Kakashi turned off his Sharingan with a slow blink, the red glow fading into the night air. He watched the spot where Obito had stood just moments ago.
"He came so fast, huh?" he whispered to the trees, his voice calm. He had expected Obito to come directly after the White Zetsu died, but not this fast.
Then he turned, footsteps soft as he walked back into the warm glow of his home.
Inside, the lights were low, casting golden hues across the cozy living room. The air was filled with the gentle scent of fresh tea and warm wood. Kurenai and Anko sat sprawled across the large couch, while Tsunade lounged nearby in a soft robe, her hair still slightly damp from her earlier bath.
Kakashi closed the door behind him and offered them a tired smile.
"It was a long night tonight," Kurenai said, as she stretched out a hand toward him.
"Something like that," Kakashi replied casually.
Without another word, he crossed the room and practically melted into their little sanctuary. He dropped gently down, resting his head in Tsunade's lap, her thighs soft and warm beneath his cheek. His long legs stretched out comfortably across Anko and Kurenai, who were more than used to his laid-back antics by now.
"A lap pillow?" Tsunade smirked, raising an eyebrow as she brushed silver strands from his face. "Aren't you bold tonight?"
"It's warm. And I'm spoiled." Kakashi closed his eyes with a peaceful sigh.
The women chuckled in unison, their laughter light and affectionate.
Anko stretched under him and poked his side. "More like needy," she teased, but she was already running her fingers up his calf, beginning a slow massage.
"Mmm," Kakashi hummed as Kurenai followed suit, pressing gently into the muscles of his lower legs. Tsunade's fingers trailed over his scalp and temple, slow and methodical, as if soothing away a lingering headache.
"Kakashi," Tsunade said gently, not missing the subtle flicker she'd seen earlier. "You activated your Sharingan out there… why?"
Kakashi chuckled softly, keeping his eyes closed.
"Just a ghost," he said vaguely.
Tsunade frowned slightly but didn't press. She could feel the tightness in his shoulders had loosened since walking through the door, and the way his body relaxed beneath their hands said enough, he didn't want to talk about it. Not tonight.
"Alright," she murmured, fingers moving through his hair again. "Ghosts can wait."
Anko's hands, however, were starting to wander. Her palm drifted up his thigh and circled his knee, trailing dangerously close to the edge of teasing. Her fingers pressed into the inner muscles there with far more attention than was necessary for a massage.
Kakashi cracked his eyes open lazily and immediately spotted Anko sticking her tongue out at him, grinning like a mischievous fox.
"Oh?" Kakashi murmured, tone full of mock suspicion.
With one smooth motion, he shifted his arm from where it had rested against his chest and let it drift down. His hand slipped across Anko's leg and found a familiar spot on her hip, then lower, just enough to make her eyes widen.
Anko let out a soft gasp, her breath catching as she squirmed slightly beneath his hand.
"Brat," Tsunade sighed, rolling her eyes as she looked down at the two of them.
Kurenai gave a patient sigh, though the amused smile on her lips betrayed her. "Honestly, get a room."
"This is my room," Kakashi replied cheekily, still not opening both eyes.
"Not this part of the room," Tsunade huffed, swatting his forehead gently with her free hand.
Kakashi just smirked and turned his head into her lap a little more, clearly comfortable, clearly unfazed.
Anko was still blushing, but her grin was wide, and her eyes sparkled like she'd just won a challenge.
"You started it," she whispered to him under her breath, too low for the others to catch.
Kakashi didn't answer, but the shift of his hand said enough. Anko bit her lip, her eyelids fluttering for just a second.
"Alright. You two go misbehave somewhere else before this couch becomes unsalvageable." Tsunade, feeling the shift in atmosphere, finally shook her head and said firmly.
"I second that," Kurenai said, standing and stretching. "I'm not massaging someone while his hand is doing… that."
Anko snorted a laugh but didn't deny it.
"Fine, fine. You're all too sensitive." Kakashi groaned softly, still sprawled across the three of them like a pampered cat.
"You're too handsy," Kurenai countered.
"Go on. Take her before she explodes." Tsunade leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead.
"You make it sound like I'm doing a public service," Kakashi quipped, but he lifted himself slowly off their laps, giving Tsunade's thigh one last appreciative pat and stretching his arms.
Anko was already up, grabbing his arm with a smirk and dragging him off toward the hallway.
"You are," Tsunade muttered under her breath, watching them go with a small shake of her head.
Once the two had vanished down the hall, Kurenai glanced at Tsunade.
"He seemed… a little tense," she said. "Before all that."
"He was. But he didn't want to say why."Tsunade nodded.
"Think it's something serious?"
Tsunade's eyes flicked toward the window for a moment, where the moon shone bright and soft over the village.
"With Kakashi," she said softly, "it always is."
The door clicked shut behind them.
Kakashi pulled Anko gently into his arms, resting his forehead against hers.
She looked up at him, not with her usual wild grin, but something softer, something more affectionate.
"You okay?" she asked, voice quiet.
"I am." Kakashi nodded after a beat.