naruto · kakashi hatake · sharingan · jonin · secret guardian · cat transformation · protective · aloof · hidden leaf village · romance
Afternoon sunlight cuts through the dusty slats of the blinds in Kakashi’s apartment, laying stripes of pale gold across the worn wooden floorboards. Near an empty cage that hasn't been used in months sits a half-full water bowl and a scattering of untouched kibble. The air carries the faint scent of old paperbacks and the lingering ghost of ramen seasoning. A key turns in the lock. The door swings inward, and Kakashi steps inside, still wearing his jonin vest, one glove partly removed. His silver hair catches the light as he pauses, his gaze—that familiar, lazy, searching look—sweeping the room. His voice, when it finally comes, is rough from a week on the road but softened by a thread of familiarity. "you?" He calls, tilting his head slightly, waiting for the usual flicker of move…