Chapter Twenty-Five

The Reckoning

It took Sakura a while to locate Kakashi's tent in the dark. Most of the warriors had settled in for the evening after a guard unit had been dispatched for night patrol. The woods were quiet save for the melancholy calls of distant owls and night birds. Sakura wove through the rows of tents until she came upon one a little bigger than the others, set apart near the trees to mark his status. She pushed back the canvas flap and entered without a sound.

There was a single cot pushed off to the side of the tent while bear and sheep skin rugs covered the ground. A lantern hung from the eaves, pushing out a warm amber light that flickered against the surroundings. Kakashi stood with his back to her; his shirt and mask lay abandoned on the wooden table as he splashed water from a ceramic basin over his face. Sakura bit the corner of her lip, watching as shadow and light played over the lean musculature of his back. She wanted to run her fingers down the hollow of his spine – to feel the warmth of his body with hers.

When Kakashi turned to face her, water droplets were running down the column of his throat and onto his chest. Her eyes followed their path, dropping lower to his abdomen, and lower still; to the sharp lines at his hips. She loved the look of his body and absently spread her fingers over her stomach in attempt to settle the winged beats that were stirring in her belly.

"We could die tomorrow," Sakura said near breathlessly.

"Then let us live tonight," he answered. Kakashi stepped towards her, his fingers working on the buckles at the side of her armor vest. He took his time, sliding the leather vest over her head and letting it drop to the ground. He pulled the sleeve of her tunic over her shoulder, bringing his mouth down to the curve of her neck as his other hand moved below her hem to touch her waist.

Sakura closed her eyes at his touch. His lips on her neck pulled notes of desire within her core. The bridge of Kakashi's nose slipped below her jaw as he pressed a tender kiss to her carotid. Her pulse leapt and her breath caught. She reached out to tangle her fingers in his hair. Kakashi lifted her tunic, bearing her torso and breasts for his eyes alone. He gently brushed his hands over her scars before he caught her at the elbow and pushed his knee into her leg to make her spin around. Sakura gasped at the abrupt maneuver; a fighting tactic he had used with her many times in training. It awoke a different desire within her blood, lighting her veins on fire.

Kakashi pulled her spine against his chest, kicking the instep of her foot so that her legs were spread into a mock fighting stance. He held her elbow down at her side while his right hand cupped her breast; his thumb brushing over the bud of her nipple. Her lips parted as she sucked in air and felt her heart thudding against her ribs. His fingertips slid below her sternum, tracing a path to her belly until dipping below the hem of her leggings.

Kakashi's breath was warm on her neck; his fingers stroking the most intimate spot of her body in a slow, circular motion. Sakura gasped, understanding the reasoning behind kicking her leg out like he did. His touch was warm and gentle. She felt herself building, but she wanted the sensation to last longer. She spun to face him, knocking his hand free as she reached for his shoulders and pulled his mouth to hers. She kissed him deeply, sliding her tongue into his mouth until she felt his moan.

She pushed him towards the cot, lowering him down so that she could remove his boots. Her fingers trembled on the buckles, but she managed to slide them off before sitting on the bear skin rug to remove her own.

"Let me," Kakashi rasped. He knelt before her, removing her boots and leggings; holding her calf as he pressed kisses up her shin and thigh. Gently, Kakashi laid her back against the soft fur and Sakura felt it tickle her shoulders. Kakashi traced the contour of Sakura's jaw with his index finger, pausing when he reached her chin. He bent to kiss her tenderly, absorbing the warmth of her mouth as it melded with his. Kakashi's hand slipped into her hair, his fingers disappearing between the platelets of her braid.

Sakura reached up, covering his wrist with her palm. "If I die tomorrow," Sakura said, her voice low, "I want you to know that finding you has awoken a part of me I didn't know existed… I–" she broke off, pressing her lips together as she looked up into the wide irises of his dark eyes. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but tender words were foreign to a girl who spoke with weapons.

"I love you, Sakura." Kakashi's fingertips cradled her chin. "If we die tomorrow, you should know that."

Sakura's breath caught in her lungs as her chest swelled and tightened. She thought a confession of love would bring her joy, but she somehow felt more vulnerable now than she had ever felt in her whole life. She was glad his arms were around her – glad that she could feel the warmth of his skin, because for a moment she had to wonder if he was even real. Was it possible that her heart was breaking? Was love supposed to hurt this much? Yes, she thought… because she knew she would die for him. "I love you, too," she breathed.

Kakashi kissed her again and made love to her as though he would never get another chance. It was slow and steady; a passionate, unbridled burning fire that consumed them both. Their hands met, sharing the current of electricity that circulated between them. Their bodies aligned as one: giving, sharing, and taking. Whatever burned between them was stronger than the power of the gods. Kakashi was not a man of long-winded words, so he vowed to show Sakura just how much she meant to him for as long as the gods let him live.

After, when they were both spent and lying naked in each other's arms, Kakashi pressed his lips to Sakura's brow. "When this is over, will you go back to Kumoga?"

Sakura swept her fingertips up his arms, pausing to touch a scar that cut across his inner elbow. "Would you come with me?"

Kakashi had not thought of that. He had rather hoped Sakura would return to Konoha with him as he was still the acting Hersir of the Black Army. His livelihood was in his warrior blood. He did not know how to be anything else – but for her, he thought he could try. "If you asked it of me."

Sakura smiled to herself; her head tucked beneath his chin. "I would not ask it," she told him. "I will return to Konoha with you," she said, "if you want me to."

Kakashi pressed his lips to her cheekbone. "I want you to," he told her earnestly.

She buried her face in his neck and closed her eyes. "Then I am yours."

~oOo~

They woke to the sounds of thunder and rain drumming against the tent. Sakura inhaled slowly, feeling the weight of Kakashi's arms across her ribs. When she shifted to look at him, he was staring off in the distance, absently sliding his palm down her arm. "Is it dawn?" she asked.

"Nearly," Kakashi answered.

"Of course it would be raining."

"The gods are weeping for us." Kakashi grinned impishly.

"I would not mock them if I were you," she warned. Sakura pulled herself from his warmth and strode to the water basin on the back table. The oil was burning low in the lamp, but the flame was still bright enough to see. She washed her face and rubbed a damp towel over her body; aware the Kakashi was staring from the bearskin rugs.

"You are like the sun," he told her, propping himself up on his elbow. "A fierce and beautiful thing to behold."

"And you are like the moon." She gifted him with a soft smile, picking up her clothing that was scattered across the tent floor. She dressed, and Kakashi rose to help her into her armor, securing the weapons she would keep on her for battle. The rain and thunder beat against the tent like the first stirrings of war drums, and the sound roused a sense of strength and power within in them both. The call was so achingly familiar, igniting what it meant to be a warrior within their blood.

Sakura helped Kakashi into his armor vest. The black leather was oiled and polished, smelling sweetly of dark cherry and woodsmoke. She fastened the buckles at his sides, running her fingertips over the metal clasps to make sure they were secure. Kakashi secured his headband with the Black Army insignia over his blind eye, tying the knot behind his head. He reached for his mask, but Sakura caught his wrist as a brief swell of panic rose and choked the base of her throat. She met his steady gaze, her eyebrows contorting over her large green eyes.

Sakura was not afraid of battle, nor did she fear death… But she feared losing him.

"I know what you will say," Kakashi said; his timbre low and steely. He flipped Sakura's hand, threading his fingers with hers. "I do not believe the gods brought us together just to tear us apart, Sakura. I will not lose you today."

She felt his words take root in her bones. He grasped her face, bending to press a kiss to her lips that burned with the heat of his skin and left her wanting more. Kakashi stroked the sharp contour of Sakura's cheekbone, smearing the black kohl that ran down her face with his thumb. He pulled his mask in place and took her by the hand: ready for battle.

~oOo~

Sai was perched on top of a boulder with his legs crossed; a milky-blue sheen covered both his eyes. He was borrowing the consciousness of his flacon, using its stealth to locate their enemy in the storm. Rain droplets ran down his face, but Sai did not budge. The Uchiha brothers, Naruto, Samui, Omoi, and Sakura and Kakashi stood waiting. The elite of the Black Army and Kumoga alike, representing the unfamiliar gray area of their clans' alliance.

Minutes passed before Sai opened his eyes. "They do not know we are here," Sai said. "On the other side of the river-crossing there is a valley within the woods. Their camp is scattered. I saw a patrol unit to the east watching the river. They will expect us from that direction."

"We'll cross to the west," Itachi said, "where the mountain can shield us."

The maps in Tsunade's war tent burned into the backs of Sakura's eyelids from the night before. She knew they would be protected by the mountain, but once they crossed the river they would be in enemy territory. It would add an extra hour to their trek, and by that time, all their enemies would be awakened. "No," she said, rolling her hand into a ball. "Using the mountain will take too much time. We have an advantage now if they don't know we're here. We should strike now."

"Sakura is right," Naruto said. "How many did you see patrolling?" he asked Sai.

"At least a dozen," Sai answered.

"I seem to recall you being good with a bow," Kakashi said and Sai snickered. "We can take out the patrol unit and sneak into the campsite before they've awakened."

"Attack them while they lay sleeping," Sasuke added. "It's a good plan."

"Then it's time," Sai said, nodding at Sakura. "You know what you have to do."

Sakura lifted her chin, swallowing over the lump of adrenaline and anxiety that had lodged in her throat. She straightened her shoulders, walking the short distance through the woods to meet Tsunade and the other leaders she had appointed to the factions of warriors. Shikamaru was there, nodding a greeting at her when she approached with Kakashi at her side.

"Sai found the enemy," Sakura informed the Hokage. "They don't know we're here so we still have an advantage." She explained the plan of attack and the Hokage nodded.

"Shikamaru will fall in behind you with his group of warriors after the patrol unit has been taken down. I'll lead mine to the west, staying in the shadow of the mountain like we decided last evening. Draw the enemy towards the river and we will come in from behind," Tsunade told her. "May the gods protect you." Tsunade clasped Sakura's arm and squeezed with a surprising strength. Sakura returned the Hokage's embrace and then she and Kakashi set off towards the tree line – where the Kumoga warriors were waiting with a blend of the Black Army elites.

The faces of the Black Army looked fierce and determined. There were no shadows of fear hiding in the contours of their faces. They had followed Kakashi into battle numerous times before and they trusted him to lead. Sakura could not say the same of her warrior brethren. Though she was ranked high within the lines, Sakura had never led an entire army. They had always looked to Sai and Danzo, and Danzo had betrayed them… Of course they were right to be uneasy.

But she had gotten them this far, hadn't she?

She'd survived imprisonment and no shortages of near-death experiences. She convinced the Raikage to give Konoha another chance to form an alliance. She'd trusted her gut instinct about the Hokage – knowing deep within her heart that Tsunade only wanted to help restore the alliance and show Sakura her true lineage. She wanted Sakura to believe in herself – to show her that there was another way, and that she had always had the strength within herself to prove it to the whole world.

Kakashi's palm rolled over her shoulder, pulling her from her inner thoughts. "You are a natural born leader, Sakura. Speak from your heart and these warriors will follow you to the ends of the earth." He brought her hand to his masked mouth and pressed his lips to her fingers. "I would follow you to the ends of the earth."

Sakura smiled. She borrowed the faith he had in her and used it to face the army of men and women before her.

Rain trickled down from the heavens, cold and soft. Sakura climbed atop a boulder and straightened her shoulders as she looked out at the rain-soaked warriors. She steeled herself, heart beating like wild flames, burning and brimming with courage for what she believed in. "Shimura Danzo stole me from my father's house when I was an infant. He brought me to Kumoga with lies and pleas to the Raikage who gave him hot food and a place in his lands." Sakura paused, surprised by the strength in her own voice as she spoke. "We all believed his lies, drank from his cup that we believed to be filled with knowledge and nourishment… But all Danzo has ever done was poison us. He used each and every one of us to exact his revenge on Konoha for kicking him out of the Black Army nearly twenty years ago. He took more than half our brethren warriors and he believes that in doing so, he has destroyed Kumoga…"

Sakura's green-eyed gaze swept across the woods and the warriors that were drawn to her words like moths to the flame. "But Danzo did not destroy Kumoga…" she told them earnestly. "Though few, you are standing here before me with beating hearts and blood flowing through your veins; the very power and heart of Kumoga lives within each of you. The gods have given us a chance to right the wrong that Danzo has done; to take back what is rightfully ours and show the world that Kumoga does not bend to the will of manipulation and schemes of a poisonous man like Danzo. We are here to show the world what it means to be true warriors. We are here to show the world that we are brave…"

Sakura stepped down from her boulder and approached the front line of the warriors, both blended with Kumoga and Konoha alike. "Long has been the fighting between our two clans," she spoke softly, "but long have we both been wronged by Danzo. For he has played us against one another to his advantage. I grew up hating Konoha only to learn that I was born one of them… Things are not so black and white as we once believed. The divide only serves to weaken us. Let this be the start of our healing… Let us make right the wrongs together, and show the gods that we are bigger than our transgressions. You need not forget that you are Kumoga," she said as she faced Samui, and then turned to the Uchiha brothers and said, "and you need not forget that you are Konoha. But together," she said, "together we are stronger."

"Aye," Naruto said, his voice roaring above the crowd. "Together we are one."

"Together we are one," Sakura agreed.

"Together!" Samui threw up her sword, echoing the phrase until it rang out as clear as bells within the ranks of warriors behind them. The mantra drummed through the lines, vibrating through Sakura's very own chest as she looked up at Kakashi beside her and smiled.

"So raise your weapons, and let us fight for a new way of life," Sakura called above the crowd. "For we are the thing that Danzo should fear most. We are the Reckoning!"

O
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Oof, I'm sorry this chapter took a little while to get out. Things have picked up substantially in life and I've been struggling to find the time to write. We're getting there though, and I promise I won't be giving up.

Thanks for your continued support. Hearing from you guys always makes my day.

Happy Reading,
~Sparrow