Chapter Text
Iruka was exhausted. The kids were such a handful today. It was almost the end of the year and they were eager for it all to end and graduate. Iruka was pleased with this year’s batch. He was confident that the whole class would make genin.
But that meant a lot of grading and planning and paperwork!
And that didn’t even include the paperwork from his other job at the mission desk. He was truly exhausted. Luckily he had tomorrow off and could catch up on domestic tasks. He had a very full laundry basket and was pretty sure he was out of clean underwear.
He yawned and exited his bathroom, ready to fall straight into bed. He felt something nagging at the back of his mind though. He always tried to overwork himself to make sure he fell into dreamless sleep, but tonight seemed like it would be a hard one.
Naruto was due back soon, and he was really excited, but also worried. Naruto wasn’t really safe still. The jounin were being worked to the bone to figure out the Akatsuki’s whereabouts, but there was still very little information.
Iruka groaned. He wasn’t falling asleep anytime soon. He put on some old baggy grey sweatpants and went out to the gardens behind his apartment building. Luckily he was on the first floor, so he just had to step out his backdoor to be in a calming environment. The street lights sent a soft glow to the surrounding, but overall the garden was very dark.
It was a new moon.
Iruka shivered a little. It was early spring and the nights were still slightly cool. He should have put a jacket over his canary yellow sleep tee-shirt. Luckily he left his hair down to keep his ears warm.
He was just passing the lattice that was empty of the fragrant, vibrant wisteria that would tangle up and around it soon, when he felt a dangerous presence and soon the thump of a body hitting the ground behind him.
Iruka cursed. He didn’t bring a weapon. Instead, he started to form hand seals for a substitution jutsu when he turned around and noticed just who had appeared behind him.
“Kakashi-sensei?!” Iruka yelled, worry filling the crevices of his cracking voice.
Kakashi was leaning against his back door and was worse for wear. He had scratches everywhere, but prominent ones were oozing slow thick blood from his wrist, and his side and calf were both sporting blood patches that were getting wider with every breath.
Iruka fell to his knees in front of his comrade. He went to try and apply pressure to the wound on Kakashi’s side, since it looked the deepest and most worrying when Kakashi stopped him.
Kakashi lifted his shaking, bleeding arm, and started to pull his mask down. Iruka was in shock, unable to think about what he should be doing to help. Kakashi was bleeding out of his nose and mouth and there were bruises on his cheek. But he was handsome none-the-less and had a beauty mark by his mouth.
Iruka backtracked his thoughts. Kakashi no sharingan… had a beauty mark. He felt his brain hiccup and stop functioning for just a moment, but as a large drop of blood oozed out of Kakashi’s nose, Iruka remembered the trouble his colleague was in and broke out of his stupor.
“Kakashi-san, you’re injured! We need to get you to the-”
Kakashi wasn’t listening. He was staring intently at Iruka though, and he brought his injured hand up to brush some of Iruka’s hair away from his face, tucking it behind his ear. Iruka was getting frustrated.
“What are you doing? We need to-”
“You’re so pretty, Sensei.”
The confession shocked Iruka and he couldn’t help but let his jaw drop. “Wha-”
Before Iruka could ask any questions, Kakashi’s head leaned back against the glass of his sliding back door and he was unconscious.
“No! No… no…” Iruka was in a panic. “Help!” Iruka yelled as he felt for a pulse. There was one, sluggish and weak, but it gave Iruka some hope.
An ANBU in a cat mask fell from the sky and Iruka took a deep breath. “About time!” He yelled angrily.
The ANBU remained calm and started to lift Kakashi’s larger frame. “Let me help,” Iruka said and he lifted Kakashi’s other arm over his shoulder so he was suspended by his arms between the ANBU and Iruka.
“Senpai…” The ANBU whispered in a chiding tone and they flashed to the hospital. Iruka always got a little queasy with the body flicker technique, but it was necessary. A med-nin took over and Kakashi was placed on a stretcher. The ANBU had replaced his mask and Iruka thought that was a very thoughtful courtesy.
He then felt what just happened sink in and cursed, “What the hell just…?”
“Go home and get some sleep, Iruka-sensei,” the ANBU said, and though Iruka knew it wasn’t a command it had a hard undertone. Iruka wouldn’t argue. This was all a little too much. He needed to be alone to analyze and decompress.
He walked back to his apartment. It wasn’t too far from the hospital, since the academy was close to there as well and Iruka hated a long commute.
When he got home and closed his door he felt a strange heaviness in his chest and confusion clouded his head. He looked down at his shirt which was now streaked with Kakashi’s blood and went to take another shower.
His brain had fizzled out and he felt like a robot going through the motions of his bedtime routine for a second time.
The only thought that went through his mind as he went to sleep in just his old underwear was that he definitely needed to get that laundry done tomorrow. And he’d need to get those stains out somehow.
He fell asleep without issue this time, and was blissfully dreamless.
It had been years since Iruka slept in. He swiped his bed-tousled hair out of his eyes -a large curl had stuck to his drool crusted cheek- and walked into his kitchen to make a pot of coffee. Just because he had the day off didn’t mean he didn’t have tasks to accomplish.
Being an adult sucked. Not having help also sucked.
He contemplated getting a roommate as he looked toward the sliding door that led out to the complex’s garden and was suddenly face to face with the cat-faced ANBU from last night. He had a dirty rag and some kind of cleaning solution in his hand and there was half cleaned blood smeared on his door’s glass.
Iruka was suddenly very awake.
Unkept, a little smelly, and in only his underwear, Iruka marched to his door, pulled it open and confronted the ANBU.
“Is Kakashi okay?”
The ANBU looked a little hesitant. “I need to clean up this mess. Hokage’s orders.”
“You can talk and clean,” Iruka used his teacher's tone and the ANBU simply sighed and got to work.
Even though it was slightly chilly, Iruka felt hot as he pictured the injured Kakashi from last night and hoped that he was healed.
“He’s in the hospital in a medically induced coma. They don’t know the cure for the poison, but they are working on it. He could be out for a few weeks, but hopefully they will get him out sooner.”
Iruka was slightly shocked that the ANBU gave so much information so easily. “He was poisoned?” That could explain his odd behavior.
“Yes. One of those slow acting ones that is supposed to sneak up on you and suddenly paralyze you. Luckily Lady Tsunade found it before it had any real effect.”
No effect? Seemed unlikely that a poison would make Kakashi do something so… strange anyway, but he needed a new explanation.
“He was in pretty bad shape when he…” Iruka wasn’t sure how to put last night into words. “Appeared here…”
“Chakra exhaustion as usual, but also significant blood loss. It was a tough mission.”
“He’s been on those pretty often lately.”
The ANBU didn’t comment. Probably above his pay grade. Kakashi never came to the mission desk anymore, so all his missions were clearly S-rank and directly assigned by the hokage.
Iruka shivered and, as if just realizing it, gasped at his nearly naked frame. “Oh, I’m sorry. I should… Thank you for the information.”
Embarrassment was an understatement for how Iruka felt. He dashed back into his home, drew the curtain and sulked for a moment.
Then he finally did his laundry.
Iruka felt more refreshed after accomplishing his chores for the day. He filled his fridge, he cleaned his apartment, he did laundry, he graded the prep papers he had assigned earlier that week and prepared another section of the final exam.
Things felt more normal and he decided to treat himself to ramen for dinner. He ignored the voice in his head that complained that he just bought groceries. Ramen was worth it.
Teuchi greeted him and immediately got to work on his favorite. It wasn’t very busy and Iruka’s regular seat, the last one on the left, was empty and no one was to his right.
“Here ya go, Iruka-sensei,” Teuchi smiled and some of the tension eased off Iruka’s shoulders. The man noticed. “What seems to be the trouble?”
Iruka stirred his broth to avoid answering, but eventually figured out a polite way to word it. “Well, Kakashi-sensei was acting strangely last night. And now he’s in a coma and I can’t ask him what the hell he meant… He showed me his face! I mean…”
“Oh you’ve seen it now too?” Teuchi interrupted. “Dreamy, eh?”
Iruka was shocked to say the least. He didn’t mean to say all that in the first place, but Teuchi was like a therapist to Iruka. And many others he supposed. Sometimes the words just spilled out.
Iruka didn’t want to admit it, but Kakashi was dreamy.
“And that mole. Who would have guessed. I always wondered why that boy covers up…” Teuchi had to stop talking to Iruka to help a new customer. It was Ebisu. He sat one stool over from Iruka.
“How’s your day off, Iruka-sensei?”
“Productive.” Iruka responded automatically. Ebisu nodded in approval.
Ebisu liked structure. He was also in Kakashi’s class growing up. Iruka wondered who else had seen his face.
“Ebisu-sensei, I have a… maybe a strange question, but since you were in his class growing up, did you ever see Kakashi-san’s face?”
Ebisu scoffed. “No one has.” Iruka eyed Teuchi.
“He’s taken it down to eat here many times,” he responded as he placed the steaming bowl in front of Ebisu.
“Well, I suppose that makes some sense… though he has eaten many times around many people and no one was the wiser. You are a trusted and comforting figure, Teuchi-san.” Ebisu was polite to those he saw as worthy, and no one in the whole village would argue against Teuchi being worthy.
“So, no one from his classes?”
“Well, perhaps his genin team did, but… Other than the Hokage and perhaps some medics, I doubt there is another soul who’s seen him.” Ebisu seemed steadfast.
“Ayame-chan has as well, but, like-father-like-daughter as they say. She still blushes if you mention it.”
“Really,” Ebisu looked curious and started to chow down.
“He’s a real looker, isn’t that right Iruka-sensei?” Teuchi had a shit-eating grin on his face and Iruka burst into embarrassed stutters.
Ebisu’s head turned so fast to Iruka that his neck cracked. Iruka said nothing and tried to hide his embarrassment by stuffing his face.
“Alright, keep your secrets, but Kakashi is a strange man. He wouldn’t show you that for nothing. There must be a reason. He’s a genius after all… Seems like you have a mystery on your hands.”
Iruka shook his head, swallowing his large bite. “It was a mistake. Nothing more.”
“Kakashi doesn’t make mistakes.”
Teuchi tsked, but stayed out of it. He had another new customer at the other end of the bar.
“He’s made mistakes, he’s still human,” Iruka rolled his eyes. “He’s just a man.”
Ebisu looked very serious. “He will be the next Hokage.”
Iruka was surprised how unsurprised he was by that statement. “Even Hokage’s make mistakes.”
“Kakashi won’t.”
Iruka changed the subject to the upcoming finals, asking Ebisu’s opinion on some of the exam questions. They were much more comfortable discussing teaching. Ebisu finished first and rushed off. Claiming that Konohamaru was being a nuisance again. He blamed Naruto, but he sounded almost fond as he did it, so Iruka didn’t argue.
It probably was Naruto’s fault anyway.
It seemed the only trick Konohamaru really learned from Naruto was the sexy no jutsu… That boy would be the death of him.
“So, what do you think?” Teuchi asked him as he paid and started to get up.
“Hm?” Iruka questioned.
“About Kakashi,” Teuchi amended casually. “I agree with Ebisu.”
Iruka’s confused face made the old man laugh.
“I mean, not on many things, but on this. I don’t think it was a mistake. He showed it to Ayame and I while his kids were being annoying. Just to show them that others could see. It was a silly reason, but it wasn’t a mistake.”
“Teuchi-san… He… He was very… sweet and complemented me too. I’m just not sure…” Iruka didn’t know if he wanted to spill the whole truth, but it was close enough.
“Sounds like you have to ask him yourself,” Teuchi was drawn away by a crowd of people arriving. It was getting to normal dinner time and the place was getting crowded.
Iruka couldn’t explain that it was impossible to ask the man anything since he was in a coma.
The more Iruka thought about his situation, the more it pissed him off.
Of course Kakashi would do something like this. He was always late to training Team 7 and his mission reports from that time were barely acceptable. He seemed to just laze away reading glorified porn in public.
Of course he would do something like this. Iruka’s inner child, the prankster, tried to convince him that this was all some weird prank. That Kakashi was bored or something.
His logical mind countered that that was unlikely, since he was injured and it didn’t match his personality. Why would he do that when he knew he needed medical treatment?
The hidden romantic in his mind added that the gentle way his hand had brushed his hair and the look in his eye was real.
Iruka overall was back to being confused. His rage was still there, but it simmered.
He needed more facts. He really didn’t know Kakashi well. The man had helped him on multiple occasions with Naruto years ago, but outside of that, he had only talked to him a few times. And one was their intense argument at the chunin exam nomination.
Iruka sighed. He had most of tomorrow off as well. He would do some investigating.
The first person Iruka seeked out after his early mission room shift was Gai. He knew that Gai was Kakashi’s “eternal rival” or something along those lines. They had been close for a long time. He was sure that Gai would know something.
He entered the training ground to find Gai and Lee in an intense tai-jutsu fight. Lee was keeping up marvelously. Iruka was very impressed.
The fight ended with Gai punching Lee into a tree, which exploded on impact. Iruka’s mouth gapped open. Gai noticed him and jogged over.
“Iruka-sensei! What a delight! Your youthful energy is just what I need to help teach my pupil better!”
“IS LEE OK?!?” Iruka watched as the timber pile shuffled and Lee emerged and gave a shining smile and thumbs up.
Gai yelled to him, “500 laps for that messy technique!”
“YES GAI-SENSEI!” Lee started his laps immediately, tears streaming down his face.
“That seemed… harsh…” Iruka said gently. He didn’t want to insult Gai’s teaching technique. Clearly the results were amazing as all his team members were incredibly talented shinobi.
“He needs a firm fatherly hand, that one. But anyway, what brings you here, Iruka-sensei?! Could it be you wish to improve your hand-to-hand? Do you need my sparkling vigor to help inspire your class? Do you-”
“No Gai-sensei, no…” Iruka felt like trying to get information from Gai was a futile effort. If the shockingly large man were kidnapped by the enemy, Iruka was sure they would return him, unharmed, without any more knowledge than when they found him.
“I was just wondering… Have you seen Kakashi-sensei’s face?” Iruka thought that was a safe place to start.
The look of disappointment on Gai’s face made Iruka think again.
“I didn’t expect this from you, Iruka-sensei. Kakashi is a very private person and he wouldn’t appreciate speculation or gossip. He’s gone through enough of that in his life! You know he hasn’t always had the youthful glow he has now.”
Iruka blushed at the chastising. “No! I didn’t mean… I don’t mean to gossip! I wanted to know about him is all… About what is normal for him.”
“Normal? Ah, my mysterious and shining rival is reserved, that is true. But what’s got you so interested, hmm?”
Iruka blushed. He supposed that Gai’s tight-lipped attitude with Kakashi would mean his own secret would be safe.
“He just acted strangely last night before he… before he passed out. I just wanted to know if it was normal.”
“Kakashi saw you last night?” Gai looked like he was thinking faster than his tai-jutsu. After a moment, he looked more kindly at Iruka.
“I suppose it causes no harm to tell you he has never shown me his face. Even in his most chakra-exhausted state. And I’ve been there for a lot of those,” Gai said with a smile.
“And he never… said anything strange to you?” Iruka was blushing.
“Kakashi is a mystery. As his eternal rival and best friend I can assure you that even I don’t know everything about him. Just that he was very un-youthful in his youth. He was a bit cold and much too serious. Kakashi has been changing a lot over the past few years. He’s almost a new person now.”
Iruka was confused but he got what he needed. Kakashi didn’t seem to say idle things even when loopy from battle and even his oldest and closest friend hasn’t seen his face, even by mistake.
“Maybe I should get to know Kakashi better. Thank you, Gai-sensei,” Iruka bowed and left right as Lee made his way back to the training ground after his punishment laps.
The youthful glow was radiating off of him.
Iruka took a moment to sit on a bench and ponder his situation. With Ebisu and Gai’s information, it seemed that Kakashi was not one to jokingly confess something so strange. And even when he was with his closest friend he didn’t let his mask down.
The tree overhead rustled it’s still bare stems, just budding with new leaves, and Iruka looked up. The feeling of déjà vu was intense. This was the same bench he sat on when Kakashi helped him all those years ago.
If Gai were telling the truth, which it seemed like he would, then at that time Kakashi would have still have been hard as ice. Perhaps starting to change more into the Kakashi Naruto admired so much now.
Iruka wasn’t an idiot though, he knew of Kakashi’s past and even worked with him on a mission once. Kakashi from back then seemed loyal, taking the blame for the injuries Iruka had gotten. Iruka couldn’t imagine that even at that point Kakashi was this harsh, cold man Gai described.
The only time Iruka ever saw Kakashi as Gai described him was at the chuunin exam nomination. Every other interaction he had with the man he was… kind.
Iruka closed his eyes and recalled how Kakashi had given him such sound and thoughtful advice on this very bench when he was confused about teaching Naruto. He could have just walked away, but he didn’t. He asked after Iruka’s mental state and even said…
Iruka’s eyes widened. Didn’t he say something about not liking the frown on his face? It was so long ago it was hard to recall the wording exactly.
Either way, it didn’t seem like the kind of thing a robotic killing machine would do. Not that Iruka ever believed those rumors about Kakashi.
Maybe he should get some more information on Kakashi. See if he can figure out more about the man to get to the bottom of this strange confession.
Luckily, just the person he could ask some of these questions to plopped down next to him, causing his eyes to open and neck to snap to attention.
“Lazing off, eh Iruka-chan?” A puff of smoke invaded his space, but he was used to it.
Asuma.
“You have impeccable timing! I have a question for you, but it’s strange,” Iruka explained.
“When have you ever asked normal questions?” The banter was comforting. It felt like growing up together. Asuma was almost an older brother to him after all, so he was used to the attitude.
Iruka rolled his eyes and ignored the qiup. “Has… well, has Kakashi ever given you advice? Or helped you through any tough moments?”
Asuma burst into laughter. It seemed wildly inappropriate.
“Kakashi?!” He laughed again and Iruka felt annoyed and embarrassed.
“Stop that, Asuma! I’m being serious…” Iruka hated how childish he sounded, but that’s how Asuma made him feel.
“Sorry, I just can’t imagine it. But then again, just a few years ago, I couldn’t imagine him being a good jounin-sensei either, so he has clearly changed.” Iruka looked at him curiously, so he continued, “Kakashi was the coldest, biggest hard-ass I ever knew. He didn’t talk to anyone. He was rude to everyone. He was a loner. Obito tried… And he respected Rin as well, but… Well, when they were gone there was no one. Not even Gai at his most annoying could get him out of that shell. I didn’t think he had one ounce of sympathy in his whole body. And why should he? with what he had to go through with his dad and team…”
Iruka perked up. “What happened, really?” Iruka generally stayed away from village gossip, but it felt like this was the only way to really get the full picture of who Kakashi was… is.
Asuma took a long drag and flicked his butt away. Iruka glared at him for littering, but Asuma barely looked concerned at the repugnant act.
“His father… well, I know you know about him and how he died, but do you know who found him?”
Iruka shook his head and made the connection immediately, “No… I never thought about that, but of course he would… Gosh, how old would he have been…”
“Too young. And then his team. Well… Kakashi really shut down when they died. I don’t know every detail, but Obito was the first and he was crushed during Kakashi’s first mission as a jounin. He was supposed to be the leader and protect them, but… He lost his teammate.” Asuma actually looked sad at that. Iruka knew that he was friendly with Obito too. They all were. He was a great kid.
“Those nicknames were so bad…” Iruka added in Asuma’s silence.
“The Uchiha certainly weren’t happy, but you can never control what they say in their own neighborhood.” Asuma took a deep breath, as if mentally preparing for the next part.
“When Rin was kidnapped and Kakashi went to rescue her… Well, it wasn’t official or anything, so when he was found with her dead by the chidori… It didn’t look good. I was part of that team. I carried Rin’s body back.” Asuma looked upset. He had known her too. She was a light in the young shinobi community.
“It was even worse because she had a little crush on Kakashi. The community really turned on him then… Yondaime didn’t though. He went deep into ANBU for his own protection.” Asuma looked sad. “You know I left too around then, so I didn’t hear about him or from him for years.”
“I…” Iruka wasn’t sure what to say. He knew Kakashi had lost his teammates, but he didn’t know it was by his own hand with Rin. The nickname ‘friend-killer’ made more sense now. “There has to be a reason he did that. I mean…”
Asuma looked a little shocked. “I’m sure there was. I heard that she was being used for some enemy plot to destroy Konoha, but T&I kept what they found under wraps. If they allowed Kakashi to continue to be a shinobi, then it was for the best of Konoha. Whatever happened, though… it broke him.”
Iruka felt so saddened. If Kakashi had to kill his friend to protect the village, then he did his duty. He deserved help, not condemnation. He didn’t deserve to be lost in ANBU. He felt a surge of sympathy for Kakashi. He was still a child when that happened. He was about Naruto’s age. He couldn’t imagine Naruto having to kill someone as close as Sakura! He didn’t think Naruto would survive it. Iruka wouldn’t have.
“So, what made you bring all this sad shit up?” Asuma had a new cig between his teeth.
“Just… Kakashi has always been kind to me. He has given me advice when I’ve been confused and helped me with Naruto multiple times. Even after the chuunin exam disaster, he was kind to me. I just can’t seem to place this cold monster that people have described him as…”
Asuma looked pensive for a moment.
“I’ve never seen him do that before having students. He really started to change then. I’m glad. He’s a good guy.” Asuma stood abruptly. “I need to meet Kurenai, but I’ll give her your best as always.”
Iruka stood too, “Thank you, Asuma.” Iruka smirked at Asuma’s frown.
“Little shit,” He said as his parting words, waving to Iruka without turning around.
The smirk started to fade immediately. He really wasn’t sure who Kakashi was anymore. This was a lot of information. Kakashi had such a tragic life. It made Iruka’s heart bleed for him. It wasn’t right. Kakashi was thrust into the ninja world too quickly. He wasn’t helped. They just threw him in even deeper. It wasn’t right.
Even with all that though, he had been kind to Iruka. Even when they disagreed, they came out amicably again. It took a lot of strength and a good soul to do that. Not every shinobi comes out of that kind of tragedy with kindness still.
Iruka felt his chest warm.
He ignored the feeling.
It was getting late and he needed to get some work done.
Two days later -two days of constantly thinking about what had happened and in general about Kakashi’s past- and Iruka was plum ready to implode.
He decided to go to the source.
He had no issue finding Kakashi’s room; all the nursing staff were happy to let him visit.
Kakashi looked tired, but not as bad as Iruka knew his condition was. He had bags under his eyes, but otherwise, he could just be asleep.
Iruka wasn’t sure what he was doing here.
“Well, you’ve really put me in a spot haven’t you?” He whispered awkwardly, taking the seat by the bed. “I want to feel sympathy towards you, but you really did make this harder for us both unnecessarily.”
Iruka felt good chiding Kakashi. He wished the man was awake for it.
He also felt silly. What was this accomplishing?
The curtains of the open window billowed and Iruka knew he wasn’t alone anymore. He made a defensive stance over Kakashi’s body, but it was unnecessary. He didn’t know why he did that. They were in the village in the most secure building.
“ANBU-san?” Iruka recognized the cat mask as the same ANBU who helped him with Kakashi after he passed out and who cleared up his blood from his patio.
“My apologies, Iruka-sensei. I was just checking in,” the ANBU said and made to turn away.
“WAIT!” They both froze at the sudden burst from Iruka.
“....Yes?” The ANBU gave off a strange energy that radiated awkwardness.
“I… Did you see what happened that night? With Kakashi and… me?” Iruka blushed. That sounded more incriminating than it was. “I mean! Nothing happened, but… it… You saw his face too.” Iruka finished lamely. He was too embarrassed to say more.
“I did.” The ANBU wasn’t giving anything away.
Iruka sighed. “Was that… was that unusual for him? I… Just don’t know… what to think.”
The ANBU cocked his mask to the side, “What to think? Well, what do you feel?”
Iruka turned shocked to look at Kakashi on the bed. He didn’t know why he did that and immediately turned back to the ANBU. “Feel?” Iruka said quietly.
“Kakashi-sempai does nothing he doesn’t mean to. He is a genius, but he’s also an idiot. I had hoped you would be a little smarter with your emotions, but… well, I suppose I shouldn’t be one to talk.”
“So he meant what he said,” Iruka went back to staring at Kakashi’s prone form. He had the overwhelming feeling to stay with him; to help him somehow. Iruka rarely felt that way -except to students- and it was accompanied by the strangest warmth in his chest. The same one he kept feeling lately whenever he thought about Kakashi.
“I don’t think we are taught to be smart with our emotions,” Iruka added.
“Well, maybe you can do better for the next generation.”
Iruka scoffed, but didn’t argue.
“He calls me his ‘cute kohai’, but I think he does it to mock me.”
“And he’s shown you his face?” Iruka asked, finally a lead. Someone else who Kakashi had complemented. And it wasn’t serious. The warm feeling faded slightly. It could have been a joke.
“He never has. He’s never touched my hair like that either, even when it was long.”
Iruka’s cheeks burned and his chest burst into flame again, “So you saw it all.”
The mask bobbed in a nod.
“You were there the whole time and DID NOTHING TO HELP UNTIL HE PASSED OUT?! WHAT KIND OF FRIEND ARE YOU?!” Iruka felt more himself in that moment.
The ANBU gasped and bolted from the window with a quick, “Sorry, Sensei!”
Iruka couldn’t keep the smile from his face. Kakashi really thought he was pretty… He wasn’t sure he liked that compliment, but the fire it caused in his veins made him swallow his pride.
He would have a very serious chat with Kakashi when he woke up.