The evening ended after having strolled in the streets for a while laughing, before ending up on the top of the Hokage mountain, lying in a circle head to head looking at the stars and evoking past memories.

Mitsuki found herself between Kakashi, who was obviously not letting her go, and Iruka with whom she was getting closer and closer.

Unfortunately for Iruka, Asuma had decided to spend her time teasing him, as usual. Mitsuki then learned what kind of child he had been, an orphan after Kyûbi's attack, not really the most gifted in class, and the kind to play the clown to attract attention. She then understood why he seemed so attached to Naruto, and how he could have perceived so quickly all that he had said about the she-wolf.

Eventually they parted and Kakashi took Mitsuki back to the Uchiha district. When they arrived in front of Sasuke's house, they stopped for a moment, enjoying the starry sky one last time.

"Thank you for this surprise, Kakashi-kun. It meant a lot to me, and it was very nice" Mitsuki finally said, smiling sincerely at him.

"I'm glad you liked it," Kakashi replied, returning her smile.

Mitsuki started to open the door, before turning to the ex-ANBU and whispering:

"Good night, Kakashi-kun."

"Good night, Mitsuki-chan." the boy wished her in return, before she disappeared completely inside Sasuke's house.

She closed the door behind her, a smile still stuck to her lips. She took off her shoes, then headed for the bathroom when something caught her eye in the living room. On the table had been placed a package wrapped in a pretty red gift paper. She approached it, curious, finding a small card delicately placed on it. She took it and turned it over to read:

"Happy Birthday, Sasuke."

Simple and concise, as usual, but this gesture touched her heart. She opened the package delicately, moved, and discovered a small frame where there was a picture of the two of them one day when she had more or less forced him to go out during a festival. She made a V with her fingers, wearing a smile filled with joy, while he wore a sulky face, which, even if it revealed the strong character of Sasuke, made her totally melt. For a moment she held this precious gift close to her heart. It was going to take flight and leave her a trace that she could contemplate at her leisure.

She then took the direction of the rooms and stopped in front of the Uchiha's room. She opened the door without a sound. Sasuke seemed to be sleeping soundly. She approached the bed anyway, sitting down, then gently ran a hand through the boy's black hair. She would have sworn to see him sketch a light smile for a moment. She then leaned over, before placing a delicate kiss on Sasuke's forehead, whispering to him:

"Thank you, Sasuke-kun."

She then continued to caress him tenderly for a few minutes, before going back to her own room, exhausted.

The next day she woke up to a noise in the kitchen. She joined Sasuke there, wearing his new ninja headband. She passed by him, placing another kiss on the top of his head, which he ignored, not liking such affectionate gestures.

"It's the big day," said Mitsuki, smiling.

Sasuke finally gave her a look, just nodding coldly.

"Just let me get dressed, and I'll go with you!" the she-wolf rejoiced.

She had already turned around, but stopped short when she heard the boy sigh behind his back:

"Mitsuki... I'm not a child anymore. I can go alone you know."

Mitsuki sat back down in front of him, a little upset, but smiling gently at him:

"You're right Sasuke... I got carried away... I better tidy up the house a bit before I go to work. Have a good day!"

"You too." the boy said before leaving.

The day went by quickly, Mitsuki was preparing the meal while waiting impatiently for Sasuke's return.

Sasuke finally came back, slamming the door with a dark look on his face. He was going to pass by Mitsuki without a word to go to his room, but she grabbed his arm, forcing him to listen to her.

"Is something wrong, Sasuke-kun?" she worried.

He sighed before looking at her coldly:

"No, nothing's wrong. I'm on the team of that idiot Naruto and that idiot Sakura. And to top it all off, our Sensei is your dear Kakashi, and that loser was super late for that first day. Naruto did what he does best, he was a clown. They're all going to slow me down, and I can't take it."

Mitsuki listened to him calmly before saying:

"I understand that you might be disappointed, but don't be so condescending... Kakashi is one of the greatest Ninja in Konoha. Besides, he has the Sharingan, no one is in a better position to help you achieve your goals than him. As for your comrades, it's up to you to help them surpass themselves, if you don't find them at your level."

"I should have known you would take his side..." grumbled Sasuke before finally sitting down at the table.

Mitsuki sighed. On the one hand she was glad that Kakashi was in charge of Sasuke's team, on the other hand it also meant that finally they would both be away on missions at the same time, which confirmed her theory about her new found loneliness. But she sincerely thought that nobody was better placed than him to help Sasuke to acquire the power he wanted, and to control his pupils in due time.

They ate in silence, and Sasuke went to bed right after, as he had to face his first test with his team the next day.

Mitsuki preferred to go out after clearing the table. Her footsteps led her to the Hatake's apartment without thinking about it. She knocked shyly and he soon opened the door, smiling.

"Sasuke's on your team," she pronounced casually, looking annoyed.

"Good evening to you too. And yes. I'm glad you're so happy about it," Kakashi quipped, a little offended that she took it that way.

Mitsuki sighed again.

"It's not that..." she defended herself, recovering her composure.

"So, will you come in and explain to me what exactly "it" is?" the gray-haired man kindly invited her.

She did not make herself more prier and he invited her to sit on his sofa before closing the door.

"I know you were worried about being alone on Sasuke's missions, and that being his Sensei, it would interfere with the plans we had made for his absences..." he recalled.

"Yes ... I know what we said ... But you're still the best person to train him too." Mitsuki pointed out.

"Thank you, it means a lot to me to hear you say that... But in that case, why are you so upset?" worried Kakashi.

The she-wolf sighed, once again.

"No one has passed your test so far.

- Hm...and you think Sasuke will fail too?

- I trust him...

- So there's nothing to worry about."

Mitsuki laughed softly. She paused before asking him:

"Can you promise me to look after him? I'm doing everything I can, but even so, he seems to be sinking further and further into the darkness... He is consumed by his desire for revenge. It blinds him completely... I wouldn't want to lose him, too.

- You know... As a Sensei, it's my job to look after him, and I'm glad I can finally do it with you, without you feeling embarrassed or beholden. You can count on me. I will not allow anything to happen to one of my students, and even less to the only family you have left, whether he passes the test or not.

- Thank you Kakashi...

- And about the missions, you don't have to worry. It'll be a while before we're gone for more than a day," he concluded, gently pinching her cheek.

Mitsuki burst out laughing again as she pushed her friend's hand away, her heart lighter for having confided in him. She ended up nestling her head in the neck of the Jônin, who let her, just putting an arm around her shoulders and stroking her hair for a long time.

"I should go home..." Mitsuki finally announced after a good ten minutes.

"You don't have to..." suggested Kakashi, "You still have a place here, if you want it."Mitsuki slowly straightened up, facing him again.

"Sasuke..." she began to utter, but the Sensei cut her off immediately, expecting her excuse:

"Sasuke is old enough to handle himself, you know. When are you going to start thinking about yourself?

- He blamed me for taking your side earlier. I don't want to give him more reason to be mad at me by not coming home tonight. It's been hard enough lately...

- Why did you have to defend me? As much as it pleases me to know.

- You were late. Very late."

The man sighed, a half-smile forming under his mask.

"He'll have to get used to it... You should know better."

"Just don't read your weird books in front of them ... They're just kids."

"Hmpf ... They're not weird... they're... educational."

"If you follow the advice in that damn book, you'll end up alone and have to look at the less educational part of it. of this book."

"You read it?"

Mitsuki turned red as she poked him in the shoulder.

"Of course I haven't! Idiot! I see you with it all the time, so I wanted to take a look at it once, saw the stupid tips for seducing a girl, and when I saw... Anyway I did not go further. "

Kakashi burst out laughing at the discomfited look of his friend. She finally got up, walking towards the exit with a pout. He abruptly slammed his hand against the door, holding it shut.

"Let me out, Kakashi," the she-wolf grumbled.

"Not until you look me in the eye with your best smile."

Mitsuki grumbled, wincing a little more.

"I won't let you leave angry. Don't make me use the big guns."

A shiver ran down the brunette's spine, having a feeling of deja vu. She looked up at the Jônin with her big misty eyes, who immediately blinked.

"I was only teasing you, Mitsuki... I did not want to hurt you. " he apologized, destabilized, before withdrawing his arm.

"It's nothing, silly. I... You only made me think of Aruna... He wouldn't let me leave a room angry at him..." Mitsuki explained.

"He was a wise man. Maybe he was following the advice of the good Jiraya too!"

"No way!" the she-wolf grumbled as she gave another blow to the Hatake's shoulder.

Kakashi couldn't hold back a laugh, before kissing the top of his head, which had the merit of immobilizing him instantly.

"Do you still think about him that much?" he asked.

"You always think so much of your friends?" she returned, the answer seemed so obvious.

"I understand." he agreed.

"Kakashi... I would love to stay here like this, but I'm really going home to bed. And so should you! You'll be late again tomorrow!" warned Mitsuki.

As he stepped aside to let her pass, she slipped away after a quick goodnight in a whisper.

The next day, Mitsuki heard Sasuke coming out of the house. She crossed her fingers hard hoping that for once the Genin team would pass Kakashi's test.

She couldn't help but wait for the Jônin a little away from the training area. He found her at the stroke of noon, two bentos in his hands.

"Did you know I was coming?" the she-wolf wondered.

"Hm. No, but I had these two meals left over, so you're pretty much on time." the Jônin admitted as he sat down beside her.

"So... did they make it?" worried Mitsuki, not holding out any longer to ask the question.

"Not for the moment. They still have one last chance, let's hope they take it," Kakashi informed her as he handed her the meal that was originally meant for Naruto.

Mitsuki looked sadly at the ground, which did not escape the Sensei.

"Sasuke is very strong, there is no doubt about that. But it's not his power that I'm trying to test today."

"It's his ability to work as a team..." the she-wolf guessed.

Kakashi looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

" " In the world of ninjas, those who don't follow the rules and break the laws are considered lesser. But those who abandon their companions are even worse." I remember that phrase you taught me years ago. And I know you well enough to know how much it means to you," the wolf recited.

"And you didn't say anything to Sasuke?" wondered Kakashi.

"No... This is an ordeal he has to go through by himself. He would have blamed me if I had helped him." the brunette explained, looking up at the sky.

"It's not his forte, teamwork, you know?" the Jônin pointed out.

Mitsuki burst out laughing.

"No, indeed. But he's a loyal boy, if the situation requires it, he'll protect his companions, even if he pretends not to care.

"Then let's hope he uses that quality right away. I'll see what they're doing. I'll see you later?" Kakashi offered as he stood up.

"I have to get back to the hospital... We're busy right now, there are a lot of clashes on missions outside..." the she-wolf declined as she stood up as well.

Kakashi sighed, before disappearing.

Mitsuki went back to Konoha, and found her doctor's outfit. She went from room to room, and performed several dangerous operations. Late in the evening, and out of chakra, she left the establishment, exhausted.

"Hi," a voice she knew well whispered in her ear.

"Kakashi... What are you doing here?" the she-wolf wondered as she turned to him.

"I really wanted to see you tonight. First to tell you that team 7 passed the test! And also because I want to invite you to eat" announced the young man.

- Oh, I'm so happy for them! But Kakashi, I'm sorry... I'm exhausted, I used every last drop of my chakra...

- We're only going to eat ramen at Ichiraku's... It won't last long.

- Well... If you insist...

- Come on, climb on my back, I'll give you a ride."

He grabbed her before she could protest, and passed his hands under her thighs before lifting her up. She reflexively put her arms around his neck, before giggling.

"Stop fooling around, put me down!" she grumbled at him, laughing.

"You said you were tired. So you, stop fooling around and give me a break" Kakashi countered as she walked forward under the amused gaze of the passersby.

She did not relax any more, and tightened her arms around her friend, before nestling her head in his neck. The warm breath of the she-wolf was sliding on the fresh skin of the boy, making him shiver by instant. He carried her as if she were a feather in his hands, light but also so fragile. She let herself be rocked by the movements, her eyes closed.

"We have arrived," Kakashi said after a few minutes of walking.

He put her down gently, and they sat down at the table, before exchanging a hearty meal between two passionate discussions.

Later in the evening they walked side by side, neither of them intending to go back to their house despite being tired. They walked away from the city without even realizing it. But as the cool autumn air blew calmly through the brunette's hair, a shower began to fall without warning.

Surprised, Kakashi grabbed the beautiful girl's hand, pulling her running under a small porch he had spotted in the distance. He left the brunette with her back to the wall, overhanging her from all her height, trying to protect her as best he could from the rain that had already soaked them from head to toe.

Mitsuki couldn't hold back a laugh. They hadn't seen it coming, and now they were both stuck in this cramped space where Kakashi could barely find a place to take shelter.

"You're going to get soaked!" she scolded, crashing a little more against the wall to try to make room for him in vain.

"It's already too late, if you ask me," the boy pointed out, placing his arms over the she-wolf to offer her a makeshift shelter, his strands of gray hair dripping in front of his face.

Mitsuki smiled to him, before gently releasing one of it which was to obstruct him in his field of vision. The eye of this one didn't turn away from the face of the beautiful, although the pink began to go up to his cheeks. He did not feel even more the rain which continued to fall on his back. In his chest, his heart was beating wildly, seeming to try to flee at all costs this rib cage suddenly becoming too narrow.

Mitsuki didn't move, concentrating only on the rhythm of her breathing, which she was trying to keep calm. The silence had become heavy, and the proximity of their bodies suffocating. The Jônin finally lowered a hand along the wall, sliding little by little on the wet cheek of the she-wolf, wiping it in a caress of an infinite softness. The contact of her warm palm on the fresh skin of the brunette had something of magnetic. She let tenderly fall back her head against the hand of the man who continued to fly over her pale cheek of the end of the fingers. The softness of his gesture faded little by little, leaving place to a soft firmness, maintaining it while their faces approached. Breaths were cut off as the distance grew shorter. Mitsuki's big red eyes gradually closed as she let herself be guided by the attraction her body suddenly seemed to feel for the Sensei. But when their noses brushed imperceptibly against each other, the image of Itachi suddenly came back to her mind, as if her brain had decided to spoil this sweet moment for her. She opened her eyes abruptly, before turning her face away from the look of incomprehension that Kakashi gave her.

"Forgive me Kakashi... I can't..." she whispered as her only answer.

The boy stood up slowly. Staring at her for a moment while she couldn't even look him in the eye. It was so close ... In his heart he could not ignore the disappointment he felt at that moment, but the affection he felt for the pretty she-wolf faded to leave his usual solicitude.

"It's nothing... I... I shouldn't have... I don't know what got into me..." he stammered, turning his face away.

Mitsuki faced him again, still stunned by the bubble of sweetness they had formed. She gently ran her hand through the soaked hair of the Jônin. He laid his eyes again on that face that he had coveted so much a moment ago, before asking her:

"Are you still thinking about him...?"

Mitsuki bit her lip, which was enough of an answer for Kakashi. He sighed softly, seemingly trying to get his thoughts in order, before looking her straight in the eye:

"I'll wait as long as it takes."

He took a step back, facing a confused Mitsuki. The rain had stopped as suddenly as it had started.

"Let's go home and dry off. You're going to get hurt if you stay like that," the dog master suggested with a reassuring smile, as if nothing had happened.

She grabbed the hand he was holding out to her, and without warning, he carried her like a princess, jumping from roof to roof under his mockery to reach his apartment. Once there, he looked for a large towel and a T-shirt much too big for her. She used her bathroom to enjoy a hot shower, not managing to erase from her head the images of the evening. Her heart was tightening in her chest. She still loved Itachi, she was sure, even though she would never see him again. But what she had felt for a moment in contact with this friend she had known for so many years... She bit her lip once more, cutting off the stream of water that was running down her body before drying herself off and putting on Kakashi's clothes. She breathed in the scent of him, which intoxicated her more than she wanted to admit. When she came out, he welcomed her with a cup of hot chocolate. They both sat on the couch without a word, until Kakashi broke the silence by choosing to tell her about his new team. This removed any trace of the awkwardness that had built up between them, and they returned to lively conversations late into the night.