Five Days in May

Sometimes the world begins
To set you up on your feet again
It wipes the tears from your eyes
How will you ever know
The way that circumstances go
Always going to hit you by surprise

Blue Rodeo

When Sakura had first graduated from the Academy, she'd made an effort to not only be on time to any meeting their team had, but a little bit early. Despite what Ino-pig claimed, that wasn't so she could show off for Sasuke-kun. It was just the way she was: meticulous, thoughtful, and hard-working. But these last few weeks, she'd begun to wonder if maybe she couldn't be just a little late. It wasn't like she would miss anything important, in any case. Kakashi-sensei was always late.

Except that, every once in a while, he wasn't. There were some days when he was exactly on time. Which made Sakura wonder, for the thousandth time, if he didn't do it on purpose. But whoever heard of someone who was late on purpose? A little late, maybe, just to make an entrance, but Kakashi-sensei was almost always hours late.

Well, she decided as she let herself out of the house, careful not to wake anyone else, the longer I'm there, the more time I get to spend with Sasuke-kun.

As was often the case, she was the first one to the meeting point. She found a spot in the early morning sunshine and sat down to wait. After a few minutes she spotted a figure approaching, but with the sun behind them she couldn't tell who it was. Too short to be Kakashi-sensei, she thought. Please, please be Sasuke-kun.

It was; she knew even before she could see him clearly. Naruto always greeted her with a cheerful "Good morning, Sakura-chan," but much as it hurt, Sasuke-kun never did. Sometimes it seemed like he wouldn't even talk to her if he could help it.

"Good morning, Sasuke-kun. Did you sleep well?"

"Morning, Sakura-chan!" Great. You just had to show up, didn't you, Naruto?

Sakura sighed, preparing herself to spend another few hours with her two teammates: one who she wished would talk to her, but wouldn't, and one who she didn't want to, but did. How will they act towards each other today? She mused. Will they spend the whole time insulting one another, or will today be one of the good days when they just ignore each other? Either way, it would be a long wait until Kakashi-sensei arrived.

"Yo." Sasuke-kun and Naruto left off giving each other death glares to look up to the tree above them, where their sensei now perched. But not alone, Sakura noticed with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Kasumi-san was with him, the hem of her long brown coat stirring a little in the breeze.

"What are you doing here?" Only Naruto could be so untactful.

Kasumi-san, for a wonder, just smiled at him. "The Hokage thought I might go along with you on your mission to the Rain Country." She gave Naruto a mischievous grin. "Tsunade-sama didn't think Kakashi-san alone would be enough to keep you out of trouble, Naruto-chan."

"What the hell? Granny Tsunade did this?"

How typically Naruto.

She caught up to Sasuke-kun as they left the village, and walked besides him. Despite her hopes, though, he didn't seem inclined to start a conversation. "What do you think of Kasumi-san?" she asked him quietly.

"An unknown shinobi that knows that man?" He shook his head. "I don't trust her."

"Kakashi-sensei seems to like her."

Another voice broke in over any reply Sasuke-kun was about to make. "Naruto, where are you…. Hello!"

"Eh, eh, Ero-sennin, leave her alone!" First he's yelling at her, then he's defending her. Naruto sure can't make up his mind.

Jiraiya-sama had all but butted Kakashi-sensei aside to lean very close to Kasumi-san. Maybe there's something to that name Ero-sennin after all. Although she is very pretty. Much prettier than me, with my big forehead. Sakura sighed aloud.

Sasuke-kun glanced back at her. "Don't tell me you want that old man looking at you," he said with a slight sneer. No, Sasuke-kun, she wanted to shout, just you! But she couldn't.

"Ah, good morning Jiraiya-sama," said Kakashi-sensei was running his hand through his hair the way he did when he was a bit embarrassed or found something funny.

Sakura grabbed Naruto, who looked like he was about to make another grab for the sannin's attention. Honestly, he's so rude to both Jiraiya-sama and Hokage-sama, it's going to get him in trouble one day. "Shut up, idiot." Naruto, for once, did as he was told and kept silent.

"And who is this lovely lady?" Even for as great a ninja as Jiraiya-sama, standing that close was asking for trouble.

Kasumi-san's eyes narrowed a little, much the way Sakura had seen Hokage-sama's do when she thought Jiraiya-sama was staring at her too much. "Ero-sennin, eh?"

"No, no, no, don't pay any attention to the brat."

"Jiraiya-sama," Kakashi started to say, before he was cut off.

"Quiet, brat. I am…" Here is comes… "The Gama-sennin, one of the three Sannin, and best-selling author, Jiraiya!" He gave her what he no doubt thought was a winning smile. Gross.

"That's gross," Sasuke-kun said quietly.

"Oh Sasuke-kun, I was just thinking the same thing!"

"Quiet," he hissed back.

"Tsunade-sama was right to warn me about you, it seems," Kasumi drawled. "And Naruto," she gave the boy a winning smile (which caused Jiraiya-sama to glare at him) "I love your nickname for him." She turned back to the sannin. "I have heard of you before, though." Her grin was positively wicked, and Sakura found herself disliking the woman just a little less. "Mizokage-sama is a big fan of your books, the disgusting old bat. Kakashi-san? You wanted to leave early, I thought."

A nod in reply. "Let's head out."

I don't know if she can fight, Sakura found herself thinking as they hiked down the road, but she sure keeps everyone around her off-balance. I think she might be even scarier than Hokage-sama if she gets mad!