Sakura wiggled her toes, smiling at the feeling of grass between them.

Usually, she preferred to keep her shoes on. Less risk of bugs crawling up her legs, and less mud on her feet. But prim little Sakura had decided to make an exception.

There, she thought, making sure to step in the mud as much as she could. That proves those girls wrong.

She was capable of getting dirty without crying, thank you very much.

Sakura was so distracted by her success that she failed to notice the blonde girl on the branch above (really, and she calls herself a ninja?). This girl then proceeded to smirk, and drop a spider right onto Sakura's pink head.

It took a moment for Sakura to register what had happened, but when she did, she shrieked a shriek that echoed throughout the entire village.

Ino snickered, and then faded back into the leaves like the talented ninja she was.

Sakura pawed desperately at her head, squealing as she did so.

Eyes screwed shut, she stumbled right into somebody.

Now this person, Kakashi, to be more exact, was strong.

He could beat who knows how many enemies without so much as breaking a sweat.

So he had no excuse for falling backwards onto the ground, his face lacking any expression other than its usual unimpressed gaze.

Once they landed in the soft grass, Sakura opened her eyes and stared straight into Kakashi's face. Eyes half open, he blinked, then raised an eyebrow.

Sakura tried to get off him, but found that her death grip was impossible to terminate once it had been activated.

"I'm really, really sorry!" She said with a gasp and blush, trying to pry her arms off him.

Kakashi chuckled at her desperate apology, patting her back with one hand as he plucked the spider off her head with the other.


Sakura dozed, the warm sun on her back having coaxed her into sleep. Her grip loosened as she sank deeper and deeper into slumber. Her mouth, which had been open ever so slightly, closed when he put his hand on her head.

He lay there for a moment, staring at the leaves on the trees up above, wishing for more peaceful moments like this, and dreaming about what might be.

With a sigh, Kakashi picked Sakura up off him and laid her against a tree trunk. She smiled sweetly in her sleep. Perhaps she was having a nice dream, filled with hope and happiness. Kakashi hoped so.

He kissed her forehead, then settled down beside her, eyes closed but ears open, ready to protect her from any ill meaning passerby.