After taking a shower, both Kakashi and Shizune realized with a jolt that it was already very late.
Kakashi couldn't help sighing inwardly. This… was easily the longest and most exhausting bath he had ever taken in his entire life. His mind tried to protest, telling him that he needed to be responsible, needed to get back to the Hokage's office, needed to act composed.
But his body — exhausted and warm — told a very different story.
In the end, during the shower, he and Shizune had gotten swept up in the moment again, sharing another ten minutes of passionate closeness. Nothing more than implied intimacy, nothing explicit — but enough for both of them to be breathless again.
"Let's have a meal," Shizune said, cheeks still faintly flushed but her tone calm. "After eating, we'll go back."
Kakashi nodded. His body was starved for food; between last night and this morning, both of them had burned through more chakra and energy than he expected. So he didn't refuse Shizune's offer.
Shizune moved into the small kitchen and began preparing ramen.
It wasn't anything complicated — just packaged ramen from the convenience store. Boil water, tear open the flavor packet, pour everything in, wait for the noodles to soften. Simple, fast, warm.
Shizune lived alone, and because of her constant duties supporting Tsunade, she didn't often cook real meals. Her refrigerator was mostly stocked with basics.
Kakashi watched her quietly from the small dining table. The sight made something warm swell inside him.
He remembered how, when he was a child, his father — Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang — used to cook for him. Back then, Kakashi thought the meals were tasteless, and he often left food uneaten.
Now, ever since White Fang was brought back by Naruto through Edo Tensei, Kakashi ate every dish his father made with appreciation.
Maybe he had simply grown up. Maybe he had learned how to cherish moments that once felt small.
Shizune finished cooking and served two bowls. Kakashi got up immediately, taking the bowls from her hands, bringing out the chopsticks.
"Let's start together," he said, smiling lightly.
Shizune gave a soft hum of agreement, and the two began eating side by side.
As Shizune watched Kakashi devouring the ramen with genuine satisfaction, something inside her heart melted.
This moment — this simple meal — felt like happiness.
Growing up, her parents were gone. She followed Tsunade across the ninja world, worked as her attendant through hardships and endless wandering. When Tsunade returned to Konoha and became Hokage, Shizune became her trusted aide for more than ten years.
She had gone from a young girl to what she teasingly called an "older leftover woman."
She had always been insecure about her body — especially compared to Tsunade's legendary figure — believing men would overlook her the moment they laid eyes on her.
So she never once experienced love.
But now, looking at Kakashi as he slurped ramen in her small kitchen, Shizune felt warm from the inside out.
Finally… she had a boyfriend.
And not just any boyfriend — Kakashi Hatake, the Sixth Hokage. Handsome, calm, gentle, secretly shy, and attentive.
Tsunade's judgment really was good.
After Kakashi finished eating, he put his chopsticks down and noticed Shizune staring at him.
"What are you doing?" he asked, genuinely confused.
Shizune smiled faintly and shook her head. "It's nothing. You're done eating, right?"
Kakashi nodded.
Shizune stood up to collect the dishes and began rinsing them in the sink. Kakashi helped by cleaning up the wine bottles and bamboo skewers from the previous night's drinking, placing everything neatly into a garbage bag.
"You done?" he asked.
"Almost," Shizune replied.
Kakashi changed the garbage bag in the kitchen. When the two finished cleaning, they stepped outside.
Kakashi walked over to the trash bin, tossed the garbage bag in, and returned to Shizune. Together, they walked until they reached a small intersection.
"Shall we go to the Hokage's office now?" Kakashi asked.
Shizune thought for a moment. "I won't go. I still need to go to Tsunade's house. I haven't finished the work there yet. You go ahead."
Kakashi assumed Shizune was worried about people finding out about their relationship. So he gently stepped forward and held her hand.
"Shizune… I've already recognized you fully. You're my girlfriend — the person who'll walk beside me in the future. There's no need to hide it. It's fine if we openly go together."
Shizune's heart swelled at his words. She reached out and tapped his nose affectionately.
"I really have something to do. I was already planning to go to Tsunade today. You go ahead first."
Then she pulled him closer and kissed him softly.
"Go on."
Kakashi felt warmth spread across his chest. He nodded, then headed toward the Hokage's office, mask back on, though slightly crooked.
Shizune turned toward Tsunade's home.
At Tsunade's House
Tsunade listened as Shizune shyly explained what had happened from last night until now.
"You're telling me…" Tsunade leaned forward, eyes widening. "From last night until now, the two of you have been together three times?"
Shizune's face flushed bright red. "Tsunade, that's not the point!"
Tsunade tapped her chin thoughtfully. "No, it tells me Kakashi still has good stamina. Good physical fitness. Reliable. In that case, I feel even more confident leaving the Hokage position to him."
"Tsunade!" Shizune protested, blushing harder.
Tsunade smirked. "Look at you. So feminine all of a sudden. When did you start blushing like this? You didn't listen to me at all when I recommended him before!"
"Tsunade, please stop teasing me…" Shizune muttered.
Tsunade exhaled softly and her expression grew sincere.
"Shizune… seeing you find happiness makes me genuinely happy. You've been with me for so many years. I've always thought of you as my sister. Even if I was strict sometimes, it was for your sake. People say Sakura is my disciple… but technically, you were my first."
Shizune's eyes turned misty. "I know… I've always understood."
Tsunade nodded. "Good. Then help me with something. After my wedding, I'll act as your family elder. Kakashi can come to me to propose properly."
Shizune froze — moved deeply.
She had no family. Tsunade had been the closest thing to a mother, sister, and mentor she ever had.
Now Tsunade was offering to be her true family — her natal home — putting her on equal footing with a proper clan daughter.
It was like when Naruto asked Iruka to stand in as his father for his wedding.
Tsunade continued, smiling slightly. "And since White Fang is back thanks to Naruto, Kakashi has elders too. It'll be an easy talk."
Shizune wiped her eyes. "Thank you… Tsunade."
Tsunade patted her back. "Why are you crying? This is a happy thing. Now hurry — help me finish some work. After my wedding, I'll help you with the rest."
Shizune nodded, glanced at Tsunade's belly, and said softly, "Tsunade… your belly is showing a bit."
Tsunade hummed, placing her hands on her stomach.
"I never expected… I would become a mother."
Her voice softened — strong, warm, full of new life.
And Shizune stood beside her, smiling, knowing the world was changing in beautiful ways.
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