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The bar was warm and noisy, filled with the low murmur of conversation and the occasional clink of glasses. A few off-duty shinobi were gathered in the back corner, laughing over something that probably wasn’t as funny as they thought it was. But most of the room had gone quiet now, and all because of her.
“I want another one,” Sakura slurred, lifting her empty glass with dramatic flair.
The bartender, uncomfortable, gave her a cautious look. “Ma’am, I think you’ve had enough.”
“What?” She squinted at him, wobbling slightly on her stool. “Who are you to tell me I’ve had—hic—enough?”
He hesitated, eyes flicking to her hand just as she slammed it down on the bar with enough force to crack the wood. Conversations nearby paused. Someone coughed awkwardly.
“Uh…” the bartender stammered, starting to sweat.
That’s when another voice cut in from behind her—low, amused, and all too familiar.
“Now, now, Sakura. If you kill the bartender, who’s going to serve you drinks in the future?”
She spun around—ungracefully—and her face lit up. “Kakashi-sensei! My hero!”
Just as quickly, she turned back to the bartender with a pointed finger. “He won’t let me have any more drinks.”
Kakashi sighed as he walked up to her. “Sakura, I don’t think your body will let you have any more drinks. Not safely, anyway.”
She stared at him for a moment, visibly trying to understand. “Whoa… you’re really smart. Are you secretly a medical doctor?”
He smiled a little, stepping in to steady her before she tipped off the stool. “No, that would be you. And you should’ve known better.”
Sakura groaned as he started helping her to her feet, her full weight leaning into his side. “Where are you taking me?” she asked, voice suspicious.
“To get more drinks,” he replied smoothly.
Her eyes lit up. “Really? What kind?”
He just smirked. “Cold, refreshing water. Back at your place.”
Sakura deflated instantly. “I don’t want water,” she muttered, dragging her feet. When she tried to pull away, her balance gave out and she nearly hit the floor—if he hadn’t caught her just in time.
He crouched, arms braced under her—one around her back, the other under her legs.
“My hero…again!” she giggled.
Kakashi looked down at her with a faint frown. “Sakura, I need to get you home.”
She didn’t argue this time. She just went limp in his hold. “Then you’ll have to carry me.”
“Sakura—”
“Like this!” she said, throwing her arms around his neck and laughing.
He groaned but stood, adjusting her weight and carrying her bridal-style toward the door.
Whistles followed them—along with familiar voices:
“About time, Kakashi-sama!” Ino called from her table.
“Smooth,” Genma added, raising his glass.
Kakashi didn’t dignify them with a response, just shot them a flat look and walked out, Sakura still clinging to him and giggling.
The cold night air hit her immediately, and she shivered.
“Sorry,” he muttered, warming the air around her with a bit of chakra.
She let out a happy sigh. “You’re so sweet,” she murmured.
“Oh really?” he said dryly. There was no way she’d say that sober. Not unless she was trying to mess with him.
“I mean it,” she pouted. “You rescued me. That guy was trying to give me alcohol poisoning.”
“I think that was your doing,” he said, nodding slightly to a few passing villagers who stared as he carried her down the street.
Sakura didn’t seem to notice.
“And you caught me when I fell… you’re carrying me home now… keeping me warm…” Her voice softened. “Not just tonight. You’ve always taken care of me.”
He didn’t answer, just kept walking.
She continued, more quiet now, “Sasuke isn’t here to do any of that.”
At that, Kakashi glanced down at her. Her expression had changed—no longer playful, but distant.
“I’m sure he would,” he said after a moment. “If he were here.”
“But he’s not,” she muttered, her mood shifting again. “He’s always off on some stupid mission. And I’m always stuck at the hospital…”
Kakashi stayed silent this time.
“You know, I chose him,” Sakura said, her voice lower now, but steadier, like she’d been holding it in for too long. There was no protest from Kakashi, only the sound of gravel crunching beneath his feet.
“I chose him when he came back to Konoha and said he wanted to be with me.” Her voice cracked.
“I thought he chose me too.”
The tears came now, sliding down her cheeks as she slowly unclasped her hands from around Kakashi’s neck to wipe them away. Her sadness hardened, shifting into something sharper.
“But he chose the stupid missions,” she bit out, her voice trembling with frustration.
Kakashi adjusted her in his arms as she moved, keeping her steady even without her arms holding onto him. He didn’t say anything for a long moment.
Then, softly, “If you want to talk about this later, you know my office is always open. But you're drunk, Sakura. Just focus on getting better. Don't worry too much about that right now.”
She looked up at him, catching the way his gaze stayed fixed ahead. Always steady. Always careful.
Always looking out for her.
Her voice softened. “Have I ever told you you’re really sweet?”
He chuckled quietly, the sound low in his chest. “Yes, you have, Sakura.”
She smiled, eyes fluttering a little. “You know, sensei... I love you.”
Kakashi froze mid-step for just a second—barely noticeable—before recovering, continuing to walk like nothing had happened.
“Do you now?” he asked, voice even.
“Mhm!” she said brightly.
He risked a glance down. Her eyes were on him—glassy and affectionate, too warm for the cool night air. He looked away again, back to the road.
“You have a big heart,” he said carefully. “You care about a lot of people.”
She pouted. “Nooo, but I love you. Like a wholeee lot.”
Kakashi said nothing.
They were nearing the Uchiha compound now. The gates were just coming into view when she tugged at his flak vest.
“Hey,” she murmured, “do you love me, sensei?”
He didn’t answer at first.
When he finally looked down at her, her eyes were wide and full of hope, a little foggy but still sharp. Still Sakura.
“Of course I care about you,” he said simply, then looked away again, his throat tight. He felt a bit lightheaded, his head starting to sweat.
“But do you love me?” she pressed.
He didn’t need to look at her to hear the shift in her tone—no slurring now, no teasing warmth. Just the kind of seriousness that cut deeper the longer it lingered.
He didn’t risk turning his head. He didn’t trust himself to.
“Sakura… you’re intoxicated,” he said, matching her seriousness with his own. “You’ll regret this in the morning.”
“No, I won’t!” she said sharply, louder than before.
“Then you can tell me tomorrow.”
Silence.
Only her soft breathing and the shuffle of his footsteps filled the space between them. Until—sniffling. Subtle at first, then unmistakable. Against his better judgment, he glanced down.
Tears were welling in her eyes again, threatening to fall.
He stopped in front of the main house of the Uchiha compound. The entrance loomed quietly ahead, too big and too empty for someone who lived there alone.
“I’ll always love you, Sakura,” he said, voice low, before he could think better of it.
She’ll forget it all in the morning, anyway.
Her head turned fast, blinking up at him—but he was already looking away, carefully lowering her to the ground.
She swayed on her feet, but he kept a hand on her waist for balance as he crouched and reached into her bag, fingers deftly searching for the key he knew would be at the bottom.
He let them into the house. The place was dark, but familiar to him by now. She’d been drinking more lately, more often, and somehow it was always him who ended up bringing her home.
He helped her down the hallway, into her bedroom. She was giddy again, her earlier mood swinging back the way it always did—unsteady smiles and flushed cheeks. She laughed when he tugged gently at the zipper of her top, turning her back to him.
“I can do it myself,” she giggled, even as she leaned into him for support.
Kakashi blushed but kept his eyes diligently turned away as she peeled herself out of her clothes and tugged on a pair of soft pajamas. She flopped into bed gracelessly, hair a mess, face still blotchy from crying.
He brought her a glass of water and placed it in her hands. She drank it all in one go, unceremoniously, a little of it dribbling down her chin and neck.
“Careful,” he said gently, taking the glass once it was empty. He reached for a small cloth on the bedside table and dabbed the water from her jaw, leaning in closer to reach and wiping her skin carefully.
Then their eyes met. And everything stilled.
His hand froze in place, neither of them moving. Her heart thudded in her chest like it had just remembered something too important too late. She tilted forward, just slightly—breath caught—and in that second she almost kissed him.
But then he pulled back, just enough to break the tension.
She couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
“I’ll get more,” he said quickly, holding up the empty glass and retreating from the room without looking at her again. The door clicked softly shut behind him.
Sakura stared at it long after he was gone, the quiet pressing in around her. The space he’d just occupied still felt warm, her heart still beating too fast.
But all she was really left with was regret.
I should’ve chosen Kakashi-sensei.