Well, first of all, thank you every one that was kind enough to read my work.
Second, I apologize for any mistakes: its my first fanfiction, and I don't know well how to edit my work and things like that. In this second chapter, I tried to correct some of the mistakes I saw in Chapter one. Also, I would like to say that this Chapter 2 is a little longer than Chapter 1, but not too long, I hope. We have Kakashi, of course, Sakura, Tsunade and… well, you will see. I tried one or two jokes, all related to the manga/ anime. Lets see if worked.
Ah, readers: don't get scared. Im not going to go day by day of those two and a half years. Just these first three, I think. Than, I will skip some days, even months. We'll see.
Oh, of course, a late disclaimer: none of those characters belong to me. No, not even one.
Day 3
"Im glad to see you changed your mind…", Tsunade ended the statement with a rather sarcastic smile.
Kakashi just nodded his head, pretending he didn't listen the obviously ironic comment.
"Humm…?"
Tsunade laughed.
"Ah… Ok, Kakashi, as you will…" She opened a parchment that laid on her desk. "I take you no longer need that vacation you begged me for…"
He scratched the back of his head. Oh, he knew she was ready to drown him into missions now, since the village needed desperately all jounins like him working full time. It had been really difficult to persuade her to give him some time away, even though she recognized he was having a hard time with the end of his team. He even had to tell her his plan.
"I really don't intent to waste time, Hokage-sama. The Akatsuki, specially that Itachi, are a great danger to us…!"
"Now, hold on, Kakashi! We have more urgent matters to worry about than the Akatsuki… Like, for instance, all the missions we are receiving and the short number of shinobi…"
"With all due respect, Hokage-sama… I don't think there are any missions now, or for years to come, more important than to prepare for the next attack…!"
She hadnt taken very well his last comment:
"You listen to me, Hatake Kakashi! I know more than well what goes in your mind!" She pointed one of hers dangerous fingers at him, what made him tremble for a second or so. "Right now, you are thinking: 'Had I beaten up that Itachi kid, Sasuke would have never gone to Orochimaru… And Naruto could have stayed here, instead of going with Jiraiya… Every thing would turn out all right, if only I had been able to defeat him…'" She lowered her hand. "Am I right?"
He felt uneasy for the fact that she had been able to read him so easily. So, he just bowed and tried to excuse himself from her presence:
"I understand, Hokage-sama. Now, if you allow me…"
"I don't."
Tsunade was now looking outside her window, and considering her options. In front of her, the greatest ninja of Konoha on these days; she needed him desperately, his services, his leadership, his knowledges… but, more important, she needed him as an ally, and needed him in perfect conditions. What a waste would be to lose someone like Kakashi only because she pushed his loyalty too far, or because she obligated him to take unnecessary risks… No, he was too precious, she just couldn't take him for granted. Even in that state he was above all the others… Well, except for Gai or Shizune, maybe, but still…
She remembered that Jiraiya had warned her about Kakashi's sense of responsibility and his endless guilt. "He's at least as gifted as his father… and just as hard on himself as the White Fang was!" Too bad. That legendary hero, the White Fang, took his life; he did it because he wasn't able to live with failure. And his son, the boy he abandoned when he killed himself? "Oh", Jiraiya told her, "Kakashi's weakness is not different from his father's. He will do anything for his team! Even if it costs his life…"
"What do you intent to do if I give you what you ask?"
Itachi's eyes burned in Kakashi's mind.
"Training, of course."
The Hokage tapped her fingers on the wood of her desk.
"I see." She let a deep sigh escape. "So, no crazy rescue missions?"
"Oh, no!" He shaked his head. "Not at all!"
And thought: "No good in it… yet!"
"And this training… why cant it be done here?"
He answered immediately:
"Too many distractions."
"Oh, is it?"
"Old hags always bothering…"
She abruptly closed her hands in fists, but contained an explosion.
"If you are joking already, I assume you feel better."
He said nothing.
Again she allowed her eyes and mind run through the window and to the mountain, where four stone faces looked at her. "Grandfather… Sensei… I could really use an advice right now…"
Out loud, she gave her verdict:
"Here is my decision, Kakashi…"
The man revealed no sign of tension or expectation.
"You can have some time off. Go. Travel as you wish, do your training, be on your own for some time." She smiled. "Enjoy."
"I will, Hokage-sama." His heart was beating fast, like it hadn't for years. Truthfully, he never imagined she would allow him that.
"But a few conditions!"
He raised his only visible brow. "Never easy, is it?"
"Don't worry, nothing much." Again she smiled, an almost inocent one. "First, I expect you back to Konoha in no more than two years, hear me? Counting from today, not a day more, understand?"
"I have no problems with that."
He wasn't expecting to stay away more than that, anyway. After all, they didn't have much time. Three years, that's what said Jiraiya. He would be back, so would Naruto, and team seven would search for Sasuke. Naruto, Sakura, and himself, of course. That was the plan.
"Its no joke, Kakashi. Don't go late on me, I will declare you a missing-nin!"
"I get it…"
"And second… That's personal…"
He shivered.
"Go to Sakura, will you? Tell her you are leaving and…"
"I don't understand… I mean, I was going to, anyway."
"Really? Good, that's good… I wouldn't like to be the bearer of those news, you know, so I will hold you to that promise."
"Fine…"
He had done as she asked, visited Sakura before leaving…
And there he was, again in her office, just as she planned, didn't her?
Kakashi was no fool, nor was Tsunade. She knew, of course, that Sakura would ask him to stay. And that he wouldn't have the heart to deny it. "Ah, well, she is the Hokage, and not without reason…"
After he promised Sakura he wasn't going any where, she had finally gone inside her house, assuring him she was going to rest and sleep, not letting herself worry about him or anything else. She looked so abandoned and tired, so much like he was feeling himself… Amazingly, that made him feel less lonely, the idea that they were sharing those feelings.
He spend that night on her house's roof, just watching the full moon and the village that he almost left.
Presently, he said:
"No, Hokage-sama… I don't need the vacation…"
"That's good, but I am surprised."
"Konoha is home", he answered with the feeling that this was indeed true, "and it needs me."
"Nothing is more truthful than that, specially in these days…"
"What is home", Tsunade reflected, "if not where are the people we care about?"
"Ok, Kakashi, if that's all…"
"Actually, Hokage-sama", he gave a step forward, "I have one more thing to ask you."
Tsunade took a deep breath, while wondering when this Kakashi business would be resolved.
"Yes, yes, another request, is it? Arent you a little out of your head? I use to think you were more the type of guy who is quiet and patient…"
"I was… I mean, I am!"
But this kids, he thought about explaining to her like that, this kids really can change you. Oh, they are not quiet and patient at all… And, talking about requests, they are always wanting things from you. Specially the boys, even though they never tell you directly, you know, they are always trying to look tough. They want you to think that they can handle it, but, really, all that fighting spirit… Its because they want you, actually, me, to tell them they are great, they are doing fine, that I… that I like them. And I do. Not that I can say it. I cant. And Im sorry about that, now I am. I never told them… Not to the boys, not even to Sakura. Yes, I know, Im disturbed. How could I have never been able to tell that beatiful, sweet girl, that I really, really care about her? Its crazy, I know. Now… now she's all I have left, and I will not risk that… No, not her. So, yes, Im different now. At least a little bit different. Just enough to don't ruin things again.
"Say what you need, Kakashi."
"Yes. Of course." He made a brief pause, and then continued: "I wish, Hokage-sama, that, if possible, you didn't send me to missions far away from Konoha… I really wish I could spend most of my time in the village for the next few months… at least!"
She never intended to send him on a mission, not for a few weaks, but the request was intriguing, and instigated her to investigate a little more.
"Is this because of your training?"
"Well…"
"Well… what?"
"Well, yes, it is, but I have other reasons too" He quickly added, before she could ask anything else: "Personal reasons."
Tsunade supported her chin with both hands, and stared at him for what she considered a long time. She knew he wouldn't tell her anymore than he already did, and so she didn't waste her time asking.
"All right, Kakashi. If you are asking this, Im sure you have good reason." She nodded her head. "I trust your judgement."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!" He was so relieved that even allowed himself a brief smile under the mask.
Tsunade, on the other hand, had a few more things in her mind:
"However", she said, imposing her voice in the most serius tone, "you will not be excused from D-rank missions, hear me?"
Kakashi sighed.
"No problem…"
Again she tapped her fingers on her desk, a sign Kakashi had already learned not to like.
"You know, Kakashi, I even had in mind a S-rank mission for you… But Im sure Gai will be glad to replace you."
Now she was testing him. "What a difficult woman…", Kakashi thought, his eyes on the ceiling, his concentration in remaining calm.
"As you wish, Hokage-sama."
"If I got every thing I wish for, none of my ninjas would have to feel as depressed and guilty as you feel now, Kakashi. Oh, well, that's life."
"You may go, now…" She raised her hand, but subtly returned it to her chin: "Actually…"
"Oh, no…"
"… I think I might already have a mission for you…"
"No, no, no, please, not what Im thinking…"
"Your first D-rank, in a while, isnt it? I have a perfect one for you…"
"Just don't send me…"
"Yes, I comand you, Hatake Kakashi, to go…"
"No…"
" … fetch Gai for me. Yes, go and find Gai!"
"Why? But why this? Why me?"
"Now you are just being cruel…"
She smiled.
"Maybe. But that's your mission, never the less. Go. Quickly. I have an important S-rank wating for a great shinobi…"
Kakashi reached the door, saying just before closing it behind him:
"Yes, Naruto was right… You are a crazy old hag…"
After Konoha's Hospital, there was no other place in the village where Sakura had spend more time in the last three days than the Ichiraku Ramen.
She was not a big ramen fan, but the place brought good memories to her. It was Naruto's favorite place, and team seven went there frequently to eat, talk, or just to look for Naruto. It was strange not see him there, but the Ichiraku Ramen was nice, near the hospital, and the food was more than decent. So, she was already getting use to spend her lunch hour sitting there, with a bow of hot ramen and many pleasant memories.
"I knew I would find you here!"
She smiled.
"Lee-san… Good to see you!"
And she wasn't lying. Long gone were the days where she would call Rock Lee names like "Thick-brow", and would want nothing more than distance between them. Even though she still wouldn't date him, Sakura now considered him a good friend… and a great ninja. Not only he had saved her life, he in many occasions showed courage and a good heart. He even had tried to help Naruto and the others with Sasuke's rescue…
With that thought, the smile disappeared.
"Am I disturbing you?" a zealous Lee asked, a worried expression in his unusual features.
"Oh, no…" She forced the sadness out of her, trying to concentrate on the boy that so kindly talked to her. "Just remembered something. Nothing important..."
"I see."
"Don't worry about me, Lee-san… Im fine."
An enormous and shiny smile covered his face:
"Great! Just what I was wondering!"
"Really? Well, thank you for your preoccupation… You know, I have been training a lot, but, other than that, Im ok."
"Oh, yes…!" Lee's eyes went wide open: "You are now the Hokage's student!"
"Right…"
Sakura blushed a little. She hardly thought about it, but when she did, made her feel both uneasy and proud. Yes, she was now the apprentice of theHokage,of the greatest ninja in the village. It was a great honor, she was aware of that, and still she wondered why Tsunade had taken her. After all, she was just… well, just her, Sakura, a bright girl, but not specially talented, not someone from a great clan, or who had anything special on her. Did she?
Kakashi always said she had great chakra control, but does it make her something great? Not compared to the only Uchiha survivor, or to crazy Naruto. Now, they were something else! Nothing like her, who usually just stayed behind, always being protected. Even Lee had to protect her. And yes, by then, she had made a decision, the decision of being able to take care of herself and of those she loved. She promised that. Yet… She realized, when Sasuke left, that she was still helpless to protect him, or even Naruto – oh, she just felt so terrible when Kakashi got back with him in that state… So hurted…
"Kakashi-senpai is probably sad, hum?" Wondered Rock Lee, interrupting her thoughts.
She lowered her eyes, remembering last night. Sad?
"What makes you say that?"
"Well, he has no students now…"
Sakura looked away from him, her attention on the bowl of ramen that was now cold and not very tasty. She never thought that Kakashi could be sad, or depressed, or even thinking about anything other than those stupid books, or his missions, or trainning. There was last night, yes, when he was… nice, yes, it was nice of him not to leave, for whatever reason he was leaving, it wasn't important, she thought then. It couldn't be, or he wouldn't have stayed, would he?
Would he?
Thinking about it, Sakura couldn't imagine why she had asked him, begged him to stay. After all, she was a ninja. So was he. In ninja life, you are always losing people. You are always making sacrifices. She have had her share. And so did he…
However, even now, the idea of not having Kakashi to go to, not having him saying that everything was going to be fine, not seeing him around with an open book and a cool expression… It made her shiver, this thought of him not being around her, not there to protect her just in time, not having him smile to her in the worst situations. Kakashi-sensei… He was the strongest man she had ever seen. The things she saw him do… It scared her, some times, how cold and deadly he could be. Yes, but also made her feel proud and safe. Strange feelings, that's what she had for him…
"Sakura-chan?"
Lee was staring at her with a puzzled expression.
"Im sorry… I have been so distracted…"
"No, no, Im the one who must apologize!" He looked down. "I disturbed you with all those questions…"
"No, no, Lee-san… No."
"I saw that all this makes you sad… I will talk no more about your companions."
"Lee…", she took his hand, "I don't mind, really. Im not sad…"
But Rock Lee had his eyes on her hand, the one that closed over his own. Now he was the one blushing.
"What have I done…!"
She dropped his hand, and went back to her food.
"Sakura-chan… Love…!"
In response, Sakura just sighed.
Now, Lee fan, don't get excited… We are not going to see a LeeSaku here, ok? Not that I don't like the idea… Its just that this is a KakaSaku, if anything.
Also, in this chapter I wanted to show more of their feelings for each other (Kakashi and Sakura, that is). I hope for more action in the next chapter – and by action, I don't mean ninja fights, but Sakura and Kakashi getting closer.
Thank you for reading.