Work Text:
Naruto can't help the way that he's practically vibrating with excitement as he rushes around his apartment.
The summer heat has begun to well and truly settle across Konoha and Naruto's favorite time of the year has finally come back around.
It's firefly season.
Which means that, after weeks of preparation, all of Konoha is now officially wrapped up in the three-day-long festival that sweeps over the village every year.
The Firefly Festival is the longest and most extravagant of Konoha's various festivals, meant to honor both fallen comrades and the joy of passionate love.
Most important of all for Naruto though is the fact that, despite, or perhaps because of, its nature, it's the most joyous festival in Konoha by far.
There are food stalls, game booths, and various shows and performances set up from one end of the village to the other for the duration.
There are raffles, prizes, fireworks, and always at least half a dozen weddings and proposals.
Everyone is so happy.
It's one of the few occasions where even the most dour of villagers and solemn of shinobi are sure to be caught laughing and smiling freely.
Needless to say, it's always been Naruto's favorite time of the year.
Much more so than ... other festivals Naruto has always been so careful to avoid.
Not that Naruto was ever welcome in any festival growing up.
Even without understanding why, Naruto had learned the hard way that October was ... not the ideal time for him to be seen in the village proper.
And especially not on his birthday, no matter how the glow of the paper lanterns and the scents of the various food stalls called to him.
But none of that is important at the moment.
What is important is the fact that Naruto had missed the first two days of the festival this year, stuck all the way up north answering Koyuki's call for aid. He'd pushed himself double time to return earlier today so he didn't miss the last day of the celebrations.
He'd practically thrown himself into and out of his small shower and had been rushing around to get ready for the past ten minutes.
He doesn't want to miss a single minute more of the festival than he already has, especially since tonight, the last night, is the most important.
There will be fireworks and, since it's the last day, various stalls and performances run by other shinobi will be up and open.
He needs to go if he wants to have time to try everything.
Not that Naruto is all that worried about missing anything, he's had a system for these sorts of things worked out for years. Has a surefire plan to make sure that he gets to enjoy festivals to their full extent.
"What are you doing?" A familiar low voice asks then, cutting through the manic sort of energy that's engulfed the apartment.
Naruto turns, the dark kimono, all black silk with delicate red camillas spilling across it, he'd managed to scrimp and save for years ago sliding down to pool in the crooks of his elbows since he'd yet to tie it properly.
He clutches his mask, a worn white porcelain thing that still shows off the snarling dog painted across it despite the years that have passed since Naruto found it, in one hand and a length of black cloth in the other.
He takes a moment to blink at Kakashi who isn't actually supposed to be here. He's lounging across Naruto's window sill, careful not to disturb the plants that are clustered around it. He's also dressed in a kimono, a surprisingly vibrant blue and white ocean-like pattern so different from the more somber-colored robes Naruto's seen him wear in the past.
"Thought you'd be off with Gai-sensei," Naruto says instead of answering even as he crosses the room to place his mask on the edge of his bed.
Kakashi just blinks at him for a long moment, eyes tracing over the way that Naruto has moved to cover his hair with that black cloth Ibiki-style.
"I pointed Anko in his direction," Kakashi says. "She had saké and a fistful of senbon, so he'll be busy for hours. Now, again, what are you doing?"
"Poor Gai-sensei," Naruto mutters as he finishes fiddling with his haircloth, confident that not a single blond hair will show for the rest of the night. It’d be easier, of course, if he could just use a henge but there are measures to detect that sort of thing at all of the stalls and his more thorough transformation is well known by this point. The old-fashioned way will have to do. "I'm getting ready for the festival."
The "obviously" is unspoken but not unheard.
“By going fully incognito?” Kakashi asks. “You’re not this subtle on actual missions.”
Naruto doesn’t answer, his gut twisting sharply for some reason at the thought of laying everything out in words.
Especially right now.
Especially to Kakashi of all people.
Instead, Naruto shrugs his fallen kimono back up, tugs at his loosely tied obi until it’s actually attempting to do its job, and then reaches out for his mask.
Only …
Only Kakashi is there in the next second, one surprisingly gloveless hand reaching out to snag the porcelain mask before Naruto can.
For a long moment, he just stands there, turning the mask over in his hand as he stares at it.
“Found it,” Naruto admits into the unexpectedly heavy silence that’s draped itself over the room. “Or someone left it for me, I guess.”
“You know what this is,” Kakashi says more than asks, attention still riveted on the porcelain in his hand.
“Yeah,” Naruto bobs his head in agreement, eyes tracing over the familiar lines of Kakashi’s profile. “They used to watch me when I was a kid after the Matron … after I got my place. Would never come close no matter what I did but …”
Naruto huffs and shakes off the memory of all the things he used to do to try and lure his strange watcher in closer, desperate for attention, for interaction, for … anything.
“They stopped though,” he keeps going, “when I started the Academy. Woke up one morning and that was on the window sill. Always liked to think it was a-a goodbye or something, ya know? Liked to think they cared enough for that.”
“Hm,” Kakashi hums, hand tightening just a bit on the mask before he brings it up towards his own face.
The mask fits as if it was made for him.
For a long, breathless sort of moment, they stand there staring at one another.
Naruto staring at this ghost from his past and Kakashi staring back at him from behind the mask that has shielded Naruto for years now.
Then Kakashi shifts the mask up and over until it’s resting on the side of his head instead.
“I’m sure they did,” Kakashi finally says. “Care that is. More than they could ever say.”
Kakashi smiles then, that soft sort of smile that he’s adopted in the past few years, the one that crinkles both of his eyes shut, the one that Naruto likes the best.
“Think I’ll hold onto this for you,” Kakashi taps a finger against the corner of the mask.
There’s a ripple of movement and suddenly the cloth that’s been covering Naruto’s hair is gone too.
“This too,” Kakashi loops the black cloth around his own neck like an awkward scarf.
“Hey!” Naruto huffs out a weak protest, arms coming up to cross over his chest as he puffs out his cheeks. “Those are mine.”
“You don’t need them,” Kakashi says simply, tone gentle but oh so achingly knowing. “Not anymore.”
Naruto’s breath catches.
Kakashi knows. He understands.
All of the things that Naruto won’t, can’t, say in this moment.
But then …
Of course, he does.
“Have fun tonight, Naruto,” Kakashi says as he turns back towards the window, obviously intent on leaving.
Naruto’s moving before he thinks about it, covering the distance between them to latch one hand around the surprisingly delicate feeling width of Kakashi’s wrist.
And Kakashi …
Kakashi lets him.
“Go to the festival with me,” Naruto manages to blurt out, his hand sliding down to tug insistently at Kakashi’s own.
Kakashi pauses.
Cuts a look back over his shoulder at Naruto.
Because they both know just what he’s asking.
The Firefly Festival has always been a joyous occasion. A time set aside to honor fallen comrades and love.
But the last day?
The third night?
Tonight?
It has always been set aside for lovers.
If they go together so openly, Naruto with his face bare for all of the village to see and Kakashi at his side then …
“Maa,” Kakash finally says, hand shifting until he can tangle his fingers with Naruto’s, “I guess it’s a date.”
And Naruto …
Naruto laughs.
Loud and bright and joyful.
Because yes, yes it is.