The scent of sizzling meat and spiced vegetables filled the cozy rooms of Kakashi's house as everyone gathered around the large wooden dining table.
Plates clinked, laughter bounced off the walls, and the room buzzed with casual chatter. It wasn't often that so many of them sat together like this.
Kakashi had outdone himself, or rather, Shizune had, given the abundance and arrangement of the meal. Naruto had tried to "help" earlier, but Tsunade had kicked him out of the kitchen after his ramen experiment nearly burned a pan.
As everyone took their seats and filled their plates, there came a sudden rustle from the hallway. All heads turned as Ranmaru stepped in, proudly walking toward the table… dressed in a bright green jumpsuit with orange leg-warmers and a massive smile.
His hair was tied back, and his posture, rigid, confident, and gleaming with "youthful energy" was unmistakably a result of his new training under Might Guy.
"Everyone!" Ranmaru declared cheerfully, doing a full ninety-degree bow, "I am honored to dine with you all after a full day of burning youth!"
There was a beat of stunned silence.
Kakashi blinked twice, slowly lowering his chopsticks. The room had gone still. The green jumpsuit. The way Ranmaru spoke. The gleam in his eyes. The taijutsu-ready stance. All of it screamed Might Guy Jr.
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Then opened it again. And closed it once more. He said nothing. He just sat, completely speechless.
Then came the laughter.
"BAHAHAHA!!" Anko slapped the table hard enough that the sake bottle rattled. "Oh, my god, he's been infected!"
"Y-You look like Lee's little brother!! Oh man, it's like Guy-sensei made a shadow clone!" Naruto nearly choked on his rice, pounding his chest before letting out a wheeze and pointing at Ranmaru.
"W-what? Guy-sensei said this outfit burns the soul with passion and-" Ranmaru's confident stance faltered as he turned red.
"Pfft-" Karin pressed her lips together, failing to keep her composure as she snorted into her hand.
Shizune also lowered her head so as not to be noticed laughing by the others.
Sakura's mouth twitched. She quickly looked down at her food, but her shoulders shook slightly. The corners of her lips curled upward, betraying her effort to remain polite.
Tsunade raised an amused brow. "That's… quite a look, Ranmaru," she said, the corner of her lip curling into a half-smile. "Maybe save the passionate flames for the training grounds?"
"Yeah, sweetheart," Kurenai said with a gentle smile, sipping her tea, "It's not really dinner attire. You're glowing, and not in a good way."
Ranmaru's face went completely red, and he quickly bowed again. "Y-Yes, ma'am! I-I'll go change immediately!" he stammered, practically bolting away from the table and down the hall.
As soon as he disappeared, the room burst out laughing again.
"He was so serious about it!" Karin gasped between giggles. "Like, full-on Lee energy!"
Naruto wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. "Man, if Guy-sensei hears about this, he's gonna make Ranmaru recite the Springtime of Youth chant ten times before breakfast!"
Amid the laughter, Sasuke calmly leaned across the table, his hand moving so subtly it was nearly invisible. He plucked a piece of grilled meat off Naruto's plate and popped it into his mouth without even blinking.
Naruto froze mid-laugh, his eyes slowly narrowing into slits.
"Hey…" he growled.
"Hn." Sasuke glanced at him with his usual cool indifference.
"Did you just?" Naruto pointed an accusatory finger, his eyes blazing like he'd activated a new Kekkei Genkai. "YOU STOLE MY MEAT!!"
"It's just one piece." Sasuke leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, expression the embodiment of disinterest.
"That's not the point!"
"Don't start a fight at the dinner table," Sakura snapped, glaring at Naruto. "Eat your food and behave."
Naruto looked at her with betrayed eyes. "But Sakura-chan, he-!"
Sakura narrowed her eyes.
Naruto froze, then slowly, very slowly, lowered his finger and slumped into his seat, grumbling as he glared at Sasuke.
Sasuke smirked just enough for Naruto to notice, smug and victorious.
At the far end of the table, Kakashi let out a laugh, deep and relaxed as he leaned back in his seat between Kurenai and Tsunade. Anko sat beside Kurenai, already pouring more sake into her own cup.
Naruto whipped his head around at the sound of Kakashi's laugh.
"You're laughing at me now, too?!" he asked, pointing a dramatic finger at his teacher.
"You're the one with three women around you, and you're always calling me the troublemaker?! You're like the biggest Playboy sensei ever!"
Anko nearly choked on her drink. "Three women, huh?" she said, looking at Kakashi with a wicked grin. "You hear that, handsome?"
"I didn't say anything." Kakashi raised his hands in mock surrender, a smile visible since he no longer wore a mask.
"Oh, but you're thinking it," Kurenai added, her tone teasing as she nudged him with her elbow.
"So? Are we calling him 'Playboy-sensei' now?" Tsunade chuckled, raising a brow.
Naruto crossed his arms with a sour pout. "Well, it's true! You sit there, surrounded by all these beautiful women while I-" He pointed at himself with a dramatic sigh, "-have only kissed Sasuke!"
The table went dead silent.
Then chaos erupted.
"BAHAHAHAHA!!" Anko was howling. She nearly fell out of her chair.
"Y-You kissed-! I can't- I can't breathe!"Karin was wheezing, pointing a trembling finger at Naruto.
"Ah, yes. I remember. That kiss in the classroom. Quite a passionate moment. Very… spontaneous." Kakashi leaned forward with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Sakura's face went pale, then flushed a stormy red as she slammed her chopsticks on the table.
"Don't remind me, I should've had his first kiss!" she said bitterly, as she glared at Naruto.
"Y-You can't count that! It was an accident! Someone pushed me!"Naruto yelled, his voice cracking with embarrassment
"Yes, yes. I'm sure the universe just happened to throw you into Sasuke's lips. How tragic." Kakashi gave a mock-thoughtful nod.
"Tch. Don't talk about it." Sasuke's face twisted with clear disgust.
"Why are we even talking about this?!" Naruto flailed his arms.
"Because it's funny," Anko said, wiping her eyes.
"And educational," Karin added, giggling.
"Definitely memorable," Tsunade said with a smirk.
"I think it's cute. First kisses are always so… clumsy." Kurenai said as she sipped her tea.
Naruto dropped his head to the table with a groan, muffled words escaping his lips. "I just wanted to eat in peace…"
Sasuke leaned slightly and, with surgical precision, stole another piece of grilled meat.
"THAT'S IT!!" Naruto roared, lunging across the table.
But Sakura grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back to his seat with ease.
"No fighting," she growled.
"To youthful memories, and Naruto's first kiss." Kakashi chuckled and lifted his cup in a mock toast.
Everyone laughed, and even Naruto managed a sheepish grin as the warmth of the moment overtook the embarrassment.