There was a swirl of activity around everyone as Tsunade, Shizune, Ibiki and Sai ran forward for fulfill Tsunade's orders. Within a blink of the eye, Ibiki had the enemy nin thrown over his shoulder and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Shizune was quick to look over all of the summons, running a glowing green hand over each inch of every one of them. There were a few injuries that needed addressed.
Tsunade and Sai were quickly at Sakura and Kakashi's side just in time to see Kakashi pull Sakura back snugly against him and whisper something in her ear. Sakura flashed a big smile. Tsunade raised an eyebrow at the scene before her.
"Kakashi, Sai is going to get you to the hospital to have your injuries healed. Sakura, you're coming with me." Tsunade said firmly.
Sakura swung her leg over Kaji and stood but quickly fell back against Kaji, using him for balance. Kakashi was on his feet quickly and next to Sakura.
"Are you ok?" Kakashi asked concerned.
Sakura smiled at him. "Ya, I'm just stiff from the ride." She reached for his hand and gave it a soft squeeze.
Tsunade noticed the exchange. She stepped forward and wrapped Sakura's arm around her neck and wrapped her arm around Sakura's middle.
"Alright Sakura, we are going to go to the hospital at get your hands healed first. Shi seemed concerned about permanent damage." Tsunade said in a commanding tone. Sakura nodded her agreement.
Tsunade gave her a quick squeeze. "It's good to have you back."
Sakura looked up with tears in her eyes "I missed you" Tsunade smiled and they were gone.
The only people left at the gate were Sai, Kakashi, Shizune and their summons.
Sai moved to Kakashi to help him but Kakashi quickly shooed him away.
"I'm fine to walk Sai, she healed me days ago." Kakashi said plainly. "Are you going to take them to Inuzuka's clinic?" Kakashi asked turning towards Shizune.
Shizune looked up at the silver haired man "Yes, I can heal their injuries but they will get better treatment at the clinic since that is the Inuzuka's specialty." Shizune paused "Are you sure you're ok Kakashi?" She asked noticing he was staring at the ground where Sakura once stood.
Kakashi looked at Shizune and saw concern written all over her face. "Ya, I'm sure. I'm just worried about her." He said rubbing his hand on his face.
"The statistical possibilities of her pulling through completely healed are substantially higher with Lady Hokage's involvement." Sai said patting Kakashi's shoulder. "While we are waiting however, I have been ordered to get you to the hospital to document your injuries and then to Interrogation to document your capture."
Kakashi knew better than to argue with Sai since it was an order he was sure was directly from Tsunade. Sighing deeply, he nodded. There was nothing he could do to help Sakura right now.
"Let me know immediately if anything happens." Kakashi said to Shizune.
Shizune nodded. "Of course Kakashi."
Kakashi turned, raising his hand to wave goodbye as him and Sai walked towards the hospital.
…
They weren't in any hurry to get to the hospital so they were walking at a leisurely pace. So far, Sai hasn't been much of a conversation. Not that Sai was ever one to talk all that much, but he was still being uncharacteristically quiet, even for himself.
Kakashi looked over at him. He seemed to be concentrating about something.
"Want to talk about it?" Kakashi asked, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Hm?" Sai suddenly looked up, suddenly out of his daze.
"Nothing. You just look like something is bothering you." Kakashi said looking slightly over to Sai.
"Oh." Sai answered, looking forward.
"We've still got quite a way to walk. If you want to discuss what's on your mind." Kakashi offered
"Yes, I would. But I am unsure how to ask such a question." Sai said with a straight face.
Kakashi laughed softly at this. He missed Sai and his social awkwardness. "You can just say whatever is on your mind Sai, no need for niceties." Kakashi offered his obviously struggling friend.
"Oh ok." Sai paused for a moment before looking over to Kakashi. "What are your intentions with Sakura?"
Kakashi tensed at this forward of a question. He tried to recover quickly and make it look like it didn't affect him, but Sai picks up on everything. "I'm not sure what you mean Sai."
"Kakashi, I am not as oblivious to human interaction as you think. I saw the look you shared with her. I saw the way she held your hand. I saw the way you just twitched when I asked about it. Obviously there is something between you two. How did you put it? No need for niceties?" Sai said matter-of-factly.
Kakashi sighed loudly. "I'm not sure what to say about it yet. We haven't had any time to discuss it. We were in battle, she said she had feelings for me, we kissed….. Then she ran out to battle Sasuke and I haven't been able to discuss anything with her otherwise." Kakashi ran a hand down his face.
Sai suddenly turned directions almost knocking Kakashi over.
Kakashi stopped in his tracks. "Sai the hospital is this way." Kakashi said pointing in the direction they were previously heading.
"I am aware of the direction of our hospital Kakashi. If you don't hurry, you'll be late for your debriefing with Ibiki and you won't be able to be there for Sakura when she gets out her procedure." Sai turned with a big smile on his face.
Kakashi smiled, shook his head slightly, and walked towards Sai, quickening his pace. Sai was getting much better with reading people and their emotions.
…
A door slammed open. Tsunade entered with her arm around Sakura.
"Alright Sakura, you know the drill." Tsunade said while leading her over to the bed. "Sit down and I'll help you get out of your cloths and into a hospital gown. Then I can start looking at the damage to your hands."
Tsunade helped Sakura up on the bed and started cutting off Sakura's cloths as to not move anything that shouldn't be moved yet. A nurse entered with a basin of water and a sponge.
"Let her clean some of the dirt and blood off of you Sakura." Tsunade quickly said before Sakura could object.
Sakura quickly sighed and let the nurse clean her up a little. She winced at some of the movements. Her hands were still quite tender.
While the nurse was doing that, Tsunade made notes of any obvious bruising or tender spots. As the nurse finished up, Tsunade pulled up a seat next to Sakura. She helped Sakura get on her gown and helped her lay down. Sakura held up her hand towards Tsunade, knowing exactly what she wanted. Tsunade took her hand and sat down, beginning to inspect it to see the extent of the damage. There was a lot of scarring that would need cleared up if she ever wished to use those hands for healing again.
"Sakura, Shi told me you used 'lightning from your hands' to heal Kakashi. Can you explain that please?" Tsunade asked quietly.
"His heart stopped. I was unsure of how to help him. So I thought about how the heart works and if there was any time I could remember my heart physically hurting. I recalled a time I was training with Kakashi and I got too close to his Chidori. All of my muscles, including my heart, ached after that. So I concluded that the heart, being like a muscle, could be re-animated with an electric pulse. So I pulled all the chakra I could into my hand, made it as erratic as I could, and slammed it into his chest. After two times, his heart started beating again." Sakura paused for a moment. "Although, I burned his chest pretty good in the process, and my hands as well, I believe we could refine that technique to be a life-saving procedure with little damage."
Tsunade smiled at the girl. " We can definitely look into that farther. But Sakura, what is going on between you and Kakashi?" Tsunade asked, looking up to see a deeply blush creeping onto Sakura's face.
"A…Um….we um…." Sakura was stuttering out.
"It's ok Sakura. You're an adult, you can do what you like." Tsunade said in a motherly tone.
Sakura looked to Tsunade, shocked at what she said. Suddenly a big smile made its way to Sakura's face.
"Thank you Tsunade-sama." Sakura said quietly.