Hello all! Sorry for the late update, but August has been busy and September doesn't look like it'll be much better. August 1st I saw BRMC in a special acoustic show here in Dallas. Effing brilliant is all I can say. Then the 21st we went to Six Flags for my sister's birthday, the 25th school started, the 29th thru the 31st we went camping and on September 2nd I started a new job. (sigh)

Anyway, about the story, this chapter starts with the lyrics to 'Rewind' by Stereophonics. I put in all the lyrics since I think they fit the first half of this story perfectly. Also, Snow Country isn't on any of the Naruto maps I've found, so I stuck it east of Lightning. That's important later. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

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You Gotta Go There To Come Back

Chapter 3: Rewind

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It's your time

It's your day

It's never too late

To change lanes

How's your life?

How's your place?

Was it where you wanted

Your head to lay?

But wait, you can breathe

You can see what I can see

Don't waste your time

You can't make back

If you could rewind your time

Would you change your life?

Do you like you?

Do you love your wife?
Or did you pick what

You're told was right?

Dream and be

What you feel

Don't you compromise

What you wanna be

'Cause change is okay

What's the point in staying the same

Regrets, forget what's dead and gone

If you could rewind your time

Would you change your life?

If Jesus rode in on a camel today

With your cross on his shoulder

Time to take you away

Have you done all you wanted?

Are you happy and warm?
Do you miss someone special

You don't see anymore?

Have you blood on your hands?

Do you dream of white sands?

Can you sleep well at night?

Have you done all you can?
The place I was born in

Stays crooked and straight

I see innocent blue eyes

Go blind everyday

Rewind your time

Would you change your life

Today?

-Rewind by Stereophonics

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As Sakura woke with the sun the next morning, she began to rethink her decision on letting the mystery man follow her. Thinking about places she would encounter later on in her journey, she realized she would want to be there alone. For instance, to avoid Sound and avoid heading too far into Fire Country at the same time, she would need to go through The Valley of the End. Knowing it to be the place where Sasuke and Naruto had fought tooth and nail, she would have plenty of emotions to sort through. It certainly wasn't something she wanted to share with others.

She sat on her bed and contemplated how to deal with 'Mr. Glasses', as she had taken to calling him. He didn't seem to be a shinobi, so she could easily lose him. On the other hand, that would alert him to the fact that she was a kunoichi, a fact she was trying to keep secret. Of course, he would probably never see her again so it wouldn't matter if he found out, but at the same time she was curious about why he was following her. She groaned and rested her forehead in her palms, immediately regretting that action as she watched a large cockroach scurry under her bed. This place was disgusting. She grabbed her clothes and made her way into the bathroom, now more alert than ever to the possible presence of insects.

After showering and dressing, she made her way to the front desk and checked out. Although she was trying to be forgettable, she couldn't help but glare back at the unfriendly woman behind the counter. This whole town was dirty and hostile. Everyone watched the unknown woman with suspicious eyes and barely concealed contempt. It was obvious they didn't like outsiders and they were quick to let the young woman know she wasn't welcome. Having no desire to stay regardless of their lack of hospitality, she was glad to hightail it out of there.

As she continued to make her way north, she rolled her eyes as the man from Suna darted from one giant rock to the next in hiding. It was pathetic, really. He had no skill whatsoever. Rushing around trying to not be seen, he didn't pay any attention to all the racket he was making as his heavy footfalls crunched along the rocky paths. She was beginning to get thoroughly annoyed and would need to confront him soon.

Deciding to ignore the man for now, she focused on the landscape of Earth Country. Everything was barren and rocky. No trees, no foliage, no waterways, nothing but hills, dirt and rocks. There were tufts of grass spread around, but they were few and far between. Now and then she would see a house on a rocky outcrop or situated on top of a cliff and those were interesting, hive-like structures, but they all looked the same so once she had seen one, she had seen them all. There was nothing pretty about this place. However, she did want to check out Hidden Rock so she would continue on. As an enemy shinobi, she had to capture the chance while she had it.

She wasn't particularly worried about heading into enemy territory as a civilian. A simple, temporary dye job on her hair would keep her inconspicuous and civilians traveled through and settled in shinobi villages all the time. After all, they needed tailors, merchants and shopkeepers and ninja were highly unlikely to have such outside professions. She would need to get rid of the man behind her before she got too close to the hidden village. But she still had plenty of time.

As the day wore on, Sakura was getting bored. Bored out of her mind. There was nothing to look at and there was no one to talk to since she wasn't supposed to know about her follower. She frowned and then began to hum a tune to pass the time. Before she knew it she was singing some of her favorite songs and wishing she had the foresight to pack her music player. As she sang, she noticed the man creeping closer and closer, cocking his head to the side to hear her sing more fully. Confused by his actions, but not at all shy about singing, she decided to sing a little louder and ended up belting out powerful notes and holding them steady while hitting high and low notes that demonstrated her wide vocal range. She thought she saw the man break out into a wide smile, but she couldn't really turn and look, so she wasn't sure.

As the morning turned to noon, Sakura began looking for a place to rest. She went from singing her favorite popular songs to a silly made up tune about needing to rest and eat. The more she seemed sure of her solitude to Mr. Glasses, the better. And nothing said, 'I'm sure I'm alone' better than whimsical tunes.

A nice grouping of smooth rocks came into view and Sakura let out a sigh of relief. She hadn't bothered to eat in the town that morning and now she was starving. Setting her pack down and ruffling through to find an energy bar, she leaned back on the smooth surface of the rock to watch some of the clouds roll by as she ate. The activity reminded her of Shikamaru, which reminded her of Ino, which led her to think of her own teammates, which led to Naruto and before she could stop herself, Kakashi's masked face flashed through her mind and she frowned as her chest clenched.

She had been doing so well at keeping herself occupied, but now his visage was firmly lodged in her mind's eye and she felt a burning sensation behind her closed eyelids. What was he doing now? Was he alright? Was he safe? Was he injured? Was he at home? Was he on a mission? Her mind rattled off questions left and right and she couldn't stop them from coming. She sat up and blinked harshly to keep the tears at bay. She leaned back on her hands and continued to watch the clouds as she rattled off shinobi rules in her mind, but they did nothing to dispel the masked ninja's image. Deciding to try a different tactic, she developed a time line in her head. Anything to keep her mind busy.

She left in March, just three days after her sixteenth birthday. She had been traveling for seven months and it was now the very end of October. Her eyes grew wide and she clamped down on her gasp as she realized she had missed Kakashi's birthday! What kind of person was she to forget the birthday of the man she proclaimed to love? Although in her defense, she had been trying to keep him as far from her mind as possible. Temari's advice about figuring herself out first made tons of sense to her, but it was hard work keeping someone you cared immensely about out of your thoughts. The pink haired kunoichi had still managed to keep her mind occupied enough to keep thoughts of home out of the way. She sighed as guilt gnawed at her. Keeping her mind off of Kakashi didn't excuse the fact that she forgot an important date for a good friend. She would just have to find him something nice and send a personal letter to him apologizing along with her gift. She grinned as she realized she could get him something exotic in Earth Country. Surely he hadn't traveled here. Earth and Fire had been enemies since before she was born.

Since she had forgotten Kakashi's birthday, she started to wonder if she had forgotten anyone else. With a grimace, she realized she had forgotten Naruto, Ino, Chouji, Shikamaru... She let the list trail off into a groan. What a terrible friend she was! Looks like she would be sending a lot of letters and gifts. Even though she felt bad, she had great friends and knew they'd forgive her. She was sincerely sorry.

As a breeze blew past, she felt her expression soften into a contented smile. The air was warm and gentle, despite it being mid-autumn. She was thankful she was in a warm country so close to winter, but the absence of Fire Country's fall foliage made her homesick. She closed her eyes to picture the rich golds, reds and browns as they fell from the treetops to litter the ground. Of course, thinking of fall for some reason made her think of scarecrows which led to Kakashi and she almost screamed in irritation. Feeling absolutely fed up with herself, she decided she needed a distraction and as Mr. Glasses noisily shifted in his seat a few yards away, she found her distraction.

She was tired of being followed, she was tired of her mind running away on her, she was tired of not being able to use her chakra or train, and she was ready to do something about it. Looking over in the direction of the timid man, she let her gaze rove as if she was merely taking in the scenery. 'Time to play it up.' She let her eyes continue looking in that direction and squinted as if noticing him for the first time through a break in the rocks. She made a show of looking alarmed and began to gather her things hurriedly. The actions had the desired effects.

"No, wait! Don't be afraid! I have no intention of harming you!" The man's voice rang out and Sakura turned to regard him warily.

"Who are you?" She continued to gather her belongings and swing her pack onto her shoulders, backing away slightly. Acting every part the weak civilian made Sakura cringe, but it had to be done so this guy wouldn't find out about her shinobi status.

"My name is Tanaka Koji. I noticed you in Suna and I wanted to speak to you, but I never got up the nerve." He blushed and scratched at the back of his head in embarrassment. "Lame, I know. Especially considering my profession, but there was something about you that caught my attention. I didn't mean to follow you or frighten you, but I was trying to work up the nerve to approach you."

Sakura smiled slightly. Lame yes, but the guy was kinda cute in a nerdy sort of way. Her mind finally picked up what he said and reeled. It took him six and a half months to speak to her? And then it was only because she spotted him? The guy was definitely not a ladies' man. That fact kind of soothed her though. She wouldn't know how to handle some suave Casanova. Her only interactions with men of that sort came from Genma and she usually just wailed on him until he got the picture. "What did you want to speak to me about?"

"Um, I'm a talent scout and agent in the Snow Country. When I first saw you in the bar, I thought you'd be a great model or actress perhaps, but after hearing you sing earlier...wow. You have an amazing voice, you know."

Sakura was truly surprised by his words. But she had heard about men luring unsuspecting women into situations they didn't want to be in with promises of fame and fortune, so she kept her reactions tempered down. "Really?"

Koji gave an emphatic nod. "I think you could have a bright future in the music industry. How old are you?"

Sakura frowned at him. This was starting to sound a little fishy. "What kind of question is that?"

"No, I didn't mean any disrespect. Sorry. My mind just comes up with all sorts of random questions and I ask them as they come to me. If I don't, I know I'll forget them."

With a sigh, Sakura answered. "Sixteen."

Koji looked surprised. "That's all? I thought you were slightly older than that." Sakura narrowed her eyes and Koji quickly realized his mistake. "Not that you look old or anything, but you carry yourself with an older girl's confidence."

Sakura couldn't find fault in that response, so she let her gaze soften again. "So, what are you getting at with all this?"

Koji smiled brightly. "I would like you to allow me to represent you, if you have any interest in singing." He thought for a moment. "Or modeling or acting. You could do the singing and the modeling I'm sure with no problem. I've never seen you act, so I'm not too sure about that one."

Sakura kept her smirk to herself. 'If only you knew.' She tilted her pink head to the side. It's not like she had anything better to do. She was traveling aimlessly to find herself. And a chance like this didn't come every day. If he tried to do anything she was uncomfortable with she could easily get herself out of there. But then again, diving into a new lifestyle that was as confined as a shinobi's would do her no good. She bit her lip and looked to the rocky ground, seemingly searching for the answer amongst the multi-colored stones. "Let me think on it?"

Koji gave another bright smile. "Of course! It's a big change to get into show business in some form. I'll leave you with my card." He produced a business card with his name, address and phone number on it and Sakura felt a bit more relaxed. The guy was coming off as more authentic with cards already printed. She still wasn't dropping her guard, but it was something. "If you ever decide this is something you would like, don't hesitate to call! I really hope you do decide to sign with me though. A girl with your talent and exotic beauty would go far. I'll leave the ball in your court."

Sakura rubbed the raised lettering on the business card thoughtfully as she read the address. "Snow Country, huh?" A thought struck her and she paused. "Do you know Koyuki-hime?"

Koji blinked in surprise. "Koyuki-hime? Of course. I took over her representation recently. Although I don't seem to have much work to do with her. Casting directors come looking for her and with her role as Snow Country's ruler, she's too busy to do too many movies."

Sakura smiled. It might be nice to see the princess again. She started off as a snooty brat, but due to Naruto's determination and unfailing faith in people she had turned herself around and into a good person. "I'll think about it. There are some things I would like to do before making a decision. I'm sure you can understand."

"Of course. It is a big decision to make. Contact me when you decide." With a last friendly wave, Koji turned to head east toward Snow.

As his form faded into the distance, Sakura gave a relieved sigh and prepared to summon her chakra when she was reminded of the fact that she was in enemy territory. Giving a groan of disappointment, she plodded off to find a town to stay in for the night.

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A grouping of earthen structures came into view and she sighed in relief. The day had been eventful and odd. It wasn't very late, but all the kunoichi wanted to do was get a hot meal, find an inn, take a long shower and then sleep late the next morning.

She passed the first few buildings and residents and relaxed. This town seemed a bit friendlier than the last. Not that it took much, but at least she wasn't being glared at constantly. A flash of orange caught her attention and she quickly looked at the bookstore to her right. Caught between a fond smile and a frown, she looked at the 'Icha Icha' cover. Just what did Kakashi see in those books? With a blush, she let the thought turn over in her head. She was miles from home, no one would know and her curiosity could be satisfied. It would be embarrassing to purchase the book, but what harm could it do? She shook her head and continued walking. What in the world was she thinking? She must be pathetically lonely if she was considering an 'Icha Icha' purchase to keep her company on her travels.

She ducked into the first corner store she came to and purchased her mouse brown hair dye. The woman behind the counter looked at her strangely. "Sweetie, are you sure you want to cover those pretty pink locks with brown?"

Sakura gave a grin. "It's only for a friend's costume party. I don't want anyone to recognize me and it's temporary."

Looking at the box more closely the older woman smiled. "Ah, yes. Didn't see that before." She rang up the kunoichi's purchase and smiled wider. "Have fun at your party!"

Sakura waved and then began looking for an inn slightly dismayed. Conversations made you more memorable and she was trying to avoid that. As if her pink hair wasn't enough. It wouldn't be such a big deal if she wasn't in an enemy country. She had opted for a cheap hotel in the last town and regretted it. So when she saw a large hotel with a grand opening banner she nearly squealed in joy. After checking in and gushing over the plush room, she decided dinner first and then she would do some birthday gift shopping.

The smell of fresh vegetables filled the air and she eagerly tracked the source. The small diner was clean and the employees were friendly so she settled in to eat something more substantial than her bland energy bars. After inhaling the rice and stir-fried vegetables, she was energized and ready for her shopping spree.

Hours later and understandably exhausted, she trudged into her hotel room and dropped a dozen bags by the door. "Tomorrow." And she promptly passed out on the bed.

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Sakura awoke, disoriented and groggy. Her mood darkened as she took note of her clothes. "I hate falling asleep in my regular clothes." With a curse and a frightening scowl on her face, she stomped off to shower and change, grabbing her hair dye as she went.

She stared at the brown haired woman in the mirror. She was actually very pretty as a brunette, though she still preferred her natural pink. She carefully dipped a cotton swab in the dye mix and set to work on her eyebrows. Once finished, she smiled happily. No one would look twice at her attractive, but run of the mill appearance.

She returned an hour later from breakfast and set to work on her letters. She decided to just write to all of her friends, but only purchased presents for those whose birthdays she had neglected.

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Kakashi wandered the streets of Konoha without any destination in mind. Nose buried in his book, he deftly avoided running into people with ease. At the sound of an irritated voice, he looked up with wide eyes. He knew that voice all too well. Haruno Aiko was bullying the young fruit merchant for his overpriced goods. Sakura's grandmother was feared throughout the hidden village. She was unpleasant, feisty, mean and downright cruel unless Sakura was concerned. The woman adored her young granddaughter and it was hard to believe the angry woman hitting the man with a melon and cursing up a storm was the same woman who smiled brightly and showered her granddaughter with affection. It was no doubt that Sakura got her violent tendencies from Aiko and it was equally understood that her normally sweet nature came from her mother.

Kakashi looked on in sympathy for the fruit merchant, torn between helping out or letting the greedy man get what was coming to him. The mediocre produce he sold really was too expensive. When Sakura's father came out of the store he had been in, he raced over to restrain his mother and Kakashi let out a sigh of relief. It was a good thing Sakura's parents were visiting the village. Maybe they could help to control the old woman. Without them around she had started a reign of terror over the merchants. He continued to watch as Sakura's mother followed her husband and began to tend to the man, helping to clear the mushed melon from his hair as she profusely apologized.

Hoping to hear how his former student was doing, Kakashi wandered over to the chaos. "Good afternoon, Haruno-san."

Sakura's father looked over at the Copy Nin and frowned, confusing Kakashi greatly. He didn't have long to ponder as a sweet voice chimed in. "Good afternoon, Kakashi-sensei! It's good to see you!"

His gaze traveled to Sakura's mother who was cleaning her hands of melon goop. "Good to see you as well. I actually came over to see if you had heard from Sakura lately."

For some reason, Sakura's mother's face lit up at his question and her father's scowl deepened. "She is doing very well. She misses everyone greatly, but I think she needed to get out of the village for a while. In each letter she writes I can tell she has grown by leaps and bounds and I can't wait to see her again."

An age-worn voice piped up. "I can't wait either. Why did Sakura leave again?"

"We told you, mother." Sakura's father interjected.

"Ah, that's right." With an odd expression, Aiko walked a circle around Kakashi, unnerving the jounin. She poked him in the stomach and then in the back and came back to stand in front, a hand on her chin as she looked up at him in thought. "I guess you'll do."

"What do you mean?"

Sakura's mother quickly clamped a hand over the older woman's mouth. "Oh, don't mind her! It's nothing at all! See you around, Kakashi-sensei!"

He left before things could get any more confusing and winced as he heard Sakura's mother shriek. "Ow, she bit me!"

The jounin's pace quickened to get away from the sanity-challenged Haruno family. At every turn they caused more questions than they provided answers.

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Two weeks later, Kakashi, Yamato, Team Gai and the Rookie Nine were called into Tsunade's office. "Before you all ask any questions, I called you here because Sakura has decided to write to all of you. When I call your name, come forward to receive your letter."

Naruto scratched at his head. "Why didn't she just send them directly to us?"

Kakashi replied without even looking up from his book as he flipped a page. "Return address and postal markings. You would have been able to find out where she is or was."

Tsunade nodded. "Exactly. I'm the only one who knows where she is and it will remain that way."

"Yamato and Hatake stay behind. I want to discuss something with you."

Once all the letters were distributed and they could no longer sense the chakra of the younger shinobi, Tsunade spoke. "She's currently in Earth Country."

Kakashi's eye widened. "What? Didn't you tell her to avoid it?"

"I did. She dyed her hair temporarily and is traveling as a civilian. It's still dangerous, but she's a curious one. She's also highly intelligent and I think she'll be fine."

Kakashi wasn't convinced. "Do you want us to go make sure she gets out safely?"

"For Heaven's sake, Hatake! It isn't a mission! The girl's fine. She just wants to get a peek at Hidden Rock and then she'll leave the next morning. She's only staying overnight."

"Hidden Rock?!"

Tsunade winced. She hadn't meant to let that slip. "Give it two weeks. She's supposed to send word every two weeks. If I haven't heard from her by then, I'll send you and an ANBU squad to get her out. That's why I wanted to talk to the two of you. Just be on standby in case you're needed. Understand?"

The two elites nodded, Kakashi doing so hesitantly. He wanted to storm into Earth and yank Sakura out of there before she could get hurt. With a sigh he turned to leave the Hokage's office. He would be sick with worry for the next two weeks, but he had faith in his student. He just had to believe she would be fine.

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Sakura finally made it into Hidden Rock with ease. She slipped in while a caravan of merchants were checking in with the guards at the gate and thanked her luck. She took a moment to look at her surroundings and arched a brow. This place was just as dull and boring as all the other towns she had stayed in while in Earth Country. Brown was the prevalent color and the kunoichi found herself missing the bright colors of Konoha. Suna was very brown also, but the people were colorful and the shops and houses made the place livelier with festive banners and signs. It didn't seem like the people of Earth were even trying. She had never seen so many shades of brown.

She made her way through the village, darting from shop to shop, looking at all the different wares the merchants were selling. Nothing differed too much from what could be found in Fire Country, aside from the clothes. A little disappointed that she didn't find anything worth looking twice at, she started to look for a place to stay for the night.

After dropping off her stuff, she headed out into the market again and that's when it happened. She had a moment of weakness, a moment when she just couldn't deny her curiosity any longer. No one would know. Heading for the bookstore across the street, Sakura made a very embarrassing purchase. She scurried back to her hotel room with her face flaming.

She sat on her bed in the room, holding the book in her lap. Taking a deep breath to gather her courage, she exhaled slowly as she opened the front cover to 'Icha Icha Paradise.' "I am so ashamed of myself." But that knowledge didn't stop the young woman from settling in to read.

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Kakashi was once again wandering the streets, not paying any attention to his surroundings, but somehow aware of all that was happening around him. As he passed one of the older residential houses, his arm was grabbed and he was yanked into someone's yard. "Okay, young man. You will have tea with me every Tuesday. I understand if missions keep you from me for a week or a few at a time, but you will meet with me."

Kakashi stared at the presumptuous Haruno Aiko in shock. "Excuse me, ma'am, but aren't you being a little rude?"

Aiko cracked a smile at him. "I like you, Hatake. There aren't many around here who would dare speak to me like that."

Kakashi looked down at the woman a little confused. That wasn't really the reaction he thought he would get. "Um...thanks?"

Aiko chuckled at his discomfort. "Look, Sakura-chan used to come have tea with me and I miss her. My only child, my son moved with his wife to the outpost town, my only grandchild has gone off into the world to find herself and no one else in this town gives a rat's ass about me. I have other reasons for needing to get to know you, Hatake-san, but I think I'll keep those to myself a while longer."

He arched a brow at the strange woman. He couldn't deny she was a powerful ally. She was the only woman in the village who could make the elders cower in their boots. Plus, she was sort of intriguing. With a slight nod of his head, he accepted. "Next Tuesday then?"

Aiko gave him a nod. "Be here at 8 PM. I like to have my tea a while after dinner." She started to turn when another thought struck her. "Oh, and don't be late. I've heard about your punctuality problems from Sakura-chan. I'm not a person to keep waiting, young man."

Kakashi gave a slow, almost nervous nod before heading back to the street.

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The sun rose as Sakura closed the book she had been reading. Her face was uncomfortably warm and she felt a little dirty, but she couldn't deny the book was interesting. The plot was actually well developed and drew the reader in quickly, but the more risqué parts were unrealistic and cliche. She shook her head with a slight smile. "Okay, now I really need a shower and some sleep."

She spent the rest of the day exploring the village, which was actually much smaller than she had imagined. Finding nothing interesting, not that she expected to without breaking into their Tsuchikage Tower, she decided she would spend one more night and then leave the next morning.

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She fiddled with Koji's business card as she walked the path out of Earth Country. There were a few smaller countries to pass through to get to the Valley of the End and then she would pass a few more small countries to get to Lightning Country. With no points of interest in between, she had some boring weeks to look forward to. And plenty of time to ponder.

With a frown, she recounted her journey so far. She had traveled, sure, but she hadn't done anything. She hadn't experienced anything new or exciting. Perhaps Koji's offer was her ticket to something refreshing, the thing she needed to learn who she was and finally be at peace. Did she want that? Did she want to get into music or acting or modeling? She thought of the pictures of models she had seen and knew she didn't want to do that. She had worked hard for her muscles and sculpted curves and there was no way she was going to sacrifice those for a size 00 dress. She loved singing and she was good at acting, so she wouldn't be against doing either one of those. Plus she had heard that plenty of celebrities would do various jobs to research for their roles. So it isn't like she would be unable to learn other new things if she accepted his offer. She put the card away in her pack and sighed. She had plenty of time to think about it as she traveled.

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Tsunade sighed in relief as she received Sakura's letter stating she had left Hidden Rock. Of course, the letter also stated she wouldn't be able to send another letter for a month while she headed to her next destination. The elite jounin standing in her office relaxed slightly at the Hokage's relieved sigh.

"I take it she's safely out of Earth then?"

"She's fine, Hatake. I told you there was nothing to worry about and see? I was right. So you can stop coming in here everyday to ask about it. You've been getting on my nerves."

Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck as his visible eye crinkled. "I can't help but worry. She was my favorite student!"

Tsunade huffed and waved him away. "Yes, yes, whatever. Just get out of my hair and let me get my work done."

With a salute, the shinobi 'poof'-ed away.

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Sakura stood on the massive stone statue of Shodai Hokage, a lump forming in her throat as she took in the cracks and unnatural holes in the cliffs' otherwise weather-worn sides. "So, this is where it happened."

Her voice cracked and she sat to let the tears come. She thought she had exhausted her tears over the matter, but being in the Valley of the End brought all those feelings rushing back, causing the wounds to re-open. She would never completely get over Sasuke's defection and neither would Naruto, but they had each accepted the fact that their old teammate would never return and if he did, he would be executed for treason. She no longer loved the Uchiha romantically, something that had faded as she matured, but she had loved him as a friend. It was a friendship that her blind devotion and his cold heart had prevented from forming fully, but there had been a trust and camaraderie there that she would miss for the rest of her life.

She sat there lost in her memories of Team 7 until the sun began to set and with a startled blink, she pulled herself to her feet. "I hope wherever you are, you're happy Sasuke. And for your sake, I hope you never return to Konoha." She smiled as she realized the words were true. If her friend and former teammate couldn't return as an ally, then she wanted him alive and happy out there as an enemy. So long as they didn't cross paths, she could allow herself to believe he was comfortable somewhere, fulfilling his life's dreams. She had made peace with the situation and had her closure. That would allow her to move on with her life, thoughts of Sasuke no longer coloring her choices and opinions.

It was best to put some distance between herself and Sound before nightfall, so she set off into the surrounding woods. She smiled at the energized feeling of chakra rushing through her limbs as she bounded from tree to tree. Her smile widened as she came to another decision and bypassed Lightning entirely and continued east toward Snow Country.

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Tsunade's eyes widened as she read Sakura's letter. She wasn't sure what to make of it's contents. She just hoped her apprentice hadn't been mislead by some sleazy character, blinded by dreams of stardom, fame and fortune. The Hokage slumped in her chair as she finished reading, a shaky hand reaching for the sake supply hidden in a secret drawer in the side of her desk. She looked at the jounin that had once again, been irritating the crap out of her.

"Don't you have somewhere to be, Hatake?"

Kakashi remained in his spot leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. "Not really, no. Are you going to tell me what Sakura's letter said?"

With a huff, Tsunade replied. "You're just as bad as Naruto and no I can't. She asked me to keep it secret. Besides, I didn't ask you what she wrote in the letter she sent to you. You need to learn to respect people's privacy, brat." She frowned at the younger man as she downed a shot of sake.

"Well with the reaction you just had to her letter, I'm concerned."

Brown eyes narrowed. "If she was in danger, I would let you know. It was just a little shocking but nothing to worry about. Now leave before I remove you myself."

With a shrug, he straightened and headed for the door. "I'll see you later."

Tsunade's eyes narrowed. It wasn't like Kakashi to just let something go. He was planning something and she had a suspicion that she needed to find a new place to stash Sakura's letters.

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The Hokage's remark about his letter from Sakura had him recalling the letter as he headed to her grandmother's house for tea. It had been typical Sakura, well the typical Sakura they thought they knew, full of happy expressions and well-wishes for him. It was also full of preemptive scoldings, warning him of extensive bodily harm when she returned if he wasn't taking care of himself and going to the hospital for injuries. He had chuckled when he read it, able to picture Sakura's frown and posture perfectly in his mind. She had also apologized for missing his birthday and sent him an amazing pendant from Earth that he kept in his jounin vest.

The pendant enabled the user to utilize Earth-based jutsu and Kakashi had been awe struck at the tiny crystal. Sakura's gifts had always been painstakingly selected and this one had blown him away. He had been like a kid that day, rushing out to a training field to try out some of the jutsu he had copied over the years but hadn't been able to use due to not being an Earth user. Tired, sweaty and bruised he had returned home feeling exhilarated and wishing the pink-haired kunoichi had been around so he could thank her for the amazing gift.

Finding himself in front of the familiar house, he knocked on the door and waited for Aiko to answer. She was definitely an interesting person. His previous opinion of her character had been washed away as he spoke to her, or rather listened to her, over the past few weeks. They had tea together four times so far, this one being the fifth.

Kakashi chuckled as he recounted the first time they had tea. It had been strained and awkward with him being careful not to incur her wrath. He had remained quiet, speaking only when necessary. The second time, he had again remained silent while she had made small talk about the weather. The third tea had been cut short when he received a mission summons and during the fourth, he had seen her for who she really was. Her eyes were red and puffy and he thought he spotted a photo of Sakura with her parents, which Aiko had quickly stuffed into a drawer as they entered the living room. That was when it hit him that she was just a lonely old woman. One who hid her feelings behind a nasty demeanor to keep the townspeople's pity at bay. She was a proud woman and to her it would be better to be lonely than pitied.

He was shaken from his thoughts when the door opened and he gave a friendly eye crease to the tiny pink-headed woman in the doorway. "Ah, Hatake-san! Come in, come in. The tea should be ready shortly."

He followed her into the spacious sitting room where they always had tea and made himself comfortable on the overstuffed chair. She disappeared to gather the tea and returned a moment later, cookies and tea gathered on the silver platter she carried. "So, how have you been Haruno-baasama?"

"Oh, you know me. Getting by, I guess. How have you been?" She turned to Kakashi and for the first time, he saw a smile cross her face for him. He had seen her smile for Sakura before, but that was the only person he knew of who was able to coax a smile from the normally unpleasant woman.

His eye crinkled again. "Good, thanks." After realizing she was lonely, he had made a decision to try to make conversation with the woman. "You know, you never told me why you invited me here."

Aiko chuckled. "I think you mean 'bullied you'. I don't want to reveal all my reasons just yet. But one reason is because Sakura is the first one in our family to join the ninja ranks and I am curious about her genin sensei. I know she is no longer your student, but you were the first teacher she had out of the academy and you made a great impression on her. I must admit I'm curious about you. So, tell me all about you."

Kakashi chuckled. "I don't talk about myself, really. Even my friends don't know about me."

Aiko rolled her blue eyes. "Hatake-san, who am I going to tell? You know what the villagers think of me. When they see me coming they all run the other way. Besides, I already know a little bit. More than you think, I believe."

When the Copy Ninja merely arched a brow, she continued. "For instance, your father was Sakumo-chan, correct?"

It was odd for Kakashi to hear someone call his father, 'chan', but he was wondering what she knew. "That's correct."

"He was a sweet boy. I babysat him a few times when he was little. And you..." she pointed a wrinkled finger at Kakashi. "You I held as a baby. With your little tuft of silver hair, you were precious. And your parents were overjoyed. Sakumo-chan just couldn't decide whether to beam proudly or chuckle, he was so happy. Your mother..." she sighed. "Your beautiful mother was understandably exhausted but still managed to produce some of the brightest smiles I have ever seen. I'm sure you have some bitter feelings towards your father, but hear me out. Know that he did love you, but he was also a sick man. The town had turned against him, his beloved wife had passed on and he had an illness that was going to kill him. So, instead of letting you suffer the village's scorn and having to watch your own father wither away, he committed suicide. He was trying to spare you, not cause you more heartache."

Kakashi didn't know what to say for a few moments. "How do you know all this?"

"Your father and I were friends. But by the time he died, we had drifted apart. My family kept me busy while the war kept him busy. There was no time for us to get together and talk. I must admit there is some guilt on my part. I keep thinking that if I had been there for him, maybe I could have helped in some way."

Kakashi laid a hand on top of Aiko's. "Thank you for telling me."

Aiko took a deep breath and shook off the depressing memories. "Well, now it's your turn."

"What do you want to know?"

Aiko squinted in thought. "You were a terribly handsome child and, despite the mask, I can't imagine adulthood would be much different, so any girlfriends?"

Kakashi laughed outright. "I must admit I didn't expect that for your first question. But no, no girlfriends."

Aiko nodded with a slight smile. The clock chimed and she jumped slightly. "Oh my goodness. I didn't realize it was getting so late."

Kakashi stood to go. "I'll be leaving then. Same time next week?"

Aiko nodded. "Of course, Hatake-san."

"Kakashi is fine, Haruno-baasama."

"In that case, Aiko is fine as well."

With a friendly smile, the two parted ways, each feeling like they had just started a routine they would treasure.

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Sakura made her way to the address on Koji's business card. She had sent Tsunade a letter as soon as she had entered Snow Country the previous night and her excitement had eaten at her all night. She looked up at the large building with the correct address. 'Tanaka's Talent Agency' was written in large white letters above the doorway. After entering and sitting in the waiting room, Sakura smiled when Koji stepped out of his office and spotted her. "Hello!" His eyes widened as a smile quickly came over his face. "Did you decide to join...uh, I never got your name."

"Sakura, Haruno Sakura and yes. I would like to sign with your agency, Tanaka-san." She smiled brightly and Koji pushed his glasses up his nose.

"Oh, this is exciting! We have so much to do. Come in and we'll get everything started. You will take this world by storm, my dear."

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A/N: So, there is chapter 3. Hope you all enjoyed. I do have one request to make. I really appreciate the faves and alerts, I truly do. But if you are going to fave or alert, would you please also review? I work on these chapters for weeks, fretting over word choice and what direction to take things, putting a lot of effort into writing and revising. It's a little disheartening to see so many faves and alerts and then only one-fourth that many reviews. While the faves and alerts are nice, the reviews are what motivate my lazy rear to get going. Plus it's nice to hear words instead of just seeing a number, ya know? Please don't think me ungrateful because that's not how it is at all. Just a little wish. Review if you can, please! Smooches!