Disclaimer: Naruto and all its characters belong to Misashi-Kishimoto-sama.

0o0 Seijin Shiki 0o0

8

Moonlight streamed through thin white blinds, the soft green curtains fluttering in the slight breeze from the open window. The silver and white patterns upon the floor shifted constantly, throwing ominous shadows upon the pallet of green colors upon the walls. The cool breeze from the window caressed Sakura's skin, bringing goose bumps upon the exposed flesh. She lay in bed, watching the myrid of subdued colors upon the ceiling.

Anxiety and nervousness rolled within her stomach like a coming storm. Her mind, while she seemed complacent enough, was whirling with uncertainties. When one problem was solved another sprung to take its place, renewing the pattern. It was the night before the Seijin Shiki, the calm before the storm. Never had she been so confused and stranded over such a mere frivolous activity before.

In the three days that she had been off work from the hospital she had mostly spent her time training, catching up with friends, and occasionally shopping. While those pastimes took up most of her time and soaked up her boredom she was still left with one dilemma. Who was she going to attend the Seijin Shiki with? She had tried everything but she was still left battling to find someone that would go with her. It wasn't that nobody liked her, but everyone she had asked, whether it be shinobi or civilian, they already had somebody to go with.

Just that morning she had thought her only option was to seek out Sasuke and ask him to attend with her. She didn't love him, she knew that now, but it had still hurt when he had turned her down. She wasn't angered at the Uchiha but she felt as if she would always be the third wheel, whether in society or friendship. So now that her possibilities were run out she was laying upon her bed, wandering why her life seemed to be so cursed.

She hadn't approached anyone concerning the Seijin Shiki that was her senior. She had stuck with boys her own age but now those other men seemed more likely candidates. Kakashi's name immediately assaulted the forefront of her mind. With a blush she brushed the absurd notion aside. Kakashi wouldn't attend a festival for the coming adults with someone like her. He would never think of her any other way besides that of being friends.

During her vacation she had encountered Kakashi many times. It seemed as if he were always showing up wherever she was by accident but somehow she didn't think that was the case. She didn't mind his presence, in fact she far perferred his lazy and contemplative attitude to that of Sasuke's unyielding personality any day. But the odd thing was Sakura was beginning to feel as if she were missing out on something every time he did show up. She just felt like she could never figure the man out.

With a sigh she turned over, pulling the covers up to her chin. As she drifted off to sleep with a contented smile upon her face she briefly touched her cheek where Kakashi had kissed her.

0o0

A beam of sunlight arched through Sakura's room, resting upon her sleeping face. With a muffled groan she turned, burying her face within her pillow, hiding from the bright light. A moment passed before the light flickered and died away, swamping the room back into dimness. She flopped onto her back, staring up at her ceiling with blurry eyes as she came into wakefulness. She looked out the window to see the sun shining brightly upon the tiled rooftops of Konoha.

Her eyes widened as she sat up, throwing her covers off before stepping barefoot onto the wooden floor. "I'm late!" After a quick trip to the bathroom, where she brushed her teeth she hastily threw on the clothes she had laid out the previous night. She ran to her kitchen, grabbing a nutrition bar before returning to her room. Furisode in hand she walked from her apartment complex.

Once outside she turned and locked the door, finishing the last of her bar. She turned. She momentarily forgot to breathe when she looked to find no other than her former sensei. He was leaning against her apartment building, but what surprised her the most was his attire. He was wearing his normal Jounin outfit minus his vest, gloves, and standard wrapping around his legs. His head turned towards her with a creased eye before pushing off the wall.

Sakura glanced away, fidgeting under his dark gaze as he came to stop in front of her. She turned her head up, a light blush spread across her pallid cheeks. "Good morning, Kakashi."

Kakashi studied her with concealed eyes, their depths mysterious and contemplating as they looked down on her. As he pushed his hands deeper into his pockets he rocked back on his heels, studying the woman before him. "Today's the Seijin Shiki. Do you know who you are going with?"

She turned her head down, hiding the sudden tears that sprang to her eyes. "No. I won't be going with anyone."

He reached forward, his thumb and forefinger gently grasping her chin. A soft smile found its way upon his concealed mouth before he lifted her head, bringing her eyes to meet his. "I will go with you."

Sakura's mouth gaped, her eyes widening as a bright blush worked its way onto her features. She vaguely felt as Kakashi removed his hand. Her knees trembled slightly before she regained her bearings. She turned her head up, her brilliant eyes sparkling with joy. "I would love that."

With a hum of satisfaction Kakashi turned, resuming his normal attitude as he began walking up with walkway. Sakura was beside him a moment later, her mind whirling with this new twist. Their journey was silent as Sakura took the lead, closing in on their destination. A new shop came into view up ahead; a bright sign hung over the entrance. Sakura entered, Kakashi following behind as they stepped through a sliding door. It took a few seconds for their eyes to adjust to the darkness before an old woman hustled out of the back room.

Her wizened brown eyes swept over her customer's body. Sakura fidgeted under the old woman's gaze, swallowing a deep lump that had worked its way inside her throat. Her uneasiness vanished when the woman smiled, her nearly toothless smile brightening her countenance. "You must be Sakura I presume. Come on in dear, I won't bite." She circled Sakura, measuring her length with practiced eyes. "My, you're lovely. Your man must be very pleased."

Sakura flushed, chancing a glance back at Kakashi who leaned against the wall, examining his surroundings. When she saw no outward sign of him hearing the woman's comment, Sakura relaxed. She turned her attention back to the old woman, the Kimono Kitsuke who would be dressing her in her furisode. The woman pulled Sakura along by the arm, motioning her towards the back room. Sakura cast an inquisitive look back at Kakashi who only smiled and chuckled lightly.

She turned her attention back to the old woman that was now standing before her, observing her body once again. With a wide smile she pulled out a stool before turning and handing Sakura a thin garment called a susoyoke that was worn beneath the nagajūban. Sakura removed her clothes before pulling the silk cloth over her head. It settled against her middle thigh before the woman handed her white ankle-high tabi before she motioned for her to step onto the stool.

Sakura obliged before the woman set to work, her methodical hands moving with precision and professionalism. The hiyoku went next over her head, the second kimono giving the traditional layered look to the furisode. Next was the nagajūban; dyed red with hand painted flowers down its length, making it look almost as beautiful as the furisode. The woman reached her nimble hands up and straightened the white collar before looking at Sakura's profile. "Very nice. Traditionally women's waists were supposed to be cylindrical but times are changing. You have the perfect hour-glass figure, my dear."

Sakura flushed at the compliment but remained silent as the woman turned back towards her supplies. Since a furisode didn't require the traditional juban due to its make, the finishing result would pronounce her figure even more. The woman turned back with Sakura's furisode in hand. Sakura felt a sense of wonderment and excitement as the woman slipped the furisode over her body.

The long sleeves touched the floor, their silky length shimmering in the dim light. A blood red and silver obi when next, hand painted with doves across its surface. The silk length was tied with the more formal uzushio style, which had the resemblance of a fan. As she stepped from the stool a pair of red zori found their way onto her slit-toed feet. The old woman put a hand on her shoulder, her wide smile warming Sakura's heart. "You look beautiful, dear. You are the first young woman I have ever seen wear a furisode so well." She turned back to her supplies, picking up a brush as she motioned for Sakura to sit in a chair. "You'll look even more beautiful for your man once I do your hair."

With a small blush Sakura sat, her red painted hands lying demurely on her lap. The soft strokes of the brush lulled her into a sense of unreality. After her hair was pinned atop her head the woman came around to her other side. A touch of lip-gloss and mascara completed her ensemble. She stood slowly, walking towards the full-length mirror opposite the room.

A gasp escaped her throat before she stopped breathing all together as she stared at herself in the mirror. The furisode hugged her frame in all the right places, accentuating her hips and thin waist. The dark red of the silk complemented her pale skin and green eyes, the shimmer of pink lip gloss sparkling like ice in the sun. The long sleeves grazed the floor, their length hand-painted with white doves and pale cherry blossoms flowing down the fabric. The white collar of her nagajûban contrasted sharply with the blood red of the furisode. Her hair was done up in a simple bun, held by senbon with a few wisps hanging around her face.

A sound of someone entering the room reminded Sakura to breathe. She turned before coming to a stop, her heart beating twice the normal speed. Kakashi stood before her, his dark profile swathed in tones of gray and black. Warmth pooled in her stomach as she watched his eye smolder with an emotion she had never encountered before. The underlying flash of lust and wonderment brought a soft blush to her heated cheeks. She spread her arms wide, twirling around. "Well, what do you think?"

Kakashi was beyond stunned. He had never seen someone so beautiful and goddess-like in his life. His eye accessed her body, lingering on her ample bosom and curvaceous hips. When he found his mind wondering he snapped his eye back up to her face, instantly captured by her deep eyes that held some of the feelings he himself felt. "Sakura…you're beyond gorgeous."

Sakura lowered her head, hiding the deepening blush on her face. "T-thank you, Kakashi-kun." Her eyes landed upon his arm as he extended it towards her. With a blossoming smile she slipped her hand through his, the contact sending a tingle throughout her body. Kakashi smiled softly down at Sakura before walking through the door.

The Kimono Kitsuke watched them go, a wistful smile on her face. "Ah, young love."

The streets were beginning to fill with those who would be attending the Seijin Shiki. Due to the festival the day was considered a holiday. Families, even those who wouldn't attend the Seijin Shiki were off duty. Sakura noticed with self-consciousness as people who they passed looked at her and Kakashi oddly. She kept glancing down at herself, wondering if they disliked her appearance. An amused chuckle brought her out of her tirade. She looked up at Kakashi who was watching her with a sparkling eye. "Stop worrying. You are beautiful."

She returned his smile, sqeezzing his arm in gratitude. As they slowly made their way towards the Hokage Tower more and more people passed them. Sakura turned her head forward after greeting an acquaintance, a gasp escaping her mouth. "Naruto, Sasuke?"

Naruto waved as he ran towards her and Kakashi. He skidded to an abrupt halt when he laid cerulean eyes upon Sakura. His mouth drooped, stuttering unintelligenably in awe. "S-Sakura-chan. You look amazing!"

Sakura smiled. "You don't look half bad yourself, Naruto." The kimono he wore had a black background with blue threading. Hand-painted on the silk was a motif of a large kitsune raising its open maw to the moon, the blue sky covered with wisps of white clouds. Black tabi socks and blue zori sandals completed his ensemble.

She turned her eyes to Sasuke who had come up beside Naruto, an amused smirk on his handsome face. She held her breath as his dark eyes roamed over her. Mentally surprised she noticed that she didn't feel a thing. He looked back into her eyes with a pleased smirk. "You look good."

Sakura returned his smirk, her own eyes accessing his clothing. "Same to you." Instead of wearing the traditional kimono like Naruto he wore the more formal happi coat and hakama. The hakama were black with white tabi socks and black zori sandals. On the left side and back of the happi coat was stitched the Uchiha fan. Around the bottom of the cloth was stitched a red-tailed hawk nestled in the branches of a pine tree. A motif above the hawk displayed an eclipse of the red harvest moon. Sakura didn't doubt for a second that he would be the most handsome man in Konoha that day.

Naruto leaned back on his heels, quirking a golden brow at Kakashi and Sakura's entwined hands. "Why are you here together?"

Kakashi chuckled, rubbing the back of his silver head. "Well, you see…"

Sakura bumped her hip against Kakashi, tightening her grip on his arm. With a deviant smirk on her face she tilted her chin. "Kakashi is my partner today."

Naruto gaped, stuttering twice in their presence. Sasuke arched a dark brow, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

Sakura smiled in victory before pulling Kakashi around the two immobile boys. As they walked into the entrance Sakura's smile pulled down into a frown. Kakashi tilted his head down. "Are you okay?"

She looked up, imperceptibly holding onto his arm tighter. A dazzling smile lit her face. "I've never been better." Sunlight enveloped the shinobi as they passed through the last door, coming to stand atop the Hokage Tower.

The sudden presence of blond hair and light blue eyes blocked Sakura's view of the roof. With a laugh she pushed the exuberant blond back, removing her hand from Kakashi's. "Ino! Not so close."

Ino stepped back, throwing her waist length hair behind her shoulders. With envious eyes she examined Sakura's furisode. "Kami girl! Where did you get such a beautiful furisode?"

Sakura laughed sheepishly. "Tsunade-sama gave it to me."

Ino's glossed mouth dropped. "No way! That's totally not fair." She gestured vaguely at her own kimono of purple silk and hand-painted peacocks. "I had to use my mother's old kimono. They said they couldn't afford for me to get my own kimono. You are so lucky."

Sakura laughed. "Your kimono suits you perfectly." As Ino continued to chat about the unfairness of getting a used kimono Sakura scanned the crowd. The first people her eyes alighted on were the rest of the Rookie Nine and Team Gai who had wanted to celebrate their Seijin Shiki along with their friends even though they were a year older. They stood in a group, sipping from long stemmed glasses filled with red and white liquid, all nonalcoholic. Their dress all varied in size and design.

Hinata wore a beautiful tan and lavender furisode designed to complement her hourglass figure with a design of viola flowers and white rabbits. Beside her stood Neji in tan hakama pants and a happi coat designed with the Hyuuga insignia, since the clans had united, and a motif of pheasants and cypress limbs. Next was Tenten wrapped in a Chinese designed furisode of white and yellow. A hand-painted lynx was within a forest of bamboo. Beside her stood Kiba in a brown kimono with a hand-painted white wolf on the silk, howling at the moon within a forest of cedar trees. Shino was next, dressed in black hakama pants and a black happi coat with a motif of dragonflies.

Her eyes alighted upon Lee and a sharp bark of laughter escaped her glossed lips. He was wearing a dark green kimono with a design of squirrels upon the branches of chestnut trees. She shook her head in wonderment before she looked upon the other two. Chouji was dressed in a dark blue kimono with a motif of light blue butterflies and his clan symbol. Shikamaru stood beside him dressed in a tan kimono with hand-painted deer upon the fabric within a glade surrounded by hemlocks.

The soft caress of a callused thumb on the back of her hand brought her from her examination of the people present. She looked up to see Kakashi watching her, his eye seemingly caressing her features. "They are almost ready to begin."

"Can I have your attention please!" Tsunade stood behind a podium, her chakra enhanced voice ringing through the air. People began to shuffle to their seats, the Seijin Shiki participants hurrying to their designated places.

Sakura took a step before Kakashi's hand caught hers in a light grip. She turned her head back, her eyes questioning. "Kakashi?"

His eye crinkled at the corners as he released her warm hand. "After the ceremony, I'll wait for you."

She smiled, winking before hurrying to her seat. As everyone was seated Tsunade-sama cleared her throat, capturing everyone's undivided attention. "Welcome. Today is a day when our young generation of shinobi will be admitted into the ranks of adulthood." Her amber eyes scanned the crowd, twinkling as they landed upon Sakura. "The Seijin Shiki is a time of joy, a time that will lead you through your passage into adulthood. Responsibility is the key to being an adult along with perseverance, intelligence, and compassion. You will no longer be considered a child or inferior to those above you, take this responsibility with pride and honor. Instead of merely taking lives as your professions bids, you will now forge your own." With a smile she stepped from the podium as the highest-ranking officials on the council took the stand.

After a short speech from the older men and women, Jiriaya took the podium, his large smile mostly encompassing his former apprentice, Naruto. "Today is like any other day, but after today you will take on things that you had never encountered before. I won't make this long, but I have a few words of advice." A devious smirk encompassed his lips, his eyes twinkling in mirth as Naruto hunched down in his chair. "For the young men, remember that women are complex but needed in this world to survive those lonely nights. And the young women, remember that all men are perverts but honest and true in their ways."

Scattered applauding filtered through the crowd. Sakura covered her mouth with her hand as she watched Naruto's face turn a bright red as he slid deeper in his chair. After Jiriaya sauntered off the stage a few of the Jounin Sensei's gave short speeches, including Kurenai and most embarrasingly, Gai.

Tsunade took the podium once more, her blood red nails resting lightly on the wooden surface. "Please rise."

The participants of the Seijin Shiki rose, all with joyous smiles on their faces. Sakura turned her head. Her eyes landed on Kakashi, she smiled gently. Kakashi returned her smile with a nod of his head and a wink. With her heart fluttering in her chest she turned forward.

Thirty minutes later Sakura was a jumble of nervousness. She took a step forward, standing on the stage platform. "Haruno Sakura!" With a tilt to her chin and spine straight she walked forward, her face calm even though on the inside she was more nervous than she had been on her first date. She looked into Tsunade's eyes with elation. A beautiful scroll was placed in her left hand before she shook hands with her shishou. In a stage whisper Tsunade smiled at her apprentice as she shook Sakura's hand. "Congratulations." As Sakura was handed a small wrapped present she turned her head, glancing out over the crowd. Her eyes were drawn to Kakashi who was standing near the front, his head tipped up towards her. The look in his eye was something she had never seen before. As she stepped from the stage her stomach twisted, warmth pooling in her abdomen.

An hour later Sakura watched as Naruto walked off the stage, a fox-like smile on his face as he shouted in joy. With an amused shake of her head at his antics she turned her eyes back to Tsunade. "Congratulations to all the new adults!" A chorus of cheers and applause went up.

Sakura stepped forward, bringing Naruto and Sasuke into a group hug. "We're adults now!" Over the loud noise of the crowd Tsunade shouted that the festival would be held in the center of town. As Naruto and Sasuke turned to others who were congratulating them Sakura felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around she was met with Kakashi's broad chest. With an elated cry she sprang forward, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist as she crushed him against her. "I wouldn't have felt this happy if you weren't here with me."

Kakashi returned her hug, his eye softened as he relished the feel of her body pressed against his. He breathed deep her intoxicating scent of jasmine and honey. He brought his hand up from her waist, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

Sakura pulled back, blushing at the contact of his hand lingering on her cheek.

Unsure of his actions Kakashi leaned forward, his head dipping towards the woman before him. The joyous cry of Naruto brought him back to himself. He jerked his head up, regaining in calm attitude in a moment of seconds as Naruto and Sasuke joined them. "Congratulations, Naruto, Sasuke," he said with a smile hidden behind his mask.

Sakura smiled up at her boys as she looped her arm through Kakashi's. Her eyes locked with the men around her, lingering longest on Kakashi's. "Let's go party!"

0o0

I told you it was going to be longer, didn't I? :) I hope you enjoyed this chapter because I spent quite a while on it. Personally, my favorite part was making their kimono's, I'm thinking of drawing all of them. I didn't know much about putting on a furisode so I collected info from various sources including other fanfictions. I just loved the process of dressing Sakura in her furisode. :D

Thanks to all my readers, reviewers, and my beta, ZipperRabbit. I wouldn't be as good a writer I am today without you. :D