Kakashi took a step back from the two men that were surrounding Sakura's body. Even though the two were like oil and water, they had a way with each other. A way that he was never able to be with anyone. Maybe if he gave Obito a chance when he was younger, or let anyone get close. He shook his head, now was not the time for him to think about things like that. He looked at Naruto who still had his head bowed. He wanted to help him but he didn't know what to do in these situations. Glancing at Sasuke, he knew the boy was more capable of helping Naruto with his devastation at the moment. He stood still there for a few more moments transfixed and watched his two students together. It truly was amazing how far they had come.
Frankly, he could use someone to comfort him. He was so exhausted after Naruto was unsuccessful. He couldn't keep getting his hopes up that something was going to work. What if nothing could? What if it was his fate to watch her fade? Or to be the only one that could see her until her body finally gave out. What a horrible fate that would be for her. To be stuck with just him. He couldn't even bear to look at Sakura. If he was honest with himself he couldn't bring himself to look at her since Ino had said that a part of her soul was stuck in him.
His eyes glazed over as he thought of the Yamanaka's words. She was bound to him. He still didn't know what that meant or what would happen if... he shook his head. There wasn't going to be an if. Once- Yes, Once she came back to them. He didn't know how this would change things and that scared him. He was never a man who let anyone become overly attached to him, he knew how it would end from them. He also was aware of how it would end for him and it was never good. Now, well, now... he held a piece of her soul within him. He shifted uncomfortably. That was far more intimate than he had ever wanted to be with anyone. He was fine keeping everyone at arm's length. Even his best friends barely knew him.
Letting out a low sigh he shook his head. That issue went to a much higher level than he ever considered. Well, he never considered it because he avoided the issue at all costs. Why not just continue that? He shook his agreeing with that thoought. That is what he was going to do. Avoidance had always been his friend. It had always worked before so that is exactly what he would try to do. Try was the key word because the moment there was any type of silence, the first thing he would think of was Ino's voice giving the cliff notes version of that jutsu. He wasn't trying to think of a new way to get her back, but the fact that in some weird way they were bound. It was such an abstract thought to him that he was having a hard time wrapping his head around it. There was so much wrong with it. For both him and her.
He looked away from Naruto and Sasuke forcing himself to look at the ghost of Sakura. He expected to see her downtrodden, but that is not what he saw. Instead, she was staring at his door with wide eyes. Slowly he watched as her pink lips lifted into a grin as she continued to look at the door.
"Itachi-kun, you are a genius," she said with a maddening smile. That caused him to frown and forget his internal conflict as he looked to her form. Kun? When had she decided to use that honorific with the man? Even though he knew he wasn't going to be able to see what she saw, he couldn't help himself as he looked into the direction of the other ghosts with a frown. Perhaps it was more of a force of habit? Like see an Uchiha and add Kun... Then again she didn't when she was speaking with Obito. Well he was Obito and not a typical Uchiha. Slowly he turned his head in her direction with a raised brow. She was now staring straight at him with a grin that made her look like a lunatic. Her eyes were wide and he could see all of her teeth, including the molars in the back. He had to admit it was not an attractive look. As a matter of fact, if he were to see that expression on her face while she was in her body he would be high tailing it to get as far away from her as possible. The rabbit goddess may have won the war is she had that expression. Somehow her grin spread even farther as he looked at her. A demented Cheshire cat came to mind.
"Jiraiya," was all she said with the feral grin. Now, he wasn't sure what that one name should mean. Was the man here? Was she speaking of some plan so he could have an even bigger ghost party in his apartment? So he looked at her quizzically as she still grinned. When he didn't respond verbally to her he watched as her mouth and eye began to twitch a little. Her smile dropped as her chest heaved up from an intake of breath.
"Itachi has brought Jiraiya here," she said as her chest fell. Kakashi licked his lips as one of his brows raised. No kun. He mentally slapped himself because that wasn't the important thing. No, it was the fact that she said Jiraiya was now here. Of course, there would be another ghost that would be here. He wondered if he should be feeling happy about all these people being around, knowing that there was something to look forward to after death, but couldn't because he just felt suffocated. He never had so many people in his living space before. The number of living was already high add the dead and it's too much. Really his apartment wasn't that big. Not knowing how to respond to her he just nodded slowly.
"Gah!" That was the sound he thought that she made as she began to scowl at him. "Jiraiya is here! He said that he knows of a seal to use!" she bellowed, at least he assumed it was a bellow. All he could do in turn was narrow his eyes at her. Was there a reason that she didn't lead with that bit of information? He quickly walked over to her, ignoring the fact that his sudden movements caught the attention of his two male students.
"How?" He said as he stood infront of her looking down. She was still scowling but her brows lowered at his question.
"That is what he is trying to figure out right now. I mean, he can't be the one that draws the seal, since no one else can see him. He does seem pretty confident it will work once we have figured out all the mechanics to it." Sakura began to lose the scowl as she talked. Kakashi kept his gaze on her. He knew he was looking at her intently as he tried to figure out how to make this work. Even if he did come up with a plan he wouldn't get his hopes up. Not like he had with Naruto because he was positive the boy could do it. He wouldn't let himself feel that devastation again. He pursed his lips as she looked away from him back to the corner of her apartment, she seemed to be listening intently.
"What is going on? What were you asking about?" Naruto asked in a cautious tone; one that did not fit the man. Kakashi turned to see a set of blue and black eyes watching him carefully. If it was bad enough to talk for Sakura, it felt even more off to talk for her about people he couldn't see nor hear.
"She said that Jiraiya is here," he said slowly, keeping his eyes on Naruto waiting for his reaction. To Kakashi's surprise, Naruto didn't make a peep. His eyes widened a bit at the name, but he kept quiet waiting for him to finish. "She said that he does have a seal that he believes could work. Right now, they are trying to figure out how to get the information through the grapevine so to speak." Naruto laughed. The noise actually caught him off guard. There wasn't anything funny about the situation. At least he couldn't find anything and that was saying something because typically he had a pretty dark sense of humor.
"Leave it to that old perv to be able to save the day," Naruto continued his light chuckles as he shook his head. "Good to hear that he is out and about I suppose," he said as he scratched the back of his neck. That's when Kakashi figured that it was more of a nervous laugh than anything.
"Tch," Sasuke clicked his tongue in annoyance as he looked to Kakashi. Kakashi's finger twitched as he fought the urge to slap the kid. "In this room, there are supposed to be several geniuses, and not one of you have figured out what to do?" He scowled as he glared at Kakashi. Honestly, the attitude from the last living Uchiha was grating on Kakashi's nerves. After all the shit that they had been through Kakashi couldn't help but think that he didn't have to be condescending about everything. He glanced to Sakura who was looking at Sasuke with an arched brow.
"Have Jiraiya write it out on a piece of paper," At that remark, Naruto snorted making Sasuke break eye contact with him and glare at the blonde.
"Shut it dobe," he growled before looking back to Kakashi. He was silent a moment as he looked at him, still glaring. Kakashi wasn't sure why he wasn't spitting it out, perhaps he was waiting for him to challenge him. He wasn't going to. If he knew how to get Sakura back he was all ears. He also didn't feel the need to get someone a pissing contest with Sasuke. Not now. Sasuke took a deep breath as he began again. "Like I was saying have Jiraiya write it with his finger on a piece of paper, then have Sakura follow his movement. Then you trace after her movements," He said as he looked pointedly at him.
That. Damn it, that was actually a good idea. He blinked once as he looked to the Uchiha, then didn't say a word as he began to hurry through his apartment to find something that he could write on and a pen to use. The whole time he was searching he was also thinking that he needed to get a mental check up. There was no way he should be trailing behind his students like this. Sure, he was exhausted, that wasn't an acceptable excuse though. Not to him. Maybe he needed to add fish oil or something to his diet. After overturning a few junk drawers he located his supplies and he raced to his dining area slamming the paper and pen on the table.
"Ready to go?" He looked up to Sakura, who glanced behind her then turned back to him and nodded. Her eyes met his and she followed him to the table.
"It will be easier if you sit down, that way I can work over you and Jiraiya over me," she said as she nodded to the seat. He merely nodded and took a seat. He looked up at her waiting for further instruction and she just smiled nervously at him before placing her hand over his. He fought not to let his breath get caught in his chest as she made contact. The more she touched him, the better it felt. He shook his head slightly to clear it. No, he wasn't going to think about the warm soothing feeling in his arm right now. Because One: it wasn't a pressing matter and two: who the fuck likes to be touched by someone without a body. A fucking weirdo that's who. That was not something that he wanted to claim.
He mentally tried to block of the feeling in his arm but his body just had to keep on fucking betraying him. His skin rippled as his hairs raised at the pleasant touch. JUST STOP THINKING ABOUT IT!
"Here we go," her whispered voice reached his ears as she began to move her hand. He moved with her, not even letting himself blink. He couldn't fuck this up. This could be the last chance that they would get to get her back. And while she felt amazing on his skin right now, what he wanted even more was to feel her flesh under... Wait!? He stiffened as he realized where his mind was going with this subject. No, he could not go there. Sure, she was attractive... No. That was a big nope. He needed to stop. He blinked in hopes of clearing his mind and tried to only focus on the movement of his pen on paper.
It only took a few minutes to draw the seal up. It shouldn't have surprised him that it looked an awful lot like the seal that adorned Naruto's belly. It would make sense, it was designed to keep chakra in. He let his eyes roam over the spiral for a moment. He then turned his head and raised a brow as he looked to his ghost. Sakura wasn't looking at him, but instead behind her. He watched as her hair bounced as she nodded. She turned her head back to him and smiled.
"He said it looks about right, only this rune is too close to the center, it should be a little farther," she leaned into him to point to the rune and where it should be placed. He forced his eyes to look where she was pointing. She was much too close. He felt her form seeping into his body, the warmth spreading from his shoulder down into his chest. Swallowing thickly he followed her directions and moved the rune to where it was meant to be placed. "That's right," he could hear her tiny voice in his ear, and it felt as if her mouth was brushing against his ear. That movement sent chills running down his spine and he could fell that his pulse had begun to speed up. He stiffened as he tried to gain control of his body. What the fuck was wrong with him? Here in his apartment, filled with the living and dead, he was getting kinda turned on by a ghost. Not just a ghost, the ghost of his former student. Holy shit he really was some type of weirdo!
Once he got the okay he placed the pen down and pushed the chair back, which was totally the wrong move seeing how Sakura was right behind him. With that movement, he passed through her and felt his blood boil. He stood quickly and walked out of her as she turned to look at him. Her eyes were wide and her lips were slightly parted. He couldn't stop himself as face went tight with surprised at the look. Shit. She had felt it too. She must have. There was no other reason that she would be looking at him like that. He had watched her pass through other people and objects for the past few days and never had she had THAT expression on her face. Awkwardly he cleared his throat to look over at Naruto and Sasuke who were looking at him with confusion on their face.
"Doing okay there Kaka-sensei?" Naruto asked slowly. Once more Kakashi cleared his throat and forced his face to move into a passive state.
"Fine," he shoved his hands into his pant. "We should probably get this to Tsunade," he pointed to the symbol. Both boys slowly nodded at him.
"Alright! Let us go and get Sakura back!" Naruto said as he began to walk towards the door. There was one problem though: he still was only wearing his boxers. Kakashi sighed and intercepted him before he was about to turn the knob.
"Naruto, go get pants on," Kakashi sighed as he grabbed onto the blonde's arm. Naruto stood for a moment and looked at him before he looked down to his legs. When he looked up his face was flushed and an embarrassed grin spread on his face.
"Ah, I was just so excited that Sasuke said Sakura was here, that I, um, kinda forgot," he rubbed the back of his neck. Kakashi shook his head at the boy. He didn't know if there had ever been a time that he had actually forgotten to put on pants in his life. There was no way that he could grasp that. Pants, well, are a necessity. Dirty or clean, just grab a pair.
"Just go grab a pair of mine," he sighed. "Bottom right drawer."
"Thanks, Sensei," Naruto said as he took off. Kakashi just looked to Sasuke who was staring blankly at him. The boy just shrugged.
"I tried," was all he said.
Just as everyone was about to leave the apartment there was a soft knock on the door as Tenzo let himself in. "Tsunade said that she wants you to meet her at the hospital. The lower level room B57. She also said to bring Sakura's body with," Tenzo then looked over to Naruto who was messing with the bottom of his pants. "Hello Naruto."
"He knew! Teme and Captain Yamato knew before I did! What the hell Kakashi," Naruto said straightening himself and pointing a finger with a glare at Tenzo. Kakashi just closed his eyes. He knew that after this was all said and done with that this would be something neither boy was going to get over quickly. It was going to be like the whole Shino thing all over again.
"We can discuss who knew and why after we get her back. Its not important right now?" Kakashi breathed. He slowly opened his eyes and looked to Sakura who just shrugged at him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Naruto was about to rebut, that was until Sasuke took a step forward.
"Naruto, he's right. Let it go. We should get going," the stoic man walked passt the frazzled blonde and began his way out the door. Naruto glared at Kakashi for a moment before following his other half. Kakashi sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he realized that he was the one that was left to gather her body.
Walking into his room he looked down at her. She still looked like she was slumbering peacefully, through all the wires that were protruding let him know it wasn't the case, even if that is what he wanted to think right now. He wished that someone else could be doing this, especially because of the thoughts he had earlier. He shook his head. This was not the time and place. Plus, those stray thoughts were probably due to lack of sleep and emotional stress of it all. That is what it had to be. So he positioned himself next to her and prepared to take the leads off of her body.
Just as he was about to yank at one he saw her hand waving in front of his face. He looked up to Sakura with a raised brow. Scowling. Of course, she would be scowling at him. What did this girl want? He was doing everything in his power for her, and she had to have that face?
"Don't yank at them, just peel them off of the skin. You are going to give me hematomas," she said as she narrowed her eyes. He looked at her as his lips pursed as he gave the wire a tug, she immediatly looked down to her body with wide eyes then back to him. No, he wasn't going to touch her more than he needed. If she did get bruises or hematomas she could heal them, or someone else could.
"KAKASHI!" she screamed as he yanked the rest off of her skin. He just looked up at her with a blank face. "WHY!?" Well, that wasn't a question that he was going to answer honestly. Nope, there was no way that he was going to tell her that he didn't want to touch her because he was thinking about how her flesh would feel when she was back in there. He wasn't going to tell her that right now he felt like some kind of deviant.
"This was quicker," was all he responded as he began to gather her into his arms.
He walked quickly to the hospital carrying Sakura bridal style. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her specter jogging to keep up. He wasn't sure if she tried to talk to him, because he wasn't going to look over at her. No, he wanted to get her there asap and get her out of his arms. It was because it was like carrying a dead body. He knew that she was somewhat alive, but because of the way her arms and legs stayed in a rigged position instead of flopping about as he ran he couldn't help but feel as if she was dead.
He burst through the hospital doors. He ignored the startled looks that the people at the reception desks gave him as he rushed passed them and entered the stairwell. He knew right now that the rumor mill had started. He didn't try and conceal her body as he ran there. He probably should have but he was overly anxious at the thought of touching her that it didn't come to mind until he saw the quiet eyes of the villagers as he passed. He didn't want to know what was being said. It didn't matter. It would all be cleared up once she was in her body and moving. Well, it should be cleared up.
He ran down the stairs to the basement of the hospital. When he reached the end of the stairwell he kicked the door open and didn't even bother to keep it open for her specter. She could go through it. He didn't want to slow for anything. So rushing through the halls he finally found the room. He pushed the door open with his shoulder and once he looked inside he couldn't help but stop. Tsunade had sent him to the morgue. The walls lined with refrigerated cubbies for bodies. In the middle of the room, four stainless steel autopsy tables gleamed under the halogen lights of the lamps that hung low. His breath caught in his chest as he took it in. His mind raced. Perhaps the woman didn't believe him. Perhaps this was a way to get him to bring her back without a scene taking place in the village. He wasn't even aware of the fact that his fingers were now digging into her flesh as he held her tighter to his chest. Just a moment ago he wanted nothing more than to put her down, but now he didn't want to place here on one of those tables.
"Hello Kakashi-kun," A gravelly voice came from the corner of the room. He had been so shocked at the sight of the room he hadn't even noticed that none other than Orochimaru was standing on the other side. He couldn't help as he narrowed his eyes as the man began to shuffle in his direction. His grip became even tighter on Sakura as he also realized that he wasn't even looking at him. No, his yellow slitted eyes were glued to the pink haired woman that was in his arms. He didn't have time to say anything as he felt someone bump into his back. Quickly turning his head he saw Tsunade pushing past him.
"Place her on a table," Tsunade ordered without looking at either man in the room. She continued to walk over to the metal table. Kakashi didn't more, he just looked from Tsunade to Orochimaru for a moment. "Didn't you hear me brat? Put her body on the table," Tsunade snarled as she turned to look at him. He still felt uneasy and he glanced behind him to see Sakura standing there. She gave him a slight head nod as a means to get him into the room. He didn't turn away from her, so once again she glared as she shoved her way through him. He contained the shivers as she passed and watched her intently as she entered in front of him. That was when he saw there was a slight, almost undetectable, tremor move through her body. She was having a reaction to him.
"What's taking so long?" He looked up to see Tsunade glaring at him. Her hand was on the table and had one finger tapped impatiently against it. He glanced once more to Orochimaru, who was still creepily staring at Sakura, before attempting to swallow that anxiety as he entered the morgue.
"What's Orochimaru doing here?" He asked quietly as he gently placed Sakura's body down on the steel slab. He looked up to see that the Hokage wasn't paying him any mind. Her honey eyes were cast down as she was looking at Sakura. She gently took Sakura's wrists and placed them on her abdomen, interlacing Sakura's fingers together.
"Who else do you know that has any experience with body jumping or being out of their original?" Tsunade mumbled as she began to straighten Sakura's dress. Kakashi couldn't help but frown. Orochimaru may have known how to get into other people's bodies, but he didn't believe the man was ever knocked out of his own. Not to mention the fact that his bodies never lasted long... Kakashi could feel his eyes widen as he looked down at Sakura. She would be her own vessel. If it worked out the same as him she would only have four to six years. That was as long as Orochimaru had made it with his.
"Are you saying you are going to have Orochimaru perform his Jutsu on Sakura?" Kakashi asked as he looked at the blonde. He watched as her head bobbed a little before she looked up at him. Her features were pulled into an unrecognizable mask as she looked to Kakashi. It was what she was thinking. He could also tell from the look on her face that she also knew that Sakura wouldn't have much time after. Kakashi would never claim to know everything about Sakura, hell they didn't really know much about each other, but what he did know was there was no way that she would ever use another's body when she was running out of time. Not like Orochimaru. Once this body was done, she would be also. He glanced over Tsunade's shoulder to see Sakura just staring at him. He searched her face, as she looked at him quizzically. No, it wouldn't be that way. Jiraiya's jutsu would work better. It had to.
"No, don't make her into a decaying vessel," Kakashi said as he looked back to Tsunade. Instantly her brow raised as she looked at him with wide eyes.
"And how else do you want to get her back into her body? I don't know what else to do, Kakashi. I don't even know how much longer that she will even last like this," Tsunade sighed as she looked down to Sakura. Orochimaru had slithered his way next to the table and was looking down at her also. Though, the way he was looking at her made Kakashi cagey. He wasn't looking at her with the concern that Tsunade had, but more like he was just gifted a science kit. Pulling on his lips, he looked back to Sakura who was still behind Tsunade.
"Tell them," He read the words off of her lips. That was when he realized that Tsunade might not be aware of the fact that Sakura could commune with the dead. He let out a deep sigh as he realized once again he was going to be saying things that everyone else would believe to be crazy.
"There is a different way," he said cautiously as Tsunade looked at him. Over to the side Orochimaru made a noise, that probably only he could make. Was it like a grunting hiss? Anyways, the snake charmer wasn't Kakashi's concern right now. No, his eyes were glued on Tsunade's who was looking at him with wary curiosity. "This is going to sound crazy," He said slowly. "But Sakura, well, you see, she can speak with people that have passed on." He watched as several emotions flicked on Tsunade's face. Once she was done with her emotional seizure she looked to him with an expression that Kakashi had never seen.
"She can see dead people?" She asked slowly. All Kakashi could do was nod his head as she narrowed her eyes at him. Once again Orochimaru was making that whatever the hell noise he made.
"How is this important?" Orochimaru bit. At that point, Kakashi did look over to him. He was glaring impatiently at him and the look sent a warning through his body. Well, to be honest, the man always made him feel on edge. Even when he was a village hero Kakashi had never cared for him. "Does that bit of information get the girl back into her body? Does it help figure out how all of this happened?" His slitted eyes narrowed at Kakashi, who in turn bit down on his tongue to stop himself from slugging the sannin. Before Kakashi could compose himself the door of the room flew open followed by the thuds of objects hitting the ground. Several candles rolled in followed by Ino scooping them back into her chest.
"Sorry, sorry," Ino grunted as she picked up the last candle. She stood quickly and raised the loot that was gathered in her arms and gave an awkward smile. "Got them." She said as she strolled over to table to lay the candles on the autopsy table next to Sakura. Tsunade glared at the girl who stilled the moment she made eye contact.
"Did you know that Sakura could see the dead?" The Hokage growled at the girl. Ino's mouth opened then closed as she looked to Tsunade with confusion painted on her face.
"Well, yes. I thought that you knew also. Though, I couldn't really tell you anything. I mean the moment I walked in you were screaming at me to find Orochimaru. Once I found him in his hole... I mean home, he then told me that I had to gather the ritual candles," She pointed to the table where she dropped them. "I mean I have been running for the two of you for a few hours. How was I suppose to know what you knew?" Ino huffed as she looked to Tsunade. Both Kakashi and Orochimaru sighed. He looked over to the snake sannin. He knew that they were both thinking the same thing and knowing that it made Kakashi feel a bit uncomfortable.
"Again, is this really important?" Both women glared at Orochimaru. He didn't waver as he looked at the two. "Do you have time for this squabble?" Yep. They did indeed share the same thought. Tsunade sighed as she looked at her ex-partner. She slowly shook her head.
"You are right. We don't have time for this," she said. Then she turned to Kakashi and pointed a finger at him. "You said that there was a different way. What is it?"
"Wait!" Ino yelled as she began to search her hip pouch. "Naruto and Sasuke gave this to me. Said that it was important for what we were doing. You know they are pretty pissed that you have sent them to wait upstairs," Ino said as she handed the paper to Tsunade. Kakashi was grateful that the boys took the paper. He was so concerned with her body he hadn't even checked to see if anyone had indeed brough it.
"What is this?" Tsunade took the piece of parchment and brought it up to look at it.
"Ah, that is what we were talking about. It was a seal that Jiraiya thought would work," Kakashi said as he tapped the paper that was in Tsunade's hand. Over the corner of her shoulder, he could see Sakura's head peek over to look at it.
"Jiraiya," the name fell softly off of her lips as they pulled to the side into a small smirk. Quickly Orochimaru snatched the paper. Kakashi looked over to see him frowning as he looked down at the seal.
"You old toad," Orochimaru sneered as he gazed at the paper. He looked up at them still scowling. "This should work." He said before he let the paper fall from his hands. It glided down landing on Sakura's stomach.
"Why are you frowning then? Are there risks?" Tsunade questioned as she reached for the paper once again and lookes down at it with a raised brow.
Kakashi was distracted from Tsunade to see Sakura behind her, her mouth open as her head was back in what looked like a laugh. He couldn't help but look at her with raised brows. Her whole body was shaking as she began to lean over. What the fuck?
"Sakura?" He asked as she straightened and looked to him. He ignored the looks that everyone else was giving him and just focused on her. The moment she made eye contact she was once again drawn into a fit of laughter. "Are you okay?" He asked her slowly. He could feel everyone's eyes on him as he spoke. She inhaled deeply still with a grin on her face.
"You wanna know why he's so pissed?" She asked as she nodded her head in the direction of Orochimaru. Kakashi slowly nodded his head and her smile once again became lunatic wide. She let out a laugh before taking another breath. "Because Jiraiya said that seal was meant to seal him into one body. It would make it impossible for him to leave his vessel," she pointed at the sannin and began to laugh. "Now he has to use it."
Kakashi just raised a brow as she once again laughed. It was ironic, but was it that funny? Maybe not. Snorting he shook his head.
"What was that all about?" Ino asked as she inched closer to him. He looked from ghost Sakura to see everyone looking at him expectantly.
"Uh, just what that seal was originally meant for. Nothing else," he said as nervous looked to Tsunade. Orochimaru snorted as he glared at the man.
"It was meant to seal me, wasn't it?" he hissed at Kakashi. In reply, Kakashi just shrugged.
"That's not what is important, is it?" Kakashi replied back to the Sannin who snorted at him. Tsunade just looked between the two men before placing the paper down once again.
"No, it's not important. Now this seal, it will be safer than the one we were going to use?" She looked to Orochimaru.
"It should be. Though I can't be certain. I have not used this one before. I know mine will work for sure, but this may not strain her body in the same way. It is possible for her to live longer," He said as he looked down at the seal. "I am no seal master. I am well acquainted with the seals that have benefitted me. I did not study ones that didn't. If this indeed came from that toad, it will more than likely be more effective. There weren't many things that he knew more of than I did, but seals are one." Orochimaru said as he glared at the symbols. Kakashi looked to Tsunade who nodded at the man and then to Sakura who was no longer laughing. Once more the girl was scowling at him. He just looked at her as he sighed.
"Let's do it," she mouth slowly at him.
"Okay, are we going to start?" he asked as he looked to Tsunade. She once again nodded her head and began all the preparations.
The seal wasn't the only thing that they needed. The setup was similar to the seal that he used on Sasuke all those years ago, of course, this one was much more intricate. It should be seeing how this was also practically how tailed beasts were sealed also. The furniture in the room was pushed to the walls leaving only the autopsy table that had Sakura on it in the middle. Around her body three circles were drawn, on the circles at strategic points where kunai and candles. None of them lined up from circle to circle but were placed in a manner that all had equal spacing between them. Once that was complete Orochimaru began to add the seal to Sakura's abdomen, runes flowed from her body down to the floor until they reached passed the three circles. To the north of the ritual, another series of circle and runes were drawn. That was the place that Sakura's specter was to stand once the ritual began. The seal was so intricate that it took a few hours for them to set it up. Kakashi was also grateful that Jiraiya's was there and Sakura could communicate with him, seeing as thoer set up was incorrect more times than he would have liked. Orochimaru bristled every time he corrected the man. It seemed that having his deceased teammate there didn't please him. No, the man was grumbling under his breath the whole time he was marking the runes. Runes that were painted in Kakashi's blood. Sakura requested he be the one to activate it. He didn't exactly like the idea, but he wasn't going to fight her over something like that. Glancing over to the mumbling snake sannin, he could understand why she didn't want his blood involved.
All of them triple checked the ritual set up. Making sure that everything was placed correctly and that the runes were done in a meticulous manner.
Kakashi had a feeling that Orochimaru was more than likely helping because he was interested in what was going on, but he didn't have anything invested in this ritual. That was when people were careless. When the outcome mattered very little to the person. So Kakashi took it upon himself to check the mans work multiple times.
"It's done as it should be," Orochimaru growled as Kakashi looked over the seal on her stomach again. He knew it was. He already looked at it several times, but he couldn't help but check it again. If this didn't work what else would? He had a feeling that this was it. If this was fucked up, it would do damage to both the body and soul. He looked over to Sakura who was looking over the room as she chewed her bottom lip.
What if he fucked up? What if her death was on him? He didn't know if he would be able to take that. He couldn't take another person's death on his shoulders. Not one that meant so much to him. Because even if they weren't close, she still meant something to him. Slowly her eyes went over the circle then up to meet his. She released her lip from her teeth and gave him a shy smile. His heart actually ached as he thought that he might never see her again. In her body or her spirit.
"Are you ready?" She asked. He inhaled deeply as out of the corner of his eye he saw Ino begin to light the candles.
"It's now or never right?" He said to her. She smiled as she pushed her hair back.
"It's going to work. I know it. I can feel it," she said as she straightened her body. Kakashi tried to smile, but couldn't force it on his face. Not with the way his stomach was beginning to cramp from anxiety. It had been a long time since he felt this way... nervous. That is what he was.
Taking a deep breath he turned to Tsunade who was slowly eyeing the setup. Her mouth was pursed as she looked over all the runes, candles and kunai placements nodding her head with a small approval. Her eyes finally fell on him and her expression became stoic as she stared from a moment.
"It's time," she said flatly to him. He watched her carefully and could tell that her nerves were also beginning to come undone. To someone who didn't know Tsunade she looked absolutely calm and collected, but Kakashi could see her index finger on her right hand was tapping her thigh. That was her tell, that was the physical release for her emotions at the moment. Such a small movement to contain her feelings. Kakashi nodded to her as he carefully began to approach the body.
Once he was standing above her he looked to the other three people in the room. All of them had made their ways to the walls, so not to be interfere with any of the runes or circles. He looked over to specter Sakura to see that she was already in the circle waiting for him to start.
He took a long moment to look at her. Trying to memorize her as she was there. Even if she didn't have her body, she was alive in some manner. If that was the last he was going to see her, he needed to ingrain it to his soul. She had a nervous smile on her face as she looked back. He wished he could give her a smile back, but he felt as if his stomach was trying to eat its way through the skin of his belly. Instead, he took another deep breath as his eyes remained glued to her.
"You better come back to us. Do you understand? That is an order from your Captain," He said sternly. The smile on her face moved into a full grin before she quickly nodded at him.
"Understood Captain," he read off of her lips before she saluted him. He pursed his lips as he gathered the chakra he needed in his hand. He glanced to Tsunade and Ino who stood as still as statues before looking back to Sakura. He gave her a small nod then placed his hand on her cool stomach and released his chakra.
There was a brief second that nothing happened. That moment had Kakashi feeling like his heart had dropped out of his body. Had they done all of this for nothing? Was there something wrong with the seal? Did he not activate it right? He looked up to the specter of Sakura that stood waiting when out of the bottom of his eye he could see the runes being drawn into her body. He quickly looked down. They were moving slowly almost crawling toward the skin. While Kakashi wasn't a seal master, and he had only used seals a handful of times, he was caught off guard at the slow movement. He had never seen that.
As the seconds passed the speed began to accelerate as the flames on the candles began to rise. The room felt as if the temperature shot up ten degrees in a matter of moments. That's when he heard it. A blood curdling scream that was coming from specter Sakura's direction. He looked to her to see her mouth wide open, her head tilted back as her form was becoming translucent.
His whole body tensed as he looked at her. Was that suppose to happen? He looked over to Tsunade who was looking to him with wide eyes. She must have heard it too. She must still be hearing it because Sakura kept screaming. He didn't know what to do. The runes were still drawing into her body and her ghost was fading away. He knew that placing a seal on a living person was painful, but should she be screaming like that? It didn't matter though. He had sent the series in motion. There was no going back, not unless he messed up the ritual. That would certainly ruin it. All he could do was watch as she faded and listen to her screaming in agony.
It is always hard to tell time when someone you care about is in pain. The reality was that the sealing probably only took a half a minute, but to Kakashi, it felt like it was dragging on for hours. The more translucent her ghost became the heavier he felt. There was a chance that he would never see her. Her form faded away as the runes became one with her body. The flames on the candles were still high as the marks disappeared into her skin. When the seal finished forming Kakashi was about to pull his hand from her body, only to have her stomach push against him.
Sakura's body arched into his hand as it let out another scream before she fell limply to the table one more. Before Kakashi could touch her again Tsunade and Ino were pushing him out of the way. Ino had pushed her way to the end of the table where Sakura's head was. She closed her eyes as she placed her hands over her temples. Tsunade had a glowing hand over Sakura's chest. Her eyes were also closed and her brows were drawn down. Kakashi couldn't will himself to do anything but watch as the women worked.
"Her pulse is rising, as is her breath," Tsunade sighed as she slowly opened her eyes she looked at Sakura's face. The skin, which was pale began to slowly flush with more color. A tentative smirk spread on her lips before she once again closed her eyes as she concentrated on her chakra.
Kakashi took in a breath that he didn't realize that he was holding. Life, life was returning to her body. It seemed that they had succeeded.
"You do have the most interesting students Kakashi-kun," Orochimaru said in a low voice. Kakashi glanced in the direction of the voice and wondered when the man had made his way next to him. He really was losing his edge. "I mean, the last Uchiha, a vessel for the nine tail, then this one. Everyone assumed that this one was not remarkable. Sure, she did learn Tsunade's teaching but besides that she was a completely average nin," the snake summoner chuckled humorlessly. Kakashi couldn't help his jaw tighten and his hands became fists. She was remarkable. She had overcome all of her shortcomings to be in the same league as the other two. Her fight in many ways was more difficult than either of the boys. He didn't even look at the man. He just kept his gaze on her and watched as her chest rose and fell with the breaths that she was now taking.
"She is not just an average nin," he growled.
"I understand that. I wonder how she was able to do what she did," Orochimaru took a step forward. Without thinking Kakashi reached out and grabbed onto the man's arm.
"Leave her alone. Don't go near her unless Hokage-sama needs you to," he growled as his hand tightened around the arm. He should feel fear. He knew that. Orochimaru was stronger than he was. The sannin turned his head to him a small smile on his lips as he looked to Kakashi.
"Don't worry, I won't be doing anything to your student. I have turned a new leaf," He hissed through his smile. Kakashi released his grip as he brought his attention back to Sakura.
"She's there!" Ino's eyes popped open. "I got her out of her barriers. She's there." She grinned as she looked to Tsunade. "We did it."
There was a flurry of activity after Ino had announced that Sakura was back into her body. Tsunade had called for hospital staff to gather her and run tests. She pushed Kakashi out of the way and yelled for a nurse to set up a private room for her. He tried to follow as they wheeled her out the room but Tsunade wouldn't have it. Instead, she banished him to wait for her in her room.
Kakashi sat in the uncomfortable chair and tapped his foot as he waited. He was agitated that he was pushed to the side. He wanted to see that she was fine, but he wasn't allowed. He frowned as he looked to the door willing it to open and have her brought in. It felt strange not to have her here with him. This whole time they had been working together and now he was completely in the dark. He nearly jumped out of his chair as the door swung open. Unfortunately, it was just Naruto bounding in followed by Sasuke.
"Ino said that they were bringing Sakura in here soon," Naruto said as he flopped down in the seat next to Kakashi. Sasuke had stalked over to the window where he leaned against the sill. Kakashi let out a deep breath as he sat down in the chair once again. He was tired, well actually more exhausted than anything and he was beginning to feel it in every part of his body. He didn't know how much longer he could push himself to go on, but he wouldn't sleep until he saw her. His foot began to tap on the floor again as he slid down further into the seat.
"I can hardly believe it," Naruto said in an unusually quiet voice next to him. He turned to see the boy looking down on the floor his mouth pulled into a slight frown as he worried his hands. "I mean, I couldn't get myself to believe that she was really gone, and now she's back. It feels like I am waking up from some type of nightmare, you know?" He looked over to Kakashi as he hesitantly smiled at him. Kakashi hummed as he nodded to the boy. He understood completely. Looking back on these few days they did feel like a dream. Nothing felt real right now, but that could be the lack of sleep hitting him.
Slowly the door opened and in was pushed a bed with Sakura laying on it. Kakashi stood as he watched a few nurses wheeled in IV's and machines after her. They arranged the machines around the bed and Kakashi looked at her. She was still sleeping. Shouldn't she be awake? His eyes went to her chest to see it rise and fall with the shallow breaths she was taking. He supposed it was a good thing that she was breathing on her own without the use of a machine, but she should be awake.
"All the tests are normal," Tsunade said as she walked into the room followed by Ino. "I still don't understand how this happened, nor how the hell she managed to do it and come back, but everything is normal," Tsunade said through tight lips as she looked to Sakura.
"Why isn't she awake Baa-chan?" Naruto asked as he walked over to the bed and took her hand. "You said everything was normal, then why is she still sleeping?" Naruto looked worriedly between Sakura and Tsunade. Kakashi could see that he was trying to grasp her hand gently but as he asked he could see her skin whitening under his hold. He walked over and placed his hand on the blonde's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. At his touch he could feel Naruto's muscles relaxing.
"She needs to rest, and sleeping is the best way to do it," Tsunade sighed as she looked to all the team members in the room. "I honestly don't know what happened here. Again, I don't know how Sakura did it, but this is a massive stress. It took a toll on her body and her soul. She needs time to repair herself. She could wake up in a few minutes, or she could sleep for a week. We need to give her the time she needs," Tsunade smirked down as she ran a hand over Sakura's hair. "You all can stay here for an hour. After that visiting time is over," She glanced up at the men with a watery smile then turned to leave.
Kakashi just looked at Sakura. A week? A week for her to sleep? In his mind, he understood that really it wasn't long of a recovery especially for what she had been through... but a week without her letting him know she was ok was going to be an eternity. He sighed as he sat down in the chair. Naruto remained next to the bed looking down at her while Sasuke watched from the window. Kakashi turned to look at the last Uchiha and there was something about his face that Kakashi couldn't place. There seemed to be so many emotions in his eyes that hadn't been there since the early days when he was brought back to the village.
"You okay Sasuke?" Kakashi asked quietly. Sasuke snapped his attention to him. He stood for a moment completely still and just stared at Kakashi before he nodded slowly.
"I am not the one that you need to worry about," Sasuke mumbled as he leaned back against the window his gaze dropping to the floor. Kakashi watched the boy, he knew that he was trying to get the attention away from him. So with a soft sigh, he looked back to the scene of Naruto and Sakura.
The time that they were allotted with Sakura passed too quickly before Ino came into the room saying that it was time for them to depart. Naruto whined a bit before he sluggishly made his way out with Sasuke right behind him. Kakashi, well, he stayed in his seat.
"Kakashi-sensei, visiting time is over," Ino said softly as she stood next to Sakura's bed.
"I'm not leaving," he said in a flat tone meeting her blue eyes. She looked tired, and he got it, he was too but he wasn't about to leave Sakura alone. If she was going to wake up she should have someone there, someone from her team to greet her. Ino looked at him for a moment he could tell that she was debating whether she should fight him on this or not. He knew he won when her shoulders dropped and she let out a long sigh.
"Fine, but you get to deal with Tsunade's wrath if she gets pissed about it," Ino said as she turned her attention to the IV. Kakashi hummed as he slid down in his seat.
"Fair enough," he said as he placed his feet on the corner of the bed. He might as well get comfortable. Ino glared at him for a moment before running another check on Sakura. It only took a few moments before she was about to leave.
"Ino," Kakashi called. Ino turned and looked at him with a raised brow. "I would like you to tell me all about that jutsu that binds people's souls," the words came out casually as he looked at her, even though his stomach turned as he spoke them. Both of her brows raised as she turned to look at him.
"I told you pretty much all that I know about it. I mean it's not something that we are allowed to research. The scrolls for it are sealed," Ino frowned as she looked down at her feet. "What I do know is Sakura is now bound to you. I don't know what the repercussions of that binding are. I mean, like I told you already, it was basically used to make sure that slaves wouldn't run from their masters. It makes them miserable to be too far away. What I saw was similar, so I don't know if it is going to work the same way." She paused as she looked at Sakura.
"Would the "master," be uncomfortable also. Is it a two-way street? Is there a way to undo it?" Kakashi asked slowly. He knew that he was feeling things that were different. He wanted to know if it was from the jutsu. Ino frowned as she looked up.
"I wouldn't think so. Not when it was only one party losing a part of their soul. Sakura would be the one that would feel different. As for reversal, that I really don't know," She looked back to Sakura then to Kakashi and straightened her back. "Since my father passed away I am now the clan head. I can grant you access to the files and scroll, but it will only be for your and Sakura's eyes," she said sternly. Kakashi nodded his head.
"I would like that. Your clan secrets will be safe with me," he pledged. Ino nodded to him.
"I'll bring them over in the morning, but for now, get some sleep Kakashi. You look like you have been through hell," she smirked at him before turning and leaving the room.
Kakashi tried to take her advice and get some rest. It was difficult though. The chair was uncomfortable and he would often find himself jumping awake to make sure that everything was fine with Sakura. When he was awake he couldn't help but wonder if Obito and Jiraiya were keeping an eye on the girl also. There was much he wanted to ask them, but Sakura came first. He supposed he would just have to wait for the afterlife to talk with them once more.
It was early morning when Ino came in carrying three scrolls. "This is all we have on the subject," she told hims as she unsealed each one and handed them to him. He thanked her and watched as she performed another check on Sakura. Once she was finished she let him know that visiting hours began in three hours. He knew what she was telling him. He had three hours to look over the information before Naruto and Sasuke would appear. Not to mention others. He wasn't sure if the word was out that Sakura was alive, but wouldn't doubt that the village would know before noon today. Everyone there enjoyed their gossip. Which he would prefer over the gossip that was more than likely going around about him carrying a pink haired carcass through the streets yesterday.
He waited until Ino left the room to look at the scroll. There was something about the situation that felt personal, and he wanted to be alone while he discovered what it meant. Well, almost alone. Sakura was still sleeping in front of him, but even if she did wake up she was stuck in this with him. He couldn't stop himself from looking at her. They were stuck together in this. He frowned a bit as he really thought about that. He now had the time to dwell on the subject, not that he didn't have to set up seals or pull souls back into their bodies. He could really go for a distraction. It wouldn't come though because at the moment he was stuck waiting for her to wake up. That meant that his mind was free to roam wherever it wished and since last night it had been stuck on the fact that there was a part of Sakura in him. He narrowed his gaze as he looked at her slumbering form.
Her lips were parted as she took in a breath, her eyeballs rolled under her lids. Briefly, he wondered what it was that she was dreaming of. He hoped that whatever it was she was seeing was pleasant. Though, there was a high probability that it wasn't. They were shinobi after all. Dreams filled with fear and blood were common. He bit his lip as he looked down at his lap to the scroll. He slowly unraveled it and began to read about what may have happened to them
Sorry for the wait! Thanks to my Beta!