Hey guys! This was supposed to be a one-shot, but it's turned into something a bit longer. I've been feeling really weighed down by my other stories, since the subject matter is pretty heavy and heading into a darker direction in both Willing Sacrifices and Reparations. So to counter that, I've written some lighter content, although for some reason it always turns out to be more dramatic than I intend.

Anyway, this is a short (probably 3-5 chapter) Kakashi x Sakura love story.

It's an AU Age-Swap (Sakura and Rin basically have switched places - but Obito does not love Sakura). So some parts of Sakura's personality are slightly different, but she's still very similar. Also, it's a different time with the war and stuff, so she grows up differently with different priorities. But in any case, it's my AU, and I can do what I want haha.

I hope you enjoy it.

alex xo

* ALWAYS YOU *

One

6 years old - Sakura, Academy Student

Sakura had watched her classmate with awe. She'd kept her interest hidden, however, knowing that there wasn't much point in expressing it. Kakashi Hatake wasn't what you would call 'social' or even polite, when it came down to it.

Their first year at the academy, she'd been amazed at how skilled he was and how his prowess motivated the other boys in their class. Sakura hadn't really understood what it meant to be a shinobi until she saw the way they worked hard to be better. Not necessarily better than him (except Obito, who was incredibly competitive with Kakashi), but he was a place they all hoped to reach one day, and having his example in their minds helped.

Taking Might Guy, Obito Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake as examples for how a shinobi should be, Sakura began to work hard on her own as well. She was too embarrassed and shy to train in front of other people, so when she was in class she made certain to study hard and watch the others to see what they did, and listen closely to the instructions of their sensei. She made her notes in a little notebook she never let out of her sight, and then she applied it to her own training in the forest and away from prying eyes.

Sakura wasn't surprised that Kakashi graduated at the end of their first year. No one was really, he was so far advanced. She wasn't really good friends with anyone in class, she was just a little quieter than the others, so while they celebrated Kakashi's graduation in a group she stayed on the outside and smiled at him when he randomly glanced her way.

When she went home that night, Sakura pulled out a piece of paper and wrote down his name, sticking it in a book to hide it, just in case someone got the wrong idea. He was her new goal; she wanted to be a good enough shinobi to stand beside him as a comrade and be someone he could respect.

6 years old - Kakashi, Academy Student/Genin

Kakashi was proud of himself for graduating as the youngest student ever. He deserved it, after all he was a prodigy; but he still worked himself harder than anyone else. He trained more than the others, except maybe that quiet girl with the pink hair.

Kakashi had noticed her quiet yet rapid improvements, and seen how focused she was. He was also not blind to the fact that she watched him a lot. At first he thought it was because she was like one of those other girls, the annoying ones who only ever talked about boys. He knew she was book smart, being the one who always scored second after him on their theory tests, but he hadn't realised that she was also studying her classmates.

One afternoon he'd seen her sneaking away into the forests after their lessons were over, he grew curious and discreetly followed her. He watched her, hidden away in the trees, as she glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was watching, and then entered a little area inside the hollowed out trunk of a tree.

He'd waited a while until she came out, and then he watched her as she trained, sometimes referring to the little notebook she carried around at the academy. He realised that she was attempting to apply techniques that some of their classmates used in taijutsu. He recognised some of his own, and Guy's, and even Obito and Asuma's.

He watched that first time with fascination. When she left for the day, Kakashi came down from his tree and investigated what was inside the tree trunk, and was surprised to find there were books in there, far more advanced than anyone else in the class was reading, that had obviously been read many times over. They were all about chakra control and theory, some medical texts, some were about ninjutsu and taijutsu and genjutsu.

Kakashi quickly realised that he no one really understood her. She didn't speak much, and some of the others thought she was rude. Kakashi paid more attention to her after that, but not in a way that anyone else noticed, and figured out that she was just shy.

He followed her to watch her training every now and again. Part of him wishing to go down and help her, but something always stopped him. Even at the academy, he never found the courage to approach her.

On the day he graduated, when everyone was surrounding him and congratulating him, Kakashi noticed that she was hanging back from the group. He caught her eye, and was surprised to see her give him a shy smile, one that showed she was happy for him, and also a little proud. It made him feel a little funny inside. Before he could go and talk to her, or just tell her thanks, or something, she was gone and he was pulled away by Guy.

8 years old - Sakura, Academy Student/Genin

"Sakura, I've spoken with the Academy leadership, and we all agree that there's nothing more you can be taught here," Miko-sensei said.

Sakura blinked. "What does that mean?" She asked, her stomach fluttering nervously.

Miko-sensei gave her a kind smile. "It means that if you pass the final exams, you'll be graduating from the Academy."

"I - I have so much to learn still," Sakura stammered.

"Yes, but what you have to learn can't be taught within these walls any longer. Congratulations, Sakura."

Sakura's cheeks heated and a smile bloomed across her face. "Thank you," she murmured quietly, clutching her books tightly to her chest.

Miko-sensei told her that she'd be tested in the morning, so she should go home and get some rest. Sakura nodded and left in a slight daze. She walked home, unable to wipe the goofy smile from her face. She was so surprised and happy. She knew that she had been excelling in her classes, and she'd been consistently scoring with the top marks in almost all subjects. She was still lacking in taijutsu, but she'd been working hard and…she'd proved herself capable enough to graduate at only eight years old.

When she got home she ran up to her room and opened the book that contained the paper with Kakashi's name on it. She stared at it, the edges crumpling in her grip. She was getting closer to reaching her goal, and her stomach flipped over with happy nerves.

The test was easier than she expected. She only had to create a perfect clone, something she'd been able to do for a year now. Just as the Hokage was about to present her with her headband, the doors to the room to be flung open and the legendary Sannin, Lady Tsunade, stomped into the room.

"You're late, Tsunade," the Hokage said with a small smile.

"Well. Is this the brat?" Tsunade asked.

Sakura was shocked at her lack of decorum, but even more that Tsunade (her hero!) was looking directly at her.

"Indeed," the Hokage answered. "This is Sakura Haruno."

Tsunade gave her a look, up and down. "She doesn't look like much."

Sakura frowned, and stared back at Tsunade, who raised an eyebrow at her.

"I expect you'll discover her skills on your own," the Hokage said easily.

Tsunade turned to him.

"You better not be wasting my time with this."

"With what?" Sakura asked, too curious and annoyed to hold back any longer.

Lord Third gave her a soft smile.

"Congratulations, Sakura." He held out her headband and she took it with a proud smile. "You are now a genin of Konoha."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage," she bowed. She gripped the headband tightly, like it was the most precious thing in the world, and at that moment it was.

"This is Tsunade Senju, the director of the hospital, and the best medic the village has ever produced," the Hokage said.

Sakura nodded. She knew who Tsunade was, everyone did.

"Tsunade has agreed to test your aptitude for medical ninjutsu, and at the end of the probationary period, will decide if she'll take you on as an apprentice."

Sakura's eyes widened in shock. She stared at the Hokage, speechless. He chuckle at her expression.

"I have no doubt you will flourish," he said. "Until Tsunade's evaluation has been completed, you will not be assigned to a genin team."

"Thank you," Sakura said with disbelief.

She tied her headband around the top of her head and turned to Tsunade, who had been studying her. She felt uncomfortable under the scrutinising gaze Tsunade was giving her.

"I won't let you down," Sakura vowed.

Tsunade scoffed.

"We'll see. Follow me."

Sakura followed her.

8 years old - Kakashi, Chunin

"Did you hear? Lady Tsunade's finally taken on an apprentice, some medical prodigy with pink hair."

Kakashi's head whipped up and he paused and walked over to the chunin who were huddled together on the side of the street.

"What did you say?"

They peered down at him with dislike. Kakashi didn't care, he didn't like them either, but there was only one person he knew with pink hair and he had to know what they were talking about.

"What's it to you, Hatake?"

"Who has Tsunade taken on?" Kakashi asked.

"Some kunoichi kid. Graduated early, like you," one of them shrugged.

Kakashi nodded and walked away, ignoring their grumblings about how he was a rude little shit. Was it Sakura? He'd had no indication that she was interested in medical ninjustu at the academy, but he did remember the medical books she had hidden away in the forest, and he had noticed her chakra control was really good in comparison to every one else. If she'd kept training and improving at the rate she had been, it wasn't a surprise that she'd graduated early. But to be taken on by a Sannin? That was remarkable. He felt slightly jealous.

He had been walking towards the training grounds, but changed directions, knowing his old classmates would be finishing up for the day at the academy soon, if he just happened to bump into one of them accidentally, maybe they'd know.

Thankfully, it was Asuma and Kurenai whose path he crossed first and not Obito's or Guy's.

"Hey Kakashi," Asuma greeted him with a slow, friendly smile.

"Asuma," Kakashi replied.

"Wow, it's been a while, Kakashi! How are you?" Kurenai asked.

Kakashi shrugged.

"Fine. Any news?" He asked.

Kurenai's eyes lit up.

"Actually, yes! Do you remember Sakura?"

Kakashi acted like he didn't.

"The pink haired, quiet one," Asuma supplied.

"Oh. Yeah. Why?"

"She graduated a few months ago, and was just officially accepted as Lady Tsunade's apprentice!" Kurenai told him excitedly. "Isn't that great? I had no idea she was so interested in medical ninjutsu, and Lady Tsunade never accepts students."

"It's impressive," Kakashi admitted.

"After you left she was the top student," Asuma said.

"Did she… talk?" Kakashi asked, unable to help his curiosity.

"Yeah," Kurenai laughed. "She's actually really nice. She was just shy. Me and Asuma helped her make more friends."

Kakashi glanced at Asuma, who shrugged.

"She helped with our homework."

"Ah." Kakashi replied, understanding how the helping make friends happened. "Well. See you later."

"Oh, hey, wait." Kurenai stopped him.

Kakashi looked at her with slight annoyance.

"What?"

"Sakura's been so into studying to make sure that she passed Tsunade's evaluation. But now that she'd done it, we're going to have a little party for her. Want to come?"

Kakashi shrugged. "Maybe."

"When we organise it, we'll let you know," Kurenai said.

Kakashi gave a small nod and then walked off, still feeling jealous, but he was also oddly proud of her, although he didn't know why.

8 years old - Sakura, Genin

The party that her old classmates organised secretly for her made Sakura tear up. She was so happy to see them all, she hadn't realised how much she missed them all. Kurenai had come to fetch her from her house just before lunch, and dragged her to a park near the Academy, where her entire class was waiting for her.

They all gave her little gifts.

Guy gave her a pair of weights for her legs, which everyone laughed at, but she accepted with gratitude, knowing that Lady Tsunade had told her they would be leaning taijutsu soon and the weights would definitely help her become a great kunoichi like Lady Tsunade.

Genma gave her a packet of ten senbon.

Obito gave her an old medical textbook that apparently used to be his grandmothers.

Asuma and Kurenai coordinated their gifts, with Asuma giving her a pink necklace, and Kurenai giving her a dress and telling her that even though she was a genin, she was still a girl.

Anko also agreed with Kurenai's sentiments, giving Sakura a purple flower clip that she said Ibiki had actually chosen but was too shy to give to her directly.

Sakura gave everyone a big hug and thanked them profusely, until Hayate and Yuuna arrived with their celebratory food, curtesy of Yuuna's clan. Anko salivated over the food, stating that the Akimichi's were the best cooks in the world.

It was the best lunch, and the best way for her to relax after studying so hard for the last three months.

After they'd finished eating, and Sakura was helping Kurenai and Yuuna clean up, Obito's surprised outburst of 'Bakashi' made Sakura freeze.

She slowly turned around and saw that Kakashi Hatake had shown up, prompting the rapid increase of her pulse.

"Didn't think you'd come," Asuma said to him.

Kakashi just shrugged, and glanced at the table full of gifts, pausing slightly. Sakura watched him, desperately trying to keep her face straight and her blush down as he came closer to her.

He cleared his throat, clearly irritated that everyone was watching him.

"I just got back from a mission," he said. "Sorry."

"That's okay," Sakura replied, still trying to compose herself.

"I didn't get you a gift."

He seemed embarrassed. Sakura shook her head.

"I don't mind," she replied. "Um. Thanks for coming."

This was the most that they'd ever spoken to each other.

He cleared his throat.

"Congratulations," he murmured.

And then he turned around and left the way he came. Everyone stared at him, and then turned back to Sakura, eyes wide and confused. Sakura stared after him, blinking in confusion.

"What the hell was that?" Genma asked, breaking the silence.

Asuma and Kurenai shared a glance.

"Weird," Anko answered Genma, who nodded in agreement.

Sakura had to agree with them.

"Very," she said.

She ducked her head and continued cleaning up, her heart hammered in her chest and she hoped no one could see her blush.