This chapter was beta-read by: Sakura's Unicorn
"The Power of Youth emerges victorious again!"
Kakashi shakes his head as Gai manages to strike a dynamic pose even in his wheelchair. The years have done nothing to wear down his erstwhile self-proclaimed rival's exuberance. The only real difference these days is that their competitions are limited to what is physically possible for both of them: rock-paper-scissors, thumb wrestling, toe wrestling, beetle racing (that didn't work out for either of them), tongue-twisters, cherry spitting, and bee-wearing (they both spent a week in the hospital after that one).
Today's competition is relatively tame by their usual standards—a simple race to see who can finish a book of Sudoku faster. To be honest, it ends up being more of a good-natured conversation over number-puzzles than anything else.
I guess we're getting old, Kakashi reflects, leaning back in his chair. Oddly enough, the idea doesn't bother him.
Nor does it ever stop Gai from trying to walk across Konoha on his hands with his wheelchair balanced overhead before Kakashi can head him off.
The taijutsu master has always treated his wheelchair as a mere inconvenience, instead of a handicap. Gai has organised an entire fighting style based on limited mobility. It's popular with a lot of the men and women who survived the Fourth Shinobi War with grave injuries, but even those without handicaps join. Shinobi are always open to learning new skills and being able to continue fighting despite debilitating injury in battle is important.
"Well, what do you say, Kakashi – shall we go another round, or are you intending to call it a day?"
He's not really keen on any more higher-thinking tasks today. After his years as Hokage, he's lost what little patience he had for any work involving paper. Still, as per usual, he avoids admitting this out loud. Instead, he changes the subject.
"How's Metaru doing? I haven't seen him doing any over-the-top training routines lately. Has Tenten been instructing him, too?"
They may not be related to Gai by blood, but Rock Li and his son Metaru are the only family he has in the Hidden Leaf. In some ways, the relationship between master and student has always been beyond kinship.
"The boy takes everything in stride, the same way Li does," Gai brags. "The difference is, Metaru isn't a complete failure at ninjutsu and genjutsu. Once he applies the same rigorous discipline to them as he does with his taijutsu, he'll have no competition in all of Fire Country!"
"Well… I don't know about that," Kakashi muses, thinking about his own sons. At fifteen, his two oldest have completed the greatest number of successful missions among their age group and are known even in other countries as 'The Lightning Twins.' If they ever decided to actually apply themselves, he suspects that they would give even Sasuke or Naruto a challenge.
Well, as much of a challenge as you can give the reincarnations of two demigods.
Luckily, no one will ever need to test that because Kuboshi and Shinzō are far more interested in slacking off and playing practical jokes.
The twins are more like their Inuzuka relatives than their father in terms of demeanour. They get along disturbingly well with their Uncle Kiba, much to Kakashi's dismay. He's pretty sure that they schooled Boruto in the art of mischief-making when he was little and prone to tagging along behind them like a lost pup. That said, Kakashi figures he should be grateful his sons didn't make his life hell when he was Hokage.
One saving grace for him (and the rest of the village) is that the boys live in fear of their grandmother's wrath (as does he, for that matter). Tsume Inuzuka is a force to be reckoned with. While her approach to parenting has historically been of the tough-love variety, she doesn't react well to any Inuzuka embarrassing the clan.
Even if they happen to carry the surname of Hatake.
There are days when Kakashi still can't move beyond the general sense of disbelief that he is a husband and father.
Marriage – to a civilian, at that – was never something he craved, it sort of just…happened. And as for children –
A part of him always considered his genin squad to be the only children he would help raise. Twenty years after he was first assigned to lead a knucklehead, a prodigy, and a worrywart, those kids are now this generation's heroes and he has his own actual children.
The twins were a definite surprise and then, less than a year later, Obito was another.
Hell of a thing to overcome, having older siblings like that, he thinks of his youngest.
With his Inuzuka heritage, Obito physically resembles Kakashi's late best friend, but that's where the similarities end. The youngest Hatake is much more like Kakashi as a child, but without the chip on his shoulder. Obito is studious and serious, determined to succeed on his own merits.
The sound of the back door opening and closing draws Kakashi's attention, and he glances up as his wife steps onto the veranda.
Like the rest of her clan, Manako is black-eyed and feral-looking, with brown hair that she has kept short since the twins were in their pull-on-everything phase. Even after three children, her build is slim and muscular, and her bearing that of someone who doesn't suffer fools easily.
"We're back," she announces, followed outside by their old wolfhound, Moro. The dog is not a ninja hound like her cousins or one of Kakashi's summons, but simply the beloved family pet (another thing Kakashi never pictured having). The dog also has an unnatural fondness for Gai. Even now, she makes her way over to sit beside him, wagging her tail and slobbering all over his knees while he pets her.
"Hey, Scarecrow." Manako reaches out and makes a show of messing up Kakashi's hair, then grins at their guest. "Gai. You staying for supper? Kakashi's picking up takeout."
He blinks. "I am?"
"You are."
"I didn't realise we'd decided that."
"Do you feel like going to the market now?"
"Good decision. I'm really in the mood for takeout," Kakashi decides, nodding to Gai. "So will you be staying?"
"While it pains me to say it, Kakashi, you'll be deprived of my awe-inspiring company today," Gai replies, face filled with over-the-top regret. "I need to meet Yūgao in two hours. I've planned a romantic moonlit date, involving a bard and the release of a thousand live butterflies!"
Kakashi blinks, trying to process this, then clears his throat.
"You know, I always heard you should never do anything on the first date that you'll have a hard time topping on the second."
"Hah! As if you would know," Manako taunts. "You've never planned a date in your life."
"Neither have you."
"This is true," she allows, "but I also didn't sit back and wait for things to happen. You were never going to make a move, so I did it. No dates required."
"You lured me to your apartment under false pretences and then jumped me."
"Exactly."
Gai laughs out loud. "Hah! I knew the Spirit of Youth was what snared a bachelor like you in the end, Kakashi, you dog!"
Manako continues, "I'd say it worked out pretty well for you."
"Speak for yourself. You don't have in-laws to worry about."
"No, but I'm still related to them, remember? Thank the gods for Hana. She deals with all the family drama. They're still flipping out over Kiba and Tamaki." She makes a face then addresses Gai. "Speaking of 'Spirit of Youth,' how is Yūgao? Still teaching at the Academy?"
"Yes she is. And not just genin – she's organised several levels of kenjutsu classes," Gai confirms. "There's been a rise in interest for such spirited pursuits since the Chūnin Exams." He cuts a look at Kakashi. "Your students always have so much of an influence on the younger generation. Even Metaru wants to learn it."
Kakashi smiles fondly beneath his mask. "Those three haven't been my students for a while."
"Oh, shut up. They'll always be your students. And more than that." Manako rolls her eyes. "Did he tell you about Sasuke coming to see him the other day? He asked him to be Baby Number Two's godfather."
"Congratulations!" Gai declares, eyes turning glassy. "There is no greater honour!"
"It's not that big a deal."
"Come on! The two of you nearly managed to generate actual facial expressions. I was almost moved." Manako fakes a wistful sigh.
"I suspect Sasuke is hoping at least one of his children won't look up to Naruto like he hangs the moon," Kakashi replies dryly, ignoring his wife's teasing. "Sarada's nursing quite a bit of hero-worship toward Lord Seventh."
"Which is ironic considering Boruto seems to want to become Sasuke's shadow," Gai adds. "Funny how these things work."
"Family is weird."
There's a sudden bang and the three of them glance across the backyard where the gate has been slammed open.
One twin – Shinzō, Kakashi decides with some smugness (it's sometimes hard to tell from a distance, especially since he no longer possesses a Sharingan) – stalks up to them, looking furious. He's upset enough that even his white hair stands up in agitation.
"Brothers are a pain in the ass! Why couldn't I be an only child?" he demands.
"That's a question we're still asking ourselves, trust me."
"What did you do to Obito this time and how did he retaliate?" Kakashi asks, speaking over his wife.
"It's not Obito – and hey! Why do you always think it's me doing something to him?"
"Because it always is."
"You don't know that. It could be the other assface I share DNA with."
"You do realise you're twins, right?" Manako points out. "You just insulted yourself."
"Thanks, Mom. That's really helpful."
"Well, don't make it so easy for me. I taught you better than that," she chides him. "And on that note, I'm going to mercilessly leave your father to deal with this teenage drama."
"I will accompany you," Gai adds. "I have that hot date to prepare for!"
"Please tell me you have a formal jumpsuit picked out," Manako says as they exit into the house.
"Right. So, what's Kuboshi done this time?" Kakashi asks wearily, giving his son his full attention.
"He keeps getting in the way every time I try to ask Mirai out," he complains. "I was going to ask her to Konohamaru-sensei's wedding, but he knocked me out of a tree and asked her first."
"You were going to ask her to her own cousin's wedding? A bit presumptuous, I think."
"It's charming and confident, Dad. Get with it."
"Still, a better date-plan than no date-plan," Manako calls from inside the house.
"Uh-huh," Kakashi manages, shooting his wife's back a look that promises retribution later, and refocussing on his son. "Did you consider that maybe he likes her too, and you might have some competition?"
"No, because he doesn't, which is why it's such a douche move!"
"Are you sure he doesn't?"
"Yeah, because he's been writing love letters to Lady Naho for the past six months!"
"Who?"
"The feudal lord's niece. We escorted her to the Hidden Mist on a mission." This is news to Kakashi. "He's only doing it to mess me up."
"Take a page out of your Uncle Naruto's book," Kakashi suggests. "Knock him out, tie him up, and take his place at the wedding."
Shinzō looks like he's actually contemplating this then shoots his father a suspicious glance. "Aren't you supposed to encourage a peaceful solution here?"
"I've been married to your mother too long for that."
"Heh. Don't let her hear you say that."
"I say it all the time. Out loud. To her face."
"And she hasn't killed you yet?"
"Funny how we put up the most unbelievable behaviour from the people we care about. Otherwise, you really would be an only child."
"Hey, don't rule it out yet," Shinzō grumbles.
"Also, the sex is really great."
His son turns the most amusing shade of puce. "What the hell, Dad?! You can't say shit like that!"
"Well, make up your mind. Either you want relationship advice, or you don't."
"Right. I am never talking to you. Or Mom. Ever again," Shinzō decides with a groan. "I need to find something that'll scramble my brain to get those images out."
His son makes a beeline for the house, and Kakashi grins at his back.
"Awkward conversation successfully averted," he muses out loud, reaching into his pocket for his well-loved orange book. "It seems I've still got it."
つづく