Hey, guys! I wanted to thank you for the amazing reviews on the previous chapter. I'm really happy that you liked the story. Here's the second chapter of the FF.
PS I do not own "Naruto" it belongs to Masashi Kishimoto ©
And when the world is upside down,
The sky is full ot clouds,
They always come around.
It feels like home, like home…
"Friends" by Aura Dione
A quiet whisper reached Kakashi's ears. Sakura was talking with someone in the kitchen or in the living room; the Copy nin concentrated on the noise, trying to make out words from this murmur.
"…I have some extra. I can give you.", Sakura's voice sounded light and he could tell just by hearing it that she was smiling.
"Thank you very much, Sakura! You know that I hate my coffee black.", a man's voice answered and the shinobi lying in the bed noted the sound of closing the door of the kitchen cupboard, "You're a life savior."
"Don't even mention it, Tenzo.", Kakashi heard them walking pass his door, probably Sakura was saying goodbye to her unexpected guest, "Have nice day and be careful!", the silver-haired jonin heard her shout after him, closing the door.
Since when Sakura and Tenzo were such good buddies? Kakashi wondered how much he didn't know about his ex-student or should he think about what he did know about her? Probably it's going to be easier that way. But this didn't matter now. Even if he didn't know her, the Copy nin knew Tenzo and that was enough to make him interested. He never thought that his younger kohai knew how to interact with girls, not counting Anko at least. Those two seemed on pretty good terms with each other. But was it normal for Tenzo to come to her apartment for sugar? Not that Kakashi knew where he lived after he got him kicked out from his previous place.
A smile trembled on the Copy nin's lips under the mask as he remembered Temzo's reaction to Genma's gift for Kakashi. The young ANBU didn't expect eight duennas to show up on his doorstep – two for each of the men. Too bad that Gai and Tenzo refused the fun but Kakashi and Genma somehow managed to substitute them.
The jonin's thoughts were interrupted by Sakura entering the room with a cup of hot herbal tea, "I see that you're already awake.", she smiled tenderly at him," Lift your pajamas so I can do a small check up."
Kakashi immediately obeyed knowing that an objection would only cause him another headache or worse. Sakura placed her hands on his chest and sighed obviously relieved, slowly her fingers moved over the bandages on his cut wounds. With a light touch she unstuck the adhesive tape that was holding the lint and traced the rosy, still recovering, skin with her finger. She felt Kakashi jerking under her caress on the skin. "It's still too sensitive but at least the scab had fallen."
"I think it's fine if we stop the whole bedpan ordeal.", she smiled at his surprised expression, "I guess it's safe for you to go to the toilet at least with my help at the beginning. You mustn't overexert yourself. If I see you walking around I'll tie you up and I'll put you a diaper. Deal?", she pointed her finger at his face and stared at him strictly. Kakashi knew that she was usually a comforting and sensitive person but when the medic in her took over, she was as merciless as Tsunade, so he nodded in acceptance.
"I can at least read a book in the bed, right?", the Copy nin murmured hopefully.
Sakura rolled her eyes and pulled out the orange book from the drawer of her night table. The moment when the object appeared in Kakashi's eyesight, the kunoichi knew that she was already forgotten so she just gave it to him and watched the cautiousness with which he opened the first page. Sakura could bet that there was a drool flowing out of his mouth now.
"I'm going out to buy some groceries so I'll be out for approximately thirty minutes. Drink your tea while it's hot! Do you want me to help you go to the restroom now or you'll wait for me to come back?", the only answer Sakura got was an absent waving with hand, she sighed and walked out of the apartment. At least she wouldn't be worrying about how he'll tear his hand with the abocat, trying to stand up.
When she came out of the building, the kunoichi noticed the unusually crowded street for this part of the day. There were guards on every corner; groups of foreign shinobi passed her, talking lively, obviously discussing something important and exciting. She saw the symbols of Suna, Kiri, Iwa and Kumo. The kunoichi was absolutely sure that the chunin exam this year was held in the Sand village. Even Tsunade sent Shikamaru there as ambassador to help Gaara and Temari with organization. Maybe she'll stop by the Hokage's office on her way back; she had to report for Kakashi's condition as well. Sakura sighed and entered the store.
A week had passed since Kakashi was living in her apartment. It wasn't such pain in the ass as she thought at first it would be. The only difference was that she was sleeping on the sofa and that she was waking up with an ache in her back every morning. Her couch wasn't exactly made for sleeping in it. A yellow label with huge red letters on it caught her attention. The chicken legs were on sale. Maybe she could help him reach the table and surprise him with a normal dinner tonight.
It wasn't exactly easy for him as well. Lying all day wasn't he used to do and she could only guess how hard it was for him. His recovery rate was fast but she still needed to do a regular check ups on him. The poison was a tricky one and she didn't know if it was completely out of his system. More over the new antidotes that Tsunade had worked on all failed. It would be a horrible to find out in ten days or so that you were actually dying from the inside out without you knowing. Sakura sighed and wondered if she should start giving him the antibiotics and the vitamins orally so she could get rid of the annoying IV drip and the abocat. It was hard to sleep with an abocat and tubes coming out of it. She knew from experience and Sakura always tried to relieve her patients from it when she saw them recovering faster than expected.
On her way out of the grocery store she came across Naruto who was walking cockily on the street, "Oi, Naruto!", Sakura shouted after her best friend. The litter one turned around immediately and ran toward her.
"Sakura-chan, I didn't see you!", the boy scratched his neck apologetically.
"What happened? You walk like a peacock in a breeding season – ", the kunoichi teased grinning.
"I put my name in the Ark of the Preacher of Doom.", the shinobi explained proudly.
"Do enlighten me, please – ", Sakura frowned confused. She was staying at home for a week only and she already missed something important.
"You should probably ask Tsunade-baachan. The opening ceremony of the tournament was held yesterday at noon.", Naruto gave her a tight hug and started walking away, "I should hurry and train a little. You know, to get into shape in case I'm the chosen one.", the boy waved at Sakura and ran away.
"Great –", the kunoichi let out her breath and headed to the Hokage tower.
Sakura knocked on the wooden double door and entered the office of her shishou. She found the blond woman bended over some piles of paper, stamping and signing documents furiously, which Shizune was handing to her.
"Good morning, shishou!", Sakura greeted the older kunoichi and closed the door behind her back.
"Morning, Sakura. You come just in time. I was about to send ANBU to summon you here. Sit, please.", the Hokage stopped her activity and looked at her student, waving hand for her pointing the chair.
Sakura had improved incredibly fast during the last two years and she was proud of her. The young pink-haired kunoichi had mastered the highest level of Shōsen jutsu and Tsunade had taught her everything she knew about poisons. Now her protégé was as good medical ninja as she was and more over, considering Sakura was a natural genjutsu type, the young jonin had the potential of becoming even greater kunoichi than her master. The only difference between them was the experience. She was still too young and at some point too naïve in her blind faith in the person standing before her. Sakura was a caring person and this quality wasn't something admirable in the shinobi world. Ninjas were rising as tools, sharp killing tools without feelings that would jeopardize their missions.
Sakura was different than that, from the first time the little twelve year old girl came crying and begging her to teach her, Tsunade knew that exactly feelings drove Sakura to seek greater power. The blond kunoichi has lived for half a century, spending the greatest part of it on the battlefield. Exactly the strong emotions as love and compassion were defying the outcome of the fight. The bonds that shinobi created weren't something to be taken lightly. Jiraiya and Orochimaru. They reminded her so much of Naruto and Sasuke. And Sakura was standing at the same place between those boys where Tsunade stood years ago.
"What is it that you wanted me to hear, shishou?", the girl in the armchair stirred uneasy, starting to worry about the man in her apartment. She had told him thirty minutes and it's been an hour since she left him there alone.
"It's about the Ark of the Preacher of Doom and the Revelations Tournament."
"I've heard about it from Naruto but he didn't give me any details.", Sakura suppressed an yawn and her eyes got teary from the effort.
"I'll explained it now – ", Tsunade glanced strangely at her student, "Is everything OK, Sakura?"
"Yes. It's fi –", this time she couldn't hold the yawn back and the girl gaped at her teacher with few tears coming out of the corners of her green eyes.
"I assigned you the task of babysitting Kakashi in order for you to rest from your work at hospital and your regular missions. Is he giving you troubles?", Tsunade narrowed her eyes, knowing how stubborn sometimes the Copy nin could be.
"No, no, shishou! His behavior is excellent if I may say. He even surprised me how obedient he can be.", Sakura chuckled at the thought of the ultimatums she had to put in order for him to listen her.
"Ok. But if he gives you hardships let me know. I haven't paid him a proper visit, yet –", Tsunade folded her arms on her desk and cleared her throat. "So, a week ago the Mizukage sent a formal letters to the other Kages, suggesting establishing a traditional tournament for the shinobies from the Great five nations. So at the meeting we convened we discussed the rules of the game and the prize for the winner.", Tsunade shot Sakura a weird stare, "There will be only one shinobi representing the nation and the person who wins the tournament will be awarded with the title The Orator of Revelations and their country will be named as the strongest among he five great nations and would be given the privileges of governing the trade taxes and the number of shinobies in each of the nations."
"But, Tsunade-shishou! That's declaration of a world war! But this time the Mizukage tries to legalize it and boil the losses to a minimum. As far as I heard from Naruto the election of the representative participant is based on a absolutely random method.", Sakura raised from her chair with wide open eyes, "This is equivalent of betting the war outcome on a luck!"
"I know, Sakura. I bet that the other Kages know it as well. But when we discussed it, only me and Gaara voted against the tournament. So we won't be able to avoid the consequences of this game.", Tsunade sighed, "But the problem lies elsewhere."
Sakura stared at the caramel eyes of the woman before her, "You want me to get Kakashi ready for battle, don't you?"
"You know better than me, Sakura, that I can't afford not to put the name of one of the strongest shinobi the Leaf has in the Ark.", Tsunade sighed heavily and handed a sealed scroll to the girl, "Give this to Kakashi."
Sakura knew that as Hokage, Tsunade has been put under a lot of pressure. The life of her people lied within some rusty chest, "Let me join the tournament as well, shishou.", Sakura's voice echoed in the room.
"You can't, Sakura.", Tsunade glanced at her.
"I promise, I won't disappoint you if I am to be chosen!", Sakura understood completely that the burden put on the shoulder of the chosen one would be too heavy but as far as it concerned protecting the people she loved, she'd wear it with dignity and devotion.
"You can't, Sakura, I already told you.", the Hokage frowned.
"But, shishou, why are you doubting my strength now of all times? You've always said how much I have improved!", a glimpse of sadness flashed in the pink-haired kunoichi's eyes.
"When I said you couldn't, Sakura, I meant it literally!", the blonde bumped her fist in the desk in front of her, "There is a age limiter. Only shinobi eighteen or older can participate. The Raikage demanded the rule. I believe he has some crucial Intel about the shinobi of other countries which allowed him to take precautions. "
"But, Tsunade-sama, I'm turning eighteen in two weeks! Just two weeks!", Sakura couldn't believe her bad luck.
"It's been put seal on the Ark. You can't, Sakura.", Tsunade stood up from her chair and turned to face the window, "The tournament begins in three days. I want Kakashi ready for battle in two. You're dismissed."
Sakura sniffed from the disappointment that was burning her soul. It wasn't fair. It's not the age that defines shinobies strength it's their ability to judge the situation correctly and to take the best course of action according to the conjuncture. The kunoichi turned around and left the room.
Kakashi heard her feet stomping on the stairs long before she put the key in the lock and entered her apartment. Her chakra was bursting and he guessed that something had unsettled her. The Copy nin closed his book and put it on the night table next to the bed, waiting for her arrival in his room. Minutes passed but she didn't come. The silver-haired jonin started to worry. Not that she couldn't take care of herself but more like that he was worrying that her temperament could cause her problems. She usually came to check up on him first before doing something else. Few days ago she even came in with the groceries in her arms, forgetting to leave them in the kitchen beforehand.
Kakashi stood up slowly, carefully not to reopen some of the wounds. Cautiously, he opened the bedroom door and peeked into the living room. Sakura was sitting on the couch, supporting her head with arms, resting on the glass coffee table. He couldn't see her face but from the posture he could tell that she was crying. Usually at this point he would just turn around and pretend that he didn't see her or didn't notice anything but some unknown feeling made him to open the door widely and enter the other room. The first step he took made the floor crack and Sakura jerked instantly jumping on her feet.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT OF THE BED? GET BACK THERE NOW!", screaming she pointed out the bedroom, tears were flowing out of her eyes wetting her blowzy face, "Can't I have just a little time for myself? Or I'm destined to carry out every one of your whims but when I want to do something on my own I CAN'T? Suddenly I'm not allowed to protect whomever I want and leave everything to luck? BULLSHIT!"
Kakashi never expected such an outburst and honestly he was taken little aback from all of that screaming and shouting and tears. When he saw her lumping on the sofa again, covering her face with hands, the Copy nin assumed that it was safe to drew closer. Carefully sitting next to her he wrapped awkwardly his arm around her shoulders, "It's going to be fine – ", he whispered. The shinobi had absolutely no idea what would be fine but somehow he felt that he should comfort her, after all she saved his life. That was the least he could do for her.
Unexpectedly Sakura clenched her hands at his pajamas and buried her face in the nape of his neck, sobbing heavily. Kakashi felt weird, he wasn't used to this kind of things. The girl in his arms was sniffing and sobbing quietly, holding his upper part of the PJs with tight grip. The copy nin's body moved on its own and he placed his hand over her head gently patting her. They stood like that for a while until Sakura's heart calmed down and her tears stopped falling. With blushed face she pulled back and sat in the further part of the couch looking at the floor embarrassed.
"I'm sorry.", the girl dried the last of her tears and put some pink locks behind her ear, "I shouldn't have yelled you like that. I mean, It's not your fault – "
"Sometimes you just have to unwind the steam and let the whole tension out.", Kakashi eased his back on the sofa and stared at her with his single open eye, "So, will you tell me now what's so frustrating that you lost your composure?"
Sakura sighed and pulled the scroll out of her bag, giving it to the shinobi sitting next to her, "Everything is in here. Read, I'm going to prepare the lunch. I'm sorry you missed breakfast because of me.", Sakura came closer to him and lifted his legs on the couch, putting pillow behind his back.
"I wasn't that hungry and will you stop treating me like an invalid, please?", Kakashi glanced at her annoyed but instead of irritation in her eyes as the shinobi expected, he only saw sadness and regret. The girl placed her hand over his shoulder for a moment as she passed him by.
"As you wish.", Sakura murmured and entered the kitchen to unpack the groceries.
Sakura felt left behind once again. It's been six year since she last felt that way. Six years while she thought that this time she wouldn't be a burden to her friends, that this time she'll protect them instead. And now she could only stare at their backs from behind and watch them fight for their home. She would sit in her tiny medical office and wait worriedly as they were fulfilling their duties as shinobi and citizens. Taking care of them was the only thing that was left for her to do. And Kakashi's words stabbed her deep in her already wounded heart. She wasn't overdoing looking after him, wasn't she? The last thing she wanted now was to be thought of as some kind of need-to-take-care-of-someone freak.
Holding a plate with cheese grilled sandwiches, Sakura entered the living room to find Kakashi sitting on the sofa staring at the opened scroll, placed on the coffee table.
"So, war, huh?", the Copy nin sighed and eased his back at the soft couch.
Sakura only sat next to him and put the plate on the table, moving away the scroll, "Tsunade-sama wants me to prepare you for battle in two days.", the girl sighed and shook her head, "It's too early. Even if I heal you completely with chakra, the danger of the poison not been casted aside from your body is real!"
"You have no choice, Sakura.", Kakashi glanced at her, noticing the wrinkle between her eyebrows, formed by her frown, "You know that I can't just sit this out."
The kunoichi was quiet for a moment and then she let out her breath, handing him out a sandwich, before she cut her own with a knife and pinned a slice on her fork. They ate in silence, trying to ignore the burning presence of the scroll, lying on the table. The parchment was screaming loud and clear in both of their ears, not allowing them to forget its existence even for a moment. Suddenly Sakura threw her fork and knife on the table.
"I can't participate. I'm turning eighteen in two weeks. Ten days to be precise.", the kunoichi sighed deeply finally able to spill the bean out, "I can only watch you, boys, fighting my part of the battle instead of me."
Kakashi slowly pulled his mask up before bending in front so he can take a full view of Sakura's face. He was mistaken; it wasn't sadness in her eyes earlier, it was frustration and rage that she couldn't stand by their side. The desperation drove her to her current state, the inability to help her friends, the helplessness that was consuming her soul. Kakashi knew this feeling very well. Standing on the edge of the crater, staring at his best friend and teammate, half crushed by a rock. He remembered trying to save him but his power was just not enough. He was called a genius but that didn't help him to figure a way out of that situation. He wasn't strong enough.
That memory had always tormented him, waking him up in the middle of the night, sweating, panting and reliving the same story again with the same tragic end. Wasn't it enough that he was there once, right next to him but his guilty consciousness just had to torture him with this? And there was Sakura, sitting next to him feeling the same despair and dread that she won't be there to help her dear ones.
"Sakura, how do you think Naruto will feel if you were to be chosen to fight?", Kakashi smiled under his mask.
"I don't know. May be a little bit jealous and angry that it wasn't him?", Sakura turned her face to her ex-sensei.
"No, Sakura. He's going to die worrying about you and not because he thinks you're weak but because he loves you.", Kakashi put his hand on her shoulder, "No matter who is chosen, someone will end up worrying about that person. Fight is not a game; it's not a sparring match. During battle people die. So don't take away my sole purpose of living this life. I should have died many yeas ago, crushed by a rock, but my teammate saved me, losing his life in the process. I don't want to witness one more time the people that I care about getting hurt when I could have taken their place." Kakashi's eye glistened and Sakura noticed that for the first time since she met him, this man before her was stripping off the layers of protection that he has been building around his heart for so many years.
She had always thought of him as cold-hearted, merciless shinobi, unable to feel normal human emotions. She couldn't even once peek under the surface and see that there was so much under the hard, prickly shell. If she had noticed years ago or even months ago, maybe, just maybe, there would be a change in him. He would have found another purpose for living. She would have given him a reason to stay alive. Now Sakura jerked at the thought of losing Kakashi. She lost Sasuke before, because she wasn't observant enough to see his demons and help him fight them. But this time, it would be different. It wasn't too late. Kakashi was still here next to her. The kunoichi pulled him in a tight embrace and whispered in his ear with a shaken voice, "But, you know, if you go there… someone's going to worry about you too."
Kakashi wrapped his arms around her petite body and tightened his grip, "There is no such person –"
"I will.", Sakura smiled and clenched her fists on his back, "That's what friends are for."
"Zetsu, is it done?", the shinobi with the orange mask asked quietly, continuing to hone his kunai.
"The seal was fooled. You were right that it was checking the participant's blood and chakra levels, not only its name. Thank God I'm a bit older than eighteen.", the short pink-haired girl walked from the dark corner and smiled devilishly.
"Good.", Sasuke interrupted, "Now drop this form 'cuz you're freaking me out."
An evil laugh echoed in the stone hall and the pink-haired girl twisted and jerked as she transformed in a white – skinned man, wearing torn Akatsuki cloak on his lower body. Another identical figure entered the room but this time its skin was black. Both of the man drew closer to each other and merged in one half-white, half-black creature. Sasuke frowned and turned around.
"You will never get used to it, won't you?", the orange-masked guy chuckled.
"Mind your own business, Madara.", Sasuke growled and lied on his bed.
Kakashi stirred in his sleep and slowly opened his eyes. The clock was showing six thirty. It was still damn early but since the tournament would begin officially today and he hadn't trained in a week or so, the Copy nin decided to go to the training grounds. Probably Sakura would kick his ass for this. Yesterday when she finally healed his wounds completely after two days of excessive healing sessions, she forbad him from training until tomorrow. But Kakashi was feeling completely out of shape and he knew that he just had to hone his skills if he wanted to win this tournament if he was to be selected by the Ark.
The silver-haired jonin got up from the bed and set the blanket right, strengthening the sheets on the bed. Carefully he opened the door and entered the living room, avoiding the squeaky part of the parquet floor. His eyes travelled to the sofa as he noticed the half-fallen blanket on the floor. Sakura was sleeping peacefully on her side, with bended knees because the couch was too short even for her or anybody else to stretch in it. Has she been sleeping all these days on the couch while he was snoring on the soft double bed? He always thought that there was a second bedroom in the apartment; all of the flats in the neighborhood had one. The Copy nin frowned. Sometimes Sakura was so caring and selfless that was making him angry and annoyed. A small worm of guild crawled under his skin and reached his heart. She probably had aches in her neck and back. Kakashi doubted that this kind of sleep helped her rest, if he was in her place, the jonin would feel even more exhausted than before going to bed.
The man drew closer to the bed and sighed, staring at Sakura. Her legs were uncovered, since the blanket was semi-fallen on the floor. He saw that she was wearing a huge grey T-shirt with male black shorts. "A strange choice for pajamas.", he thought. But Kakashi also didn't fail to notice that since her knees were bended, the loose shorts were picked highly around her tights and it was giving quite a view of her bare leg, not that he hadn't seen it before. Sakura was wearing shorts everyday but something in her posture, the messy blanked and the small pout on her lips while she was sleeping made the view pretty exiting for the Copy nin.
He hated to admit it that he liked what he was seeing and he forcedly removed his one-eyed stare from her bare legs. Kakashi kneeled next to the couch and glanced at the sleeping kunoichi. She had called him a friend. There was even a moment two days ago while he was in her embrace, when he had forgotten about his ghosts, he had forgotten his tormenting consciousness and he just wanted to keep on living, just for the sake of moments like that. The man picked up the fallen blanket and gently tucked her in. Sakura stirred in her sleep and a pink silky hair lock fell on her face. Kakashi reached his fingers and put it back where it belonged. For a second his finger lingered on her cheek uncertain whether to caress her or to pull back. But then the Copy nin stood up and walked out of the apartment shaking his head, trying to chase away the weird thoughts suddenly appeared in his mind.
Two hours ago when Sakura had woken up and found the made empty bed in her room, she nearly crushed the building in her anger. She knew that Kakashi wouldn't listen to her. The kunoichi knew from the start that once he's able to move freely without worrying about reopening the wounds, he'd just go out pottering around. The electing ceremony would begin in thirty minutes and she just hoped that he wouldn't be late as usual. The girl stopped before Hokage tower and sighed. Te mixed feelings in her heart confused her. She didn't want any of her friends to be chosen but on the other hand, Sakura knew that Naruto and Kakashi were the best possible choice for winning this tournament.
The kunoichi stood before the door that led to the roof of Hokage tower. Once she go there, she had to put a brave face, knowing that all the Kages would be present and she shouldn't show any weakness that would put Konoha in an unfavorable position. The girl took a deep breath and went out on the roof. She expected cheerful atmosphere after all this was a tournament, not a funeral. But instead of excitement, a heavy tension was hanging in the air. The same groups of shinobi, she saw on the street few days ago, were now standing besides their respectful Kages. Sakura nodded in greeting and even smiled at Gaara who nodded back. Hurriedly her eyes searched for Kakashi in the crowed near Tsunade. He was nowhere to be seen. Naruto was stepping impatiently from foot to foot and she could tell that her best friend was a little bit nervous. The kunoichi moved to the Hokage with a smile and wide eyes, knowing that the older kunoichi was pissed at the Copy nin.
The blonde put her arm around Sakura's shoulder and bowed her hear to hers smiling and hissed, "Where the fuck is he? I told him to come an hour before the start of the election."
Sakura frowned and whispered back, "When I woke up he had already left."
Tsunade let out a quiet cursed through her angry smile, "Is he ready for fight?"
The pink-haired kunoichi nodded and murmured, "Tsunade-shishou, why are you so worried that Kakashi would be chosen?"
The Hokage smiled again, "Because only he and Naruto entered the tournament. I forbad for everyone else to participate."
Sakura gaped and her eyes popped out, instantly crossing glances with Naruto. One of her boys would enter the game. She had no idea who she should cheer for. Deep inside the pink-haired kunoichi knew perfectly clear why the Hokage did this. She wanted to ensure that the participant in the tournament would be a skillful shinobi not some brat seeking glory. But since Tsunade did this would it mean that the other Kages did the same. So the battle would be fought by the best shinobi in the five great nations.
A sudden bell rang and echoed in the air. The ceremony had begun. Sakura kept searching a glimpse of silver-hair in the crowd but she found only disappointment. The five Kages stepped in front and gave a well-prepared speech, explaining once more the rules of the game. There would be three games. Whoever finishes last on the first one ends their participation in the tournament. The second game would be between four candidates and the same rule would apply. So that meant that the last round would be a three man competition. Sakura knew that in the first two rounds the purpose wasn't winning them but not finishing last. Years of hatred between nations would now reach its peak and the rage would consume the participants.
Lost in her thoughts she missed the election of the first candidate. Sakura noticed a short black-haired girl with pink eyes, standing besides the Tsuchikage, who was grinning widely and viciously. The Mizukage placed his hands over the Ark again and murmured an incantation. Sakura saw the wooden chest trembling as if something was trying to come out of it. The leader of Kirigakure snapped the lock open and dark flames burst out of the box. The man reached his hand and grabbed a burned piece of paper that was flying above the flames.
"Darui from Kumugakure!", the Mizukage shouted and the Raikage clenched his fist victoriously. A fairly tall man with dark-colored skin and white hair stepped indifferently forward alongside with the Raikage.
Sakura changed the weight on her foot nervously and stared at the sun clock in the middle of the roof. Kakashi was already an hour late. Suddenly somebody pinched her by her forearm and she jumped startled. The kunoichi turned around just to see the Copy nin giving her an eye crinkle. Sakura rose on her tiptoes and eased her back against him so she can whisper in his ear with a smile on her lips, "Once the ceremony is over, you're a dead man."
Kakashi poked her with a finger in her ribs, followed by a sudden gasp for air from the kunoichi in front of him, "Don't be so mean, Sakura."
Sakura stepped purposely on his toes with the heel of her boots and hissed, "I am not!", the kunoichi nodded in direction to the Hokage who was now throwing burning arrows in Kakashi's direction. The litter one just scratched behind his neck and sent another patented eye crinkle at the Hokage.
"You're right. I'm so dead.", the Copy nin murmured in Sakura's ear.
Now there were four participants standing on the so-called stage in the middle. As Sakura noticed Gaara's brother, Kankuro, was elected as well as some short and thin boy with glasses holding a huge sword. So it was Konoha's turn. The chest was burning again, this time longer than the previous elections. When the Mizukage at last opened the chest's lock a strong black-purple flame came out. Sakura frowned, noticing the tension of Tsunade and Naruto's stillness. The Mizukage grabbed the small piece of parchment and his eyes opened wide forgetting to read the name out loud.
Tsunade growled and stepped towards him as well as the other Kages. When she read the name written on the small piece of paper the old kunoichi's heart skipped a beat. She grabbed the parchment and turned around to face the expecting exited crowd.
"And the last participant. Haruno Sakura from Konohagakure!", Tsunade shouted as the crowed burst in exclamations. But there were four people who were standing still and frozen.
Sakura at first thought that she misheard but then the thought gradually sank in her mind. She felt Kakashi placing his hand on her shoulder and Naruto had come closer to her so he could hug her and whisper in her year, "You should go there, Sakura-chan! Go!", the blond shinobi pushed her gently on her back directing her to Tsunade. The pink-haired kunoichi walked mindlessly to her shishou who grabbed her hand and pulled her where the other participants were standing. She missed the closing ceremony. Her thoughts were clashing at one another. Who put her name in the Ark? How did they put it? Why? What would she do now? Tsunade didn't decline the choice of the Ark but probably she and the other Kages would discuss it later.
Before she even noticed it, they were already standing in Hokage's office. The leaders and the chosen ones. Sakura felt someone grabbing her for her shoulders and shaking her, "Sakura, did you put your name in the Ark?", the voice of Tsunade was higher than usual. The pink-haired kunoichi shook her head negatively.
"Are you sure?", the Hokage insisted.
"I DID NOT put my name in the Ark. I CAN"T put it. I'm still seventeen!", Sakura lost her composure and yelled back at her shishou.
Tsunade bit her nail and cursed, turning around to face the rest of the Kages, "Are you sure that the seal wasn't broken, Mizukage?"
The old man nodded frowning, "The Ark's decision is absolute. We can't change its choice. The kunoichi have to take part in the tournament."
The other Kages nodded expect Gaara. He and Tsunade shared worried glances but in the end the Hokage turned again to Sakura and sighed, "You're going to represent Konoha in the tournament. Prepare yourself; the first game is on the day after tomorrow."
TBC