I don't own the Naruto world. It's owned by Kishimoto. I don't get paid for this... and this is not a canon story!!! (At least, not anymore thanks to random deaths that have happened over the years of this long writing!)
Thanks to all those who have reviewed, who continue to review and to those who will review! MANY MANY THANKS! And for your patience, many thanks!
Gentle Lesson
Chapter 35: Time To...
How can one go back to the way things were - when there is so much said and unsaid - done and undone - in between? There is much to regret - and perhaps to mourn... And it feels as if time will never be able to release one's guilt - or alleviate one's grief.
For some, time cannot be turned back -
-
"I thought it would get easier..." grumped Naruto, watching a bird land on a branch near him and twitter. "... but it isn't..."
"W-we-well..." Hinata suggested hesitantly. "M-ma-maybe he just needs time."
"Mhm...." Shikamaru sighed easing back with Chouji, Neji and Sasuke. A few paces away, the rest of the girls in the gang had gathered around Temari to discuss the weddings that were taking place in Konoha in the next couple of weeks - and months. "Sometimes even time can't fix things... it is troublesome but true. There are moments - even nowadays that I sometimes feel as if Asuma-sensei'll walk through the door and say, 'Yo!' in his ultra laid-back kind of way... As if nothing happened..."
There was a thoughtful silence that followed that remark. Naruto sighed impatiently and looked up at the blue, blue sky - that seemed that enchanting shade bird's egg shells. It was Shikamaru's perfect kind of sky complete with fluffy white clouds as soft as cotton candy. Comparing the beauty of the day, it was hard to reconcile the fact that despite the ugliness of life, there was a world out there that kept going on... Cycles and seasons that brought snow and rain and spring... Kakashi's life was in a new cycle, Naruto knew. It reminded him of Sasuke's return. However, remembering the difficulties surrounding Sasuke's rehabilitation didn't make the current situation any easier for Team 7.
After all, the blonde admitted, on some level, I understood Sasuke. We were more than comrades - more like friends - there was somethinginstincutal between us, even in our hate - like brothers. But Kakashi-sensei... is something else.
He remembered Sasuke's words and hummed to himself, deep in thought.
Sasuke is right. Sakura-chan is, perhaps, the only one who can understand him now... The one who can break through into his darkness...
"It's so strange to see the idiot so deep in thought," Chouji mumbled between mouthfuls of chips.
"Well, things like this are twice as troublesome if they are let go too long," Shikamaru replied laconically. "If it's not dealt with..."
He sighed, letting the sentence end unfinished and instead comforted himself with a glance at Temari.
"He could easily end up rogue - a target for Hunter nin," Neji said placidly. "It happens all the time."
"B-bu-but Neji-nii-sama," Hinata said, stuttering with worry. "Kakashi-sensei w-wo-won't -"
"Hell no!" Naruto laughed. "We'll make sure of that!"
But his blue eyes were troubled.
-
"You can't be so hard on yourself," she clucked her tone as her hands hastily pulled out the charred remains of his third attempt at a home-cooked meal. "It's only been a few weeks since you left the hospital! And yet, you expect to domesticate yourself in two minutes!!!"
"... I guess not..." He replied stiffly, after a moment, glad she couldn't see how embarrassed he was.
But he had a feeling she could tell anyways - because she sighed and dumped the food into the trash without much thought.
"You are a Jounin, for kami's sake," Sakura shook her head. "Not Ayame-san! What was it anyway?" She peered into his garbage bin with distaste.
"...." Kakashi refused to be baited - finally catching a smothered, tell-tale giggle.
"Dumplings? You tried to bake dumplings?"
By now, the Jounin medic's laughter was bubbling out of her. Her green eyes glittered with glee - reminding Kakashi rather sharply of the young Genin whose love of Naruto's pranks had on rare occasions peeked out behind her worried eyes.
Now her merriment spilled out unrestrained - light, soothing and infectious. Kakashi could feel his eyes crinkle shut in a returning, unpredicted smile. Fifteen minutes later, when she left him to shop for some vegetables, he peered at himself rather cautiously in the mirror.
The smile had felt strange - as though his skin were being pulled in all the wrong places. More than strange, it felt unnatural. He wondered if he could ever produce laughter to rival Sakura.
Probably not, he thought morosely. It's not like I was laughing all that much... before...
Before...
His whole life seemed to be split in half.
Or perhaps, he thought rather erratically as he watched Sakura prepare his supper for him (yet again), in thirds. There was the Before and then the After... and then now...
Kakashi wasn't sure what to call it.
He settled for "Second Chance".
-
When Sakura left, Kakashi felt the silence fall even more oppressively around him. Things didn't get better when Genma and Raido came around to ask him (rather fruitlessly) if he wanted to go out for a 'drink'. Kakashi, as usual, declined - quite sure what the 'drink' entailed...
Well... He wasn't sure what it meant - but Kakashi had a feeling that more uncomfortable looks - and questions - would come up if he suddenly showed up at the traditional Jounin drinking spots.
And I still don't know what to say to them... He sighed. I guess... Father... I am a coward after all...
These kinds of thoughts were troubling and worrisome for the Copy Nin. For, there was a definite "ill" atmosphere about him. His friends (the ones who cared) made a point on visiting him (and asking him out) weekly. And yet, they had the dreadful habit of treating Kakashi as though he were an invalid or a senile old man -
Which I am NOT, a part of him stated rather heavily.
Or even worse, as if he had suffered some sort of head trauma. They spoke to him carefully and slowly as if he were deaf - or made of glass which would shatter at any moment. It was annoying and denigrating - and they often intruded during the most difficult moments of Kakashi's day-to-day life.
He could feel an internal clock ticking - the expectations of Naruto, Sasuke and his peers. Part of him enjoyed the relaxation of his "holiday" - as well as the pleasures of his new apartment. Naruto brought an awed Konohamaru over once to set up the game console Megumi's son had given him so long ago. That had been an exhausting afternoon, watching the two crazy Jounin young adults quarrel through each of the challenges they engaged in.
While Kakashi adjusted to the new life, his friends supported him at every turn - overwhelming him with their suffocating attentions.
Except Sakura -
She seemed to know when to come and when to stay away. The pink-haired medic didn't ask painfully probing questions - or leave sentences half finished with non-verbalized comments or suppositions. She seemed to be more interested in talking about life in general - discussing ordinary things. Her ideas came packaged in gentle suggestions. And she did not look at him with disappointment when he developed, over the weeks, a rather large sphere for his personal space. She wasn't miffed or freaked out when his nerves got the better of him either.
"What's up?" she asked one night, ignoring the shuriken which buried themselves a bare inch from her head - into the Jounin's wall.
"Nothing much," Kakashi shifted his stance, attempting nonchalance as she moved forward to set a cardboard box on the table and a highly decorated scroll.
"Ah."
There was no mention of the mild panic attack he had felt when the door opened. Kakashi preferred opening the door himself - even though the chakra signature was recognizable to him. Sakura, when not getting an immediate answer, had fiddled a little and let herself in. Just in time for the Copy Nin to scramble out of his bathroom ready to inflict damage on the intruder. She didn't press the subject, deciding to let the man have his privacy.
He generally tells me anyways, Sakura smiled to herself. Kakashi just needs time.
"Just... uh..." Kakashi reached for the scroll. "Thought it was... well..."
"It's cool," Sakura shrugged. "I have those kinds of days once a month. 'Cept I'm more angry..."
"Ah..." He glanced at her with surprise at her frank admission, then smiled. "Naruto and Konohamaru came around today... again..."
Sakura's green eyes sharpened - knowing what that meant. Noise. Body hugs. Personal questions. Watchful blue eyes. And a sharp as steel desire to get the Copy Nin talking - because that was what Iruka-sensei said Kakashi needed the most. Naruto had the tenacity of Kakashi's nindogs - which was distressing for a personal person like the Copy Nin.
The medic frowned.
"Was he worse than usual?"
Kakashi's eye narrowed as he glanced at the box. It was suspicious. Sakura wasn't opening it yet either...
"Ah... Well... I'm still here..."
And I need to get rid of that dreadful machine, he sighed. Maybe I should just give it to Naruto...
"Okay. You tell me when he gets too much. He's an idiot, you know. Time isn't going to change that!" She laughed.
Kakashi smiled back again, cautiously. The scroll lay, as yet, unopened in his hand - but his attention seemed more focused on the box. Sakura grinned.
"I brought some cake," she said.
"For what?" he asked, puzzled.
"Just because I can."
"Oh."
"You don't like cake?" Her hands were pulling away the handles, opening up the box to reveal sumptuous cake inside with light white icing all over.
"Not as a rule... but it looks nice..." Kakashi eyed teh sliced fruit arranged artfully on top. "Are those strawberries..."
"Yep! And it's made fresh! So let's try it! With coffee or tea?"
"Better make it tea - it's rather late..."
"Right then... You cut the cake - I'll make the tea..."
"Oi... I can boil water, you know," Kakashi sweat-dropped. "You don't have to be in the kitchen every time you visit."
"It's fine." Sakura smiled. "I'm particular about tea. Now... let's get started on this!"
Kakashi remembered again, as he sat down to a delicious treat, what was so great about his "holiday". For a moment, there was no regrets.
-
"Hinata."
The heiress to the Hyuuga Clan paused in her walk as she passed her father's open study door. Pale eyes peered into the dim shadows, where her father sat stiffly, eyes slightly frowning as usual. Brows knit together in mild disapproval. At his nod, she entered and knelt before him, head tipped respectfully, waiting for him to broach the subject he obviously had on his mind. She wondered if he was unhappy with her training - or her current status among the Konoha shinobi. Despite the healing between the Main and Branch clans, Hyuuga-sama was still a strict father - and still failed to see Hinata's "uses".
"Something came to my attention recently..." He said softly, watching Hinata sharply.
The girl blushed - but then, she is always looking guilty, he thought, with a grunt.
"Something troubling..."
"Yes, Father?" she asked, her fingers nervously tapping against each other.
It pained him to see her reverting back to her spineless self. Neji had told him that inside her lay the fire of Konoha's Leaf - a quiet determination that was exemplary. Hiashi had looked at the young man with disbelief.
Time will tell, he had said finally - and with very obvious little faith that it would indeed happen.
"I was told that the young man better known as Uzumaki Naruto has been making advances toward you. Is this true?"
Hinata's face, already pink turned a bright red. She squeaked and nearly fainted on the spot - but after a few moments, she brought herself under control and nodded just a little.
"He has - has been very kind," she whispered. "I have -"
The young girl was mortified - to admit something she had not been yet able to admit to the one she loved. Face red, she struggled visibly with getting up the courage.
"I-I-I ha-have always se-se-seen...," she managed to get out. "Th-that is - I-I-I l-lo-look up to-to him! And admire him. Be-because he faces his future head on - and is true to his way of the ninja. He has helped me to be strong! And he sees me for who I really am - and - and - and who I want to be..." She ended rather incoherently.
Hiashi's eyes narrowed. It was surprising - her passion. She was standing up for the young boy. It was indeed troubling. How long it had been going on, he did not know. Hiashi was sure it would have gone on for some time before he would have found out - if Hanabi had not interfered. The Head of the Hyuuga clan knew he was not getting younger - and soon the decision to pass on the leadership would be made. Hanabi was his personal choice - but Hinata was technically the one who was destined to lead the Hyuuga clan for better or for ill.
It was unconscionable that such a boy should steal a Hyuuga's heart so easily. Part of Hiashi was repulsed by the mere thought - but another part of him understood what such an alliance would mean. Naruto's future as Hokage was more and more certain with each passing day. Although the Hyuuga had never aimed for full control of Konoha before, this chance to make a deep impact on the village was too great of a chance to pass up.
And yet, if it was Hanabi, I could trust her to protect the interests of our clan... As for Hinata...
He sighed.
Complicated.
"I will want to talk to him. To discover his intentions," stated the old Head of the clan. "Uzumaki Naruto, famous though he is, must be held to any promises he may make in the future. He must not be allowed to sully your name - for your name is the future of our clan. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Father. I understand."
Hiashi wondered, as she rose and departed silently, more visibly worried than before, if she really did.
-
"And so now, I'm in a totally hard place," Naruto sighed, stretching back on Kakashi's sofa, looking up at the stars as they slowly came out in the velvety night. Beside him, Sasuke sat, nursing some sake in a contemplative fashion. "It's shitty - I mean, I've heard stories about in-laws from Shikamaru... but... this has to take the cake! At least - I mean - if you think about it... Gaara's cool and Kankuro - you can just ignore him... and Temari's parents are, well, dead... but... I mean... Hinata... her family is well... creepy, ya know?"
"Ah, well... that's the thing you're just going to have to live with," Sasuke shrugged. "Get over it. I'm sure you'll be fine - as long as you keep your mouth shut."
"What is Neji-kun's opinion on this?" asked Kakashi, with interest, glad that the conversation wasn't about HIS problems for a change.
"That's the good news," Naruto huffed. "He came to me right away and warned me - so when Hinata brought it up, it wasn't so painful for us both."
Probably helped him understand much more clearly what was going on behind all the stuttering, thought Kakashi and Sasuke privately, sharing a meaningful look.
"He says he's gonna talk to the Old Geezer, too."
"You might want to stop saying things like that, if you are serious about Hinata," Kakashi said. "Seriously. It could get you killed - "
"Or worse - kicked out of Hinata's life," interjected Sasuke, finishing his sake finally and refilling it again. "There are rules to this kind of thing."
"Rules?" asked Kakashi and Naruto at the same time.
Sasuke stared at both of the them and then, sighed, feeling that something very unpleasant was dumped in his lap. For a moment, he felt empathy for Shikamaru - whose sharp intelligence made living life among less smart people rather painful. It was obvious that before him were two men who had no experience in the art of healthy relationships.
Not that I'm any better, the Uchiha admitted morosely. All I have done was listen to people, read up... and remember Father and Mother... And talk a lot to Lyra...
"Yes." He sighed. "Rules. Like, trying to look good when you go to visit her at home. Compliment her mother on her cooking and clothes and home decor and stuff like that when you visit."
"So you have to eat at her house?" Naruto asked in horror, trying to imagine what it would be like to sit down at a table filled with pale-eyed people who could see through you at a moment's notice.
"Of course. It's going to come up at some time," patiently replied Sasuke.
"How do you get invited?" Kakashi interjected, wondering what the dinner table at the Haruno household was like.
"She has to ask you. But only when you are very serious."
"So you ask her father that very day?" Naruto's blue eyes were wide with worry - as reality began to settle in, ruining the hazy of comfort which sake always produces.
"Well... no... but after a few months or so - of visiting - if you and her decide to go through with it - yes. Then you have to discuss things with the father... I have a whole book on it, if you want to know the details..."
"I don't know if I want to do something like reading... it'd be like homework!" Naruto whined.
"Naruto..." Kakashi said, very seriously, leaning forward - his serious eyes caused the boys to pay attention as the older man gazed at them. "You have been giving signs to Hinata-chan, right? You have been talking, right? In her heart, maybe, there are strong feelings - stronger feelings than you think. If you don't feel up to it, you better break it off now - before her heart is completely broken. These kinds of things... you just..."
Kind eyes - a brilliant smile - a soothing hand brushing back his sweaty grey hair -
"It's almost done, Kakashi..."
She had cared so much - loved so much - and he had never noticed...
"You talk about your way of the Ninja, Naruto," Kakashi said after a moment, realizing that his sudden memory of Rin had caused him to pause rather awkwardly in the middle of a sentence. "This also applies to it. Matters of the heart also need commitment to the promises you make. If you really care about Hinata-chan - all these matters - the visiting and the eating and the details - and the homework - will be worth it.... is what I think..." He ended, feeling rather lame.
Naruto and Sasuke nodded, eyes solemn as they realized the truth of their sensei's words. It was there in the darkness that Naruto's resolve firmed and Sasuke decided to find Lyra right away and be a little more clear about what he wanted for their future... together....
Not until they were back home in their respective beds did the boys realize that Kakashi had spoken something to them - from his heart... and it had been as if the Kakashi-from-before had returned for a moment.
Naruto smiled.
It would be alright.
-
"So... are you going to go?" Sakura asked a few nights later as she sat down to supper with Kakashi. " - To the wedding, I mean."
"Ah. You mean the invitation?" Kakashi nodded, wondering if he could stall this conversation any further. "I didn't think those things could get so long... and we have to reply soon..."
"Yes... well... I was wanting to know if you were going..."
"Ah... well..." Kakashi looked to the side, furtively. "I'm not sure... Kotetsu-kun wasn't really in my year... It would feel odd, wouldn't it?"
"Hmmm... well... I was just wondering..." Sakura shrugged, poking at her food with a sudden sigh.
Kakashi's eyes sharpened, noticing that the medic nin's shoulders had slumped just a little.
"Are you going?"
"Perhaps... but I'd like to go with a partner... so I was thinking if you were going to go, we could just go as a pair..."
"You'd like to go to a wedding with me?" Kakashi asked, finger pointing at himself, as if to double-check that it was the same man they were talking about.
"Uh. Well... only if you wanted to go..."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why me?"
"Why not you?"
"Well," Kakashi thought for a moment, and then blushed a little under his mask. "I was just... surprised you had no one ready on hand. A young person like you..." He trailed off.
"Hmmm... You could say my tastes are rather... high..." The medic smiled.
"They are?"
"Mhm. And plus, younger boys are always just trying to get into my pants..."
"They are?"
"Yeah...." The young woman sighed. "And they are very immature and never take life seriously - thinking that I'm going to be impressed by looks, or jutsu or family names or something like that..."
"You aren't?" Kakashi asked, feeling like a parrot or some sort of inane idiot who was totally uncool.
"Of course not! Tsunade-sama... you... Naruto... Lee... you all taught me that important lesson... that looks, pasts, names and abilities don't matter... You know," Here, she winked. "Looking underneath the underneath."
"Ah... That does sound familiar."
"A wise man once told me that," Sakura said softly, smiling across the small table at Kakashi.
"Hahaha... really? That-that's..."
Not for the first time in his life (and probably not for the last time, either), Hatake Kakashi felt truly at a loss. A part of him wanted to turn as red as a tomato at the fact that a young kunoichi looked up to him. A part of him wanted to run away from the invitation that seemed to simmer in her green eyes. And another part of him awoke - struggling like a pale seedling to the surface - ready to flower.
Kakashi was reminded of his desires.
"I would... like to share a dance with you," he replied, huskily - wondering if there was going to BE a dance at Kotetsu's wedding.
"I'll be sure to stay free," she smiled and squeezed his hand.
That night, he stared at his long pale fingers, imagining her fingers intertwined with his. It was new and exciting - like smiling - and terrifying. His heart went pit-a-pat at the thought of the beautiful, strong kunoichi.
It felt too good to be true.
-
The wedding was now in full spring. After the "dull rituals" as Kotetsu liked to call them, the large wedding party (basically half of Konoha's shinobi - the one's not on duty) adjourned to the large hall. There, food, brought by various helping hands, was served around and everyone dug in with great vim.
"Listening to all that garble is pretty exhausting," Shikamaru sighed. "Just thinking about our wedding... coming up by the end of this year... it's rather hard to imagine... I don't suppose we can cut all that troublesome stuff out... eh, Temari?"
"Of course not," Temari smiled. "If we are going to start off on the right foot, the first things we need to do is make sure that we do it properly - rituals and all."
"But you seriously don't believe all that stuff about kami and family ghosts and stuff, right?" Kiba asked, snorting a little. "I mean... not seriously..."
"It's not ghosts, lame-brain," Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Spirits."
"Ghosts. Spirits. Same difference," shrugged the Kiba heir.
"Uh. There's a difference," Shikamaru said. "But it's too troublesome to explain it all..."
"They are watching over us," Shino intoned mysteriously. "Honor given to the dead is honor given to the past, present and even - our future..."
"Ghosts and spirits are h-h-he-here?" Naruto squawked, suddenly clutching his chopsticks with one hand tightly and Hinata's hand in his other.
"N-n-na-naruto-kun!" gasped the young woman, trying to pry his hard fingers off her slowly reddening ones. "Ouch!"
"WAAAHHH! Hinata-chan! I'm so sorry!" Naruto wailed, forgetting spirits, thankfully. "Are you gonna be okay?!?"
"Oi... You're a disturbance!" Sakura turned around to whack her teammate on the head, nearly breaking the table in half. "Shut the hell up!"
Kakashi and the rest of the boys cringed at the sight of her scary clenched fist - and equally scary expression.
"Hai, hai!" Naruto rubbed the swelling now protruding from his head.
"If you think the spirit rituals are troublesome, wait until you get to the dancing," Izumo said glumly as he passed by. "Every girl is going to want to get some action tonight."
"He makes that sound perverted..." Sasuke's eyebrow twitched.
"I hope you aren't going to s-suh-sneak out of it..." coughed Lyra, twitching her long brown hair over her shoulder. "I'll *cough* kick your ass..."
Everyone laughed as Sasuke's face whitened.
-
"Well?" she asked as she guided her ex-sensei across the floor.
Better not think of him as Sensei, she told herself firmly. He's just Kakashi now. That's all he needs to be. Besides... it's not like he's my teacher anymore anyways... hasn't been for years, really...
"It's... okay..." Kakashi's eyes roved over the crowd - keeping an eye out on the doorway - as well as on all the possible exits he had found during the seating process. "Not bad... or not as bad as I thought it would be..."
"See... I'm right... it was fun."
"Ah. Yes. Well... from a certain point of view perhaps..."
"You just don't want to admit it..."
He didn't answered, merely enjoyed the feel of her in his arms. It was too good to be true. For so long, Kakashi had wondered what it would like to step into the light with the rest of Konoha around him... This moment was like a dream. Like one of those dreams he had had which seemed so real... It scared him this - feeling of contentment... because...
It can't be real... but I couldn't have been so stupid as to place a genjutsu on myself... could I? The him-that-was-before wouldn't do something so stupid like that - would he? Or is this someone else's work? Maybe... I haven't left the hospital... or - or -
His fingers tightened painfully around Sakura's as his slow trip around the floor came to a halt - his eyes trained at his feet with horror as a new idea percolated.
Or maybe I never left the dungeon.
It was enough to make him break out in a cold sweat. Sakura felt his body tense - and without a word, she dragged Kakashi out of the hall. The last thing people needed to see was the great Copy Nin have a psychotic breakdown on a wedding dance floor. Before he knew it, Kakashi found himself hustled outside and around the corner of the building. The cool wind of the late evening drew him slowly out of his daze - as did the warm hands that ran up and down his exposed arms. And the soft voice singing something... a soothing lullaby...
It reminded him of his mother...
And like a lost child, Kakashi leaned forward and buried his face in the crook of her neck and inhaled her scent - the light shampoo mixing sweetly with a flower perfume. And there was worry there and fear as well... He trembled under touch - until, slowly, his chaotic whirl of thoughts partially settled.
"Is this real?" he whispered, desperately wanting to know the truth in an uncertain moment.
Sakura, although she wanted to reply with the pat answer 'Yes', couldn't reply. Eyes glimmering with tears, she leaned upward and kissed him.
-
He wasn't allowed to see Kakashi. Or talk to him. Or follow him. Or visit his home. Or drink with him. Or console him. Or kiss him.
Makoto and Ichiro kept an eye out on him. His superior, a tall man with a forbidding crane mask, had given him strict restrictions concerning the permanently retired ANBU Hatake Kakashi. Even Ibiki and Tsunade had sat him down for a long talk about appropriate work relationships.
He had sat there and listened through the whole away and politely answered them and mentally told them to fuck off. Because, deep down, he firmly believed, no matter who said what, that Hatake Kakashi was the one...
The only one who could understand him.
And I am the only one who can understand you, Kakashi, he said. I am the only one who knows what you fear most deeply - whom you can rely upon to prove your existence and your reality with pain...
So against orders, he watched the Copy Nin. He watched the medic slut twine her young arms around his mate's neck and kiss those familiar pale lips passionately. The fact that Kakashi responded was immaterial.
Only the truth was found in him.
-
"Sending Kakashi away in one direction and ANBU Bear in the other seems to be the only option," sighed Tsunade. "Unless we can execute a man for sexual harassment..."
"Or stalking..." Jiraiya murmured, shivering.
"Or peeping..." added Tsunade dryly. Her eyebrows knitted together. "Iruka-sensei says it must stop - and soon. The poor man is a bundle of nerves. He nearly had a psychotic episode at Kotetsu-kun's wedding... his grasp on reality is tenuous at best..."
"I thought he was well enough to leave the hospital..." Jiraiya's eyebrows quirked upwards.
"Well... physically well enough," Tsunade repeated. "Mentally... that's a whole different thing. But we have people checking in on him... Sakura mostly - since he's most comfortable with her."
"That's okay?"
"It's going to have to be."
"Seriously?"
"Well... She's into him," Tsunade admitted. "It's a dangerous combination. I'm worried that Sakura is biting off more than she can chew. On the other hand..."
"She is a kunoichi of great caliber and has held a torch for him - for quite some time, perhaps," Jiraiya said thoughtfully. "I'm sure that they would have made a great pair..."
"And they will... given time..." Tsunade said firmly. "If it's going to happen... I want it to happen right. They need time and space..."
"Space, huh?" Jiraiya repeated thoughtfully. "You might have a point. I think Kakashi is going stir crazy. That and people have a habit of knocking on his door alot. He's getting more attention than he's used to in his whole life - forget his recent years... Give'em a B-rank mission. I don't know... get them to patrol some border or something. Nothing like fresh air..."
Tsunade blinked, nodded and then smiled slowly.
"That's actually... a good idea..." She admitted grudgingly. "Not bad... I didn't think you had it in you..."
"I'm full of surprises!" winked the old Sannin.
"Hmmm... I just think you like to remind me why I keep you around."
The two Sannin grinned at each other. Tsunade shuffled some papers.
"I'll call Shizune. We'll get Team 7 out on the road in three days."
-
"So it didn't go as badly as you thought, huh," Sasuke rolled his eyes. "You did your homework?"
"Well, Sai helped, actually."
There was a dead silence for a moment and then everyone stopped dead in the middle of the road they were walking down and turned back to Naruto with disbelief. The blond blinked back.
"What?"
"You went to SAI?" Sakura repeated. "For real?"
"Uh... yeah..."
"And? What did he say?"
"He talked with me... about a book he read. He got it from you, Sasuke. You know, the one you told me to read... I got Sai to talk about it instead... I'm not good with flipping pages, you know."
"So it turned out okay," prompted Kakashi, knowing that Sasuke was dying of curiosity - but was still too snotty to admit it.
"Well... Okay might be stretching it. But we somehow reached an agreement."
"Like what?" Sakura asked, having an image of Naruto switching his name to Hyuuga.
"That we call our dates 'courtship' and, uh... make it seem more formal and stuff. I think he's got some sort of weird idea about what dating entails.... Like... it's a use-'em-lose-'em game... or something... like I'd use Hinata-chan like that!!!" The blond pouted, clearly affronted at such an assumption - he stomped past the trio. "I don't like remembering that part. His eyes got really scary... kinda like Tenzou-sensei..."
Kakashi, Sasuke and Sakura followed Naruto down the road, trying to imagine Sai giving Naruto workable dating tips which would eventually win the Hyuuga heart over to some measure. Several minutes of passing green trees and lush hills went by before either one tried to attempt another conversation.
"But then, it's no surprise," Naruto shrugged. "Last I hear, Sai has been laying it on thick with Hanabi... you know the whole "freak-eyes", "midget-girl" stuff..." He snickered. "She's pissed... and you know... I think she kinda likes it..."
"She has strange tastes..." Sasuke muttered, remembering the uncomfortable feeling he always got when the young girl laid eyes on him.
"I wonder who will win..." Sakura wondered aloud, her eyes became sly as she added: "And I wonder who else will get more serious about their relationship, huh?"
Naruto sniggered at the suddenly quickened pace of Sasuke as Uchiha tried to ignore Sakura's insinuations.
Team 7 is in a great mood, Naruto thought, as he watched Kakashi and Sakura talk about the amount of weddings coming up, beginning with Shikamaru and Temari. I'm glad Granma Tsunade gave us a mission like this. Maybe everyone in Konoha was making Kakashi-sensei uncomfortable....
"So with all this bustle... what you are going to do, Sakura?" asked Kakashi, his single eye watching the young woman carefully - as he remembered the kiss they had shared several days before.
"I'm going to wait," was her serene reply. "I have been waiting all this time - I can wait even longer."
"What if it's longer than you think?" he asked, his voice soft and troubled at the thought of her living a lonely life.
"I will always be waiting. Because," she smiled up at him, hope in her eyes. "It'll be worth it. I can just feel it!"
He smiled back - the clock of Konoha's expectations falling silent as the two of them walked toward a time of pleasant promises.
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