22. One brief Moment - combat and peace

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"I love you, Kakashi!"

Her words resonanted in his head as team seven moved closer, inch by inch, on high alert and the stealthiest as they could be. Pakkun and the ninken had been able to locate the right cave. It had not been that hard by the time they had the right area thanks to Sakura's hint. The team crossed the river further up the stream, so they could have a better watch of the area.

Kakashi, hidden in the trees, took a moment to oversee the area. Downstream there was the waterfall with the bridge. Whenever he had been in the proximity he had averted that village as possible. When he looked at the bridge with the bone crushing sandbank underneath a cold breeze hit his neck like in an attempt to strangle him. The copy-nin didn't like those memories. He felt incredibly guilty. Like most ANBU Tatsuo had been a daredevil and a notorious chaser who had always put his duty first. She had been a guiltless and carefree girl, but life had gotten her bad. He hadn't meant for her to fall in love with Tatsuo. There had even been a time when he had felt heartbroken and grieving for the innocent life she had taken because of him.

There must be a connection. What do I miss?

Sasuke stepped on the next branch and gave him a scrutinizing look, only to be followed by a surprisingly composed Naruto that showered them both with his reassuring smile. The silverhead took a deep breath and broke his contemplation, then he followed suit.

I will get you out, Sakura.

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The green woods decreased into a more rocky area that had the unique smell of the desert in the air. The ninken led them as they slowly stalked their way to a secluded cave. Sakura had to be in this cave, Pakkun could smell her. There was only one access to the natural rock cave. The team waited hidden in safe distance for the nighttime to come.

Before they could go in Kakashi let his sharingan search for Sakura. At first all he noticed was dark.

"Try it again!" Sasuke looked at him and nodded. Somehow the copy-nin was sure that his former student didn't speak those words aloud. Somehow he could only hear those words inside his mind.

"We don't have time for you to lose your mind now. Later." Kakashi was sure that his lips did not move and he did not even change his expression. "Close your eyes, concentrate and detect her chakra."

It was all dark again. All of a sudden Kakashi saw it - a spark of emerald. He concentrated even more, then he felt it. He was drawn to her chakra. It was like he was flying in the dark moving forward to the green. Then he could see her. She was lying under an overhanging rock inside the cave. She looked like she was sleeping, her hands and legs were tied.

Sakura?

Kakashi?

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I'm here. Are you ok?

I miss you, but yes, I'm not physically harmed except for the drug.

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Can you move?

I'm afraid I can't. Not now.

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Tell me about your surroundings.

Two women are taking watch, they are sitting on each side beneath the entrance. For what I could recognise they are armed with kunai, probably poisoned. Two women are sitting next to me at the fireplace, which is in front of me. And there is at least one other sleeping further inside the cave.

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Copy that.

Take care! They are poison experts.

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Don't worry and stay calm. We get you out.

He could feel her smile like it was his own and with that he was thrown back where he could feel his own body. He shook his head and Sasuke gave him an amused look.

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"Two at the entrance, two in the middle with Sakura and at least one sleeping further inside. All of them must be treated as armed ninjas and skilled with poison."

"Affirmative!"

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Then it all went quick. Sasuke and Sai had to fight the two women in ninja gear, which ran to defend their hideout. The enemies were definitely caught by surprise. Kakashi had brought up Tatsuo the clone and they simultaneously poofed right in the middle of the cave, Naruto sent some clones into the cave as well, which confused the already surprised enemies even more. Naruto's clones went to get the other women, while he assisted Sai and Sasuke from the other side.

There was a lot of shouting, threatening and screaming echoing from the rocky walls.

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The copy-nin noticed a woman standing next to his pink-haired woman lying on the ground, who was pulled up and held still by another woman.

Sakura!

The grim woman gave him a malicious smile, she had brown hair and he recognised her at the spot.

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"Good to see you again. And again." The pain in her eyes reminded her of….

Tatsuo gave Kakashi a look like he was shell-shocked, the great copy-nin took a sharp breath and Tatsuo vanished. "I thought you were…."

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"This time you finally remember me!" Yoko laughed bitterly.

"You have changed a lot." His voice sounded brittle.

She raised a brow and pointed at Tatsuo.

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The woman holding Sakura coughed slightly.

Of course he knew her as well.

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"Suna." As hard as he tried, he could not recall her name.

"Sia, my name is Sia!" The blonde woman was fuming. He knew her from the mission in Suna, they had a fling. Sakura had disturbed them once and she was the one he had been in bed with while he cried out the pinkette's name on his peak.

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"So what is your decision, Kakashi? Who shall it be – you or her?" Yoko stood next to the unconscious Sakura in Sia's arms.

Unimpressed he stated deadly seriously, "Neither one of us will die."

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"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that." Their bitter laughter continued. "If you're not willing to choose then you're all going to die."

He continued with his infamous deadpan battle look. "That's a fact of life, but not tonight."

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Yoko's face hardened, "Say goodbye to her, Kakashi. She will be the first one." She took a knife out of her sleeve in a second.

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As quick as lightning Tatsuo appeared behind Yoko and before she could cut the pinkette's throat he had stabbed a kunai into her neck, instantly immobilizing her. At the same moment Kakashi saved Sakura and one clone of Naruto stroke down Sia.

The boys took care of the remaining women, while Kakashi removed the chakra binding rope from Sakura's limbs.

Eventually she opened her eyes, glinting emerald found charcoal and red.

"Kakashi!"

For one brief moment their lips connected in a sweet kiss.

In the next moment she was lying in his arms with a pain contorted face and coughing hard while her warm blood was seeping through his hands.

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