I had this story lazing about in my computer, so I decided to post it. This is really just a prologue and the story is probably going to be a lot longer. Kakashi and Sakura are my two favourite characters, so I figured I had better write a story about them. Consider this my New Years gift y'all.

Oh and it's set during the period when Naruto is off training with the Kyuubi, for the sake of this story, he is gone for about two weeks so this is about what everyone else is up to.

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Naruto franchise.

Maizakura to Hyakuraiken

Chapter 1: Hanabi (Fireworks)

Sunset had vanished giving way to an especially starry night. Most of these stars normally would be blocked out by the city lights of Konoha. But that was before its unfortunate destruction. Some of the buildings had returned, but mostly the necessities such as the hospital, business district, and the apartment buildings.

Despite the tragic view of the city, Sakura was enjoying the stars from her vantage on the bedroom balcony. It wasn't often she could see the twinkling lights like she did tonight, only when she was on missions far from civilisation. But unlike a mission, she could simply relax and enjoy herself.

She was also hoping that the stargazing would make her drowsy. Despite feeling worked to the bone at the hospital for the last few days, she was finding it hard to fall asleep, especially in a borrowed bed.

She and her parents were staying with the Akimichi family, whose home had been rebuilt before theirs via a village lottery. Even though it was a little cramped, it was better than staying in the hastily made and tightly packed apartments for the displaced residents, especially with winter closing in being already well into December.

A loud snort broke the silence almost causing Sakura to jump. It was soon followed by a constant dull rumble. Her thankful feelings wavered for a moment as she remembered why she had had difficulty falling asleep.

"Oh dear," she moaned. "I should have taken mom's advice and grabbed earplugs. But they really are irritating, probably because their not the same shape as the ear buds." She mentally scolded herself for being so fussy.

But she really didn't feel like sleeping anyway. "I'm going for a walk," she muttered to herself.

Most would consider walking through dark streets at night as a risky endeavour, but to Sakura, the city, broken or not, gave her comfort.

"I would get ramen right now, but since Naruto is gone, it would be dull. I don't even like the stuff, too fattening." She thought it funny that of all things to talk about in this silence, she would talk about her figure. Too much time with Ino, she mused. But of all people, Ino was the person she spoke to the most, when their friendship was in its 'on' stage. "I need a broader social life." she mumbled half-heartedly.

She lifted her foot to move forward, but to her surprise she couldn't, she was stuck mid-stride. Two darkly clothed figures hopped down from a nearby roof and grabbed her paralysed arms.

"You're coming with us!" on of them said, trying to disguise his voice.

However, Sakura hadn't been fooled, "Kiba? What's going on?" she asked irritated, trying to struggle but finding that her attempts were in vain. Shadow possession?

Seeming to confirm her suppositions, Shikamaru spoke up from somewhere behind her, "I know it's a pain, but humour us, alright?"

She sighed as she was blindfolded, figuring she would play along with whatever this little game was.

After a few more minutes of leaping, they landed and removed Sakura's blindfold. Her eyes were first greeted by the roaring bonfire then she noticed the bright streamers and paper lanterns hanging from trees and roof corners. The scent of festive dishes wafted to her nose.

"What's all this?" Sakura asked bewildered.

"A party," Ino explained as she approached. "We decided since most of the teams are here we would celebrate, consider it an academy reunion."

Sakura stared blankly back at Ino's cheerful face. "Ok," she replied, "but was it really necessary to kidnap me?"

Kiba replied sharply, "Consider it payback for knocking us out on our last mission together."

"What he means," Shikamaru intervened, "is that we wanted to surprise you since you've seemed glum lately, even if it was a pain."

Sakura smiled with a mixture of embarrassment and guilt. "Thanks, and I am sorry Kiba. I hope that I can someday make up for my actions."

Kiba scratched the back of his head nervously and maintained a determined frown, "Nah, we we're over that -" he suddenly became distracted, "Hey Shino!" Kiba hurried over to his non-social team-mate.

Sakura sighed, "I suppose I'll have to find a way to make it up to them."

"Hey, Forehead!" Ino yelled as she wrapped her arm around Sakura's, "I'm going to get you into something festive looking." Sakura could not help but be dragged along as Ino explained the festivities. "So, first we are having the bonfire with dances and dinner, and when it's dark enough there's going to be fireworks! Courtesy of the Nara family."

Sakura was pushed behind a screen where she was confronted by a white kimono with an aquamarine lily print. As she put it on, she asked for more info on the party. "How many people are here?"

"Well," Ino began, her voice muffled by another screen, "Teams 10, 8, and you. We also have Iruka, Kurenai, Shizune and Gai here. We were hoping to have all of your team as well, but Naruto and Yamato are gone who knows where. Sai is off on a mission, and even though Kakashi is on a forced vacation after dying and coming back, who knows if he'll show. He didn't even RSVP to the invitation. Really, that man! He has no sense of decency!"

Sakura chuckled, "Even if he said that he would come, he would be coming very late."

The two young women stepped out from behind their screens. Sakura looked stunned when she saw Ino wearing a matching kimono, except with a bamboo design.

"You like it?" Ino asked, posing, "I chose a colour that brings out both of our eyes. Now, let's go out their and surprise the boys."

Sakura grinned, realising that Ino and her were on truce, no fighting tonight. "Yes, let's," she agreed.

A few hours later, Sakura escaped to the roof. It was getting to be time for fireworks and she wanted to get a good spot. Also she was finding that she wasn't much of a party person anymore. She loved to get together with friends, but four hours of festivities seemed to be her limit. Besides, it was getting late and everyone was winding down. Her friends Ino and Hinata were both sitting down with their team-mates. Sakura didn't want to be the extra person who would simply intrude on their current closeness that only team members can have.

From her view on the roof, she could see Hinata shiver for a mere instant and Kiba removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders as Shino handed her a cup of hot tea. Though she couldn't see it, Sakura was positive that Hinata smiled in thanks. Those three really were cute.

She kind of wished her kimono wasn't so warm so as to give her an excuse to be pampered. But then again, who would be her pamperers? She tried to imagine Naruto and Sai doing the same, but it came out as a horrendously unnatural image. Naruto is too dense to notice such a subtle message. Sai might get the point, but he wouldn't treat her like a lady, just like a doctor would a patient, cold and insensitive. Granted, Sai was getting better at being human, but it would be worse for him to force himself to be so nice.

However, there was one team-mate who would probably treat her like that. Yamato had always behaved towards her with concern. She smiled, there was one gentleman who she worked with.

Complaining about such things are pointless, she reminded herself, I'm a ninja, being treated like a lady isn't in the job description. Still, she looked back at Hinata, it seems some people get the best of both worlds. The last thought was slightly envious, but she also realised that she was a different person from Hinata, who's delicate demeanour makes others want to help her, or Ino, who's attitude demanded attention. She, Sakura, was just one of the guys.

"You're in my spot." a relaxed voice interrupted her thoughts.

Sakura turned to see Kakashi, ubiquitous book in hand, walking atop the roof tiles. His face, what could be seen of it, had the dull look of general indifference.

Sakura gave a sideways grin and replied, "You're late, of course I took your spot. You missed great food, and Guy-sensei made an absolute fool of himself doin-"

"He," Kakashi interjected, "is precisely why I spent so much time trying to think of a reason to not come. All that thinking distracted me and made me late."

"You told the truth," Sakura noted, "I'm impressed."

"I'm not in the mood to irritate anyone." Kakashi replied.

"Well," Sakura replied, "at least you aren't going to miss the fireworks." She stood up when she heard a crackling noise.

The sky erupted in lights. With the sudden illumination Kakashi noticed Sakura's outfit. It surprised him, he had never seen her look so… grown up. That was a harrowing thought, if she's grown up now, he's one generation close to being considered old. How he hated that term.

Sakura looked at him and noticed his line of sight, "Like the get up?" she asked turning slightly from side to side, "Ino picked it out."

Kakashi silently nodded; in the back of his mind he was feeling a little ashamed that he was only wearing an old black shirt and blue pants. And here was his subordinate dressed to the nines.

"Sensei?"

"Yes?" he replied.

"Do you think Naruto will be gone for a long time?"

"Why do you ask?"

She sighed sadly, the atmosphere seeming to change with her mood as she sat back down, now oblivious to the impressive firework show, "Last time he went away for training, he didn't return for over two years. He's an idiot and a nuisance, but he's also one of the few people I feel close to. If he were to be gone for a long time, it would feel as if my already small world shrunk."

Kakashi also sat down to be at her level, "I don't think it will be too long, just until we get rid of our current enemy."

Sakura remained silent. He mentally kicked himself for making tentative predictions. He had done that once before when Sasuke and Naruto had fought on the roof, he promised her it would be fine. And he let that false promise eat at him for three years. He looked at her, only recently had they really made what could be called a trust that could be called true teamwork.

Sakura smiled ruefully and finally spoke, "He'll probably have a lot of new tricks to show me."

"Then you should be training as well, you can't let him get too far ahead of you. And trust me on one thing, if you think of him has a rival for now, you will find that time will fly by as you keep busy working towards your goal. You might find he will arrive all too soon."

Sakura was taken aback to have gained advice so openly from her former teacher, who always seemed to hold to a "school-of-hard-knocks" method. She grinned broadly, her green eyes shining. "Thank you, I'll do that, starting tomorrow."

The two sat in silence until the last mortar shot into the air and bloomed into green and red blossoms. Then the two nodded to one another, and silently went their separate ways.

On her walk home, Sakura thought about what her sensei had said. The question was, when was she going to start on her training?

So, what did y'all think? Chapter 2, Oba-san will be posted eventually... I want to finish my Bleach fic first, but I'm in a writer's block there at the moment. Oh, and who else thinks that it's awesome that I published this on 1/1/11… Well I thought it was cool.