The Southern District was very close by. As Lee phrased it, just 'a hop, skip, and a jump' away from the Lord's manor. They'd replaced their masks and moved in, showing their papers, though the sight of Lord Takaki among them made such protocols largely superfluous. It sped things along, something Sakura was grateful for. She could sense something was very wrong here. Something seemed decidedly out of place. So it was they arrived at one of the buildings, marked with the sign of the plague, a crimson circle drawn in paint (though it almost looked like blood) along the wooden door.

It had previously been a restaurant, or so it seemed, but all the chairs and tables had been pushed aside to make room for the cots. Inside, nearly all were occupied by the sick. Men, women, old, young, the plague did not recognize gender or age, it struck remorselessly at all people who lived and breathed in Takaki village. The sickest were easiest to identify, covered in red lesions that marked the later, fatal stages of the virus. And almost everyone else was coughing, the room was filled with the sounds of wheezing and choking.

As they watched, a pair of village men came by, carrying a shrouded individual between them. One glance was enough for even the thick-headed Uzumaki to tell this individual would never be waking up again.

"Goddamn..." he whispered to no one in particular.

Ninja lived and breathed death, they saw it all the time on missions. But this... this was something else entirely. It was beyond horrific, and Naruto felt he was going to be ill. Beside him, Lee and Sakura watched with growing concern. Only Sai seemed untouched by the death and dying, though his expression was neutral, the fake smile gone from his face. But he was too well trained and his soul too bloodstained already to allow himself to be touched by this.

Tugging on some gloves and taking a breath to calm her jangled nerves, Sakura slid off her pack and moved forward to examine one of the patients. She regretted not taking a moment to put on a full surgical gown, as well as the fact that her red blouse left her arms bare, but there was little she could do about it except avoiding skin-to-skin contact. No sense taking risks, after all. Placing her fingertips on an elderly woman's torso, she began some gentle chakra probing.

"Are they all like this?" she asked over her shoulder.

"Yes... the plague strikes without warning... and its always the same," replied the young Lord Tekka, his voice muffled slightly by the mask over his face. "Fever, rash, red lesions... within days they are little better than the poor soul you saw carried out. It is as if they burned alive from within by a fire that cannot be extinguished." He stepped closer to her, gazing down at the old woman sorrowfully. "Like the fires of hell," he murmured, so soft he could barely be heard.

"A gruesome fate," remarked Lee.

Suddenly reminded her teammates were still there, Sakura turned to them, and began to issue instructions on the medicine they'd brought and how to use it. Most of it wasn't going to help much, but it might ease some people's suffering, or slow the disease down a bit. And right now, every little bit would help. Sai, Naruto, and Lee sprang to work at once, grateful for something to do rather than sit and watch people die. That finished, Sakura turned back to Tekka.

"Where are the medic-nins?" asked Sakura, continuing her chakra probing of the older woman. She could feel the virus lacing her body. She could sense it. Like some sort of malicious animal hiding within her.

Lord Tekka hesitated, then stated quietly. "Sakura-san... they were some of the plagues first victims," he motioned to the first few rows of tables. Sure enough, Sakura caught sight of Konoha forehead protectors. "The team sent in also quickly succumbed. I'm afraid at the moment... you're the only medic-nin left in all of Takaki, Sakura-san," he stated quietly.

Sakura took a step back, finding her hands shaking. She couldn't maintain sufficient focus for medical ninjutsu. It was no surprise, she was downright terrified. She'd never been so on her own before. Always there'd been someone to back her up before. Kakashi, Tsunade, Shizune, even Chiyo had helped her. Now she was all alone. Worse, she had the responsibility of the entire village settled on her rounded shoulders. She suddenly found it difficult to breathe.

"I..."

"Hey, easy," stated Tekka, resting a hand on her shoulder, helping her keep her balance. She drew on his strength gratefully. "It's a lot to take in, I know. Listen, I think some of the medic-nins are still conscious. Talk to them. I'll help your teammates with the medicine."

"No... no we can't risk you being infected," she said, turning back to him in concern.

He smiled behind his mask, his dark eyes twinkling with merriment. "I'd make a poor leader if my town dies and I sit back doing nothing. I'll help, Sakura-san. Just... please show me what to do."

She did, grateful for the extra help, and watched in no small amount of admiration as the young lord went amongst his people to distribute the medicine, though he seemed hopelessly inept. Still, at least he wasn't spilling water all over the floor like Naruto had. Or bumping against a patients cot like Lee. And Sai... his bedside manner was beyond abysmal. Telling someone they were likely going to die rarely did the trick to keeping their morale up.


Taking Tekka's advice to heart, Sakura spoke to those medic-nin still conscious to learn what she could of the disease. Fortunately, one of the medic-nins still conscious recognized her on sight as Tsunade's talented protege. Isane quickly gathered up what little strength she had and sat upright, her silver tresses trailing down her back as she faced Sakura. In the bed beside her, Otohime, the medic-nin squad leader, was in far worse shape.

"Wish we could be meeting under better circumstances," Isane said politely.

Sakura smiled at that. Even on her deathbed, Isane was always so formal. Frowning, she brushed that thought away. She wasn't going to die. Not on her watch. "Yeah," she replied. "So what can you tell me about the Crimson Plague? Any new revelations?"

From what the two medic-nin teams had learned, the disease spread like wildfire within a week before proper containment had been brought in. But even after that, when they'd cut off the town from outside sources, the disease still kept cropping up all over the town. And it was still doing so to this very day. It wasn't found outside of the village, something inside was the source. Not even an animal could've made it over the jagged walls that surrounded the village, nor slipped past the guards at the eastern and western gates.

It also turned out, she confided between coughs, that once a person was infected, they became a carrier, able to pass the disease along by touch. However, it turned out the disease wasn't airborne, so they were reasonably safe from infection as long as they wore gloves (a fact she was quick to call out to her teammates, though to a one they kept their masks firmly in place). As the reports had indicated and Lord Tekka had confirmed, the symptoms were universally unpleasant. Infection, fever, rashes, red lesions, sometimes accompanying delirium and dehydration... and then a day or two at most, and finally death. So far it was one hundred percent lethal. No one had survived it. No one was immune.

And no one was safe.

"There's... there's something else," Isane said, muffling a cough behind her hand, as much out of proper manners as it was to keep from spreading the illness. "Important..."

Sakura laid a comforting hand over hers, giving a comforting squeeze which Isane appreciated. "What is it? I'm listening."

"The... the shinobi infected... they have an additional symptom," Isane managed between coughs. Lord Tekka arrived with some water, which helped her clear her throat, and then politely excused himself while Sakura listened for more.

"Shinobi infected can't..." cough "... can't mold chakra..." cough "... can't use ninjutsu. It hits so fast... helpless..."

A fist of spasming coughs interrupted her again, and Sakura could tell she was in no condition to continue. Snapping her hands together to form a seal, she gently tapped two fingers to Isane's forehead. The older, silver-haired medic-nin went out like a light, and Sakura gently lay her back down on the cot so she could rest.

"Helpless... gonna kill us all..." Isane murmured in a fever-inducted dream.

The pink-haired medic-nin bit her lip. This was looking worse and worse by the minute.

And it was all on her now.


Later that evening, Rock Lee came across his team leader slumped over, unconscious, and faintly snoring beside one of the patients cots. A cursory glance suggested nothing unpleasant had happened, merely that she'd worn herself out from working so hard for so long. It was admirable, really, to see such dedication. Rock Lee felt his eyes grow misty at the sight of it, his beloved Sakura, working so hard, no doubt filled with the energy of the Springtime of Youth.

Wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, Lee gently reached down and picked her up in his arms to carry her to the medical quarters that had been set up for them next to the infirmary. Sai and Naruto had gone there sometime earlier to get some dinner, as well as make themselves comfortable. Lord Tekka had returned to the manor.

The homestead in question beside the restaurant-turned-infirmary was smallish, and likely owned by the town's baker, since it smelled of stale bread. Whatever the case, its owners had abandoned it, either dead from the plague or hiding out in one of the other districts to avoid it. Naruto and Sai were set up camp (so to speak) in one of the side rooms, while Lee carried Sakura to the bedroom and set her down, careful not to wake her.

His pink-haired angel was muttering something in her sleep, but he couldn't quite make it out. Nor, he decided was it any of his business.

Even so, Rock Lee spent the remainder of the night outside of Sakura's bedchambers, standing watch. Although they were in a friendly town, something felt off about this whole mission. Something he couldn't quite place his finger on. And he'd learned to trust his instincts when it came to such things.

He would not let anything happen to his beloved Sakura, were his last thoughts as his heavy eyelids began to descend...


The beep of machines. Rapid. Angry.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"... pulse is racing...!"

"Shousen Jutsu!"

"Open his shirt!"

"Shousen Jutsu!"

"Prepare me the usual medicine, double dosage."

Beepbeep. Beep. Beepbeep. Beep.

"Shousen Jutsu!"

"Sakura, move, we need access-...!"

"His hearts going to give out!"

Beepbeepbeepbeep.

A scream.

"SHOU-SEN JUT-SU!!"

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

Silence.

Then crying.

"Time of Death..."


Jade eyes snapped open as Sakura sat upright, gasping... only to realize she wasn't in the Konoha hospital. She was in a bedroom of some sort, the covers resting around her. Then it all came flooding back in an instant. Takaki village. The Crimson Plague. She was on a mission. Sighing in some relief, shaking the dark dream away, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and smoothed out her skirt. Her clothes were rumpled badly, evidently she'd slept in them, but there wasn't much she could do about that now.

Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she crossed the room to the doorway and out into the hall, hoping to find something to eat. She'd skipped dinner last night, too busy trying to ease the patients suffering in the infirmary. As she drew the door open, she blinked, idly wondering if she was still dreaming. But no, despite the odd sight before her, it seemed real enough.

Rock Lee was standing guard outside of her door... fast asleep... and still standing.

Puzzled, she reached up a hand to try and tap him on the shoulder. "Lee? It's morning."

He continued to doze, seemingly unaware of her. She was about to try again when she remembered one of Naruto's mission stories, about how Rock Lee had fought off one of the Seven Mist Swordsmen, Raiga, while he'd been unconscious. Fighting purely by muscle memory. If that was so, he might misinterpret her waking him up as an attack. Really not in the mood to start the morning with a sparring match, Sakura made her way down to the kitchen. Maybe the smell of cooking would wake him up.

She'd just settled down with a good meal (studying as a kunoichi had taught her some basic homemaking skills, and studying as a medic-nin had taught her a thing or two about herbs) when there came a knock at the door, interrupting her meal.

She opened it to find the smiling, handsome face of the young lord Tekka.

"Morning," he said cheerfully. "Mind if I come in?"

"I... uh... sure," she said, making her way back to the table and scooping up some more of her cooking, setting it aside for him on a spare plate. Part of her admonished herself for doing that, she'd been cooking it for her teammates. The other part of herself told her to stop worrying. She was just being polite to the lord of the village. And her teammates weren't helpless. Well, Naruto could barely boil water to make his ramen, but Lee and Sai would be fine. They'd be able to make do with what was left.

"Here, sorry its nothing better," she stated, setting his plate before him and digging into her own meal. Rice and some over-fried bacon mostly, with some stale bread and some water to wash it down. "We're almost out of water too. I'll have to head down to refill at the town well later."

Tekka smiled warmly. "Oh there's no need for that. I'll have a barrel delivered to the house within the hour."

"There's really no need," protested Sakura half-heartedly.

"I insist. Besides, its not the meal I care about, it's the company," he stated with a warm smile. One that really did wonders for his handsome face. Sakura, despite herself, was blushing at the unexpected attention.

"T-thank you," she replied, looking down.

"I was also hoping for a chance to speak to you about the plague," he stated, after he was halfway through his meal. "Have you learned anything useful? Anything new, that is?"

She sighed heavily, shaking her head, pink locks bouncing. "Definitely nothing useful," she replied. "Just what I've learned from you and Isane. None of my treatments are working either. Nothing stops this damn thing. Just slows it down," she muttered. A deep sigh escaped her, and she suddenly felt the weight of last night overtake her.

"Sakura-san, relax. You're doing your best," he assured her. "Besides, you shouldn't frown. Wrinkles are most unbecoming on such a pretty young lady."

She giggled faintly at that, a tiny smile gracing her features. "My best isn't good enough, evidently."

"Let's not hear more talk like that," he said, crossing to her side of the table. "I have the utmost confidence in you."

She peered up at him in awe, a complete stranger, saying such things. And such things resonating so deeply within her. Some untouched part of herself she'd so rarely let herself experience...

The door slammed open, and Sakura nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Morning!" announced Naruto, and not for the first time, Sakura wondered how anyone could be so cheerful at such an ungodly hour. But her blonde teammate evidently had energy to spare even first thing in the morning. "Mmm, something smells good. Did you make breakfast, Sakura-chan?" he asked, oblivious to her inner musings.

Rolling her eyes and muttering something about stupid blondes, Sakura replied darkly "No, Naruto. Go make your own."

"Fine, I'll just go cook some ramen. Morning, Lord Tekka," he said with a gracious nod.

"Uzumaki," the young lord replied coolly. He wasn't impolite, but it did seem he didn't care for Naruto's presence. Or at least, not for his arrival at that particular moment. Sakura could scarcely believe it. Had he been about to touch her? Did he like her? For that matter, did she like him? Sure he was a lord, but was also charming, handsome, friendly... a little clumsy, maybe, but not nearly as bad as he let on. He had a great sense of humor. And in the right light, he almost looked a little light...

"Hey Sakura do we have any water to boil?"

She frowned again. "Not for a bit, just got to the well, Naruto," she said, rubbing her temples, trying to fight back a headache. She barely noticed as Naruto slipped out the door.

"Maybe we could talk more outside, Sakura-san?" asked Tekka after a moment.

She smiled, thanking him for his suggestion, and took him up on it. They adjourned to the yards, and she had enough time to reorder her thoughts. She was here on a mission, after all. To save peoples lives, not to be seduced by the charming young lord. Medicine. Not flirting.

"Your team is all composed of... genin, aren't they?" asked Tekka after a moment, leaning back against one of the fences... and nearly stumbling backwards when it proved to be a closed gate instead. He rubbed the back of his head self-consciously as he tested his next perch before placing his full weight against it.

"No, just Naruto," replied Sakura. "Lee and I are Chuunins, and Sai is..." she frowned, pausing. She'd never really thought about it much before, but she wasn't quite sure about Sai's rank. Not that ranks seemed to hold much weight in the Root ANBU divisions. "... still testing for such," she settled on, not missing a beat. Partly true, she supposed. "You know about shinobi ranks?" she inquired.

He smiled again, seemingly unaware of how dazzling she found it. "I have family who were shinobi," he replied. "My brother, in particular, rose to be a jounin."

"Really? Wow. Only the very best get to be picked to become jounin," said Sakura.

"Clearly not the very best, or you'd be ranked so, Sakura-san," he replied deftly. She blushed softly at that.

"I'm not half as good as my teammates are outside of medicine," she confessed. "They're much more talented than I."

"Really? Those three?" he asked, seemingly in disbelief. "Tell me more," he inquired politely, leaning forward. And though he listened and commented politely to her stories about Naruto, Lee, and Sai... it was obvious his interest was focused solely on her alone.


Author's Notes:
The Isane here is loosely based on the character of the same name from the Bleach franchise. And seriously, does anyone know Sai's rank? It sure as heck isn't Genin, I know that.