~ Authors Note at the end this time ~

Enjoy loves

Chapter 15

Third POV

Before heading out, Kakashi lays Sakura at his feet so he can write a short scroll for the Hokage.

We have her and are heading back. There are two additions coming with us, a snake and a bird. Also, the blood has been spilled and the problem has arisen.

~Dog

He summons a hawk and attaches the small scroll to its leg. With nothing more than a swish of its wings it left, heading back to Konoha as quickly as possible. It would make it before their team did, even if it's only by a few hours it'll at least inform Hiruzen as to what is heading his way.

Scooping Sakura up gently into his arms, he looks at her and lets worry consume him for a moment. Then he swallows it and turns to his new party and says, "Head out. Haku and Zabuza, you both take up the rear and watch our prisoners."

That was a number of hours ago, and now he can sense the unease throughout the group of ninjas. Most surprising for Kakashi is Hinata's pure anger radiating off of her person. It seems to be the thing pushing her through these hours of running.

Kakashi is in the lead, as per usual, with the unconscious Sakura lying limp in his arms. His grip tightens on her every time he hears a small whimper escape her mouth and his protective side slips out. All he wants to do is get back to the village to give her to Tsunade and know what's wrong with her.

How could I let my student end up like this?

"Boss," Pakkun softly says, jumping next to his master, "you have to relax or you're going to leave bruises on her arms."

Looking down, the man slowly unclenches his fingers from her arms. He sighs to himself and nods at the pup saying, "Thank you."

Being with Kakashi for a long time, Pakkun can always feel what his master, and friend, is feeling. The dog understands why he feels so upset, he likes the kid too, but sometimes his master forgets how strong he can be unconsciously.

A little behind Kakashi, Hinata overhears the quiet conversation. She's been as close as humanly possible to Sakura ever since they found her and she refuses to leave her alone until she's been properly looked over. Unlike their trip towards her friend, she was not constantly checking the areas ahead of them. The objective is to get home as soon as humanly possible, that means everyone is on high alert and they avoid people as much as possible. Also, Hinata doesn't want to waste chakra.

Following behind her, much to her distaste are their 'prisoners'.

Mori and Orochimaru have chakra cuffs around their wrists, but they have had no issue keeping up with the group.

Behind them are Zabuza and Haku, making sure they have the rear safe and it gives them the vantage point to watch the men in front. Neither suspected that the guys would try to bolt, especially because they had become prisoners willingly, but they wouldn't be too careful.

The trip is silent outside of the soft 'thunks' as each person jumps to another branch. The air feels heavy but Hinata can't help but think it's the tension around them making it that way.

It seems as though days have passed, but after around nine hours of running, Kakashi finally signals for the group to stop. It's not long before this decision is met with resistance.

"Why have we stopped?" Mori asks, barely out of breath.

Most of the group is doing okay, the worse for wear one is Hinata but that is to be expected.

"My sister needs to get-"

"You of all people do not know what your sister needs," Kakashi hisses.

He can't help it. Mori is supposed to be dead. Kakashi had been to his funeral, he felt his loss just as hard as his teammate's deaths all those years ago. How could he be standing here? What the hell had happened?

Mori doesn't back down.

"Of all people I am the one who knows what she needs," he hisses back, "I know exactly what she's going through right now. The pain she feels, the darkness she's submerged in, the fact that she can't even tell what's happening because her senses have shut down. My sister is undergoing the worst pain imaginable right now and once she wakes up she is going to be confused and pissed."

As he talks Hinata can feel her anger crawling up her being, warming her as it goes.

Kakashi takes a second to think before he speaks, calmer this time, "You might know what she's going through, but at this very moment you have no right to call yourself her brother. You left her. You've lied to her all this time."

Hinata can feel her resolve slipping; she wants to scream at him too.

The anguish that crosses Mori's features is almost enough to make Kakashi feel bad. Almost.

Below the belt, he knew, but he meant it. Kakashi has seen first-hand how broken up about his death she's been. He's also overheard her talking to the stone…the anguish and longing in her voice is enough to make anyone protective of her.

"That's not fair!" Mori yells with pain in his voice, "It wasn't my choice! You can't-"

At her breaking point Hinata yells, "You chose to leave her and it broke her! You have no right to make it seem like you care when you left her all alone!"

Everyone looks at her and in her anger she doesn't feel nervous as she would normally. Hinata is pissed at the entire situation, and her anger is kindled by her hurt too.

Mori can feel his heart sink a little as he looks at her lavender eyes clouded in hurt, glaring at him. He knew this wasn't going to be easy, but he wasn't ready for the pain to rip through him every time someone yelled at him.

"Hina, you know I wouldn't-" he started, pleading.

Hinata glares harder at him and spits, "Don't you dare start with me Mori! You have no right –"

"That'sss enough," Orochimaru finally intervenes.

The snake lays a hand on his nephews shoulder, a little awkwardly because of the cuffs. They make eye contact and Orochimaru breaks away first, turning to Kakashi and Hinata.

"Thisss isss a matter for the Hokage to deal with," he sounds diplomatic at this point, "as for my niece…you are not wrong Kakassshi. But thisss isss sssomething we will deal with in due time. And asss for you," he looks into the angry lavender eyes, "you need to lisssten to the whole ssstory before making jugdementsss. We do need to get back asss sssoon asss posssssible."

I never thought I would see the day that Orochimaru was the voice of reason.

Bringing his right hand to his eyes, Kakashi takes a moment and rubs his eyes. He takes a deep breath and reals his emotions back in. Taking a quick assessment of his companions chakra's he rummages in his leg pouch and pulls a soldier pill out.

Striding over to Hinata he hands her the little black pill.

"Take this, it'll help."

Hinata nods her thanks and crunches down on the pill harshly, her anger still very present, and feels her chakra react almost instantly.

Looking over his group one more time Kakashi says, "We have half a trip to go. We will not make any more stops. Keep up and we'll figure this out once we're safely back in the village."

Seeing them all nod they took off into the trees, racing home in the fading fragments of light in a tense silence.

By the time the team makes it to the village, the sun is starting to creep up. Without being fully up yet, the group looks like silhouettes rushing towards the gate. The sky is turning a light, baby blue to the east, with the rest of the sky still littered with stars and a deep indigo color. It's beautiful to look at, but the group is only focused on the deep green gates looming in front of them.

Upon reaching them, Kakashi already feels the looks being thrown their way.

As their group comes to the gates Izumo and Kotetsu's eyes widen, staring at the men in tow. It's well known who Orochimaru is, but the fact that the other was one of their own, one who was supposedly KIA, takes them by surprise.

Kakashi takes the chance to say something before the two make a big deal out of their current situation.

"We have to see the Hokage immediately and he will excuse us from not checking in right away."

Without waiting for a reply Kakashi motions his team forward and then they run towards the Hokage's tower.

I need to get Sakura to Tsunade somehow.

His eyebrows pull together as he thinks, considering taking a quick detour to the hospital and meeting them at the tower. Being this early in the morning the foot traffic and roof traffic is relatively low, so getting there and back is easy for him.

His musings make him space out a little but Hinata lying a hand on his arm brings him back. Looking over at her face he can see her Byakugan activated, and he can see her perspiration dripping down her face.

"Tsunade-sama… is currently in the Hokage's tower… she can take Sakura-chan… when we get there," she pants out.

He let go of a breath he didn't realize he was keeping inside. This would make their situation a little easier.

It wasn't long until they reached the tower and once they made it inside they climbed the stairs up to the main room. Kakashi takes a second to knock and once the go ahead is given he brings his group into the room.

They're greeted with the sight of the Third, Tsunade, and Shizune holding Ton-ton. Sitting in front of him on the desk is the scroll Kakashi had sent him earlier. Being so early, Hiruzen doesn't have his hat and robe on, leaving him in a long sleeve black shirt and black standard pants. The small group wasn't expecting him to be dressed as such, used to seeing him in robes and his hat.

The three occupants seemed to be talking prior to the group's entrance, but once the two women lay their eyes on Sakura, they're by Kakashi's side within seconds.

"What happened Hatake?" Tsunade hisses.

She moves to pick Sakura up but Kakashi tightens his hold on her and calmly responds, "I have to ask the Hokage if you are allowed to know."

Bewilderment flashes in her eyes, seeming to think this is childish, and she whips her head around to the Third and says, "What the hell is he talking about."

The Third looks up at them and pauses briefly.

Hiruzen takes note of the two men cuffed behind Kakashi and Hinata, but he chooses to look at his granddaughter and says, "There are some things about Sakura that you have not been informed of. However, seeing as you are both her teachers it is only fair that you be brought up to speed on what is happening to her."

He stands up and moves towards the group. Before doing anything else, he makes a few hand seals and relaxes slightly once the silencing jutsu takes effect.

The Third looks over to the prisoners and notices their restraints. Looking to Kakashi he says sternly, "Please release these two from their restraints."

Tsunade and Shizune seem to realize then that the team had not come in alone. Shizune's eyes widen and she goes to reach for Tsunade's hand. Before she can get there, Tsunade makes it to her old teammate and grabs his throat.

"Tsssunade, happy as ever I sssee," Orochimaru chokes out, a small smile on his lips.

Tsunade's eyes narrow, looking her old teammate in the eyes. She can feel her anger rising and she yells, "Why the hell are you here?" Looking to her right her breath catches in her throat and she whispers, "How?"

"Tsunade!" Hiruzen barks, surprising everyone in the room, even Orochimaru.

She turns towards him, her hand still holding the snake man by the neck. Tsunade feels her heart contracting in pain though, seeing Mori standing there very much alive and with the other Sanin.

The Third takes a moment to collect himself before continuing in a normal level, "You need to let him go. He is part of the reason this room is sealed and I will be damned if I let you kill him before we explain to you why he needs to be alive and what is happening to Sakura. You don't want anything to happen to your apprentice correct? The way to get answers is to let him go and to listen."

I knew it, ssshe hasss been ssstudying with her.

A few tense moments go by, and no one dares to blink or breathe. Kakashi specifically is waiting for Tsunade to back off so he can finally give her Sakura so she can look her over.

A whimper breaks the silence and all eyes snap to the pinket in the silver haired ninjas grasp. He tightens his hold on her and pulls her closer to his chest, worry clenching his heart. He remembers what the Hokage told him about her ability but he was never given the full run down. Hiruzen told him that once she awoken it they would finally finish that talk, that time is now.

Tsunade glares at the snake and drops him, hurrying over to her apprentice. This time, Kakashi gently hands Sakura over and Shizune is the one who notices the way Kakashi seems to be worrying over his student. Before, she noticed the way he was holding onto her and looking down at her like she was going to break.

That poor man has been through so much. He probably can't bear the thought of losing another person.

Shizune walks over to Tsunade as she holds their apprentice and they both sit on the floor. Hinata follows shortly after, not wanting to leave her friends side. Tsunade gently takes her student and puts her pink head in her lap. She starts pumping green chakra into her, Shizune takes to checking over Sakura's person, and without looking up Tsunade grunts, "If you want to tell me, I would suggest doing it now while my hands are tied up."

Zabuza and Haku each stifle a laugh at the blond woman, knowing it would be inappropriate to do such a thing at this time. They each decide that in order to listen to this they have to sit down, so they move from their positions and go over to the couch on the left wall.

Moving over to the prisoners Kakashi walks over to them and puts a small amount of chakra into his hands. Laying one on each set of cuffs, he pours that collected chakra into them and the blue restraints fall away into nothing.

With the three women on the floor and the guys on the couch, Kakashi stays standing as well as Oro and Mori now free, Hiruzen feels a little better. He sighs and goes back towards his desk, but chooses to lean on the front of it instead of sit behind it.

Now that everyone is settled, Hiruzen decides to start.

"What I am about to tell you all is classified and must not leave this room. The only people who know what I am about to tell you are Mebuki and Kizashi Haruno, me, and the council. You all," he meets every person's eyes slowly, "will be clued into something that even Sakura herself is not aware of yet. Due to this, you will be tasked with making sure she stays safe after this. You will also be in charge of making sure she is physically and mentally stable, this is crucial."

Hiruzen takes a moment to gauge their reactions. He can see his granddaughters eyebrows pull together as she pours over her student, showing her concern. Shizune looks worried but together. Hinata's anger hasn't fully dissipated but her want to know what's going on is winning over it. The two prisoners look neutral, but the Third can see the worry shining in their eyes. He skips to Haku and Zabuza, not fooled by their seemingly aloof attitude because of the way they are leaning forward, hanging onto his words. Finally, he looks to Kakashi and can see the silver haired man's lone eye filled with concern and curiosity.

Hiruzen looks down, grabs the pipe sitting on his desk, and takes a long drag.

This is going to be a long morning.

A/N

Hello my loves! I'm sure you're just as surprised about the update as I am lmao On a real note, I've been very proactive about writing lately and I hope it keeps up =) I actually need your help with this next part!

Do you want to see the next chapter be about what the Haruno Kekkei Genkai is? The risks, what it means, what it can lead to, etc?

OR

Do you want me to skip it? It would come back in increments, when things happen or certain characters think about it, etc.

I have a course of action for both of these but I would love your inputs!

Please let me know in the comments - ALSO thank you to everyone who has favorited/followed/left a comment/review! I seriously appreciate it and love you all =)