Children of Fire

by Julie Watersprite

Chapter I - Introlude

With a weary sigh and watery limbs, Sakura dragged herself out of bed. She'd barely slept the past night, and the night before hadn't been better. A burning sensation in her throat hadn't allowed her to draw proper breaths as every intake of air brought even more hotness along with it. She'd drank so much water to try and sooth the feeling that she'd been getting up every hour to empty her bladder. The burning was still present and was now coupled with a slight fever that was probably the result of two sleepless nights. Yesterday had been her one free day and she'd managed to rest even if she didn't sleep a wink, but today she had training with her team and then half a shift at the hospital. However, maybe the exhaustion would make her fall asleep without being bothered by her throat.

A cool shower brought some relief, coffee scaled her even more than her painful breaths, and she vomited the two spoonfuls of cereal she'd eaten before making her way to the bridge to wait for Kakashi. The air was fresh and she took a deep breath, thankful that al least the weather was on her side, she would've suffocated if it had been sunny. For once, she relished in the over-cast sky and the cold breezes that tangled her hair.

Naruto was already there as she arrived by the meeting point, idly throwing pebbles into the river and yawning every two seconds. He spotted her and brightened, a grin stretched across his face and she felt a little better. The pure and utter joy that lightened up his always sunny features whenever she was in the vicinity was a statement of how much she meant to him. It warmed her heart and she smiled at him despite her miserable mood.

"Good morning, Sakura-chan!" he called jovially, moving to greet her, her smile brightened a bit. "Did you sleep well?"

She didn't let him see the traces of her sleepless nights on her smile and responded with slightly forced cheer, "Morning, Naruto. Well enough thank you. And you?"

He laughed and folded his arms behind his head, putting his weight on her left foot as his right leg bent at the knee. "I slept like a log, almost didn't hear my alarm this morning."

Sakura smiled and was about to say something when she spotted Sai coming towards them. Looking over the blond's shoulder at her dark-haired teammate, she greeted him as well. "Good morning, Sai."

The pale artist smiled a small but genuine smile and walked around Naruto to stand in the middle. "Good morning, hag, dickless. Did you have a restful night?"

Sakura would never get used to his polite speech manner combined with the insulting nicknames, but she'd learned to ignore it most of the time, and Naruto had stopped getting upset every single time and just insulted Sai in turn.

"Morning to you too, asshole. I hope you had nightmares." The blonde grumbled but grinned at Sakura who smirked at him slightly. Those two would never change, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Sai adapted his false smile again, but didn't respond, probably not knowing what to say once again. Kakashi wouldn't show up until at least an hour had gone by, but Sakura had a feeling it would be longer.

She was right. Three agonizing hours had dragged by as Team Kakashi waited for their tardy leader. With every second and every pained breath, Sakura thought up one new tortuous way to strip the Copy Ninja of his life. That man underestimated her temper and her determination to do something drastic when frustrated, and she was beyond frustration after being forced to wait for so long on the tardiest person known to humankind.

Half hour into the waiting, Ino, Chouji and Shikamaru had passed them on the way to their own training, five minutes ago they'd left for a late breakfast, done with their training and ready to take on their daily duties. Team Kakashi hadn't even started their training. Thankfully, Sakura's shift started at three or Tsunade would already be on the hunt for her apprentice's head.

All three teammates were at varying stages of frustration. What in the nine hells was taking Kakashi so long? He hadn't been so late since their first training together.

Naruto had draped himself over the ledge some time ago, staring at the water, and wincing every time his stomach gave a loud and plaintive growl. He had been forced to go out without breakfast that morning, having forgotten that his fridge and cupboards were empty groceries shopping ended up being the last thing on his mind the previous evening. Waiting until the training ended to eat at Ichiraku's sounded like worst torture imaginable.

Sakura was sitting down, back and head leaned against the ledge, knees drawn up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them, mouth open and breathing in the cold air, somewhat alleviating the almost unbearable heat in her throat. Kakashi was so dead when she got her hands on him. She's definitely going to report this to Tsunade and let the Hokage punish him on top the beating he'll get from her. That bastard was going to suffer.

Sai was sitting to her right, his sketchbook out drawing the Nagano River and the cherry trees around it. Sakura found it somewhat futile to draw that particular view in November, her namesake won't be blossoming for another five months, but if Sai liked it than who was she to stop him?

You're a dead man Kakashi, Inner Sakura growled with growing annoyance and her Outer counterpart could only agree. If she had to wait another five minutes, she was going to destroy the Hokage Monument in a fit of righteous rage.

Turns out, she didn't have to wait the five more minutes of Hell.

A sudden muted 'pop' above her head startled her out of her homicidal thoughts and she craned her neck to glare at her team leader, crouched on the ledge a few inches above her.

"Yo," Kakashi greeted them with a raised hand, but Sakura noted that his usual eye-crinkling smile was absent. From what she could make out of his face under that infernal mask, his expression was serious, if not slightly haggard.

That didn't stop her from giving him a piece of her mind, though. "You're late," she said, ominously calm. "Very late. We waited three hours for you, sensei. I don't know about the other two, but I am going to beat you blue and black and then report it to Tsunade-shishou. You're getting more and more irresponsible as you grow older."

Naruto gulped and Sai backed away when she stood up, turning to glare directly into Kakashi's sole dark eye. Had the Copy Ninja been anyone else, he'd already be a bloody pulp twitching on the ground. It was only Sakura's respect of him that gave him a chance to explain himself before her temper took over.

"I know. I'm sorry." His quiet voice carried freely as his teammates waited for whatever lie he was going to dish them this time. It never came.

Bright cerulean met slightly feverish emerald in silent shock and even Sai raised an incredulous eyebrow. They'd all grown accustomed to Kakashi's excuses and kept track of them to ensure he didn't try to feed them the same sorry lie twice. However, him not trying to lie outright… Well it never happened before. It frightened Sakura a little.

"Kaka-sensei…" she started cautiously. "Are you feeling alright?"

Kakashi sighed and raked a hand through his messy silver hair. "Yes, Sakura. I feel just fine, don't worry." When she continued eyeing him with worry, he gave another sigh and turned his one-eyed gaze to Naruto. "Naruto, there's something I have to tell you. You probably won't like it."

Naruto tensed a bit before a wry grin stretched his lips and he huffed out a small nervous laugh. "What's the matter, Kaka-sensei? You copied my sexy no jutsu, or something?"

This irritated Sakura a bit and she snapped at Naruto. "Baka. As if Kakashi would do something like that. He may be a major pervert, but he's not a brainless one like you and Jiraiya-sama. Now stop being an idiot and listen to him."

"Sorry. What were you saying, Kaka-sensei?" Naruto apologized sheepishly and turned his attention to their team leader again.

Kakashi had abandoned his crouch in favor of sitting on the ledge and fixed his solemn eye on a suddenly nervous Naruto. "The reason why I'm late," he began quietly, "is because I've been with Tsunade-sama all this time. She summoned me before dawn, saying she had something important to tell me. Sakura," the girl jumped as he turned to her, "you probably know that Tsunade-sama is planning to resign, right?"

It was true. Tsunade had talked to both her apprentices about that topic before. Only a week before she'd sat down with Sakura and explained to her youngest protégé and surrogate daughter that the hard work of a Hokage coupled with her old age is wearing too much on her and that stepping down in favor of someone younger was something she just had to do for herself. She didn't want to spend the rest of her days locked in a stuffy office doing paperwork; no matter the honor of her position, it wasn't what she wanted of her life, or the few more years she had left.

It wasn't easy for Sakura to hear. Tsunade had been a mother to her for years, even more, as Sakura had never been close to her own mother. A civilian woman could never understand a kunoichi and vice versa. But Tsunade and her apprentice were very similar in many ways; the two had understood each other perfectly and had bonded quickly. Sakura was mini Tsunade for more than just the Hokage's infamous temper, after all. Moreover, Tsunade had asked Sakura whom the younger kunoichi would judge capable of being the Rukodaime Hokage. Being rational and intelligent Sakura had refrained from simply blurting out 'Naruto', like she'd wanted. It would've earned her a firm scolding from Tsunade. Instead, she'd thought about it.

Surprisingly, Naruto hadn't been the first in her thoughts. It had been Kakashi. Then Tenzou, followed by Kurenai and even Gai. The younger generation offered Hyuuga Neji, an almost perfect candidate; Nara Shikamaru and of course the one and only Uzumaki Naruto. She'd added Shizune, almost as an afterthought.

Tsunade had smiled and nodded approvingly, saying that all of them were capable and would make wonderful Hokage if they got the chance. Both of them had discussed Kakashi and Neji in particular, as the born candidates for the position. Both men bore the title of a prodigy with good reason; both were determined, loyal and loved the village. There Tsunade had said that the Hyuuga Clan in general loved the village and would sacrifice anything for its stake, but that Kakashi's love went deeper than mere obligation or a strong sense of duty. Then she'd, almost slyly added that Sakura had forgotten another important candidate. When her apprentice had started combing her brain for a name that might've escaped her, Tsunade had looked at her intently and silently uttered, "Yourself."

To say that Sakura was shocked would've been an understatement. She'd stuttered and vehemently shook her head, muttering something about 'no, never' and 'not being good enough'. Her shishou had told her confidently that if she asked Konoha's population if they wanted Sakura as their Hokage right that instant, that the majority would agree wholeheartedly. "If they love me, and they do," Tsunade had said, "they'd worship you." It was then that Sakura understood just how much her shishou loved her and how highly she thought of her. She'd broken into tears, embraced Tsunade with a rib-crushing grip, and thanked her repeatedly for everything she'd taught her and for the love she'd bestowed upon her. It had been the first time Sakura had seen the Hokage cry.

Shaking the sobering thoughts from her head, she nodded slightly to Kakashi and whispered, "Yeah, that's right."

The Copy Ninja eyed her for a moment, almost as if he knew what she was thinking about before nodding himself. "Yes. She presented me with a list of potential candidates; all approved by the Jounin and Clan Councils. Your name was there as well and Naruto's, as is expected. She also said that the Hyuuga Clan was more for you becoming Hokage than their own candidate, Neji. Hiashi had apparently reasoned this with the fact that Neji will become the Head of the Clan if Hinata marries someone from outside. Anyway, she told me in confidence that she herself would make you the Hokage tomorrow if you'd say yes and I can only agree. However, we both know that you'd never accept the position if it meant taking it from under Naruto's nose. So she'd come to another decision. Naruto," he turned to the slightly blue-tinted blond. "You're not ready yet. Tsunade-sama is well aware of that, as I am. You'll need a few more years before you're mature enough to shoulder such a responsibility." Here, Kakashi took a deep breath and scratched his head. "I don't want this, nor do I like it any more than you do Naruto, but I was forced to it. I'll be taking the Hokage position until you're ready."

The world seemed to still for a brief moment as student and teacher stared each other in the eye, one knowing that he'd hurt a person close to his heart, the other numb from shock and pain.

Naruto liked Kakashi, he really did, he respected him and looked up to him. Kakashi had always been some kind of unreachable idol for Naruto, a person he had to beat before he could consider himself truly strong. He'd never been able to do it. Despite his advancing age, Kakashi was fast, agile and damn strong. Beating the Copy Ninja was almost an impossibility. And now Kakashi had bested him again, he'd become what Naruto had dreamed of since he'd been able to think. It wasn't fair. Naruto wanted to hate him. He really, truly did. Only he couldn't. Not when Kakashi looked like he wanted to be beat by Sakura and Tsunade together rather than becoming Hokage before him. And most certainly not when Sakura's huge green eyes begged him not to detest their team leader. He'd never been able to deny his best friend anything, after all.

With a deep, defeated sigh, Naruto squared his shoulders and forced a smile. "Well, I guess I am too immature to become Hokage right now. I'm happy for you Kaka-sensei. But don't delude yourself, I'll be ready sooner than you think, and then you'll hand over the position to me!" His happy grin still intact, he turned to Sakura and shrugged. "I guess there'll be no training today, so I'm going to get some ramen, I'm starving." He was off before any of them had a chance to say anything.

Sai being Sai, was perceptive enough to understand that he had no place in the conversation that was waiting to unfold between his remaining two teammates, so he put on his usual fake smile and quietly said, "I'll be going too, I have a painting to finish," before vanishing with a soft 'pop'.

Left alone the two candidates for the Hokage position looked at each other in silence. Both knew that there were many things for them to talk about, starting from why Kakashi would rather have her as Hokage than himself or Naruto. She didn't share that opinion, but she couldn't begrudge him his decision to rule until Naruto was ready. Even if she wasn't keen on admitting it, she nonetheless knew that it was right. There was nothing wrong with what he'd done.

He didn't seem to share her opinion and looked like he wanted to apologize, just didn't know how to.

"Sakura… I…" Kakashi started quietly, unsure what to say, or how, but she cut him off.

"It's alright, Kakashi. You don't have to explain to me, I understand. And Naruto will come to terms with it, just give him some time. He has to adjust. For years, he's been sure that he'll become the Rukodaime; this has come as a shock to him. Tsunade decided to retire earlier than any of us hoped, and it caught him at a bad point. I know he's still not ready, not focused, or mature enough to lead our village. I still believe that the world will become a better place when he becomes Hokage, but that time isn't now. And about myself… well I can't change the world, nor would I want to, it's not my place. I didn't become Tsunade's apprentice with the goal to be Hokage one day. That's not me. It's not my nindo. I want to heal and fight and be a ninja, I don't want to push papers around, or scare aids or give out missions and sit in boring meetings. I want to be out there in the fry, kicking ass." She grinned at him and he smiled back, somewhat hesitant.

A sudden surge of nausea hit her and she staggered a bit, but covered it with changing her position to stand beside him and lean her back on the ledge. She's been talking too much, and the hotness in her throat had escalated. She was sure if she looked at her throat in the mirror that it would be angry red and swollen. Gods, she hated getting sick, being unable to simply heal herself drove her crazy, and she wasn't any better a patient than Kakashi. Doctors do tend to be the worst patients; that fact wasn't lost on her.

As if sensing her discomfort, or perhaps smelling the illness on her, Kakashi turned to look at her with an inquisitive look. After a second, he decided that something truly was wrong with her and ventured into asking.

"Sakura, are you alright?"

She gave him a shrewd look, and nodded. That proved not to be the best idea as she everything around her started turning. Blanching and clutching at the ledge behind her, she doubled over and wretched. On an empty stomach. The taste and burning of the digesting fluids she was vomiting worsened the heat in her throat. Gasping for an untainted and cool breath, she felt Kakashi's hand on her back, the other holding her bangs from her face. He was murmuring something she couldn't understand and didn't have the energy to contemplate. Dizzy, unable to breathe properly and with a steadily growing fever, she gave up and once again pitched forward, this time losing conscience. Kakashi caught her just in time. Supporting her around the waist, he lifted her tiny body and looked at her pale, sweaty face. The backs of his fingers ghosted over her forehead and he hissed at the heat emanating from there. She was burning up.

His first thought was the hospital. Then he remembered something Sakura had said when their team had reunited again in order to save Gaara. "I've spent so much time in that hospital, first learning, then healing, that if I ever fall sick or get hurt I wouldn't want to be there. Ever." He knew the feeling, and that was the reason he decided to take her to his apartment, he didn't know where she lived. When she was situated in his bed he'll send Pakkun for Tsunade. With that decision, he was sure that she wouldn't break anything when she woke up.

A.N./ Hi, I'm Julie and I'm a newbie to the Naruto fanfiction writing, and fanfiction writing in general. I wrote before, but I never found the courage to publish anything. That changed when I met my good friend Jasmin Kaiba, who's been urging me on to publish, saying I'm good at this, I'm not so sure. But she gave me the idea for this story and I didn't want to disappoint someone who's encouraged me a lot since I met her. So if you think similar to my editor Jasmin and find this story worth a read, please do drop me line or two, I would really appreciate it. I need to know if I should really become an active member of this site. Thanks, Julie.