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The streets of Konoha glimmered under the soft glow of twinkling lights, every shopfront adorned with garlands and wreaths. The village seemed warmer, brighter, and more alive than ever—despite the winter chill that nipped at everyone’s cheeks. It was Christmas Eve, and Team 7 had joined Teams 8 and 9, along with Guy-sensei, for a night out at a cozy bar that overlooked the main square.
Inside, laughter rang through the wooden interior as Sakura and Ino debated over which holiday drink was best, while Kiba tried to sneak Akamaru a bite of grilled chicken under the table. Naruto sat between them, leaning back with a wide grin, though his mind wasn’t entirely in the conversation.
His thoughts, as usual, drifted to Kakashi.
The jounin wasn’t even there yet, but Naruto’s heart always seemed to quicken at the thought of him. Kakashi Hatake—his mentor, his rival in strength, the man who had always believed in him—was impossible not to admire. Lately, though, Naruto couldn’t deny that admiration had turned into something… more.
And that was the problem.
Naruto had never been good with feelings, especially not these kinds. It was easier to laugh them off, bury them beneath ramen bowls and loud declarations about becoming Hokage. He was Naruto Uzumaki, after all. What business did he have thinking about Kakashi like that?
Across the table, Ino watched Naruto stare off into space with a knowing smirk. Sakura followed her gaze, then caught sight of the way Naruto fidgeted at the mention of Kakashi’s name earlier. The two girls exchanged a sly glance, silently agreeing that something was going on there.
The door creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped inside.
Kakashi walked into the bar, shaking snow from his silver hair. He was still wearing his mask, but his visible eye curved in a lazy greeting.
Naruto’s breath hitched—though he would deny it if anyone noticed.
He had just been about to get up and move toward the door when fate—or rather, a mischievous Sakura—struck.
Above the entrance, hidden among the holly garlands, hung a perfectly placed sprig of mistletoe.
“Perfect timing,” Sakura muttered with a grin, elbowing Ino.
“Watch this,” Ino whispered back.
Naruto took a step toward Kakashi, meaning to say hello, but then someone pointed up.
“Oi! Look above you two!” Kiba called out with a wolfish grin.
Naruto blinked and looked up. His face instantly turned scarlet. “W-Wha—? Is that…?”
Kakashi followed his gaze, and even he stiffened slightly. Mistletoe. Of all things.
The whole bar erupted with cheers and teasing whistles.
“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” Lee’s enthusiastic voice boomed over the crowd.
“Come on, Naruto,” Ino added slyly, “It’s bad luck not to kiss under the mistletoe!”
Naruto sputtered, his heart pounding. “Y-You guys are insane! I’m not—”
Kakashi sighed, scratching the back of his neck. “Stupid mistletoe…” he muttered under his breath, his tone somewhere between annoyance and embarrassment.
Naruto’s blue eyes flickered up to Kakashi’s, and for a brief moment, everything else—Team 8’s laughter, Guy’s shouting, the clinking of glasses—faded away.
It was just the two of them.
Naruto swallowed hard, his voice quiet. “Guess… we don’t really have a choice, huh?”
Kakashi tilted his head, that single visible eye softening. “Guess not.”
And then, before Naruto could second-guess himself, Kakashi leaned in.
Their lips met—softly at first, almost hesitant, but warm. Naruto’s breath caught in his throat, and he felt every inch of his skin burn with heat. He hadn’t expected Kakashi to actually kiss back, but he did… and Naruto swore he could melt right there under that stupid piece of mistletoe.
The bar erupted in cheers and applause.
“Wooo! About time!” Kiba yelled.
Sakura smirked knowingly, arms crossed. “Told you there was something between them.”
When they pulled apart, Naruto’s face was as red as his scarf. He stared at Kakashi, wide-eyed and breathless, while the older man simply gave a lazy shrug, as if kissing his former student was nothing extraordinary—though his faint blush betrayed him.
“Stupid mistletoe,” Naruto mumbled under his breath, unable to hide the smile spreading across his face.
“Yeah,” Kakashi replied softly, his tone far gentler than usual. “Stupid mistletoe.”
The night wore on, and the bar slowly emptied. Most of their friends—already tipsy from too many holiday drinks—stumbled out into the snowy streets, laughing and shouting about midnight gifts. Sakura and Ino shared one last mischievous grin before heading out together, leaving Naruto and Kakashi behind.
Naruto sat at the counter, spinning an empty cup in his hands, his face still flushed from the kiss. He kept replaying it over and over in his mind. It had been soft. Unexpected. Perfect.
“Hey,” Kakashi’s voice broke through his thoughts.
Naruto looked up to see Kakashi leaning against the wall near the exit, one hand buried in his pocket. His headband glimmered faintly in the warm bar light, his expression unreadable behind his mask.
“Ready to go?” Kakashi asked.
Naruto’s stomach tightened. “Y-Yeah, sure.”
The air outside was crisp, their breath forming white clouds with each exhale. The streets of Konoha were quieter now, with only the soft crunch of snow beneath their boots and the glow of lanterns lining the path.
For a while, neither of them spoke. Naruto shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, glancing sideways at Kakashi every now and then. The older man’s calm silence was both comforting and maddening.
Finally, Naruto blurted out, “So… about earlier…”
Kakashi’s eye curved slightly, like he was smiling behind the mask. “The mistletoe?”
Naruto nodded. “Yeah. I mean—uh, you didn’t have to do that, y’know. You could’ve just laughed it off. But you… didn’t.”
Kakashi tilted his head, looking up at the snow-dusted rooftops. “Would you have wanted me to laugh it off?”
Naruto’s eyes widened. “Wha—no! I mean… I don’t know!” He groaned and ran a hand through his messy hair. “It’s just—gah, this is so weird. I didn’t hate it. Actually… I kinda…”
His voice trailed off. He didn’t dare say the rest.
Kakashi stopped walking and turned to face him, his visible eye soft and serious now. “Naruto,” he said quietly, “you’ve grown up. You’re not that loud, reckless kid I first trained years ago. You’re stronger now, braver… and you’ve got this way of making people care about you.”
Naruto blinked, startled by the sincerity in Kakashi’s voice.
Kakashi took a slow step closer. “If I kissed you… it’s because I wanted to. Not because of some stupid mistletoe.”
Naruto’s breath caught. He felt his heart pounding so hard he thought Kakashi might hear it. “You… wanted to?” he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
“Yeah,” Kakashi said simply.
For once, Naruto didn’t know what to say. His throat felt tight, his cheeks burning hotter than ever. He opened his mouth, closed it again, and finally muttered, “You’re an idiot… y’know that?”
Kakashi chuckled softly, his eye curving with amusement. “Maybe I am.”
Naruto’s gaze dropped to Kakashi’s mask. On impulse, he reached out and tugged it down, revealing the older man’s face beneath the pale moonlight. For a heartbeat, Kakashi just stared at him—then Naruto leaned in.
This time, the kiss wasn’t because of a mistletoe.
It was slow, warm, and full of everything they’d both been denying for months. Naruto’s hands trembled as he grabbed Kakashi’s jacket, but Kakashi’s hand settled gently at the back of Naruto’s neck, grounding him.
When they pulled apart, snowflakes clung to Naruto’s hair, and Kakashi brushed one away with his thumb.
“Stupid mistletoe,” Naruto murmured again, but there was a soft smile on his lips.
Kakashi smirked faintly. “Best mistake of the night.”