He nears Sasuke's house when he hears a quiet whimpering nearby. He stops, and tuning in carefully, discovers it's coming from the alley just around the corner. He follows the sound—to find Sakura clutching her chest with her arms, her knees drawn up, rocking and crying softly, her head down. Bloody, ripped remnants of clothing barely cling to her otherwise-exposed skin. Lying next to her are two metal rings, a piece of thick cloth, and a small length of rope. His heart drops as he realizes what has just happened to his former student. He removes his shirt, and wraps it around her, neverminding the blood soaking into the "Sixth Hokage" lettering on the back of it.

Too much in shock to even realize what is happening, Sakura gives no fight as Kakashi lifts her into his arms.

Kakashi races to the hospital. He hears Sakura utter softly between sobs, too distraught to realize what she is saying or who to, "He ruined me. He ruined me for Sasuke. The only thing precious I had to offer him…that man stole it. Sasuke will never want me now."

Kakashi knows there's no point in trying to comfort Sakura. Not only didn't he have the vaguest idea what to say, she wouldn't hear him in her traumatized state anyway. He gets her to the hospital quickly and summons Lady Tsunade there. Then he sends for Naruto and Sasuke as he returns to his office, the sun having come up by then.

"Listen," he begins somberly. "I have some bad news. A colleague of ours was attacked by a thug last night. She's in the hospital right now. But neither of you must go see her until I give permission! This is important! Do you understand?"

The two young men nod in agreement.

"I've put up surveillance in the alley where she was found and closed off the city. No one is allowed in or out. Out-of-towners already here and anyone seen as suspicious are being checked out. Until we have more information, this is the best I can do."

"S-so…who is this comrade of ours who go hurt?" asks Naruto.

"The victim is Sakura."

"What…?" The two friends say in unsion.

They bombard Kakashi with overlapping questions about her condition, why they can't see her, about her assailant.

Kakashi hastily rises from the Hokage's chair and slams his fists down on his desk, silencing the co-mingling voices in the room.

"Listen!" he shouts. "This perpetrator…was more than just a simple thug. We believe he immobilized Sakura with restraints that suck the victim's chakra out. She was also gagged. That evidence is being meticulously studied for clues that might lead us to the assailant. But she has been examined and it has been confirmed. Sakura…was raped, beaten, and stabbed by this man and left for dead. She has three broken ribs, and is having surgery right now due to internal injuries. Tsunade herself is taking care of that. She got to her in time. Sakura will be alright. But healing won't happen overnight." He slumps back down into his seat, misery evident on his face, even with half of it covered.

Sasuke and Naruto blanch, their eyes wide, mouths open, stomachs suddenly churning. Their faces are shocked horror. They begin to ask questions along the same lines again, this time much more quietly and slowly.

"Sakura isn't ready to talk about it yet," answers Kakashi with distress in his voice. "Nor is she prepared for visitors at this time. Please leave her be for the time being. I give you my word, I will keep you both informed. You'll both be assigned to the mission to capture this man once we have some idea who we're looking for. This is terribly upsetting news, and it's frustrating not to have an enemy to pursue, but we can all best help Sakura right now by keeping our heads. Keep your good judgement. I will call for you both as soon as I know something. Now…Naruto, you're dismissed. Sasuke, there's something I need to discuss with you in private, if you don't mind."

"What?!" exclaims Naruto. "Don't you trust me, Kakashi-Sensei? I mean, Hokage-sama?"

"Of course I do, Naruto. But this is a private matter. I would preserve your privacy if it was you I had to say this to…"

Naruto leaves, then, head bowed.

Naruto is burning with curiosity, wondering if Kakashi is telling Sasuke something about Sakura's attacker. But he quickly dismisses the idea. He knows Kakashi wouldn't leave him out of the loop on something this important. But he's seriously upset about his dear friend Sakura. God, Sakura, I'm so sorry. I wish I had been there to protect you…

He unconsciously starts punching huge holes in the walls of the Hokage's building on his way out in hurt and anger for his friend, disappointment in himself for not being there, and frustration that so far there was not one single lead on the enemy for him to follow.

"Sasuke," the Hokage begins, "Sakura's physical injuries will heal in time. But there's more to her pain that just that, and I'm afraid that you're the only one who can help her with that healing. I'm not telling you this as the Hokage, as your former sensei, or even as a Shinobi…but as a friend. Of both of you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Sasuke, I'm the one who found Sakura. She told me some things while I carried her to the hospital. She didn't realize what she was saying, or who to, in the state she was in. But what she said…I think you need to hear."

Sasuke's heart drops, filling with a terrible anticipation. "What is it?" he manages to say calmly.

"She said…she said that that man stole from her the only thing precious she had to offer you, Sasuke. Now, it's no secret how Sakura has always felt about you. Now she's convinced you'll never accept her since she's been violated and dishonored. It's up to you to convince her otherwise. That probably means stepping outside your comfort zone. But if her fears are unfounded, as I suspect, and if you care more for her than you let on, as I also suspect, you will find a way. You are the only person who can make her whole again. That's all. You may go."

Sasuke is too desperate to make Sakura better to feel embarrassed. But then a thought pops us…he stammers one final question suddenly plaguing his mind.

"W-wait…Kakashi-Sensei…Hokage-sama…whatever…y-you said you found her? When and where exactly was that?"

"Sasuke, I told you, I've got it covered. You just be at the ready when I need you. Now go on. You should get some rest because you could get called up any minute."

"You're hiding something, Kakashi," says Sasuke in a low voice, deliberately leaving off "sensei" and narrowing his eyes. "What is it you're not telling me?"

Damn. He didn't even use his ocular powers and yet he saw right through me. Guess I have no choice. He's not going to let me drop this.

"Sasuke, I found her in an alley a few meters away from your house. I was coming to your place to ask you to join an upcoming mission since you're here—cancelled now, of course—when I discovered her there before reaching your home."

"I see," says Sasuke solemnly. "And uh…what about time was that?"

"Just after dark. That's as much as I can tell you that I haven't already, Sasuke, I give you my word."

"Very well. Thank you for the information."

What Kakashi doesn't realize is that not only did Sakura's attack happen basically right outside Sasuke's front door—it happened right after she left there. Sakura had spied Sasuke walking home from somewhere during one of his sparse visits home to the Leaf and had joined up with him. She had stalled on his front porch, obviously wanting to come in, but Sasuke had simply told her goodnight and shut the door, leaving her to walk home alone.

Sasuke spins on his heels and zooms out the door, slamming it behind him—and then adds to the "ventilation" his brother-in-arms had made upon his exit from the Hokage's office a few minutes earlier.

Once at the bottom of the stairs, before an agitated Naruto can even ask him a question, Sasuke states matter-of-factly, "I'm going to see Sakura as soon as she's awake from surgery. And I'm going to get this guy. You stay out of my way."

"She's my friend too, damn it! If you get to see her, then scoot over and make room for me! We'll both go see her, we'll get her to talk, and then we'll both go get this guy! "

"This has nothing to do with you, Naruto. Stay out of it."

"No way am I gonna do that! Like it or not, Sasuke, I am going to help you find this guy. Have you forgotten what a good team we make? I promise, in this one case only, I will let you take the lead. But you can't just get rid of me. I care about Sakura too!"

"But it's not your fault that she got hurt!" Sasuke yells. "You don't understand!"

He tromps off toward the hospital, ignoring a stunned Naruto, who quickly catches up.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Sasuke? It's nobody's fault! Other than the beast who did it, and we're gonna get him!"

"Shows what you know!" Sasuke barks. "I was with her last night! She followed me home! She got attacked right after she left my front door, Naruto! If I had asked her in, or walked her home, or at least detained her…this never would have happened!" With that, Sasuke quickens his pace to leave an even-more stunned Naruto in his dust.

Naruto doesn't believe for a moment that Sasuke in any way caused Sakura to get raped. But he now knows why his best friend thinks so. After catching up to Sasuke again, Naruto keeps a pace behind him, not wanting to get in his way. He figures when they get to the hospital, he will stay outside the door and listen in. As much as he wants to see Sakura with his own eyes, he can see that Sasuke has to, and he knows his companion will want to do it alone.

Once at the hospital, a medic sees the young men approaching Sakura's room, and bars the door with his arms. "I'm sorry, but you guys can't come-" Sasuke punches the man clean out, never bothering to stop moving forward. Naruto makes sure the guy is ok and listens intently from the doorway for whatever Sasuke—and especially Sakura -might have to say.

Before Sasuke has a chance to even see Sakura, however, he has another obstacle in his way—one he can't just punch out. It's Lady Tsunade.

"Sasuke!" she yells from Sakura's bedside upon noticing him. "You and your sidekick—I know he can't be too far away—have to leave this room until further notice! I know Kakashi didn't fail to tell you that, but he did fail to restrain you! That is a mistake I will not make if that's what I have to do! Now get out of here!"

A tiny voice echoes in the room. "It—it's alright, Tsunade. Sasuke can come in. Could you give us a minute?"

The Fifth Hokage grumbles. "Alright, Sakura…but keep it short! You need rest!" At that, she leaves the room, taking Naruto by the ear on her way out. "Sakura said it was alright for Sasuke to come in, not you. I know you don't like it, Naruto, but she doesn't want to see you right now. Just let her be. If she gives Sasuke any information on her attacker, I'm sure he will share it with you. Be respectful of their privacy."

She drops a frustrated but complicit Naruto at the end of the hall. She goes on, leaving Naruto slumped over on a bench. He puts his face in his hands, feeling bad for both his friends, and completely useless.

"Sakura," Sasuke whispers. Her face is turned away from him, half buried in her pillow, but the cheek he can see is bruised and swollen. Her deep-purple eyelid won't even open. There are bandages everywhere. And that's all he can see. He knows there is more damage inside her body, and probably even more on the outside hidden by her hospital gown and blanket. He moves to the far side of her bed, and crouches to make his face even with hers. Before he can say anything, Sakura speaks up.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke," her small voice offers, tears beginning to leak from her sealed eye. "I tried to fight him…I swear I did…I just…I just wasn't strong enough. I'm sorry I disappointed you."

"Disappointed me?! Sakura, you didn't do this! You did nothing wrong! He's the one to blame, and I intend to find him and make him pay!" His face is hard, jaw clenched and eyes fierce. His hands are balled into tight fists.

Sakura lifts her head as she sits up, groaning in pain. Sasuke winces at the sound. When he sees that the hidden side of her face is as badly beaten as the other, his fists tighten to the point of turning his knuckles white and drawing blood to his palms from his fingernails. Sakura cannot see the state Sasuke is in, however, because both eyes are swollen shut. She's completely blinded.

"Sakura," Sasuke says more sternly than intended, "Lie back down. You need your rest."

"I'm ok, Sasuke. Really." She gives him a flimsy smile. In the middle of her broken face, it looks twice as pathetic. Sasuke cringes. "Well just don't move around too much. You need to heal. But…I know this will be hard, but I need to know…Sakura, can you tell me anything about the guy who attacked you?"

Sakura's head dips down. "Yes. He was a little older…forty-five, fifty…a thin salt-and-pepper beard and moustache, like a five o'clock shadow…and a knife scar like Kakashi's, but over the other eye. Although, strangely enough, I couldn't see anything wrong with the eye itself. I suppose he could have gotten a transplant or maybe it's a glass eye. He wasn't wearing a headband, so if he was a shinobi, he wasn't announcing it. But he did use a chakra weapon to restrain me. Something I've never encountered before. Oh, and he was wearing a long gray overcoat with a hood. Like a rain slicker. I couldn't see his hair. That's all I remember about him. I'm sorry, I know that isn't much to go on."

"That's a whole lot more information than I had two minutes ago. Thank you for telling me. I'll meet with Kakashi right away and we can get a plan going. We have to find this monster immediately. But I…I'll be back."

Sakura pops her head up, facing in the direction of Sasuke's voice, and flashes him a smile-this time a genuine one. Sasuke is so happy to see that, he accidentally smiles himself.

"Should I assume you don't want that nuisance Naruto coming in to bug you next?"

Sakura's head bows down again. "I-I would really rather be left alone right now. Except for you, Sasuke!" She lifts her head with another smile, happy that Sasuke is there.

"Well, you rest now. I'll see you later."

"Thanks for coming, Sasuke," offers a truly grateful Sakura, her smile unwavering.