Chapter Twenty-Two

Uneasy Conversion

Canon world:

She sensed his presence as soon as she crossed to the other side. Saku turned her head to see him staring directly at her--as if he had been waiting for her to appear. He didn't move from his spot where he was leaning against the tree, his arms folded over his chest. His eyes were partially closed as if he were dozing, but she knew that an elite ninja of his caliber would never truly be unaware of his surroundings. It felt like his eyes were raking over her, taking in her every move and cataloging it for the future. She took a step towards him and then another until she was facing him fully.

"Were you waiting for me?" He didn't reply to her question. Instead he reached out for her. For a second, she thought that he meant to place his hand on her shoulder but instead he turned her head to the left and then to the right, studying her features.

"You're the other one."

Saku didn't bother to deny it. She had a feeling that lying to this man would be one of the worst things she could do.

"I am."

"Where is Sakura?"

"It was decided between your Hokage and mine that it would be for the best if Sakura stayed in my place and I came here in her stead."

He didn't reply to her words, instead only stared at her. His eyes were cold and expressionless. It made her want to squirm. She was unfamiliar with this look on a Sasuke. It was a million times wrong.

"Come with me." He said tersely and Saku felt a moment of unease flow throughout her.

End Canon World

:::

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

Kakashi looked up into the accusing eyes before him. She had been pacing back and forth in front of him, pausing, staring at him, and then resuming her pacing. She had been doing so for an hour or so and it was driving him crazy--not that he'd actually admit that out loud. You would think she would heed his earlier warnings about him not being the companion that she was used to but alas, she would not.

"Actually, yes."

Sakura's breath caught in anticipation. She stood there, waiting for an impassioned speech about how he had been a fool to let the love of his life walk out on him. She was hoping to hear that he simply couldn't exist without her and it took her finally leaving to help him to realize just how much she meant to him.

Sakura, of all people, should have known better. This was Hatake Kakashi--the most infuriating man she had ever met.

"You're nagging. Go away." He smiled at her happily, seeing her look of utter shock and outrage. Sakura knew then that she was going to kill him. She took a step forward to do just that, but the knock on the door drew their attention away from their impending fight. Kakashi shooed her towards the door, expecting her to answer it--probably because she was already on her feet. Sakura scowled at him and moved over to the door. She opened it only to an ANBU operative.

"Haruno Sakura, you're wanted in the Hokage's office." Sakura sighed, then looked over at Kakashi who only looked all too happy to see her disappear. She pointed a finger at him threateningly.

"We'll finish this conversation when I get back." Kakashi only continued to smile, knowing that he wouldn't be anywhere in the vicinity when she returned home. He was really going to have to get her out of his apartment. The living arrangements were not sitting well with him.

He waited a moment or two before leaving, knowing that Saku would know he intended to disappear….

Kakashi frowned as Saku crossed his mind for the umpteenth time. It had not been even been three days since her departure and yet he felt like it had been three years. He could still picture her face as he told her that he could not even be her friend. He could still see the pain that had been put there by him. He felt guilty but what reason did he have to feel that way? He had only told her the truth. The truth sets you free…does it not? Unless it wasn't the truth….

Kakashi blinked, realizing that he had been staring into space for quite some time. He stood, not knowing when Sakura was go to reappear and left his apartment knowing he wasn't going to return until well into the night.

:::

Canon World:

"Where are we going?" Saku asked the recalcitrant Uchiha Sasuke, only to be ignored. She let out a slight huff, becoming more and more unnerved by his unnatural silence. Her Sasuke was about as talkative as Naruto on coffee, but this one seemed to be nothing more than a human puppet; alive, but unable to speak or show any emotion. Saku felt tears prick her eyes at just the realization.

She found herself lead into the now dead Uchiha district. Saku shivered as she looked around her. She had been unnerved the first time she had come here but now, with the only remaining Uchiha, it seemed worse.

"Not a person, not one single person remains of my clan--except me. My mother, father, brother, cousins, aunts and uncles are all gone." Sasuke looked around him and then turned and looked at Saku. "And yet there is a whole clan full of Uchiha's right within--"

"Sasuke." Saku watched as something cold and deadly flickered in the Uchiha's eyes and she instinctively took a step back. "How long has she been here?" Kakashi asked, watching as Sasuke slowly turned around and faced him.

"Not long."

Kakashi's eye happily creased as he crooked his finger in her direction. Saku immediately followed the unspoken demand. She kept her pace calm and sedate when she really wanted to rush to Kakashi's side and hide behind him. What was it about this Sasuke that suddenly terrified her? Was it like that when she was here before? She didn't recall, but somehow she knew he was different. Something happened to make him this way. How was she supposed to keep her promise to Sakura to take care of her boys when she could hardly stand being in the presence of the one whom she seemed the most concerned about?

"She'll be staying with me for a while to get her acclimated to the village." Kakashi explained to Sasuke. Saku looked back and forth between the two, wondering why the explanation was necessary.

"Unnecessary. She's been here before." Sasuke replied. "She knows how things work."

"I suppose we should leave it up to the lady, then. Saku?"

Saku bit her lip and tried not to show her agitation at the dark undercurrents running through the conversation. Why did it seem she was always in the middle of these situations? They were both staring at her expectantly, and as she answered, Saku edged towards Kakashi.

"I'm going to stay with Kakashi for a while. I'm not quite comfortable here yet. Everything is so different." She looked Sasuke in the eye when she said it. For some reason she felt like she should get his acceptance of the situation before she actually made a move. Going against him seemed to be a very dangerous thing….

"Aa." He replied and was quickly gone from her sight. Saku opened her mouth to speak but Kakashi shook his head briefly, letting her know that now was not the time. They traveled quietly to his home. Once they entered Saku shook her head at the similarities between the two. She felt herself weighed downed with insecurities and knew that she would have to find her place quickly or she'd go insane.

"The Hokage informed me that you would be returning. She wants you to report to her first thing in the morning."

Saku nodded. "Any idea why?" Kakashi shook his head slightly and then moved on to the subject that concerned him since he had discovered Saku was back.

"What were you speaking of with Sasuke?"

Saku wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her arms to rid herself of the chills that ran up her spine. "What…is wrong with him? He seems different from when I was here last."

Kakashi sighed. "Itachi, your Itachi, somehow found the entrance to the portal you came through. He stopped by to see me." Saku's eyes widened once she realized how that event had occurred. "You know something?" Kakashi asked reading her facial expression correctly. Saku nodded.

"I told him."

"Why?"

"Because he asked."

Kakashi closed his eye briefly then looked at Saku. "Sasuke discovered his presence here. He didn't quite see him but he sensed that he was here. He didn't take it well. Sasuke assumed when you came through that it was something that only Haruno Sakura could do. It seemed prudent that I not correct him of that assumption. However, now he knows better."

"He knows where the portal is. He saw me come through. You don't think he'll…"

"I don't know, but it is dangerous information for him to have."

"So what do we do?"

Kakashi sighed. "We don't do anything. I'll take care of Sasuke."

Saku frowned and shook her head. "Wait a minute, Kakashi. This is my fault. It's only right that I help you with this."

"And I appreciate your concern but this is a team matter and--"

"So, I'm not apart of the team." Saku stated calmly, although inwardly she realized that she had no place in this world, either.

"You know what I mean. There are things that you just don't understand about us."

"And so what? Because I've never experienced it I could never understand?"

Kakashi was silent as he stared at Saku, trying to find the right words to make her understand that Team Seven had history that not just anyone could step into. He thought about how badly Sakura and Naruto had dealt with the arrival of Sai on their team.

"I'm not saying that at all. You're being too sensitive." Suddenly struck with inspiration Kakashi said quickly, "You know what? I'll have Sai come by and you can talk to him and maybe you'll understand."

"Who's Sai?"

Kakashi blinked. It had never occurred to him that perhaps she didn't know who Sai was. Was he still buried deep within Root? Did they even have Root?

"He replaced Sasuke when he left."

Saku looked suitably horrified just as he expected her to be. "Sasuke's not replaceable!"

"Neither is Sakura." Saku flinched. "And yet," Kakashi continued on, "He is just as important of a member of our team as Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto, but that's because he made his own place."

With that piece of advice Kakashi left Saku on her own.

End Canon World

:::

He didn't really think that she would go to the trouble of finding him. He fully expected her to return home and not traipse after him. Didn't she have better things to do? Perhaps he should give her a book to read or something. She didn't say anything, just sat down next to him where he was leaning against a tree on some unused training ground.

Kakashi glanced down at her, noticing that her face looked a little pale and pinched. Something had happened in the Hokage's office he surmised--something that had unsettled her. Still, she said nothing about it and he was tempted to ask, but didn't dare. He stiffened when she laid her head against his shoulder and he frowned when he felt tears dampening his sleeve. Soon, he just couldn't help himself. He had always hated to see her in tears.

"Are you alright?"

Sakura quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and sat up righting herself. "I'm fine."

He should let the matter drop. He knew better than to pry into someone's personal business, but his mouth opened of it's own accord. "You don't look fine."

Sakura sighed. "I know. I'm being silly." She rose to her feet. "Sorry. I just--"

"Just?" He prodded.

"I miss him sometimes. My Kakashi. I just really don't have anyone to talk to."

Kakashi sighed and said the words that he knew were going to doom him to a life of eternal living hell. "I'm here."

Sakura's eyes widened in surprise. Surely, she had heard him wrong. "What?"

"If you didn't hear it I'm not going to repeat myself." Kakashi said stiffly, but Sakura ignored it and sat down by his side.

"No, I heard it, but I'm not sure I understand everything that 'I'm here' entails so let's clarify." Kakashi sighed, resigned. "Does this mean you'll be my friend?" She reminded him of an eager puppy dog awaiting some form of treat from her master. Kakashi smiled. He didn't think she'd appreciate that analogy.

"Hmm." Kakashi said not giving her an answer immediately. Sakura's eyes narrowed at him dangerously. "It means…I'll think about it." He disappeared, leaving Sakura in a cloud of smoke. Her first instinct was to get angry, but she paused realizing that it was exactly what her Kakashi would have done, and she did something that surprised even her. She started laughing and suddenly her day seemed a bit better.

:::

Canon World:

The next morning Saku found herself in the Hokage's office watching as the blonde woman nursed a killer headache. Her hair was disheveled and a scowl seemed to be permanently attached on her lips.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She barked.

Saku sighed. Some things didn't change no matter where you were. "You summoned me, Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade stared at her as if searching for the reason that she had called her to her office. A light shone in her eyes once she finally realized who she was and why she was there. "Ah, yes, Saku. Sit down."

Saku did as she was told and waited while Tsunade held her head as if to try to stop the world from spinning.

"I need your assistance with a situation. A serious situation." Saku nodded, encouraging the woman to continue. "There have been several assassination attempts on Haruno Sakura's life and while you are here I expect those attempts to continue."

Saku frowned, not particularly liking being put in such a situation, but it would get her mind off…other things so she wouldn't complain. "Did she know of this?"

"No. Most of these attempts occurred while she was outside the village. She typically thought it was just regular mission stuff, but there was one attempt inside the village that was stopped by Hatake Kakashi. He then began to monitor such attempts."

"Did he figure out who was trying to kill her?"

"We have an idea, but nevertheless I want you to be on guard. As of right now Kakashi has his hands full with another issue. I would have one of her other teammates with you at all times, but it would be unwise to tell to inform them of the situation."

"Why?" Saku asked curiously.

Tsunade sighed and asked, "What is your relationship like with your teammates in your world?"

"We aren't really teammates, Tsunade-sama. I'm close to Naruto and Sasuke, but I'm estranged from Kakashi. We rarely go on missions together anymore. I mainly work at the hospital and when I do go on missions it's usually on Itachi's ANBU team as a medic."

"I see." Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose. "Things are a little different here. This team always has been and always will be a family before anything else. Even when Sasuke defected they never gave up on him, much like you would with a relative who's ill. You hope, wish, and pray that they'll take a turn for the best, and when they don't it kills you inside a little each day. Each person has a special role since they were put together. The foundation of the team is Uzumaki Naruto. He's the driving force behind them all." A far a way look crossed the older woman's face. This was a look Saku didn't understand, but it looked remarkably like hope. "I suppose, if Naruto is the driving force, then Hatake Kakashi is the backbone, the support. The Uchiha is the power of the team."

"Shouldn't that title belong to Naruto?" Saku asked confused, as she thought on the massive amounts of power that her Naruto was able to exude.

"You'd think so, wouldn't you? However, when I say power I don't mean strength, but rather influence. Sasuke's decisions nowadays influence the balance of the team. The boy holds power in his hands. He wouldn't know how to be anything but the power. It's all he's ever sought." Tsunade turned her chair towards the window looking out over the village. "Sakura was the heart of the team. Which, on this team is a dangerous position to be in. What do you do when the heart of the team is gone? If something happens to it? Haruno Sakura is on --was on a team with several of the most powerful shinobi in this village. They all love her in their own ways. So what happens when she's gone?"

Saku didn't know how to reply to that because she had never been in such a position. Her boys didn't really need her anymore. They were a connected, close knit unit. They didn't have trouble functioning without one another. So, she waited quietly for Tsunade to answer the question on her own.

"The team falls. Think about it. With their deep attachment to Sakura the only person who I honestly think won't go all 'vengeance is mine' is Naruto, and I sometimes have doubts on that."

"If Kakashi didn't seek revenge for the deaths of Rin and Obito why would he seek revenge for Sakura?"

"Why don't you tell me?"

"…"

"I'm sure the first thing that comes to your mind is that he's in love with her, right?" Saku blinked, and then nodded her head. It had been the first thing to pop into her mind. "That was my first thought too, but he vehemently denies such a thing. The fact is that Kakashi is an enigma, a wildcard. Always has been."

"Forgive me Tsunade-sama, but what is your point?"

"My point is that Haruno Sakura's death is a risk that I cannot take. It would be the beginning of a civil war."

"Surely, one person--"

"Wars have been started over less. Ten years haven't even passed since the issue with the Akatsuki--" Saku frowned, unfamiliar with the name. "And frankly the village is still a mess. I cannot take any chances."

Saku's head began to pound with the overflow of information. Questions flowed through her mind, but she did not get the chance to ask them.

"The bottom line is stay alive until I can do something about this situation."

"It would help if I had more information."

Tsunade stared at her momentarily before making a decision. "In time. Just not today."

"Tsunade-sama, knowledge is power and if you equip me with it, it will not be a decision that you'll regret." Her words gave Tsunade pause and Saku could see that she was wavering in her decision. "How can I live here if I don't know the history?"

"You know of the massacre?" Saku nodded. "Then I'll give you a brief summary. Sasuke was twelve when he left this village. In his wake he left a broken hearted Haruno Sakura and an equally devastated best friend--Uzumaki Naruto. Naruto and Sakura vowed that they would do everything in their power to bring Sasuke home. Well, during Sasuke's travels he discovered some well hidden village secrets. These secrets were revealed to Sakura and Naruto. Sakura later told me that she was horrified by the actions that this village had taken against Sasuke's family, and she understood his defection a bit better even if she did not whole heartedly agree with it. Naruto is in the process of being trained as my successor and the three of them together have been working to weed corruption out of the Leaf village. Their success in this situation has been astronomical. The spearhead of the project has been Sakura."

"Why her?"

"Why do you think?"

Saku frowned and thought carefully. "Because…because she's the smartest."

"Yes, and it's through her diplomacy that all the changes that have taken place in the Leaf have not been objected by the Clan heads. All these were carefully calculated moves in order to put them in a position to remove certain people from positions of power which was their next move. Before that chance came, the assassination attempts began."

"Who is it? Don't gloss over names. If someone is going to try and kill me then I have every right to know who it is so that I can protect myself."

Tsunade sighed. "Do you know of Danzo?"

"Vaguely." Sakura replied barely able to come up with a face that matched the name.

"Well, then, let me tell you about him."

My thanks to BlueArcticWolf.

My apologies for the delay.