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They first speak at the beginning of the original series of Naruto. Chie has been living in Konoha for two years now, and as of two months ago has inherited the bookstore she was working in. Due to a deal with the publishing company of Icha Icha, this particular hole-in-the-wall bookstore is the first store in Konoha to get new releases. Kakashi has been coming once a month-ish for years now to pick up reserved copies that he pays advances for. Chie hasn’t actually spoken to him beyond the custom “Irasshaimase!” and “Thanks for coming!” until the day of their first conversation, which happens to be the first time he comes in with the store under her sole ownership.
Over the two years she's known him, Chie found herself crushing over him hard, and as a war criminal in hiding, the feelings understandably scare her. He's a renowned ninja, and a relationship of any kind could potentially ruin the happiness she's found in her bookstore. If he, or anyone for that matter, found out who she was, then a few simple words to the Hokage could send the haven the fates have gifted her burning to the ground.
So she denies her feelings and hides her crush as best she can, and is even successful up to this point! However, she's not her usual composed and rational self around him, and since it's been so long since she started pining for him, the signs of her crush are obvious throughout their first conversation - a spirited discussion about the narrative brilliance of Icha Icha. Kakashi has no one else to discuss his favorite series with and excitedly asks her to meet with him sometime to discuss it further.
Pining and irrational, she accepts, regardless of the danger to her livelihood. Over time, they develop a close bond, beyond simple reading buddies, but it becomes apparent that she's hiding something. Little things here and there just don't match up to her being a civilian. As years pass and their relationship blossoms into love, the truth eventually comes out. Now Kakashi too is burdened with her secret. If he keeps the secret and they get found out, it may be seen as betraying the village. He's barely able to live with himself as it is, could he really stand to abandon her?
credits . image by Glyf . html by vom
