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"Hey Iruka-sensei..."
The low, unexpected voice startled Iruka, nearly causing him to drop his pen atop the stack of tests he was in the middle of grading. Given the daunting pile, he knew the task would stretch well into the holidays. Still, the idea of grading papers with a glass of wine in hand, curled up on the couch, didn't seem so bad-certainly preferable to the outrageous parties Anko dragged him to.
This would be one of the quietest holidays he had in a while, and he couldn't deny that he wasn't looking forward to it. He could really use some downtime, that's for sure.
The voice belonged to one of his precious students who stood at the doorway, shifting nervously while waiting for permission to enter which was quite the unusual sight for the typical loud and impulsive prankster.
Iruka furrowed his eyebrows.
In truth, Iruka assumed he was the only one left in the building. Most students bolted for the door the moment they were dismissed for the holidays, eager to return home. Yet here Naruto was, an hour later, lingering long after the classrooms had emptied.
"Naruto," Iruka set his pen down to give him his full attention, "Come in, what can I do for you?"
Naruto hesitated before stepping forward, his usual bravado absent. The sight of his nervous, uncertain posture only deepened Iruka's concern.
"Is everything okay?" he asked, beckoning the other closer, "What's wrong?"
"Yes. Everything's okay Iruka-sensei..." Naruto replied under his breath, "Um, I just have a question..."
"Alright. What is it?" He asked.
"Do you celebrate Christmas?"
That was... not the question Iruka had expected. Still, it certainly was much easier than some of the questions other ten year old's have asked, such as whether he had a lover or why he wasn't married yet. Those ones hurt.
"Not really. Well-Not anymore anyway."
Naruto's curious blue eyes locked on him, waiting for him to continue.
Iruka leaned back slightly in his chair, "I suppose I used to, when I was a silly brat that is."
Naruto replied in disbelief, "You? A brat?"
"That's right," Iruka exclaimed with a laugh, arms over his chest, "A spoiled gremlin I tell you, especially during the holidays. Waking up late to the smell of mother's famous banana-chocolate pancakes, the sound of her voice in the kitchen asking me to get up before they got cold." His eyes softened, "Can you imagine, one day of the year, where you can get away with sweets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?"
Naruto's mouth dropped slightly. That did sound good.
"And then commenced the ultimate showdown-the food fight of the century!."
"Food... fight?"
"Oh yeah," Iruka chuckled, "Lots of eggs would be wasted that day. Of course, father always got the worst of it - given that mom and I would team up against him every time."
Naruto snickered while Iruka's voice softened, continuing, "But the best part, if I had to choose, was the end of the night. After decorating the Christmas tree, we'd change into our jammies and by the time I got to the living room, mom and dad would be waiting for me. Dad would bring out the lamp, and mother would bring us scrumptious hot coco and cookies, which she made us eat outside the fort, of course."
"A fort?" Naruto asked, sounding even more mesmerized.
"Yep," Iruka smiled, feeling a deep pang of nostalgia in his chest, "A large, makeshift fort we built out of draped blankets. We'd curl up inside, sipping hot cocoa, watching the flicker of the lamp while we told stories for days until one of us fell asleep - namely me." He exhaled, running a hand through his hair, "It's definitely one of my favorite memories."
"That's so cool..." the boy muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible.
"But why do you ask?" Iruka inquired gently.
"It's nothing—well, I mean, the thing is—" Naruto fumbled over his words, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. He exhaled before launching into a ramble, "Sakura's going on vacation with her parents to see fireworks outside the village, Ino's family is closing their shop for a Yamanaka get-together, Kiba's celebrating with his pack, and Shikamaru's going to some fancy restaurant." He paused briefly to catch his breath. "And Sasuke, well, I'm sure that jerk's doing something too," he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with frustration. "Everyone was talking about their holiday plans today. No one was even focused on training."
"So when they asked what I had planned, I mean, I didn't really know what to say." Naruto laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head, "It's not like I have parents to do that stuff with, ya know?"
I'm an idiot, Iruka's thought as his expression faltered slightly, "Naruto..."
Naruto, catching the shift in Iruka's face, seemed to realize the weight of what he'd just said. He quickly forced a laugh while waving his hands dismissively, "Ah, don't worry about it! I mean you and me, we go out for ramen sometimes, yeah? So I figured..." He hesitated for a moment, " Well... You're kinda the closest thing I have to a dad." He glanced up at Iruka who looked startled, taken-aback, "And your Christmas sounds so cool! Eating sweets all day, food fights all night, blanket forts - I want that!"
"So I thought-well I was hoping-do you want to spend Christmas with me?"
A moment of silence followed before Iruka began, "Naruto, I-"
Before he could get another word in, Naruto quickly interjected, "Ah, you know what, just forget it." He said, again waving his hands defensively in Iruka's face, "I was just -uh-messing with you. That's right!" He let out a loud, exaggerated laugh, a sound almost painful to hear, "Silly Iruka-sensei, you totally fell for it!"
Naruto backpedaled towards the door, grinning from ear-to-ear - forced and not quite reaching his eyes, "I should go, see ya around Iruka-sensei!" He called quickly before slipping out the door, sliding it closed behind him with a hurried motion. His loud footsteps echoed, fading into the distance until he was out of range.
Iruka slouched back against his chair, staring down at his paperwork, the silence heavier than before. His chest tightened with guilt, berating himself for his stupidity.
It was at that moment Iruka made a decision.
***
Naruto was jolted awake by a persistent knock at his front door. Groaning, he pulled the covers over his head, hoping whatever it was would just go away.
He had planned to take advantage of his vacation by sleeping through most of the day—but whoever was on the other side of the door clearly had other ideas, thumping against the door every 30 seconds.
Eventually, he gave in, shuffling out of bed and sliding his feet into his sandals, rubbing his eyes in a feeble attempt to shake off the grogginess. On his way to the door, he nearly stumbled over an empty ramen cup, jolting himself further awake.
He peeked through the peephole expecting a person, maybe his landlord to complain about something else he did, but instead saw a stack of boxes in his view.
And then, the boxes spoke.
"Naruto—please, open the door. They're really heavy."
Naruto's eyes widened and without hesitation, he flung the door open.
"Iruka-sensei!?" he exclaimed in bewilderment.
Naruto instinctively moved, watching his teacher carefully as he stepped inside and carried the large boxes over to his small table without invitation.
Naruto followed, his curious gaze flickering back to Iruka, his confusion evident.
"What—" he began, but Iruka cut him off with a firm, instructive voice.
"Go get ready Naruto. We’re going to my house." He glanced around the small apartment, the air heavy and almost stifling.
Naruto stared at him in disbelief.
"You mean—?"
"Yes." Iruka's lips curved into a soft smile, "Let’s celebrate Christmas together."
For a moment, Naruto stood frozen in shock. Yet, just as suddenly, his face broke into the wildest grin.
"Yahoo!" Naruto shouted, unable to contain his excitement with a wide leap. Without thinking, he lunged forward, wrapping Iruka in an enthusiastic hug before darting towards the bathroom, snatching a likely-used towel on his way, "I’ll be quick! Don’t go anywhere!"
"Take your time!" Iruka called after him, and after a moment shouted, "And don’t trip!"
"Yes, Sensei!"
Iruka exhaled softly, shaking his head in amusement before turning back to the state of the room. Stripping off his deep-red scarf and brown trench coat jacket, he walked over to a pile of clothing, picking up what looked like a stained shirt over a possibly unused one.
There was a lot of work to do.
He started by cracking open a window to let in some much-needed fresh air. Then, he tackled the laundry—folding the clean clothes still sitting in the hamper and replacing them with the ones scattered across the floor. He dusted, straightened things up, and by the time Naruto emerged from the bathroom fully dressed, the apartment looked and smelled significantly better.
As Naruto absently fiddled with the buttons of his shirt, he glanced over at Iruka who was diligently making his bed; a fond smile creeped over his face, mischief sparking in his eyes.
Without a word, he broke into a sprint, leaping into the air and landing flat on the freshly made bed.
"Naruto!!!"
***
“Whoa, what’s that smell?” Naruto asked as he stepped into Iruka's apartment, his empty stomach growling loudly as it took in the sweet, chocolaty aroma.
Iruka chuckled as he set down the boxes on the ground and urged Naruto to do the same, “The infamous Umino Chocolate-banana pancakes, in the flesh!”
As Naruto fumbled to take off his jacket, Iruka walked over to the counter to serve up the unprecedented late breakfast between them.
“What do you think?” Iruka asked, watching Naruto as he eyed the dish skeptically over the dinner table before shoving a generous bite into his mouth.
He chewed thoughtfully, taking a moment to savor the flavor before swallowing it whole. He paused for dramatic effect, drawing out the suspense. Then, with an exaggerated grin, threw two enthusiastic thumbs up, “It’s amazing Iruka-sensei! TEN OUT OF TEN!"
“Yahoo!” Iruka whooped, pumping a fist in the air triumphantly. Realizing how childish he acted, he quickly cleared his throat in embarrassment, but Naruto was already laughing so hard he nearly fell off his chair.
The two ate until every last bite was gone, with Naruto’s gaze occasionally drifting toward the living room where a bare Christmas tree lay down alongside unopened decorations waiting to be put up.
Iruka noticed his periodic glance and smiled to himself. He had put in a lot of effort to make this happen, grateful for his connections in the village, people who opened up shop temporarily just for him.
Unfortunately, most of his old decorations had been too worn out - practically perishable - that he had no choice but to replace most of them which explained the various assortment of boxes.
My wallet’s still crying, Iruka thought with a sigh.
Once they were done and cleaned up, Naruto bounded immediately towards the decorations, eagerly rummaging through the boxes, "Can we start now, Iruka-sensei? Can we?" Iruka laughed in amusement, reminded of his own childhood impatience, and agreed, joining him without hesitation.
Naruto adorned the walls with strings of gingerbread men, and the lamps and tables with dangling ornaments and cut-out snowflake mats. Iruka focused more on the harder-to-reach spots, adding pine branches to doorways, while carefully stringing up lights. Towards the end, the apartment was festively transformed from top to bottom.
Their next vigorous yet satisfying task was baking cookies in the oven. After the pancake mishap - which foresaw the entire batch being devoured in record time - Iruka took extra care in measuring the ingredients while adding a little extra.
As he was busy preheating the oven, Naruto grabbed the mixing bowl off the table, intending to transfer it closer to the counter.
However, that was not what happened.
Instead, the bowl slipped from his hands, batter splattering over the ground as it hit the surface with a loud clatter.
For a moment, time stood still.
Iruka's gaze slowly dropped to the mess then towards Naruto who stood frozen, wide-eyed and utterly horrified. The silence was heavy and terrifying.
“Well, I guess the five-second rule doesn't apply,” Iruka chuckled nervously while rubbing the back of his head, feeling wary more than angry. His voice was soft , an attempt to make light of the situation.
Naruto didn't respond; his shoulders hunched with the weight of his guilt and shame. He kept his gaze fixed on the floor, unwilling—or perhaps unable—to meet Iruka’s eyes.
He felt absolutely awful as if he had ruined the entire day. And if Iruka decided to kick him out for this - well, he couldn't really blame him.
Iruka could practically hear the self-reproach through the tense silence. Looking for a fast come-back, Iruka decided there was only one thing he could do.
Without another word, Iruka grabbed a handful of flour and smeared it all over his own face.
“What the—!?” Naruto exclaimed, eyes-wide in shock by the uncharacteristic move of his teacher.
Iruka, now wearing the most ridiculous, scrunched-up expression possible, widened his eyes, puffed out his cheeks and waggled his flour-dusted fingers at Naruto like some ghastly apparition.
"OOooooooh, you have angered the flour spirit!" he groaned dramatically, waving his hands in mock menace, "And now you will suffer its wrath!"
Naruto blinked, completely dumbfounded - then, without warning, burst into loud, uncontrollable laughter. He nearly doubled over, pointing at Iruka's face who tried to hide a grin behind his raspberry expression,.
"Iruka-sensei, you look so stupid- pfft!" Naruto gasped between wheezes, clutching his stomach.
"And now," Iruka exclaimed, trying to hide his smile, "For my next chapter, the beauty of metamorphosis!"
"Wha--?" Before Naruto could react, Iruka grabbed yet another handful of flour and stamped it over Naruto’s face. Naruto sputtered in surprise, flailing as a fresh coat of white powder covered his cheeks.
Iruka stepped back, striking an exaggerated pose, “Behold! The second coming of the Flour Spirit!”
Naruto wiped at his face, his expression a mix of shock and indignation as he stared down at his powdery hands... “Oh, you’re gonna pay for that sensei!”
And so, the First Great Flour War began.
***
Iruka took a long, well-needed shower as Naruto busied himself with the remaining decorations. When it was Naruto’s turn, the boy took a while to scrub the flour and batter out of his hair, emerging from the bathroom, refreshed and energized for the rest of the day.
That was when he immediately spotted something strange and out of place folded neatly on a chair. Curious, he picked it up - revealing a kid-sized orange onesie with a cream-colored panel for the chest resembling some kind of animal.
“Iruka-sensei! Iruka-sensei!” Naruto shouted, bursting towards the living room.
Iruka, perched on a small step stool while adjusting a red sash-greeting sign on the window, turned at the sound of Naruto's excited voice. He had changed into his regular adult pajamas, blue-checkered pants with a soft grey t-shirt.
“Is this for me?!” Naruto asked eagerly, holding up the clothing while bouncing on his feet in anticipation.
Startled, Iruka glanced at what Naruto was holding before he broke out in a wide grin.
“Well, it’s certainly not going to fit me." Iruka laughed.
Naruto’s face lit up with pure joy. Without hesitation, he leaped forward, hugging Iruka tightly around the waist.
“Iruka-sensei, I love you!”
“Ah! Naruto, be careful-!” Iruka yelped, instinctively gripping the curtains for support before they both fell.
***
Together they began decorating the Christmas tree using both the salvaged ornaments along with the new ones Iruka purchased. Naruto took a particular liking to a handmade ornament Iruka created back at the academy; sprinkled red on one side and green on the other, with his name written in gold on the outside.
For a separate, surprise activity for the day, Iruka had bought two blank ornaments for them to paint together..
Not even a few minutes later while they were putting up ornaments, a knock at the door startled the older male who hadn't expected guests that day.
"I'll get it," he muttered, getting up. The young boy, too focused on his task, barely acknowledged him. Iruka chuckled as he made his way towards the front, his amused expression slipping into a shocked one when he opened the door.
“Surprise~” The familiar figure grinned warily, rubbing the back of his head; he seemed slightly worse for wear, as if he had just returned from a lengthy mission. Almost a month and a half exactly.
“Kakashi—” Iruka exhaled, his voice caught in his throat, “How—?”
“Long story,” Kakashi replied, meeting Iruka's gaze, "I'll tell you later."
He knew Kakashi well enough to know 'later' would never come.
Iruka had known of Kakashi long before they were actually friends—first through endless rumors (and boy, were there plenty), then through a grueling mission that Iruka hardly remembered (possibly due to a head injury), but it wasn’t until one of Anko’s infamous parties that they actually sat down and began talking.
Kakashi, as expected, had been vague and evasive—and at first, Iruka did mind. But once the subject of his students came up, they found themselves lost in conversation.
Anko had, on various occasions, teased him, claiming the reason he never made it past a second date was because he couldn’t stop gushing about the kids. Yet, despite that, Kakashi listened attentively, asked questions, and even laughed along at the more ridiculous stories. It felt easy, natural almost, which was not at all what the rumor mill had portrayed him as, far from.
Before they knew it, their conversation stretched long after the party ended, and afterwards, they were bumping into each other more and more—on the street, in his line at the mission desk, on the school training grounds, which never really felt like a coincidence. But Iruka didn't mind - not at all actually.
Kakashi’s presence was always welcome, no questions asked.
"Thank you for your service," Iruka replied with an automated mission room response, before realizing his rudeness. Kakashi was in his usual t-shirt and navy joggers, his mask covering up most of his face; it hardly was appropriate for the temperature they were currently facing, "Would you like to come in?" He asked, holding the door slightly more open.
"I would like that very much," Kakashi replied before something behind him cleared their throat- “Oh, Right. I also picked up a stray kitten on the way. Hope you don’t mind.”
Iruka blinked as Kakashi stepped aside, revealing a young Sasuke Uchiha who was scowling at anything that moved; he was clearly unhappy with the term Kakashi used for him, even more so at his current predicament.
“Hi, Iruka-sensei,” Sasuke muttered grumpily under his breath.
“Sasuke?” Iruka asked, momentarily thrown off as he stared at Kakashi for answers.
“I found him moping around the lake,” Kakashi explained nonchalantly, puffing out his chest in mock self-importance, “And as an upstanding shinobi who cares about his fellow civilians, it was only right I take him in. It’s fine, isn’t it? If not, we can always toss him out.”
Iruka sighed, shaking his head at the man's ridiculousness before turning back to the young, irate boy.
“Welcome to my home, Sasuke. Naruto’s decorating the Christmas tree - why don’t you join him?”
“The idiot’s here?” Sasuke asked in surprise before brushing past Iruka to head inside.
Iruka watched him go before turning back to Kakashi.
“Naruto?” Kakashi asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Long story, I’ll tell you later,” Iruka chuckled, throwing his own words back at him. Then with a warm smile, said, "Welcome back, Kakashi."
Kakashi held his gaze for a moment before stepping towards him—so close that Iruka could smell the faint undertone of sandalwood- "I'm back, Iruka-sensei," Kakashi replied gently, brushing right past him into the apartment.
***
When Kakashi and Iruka finally joined the kids, they found Naruto enthusiastically trying to teach Sasuke how to tie a knot around the ornaments, just as Iruka had shown him moments ago. The two adults turned their attention to the tree—and immediately exchanged looks-sweat dropping.
The contrast in personalities was painfully obvious.
Sasuke’s side of the tree was meticulously decorated, adorned with deep blues and muted tones, every ornament placed with purpose. Meanwhile, Naruto’s side was a chaotic explosion of bright yellows and shimmering golds, some ornaments hanging at odd angles perhaps due to his height difference.
Kakashi furrowed an eyebrow.
Iruka laughed.
With silent understanding, they both stepped forward to help.
***
Kakashi, of course, horrified to hear about the only meal that Iruka and Naruto shared–which lacked any sort of nutrition-took charge in making dinner. Meanwhile, Iruka sacrificed his ornament to teach Naruto and Sasuke how to design theirs before they put them on the tree which looked definitely more balanced with the adults addition.
While they all sat down for their meal, Iruka quickly excused himself to go to the bedroom before later emerging with two gift bags he half-heartedly put together on the spot. He handed them over to the surprised and dumbfounded boys, grinning widely.
“Merry Christmas, you two!"
Sasuke opened his gift first and found a dark grey/blue scarf along with a similar colored hat and socks. He stared at them for a while before muttering, “Thanks." under his breath.
Despite his cold response, Kakashi could tell he was clearly touched. He turned to stare at Iruka curiously, wondering how he was able to put together a gift for their unexpected guest so quickly.
Naruto, meanwhile, unwrapped his gift to find the same items, only in yellow and orange. Clutching the scarf, he held it up to his chest, deep in thought.
“Naruto’s crying-”
“I am not, you jerk!” Naruto snapped out of it, punching Sasuke in the arm.
Iruka rolled his eyes as the boys started fighting again, quickly interjecting, “Okay kids, listen up!” He clasped his hands firmly together, his voice commanding attention.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow as the two quickly fell into silence, He needs to teach me how to do that.
“Now that we’ve exchanged gifts, it’s time for the best part of the day. Sasuke, I think you can probably fit into my old pajamas. Naruto, please show Sasuke where the bathroom is. Also, if you don’t mind, can you fetch the linens in the hallway closet?"
Naruto bounced excitedly, knowing exactly what was about to come, “Sure, come on jerk!” He exclaimed, grabbing Sasuke by the hand and pulling him along to the room.
“Hn!” was Sasuke’s reply.
As the boys disappeared around the corner, Iruka noticed Kakashi seemed rather taken aback. Before he was able to question him, Kakashi said, "You never cease to amaze me, sensei," His tone was warm yet playful to the point that Iruka didn't know whether he was teasing or complimenting him, "I never knew you were this into the holidays."
"Yeah well," Iruka chuckled nervously, waving him off with a slight laugh, feeling self-conscious under his steady gaze, "I figured some of us could use some holiday cheer. Myself included."
"You sure are something," Kakashi chuckled, his tone carrying an odd mix of admiration and humor. Again, Iruka couldn't ascertain whether he was joking, "The way you handle those two - I really wish I knew you long ago. Perhaps I wouldn't get into as much trouble as I did."
Iruka smiled in amusement, "Well, knowing how I was as a kid, I'm sure you'd think differently."
"Your childhood photos say otherwise," Kakashi responded while slipping something from his pants pocket. To Iruka's surprise, Kakashi carried a folded picture of him as a kid where he was smiling goofily at the camera while blowing a raspberry, "How much trouble can a boy this sweet and innocent get into?"
"What the - How did you-!?"
"The Third Hokage owed me a favor."
"Give it back!" Iruka exclaimed in horror, lunging forward with the determination to retrieve it.
"Never!" Kakashi shot back, slipping the photo into his shirt with practiced ease. He caught the teachers hands in his own, their fingers locked in a firm grip as they wrestled for the picture.
Iruka was giving everything he had, unwilling to back down despite the disparities in their strength. Kakashi was obviously going easy on him - which would certainly be his downfall one day.
"Give it back you jerk-Woah-!"
Kakashi unexpectedly let go at that exact moment. and Iruka-thrown off balance-tumbled forward with a startled yelp, straight into his chest.
For a moment, neither of them moved, too shocked to do anything.
Then Iruka raised his face to meet his gaze, semi-paralyzed. Kakashi stared down at him, his usual playful demeanor lost by an intensity that sent Iruka's heart into overdrive.
Suddenly, Kakashi wrapped his arms around the small of his back, his grip waning slightly to give Iruka the permission to move if he so chose. He slowly leaned forward as Iruka gently closed his eyes,
And then-
"I have the blankets, sensei!"
Naruto's loud vocals shattered the moment as the young boy stood in the doorway, his arms overflowing with blankets and linens which thankfully obstructed his view of the otherwise compromising position. Iruka immediately scrambled away, successfully breaking from Kakashi's hold, and, after the initial shock, sprinted to go help him.
"You didn't have to bring them all Naruto," Iruka laughed nervously, thankful for the distraction as he retrieved a few blankets from him. Naruto grinned as he sauntered over towards the living room to get set up.
Sasuke, at that moment, strolled out in Iruka's old childhood green jammies; and Kakashi resisted the urge to die of laughter, "You were a chubby kid, weren't you Iruka-sensei?" Sasuke asked.
Iruka laughed nervously at the unexpected comment, "Yeah I guess I was."
Kakashi interjected, "Oh yes, he was the most adorable chubby kid ever! Want to see?"
"Kakashi!" Iruka warned as Kakashi slowly reached into his other pocket.
"I'm used to it, he was like this when we were walking towards the house, " Sasuke grumbled, taking the comforters over his shoulders from Iruka to join Naruto. Iruka sent him an apologetic glance before sending Kakashi a stern glare, who grinned sheepishly at him.
"So, you going to tell me how you scrambled to get a gift for Emo-chan over there, within record time?" Kakashi asked curious as they watched Sasuke assist Naruto in moving the couch to the wall.
"To be quite honest, I actually got them for you a month ago for your mission. I didn't really get the chance to give it to you though " Iruka admitted under his breath, thankful that he was able to improvise on the spot to provide Sasuke a gift, "But don't worry, I'll make sure to get you something before the year ends, that's a promise."
"There's only one thing I want, Iruka."
"Oh...?"
Kakashi stretched his arms lazily above his head, rolling his shoulders and flexing his neck. The movement was effortless—but Iruka still had to force himself not to look, "I'll tell you later," He said, waving the ponytail chuunin off as he sauntered towards the boys - more than likely to prevent them from killing eachother.
Naruto and Sasuke had successfully pushed the couches against the wall, making space for their soon-to-be masterpiece of a fort. Under Iruka's instruction, Kakashi carefully draped the linens over the slightly dangling stream lights that Iruka fitted earlier, creating a wide, welcome opening at the front. The older jounin, ever the perfectionist, made sure to reinforce the drapes through tight, clothesline clips, specifically, in case, a certain someone (Naruto) inevitably fell through it.
Iruka carefully laid down a few plush pillows and bedsheets, making sure each corner felt as cozy as possible. With a final touch, he turned on the string lights, their soft glow illuminating the space in a warm, golden hue.
By the end of the night, half the living room had transformed into an elaborate, makeshift fort wide enough for all of them to crawl inside.
Kakashi, naturally, wasted no time. He scrambled underneath almost immediately, burrowing in for warmth. Naruto, already sprawled comfortably against a comforter, grinned as Sasuke followed more hesitantly who eyed the structure as if skeptical of its stability.
Meanwhile, Iruka made a quick detour to the kitchen before returning with a tray of steaming hot chocolate. He handed them out one by one, receiving varying reactions—Naruto’s eyes lit up with excitement as he stuffed his cup with an overflowing mountain of marshmallows, while Sasuke, ever restrained, added just a sparse handful to his own. Kakashi took one with a thanks but hardly drank it.
The tray also carried a plate of store-bought biscuits he had buried in his cupboard, considering The First Great Flour War as Iruka dubbed it, made baking a fresh batch of cookies nearly impossible without a quick store run. He placed it in the middle, smiling as he stood up to grab some napkins.
Before Iruka could move, however, Kakashi’s hand found his wrist, grasping it firmly.
“You can stop running around, sensei,” Kakashi muttered, his thumb brushing absently against Iruka’s skin, “Just relax. We have everything we need right here.”
Iruka hesitated for the moment, before slowly relenting at their soft gazes. He allowed himself to sink down beside him, hugging one of the pillows to his chest.
They sat comfortably, the low hum of a conversation/argument between the two boys filling the space around them. And whether or not Kakashi’s hand lingered just a moment too long on him, neither of them said anything.
***
"This is so cool, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto whooped, after a few minutes, causing Sasuke to flinch and scowl given that he was the one nearest to him. Naruto continued, ignoring him, "Hopefully it'll be just as awesome next year!"
Noticing the other three staring at him, Naruto realized his mistake, stumbling over her words, "I mean-sometime-one day-if you're not busy-I mean I'm probably busy, but-"
"I can't wait, Naruto," Iruka smiled warmly at him, and he was genuinely telling the truth. It had been a long time since the Umino house was so lively, "I think Konoha will be hosting it's very own Christmas Light festival next year, perhaps we can look into that together."
"Really Iruka-sensei?" At Iruka's swift nod, Naruto stood up suddenly and punched the air before losing balance and falling back against a draped blanket which caused one of the clips to fling awkwardly out of place. Thankfully Kakashi had mega fast reflexes that he was able to fix it before it collapsed on them.
"You idiot!" Sasuke growled.
"You're the idiot!" Naruto shot back.
***
After the short-lived argument—one that ended with Iruka forcing them to grumpily apologize to each other—the four of them got settled once again.
Kakashi entertained them with stories from his missions—especially Sasuke, whose intense curiosity had him hanging on every word. That was, until Iruka had to intervene when Kakashi’s tales started to get just a little too gory and R-rated.
They played a few games, which quickly exposed the young boys competitive side—Sasuke, despite his usual stoic demeanor, rivaled that of Naruto’s. They bickered over rules, challenged each other relentlessly, and somehow managed to turn even the simplest game into a battle of life or death.
But soon enough, exhaustion from the day's events crept in. With full stomachs and lingering laughter, they eventually dozed off, tangled up in the celebrations of the holiday, the quiet glow of the string lights, and the comfort of a heated home.
***
Iruka stirred awake just after midnight, the stillness of the night broken only by someone's loud snoring. He slipped out of bed to use the restroom, but when he returned, he found that he was unable to go back to sleep - and it wasn't just because of Naruto.
Needing some fresh air, Iruka quietly slipped on his jacket and scarf, pulling on his slippers before stepping outside. The cool night air greeted him, crisp and refreshing, as he sauntered towards the railing. He left the door open just a crack, ensuring he wouldn’t accidentally lock him out.
From where he stood, the village stretched out before him, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. Red and green decorations shimmered across rooftops and streets, the handiwork of the cheerful townspeople. It was peaceful, but Iruka’s thoughts were anything but.
“Can’t sleep either?”
Iruka jumped, startled by the familiar voice.
Looking over his shoulder, he found Kakashi silently shut the door behind him and approach the railing beside him where he was.
“Kakashi...” Iruka started, his voice faltering as the other man joined him. He turned his gaze back toward the village, unwilling to admit that Kakashi’s presence—his proximity—was the root cause for his restlessness. “I... yeah, just restless I suppose. You?”
“Same,” Kakashi replied with a low hum, “Naruto’s snoring could wake the dead. We should probably get that checked out.”
A weary smile tugged at Iruka's lips. “Yeah, we probably should.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was heavy, filled with unspoken words.
Then - “I made things weird between us, didn’t I?” Kakashi broke the quiet first, his voice light and drawn out.
“Kakashi—” Iruka began gently, his tone hesitant. “Please, don’t—”
“I hope I wasn’t a nuisance to you,” Kakashi muttered, his gaze steady on the village below.
Iruka sighed, sinking slightly down against the railing. He took a deep breath, his words tumbling out before he could stop them, “I just don’t know how to act around you.”
"I get it," Kakashi replied, “I was ahead of myself. I guess I didn’t expect you not to feel the same way.”
“It’s not that!” Iruka’s exclaimed before he caught himself. They finally had a chance alone that he didn't want to wake the kids or neighbors and ruin the moment. Quieting, he continued, “You told me you were in love with me, then left on what was supposed to be a three-month mission to your death. My mind was a mess. And I was forced to just deal with it for the sake of my kids-"
“Then you show up today, like a ghost, and we haven’t even had a chance to talk about it.”
Kakashi’s fingers brushed against Iruka’s, his touch light and invigorating. “We can talk now,” he replied softly. “Iruka, I know it was a lot. And for that I apologize - But I really don’t regret telling you how I feel.”
Iruka swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on their joined hands. “What were you expecting from me?”
"Nothing," Kakashi smiled faintly, his expression unreadable, “I guess I just wanted to hear you say it before I left-"
-Though, I’ll admit, the kiss was enough."
“Kakashi...!” Iruka scolded, his voice tinged with both embarrassment and warning.
Kakashi chuckled softly before his face melded into something more serious, “Look. I didn’t know if I’d come back. I thought... if that was it, at least you’d know. But I didn’t stop to think about what it would do to you. I’m sorry for that. Even so, I don’t regret it, not for a second. It was the thought of you that kept me going these past few days.”
Iruka’s heart pounded in his chest, his emotions swirling chaotically.
“And after today,” Kakashi continued, his voice barely above a whisper, “After what you did for Naruto, for Sasuke, being able to see this side of you, it reminded me of why I fell for you in the first place.”
“Kakashi...” Iruka’s voice trembled, his resolve breaking under the weight of Kakashi’s words.
“I'm still insanely in love with you, Iruka,” Kakashi confessed, his voice steady, unwavering. “Won't you give me a chance to show you?"
Iruka’s throat tightened, a lump forming making it difficult to speak.
“I... love you too-” he finally admitted, his voice barely audible but certain.
Kakashi moved before Iruka could finish—his free hand tugging down his mask in one smooth motion. And then, just as suddenly, his lips pressed firmly on Iruka’s.
The kiss stole Iruka’s breath away, warmth spreading through his entire body despite the cold night air. Since the moment they spoke of the bar- every lingering touch, every brush of their hands, every stolen glance.
Their kiss - five years worth.
When they finally parted, their faces were red - flustered.-. Kakashi rested his forehead against his, holding his face in his hands, staring at him with the softest eyes.
“I know.” Kakashi murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Their intimate moment was, for the second time, interrupted as Naruto suddenly tumbled out of the doorway, rubbing his head with a loud, screechy whine.
“Iruka-sensei—!!!” Naruto groaned, his voice thick with grogginess that he was oblivious to the adults positions as they quickly moved away from each other, “Sasuke kicked me!"
Sasuke, of course, followed right behind him, looking both ruffled and unimpressed. “He wouldn’t shut up,” he defended, rubbing his temple.
Iruka sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose while Kakashi glared daggers at them. Iruka forced himself to look like a responsible adult despite the fact that his heart was racing like crazy. “Come on, let’s get inside before you all catch a cold.” He said, realizing he was the only one with the jacket on.
Naruto huffed but stormed inside first, while Sasuke, turned and eyed the two adults.
They were still standing close— red, exchanging secret grins while thinking they were subtle.
Sasuke sighed, "Idiot."
“Excuse you?”
“Not you, Iruka-sensei,” Sasuke deadpanned.
Kakashi, looking entirely too pleased with himself, smirked as he linked an arm around Iruka's shoulder, “Well, I’m his idiot now.”
Sasuke didn’t dignify that with a response. Instead, he shut the door in Kakashi’s face.
Kakashi, unfazed, simply turned to Iruka who looked slightly horrified and embarrassed-leaning in to press one last, fleeting kiss against his cheek, "Thank you for the present," he said before retiring back into the house, gently tugging him along.
Iruka huffed, following close behind with a small smile on his face - back to their makeshift fort.
A nice present indeed.
***
Five Minutes Earlier
Naruto lay awake, staring up at the fort's ceiling in thought.
Realizing that Kakashi and Iruka weren’t coming back anytime soon, he turned over and poked Sasuke’s shoulder.
“Sasuke, Sasuke—!”
“Hn?” came the groggy reply.
“…You know, today was pretty cool, wasn’t it?” Naruto said, his voice filled with a strange warmth, “I mean, Iruka felt like our dad, Kakashi was that crazy drunk uncle everyone talks about, and you—well, uh, you’re not that bad, I guess.”
Sasuke huffed, “Go to sleep, Naruto.”
Naruto hesitated, fiddling with the edge of the draped blanket. “Do you… wanna do this again next year?”
Sasuke didn’t respond immediately. The silence stretched, and for a moment, Naruto thought he’d fallen asleep. But then, Sasuke muttered a low, almost inaudible, “Hn.”
Naruto grinned ear to ear.
Then, after a brief pause, he blurted out, “Hey, Sasuke!”
Sasuke sighed, exasperated. “What now?”
“Do you think Kakashi likes Iruka-sensei?”
Without hesitation, Sasuke’s leg shot out, his foot colliding lightly with Naruto’s side.
“Ouch! What was that for?!”
Sasuke buried his face deeper into his pillow, muttering “I’m surrounded by idiots.”