xxx

"It's all gone," Sakura said, leaning against Kakashi's shoulder, her weight dead. "Konoha's destroyed."

Pein had left his mark on Konoha like no one before.

The weight crushed Kakashi all the same, but he wrapped his arm around Sakura, pressing her to his chest. "Naruto is back."

"I know. It makes me happy." Her small hand clutched his sweater, the jacket long gone. Kakashi could remember when he gathered her in his arms when she was a genin. She had been so small. Now, his arm around her shoulders, he realized how much she had grown. "It's just…"

"I know."

Sakura stopped talking, burying her face in the ample material of shirt instead, concealing her tears in it.

"You should go to sleep," Kakashi said, discomfort nagging him as he thought of just how he was holding her; most of all, how she was holding him. When she didn't budge, he did, hooking his arms under her knees and around her back, just like he had so many times when she was injured or too exhausted to move her limbs. "It's late."

Sakura didn't struggle. Her tent was right next to his, barely a few steps away. So was Naruto's, though he would be long trapped in the village's celebration of his return.

"Can I sleep here tonight?"

Kakashi hesitated, barely inches away from the unzipped flap of his tent.

"I don't want to be alone."

xxx

Chapter Three: Forget the Rules

…

Sakura wrinkled her nose for the hundredth time. The air in Ame was so much heavier than anywhere Sakura had ever visited. Even the mists in Mist Country were easier to breathe. In a vain attempt to filter the air, Sakura raised her scarf over her nose, glancing towards Kakashi to see if he felt any such discomfort, but he offered no hint of such. Sighing to herself, Sakura looked on ahead instead. Uhei had once more been sent to retrieve their following orders, unlikely to be back before the night.

"It's because of the factories," Kakashi said, ever aware of her discomfort. "The smoke they spout polluted the city's air. No amount of rain will wash it away."

Sakura looked up and around them, taking in the impressive amount of smoke towers. "Is it because Ame manufactures most of the goods for the whole five countries?"

Kakashi nodded. "No other cities rival Ame's industry. Their whole country depends on this one city for their economy."

"Suna's exorbitant taxes must be taking a real toll on them," Sakura noted out loud.

As if to prove her point, a group of children huddled on the doorstep of yet another factory, taking shelter for the rain as they waited for their parents to finish their work shift.

"Indeed," Kakashi said, glancing at the children but not lingering as Sakura did. "The sales to Suna alone are a third of Ame's revenue." Kakashi ushered her forward when Sakura's steps slowed to a crawl. "It's not unusual for children to work in Ame," he explained, detached. Kakashi had been to Ame many times in the past, unlike her. "The city had been unstable long before Pein's rise to leadership. There's little infrastructure to help the citizens. Children who don't find work for the day don't have anything waiting for them at home."

"It's so sad," Sakura whispered, looking over her shoulder, trying to find the children again. "Doesn't Konoha try to help?"

"Ame insisted on managing the affairs regarding its country on its own." Kakashi had always been knowledgeable of everything Sakura wasn't. Perhaps he had picked it all up through ANBU missions in his youth, spying on all these countries. "Ame is only under the Fire Country's supervision. Part of their revenue serves to fund infrastructures in all of Fire Country."

Sakura nodded, pulling the hood of her cloak closer to her nose to ward off the incessant raindrops. They fell heavy on her hood, sometimes her face, distracting Sakura enough to stop paying attention to their leisurely walk.

"We should go back to the inn," Kakashi said, slowing to a stop. He, too, pulled on his hood again, as annoyed as she was by the constant rain. "We were supposed to regroup for breakfast. We're late already."

"Of course we are." Sakura rolled her eyes.

"You used to care," Kakashi chuckled, leading her down another street.

"Humans have a tendency to adapt even to the worst."

"I'm surprised it took you so long to come around," Kakashi joked, ruffling her hair under her hood.

Sakura grabbed his wrist and held it fiercely. Though he only smiled at her with his good eye, Sakura glared daggers at him. "Do that one more, and I swear, I will fucking break your fingers."

Kakashi raised his hands in defense, smiling his sheepish smile. Of course, she was entirely serious and he knew it.

...xxx...xxx...xxx…

"There you are," Kunan said, not quite plaintive nor reprehensive, from where he sat in the inn's dining room. "We didn't wait for you."

Indeed, the empty plates confirmed it.

"How nice of you," Sakura cooed, dropping into the chair besides Kunan.

He simply smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. Shokubai was sat at the other end of the table, ignoring her in favor of a book Sakura had no interest in.

"I'll go get breakfast," Kakashi said from behind her, disappearing into another room.

"Did you see anything interesting?" Kunan asked, reclining in his seat. His black hair seemed darker than usual, hanging wet and heavy. "Besides all the rain and the smoke."

Sakura slapped his foot away when he leaned it on the table and he started, surprised, but diligently lowered them. "Kakashi gave me a lovely history crash course on the country."

Shokubai was silent at the other end of the table, supposedly entranced by his book. Eavesdropping at its finest.

"We have free time on our hands for the day," Kunan noted, a mischievous spark in his eyes. He nudged Sakura's shoulder with his own, leaning towards her."We should make the most of it."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kakashi chuckled as he stood next to Sakura, placing one of the plates he held in front of her.

Sakura grimaced. Of course Kakashi would pick all the veggies she turned her nose up at.

"Didn't you offer me a spar, the other day?" Kunan prodded, leaning his elbows on the table to rest his chin on his tangled fingers. "Hm, Sakura-chan?"

"Here?" Sakura frowned. She turned to Kakashi. "Is that a good idea?"

Kakashi shrugged, pulling his mask down to eat. "We are a team. It would be best if they had a chance to get familiar with your fighting style."

Sakura hummed, then turned to Shokubai. "I want to fight him," she said, pointing to Shokubai, who looked up from his book when he was mentioned.

He raised an eyebrow, looking at Kakashi expectantly.

"Let's head to the empty terrain to the west," Kakashi said, "after breakfast."

"It's a deal then," Sakura rejoiced, slapping her first in her palm.

"I feel like we're in for a treat," Kunan said, smirking his arrogant smirk even as he stole food straight from Sakura's plate.

"You have no idea," Kakashi chuckled, watching in amusement.

"Joke's on you," Sakura scoffed, throwing a steamed broccoli at Kunan. "I hate everything on this plate."

...xxx...xxx...xxx…

Sakura could feel the electricity of anticipation running through her nerves. It was unusual now to fight an unknown opponent. It was a thrill she missed all too much. The old days had had their good side, even if she didn't want to admit it. She had been raised a ninja, after all.

"Any special rules?" Shokubai asked, cracking the joints of his fingers.

The four of them stood in a clearing, trees lining one end of it. They would be quiet, here, so far from the city. Letting loose wouldn't be a problem in such a large space, either.

Kakashi looked at Sakura and she shrugged. "Good ol' 'please remember you are teammates so no killing each other' then, if you may."

"Sounds good," Shokubai answered.

"Get ready," Kakashi said, steering Kunan away from Sakura and Shokubai. Once he was far enough, Kakashi started the counting. "You may begin!"

Sakura didn't move from where she stood, watching Shokubai closely. He was a good thirty feet away from her, allowing her plenty of time to react to his first strike. It didn't take him long to realize she wouldn't budge, so he started the dance.

Immediately, Sakura recognized the hand signs for the fireball jutsu. Shukabai's sign speed was nothing compared to Kakashi's. She ran forward, executing the seals for an earthen wall and releasing when she felt the smoldering heat of the fire too close to her skin. The fire dissipated quickly, allowing her to press forward. Shokubai frowned and jumped backwards. Long distance jutsu user. He would be annoying.

Sakura repeated the same jutsu, this time summoning a three-walled cage to force Shokubai to face her head on. Quickly, he tried to to break through the wall, though he only managed to break his kunai in half. Much like her, he repeated his last attack, though this time with much greater intensity. Sakura smirked, knowing she already had the upper hand. The jutsu was a mere distraction to slow her down so he could escape her. He had been poised to flee to the left.

Sakura braced herself, sucking her breath in as she focused her chakra. It coated her skin, forming an unbreakable shield around her. Such weak fire wouldn't melt her ultimate defense. Of course, the technique required a large amount of chakra, but she could spare it now. When she burst out of the flames unscathed, Shokubai cursed. She was too close for him to escape her.

He braced himself for the punch she threw, but it never came, her fist stopping shy of his forearms. Instead, he was thrown back by the sheer force her output of chakra exerted. Of course, Sakura's strength was something to be reckoned with even unenhanced, but this was where Tsunade's jutsu truly shone.

"We have a winner," Kakashi cheered from the side.

Shokubai groaned in pain as he forced himself into a sitting position. "I'm not done yet."

"You would be if she hadn't stopped." Kakashi hopped over to him, helping him to his feet. Shokubai was obviously still confused. "You see, Sakura's punches are quite literally, ah, lethal." He turned to Sakura. "Demonstration?"

Sakura nodded, summoning an absurdly thick wall that none of them could ever hope to get through. She then proceeded to smash her fist into it. At first, the wall only cracked, tiny fissures creating a spiderweb in it until it finally came crashing down. Sakura smirked. Indeed, she had perfected Tsunade's technique. Not even she could control the the damage this way.

Shokubai and Kunan watched with wide eyes, stunned in silence.

"I take it you've never had the chance to witness Tsunade's style outside of rumors?" Kakashi said, arms crossed over his chest and a smug smirk on his face.

"How do you not break every bone in your hand?" Kunan asked, stepping closer to inspect her undamaged hand. "That's not possible."

"You've seen it with your own eyes," Sakura gloated, all too satisfied with the state of disbelief of her teammates. She could have done without Kakashi's smug face, but it was only a small detail. Although he hadn't been the one to teach her this strength, he'd sharpened her other talents. "It is possible."

"A force of nature, they say," Shokubai scoffed. "I never believed it."

"Sakura's style is indeed quite unique." Kakashi nodded. "I don't believe I've ever met someone able to manipulate chakra at will quite like she does."

Kunan turned to Kakashi. "How does she do against you?"

"You can ask me - "

Kakashi didn't let Sakura answer. "Oh, Sakura, let's not answer that quite yet, hm?"

"Why not?" Sakura complained, all too eager to impress them further.

"Fight Kunan, first."

Kunan looked at Sakura again, sizing her up.

Sakura shrugged. "Okay."

This time, when Kakashi signaled the beginning of their match, Sakura didn't have to wait for an assault. Kunan came charging with impressive speed, slicing the air with his katana. Sakura had no choice but to give up terrain to pull back towards the trees. She grabbed a kunai from the holster on her thigh, digging her heels in the ground to parry Kunan's attacks. He was strong - something his bulk had already made obvious.

Sakura sucked in her breath against, focusing a hefty amount of chakra in her free palm. It was much harder to do when she had to parry an onslaught of attacks, but not unmanageable. With her hand protected, she grabbed the blade of his sword and pulled it from his grasp. Kunan grunted, jumping back to avoid the sharp edge of her kunai.

Immediately, Sakura charged. Kunan already knew to avoid her fists, so she went for her kunais instead. Kunan unsheathed two tanto, his reflexes sharp enough to block each of Sakura's blows. They both smirked, the thrill of battle burning through them. This fight would end quickly.

Sakura shouted as she gathered her chakra in her left arm and swung again. Unlike Shokubai, Kunan expected the shockwave that followed and dodged to her side, aiming for her back. Sakura kicked the ground, shattering it and forcing Kunan back.

"Oi, Sakura!" Kakashi complained. "This isn't Konoha's training grounds. Don't destroy it."

Sakura scoffed, ignoring him and charging for Kunan once more, who had a little more trouble than usual recovering on the now uneven terrain. Though he could dodge her punch, this time, he lacked the time to dodge the shockwave. Before he could get back to his feet, Sakura stood over him.

Though he was clearly sour at his loss, Kunan took her hand when she offered it. He stood up dusting himself. Shokubai and Kakashi were already at their sides.

"Unreal," Shokubai said, frowning. "You expect us to adapt to that?"

Kakashi smiled, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's not so hard. She is still our medic, so hopefully, she won't have to break out the fancy chakra magic and we can just do our thing. Sakura is our last defense."

"She's a fucking tank," Kunan scoffed, rolling his shoulder. "Why are you a medic?"

"It's where I excel," Sakura said simply. "I can fight because Tsunade created this technique to allow a medic to hold her own in battle if must be, but I am meant to keep you alive - and myself - first and foremost."

"Sakura's techniques expend a hefty amount of chakra," Kakashi added. "So does medical ninjutsu. She can't keep this up for too long, not if she goes all out."

When Shokubai and Kunan looked to her, Sakura nodded. "You see, jutsu - the ones you use, Fire or Earth-style for example - aren't quite pure chakra. You mold them in a different form and use energy from the elements to release them. This style rests on pure chakra manipulation alone. The same way a chakra scalpel does."

"Sakura," Kakashi said, nodding towards the empty terrain. "Let's show them how it's done."

"Sure thing," Sakura said, smirking.

Kakashi was by far her favorite opponent. No one else had truly adapted to her fighting style the way he had.

They didn't bother to stand at a distance. They would charge each other right away. Kakashi could only keep her at a distance for so long. The interesting part started when he couldn't anymore.

"Ah, just a moment." Kakashi removed his sweater and vest, throwing them to what he hoped was a safe distance. They both knew they would get ruined. Then, he freed his sharingan, settling into his battle stance. "Ready."

Sakura nodded and they sprung. Kakashi evaded her first blow, landing behind her. She dodged his kick and prepared to parry his next move. Although Kakashi wasn't known for it, his raw strength made his taijutsu a legitimate threat all on its own. Agile, Sakura evaded his flurry of oncoming attacks. Kakashi never went all out. He always waited for a moment of weakness to unleash it. Sakura rarely spared him the chance. She caught his fist in hers, kicking the ground to raise a single pillar towards Kakashi's stomach. Immediately, he spun his body, sending them both flying.

Sakura grunted as she hit the ground. Kakashi was always quicker than her to recover and he didn't fail to do so again. Sakura was barely on feet when he aimed a kick at her lower back, his sheer speed making it impossible to brace properly for the impact. She rolled forward, breaking her fall to allow herself to get right back on her feet. Kakashi taunted her, motioning for her to attack him. Kunai ready in his hand, Sakura knew what to expect.

Sakura focused chakra all over her arms as she ran towards him. Kakashi braced himself for the impact, parrying her first punch with his kunai. Infused with electricity, it was enough to repel her brute strength, though not without sinking him a few inches in the ground. For each blow, Kakashi only summoned more of his lightning chakra, letting it rip through the air and rip at their clothes and skin. This always went on for too long, neither of them willing to give up.

When Sakura switched to chakra blades, Kakashi could never fully brace himself for it. She sliced through his weapons with ease, but he was always too fast for her to reach. This, too, always last too long. He dodged every one of her attacks, and then she dodged his. It was never ending - for as long as their chakra reserves lasted.

Kakashi always ran low first, his stores always too small because of the sharingan. They always came to the same impasse. Kakashi's raikiri against her chakra blade. They both aimed for the heart. Even today, their match ended in a draw.

"I-Incredible," Kunan said from the sidelines, shocked.

Sakura and Kakashi only stared at each other, panting as their forehead knocked together in exhaustion. They both smirked, thrilled for the day the ending would finally change.

"At Hatake's level," Shokubai muttered. "It's impossible."

Kakashi went to retrieve his clothes, letting Sakura rest on the wet grass. "Entirely possible. You've just witnessed it, haven't you?"

"I've learned from the very best," Sakura said from her spot in the grass. "Kakashi isn't too shabby a teacher either."

"She was your student?" Shokubai asked, obviously only having heard of her apprenticeship under Tsunade. Nobody remembered the other member of Team 7.

"The brightest," Kakashi chuckled. "Though I had little to do with her training until after Tsunade was done with her."

"I take it we'll take up regular team training once we're back in Konoha?" Kunan asked, impatience lining his voice.

"We'll see back - "

"Oh, hell no!" Sakura shouted. "I'm not having any of that shit again! It is happening. Deal with it."

Kakashi sighed, but there was no argument.

...xxx...xxx...xxx…

"The streets are so narrow," Sakura grumbled, treading through the sea of people who flooded the streets at lunchtime. "What's the point?"

Kunan grabbed her arm, pulling her out of the way of a particularly burly man. "Not everyone has your brains, princess."

"Narrow streets are cheaper to build and maintain," Kakashi added, pressing into her back when the traffic pushed them forward. "Do you really need to eat there now?"

"But they have the best dumplings I've ever had," Sakura whined. Kunan pulled her in front of him, allowing a herd of people to flow between them and Kakashi and Shokubai. "When will we ever have the chance to eat them again?"

"She's got a point," Shokubai called from the other side. "Don't mess with good food."

"I knew we'd find common ground," Sakura cheered, raising her arm to give Shokubai a thumbs up above the crowd's heads. He was tall enough to see it.

Sakura yelped when Kunan bent down, hauling her up to sit on his shoulders. "Find us a better way, will you?"

Unstable, Sakura laid her palms on Kunan's head for balance, tightening her thighs around his neck. Kunan's grip tightened on her legs, protesting her iron hold.

"You're not tall enough," Sakura muttered. "I can't really see that far ahead."

Taking to the rooftops would have been the simplest answer, but the attention it would attract was unnecessary and imprudent.

"Just get - "

Before Kunan could finish his sentence, a loud, booming noise silenced him. Sakura gasped, pointing forward to what seemed to be a factory, too far for the others to see.

"I think it's an explosion!" Sakura shouted, turning to Kakashi. "There's fire. Twelfth building on the right!"

People around them screamed and panicked, struggling to turn around run away from the danger. Kunan didn't hesitate to jump out of the madness and onto a rooftop, where he set Sakura down. Kakashi and Shokubai quickly followed.

"Let's go!" Kakashi barked, running ahead.

The building was a indeed factory. Another explosion boomed from its other end, crumbling down an exterior wall and taking a part of the floor down with it. Inside, they could see people struggling to escape. Before Shokubai an Kunan could jump inside, Kakashi blocked their path.

"Shokubai, with me!" Kakashi ordered, already forming the hand seals for a water jutsu. "Kunan, clear the smoke!"

Sakura ran past Kakashi, meeting his eye as she jumped into the factory. He nodded. Landing on one the upper floors, Sakura shielded her face from the heat of the flames. Kakashi and Shokubai were quick to douse the flames blocking her path, allowing her to run deeper in the building.

"Through here!" Sakura yelled, pointing behind her.

A group of people were huddled in a corner, the only other exit blocked by debris.

"It's too high!" one of the women cried. "We can't jump!"

"Just go!" Sakura grabbed her arm, shoving her towards the hole in the wall before the others followed. "There's help!"

Sakura examined the blocked exit, certain more people were trapped elsewhere in the building. Carefully, Sakura kicked the wall next to it, using an earth jutsu to fortify the hole before the wall could come crashing down. Hurrying to the other side, she found herself in a hallway with a giant stairway. Once she'd jumped to the end of them, Sakura pulled her shirt over her head, tying it over her mouth and nose. It wasn't a great filter, but it would do.

Calculating, Sakura guessed she was on the first and main floor of the factory. A large machine laid blown up and in pieces, fire roaring from its belly. No doubt the source of the explosion. Bending down to examine the floor closer, Sakura frowned as she found powder peppering the floor. Ignoring the heat of the flames, she hurried to gather some of it in a small vial.

"Help! Please!"

Sakura spun on her heels, following the sound behind her. The smoke was far too thick to see through in the direction of the voice, though lowering her body to the ground to crawl provided some clarity.

"Where are you?" Sakura shouted, her throat already hoarse from the smoke. She blinked away tears. "I can't see you!"

"I'm here!" the man screamed again. "I'm trapped!"

Sakura crawled forward, all too relieved to hear sirens outside. Not too far ahead, Sakura finally spotted him. Debris had fallen onto him, most likely crushing his leg entirely.

"I'm coming," Sakura reassured, kneeling at his side.

"It's too heavy," he cried, gripping his thigh in pain. He coughed, the sound of it more of a worry to Sakura than the wound.

"Don't talk," Sakura instructed, fighting back a coughing fit of her own.

Immediately, Sakura reached in her pouch for a clean rag, placing over the man's mouth and ordering him to hold it. The chunk of wall that had fallen on him was quite impressive - not a mass even the firemen could hope to move before the man would die of smoke poisoning. When Sakura positioned herself to break it apart, she frowned, noticing how the exposed parts of the man's leg had begun to swell on the other side of the debris.

"I have to amputate," Sakura rasped, preparing her chakra scalpel.

"What?" he cried, proceeding to shake his head. "No! You can't do that!"

"If I don't, you'll die from crush syndrome," Sakura explained mechanically, tuning out the man's protest as she leaned down. "I'm sorry, I don't have a choice."

Before starting, Sakura reaching in the holster tied to thigh, grabbing a needle and stabbing the man's thigh with it. In a few seconds, he would be out cold. Sakura wiped more tears from her burning eyes, hurrying to slice the man's leg. It came free quickly.

"Sakura!" Kakashi called from the stairway. "Get out of here! We can't contain the fire!"

"I need a minute!" Sakura croaked, glowing palms doing their best to stop the bleeding.

Kakashi was at her side in seconds, grabbing her shoulder. "That's enough!"

Sakura stilled. She recognized an order when Kakashi gave one. Nodding, she hauled the man on her back and stood, only to stumble and lean on Kakashi. She could hear him yell something, but the buzzing in her ears soaked up the sound. Kakashi helped her forward and up the stairs, until they met with Shokubai and he took the man from her shoulders. Kakashi grabbed her arm and laid it around his neck, helping her out of the building and onto the rooftop they'd come from.

Back on the safety of the rooftop, Sakura fell to her knees and hands, ripping the shirt from around her head. She inhaled as much air as she could, but it was no use. Nausea was overtaking her and she retched, only coughing up a small amount blood.

"What were you thinking?" Kakashi rasped, gripping her shoulder and chin, forcing her to look up so he could inspect her. "You need to go to the hospital."

"I am a fucking hospital," Sakura countered, rolling onto her back.

Gathering her wits, Sakura placed her palms over her chest and they glew green. Sakura groaned as she extracted the poisonous molecules from the blood that flowed through her heart, the process never quite as smooth or painless when executed on oneself.

"This is ridiculous," Kakashi barked, though not stupid enough to try and stop her in the middle of it. "You're not in a state to care for yourself, you'll - "

Sakura swallowed a cough. Blood gathered along with the black mass in the bubble between her hands. Slight imprecision.

"Sakura, stop!" Kakashi shouted, grabbing her head between his hands as he hovered above her, both his angry eyes staring down at her. "It's an order!"

Sakura chuckled and closed her eyes when his sharingan began to spin. Kakashi cursed and forced one of her eyes open.

"I'm done," Sakura rasped, turning her head away as she dropped her hands to her sides. "I'm done. I'm fine."

Kakashi's chest heaved, his short breaths ruffling the small hairs on her forehead. Her throat were certainly burn and itch for a few days, but there would be no lasting damage otherwise.

"We should get out of here," Shokubai said from her side. "Before anyone wonders what we're up to up here."

Kakashi nodded, gathering Sakura in his arms. He sprinted away towards their inn, leaving Shokubai and Kunan to follow behind. Sakura pressed her cheek to Kakashi's chest, giving in to the dizziness.

...xxx...xxx...xxx…

"Missy miss," called a deep voice, waking Sakura from her slumber. "Why do you sleep so long, missy miss?"

Sakura groaned, shielding her eyes from the inexistent sunlight. It was dark. Pitch black.

"Missy miss," it called again. "Why won't you wake up, missy up?"

Sakura didn't budge. Above her, she could feel the thing hover, watching her like a curious child watches a nest of ants.

"Missy miss," the voice whispered. "It's dangerous to say here. You'll die, missy miss."

Would she? Distantly, as if feeling another body than her own, Sakura felt the pain claw at her throat and her lungs. Breathing was so difficult she didn't bother to try.

"Missy miss," it said, sadness creeping in its voice. It pulled her body, perhaps somewhere where the air was fresher. "You can move. Get up, missy miss."

No she couldn't. Didn't he feel how heavy her limbs were? No amount of chakra would allow her to move them. No incredible technique could help her.

"Missy miss," it called, desperate, forcing her eyes open. "You're light as a feather. Fly, missy miss."

Above them, Sakura could see the clearest, bluest sky she had ever seen. All she had to do was move her arms and she would be free.

"Missy miss," the voice tried to cajole. "Breathe, just one breath, missy miss."

But Sakura didn't try. Her vision blurred from the lack of oxygen and she shut her eyes, waiting for the darkness that would come.

...xxx...xxx...xxx…

"Sakura, wake up."

Sakura inhaled sharply, her chest swelling as she filled her lungs to their maximum capacity. It was an impulse she had no choice to obey, as if she had just held her breath for a whole minute. Regaining consciousness of her surroundings, Sakura's eyes scanned the room. Kakashi's room in the inn.

"Did he survive?" Sakura asked, looking up at Kakashi where he sat besides her on the bed. "Do you know?"

Kakashi shook his head. "I don't know."

"I see." Sakura closed her eyes again.

Next to her, she could feel Kakashi lie down. He pulled her body against his, holding her tight. This kind of embrace, anyone who had come within a hair's breath of death knew, whether on the receive or giving end. It was desperate affection, fear that made you hold on to their body for dear life itself. A plea for the racing of the heart to stop; for the taste of loneliness and bitterness to be wiped from their tongue.

Sakura chuckled, lacing her arms around Kakashi's neck and looking up at his closed eyes, knowing the terror behind them. "Kakashi-senpai," she murmured. "You're overreacting."

Kakashi opened his eyes, staring down at her own with more anger than pain. "You were careless."

Sakura's gaze softened and she ran her fingers through his messy hair. It was so like Kakashi, to be angry at her when she displayed something he knew all too well. This kind of carelessness, he knew what hid behind.

"What does it feel like to die, senpai?" Sakura asked, looking down at his collar. "You died when you fought Pein."

Kakashi hesitated to answer. Then, he pressed his forehead against hers, tangling his fingers in her hair and staring straight into her eyes. "It was watching everything I regretted replay before my eyes, again and again, Sakura-chan. Until I was pulled out of it."

Sakura hummed, burying her face in the crook of his neck. Kakashi was a terrific liar. Except when he lied to her and he became as transparent as glass. The chan suffix he added when he lied, he never realized. A tick he hadn't identified and hidden yet. Was dying peaceful, then? As she had always imagined?

"How are you feeling?" Kakashi asked, deftly changing the subject.

"I'm fine," Sakura answered, relaxing her body against his. Kakashi's heart thrummed against his chest, all the way to hers. "My throat is itchy, but it'll pass quickly enough. I undid most of the damage before I passed out."

"Good," Kakashi said, detaching himself from her in order to stand. "We'll need to be on our way as soon as possible. When you give the word."

"What happened?" Sakura sat on the edge of the bed, unsurprised to find herself in fresh clothes.

"I spotted someone running away from the factory on our way here," Kakashi said, turning to face her, frowning. "Certainly not in a panic."

Sakura nodded. "So the fire was criminal, then."

"That's to be confirmed," Kakashi said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Uhei came back. Tsunade demands we go back home for a full report."

"But that's not your plan." Sakura frowned.

"The situation changed." Kakashi rummaged through his backpack to find an energy bar he handed to her. "We have information that Tsunade doesn't have."

Sakura grimaced, biting into the vile thing that was the energy bar. "Is that really wise? It's only the four of us. We don't know what we're going to find."

'It's also our only chance, Sakura," Kakashi countered, sitting at her side. "There's already a slim chance to track him down hours later; we can forget about it if we leave Ame."

Sakura nodded and stood, cramming the last of the bar in her mouth. "Let's get going, then."

...xxx...xxx...xxx…