Kakashi laid on the couch watching TV with a quiet apartment around him. His mask resting against his chin waiting for his cherry blossom to return home. After feeding Annistyn breakfast and sending her off to school Kakashi decided to laze around the apartment and gaze at the square box until he heard a few strong knocks on the front door. Kakashi looked at it for a second. She wouldn't knock. Pulling his mask up and lifting himself off the couch Kakashi walked to the door opening it to see a wide eyed blonde looking up at him
"Tsunade?" Kakashi asked as he glanced at the clock on the wall. 2:47pm. What was she doing here? Sakura wasn't here and Kakashi finished everything Tsunade gave him for his training to become the next Hokage, there was no reason for this woman to be standing at this door. Looking back at the blonde woman he read her eyes. Something that swirled in between the ember specks on her eyes made him pull his lips into a thin line.
"We need to talk." Her voice was jiggered and a bit shaken.
"Ok?" Kakashi said stepping a side to let her in.
"Where is Annistyn?" Tsunade asked.
"Still at school?" His answer came out as more of a question than a statement.
"Good." Tsunade said sitting at the dining room table. Kakashi sat across from her.
"Everything ok?" His words were slow, trying to gage her reaction to each letter. She shuddered.
Something wasn't ok.
"I-I honestly don't know." Tsunade breathed out trying to tame her nerves.
"Would you like anything to drink?"
"Coffee?" Tsunade asked looking up at his masked face. As Kakashi nodded and walked off to pour a hot mug of coffee Tsunade's mind gazed back to the one question everyone in this village wondered. What was behind that man's mask?
Kakashi waited for Tsunade to continue on and fill in the blanks.
"Sakura...she...she is bringing all of the village leaders here tomorrow."
"Really?"
That was fast. Kakashi thought.
"Yes, to sign the treaty between all the villages, sealing the United Nations together for good."
"Its about time."
"Yes but..."
"But?"
"Its just the way she is doing it...it just feels like..."
"Like?"
"We are about to open Pandora's box." Tsunade whispered as another chill leaked down her spin. "I don't think this village could handle another-"
"Tsunade." Kakashi stopped Tsunade in her words before she could say anything more by placing his gloved hand on hers. "What is Sakura plan on doing?" Kakashi asked. Tsunade stared down at the gloved hands. It was a hard winter on the leaf village this year and granted the heat was on inside the apartment she sat in, Tsunade couldn't stop thinking about how warm Kakashi's hand was as it rested on top of hers. "Tsunade?" Kakashi repeated.
Inside Sakuras office, the long pink haired women sat in her chair with a headache lacing her brain. She had finished everything she needed to do in record time, there was a few glorified assistance running around the village getting everyone ready to gather tonight. Sakura rested her head on her hands as she second guessed this plan and her actions. Sakura looked up hearing her door opening up without a knock as she decided this was the best way. She saw her masked lover walking in with Tsunade close behind him.
"Hey." Sakura leaned back in her seat, her head pain taking the back seat as Kakashi filled her sight.
"Hey." Kakashi smiled under his mask as he took a seat in one of the royal blue chairs in front of her desk.
"What are you two doing here?" Sakura questioned.
"I was checking on you." Kakashi shrugged, "Tsunade has a few worries that she wants us three to talk about before the village leaders get here."
"Worries?" Sakura knew this was coming.
"Yes." Tsunade sighed sitting down as well. "Sakura I..."
"Your terrified." Sakura finished.
"Yes. I just feel like we shouldn't use one of your seals-"
"Wait." Kakashi butted in. "One of your seals for what?"
"To make the contract." Tsunade filled in. Kakashi turned to Sakura waiting for more information before he judged. Sakura could only sigh as she ran both her hands through her hair as she shifted in her chair.
"Yes, one of my seals will create the treaty between the villages."
"But your seals have all been banished." Kakashi said. "We shouldn't use them if-"
"The contracts this seal makes, that wasn't the reason it was banished." Sakura said watching the two shinobi trying to peek into her world.
"Why was this one your trying to use banished?" Kakashi asking the right question.
"The contracts are prefect through this seal. They are fool proof and I have no doubts about using it to make a treaty between all the villages."
"How do you make the contract?" Tsunade asked.
"That...is the tricky part."
"How?" Kakashi inquired.
"The reason I have this as a seal is because of what makes the contracts."
"I'm sorry..." Tsunade waved her hands sitting up a bit. "Did you say what makes the contract?"
"Yes."
"Someone makes the contracts?" Kakashi implored.
"Not someone." Sakura looked at her desk, "I would call it so many different things before I call it a someone." Sakura huffed out the air that rested in her lungs.
"What is it?" Kakashi examined Sakura and her posture.
"I don't know." Sakura replied honestly, drawing in a deep breath of fresh air. "My seal is old, it was used as a large mixing pot, throwing away everything that was deemed to evil for this world. I do know it calls itself The Keeper."
"The Keeper?" Tsunade wheezed out as she could see the lid to the forbidden box slowly opening. These secrets, this knowledge should be kept hidden away from this world. Why was she sitting here listening to it?
"I don't know its real name, or where it came from. I met it when I first got my seal. The keeper watches over the contracts."
"Why?" Tsunade asked.
"I don't know, its bored?" Sakura shrugged. "Its trapped inside a seal I cant imagine that is fun."
"Have you made a deal with this thing before?" Kakashi angled.
"It isn't making a deal." Sakura clarified. "I don't offer the keeper anything for it to make a contract binding. It has no choice but to make them."
"Why would it want to do that?" Tsunade was confused.
"Because its trapped." Kakashi realized. "It's a prisoner."
"Yup." Sakura popped her 'p' feeling bored of repeating the same stuff she already knew.
"Why do I get the feeling your not telling us something?" Kakashi leaned forward as he watched a flame ignite be hide Sakuras eyes. Sakura knew Kakashi could read her better than anyone else.
"Seals are not always the right word to use." Sakura locked her emerald eyes on her desk as she outlined the wood's design with her index finger.
"What do you mean?" Tsunade asked.
"I wouldn't call the contracts I can make a seal."
"Why?"
"Because I am not the one making them for one and well..."
"Sakura." Kakashi lightly called her name trying to get her to open up to him.
"When the village leaders get here I will lead everyone down into a sealed room where I will summon the keeper. The plain we walk on and the one that the keeper dwells on will cross. That is how I can bring it here."
"Your just opening a door for it to come in?" Tsunade's chest was tight. "We cant let a creature-"
"Your the real keeper though?" Kakashi cut off Tsunade.
"What?" Tsunade was confused.
"The creature just bend to your will. You have made deals with it before so I am assuming you can force it back to where ever its lock up in. That is all your seal is right? A key to its door?"
"That's one way to put it." Sakura looked out the window. "Its almost time for the meeting with the village."
"Why did you call a village meeting again?" Tsunade asked.
"Because we need someone to step up to be the second tribute."
"What is with the tributes?" Tsunade queried.
"Tributes?" Kakashi turned to Sakura once again feeling confused.
"We need two people to stand behind their village leader inside the contract." Sakura explained. "A village leader can not be the first line of defence in this because I cant have village leaders dropping out of the blue. It would cripple the treaty and crumble the pyramid scheme. Two scarifies is what they are, they will die before their village leader. Its a way to keep each village in line."
"You cant be one of those." Tsunade breathed out, her mind flashing back to Sakura's death.
"I trust our village." Sakura stated.
"Sakura-"
"I will be the second." Kakashi interrupted with no room for argument in his exposed eye.
"No." Sakura said shaking her head. "No future village leaders can step up either."
"What?" Tsunade sighed.
"Who ever takes the stand is going to be bounded to this for the rest of their life." Sakura explained. "Who ever agrees to stand behind me will never have the chance to be the next21 Hokage. Village leaders can be changed out...but the tributes can not."
"Is that why you didnt take the title?" Tsunade looked up into Sakura's eyes. She closed them and gave a light nod.
"I wasn't lying when I said I had no plans on picking up my blade again. When I came back from being dead I was so tired and fighting another battled seemed so impossible even for me. I knew I wanted to have piece between all the villages and this seal was the best way to do it so..."
"Sakura..." Kakashi and Tsunade were blown away once again. This woman gave up her well deserved right to become the next Hokage in order to protect the village.
"We don't deserve you." Tsunade whispered as some of the fear inside her chest deflated.
Sakura stood from her desk after glancing at the clock for the hundredth time. The two watched her stand and did as she did.
"We better get going."
"Going?" Tsunade scrunched her face.
"The meeting?" Sakura tilted her head. Long pink strains flowed in waves to adorn her glowing, porcelain-like skin.
"Oh." Tsunade laughed awkwardly, with a light blush on her cheeks. "Right!"
"Come on." Kakashi pulled Sakura into his frame as he wrapped an arm around her. The three got to the arena quickly wasting little time. Looking around at the large crowd Sakura could see Naruto and Hinata in the front row. TenTen and Neji were beside them laughing at something. Sasuke was yawning beside Naruto. Sakura watched as Guy and Lee ran up and down the stairs doing laps probably trying to pass the time productively. If half her army were like them her life would be so much easier. Sakura shook her head as she stood on the stage built earlier in the day. There were chairs for a few of the shinobi who got here early to sit in front of the stage, like Naruto and Hinata. The citizens of the village and everyone else was stuck inside the arena seats.
"Hello!" Tsunade greeted with a smile soaking in her village's attention. Sakura and Kakashi stood off to the side as Tsunade talked and talked about the village leaders coming tomorrow. Everyone was so pumped, excited for the treaty. Tsunade turned to Sakura who glared at the female Hokage. Why did she have to be the barrier of bad news? Without words or an annoyed looked Sakura walked passed Tsunade and stood in front of the microphone looking into the crowd. Naruto smiled and waved eagerly, earning a light smile on Sakura's lips.
"This time tomorrow a treaty will be established between all the villages. It will form the United Nations." Sakura said earning a roar of cheers. She smiled looking down for only a second. "This treaty will not be a written piece of paper with a few signatures scribbled on it." Sakura watched the happy faces twist confused. "The treaty will be made from one of my seals-" That thought alone freaked people out, turning them off of the idea. People tried screaming questions and concerns but Sakura ignored them. "-I can promise you it is safe, I would never allow anything to happen to this village. I believe this to be the best way to keep the peace between the villages. This seal of mine, if a village steps out of line there will be consequences that can not be stopped."
"How?" A voice floated over the crowd.
"There will be two tributes put up beside the village leaders. Those two who stand beside their leader, and who represent their village...they will receive the punishment, there is only one and there is nothing any of us can do to change it. And if the people who volunteer as tribute choose this life then it can not be undone, they will bound to the treaty for the rest of their natural life."
"What is the punishment?!" People called.
"Death." Sakura answered earning the gasps she knew would come. "I myself am the first tribute." Naruto's mouth dropped open, Hinata covered her mouth with her hand masking her gasp. "I have faith in all of my shinobi. I believe in each and everyone of you, when you all step outside of this village my life will be inside your hands." Sakura glanced back at Kakashi before she turned to the crowd to ask the hardest question to ask a human. "The leaf village now needs one more person, who believes in the people they are sitting beside right now to stand up and come stand beside me and put their life on the line for this village." Sakura watched as Naruto made his movements to stand without question. "There is one more thing." Sakura's voice echoed through the arena. "No village leaders can be tributes. Your sixth Hokage has already tried putting his life up on the line for the village he has fought for his entire life but he, as the future Hokage can not, because anyone who has the dream of becoming a Hokage can not raise their hand here tonight." Sakura never ripped her eyes away from Naruto, who had shock on his face as he was frozen in his place. Sakura prayed he would remained seated. She didn't want to see all his dreams, the one thing that pushed him his whole life taken from him. There was a thick silence through the crowd as Naruto fought himself inside his head to stand or not. Sakura glanced back at Tsunade as the thought of no one volunteering entered her mind, she didn't have a plan B here.
"I will do it." A voice snuck through the crowd of people causing everyone who look around to see the person brave or stupid enough to stand up. Sakura watched as the figure walked onto stage. Sakura was shocked, she never thought in her wildest dreams this would be the person to offer their life to the village.
"Guy?" Kakashi's eye was wide as Guy walked onto the stage and stood beside Sakura. Sakura smirked, she should have known he would have jumped up for this. Sakura studied Guy as he spoke to the crowd. About how much he loved and trusted this village. That was when Sakura saw something in him. She smiled as she looked back over at Tsunade who looked like she was wiping sweat off her forehead. As night fell over the sky Tsunade excused everyone to head home. Sakura turned to Guy one last time, without all the eyes on them.
"Are you sure?" She asked him.
"Yes." Guy nodded.
"Alright then." Sakura shrugged not pressing the matter, "Head home and get some sleep your going to need it tomorrow."
"I am?" Guy asked.
"Yes." Sakura said as she turned and began her way home as well without saying much else. Tsunade watched Sakura walk away, she almost counted each step as Kakashi followed her. Tsunade never asked her how Sakura made the treaty, was it a simple wave of her hand? Was it more? Did they have to offer up blood? Tsunade was afraid was what she was going to find?
Inside Sakuras apartment Kakashi remained quite as Sakura changed into soft pants and a shirt to wear to bed. She pulled her hair up out of the way as she sat on the couch sighing in relief. Kakashi wanted to ask more, he wanted to understand everything about her but he didn't want to overwhelm her either. He couldn't bombard her with the hundred questions inside his head. He sighed annoyed at himself and sat on the couch beside him. Sakura heard his huff but decided to say nothing. She knew all his questions would be answered tomorrow, she didn't need to spend her night explaining every little detail.
"I'm going to bed." Kakashi sat after an hour of watching TV. He leaned over and kissed Sakura's forehead.
"Ok."
"You should join me."
"I will."
"You told Guy to rest up, you should-"
"I will." Sakura's smooth voice glazed over Kakashi. "After this episode."
"The zombies will be there in the morning."
"I'm two seasons behind."
"Ok." He gave in. "After this episode, come to bed."
"I will." Sakura watched Kakashi walked into the bedroom, after he closed the door halfway she rolled her eyes and went back to watching TV.
There was a knock on the door the made Sakura look from the flashing screen. It slowly opened and Naruto came into view, Sakura gave a small wave.
"Hey..." He trailed off closing the door. "Your not in bed yet?"
"If I was does that mean you would have just walked into my apartment anyway?"
"I heard the TV." Naruto smiled as he sat beside her on the soft couch.
"What's up?" Sakura asked pausing the screaming zombies.
"Nothing." He laughed, Sakura didn't buy it.
"You just stopped by at midnight to say hi?"
"No..." Naruto sighed. "I feel..."
"You couldn't." Sakura said. "You couldn't have volunteered, not if you wanted to be Hokage someday."
"I should have stepped up."
"You didn't need too."
"In order to protect this village, I shouldn't have been so selfish to-"
"Naruto." Sakura cut him off. "Stop putting so much on your shoulders. Your ok. I look at you the same way I did last week. So does everyone else around you."
"But..."
"No. There are hundreds of shinobi in this village, it is not just you. It isn't just your sole job to protect the village. Others can step up where you don't. The fact you kept your hand down tonight does not make you any less of a man."
"Then why do I feel like I let you down?"
"I don't know." Sakura said, "Because you didn't let anyone down."
"I know..."
"Is it possible your mad at yourself because you let someone else step into the hero's light?"
"I-I am not that condensing!"
"No one is perfect." Sakura said still laying on the couch. Naruto huffed and plopped down beside her legs.
"I know that but I don't care that Guy is going to be the one standing next to you tomorrow."
"Are you sure?" Sakura asked.
"Yes!"
"Then why are we having this conversation?"
"I don't know!"
"Naruto." Sakura laughed sitting up. "Go to bed."
"You first."
"I cant, I am talking you down." Sakura smiled as Naruto stood.
"I'll see you in the morning?"
"Bright and early." Sakura watched Naruto walk out of the apartment. She sighed as she went back to the TV, about to press play her cell phone rang. Sakura sighed as she reached for it and pulled it to her ear. "Hello?" She answered.
"Sakura?" A voice called from the other end. Sakura sat up, slight shock sparked inside her chest and the sound of the familiar voice.
"Kaguya."
Kakashi stirred in bed. He reached out beside him to pull Sakura close to his body to warm her up. The freshly clean sheets was soft against his hands as he fished around for her. Opening his eye he saw he was alone in bed. Her place in bed looked untouched, the pillow still fluffed from the morning before. He sighed, she never came to bed. Kakashi pulled himself up to go searching for her. She must have fallen asleep on the couch watching the show again. He looked around the living room not seeing a sleeping cherry blossom on the couch, no one was in the kitchen nor in the bathrooms. He groaned seeing she was no where to be found. Kakashi quickly got dressed and walked out of the apartment without so much as a sip of coffee.
Walking outside was harsh as the wind body slammed itself against Kakashi's firm frame. He walked through the snow covered streets in search for Sakura. He was going to scold her so hard for not sleeping! He walked into her office finally finding her. He looked around seeing she was not alone. There was a man leaning against her desk, looking back at Kakashi like he was a burden for walking into this room. He was a tall but Kakashi held a few inches on him, he was fit with his broad shoulders and thick arms. He had shady black hair and miss matched eyes. One blue and one green. He bore the Waterfall Village's name on his forehead. There was a women inside the room sitting in the chair in front of Sakura's desk. She had medium brown hair, dark green eyes that couldn't dream of holding a candle to Sakura's vibrant orbs.
"Kakashi Hatake." Kaguya's voice broke Kakashi's thoughts, he gave a careless wave has he wondered if Tsunade knew she was inside the village this early in the morning. "How can we help you?"
"I was just checking up on Sakura."
"Oh?" The man asked. "Why?"
"Diem." The brunette muttered, shooting a light glare upwards at the man. The dulled green eyed women stood and walked towards Kakashi. She held out a hand for him to take. "Hello Lord Sixth, I am Dawn Commander of the Waterfall Village."
"Oh?" This women was Sakura's replacement? Kakashi's eye slowly traced over Sakura's casual body language as she sat at her desk. "Were you Sakura's-?"
"I was her second in command." Dawn smiled.
"I see." Kakashi said, he turned to the man after dawn shook his hand and sat back down.
"This is Diem." Sakura nodded towards the unmoving male. "He's the second in command of the waterfall village."
"He was Sakura's third." Dawn explained a little further into the story line. Kakashi nodded and gave a light laugh.
"It is nice to meet you all." Kakashi gave them his famous closed eye smile.
"Everything ok?" Sakura asked Kakashi.
"Just wondering where you went off to so early in the morning." Kakashi's smooth never changing voice answered.
"It is seven in the morning." Diem spoke rising an eye brow.
"Yes it is." Kakashi confirmed the time earning a glare from the second commander of the waterfall village and a chuckle from Sakura.
"Tsunade is looking for you." Sakura said seeing the two men were having a stare off.
"Hm?" Kakashi turned to Sakura. "For what?" Sakura shrugged.
"I'll be there in a minute." Sakura said seeing Kakashi wasn't moving to exist the room after a second. Kakashi nodded and turned to leave, but not before saying goodbye to the three strangers in the room. Kakashi crossed the hall to Tsunades office and closed the door behind him. Once he turned to face the Hokage he was taken back by her state, her hair was tossed, bags rested under her eyes as she leaned back in her chair. She was huffing like she had been running around her office glaring across the hall.
"Tsunade?" Kakashi asked sitting down.
"That women!" Tsuande spat.
"Kaguya?" Kakashi guessed.
"She is a horrid exsucse for a life form!" Tsunade ranted.
"Why?"
"Because she is stll trying to take Sakura back to the Waterfall Village!"
"What?" Kakashi didn't get that vibe at all when he was inside Sakura's office.
"Yes! That was all Kaguya and her little minons would talk about! For hours that was all I heard them talking about in there!"
"You were spying on them?"
"That is not the point!" Tsunade defended.
"What did Sakura say?" There was a tightness in kakashis chest.
"She said no of course!" Tsunade yelled. "But it is the balls on that women! She comes here inside my village! Trying to sign a piece treaty with my village and she has the balls to stand inside my office building and practically beg my Commander to return to another village!? I am suppose to be ok with that?!"
"But Sakura said no?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you so upset?"
"I don't like that women!"
"You have never liked Kaguya, because of Sakura."
"I don't want her here!"
"Tsunade, the waterfall village is large. We need them as an ally. They have to be here to sign the-"
"I know that!" Tsunade spit, cutting Kakashi off. "That doesn't make me hate that bitch any less!" The door opened cutting Tsunade off, Kakashi turned to see Sakura walked in.
"Sakura..." Kakashi sighed as he slowly shook his head seeing she was tired. She had indeed not gotten any sleep the night before like she should have.
"Sakura!" Tsunade glared. Sakura sighed as she sat in the chair beside Kakashi.
"What?" Sakura's voice was flat.
"Why is Kaguya here!?"
"To sign the treaty."
"Everyone else will arrive tonight, yet they are here now!"
"They came early."
"Why!?" Tsunade pressed.
"To see me." Sakura answered.
"Why?" Kakashi asked.
"Because I am allowed to have friends." Sakura looked over at Kakashi.
"I know." Kakashi turned away from Sakura's annoyed eyes.
"I shouldn't be getting the third degree from you guys right now." Sakura said seeing Tsunade had steam rolling out of her ears.
"Your not." Kakashi said. "Tsunade is just...worried."
"Worried about the treaty or worried about me being around Kaguya?" Sakura tested.
"Both." Kakashi said honestly. "We are just worried that-"
"That what? That I would be around my old commanders for an afternoon and instantly want to return to their village with them? Has the fact that I chose to protect and die for this village while still being the Commander of another village already been forgotten? Another village pops up and your all instantly look at me as if I am going to jump ship." Sakura said standing. "I am tired of it."
"Its not every village." Tsunade called as Sakura took a few steps towards the door, "It is just the Waterfall Village."
"If you have forgotten Tsunade-" Sakura said turning to look at her Hokage. "Your the reason I ended up there in the first place." Tsunade's eyes widened as a bucket of cold reality was thrown in her face. Sakura walked out of the office feeling annoyed, she left Kakashi to deal with Tsunade who's ego was feeling more than deflated. Sakura sighed as she walked down the hall, she had planned on leaving the building to return home to sleep for a few hours but plans change as Sakura rounded the corner to see Dawn had walked out of the bathroom.
"Sakura." Dawn was taken back seeing the pink haired shinobi in front of her.
"Dawn." Sakura nodded as she took a few steps to leave.
"I am ready." Dawn said making Sakura stop walking to look at Dawn confused.
"Ready for what?"
"For you to take over again." Dawn said making Sakura sigh again as she felt no energy in her body to deal with this conversation.
"I am not-"
"You are the Commander-"
"Yeah, of this village." Sakura cut Dawn off. "Dawn I am not going to return with you."
"But you-"
"Died." Sakura said. "I died in battle, leaving my title for you which you have done a great job."
"I am not ready to do this job." Dawn whispered.
"Yes you are, you were ready the second handed you the title of my second."
"I cant do anything like you!" Dawn snapped as a dam in her chest starting breaking.
"That's fine." Sakura laughed, "You don't have too. Your not me."
"Sakura the Waterfall Village needs you."
"You guys have me, if you ever need anything I will be right by your side in a heart-"
"They need you as their leader. They don't need not me."
"Dawn, what is going on with you?" In Sakura's memory Dawn had always been a confidant women. Looking at her today Sakura couldn't see that trait in her.
"Nothing its just-"
"Your village is still standing, clearly you did something right in the past years."
"But now your back! You can take over again!"
"I don't belong there. I belong here."
"How can you say that?"
"Because I can. Because it's true. The Waterfall village has a great Commander, and that isn't me."
"Sakura..."
"We will always be friends." Sakura said. "It doesn't matter what village we stand for I will always be by your side."
"I have missed you."
"I know." Sakura said. "I am sorry I left you how I did, but you knew what could happen every time I stepped out of my office inside that village."
"I never prepared myself for the chance that you could be killed."
"I know, that was one of my mistakes. I didn't prepare anyone."
"That village feels so weird without you in it."
"I am proud of you, I have always been proud of you and Diem."
"I know Sakura, you trained us well."
"Yeah." Sakura chuckled. "Your an out standing leader."
"I still cant compare to you."
"We are equals."
"No, we have never been equals and we probably never will be either."
"Dawn..."
"You will always be my Commander in my eyes."
"I am not-"
"Are you hungry?" Dawn smiled, "I would like have to have brunch with you."
"Uh, yeah sure."
"I cant wait to see where you grew up!" Dawn said as she followed Sakura out of the building and into the streets.
"Don't hold your breath." Sakura muttered as the cold wind slammed into her skin. Dawn and Sakura walked until they came into the raman shop Naruto was known to love so much. The two women took their seats and ordered. Sakura glanced at Dawn feeling something was up with her, she had a ranging storm inside her chest and Sakura didn't know if Dawn expected her to fix it like she always use to do. "How have you been?" Sakura asked as a steamy hot bowl of soup was placed in front of her.
"Fine." Dawn gave a faint smile.
"You know your still a terrible lair right?" Sakura smirked.
"Yeah...like I said, I'm nothing like you."
"You don't have to-"
"I'm scared Sakura..." Dawn said cutting around the bush.
"Of?"
"I..." Dawn struggled to open up to Sakura, which tore her apart. Sakura had always been the backbone Dawn could lean on, the past two years had been so hard without the Reaper around. But on the other hand Sakura did represent another village now.
"You know you can talk to me about anything." Sakura said after a second. "I will always be your friend before being the Commander of the-"
"Its Kaguya."
"Kaguya?" Sakura asked confused. "What-"
"The past two years you have been gone hasn't been easy for her. And because of that it hasn't been easy for the Waterfall Village to function. She has changed Sakura, she stays in her office for days on end. She wont talk to me or Diem...In her eyes I'm just a joke that could never be a Commander because in her eyes your the only person that could do that job, which is true Diem and I are barely keeping up with your work load. You made it seem so easy and effortless that I just...I'm tired Sakura."
"Dawn..." Sakura saw how close Dawn was to breaking down. "Its ok-"
"No its not." Dawn said with an annoyed sigh. "Something has Kaguya all worked up."
"The Reapers because if it is than that-"
"No, she doesn't care about them. She wont let me send out teams to track them down."
"Why?"
"I don't know! She is using half the army for something she wont even tell me about."
"Really?" Sakura said looking into her half empty bowl. Kaguya was up to something.
Sakura dropped the conversation after seeing Dawn was starting to shut down. More problems that Sakura was going to have to deal with presented itself as Sakura and Dawn walked the leaf village. In the back of our beloved Haruno more questioned infested her thoughts with their constant nagging. She blocked them out as Dawn talked about her life the past two years. Sakura never realized how small of a life Dawn and her shared being the commander of the leaf village. Sakura opened her mouth to question Dawn on her happiest when Naruto's voice floated to Sakura's ears. She turned over to see Hinata with him and they were waving. Why would they be waving? Oh yeah Sakura was their friend and it was natural. As the two groups of two joined in the middle of the sidewalk there was stillness that centered around them.
"So..." Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. "I ugh, I am Naruto-"
"I remember you." Dawn smiled cutting Naruto off not seeing that it was a rude thing to do.
"You do?" Sakura turned to look at Dawn.
"When Kaguya took your memory." Dawn started, "Naruto and this friends came to the Waterfall Village trying to free you, I had asked him to save you which he did and I never thanked him for it." Naruto blushed and giggled.
"Well you know-"
"He also allowed you to be killed and die a painful death so I have chosen not to thank him." Dawn was just as blunt as Sakura. Naruto was stiff as guilt nipped at his soul. Hinata was watching Dawn with distain in her eyes.
"And you might be?" Dawn asked looking towards Hinata.
"Hinata." She answered with a weak smile on her glossed lips.
"Oh what a pretty name." Dawn smiled. "And what is your role here in this village?"
"I-I am a shin-shinobi." Hinata stuttered.
"Really?" Dawn cocked her head to the side. "How might that be?"
"What does that mean!?" Naruto snapped on his girlfriends behalf.
"I am just saying she doesn't seem like a-"
"Dawn." Sakura cut in.
"What?" She asked. "I am just answering-"
"This isn't the Waterfall Village." Sakura reminded as a black ops ninja walked up to Sakura.
"May I have a moment of your time Commander?"
"Sure." Sakura sighed as the two walked off a few feet to talk about the village leaders arrival.
"Clearly." Dawn muttered looking around at the people.
"What's with your attitude?!" Naruto glared.
"I don't have an attitude." Dawn said.
"Yes you do! Your being all snooty!" Naruto yelled drawing attention.
"You are mistaken Naruto." Dawn showed a sweet smile.
"Eh?" Naruto was confused.
"I could care less about this village or you two."
"Why you!" Naruto spat getting worked up.
"The only reason I am standing in this two bit town is because of her." Dawn gestured towards Sakura. Naruto and Hinata turned to look at her as she spoke to the masked ninja. "I am here for her."
"She is our commander!" Hinata gasped. "You cant-"
"Sakura is so much more than this tiny village. She deserves more than what you people can offer her."
"This is her home." Naruto stated. "She chose to stay here with us and be our commander. Why cant you just get that through your head already!?"
"We will bring her home." Dawn said turning from the two.
"She is home!" Naruto yelled after her spitting fire. Sakura glance over, watching dawn leave where Naruto ad Hinata stood. Sakura sighed, seeing her two life's clashing. She walked over to Naruto who was still glaring in the direction Dawn walked.
"Naruto?" Sakura asked, "Everything ok?" She asked already knowing the answer, having heard the full conversation between Dawn and him.
"Peachy!" Naruto growled. "Everything is just peachy!"
"Come on." Sakura said wr.
"Where are we going?"
"You can help me get ready for the village leaders."
"Help you with what?" Hinata asked on the left side of Sakura.
"Tsunade is worried about security for when the leaders show up so I have to figure something out to make her less jumpy. You guys wanna help?"
"Yeah!" Naruto jumped.
"Sure." Hinata blushed, happy to be needed by her best friend.
Crowds of people rested on the sidewalk starting at the dark blue portal which floated in the middle of the street. Sakura, Tsunade, Kaguya, and Kakashi all stood a handful of feet back in the road waiting for the village leaders.
"What if no one comes?" Tsunade muttered to Sakura.
"Impossible." Kaguya interrupted earning a glare from Tsunade. "They will come."
"How can you be so sure?" Kakashi looked over his shoulder to glance at a confidant Kaguya.
"Because Sakura had asked them to come."
"What?" Tsunade said dumbfounded. "JUst because Sakura asked them to come doesn't mean they will-" Tsunade was cut off by the portal which started to scream and spit out angrily for being messed with.
Gaara was the first one out with his two tributes. There were cheers among the crowd as Sakura walked forward to hug him.
"Sakura." Gaara smiled seeing his pink haired friend.
"Hey." She smiled stepping away from his hug. "How have you been?"
"Good." Gaara smiled looking around. "Am I the first?"
"Yeah." Sakura sighed, "Beside Kaguya."
"The Waterfall Village?"
Yeah?"
"Hm."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Then why the Hm?"
"Your funny." Gaara smiled as he gave out a light laugh. The two turned to the portal as more people walked out. Mei, from the mist village arrived. Tsunade walked forward to stand beside Sakura to help greet and thank the village leaders for coming. A from the cloud village arrived after Akashosi from the star village. To Sakura's distaste Onoki arrived, the annoying little man was already starting his complaining. Other villages to come included the river and moon village leaders arrived, the Hacho village, Nadeshiko village, Yumegakure, Kusagakure and the Takumi village. With how many people that arrive akura didnt let them mingle long with the leaf village. She escorted them all down to the tunnels under the village to a room she prepared for this day.
The room was dark and had had a warm muddy feeling that wrapped around Tsunade. She could see nothing as she walked deeper into the room looking around as if the darkness would lighten up at different angles of the room. The muggy air in the room coated itself against Tsunade making her eyes heavy as sleep stirred awake in her head. The blonde was about to call out to Sakura confused until lights candle lights flickered giving light to see. Tsunade saw the room was empty, ready to move in. Looking to the floor there laid those strange symbol's of Sakuras. It was a gigantic circle, ten smaller circles were inside, evenly spaced out. Beside the circles, a few inches behind them rested another bubble and behind that one was yet another freaking bubble. Symbols and shapes all filled the empty spaces. Tsunade turned to Sakura not understanding what was going on as the other village leader's collected into the room.
"All leaders stand in one of the main circles." Sakura called out ignoring Tsunade confused looks. "The first tribute get into the space behind your leader and then the last person get in the last circle." Sakura said as she stood in the middle of the large space. Kakashi, Naruto and Sasuke stood off to the side watching slightly confused. Kakashi wanted to be standing beside Sakura, not off to the freaking side lines. Sakura watched as everyone got in their spaces and waited for Sakura to continue on. The low lighting in the room and the strange symbols and ritual made Naruto feel on edge. Onoki grumped looking around.
"This is insane!" He called. "Why are we doing this!?"
"You are the one-" A yelled back but was cut off mid sentence.
"How do we even know this is fair? You all talk about my village becoming a super power yet the Leaf Village will control the treaty!"
"That is true..." Someone muttered, hating to agree with Onoki.
"I will not be the one to control the treaty." Sakura called.
"Huh?" Naruto said.
"Of course you would say that!" Onoki yelled. "You-" The short man was cut off my a cold chill which climbed up everyone's backs and settled around them.
"What the-?" Tsunade didn't like that feeling on her skin, it brushed against her. Soaking into her bones she felt the tightness inside her chest begin to crush her lungs as she looked around feeling frisky, as if someone was watching her every movement. Everyone watched from the corner of their eye as a figure moved between each village leader, it moved freely like a cloud of dust until it settled beside Onoki who froze wide eyed as two orbs filled to the rim with red gazed at the man.
"That is what will be controlling the contract." Sakura said. Tsunade turned to the keeper. It was a cloud like form with two red eyes as it laughed, even its voice felt cold as it walked around Onoki.
"What is going on?" The keeper asked with a laugh as it remained beside Onoki.
"This is the last chance." Sakura called looking around. "There will be no turning back."
"T-This is..." Onoki's mind was starting to crumble. His thought process started to liquefy. "We cant allow the Reaper to do this! She could kill any one of us without a second-"
"I don't control the treaty." Sakura repeated. "I can only make it the keeper create it, that is what controls and watches the treaty. I have no pull in any of this. If a village steps out of line the Keeper is the one who kills not me. And it would love to kill me..." Sakura said as the two beings lock eyes. Kakashi looked at the beast as it dancing around the circle. "It cant touch you." Sakura said watching the beasty whisper into the village leaders ear. "It is going to try and spoke you, whatever you do don't move from that circle, if you do it can and will kill you."
"Reaper..." A whispered feeling sweat on his forehead. "This feels...wrong..."
"I know." Sakura called, "Its the Keeper, just keep your mind on my voice and don't move. It is going to try everything it can to get you all to move out of your places so it can get its hands on you."
"Sakura..." Naruto whispered. He wanted to help her, he wanted to be by her side but he had no idea how to offer any assistance. Strange words echoed out of Sakuras mouth, as she spoke more and more the symbols and circle's began to glow in a silver light.
"Of course they glow..." Naruto muttered rolling his eyes. The Keeper grunted and spat flipping around to gaze at Sakura.
"Reaper." The Keeper spat in hatred. It flew towards Sakura but it slammed into a invisible wall which surrounded her and the rest of the village leaders. "One day." It taunted, "One day I will end your life." Kakashi didnt like this, every nerve he held were on the edge of their seats seeing a strange being staring his girlfriend down. Tsunade looked around. She should have asked Sakura what to expect. She had no idea what was going to happen or to know when this was over. Tsunade remembered her saying this was a fairly quick process but how long was quick? Naruto watched as the keeper ran around trying to get someone to move but no one did, they all kept their gaze on Sakura who was starting to light up.
"Sakura?" Naruto called feeling worried. After a moment Kakashi couldn't make out her figure anymore and he as the rest of the people in the room had to shut their eyes from the brightness. After a second a loud echo was released into the floor, the light followed it and flowed to the village leaders, it crawled up their legs and into their skin. The village leaders heads were knocked back by a force they couldn't see. A looked up into the ceiling as his eyes reflected Sakuras Christmas lights. Tears filled the rim of his eyes.
"So...beautiful." He whispered seeing through Sakuras' s famous orbs. Naruto's mouth was hanging open as questions were eating him alive. Kakashi, Sasuke and Naruto looked around as everyone held those famous Christmas wreath eyes.
"So do they have Sakura's eyes now?" Sasuke muttered to Naruto.
"I will be so jelous if they do." Naruto whispered back. As fast as the act occurred it vanished, leaving the leaders feeling weak. Blood trickled down their eyes as the sensation that knocked the wind out of Tsunades chest deflated. The Keeper vanished, the air cleared and the glowing syombled faded out.
"I-Is it over?" Mei asked looking around as she wiped her face.
"Sakura!" Naruto yelled seeing a line of red exiting her mouth and drip down her chin. Her legs gave out as Kakashi took a step towards her but stopped not knowing if he could enter the circle. Guy caught her as she collapsed. Every once of strength she held vapored from her bones.
"Sakura!?" Tsunade turned around, fear entering her heart.
"Its over." Sakura whispered feeling her chakra drained. Kakashi rushed over. Guy placed her in his arms.
"Reaper?!"
"Sakura are you alright?" Gaara asked.
"I'm fine." She muttered.
"But you-" Naruto cut himself off as he watched Kakashi wipe the blood off her fair skin.
"It took a lot of chakra." Sakura said as Kakashi helped her up. "It was a lot of people." The reaper smiled as a portal opened up. "You all need to return home and get some rest."
"That's it?" Mei asked.
"Yes." Sakura nodded as she leaned against Kakashi. "From this moment on we are all allied, if one of our own steps out of line from the rules we all laid out together than the first tribute will die."
"We know." A said with a nod. "Thank you Reaper for bringing us all together in ways we never knew we could." Sakura could only nod. Team seven and Tsunade watched as the leaders excited the room. Kaguya and her two shinobi remained in their place not wishing to leave, at least not without Sakura. Tsunade cleared her throat.
"Thank you for coming." She smiled waiting for them to move but they didnt.
"Sakura." Dawn took a step forward but Tsunade shook her head blocking Sakura from view.
"You were called here to be apart of the United Nations, the meeting is over and the treaty has been made. You all need to leave now my Commander drained herself to create this chance at peace for us all now she needs rest." Kaguya only nodded as she slowly moved towards the portal.
"Call me Sakura, when you have recovered." Kaguya said as she entered the vortex. Dawn was the last to leave, she turned feeling defeated that she couldn't convince Sakura to return home with her. She now belonged to the leaf village, she was bounded to them. Dawn look down at the symbols on the floor before leaving as well. The portal closed, having returned all village leaders to their homes. Sakura sighed seeing Onoki and his two goons watching them. Sakura turned to Tsunade who groaned having to put them somewhere for the night.
As Tsunade sat in her office the knots in her stomach started to unravel making her lean back in her chair and sigh. The village leaders and Kaguya were gone, far away from the leaf village back in their homes where they belonged. Sakura was sitting in one of the chairs with Kakashi in the one beside her. He was rubbing her hand with his thumb. Sakura was staring off into space as Kakashi and Tsunade talked about the Stone Village. Their leader, Onoki was demanding transportation back to his home village. Onoki had travel to the leaf village on his own with his two tributes, so why couldn't they go back on their own? He was stored away at the leaf village inn for the night but he demanded to be returned home. On top of his insane demands he wanted the famous Reaper, a.k.a Sakura to be that person and the fact that he was so adamant on Sakura being the only person to take him home raised red flags. Kakashi didn't want Sakura stepping foot outside the village due to her injuries to her knee and the stab wound on her back still raised caution with Tsunade and Kakashi. Not to mention she was exhausted from the treaty being formed only hours ago.
"No." Sakura said to Kakashi who offered to be the escort. Kakashi looked over at Sakura, then glanced at her hand that rested under his. He continued to rub the back on her hand with his thumb. "I will be the one to take him."
"Sakura that isn't a good idea." Tsunade said.
"I know." Sakura agreed. "But I wont be going alone."
"Oh?" Kakashi smirked under his mask.
"I would feel better if your team went with you." Tsunade said sipping the glass of water that rested off on the right corner of her desk.
"Your drinking water?" Kakashi mocked. "You hate it more than Sakura."
"Dan." Tsunade groaned, "He is forcing me to be healthy."
"That's good." Kakashi smiled.
"Its horrible." Tsunade grumped. "I hate water."
"You need it to survive." Kakashi sighed.
"Water is unnatural." Sakura said adjusting herself in the large chair.
"Your body is-"
"I know how much water I have in my body." Sakura said giving Kakashi an annoyed look, as she did he could see how tired she was. Her eyes were dull and almost droopy.
"You need to get some rest." Kakashi said giving a light squeeze to her hand.
"I will." Sakura said, "Right after this."
"Sakura I really don't want you going out on a mission right now."
"Team seven wont be alone. We will be fine."
"Huh?" Tsunade perked up, "What do you mean team seven wont be alone?"
"The Stone Village is now one of our allied villages, we should give their village leader all the protection he needs." A fire sparked inside Kakashi's chest watching the smirk resting on Sakura's lips. It had been a while since he had seen an fire flare to life in her. Lately she has just been injured, taking it easy but with the smirk resting on her face Kakashi felt intrigued at what she had planned for the Stone Village.
"What are you thinking?" Tsunade questioned Sakura.
"I don't trust the Stone Village." Sakura came out, "Something about them and their leader doesn't sit well with me. Shinobi dressed in their gear attacked us and tried to kill us on our last mission. Starting a fight between villages wouldn't be smart, we need to try and keep the peace between all of us for a while and give people time to get use to the treaty which will hopefully keep everyone in line."
"But?" Kakashi asked.
"I don't trust them, I don't have seals around that village and now since the Stone Village is in the treaty it is the perfect time to act on that."
"Why do you want your seals there?"
"I can do a lot more than just put a dome around the village to protect them with my seals."
"You can transport there?" Kakashi guessed.
"I can, but that isn't all."
"What?!" Tsunade snapped.
"I can spy on them a lot easier if I have seals around their village than if I don't."
"I'm sorry did you say spy?" Tsunade's voice hardened.
"Spy is a strong word." Sakura muttered more to herself than to Tsunade.
"Sakura you cant be spying on other-"
"Yes I can." Sakura looked up into Tsunade's eyes. "I have been doing it for years. That's how I knew about your tunnels under this village."
"W-What?" Tsunade gasped, her eyes widened as she did.
"Yeah its called being a shinobi." Sakura smirked at the shocked expressions on the two people beside her. "How do you think the Waterfall Village stayed so ahead of everyone? How do you think they became such a huge force in so little time? Even to this day I watch the other villages."
"Is that why the Waterfall Village has fallen back in the shadows and kept quite?" Kakashi asked.
"Yeah I'm not there anymore, they cant get a jump on other villages."
"Sakura I don't know how I feel about this." Tsunade sighed.
"Feel about what? Your not doing anything."
"I cant let you-"
"Tsunade it is my job to keep this village and everyone inside of it safe, its your job too. Everything I do is to keep this village standing."
"But if someone finds out-"
"No one will find out." Sakura promised.
"How do you know!?"
"Because you two are the only people who know this information."
"Kaguya doesn't know?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because its no ones business what I can and cant do."
"Sakura it is wrong-"
"Tsunade nothing in this life is fair. Do you think I am the only person who spies? I am sure we have a few moles somewhere inside this village."
"There is no chance of that."
"Are you sure?" Sakura challeneged Tsunade.
"Sakura we are getting off track."
"No we are not. Your unhappy I am spying on other villages which to be honest no matter what you say I am not going to stop what I-"
"Your getting out of line." Tsunade glared, making Sakura lean forward to match her sharp eyes.
"If your going to sit there and truly believe that our ailles will stick their neck out of us your fucking insane. They will push us under the bus to save themsevels because that is how this world works. Its a fucking ride but we all have to strap in and endure it."
"Sakura you need to stop."
"Stop what?"
"Go take a walk."
"If I could trust me I would." Sakura said nodding down to the brace on her knee. Kakashi reached over and placed his hand over Sakuras, trying to relax her. She wouldnt have it, she pulled herself up onto her feet, Tsunade watched every jaggered move she made. "My job is to protect this village, which I do pretty damn well. It is my job to make sure this village can be a head of the others."
"We dont need to be ahead of anyone!" Tsunade said slamming her hands on her desk and stood, she chair slamming back into the wall behind her. "I am tired of all your trust issues Sakura! You could possibly be putting this village at risk because-"
"My trust issues?" Sakura laughed as anger rose inside her. "Who the fuck are you to judge me?" Sakura glared as Tsunade locked eyes onto her emerald orbs Kakashi jumped inbetween the two women, keeping two feet of space.
"You-"
"You are in no position to judge me, becasue if you do I will judge you back and you dont want that."
"What the fuck are you talking about!?" Tsunade yelled. There was disgust swirling around in Sakura eyes, it angered Tsunade to see Sakura looking at her in such a way.
"Fuck off." Sakura said as she turned to leave, but Tsunade wouldn't stop she grabbed Sakura by the wrist.
"Sakura-"
"You want to poke at the fucking past Tsunade fine! Lets go!" Sakura spun, pushing Tsunade off her arm and back a few feet.
"Tsunade-" Kakashi was drowned out by Sakura.
"The entire reason I am as fucked up as I am is because your a fucking coward!"
"How dare you!"
"How dare I? Are you a fucking moron? Your kicked your sixteen year old student out of the fucking village because you were scared, because you couldn't understand. It doesn't matter how much baggage I have or how many issues you claim for me to have, I will never be a shit leader like you are."
"That's enough!" Kakashi's voice boomed filling every corner of the room. Kakashi looked between the two. "We are the three pillars of this village, if we start to fight and turn on each other then this village will fall." Kakashi looked between the two who were still matching fire laced glares at the unresolved issues that rested between the two shinobi. "We don't have time for this. Onoki is waiting for us to take him home, we have to figure out what we are going to do."
"A nine manned team will escort Onoki back to his village." Sakura said not moving her sight off of Tsunade. "Got a problem with that?"
"Nine people?" Tsunade shook her head. "To many-"
"It is not to many not with who would all be going."
"Who would-you are not going on this mission." Tsunade stated.
"Yes, I am." Sakura stated. "I have to be there to put the seals on the village."
"Your not doing that!"
"Watch me."
"Sakura I am ordering-"
"I'm sorry your what?" Sakura said tilting her head.
"I am the Hokage here not you. You turned down the job."
"I fucking wonder why." Sakura shook her head. "Maybe it was because I just returned from the fucking dead and I was tired."
"That isn't my fault-"
"I don't give a fuck!" Sakura yelled. "I am not going to stand here and bitch with you. I am going on this mission. I don't care what you say, by all means please try and stop me."
"Sakura I-"
"You and I both know even with my leg and back I could still take you down." Sakura challenged.
"You want to bet?"
"Yeah I do." Sakura laughed. "Any time any place."
"How about-"
"No!" Kakashi yelled, stepping in front of Sakura. He was inches from her body, Sakura leaned against his frame already tired from being on her leg for so long. With no sleep last night and after creating the treaty she was feeling overly exhausted. She rested her head against his back.
"Kakashi get out of the-"
"Do you hear yourself?!" Kakashi yelled, "Your about to challenge Sakura to a fight to see who is stronger?! You two have both lost your minds-"
"Kakashi move!"
"I will not."
"I said move!"
"No." Kakashi said feeling Sakura against him. "Tsunade your out of line."
"I am out of line!?"
"Yes."
"How-"
"If you will let me finish I will tell you!" Kakashi rarely raised his voice or loosed his tempter. Seeing a new side of him made Sakura smile under her pain. Even if it was fucked up she liked seeing him riled up. "Sakura has a point here. I know it sounds horrible, I know you want to trust the other villages because they are your friends but Sakura is right. We have to protect ourselves against the world because if push came to shove they will chose themselves every time and you know that. It is no secret that villages send out spies to try and gain an advantage and with everything going on, with the Reapers returning and with Aurelius still out there we have to guard ourselves even more. We don't know if Nye is working alone or if he has a village or an army waiting behind him there is a lot we don't know! Sakura's way is the safest for us to make sure the people who put us in charge are going to be ok if they walk out of their house in the morning!"
"Kakashi." Tsunade was taken back he wasn't on her side. "How could you-"
"I more than anyone in this village don't want her walking a foot outside this village with her leg how it is but we don't have a choice. This chance we have here couldn't be more perfect, we have to take it. Nine people in my eyes are not enough to guard a village leader and an injured Commander but this is what she wants to do and by now we need to start to follow what she says because she was the only one in this room who pulled an entire village together and kept them alive!" Sakura could feel how tense Kakashi was by her placing her hand beside her head. He was always so warm. "We need to cut the bullshit, get the teams ready to go so we can get this mission over with, are we at an agreement yet?" Kakashi watched Tsunade, until she gave out under the weight of his gaze and sighed.
"You cant walk on that leg. You need a new brace, I will go to the hospital and get it and be at your apartment in an hour." Kakashi turned and looked down at Sakura who wore her famous stone face.
"Sakura?" Kakashi asked.
"I will get gather the team and get them ready." With that Sakura turned on her heel and walked out of the room leaving Tsunade and Kakashi alone. Kakashi sighed hoping they would have made up but he guessed he expected that to soon, it would happen on their own terms. Both were stubborn strong headed women. Kakashi turned to leave but was stopped by Tsunade.
"Kakashi."
"What?"
"How could you be on her side?" Tsunade whispered. Through all their time together the two grew close together, into best friends. She thought they held a bond tight like she shared with Sakura before this, was she wrong?
"As much as you may hate it Sakura was in the right here."
"But still..."
"Are you saying I should have went with you even if I thought it wasn't right?"
"I-I am just-"
"Tsunade, I consider you one of my closest friends and for you-"
"Exactly! How would you take her side over mine I-"
"I want her to be my wife one day!" Kakashi snapped, tired off all the stress and fighting between the two closet people in his life. A gasped escaped Tsunade's lips and her eyes went wide at the realization Kakashi and Sakura's relationship. They weren't their high school back and forth self's. Kakashi wanted a life with Sakura, he wanted to make her his wife and build a future with her. Did Sakura want the same? Tsunade was taken out of her thoughts by Kakashi's voice. "How could you stand there and ask me to chose between the two of you?! You know how bad I lost myself when she was taken from me, you know how far gone I was and she pulled me back to my sanity! She is the reason I am still breathing and standing in front of you!"
"Well you did pick sides pretty damn fine!"
"There isn't sides Tsunade, we are a single village every thing we do effects the entire foundation of our home. I did what I thought was right, it just happened it be Sakura's point of view. I am going to be the future Hokage of this village you should be happy that I-"
"I am proud of you and-"'
"Stop cutting me off! I don't understand what is going on with you right now or why you two got into a fight in the first place but we have a mission to do and dealing with drama isn't something I want to do before I have to go protect a village leader and Sakura from anything that could be waiting for us out there."
"Kakashi-"
"No Tsunade. I know it hurts but you messed up and you need to make things right. You and Sakura are similar in many ways, and one of them is you both are to head strong one of you need to be the bigger person and take the first step to figuring your issues out before we leave the village, you never know what could happen out there and it is pretty clear you two still have some things you need to work out." Kakashi said, he then turned and left the room without saying anything else. He wasn't known for being talkative this was probably the most he has talked in a conversation with someone other than Sakura in a while. He sighed feeling a pressure in the back of his head. They gave him a headache. It was now time to go find Sakura and make sure she was ok. Kakashi walked out into the cold kicking himself for letting her wonder off so far alone in this bitter wind.
Team seven was to ship out in the morning to escort Onoki back to his home village. A simple mission with her leg kicked up. It was bothering her, that same pressure from the movie theater was back and kicking around inside her knee. Granted it wasn't as bad but it was still uncomfortable and annoying to deal with while trying to live the every day life. The front door opened up and Kakashi walked in, she watched him physically sigh relaxing because he found her.
"I have been looking for you." He said closing the door and taking his jacket off.
"I have been here." Sakura muttered looking back at the paperwork in front of her.
"You weren't answering your phone."
"Its in the bedroom charging."
"Sakura."
"What?" She asked looking at him. He sighed and walked to the couch to sit beside her.
"You want to talk about it?"
"Nothing to talk about."
"Oh really?" Kakashi smiled as he pulled his mask down. "Nothing at all?"
"Nope."
"You know you were a little in the wrong too." Kakashi said looking back over to her.
"I know."
"You do?"
"I'm not stupid Kakashi." Sakura said putting the blue pen down and turning to face him.
"I know I over stepped, that doesn't change the fact that she doesn't trust anything I do. After all I have done for this village she doesn't trust me."
"I don't think its that."
"No? What then?"
"Uh...well..." Kakashi's mind drew a blank.
"What do you think?" Sakura asked after a second. Kakashi turned from looking at the TV a little surprised she asked him what he thought about it all.
"You shouldn't have challenged her."
"I didnt! She-"
"I know, I was there but she is the Hokage."
"Sure."
"What does that mean?" Kakashi placed his hand on her cheek turning her head to look at him.
"Nothing."
"Sakura...talk to me."
"It's really nothing."
"Its something, I can see it in your face."
"No you cant."
"Yes I can." The two stared at each other, Kakashi not backing down Sakura sighed and leaned back in the couch.
"Everything is repeating itself."
"What do you mean?" Kakashi asked pulling his eye brows together not understanding.
"When the Waterfall village started and Kaguya took over as its leader and I was assigned Commander everything was fine, she had her job then I had mine and little by little she gave me more and more of her work to do and when it came time to make the decisions she would pull rank on me, trying to get me to back down to anything she didnt like."
"And Tsunade is doing that?" Kakashi questioned. Sakura looked down at the pile of paper work on the coffee table.
"When Tsunade had Layton I stepped up and took over all of the work, which I was fine with because she just had a kid. But she has been back for a while now and hasn't really taken any of the work back. And once again when it came time for something to happen she pulled rank on me as if she was the one who has to escort some entitled fucklet half way across the country with a bum knee."
"I see." Kakashi said thinking back the past few weeks. He never really noticed Sakura was working more, despite her injuries her work load hasn't let up.
"Its stupid but-"
"No its not. Your right Tsunade should have helped you, you have been in recovery."
"Do you think she's scared?" Sakura asked.
"Scared?" Tsunade? Scared? Those words didnt go together often.
"I'm not out there anymore." Sakura said
"I know." He said wrapping his fingers in between hers. "I am very thankful your not."
"But that's just it. When I was out there I shielded a lot from you guys. You never knew the full threat of the Reapers, you never had to deal with the rouge groups popping up because I always just took care of it now that I am back inside a village those threats are going to come right up to the gates and Tsunade she...I think she is starting to see the world for how dangerous it really is and I think its making her bottle up again." Instead of responding he pulled her hand up to his lips.
"Are you hungry?" He asked against the softness of her skin.
"No." She whispered feeling tired.
"No? You haven't really eaten today, a lot of events happened. You need to eat then get some rest." He said running his fingers through her hair, tucking it behind her ear. "We have a mission in the morning."
"I have to finish this before I can go to bed." Sakura gave a weak smile. Kakashi turned to see the piles of paper on the coffee table, if he took a close look at it and when he read a few words on the printed sheets he saw this was indeed not her work, but Tsunades.
"No." Kakashi said standing and taking her with him.
"No?" She laughed, "If only it was that easy."
"It is. I just did it."
"I cant-"
"I'm saying you cant. Seeing your blood running down your chin after the treaty was made terrified me." Kakashi leaned closer towards her. Sakura watched as he placed his lips against her, as her eyes closed against his kiss her mind flashed back to inside Tsunade's office. Kakashi stepping in front of her as if he was her protective layer keeping the raging world at bay. Sakura found her hands entwined in his silver gravity defying hair pulling him closer as he pulled away from her lips and onto her neck brushing it lightly, his light touch sent shivers through her nerves making her body trembled under his touch.
Kakashi groaned softly from low in his throat. He wrapped his waist around her trying to be mindful of her back injury but as he gathered her frame against his core he lost all thought process as he backed them up onto the couch refusing to break from her petal lips.
'Knock, knock, knock'
Kakashi ignored the door as he traveled north up Sakura's shirt. Sakura broke the kiss as she turned her head to look at the wooden square.
"Door." She gasped out as Kakashi went to leaving playful marks on her neck.
"No." His voice came out in more of a growl than words as he crawled his way back up to her lips. Kakashi went to grip the rim of his shirt to pull it off but he snapped around seeing the door trying to be opened. He smirked, he locked it. He turned back to the blushing beauty underneath him, he was ready to drive into the title wave she was known for. She was like the ocean's current, sucking him down into an endless vortex and he as happy to jump in.
"Sakura? Kakashi?" Naruto's voices called. Kakashi cursed, praying the kid could take a hint and fuck off. "Hello?!" Naruto banged harder on the door causing Kakashi to sigh as he looked up at the ceiling thinking to himself: Why? He heard Sakura laugh under him, he glanced down to see the blush across her face was starting to fade with a wave goodbye. He groaned has unlike her he was still left with a painful reminder of what could have happened as he lifted himself off of her and went into the bedroom. Sakura watched him walk away feeling just annoyed. It had been a while since they have had any time together. Between Kakashi being with Tsunade most of the day with his training and her job as Commander there wasn't a lot of time. She walked to the door and opened it already feeling tired. Sakura was met with a smiling Naruto. He had to know his little hobby of making sure she couldn't get laid. He wasn't that oblivious to everything right? She watched him walk in like it was the middle of the afternoon and not eleven o'clock at night. Yeah...he had no idea she was the biggest clock block of all time. Sakura turned back to close the door but stopped, seeing Tsunade was also at the door. She said nothing as she stepped aside waiting for her to walk in, which she did.
"Hey Sakura is it ok if Hinata comes over?" Naruto called plopping onto the couch glued to his phone.
"You know I don't care." She said closing the front door. Sakura walked over to the couch and sat down as the days events started to take a toll on her.
"Where is Kakashi?" Tsunade said looking around.
"Bedroom." Sakura answered with a frosted coated words. Tsunade only nodded and walked over to the bedroom giving a light knock before walking in, Sakura heard him greet Tsunade and the two talked in low mutters.
"Hey uh..." Sakura looked over at Naruto. "Are you and granny ok?" Sakura only shrugged as she hear them walking into the living room. Tsunade sat beside Sakura with a bag in her hand. Sakura watched a new brace being pulled into sight. It wasn't more than a foot long. Black in color and looked clean, like it had been just pulled out its packaging.
"What's that granny?" Naruto asked.
"A new brace."
"Well duh." Naruto muttered.
"It should help her walk better."
"Really?"
"If her progress is where it should be than yes." Tsunade said as she took the brace off of Sakuras leg. She was quick and with a touch carelessness she pulled it off. Pain radiated up Sakura's leg but she contained it not giving Tsunade the satisfaction of causing her pain. Kakashi narrowed his eye seeing the pain hidden in behind her penetrating emerald orbs. Sakura leaned against the couch, her arm supporting her head as it rested under her chin. Kakashi stood beside her watching Tsunade. Naruto was waiting for Hinata who was almost to the apartment.
"How's it looking?" Naruto asked pulling his phone away from his face. Tsunade stood from kneeling down.
"Lets see." She said as Sakura felt everyone's eye drift onto her. She gave out a sigh as she stood. She looked around feeling annoyed and pressured as she took her first step on her good leg. Naruto was holding his breath as everyone waited for Sakura to take that first step. She placed her fluffy sock onto the ground and leaned forward. A dulled gridding thud crawled its way up her tight and onto the train of her spine. She didnt collapse from her body weight being forced onto her knee.
"Your standing!" Naruto jumped.
"How does it feel?" Kakashi ignored Naruto. Sakura was facing away from them as she glanced outside at the dead sky. She knew they were all tired of being careful around her, having to watch what they do with her. They wanted this part to be over already, the tedious healing of the body and no one more than Sakura wanted to be over with this already but she couldn't force time into her bones. It was a slow grueling process and she wasn't even at the check point yet. On the better side, they weren't paying much attention to her back which was where her cells seemed to slow down and take a break every few minuets. "Sakura?"
"It's fine." Sakura said waving him off as she turned painting her face to show no emotion. She made her way to the couch and sat down.
"That wasn't-" Kakashi was cut off by the front door opening.
"Hinata!" Naruto jumped as he ran over to her and engulfed her into his arms. "I'm so excited! we haven't been on a mission together in forever!"
"I know!" Hinata blushed as she hugged him back feeling excited for the mission as well. Hinata pulled from Naruto wanting to talk to Sakura but stopped seeing there was tension inside the room. "Tsunade?" She asked seeing Tsunade pulling her jacket on her torso. "Your leaving?"
"Yes." She said as she walked out of the apartment without even so much as a glance towards Sakura. Who just looked away from Hinata's confused face as she picked up her pen and got back to work. An hour passed by, the activity for the night was watching TV and not prepping for the mission. Kakashi had walked off to take a shower knowing Sakura would be ok with Naruto and Hinata on the couch. Hinata looked over at Sakura again, she hasn't said a word since Tsunade left. Naruto tried to pick a conversation but Sakura would let it fall flat and die before much effort was put in it. Naruto sighed feeling tired, almost one in the morning they needed to get to bed.
"Well!" Naruto stretched his arms up. "We are going to head off to bed." He said standing with Hinata.
"Goodnight." Sakura said not lifting her eyes off of the coffee table.
"You should get to bed." Naruto said as he walked to the front door.
"Ill get right on that." Sakura muttered as Hinata and Naruto said goodnight and walked out of the apartment. Finally left alone she looked up as her eyes felt strained and there was a kink in her neck. Finally getting the time to absorb the events of today she stood and took a few steps. After a handful she stopped and leaned against one of the dining room chairs, holding on to it for dear life as she shook her head. This wasn't going to work. No way could she do this tomorrow and appear ok. Glancing at the bedroom which was dark with a light sound of the fan blowing she had a strong desire to give up and curl up in a ball beside Kakashi who was asleep. Sakura shook her head clear and walked to the fridge pulling out a can of coke. "Ok." She breathed out to herself as she sat back on the couch and looked at the remaining work left for her to do. In order to get into bed with Kakashi and get a slim chance of sleep she had to finish this.
The hours passed by her before she could get a grip on them. It took her longer than she had planned to complete the work load. The sun outside was a few steps ahead of her as she got up, her back ached against her weight as she walked into the bedroom. A small smile bloomed on her face seeing Kakashi. She didnt know how long she stood there watching his sleeping face. She was in a swirling mix of emotion, she wanted to say fuck it all and crawl beside him and let the sleep that pounded on her skull claim her. The other part of her wanted to climb on top of him, her hands in his tossed hair and pick up where they left off last night before Naruto and Tsunade broke the mood but once again a little voice in the back of her head nagged her to get to work making her walk past Kakashi and into the bathroom. She knew that if she allowed herself to lay down beside Kakashi there would be no getting up and there was things she had to get done before she left the village.
The chunin exams. The only chance where genin could be promoted to chunin. Where the exams would be held changed every year between the villages and this year to Sakura's luck it was to be held inside the Leaf Village. It was in a few months and to get ready for it was needless to say a bitch. It was a lot of work and Sakura was behind. Normally the Hokage was the one who took charge of the exams but this was one of the things Tsunade never picked up from Sakura after returning from having Layton. So Sakura was scrambling to get things in order. Running her hands through her hair she leaned back in her chair inside her office she was alone and it was peaceful. By now Kakashi was up, probably ready for the mission and wondering where she was. Sakura rested her head against the head rest of her chair as she gazed outside. They should be at the gates by now, she should be at the gates by now but here she sat to tired to move as her knee throbbed begging her not to walk on her leg. She could hear her phone buzzing. She turned away from the sunrise and looked at the screen. Seven missed calls. A mix between Naruto, Hinata and Kakashi. They were at the gates wondering where she was and she could only image what Onoki was saying about the sloppy leaf village's performance. She shook her head already feeling the headache starting to form as she pulled herself up and grabbed her packed and ready to go bag.
"Where is your Commander!?" Sakura heard Onoki's voice around the corner. "She is a half hour late! This is completely-"
"Onoki." Sakura called walking to view. Kakashi turned taking Sakura in. His eye widened seeing her dressed in her black ops gear, her hair up ties behind her with her blade resting on her back. It has been a while since he has seen her ready for battle. Taking her image in Kakashi began to feel a tingle in his chest. Excitement ran through him as he watched her walk up to the group.
"Sakura!" Hinata waved. Sakura looked at the large group, she didnt like taking such a large group out but she had too. She didnt have a choice the window of opportunity she had was small and closing fast.
"Where have you been?" Naruto asked. "Even Kakashi was here on time. Kakashi Sakura."
"Are you ok?" TenTen asked seeing Sakura's locked jaw.
"Peachy." Sakura muttered walking past the group. Taking a quick glance Sakura didnt see Tsunade or Annistyn here to wave them off. They were probably asleep.
"Are we going to leave anytime soon?" Onoki walked over to Sakura. "Or did I get woken up so early just to stand around all day-" Sakura turned and pushed Onoki forward. He stumbled back a little, mostly from shock that someone would place a hand on him.
"Go." Was all Sakura said as she walked passed him and the group and made her way out of the village. Guy turned to Kakashi who could only shrug, he had no idea what was going on with Sakura. He thought maybe the bad mood steamed from the fight with Tsunade. With tension and a late start in the air Team seven was off! Followed by Hinata, TenTen, Lee, Neji, Guy and Onoki was in the middle off all the shinobi feeling like the king. Naruto was pumped, despite Sakura's foul mood he tried to get everyone pumped up for the journey a head.
To get from the Leaf Village to the Stone it would take a total of six days. Sakura planned this mission for a week. It was just getting to the Stone Village that was the issue on hand. Once there Sakura can use her seals to get everyone back home quickly. The plan was to return home before new years eve. With Onoki in hand running to make better time wasn't an option unless one of the guys picked him and his two goons up which Sakura didnt see anyone doing much less Onoki receiving a piggy back ride willingly. She rolled her eyes at her own thoughts, she and Kakashi walked a head of the group taking each step in sync. It wasn't like running was much of an option for her anyway. With each step Sakura took more and more pieces of ember built up along the walls of her legs. It wasn't a matter of if, it was a matter of when her leg failed and gave out. She just hopped they would make it back to the leaf village before that happened.
To be continued...
(( I have published a new book, Dead End it is on wattpad. All the zombie goodness you could ever want also, next chapter is outside the leaf village haven't done that in forever! It will be up in a few days! Its gonna be great! ))