After his talk with Naruto, Kakashi walked home quietly through the calm Konoha streets. The lamps glowed faintly, their warm light spilling over the cobblestones as the wind rustled the trees lining the road.
He reached his door, slid the key into the lock, and stepped inside. The familiar silence greeted him. He flicked the light switch, and the small living room came alive with a dim, yellow glow. Hanging his key on the hook by the door, Kakashi exhaled softly and glanced around.
On the table lay a folded note in clean, bold handwriting:
"There are vegetables in the refrigerator. Heat them up and eat when you return."
Kakashi smiled faintly beneath his mask.
It was from his father—Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang of Konoha.
Unfortunately, Kakashi had already eaten a late dinner at the Hokage's office. Still, he left the note untouched. I'll have it in the morning, he thought.
Since their reunion through the Reanimation Jutsu, Sakumo had insisted on contributing to the village again. Respecting his father's wish, Kakashi arranged through the Konoha Military Police for Sakumo to serve as a gate guard.
Being an Edo Tensei meant Sakumo didn't need sleep or rest the way the living did, so standing long shifts at the village gate was nothing to him.
He shared duty with Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, alternating shifts as needed. The two younger shinobi respected Sakumo deeply—after all, the White Fang was a Konoha legend.
Every evening, they'd gather at the gatehouse to listen to Sakumo's old battle stories—tales of missions long before the Third Shinobi War, of courage and sacrifice that shaped Konoha's history.
Sakumo never tired of telling them. Seeing young shinobi eager to learn from his past gave him peace—and perhaps, redemption.
Sometimes, between shifts, he'd stop by Kakashi's home, prepare a meal, and leave notes like this before returning to duty. The small acts filled him with quiet satisfaction, allowing him to feel alive again, even in this state.
Kakashi set the note down gently, then walked toward the bathroom. After a quick shower, he changed into more comfortable clothes and lay on his bed.
Reaching for his favorite reading material—Icha Icha Paradise, the manga edition—he opened it, ready to unwind. But after a moment, Naruto's earlier words echoed in his head, replacing Jiraiya's familiar lines.
"Try to let go of your heart, Kakashi-sensei. Give it a chance."
Kakashi stared blankly at the page before closing the book and setting it aside.
Ever since Rin's death—Rin… the girl I couldn't protect—he'd sealed off that part of his heart completely. He'd buried his emotions under years of missions, duty, and leadership.
And now, Tsunade and Naruto were both urging him to open up again.
Did he really want to?
He wasn't sure. But one thing was clear—he didn't reject the idea outright. That uncertainty itself was a sign that maybe… just maybe… there was still warmth buried somewhere deep inside.
Forget it, he thought with a sigh. Sleep first.
He turned off the light and lay staring at the ceiling. Naruto's voice echoed again in his mind:
"Sometimes the mind says no, but the heart—or the body—is more honest."
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Give it a try, huh?" Kakashi murmured softly to the dark room.
Finally, he closed his eyes and drifted into peaceful sleep.
What he didn't know was that, somewhere across the village, Shizune was lying in bed too—staring at her ceiling, her mind a storm of hesitation and courage.
After a long struggle, she clenched her fists beneath her blanket.
No more running.
She decided to take the initiative.
And so, the night passed quietly, two hearts unknowingly making the same choice.
The Next Morning
Dawn broke over Konoha. Kakashi rose early, washed up, and opened the refrigerator. As promised, the meal Sakumo had prepared waited neatly inside—rice, pickled vegetables, and miso soup.
He reheated it and ate silently, the routine comforting him. Once done, he placed the dishes neatly in the sink. Father will clean them when he returns, he thought with a faint smile, grabbing his cloak and heading out.
The streets were already lively. Shopkeepers greeted him respectfully, children ran past with laughter, and shinobi on duty nodded as he passed.
He returned each greeting absently, lost in thought, his hands buried in his pockets.
When he finally reached the Hokage's office, he hesitated briefly before sliding the door open. The room was empty. Relief washed over him.
He walked to his desk, sat down, and took a steadying breath. "Let's focus on work," he muttered. "Work keeps the mind quiet."
He reached for the scroll Naruto had given him—the proposal for Jiraiya and Tsunade's upcoming wedding ceremony. As he opened it, the door suddenly creaked open.
Shizune stepped inside.
For a heartbeat, their eyes met.
Kakashi's thoughts stuttered. She's here… wait, she looks different today!
Indeed, under the encouragement of Sakura and Ino, Shizune had traded her usual dark medical robes for a soft blue blouse and a fitted skirt—simple, elegant, but strikingly different from her normal attire.
Carrying a stack of documents, she approached his desk with professional composure.
"Hokage-sama," she said with a polite smile, "I've finished processing these documents. Please review them."
Kakashi blinked once, snapped out of his daze, and took them from her. "Ah… right. Thank you."
An awkward silence followed.
Inside, Kakashi screamed at himself: Say something, you idiot! Anything!
Before the tension could thicken, Shizune recalled Tsunade's advice:
"Men like Kakashi need someone to break their calm exterior. Be bold, Shizune."
Determined, she glanced at the stack of papers on his other side and said casually, "Hokage-sama, have you finished these yet?"
Without waiting for an answer, she circled behind him to check the files herself.
Kakashi caught the faint scent of her perfume as she leaned over. It was soft—lavender, maybe—and for a second, his heartbeat quickened.
"Ah, those… not yet," he stammered. "I was about to—uh—start soon."
Shizune turned, smiling confidently. "Then leave them to me."
Their eyes met again—steady this time. For the first time in years, Kakashi didn't look away.
"Thank you for your hard work, Shizune," he said sincerely.
She smiled. "It's my duty as Hokage's assistant."
With that, she turned and left.
Kakashi leaned back in his chair, letting out a long breath. "Haaah… what just happened?"
He spun slightly in his seat, glancing around—and froze. The files she said she'd handle were still sitting untouched.
"Huh? Didn't she say she'd take these? Why are they still here?" he muttered, scratching his head.
Shaking his confusion away, he decided to focus on Jiraiya's wedding plan again. He pressed the intercom button to call for a messenger—
But the door burst open once more.
Two Chūnin entered, carrying a wooden desk, followed by Shizune, holding a chair.
"Right here!" she instructed. "Yes, perfect—set it there."
The two placed the furniture beside Kakashi's desk and hurried out, closing the door behind them.
Kakashi blinked in utter confusion. "Shizune… what's all this?"
She smiled brightly. "Oh, this? I figured it'd be more efficient if I worked directly from here. Saves us both time communicating between rooms."
Before he could respond, she moved beside him, gathering the remaining documents into her arms.
"That's settled then," she said cheerfully.
Kakashi sat frozen, unable to decide if this was terrifying or… strangely nice.
As Shizune arranged her new workspace, the Hokage's office suddenly felt warmer, livelier—filled with the quiet rhythm of two hearts trying to understand each other.
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