At twenty-one Haruno Sakura felt like she still dressed and looked like a teenager. Not that she wasn't fashionable, it's just that her current 'style' didn't reflect her age, or so she thought. Sakura wanted to look older; she was dying to look older. Truth be told Ino was the person to go to for a wardrobe 'picker-upper'. Therefore, Sakura was spending her Thursday evening with Ino. The two of them were sitting in Sakura's small, but comfortable apartment arguing over what could and couldn't be in Sakura's new wardrobe.
"Ino, I am NOT wearing that! And I never will!" Sakura stated angrily. Ino was holding in her hands a t-shirt that to be perfectly honest looked about the size of a dishcloth. The t-shirt was obviously see-through and contained numerous holes that Ino later informed Sakura were 'supposed to be there'. The two women were obviously having a difficult time agreeing on what 'clothing that made you look older' really was.
"You want people to think you're older forehead girl? Huh?" Sakura nodded, plaintively, as Ino continued. "Then you've got to get yourself out of this 'Love me! I'm so cute!' stage. Okay!"
"So what? I should just slut myself up a bit. Be a bit more 'worldly' like you...is that what you're trying to tell me?" Sakura demanded, eyebrows arched slightly but posture slumping realizing Ino was correct. To look older she would have to change her style… a lot. Sakura sighed in defeat. "Okay…but can we compromise? I do not want to look like I should be taking up a job as a hooker or anything. I still want to look as though I deserve respect."
Ino beamed. Sakura could see the wheels turning in Ino's head. Whatever this wardrobe makeover was destined to become worried Sakura. If she didn't set the rules for the situation, Ino would go crazy and the next thing Sakura would know she'd be out dressed for sexing the males of Konoha. If Sakura wanted to look older, but decent, she'd have to give Ino an idea of how she wanted to look…very soon.
"Ino?" Sakura asked, snapping Ino out of her daydream (which surely involved dressing Sakura in something incredibly indecent).
"Mm? yeah?" Ino mumbled in response, coming out of her reverie slowly.
"We're doing the whole shebang here, right? New clothes for the day? Night? And whenever, right?" Ino nodded, listening to Sakura intently knowing that Sakura was about to dish out were the guidelines for the clothing selection. "Okay I want my clothes to look… sexy, but not too sexy. I want them to be revealing, but not too revealing. I want people to think 'wow, she looks smart'. But I also want them to think I look like I can have fun. Can we do that Ino?"
Sakura had turned her attention to Ino fully expecting an overwhelming and seemingly enthusiastic response but when she turned her head towards her best friend she found a women with a dilemma.
Ino was clearly working out the wardrobe in her head, taking in everything Sakura had said. Her face was a montage of expressions. Every time she thought of something that fit Sakura's description, her face would change from thoughtful and pragmatic to pleased and excited. After a good twenty minutes of Ino's jubilant but yet somewhat strange expression changes she finally spoke.
"Ya' know Sakura. This is going to work out perfectly." She said with an enormous smile on her face.
"Tomorrow night we'll unveil your first outfit! I'll meet you here tomorrow at say…5:00 with all your new clothes. We can doll you up for a night of drinking." Ino said with a wink. "What do you say Forehead girl?" Ino could see Sakura hesitate somewhat. "Jeez come-on Sakura, I'm going to make you look nice…okay?" she stated simply, then with a sheepish smile on her face. "Plus, your sensei will be home tomorrow. No doubt he'll be out and about tomorrow night. He'll most definitely enjoy your new clothes!" Sakura's face quickly flushed coupled with her anger towards Ino, which was just blooming.
"INO PIG!" Sakura shouted angrily, and with that, their evening continued with as little grace as one would have expected from the two.
Kakashi had been gone on a mission for the past two weeks. However, prior to him leaving, Sakura and he had shared a somewhat 'intimate' evening.
Because Sakura was now working as a medic-nin in the hospital (under the guidance of Tsunade) Sakura had less time to work on her physical strengths outside of the medical field so she asked Kakashi if he wouldn't mind training with her a couple of times each week. Of course, he had said yes.
After many weeks, and many training sessions Sakura noticed the atmosphere between her and Kakashi had changed. Their friendship had obviously developed into something more, and the night before Kakashi left for his mission they went out for drinks. This was not an unusual occurrence considering that Kakashi and Sakura had often times ventured to the bars together. This night was different though. When Kakashi and Sakura had arrived in the bar, they noticed a pile of their friends (more like Kakashi's friends) sitting in a table towards the back corner of the room. Sitting at said table were Genma, Asuma and to Kakashi's ire Gai was also there.
When Genma spotted the young pink-haired cherry blossom and he immediately haulted his conversation with the Asuma to direct loving purrs towards the beautiful young women, Sakura, who responded to him with a pink hue enveloping her cheeks. Although contrary to Sakura, Kakashi's response to Genma was much more physical. Kakashi had responded with a swift smack to the back of the senbon loving ninja's head. This action led to Kakashi's downfall.
"Some-ones a little protective on the subject of Sakura, eh?" Genma responded while nursing the back of his head lovingly, and quickly telling the nearest server to bring a couple more glasses and more sake. Then with a quick wink towards the famous copy-nin Genma asked "Have a little crush on her Kakashi?"
Kakashi being Kakashi, wasn't affected by this whatsoever, ever so nonchalantly pulling out Icha Icha Paradise while mumbling something Genma discerned as a 'no' to his question. Sakura on the other hand choked on her own spit with shock, truly not embodying the picture of grace and beauty at that moment. Gai and Asuma just watched the conversation unfold with amusement.
"Ah, so that isn't the case then Kakashi?" Genma asked while at the same time playfully eyeing the pink haired women. Genma decided he would play on Kakashi's denial. He had a hunch that the silver-haired man was very much crushing on said young woman. With that, Genma did what he was sure would lead to his death. He gingerly brought his foot up to Sakura and began lightly rubbing his foot against her upper thigh (which caused Sakura to choke on her drink while her face turned a unique shade of red). This was not done without Kakashi being made somewhat aware of the situation as Genma purposefully touched Kakashi's leg a few times so Kakashi would get the hint.
Although Kakashi would steadily deny it, he was definitely bordering on extreme anger. When Genma's foot touched his leg once again, he couldn't take it any more. He quickly stood and grabbed Sakura's arm and dragged her out of the bar. Sakura looked up into his eye confused, but yet at the same time understanding. Under her breath, she whispered 'Thank you Kaka-sensei'. To Sakura's surprise, the copy-nin pulled her forward so she was pressed against his strong chest. He brought their lips together (his still covered by his mask) in a tenderness and intensity that was foreign to her. However, as quickly as the kiss had begun, it also ended. He pulled his lips away leaving Sakura confused and wanting more. She was about to ask him why he did that and what it meant when he quickly disappeared in his typical puff of smoke. But before he had gone Sakura heard him say under his breath 'too young…it just isn't right.' The next morning Sakura couldn't even ask him about the kiss because he had left on a mission.
His statement of her being 'too young' upset Sakura. She desperately wanted to be older for him. Through there recent training she had begun to feel something for him. Something that she now realized was love for the silver-haired pervert. Sakura was determined to show him that she was older. She was no longer the twelve-year-old girl that he once taught. She was a grown woman! Thus, Sakura opted for a more mature and 'attractive' wardrobe hoping to coax the copy-nin a little. Sakura realized Ino was the perfect person to help her. Poor Sakura made the unforgivable mistake of telling Ino about the kiss with Kakashi though, and she knew now that tomorrow night Ino would make sure that Kakashi saw the newly dressed Sakura. This particular thought frightened Sakura.