Chapter Text
A phantom pain in his neck made Itachi wince as he darted from tree to tree, trying to find the last seal as quickly as possible. The mission was tedious. More than thirty intricate tracking seals were scattered across Fire Country, reporting back to Konoha all kinds of information: chakra signatures, population density, unauthorized jutsu use.
But they required frequent maintenance. Of course, this wasn’t the kind of mission Itachi was usually assigned. It certainly wasn’t an ANBU task.
The Hokage gave him the most time-consuming mission he had available.
Sasuke was being moved.
Itachi should have waited. Biting Sasuke out of heat was a foolish lapse of judgment—driven by instinct and need. He wasn’t used to that kind of failure. Perfection and discipline were all he knew: as ANBU, as clan heir, as a son, he’d never once failed to regulate himself.
Except when it came to Sasuke.
He’d failed to keep his hands off him more than once—a fact he wasn’t proud of. He knew they were too young. But Sasuke was his, and he didn’t want to wait. Others would call it wrong. They didn’t understand. Sasuke didn’t understand yet, either. But instinct did not lie.
Itachi had felt the pull for years—in the way Sasuke followed him, clung to him, looked at him as though he held every answer. Even apart, sweetgrass lingered in Itachi’s nose. There was no denying it now that Sasuke had presented. His scent had blossomed, turning more sweet than earthy, a perfect complement to Itachi’s black tea and camphor.
There wasn’t anything more perfect than Sasuke’s scent. His neck. His innocent eyes.
Claiming him would be difficult, now.
But Itachi would do whatever it took to keep Sasuke where he belonged.
The pain returned—a dull throb that pulsed over his scent gland. Itachi’s chest tightened, his pace slowing just a fraction from the sudden ache. At least he had the comfort of knowing Sasuke felt it, too. Shared pain was a sign their bond was still strong.
He didn’t want Sasuke to suffer for even a minute longer. He needed to get back to him. Needed to comfort him. Needed to hold him.
Heat rose beneath Itachi’s skin at the thought of someone else touching him. He didn’t bother to speculate who their father made the arrangement with. It didn’t matter who—if any other alpha touched him…
Itachi would do whatever he had to.
There was still time before Sasuke’s heat, he just had to locate him.
Itachi’s Sharingan flared—there. **
Bark splintered as he slid to a halt against the tree. Carefully, he ran his hand along the hidden seal, channeling thin lines of chakra into the ink.
Finally.
Gripping his neck as though there were a wound, he sprinted towards Konoha.
“I’ll be there soon, Sasuke.”
“What are we going to tell Naruto and Sakura?” Sasuke asked as he loaded up a bowl of stir-fry that Kakashi had made for dinner.
“The same lie we’re going to tell everyone else,” Kakashi replied as he sat down at the table.
Sasuke followed and picked up his chopsticks. “That we’re bonded?”
“Only if they ask, I suppose,” Kakashi said as he blew the steam from his plate, his mask pulled down to fit loosely around his neck. Sasuke tried not to stare by keeping his eyes on his own plate.
“They’re going to ask,” Sasuke said with certainty. “I’m surprised they haven’t terrorized the village looking for us yet. We were supposed to do survival training this week.”
“They’ve been notified that we’re both on temporary medical leave. They weren’t given any other details.”
“That’s probably driving Naruto nuts,” Sasuke said with a snort. “He hates not knowing stuff.”
Kakashi hummed and took a bite. “I think Sakura went snooping at my apartment,” he said with his mouth full.
“Really?” Sasuke leaned forward, intrigued. “How do you know?”
“I have seals that track chakra signatures. She knocked a few times and peeked in my window. She’s been coming by daily, probably checking for movement.”
“Has Naruto?”
Kakashi shook his head. “Not that I know of. Or he didn’t get close enough to trigger the seal.”
Sasuke hummed and took a bite of his food. His face twisted, unable to hide his disgust.
“Ugh, it’s so salty.” He put his chopsticks back down and chugged the cup of water next to him.
Kakashi laughed. “Sorry, I may have gone overboard. I didn’t realize those seasoning packets all had salt in them…”
“How many did you use?” Sasuke asked in disbelief.
“Clearly too many,” Kakashi said as he took another bite, completely unfazed.
“This isn’t edible,” Sasuke exclaimed with a shake of his head. “Maybe Iruka-sensei was right about you needing a cookbook.”
Kakashi laughed louder that time. “Maa, probably. Want to get takeout?”
Sasuke took a look in the fridge. There was other stuff they could make… but when his stomach rumbled loudly, he shut it again. “Yeah,” he grumbled.
Kakashi dumped his bowl in the trash, and Sasuke did the same.
“What do you want to eat?” Kakashi asked, leaning against the counter.
Sasuke shrugged. “… Not fish.”
“Okay, that narrows it down.” Kakashi dusted his hands. “Let’s go take a look around, then,” he said, already pulling his mask up and grabbing his sandals.
Sasuke froze. “Like… Together?”
Kakashi looked back at him. “Yes?”
“Itachi isn’t back yet, right?” Sasuke asked.
“He shouldn’t be,” Kakashi said, his voice softening. “But I can’t be certain.”
“Isn’t it better to wait until… I mean, it buys us time if he doesn’t know who I’m with.”
Kakashi nodded slowly. “That’s one approach. You could stay huddled here until we file the claim. That was my plan at first, to keep it quiet as long as possible…”
Sasuke looked at the floor. “Or?” he asked.
“Or… we could get people talking to gain credibility for the bond. Rumors spread faster than reports. If the village believes it, that’s protection.”
Sasuke swallowed. The plan was moving fast.
“Wouldn’t that provoke him?” he asked.
“It could.” Kakashi set his sandals down and stepped back towards Sasuke. “But attacking you would not only be foolish, it would cost him everything. ANBU will be watching him, and I’m not leaving your side.”
“He’d get arrested?” Sasuke asked quietly, his shoulders hunched as though trying to disappear.
“Yes.” Kakashi paused, perhaps considering his words carefully, his brow pinched in thought. “I think he should have been arrested the first time he put his hands on you.”
Sasuke pulled his arms over his chest, hoping the pressure might soothe the hollow feeling that pressed into his ribs.
Kakashi said that like he knew the bite wasn’t the first time.
No, there was no way he knew. Mother pretended like she didn’t notice, and Sasuke is certain she never told anyone, not even his Father.
What would Kakashi think if he found out Itachi had been coming into his bedroom at night for years? Would he be angry that Sasuke never told anyone? Would he think he’s dirty? Sasuke’s mouth was too dry to speak at first, and Kakashi didn’t rush a response.
“Thinking he should be arrested,” Sasuke said after a long pause, “doesn’t mean he will be.”
“Sasuke…” Kakashi placed one hand on the counter, not quite leaning over him, but close enough for Sasuke’s nose to fill with the warmth of summer rain. “Your father told me that you asked not to have Itachi interrogated. Is that true?”
Sasuke blinked and kept his gaze locked onto the tiles. He hadn’t expected Father to tell him that. That was supposed to be private.
“Yes, but I didn’t… I mean, he told me that I… that he—”
Sasuke bit his lip hard enough to hurt. Father told him the clan would lose its heir, and their family would be disgraced. What other choice did he have? It’s not like he wanted Itachi to go to prison… he just wanted to get away from him.
“Sasuke, it’s okay,” Kakashi reassured. He was kneeling now, fishing for Sasuke’s gaze on the floor. “It’s okay if you did say that, and it’s okay if you meant it... It’s also okay to change your mind.”
Sasuke finally glanced at him. Their eyes locked, and Kakashi’s gaze softened. “I just wanted to make sure that wasn’t a lie to silence you,” he concluded.
Sasuke exhaled. He wouldn’t put it past his father to bend the truth, anyway. “I just wanted away from him,” he said, his voice coming out smaller than he expected. “But now… I don’t know if that will be enough.” He rubbed his eyes, pushing back the stinging threat of tears that didn’t fall. He hated how easily he cried these days.
“I hope this arrangement is enough to deter him,” Kakashi replied. “But either way, I’m not letting him near you.”
The words landed in Sasuke’s chest like stones sinking slowly into a pond. He wanted to believe them, so he nodded as if he did.
“Okay.”
Kakashi’s hand reached forward, almost touching Sasuke’s, but it fell short. Sasuke’s eyes followed it as Kakashi stood up. “Once we go public, there’s no going back,” Kakashi said, his voice calm but stern. “We can hold off a little longer, if you want. I don’t mind picking something up.”
Sasuke chewed his lip again. Fear in his gut and the sting of his neck made him want to stay. But the house was feeling smaller by the hour, and he was desperate to see civilization again. Besides, Kakashi’s proposal made sense. A social safety net was important. The more people believed they were bonded, the better.
Eventually, he shook his head. “No, I want to go.”
Kakashi adjusted his mask and grabbed his hitai-ate from the front door hook as Sasuke slipped on his shoes. His shoulder brushed Kakashi’s side as he bent down to adjust the strap.
Only two steps behind, Sasuke stayed close to Kakashi on their way into the village. The trees were dense and curly—roots snaked in and out of the ground. Branches laced above, holding the path like fingers grasping around them.
He tried to memorize the route in case he ever had to find his way back alone, but not without difficulty. The forest was dense, and the ‘path’ was more of an impression of a trail than a road. Ultimately, he ended up flashing his Sharingan to memorize the tree pattern.
Kakashi glanced back at the sudden flare of chakra, but didn’t comment.
The sun had already set when they headed out, and by the time they reached the northern market, the stars were shining.
Kakashi slowed his pace as they settled into the crowd and glanced back at Sasuke.
Oh, right.
Sasuke shuffled closer to his side. He let his shoulder brush against Kakashi’s arm as they walked.
They didn’t make it very far.
“KAKASHI!!!”
A loud voice boomed from behind them, and both came to a sudden halt. Might Guy was bolting towards them at full speed.
Sasuke's eyes widened. He took a quick step back, and Kakashi calmly stepped in front of him.
Guy stopped just short of crashing into them.
“Kakashi,” he repeated. “You’ve been avoiding our eternal rivalry of masculine excellence. We agreed on stamina endurance this week. Tell me, have you forgotten, or are you afraid I’ll take the lead once and for all?”
Guy was grinning and holding his hands out into a loose battle stance. His smell hit Sasuke all at once: a thick musk of pine and peppercorn that stung his nose. He struggled to keep his face straight, his brow pinching in disgust.
“I haven’t forgotten, Guy... I’ve been busy.” Kakashi stepped closer to Sasuke, but shifted his weight to the side just enough for Guy to see him. Sasuke moved a little closer. He told himself it was to play the part, but really, he was grateful for the fresh mint to drown out the other man’s stench.
Guy glanced between them, and his eyes widened in understanding. “Ah,” he said, his voice quieting into something closer to a normal volume. “I see why you’ve been absent. Your strength was needed elsewhere. I must say, this comes as quite a surprise!”
Sasuke's face flushed. Having Guy-sensei be the first to acknowledge their fake bond felt like a curse he didn’t want to think about too hard.
“We’re still settling in,” Kakashi said with his hands in his pockets. “Let's do a rain check on stamina endurance?”
Guy nodded vigorously with his hands on his hips. “Absolutely! There is nothing more beautiful than the fiery passion of youthful love! The seeds of a new relationship are to be sewn with careful attention, there’s no doubt.” The man rested his chin between his thumb and index finger with a toothy smirk.
Those words in that order made Sasuke queasy.
“Kakashi,” he continued. “I’m thrilled to see you’ve allowed someone into your heart at last. For far too long, you have worn the face of a lonely man beneath the mask.”
Kakashi stiffened, a rare visible reaction Sasuke hardly ever saw from him. “Ah, thank you, Guy. We should really get going—“
“And Sasuke,” Guy said as his eyes snapped to him, bringing Sasuke to stand up a little straighter in discomfort. “Please… take good care of my friend. He pretends not to need anything, but I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that isn’t true at all.”
Sasuke’s eyes widened. For a moment, he was too stunned to speak. Guy was talking to him like they were equals. Like there was anything Sasuke could do for Kakashi. He didn’t know anything about Kakashi’s needs. He’d never seen him have any beyond mild irritation or boredom.
Slowly, Sasuke nodded anyway. “I will.” The lie tasted sour in his mouth. But Guy just grinned again and gave a thumbs-up.
“We’re both quite hungry, Guy. I’ll see you later. Come on, Sasuke.” Kakashi held out his arm.
Sasuke’s face flushed as he stepped into it. Kakashi’s wrist brushed the back of Sasuke’s neck before settling around his shoulder. Mint and grass and hints of something sweeter stuck to his bandages. The scent mark did well to mask any trace of Guy’s scent, which made Sasuke’s shoulders relax a bit.
“Of course, Goodnight! Enjoy your meal!” Guy stayed and waved as they turned away.
“What is with that guy?” Sasuke asked after they gained some distance.
“I’ve been asking myself that for years,” Kakashi replied dully.
He kept his arm around Sasuke’s shoulder for a while. Eventually, it fell. Sasuke immediately felt colder without it, even though the night was warm with summer heat.
They slowed their pace just as the smell of food became overwhelming. There were rows of market vendors and small restaurants with their doors open along a narrow street.
Sasuke rarely visited the northern market. The Uchiha district was on the southernmost edge of Konoha, so he had little reason to venture this far.
“Anything look good?” Kakashi asked.
“Um…” Sasuke tried to just pick something, but his eyes wouldn’t settle.
People moved quickly all around them. Smells of all kinds of different foods mixed together in his nose—pork, fried fish, steamed vegetables. The sounds of merchants yelling and the laughter of drunk adults overlapped with the clatter of footsteps on stone.
Everyone was looking at him. Or maybe nobody was.
It was getting harder to breathe.
“Sasuke?” Kakashi stopped walking and reached back for his arm.
Sasuke couldn’t respond. His chest was tight. The ringing in his ears came back, drowning out all the noise and piercing Sasuke’s head. His neck began to throb, and he winced.
Kakashi knelt in front of him. His mask was moving, but Sasuke couldn’t hear him.
“Huh?” he tried to say, but he couldn’t hear his own voice, either. His breath came in short, shallow bursts through the pain in his chest.
Fuck—his neck hurt—he couldn’t breathe—
Kakashi wrapped his arm around him again, but this time he held firmly onto his arm. Swiftly, he guided them out of the street. Sasuke’s eyes stayed locked on his own feet as they followed Kakashi automatically.
He was pulled into a small izakaya—dimly lit, mostly empty, with only a handful of people scattered at tables. Sasuke closed his eyes tightly, and spots filled the darkness behind his eyelids. The colors shifted and moved in fast, morphing shapes.
Slowly, the ringing faded.
“—uke,” Kakashi’s voice came through at last. “Breathe. Deep breath, come on….”
Sasuke gasped. He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath, and his lungs burned as the cool air filled them.
“There you go,” Kakashi praised. He squeezed Sasuke’s shoulders in a slow, steady rhythm.
Sasuke took another deep breath, shaky, but calmer.
“Good job, that’s it,” Kakashi said softly.
Sasuke finally opened his eyes. The shapes stayed. They danced across Kakashi’s face, and Sasuke became dizzy trying to focus through them.
He closed his eyes again.
“Let’s get you to a chair.” Kakashi gently pulled Sasuke to a table.
Sasuke blinked at the floor briefly, just to see where he was going, and promptly closed his eyes again the moment he sat down. He put his head down on the table. The wood was cool beneath his forehead.
Footsteps. Sasuke almost lifted his head, but Kakashi’s voice cut through first.
“Two waters, please. And an order of yakitori.”
The footsteps trailed off again.
“Are you in pain?” Kakashi asked after a pause.
Sasuke shook his head against the table. His neck did hurt, but it wasn’t that bad. Not bad enough to disclose. He still felt lightheaded.
A glass was placed near his head, and Sasuke flinched upright. He hadn’t heard the waiter come back.
“Oh, sorry, babe,” the man said earnestly. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
Heat flushed through Sasuke’s skin. He wasn’t scared. And why did he call him babe? The waiter walked away before he could defend himself. Sasuke just scoffed and rested his chin on his palm.
“Feeling a bit better?” Kakashi asked.
Sasuke hummed and blinked slowly. The shapes were reduced to only vague outlines, and his breath came easier. He took a look around. He didn’t know where they were, nor could he remember what Kakashi had ordered.
That didn’t matter. What the hell was wrong with him? He nearly fainted in the street, and for what? Noise? The smell of meat?
Kakashi was looking at him.
“I don’t know what happened,” Sasuke muttered beneath his breath.
Kakashi put a straw in one of the glasses of water and pushed it a little closer. Sasuke rolled his eyes, but took a sip. The coolness soothed his throat, and the last of the colored dots faded from his vision.
“That’s alright,” Kakashi replied gently. “The market was loud. It’s not usually this busy. I forgot it was a Saturday night.”
“I didn’t use to get like this.”
“What do you mean?”
“All overwhelmed and stuff,” Sasuke grumbled. “It’s just a market. I freaked out over nothing.”
“You’re still adjusting to your new instincts,” Kakashi commented. “We’ve been isolated in the woods for two days, you’re still healing, and you got thrown into the most stimulating environment in the village. It won’t be like this forever.”
“How do you know that?” Sasuke asked. “That it won’t be like this forever?”
“I guess I don’t know that for sure,” he acknowledged. “But I know I didn’t do you any favors by bringing you out here so soon. I’m sorry.”
Sasuke frowned. “That’s stupid. I should be able to go into the village without—”
He stopped talking as the waiter approached again, and a massive plate of skewers was placed in the center of the table. The smell of grilled chicken and scallions made Sasuke’s stomach growl loud enough for Kakashi to chuckle. Sasuke shot him a glare.
“Enjoy!” the waiter called as he stepped away.
An older couple who sat two tables over—a man and a woman, definitely civilians—were blatantly staring at them. The man was an alpha, though Sasuke wasn’t sure how he knew that.
Sasuke tried to ignore them as he picked up a skewer. He sniffed it once and took a bite. Sweet glaze coated his tongue, and he resisted the urge to groan. He was starving.
Two skewers in, he realized he was the only one eating, and he paused. “You don’t want any?”
“You know I don’t eat in public,” Kakashi replied with a lazy point to his mask.
Sasuke hummed. Kakashi had been taking it off so casually around the house that he’d already forgotten his face was a forbidden sight.
“You’ve been eating around me a lot,” Sasuke pointed out, his voice slowing with uncertainty. “Why?”
Kakashi shook his head. “We live together, now. It’d be impractical to keep it up. I don’t mask at home, I’m not going to start now.”
Sasuke nodded slowly. He supposed that made sense, though it surprised him how quickly Kakashi accepted his presence. He couldn’t shake the feeling their arrangement was only temporary. He’d have to leave eventually, so there was no point in getting comfortable.
But then there was Kakashi, taking off his mask like it wasn’t anything special.
The alpha from the other table glanced back at them again. Sasuke met his gaze with a cold glare that made him turn back around sharply.
“Can we take the rest home?” Sasuke asked as he put down the skewer he was eating. “I don’t like it in here.”
Kakashi nodded. “I’ll go pay and get a container, then.”
Sasuke rested his cheek on his fist as he watched Kakashi’s back recede towards the counter. On his way back with a box in hand, the couple stopped him. The woman was talking fast, visibly upset. The alpha was saying something, too. Sasuke couldn’t read their lips.
Kakashi scratched his head the way he did when trying to be funny—usually to diffuse tension. Sasuke stood up to join him, but Kakashi’s eyes locked with his immediately, and Sasuke froze. Without Kakashi moving an inch, Sasuke understood the message loud and clear: stay where you are.
Sasuke swallowed and stayed put. Kakashi nodded goodbye to the couple and returned to the table. Sure enough, both of the old bats turned to watch Sasuke as Kakashi returned to his side.
“Alright, let’s get this bagged up so we can go,” Kakashi said casually, already opening the box.
Sasuke wanted to ask, but he knew he needed to wait. He glanced back at the couple one more time before stepping outside. They looked… scared? No—concerned, maybe.
The walk home was quiet for a while. Sasuke didn’t ask right away, and Kakashi didn’t bring it up. He waited longer than necessary, until the houses thinned and the roads turned to forest floor, until they were finally enclosed in the canopy of the Nara woods, to finally ask, “What did those people want?”
“They meant well.”
“That’s not what I asked,” Sasuke quipped.
“It really doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me.”
“Please drop it, Sasuke—“
“It was about me, wasn’t it?”
Kakashi sighed. “They just wanted to make sure you’re alright.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
Sasuke stared at him for a long moment. He knew what wasn’t all it was. The woman looked angry. Angry at Kakashi. And the way the man kept looking back at Sasuke…
It clicked.
Shame flooded him, and a million realizations came at once.
They were both going to be humiliated—ostracized. Not just by strangers. By shinobi. By their comrades. Kakashi would be seen as a predator, and it was all Sasuke’s fault for choosing him. This was a mistake. All of it. He’d made a mistake.
“Why did you even agree to this?” Sasuke asked, stopping in the middle of the path.
“Agree to what?”
“Taking me in.”
Kakashi’s eyebrow shot up. He didn’t respond right away, and when he did, he didn’t sound as certain as he usually did.
“You needed an out.”
“I’m ruining your reputation.” Sasuke crossed his arms. “Everyone is going to hate you because of my age. I shouldn’t have asked you. And you’re a fool for agreeing to it.”
Hurt flashed across Kakashi’s face, but was gone in an instant. “My reputation isn’t more important than your safety,” he argued. “It doesn’t matter what people say.”
“How can you say that? How does it not matter to you if people think you’re…” Sasuke couldn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to, he could tell by the look on Kakashi’s face that he understood.
“The opinions of strangers—or anyone, really—are not important to me. What matters is if my precious people are safe or not.”
Sasuke shook his head. “That can’t be worth it.”
“You chose me for a reason, didn’t you?” Kakashi asked, his voice turning just a degree colder, more firm. “You already knew I’d do whatever it took.”
Sasuke stopped breathing again, his chest turning cold. That’s not why he chose him. Not entirely, anyway. But he didn’t know if he could explain that, or if he even wanted to. So he just nodded.
Kakashi’s shoulders fell, and his voice softened. “C‘mon, let’s go home.”
Sasuke followed without another word. He kept his arms crossed over his chest as his feet crunched debris on the forest floor.
Their first outing as a “couple,” and they were already being judged by strangers. Already being cornered by other shinobi. He hated this. Hated performing. Hated being looked at and pitied. He just wanted to train. To be on the field with his team again. To be normal again.
The bite mark throbbed hot and sharp, and Sasuke gripped his neck, clutching the bandages.
He’d never be normal again. Even after this curse on his neck healed, he’d never stop being vulnerable to another claim. He’d never stop being an omega.
His body continued to remind him of that fact for the rest of the evening. The moment he was through the door, fatigue crashed over him like a tidal wave. His legs wobbled, and he had to lean against the wall to kick off his sandals.
“You alright?” Kakashi asked.
“M’tired,” Sasuke mumbled. He needed to lie down, but when he took a step towards the living room, the walls began to warp. “Fuck,” he cursed under his breath, nausea and heat rising in his throat.
Hands clasped his shoulders, not hard, but firm enough to steady him. “Let me help,” Kakashi said softly.
Sasuke didn’t argue. He hadn’t realized he was gripping Kakashi’s shirt until he was lifted into the man’s arms. His head fell onto Kakashi’s shoulder as he was carried into the living room. Slowly, Kakashi lowered him onto the amber chair, and Sasuke curled up. A blanket was placed over him, and Sasuke tucked his head beneath it, enclosing himself in the soft darkness.
The nausea subsided immediately. He kept his eyes closed anyway and listened to the sounds of Kakashi shuffling in the kitchen. The fridge opened and closed, then the cabinets, and finally, the sound of the kettle being put on the stove.
Sasuke nearly fell asleep by the time it was done, but his head found its way out of the blanket as the smell of green tea filled the room. He heard Kakashi settle on the couch nearby, and mint mixed with the warmth.
He was too tired to lift his head or reach for the cup. The chair felt like an ocean he kept sinking deeper into, and his eyelids were too heavy to open. Kakashi said nothing to wake him, and Sasuke stopped fighting the pull.
Sasuke fell asleep to the sound of pages turning, and every now and then, a short, hushed sip and the clink of ceramic against glass.