Chapter Text
Anon Asked: If you're still doing ask prompts, consider Kakairu: "Wait, since when do you have a tattoo!?" <3
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Kakashi blinks, sure that he can’t believe his own eyes even if one has never failed him.
Umino Iruka is shirtless, which is not unusual since the academy instructor is in the middle of having a chest wound treated, but the swirling black and red ink that curls from right below his earlobe, around his neck, and all the way down past his ribs is news to Kakashi. He’s sitting close enough to discern the patterns of foxes and wolves, but not much else in the intriguing ink.
He can’t help but ask.
“Since when, Sensei, do you have a tattoo!?”
Iruka and Sakura both look up at him with matching surprise. Sakura’s quickly changes to confusion then worry, as she steps away from Iruka and toward Kakashi.
“Are you alright, sensei?” She looks between herself and Iruka before bringing a glowing hand to Kakashi’s forehead. “Did you hit your head?”
“I’m fine.” He tries, attempting to shake her off and keep his eyes on Iruka at the same time.
The brunette looks down at his own chest for a lingering moment before meeting Kakashi’s eyes, the surprise on his face fading away to understanding.
“You can see it.” Iruka’s voice is soft; awed even.
Kakashi nods, finally dislodging Sakura’s hand, she gives him a pointed look, but steps back.
Her brows furrow together as she looks over Iruka once more. “Did you both hit your heads?”
It registers then, somewhere in Kakashi’s chakra-exhausted brain, that no one else can see the ink adorning Iruka’s skin.
Kakashi sees Iruka’s teacher-smile slip into place, as he waves Sakura off in the same manner Kakashi had tried. “You’ve closed my chest wound, Sakura, perhaps you should give Kakashi-sensei and I a moment to rest.”
The girl looks wary, but she takes the hint and Kakashi waits until the door shuts behind her before asking once more.
“So, I’ll repeat. Since when do you have a tattoo that only we can see, Iruka-sensei?”
There’s a hesitation, like Iruka is weighing his response.
“Since birth.” He states plainly, his voice serious compared to his smile. “My clan call them ‘soulmarks’.”