"Hey, Kakashi, that's enough!" Asuma tried to stop the silver-haired jonin as he drank the whiskey by the bottle. But the man just swatted his hand away.

"I'm not drunk, okay?" Kakashi slurred. "Just order what you want, I'll pay for it!"

Asuma exchanged looks with Iruka. This is not the Kakashi they know. He is taking the annulment hard. From what they know, its been a month and a half since it was filed and this morning, announcements where posted stating that the marriage had been nulled and voided.

"Kakashi, you need to talk about this," Asuma urged, his voice filled with worry. "Drinking yourself into oblivion won't make the pain go away."

Kakashi looked up from his drink, his one visible eye bloodshot and filled with sadness. "Talking won't change a damn thing," he muttered. "She's gone. It's over."

Iruka spoke softly, concern etched on his face. "Kakashi, we know it's tough, but maybe there's a chance to sort things out with Sakura. You never know until you try."

Kakashi slammed the empty bottle on the table, his frustration and despair evident. "Iruka, you don't understand. This wasn't just about us. The Daimyo's demands, the threats... I had to protect her. We married to protect her. Now that the threat is gone, we had to break it off." Kakashi explained, swaying in his seat. His mask is pooling in his neck. "She's never going to come back to me."

Asuma and Iruka exchanged worried glances. They could see that Kakashi was in a deep state of turmoil, torn between his love for Sakura and the circumstances that had forced their marriage. They knew that this was a complex situation that couldn't be resolved easily.

"Kakashi," Asuma said firmly, "we understand that it was a difficult decision. But if you love Sakura, you should talk to her, explain your feelings. It's not over until you've tried everything."

Iruka nodded in agreement. "Don't give up without a fight, Kakashi. If there's a chance to be together, you owe it to both of you to explore it."

Kakashi's shoulders slumped, and he buried his face in his hands. He was well aware of the truth in their words, but the fear of causing Sakura more pain and uncertainty held him back.

"I don't want to hurt her even more," Kakashi admitted, his voice muffled. "I thought I was doing what was best for her."

"Just clarify some things to us, Kakashi." Iruka started. "When you said that you were doing what you thought what was best for her, did you by any chance signed those papers without consulting her?"

Kakashi didn't reply. He just took another mouthful of the whiskey, grimacing at the taste. Asuma looked at Iruka again. Asuma and Iruka exchanged a concerned glance. It seemed that Kakashi had indeed made the decision without consulting Sakura.

"Why did you do it?" Asuma asked.

"Why would I trap her in a marriage?" Kakashi asked back. "What can an old man like me can offer her anyway?"

Asuma and Iruka exchanged another glance, their concern deepening. It was clear that Kakashi was struggling with a sense of unworthiness and fear that he was holding Sakura back. They needed to help him understand that he wasn't the only one who could make decisions in their marriage.

"Kakashi," Iruka said gently, "marriage is about both partners making choices together. It's not just about what you think is best for her. You need to consider what she wants and what makes her happy. Have you talked to her about all of this?"

Kakashi shook his head, a deep sense of regret weighing on him. "I never gave her a choice, did I?"

Asuma placed a reassuring hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "It's not too late, Kakashi. Talk to Sakura. Share your feelings, your fears, and your love for her. It's the only way to truly understand what she wants and to find a way forward."

Kakashi nodded, his visible eye filled with a mix of sadness and determination. "You're right. I need to talk to her. I just hope she's willing to listen and that we can find a way back to each other."

Kakashi nodded at his friends' words. He pulled his mask up his nose and left money for the drinks. He is not going to saddle them with the bill this time. As he groggily stepped out of their booth to grovel at Sakura's feet, his eyes found something that took the wind out of his lungs.

Sakura's fingers are tangled in the dark hair of another man, and her lips are locked in an intimate embrace with him. Kakashi's heart sank, and he stood there in shock, unable to look away from the scene. His mind raced, trying to process what he was seeing and the pain that was coursing through him.

Asuma and Iruka noticed the change in Kakashi's demeanor and followed his gaze. When they saw what Kakashi was staring at, their expressions turned solemn. They knew that this was a devastating blow for Kakashi.

Iruka put a hand on Kakashi's shoulder, offering support. "Kakashi, maybe there's an explanation. We shouldn't jump to conclusions."

Kakashi's mind was a whirlwind of emotions. He wanted to believe that there was a reasonable explanation, but the sight before him felt like a crushing betrayal. He needed to confront Sakura, to understand what had led to this moment.

Without a word, he turned and walked to one of the bar's counters ordering another bottle of whiskey. As he reaches at his pocket to pay, his hand was stopped by Iruka.

"Kakashi, that's enough." Iruka's firm voice stopped him, but he shrugged his hand and took out his wallet to pay for the drink. As the bartender leave the bottle to him, he unscrewed the cap and drank straight from the bottle.

"Are you really just going to drink yourself to death, Kakashi?" Asuma asked. "That won't bring back Sakura to you."

"Nothing will bring her back to me, Asuma." Kakashi drunkenly said. "She already moved on."

"You don't know that." Asuma refuted him.

"She's kissing another man in a dark corner of the bar. What do you think that means?" Kakashi asked. "I'm just a means to protect her. Nothing more." He sadly concluded, as he took another swig from the bottle.

"Kakashi," Iruka placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "you can't just assume things. That is the reason why you're here in the first place. Talk to her Kakashi."

Kakashi's shoulders slumped, and he took another swig from the bottle. His mind was clouded with pain and doubt, and the images he had seen were haunting him. He knew that he couldn't make any decisions or assumptions in his current state, but the overwhelming emotions were hard to contain.

"Iruka, Asuma," Kakashi mumbled, "you're right. I need to talk to her. I need to understand what's really going on." He took another drink from the bottle, trying to drown his sorrows and build up the courage to face Sakura.

Asuma and Iruka exchanged worried glances, knowing that this was going to be a difficult and emotional conversation. But they were there to support their friend, no matter what he would discover.

"Let's get you sobered up, Kakashi," Asuma said. "And then we'll figure out the best way to approach this situation."

Kakashi nodded, his head heavy with the weight of the circumstances. He allowed Asuma and Iruka to lead him away from the bar, with the hope of finding answers and resolution in the turbulent situation with Sakura.