"Come on Naruto we need to get going." Yamato was trying to get Naruto out of bed, but he was refusing. Naruto was pissed at having to leave without Sakura and he didn't want to have to travel three days with these four assholes.
"No!" Naruto pushed his face deeper into the pillow as Yamato started to hit him on the back.
"When we get home we can all go out for ramen, my treat." Kakashi leaned against the doorframe looking at his yellow hair knucklehead idiot of a teammate.
Kakashi's words seemed to perk Naruto up because he was now up and running around trying to get all of his belonging back into his backpack. Kakashi couldn't help but simile under his mask. Naruto had come a long ways since his genin days and while he was still a knucklehead Kakashi had no doubt that one day Naruto would surpass him and become Hokage.
"You guys about ready? Lord Gaara wants to see you guys off." Kakashi spun around to see Sakura standing at the bottom of the stairs. Her arm was still wrapped but the bandaged showed no since of bleeding. Kakashi was at a loss for words. He hadn't seen her since yesterday when they almost- no he thought it was just a misunderstanding. How could he think about kissing his own student? No, he was leaning in to make sure she was okay, that is what he had kept telling himself all night as he tossed and turned.
"Sakura-chan! Guess what Kakashi-sensei is going to buying ramen for everyone when we get back!" Sakura laughed as the rest of her team collected their things and headed out the door. Sakura stayed as far away from Kakashi as possible and allowed Naruto to grab her hand and lead her to the front gates. Sakura was worried. He was in the forest and she did not want them to run into him. Knowing her team they would go chasing off after him and Gaara would put the village on alert with such a strong rouge shinobi nearby.
Sakura knew what she had to do. Once the boys reached the front gate, Gaara greeted them and gave them his thanks for being Sakura to him and wished them a safe journey home. Naruto mumbled a few minutes about how next time they meet he wanted another rematch. Naruto hugged Sakura and as soon as he released her, a pink bubble began to form around Team 7.
A gust of wind wrapped around the bubble before disappearing into thin air. Once the sand stopped whirling around, only Gaara and Sakura remained.
"Why did you do that?" Gaara was a little taken back that Sakura had decided to teleport the boys back to Konoha instead of just having them walk. He knew that kind of distance took up a lot of charka.
"The sooner that draft gets to Tsunade, the sooner the treaty will be official and signed." Sakura and Gaara began walking back toward the Kazekage building to finish their work.
"What the hell!?" I heard Naruto scream as I pushed up my headband. Where is the enemy? What kind of jutsu is this?
I reached out to touch it and as soon as I did it popped and we began to fall. We fell to the ground. I quickly stood up and scanned the area. Yamato and I got into a fighting position waiting for an attack while Naruto and Sai stayed on the ground looking confused.
"How the hell are we already at Konoha?" Sai motioned toward the front gates that were just a couple of miles away.
"Did Sakura do that?" Yamato relaxed from his stance and offered his hand to Naruto to pull him up.
"Maybe, but why?" Naruto took Yamato's hand and jumped to his feet. How did she learn to do something like that?
"It doesn't matter right now, we need to report to Lady Tsunade."
"Hai!" And with that we all dashed toward her office.
"Ah what a pleasant surprise. What brings you three here to my lovely home?" The fire lord sat behind his desk sipping his tea.
The siblings shot nervous glances between one another as Danzo pulled out a folder and handed it to him.
"You see it is about my student." Danzo watched as the lord took the file and began skipping through the material.
"Ah yes Sakura-chan. You know my wife is very fond of her. Ever since she escorted her to go visit with her mother, my wife cannot stop talking about how nice it was to have a strong female shinobi next to her instead of a bunch of men." He closed the folder and giggled slightly. "Is something wrong with Sakura-chan?" He raised his eyebrow at Danzo. Surly he did not come all this way just to go over memories.
"Yes. You see I am worried that the Kazekage is toying with Sakura's emotions." Danzo pulled another folder out and handed it to the lord. "I assume you know the treaty Gaara is trying to form with the Leaf."
"Of course I know about the treaty I was the one to approve it." He huffed at Danzo's ignorance. Of course he knew about the treaty, what kind of lord would he be if he did not know about such things. "What does that have to do with Sakura-chan?" The feudal lord opened the file to see a wide arrange of photos of Gaara and Sakura. The photos showed the two at dinner, on walks, training and in bed together. "What is the meaning of this?" The lord was pissed. Sakura-chan had grown to become one of his favorite kunoichi.
"We are worried Gaara is just using her. They have been dating for such a long time and I am worried he is only using her to form this treaty. If that is the case she will be devastated." Koharu explained. "The last talk Sakura and I had, she was concerned that their relationship was going no were. Sakura-chan and I have very personal moments, and she thinks he is the one."
"I see." The lord focused on the pictures of Sakura and Gaara in bed together. I cannot allow for Sakura's feeling to be toyed with, if my wife ever found out she would kill me. Plus having a one his shinobi from his village being played with did not make him look good at all.
"You see we are just worried. Plus with this treaty we had an idea that could help strength the bonds ever more and prove whether or not Gaara was just toying with her." Danzo studied the lord's face for a moment before continuing. "What better way to strengthen a bond between two villages than by having the most powerful ninjas from each marry."
The lord's face light up. "Yes of course a marriage! If the Kazekage was married to Sakura-chan then our two villages would become one. Well that's settled."
"What is Lord Gaara refuses to marry?" Homura finally spoke up.
"Then he was just toying with our Sakura-chan and cannot be trusted. If he could use my lovely Sakura-chan like that then I want nothing to do with his village and as punishment for breaking her heart I will void our current agreement." The lord became very serious, all joy drained from his face. He was certain that if her heart was broken he would personally see to it Sand Boy was destroyed. Silence fell around the room until the lord began to grow a wide smile on his face. "Besides if they marry think about all the good things that could come out of the wedding. People I bet would travel from around the world to see their marriage, think of the money that can be made."
The elders held back their smirks and thanked the lord for looking out for their student. The four of them sat in the office and began to plan the upcoming wedding.
"What do you think of the treaty M'Lady?" Shizune leaned against the window holding her pig peering over Tsunade's shoulder.
"I think it is perfect. The treaty benefits both parties equal, but I expect nothing less from my prized student." Tsunade leaned back in her chair and cracked her back. "Send word to Gaara that I approve the first draft and that we can proceed to the next step."
Shizune rushed out the door, leaving Tsunade and I alone. I had sent Sai, Naruto and Yamato home to relax. I wanted to talk with Tsunade alone.
"Why didn't you tell me?" The words left my mouth once we were alone. I was pissed. No to say I was pissed was an understatement. I was in the village while this happened and she didn't think it matter enough to tell me Sakura had found another teacher. Tsunade looked up at me confused.
"Tell you what Kakashi?"
"That you were not Sakura's only teacher." Tsunade eyes widen.
"What are you talking about? I am the only one who trained Sakura these past three years I-"
"Don't bullshit me! That is not what Gaara said. Her skills have improved too much to just have been trained by you-"
"Kakashi Hatake are you trying to state that Sakura could not have improved as much as she did with just me a teacher?" I could see Tsunade grip something under her desk probably ready to throw it at me but I didn't care.
"What has Sakura-chan been up too these last three years?"
"Well it looks like you finally have interest in her again." Her eyes shot draggers but what really stung were her words. I went to protest her statement that but that look she shot me, I knew better than to open my mouth. "She was with me, training day in and day out. When she wasn't one a mission or in Suna she was at the hospital. Why?"
"When did she get into anbu? Why wasn't I told?" I looked down. I had missed so much of her life. I blinked and she went from being a little girl to a young women. Gaara had me worried, he knew more than what he was letting on. I felt helpless I couldn't protect her, how could I when I pushed away for as long as I did.
"About two years ago, right after her parents died I-"
"What?!" How could she not let me? How did I not know? The hell she must have been in and where was I? Probably in a bar drinking.
"She didn't tell you." I shook my head no. "I see. Sakura did not tell a lot of people. I think besides me and Shizune, Ino is the only other person who knows. They were mugged on their way home from a trip to the Land of Waves and were killed. Their belongings were taken, but we could never finger out who did it." Tsunade looked down. "Sakura reacted terrible to the whole situation. She simply said that she shouldn't be upset. Shinobi die every day. She didn't cry, instead she plugged herself into her work. That's when she quickly began surpassing me."
"Why didn't you tell me?" I couldn't look her in the eye. I felt worthless, scum couldn't even begin to describe what kind of person I was.
"I thought she had told you. As for anbu I left it up to her to decided when she told her team."
"I'm worried about her." Tsunade stood up from her desk and walked toward the window. I could see a worried expression on her face. "Before we left Suna, Gaara asked Yamato and I to look after her. He said she had found another teacher and seemed disturbed by whoever that teacher was." I could see Tsunade eye harden.
"And he wouldn't tell you who?" I nodded. "Very well. You are dismissed."
"You're not going to do anything about Sakura!" I screamed. Tsunade raised a hand and silenced me.
"Go home Kakashi. You are no longer her teacher I am. I will handle it. Dismissed."
I gritted my teeth and bowed. I left the office without another word and made my way toward her apartment. I had a spare key to her apartment, all of Team 7 did. We had all given each other spares, a couple years ago just in case we need to check on one another or look after each other's place when off on missions.
The walked to her apartment was about fifteen minutes. I kept replying Tsunade's words over 'you're not her teacher anymore,' no I stopped being her teacher the moment Naruto left the village but that didn't mean I didn't care. I wanted to be there for her. I wanted to try and make it up to her. I wanted to be her sensei again, her friend. Or did I want something more?
No. I cannot allow myself to have those feelings. I blew it. I reached her apartment and took the spare key out of my pocket. When I opened the door and went outside everything looked so different. I quickly went to her bedroom to look for clues when I found it.
It had been three days since the males of Team 7 returned home. Two days ago we received word that Lady Tsunade had approved the first draft. Gaara and I have been hard at work working on a second draft that will have to be approved by the feudal lords, but I don't see there being a problem.
I had been in meeting all day discussing different matters with the council of Suna. While majority of the council members trusted me, some still wanted to keep me at an arm's length. In fact during my second meeting of the day one of the assholes had the nerve to ask me to step outside of the room because he did not want me to hear matters revolving around their new training programs in their anbu. I gathered my things and stood up to walk out of the meeting when Gaara said I was to be informed of all matters of Suna and that no one was allowed to excluded me for meetings. After that no one dare question my presence in the meetings.
I knew I had my work cut out for me. In Suna, males still hold all the positions of power. There wasn't a single female on the council and I knew they looked down on me for being a women. They thought only men should discuss such details and that women should focus on more important things, like bearing more sons for Suna to turn into ninja. Half of the council did not think I was strong enough to have this position. Kankuro quickly silenced them stating I could take down the top of their anbu all at once. While his statement was nice, I am sure it will come to bit me in the ass later.
While the younger generation did not follow this mind set, the older generation fought back. And since I was both an outsider and a female, maybe of them did not trust me, even after I saved their asses during the attack. But I knew my place, I did not need their approval to do my job, I just needed Gaara's and I had it.
After the meetings I headed to the hospital to check on the staff and patients. Their medical team had come a long way since the first time I came to help. I was really proud of my students, they were all making great strides. After I made my rounds I headed to my office on the second floor.
I went through my file cabinets and grabbed his file. His eyes were getting worse and I still hadn't found a solution. I need to work on this tonight, and with that I grabbed the file and headed toward Gaara's.
"You wouldn't believe the face Sakura-chan made when Sai first called her ugly." Naruto started laughing so hard that tears began to from in the corner of his eyes. "I had to hold her back before she killed him and then" he stopped again unable to hold his laughter.
Naruto kept talking about their first encounter with Sai but I couldn't pay attention I was just playing with the noodles in my bowl. I was distracted. Naruto missed Sakura constantly and wouldn't shut up about her, which wasn't helping my situation. I kept replying what I found in her apartment over and over again.
The first thing I did was go into her bedroom. It wasn't what I expected, I thought there would be pink wall to wall but instead it was a neutral gray color, with purple bed sheets. I went to her closet and started to go through her things. Her anbu uniforms stood out right away. She had ten sets of the uniform which was an unusual amount to carry. Normally everyone kept three at home and if one got destroyed then you returned it in and were given a new one. The deeper I went into the closet the more and more uniforms I found. They all weren't typical anbu uniforms. Most resembled what Yamato used to wear when he was in the-FOUNDATION!
I took a step back from the closet and let the uniform fall out of my hand. She was in the foundation. How did that happen? When did that happened? How could I allow that to happen?
As always when it came to Sakura every time I found one answer I had one thousand new ones. I finished going through her closet and then turned my attention through her drawer.. I opened the drawer and started to pull the articles of clothing out to see if she was hiding something underneath.
The first piece of clothing I picked was soft, soft like silk and when I took a closer look I realized I was holding one of Sakura's thongs. I admittedly got a nose bleed and dropped her panties. I need to get ahold of myself, I have seen women's thongs before. Yeah but not Sakura's. I carefully picked up the colorful thong and placed it gently in the drawer and closed it.
It took three hours for me to go through her house completely. It was odd, she had very little photos in her house. She only had two photos, one of Team 7 and one of her parents. I looked all around the house, and at one point I expected to find her parents belongs, but there was nothing. The second room in the apartment had been made into a weapon's room with a small bed in the corner. She had all different types of swords, shuriken, ninja stars and scrolls hung around the room and in the closet. What did she do with her parent's stuff? Did she throw it all away?
I deiced to take one last look in her room before heading home. I looked around considering where she would be hiding something. I sat on her bed and looked around. My eyes kept going to that one particular drawer of hers and I couldn't help but think that would be a great place to hide something. I stood up and quickly began pulling her panties out.
Pink. Purple. Blue. Green. Yellow. Red. Black. White. This girl had all the colors of the rainbow and my nosebleed just kept getting worse and worse. All I could picture was Sakura walking around in my room wearing nothing but those colorful panties and one of my t-shirts. Once majority of her panties were out of the drawer and on the ground around me I found a very small scroll that was tucked in the back.
I pulled it out. Once it was outside of the drawer it doubled in size. I opened it only to find a jumble of writing that did not make sense. It must be written in code. I lifted up my headband to see if my sharingan could read it. The words started to bounce off the page and from into sentences.
What was Sakura doing with information on the Uchiha massacre? I pulled the scroll out more to reveal information on the Akatsuki and all of it members. My eyes couldn't pick up all of the words but every couple I would recognize a word and be able to guess what it was talking about.
I sat in her room all night reading the scroll. The scroll had intel on so many different topics. How did she get all of this information? Why was she gathering it?
My eyes ached and I leaned back on her bed. I let the scroll fall to the ground and I stared up to the ceiling. I took a deep breath and her beautiful scent filled my nose. What has she gotten herself into?
"Yo Kakashi are you listening?" Naruto touched my shoulder. I looked up to see Sai, Yamato and Naruto staring at me.
"Sorry, what were you saying Naruto?" Naruto smiled and continued to tell another story of Sakura-chan. I looked at Yamato and he gave me a sad smile in return. After I left her apartment I went straight to Yamato's house to explain what I had found. We had been trying to crack the code for the scroll but so far we had nothing, but why could my sharingan read it.
"Are you sure you do not want me to tag along?" Kankuro asked nervously. He did not like the idea of the pink hair ninja traveling back home alone, no matter how strong she was.
"I am sure. I should be home in four days. As soon as I report to Lady Tsunade I will send a messenger bird and let you know I got home safety." I adjusted the straps on my shoulders, making sure my pack was secured to my back. I had the second draft of the treaty and his medical records that I could not lose
"Be careful." Gaara embraced me into a tight hug. I didn't want to leave him. These past two weeks had been wonderful. I loved spending with these three. I looked at Temari and Kankuro, they looked nervous.
"I will don't worry." I pulled away. Gaara bent down and gave me a kiss on the forehead. A blush spread across my checks as I looked between the three sand siblings. They gave me a nodded, and I turned on my heels and went running out the gates.
"Have you had any luck cracking her code?" I shook my head and slam back the shot. The hard liquor burned as it made its way down my throat and into my stomach.
"The more I stare at that scroll, the less I understand. Why would she be collecting data on all these different topic? They aren't even related to one another." I kept my head low, I didn't look at Yamato as he took the stool besides me.
"How long have you been here drinking?" Yamato placed his hand on my shoulder, I sat up straighter and locked eyes with him. I knew he was worried. Ever since we returned to the Leaf Village I hadn't been acting myself. The longer I went without talking with Sakura-chan the worse my mood got.
"I've been here a while." My mind was a mess. How long had I been sitting at the bar? I couldn't remember, and I had no idea how many drinks I had been drinking. To be quick honest I was feeling the buzz pretty strong.
"We need to talk to Lady Hokage."
"No. We can't go to her unless we have everything figured out. We might do something that only cause more problems"
"Are you saying we should just wait around and do nothing?!" Yamato slammed his fists on the bar. Everyone in the bar stopped talking and looked our way.
I sighed. "We wait until she gets back, once she is back I will talk with her. Until then we cannot make a move." I put money on the table and walked out of the bar, leaving a silent Yamato watching me.
No matter what you have gotten yourself into, I promise I will save you. I will never leave you along again you have my word.
I was already a day into my journey and I was waiting for him to make his appearance. I could feel him nearby. I jumped tree to tree lost in thought. His symptoms seemed that it could have been caused by poison, but if that was the case who would want him dead. Well besides the usual suspects.
I looked up to the sky, it was already dark. I stopped jumping and deiced this would be a good spot to stop and caught my breath. Before I could jump down from the tree I felt my body being pushed backwards by such a force that my breath was knocked out of me.
My hands were grabbed and forced above my head. I felt my back hit the tree and a weight against my chest. My eyes flew open only two meet two red orbs staring back at me.
"Your reflexives are worsening." His breathed into my ear.
"Oh really." His eyes widened as he felt the sharp metal object at the back of his neck. My clone holding a shuriken to his neck.
He released my arms smirking. "I see, it's good to see you have been improving." He took another step back examining me. His eyes drifted to my arm and then to my cheek. Both of my injuries were almost healed but his eyes could always see the tiniest marks on my skin.
"It's nice to see you again Itachi." I released my clone and let out a long breath. "There is important matters we need to discuss."
"So how badly do you want the girl?" Kabuto leaned against the doorway checking over Orochimaru's medical records.
"She will play a key role in our plan to destroy Konoha." Orochimaru hissed. "Summon Sasuke."
"Yes my lord." Kabuto went to walk out of the room when he Sasuke appeared behind Kabuto.
"What do you want?" Sasuke's voice held nothing but annoyance.
"I want you to leave to the camp site we have set up on the broader of Konoha."
"Why would I do that?"
"They have sent word that a pink haired anbu has been killing off the men that were stationed closer to the village. I want you to bring her to me."
Sasuke nodded. Pink hair? The only pink hair ninja in the Leaf was Sakura but there is no way she could take down the group, could she?
"Your eyes are getting worse." My hands grew a bright green as they ran up and down Itachi's face. While I was able to repair them a little I wasn't able to heal them completely. I was upset, I had been looking for a cure for his eyes for the past two years and I had come up with nothing. "Before you leave I need more blood and hair samples." Itachi quietly nodded as I finished healing as much as I could.
"You are doing your best, you don't need to be upset." My eyes shot down, I had to try harder. My best was not good enough and I was not going to accept defeat not when it came to him.
"I miss you." I whispered. It had been over seven months since our last encounter and I had made no progress with his case.
"I know. Me too." I looked away fighting back tears. I wanted Itachi home with me, where he belonged. Ever since I lost my brother, Itachi quickly stepped in and took his place. I knew what really happened that night of the Uchiha massacre and Itachi should have been called a hero, not a monster.
"Why don't you come home? Lady Hokage will understand she will-"
"No she won't. No one will. It's my word against theirs."
"I have proof." Itachi raised his eyebrow giving me a confused look. "I have been collecting data that shows why you chose that course of action. There is no way they could turn you away once they see the facts."
"Sakura" He said her name so soft, and sweet. "You know it will never happen. I am to die at the hands of Sasuke. He is the only one who can return to the village."
"Why wouldn't you tell him what really happened? He will understand."
"No he won't." Itachi sat down on the tree branch looking off into the distance. "You cannot tell him the truth. Please I want to die, I deserve to die at the hands of Sasuke. Maybe me dying will bring him the peace he needs." I sat down next to him, leaning my head against his shoulder. I could feel the weight Itachi was carrying. I wanted nothing more than to take that weight off his shoulder and carry his burden.
"I promise to keep you alive along enough for Sasuke to achieve his goal." Itachi stood up and pulled me to my feet. He smiled before he poked my forehead and disappeared leaving only a crow's feather in his place.
If my calculations were right, I was only about twelve hours away from the Leaf. I had a bad gut feeling that things back home were about to get more complicated. Would I still be a member of the foundation if I became Ambassador? Could this be my way out? I was lost in my thoughts when I hear a stick break.
I quickly whipped around and blocked a shuriken that was aimed at my heart. As soon as I block one, three more were sent my way and I jumped higher into the trees. My eyes grew a bright green as I scanned the area. There were 85 sound ninja that surrounded me. God how could I have been so stupid? I should have noticed them miles back.
One by one they started to attack me. "Alright boys, if you want to play let's play." I reached behind and unhooked my father's sword and jumped forward. I quick slashed the throats of the three ninja in front of me, but as soon as they fell, four more took their place. "This is going to take fucking forever!" I growled.
It was like a sea of endless ninja. I could feel their blood on my skin as I waved my sword around. I couldn't allow them to touch me. One touch and it would be over. My eyes picked up on a suspicious liquid they had on their weapons, it had to be poison.
The fight went on for two hours. Eventually the sea of ninja trickled down to a lake, then a river and finally a stream. They were all powerful. My guess is they would be ranked at least jounin back in the leaf. They were more skilled than the group I was sent to take care of weeks ago.
What is the sound doing setting up cramp by Konoha? Are they planning to attack? I took out the last ninja when I stopped to scan my area. I was looking for a sound shinobi that was still alive so I could take them back for questioning. I spotted one that was leaned up against a tree clutching his shoulder, trying to stop the bleeding. "Perfect, you will becoming with me." I started to walk toward the tree.
"Stay back!" Stay Back!" The sound shinobi began screaming, begging for his life. I shook my head, when I was done with him he would wish he was dead. I had become a ruthless integrator and nothing was off limits. Even Ibiki frowned upon my methods. But as long as they were effective I didn't care how bloody or messy it got.
I appear besides the shinobi and quickly knocked him out. I took away all of their tools and scrolls and patted down his body to make sure he was not hiding anything that could be used against me when he woke up. I bent down and placed the unconscious man over my shoulder when I felt another presence.
I quickly dropped the man and jumped into the trees just in time to see a lighting black strike into the tree. I felt a stringing sensation in my shoulder and noticed it had been cut. Damnit! Dropping the shinobi took too much time, I should have just let him be hit. The loud sound of birds' chirping filled the forest. I knew that sound, it meant chidori had been used.
"S-A-K-U-R-A" He called out. I jumped back down to the forest floor, my sword held tightly in my hand. "Long time no see."
"Not long enough" I muttered. It had been a few months since Naruto and I had saw Sasuke. We tried to save him but he turned on us and left once again with Orochimaru. But I couldn't give up on Sasuke, I had to bring him home for Itachi's sake.
"What are you doing out here all alone? Don't you know it's dangerous for a little girl to be wondering around the forest all by herself?" That smirk he had on his face, I would like nothing more than to punch off.
"Then you should be worried about walking shouldn't you Uchiha?" I returned the smirk, but his quickly disappeared. The sound of birds' chirping filled the forest and I was slammed into the tree behind me. His hand was around my throat slightly lifting my feet off the ground. My sword was against his throat pressing in slightly so he knew not to move.
As his hand tighten around my neck, my blade pushed hard into his. My eyes still glowed bright green which made his red eyes useless against me. There was no way I would fall into his genjutsu.
"How were you able to kill my men? You were never this skilled before." Typically Sasuke getting straight to the point, he never did like beating around the bush.
"When the Sound start recruiting children to take the place of men fighting." I smirked as he tighten the hold around my neck. He slowly got tighter and tighter until pooff.
"What the hell? When did you-"
"Always be one step around of your enemy Uchiha. Did you honestly think I would allow you to attack me so easily?" I stepped out behind a tree I had been hiding. "You know if you return to the village I might be able to teach you a thing or two that snake breath wasn't able to."
"As if I could learn anything from a weak girl like you." Sasuke hissed clearly pissed I had pulled off a Substitution Justus right in front of his eyes.
"This weak girl just took down your entire camp for the second time." I disappear into thin air.
"How did you get this strong?" Sasuke asked as he jumped up into the tree to have a better view of the area. When I didn't response he only became angrier. "Why are you by yourself? Where is the loser?"
"If I didn't know any better Uchiha I would almost think you sound concerned as to why I was all alone." My voice echoed from several places, making it unable for Sasuke to locate me. I was leaned against a tree a little ways away trying to take the poison out of my shoulder before it could take effect. The harder I tried to take it, the more it ran into my system. I could feel myself growing tired, weaker. Fuck I have to end this soon.
"Found you!" Sasuke was in front of me blade pointing toward my chest. "I am done playing games, you're coming with me."
"Sorry Sasuke not today." I quickly jumped up and started to run back where I dropped the sound shinobi. I need to pick him up and teleport back to the village to alert the Hokage.
"Sakura I do not want to kill you but I will if you leave me no choice." Sasuke advanced toward me, his chidori in his hand ready to impact my skin as soon he had a chance. I kept running until I reached the burnt down tree.
"Until next time Sasuke." I touched the man's shoulder and quickly preform a hand sing. The shinobi and I were engulfed in a bubble and quickly drugged into a swirling vortex.
"What the fucking hell is that?" I looked up to see we were at the front gates of Konoha.
"Kotetsu clam down it's just me." I quickly stood and looked around, my eyes still glowing green. There were no unfamiliar charka signatures around or inside the village. "Lock down the village. Let no one leave the village and only allow Leaf personal to enter." I snapped.
"You do not have the authority to make that kind of decision." Izumo stepped out from behind the check in desk.
"Like fucking hell I don't!" I shouted. "Do you see this man?" I pointed toward the body laying down next to me, both gatekeepers nodded. "I just took down eighty of them on the outstretches of Konoha's boundary. We could be under attack at any moment. Now you either lock this fucking village down now or I will find a shinobi who is willing to get their head out of their ass and do it for you!" Kotetsu and Izumo shot a nervous glance at each other. They knew what rank I held. They knew I was the Hokage's personal anbu, how dare they question my authority. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes ma'am!" Both men yelled and quickly began to close the village gate.
"Kotetsu, take this man to Ibiki. I need to report to Lady Hokage right away."
"Hai!" Kotetsu quickly picked up the man and ran toward the anbu headquarters.
"Izumo I assume I can leave you to take care of the matter here until backup arrives." Izumo nodded his head and I quickly jumped to the rooftops making my way toward the Hokage tower.
"Granny Tsunade you have to give us a mission we are bored out of our minds." Naruto stuck his hands in his pockets, a pout on his face.
"NARUTO HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT?!" Tsunade picked up the book on her desk and chucked it at Naurto's head.
"Owe, owe, owe!" Naruto rubbed his forehead when the book hit him. I signed. It was always the same thing with these two.
"Lady Hokage when is Sakura-chan coming home?" I asked. I want her home, I need to talk with her. I needed to know why she had that file and why did not come to me when her parents died. I still felt a little hurt she did not confine in me what was going on with her, like she used to do when she was younger.
"She should be home any day now she actually-"Tsunade was cut off by her door opening. "Hey why did you not-Sakura! What happened?!" Tsunade looked as if she had seen a ghost.
I turned around and my heart stopped. There was my beautiful blossom standing in the doorway covered in blood. Her arm was against the door frame supporting her weight and although her eyes were closed half way they were glowing a bright green. My eye darted back and forth trying to spot a wound on her skin, but I found nothing.
"Lock down the village." Sakura took a step forward but started to collapse. I jumped forward catching her just in time. I lifted her into my arms. I looked down in disbelief. What on earth happened?
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto began screaming in my ear. Sakura closed her eyes and started to pant.
"Quick get her to the hospital now!" Tsunade began yelling.
"No! Lock down the village!" Sakura's beautiful green eyes opened, no longer glowing green. "Tsunade put up my shield now."
"What is going on Sakura-chan? What happened to you?" Naruto asked.
"The sound had a camp set up on the outskirts of Konoha, I took them out but there could be more. Tsunade put the village on red alert they could be planning to attack." Sakura began coughing.
"Naruto, Sai, Yamato go and assemble all the ninja in the village. Have them meet on the top of this building in ten minutes. Go!"
"Hai!" All three males jumped out the village and quickly made their way off in different directions.
Tsunade rushed to my side and quickly began scanning Sakura. "There is a small cut in my right shoulder. There is some type of poison that is effecting my body moment. The sound-they…are….close…by….village….under…attack…the-shield…." Sakura's eyes closed.
"Sakura! Sakura! Wake up!" I began to scream her name trying to get those beautiful eyes to open again. If she only had a scratch on her shoulder where did all this blood come from?
Tsunade hands stopped glowing a bright green and she let out a breath. "Thank goodness. She should be alright it just a poison that affects her nervous system, it's not deadly. It just has to run its course."
"How can you be certain she will be alright?" I asked nervously watching Sakura's chest rise and fall making sure she was still breathing.
"Kakashi take her home, she just needs rest."
"Why not bring her to the hospital where she can be properly monitored?"
"We do not need people knowing Sakura is in the state she is in. Take her home, she will be perfectly alright. Stay with her, and if something else happens bring her to me." I gripped Sakura's body tighter.
"Hai." I turned to walk out of the office.
"Kakashi I am trusting you with her. If there is a threat to the village they could be here for her."
"Understood." With that I disappeared into the night's sky wondering how I could have let her get hurt once again.
I quickly made my way to her apartment. Ninja all around me were running on the streets and rooftops, making their way toward the Hokage building. There were no children on the street playing, their mothers had pulled them inside and locked the doors obviously scared at the sudden increase of shinobi movement. The beautiful blossom in my arms was still unconscious, but her chest continued to rise and fall, showing she was still breathing. I need you to be awake, to be okay Sakura.
I pulled her closer to me. My uniform was now covered in blood, but as long as it wasn't hers I did not care. She looked as if she had been in a war. How could I leave Suna knowing she wouldn't have Kankuro escort her home? But if she could transport us home all the way from Konoha why didn't she just do the same thing?
We reached her apartment and I very carefully took out my key and unlocked the door. I walked in and turned on the lights, I checked to see if anyone else was in the apartment with us but I found nothing. Her apartment looked exactly the same as the last time I was here. I walk into her bedroom and went to place her on her bed when I stopped. She needs to get this blood off of her and into new clothes.
I laid her on the bed and quickly began to undress her. I removed her backpack, her headband, and her shoes. Should I really strip her down completely? How would she feel when she wakes up and discovered that I had seen her naked?
No I shook my head. I'll undress her down to her panties and bra, that way she isn't completely reveled. I left her side and went into the bathroom to draw a bath. I had the water just right when there was a knock at the door. Who could that be?
I quickly made a clone that went back inside the bedroom with Sakura and shut the door. I carefully made my way toward the door. "Kakashi-sensei open up Lady Tsunade sent me over." A soft voice called behind the front door.
"Hinata?" I opened the door to reveal the shy girl looking at the ground, playing with her fingers.
"Lady Hokage sent me over to help Sakura-chan. She thought it would be best if I was the one who undressed and cleaned her."
Thank god! I mentally shouted. "Right this way Hinata." I lead her into the bedroom and a gasp escaped her lips as soon as she saw Sakura asleep on the bed.
"What happen?" Hinata walked closer to Sakura activating her Byakugan. "I see, a poison."
"Tsunade seems to think it will run its course and that she will be fine. The quicker we get her cleaned up the sooner we will know if she has any other injuries."
Hinata nodded, and I left the room and allowed Hinata to undress Sakura on the bed. Once she was undress Hinata placed a towel on top of her and called me in to help get her into the bathroom. I picked her up slowly, hoping the towel would not slip. Thankfully it didn't and I was able to place Sakura into the tube with no problem.
I left Hinata to do her thing. I went into the living room and quickly called three of my hounds.
"Hey boss!" Pakkun barked. Bull and Biscuit stood on either side of him looking around.
"I need you three to stand watch and alert me if anyone unfamiliar approaches their apartment."
"Whose apartment are we in?" Bull asked.
"Sakura's." All the dogs' ears lifted up.
"I see." Bull walked over to the couch and sat down. Biscuit walked into the kitchen and Pakkun made his way into the second bedroom. I paced back and forth for thirty minutes in the front room. I couldn't keep still. What could be taking them so long?
"Kakashi I need your help!" Hinata yelled from the bathroom. I walked in to see Sakura sitting upright in a drained tub, a towel covering her. Her skin was once again white, her hair once again pink. "I cannot see any other injury besides what is on her shoulder." I nodded and scooped Sakura up in my arms and carried her to her bedroom. Before Hinata had finished cleaning Sakura, I had changed the bed sheets since we had gotten blood on them. My Jounin vest was by the front door along with my sandals. Without my vest on, I no longer had any blood on me. I simply wore the loose blue pants and long-sleeved shirt.
As soon as she was on the bed I left once again so Hinata could properly dress her. I was thankful for her help. I had no problem doing it myself, but I doubt Sakura would. While she had seen me nude from her work in the hospital when I got hurt, I doubt she would have been comfortable with a male team member helping her in such a way as Hinata did.
"I'm all done Kakashi. She should be fine until she wakes up."
"Thank you. Bull is going to escort you to your team."
"Kakashi-"
"No butts, you do not need to be walking around the village alone with it being on red alert. Besides Kurenai would kill me if she found out I let you leave alone." Hinata nodded and started to walk to the door with Bull right on her heels. "And Hinata." She paused at the door. "Please do not speak about Sakura being back in the village."
"Of course. My lips are sealed" and with that she disappeared into the night with Bull. I made my way back into her bedroom. Her face now looked peaceful. All the foreign blood was off her skin and it glowed in the moonlight. Sakura was simply breath taking whether she was awake or asleep.
"This is going to be a long night." I pulled out her scroll again and sat on the bed besides her examining it.