A.N: Hi, guys! I hope this chapter finds you well.

Just a quick side note: I've decided to change the format from this chapter onwards, and in the following days I'll be editing previous chapters not only to correct spelling/grammar mistakes but also to adjust them to this "new" format. So, basically, thoughts will be in italics as always, and memories will be both italicized and in bold, but thoughts will be centered while memories won't, simply because I like the aesthetics, lol.

And without further ado, let's get on with the chapter, shall we?

Chapter 6: Necessary Evil

…

I put pen to paper, but I stopped

This letter meant for someone long gone

Flutters in the wind,

May it find its place where my dearest remittee awaits,

And mark the end of this new beginning,

From now on, I decide my own fate!

I have but one desire: To see you again…

Sincerely, by TRUE (translated from Japanese)

…

Kakashi was certain something was going on behind his back. Of course, he could smell it. His instincts were as sharp as his sense of smell, after all. It wasn't that he was stupid or oblivious, he just knew secrets had a way of unraveling themselves when they needed be. Until then, one must sit put and wait, preferably with a good book at hand. Icha Icha Paradise was always a good choice, or in this case, a volume on last-minute shinobi tactics with the cover of Icha Icha plastered on the front. Obviously, he wasn't always reading Icha Icha, that would take away the charm of the series, so he would re-read it only when he missed it—which still happened with unhealthy frequency, or that's what Gai would say about it if somebody asked him—. The thing is: porn makes people uncomfortable, and if they were uncomfortable then they wouldn't approach him. He didn't mind being considered a pervert as long as it gave him the sweet solitude he so greatly appreciated.

Lately, though, and more specifically during those six days Sakura had been out of commission, he feared leaving her side. It was as if a magnetic pull had gotten a hold of him; call it guild, call it projecting... Whatever it was, Rin's face would appear at the forefront of his mind, while reading or sleeping or staring into nothing. It didn't help that Sasuke looked as if he was hunted: always secretly watching over Sakura's fever, or sneaking at night into her room. Still, Kakashi didn't question why his most jonin wannabe genin had been put out of the fight quicker than his teammate, because he had a feeling he would find out soon enough.

Besides, for once Sasuke looked scared shitless, even if the young boy wished to pretend otherwise, and honestly, it was an improvement considering he only seemed to respond to Naruto. At some point during those dreadful six days, Sakura had started speaking and mussing to them in the middle of the night, when her fever would be at its peak. Words of distress and senseless regret would come out of her mouth in between wails —and truly, what would she have to regret so fervently? —. Regardless, Kakashi would proceed to freak-out internally—and only internally, because a sensei was supposed to keep his shit together—, wishing for any piece of knowledge Minato-sensei had left imprinted on his mind. It should be there somewhere, in a yellowish folder named "How to comfort a distressed sentimental being". But of course, this was Kakashi's mind. Nothing was archived carefully in there. It was more like a whirlpool of nonsensical bullshit, combined with a thread of practical skill and a pinch of epiphany here and there. However, if he closed his eyes, and thought hard about it, he could picture his blonde sensei patting Rin's head whenever she showed signs of distress, and he would imagine Obito joking around until he managed to nurture a smile on her face.

Considering Sakura's head must have been pounding and that she was probably unconscious and not understanding a thing about her surroundings, let alone her self-awareness, he discarded both ideas. Instead, he had settled for watching Sasuke fret over her. Maybe it had been cruel of him to enjoy it as much as he had, but seeing Sasuke capable of caring for other's welfare other than his own was truly a sight to behold, albeit not uncommon as of recently, like when he jumped between Naruto and death while facing Haku.

Just like Sakura had done for him with the Kiri-nin. Just like Rin had jumped to intercept his chidori with her chest cavity…

"Forgive me, sensei… I've let you die!" She had cried while asleep.

The Universe was such a bitch.

…

Sasuke wouldn't admit it, but he kept tabs on Sakura, even if he felt aggravated for what had happened. He hadn't told Kakashi about the ghost or the realm they had been sent while talking with it. It felt wrong to inform about something like that, since they were yet to know its purpose. Besides, he got a feeling that if Suigintou wanted to remain unknown, she would. It didn't look like she was planning anything lewd, but then again, the damn thing had no face. Not an easy target to read even with eyes as prodigious as his.

And so, at night, he went to Sakura's bed, when he was positive, she was far too asleep to give a damn, and tried to make eye contact with his sharingan on, just to make sure the ghost wasn't there with her while he tried to ignore her properly. He refused to dwell on his motivations to keep secrets from their jonin sensei, or his drive to make sure she stayed safe, even if he despised the idea to talk about the elephant in the room.

"I can't even bring myself to regret it…"

"Even if you die?"

"Even then."

Tch. She was so fucking stubborn, that foolish teammate of his. If she was planning on getting herself killed, then so be it. Why did he have to care if she did? It wasn't like he was obligated to keep an eye on her. It wasn't like she couldn't be replaced. It wasn't like he cared for her safety. She was a means to an end, a necessary evil. Like Kakashi. Like the dobe. Like Konoha itself. But a sudden pain would often overcome him as he thought about it, his shoulder burning within the limits of the seal; the voice of a hissing presence telling him to drop it all, to seek true power. However, each time he would lay eyes on the sleeping form of the girl who had put herself between his body and a barricade of poisoned kunai, Orochimaru's influence would slowly fade away every night, like a nightmare at daybreak. At least until it found another opportunity to strike like the snake he was.

She was so damn annoying. But then again, nobody but maybe Naruto had even thought of risking so much for his sake. Nobody had cared. Everybody had given him preference for his looks or his status as part of the head family, and he was sure that, as a fangirl, she had also given importance to that at some point. But somewhere along the way, she changed. She had tended to him when he had been wounded, fighting off the curse seal. She had killed off Zaku because he was out for his blood, despite never having ended someone's life before.

It wasn't like he felt obligated to care. But he did care. Ashamed as he may be, for treating her so rudely, for not knowing any better. He did care. Deeply. Maybe that was why he felt so mad at the prospect of her life being thrown away for his sake. After all, there was no guarantee he would live long enough to repay her kindness. Not if he was ever going to confront Itachi anytime soon.

If he died the next day for whatever reason—he wouldn't, but still—, would he be okay with letting things end up like that? Did he want her to hate him? Of course not. If he knew any better, he could have done something about it. But if affection were some kind of ninjutsu, Sasuke would suck at it. Some nights during that month, when she came late from training and after a bath in the hot springs, he would stare at her from the corner of his eyes just to see her tired expression, worn out from extensive training with Gai, yet somehow hopeful and determinant. He also couldn't shake the memories from those six days she had been out of commission, fighting off the poison:

Her ragged breath disturbed him, the memories of a similar situation blending together with the present as he changed the wet towel he had attached to her forehead. His mother had been this sick once when he was younger. It had been poisoning too. Having been the Uchiha matriarch, Mikoto had practically had a target on her back. Fugaku had demanded the best medic they could have, which was an understatement considering the village wouldn't risk having his clan riot over its matriarch's death. Young Sasuke would hear these nonsensical political ramblings while tending devotedly to his mother, wondering how they could be talking about village or clan politics at a time like this, when Mikoto was withering away in front of his very eyes. Contrary to common belief, Sasuke learned to cook that time his mother got sick. He had made her miso soup for the first time, and before he knew it, he had forever committed to memory her gleeful smile, tainted with fever, and her patting his head in gratitude, her dark eyes full of mirth. From then on, she would drink up whatever he made for her, like she was starved and his food so delicious she wouldn't have anything else, even if it tasted vile —he would know, for he had tasted the leftovers and was left impressed at how someone could screw up a dish so badly—.

Even in sickness, Mikoto had looked out for his feelings.

But Sakura… Her fever wouldn't go down no matter how many wet towels he would put on her forehead. No matter the food he tried to feed her while she was debating between being unconscious and present. The seal was activated, and he could tell the chakra lines kept the poison at bay, an endless battle that would continue on if it weren't for that precarious antidote that medic had given her two nights ago. He wished he could do more. Hell, he had even cut out hours from his training with Kakashi to be there tending to her, even though he had little experience and too much pent-up energy to be of any help.

The least she could do is wake up already so he could stop worrying, damn it.

But as luck would have it, she wasn't waking up anytime soon, which aggravated his humor even further. He wasn't used to feeling that helpless. Normally, training and combat skills had been his sole focus since his clan's downfall, deeming anything else unnecessary and a waste of time at best. Seeing Sakura like her mother had been that time reminded him of that helplessness which had haunted his younger self back then; the anguish of not knowing what to do, of not knowing how to handle the situation at hand… Of simply not being enough. Sometimes, while he brooded at her side, she would open her eyes on her feverish state and speak to him, not really making much sense, but he felt reassured enough knowing she was starting to acknowledge her surroundings. He didn't have a clue as to what she meant most of the time, only that she was talking to him specifically, of things that had never happened —at least to his knowledge—. She would cry, toss and turn, beg for forgiveness. To him alone. To Kakashi. To Naruto. It was unnerving.

"I'm sorry… I abandoned you… It should have been me…" She would say, sometimes repeatedly, like a mantra. "I should be the one dead…"

"What are you saying, Sakura? I'm here, see?"

But she would tear up, like he was tricking her, and the thought was offending: "No… You're not. I'll never see my Sasuke-kun again, even if your face is the same…"

She was dreaming of failure, and he couldn't guess why, other than it was the fever's doing. It didn't make it any less distracting or unsettling, and so —and he would never, ever, tell a soul of what he did as a consequence— that night, he joined her under the mattress, telling himself he was only reassuring her, trying to ease her unfounded worries so that she would heal faster and unperturbed. That night, she had rested her head where his heartbeat laid under his ribcage, and he had said, strongly, with utmost confidence: "See? I'm alive. Now shut up, stop crying and go to sleep already." And she did, still pouting and squirming, but asleep nonetheless.

By the sixth day, by the night she woke up free of the poison's influence, he was pissed; his dreams now plagued with the image of his pink-haired teammate being slayed by that man, like he had his clan. A sword to her throat. To her belly. Through her back. Other nights, her head was missing from her shoulders. Once, she even was the Uchiha matriarch, meeting the same fate as his mother had, only this time dying because Sasuke couldn't help her for the life of him. And every night during those six dreadful days, he would wake up startled and take off to her new separate room, just to reassure himself and make sure her head was still attached to her shoulders or that there was no trace of his older brother looming over her.

He had nearly lost it when she mentioned she was okay with dying for him. What for? He wouldn't do the same for her.

Would he?

…

The wind was fluttering that morning, and the air had a tint of humidity to it. Hinata could certainly feel it against her skin, already tampered in sweat, but in the gentle breeze of early morning, it soothed her. She had been training well before the wake of dawn. Partly because she didn't want to waste any time, partly because she wouldn't sleep.

Her father had heard about her coming match again Neji and thus he approached her while she was having dinner with her sister. Normally, he wouldn't share a meal with them if he didn't need to, and Hinata would be glad about it, no matter how bad it sounded. Whenever her father's gaze was directed upon her, she would tense, waiting on him to strike a verbal blow. The truth was her father unsettled her in many levels; he made her feel even smaller than she already felt on her own. Maybe it was the expectations he had placed upon her as clan heir, maybe it was the stern scowl he always wore when looking at her, maybe it was the complete resignation with which he looked upon her when training, as if he already knew she was a lost cause. Maybe he wasn't doing it on purpose.

Maybe she was a lost cause.

"I heard you've been paired up with Neji for the final round." His hoarse voice startled her, though she tried her best to hide it. Instead, she nodded, eyes glued to the ground.

"Speak up, child. And look into my eyes when I'm talking to you."

"Yes, father." She swallowed, pretending it was food going down her throat instead of raw apprehension.

"Then, if that is the case, make sure you win. The head family will not lose face because of your weakness." And just like that, he went away, leaving her staring into nothingness, into the hollowness of their compound, without noticing the worried glance of her younger sister directed at her.

Now, days later, in the midst of her training, she couldn't help but think that, for all their pride as the all-seeing clan of Konoha, they sure were blind. Truly, there were matters to which they purposely turned a blind eye, like their own dirty deeds.

Grimly, she thought of what she had discovered not so long ago, while eavesdropping on some servants within her household.

"That boy, Neji-sama, has it rough." Mused one of her chaperons, a guard who usually supervised the front door of the compound, which had been on ever-vigilance since Kumogakure's attempt at kidnapping her.

"Yes, between that horrible seal and Hizashi-sama's death…" Hinata recognized the woman's voice as one her wingwomen, who would suspiciously stray away to meet this man more often than not. They were made for each other, if their shared love for gossip was anything to go by. Then again, they did share heated kisses from between stolen time, and whenever that happened, Hinata would blush to the root of her hair and skid away, like a scalded cat who has just stepped on water.

Still, she always came back, for they were her only source of uncensored information, the rest consisting on the official reports Hiashi fed to her and Hanabi from time to time. Hinata was sure half that information had been manipulated, and the other half was complete bullshit. Even if she would flinch at the sole mention of that word, even within the confines of her mind, when not even her father's sight would reach.

As long as her thoughts didn't escape their cage inside her skull, she was safe.

"Did you hear? There's rumours Hizashi-sama covered for Hiashi-sama's execution. That he wanted to…" The guard muttered.

The Hyuuga's pale eyes widened in realization. If that was true, then…

She wished then, more fervently than ever, that her thoughts would scape her mind and reach her cousin.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry."

But no matter how many times she had tried to approach Neji, he always stared at her with the same scolding and hateful gaze, with never-changing resentment. This made her always take a step back, swallowing her good intentions, like she always did in front of her father.

Sometimes, when the memories of her own incompetence caught up with her, she would wilt away and train aggressively, until she made sure her body understood the extent of her anger. At night, she would activate her byakugan and spy on everyone, watching over them, praying she could do something else. Something greater than just train or conceive to his father's whims.

But now, in that moment in time, to the empty building and walls staring at her sweaty form, she couldn't keep Naruto's voice out of her head:

"But Hinata-chan… Whatever's buggin' ya, it won't leave. So, sometimes, we gotta fight to make 'em see just how serious we are!"

She stood up, ragged breath and all, her face covered in shadows, her pale eyes hidden under her fringe. Slowly, so very slowly, she stared gravely at her clan symbol plastered on the walls of the dojo, a steeling chill down her spine, right where her father thought her to be spineless.

"Someday —how or when I still don't know—, I'll purge this clan from the inside out." She bowed, wiping the sweat from her face.

…

They had been at it for days now, Sakura noticed. Gai-sensei had stepped up his game, adding more weight to her wrists and calves, making her train exclusively on taijutsu and this new fighting style he'd shared with her. Flashy and practical as it was, Sakura found the new training schedule was far different from what she had had in her previous life. Tsunade had taught her to have guts, to trust her instincts, to kick and punch with destructive power. This new method, however, even though it still showcased her chakra control in every kick, had a finesse about it that she'd lacked before. Previously, when she fought, she either evaded a hit or took it, then healed it instantly when taken. Now, as she sparred against the self-proclaimed Green Beast of Konoha, she found that the shifting shadow style was channeling, yes, but also innovative as of the many possibilities it entailed. When she was about to receive a kick to the stomach, her legs came on the way with a full rotation, and she would experiment, coating it in chakra to deflect the hit instead or taking it. The results turned out amazing. She could even swear she had heard the resonance of limbs against limbs at some point, as if hers were made of steel.

Still, she knew it wasn't enough. At least not yet, and not to fight Gaara in such a short notice and with a weakened body after that stunt with the poison. She really tried not to think about it too much, but it was undeniable that her relationship with Sasuke had taken a turn for the worst. It was strained, like her own body. Moreover, Kakashi was avoiding her, and she didn't have a clue as of why. That fact alone coupled with the frustration of knowing some of their more immediate enemies were out there —still plotting and possibly targeting her and Sasuke— had her panties on a twist. Especially because now, if she had to keep an eye on Sasuke, she had to do it discreetly, pretending she didn't know the boy visited her at night to try and see if the ghost had visited her mind. Honestly, sometimes she pondered whether she should do as if she had picked on it, if only to embarrass his prideful ass even further.

But at her core, she knew she couldn't rush him. He believed he was in the right, but she really meant what she had said, that her ninja way had been —and still was— to protect, to care, to be there… That is what had dragged her into the past to begin with: the need to mend what had been deemed impossible from the start. That extended to Sasuke. To Kakashi. To Naruto. To the world itself. And, of course, to her fighting skills, which were the more approachable front at the moment, so she decided to focus on that, if only not to think she was losing her time moping around.

"I don't need to overpower Gaara, I just need to be smarter than him. Taijutsu alone won't do, that much I've learned from poor Lee on my own timeline… So, I need something else, something like—"

A punch to the face and she was sent reeling to the nearest tree trunk, suddenly ripped away of her musings.

"You should always pay attention to your opponent, Sakura-chan…" Gai scolded; thick brows furrowed.

She stood, disentangling herself from the bark of the tree, hand on her progressively swollen cheek. "Sworri, zenzei." She said, sending some healing chakra from her palm to her jaw, without projecting it outwards, so that Guy wouldn't notice her using the mystical palm. She numbed the area first and straightened her jaw right after. "I was plotting…"

"Plotting?" He inquired. "About what? Your incoming battle against the Kazekage's son?"

Sakura nodded. "Even if I've been improving a lot lately, I don't think taijutsu alone will help me against him… No offense, of course. I'm sure your level of taijutsu could beat him anytime, but as for me, I'll need some help…"

"None taken. What do you have in mind?"

"He uses sand to attack and shield himself… I think a water jutsu would make him sluggish. I don't expect to win, only to put up a fight so that the examiners get to evaluate my abilities… But if I can outrun him, I might have a chance." She lowered her head. "Also, there's another thing I wanted to ask of you, if it isn't too much to—"

"Don't be shy now, Sakura-chan!" He interrupted her, overwhelmed by her desire to improve. He really loved it when a student gave their all. "I'm sure we can work in whatever you have in mind!"

"I'd like to learn the shunshin, Gai-sensei." She conceded, meeting his surprised stare straight on. For a moment, he looked pensive, as if mulling over her request. Then, he smiled, a full-fledged grin which put her off. She could almost hear the engines turning on his head, like a poorly oiled machine.

"Well, as much as I'd like to help you with those, there is someone here with us who could teach you both techniques in less time and with much less effort."

Normally, he would have taken on the challenge to teach her new student whatever she asked of him —even if he wasn't proficient in ninjutsu—, but he figured he should give his eternal rival the opportunity to mend whatever had been broken during the last few days. Nothing better than a teacher/student moment to strengthen their bonds.

He hoped Kakashi would take the bait, because Sakura's stern face wasn't giving away anything other than reluctance. It had been days since that ridiculous argument, and it was high time someone put a stop to that senseless tension between all of them. Kakashi was really oblivious as far as bonds went.

If anything, that was the only thing Gai didn't have to compete over with him, because the guy really sucked at it; the young Uchiha not too far behind.

…

"You know, my friend, I think your level of assclownery will never cease to amaze me." Gai gulped down half his sake and the copy-cat ninja had to contain a shudder. He knew better than anyone what had happened the last time his friend got drunk. It ended with him dragging his ass to bed and a hefty fine to pay. Of course, he used Gai's money for that, but that was a story for another time. "And don't think I don't know what you're doing."

"And what am I supposed to be doing, oh Gai almighty?" He raised his lone eyebrow in amusement, intent on deflecting the topic.

"You're pulling away from her." He chided, unamused.

"She's doing well, I know you're training her in all she needs. You could teach her what she asked for, so I don't understand why you want me to do it. Besides, I'm preoccupied right now with Sasuke." He took a gulp of his pint, purposely avoiding his gaze. "Why? Can't the great Green Beast of Konoha teach basic D-rank ninjutsu? Then, I clearly gave you more credit than you deserved when handing my student to you."

"Don't bother railing me up again, Kakashi. It won't work this time." There was a pause, where neither of them said anything at all. The ambient between them was charged with animosity, and it went as far as influencing the other fellow drinkers in the inn, but neither of them paid it any mind. "I know I can teach her, but she needs you."

"I don't think she—"

"You don't think she needs you? Well, I beg to differ. I've been supervising her progress since she woke up, and even though she's a great student, she cannot help but get distracted. She's sad, Kakashi, I feel it! Her mind goes somewhere else and I can't get any real progress if she has unresolved business with you. And you're here, moping around like that Uchiha mini-you that's all day spying on her, because, like his teacher, cannot work the courage to face the girl!" His voice raised in volume progressively, because as much as Gai liked to pretend otherwise, he was an emotional goofball.

"You don't understand." He whispered, trying to deviate the attention of those who were clearly eavesdropping on them. "She—"

"She carries your will, Kakashi." He interrupted, dead serious, the sake all but forgotten on the counter. "She put her teammate's life before hers, and that is what you have left imprinted on her, even if you think you haven't taught her anything… And now, she is being punished for that, only because you're putting Rin's face on her—"

"Don' . —" Kakashi hissed.

"You know I'm right. That's exactly what you're doing." He continued, despite the warning. "And, honestly, you'll need to overcome it eventually. You need to reach out to her, support her. Because, just like the Uchiha and the jinchuuriki, she's your student too. And you need to accept it and treat her as such." Gai inhaled, if only to regain some composure. "That is, if you don't want her to meet the same fate as Rin."

There was a long pause.

"Can you handle Sasuke for two days?" He finally said.

"Oh, that I can do, my friend." Gai smiled, wickedly. "He'll need some of my training if he wants to win on his own match against Lee."

"Indeed, he does." Kakashi conceded, amused at the prospect of a fight between those too. Sasuke seemed half annoyed half excited when he heard the news, but there was no telling who would win for sure. The sharingan was not going to help much on that fight, so Sasuke was going to have to rely on his experience and jutsu.

One thing was for sure: Kakashi hoped the fight taught the young Uchiha that different abilities made for different types of shinobi. Maybe reaching that conclusion would help him in regarding his teammates with a new light. And, if he did lose, Kakashi hoped the loss would humble him somehow.

As for Sakura…

"Wish me luck, then." He gulped down the sake in one go, the Shinobi Tactics Volume III with the cover of Icha Icha Paradise plastered on the front now left forgotten. He wasn't in the mood for reading.

…

Sakura came to train with a heavy heart. She had tried to approach Kakashi-sensei that morning but failed miserably. Gai had said there was no one like him to teach her, and she agreed. Of course, he was. There was no one like Kakashi when it came to jutsu, but she also knew she had triggered something in him the other day, and thus spoiled what little camaraderie had emerged between them up until that moment. In her way to town, she had encountered Gai and Sasuke, who still refused to look at her in the eye.

"He'll be in our usual spot. I told him to meet you there."

That's what he had said, but she didn't have much faith. Maybe he wouldn't show up after all. And so, she waited there, for at least two hours, knowing he wouldn't be on time on a normal day, let alone if he were mad.

It was nearing the third hour of waiting, when she was turning to leave the meadow, that she heard: "Yo!"

Sakura saw him landing on his feet, just under a dry with many thick branches hanging around, as if disheveled. He saluted her with his palm up. "Going somewhere?"

"Kakashi-sensei…" She muttered. "I thought you weren't coming…"

"Hum… And why wouldn't I? I could never refuse anything to my favorite student." He was eye-smiling, but she knew better: his shoulders were tense, his posture stiff. He was probably as emotionally drained as her, but Sakura knew better than address it at the moment. He had this all-business aura around him, as if he wanted to get it done as fast as possible, and that sort of ruined it for her, because she was hoping to explain her case to him, if only to salvage their relationship. She didn't think Sasuke would understand, but something told her that, if she were to lay it all out for his genin sensei, he would end up forgiving her.

It seemed today was not the day, though.

"Gai told me you wanted to learn the shunshin, so let's get to that first. The water technique make take longer, since you're a genjutsu type…" He made the tiger hand sign, and in an instant, she felt his presence just behind her. With a start, she turned around to block a kick to her head.

With his leg still countered by her arm, he added "And this is basic usage of the shunshin for you." Then, put some distance between them, humming to himself. "Well, my job here is done. Tomorrow I'll show you some water technique to give the sand boy some trouble. Until then!" He waived, turning around, as if to leave.

"Wait!" She chided, narrowing her eyes to slits. "That's it? No further instructions, no nothing?"

"Oh, but of course. You're brilliant, so I know you'll figure it out in no time." He was teasing her, she could tell, but she could pretend she didn't know, after all, Kakashi thrived on messing with his genin. Everybody knew that. "But if you're so adamant… Tell you what? If you manage to master it by tomorrow and surprise me with it once today, I'll listen to whatever you want to say." He started walking away. "After all, you do seem like you want to say something. Maybe then you could even tell me what really happened that night."

Sakura blinked, thrown off. It didn't go as planned, but the possibility of mending was there. He didn't even look mad, just slightly uncomfortable.

Whatever she had said while affected by the poison must have spooked him greatly. In truth, she had been dreading she might have given herself away. After all, if there was anyone capable of figuring her identity, it was Kakashi.

…

The shunshin, or body flicker technique, was a tricky one. She had learned it from a soldier at war in her previous life. It had been a "thank you" gift of shorts after healing him in camp. It was supposed to be mildly easy and therefore laid catalogued as D-rank on any ninja book, but the bitch was hard to control. At first glance, it looked like a teleportation jutsu, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Teleportation took sealing techniques or a kekkei genkai to work, and it was related to space-time notions. Shushin no jutsu was like… Jumping at high speed with no control on where to land. At the time, Sakura had managed to shunshin herself out of danger by randomly switching places not to far away from initial position, but if she wanted to freak Kakashi out, she needed to: first conceal her chakra, then control the landing of the jutsu, which wasn't fucking easy.

Yes, her chakra control was spotless, and her spiritual half of energy was overdeveloped, especially if compared with her physical energy, but the truth was that balance was crucial to control a technique like the shunshin. Or at least, to control it as she wished to: she wanted to command, not only the landing, but also the speed at what it happened. To control all aspect of shunshin meant being able to strike, evade and deflect at high speed, which was perfect for the Shifting Shadow style and the new direction she wanted to follow as shinobi. If her physical prowess wasn't too great right now without chakra, then she had to be the fastest. Uchiha Shishui, Sasuke's cousin, had been a master of the shushin, going as far as disappearing from sight without need of small distractions like leaves or petals…

She wanted that. If she was fast enough, she could become an assassin of sorts. If she was precise enough when it came to her body —half the precision she had for chakra–, she was sure she could handle what was to come.

Or, at least, that's what she wanted to believe. What she needed to believe.

"You seem deep in thought, child. I have been here for a while, but you have yet to notice me." A soothing voice called out from behind.

Startled, Sakura opened her yes, only to face mist, It was everywhere. "Suigintou, wasn't it."

"Indeed." The ghost woman tilted her head. "I am glad you remember me, child. I told your partner I would come back to speak to you, but you do not seem to be on speaking terms yourselves."

"That might be why he has been trying to invade my dreams with his sharingan lately." She muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing… Did you need something?" She turned to her, at last. The woman was nearly hovering over her, her straight dark tresses caressing Sakura's shoulders. They were soft, like silk, and they shined, even in the mist.

Suigintou nodded. "I have a proposition for you." She sat at her side, really close, but her hair remained intertwined with Sakura's clothes and the pink-haired kuinoichi tried not to flinch with all her might. The robes of Suigintou's kimono also licked at her exposed arm. All in all, her personal space at that moment was non-existent.

"That can't be good." Sakura raised an eyebrow, refusing to back away from her presence. "Leyends have it, making deals with supernatural creatures always end up in tragedy,"

"Perhaps, but you have yet to listen…" If the ghost had a face of her own, Sakura was sure it would show annoyance. Her voice sure reeked of it.

"Go on then, I'm listening."

Suigintou clapped her hands together, surely in mirth, and then added: "I heard shinobi like you have summons, creatures you call on blood."

"That's… not exactly how it works, but yeah, we do have summons." She side-eyed her, the asked, skeptically: "Why?"

"Your blood the other day… It called to me, child. It is filled with spiritual power, as if it contained chakra from other times, from other people." She made a pause, basking on the silence that carried her claims. "See, I do not have a body of my own, I am a spirit of vengeance, I do not know how I died or where I come from, but ever since I have been aware of my own existence I have been tied to this place. I want out, and your blood calling on my was a chanting to my ears… If you bound your blood to me, then perhaps I can appear physically on your realm."

"Wait a second." Sakura blinked in disbelief. "Are you asking to be my summon?"

The ghost nodded. "Perhaps that way I can aid you and be rid of this place."

"I don't buy this. You must be looking for something in return. Why are you doing this?"

"Revenge, of course. In helping you with the Kiri shinobi, I am helping myself, and once this curse is over, then you can call upon me any other place and I get to see more than dried trees and bloody hospital walls…" She chided, getting worked up with excitement.

"But I don't understand… Revenge from what? How are you related to this place?"

"It is a long story. Do you have the time to listen?" Suigintou picked one strand of her own dark hair and played with it, waiting on an answer.

Sakura sighed. At this rate, she would have to pull an all-nighter to master the jutsu, but looking at Suigintou, she knew she had to get to the bottom of whatever was going on here. "I'm listening."

A.N: I've been thinking about all your comments about last chapter, and I felt like this needs to be discussed. So, about Sasuke's reaction to Sakura saving him, even though he is an ungrateful brat, you might want to remember for the upcoming chapters that Sasuke is still hell-bound to revenge. That won't change, because it is his character arc, as much as I would like to do something about it. So yeah, it is only natural that Sasuke would both resent Sakura for protecting him —as if she had somehow showcased her strength while he couldn't move— and worry about her —her unconscious, bloody body reminded him of the massacre—. Also, the fact that she managed to get to him enough for him to worry adds to the aggravation. It's not right, but at the same time that is the kind of person young Sasuke is, even in canon. He cares but he doesn't want to care. He wants to be surrounded by poweful people but doesn't like being less powerful than them. These little flaws are part of him, but with time —and team bonding—, things could change.