I do not own Naruto/Naruto Shippuden.
*some changes*
Tsunade is still Hokage and Team 7 is now 20 years of age (Sasuke is back). Same age gap between Kakashi and Sakura.
Chapter 1: The Plague
It was cold and windy night in Konoha. It was around 2AM when Sakura is awoken by a loud banging at her apartment door. Sakura opens her eyes as the banging doesn't stop, nor does it slow down. Angrily the pink headed girl stomps her way towards the door way, only to see Hinata's face in pure panic as well as the droplets of sweat running down her face. Sakura's expression of anger faded away when she realized the seriousness of the situation. "Hinata, is everything alright? Come in, you'll get a cold, it's freezing outside."
"Sakura-chan! We need to hurry! Lady Tsunade has requested you! Lady Tsunade said that the village is in danger." As Sakura realized what was happening, she dashed to the hokage's office in a hurry with Hinata falling right behind her. Once Sakura and Hinata arrive, they're walking towards the Hokage's office, but Sakura notices three medical ninjas carrying a young pale woman on a litter rushing to the hospital and stops right in her tracks. As Sakura made her way to the young patient, she's stopped by two shinobi. "What the hell? Sakura yells. When the two shinobi are unresponsive, Sakura tries to pass the two, but she knows that she won't be able to win unless she breaks every bone in their body. Sakura struggles to fight the two shinobi who dared to stop her from healing a woman who is need of great medical attention. That is until a strong pair of arms lift her up off the ground and step away from the two shinobi. As an instinct, Sakura tries to punch the unidentified person, but is unsuccessful, due to the man's amazing reflexes.
"Sakura that's enough. Wait and let Lady Tsunade explain." Sakura turns around and is greeted by a familiar face. Kakashi slowly brings Sakura away from the two shinobi, gaining more distance until the shinobi and the woman are out of their sights. Smiling, he puts her down and the two stare at each other having their own little conversation.
Hinata hating to interrupt, "Umm Sakura-chan… Kakashi sensei… Lady Tsunade is waiting." The two realize that they were called by the Fifth Hokage for very important business. Realizing that they have a job to do, the trio make their way to the Hokage's office.
As they walked in, Hinata left the two to an angry woman who was obviously tired of waiting. Especially at this hour. "It was about time you guys got here. Sit down we have a very dangerous dilemma." With these orders, the pair sit down and are focused on Tsunade. The village is in serious danger. There is an illness that is in a woman's body. I assume that you guys have seen her in the hallway? She collapsed right outside in front of the building. One of the Medics took her inside to help her out the cold, but this illness isn't like any other. This is an ancient disease that fatally kills a person. There are three stages to this disease. Stage one: The person become very weak and starts to lose control of their body. Stage Two: The infection spreads causing the infected to lose full control of their body and their hearing and eyesight becomes less and less functional. Finally, the most dangerous stage, stage three. Stage Three completely takes the person's ability to hear and see. As well as the body starts to shut down every organ, and eventually the heart will stop beating as well. This disease was unidentified until recently by a faraway village. They've named it the Ancient Plague. This plague is transmitted physically. The one medic that did touch that poor woman will be in quarantine. As well as the woman herself. We don't know how many more people this woman has touched, but the village is in grave danger. She approximately less than 1 month before the plague shuts her heart down." With that, Kakashi and Sakura exchange looks of seriousness.
"If we can't touch her, how do we heal her? Do we have cure? How long does she have?" Due to the shock of what was learned, Sakura starts to ask more and more questions. To comfort her Kakashi lays his hand on her shoulder and smiles reassuring her. "Sakura don't worry. We will find a way. We will save this woman. Right Lady Tsunade?"
"There is one way to save her. That is why I have called Team 7 to retrieve the scroll that identifies the plague and the cure for it. It is last minute, but I know I can entrust you with the safety of the scroll. At 8AM, Team 7 will meet back in my office for full information of the mission. For now, get some rest and be ready." Sakura and Kakashi walk out of the office and out into the front of the building.
Turning towards her former teacher she smiles at him and waits a moment before she starts up a conversation. "Well Kakashi sensei, I guess Team 7 is having a reunion, it's been awhile… everyone's been busy. I'm kind of excited…" Smiling back Kakashi remembers the memories he had with his former students. "Let me walk you home Sakura. You shouldn't walk home alone at this hour."
"No its okay sensei, my apartment is the in the other direction from where you live. I'll be fine." Kakashi looked at her and stared in her beautiful emerald eyes, and he realized that he wanted to make sure he was going to walk her home. "Sakura I don't mind, I'll walk you home. Don't argue, I'm still your elder after all."
Sakura defeated, sighed. "Okay Kakashi sensei, don't complain when your feet start to get tired. My apartment is pretty far" Laughing Kakashi and Sakura start walking side by side underneath the beautiful moonlight. Once they've reached Sakura's front door, the two smiled at each other and exchanged long silence between each other. "Kakashi sensei thanks for walking me home."
"Call me Kakashi, Sakura...Well I better get going. Make sure you get enough sleep tonight." Sakura curious of the time, looks at her clock… 3:27AM. Blushing she stops him from leaving, "Kakashi sen— I mean Kakashi. Would you like to stay the night? It's pretty late and it's a big day tomorrow. You can sleep on the couch if you want…" Red as a tomato, Sakura instantly regretted her decision, but it was too late to take it back. Smiling at her, Kakashi accepted, "Sure, if you don't mind Sakura. I'll gladly take the couch."
The two enter Sakura's one bedroom apartment, "Would you like anything to drink Kakashi?" Declining for now Kakashi sits down on her couch, getting ready to sleep. "I'm good, but thank you."
"Okay, help yourself if you're thirsty later. Let me fix up the couch so it'll be more comfortable to—", before Sakura could finish her sentence, the silver haired man was already sleeping. Sakura grabbed a blanket and covered him, but as she came closer, she couldn't help but look at attractive her former sensei looked. Whispering to herself, "When did he get become so attractive?" After realizing what she said, she quickly turned red and walked away to change, and headed straight to bed waiting for the new day to start. Little did she know that her former sensei was still awake enough to hear her say what she stated.