a sip of tea, which had cooled, Kakashi allowed him to see that he was smiling too.

TBC....

Chapter Text

It was as if a veil had been lifted from his eyes, because if he hadn’t seen Iruka-sensei in “that way” before, now he couldn’t stop doing it.  

He started to noticed details that had been exposed all along, like the fullness of his lower lip (the one he unconsciously bit when he was thinking about something). That the exposed skin of his neck, touched by the sun, had an almost golden color and looked smooth.  

He wondered how would it feel under his touch. 

While they were in a meeting and he saw him stretch to reach a series of documents on top of a filing cabinet, Kakashi scolded himself for not having noticed before how well the standard uniform pants hugged his thighs and backside. Apparently, Iruka had always had a fantastic ass and he was the last to find out about it. 

Shikamaru had given him a couple of reprimanding looks when he saw him getting distracted during an important meeting. Fortunately for him, he didn’t seem to have realized the cause of that distraction. 

“Your house tomorrow night, does that sound good to you?” Iruka had asked him quietly,  when they were virtually alone in his office. He used a tone that he hoped the ANBU hidden in the shadows of the room couldn’t hear.    

Kakashi started salivating more than usual upon hearing him mention the matter between them, when in those last few days he had acted as if nothing had happened. 

He nodded slowly, trying not to seem so affected by the issue. But when Iruka winked at him conspiratorially before leaving the office, he started to feel the heat in his cheeks,  fortunately hiding under the mask.   

The Hokage couldn’t believe he had blushed over something as simple as a gesture. 

He wasn’t nervous, maybe a bit curious about the way he was reacting. That’s all. 

The difference was probably in the type of relationship they had, he thought while tidying up his house a bit, before receiving Iruka.  He had never had sex with a close friend.  

The closest thing to that had been a youthful kiss shared with Rin too many years ago to remember the details. He knew he had felt nervous, and after her death, there was only pain in that memory. 

Iruka arrived at the Hatake Estate a little after the agreed time. Kakashi had waited for him dressed as he usually did when arriving home, the sleeveless shirt that matched his mask and dark pants. Without his hitai ate, gloves, or footwear, nothing that reminded him of his status in the village. For a moment, he had even wondered anxiously if perhaps he should have put a little more effort into his appearance. But when he saw the sensei arrive in his usual uniform, he felt relieved. 

The chunin apologized upon entering, he had been delayed stopping to buy some of his favorite sake. Kakashi appreciated the presence of a drink at that moment. 

It wasn’t the first time Iruka was at his house, but the Hatake Residence didn’t receive guests frequently, and sometimes the dust accumulated more than usual because Kakashi ended up spending more time in his office than there. However, after some renovations, it remained comfortable and simple, just as he liked it. 

“Should I have prepared something to eat?” he wondered, scratching the back of his neck with a bit of embarrassment.  Iruka placed the sake on the kotatsu and smiled in a reassuring gesture. 

“No, it’s not necessary. If you don’t mind, I would just like to drink. " 

"I think it’s a good idea, sensei." 

He went for some glasses and sat at the table.  As he received his  tokkuri full, he brought it to his mouth without taking his eyes off the man in front of him, who seemed much calmer than Kakashi felt.  

Iruka drank in one gulp, exhaling with pleasure while squinting his eyes in a gesture of enjoyment. 

"It’s my favorite." He clarified again. To which Kakashi poured himself another drink and raised the small cup, making a toast in his direction. Iruka smiled, both surprised and amused by the gesture, and immediately stopped feeling strange beside him. 

This was the same feeling of comfort and camaraderie that  always had when he was in the presence of the sensei. He was glad he hadn’t lost that. 

They got caught up in a brief conversation about sake, Iruka confessing how he had discovered that brand he now liked so much thanks to Shizune, and she had probably learned about it from her teacher. Kakashi commented anecdotally about how he still found hidden bottles in the office and suspected they would continue to do so even when Naruto took over his role.   

Iruka’s laughter was pleasant, Kakashi had always been able to enjoy it. This time, moreover, it caused a certain warmth of anticipation in his belly that felt very good.   

He felt his foot against his ankle under the table, a casual contact that normally wouldn’t have been a big deal. He found himself looking into Iruka’s eyes, searching for any sign of intention,  but the chunnin was pouring both of them a new drink without seeming affected by the warm sensation of his skin against the jounin.  

“Iruka-sensei, there’s something I would like to ask you.” 

“Huh? “ his chocolate brown  eyes were a bit brighter from the drink, but he still didn’t seem affected by the alcohol.  

“I can’t stop thinking about what you said the other day, sensei. What did you mean by that… about having bad taste?”  

Iruka was an honest man, but reserved when it came to past relationships or romantic interests. Kakashi had never heard him talk about the topic, but he hadn’t asked either. Being a person who enjoyed and respected privacy in his own life, he knew when not to push. 

However, he had been sincere this time; ever since he heard him confess, he had been wondering about it. And emboldened by the three cups of sake he had, he decided to bring up the topic. 

The sensei made a gesture of realization, understanding what was he was talking about, and did not seem uncomfortable with the question. Maybe a little surprised. 

“Ah, it’s not a big secret, my friends have just mentioned  that I tend to choose people who are not very convenient for me.” He confessed shrugging, his gaze lost on the table. 

“What do they mean with that?“ 

“Let’s just say my last relationship ended with a fuma shuriken in my back, Kakashi.”  

“Oh.” 

“Exactly,” he said, and although the revelation of the true nature of his relationship with Mizuki sounded like a dark admission, his tone had sounded detached. Indifferent, even. 

Many years had passed since then, thought Kakashi.  He wondered, as he pushed another dose of alcohol down his throat, aware of their contact under the table, if Iruka had had any kind of relationship after that disastrous episode.  

It wasn’t his place to ask, nor the time, really. For some reason, the thought of Iruka with other people made his stomach a little upset. 

Maybe he should have prepared something to eat. 

“Kakashi.” He called him from across the table, softening his tone.”How do you want to do this?” 

He opened his eyes in surprise, wiping the excess sake that had slipped down his lip with the back of his hand.  

“Mm… do you have something in mind, sensei? I am willing to follow you in whatever you want.” 

A bold statement for a first meeting, but the way Iruka’s eyes sparkled upon hearing it made him feel proud of it. Kakashi smiled pleased. 

“Is your room available?” he asked, looking down the hallway where he knew it led to Kakashi’s room. 

“Of course.”  

Except for his ninken, no one else had entered that room since he had moved in. Maybe that’s why seeing Iruka there gave him a strange feeling. It was the most personal space in the entire house.He saw him take a general look around the room, at its simple decor. To the simple, but new, futon in the center of the room. Iruka's eyes lingered for a few seconds on the bookshelf where he kept his collection of erotic novels, and especially on the photographs of his sensei and himself, both with their respective genin teams.  
 
 
Kakashi wondered what he would think upon seeing them. 
 
 
“It's very pleasant.” The sensei declared, with a small smile.  
 
Kakashi wanted to tell him that he was pleased to have his approval. Tell him that it was the same room he had lived in as a child, that he had knocked down a wall during its renovation to give it more space, and that the desk had been built by his very own grandfather. 
 
 
But his mouth froze when he saw that the sensei had started to undress. He had removed the band from his forehead and continued with his vest, each piece of clothing neatly folded to the side on the tatami.  
 
 
He forced himself to close his mouth, which he had had open in an unflattering gesture, when Iruka removed the last piece that covered him. Leaving his underwear on the pile, the chunin proceeded to let his hair fall in soft waves over his bare back.  
 
 
“Some shinobis prefer to stay dressed, I enjoy it more this way. It doesn't bother you, does it?” he asked softly, somehow enhancing the intimacy of the moment.  
 
 
To care? The sight before his eyes was the most sensual he had seen in a long time, perhaps in his entire life. Iruka, naked and with his hair down, was beautiful.  
 
 
Then he remembered that a question had been asked. 
 
 
“It's fine by me.” 
 
 
He cleared his throat, which felt dry at that moment. 
 
 
“Do you have a problem with kisses?” Iruka continued looking at him patiently, setting boundaries while his brain had decided to shut down moments ago. “ Give them... receive them... any part of your body that is off-limits?” 
 
 
 
Usually, he was in that group of shinobis who preferred quick sex, with clothes on, and if possible, never showing his face. Kissing wasn't part of the routine; he found it too wet and uncomfortable when there was no compatibility with the other person.  
 
 
“I have no problem, sensei. Nothing off-limits.” He found himself saying, however. 
 
 
Iruka smiled upon hearing it, he had an amused expression on his face and a slight blush on his scar. He moved forward to enter his personal space, confidently slipping his hands under his shirt and starting to take it off. 
 
 
“Okay, Kakashi, in that case, leave everything to me.”  
 
 
He raised his arms to give him access, and when his shirt ended up on the floor, he felt the warm contact of his chest against the sensei's.  
 
He exhaled air he didn't know had been holding, onto the other man's lips, and felt Iruka's body tremble in response.  
 
 
The sensei's mouth closed over the skin of his left shoulder, kissing him there and on his neck. Kakashi was glad he had told him he had no problem with it, because as soon as he started descending, kissing his chest and abdomen, he felt a wave of heat wash down his belly to his groin.  
 
 
Noticing that Iruka was already excited, completely erect against his thigh, gave him a pleasant vertigo. He wanted to take him by the waist, but the chunnin quickly descended, kneeling in front of him and his hardening cock .  
 
 
Kakashi gasped in surprise as he felt the moisture of his tongue trail along his penis. Iruka had pulled down his pants enough to free his erection.   Lubricating it with his saliva, the sensei seemed pleased to have put him in that state of arousal so easily. 
 
“Kakashi.” He called him, looking up from below with his cheek resting against his thigh. “Do you have a condom?” 
 
"Yes," he replied, looking towards the cabinet where he knew he had stored a pair that very afternoon. Iruka followed his gaze and then, without looking him in the eyes, asked. 
 
“Do I have to wear it?” 
 
There was no risk on his part, he had no problem admitting that he had been in self-imposed celibacy for years. And suspected that Iruka wouldn't have asked if he weren't sure of his part.  
 
Swallowing hard, Kakashi shook his head. 
 

 A lot of time had passed since the last time he did this, but moreover, the sensei's mouth had taken him easily, sucking him calmly but with an intensity that made his legs weak. He had his eyes closed and an expression of enjoyment, as if he were doing something he had longed for.  
 
On impulse, Kakashi stretched out his hand to the nape, caressing the skin he had silently longed for all those days and his hair, which was softer than he had imagined.  Iruka, still with his eyes closed, let out a sigh when he felt the contact.  
 
He took it in his mouth again, relaxing to take it in a little further each time. 

He heard a choaked groan, a strangled sound as he intertwined his fingers deeper into his hair. The sensei let out a delicious moan against his penis when he felt the firmness of his touch.  
 
Half lidded eyelids, the chunnin looked at him with blurred vision, and Kakashi found himself guiding the movement of his head with the hand he had on his neck. With the other hand, he wiped away a tear that escaped when the tip of his cock hit the back of the throat.  
 
Iruka seemed to smile with his eyes, satisfied by the guttural moan that had escaped his throat.  
  
When he started to get used to the sensation, the tension growing in his belly, knew he could come that way, and quickly. Iruka seemed to notice the same thing, because he caressed the wrist of the hand that was holding him and Kakashi loosened his grip. 
 
 
He stepped back, his lips moist and reddened, the jounin watched hypnotized as the thread of saliva fell from one corner to his chin.  
 
"Come here, Kakashi." With a hoarse voice, Iruka guided him to the futon, where he laid him down and removed the last garment that hung loosely around his knees. 
 
Naked, with his back against the mattress, Kakashi was being closely observed by the sensei.  
His eyes moved back and forth over his body, as if he wanted to memorize that image.  

The idea that Iruka didn't want to forget what he saw excited him even more.  
 
 
“Do you like what you see, sensei?”  
 
 
"It's better than I imagined," he admitted, with a frankness that left him dizzy. He could feel the heat on his face, erasing his mischief in a single sentence. 

Iruka stood up and went to his things, pulling a bottle of lubricant from some pocket, then returned to him and knelt in front of Kakashi, straddling his legs. He saw him smile contentedly as he automatically felt a pair of hands on his hip. 
 
He caressed him with circular movements of his thumbs, attentively observing the actions of the sensei. 
 
Applying lubricant to one hand, he watched as he directed it to his entrance and began to move it, penetrating himself with his own fingers. Once, twice, Iruka's pelvis moved up and down and in circles to get used to the sensation. 
 
"Leave everything to me," he had said, but he was unable to just stand there and watch. He poured some lubricant on his fingers,  and that hand reached out, meeting the sensei's in his ass. He inserted one of his fingers, adding it to the two that Iruka already had inside him. 
 
 Squeezing his eyes shut tightly, the chunnin moaned, his back arching involuntarily. 
 
 “Ahh Kakashii.” 
 
The interior felt filled with the viscous liquid, his fingers moved easily, and he discovered with surprise that Iruka was more than ready to receive him. The strong plastic smell of the lubricant, he had sensed it as a subtle hint even before they entered the room. Then he realized, Iruka had already been preparing before coming to that meeting. 
 
 
“Ahh.. Shit.” He closed his eyes tightly as he felt the powerful wave of pleasure wash down his back. The mental image of the sensei touching himself at home, probably arriving late because of that and not because of that sake excuse, was too much for him at that moment. 
 
Kakashi searched for his gaze and found him blushing, his brown eyes avoiding him in embarrassment at being caught. Kakashi smiled at him, a wide smile that revealed his canines more prominently than usual. He was fascinated by Iruka in those moments, and wanted to tell him, that he was incredible.  
 
“Kakashiii.” he gasped, impatience filling his voice. He didn't have to explain what he needed, he immediately left his body and started stroking himself, covering himself with lubricant even though he was already quite prepared by the mixture of pre-cum and saliva from before. 

Both of the sensei's arms closed around his neck, and just like that, with Kakashi's hands guiding his hips, Iruka penetrated himself in one fast and anxious movement.
 
His gasp of surprise joined the moan of pleasure that Iruka had let out. It sounded like he had enjoyed it, but he had his eyes closed and a pained expression on his face.  
 
He remained still for a few minutes, Kakashi simply enjoyed watching him, mesmerized by the sight, caressing the skin of his buttocks and brushing a lock of hair from his forehead. He was making his own mental effort not to come at that moment. 
 
Finally, Iruka opened his eyes and, with determination, pushed him until he was lying on his back. In that position, he started riding him, going up and down on his erection at his own pace, to his liking. Taking for himself everything he had apparently always wanted from Kakashi and had not dared to ask for until then. 
 
He had narrowed his eyes, losing balance when in a thrust found the angle that hit his prostate and trembled every time it struck that point.  

His mind was trying to process what his body was experiencing at that moment. 
 

Painfully hard inside the chunnin, Kakashi couldn't understand how that figure full of sensuality moving above him was his friend Umino Iruka. The same man with whom he had shared so many important conversations, the one who laughed heartily every time he told one of his tasteless jokes. The one who scratched the scar with embarrassment when complimented and frowned, unable to hide his bad mood when someone contradicted him. It was the Iruka that Kakashi had known for years, but at the same time, he was someone completely different. 
 
 
At the moment his brain understood that they were the same person, that all those images corresponded to a single individual, Kakashi groaned loudly.  
 
 
Desperate, he straightened up again and kissed him. 
 
Their lips met in an intense first impact, which forced the brown-haired one to open his eyes and, still surprised, respond to the kiss eagerly. Iruka kissed just like he did everything else, with passion and giving himself completely. 
  
Kakashi bit that lower lip that had driven him crazy in the last few days, and Iruka touched the edge of those teeth that protruded beyond the normal with the tip of his tongue. Learning about each other, after a few minutes they were kissing as if they had known each other for years.

Compatibility had not been a problem in his case, or rather, the chunnin's experience adapted to Kakashi, guiding him at will, drawing all kinds of sounds from his throat and causing an unknown tension in his abdomen. 
 
 He didn't know if he was more excited about having his dick buried inside Iruka or by the way he kissed him. They were probably both pushing him to the limit. 
 

He turned, reversing their positions, Iruka's back against the futon, his dark hair contrasting with the white fabric as if it were spilled ink. With his flushed face and slightly parted lips, Iruka gasped as he penetrated him. The sensei had been able to enjoy at his own pace, taken at his leisure, but this time it was Kakashi who wanted to seize the moment.  
 
 
Squeezing his legs around his waist, Iruka held him, receiving each thrust with a new moan every time the angle was perfect, making him tremble.  
 
 
Finally, he felt him come against his abdomen, the friction of his penis against Kakashi's skin had made him finish, leaving the moisture between them. The pressure he felt around his own member made him reach orgasm a little later.  
 
His body trembled with each wave of pleasure, also feeling pleased by the way his semen filled him, leaving evidence of their encounter. Leaving a mark, a part of himself within the sensei. The mere idea pleased him more than he had anticipated. 
 
While catching his breath, still attached to the other man's body, he enjoyed Iruka's expression. His eyes still half-closed and his wet lips, reddened, he had a face of pure satisfaction. 
 
 Kakashi felt proud again, smiling to himself, because he had managed to make Iruka look like that, and his reward was seeing that expression on his face. 
 
 
Tentatively and still not having left his body, he toke his face, kissing the edge of his jaw and moving up to his cheek. He looked into his eyes, as if asking for permission, but it was Iruka who finally closed the distance between them again with a languid and satisfied kiss. 
 

Just one night, the sensei had asked. He looked out the window, the darkness of the night sky was all that could be seen through it. If he still had a couple of hours, Kakashi decided he didn't want to waste any. 
 
He saw the sensei raise an interrogative eyebrow. Intrigued by his expression, unaware of the ideas that his lustful, endorphin-laden brain was planning for him.  
 
 He consumed him, kissing every inch of skin he could, licking every curve on his body, and biting wherever he pleased. Gentle at first, returning the gaze to the expressive brown eyes, which gave him the green light to proceed as he pleased. He began to increase the intensity of the friction, starting to feel intoxicated by the sensation of seeing the effect it had on Iruka. 
 
 
The second time he came was in the mouth of the jounin.  
 
Kakashi licked the remnants off his lips, under Iruka's gaze, who, still with clouded eyes and panting, was trying to catch his breath.  
 
 
The third time, Kakashi was behind him. The sensei had his chest against the futon, his face hidden among the sheets and in his arms. He had his back arched and his buttocks raised, giving him a view that would be etched in his retina.  
 
Iruka was beautiful that way, he kept repeating it while penetrating him in that position. He had discovered that night that the man was deliciously vocal, even when he was tired and probably overstimulated as he was at that moment.  

When the morning light had begun to enter the room, he was still sitting on his bed, with Iruka on top of him, straddling his thighs. His forehead pressed against the sensei's, exhausted but still unwilling to pull away, he caressed Iruka's shoulders. 
 
 
“I'm sorry, sensei, I think I should have warned you that sometimes I like to bite.” he confessed, his voice still hoarse, caressing the skin reddened by the mark of his teeth. Kissing them as if asking for forgiveness, although inside he didn't feel that remorseful. 
 
He heard him laugh, a chuckle that he could only hear at that close distance, feeling it vibrate in his chest. 
 
 
He found himself smiling too when he felt Iruka's hand touch his forehead, brushing aside a few silver strands of his sweat-drenched hair.  
 
Their eyes met, and he discovered something different in the way the sensei looked at him. A softness that he had never seen before. Something they weren't saying. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could form a word, Iruka kissed him again. 
 

At some point in the morning, a few hours later, Kakashi discovered that he had fallen asleep despite his intentions not to. The movement on the futon had woken him up. Iruka was trying to shake off the arm that had him pinned by the waist. 
 
 
In silence, under the watchful gaze of the Hokage, the sensei was getting dressed again and tying up his hair.  
 
 
"I can cook breakfast if you want to stay," he offered, sounding more anxious than he intended. 
 
For some reason, he didn't like the idea of Iruka leaving his house so quickly, but he couldn't think of a good reason to make him stay. 
 
 
Already fully dressed, the chunin turned around upon hearing him speak. His inscrutable expression seemed to be carefully studying what he would do next. 
 
 
"Better not," he finally said. “I have a long day and I still need to go home to change.”  
 
 
“Mm... of course. “ he agreed, still with a hint of discomfort. “ I’ll go with you then”.  
 
 
"That's fine, it's not necessary, I know where the exit is," he hurriedly added when he saw him starting to sit up in bed. 
 
 
Iruka gave him a final sideways smile and, with a wave, left the Hatake residence. 

TBC....

Chapter Text

Even after he left, Kakashi was still lying in bed, going over the memory of Iruka's image at the moment of his departure.

Walking with difficulty; his shinobi uniform covered most of the marks on his body, but he could still see them, as clear as if Obito's Sharingan were still there.

He was terrified to admit it. Never, not even at the most chaotic and violent sexual encounter with another ANBU, had he felt so vicious and selfish as to leave those kinds of injuries.

They weren't serious, at least they didn't seem to be, but that didn't make them any less significant.

The worst part was that he wanted to feel ashamed; he knew he should apologize to the sensei. But deep down, a possessive and dark part of his personality took pleasure in what he had done. And that churned his stomach.

Letting him go like that was probably the right thing to do, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. His intuition told him he had made some mistake, at some point. But his brain couldn't find the answer.

“Pakkun.” 

“Yo!”  the ninken greeted when summoned. By instinct, the dog sniffed around the room and shot a suspicious glance, but didn't say anything. 

“Let Shikamaru know I’m going to be late today.” 

The ninken made a sound of discontent but eventually disappeared. It didn’t take long for him to return to the house. 

“The Nara shinobi says you don’t need to go, there’s nothing important on the agenda.” 

Kakashi was already dressed and tidying up his room, trying to clean and air it out since it was still soaked with his personal scent mixed with Iruka’s and the unmistakable smell of sex. He knew Pakkun could smell it too and draw conclusions, but the ninken remained suspiciously silent, just watching him closely from the side. 

“I think you should call the others.” he finally said, referring to his other summons.”I mean, if you're not going to do anything today, at least we could train together.” 

“Hai.” He agreed.

“ And maybe we should eat some meat. A steak will be fine.”

If that was the price for his silence, he had no choice but to pay it. He shot a sarcastic glance, and the ninken stood tall with a proud demeanor. He sighed and called his other summons; either way, Pakkun was right, it had been a while since he’d taken them out for anything other than work-related reasons.

He opened the shoji door that connected his room to the gallery and the back of the house, where the rest of his ninken appeared.

Train, Pakkun had said, but what they really did during those leisure moments was basically play and run from one end of the property to the other. Sometimes Kakashi would join in, but today he just sat down in the gallery, snacking on some fruit he had in the fridge, because he had no intentions of cooking.

“ Boss, are you sick? “ Shiba asked, walking in circles around him. “ You never stop working unless you're sick.”

“You don’t smell sick.” Akino said, standing still in the garden, studying him carefully like Pakkun had done earlier.

“You smell weird, boss!” Urushi jumped down from one of the nearby trees and started sniffing his ankle. “ You smell like someone I know.”

Bisuke came over to sniff at his leg, and despite Kakashi's protests, they didn't back off.

“I know him too,” Bisuke declared, excited.

“Hey, stop bothering him; we’ll get meat for lunch later.”

At Pakkun's comment, the rest started jumping around, moving from side to side with their tails wagging. Kakashi gave a grateful look to Pakkun for the intervention. He had taken a shower with neutral soap that morning, the same one he always used before missions, yet he could still smell Iruka´s lingering scent on his body.

“Kakashi, is it true that you're getting married? I heard the rumor at the tower,” Pakkun asked. The question piqued the interest of the other dogs.

“Well... I didn’t send you to listen to gossip, just to deliver a message.”

“Boss, are you getting married?” Bisuke asked, curling up in his lap to be petted.

Kakashi ran his hand through the fur behind his ear, and soon Guruko and Shiba lined up for the same treatment.

“There’s an engagement, yes,” he admitted calmly, not wanting to share more details on the matter. Aside from Pakkun, the others seemed satisfied with that information.

“Engagement!”

“Engagement!” they echoed repeatedly. Finally, Akino broke the monotony of the dialogue.

“Why do you smell sad then?”

Kakashi was taken by surprise by the question. Did he smell that way? He gave a questioning look at Pakkun, but the pug was lounging on the porch, looking bored.

“You don’t smell sweet.”

“You don’t smell nervous,” Shiba added.

"You don't smell like White Fang used to," Buru declared, and a couple of dogs barked in agreement with the bulldog. Pakkun even made a sound of approval.

The mention of his father no longer caused the pain it once did; he had made peace with his memory. After all, he had been able to return to live in his family's house. However, he was still curious whenever someone spoke of him.

"My dad? What does that have to do with anything?"

"She makes my heart race and puts my mind at ease," Buru recited solemnly.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" he asked, even more confused.

"When he was about to marry your mother, that’s what he used to say," Pakkun remarked, and the others barked as if celebrating. "He smelled sweet and he smelled of fear."

"But not sadness or confusion," Buru added.

My heart races and my mind is at peace. As he repeated that phrase in his head, the smile of a certain chunin was the first thing he imagined. Flashing images from the night before quickly replayed; Kakashi had never felt his heart pound like that, stopping unexpectedly as it had hours earlier in the morning.

He returned to his room, glancing at the collection of books on the shelf. The Icha Icha series and other similar novels rested on the main shelf, which was the most accessible.

Kakashi had grown tired of reading those cheesy romantic sex scenes with hyperbolic descriptions and overflowing sentimentality. He had always enjoyed them as the fiction they were.

Embarrassed, he admitted to himself that several of those ridiculous lines could easily describe what had happened last night. It hadn’t been sex, at least not in the way Kakashi understood it.

There had been affection, an unexpected compatibility for a first encounter with the other shinobi. He had dared to share a night with the sensei because the idea intrigued him enough; but now he couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe he’d gotten himself into a tricky situation.

Because even though he had said goodbye to him a few hours earlier, and although his body was still exhausted from everything they had done, Kakashi still felt the need for more.

Still confused and with a voice in his head repeating that he had made a mistake (one he still couldn’t decipher), he decided it would be best to talk to the sensei like the adult he was.

The smell of fear intensified in the room.

He returned to his office the next morning. Shizune was already there when Kakashi entered through the window.

“Welcome back, Kakashi.”

The door opened and Shikamaru appeared with another shinobi, whom he recognized as the same blonde kid who had been in Iruka’s office days earlier.

“Hokage-sama,” his assistant greeted him. “I hope you rested properly.”

“Hi Hokage-sama.” The blonde kid waved his hand in the air with an enthusiasm that made Shizune roll her eyes. Shikamaru gave him a light smack on the back of the neck in reprimand. “Kyaa senpai!”

“There's supposed to be a protocol, “ Shikamaru reminded him, and the shinobi nodded, still blushing and rubbing the back of his neck. “You need to pay more attention from now on.”

“ Maa maa, Shikamaru-kun, don’t be so tough,” Kakashi said in response to the seriousness of his assistant.

“ Don’t ask me not to be demanding when training your new assistant, Kakashi-san.”

“ You have some big shoes to fill, “ the kunoichi commented to the blonde teenager. “ Iruka-sensei is the best at what he does.”

“ The best of us.” Shikamaru added solemnly.

“ What?” the Hokage asked upon hearing them. The two assistants exchanged glances before turning back to him. “ Where's Iruka?”

“ Kakashi... Ah, I thought you knew” Shizune went to her desk, took a letter from her things, and handed it to him.

He didn't need to open it to know what it contained. It was a standard resignation or position change request form.

“Iruka-sensei isn't going to keep working with us, so I’m trying to train his replacement. Although, technically, I would be in his position and he'd be in mine.” he pointed to the younger shinobi, who just waved when mentioned.

“What are you talking about?” he looked at the letter in his hand again, as if it were the most threatening thing he’d ever seen.

Suddenly, he heard indistinct voices in the background, but all he could think about was that voice repeating in his head that it was his fault and he had messed up. The living proof was in his hand, burning his skin like it was on fire.

“Where is he? I have to find him.” he turned around fully intending to jump out of the same window he had come in through. But Shikamaru’s voice stopped him.

“He’s in his office! It’s not like he just disappeared.” he commented, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world and Kakashi was an idiot.

The Hokage rushed down the halls of the Tower, with tunnel vision; all he could think about was the path to the sensei’s office. He felt relieved when he caught a whiff of his scent before seeing him, at his usual desk, working just like Kakashi had grown used to seeing him all those years.

"Hokage... ah... you got the letter." Iruka stood up as he saw him enter, his gaze fixed on the paper in his hand.

Kakashi stepped forward until he was right in front of him, almost cornering him against the desk. As before, Iruka didn’t seem intimidated, but the slight blush on his face and the way he looked away at Kakashi's proximity was new.

Alright, Kakashi thought, it wasn't fair for him to be the only one affected by what had happened between them. Even at that distance, he could feel himself reacting to the presence of the chunnin.

"What does this mean?" It came out harsher than he wanted, but again, Iruka didn’t seem fazed.

"My resignation letter."

Unlike him, the teacher's response was calm. However, under the intensity of the Hokage’s gaze, he sighed with a defeated gesture.

"Kakashi, let me explain."

“Does this have to do with what happened? Because I can’t help but  make the connection, sensei. If I had only known...”

He didn’t say anything else, because he probably would have given in to the request anyway if he had known. His immature side, however, wasn’t enjoying the high cost of following his instincts.

Kakashi felt lost, and Iruka could see that. His eyes widened in surprise at the expression of unease that would remain hidden under the mask for anyone else, but for him, it was obvious.

“No. Ah... maybe. Let me explain, please. I’ve been thinking about how to say this all day yesterday, and when you didn’t come, I got anxious.”

Kakashi took a step back, crossing his arms, nodding to let him know he was listening.

“I’ve been thinking about quitting this job for a while.”He admitted, and the jounin felt a void in his stomach. “You see, a few years ago, I was offered the chance to train for the position of vice principal of the Academy, and at that moment, I didn’t feel ready, so I turned it down.”

Kakashi nodded again, recalling that moment.

"But in the last year, I've been thinking a lot, and I feel like it's the next logical step in my career as a shinobi. I finally feel ready for that responsibility... there are many things I want to do, Hokage-sama... Kakashi, there are changes that the Academy needs, and I believe I can be useful there."

"I have no doubt about that."

At the confident affirmation he heard, Iruka looked down, shy again, his face flushed.

"Accepting that responsibility means more hours, it means exclusivity. I can't be doing this job and that one, not effectively. And that's why I decided to resign, really, months ago..." he sighed, rubbing the scar on his face. "But every time I came ready to tell you, you looked at me with those adorable eyes asking me to stay!"

"Adorable? Do I have adorable eyes?" he asked, half-amused and half-shocked by the suggestion.

"Of course you do!" The blush on the chunnin's face was even more evident now. "It's impossible to say no to you, and I don't know if you know it and use it to your advantage or if you're completely oblivious to it. I think it's the latter, and that's even more infuriating."

“Maaa, sensei, I have no idea what you're talking about.”

Iruka shook his head, frustrated.

“I’m sorry if my selfishness caused you any inconvenience, sensei.”

“It’s not fair to say it’s just for you, Kakashi. I also had my selfish reasons for not leaving.”  His brown eyes, which had been avoiding him until then, looked back at him.” You’ve always attracted me, Kakashi-san. from day one, I couldn't stop looking at you because you're exactly my type.”

“Oh.”

“Oh, exactly. It wouldn't have been hard to bring it up earlier, especially since back then, there were rumors that you didn’t turn anyone down.”

“You make it sound like there were a lot of people, sensei. I'm afraid I'm not as popular as you're making it seem.” still shocked by the statement, he felt the need to clarify. Iruka had a look of disbelief.

"Allow me to doubt it, Hokage-sama, when you're so damn sexy." - Iruka, with his flushed face, seemed equally embarrassed and angry at the admission.

Kakashi felt a sense of satisfaction and had a goofy smile under his mask hearing him say those things. He moved closer again, closing the gap between them, but the teacher kept talking.

"It would have been easy to ask you back then. I didn’t know you too well, but I knew enough to know you wouldn’t be an idiot or cruel to me." He said again. "But I didn’t have the guts, and then there always seemed to be something in the way. Your endless missions or my packed schedule."

"Is that why you didn’t?"

"At first. Then I started to get to know you better, and that’s when I got into trouble. Because I discovered everything you hide beneath that facade." He mentioned, gesturing broadly to his shinobi uniform and Hokage robe. "You're a good person, you care about everyone you love, you’re...  Kakashi, I like you as a person. You're funny, it's easy to talk to you, I don’t know why, but you have this way of driving me crazy and giving me peace in the same conversation."

Kakashi took another step toward him, wanting to tell him it was the same for him. Everything Iruka said had that same effect on him.

“It was harder to tell you something then. Because the closer we got, the more scared I was of losing what I was gaining. Plus, it became clearer to me that you didn't see me that way.”

Iruka smiled, a small smile that didn't reach his eyes.

“I didn't.” he admitted, but the sensei didn't seem hurt by the truth. Kakashi didn't feel proud of that omission on his part; he had been stupid for not noticing what was so obvious.

Standing in front of the sensei, he could only think about letting that hair down to see it fall over his back again and to caress it.

“That's why I didn't leave earlier, Kakashi. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it. I wanted to see you every day; I wanted to show you that part of me.”

Finally, he closed the distance, Iruka's body pressed against the desk, Kakashi practically on top of him. The Jounin's arms were on each side, not in an embrace, but more like a barrier. He felt him lean in and whisper in his ear, his mask down.

“I see you now, sensei. I close my eyes and can't stop seeing you in my room, completely surrendered to me.” He felt him shiver as his breath hit his cheek. “I feel stupid for not seeing the obvious when it was right in front of me all this time.”

Iruka turned to look him in the eyes, questioning.

“You're the sexiest shinobi in all of Konoha,” he declared, and Iruka let out a strangled laugh in response.

“Stop talking nonsense!”

“I’m being serious,” he said, and his tone said it all. Iruka's laughter faded, his expression shifting to surprise and then to a blush.

“Kakashi…”

“The thing is, sensei, I can’t stop looking at you.” With his gloved hand, he slowly grazed the edge of Iruka's chin and part of his cheek with his thumb. He felt him exhale in surprise, then close his eyes.

“I knew that when it finally happened, if it even happened, it would be good. My instinct told me so,” he confessed, his voice barely a whisper. “I didn’t expect it to be this good.”

“ So good.”

The sensei opened his eyes in horror but was smiling.

“ Right? Kakashi, that was amazing! “ he exclaimed, sounding indignant at the discovery. Kakashi couldn’t hide how pleased he was at that moment.

-“Incredible, sensei. Better than any book. “ he added playfully, which triggered another laugh.

Iruka's laughter had always been charming, but now it made his knees weak.

“ So… compatible.”

“You took the words right out of my mouth, sensei.”

He smiled, resting his forehead against the Jounin's chest, partially hiding his expression, but Kakashi could tell he was still smiling.

“Can you imagine if it was like this the first time? What it could be… over time.”

This time it was him who trembled. He closed his eyes, letting out a gasp of surprise. He had imagined that, doing it over and over until he knew everything about the man in front of him. Memorizing his sounds, his gestures, learning to please him.

“ I want to do it again.”

“I know, Kakashi. But it’s too late for this, don’t you think?”

He recalled the matter of a certain order, a certain commitment that had slipped to the back of his mind as one of his lesser problems.

“ Ah.”

“I don’t love you, Kakashi.” The admission caught him off guard, making him pull back a bit to see his face. Iruka was smiling.”But I know that if it happens again, with time, that could change.”

Finally, the pieces fell into place. Iruka was verbalizing what his brain had been trying to tell him, that he had failed to understand. That potentiality between them. Not love, not now, but the tangible and real possibility of something more. Something huge and unknown to him.

“ Iruka.” their bands clashed, making a metallic sound as he pressed his forehead against the Chuunin's. At that distance, he could feel the sensei's breath against his mouth again. Iruka’s hand instinctively rested on his chin, stroking the beauty mark next to his lip with his thumb. – “I see you. Sorry for taking so long, but now I see everything you are and I don’t plan to stop.”

The Chuunin smiled, pleased. His brown eyes filled with a different sparkle, one charged with anticipation and promises.

Kakashi felt his heart racing in his chest, in chaos. However, his mind was clear and still, at peace.

He remembered Buru’s words from the morning and smiled.

THE END

Chapter Text

The princess's entourage had arrived in Konoha, and every member had the same uneasy expression as foreign civilians did every time they entered a shinobi village.

Kakashi had dressed for the occasion, wearing his ceremonial attire out of respect. Finally, when the princess entered the hall, accompanied by other ladies and a few soldiers from the Land of Fire, Kakashi realized that his suspicions were confirmed.

He took his time to calmly assess the situation while members of the Konoha council exchanged polite greetings with the nobles from the daimyo's court. The maiden presented before him was a child.

No amount of makeup could disguise the fact that she had barely reached the age to be considered a teenager. Her lowered eyes and tightly pressed red lips spoke of the fear she was trying to suppress.

That only made the decision easier.

"Should we leave them alone for a minute, Hokage-sama? So they can get to know each other better," suggested a shinobi from the council, the one who seemed most eager for this union to happen.

At the suggestion, the panic on the girl's face intensified. A woman in her group, an elegant and older lady, who Kakashi concluded was her mother due to their resemblance, looked equally terrified at the prospect.

He couldn't blame her; nobles like them tended to be fearful of shinobi in general. The legend of the bloodthirsty Hatake Kakashi, the current leader of Konoha, must have been terrifying beyond those walls. Enough to not want to leave her alone in front of a monster like him.

"I agree that everyone should leave, except for the council members and the princess's trusted people."

The court ladies sighed in relief, and although the soldiers exchanged unsure glances, they finally left the room. Shikamaru stayed by his side, and aside from him and two council members, the rest of the guards in the Tower followed the soldiers and courtiers out of the room.

The Daimyo's representative, a noble Kakashi had seen in some official meeting before, continued to praise the girl's abilities and listed the properties and wealth in her name, trying to make her seem more appealing in his eyes.

"I appreciate your time, and I'm sorry you had to make this journey. But I can't accept this commitment.”

The Hokage of Konoha did something unexpected; he deeply bowed his head toward the princess and her mother. He could hear the gasps and murmurs from those present.

"My decision is a personal one and has nothing to do with you, Your Majesty." He spoke while looking directly at the girl, who for the first time dared to meet his gaze. Her mother had placed a hand on her shoulder in a protective gesture. "I can't enter into this union with a clear conscience, nor can I give you what someone of your stature deserves. Your Majesty, I’m afraid my mind and heart are in my village, with my people, but also with someone I consider special to me."

The admission had a more dramatic effect than he expected. There were exclamations and expressions of outrage, which fell silent when his gaze hardened as it fell on the council members present and the representative of the daimyo.

The three elders went quiet and lowered their eyes in submission. Shikamaru, however, had a look that was a mix of astonishment and amusement, staring at Kakashi as if he had sprouted a second head."

“You’re welcome to relax and stay as long as you want; you’re special guests of Konoha. I’m sorry for wasting your time.”

He bowed once more, this time less formally, and with a playful smile, he turned on his heels and left the room, feeling his shoulders lighten.

He could feel his assistant trotting to catch up with him.

“What the hell just happened? “Shikamaru asked, and Kakashi let out a light laugh, amused by how Shikamaru seemed to finally put aside the formality he sometimes put up between them.

“What you just saw. I thought you’d be happy; isn’t that what you wanted, Shikamaru-kun?”

Walking beside him, the Nara shinobi made a thoughtful noise. He still looked confused, though.

“Does that mean you're in love? With whom? “

“I'm not in love.” He admitted with a cryptic smile.  “Not yet. But I think it could happen soon, if I'm lucky.” He added, raising his eyebrows. The young shinobi looked even more confused. “I’m going to need to excuse myself for a moment; I have something important to do now. I’ll leave it in your hands, Shikamaru.  “

Probably the right thing would have been for the Rokudaime to enter the building through the main door, announcing himself beforehand. To be received by the authorities or the teachers present at that moment. 

Kakashi, however, didn’t show up that day as the Hokage, but as an ordinary shinobi, with unofficial and not-so-honorable intentions regarding a certain vice-principal. So he snuck into the building through the window. 

“I like your new office, sensei.” He declared upon entering. He’d been hanging on the edge of the frame for a few seconds, appreciating the sight of the man sitting at his desk. Iruka had sensed him arriving, of course, and let him look without interruption while continuing with the work he was doing at that moment.

“Really? It's still a bit of a mess.”

He left the notes on his desk aside and turned to see him. The way his eyes sparkled subtly every time Kakashi showed up was something that quickened his pulse with anticipation.

Kakashi wondered if something similar happened to him, if the anxiety he felt inside when he saw Iruka showed on the outside in some way. Underneath the mask, he felt his lips stretch into a silly smile.

“Maybe a plant or something would be nice.” He suggested, not taking his eyes off him. Iruka stood up and approached him.

“I’m not really good with plants, Kakashi. I’d probably let them die.”- He warned with a shy expression, scratching the scar over his nose.

“I could come water it and take care of it for you.”

"Are you looking for an excuse to pop into my office whenever you feel like it?" The playful tone of the question didn't go unnoticed, and his smile widened.

"Come on, sensei, you can't blame me for trying. I'm just not used to not seeing that adorable face of yours in my office every day."

He stepped closer, and once again, Iruka found himself cornered between his body and the desk behind him. This time, Kakashi had placed a hand on his waist. Just a light pressure, but enough to make him tense up. He still wasn't adjusted to that level of intimacy, or the compliments that the Hokage seemed to shower on him without a second thought.

"Was it terrible?" he asked quietly, a murmur that only Kakashi could hear at such a short distance.

"It was... exactly what I thought it would be. Maybe a little better," he admitted. Iruka nodded upon hearing this; they had both discussed the possibilities. "It was a girl, Iruka, barely older than your graduates."

He felt him shudder, a horrified expression crossing his face at the image that had formed in his mind. The customs of the nobles were something he struggled to come to terms with.

"Anyway, sensei, now that I'm a free man without commitments, maybe we can pick up where we left off," he proposed, pressing him closer against his body. Iruka inhaled in surprise, but immediately relaxed, surrendering to the sensation.

“Now? Here?” the question murmured, looking around nervously, but not rejecting the possibility.

Interesting. Kakashi thought, delighting in it.

“I was actually thinking of inviting you to do something when you’re done here. “He confessed, raising an eyebrow with an amused expression as he watched the colors rise in Iruka's face. Iruka flustered was even more adorable. “ A date, sensei, I can cook for you or if you prefer, we can go out somewhere.”

“A date?”

To his surprise, he confirmed his words with an affirmative sound.

“Sure, I want to show you that my intentions towards you are sincere and serious.”

“Really? “He raised an eyebrow, an incredulous expression topping off a smile.

“And honorable.”He added. “Although I also have some not-so-honorable intentions that I’d like to discuss with you after the date, if you're interested.”

Iruka’s laughter filled the room, but he also felt it vibrating in his chest pressed against Kakashi's.

“I’m interested.”

“Ahh... that’s exactly what I wanted to hear, sensei. I’ll see you this afternoon then, and I’ll be seriously thinking about that discussion.”

As he pulled away, the chunnin was still laughing.

"Iruka, a kiss for the road?" he asked, pulling down his mask. He didn’t wait for a response and just took it. An intense but brief contact.

When they separated,  the other man was still trying to process what just happened. His cheeks were flushed again, this time out of frustration.

"Kakashi!" He heard his name being shouted as he climbed back out the window.

"I'm sorry, sensei, I have to go, lead a village, plan a date, win the love of a vice principal, all that stuff." He turned before leaving, winking at him. "See you in a few hours."

FIN