24. One brief Moment – Help
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SIMULTANOUS CHAPTER UPLOAD! Make sure that you read 23. first!
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"I'm not your enemy, I'm here to help you!" Karin sounded pleadingly.
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As hard as it was to believe her, but there was no other option at the moment. The copy-nin looked at the team members and nodded. Sai untied her and led her to Kakashi and Sakura.
"Where's the arrow?" Karin asked.
Sasuke looked worried, "Where's the arrow?"
Naruto answered concerned, "It's gone. It suddenly disappeared in a puff of violet smoke."
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The last Uchiha whispered, "Poison." Then he turned and continued in a menacing voice to Karin. "Spill it!"
The red-head answered shyly, "Sasuke-kun, I'm sorry. I just..."
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"Stop it. Just tell us what we need to know about the poison."
"The last thing I know is that they were working on a special toxin to kill you both, hokage-sama."
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"Why?", asked the silverhead in a deep voice.
"They wanted revenge. I'm afraid they managed to create the poison."
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"How does it work and how do we stop it?"
"It's absolutely lethal. There is no cure. Its over…"
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Naruto snapped, "Bullshit!"
"It's a complex mixture of toxins for a slow and painful death. I'm so sorry."
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"No. I won't let her die." The hokage stated.
"I will do the best I can, but I'm afraid it's irreversible."
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"No, please, no!" The jinchuuriki screamed.
"It can't be!" Sai whispered shocked.
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"Which options do we have?" Kakshi asked in a stern voice.
"First we need to stop the bleeding. I need all of you to support my medical jutsu with your chakra."
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They all reached hands to aid the skilled redhead and she bit her underarms to start.
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Eventually they managed to stop her bleeding with Karin's advanced medical jutsu and bandaging her wound. "The poison had interwoven with her chakra, I can't get it all out. I'm not skilled enough." The spectacle wearer looked like her chakra was depleted, she sat down running with sweat. "We need to bring her to your venerable sannin. If anyone could do this it's her or Orochimaru-sama."
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"Let's go!" Naruto pulled Karin up to carry her. She was too weak by now.
Kakashi stood up with Sakura in his hands, "See you at Konoha."
Then he took the lead with his unconscious beauty sheltered in his arms.
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On their way through the branches at a tremendous speed, Karin tried to tell them why she had joined the women at first. It had been just a girl's night out on which they had shared their problems. She had been jealous because of her unrequited feelings for Sasuke, but her intentions vanished as soon as she comprehended their full plan. Karin had refused to help them, but they had held her captive and blackmailed her. They had only used her for her medical techniques to design that lethal poison with reverse healing chakra. It was a secret jutsu directly from Orochimaru. Somehow she had been able to escape and she had run to warn team seven. She was no enemy. When Orochimaru had introduced her to the secret jutsu, he had mentioned that he had worked on it with Tsunade during their younger days.
Karin sparked hope.
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Kakashi wasn't himself anymore, he didn't say a single word since Sakura had passed out. He looked panicked and full of fear as they dashed back to Konoha with horrendous speed.
Sasuke had sent a messenger hawk to Suna requesting help from their poison experts although he knew that Gaara would arrive in a few days anyway to attend Sakura's birthday party. Maybe they could help.
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The current hokage arrived first. He had been teleporting halfway with the pinkette in his arms, which was an incredibly exhausting method that not many shinobi were capable of. Although he had an aversion for hospitals, he had straightly aimed for the main hospital of Konoha.
Tsunade and Shizune arrived shortly after.
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"What happened?" Tsunade laid her former apprentice on an examination table.
"Poison." Kakashi managed to tell Tsunade as he stumbled, then he vomited and broke down in chakra depletion. Shizune helped him up to the next bench.
"Team seven is on its way. They have requested poison experts from Suna. We need to save her. Please!" He laid his head in his hands and Shizune patted his tense shoulder.
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"We will. Take a rest and drink something. I'll get you a nurse." Never had anyone seen the great copy-nin so lost. Shizune would ensure his discretion as current hokage, although she still doubted the relationship between Sakura and him. Secretly she was wondering where Tatsuo was.
Should I send him a message?
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The nurse came and brought an electrolyte beverage and a banana for Kakashi while Tsunade was examining Sakura's wound. The blonde sannin asked the silverhead about the course of events and he told her everything she needed to know.
"Believe me, I want to rescue her as much as you do. For the poisonous components we can find antidotes, but Orochimaru's reverted healing chakra jutsu is irreversible as far as I know."
Kakashi's hand clenched around the cup in his hands. He couldn't meet Tsunade's eyes, he just nodded. He had lost his voice. It was obvious that Sakura was in a severe condition.
The sannin took a moment to regain her own composure. "It's difficult, but I'm sure we will find a way. There is always a chance."
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Team seven arrived two hours later and was nonetheless very exhausted. Kakashi was back on his feet, his expression looked like Sakura had already died.
Another hour later Gaara arrived on his sand and with his best two poison experts on their way. Gaara entered the room, everyone was standing around the bed in which a very pale Sakura was lying unconscious.
The redheaded Suna leader shook their hands and tensed noticeably as his hand touched Sasuke's.
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"Alazur and Neeyjshaar will be here by dawn. They are by far the best poison experts Suna has to offer."
"Thank you, Gaara. May we talk in private?" Tsunade made the others leave the room, except for Kakashi.
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He did not like the direction that the conversation had led to. Tsunade revealed the details of the secret jutsu. According to their situation they had agreed to reveal this highly classified information. Gaara had ensured upon oath he would never share this state secret, he just wanted to help a dear friend.
Kakashi didn't like the memories cursing his mind regarding Gaara and Sakura.
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As unusual as it was for him deep inside he was happy to stay the night at the hospital. Of course it was officially for monitoring his exhaustion, but neither Kakashi nor Tsunade talked about the real reason. She even granted him the room next to Sakura's that had a connecting door. The highly skilled ninja overdid it really badly, he was beyond tired and depleted.
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Late at night he discovered that the door had not been locked and someone had set an armchair next to her bed with a neatly folded blanket. There was even a bottle of the same beverage he had been advised to drink, some fruit, crackers and a small packed yoghurt had been put on a little side table next to the chair.
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He shook his head and sat down on the surprisingly comfy armchair. It did not take long for him to fall asleep while his hand was holding hers.
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Beneath his scarred eyelid three tomoe slowly began spinning...
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