Lifetime Heartbreak: Kakashi x Reader

| Training Ground

The wind rustled through the leaves at Training Ground, carrying with it the chirping of birds, the clack of wooden kunai, and the occasional curse from a red-haired ten-year-old.

Y/N Uzumaki stood across from Kakashi Hatake, her sleeves rolled up and her stance somewhere between ready for battle and ready to trip someone as a joke. She shifted her weight from foot to foot, eyes narrowed.

"So," she called out, "you ready to be embarrassed in front of all these squirrels?"

Kakashi didn't respond immediately. He just adjusted his headband, eye calm and unreadable. "They've seen worse. Probably from you."

Y/N grinned. "Oh, you're gonna regret that."

"Doubt it."

They moved at the same time.

Y/N dashed in with surprising speed, aiming a feint to the left before twisting to try and sweep his legs. Kakashi hopped over the kick easily and countered with a quick jab—just fast enough to graze her shoulder.

"Ow," Y/N hissed, rolling back and springing to her feet. "That was rude."

"I warned you."

"You smirked at me."

"Same thing."

They circled each other like small, very dangerous cats. Then Y/N lunged again—this time tossing a handful of practice shuriken that Kakashi dodged without breaking stride.

She ducked under his next strike, skidding low and grabbing a handful of dirt.

He paused just a second too long.

Splat.

Kakashi staggered back with dirt in his face. "Really?"

Y/N was cackling. "I told you I fight dirty!"

Kakashi wiped his face clean, clearly not amused—but also clearly more awake now. "Okay. No holding back."

"Ooooh, spooky," Y/N teased, hopping on the balls of her feet. "Come on, Hatake. Show me what the genius prodigy's got."

He moved fast.

This time, Kakashi didn't bother going easy. His blows were controlled, his footwork precise—but
Y/N wasn't exactly sloppy either. She wasn't as polished, but she was unpredictable. She laughed when she fought. She taunted. She ducked and dodged and spun like she was dancing, and it threw him off just enough that—

Her wooden kunai tapped his chest—center mass.

They both froze.

"...That count?" she asked.

Kakashi looked down. Then up. "...You cheated."

"I improvised."

He stared at her a moment longer... then, finally, cracked a smile. A real one.

Y/N blinked. "Whoa. Was that... an actual smile from Mr. Tragedy Mask?"

"You'll never see it again."

"Too late. Burned into my memory. Might draw it later."

He turned to walk away, but she skipped up beside him.

"Same time tomorrow?" she asked.

He gave a small nod. "Try not to get grounded."

"No promises."

As they walked off together, the squirrels resumed their chatter in the trees—probably gossiping about the new trouble duo of the Leaf.

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