Chapter-40

Sakura was nervous as she waited for Kakashi in the training ground. She was leaning against a tree.

"Please be safe, sensei." Sakura muttered out loud.

"I am fine, Sakura." said Kakashi as he landed in front of her.

"You're okay right? Did Itachi-san attack you? Do you have injuries? I can-"

She was cut short in her panic rambling

"Sakura. I'm totally fine. In fact Itachi didn't even touch me. He listened to my request with patience."

Nervously, Sakura asked the question which didn't let her sleep

"Did he agree?" she asked quietly.

Kakashi looked at her with sad eyes. How will I tell her that she has to become a missing ninja?

Kakashi put his hand on her head and answered

"Yes. He said he will collaborate with you. He said he didn't want his decision of leaving his brother with tortured memories and then his brother dying early was not something he wanted. He said he would like to work with you in secret."

"Yes! Thank you, sensei! You're the best! So, when do we start?" she asked excitedly

Ah… I have to tell her

"He said he will help you but he cant correspond or attack somewhere, with you being in the village it will become dangerous for the both of you. So…"

"So what sensei?" she asked innocently

I'm sorry Sakura.

"He said that you have to become a missing ninja to work with him. In short, you have to leave the village."

Sakura's face became distraught as she looked at Kakashi with her wide surprised eyes.

"What?" she whispered

"I'm sorry, Sakura. But this is what he proposed and it seems like the safest idea. Itachi said that one week from now, when he will go to capture Naruto in that room where he was staying with Jiraiya for training, you must come with Sasuke and then he said he will try to make you choose if he should torture Sasuke or you go with him. In this way, you would be saved from facing judgement. You will still be a part of our village. You won't be treated like a threat or like a traitor. Itachi wants to make sure you don't suffer the same fate as him."

After hearing all this, she fell on the ground and cried. Kakashi bent down to keep his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it, reminding her that she wasn't alone. It felt like she cried for hours. When she finally calmed down, her curse mark started pulsing badly. And then she fainted.

"Sakura… I'm really sorry. I'll do whatever I can to help you. I promise you that."

Then he picked her up and started running towards the hospital.

Sasuke was walking in the street when he saw Kakashi running like crazy with Sakura in his arms. He's carrying Sakura? Why? Did something happen to her? No. she must be fine. But Kakashi was in a hurry so seems it must be urgent. He decided to follow them. When he saw Kakashi stop at the hospital, his stomach dropped. She isn't okay! I have to see her! And then he ran into the hospital and looked for Kakashi who he found sitting outside a room. He breathed rapidly and asked

"What happened to Sakura?"

Kakashi decided to act nonchalant so as to not cause him more panic.

"The doctor said she collapsed because she hasn't been sleeping well."

"But she's okay right? Nobody attacked her like last time, right?" he asked in a hurry

"Nothing like that happened. Calm down Sasuke, she's fine. She just needs rest." And time to think alone.

A nurse came out of the room and said they can visit her. When Kakashi and Sasuke entered the room, the felt grim. She had IV drip attached to her arm. She looked weak and fragile. She was asleep.

"Maybe we should come back later, Sasuke. She's asleep. She needs rest. Come on."

Sasuke kept looking at her and then he walked out. When they were gone from the room, Sakura opened her eyes and let the tears fall while whimpering. She covered her mouth with her hands and sobbed.

It took her 4 hours to calm down. And just then, Kakashi entered the room. He looked at her with a sad smile

"How are you holding up? Sorry I'm late. I was training Sasuke."

"Thank you, sensei. For not letting him in the room."

"it's nothing. After hearing all that I knew you needed alone time to think. Do you feel better?"

"Yeah but…" her tears started falling again.

Kakashi held her hand and let her calm down.

"This is my mission. I have to do it regardless of how I feel. I know it's a very big decision but I have no choice. So I have decided. I will leave." She said in her sad voice.

"I'm really sorry, Sakura. There just wasn't any other way. But you'll be protected this way."

"I understand, Kakashi-sensei. I know you tried your best for me and I'm very grateful." And she gave him a smile.

Seeing her smile like that made his heart twist in grief. Why doesn't this girl ever get happiness?

Kakashi stood up and ruffled her hair and then patted them.

"You're truly remarkable, Sakura. I am really proud of you."

She gave him a smile and then he left. Leaving Konoha… I never would have thought I'd have to leave the village. She replayed her memories with her mother, father, her friends from Rookie 9 and of course the biggest pieces of her heart, Naruto, Kakashi sensei and at last… Sasuke. I might never get to see them again. She thought while crying. She would not be going on missions with her team. She'd be alone. Just then Sasuke came in and saw her crying. He rushed over worriedly

"Hey, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Sakura?" he asked in a soft tone. I've never seen her cry.

Sakura slowly lifted her head and dried her tears and greeted Sasuke with a smile.

"Sakura, stop it. Don't fake your smile. What happened? Tell me." Sasuke asked with firmness.

"It's nothing. I just had a nightmare." She lied easily. "It was really scary. People laid on the ground with blood all over them." Just talking about it made her shiver.

Sasuke felt convinced as she saw him relax a a little.

"So how's your training going?"

"Fine."

Still prefers one-word answers huh. She thought and then chuckled. I'll miss that. She thought sadly.

"Well, I'm all well now so I'm gonna go home. Ah I can't wait to sit on my bedroom floor."

Sasuke finally asked, "Why don't you sleep on the bed?"

"Oh… um. I have nightmares when I sleep in a bed. The cold floor keeps me up for a longer time and now I'm used to it." She said cheekily.

"That's why you had a nightmare right now? because you were sleeping in a bed?"

"Yeah. Sorry I didn't want to trouble you. It was just very realistic."

"Hn."

She got up and changed her hospital gown into her normal gear. When she came out, she saw that Sasuke wasn't there. Of course, that's typical of him. She reached for the door but it opened and Sasuke entered with a stoic look on his face.

"Where did you go?"

"I went to get your discharge papers. Here."

She took the papers

"Thanks Sasuke." And smiled at him

This time it's a genuine smile. And he felt happy. He walked with Sakura to her home and they chatted a little but then was only silence. And it wasn't bothering him at all. He felt peaceful. Sakura thanked him for walking her to her home and started going in when Sasuke stopped her

"Hm? What is it?"

"You better sleep or I'll throw you into the river. Got it? Take care of yourself. You only fuss over others but never yourself."

Sakura just laughed and said 'I will.' And then she went inside.

Sasuke pulled out the gloves he got for her and stared at them. I couldn't give it to her today. Maybe another time. And then he walked home.

Sakura just sat on the floor staring at the wall blankly. She kept replaying every original and past memories she had with her team and friends. But then the image of them dying flashed in front of her and she clenched her hands so hard her nails made cuts in her palm. She sighed and continued drowning in her thoughts. Night came and she was still sitting on the floor. She stood up and looked out the window. The moon is so bright today. She thought with a small smile as she closed her eyes and let her silent tears fall. Little did she know, Sasuke was watching her from a rooftop. He watched how she cried but still smiled. It looked like she had to let go of something important. Sadly, he did not know it was him.