Shattered Dreams

Notice: Minor Lime contained in this chapter.

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Kakashi awoke the next morning to a knock on the door. He got up lazily and stretched before heading to answer it. Standing there was Guy.

“Yo! What’s up Guy?”

“What’s up? Why did you bail on me last night? That’s what up!” Guy yelled a little to loudly.

“Oh that. Yeah, sorry about that I was just really tired.” Kakashi replied grinning and rubbing the back of his neck. “I was just in a bad mood didn’t want anyone to have to put up with that.”

“Well you better join me tonight instead ok?” Guy said giving him the thumbs up.

“Uh sure ok, I’ll… uh… see you there then” Kakashi sighed sleepily giving him just a tiny grin.

Kakashi went back inside as Guy disappeared. ‘Might as well take a shower now then’ he thought to himself. He headed back upstairs, turned the shower till the temperature was just right before stripping off and getting in. The shower seemed to wash away the slight aches from walking in the downpour to long last night. He stayed in the shower trying to wash everything away about last night.

Once he felt thoroughly revitalised he stepped out and wrapped a towel around himself before heading back into his bedroom. He opened his wardrobe, grabbed a clean jounin uniform out and threw it on the bed. After getting dressed, he ate his breakfast and slouched back upstairs to brush his teeth.

With that done he left the house and headed, well actually he didn’t know where to be honest. So as always he got out one of his trusty Icha Icha volumes and headed off nose buried in his book.

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Sakura awoke early as always, a slight memory of her rather graphic dream coming back to her. She could remember how every kiss, every touch, every whispered breath had sounded, felt and made her feel. She blushed slightly at the memory. The things her sensei had done to her in those wonderful dreams were not something any sensei should do to his student. She sighed gently to herself and said

“I wish he would do those things to me!”

not thinking about what she was saying, as she made her way to the bathroom for a shower before she headed to Lady Tsunade’s office. She hoped the Hokage had some work for her today or some training for her to do since she had the day off from her other duties. After turning the water on to hot and stepping inside she stood fully under the shower as the water cascaded over her entire body and soaked her cotton candy coloured hair till it was almost a blood red it was so dark.

As the water hit her body, it ran down over her breasts, down her thighs and rushing over the hair covered mound in between. She kept her hair down there neat and tidy but as she kept telling Ino there was no way she was shaving the entire area! She couldn’t, Ino however had told her she did. When Ino had suggested she do the same Sakura had replied that there really wasn’t any point as she didn’t have a boyfriend for a start and didn’t exactly plan on getting one anytime soon, besides that just seemed a little to “forward” to do that, Ino had replied

“Well Sakura you know Sasuke’s gone and he’s not likely to come back anytime soon. Being with someone else might do you good. I doubt you’ll find anyone who’d want to get so close to that forehead of yours though! Unless you wanted to go out with Lee!” she guffawed at the thought of Sakura and Lee together.

Sakura had punched her old friend on the arm and told her in no uncertain terms

“Shut up Ino-pig! You know I’d never be interested in him. Those caterpillars he calls eyebrows freak the hell out of me! Besides I just don’t want to be with anyone! So leave me alone!”

Ino had huffed slightly rubbing her arm and turned on her heel, but then twisted back round to say

“Suit yourself billboard brow but most men prefer it clean and shaven” before running off at top speed as Sakura made to chase after her.

Sakura sighed as she remembered that conversation. She wondered if her ex-sensei would prefer her to shave down there. ‘Snap out of it Sakura! Think about what you just asked yourself?! What the hell are you doing thinking these things?!’ She sighed as she tried to clear her mind of the impure thoughts she was having. ‘He’s your teacher for crying out loud!’ But no matter how times she told herself this it didn’t change the fact the she badly wanted to kiss him, have him hold her in his strong arms, to have his hands running all over her body…..

Sakura had emitted a soft moan as the water running over her body was enticing her and making her feel like the thoughts running through her mind were actually happening. They allowed her to imagine the water running down her body was actually her sensei’s slightly rough but surprisingly soft and gentle hands touching every part of her as he moaned and kissed her deeply.

Sakura came round from her dream like state to find her fingers hovering over her clit, as she realised what she had been about to do in her stupor. She moved her hand away and tried to ignore the feelings stirring inside her. But after a few minutes she realised she couldn’t ignore the throbbing pulse that was stirring in her loins. If she did she knew she’d only regret it.

She felt she’d bloomed late when it came to her sexuality and was still sometimes embarrassed and unsure of how to touch herself and even if she actually should do it at all.

She had tried to ignore these feelings that left her feeling like her entire pubic region was on fire and couldn’t be quenched by anything but the touch of her (or someone else’s fingers) and it had turned out to be a bad move on her part. She had spent the entire day fidgety, uncomfortable and most of all much more easy to anger than usual. Poor Naruto and the back of his head had born the brunt of her frustration that day!

She giggled a little at the thought of that time actually just a few weeks ago before realising she couldn’t ignore her bodies hunger anymore. She had to appease the tension, before she spent another day like that. Even Kakashi had been concerned that day sensing something was irritating her.


Flashback

“Sakura? Is everything ok? You seem well unusually… um… aggressive today.”

He said bending down to be on eye level with her as his eye crinkled into a cheeky yet caring grin, but he swiftly backed off as her fist came swinging for him. He had managed to grab hold of her hand as it swung for his head and just laughed.

“KAKASHI!” she yelled as he lent forward and grinned into her face again.

“What’s with you today Sakura?” He asked again. “What did we all do to deserve such treatment today huh?”

“Leave me alone sensei!” She yelled

“No” he teased her with that damn smirk on his face. “What are you going to do if I don’t?” he asked as he put his hands on her shoulders and moved his face back close to hers.

“I’m fine Kakashi-sensei” she ground out staring daggers.

“I don’t think you are” he said in a rather amused voice.

“I’m just having a bad day sensei” she sighed unhappily.

“Come Sakura let’s get you home” he smiled his most sincere smile.

“Fine!” she snapped as they walked her home. He rubbed the back of his head as they walked in silence and he tried without success to understand her.

End Flashback

Sakura gave out a sigh as she came out of her daydream and felt her desire still throbbing. She gave a moan as the water running down her mound ignited a deeper hunger in her. She relented and lowered her hand to rest it directly on her clit as she began to move her index finger slowly backwards and forwards over the most sensitive part of her body as it became more swollen and the desire inside her grew. She moaned a little louder as her own juices served only to fuel her hunger further as they began to flow from her opening and down her legs.

She moved to rest her back against the freezing cold wall of the shower, and leaned her back against it, as she moved her hand faster and faster over her engorged centre. She brought her other hand up to her mouth and bit down on her finger as she reached her climax so as not to scream out, although she dearly wished she could.

“Kakashi!” she called as his face appeared before her just at her moment of release.

Sakura practically jumped out of the shower as if it had stung her after what had just happened in there and dried herself off hurriedly before throwing her clothes on and heading downstairs.

“Hi Sakura!” Naruto practically screamed in her face as he shovelled the toast her mum had him into his mouth.. “Your mum let me in and made me this wonderful breakfast! I just thought I’d pop in and see what you were doing today. Are you gonna see Kakashi-sensei?”

“Naruto you idiot!” she yelled blushing and then punching him in the face causing him to spray toast crumbs everywhere as she stomped out the front door.

“What’s with her?!” Naruto asked Mrs Haruno as he stumbled forward and knocked the toast on the floor. “Sorry Mrs Haruno!” he yelled trying to pick it up before slumping onto the floor.

“I wish I knew Naruto dear, I really wish I knew” Mrs Haruno replied as she helped Naruto onto the sofa and cleaned up the toast.

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“Come in!” Sakura heard Tsunade’s voice reply to her knock.

“Lady Hokage” Sakura said as she bowed in front of her nigousan.

“Hello Sakura” Tsunade’s face broke into the smile she reserved especially for her most gifted student.

“Lady Tsunade, Is there anything you need me to do today?”

“Sakura I thought I told you to have a break today.” She laughed

“Yes Lady Tsunade you did, but…..”

“Sakura I gave you a break for a reason” she smiled kindly. “Use it to rest, do whatever you want but just don’t come back to my office again today unless it’s an emergency ok?”

“Yes Lady Tsunade” Sakura sighed as she bowed again before turning to leave.

They both turned there heads as another knock sounded on the office door.

“Come!” Tsunade sighed.

“Lady Hokage, Sakura” Kakashi said nodding to the two woman in turn.

“What is it Kakashi?” Tsunade asked as she turned to the window.

“Well I was wondering If you had anything needing doing today Hokage, since I have nothing else to do.” He replied sheepishly

“I… I should be going” Sakura said heading very fast for the door.

“It’s ok Sakura stay” Tsunade said as she smiled at her pupil. Kakashi turned to give her his normal crinkled eye smile as well. She stopped where she was and just remained where she stood.

“I’m sorry Kakashi I have nothing for you to do right now”

“Understood Lady Hokage.” He made to leave to.

“Hold it Kakashi!”

“Yes Hokage?”

“Sakura come here to please”

“Yes Tsunade-sama” she moved forward again.

“Kakashi, Sakura” she said looking at them each in turn. “I have something for you both to do today.”

“Yes Hokage?”

“Kakashi, please take Sakura for a training session and let me know how she copes battling you.”

Sakura took in a sharp breath. After this morning she had to train with him now? Close combat skin touching skin at some point. ‘Oh crap! Now you’re in trouble Sakura’ she told herself. Kakashi looked over and saw the trepidation on Sakura’s face and so he turned to Sakura and said

“Sakura.”

“Huh?” she mumbled chewing thoughtfully on a piece of hair.

“I promise to go easy on you” he grinned.

“Easy?! You don’t need to go easy on me! I’m gonna wipe the floor with you!” she yelled with renewed gusto.

Kakashi laughed at this and turned to see a grin spread across Tsunade’s face as well. She was definitely training the girl well, Kakashi thought to himself. She even has a similar personality now. Which to Kakashi was actually unnerving. Sakura had a temper to begin with and one Tsunade was plenty enough thank you very much. But someone like Sakura taking on Tsunades personality traits? God help us! Kakashi sighed to himself.

“Ok then Sakura, lets see how well you actually do against me then.” he grinned.

“Hmm” Sakura said nodding to him then her Hokage, before heading out of the office door.

Kakashi looked at Tsunade and Tsunade grinned back.

“I hope you know what you’re in for Kakashi” Tsunade grinned.

“I’m not sure I really want to know” He sighed rubbing the back of his neck before making for the exit to follow Sakura.

“Sakura!” He waved his usual one armed greeting as he caught up with her.

Sakura sighed wearily and stopped to wait for him to catch up. Why oh why did Tsunade have to ask HIM to take her for a training session! Sakura sighed again as Kakashi walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder.

“Sakura? Have I done something wrong?” He asked not even smiling at all for once.

“No Sensei. It’s not you. I just keep thinking about a lot of things that’s all.”

“Sakura, you know I’m always here to listen don’t you?” he said grinning his crinkly eyed smile.

“I know sensei, I’m just trying to figure some things out that all.”

Kakashi took his hand from her shoulder and considered her for a moment. ‘What’s going on with her?’ She say’s I didn’t do anything wrong but I can definitely read her better than she thinks and one thing I know for sure that something’s going on and something’s telling me I did something wrong without even knowing it.' Suddenly though without warning Sakura returned to her usual self.

“Come on sensei, let’s get this over with. I’m gonna beat you so bad!” she grinned as she raced off.

“Yeah you wish!” Kakashi said chasing after her.

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Kakashi reached the training ground very quickly and sat on the ground book in hand. Sakura got there, took one look at him and muttered to herself

“Show off!”

Kakashi grinned at her to show he’d heard her, causing Sakura to blush. Kakashi looked back at his book and Sakura realised he was probably planning on reading for a while so she sat down not to far from him, picking grass and regarding him every now and again. Kakashi could feel her eyes on him every now and again but he was still at a loss as to what was going through her mind. He had hoped that sitting down together without walking or talking would help him see what was going on but evidently not. He sighed deeply. At this Sakura looked up in confusion. Was something wrong with Kakashi-sensei? Oh God does he know?

“Sakura……”

“I’m sorry sensei!” she blurted out

“Huh? I was just going to ask if you were ready to train now. What are you sorry for Sakura?” he asked warily brow creasing in confusion.

Sakura composed herself quickly and said to herself ‘Sakura you dork. Of course he doesn’t know how could he?!’

“I’m sorry for being so grumpy sensei” she responded amazed she’d managed to keep the panic out of her voice and remain composed despite her outburst. ‘Just keep calm Sakura, stay calm’ she told herself.

“It’s ok” he responded grinning at her “Now then where we? Oh yes I believe you were going to beat my ass” he laughed.

“You bet I am!” she responded getting into a defensive pose and glaring at him.

“Ok then let’s see how good you really are” he replied pulling up his hitai-ate and uncovering his sharingan.

“Kakashi-sensei? You’re… you’re using your sharingan?!” she asked suddenly feeling scared.

“If you’re as good as I think you are then I’ll be needing it” he grinned “You know I’d never hurt you don’t you?”

“Right” she nodded to him

She looked at him once more before punching the ground leaving a crack to spread rapidly towards Kakashi. Fortunately for him his sharingan was able to see it coming a mile off and he jumped out of the way and onto a tree branch behind her. Sakura turned and ran full speed towards the tree hitting it with all her strength. The tree toppled but of course Kakashi had got away again.

Sakura considered him for a minute before disappearing into the tree tops herself. ‘So she thinks she can hide from me huh?’ Kakashi thought to himself smirking. Well she certainly was giving him a work out that’s for sure. No time for reading this time! Ah well at least he got to test how good she really was. Kakashi sensed her presence behind him, not through her chakra which she was evidently hiding very well but her nervousness. He felt sure she was worried about actually hitting her sensei. ‘Bad move Kakashi’ he admonitioned himself. ‘You totally underestimated her and unless you move quick your gonna regret it!’

Sakura had landed behind him knowing he wasn’t expecting it, she hesitated in connecting her fist with his body and that hesitation was enough that Kakashi turned the tables on her. He moved so fast and ended up behind her whispering in her ear.

“Never hesitate Sakura” he breathed his face right next to hers. “It’s lucky I have no intentions of hurting you or you’d be in big trouble right now.”

“That’s what you think!” she replied trying her hardest to ignore the shivers that had rippled through her body at his breath flowing over her ear and neck. She turned to look at him with a confident grin and connected her fist with his shoulder and sent him flying.

“So she did that on purpose huh?” Kakashi said to himself as he flew through the air before composing himself and landing on a sturdy tree branch. ‘She really has grown up’ it was then that he noticed the pain in his shoulder. ‘So she actually meant to cause me harm’ he chuckled to himself before replacing his hitai-ate over his sharingan eye and jumping down from the tree.

“Well, well Sakura not the little girl you used to be anymore huh?” he grinned.

“I just wanted to be able to prove to someone that I have learned to defend myself properly.” She said her face set into an expression of mixed pride and worry.

“Well you definitely did that” Kakashi said gingerly touching his shoulder and wincing a little. ‘Lucky she didn’t use full force or I wouldn’t have an arm left!’

“Oh sensei did I hurt you? Oh no I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to hit you so hard I… I….”

“It’s ok Sakura, I’ll live don’t worry. Just make sure you don’t hold back in a real fight ok?” he grinned his customary smile and she grinned back.

“Do… Do you need me to heal it sensei?”

“Might do me some good I suppose” he said laughing.

“Lie down” she instructed him slipping straight into the role of medic in a split second.

“Sakura I really don’t think that’s entirely appropriate do you? Besides were out in the open shouldn’t we go somewhere more private for that?” he asked half lying half sitting against the nearest tree trunk, mirth spreading across his face as he grinned a predatory smile at her.

“Kakashi!” she yelled swatting him on the arm as she bent over him. “You pervert!”

He grinned at her again leaning against the tree and getting comfy. Sakura blushed at the thought of what he’d just said to her. He wasn’t serious she knew he was just playing with her, his usual sense of sarcasm and teasing. And yet she couldn’t help but feel maybe there was some hidden meaning in that sentence to.

‘Kakashi you sick man!’ he berated himself seeing her blush. ‘Lets hope she didn’t figure out you were only half kidding. You almost meant that didn’t you? You really are a total perve you know’ Kakashi sighed and looked down at the ground instead.

“Take your jacket off” Sakura instructed.

“Now who’s the pervert?” Kakashi grinned that same sly kinky grin again, but followed her instructions anyway.

“Oh very funny sensei!” she replied, turning if at all possible an even deeper shade of red. “I need to see where the bruise is, you know that”

“Yeah, yeah, excuses, excuses” he chided laughing as he slipped his jacked fully off and threw it on the ground next to him, it was quickly followed by his long sleeved top.

Sakura breathed in deeply as he took off his jacket as she saw his toned body. Despite the fact that he was wearing his usual tank top with the mask attached it really was skin tight and molded to every inch of his slender but muscled body. It followed every curve and contour perfectly and showed of his amazing physique. Sakura drew in a breath as she looked at his chest in awe. Dear God how was she supposed to concentrate on healing him when his taut hard body was driving her to distraction. She just wanted to reach out and touch it, to run her hands over every inch of it….

It wasn’t the first time she’d seen him without his jacket but still she hadn’t had a major crush on him last time like she did now.

Kakashi followed her gaze and heard the breath she drew in sharply as he’d revealed his body partly to her. A lazy grin spread across his face as he thought to him self ‘She must see men’s bodies all the time in her line of work and yet she’s staring at mine as if she’d never seen the male form before. Should I just ignore it and not make a big deal of it? I’m sure she’s embarrassed enough as it is. But I just can’t resist seeing that blush spread across her innocent little face.’ He decided as he turned to look at her.

“Do I have some sort of abnormal physique Sakura? Or are you just enjoying staring at my manly body?” he said with a smirk.

“Huh? Oh what…. Kakashi you pervert!” she yelled punching him once again on his arm.

“Ow!” he replied grinning all the same. “Now you have to spend a little more time healing me. Unless that was your plan all along,” he teased “to keep me without my top on for longer.”

“Very funny sensei” she replied bringing her hands up to his shoulder and pushing her chakra through them to heal the rather large bruise she had left there. “You know I don’t know why Naruto calls Jiraiya a perve. You’re clearly just as bad as him if not worse. Hold still!” she grumbled as he fidgeted under her tirade.

“Well now I know what you think of me then”

“No… I… Kakashi… I…”

“It’s ok Sakura I was kidding” he grinned as he brought her face up to look at him.

Sakura blushed as he did so but smiled faintly back at him before returning to look at his bruise which was almost fully healed now. She hid her face from his and thoughts burned through her mind. ‘Oh God doe’s he know? Did he figure it out that I like him? How could he? What do I do now? Oh God help me! I’m in trouble now.’

Kakashi watched the conflicting emotions flit across the young kunoichi’s face. ‘Oh dear God was he close to the root of her recent uncomfortable ness around him? Did she have a crush on him? No, no.’ He shook his head. ‘That can’t be it at all. You’re just being an old perve like she says.’

“How’s that sensei?” she asked drawing away from him and not looking at him.

“Much better thank you Sakura” he replied with a grin once more.

Sakura looked back at him and thought to her self ‘No he can’t have guessed he’s acting normal that’s all. He likes to tease, you know that’ Yes that was it she told her self feeling a whole lot happier now.

“Sakura?”

“Yes Sensei?”

“There was something I wanted to teach you and well, I think now is the right time to do it. It’s going to be hard but I’m certain you can do it. Ok?” he told her with his crinkly eyed smile back in place.

“Hmm right!” she replied before sitting on the floor with her legs curled up underneath her and her hands planted firmly on the ground, fixing him with a stare of pure determination.

He knew she was determined to get stronger one day to show Sasuke that she wasn’t as weak as he thought but she seemed to burn with a new determination today. Determination to show him how much she had progressed? Yes she definitely wanted to prove to her former sensei that she was stronger than ever. He was certain of that. ‘Good because you’ll need every ounce of that determination here’ he thought to himself as he rummaged in his pockets and brought out the scroll he was looking for.

He opened the scroll and she looked at him curiously before returning her gaze to the scroll spread out in front of her. She saw words and markings on there that appeared to be written in blood. She saw Kakashi’s name on there and looked at her former sensei with trepidation written on her face.

“Don’t worry Sakura, I’d never do anything to endanger you. You believe me don’t you?”

“Yes sensei” she replied looking at him with renewed vigour.

“Give me your hand” he said gently.

“Sensei…?”

“Shh you said you believed me didn’t you?”

“Yes”

“Then give me your hand. It has to be done Sakura” he replied.

Sakura held out her hand and watched petrified as Kakashi brought out a kunai, watching her face the entire time for signs of panic. He smoothed his thumb against her wrist in a comforting manner as he brought the kunai closer to her hand. A sharp intake of breath as he drew the edge of the kunai across her left thumb made him feel pretty bad, but it was necessary to teach her this jutsu.

“Sakura you need to sign your name on this scroll” he said gently.

“Yes sensei” she nodded and did so.

“Now you need to put some blood on all four of your fingers and leave your mark on there to.”

“Hmm” she said determination shining on her face. She spread a little blood on her other fingers before leaving her mark on the scroll. Kakashi grinned at her again and watched as she raised her head to look at him.

“Are you ready Sakura?” he asked

“Yes sensei!”

“Good girl. Now watch me and see if you can do it to.” He said biting his finger and putting blood on all his fingers.

“Right!”

“Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!” He placed his palm on the ground and in a puff of smoke Pakkun appeared.

“Hey Boss” he said lazily.

“Hello” Kakashi grinned.

“So what’s going on?”

“Just trying to get Sakura here to learn how to summon”

Pakkun turned to regard the girl with a thoughtful look on his face returning to look back at Kakashi.

“So you think this one’s good enough to learn it then?”

“Yes I know she is” he replied grinning over at Sakura again.

Pakkun turned to Kakashi and said “Mind if I go back now?”

“Not at all” Kakashi said sitting down on the ground and watching Pakkun disappear, then noticing the steely look of determination on her face her turned to Sakura and said “Ready?”

“Yes!”

“Ok then go ahead, remember the more chakra you use the better it will turn out” he grinned encouragingly. She nodded at him and prepared herself to do the jutsu. She pushed her chakra down into her hand and readied her self for what she was about to do.

“Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!”

There was a puff of smoke and in front of them stood a heavily pregnant female dog, not much larger than Pakkun himself. She looked at Sakura and whined.

“Oh God I’m so sorry! I… I…”

“May I go now?” the dog asked her looking very tired.

“Yes, yes I… I’m sorry to have bothered you. Um...Good luck with the litter!” she said as the mother dog disappeared.

“I’m sorry Kakashi-sensei. I’m useless.”

Kakashi rose to stand next to her and put his hand on her shoulder.

“Sakura. You are not useless, just try a little harder ok?” he said leaning his face close to her and giving her a comforting grin, before moving away again.

“Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!” But this time nothing happened. She was too nervous. She sunk to the floor in frustration tears welling in her eyes.

“Sakura you just need to relax and concentrate. You’ll get it and you’ll do fine ok?”

“Yes sensei” she replied sadly.

“Kakashi!” A voice called out coming closer through the trees. Coming towards them were Kotetsu and Izumo. They landed next to Kakashi after nodding to acknowledge Sakura and turned back to Kakashi.

“Yes?” Kakashi asked

“Lady Hokage needs to see you now. She has something she needs you to do. It’s urgent.”

“Ok then lets go” Kakashi made to follow them before turning back round and heading to Sakura. “I’ll be back soon ok? By the time I come back I want to see you’ve learned this. Do you think you can do that?”

“Yes sensei!” she replied smiling as he jumped into the tree tops to follow Kotetsu and Izumo. He turned and waved his usual one handed greeting before disappearing. Sakura waved back before looking at the ground sadly.

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“Come!” called Lady Tsunade’s voice from inside her office.

“You wanted to see me Lady Hokage?”

“Ah Kakashi, I have a mission for you after all.”

“Oh?” he asked raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, yes, we’ll get to that in a minute. Now how did Sakura do?”

“Very well Hokage, I had to use my sharingan to keep away from her, and she had to heal me actually.” He grinned.

“Is that why you don’t have your jacket on?”

“Oh yeah that, well I forgot it” he said with his hand on the back of his head and giving an embarrassed grin.

Just then there was another knock on the door. Sakura entered after being given permission holding something green.

“Sorry to bother you Lady Tsunade, but Kakashi-sensei left this behind and since he’s going on a mission I figured he might be needing it….” she trailed off.

“Thank you Sakura” she said waving her hand for Sakura to leave.

Sakura bowed to Tsunade before turning to leave and catching Kakashi’s eye as she held out her hand for him to take his jacket. There fingertips brushed as he took it from her and she felt an electric shock run through her fingers. She was careful not to let it show as Kakashi gave her his customary smile then turned back to face Tsunade. Sakura left quickly and shut the door behind her and exited the building with a sigh.

“Now then Kakashi, we have some information as to the whereabouts of some of Orochimaru’s lower level henchmen. I want you to take your dogs and just do a quick scout of the area and report back to me without being seen. It’s just a simple observation mission.”

“Very well Lady Hokage. I will set off immediately” he said nodding to her and turning to leave.

“Be careful Kakashi” Tsunade said in an almost worried tone before coming back to her self and saying “You are dismissed”

Kakashi disappeared in a split second and Tsunade turned to look out the window. I know I had no choice but to send him alone and he is the Great Copy Ninja Kakashi Hatake but still I worry a little. She sighed as she turned away and eyed the pile of paper work on her desk.

“Shizune!”

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Sakura wandered along preparing to go home and just relax a bit when Naruto came up from behind her. Bounding along like a goofy puppy as usual.

“Sakura! Hey Sakura” He said as he got closer.

“Hi Naruto” she answered.

“So what are you doing today? You don’t have work?”

“Nope free day today. I was training with Kakashi-sensei but then he got called away on a mission. So I have nothing to do now.”

“Oh. Hey! You wanna come get some food with me?”

“Oh um sure Naruto, I’m kinda hungry lets go.”

“Really? You do?”

“Yes Naruto really.” Sakura said giggling at the expression on his face and the way he bounced around like a rabbit. “Come on lets go I’m getting hungrier by the minute.” she laughed.

Five minutes later they were seated at a table at the Ichiraku Ramen restaurant of course. Naruto sat opposite Sakura and they grinned at each other. Sakura found that she quite enjoyed Naruto’s company now. He’d grown up abit and wasn’t so annoying. Besides sometimes she felt pretty lonely without her sensei, Sasuke was gone, Naruto was the only familiar face left and he was out with Jiryai a lot leaving her with her nigousan and Shizune as company. And while she thought the world of her nigousan it was nice to see a familiar face from before. Sakura grinned at Naruto and turned to him to say

“Naruto?”

“Yes Sakura?”

“Do you miss the old days? When we were younger I mean and when Sasuke was still with us and everything seemed well… good.”

“Sakura we’ll have days like that again one day. You know it! I mean it we’ll have all three of us back together and Kakashi sensei to. You know I won’t rest until it’s back to how it should be with us all ok?” he said reaching out for her hand that rested on the table. Sakura looked down at there hands touching before looking back up at him.

“Thank you Naruto” she grinned squeezing his hand gently.

Naruto seemed a little taken back at this friendly gesture from Sakura. It wasn’t often she was this nice and friendly with him. Although he had to admit that lately she had become a lot more friendly. He wasn’t reading anything into it however. He cared for Sakura a lot but recently his feelings had changed from an all encompassing love to a deep, caring friendship. He wanted to be there for her, to protect, not let any harm come to her but it was a brotherly love now. He smiled back at her as Ayame came up to take there order.

“Hello Naruto” she grinned “Who’s your friend?”

“Hi Ayame. This is my friend Sakura.”

“Well hello Sakura and how are you both today?”

“We’re fine thank you Ayame. It’s nice to meet you.” Sakura smiled

“And what would you like to eat today?” Ayama asked turning to Naruto again.

“Tonkotsu ramen please!” he answered immediately.

“I’ll have the same please.” Sakura said as Ayame turned to face her once more.

“Ah good choice” Teuchi said from behind the counter, smiling benignly at the pair.

“So Sakura what training did you do with Kakashi-sensei?” Naruto said turning back to her as Ayame walked away to serve other customers.

“Oh you know just sparring stuff. Lady Tsunade wanted me to see how well I fought against him.”

“So how’d you do? Did you win? Huh, huh, Did ya, did ya?”

“Yes Naruto I won” she laughed “And then I had to heal Kakashi because I damaged his arm.”

“Hahaha! Go Sakura!” Naruto yelled punching the air.

“Here we go” Ayame said placing two bowls of ramen in front of them.

“Thank you” Sakura and Naruto replied at the same time, laughing at each other afterwards.

They ate slowly making jokes in between mouthfuls. Naruto almost spitting out his ramen at some points in the conversation through laughing so hard.

“Naruto you pig!” Sakura admonitioned but laughing all the same.

“Sorry Sakura” he said wiping his mouth, before proceeding to grin his most goofy grin at her. “Soooo what are you doing later Sakura?”

“Oh I don’t know I think I’ll just go home and read. I’m kinda tired now. You don’t mind do you?”

“No course not Sakura. Maybe I’ll go see what Hinata’s doing” he mused more to himself than to her.

Sakura looked at him and thought to herself ‘He’s going to see what Hinata’s doing? Wow he really has changed. He’s a lot more grown up.’ She thought, she smiled at him before saying

“That’s nice Naruto. I’m sure she’ll really enjoy seeing you today.” She smiled.

“Yeah, she’s not so bad. She’s always blushing though. It’s a bit annoying really.” He said looking a bit confused.

“Naruto, you twerp! She likes you! How hard is to figure out? You’re such a dork!”

“Well gee thanks Sakura!” He said faking hurt.

Sakura grinned and said to him “I don’t know why it’s taken you so long to realise. It’s been obvious to the rest of us for so long.”

“Well what can I say? I spent my time chasing you didn’t I?” he grinned

“Yeah and I spent my time fawning over Sasuke. That got me far huh?”

“Hey Sakura remember what I promised you ok?” he said squeezing her hand again in what he hoped was a comforting manner.

“Thank you Naruto. I’m going to head home ok?” she threw some money on the table and went to walk off.

Naruto picked the money up and grabbed her hand.

“No Sakura, the meals on me.” He grinned

She smiled a sad smile and thanked him before heading back home. When she got in her parents were still at work. She left a note for her mother and headed straight for her bedroom. After kicking off her shoes and throwing on a black sports top and black shorts to match she settled down on her bed and reached for her book on the night stand.

As she began to read her thoughts suddenly returned to a certain book reading sensei. She wondered how far away he was right now and what he was doing. Was he ok? Did he miss his old team? Was she mad or was he really flirting with her earlier? She couldn’t be sure but she could have sworn he was. ‘Yeah you wish Sakura!’ ‘But’ her mind seemed to say ‘he doesn’t normally tease and play like that’ She was fairly certain he’d just been doing it to wind her up, he liked to wind people up. But, to actually flirt with her just to get a rise out of her? No there was no way, it was all just wishful thinking on her part. She shook her head to clear away her thoughts and threw the book down in disgust before lying on her back, arms above her head and closing her eyes to relax. Next thing she knew she was fast asleep.

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