- N -

Naruto had barely slept or eaten since report of Sakura being classified as MIA let alone since the team had departed to find her yesterday. Pacing the length of his apartment while trying to scan through the hundreds of possibilities had filled almost all of his time. Many far too morbid to really consider so he would skim onto the next one.

A knock at his door startled him and he rushed to pull it open. Anyone who would be at his door would know of Sakura's status and likely, hopefully, come to him with details.

Finding Kakashi at his door was unexpected and the man gave his characteristic wave and greeting of, "Yo!"

"You're back!? Where is she?" Naruto moved to shove past the man but Kakashi had him pinned against the open door instantly.

"Calm down," Kakashi said in a low voice. "It's not public that she's missing and it's absolutely top secret that she was found. I can take you to her at the hospital, but you need to show me you can keep it together enough to not become a problem."

Naruto relaxed in his ex-sensei's hold. As much as he wanted to disagree, he had no idea what had happened on the mission and secrecy was important in managing this. "Yeah, I'll be fine."

"Good, let's get Sasuke then we'll go."

For a split second the thought of Why? echoed in Naruto's head and he felt guilty for such a thought. So much time apart had left him unaccustomed to keeping the Uchiha updated on matters related to Sakura. Of course he'd want to know. Right?

They made quick work of finding Sasuke's apartment and Naruto noticed how Kakashi took care to remain out of sight. At a questioning glance from Naruto, Kakashi explained himself. "Though most of Rookie 9 ended up knowing about her status, outside of the rescue team, you and Sasuke are the only ones to know of her return. I didn't want you charging out there when she was already brought back."

The Uchiha answered instantly and both men chose to not comment on it. "Sakura was recovered," was all it took for the three to take to rooftops towards the hospital in silent unison. Entering the hospital through a back entrance Naruto didn't know existed, they made their way to the top floor before heading through multiple security check points.

Keeping his voice low, Kakashi explained, "This wing is mostly kept for prisoners or individuals between interrogations, so guards are used to not knowing who's inside." Right before they reached a white sliding door, Kakashi stopped and pressed an open palm into the chests of the men on either side of him. "I haven't seen her since Tsunade took her, no matter what she looks at you need to stay calm and not disturb her."

Naruto's muscles tensed under Kakashi's palm, but the Jonin only lowered his hand once Naruto's muscles slackened. Naruto objectively understood last thing Sakura needed was to be upset by her concerned teammates but trying to stay calm seemed impossible.

Kakashi slid the door open and the three men stepped into the room to find Tsunade by the side of her apprentice, taking the Sakura's vitals quietly. The door slid shut behind them to hide Sakura from prying eyes.

"Is she okay? What happene—"

"I will throw you out of this hospital if you don't shut your mouth. I'll tell you what you need and get to know," Tsunade threatened, speaking in a barely audible whisper. For once Naruto was able to follow her order wordlessly because he needed Tsunade to tell him what was going on.

Standing, Tsunade moved to them signaling their need to not come to the side of their pink haired teammate. "Kakashi found her relatively close to the village – severely wounded but still conscious. It seems all her chakra went into remaining alive and covering her tracks. She left anything non-fatal without healing so I'm working to ensure no infection happens. It's clear she was tortured, but until she wakes up I'll have no idea how or for what information."

A heaving sigh escaped the Hokage's lips and she pressed a palm into her forehead showing she was likely depleted of chakra. "I had to use stitches in some places because we just didn't have the chakra available from the small circle treating her. She's no longer in danger of dying, but there's no telling how much longer she will be in treatment."

No longer?

A shift in Kakashi's stance made it clear even he hadn't known the severity of Sakura's condition. "Baa-chan, will she – I mean, how – what do we do?" The blonde's voice came out childlike, reflecting how helpless he felt.

"I'm keeping her here at least a few days. They must have discovered her identity." The severity of the situation seemed to choke the room before Tsunade spoke again. "I should have sent a team sooner."

No one disagreed.

- S -

The feeling of familiar lightweight sheets let Sakura know she was in the hospital. She jerked up into a sitting position, wildly scanning the room for answers. Naruto asleep in a folding chair was all that was different from a normal hospital room and she immediately turned to slide her feet to the cold linoleum floor despite her body's screaming pain at any movement.

Grasping at her chart with shaking fingers, she'd only read a line before the memories came crashing back and she was forced to her knees by the pain stabbing through her consciousness. She must have cried out because Naruto came into focus moments later, holding her forearms to steady her. She gulped in a deep breath and looked to the blonde for answers. Their sibling-like love for one another allowed them to understand each other without words.

"You got back 3 days ago and you didn't look too good so Baa-chan worked on you for a while before you were moved here." He helped her rise and backed her up to sit on the edge of the hospital bed, her feet dangling above the ground. Moving quickly, Naruto pressed the nurse call button and then began to help her lie back in the bed. But it wasn't a nurse that arrived.

Tsunade all but threw the door off its hinges rushing into the room and reaching the side of her beloved student. She embraced the girl gently, mindful of Sakura's injuries. "I swear on my sake, if you ever come back through those gates like that again I'll put you in a crater so deep the sharingan and bakyuyan won't be able to sense you down there." Tsunade then busied herself with checking Sakura's vitals and, once she had confirmed everything was acceptable, she looked to Naruto.

"Go home. Get a shower. The patients are going to think I let someone die in here with how bad you smell."

"Baa-chan, Sakura just woke up—"

"Even more the reason. She and I need to talk." Naruto was less than pleased at getting kicked from the hospital room, but he was glad to have been there when Sakura woke up.

"I'll be back soon, Sakura-chan!" He blew her a comical kiss as he walked out and closed the door behind him, departing the hospital for that very needed shower.

The mood in the room turned somber and the older woman stared at her prize student in the hospital bed. "I'm not expecting a report right away. But I do need to know one thing so I make sure I'm treating everything."

Please, please no.

"You were used as a threat – to send a message." The statement held a warry question.

"Yes." Sakura would have been surprised at her dull and emotionless tone if she wasn't so absolutely exhausted. She was too tired to feel much of anything other than the pain radiating from most of her body.

"If you're up to it I'm going to do another session on your shoulder." The pink haired girl nodded numbly and rotated onto her stomach while Tsunade pushed open the back of Sakura's hospital gown to reveal inflamed and marred skin. "I'm doing everything I can to prevent scarring." I know, shishuo. I'm sorry.

Neither woman was aware of the masked chakra signal standing next to the closed door. Kakashi had listened to the interaction.