I do not own Naruto.


Chapter 17


The Hokage sent a clone to the Tower the next morning. Sasuke had made contact, inquiring for more resources and a feasible escape out of a region they were scoping. Kakashi knew just the thing.

His main body stayed home to keep an eye on his despondent wife. Her sister's words had unsettled him.

Yumi came with her youngest child, who was not quite the age to enter primary school, and cooked breakfast. With a personality Kakashi was beginning to slightly dread, he dedicated mental space to memorize all her sons' names after he wrongly greeted the youngest: Ayoda, Biyoda and Chiyoda—in that order.

Kakashi and Yumi insisted Ayame stay home for a few days, and it was her sister who enforced the morning bedrest, emphasizing how strenuous activity wasn't ideal. The couple refrained from disclosing last night's bathing activities. Ayame tried to fight them, worried for her culinary students but was assured Haruhi and others could handle it.

He was proud his wife had established such a valuable component to the Mental Health Clinic and knew she was working very hard to make it as efficient as possible before the baby came. The village was enduring a lot due to lockdowns, so as Hokage, he appreciated every effort. Arming the influx in refugees with pragmatic tools to eventually go off on their own was a sure way to change their lives for the better.

If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.

Ayame remained in their room during the first half of the day, where Chiyoda would come and play small, easy hand games like janken where she could remain in bed. Currently, the boy was napping while Yumi hung laundry out back.

Ayame and Kakashi were sprawled on the family room floor going through some boxes they hadn't yet unpacked. They were labeled 'miscellaneous.' Well, they were supposed to be going through them. Presently, Ayame was cupping a hand to his left eye. They sat facing one another, assorted objects surrounding them in designated clumps.

Kakashi was sure Yumi's newfound doting was persuasive if not a little...mean. The sisters' physical resemblance was uncanny the more Kakashi became acquainted with Yumi throughout the day. And, he concluded, perhaps their personalities weren't as different as he once thought. Ayame could be mean herself when she was overwhelmed with negative emotion and had no other way to retaliate.

She did pick most of their fights, after all. And the number of times she'd tried to hit him were gradually increasing.

"What are you doing?"

Ayame squinted her eyes, removing and replacing her cupped hand from his face. "Sometimes I miss your pink eye."

Affronted, Kakashi said, "It was not 'pink eye.' It was the infamous Uchiha sharingan kekkei genkai—and it was red."

"It was so pretty."

"It was lethal. You saw it once." The battle with Pein. Before that, she thought Kakashi wearing a sideways Hitai-ate was a fashion statement.

A blush appeared on her cheeks and Kakashi rose a brow. Had she found it sexy?

Ayame giggled and then peeked towards the glass sliding door that led to the back yard, assessing Yumi's whereabouts. What was she thinking? Her hand went up to his headband and pulled it, diagonally covering his left eye. She gave his masked lips a sweet kiss.

Kakashi smiled at her antics. "Careful. Yumi-san could come any second and sass us both."

As if conspiring, Ayame leaned in again. He gravitated towards her. She whispered, "Maybe. But nechan is being very nice right now."

After another stolen kiss, Kakashi set an empty box aside. "How often do you see this side of her?"

Ayame placed a prettily painted fingernail at her lip. "Hmm…oh."

"Oh?"

"The war was the last time." Her face turned wistful. Kakashi knew what that meant.

Although they had tried all day, they couldn't completely distract her from remembering the words Teuchi had spoken in anger. She would sporadically quiet down and remain pensive until coaxed out of the mood by her sister or Kakashi.

"Understandable," Kakashi said lightly, knowing she would not really hear him. His eyes softened as he observed her vulnerable expression. Her father was her greatest idol. His hands gently cradled her cheeks, caressing them as if she was the most precious thing in the world to him. And she was.

"Ayame?" He pressed her cheeks together until her lips puckered comically.

"Hmm?" Her melancholy gaze focused on his exposed eye.

"I've been thinking. A boy or a girl?"

Ayame's eyes morphed into excitement. "We'll know this week!"

Kakashi grinned, lowering his hands. "I know. Based on your family, it'll likely be a boy."

She laughed. "If it's a girl, she'll be spoiled by all the aunties like nechan and I were."

On that note, Kakashi said, "Hokage children tend to also be spoiled. We'll have to be vigilant all our children don't end up too rotten."

"All our children?" Ayame gleamed at his words. "How many?"

Kakashi tapped his chin with one finger, whimsical. He was open to suggestions. For the longest time he thought he would have no children, so the venture was new and exciting and nothing short of frightening. Ayame wanted a big family. That was what she was used to. He, within his capabilities as a man, wanted to give her anything she desired, to be straightforward.

Sensibly, he said, "It's up to you. You'll be at home more—what're you looking for?"

Ayame rummaged through one of her 'miscellaneous' boxes with a big smile on her face, speculating how old baby pictures may give a hint as to what their child could look like.

A high waisted skirt hugged her abdomen tellingly. Kakashi unabashedly took in the outline of her hips and lingered at the swell of her rear, plump and fleshy against the thin material of the stretchy skirt. The fabric loosened halfway down her thighs and bunched at her knees as she searched, saying something or other.

What he wouldn't give to bury his nose within those thighs again. She recently developed a curious penchant and was more receptive to sexual intimacy. His gaze sank to the curves of her calves, ankles and lower to painted toes. He wouldn't mind putting those in his mouth either.

She pulled out an album and opened it. In excitement, she shoved it into his hands, navigating him out of his stupor.

Kakashi examined the 8x11 cardboard overlay sheets. Each page held two rectangular photographs. Each photograph, Kakashi assumed, was a baby picture of either Yumi or Ayame. He flipped a page and the last photograph was of a toddler with an infant. He surmised the baby was Ayame and the older child Yumi. As he flipped through, Ayame leaned into his arm and pointed out random history about each picture.

A smile tugged at his lips. The girls were dressed to the nines in pinks and ribbons. The girls were identical, albeit Yumi's more defined nose and sharper eyes. A three-year-old Yumi looked exactly like a three-year-old Ayame a few overlay sheets later. Genetics was an amazing thing.

"Will you dress our daughter like this?" he asked.

"Definitely," Ayame said. "Look—that's Okaasan."

Kakashi inclined his head. "Good afternoon, Okaasan." Ayame giggled.

There, on the last sheet were two pictures captured on the same day. The one above was of a younger Teuchi holding his wife, Ichiraku Yukino. It was no surprise the sisters got their looks from their mother. The bottom picture showed Yukino sitting on a bench where both daughters hugged her arms. The three of them wore white, flowery dresses and two buns on top of their heads. Toddler Ayame's eyes looked to have been crying at one point but was smiling widely in the picture.

Compelled, Kakashi reached over with one hand and pulled out a leather folder from his 'miscellaneous' box. He unwound the twine and pulled out a 4x4 sepia instant film and wordlessly handed it to Ayame.

Ayame examined the old picture. A very young Hatake Sakumo grinned down at a swaddled baby, a shock of pale hair sticking out of the blanket. Chin on his shoulder, was his mother, soft smile aimed at her husband. She was olive skinned with black hair but the sepia film made it look brown. And of course, below her lip was the beauty mark he inherited.

"This is the only picture I have of my family," he admitted. Many things had been lost after the Kyubi attack, never mind when Pein destroyed the village. He was glad Ayame still had her photo album.

Ayame looked to Kakashi with such tenderness his chest ached. She gently placed the instant film to her clavicle. "We should hang some of these up."

"I agree." It would be good for any children they'd have to see pictures of their dearly departed grandparents.

Yumi's sudden, delighted gasp got their attention. She kneeled by them, grabbing the album. "It's Okaasan! I haven't seen these in so long."

Ayame discreetly handed back his family picture and Kakashi put it away. She rummaged through the box again as he righted his headband. "I think I have another—yep! This is when we're older, nechan."

She set the album in the middle for all of them to see. True to her words, it was pictures of both women in their teen years. Often in the pictures they wore sailor school uniforms with the village symbol on their breast pockets. Their uniforms differed at times, indicating Yumi had passed on to secondary or tertiary school before Ayame.

The scenarios ranged from just the two sisters wearing backpacks to random extracurricular events surrounded by classmates or family. Tanako Raiden was even in a few photographs. There was one of both sisters playing taiko drums at a festival which made the three of them laugh.

Ayame and Yumi went back and forth explaining the history of each picture and he contentedly listened. Yumi often corrected Ayame's recollections, and it seemed, Yumi was usually right and Ayame would laugh off her poor memory. Pregnancy brain, Yumi easily dismissed.

Yumi turned another overlay sheet and a picture swished out. It fell on its face and Kakashi peeled it off the floorboards and held it in a tiger sign. His brow rose.

A teen Ayame was hugging a tall boy with flat brown hair at some sort of festival. Her smile was ear to ear and cheeks flushed as she looked at the camera. The young man seemed just as happy, a hand on top of her head. Both were soaked to the bone in their tertiary uniforms.

"Oh," Yumi whispered and looked between Kakashi and Ayame.

"Who is this?" he asked, although he had a suspicion.

Ayame simply leaned in to see what he was holding and when she said nothing, Yumi provided, "That's Aya-chan and Yuu-kun at a festival when they were supposed to be at school."

And then Ayame laughed softly, chided. "We both took supplementary courses on the weekends but that day we really wanted to go to the festival." Pausing, she glared at her sister. "Nechan threatened to tell on us if we didn't sit in the dunk tank."

And then the sisters laughed at the memory.

Menrui Yuu. It seemed the young man had been a part of not only Ayame's life, but her family's as well. He had been in many of the family function photographs but nothing as chummy as this.

Kakashi dismissed the desire to fry the image with purple lightening. Instead, he simply handed it to Ayame. She placed it back in its rightful place, a smile on her lips. Kakashi glanced up to catch Yumi staring at him. She flushed and quickly turned to her sister.

"Aya-chan, I'll start lunch, okay?"

"Can I help?" Ayame said.

Smiling, Yumi nodded and helped her pregnant sister stand. "Slowly now!"

Ayame giggled, radiant under her sister's attention. "Yes, yes," Ayame said, and then her eyes widened. Her pink lips opened into a circle. She looked to them, a massive smile adorning her face as she hurriedly reached for their respective hands and placed them on her belly.

Kakashi and Yumi obeyed, knowingly.

There was movement. Kakashi held his breath, automatically manipulating chakra to check the flow of the baby's and feel it's heartbeat. It was a habit he picked up since the honeymoon but now he could feel the child indent its mother's abdominal wall outwards. Kakashi released a genuine breath of laughter, amazed.

He glanced up and met Ayame's serene expression. He was sure his expression wasn't too far off.


Kakashi returned to the Tower the next day, confident his wife was well. He had pressings matters to delegate. Yumi insisted coming every day that week, which further assured him.

True to their relationship, after a few days, the sisters were fighting.

Ayame wanted to kick her sister out. But mostly just kick her. "I can't go out there wearing those!"

"And just why not!" Yumi demanded, fists on her hips. She brought a box of maternal dresses and placed them on Ayame's bed.

"Everyone is probably talking about me!"

"Newsflash: everyone always talks. This is Konoha! And you're married to the Hokage! And you're pregnant!"

Ayame buried herself under the duvet. "It's too early for this! No!"

"Don't be such a baby!"

"Gahhh! Can't you be nice again!"

"This is why!" Yumi cried and yanked the covers away. And then as if collecting herself, she steadied her hands in the air and then tucked her short hair behind both ears. "Okay. Listen—Aya-chan, don't cover your ears! Please."

At the 'please,' Ayame slowly removed her pointer fingers from her ears and measured her sister's composure. She seemed…vulnerable. Ayame sat up in bed, albeit cautious. Her sister could be mean at the worst of moments, but she'd been present and helpful this week. So Ayame waited.

Yumi clenched her fists at her sides. "I want to apologize. I think…I now know why you came to my house that day. You wanted to tell me you were in the family way."

Ayame balked as Yumi's eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"It had been such a hard day. I was so annoyed with Nagaoka and the kids—the house was an absolute wreck. And then Otousan calls and says you're getting married. To the Hokage! He was happy, Aya-chan. But I got so jealous at the easy life I assumed you would have." Yumi closed her eyes and bowed slightly. "I'm sorry. I should have been patient and heard you out. I should've been there for you as your nechan. I'm glad Hokage-sama has taken responsibility."

"Nechan…"

Yumi suddenly glared fiercely. Ayame yelped. Okay moment over. Yumi pointed an accusing finger. "That aside—I'm here now and I'm telling you to get your ass up, get dressed and walk around the village like you're the boss! Because you are the boss!"

"But Otousan—"

"Otousan will come around. Parents are full of expectations for their kids that are often never lived up to. You'll see soon enough." One cue a loud crash sounded from the living room where Chiyoda was supposed to be tracing kanji.

Ayame was going to have to take Yumi's word for it. The sisters had a stare off, ignoring the ongoing sounds from outside the room that most definitely had nothing to do with chalk tracing.

The truth was, Ayame knew she had to get back out there. She had duties and friendships to maintain. She had her appointment today with Yuhi Kurenai. Kakashi and Ayame had known the time would come where they couldn't hide the pregnancy and people would speculate about their union. But they were married in the eyes of the public and whether they assumed it was because he knocked her up or not, it didn't really matter. She was the Daishukujo.

And time. Time always moved the gossip mill to hotter topics and headlines.

The only person's opinion that mattered was her father's and that had already blown up in her face. There was nothing Ayame could really do except hope he came around like Yumi said.

She hoped he would forgive her.


When Kurenai came to use genjutsu to escort Ayame to an appointment, she had been taken aback by Ayame's maternity dress that clearly outlined her belly.

Her amazement only grew when Yumi declared that ninja tactics wouldn't be needed anymore since the cat was out the bag and they needed to get Ayame registered properly in the maternal ward.

True to her nature, Yumi informed Kurenai her presence was no longer needed which started a fight between the sisters again. Kurenai, true to her nature, calmly explained that she was friends with Ayame and looked forward to these appointments. Yumi relented.

Honestly. One would almost think Yumi was jealous and wanted to make up for lost time.

On their way to the hospital, Mirai took to explaining to Chiyoda that they had met at the wedding but her two-year-old shinobi-like memorization skills were superior to his regular four-year-old mind. So, he mostly hid behind Yumi's leg as Mirai bombarded him with the essentials of what it meant to be friends.


After the appointment, and a lot of sentimental crying from all three women, Ayame couldn't wait and insisted they go to the Tower. Kurenai offered to take the children so Yumi could visit the building for the first time. Wanting to remain with her sister, Yumi agreed and pried Chiyoda off her leg. He cried until Kurenai said the word 'park' and the boy happily attached himself to her leg instead.

Yumi felt somewhat unnerved to be entering the Tower but only because she had never visited. She missed the field trip in grade school due to Ayame bringing home the flu. After the Pein incident a few years ago, the Tower had been rebuilt into an exact replica. She supposed it mattered very little now since her brother-in-law was the prime individual one would find within the reverential building. And Ayame…

Her younger sister walked beside her holding a manila folder to her chest, pretty smile in place with a far-off look. She wore a lavender, off-the-shoulder maternity dress that plainly presented her first pregnancy belly. It was small for five months, to Yumi's growing envy. She shook off the negative feelings.

She hoped her father would see how in love Ayame and the Hokage were. The Hokage had been so gentle and accommodating the entire time she observed them together. It wasn't just responsibility that tethered the two.

The sisters stood before double wooden doors with brass lining. A red headed Anbu fellow bowed deeply in greeting and Yumi felt her face turn hot again. This had been happening all day! Ayame seemed used to it. Despite all her moaning and groaning, Ayame had handled the blatant gawking well. Despite some suspicious stares, most people congratulated their Daishukujo when they noticed the tell-tale curve of her abdomen.

The Anbu gestured for them to follow him. "Hokage-sama is in the jonin lounge."

The lounge's door opened and revealed a large circular room with red seating wrapped around its entirety. In the middle was a huge column also wrapped with the red seating. Ayame ran in and Yumi blanched at all the men in green vests, holding dango sticks and tea. They were staring at the Daishukujo's state of dress. Some were unsurprised by it while others' brows rose, intrigued.

The Hokage was seated to their far right, animatedly speaking with a man who looked ridiculous with a senbon between his teeth.


Kakashi followed Genma's line of sight when he whistled suggestively under his breath, senbon bopping. They'd been discussing the latest news on the movie adaptation of Icha Icha Innocence.

Ayame was a flurry of long brown hair and lavender fabric and—ah. No more hiding, then.

"Nechan, come!" She beckoned to a frozen Yumi at the threshold.

Genma leaned his elbows on his knees, rakish smile in place. "You didn't tell me your wife had a hot sister." Kakashi wasn't sure how the comment made him feel given the sisters' likeness. Yumi followed closely behind Ayame, trying to smile politely at the bowing ninja all around them.

The moment he caught sight of the manila folder in his wife's arms, Kakashi stood. His teacup rattled as it was hastily set on a side table. His dango plate sat untouched. Kakashi placed his hands on Ayame's arms, gaze searching hers. She was positively beaming. How glad he was to see such a cheerful expression.

"Give us a moment," he mumbled but every subordinate heard. They cleared the room.

Yumi patted Ayame's back. "I'll take a look around. Find me when you're done."

Genma, who'd stayed behind, walked up to Yumi and offered an arm. She looked at it as if it were diseased. "Nechan," Genma mimicked the moniker, "I wouldn't mind showing you around." She debated a moment before taking the man's arm, a sly smile forming on her face. Genma patently flirted as he walked out the lounge with Yumi. She seemed all too content to let him.

The Hokage and Daishukujo stared after them with suspicion.

Ayame shook her head. "He's going to feel pretty silly when he finds out she's married."

Kakashi nodded. "I can't wait to tell him.".

Ayame snickered and elbowed him on the side. He laughed and grabbed her hand. He led them to the couch. Before she could lower herself to a red cushion, Kakashi maneuvered her on his lap.

"Sit here," he said.

Ayame sat stiffly at the edge of his knees. The sides of her eyes were tight. He pulled her back against his chest, but she didn't relax. Just a moment ago she was ecstatic. He rested his chin on her exposed shoulder.

"Ayame, talk to me."

"I'm so heavy!"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm the Hokage."

Ayame huffed likely because he didn't negate the change in her weight. She squirmed in his arms until she was sideways on his lap, folder still hugged to her chest. "Well excuse me while I bow down to you."

Kakashi smiled while she maintained a snooty pout. He let his hand rest on her belly. She smiled begrudgingly, breaking character. "What do you think you're doing, Rokudaime-sama?"

"Rubbing for luck," he said seriously, which had her laughing and leaning against him.

She kissed the exposed part of his cheek. "I love you," she said sweetly, kissing him again.

"Do you now?"

She shrugged. "Today, at least." She nonchalantly stared at her nails, noncommittedly checking for dirt.

"Ayame."

The tops of her cheeks and nose flushed. With her chin tilted down, she glanced coquettishly up at him. "She's a girl."

Kakashi's brows rose. "A girl?"

Ayame squealed, kicking her legs and throwing her arms around his shoulders. The folder flew above them. He kept an arm around her as he caught the folder midair. He took his time unwinding it. He carefully studied the glossy black and white image.

Why did he suddenly feel nervous about the idea of a girl? He thought of Rin and Sakura. The list of little girls in his life had been very small and he'd only seen one grow to be a young woman. Kakashi was amazed at his unexpected lack of confidence.

Ayame's gaze was burning at the side of his face. She was waiting for some sort of reaction.

"Anata," she said lovingly, turning his jaw. "Talk to me."

Kakashi exhaled. "A girl."

"Yes!"

His forehead touched hers. "I feel nervous."

Ayame nodded eagerly. "I feel exactly the same but…but at the same time I'm so happy!"

"I hope she takes after you."

"Hey, you're not so bad."

"Thanks."

She laughed but her attention fell to the side table. "Is that dango yours?"

Kakashi set the folder down and picked up the plate, offering it to her. Ayame grabbed the skewered sweet and began to happily nibble. She was eating a lot of sweet things lately. Their daughter would come out as a human sugar cube.

"We're going to have a marshmallow baby."

"Hm! It won't be because of my diet—it'll be because of your hair!" She gasped. "A silver haired little girl!" The tears came. "Sh-she's going to be the most beautiful b-baby."

Kakashi contented himself with holding his crying wife and her sticky fingers while she sobbed about their daughter's potential hair color. The tears stopped falling when he managed to get her to discuss viable names.

He was not prepared for the arsenal of prospects Ayame had already thought about.


Ayame was back at the clinic, more inspired than ever, happily walking down a hallway with a skip to her step.

She had been well received and even missed, per many of the resident patients and the clinical faculty. The now common knowledge of her pregnancy hadn't been as poorly acknowledged as she had first thought. She learned that self-projection and fear of her father's reaction had somehow morphed and elevated her insecurities of what others might think as well.

Kakashi and she discussed this phenomenon at length: if intervention is not achieved in a timely manner, whether attained internally or externally, then persistent negative perception can become irreversibly harmful to one's psychology. He had even spoken about his own father, and others like him, whose mental plane became hyperbolically overwhelmed with insecurity, causing him to retreat further and further within himself until distract measures were taken.

Well, that had turned out to be a very sad conversation for Kakashi and Ayame promised herself that any time her husband let himself be vulnerable, she would do her best to be strong and listen attentively without falling apart in empathy.

She also learned that patting him down with kisses and sensual touches substantially raised his spirits.

Ayame asked Yumi and Kurenai if it was normal to use physical intimacy to cheer a spouse up. The women had snickered and proceeded to tell the younger woman all kinds of stories that thoroughly embarrassed Ayame.

"Where should I put these new cookbooks?" Yumi came to a stop in the clinic's hallway, pulling a wagon filled with paperbacks and a sleepy Chiyoda, whose cheek was smooshed against one of the piles.

"Hey! Those go in room 302A. Third floor."

"Thanks! See you in a bit. I gotta take this one home for a nap."

"Okay!" Ayame kissed Chiyoda's cheek and laughed when the little boy asked for five more minutes.

Yumi had decided to volunteer a few times a week and some of the businesses Ayame had reached out to were able to spare a few employees doing work hours, meaning they got paid for their volunteer work. This created resting time for Ayame and enabled her to take on more of a supervisor role that taught classes when there was a vacancy.

The businesses would receive certain tax breaks. Ayame was still surprised she'd been able to work everything out with the help of the clinic's superintendents.

She wasn't always sure if her requests were approved because she had good ideas or because she was the Hokage's pregnant wife. Ayame found she didn't really care since this was all for a good cause.

Ichiraku's had even sent Aoi to teach twice a week. The young man had immediately taken a liking to Haruhi and set his volunteering hours around hers. His presence meant that despite Ayame's current estrangement from her father, Teuchi wasn't cutting her off. It gave her hope.

"Aya-chan!" Yuu greeted her outside a classroom door. He was to be introduced today.

Menrui Bakery had decided to spare him, out of all their employees. Ayame wasn't sure how it made her feel but she decided any help was great. And if Yuu, who was one of the main bakers, approved of the good work they were doing there, maybe his parents could send others from their additional store locations.

Ayame smiled widely, hands on her belly. "Ready, Yuu-kun?"

Yuu chuckled uneasily, fiddling with the strings of his apron. "As ready as can be. I hope they like me."

She placed a hand on the doorknob. "I won't lie to you. On the exterior some of the patients can be tough, since they've been through a lot. But they're here for a reason and are great learners. You'll see—come on!"

Her childhood friend was nervous at first but once he got everyone to start baking, confidence in his trade took over and it was smooth sailing from there.

It was no wonder then, after a couple of weeks, Menrui Yuu seemed to spend more time at the Mental Health Clinic than the bakery. Tomoe and one of Yuu's brothers signed up to be assistants for his class rotation as well.

Yuu assured Ayame that his parents didn't mind as they had three sons and their wives to manage the bakery and its other locations. He was a natural in the classrooms, coming up with his own lessons to accommodate certain students. Even Tomoe, who was skittish in the beginning to be around severely traumatized people, eventually became enamored with equipping the patients so they could eventually integrate back into society. Or, in cases like Okita-kun, just teach them healthy coping mechanisms like baking a cake.

Ayame had been surprised of how very much she came to like Tomoe. She once thought of the woman as an evil man-stealing witch, but she was actually quite demure and kind. She reminded Ayame of Hinata in many ways.

The day came when Menrui Yuu pulled Ayame aside to ask if ever the Mental Health Clinic decided to create a permanent teaching position, then he and his wife would like to be considered first.

Ayame had been so grateful at the grand suggestion, she opened her arms and hugged him.


Kakashi knew the embrace was an innocent, physical manifestation of his wife's appreciation. He knew, as a monstrous swell of jealously tightened every sinew in his body, because he had overheard the entire conversation.

Unbeknownst to the two civilians with no spatial awareness, Kakashi observed the exchange from a few feet away. His shoulder was propped against the wall, hands deep in his pockets, an ankle crossed over the other. He was perceivably unbothered as he faced them in plain view. He had just finished a meeting with Okita for a biweekly update on his mental status. The genin had a ways to go but he had sure seemed excited about one of the new cooking volunteers.

Kakashi watched as Menrui Yuu placed a hand atop Ayame's head as she parted from the embrace. The man smoothed her hair back, sweeping his fingers through her long tresses until his hand came to rest on her midback.

Just as Kakashi knew his wife would never compromise their marriage, he also knew what Menrui had just done had crossed a very bold line.

"Ayame." Kakashi stepped forward.

Menrui's hand snapped to his side and he bowed as Ayame turned to Kakashi with a huge smile. She scurried to him and captured his arm in hers, clinging to him. She was in her customary chef's garb and as lovely as ever.

"Kakashi-san!" she said happily. "What're you doing here?"

"I thought we could walk home together."

"Really?" Ayame's eyes sparkled and her cheeks flushed, beside herself with joy at the prospect of having him home so early in the evening.

Kakashi nodded and looked over at Menrui. The younger man was silent but wore no specific expression that warranted the glare Kakashi was currently giving him.

Ayame looked towards her childhood friend, blinking as if she forgot he was still there. "Oh—this is—"

"Menrui Yuu." At Kakashi's tone, Ayame's brow furrowed but she didn't comment.

The baker bowed again, a miniscule tremble about his shoulders. "Rokudaime-sama. It is an honor to meet you. Aya-chan speaks very highly of you." Ah. So the man knew the Hokage had caught his wondering hands.

"Yuu-kun!" Ayame whined. Embarrassed, she avoided Kakashi's gaze. Her fingers were still lightly wrapped around his bicep, none the wiser.

"Hm," Kakashi's eyes creased in his usual smile. "It's nice to finally meet you, Menrui-san. But I would appreciate it if you referred to the Daishukujo with the proper respect."


A flower was offered to me,

Such a flower as May never bore;

But I said 'I've a pretty rose tree,'

And I passed the sweet flower o'er.

Then I went to my pretty rose tree,

To tend her by day and by night;

But my rose turned away with jealousy,

And her thorns were my only delight.

William Blake, 'My Pretty Rose Tree'


Okay. Writing a jealous Kakashi is actually very difficult, but I used as inspiration the time when he argued with Iruka before the chunin exams. He was like, "They're MY students now." So I figured since he has the ability to feel possessive over his students, why not with a woman he loves? Low key I feel like I built the story for this one moment lol -swoon-