Author's Note: Hi there everyone, please enjoy! Again more thanks to Shippertrish, because she is awesome. That is all.

Disclaimer: I do not yet own the manga of Naruto. Though miracles do happen

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He could see the potential in her. But he knew that it wasn't something he could mold into a reality.

He knew exactly what actions to take to insure the fact that she would finally decide she'd had enough and leave to find the right teacher.

He'd taken great care to explain to her exactly what the specialties of the new Hokage were, and he could see the interest in her eyes. It wasn't because he was a bad teacher that Sakura went to find training elsewhere. He was a good teacher in the fact that he taught her to take matters into her own hands.

He taught her how to deal with her own problems and stand up for herself, to take what she deserved. It was more than anyone else had taught her, and he was glad to see that his lessons stayed with her for years.

This wasn't exactly what he had in mind though when he noticed the side long glances he started to receive from her, years after the team had gone their separate ways.

Now it seemed like she was the only one who treated him in the hospital. Out of her and Naruto, she ran into him more frequently on the streets, like she was loitering in the areas where he was known to walk.

It made him slightly edgy, because he knew her. She was going to do something about the fact that she liked him. It was Sakura, she was no other way.

He himself had taught her to take matters into her own hands, and she had definitely taken that lesson to heart.

He realized how much to heart exactly, when she kissed him without warning. They had been talking comfortably at a party when her lips were on his mask covered ones, her hand braced against his chest.

He was shocked of course, but she took it in stride and wished him a good evening before walking away and heading towards the door.

What surprised her the most however, was the fact that she wasn't even across the room before he caught up to her and kissed her back, this time without the mask.

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I hope you enjoyed! Please Review and Comment! Feel free to suggest a pairing if you'd like something special. I'll see what I can do!

cheers

darkie