The walk to Minato's house felt much longer than usual. Kakashi focused on the path ahead, trying to forget how heat raised on his neck at her compliment. Beside him, the girl hummed softly to herself, occasionally asking for a new word. He still answered diligently. She's like a sponge… but a cute, terrifyingly accurate sponge. Shiba, who had demanded to be let down earlier, was happily trotting along beside them, sometimes answering for him with a yipping, or giving her words he thought were important like play.
As they neared Minato's house, Kakashi could feel his tension easing, though Hawk's teasing grin hadn't faded one bit. I can feel his amusement radiating from here. Before he could knock, the door creaked open, and Kushina stood at the entrance, her fiery red hair spilling over her shoulders and her hands firmly planted on her hips.
"Well, well," she said, her voice full of mock reprimand, "sneaking home late, huh Kakashi?"
Kakashi, still flustered from the events of the walk, scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Uh… we got a bit… delayed," he said, glancing down at the girl, who was now peeking up at Kushina with wide eyes. She had been so full of energy moments before, now she was completely still, shrinking behind him.
Before Kakashi could answer, Hawk, of course, couldn't resist jumping in. "Forgive us Kushina-san. We had to do an emergency stop to admire Hatake-sensei's gorgeous locks," his voice was laced with light teasing, making sure to emphasise the title.
Kakashi shot Hawk a sharp glare. You're not helping, Hawk.
Kushina, never one to pass up an opportunity to tease, raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "Oh…" But just as she was about to press further, her gaze shifted to the girl hiding behind Kakashi, her small hand gripping his sleeve. Kushina's teasing expression softened instantly, replaced by curiosity and warmth.
"And who's this little one?" Kushina murmured, her voice taking on a gentler tone.
The girl shrank further, her fingers tightening on Kakashi's sleeve, her lips moving slightly as if considering speaking but remaining silent.
"That's Hatake's student and aficionado of Kakashi's, per her words, beautiful hair." Hawk answered with a smile on his voice.
Kushina, catching the emphasis on "beautiful hair," grinned. "Beautiful hair, huh? Well, I always thought Kakashi had a certain... flair," she teased, tossing a wink at Kakashi, who shot her a withering look. Flair? Flair?! What is it with everyone and my hair today?
Turning her attention back to the girl, Kushina knelt down slightly, her voice becoming soft but still playful. "You've got good taste, little one. And you know…" she leaned in as though sharing a big secret, her tone dropping to a mock whisper, "I think I might have to agree with you on the hair thing."
The girl, wide-eyed and not entirely sure what to make of the situation, moved, hiding completely behind Kakashi, gripping his sleeve tightly as if to disappear completely. Her cheeks puffed slightly, and she focused her gaze on Kushina's hands.
Kushina noticed her reaction and quickly dialled back the teasing, her tone softening even more. "Hey, it's okay," she said gently, reaching out but stopping just before touching the girl. "You're safe here. I'm just teasing him, you know?"
Kakashi turned his head trying to look at the girl and nodded reassuringly. "She's safe," he said quietly, his voice calm and steady. "Kushina's... like family."
At Kakashi's words, Kushina's eyes flickered with warmth. That simple, honest statement from aloof Kakashi—calling her family—touched her deeply. A gentle smile spread across her face, a mix of pride and affection, as she realised how much that small admission meant coming from him.
For a moment, the girl seemed to process what he said, and slowly, she stepped out from behind him, still staying close but no longer hiding. Her gaze flickered between Kushina and Kakashi, offering a small smile.
"Am I right to think that this cutie is the reason Minato left the house in a fury?" Kushina said, returning the girl's smile.
"Looks like there was some miscommunication. Hokage-sama is handling it," Hawk responded in his usual professional yet warm tone.
Kushina's brow furrowed slightly, intrigued. "Miscommunication, huh?" She straightened up, brushing her fiery red hair back behind her shoulders. "Well, let's not just stand here in the doorway all night! You're in good hands now. Give me a few minutes, and you'll be eating the best ramen this side of Konoha."
As they stepped inside, the girl remained glued to Kakashi's side, but the earlier wariness was beginning to fade. The warmth of Kushina's home, the soft glow of the lights, and the smell of food seemed to relax her. She took it all in, her eyes darting around the cozy space. She is really curious.
The girl took a tiny step closer to Kushina, her fingers still gripping Kakashi's sleeve. With her other hand, she pointed toward Shiba.
"Don't worry, I'll whip up a bowl for Shiba too," Kushina said, amused. Shiba, ever the opportunist, barked happily, clearly pleased with the idea of a meal.
Just as they were settling in, Hawk lingered near the door. "I'll stay out here and wait for Minato," he said, his tone casual, but with the familiar teasing edge Kakashi had grown accustomed to. "Oh, and Kakashi—don't forget to brush that beautiful hair of yours before bed."
Really? Again? Kakashi sighed but didn't bother to respond, knowing it would only add fuel to Hawk's teasing fire.
The girl, who had been quietly observing the interaction, suddenly picked up on the now-familiar words "hair" and "beautiful," which had been tossed around far too often for Kakashi's comfort. She blinked up at him, her brow furrowing as if processing the repeated teasing.
Then, without warning, she spun around to face Hawk directly, her small form standing boldly between him and Kakashi.
Kakashi blinked, feeling a slight unease creeping up. Wait, what's she doing?
Then, out of nowhere, she pointed straight at him. "You... rock."
Hawk blinked, looking completely baffled. "Rock?"
"HAI. You rock," the girl repeated, her voice firm and confident.
Kakashi froze. Hai? He blinked, utterly surprised. Where did she… I didn't teach her that. His mind raced, but the girl wasn't done.
Before Hawk could respond, the girl continued, "You. Rock. Path," she said, her tone more playful now, a glint of mischief in her eyes as she pointed at the path in front of them and mimicked a small kicking motion with her foot.
A second of silence passed as Hawk processed what had just happened. "I'm... a rock on a path?" His mouth opened, then closed, completely caught off guard by the playful jab. He blinked again, "did she just… insult me?"
Shiba let out a low bark, clearly amused. Kushina, standing in the doorway, covered her mouth to stifle her laughter, her eyes shining with delight. Hearing her, Kakashi broke into a wide grin. Did she just compare Hawk to a rock you kick off the road? Oh, that's gold. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing, but his eyes betrayed him as they sparkled with amusement.
"She sure did," Kakashi muttered, half impressed, half amused. Where did she even come up with that?
Kushina, standing in the doorway, burst into laughter. "Oh my god," she said, clutching her stomach.
Hawk, trying to recover from the unexpected insult, gave Kakashi a death glare. Kakashi shrugged innocently, the grin still firmly planted on his face.
"Hey, she's a quick learner. I just gave her the words." He glanced down at the girl, who beamed back up at him with pride. "Seems like she's getting the hang of it."
Haek gave a mock sigh, shaking his head dramatically. "Well, I didn't see that one coming," he admitted, his voice tinged with amusement. "A rock. On a path. Kicked. I've been demoted to rock status by our little genius."
As Hawk mulled over the situation, he noticed it has been years since someone had teased him, and a child no less. He felt an unusual mixture of amusement and surprise and this little girl's nerve. She somehow learned how to tease from the few jabs he sent to Kakashi.
Kakashi, trying to suppress his grin but failing miserably, shrugged. "Looks like it. A very kickable rock, apparently."
The girl watched his reaction, her gaze softening. Sensing his mock defeat, she did something that surprised everyone even more. With a gentle expression, she walked over to Hawk and, standing on her tiptoes, reached up and patted his arm, her hand small against his much larger frame. She patted him like she would console a dog, her touch light but deliberate and full with mirth.
The gesture was so innocent, so childlike, that it caught Hawk completely off guard. His expression softened as he let out a laugh—a genuine, amused chuckle that filled the quiet night air.
"Alright, I'll take it. Rock I am. You're something else, kid." He bent down slightly and ruffled her hair, his tone warm. "No more teasing your sensei, eh... pebble"
The girl's eyes gleamed with pride as she turned back to Kakashi, clearly enjoying herself. Kakashi gave her a closed-eyed smile.
Kushina, still giggling, wiped an imaginary tear from her eye. "This kid's got brains—and a wicked sense of humor!"
Shiba, clearly entertained, wagged his tail as he circled Hawk's legs, almost as if he, too, was joining in on the fun.
Hawk, his heart now thoroughly softened by the girl's actions, stood up again, still chuckling softly. "I didn't expect to be insulted and comforted in the same breath," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "She's really clever, using new words like that."
She's sharp. Too sharp.. Kakashi thought, feeling a strange sense of pride swell in his chest.
Hawk lingered for a moment, he glanced at Kakashi one last time. "Looks like you've got yourself a little team now, Hatake. Try not to mess it up."
Kakashi sighed, half exasperated but mostly amused. "Just… wait outside, will you?"
Kushina, still clearly entertained, opened the door wider. "Well, come on in. You've had a long day—and it looks like Hawk here's had his ego bruised."
