lay back on the treatment couch, to let himself be touched by Sakura—the woman he'd long admired, lately desired, and somehow managed to keep at the necessary distance until now. Anything could happen. Both of them were unattached and, he thought, willing to take the next step. It felt monumental and earth shattering and he nervously unclenched his fingers to keep them from visibly shaking.
"Do I… do I undress?" he asked.
"Yes, shirt off," Sakura nodded, her tone calm. Her composure unsettled him even more; Sakura, who'd always worn her emotions plainly on her face, was the cool one here.
He unbuttoned his shirt, each undone button feeling far more intimate than it had any right to. He fought the silly urge to flex his chest for her admiring eyes but stopped himself just as her gaze trailed down, setting his skin alight.
"Okay," she murmured, wetting her lips, her fingers hovering just over his bare torso. The sight alone made him close his eyes, pulse racing so hard he half-worried she could feel it.
If this… "thing" led anywhere, he wanted it to be worthy of her. Not a rushed fuck, squeezed onto the narrow treatment couch or pressed into the desk in a moment's impulsive thrill. She deserved far more than that.
She deserved flowers and thoughtful gestures, dinners shared in quiet candlelight, presents that made her eyes light up with that soft, genuine smile of hers. She deserved patience and devotion, the careful unveiling of her mind as much as her body. If he ever got the chance to truly be with her, he wanted to make it more than memorable. He wanted it to be a journey of two people who understood each other in a way hardly anyone ever would. He wanted their lovemaking to be slow, thorough, and epic, a joining that would linger for both of them long after. She was Sakura: fierce and brilliant, thoughtful and driven, and he wanted her to feel every bit as treasured as was her due.
Her hands settled on his stomach, warm and gentle, and the touch sent an expectant shiver through him.
"Ready?" she asked softly.
He wasn't—not in the slightest—but he nodded, letting out a breath as warmth began to pool beneath her touch, radiating through his upper body. It spread slowly, with a heat that was both soothing and inexplicably intimate, like skin on skin, like slipping into a hot spring after a long, grueling day. He sighed, feeling himself melt, sinking deeper as every bit of tension drifted away under her hands.
Kakashi sunk into a haze as her chakra flowed through him. It was like he was drifting on soft currents, waves of heat and light lapping at every tense muscle, every tightly wound nerve. He could barely keep awake as the soothing energy coursed over him, lulling him as though he were suspended in some wondrous, waking dream.
The warmth began to spread more deeply, touching parts of himself he hadn't realized were so tense, so guarded. It felt like sunshine filtering through closed eyelids, casting gentle light into all the dark, hidden spaces within him. In this moment, it was as though every worry, every guarded thought and feeling, every sharp edge within him was softening, dissolving into the peaceful warmth she gave him.
A strange kind of joy touched him and he surrendered to it, letting it envelop him fully. For a fleeting, exquisite moment, he felt vulnerable and utterly safe. It was like being part of something limitless, something boundless that he couldn't quite grasp but didn't need to. His heart, usually closely guarded, felt wide open, as if he were floating in a place where only calm and warmth existed.
"It's not working," her impatient voice pulled him back to reality abruptly.
"What do you mean," he mumbled, feeling groggy. "It's definitely working."
"No," she insisted, taking her hands away. "It's not. I can't feel anything."
He struggled to pull his thoughts into focus. "Are you… supposed to feel something?" he asked.
"Well," she said, pushing her hair back in frustration, "yesterday, I definitely did, so whatever this is, it's not what I'm looking for."
It was true, now that he managed to think about it. Yesterday had been different. She'd woken him from a very vivid, very erotic dream, and instead of calming him, it had left him feeling intensely on edge.
She pressed her hands to him again, this time flooding him with chakra that felt hot, almost scalding, sending an unpleasant tension racing through him. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay still.
"That… hurts," he finally managed to say.
"Oh—I'm so sorry," she withdrew her hands immediately, looking stricken. He recalled, with a slight shiver, that those hands were trained to heal—but also, if need be, to kill.
"Maybe we need to recreate the situation exactly," he quipped, aiming to lighten the mood. "You get roaring drunk on the Hyuga clan's finest sake, barge into the Hokage tower, throw up, take a shower in my apartment, and—"
"That's not funny," she interrupted, deadpan.
"Yes, it is," he replied, shrugging. "Sakura, don't be so hard on yourself."
She shook her head, exasperation clear in her eyes. "Let me try something else."
A flicker of apprehension passed through him, but he relaxed again, trusting her hands as they rested on his torso. He hardly felt anything… but she suddenly gasped.
"It's back!"
"What is?"
"The poison!" she exclaimed. "It's faint—a very low dose, but it's there."
He stared at her, struggling to process this revelation. "But… I thought you had removed it all?"
"I definitely did," she replied, a hint of urgency in her voice. "But somehow, it's back."
"Well," he said, sitting up. "That's not good."
"Did you do anything to find out who's responsible?"
"Yeah, I did. I told my dogs to track down the culprit," he replied.
"Your dogs," Sakura repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"My very capable dogs," Kakashi defended, crossing his arms. He had to agree though, it sounded a bit weak when he said it out loud.
She shot him a dubious look. "Apparently, not capable enough."
He couldn't quite argue with her assessment, so he just sighed. "Alright, fair point."
"Okay," she said, all business now as she focused back on him. "This time, I'll try to isolate it. If I can capture even a trace, it should be enough for a full analysis."
Kakashi smirked as she prepared some vials, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm wounded. I was under the impression everybody loves me."
She scoffed, then concentrated. He could feel her chakra enter his system again, probing and searching. The sensation was… uncomfortable. Her chakra was sharp, precise, combing through him like a net, catching at hidden places. It left him feeling exposed, even vulnerable, and he had to resist the urge to pull away.
Finally, she withdrew her hands, brow furrowed in thought. "I think I've captured enough," she murmured, carefully discharging her findings into the prepared vials. "I'll handle the analysis myself, right away. No one else needs to know."
Her tone was calm and professional, a gentle but unmistakable dismissal. He felt a pang of disappointment, though he should have known better than to expect anything. And yet, beneath that disappointment, he felt an odd sense of relief too. They were still exactly as they'd been when he'd entered her office: trusted allies, close friends, confidantes who would risk their lives for each other. There would be no complications or blurred boundaries; none of these other feelings that crept in to turn his mind into something unrecognizable and chaotic.
All things considered, it was probably for the better.
Sakura regarded him with a slight frown. "At least it wasn't all in vain. But… maybe I should give up on this whole chakra-experiment idea."
Kakashi shrugged. "Yeah, don't worry. Who knows what it even was." A thought about glorious foreplay flickered briefly in his mind, but he wisely kept it to himself. "Maybe it was just a one-time thing. Totally fine, it happens."
She sighed, glancing away. "But I do worry, Kakashi. We need to keep innovating. If we're not the best, people won't keep coming to Konoha. Other villages are catching up fast."
He understood that well enough. With peace keeping the village quiet, the hospital had become Konoha's primary revenue stream—medical treatments, research, and the steady flow of relatives coming to visit. Peacetime missions weren't very lucrative, and there were only so many bodyguard or diplomatic missions to fill the gaps. It was clear that the hospital was key to maintaining the village's standing.
"What do you need?" he asked cautiously.
She made a sweeping gesture, her eyes almost wistful. "Loads of money. A new wing, more specialized departments. Right now, we're stretched thin. If we could specialize, we could attract the best medics, the most advanced cases. It'd secure Konoha's place as a medical leader on this continent."
Kakashi absorbed her words, nodding slowly. "How much are we talking about?"
She sighed. "Don't joke about it. A lot."
He gave her a quiet smile, sitting up and beginning to button his shirt. "Send me a cost estimate."
She looked up, skeptical. "And where are you planning to get all that money from?"
Kakashi shrugged. "If it's a good proposal, we will find a sponsor."
"A sponsor?"
He nodded. "Yup. Let's go to the capital. Together."
She blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Excuse me?"
The idea was fresh but he already liked it a lot. "I'm meeting with the Fire Daimyo in three days. You'll come with me, and we'll make our case." He jumped to his feet, bent down and pressed a light kiss to her lips. "I'm looking forward to it."
A trip to the capital with Kakashi. And on her birthday, no less. Surely, it wouldn't just be the two of them—Hokages always traveled with advisors, attendants, and Anbu members for security. And yet… we'll be together a lot, a small, excited voice in her head whispered. Perhaps there will be… time alone. And then, we surely will…
Yesterday, he had left her office without announcing any further plans to see her before they left, which was such a setback she could have cried. But if she really wanted to encourage anything beyond polite conversation, she'd need to work on her signaling. She had a talent for missing cues—or worse, sending mixed ones—especially where Kakashi was concerned.
She was under the impression that women signaled these things with lingerie, but that was unconfirmed. Sakura bit her lip, thinking about her comfortable, functional underwear folded neatly in her backpack. Nothing remotely suggestive. With them leaving at dawn tomorrow, and she struggling to get everything in order before that, she knew she had no time to buy something special. She also needed to focus every free minute on the proposal if she wanted to impress the Daimyo. The document had to be flawless and compelling, showing the leader why supporting the hospital wasn't just a medical necessity, but a chance to elevate the entire nation's status.
"Can I go now?" Hiroki hovered by the door, clearly annoyed at the extra time she'd kept him in the archives today.
Sakura looked up from the mountain of documents surrounding her. Was it that late already? "Sure, I'll manage."
He hesitated, lingering. "What did the Hokage want when he came by yesterday?"
She raised an eyebrow. "That's none of your business."
"Did he… mention me at all?" he asked, shifting his weight.
Sakura stared at him, puzzled. Hiroki had always been a bit odd, but recently his behavior seemed even stranger. "Why would he mention you?" she asked, genuinely confused.
"Would you be upset if I applied to be his assistant?" he said abruptly.
"What?" she replied, taken aback.
"I want to apply for the Hokage's assistant position," he repeated more slowly, as if she had difficulties understanding their language.
She shook her head, half-amused, half-annoyed. "You're free to apply for any position you want, Hiroki."
"But would you write me a strong letter of reference?" he asked.
Sakura blinked again. "Er… yes, I guess?"
Hiroki nodded, looking both hopeful and slightly sheepish. "Yes. I just think I'd be… better suited to his office. I mean, no offense, but the medical field—it's all just so… repetitive."
Sakura set her pen down, crossing her arms. No offense? Of course she felt offended. Her work was not in the least repetitive! "Being Hokage's assistant is hardly a simple task. And let me be clear—it's not a backup option for when you get tired of one line of work."
He squirmed but managed to hold her gaze. "I get that. But… would you still consider writing me a reference?"
"I said yes already," she snapped. "You can go now."
"You have dinner with the Godaime Hokage in twenty minutes," Hiroki announced as he turned to leave. "A last-minute addition to your schedule."
Sakura groaned under her breath, scrambling for the small mirror she kept somewhere in her desk. A sudden dinner with Tsunade meant talking about her experiences on the Southeastern continent—and she felt completely unprepared. She looked frazzled, had no time to change, and had spent every free moment drafting what might be the most critical proposal of her career.
Reservations had been made at a new upscale restaurant, about fifteen minutes' walk from the hospital. As Sakura passed through the lively neighborhood, she couldn't help but notice how much it had changed. Bars, restaurants, and cafés all pulsed with life, even on a Tuesday night. It was a good sign, and it filled her with pride to see Konoha thriving.
When she arrived, Tsunade was already seated and well into her first bottle of sake. Her cheeks were flushed, and her radiant smile seemed to have every waiter in the room competing for her attention.
"Sakura!" Tsunade waved, beckoning her over.
"Hello, Shishou." Sakura took the seat across from her, taking in the restaurant's elegant, traditional decor. A small question tickled at the back of her mind: who was supposed to pay for this dinner?
"I heard you're leaving tomorrow, so I thought we'd better catch up while we can," Tsunade said, grabbing one of the menus. "How hungry are you?"
"Um, I'm okay," Sakura answered automatically, though her stomach was growling from the lack of any real meal all day.
"Good! We'll have the seven-course menu," Tsunade declared, signaling to a waiter.
Before Sakura could object, the order had been placed, and her sake cup filled.
"Could I have some water too, please?" she asked, already planning to steer well clear of the sake after her last experience.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Water? You really are dedicated," she teased. "You're young, Sakura—you can indulge a little."
Sakura managed a tight smile, trying to match Tsunade's upbeat energy. "I need to keep a clear head. I still have a proposal to finish tonight."
"Ah, right, the proposal." Tsunade nodded thoughtfully. So she had been briefed about this, likely by Kakashi. "Just don't make it too long."
"Um… okay?" Sakura felt her stomach twist, thinking of the twenty-page draft currently sitting on her desk.
"The Fire Daimyo doesn't read anything longer than half a page," Tsunade said with a shrug. "Trust me, you'll only be wasting your time."
"But I thought…"
"Just give him a rough cost estimate," Tsunade continued, taking another generous sip of sake. "Tack on a few thousand, show what he'll gain in return, and leave it at that. He's insanely rich; this won't even make a dent in his wallet."
Sakura blinked, processing this advice. If it was really this simple, why hadn't anyone done it already?
"It's all about timing," Tsunade said, as if reading her thoughts. "Let's hope Kakashi has improved his."
Sakura couldn't help a soft snort.
"And try not to distract him too much, he needs his wits about him in the capital, it's a cesspit there," Tsunade added with a wink, causing Sakura to blush furiously.
"I'm not—" she started defensively, but Tsunade just laughed.
"There's no shame in a crush on him," she said, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. "I've been there myself. But let me give you some friendly advice, woman to woman: Kakashi will bolt if things get too emotional."
Sakura squirmed, trying to hide her acute discomfort. The last thing she wanted was to discuss Kakashi with her mentor, who—awkwardly—knew everything about him, like… everything, while she knew nothing. Or rather knew things thanks to a certain very indiscreet book series that she had never wanted to know about the two people she looked up to.
"Keeping it casual is fine," Tsunade continued, oblivious to Sakura's embarrassment. "But if you try to pin him down emotionally, he'll just slip away. That's how he's wired."
Sakura hadn't considered such things and didn't particularly want to start now. Actually, having people analyze her budding relationship with Kakashi before it had materialized into anything was utterly cringeworthy.
"I just don't want to see you disappointed," Tsunade added with a small frown.
Sakura managed a polite smile. "Thanks, that's... thoughtful. But weren't we here to talk about your trip to the Southeastern Continent…?"
"Right you are!" Tsunade's expression brightened as she shifted gears, diving into questions about the people, customs, and medical practices she'd encountered, even pulling out a notebook and a pen to jot down the most important points.
Sakura felt relieved as they returned to business. The answers came easily, and she relaxed, grateful that the topic had finally drifted away from her personal life.
When they'd nearly finished, Tsunade glanced at her empty cup, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, and don't worry about the bill," she said with a conspiratorial smile. "The Hokage's footing it, in addition to a 'generous stipend' for my trip. Who would have thought he had such a knack for economics? The village is thriving!"
Well, Kakashi was good at everything, Sakura thought, so no big surprise there. But…
"Don't you have enough income?" Sakura blurted out before she could stop herself from sounding quite judgemental. "I mean, so you don't have to rely on village funds?"
Tsunade's brows shot up, clearly taken aback. "Income? From where? My pension hardly covers the cost of rent in increasingly overpriced Konoha!"
Sakura hesitated. "But… don't your books sell like crazy? There's a sticker on the cover that says over half a million copies sold."
Tsunade blinked, looking thoroughly baffled. "My books?"
"Mikoto Kazehana?" Sakura ventured.
"Who's that?" Tsunade asked, her face clouded with confusion.
Sakura looked down at her cup. Had she been wrong? Oh shit! "She's the author of Sakura's Adventures in the Cherry Blossom Lands, and… well, The Sensual Secrets of the Masked Sensei. I just assumed…"
Tsunade's expression twisted in disgust. "You're talking about that trash on display next to Icha Icha Paradise? I'd never lay a finger on something like that!"
"Well, it's not exactly…" Sakura began, then thought better of it. The books were trash. Though rather effective trash.
"It looks exactly the same," Tsunade's voice was low, her eyes narrowed. "Someone using your name to sell books. I don't assume you gave your permission? Like I never gave Jiraiya permission to put any of his dirty fantasies on paper. It's revolting!"
Sakura quickly agreed, though part of her was tempted to point out that Icha Icha was actually quite sweet and romantic rather than smut and that Sakura's Adventures was clumsy and badly written, with a main character that had her looks, yet didn't resemble her much apart from that.
"I don't write books, Sakura," Tsunade shook her head resolutely. "And if I would, I would certainly not waste my time with such filthy fantasies, I would write a book about medicine!"
Sakura immediately expressed her wish for this to become a reality, but Tsunade said she couldn't write a straight sentence even if she tried.
Well.
If Tsunade wasn't the author, then who else could Mikoto Kazehana be? Meaning: who else had the audacity to write about Kakashi in such… intimate detail?
"So... has Kakashi dated a lot of women?" The question slipped out before Sakura could stop herself. And she hadn't even had a drink yet.
Tsunade paused, then poured the last of the sake into her cup. "Why do you ask? Ah… Are the books about him?"
Sakura nodded. "The Masked Sensei is clearly based on him. The author writes about… well, about things only someone very close to the Hokage would know."
For a moment, Tsunade's face went blank, and then she laughed—a sharp, amused sound. "Sakura, I doubt anyone knows Kakashi well, not even me." She raised an eyebrow, her look unreadable. "Whatever is in those books? Pure fantasy. Kakashi keeps everything about himself well-guarded. Don't lose any sleep over it. The world is full of people willing to take advantage of someone's reputation."
Sakura nodded, resolved to let the topic drop—though how could she, really? She had come to terms with her theory that Tsunade had written those books. She had been ready to forgive her for writing stories about her and smutty fantasies about Kakashi. But now that she once again faced the mystery of who the author was, she felt discomforted. The thought that someone else had put their own version of Kakashi's life on display without permission, turning his enigmatic charm into smutty fiction for anyone to read, made her angry.
"He's a big fan of the Strength of a Hundred Seal," Tsunade added softly when they parted with a hug, sounding so nostalgic Sakura almost said something to cheer her up. "I bet that's not in those books!"
Sakura pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders as protection against the brisk night air. The streets of Konoha were alive, glowing under the soft lights spilling from shop windows, bars, and restaurants. Even this late, there were still groups of people chatting on street corners, laughter echoing through the alleys, and couples strolling close together under the street lanterns. The city felt alive, and it was comforting to know her village had become a place where people could wander in peace after dark.
Turning toward the hospital, Sakura forced her thoughts back to her unfinished work. She had a proposal to finalize. She also wanted to check on the results of the blood tests again—up until now, her cross-checks had not revealed anything. The poison in Kakashi's bloodstream was undoubtedly a reality, but neither did she understand what it did to him or how it had gotten there.
As Sakura rounded the corner into a shadowy side street near the hospital, the sound of frantic barking filled the air, high-pitched and relentless. She spotted someone pressed against a wall, eyes wide and body tense. She squinted, trying to make out who it was in the dim light—and then she recognized him. Hiroki, her assistant, was frozen in terror, his arms raised defensively as he stared down at… a very tiny black puppy.
Sakura stifled a laugh, though her amusement faded as she took in the scene. Her own little dog, barely bigger than Hiroki's shoe, was squared off in front of him, barking as if it were a creature twenty times his size. The puppy's fur stood on end, his tiny teeth bared in what he probably thought was a ferocious snarl. She could see Hiroki's hands were trembling as he pressed back against the wall, genuinely frightened.
Stepping forward, she called out softly, "Alright, that's enough, Kuroda!" She scooped the puppy up, shushing him gently, though he squirmed in her arms, still growling.
"Hiroki," she said, unable to hide the wry smile in her voice. "It's just a puppy."
Hiroki glared at her, his face pale, and muttered, "It was… coming for me."
"Oh yes," she said dryly, holding the puppy up for him to see, "this fierce little warrior here almost had you." But she softened her tone, noting how shaken he still looked. "He's harmless, I promise."
The puppy calmed in her arms, now content to observe Hiroki warily. It took a moment, but Hiroki managed to offer her a shaky nod.
"I thought you had gone home?" Sakura remarked.
"I was… I was just in the neighborhood," Hiroki replied. "That… that thing came out of nowhere! Are you… holding him tight?"
"Yeah," Sakura nodded.
"Safe travels," Hiroki pressed out and broke into a jog to get away.
Shaking her head, Sakura looked down at Kuroda, who was now licking her hand as if he hadn't just struck terror into her weird assistant. She stroked his tiny head and glanced around the quiet street. It did seem odd that he was out here all alone—weren't Kakashi's ninken watching over him? She had been under the impression that they were in charge of training Kuroda.
"Out for an adventure, huh?" Sakura murmured to the little puppy. "Did you sneak away, or did you follow me all the way here? Should I just take you with me?"
Kuroda tilted his head, silent as ever. Whatever they were training him for, verbal responses definitely weren't part of it.
She was nearly to the hospital entrance when the sound of heavy, rhythmic breathing caught her attention, quickly followed by the sight of two figures approaching at a trot. Two of Kakashi's dogs, she realized, as they padded into view—one with a light gray coat, a white underside, and a black tuft resembling a mohawk; the other tan with a white snout, long ears, and pronounced whiskers. Both wore blue vests marked with the heno-heno-moheji seal, and each sported a Konoha forehead protector.
"Hi," Sakura greeted the two dogs as they halted before her, their tails wagging but their eyes zeroed in on the small, black puppy nestled in her arms. "Here to retrieve the little runaway?"
"Yes," the gray one with the mohawk-like crest said in a low, growling tone that was a little hard to understand. "He slipped out on us during training."
"You might want to consider a leash," Sakura teased lightly, but both dogs fixed her with looks of such indignation that she quickly raised her hands. "Just kidding! I mean...what are your names? I don't think we've officially met."
The gray dog nodded. "I am Shiba. He's Guruko," he added, indicating the tan dog beside him.
"Nice to meet you," Sakura said, setting Kuroda down and giving him a gentle nudge toward his guardians. "Maybe a vest like yours would help people recognize him as one of Kakashi's pack."
"But he isn't a true summons like us," Shiba replied, his expression serious.
Oh, Sakura realized, of course not—She'd assumed his training with the ninken meant he was officially linked to the pack, but Kakashi hadn't formed a pact with this little handful.
"Besides, he's your dog," Shiba added, then turned to Kuroda, letting out a single, stern bark. Kuroda's tail drooped, and he gave a pitiful whine, looking up at her apologetically.
"Hey, don't be too hard on him," Sakura frowned, moving to defend the tiny pup. "He's just a baby."
Shiba looked disapproving. "A firm hand early on, or they never learn discipline. Goodnight, skillful woman."
With a slight bow, he signaled Guruko, and the three dogs trotted off, Kuroda casting one last look over his shoulder as they disappeared into the shadows.
Sakura stood rooted to the spot, the echo of Shiba's gruff farewell fading into the night. For a silly, unexpected moment, she found herself missing Kakashi terribly, but she had no time to dwell on that now.
With a deep breath, she turned and headed into the hospital, greeting the people on night duty before heading up to her office, where she flipped on the lights and settled at her desk. Tapping her pen thoughtfully, Tsunade's words echoed in her mind. The Fire Daimyo doesn't read anything that's longer than half a page. She grimaced, looking down at her draft. After rereading the first few paragraphs, she began trimming sections with a surgeon's precision, cutting complex explanations down to the bare essentials. Bit by bit, her proposal shrank, until finally, hours later, she was staring at two neat, concise pages.
She leaned back, stretching her shoulders with a satisfied sigh. It was time for one final check at the lab before heading home to get a few hours of sleep before they needed to depart.
The hospital was empty as she walked down the hallway to the lab, and she flipped on the lights, the sterile white glow illuminating the rows of samples awaiting analysis. Methodically, she moved through each vial, running her practiced eye over the test results and cross-referencing the data. Most were just as the ones before, showing no match. But as she reached the second-to-last slide, she froze.
Her heart skipped a beat. The result was unmistakable—a match. She hastily flipped through her notes, double-checking the compound she'd tested the poison against.
"Oh, shit!" she whispered, the weight of her discovery sinking in. She didn't stop to think twice. Pivoting, she sprinted out of the lab, her footsteps echoing loudly as she raced down the deserted hospital corridors and out into the night.
Breathless, she reached the Hokage Tower, flashing a hurried greeting at the masked Anbu guards at the gate. "Yes, it's me! Again!" she called, her voice trailing behind her as she darted past them and took the stairs two at a time. From far away, the light in his office had signaled that he was not in bed like he should be, but still working. Not bothering to knock, she shoved the door open.
"Kakashi, whatever you're doing, do not—!"
But her warning came too late. Kakashi was already raising a small food pill toward his lips, a scroll in his other hand. Without hesitating, Sakura lunged forward, crossing the room in an instant. She slammed into him just as his hand was inches from his mouth.
They tumbled backward, his chair tipping over with the force of her impact. Papers flew as they both crashed to the floor.
"Ouf," Kakashi grunted, blinking up at her in surprise.
"Did you put it into your mouth?" Sakura wrestled his jaw open. Her fingers prodded against his cheek, looking for the pill. "Spit it out immediately!"
Some papers were floating gently to the floor around them.
"Hi, I missed you too," Kakashi grinned, his face shamelessly uncovered like on the days he had returned to Konoha. "Is this your favorite position?"
Sakura blinked, suddenly aware of how close they were—her body straddling his, her hands still pressed against his face, and Kakashi's bare, unguarded expression only inches away. Heat rushed to her cheeks as her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to stay composed. "You nearly ate a poisoned pill," she said, her voice steady despite her racing heart. "The dosage has been increased. Focus."
He chuckled. "I am finally focused," he replied smoothly, his gaze never leaving hers. "All day, I couldn't think straight. I debated whether to visit you tonight, what I would say. And now… here you are."
"Here I am," Sakura echoed, her heart thumping loudly in her chest. His body beneath her was warm and solid, and she couldn't help but notice how close she was to something that was distinctly hard and very much awake. The realization sent a flush to her skin and moisture to another body part.
"Hi," he said, his voice low as he reached up to gently tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Hi," she responded, her breath catching in her throat. "How long until we leave?"
Kakashi's smile remained calm, but his eyes glimmered with something more. "About six hours," he said. "Plenty of time for us to go upstairs and… talk."
Sakura's lips curved into a grin as she leaned in, closing the gap between them to kiss him.