"What do you mean… dead?", asked Shizune, the shock still audible in her voice. Is it possible? Did Sakura lose her child and then kill herself? But that wouldn't make sense given the rumour that her and Kakashi are a thing and that this baby is his, but what if this is really all just a rumour, would she kill herself? Would she really, could she really be dead?
"That is all I know, I don't feel her, not at all, not one bit of her chakra. She is gone. I really don't know.", said Naruto. His voice is soft and quiet. The usually loud and happy man is quiet and sad. None of them moved.
Kakashi was numb, quite literally. He felt nothing and everything at the same time. All was a big blur. His stomach clenched and he wanted to throw up. There he was, again in this bottomless pit, alone with his thoughts and his wicked imagination. The face of Sakura constantly on his mind while spiralling downwards, with no end in sight. His stomach clenched once more and his fight or flight instinct kicked in. He knew he needed to get away, away from Shizune and this office with all the burden that it holds. He needed air, fresh air. Kakashi was sure that that would help him to clear his mind and lift that stone from his stomach. Fresh air would allow him to breathe. He didn't need another thought, his body just moved. He left the office without saying or hearing the words that were said. He needed a way out. Naruto must be wrong, he said to himself as the fresh air hits him. He was simply wrong. She was home and safe and sound and everything was perfect. His feet moved on his own. Before he knew, he was in front of her door and he noticed two things. One, her chakra wasn't there. He couldn't sense it, not even a hint. Two her scent was almost gone, too, and instead he could smell something rotting. He cursed himself for his superior nose, a normal person would not have smelled this. The stone over his stomach fell and hit him hard. He nearly hadn't enough time to get his mask off of his face before he started vomiting. After his breakfast went through his head again, he started to prepare himself for what he would see in there. He wouldn't allow Shizune or Naruto to enter and to see this. Sakura is like a sister to Shizune and Naruto already lost Sasuke and saw his dead body. He wouldn't want him to go through this again. So there was only him to do this. He took a deep breath, already regretting it, because of the smell of his vomit, which mixed with the smell of rotting flesh. He stretched his hand to the door handle and to his surprise, it was not locked. He entered the house and followed his nose to the origin of the rotting smell. It came from the kitchen. He knew as soon as he opened the door he would see her. Sakura lying on the ground, dead. He knew he could prepare himself as much as he wanted, but it wouldn't change the fact or actually help him, he would never be prepared enough. But it was time, and therefore he opened the door.
Naruto fell out of his shock when Kakashi left the room. He wanted to follow him immediately, but Shizune stopped him by grabbing his arm.
"What are you doing? Need to follow him.", he said; tears forming in his eyes. She was still holding his arm.
"Stopping you. I will follow him; you will stay here. I give you permission to act as Hokage today."
"As if I would care about that now.", he answered angrily.
"This office needs to be occupied all day and night. And I don't want you to see this. There is no reason for you to see her, if you are right. You have lost enough already. You have seen enough already. Let Kakashi and me do this. Please. Trust us with this. There is no need for you to torture and traumatize yourself with this. Naruto, I beg you.", Shizune pleaded. Her grip around his arm tightened.
Naruto wanted to argue, but knew that in the end she was right. There was no reason why he should inflict the image of Sakuras dead body on him, but Kakashi shouldn't see her, neither. He was the one relying on Sakuras support the most.
"I understand, and I will stay here, but please go and get him. He shouldn't be seeing this, too. I cannot lose him, too. That would be too much, after Sasuke and Sakura."
"I promise, I will hurry. Thank you, Naruto." He nodded and she left. She knew Kakashi and his mental state were a lost cause. There was too much damage done and Kakashi was too comfortable in his pain to face it and get behind it, but she could save Naruto from this place of hurt. The next Hokage could be mentally less damaged than the previous ones. Tsunade was full of grieve and anger when she got the hat and Kakashi probably only said yes to it, because someone important in his life guilt-tripped him to do it. Naruto was different, and she would make sure he stayed that way, even though she had to face the death of a person she loved like a little sister. Shizune knew that she, herself, was less important in this than Naruto, the next leader of this village.
The first thing Shizune noticed as she reached Sakuras home was the open door, the next thing she noticed was the vomit right in front of it. If she had to guess, it was Kakashi's. She entered the house cautiously. She couldn't know in which state Kakashi was and if he would identify her as friendly. She walked slowly from room to room, but before she entered the kitchen, she heard a soft cry, more like a whimper. It was Kakashi. That was all the affirmation that she needed. Not only was she too late to spare Kakashi from that torment, she was sure Sakura was dead. Cautiously, she opened the door to the kitchen. Kakashi was sitting on the ground in front of the dining table, on which a plate with not so well looking food and some letters laid. Kakashi was still whimpering, but there was no sight of Sakura. Shizune released the breath she was holding. That was a good sign.
"Kakashi…", said Shizune quietly.
"She is… she is…", Kakashi started but got interrupted by himself. He turned to her, his mask was still hanging loosely around his neck and both of his eyes were in tears.
"She is…" Kakashi started again and then took a deep breath to continue, "she is alright. She left the village yesterday." And with that every barrier trembled down and Kakashi started to cry like he hadn't in decades. Every emotion he had ever suppressed came to light. Shizune got down next to him and held him while she was crying, too. She was alright, at least that is what they know now and what they should focus on.
They did not notice how much time had passed, but when they left the house, they realized it probably had been an hour. Naruto must be livid by now. They made their way to the Hokage office. They both noticed how natural the Hokage-role is for Naruto, he just seemed to fit perfectly into this chair and this office. Naruto sensed them only seconds before they entered the office. Immediately he noticed how red Kakashi's and Shizune's eyes were, and that was all the affirmation he needed.
"And, is everything taken care for?", he asked. Trying to avoid saying the obvious and making the fact that he had lost his best friend, a reality.
"She is okay. She left the village yesterday. She left some letters, one for me, one for Kakashi and one for you. She writes that she is sorry that she left without saying goodbye, but she knew she couldn't do it, if we were all there to wish her well. She went to Tsunade-sama to Amegakure. Tsunade-sama is training new medical nins there and they are building a hospital. Amekagure is a small village in a small country, and they lack of nearly everything after their long history of war and oppression. Sakura probably went there to help Tsunade-sama with the administrational work and to train some students.", said Shizune visually relieved. Naruto took a deep breath and started to cry. Shizune went over to him and hugged him, like she had with Kakashi.
"I am just so happy, that she is alright. I was so frightened. I really thought I had lost her as well.", said Naruto, still sobbing into Shizune shoulder. Shizune held him tighter. Naruto needed a couple of minutes to calm down again and regain control over himself. Kakashi was standing in the back of his own office, still emotionally shook from everything that had happened in the last couple of hours. Sakuras letter to him secured in his left hand. He realized that this wasn't enough, not for him. In her letter, she wrote to him that she knows he'll understand, given the circumstances in Konoha and the talks. She simply couldn't stay any longer. But here is the thing, he doesn't know. He didn't understand what she was implying, and he really wanted to know why she left without even saying goodbye. In reality, he wanted to know why she left him.
"I want to go to Amegakure.", Kakashi said out of the blue.
"You… what?" Shizune asked, baffled by Kakashi proposition.
"I want to go to Amegakure." Kakashi said again.
"You cannot just go there. This needs planning and arrangements.", answered Shizune, now wondering why she was shocked he wanted to go there in the first place.
"No, Kakashi is right, he needs to go to Amegakure and that as fast as possible. Amegakure now has two of our best medi-nins, and I know the council won't like that. Therefore, Kakashi needs to make their stay there official and the best way for him to understand and defend them, especially Sakura, is to visit them and see with his own eyes why they are both needed there and not in Konoha. Even though I don't agree with Sakuras departure, I don't want her to get in trouble with the council, especially not when she is pregnant with the last Uchiha. I don't want to give them any opportunity to blackmail or pressure Sakura."
"I can't believe I am saying this, but Naruto is right.", Shikamaru said, as he appeared right behind Kakashi. All three of them wonder how long he had been there.
"But it will have consequences when the Hokage leaves the village without informing the council first." Shizune objected.
"But he will not leave, not officially at least. Naruto, you need to get your wife. She will be a part of this plan. Nothing tiring, I promise." Shikamaru said again. Naruto did as he was told and came back with Hinata.
"I told Hinata what she needed to know, so what is the plan." Naruto said, after making sure Hinata had a comfortable place to sit.
"It is actually simple; we will just need a few things. Shizune I need you to fake an inquiry of Tsunade, in which she asked for Sakura expertise for a poison and an antidote. You can do that, right?"
"Of course I can, you really wouldn't want to know how often I signed for Tsunade." Shizune answered, as she went to the desk in the room and started to write the inquiry.
"Perfect. The council will see that Sakura is the only one for this job and that she and her baby will be safe when Naruto is coming with her. But here is the twist. It is actually Kakashi that will be going. Naruto was right, you need to see what they are doing there to fully understand it and to therefore protect Sakura and Tsunade from the council. They will argue that this journey is too tiring for Sakura and that she should not have left, because her child is basically the villages' property. We will give them the notice when Sakura will leave."
"But she had already left. That is the problem." Naruto explained.
"I know that, therefore Kakashi, you will henge into Naruto and you, Naruto, you will henge into Kakashi and you will stay here. Naruto you need to make a shadow clone, too, that'll henge into Sakura, so we can see them leave in broad daylight. We and the real Kakashi will stay in contact during the whole trip with messenger hawks. Kakashi you should go and pack. The sooner you leave; the sooner you'll be back." Shikamaru explained, and everybody agreed. Kakashi then made his exit to pack a few things.
"But what is my role?", asked Hinata.
"Oh, I just wanted you to know what is going on, so you are not mad at me or Kakashi for sending your husband away."
"OK I get that, but why this whole charade? Naruto-kun could have just went himself and then reported everything to Kakashi-sama." Hinata then proceeds.
"Oh, that would be a drag. Do you really think we would have got a second of peace? He needed to go himself or hell would have broken loose. Trust me, that man is a drama queen." Shikamaru answered, while rolling his eyes.
Never, not once in his life, was Kakashi as eager as he was now to go on a mission. Sure he thought he would be dying of boredom, after he got the title Hokage, and he played with the idea of starting a war, well a small war, to get out of his office, but nothing was comparable to this feeling right now. He was immensely grateful that he could go himself, even when this whole charade was needed. The council wanted him to retire and that sooner than later. Every step he takes is not only noticed by them, but also commented and judged. They are not happy about how Kakashi is changing the village. He made sure no child had to go to war, and he restructured the ninja school system and the rank system. That makes the village overall more vulnerable, but Kakashi truly believes that they will not be another war in his lifetime, at least no war that hasn't started by himself out of boredom. This new generation was different, they all bonded through their experiences and out of love and respect for one another. Unlike his generation, which was only fuelled by hate and revenge. But the council doesn't want to see that. They are both so old and stuffed up in their time, that they don't see the difference and the change that had been made. There are many times, in which Kakashi wished those relicts of a long-lost time would have just died in the last war or even due to their age, but to everyone's misfortune they were both the spitting image of life and vitality. Kakashi would be happy to obey, to give up the hat he never wanted in the first place and live the rest of his life carefree, reading all day or going out with his dogs or going on a holiday with Gai. He would still do some smaller missions and would always help Naruto. But he couldn't, not now, the council wouldn't vote Naruto into the office, not yet, and everything he did and endured would have been in vain. So he endures more, because he knows it is for the greater good.
With his packed backpack, he went back to the Hokage tower. Everyone was waiting for him. Naruto and Kakashi changed their appearance, and the Sakura doppelgänger was made. Then they went to the gates and said their short goodbyes.
Kakashi had no time to lose and moved quick. He only rested to sleep and even though he was tempted to not sleep at all, but he eventually realized that he needed rest to continue at full speed. It took him three days to get there. He had hoped that he would find Sakura on the way. That she hadn't travelled at full speed and that they could talk out here in the middle of nowhere, but that wasn't the case. The Sakura doppelgänger vanished shortly before Amegakure, but Kakashi was still disguised as Naruto.
He entered the big bridge to Amegakure, which is the only way to get in officially. He knew what he had to do, what he had to say. He put on the hood from his cloak and held his face down. The gate to this city is coming closer and closer.
"Hey you, who are you and why are you here?", asked the guard at the gate. Kakashi looked at him. The guard was very young and probably only a chunin, but Kakashi didn't want to make any trouble, therefore he lifted his hood and showed "his" face.
"Uzumaki Naruto, I am here to visit Tsunade-sama and Uchiha Sakura."
"The Naruto?", asked the guard in disbelief. Kakashi tends to forget that Naruto is not only a hero of his village but of all villages.
"Yes. Can I come in now?" Kakashi just wants to and see Sakura with his own eyes. He just wants to know she is safe.
"Oh, of course, Naruto-san. It is an honour to meet you in person.", answered the guard and bowed in front of him.
"Oh no, that is not necessary really.", answered Kakashi obviously embarrassed.
"It is necessary. You saved this world and the life of my brother. But I mustn't delay you any further. When you follow this path till the end and then go right ways, you will find the hospital in which Tsunade-sama is training new medi nins. She will know where to find Mrs. Uchiha."
"Thank you, very much." Kakashi moved as quick as he could without raising any suspicion. He is Naruto now, and nobody except for Sakura should know that he actually isn't. It would cause more harm than good, if anyone knew he wasn't Naruto.
As Kakashi entered the building, the scent of sanitizer hit him, even though he was still wearing a mask, the scent was stronger than he had thought, and his nose needed a moment to adjust to this new environment.
"Naruto?", he heard a familiar voice asking behind him. He turned around and Tsunade was there.
"What are you doing here?", she asked him.
"Tsunade-sama, I am here to see you and Sakura." Tsunade nodded and showed him the way to a room, where there can have a more private interaction. In this tiny room full of data files and folders, she started to eye him up. This was awkward.
"She is behind that door", said Tsunade pointing at a door next to her.
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama" Kakashi turned to the door as he touched the doorknob Tsunade started talking again: "Oh and Kakashi, it's grandma and Sakura-chan." A big smile formed on her face as he froze and looked back at her. Kakashi dropped the henge-no-jutsu and bowed slightly to Tsunade, then he went into the room with his racing heart and his sweaty hands.
