Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Naruto.
Until We Meet Again
"I can't believe you cut your hair!" Ino shrieked when she saw Sakura walk into the women's locker room of the dojo they have been going to since they were little. "That is so cliché!"
Sakura just smiled, "I wanted a change?" Her hair, that used to be to her mid-back, was not cropped to the bottom of her chin.
The blonde groaned. "Hun, its been a week! I can't believe you are still depressed about that jerk…"
"I know, and I am over him!" Sakura protested. She shed her shirt and started to put on a red gi.
"Oh! Then there is someone new?" Ino grinned and sat, fully dressed in her training garb next to her best friend.
Sakura paused in getting her black workout pants on. An image of that guy. What was his name? Kakashi? His eyes… that hair… Bad Sakura! The pink-haired girl shook her head to get his image out of her mind. You don't even know him!
At Sakura's pause, Ino giggled, "Ah! There is someone! Ne, Sakura-chan! You have to tell me. Is he hot?"
The girl just blushed and turned to get her pants the rest of the way up, then walk out to the dojo's training room. Her friend close behind.
In the Men's locker room, a certain gray haired ANBU was getting dressed. He had another mission to do. However, he had no idea what it was. The Hokage didn't give him any details except it was an ANBU ranked mission.
Said leader, was supposed to meet him at the dojo. But, by some miraculous divine intervention, Kakashi was either early, or the Hokage was late! This was rather alarming to the ANBU since this never happened.
Putting on his head-band, Kakashi turned to walk out of the locker room and to the dojo's large practice room.
Kakashi was about to walk out to the dojo, when the Hokage appeared at his side. His pipe ever present inbetween his teeth. He wore the Hokage robes and hat.
"Ah, there you are, Kakashi," he said in his old, haggard voice. "Please follow me."
The Hokage lead Kakashi to a room at one end of the practice room. There was a table and a few chairs facing a one-way window. On the other side was a mirror. They could see out, but people on the other side couldn't see in.
"Your next mission is going to require that you have a partner." The old man started. "I want you to pick her out. We narrowed them down to two women. I want you to watch their practice, then decide."
He looked up at the ANBU's hidden face, watching him intently. "They are the two best. Almost at your level."
At hearing that, Kakashi smirked. That must mean they are really powerful since he was the best there was. The gray-haired man folded his arms over his chest then looked through the glass. This was going to be interesting…
He could hear giggling and chatter as the two candidates walked in.
"Ne, Sakura-chan! Answer me, damnit!" a blonde said to her friend that was behind her. Kakashi raised an eyebrow at the name. Why was that name so familiar?
Just as he thought that, a woman with short pink hair walked in. She glared at her friend. "Ino-chan, I don't want to talk about it!" she growled. She looks familiar. Where have I seen her before?
Ino groaned, "Sakura-chaaaaaaaaaaaan… Why won't you tell me? I'm your best friend! I wanna know who this new guy is!"
Wait a minute! It is her! Kakashi blinked, wait a minute, she has someone? He frowned at this news. Not sure why he was so bummed out by this.
"Because," said girl said facing her friend, "there is nothing to tell you!"
The Hokage chuckled as he watched with a father-like fondness of the two, "Yup, they're the best…"
The ANBU glanced at the old man, "Ne, who is the pink-haired one?"
"Ah, Haruno Sakura." Hokage nodded as he filled his pipe with tobacco and lit it. "She's 21. A med student at Kohona University. She is the best at manipulating Chakra, but she lacks in fighting."
Kakashi nodded. It really was the one he met a week ago. The one that plagued his dreams.
The two girls faced off. Ino was the first to attack, using basic fighting skills. Sakura blocked and kept on the defense.
The two jumped back and smirked at each other.
"Tell me!" Ino pouted.
"There is nothing to tell, Ino-chan," Sakura said, wanting to end this as soon as possible. She reached behind her and opened a pouch and took out a shinai.
Ino smirked at this, anticipating the attack. Sakura always relies on a weapon if her fighting skills don't work… She jumped out of the way just as Sakura charged. The blonde landed behind her and grabbed her wrists.
Sakura smirked, and with a popping sound and a puff of smoke, disappeared and was replaced by a practice dummy.
Her friend blinked, "Wha-" she whispered as a still smirking Sakura appeared behind her and pressed her index and middle fingers into a pressure point on Ino's neck, making her fall to her knees, but not black out.
"Good job, Sakura." one of the instructors said, clapping is hands, "You just killed your enemy."
Kakashi smirked. She had a lot to work on, but she was still pretty good. To have beaten someone who knew her that fast proved it.
The Hokage nodded, then looked to the ANBU beside him. "I take it you have made up your mind?" He nodded and Hokage opened the door and motioned for Sakura to come in.
"Hello, Hokage-sama," she said smiling. She was breathing slightly heavy, sweat was glistening her skin, her cheeks were flushed. Kakashi had to turn back into the shadows of the dim room to hide his almost instant reaction.
Quick! Think of something… anything! He yelled at himself, Gai in a thong! He shuddered. That worked… EW! Man, to react like that… I know its been a while, but damn!
"Sakura," the Hokage began, clearing his throat. "It has come to my attention that you are an aspiring martial artist. However your skills show that you are much more than that."
She blinked in slight confusion. What was going on here?
"Konoha wants you as an elite ninja. But first, we must test you." Kakashi could see the shock on her face. Hmmmm, maybe he should have started with an introduction…
"Ninja? What?" she muttered. Her mind froze at Hokage's words. There were ninjas in Konoha?
Hokage puffed on his pipe, "And to train you," he started again, looking at Kakashi through the shadows, prompting the ANBU to take a step into the dim light. "ANBU, Hatake Kakashi."
"You," she breathed, her mind racing. Memories of last week started to rush through her mind. It was him!
"Yo," he said, holding up a hand. His visible eye turned upward in a smile.
The Hokage smirked. Good… "Looks like you two know each other."
"We -er- bumped in to each other once before," Kakashi said, His eyebrow quirking as he glanced at Sakura before turning his attention to Hokage. There was a hint of humor in his otherwise emotionless voice.
"Good, then you won't mind living together." The Hokage said grinning.
"What!" the two shrieked.
Author's note: Heh, am I evil? Yay for cliff-hanger-ness! Of Doom!111!1one!1eleven
Wow, this story is coming along, ne? Thank you for reading it. Hopefully, it'll get better. I still am pretty rusty at the whole fanfic writing stuff… It HAS been two years… ;
If any of you loverly people have suggestions or whatnot, I'll be happy to hear them!
Thank you for the reviews, and I hope to update soon.
