Days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months. He didn't receive any word about her. Genma wasn't able to get any information. Worry is eating his heart. He had asked to be stationed at Konoha for the meantime. He had been running the peremeter of the village at least six times a day, hoping to sense her chakra signature, but he felt none.
Until the day that marked her fourth month on the mission.
He was running the perimeter as usual, when he sensed the pulse of a weak chakra. It felt familiar, but since its weak and only flickering, he cannot pinpoint the owner. Cautiously, he jumped to the tree branches to the direction of the chakra signature, trying to see who is trying to enter the village.
As Kakashi approached the source of the weak chakra, he noticed a figure stumbling through the dense foliage. His heart quickened as he recognized the distinctive pink hair that belonged to Sakura. She looked disheveled; her usual vibrant green eyes dulled by exhaustion.
Without hesitation, Kakashi leaped from the branches, landing gracefully in front of Sakura. Concern etched across his face, he spoke her name with a mix of relief and worry, "Sakura, what happened? Where have you been?"
Sakura's gaze met Kakashi's, and for a moment, a myriad of emotions flickered across her eyes—fatigue, relief, and perhaps a hint of vulnerability. She attempted a tired smile, though it was clear that she was pushing herself to keep standing.
"Kakashi-sensei," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I...". But before she can finish her sentence, she collapsed.
Kakashi caught her before she falls face-first on the ground. Looking at her unconscious body, he became aware of her precarious situation. Her small frame was littered with cuts and bruise, her face was full of scratches that he discerned was from running and getting caught on tree branches, her skin is so pale that she almost looked like Sai.
He cursed when he tried to carry her, and his palm turned bright red. There is a huge wound in her back.
Kakashi's visible eye widened with concern as he carefully inspected the wound on Sakura's back. It was more serious than he initially thought. The bleeding was substantial, and he could sense that Sakura had pushed herself to the limit to return to the village.l
Swiftly, Kakashi activated a simple healing jutsu to temporarily stop the bleeding. He then adjusted Sakura in his arms, holding her securely, and leaped from tree to tree, heading straight to the Konoha hospital.
As he carried Sakura through the silent village, he couldn't help but wonder about the details of her mission and what had led her to this condition. The secrecy surrounding her assignment frustrated him, but his immediate concern was ensuring Sakura's well-being.
Upon reaching the hospital, Kakashi swiftly entered, attracting the attention of the medical staff. He conveyed the urgency of Sakura's condition, and they immediately took her into the emergency room.
While the medical ninjas attended to
Sakura, Kakashi paced anxiously in the waiting area. He felt a mixture of guilt, worry, and frustration. Sakura had gone through so much, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he had failed to protect her. He cannot contain his fury and he marched directly to the Hokage's office. Consequences be damned.