None of the characters belong to me. They are Masashi Kishimoto's
Forced Space
Both nin were abruptly awakened by the sound of Genma knocking on the bedroom door, "Hey, Hatake! You better get up, and FAST, the Hokage is on her way right now."
The silver haired jounin slid out of bed and quickly slipped his clothes on. He turned and noted his cherry blossom, sitting in the bed, holding the sheet up to hide her body. She was different. He did notice she was a woman when their relationship first started, but now, she really was a woman. She glowed with the radiant light of a girl in love.
He grabbed his mask, brushed a lock of her hair aside, kissed her, and slid out of the room. Genma was standing in the living room with his mask on top of his head and looking at Kakashi with a slightly jealous, yet triumphant expression.
"So, Kakashi…"
"Not now, Shiranui." He inwardly smiled with the knowledge that Genma was jealous.
Tsunade walked in through the door with Hinata following behind her. Genma quickly slid his mask back down over his face and stood in the proper ANBU stance.
The godaime shot the ANBU a disapproving glance, dismissing him from the apartment. She sighed deeply, turned her attention to Kakashi and squinted at him in an accusing manner. The silver haired jounin smiled and waved at the Hokage, "Good morning Tsunade-sama."
"Good morning…Kakashi." She was uneasy, and she couldn't place where it was coming from.
Sakura had emerged from her bedroom, adorned in her work clothes, with crème legwarmers lying overtop of the hidden weights on her calves. "Good morning Tsunade-sama," She raised her hand in a motion similar to a wave and smiled enthusiastically.
"Good morning Sakura…?" Tsunade eyed Sakura over and tried to find what was so different about her today.
"Good morning Hinata." Sakura closed her eyes and smiled with her innocent face.
"Hinata, Sakura, let's perform the check-up in the bedroom. Kakashi, you stand outside the door and watch guard."
"Hai." He brought his right fist to his chest and pushed it down to his side quickly.
The three kunoichi entered the bedroom and closed the door behind them, preparing for the short medical check up. Sakura sat on her bed, Tsunade knelt next to her on the floor, and Hinata stood directly in front of the blossom, preparing her Byakugan.
With a quick hand sign and a severely concentrated look on her face, the meek Hyuuga activated her kekkei genkai and read the medic nin's chakra levels. Her face was drenched with shock, noticing the levels that Sakura had, she had to have had some drastic chakra channeling sessions to be able to obtain that much.
Tsunade took the usual signs that any medic would take, blood pressure, heartbeat, eyes, nose, ears; Sakura was making far more progress than she would've expected by now.
Hinata noted the increase in the blossom's chakra and handed the notebook to the Godaime. Tsunade took her notes down as well, not even looking at Hinata's tidbit of information until after she was done. The Hyuuga's facts were read shortly after the Godaime had finished with her notes and, just like the Hyuuga, Tsunade's face was covered with pure shock.
Tsunade turned to Hinata and locked eyes with her, "Are you positive these are the results?" The meek Kunoichi nodded and refused to look at Sakura, afraid she would explode at her just like her master.
Tsunade's mind quickly piece the puzzle together and the answer came to her faster than she could've smacked Jiraiya through a series of stone walls.
"Excuse me Sakura, Hinata please stay here until I return." The blonde, pigtailed woman stood up and walked to the door, knocking slightly on it to alert that she was coming out.
She closed the door behind her and motioned for the Jounin to follow her into the living room, "Kakashi, is there anything you want to tell me?"
He stood straight like a pupil who was going to be punished, "Not in particular,"
She sat down on the couch and interlaced her fingers in a similar fashion to how she would in her office, "You know it can't work, Kakashi." She looked up to meet his eyes and found no response from him, "She won't be able to persevere as she has been able to if you're always protecting her. Her abilities can only progress if she has the mindset to. You are her teacher, It would never work out."
"Tsunade-sama, if I may say so, you have control over every aspect of her life: her eating habits, her jutsus, and even what she wears, but you have no control over who she loves and what she chooses to do with her relationships."
The Hokage's brow furrowed in an enraged manner, "Kakashi! Think about this! Do you honestly wish to inhibit the greatest possible medical nin this village has ever seen?! Not only that, but you risk the chance of breaking the entire team apart and you know as well as I that Naruto needs as much support as possible right now. As much as I'd hate to admit it, Naruto relates to the two of you the most. He knows that you two are the only other people who felt the true meaning behind Sasuke's betrayal. If you two go off together, what will become of him? He'd have lost all of the most important and dearest people he has."
The jounin remained silent, accepting her harsh criticisms.
"Kakashi, I know this is hard, but the team needs to remain as that, a team, nothing more or less. You risk everything that Konoha has and needs. The Akatsuki are practically on our doorstep, waiting to take the nine tails from him. He's losing control of his inner demons, and he needs everyone to support him, or he'll lose himself."
"Tsunade-sama, you, of all people, know what it's like to love. You know what it's like to lose that love-"
She jolted out of her seat and balled her fists to maintain her composure, "Yes I have, and I know what it will feel like to lose yet another person I care deeply for because she foolishly did what her heart told her to do. If she remains in this relationship, she'll lose everything. You're an ANBU level nin. Any mission could be your last, and I refuse to watch her heart be crushed like mine was back then. I'd rather her lose you, now, than have to watch her weep over your grave or have to split your team apart because it 'didn't work out'"
I must stop this relationship before it matures to the point that she can't focus on her skills and future. Please don't hate me, Sakura. It's for the best.
"Kakashi, I'm asking you, not as your superior, but as your friend, do what is best for Sakura." The air was awkward and Tsunade stood in a stance to protect herself from Kakashi's overwhelmingly tense mood. She knew what he was capable of.
She slid her hand inside her jacket's sleeve and pulled out a small folder with papers, "I actually came here to propose a mission to you."
He was pissed, but he understood what she meant. He was extremely perturbed at how quickly she changed the topic, but he knew she was trying to lighten the mood in the living room, "For what?"
Her face was serious and her eyes still locked onto his, "You recall the kidnapping attempt on Sakura, correct?"
"Hai." His mind replayed the entire night like a rewind button was pushed. He was still pissed, hiding all emotion, like the nin training he had when he was younger.
"Well we've received word from the group of assassins that Sai and Naruto's team have been taken hostage." She placed the paperwork down on the coffee table in front of her and slid them in Kakashi's direction; still afraid she might break his fragile sense of dignity.
He picked the papers up emotionless, and read over the information the assassins had revealed to the Hokage, "When did you receive this note?" It was poorly arranged and the grammar was completely wrong.
"Yesterday. Around eleven o'clock. We questioned the kidnapper that was sent here after Sakura. He claimed to have found you two when you were in the market, followed you home, and used the opportunity of darkness to make his move."
He mentally punished himself for being so careless about being followed, as well as exposing Sakura to the enemy in an open market.
"The leader has agreed to release Naruto, Sai and Ino if we send him a lump sum of money, and all surviving members of his organization, particularly, the mist nin we had imprisoned when you four came back from your previous mission, and…Sakura." Kakashi's eyes traced over the words on the letter. 'The pink haired bitch' Why are they so intent on having Sakura in particular?
"Obviously, we can't go sending her out when she's in this weakened state," she flashed her eyes at him, "no matter how much chakra she's been able to maintain. We were planning on sending out a select group of ANBU to attempt to retrieve the team and bring them back here."
"Tsunade, you've been avoiding an all out war between countries for about five years now, if anyone were to hear word that Konoha's strongest nins were gone for a mission against this organization, that leaves the village vulnerable."
"I know," she bit on her thumbnail and thought deeply, "I can't just abandon the fourth's son. Plus, I'd hate to say it, but all three of them are going to be key aspects to Konoha's strengths in the future. I swore I would protect Naruto until the day he became Hokage, and I intend to keep that promise." The small memory of Naruto loud mouthing off to Tsunade flashed in her mind. She bestowed the first's necklace to him for a reason.
"I'll go if you promise me one thing,"
"Kakashi I can't condone your relationship…"
"No, I understand that, but please make sure she is properly watched," He paused and set the papers down on the table, "Not just to protect her from them, but to protect them from her. You know your pupil, she'll rush in there if she found out about Naruto, Sai and Ino."
"She'd be so reckless that she'd endanger everyone there, especially in the condition she's in right now." Though she'd never admit it, she found that Sakura had become more like her than she would have wanted.
Kakashi nodded respectfully to his superior, "Who do you plan on going into the base?"
"I was considering sending you, Genma, Kurenai, Gai, and Neji. I'm sure I can get Ibiki to watch over Sakura."
"Just Ibiki? He doubted that, even as an ANBU, one nin wouldn't be able to securely watch over Sakura. If she found out about what was going on, things would turn out to be hell.
"I'll find a couple of other ANBU to watch her." She mentally noted this task and continued on with the description of the mission, "It may be best if I sent Shizune in place of someone. I fear Naruto, Sai, and Ino may be injured. They may need medical attention as soon as possible."
"Do you have any idea what the base looks like, or where it's located?"
"The organization leader sent a map for a meeting point. I assume it's not the actual headquarters, but it's within range to maintain surveillance from a distance." She pulled a small paper out of the folder and handed it to Kakashi, "Here's a copy of the map. I am going to keep the original, just in case."
The silver-haired jounin tilted his head downward in a slight nod, "When do you need us to be ready?"
"I'm going to give word to the other team members within the hour, you should be prepared by then." She stood up, walked towards the bedroom door, stopped short and looked back at the famous copy nin, "I am sorry, Kakashi. I promise I'll have the best looking after her."
"...Thank you, Tsunade-sama" He bowed, and watched her open the door to the bedroom.
Sakura was seated on the edge of the bed, Hinata standing awkwardly between the doorway and the bed. She was confused as to how to react. Sakura wanted to eavesdrop, however the Hyuuga had been conducting more "tests" to check up on Sakura's chakra levels and retention.
"So all in all Sakura, we'll start your rigorous strength training tomorrow, feel free to work on your ability to walk and run today." The hokage wanted to finish things up, quickly, so that she could avoid the repercussion of her conversation with Kakashi, "We'll see you tomorrow, Sakura."
She motioned toward Hinata and the both removed themselves from the apartment. Tsunade made a few last minute orders to the ANBU watching the apartment, commanding two to pack their things and prepare for a stealth retrieval mission.
Kakashi breathed deeply and began to pack his things, refusing to visit Sakura in her room. He hoped, practically, prayed that she would stay in her room until he left so that he could avoid the confrontation she would provide from their situation. He knelt down and bent over his pack of kunai and his extra clothes, sliding them quietly into the bag he had brought them in.
As much as he had prayed, Sakura walked into the room and bent over him, wrapping her arms around his neck in a loving way, "Sorry, Tsunade-sama is a bit overbearing, and I'm not sure I want her to know about us yet." She whispered warmly into his ear, tempting him to turn and embrace her, however he remained emotionless and finished packing.
Kakashi stood up slowly, letting Sakura loosen her arms from his shoulders. He turned and looked at with the cold face that he had earned through years of loneliness. With that, Sakura's face melted as she began to comprehend what had occurred between Tsunade and Kakashi.
"Kakashi…What…" He moved quickly towards the door and placed his hand on the doorknob. The tears were already flowing completely down her face and she could barely muster her voice to ask, "So, after everything, you finally get me and decide that I'm not worth it because of one person?" She was pulling at the strings on his heart. Sakura slowly painted the picture of her two teachers speaking about her love life.
Kakashi remained silent. You're worth far more than what I could ever give you Sakura. He rotated the doorknob.
"I told you I love you, and I meant it..." She was practically hysterical, her face completely covered in tears and almost the same shade of pink as her hair, "…I won't ever hate you, nor will you ever lose me, I promised you that."
He opened the door, solemnly and closed it behind him, leaving the broken blossom in standing in the middle of her apartment. He felt the tear slide down his face and absorb into his mask.
Sakura didn't chase after him, nor did she expect him to return; she just fell to the ground as her knees buckled under her and her emotional pain overwhelmed her body.
Yes…turmoil, broken hearts, anger, rage, depression, etc etc. So this is where our story takes a slight twist, hopefully it will be better? It's all up to you readers! Thanks for all of the reviews, and yes, most of you do have a point in your reviews, thus my prudeness kicks in. I feel I should just not try lemons…perhaps it would be for the best lol.
Anyways I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and thank you for being so patient! I 3 you all!!