To my reviewers, Thank you! Enjoy!

Chapter 6

The months that followed that dreadful day passed in a blur. Leaf ninja had escorted what remained of team Kazuya back to the Waterfall village. A beautiful ceremony had been held to commemorate the life and death of Akira and Kenji. Chakra had been seeped into the memorial tree by all those attending the service. But all Sakura could manage was silently crying as she kept being reminded off all she had lost in a few hours.

Kenji had seen fit to leave all his wealth and belongings to Sakura, including the villa near the edge of the Uzumaki area of the village. The villa they had lived in ever since they had formally announced their engagement. Though, she didn't want to live anywhere else, nor return to her apartment in the Haruno area, she was barely ever at home. Being there meant being reminded of him, and he was always on her mind. Instead of sleeping in her own large two persons bed, she had taken refuge with Lucy. The girl was both understanding of her grief as supporting her in trying to find a new way to live through life. Lucy was also one of the few people who hadn't told her that it was time to pick herself up and move on.

Though wallowing in her grief forever wasn't something she was planning to do, she needed it. At least until she could finally give it a place in her heart and come to terms with her misfortune. But most of the time, she just wanted to be alone. Her days were filled with training and then doing some reading at the memorial tree. She found a little solace in the serenity of the tree. Part of her felt, when she was there, that she could almost feel his presence.

Kazuya, upon telling Akira's parents the bad news, was slapped in the face by Akira's mother. His mother who had cried loudly while telling Kazuya that he was supposed to look out for him. Yeah, he knew that. And he knew that he had failed miserably. Not only that, he had needed saving himself. That day he had failed his team miserably. And all he could do was let himself be slapped by the civilian mother of his dead student and allow her to blame him. He had been in charge, and he had ordered Akira down a path that had lead to his death.

Lucy had cried over Akira, like she had done in the past over her teammate Ashitaka. Losing a teammate wasn't a completely new experience for her, but that didn't make the loss any less greater. But being who she was, Lucy managed to get over the events of that day faster than her team members. Death was an inevitable part of life and she was certain that someday, when she was dead, she would see the friends that she had lost again.

Of the team, only Sakura hadn't been on any missions. Not that they didn't think that she could handle it, but Kazuya simply wasn't bringing her along. He hadn't really spoken to her since he had held her that day on the ground. The only thing he had said to her was that he would find a way to make Sasuke pay. He promised Kenji that he would look after her, but he wasn't sure how to do that. Instead Kazuya's old teammate from his genin days had taken over that chore, being Kenji's cousin and not feeling guilty over what happened that night made it easy for him to make that promise.

Winter had disappeared and made room from spring, when the word came from Konoha that they agreed to brand Sasuke a rogue ninja and thus giving any shinobi permission to take him out. Naruto had thrown an angry for over it, but was quickly silence when Kakashi explained to him that the request had come from Waterfall. And that amongst the dead Waterfall ninja Sakura's fiancee was.

Naruto could barely believe that Sakura would want to kill Sasuke and was adamant in his belief that he could change her mind. Since Kakashi would be the one to deliver all the information they had on Sasuke, Naruto would entrust him with a letter in which he would ask Sakura to change her mind.

After three long days of traveling at top speed, Kakashi arrived at the location where he'd been told was where the Waterfall village was at. All he really saw was indeed a large waterfall. Emerging from the trees were two ANBU, who instantly asked him what his busyness with the Hidden Waterfall village was.

After telling them that he was being expected by their leader, the ANBU told Kakashi to follow them and they led him inside the village. Looking around, it seemed like the village was placed in a hole and most trees were larger than any of the buildings. Several channels of water decorated the streets and made the village looks almost like a tourist resort. But from the lack of hotels, it seemed like there weren't too many tourists at any time over the year.

Like in Konoha, the building that held the government was located at the back of the village. Though not as large and grand as the Hokage tower, the marble entrance more than made up for that. Walking through a large hallway, the ANBU stopped in front of a dark oaken door and knocked softly.

A stern enter was heard from the beyond the door and the ANBU peaked inside with only his head. „A Konoha shinobi to see you sir," he said. „Says you've been expecting him."

Ranmaru looked up from his paperwork. He nodded and signaled that he should let the shinobi from the leaf enter his office. „That'll be all," Ranmaru said. „Dismissed."

Ranmaru set the stack of paperwork and aside and gestured that Kakashi take a seat. „I remember you," he said as Kakashi took his seat. „You were in princess Tsunade's office that day when I was last at the Leaf village."

Kakashi nodded. Ranmaru looked pretty much the same, save for some additional grey hairs to mingle with his black hair. He seemed weary and Kakashi could understand that. He had heard that to help the Leaf out, he had been taking over a large amount of their missions and sharing the rewards. Though Waterfall was a small village compared to Konoha and the amount missions that now passed through this office was more than ever before. „I was Sakura's sensei," Kakashi finally said.

Ranmaru nodded. „I heard as much from Sakura." Ranmaru rubbed his hands through his hair. He didn't want to get straight to busyness, but he also didn't want to draw this meeting any longer than necessary. „You have something for me…?"

Kakashi handed over the scroll containing all the intel they had on Sasuke. Ranmaru took the scrolls and laid them to his right to look at later. „I take it you didn't come all this way just to deliver a scroll."

Ranmaru leaned forward on his desk, taking Kakashi's form. So this was the famous copy-ninja. At first glance, the untrained eye would've never guessed that this was a world-class assassin. One look at his uncovered eye told Ranmaru that he had seen more than his fair share of war and killing. „You want to see her?"

Truth be told, normally a jounin wasn't send for this kind of errand. Any chuunin would've sufficed, but Kakashi had insisted that he'd be the one to take the scroll to them. He did want to see her, just to make sure that she was alright and the last words he had heard coming from her mouth were words speaking of vengeance. Even if he had failed to convince Sasuke to abandon his ways, he wasn't about to let Sakura slip into darkness as well. He had always neglected her, but he couldn't turn a blind eye to this. „Yes," Kakashi said. „I would like to see Sakura."

Ranmaru turned his chair around to overlook the village. „She not the same anymore," he said softly. „She doesn't smile like she used to. And she spends most her days training or reading at the memorial tree." Ranmaru paused, remembering the last time he spoke about Sakura with Kazuya. Seemed he was just as worried about her anyone else who knew her, but he couldn't bring himself to spend more time with her than absolutely necessary. That day as he walked out of Ranmaru's office he had asked: „Why did you put her on my team?" Of course Ranmaru had given a bullshit answer, saying that he needed a new fourth member, but that wasn't the truth. The truth was actually a lot more complicated, but deep down Kazuya knew why Sakura had been placed on his team. „She needs more time," Ranmaru said softly and he turned back to face Kakashi. „I normally wouldn't allow a foreign ninja to wander the streets alone, but I don't have anyone to watch you."

Ranmaru gestured Kakashi to come closer. He pointed towards the largest tree in the village. „That is the memorial tree," he said. „The training grounds are… When you exit this building, go around to the left, through the tunnel. Sakura is usually at the fourth training field, the one with the all the trees and the water."

„Thank you," Kakashi said. „I would like your permission to summon one of my hounds. That way it'll be easier to find her."

Ranmaru merely nodded. „This hardly needs saying, but don't hurt her. She's very loved within the largest clan of this village. I can't guarantee your safety if an Uzumaki sees you with her while she's crying."

Kakashi smiled inwardly. Just like Naruto would do anything to protect her, his kin were also protective of her. „I understand. Thank you."

Just outside the building, Kakashi made the hand sign needed to summon Pakkun. The little pug had no trouble recalling the scent that belonged to Sakura and he pointed towards the memorial tree as her current location. The village was full of people who looked with amazement at Kakashi, who was clearly a foreign ninja. Trying not to let it bother him, Kakashi followed Pakkun through the streets. The closer he got to the tree, the fewer were the people he saw. Until eventually he saw her sitting on a bench, near the tree, her nose buried in a book.

She didn't look up, nor acknowledged his presence, yet he knew she already knew that he was nearby. Looking at the title of the book, Kakashi smiled. She was reading a book on complex medical jutsu meant for treating the chakra system. „I think I can recommend something more entertaining to read," Kakashi said, his hand already pulling out his Icha Icha novel from his pouch.

Sakura looked up from her book, a smile, that didn't seem happy, on her face. „Hey Kakashi," she said in a voice that a held a tone very familiar to Kakashi. He had sounded like that for years after losing both Obito and Rin. Her voice sounded tired, but tired as in a lack of sleep, but tired of life itself. It wasn't until after he had begun training team seven that he regained a little of his old self. „What are you doing here?"

„I came to drop something off," Kakashi said, taking a seat next to her. „And I thought. Well I'm around, may as well see how she's doing."

„I see," Sakura said softly, putting a bookmark in her book and setting it aside. She looked at him for a while with those piercing emerald colored eyes before looking away again. „And why are you really here?"

Kakashi chuckled and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. „You caught me. I wanted to know if…."

„If I didn't turn into some psychopath?" Sakura looked away from Kakashi and at the memorial tree. „Did you come to tell me not to get consumed by hatred?" Kakashi watched silently as Sakura got up and let some of her chakra seep into the tree. „I'm not actively looking for Sasuke, nor do I hope to ever see him again."

Sakura's face turned angry and her eyes glistened with fresh tears as she remembered the contents of Kenji's last will en testimony. „Kenji gave his life to save mine. Going out, looking for Sasuke is pretty poor way to repay him, don't you agree?!"

A moment of silence passed between them. Sakura calmed down, and she took her seat again. „I'm sorry," she said softly. „But if by any chance I do meet Sasuke again, I will kill him."

Kakashi remained silent for several more minutes, simply watching Sakura as she calmed down further back to the state in which he found her. A person who had pushed her emotions to the background, so she didn't have to feel anything. „I have a letter from Naruto, for you."

Sakura looked at the folded piece of paper in Kakashi's hand. „You know what it says?"

Kakashi nodded and he explained that it was a plea from Naruto not to let Sasuke be declared a rogue ninja.

„It wasn't my decision," Sakura said. „Kazuya put in the request with Ranmaru, since Sasuke has now killed two of his students. It wasn't me."

„I thought…"

„If I were the one to meet Sasuke and kill him, I'd make sure to get rid of the body and never speak of it again. I wouldn't ask permission." Sakura ran a hand through her hair and shook her head. „Maybe Kazuya is rubbing off on me but…." She looked back at Kakashi. „I've learned that sometimes rules are meant to be broken, or at least to blur the lines a little. But that's you as well, isn't it?"

Kakashi gave her the eye crease, so she could see that he was smiling at her. He was indeed someone who would risk the mission to save his comrades, that was definitely against the rules.

A small smile adorned Sakura's face while looking past Kakashi. This seemed more genuine than the smile she had shot him. „Hey."

A man with dark red hair and dark blue eyes shot her a wide Naruto-like smile. „Hi," he said, shifting his gaze from Sakura to Kakashi, resting for a second on the Leaf headband, and back at Sakura. „Who's he?"

„He's…." Sakura paused subconsciously. „A friend."

The pause in Sakura's answer didn't go unnoticed by Kakashi. It told him more than any part of her body language could tell him at this point. Maybe, even if just a little or in her sub-conscience, she blamed him for that night. Had he been stronger, then maybe he would've been able to fight Sasuke and her fiancee would still be alive.

The redhead got closer and held out his hand, which Kakashi shook. „Ryoga Uzumaki," Ryoga said.

„Kakashi Hatake," Kakashi said politely.

„Holy shit," Ryoga said, he looked at Sakura. „You know the Copy ninja? That's awesome!"

Kakashi's hand went back to sheepishly rub the back of his head. Sakura only shrugged. „I've known him since I was twelve," she said. „He was my sensei back then."

Ryoga looked surprised. „Really?"

Sakura nodded. „Yeah."

„I thought you were just trained by the fifth Hokage before coming here."

„I was," Sakura confirmed. „But before that Kakashi was my sensei."

„No, I get it," Ryoga said. „But I just think it's strange that you don't know his signature move. I mean both Kazuya and I know the five pillar jutsu, like you. That is Ranmaru-sensei's signature move. And Kazuya taught you his lightning cutter jutsu. And the Hokage has that super strength thing that you can do as well."

Sakura nodded.

„Now it just seems strange that your first sensei, who has the same element as you do, wouldn't teach you his lightning sword jutsu."

„Lightning blade," Sakura corrected. But she understood what Ryoga was getting at. Kakashi had never taught her even a single jutsu. She had always been the one person on the team that Kakashi hadn't trained, but she had a hunch as to why he had chosen not to train her. There really was no point training a student who would eventually pack her bags and leave. „I used to be more of a genjutsu type. Only after years of intense training with Lady Tsunade did I change into a more versatile ninja."

Sakura had never blamed Kakashi for not training her. He had taught her other more valuable things, like teamwork. He had taught her that your comrades are more important that anything else, which was why she had been willing to let Akira escape. But….. Kazuya was the same. And Akira was Kazuya's student who had been taught the same thing she had been taught. You don't abandon your comrades.

„Well anyway," Ryoga said. „I actually came here to tell you that I have a mission and I'll be gone for a few days."

„I'll see you when you get back."

Ryoga was already several feet away from Sakura and Kakashi when a thought hit him. He gestured to Kakashi to come over to where he stood still now. Kakashi got up and walked over, with his hands shoved into his pockets. His visible eye narrowed when Ryoga put a hand on his shoulder and turned him so that Sakura couldn't see either of their faces. „That girl is family to me," Ryoga whispered with a sharp edge in his voice. „If I find out that you hurt her in any way, I'll hunt you down and fuck you up. Got it?"

Kakashi merely nodded and smiled inwardly. Ranmaru hadn't been exaggerating when he said that the Uzumaki like Sakura. Like Naruto back in Konoha, the Uzumaki over here were also drawn to her. Part of him was relieved to learn that she was so very loved. It would help her to get over the loss of her fiancé. Ryoga had released Kakashi and moved on, leaving the two alone again.

Sakura was gathering her things, making Kakashi look a little confused. „I'm headed for the training grounds next," Sakura said without Kakashi asking. „You can come… Unless you have somewhere else you need to be."

Kakashi followed Sakura back through the village, towards to the building in which he had met with Ranmaru. Sakura took a little detour, dropping her book off at a villa. Kakashi wordlessly followed her inside. The small hallway gave way to the large living room. To his left were stairs and looking to his right he saw dark wooden furniture, which fitted lovely with the nearly white oaken floor. Sakura walked up to the bookcase that stood under the stairs and put the book. Wordlessly she walked into the kitchen, to the far back of the house. Without asking Kakashi if he wanted anything, Sakura returned a few minutes later with two cups of tea. Looking around, Kakashi had to guess that Sakura was quite rich these days. „Do you take sugar in your tea?" Sakura asked.

Kakashi shook his head and took the cup from her. Along with Sakura he sat at the dining room table, which could hold six people. Seemed that Sakura and her fiancé had been planning on starting a family together. Seemed that this house was just too big for one person alone.

„Do you hate me?" Kakashi asked out of the blue.

Sakura looked up from her cup, which she had been looking at with great interest. „No," she answered softly. „I don't think so."

„I never trained you," Kakashi pressed on. „I didn't really do anything that would benefit you as my student."

Sakura finished her tea, contemplating how to react to Kakashi. „Do you want me to hate you?" Sakura asked, setting her empty cup down. Her gaze finally met his eye, she'd been avoiding his gaze most of the time since they met at the memorial. Taking a deep breath and getting up. „I don't hate you. How could I? When all I ever wanted was to show you and Naruto that I too am a fine ninja."

„I wanted everyone at home to see that I belonged on team Kakashi as much as Naruto and you did," Sakura continued. „I wanted to stop being a liability. I worked so hard, but I was always behind. "

Kakashi set down his cup, not having taken one sip of the tea. „Then show me," he said. „How much you've improved."

Taken by surprise by his proposition, Sakura gave him a confirming nod. „Alright. Follow me."

When they finally arrived at the training field, Kakashi smiled. She had deliberately chosen this field since it held lots of water. This would work both to conserve chakra as well as give her the advantage, because it was her main element. „Would it be too late to ask you to go easy on me?" Kakashi asked, lifting his headband to reveal his sharingan.

„A real enemy wouldn't go easy on you," Sakura said, repeating something Kazuya had said to her right after she got injured during a training session with him.

Kakashi charged at her, starting the battle with fast taijutsu. Much to his surprise, Sakura was keeping up with him, even if the look on her face told him she was really pushing herself. Finally breaking free, Sakura landed on the water, already finished with the necessary hand signs.

Five pillars of water surrounded her, both a defensive and offensive jutsu. The water arrows fired from it were easily dodged by Kakashi, who got in closer. Sakura let herself sink into the water as Kakashi made it past the pillars. The pillars exploded, forcing Kakashi to follow Sakura underwater.

Kakashi sharingan went wide as the next jutsu was cast by Sakura, the giant vortex jutsu. With expert skill, Kakashi escaped the water and made his own hand signs. A water dragon jutsu was cast at the water, forcing Sakura to leave her safe haven. Standing on a tree branch, Sakura smiled. „Looks like I have to step things up a little," she said, making new hand signs.

The sky grew dark and thick drops of rain fell from the dark clouds. Kakashi looked around and finally realized why it had rained that day. His sharingan couldn't tell the difference between Sakura and the raindrops. Just in time he closed his sharingan eye, another jutsu came at him.

„Flying dragon ascension wave," Sakura said as the jutsu made its way towards Kakashi, unrooting a few trees. The jutsu started as a small wave which quickly grew in size. The water clashed down on the ground and rose up once more and finished with a dragon's head charging at the target.

Kakashi easily hid underground, knowing the jutsu wouldn't get him there. When the coast was clear, Kakashi emerged from hiding and he was right back in Sakura's face. He dodged her punches and when she pulled out a kunai he skillfully took it from her and held it at her throat. „You're good", he said. „But it'll take more than that to defeat me, Sakura."

„I'm not Sakura," the water clone said, juts before she too exploded, making Kakashi jump back and turn to shield himself from the impact. He hadn't even recovered from her last attack when he heard her footsteps rapidly approaching him. Her hand was on her sword, the one Ranmaru had given her during her first few months here, ready to attack. Looking right at her, Kakashi managed just to get out of range of the swing of her sword, but he could still hear his vest tear. His hands grabbed hold of hers. He twisted her around, holding her left hand next to her body and her hand was twisted so that her own sword was at her throat. His long fingers easily closed over hers, as he held her still against him. For someone who claimed not to hate him, she sure had gone all out trying to defeat him in a simple sparring match. Sakura grunted and tried to break free, but Kakashi stood solid as a rock.

„Sakura?!" Lucy's voice came from the edge of the training field. Her eyes showed that what she was seeing worried her. „Are you okay?"

Kakashi released Sakura, who sheathed her sword and rubbed her left wrist. His grip had been tight was and leaving her wrist with an angry red color. The rain stopped and Kakashi was grateful for it, but he had sensed something while fighting Sakura. Even with her outward calmness, inside she resembled a tornado, tearing away at everything that came on her path.

„Yeah," Sakura said, her voice back to the tired of life sound.

Lucy didn't seem convinced. „Ranmaru wants to see us…," she said. „So I'll wait for you, when you're ready…"

Sakura nodded. „Give me sec."

As Lucy left the training field, she looked over her shoulder a couple of times. Obviously she was worried, and the training field itself was barely recognizable after Sakura's jutsu.

„You have gotten much stronger," Kakashi admitted, his hand went to assess the damage doen to his vest. There was no saving it.

Sakura ran her hands through her hair, trying to make herself representable before seeing Ranmaru. „Thanks," she muttered, diving around a her pack looking for a hairbrush.

„Sakura," Kakashi said, drawing her attention. „You friend, Ryoga, he's right… I should've taught you better."

„It's okay," Sakura said, trying to walk away from Kakashi, who grabbed her wrist, pulling her back.

„Let me make it up to you."

Sakura stopped, she was feeling mentally tired. Although she never really blamed him for the misfortune in her life, part of her had felt some resentment for always being neglected. A mischievous grin spread on her face. „You could show me your face, and we'll call it even."

Kakashi shook his head. „I was thinking that I should leave my mark on you."

Sakura looked surprised. „What do you mean?"

„What your friend said," Kakashi explained. „I'll teach you the lightning blade."

Slowly, Kakashi showed Sakura the needed hand signs. Followed by the explanation on how to do it. „Try it."

Sakura did the hand signs, focussed chakra in her hand and infused it with lightning. A loud sound of birds chirping came from her hand and Sakura looked at her hand with amazement. She let her hold on the jutsu go, and the sound along with the chakra in her palm disappeared. „I should go," she said softly. „Thank Kakashi."

They walked together towards the end of the training field. Kakashi stopped to say a proper goodbye, and to his surprise, Sakura had thrown her arms around him. „Promise me you and Naruto will stay safe," she said, her voice muffled by his vest.

At first Kakashi just stood there, with Sakura's arms around his neck. A couple of times his hands touched her back, until they finally settled there. He never was the kind of person to make void promises, but he would try to keep Naruto and himself safe.

After that, they said their goodbyes, each going their own way, not knowing if and when they would meet again. Sakura went to get Lucy so they could see what Ranmaru wanted to see them for. Feeling like a huge weight had been lifted of off her shoulders, Sakura felt a little better than she had felt in a good long while.

Already standing in Ranmaru's office was Kazuya. He nodded in acknowledgement of his teammates, and went back to looking at Ranmaru who started explaining the mission. He anted them to go to a nearby temple where several priestesses had gone sick and two had already died from an illness that they knew nothing off. The task was to find the source of the illness and cure the sickly.

„Do you really need to send the three of us?" Kazuya asked, knowing that the temple lay within the Whirlpool country and that there'd be no fighting involved. He'd would be utterly useless on this mission.

Ranmaru smiled. „I have a different assignment for you," he said. „This mission is for Sakura and Lucy. You leave as soon as your ready."

Sakura nodded and took the mission scroll from Ranmaru.

Once the two girls had left the office, Ranmaru picked up a different scroll. The seal on told Kazuya that it was another request from the Leaf. „The Hokage wants me to send a team to function as bodyguards for the jinjuuriki," he explained calmly. „Given that we can't let the Akatsuki have the nine-tails, I want to accept the task."

Kazuya took a deep breath. „Can't they have one of their own babysit the jinjuuriki?"

Ranmaru laughed softly at the comment. „I asked the same question," he confessed. „They told me that Naruto is too influential in the village, so the people guarding him are too easily swayed into doing what he wants. Then I thought, Sakura is his friend, so why not send her? Of course you're still the team captain and you're short one member…. So you're mission is to find a fourth member before Sakura gets back from her mission."

„I don't need to look for a new team member," Kazuya said flatly. „I will only accept one person on my team to replace Akira."

„Oh?"

„I want Ryoga," Kazuya said.

„He left on a mission just a few hours ago."

„Well then," Kazuya said, turning to walk towards the door. „We'll just have to wait till he gets back, won't we?"

„I do have one question," Ranmaru saud the moment Kazuya placed his hand on the doorknob. „Why do you want Ryoga to join your team?"

„We grew up together under your tutelage."

„I recall a lot of bickering."

„We were kids," Kazuya said.

Ranmaru smiled. Those two had become good friends over the years and Ryoga was the one who had taken over Kazuya's promise to look after Sakura. „Alright," Ranmaru said. „We'll wait for him."

XOXOXO

Adjasa temple lay only a few hours walk from the hidden Waterfall village. The temple itself was known to be a place of healing and peace. People usually went there to heal mind and body. One could call it sort of a hospital, but it was more spiritual. You wouldn't find fancy equipment, or doctors there, just the priestesses who looked after the temple and the people staying there.

The temple itself was shielded from view by a large wall. Big gates gave way to the grounds. Before the temple was a large grassy meadow, some trees and a big well. The head priestess was an elderly woman who looked relieved to see the two shinobi walk unto the grounds.

Sakura immediately wanted to see the sick and get started right away on trying to find a cure.

From out a window on the top floor of the temple a pair of dark eyes followed the pink-haired kunoichi as she was guided inside. „So we finally meet."

Thank you for reading!