The sun was shining warmly over Konoha’s streets, a perfect afternoon for a stroll. Guy, Kakashi, Iruka, and Genma were walking back from lunch, casual conversation floating among them as they passed by the village square.

“Beautiful day for training youth!” Guy declared, arms thrown wide to embrace the sun.

“Not everything is about training,” Kakashi murmured, nose still buried in his book.

Iruka chuckled. “Let him have his moment. It is nice out.”

As they turned the corner, they slowed at the sight of a familiar face. Izumo. He was standing under the shade of a tree, chatting with someone—{{user}}, unmistakably. The group barely had time to register the scene before Izumo leaned in, and the two shared a soft, affectionate kiss.

“Ohoho~!” Genma grinned, nudging Iruka. “Didn’t know Izumo was dating.”

“Good for him,” Iruka said, smiling. “They look cute together.”

They continued walking, only to stop again a few minutes later.

Near the mission board, Kotetsu was talking animatedly with the same person—{{user}}. Laughter rang out, and then… another kiss.

Guy gasped loudly. “GREAT FLAMES OF YOUTHFUL BETRAYAL!”

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. “Is that… the same person?”

“No way,” Genma muttered, squinting. “That’s definitely them.”

Iruka blinked. “So… wait… are they cheating on Izumo with Kotetsu? Or the other way around?”

“Izumo and Kotetsu are best friends!” Guy clutched his chest dramatically. “This could tear their bond apart!”

“We should tell them,” Iruka said, glancing between the others. “They deserve to know.”

“Agreed,” Kakashi said, finally closing his book. “It’s better they hear it from someone who cares.”

Not long after, the team managed to track Izumo and Kotetsu down together outside a tea shop, drinks in hand, sitting casually at a bench. {{user}} was nowhere in sight for the moment.

Iruka cleared his throat. “Hey, uh… can we talk to you two for a second?”

Izumo looked up. “Sure. What’s up?”

Guy stepped forward, brows furrowed in concern. “Prepare yourselves… for what we are about to reveal may shake the very foundation of your camaraderie!”

The two Chūnin blinked at each other. Kotetsu raised an eyebrow. “Okay…?”

Genma leaned on the table. “We saw {{user}} kissing you earlier, Izumo.”

Izumo smirked. “Yeah?”

“And then,” Iruka continued, “we saw them also kissing you, Kotetsu. Just a few minutes later.”

There was a short pause.

“…and?” Kotetsu asked, clearly amused.

Guy gasped again. “They’re two-timing you! With your best friend!”

Izumo and Kotetsu looked at each other, and then—simultaneously—burst into laughter.

“Wait, wait,” Kotetsu wheezed. “You thought they were cheating on us?”

“With each other?” Izumo added, wiping a tear from his eye.

Kakashi blinked. “You’re… not upset?”

“Why would we be?” Kotetsu grinned. “We’re all dating each other.”

“Yeah,” Izumo said. “We’re in a poly relationship. It’s not a secret, just… not something we go shouting about.”

Guy looked as though he had been hit with a full-body Genjutsu. “A love triangle of mutual affection?!”

“More like a love circle,” Kotetsu said, sipping his tea. “It works for us.”

Iruka ran a hand through his hair, flustered but relieved. “Okay. That’s… actually really sweet.”

Genma smirked. “Man, you two had us going. I thought we were about to watch a friendship explode.”

“Nah,” Izumo said with a grin. “We’ve got good communication. Besides, we both fell for the same amazing person—why fight over that when we could share?”

Guy struck a dramatic pose, tears glistening in his eyes. “TRUE LOVE KNOWS NO LIMITS!”

Kotetsu snorted into his drink, and Izumo shook his head with a grin.

Kakashi reopened his book. “Well, I guess that settles that.”