The Biggest Change
by Minte
A Reunion
--
"I wonder where Kakashi is." Sakura wondered aloud.
"Eef obobahbly ill sweeping (He's probably still sleeping)," Naruto guessed, inbetween bites of his beloved ramen.
"Don't talk while you're eating, it's disgusting," Sasuke scowled.
Sakura smiled lightly to herself, it was just like old times.
It turns out, that the three had met up after Naruto and Sasuke gave their reports to the Hokage. Originally, they were going to wait for Kakashi at the gates of the village, but Naruto had dragged them impatiently to the ramen shop after only 10 minutes of waiting.
Some things never change.
"Boo," a voice spoke as two hands lay on Sakura's shoulders. The girl jumped, taken by surprise. "Kakashi! Don't scare me like that," her voice was stern, but her features easily told she was simply joking. "Sorry I'm late. I was attacked by a pack of wild boars," lied Kakashi. Sakura smacked his arm lightheartedly, "C'mon Kakashi. We all know you overslept or something."
Sasuke's onyx eyes narrowed. Since when did they become so friendly towards each other? He eyed Naruto to see if he noticed it too. Nope, he was just slurping up more mouthfuls of ramen, somewhat obliviously. Of course. His apprehensive observing was cut short when Sakura brought him into the conversation, "So, how'd the mission go, Sasuke?"
"It went well. We finished it with only minor injuries," he stated, flicking his head towards Naruto; indicating the blond was the one who was most wounded.
"Ey! Dehy ust aught me woff gahurd! (Hey! They just caught me off guard)," defended Naruto as he swallowed his last bite.
--
In the late evening, the four separated, Sasuke and Naruto needed to rest as they were going to be off to other assignments soon. Sakura and Kakashi walked the same way, because their homes were close to each other. "Bye, Kakashi," Sakura smiled as they reached his home, "Goodbye," he replied.
Sakura resumed her walk back home.
Only but a few moments later, the kunoichi felt a nearby presence and immediately tensed up.
She tilted her head sideways, almost unnoticeably. No one was there.
It better not be one of those night perverts, Inner Sakura mused. Sakura ignored this.
Brows furrowing, Sakura slowly slid her hand towards her kunai pouch, which was strapped to her mid-thigh. Her fingers fumbled at the opening of the small pouch, from the rushing adrenaline quickly surging throughout her body and also adding the possibility of an upcoming battle. Fingertips finally met a cold, metallic ring--the end of a kunai. She frowned, noticing that she was low on weapons... One kunai and a single set of shuriken weren't nearly enough. Her grip on the dagger tightened.
The medic continued her walk, successfully keeping a collected and visibly unaware composure; the only thing she could to do prepare was to wait expectantly.
Sakura became anxious after a few minutes of silence. The feeling of fear and uneasiness knotted her stomach uncomfortably.
If she couldn't sense this person, it would be more than just risky.
Crack.
It was the sound of a twig snapping into two.
Sakura suddenly winced as a sharp pain filled her senses. The stalker must've known he was found out, and instead of remaining hidden, which would be pointless, took the offensive and threw a couple of shuriken.
Immediately endorphins rushed to the cuts on her arm and shoulder.
She retaliated by throwing her only kunai back.
I didn't become a medic for nothing. Her fingertips glowed a soft blue as she raised her hand to the bleeding wounds. It would be easy to heal herself…. But defeating this enemy with only four shuriken and rather rusty taijitsu was another story.
She heard her attack being blocked, then followed by the whoosh of the enemy jumping to another hidings spot among the trees.
Dammit. It's not a simple night pervert, Sakura inwardly mocked her other self's previous joke, he's more than decently trained.
Her eyes darted nervously, looking for the once again hidden foe. This isn't good. It appeared as if no one had been there, although she well knew someone indeed was.
The only other option left was to run. And run she did.
--
A string of loud and hasty knocks interrupted the masked ninja. Kakashi sauntered over to his door lazily. A blur of pink rushed inside without even as much as a greeting.
"…Sakura?"
The kunoichi was panting heavily, not able to reply just yet.
"What's wrong, Sakura?" Kakashi asked, concern lacing his voice when he spotted the rips and blood stains along her sleeves
"Stalker……hiding…..kunai…pervert…..trees…cut…" she panted, catching her breath.
The jumble of random words was easily interpreted by Kakashi. Maybe it was a sign that he had known her a bit too long, "Someone was following you?"
Sakura nodded. After making sure she was okay, Kakashi started to laugh lightly. "What are you laughing about?" Sakura asked, puzzled. "Shouldn't a ninja be able to defend herself?"
"It's not funny!" Sakura snapped," I barely had anything to defend myself with!"
"I know, I know," the jounin laughed," You can stay here tonight, just incase."
Sakura's face colored at the mere thought. He was just paying debt for the other day. He was just concerned for her…..right?
The blush deepened and Sakura made the excuse of taking a shower and cleaning herself up to hid it.
Later…
After tactically arguing with her former teacher, Sakura was triumphant and claimed the only bed, giving Kakashi the couch.
Slipping into the covers, she mused to herself, taking in Kakashi's scent. Even though she was exhausted, she stayed awake calculating inwardly.
And then she decided.
She couldn't let this relationship further than friends, no matter how she felt. It would be best for them both.
--
The roseate girl was surprised to find Kakashi awake and away when she awoke. I wonder where—As if it were rehearsed, the Copy ninja appeared right in front of her.
"Where did you go?"
"To the Hokage."
"…Tsunade-sama….? Why?" her eyebrows crinkled in curiosity.
He nodded. "I told her about you're, 'stalker'," he continued," she said it might've been foreign nins aiming for your medic skills. So she assigned you a guard."
"A guard…Who?"
A grin was evident even through his mask.
"Me."
--
This is the edited version. Dear God, I can't believe I used to write like that (shame, shame). But my current writing style still could use some work too… Blah.