On the other side, Hikari supported a slightly groggy Kakashi as they headed back.
Kakashi had his arm around Hikari's waist, his head resting on her shoulder as he spoke, his breath smelling of alcohol.
"Aren't you angry?"
"Angry about what? What is there to be angry about?"
"Also, don't act like a sloppy drunk. Use your chakra to suppress the alcohol."
Hikari glanced at the man leaning against her and spoke with a calm expression.
"I'm not drunk; my head is just spinning a little."
Kakashi rested on Hikari's shoulder, eyes closed, feeling the strands of hair brushing against his face in the night breeze, allowing Hikari to lead him along.
He truly wasn't drunk; he simply wanted to lean on her.
Hikari rolled her eyes at the stubborn man beside her but didn't say anything more, slowly guiding Kakashi home.
Once they returned to the house, Hikari planned to lay Kakashi down on the bed and go fetch a basin of water to wash his face and help him sober up.
Unexpectedly, Kakashi refused to let go of Hikari's hand.
"Why are you acting like a child..."
Hikari grumbled inwardly, silently sitting on the edge of Kakashi's bed, allowing the man to cling to her hand.
Looking at the drunken man before her, the Uchiha great-grandmother's eyes shifted slightly, glancing at the photograph on Kakashi's nightstand.
It was a group photo of Team 7.
Back then, Kakashi still had that cool demeanor.
Ignoring Minato Namikaze and Obito Uchiha in the picture, Hikari's gaze fell upon the girl with the brilliant smile.
Rin, was it...?
A tug from Kakashi drew her attention back. Hikari looked at the man on the bed, their eyes meeting.
"What are you thinking about?"
Kakashi asked.
"Nothing. I'm going to wash your face."
Hikari shook her head, attempting to leave.
But Kakashi had no intention of letting go.
"What are you doing? We agreed that— Ah~"
Hikari sensed danger in Kakashi's gaze and tried to slip away, but she let out a cry as she was pulled directly into his arms, collapsing on top of him.
"You!"
Hikari tried to struggle up.
"Don't move."
Kakashi held Hikari tightly in his embrace; he could clearly feel the somewhat rapid beating of her heart.
"You jerk..."
Hikari lay stiffly in Kakashi's arms, feeling a bit indignant but helpless.
She believed it now.
This bastard wasn't drunk at all.
Hikari felt a tickle on her ear; a warm softness pressed against it, and this familiar yet strange sensation turned her cheeks bright red.
Feeling those two dishonest paws on her body, Hikari slandered him in her heart.
Sure enough, a perverted dog.
That warm softness slid from her earlobe to her cheek, finally landing on the Uchiha great-grandmother's lips.
Compared to their first time, Hikari, now possessing a little experience, clumsily responded to Kakashi.
Yet even so, Kakashi retained dominance.
She didn't know how much time had passed; flushed and looking incredibly alluring, the Uchiha great-grandmother's breathing grew gradually more rapid.
A slightly calloused hand bypassed the obstruction of fabric, climbing toward the peaks.
That palm roamed between the mountains; the rising peaks did not hinder that hand which did not belong to Hikari, but instead allowed this brazen fellow to wander freely.
Unknowingly, Hikari, who hadn't drunk any wine, now looked as if she were intoxicated.
"I... said... we have to wait for the wedding..."
Intermittent words spilled from Hikari's mouth. The man before her didn't answer; his other hand simply slid across her back, forming a pincer attack with the hand attacking from the front.
"Ka... Kakashi."
Hikari felt herself drifting into a daze, her watery eyes looking affectionately at the man before her.
While she clumsily responded to him, her tone carried a pitiful plea.
"Yes, I know."
Kakashi ultimately chose to respect Hikari's wishes.
The moment that burning softness on her lips separated, Hikari felt a slight sense of loss, but lingering reason reclaimed her brain.
Coming back to her senses, Hikari realized the hand on the mountain had no intention of leaving. In a bit of a panic, she hurriedly sat up from Kakashi's body.
Only then did she realize her clothes had been half-undone at some point; the pale-pink scenery exposed to the air ensured Kakashi's gaze had no intention of looking away.
"You... you jerk, I... I'm going to take a shower. I'm not talking to you..."
Hikari looked at the man beneath her and hurriedly wrapped her body up, leaving Kakashi somewhat regretful.
Watching Hikari run out of his room on slightly unsteady legs, Kakashi asked:
"Do you need my help?"
"No, no need!"
The Next Day
The stimulation from the previous night was a bit too much for the Uchiha great-grandmother; she didn't even make breakfast today, hiding in her room like a frightened deer, refusing to come out.
But it didn't matter. They were getting married in a month anyway, so Kakashi didn't mind the wait. He wasn't so impatient that he would force himself on Hikari.
Although Hikari likely wouldn't refuse, they were people who would be together for a lifetime, and Kakashi would satisfy Hikari as much as possible.
Since Hikari didn't make breakfast today, Kakashi wasn't interested in eating out on the street. He simply planned to wash up and head to the Hokage's office.
Putting on the black ninja outfit from the hanger and draping the loose Hokage flame robe over it, Kakashi was ready to go out.
It was worth mentioning that Kakashi didn't like the green ninja vests currently issued in Konoha; instead, he had a soft spot for the dark-colored ninja gear that existed for a very short time during the Second Great Ninja War.
During that period, Hiruzen Sarutobi was in his prime, and his personality was quite tough. Under his leadership, the Konoha ninja gear of that time reflected a solemn and murderous style.
Upon arriving at the Hokage's office, Kakashi saw an unexpected person.
"Lord Third?"
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi sitting on the sofa, smiling like a little old man from next door, Kakashi was somewhat surprised.
"I heard you're getting married. Congratulations, congratulations."
Hiruzen stood up to welcome him as soon as he saw Kakashi approach.
"It is so, Lord Third."
Although Kakashi was surprised by Hiruzen Sarutobi's arrival, he didn't mind it too much.
"The fact that Uchiha Hikari is willing to marry you is a good thing for Konoha."
"I never expected you, kid, to have some of Minato's flair."
Seeing that smile on the little old man Hiruzen's face—the kind that implies 'men understand'—Kakashi could only respond with a dry laugh.
After chatting with Hiruzen Sarutobi for a few sentences, Hiruzen finally revealed the purpose of his visit.
However, what Kakashi hadn't expected was that Hiruzen mentioned neither the Uchiha clan matters nor the issues with Danzō Shimura and Koharu Utatane. Instead, he brought up a completely unrelated issue.
"Now that your wedding is imminent, Kakashi..."
"Are you interested in using this opportunity to invite a few more people?"
————
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