Spring in Konoha was something to be envied. The blue skies spread over the village as easily as jam on bread, coating it in infectious warmth which not even the grumpiest of ninja could deny. The trees swayed magnificently with their deep, green foliage and the cherry blossom was in full bloom once again.

Konoha was renown for it's gorgeous blossom trees. People would travel for miles to sit under the clear skies and quietly wait with baited breath to see the first few petals open. All too soon, the tiny blossoms would reach full bloom, their delicate petals dancing in the breeze, clinging on to the few days of beauty they had to shine. Within a week they are swept away on the wind, leaving behind the bare branches, no longer radiant and adored.

A man smiled to himself, thinking it ironic how something still so beautiful could be unappreciated. Even bare, the Sakura blossom had lots of great branches to climb and sit on, and they were very useful when you wanted peace to read certain books too...

He squinted at the sky, his one normal eye glancing through the soft, pink petals above him as he turned another page. This was his favourite spot in all of Konoha. Its beauty was equal in spring and winter alike and it was hidden away from the usual blossom trees. He leant his head back against the vast trunk, breathing in the glorious silence as tiny shadows danced across his mask covered face.

A young woman ascended the ornate, wooden steps. In a simple white top and knee length pink skirt that blew about her, she radiated everything he loved about spring. Her soft, rosette hair was loose and flowing around her shoulders and she made her way stealthily through the long grass.

She looked over at her Sakura tree, standing alone with its' pink petals shining in the sun. It had been planted when she was 16 in memory of her father. He had named her Sakura, so it had seemed fitting, if not slightly cliched. Spotting a familiar mop of hair, she walked towards it, watching a few petals fall gently to the ground.

Oblivious to her presence, he turned another page, running his fingers through the unusual silver hair inherited from his Father. It flopped lazily due to the absence of his hitai-ate and partially hung across his forehead. It tended to get annoying, especially when he…

He jumped, quite uncharacteristically, as somebody tapped his shoulder. She giggled ever so softly, biting her lip to prevent more laughter as she sat down next to him.

"Ohaiyo, Kakashi-sensei. Beautiful day, ne?"

He smiled in reply, surprised to have been crept up on, a faint blush appearing behind his mask as he surveyed his former student. There was no doubt she had grown into a fine woman. Her brilliant smile and trademark hair was only rivalled by her radiant and passionate personality. She had grown up well. He gave himself an arrogant mental pat on the back.

"What brings you here, Sakura?"

She smiled back at her sensei. Even though they were on equal terms now, he would always be her sensei. She reached out and carefully pushed his hair back, taking the opportunity to look into both of his eyes for once. He blinked at her touch, but did not flinch away and stared into her jade eyes.

"I planted this tree when my father passed away... He gave me my name, so I thought it cheesily appropriate."

She smiled broadly, eyes sparkling in the dim light, unable to break eye contact with the man in front of her. He stared back, simply smiling as he wondered how the girl he had taught had grown into such a wonderful kunoichi. Another mental pat on the back.

He looked away, glancing at the blossom above them.

"Mm. The Sakura Blossom is one of the most beautiful after all."

Rising to her feet, she reached up to break off a small branch. He watched her skirt billow slightly, stealing the opportunity to glance up the curves of her body and right up to the tip of her fingers before she sat back down. She held the branch lightly in her palm, stroking one of the blossom buds happily.

"It is, isn't it. This tree used to be tiny…but now it's grown up into this. One of the strongest and most beautiful in all of Konoha... Amazing, ne? It's a shame people don't come here often..."

"Indeed, but I think it enjoys my company and admiration frequently enough. "

He smiled, thinking of the subtle irony in their words as she looked up at him. Placing 'Icha Icha' by his side, he crossed his legs and reached out to gently pluck one of the buds from the branch in her palm. She watched him turn it between his fingers nimbly, before leaning towards her and tucking it into her hair, frowning slightly as he did.

"Arigato, Kakashi."

She laughed, feeling odd as she dropped her formal term for him. The look of surprise only lingered briefly in his eyes, before he smiled. The realisation that his hand was still on her cheek caused both of them to blush, as he dropped it quickly. The copy ninja scratched the side of his face with a long finger, feeling the material of his mask growing hot in the sun and staring distractedly into the distance.

"…Hm…Sakura, how's Sasuke?"

He asked nonchalantly, picking up his book again to occupy wayward thoughts... And realising he really needed to find some new reading material...She surveyed him with an amused smile, her quick mind catching on to his "subtle" topic shift.

For years they had grown closer, appreciating each others company more than as a teacher and a student. She'd become the only person he had ever bought a meal for and he was the only person allowed to tease her and still keep all limbs attached. It had become a strange sort of friendship...Or bond... Whatever "this" was, she adored the time she spent with him.

"No idea… Last time I saw him, he was with Naruto…Sens-…Kakashi, what do you think is going on with them?"

She raised her eyebrows, a smirk playing upon her pink lips as he dropped the book in his lap in mock surprise.

"I would rather not know…"

He settled for a non-responsive reply, avoiding important issues like he always had. She pushed his knee playfully, rolling her eyes towards the blue sky. They both knew exactly what was going on with those two and Shikamaru swore on his life that their "training" had been just a little to vocal...

"Aren't you a little curious? Me and Ino-pig are absolutely dying to find out!"

"Nope…"

"Boooring."

"....Simply because it would turn me on too much."

His eyes crinkled deviously, smiling in her direction. She gaped, looking absolutely shocked before lunging at him with flushed cheeks. He just laughed and grabbed her wrists, holding her back.

"PERVERT! I would call you a typical man but that's just – ACK!"

He grinned as she struggled against him, neither of them fighting particularly hard. Her shock soon turned into giggles and she fell limply on his chest.

"Give up?"

"...Mm, for now."

He let go of one of her arms, but didn't seem to want to move the other one, his hand resting upon her lower back. Her arms folded comfortably over his chest.

"Y'know, I'm telling Naruto that. He'll kick your ass."

She lent her cheek upon his chest, feeling the rumble of his laughter and smiling. He ran his hand through her sleek hair and down her back, trying not to think anything of it.

"When do you think Tsunade will…? …I suppose hand her position to him is the only way to put it. She is ancient now... "

She shivered from the combined touch of his hand and his muscles moving against her as he spoke. Back aching from the odd angle, he sat up straighter against the rough bark, making her slide further down his stomach.

"Tch, don't be rude Kakashi. She'll probably outlive us all. Umm, probably not long now. I mean, it's obvious, but Naruto is being modest for once!"

"I... Don't believe that's possible."

Staring down at her, lying with her hair splayed around her, laughing … and with her head near fairly his crotch... He realised what he'd been missing these past few years. He was such a coward, though, when it came to all this...

"Oh!"

He jumped for a second time this day as she sat up suddenly and leaned in close to his face, so close he could smell her vaguely fruity perfume.

"…Sakura…What are you doing?"

"... I forgot what I was going to say."

"Oh."

She blushed, biting her lip at the proximity of his face. She slowly reached her fingers up, cautiously running them down the cloth of his mask. Any question she had intended to ask forgotten as she stared into the mismatched eyes gazing back into hers in confusion. He gulped, not really certain how to react. For once, he was utterly frozen. He could dodge a flying kunai to the heart, but this was different...He was caught.

"Sakura..."

A finger placed on his lip halted him. He could feel her cold skin through the fabric. They were both frozen, their hearts beating in anticipation…