Sakura's heart pounded louder in her ears with each passing minute until the only sound she could hear was a rapid thumping. It rattled her body with each beat, rendering the rest of her senses almost useless. She was counting down the seconds, trying her best to hide the anxiety that bubbled within her from the two sets of eyes that have yet to leave her face since she announced that they would begin their escape mission in half an hour. A soft voice called her name—or rather Mariko's name—and Sakura's head whipped up to the source of the noise.

"I believe in you," Sachie whispered with a smile so trusting it made Sakura's chest ache. She then eyed the kunoichi's leg before adding, "Don't worry so much, okay?"

Sakura followed Sachie's line of vision until she found what the girl was referring to. The exposed skin on Sakura's ankle was raw and irritated from where she nervously rubbed it against the rubber soles of her sandals. She hadn't even realized what she was doing, so lost in her own spiral of anxiety that any outward source of pain was simply an afterthought.

Smiling sheepishly in return, Sakura replied, "Thanks, Sachie."

Twenty-five minutes have already passed since Sakura began her countdown. Any minute now, she would begin to sense the arrival of new chakra signatures, signaling that their window of escape was fast approaching. She prayed to anyone who would listen that everything would go as planned but Sakura knew better than to believe that her luck would allow them to escape without a hitch.

When she sensed a large amount of chakra signatures all moving towards the west wing of the Reeducation facility, Sakura knew it was time. Like she had done so many times before, she broke through her metal chains with ease, a feat only possible with her superhuman strength. She first began by unlatching Souta's bounds, knowing that he was most fit to fight next to her considering Sasuke's inability to store chakra. Though she could sense no bodies nearby, it never hurt to always be prepared.

As she leaned in close to Souta to untie his cuffs, she whispered in a voice so low even she could barely hear herself over the sound of blood rushing in her ears from her sudden movements. "If anything happens, take Sachie and run. Get to Konoha as soon as you can and ask to see the Hokage. Tell him that the Sakura trees will bloom late this year. Got it?"

When she pulled away, Souta only nodded, a look of determination clear in his features. It had been years since Sakura used that code with the Hokage. It was first developed between her and Lady Tsunade during the Fourth Shinobi War when the Zetsu clones were rampant and hid within the Allied forces. From then on, it was something she and Kakashi had agreed on anytime she was sent on an S-ranked mission. It was a message to let him know that she had fallen behind and the mission should continue without her.

As a now-freed Souta worked on undoing Sachie's restraints, Sakura made her way to Sasuke. Her fingers, where they brushed against the exposed skin of his wrist, burned when they touched. With her bent over his form to break his bindings, she could hear each breath he took and feel the warm radiating from his body. It took almost all her strength not to react.

Leaning back once he was finally released from his bounds, Sakura finally exhaled the breath she was holding only to find that the air was once again sucked from her lungs almost immediately. With his lone hand now freed, Sasuke gripped the blindfold and pulled the fabric off his head, swaying gently to shake away the black hair that was plastered against his brow bone with sweat. When he opened his eyes to meet hers, it took every last ounce of Sakura's willpower not to gasp aloud.

Sasuke's irises were as deep and dark as she remembered, boring straight to her core. His eyes, half-lidded, would look menacing to most but to Sakura, they held a beauty she struggled to put into words. As he continued to watch her, one eyebrow curled slightly up with curiosity, she could feel the familiar squeeze in her chest.

Outwardly, she was of a picturesque calm but there was a chaos in her head that was nothing short of a brewing storm. Sakura used to think that love was a feeling that lulled you to sleep. And perhaps, that's what it was to other people. But loving Sasuke, Sakura thought, felt like being engulfed in flames. Whether the fire provided warmth or wounds, she couldn't be sure. All she knew was she'd rather burn than be left in the cold.

Sakura blinked rapidly. When her vision refocused, she found that Sasuke had looked away, surveying the cell for what probably was the first time. His skillful eyes skimmed his surroundings, taking in each one of his cellmates and memorizing every detail. She knew that he likely didn't trust them but she also knew that he didn't have a choice.

Pushing herself to her feet and dusting off the dirt from her palms and clothing, Sakura caught the eyes of each of the three individuals that surrounded her. With a nod, she pressed herself against the wall beside the cell door and slowly inched it open. Though her senses told her that the only chakra signature nearby was at the end of the hall and around the corner, almost twenty feet away, she knew better than to throw caution to the wind.

She pushed the door open wider and slinked out of the gap, reminding herself that she needed to properly thank Souta for his quick thinking that kept the lock from latching. It took several steps until she was finally completely out of the cell, moving with skillful silence. With a wave of her hand, she motioned the others to follow.

Sachie mirrored her movements, sliding neatly behind her against the wall, followed by Souta, and finally Sasuke. Sakura dared to glance back at the last of their party of four, finding that his expression gave nothing away. However, she knew him well enough to deduce how much he likely hated having to follow someone else's lead.

As the squad drew closer to where she could sense the chakra signature, Sakura motioned for them to stop and wait. She counted to three silently then rounded the corner, catching the guard stationed there by surprise. Her fingers wrapped around the pressure point on his neck and she pumped chakra into the artery that protruded from his throat. Within seconds, the guard was unconscious and Sakura slowly lowered him to the ground.

The trio continued to follow her, feet padding silently against the dirt floor as they rounded yet another corner. Sakura motioned them to continue at a rapid pace, sensing that their path was clear for the time being. As they made their way along the winding corridors, she mentally checked off each turn they needed to make on the route to the exit. Six more turns were left but even more guard stations awaited them.

They encountered four Root members at the next guard station and as if their moves were coordinated, each of them dashed to a guard and knocked them unconscious. Sakura couldn't help the pride that welled up inside her when Sachie looked up with a wide smile above the unconscious body of her target. She had grown so much since they met, her fighting skills honed to expert levels.

Sakura inspected each guard with a glowing palm, making sure that their heart rates were slowed enough to induce a deep slumber. Pressure point knockouts typically didn't last long but with the help of medical ninjutsu, she could coax the body into a state of intense relaxation. Only in doing so could she ensure that they received the maximum amount of time possible to execute their escape.

Three more turns, Sakura calculated as they continued on their path and dealt with even more Root guards in a similar fashion. Three more turns and they would finally make it out the door. Just then, a low thud behind her caused her to whip her head around only to find that Souta was bracing himself after a fall with his palms against the ground.

"Careful," Sachie hissed, as she helped her brother to his feet.

Looking closely, Sakura found that Souta had tripped over a tree root protruding from the ground. She inspected the floor where Souta landed and her blood ran cold. When she met Sasuke's eyes, she knew her suspicions were confirmed. That root wasn't there before; she would have noticed as she led them. That only left one answer.

As if on cue, an explosion sounded from the west wing of the facility and her clone evaporated, leaving behind a myriad of images that ran rapidly through Sakura's head. The unfamiliar faces of various Root members outside the meeting room flashed across her mind. With no time to analyze, she could only focus on one detail. They had been discovered.

"Move. Now!" Sakura commanded in a harsh whisper.

Their steps fell into a rapid pattern as Sakura prayed that the blast her clone set off would be enough of a distraction to buy them some more time. Regardless, they needed to move quickly if they hoped to escape without engaging in an all-out battle. Sakura could take on ordinary Root members, she was sure of it, but there was one person she knew who would give her trouble among their ranks.

She had her suspicions before. The clues were right in front of her eyes: the unusual pattern on the wood pillars of the Root hideout, Lady Katsuyu discovering that the walls were lined with chakra, and finally the tree root that seemed to appear from nowhere. Sakura didn't want to admit it; actually, she even forbade herself from speaking the truth to avoid confronting it but it was too late. Captain Yamato was on their trail and Sakura didn't know if she had the mental strength to defeat him.

With their formation broken, Sasuke fell into pace beside her as they ran to the exit, fighting enemies as they approached each guard station. They didn't bother to maintain absolute silence anymore, finding it much faster to render the guards unconscious with a swift kick or punch rather than using medical ninjutsu.

The quartet raced along their path, looking to Sakura as their guide. She extended her senses once more and found even more chakra signatures lying in wait. In total, she counted at least nine guards at this last station, the last one until the exit could be reached. With a signal to her peers to get ready, Sakura charged ahead with the trio right on her heels.

Lining her fist with chakra, Sakura struck one guard with such force that he plowed into another, turning them both into a crumpled heap on the ground. At the corner of her eyes, she could see Sasuke do the same, rendering each guard who dared to challenge him unconscious with agile attacks. His moves were almost feline-like, controlled and fluid.

To Sasuke's side, Sakura could see Souta and Sachie each face off with their own foes. Souta, with his powerful albeit slightly uncontrolled jabs and Sachie, with her calculated and precise motions, were faring well in their respective battles.

With nine unconscious bodies now lining the floor, Sakura sighed in relief. No more than six feet from where they stood was a heavily chained exit. She readied her fists, preparing to break through the rock and gravel that made up the structure of the hideout. One blast from her and she was sure the walls would crumble, revealing the path they had been dreaming of. All of her concentration focused on the door, she pulled back, her fists radiating with a warmth only her own chakra could generate—

"Sakura!"

A body slammed into hers, pushing her clean off her feet as she tumbled to the ground. She landed roughly, her arm scraping against the sharp gravel beneath her. Bewildered, she turned to the person who pushed her, finding it to be Sasuke as he pushed himself to his feet. Above her, wood beams sprouted from the walls. Had Sasuke not pushed her out of the way, the beams would have crushed her skull.

As she pushed herself to her feet, ducking to avoid the wood beams, she briefly pondered how he had shouted her name—her real name. But there was no time to think. Right behind them stood Captain Yamato, an army of Root members at his command. It seemed like they had to engage in battle after all.

"Sakura, is it? I'm surprised to see you here," Yamato spoke monotonously, his head cocking slightly to the side. "Though I guess I shouldn't be considering Sasuke was here."

Finding her disguise blown, Sakura knew there was no use in wasting chakra to keep up her appearance any longer. She released the transformation, feeling her hair shrink back to its usual length. If she had a mirror, she knew she would now find the familiar pink hair and green eyes looking back at her.

"Interesting jutsu, I couldn't sense your disguise at all. The Fifth Hokage really taught you a lot, hasn't she?" Yamato continued.

"Captain Yamato," Sakura growled, ignoring his comments. "How could you betray Kakashi sensei?"

Though she fought against it, the hurt was clear in her voice. When she accepted this mission, she was warned of the consequences of what she might unearth. She kept trying to avoid seeing it but it was all too clear now. The traitor was none other than a former extended member of Team Seven.

"What makes you think I'm not working under direct orders from Konoha?" He retorted before glancing at the space beside her. "Isn't that right, Sasuke?"

Sakura could feel Sasuke stiffen next to her at what Yamato implied. It was a village secret but Sakura was never one to allow herself to be counted out. Her time as Lady Tsunade's apprentice not only taught her medical ninjutsu, but also allowed her to uncover the secrets that the village elders fought to hide, including that of the Uchiha Massacre.

Her fists clenched with fury as she shouted, "Kakashi-sensei would never!"

"I think you overestimate the power of the Hokage, Sakura."

Before Yamato could finish talking, Sakura pushed Sasuke and the twins behind her and towards the door. In one swift motion, too quick for any ordinary eye to see, Sakura slammed her fists against the ground and sent debris flying. The ceiling of the corridor collapsed, creating a makeshift barricade between her and Yamato's army.

Sakura twisted her body and ran towards the exit, her fist extended until it crashed into the solid rock. Cool air rushed in from the opening as the quartet ran as quickly as they could out of the facility and into the night. In the distance, Sakura could see a dense forest and she made a beeline for it. She could use the trees as a means to hide as she calculated her moves, making more effective use of her battle skills.

But before she and her entourage could draw any closer to the foliage ahead, a wall erupted from the ground below their feet, obscuring their view of the forest and blocking their escape. Yamato was already on their tails and he was approaching fast. Sakura had no choice but to take her chances in the clearing.

"Everyone, get ready," she commanded.

As a troop of Root members approached, Sakura launched herself in the air and landed directly in front of them. Her fist slammed against the ground in a forceful punch, sending dirt flying as the earth beneath their feet shattered. A gaping chasm formed where she struck the grass, swallowing the enemies that charged her. Those that remained whimpered in fear as their wide eyes took in the sheer magnitude of her power.

Like she was always trained to do, Sakura's body began to move, battling like it was second nature. Though a pacifist and a healer at heart, she also knew that her muscles itched to fight. The surge of power she felt in her as her fists connected with each foe sent sparks flying in her brain. Strength, she knew, was what truly fueled her pride.

Around her, the battle ensued. Sasuke, in his smooth and flawless way, maneuvered through each Root member like they weighed no more than feathers. Even without his Sharingan, Sasuke was quicker and more observant than any ninja she knew. His reflexes were second to none as he fought. He hurtled through groups of enemies, sending each one tumbling to the ground with just one, calculated hit.

Souta, on the other hand, adopted a fighting style much more like Sakura than Sasuke. While Sasuke was always careful with each of his moves to conserve as much chakra as possible, Sakura focused simply on making contact with her enemies; her punches were deadly no matter where they struck her enemies. Like Sakura, Souta focused solely on charging his moves with as much power as possible and ensuring that each punch connected. But unlike her, he moved with less grace, making the difference in their years of training clear.

As Sakura fought, she allowed her focus to wander once more as her gaze found Sachie's back. She was holding well on her own, employing her usual preferred method of fighting as she used her small stature and litheness to her advantage. Where Sachie lacked in strength, she excelled in speed, dashing between each of the oncoming assailants. Sakura watched proudly as Sachie emerged triumphant from a duo of guards that attacked her, only to engage in battle immediately as more charged her way.

Just like that, the group fought with all their strength, knowing that escape was fast approaching. The number of Root members soon dwindled until only a few remained. With another blast to the ground, Sakura sent them flying backwards before turning to break her way through the mud wall that obstructed them from the forest. As the dirt disintegrated around them, the four fighters fled towards the woods once again.

However, Sakura knew better than to assume they were safe. Since they escaped Reeducation, Yamato was nowhere to be seen, the only trace of him found in the wall that hindered their getaway. He was out there somewhere, calculating his next move, and Sakura knew she needed to prepare for anything.

Eyes meeting Sasuke's, she communicated each thought and he nodded in acknowledgement. Even if it had been years since they fought side-by-side, it seemed some habits could never break. In one look, Sasuke could see deep into her soul and read her every thought. To them, words were never a necessity and glances were enough.

As they ran, feet pushing them far past their physical limits, the forest grew larger as the distance shortened. They were only ten feet away now, several more steps and they could use the treetops as a vantage point. But before they could come any closer, wooden branches rose from the ground, wrapping Sakura, Sasuke, Souta, and Sachie in an iron grip.

Like a snake, the beams constricted them until every inhale pressed their lungs painfully against their ribs. Sakura, with her inhuman strength, broke free of the restraints and dropped to the grass on her knees. Pausing only for a second to draw in several wheezing breaths, she rushed to the others to help. But it was too late.

As the branches loosened, each of her team members crumpled to the ground. Sakura sighed in relief when she inspected them, finding that they were unconscious from the oxygen deprivation but were otherwise okay—for now, at least. Righting herself, Sakura raised her fists defensively and scanned the area surrounding her until her eyes settled on Yamato's figure in front of her.

"This ought to be fun," Yamato taunted as he took agonizingly slow steps towards her.

Seeing him now, lit in the moonlight, caused an ache to rise in her chest. This was her captain, her teammate, someone she looked to for guidance when Kakashi wasn't around to lead their missions. She never thought she would have to face him this way but here she was, ready to battle with everything she had.

Sakura cracked her knuckles and dug her feet into the ground. Her resolve was wavering, she could feel it, so she pushed every thought from her head. If she allowed herself to think, she would falter and she would hesitate but those were things she couldn't afford to do. So as she prepared to face a friend in battle, she focused solely on survival. Sakura was a Shinobi, a protector, and she would fight until the end.

A/N

Hello! So sorry for the long wait and thank you for your patience. I hope that posting two chapters in a day made up for it! Please let me know what you all thought of the chapters! I'll try my best to update next week!