Because I LOVE making myself a liar, this is a chapter in Kakashi's perspective. It suits the purpose nicely! Enjoy

Set amidst a quickly approaching dusk, it would be an easy thing for any outsider to miss. In the span of field, amongst the newly erected wood skeleton which would, in time of course become someone's home, laughter resonated from a group of three young people.

For most who would come across this sight, they would chalk it up to the normal shenanigans of the young being young.

For those (like himself) who knew the roiling group in question, this was something far more significant.

The silver-haired, albeit minutely aged Jounin watched the ruckus intently from the perch of the tree overlooking the property his once 'charges' were commissioned to.

From what he could tell, clumps of earth were being pelted unabashedly at one another in what he assumed only to be good faith.

The sight itself was enough to tear him from the false musings of his orange-covered novella, depositing the piece of 'literature' into his back pocket for retrieval at a more convenient time.

He had been charged by the Hokage herself to keep an eye on the young Uchiha, from a distance. To watch and refrain from interfering no matter what the expense. Of course, the report would follow and she would make him revise it for 'proper' grammar.

Now, the Kakashi of another life of course had taken his Hokage's orders as nothing short of gospel handed down by the Gods collectively.

However, the slightly older, more world weary version of himself had resigned that notion, seeing now that the world is not so black and white as he had once imagined. His hand raised to the faint scar resting under the very useful hitai-ate, there were times and places for rules and regulations. He knew this as a man.

Conversely, when an opportunity presented itself… you took it. He knew this as a shinobi.

He silently, not just quietly, dislodged himself from the rather comfortable nook in the ancient tree's trunk and sturdy branch before relinquishing himself to the ground where he fell into one of his most effective concealment crouches. Execution of this type was the most stealth dependent after all.

With a firm piece of the slightly damp earth resting tauntingly in his gloved hands. He did what Kakashi Hatake always did. He evaluated his options, as he worked the glob of earth into a seemingly sturdy ball, rolling it between his hands.

As always the master of seeing 'Underneath the Underneath', he could note the subtle changes in the young man since his induction back into his native land.

He would be a pointed liar if he said that he'd always had hope for Sasuke Uchiha. However, the young man's actions spoke louder than all the apologies and tears shed ever could.

Earth working between his hands still, he allowed his mind to take him down this particular trail it was intent on sniffing out to it's conclusion.

In the few years the younger Sasuke was under his tutelage, he had never once seen the boy go out of his way, much less burden himself with aiding anyone else.

Since his reintroduction, he had assisted without qualm or prodding. There was something different, the words and definition failed him, much to his utter annoyance.

Kakashi's impeccable perception was certainly earning it's money's worth in respect to the pet project of Tsunade he had been nastily charged with.

Since his voyeuristic surveillance, he'd seen the young man help his former team mate, his subconscious adding 'the one he ridiculed and called weak', he'd helped civilians and shinobi alike. During the first few weeks of the rebuild, (which he was quickly deciding couldn't possibly have been a better form of probation/rehabilitation/recognition) he was distant with the same air that had followed and stuck to him since he was a kid. At first he only assisted when directed.

Then he started asking people if they needed assistance.

Then he was obviously able to deduce on his own, that someone needed something and he seemed to be more than obliged to assist without asking, much less saying a word.

A few times, he'd caught a rather impressive toothy smile leave him, but only in the presence of his former cell mates, the forever illustrious Team Seven. His former squad-mates were never privy to the "Feat of Nature'.

It was then, Kakashi was finished evaluating the situation.

A smile teased the dark cloth of the mask covering the lower portion of his face.

Handling the clump of dirt in his hands, much like a baseball, he waited for the opportunity to present itself, patiently every bit the good shinobi he was.

In the distance, amidst Naruto who was noted filthy and doubled over in earnest laughter, was Sakura collapsed on the ground, hand covering her mouth laughing with unmatched effort and every bit as filthy as Naruto, and there stood Sasuke. Covered in dirt, laughing, and utterly defenseless. Something the older Jounin thought was lost forever on the young man.

There was his opportunity. Sasuke's eyes shut tightly from the bout of laughter escaping his body, only going silent when he felt another all too familiar clump of earth pelt him relentlessly in the dead center of his pale forehead.

The pair accompanying him went silent before looking in Kakashi's direction. He waited for the accusatory finger point and upon seeing it, the jounin turned around and exited into the forest offering his trademark goodbye greeting as he left.

The laughter roiled again and Kakashi smiled.

Yup, no more detail duty for him.

"Tsunade can stick that in her bottle and slam it" he thought convincingly to himself as he dusted the earth from his black gloves.

Oh yes, there would be many, many revisions to this report. Hell, probably even an in-person Question and Answer session. He scoffed just slightly, sometimes he wished he'd listened to some people more than others growing up.

I know I said this would be Sasuke's point of view entirely and it kind of is but this idea struck me and it worked with where I was at in the story. As I said in the prior chapter. There will be a sequel which will be very Sasuke/Sakura centered. (I'm working the outline out at the moment, and I must admit, it's coming along much faster than this fic ever did.

Like always, reviews are appreciated. Thank you to everyone who has followed, alerted and favorited this work. :) Seriously, makes my little grinch heart glow.

I'm working on a crack-fic right now, this thing has me mentally waterlogged from time to time lol. (Should be interesting considering it's Akatsuki themed and i've authored a good chunk of it on cold meds, antibiotics and pain relievers- all from the doctor lady... Promise :)