Work Text:
“Here's your tea.”
“Hn.”
Sasuke took the cup of steaming liquid from Kakashi's hand and sat next to him on the hill. The sun dipped down the horizon, turning the sky into fire. The day was coming to an end.
“We’ll be hiking back tomorrow.” Kakashi informed, his hands wrapping warmly around the hot cup of gyokuro. “Unless you want to train here for a few more days?”
Sasuke shrugged. “Back sounds good.”
Kakashi chuckled. “I figured. I’m tired too”
They sat in silence for a while and sipped their drinks. The young Uchiha’s gaze wandered ahead of him, grazing his eyes over the vast landscape with the falling sun across the grass and sky. It looked beautiful.
He stared at his open palm. Blisters were scattered across it from training them earlier that day. He set his cup down.
Kakashi looked at his pupil again.
“Got something on your mind?”
“… are you sure my nature is lightning?”
“Clear as day it seems.”
Sasuke grimaced. He opened and closed his palm again.
Kakashi knew that the raven was probably expecting something else.
“Why is it not fire?”
The masked nin sighed and turned his eye to the sunset.
“Well, you’re just special.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Sasuke raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Kakashi smiled. “It means you have a lot more potential than anybody I know.”
Sasuke was a little surprised by the response. “How can you tell?”
Kakashi sighed again. “Hmm. I’ve met a lot of people in my life. A lot were idiots. Some went far in life though,” he sat back a little, downing the rest of his tea and swishing its contents to see how much there was left at the bottom.
“But you’re different. You seem more determined to improve than anybody else.”
There was a hint of an unfinished sentence there which they both knew the answer to.
Determined to prove yourself to your brother.
Sasuke looked down to his lap, shoulders sagging.
“If I had the fire nature, maybe I’d improve faster.”
“Mm, not exactly. But I see where you’re coming from.”
Sasuke shut his eyes tight. Kakashi knew what that meant. He knew Sasuke missed his family terribly.
Having fire nature just like the rest of the Uchiha would’ve made him feel closer to them.
No wonder he got so disappointed.
Kakashi placed his cup down beside him and swung an arm around the child’s shoulders, making him look up for once -not in annoyance- but in yearning.
“All will be well,” the mentor comforted. “You have greater potential than your brother, you know.”
Sasuke frowned. “How do you know?”
“He and I worked in ANBU before. We were partners back then. He spoke quite a lot about you.”
The raven flinched and Kakashi regretted saying that out loud. His face softened.
“Sorry…”
“No, it’s… fine.”
Sasuke exhaled and stared out at the sun, now dying with its rays leaving the lush, green surface.
“I just... miss them a lot sometimes.”
“Mm. It’s not unnatural to feel like that.”
“It is!” Sasuke suddenly exclaimed, throwing his hands up. “I’m supposed to hate Ita- him. So why do I still feel this way?!”
The Uchiha knew he was already getting emotional and instantly stopped, going back to his slouched and smaller position. A sigh escaped him, almost sad.
Kakashi didn’t know how to comfort his student. The situation was complicated for the boy, and he didn't know what to say to him besides quitting his vengeance.
Even now, it wasn’t appropriate to say that.
Kakashi just gently rubbed Sasuke’s shoulders back and forth. If words couldn’t calm him, then touch might.
It seemed to have worked. Sasuke inched closer to his sensei and rested his head against him in a rare display of affection. The masked nin smiled.
Maybe he could deviate from the current topic instead. Not permanently of course. Just postpone it to a better day.
“You'll go places, Sasuke”
“You think?”
“I know. ”
The boy chuckled softly as the moon rose and the stars settled, much to Kakashi's relief.
The two stayed awake for a while without saying anything, the only reminder that Kakashi was still listening was his gloved fingers slightly playing with Sasuke’s hair.
“You aren’t just your clan, Sasuke. You’re you and only you can unlock that potential. You get me?”
The genin shifted. “Yeah…” he looked down at his hands.
Just me.
Kakashi rubbed Sasuke’s head and patted his back gently.
“Get some rest. We’ll be home by tomorrow. Good night.”
Sasuke yawned and let his body warmly press against Kakashi’s.
“Good night, sensei.”
The empty cups of gyokuro tea were still and settled.