Ship: Kakashi Hatake x Obito Uchiha

Genres: Romance – Humor – Slice of Life / One-shot

Rating: +16

Summary: Obito was in a romantic mood.

Kakashi was just in the mood.

Enjoy!

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The Land of Hot Water held a certain appeal for couples, particularly those who had recently got together.

Kakashi had never understood why, until now, and had never been particularly interested in the answer.

He was single, so why should it matter to him?

However, now that he and Obito were celebrating six months together, alongside the success of their mission, he was beginning to regret his ignorance.

Fortunately for him, and above all for them, Obito was romantic enough for both of them and had done all the planning, whilst guiding him through the undergrowth and refusing to give him the slightest clue as to their destination.

All he’d been willing to tell him was that he’d like it.

Kakashi might be a genius, but even the Nidaime would need a few more clues!

However, he didn’t have to wait very long before a final bush was parted and a little squeal of delight from his boyfriend told him they’d reached their destination.

Curious, he stepped past him to get a better view, discovering a natural pool from which small wisps of steam were rising.

The countryside was dotted with them, but only the largest or most unusual ones had been developed for tourism, thus allowing the poorest or most timid to still enjoy this pleasure, with all the risks that might go with it (every year ended with its share of deaths, thefts of clothing or bizarre accidents).

Naturally, they hadn’t got this far in their respective careers without developing the right degree of paranoia, and they scrupulously checked the surroundings before even thinking of making use of the hot spring.

But once that was done, they didn’t wait long before quickly washing themselves using a few Suiton spells cast by the younger of the two, then slipping into the deliciously warm water.

Enjoying the space all to themselves, each claimed a side, stretching out as far as they could, sighing with satisfaction as the temperature and the spring’s potential beneficial properties took effect, softening their exhausted muscles and releasing all tension from their bodies.

Once again, Kakashi wasn’t stupid—far from it—and was well aware that this wasn’t the only reason Obito had led them here. They had more than enough money to try their luck at one of the paid onsens without it making a dent in their savings!

And as if that idiot thought he was being discreet with his glances.

“Looking for something?”

His start was endearing, and not just because of the guilty expression he then put on, but because it was proof that his boyfriend felt comfortable enough with him to relax whilst they were out in the open, in a foreign country.

It was cute, seriously.

And his guilty expression was even cuter, of course! He looked a few years younger, reminding him of the little boy he’d been, not so long ago…

Deciding he could have a bit more fun, Kakashi moved closer to him, remaining submerged, and settled down beside him, giving the impression he was doing so with no ulterior motive.

Which would be to misunderstand him completely…

Patiently, he let the tension subside, allowing the birdsong to fill the silence, before making his first move.

With a slow, calculated gesture, he raised one hand out of the water and ran it along the bridge of his nose, as if hesitating to remove the cotton mask he wore specifically for swimming.

He didn’t need to spy on his neighbour; he could clearly feel his gaze upon him and, even more so, his breath catching.

His hand went back under the water, as if he’d finally changed his mind.

Then he repeated the manoeuvre, whilst making sure he looked as natural as possible, lost in thought.

Given their proximity, he also took the opportunity to brush against their feet from time to time, pretending it was simply due to the natural contours of the seabed and nothing more, even as the temperature seemed to rise.

Ah, the Uchiha and their Katon nature…

Finally, he decided he’d toyed with Obito’s nerves enough.

Not quite—there was one final nail to hammer into his coffin, and this was the perfect moment.

So, taking his time, Kakashi turned towards him, leaning slightly against the rock face, smiling from behind the last barrier of his nakedness.

“Obi?”

The one addressed turned towards him with all the suppleness of a marble statue, his face just as blank, making a tremendous effort not to give the slightest hint of his intentions.

As if it hadn’t been obvious the very moment he’d opted for a wild onsen…

Adorable idiot.

Now that he had the other man’s full and undivided attention, Kakashi raised his hand again, but instead of bringing it to his nose, this time it veered towards the back of his head and, more precisely, to the fastening of his mask, which he quickly undid, the fabric immediately falling onto his chest, before he pulled it off, flinging it casually towards their belongings, preferring to remain focused on the person opposite him.

He didn’t have to wait long before Obito’s naturally tanned complexion suddenly flushed crimson, his eyes widening in surprise and – oh! – his Sharingan suddenly flaring open, as he took a step back in astonishment, his mouth agape.

“Do you like what you see?”

Despite all that blood rushing to his brain, alas, his boyfriend seemed unable to utter a single coherent word, so he waited patiently until a syllable could finally escape his lips.

At worst, he could always help him with that. Wasn’t he a considerate partner?

He couldn’t help but smile, which seemed to make Obito’s condition worse.

He looked as though he might burst into flames at any moment, but Kakashi was keen to find out just how far he could push him.

So he put his hand to work again, making sure it was still wet, as he pressed his index finger against one cheekbone, slowly tracing its outline, before following the line of his jaw, his chin…

The drops trickled down, some returning straight to the source, but others falling onto his face.

Obito was clearly torn, and Kakashi could see him almost squinting several times, his eyes struggling to decide which movement to follow.

Deciding he could take a little more, Kakashi gently stuck out his tongue, delicately catching one of the water droplets on its tip, tracing back a little along the path it had taken, before closing his mouth.

And that was all it took to finish off his teammate, who practically crashed into the edge, redder than ever and with weak legs, given his suddenly unsteady balance.

Of course, he wasn’t going to let him hurt himself, let alone drown! Like a thoughtful boyfriend, he hastened to take him in his arms, wrapping his arms round him so that they remained face to face, whilst wearing a worried expression.

“Are you all right, Obi? You must have been in the water too long; you’re all red… It’s dangerous, you know; you could faint.”

He took great care to keep his face close to Obito’s, as if examining him, before moving it so he could wrap his arms round him and pull them both out of the natural pool, welcoming the considerably cooler air against their burning skin.

Kneeling on one knee, with Obito sitting on the other, Kakashi gently stroked his hair, still playing.

“Perhaps you should lie down for a bit, to cool off, all right?”

But the Uchiha was impervious to any kind of heat—including embarrassment—and Obito quickly pushed him away, standing up on his own, though this time he refused to meet his gaze.

Mirroring his movements, the young man no longer hid his amusement, observing the inner turmoil reflected in his partner’s silent agitation: he buried his face in his hands, tugged at his hair, began to slump slightly before straightening up again at once, all in a sequence dictated solely by his thoughts.

He’d always been all talk and no action. It ran in his family, from what he’d heard, but Obito was nothing like a cruel maniac and every bit the slightly clumsy puppy.

And so what if that made the Hatake heir look like a rubber ball in this scenario? His ninken had already got him used to worse!

For now, he was simply enjoying the show, biding his time until Obito managed to get his thoughts in order and make up his mind. Knowing him, he’d either play the cool, detached bloke – like the time he’d asked him out and got a proper rebuff – or he’d react like the first time they’d kissed and get as lyrical as Gai – in which case, he might as well start setting up camp for the night.

There was also a third possible option: that he’d glare at him with his darkest stare, looking offended, before puffing out his cheeks and turning away sharply, sulking ostentatiously.

How cute he was, when he enjoyed thwarting his predictions…

He’d never admit it to him, but it was clearly this remnant of his childish behaviour – the very same that had annoyed him so much when they were still a team – that made him go weak at the knees. Of course, the first spark had been kindled during his attempts to protect him, back during the war. Then there were the debates over the best strategy to follow, during which Obito slowly awakened what would become his greatest asset to date.

Who would have thought that, within this slow-witted, hot-headed underachiever, lay a genius worthy of the Nara clan?

That was no doubt why Minato had advised them to pursue different career paths, steering Kakashi towards ANBU whilst his other student followed the standard route, thus allowing them to cultivate their talents without getting in each other’s way.

And there they were, both jōnin – Kakashi had recently hung up his mask and had therefore been promoted since – carrying out a mission just like in the good old days.

But without the untimely arguments and the dark days of war, and without their third member, who continued to terrorise the hospital director, having developed a taste for it.

(Rumours were beginning to circulate that, whenever Team 7 was taken on by a Hokage – it didn’t matter whether he held the title at the start, as long as he did by the end – the shinobi who made up the team became terrifying, both in terms of their personalities and their effectiveness.

The comparison with the Sannin was not unwelcome to them.)

“Obi?” he called.

The boy in question didn’t turn so much as an inch towards him. However, he had sat down, still rubbing his hair rhythmically.

He didn’t move when Kakashi loomed over him, nor when his legs pressed against his back.

If he was going to play it like that…

Crouching down, he wrapped his arms round him, his hands sliding down his shoulders and across his chest, whilst he pressed his cheek against Obito’s, whispering:

“Are you giving me the cold shoulder?”

The blush was back.

Despite his shy and reserved demeanour, in private, Obito was the sort to take the initiative and lead the way, not afraid to be bold.

Conversely, beneath all his arrogance and brashness, Kakashi was ultimately modest and preferred to go with the flow, letting himself be carried along with great pleasure.

The change in attitude was almost immediate, as if a switch had been flicked.

When the Uchiha closed his hands around his wrists, without saying a word, that was all it took for the source of his embarrassment to surrender to him, burying his face against his neck, eyelids closed, his breath caressing his bare skin.

“How long were you planning to keep this from me?” whispered Obito.

“As long as I was able to.”

With every word, his lips brushed against the tendons in his throat, triggering small, involuntary shivers.

“I was supposed to be the one surprising you,” he grumbled.

“And it was a lovely one.” I was just returning the favour.

With the heavy weight pressing down on him, turning round was a struggle, but it took more than that to discourage him; this time, he was the one embracing the other, with Kakashi straddling him as they kissed.

With an absent thumb, Obito stroked the tiny mole, lost on that milky skin that never saw the sun.

“I’m going to burn all your masks once we’re back in Konoha,” he promised. “It’s criminal to keep that sight all to yourself.”

“Really?”

Of course, despite his gentler behaviour in the heat of their intimacy, Kakashi was still Kakashi. He simply reserved his biting for decorating his partner’s skin.

“I’d have expected you to forbid me from taking it off until the end of time, after one of those tirades only you know how to deliver, where you’d finally reveal just how possessive you can be—as much as anyone in your clan.”

“Shut up before you give me an idea you’ll regret.”

The kiss grew more intense, which neither of them minded, until they had to pull apart to catch their breath.

“Shall we go back into the water?”

“Only if you carry me.”

Teasingly, he merely smiled as his partner rolled his eyes, manipulating him in turn to lift him as he stood up, determined to make the most of the onsen he’d found for a purpose that had initially been… more light-hearted.

Not that he was going to complain if the temperature rose for another reason…