unfortunately it's going to be a battle of kakashi 'i dont deserve you because i have failed to protect the people i love' hatake vs. iruka 'i don't deserve you because im not strong enough to stand beside you' umino
i love kkir where kkshi is jealous & awkward & scares off people who like iruka-sensei because he struggles to express his feelings, but i also like iruka-sensei who doesn't think he deserves kakashi because kakashi needs someone as strong as him to support his role as rokudaime
sensei will always be selfless to the people and the village he loves; it's the core of his character as the best example of the will of fire. but because of that he burns himself out and forgets he is part of the village that should be loved and protected.
if i was naruto and spent all my childhood ignored or straight up hurt by villagers and one day the one guy that treats me like just one of his students was hurt because of me i would crash out. the fact he didnt makes mizuki lucky asf the kyuubi wasnt in narutos ear egging him
I like to hc that iruka-sensei is sought after among konoha shinobi, though he thinks otherwise because he grew up alone, and had to piss off people to yet their attention.
Even if he is older and has close friends now, the memory of him being alone still lingers...
@hanguangjjunie Yes! Kkshi is like iruka is already perfect, how can he even be more perfect
Also love the hcs where yes iruka has read it but keeps it a secret because he is a teacher and has an image to keep (and he does have opinions on characters, plot, etc.)
This is why Kks is aloof half the time, he's actually foiling plots of other Shinobi and ordinary village ppl trying to ask Irk out and slip him love notes and laced chocolates and what have you. He's protecting his low-key lover bc Iruka is actually very private with romance.
Expanding:
Kakashi puts his full weight on Iruka. His whole weight, draping over his back, at his side, looking absolutely needy or smug or sad or whatever it takes to make Iruka pay attention to him.
He's ridiculous. Shameless. Embarrassing. He makes little kissy noises-
@Fujohimeshi i like to imagine that iruka feels sorry for him after a while and join kakashi in their literal puppy pile so they kind of end up camping outside of their house