New Recruit

It was a sunny day in Konoha. In the ANBU camp, seniors and juniors alike were hurrying about their own jobs.

A team of five not-so-new newbie ANBU lined up at a checkpoint, awaiting their very late supervisor. He was supposed to be here half an hour ago.

A tall man with spiky silver hair and a mask over his face appeared in a puff of smoke. He was wearing the ANBU uniform and a black eye patch.

"Eh, sorry boys, got caught up in a roadside brawl," explained Kakashi. The newbie young men smirked at each other. Like team 7 had before them, they had learnt not to believe Kakashi Hatake's lame excuses.

"Okay," said the supervisor, clearing his throat. The cadets stood straight in attention. "You have been summoned here today," began Kakashi. "To….uh…." He glanced at the clipboard in his left hand. "To be informed of ..um.."

"Bah, forget it," muttered Kakashi. "I'll do this the easy way." The cadets snickered. Kakashi was nothing like the strict, formal mentors they used to have.

"Well, you have done well enough to pass as a satisfactory ANBU and so I announce you as no longer a newbie," said Kakashi. "You are now a….what was that again? A…non-newbie. Dismissed!"

The cadets dispersed, grinning at each other. Kakashi watched them leave, then made his way back to his apartment.

There was a message scroll left on his desk. Striding over, he picked it up and unfurled it. It read:

Kakashi:

I understand that your latest team of cadets has been proclaimed ready. Congratulations. Due to a new intake recently, I will be giving you your next charge immediately. She will meet you at the gates tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.

She? Nonplussed, Kakashi read on.

Here are her details.

Reading through the list, Kakashi skipped to the end.

With thanks, Ibiki.

He stared at the two six-lettered words that formed his new charge's name.

No way.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sakura squealed with joy and waved her graduation papers in front of Naruto's nose. "I did it!" she exclaimed. "I actually passed the ANBU exam!"

"Congratulations," said Naruto sportingly. He was jealous of Sakura for achieving a higher rank than him, but would not admit it.

"It says here to wait at the gates tomorrow morning at eight for my supervisor," said Sakura doubtfully. "Supervisor?"

"Maybe they want to make sure you're really suitable," suggested Naruto. "In case you were just lucky."

"You're right," said Sakura. "Well, see ya!"

She waved goodbye to Naruto and went to Ino's home, unable to help showing off a little. Hah! She'd bested the Yamanaka for once.

She just couldn't help wondering who was going to be her supervisor.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Two hours later, Kakashi was still reeling from shock. Sakura Haruno was his new charge? It felt like just yesterday he was doing the bell test on the little preteens.

He sighed. Time passed so quickly. Of course, team 7 was already in their twenties. They were so big already. Which also meant he was getting old.

He ran his fingers through his hair. Technically, thirty-five wasn't exactly old, but he felt middle-aged compared to the youngsters around him.

Sitting down on the edge of his bed, he appraised his ANBU uniform. It was a long time since he last saw it. Over ten years ago.

A year ago, Ibiki had sent him a message, saying that they needed an experienced nin to be a supervisor to the newbie ANBU. Their requirements were the person in question had to be an elite ninja with teaching experience, and Kakashi had fit the needs perfectly.

Kakashi decided he didn't really fancy teaching, so he agreed to take up the post. ANBU, after all, was much more exciting than wandering about doing E-ranked missions with three brats.

But he still ended up teaching. Not much of an improvement.

He lay down and stared at the ceiling, wondering how Sakura would react when she knew she was going to be stuck with him for half a year.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sakura lounged on the great gates of Konoha, waiting for the supervisor to arrive. She ran through all the possible people in her mind.

Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was already 8.15. This person's lateness reminded her so much of her former sensei. She grinned to herself, wondering whether it was Kakashi who was her supervisor.

It was then that she caught sight of a man with silver hair in an ANBU suit, complete with arm guards, gloves and an eye patch coming towards her. Sakura's jaw dropped.

It was Kakashi.

"W-what the hell?" she spluttered, seeing Kakashi for the first time in an ANBU suit. "I thought you quit!"

Kakashi's exposed eye crinkled in amusement, then narrowed slightly, also seeing Sakura in an ANBU uniform for the first time. She had grown, and also in places other than her height. She was a beautiful young woman now, and he, as a man, just couldn't help noticing.

"I rejoined," he replied, shrugging. "Well, I'm your supervisor now. Testing starts tomorrow in the forest clearing at seven thirty sharp."

Sakura snorted. "Yeah, right," she retorted. "I could wake up at nine and you wouldn't notice, tardy."

Kakashi smiled fondly at her under his mask. He was glad she was no longer the shy girl who always chased after Sasuke. Now she was an independent young woman, capable of taking care of herself.

He felt a pang of loss at those thoughts, but did not understand why. He pushed it away, and out of habit, he pulled out the worn copy of Icha Icha Paradise.

"You still read that?" asked Sakura incredulously. "Hello, you're like, in your thirties already."

"Oh." He stuffed the book back in his pocket. Sakura smirked. Kakashi had become quite a pushover recently. Maybe she could wheedle out what she had to do tomorrow.

"I wonder what is it we have to do tomorrow that we have to get up so early for," she mused aloud, glancing at him from the corner of her eyes. He was rubbing the back of his hair uncertainly, and she grinned in satisfaction. "Surely sleep is more important than a test," she added.

"Ah, I want to test your weapon skills tomorrow," said Kakashi, relenting. "And uh, I can delay it until eight if you want."

This is going better than I thought, mused Sakura silently. What was with Kakashi?

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow." Kakashi strode off in the direction of his apartment, one hand stuck in his pocket and the other fingering his treasured book in his other pocket.

Since when was I so nice? Kakashi thought to himself. It wasn't like him to grant people's requests so easily. Was he developing a soft spot? For Sakura?

He shook his head to rid himself of the confusing thoughts. Well, he'll see tomorrow.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N:

I know, the first chapter isn't much, but I am going to make this my masterpiece. Long story coming up. R & R please!

Naruto does not belong to me, and sadly neither does Kakashi.