"Is Lord Fourth always this laid back? He seems like he has no worries even when everyone around him is rushing around like the world is ending." Sakura asked, she had been very obviously intrigued by Minato's demeanor since she got here and even going into his office. The man had a smile on his face while the hallways beyond his office was full of commotion still from earlier in the week.
I chuckled a little. "He's very stressed, that's why he seems so care-free. You see, unless there is imminent danger in front of him, he always has that smile on his face." Or unless it was just him and Kakashi having a decompression session. Then the real emotions would show on the man's face. She seemed to accept the answer, although her face was still full of confusion. "Why? Is that not the way your Hokage is?" I tried to push a little for some information. She had mentioned Lady Tsunade being Hokage briefly to the both of us, but nothing further since. She shook her head and said nothing further about 'her world' as I had decided to refer to it as.
We walked in silence down the long steps to the main street, the sun making it a bit muggy outside as if it had rained the night before, which meant we were probably in for a storm this evening. I kept my hands in my pockets, acting like nothing out of the ordinary was happening while we went through the streets which became more and more alive as the morning had progressed.
"You know, you don't have to tell me anything, but it might help us get you where you need to go". I said, but almost immediately she went to speak, and I interrupted her. "Even if you still believe this is a Genjutsu". I knew that would be what she would say and because she didn't continue to try and respond but simply nodded and kept walking told me I was right. I probably wasn't going to figure out much about her or her world any time soon.
I had already told her that I had errands to run, so I kept leading her through the village without explaining much of what we were doing next. I wasn't a huge fan of bringing her along with me, but not much could be done about that. "Do I need to remind you of how to act today, or do you get the idea?" I asked her a bit coldly. "I know you don't think that any of this is real, but it is for me. I would like to keep the peace in my life peaceful."
I heard her footsteps stop behind me. "I haven't even said anything out of line all morning so why are you assuming I'm going to start going crazy?" Her voice was dripping with annoyance. "You do realize that this situation could be potentially dangerous for me too, right? I'm not an idiot, even if you seem to think I'm some crazy weirdo as you've mentioned a few times".
I turned only my head and looked at her when she finished speaking. "I'm being thorough, Sakura. You are my mission, nothing more. You will be treated the same way as anyone who would be under my protection or watchful eye. None of what I say from this point out is personal or should be consider an attack on your character, understand?"
She narrowed her eyes at me. "I understand, but do not treat me as if I am a child. We're the same age and although you're a Jonin you have made it clear that you aren't my Sensei...and if I wanted to, I could probably take you in a fight at this age". She gave me a once over before nodding her head as if satisfied with her assumption.
I continued walking, rolling my eyes when I looked away. I would let her have this small victory if it meant I was spared more arguing and attitude. Giving her this would almost guarantee my day to be made a little bit easier. She clearly needed some control to feel normal, I was used to that with Rin anyway.
"KAKASHHHHIIIIII!"
The all too familiar booming voice of Gai came from road behind us. I was tempted to take off to try and lose him, but I knew it would just become a race and with Sakura, who's eyes had widened before moving to stand behind me, was with me and I wasn't about to subject her to that just yet. "Are you afraid?" I asked her with a raised eyebrow, looking at her over my shoulder.
She shook her head. "I wasn't prepared to see anyone...that's all". She seemed a bit shyer than I was used to. I looked ahead as Gai stopped in front of me. I wasn't prepared for the argument that was about to ensue no doubt.
"KAKASHI! I CHALLENGE YOU TO A TEST OF YOUTH! AN EATING CONTEST AT ICHIRAKU FOR MY GREATEST RIVAL!" I was so used to his energetic shouting that I just stood there unfazed, letting him get out all his thoughts. "AND THAT IS WHY I WILL NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!" He smiled his cocky smile; I swore the sun had glinted off of his bright white teeth in an attempt to blind me for a moment.
"Sorry Gai, but I'm on a mission." I shrugged, keeping cool and trying not to draw attention to the pink-haired girl behind me. "Next time you can TRY and beat me, why don't you challenge someone there instead?"
Gai's whole world seemed to come crashing down, as if I had rejected his friendship in its entirety. His body slumped in disappointment before noticing Sakura finally. "Aye Kakashi! You wouldn't be lying to me for a date, would you?!" He suddenly stood upright, excited once again. Maybe I shouldn't be bothered by dramatic attitude changes seeing as my best friend had them every day.
"Not a date, Gai". I held my hand up, I said. "I'm on a mission. We were on our way somewhere important, and before you ask, we cannot share details". Usually that would be the end of the conversation but apparently, he wasn't himself today or maybe it was intrigue over someone he had never seen...but-
"Gai! Will you knock it off!" Kurenai and Asuma finally caught up with them. "I told you, Kakashi just got out of the hospital, let him be". They began arguing, the woman began scolding him as Asuma, cool as ever, just stood there as support.
Sakura seemed to recluse even further. It was so strange, but if she knew them all then she clearly had a reason to try and hide. I wasn't a fan of them knowing about her strictly because it could complicate things. "Well, you three have a good time. I should get going". I scratched the back of my head as I backed away some, hoping Sakura was paying attention enough to get the hint to discreetly walk away.
Asuma turned as I departed. "Kakashi hang on who-" Asuma had looked up and went to ask about Sakura, but we had already sprinted out of sight, leaving the three to keep going about their day.
"Are you alright?" I asked as we moved through an alley that led to the small shopping district near the outer wall of the village. She seemed not necessarily shaken but uncomfortable with whatever just happened.
She nodded. "Sorry, I just didn't know what to expect. I'm fine". She had taken a deep breath, it was clear that she was stressed out seeing my friends, but I needed to stop thinking about why. Yet again it was none of my business unless she wanted to speak. "Where are we?" She was looking around as if in an entirely different village.
"The shopping district on the west end of the village...have you never been here in your version of Konoha?" I asked a bit skeptically. It may not have been a very popular place, but everyone knew it existed to my knowledge.
She shook her head yet again. "I don't think so...I'm pretty sure it's just some forests on the west end, but I could be wrong". I could tell though that she wasn't, suddenly I was hoping she was from an alternate reality and not from the future like we had first assumed. That may have been the most informative thing she had said since we had met though so I was thankful for that. We kept going, Sakura stopping occasionally to ogle the various products in the stands lining the streets. I liked seeing how much attention she was giving everyone and how happy it seemed to make them.
Out of nowhere I jumped into the air, tucking my legs as a brush of dirt passed below me, not long after a rock hit me on the back of the head. A laugh coming from behind me when I landed.
"I got you, Kakashi!" Kora smiled proudly before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
A shadow clone?
I just as suddenly received a punch to the stomach and let out a gruff sound before feeling a foot kick my lower back, causing me to fall forward onto my hands and knees. I sighed and looked up at the blonde child with the cocky smile in front of me. She had gotten a lot better since my last visit, I really wasn't on guard and that was a rookie mistake that she took advantage of.
"Hey, knock it off!" Sakura intervened, standing between the two of us quickly. "What are you doing you little-"
I chuckled and got to my feet, brushing the dirt off of my clothes. "It's alright Sakura, this is my little sister, Kora". I smiled. "Kora, this is my friend, Sakura".
"Sister!?" She stared at me like I was insane. Something that concerned me a little bit since I was supposed to be her Sensei. Wouldn't she know about Kora? Or was I that much of a loner that I never spoke about anyone I cared about.
"That's right big forehead, his sister!" Kora stuck her tongue out at the pink haired...and now very irritated looking woman in front of her.
"Now Kora, you be nice!". Her mother shouted from inside of their shop down the dirt road. I wasn't surprised that she had an ever-open eye on her daughter. She had to have become even more of a troublemaker with all of her new Jutsu.
I nudged her forward. "Come on, lets get back to your mother before she gets mad and doesn't let you hang out with me ever again." I couldn't help but notice the look on Sakura's face still. I brushed it off as usual while we walked to the shop, Kora leaping over the counter and earning a huff of dismay from her mother.
"You have your hands full I see." I chuckled at the energetic girl who was now shuffling through some things to replace empty spots on the shelving along the walls. Business seemed to be going well for them at least.
"She just finished her first mission two nights ago and she's still riding the high of success."
My eyes widened. "First mission? Kora, you graduated?" I almost couldn't believe it; how did I not notice? Although to be fair I hadn't been paying much attention to the newest group of Genin since I wasn't leading any of them.
"Well duh Kakashi." The little girl rolled her eyes. "Did you think I was going to stay trapped there forever?"
I nearly was pouting over the situation. "I was hoping you weren't growing up that fast you little butthole". Time seemed like it was flying by every time I went and saw Kora. She had grown up so much since I first met her...Time was a fickle thing wasn't it.
Sakura had started observing all of the beautiful jewelry and other accessories lining the shop. "Do you make all of these?" She finally spoke up, a bracelet with emeralds and turquoise had seemed to catch her attention the most.
Miss Kitsaku smiled. "Yes, they are all handmade and I promise you the quality speaks for itself."
"My mom is the best jewelry maker in all of Konoha, believe it!" Kora had chimed in energetically. It seemed to stop Sakura in her tracks, and I could have sworn I saw a glint of sadness in her eye when she looked at the green-eyed little girl who was grinning ear to ear. She turned back to the bracelet and Kora blinked in confusion. "*What's wrong with the weird forehead girl?*" She whispered to me.
"*She's just homesick, she's been on a long mission". It was the best excuse I had at the moment because I simply had no clue what her reaction was about. I let Sakura continue to look at the items and talk to Miss Kitsaku while Kora and I went to play out front, thankfully the two seemed to get along very well and it helped pass time comfortably.
"Is she your girlfriend, Kakashi?" Kora asked with a devious tone, sending a kick to the palm of my hand.
I chuckled and softly shook my head, twisting her foot and making her flip to get both feet back onto the ground. "No, she's just an acquaintance if anything. I don't do girlfriends."
She punched my palms a few times looking like she was thinking. "But you look at her like you think she's cute..."
That caught me off guard. Did I really? I mean you couldn't exactly see my face so that meant that my single eye gave it away if it were true. I wonder if Sakura noticed that...but that would mean I looked at her like that to begin with-I didn't even understand why I was thinking about this, there was no way. "I'm just looking out for her." I responded finally. "Do you have a boyfriend?" I wanted to change the subject.
She had stuttered a no before sending a punch to my face. I dodged it, and the next one as well before pushing my fingers to her forehead. "He better treat you right or I'll beat him up". I joked, making her huff in frustration. "Come on, lets head back inside before it storms". I chuckled. It had already been a couple of hours; time always flew by when he was enjoying himself with his distant little family.
"Did you two have fun?" Miss Kitsaku smiled, hushing her conversation with Sakura who was still giggling with her hand over her mouth. I was instantly suspicious.
"We sure did, did you know that Kora has a boyfriend?" I got an instant look of horror from the little girl. I was inwardly cracking up.
"Oh, is that so?" Her mother knowingly snickered. "Is that why you had me give you extra goodies for that mission?" She poked her daughter's side teasingly.
"No-Kakashi I'm going to beat your big dumb head in!" Kora shouted as I started walking out, motioning for Sakura to follow suit. She said her goodbyes, as did I while Kora was still going on and her mother was waving goodbye with a big smile.
Sakura had waited a minute to speak but had a smile the whole time she was walking. "You're lucky to have each other. Miss Kitsaku told me about her and your dad being best friends. The sister thing makes a lot of sense now."
The way she said that turned my stomach. The reality of something setting in for me, the reality that I had tried to convince myself wasn't possible. Hoping still that she wasn't from the future because that meant that there may be a day when those two were no longer with me...
