Chapter Text
scene i.
Kakashi lounges beside Sakura under the shade of the tree, reading his book but keeping an eye on the boys and their spar all the while. There have been far too many near disasters with the way Sasuke carelessly threw around his fire jutsu and Naruto launching himself right into the line of fire as if he were a clone. Still, it’s easier to enjoy the light breeze rustling through his hair as he flips through a book he’s memorized the words to.
Sakura is quiet beside him, a discreet presence. She watches the spar, but he can see that her eyes are only focused on one person longingly.
He doesn’t quite sigh, but he wishes she’d just read the book in her lap instead of admiring to see Sasuke’s magnificent visage while he tries to ground Naruto into dust. It would’ve been better if she were watching to learn, but he knows better than to hope for too much.
Gaps of light through the leaves fall onto her, lighting up parts of her face in a sharp glow. Her pale pink eyelashes hang over her bright green eyes, casting a shadow over them, as she watches her teammates squabble. Those eyes flick to him sharply, and he eye-smiles in return. She huffs, but there’s an amused quirk to her lips as she returns to watching the boys.
He follows her gaze to where Naruto trips over his own feet and Sasuke pounces on him. Their spar has devolved into some messy form of punches and shrieks.
He doesn't even notice what caused it, but he's watching, and suddenly there's a plume of smoke that erupts from where they are. Kakashi leaps to his feet. Neither of his students knows how to do something like that. He’s not even sure what it is.
It looks like regular chakra smoke, but it’s too dense, too large, and too dark. He sees Sasuke and Naruto fall back, stumbling a little out of the smoke. He promptly yanks them back to where Sakura is and watches the smoke apprehensively, kunai in hand.
Adrenaline, a familiar presence in his veins, is thumping along steadily. Kakashi doesn’t panic; he never does. But it’s difficult to stay in his regular battle calm when his students are at risk. They’re his greatest weakness.
The smoke clears, and his hand twitches. It’s the only indication of his surprise. His students are suitably confused. Because the woman standing in front of him looks precisely like his lone female student. Only, she’s older.
There's no mistaking the candy pink locks. They're almost exactly the same, except they're slightly longer and curled elegantly at the ends. Everything else fits perfectly. The sharpness of her eyes, the smooth complexion of her skin, and the narrowing of her eyes as she casts a glance at them.
He can’t trust her, no matter how much she looks like Sakura. He identifies a few hidden kunai and senbon in her seemingly open and loose kimono, not unlike the ones courtesans wore, except much simpler.
The attire is another cause for concern. Shinobi don’t wear large, flowy clothes. There’s a risk of it interfering with combat. The only ones who did were either stupid or strong enough for it not to matter.
But he observes the casual way it sits on her, and the way it looks like she’s just rolled out of bed. His eyes darken slightly, and he tightens his grip on his kunai. She could be on a mission.
Her brow furrows as she relaxes her stance. The panic Kakashi has been pushing down rises up sharply. He hadn’t noticed that she wasn’t already relaxed.
Her eyes are focused on his students, and he can see surprise overtake her features. Then, she speaks in a voice that’s also unnervingly familiar. But it’s older, smoother, and too sweet. Sweet enough to lull you into a false of security, like a tea you don’t realize is poisoned until it’s too late. “I promise I’m not insane.”
scene ii.
Naruto gapes. He had assumed the day would be another regular day of spars. Instead, there was some sort of smoke bomb, and a woman who looked like Sakura-chan appeared.
“I promise I’m not insane,” she says. Naruto really likes her voice. It’s velvety, like the organic honey that Iruka-sensei had let him try after returning from a mission.
“That’s not very reassuring,” Sasuke says with a scowl. His arms crossed, the idiot was trying to make himself look bossy as always, but Naruto could tell he was confused.
Kakashi-sensei shifts a little, and Naruto’s view of the older Sakura-chan is obscured slightly. “Who are you?” She tilts her head, holding their sensei’s gaze before it drifts over to Sakura-chan. “Haruno Sakura.”
Sakura-chan steps forward, clutching her book with a white-knuckled grip. “But that’s not possible. I’m Haruno Sakura.”
The lady laughs and steps forward, dropping down into a crouch in one smooth motion. She looks at Sakura-chan with an appraising gaze. “I’m you. And if I’m not wrong, I’ve been sent into the past.”
There’s an instant outcry. Sasuke scoffs loudly, Naruto screeches an excited, “No way!” Sakura-chan gasps as her eyes widen impossibly. Kakashi-sensei stands close to Sakura-chan, a cautious hand on her.
The older Sakura-chan sighs and stands up. “It would cause a lot less trouble if we just found a way to prove me right. Why don’t you ask me something only Sakura could know?”
They stand in silence. Naruto blurts something out. “What color kimono did you wear to the spring festival two years ago?” They all stare. “Purple," she responds confidently. "How do you know that?" Sasuke asks with a scowl.
Naruto crosses his arms and huffs indignantly as he looks away. He's a little embarrassed to admit it, now that everyone's watching. It sounded stupid, to explain how he'd been taking note of what she was wearing and how pretty she was ever since he had formed a crush on her.
"I just know which ones you wear." "That's creepy." He whips around to glare venomously at Sasuke. "Oi, dobe-"
"How do you know what year it is?" Sakura-chan is looking up at her presumably older self with some suspicion. The older Sakura-chan's lip curls upwards as her eyes glimmer with something like pride. "Smart girl. I know because your hair is still long." "I cut it?!" "Mm, sort of. Yes. Your hair hasn't been cut yet, which means I know exactly where in the past I am."
The way she tilts her head and smirks is so... "Cool!" Naruto cheers. "Older Sakura-chan, you're so cool!" She laughs and smiles at him warmly. "Just call me Sakura, Naruto. It's rather weird when you're all tiny and cute like this." She ruffles his hair with her hand, and he melts.
Sakura-chan literally has stars in her eyes. Her grief for her hair is easily overshadowed by admiration for her future self. "You're so pretty! Where did you get the kimono?" Sakura raises an eyebrow. "A little out of your budget, don't you think?"
Naruto doesn't think it matters. Her kimono is easily the prettiest thing he's ever seen. It does look expensive, soft hues of blue, like the ocean they saw in Wave. It has embroidered flowers in a silvery silk that seems to glow, each slight movement making a different part of fabric catch the light. It looks incredibly out of place on their open, sunny training ground, an artifact of elegance from another world.
"To answer your question, Kirigakure. The Mizukage gifted it to me." "What."
Kakashi-sensei's tone is flat and dark and Naruto doesn't like it. Sakura blinks in confusion for a few seconds, looking at Sensei out of the corner of her eye. She doesn't even look directly at him, just at his approximate location.
"What? Oh! No, there's a new Mizukage. Don't worry," she reassures with a small laugh. "I didn't just waltz into the Bloody Mist." Kakashi-sensei sighs, and his shoulders loosen slightly as he hovers around closely. It's like he expects her to attack or something.
"So you are from the future." Sasuke's voice is laden with incredulity. "Yes, Sasuke, I'm from the future. Were you always this suspicious as a child?" Naruto stifles a snort. "I'm not a child!" Sakura grins at him, and it's not mocking, but it's perfectly clear that she doesn't believe him.
"How are you here anyway?!" Sasuke scowls as he crosses his arms. Skepticism lingers in the features of his face, and Sakura sighs. "Training. Someone," she mutters, casting Naruto a meaningful glance, "Was messing with fuinjutsu he hadn't perfected yet. As always, I pay for his shortsightedness."
"Naruto sent you here?" "I learn fuinjutsu?!" Sakura nods, eyeing Naruto like she knew something he didn't. "Of course, just like your..." She trails off and her brow furrows minutely. "Hm. Well, you learn it from someone who grows to be one of your most treasured loved ones."
Naruto likes the idea. He likes to think that in the future, he's surrounded by people who love him back. He can't imagine the warmth of a home he's never had, but he's seen glimpses of it in moments with Iruka-sensei and his team. It fills him with hope, a light, airy feeling that makes her feel like she's floating. There's a chance for him to get everything he wanted.
"Do I become Hokage?" It's just occurred to him that he could ask her questions about his future self. "Not yet, but you have many people supporting you." Naruto can feel his heart swell; It feels weird. "So I have lots of friends?" Her expression holds multitudes he couldn't hope to decipher. "Yes. So many."
"So, how are you going to get back?" Sakura glances at Sasuke, and a smile rises to her lips immediately. "Well, Sasuke," she murmurs, his name sounding patronizing, even to Naruto's ears, "I know a bit about the fuinjutsu Naruto was messing with. As far as I'm aware, it was supposed to last two days exactly. But he hadn't figured out how to set a location."
"So you'll leave in two days?" Sakura-chan is looking up at her older self with an impossible amount of admiration. "Yes. I'll return to this training ground beforehand in case the location I appeared in matters." Sakura-chan pouts a little, but it's easy to see the excitement buzzing beneath her skin and behind her uncharacteristically shy demeanor.
"Don't worry, mini-me, we'll have plenty of time to chat." The responding beam is blinding.
scene iii.
It took barely any time for her to get comfortable with her future self. Sakura finds herself chattering away happily beside the older girl, clutching her arm. The test of her team around sitting around them, wanting to listen in. Kakashi-sensei isn't engaging, but he's keeping an eye on them from where he reads his book.
Sakura finds it funny, how he pretends like he's relaxed and casual, but it was blatantly obvious to her. It was easy to see the suspicion he regarded her future self with, and the reluctance to talk to her.
Sakura would be offended by that if it wasn't for the way her future self acted around him; It was like she didn't want to look at Kakashi-sensei. That would be a blow to anyone's egos. Sakura wonders if it would help if she told him he wasn't that ugly. The mask covered up most of his face anyway. The personality was uglier.
Clearly, Sakura adored her sensei.
"What about our team? Are we close? You were training with Naruto?" Sakura doesn't love Naruto. He's loud and obnoxious. But its begun to become a little more endearing over time. And she feels bad for the way she's treated him in the past.
"Well, I wouldn't say we're crazy close like Team Ten, but they're a legacy of a team." Her future self hesitates. "Technically, we are too, but you get what I mean." Naruto shakes his head, but Sakura waves a hand in a clear sign to continue talking.
"I would say we're on pretty decent terms. I'm mostly close to Sasuke." Future Sakura tips her head slightly in Sasuke-kun's direction like her casual statement hasn't just sent a shock to Sakura's heart.
"What?!" She manages to squeak out the word. "No way," Naruto gasps. Her older self pauses before casting a glance at them. "What? Oh. Right. The massive crush." Sakura makes a soft noise of shock.
"Well, we're definitely close. He's pretty awesome once he gets over some of the emotional constipation."
Sakura gapes. Her future self did not just say that. She might've just ruined any chance Sakura has with Sasuke-kun! Then she realizes that her future self probably has a better chance. Admittedly, her future self is gorgeous. Her mom was right about growing into adult features.
There's lots to look forward to, she thinks, eyeing her future self's striking appearance. The eyes stand starkly against her skin, the kimono and hair working to make her otherworldly. But it's the way she holds herself, the little movements. From the tilt of her head to the light touches and fond smiles. Her future self is like an angel.
Sakura watches as her teammates panic. Naruto is wearing the most outraged expression she's ever seen. He's looking at Sasuke-kun like he's some sort of demented, resurrected creature. Sasuke-kun's responding expression would have been disgusted or affronted if it wasn't for the furrow in his brow as he stares at her future self.
It was a surprise. Even Sakura didn't think her future self would be close to Sasuke-kun. She doesn't know why, but he has always seemed so immovable and unreachable. She hadn't had very hopeful prospects for the future.
"Maa, I think Sakura-chan," Kakashi-sensei glances at the older girl, who's sitting gracefully in the grass, gaze cast downwards. Sakura has no idea why she's being so timid suddenly, but it's a little startling. "Or at least, her future self, has given you little genins enough to think about. Let's get back to training."
Sakura watches as Naruto and Sasuke-kun get up obediently and head back onto the dirt floor of the training ground. Kakashi-sensei leans against the tree, book in one hand. He isn't even bothering to hide the way his head is up and his eyes are fully focused on the boys. His thumb isn't even pointlessly flipping pages.
"Sakura?" She startles and looks at her future self. Sakura feels a little on the spot with the gazes of both the older girl and Kakashi-sensei on her. After all, they're so much older. It feels like they know things she doesn't. "Do you want to go and join them?"
Sakura flushes. It's stupid. She knows it's stupid to be embarrassed, especially when she was speaking to the person who had quite literally lived her life. But she can’t help it. There’s shame to be felt in never participating in the team spars. The rest of her teammates just ignore it.
Sakura glances towards the brawling boys. Sasuke-kun’s leg whips towards Naruto at a speed she can barely follow. Naruto takes the hit and barely moves, bursting into clones. Sakura can’t do that.
She knows the moment she jumps into the fray, she’ll be failing. Sakura can’t fight, knows her kat,a but can’t use them. They make her tired, exhaust her. It’s not hard to do that with her stamina.
It's not just that. Sakura doesn't want to go in and make a fool of herself. She used to stand around aimlessly before migrating to safety beneath the tree. Things would always end up the same. And she knows what she should do. Try. But Sakura doesn't want to try, because she knows her best will fail anyway. And that'll hurt.
“Uhm, I-“ She casts her gaze down, not wanting to meet the eyes of her future self. “That’s alright. Maybe you’ll reconsider after Wave.” Sakura’s head snaps up, relief at not being pushed to join warring against confusion. “What?”
The older girl just smiles and tilts her head. “Just a little thing that will happen in the near future.” Sakura shakes her head tentatively. It felt weird, correcting her older self. “No, it’s just that…I’ve already been to Wave.”
It’s unusual to see the shock and confusion on her face. She seemed so put together, never affected by anything, taking everything in stride. Most adults seemed like that. It was always so disconcerting when they didn't.
“That’s not possible,” her older self mutters. “You’re not- I was a little different after Wave. This couldn’t have been directly after Wave, but if it’s been some time then I would’ve-“
She breathes in deeply and exhales softly, features smoothening out, all traces of worry melting away. “Has anyone requested you for a mission?” Sakura instinctively moves to say no – because why would anyone want her – but there’s a memory that resurfaces, a small prick at the back of her mind.
“Yes,” she finds herself responding. “A few weeks after Wave, I think. Anonymous request. I didn’t even consider it because it was solo.” And because Sakura's weak. She wouldn't be able to get anything done, and on a solo? No one's there to pick up her slack.
Her future self nods slowly, eyes narrowed. Despite her demeanor, Sakura can see the watery quality of her eyes and the way they’re flickering with some deep emotion she couldn't ever hope to decipher.
“Then I’m not from the future. Well, I am, but in an alternate dimension.” “What?” “Things here have changed. Or at least, your future has changed. Our timelines have diverged, so it’s probably not going to follow mine.” “Oh.”
It’s a little disappointing. Sakura had been so eager to get to know her future self, when really, she was another version of Sakura. Well, that was still cool. There were still different things she could learn.
“So, what should I think of you as? My future self? Alternate dimension self? Bit of a mouthful.” She laughs and shakes her head. “Just call me something else.” “What other names do you go by?” “Aah…”
Her future… Other Sakura pauses and tilts her head to the side. “I suppose it doesn’t matter if this is an alternate dimension, right?” “What?” “Just call me Butterfly.” “What? That’s so weird!” She laughs, light and tinkling like bells.
“You get used to it. At least it’s pretty.” Like her. "No, that's still weird. I'll just call you Sakura-san, if you don't mind." "Of course I don't. You're right, it was a stupid idea anyway."
There's a pause where neither of them says anything. Sakura feels like maybe this Sakura, Sakura-san, isn't as far off from her as she thinks. Would there ever be a world where she's not a little insecure and self-deprecating?
"Well, you don't have to train with the boys. But you wouldn't mind if I taught you something, would you?" Sakura suddenly feels shy. This is another version of her. She knows Sakura's insecurities, which include her weaknesses. And her biggest insecurity is her weakness. She's on a team of people who have legacies of techniques and power she can only dream of.
"It'll be fun, I promise." Sakura complies, despite the lingering worry that she's going to fail. She doesn't want to disappoint Sakura-san, even if she's really just another version of her. An older, better version.
She finds herself standing next to Sakura-san, who hands her a sharp stick. "You hold it like this," she murmurs softly as she grasps Sakura's fingers and helps direct them around it. Senbon, Sakura realizes, fingers twitching slightly but remaining in their position.
"You're going to learn how to throw them. Useful little things. Just aim right here." Sakura-san takes out another senbon and looks at the tree in front of them before flicking it easily. It shoots by, a flash of gold that pierces through the tree effortlessly.
There's a perfectly round hole in the tree. Sakura is gaping.
"Want to give it a try?" Sakura hesitates. "What if I don't manage to get it in?" "Of course you won't, it's your first try." "But what would I do then?" Sakura doesn’t like failing. She doesn’t like trying and failing because it’s embarrassing and makes her feel like to worthless, civilian-born shinobi she is.
Sakura-san smiles, tilting her head. She's juxtaposed against the pale blue sky and forest, looking ever so unreal in the sunlight. "Try again. Then if you miss, try again once more."
As Sakura-san directs her hand in the motion it needs to make, she whispers an encouragement. "Don't worry. If our worlds are even remotely similar, you'll pick it up within less than an hour."
Sakura can't help but beam at that and flick it at the tree.
scene iv.
He grunts as he brings his leg down on the last clone.
For everything Naruto lacks in technique, he makes up for in stamina. Sasuke is exhausted. The spar doesn’t require much of his mind. Having trained like this so much, Sasuke can multitask. He thinks about Sakura and her mysterious future self.
It was unexpected, obviously. He was initially incredibly skeptical. Things like that just didn’t happen. But with a bit more questions, Sasuke found himself believing her. The one thing he couldn’t believe was that he was close to Sakura.
Then again, the way she had tilted her head and spoke of Sakura’s crush on him seemed so casual, like she didn’t care. Maybe, in the future where he had already achieved his goals, he could imagine being somewhat on good terms with someone as level-headed as the future Sakura.
But that brought up another topic. Itachi. Sasuke’s jaw clenched as he thought of his…his target.
Did he achieve his goal? Would she tell him? Would she lie? Did she even know? She had to know.
He was hesitant about approaching her on the topic, but he didn't think he could pass up the opportunity to find out.
He glanced surreptitiously at where she was, standing beside Sakura and doing something. She didn't look like a shinobi, not with the elegant kimono draped over her like she was some sort of... Sasuke wasn't sure. But it was unnatural, the way she looked. Like an elaborate performance, designed to attract attention and admiration.
Forgetting that, the outfit was ridiculously impractical. How was she supposed to fight in that? Anybody could just pull on the flowy fabric of the kimono. It was like her wavy, luscious locks of hair. You could pull it, set it on fire, and so much more. What if it impeded her movements? Obscured her vision?
Sasuke paid for his inattention with a punch to the stomach that made him stumble slightly before he grabbed Naruto's arm and yanked him forward, twisting and using his Uchiha katas to kick the boy. He was beginning to feel the exhaustion set in as his movements were duller and slowed.
Kakashi’s voice was a relief to hear. “You can stop training now,” he calls out casually. Sasuke obediently moves away from Naruto, who had just flung himself at the dark-haired boy. "We'll meet here at the same time as usual." "You'll be late anyways," huffs Naruto as he crosses his arms. "Because I'll be at the mission counter. I'm going to see if they can get us a mission that won't take long."
Naruto immediately switches up, leaping to his feet with a wide grin. "Woah, really?! You're the best Kakashi-sensei!" Future Sakura laughs softly, reaching out to ruffle Naruto's hair. "I had forgotten how easily excited you get." "He's not like this in the future?" The two Sakuras look at each other.
Sasuke can't help but notice how their Sakura was much more comfortable with her future counterpart. What were they even doing while he and Naruto trained?
"He is, but not on the same level. He just sort of groans when he has a mission. Doesn't like leaving the village, you know?" Sasuke can't imagine it. They haven't taken many missions out of Konoha since Wave, but Naruto is always delighted to see something new.
"Maa, my cute little genin, don't expect too much. We may not get a mission at all." Sasuke averts his gaze as his melodramatic teammates make varying noises and comments. "Hah?! Whatever," Naruto practically screeches. "I'm going to get some Ichiraku Ramen. Do you want to join me?" He directs the question towards their other teammate, as usual. She shakes her head and smiles. "No, thank you, Naruto."
They begin moving towards their respective homes, but the anomaly in their group is walking in his direction. Sasuke turns around. "Why are you coming this way?" Everyone else looks at the future Sakura, who is blinking in confusion.
"I'm going home..?" She tilts her head as she looks at him. Just as Sasuke is about to point out the obvious, her eyes widen. "Right! In the past of an alternate dimension and all." "Alternate what?" She sighs and briefly explains everything before turning to the rest of them.
"I had forgotten that..." The older girl glances at Sasuke. He doesn't miss it, face twisting into a scowl as his brow furrows. "What?" She shrugs too casually, now glancing at her younger self. "It's just that... I kind of live in the Uchiha Compound." Naruto's resounding shriek made his ears hurt.
"What?" Sakura looks pale and ready to faint. "You mean, I live in S-sasuke-kun's-" "It's not that big a deal," she huffs. "I just...I just needed a place to stay cause my home wasn't available. He offered. It's a big compound."
Sasuke shifts slightly. The mere idea is vastly uncomfortable. He hadn't lived with anyone since the massacre. And he had gotten used to the complete silence there. It would be incredibly unnerving to have someone else wandering around in there. He must've had a reason for offering her a place to stay.
"Well, you can stay with me," Sakura proclaims eagerly, wearing a large, excited grin. "It'll be like a sleepover!" "Maa, I don't think that's a good idea, Sakura-chan." Kakashi's interruption makes Sasuke narrow his eyes.
Kakashi still doesn't trust this... alternate, future Sakura. "Sakura-san, why don't you stay with me? I have enough room, and I need to speak with the Hokage about all this. It's the best course of action." She nods understandingly, but doesn't even turn to look at him. Why did she seem scared?
The two Sakuras smile at each other and briefly hug. "I'll see you tomorrow, Sakura-san!" The older girl tilts her head as she waves at the retreating figure. "Charming little thing, isn't she?" Naruto makes a noise of assent before bidding all of them farewell.
Sasuke forces his legs to move, wanting to ask her a question. Itachi is the only name that runs through his mind, now that he has the perfect opportunity. But he takes a step in the direction of his compound, nodding shortly at their goodbyes without turning around. He briskly walks away, internally chastising himself.
There was no reason for him not to ask, other than the now undeniable truth that Uchiha Sasuke was scared of knowing if he had managed to kill his older brother.
scene v.
Kakashi sighed, having returned from the Hokage's Office. The Third Hokage always held wisdom when it came to unusual matters. Would knowledge from the future really affect their world? It was an alternate dimension too, so there was no telling what was different. Unreliable information, in other words.
His instructions were to assess her danger and keep her in check until it was time for her to go. If she didn't disappear when she said she would, then he was to send her to the Hokage's Office. In the meantime? She was there to stay.
Upon returning to his apartment, he saw her sitting on the atrocious couch Gai had gifted him. She sat politely to the side, legs crossed and arms folded, as though she was wary of taking up space. Her eyes flickered towards him, but they seemed to land on the potted plant on the windowsill. With each time that she avoided meeting his eyes, his suspicions only grew.
"You're back," she murmured. It was a sharp contrast to her bright demeanor with the genin. Kakashi couldn't bring himself to laugh and pretend like he always did. She wasn't his student, not really. He couldn't treat her as familiarly as if she were.
"Mhm." A tense silence briefly filled the room before she broke it. "Ukki-kun is doing well." Kakashi didn't bother to turn to look at the plant. "He is." He watches the way her gaze drops, pale eyelashes casting shadows over the green. It's reminiscent of Sakura from that morning, beneath the tree.
"You can take the guest room back here," Kakashi motions towards the room. "Make yourself at home. Do you have a vague idea of where things are?" She might, he supposed. Even if she was from an alternate dimension, she was still from a similar future. Chances are, she knew what his apartment was like. "Not really."
The words come out of her mouth almost regretfully. Kakashi narrows his eyes, but doesn't push. He'll dissect that later. "Hm." He hadn't thought he'd move. Ever. In fact, he had been fairly certain that he'd spend the rest of his days in the apartment he had been in for over a decade. "Well, the kitchen is right here, bathroom down the hall. My room is opposite yours, if you need anything."
She nods mutely. Kakashi takes the moment to observe again. If she really was a shinobi, she'd be fairly self-sufficient. Supposedly. He pushed the thoughts away. It would be better if he tried to assess the situation later on, instead of right in front of her.
What else would she need? "Would you like me to go grab some clothes from Kurenai?" That elicits the first smile from Sakura that isn't a result of the genin's antics. He corrects himself; Sakura-san. Sakura-san tilts her head, and she doesn't meet his gaze, but her smile widens. "That would be lovely. I don't suppose she owns maternity clothes yet."
He pauses, his brain processing the information. "You...need maternity clothes?" For the first time, her eyes meet his. They're slightly wide, still as vibrant as the Sakura he knows. "What? No, Kurenai does. Not yet, anyway." It clicks. Kurenai? She has a child?
He's still frozen for a few seconds. In that time, she averts her gaze. "Who's the father?" "I'd rather not tell you. Keep you guessing, you know?" He can't help the way the corner of his mouth twitches upwards, betraying his amusement. "Hm. Sadistic. I'll drop by her place. What would you like for dinner?"
A nostalgic expression finds its way onto her face as she thinks about it. "Anything is fine-" He quirks an eyebrow. That was the people-pleaser response he expected from this muted aspect of Sakura. "But...?" Another bright smile falls onto her face as she fidgets, pressing the pads of her fingers together.
"You know that place a few streets away opposite Ichiraku Ramen? They close down in a few years, and I would really like to taste it again."
He smiles. He can't help it. There was something about her, lit up against the plain colors and design of his apartment. Sakura's smile always seemed to exude joy, and this Sakura's smile was terribly sweet. Like dango. She liked dango, right?
Kakashi pretends to salute her as he ducks out of his apartment. Kurenai's place, the place opposite Ichiraku Ramen, the dango stall nearby, and the mission counter.
He returns once the sun has fully set. He's completely caught off guard by the way she smirks when he tries to wait until the right moment to inhale his food. "You know I've seen you without your mask before, right?"
He narrows his eyes and rudely stabs his chopsticks at her as he argues. "But what if you haven't? And this is a scheme to win that little bet of yours?" Sakura chokes on her noodles. "I had nearly forgotten about that bet! It wasn't so 'little' after a few years. I had a few missions' worth of pay riding on that bet."
He snorts. Of course. His cute little genin would be the type to bet and gamble. "Who won?" Sakura sighs and sets down her chopsticks. "Technically, I did. But they didn't count it, and it was called off." "Why? Was I in on it or something?"
Sakura's smile fades a little. Kakashi wonders if he's said the wrong thing. "Something like that," she manages.
She rises from her seat, and he realizes they've finished eating. Sakura takes his empty bowl and chopsticks, placing one hand on his shoulder casually.
"Don't worry," she murmurs. "I'll clean this up." As she moves, her head slides down the length of his arm gently, fingers lingering on him before she pulls away and walks to the sink. Kakashi blinks for a few seconds.
The sound of rushing water and soap fills his ears as he sets Kurenai's offered clothes on the bed in the guest room. It's just as impersonal and plain as the rest of his apartment. Kakashi wonders what Sakura thinks of it. After all, she's the type to meticulously design wherever she lives to suit her personality. He wonders if she thinks his place is bland.
Kakashi is suddenly reminded that she lives with Sasuke in the Uchiha Compound. He wonders if it really is a temporary stay, where she also lives in a guest room. On the other hand, it might be a mutual agreement that she was going to stay for an indefinite amount of time, and Sakura had decorated it as she wished. The entire thing makes him wonder if she shares a room with Sasuke.
Sakura has always had a massive crush on Sasuke. He had never quite been able to pinpoint what kind of crush it was, but it was persistent. There was no faking the infatuation she had. The only thing he was left to wonder was if Sasuke had grown to return her affections.
"Where are the ninken?" Sakura walks out of the kitchen, head tilted to the side. Her long locks of hair are not unlike a cascading waterfall that ripples with each movement. The pink stands out against the cream of her skin and the ocean of her kimono. He's reminded of the conversations from earlier that day. A new Mizukage. An almost reference to Minato. Another reference to someone who may potentially be Jiraiya. The entrance of this new Sakura from the future has somehow dredged up memories of the past.
"They're not here." "Aren't they usually around?" "Maa, I thought it'd be easier if they weren't here while you were." He didn't need to say it out loud. The truth was apparent; Sakura wasn't trusted. An indecipherable expression flashes across Sakura's face. "At least I don't wear the same shampoo as them anymore." "Floral Green." They exchange a look, and Kakashi is overcome by the urge to laugh.
Her gaze snaps away from his face. She keeps on doing that. Kakashi, in turn, looks to the side. "Thank you for having me over," Sakura says softly. His lone eye flicks over to her. He didn't expect that. "I know it's a bit of an intrusion," she begins, each word slow and purposeful. Kakashi wants to deny it, but he has a feeling she'll see through it.
She tilts her head and the light from the kitchen catches in her eyes, making them glow. "But I really appreciate it." Her eyelashes flutter for a bit before she looks directly into his eyes for only the second time since she arrived. She shifts her weight and tilts her head to the other side. She's looking up at him with doe-like eyes and Kakashi can't help the way his gaze momentarily catches on the slight pout of her lips.
Her hand rests on his arm again, a light touch that seems both familiar and unfamiliar. It's as though she isn't even bothered by it. The edge of her kimono shifts towards the edge of her shoulder, revealing a bit more of her collarbone.
Kakashi drags his gaze back into her eyes just as she finishes speaking. "Thank you." For a moment, it feels like all time has slowed to a stop as he looks down at her, a dangerously tantalizing visage that makes his mouth feel dry.
"I'll see you tomorrow," she practically whispers. The smile that spreads across her face slows his breathing. Kami, does she smile like that at everyone? He's all too cognizant of the way her hand lingers on his arm before trailing off as she turns and enters her room.
The door shuts softly, and Kakashi stands in silence, dazed.
There's something to be said about everything he's gathered about their potential future. He wonders how everyone else was doing. Naruto seemed to have learned fuinjutsu. He had a litany of loved ones and presumably, a panoply of techniques to use in combat. That would be preferable to his simple brawl-style taijutsu and incessant clones.
Sasuke... Sakura hadn't revealed much about him, more about their relationship. Kakashi was still left to contemplate what their relationship status was. But he wasn't nosy type; Kurenai was. He still couldn't believe that she was pregnant. Maternity clothes made the idea seem so much realer. She would have retired from active duty in the time being, right? Kakashi didn't know for sure, but he had a sneaking suspicion the father was Asuma.
He had been able to catch the little looks they had been shooting each other.
And he hadn’t forgotten the conversation he overheard between the two Sakura’s. What did she mean by ‘butterfly’? No, Kakashi knew what she meant, just struggled to believe it. Did gentle, sweet Sakura really go into Anbu? Kakashi struggles to join the memories he has of his former job – dark and bloody – with everything he knows of Sakura.
She had left other questions for him to decipher. Why was she so hesitant around him? She was almost apologetic in the way she cast her gaze to the floor and avoided his eyes determinedly. Maybe it was him. Kakashi wondered what he would be like in the future. What kind of person was he? He didn't think he could've changed much. He didn't think he would change. Before being saddled with his team, he hadn't expected to survive anything.
Kakashi sighed as he tipped his head backwards to face the ceiling. His reverie was broken by a soft sound from Sakura's room. If it hadn't been dead silent he wouldn't have heard it. Even as he kept still, he didn't hear a sound after that.
Years of ingrained habit and paranoia were what led Kakashi to step out into the living room and approach her door with the stealth of a shinobi of his tenure. He never would've used that word to describe himself before he saw Sakura as someone that was much older, still youthful but more mature. It made him feel ancient. Shinobi didn't usually live that long.
There wasn't any sound from inside the room. Any. Kakashi's orders were to keep an eye on her. He slipped out of the window, and it was only through a second of complete concentration that he spotted her. He prayed that, for all her experience as a shinobi, she didn't pick up on his leaping across rooftops. She didn't seem to notice that he was following her.
They ended up somewhere eerily familiar. Kakashi still spent hours there every morning. He watches from a safe distance as Sakura steps up to the memorial stone and sits in front of it. She closes her eyes and gently places her hands and forehead against it, breathing in and out slowly.
Her hands trace the smooth expanse of stone, where names have yet to be engraved. She's mourning the dead. Why else would she be there? Kakashi's face is frozen in place, his body seemingly locked up, unable to move.
It felt like a stone had dropped into the pit of his stomach. A cold, terrible realization. He watches as she opens her eyes and kisses the stone softly. The clouds shift and moonlight lights up her face just enough for him to see the expression that's worn on her features. Heartbreak.