After finishing her bath, Saeko stepped into her room, her wet hair clinging to her shoulders, droplets glistening as they slid down her skin. She wore a towel loosely wrapped around her body, one hand holding it securely while the other reached for fresh clothes in her wardrobe.
"I prefer a little hair down below. It shows a woman's maturity," came a deep voice from behind her.
The sudden words sent a chill down her spine. She froze for a moment before spinning around, her sharp eyes locking onto the intruder. Her body instinctively dropped into a defensive stance, every muscle poised for action.
Sitting casually in the corner was Kakashi, his relaxed posture betraying no concern for the sharpness in her gaze. He observed her with the same lazy expression he always wore, as if he'd been there all along.
"Where were you all these days?" Saeko asked, her tone calm and even, though irritation simmered beneath her words.
She had woken up five days ago to find him missing, and now he was suddenly here, lounging in her room as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Kakashi tilted his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Oh, that? I went to check on my other options."
Her brows furrowed. "You spoke to them?"
"I did," he said with a slow nod. Then, leaning forward slightly, he added with a teasing edge, "What's the matter? Jealous?"
"Not in the slightest," Saeko replied, her voice flat but laced with annoyance. She noticed his gaze flick downward, and instinctively, her eyes followed.
Her breath hitched. The towel she had been clutching had slipped slightly during her earlier movements, leaving her exposed. Her face flushed crimson as she quickly turned her back to him, gripping the towel tightly while scrambling to find her clothes.
Kakashi chuckled, his tone light but teasing. "Quick reflexes, I'll give you that. But maybe work on keeping your guard up... in all areas."
Saeko didn't reply, her focus entirely on dressing as fast as possible, though her movements were stiff with embarrassment. She could feel his gaze on her back, and it only made the situation more unbearable.
As she pulled her clothes on, his earlier words echoed in her mind. A little hair down below... Her blush deepened, and she bit her lip, shaking the thought away.
She glanced at him briefly, a wry thought crossing her mind. He's just a kid. But despite that, there was something unsettling about the way he spoke, the confidence in his voice and the way he carried himself. Was he really just a child?
"Have you decided if you want to come with me or not?" Kakashi asked suddenly, breaking her train of thought.
"No," she said firmly, shaking her head.
Kakashi seemed unfazed. He nodded as if he'd expected her answer all along.
In fact, many fanfictions depict Saeko as someone who blindly follows others, like a chick following its mother.
In their attempts to craft romance, they often strip away the core of her character, replacing her depth with an overly submissive archetype.
If someone asked me to go to the Naruto world, my answer would be no, too. Kakashi thought to himself, smirking slightly at the irony of his situation.
"Okay," he said finally, nodding in acknowledgment of her decision or lack thereof. "Take your time. I'll wait, but not forever."
Saeko studied him silently. He wasn't forcing her, wasn't pleading or trying to convince her with flowery words. It was as if he didn't care what her answer would be and somehow, that annoyed her more than anything.
Leaving Saeko behind, Kakashi made his way to the Takagi household.
The guards were no challenge. Slipping past them with ease, he soon found himself outside Saya's room.
A faint sound of running water reached his ears. Peeking inside, he saw Saya in the shower, her silhouette barely concealed by the fogged glass.
Is some pervert god blessing me today? Kakashi thought, his single visible eye narrowing in amusement as he observed her.
"Can you hurry it up? I don't have time to waste," he called out lazily, his voice startling Saya mid-rinse.
She let out a yelp, spinning around too quickly. Her foot slipped on the wet tiles, and with a loud thud, she landed on her backside.
"Ouch!" Saya winced, rubbing her tailbone. Fortunately, the fall hadn't caused any real injury just a bruised ego.
Kakashi's eyes flickered downward for a moment, making an immediate judgment. Less hair than Saeko. Noted.
"You...!" Saya exclaimed, her voice sharp with both surprise and anger. She ignored the dull ache from her fall, quickly grabbing a towel to cover herself as she stepped out of the shower.
Her sharp gaze locked onto him, confusion and recognition warring in her expression. The face was familiar, but something felt off.
Kakashi noticed the hesitation in her eyes and let out a small sigh, his posture shifting from casual to mildly amused. "Figured this might help," he muttered.
With a puff of smoke, his form shifted. The adult-like features she remembered morphed into a teenage version of himself. He stood there for a moment, letting her take it in, before reverting back to his original, childlike appearance.
Saya blinked, her mouth slightly open as she processed the transformation.
"This is my real look," Kakashi said casually, as if revealing his age was nothing extraordinary. "Oh, and I forgot to mention last time I'm six years old."
There was a long pause before Saya responded, her tone dripping with disbelief. "Six?"
"Six," Kakashi confirmed, shrugging as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Her mind raced. Six years old? How is that even possible? He acts nothing like a child.