Chapter One

"Sakura, behind you!"

Haruno Sakura, the nineteen year old kunoichi turned her head only to find the tall form of her sensei descending towards her. His leg outstretched in attempts of giving her his final blow for today's training. But of course, she will not let a simple attack prevent her from winning. Immediately she side-stepped and directed a punch towards her sensei as he landed gracefully on the ground.

Kakashi caught her wrist and prevented her from hitting his face. Sakura expected this and made immediate action. She hastily kneed him on the stomach, causing his grip to loosen. She took the opportunity to jump off and land a few meters away from him.

"That's right, Sakura! You got him!" Naruto cheered.

"Shut up, Naruto!" she barked, finding his voice quite irritating at the moment.

Naruto pouted and crossed his arms, "I was being supportive!"

"It's not helping!" She glared at him and then back onto the man she challenged a few hours ago. Damn, he's just too strong… she thought wincing at the few bruises she received from his attacks.

Kakashi sighed and then pulled something from the inside pocket of his vest. Green eyes widened as she saw the familiar orange book in his hand. "What are you doing??" Sakura asked in utter disbelief.

Unfazed, he flipped through the pages, "What does it look like, Sakura? I'm reading." Much to Sakura's mortification the perverted jounin walked towards a nearby tree and started reading that blasted perverted book of his.

"But sensei, we're not done yet!" the pink haired kunoichi protested.

Kakashi still ignored her and continued reading the climactic part of Chapter 4 in "Icha Icha Paradise".

"It's hopeless, Sakura." Naruto interjected, "Training's over when that book gets into his hands."

"It's not too late. We can still get that thing away from him." Sakura spoke with adamant determination. "Right, Naruto?" She looked around and found the annoying blonde running away. "Naruto!" she yelled, seeing his retreating back.

Naruto raised a hand and waved, "I'll pass, Sakura-chan! Hinata's waiting. Can't help ya."

Sakura growled hard and stomped in annoyance, "Dammit Naruto, come back here!"

Naruto quickly scampered away before he suffers the circumstances of having a raging Sakura after his head.

Pissed off, Sakura turned her attention back to Kakashi, pointed an accusing finger and exclaimed, "Kakashi-sensei, stand up and fight me!"

Kakashi ignored her. He just flipped another page and continued reading.

Sakura scowled and started towards him. I'd better destroy that book now! She reached down to grab his stupid book but her attempts were quickly stopped by an impassive looking Kakashi who for the second time of the day, grabbed her wrist and pulled her down on her knees and onto the ground.

"Try another tactic. That one's getting old." Kakashi sternly looked down at.

"I came here to train, sensei! Not to watch you indulge in that perverted book of yours."

"Training's over. Go home."

"I don't want to."

"Sakura…"

"Sensei!"

"Do you want me to drag you home again?"

"Train with me, sensei!"

"We've been training all day. Haven't you had enough?"

"I want to learn another jutsu."

"Tomorrow."

"You're always saying that!"

"…"

"Sensei."

"…"

"Sensei!"

"…"

"KAKASHI!"

He finally shifted his eyes away from page 44 and stared at her. She sat there in front of him, brows creased, eyes flaming and mouth pulled into a pout. She had grown so much.

Her hair was still short and still pink of course. She had filled out quite well in all the places courtesy of female hormones and non-strop training. The red dress she used to wear before was now mutilated and made into a two-piece garment. A pink shirt and black shorts. She had become one of the most desirable women in Konoha and it was quite surprising that she had up until now stayed single. Maybe she's still pinning for Sasuke.

"Sakura-chan." He knew this would hit a nerve on the young kunoichi, "Can't I have at least a few minutes to enjoy my book? You got me all day, can't I have this moment?"

Her eye twitched from the way he called her. She crossed her arms and gave him a disapproving look. "Perv."

She could see him smirking through that black fabric mask he wore, "I have my needs."

Sakura gave a disgusted look and said, "Ew... Don't talk like that."

"Like what?" he innocently asked.

"You know what I mean!"

Kakashi rolled his eyes, "Sakura, you're nineteen years old."

"So?"

He shook his head and went back reading, "Never mind."

Sakura frowned, "What is it?" she persisted.

"Give it up and go home."

"I'm not going until you tell me."

Here we go again. He and Sakura had been having these kinds of arguments since…forever. After the day Sasuke left for an ANBU mission, Sakura refused to brood in a corner. Instead, she centred her attention on her sensei. Everyday she'd hunt him down and ask if they could train together. Sometimes Naruto joins them but most of the time, it was only her and Kakashi.

After realizing that she had no intention of giving up any time soon, Kakashi sighed and replied, "Look, I'll explain it to you later. I'll meet you at the pub."

Sakura smiled and looked at him, "Your treat?"

Kakashi smiled back and nodded, "My treat."

"Fine," Sakura muttered as she stood up begrudgingly and dusted off her backside. She looked down at him only to find him engrossed on Icha Icha again. She sighed and waved a hand, "See you later, old man." Kakashi removed his eye away from the book and glare holes at the back of her neck. Hmp, serves you right, she thought with a sly smirk.

That night went to the pub as promised and unsurprisingly, found no trace of Kakashi there. I knew it…, she hissed disappointedly. She looked around and luckily found Ino sitting at the corner table, waving at her. Sakura smiled back and took the empty chair in front of her.

"How's training?" Ino asked.

Sakura sighed, "It ended with Icha Icha again no matter what I do." She looked around and still he's not around. Oh, he's horrible. I've heard of a slowpoke but this is ridiculous…

The blonde nin laughed, "You'll never separate Kakashi from his dirty novels."

"I know." She shrugged, "Actually, I'm planning on stealing his whole collection and burn it to ashes."

Both women giggled at the idea, not noticing Tenten, Naruto and Hinata joining their table.

"What's so funny?" Tenten took the seat next to Ino as Naruto and his girlfriend, Hinata, took Sakura's side.

"Nothing. Just some cruel prank Sakura's planning against Kakashi is all." Ino replied, still giggling.

"Oh yeah? What is it?" Naruto excitedly turned to Sakura, obviously interested as well.

She looked at him and saw his huge eyes staring at her. Now, who could resist someone who has eyes as big as saucers? Why, Sakura of course! She's been doing it since she's twelve years old.

"I'm not telling."

Naruto huffed and crossed his arms. Something that he couldn't get rid off despite of the fact that he's already nearing twenties. "Well, I bet its lame."

Sakura defiantly raised her chin and playfully grinned at him, "You're just upset because I won't tell you."

His brows creased as he exclaimed, "I'm going to tell Kakashi-sensei you're planning something!" he pointed an accusing finger at her.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah!"

"Then go and tell him!"

"I will!"

Tenten sighed and shook her head and asked, "Why are they always like this?"

Hinata only smiled as she sat next to Naruto while watching the two bicker.

Ino irritably closed her eyes, her left eye twitching, "Will you two stop it! It's embarrassing!"

As if hearing nothing, the two continued arguing.

A few hours later…

"Well, Sakura, I'm off." Ino said as she stood up.

"Me too." Tenten and Naruto said in unison, while Hinata smiled at her and meekly said goodbye.

The pink-haired kunoichi sighed, "I'm going too." She stood up and followed the rest of the group outside.

After saying 'goodnight', everybody went their separate ways. Sakura, however, chose to stay in front of the pub for awhile, obviously waiting for someone. He's not coming. He probably forgot. Damn, Kakashi, I swear I'll kill you for this. Involuntarily she rubbed her hands together and tucked them deep inside her coat pockets. She looked up and blinked innocently. A small, white flake landed on the tip of her nose. Her eyes crossed, staring on the first snow flake of November. She smiled to herself, looking up to watch snow fall down from the sky.

"Sakura?"

The pink-haired kunoichi turned and saw none other than Hatake Kakashi standing behind her, his hands tucked in his front pockets and his visible eye staring at her oddly.

"Well, you decided to show up after all…" Sakura wasn't mad at him. Just a little irked at the fact that he was supposed to meet her two hours ago. I wonder what his excuse is this time.

I deserve that… Kakashi scratched the back of his and replied, "I overslept."

Sakura rolled her eyes and started walking past him. "That's getting old."

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Home."

"You're not going to join me for a drink?"

Sakura gave a dry laugh and said, "Probably if you were here on time, I could." She wasn't too surprised when she saw him suddenly walking next to her. She had been half-expecting and half-wishing that he'd follow her.

"You're upset, are you?" he asked.

She just shrugged her shoulders and replied, "I should be," she turned to him and glared, "You stood me up."

Kakashi offered a lopsided smile, feeling guilty, "Sorry."

"Nope, that's not going to work this time," the young kunoichi blatantly spoke.

"What? You're really that mad at me?" Kakashi asked in pure disbelief. Had he been pushing her too much? "C'mon," he stopped, grabbed her arm and started dragging her back into the pub.

"Hey!" she yelped indignantly.

"I'm buying you a drink," he turned to her and winked, "To make it up to you."

"But—"

Of course her protests died and then she's back inside the pub—again.

Later that night…

Sakura refused to get another drink by the third time Kakashi asked the waitress to bring another one. Kakashi noticed her cheeks flushing and decided to walk her home before she gets too drunk. They walked in companionable silence until they turned to yet another corner street.

"Kakashi-sensei, you owe me something." Sakura suddenly blurted out.

He turned to her with a brow slightly raised, "I already brought you a drink."

Sakura shook her head, "No, you're supposed to explain something."

Kakashi was confused, "Which is?"

He's faking innocence! Sakura glared at him, "The thing you refused to tell me back in area 4!"

Ah, that one. A smirk tugged the corner of his mouth, "Forget about it, Sakura. It's nothing."

"You promised!"

"I never promised you anything," Kakashi forced an innocent smile.

"Kakashi!" he's being difficult and it's annoying her. He was teasing her alright. And he's obviously enjoying every second of it. "Hatake Kakashi, you are the most insufferable, crude, bas—"

"Whoa, is that the way you talk about your sensei, Sakura?"

The younger Nin slowly backed away, crossing her arms with a huff, "Sorry old man, I forgot."

"Call me old again; I swear I'll make sure you regret saying it," he half-heartedly warned.

"Only if you tell me!" she persistently pressed.

"I refuse," he finally stated and then turned on his heels to resume their walk.

Sakura threw her hands in the air and exclaimed, "Fine!" she ran to his side and both started walking in companionable silence again.

And for a second there he thought she finally gave up.

Not until she opened her mouth again and said, "If I beat you in a fight, will you tell me?"

Kakashi abruptly stopped walking. He gave her a side-glance and asked, "Is that a challenge?"

"Maybe…" she drawled tauntingly.

He shook his head and sighed, "All these efforts for the sake of a petty comment. What's next? My mask?" he said as an afterthought. He however immediately regretted it when he saw the dangerous glint that sparked the kunoichi's eyes.

Sakura looked thoughtful for a moment then finally nodded to herself, "Yeah… that's a good idea." For years they wondered what exactly is behind that grey mask. This is the perfect opportunity fulfil that Team 7 goal.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes at her, "Sakura…"

Sakura grinned, "It's like hitting two birds in one stone. I get to see your face and at the same time get the answer I need!"

"I wouldn't be too happy if I were you."

"Why not?" she planted her hands on her hips in a most intimidating manner.

The white-haired jounin smiled, "It's a challenge, Haruno Sakura. It's not a typical training session."

"And you're planning to make it much difficult for me?"

"Probably, yes."

"Sure," she smugly raised her chin, "I'm not expecting you to go easy on me anyway."

"Right," for the second time, Kakashi resumed walking. Sakura immediately caught up.

"Just so you know I always get what I want."

"We'll see."

"I won't easily give up."

"I know."

And the challenge was on.

TBC