Hello this is an old fic I started a while ago and have posted on . I felt it was time to give it some TLC. I've gone thru this chapter and re-written some sections and added more detail to it. I plan to do the same with my other chapters I do hope you like it. Please let me know.
I do not own Naruto
Squad 7 was on their way back to the Village hidden in the leaves, after having successfully completing a month long, fairly involved mission.
"I can't wait till we get back to the village. First thing I'm doing is having a big bowl of Ichiraku Ramen" Naruto exclaimed rather loudly.
The young Kuniochi looked over at her blond haired teammate. "Naruto we've been away from the village for a month, and all your excited for is noodles?"
"It's been so long. What are you looking forward to doing once we're back in the village Sakura?" Naruto asked
"Me, I just wanna go home, take a long shower and spend some time with my parents. OH Hey! You guys are still coming over for my 15th birthday on Monday, right? My Moms making her infamous triple fudge brownie cake, My favorite!"
"Yea, I'm coming Sakura." Naruto said
"How about you Sasuke?" the pink haired genin asked with excitement, adoring eyes aimed at the only Uchiha.
"Hn" Was Sasuke's only reply, while nodding his head. While outer Sakura smiled at Sasuke's answer, and turned to regard her teacher. Inner Sakura was shouting. "Sasuke's coming to my party cha!"
"What about you Sensei?"
Kakashi whose nose was buried in his favorite orange novel, was completely oblivious to his teams conversation. "Huh? I'm sorry Sakura. What was the question?" Kakashi answered lifting his head looking over at her.
The young kunoichi just sighed outwardly, slightly annoyed at her teachers typical habits. "Do ever read anything else Sensei? I was asking if you're still coming to celebrate my birthday with us."
"Sakura you don't want an old man like me at your party."
She rolled her eyes at his excuse. "Kakashi Sensei you're not that old! Please?" Sakura pleaded.
"Oh alright I'll be there. What time was it again?" The silver haired shinobi asked with his usual eye crease smile.
Sakura grinned. "Thank you Sensei, 5 o'clock, and please don't be late. My Mom has a cow when people are late. I don't want my mom getting mad at you. It wouldn't be a good thing; several of mom's Jutsu's are just scary."
When the team reached the large red Konoha gates, Kakashi as team leader stopped at the check in station, to signify that his team had returned. As he made his way over he noticed his buddy Genma was on check in duty today.
"HEY Kakashi!" Genma shouted. "You're back, finally! Hey you wanna hit a bar tonight. You look like you could use some fun my friend." Kakashi looked over at his team, they were waiting for him. He signaled for them to go on ahead to the Hokage's office, he'd catch up.
"Genma, I'm not sure if I'm really up for it. It's been a long mission."
"Aw come on Kakashi, You've been gone for a month with no sex. You know what you need? You need to get laid, Come on Buddy. Well get some beer and some women." Genma stated.
"Alright, I guess there's no harm in a few beers, but that's it. Maybe we can get some women another night Genma."
While their sensei had been chatting with his buddy, the rest of his team had arrived at Hokage tower. The three genin walked up the stairs and knocked on the door.
"Come in" Was the reply through the thick doors. The Hokage, Lady Tsunade was sitting at her desk, surrounded by several stacks of papers."Oh good your back!" She stated looking up from what she had been going over. "Where's Hatake?" She asked frowning.
"Kakashi Sensei stopped to talk with Genma Sensei at the check in desk." Sakura answered her Shisohou.
The Slug princess didn't look pleased. "Shurani needs to keep focused on his job, instead of gabbing." Just as Lady Tsunade had finished her sentence, Kakashi poofed in. She turned to him, clearly irritated with his usual tardiness. "About time Hatake." The Hokage Snapped.
"Sorry Lady Hokage. Here's the report." Kakashi apologized as he stepped up to his superior's desk, handing her the mission scroll. "Everything went fine, the mission was a success. We were able to infiltrate and take down the approaching Grass land shinobi 3 man cell, despite not meeting up with our back up squad." Kakashi explained.
"Good." Tsunade nodded "I'm Glad to hear that mission was completed, despite the complication. Now everyone is dismissed, except for Sakura, I need to speak with you." She looked over at her apprentice as she spoke. The other 3 nodded in understanding and left the hokage's office, in trek to there favorite after mission spot, Ichiraku Ramen. After the boys had left Sakura was asked to close the door and have a seat. The hokage had something she needed to discuss with her pupil.
Back down in the streets of Konoha, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Naruto were seated and had ordered their meals, knowing that Sakura would catch up when Tsunade was through. After a bit of time everyone had relaxed eaten their meals and chatted about their mission among other things, but Sakura had never appeared. Her team brushed it off, not worried. Either Lady Tsunade was still talking with Sakura, or she had gone home. Sakura had said that she wanted to spend time with her parents, and she hadn't seen them in a month.
A few days had passed since then and none of her teammates had seen her around Konoha, and it was unusual that she would miss team training missions.
"Kakashi Sensei where's Sakura? She missed training again." Naruto asked.
"I'm not sure Naruto. Lady Tsunade probably has something she needs her for, or added some extra hospital shifts to her schedule since we were on our last mission a while. You can ask her tonight at her party." The sound of thunder could be heard in the distance, as it started to drizzle. "Why don't I just cancel the rest of training for today, go home and get yourselves cleaned up. I'll see you tonight." Kakashi suggested to Naruto and Sasuke before he poofed away. He had an hour and a half before he had to be at Sakura's party, and had no Idea what to get her for her birthday. Kakashi decided to go to the Shinobi Supply Shop and see if there was something there he could get for his only female student. After walking around the supply sho for a little while, he settled on a small embroidered pouch for her medical supplies, and a kunai with a design of pink petals on the handle. After paying for the presents Kakashi headed down to the Broken Shuriken a local bar that a lot of shinobi hung out at. He still had about and hour to kill. When he walked in, he found that in the back Corner booth was, Genma with some girl, Kurenai, Asuma, and Gai. So he headed that way.
"YO!" He greeted
"Hey Kakashi sit down" Gai said "Kurenai was just telling us about her squads latest mission." On his friends request Kakashi sat down, joining his comrades, and ordered a beer.
A couple stories and drinks later Kakashi looked up at the clock it was now 6 o'clock. "Ah well Sakura won't let her mom kill me just for being a little late."He thought standing up. "Well Guys I better get going."
"Buddy, where you taken off too. You're not even drunk yet." Genma said a little tipsy himself
"If I'm any later to Sakura's Birthday party, She's libel to kill me."
"Ah youth, well it's good to see the young cherry blossom of Konoha celebrating something, After what happened." Gai stated
At hearing what his friend just said Kakashi's eye brows furrowed as he looked Down at his friend. "Gai what are you talking about?" He asked confused, and slowly lowering himself back to his previous sitting position.
"Kakashi you don't know?" Kurenai asked, She had a surprised look on her face. She figured Kakashi would have been one of the first people told after Sakura herself.
"NO! What's happened to Sakura!" Kakashi demanded temper slightly flaring. Asuma reached up placing his hand on his friends shoulder to calm him down.
Kurenai looked at her silver haired comrade. "Kakashi, Sakura's parents died a week and a half after your team left on your mission. Her parents squad was one of the other squads sent out against the grass ninja forces. Nami Kotsu was the only one that made it back to the village. Her parents were taken hostage. Gai and Asuma's squads were sent out on retrieval missions.
"I'm sorry Kakashi. It wasn't pretty. Sakura's father was gone before we even got there, Her mother barley made it out. "Gai explained
"Ami Haruno died in Konoha Hospital the next day." Asuma added
Kureni looked from Asuma back to Kakashi. "It's been almost a week since your team has been home. How did you not know this was going on?" Asked Kureni
"Well when we returned the night of the mission, We gave our report then Lady Tsunade asked Sakura to stay. Most likely the hokage was giving Sakura another mission or discussing hospital affairs while her apprentice had been away. We just assumed that Sakura was picking up shifts at the hospital. She never came to tell us. Tell you the truth we haven't really seen Sakura since we left Hokage tower that night." Kakashi stated feeling guilty he should have known something was up when she didn't show up for training. "I gotta go!" With that Kakashi ran out of the bar and into the cold rainy streets of Konoha. He stopped by Sakura's house first, but house house was all dark and Sauske and Naruto were still standing on the porch waiting for Sakura. "Sensei what's going on, Sakura's not home?" Naruto asked
"Naruto, Sauske the party has been canceled go home." He said rather shortly.
"Kakashi what's going on?" Sauske asked
"I'll explain tomorrow before training. " With that Kakashi left the boys where they stood, and headed to Ino Yamanak's house. He hoped that since the Kunochi were friends/ rivals that maybe Sakura would be there or that Ino would know where she was. When he arrived at the front door he knocked and waited for an answer. Inochi Yamanaka Ino's father answered the door. "Kakashi! What brings you here?" Inochi asked in surprise.
"Is Sakura here by any chance visiting with your daughter Inochi?" The Silver haired Jounin asked.
"No, I'm afraid she's not."
Kakashi sighed disappointedly. "If Ino is home, I'd like to speak with her please Inochi, I need to find Sakura."
Inochi nodded and stepped aside. "Please come inside out of the rain Hatake. I will go get Ino." He said walking down the hall to his daughters room. "Ino, Kakashi Hatake is here to see you"
Ino walk out into the living room. "Kakashi Sensei. How can I help you?"
"Ino have you seen Sakura lately?"
"Forehead, No. Not for a couple of days, Sakura came to see me the day you guys came home from your mission. She was upset, Lady Tsunade had just told her what happened to her parents. She came to me because my team was part of the retrieval squad. She stayed the night and we hung out. She left the next morning, I haven't seen her since then. She told me she was going home, and that she needed me to cover her shifts at the hospital for a few days, that she needed to be alone."
"Well she's not at home, Naruto Sauske and I were not told what had happened. The boys were left outside in the rain waiting for her party to begin. Thank you Ino if you see her, please let me know?
"Sure Sensei. I will. Good bye." Ino nodded as she closed the door.
Kakashi was at a loss if she wasn't at Ino's house, and obviously wasn't at Naruto's or Sauske's, or her house. Where would she go? Kakashi decided to go visit the memorial stone, to ask his old friend for help.
Kakashi walked down the path to the memorial stone, the rain coming down hard soaking through his jounin vest and clothes. As he approached the memorial stone, he heard the soft sounds of sobbing. On the other side of the stone he found Sakura. She was soaking wet from the rain, sitting with her back against the stone with her knees tucked in with her arms around them. She was still in her mission clothes which told him, she hadn't gone home yet. As he looked over her he wasn't sure how long she had been sitting there. She was completely soaked Kakashi didn't say a word, he just sat down on the wet ground next to his student, letting the rain soak in, till she was ready.
Sakura didn't acknowledge her sensei at first she just took a deep breath and wiped her eyes with her hand and stared ahead of her. After some time had passed she felt calm enough to speak. "I can't believe their gone."She said "When I left mom was making lunch for my father, he was on the couch watching tv, everything was normal. It's like they never existed." Sakura said her voice hoarse from crying.
Kakashi sat there listening as she spoak, thinking about what she was saying, before giving a reply. "But they did exist Sakura. They existed for you. Your parents lived the same life you are, the life of a shinobi. That mission for them was the same as it was for you. They were protecting the village for you, just as you them." Kakashi told her.
Sakura sniffed "I know. But it doesn't make it any easier."
"No, No it doesn't" Kakashi looked at his student. "Sakura you haven't gone home have you." He asked, regarding her clothing.
Sakura shook her head no and sniffed again. "I-I just can't go into that house. The house smells like my parents, everything in there is my parent's, my family, or what used to be my family. Everything in there….. it's never going to be like it was. I just can't bring myself to go in there by myself and see that their not there."
Kakashi put his hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Sakura why didn't you come to me, about this, I could have helped you with this, Or even Naruto, or Sauske you know any one of us would have. We could have talked about what was going on and figured out another place, that you'd feel comfortable staying. If you'd like, you can stay with me." Kakashi offered looking at her.
Sakura looked up at her Sensei for the first time since he sat down, and gave a small forced half smile. She knew he was trying to help, but she didn't want to put him out. "No Sensei, that's ok, I can go home. I should any way, just get over with…. But Kakashi Sensei?" She looked up at him with a question and nervousness in her eyes. "Would you come with me, just for a while? Please? I don't want to go alone."
He smiled his usual eye crease smile."Sure, I'll go with you. Now let's get you out of the rain. Making yourself sick, won't make things any easier for you." Kakashi stated, standing up reaching his hand out to his pink haired student to pull her up on her feet. Once she was up, they started the walk back. When they arrivied at the front steps to her house she noticed two small wet packages on her door step. She looked up at Kakashi.
"Naruto and Sauske haven't been told yet either." He said softly.
"Tsunade Shishou didn't tell you guys?" Sakura asked
"No, I found out 2 hours ago from Gai, Kurenai, and Asuma, before I left for your party. When I arrived here Sasuke and Naruto where waiting. I told the boys to go home, and went looking for you."
Sakura shook her head, and raised her hands to her face "I'm sorry about that Sensei. I should have told you guys." She looked up at him apologetically.
"It's ok Sakura, it's fine. Now go get out of those wet clothes before you get sick, he ordered in his strict Sensei voice, but added his eye crease smile." This made Sakura smile.
"Ok, Sensei." She said as she picked up the wet packages from the stoop and unlocked the door. She stepped inside and flipped on the light and tried not to think about it. She headed down to the hallway to her bedroom to change into some dry clothes as ordered by her sensei. Kakashi watched as she walked down the hall, as Sakura was in her room he walked into the kitchen and rummaged through the cupboards trying to find something to cook. He guessed since Sakura hadn't really been home since they got back to the village, she probably hadn't eaten much. As he pulled out some pots and pans, he heard a crash and glass breaking. He walked quickly down the hall to Sakura's room.
"Sakura, Sakura." He said knocking on the door. There was no reply, But crying could be heard from the other side of the door. He knocked again a little more urgently and spoke. "Sakura are you descent, I'm coming in." he said opening her door. He found Sakura kneeling on the floor, trying to clean up broken glass from a picture that had fallen off her desk. Kakashi walked over to her, and knelt down."Sakura are you ok." He asked her, before noticing that she sliced her hand on the glass. And she was bleeding. "Sakura stop. I'll take care of this. You go take some clean clothes and go into the bathroom. Go wrap your hand, take a hot shower and relax. Ok?" *He looked at her, talking softly, she could hear the concern in his voice. "Don't worry about this, I clean it up."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive"
Sakura gathered some clothes and went into the bathroom. Kakashi picked up the glass and the rest of the picture frame. The picture was of her and her parents after her academy graduation. Sakura was in the middle, with her mom on the right and dad on the left. She was holding her ninja headband in her hands showing it off in the picture. He smiled, placed the picture on her desk and turned out the light, heading back to the kitchen. About a half hour later Sakura came out of the bathroom, clean and dressed in warm clothes, she sniffed the air, something smelled really good. She walked to the kitchen, She found two plates of stir fry waiting on the kitchen table. Her stomach growled, awaken by the smell of food, reminding her that she was hungry. She sat down, Kakashi poured some tea for the two of them and sat down to eat with her.
"Thank you Sensei." Sakura said taking a bite. "Mmm.. So goooood!" She said quickly before taking another bite. Kakashi looked up at her, and chuckled at her knew Kakashi Sensei could cook she thought to herself. Once dinner was done, Sakura helped Kakashi clean up the dishes. He washed and she dried.
"You know my mom and I would do the dishes together every day that we weren't on a mission." She said with a smile. "It was just kind of our time I guess. Dad would go watch T.V. And mom and I would clean up the kitchen, and catch up. We'd always talk about our latest mission's, it's too bad my parents died before my party, they always said they wanted to meet my favorite Sensei." Sakura told him.
"Your mom should have met Lady Tsunade, being Shinobi."
Sakura chuckled. "Kakashi." She tipped her head to the side and sighed at him. "I was talking about you! My parents heard many stories of the infamous Copy Nin, when they first joined Anbu ranks. But you left before they ever met you, in person. Once they heard that I had you as a Sensei they were ecstatic. They knew I'd learn a lot from you."
Kakashi looked at Sakura quickly, surprise could be seen in his one eye, he never told his team that he was once Anbu. "Yes Sensei, I know you where in the Anbu black ops, I've known for a while." She wiped another dish and set in the rack. "When we were first assigned to squad 7 way back when, there was a week, were you told us you had a solo mission, my Mom was sent on a black ops mission that next day, her Anbu team came to the door the leader had a wolfs mask on. The Anbu with the wolf mask said something. I thought I recognized the voice, but brushed it off because you left the day before, but then every time you where on a solo mission, she was on a mission. Then one day Mom that she had gotten a new anbu leader, Wolf had retired from anbu ranks." She stopped and looked at him. "That was around the same time you stopped having solo missions. It was you?! Wasn't it Sensei?"
He smiled inwardly, Sakura was very bright kunoichi. "Your mom was a very gifted Ninja Sakura. She was mastery at gen jutsu, just like you Sakura. I left anbu because I figured out that cat was your mother. I actually figured it out the first time I saw you answer the door on our way out on an anbu mission. So after my request to change Anbu teams was denied, I retired. If something were to happen to your mom while under my watch, how would I have faced you in squad 7 knowing I probably could have prevented it?"
She smiled."That's funny then, mom did know you more than she knew."
Kakashi trying to change the subject as they walked into the living room asked. "So am I really your favorite Sensei?" He smiled "I figured that title would have went to Lady Tsunade."
"Shishou may have taught me my medical jutsu. But she never hangs out at Ichirakus Ramen, She doesn't go on missions with me. She doesn't goof around a little with us during training."Sakura answered him leaning against his shoulder. Kakashi chuckled and ruffled Sakura's hair. "Shishou doesn't ruffle up my hair. I guess you just make me feel really safe, kinda at home on missions, like nothing bad can happen as long as we are with you Sensei."Sakura explained with a yawn and closed her eyes. "Well I wouldn't say nothing bad can hap…Sakura? …..Sakura?" Mid sentence Kakashi had heard Sakura sigh, then her breathing even out. When she didn't respond, he new she was fast asleep. He smiled at her, and pulled out his book. He'd sit and read for a while let her rest. Clearly his presence had helped her relax, so she could get the rest he knew she needed.
The next morning Sakura woke up to the smell of pancakes and eggs. She walked into the kitchen, She had to laugh Kakashi was wearing her moms apron that said. 'Mama's kitchen' on it.
Kakashi turned around when he heard the giggle. "Oh good you're up. I have to take care of something before we meet the guys at the training grounds, are you going to be ok by yourself, for a bit.
"Yeah I'll be ok. Thanks for everything last night Sensei."
"You're welcome Sakura." He said as he dropped the 3 pancakes he made for her on the plate. "Make sure you eat, You're going to need your energy for training today." He told her as he removed the apron. "Alright I gotta go, see you later Sakura!" With that he left, headed for the training grounds already. Where he knew Sasuke and Naruto would be waiting.
"KAKASHI SENSEI!" Naruto called
Kakashi walked over to his team.
"Did you find Sakura?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes I did, she's ok. Sakura hasn't been around because she found out her parents died on their last mission, they where the backup team that we never met up with. Their squad was ambushed and kidnapped, a shortly before we were supposed to meet them at the check point. Now I have Sakura feeling better, unless she brings up her parents, be quiet about it."
"Kakashi clearly Sakura hasn't been staying at home. Where has she been this whole time?"
"Honestly Sasuke I don't know. I know she had gone to see Ino after meeting with Lady Tsunade, and I found her at the memorial stone. She didn't fill in the details of her absence."
After a small amount of time there pink haired team mate arrived at the 3rd shinobi battle training ground to meet her team.
"Ok now that we are all hear. Naruto will spar with Sakura, Sauske you with me. They paired off as instructed by their sensei. As time went on the battle s raged in full force. You could feel the ground cracking from Sakura's strength, you could hear the clash of 2 chidori's ring through the air. Naruto clones could be seen scattered every which way.
Sakura's rage was building during her fight with Naruto. Her emotions getting the best of her, she was mad that her parents were gone, mad at the shinobi who carelessly took them from her, and without knowing it started to take it out on Naruto one clone at a time. Thanks to Sakura's anger and swift movements Naruto was quickly out of clones. He was surprised at how fast she had turned the sparing session around on him. Naruto quickly formed to more clones and started to forms a low grade Rasengan, so he wouldn't hurt her to badly. But he wasn't quick enough. One punch sent Naruto flying through several trees. Naruto was trying to quickly formulate a plan, if she didn't let up soon he would be forced to rely on the 9 tails, and he didn't want to do that. She was upon him the second he stopped tumbling thru the tree's into the ground. Kakashi could hear Naruto scream in pain, and looked up. He jumped over to Sakura and swiftly grabbed her off of Naruto, putting himself in the way of the punches that where aimed at Naruto. He held her as tight as he could his arms around her, her punches leaving bruises all over Kakashi's chest. "Sakura, Sakura, Please calm down. It's me Kakashi." At the sound of Kakashi's voice calling her name she snapped out of it, and broke into a fit of tears. Kakashi held on tight. Naruto stood up and the boys walked over, he was relieved their Sensei had gotten thru to her, he didn't want to use the 9 tails power on his friend.
At seeing that Sakura calm down and that Naruto was alright, Kakashi spoke."Training is canceled for today, you two are dismissed. I'm gonna walk Sakura home." With that they disappeared in a puff of smoke. They reappeared on Sakura's door steps, Kakashi sat her down and released her from his grasp. "Are you ok Sakura?" Kakashi asked looking into her tear filled eyes.
Sakura sniffed before speaking."Yes I'm ok. I'm sorry about that Sensei."
"What happened?
"I-I Don't know." She answered him. Naruto and were sparing and it made me think about what happened to my parents, and I just lost it. I didn't mean to react that way with Naruto I Just…" She gasped. "Naruto is he, he's ok right, I didn't hurt him did I? She asked feeling extremely guilty and worried.
"Naruto will be fine. Considering the situation I'm sure he won't hold it against you. Not that he would anyway….." After a few moments of silence he asked. "You should go in and relax, would you be alright by yourself or would feel better with company?" He asked her.
She sighed. "Thanks Sensei, but I'll be ok." Sakura answered with a half smile.
"OK. Go get some rest then."
With that Kakashi watched as Sakura went in to the house. Once he heard the door lock and saw the light turn on inside he started down the street towards the Broken Shuriken on the other side of the village. He was in need of a drink.
Around 2 a.m. Kakashi headed for home. It was cold and raining for the 3rd time that week. Kakashi hated the rainy season. It made everything wet and muddy, and it could make missions more difficult at times. As Kakashi rounded the corner of his block he could see a shadow sitting under his porch light outside his lower level apartment. He pulled out a Kunai, wondering who the hell was on his stoop at this hour. But as he walked closer he recognized the familiar chakra signature returned his Kunai to his hip pouch. When he reached his steps he brushed his hand across the sleeping girls pink hair. "Sakura wake up."
"Hmm..Sensei." Sakura said looking up at him.
Kakashi bent down and picked Sakura up, unlocked his door and walked inside. "Sakura what are you doing here you're going to get sick sleeping on my steps in the rain." He asked closing the door and throwing his keys on the table.
"I'm sorry Sensei. I just can't stay in that house. I can't." She said starting to cry again.
"Shh.. it's ok Sakura. It's fine you can stay here if you want, I have a spare room."
Hearing that Sakura's muscles relaxed, she leaned into Kakashi's chest and started to doze. Kakashi walked Sakura into his guest room and tucked her into bed. He smiled when she snuggled into the blankets. He turned out the lights. Closing the door he stopped looked at Sakura again; she had a smile on her face.
"Heh, Good Night Sakura."
Well there is the First Chapter. Please let me know what you think. As I said before This is an old story that I had started a while back. I haven't touched it in a while and when I went to re-read over it. It needed some work. The story basis is the same but I went thru and proof read it, tho I'm not perfect. I hope that the extra details I added makes the story more enjoyable. Please review for me and let me know how you think.