AN Hellooooo! Love how much I pissed some of you off with the last couple of chapters lolol. Thanks to Tarani Bosatsu, Agentcaroline, Nymiir, W, Team Miriku, Kagomelove2, and Nellyqt. I loved reading all of your feedback. It means a lot that I could elicit powerful emotional responses to my evil writing. Please R&R, and excuse my mistakes unless they're too disgusting. Xoxo! The album from this song is fucking mint, so check Michelle Zauner. She sings my heart's songs all the time.

Japanese Breakfast - Be Sweet

So come and get your woman

Pacify her rage

Take the time to undo your lies

Make it up once more with feeling

XIV.

Kakashi left his rooms with a heavy feeling in his stomach. He hadn't lied necessarily, but he definitely hadn't told the complete truth. Nobunaga had every intention of killing Sakura in a very public way very soon. He hadn't actually thought she was going to keep Sakura alive for any longer than that. But even he knew that now wasn't the right time, tensions weren't high enough. There wasn't enough at stake yet.

It had taken him hours to convince Nobunaga to remove the listening seal on Kakashi's person, and those hours replayed constantly in the back of his mind while the real world continued moving forward. Kakashi hadn't been a proud man in a very long time, pride was not a good thing for a shinobi to be, But treating Sakura like shit was getting to him. She was already going through a lot, she didn't need the only person she felt like she could trust treating her horribly.

Unfortunately, that meant that Kakashi had to come up with some serious valuable information to provide to Nobunaga. He had lied, told her that Sakura could tell when someone wore a listening charm and that she would never be honest about anything until she knew it was removed. That had made his master furious. To think that some slip of a girl in her twenties would have the gall to refuse to help somebody who was obviously above her.

He arrived at Nobunaga's chambers noiselessly, the only sound accompanying him were the soft footfalls of the night shift shinobi trailing behind him. He stood outside for what he figured everyone would assume to be a suspicious amount of time, but the dread building up inside him was twisting uncomfortably. Nobunaga was cold, cruel, and powerful, but Kakashi knew that if it came down to it, he could kill her quickly in a fair fight. She wasn't stupid enough to give him the opportunity.

With a heavy, exhausted sigh, he pushed open the door and felt the tingling sensation of the wards activating as he went inside, rendering any jutsu he might have useless.

She was waiting for him, sitting in a large, plush chair, a horrible smile on her otherwise beautiful face. "I hear the endeavor was successful?"

He dropped to one knee, focusing his eyes on his tightened fist on the ground. "Hai, Nobu-sama."

"Once the procedure is complete, we're relocating to Iwa. I've received word from a ninja about some possible… artificial soldiers. He's willing to part with them, to aid in our efforts against the Hidden Villages."

Kakashi frowned, but the action was hidden by his hair. This was unexpected to say the least. "And what is his price for such a gift, if I may ask, Nobu-sama."

There was a smile in her voice. "You may, Kakashi-kun. I'm giving him all the notes on the experiments that led to the successful creation of little Jun. Now rise and let's talk face to face."

He was just barely able to contain his resentment to the way she said creation. As though dozens of lives, including his own, hadn't been sacrificed to make her existence possible.

Having adequately schooled his expression, Kakashi stood and plastered on a friendly, interested face, or at least a passable version of one. "That hardly seems like a fair trade."

"Clever as always, I see. Although Jun is the only child who survived that particular act, we've had a few others born of famous bloodlines."

The floor felt like jello beneath his feet. More children? Where were they? How was he, only now after years of service, hearing about this? He didn't allow the shock to take residence on his face. "And this is pertinent because…?"

"Because I'm going to give him some of the children so that he may use their DNA to create a more diverse group of super-soldier."

He mulled the plans over in his brain, trying to remove his feelings from the equation. "That's a brilliant idea, Nobu-sama. May I ask why you didn't involve me in the process?"

She sighed, almost wistfully. "Because you have the tendency to be too soft. Jun made sure of that."

"Then why ever allow me the opportunity to get close to her?"

"Because that softness makes you easier to manipulate."

This time he couldn't stop his mouth from forming a hard, straight line, but his mask kept it hidden. "I see, well it was a commendable effort on your part."

She laughed wholeheartedly, her silver curls slipping from their loose binding. "You're so cute when you're angry. Now, did you get any information out of that pink-haired brat? I hope you know that removing that timed listening charm was a sign of trust and I expect results."

Kakashi wasn't expecting Nobunaga to demand answers so immediately and his mind worked overtime trying to find an appropriate lie. "She says that the Hokage has been developing a weapon, much like your jutsu wards, but on a large scale. He's been training ninja in fūinjutsu in order to accomplish it." The lie came out so smoothly, that even Kakashi himself believed it for a moment.

Nobunaga snarled, which twisted her already severe face into something truly monstrous. "He will have a hard time with that seeing as I've collected most, if not all, of the remaining seal masters. I'll gather them and focus on how we can counteract that."

Kakashi let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding, thankful not for the first time for his quick mind. This would mean that resources would be split, weakening them. "When do you plan on… taking care of the leaf-nin?"

Nobunaga tapped her lip in thought, eyes glazed with concentration. "I want it to be special, important rather. And public. I had a few of my people on the inside fill in the details about her since you were so unwilling to provide that much information."

Kakashi forced a laugh. He hadn't known there were any spies remaining in Konoha. He was sure they had all been snuffed out. "Oh? And what did you uncover?"

⁰She shot him a venomous, horrible look. "Now, I know that you were protecting her while she mercilessly hunted you. I was able to overlook that because she was your student and I understand how important bonds are to you idealistic leaf-nin. I now know that the kyuubi was your student, as well as his angel of death Uchiha Sasuke. You failed to mention that bit, and failed to give me a broader understanding of the dynamic between the three of them. But what I find to be the most interesting tidbit is that you failed to disclose that Haruno Sakura was your lover, which I will say was rather tough to uncover. And now that I do know that, agreeing to remove the listening charm feels a bit like a slap in the face, wouldn't you agree, Kakashi?"

He felt the blood leave his face, he searched for the right words, and when none came, she continued speaking.

"Now, if I find out that your jutsu wards were a lie… well maybe you aren't the shinobi I thought you were. Your talent and skill wouldn't outweigh the liability you are."

Kakashi fell to his knees, hands slamming on the ground before he pressed his forehead to the cool, oak floors. "Please forgive me, Nobu-sama. It was not my intention to mislead you. I simply thought you would find me less trustworthy if you knew how well connected I was with them in the past."

"I hope that is true, Kakashi-kun, for your sake and for Jun's sake. Imagine her life without a devoted father to protect her."

"It is the truth," he insisted with an earnesty he didn't possess. He briefly wondered how many ninja were hidden in this room, weapons drawn, waiting for Nobunaga to give the signal, and if he had the energy to fight them all off in his current state of pain and exhaustion. He had to get away and send Naruto a message somehow. Two messages in a week was unheard of and would put the Hokage on high alert, but Kakashi was fed up with the Hokage at this time. He had to protect himself, Jun, and Sakura. He was at the end of his patience and understanding.

"I believe you, though I don't know if I should given your ability to lie and withhold truth. Stand up." He did so, rising on shaking legs. "Undress yourself while I decide exactly how I plan to spend the remainder of the evening."

Kakashi had to stifle a groan. He wasn't sure he could take another minute of this subterfuge. "May I sleep in Metsu's chambers with Jun, Nobu-sama?"

Her mouth curled downwards unattractively. "I suppose. After I'm through with you."

His stomach turned, but he acquiesced. As though he had much of a choice.

….

Kakashi collapsed on the floor next to Metsu's bed shared with Jun, too tired to pull out the shikibuton and set everything up. It was getting harder and harder to separate himself from this role, to remove himself from his situation, to agree and accept the bigger picture. It felt so fucking futile. He thought of every person he knew, both here and back home, every person whose life was lonely and hard, full of meaning they didn't choose.

He was getting old. Was he forty already? Time felt too hard to comprehend, its passage never seemed to make sense to him. His bones ached, his joints creaked, his chest felt tight from heartbreak. He might have been able to see this through to the end, might have been able to support Konoha in this horrible, soul sucking way, it might have been doable, but seeing Sakura being used and manipulated the same way?

Absolutely not, he vowed silently. Kakashi would not be participating in this stupid, impending war. Neither would his daughter, and neither would the love of his life. He thought of the months he wasted being too scared to love her, too scared of what kind of person that made him.

He remembered when her cheeks were fuller-when she had access to her exceedingly healthy meals-always flush with exertion from working so hard at the hospital. When she would pack him homemade soldier pills with sweet, sometimes filthy, little notes. The way she loved his little genin like they were her own.

He felt it then, the emotions he kept locked away with his fond memories, and all at once he started crying. At first it was silent, but eventually he couldn't contain his sorrow any longer. His body shook, the tightness in his muscles worsening, his breath coming out in uncontrolled gasps. He was faintly aware that he'd woken up the sleeping pair. He heard the door open and close, and felt Jun bundle up next to him, bringing a thick kakebuton over them both. She whispered sweet words in his ear, periodically drying his face with the sleeve of her pajamas. The door opened again, and Metsu sat dutifully beside him, holding a fragrant cup of hot tea. His tears eventually subsided and he pulled his painful body into a sitting position, accepting Jun's further comfort and she crawled in his lap and wrapped her fragile limbs around him.

After a few moments of silence, Metsu spoke, handing him the cup of tea. "This is not the place, or the life for the two of you, Hatake-san, and I'm not the only one who agrees." His breath seized and she lowered her voice. "In fact, there have been… talks amongst many of the Uzu-nin."

That made sense. They were the ones in charge of all the fūinjutsu for the entire clan, so they controlled who went where and heard what at what times. "Why is this the first time I'm hearing about it?" He asked in a tight whisper.

Metsu leveled him with an exasperated look. "Hatake-san, involving you in any of these talks, with how she listens in on you periodically… how do you think you get away with sending messages to the Hokage, ne?"

All the pieces began clicking into place, and hope for an escape sprung up like a sweet wildflower in the midst of April rain. He hesitated to ask, not wanting to set himself up for more pain. "Is there, is there a plan?"

The lines of Metsu's face deepened as she smiled. "There have been a few plans, as you can see they haven't worked out. And when that medic showed up, it completely changed the situation. Seemed better to wait until Jun-chan had been healed properly."

Kakashi's eyes strayed to the girl in his lap. She was snoring softly, having curled up more comfortably, and there was a small patch of drool beginning to darken his shirt even further. "And now?"

"I wouldn't be saying anything, Kakashi, if there wasn't one. Can you trust me?"

He bit the inside of his lip. Kakashi barely trusted himself, but Metsu had been there for him and Jun for years now, and it seemed that 'just following orders' wasn't the only reason. Eventually he nodded, almost shyly, half expecting this to be a trap. "H-hai. I do. But why?"

"I am very, very old, Hatake-san. When I was a little girl, I used to live in the land of abundance and longevity. Uzushiogakure was so beautiful and prosperous, so safe yet welcoming."

His eyes widened in surprise. "I, I had no idea you were an Uzu refugee," he bowed his head respectfully. "I am so sorry for you loss."

"That's a kind thing to say. I don't speak about my lineage often, because doing so leads to certain expectations that I don't wish to bring upon myself. I am not shinobi, but all of my children were. They sent me away when the fighting became too dangerous. They fell protecting my homeland. I've been traveling from place to place since then, then Nobunaga approached me and asked to care for the potential children the clan produced. Losing a child is the most painful feeling in the world, Kakashi. Losing one because of greed and power is even worse. I stood by while Nobunaga destroyed these women and their wombs for power, knowing that my coming with her would be my last job, I stayed with little choice in the matter. I will not stand by and watch her destroy more lives."

"Thank you for sharing this with me, Metsu. I'm sorry for everything the world put you through."

She offered him a sad and knowing smile. "You've known pain, too. Now listen, when the time comes, you will not be participating in any battle, and the Uzu-nin will turn on Nobunaga. They hold far more power together than she does alone. We cannot prevent the war that she is cooking up, and we cannot prevent the total loss of life that will undoubtedly happen, but we can protect your daughter, and significantly weaken Nobunaga's offensive forces."

"I… I hardly know what to say. I'm so… overwhelmed with gratitude, Metsu. I owe you a great debt."

She shook her head. "No, Hatake-san, you owe me nothing. Just stop letting other people dictate how you live your life. Don't let anyone use that child the way everyone used you."

The deeper meaning of her words, hidden under a few layers, hit him like a freight train. There would be no returning to Konohagakue. There would be no continuing his life in the service of others. The feeling stirring inside him was an uncomfortable mixture of anguish and relief. He had always hoped that he would eventually return home, but returning home meant subjecting himself and his daughter to a life he no longer cared to live. He almost laughed, suddenly giddy with realization. "And what of Sakura?" He asked, without thinking.

"From what I understand she is quite formidable. I believe once the time comes, you will hardly have to worry about her. But you must continue to placate Nobunaga. I will tell the others that you need to be able to reach the Hokage, and you will find it much easier to do so. But for now, let us rest. You've had a long day."

He had forgotten how tired and sore he was, and at her words his body seemed to crumple. "Hai, Metsu."

"You two take the bed. I'll set up down here, okay?"

He wanted to object, but was too tired to argue. He gathered up his sleeping daughter and collapsed on the bed asleep before his head hit the pillow.

….

Sakura awoke the next morning to a huge breakfast of fish, soup, and rice with two fried eggs on top, a clay pot of incredibly fragrant tea and a soldier pill. She was so exhausted in every sense of the word. One long stretch revealed just how tight her muscles were, but she pushed herself up and got dressed instead. Her eyes were swollen from crying, so Sakura ate much of her breakfast half blind as she placed a cool compress over her eyes to relieve the swelling.

It was delicious and filling, and her clothes were cleaned and folded. She realized in that second how suspicious it felt to have her basic needs met. As Sakura slipped in her clothes she felt something in her pocket. She gasped. It was a note.

Sakura willed her body to remain calm and went to the bathroom before pulling it out to open it.

Sakura,

If Nobunaga asks, the Hokage is developing a massive jutsu ward. I had to lie on the spot. Sorry. We're traveling to Iwa next. I'm going to convince Nobu that you're indispensable to that mission. I will be… busy the next few days as a result. You may be questioned. I'm sorry if so.

I know things are complicated. I know you're never going to love me the way you used to. I know that we've both been irreparably damaged. I know that I never did and never will deserve you, and I was foolish to not recognize your value before it was too late. I should have married you the moment you let me in your life, and maybe this never would have happened. I waited too long, I was lazy and comfortable, I was also very scared. I hope you can forgive me with time. I want that time to be spent with me, though.

I will escape with Jun when the opportunity arises.

Sakura, if it came down to it, could you turn your back on all of this? If I can keep us alive and together until then, would you come with me? It is a lot of if's, ne?

Kakashi

Sakura had never been more shocked. Her heart hammered against its cage, like a wild bird trying desperately to escape. Her hands shook as she grasped the paper too tightly, her knuckles turned white and the letter started to tear.

What about her family? Her team? Her friends? She had an entire life back home and Kakashi just expected her to leave it all behind for him?

And yet, it was a tempting offer. The revelations of the past few days had been eye-opening, and her feelings were so huge and unmanageable. The thought of walking away from everything both made her stomach flutter with excitement, and her heart sink with despair.

Sakura was confident that if she survived until the battle, she would escape anyways. If only the council weren't so demanding, so scared of conflict and change. Need for shinobi was supposed to be on the decline because this was supposed to be a time of peace, but everyone felt anxious, and money needed to be made and spent in different ways. The pinkette wondered if Naruto was always fighting the council and how many times he won and how many times he lost.

Regardless, she hated him right now and it was going to be hard to come back from all that. She may never recover. And her relationship with Naruto impacted the quality and amount of time spent with Sai and Sasuke, but not Ino, or her parents. The need to sob started to burn behind her eyes but she did away with it. Not right now. She had work to do.

….

Sakura fully expected to enter the lab, guards in tow, to Kakashi and Jun and maybe one lab tech, but to both her shock and horror, apparently they had been going for hours. Kakashi had his seal removed by Kai in the early morning before being summoned for a mission, and Jun was already asleep on the table. They were discussing how some of the runes might be altered to account for her weight and her growth.

"I thought he was grounded?" Sakura asked conversationally as she sanitized her hands and arms.

"Only from leaving the compound. He's still one of her strategic advisors."

Sakura hid her surprise, but only just. "And she trusts him?"

Tetsuya gave her an odd look. "Does she have any reason not to?"

"We live in a society. I think we all have more reasons not to trust than we do otherwise, ne?"

The second time around wasn't as taxing, which was good because Sakura's chakra hadn't fully recovered since it spent much of the night dormant. Jun's body, despite being incredibly weak in general, seemed to withstand a lot more pressure than Kakashi could, which spoke volumes. To be so unaffected by pain at such a young age… That would make for a good kunoichi, she thought, immediately feeling angry that her mind always went to that. But it was all she knew. Sakura wasn't even sure she was anything else at the end of the day. That made her really sad.

Team A's break was over and she resumed work, her hands shaking from the overwhelming exertion. But they were nearing the end of the six hour long endeavor. It will be worth it.

Then, it happened. It was small at first, like a tiny spark dancing off a sparkler at a festival, then it grew. Chakra flooded back into Jun's system and for the first time since Sakura saw Naruto be overtaken by the kyuubi, she knew she was in the presence of immense chakra. The level of a jinchūriki. Sakura was truly awestruck. Now it all made sense. Junko, if properly trained, could kill the Rokudaime. That was a terrifying thought. Naruto was the strongest shinobi in the five nations.

Sakura helped Kai adjust the seal, reducing her chakra a little, but it fought back, almost as though it was protecting itself. Like her base instincts were kicking in. While Sakura enveloped the child in her protective chakra, she gave Kai a grave look.

"I'm not sure we're going to be able to reintroduce her chakra bit by bit," she said, grimacing at how quickly this had gone from manageable to worrisome.

"I know, I was thinking the same thing. Maybe we can maintain the barrier in shifts? Slowly weakening it?"

Junko's body thrashed, but not in a painful looking way, and her chakra licked up the arms of the medics and specialists like a flame. A few squealed in pain. Her skin was flush with color, and her hair shone vibrantly, new life having been given to her. Then, Sakura got an idea.

"I have the best chakra control in my village. I can train her."

Tetsuya shook his head. "That won't do any good now. She needs help now."

"God damn it!" Sakura cursed. "I have an idea."

She pulled away, feeling immediate relief at being away from Junko's power. Sakura searched her memory for the proper signs before pressing her forehead and enacting them. She felt the subtle touch of space-time shifting, and a familiar slug appeared in her hands.

"What a surprise!"

"Yes I know, please don't ask questions but can I borrow you please? I have a patient that needs ongoing attention for the next few days. Can you do that for me?"

"Hai, Sakura-sama!" Sakura rolled her eyes at the title, then set Katsuyu on the child.