EDIT: I want to thank Hidan'sLoyalGirl who showed me the lyrics I used in this chapter. I was never really pleased with the previous song "Contradictions", so her proposal came as a gift from heaven! Thank you *bows* ^^

I'd like to apologise for the late update. I had a slight mind block and sooo many final exams to take. I passed two of them ^^ only four to go! I hope you like the way the plot is developing. I took into consideration your comments about where the idea for the fiction came from so I'm going to change the plot drastically and it won't be anything like the HP so rest assured :P I'd be waiting for your reviews.

PS It's rated M for possible further mature content.

PPS I do not own "Naruto" it belongs to Masashi Kishimoto ©

The whole thing begins
And I let you sink into my veins
And I feel the pain like it's new
Everything that we were,
Everything that you said,
Everything that I did and that I couldn't do
Plays through tonight...

"Come wake me up" by Rascal Flatts

Sakura jumped on the ground from the tree branch she was standing on and frowned. That was completely insane. There was no way she should find a ribbon in this forest. It could be anywhere: in the den of some animal, tied on a tree branch or hidden in the bushes. She sighed. It's been almost four hours since the test began. It turned out that the other participants had different starting points so at least Sakura didn't worry that she'd run into one of them soon. The girl sat on the moist ground and eased her back on a tree trunk. She should probably be looking for it but her stomach was rumbling and she rummaged in her holster and pulled out, packed in nylon pouch, sandwich.

Munching quietly, Sakura looked around her. It was peaceful and relaxing. If she didn't know that this was the Forest of Death, probably she'd be fooled that it was safe to let her guard down. The kunoichi swallowed her last bit and reached to get her bottle of water. When her hand couldn't find it, Sakura turned hastily around and stared at the empty spot. She had forgotten it. A silent curse escaped between her lips. The girl stood up and glanced at the trees around her. They were mossy on one of the sides. "There is north, as far as I remember the river was in the east part of the forest.", Sakura stretched her arms and legs, preparing for another long run. The girl focused a small amount of chakra in her feet and jumped on a branch again, heading east.

The pink-haired kunoichi wonder how other participants would try to find the ribbon. Maybe they had some kind of secret strategy or something. Sakura was scanning the area with her eyes but she couldn't see anything unusual. Suddenly she realized that if all of them were starting from different points that meant that the four ribbons were somewhere in the middle of the forest. Because if the Kages put them somewhere in the outskirts, four of the shinobi would be at disadvantage. Sakura smirked slightly because she was almost hundred percent certain that Tsunade was the one who set them in the forest. Her shishou must have given her some kind of hint or tip. But then what if other Kages knew the location of the items and had told their representatives where to look for it. Sakura shook her head. She shouldn't think that way. Even if they knew where to look for the ribbons, there would be some kind of trap or protective jutsu which would slow them.

"That's right!", the girl smiled openly now. There must be some trace of chakra left lingering around the place from the jutsu that was put on the ribbon. That's how she would locate it. Sakura ran faster toward the river. She'll collect some water in her nylon pouch, left from the sandwich, and she'll start the ribbon-hunt. The more she drew closer to the river, the more cautious she became. Probably the other participants were headed there too. She didn't really want to fight them at that point of the tournament. If she got hurt and wounded, the kunoichi would be at disadvantage in the other games.

Suddenly a piercing female cry of despair and pain echoed in the forest and Sakura froze on one of the branches. Her eyes were wide open and, the pupils were moving chaotically. What should she do? Should she go there and help the other kunoichi or she should just let her die? "Damn!", Sakura cursed and ran in direction to the scream. She was a medic, the last few years she had spent healing and saving people's lives. That was just a stupid tournament. Who were the Kages to decide if the participants should live or die? Sakura knew that even if she got there in time and manage to help her. The other kunoichi would probably kill her immediately when she got a chance.

Jumping from branch to branch, Sakura was hastily searching for the wounded shinobi. The forest was silent again and the girl couldn't determine exactly from where the scream came out? Suddenly, Sakura's senses twitched as she noticed a small lingering chakra signature. It was weak and fading. The Leaf kunoichi frowned and ran towards it, praying to make it in time.

Something caught Sakura's attention. The bushes below her were in disorder. Something was lying in them. The girl jumped on the ground and drew closer to them. The kunoichi's heart fastened and carefully with a measured chakra, focused in her hand she grabbed the nearest bush, pulling it out with its roots. As she thought behind it a short girl was lying on her side with her back against Sakura. The Leaf shinobi held her breath and kneeled next to her body, gently putting hand on her shoulder. The moment when Sakura touched the lying girl, her body shivered and hastily turned around, revealing her face.

Sakura covered her mouth with hand to suppress the scream in her throat. He eyes got teary and her face reddened. The girl before her was staring at her with wide open hollow eyes; her skin was wizened and dried up. Sakura sobbed quietly when the other kunoichi reached her wrinkled arm to her. The pink-haired kunoichi popped her eyes out even more when the hand of the other participant grabbed her for the ankle. Her zombified look was terrifying Sakura and it was sending chills all around her body. Despite her being a medic, the girl couldn't force herself to draw closer to the dying kunoichi.

The Earth participant was poisoned, with the same toxin as the one which killed the man two weeks ago and almost killed Kakashi. But why Sakura couldn't make herself to go near the girl. She didn't feel disgusted when she saw Kakashi in the same condition. Her only thoughts back then were to save him, to give everything she had to bring him back to life. Was it because he was a comrade, a friend? Or was it because that girl was an enemy? No, Sakura had never been a person who judged people according to their origin or the village they came from. It wasn't like her to just leave her there to die.

Suddenly the Stone kunoichi opened her mouth and tried to say something. Sakura couldn't understand the mixed syllables and she tried to suppress her inner disgust and came closer to the dying kunoichi, placing her hand on her shoulder.

"The field…with crimson…clovers…", Sakura frowned confused, "Ribbon…is there…"

The pink-haired kunoichi gasped for air and her face curved in apologetic grimace, slowly nodding in gratitude. She couldn't do anything to save her. It was too late, "Who did this to you?"

The dying girl opened her mouth but the answer didn't come. One last breath escaped her lips and her head fell on the side. Sakura's eyes got wet again and she reached uncertainly her hand to close her staring pink eyes.

Sakura was jumping from branch to branch, her eyes were teary and they were clouding her vision. She angrily wiped them off and continued running. When a single tear escaped from her the corner of her eye, the kunoichi cursed and her eyebrows curved in frustration. She jumped from the branch furiously not measuring her chakra output and the branch cracked loudly before it broke and fell down. Sakura fell on the ground and slowly rose, sitting on the moist forest floor. Her shoulders were shivering and the kunoichi wrapped her arms around her knees, burying her face in them. Her tears were openly falling now.

She didn't care if somebody saw her or if somebody tried to kill her. This whole stupid tournament was staring to look like a sick game. It wasn't right to kill people for amusement. It was inhuman. They were all shinobi. They were tools, trained to kill. Yes. But not for someone's perverted perspective of fun. It was supposed to have a meaning, all of this. Sakura's sobs became stronger. When she became shinobi she had a purpose – to protect what's dear to her. And now what? All of her idealistic imaginary thoughts and hopes were shattered to pieces. She just couldn't continue to do this. She needed a cause to fight for, a reason – good enough – to make killing other people an acceptable measure.

But Sakura knew very well that there was no such reason. Nothing could make taking someone's life reasonable. She just had to learn to live with all those ghosts because in the shinobi world there is only one unbreakable, unwritten rule – "Kill or be killed". The girl sobbed and her hands clenched into fists. She couldn't let herself be killed; she should keep on living for the sake of all those friends and comrades who lost their lives in battle. She should continue to fight for the sake of those who are still living and protect them with her life. She should continue this fucking game and win the tournament for the sake of her village, her home and she would do anything, give up everything in order to preserve the life in Konoha as it was now.

Sakura stood up, wiped her tears and jumped on the branch again, heading to the hill.

Sai frowned and opened his eyes, releasing the hand seal. Naruto and Tsunade glanced at him questioning. The boy rubbed his temples and sat on the small folding chair next to the Copy nin. The silver-haired jonin lifted his gaze from the orange book which he had been reading the last four hours without uttering a word and stared at his team mate.

"Hokage-sama, you were correct. Sakura did follow the scream. She just found in the bushes the Stone kunoichi poisoned.", Sai's words were indifferent, accompanied by his empty facial expression, "Sakura couldn't help her and she died."

Kakashi and Tsunade shared a confused look, "How come Sakura wasn't able to save her?", the silver-haired shinobi snapped the book closed, "Why did she even try to save her in the first place?", Kakashi stood up, nervously walking in circles in the tent.

"I believe the poison was the same we encountered a week ago. Sakura might have been able to save you, Kakashi-senpai, but the kunoichi wasn't so lucky.", Sai answered.

Tsunade stared at the ground. So the one who was using the poison was among the participants or at least among the people from the other villages currently staying in Konoha. The Hokage bit her thumb's nail and tsk-ed, "What is Sakura doing now?"

Sai hesitated a little obviously wondering if he should tell them everything. From what he saw through the eyes of his ink snake, his teammate wasn't exactly looking good.

"Sai! Tell us!", Naruto grabbed him for the clothes and shook him, "Don't you dare to hide anything from us!"

"Before I released the jutsu, she was sitting on the ground.", Sai scratched his head, "She looked in pain even though she didn't seem to be injured."

Naruto cursed and lumped on the ground, folding his legs under him, "She's losing it – ", the blonde Jinchuuriki sighed and glanced worriedly at the Hokage. The older woman had a frustrated expression on her face.

Suddenly a loud crash echoed in the tent. The three shinobi turned and saw Kakashi's fist bumped into the wooden beam, supporting the tent, "It should have been me –", the words almost hissed through his clenched teeth, "I should have been the one who is out there! Not her!", the Copy nin bumped his fist once again, feeling few slivers digging into the skin covering his knuckles. Probably bruises would appear in few minutes. But the silver-haired shinobi didn't care. They would remind his guilty consciousness for this day.

"Kakashi, I think Sakura is capable enough to finish her task – ", Tsunade glanced at him with warning glare.

"You have no idea what she is capable of – ", Kakashi's words were like a piercing whisper.

"And you do? The sensei who didn't even bother to try and train her?", Tsunade was on the verge of an emotional outburst. Her timbre was now few tones higher.

"Yes! As a matter of fact, I do.", Kakashi walked closer, staring at her caramel eyes, "I have no doubt that she would complete her duty. But I doubt that she'll get out of this forest as the same Sakura we knew. You are a medic. You know how it feels to lose a patient but what you do not know is how Sakura's compassionate personality multiplies the intensity of these emotions. She was always temperamental, driven by emotions and feelings. They are her greatest strength as well as her scariest weakness. And now she's desperate that whoever that guy is, he can kill her with a single blow, no, even a single scratch…she's lonely and scared because Sakura doesn't give herself enough credit that she can win. She never does. And may Kami strike me with a lightning bold right now, if she will ever do.", Kakashi curved his brows and turned his back to the other shinobi, "I wasn't the best sensei, but I think I know my friends pretty well.", the silver-haired man walked out of the tent leaving the Hokage speechless.

"Somehow I feel that they have grown closer.", Naruto mumbled, "But I have no idea when or how –"

Tsunade only smirked slightly and slapped Sai behind his neck, "Good job, Sai. Rest a little and you'll continue with the observation when I come back.", the blonde woman headed to the exit, "I'm going to check on the other Kages and inform them about the death case."

As Tsunade walked out of the tent, she felt Kakashi's chakra signature nearby. Quietly she drew closer to the nearest tree and eased her back casually on it, knowing that the jonin was standing on the other side, "It's been quite some time since I heard you talking so much about someone, apart from your mission targets." The only answer she got was a quiet humph. Tsunade smirked and walked away.

Kakashi cursed under his mask and slid his back against the tree trunk, sitting on the ground. He wondered if she really was OK or she was on the verge of losing her common sense. And Kakashi perfectly knew that losing focus on the battlefield was equal to death. The Copy nin ran his fingers through his hair and his lip trembled. Since when he became so obsessed with somebody's well-being? It was true that he deeply cared for his comrades but the feelings he had for Sakura were stronger. He couldn't even lie himself about that. Was it because she saved him so many times? No, the answer laid elsewhere.

It was that first moment when he opened his eyes in her bed and saw her smiling at him. She was just illuminating, with those green dazzling eyes and long pink hair. Her smile was radiant and it was giving away her innocence and pure intentions. She wasn't looking after him because the Hokage asked her, she did because he was her friend. Those words she told him, warmed his heart and Kakashi felt it beating for the first time in twenty years. They didn't grow closer quickly, it was just Kakashi who lowered his walls and let her in. She's been reaching out to him for all these years. But the only thing that was preventing him from realizing it was he himself. The Copy nin smiled under the mask and chuckled, letting his breath out of his lungs. The feeling of having somebody close to you was comforting.

"Senpai, you're blushing.", Kakashi jumped startled and lifted his gaze to see Tenzo coming closer to him, "It's rare to see you flushed while you're not reading Icha Icha."

The Copy nin cleared his throat, "I was thinking about it."

"I see, so that's how you call it – ", Tenzo sat next to him and closed his eyes, easing his head on the trunk.

Kakashi glared at his kohai and murmured, "Shut up."

Sakura pulled herself up on the top of the mountain and wiped out the sweat of her forehead panting. It took her two hours to reach the hill. It wasn't the length of the way that tired her, it was the constant listening for any kind of sound, different than the usual for the forest. It was strange that she didn't meet other participants. It was true that the forest was bigger than the usual training grounds but still it was just a simple circular area. Sakura was thirsty and the lack of water exhausted her even further. The weather was awfully hot and the kunoichi glanced with narrowed eyes at the sun, trying to figure out the time. It was probably around 3 or 4pm. It would be impossible for her to return back whilst it was still light outside. Most likely she'll have to either build a shelter or run during the night which was almost as dangerous as staying in the Forest of Death at after sunset. But now she had to focus on finding the ribbon.

The kunoichi looked around carefully, remembering the day when Konohamaru and Naruto came here to search for the four-leaf crimson clover. She drew closer to the small monument and laid on the grass, trying to look under the stone statue. The last time, the clover was hidden there. A slight glimpse of pink caught her eye and the girl reached out her hand to pull out whatever was under there. The slit was narrow and the crude rocks on the bottom of the statue scratched her hand but Sakura just reached deeper. Her fingers touched something which she could only describe as paper. A scroll. Sakura grabbed it and pulled out her hand. What she didn't know was that as soon as the scroll left its place, the tiny button which it was pressing stood out from the ground and some mechanism was put in motion.

The pink-haired kunoichi grinned as she saw the scroll tied up with a ribbon. Quickly she removed the precious item and put it in her holster, opening the scroll. She remembered Tsunade's words. She would read the text and follow the instructions. Her eyes lingered on the elegantly written words:

"Out of place and a little bit misused

by its sweet colour they are seduced.

Put it where it is meant to be

or forever you will sleep beneath the lea."

"What the fuck is this?", Sakura murmured under her breath, she expected instructions not rhymes. Was is some kind of riddle she was supposed to figure out? The kunoichi read the stanzas once again more carefully. It had to refer to the ribbon. There was no other logical explanation. "Out of place and a little bit misused –", Sakura repeated the words in her head. Well it was true that ribbons didn't usually serve as tools to tie scrolls under stone statues but it was just hidden there. The pink was sweet colour indeed but who were "they"?

Suddenly the ground under Sakura's feet tumbled and the girl fell into a hole under it. Due to the surprise Sakura couldn't avoid the hard landing and she could only use her arms to protect her face from the hit. She could tell just by feeling the pain in her left shoulder that probably it was removed from the joint. It was partly expected since her arms received the whole weight of her fall. Sakura frowned in pain. She couldn't move her arm. Probably some of the nerves were damaged as well. Damn, those rules. The kunoichi couldn't heal it as well. She just had to endure the pain. But first she had to figure a way out. Her eyes looked around. It was pitch black and the only light that was entering the room was coming from the hole she fell through.

The kunoichi crawled back cautiously and brushed her right hand on the ground around her, searching for some sticks that can help her start a fire. Suddenly her fingers sank into a greasy liquid and the girl instinctively retrieved her hand. It had a specific, familiar scent but Sakura couldn't recall what it was. It was smooth and relatively thick. Almost like…oil. The kunoichi rummaged in her holster and pulled out an explosive tag, placing it next to the puddle. Sakura pulled away from it and kneeled on the ground with back turned to the tag, holding her arm. Quietly the girl whispered "Kai!" and a small explosion illuminated the hole. The fire from the explosion ignited the oil and Sakura saw the flames travelling across the room. Obviously there were other oil puddles in the hall, connected by tiny canals.

Soon Sakura could clearly see everything in the hole. It was quite spacious and completely empty. The floor was muddy due to the higher level of moisture in the lower levels of the earth. The kunoichi glanced up and wondered if she could chakra climb the walls without further hurting herself. The batter of the wall near the exit was almost reverse and she'd have to walk completely upside down. With her hurt shoulder she wasn't absolutely sure that she could do it.

Suddenly something caught Sakura's attention. There were multiple mud bubbles forming on the ground, it looked like as if the soil was boiling. The bubbles were multiplying and climbing one above another. In only few seconds the mud-bubbled figures started to take the shape of a humanoid creatures. The kunoichi popped her eyes and crawled further back until her back touched the wall. There was no escape. Before even her brain could start to process the current events, the figures were now looking exactly like soldiers – wearing uniforms and swords. Sakura gasped for air and carefully pulled out a kunai, grabbing it with her right hand. It would be hard for her to defend against them with only one arm. But she was a jonin kunoichi, Naruto would most likely succeed, Kakashi would definitely survive and win against them. What was stopping her from doing the same? She had been training for the last six year exactly for times like that. Sakura promised herself that she'd never again rely on others to protect her and the kunoichi intended to keep that vow.

Sakura tightened the grip on the kunai in her hand and frowned. Was that a jutsu? Maybe it activated after she pulled the scroll from under the stone statue. The something flinched in her mind. "They…" These soldiers were mostly likely the ones that the rhyme was referring to as they. What was the text saying once again? Sakura narrowed her eyes in attempt to concentrate, "By its sweet colour they are seduced – ". Pink. Ribbon. They were after the ribbon. Kunoichi's eyes snapped open and she rolled on the floor, trying to avoid the strong blow aimed at her from one of the enemies. A sharp pain ran through her arm. So they were meant to attack. Sakura jumped on her feet and clenched her fist, focusing her chakra in it. The girl took a deep breath and punched the ground before her. The strength of the hit sent piercing pain in her hurt shoulder again. It was no good. She couldn't use her extra force to fight them. The ache was too much to bare and to keep her mind clear and sober. She saw some of the mud soldiers crashing down but soon she saw the ruins of their bodies, trembling and starting to recover.

"You've got to be kidding me – ", Sakura almost screamed in higher than usual voice. If they were really summoned by a jutsu protecting the ribbon, maybe if she throw it to them, they'd let her escape. But that would mean that she'd lose the tournament. So basically, it was her life or the tournament. The kunoichi smiled and her lips almost trembled. What would Kakashi do if he was in her boots? Sakura smirked wider. For her white-haired friend, missions came before his life. It's been always like that. The only thing that the Copy nin placed above mission and orders were his comrades and friends. It was a good thing that Sakura didn't have a partner in this game because probably she'd chose to run away. Being the cause of death to somebody else was a burden that her shoulders couldn't carry.

The kunoichi took a battle stance and raised her kunai, expecting the next attacks. One of the soldiers aimed a powerful blow and Sakura had to jump aside to avoid it where she met another mud enemy swinging his katana at her. The kunoichi could barely evade and she felt the blade tearing the ANBU vest and her top, slightly cutting the skin on her ribs. A sharp gasp for air escaped her lips. They were too many and no matter how many of then she took out, they were still coming back. Sakura tumbled on a fallen stone and lost balance. The mud soldier which was closer to her aimed his strike at her. Instinctively the girl raised her right arm in front of her face. The katana stack at her forearm protectors, only scratching her skin. The exhaustion was making her distracted and easily to kill. She had to think of a way to stop the jutsu before her strength was gone. And with that wounded shoulder, the latter one was just a matter of minutes. What was said more in the note? "Put it where it is meant to be – ". Where was the fucking right place to put a ribbon? Ribbon. Ribbon. Sakura repeated the word in her mind, trying to think of associations. Ribbon. Present. Gift. Bouquet. Roses. The girl ducked and jumped aside to evade another powerful blow. Date. Clothes. Make up. Hair cut. Shoes. Suddenly Sakura's eyes popped out, "Hair. That's it!"

The kunoichi gathered a huge amount of chakra in her fist and clenched her teeth expecting the pain and smashed the ground before her, crushing the floor, forcing some huge stone blocks to emerge from below, forming a barrier between her and the mud soldiers. Sakura pinned the kunai next to her and sat tiredly on the ground. She saw the first wave of rocks cracking. She needed to hurry. Quickly the kunoichi pulled out the ribbon, placing it on her knee, thinking how to do it. Tying her hair with one hand was difficult. Sakura slowly formed a hand seal and after a silent pouf her kage bunshin appeared behind her. The leaf kunoichi saw the rocks, protecting her from the attacks of the mud soldiers, collapsing. The enemies were drawing closer to her. Soon she'd be in their attack range. Her shadow clone plaited her hair, tying it up with the pink ribbon. The moment when the knot of the ribbon was made around her silky pink locks Sakura saw the mud army dissolving before her eyes. A laugh threatened to escape her lips. Whoever thought of this game had a very sick mind.

The bunshin disappeared and Sakura eased her back to the wall behind her, letting herself finally to take a normal breath. She needed a break and more over she needed to pee. She's been holding up for few hours already. The kunoichi licked her lips. Her body was starting to get dehydrated. She should have gone to the river. Instantly the memory of the dead kunoichi appeared in her mind. Sakura suppressed the urge to throw up. As medic she'd seen far much worse but she had never witnessed such horrible and repulsive death. The memory of the dried up face of the young girl was messing with her insides, sending jerking chills to her heart and stomach. The pink-haired kunoichi sighed and closed her eyes. It could have been her.

Sakura glanced up and saw the dark sky, pushing the bad thoughts away from her mind. The night had fallen outside. She had to get moving. Sakura would have plenty of time to deal with the post-traumatic stress later. The kunoichi had no idea whether the other participants finished the test so she just had to hurry and go back. She was two and half hours away from her starting point. Sakura smiled and stood up. But before anything else, she had to pee.

Kakashi sipped from his hot coffee and sighed. It was past midnight already and there were neither signs of Sakura nor the other participants which was a good sign, probably. Sai tried to track her down again but this time it was as if she had disappeared in the abyss, so the ninja artist gave up on trying. Tsunade had gone to talk with the Kages again. Most likely they were discussing the next test. The Copy nin watched Yamato packing his things, preparing to leave for the mission under the orders of the Hokage. There were still incoming missions for the village and Kakashi knew that Tsunade couldn't afford not to accept them. The only thing that bugged him was why she didn't send him off too. Well, he was fine with this. Right now his mind was full only with Sakura which wasn't exactly the best thing for doing missions. The silver-haired jonin sipped again, letting his breath out. Naruto was nowhere to be seen and he started to worry what the young troublemaker could be doing right now. But after all the boy was already a young man and a capable shinobi, he should stop overreacting. Kakashi smirked under his mask, imagining what would Sakura's reaction be if she was here. Probably the kunoichi would have gone looking for him already. The Copy nin once again caught himself thinking about her. The last twelve hours she barely left his thoughts. The jonin shook his head. That was because she was currently doing extremely dangerous job. He nodded reassuringly, trying to convince himself.

Suddenly outside the tent a loud commotion took place. Everybody was rushing and Kakashi immediately jumped from his chair and went outside, followed by Tenzo. The copy nin shoved away the gathering crowed, trying to reach the front line. Everybody was pushing forward the gates. The silver-haired jonin finally could see the reason for this entire ruckus kneel. The thought that Sakura had returned alive and unharmed exploded in million pieces as he saw Darui indifferently staring at the cheering people. Kakashi noticed a black ribbon tied on his forehead. He had won the first game. No big deal but where was Sakura. Why she wasn't coming back? The jonin glanced at the black calm forest, feeling the hand of Tenzo on his shoulder.

"She's gonna be fine.", the young ANBU patted his senpai, "I'm leaving. I can't prolong the mission any longer. Send me a hawk when she's back."

Kakashi only nodded. The crowed, accompanying the winner, moved to the centre of the camp. The Copy nin was left standing there, staring at the dark trees. His chakra tickled weirdly, somebody was closing up to the gate. They were may be a kilometre or so away from the camp. Kakashi sharpened his senses and gave a whistle, announcing the presence of another participant to the observers who were now babbling about Darui's victory. Immediately their chatting stopped and they moved back to the gates. The jonin felt Tsunade standing next to him. The chakra signature was coming closer and closer. Suddenly Kakashi's eye narrowed. It wasn't only one signature, they were two separate and different, but due to their weak state he couldn't distinguish them. The crowed of observers held its breath in anticipation and excitement.

As soon as Kakashi realized that one of the signatures belonged to Sakura, he saw her coming out from the forest running, only seconds after that Kankuro appeared behind her, preparing the attacked of his puppets. The Copy nin's muscles tensed and his heart skipped a beat. Sakura's running was slowing down, something was delaying her. He noticed the abnormally sagged shoulder and his brows curved in a worried frown. The Sand jonin sent his two puppets after her but the kunoichi managed to evade the attack, falling on the ground, interrupting her run. Before even Kankuro could realize what happened, Sakura stood up and stomped her foot on the ground. The land below the puppet master grumbled and few large rocks jammed his movements, as the earth collapsed under his feet.

Kakashi watched the fight with clenched trembling fist. He saw Sakura slowly walking toward the gate, her legs were shaking and she was pale, covered in dirt and blood. The arm protectors and the ANBU tank that he gave her were hardly recognized from all the scratches and cuts on them. A small blood stain had appeared between her waist and ribs. Her hair was dishevelled and ruffled with muddy locks wrapping her face. The Copy nin drew closer to the gate with toes standing only inch away from the finish line. The crowd was silent.

Sakura's eyes were staring directly at his black eye, he could read the shock, the fear, the terror in them, but alongside with them a tiny sparks of victory were flaring in her emerald lakes. A tortured smile was curving her pale dry lips. Kakashi couldn't believe that she was there only few meters away from him, alive and mostly unharmed. When the kunoichi stopped just behind the finish line he heard her letting out a deep and tired sigh. The pink-haired girl reached with her right arm and untied her plait. Sakura raised up her hand and the crowed burst out in exclamations. A pink silky ribbon was blowing slightly in her fist. The kunoichi stepped over the finish line and stared at Kakashi's eyes.

"I did it.", her voice was weak and cracked, probably from the emotions clashing in her heart. Sakura's lower lip trembled and she sniffed, holding her relieving tears back, knowing that all of Konoha's shinobi force and civilians were looking at her.

Kakashi knew ever since she left this morning what he wanted to do when he see her next time. But now under the eyes of Konoha somehow he couldn't make himself to wrap his arms around her. It was too personal and privet to let these old bastards witness this. The Copy nin noticed her inability to hide her tears anymore and he just sighed. Fuck gossips. The silver-haired jonin bowed down and with a single move he lifted her up. For a second he noticed two green glistening eyes glancing at him before Sakura buried her face in the nape of his neck. Kakashi heard her whispering "Thank you." And a small smiled appeared on his face, knowing that he made the right thing.

Ignoring the whispers and glares from the crowd, the Copy nin walked to her tent, followed by Tsunade and a medical team. Tomorrow there would be probably gossips, calumny and slanders but they would fade away like every other lie before that. Sakura was his ex-student and friend. Nothing more. The silver-haired jonin put Sakura on the small bed in the tent, realizing that she had either fallen asleep or lost consciousness. He stroked her hair and smiled at her peaceful expression, "I knew that you would do it." His voice was nothing more than a whisper but a slight smile formed on Sakura's lips in her sleep.

Kakashi stood up and walked out of the tent, noticing Tsunade and the medics waiting patiently outside. The Hokage's face formed a smug expression, "Are you finished?"

The Copy nin sent her a blank glare and disappeared in a dispersing white smoke.

TBC