Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sakura was late. Unexpected, anxiety-inducing, and more than frustrating, she was later than she had ever been in her entire academic career. It was not at all how she had imagined her first day as a junior at Konoha University.

She had finally finished all her gen-ed classes and prerequisites, and was set to start field specific classes. Her first class was with a Professor Hatake. She had yet to meet the man, but knew he had a notorious reputation as someone who had very strict expectations.

Of course it was Naruto's fault, that knucklehead. The one time she gave in and let him borrow her car so he could go surprise Hinata for their anniversary since she had to work the night shift, and he had lost them. Lost them in Sakura's apartment. How does that even happen?

He had made it all the way back here, quietly entered her apartment so as to not wake her up, even put away his take out! Yet he didn't put the car keys away.

This was what she got for being a good friend. He was currently passed out on her couch like a literal corpse, without even an ounce of common courtesy to wake up and help her look.

Sakura was annoyed with the boy, but she fully believed Hinata deserved something nice after having to deal with her overenthusiastic best friend for three years now. That didn't change the fact that her once clean apartment looked like a tornado as she tore through it trying to find her damn keys. And Naruto just continued to sleep!

"Ahh, NARUTO!" She threw a second pillow at him trying to get him to wake the hell up. "I needed to leave five minutes ago, so WAKE. UP. NOW!"

Sakura was met with silence…she gave in and tipped him off the couch.

"Sakkuurraa, what the hell?" His eyes blinked open, and she could see him start to process the world around him at an infuriating slow speed. Even so, Sakura didn't have time.

"Naruto! Where are my keys. I'm going to be so late to my first class! I've literally never been late before ever, and I do one nice thing for you. One, and you repay me by losing my keys and then not even bothering to act a little guilty. Help me look!" She was seething, but at least he had the smarts to look somewhat apologetic before slowly getting up.

"Sakura, you're always so high strung. So what if you're a little late?" He turned his empty pockets inside out before his one track mind saw the fridge and his body started moving, being led by his empty stomach. He called back over his shoulder to his friend, "It's just one class." 

"Just one class?? Naruto…this is the first advanced course in my specific degree path, and the instructor is supposedly a hardass. I need to give off a good impression!" 

She checked his shoes, coat pockets, bathroom counter, even the front door in case the idiot left them out there. It all turned up nothing.

Sakura turned around and her eyes saw red. How did he already have his head in the fridge and hands on his takeout while she was obviously over there having a crisis. One that he caused, thank you very much.

"NARUTO!" Her gaze hardened and her feet began the heightened stomps in his direction. She couldn't help but think he looked scared at that moment, and it brought her some much needed joy.

One hand holding his food, and the other held up in an attempt at pacifying the pink haired demon that seemed to manifest in the middle of the apartment, Naruto backed up.

"I'm over here losing my damn mind, and here you are EATING FO–" Sakura paused. She had finally reached the blond ready to unleash the fires of hell on him.

Her hand shot forward, and Naruto shut his eyes and looked as if he were embracing for impact. Sakura sighed, grabbed her keys out of the take out container, and jabbed her finger in his face.

"I'll deal with you later, moron." And with one last shake of her head, Sakura rushed out the door trying to salvage her day and get to class as quick as humanly possible.

Chapter Text

Thanks to her perpetual over planning, Sakura had just enough time to grab a caffeine boost and hopefully get to class with a few minutes to spare. She may not get the seat she wanted, but it was a tradeoff she was willing to take to make sure she actually stayed awake and attentive.

She had planned to leave early enough to grab a coffee, and get to class ten minutes early. That way she could have grabbed a middle row seat…close enough to see the board and pay attention, but far enough that she wouldn't be caught right in Professor Hatake's eye contact zone.

Oh well, she thought. Maybe she'd get lucky and still get the seat she wanted. Sakura figured she could settle for a back row seat. Sure, her eyes may strain a little bit, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. 

What would be the end of the world was if she got stuck in the first row. Okay, yeah she knew that was an over exaggeration. However, given the man's reputation she did not want to be in range to actively be noticed.

Sakura knew deep down she shouldn't have stopped, but couldn't continue to deal with the shit show that was the day without caffeine. It was this train of thought that crossed her mind when she suddenly found herself heading in a downward direction towards the pavement.

Strong arms shot out to catch her midfall, which would have been much appreciated if it hadn't also resulted in coffee down the front of her dress.

Sakura looked up at the face attached to the arms with a combined look of surprise and renewed rage. Could her day literally get any worse?

Her emerald eyes met charcoal gray highlighted by a head oh white hair, and she was sure that all color drained from her complexion. The colors were odd and noticeable on such a young man.

He was absolutely stunning, even with half his face covered. Eyes that seemed to pierce her soul, almost unnaturally white hair, and toned arms outlined by a sleeveless, black tee attached to a neck and face mask.

"Fuck, are you okay?"

Sakura looked up to the voice that expressed concern to find it was not the one whose arms she was currently being held. The other man had on a bike helmet, and had been the one who opened the door she realized. The door she had tried to walk through and failed to notice the second individual coming out.

"Miss?" the man asked, staring with excessive concern.

"Umm, yeah," Sakura blurted out, righting herself into a standing and less embarrassing position.

The white haired man's eyes never left hers. Sakura flushed a deep rouge under his scrutinizing gaze. He spoke, and she wanted to cry at the sound of his voice. Was she seriously that pathetic to be so affected by this stranger? A stranger mind you who had just dumped his coffee on her carefully chosen outfit.

"Alas, Tenzo. My day is looking out to be unbearable. Too many responsibilities, and now no coffee." 

"You're going to be fine, Kakashi. Don't be dramatic. I'll buy you another one."

So that was his name. Kakashi finally looked away from her and back at the one he called Tenzo. "If you insist. This girl," he said with a distinct head shrug in Sakura's direction, "was the one who walked into me. Technically she owes me a coffee."

Sakura interjected then, finally having found her voice. "Ah, excuse me??"

Who the hell did this guy think he was? "You walked into me. AND you poured your coffee on me." Hand on her hip and eyes filled with that rage, she glared at Kakashi.

"That's where you're wrong," he shot back, the corners of his mouth curled up under the mask into what she knew was a smug smile. "I was aware you were there, but incorrectly assumed you would step out of the way. You see, I'm on a very important, top-secret mission and many lives are at stake." He winked at her.

Okay, what in the world was this lunatic talking about? Sakura noticed his friend shake his head. Fuck it, she didn't have time for this.

She cut him off, "Okay, just stop there mister top secret ninja or whatever." His eyebrow raised at her words, and she noticed a scar she had looked past before over his eye.

"I wouldn't have time for this on a normal day, but I really don't have time today. Just come with me and I'll buy you your stupid coffee," she pushed past them both and into the shop.

What came next were the slowest and most awkward seven minutes of her life. Aside from his coffee order they waited together in absolute silence. Anytime she tried to be even a little bit cordial and engage him in conversation, he responded with something along the lines of “sorry, that’s top secret. You get it”

She did not get it. And to make matters worse, his friend just stood there at the doorway with his arms crossed like a bouncer.

Sakura watched as Kakashi reached out and grabbed his new coffee. He turned to her, the piercing look was back and stopped her in her tracks yet again. All she could think about was how good it felt to be in his arms, yet how fucking weird the guy was. They stared at each other longer than was necessary, before he gave her a little salute and said in complete seriousness, “My mission is underway again. The people thank you.”

Sakura was left standing there in a coffee-stained dress and ten dollars poorer than before.