#ssm17d22

Naruto groaned again. “But his standards are ridiculous, Kaka-sensei,” he lamented. “If Sakura waits on him to get up to his own standards, she’ll be waiting forever!”

True again, Kakashi mused. Reaching to flip to the next page of his book, he simply said, “Probably.”

Out of the corner of his visible eye, he watched as Naruto scowled at him. “Stop acting like you’re fine with that!” the blond snapped, hand flying out to snatch the erotic novel from him.

Fortunately, Kakashi managed to safely pocket it in time. A sigh fell from his mouth. “I’m not,” he eventually replied, propping an arm to the table and his head onto his palm. “I called them in the office last month just to have them in the same room together, didn’t I?”

Naruto rolled his eyes. “Some good work you did…” he muttered, turning to his meal again.

Kakashi wasn’t fazed by his sarcasm. “It was,” he said. “Sasuke walked her home after that.”

Snorting, Naruto waved him away. “Whatever. It’s not like he’s never done that before, anyway!”

“True,” Kakashi replied, lone eye crinkling. A real smile finally tipped to his lips, barely visible under his mask. “But they’ve been walking a whole lot together since then, haven’t they?”

With a sense of satisfaction, he watched as his former student reluctantly crossed his arms over his chest, and frowned. “…I guess.”

Kakashi smiled wider. “Progress,” he declared, all too pleased with himself.

Naruto rolled his eyes once more, shoving another handful of noodles into his mouth. “Slow progress, you mean,” he grumbled, still chewing as he spoke. “Way too slow.”

Kakashi shrugged. “Progress anyway.”

Swallowing, Naruto gestured Teuchi for an additional order, before taking another full bite, brows still furrowed. “How long do you think it’ll take before they end up together, anyway?” he asked, nodding in thanks as his favorite restaurant owner handed him a brand new steaming bowl.

Patient, Kakashi waited until Naruto had wolfed down the rest of his ramen and begun on his new portion, before casually proclaiming, “They’ll be married by next year, most likely.”

Naruto promptly choked, sputtering on himself and hacking wet coughs. The sight almost sent Kakashi laughing.

“What!” he rasped, still coughing, blue eyes widened impossibly. “You—You’re insane! Why would you ever say that? At this rate, Sasuke will only have held her hand by next year!”

Amused, Kakashi shook his head, and took out his beloved piece of literature again, resuming his reading. “Tsk. You’re too focused on the present, Naruto,” he said, sounding positively confident despite his composure. “The two of them have always had an intensity to their bond—they just need a little push to get going, that’s all. Once they do, I’m sure things will unravel rather quickly between them.”

“No way!” Naruto replied, scowling again. “As if the bastard would know what to do!”

Flipping to the next page, and gaze never straying from his novel, Kakashi merely said, “Bet you a hundred ryos.”

There was a pause, then; slight, weighted, and transparently stunned—but completely expected, if Kakashi was honest with himself. When the moment was over, he could practically feel Naruto’s eyes narrowing at him.

“You’re sick, you know that right?” the blond said, clearly unhappy with him. “I am not making deals on my two best friend’s relationship, Kaka-sensei! What kind of guy do you think I am?”

Smiling, Kakashi turned to him, visible eye crinkling. “Two hundred ryos?”

Naruto practically reddened with anger. “No!”

“Oh—one thousand, then.”

It was almost comical how quickly Naruto stiffened at this, scandalized features receding to something more complicated. He was clearly fighting with himself.

Then: “…Alright, alright, fine,” he said, reaching out to present a hand in finalization of a bargain. Naruto’s eyes hardened with determination. “One thousand ryos says it takes them at least two years if they keep going at this rate.”

Kakashi shook his hand without hesitation, smiling wider. “Deal.”

.

.

Two weeks later, as they sat at Kakashi’s favorite restaurant on a pleasantly calm evening, Sasuke and Sakura revealed their intentions to travel.

Completely taken off guard, Naruto and Kakashi both took a moment to pause and stare at them, limbs frozen in the act of eating. After a short while, they turned to look at each other, blinking with surprise.

“For how long?” Kakashi asked, trying not to sound as curious as he felt. Had he and Naruto underestimated how close the two were already? Maybe Sasuke and Sakura spent more time together than they thought.

Naruto, alternatively, remained silent at this, seemingly speechless at the news.

“I’m not sure,” Sakura replied, cheeks reddening faintly as she glanced at the man at her side. This alone was almost enough to confirm his thought. “Sasuke-kun?”

Sasuke merely shrugged. “Don’t know. We’ll decide as we go,” he said, sparing Sakura a seemingly soft look.

Kakashi watched as her features brightened in return, blush blooming deeper across her cheeks, making her look particularly happy. He knew then that he was right: the two of them were much closer than he and Naruto previously suspected. His chest warmed contently, pushing him to throw a knowing stare Naruto’s way—one which the latter only responded with a brief glare.

This doesn’t mean anything, he knew Naruto would say to him, were the other two not here. Sasuke is still obviously moving at a snail’s pace, so you’re still wrong in your bet!

Fortunately for them, neither Sasuke or Sakura seemed to notice their muted exchange, perhaps too caught up in their own line of thoughts judging by the pensive look on Sasuke’s face and the sweet, bashful smile to Sakura’s mouth. Kakashi felt oddly pleased at this.

(they were both transparently excited, in their own ways.)

“And when are you two leaving?” he inquired to them both, reaching to nonchalantly flip over some still-grilling meat, feigning mild indifference to it all.

(after all, if sasuke somehow came to know how big of a deal this really was, there was a chance he could pull back from it all, crushing sakura’s heart once more.)

Naruto still didn’t know what to say.

Blinking out of her girlish daze, Sakura merely smiled wider and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Hm. Three weeks, maybe?” she said, putting a finger to her chin thoughtfully. “I have to make sure my responsibilities at the hospital are all delegated properly. I don’t want to cause trouble…”

A noise of disbelief fell from Naruto’s mouth. Kakashi beamed beneath his mask in the hopes they would brush him off.

“That’s wonderful,” he said. “I hope you two will have some most interesting travels.”

As you explore each other, his impish mind added. Kakashi merely beamed brighter.

Glancing shyly at Sasuke, Sakura merely blushed once more and said, “Yes, me too.”

There was no mistaking the contentment painted across Sasuke’s features when he looked at her, too.

And when the waitress arrived to see how their meals were doing in the moment that followed, Kakashi took the opportunity to silently lean Naruto’s way, murmuring, “I’d like to change my bet. I say they’re going to have a child by this time next year.”

It was hard to hide his smile as Naruto made a strange sound in reply, face contorting with absolute mortification, flushing into a deep shade of red.

“Naruto?” Sakura questioned, apparently immediately taking notice of his state. “Are you okay? You look like you have a fever. Maybe you should—”

“I’m fine, I’m fine!” her flustered teammate replied, voice a bit strangled. He threw a furious glare Kakashi’s way. “Just, uh, choked on my water, that’s all.”

A poor excuse, Kakashi reflected, forcing himself to cough in an effort to hide the light chuckle that escaped him.

Judging by the manner in which Sasuke’s eyes narrowed suspiciously at them, he evidently thought so, too.

.

.

Surely enough, three weeks later, Kakashi and Naruto found themselves standing at Konoha’s worn gates, arms crossed over their chests and warm smiles to their lips, watching the quietly enamored pair trekking away from the village they called home.

(side by side, brushing arms, gazes locked softly as they began an adventure of their own; a journey of trust, and peace, and love.)

It was only as they were nearly faded out of distance that they noticed Sasuke’s lone hand reaching out for Sakura, seemingly grabbing for her own.

Kakashi cleared his throat to keep from laughing; he’d never seen Naruto’s eyes widen so much.

“One thousand ryos, hm?” Kakashi mused aloud, positively pleased. He stroked his chin lazily through his mask, and threw Naruto a teasing glance. “I think that will be just enough to buy the newest special edition of Icha Icha.”

Glowering at him, Naruto’s face reddened, before he scowled. “Don’t get cocky, old man,” he warned, pointing a finger at him indignantly. “Just because he held her hand, it doesn’t mean they’re going to get married and have a child by next year!”

Swirling on his feet, he began to stomp away angrily, completely flustered. “It took him eight months to hold her hand alone!” he exclaimed, arms flailing around expressively. “EIGHT MONTHS, KAKA-SENSEI!”

Kakashi simply shrugged. “And by next week he’ll have kissed her already,” he said, unhurriedly following after him.

He couldn’t help the light laugh that left him as Naruto shouted a furious denial in response.

.

.

It took a year and a half of waiting before Kakashi and Naruto finally received a letter informing them of their teammates’ impending return. Minds buzzing, the two of them impatiently made their way to Konoha’s gates with pounding hearts, overtly eager to see their friends again—and to find out what kind of progress was made during their lengthy travels.

Fortunately for them, barely an hour passed before Sasuke and Sakura finally came to view far into the distance, spurning Naruto to jump into place, flailing about frantically as he yelled both their names. Kakashi wasn’t surprised when only Sakura responded to his call, waving a hand back happily, shouting back at them.

“Hey, Kaka-sensei,” Naruto said, then, tone dripping with smugness, urging Kakashi’s head to turn in the direction of his former student. He’d never seen him look so cocky. “I don’t see a baby,” Naruto went on, crossing his arms over his chest with a smirk.

Shrugging, Kakashi merely relented and sighed, moving to dig into his pocket for his money pouch. Oh well, he mused, flipping through his bills to amass the amount of ryos he now owed the man beside him. He gave them up without fuss. Maybe I overestimated Sasuke a little too much.

But, he found, it wasn’t really much of a loss when the two slow-burning lovers finally neared enough to allow him to discern the transparent changes to their features. There was no more bashfulness now; no more hidden insecurities. Only glowing contentment, boundless trust and an unspoken intimacy—indicative of a bond now so strong Kakashi was sure could only have been strengthened in marriage.

At least I was right about that much, he thought, smiling as Sakura trotted forward to give them both hugs, giggling most excitedly.

“Oh, I missed you two so much!” she gushed as she pulled away from them, the smile to her lips blindingly happy. She reached to ruffle her blond teammate’s hair. “Did you grow a few inches, Naruto? I swear you look taller!”

Grinning proudly, Naruto seemed to blush a little, hand moving to rub at the back of his neck. He merely felt sheepish, Kakashi knew, the crush he harbored for Sakura already long gone with the years. These days, it was clear that all Naruto wanted was to see her with Sasuke, happy and in love—the both of them.

(a wish already fulfilled, really, but he wouldn’t know that just yet.)

And then, a faint whining noise snatched all of their attentions, sending Naruto and Kakashi jerking in surprise towards Sasuke’s form, eyes unbearably wide.

“Oh,” Sakura started, before either of them could properly take in this new situation, “she must be hungry—this sounds about the right time for her next feeding.” Smile softening with such immense fondness, she made her way towards Sasuke, who was already pushing his cloak aside with the stump of his arm. “Here, let me take her, anata.”

With lightly gaping mouths and astonished minds, Kakashi and Naruto both watched as Sasuke gently transferred the barely-month old child cradled snuggly in his single arm into the arms of his (now indisputable) wife, mismatched eyes warm as ever. It was several moments before Kakashi seemed to be able to catch his thoughts again, a flurry of exhilarating feelings bubbling intensely at his heart.

He was right!

Fighting against the urge to grin, he lowered his head to sing cheerily to the still-gaping man at his side, “One thousand ryos...”

Snapping out of his stunned gaze, Naruto glared at him fiercely before quickly shoving him his money back and tossing out his frog wallet as well, feet stalking towards his two best friends. “You guys got married?” he screeched, voice shrill with a strange mix of happiness, anger, and disbelief. “Scratch that, you had a baby?” Waving his arms around expressively, Naruto went on, “A year and a half ago, you weren’t even dating! What happened!”

Amused, Kakashi watched as Sasuke simply scowled in response and moved to seemingly try and shelter his wife and baby from Naruto’s cries. His glare was sharp as he said, “Tone it down, you idiot! You’re scaring my daughter.”

For once heeding to his warning, Naruto then somehow managed to skirt and duck around Sasuke’s form, eager to peer down at his best friends’ baby girl. “Oh gods, Sakura-chan, she’s so beautiful! Can I hold her?” he cooed, wrapping a proud arm around Sasuke’s shoulders. He ignored how the latter grunted and tried to pull away in vain, clearly annoyed.

(it was clear that he appreciated the gesture, to some degree—kakashi knew just as well as naruto that had he really wanted to, sasuke could have easily slipped out of the hold.)

“Not right now, Naruto,” Sakura replied, smiling proudly at the child in her arms. “I need to feed her.”

She shooed him away, afterwards, laughing lightly as Naruto pouted, but listened anyway. Then, she turned to present her back to them, and seemed to fiddle with her shirt, her smile taking a particularly glowing shade as her husband offered her his cloak for additional privacy.

“I can’t believe this,” Naruto said, as Sasuke turned to face them once again. “What happened over there, Sasuke-bastard?” he demanded. “You need to tell me everything!”

“I don’t need to tell you anything, blockhead!” Sasuke snapped, throwing him a dirty look.

It was Naruto’s turn to scowl at that. “Shut up, asshole! I’m your best friend and you didn’t even have the decency to invite me to your secret wedding? If anyone had the right to be there, it’s me!”

Watching them bicker from his place a few spaces back, Kakashi smiled, feeling accomplished at last. Sighing contently, he pocketed his well-earned money and started walking towards them, eyes crinkling. “Now, now,” he said, “both of you settle down—you’re going to upset the little one if you keep shouting like that…”

.

.

Nothing had ever been so worth the wait.