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Vespertine
Chapter Seven: The Mission
The world seems not the same
Though I know nothing has changed
It's all my state of mind
I can't leave it all behind
Sakura told the Hokage everything, expanding upon what she'd only touched on in her letter. She related how she'd come upon Itachi by accident in Moyama, went to his room expecting from Junko's description to find Sasuke, only to get the surprise of her life to discover his notorious, supposedly dead older brother. She gave the details of his illness and his pitiful state. She explained again how Itachi had bargained with her, first offering to provide information on Sasuke's whereabouts in exchange for a medical evaluation, and then furthering the deal by asking her to heal him to the best of her ability, for which he would help Konoha bring Sasuke in.
"Obviously I was skeptical," she said. "I had no idea whether he intended to keep his word, or if he even knew anything at all. But I knew I couldn't just walk away from a chance to bring Uchiha Itachi under some form of custody, so I agreed. If he was telling the truth, it was a chance Konoha couldn't pass up."
"I agree," Tsunade said. "But you took an enormous risk in doing this without sending for backup first. For all you knew he could have intended to kill you."
"I was aware of that," she acknowledged. "But there was no time to wait for backup. He wouldn't have lived that long. At any rate, he was too weak to actually harm me, and I was fully prepared to keep him sedated and weakened until he was fit for transport to Konoha, but it turned out to be unnecessary."
Sakura went on, relating events the Hokage didn't know about, what happened after the encrypted letter was sent. She talked about the three-day fever episode and how close Itachi had come to dying, how she had barely managed to keep him alive. She didn't mention the chakra bond, but Tsunade studied her very keenly at that point, and probably suspected what had happened. No one had more experience in medical ninjutsu than her master. But Sakura left those personal unsettling details out of her report.
What she did relay was how the very same day he awoke from the near-comatose state, he offered the information he'd promised, much sooner than Sakura had expected. She explained in close detail what Itachi had revealed to her, recalling almost verbatim the ugly truths surrounding Konoha's founding, the story of Uchiha Madara and what he planned to do to Konoha and the entire shinobi world. Then she talked about the massacre, and the room became very quiet and tense as the truth of that night and what led to it was fully disclosed.
Tsunade listened to it all with a stony intensity. There was a heavy silence between them after Sakura finished. Finally, the Hokage leaned into her high-backed chair, crossed her arms over her chest and said plainly, "Well. That was certainly more informative than the version I heard."
Sakura's eyes widened and her mouth fell open, momentarily stunned. "…You knew?"
The older woman shrugged slightly. "I'm a Senju, Sakura; the Shodai was my grandfather. Of course I know about the rivalry and bad blood between our clans. I know why Madara turned against the village, and it's been rumored for some time that he was still alive, causing trouble for us. I didn't know he was the real leader of Akatsuki, though it makes sense now…"
"And what about Itachi?"
Tsunade sighed quietly, her expression sobering. "I knew about the massacre and Itachi's true role, as well. The elders don't know that I know, of course."
Sakura was honestly a little indignant. "Shishou…if you knew already then why did you order me to rush home like it was an emergency?"
"Because I wanted to hear it directly from you, which in essence is hearing it directly from Itachi." She gave her student a shrewd, appraising look. "I trust you haven't left anything out…"
"Of course not," she said, keeping her expression carefully controlled. No one needed to know her personal business. It didn't affect her sense of duty, so it shouldn't matter.
"Well," Tsunade continued, uncrossing her arms to drum her long red fingernails lightly on the desk, "then it seems Itachi did leave something out."
"What do you mean?"
"What he didn't tell you was that he never stopped being a double agent. I'm sure you heard Jiraiya mention his contact in Akatsuki a few times..."
She blinked in surprise, but suddenly certain things made a lot more sense. "It was him?"
The Hokage nodded. "Yes, but presumably he doesn't know that anyone but Jiraiya knew about it. Jiraiya told me everything a few years ago, just after Itachi showed up in Konoha. If you remember, there was an incident with Kakashi, Kurenai, and Gai. Following that,Sasuke took off after Itachi, and there was another incident in the hotel where Jiraiya and Naruto were staying."
"How could I forget," she said sourly. That incident was what eventually triggered the fight on the hospital rooftop, where Sakura, terrified that her teammates would kill each other, had tried to intervene only to nearly be killed herself by their reckless aggression. She had never learned from either of them what really happened at that hotel. Only a few days later Sasuke left Konoha for good, and Naruto soon after for his training with Jiraiya. Kakashi was still recovering from his fight with Itachi, and she was left alone. So in a roundabout way, she supposed Itachi was responsible for the collapse of Team Seven. Consequently, that meant he was also sort of responsible for her growth as a shinobi, for causing the situation that led to her desperately pleading with Tsunade to apprentice her.
Tsunade continued, interrupting her thoughts, "Itachi was supposedly after Naruto on behalf of Akatsuki, and he had a clear chance to take him that day, but he stalled by fighting with Sasuke long enough for Jiraiya to arrive and pose a feigned threat, and then Itachi and his partner retreated. Similarly, he didn't do any real damage when he was in Konoha, and fled the moment he was faced with a serious fight."
He'd been avoiding doing harm to any Konoha shinobi, or more likely, he'd been keeping his partner, Hoshigake Kisame, from hurting or killing anyone. Sakura was a little resentful of the fact that he'd hospitalized Kakashi after using the Sharingan to torture him, but tactically she understood that if the elite Copy Ninja hadn't been fully incapacitated, Itachi wouldn't have been able to avoid bloodshed. "What was he doing in Konoha in the first place?"
"Apparently his appearance had nothing to do with Naruto," Tsunade answered. "Around that time, Sasuke's curse-seal was nearly out of control, and there was some talk among the council of doing away with him before he snapped and accidentally killed someone. Itachi somehow learned of this and showed up to make a statement; that he was still alive and still a threat to those responsible for the massacre, that Sasuke was still under his protection." The Hokage sighed and shook her head. "I have to hand it to him: he's a master of espionage. I wanted to somehow make contact with him after Jiraiya died, but he was reported dead himself only a few weeks later. I was shocked; I didn't think Sasuke would have been capable of killing him. But nobody knew Itachi was sick."
"Even with Itachi being deathly sick, Sasuke still couldn't kill him," Sakura said. "Itachi said he collapsed due to exhaustion and overstraining himself in his weakened condition. Sasuke was never able to confirm his death, which probably means he collapsed as well, before Madara took him in."
"That doesn't surprise me. Itachi was always a phenomenal shinobi. When I heard the news, I was honestly disappointed at such a waste of a brilliant and talented life. I'm truly glad he's alive. I think it's incredible that you found him, and we're unbelievably fortunate that he's still willing to work with us after everything. That man has so much information…he truly could help us bring down both Akatsuki and Madara once and for all."
Sakura agreed with her mentor wholeheartedly, but she couldn't get past her almost casual dismissal of the events surrounding Itachi's exile. "What about the enemies inside the village? How could you just let them go free?" she demanded heatedly, displaying a rare, almost Naruto-like breach of formality.
The Hokage sent her a reproving glare. "Because it's not as simple as you want it to be, Sakura," she said curtly. "Believe me, if it was I'd have had them in chains the moment I found out about it. However, I can't just arrest them. What they did was horrible and wrong on many levels but the fact remains it was a sanctioned order given by the Third. They did nothing illegal. Even if I could have them arrested, I'd have to explain why, and the resulting scandal would cause civil unrest. The people of Konoha would lose faith in its leadership. Or didn't you think of that?"
She had thought about it, and she understood what her mentor was saying, but she still couldn't accept it. "So you're going to do nothing?"
"Why do you think I've shut them out of every decision regarding this village?" she countered sharply. "I've been watching Danzou ever since I took office, and for the last six months he's been under twenty-four hour surveillance. He's up to something, and when I find out what it is I'll bring him down and take great personal pleasure in it. As for Homura and Koharu…I'm trying to find a way to force them into a very quiet and obscure retirement. But it has to be done discreetly."
"More cloak and dagger…" Sakura muttered bitterly.
Tsunade sighed. "You've been my assistant long enough to have realized that politics and government aren't always as simple as right and wrong."
"They should be," she retorted bluntly, not caring how naïve, or how insolent she sounded.
"Unrealistic as that is, I sometimes wish it too."
"With Naruto it will be different," Sakura said resolutely.
Tsunade smiled knowingly. "I hope so. If anyone can find a way to change the way our world works, it's him."
Despite her defiant declaration of hope, Sakura couldn't bring herself to feel positive as the full extent of the situation became clear to her. "If the truth about the massacre can't be brought to light, then Itachi's name can't be cleared…" she said dejectedly.
It helped somewhat that her mentor seemed to share her disappointment. "As much as I want to pardon him and let him come back to Konoha, as much as his knowledge and skills would be a tremendous advantage to regain, it's not possible at this time. Not until we can find some other way to explain his circumstances."
Sakura was silent for a while, disillusioned and frustrated. She forced herself to look at the positives. Itachi was a valuable agent under deep cover, not a criminal at all. There would be no punishment, no death sentence. That, at least, was a great consolation. They could move forward with hope. "So what do I do now?"
"You mentioned the dramatic improvement in his condition after you began treatment. What is your overall opinion? Can you fully heal him?"
At that, Sakura had to smile a little. "I believe I can, yes. He's recovering so quickly. At worst, his life will be prolonged a few more years. At best, a complete cure."
Tsunade smiled as well, pleased by the prognosis. "Excellent. Then I want you to go back to him and finish what you started. Do your best. I'm making this an official mission, extended as long as necessary. It isn't secure to correspond in writing, but we can communicate through Katsuyu. I'll contact you every few weeks for a briefing. You answer to no one but me. Once Itachi is able, he will hold up his end of the deal by helping Team Kakashi find Uchiha Sasuke and ensure one way or another that he will no longer be a threat to Konoha."
Sakura was a little startled by the dire implication, but not entirely surprised. It was a possible outcome she had long been prepared for. "I understand," she said evenly. "And what happens after that? For Itachi, I mean. From what you're saying, it could be a long time before we can find a way to reinstitute him without a scandal…what's going to happen to him once this is over?"
Tsunade's eyes narrowed a fraction, studying her student. "I can't say right now. It's too early to know how these events will play out, at any rate."
It wasn't a satisfying answer, but Sakura had no choice but to accept it. The Hokage reached into the topmost drawer of her desk and removed a large scroll.
"What is it?" she asked, taking the scroll as it was passed to her.
"The destination half of a chakra-link teleportation jutsu. Activate it and it will notify whoever is bound to the other end that you need them, and they can then teleport to your location," Tsunade explained, her expression becoming grave. "Itachi is a critical target to a lot of people, all of them extremely dangerous. If Akatsuki, Madara, or even Danzou learn of his existence and whereabouts, you can be sure they will come for him. This scroll will send you immediate backup."
"Who is my backup?"
"Some of the few shinobi capable of handling such a threat," the Hokage said, smirking. "Your teammates."
Sakura couldn't help feeling on edge at the idea of an all-out battle against such enemies, but it eased her mind to know her boys would be there if she needed them. She smiled faintly.
"I'd like to take some supplies back with me," she said after a moment. "There's only so much I can find in that little village."
"Talk to Shizune on your way out; she'll get you whatever you need, including a mission allowance."
Sakura nodded and rose, eager to get things done so she could go home and relax for a while.
"There's something else you need to know. About Sasuke."
The ominous tone made her stomach tighten, and she warily sat down again.
"You already know that he's been in contact with Uchiha Madara since his fight with Itachi. It now appears that under Madara's influence, Sasuke has joined Akatsuki."
Sakura felt as if her stomach had dropped through the floor. "What?"
The Hokage nodded grimly. "He and his current team of fellow missing-nin, all wearing Akatsuki cloaks, attacked and kidnapped the eight-tail jinchuuriki. It was witnessed by several Cloud nins. If he's that far under Madara's control, assuming he knows the truth about the massacre and his brother, it's very likely he intends to return to Konoha for vengeance."
Sakura couldn't believe what she was hearing. Sasuke attacking a jinchuuriki and handing him over to Akatsuki? Attacking Konoha? Had he completely forgotten where he came from and who he was? Didn't he care about what Akatsuki was trying to do? Had he forgotten Naruto? Rage and disappointment bubbled up inside of her. If anything had been in reach, she would have shattered it. "That stupid bastard!"
"There's more." Tsunade had fully expected the outburst, and continued without qualm when Sakura fixed angry, incredulous eyes on her. "The jinchuuriki they captured is the Raikage's brother, and Kumo is up in arms. I've received a formal letter." She paused a moment, gave her student a long, pointed look. "I'll warn you here and now, Sakura: the Raikage is demanding justice. After all he's done, allowing Sasuke back into Konoha may not be possible."
Sakura exhaled sharply, put her spinning head in her hands. "Naruto will kill him first…this is beyond betrayal. Why does he have to fuck up everything?" A thought occurred to her, and she raised her head and scowled. "None of this would have happened if Sasuke had been told the truth in the first place."
"You're probably right, but no one knew he intended to abandon Konoha and chase Itachi to the ends of the earth. If I'd known the little fool was going to run off, I would have told him myself. But what's done is done, and we all have to live with the consequences of our actions. Sasuke is not above that. If the Raikage demands his death or imprisonment…to prevent war I will have to allow it."
Sakura didn't argue. In fact, she was a little surprised to realize she didn't have an argument. She didn't disagree, and at the moment she was hurt and angry enough to believe Sasuke really did deserve to pay for all the hurt and betrayal he'd invoked on people—especially people who cared for him and had shed blood, sweat and tears to help him!
She didn't voice her thoughts aloud to the Hokage, instead simply asked, "Does Naruto know?"
"Yes, and as you can imagine, he didn't take it well. He's on a mission with Sai and Yamato, and they're under instruction to ensure he doesn't make any…irrational decisions. He'll be fine; we'll make sure of it. You're to leave again in the morning."
Sakura rose again, and moodily walked to the door. Tsunade called out to her. "…In light of these events your mission is now a critical priority. Itachi may be our best chance to prevent this disaster. I'm counting on you."
She forced a small, tight-lipped smile. "I won't let you down, Shishou."
"I know you won't. And Sakura?" Tsunade fixed her with a perceptive stare. "I know this is putting a lot of pressure on you, and sometimes the effects of such strain can be intense and…unexpected. Promise me you'll be careful."
Sakura knew her mentor wasn't talking about exhaustion or chakra strain. Her smile this time was a little more heartfelt. "I will."
The sun had set by the time Sakura entered her house. She kicked her boots off and fell onto her couch with a heavy sigh, physically and mentally drained. However, her mind was too full to truly relax.
She missed Naruto and wished he were home. They could have raged and lamented together over a bowl or three of ramen; it always seemed to help when it came to things like this. He must be devastated. She was so angry at Sasuke, and wished he were there before her so she could throttle him. Did he intend to fight against them again, this time to the death? Did he plan to help Akatsuki kidnap and suck the soul out of the man who'd been his best friend?
Sakura would kill him herself before she let that happen.
The likelihood that Sasuke had changed into someone completely different from their once-teammate and that he might be lost to them forever was something she'd reconciled long ago, but this new turn of events had opened the wound afresh, and now she was filled with the familiar hurt she thought she was long over. Her insides twisted bitterly, but her eyes remained dry; she would never cry over him again.
She thought of Itachi suddenly. It had been nearly four days since she'd left him. Was he okay? Was he taking his meds? Eating enough? Sleeping properly? He was a grown man and could take care of himself, she knew, but she couldn't help but worry. His wellbeing had become extremely important to her. She was anxious to return, and not entirely for medical, mission-related reasons, though she refused to think of it in terms of 'missing' him.
Unbidden, the memory of their last moments together surfaced in her mind—the feel of his fingertips softly moving through her hair, his knuckles ghosting over her skin, the intensity in his dark eyes that caused her insides to tighten in the most strangely pleasant way….
Sakura was glad there was no one around to see her blushing.
Whatever was happening between them had her confused and excited and afraid all at once. A few weeks ago she had seriously debated killing him. Was it the chakra connection that had broken down those barriers of distrust and fear? Or was it the fact that Itachi was nothing like his reputation, and she saw him in a completely different light now?
They still barely knew each other. That was changing little by little, day by day, but sometimes he was so reserved she felt she'd gladly give an A-ranked paycheck just to know what he was thinking. He was like his brother in that regard, only whereas Sasuke was taciturn and deliberately held others at arm's length, Itachi seemed more naturally introverted. There was no attitude behind his silences; he just wasn't much of a talker. When he did open up, she found him to be interesting and likeable. She enjoyed his company.
But was she really…attracted to him? There was no denying he was easy on the eyes, and that was putting it mildly. Even a devastating, fatal illness hadn't been able to completely quash his almost ridiculous good looks. On top of that, he had a presence that commanded notice, even when he seemed not to want it. It amazed her how such a quiet person could be so intense. And the way he looked at her at times…
Did his actions as they parted indicate he was also attracted to her? Was he thinking about her while she was gone, as she was thinking about him? Would something like that moment happen again between them? Did she want it to?
Sakura shook her head roughly. This was not what she should be thinking about right now. There were far more important things happening than…whatever it was with Itachi.
For example, how was she going to tell him what she'd learned today? A cold, sinking feeling filled her at the thought of informing him of the depths of his brother's betrayal. She imagined he would react with the same stoic control he usually displayed…but she had learned that inside he was far from unfeeling. He would be disappointed…maybe even angry. He certainly had cause to be; Sasuke's actions were a complete disregard for everything Itachi had fought and given his life for.
Sakura began to brood again, but was soon interrupted by a knock at the door; three light, rhythmic taps she recognized at Ino's signature knock. The chakra signature confirmed it was indeed her longtime friend and sometimes rival. Sakura was tired and grumpy and wasn't sure she really wanted to talk to the busybody right now, but knowing Ino, she wouldn't go away until let in. With a sigh, she forced herself up and went to open the door.
"Sakura!" the blonde exclaimed. "I was at my parents' for dinner and I saw the light on. When did you get back?"
"I'm not really back."
Ino gave her a look. "So you're just a figment of my imagination?"
"I mean I'm leaving again in the morning. I just came back for a briefing," she explained.
"Well that sucks. What kind of crappy mission did you get stuck with this time?" Without waiting for an invitation, she stepped over the threshold and forced Sakura into a light hug.
"Ino, it's not a good time," Sakura began tiredly, "I still have things to do and I want to get some sleep tonight…"
Ino brushed her off with a wave and seated herself on the couch. "Come on, Sakura, it's been way too long since we hung out. Who knows when we'll have another chance to catch up?"
It was true, she supposed, and Ino was her closest girlfriend—bad sense of timing or not. Sakura resigned herself and went to join her.
"So, what's your mission about? I know it's either really important or really boring; you've been gone for ages."
"It's a special assignment for the Hokage," she said vaguely. Ino knew she was hedging and just stared at her, finely arched eyebrows raised expectantly. Sakura suppressed a sigh. "I can't talk about it."
"Ooh?" Aqua eyes lit up at the idea of intrigue. "I take back what I said about boring and crappy, then. Go on—you can tell your best friend…"
Sakura snorted. "So you can tell everyone else?"
Ino pretended offense. "I can keep quiet when it matters!"
Sakura laughed incredulously. "No you can't! I really can't talk about it."
"Fine, fine," Ino said airily. "Well whatever it is it must be something major, because you seem different."
"Different how?" she demanded, frowning slightly.
Ino shrugged. "I dunno…older, maybe. But in the good way," she amended quickly, seeing Sakura's scowl. "You have this…vibe. It's weird. You also look happier," she added slyly, smirking.
"I don't see how that's possible. I'm actually in a pretty lousy mood right now."
"I meant in a general sense. Did you meet a guy?"
A scoff, accompanied by a frown to discourage anymore talk of that nature. Ino's perceptiveness annoyed her, and she honestly didn't know what to make of her comment. She seemed happier? Did spending time with Itachi…make her happy? The idea was absurdly confusing, and so she chose to disregard it completely.
"So what's bothering you, anyway?"
"Another thing I can't talk about. I'm alright though, just…irritated."
Ino sighed. "Jeez, you're just full of secrets lately, aren't you? I'll get them out of you sooner or later." In her customary habit of rapidly switching gears, she went on, "Speaking of secrets…I was working at the shop the other day, and guess what I heard…"
Sakura listened to her prattle on about who was sleeping with whom and other village gossip, actually listening for once in order to prevent herself from dwelling on things she'd rather not acknowledge. After a while Ino suggested they watch an old romantic comedy on TV and despite her weariness, Sakura agreed. They laughed and gave silly commentary about the film while devouring an entire basket of persimmons Ino's mother had picked from her garden. It felt good to do something mindless and easy for once, and Sakura actually enjoyed herself. By the time Ino left, she was in a fairly pleasant mood, most of her anger and anxiety forgotten.
Alone again, Sakura began to pack. Before coming home, she'd gone shopping with her mission allowance, buying clothes for Itachi that she assumed would suit him better than what he had, as well as grocery items she was unlikely to find in Moyama—mainly snacks and sweets. She packed a box of her favorite tea, her own shampoo, as well as her own laundry soap with fabric softener—the powdered stuff she'd found in the cabin was awful. She ensured she had clothes for the harsher climate; pants and sweaters—including her favorite oversized navy blue hoodie she'd stolen from Naruto, and a pair of fur-lined winter boots that she loved but almost never had a chance to wear.
She found a storage scroll, similar to the one that held her giant encyclopedia, and began loading it with things that weren't needed but definitely wanted for a long stay indoors during winter: books, a deck of cards, a shogi board, and her medical journal; she'd made several discoveries while healing Itachi and she wanted to record them, and had a few more ideas she wanted to try if he'd let her. On top of those things, she added whatever wouldn't fit easily in her backpack. For good measure, she added a couple blankets, a few more everyday items she didn't want to be without, and once satisfied, sealed it all up in the scroll for easy transport.
It was still early by Sakura's standards but she was already tired and also wanted to leave as early as possible the next morning. Her bed was big and comfy and inviting after two weeks of sleeping on a military cot and she fell on it with a loud, exaggerated sigh, throwing an arm over her eyes. She spent the next several minutes in dark, welcome silence, and was on the edge of sleep when her senses prickled, alerting her to the presence of someone on her windowsill.
"Kaka-sensei, what the hell are you doing in my bedroom?" she demanded flatly, without opening her eyes.
She heard the faint brush of feet touching her floor as he invited himself in further. "I came to visit my favorite student, of course," he replied affably.
Sakura rolled her eyes a little and sat up, fixing her gaze on the tall, lanky form with a shock of silver hair outlined by moonlight. "I assume Tsunade-shishou has told you, then."
"Mm."
He sat at the foot of her bed. Sakura clicked on the bedside light and scooted next to him. As usual his presence was unruffled and calm, which now that she thought about it, reminded her a little of someone else. "Weren't you surprised?"
"Yes and no. I've learned never to take anything at face value in our world." He seemed to be thinking, and it was a moment before he continued. "Uchiha Itachi…I've said before that I can't beat him, and those times when we met in combat he could have killed me, as well as anyone else that went up against him…but he didn't. There was always an air of pacifism about him that I thought was strange…but it makes sense now."
"He never fought to kill," Sakura mused quietly. "He never took Naruto when he had a chance, even the one time he was alone with him."
"I knew him a little in ANBU," Kakashi said, glancing at her. "He was one of the most skilled and dedicated commanders the ops has ever seen. He's still highly respected there to this day among veterans who remember him, though of course no one ever talks about it openly. Despite his reputation for complex tactics and ruthless efficiency, no one saw it coming. No one thought he was capable of what he did, and truthfully there are still some who doubt the story."
Sakura's eyes widened slightly at this information, Kakashi smiled ironically beneath his mask.
"ANBU operatives know enough about covert assignments and cover-ups to not buy so easily into an explanation that makes no sense."
Sakura smiled. It was good to know that Itachi wasn't regarded as a monster by everyone, that there were at least a few who would support and welcome him if… She looked up at her team leader. "Tsunade said the truth about him can't be revealed for the sake of the village, that some other explanation would have to be found first. Do you think he'll ever be able to come back to Konoha?"
Kakashi regarded her a long moment. "I don't know," he said at length, "I suppose anything's possible. After everything that's happened, he may not want to."
Sakura was slightly taken aback by that idea, but knew it was a likely possibility. She hadn't talked to Itachi about that yet, not until there was a more concrete idea of what to expect in the future. Kakashi was still studying her, his dark eye narrowed perceptively; an expression with which she was quite familiar. "What?"
"Do you want him to come back?" he asked mildly.
"…Of course," she said levelly. "He doesn't deserve to live in exile."
"Hm. Is that the only reason?"
"What does that mean?"
Kakashi gave a faint shrug. "You seem pretty…fond of him. You know…attached."
"I'm not attached. Wholly dedicating yourself to another person's survival leaves a pretty deep imprint…at least for a while," she explained succinctly. "Though I'll admit…he's not at all how I expected him to be."
Sakura hated when he looked at her like that, like he knew what was going on better than she did. "I like him. As a person. There, are you happy?"
Kakashi just smiled at her, visible eye crinkling. "I'm happy if you're happy."
Sakura sighed. "You can be really annoying sometimes, you know that?"
"That really hurts my feelings, Sakura."
Sakura laughed faintly. "You're a bad liar, too."
"Remember when you used to respect me?"
"Whatever gave you that idea?"
By now a full grin had spread across her features, and she could tell Kakashi shared it beneath his mask. They sat in companionable silence for a minute, and then Kakashi pulled the other half of the teleportation scroll from his vest.
He tapped it against his palm. "Hopefully we won't need to use this, so I doubt I'll see you for a while."
Once again she felt relieved that her teammates would be there if she needed them. If all went well she wouldn't, and she would miss them. "Tell Naruto…" She trailed off and a short, humorless laugh escaped her. "Gods, I don't even know…"
Kakashi gave a barely perceptible nod. "He knows," he said, clasping her shoulder reassuringly. "Things will work out somehow. I have faith in my teammates."
Sakura gave him a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Sensei."
He stood silently, returned the scroll to his pocket, and reached down to playfully ruffle her hair. "Night, Sakura-chan."
Then he vanished in a puff of smoke, and after another moment, Sakura crawled back into bed and tried to get some sleep. There was a long journey ahead of her tomorrow.
Next chapter: The Conflict
