A/N: This story is not going to be in chronological order. I think it will be easier for me to update this way.

Title: Overheard Conversations

Author: CometheDawn

Pairing: Sakura x _?_

Genre: Romance/Time Travel/Mild Humor/Friendship

Age: 9ish

Hatake Kakashi was disturbed. He wasn't supposed to overhear the conversation that he had and the honest truth was he wished he hadn't. Kakashi shook his head trying to clear it, but the conversation kept replaying in his head like a bad record.

"Hey Ino, I hear you like Sasuke-kun."

"Yeah, I do." Ino said eyeing Sakura suspiciously.

"Well, Sasuke's my best friend and I won't let anyone hurt him. So unless you meet my approval by becoming one of the greatest kunoichi ever I'm not letting you anywhere near him!"

"Just who do you think you are! You have no say over who Sasuke-kun chooses to—"

"You think so? Just try to get close to him without my approval and you'll see what happens."

"You like him too, don't you?" Ino accused crossing her arms over her chest and looking at Sakura like she smelled funny which she probably did since she had just come from training with Sasuke.

Sakura's brow furrowed. "Like? Sasuke-kun? Don't be silly. I'm going to marry Hatake Kakashi." The air of superiority in her voice amused yet worried Kakashi.

"Who is that?"

"Only the greatest and hottest ninja ever!"

Ino paused and looked at Sakura consideringly.

"Really…what does he look like?"

Sakura's eyes took on a far away look not at all noticing the look in Ino's eye. "His hair is the color of the sky before a storm, he wears a mask, but that's only to cover a face that has an otherworldly beauty. He's tall, loyal, and reliable. Not to mention he's the best ninja Konoha has ever seen."

"Really…so where is he, Sakura?"

"Why?" Sakura asked breaking herself out of her daze. It was now her turn to be suspicious. She did not like Ino's tone at all.

"No reason…"

"You can't like him too, Ino! You like Sasuke-kun and you don't even know who he is! Stick to Sasuke-kun. Kakashi is mine!"

"Is your name written on him?"

"I can arrange it, Pig."

"Whatever, Forehead." Ino turned and walked away.

"Ino from this day forward we're enemies!"

"Fine."

"Fine!"

It was kind of odd hearing two little girls fight over him like grown women. It wasn't something that he was comfortable with and yet…it almost seemed like those two were destined to fight with each other over one man.

And how did she know what was beneath his mask…although it was a bit flattering to be called the best ninja Konoha had ever seen.

He was going to have to pay a little closer attention to this little girl named Sakura.

:::

He found her lounging on the Uchiha training grounds with who he knew to be Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto. He glanced around and could sense that Itachi was watching the children from a safe distance and wondered at it. Itachi was close enough to make sure that no trouble was caused but not close enough to hear their words. Kakashi, on the other hand, wanted to hear every word that came out of their mouths. He would be discreet, though, and conceal his presence from the children less they clam up and say nothing.

"Tell another one of your stories Sakura." Naruto said, eagerly.

"Don't you get tired of hearing those stories?"

"Nope!" Naruto said bouncing up and down on the ground.

"What about you Sasuke? If you say you want to hear one then I'll tell it."

Sasuke laid flat on his back on the ground his hands behind his head his eyes closed. He opened one eye lazily and looked at Sakura. Kakashi didn't know what Sakura saw in that lone eye but she nodded her head and opened her mouth to speak. However… he noted that she was staring directly at him.

"Once upon a time there were two ninjas who in time grew to be the most powerful, most dynamic ninjas to ever emerge from the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Their names were Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke."

Kakashi chuckled. He had always been fond of a good story. He wondered if the girl had any skill at it. He stared back at her certain she couldn't see him and was just absently staring in his direction and listened to her tale.

"Uchiha Sasuke was brilliant even from a young age those who knew him were certain that he was a prodigy. However…Uchiha Sasuke was an orphan. His whole family had been massacred by his older brother Itachi when he was only seven years old."

A smirk appeared on Sasuke's lips at hearing his older brother dubbed the villain of the tale. He never got over that since his brother had been dubbed greater than great by everyone…except Sakura.

"Sasuke swore revenge on his brother for this evil deed that he had done. He would do whatever it took to gain power and destroy his brother and avenge his family. For he was an avenger. On the other hand we have Uzumaki Naruto. Uzumaki Naruto was a dunce, a bone head, the dead last of his class."

"Sounds just like you, doesn't it, Naruto?" Sasuke interrupted with a chuckle.

"Shut up you bastard!"

"Boys! Stop it!"

Both boys, immediately contrite muttered a, "Sorry, Sakura." Sakura nodded her head and continued her story.

"Naruto vowed to all that viewed him as beneath him that one day he would be Hokage. The fiercest most respected ninja in the village."

"Believe it!"

"Naruto, was an orphan as well. You see, Naruto's father was the great and powerful Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."

Kakashi's breath caught at the little girl's words. She couldn't possibly know that. Could she? His heart began to hammer wildly in his chest for moments unable to move.

"Minato died protecting the village from the Nine Tailed Fox sealing the fox into his beloved son. However…Naruto did not know that he was the son of the Fourth. That information was kept a secret from him…and no one knows why. The villagers should have looked to Naruto with the respect that he deserved for being the holder on the Nine Tailed Fox, instead, they shunned him, treated him liked moldy bread. So he grew up alone."

"One day it was decreed that these two vastly different boys be put on the same team with the well-renowned ninja Sharingan Kakashi. Now, Kakashi, was quite unlike his pupil Naruto, but he felt something of a kinship with his pupil Sasuke. Because Kakashi, himself, had his own tragic past and while Naruto was able to grin and bear his such was not the case with Sasuke and Kakashi. However, today we're not going to dwell on unpleasant things. Today, we're going to tell a story about Hatake Kakashi and his mask."

Kakashi stilled. Surely she wouldn't…

"What did that man hide beneath that mask he was so insistent upon wearing? Did he have fish lips? Buck teeth? Or an unsightly mole?"

The boys chuckled at Sakura's suggestions and inwardly Sakura smiled happy to please them with her tales of another time.

Kakashi found he was enthralled by this small girl's tale of how he thwarted the efforts of three pre-adolescent children who where beyond determined to see his visage. She told her tale and he couldn't help but chuckle a time or two at things that truly seemed like he would do—especially the ending when he showed them what was beneath his mask.

"Aw, Sakura-chan! You were supposed to tell us what he looked like! You never do!" Naruto complained. "Did any of his students ever find out what he looks like?"

"Yes, one actually does."

"Really? I bet it was Naruto!"

"Tch. It was Sasuke."

"Actually," Sakura interrupted. "The only one who ever saw his face was his sole female student-Sakura."

Both boys turned and threw her a look. "Why would he show his face to her? You always twist the stories to suit you."

"I do not!" Sakura yelled then punched Naruto in the arm. "And well you know it Naruto! Most of the stories are about the two of you! Why can't I have a story of my own?"

"Fine then. Tell us how she saw his face." Sasuke said sitting up, and waiting expectantly.

Kakashi noticed that the girl blushed furiously and jumped to her feet. Before she could run off Kakashi decided to reveal himself. The two boys jumped to their feet as well and stood in front of Sakura as if to protect her. Kakashi heard Sakura sigh as if this was something they did often.

"It's you!" Naruto yelled pointing a finger in Kakashi's direction. "Sakura is that Hatake Kakashi?"

Sakura said nothing merely looked at Kakashi with a raised brow.

"Yo." Kakashi said raising his hand. He moved slowly towards them taking note that Sasuke was still watching him warily.

"I'd like to speak with Sakura…if that's alright."

Sasuke opened his mouth to refuse but Sakura lightly touched his arm. "It's fine. I'll be okay. I'll catch up with you guys later."

"Stories are stories Sakura, you shouldn't be alone with a stranger." Sasuke said with a seriousness that reminded Sakura of him long ago.

"You're right. Stories are stories, but you know Itachi's out there being a creepy stalker guy and if you guys don't stray too far I'm pretty sure he won't let any harm fall upon me."

Sasuke frowned knowing her argument was a sound one. "Fine. Let's go, Naruto."

"But—" Naruto protested but Sakura threw her arms around him and gave him a fierce hug.

"I'll always come back for you."

Naruto and Sakura stared at each before Naruto ran off to catch up to Sasuke. Kakashi waited until they he knew their presence had disappeared before saying,

"You're a wonderful story teller."

"Thank you." Sakura replied demurely.

"I couldn't help but noticed that your story had quite a few facts in them."

"Every good story has a few facts mixed into it."

"Who told you that?"

"My mother."

"Who is your, mother?"

"You don't remember? You've met her before."

"Have I?"

"Yes, when I was younger you saved me from Itachi's evil clutches."

Kakashi stared at the girl focusing on her brilliant pink hair suddenly recalling a rather amusing incident. "Ah, yes." I remember now. "Stranger danger."

Sakura grinned and Kakashi couldn't help but chuckle.

"Were you really afraid of Itachi that day?"

"Honestly?" Kakashi nodded his head.

"Nope. He was just being annoying."

"Oh?"

"Yeah."

"So how old are you?"

"Mmm. It's impolite to ask a lady her age."

Kakashi laughed. "Alright, then. Perhaps I should ask you how you know what I look like."

"Do you recall ever showing me your face?" Sakura said blinking at him innocently.

"No. That's exactly why I want to know how you know what I look like."

"I never said I knew what you look like."

"Ah, but you just told your friends you did."

"But that was just a story. You like stories, don't you?"

"I do, but before that I like honesty."

"Are ninja honest?"

"Is this a philosophical debate?"

"…What's philosophical?" Kakashi honestly thought she knew exactly what it was and was deliberately teasing him so he decided to change tracks.

"Alright. Tell me a story then. Tell me how you found out that Naruto's father was Minato Namikaze."

"No big story there. He said 'Sakura, my father's the Fourth.'"

Kakashi stared at Sakura who stared back. "What about the nine-tailed fox?"

"Everyone knows about the nine-tailed fox. It's Konoha history."

"Ah, but no one has ever said that the fox was sealed inside Naruto."

"Of course not. That's why it's called a story-an original story."

"Sakura this is a very serious situation here. I'm going to have to take you to the Hokage."

"But I didn't do anything."

"You told Naruto that he had the nine tailed fox sealed within him."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you did."

"No, I didn't. I said that there was a Naruto in my story who had the nine-tailed fox sealed within him. I also said that the Uchiha clan was massacred, but that didn't happen, did it? Or perhaps you know something that I don't…? How do you know my name anyway?" Kakashi blinked at the abrupt change of subject. "Are you a creepy stalker like Itachi?"

"What? No!"

"I don't know. There's something distinctly suspicious about a man who wears a mask. Maybe we should go to the Hokage and have a discussion about you and your suspiciousness."

Sakura reached out and grabbed Kakashi's hand. His eye widened a bit when he felt her tug on his hand. "Come along and while we're at it he can lecture you about spoiling the fun of little kids."

Kakashi allowed himself to be tugged along by the exuberant little girl for a few seconds. The said something that stopped her in her tracks. "I hear you're going to marry me as well."

Sakura turned her head and looked up into Kakashi's eyes. Suddenly her eyes looked older than her eight or nine years and it sent a shiver up his spine. "I am—thinking about it that is. I've actually begun to consider starting my own harem. You can be my official husband and Naruto and Sasuke can be my concubines." She replied.

Kakashi blinked wondering whether or not the girl was a genius or just insane. Perhaps she was a bit of both and because of that he couldn't help but play along.

"Sasuke's parents would never allow him to be a part of a harem."

"Yes, they would. I've got Fugaku wrapped around my pinky finger."

"Do you?"

"Yep. And soon I'll have you, too."

"Better women have tried—and you're just a girl."

"Exactly." She retorted. "That's why I have the advantage."

Kakashi said nothing more but allowed the girl to drag him off to the Hokage's office. He would wait before he brought his suspicions to the Hokage. He had a feeling that he needed to study the girl a bit more.

**A/N: I hate it when Naruto says 'Believe it' in the dubbed version so because I hate it expect to see it a lot.