Chapter Text
7:15 a.m.
Sunrise
The Day of the Seshin
Kakashi
Kakashi leaned against the trunk of a towering black pine tree, facing a small circular clearing at the center of the grove. One hand was in his pocket, his fingers gently tracing the three golden pieces of paper inside. The other hand gripped Jiraiya’s latest, most salacious novel yet. He’d managed to split his attention between the book and his students’ training drill pretty evenly thus far; but as the sun grew higher in the sky and sunlight washed over him, he couldn’t help tuning them out in favor of the delicious pages of Icha Icha.
“Kakashi sensei!” Sakura’s shrill voice cut through his concentration like a kunai.
He looked up and blinked before snapping the book shut and sliding it into his pocket in one smooth motion.
“Yes?” Kakashi asked cooly. He pushed himself away from the tree and looked down at the three of them lined up before him.
“Were you even listening?” Naruto whined.
“I was paying very close attention.”
“Yeah, to your smut.” Sasuke said. He and Kakashi looked at each other for a moment and Kakashi gripped the papers in his pocket.
He was sure they knew about it. Every ninja knew about the Academy’s worst and best kept secret. Lazily, he regarded them all. They were old enough, sure, each of them freshly eighteen; but could they handle it?
“You’re all free to go for the day. I’ve got somewhere to be; I’ll see you all Monday morning.” he said.
Kakashi waited for them to leave, just to see if they’d obey him. They all just stood staring at his pocket. Sakura rubbed the hem of her skirt between her thumb and index finger and looked down at her feet. Naruto held his balled fists at his side, a scowl spread across his face. Even Sasuke couldn’t help looking at him from the corner of his eyes, arms defiantly folded across his chest.
“Is there a problem?” Kakashi feigned ignorance.
“Uh, well…Don’t we get our - ” Naruto started. Sakura’s elbow quickly jutted out into his ribs.
“You can’t talk about it, stupid!” She yelled. Naruto’s face went red as he rubbed the undoubtedly sore spot on his side.
“Well how was I supposed to know?” He snapped.
Kakashi raised his exposed eyebrow at them. “Talk about what, exactly?”
“Nothing,” Sasuke said. “It’ll probably be lame anyway.”
“Shut up, Sasuke. Everything’s lame to you.” Naruto retorted, pointing his finger at Sasuke. Team 7 began arguing among themselves, trading insults and yelling until Kakashi felt a vein throb in his forehead. Maybe I shouldn’t invite them to the party… Not if they’re gonna be buzzkills like this all night.
The other sensei handed out their invitations yesterday. Kakashi was the only hold out, but for good reason. Attending the Seishin required a certain level of…decorum and discretion; something he wasn’t sure his team had. Their only saving grace was that he had to bring at least one member of his team in order to attend himself; and he definitely had some things he wanted to get off his chest at the party.
Kakashi slid the golden papers from his pocket and held them up. He watched as they all fell silent, their eyes growing wide.
“Are these what you’re all talking about?”
Naruto stuck his hands in his pockets and shrugged, an unconvincing mask of indifference on his face. “Maybe. What are they?”
Kakashi handed each of the students one of the golden papers and watched as they quietly looked them over.
“I’m sure you’re all aware of the annual Seishin party happening tonight.” he looked at them. “It’s a tradition between sensei and their students to partake in this party as a way to get rid of certain…temptations, before you get to the next level in your shinobi careers.”
Nobody spoke as each of them absorbed Kakashi’s words.
“Show up tonight at the edge of the woods thirty minutes before sunset and I’ll guide you to the party. There are a couple of housekeeping rules as well. Bring your invitation or you will be denied entry and there won’t be anything I can do to help you. Don’t tell anyone where you’re going; if someone asks, lie. Finally, don’t show anyone this invitation or talk to anyone outside of this team about the party. If you do, I will know and there will be consequences. Understand?”
Each of them nodded and slid the invitations into their pockets.
Kakashi walked away without dismissing them. It was still early in the day but there was still plenty to get done before sunset. He listened as his students mumbled among themselves about what it’d be like, what to expect, and who all would be there. Memories flooded him as he thought about his Seishin. The corners of his lips turned up as he thought about the rooms he’d been pulled into, the hands all over him, the fights, the drinks, the laughs; it was just what he needed after…everything.
He slid the book from his pocket and resumed reading as he walked out of the training fields and back toward the village. Every once in a while, he’d pass a member of another team and would watch as their eyes avoided his and their heads ducked down. Hinata passed him and did the same. Blush crept up her neck and onto her cheeks when they locked eyes in the moments before she shuffled away.
Maybe she’ll finally talk to Naruto.
Watching her around him was nothing short of painful and Kakashi hoped she’d jump on the opportunity to finally do something about it, even if it was just sharing a drink. Maybe then she’d loosen up enough to actually talk to him instead of just whispering his name every time he came around.
He thought back to his own team and wondered if Sakura would have the guts to make a move on Sasuke. She was bold enough, that wasn’t a problem. Sasuke was just…standoffish. He didn’t seem like the type to let a little alcohol take control. Then again, anything could happen at the Seishin.
Kakashi continued walking through the village, nose buried in his book. The sun was high in the sky at this point, and the villagers were starting to pour out of their homes and face the day. Some of them smiled and waved, which Kakashi politely returned. For a second, he looked at Hokage Rock and briefly wondered how they’d feel knowing this hundreds year long tradition was still being upheld. He was proud to do it, even though he knew it’d changed drastically since the first one; more debaucherous than the founders could’ve ever imagined.
He looked back down at Icha Icha and tried to find the line he left off at, slightly annoyed that he couldn’t seem to stay focussed on one of the best parts of the story. He hardly noticed when Guy fell into step next to him.
“Care to make a wager for tonight?” Guy said quietly, keeping his eyes forward.
“Not particularly.”
“Scared? I would be too if I had to face myself.”
Kakashi smiled under his mask and glanced at Guy from the corner of his eye. “Do you really want to fight me at the Seishin of all places? Seems a little ridiculous; there are better ways to spend the night than in a no-holds-barred fight against one another. Don’t you think so?”
“No,” Guy shrugged. “I think you’re scared because you know that without the shinobi code to protect you, I can and will kick your ass.”
Kakashi stopped and turned to face the now smiling Guy, who had stopped as well.
“Have it your way.” Kakashi said. Guy smiled and nodded before turning away and walking back in the direction they came from, presumably to finish his assigned duties before sunset fell.
Truthfully, Kakashi didn’t want to fight; but it made Guy happy and sometimes the proposition was too tempting to ignore. A fight at the Seishin was different, though. It wasn’t like sparring in the Academy. The intention was to stop just short of killing someone, which was hard to do in an arena like that.
Kakashi sighed and closed his book once again, putting it in his pocket. He’d have to finish it during training on Monday. There was much to be done and not a lot of time to do it. It was time to get ready.