Sasuke Uchiha (the art of love?) · Y/n story by @ins0mniacc

The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy of the Forest of Death, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across the team as they moved in loose formation. Kakashi led, a lazy hand tucked in his pocket as he flipped through a tattered orange book.

Naruto Uzumaki

How come we always get the boring missions? I wanna do something cool for once! Like fighting a S-ranked missing-nin or—

Sakura Haruno

Naruto, you're going to attract every wild animal in this forest with all that whining.

Kakashi Hatake

Rule number one: recon missions are only boring if you're not paying attention.

The jonin stopped mid-step, ears catching the rustle of approaching footsteps. Seconds later, a familiar flash of crimson hair and black clothing emerged from the treeline.

Kurenai Yuhi

Kakashi. I was hoping I'd catch you. We intercepted some intel worth passing along.

Kurenai fell into step beside him, her voice low and professional. The jonin's mask glinted as he nodded, half-turning to listen as she briefed him on a suspected border skirmish.

Naruto Uzumaki

Is that a mosquito bite? Those things are brutal.

Sakura Haruno

It's not a mosquito bite, Naruto!

Kakashi Hatake

Kurenai-sensei. Suppose you take the rest of the day off. We can take it from here.

Kurenai's long lashes fluttered in what might have been the first hint of embarrassment Sakura had ever seen on her face. She pulled her sleeve down with practiced ease.

Kurenai Yuhi

…Right. I'll leave the rest to you, then. Take care.

She vanished in a blur of leaves, leaving the team standing in a pocket of silence. Kakashi continued forward as if nothing had happened, a low hum of acknowledgement escaping him.

Sasuke Uchiha

voice low, falling into step beside Y/n What was that on her arm?

It wasn't the kind of thing he'd usually admit to not knowing. But something about how Sakura had blushed, and how Naruto had been completely oblivious, told him it was a piece of knowledge he was missing. He kept his gaze forward, as if the question didn't matter.