wait guys I'm actually so touched and shocked that y'all are still here omg I don't deserve y'all

12 - boom shakalaka

Naruto hummed while bustling around the kitchen, dressed in shorts, a t-shirt, and an eye-searing toad-print orange apron, long hair tied into a sensible high ponytail. The stove was on a low simmer, and the broth bubbled quietly. She turned the heat up in preparation of adding the noodles in, before hearing a loud crashing sound from outside.

"What was that?!" Naruto quickly leaped out the window, knocking over a bag of flour along the way. The bag burst open as it fell, filling the air with flour dust.

Kakashi was sitting in his living room reading Icha Icha Tactics for the nth time (it was the start of one of his favorite parts: Michiko had just ambushed Ken in his room, and Ken knew she was an undercover shinobi from another village, but then she started taking off her shirt and ooh), before he was startled out of his reverie by a loud boom—was that from Naruto's apartment?

He quickly leapt up and rushed to Naruto's apartment (taking care to tuck his book safely away). Easily easing her window open—and he really needed to have a talk with her about trapping her apartment, there was no way this was safe—he encountered her kitchen. Or the remains of what used to be her kitchen. There was black soot everywhere, and several appliances were definitely broken. Kakashi went to turn off the gas, and just as he did so Naruto came back from outside (it had just been Konohamaru and his teammates—again).

"Kakashi-sensei? What are you doing here?" She then took actual stock of her kitchen, eyes huge. "Wait, did you blow up my kitchen?"

"What?" Kakashi stared back at her, palms open and facing Naruto in a gesture of innocence. "I just got here! I heard an explosion from my living room and wanted to make sure you were all right, I didn't do anything!"

"But I was just here, making ramen!" She saw the remains of her cooking and felt her heart drop. There was no way she could salvage that now. Her poor ramen! Actually, looking around, her kitchen would be out of commission for a while. And on that note...

"Hey, Kakashi-sensei?" Her voice took on a inquisitive tone.

Kakashi eyed her warily. "Yeees?" he drawled.

"Can I borrow your kitchen until mine is fixed?" Naruto pleaded.

"Maa, we just established this wasn't my fault."

Naruto narrowed her eyes. "You claim that it wasn't your fault."

"Naruto," Kakashi said with a tone of warning. "Only one of us here has a repeat record of unintended explosions, and it's not me."

"Okay, fine," Naruto pouted. "But I've been really getting into cooking recently—thanks to you, actually—and I'll cook for you too if you just let me borrow your kitchen. I swear I'm not bad!" She looked down to fiddle with the edge of her apron. "I was planning on making you a meal in thanks anyway," she muttered quietly.

Well, Kushina's cooking used to be pretty godly. Kakashi salivated a little in memory, but then remembered the mess all around him.

"You just blew up your kitchen," he stated dryly.

"One time!"

"I don't think that's anywhere near as reassuring as you seem to think it is."

"C'mon, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto bounded in closer (personal space! personal space!) and grabbed both of Kakashi's hands, holding them between hers as she continued looking into Kakashi's eyes earnestly. "Please?"

Kakashi stared back, temporarily paralyzed. What was this? Was Naruto attempting to use her feminine wiles—no, no, no way was he ever placing that word in the same vicinity as Naruto. It was just her being her usual over-touchy enthusiastic self. Yeah, that's right.

"Sure." Wait, when did that slip out? Was he mad?

"Yes! Thank you so much Kakashi-sensei!" She threw her arms around him and gave him a brief but tight squeeze in thanks (personal space!) before stepping back, light-footed. "I'll get started on dinner, now!" She sped away, heading downstairs.

Kakashi stood there, still frozen. I don't think I've had that much physical contact with another human being in…years. Well, besides the odd assassination here or there, I suppose.

Kakashi winced. That was a cheery thought.

Looks like it was time to hit the bars for a drink. Or maybe three.

Ah wait, before that he should probably warn Naruto about the various traps on his apartment. Kakashi considered this for a moment and shrugged. Nah, he decided as he headed out to leave the apartment complex altogether. She can figure it out herself.

notes: shoutout to fluffpenguin for being the REAL OG gosh can't believe you've stuck around I'm crying

the next chapter is gonna be pretty fun! more banter! some flirting! and it's actually over 1000 words for once!

(random side note kinda sad to destroy that nice looking 15,000 wordcount but needs must)