Confession

Kakashi stared at where his student sat on his bed. It was the only place to sit in his tiny one-room apartment and he resigned himself to the intrusion into his private space. Sakura was wringing her hands together nervously even as she marveled at her healed skin and kept her silence. Mariko-san had sent him a pitying, sympathetic look, but she had otherwise healed the burns without comment when he had knocked on her door. Kakashi resolved to buying the woman a box of dango in thanks whenever he next avoided an appointment and wandered around Konoha without destination.

"So…" Kakashi rose an eyebrow at Sakura's nervous squeak at his sudden voice before focusing most of his attention on his treasured book. Then he realized he was reading porn, in his room, with only a twelve year old girl as company. He quickly shut Icha Icha Paradise, a tinkling of embarrassment encroaching upon the distant corners of his mind. Glancing fleetingly at his bookshelf, the Jōnin internally cursed his literary taste in adult material before resigning himself to act upon the problem he was trying to avoid. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He withheld a wince. Kakashi wasn't known for being the comforting, attentive sensei - that was Kurenai's shtick - but even he knew addressing the girl with his usual bland tone wasn't his best move.

Luck seemed to be on his side though, because for some reason Sakura found that prompt good enough to respond to. "I...do I have to?"

Going for a light hearted demeanor, Kakashi closed his eyes in a parody of his usual smile. "Would it make you feel better? I could get that Yamanaka girl or-"

Sakura glanced up quickly, emerald eyes wide, "No! No, I...please don't tell Ino…" She trailed off with a shaky sigh, knuckles turning white as she griped her hands together tightly. Taking a fortifying breath, Sakura looked off to the side and began speaking.

"It...wasn't so bad when papa was alive. Just yelling, pretty much. She'd tell me how to dress and how to act, how I'd need to find a good husband in the future and that being a ninja would get me enough of an income until I could...until I could 'fill my role like a traditional female'. P-papa didn't really like it, he's the one who told me to be a ninja because I wanted to be, and told me that he was happy as long as I was happy and that he knew I'd be really strong and wouldn't need a husband so I should just focus on training but mama- but mother never really approved so I tried doing both but then she'd nag me about my forehead and about my clothes and that I was 'looking too butch, dear, you need to go on a diet' so I did but then Iruka-sensei was disappointed because I couldn't do the kata as good anymore and I didn't know what to do but then the invasion happened and papa was dead, he was gone, and now only mother's there and, and, and- Kakashi-sensei what do I do?! Mother hurt me and it only happened after we got the news about papa but it keeps happening and it's getting worse and she's a civilian so I can't fight back but I don't know what to do!"

Kakashi stared, wide-eyed, at his hyperventilating student. She had started off with a stuttering, slow rendition but as she continued she had sped up and up until it was a garbled mess of words and tears that he was luckily able to understand but-

The Jōnin crouched down in front of the girl, hand gently raising to pat her bowed head even as he listened to her sobs. He let out a soft sigh as she tried to speak again. This was probably the first time she had told anyone about what was happening at home and while it was a lot better than what he expected (her long pants were still sending off warning bells in his mind), it explained several things. The Haruno family were civilians and Sakura's mother was a strong example of how civilian life and the life of a shinobi did not mesh well. As an only daughter Sakura was expected to be married off, and married well, so that the Haruno's maintained a good standing with the rest of the village. Mebuki was trying to push the girl into the role of a stereotypical, traditional wife without care for the girl's kunoichi status. Sakura was caught in a divide between being a strong, independent kunoichi and a dutiful, benevolent civilian daughter and the girl was struggling to find a balance between two antithesis. Kunoichi were not model wives. They were killers, they were deadly, and they were not women who would come to heel at their husband's demand. For Kakashi, who was the last of the Hatake clan but he was still a shinobi's child, this was a respected, expected attitude for women to have. It was a point of pride, because while women usually left their positions on the field to care for their children, they were still the last line of defense and there was no shinobi who wanted a weak shield between the enemy and their offspring.

For a civilian husband, though, a kunoichi would go against every customary stance women held throughout their society. Civilian wives were supposed to be gentle, passive and below the roles of their husbands. They were supposed to maintain the household, birth and care for the children, and slip into the background while their betters (their husbands) handled business.

Kunoichi were supposed to be strong, to stand out and against any opposition and to lay waste to any threat against their homes and loved ones.

No wonder Sakura's personality flip-flopped so violently. He'd have to speak with Inoichi, but Kakashi had a suspicion that Sakura held an inner personality that represented all those kunoichi traits. The little girl she normally displayed was sometimes ripped away - usually due to Naruto's actions - and a violent, gruff character rose to the surface. Beforehand he had just thought the girl had had anger management problems and ignored the symptoms but now, well- well.

First, he'd have to get Sakura away from the Haruno household. Where she'd go in the meantime, Kakashi failed to calculate, but he had to get her away from that toxic woman and into some therapy. He consciously withheld a shudder at his own assessment - the psych division was a part of the village he had avoided for as long as they had been hounding him - but even he could see that Sakura would need them. She would need to integrate her kunoichi persona into the one she normally displayed and hopefully that would destroy any of the traits Kakashi's shinobi mindset sneered at.

The fanatical, docile, blushing little girl he had been assigned to teach needed to go. He needed the brash, unyielding kunoichi he could spot at random intervals whenever she finally lost her cool and disregarded the civilian wife her mother was trying to instill into her.

Right now he had a sobbing preteen to handle though. He started carding his gloved hand through the short strands that had been choppily cut during the Second Exam, wondering if treating her like one of his ninken would make this awkward experience any easier to handle.

After a time of Sakura's choked breathing being the only sound filling the room, the Jōnin was surprised by a giggle. Raising an eyebrow and absently wondering if she had finally cracked, Kakashi watched as tear-filled green eyes glanced up at him. Her face was a wreck - Sakura was not pretty when she cried - but there was an amused gleam dancing in her eyes and a faint smirk etched upon her wobbling lip. "I'm not a dog, Kakashi-sensei."

Shrugging helplessly, Kakashi retreated with a final pat and spoke dryly, "You're the first crying girl I haven't fled from, so excuse my inexperience."

Another giggle transformed into a snicker before Sakura fell back onto his bed with helpless laughter, clutching at her stomach. Kakashi watched transfixed, wondering bemusedly if all girls were completely insane or if this only happened with the younger ones. A few moments later Sakura let out a long sigh, reaching up to rub at her eyes absently even as they flickered down to Kakashi's still-kneeling form.

"Thanks sensei."

Quirking an eyebrow, Kakashi fell back and crossed his legs. Reaching up to scratch sheepishly at the back of his head, he glanced to the side and began staring at Mr. Ukki, reflecting upon the changes his students had wrought upon his life. "It's no problem."

They descended into silence, Sakura following his stare and seemingly studying the two team photos flanking the lively plant. He should probably re-pot it, an action he had already done once before seeing as Naruto had handed it over in a microwaveable ramen cup.

By the time the sun was high in the sky, Sakura stirred and sat up, leaning her elbows heavily on her knees and balancing her chin on her hands. Seeing as his eye-level was in line with her navel, Kakashi glanced up and froze at the bright smile she was directing his way. Before he could flee - because a crying girl he could kind of, sort of handle but an exuberant Sakura was touchy and he wanted no part of that - the girl had launched herself forward. Thin arms wrapped tightly around his neck and he fell backwards, wincing as his skull met his floor with a hearty thunk.

Staring blankly up at his ceiling, Kakashi tried to ignore the twelve year old lying atop him. "Sakura-chan?"

"Hai, Kakashi-sensei?"

"Get off of me."

"No."

"Why?"

"I'm thanking you."

"Buying me a new book would be more appreciated."

Sakura's voice trembled in embarrassment even as her grip tightened and wow, he was going to be choked out by an snuggly genin. Such a noble death for the Copy-Nin Kakashi, bane of Konohagakure's enemies everywhere. "Sensei! I'm not buying you porn! Plus I couldn't anyway, I'm twelve!"

"Hn."

"Don't sound like Sasuke!"

'Sasuke', not 'Sasuke-kun'. That was a change. Then again, Sakura was supposed to be looking for a husband that would leave her well-off and the Haruno family as highly respected so-

"Sakura-chan?"

"Hai, Kakashi-sensei?"

"Are you only obsessed with Sasuke because of your mother?"

There was a telling silence.

"Sakura-"

"Sasuke's the last of the Uchiha." She interjected, raising her face from where she was forcefully pressing it against his vested chest and resisting the hands trying to pry her away.

Resting her chin on him instead, Sakura stared up into his bland, masked face. "He inherited the Uchiha fortunate, right? Plus he wants to restart his clan after he kills his brother so I thought- well, being the Uchiha matriarch is reputable enough, right? And he's pretty, even if his personality leaves a lot to be desired so I-" she cut herself off with a sheepish shrug, "Ino already had a crush on him, and so did a lot of other girls in my class. I just copied them."

Well.

Letting out an explosive sigh at the complications that was his life, Kakashi relaxed and closed his eyes. He ignored Sakura snuggling into him yet again - he had become accustomed to ignoring contact from his students seeing as Naruto decided a forceful hug was guaranteed with every event that seemed to be a happy milestone of his shinobi career. Sasuke thankfully avoided bodily contact as much as Kakashi himself did, but Sakura was a hit or miss. She usually respected his personal bubble, but sometimes this happened and there was no stopping her or tears would be forming and Kakashi's usually guilt-free mind would eat at him.

Damn the female gender entirely.

"You should stop."

Sakura seemed to freeze, her lax body tensing. "What?"

"Stop going after Sasuke. Stop searching for a husband. You're a kunoichi, not a civilian. Your mother is delusional if she believes you can be both."

"But-"

"Sakura. You. Are. A. Kunoichi. This headband is not just a fashion piece, you know. You can't pick and choose when it affects your life, and neither can she." He reached up to flick said item, ignoring her flinch.

"But she- she'll just get worse."

Kakashi clenched his jaw. No child should sound terrified of their parents and he wasn't sure if it was the Hatake blood in him howling for the death of a pack betrayer or if it was his own sensibilities as a human being but-

"Then you can stay with me."

"What?"

Indeed, Hatake, what?

Kakashi pondered his own foreign impulsiveness. This was the first time in a long, long time that he had spoken without thinking. He always analyzed his words before speaking - though usually it was more to find the most concise way to rile up his companions without wasting his breath. For him to say this, though...well, whatever. It couldn't be too bad, and his subconscious had already decided for him. He was her sensei, he already protected and cared for her wellbeing while on missions. Full time shouldn't be too challenging, right?

"We'll get you emancipated - shouldn't be too hard since you're a genin anyway - and you can move in with me." It wasn't like she had the Uchiha fortune or the Hokage's protection as a jinchūriki like her teammates, after all.

Emerald eyes were dubious, dumbfounded, and disbelieving. Whilst he congratulated himself on a good alliteration, Sakura glanced around his puny apartment, seeming to take it in for the first time, before looking back down at him. "I- you- sensei you can't be serious, what-"

"I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't serious." He assured her. Even if it was a subconscious portion of his brain that had taken control of his mouth and spit out the most impulsive sentence he had said in over a decade, he would stand by his word.

"You don't have room." She finally squeaked out, looking ridiculously overwhelmed and bordering on cautious hope.

Ah, yes, that would be a problem. He was a Jōnin though, an ex-ANBU Captain even, and he was notably cheap if the way his comrades constantly guaranteed he wouldn't skimp out on the bill through their own ninja tactics said anything. His students were still developing the skill to kidnap his wallet before they ate and he consequently disappeared. He did have money, though, and a lot of it. He just never really had a need to spend it. Plus he also had the Hatake clan compound but-

Well, he would evaluate that painful thought at a later time. Hopefully never, actually.

"You need counseling though."

A deadpan stare Kakashi proudly believed she modeled after him was his answer. "What?"

"You have a repressed personality don't you?"

Ah, still got it. He reflected at her reflexive twitch away from him.

"How did you know?" A disbelieving glance accompanied her squeaky response.

"I thought you were bipolar at first, but after that fight with the Yamanaka girl-"

"Ino."

"-and now with the truth about your mother, I can see how it happened. You've been hiding the kunoichi part of yourself behind the civilian daughter your mother wants and there's usually consequences for repressing oneself like that."

"So, I need therapy." She echoed numbly. "Will that even work?"

"Probably. I've been avoiding the psych department since I was six though, so who knows. We can ask Inoichi-san."

"You- you're serious?"

"Perfectly." He hummed, giving her an honest, eye-squinting smile and ignoring the faint trembling he could feel. Really, the girl should get up. This was the most human contact Kakashi had had somewhat willingly since Rin-

Ignoring that painful train of thought, Kakashi focused on another question that had been bouncing around his head. "What's with the outfit change by the way?"

Sakura winced. "Mother destroyed my usual outfit since she said it wasn't getting me any suitors. She said I could just wear this until she got something more 'eye catching'."

Kakashi would eat his left sandal if that new outfit wasn't more sexualized than anything a twelve year old should be wearing. Letting out a long sigh, Kakashi shook his head and pushed at Sakura's shoulders once more. Thankfully the girl decided that cuddle time was over - and forever dead, if Kakashi had any say about it - and removed herself from his person, sitting seiza next to his side. He paused for another moment to glare half-heartedly at his ceiling (Kakashi was blaming the day's events on that water stain in the corner, the demon) before standing with a grunt. "Come on, we'll go see Tsunade-sama."

"What? The- you can't talk to the Hokage about this!"

"Why not?" He questioned, absently stepping over to his kitchenette and opening his miniature fridge. He grimaced. He would definitely have to pick up more food, that eggplant looked rotten. Despairing over his favorite vegetable, Kakashi glanced back as Sakura's sputtering protest came to a halt. The girl was staring nonplussed out his window, hands fisted tightly together even as she breathed deep, fortifying breaths. After a second she glanced over at him, a weak smile lifting at the corner of her lips. "You're really serious."

"Hn."

"Please don't speak like Sasuke." She sighed, crossing her arms and cocking her hip. Kakashi reflected that she emulated the posture of a long-suffering wife pretty well. Seeing as it was a preteen girl doing so, Kakashi felt justified for the shiver of horror racing up his spine. What had that Haruno woman turned her daughter into? This was just disconcerting.

"Alright, let's go. Then we need to go shopping, don't think I didn't see the inside of your fridge."

Seeing as that was his decided course of action anyway, Kakashi trailed after her to the door and slipped on his sandals silently. At least the girl was no longer resisting him. This had actually been easier than he thought, and he only had to deal with a sobbing Sakura for approximately an hour.

"Ah, Kakashi-sensei?" She questioned, hand leaning against the wall as she struggled to pull on her right sandal. They were too tight, maybe a size too small, and he wondered why he never noticed before. He also wondered why she wore missized shoes before remembering that small feet were supposed to be 'feminine' or some such nonsense.

He consciously resisted grunting, not wanting to be compared to the brooding Uchiha yet again. "What?"

"What's going to happen to mother?"

He blinked languidly, pulling his hand away from the shift it had made to his back pocket (and consequently, his Icha Icha). Thinking back critically to that abuse lecture, he racked his brain to what happened to the abusers after they were caught. The Uchiha clan had yet to be massacred at the time, so they had most likely been locked up in the prison the Konoha Military Police Force - more Uchiha than Konoha, considering the amount of members from the clan that had worked there - seeing as they were doubtfully high profile enough to register as convicts for the correctional facility above the volcano. Now that the Uchiha were dead and the police force practically eradicated, Kakashi actually wasn't too sure what would happen. Add in the changes Tsunade had been making since her term as Godaime Hokage began and Kakashi was left in the dark. Maybe he should attend those lectures more often.

"Not sure. A lot has changed since Tsunade-sama took the reins, so we'll have to see."

Nodding, Sakura kept her silence as she followed him out the door, pausing and waiting as he both locked it and activated his traps. A lock wouldn't deter a ninja after all, but the collection of fūinjutsu he had learned from Kushina would at least make any intruder regret entering his apartment without permission. Without further ado the duo left for the Hokage Building at an easy walk, Sakura transmitting tension from every line of her body while Kakashi meandered through the crowds along the footpaths without seemingly a care.

Internally it was a different story seeing as the last Hatake was still reeling from his impulsive actions. He would be taking full responsibility for Sakura, and the result of such an action would probably strip her of her civilian name if Haruno Mebuki was so concerned about their family's status. Sakura would be lost, emotionally damaged, nameless and- well, Kakashi already knew what he would do. He should just start calling her Hatake Sakura already.

Fuck, what am I doing?

Adopting a kid, apparently. Kakashi took it back, he didn't love that little voice in his head. Maybe he should take some counseling session with Sakura while he was at it.

He snorted. As if.