I apologize for the delayed update! Here we are!
Sakura and Naruto snuck through the dormitory into the night air once more. Sasuke was asleep in their quarter, unbeknownst of their escapade.
Sakura knew that Naruto was right. If he were to admit himself to the infirmary, Uraya and her twin brother would easily find and target Naruto. They could seriously hurt him, or worse…
Naruto was already seriously hurt. Sakura noticed that the young shinobi was hiding his injury well to avoid suspicion from his teammates. However, the adrenaline of their skirmish had faded and the pain was taking hold. He was visibly pale and out of breath, his skin covered in a cold sweat. He held a hand at his side and could barely keep pace with Sakura. It was understandable. Uraya's scythe, which she caught a glimpse of that morning at the check-in, was wickedly long and sharp. It could easily cut through anything. Naruto was lucky it didn't kill it.
"Here," Sakura slowed to meet him, "put your arm over my shoulder."
Naruto draped an arm over Sakura's neck and shoulder and let half his weight fall on her. He looked relieved and slightly more at ease as the pair crossed the quiet arena.
"Where…are we…going…?" Naruto panted.
"You'll see," she replied, "keep an eye out for arena guards...or anyone else."
They trekked on. The farther they went, the more difficult Naruto found the journey. His eyes were closing and he was tripping over his feet.
"You have to stay awake, Naruto," Sakura shook his arm, "we're almost there."
"Hmm?" he lifted his head, trying to fight his exhaustion.
"Come on, you're gonna be Hokage one day," she tried to encourage him, slight panic creeping into her voice, "A future Hokage could handle this easily! You can do it, okay? Just stay awake."
She didn't hear a reply and the weight grew heavier on her.
"Naruto!"
"What?" he snapped awake.
"You need to keep watch," she tried a different angle, "if someone sneaks up on us, I'm counting on you to save us both."
"Don't worry," his words slurred slightly, "I'll keep you safe, Sakura…"
She could tell he was fighting unconsciousness. Sakura quickened her step, practically dragging Naruto through the main campus of the arena.
She thought he was out for good until he shouted, "Hide!"
Naruto quickly steered them towards a wall and they crouched in the darkness.
Two arena guards walked past them, marching on their patrol duty.
"That was close," Sakura breathed, "Thanks, Naruto."
She got a glimpse at him. He looked worse, paler and shivering.
Meanwhile, she was sweating with heat. Carrying Naruto through the long arena grounds was hard work on her, but he was cold to the touch.
"Come on," she hoisted his arm around her shoulder again, "we're almost there."
They pushed forward, Sakura guiding them and Naruto keeping watch.
"We're here," she said after a few more minutes. She gently helped Naruto descend onto the step. He looked worse for wear but was attempting to appear brave in her presence at the sight of her worry.
"I'm fine, Sakura," he forced a smile, "just a few stitches and I'll be good as new!"
He winced as he finished his sentence. She could see some blood on his fingertips.
"Wait here, Naruto," she spoke quickly, "I'll be right back."
She gave him one last concerned glance and rushed inside the building.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Kakashi Hatake was quietly reading his novel. He was in his designated quarter in the jonin dormitory. The other jonin had long been asleep now, but he preferred the solitude the late night brought him. It gave him ample time for reflection within his thoughts. He mildly wondered how Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke had fared so far in the competition. He had not been summoned by the Skills Championship guards yet to escort his students home, so he knew they were still competing in the trials. Kakashi was impressed with him. He recalled his own stint in the Skills Championship years ago, along with the vigor and fortitude such a contest commanded.
Now he found himself in his quarter, sitting alone at the table, a cup of tea before him, his beloved novel in hand, and a flickering candle to provide soft light.
Knock, knock.
Kakashi perked up. He set his novel down. Who could that be at this hour? Perhaps his students had not prevailed like he assumed after all.
Knock, knock. This time more urgent.
Kakashi approached the door and turned the knob.
Sakura stood before him. She stared at Kakashi with wide eyes on the brink of tears, covered in sweat and dirt, and panting as if she had just completed a hefty exercise.
"Sensei!" the word emerged from her lips with such relief that Kakashi was taken aback.
"Sakura?" he spoke cooly. His uncovered eye darted from left to right, examining the hall to ensure nobody had followed his student.
"Thank goodness you're awake!" she spoke fast, fueled by her panic, "I was so scared you wouldn't be and I didn't know where else to go-"
"You need to calm down, Sakura," he stopped her tirade and stepped aside to offer her entry in his quarters. Kakashi ensured no other curious jonin emerged from their rooms to question this abrupt appearance before he closed the door behind her.
She stood in the center of the room, wringing her hands in worry.
Kakashi sat down before her, his calm energy a complete contrast to her erratic one.
"Take a breath," he instructed, "settle yourself."
She did as he said.
He spoke slowly, "Sakura, you know I cannot provide you or your teammates with any outside help. It would result in your immediate disqualification-"
"No, it's not that!" she shook her head and stepped forward, "It's Naruto," her voice cracked, "he's hurt."
Kakashi hid the spike of concern that flowed through him at the news and remained silent.
"I-I couldn't take him to the infirmary," she pulled at her hair. Tears started to stream down her dirt-scuffed cheeks, "I didn't know where else to take him, but if those twins found out then-"
Kakashi held up a hand, "Sakura, where is Naruto now?"
Kakashi followed Sakura out of his room and down the dormitory halls. He ensured his footsteps remained soundless as to not alert the other jonin and bring the Skills Championship guards on them. Sakura led him outside into the darkness. She veered left and ran ahead, crouching by a figure laying on the step outside of the jonin quarters.
Kakashi reached them in a few steps and crouched beside Naruto. His student was bent over his knees, a hand pressed tightly against his side. Blood stained the cloth of his jumpsuit and covered his fingertips. His head was bowed and he shook with pain from each breath.
"Naruto?" Sakura shook his shoulder, "Naruto!"
He lifted his head, eyes wide as he was jolted awake.
"Sakura?" his unsteady gaze focused on her then travelled to Kakashi, "Sensei?"
Kakashi was mute as he looked at the boy up and down. Naruto noticed Kakashi's eerie silence.
"Sakura, I thought we weren't allowed to come to the jonin quarters!" Naruto protested, "If one of the arena guards catches us, we'll be disqualified from the Skills Championship!"
"That's not your biggest concern at the moment," Kakashi said, staring at Naruto's wound and realizing the severity of it, "you can't be feeling too good at the moment, Naruto."
He could see his young, prideful student trying to stifle his pain, but he was white as a ghost and shuddering with discomfort.
"Me? I-I'm fine! Just a small scratch is all," Naruto forced a fake laugh, "I'll be good in no time!"
"Sakura," Kakashi spoke, unveiling of any emotion, "please hold the door open for me. My hands will be full."
She nodded once and ran towards the dormitory doors. Naruto looked wary, "W-What do you mean?"
"Naruto, I'm going to lift you up. Don't be alarmed. I will try to be as careful as possible."
"What?" Naruto tried to instinctively back up against the wall, "Hey! What are you doing?!"
"Hold still," Kakashi moved forward.
Naruto struggled for a few seconds before resigning to the jonin's hold. Kakashi carefully slipped his arms underneath Naruto's knees and back. He lifted him up with ease, walking cautiously to the door as to not jostle his injured student.
Naruto's stubborn pride dissipated almost immediately. He went limp in Kakashi's arms, barely holding himself upright. His attentiveness during their conversation moments ago was gone, he could hardly keep his eyes open and his head bobbed against his chest in exhaustion.
Sakura held the door open for her teacher as he walked into the dormitory, Naruto in his arms. She followed Kakashi back towards the stairs.
The white-haired Jonin re-entered his quarters, Sakura on his heels. She shut the door as Kakashi gently laid Naruto down on the couch cushion. His chest rose and fell with each breath, but he was limp like a corpse otherwise.
Tears welled up in Sakura's eyes, "Is he…is he…dead?"
"No," Kakashi spoke quietly, "he's unconscious. He must've pushed himself to his limits."
"Will he be okay?"
Kakashi didn't offer a reply. His dark eyes scanned his student's body and focused on the blood staining the fabric at his ribcage. Sakura turned away as Kakashi gently cleaned and dressed the wound. The stab was small but deep, requiring several stitches.
Naruto flinched at each puncture in his state.
"Settle, Naruto," the jonin spoke under his breath. He knew his student couldn't hear him, but he spoke the words regardless. Sakura held her breath the whole while.
The minutes were beginning to tick by and she was starting to yawn, feeling her drowsiness creep up on her through the silence of Kakashi's work. The entire day had been…eventful to say the least.
"Sakura."
She jumped at the sound of Kakashi's voice. She had grown so accustomed to the silence of the room, the sudden noise jostled her.
"You should get some rest yourself."
"But Naruto-"
"Will be fine."
"Really?" She asked in a small voice, glancing at her teammate still sprawled on the couch.
"Yes. I've cleaned and wrapped his wound. He'll need rest for the night, but he should be feeling much better come morning."
"Morning? That soon?"
Kakashi knew the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox would protect and heal Naruto's wound at a faster rate than an average human, yet he did not bother with explaining this phenomena to Sakura at the moment.
"Yes, by morning."
"Okay…," she ceded reluctantly, "Sensei, I have to tell you something I overheard before I found Naruto."
"Sakura, it's very late. You should return to your dormitory and sleep. Tomorrow's trials will be no less grueling than today's."
"But it's important! It's about Naruto and his chakra!"
Kakashi paused, "Alright, I'm listening."
"These twin shinobi are rivals in our dormitory, they're evil and out for blood," Sakura shuddered at the thought of the siblings, "we encountered them at the start of the first trial and they almost killed Sasuke! We barely escaped when I woke to find Naruto out of our quarter. Sasuke and I went to look for him and I overheard the sister, Uraya, talking privately to someone I didn't recognize. They said they wanted to kill Sasuke and me, but take Naruto to their master alive for his chakra. The chakra of the Nine-Tailed Fox."
Kakashi was silent.
"I-I didn't hear anything else because they caught me…Naruto jumped in front of the shuriken…he saved my life."
She solemnly glanced at her injured teammate.
"Sakura, return to your dormitory. Be vigilant at all costs from these twins. Protect Naruto when he returns as well. It's imperative you all remain as a team. They'll be targeting all three of you, so your odds are stronger together. I'm not sure who these shinobi or their master are, but I'll do my best to find out. In the meantime, advance in the trials and remain careful. No doubt they'll pull another strike on you all."
Next chapter coming soon!