Kakashi: Godless Ascension

"Why did that ninja defect?"

Kakashi set his glass down, his posture shifting slightly as he leaned forward. His tone wasn't sharp, but it was firm, curious, and serious. This wasn't just casual small talk anymore.

Kurenai's eyes dropped to her drink for a moment. Her fingers traced the edge of the cup before she finally answered.

"He didn't just defect," she said quietly. "He stole classified documents. Sensitive material related to the Aburame clan's insect breeding techniques."

Kakashi's eyes narrowed immediately. That wasn't minor intel. That was the kind of thing people got executed over.

"The Aburame?" His tone dropped a little, caught halfway between disbelief and alarm.

"If someone managed to copy or understand even a piece of that," he continued, "they could build an entirely new insect-based clan. Worse… They could counter the Aburame's techniques altogether. Nullify their jutsu in the field. Turn their bugs against them."

"Exactly." Kurenai's voice was heavy now. "That's why the mission isn't just a test, it's a real threat. He's rumored to be hiding near the borderlands, trying to auction the intel to the highest bidder. And I'm supposed to go in alone, handle it, and make sure the data doesn't change hands."

Her fingers clenched slightly around her cup as she looked away for a moment, before turning back to him.

"If I succeed, it's an open path to Jonin. But if I fail…"

She gave a soft sigh.

"They won't be gentle about it. It'll all fall on me."

Kakashi didn't answer right away. His eye remained locked on her face, watching the tension in her jaw, the set of her shoulders. She wasn't scared—she was prepared. But she was also carrying more than she was letting on.

He leaned back slowly, resting his elbow on the low table behind him.

"That still doesn't sit right with me," he said. "This isn't a simple retrieval. Why is the Aburame clan handing off something this sensitive to someone outside their bloodline? They have their own Jonin ninjas."

"I wondered the same." Kurenai's voice was quieter now. "At first, I didn't question it. I was so focused on proving myself, finally getting noticed. But now…"

She trailed off for a second.

"Now it feels like there's something more beneath it. Like I'm being sent not just to succeed, but maybe to fail."

There was a pause. Not uncomfortable, just thoughtful.

Kakashi gave a soft hum and tilted his head.

"So you accepted the mission with your eyes half-closed?"

Kurenai narrowed her eyes and shot him a mild glare, but her smile peeked through.

"You make it sound worse than it was."

He chuckled, the sound easy and genuine.

"I get it. Civilian-born shinobi have to take what they can get. Promotions open the doors, to access better techniques, to gain trust, more dangerous but higher-paying jobs… even just respect. Especially for those without a big-name clan behind them."

Kurenai nodded quietly at that. She didn't talk about it much, but she didn't have a family legacy like many others. She'd earned her place inch by inch.

A small lull passed between them. The restaurant around them had settled into a gentle background hum. Most of the stares had faded now, giving them their space.

Kakashi swirled the last of his drink around his glass for a moment, his gaze drifting before locking onto hers again.

"I might have an idea to help," he said casually. "When are you leaving?"

Kurenai blinked, caught off guard by the shift in his tone.

"Officially? Three days. But I was planning to head out tomorrow morning. The longer I wait, the colder the trail gets."

Kakashi nodded, his expression unreadable. She could already see that calculating glint forming behind his eye. The one he got when he was quietly fitting puzzle pieces together.

But then she frowned, catching on.

"You're not planning to come with me… are you?"

Kakashi's lips curved into a small smile, but he didn't answer immediately.

"I mean… I'd appreciate it, but if they find out I had backup, it could disqualify the whole mission. They'd say I cheated."

"I know," He said simply.

"I'm not going to interfere directly. You'll go, you'll complete the mission, your name, your credit. I'll just… keep my distance. Quietly. Think of it as insurance."

Kurenai's frown softened. Her head tilted slightly, curiosity flickering in her expression.

"And what exactly would that insurance look like?"

Kakashi gave her a short laugh and leaned a little closer over the table.

"Let's just say I'll be nearby. I'll leave a few things in place, quietly. Traps, distractions, backup plans. If anything goes sideways, I'll make sure you're not fighting alone."

She studied him for a long second, searching his face. The teasing part of him had faded now. He was serious, calm, but not overbearing.

And he meant it.

"You really don't need to go that far for me," she said, but there wasn't any force behind the words. It was more habit than protest.

"I know," he replied. "But I'm doing it anyway."

She didn't push back. Instead, her lips curved into something more genuine, soft, appreciative.

"Alright… I trust you."

The air between them shifted. Warmer now. They weren't just two shinobi talking shop anymore. There was a weight in that pause, a quiet kind of understanding. An unspoken promise.

Kurenai lifted her glass again, took a slow sip, and set it back down.

"You know," she said, voice softer, "for a guy who used to avoid people like the plague, you've gotten surprisingly good at making someone feel like they're not alone."

Kakashi shrugged, his mouth lifting into a lazy smirk.

"Maybe I just finally started talking to the right people."

She laughed quietly, the sound genuine and light.

They stayed there like that a while longer. No masks, no missions, just two shinobi enjoying a night away from Konoha's noise and expectations.

Eventually, the waitress came by to refill their drinks and drop off more skewers. Neither of them moved to leave. The night stretched comfortably between them, unhurried.

Kurenai leaned back slightly, her expression more relaxed than it had been all evening.

"You know," she said thoughtfully, "if all goes well with this mission, and I do make Jonin… I think I'll owe you a drink."

Kakashi gave her a look.

"You're buying next time either way," he said. "Jonin or not."

She smiled again, and this time, she didn't look away.