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The air carried a salty aroma as Team Seven made their way to their destination. The mission was far out to a port town near the ocean. Kakashi concluded it was best to follow the road of the border near the ocean and beaches to avoid potential bandits. In his bag were rolls of traditional fabric made in Konoha. He told them apparently the stitching was handcrafted and made by the oldest dress shop in the village. Sasuke recognized the design on it as it was one his mother often wore. When he was younger, he used to trace the pattern of the scattered leaves with his finger. Kakashi rarely mentioned his mother, but apparently she also wore it too many times back then. Sakura concluded it must have been the equivalent of fishnets back in their time. In other words, the latest high fashion trend that Kakashi still refuses to let Sakura or Naruto wear on missions. Either way, the fabric was requested as a last-minute adjustment to a wedding dress. And there was no faster delivery service than ninjas.
Breaking away from the thick forest, the road was rocky and near cliffs, but had an amazing view of the ocean and beach below. The sun was setting along the horizon with reflections of sunlight in the waves. The sparkles of light shone bright. Getting distracted by the view, Kakashi warned them to be careful. Small crabs crawl beside them as seagulls occasionally fly above them. They continued onwards, stepping on a mixture of gravel, a few strands of grass, and sand. From the map Sakura saw earlier, it would take at least one more day until they made it to the port. That meant they were camping out tonight. Usually, delivery missions were, as Shikamaru often said, a drag for all of the genin. Yet Sakura swore Kakashi had a bounce in his step. He seemed rather pleased and occasionally took out his book to read. She wasn’t the only one who noticed. Naruto remarked that Kakashi was acting like him whenever he couldn't stop reading the back of the ramen cup on the way home. Sasuke theorised that perhaps he’s gotten to an irresistible cliffhanger. Not sure herself, she decided to ask.
“Kakashi-sensei, you seem excited to reach the port!” Sakura beamed.
Yeah, what’s up with you all of a sudden?” Sasuke chimed in.
“I want to know too! I want to know too!” Naruto shouted with his arms resting behind his back. All three of them huddled around Kakashi with their big, innocent eyes. He was starting to see why Pakkun once called them puppies.
“Well, you see, the port is the setting that inspired the famous wedding scene in Icha Icha Paradise. I’ve never been to the port myself. It's famous for weddings mostly but I always wanted to go. It’s rumoured to be a great place of love,” Kakashi answered.
“Whoa! That sounds awesome!” Naruto cheered. Occasionally in the village, he’s seen his fair share of weddings. They always seemed so happy and cheerful. For a place to be dedicated to that seemed like a dream.
“Yes, it is. It’s rare that we ninjas go to these types of places, so we should make the most out of it. Now that I think about it, the port inspired wedding scenes in other novels too if I’m not mistaken. Like in Remarried Empress,” Kakashi responded by glancing at Sakura. Sakura jolted in shock. She gasped, and inner instantly took over.
“You read Remarried Empress? The one with the empress who gets dumped because of the really pretty mistress and then marries the flirty magical bird who turns out to be a prince the whole time, and then they escape to his castle together on the other side of the border!?” Sakura cried out. Naruto and Sasuke both observed her as if she spoke in riddles. With the way the boys looked, Kakashi snickered.
Yes, I have. I was curious after I saw you read it a couple of times. If you liked that one, I’d recommend Cursed Princess Club or From a Knight to a Lady. They also seem to have similar elements,” Kakashi explained in a teasing voice.
“Sasuke, if you don’t want to lose her, you gotta figure out how to turn into a bird soon!” Naruto guffawed.
“Sh-Shut up,” Sasuke stammered. Although he had to admit, birds were pretty cool. Keeping a bird as a pet wouldn’t be so bad. He needed someone on par to fight Itachi’s crows after all. And if Sakura thought having a bird was charming, then it was a worthwhile investment.
Rejoicing to find one of her kind, Sakura gleamed, “I didn’t know you liked romance novels too, Kakashi-sensei. I thought it was just…that,” Sakura stated as she pointed to the orange book in his hands.
“I do. As long as I can remember, Icha Icha Paradise has been my favourite one. You can read this one when you’re older,” Kakashi declared. As much as he wanted another fan, Sakura was too young to understand and appreciate all that Icha Icha Paradise could offer. He at least hopes she reads the novel first before the upcoming movie when she was older.
As evening approached their surroundings darkened. Night would soon break out. Deciding it was time to make camp, they settled by the side of the road. Kakashi, using a flint from his bag, started a fire and instructed the three of them to find small and sturdy branches. Relying on his Sharingan to see a bit better, Sasuke led his comrades to search for wood nearby.
“Hey, since we’re near the beach, do you think maybe we can grab some seaweed?” Naruto queried. As he asked, Naruto tripped on a rock and was about to fall until Sasuke caught him with his left hand and helped Naruto regain his balance.
“Naruto, we’d prolly need to clean it, and I doubt there would be enough time before dinner,” Sakura lamented. Tripping on the same rock, Sasuke caught her with his right hand. Sometimes his teammates could be so hopeless.
“Aw, man. I really wanted seafood too,” Naruto bewailed. Sasuke expected them to let go by now, but they continued on. Succumbing to his fate, he let the two drag him around, occasionally bending down when they did to pick up some small branches.
“Oh, Oh, maybe there’s a fish that washed up on the beach! I could go for some salmon right now!” Naruto exclaimed.
“Salmon are only in freshwater dobe. And it's a full tide. That’s likely why we’re not camping on the beach,” Sasuke commented. Naruto sighed in disappointment. As they continued to look for more branches, another thought crossed Naruto’s mind. Two influential people in his life both love, and in one case wrote, Icha Icha Paradise. Naruto couldn’t help but wince at the book. Seeing Jiraya-sensei gather inspiration, he doubted that the book had anything worthwhile in it. But maybe, inside such a trashy book, there was something else between the lines.
“Sakura, are you really going to read Icha Icha Paradise one day?” Naruto asked. He expected Sakura to be the one to get embarrassed, maybe even get hit in the process, but it was Sasuke instead. Sasuke immediately shoved their hands away rather forcefully. Feeling the heat across his face, he shulked his face deeper into his collar not looking at them.
Before Sakura could say anything, Sasuke shouted, unable to look at the two, “You can’t ask her stuff like that directly, dobe!”
“Wha-What! And why not teme?” Naruto shouted back.
“Because that’s, that-thats,” Sasuke stuttered as he found the courage to shyly look at his teammates again. It made him feel better that he wasn’t the only one slightly embarrassed. Naruto and Sakura, too, were blushing with faint glows on their cheeks. They looked at each other in the awkward silence, unable to figure out what to say or do. After a couple of minutes, it was Naruto who broke down, cackling at their dismay and dropping all the sticks he gathered.
“Naruto…” Sasuke and Sakura sighed, realizing how pathetic they were acting like this. Sasuke kneeled down and started to pick up a couple of the branches. Sakura watched them as she hugged the branches in her hands as if they were a teddy bear. Answering Naruto’s question, it was a yes because she wanted to know why Kakashi loved it so much, but held the truth on the tip of her tongue. It was too embarrassing to say out loud.
Walking past the boys, Sakura called out, “Let’s go. Kakashi-sensei must be waiting for us.” Sasuke quickly nods, and he and Naruto follow behind.
Making their way back near the road, Naruto declared, “You know what! Let’s read it together one day! All three of us.”
“A book club does sound nice. I-I wouldn’t mind one day,” Sakura admitted. Sasuke peered at the way Sakura bit her lip with the same blush from earlier, unable to escape her face. He concluded this was her shy way of admitting it that she wanted to read it. And if she was ok with it, then he supposed there was no need to hide it.
“Fine, I’m in too,” Sasuke replied. Naruto grinned, and Sakura squealed happily at his response. Sasuke sighed, wondering how he got into this mess, but deep down, he felt a sense of excitement. He always liked reading books with his cousin Shisui. Maybe a book club wouldn’t be so bad.
“Well then, it looks like I’ll have to get more copies then. And as honored as I am, none of you are reading this book until you're older. If you're going to start a book club, pick another book for now. Am I clear?” Kakashi declared from behind them. The genin jumped back, turning around to face the jonin. It was rare that Kakashi spoke in such an authoritarian voice, but he concluded it had to be done. Otherwise, they’d be way too curious for their own good. Perhaps, he should be more mindful of what he reads in front of them after all. With a mix of guilt and understanding, the genin nod and follow him back to camp.
After returning to camp and settling down next to the fire, Sakura and Sasuke began discussing which book to start with. Sakura leaned towards choosing another fantasy novel, while Sasuke suggested another novel that had more action and adventure than love affairs. During their discussion, Naruto sat unusually silent. Meanwhile, Kakashi laid out bowls and poured crab soup for everyone. As they began to eat, Naruto quietly poked the soft crab meat with his spoon, taking no bites.
“The crab is already dead. What is Naruto?” Kakashi asked. Realizing Naruto's odd behavior, Sasuke and Sakura glanced at him with worry.
“We can pick another book if you’d like. We didn’t hear which one you’ll think is good,” Sakura stated, wondering if that was the issue at hand.
“No, it's not that. It's just I can’t help it. What is love like? I hear and see love, but I don’t know if I’d ever experience it because of the fox inside me. But I want to. Very, very badly. I think Pervy Sage likes Granny Hokage. Um, have you ever been in love before, Kakashi-sensei? What’s it like?” Naruto asked in a shaky voice while rambling out his vulnerable thoughts in the air. The poor boy trembled hard.
“Oh,” Kakashi mumbled. Piecing it together, he supposed it made sense. Obito was around this age when he fell in love with Rin. And he saw similar signs between Sakura and Sasuke. The detached way Naruto spoke shook him. Kakashi felt as if he had taken a kunai in his heart. It hurt to hear how Naruto thought love wasn’t possible for him. But logically, it made sense. Being hated by the village can do that to a kid. Sakura leaned Naruto's head on her shoulder while Sasuke rubbed his arm. They too hated the way Naruto was always treated from birth. With no hesitation, they both hugged him by the sides. Getting up, Kakashi joined them hugging Naruto from the back.
“Naruto, love is all around you. And you too will find love one day. It has nothing to do with the fox. You may be a knucklehead, but you have a good heart. Trust me, that’s all you need to fall in love. Just be yourself,” Kakashi explained.
“Yeah, he’s right! You know, they say opposites attract, Naruto!” Sakura chimed in.
“That’s true. You're very energetic and kind for a person. I’m not going to lie. You’ll need someone brave and thoughtful to see the real you just like how we do. But the good news is this person is real and you’ll find that special someone one day,” Kakashi commented.
“How do I know when it happens?” Naruto asked.
“You’ll feel it. And Naruto, if anyone deserves to be loved one day, it’s you. And it's not just romantic love. You’ll always mean the world to us,” Sasuke confessed.
“It’s true,” Kakashi added. Naruto felt as if a large weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Inside, he felt warm and content. He lifted his head off of Sakura and separated his arm from Sasuke. He was strong enough to stand on his own. Seeing light return to his eyes, they broke off the hug in relief.
“Alright then! Love, here I come!” Naruto shouted up into the air. With his stomach grumbling, he took a big gulp of soup in stride. They all watched him devour the soup until he started choking on a piece of crab. Before Kakashi could do anything, Sakura patted his back as he spit the crab out and Sasuke gave him a bottle of water. In the end of the day, even if the village hated him, Naruto would be alright with them by his side.
While going back to their original places by the fire, Naruto asked, “Aren’t you going to continue Kakashi-sensei?”. Remembering the original set of questions, he was never more thankful he wore a mask everyday.
“Alright then. Yes, I did fall in love once to a Uchiha actually. But he loved someone else, so we never got together in the end. But he let me know how much he still cared about me by saving my life. I’d like to think he’s with me now, watching over me with his eye,” Kakashi revealed.
“I didn’t know you were in love with him. That must have been…painful,” Sasuke remarked. The more he heard of Kakashi’s life, the more tragic it sounded. Sasuke hoped there wasn’t more to it than Kakashi lets on.
“Well, sometimes when you love another person dearly, you have to let them go. It’s alright though. I mean, I’m sure one day I’ll find love again. Someone who will be with me for the rest of my life,” Kakashi stated.
“Kakashi-sensei, have you ever thought about getting married before?” Sakura asked.
“Actually, yes. If I did ever get married, I’d always want my wedding to be like the one at the port, similar to the western-style one in Icha Icha Paradise," Kakashi confessed. The thought of Kakashi’s wedding filled them with excitement. Naruto wondered if Sakura would be the bridesmaid and if he and Sasuke would wear suits on the side of the altar.
“So what’s your type? ” Sasuke asked.
“Well, the person in question would just have to love me back. That’s all I need, really,” Kakashi answered.
“That’s not good enough, Kakashi! If anyone wants you, they’d have to talk with me first!” Sasuke hollered.
“Sasuke!” Sakura warned, placing her hand on his chest.
“Oh, and what would you say, Sasuke?” Kakashi taunted.
“Well, I’d tell this so-called lover that they better take care of you! They better not make you more late than usual by distracting you from missions. And what if they hurt you? How can I know that they’re strong enough to protect you too? Your lover better not abuse you,” Sasuke scolded.
“Sasuke, you’d be such a strict parent,” Naruto lamented. Sasuke pouted as Sakura had the audacity to giggle. Feeling rather embarrassed now, Kakashi groaned and facepalmed.
“Sasuke, I can handle these things on my own. I am a responsible adult. But if I do ever get a partner who I’m interested in, you'll be the first to know,” Kakashi replied.
“Good,” Sasuke stated with his arms crossed. Kakashi felt like this wasn’t the last time Sasuke would bring it up, but he seemed satisfied for now.
Joining in on the fun, Naruto added, “Well, if I ever got married, I’d want one in the village! An Hokage’s wedding better be grand with everyone after all!” Naruto exclaimed.
“That sounds perfect for you, Naruto!" Sakura commented. She believed that if there was anyone who deserved it, it was Naruto.
Building up his courage, Sakura turned and asked Sasuke, “Since we’re all talking about weddings, what kind of wedding would you like one day, Sasuke?”
“Honestly, I’m good with anything you want,” Sasuke honestly answered before stopping in his tracks and realizing what he just said. He heard Naruto and Kakashi break down with uncontrollable laughter. He expected Sakura to be unresponsive or faint but she didn’t do either. As if her resolve got stronger, she looked at him with a glint in her eyes. Her small smirk that could rival his own was beautifully framed by her pink short hair.
With a blushing face she replied, “Then, I guess you’ll just have to propose first.”