Summary is the same as what caused you to click this link.
Hi. I've been searching for some good KakaSaku, and I can't find anything that appeals to me here. I wanted something not AU, and as in-character as it could be. So, I decided to write one for myself. I wasn't originally going to post it here, but I wanted some feedback.
Important: Since I've been browsing quite a few Kakasakus, you might inherently find some similar material here. A lot of the fics have common threads or plots, but I'll be honest that I got the original idea for this from another fic. However, it diverges completely and it's totally my own.
So, enjoy! Long live KakaSaku!
xo
The Color of Sacrifice
Chapter 1: To Give Up What's Left
The people who filled the Hokage's Office clued Sakura in to the real reason Tsunade had summoned her. Kakashi stood to her right, and Shizune hovered behind the figure who commanded them here. Two ANBU were stationed by the door.
Her heart leapt.
A mission! the light haired girl thought. These days, Sakura would eagerly devour any opportunity she could for a high ranked mission. It wasn't because she loved the thrill of it, as Tsunade began to suspect. The girl wanted every mission she could undertake to prepare and prove herself suitable for the Jonin Exams and eventually, the ANBU trials. Preparatory A ranked missions were definitely in order.
Sakura watched as her teacher scanned the scrolls in front of her with a grim look daunting her eyes. Her shoulders sunk, and she raised her gaze to address the kunoichi she called on.
"This is an unusual mission. It's highly dangerous and risky, but I know you've been sinking your teeth into anything you can find. It makes me wonder…"
"Whatever it is, Hokage-sama, I will take it," Sakura replied evenly. She felt her former Sensei's still presence beside her. No doubt Kakashi was wondering about it, too. He remained mute, letting Sakura exude all the enthusiasm herself.
Tsunade sighed gruffly. "I want you to be prepared for the tasks you'll face as a Jonin, granted you pass your test." Sakura winced at the word choice, wishing that Tsunade could display a little more confidence when talking about her pupil's future plans. She could certainly use the supplementary confidence. Tsunade resumed. "You also said you were going on the ANBU track. Well, there are some prerequisites that this mission requires. You're checked off for most, but I have to ask you something else."
"What is it?" The innocent determination in her voice made the question even easier to ask.
"Are you a virgin?"
Really? Sakura's spirit plunged head first into the abyss of embarrassment and indignity. Outwardly, she managed to keep her composure. It didn't help that a Sensei who had known her since she was 12 was standing right next to her, pretending not to listen. Apparently, she was taking too long to respond.
"Well? This is crucial to your eligibility for the mission," Tsunade said shortly. Behind her, Shizune suspected that she enjoyed making Sakura uncomfortable.
"Um… M'lady, how does this determine my—" Tsunade slammed a fist on the table. Her impatience was triggered by Sakura's ability to beat around the bush. If the girl couldn't understand that this sensitive information was business only, then was she ready for this mission? Sakura flinched, but wasn't put off. She knew her master's temper well.
Tsunade began to take Sakura's silence for an answer.
"Nevermind, Sakura—"
"No!"
The hasty answer shot from Sakura's dry mouth. "No, Hokage-sama… I'm eligible." A satisfied smile played on the blonde woman's lips at the newly revealed information. Sakura could hardly suppress the pink blush from entering her cheeks. She didn't even want to glance at Kakashi.
He would just pretend not to have heard. But damn it, he heard.
"Well… Then this mission, unfortunately, is yours." Embarrassment was erased from her thoughts. Her ears sharpened. She heard a sigh, tinged with something like defeat, escape from her superior . "You will be traveling to the Land of Iron to investigate the theft of an allegedly stolen scroll. This mission is about stealth, not force. The scroll suspected stolen contains highly classified information about justsus developed in this village. The thief is a highly powerful shinobi who favors money and sin more than the political power he obtained through insidious methods and abuse.
He also has a very… A inclination towards young women. Mostly teenage girls. Sakura, you will play the part in order to retrieve information. You will be a distraction. I'm asking you to do this for the mission, but I do not expect you to fight this man. If that happens, it will be a dead giveaway. And trust me, you won't be able to handle him."
If the implications weren't enough, Sakura wanted to reiterate just exactly what Tsunade was asking from her.
"So… You want me to seduce him?" The words sounded strange in her mouth.
"Seduce him? It will go farther than that. Kunoichi's have a powerful tool at their disposal, and sometimes must use their resources in the highest ranked missions. Use your body as a weapon. Think of it as a rite of passage, of sorts."
How the hell could she say that so nonchalantly? The youngest in the room ground her teeth. She closed her eyes in thought, but the words floated on.
"That's why I'm also assigning Kakashi to the team. The two of you seem to have already established a strong sense of teamwork, and with just two of you, you can be less conspicuous. Kakashi can also protect you in the event that—"
Those words were the trigger.
Protect her? Those were exactly the words that made Sakura's knuckles turn white with tension. Those were the words that made her take up so many dangerous missions like they were afterschool hobbies. After all of this time, no matter how much she tried to prove herself, someone still thought she needed protection.
That's what her own master thought, and that stung. The feeling of weakness resounded inside her, eating her own insecurities. It wasn't enough that she could reduce whole buildings to rubble with one punch. She was still the weakest link.
She wanted the approval of her master, Tsuande. She wanted the pride of her Sensei, who had taught her to be strong in the first place, despite seeing her weakness.
Sakura could say nothing. She obviously couldn't refuse the help—Kakashi-Sensei was a good addition to her team. But, the feeling of being betrayed crept up the back of her neck.
"Kakashi, do you accept?" Tsunade asked, seeming to be casual.
"Yes, M'lady."
Sakura stiffened, posed with a duality of emotion. On the one hand, relief flooded her when Kakashi accepted, though there was no doubt that he would. He had always served as an over-arching reassurance, a—her least favorite word—protector. On the other hand, there was an astute bitterness. Not only was Tsunade trying to hand away the rights to her body, but she was forcing her Sensei to supervise the humiliation.
"You will depart tomorrow. Make necessary preparations. I'm giving you a scroll with top secret topographic information on the area and the man you'll be dealing with." She thumped a scroll into Kakashi's hand. "Dismissed."
They bowed. Sakura exited the office with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Already her thoughts plunged into the worst case scenarios of the situation. It hurt to know that the worst case scenario was, in fact, the planned scenario.
Her virginity was at the mercy of the enemy. Yes, the virginity that she told Tsunade didn't exist was, in fact, still intact. It completely existed. Just where in the span on numerous missions and medic training did she have time to do anything like that?
"Sakura," a voice said beside her. She completely forgot that Kakashi was trailing her. She didn't halt, but slowed her pace and let a tilt of her head signal that she was listening. The last thing she wanted to do was discuss the details of this mission with her Sensei. He handed her the scroll. "I suggest that you study this well."
She took it sourly, and turned her face straight ahead, so he didn't have the chance to glimpse her expression. She hated herself for feeling so bitter. Tsunade was a right, a mission was a mission. As a kunoichi, this was her duty! Unfortunately, her determination in staring straight ahead would not deflect Kakashi's words.
"Sakura, are you positive you want to accept this mission?" He asked lightly.
"Yes," she said quietly.
"This is a serious question, so answer me seriously." His tone was so suddenly harsh that she stopped to look quizzically at him. The look in his eye matched his voice. There was that familiar man with the silver hair splaying over a headband that covered one eye, while the other fixated on her. He towered over her, looking down at her. She felt like a child next him, but the flames in her chest would prove him wrong.
"Why are you questioning my acceptance of this mission, Kakashi-Sensei?" she challenged him back. She stared back at him with green, resilient eyes. She expected a battle of wills, and eventually to shy away from his indifferent nature. She was surprised when the rigidity melted away on his face.
"Well, I thought that would be obvious…" Sakura watched him scratch the back of his head, and look at her wearily. "You were a student of mine—"
"Kaka-Sensei, I still am!" Team 7 floated into her mind, accompanied by a refusal of abandon the image. He blinked.
"Let's just say I've grown rather fond of the color of your hair."
"What?" He smiled through his mask, his eyes crinkling in that familiar way. He "poofed" away at this point, leaving her to furiously decipher the meaning of that line. She never knew him to be indirect.
End of Chpt. 1
What do you think so far? Reviews encourage more chapters!
xo
