***NOTES***
Okay, Okay-
This chapter and kinda into the next-
I got to set some things up, create a foundation, and get a few things out of the way. Please bear with me.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto (or Naruto adjacent)
Chapter 2: I am your student
Kakashi thought of himself as relatively smart. To say "genius " may be too flamboyant for his taste, but he knew he may be within the realm.
So, he drew conclusions. All reasonable. All logical. As a result, he knew the following things about the strange woman in front of him:
Her age certainly seemed right within the age Sakura would be fifteen years from now.
Her skill and chakra level suggested jonin, but her gear and attire led him to believe she was associated with ANBU.
He could confirm that she did indeed know Haruno Sakura's ID# (as Kakashi made a point to memorize all his students).
The purple diamond-shaped seal sitting proudly on her forehead most likely tied her to the famous Sannin, Tsunade-hime.
And that tanto—it was the only one he has ever seen made of the unique sliver-white steel that glowed when infused with chakra.
And of course, the obvious: she had the shocking bubblegum pink hair and bright green eyes.
Not to mention that even her scent—although slightly different—smelled intrinsically of Haruno Sakura. Something like sanitizer, tart strawberries, and jasmine.
Nothing she had said pointed to any lie whatsoever.
However—
There is no fucking way.
Kakashi was severely rejecting that this same woman could be the young genin he left hours ago. He could not fathom that that same girl could ever become someone like this.
So, his mind made the only logical conclusion (or delusional leap, depending on who you ask) to—
I'm a better teacher than I thought.
In fact, he must be some hell of a teacher for her to have succeeded to this level in life. And perhaps, he shouldn't underestimate his teaching abilities in the future.
Simple. Excellent. Good.
And then he sort of felt a jolt travel throughout his skin.
To some extent—he must believe her then.
(Which was just fucking insane.)
His first instinct was to laugh in disbelief–which quickly disappeared as then his gut wretched into a terrible sigh filled with exhausted annoyances.
Because well—fuck; why time travel? Why here? Now? Right when he was on duty?—but he realized that he was stuck with the situation, and he would have to see it through (didn't that just sum up his life?).
He lifted his hand in defeat and signaled to the ANBU around him to hold their positions. They relaxed notably around them. The pink-haired shinobi released a small, tired but relieved sigh as she relaxed as well. He removed the threat of his kunai and pocketed it in its pouch.
"We will go to the Sandaime, and he can decide what to do with you. Don't run. Don't fight. Or I will quickly change my mind. Agreed?"
She rolled her eyes as if he was suggesting utter stupidity.
"Hai, taichou," she grumbled, but her lips tilted in a slight smile.
She quickly sheathed the tanto on her back, and without any guidance or hesitation, she started walking towards the direction of the Hokage's office. She obviously knew where she was going.
Kakashi followed behind listlessly, but with alert eyes.
He signaled to the Sparrow ANBU discretely to go on ahead and report to the Hokage before their arrival. The remaining ANBU flanked her, and he could feel their unease and buzz of frantic chakra.
They were on high alert. She made them nervous, and he agreed—they should be.
She walked confidently and swiftly in front him, and Kakashi could just tell.
The woman's hair was tied up in a long pink ponytail and twisted into a single thick braid that bounced side-to-side at her hips as she walked ahead. And while the hairstyle was new, she still had long bangs in the front and the Konoha hitai-ate secured in her hair that felt very reminiscent of Haruno Sakura.
Her body was trained and honed from years of experience and effort. She was small and lithe, but he could see well defined and sharp muscles of her arms and legs. The slimmest amount of midriff peeked through her outfit—boasting tight abs and core.
Her gear displayed ANBU-grade black pants and a black top made of durable compressed fabric. The sleeveless top boasted a high neckline but split into an inverted "V" below her ribs thus creating two twin tails of fabric that fell off her hips down to her mid-thigh.
It accentuated her figure beautifully—full hips and round thighs. If one was to notice such things.
Her gloves and arm guards covered almost to her elbow, and everything beyond that was covered in white bandages to mid bicep.
The only skin shown were her bare shoulders—one that sported a hidden ANBU tattoo just peeking out above the bandages—and that tiny triangle of skin of her midriff.
No, not a lot of skin. But somehow, it was undeniably…appealing. (Again, if you noticed.)
…And also, unmistakably lethal. Her body was a weapon—sheathed in black fabric, and ready to cut, just like that tanto on her back.
Despite the warnings she exuded, it seemed that the longer they walked, the calmer the ANBU around them became. Chakra was no longer spiking and rolling like it was in a panic. She didn't seem hostile, and maybe the other ANBU took comfort in this.
As they started to approach Headquarters, Kakashi sniffed quietly. He picked up a sweet alluring scent that he didn't notice before with her natural scent. It was subtle. Most likely her shampoo.
Finally, they arrived as Sparrow opened the door ahead of them and led them into the Hokage's office. It was empty with the Sandaime nowhere in sight, but in the middle of the room was a single chair waiting for their guest.
"Hound-taichou. Sandaime-sama went to personally retrieve Inoichi-sama from T department. He should return shortly. He asked for everyone to wait here," Sparrow said, standing at attention.
"Understood." Kakashi gestured to the chair. "Haruno, take a seat."
The other ANBU members filed in and spread out across the room to their posts—some visible, some in the rafters, hidden. Kakashi nonchalantly strolled next to the large desk of their Leader and faced the pink-haired woman. Her shampoo's scent felt a little stronger in the small room.
Kakashi watched her warily.
She sat herself in the chair—but it was nothing like how he knew the eleven year old Sakura would sit.
Young Sakura was prim and proper—always wanting to impress the outside world. She would have sat with her back straight as a rod, and knees firmly joined with an ankle tucked underneath. Lady-like and utterly polite.
Instead, this woman sat down as if it were her personal throne, and she was fucking holding court.
Her legs crossed lazily to the side as her body leaned towards the armrest. It stretched out the jut of her hip and the lithe curve of her waist in a wondrously lude display.
One hand rested on the curve of her hip—just near that little triangle of skin—as if she was tempted to feel the softness of it. The other rested its elbow on the arm rest, as she cocked her beautiful neck to the side and placed her cheek against the palm of her hand. With a coy pinky finger that stretched from her hand, as it was ghosting over parted lips.
And her eyes—
Those emerald eyes were half-lidded and staring down her prey.
She looked seductively fatal–like a black panther stretched deliciously under the sun, with piercing green eyes.
And he wondered vaguely, if she learned this from him: To look relaxed, but ready to kill when needed. And it immediately set him on edge.
He knew—she certainly knew—all eyes in the room were watching her. And that same sweet scent flooded the room again. It wrapped him around him like an embrace—both calming him and lulling him into plasticity. His eyes hooded of their own accord, and he felt his body relax obediently.
And when he finally took his eyes off hers, he noticed the other ANBU in the room. All were leaning as if intoxicated and were barely standing. All of them had hazy, glazed eyes that matched his incohesive thoughts.
…what?—wait—Fuck.
He realized then: something was very very wrong.
Kakashi cursed under his breath, and he felt his lips pulled back into a sneer beneath his mask. He pulled out a kunai and was ready to throw it at his target, when the door opened behind her.
Sarutobi Hiruzen walked in with Yamanaka Inoichi trailing behind. He quickly surveyed the room and walked around in front of the woman. His eyes glanced over the purple rhombus on her forehead.
And then he laughed—hearty and full—like it was the first time he had seen an old friend in some time.
Kakashi immediately stopped.
"Haruno Sakura. Tsunade-hime must have trained you well if she taught you that trick!" The old man smiled while bringing his pipe up to his mouth.
"She said it was hard to do: stimulating the body to produce a hormonal response that is enough to affect the people around you...in short: to slowly leak pheromones to calm and intoxicate those around you. Extraordinary! I once saw her use it in a game of cards! She wiped them all clean and left with many endearing suitors that night! It was as if the entire room was merely drunk on her presence alone."
The pink-haired woman's eyes surveyed the Sandaime with an aloof expression. She smiled sheepishly, but it didn't reach her eyes, and pushed herself up to sit a little straighter in her chair.
"I apologize, Hokage-sama. I wanted them to relax a little around me, but I may have gone overboard," she stated with a kind, but dispassionate smile. "I apologize if it made anyone… uncomfortable."
Kakashi stared down the women. She was a threat. A real one.
The Monkey ANBU in the corner scoffed loudly and mumbled something about 'medic-nins'. The Copy-Nin agreed internally, and put away his kunai, disgruntled. She couldn't be trusted.
"No harm done I'm sure," the older man continued to puff his pipe, as he waved his hand in dismissal. "Now, I've heard from a little bird that you not only claim to be Haruno Sakura, but in fact the same girl fifteen years in the future. Is this correct?"
Haruno nodded. "That is correct."
"You are Hatake's student, and it seems Tsunade-hime's as well? You must have been quite busy."
She paused. Eyes shifted to the Hound standing beside the Sandaime.
"Well...he was my assigned genin instructor, yes. But Tsunade-shishou is my true teacher. Sakura of this time should become her apprentice soon within the year. To be honest, most of my skills are from her."
Ah, well. Maybe Kakashi wasn't a genius at teaching after all. Pity.
"I see." Sarutobi blew a plume of white smoke. "And how did you arrive here 'in the past' as you claim?"
She looked down in thought as she chewed on her bottom lip.
"Sasuke," she explained. "We were in the middle of a battle, and I was careless. Uchiha Sasuke used his visual prowess with a technique similar to something called the "Kamui". It essentially teleports you anywhere in space and time. I believe he was trying to save me and opened the portal to get me to safety."
The Sandaime stared at her with straight eyes, but Kakashi could see the strain. He never did like the Uchiha clan. "Will you allow us to prove this using the Yamanaka's ability?"
"Of course. Please feel free to confirm my past up to this point in time, and the point of the Kamui," she shifted in her seat to angle herself toward Inoichi. The pink-haired woman pressed her knees together and bowed deeply at the waist.
"I know this is a lot to ask, but please don't look into any memories between this time and the time of my journey here. The future…i-it's a lot to handle," she struggled. "But I don't want to change a thing. I think it would be wrong to arm you with too much foreknowledge."
"How wise." The Hokage agreed.
"How convenient, you mean." The Yamanaka chided.
"Inoichi-san—I realize you don't have to trust me, but you have always been kind to me growing up. Ino is my best friend. I would do anything for her, even now. And I swear to you, on your daughter's life: I won't hide anything if you truly ask to see it, but I beg you. I don't want to burden you with the future's weight." She spoke with her face down, still in a deep bow.
The Yamanaka and Sandaime shared a glance. After a long moment, Sandaime nodded in agreement.
"Lucky for you, this is not the first temporal episode in Konoha's history," the Hokage gruffed in wariness. "Several of the most gifted Fuuin masters have sometimes stumbled into the temporal boundaries, including the Nidaime-sama and perhaps even, Minato-kun. It is, however, the first to my knowledge of an Uchiha being the cause."
Sakura gargled a strangled cough. "Yes, well...Sasuke-kun's dojutsu is something in a league of his own."
Kakashi tilted his head at the statement but dismissed it. He watched as Inoichi stepped forward as Sakura rose to a seated position. He placed a finger on the side of her head and mumbled the beginning of his jutsu quietly. Both parties closed their eyes in concentration.
Moments later he looked back at the Hokage and nodded. The Hokage sighed tiredly, a finger stroking his pipe in thought.
"It's just as she says: she's Haruno Sakura. There are even memories of the few times I met her with Ino. It all seems true. Including how she arrived here." The older man frowned as he continued. "Speaking of: the Uchiha was only able to make the portal because of his—well—his unique eyes... And unless Hatake picked up a new skill, this means the portal was one-way. She's essentially stuck here—"
"They will come for me," Haruno interrupted. Kakashi watched the woman curiously. She sat up straight and looked at the two men in front of her. Her gaze was strong and sure. Vivid green eyes held absolute confidence in them. "I have no doubt that my team will come for me."
"Your team?" Sandaime asked.
"Uzumaki Naruto. Uchiha Sasuke," she paused and raised a small delicate index finger and pointed directly at him. "And him," her lips twitch as a small ghost of a smile tilted the corners of her mouth, "Hatake Kakashi."
Everyone in the room glanced at the Hound ANBU. He stiffened at her coy smile, but his eyes continued to hang half-massed as he stared back.
"You're sure? Wouldn't it be difficult to find you?" Inoichi asked.
"I'm positive; they will not stop until they find me. I am invaluable to Konoha. And to them," she shrugged. "And I've seen Sasuke trace someone through Kamui before, it may take a few days for him to recharge a bit after a battle, but they will come for me."
Kakashi stared at her in boredom and a little bit in disbelief. The two older men exchanged looks.
"It is settled then," the Hokage stated. "You will be allowed to stay in the village for the meantime. Although I trust that you are indeed Haruno-san, I think it would be best if ANBU stayed to monitor you. And since you have a history together: you will stay with Kakashi-kun for now."
Kakashi felt his headache flare behind Obito's eye again. The Monkey ANBU chuckled under his breath a few feet away.
"Will that be okay? I'm part of his future."
The Sandaime nodded. "The Yamanaka clan has a forbidden jutsu that was once used for deep subterfuge. It was deemed entirely too dangerous, but…"
He puffed away in thought, before continuing.
"If you allow us: a seal will be placed on you that will encase the memories of all those in contact with you since your arrival. Once activated, it will be like all our memories were placed in a box and locked away. Once you return safely to your time, it's up to you to unlock that box and restore the memories to those you engaged with."
"So, none of you will remember this? …You trust me with that?" She looked at Inoichi.
"It's not ideal, but like you said: we don't want to alter things. If no direct action is taken to change the future, I think it will be fine. Just be careful not to give any information away that would drastically change our response going forward."
She nodded thoughtfully. "I agree then."
"Then let's go, Inoichi. You and I will retrieve the scroll in the storage room," the Hokage spoke with a low graveled sigh. "I had to seal it particularly tight after Naruto-kun stole that scroll, and it will take a moment to undo all the seals."
With a wave of his hand, both older gentlemen left the room. Several ANBU covertly followed them out. Only Kakashi, Monkey, and Sparrow remained.
He watched as the pink-haired woman seemed to relax a little more at their departure. She slumped in her chair gracelessly and crossed her legs as she stared straight ahead in thought. Silence filled the room. After a few moments, her emerald eyes shifted to him.
"I have answered all their questions. Now, I would like you to answer mine," She shifted forward slightly. "What was the last mission we completed together?"
The room stayed silent for a moment. She stared and stared and stared at him seemingly patient, but he saw a fist curl in frustration at her side. Kakashi considered ignoring her request completely, however Monkey coughed lightly, and the Copy-Nin knew it was a losing battle.
"Team Seven and I returned today from the Land of Waves."
She laughed dryly.
"Oh gods, that absolute disaster of a mission? No wonder you seem so tired and grumpy," she grumbled, but still amused. "Haku and Zabuza still visit me in my dreams sometimes. Even though I've faced far worse threats and much more dire situations, the first never seems to leave you alone."
Kakashi did not answer. While Monkey chuckled at her response, Sparrow seemed to have her interest sparked.
"Momochi Zabuza?! You faced that demon from the Mist with just a team of genin?" Sparrow asked in shock.
Sakura answered for him. "He did really well despite the circumstances. Kept all of us all alive and returned in one piece," she appeared to recall with traces of admiration. "That mission was the beginning of everything really. It's where my faith in our team really started."
"Speaking of, Pinkie–you really think your team will come for you? Going back in time is a big deal. And they have all of Time to sift through. It seems like one hell of a rescue mission to risk?" Monkey drawled.
Despite Monkey speaking, Sakura kept her clear green eyes on Kakashi.
"I'm sure," she said with a small smile. "They wouldn't leave me behind."
Kakashi's jaw tightened. Her little smile grated something within him. He let his shoulders drop and his hooded gaze bore into her.
He felt exhausted and aggravated, and bad habits from his youth were creeping up from somewhere dark and deep—he felt venom on his tongue in the form of words.
"You're just one kunoichi," Kakashi stated in false boredom and slightly in denial, "Why risk it? "
He regretted it as soon as the words came out of his mouth.
His response—as expected—she did not like it. A frown spread on her lips as her eyebrows knit together in irritation; she cocked her head to the side as if he just said something extremely ignorant.
"Oh.—Ha." She let out a humorless laugh. "I had forgotten how much you dislike me right now."
"I—" the words faltered on his tongue.
"No, no. No. Let's get this out of the way, so that we can move on like reasonable adults—"
The kunoichi scoffed under her breath. Kakashi swallowed.
"Maybe 'dislike' isn't the right word...? You dismiss me. I'm sure you think I'm weak—a useless civilian. You never said it, but I knew you thought I should resign as a shinobi. And you are right: right now, eleven year old Sakura is 'weak'. In fact, I remember coming home from this mission and crying to my parents—they both held me and comforted me because they could. Because any parent would! But being naive and innocent doesn't mean I'm without value. Being 'weak' now, doesn't mean I'm incapable of strength."
Her eyes narrowed on his, a small snarl on her lips.
"When Team 7 starts branching out on their own—I looked to you, and you dismissed me as if I was nothing! And I resented you for years for it…But thanks to that dismissal I was able to beg Tsunade-shishou to make me her apprentice. It's one reason why I trained so damn hard! I never said it to the older you because we moved past it—but since I have a chance now: You are wrong. I am worth it."
"I am the most powerful kunoichi in the village. A Neo-Sannin. A Slug-Princess. The best damn Medic alive, even surpassing Tsunade-shishou. And I'm the Director of the Hospital and all its clinics." She yanked down the bandages on her right shoulder. Below hid the full ANBU seal. "I'm an ANBU Captain, even those two—Genma! Yugao! "
Monkey and Sparrow straightened upright at their names.
"—have reported under me many times. I am the wife of one of the most powerful shinobi of all time, and the mother of his children...And you! Hatake Kakashi, should have seen more in me."
Kakashi grimaced at her rant as Obito's eye pulsed again in a dull pain.
Well—she was justified.
If this really was what Sakura would become—then, he had underestimated her.
She took a deep breath and exhaled. After a moment, she looked away from him, finally releasing Kakashi from her rage.
"Although you weren't much of a teacher, I did learn one thing from you, Sen-sei." She said his title with such spite it burned him. "'Those who break the rules are trash, but those who abandon their comrades are worse. '"
Her eyes lifted and searched for his own. "I am your student—and so are Naruto and Sasuke. They will come for me—even if I am 'just one kunoichi'."
Kakashi closed his eyes. Grateful for once that he had masks covering his face.
His emotions swirled in his chest painfully. A potent mixture of remorse, self-loathing, and above all, pride. That his and Obito's Will of Firewould be passed down.
It was shocking as much as it was inspiring.
Genma, however, just laughed. A loud, abrasive, and annoying gleeful laugh—at his expense.
"Damn, Pinkie! She certainly knows how to put you in your place, Hatake! It sounds like she had years of practice! Ha ha!" Genma keeled over, holding his stomach. "Wait, until I tell the other jonin! The 'Great Copy-Nin: Hatake Kakashi' gets his ass handed to him by a short pink woman he just met—"
Yugao snickered quietly across the room from him and chimed in, "I'll be surprised if you last the week with her, Hatake-san."
Kakashi sighed as his hand raised to rub the back of his neck. Sakura just smiled sweetly and triumphantly in silence.
"Not going to say anything?" Her grin widened. "You know, Future-Kakashi always has this tired old man thing going when he's stressed out. Maybe this is where it all starts? He would have said, 'Maa, Sakura-chan. Didn't you use to have respect for your poor old Sensei? '"
Genma laughed even harder, and Yugao tried to stifle her laugh behind a polite hand. Kakashi just stared ahead with dead eyes and felt like this entire week was aging him at thrice the pace.
Fuck, I'm tired.
But before he could reply, Yamanaka and the Sandaime returned to the room carrying a large scroll.
"Looks like you all are all having fun in here," Yamanaka eyed the room. "Despite the humor, I think it's time we get this seal situated on Haruno-san."
He motioned for her to stand up as he opened the hefty purple scroll. After a series of hand-signs, the Yamanaka placed a palm on Sakura's center just above her navel. Chakra glowed in twisting symbols, as a circle with the Yamanaka crest in the center appeared on her skin.
Inoichi removed his hand and the chakra symbols turned into an inky black that marked her stomach as a complete seal. The slightest sight of it could be seen in the triangle of skin of her exposed midriff, the rest was hidden away underneath.
Sakura's finger traced it absentmindedly from the opening of her shirt. She looked up at Inoichi, "So right before I leave this time period, I just activate the seal with my chakra—and everyone just forgets me?"
"Correct. And you can unseal it again later if you choose. After that, the seal is complete and will disappear from your skin."
She nodded and turned towards Kakashi with a knowing, teasing grin. Kakashi froze the expression and blinked. "I look forward to having this discussion with you someday then, Kakashi-sensei~! "
Genma and Yugao snickered quietly.
The Sandaime puffed quietly on his pipe while observing the interaction, "Hound, please bring her home with you and keep an eye on her. In the meantime, I will keep my patrols on alert for your teammates."
Kakashi bowed and headed for the door. He watched as she bowed as well and expressed her thanks quietly to the two older men, and soon followed after him.
Sakura—he should get used to saying her name—walked next to him with an alleviated smile.
Kakashi did not share the sentiment.
***さくら***
They arrived at an older apartment building that somewhat looked familiar to Sakura.
As much as she tried to recognize the shops and buildings around her—it all felt translucent, like trying to remember a dream the next morning.
Most of this area was decimated in the Pein Attack, and what remnants that survived were covered and absorbed by new construction around it. But as soon as they made their way up to his apartment, Sakura instantly recognized his home.
Everything in the apartment was inherently him; at least—what little that was in it. The tiny studio apartment was mostly impersonable and empty; but not soulless.
She noted many things that made her feel nostalgic—several bookshelves lined with every kind of literature, from historical jutsu texts to romantic dramas (including his beloved Icha Icha). An empty ceramic rice bowl with little blue dog paws on it drying on the rack near the sink in the tiny kitchen. A green shuriken-printed bedspread on the bed tucked in the corner of his room. Several dog bowls neatly lined up by size on the wall.
Sakura smiled softly as her eyes searched for his mismatched ones—an adjustment she wasn't quite used to yet. He was standing off to the side of the room, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and watching her curiously.
"Have you been here before? I rarely bring people back here," he said while removing his porcelain mask, revealing his familiar masked face. His Sharingan swirled slowly as if observing her body language for the slightest movements.
He was leaner and more wiry than the Kakashi she knew, but despite the differences of his youth, Sakura felt the same comfort by his very presence.
"Once or twice," she lied. She gave a nonchalant shrug, and his eyes traced the movement.
Sakura watched as he tied his hitai-ate in place and covered the blood-red eye—another adjustment she had forgotten about, as she had gotten used to looking at both eyes now. She made sure to stay on his right side to keep eye contact.
"For what possible reason would I bring you here?" He turned to begin removing his armor and scoffed.
"I mean, I am your student...?" she snorted softly.
"So, you keep saying." Arm-guards unbuckled and fell to the ground.
"You still don't believe me?" her eyes narrowed again.
Two shin-guards slipped off and fell to the floor next to his armguards. He raised an eyebrow in rebuttal.
"Forgive me, if I'm still having trouble accepting that one of my cute little students popped out of thin air, and is now the same age as me," he drawled lazily, but it was bitter and full of sarcasm.
"Well, it's certainly improbable…Would you like some more proof that I am, in fact, your student?" she asked, thoroughly amused.
He shrugged, still removing his gear.
"Okay, then. Let's see..." She lifted her hand slowly and pointed, "The book: 'The Art of Fuuin Jutsu' was a gift from Yondaime-sama. That rice bowl—a gift from Kushina-san to make sure you were eating properly. That ridiculous, but admittedly cute bedspread was a gift from Gai because of how 'colorless' your place was. And those dog bowls are from Yama—Tenzou as a thank you to your pack for rescuing him one time."
Kakashi's eyes darkened into a glare at each word.
His jaw visibly tightened, as he unbuckled the last strap holding his chest-plate up. It clashed to the floor abrasively with a loud bang.
Sakura didn't flinch. His half-hooded eye stared Sakura down—observing. Calculating.
"It must be pretty annoying to have your air of mystery just whisked away," she smirked knowingly. "For someone who sees themselves as detached and unreadable, you surround yourself with those you care about–just like everyone else."
The Copy-Nin scoffed and moved towards the kitchen. He searched the refrigerator with a glare still firmly set.
"Isn't that a little personal for a student to know?" He grabbed leftover ingredients and began preparing dinner.
Sakura wandered around the room leaving him to the cooking; her fingers tracing over whatever stroked her as interesting. She paused at the photo of Team Minato and frowned that there was not a Team 7 picture just yet.
"What can I say? You always did say I was your favorite student," she shrugged simply. His head turned at the statement, knife stopping mid chop on a head of cabbage.
"Now, I'm really not sure if the Kakashi you know and I are the same person," he replied under a deep breath.
She let out an airy laugh and hopped on the counter next to him to sit. Her legs crossed as she leaned over to watch him cook. He was whisking a quick batter of flour in water, and she recognized the recipe as okonomiyaki. He mixed in all the ingredients and began to fry the savory pancake batter in a pan.
Watching him cook felt nostalgic, as it was something Sakura always loved watching him do since her kitchen skills were sorely lacking.
"I sort of forgot too—How different you are from before..." she smiled at him dimly. "You're not him yet. But you will be."
He didn't answer right away, but instead just watched her aloof as always. The sound of food was bubbling and frying aggressively in the pan next to him, but he kept his one charcoal eye locked on hers.
After a long moment, he replied.
"You admire him," he stated as he tore away from her gaze and finally shook the pan.
"I admire you. Yes." Can't you tell?
"I thought you resented me?" He flipped the batter, not meeting her eyes.
"I did. Believe me, I did." She chuckled breathily. "But a lot can happen in fifteen years...And you more than earned your forgiveness." she paused. "Although I'm not sure you ever truly forgive yourself for it... But you make it up to me, plenty of times over. And you will never abandon me again."
He hummed quietly an acknowledgement, but still refused to look at her. Sakura kept her green eyes pinned on him.
She realized her Kakashi—the Future-Kakashi—was going to remember this one day if she removed the seal.
"You're sort of my hero, Kakashi." She spoke as a whisper. His body stiffened into an unnatural stillness, as his eyes narrowed into a glare in automatic disagreement.
"I'm no one's hero." He refuted in a low, deep voice with no room for argument.
Her eyes were clear and searching his expression, not intimidated in the least by his confrontation.
"Well, too bad. You're mine," she demanded. "...You've saved me more times than I think you really know."
"Oh? I was under the impression you didn't need much saving anymore."
She stubbornly lifted her chin, "Everyone needs saving sometimes."
"Your idea of a hero must be misplaced." His glare softened.
"Nope," she popped the "p" and smiled. "My dear Sensei deserves it."
He low dark laugh that rumbled with disbelief. She tried not to bask in the sound.
"And does your so-called 'impressive and powerful' husband know about all this admiration and hero-worship?" Kakashi asked jokingly.
Sakura felt her eyes widen.
She wasn't sure how to respond right away. Her hesitation made him pause and turn his full attention to her. Her knee brushed against his arm when he shifted to read her face. When had they gotten that close?
She stared at him, eyes locked with her own, and smiled.
She could feel her face flush, the burn of it across her cheeks, across to her nose, and then spread towards her ears. Her lips parted into a wide stretch. The corner of her eyes crinkled of their own accord, and she was sure they were shining bright.
She knew whatever was on her face was genuine and telling.
"I think he already knows."
***かかし***
This day...more like this week... just kept wearing him down.
Kakashi asked about her husband to gain some much-needed information. He felt far too out of his depth; she was essentially—a stranger to him.
But she knew things he thought he would never be comfortable sharing. It was jarring and frustrating.
He meant it as a joke. Lighthearted banter, that could tell him more about the woman.
But then she smiled.
Why it was so effective, he did not know. But then verdant eyes met his and everything…
…everything went still.
A soft delicate flush spread across her face and disappeared into the pink of her bangs framing her face. Pink lashes turned upward in that same irritating all-knowing smile, like they knew a secret he did not. And full lips parted into a dazzling array.
Kakashi felt like he was staring at something that was oddly not meant for him; and it somehow made it all the more…
…salacious. Forbidden. And—addictive.
It was the first time, in a long time, that he thought of someone as truly beautiful. Not necessarily sexual, or attractive but…natural, pleasing, and authentic.
Something he hadn't even thought about since he last saw Kushina with Minato-sensei. She always looked beautiful around him.
He wished—later that night when he had time to think alone—that his Sharingan could have captured it so he could replay that smile over again.
It was a smile full of love, and happiness—and all the things Kakashi didn't understand. And some selfish part of him wanted to bottle it up and keep it for himself.
…But then he smelled the beginning of a burning dinner. He was abruptly cast away from his thoughts.
He flipped the completed okonomiyaki from the pan onto a large plate as Sakura hopped off the counter and walked to a small shelf that acted as a pantry. He watched as she grabbed the okonomiyaki glaze and dried ao-nori, and began topping the savory pancake like she had done this with him a million times before.
She even helped herself to his fridge—which was a bizarrely intimate feeling—and pulled out the mayonnaise. The pink-haired woman then proceeded to put it on only half of the okonomiyaki.
Kakashi observed silently, and wondered if she knew he didn't like mayonnaise on okonomiyaki or if it was just a coincidence.
She moved the plate to the small square table pushed against the wall and sat down waiting for him. When he finally did, they said their respective "itadakimasu" and silently ate dinner.
He noticed that she kept her eyes on anywhere, but on him, and realized it was a generous offer to allow him to eat without her seeing his face.
She was accommodating him.
Kakashi had never felt accommodated for, in his entire life.
It was an odd feeling—to see someone adjust to his preferences when most people didn't know him well enough to even attempt it.
He ate his half quickly and said his thanks for the meal when he finished. She was still working on her meal, when he decided to break the silence.
"So, the love-sick Haruno Sakura became a wife and mother." Surely, she married her childhood crush. Kakashi took a calculated risk, "How was rebuilding a clan, then?"
Sakura tilted her head as the chopsticks paused at her lips. "Honestly? It's hard work."
"How big is your family?" he asked genuinely curious.
"Ah, that's a difficult question to answer," she smiled softly and continued eating. "If you're talking kids and no pets—I have two right now—a daughter and a son. We were planning to try for baby number three soon too."
Kakashi hummed in acknowledgment and mused, "We're the same age now, and your life experience already exceeds my own. It seems like Sasuke didn't waste any time then."
Her eyes flickered to his and her jaw stopped mid bite. Her expression shifted to one of amusement, making Kakashi slightly confused.
"You could say that."
"Is it hard to balance a family with being a Hospital Director?" He pressed forward.
"Mmmm, it can be. But the hospital is in good hands when I'm not around. It's really the missions that make it the most difficult when the kids are young," she stated conversationally.
"Missions? You're still on active duty?" Kakashi eyed her shocked.
She pointed her chopsticks to her right shoulder. "I told you—I'm an ANBU Captain."
"I thought you were a retired Captain. You have a family...Most people leave when they have loved ones."
She snorted with a wrinkled nose and clapped her hands in completion of her meal. He got up to grab her plate, but she waved him off in an offer to clean.
"And I told you—I am indispensable to Konoha. I'm a combat medic; ANBU is where I belong. Life expectancy has tripled since I've been placed in ANBU. Just from my being there, we are more successful overall."
Kakashi watched her walk to the kitchen holding their plates. "And Sasuke is okay with that risk?"
The plates clattered aggressively as she set them in the sink.
Her face swiveled to meet his, and spoke with her jaw tight, "He doesn't have a say. Besides—my husband doesn't leave the village much these days, so someone is always with my children." She paused, "Regardless, ANBU needs me right now. And to some extent, I probably need it."
Kakashi didn't reply; instead, he quietly watched her back as she washed the dishes. Her face was blank, and her hands moved mechanically—stiff and redundant.
No one liked to admit it, but all ANBU knew.
He wasn't sure if it was an addiction or a coping mechanism, but he also relied on the seedy black ops as a release. It was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating; and it made Kakashi downhearted that she would take after him in this vice.
She was still washing up, so Kakashi decided to take this opportunity to snoop. He discreetly checked the unassuming box that was tucked away on one of his shelves. He peeked inside, and—
Yup. There was his father's tanto.
Still in hiding, and apparently not the one she had placed near the genkan. Meaning there were now two.
Fucking hell.
She wiped her hands using the towel he kept by the sink and pointed a finger up at the clock above him on the wall.
"Isn't it time? Shouldn't you call them?" Sakura asked.
His eye raked over her discerningly. He stood and straightened to his full height and shoved his hands into his pockets. He could feel his irritation leaking again into his gaze, but instead chose to alter it to an eye-smile.
"I don't know what you mean."
She blinked at him and rolled her eyes.
"Right…" Sakura dismissed. "So, every night you don't send your dogs out to do a secret perimeter check around the village, because it's a nervous habit of yours—maybe, I am in an alternate dimension. Do you still read Icha Icha?"
His eye narrowed precariously at the pinkette. Well, that's irritating.
"Do I hide no secrets from you?" he questioned gruffly.
She grinned alarmingly wide at his frustration, "Maybe you're not as good at hiding them as you think?"
He scoffed in response and bit his thumb through his mask. The quintessential poof! sounded in the small room, as eight canine figures popped into existence from the smoke.
It wasn't until the smoke cleared that all eight pups noticed the pink haired woman. An immediate resounding chorus of pants and barks echoed in excitement at the sight of an unknown guest.
Sakura was then surrounded by the gaggle of beasts as they eagerly sniffed and licked at her in delight. She laughed brightly and bent down to rub and kiss any part of a dog she encountered.
"Boss! Who is this lovely creature? She smells familiar..." Bisuke panted, tails wagging around them.
"Smells so good! I'd know that shampoo anywhere! She smells like that pup in the Boss's litter!" Drooled Bull.
Kakashi pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're right, Bull. This is the same girl, but it's a long story. Haruno is—" the said woman raised a brow at him with the use of her last name. "…Sakura, I meant. Sakura is staying with me for a little bit. That's…all you really need to know."
"How can she be the same girl? That girl is just a pup..." several dogs cocked their heads in confusion.
"Yes, but there is something else that is familiar..." Pakkun began. He nudged the other dogs aside and sniffed her thoroughly. The little pug's droopy eyes widened impossibly larger. "Boss—! Can you smell that?"
Before he could say anything, further Sakura grabbed the pug's little face and began to smush and pull his cheeks excessively.
"Now, now. What a cute. little. doggy! " She said with a blatantly fake smile. "I'm afraid whatever you smelled you need to keep to yourself for safety reasons~! Your Boss doesn't need to know that information just yet. I'll tell him when I'm ready, okay?"
She looked up at Kakashi with half-closed eyes and a frankly terrifying smile. Pakkun glared at him with pulled cheeks and attempted to plead for help.
Kakashi sighed.
"Is it somehow dangerous in nature?" he asked the leader of the pack.
Sakura released the small dog as he shook his body animatedly from head to tail to remove the feeling of her temporary abuse. He locked eyes with his Boss. "No, I suppose it's not."
Kakashi nodded, "Okay then. Keep it to yourself for now."
Sakura nodded gratefully to him in return. He snapped his fingers, and all eight dogs dropped their adoring nature and stepped in line alert and disciplined.
"Head out on patrol and report back for dinner. Dismissed."
Eight blurry shadows disappeared into the night, leaving the two shinobi behind.
***ぱっくん***
Eight canine fiends ran throughout the outer rim of the village, some hopping branch to branch above, while others scurried below on the forest floor.
"What'd ya smell, Pakkun?" Shiba asked with a pant.
"You always did have the best nose...what did we miss?" Urushi yipped.
Pakkun slid to a stop and looked at the group around him. "I smelled..." He paused. "I smelled all of us. And the Boss. And something that was a mix of the two. Her and him."
"So? Why is that important?" Akino growled.
Pakkun sat his hind legs down and his tail wagged unconsciously.
"I think she may be..." his tail wagged harder without his consent. "I think she's the Boss's mate. She's gonna be the Boss-Lady!"
Several ears raised and head cocked. Tails wagged excitedly in the revelation.
From far away in the darkness of the forest, all one could hear were howls and barks of excited laughter.
***END NOTES***
FUN FACT#1: Chapter titles are kind of inspired by the Naruto Shippuden Opening #2, Distance by Long Shot Party
FUN FACT#2: Genma worryingly sounds something like Matthew Mcconaughey in my head. My brain went, "Huh. I wonder what Kakashi's friend sounds like?" The answer: Definitely like a sexy cowboy.
FUN FACT#3: If you haven't had Okonomiyaki. Please, do. It's delicious. What I wrote is obviously a very condensed description of what it is, and it does NOT do it justice. It also is one distinct food I associate with my Husband (His close friend owns an Okonomiyaki shop in Kanagawa and it's SO GOOD.)