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Chapter Text

(We don't own any characters etc etc)

And so began a whole new experience at the academy for Kakashi. His students remained better behaved since The Incident, as the fear remained of not wanting to risk failing the academy year by not having weapons training while their regular teacher was out, and lessons were going smoothly in all areas.

Kakashi continued to have lunch with the other staff, and since the Friday afternoon plan was implemented, he started to actually talk with more staff while he worked with their classes, as the teachers had decided to double up so that the children had more time with him. Since the teachers remained present to keep the kids in line, it was of no concern to Kakashi and worked out for everyone.

Additionally, his evenings became busier as he began to spend at least two nights a week with Iruka to grade, if not more. Sometimes it was at Iruka’s apartment, as Kakashi’s was not the most inviting place to sit for several hours at a time while suffering through schoolwork. Other times he would plant himself down at an empty desk in the missions office while Iruka was on duty, so that he could ask the other man for help or opinions. And here and there they found a quiet spot outside in the village, weather permitting. If it occurred at Iruka’s place, they would eat together, soon deciding to alternate takeout with either one cooking, as Kakashi hadn’t wanted Iruka to have to fully play host on top of his mentoring.

Kakashi also finally accepted an invitation to join the staff for a night out. In the first week of the Friday afternoon change the teachers wanted a full play by play of how it had gone, and to pepper him with questions about their kids, the future classes he would meet with, what he thought he could try out, and what the headmaster might look the other way on. This somehow led to agreeing to join them out every Friday night for the rest of his time there.

He was surprised to find that while he had more on his plate, it wasn’t overwhelming or tiring. In fact it was…fun and pleasant?

“Who knew?” he sighed to himself as he lazed about one Saturday morning, laughing about the night before. “It only took seven weeks, but this may not be a disaster of a mission after all…”

This was also, he realized, some of the most stability he had had for himself for quite a while. Working with the same people day in, day out. It was like he had a team again, he realized, and for all that he had tried to fail teams in the past, he couldn’t deny that sometimes he needed and enjoyed it.

He smiled as he made coffee, thinking about what his former students would say if they knew, though he assumed Sakura was already looking for him to tease him about it, and that Iruka would have written about this news to Naruto…

Kakashi thought about Iruka some more as he headed out to meet Gai later for a challenge and dinner, feeling yet again grateful for the man’s support at the academy or he would for sure have not made it this far. Not sane at least, that was for sure.

However, two days into his eighth week of classes, he found himself nearly glaring at said teacher as they stood in the hallway, empty due to classes having finished.

“What did you just say?”

“That the headmaster says you have a progress report to write on your mission,” Iruka repeated, shrugging. “It’s no big deal, really. Typical for a lengthy mission, you know that.”

“As if I don’t have enough work to do here!” Kakashi snapped. “To add on more? Why me?”

Iruka laughed. “It’s your mission, Kakashi.”

“And you’re my mentor,” the jonin said slowly, narrowing his visible eye at him as a plan came to mind.

“No,” Iruka firmly told him, putting his hands on his hips in what Kakashi now knew was his “I mean it!” pose. Well, Kakashi had known it to be that to an extent before, but now saw it far more often first hand.

“This is your mission too,” the copy nin pointed out. “Remember?”

“I do, which is why I have my own report to write,” Iruka told him, to Kakashi’s surprise.

“Ah, then just write two of them?”

“Still no.”

“But I’m only one man, Iruka, I need help! Help and care!”

Iruka laughed again. “What are you, a rare panda? I didn’t realize you were so precious,” he teased, crossing his arms.

“Well there is only one copy nin, so…” Kakashi grumbled.

“And we’re so fortunate to have him at our school, but you still have to do your own work,” Iruka told him, shaking his head as he turned to walk away.

“Why now all of a sudden?” the jonin challenged.

“To see if anything needs to change for the remainder of your time.”

Kakashi sighed as he watched the man leave. “I’m not doing it!” he called out, feeling like one of his own students.

“Thursday night, my place,” Iruka called over his shoulder. “We’ll do them together.”

“No,” Kakashi said, now crossing his own arms.

“We’ll pick up food after classes and start it early,” Iruka continued, turning the corner without waiting for a response, and clearly ignoring the angry glare from Kakashi.

___

“You can keep that glare up all you want, I’m not taking it personally,” Iruka told him as they sat with their takeout dinner Thursday night, blank scrolls in front of them.

Kakashi continued to glare at him in silence.

“The sooner we start, the sooner we finish,” Iruka pointed out, shrugging as he started to eat and write. “And sure, you don’t have to do this,” he said, as if he could read the other man’s thoughts, “but I think I heard that without your report the assignment could be extended, even when Mina comes back to work…”

Kakashi watched him for a moment before sighing, realizing he had no option but to write some semblance of a progress report. His genius brain reminded him that there had been no report parameters - no minimum length or aspects to write on. So anything should do, he figured…

They worked in silence, as Iruka diligently wrote his report and Kakashi scribbled here and there on his. His thoughts about how unruly the children could be, how much more structure they need, how the staff have, admittedly, been helpful. And, most importantly, several mentions of how he was technically overqualified for this position and should never, ever be assigned to the academy again!

He paused, knowing that he should write something about a plan for the remaining few weeks, but felt drained just thinking about it.

Looking over, he watched Iruka write for a few more minutes before the teacher stopped and stretched his writing hand.

“Let me see what you wrote,” Kakashi requested, but Iruka shook his head. “Why?”

“It’s my report, for the Hokage and headmaster’s eyes only,” Iruka told him, rolling the scroll up and moving to put it away, but Kakashi quickly stole it from him, dancing around the apartment to read it as Iruka followed, trying to take it back.

The teacher laughed as he failed to get it yet again. “No fair, using your height!” he argued. “Stupid long arms,” he sighed, giving up and moving to clean up the table.

Victorious, Kakashi sat on the sofa to read in peace.

“Kakashi had some difficulty initially adjusting to this role but since utilizing the resources available he has made appropriate adjustments,” he read aloud. “Iruka!” he whined.

“What? I wanted a nice way to say that you pulled your head out of your ass,” the chuunin countered. “Tell me I’m wrong? Anyway, keep reading.”

“He has also shown much progress and much potential to grow as a teacher, while working to fine tune his own style in this line of work. This will help him with future teams and when his inevitably reunites,” Kakashi continued, pausing after. “Thank you,” he said in a soft tone.

Iruka smiled. “Just being honest.” He paused and looked over Kakashi’s report. “I guess this will pass, but you still need to write at least a sentence or two about the next few weeks.”

“Don’t remind me,” Kakashi sighed.

Iruka laughed. “Finish it up, then a few hours at the academy tomorrow and we’re out for karaoke!”

“I’d rather write another report,” the jonin grumbled.

Iruka frowned and looked at him. “You don’t like karaoke? I’ve seen you there before and you seemed to have fun.”

“It’s not that, it’s some of the staff,” Kakashi told him. “One or two won’t stop flirting with me, both at work and when we go out. I don’t even want to think about karaoke with them, they may dedicate love ballads to me!”

The other man snorted. “You know you can flirt back? You’re not their coworker for long, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“It’s not that, I’m not even interested in them to begin with!”

“And have you told them that?”

“I’ve tried, but they don’t seem to want to hear it.”

Iruka nodded. “Then tell them you don’t date coworkers, that’s an easy fix. They can’t argue with that and it will buy you some time.”

“And after this is all done?” Kakashi groaned.

Iruka frowned as he thought about it. “Ask the Hokage for a nice long mission away from the village. You should be medically cleared by then for sure, and I’ll support it and put in a good word.”

“You would?”

“Sure,” Iruka told him.

Kakashi paused. “But when I come back?”

“Wow, overthinking this much or what?” Iruka said, shaking his head. “But fine, if they still flirt with you after all that and you don’t hate the idea, give them a shot, there’s some good people at the academy. In the meantime, keep it in the here and now and finish this report…”

Kakashi sighed again but did so, and felt relief as he walked home empty handed as Iruka agreed to turn in both reports the next morning.

He thought about their discussion, and Iruka’s words ran through his head. Thinking about the teacher, he smiled to himself.

“He’s right, there are some good people there,” Kakashi thought, laughing as he recalled Iruka wondering aloud at which song to sing the following night.

________

Kakashi survived karaoke, grateful that Iruka had kept a bit of an eye on him and that whenever one of the teachers seemed like they were getting too clingy, the chuunin would swoop in and pull the jonin away.

“You’re a lifesaver,” Kakashi tipsily told him, leaning his head on Iruka’s shoulder. The other man laughed, and Kakashi picked up his head to look at him. “What? I mean it.”

“Rescuing you from an admirer isn’t really that big of a deal,” Iruka said, sipping his beer. “And some people would kill to be in your position, men and women practically throwing themselves at you,” he teased, raising his eyebrows.

“I grew out of that a while ago, thank you very much,” the copy nin told him. “People wanting me for my name and battlefield glory isn’t my thing anymore. And anyway, I like things to happen organically, or putting it up to the fates.”

“Ah, the fates that brought you to the academy,” Iruka agreed. “You sure you still trust fate?” he laughed.

“True, but it also brought your help.”

“Again, fending off people wanting to get in your pants isn’t something I’m going to add to my service record,” Iruka mused.

“Not just that. All the help you’ve given me while I’ve been at the academy,” Kakashi sighed. “I wouldn’t have survived.”

“Careful, there’s still a few more weeks,” Iruka teased him, and Kakashi rolled his eye.

“Don’t remind me,” he huffed. “Only one more month!”

“Nearly there,” Iruka agreed, clinking his drink against the jonin’s.

“Speaking of, when am I working with your class?” Kakashi asked. “For the Friday training, I mean?”

“I think this week coming up,” Iruka told him, “since we’re doubling up on classes. Then probably your last week. If my kids behave themselves,” he added, frowning at the prospect.

“They will,” Kakashi sighed. “They have you as a teacher. Who wouldn’t behave with you?”

“You’ve seen them try their luck,” Iruka reminded him. “Kids will be kids.”

“Yeah, but you’re good with them, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Iruka laughed. “Just how drunk are you to be heaping all this praise on me all of a sudden?”

“I’m not that drunk,” Kakashi said, sitting up and pouting underneath his mask. “I’m just appreciating your help, both then and now. And with my team,” he sighed.

“Okay, I really think you’re at that drunk reminiscing stage,” Iruka said. “Should I cut you off?”

“No!” Kakashi argued. “You have to stay and protect me! Two of the teachers over there look like they want to have me for a snack!”

“So stop looking back at them, duh.”

Kakashi rolled his eye. “Never take your eye off the target, remember?”

“The great Hatake Kakashi, quaking in fear of the advances of others,” Iruka mused. “Who’d have thought?”

“Everyone’s allowed a flaw or two,” Kakashi protested.

“Even geniuses like you?” Iruka asked with a grin.

“Yeah yeah,” Kakashi sighed. “I ate my humble pie a few weeks ago, thank you very much.”

Iruka laughed again but before either could say anything more, he was called for his turn to sing.

“You’ll have to try to survive without me,” he said, standing to move to the free space in the middle of the room to sing. “I believe in you!”

Fortunately, Mikio took Iruka’s spot, telling Kakashi about some of Iruka’s other memorable karaoke performances as they watched the chuunin sing his heart out.

This memory helped to get Kakashi through the next week, along with more nights of grading at Iruka’s place over dinner. The copy nin brought over ingredients to cook a simple curry, as Iruka had commented on having more tests and papers to grade this week than usual.

They continued their established routine of spending nights together from then on, making small talk over dinner, sharing comments about their grading as they worked, and complaining about the workload in general. If Kakashi finished with his work faster than Iruka, he found he was in no rush to leave, and would take out his book and read it while he made them tea, putting his feet up to relax for another hour or so.

In this way, this mission had become fairly easy for him, as it seemed he had overcome all barriers with his own class. They had definitely learned their lesson early on and were attentive and cautious with weapons training, on time for all other lessons, and many had made much progress in various areas of their studies.

Part of Kakashi basked in his virtues as a teacher, but a small part of him worried that higher ups would read into his achievements and make him revisit this any time he was injured.

He shared such a fear with his lunch table in the tenth week, and was irritated when they laughed at him.

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” Kimiye assured him. “You’re…..adequate, but not…” She paused, gesturing in the air with her chopsticks as she looked for the right word.

“Great,” a male teacher who was sitting with them, Junpei, suggested. Kimiye pointed at him with her chopsticks.

“Yes!” she agreed, and Iruka and the other teacher laughed.

“You weren’t even here the entire time,” Kakashi reminded Junpei, but he shrugged.

“I was here at the start, and then had a mission, sure. After coming back last week, I can see you’ve grown, don’t get me wrong,” the teacher said. “But anyone with eyes can tell you wouldn’t make it long term here.”

Iruka nodded as he finished chewing his food. “And we mean that in the nicest way possible,” he said to Kakashi. “You’re better with more established shinobi, even just genin.”

“I am not taking another genin team,” Kakashi told them, shaking his head as they laughed.

“And I bet you never thought you’d be working here for a few weeks, but here you are,” Kimiye commented. “But anyway, you have been good here, and it’s been fun to work with you!”

“The kids really enjoy your outside classes,” Junpei added. “They won’t stop talking about it, I think it’s given them something to gloat about for the rest of their lives!” He paused. “You could always do a teachers-only training, you know, something for the rest of us.”

Kimiye laughed. “You just want to say you also trained with Kakashi,” she teased, and the man shrugged.

“I’m adult enough to admit it,” he said. “Just saying. I’m sure a lot of people would sign up for it.”

Iruka glanced at Kakashi, who sighed heavily at the thought, likely worried people would try to seek more hands-on support, with an emphasis for some of them of “hands-on.” “I think Kakashi’s pretty booked up these days,” he commented, and the copy nin nodded. “You could probably give us tips when you train our classes, if we needed it. Show any tricks for improving aim or whatever.”

Kakashi nodded again and the others seemed eager for that, figuring that for the last few classes with him they could take a few moments to show him their forms or methods and get feedback.

“Speaking of,” Iruka said as they finished lunch. “It’s what, week ten? I was thinking that in the last week, or maybe week and a half, we really double up on the weapons and outdoors classes. Get in as much as possible with the classes, rather than just Fridays. We’d get someone to watch your class, but they could also come out sometimes and watch to see how the older kids learn and give them something to look forward to. What do you think?”

Kakashi nodded as he considered it. “That sounds good, I know some kids were asking about swords and fuma shuriken, not to mention some other weapons. And some specific justu, I think,” he recalled, scratching his masked chin.

“Some lessons could even be really big, like a lot of classes could be out to watch and learn rather than train themselves, for some of the bigger or more dangerous ones,” Kimiye suggested, and the others murmured agreement. “The teachers and other staff would be out there, so you could have help in demonstrating it if you needed, and we’ll keep everyone in line.”

Junpei nodded again. “Definitely, no one will want to miss big exhibitions like that!”

The three teachers looked at Kakashi who also nodded. “Well, sounds like we’ve got a plan,” he agreed, and they cheered.

“Hatake’s doing weapons training afternoons, multiple classes and big lessons!” Junpei announced, and the room burst into excited chatter.

Iruka shook his head and Kimiye punched Junpei’s arm, hard.

“Ow! What was that for?” he asked, rubbing his arm.

“Don’t make such a big deal about it, you’ll overwhelm him,” she said, glaring at Junpei.

Kakashi laughed, but it dwindled when Iruka commented that they would benefit from taking time to plan the lessons, and the jonin groaned.

“I thought it would be less work for me, not more,” he sighed, and Iruka patted his shoulder as he stood.

“None of us ever said that,” Iruka reminded him. “Just that you’d have more help.”

Kakashi glared at him as he walked away. “I changed my mind!”

“See you later!” Iruka replied, waving as he left the room, and Kakashi sighed as more teachers came to talk to him about the lessons.

_____

While they hadn’t met for every Sunday during Kakashi’s time at the academy, it became apparent that he and Iruka should for the last two weeks.

The second to last Sunday was spent planning the lessons, as Iruka had a list of teachers who were eager to help demonstrate certain jutsu or weapons.

“Don’t you think you’re overplanning?” Kakashi asked, as he looked at Iruka, who had various lists and notes in front of him covering the table. “Just a little?”

Iruka shot him a dirty look. “There’s no such thing as a teacher overplanning,” he scoffed, shuffling around several papers. “This was my idea, so I have to figure out the best schedule. Which classes for what, and where, and with who. Some lessons may be repeated so there’s not too many kids out, we don’t want people too far back that they can’t really see,” he murmured, clearly talking to himself more than the jonin.

“Going with the flow is pretty good too,” Kakashi continued. “Just like in the field, not knowing what to expect.”

Iruka nodded without looking up. “Sure, and both together are even better.”

“I suppose,” Kakashi admitted. They sat in silence for a moment as Iruka worked, Kakashi watching him. “I’m curious to see you in the field, we haven’t been out on a mission or training like that together in a while.”

Iruka looked up, a smile on his face. “Kakashi, are you asking me out?” he questioned, propping his chin up with his palm.

“What? No!” Kakashi yelled, sitting straighter, and Iruka frowned. “Not that I wouldn’t!” the jonin tried to correct himself. “I mean, I would. I mean, I wouldn’t! Unless you wanted! Wait, what? I was talking about a mission!”

Iruka laughed at the other man’s misery. “I know, I’m just messing with you,” he said, moving back to his original position looking over his notes. “Unless it’s really pressing, I don’t take missions outside of academy breaks, so sure, if the fates allow,” he said, glancing at Kakashi and smirking. “Of course, after working together for three months, you may be sick of me.”

“I doubt it,” Kakashi said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“You’re right, I may be sick of you,” Iruka laughed.

“Rude,” Kakashi hissed.

“But I remember someone saying how great I am,” Iruka reflected, eyes on his work still. “How much help I am…”

“One can be both rude and helpful, look at Naruto,” Kakashi posed, and Iruka laughed.

“Very true,” he agreed, and they spent the afternoon alternating between talking about lesson planning and trading Naruto stories.

___

The first few bigger classes went fairly smoothly, and the school seemed to have a new energy because of it, though it was likely also due to getting the kids outside for lessons more often.

Kakashi spent his last weekend as an academy teacher grumbling as he graded a tall stack of assignments. He had chosen to move a written assignment up one week so he’d have more time to grade, as he wanted to rid himself of that work as soon as possible.

“And then just one last test on Tuesday, a short essay collected Wednesday, and a quiz Friday morning that they’ll grade themselves,” he mused aloud as he and Iruka finished their takeout lunch at the brunette’s apartment.

“Sounds like someone’s actually planning,” Iruka teased.

“I never said I didn’t plan, just that you plan too much.”

Iruka rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well add the final mission report to your work, genius. I’d suggest working on it a little every day so it’s actually done on time.”

“Do I have to? Couldn’t my other one be enough?” Kakashi nearly whined.

“You know that was a mid-mission report, this is the overall one.”

The copy nin sighed. “Actually, I was thinking of something along the lines of ‘I survived, the kids survived, the end.’ What do you think?”

“It wouldn’t be your worst one,” Iruka laughed. “But I’m not evaluating it since I’m part of it, so do what you want.”

“So I have to find someone to bribe to accept it?” Kakashi speculated. “Got it.”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Iruka sighed, collecting the trash and throwing it away. “Maybe Tsunade assigned you to the academy so you’d write better reports,” he suggested.

“I still think it’s an experiment, to test my limits and see how soon I break under such stress,” the jonin sighed.

“And yet it didn’t take long for that to happen at all,” Iruka laughed, dodging a pen Kakashi threw at him.

“Which is exactly why you should write this report for me, show me how it’s done, sensei,” Kakashi purred, but Iruka shook his head as he returned to the table.

“A good teacher supports but doesn’t lead forever. Time for you to fly the nest and do it on your own, and this time I’m not helping at all.”

“Rude again,” Kakashi sighed, but pulled the top assignment off his stack to start grading again. “You’re helping me out with your class lesson, right?”

“Yeah, I signed up for one of the weapons,” Iruka agreed, getting back to work himself. “It’s good for the kids to have a range of things to see. But you should hear the trash talking some of the teachers are doing about what they signed up for!” he laughed, and the two shared academy gossip as they worked.

___

Kakashi hadn’t really paid much attention in advance to who was doing which weapon or jutsu with him, feeling some senioritis sneaking in as he entered his last week at the academy. He was itching to get out of the village on a “real” mission, but he had to admit that he hadn’t hated the past twelve weeks as much as he thought he would. Or at all, here and there…

On Wednesday he went to join Iruka’s class and two other ones, arriving just as Iruka was finishing giving his safety talk.

“All set!” Iruka told him, smiling.

“Great,” Kakashi said. “Is it your turn to help me?”

Iruka nodded and another teacher threw him a scroll, which the chuunin unrolled with a flourish on the ground and went through hand seals to reveal several fuma shuriken.

The kids oohed and aahed and Iruka snickered to Kakashi.

“Have to put on a bit of a show and up my cool points, right?” he laughed.

“Isn’t that what I’m here for?” Kakashi challenged, and Iruka laughed again. Kakashi paused, hesitantly. “You’re okay with those?” he asked, trying to sound casual, and Iruka nodded.

“Yep, just let me know if you have any preferences for the lesson, otherwise I’ll do some basic moves to start,” he offered, and Kakashi agreed.

Kakashi first reviewed the basics behind this particular weapon and the purposes for one of this size, and walked through pointers as Iruka slowly went through the motions of maneuvering it before actually throwing it at the target a few times.

Iruka later did some fancier maneuvers that earned some excited cries from the kids, before collecting the weapons and turning to the students.

“Shall we put Kakashi-sensei on the spot and show you what you can do if you’re on the receiving end of these?” he asked, and Kakashi blinked at him in surprise.

“Yes!” the crowd roared, and Iruka laughed. He turned to the original scroll and produced a few more fuma shuriken as Kakashi jutsued down towards the target (he needed his own flash in this lesson, naturally).

“Ready?” Iruka called out, and Kakashi nodded as he straightened out of his trademark slouch.

The air was silent, everyone outside on edge waiting for the show. The soft hum of the weapons cutting through the air broke the calm, and Kakashi moved into action. He dodged the first, jumped over the second, and leapt to step on the center of the third as he removed a kunai from his weapons pouch to deflect the fourth.

Landing on the ground in a crouch, eye on the chuunin, Kakashi swiftly rose and ran towards the next weapons headed his way, deflecting one to the left, then one to the right. He was still a safe enough distance from the kids that he had no concerns about that.

Two more soared towards him, the last two, he noted, and he went for a proper ending. He caught the first and turned back just enough to throw it at the target behind him, before whipping back around to catch the second one. Jumping to tumble over as he did, he whipped it around his body as he stood, striking a pose straight out of a civilian ninja comic.

The students, as well as the staff, he noted, burst into raucous applause and cheered, and he bowed slightly. Glancing behind him, Kakashi grinned underneath his mask at the sight that met him - the shuriken had, of course, landed in the bullseye.

“Well done!” Iruka applauded him when he had jogged back to meet the group. “I was worried for a second there.”

Kakashi rolled his eye. “You’ll have to work harder than that to get me, Iruka.”

“Never say never, Kakashi,” Iruka teased. “Shall we let the kids throw some sharp things to burn off some energy?”

The jonin agreed, and the other staff helped to line the students up to work on their aim for throwing regular-sized shuriken, a compromise if there ever was one.

___

Kakashi paused in his grading that evening to chide himself for his thoughts during the weapons lesson. He had, admittedly, floundered at the idea of Iruka throwing the very weapon that had pierced his back when he had sought to protect Naruto from Mizuki.

Kakashi sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he looked around his apartment. Iruka was working the missions office late that night and, for what seemed like the first time during this mission, Kakashi was on his own to grade. He didn’t like having to do it now, but he had to get these done tonight as it was already Wednesday, and Friday was his last day.

He frowned. Being in his apartment for this was taxing; add to it doing this alone, and then to top it off with his own unnecessary concern for the other man? He shook his head at himself.

“Iruka is a strong shinobi, and that was how many years ago? It’s not like he’s avoided anything or anyone because of that,” he said aloud to himself. “I shouldn’t underestimate him or assume that it would bring up trauma.” He paused. “I mean, I wouldn’t blame him if it did, but he signed up for that lesson, volunteered for it even.” He paused again. “Iruka’s probably thrown hundreds, thousands of those since. It’s just a weapon, that’s all.”

Kakashi nodded to himself as he thought about it more, sighing a moment later.

“Iruka’s got more to him than I realized, than I give him credit for sometimes. Naruto knew that, knows that, and now I do too. Or again, I’m not sure which.”

He paused, looking around his bare apartment, a stark contrast to the teacher’s cozy residence, before turning his attention back to the work in front of him.

“It’s just work, like I’ve been doing for twelve weeks. So why does this feel so much different now?”

___

Time flew by and before Kakashi knew it, he was in his last few hours. The morning was fairly busy, consisting of a brief physical fitness test for the children, some work on a group assignment their regular teacher would finish with them, and the quiz that they traded papers for and graded together.

Lunch was the start of surprises, it seemed, for the school had ordered takeout for the staff to celebrate Kakashi’s time at the academy, and the focus of conversation was the raucous night out planned for that night.

Iruka had begun lunch mingling with Kakashi, but by the end he was nowhere to be seen. Kakashi couldn’t help but frown; he had wanted to end the mission similar to how he had started. Well, he reminded himself, not how it fully started, as he was still healing his ego from his former cockiness. In a way, he felt that the mission truly started once he asked for and began to receive help from Iruka, about three weeks in, he recalled. Either way, he had wanted to have one last lunch together, even though it was expected they would run into each other in the village as they always had from time to time.

Still, Kakashi was a professional and when the bell rang he headed to his classroom, knowing he would see Iruka sooner or later.

It turned out to be much sooner, as the chuunin was in Kakashi’s own classroom when he entered it, standing with the jonin’s class to yell excitedly at him. The classroom had been decorated with assignments from their time together, as well as other pictures the children had drawn for him, it seemed.

The teacher’s desk was covered with snacks and drinks, and was moved to a far side at the front of the room.

“I’ll be on my way back to my class now, but for the next hour it’s their show,” Iruka told him as the chuunin grabbed a cupcake. “Good luck, everyone!”

“What’s going on here?” Kakashi asked, watching the other teacher leave before looking at his students.

“We wanted to show you what we learned while you were here!” one of the kids announced.

Kakashi facepalmed. “No fire jutsu, please, no fire jutsu!”

“But Kakashi-sensei!” another whined. “I’ve worked really hard on it! My dad helped me and everything!”

Kakashi looked at him in surprise. “Well, in that case…you can show me outside when your dad picks you up, okay?”

The kids cheered at that prospect and first led him around the room to point out their pictures and review the lessons they depicted (or attempted to depict), and Kakashi couldn’t help but feel warm and proud at the memories. Yes, the infamous fire jutsu mishap (of course). Teaching history. The maps Kakashi drew on the board. History lessons. Weapons training. And one of a very angry ponytailed teacher yelling at the kids while Kakashi lay on the ground with an X on his eye (good detail, he praised the student), covered in weapons.

“Can I keep them?” he asked, and the children nodded, excited that he liked them so much. “Thank you,” he replied, eyes lingering on the last one especially.

They enjoyed some snacks and more stories of their time together before heading out to join the final outdoors lesson he would be part of. Today was moving targets for children a little older than his own class, something that would help all present as they could either practice or start to learn the theory behind what was needed.

It had been a surprisingly pleasant day, he decided, as he packed up the pictures and other mementos the children had gifted him once they had all been dismissed, following the fire jutsu demonstration showing the child’s progress.

He stood in the empty classroom by himself, looking around. It felt like he had some closure on ending his time with a team; two teams, he realized, for the staff had been one as well. Closure he didn’t always have in missions, and certainly none that he had had with his own genin team.

“Thank you,” he said to the room, bowing before he left.

____

He went to the headmaster’s office to debrief and gave the older man his mission report before leaving.

“Shame we can’t convince you to stay another week,” the headmaster sighed, “since Mina couldn’t make it in this week to talk to you about the class.”

“If only I hadn’t already accepted a mission,” Kakashi agreed, not actually mourning not being able to spend extra time. “But I left a report, the grades are all up to date, and Iruka has a good idea of it all.”

The older man nodded and accepted his final written report, and Kakashi headed home to drop off the items from the school before he was to meet the staff for their night out.

After showering and putting on a new uniform, because why not, he smiled to himself as he took out his favorite picture from the children and popped it into a frame he had purchased on his way home. Hanging it up near his front door, his smile widened as he thought about that day, how stressful it had been, how much he had to learn back then.

A blush came over his face as he recalled Iruka’s actions when the copy nin had moaned/complained/bravely fought off death.

“He kissed me,” Kakashi exhaled, reaching up to touch his masked cheek. “I had nearly forgotten…”

Glad his mask easily covered the redness on his face, he headed off to karaoke with a large spring in his step.

___

“Shots!” Junpei shouted. “More shots! Who’s with me?”

Some staff readily agreed, others just laughed or promised to do them later.

“We haven’t even been here an hour, just chill,” someone called out.

“You’re no fun!” Junpei replied, pouring a number of shots before swallowing one himself, then grabbing two along with a bottle of alcohol and heading towards Kakashi, nudging a giggling teacher out of the seat next to the jonin so he could sit there himself.

“Thanks,” Kakashi told him.

“No problem,” Junpei said, handing him a shot. “Bottoms up!”

They threw the drinks back, wincing slightly.

“One day I’ll figure out how you do that while keeping your mask on,” Junpei said, shaking his head. “But!” he continued, slouching against the cushioned bench backing. “You survived, huh?”

“So it seems,” Kakashi mused. “I don’t know how you all do it. Three months and I’m beat!”

The teacher laughed. “It’s not easy, that’s for sure. Some of the ones who have been at this longer, I really give them the credit,” he said, shaking his head. “You can see why we try to go out and have fun together, so we don’t hate our jobs or each other.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Kakashi laughed, and refilled their cups before the two drank them.

“You know, we weren’t sure you’d last,” the teacher told him, laughing.

“I wasn’t sure of it myself,” the jonin agreed.

“No, really,” Junpei said, laughing more. “We even placed bets on it!”

“What?”

The other man nodded and refilled their cups again. “Didn’t you know?” Kakashi shook his head, but Junpei shrugged. “I wonder who won,” he commented, finishing his drink.

“Who’s on for the next song?” someone asked, and Junpei waved.

“Me!”

“I think now’s a good time for me to take the floor, before Junpei embarrasses himself,” the headmaster said loudly, accepting the microphone as the background music was paused.

“Embarrasses himself again, you mean!” someone offered, and the room laughed.

“I won’t stay much longer so you can all really unwind, but I wanted to again express our appreciation and gratitude to Kakashi for accepting the mission and putting his all into it. It’s tough, what we do, and anyone who even tries it is to be commended. Thank you, Kakashi. You’ll always have a spot at the academy if you ever want it!”

“I’m good!” the jonin replied, and the room laughed.

The headmaster joined them, nodding. “Fair enough. Thanks again, and good luck on your next mission. To Kakashi!” he said, raising his glass in toast, and the room joined him.

“Who won the pool?” someone called out, and the others burst into excited chatter.

“Of course!” the headmaster shouted, taking a thick envelope out of his pocket.

“You were in on this?” Kakashi asked, and the others laughed.

“Yes, but no hard feelings, right?” the older man replied, and Kakashi playfully shrugged. “The winner, who chose the correct, and longest, outcome was….” The room paused, eager to hear which of them had won. “Iruka!”

Most cheered, though some groaned, and others could be heard saying “of course!”

The headmaster passed Iruka the envelope of his winnings and the chuunin accepted it with a wide smile and a sweeping bow.

With that, the headmaster thanked Kakashi again and with a final handshake left, leading to the room’s energy increasing. Lights were dimmed slightly, music was turned up, and alcohol flowed more as the group started to move more casually, some dancing as Junpei began to sing.

Kakashi made the rounds, talking with different staff (and evading some). He caught snippets of discussion of the betting, with some complaining to each other and some outright telling him how long they thought he’d make it. Quite a number had him out in the first six weeks. Others seemed to have more faith in him, though these reports were challenged by a few as well…

He eventually saw a seat open next to Iruka and fell into it.

“I suppose congratulations are in order for you,” the jonin offered, and Iruka smiled.

“And to you!”

Kakashi rolled his eye and leaned closer to Iruka to better hear him over the loudness of the room. “I’m not sure what’s more unexpected, that you placed a bet, or that you didn’t tell me about the pool…”

Iruka smiled, and Kakashi focused on his grin before his brain registered that the other man was speaking.

“Are you really that surprised?”

“No,” the copy nin admitted. He paused. “What was your bet for? What date?”

Iruka leaned away slightly to look at him in surprise. “Today, of course!”

“What?”

Iruka nodded. “I knew you’d finish it out, even with all your complaining. It’s not like you to give up,” he said, and Kakashi felt warmth in his chest at the man’s praise.

“You always see the best in people,” he commented, in part to tell himself not to read into it too much. This was probably just Iruka being Iruka, his brain tipsily observed.

“Sure, but why wouldn’t I bet on the person I’m working with?” Iruka protested. “What kind of mentor would I be to not believe in you?”

The jonin had no answer to that, realizing yet again that Iruka had more faith in Kakashi than the jonin seemed to have in himself.

“Iruka! Your turn!” Kimiye called out, and Iruka smiled at him.

“That’s my cue!” Iruka laughed, standing and moving to the center of the room.

As the music changed and Iruka began to sing, Kakashi told himself it was the dazzling lights in the room, the alcohol in his body, and the fatigue from the last three months (more, if he counted his time in the field and poison that led to this mission) making him feel a bit emotional right now. Not Iruka’s kind words, or belief in him, or recognizing that their time together had ended.

And it certainly had nothing to do with the chuunin’s belting out of the song Iruka had chosen, emphatically singing and dancing to the delight of the room.

Kakashi smiled and sipped his drink as he watched the performance. He had time to figure out whatever was going on inside himself. Tonight, he could relax, and just be.

_____

This, Kakashi realized, this was what he was meant for. To be in the field, on a mission, fighting for his village. Head to head with opposition, alone or with a team, fighting, pushing, moving. Not teaching snot-nosed kids, not until they had made genin, at least.

He welcomed the familiar aches and pains as he and Tenzou set up camp for the night, four days into their mission. They had come across some members of the gang they were tracking and engaged in battle with them, and Kakashi had relished every moment of it even if he had been left with a bruised rib and a small scratch.

As night fell and they finished eating dinner, he thought about the fight, smiling to himself about it. One of the enemies had used a fuma shuriken, and he couldn’t help but let the battle with it lead to thoughts of Iruka’s demonstration. Kakashi had caught it today in much the same way he had done that day at the academy, only this time instead of sending it away to safety he had sailed it back into the throat of its owner. Delightful!

“What’s so funny?” Tenzou asked, moving around on his bedroll to get more comfortable.

“Hmm?”

“You were laughing softly,” the other man said. “What’s gotten you?”

“Oh, nothing,” Kakashi casually said. “One of my last days at the academy involved demonstrating fighting with the fuma shuriken, so it was funny that I then faced it today.”

Tenzou nodded as he cleaned up their dinner items into a scroll. “How did that lesson go?”

“Fine, Iruka was the main person for it and showed the technical side of it, then threw a bunch at me,” Kakashi fondly reminisced.

“Did he?” Tenzou asked, a hint of surprise and mischief in his voice. “Did he get you?”

Kakashi threw a regular shuriken at him, and Tenzou laughed as he caught it.

“That’s not an answer,” the other jonin said in a sing-song voice, spinning the shuriken around his own fingers.

“Of course he didn’t,” Kakashi scoffed. “Not that he didn’t try, admittedly.”

“Pity,” Tenzou sighed. “Though I guess then you wouldn’t have been able to have gone on this mission. Or are you already on assignment so you can get injured and go back?”

“What?”

Tenzou nodded. “Get an injury and be reassigned there? You seemed to like it well enough.”

“I hated it. Working with such young kids? No thank you!”

“And the adults? The staff, your coworkers?”

Kakashi paused as he thought about it. “They were….not bad. It was interesting to have a long-term adult team again,” he admitted, nodding as he continued to reflect. “Not bad at all.”

“Especially a certain someone, hmm?”

“What are you talking about?”

Tenzou shrugged and got his bedroll ready to sleep. “You spent a lot of time with Iruka, that’s all.”

“At your suggestion!” Kakashi hissed. “You were the one to tell me to treat it like a mission!”

“A wooing mission?” the other man laughed.

“No,” Kakashi snapped. “Iruka was assigned to me, I took your advice and actually used his help. That’s all.”

“Weekly? Several times a week?”

“Apparently being an academy teacher is a lot of work,” Kakashi sighed, as he too settled in for the night. “I could never get him to do any of my grading, so the compromise was to do it together since then I would actually get it done.” He summoned the pack and sent them out to stand watch overnight so the two men could get more rest.

“Poor Iruka, having had to babysit you for three months,” Tenzou said, yawning. “I hope he got paid well.”

“He did, but what about poor me?”

Tenzou's sleeping bag shrugged. “I stand by what I said.”

Kakashi rolled his eye and shuffled further into his own sleeping bag. “I was pretty good company,” he murmured as tried to fall asleep. “I cooked for us, and did my own work, and got along with everyone,” he sighed. “And Iruka seemed to enjoy it…”

____

Kakashi found himself too busy on that mission to think about that discussion more, and upon their return to the village he immediately went to the missions office to sign up for another one.

He squashed any disappointment that Iruka was not working that shift, nor the time after that. However, after his third straight mission, Tsunade sat him down for a stern talking to, and reminded him that his time at the academy was : A) a proper mission, B) did not mean he was out of shape for the field, and C) no reason to now try to kill himself with missions.

She demanded he slow down unless otherwise assigned and that medically-speaking, he needed some rest time in between missions.

So after a solid month of missions, Kakashi reluctantly agreed to have time off here and there, and resumed his previous activities from months ago of his own training, engaging in challenges with Gai, spending time with friends, and occasionally just lounging about.

He also began to see his former coworkers from the academy around the village, and remained on friendly terms with them, making small talk and hearing stories of his class.

Kakashi had not yet seen Iruka since that last night of karaoke, as they had not run into each other and he never quite seemed to get to the missions office when the younger man was working.

Fortunately, Kakashi ran into Junpei early one Thursday evening, and the younger man was excited to see him.

“Hatake-san!” Junpei cheered. “How are you?”

Kakashi laughed. “Why so formal suddenly?”

The other man shrugged. “We’re out in the village, and you don’t work at the academy anymore. Contrary to what people say, I’m not that much of an idiot. Mostly,” he corrected himself.

Kakashi laughed again. “Still, I’m not as big of a jerk as people say, or so I hope. We can still be informal.”

“Great!” Junpei cheered. “Then in that case, Kakashi,” he said, drawing out the name, “come join us for drinks!”

“On a Thursday night? You’ve changed,” Kakashi teased.

“Tomorrow’s a half day, so a lot of people made plans for the weekend. Come on, everyone will want to see you!”

Kakashi agreed and they headed to a bar the group had gone to once or twice before, where indeed the familiar group of academy staff were excited to see him and catch up on how they had all been.

As he made small talk, including accepting praise from Mina for how her students grew with him, he couldn’t help but look around for his former mentor.

“Either you lost a bet to someone, you were bribed to be here, or I’m so tired I’m hallucinating,” a familiar voice said as the jonin made his way back to the group from the bar, and Kakashi looked to his right to see Iruka smiling at him.

“I ran into Junpei and couldn’t say no to such a grand invitation,” Kakashi told him, and they moved to sit at a table near the others.

“How have you been?”

The copy nin shrugged. “Busy.”

“You look it,” Iruka commented, and Kakashi tilted his head. “You look a bit…drained. And like you’ve lost weight. Too much time in the field, or so I’ve heard.”

“Sometimes I forget how much about the village you always seem to know,” Kakashi laughed. “Guilty, as charged. I promised Tsunade I’d finally slow it down a bit.”

Iruka nodded and sipped his drink. “We were all saying we hadn’t seen you around the village for a while, and weren’t sure if you were avoiding us,” he said, and Kakashi couldn’t help but notice how the teacher fidgeted slightly at the last statement.

“I would never,” the jonin said, and Iruka’s eyes flicked back to him, crinkling with a warm smile. “I just did some back-to-back events that kept me away til recently. Speaking of being tired, you look exhausted.”

Iruka sighed and gave him a weary smile. “It was parent-teacher conference week,” he told him. “Be glad you missed it. It’s one of the most exhausting weeks, since everyone and their summons wants to ask about this, complain about that, or be otherwise inappropriate.”

“Ooh, do tell,” Kakashi said, leaning forward. “Because part of one of Jiraiya’s books takes place in a school and for that event –”

Iruka shook his head and held up a hand. “Don’t continue that thought, I don’t want to know!” He laughed. “Nothing crazy, just some parents slip in various bribes, or dinner invitations, or offer to set me up with someone else. I don’t know if it’s to try to bribe me to help out their kid so much as to just play matchmaker,” he commented, shaking his head again.

Something in Kakashi’s stomach stirred unpleasantly. “What did you tell them?”

“Same thing I always say,” Iruka said, sitting straight and putting on his best polite teacher voice. “Thank you, but our focus in this meeting is on your child. Right now my personal focus is also on my jobs and dedication to the village.” He slouched again and covered his mouth as he yawned. “Generally works, especially since I include the guilt trip about the village.”

Kakashi nodded, still feeling that new tension in his body. “I hope you’re taking time for yourself though, that you’re not always just dedicated to the village?”

Iruka laughed. “You know how busy a teacher’s life can be, and then I’ve got the missions office as well. But yeah, I still hang out with friends when I can, and rest up on my own. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Ah, but that’s what I said to Tsunade and I was nearly thrown out of her office window,” Kakashi mused. “Again.”

Iruka laughed, a warm, deep laugh that Kakashi hadn’t heard in so long, and one that he realized he sorely missed.

“So, I hear you’ve got a half day tomorrow, what big plans do you have for the long weekend?” Kakashi asked.

Iruka shrugged as he drank. “I’m not sure, I kept it all free as I usually do. I don’t really want to sleep in every day,” he said, seemingly reflecting more to himself than the other man. “And I don’t feel like packing up and going anywhere out of the village…” He paused and shrugged. “I don’t know, really. Do you do anything fun when you’re in the village these days?”

“I’m still new to being in Konoha and not having to grade in the evenings and weekends,” Kakashi teased, making the other man laugh. “But I saw a new restaurant opened up in the past few weeks and I was thinking of trying it. Do you want to grab lunch there tomorrow?”

Iruka nodded and smiled. “That sounds good, thanks! We finish at noon, so I can meet you a little after.”

Kakashi nodded and was about to say something more when he was called to be on a team for darts.

“Still so popular for it, I see,” Iruka teased.

“Unfortunately,” Kakashi playfully sighed. He gave Iruka the name and location of the restaurant and went to join the others to play, possibly putting a bit more flair into his game than usual…

___

Lunch the following day was a pleasant affair, and they made plans to go on a hike the next day. This led to making plans to get together when both were in the village and free, which wasn’t terribly often, but certainly more than they had ever done before Kakashi’s academy mission.

Tenzou delighted in continuing to tease him about this during missions and patrols together, even catching Kakashi humming a song that Iruka had last sung at karaoke.

“I like spending time with him, so what?” Kakashi snapped. “I like spending time with you and Gai, what’s the difference?”

“You tell me,” Tenzou suggested, before slipping on his ANBU mask and darting away, leaving Kakashi to his thoughts.

Was there a difference, he wondered? Sure, his interactions with Iruka were different, the nature of them anyway. The teacher was not a work partner as Tenzou was, nor a lifelong friend like Gai. But they had a strong bond, and by now knew a fair amount of the other, including preferences and telltale signs the other was becoming too stressed. Was that the main reason they got together, Kakashi wondered? Because they were self-care for each other, to ground the other and make sure that they were eating, resting, not killing themselves with work? Or was it more, at least for himself?

He thought about this more as he found himself standing in his apartment staring at the picture his former student had drawn about The Incident and the depiction of his angry guardian shinobi Iruka.

“My Iruka?” he asked himself, surprised. “He’s not…he is…he could be…?”

Kakashi inhaled deeply as he ran a hand through his hair, wondering what this meant and, more importantly, what he should do about it…

____

It was a grueling solo mission, but it had been a success, that was what counted. Well, that, and that it was Saturday and if he really, truly pushed himself, he could be back in Konoha for Sunday.

Kakashi took another soldier pill to keep himself going, telling himself he’d sleep in a day or two, for he had more important matters to attend to when he was back in the leaf village. If he didn’t get back for Sunday, he’d have to wait at least another week, if not longer, and who knew if he’d chicken out!

He got back late Saturday night and was able to grab some sleep, though it was difficult due to his excitement and the multiple soldier pills he had consumed.

Before he knew it, it was lunchtime on Sunday and he was walking to Iruka’s apartment, takeout in one hand, gift bag in another.

He knocked on the familiar door and Iruka opened it, wearing civilian clothes and clearly surprised to see him.

“Kakashi! Hello!”

“Hello, Iruka,” Kakashi replied. “I know this is a big grading day for you and I thought you could do with some lunch to keep you going?”

Iruka smiled warmly at him. “Is it that time already? I lost track of time, but you’re a lifesaver! Thank you!”

He stepped aside to let the jonin in and they soon sat to eat, talking about this and that.

As they neared the end of their lunch, Kakashi cleared his throat. Now or never, right?

“I wanted to thank you again for your help at the academy,” he said, delighting in the other man’s smile. “I really wouldn’t have survived without it, much less actually kind of made it work.”

“You did the real work, I just helped a little,” Iruka assured him. “Okay, maybe more than a little, but you did your work yourself.”

“Don’t remind me,” Kakashi sighed. “But, I got you something to thank you.”

“You didn’t have to!” Iruka tried to say, but was interrupted by Kakashi passing him the gift bag. The teacher opened it and smiled as he pulled out an identical picture in a frame to the one Kakashi cherished so much of the terrible weapons lesson early into his time at the academy. It had taken the copy nin two weeks to figure out what to do for Iruka, and another week for Mina to be able to meet Kakashi to help him so that Iruka wouldn’t catch on to anything.

But it was worth it, for Iruka was dying laughing at the scene in front of him.

“Was that really how it was that day?” the brunette laughed. “I look so angry!”

“You were,” Kakashi reminded him. “But it’s my favorite memory from the three months there.”

“You almost died that day, according to you,” Iruka posed with a raised eyebrow and a small smile.

“Right?! But you kissed me and defended my honor to the kids, so I survived, somehow. And then made them write a long essay, that you were generous enough to grade,” Kakashi reflected.

“I kissed you?” Iruka exclaimed, eyes wide. “I did? Oh, I did!” he said, a blush dusting his cheeks showing he was now clearly recalling it. “I’m sorry –”

“Don’t be,” Kakashi told him. “I liked it. It was nice. I…you’ve helped me to see that there’s more to life right now than missions. That I could have more, be more.” He paused and swallowed heavily. “Can I take you out for dinner sometime?”

“Like a date?” Iruka asked, clutching the picture frame to his chest.

Kakashi nodded. “Like a date.”

“I’d like that,” Iruka replied, smiling. “Yes.”

“Great! I’m in the village this week, so…”

“Wednesday?” Iruka suggested. “I’m not working the missions office, and I could skip grading that night.”

“All that for me? I already feel spoiled,” Kakashi teased. “Wednesday it is.”

They made comfortable small talk after as they cleaned up their lunch, and Kakashi excused himself, not wanting to overstay his welcome. Especially now that this mission had been accomplished!

____

Sadly, even with all his planning to make sure Sunday’s lunch had gone well, his efforts still ran into a bump in the road as he was called the next night for a mission.

Tuesday morning he appeared in Iruka’s classroom as the teacher got ready for the day.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized after explaining the change in plans. “Can we reschedule?”

“I’m disappointed, but I totally understand,” Iruka assured him. “Whenever you get back we’ll go out, I promise.”

Kakashi thanked him and apologized again before leaving, as he had to head out shortly after, both sighing at the unexpected change in plans.

____

Two Thursdays later, Kakashi stumbled into the village at night, about ten o’clock judging from the shadows cast about the village and businesses closing up, he noted.

He signed in at the gate, and immediately headed to Iruka’s apartment, unsure of what to do or say, but knowing he wanted, needed to see the other man.

He knocked on the door, hoping it wasn’t too late, and soon found Iruka standing in his doorway in surprise, shinobi blues still on.

“I just got back,” Kakashi bluntly explained as a greeting, rucksack still on him.

“I can tell,” Iruka commented. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“I did get stabbed a few times, I admit,” Kakashi said, and watched as Iruka put his hands on the jonin’s shoulders to turn him this way and that to look at his injuries. “Just like when I was training the kids though, right?”

“I don’t think getting stabbed on a mission compares to the reckless use of weapons by pre-genin,” Iruka laughed.

“Says you, I’m still haunted by that one weapons lesson,” Kakashi sighed.

Iruka rolled his eyes but smiled. Hands still on the taller man’s shoulder, he leaned up and kissed the jonin’s right cheek.

“Just like then, a kiss to make it all better,” Iruka said softly, as he pulled away slightly to look Kakashi in the eye. “Let’s get you patched up and I’ll reheat some dinner.”

“I still want to take you out,” Kakashi told him, and Iruka smiled and moved his hands off his shoulders to take the man’s gloved ones in his own.

“I’d like that,” he said, and the copy nin exhaled, feeling the weight of worry lift off him, now realizing that he had carried concern that the mission may have cost him an opportunity with the younger man.

Kakashi nodded and Iruka took him by the hand and led him into the apartment, closing the door behind them as they went to settle in for the night.