"Welcome home!"
Anko was the first to shout as soon as Kakashi appeared in the living room.
Before Kakashi could even speak, Anko jumped on him, wrapping her arms and legs around him like a clingy koala.
"Haha, missed me that much?" Kakashi said.
"We all missed you."Kurenai gave him a small smile from her seat.
Tsunade, sitting with a cup of tea, looked up and nodded. "So? How did it go?"
Kakashi stepped forward, still carrying Anko who had no intention of getting off.
"It went smoothly," he said. "Takejiro is under the seal now. I plan to send a spore clone in disguise to guide him, politics, schemes, connections… He'll be molded properly."
"You're already turning him into a proper ruler?"Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
Kakashi shrugged. "He's the next daimyo. If he's under my control, he needs to be trained well. His loyalty is perfect now, he won't betray. The chakra signature is masked. The seals are hidden. No one will detect anything unusual."
"That's good. Quiet power is better than noisy one." Kurenai nodded thoughtfully.
"Mmm. So far, I'm impressed." Tsunade leaned back.
"Of course you're impressed. It's Kakashi." Anko poked Kakashi's cheek.
"Flatter me more, I might float." Kakashi rolled his eyes.
"Anything else happen?" Tsunade put her cup down.
"Yeah," Kakashi said with a smirk. "Sasuke's heart might be in danger."
"What do you mean?"Kurenai blinked.
Kakashi carried Anko to the couch and sat down with her still hanging on him. Kurenai shifted to make space while Tsunade leaned forward.
"He's crushing on Shizune."
Both Anko and Kurenai stared.
Then, they burst into laughter.
"Wait, for real?"Anko blinked.
"Yep," Kakashi said. "I teased him a bit, and he cracked."
"That boy… out of all the women in Konoha, he falls for my assistant."Tsunade covered her mouth, laughing.
"Poor Sakura."Kurenai chuckled.
"I brought that up too," Kakashi added. "Sasuke feels guilty, but he likes Shizune more. I told him Sakura might not accept sharing him with Shizune."
"You really are corrupting him." Anko tilted her head.
Kakashi shrugged. "Don't blame me. He's the one who kept going to the hospital for every tiny scratch."
Tsunade laughed harder. "That makes sense! Shizune did mention he's been coming in a lot recently. We thought he was just being careful."
"Shizune's a good girl. She might actually be good for him." Kurenai smiled gently.
"That's what I said," Kakashi said. "She's calm, responsible. Sasuke's intense. She'll balance him out."
Anko finally let go of Kakashi and flopped down beside him, stretching her arms.
"So when's the wedding?" she joked.
"Probably not for a while," Kakashi smirked. "He's still figuring things out."
"And Sakura?" Tsunade leaned back. She knew her disciple's love for Sasuke, and this would surely be devastating for her.
"She loves him enough," Kurenai said softly. "If Sasuke explains properly, she might agree, or she might not, after all no one is as generous as us."
"That's what I told him too," Kakashi said. "He listens."
"Of course he does. You're like his second dad." Anko snorted.
Kakashi paused for a second.
Then smiled.
"Yeah… I guess I am."
The living room quieted for a few moments. Just the sound of the kettle whistling in the background.
Tsunade stood up and went to pour more tea. She looked back at Kakashi.
"How long until your clone starts training Takejiro?"
"Tonight," Kakashi said. "He'll blend in as an advisor. Slowly steer him right."
"And how are you sure the elders won't interfere?" Kurenai asked.
"They're already mostly replaced with my plants," Kakashi said casually. "Literally."
"You mean your spore clones?" Anko raised her eyebrow.
"Yep," Kakashi nodded. "Spore clones make excellent spies. They're perfect for court life. Quiet. Efficient. And if one dies, I learn everything."
"You're really building a shadow kingdom." Tsunade brought the tea tray over.
"It's necessary," Kakashi said. "Peace makes a ninja weak. But controlling the political system… that makes the whole country stronger."
"As long as the people live in peace, the method doesn't matter." Kurenai took her cup and nodded.
"As long as we still get paid, I'm good," Anko said as she took a cup and blew on it.
"You just want money for dango." Tsunade rolled her eyes.
"And weapons," Anko grinned.
Kakashi leaned back. "Everything is going according to plan for now. But we need to be careful. If someone figures out the seals, we'll have trouble."
"Do you want me to prepare something? Just in case?"Tsunade looked at him seriously.
Kakashi shook his head. "Not yet. Let's wait and see. If the daimyo acts naturally, no one will suspect anything."
Kurenai smiled. "You always plan ahead."
"It's the only reason I'm still alive," Kakashi said.
"We're alive too because of you."Anko leaned on him again.
"Exactly," Kurenai added.
Tsunade sat beside him and took his hand. "And we trust you."
Kakashi looked around the room. His three women. His trusted ones.
He let out a deep breath.
"Thanks," he said.
They all smiled.
…
Later That Night
Kakashi stood in his room, looking out the window.
The stars were out.
He could sense his clone already infiltrating the daimyo's court.
From what he was seeing through his connection, Takejiro was still asleep. The loyalty seal pulsed softly in Kakashi's mind.
No danger. No leaks.
Everything was stable.
"You're overthinking again," Tsunade said, wrapping her arms around him from behind.
"Maybe."Kakashi turned slightly and smiled.
"You already won. Just enjoy the quiet for once."
"I'll try," he said.
Tsunade tugged him toward the bed. "Let's get some rest."
He let her pull him, chuckling softly.
"Okay, okay."
…
Meanwhile… at the Daimyo's court
Kakashi's spore clone, wearing the face of a mild-mannered scribe, walked through the corridors silently.
The guards didn't even look at him. His fake identity was flawless.
He passed by the rooms and entered a private chamber filled with scrolls, records, and books.
He sat down and began reading everything.
Political procedures.
Official budgets.
Daimyo customs.
All of it would be copied and sent back to Kakashi's mind in real time.
The clone adjusted his glasses.
"For the future of Fire Country," he whispered.
The candle beside him flickered.
And the silent work of Kakashi's empire continued in the shadows.