Sasuke saw Sai drop Naruto off before coming in, and he growled instinctively. He was a possessive man, although he did not do well to keep his possessions close by.

"Sasuke-"

Sasuke pulled Naruto into a kiss, but Naruto did not comply. He shoved Sasuke away easily with an unimpressed 'feh'.

"You were dying for this before. Don't play dumb."

Naruto cocked his head to the side. "True, but we're just friends now, aren't we, Sasuke." He sat a basket of fruit down on the ground by his friend. "You had your chance."

Sasuke did have his chance. More than once, Naruto had boldly proclaimed that he was in love with Sasuke, but Sasuke saw no reason to lift Naruto's hopes. Now, it was different. He was ready this time.

"I have…others waiting on me. You're no good for me, bud." He slapped Sasuke on the back in a friendly manner and smiled. "Just wanted to check up on you, asshole. I'll come again soon."

Well, if he couldn't have Naruto…He waited for an hour.

Sakura was scheduled to come in a few minutes. Sure enough, he heard the knocking of the door, and he dashed to get it. He tried the same tactic on Naruto, and Sakura screamed into his mouth. She was much more rough with him, punching him square across the jaw.

"The fuck is wrong with you?" she hissed, picking him up by the collar. "I have a boyfriend!"

"Who?" he demanded.

"It's Yamato," she said with a smirk. "I know you think you can get everything, just like you did before, but the rules have changed, Sasuke. You're hurting, and you need help. But I can't be the one to heal you. Not this time."Sasuke went limp as Sakura unceremoniously dropped him. "Now come into the kitchen so I can give you your checkup."

Obito could have screamed. How in the hell was he in Kakashi's bed? Kakashi and his stupid handsome face were smiling at him, somehow hints of pride in it. "What did you do?"

"Me? Nothing. You were the one who climbed in to bed with me." Obito's face erupted into flames, and he turned away, hiding his expression.

"Kill me now."

"Not when you're being such a cute little misfit." Kakashi could hardly believe that came out of his mouth, but it clearly had the desired effect on Obito.

"Shut up!" Then came a softer. "I missed you."

Kakashi smiled and reached out to pat Obito's arm tenderly. "I missed you too."

Obito's next outing was with Gai. He was required to go to a therapist, and he found it quite irritating. Gai laughed boisterously and assured Obito that everything would be fine. He had even introduced Obito to his "star" student, Lee. Lee and Gai were quite…something.

Obito was glad to see Kakashi's familiar face at the end of the day, reading his dirty book on the couch. "Have fun?" Kakashi asked.

"Keh!" Obito replied and plopped down on the couch. "I'm going to watch TV," he said, and Kakashi shrugged.

"Do what you want."

Obito felt himself become inexplicably nervous. Though he had a show on that he was vaguely interest in, the very presence of Kakashi being so close was almost intoxicating. Not in the good way. It was like a mixture of dizziness and heart palpitations and dry mouth. Shaking his head, he increased his death grip on the remote and turned his attention to the fight scene.

Kakashi looked at how attentive and nervous Obito was at the same time. Simply hilarious and adorable. He wondered how Obito would react if he was a little sly…

Obito jolted at the feeling of something on his back. It was Kakashi's arm, resting behind him.

"Excuse me?" he harrumphed.

"You're excused," Kakashi said calmly, flipping the page of his book.

Obito felt himself get even more angry and nervous, and he felt as if steam was escaping from his ears. "What, too tired to rest your arm on your own lap? How the mighty have fallen."

"Hey, you started a war, and now you're on this couch with me with the ankle monitor on."

Obito let out a screech. "You're a dick!" He tackled Kakashi, not thinking of how it would be so easy for Kakashi to overpower him, but clearly, that thought also escaped Kakashi.

They behaved as they did when they were children, but it was a bit weird because they were no longer children. They were more acutely aware of their surroundings and movements, and after some rough and tussle, Obito was back on top. "Ha, I win!" he said triumphantly, flexing his biceps.

Kakashi chuckled. "That you did." Obito didn't move and neither did he, somehow both comfortable in their position. His hand was stroking Obito's hip, and Obito had made no move to stop him. Perhaps Obito had not noticed, but one quick glance was enough to tell you that he had.

When did Obito ever seem this lovable before?

Kakashi sat up, and Obito turned his head. "Admit defeat," the former ninja grumbled.

"Yes, yes, I already did. I lost," Kakashi muttered.

"I get one thing for winning!" Kakashi sighed at the request but decided to entertain Obito.

"What do you want?"

"Take off your mask."

Hmm. Strange request, but Kakashi complied. He pulled it down his chin and breathed out deeply. "There, happy?"

Obito was, by nature, impulsive. His thorough planning of the war had not been his concoction. He preferred to do things when he felt like it.

So he wasn't really surprised when he grabbed the back of Kakashi's neck and pulled him into a kiss. However, Kakashi was certainly surprised. The jounin went stiff as Obito's lips were pressed to his, and his eyes were wide with disbelief. He felt all of Obito: his hands, his thighs, and his soft, warm lips.

When Obito pulled away, his eyes were full of uncertainty and shame. "Sorry, I-" he shook his head. "That was stupid; I'm going to shower-"

Kakashi lifted his head to meet Obito's lips once more, and Obito inhaled sharply. That-that surprised him. He felt Kakashi's hands supporting him at the small of his back, and he wanted to remember how this felt.

They broke apart once more, both a little breathless.

"Very stupid," Kakashi said sarcastically, earning a slap upside the head.

Hinata, Naruto, and Sai were finishing up a mission, and they decided to eat again.

"Ichiraku's?" Hinata asked. Sai shrugged while Naruto was all to excited to go.

"Yeah!" he shouted. "I'm so hungry; the old man's gonna get his rent paid off tonight!"

Sai huffed. "Quit talking about it so we can go eat, dickless." The familiar nickname enraged Naruto, and he told Sai off the whole way to the ramen shop.

Sai's eyes narrowed at Hinata. She was getting more comfortable, more audacious. She was clinging to Naruto's arm as they walked.

There was no reason for him to feel irritated. Hinata liked Naruto, and she had a soothing presence, good for the tortured soul. And lately, Naruto had seemed very tortured. Even Sai, the emotional idiot, could see the turmoil in his friend's eyes.

He wouldn't think more of it.

They arrived at Ichiraku's, all smiles. The old man and his daughter were pleased to see them, and they were quickly served.

"Naruto, slow down," Sai said, watching his friend nearly choke to death on his noodles.

"How can I? So gooood," he moaned, slurping down the last of his third bowl. Hinata smiled at her crush, deciding to get a little…brazen.

"Naruto, ah!" She held up the noodles from her bowl, and Naruto happily ate that as well. This continued, and the two looked like quite the happy couple. Sai felt something bubbling up inside him. Anger? No, it wasn't quite anger. It was that same misplaced irritation from earlier, just more intense. The same as when he saw Hinata hanging onto Naruto's arm. Perhaps he should explore this new emotion.

"Naruto, I am feeling irritated," he announced, and he drew the entire restaurant's attention to himself.

Hinata, being the kind girl she was, asked, "What's wrong, Sai-san?"

Naruto scoffed. "Quit being all dramatic, you're too loud."

Sai shook his head. "I have something to say. I have these feelings of irritation looking at you two." He pointedly glanced at Hinata. "I think this feeling is jealousy."

"Jealousy?" Hinata softly asked, cocking her head to the side. "Are you feeling left out?"

Naruto had gone silent, his eyes wide with anticipation and hope.

"No," Sai said sternly. "It is not that type of jealousy. I have something to say to you, Naruto."

"Sai, what-"

"I think I like you, Naruto, in the romantic nature. It is my first crush so I am unsure of how to proceed. I believe confession is the first step, however."

Naruto had turned white. "Am I dreaming?" he drawled.

"No, dickless, don't be stupid."

Hinata was impressed at Sai's conviction. Still, Naruto-kun wasn't- "I like you, too." Hinata stared at Naruto, hurt welling up inside her. She felt deep in the pit of her stomach. "I like you a lot." Naruto turned to their female companion, a lame smile on his face. "I know this is stupid, but me and him are going to go talk now."

"I did not request-"

"Shut the fuck up, Sai. Sorry, Hinata. See you later?"

"Yes," she croaked out. "Later."

Naruto took Sai by the hand, and he shoved him into an alleyway. "What was the big idea there? Why did you have to make it so public?"

"So you do not like me?"

Naruto smacked his head on the brick wall. "No, I like you, Sai."

"This is more confusing than in the books."

Naruto groaned. "Sai, what am I going to do with you?"

"I don't know, dickless. Our sex life is going to be difficult with your tiny penis."

Naruto scowled at him and pushed him against the wall. "Fuck you," he hissed, and he smashed his lips against Sai's.

Hinata cried for what seemed like days. She had invested so much of her energy into this only to not even get her chance to be rejected. If only she was better…

Hanabi peeked in. "Hey, the hokage called. She has a new assignment for you? She says it's about the Uchiha."

Hinata sniffed and got up. Now, Sasuke was one tortured soul. She only prayed that she could help.

After the kiss, things were even more awkward and interesting for weeks to come. Obito was sassier than before, and Kakashi liked it. Nothing else had happened, but the banter itself was enough to keep things interesting. Also, the way his friend ran away made him laugh uncontrollably.

As per usual, he was late. His students screamed and cursed at him, but it made no difference. Kai was silent as always. His lateness was no longer out of respect, but out of habit.

The tensions were continuing to rise between Chiharu and Kenta, and Kakashi smiled at the memory of Sasuke and Naruto. Chiharu and Kenta had some catch up to do to garner their rivalry as intense as his former pupils'.

"Sensei," Kai said quietly.

"Yes?"

"How long has it been since the war criminal has moved in with you?"

Kakashi raised a brow. "Perceptive. How did you know?"

"My bugs told me." Creepy. "You didn't answer my question."

"Perhaps about a month now. Gai has been taking him to the therapy sessions. I think they're really helping him."

"Maybe he is ready for the truth?"

"For God's sake, how much have your bugs told you?"

Kai shrugged it off, and Kakashi sighed, enjoying the silence once more.

Hinata found Sasuke drunk in his living room. "Why are you here?" he said quietly, dejected.

Hinata smiled. "I'm going to be taking care of you, Sasuke-kun. Please treat me kindly."

Hawk took off her mask, tussling her brown locks. This wasn't always easy, hiding in plain sight. Still, there was nothing she could do. She knew that she wasn't even supposed to be here, be alive. But here she was. More than anything, she wanted to see her boys again.

Words: 2032

There honestly will probably only be 2 more chapters after this. :) I wanted to end it cute and have resolutions for all the characters. Obito is on his way to healing. This was not meant to a long drawn out thing thank god. I have enough of those. Let me know what you think!