Title: A Reason To Love You

Summary: Sakura's in denial over her feelings for her ex-sensei, and when he leaves on a mission, she's left to ponder quietly on her problems. But when Kakashi comes back with a surprise, Sakura may just have a chance….Kaka/Saku

(PS: I messed up on the ages for the first chapter. Please Ignore The Ages at the First Chapter)

Ages:

Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura: 18

Note: I think I'm gonna die. Really, I do. 100+ reviews. When I saw my inbox stuffed up with review alerts………

I spat out my half chewed Korean pickled vegetables….they were good too. (Sobs)

Eh enough of my rambles, second last chapter!

Warning: Expect extreme confusing stuff in this chapter. You have been warned.


Chapter 9: Because of Me?

Kakashi and the gang tensed as they heard the figure call out. They knew they were there. The silver haired man was about to signal Kiba to fling his kunai when another, very, familiar voice rang out.

" Hatake-san, I know you and your…back-up are out there. If you value Sakura-san's life, I personally advise Inuzuka to stop fingering his kunai."

The scarecrow's dark orb widened considerably, while Kiba's mouth dropped slightly. He peered through the bushes, and found Koichi Sumita and another violet haired Leaf shinobi standing beside him, in front of the shadowy mob.

Kakashi heard a soft curse from Sasuke, he looked questionably at the Uchiha.

Obsidian orbs stared at his intently, " That woman, I saw her earlier today with the polite ass." Shikamaru grunted, seemly annoyed by the turn of events, " How troublesome…"

" For once, I completely agree with you," Kiba muttered, still fingering the kunai.

A low chuckle was heard from the traitor, " Waiting there would be a waste of time…considering your precious Sakura-san is dying as we talk, Hatake-san."

Neji's pale eyes narrowed at the cabin, " Sakura-san's chakra…it's slowly being consumed by something.."

Koichi laughed, " Hyuuga-san, how observant of you! My cuffs are responsible for her deprivation. They can suck the chakra out of a person until they die. My ingenious idea of course."

Kakashi grimaced at this, despite his dislike for the chuunin, he knew that the man didn't talk like that, and he wondered why he was acting like this now.

" If you're not gonna come out anytime soon, I guess we'll have to make you, get them!" This time it was the female who spoke. Seconds later after the words left her lips, half a dozen shadows appeared behind the gang crouched in the bushes.

Kiba snarled and flung his kunai at one of the figures, who poofed out of existence. " Damn!" Akamaru snarled and leapt to the nearest shadow, fangs prepared to rip.

The rest quickly drew their kunais or shurikens, Kakashi quickly back flipped over the bush and flung several kunais at the smiling blue haired man. Instantly, shadowy figures appeared before him and took the hit. The kunais melted into the dark liquid like substance. Kakashi mentally twitched, didn't that thing just talk before?

Koichi smiled and darted forward, his eyes ablaze. He threw swift kicks and punches, with speed Kakashi doubted that was chuunin rank.

" Why Sakura?" Kakashi grunted as he landed a punch to Koichi's gut. The man's lips curled into a menacing snarl, " Revenge! Her parents killed mine!" He swiped at Kakashi with a pair of kunais, " And you!"

A silver eyebrow was raised, " Huh, me?" He elbowed a shadowy figure, mentally scowling that the feeling was………..squishy. How strange.

Eyes narrowed at Kakashi, " Yes, you!" He disappeared and swiftly appeared behind him, " Orochimaru-sama wants your Sharingan!"

Kakashi poofed away before Koichi could do anything, appearing near the cabin door. " Sharingan eh?" He glanced at the violet haired woman who was cornered by Sasuke and Neji. Various wounds were visible on the woman's upper torso. A kunai shot through the air, Kakashi side-stepped it easily, and it stabbed into the doorknob. He heard a colorful curse from Koichi, and then Kakashi knew why.

The man had accidentally triggered the trap on the doorknob meant for Kakashi.

" Damnit!" Kakashi quickly kicked the door open, turning around and did hand seals, one that he had so conveniently copied from Sasuke, much to his annoyance.

" Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" He raised his hand to his mouth and breathed out a large ball of fire at the blue haired chuunin, who let out another string of colorful curses, and dived away from the flames. The flames also took out a handful of shadows, a few Sasuke had been battling with. The raven haired man had a disgruntled expression.

Kakashi wasted no time, quickly sped to the far corner where abducted pink kunoichi sat at. He kneeled beside Sakura, by the moonlight, Kakashi could tell that her face was extremely pale, her breathing came short and raspy. Dry blood caked her arms and legs, her wrists and ankles cuffed up.

" Damn, Sakura, hold on.." He whispered, gingerly picking up the pink haired medic nin bridal style. Kakashi headed to the door, and frowned.

With the shadows help, Koichi managed to douse the fire, how, Kakashi will never know. The blue haired chuunin stood a few feet away from him, eyes narrowed to the point Kakashi wondered if he could see anymore.

" Put. Her. Down."

" Hm. No." Came the Copy-Nin's blunt reply. He nodded to his comrades, who had managed to defeat most of the shadows. The remaining figures stayed near the violet haired woman and Koichi. Sasuke poofed beside Kakashi, narrowing his obsidian eyes when he saw Sakura's condition.

" They beat her." He concluded. His eyes met dark orbs, dark with rage.

They heard Koichi's dry laugh, " She'll never make it back to Konoha alive! She will die on the way, I've made sure of that. The five hour limit is almost up,"

Kakashi narrowed his eyes, " Damn you." He let Sakura lean onto Sasuke as her crutch, and prepared his next move.

He gripped his right hand, Koichi's eyes widened. Kakashi concentrated his chakra into his right hand, a visible blue glow started to appear, the sound of a thousand birds chirping filled the air.

" Chidori!" He called, and with a surprising burst of unmatchable speed, Kakashi dashed forward towards Koichi. The man didn't blink, and as if on instinct, he grabbed the person nearest to him, pushing the person in front of him.

Now, if the man-shield were one of the shadows, Kiba and the others wouldn't have cared.

On the other hand, the person Koichi had grabbed happened to be his own partner, the violet haired woman. She yelped out in surprise, and before Kakashi could stop himself, he plunged his Chidori into her back.

A pregnant silence followed shortly after, the sound of a thousand birds chirping slowly died away, the silver haired jounin removed his hand out of the chest, his eyes wide from shock, not from that he had killed someone. The fact that Koichi had used his own comrade…

Koichi looked rather unaffected, he stared unemotionally at the dying woman in front of him, her blood splattered on the front of his clothing.

" S-Sumita…" She rasped out, before crumbling onto the ground. The blue haired chuunin continued to stare at her. Ignoring the shock, Kakashi and the others quickly took this chance and leapt to the trees. Sasuke passed Sakura back to Kakashi, who carried her bridal style. As they leapt farther away from the cabin, Kakashi glanced slightly back, at the rapidly disappearing back of Koichi Sumita.

" We have to hurry," Kakashi muttered, and dashed off in the same surprising burst of speed.

Kiba muttered softly beside Shikamaru, Akamaru perched on his head, " He really loves her, doesn't he?"

The lazy genius nodded, and they picked up their speed.


The Konoha Hospital was eerily quite, most of the patients in the patient's wings were fast asleep. Tsunade and Shizune remained near the emergency rooms, with Naruto still bandaged up like a mummy by their side. The blond's face was scrunched up nervously. The doors burst open, a loud shout was heard from a medic nin at the front counter, and sounds of running was heard.

" Hokage-sama!" It was Kakashi and the gang, they had some non-fatal wounds, but the one in critical condition was limp in the silver haired man's arms.

" Sakura!" The three waiting for them cried out, for Naruto, it was more like screeching. Swiftly, Tsunade plucked her apprentice out of Kakashi's arms and dashed to the nearest emergency room, half a dozen medic nins following her.

The group stared at the doors.

Sakura…


A few hours had passed, it was way past midnight. Kiba, Shikamaru, and Neji had left almost an hour ago, mostly due to the death glares Sasuke had sent them. Naruto had explained that it was his way of expressing that he wanted them to go home and take a rest, earning a hard whack to his head courtesy of the Uchiha.

Kakashi, Sasuke and Naruto sat on the bench in front of the emergency room Sakura currently resided in. The light above the sign " Emergency Room 7" was still on.

The silver haired man mentally smirked at the irony of the sign.

It's because of me…that Sakura's hurt…

A soft ding was heard, the red light above the sign dimmed out, and the doors slid open. Tsunade and Shizune walked out, the fifth's apprentice looked a bit pale.

" She's alright now," Tsunade said, her honey eyes glanced at the three, " Sakura….she nearly died in there."

Naruto's clear blue eyes widened, " What! Why!"

" The cuffs. It won't stop sapping away Sakura's chakra once it's off." Sasuke muttered, Tsunade nodded.

" Sasuke's right, if you had been a few moments late, we wouldn't have had the time to remove the cuffs." Shizune explained. " It would have been fatal for Sakura,"

The three men paled slightly at the thought of loosing Sakura.

Naruto closed his blue orbs, before opening them again, rage radiating from them, " Damn that polite, arrogant, back-stabbing-"

" Naruto."

" …Piece of trash-"

" Naru-"

" Slimy worm-"

" UZUMAKI NARUTO!" Tsunade growled, her fingers twitching to wrap around the blonds neck and break it.

" Ur?" Had been Naruto's oh so intelligent reply. Sasuke grumbled softly about simple minded simpletons. Kakashi however, continued to stare at the doors of the emergency room where Sakura was in.

" I want you three to go home and rest, now." The Hokage glared at Naruto making a feeble attempt to protest, " Sakura will be fine, you can all visit her tomorrow,"

The blond opened his mouth again, Tsunade broke him off, " And that means no breaking into the hospital!"

" Awwww…"

" Idiot" Sasuke concluded and dragged the whiskered blond away. Kakashi half-heartily stared at them, before slowly dragging his legs after his former students.

" Kakashi," The said man turned his head lazily at Tsunade, " You alright?"

He nodded before trudging off.

Shizune turned to the Hokage, " He really does love Sakura,"

" Hmm."

The honey eyed woman sighed, " This is a conspiracy.."

" As in…?" Shizune ventured. Tsunade grumbled, " This and that,"


The next morning, Sakura woke up refreshed, and confused.

Shouldn't I be in heaven? Where are all the angels prancing around with trumpets?

Her tired emerald orbs glanced slightly to her right, and saw a mop of messy blond hair by her side.

Eh?

She blinked the sleep out of her eyes and stared closely.

" Naruto?"

The figure sat up in a flash, his blue eyes twinkling with happiness, " Sakura! You're awake!"

The pink haired woman had to smile, a few moments later, Ino, Hinata, and Sasuke walked into the room. They had wide-open smiles, for Sasuke, it was only a tug at the lips.

" Saku! You're awake!"

" So I've heard." Sakura deadpanned and laughed. Sasuke took the seat beside Naruto, and stared at her intently.

" You alright?" Sakura nodded and frowned slightly.

" What happened after I passed out?"

Naruto squinted his eyes at the stoic Uchiha, " Yeah, you didn't tell us anything last night."

Sasuke paused slightly, " Sakura…Koichi betrayed us all. At the last moment, Kakashi used his Chidori and charged at the chuunin." Sakura leaned slightly forward. " And?"

" Koichi used the violet haired woman as his shield."

Four pairs of eyes widened, Ino stuttered, " W-What? That's not the polite bastard we know!" Hinata had clasped her hands over her mouth, while Naruto stared agape.

" It was all an act. To earn our trust." Sakura whispered, remembering what Koichi had told her last night.

" I am Koichi Sumita, avenger for my parents."

Sakura's fists tightened on the white covers.

" You're using me….to get to Kakashi…" She whispered darkly.

" Bingo."

" Why?"

" The Sharingan."

" He used me. For the sole purpose of getting to Kakashi." Sakura whispered.

" W-wha? Why Kakashi-san?" Naruto whispered. The blond and Sasuke had stopped calling their ex-sensei with the 'sensei' after Sakura told them they were going out. Which was a lot to digest for them.

" The Sharingan."

Silence.

" If he's going after the Sharingan, why didn't he go after Sasuke?" Naruto demanded, partly to himself, and noticed Sasuke's glare, " Not that I'm keen on getting rid of you, Sasuke-bastard! You're my best friend! But isn't it a bit weird?"

" He worked for Orochimaru….his parents and him..I think Orochimaru decided to make Kakashi his target for the Sharingan…." The pink haired kunoichi continued. " My parents died on that mission, to kill the elites in Orochimaru's ranks."

Obsidian eyes narrowed, " I remember that, there were only twelve elites picked out. But what does that have to do with anything?"

" Koichi's an avenger. He wanted revenge. On me. My parents killed his."

" Sakura, that's like…two stones hitting one bird. He gets his revenge, and at the same time, he gets to Kakashi and the Sharingan." Ino whispered. Sakura's pink bangs shadowed over her eyes.

They talked about other things, thanks to Hinata successfully changing the topic. Naruto and Sasuke noticed the lack of optimism in Sakura's smile, but they decided that they were just paranoid.

They didn't know how wrong they were.


It was late in the afternoon, Sakura still lay in the hospital bed, staring out the windows of her room.

She recalled on the conversation with Tsunade after her friends had left, Kakashi had yet to come and visit her.

" Tsunade- sensei.."

" Yes, Sakura?"

" I'm putting everyone important to me in danger."

Sakura's hands curled up into fists, tears threatening to fall.

" I cannot deny it. It is true."

" …………I can't do this….I can't stay here….."

" Sakura…"

Slowly, Sakura closed her eyes, and drifted off into a dreamless sleep. The door had softly slid open, at that time. A pair of dark orbs peered in.

" Sakura…"


Two months later.

A pink haired kunoichi ran through the crowd in Konoha's busy market street. Her emerald orbs filled with happiness, she had good news apparently. Sakura rushed to a certain silver haired man's apartment, and burst in. She knew her lover had just gotten back from a tiring mission, but all thoughts of coming in quietly flew out the window.

" KAKASHI!"

A grunt of surprised and a loud thump greeted Sakura.

" Eh, wha, Sakura?" Kakashi scratched his messy mane of anti-defying gravity silver hair.

The said woman gushed happily, " I have a week off!"

They were silent after that. Kakashi re-adjusted his black, silver mask and picked up his Icha Icha Violence that had fell onto the floor, " You woke me up for that?" He asked jokily, and laughed when Sakura landed a punch on his shoulder.

" You lazy ass! That means we'll have time for that dinner! I remember this time it's your treat…" Sakura retorted deviously. Kakashi face-faulted.

" Oh."

Sakura then tackled the older man, by two years onto the couch. Recently, Tsunade had concluded to them that the age reversal jutsu was permanent, much to the elders of the council's dismay and Sakura's happiness.

" Oof! I swear, Sakura, you've gained weight!" Kakashi murmured into her ear, and gingerly stroked her pink hair.

" It's just you being paranoid…Kakashi-sensei"

" Hm."

Their relationship had taken off rough at first, but soon, most of their comrades and friends had gotten used to them kissing in public, much to Kakashi's still alive and running fan club member's dismay.

But there was one thing that stood in the two lover's way, as if it was an invisible wall.

Ever since the incident with Koichi Sumita, who had been labeled missing nin by Tsunade a few days after, Kakashi and Sakura had a silent turmoil.

Both of them blamed on themselves on the fact they put each other in danger. Sakura believed it was because of her that became Kakashi's weakness, while Kakashi beat himself mentally cause he thought it was because of him that Sakura got abducted on that night.

Stubborn and dense they are.

Nevertheless, they snuggled into each other, Sakura sighing happily and glared at Kakashi's ever-present novel, grinning to herself, she yanked it out of the silver haired man's grasp and chucked it across the room.

" Hey, I'd appreciate if you didn't treat my book as throw toy," Kakashi jokily grumbled. Sakura snorted, " We should get a dog, and play fetch with it using your books."

" …………."

" Hmm…..I wonder if Pakkun's up to it?"

" Don't you dare…"

" Ha." Sakura squeaked when Kakashi started to attack her neck, trailing hot kisses down the pale skin.


Outside, Naruto had his hand raised to knock on the door, when he heard the moans emitting from his ex-sensei's apartment. He wasn't stupid, he was just………….

Dense……

Thankfully, Naruto had experience in this department with Hinata, and knew better than break in now and risk getting beat into a bloody mess on the ground by Sakura.

So he turned around and walked away before he gave into the urge to barge into the room and beat up Kakashi.

Like THAT'LL happen.


A/N: Okkay, I got myself confused a wee bit at the end. (sweatdrops) . I'm neglecting my studies (Chinese, Math and Chemistry) But I'll get to that tomorrow.

My first priority; get this updated.

I'm so good, ha. Worship me. (insert evil laugh) (gets drilled by a screwdriver)

Thanks to all the people out there who reviewed! (Goes off into a corner to cry happily) I didn't expect to get this much reviews, I only wrote this because this idea came to me while I was being blamed by my (extremely, hot, mouthwatering) physics teacher. (sweatdrops) Which is extremely strange.

Come to think of it, most of my strange ideas came to me in the weirdest predicaments.

Added a little humor, just to melt tension a bit. Epilogue next chappie!

………..I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

It's ending!

(Melodrama)

I wuv you all. Seriously. (Throws chocolate cookies)