I don't own any of the characters within this work of fiction, they all belong to Masashi Kishimoto. :)
I have obviously taken some creative liberties within this story, so it's not going to be 100% accurate to the anime or the manga.
The trio are in their early twenties, hovering somewhere around 22 years old. This, of course, makes Kakashi's age somewhere around 36.
Small intermittent updates will be added to this chapter, as I want to include the other's perspectives. But, since grad school is picking back up again, this'll probably be a rather short chapter.
Enjoy!
Kakashi woke up sprawled out on his couch, limbs spilling over the sides haphazardly. He sat up, groaning as his joints and back cracked like a glow stick. Absently, he eyed the surface of his hands to make sure he wasn't actually glowing. From his place on the couch, Kakashi glanced at the clock that hung on the south wall.
5 am; perfect timing.
He and the other shinobi from the former cell 7 were scheduled to leave Konoha at 6:30 sharp. Known for his propensity to arrive late, Kakashi chuckled at the thought of surprising his former students by being early. Then again, the notion was gone as soon as it arrived. If he knew anything about their pink-haired medic (and he'd like to think that he knew quite a bit), she'd be the first one to arrive at the village gate. She had adopted the complete opposite characteristic of her former sensei.
Wondering where Sakura picked up her habit of arriving habitually early everywhere she went, Kakashi rummaged through his rucksack, reinspecting the contents within. He had restocked his supply of scrolls, explosion tags, kunai, shuriken, soldier pills, military rations, and (of course) face masks the night before. He hummed, satisfied with his reinspection of supplies. He stood, catching his own reflection in the glass doors of the, mostly empty, storage cabinet. Finding himself still wearing most of yesterday's nin uniform and feeling a bit gross, Kakashi ambled to the bathroom for a hot shower.
With a fluffy towel wrapped around his waist and feeling significantly more comfortable now that he was clean, Kakashi gradually made his way toward the back bedroom. Once he had on a fresh set of Konoha military-issued pants, a base layer shirt, a Jonin sweater, his sun-weathered flak jacket, and shoes, he made his way to the kitchen.
He swiped the leaf headband from the table, expertly arranging the material to cover his left eye while inspecting the minimal contents of his fridge. It wasn't uncommon for him to be gone for extended periods of time for missions, so he rarely heavily stocked his fridge. More often than not, he would just pick up supplies to cook as needed while in the village.
Kakashi settled on the left-over breakfast oats from yesterday morning, popping the lid off the container as he pulled chopsticks from a nearby drawer. Leaning against the counter, he ate slowly, relishing in the absence of wandering eyes. Although most people enjoyed their oatmeal hot, Kakashi didn't care either way. He learned early on during the Third Great Ninja War that food, regardless of what it was, is to be eaten without complaints. Cold food was leaps and bounds above no food.
No longer eating, Kakashi pulled the mask lazily hanging around his neck up and over his nose. With a quick glance at the clock and double-checking that anything potentially flammable was indeed off, he hitched his rucksack onto his back and stepped out onto his balcony.
The sun hadn't quite peaked out from behind the Hokage rock, and the early morning air was still crisp. If it wasn't for the mask on his face Kakashi's breath would be visible. He swiftly flew through the hand signs of the multiple jutsu he used to seal his apartment. Locked doors were nice in theory, but jutsu was best when put into practice.
Satisfied with the (abundant) number of seals, the Jonin leisurely made his way east across rooftops. There were a couple of friends he wanted to speak with.
Continuing his casual pace, Kakashi headed towards the Memorial Stone in Konoha's cemetery.
There was something dull but insistent poking into his ribs. It wasn't necessarily uncomfortable, more annoying than anything else if he was being honest. Vaguely, Naruto swiped at the pesky prodding. An unamused but comfortably familiar tsk filled the air.
Ever so slowly, he opened his eyes.
"I've been trying to wake your dumbass up for ten minutes."
Naruto grinned and mumbled, "Good morning to you too Sasuke."
The other's ears flushed pink, and he quickly turned his face away. Naruto chuckled at Sasuke's embarrassment, amused with the fact that even after three years he could still fluster his partner. A mumbled "usuratonkachi" accompanied the fleeing Uchiha, bringing about even more laughter from the blonde. Sliding out of bed, his bare feet smacking onto the cold floor, Naruto followed the sound of Sasuke's footsteps into the little kitchen.
Naruto found Sasuke hovering over the stove, skillfully flipping an omelet closed. He closed the gap between them, wrapping his arms around Sasuke's waist and resting his chin on the other's shoulder.
"Smells good," hummed Naruto. His partner's only response was an approving grunt, so he continued speaking.
"Can I have one to go? Gotta swing by my place before we head out."
Sasuke points to a small container on the counter. "It's not my fault if it's cold. You should've woken up on time."
Naruto chuckled, "Don't be grumpy, you know I'll eat it anyways."
He placed a kiss on Sasuke's forehead before untangling himself to gather the things he had strewn about the small apartment. It wasn't much, but he knew that Sasuke preferred his place to be clean and tidy and generally free of the chaos that accompanied Naruto.
He plucked his shirt, orange jacket, leaf headband, and weapon pouch off the floor, tossing them into his backpack after yanking on his shirt. Turning in a small circle, his blue eyes bounced about the room searching for potential errant items. Naruto grunted in satisfaction, proud of himself for being so efficient.
Slipping the backpack over one shoulder, he reentered the kitchen. Sasuke was no longer at the stove, instead he was sitting at the small table enjoying his breakfast. Gleefully, Naruto swiped the container off the counter, planted another kiss on his partner's forehead, and headed for the door.
While slipping on his shoes, he called out over his shoulder.
"I'll meet you guys at the gate! Thanks for breakfast!"
Naruto didn't expect a reply. It wasn't unusual for him to do most of the talking in their relationship, but, surprisingly, Sasuke's voice reached Naruto before the apartment door closed.
"Be sure to pack appropriately."
Naruto grinned. It wasn't a conventionally cute or romantic goodbye, still, it made his heart race. He knew Sasuke didn't say things if he didn't want to or without a purpose. Basking in the awareness that the ever-stoically grumpy Uchiha cared enough to say so in his own way, Naruto set off to his own apartment three streets over.
Perched on the top of the entrance gate, her chin resting on the folded arms around her knees. Sakura was completely enchanted by the kaleidoscope of colors splashed across the heavens. Hues of red and orange danced across the blues of the early morning sky, mingling here and there. The stars appeared intent on holding on to their claim of the sky even though puffy white clouds had begun to invade their space.
Peaking from between the trees, the sunlight bathed the tranquil forest in light, illuminating the green treetops. The crisp breeze played in her hair, the untied pink locks intermittently floating around her face and shoulders.
"Beautiful," Sakura sighed, content with her little slice of paradise.
"I would agree, you are quite stunning."
The voice didn't startle her; Sakura had sensed her intruder's presence long ago. She turned slightly, eyeing the ninja, before returning her gaze to the morning sky.
"Good morning, Kotetsu. Where's your other half?"
The older man laughed lightly, plopping himself rather close to the kunoichi before speaking again.
"If you mean Izumo, he's down in there," he said, pointing with his chin toward the guard station, "but I noticed you seemed rather lonely up here by yourself, so I decided to join you."
Sakura quirked a pink eyebrow, her hands balling into the fabric of her pant leg. The Chunin, who didn't notice the change in her demeanor, proceeded with the conversation.
"I've noticed you up here before, you seem to really enjoy the sunrise."
He draped an arm lightly across her shoulders before continuing.
"Hey," he shifted himself even closer, tucking Sakura into this side, "it's quite windy up here, you should be careful. Don't want Kohona's elite medic nin getting sick now."
Kotetsu was quiet for a second.
"Ya know, why don't we have a nice picnic later and watch the sunset, hm? "
Sakura was growing impatient. She didn't need or want a companion with her this morning, let alone one who couldn't take a hint. This was the fifth time this week that the man had hinted at a date, and to be completely honest, she wanted nothing to do with him or his little "romantic" games.
"Kotetsu-"
He lifted her chin from the sanctity of her arms, turning her face to his.
"Come on, Sakura," he whispered, grinning mischievously, "whaddya say?"
For a moment, the kunoichi was too stunned to grasp what was going on. And then it slammed into her like one of Tsunade's chakra-enhanced fists. This idiot of a man crossed a major boundary, and it wasn't just because she was a woman.
She was fucking Sakura Haruno; a student of one of the legendary Sannin (who happened to be the current Hokage), an elite medical ninja, a Jonin, and personally close with three of the deadliest ninjas in Kohona.
He was so, so screwed.
She flashed a smile, Kotetsu's wrist encased in her deadly grip, two seconds away from throwing the ninja into the forest.
Except, there was a flash of silvery white, and the next thing she knew she was looking up into Kakashi's uncovered right eye. The crinkles at the corner of his eye hinted at a smile, one that most definitely didn't reach it. His half-gloved hand tucked a wayward strand of her hair behind her ear before he turned to face her offender.
"Shouldn't you be at the guard station, Kotetsu? Slacking, again, I see." Kakashi's tone was pleasant enough, but his words here short and clipped.
The other man blanched at the sight of the ANBU Squad Captain.
"Ah, uhm-" the Chunin fumbled over himself and his words. His head snapped in the general direction of the guard station.
"What's that Izumo? You need help?" Kotetsu faced Kakashi with an appeasing gesture.
"Ah, sorry, I would love to continue our conversation Kakashi- taichou, but it looks like I'm needed elsewhere."
And with that, the man was gone.
Sakura could still see the mark of tension in Kakashi's body – his hands distractedly clenching and unclenching, along with his shoulders pulled back and taught. Sakura reached out, lightly placing her hand on his back, watching his rigid muscles slowly relax. She spoke lightheartedly.
"You're going to strain a muscle clenching up like that old man."
She could tell without looking at his face that he had rolled his eye (eyes?) before turning to face her.
"I only stopped you from chunking him off into the forest because sending a squad to look for him afterward is too much of a hassle." Kakashi declared, slipping his hands into his pockets.
She noticed two more chakra signatures approach, but was, again, unperturbed. It was just her other two boys. Naruto called up to them from the base of the gate. How he had that much energy at six in the morning was unfathomable.
Sakura could tell her former sensei was annoyed. Even if his ever-stoic face remained impassive, she could feel the irritation in his chakra. A worked-up Copy Ninja was less than ideal.
She linked her arm through his at the elbow and smiled at his quirked eyebrow.
"Come on, Kakashi, we mustn't keep thing one and thing two waiting. Who knows what'll happen if they're left unsupervised."
Kakashi let out a light chuckle, his chakra once again becoming tranquil and unbothered.
"As usual, Sakura, you're right. Let's get going." He said the last three words as he scooped her up into his arms and jumped from the top of the gate.
He had caught her so off guard that she flushed scarlet, letting out a little squeak when he tucked her into his flak jacket. Sakura swore she caught a bark of a laugh amidst the wind whistling in her ears, but she couldn't be certain. She squeezed her eyes shut and tucked her head into the curve of Kakashi's shoulder. They were falling at a mildly alarming rate and, if she was honest with herself, Sakura was a tiny bit terrified of going splat.
But, of course, the elite ninja holding her landed ever so softly among the rest of their team. Swiftly, and with ease, Kakashi had her standing upright. She glared up at him, knowing full well that he was amused by her childish reaction.
Before Sakura herself could tell him off, she heard Naruto animatedly berating their squad captain. Kakashi stood there, hand rubbing at the back of his neck, while Naruto chewed him out. As she watched, she slung her med kit across her back, securing it to her person with a slip knot.
The sight of the wild and reckless blonde ninja chastising their former sensei and current squad captain was beyond surreal. The image was so ridiculous that Sakura found herself robustly laughing. She spoke through her hysterics.
"Come on you idiots, let's get going."
Sakura ambled up the path leading out of the Konoha gates, still silently laughing to herself. It took the rest of her squad all but three seconds to catch up to her.
They headed East, falling into a comfortable silence and easy pace.