"I'm not about to die either until I know the village is safe." She smiled pleasantly at him, summoning the full force of her confidence and strength into that smile. It was a smile she'd learned from him a long time ago, though he might not ever have known that. The smile he'd given on their first real mission and the smile he'd used to encourage her when Naruto and Sasuke fought. Even if what he said hadn't always been true, the smile had always inspired her, and so she returned it to him now. "Kakashi-sensei. Trust me."
For a moment, the both of them were silent, locked in a battle of wills no one at all had time for.
Although he still didn't speak, the grip on her arm released, and he turned away, starting with renewed purpose toward the other side of the village. They didn't have the time to argue when the village was crawling with Akatsuki intent on killing everyone until they could find the last jinchuuriki. The only thing they could do was buy time until Naruto made it back, and the only way to even try to do that was to split up and ensure they found each Akatsuki member in time.
Still—something stopped her for just a moment, and she called out to his retreating form. "Ka—"
…No. She was right, after all. There really was no other viable strategy and therefore no time to discuss it further. She bit her lip instead, and shook her head. Don't die.
That was the first bit of advice she'd gotten when she'd said she wanted to join the academy and become a shinobi like her parents: don't die. It was the most common piece of advice she'd heard so far. She didn't need to tell him it, of all things.
She shook her head once again as he disappeared from sight and sprinted off in another direction, toward that of explosions. As it turned out, 'explosions' wasn't the proper word for it. There wasn't any explosive outbursts or flame, simply explosive force, originating from a flaming-orange haired Akatsuki standing in the street. Pain, wasn't it? The one who'd killed Jiraiya.
At least he wasn't the one Kakashi found. Or any of her other friends. No, she was glad she found this one: if anyone would hold this monster back until Naruto got there (he'd be here any minute, they'd sent a toad after all) she wanted it to be her. That way, no one else would have to be risked or sacrificed.
Strange, emotionless eyes stared at her as if trying to discern whether she might secretly be Naruto, before he spoke. "Tell me where Naruto is."
She frowned and gripped her fists at her side. "If you want to know that…then you'll have to kill me first."
When the man lifted his hand toward her, expression devoid of anything but a vague mimicry of disdain, she smiled.