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Kakashi was always a fan of romance, as one can see whenever you see him walk the streets of Konoha. He always had that series many women openly display disgust at, and yet will acknowledge how it depicts the shinobi realities well.
If his younger self saw who he became, he might feel immensely proud at how much he grew. Yet Kakashi knew he’d be disgusted at the thought of reading Jiraiya’s books so openly.
He sighed. It was one thing to think about how he could have disappointed his past self. For now, Kakashi was frustrated at the sight in front of him.
Naruto and Sakura were always arguing; it was just something Kakashi had gotten used to as he watched the two grow into the strongest shinobis of the world. He had no doubt they’d get there through time.
Yet, why on earth does it seem they are in a lover’s quarrel is something Kakashi couldn’t understand well. Jiraiya’s novels inspired his imagination of what could have happened between the two, but they grew up to be quite secretive in that aspect of their lives. And it was frustrating Kakashi who had to watch them thread the lines and how they’d sneak glances when the other wasn't looking.
It was torture. And it was a year over the first red cheeks he witnessed between the two.
So he had a small plan to see if he and Tsunade were right: if the two had any romantic ties now.
Today, as the three finished their mission, Kakashi planned to buy them ramen. After so long of avoiding it, this would be a great way to spend his money.
Hatake Kakashi is not a meddler. Not that the books he often holds helps his case. But as a shinobi, he’s known to observe the patterns, and all he needs to do is a gentle push for this pattern.
He plans to be a better mentor, afterall.
Which is why, now he’s reading Icha Icha Tactics across from Naruto and Sakura who were eating as if it were the end of their days. He couldn’t help but sigh at how much the two were eating, especially Sakura, simply because it was his treat.
“Kakashi-sensei, put that book away, will you!” Naruto shouts as he slurps on his third bowl of ramen, “You’re going to ruin our appetite, ya know!”
The silver-haired shinobi raised an eyebrow as he flips onto the next page, “Really now?”
Sakura puts down her bowl, “Really. Now let us eat in peace, Kakashi-sensei.”
Kakashi sighs, “But you know, Sakura.” He says as the girl orders another one for herself, “These books are particularly insightful for people your age.”
Sakura scoffs, “Yeah right, what insights can we learn from the most perverted ninja’s books?”
Naruto glances at how Kakashi’s eyes slightly widen, “Oh you know,” he says in a tone Naruto couldn’t quite decipher, “How tension is important to develop romance. The slow realization of these feelings.”
Sakura slightly chokes on her ramen with a furrowed brow directed at their teacher, “What are you hinting at?”
Kakashi feigned a surprised gasp, “Nothing at all, Sakura-chan.” He stares at Naruto and was quite alert at the way Kakashi was talking, “It’s just quite funny how teenagers think they can hide an accidental kiss from their teammates.”
The teacher was delighted in the way the two choked simultaneously and how their cheeks reddened.
”W-wha—why are you looking like that?!” Naruto coughs out some of his noodles. Ayame catches on to their conversation and goes to them, eager to listen in.
“What are you implying, Kakashi-sensei?” Sakura says harshly with a glare.
Kakashi laughs, “Like I said, Jiraiya’s works really depict a shinobi’s life.”
He pulls out the blue book in the air, “In this book, the ninjas kissed in the middle of their undercover mission.”
Kakashi glees in the gasp he hears on his side. “It’s quite funny that the kiss had the heroine realize their feelings for the other was more romantic than friendly.”
Sakura slams the table, “Why are you telling us about this?”
“Y-yeah!” Naruto stammers, “What are you on about?”
Kakashi sees the nervous body movements between them and sighs, “Just thought you two might find it relatable.”
He watches the two glance at everything except the other, their faces redder than usual. It was amusing to him how the two were communicating with their eyes and how their younger selves would never believe this would happen when they grow up.
“What does that mean?” Naruto asks sharply, but he fails at intimidating Kakashi with how weak he’s sounding. Ayame couldn’t help giggling at the sight as she walked away to serve other customers.
“Oh, I don’t know…” Kakashi says with a theatrical sigh, “Just that the mission sounds similar to the missions you two went recently.”
Sakura’s jaw drops along with her chopsticks while Naruto’s eyes widen.
“That’s different!” The two shout simultaneously, similar to the way they shout at Kakashi for being late.
Kakashi watched the red faces look even redder with a visible glint in his eye. “So you two didn’t kiss?”
“How did you know that?!” Sakura shrieked, standing up in embarrassment.
Naruto stood besides Sakura and Kakashi delights in watching how in-tune the two were. It’s like they’re married already, Kakashi mentally notes.
“So you two really kissed?” Kakashi says with his eyes widening for effect. He basked in the entertainment he had as Naruto was on the verge of bursting out and Sakura looked like she was going to punch anything to vent the hidden feelings out.
“I swear on Tsunade-sama’s sake cabinet if you don’t stop…” Sakura grumbled with a show of her fist clenching.
Kakashi raised his hands in a slight motion to surrender, “Alright, no need to resort to that…”
He sees the two loosen their bodies in a slight relief. And Kakashi felt the mischief the two always had up on him.
“Just tell me if you two are dating already.” He says with a gleeful tone. And the shoulders of his students slump, knowing he won’t stop without an answer.
The silence between the trio was tense despite being in an open area. Naruto couldn’t help it and tried to open his mouth but no words came out.
“W-well—”
“Don’t answer that.” Sakura snapped.
Sakura didn’t even have to glare at him to shut the blonde anymore. Kakashi lightly laughed at the sight of it.
“You’re enjoying this way too much, sensei.” Sakura scowled at him. But Kakashi smiles at her with his eye.
“Can’t a teacher have interest in his students’ progress.”
“Shinobi progress.” Sakura answered.
Naruto groans, “Whatever! Progress no-gress, we ain’t answering any of your pervy questions!”
He grabs Sakura’s hand, “Let’s go, Sakura-chan! Before Kakashi-sensei starts to read us quotes from that damned book.”
The two glared at him as they walked out of the shop. Muttering curses at Kakashi for meddling and using pervy literature to do so.
Kakashi sighed as he pulled out money to pay for the meal. But not before he looks back at the two figures walking away from him, the two with locked hands.
He looks at the blue book on his lap and smiles, if they won’t admit it there’s still a lot from the Icha Icha series he can cover.
Oh to see the two suffer from hiding it. Kakashi thinks and he hums as he walks out of the store.