Puff!
Kakashi was drinking water, and when Shikaku suddenly shouted, he spat it all out in surprise.
"Cough—cough—cough!"
Kakashi bent forward, coughing violently. Shizune, who was standing beside him, turned bright red as she hurried to hand him a towel. Her ears were flushed from embarrassment.
Seeing their awkward behavior, Shikaku crossed his arms, eyes glinting with amusement. "So it's true, huh?"
Shikaku had heard the latest piece of gossip from Inoichi Yamanaka, Konoha's chief intelligence officer and a skilled mind-reader. Apparently, word around the intelligence division was that Kakashi Hatake and Shizune might be… involved.
And judging by their reactions, it seemed Inoichi's intel was as sharp as ever.
After a moment, Kakashi finally stopped coughing and managed to speak. "Shizune and I are just colleagues. Don't listen to the nonsense floating around, alright?" He glanced at Shizune for backup.
Shizune nodded quickly, her face still flushed. "Y-yes! Just colleagues!"
Shikaku smirked, clearly not convinced but amused nonetheless. "Heh, maybe I heard wrong then. Anyway—carry on."
He gave them both a knowing shrug and turned to leave. Choza Akimichi and Ibiki Morino, who had been standing behind him, exchanged glances with Kakashi before quietly following Shikaku out.
With a click, the office door shut, leaving Kakashi and Shizune alone again.
The silence that followed was deafening.
They both looked at each other awkwardly until Shizune forced a small smile. "Um… I'll just continue processing these mission reports."
Kakashi nodded stiffly. "Ah, right. Good idea."
She walked back to the desk, sat down, and busied herself with the paperwork.
Kakashi leaned back in his chair and stared out the window. The sun was setting, painting the sky orange and pink. Another long day as Hokage was nearly over.
But his eyes drifted back to Shizune. Her quiet focus, the way she brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear—it reminded him of what Shikaku had said earlier: 'I heard you two are in a relationship.'
That single sentence was enough to make Kakashi realize something: maybe the whole village thought they were already together.
He sighed inwardly. Maybe it wasn't the worst thing in the world. After all, Shizune was smart, kind, and loyal—and he'd be lying if he said he hadn't noticed her more lately.
Be brave, he thought to himself. Just like Naruto always says—if you want something, go for it.
Kakashi spun his chair slightly and called out, "Hey, Shizune."
She looked up from her files. "Yes, Hokage?"
"After work," Kakashi said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly, "do you have any plans tonight?"
Shizune blinked. "Nothing really. I was just going to head home and cook dinner."
"Have you bought the groceries yet?"
"Not yet," she admitted. "I was planning to stop by the market after work."
Kakashi smiled beneath his mask. "Then how about this—you haven't eaten yet, and I've got nothing to do. Want to grab something simple together?"
Shizune froze, her cheeks heating up instantly. Did he just… ask me out?
This was it—the kind of moment Ino and Sakura always teased her about!
Her mind went blank. She opened her mouth, closed it again, then opened it once more.
Kakashi noticed her hesitation and chuckled softly. "What's wrong? If it feels too sudden, we can forget it."
"I do!" she blurted out.
Kakashi blinked. "…You do?"
Shizune realized how loud she'd been, her face turning crimson. "I mean—I'd like to! Dinner, I mean."
Kakashi's visible eye curved in amusement. "Then let's go."
By the time night fell, the warm glow of lanterns filled the streets of Konoha.
At Ichiraku Ramen, Teuchi set two steaming bowls on the counter with his usual booming voice. "Two bowls of classic ramen for the Hokage and his lovely assistant!"
He placed them carefully before Kakashi and Shizune.
"Thank you," Kakashi said politely.
Teuchi grinned. "My pleasure! Master Hokage, please enjoy. And Shizune, if you want extra toppings, just let me know."
Shizune smiled faintly. "Thank you, Teuchi."
The old ramen master returned to his station, humming cheerfully.
Kakashi picked up a pair of chopsticks and handed one set to her. "Here."
"Thanks," she said softly.
He pressed his palms together. "Itadakimasu."
Then he began slurping the noodles with enthusiasm.
Shizune, however, stared at him with an expression somewhere between disbelief and despair.
Really? Ichiraku Ramen?
She had half expected him to take her somewhere private—a quiet spot, maybe even a cozy restaurant where they could talk. Instead, he brought her to Naruto's favorite ramen stand, in full public view.
Still, the ramen smelled good, and refusing would just make things awkward. So she sighed and picked up her chopsticks.
Ninjas passing by kept greeting them. "Lord Hokage!" "Shizune-san!"
They smiled politely in return, though Shizune could feel her nerves fraying. So much for privacy.
After a few minutes, Kakashi leaned back with a satisfied sigh and a full stomach. "Not bad. Ichiraku never disappoints. I should come here more often."
He looked over and noticed Shizune still halfway through her bowl.
"Shizune, you're eating pretty slow," he said teasingly. "Don't tell me it's not tasty?"
Teuchi overheard and came over, wiping his hands. "Not tasty? Impossible! Shizune, if it's not to your liking, I'll fix it right up!"
Shizune waved her hands frantically. "No, no! It's delicious! I just eat slowly. I'll finish it soon."
Teuchi chuckled and went back to work.
Kakashi stood and stretched. "Alright then. You finish up. I've got something to take care of, so I'll head out first."
Shizune blinked. "What…?"
Kakashi, are you serious? You invite me to dinner, then leave before I'm done eating?
She stared after him, utterly dumbfounded.
Kakashi dropped some money on the counter. "Teuchi, this should cover it. Keep the change. Shizune, enjoy the rest of your meal."
Before she could respond, he gently patted her shoulder and walked out into the night.
Shizune sat frozen, chopsticks hovering midair. Then she let out a frustrated sigh. "I'm really… convinced."
Teuchi laughed heartily. "You know, Shizune, I really admire the Hokage too!"
Her eye twitched. "Somehow, I don't think we're admiring the same thing."
Later that night, at Kakashi's home, steam still clung to the air as he stepped out of the shower. He toweled his hair and collapsed onto the bed.
He groaned, staring at the ceiling. "I asked her out, then ran away halfway through. Smooth, Kakashi… real smooth."
He exhaled. The truth was, he'd panicked.
What if I'd walked her home? What if she'd invited me in for tea—or worse, for water?
He grimaced. The last time he read that kind of situation in Icha Icha Paradise, the "water" wasn't really water.
He covered his face with his hand. "Nope. Not going down that path."
The Copy Ninja, sixth Hokage of Konoha, sighed deeply.
"I didn't escape dinner," he muttered to himself. "I… strategically retreated."
Even he didn't believe that.
Rolling onto his side, Kakashi finally smiled under his mask.
Dear Readers
For 60 Advance Chapters Join My Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/NF25
-------
Please Support My Patreon