Chapter 7

Whisked Away

Sakura eyed the drooping balls of dango. They were drizzled with a sweet sort of umber sauce and skewered through a wooden stick. She used to have those all the time in Konoha. Every single Tuesday afternoon, when Sakura came back from her morning training in the Hokage tower, she would pass by Kakashi who would be going there for his weekly reports. It became a tradition for them to sit down and share a few bites of the dish.

Naruto smiled and motioned a stick towards her. She felt a bad taste in her mouth.

"Take it, Sakura-chan, I've bought plenty for all of us."

The girl wrinkled her nose and said, "No, you can have my share. I don't have any appetite."

He frowned and shrugged before he dug into them with pompous bites.

"Girls," he remarked, "Right, Kakashi-sensei?"

Naruto turned to offer some to his sensei as well. Once again, he was stood up.

So then, while Naruto was chewing, Sakura was standing and Kakashi was standing. All three of them were in a loose circle facing each other and it was just so incredibly stiff. Not for the oblivious blonde, of course.

"Actually, yes, I'd love to to have some of that," Kakashi said suddenly, snatching a stick from Naruto's hand.

The boy in the orange jumpsuit grunted and resumed his chomping. When he was done licking on his fingers, and Kakashi finally finished nibbling his dango (and eventually chucking away half of it), the trio set off again. They didn't have much of an idea of where they were going so the jounin summoned the only thing he's ever seemed to have summoned before. With a pop and a flurry of smoke, the pug appeared again.

"Ohh..." Pakkun wrinkled his nose, "The air doesn't smell all too nice here."

Sakura looked down her nose at him, who gave her a cheeky dog-smile. His attention was then switched to a more pleasant person.

"Pakkun!" Naruto gleamed.

The little pug wagged his tail contentedly at an actual welcome before Kakashi cleared his throat.

"Pakkun," he started, "I need you to try to get any bits of Sasuke's scent around here. I'm sure that-"

"That was what I was talking about back there," Pakkun said gruffly, "Sasuke's scent is overpowering here. It's all around us."

All three of them stiffened and drew out kunais. Pakkun shook his head and almost rolled his eyes at them. Humans. What a paranoid bunch.

"No, he's not here right now. The scent is kind of old, but he's been here all right. That's all."

"Is there a trail?" Kakashi asked, slipping his kunai back out of sight.

"Yeah, a really nice one too, in fact."

Kakashi frowned. Shinobi were trained to be paranoid and this was too spontaneous. Months after his disappearance, there wasn't a single hair of his that could be found. But then, suddenly, they were able to find a perfect trail of his scent? He exchanged glances with Naruto and Sakura. Even the boy with whiskers on his face wasn't that dense.

"But we can't just leave this," Sakura pointed out, "Even if it is a trap, he was still here. That is more than we've accomplished in like...forever."

Naruto nodded sagely. He looked at Kakashi and waited for some sort of reaction from him. So what will it be?

"We should follow the trail then," the man said, turning away from Sakura's hopeful eyes, "But we can't be directly on the trail. I want us to be at least 50 metres away from it, just in case. It'll only give us a few seconds to our advantage, but those few seconds-"

"are what determines our life," Sakura finished reciting for him, "We get it. Seconds count. You should really get some new sayings, sensei, they are getting old. Like you."

Kakashi's eyebrows raised slightly at the return of the girl's sarcasm.

"What?" Sakura said.

"Nothing. Pakkun, lead the way," he shook his head and walked away.

She sighed and tumbled along after them, kicking pebbles as she went. To be frank, she was excited. Uneasy, but incredibly excited. They were going to Sasuke. And, they've been lucky enough to only encounter forested areas so far. Traveling by foot would have been such a pain. Those facts were enough lifted her spirits to a more tolerable point.

Kakashi and Pakkun were in front, already skitting from tree to tree, closely followed by Naruto. She bent her knees, flexed her hands and the chased after them as well.

"Stay in the trees, you are more vulnerable on the ground," Kakashi called out.

"Oh Kay!" Naruto responded.

Sakura looked forward to spending this however long period time alone while she processed all the mucked up things she felt inside. Naruto, however, loved attention. He slowed down his pace until he was criss-crossing the trees with Sakura.

"Sooo..." Naruto began, like a girl trying to pry out gossip, "I haven't seen you in a long time."

She glanced sideways at him before she landed on another branch and scoffed.

"You are seeing me now."

Naruto quirked his mouth to the side and said, "Well, yes, but I'm talking about you know, the last few weeks. It's okay, it's only you and me right now. You can admit how much you've missed me. Tell me about it. Pour out your feelings to- umph"

Sakura casually stepped in front of his path and caused him to lose balance in order to prevent himself from ramming in to her. He landed on a shrub below and bounced back up again.

"Nope. No thoughts of you. Not really."

Naruto sighed with dramatic woe.

"How was it actually then," Naruto asked again, "And how come you and Kakashi are together?"

She pondered it as the leaves brushed her arms and legs. How was it that he miraculously appeared at the doorsteps the next morning?

"I don't know. He found me. Somehow. Having him around didn't make life any better though. I mean honestly, if he was going to choose such a crappy hotel to save money, we might as well continued to sleep in the trees. That way, -"

"Wait, you guys were together that long? I thought we all just met up with each other a few days ago."

Oh shit. Leaping and talking weren't things that were easy to balance. It's hard to multitask.

"It wasn't that long, really."

"Wait, so like how long? A week? More? Like, all alone with sensei for more than a week? Sakura-chan, why are you blushing?"

On cue, she fumed even redder. She mumbled a 'knock it off' and sped ahead. Inwardly, she groaned as the blonde's frame got smaller, but Kakashi's got bigger. It's like she could never escape them. She didn't want Naruto to think about them. Thank god he wasn't Ino though, or else dirty thoughts would spread like wildfire, in around Ino's head and right out of her mouth.

Naruto's eyes lit up as an idea came into his head, "Sakura! Did you..."

She braced herself.

"...get to see Kakashi's face?!"

That was all? Looking back, she remembered the trio of them, Naruto and Sasuke, then Sai and herself trying to figure out what was under that navy piece of cloth. Now, that was like old news to her.

"No."

Naruto deflated and continued to stride, considerably slower now. "Bummer."

"I doubt a lot of people actually have seen his face either so it's not a big deal."

He laughed at her and putted on a sleazy face, "Oh? Actually, I heard tons of people have seen his face. And more."

She kept silent.

"I know, weird imagery, huh..." Naruto tried to dispel the awkwardness he created, "very weird..."

"Oh, whatever," she said, and sped up her pace.

Of course, it's not like he's a virgin who's never loved anybody and has been untainted by any previous women. He's probably been with a countless number and could get the most eligible bachorlette in Konoha. Probably already has. Sakura knew all of this somewhere in the back of her mind, but she romanticized her worth to him all this time and...and this made her realize just how small she may be to Kakashi.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto called out breathily, "Wait! Wait up."

"C'mon, sensei isn't going to slow down. You need to burn all that extra dango off!" she replied over her shoulder.

But Kakashi was slowing down, probably because she heard his remark. She used this chance to take another glimpse of Naruto, only to have found him heaving against a tree trunk, his butt firmly stuck onto the branch, unwilling to move. Sakura bellowed out a long moan and leapt back to Naruto's tree. Kakashi should figure out sooner or later that no one was following him anymore. She wanted to avoid talking to him as much as possible.

Sakura settled lightly on the arm of the tree and walked over to where Naruto looked like he was about to fall asleep. She bit back a snarl and crouched down to ruffle his hair.

"Naruto, dear, would you please get up?"

"Sakura-chan, I feel...nauseous. Like there is something rolling around in my stomach or something."

"You have a stomach-ache?" she asked unimpressed.

The earlier burst of adrenaline completely flooded out of her as Naruto basically announced that he needed to go take a dump.

"You too?" Kakashi said and landed on another tree arm above them.

She thought back to what Naruto said and looked at him. He was a catch, wasn't he...even with most of his face covered up, anyone could make out his handsome and defined profile. He looked back. She turned away.

"Seriously, stomach-aches?" Sakura said to no one in particular.

This had to be the most depressing 'obstacle' they have encountered yet. It was one of those things that are really small, but actually do hurt a lot. Like toenails clipped too deep right before a race. Or in this case, a bad stomach.

"I don't actually have a stomach-ache, I just feel light-headed. I think it was the dangos you got us, Naruto."

Naruto's stomach grumbled just in time. His eyes turned into two curved lines and his mouth hung open in a whimper. She grasped his shoulder roughly and then gave his cheek a series of short slaps. How did he get so lazy?

"C'mon, Naruto. Respond to me. Where does it hurt? I can make the pain go away for a little while."

"I don't know," he mumbled breezily, "My stomach I think...actually my sternum...actually, it's kind of like..."

The rest of his words were no longer coherent because blood bubbled out of his mouth in a thin stream. Naruto began to choke.

"Give it up, buddy, next time you walk in there, she really will kill you."

Sai responded to Kiba with a slight smile. He turned back to the door that he had knocked on every 10 minutes or so (for the last hour) and raised his knuckles to it again. Ever since he gave up on the notion that he could be part of the backup squad, he focused his mind on other matters like the actual launch of it.

"I really wouldn't do that if I were you. Tsunade's got some paperwork she needs to fill out and for some reason, needs Genma in there too. I heard it was some mission that went awry while he was captain, but uh, anyways, we won't be able to go until he's done."

"Awry?" Sai pursued, momentarily distracted.

"Yeah. Like messed up big time."

The big ball of white fur whined in agreement. Does Kiba ever part with him? Sai frowned. He felt even more reluctant to let that group go.

"It'll be fine, people learn from their mistakes," he murmured to himself and then knocked the door. "Tsunade-sama, it is-"

"Do NOT come in."

He frowned and simply stood very close to the door.

"Is Kakashi's backup going out yet?" Sai inquired...again with a slight hint of agitation.

Tsunade, however, did not know how to hold back.

"My GOD, Sai! I will send them when I please! I am the Hokage after all! What? Am I doing something wrong? Do you think you can do a better job then me? Would you like to be the Hokage?!"

"I think you are an excellent Hokage, Tsunade-sama. It is just that I am highly concerned about Kakashi's squad."

"Our village is very shorthanded right now, Sai. You know I can not spare anyone. Genma will be able to go soon."

"Or, I can go in his place and we can leave right now."

"No, you have been ordered to help the villagers and patrol the village. You are not well enough to be sent out yet. Who let you out of the hospital, anyways."

They've repeated this conversation many times prior and it always ended like this. Every single time. Tsunade said no. Sai got sad and Kiba had an 'I told you so' smirk.

"But-"

"This is the last time, Sai. I've order the shinobi stationed here that the next time they see you walking towards my hallway again, you are to be escorted out immediately. Now run along and draw. I have enough faith in Kakashi and so should you."

He stared at the texture of her mahogany door. "So in an hour-"

"Yes. One hour. Goodbye."

Sai turned away from the door and sat beside Kiba and his quick-breathed dog. He just got kicked out by the Hokage...even though he wasn't really 'inside' in the first place. At least she didn't have the satisfaction of slamming the door in his face. Kiba grinned a toothy grin at him and petted Akamaru.

"So since you are done your raging, do you want to go now?"

Sai stared blankly. A lightbulb went off in Kiba's head.

"Oh, did I not tell you yet? Everyone is gathering at Chouji's favourite grill to celebrate his birthday today. They told me to fetch you since you have been moping around too much lately. We don't have much time until we set off, but we should drop by. You want to go?"

They were hosting a party? While Kakashi and Naruto and Sakura could be lying in some hidden ditch somewhere?

"Of course, I'd be delighted."

Sai walked beside Kiba as he rambled on about the littlest things that people never actually care about, but pretended to anyways.

"Oh my god," Sakura whispered, her eyes wide.

For a second, she couldn't do anything. It was Sai and his gushing stomach again.

"Sakura."

She startled. "Okay, we need to get him on the ground."

Kakashi scooped him up gently and landed next to her. Frantic, Sakura placed her hands on his stomach and stitched up her eyebrows together in deep concentration. She exchanged a long glance with Kakashi and began her medical jutsu. He crept over and lied Naruto out. Kakashi tilted Naruto's chin a bit for to get a better airway and meanwhile tried to soothe him. The blonde's breathing and movements were heavy, but his heartbeat was quick as a rabbit's.

Sakura spread her chakra inside his stomach and stifled a gasp. It was horrid in there. As soon as she mended the burning gaps, new ones corroded and scalded again. She didn't even know what it was. She needed supplies or herbs or anything. Emergency first aid wasn't going to save him.

"Oh shit, it's really bad," she said angrily.

"Sorry," Naruto replied faintly.

She looked over, surprised that he was still conscious and lifted a gentle hand to his forehead. In seconds, he fell asleep and perfectly mimicked a child content in his crib.

"Hey, I..." Kakashi started, shaking his head slightly, "Remember how I ate some of the dango as well...?"

"Oh," her heart squeezed, "Oh, ok. Symptoms?"

"I'm not as bad as Naruto...I just feel a little...disheartened," Kakashi said.

Sakura narrowed her eyes at him.

"Ok, fine, I feel queasy, like being seasick. I'm fine though, I'm use to it."

"Of course you are..." she murmured.

She spent another minute in silence, trying frantically to heal the cuts while looking for the source. Naruto's pulse was fading and if he didn't have the Kyuubi inside of him, he would have been dead.

"I need back up Kakashi. I need to go back to the village," she admitted.

Leaves rustled at the end of Sakura's peripheral vision and she stiffened. There were people coming. Oh please god, let it be-

"We found you," a toothy, violet eyed boy grinned.

Her heart dropped into her stomach as Kakashi stood in front of them protectively, his unclothed sharigan swirling into place.

"Suigetsu," Kakashi spat out.

The shark boy didn't look like he aged at all. He had the same lanky build and his shaggy, milky hair was as limp as ever. Behind him appeared another series of ninjas, all equally gifted with the strangest features, ranging from beak-like noses to moss-tinted skin. So this was the company Uchiha kept.

"We need to get out of here, Kakashi," she whispered hysterically, "Naruto-"

"Naruto won't be going anywhere. Sasuke wants to see him. We went through all the trouble of subdueing him..."

Kakashi was giving hand signals to her. He was going to plant smoke bombs. She was going to run. He was going to stay.

"...And it'll be a waste really, to let him go already. Don't fret, the poison isn't fatal...just incredibly near it," Suigetsu ended with an excited clap of his hands for effect.

She daren't move. She wanted to scream out to Kakashi that she did not like the plan at all. She didn't want him to pretend to be the hero. She didn't want him to be like his father and care too much for his squad and take all the responsibility. It was almost as if he heard her because he inclined his head slightly to the left, enough for her to see just the outline of his eye.

With his all too familiar speed, he smashed a wall of smoke bombs between himself and the others. He quickly leapt back to Sakura and grasped her shoulders. She was crying.

"Go and get help for Naruto. I'll hold them back-"

"Don't don't don't, please, don't do this,"she said frantically, clawing at his vest to get a better grip of him.

He held his breath for a second before he squeezed her to his chest. Her eyes flung open and sought Kakashi's, but all she could see was the green of his vest. He stepped back and scanned the horizon for the enemies. The smoke was going to disperse soon.

"Kakashi," she whispered frantically.

"You have to go, Sakura, now," he whispered insistently.

Another kunai barely missed Sakura. They were getting closer now.

She pressed her body as tightly as she could to Kakashi's and grasped his neck closer. She tugged down the mask feverishly and bruised her mouth against his. Their lips smashed against each other, tongues desperately exploring . Their breathes made the air around them sweltry and all Sakura could feel was the building fear and Kakashi. Kakashi. Sakura drank him in and dashed her fingers up and down in his hair, trying to as close to him as she can. He pulled her away, eyes searching.

"You shouldn't have pulled that trick, Kakashi. Smoke only lasts for so long," a voice hung in the air

Sakura could see the faint shadows of the men already.

She grabbed onto him and brought her face within inches of his, "You better come back to me, Kakashi."

Sakura backed off and slunk Naruto's arm around her shoulder and jumped onto the nearest tree. Sakura did not look back. It would kill her. As much as she believed in him, there was no way Kakashi could fight them off with something slowly corroding him from the inside.

She flung herself expertly from tree to tree, fleeing back to where they began. She had to get Naruto back to Konoha. Sakura held on to Naruto tighter and sped up her pace.

"We'll be just fine, Naruto," she said aloud to the sleeping form, "I'm going to save your sorry ass so you can feel like crap when you wake up."

His hair tickled her cheek.

"You still owe me like ten bowls of ramen. And lots of milk too. What is wrong with you anyways? Who is actually stupid enough to drink expired milk anymore?"

That was how she entertained herself for the next few hours. She didn't stop to rest because slowing down would only give her grief. She didn't even stop at the edge of the Wave Country; she basically jumped on the first boat he saw and half threatened, half bribed the sailor to take her to the Fire Country. Sweat trailed down from her hairline and dripped from her chin. Her moist hands were slippery and she didn't have as strong as a grip on Naruto as she would have liked.

At least she was back in the beloved forestry that she grew up in. It's been almost a month. She's been on missions that lasted longer, but never one that hit so close to her heart. She missed this place so much. She missed Kakashi so much.

"Almost there, egghead," she rasped to Naruto, "I'm going to make you my slave when we get back."

She tumbled through the thicket and slowed to the jog. The place was getting familiar. Wasn't that where Tsunade told her to wear gloves the next time they went training outside? Her vision was cloudy and her pulse filled her ears. Her mouth was parch dry and she could taste blood at the back of her throat. She couldn't run anymore.

She slowed to a ragged walked. Almost, almost...

"Sakura?"

It was a girl with black hair twisted into two buns. Tenten. She rushed over to the pinkette and supported her weight.

"Rush Naruto to Tsunade. Hurry," Sakura mumbled

"But you-"

"I'm fine. He's not. Hurry."

With Naruto taken from her hands, she plopped down on the soft, earthy grass, onto her stomach and turned her head to the side. Immediately lying down wasn't a good thing to do after such a straining run, but she didn't want to move. Sakura would pick herself up eventually.

How was Kakashi doing?

She squeezed her eyes to relive how Kakashi looked to her back then. His eyes were confused and searching and jumpy. And so alive. She remembered how quick his pulse ran against her fingers. She made another mistake and will most likely pay hell when he gets back. Oh god, the embarrassment.

She groaned and lifted herself with an elbow. All that was left for her is to help Naruto in the way she couldn't help Sai.