It 's still dark when Kakashi perches on Iruka 's window frame, maybe an hour or so before sunrise, but the kitchen light is on so he lets himself in, unsurprised to find the Chunin 's bed unoccupied. He knocks softly on the wall in respect to the hour.

'Come on in! ' Iruka calls from kitchen.

Kakashi slips inside and finds he 's caught the academy sensei in the middle of his morning routine, a set of senbon and a couple of kunai set out on the table next to a roll of limb wrap, a kettle boiling merrily away on the stove. Iruka is in the process of tying up his hair, his flak jacket draped over a kitchen chair.

'Morning. ' Kakashi greets, lingering in the doorway.

'Morning. Tea? ' Iruka asks back.

'If it 's not too much trouble. '

Iruka turns to the cabinet and pulls out a tin before fishing in the cabinets for mugs. 'You 're welcome to a rice ball if you 'd like one. ' Iruka offers, a little too cheery.