Genma suddenly turned his head to gaze outside Sakura's window.
"What is it, Genma?" Sakura asked.
"I don't know, it just felt like, I should be somewhere. But I can't place the trepidation that I am feeling right now."
What he didn't say to Sakura was he always feel this way whenever Kakashi was in danger. He was his only family left, so it is only natural that he kept a close eye to his cousin. But their different assignments foiled that.
"You're pale, Genma." Sakura noticed. "What is going on?"
"I don't know. But it felt like -"
Whatever Genma is trying to say, it was interrupted by a flash of light outside. Too low for it to be lightning. But what else can create that kind of light?
"Chidori?" Sakura muttered. Question etched in her face.
"Kakashi!" Genma's heartbeat became fast as he opened the window and leaped. Pushing himself faster to go to the place where he saw the light that is reminiscent of a lightning strike.
As Genma rushed towards the source of the disturbance, Sakura followed closely behind, her worry growing with each step. The village was silent, as if holding its breath, anticipating the clash between two formidable ninja.
When they arrived at the scene, they found Kakashi and Sasuke facing each other, the air crackling with tension. Sparks of electricity danced around Sasuke's hand, evidence of the deadly Chidori he had summoned. Kakashi, on the other hand, had his Sharingan activated, a clear sign that he was ready for a serious confrontation.
"Stop this, both of you!" Sakura yelled, her voice filled with desperation and fear. "What's happening? Why are you fighting?"
Kakashi spared a glance at Sakura, his eye softening for a moment. "Stay back, Sakura. This is between Sasuke and me."
Sasuke, however, showed no signs of backing down. "You're meddling in things that don't concern you, Kakashi."
Genma, with a stern expression, stepped forward. "It concerns us when someone hurts our friend. Sakura deserves better than this. Explain yourself, Sasuke."
Sasuke's eyes flickered with annoyance. "You're all so sentimental. She left because she couldn't handle the truth. She's weak."
Anger flared in Sakura's eyes. "Weak? You're the one who used your strength to hurt me, Sasuke! I left because I refuse to be a victim anymore."
The tension in the air reached its peak as the three ninja faced off. Sakura, despite the pain and fear, stood her ground. Genma, fueled by the protectiveness he felt for his friend, and Kakashi, torn between guilt and the need to make things right.
Sasuke, sensing the collective determination against him, sneered. "Fine, you want to protect her so much? Then you can all share her fate."
With a sudden burst of speed, Sasuke lunged at Kakashi, the Chidori crackling with lethal energy. Kakashi wasn't able to dodge it fast enough, he waited for it to meet his flesh, but a cloud of pink obscured his vision.
"Sakura!" he bellowed, but he was too late. He can see the point of Chidori protruding in her back.
Sasuke pulled out his hand, his clothing covered in splutters of blood that Sakura choked out.
Sakura's body slumped to the ground, and a horrified silence fell over the scene. Genma, Kakashi, and even Sasuke were momentarily frozen by the unexpected turn of events. The air hung heavy with shock and regret.
"Sakura!" Genma was the first to break the silence, rushing to Sakura's side. He carefully cradled her in his arms, his hands applying pressure to the wound in an attempt to stem the bleeding. But what can he do when the wound is on both sides of the body?
Kakashi, his usual calm demeanor shattered, stared at the scene in disbelief. The weight of guilt and responsibility pressed down on him. He had come here to protect Sakura, and now she was injured because of the chaos he had walked into.
Sasuke, though momentarily taken aback, recovered quickly. He smirked, the darkness in his eyes intensifying. "Looks like she couldn't handle the fight after all."
A surge of rage overcame Kakashi. His Sharingan flared to life, a tempest of emotions reflected in his single visible eye. Without a word, he charged at Sasuke, kunai in hand. Genma, still focused on Sakura, couldn't intervene.
Shikamaru, having sensed the disturbance, arrived at the scene. His eyes widened at the sight of Sakura on the ground and the intense battle that was about to unfold.
"Stop this madness!" Shikamaru shouted, his voice cutting through the noise of the fight. "We need to get Sakura to the hospital."
His words seemed to penetrate the fog of rage and determination that had consumed Kakashi and Sasuke. Kakashi was the first one to lower the kunai.
"We're not done," Sasuke hissed at Kakashi, but he knew that the priority was Sakura's well-being.
Kakashi, his eye still burning with anger, reluctantly stepped back. Shikamaru moved quickly, assessing Sakura's condition and preparing her for immediate medical attention.
"Sakura, don't fall asleep on me, okay?" Kakashi said. His eyes assessing the injury that chidori inflicted. He typically uses the technique whenever he is on assassination mission. He knows how deadly it, double it by the place where you struck it, it assures death.
Sakura's lips were smeared with blood, but Kakashi noticed that there are black lines - almost looked like ink, crisscrossing from her face to her body.
"Sakura, we will rush you the hospital." Genma's voice said. "Just keep the 100 Healing technique activated, okay?"
Sakura nodded, not having the strength to articulate words.
The group quickly rushed Sakura to the hospital, where a team of medical ninjas was ready to attend to her injuries. The atmosphere in the room was tense as they worked to stabilize her condition.
Kakashi, standing by Sakura's bedside, couldn't shake the guilt that gnawed at him. He blamed himself for the current state she was in. Genma, equally concerned, paced back and forth in the waiting area, occasionally glancing at Kakashi with a mixture of anger and worry.
After what felt like an eternity, the head medic approached them with a solemn expression. "We cannot ascertain that she'll pull through this." The medic said when she saw Sakura's former sensei. "The 100 Healing Mark helped mitigate the injuries. But we're not sure if she'll ever wake up."
"But you said the 100 Healing Mark mitigated the injuries. Why is there an impossibility that she will wake up?" Kakashi asked.
"The 100 Healing Mark should have been sufficient to heal all the damages, but since her chakra pathways were disrupted by the attack, it cannot heal her fully. From what I saw, she only activated the mark when she was already attacked."
Kakashi's heart sank at the revelation. The consequences of the battle were more severe than he could have imagined. The guilt he felt weighed even heavier on his shoulders.
"What can we do?" Genma demanded, his usually calm demeanor cracking under the pressure.
The medic sighed. "We're doing everything we can. But the damage to her chakra pathways is extensive. We'll need to monitor her closely, and even then, there are no guarantees."
Kakashi clenched his fists, his mind racing with regret and self-blame. He couldn't shake the feeling that if he hadn't intervened, if he had been more cautious, Sakura wouldn't be lying in a hospital bed fighting for her life.
"We'll be doing regular scans and treatments. Right now, all we can do is wait and hope for the best," the medic added, a somber tone in her voice.
As Sakura's life hung in the balance, Kakashi and Genma sat by her bedside, their thoughts consumed by the events that had led to this moment. The hospital room was filled with an oppressive silence, broken only by the quiet beeping of the machines monitoring Sakura's vital signs.
Days turned into nights, and the wait became agonizing. Kakashi couldn't tear his gaze away from Sakura's pale face, his mind replaying the moments that had led them here.
He doesn't want to leave her for even a single moment without someone to look for her while he can't. So Kakashi, turned away missions that Tsunade sends his way. He will not leave Sakura alone if there's a possibility that the deranged Uchiha can harm her more.
He doesn't care if the hospitals and handful of friends are gossiping behind his back. Saying things that they know nothing about. Not caring if they even judge him for loving his former student. Judgment be damned! He made a mistake once; he will not do it again.
He cannot bear not to see her green eyes any longer. It's been days since they entered Sakura into the hospital, and she is still sleeping. He leaned into the hospital bed and grasp her hand, while looking into her face. "Please, Sakura, wake up."