Hokage's Office – Konoha Village
A spacious room filled with documents and the faint scent of tea. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, the Hokage hat placed beside him. His wrinkled face looked brighter than usual.
"Lord Third, the mission in the Land of Snow has been completed," Kakashi said as he handed over the mission scroll.
Hiruzen opened the scroll, his eyes scanning each line carefully before nodding with satisfaction.
"Excellent," he said, glancing at Kakashi, then at Kushina who stood casually with her hands folded behind her head. "You both did very well. Now... go get some rest."
"Yes, Lord Third," Kakashi replied briefly and bowed.
"Thanks, Gramps Hokage!" Kushina cheered, waving happily, her expression bright like a child's.
Once they left, Hiruzen leaned back into his chair. He stared at the ceiling for a moment.
"Hm... Kakashi looks different," he murmured. "His eyes don't seem as hollow as before. Has he... started to emerge from the shadows of his past?"
Then, a small smile appeared on his face as he sipped his tea, thinking silently, 'Perhaps... I should assign him more missions with Kushina. That woman has a way of bringing light into even the darkest places.'
If Kakashi had heard that, he probably would've dropped to his knees crying, "Please no, I beg you...! I can't take being constantly teased by Kushina!"
Kushina's House – Late Afternoon
Kushina opened the door to find Jiraiya slumped in the living room, with deep eye bags and a worn-out expression. His clothes were messy, and his hair more tangled than usual.
"Oi, Ero-sennin! You look like you haven't slept in three days," Kushina scoffed.
Jiraiya let out a long sigh. "Naruto... he's insanely active. I can't even go to the bathroom without him trying to unseal my forbidden scrolls."
Kushina chuckled softly, though her chest warmed. "Thanks, Jiraiya-sensei. I know this is a lot."
Jiraiya waved a hand dismissively. "Please. I'm his godfather. It's my responsibility."
After chatting briefly, Kushina packed away her gear into a storage scroll. The house felt livelier than before—and her heart, calmer.
Before leaving, Jiraiya stood and patted her shoulder.
"Welcome back, Kushina."
Then he walked out casually, though his eyes still looked tired. Kushina stood in the doorway, watching him go with a smile.
"Yeah... I'm home."
Kakashi's Home – Evening
Kakashi walked slowly down Konoha's main street, his body feeling as heavy as lead. Upon reaching his house, he opened the door with one hand and stepped into the familiar silence.
The house was quiet—just as always. But now, more than ever, that silence felt comforting.
With a lazy motion, he removed his forehead protector, mission cloak, and black gloves. They dropped softly onto the wooden floor, as if the house itself understood its owner's exhaustion.
Kakashi collapsed onto his bed without changing or cleaning up. His breath was heavy, eyes slowly closing.
'I shouldn't have pushed myself... but Kushina would've made more noise if I got back late,' he thought, just before darkness took his mind.
When he opened his eyes again, moonlight had slipped through the cracks in the window. The room was dim, bathed in silver light.
Kakashi sighed and sat up slowly, clutching his stomach.
"Ugh... I can hear my stomach protesting. I can even imagine Kushina yelling, 'Kakashi, eat something, you idiot!'" he muttered with a crooked smile beneath his mask.
His silver hair was a mess. He lazily swept it back before getting up. The house was cold and empty. No food, no leftovers, no warmth. But Kakashi was used to that.
He changed into casual wear—a dark gray jacket and lighter ninja pants—then stepped outside. The night air greeted him with post-autumn chill. The scent of firewood and home-cooked meals drifted from nearby homes.
The village had changed a lot. After the recent tragedy, reconstruction moved quickly. Some houses stood tall again, roads were cleared, shops reopened.
Kakashi walked slowly down a side path, his lone eye scanning the surroundings.
"At least everyone's trying to get back to normal..." he whispered, though deep down he knew some things would never return to the way they were.
Soon, the familiar aroma of ramen caught his attention. A small shop at the end of the alley was still open, its warm yellow lights standing out in the cold night. (Note: Not Ichiraku)
Kakashi entered and sat in a corner near the window. The shop owner greeted him with a smile.
"Long time no see, Kakashi-san. Long mission?"
"Yeah... same as usual," Kakashi replied with a raspy voice.
"Special ramen tonight, interested?"
He nodded slightly. Minutes later, a steaming bowl of ramen was placed before him. The strong aroma made his stomach growl louder, but he only stared at it for a few seconds before slowly starting to eat.
The shop was peaceful. Only two other customers sat quietly in the corner. Kakashi glanced outside—and his gaze landed on the massive stone faces in the distance—the Hokage Monument.
He stared at the fourth face... Minato Namikaze, his sensei. Smiling eternally in stone.
The ramen suddenly tasted bland.
'Sensei...' Kakashi thought, 'I completed the mission. Kushina-san is safe. Naruto's growing up fast. I won't let you down.'
Then, as if trying to draw a line, Kakashi shook his head gently.
'I don't have feelings for Kushina... not like that.'
He took another bite of ramen, but the thought came creeping back.
'I'm only protecting her because she's Sensei's wife. That's all. Nothing more. No other reason...'
But the more he tried to convince himself, the more his thoughts scattered. Kushina's bright face, her laughter, her expressive annoyance—all of it danced vividly in his mind.
"Damn it. I'm too tired. This is just sleep deprivation," Kakashi muttered as he leaned his head against the window, frustration etched into his features. His eyes gazed blankly at the night sky.
After finishing his meal and paying, Kakashi walked home in silence. The streets had quieted. The night wind rustled fallen leaves along the path.
Back home, he shut the door, dropped his jacket, and collapsed on the bed again. Only this time, though his body was exhausted, his mind kept spinning.
'I don't like Kushina. It's not about her. This is all for Sensei... right?'
The night passed in silence, and Kakashi drifted into sleep once more—with his brow furrowed and his thoughts in more chaos than when he first awoke.