I Do Not Own Naruto
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Sprouting
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Sakura's morning started with humming, she was making breakfast for her and Kakashi; who was waving off his latest conquest at the moment.
This was a bit of routine for them; ever since she had been little Kakashi would occasionally bring home a girl, however he had often told her (when she had asked as a child), that the only girl for him was her. But Sakura knew better, for once a week he bought flowers and went to the graveyard to visit Nohara Rin. Sakura visited Rin as well, for she had been very special to Kakashi, secretly though, Sakura was pretty sure Rin had Kakashi's heart which was why none of the other girls mattered to him. Not that she minded, the last thing she wanted was for She smiled when Kakashi walked into the small kitchen and walked up behind her.
"Whatcha cooking, kid?" he asked as he ruffled her long hair and looked at the pan.
"Pancakes, Izumi gave me the recipe," Sakura grinned as he kissed the top of her head through the mask, as he grabbed his book and sat at the table. She continued humming as she cooked, and carefully prepared hers' and Kakashi's breakfast. Sakura brought two plates to the table as she scrambled onto her chair, said her thanks and smiled at Kakashi who had pulled off his mask to eat this morning.
"Kakashi?" she was now very curious about something about her guardian.
"Hm?" he looked up from the book he was reading.
"Why do you wear that mask?" Sakura asked finally; it was something which had always made her curious since she had been a toddler running after him, climbing on him and chatting with him to now, and since she was no longer a child because she was a genin she wanted to know.
"Why not?" was his answer.
"That's not an answer," she grumbled. He laughed, then he smiled as he took a bite of breakfast. "I was just wondering because you don't look bad, why cover up your face?"
"Hmm, why do you wear that ribbon?" he countered.
"Dunno, I like it," she answered.
"Then don't ask questions you know the answers to Sakura," he tapped her head with the spine of his book and she sniggered as they ate their breakfasts. She loved living with Kakashi, he was like an older brother/dad to her. Kakashi was her family, he meant just about everything to her and she was really, really, really happy that he had put himself in charge of training her, Naruto, and Sasuke. But when he had told her his reasons he told her that she'd have to help him with them, Sakura had agreed to because she knew just how much work those two could be.
"What are we doing today?" Sakura asked.
"You three will be on D-ranked missions; do not destroy the village chasing cats," he ordered as he finished his breakfast, the mask was back in place as he stood up with his dishes.
"Kay," she grinned deviously as she finished her breakfast as she hurried to the sink again.
"And do not let Naruto break anything," Kakashi said as he walked out of the kitchen.
"Wait? Why me!?" she demanded.
"Simple, Sasuke will kill Naruto if I put him in charge of Naruto," Kakashi informed her.
"That's… true," she sighed. "Don't be late!" she called out as she darted into her room; knowing full well he would be. Kakashi could not get to anything but a rescue on time, she thought snidely as she pulled out her training dress. It was red, with the Hatake family crest on the back of it, she loved the crest for it was proof she belonged somewhere, she had a family; it was almost as good as the tattered copy of her adoption papers, for her.
Humming, she pulled on her clothes, then looked at herself in the mirror. Her pink hair was long and straight, it was soft too, and as she brushed it smooth she wondered if Sasuke even liked it.
No one but Kakashi even knew about her crush on Sasuke; she tried really hard not to be a fan girl of his, and there was also Naruto to think of but Sakura knew she was too far gone for Sasuke. He probably didn't even like her that way, but she wasn't giving up.
She remembered last year when she had let her hair start growing out, Naruto had asked her why and she had pointed out she wanted to start trying to look good. When asked why she said there was someone she liked, of course that would be the part Kakashi would hear, and that she wanted him to notice her. Sakura never told Naruto who she liked, however, she couldn't hide it from Kakashi when he interrogated her that night over dinner over the boy she liked. He had been shocked when she said it was Sasuke, and then he said several other things about being careful, too young to love one boy, she had a life ahead of her, and to be careful about it, and not to let it ruin her friendship with Ino because Ino liked the same boy.
After that talk though, he let her be and they would occasionally talk about her crush but he was watching out for her in his own way. Naruto and Sasuke though, well, they were oblivious thankfully; Naruto was convinced she liked Gaara or Kiba or Shikamaru… frickin' useless!
Thank Kami! She'd never be able to look at either of them if they knew!
Anyways, she turned in the mirror, replacing her red ribbon with her new blue headband on her head. Her forehead was still huge, she hated it, but ignored it as she left her room.
"I'm leaving!" she called to Kakashi as she closed the door behind her and started jogging for the Uchiha compound because it was closer to the Hatake residence.
"See you at Hokage tower!" was the response from the window. She smiled as she hurried off.
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Sasuke had gotten up this morning and was waiting for Sakura outside of the Uchiha compound when he strode up. Sasuke's head fell back as he stared up the huge giant of a man before him; the man looked like a shark! He was huge! And his eyes, well, Sasuke had never seen eyes like that.
"Is Itachi here?" the man's gruff voice demanded.
"Uh… Aa," he answered.
"Sasuke!" both he and the shark looked over to Sakura who was jogging to him, her pink hair was bouncing everywhere with every step she took; she looked ridiculous honestly.
"Sakura," he greeted coldly when she reached him but turned his attention on the shark, he pulled her behind him; instinctively; as he stared at this man's eyes. He had heard from Izumi that someone was coming here this morning for Itachi but he didn't think it was this man.
"Good morning, how are you today?" Sakura asked the man as she stepped away from him. He wanted to grab her and run, but he didn't as she stepped up to the shark man.
"You're a polite one aren't you, and who are you?" the shark man asked as he gave a toothy smile to her. Sasuke didn't like that smile one bit.
"Hatake Sakura, and you are?" she asked sweetly.
"Hoshigaki Kisame," he introduced himself.
"Kisame, do not harass my brother or his friend," Sasuke looked over his shoulder when Itachi appeared then.
"So that brat is Sasuke," Kisame said with a gruff laugh.
"Yes, well, morning Itachi! I'm taking Sasuke now!" Sakura called out with a wave as she grabbed his arm and pulled him along. "It was nice to meet you Hoshigaki!"
"You two brat," he replied as they walked by. He stopped though when the thing on Kisame's back purred.
"What's that?" Sakura demanded then.
"That is Samehada," he answered as he walked into the Uchiha compound Sasuke looked to her and shrugged as they walked towards the Uzumaki house together.
"That was weird, does he work with your brother or something?" she asked as they walked.
"Hn," he shrugged. Itachi never told him anything about anything, and that was the annoying part of this as he got used to it. But Izumi had mentioned someone coming to talk to Itachi, however, that man was terrifying.
"Well, he seemed scary, but nice," she shrugged.
"Hn," he agreed as they walked through the village and grabbed the usual breakfast for himself, Sakura and the dobe.
"Hey, we get a mission today!" she declared eagerly while biting into her dumpling.
"Hn," he nodded as they arrived to the Uzumaki house.
"MORNING!" Naruto shouted to them, Sasuke frowned, Sakura smiled, and he ignored her appearance then.
"Naruto get back here!" they heard Kushina as Naruto ran out the door.
"Got breakfast, come on! Bye mom! See you tonight! Big ninja day!" Naruto called out as he grabbed him and Sakura and ran.
"Naruto! You need to eat your breakfast!" they heard behind them but Sasuke knew Kushina wasn't worried about it as he waved the bakery bag after them. Besides, Sakura would never let them starve, she ate like twenty breakfasts a morning!
"You guys get it!?" Naruto pleaded.
"Yeah, we got it Naruto," Sakura said as she held up Naruto's bag. They walked towards the Hokage tower as they ate. Time to start their lives as genin, he thought blandly, it wasn't going to really change anything; of this he was certain. They were still going to be the same three no matter what, but now they were going to be channeling all their energies into missions. That didn't sound so bad to him as he looked to the pinkette between him and Naruto, so long as she was kept safe he was certain that this could be fun.
"Yum!" Naruto said as he devoured his breakfast then.
"Come on! At this rate Kakashi will beat us there!" Sakura declared as she jogged ahead of them. Sasuke shook his head in exasperation, her pink hair and red clothing just screamed target, if she wore that on missions she'd just be a running target. He didn't like that idea. No matter, he had long ago made a promise to keep her safe for Kakashi and he was not going back on that promise.
"Sakura! Wait up!" Naruto called out as they ran after her. Sasuke just scowled as he was dragged along by the dobe.
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Kakashi watched his kid as she ran ahead of her friends, he had felt nervous about today as he watched her go to the Uchiha compound. Unsurprisingly she was unafraid of Hoshigaki Kisame when she had met him; why couldn't the pinkette ever be afraid of anyone!? He didn't understand her lack of fear where genuinely scary people were involved. Perhaps being his kid she just didn't understand danger when it came at her head on.
Then again, she was also naturally polite; he had taught her nothing in the manners department. Not that he didn't have them, it's just at three she had had the manners of a little princess or something. no matter, he breathed a sigh of relief when she and Sasuke left the Uchiha compound and met up with Naruto. Now he was just had to get to the Hokage tower for their mission when the kids got there.
"Kakashi! We're here, and you beat us!" Sakura announced when he met them in the lobby of the building.
"Yes, and now we're going to go get our mission," he said when the boys appeared behind her. Naruto was ginning; and he had some of the pastry on his whiskered face still and Sasuke was scowling as he took his spot on Sakura's right side.
"Yes! Yes! A real ninja mission!" Naruto shouted as he danced around in his spot.
"Knock it off dobe," Sasuke ordered as they walked up the stairs.
"TEME!" Naruto screamed.
"Knock it off or I'm hitting both of you!" Sakura declared loudly, and Kakashi smiled.
Well, she was a little pink spitfire, he only hoped she'd find someone more worthy of her affections than the Uchiha brat. Then again, Sasuke did do a good job of protecting her…
That's all for now folks!
Enjoy Blooming in Darkness! =)
