Take me back when our world was one block wide

I dared you to kiss me and ran when you tried

Just two kids, you and I


He really had to report back to base, but right now, Kakashi didn't really feel like it.

He gripped his wounded arm lightly as he leaned back against the tree he was hiding in. He didn't expect ANBU to be difficult, but working alone and without a team...well, it was an experience.

The reconnaissance mission went well, although he had a close shave with one of the shinobi guarding the daimyo. It wasn't anything bad enough to positively identify him with Konoha, but it wasn't his best job, either. It wasn't always when he slipped up, but Kakashi was hardest on himself more than anyone, and right now he didn't feel like getting told off on top of it all.

So for now, he'll have to stay in the tree.

"One...two...three..." childish voices floated in the air, calling his attention. He took a peek down and spotted some children in the distance, getting ready to play hide-and-seek.

Nearer the base of the tree where he was resting in, a scraggly-looking kid looked at the other children, almost hiding, a hungry look in his blue eyes.

Minato-sensei's child...

It hurt Kakashi's heart to see Naruto in such a state. The child was wearing dirty clothes, his shaggy hair hung in clumps, and his shoes were too small for him. Still, the blue eyes were piercing and he had a small smile on that whiskered face. Kakashi had been warned to stay away from him...

...but Minato-sensei's child...

His thoughts were distracted when another presence came closer. Pink hair, red dress, and a red ribbon that stuck up like rabbit ears, the girl that drew nearer was obviously well-taken care of and loved, in stark contrast to Naruto's neglect. She looked around for a hiding place, her little feet thumping softly against the grassy knoll.

Naruto had hidden himself in the nearby bushes when she arrived. Unknowing that there was already someone in her chosen hiding spot, the pink-haired girl dove into the leafy underbrush. Kakashi heard her squeak of surprise.

"Hey! This is my hiding spot!"

"Uh-uh! I got here first! Find your own hiding spot!"

"You're not even part of the game!"

Naruto was quiet for a little while. When he spoke again, there were tears in his voice. "So what?! I still got here first!"

The girl seemed surprised, then put up a finger to shush him. "Okay. I guess you can stay here with me for a little while. But be quiet, 'kay?"

For some reason this made Naruto even more teary-eyed, but he nodded nevertheless. The two children sat in absolute quiet for a minute, until she spoke up.

"You're...you're the boy on the swing, aren't you?"

"Huh?"

She laid her cheek against her palm and regarded him with her green eyes. "You're a big troublemaker, is that why everyone doesn't like you?"

"That's not it..." Naruto began, but trailed off. Everyone hated the boy even before he became a troublemaker, but the pink-haired girl didn't know about that.

"I know it was you who doodled over Ino-chan's new notebook." she sounded a bit accusing, now. Then she sighed and giggled. "That's okay, though, she was getting a bit stuck up about it."

Naruto's face brightened at her laugh. Even if he didn't know much about on these kinds of things, Kakashi knew that this kid was a goner for this girl.

The first smile after years of being hated...it was close enough to feeling something like love from another person. And just for that, Kakashi knew that Naruto was going to love this girl for good.

He'd been there. The days after his father's suicide...the first smile he got was when he met Minato-sensei. The older man patted him on his head and welcomed him to his new team.

Welcome, Kakashi! He remembered his sensei say.

"My name's Sakura," she said softly, as she reached out her hand.

"Naruto." the boy took her hand and shook it solemnly.

"Nice to meet you, Naruto-kun. You're not so bad!" Another smile. She would never need to fear the worst of Naruto's pranks, Kakashi mused, grinning to himself.

Sakura. Thank you. You don't know you're saving that kid's life now.

A big shout from a distance broke the spell. Someone was already caught, and another game was being planned. A girl was calling for Sakura. The two children blinked at each other, and she smiled sheepishly. "I've got to go, Naruto-kun." She wiggled out of the shrub and dusted herself off. "I'll see you around!"

Naruto could only wave, dumbstruck. "See you," he managed to say. He looked disappointed when she finally disappeared from view.


It was too bad, really, that she met Sasuke a few days later.


Naruto hung around that same hiding spot for a few days after too, hoping he'd talk to her again.


Several years later, Kakashi had the choice of forming his own genin team.

The Third looked up from his paperwork and slid across the list of incoming genin from the Academy. "As you may know, we have a rather interesting batch this year," he said. "I'm hoping you could keep an eye out on the most unpredictable ones: Naruto and that Uchiha boy."

Kakashi picked up the list.

"You know, I really didn't expect you to leave ANBU." the Hokage continued. "Although I think it's good timing on your part; I wouldn't entrust these two to just anyone."

"Hokage-sama," Kakashi began. "This team needs a third person."

"Hmm." the older man stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I was thinking of adding Ino Yamanaka to round up the list. She's smart, has potential. I think her personality could help strengthen the teamwork."

Kakashi skimmed the list. Hyuga...Aburame...Nara...it was like the who's who of Konoha's prominent ninja families. His eye finally settled on one unfamiliar name.

Sakura Haruno.

Kakashi smiled.

Naruto's girl. The person he needed to push the jinchuriki into becoming a stronger man.

"If I may, Hokage-sama, I'd like to make a recommendation..."


A/N: This is a short one, but I'll make it up in later chapters! Reviews are chocolate to my soul :)