She let her training take over, systematically removing shrapnel and clotting the blood in the deepest wounds. She purged the infections that had begun to take root, adjusting her chakra as she drew it from within herself, struggling to tame it so she could heal this wild creature.
Having a focus helped; her feral energy leaping at the prospect and happily gliding into her guiding hands. She was relieved; had it fought her, she knew she wouldn't have been able to save this life.
Chakra Control wasn't so much about controlling your chakra, as it was about learning how to use every drop effectively. It was hard, mind numbing work, so those without the natural aptitude for it often chose to forgo learning the detailed process.
So she was grateful, even as she sewed muscle together, healed internal buses around organs and filtered smoke from the damaged lungs that the one skill she was good at happened to be the one thing that hadn't changed.
Sakura sat back, awed at the lack of fatigue that would normally come from healing such extensive wounds.
The fox was unconscious, its eyes rolling in its head as it dreamed. She was glad that she had used analgesic chakra before beginning; he, because it was male, she knew now, might not have survived otherwise.
Checking his heart and breathing was quick work; they were functioning properly, which was a relief. Sakura moved on to his leg, the splintered bones sticking out of his flesh in some areas. Her bright eyes narrowed, the slits fining to a line before her hands flickered again and she began her work.
She decided that it would be best if she just let the fox wake gradually, figuring that though the sleep had been forced, it would do the poor creature a world of good. She shifted, scooting back to lean against the trunk of an old tree behind her, but still keeping the fox in sight. She didn't want it to react negatively to her presence and hurt its self when it woke, but she was still worried. She couldn't bring herself to leave until she was sure it would be alright.
Sakura brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, absently wishing that it was short again. The sun filtered down on her through the leaves, bathing her in warm light. She craned her neck, spine digging into the rough bark behind her, as she squinted up wards. The orb had risen to its zenith and Sakura marveled that it was noon already.
She sighed, flexing her fingers till they popped and watching the blood flake off her peach skin. She sent a small pulse of chakra through her limbs, yawning when it disintegrated all traces of her last medical procedure. She was squeaky clean now, but disinfecting after an operation was nothing like having a warm bubble bath.
Wiggling her bare feet and running her clawed fingers slowly through her mane, she glanced over at the fox, watching it breathe with heavy eyes. She brushed her hands carefully over her scalp, a content hum bursting out from her parted lips.
As she continued with her grooming the sound grew louder, deepening to a soft purr that resonated from her belly and up through her chest. She paused, surprised that such a sound could come from her body, then shrugged it off, vaguely remembering Naruto making such a sound after wolfing down piles of ramen. She braided her hair messily, absently wrapping the end in a loose knot and flicking it over her shoulder.
Falling into a light dose was inevitable, given the atmosphere, but it wasn't long before her ear began to twitch.
Her nose wrinkled.
Something cold and wet was brushing against her sensitive skin.
She mumbled in annoyance, swatting with her left hand to ward off the pesky insect. She was met with fur and a yep instead, jolting her to awareness as her green eyes flew open.
The fox stood in front of her, keeping its distance and eyeing her sprawled form suspiciously.
They stared at each other, the wind rustling their perspective skins until Sakura offered a hand to the creature.
She held her breath, not knowing what to expect as its little black nose quivered. It leaned its head closer, stepping just within reach, dark eyes focused intently on her waiting appendage. Just as it was about to make contact, its eyes flashed up to hers, glinting, and suddenly its mouth was on her hand, fangs digging into her flesh.
Sakura yelped, indignant, kicking at it with her foot. It dogged her nimbly, flicking its newly grown tale with a smart snap and darting into the undergrowth.
"Why, of all the ungrateful-" Sakura huffed, standing with a scowl on her face.
"See if I ever help you again!" She called out, furiously wishing that the damn creature tripped on something.
She inspected her fingers gingerly, taking in the quickly fading cresset and the liquid dripping down her wrist.
Huh.
The wretched thing had drawn blood.
But, she supposed she deserved it. She had started that fire, however unintentionally.
She continued in the direction of her camp, noting how the air became thicker with ash and how the flora seemed to wither and die the closer she got. Regret seized her, the beautiful forest she'd been basking in the morning before: ruined.
It almost looked like the war torn lands of her own timeline, the destruction and decay pulling up painful memories. She blocked them out, refusing to shed anymore tears over things that couldn't be helped.
She was pulled from her melancholy thoughts by a disturbance up a head, and ducking behind the nearest tree, chanced a look. Her campsite was right there, just beyond a flat, open expanse that ended at a straggly old bush.
Something was wrong and belatedly she realized that there were chakra presences a head. All masked, all powerful and all distinctly human.
She inched closer suppressing her own chakra as best she could and skittering across the coverless land without a hint of her passing. Had she not been so focused on the danger in front of her, she would have been impressed with herself.
The bush was just big enough to hide her lithe body and she ducked behind it. How it had survived was beyond her, but she couldn't be more grateful for the shelter it gave when she peeked through its gnarled branches.
Sakura swallowed, a thick lump of dread catching in her throat at the sight. She had arrived at her campsite alright; but so had a squad of specially trained ANBU. It seemed as if they had just gotten there; they had yet to break formation.
Sakura was equally relieved and frustrated. If they were here, recovering her belongings would be tricky, if not impossible. But if they hadn't started their search yet, then she still had a chance. All be it a tiny, minuscule, chance.
Her sharp eyes desperately scanned the area, picking apart fallen trees, bunt stumps and the four stark black and white figures standing in the middle of them.
Too late she realized that they had all stilled.
Could they already sense her? She needed to get her things, and fast. Her gaze flew over everything in a panic, stopping suddenly at the feet of one of the male ANBU, the green and brown colors contrasting sharply with the feral smile of his wolf mask.
There, right beneath the burnt trunk he was standing on, were her ash covered knapsacks.
