Chapter Twenty Seven: Beautiful World Part I-Life with Kakashi
A/N: I can take the wheel from here Sachiko-chan
Sachiko: Yes sir! I mean ma'am! Uh… Yes Author-sama! –SALUTE-
Author-sama: So in the next two chapters there will be excerpts of Sachiko's life with her first 'foster' parent Kakashi and then with Tsunade. She will spend a year with Kakashi and then he will leave to do a 'soul searching' mission. Ooohh. Lol. Her next year is with Tsunade. These two years take up the time jump in Naruto. He is training with Jiraiya during this time. So, the chapter after Beautiful World part 2 will be around the time Naruto returns. I hope that all makes sense. Lol.
PS. This is also named after a song by Utada Hikaru. XD
PPS. Some asked me how I have time to update everyday and then read other stories and always review... Sachiko can take this one...
Sachiko: Author-sama is incredibly sleep deprived and I'm starting to doubt she is human... I think she is part zombie... (:
Author-Sama: Gee... thanks... Anyway, here's the story! XD
Sachiko had woken herself up at four in the morning. She felt very giddy that morning as she crept into Kakashi's room. She held her breath so she wouldn't laugh as she tiptoed in. Quiet as a ninja, Sachiko was at Kakashi's bedside. She almost couldn't hold in her enthusiasm as she placed a hand next to his face. Her fingers formed a pinching type formation as they reached for Kakashi's mask. It was a game he and she played all the time. Kakashi told her that she would never see under his mask unless she pulled it down to look for herself and she wasn't capable of doing so. It was a challenge; one that Sachiko, of course, had to rise up to. She paced herself expertly, taking centimeters at a time to reach her destination when finally she was able to pinch the black mask. A smile formed on her lips as she began to tug the mask down.
"Gotcha," said Kakashi as his hand caught her by the wrist.
"Kuso," Sachiko cursed as she burst into laughter and fell to the floor.
"You think that by waking up at four in the morning is going to help you," mused Kakashi as he let go of her wrist, "A ninja may appear asleep but he always—"
"Lies in wait for his opponent," Sachiko interrupted, finishing the sentence. "I know, I know, I know! I was so close this time though!"
"Close," Kakashi repeated with skepticism, "I could hear you giggling in your room when you woke up."
"You were awake the whole time," asked Sachiko, astounded, "The whole time?!" Kakashi smiled as he sat up in bed. Or at least, he appeared to be smiling through his mask. He began to laugh as he made his bed. Sachiko was still sitting on the floor, sulking. "You tricked me," she accused with angry eyes.
"I did," admitted Kakashi, "But it wouldn't be fun if I didn't tease you."
Sachiko rolled her eyes and flattened her body against the floor, trying to appear miserable. "It's not fair," she said finally after having lied there for several minutes with Kakashi's laughing eyes staring at her.
"What's not," he asked as he went into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Sachiko had tried to spy on him brushing his teeth before but he always applied a thick layer of shaving cream on his face. The shaving cream was nearly as bad as the mask. She couldn't see a thing and he brushed his teeth that way; shaving cream and all.
"You allow me to go around parading my name as Hatake Sachiko and allow me to parade myself as your motherless daughter," she wailed, still lying on the floor, "Yet I am not allowed to see your face! Where is the justice in that?"
"I didn't say you weren't allowed to see my face," said Kakashi, finally coming from the bathroom, his dark black mask now covering one of his eyes; the Sharingan eye. "I said you had to try and find out for yourself because I'm certainly not going to show you."
Sachiko sat up from her spot on the floor and grabbed a flashlight. Lucky for her, the room was still dark so her plan worked properly. She positioned the flashlight below her chin and turned it on. She looked like she was about to tell a ghost story. "I've heard scary sthories from Naruto about your face," Sachiko said in as a creepy a voice as she could get her throat to make.
"Sthories," asked Kakashi with amusement in his eyes, "I never heard of sthories."
"I meant STORIES," Sachiko screeched as she turned off the flashlight and put it back where she got it from, "Kuso! You weren't supposed to catch that mistake! And of course you couldn't just let me continue! You have to make fun of me for it!" She was wailing now, like a kid throwing a tantrum.
"Sachiko, stop wailing," Kakashi told her, "I need to think."
"Think? About what," Sachiko asked as she stood up and brushed herself off.
"I'm trying to figure out what sthories is," he replied and then began laughing.
"Ha, ha, ha… You are so funny Kakashi-sensei," Sachiko yelled, throwing her hands up in the air and walking out of the room.
"Well what choice do I have," he asked, following her out of the room and into the kitchen, "You woke me up at four in the morning."
"You used to make me get up at three in the morning for that whole week right after I finished recovering at the hospital," Sachiko grumbled, "And then you would make me go into the field in search of your stupid bells!"
"You recovered didn't you? Besides, it was just a warm up exercise," Kakashi stated calmly as he began to cook breakfast, "I didn't want you to think living with me was going to be cake. You have to train hard and earn your stay here… You still didn't get the stupid bells though, now did you?"
"I didn't," Sachiko replied vigorously, ready to go back out to the field and try again, "Are you going to let me try again today?"
"Nope," Kakashi replied as he set down breakfast. Sachiko dug in immediately, starving. "Today's your first day at the ninja academy, remember?"
Sachiko scowled and said, "Hi. I'm Hatake Sachiko. I'm fourteen years old and I'm barely trying to become a ninja. Yup, thirteen years old and I want to become a genin."
"Don't be so hard on yourself," said Kakashi firmly, "It's not your fault. You were nearly Chunin level but because of your accident you have to start back up from the bottom."
"I know," Sachiko whined, "But its just so… ugh."
"Don't worry," Kakashi said with a smile, "Naruto says you'll be in the same class with Konohamaru."
"I babysit Konohamaru," Sachiko wailed, "This keeps getting worse and worse!"
"Maybe that wasn't the best thing to help," Kakashi mumbled with a scratch of the head. "At any rate, it's always nice to have friends…" Sachiko rolled her eyes at this. "Be grateful that you're going to end up on Team 7 and not part of a team with toddlers."
"I am," Sachiko said, but it wasn't very convincing. He gave her a stern look and so she said it again, but this time sincerely. "I am very grateful Kakashi-sensei."
"Well good," he said to her, sitting down at the kitchen table, "Now let me eat in peace unless you're going to try to sneak another peak at my face this morning."
"Nah," Sachiko replied, "One try is enough… I learned from Naruto's mistake not to keep trying all in one day." He nodded at this, causing her to smirk. "But watch out for tomorrow," said Sachiko as she cleaned her dishes up, "Because I'll be the shadow that shouldn't be there."
"Ninja usually like to utilize the element of surprise," Kakashi lectured to her.
"Whatever," Sachiko said, throwing her hands up in the air and walking back to her room, "Well then maybe it won't be tomorrow… Just whatever!"
Kakashi laughed to himself and then began to eat after he knew she was in her room. She usually only tried once a day to see his face so he knew he was safe. He took a sip of his water and smiled. He didn't think having a daughter would be that fun and he really didn't mind being a father. Sachiko had already stayed three weeks with him and they had gone through what many fathers and daughters have experienced.
"Don't forget," Kakashi called to her, "Naruto is leaving tomorrow to train with Jiraiya so today after school is your last chance to catch him before he leaves!"
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Sachiko raced out of the Ninja Academy shouting something like, "You rock Iruka-sensei! Thanks for letting me out early!"
Iruka's head could be seen popping out the window shouting back, "I never said you could leave early Sachiko! You just… You just… You're just like Naruto." He smiled to himself and then closed the window. Back in class, Iruka sat at his desk, smirking. "First day at the Academy and she leaves home early to say goodbye to Naruto… That's okay… Tomorrow she can have extra homework." A student raised his hand, obviously having a question. "Yes Konohamaru?"
"Iruka-sensei, why are you talking to yourself?"
"All great ninjas talk to themselves," cried Iruka-sensei, having stood up for the speech. He then plodded back down into his seat thinking that he must be going crazy.
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Sachiko ran as fast as she could to Naruto's house. She knew she shouldn't have left the Ninja Academy early and that she would be loaded with homework the next day but Naruto was more important at the moment. Her life had just begun to fall back into place in a new and fresh way. Naruto would be leaving to train for a long time. He said that he was probably going to be gone for about two years. How could she not spend the rest of her day with him? She wished she would have spent time with him yesterday but Kakashi had her undergoing training. Today was the only day she was given time off from Kakashi. Lucky for her, Kakashi felt very strongly about teamwork and friendship. If he wasn't, she wouldn't be able to see Naruto off.
Sachiko rounded the last corner and nearly collided into Naruto's front door. She inhaled deeply to catch her breath and fixed herself up. She didn't want Naruto remembering her as a messy looking person. She stood up straight and knocked on the door.
No answer.
Did he leave early? Was he sleeping? He could be anywhere doing anything! Sachiko sat on the floor defeated. She played with strands of hair from her low pigtails nervously. Sachiko had been sitting there in front of Naruto's door for thirty minutes and she had no clue where he could be. It was unlike him to not want to see her. "Forget it," Sachiko thought to herself after having waited for two hours. Kakashi would begin to worry if she didn't go home soon or at least send word. Sachiko slowly stood up and embraced the fact that she would probably not get to say goodbye to her friend. She began to walk home, head hanging low and eyes staring at rocks on the ground. She felt someone smack against her suddenly and fell on her butt.
"What gives," she demanded as she rubbed her head, "Are you blind?!"
"Sachiko-chan."
"Seriously, can't you see where you are going," she insisted, eyes still closed.
"Sachiko-chan, dattebayo."
"Don't Sachiko-chan dattebayo me! I don't know who you are but…" Sachiko had opened her eyes and saw her favorite blonde and blue eyed ninja staring back at her. "Naruto-kun," she shouted as she enveloped him into a gigantic bear hug. After she released him she punched him in the arm.
"What was that for," cried Naruto, rubbing the spot.
"For making me wait for you for two hours," Sachiko said angrily, "The world doesn't revolve around you, you know?! It's not like you're the main character of some hit story and all the other characters only exist to make the plot more exciting for you! Things don't work that way!"
"Gomen," Naruto said a million times until he got her to smile. "I was waiting too."
"What," Sachiko asked, clearly confused.
"Hai," continued Naruto, "I came to the Ninja Academy and waited for you to come out. I thought you got in trouble and had to stay after for an hour. I tried to peak inside the classroom but Iruka shut the blinds on me 'ttebayo."
"Iruka-sensei," growled Sachiko, "I left the Academy early so I could go see you… I guess you haven't been home all day."
Naruto shook his head. "Ero-sennin stole my wallet to go hunt down girls. I had to chase him all the way to East town! It took me all morning to find him! Believe it!"
"Well," Sachiko said with a laugh, "I guess we should hang out then! Ramen, my treat?"
"Hai," Naruto chirped happily as they walked to Ichiraku Ramen.
The evening had been a nice one because after ramen Sachiko had treated Naruto to ice cream as well. Sachiko knew that she wasn't going to see Naruto for a long time and she would miss him very much. Although she had been annoyed with him when she was in the hospital she had become best friends with the whiskered boy after getting out. It had only been three weeks spent since she had gotten out of the hospital but she felt like she had known Naruto for years. They clicked right away the first day they hung out at Ichiraku Ramen.
As the two stood outside Kakashi's house, Sachiko couldn't help but smile. Naruto gave her a funny look as if to say, 'You should be sad that I'm going away not smiling.'
"Don't give me that look," Sachiko told him, still smiling, "I have a present for you… Wait right here." Sachiko ducked into the house and didn't come back out for a long time. Naruto could hear her bumping into things, rummaging around this and that, throwing things, and then ultimately finding what she was looking for. "I'll come back in a minute Kakashi-sensei," she screeched as she opened the door again. Her hair was a mess and she simply looked frazzled. After shutting the door she said, "He bugs… Ugh." She returned her gaze to her orange jumpsuit wearing shinobi. He had a goofy smile on his face but had been patient nonetheless. Sachiko stuck her hand out to him, closed fist. He stared at the fist until she turned it over and opened to expose her palm and his present. In the palm of Sachiko's hand was one of the barrettes she used to wear in her hair before she lost her memory. She had turned it into a necklace. "It's kind of girly," she said shyly, "But it means a lot to me… It's the only tangible piece of my old life that I have… I want you to have it and think of me while you're training… I don't want you to forget about me."
Naruto had said nothing for several minutes. Sachiko had begun to think that the necklace had been a bad idea when she found herself in her best friend's arms. "It's the most thoughtful gift 'ttebayo," Naruto whispered in her ear, "I love it… believe it."
She hadn't noticed the tears falling down her cheek and onto Naruto's shoulder until she felt small damp spots there. "Naruto-kun… you take good care of yourself… I'll always be thinking and missing my best friend."
"Sachiko-chan," he said to her, "I will do the same…" He squeezed her tightly for a moment and then let her go. "Don't look so sad Sachiko-chan," he said with a grin, "I'll be back before you know it!"
She nodded as she wiped away her tears. It was hard for her to say goodbye to someone. She had the worst paranoia about her forgetting about him or them forgetting of her through some freak accident. She wanted to forever keep her memories of her loved ones and wanted them to forever keep her in theirs. "I'll keep you locked in my head," she whispered as Naruto walked away, "Until we meet again."
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"Let's try getting you to summon dogs," Kakashi said to Sachiko one day at the field. She frowned a bit. Dogs were okay but cats were better. That had been her opinion for a while now. "Don't give me that… you either want to learn or you don't. I don't have to teach you, you know?"
"Gomen nasai," Sachiko replied solemnly. For some reason the phrase felt oddly familiar. She was always apologizing for something. "I think I'm a cat person though."
"Well let me summon an old friend of mine," Kakashi said as he bit his thumb through his mask and began to perform hand seals at a fast rate. A small puff of smoke appeared and then later revealed a small brown dog. Sachiko wasn't very amused but she put on a happy face for her sensei. "Paku… Sachiko doesn't think she's a dog person… Give her a sniff and tell her what you think."
The dog Paku seemed to be grumbling quite a lot as he moseyed over to Sachiko and began to sniff. He growled a bit and then settled down. "She's a cat summoner… I hate those."
Sachiko felt insulted. "I hope you mean the cats and not me you little run—"
Kakashi put a hand over her mouth to silence her. "—A cat summoner, huh? That's interesting."
The dog nodded. "It's not a bad thing but she's already made a deal to summon cats. She can't summon anything else… She didn't know?"
"She lost her memory Paku," replied Kakashi, "Well, I guess that's all then… Thank you Paku."
"No problem," replied the dog and then he disappeared back into the same cloud he had appeared in.
"A cat summoner," Kakashi said quietly, "That's all you can summon… you signed a contract with that animal. If only you knew how to summon them… You could ask them about your past and probably get some answers."
"It's not fair… I can't remember a thing," Sachiko whimpered, "I try hard to remember these things but my head starts buzzing like I got struck in the head and I get dizzy. Then when I'm better it feels like I'm worse then when I tried to remember."
Kakashi nodded. "I guess I can teach you a couple of other things."
"I'd like that," said Sachiko, happier now.
"Well okay then," said Kakashi, motioning for her to follow him.
"What are you going to teach me Kakashi-sensei," asked Sachiko as she followed her silver haired sensei. Kakashi didn't answer her; instead he stopped in his tracks. Sachiko looked all around her and saw nothing but an open field. "It must be a powerful jutsu; SCORE!"
"I taught Sasuke this move," Kakashi began strongly, "He was able to master it pretty quickly… I don't expect the same of you but I do expect you to master it by the end of our time together… Once you go live with the Hokage, you're going to have to put aside what I've taught you to learn from her… For now, you will learn Chidori."
"Chidori," Sachiko echoed, astonished. Sakura had told her that Sasuke often used that move. It was very powerful and very fast. Sachiko was already excited. "I can do it," she said confidently, "Teach me sensei."
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Sachiko had oh so fortunately gotten out of the Ninja Academy early one day because some naughty ninja had accidentally set Iruka sensei on fire. Now whether Sachiko did this heinous act on purpose remains unbeknownst. She had innocently enough been practicing another one of Sasuke's moves; Fire ball jutsu. Unfortunately for Sachiko, fire based moves were not her strong point. Also unfortunately, Sachiko realized this after Iruka sensei caught on fire from her attempted fire ball jutsu. Class would be let out early for the day and nobody seemed to have a problem with that, except for poor, burnt Iruka sensei.
After apologizing about a million times Sachiko had taken off down the path that lead to her home. Sachiko had asked Sakura to fill her in on some of his moves so she could practice them. All Sachiko wanted was to impress her sensei but things weren't working out too well unless you count her mastering Chidori in less than a week. She turned out to be a natural with lightning based moves. Kakashi had even promised to teach her Raikiri (Lightning Blade). Although Sachiko had surpassed what Kakashi thought she was capable of, it wasn't enough. Her time with Kakashi was running out. In just a few months she would be living with Tsunade. It's not that Sachiko wasn't excited; she just needed a little more time with Kakashi so she could keep training.
Sachiko decided to take advantage of her little early out. Today was the day she would get to see beneath Kakashi's mask. She had to be a lot faster today than all the other days she made an attempt on the mask. It was still morning so Sachiko knew Kakashi would be eating breakfast any time now. The plan was to sneak in the house, hide in the kitchen, and then spy on Kakashi with his mask off while he ate. It was flawless and he would never suspect it. Sachiko grinned to herself as she snuck in through her window. This time she was careful not to laugh or make any noises that would alarm him. She had made that mistake one too many times. Sachiko had finally learned her lesson in that matter. She decided the ceiling would be her best means of hiding. Kakashi wouldn't see her all the way up there.
Kakashi walked out from his room. He had his Itcha Itcha Paradise book in hand. He slowly walked to the kitchen and without setting his book down, began to cook himself a late breakfast. As Kakashi set his plate down on the table, he paused for a moment. Did he know she was there? She braced herself. Sachiko knew he could have discovered her by now but she decided to keep pursuing the mask. "Think fast… think fast… fast like lightning… yeah, like lightning! Think fast like lightning!" Sachiko hadn't noticed but four small, winged shaped clouds had attached themselves at her heels. She felt energetic all of a sudden and nimble and light as a feather. A grin spread across her face as Kakashi began tug down slowly on his mask. "NOW," she thought to herself as her speedy feet seemed to fly her down from the ceiling. She extended her hand to reach the mask and pulled it down.
"AHAH," she cried as she saw a nose and lips come into view, "Finally!"
Kakashi, for the first time, was in utter shock. He hadn't heard her sneak in and he certainly hadn't seen her leap at him. She had been moving to fast for his eyes to see; well, one of his eyes. "Sachiko, do that again." He focused his Sharingan on her.
"Do what again," she asked, "Pull down your mask? At least let me enjoy the moment Kakashi-sensei! I just did what no other pupil has done! I bet barely anyone has seen your face!"
"Sachiko, that's not important right now," Kakashi said to her with seriousness in his voice, "That jutsu that you did right before you pulled my mask down… do it again."
"I didn't do a jutsu," Sachiko said, now very confused by her silver haired sensei. A goofy smile set itself on her face as she stared at her sensei. "What the hell are you talking about," she thought to herself, maintaining the smile.
"That speed," Kakashi continued, "You accelerated at an alarming rate… How did you do that?"
"I just told myself to be fast like lightning," Sachiko told him, still unsure of what her sensei was saying. "Oh I see what you're doing," said she, "You're trying to act like me pulling down your mask is nothing and then later you'll tell me I imagined it!"
Kakashi sighed and slipped his mask back over his face. "Never mind Sachiko… Congrats with the mask because you'll never see it down again."
Sachiko scowled and attempted to snatch the mask clean off but he held her back. "You are no fun Kakashi-sensei! I didn't even get a good look!"
"Too bad," Kakashi said to her, "I missed the part where that's my problem." She could see him smiling through the mask as she continued her poor attempts at pulling it back down. "Sachiko… what are you doing outside of the Academy?"
Sachiko blushed, embarrassed about what she did to poor Iruka sensei. Sachiko would keep what happened to herself even though Iruka was bound to tell Kakashi what happened anyway and Sachiko just knew Kakashi was going to give her an earful over it. "I don't know what you're saying Kakashi-sensei? You want us to train? Good plan! Let's go!" She began to tug on her sensei's arm like a toddler begging to be picked up and carried. She tried her hardest to drag him out of the kitchen so he could take her to train but she only managed to move him a few inches. "Hurry up Kakashi-sensei!"
"Not until you tell me why you came home early!"
"Kakashi-sensei you silly, silly, silver haired copy ninja," said Sachiko in a sing song voice, "You are being difficult so I guess I will meet you at the field! Bye!"
"Sachiko! Wait!" Sachiko zipped out of the house instantly, leaving Kakashi's sentence hanging. "Kids these days," mumbled Kakashi as he grabbed his book of Itcha Itcha Paradise and headed out the door.
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Kakashi had promised to take Sachiko out to lunch at Ichiraku Ramen because she finally graduated from the Ninja Academy. She had been craving it just as bad as Naruto would have and so Kakashi resolved to take her into town and possibly take her kimono shopping. She had been begging him for one lately. He had said nothing to keep it a surprise but she had certainly pushed it sometimes. Kakashi grabbed his book of Itcha Itcha Paradise and left the house. Those books were surprisingly addicting.
The silver haired ninja met Sachiko at Ichiraku Ramen. She was talking with a couple of her friends. Kakashi smiled as he sat down and waited patiently for Sachiko to finish her conversation. He quietly read his book until Sachiko turned around to face him with a huge smile.
"Kakashi sensei," Sachiko said, "You are always reading those books! I want to read!"
"Not until you're older," replied Kakashi, still reading.
Sachiko scowled. "I'm fourteen now. I'm a ninja. Don't you think a kunoichi like me can read that book?"
"No," he said strictly.
"How about you buy me one of those books as a graduation gift," Sachiko suggested, trying to take a peak at the book.
He gave her a look as if to say, 'Don't ask me anymore.' But she just grinned back him. Sachiko blinked furiously as a piece of green cloth suddenly stood in front of her. She looked up to see a muscular body and black hair. Her first inclination was to assume it was Rock Lee but he was much older than Rock Lee. She had guessed it was his sensei. She had often seen Rock Lee and his sensei walking around or training but she had never seen his sensei up close. Now she understood why it was wise to keep her distance from Lee's sensei. Lee's sensei's masculinity was just a tad too overwhelming.
"Well if it isn't Kakashi," said the Green Beast. At least that what Sachiko had thought up in her head. The man was a beast; a green spandex wearing beast.
"Hello Gai," Kakashi said, not taking his eyes off of his book. Sachiko struggled to see Kakashi's face but the green seemed to be everywhere. She nearly felt claustrophobic but then the Green Beast finally sat down. He placed his elbows on the table and engaged in a staring contest with Kakashi. The staring contest was apparently one sided because Kakashi's eyes didn't leave his book. "Can I help you, Gai?" His eyes were still on the book.
"Kakashi let's play some rock paper scissors," suggested the green sensei, "What do you say?"
"Actually Gai," said Kakashi, eyes yet to be removed from his book, "I'm eating lunch with my protégé. You see, she just graduated from the Ninja Academy and so I'm treating her to ramen."
"Protégé, huh? Always using those fancy words with you too cool for school attitude Kakashi," said Gai with a huge grin, "That reminds me… Lee has done amazingly well in his recovery. He's been training like crazy. His spirit of the youth is truly overwhelming." The Green Beast stood up to leave.
"That's not all that's overwhelming," Sachiko mumbled as she stared at the muscular man. To Sachiko's surprise, Gai turned to face her. "YIKES!" She forced a smile but her face most likely looked crooked or she looked like she belonged with the insane.
"Well, hello there young lady," said Gai, "I'm Gai Sensei. And you are?"
"Hatake Sachiko," she replied quietly. His green outfit was making her very nervous especially when his muscles and other things popped nearly right out of it.
"So your Kakashi's charge," said Gai with a laugh, "Just graduating the Ninja Academy? You're about twelve?"
"I just turned fourteen in July," Sachiko said uneasily and a bit upset.
"Fourteen and still in the Academy, eh?" Gai was smirking and she knew why. It was embarrassing to be her age and still in the Academy.
"Gai," said Kakashi, finally ungluing his eyes from the book, "Perhaps you should get your hearing checked. I just finished telling you she graduated. Also, I take it you haven't heard of the girl who lost her memory? This is Hatake Sachiko."
"Oh, I see," said Gai, smiling strangely, "You called her Hatake Sachiko. So does that mean she is your daughter now?"
"Apparently so," said Kakashi, returning to his book.
"Well Kakashi," Gai told him, "I'll leave you and your daughter to eat but next time I see you and I'm with Lee, let's have some contests."
"Whatever you say Gai," replied Kakashi stoically. After Gai left Sachiko could feel herself getting giddy. Kakashi had called her his daughter and this was a safe thought for her. That was the best graduation present for her; Kakashi actually saying that she was his daughter.
"I'm your daughter," Sachiko asked quietly, fearing rejection. She probably shouldn't have said anything and should have just left at that but she felt the need to check and make sure.
"Perhaps you need to get your hearing checked too," Kakashi said to her with a small smile, "I said apparently so."
"But apparently can mean a lot of things and it doesn't necessarily mean a hundred percent," Sachiko said in the same quiet voice. She was nervous for what he would say next.
"Sachiko," said Kakashi, turning to her and looking up from his book, "You yourself said I allow you to parade yourself as Hatake Sachiko, my motherless daughter, I allow you to live with me and be cared for by me, and you've seen behind my mask. I train you and treat you as if you were my own. Don't you think that classifies you as my own daughter?"
"Well I just wanted to hear you say it," said Sachiko as she began to twiddle her fingers like Hinata does so often. "I just wanted you to say it."
Kakashi sighed. "Ninjas aren't supposed to get attached to anyone… But I'm attached to you now… You are my daughter."
Sachiko beamed up at him, her heart about to burst right through her ribcage. She, without notice, embraced her sensei in a full hearted hug. "Arigato Kakashi-sensei," she whispered as he patted her back.
"Well let's eat now," he said, returning to his 'Too Cool for School Attitude'. Sachiko, still smiling, nodded like a bobble head. "Take it easy," Kakashi remarked as they ordered their food to enjoy a father-daughter lunch.
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Sachiko couldn't stop her flow of tears as she stood at the entrance and exit of Konoha. She began to play with the strands of her hair nervously as her sensei approached. Her year with Kakashi was up and over. He had already moved her things into Tsunade's extra room. She would be staying with Tsunade from here on out. Kakashi was to be leaving for a year or so. He never had told Sachiko why he was leaving and had simply said it was personal matters. She gazed to her silver haired father longingly. Sachiko bit down on her lip until blood was drawn from it. She wanted so desperately to go with him.
"Do you have to go," she asked weakly as Kakashi approached her.
He looked at her apologetically and nodded. "I'm sorry Sachiko but I have to do this… Don't cry… I'll be back."
"Do what," she asked, trying to pretend the tears weren't falling, "You never told me."
"Can't say," he said to her, "It's… highly confidential."
She nodded. When he said things like that he really meant for her to not push it. "I understand," she murmured as she wiped away some tears.
"Sachiko you're a big girl," Kakashi said, "You can take care of yourself without me. Besides, you'll be living with Tsunade. You should be fine." Sachiko only nodded in reply. "I'll be back in no time. Time will fly by. But will you promise me one thing?" Sachiko looked up at him expectantly, fingers tangled in her own hair. She nodded gently. "Promise me you'll keep practicing Chidori and Raikiri… I know you mastered both but you could get rusty if you don't practice." Again, she nodded. "Also… promise me you'll keep my last name."
Teary eyed, Sachiko embraced her father. "I will Kakashi-sensei… I will always be your daughter." Kakashi gave her a small kiss on the head.
"Good girl," said Kakashi as the embrace ended, "Behave yourself with Tsunade…" Sachiko nodded as her father walked to the edge of the village. "Goodbye Sachiko."
Sachiko stood there for several hours, just staring at the gate. It had been about three or four hours since Kakashi left for his mission or whatever it was he left for. She felt only a year old. Sachiko finally had her father and had finally been happy with her new life only for it to be ripped out of her hands savagely. Perhaps she was exaggerating, but she didn't think so at the moment. Tsunade finally came to retrieve her, figuring she was still at the village gate. She placed a firm hand on Sachiko's shoulder and said, "Sachiko… he'll be fine… It's time to get all your things settled… You can't just stay here and stare at the village gates." Sachiko nodded and followed Tsunade to the Hokage's office.
A/N: Yes… Chapter Twenty Seven is complete! Woot! So what did you guys think of Kakashi as a father? Kind of strange, I know, but sweet anyway. Sachiko never knew what it was like to have a family when she was in Cloud and so I wanted her to be able to have a sort of father figure and mother figure in her new life.
Sachiko: -Crying- That was so beautiful… -sniffle-
Author-sama: Alright do the thing.
Sachiko: -wiping away tears- Okay… REVIEW PLEASE… for father daughterliness!