At dawn, Naraku was already up, chopping vegetables with a grin. His knife skills had improved a lot since the first time he'd helped Kakashi in the kitchen.
Sakumo had been out of the village on a mission for days now, leaving just the two boys at home. Which meant if they wanted to eat, they had to handle it themselves.
Good thing both Naraku and Kakashi were used to fending for themselves. Honestly, it didn't feel like a burden at all.
Before long Kakashi joined him. One stirred a pot, the other fried meat, and together they pulled together a simple breakfast—and even packed bentos for lunch.
"Kakashi, are you planning on graduating early?"
Naraku brought it up on the walk to school. If Kakashi was set on leaving early, he'd have to hustle to catch up too. Otherwise Kakashi would graduate without him, and then what? No partner, no duo appeal, and way less hype.
Not that that was the real reason.
The real reason was simple—he just didn't want to be left behind.
Because come on. This was Kakashi. Who wouldn't want to spend more time with him?
"…Yeah. I used to think that way."
Kakashi hesitated, then nodded.
Before Naraku, he'd seen nothing worth sticking around for at school. But now? Now he didn't want to leave so soon.
Looking into Naraku's clear eyes, the words slipped out before he could stop them: "But I want to wait and graduate with you."
The second it left his mouth, he regretted it. Way too straightforward. And Naraku's stunned, beaming expression only made him panic more. He was like a cat with its fur standing on end, scrambling to cover it up.
"I just mean if we graduate together, we can watch each other's backs on missions."
Not because I don't want to be apart.
Kakashi added the thought silently, refusing to meet Naraku's eyes. He picked up the pace instead, voice stiff. "C'mon. We're gonna be late."
"Yeah! Okay!"
Naraku hurried after him, but inside he was glowing. So he mattered that much to Kakashi, huh? And this baby-faced tsundere Kakashi was adorable—just seeing it felt like a blessing.
In class, Naraku leaned back, grinning to himself as he pulled up the forum through his system. Time to check just how much buzz the latest episode had given him.
As expected, the animator's choices had sent his popularity through the roof. Threads about Naraku Uchiha were sprouting like weeds, and fanworks were popping off left and right.
"The First Uchiha to Awaken His Sharingan from Pure Kindness" [HOT]
Reply 1. (OP): As the title says. Everyone thought the Uchiha could only awaken through hate born of love, but Naraku broke the stereotype.
Reply 2. Uchiha are a clan of love. Tobirama was right all along.
Reply 3. (OP): It just proves Naraku's genuinely kind. After all these years he never let hatred consume him. He awakened because of love.
Reply 4. All those Uchiha haters can shut up now. They're not some crazy clan!
Reply 5. But it's still true most Uchiha spiral once their eyes open. They get more extreme.
Reply 6. Not all of them. Kagami was fine—quiet, but sane. Most of the nameless background Uchiha seemed normal too. It's just survivorship bias with the dramatic ones.
Reply 7. Looking at you, Madara.
…
Reply 14. Please let Naraku stay normal. Don't make him go full laughing psycho Uchiha.
Reply 15. I can't imagine him killing people while cackling. No thanks.
Reply 16. No way the animator would do us that dirty… right?
…
Reply 21. If he ever breaks, it'll be yandere, not insane.
Reply 22. Ooooh spicy.
Reply 23. I NEED to see Naraku lose it over Kakashi.
Naraku tapped his chin thoughtfully. Yandere potential? Maybe worth keeping in his back pocket. He had the system jot it down as a "future option."
"I Forgive You, Animator, for the Early Torture"
Reply 1. (OP): [Image] [Image] [Image] [Image] [Image] This episode was so healing. My dead heart is warm again.
Reply 2. Rare wholesome content from the animator.
Reply 3. Even cured my hypertension. Truly a miracle worker.
Reply 4. …Dude, your hypertension was because of him in the first place
"Only Love Can Bloom a Brilliant Rose" [HOT]
(OP): [Image]
I cried when Naraku awakened. Skipped work to draw a family portrait. Let them stay happy forever.
Reply 2. The three Hatakes (confirmed).
Reply 3. AAA Catfish-sensei you're a GOD! This is stunning!
Reply 4. Ughhh Naraku deserved this happiness all along.
…
Reply 9. This looks as good as the animator's art. Catfish-sensei, ever thought about infiltrating the studio?
Reply 10. (OP): Never seen them recruit online. Maybe they don't need more artists.
Reply 11. Yeah, the animator's still a mystery after all these years. No interviews, no appearances.
"Naraku and Kakashi Are the Perfect Dog x Cat Dynamic"
Reply 1 (OP): Couldn't resist, so I sketched puppy!Naraku and cat!Kakashi.
[Image]
[Image]
Reply 2. TOO CUTE.
Reply 3. Already imagining 10k words of cat Kakashi adopting stray puppy Naraku.
Reply 4. Cat x dog ships are eternal. Delicious.
Naraku saved the art immediately. He longed to leave comments hyping up the artists, but his system couldn't post in this world's forums yet. Clicking his tongue, he scrolled on—until one thread title stopped him cold.
"Sunlight Like the Sea (Kakashi x Naraku)"
Reply 1 (OP): Short fic. OOC is mine, love is theirs.
…
…The End.
Reply 2. "From now on, sunlight like the sea." I'm sobbing so hard I spun in my chair.
Reply 3. Reading in the library, laughing and crying at once. People think I've lost it.
Reply 4. Same here. Had to hold it in, it was torture.
There it was. His very first fanfic.
Naraku's heart soared.
Are you kidding? Him. Kakashi. Together in fic. This was peak happiness.
"Naraku Uchiha Fan Video: If Only" (angst)
Reply 1. (OP): [Image] [Image] [Image] [Link]
Seventeen straight hours of work. Zero sleep left. Please like, comment, share.
Reply 2. Damn, queen of knives strikes again. Animator healed me, then you stabbed me all over.
Reply 3. No surprise—it's Fine Jade-sensei. Still as sharp as ever.
Reply 4. TAKE ME WITH YOU, PLEASE. I CAN'T SURVIVE WITHOUT YOU.
Naraku finished the three-minute video, lips curling in delight. Genius. Pure genius.
He'd have to try this someday—gutting the audience with angst until they wailed. Just the thought made him grin wider. Inspiration stolen.
Before class ended, he skimmed through a few more threads, face neutral but heart soaring. Every new post, every new fanwork—it was everything he'd ever wanted.