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The Hokage's Arrangement

The healing was perfect. Kakashi couldn't find a single sore muscle or even a scratch. It was a miracle he was even up. She had done an impeccable job, and even though those medics always required you to take it easy after taking a beating, Kakashi hadn't been able to help but make sure that everything was really in proper working order. He had left his apartment and made his way to the nearest shop in search of breakfast, leaving the streets down below him in favor of running across Konoha's rooftops. It didn't matter how fast he hopped from roof to roof, or how much chakra he used to do so. There wasn't the slightest hint of pain.

But unfortunately for Sakura it had to be said that Kakashi wasn't always the most considerate of people. So regardless of a job well done, he wasn't going to simply let her lounge around his couch.

Back with food, Kakashi now stood next to Sakura, still dead to the world with her mouth hanging wide open. He reached over and grabbed hold of a piece of blanket and forcefully yanked it off, pulling her halfway off the couch in the process. She woke with a grunt and a start, arm instinctively shooting out to keep her from falling. Before she could determine what was going on, Kakashi shoved something into the hand that wasn't being used to keep her from smashing face-first into the floor.

"Why can't you wake me up like a normal person!" she yelled half-heartedly, pushing herself back upright. But in truth she wasn't too concerned about her near fall. Her attention was more focused on the paper bag with food he had given her. After having barely eaten the previous day, she was starving.

Kakashi ignored her and sat at the table with his back to her. Meanwhile Sakura took no time in inspecting the contents of the bag. Rice balls, and he had thrown some bread into the mix, too. She ripped the wrapping off the first item and took an eager bite. It took a minute before she was able to speak.

"That's how you thank me after spending all that time on you?" she took another bite of her bread. "You ungwatefuh pwick," she said through a full mouth, the intensity of the insult lost.

"I could have let you starve."

It was her turn to ignore him.

Kakashi began at his own food, at a much more reasonable pace than Sakura. There was silence as she continued gorging on her food. She only paused her eating when it came time to take the rice out of its plastic wrapping, at which point she took the opportunity to try to make some conversation.

"You were out cold last night," she began. "Do you know how many times I tried to wake you? It was hard getting to the wound on your back when you insisted on lying flat on it."

No reply. He wasn't very talkative, this one. But no matter. The wrapper gone, it didn't take long for the rice to disappear, and she soon enough began to work on the next.

"Where's Pakkun?" she asked, only just noticing the pug's absence.

"Went home."

"Hm. Didn't even say bye."

That would end their exchange until Sakura finished eating, which wasn't very long.

"Anks foh sah food."

Sakura finished swallowing, and then she waited. They would probably leave the second Kakashi finished eating. She only hoped he wouldn't be in such a hurry to get rid of her that he would leave the explaining to her. She wasn't too keen on the idea of debriefing the dead.

"What's your name?"

The question threw her off for a second. "Sakura."

"Just Sakura?"

"Haruno Sakura."

"Hm." He took another bite of food.

She had been here over a day and only now did he think to ask? Well, whatever worked for him.

The silence became aggravating. She wished he would ramble on about nothing in particular, like he usually did whenever they were together. Even that was more interesting than just hearing his chewing. It wasn't the quiet in itself that was bothering her. They were known to sit around in companionable silence while they watched Naruto and Sasuke beat the guts out of each other. It was the fact that he had no desire to really acknowledge her. He had probably only fed her to keep himself out of trouble with the Hokage.

She wouldn't push it, though. If he wanted quiet, so be it. She had broken his doorknob, after all.

With nothing better to do, Sakura took to staring at the back of Kakashi's head, focusing all her attention on a single point. If she stared at it long enough, she could probably make it itch... But minutes passed, and he only continued nibbling at his food. She soon gave up and shifted her attention over to hygiene.

"Can I... shower?" So much for the quiet. Hopefully he wouldn't chew her up for talking.

"No." That settled that question.

She resumed her staring, this time aiming to create a fire. It would have worked, if Kakashi hadn't broken her concentration by standing up.

"Time to go," he said, pulling his mask back into place before turning to face her.

Sakura stood up slowly and reluctantly behind him. But she wouldn't complain this time. He had fed her and provided her with shelter, even if it had all mostly been against his will.

"Can I have my kunai back before I go?"

"Later."

Had she not proven she was trustworthy by not killing him last night?

Wasting no time, they made their way to the Hokage, Sakura growing more anxious with each step. Would the Third believe her? And even if he did, would he be able to do anything about it? What if she was stuck here for the rest of her life? Despite her worries, Sakura had trouble feeling as much worry as she probably should have been at that point. It was difficult to feel homesick or in danger when she was still within the walls of Konoha, and when everything still looked pretty much the same to her. Even Kakashi was here, as distant as he was from her.

Before she knew it, they were standing before the Hokage's office. Kakashi was poised to knock on the door, when Sakura interrupted, not quite ready to see what was behind door number one.

"Wait!" she said in a harsh whisper, pulling him a few steps away.

Kakashi let out a soft, irritated sigh, but at least he wasn't glaring daggers at her. That was a major improvement. "What is it now?"

"Don't I get a thank you? For healing you up. You would have been in the hospital at least two days if it weren't for me."

He looked at her blankly. "You can't be serious."

"But I am! I mean, just the fractured ribs alone would have taken-"

Kakashi began making his way to the door again, but Sakura grabbed his by the sleeve of his arm and pulled him back again. He was getting ready to forcefully get her into that office, but Sakura began speaking again.

"No, wait," she repeated, now sounding more serious. She paused for a second to gather her words, but made sure to hurry before Kakashi tried to run off again. "Thanks," she said. It felt like she was saying a goodbye, which she probably was in a way. It wasn't likely he would want anything to do with her after the Hokage took her off his hands. "For letting me stay, I mean." she shifted around awkwardly. She wasn't used to talking to Kakashi like this, but she didn't want him thinking she was an ungrateful moocher after she left. "I know you didn't want me there. You weren't exactly the most hospitable of hosts, and you never did let me shower either, but... thank you."

She let go of his arm. Kakashi stood there, not too sure of how to react. He hadn't been expecting a thanks, especially considering most things had happened against his will.

He cleared his throat. "Don't worry about it."

Sakura cracked a small smile. That had to be the most civil thing he had said to her ever since she had gotten here.

To avoid any further awkwardness, Sakura walked back over to the door and knocked on the Hokage's door herself. Kakashi made his way back beside her. Sakura couldn't help adding some final words.

"And when you finally become my teacher you better remember how much of an unsupportive ass you were and make it up to me," she said softly under her breath, but loud enough for him to hear.

That was a nice way to end a thank you.

"Come in," came the Third's voice.

Sakura's stomach flipped. She froze for a second. Kakashi put a hand on Sakura's shoulder and propelled her forward as he pushed open the door. The gesture reassured her, though he probably hadn't mean for it to be supportive in any way.

There on his desk, the Third sat before them.

Kakashi closed the door behind him and greeted with a bow. "Hokage-sama."

Sakura followed suit. Standing up straight again, she looked straight at the Hokage. Immediately she focused on her breathing, in an attempt to hold back the whirl of emotions that were threatening to take over.

It really was the Sandaime. He had been honored by everyone, even before his heroic death. He had been a grandfather-like figure to many, particularly to kids at the academy. He had often gone through the trouble of stopping by to cheer on and spend time with the trouble-making, soon-to-be genin. Due to her impatience with children and people in general, that was something Tsunade would most-likely never be remembered by.

His death had hurt. And to see him sitting here again, alive and well, fingers laced in front of him as always...

"Kakashi," the Third began, snapping Sakura out of her thoughts. "I was informed you had some serious injuries from your previous mission. Shouldn't you be in the hospital?"

"They weren't that serious," he said defensively. Sakura wanted to kick him. No injury was ever serious as far as he was concerned.

The Third gave him a doubtful look. He knew the jonin liked to put treatment off until in suited him.

"But that's already been taken care of," he added quickly, before the Third would request for him to be escorted to the emergency ward.

"Over the course of the night?"

"That actually relates indirectly to why I'm here."

That seemed to satisfy him in terms of the jonin's health. He directed his attention away from Kakashi and turned to look at Sakura.

"Does this have anything to do with you?" he asked. He had noticed her and her Konoha hitai-ate when she walked in. As Hokage, he was very familiar with his shinobi, but he hadn't seen this particular kunoichi around his office.

"Yes, sir," she replied, her voice bordering on weak. She almost kicked herself. She would be strong. She'd already seen her share of the resurrected, and this time was much less creepy than the others. She would have to put her emotions to the the side.

The Hokage narrowed his eyes at her, ever so slightly.

"This is Haruno Sakura, a medic-nin. She proved her proficiency at her work by treating me without the need for a visit to the hospital," Kakashi explained. "She came to me with the claim that she's from the, um... future."

"The future," the Hokage repeated, his face expresionless.

Kakashi couldn't tell what the man was thinking. Should he even continue? With the expectant look he was receiving from him, he had to assume so. "Uh, yes, the future. She estimated she's traveled six years into the past, and says she came to me because I'm to become her team leader. Other than that, I'm not quite clear on the details."

Maybe you would be if you had listened that day at the memorial, Sakura thought.

"How can we trust that you are not an enemy?" the Third said addressing her.

Sakura opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words came out. Crap! Sakura didn't know what the answer to that was, and she was having trouble thinking of anything with her mind already on slow. She doubted anything she said would have helped much, anyway. The Third turned back to Kakashi.

"What about you, Kakashi?" he asked turning to him. "You've been spending decent time in Interrogations recently. I'm sure you have valuable experience in discerning truth from lie. What do you have to say? Do you believe her to be trustworthy?"

"Ah, well..." he scratched the back of his head as he thought of an answer. He didn't like this question. "She hasn't done anything to make me think otherwise," that reassured Sakura, who was glad to have even a bit of Kakashi's trust. "But time-travel does seem a bit improbable."

"Improbable, indeed."

Shit.

"I was on a mission right outside Konoha, sir," she had to explain everything, before he drew any conclusions on his own. "My team was sent to capture the shinobi that would eventually send me here. We thought we had him under control, but he managed to grab hold of me and use his jutsu. It's my understanding that his abilities are a bloodline limit."

Kakashi looked at her with mild interest, the information sounding vaguely familiar from the first time she had told him.

"I see," the Third said simply. He paused to think for a second. "This shinobi. Did he come back with you?"

"No, sir. My teammates held him back before he could escape." The more she talked the easier it became to look him in the eye.

"Who are these teammates of yours?"

"Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Sasuke, and Uzumaki Naruto."

That caught Kakashi's attention. Of course an Uchiha would be the first to pass his test. The Hokage gave some sort of grunt, but it was impossible to know what it meant. Sakura wondered if he was planning on having her locked up.

"And did your teammates not attempt to prevent this from happening?"

"It was too late to do anything by the time the jutsu was activated. They tried, but Kakashi-sensei stopped them. He believed they would be more helpful by staying in our own time, with the most current information."

"Does this sound like a course of action you would take, Kakashi?"

He cocked his head to the side and considered it for a second. "Maybe," he replied helpfully. How was he supposed to know what his future self would think? It was hard enough knowing what he thought right now.

Not expecting to get anything more than that out of him, the Hokage resumed looking at Sakura. It was all she could do not to look away. But she wouldn't back down now. She had survived through way too much to end up going down in her own village. It was difficult, though. He was scrutinizing her, waiting for her to break down and confess that it was all a joke. Sakura didn't know what she could do to help her situation.

Kakashi continued to stand by, apparently not caring one way or another what the outcome would be. He was just the messenger here.

"Haruno Sakura," he repeated. A small smile crossed his face. Neither jonin knew what it meant.

"Hokage-sama?" said Sakura. Kakashi wanted to know what the man was thinking, as well.

"My eyes may not be what they used to, but I can still recognize you. Particularly because of the hair, of course," he paused as if to examine her even more, because clearly the stare-down hadn't been enough. "As far as I'm concerned, however, you should still be at the academy."

Neither Kakashi or Sakura knew what to say.

"The graduation test is still some time away, but plans for the new genin teams are already underway," he explained, beginning to search through some of the paperwork on his desk. The two jonin stood expectantly, waiting for him to continue. "Nothing has been confirmed, yet, of course, but what Sakura says is correct, Kakashi," he said. Sakura wondered what she was correct about. When had she been quizzed? "Iruka and I have been considering placing those two boys under your care."

He pushed a file in front of him, motioning for them to take a look at it. He took the opportunity to stand up to look out the window overseeing the village. Kakashi took a step forward and picked up the document from the desk. Sakura followed behind him, curious to see how it related to her predicament. Seeing nothing of relevance he flipped through the first couple of pages. There were names of various jonin teacher candidates, and then he found his own. There were three pictures under his name, and one of those was certainly a younger version of this Haruno Sakura. Kakashi recognized the other two as the Jinchuuriki and the one who would inherit the Uchiha clan. It all fit together.

"Does this mean we are accepting her story as true?" he asked. All she had done was prove she knew the Hokage's plans.

"Unless you have any objections." he stated, eyes still on the village.

Sakura's eyes lit up.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama!" she eagerly bowed. There would be no throwing her in a dungeon, and she wouldn't become a prisoner in an outdated Konoha. She stayed in that position until the Hokage told her to stand upright.

Kakashi wasn't ready to dance in joy with her, though. It wasn't that he wanted to mark her as a dangerous assassin and spy right off the bat, but he had trouble understanding how the Third could accept this as if it happened every day. Sensing his hesitation, the Third turned back around to address him.

"Kakashi, you in particular should be aware that the range of abilities we ninja have are many." You went and copied a couple thousand jutsu and they just never let you live it down. "Who are we to rule out time-travel as a technique someone might have managed to create?"

Kakashi thought back to his developing mangekyou. As Sakura had so usefully pointed out the first night, the whole dimension warp thing didn't sound all that probable either, but there you had it. It wasn't that far-fetched when you really though about it. But shouldn't they be looking for more concrete proof?

Sakura looked over at Kakashi worriedly. It had slipped her mind that he was here not to support her, but to fulfill his duty to the village.

"Unless you can present me with a reason for why we shouldn't believe in her word, I'm going to ask that you take her in until we can figure out a next step."

Take her in, he had said. It was times like these that Kakashi didn't like being loyal to Konoha.

Sakura was relieved. There was still no word on how, or even if, she would ever get back, but at least she had some support. That was the Sandaime she knew, always willing to help, and giving people the benefit of the doubt. His willingness to trust others was probably the reason Orochimaru had managed to get away with so much in the first place, but it was also what made so many shinobi loyal to him. Who wanted a deranged and paranoid Hokage, after all?

Was there any way for him to be saved, to be warned about his former student's plans to kill him? If they took the appropriate precautions, they could even prevent the whole Sasuke-saving episode.

"Hokage-sama, is this really necessary? We could arrange for provisional housing..." Had he not already done his part?

"The process would attract attention. I understand this may not be ideal for either of you, but we do not have enough information regarding the behavior of time-travel. We cannot risk letting you walk about freely, and potentially changing what is to happen in the future," he reasoned, taking a seat.

Kakashi understood the safety concern, but there were still plenty of other options. The Third wasn't too keen on letting him voice them, though.

"But-" Kakashi had only begun to protest when he interrupted.

"In the event that she is here for less than noble deeds, this arrangement will enable you to more easily keep an eye out for suspicious activity. Sakura," he said turning to her, at the same time ensuring Kakashi wouldn't get a chance to speak. "Understand that you will be under Kakashi's watch. You will be dealt with accordingly should we find you to be taking advantage of our trust."

As Hokage it was his job to threaten people, but Sakura had nothing to hide and therefore nothing to worry about.

"Kakashi. I am going to leave you responsible for looking up any relevant information regarding this matter in the ANBU archives. I will do some searching on my part as well, and we will move from there. For now, I will entrust her to you. Consider this a mission."

The silver-haired jonin was quite unhappy about being asked to open his home to a stranger, but the Third just wasn't leaving any room for argument. He had pulled the mission card, and that made the order as official as it could be.

"If you wouldn't mind stepping outside, there's something I would like to discuss with Sakura. It might also give you a minute to being mentally preparing for your task."

What he meant was, "get used to the idea, because you're not getting out of this". Kakashi did as he was told without a second look at Sakura. He bowed himself out of the room and closed the door behind him.

Oh, crap. If Kakashi was pissed off, she was going to be in for it. But for now she had to talk to the Hokage.

"Sir?"

"Your actions speak volumes," he started, lacing his fingers back in front of him. "But at my age, it doesn't come as a surprise."

He knew. But how could he not, with the looks she was giving him and with the waves of discomfort she was radiating around her own Hokage?

She had to tell him. She could prevent his death, and she could stop Orochimaru. Sakura made as if to speak, but the man wasn't Hokage for nothing. He was a step ahead of her.

"Let be what needs to happen," he said. "All is for a reason, and in the course of trying to mend what you believe to be broken, you may unwillingly make things worse."

How? How would preventing deaths at the hands of Orochimaru bring about any problems? He was the problem.

"This may not be clear to you now, but I ask you to give it careful thought. Negative events will eventually lead to positive consequences. Exercise caution with your words."

Sakura felt disheartened. He could only say that because he hadn't lived it. Because he hadn't seen all the wreckage Orochimaru had caused, and all the trouble the village had gone through during the period of time he had gained control of Sasuke. She couldn't question him, though.

"I understand, Hokage-sama," she said softy.

The Third smiled at her. He could see her emotions in her eyes, even if he didn't know the details of what was triggering them. "The exception is, of course, if Konoha is in danger of being blown up," he joked. "Then maybe we should do something about that."

Sakura couldn't help but smile back, mostly because he didn't know how on target he was. Fortunately that had turned out well in the end, and there wasn't much anyone other than Naruto could do about that.

"I think we'll be fine, sir."

"Good. And remember what I said. You think about that, and we'll do our best to get you back. Now call Kakashi back in, if he hasn't already run away. I need a word with him as well."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama," she beamed at him. "And I guarantee you that your trust isn't misplaced."

She bowed her way out, and a moment later Kakashi walked in. His facial expression revealed nothing.

"How are you feeling?"

"Ecstatic." Kakashi deadpanned.

"Excellent."

Sakura was too mentally exhausted to be irritated after being ditched at the Hokage Tower. Speaking to dead people could really take it out of you.

The Hokage and Kakashi's conversation had been taking a while. She was beginning to wonder what they could possibly be talking about when the Third had walked out and looked surprised to see her. He had frowned and sighed before informing her that Kakashi had left a while ago. She had dejectedly stood and made her way out of the tower.

Any good points she had won with Kakashi after her heartfelt thank you had gone back down the toilet when the Third had forced Kakashi into this arrangement.

As she approached his apartment Sakura suddenly felt his chakra signature vanish. She sighed. She knocked on his door, knowing very well that she could simply walk in with the doorknob still busted. When he didn't answer she announced her entrance and walked in anyway. Kakashi still refused to stop hiding his chakra. Sakura closed the apartment door behind her and made her way to his room, which was closed as well.

"Sensei?" she called with a knock. "Sensei, I know you're there." She shifted her weight from leg to leg and looked blanky at the door for a few moments before trying again. "I'm sorry he forced you into this. That wasn't my intention."

Maybe he really wasn't here? Hesitantly, Sakura cracked the door open and took a look inside. Kakashi was lying flat on his stomach with his head buried into a pillow. Apparently he had no need for oxygen.

"I promise I'll stay out of your way. And I'll help you around the place, too. Cooking or something." He was motionless. Perhaps he had killed himself. "Laundry, even! If you want..." Nothing. "Sensei, I really need to shower," she said forcefully, getting to the point.

Kakashi didn't want to move. He was absolutely comfortable where he was, and he hoped that if he waited long enough his brain's lack of oxygen might help him pretend that this had never happen. But that wasn't working as expected, so he finally lifted himself up a bit and turned his head to the side to face her. Sakura continued to stand at the doorway, waiting for him to realize that she did indeed exist.

"How many times have you been here before?"

"Uh... a couple?" she answered, though in truth it had been more than several. She came here looking for him whenever he was late to anything, whenever he evaded the hospital after missions, when she attempted (and failed) to demand payment after he ran out on a bill, and often just for the hell of it.

"How many times is a couple?"

"A lot." she admitted.

"Then you know where everything is," he half asked, half stated.

"I suppose so..."

She knew where he kept his porn stashed, too. But maybe he didn't want to know that.

Wow. She knew more about him than she thought.

His head smashed back down into his pillow. She assumed that gave her permission to do what she needed. But there was still a problem, and the floorboard creaked under her weight as she began shifting around again.

"Sensei?"

"What." he demanded, his face still plastered into the pillow.

"I need clothes."

The Third was going to pay.