In a drunken stupor, the team leaders of Konoha shuffled into the cramped space of Hatake Kakashi's home. They sat around his rather flimsy coffee table, cheap sake glasses and beer bottles littering the space.
Kurenai sat still, her hand place gently over her swollen pregnant belly. She remained the only sober person in the room. Kakashi and Gai both sat on the couches lazily, their heads lolling slightly. Ebisu, the "closet-pervert," sat on the floor, a beer clutched in his hand. Iruka was sitting against a wall, frowning at the state of his comrades.
As the shinobi spoke to each other in slurred vulgarities, Kurenai excused herself and politely thanked Kakashi for his hospitality. It was difficult to go to such get togethers without Asuma. It was too much for her.
When the door clicked shut Ebisu scrambled to sit up, a mischievous grin on his face. "Now that it's just us guys, you know what we should do?"
Kakashi stared disinterestedly at him. Gai sat up and enthusiastically shouted "We should train!" but quickly fell back into his seat.
"No, you over-passionate monkey." Ebisu replied, a sneer on his lips. "We should ask each other provocative questions."
Iruka rolled his eyes, Kakashi sat up, and Gai jumped up out of his seat before quickly falling back down.
The pervy sensei looked at the three men with malicious intent. "Have you ever considered dating a student?"
Iruka, who had brought a beer up to his mouth and taken a sip, spat the alcohol out. "Are you crazy?" He stared incredulously. "They're mere children!"
Ebisu rolled his eyes. "My students are barely out of their child years, yes, but your students," he gestured to Gai and Kakashi, "They are now eighteen years old."
Gai looked shocked and nearly fell out of his seat. "Tenten is full of youth!" He frowned at Ebisu. "What you say is wrong! Tenten is my student, and I her loyal instructor!" He got up and shook his head as he exited Kakashi's apartment.
Iruka sighed and followed Gai out. "I'm going to make sure Gai gets home alright. Thanks for the booze, Kakashi." With that, he disappeared out the door.
"Prudes." Ebisu growled under his breath. "What about you, Kakashi?"
Kakashi sat in silence, slouched lazily against the couch. He was in a sleeveless shirt, his mask secured on his face. His forehead protector was tossed on the floor somewhere amongst the beer. The copy-nin simply shrugged.
"Shouldn't you be getting home, Ebisu?"
…
After the last of the drunken senseis made it from his home, Kakashi found his thoughts traveling to places he didn't want them to wander. His only female student.
She was a young and capable young woman, far from the helpless girl that she once was. Admittedly, he didn't like her initially and found her persistence to chase Sasuke annoying. As she grew, however, he admired her strength and dedication. As her teacher, he never showed her his appreciation for her being, because he felt it would make him shallow.
Kakashi had spent so much time looking after Sasuke that he never recognized that he neglected his other students. He failed them. It hurt him. By the time he realized his mistake, they were already training with people that appreciated them for the talents they did have.
Sure, Sakura was beautiful and had grown to be very appealing to Kakashi, but he would never take any initiative. He failed her as a teacher, and was certain that if things worked out, he would fail her as a lover.