Kakashi: Godless Ascension

The morning sun poured gently through the windows of the Hokage's office, casting golden rays across the polished wooden floor.

The jonin had assembled, all standing quietly as the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, reviewed the scroll before him. The parchment was long, its surface covered in inked names and pairings, the freshly graduated genin were about to receive their team assignments.

Kakashi entered the room with his usual casual grace, one hand in his pocket, the other lazily waving a greeting. His face, now unmasked, was calm and unreadable, though a faint curve at the corner of his lips hinted at his inner amusement.

Near the window, Kurenai turned and offered him a soft, private smile. Kakashi met her eyes and gave a small nod, mouthing silently, 'We'll talk later.'

Kurenai responded with a quiet, understanding nod. Her red eyes lingered on him a moment longer before turning back toward the Hokage.

Against the far wall, Asuma Sarutobi stood with his arms crossed and a cigarette resting between his fingers. His eyes briefly flickered between the two before narrowing ever so slightly.

He took a long drag, exhaled a sigh, and a subtle frown passed over his features. But he said nothing and shifted his attention back to the meeting.

Hiruzen cleared his throat with authority, bringing the room to order.

"Thank you all for coming," the Hokage began, his voice calm but firm. "Our newest generation of shinobi has graduated. Now it is time to assign them to teams that will shape their future, and ours."

He unrolled more of the scroll.

"Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. Their jonin leader will be Kakashi Hatake."

Kakashi nodded once in acknowledgment, eyes unreadable, though a flicker of interest passed through them at the names.

"Team 8," Hiruzen continued, "will consist of Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga. They will be under the guidance of Kurenai Yuhi."

Kurenai stepped forward and accepted her assignment with grace and quiet pride.

"Team 10: Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, and Choji Akimichi. Their jonin leader is Asuma Sarutobi."

Asuma took a lazy step forward, blowing a small puff of smoke from his nostrils as he nodded toward the Hokage, his earlier frown gone, replaced by his usual casual demeanor.

"Teams 9, 11, 13, and 15 will be under the command of other senior jonin," Hiruzen added, rolling the scroll back up with practiced ease. "Each of these teams has been carefully formed to balance skill, temperament, and growth potential. The future of our village lies in your hands. Your leadership will determine what kind of shinobi these young ones become."

The jonin all nodded silently, the weight of responsibility settling over them.

As the meeting came to a close, the room slowly began to empty. Some of the jonin left quickly, others lingered for brief conversation or a final glance at the scroll.

Kakashi made his way toward the exit but paused as he sensed someone beside him.

"Kakashi," Kurenai's voice was soft, her presence quiet but comforting beside him.

"Shall we go together tomorrow to meet our new teams?" She asked him.

"Are you already missing me?"He raised an eyebrow playfully as he turned slightly to her..

Kurenai chuckled, not entirely hiding the truth behind her smile. "I did," she said, a little too honestly. Her eyes flicked to his lips, and for a fleeting moment, she imagined what it would feel like to kiss him again.

Kakashi caught her glance and smirked, a knowing spark in his eye. Kurenai's cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away.

As they walked side by side through the corridors of the Hokage Tower, Kakashi's mind wandered back to the night before. Naruto had stolen the Scroll of Seals, though 'stolen' might be too strong a word. Knowing Hiruzen, the whole thing was likely staged. A way to let Naruto learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu and perhaps to have a reasonable way to make Naruto a Ninja after he failed the exam.

Still, the event was a reminder: the real story was beginning.

"I'm starving," Kakashi said suddenly, interrupting both their thoughts. "All that talking wore me out. Want to grab some barbecue?"

Kurenai smiled, already knowing his idea of exhaustion was different from most. "I'd like that."

The two made their way through the village streets, eventually arriving at a cozy little barbecue place near the edge of the residential district. Smoke and the savory scent of grilled meat filled the air. It was a place loved by both villagers and shinobi, small but warm.

As they entered, a plump young man with an Akimichi clan crest on his apron looked up, and nearly dropped his tray.

"Whoa! You're Kakashi-senpai!" the waiter blurted out.

"I guess I am." Kakashi blinked.

"We've got a private room open! Please, right this way!"

He led them quickly to a quiet corner room, small and intimate, with a round table and a built-in grill in the center. The lights were soft, casting a golden hue across the space.

The waiter soon returned, pushing a cart piled high with fresh cuts of meat, vegetables, dipping sauces, and drinks. He placed everything with practiced speed.

"Cook it yourselves, but if you need anything, just call!" he said brightly, before leaving and sliding the door closed behind him.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Kurenai quietly stood. Without a word, she walked over and gently locked it.

Then she turned and, smiling slightly, sat in Kakashi's lap.

His arms moved around her instinctively, and their lips met in a gentle, unhurried kiss. It was soft at first, almost hesitant, but the warmth grew between them. She leaned into his chest with a soft sigh.

Kakashi chuckled and kissed her again, quickly this time.

"I should probably cook before we get kicked out for burning the place down," he said, gently nudging her to sit beside him.

Kurenai laughed and slid off his lap but didn't move far. She leaned against his shoulder while he picked up the tongs and began placing strips of beef on the grill.

As the meat sizzled, the aroma quickly filled the room.

"This is nice," Kurenai said, resting her chin lightly on his shoulder.

"Yeah," Kakashi said. "It really is."

They spent the next hour eating, talking, and simply enjoying the calm. Kurenai shared stories from her training under Kurenai's sensei, and Kakashi, though carefully, spoke a little about Minato, Rin, and even Obito, though not too much. He didn't want to ruin the mood.

"Are you nervous about Team 7?" Kurenai asked gently as she picked up a slice of grilled zucchini.

Kakashi considered the question. "Not really. I think they'll be… interesting."

"You've got two powerhouses and one girl trying to hold them together."

He smirked. "Sounds like a recipe for disaster."

Kurenai chuckled and sipped her drink. "You'll be fine. You're patient. Most of the time."

Kakashi raised a brow. "Only most of the time?"

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "All right, fine. You're better than anyone."

They stayed a while longer, letting the evening stretch on. It was rare to have time like this, quiet, uninterrupted, peaceful. For Kakashi, who had lived in the shadows of war and loss for so long, moments like these were priceless.

Eventually, they stepped back out into the village, night having fallen over Konoha. The sky was dark and full of stars, and the streets were quieter now. A soft breeze passed through, carrying the scent of grilled food and the fresh mountain air that always drifted over the walls of the village.

"Walk you home?" Kakashi asked, his tone casual.

"Um." Kurenai smiled, slipping her hand into his.

They strolled together under the moonlight, hands intertwined, hearts steady. Tomorrow would bring duty, new challenges, and the future of the village under their guidance, but for tonight, they were just two people, walking side by side, enjoying the stillness before the storm.

And when they parted ways outside her home, Kakashi paused, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"See you tomorrow, sensei," he said.

"Don't be late," she teased.

"No promises," Kakashi grinned.

And with that, he vanished into the night.