Chapter Text
Sakura didn’t know what she was thinking that day, her mind seemed to be working itself overtime trying to search for anyone who wasn’t busy. Unfortunately for her, almost everyone seemed to have their hands full that day. Ino, Naruto, Hinata, even her parents. It was maybe the most restless day in Konoha she’d seen.
“Maybe I’ll just take Sarada to work-“ no that would not do. Not at all.
Sakura doesn’t know why she goes to Kakashi, but she does and she prays her old teacher isn’t too busy. He’s never exactly in a jovial mood while in the chair, but he’s definitely not dying either. Except when she gets there, Sakura can clearly see the exhaustion that is all over him. “Maaa, Sakura, it's so nice to see you.” He looks slightly happier with her here, but she doesn’t know if that’s to keep the peace.
She feels guilty and doesn’t hesitate to lecture him, “Sensei- you should take a break. If you overwork yourself, you’ll end up in the hospital and you know how-.” She tries to keep her concern masked under annoyance, but it slips out anyways.
“Don’t worry Sakura, it’s just paperwork, not chakra exhaustion,” he smiles and she’s going to say something else but she notices the hand on his shoulder.
Obito’s here today.
Correction, he’s here everyday.
According to Kakashi, he managed to save Obito from execution on the condition that he watch over Obito (Sakura doesn’t doubt that her sensei had several other tricks to pull, considering Obito still holds his Rinnegan and can walk around almost freely. Almost, because Kakashi is always there, like a sentinel). Except it doesn’t look like that from the outside, because Kakashi has decided it would be funny to give Obito an ANBU uniform, mask, and code name.
Kakashi looks at him, and Sakura knows that look all too well.
Because she’s made it before too.
“It’s okay, Obito. I’ll be fine,” Kakashi says. He sounds appreciative, gentle, and loving. It’s the same tone that she uses sometimes, in more intimate moments. Sakura has an awkward feeling that she’s witnessing something she shouldn’t, and suddenly wants to back her feet up to leave.
Kakashi turns back to her though, and with an understanding look conveys that he’d be fine with babysitting Sarada.
She’s grateful, extremely grateful, but there are some things that go unspoken as she looks at Kakashi with a small gleam of worry in her eye.
(“Is he going to be on his best behavior?” Admittedly, Sakura doesn’t exactly trust Obito. How could she after everything? But she can understand Kakashi and if it’s Kakashi’s she’s trusting, then she trusts Kakashi with her whole heart.)
Kakashi looks at Obito and there’s some sort of dance they’re doing in the way they look at each other.
Obito takes off his mask and looks at Sakura directly. She’s only seen it off a couple times now.
“I promise I won’t hurt her,” he says, “Or Kakashi.” There’s no snark like she was expecting, not even a grimace or any sort of playful annoyance. It’s sincere and after glaring at him for several seconds, she looks back at Kakashi.
“Thank you again, Kakashi sensei.”
-
Work is tiring, but when is it ever not? It’s rewarding at least, and when Sakura goes to pick Sarada up from the Hokage office, she hopes that everything has gone well there too as well. (She hopes the bags under Kakashi’s eyes don’t get worse).
It seems nothing burned down which is good.
She thanks Kakashi, and notices how much more pleasant the mood has become. Obito even has his mask off and it's then that she sees the soft smile on his face.
“Sarada’s a good kid,” Kakashi says and Sakura’s glad. Her girl has always been a sweet child, and she’s happy to know that she’s raising Sarada right.
“I’m glad,” she says and she notices that Obito is looking at Kakashi’s smile again (he does that, an awful lot. It’s actually really cute). “You don’t mind doing this again in the future, do you?”
“Not at all,” Kakashi says.
Sakura turns to leave and Sarada waves bye to Kakashi and Obito, “Bye uncle Kakashi! Bye Wolf!”
She raises an eyebrow at that. Kakashi seems to like playing into the ANBU guard thing a little too much. So does Obito apparently, as he places his mask back on. She sighs, “Just don’t be a bad influence on her.”
Kakashi chuckles (a little bit too nervously) and Obito looks at him with an unimpressed face.
She wonders what they’re playing at, continuing the facade. The most logical conclusion she comes to is that many people in Konoha aren’t fond of a war criminal walking around. The most “Kakashi” conclusion she comes up with is that he’s playing some sort of game or trick. Because several weeks later, she hears perhaps the most, perplexing rumor.
-
“Did you hear!?” She’s at work, and some of the nurses seem to really like gossiping on their lunch breaks.
“Apparently, there’s a distant branch of the Hatakes!”
Sakura wants to spit out her drink. Because what?!
She knows that the Hatake are a clan, but she’s never exactly seen any other Hatakes (in Konoha at least) aside from Kakashi. He’s never even mentioned being part of a clan. (He doesn’t mention much about himself anyways).
“Apparently one of them is trying to court Kakashi!”
(She thought Obito and Kakashi were- oh no.)
One of the nurses huffs and says, “I doubt it’ll work. I mean, Kakashi’s Hokage now and he can’t just retire that fast!” Sakura would have a lot of words to say to Kakashi if he dropped the hat for someone he hasn’t even introduced to her yet. And so would everyone else. Because who is this Hatake!? Who on earth could convince Kakashi to abandon his whole world in Konoha!?
“Do you even know who it is?”
“I don’t know his name, but Tsumiki was talking earlier about how she saw a man with white hair in a blue yukata place a flower into the Hokage’s hair!”
White hair, blue yukata…
Oh, they’re mistaking Obito for a Hatake because of his hair. Is white hair a Hatake trait? But Kakashi’s is technically silver and Obito’s is pure white (‘unnaturally,’ she adds).
“Anything else about him?”
“He had an eyepatch-”
“A lot of people have eyepatches.”
“Did the Hokage say anything about it?”
Sakura is intrigued because what would Kakashi say? That he’s dating a war criminal? Did he come up with the lie because he didn’t want people freaking out? People are already not too happy about her being with Sasuke. (She’d understand why, even if she didn’t necessarily condone lying to the village).
“Not at all, but I thought he was dating that ANBU nin!”
“WHAT!?”
What.
Sakura isn’t sure, but she feels as if her break is close to ending and that she should finish the rest of her lunch quickly. So she chews as much of it as she can while listening to the rest of the conversation. (Because who wouldn’t?)
“The one that hangs around him all the time?”
She almost spits out her food, because she knows EXACTLY the “ANBU” they’re talking about.
“The one that STALKS him.”
Is it stalking if Kakashi actively encourages it and is technically the one who enables it? Wait, why is everyone under the impression that Obito is stalking Kakashi as an ANBU. Sakura thought Kakashi had told everyone that Wolf was there to guard him.
“I hope that Hatake can fight, I didn’t realize there were so many pining over the Hokage.”
“Well who wouldn’t?”
“He wears a mask and reads porn in public!”
“He’s kind of hot.”
Sakura needs to step out of this room before she has an aneurysm.
What’s the point of Kakashi telling two lies at once? Would it be to just throw people off enough to distract from the fact that he’s dating Obito?
It isn’t until she hears the third rumor that she realizes what Kakashi and Obito are doing.
“Sakura! How are you?” Naruto has the biggest smile on his face and Sakura looks at him with fondness. Clearly there’s something making him extremely happy. Did Boruto or Himawari do something? Or maybe Hinata is-
“Did you know Obito is going to-” She doesn’t want to hear the rest of that rumor. Because no. No. NO. It’s absurd, Naruto is dumb, but what the hell?
What is Kakashi playing at making up all of these lies and spreading them around to-
Oh.
Oh no.
So that’s what they’re doing…
God help Konoha’s rumor mill.
-
Naruto doesn’t know what to make of Kakashi sensei and Obito’s relationship.
He does know that they’re close.
From what Kakashi has told him about Obito, he knows that there is a very deep bond between them. (Like him and Sasuke in some ways). Almost everyone can see that they’re close and it's beautiful really.
(A little bit too close.)
Naruto asks Gai-sensei once about it, and Gai only gives him a rundown of what he already knows. Only… he knows something else too! Because Naruto can see it in the gleam of his eye and the way his face literally does a multitude of dances, but he doesn’t get anything else out of Gai. As eccentric as Gai is, he’s a very good rival and friend to Kakashi (because whatever he knows about Kakashi that Kakashi doesn’t want Naruto to know for whatever reason is hidden).
So when he finally does hear something about it! It’s all he can hear!
Because…
It's not about Kakashi and Obito.
It’s about someone who wants to take Kakashi away from Konoha (away from Obito).
He wonders how Obito is dealing with it.
Naruto doesn’t think Obito and Kakashi are dealing with it all too great, because one day he stumbles across them fighting in the Hokage Office.
“Kakashi-Sensei!!!” The door is flung open, there’s absolutely no warning for any untrained shinobi. But that’s not what Kakashi or Obito are, because both are very trained. Trained so well they seem to be duking out their arguments with their fists.
Naruto thinks he’s interrupted something, and a part of him is glad he did because he probably just prevented another war!
Because Obito is on top of Kakashi, who has his hands flung up on each side as if accepting defeat.
“Naruto- it’s not what it looks like-“ Kakashi starts. Obito simply looks him dead in the eye and gets up from where he is. He lends a hand out to Kakashi, who accepts it. “We were sparring.” Both of them look red in the face. Likely shame from the fact that Naruto has caught them fighting as if they were rowdy academy students. Much more shame from Kakashi, who seems caught off guard that his student has caught him in the childish feud that he discouraged between Naruto and Sasuke!
“GAHHH!!! Kakashi-sensei! Obito! I thought you two had already settled things!” Because he was sure they had! So why were they fighting again…?
Kakashi looks at him and says, “We did. It’s just-”
Obito sobs (WHAT!?), “Kakashi is thinking of running away with some guy from a distant branch of his clan!”
Kakashi-sensei has a look of confusion on his face, then it morphs into cartoonish horror as he tries to say, “No, Obito! It’s not like that!” Naruto shrieks and it’s truly one of the most terrified sounds he’s made in a long time. Because how could he?!
“Kakashi-sensei you can’t do that! You’re Hokage-! Wait-,” Naruto thinks, “I can become Hokage and then you can do that!”
(He swears he hears a snort from Kakashi-sensei.)
“Naruto don’t encourage him!” Obito says, “After all, you don’t even know who this man is! You’ve known me for our entire childhood, you’ve barely known this man for half a week and you’re planning on leaving me for some nobody from your clan? How could you!?” There’s a sharp, dramatic tone of betrayal and despair in Obito’s voice. Admittedly, this seems like a scene from one of Kakashi’s pervy novels. Naruto is puzzled and he is admittedly in a state of fear, confusion, and some morbid intrigue at the Hokage’s love life. Really, really messy love life.
Obito places his hands over his heart and clutches tightly, “When you looked into my eyes, told me you’d stay forever by my side, was that a lie?”
Kakashi doesn’t say anything, rather his eyes seem to be watering and he’s shaking, making small sounds that sound like hiccups. It’s probably the first time Naruto has seen his sensei reduced to such a state.
Kakashi seems to be holding his cries in, his eyes crinkled as they upturned. Naruto really wishes he could see more through the mask, but Kakashi notices and he turns away, silently crying into his sleeve. Okay, now he feels really bad.
(There’s something that sounds suspiciously like a giggle, but it's too quickly followed up by a huff for Naruto to be sure.)
“Kakashi?” Obito’s voice sounds breathy, soft, intimate. (As breathy as he can make it with how raspy his voice usually is.)
There’s a pause, and Naruto really wants to leave. Is he witnessing a lover’s quarrel? At what point is he going to experience this with Hinata!? (He really hopes he won’t have to, if Kakashi-sensei’s overly despaired look tells him anything, it’s that this is truly a horrible situation).
Kakashi doesn’t say anything and Naruto is an inch away from the door.
Then, he hears the sharingan activate and he looks at Obito with shock because he’s not supposed to do that!
“Then I’ll… I’ll prove to you Kakashi. I’ll make sure you stay here. With me.”
“Obito- you can’t possibly be thinking of-”
NOPE!
The door slams shut and Naruto is already out because he is NOT dealing with this. It’s Kakashi’s love life, therefore it’s Kakashi’s problem! (Although he thinks Sakura might be amused at this.)
(There’s an immense amount of trust that Naruto holds for his sensei. Trust that, as lazy as he may be, Kakashi would always choose his friends, teammates, and Konoha first.)
(Although Naruto gets VERY concerned for the man in the blue yukata, glowing white hair in the orange sunset, who holds Kakashi’s hands in his own and kisses the scar on Kakashi’s eye. The man’s face is turned away, Naruto can’t see it. Even worse is the odd choice of a mask that seems to veer onto the side of his head, reminding Naruto of when Kakashi still had his sharingan. (Do all Hatakes wear masks? If so, this man must have chosen a weird one.) But he sees enough to know that this is the Hatake who Obito is so jealous of. He hopes the man can fight.)
-
Kakashi doesn’t know how it started, but it’s been very fun so far to come up with absurd rumors (some of which are based on events from Makeout Paradise).
Obito scoffs at him whenever he suggests a new rumor, and teases him for deriving it off of Makeout Paradise. But he never puts it down, and usually by the end of the day there’s mysteriously a NEW curiosity sparked in Konoha’s citizens and shinobi alike.
They’re at their kitchen table, enjoying breakfast to the loud chirp of birds outside when Kakashi has the idea.
“What if we spread a rumor around that you’re a Hatake who wishes to whisk me away to a distant branch of the clan?”
“Kakashi,” Obito groans, “Can we please not base it off of Makeout Paradise again? People are going to get suspicious.” His voice has a slight drag to it, he hasn’t fully woken up yet it seems. Honestly, Kakashi hasn’t either, but he also kind of has to.
(Anyways, how does Obito know about that twist? He hopes Obito has caught up to where he is, and that nobody has spoiled the full ending for him.)
“Maaa, but wouldn’t it be fun? Think, an ANBU and a Hatake from who-knows-where fighting-”
“I don’t even have Hatake traits, Kakashi.”
“With your hair, I’m sure it’s plausible. And technically not many people have seen your face, or mine- so how would they know?” Kakashi wonders if he should dig out some files to check on other traits Obito could perpetuate. Just in case they needed extra accuracy. But with how fast the rumor mill moves and how gullible some villagers are, he supposes it won't be necessary.
“Bakashi,” Obito quietly huffs in indignation, there’s a pout on his face and Kakashi thinks to himself it’s the cutest thing. In these moments, he wishes he still had the sharingan, if only to record the small twinge of pink on Obito’s cheeks or the furrow of his brows, or the cute turn of his lips.
(Kakashi’s sure Obito does it with him sometimes.)
-
The day Naruto came in was unexpected, admittedly.
They had gotten a bit… too caught up in the moment. “Are we really doing this here?” Obito groans, atop Kakashi, a finger looped into his mask. It’s unprofessional as hell, but he can’t bring himself to care when staring up at Obito, whose flushed face and adoring eyes make him weak in the knees. Kakashi is about to lean up and-
The door flies open. (Its hinges are probably busted now.)
Kakashi is quick to retract his hands to his sides. Obito is too.
The two of them fumble in order to come up with a reasonable explanation that will not have Naruto be suspicious or concerned. Because he looks extremely frightened by the imaginary scenario of them being at odds again (at least Kakashi won’t have to have the talk as to why doing it in the Hokage office is disgraceful).
Then Obito has a bright idea, and Kakashi is momentarily caught off guard.
(Because technically, it was his idea first.)
He plays into it though, so good that Naruto’s face begins to drain of color and he has to turn his head away for fear Naruto will see the giant smile on his face as he shakes from the need to giggle. Obito plays the grief stricken lover role really well, his voice even cracks at some points and it makes Kakashi’s heart move (if a little bit).
When Naruto slams the door, they both have to hold in their laughter for a few more seconds to ensure that Naruto doesn’t catch any hint of the truth before bursting out with amusement.
“Did you see his face?” Obito asks, gasping from breaths from his overjoyed laughter. Kakashi starts laughing as well and he’s unable to control himself as he almost doubles over.
Obito has his hands on Kakashi’s shoulders, pulling him close. He gently brings a hand up to wipe away Kakashi’s tears. There’s a noticeable shine in his eyes, almost as if he wanted to cry from the laughter as well. Kakashi thinks happiness is a good look for Obito.
“Yeah, he looked so frightened- I can’t believe we just did that!” There’s so much joy in Kakashi’s voice that he wonders if this is real. Obito’s hand is now on Kakashi’s cheek, then it goes to loop into his mask again.
Kakashi allows for his mask to be drawn down, and ruffles his own hands through Obito’s white hair. They bump foreheads and inevitably, Kakashi finds his lips are on Obito’s.
It’s gentle, kind, and Kakashi can feel himself melting into Obito’s lips. And then there’s a playful smirk that builds on Obito’s face as he breaks the kiss and looks at Kakashi lovingly, “I meant it you know. If push came to shove, I’d fight for you.”
Kakashi smiles, a warm rush all over him, “I would too.”
They kiss again, and Kakashi thinks to himself that this is real. Because no dream could ever make him this happy.
(Later, Kakashi and Obito have taken a detour and are enjoying their time near the river as the sun begins to set. Kakashi notices a blond haired man far behind Obito.
“Don’t look, but Naruto is right behind you,” he says, Kakashi can feel his lips pull into a mischievous smile as Obito’s rough hands hold his calloused hands as if they were precious silk. Obito leans in and tenderly kisses the scar that mars Kakashi’s face.
From the corner of his eye, he can see Naruto peek with wide eyes and a shocked expression. No doubt this was going to get out soon.
Kakashi smiles and pulls Obito a bit closer, slowly playing with the short strands of white hair as if to subtly make some implications.
Naruto makes a strangled sound in the background, and slaps his hand onto his mouth as he quickly dashes away.
There’s pure happiness in Kakashi’s heart at that moment and as the sun disappears, he hopes that everyday for the rest of his life can be filled with such joy.)