Thank you for your lovely reviews! I try to reply to all the reviews, but since that's not always possible, I would like to thank all the guest readers. I hope you continue reading.

And to the anonymous reviewers who think it's appropriate to tell me to "kill myself because I'm a delusional. virginal fucktard," even though I'm really very flattered that you take the time to review every single chapter of both the stories I've posted till date without fail, I would like to request you to grow the fuck up. It's very clearly mentioned that this is a KakaSaku fanfiction, if you don't like the, as you called it - "fucking self-insert crack fanfic,"- you are most welcome to ignore this particular story.

Enjoy! See you at the bottom.

Why? Why me? Is one good night's sleep too much to ask for?

The clock on her nightstand told her that it was 6 AM. She sighed when the incessant knocking continued and made her way to the front door, putting on a robe.

"WHAT?" she growled, almost pulling the door off its hinges, to reveal a very unimpressed 16 year old boy standing in front of her, holding a brown paper bag in hand.

"Honestly sensei, some shinobi you are. I can't believe you're still asleep." The bespectacled boy replied in a very bored voice, making his way past her and heading straight towards the kitchen.

"Sure, come right in. It's not like I was sleeping or anything."

"It's 6 AM, sensei. Training day today. Or did you forget? I should start hiding your sake again."

"Woah woah, hold on a second there. Just because they call me mini-Tsunade, doesn't mean you're under any obligation to become a mini-Shizune. And besides, I didn't really get drunk last night, just had a long day" She replied, closing the door and moving into the kitchen. "Also, I don't have a problem."

"Oh I'm well aware of that sensei. But seriously, a civilian bar of all places? That too to THAT shady place? Couldn't you just have gone to Daisuke-san's? At least that way, the only one you'd be worrying is your liver." He retorted.

"Don't act like I don't know about your little 'understanding' with Dai. He always cuts me off after a while even when you're not there to chatter in my ear about the ill-effects of alcohol." She inched closer and put her hand inside the paper bag he'd brought with him. Mmm, food."Besides, I'm a kunoichi. I can take care of myself, I don't need a chaperone."

"You obviously do." he said, slapping her hand away. "Need I remind you of what happened when that idiot Takahashi-whatshisface hit on you when you were drunk and I left you alone for all of five minutes?"

Slumping, Sakura said replied with a kicked-puppy expression reminiscent of her own ex-sensei. "Remember when you used to hang on to my every word with a look of awe? I actually liked you back then."

As her student let her know exactly whom she was behaving like with his eyebrow raised at her, she immediately straightened and snapped, "I wouldn't have to visit civilian establishments if you didn't feel the need to flirt with the bar-tender at my usual bar. I swear Udon, one of these days, Daisuke is going to kick you out, what with you always batting your eyelashes at him. He's older than me, you know, and you're under-age."

Smirking slightly when the tips of his ears reddened, she was just about to tell him about a Chunin from the hospital who'd seemed interested in her student, she was cut-off by a deep chuckle from the couch. Realising she'd forgotten about the silver-haired man she'd all but ordered to sleep off his injuries on the couch the previous night, she flinched when her student turned towards the source of the sound and stiffened. Maybe telling him about Kakashi wasn't the best idea I've had this year.

"Kakashi-san. I didn't know you'd be here. Apologies for the intrusion."

Raising an eyebrow at his stiff tone, he gave his usual eye-crease. "Good morning, Udon. I'm just under house-arrest here. I'll be reading my book, so don't mind me." He said in his usual cheery tone and walked into the kitchen.

Suppressing an amused giggle at Udon's expression, she swatted Kakashi's hand away from the bag the same way her student had.

"Sensei, about my training," Udon started, in an unusually nervous tone. "How long did you wait to start training in chakra-enhanced strength after going under Tsunade-sama's tutelage?"

"Ah, that would explain why you're so eager for training today, even for you. You know, even Shizune-senpai couldn't pull that jutsu off, accomplished as she is at medical ninjutsu. So don't you think for a second that this is going to be easy. But, seeing as your chakra control is getting there, you might actually be able to pull it off. Don't get complacent though, it was relatively easy for me since I've been adept at chakra-control right since my academy days. And by relatively easy I mean I didn't shatter the bones in my hand the second time I tried. It was no walk in the park despite my near-perfect chakra control and academic know-how being few of the only things I was good at back then. I do want to teach you however, or at least try to. But it's not my technique and therefore not my place to teach it to you."

Seeing his face fall, she continued, "Tell you what. How about I give you a little test. A very simple one, just to see if you'll be able to actually do it. If you pass, then and only then will I go to Shishou and ask her if she'll teach it to you. How does that sound?"

Udon opened his mouth to say something, then closed it, looking down.

"What is it?"

"Well, sensei, I was hoping that you'd be the one to teach it to me"

Her lips quirked up in a small smile at that and a warmth filled her features, the kind her student hadn't seen in a while. Laying a hand on his head, Sakura replied, "Well, if that's my favourite student's wish, who am I to deny him that. I'll talk to Shishou about it. Once you pass the test of course."

Taking a step back, he bowed low. "Then I'll do my best sensei."

Looking up to see her smiling down at him, he gave her a small smile before abruptly straightening up and pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Your house is such a mess, sensei. I don't know how you live here. Have your breakfast while I tidy up a little. Then get dressed. We're leaving in forty minutes."

"Am I the sensei here or are you?"

"You are. Now eat and get dressed."

"Hai hai, I'm going, I'm going," she replied, shooting a glare at Kakashi, who was snickering behind his book.

"Okay, now here's what I want you to do, see my palm? I want you to focus as much chakra in your fist as you can and release it all at once when it makes contact with my hand."

Standing in one of the most secluded training grounds Konoha had to offer, Sakura realised that the picture she and Udon made right then, facing each other, was one very similar to her initial training with Tsunade.

Except she wasn't going to start chucking large boulders at him. At least, not yet.

"B-but sensei! That's dangerous! You could get hurt!"

Smirking, she replied, "Udon, you're doing this for the first time, you're more likely to hurt yourself than me." Seeing him blanch slightly at that, she chuckled before continuing, "Relax. We're both medics here. Also, I'm not going to make my hand as hard a barrier as Shishou did, so unless you do something incredibly stupid, you won't be shattering your hand like I did. Besides, even if you do, it's an excellent opportunity to attempt using the chakra bone-knitting technique. That was one of the first techniques me and Shizune-senpai worked on together. Ah, good times."

Seeing the apprehensive expression remain on his face, she felt herself grow a little annoyed.

"Alright, look. You're the one who wanted to learn this technique. I'm fine with continuing your education just as a medic-nin. If I was half a hard-assed task-master during training as Shishou was, I would've thrown a rock at you and expected you to break it. That's what she did on my second try, by the way. I only managed to execute the jutsu correctly because I would've been crushed by the rock if I hadn't. The sannin weren't exactly easy on their students. Jiraya-sama taught Naruto how to summon Gamabunta by pushing him into a deep crevice and expecting him to use Gamabunta as a way to you know, not break his back. And whole body. And die. So either you do this my way, or we go back to lab. You're yet to concoct a poison remotely good enough to interest me."

Taking a deep breath, Udon closed his eyes briefly before looking up at Sakura with a determined expression on his face. "Okay, I'm ready."

One side of her mouth curving up in a smirk, she raised her hand so her palm was facing him. "Attaboy! There's the brat who pestered me night and day till I accepted him as my student! Now, remember what we discussed. Don't release the chakra before your fist makes impact with my palm. And when it does, release it all at once without hesitation, otherwise the chakra cushion will dissipate, and the break will be painful."

"Hai sensei." he replied, gathering chakra in his hand, making it glow green.

"One, two, three-"

"Oh fuck!"

"You know, for your first try, that wasn't half bad."

Looking incredulously at her calm, almost bored expression, he exclaimed, "I fractured my hand!"

"Well," Sakura replied, wrapping the bandage around his hand, "it's not as bad as it would've been if you hadn't been paying attention to what I'd said earlier. You'll just have to keep it in a splint for a while. I know you still go through the exercise I taught you, circulating chakra around your system multiple times after waking up. It's good for improving control , but as an added bonus it'll help your hand heal quickly."

"But why can't I do it right now? Or better yet, why can't you do it right now?"

"It's part of the training ritual, actually. Especially now that we know you can pull it off. Shishou's logic was that it teaches you not to attempt it without supervision in the beginning, lest you seriously injured yourself with the cockiness of learning a new jutsu. She didn't let me heal it when I broke it that first time either, just set it properly so that it would heal correctly. Don't look at me like that. I too thought she was crazy, at first and it hurt like hell too. But I realised it was smart later. You should be glad I'm so easy on you."

"Uh..okay. Easy"

"Damn right. Compared to my methods, the woman's a maniac." She recalled with a fond smile. "I remember, the first few months of training with Shishou. I almost always felt like my head was going to fall off my neck at any given time, seeing as I had no energy to hold it up without considerable effort. Don't worry, we'll get there. This training isn't exactly a cakewalk. Your taijutsu training will have to be tripled. And I fully expect you to start attempting the seal after a year. But that's something you'll have to do on your own, like I did. If you pull that off, you'll be the first male to have pulled it off..ah I'm getting ahead of myself. Baby steps and all."

"First male huh, wait, did you say you're going to triple my taijutsu training?!"

"Yup, I started my training at 13, remember? You have a lot to catch up to. You have to become adept at evasion first. Remember, a medic-nin is no good if-"

"They get themselves killed." he finished her sentence. "It's one of the rules. I did read the rules, sensei."

"Good." she said and patted his head. "Shishou and I also specialise in close-quarter combat. Armed or otherwise. It basically goes hand in hand with the strong fist technique. Provided you don't bring the building or cave you're in down on you. I learned to truly control the extent of the damage after the war. Improving upon techniques is not something you can be taught. Remember that."

"Hai sensei." He paused for a beat, "can I ask you something?"

Frowning as she noticed his hesitation, she looked up to see her student looking down at his hand with an odd expression. "What is it, Udon? You've never been one to ask permission before asking me stuff. Is something wrong?"

"No. It's just that, why was Kakashi-san at your apartment?" Frowning, he continued, "Considering..things, are you sure it's wise?"

Oh boy Sighing, she replied, "I really wish people would stop asking me about Kakashi. Really Udon, all that was just me being silly. It's fine now. Besides, we've been really good friends, him and I, for a while now. I don't think I should jeopardise that by being stupid. More than I already have, that is."

Standing up, she held out a hand to help him up, which he took. "Anything else bothering you, my four-eyed friend?"

Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, he didn't seem satisfied with the answer, even so, he replied, "Yes, actually. I was just wondering..most sensei teach their students in the same training field they were trained in with their genin teams. So how come you teach me here..I mean, this is so far away from the others."

Sakura couldn't help smiling at that. "Well, maybe that's because you're not part of a team of genin given to me and I'm not your jonin sensei. The field I trained in, Training Ground 3, was the one the Sannin were trained in by the Third Hokage, the team where I'm pretty sure Jiraya-sama taught the Fourth and the Fourth Kakashi's genin team. But it is not where Jiraya-sama taught Naruto or where Tsunade-shishou taught me, for the same reason why I'm not taking you there. This is the training field Shishou trained me in. That tree," she said, pointing at a young willow, "is the only one I managed to save from Tsunade during training. And that pool," she pointed at a small pond a little ways beside the tree, "is the one I created when I first managed to create a small crater in the ground, breaking a rock formation in the ground. Your training with me is a little similar to mine with Tsunade-sama's. From someone who's not your Jonin sensei. In medical ninjutsu, and now this. We both had something to prove. We both needed to find a place to belong. I guess we've both succeeded in that, eh? Now why don't you run along and get something to eat. I'll see you at the lab after I finish up some paper work that's probably piled up at the office and talk to shishou about your training. I want to see some results today, got it?."

She waited long enough to see him bow once, nod and take off before turning towards the line of trees at the edge of the clearing.

"You can come out now, Kakashi. You didn't have to hide in the first place, you know. What I'm teaching him isn't exactly classified information. Not that that would've stopped you, oh great Copy Ninja."

Moving towards the little pond, she sat down on the grass and smiled in his direction before leaning backwards on her elbows.

"Oh I know, but your little student might not have particularly cared for it. Did I accidentally run over the brat's glasses the last time we met or something?" He asked, sitting down beside her and whipping out his trusty book.

"Nah, that's kind of my fault I guess. I talk when I'm drunk, which I'm sure you remember. And he's pretty much always around when I'm drunk."

"He does seem to worry about you a lot. Can't say he's wrong though. You may be able to handle your liquor well, but..there are some exceptional cases."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. He does worry unnecessarily though." She replied, closing her eyes.

They sat there for a while, sharing a silence that was as comfortable as their usual banter, each lost in their thoughts. After a few minutes, Sakura got up and dusted the back of her shorts. Stretching, she looked up at the sky and noted that it was around noon.

"Hmm, I forgot. We're meeting up at the bar tonight at around 9. Tenzo will be there, Genma too, I think. I wasn't really listening. Interested?"

"Ah, I'd love to, but I can't. I promised Ino I'd go drinking with her tonight. She's been kind of miffed with me lately, we haven't really hung out much in months. Anyhoo, I'd ask you to lunch, but I agreed to let her take me dress shopping. She was horrified when I told her I haven't bought any new clothes in a while. So I guess I'll see you later?"

A vague "Hmm" and a slight nod of acknowledgment were the only things that let her know that he'd actually heard her. Feeling a fond smile tug at her lips, she gave into it, leaving in a flurry of leaves and smoke.

Now that she was gone, Kakashi finally lifted his head to gaze at the spot she'd stood in. The leaves were the only indication that she'd been there. It was nice, being able to talk to her again. It was like being back home.

Shaking his head once, he settled back into the grass. Hm, one of these days I'll have to thank her for bringing me here.

With that, he resumed reading what he knew was Sakura's favourite book of the series with a slight contented smile playing on his lips.

A/N:

1. Heeey people! How is you all doing! Sorry for the late update, I just..got lost on the road of life.

2. Seriously though, I almost died in the last week of April because my kidneys apparently hate me and decided to pack up and go out of business because they got offended that I let myself get dehydrated. And as it turns out, hospitals are not very conducive for creative endeavours.

3. Also, guess who's going to college! A triple major. Should be fun.

4. This was my longest chapter yet. I like this word count, I'll probably keep it around.

5. I have posted a new story, yes I posted a new story before I finished this one, it's more of a collection of connected one-shots actually, called "Of Scarecrows and Cherryblossoms. Do check it out. Also, prompts people, prompts!

6. Reviews are like chocolates. And I luuuuurv chocolates, so please review!

See you all next time!