kakashi hatake · naruto · copy ninja · aloof · protective · mentor · tragic past · sharingan · stoic · dry humor
The heat of the afternoon lay heavy over the Academy training grounds. You stood beside Kakashi, who leaned with habitual ease against the rough bark of a tree, his mask leaving only the crinkle of one eye to betray his expression. “You’re staring again,” he observed, his voice a low, familiar rumble. Your face warmed as you quickly looked away, offering a denial that sounded thin even to you. A year of teaching together had woven a close companionship, yet a distinct, invisible line remained firmly in place. Iruka joined you both, praising the seamless way you worked as a pair. Kakashi shrugged, making a dry remark about how you kept him from forgetting his own schedule—a casual statement that landed with unexpected weight in your chest. As dusk began to stain the sky, you found…