DISCLAIMER: I own nothing from the Naruto universe but I do have an imagination of my own. I will end up using it, I promise!


Thinking

Emphasis

Bijuu, etc. Speaking

Bijuu, etc. Thinking


Please don't let this be a dream or some cruel joke.

Kakashi's grief over Naruto's death must have really screwed with his head in a major way if he truly believed that some strange young woman he found by the Memorial Stone was actually Naruto. I mean, the dead don't just rise. How many times had he said that to himself now? Yet still, he sat there on the floor in the hospital hallway, in the way of everyone... fuck 'em. I'm here 'til I get answers.

Sakura finally came out of the room that the unknown young woman had been in for hours with an obviously practiced, reserved look on her face. Kakashi hated that type of "medic face!" She walked over to one of the nurses before giving him her undivided attention and attempted to smile. The two had not seen each other in a few weeks and although the situation was far from ideal, she was always glad to see her sensei and friend.

"Kakashi-sensei," she began.

"Is it... I mean look at him – er... her, Sakura," Kakashi took a deep breath before Sakura could begin to speak, which she allowed. "Is it Naruto? Is there any chance at all?" Kakashi's anxiety showed to anyone looking as his foot bounced and he repeatedly grasped his gloved hands together, waiting for his former student to answer.

Sakura wondered what she should really tell him about the young woman he brought in... Her body was in an absolutely deplorable state and she was not sure that she and her medical team could save her life. Her patient was suffering from severe malnutrition and dehydration, plus her body was very badly damaged in ways that even she had not seen before in a patient still alive. Many of her organs were on the brink of failure. But if they could reverse enough of the damage then it might be possible... Plus, in Sakura's heart, she knew. She wouldn't mistake Naruto for someone else, and as soon as she saw this person, she knew it was Naruto.

Sakura had checked her patient's bloodwork and chakra. She found traces of the Kyubi's chakra circulating throughout the woman's system, but unlike the way she had normally been able to find it in Naruto, the demon itself seemed to be missing. That, she didn't understand. The blood test that had been hurried by herself with Kakashi's additional orders had just come back, indicating that there was no doubt about it: somehow, the young woman in the room behind them was Naruto. But because of Naruto's current state, Sakura did not want to get Kakashi's hopes up. She was deeply afraid that if Naruto died again, that it would kill her sensei. She just couldn't lose anyone else.

"We don't know anything yet, but I'll make sure that you'll be the first one to find out when we do. Why don't you go home and sleep, sensei?" Sakura asked Kakashi as gently as she could, dropping down and smiling in front of the man. Kakashi actually growled at her. He knew exactly what she was trying to do and didn't appreciate it. Yes, she was trying to help him, but it was irritating being treated like a child.

"I am not leaving. That is Naruto in that room! You know it, and I know it. I'm not leaving here without her," Kakashi snapped. Sakura stood, sighing, placing her hand over the (for now) imagined swell of her stomach. Kakashi's expression softened. I'm an ass: she's got a little one on the way. "I'm sorry, Sakura. I am, but I can't leave Naruto alone again. If that really is... Naruto. If it really is, then I need to know! I'll wait right here if I have to all night, all day tomorrow, and afterward!"

Sakura sighed and pulled out the blood and chakra test paperwork, handing it over to her superior. Kakashi was startled and looked at her anxiously, taking the papers and opening them. His mismatched eyes nearly popped out of his head before he began gasping, then laughing out loud.

"Oh Kami! Fuck! That... punk! He... she – whatever," Kakashi wheezed, leaning back against the wall, trying to breathe and truly believe what he was seeing, "...found a way back!" Tears were forming in his eyes as Sakura looked at him, shaking her head with amusement, disbelief, and joy. "Is it really Naruto?" Kakashi asked with just a touch of remaining uncertainty.

Sakura nodded her head. "Yes, there's no doubt. It's really Naruto," she said gently.

"Can you imagine? Kami! Oh no. No, wait. Sakura. How bad off is she? Tell me the truth. She's going to live, right?" Kakashi asked, coming to the sudden realization that his favorite blonde might not be quite back with him in the land of the living for good yet.

"Sensei, I honestly don't know. Things will be touch and go for a while, especially over the next week as far as her health goes," Sakura responded. Kakashi nodded and sighed deeply. He understood and appreciated the facts. He was a man better able to deal with the truth than the things his imagination could and would cook up for him.

Kakashi stood and considered things, staring at the floor. "I want to post guards: several, round-the-clock, to keep anyone out that's not medically necessary assigned to her by you. I think I'll also be taking up temporary residency in her room. Would that be all right?"

Sakura gave him a huge smile. "You're the Hokage, sensei. I'm just the mere medical director." Kakashi rolled his eyes at her a bit. "If that's what you want then I'll arrange it," she responded with a stiff nod. "Now I need to get back to my patient and nurses. Why don't you clean up your disgusting self? I mean, really! You can come back in and we'll have the room ready for you in about an hour. Get yourself some food..."

"Yes, yes, yes. I know all of that, Sakura-chan. Are you sure I can't just go in now? I've been waiting..." the Hokage all but whined.

"To think that you actually want to stay in the hospital, Kakashi-sensei! And no, you cannot go in the room right now. We're far too busy for you and your nonsense. Go shower, get your stuff, your disgusting books..." Kakashi gave her a look of betrayal, (he actually hadn't had one of Jiraiya-sama's masterpieces in his hands since Naruto's supposed death,) "...some FOOD into your system, and then come back. THEN you'll be able to help look after our favorite knucklehead." Sakura stated, satisfied with her diatribe.

"Fine. But I'll be right back. And I'll bring the idiots with me." Sakura smiled, knowing what he meant. Kakashi stretched and mentioned one final thing. "And Sakura, we mention this to no one. Kami, when I think of all the things in Naruto's life that have been S to SSS-ranked secrets... And here is another one." He shook his head and sighed heavily, giving her a pointed, battle-hardened look.

"I understand, Hokage-sama," Jonin Haruno Sakura replied, quickly nodding in respect to her superior. He responded with a stiff nod in return and took off to complete the assignments the head of medicine had given him before he gave his own to his ANBU officers. He couldn't wait to get back to the hospital – for the very first time in his life – to be back next to Naruto.