Chapter 20: Turnabout is Fair Play*
The sun had barely risen, casting a soft, golden hue over the sleepy village of Wave. Team 7 was already assembled near the edge of the forest, their usual training ground for the duration of this mission. Kakashi stood a few feet away, idly flipping through the pages of his well-worn copy of *Icha Icha Paradise, appearing as carefree as ever.
But his students knew better.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura exchanged glances, each one trying to suppress a grin. The idea had come up the previous evening, sparked by Naruto's usual hyperactive chatter and a few well-timed observations from Sakura. The subject of their sensei's… social tendencies had been too good to pass up. Now, they were determined to turn the tables on him.
Naruto was the first to break the silence, as usual. "Hey, Kakashi-sensei!" he called out, his voice bright with feigned innocence.
Kakashi didn't look up from his book. "Yes, Naruto?"
"You've been spending a lot of time with Tsunami-san," Naruto said, his tone teasingly suggestive. "Should we start calling her Kakashi-sensei's girlfriend?"
Sakura giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. Even Sasuke couldn't suppress a smirk.
Kakashi's eye crinkled in amusement as he closed his book with a soft snap, finally giving his students his full attention. "Oh? Is that what you've been thinking, Naruto?"
Naruto grinned widely. "Well, you did spend a lot of time in the kitchen with her. I saw you two laughing and smiling! And don't think we didn't notice the way she blushed around you, Sensei."
Sakura nodded eagerly, joining in on the fun. "That's right! And I heard her say something about you being 'quite the charmer.' It seems like you've been using your flirting skills again, Sensei."
Sasuke, leaning casually against a tree, crossed his arms and added dryly, "I didn't realize we were supposed to be taking notes on how to flirt during our missions."
Kakashi chuckled, thoroughly amused by their teasing. "Oh? So, you three have been spying on me? I didn't know you were so interested in my personal life."
"We're just looking out for you, Sensei!" Naruto insisted, puffing out his chest as if he were doing Kakashi a great service. "I mean, we wouldn't want you to be lonely or anything!"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying this. "How thoughtful of you, Naruto. But I assure you, I'm perfectly fine on my own."
Sakura leaned in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "But you didn't deny that you were flirting with Tsunami-san, Sensei. I think we're onto something here."
Kakashi tilted his head, considering her words with an air of mock seriousness. "Well, Sakura, sometimes a little charm goes a long way. It can be quite useful in certain situations."
"Uh-huh," Naruto said, nodding sagely. "Like getting extra rice at dinner, or maybe getting someone to do your laundry for you."
"Or making a mission more pleasant," Sasuke added, though his tone was still laced with sarcasm.
Kakashi chuckled, his visible eye glinting with amusement. "You're all very perceptive. But tell me, have any of you tried using your charm to your advantage?"
Naruto blinked, taken aback by the question. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well," Kakashi said, his tone turning playful, "Sasuke, for example—surely you've noticed how popular you are with the girls in the village? You could learn a thing or two about how to handle that kind of attention."
Sasuke's smirk faltered slightly, and he glanced away, clearly uncomfortable with the topic. "I'm not interested in that kind of thing," he muttered.
Kakashi's eye twinkled with mischief. "Ah, but imagine the possibilities. A well-placed smile, a compliment here and there—you could have everyone wrapped around your little finger."
Sasuke scowled, but there was no real heat behind it. "I'll pass."
Kakashi shifted his attention to Naruto, who was watching the exchange with wide eyes. "And you, Naruto. You have all that energy, that enthusiasm. If you focused it a little more, I'm sure you could sweep any girl off her feet."
Naruto blushed, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "I-I don't know about that, Sensei. I mean, I don't really get girls, you know? They're so… complicated."
Kakashi laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "Aren't they just? But that's part of the fun. Learning how to navigate those waters, so to speak."
Sakura rolled her eyes, though she was still smiling. "I'm not sure that's the kind of advice we should be getting from our sensei."
"Oh?" Kakashi asked, feigning innocence. "And what kind of advice would you prefer, Sakura?"
"Something more useful," she said pointedly, though her tone was still light. "Like how to get better at genjutsu, or maybe some tips on improving our chakra control."
Kakashi hummed thoughtfully. "Ah, I see. You want practical advice, then?"
Sakura nodded. "Yes! We're here to train, not to learn how to flirt."
Kakashi smiled behind his mask. "Very well, Sakura. But remember, being a shinobi isn't just about physical strength or jutsu. It's about understanding people, reading their intentions, and sometimes, even a little charm can help you in unexpected ways."
Sasuke gave a noncommittal grunt, clearly eager to move on from the topic, while Naruto seemed to be lost in thought, perhaps considering Kakashi's words more seriously than expected.
Sakura, however, wasn't quite ready to let him off the hook. "That may be true, Sensei, but I still think you enjoy it a bit too much."
Kakashi's eye curved into a smile. "Perhaps I do. But tell me, isn't it important to enjoy what you do? Life as a shinobi can be harsh, so finding moments of joy, even in something as simple as a bit of flirtation, can be a good thing."
Naruto, finally recovering from his momentary daze, grinned widely. "I guess that's true, Sensei. But just so you know, we're onto you! We'll be watching next time!"
"Is that so?" Kakashi replied, amused. "I'll have to be more careful then, won't I?"
The kids laughed, and even Sasuke allowed a small, almost imperceptible smile to grace his lips. It was moments like this—when they could joke, tease, and enjoy each other's company—that made Kakashi feel truly connected to his team.
But he wasn't done yet.
"Since we're on the topic of relationships," Kakashi began, his tone shifting to one of mock seriousness, "Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke—I've noticed you all spend a lot of time together. Any secret crushes I should know about?"
Naruto's face turned bright red. "W-What? No way, Sensei! I'm focused on becoming Hokage, not on girls!"
Sasuke turned away, clearly uninterested in the conversation, but his ears had turned a faint shade of pink.
Sakura, on the other hand, looked like she might faint. "K-Kakashi-sensei! That's not— We're just teammates!"
Kakashi laughed, thoroughly enjoying the reaction. "Just teammates, hm? Well, if you ever need advice on how to navigate those complicated feelings, you know where to find me."
"Sensei!" Sakura's voice was a mix of embarrassment and exasperation, but she couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Naruto was still sputtering, and Sasuke was doing his best to remain aloof, though Kakashi could see the discomfort in his posture.
"Alright, alright," Kakashi said, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I'll stop teasing. But remember, life as a shinobi is more than just missions and training. It's about forming bonds, understanding each other, and yes, even having a little fun along the way."
The kids nodded, still flustered but gradually settling back into their usual selves.
"Now," Kakashi continued, his tone turning more serious, "since we've had our fun, it's time to get back to work. We've got a mission to complete, and I expect you all to be at your best."
Naruto, ever eager, immediately straightened up. "You got it, Sensei! I'm ready!"
Sakura, still a little pink around the cheeks, nodded firmly. "Me too!"
Sasuke gave a curt nod, his expression serious once more, though there was a hint of something lighter in his gaze.
"Good," Kakashi said, his voice softening as he looked at his team. "Let's go show this world what Team 7 is made of."
As they headed out, the playful banter from earlier still lingered in the air, a reminder that even in the midst of their dangerous lives, they were still a team. A team that could laugh together, tease each other, and, most importantly, support one another through whatever came their way.
And for Kakashi, that was more than enough.
