Months passed and even though things are slowly evening out for Yumi, but Kakashi is not. His temper is not something that she wants to test. It seems like years of keeping his temper down is catching up to him. That even a small thing can set him off. And the thing is, Sakura is the one on the receiving end of his anger.

Sakura had hoped that her presence would bring comfort to Kakashi, that together they could navigate the challenges facing the village. However, the reality was proving to be more complicated.

One evening, as Sakura was preparing dinner, Kakashi entered the small kitchen, his expression tense. The air seemed to thicken with unspoken words as he looked at Sakura, his eyes reflecting a storm of emotions.

"What are you doing here, Sakura?" he asked, his voice sharper than usual.

"You said that I should live here, Kakashi." she explained. "Why? What's wrong, Kakashi?"

"I don't want to see your face." Kakashi muttered darkly. "Leave my house, Sakura."

Sakura just nodded and wiped her hands on the apron she's wearing. "Okay. I'll just get Yumi."

"You will leave Yumi here." he grabbed her arm when she passed him. His grip became tighter. "You will not take my daughter away from me again."

Sakura winced at the force of Kakashi's grip, his anger radiating through the contact. She took a deep breath, steadying herself before responding.

"Kakashi, let go of me. Yumi is not a possession to be kept. She's our daughter, and she deserves to be with both of us," Sakura said firmly. Kakashi's grip on her tightened more, and it really starts to hurt her. "Let me go, Kakashi." she whimpered. "Why are you being like this? Why did I do to you for you to do this to me?"

Kakashi released his grip, stepping back with a scowl. "Our daughter? You hid her from me for years, Sakura. You kept her from me for 10 years. You don't get to play the concerned parent now."

Sakura rubbed her arm, the pain subsiding as she met Kakashi's accusing gaze. "I've explained why I had to keep her hidden. It wasn't just about me; it was about protecting you and her. I thought you'd understand."

"I understand that you made choices for me without even consulting me," Kakashi retorted, his frustration evident. "And now you waltz back in, expecting everything to go back to normal. It doesn't work that way."

"So you resort to this?" Sakura asked. Gesturing to the purple bruises adorning her arms. A testament of all the things that she suffered through his hands. "What's happening to you, Kakashi?"

Kakashi's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing. "You're not the one to lecture me, Sakura. You left, remember? You left me to deal with everything on my own. You left me when I needed you the most."

Sakura took a step back, a mix of hurt and anger flashing in her eyes. "I left to protect you, Kakashi. I didn't expect to come back to this hostility. I thought we could work together for Yumi's sake."

Kakashi scoffed, crossing his arms. "Yumi? She's just a pawn in your game, Sakura. I won't let you use her to manipulate me."

Sakura shook her head, disbelief etched on her face. "You think I'm manipulating you? Kakashi, I came back because Naruto said you needed help. I care about you, and I want to support you. But I won't tolerate this treatment."

Kakashi's gaze remained cold, unmoved by Sakura's words. "I don't need your help, Sakura. I don't need anything from you. Just leave."

He pushed her and she stumbled back. She felt the pain that spread on her back as she was pushed on the hard surface of the kitchen counter on her back. She gritted her teeth and wiped away her tears.

"Fine! I'm leaving but I am going to bring Yumi with me."

"No, you don't." Kakashi grabbed her wrist and drag her out of the house. He pushed Sakura out of the door and glared at her. "Don't ever come back."

Sakura stood outside Kakashi's house, the door slammed shut behind her. The echoes of their heated exchange lingered in the air, and Sakura could feel the weight of the situation settling on her shoulders.

'Who was that man in Kakashi's face?' she thought. 'That was not Kakashi Kakashi would never hurt me. He would never do this me. Where are you, Kakashi?'

The pain in her heart was accompanied by a growing concern for Kakashi's well-being. The man she once knew, who had shared both joy and sorrow with her, seemed to be lost in the shadows of his own turmoil.

As Sakura walked away from Kakashi's house, she couldn't shake the feeling that something deeper was at play. The anger, the hostility—it was not just about her return. There was a darkness within Kakashi that she hadn't seen before, and it frightened her.

The village, once a place filled with memories, now felt unfamiliar and unwelcoming. Sakura's steps were heavy as she made her way through the streets, her mind racing with thoughts of Yumi and the fractured family she had hoped to mend.

She found herself in front of Naruto's office, the Hokage who had called her back to Konoha. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door and entered, finding Naruto engrossed in paperwork.

Naruto looked up when he felt her presence and his eyes narrowed as he saw the bruises decorating her arms. He stood up and walk over to her. He took hold of her hands and examined the finger-shaped bruises. "What happened to you?"

Sakura winced as Naruto examined the bruises, the pain still lingered. Kakashi's new finger marks are red. But she smiled at him. "I'm fine, Naruto. Uhm, is it okay if I had a sleepover at your house? I can watch the kids so that Hinata can rest."

Naruto's expression shifted from concern to understanding as he observed Sakura. "Of course, Sakura. You're always welcome at our place. But what happened? Those bruises look painful."

Sakura sighed, her gaze dropping for a moment before meeting Naruto's eyes. "It's Kakashi. He's not himself, Naruto. I thought I could help, but it's like there's something dark consuming him. He kicked me out, but he won't let me get my daughter."

"Kakashi-sensei hurt you?"

"No, these are just misunderstandings. Nothing major. If he really wanted to hurt me, I'll have a huge hole in my chest now."

"This is not a laughing matter, Sakura." Naruto's tone was serious as he spoke, his concern evident. "If things are escalating to the point where you're getting hurt, it's a serious issue. You can't downplay it. Come, let's sit down. I want to understand what's going on."

Sakura nodded, grateful for Naruto's support. They took a seat in Naruto's office, and Sakura began to recount the recent events, detailing her return to Konoha, the strained interactions with Kakashi, and the disturbing incident in his home.

As she spoke, Naruto listened attentively, his expression growing more serious with each revelation. When Sakura finished, Naruto sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"This is way beyond what I expected," Naruto admitted. "I knew Kakashi was going through a tough time but resorting to violence is not like him. Something has changed, and we need to figure out what it is."

Sakura nodded, a mixture of emotions swirling within her—concern for Kakashi, fear for Yumi's well-being, and a deep sense of frustration at the unraveling of the family she had hoped to rebuild.

"What should I do, Naruto?" Sakura asked, her eyes searching his for guidance.

Naruto leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "First, you need to stay with us tonight. I'll talk to Hinata, and I'm sure she won't mind. We'll make sure you and Yumi are safe. Tomorrow, I'll gather some information. We need to understand what's going on with Kakashi, and how we can help him."

Sakura nodded in agreement, appreciating Naruto's decisive approach. "Thank you, Naruto. I just want to help Kakashi and protect Yumi. I never thought things would take such a dark turn."

Naruto placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder, offering comfort. "We'll figure it out, Sakura. Kakashi is our friend, and he needs help. We won't let this situation continue. Now, let's go home. Hinata will be relieved to see you, and the kids will be happy to have you around."

As they left Naruto's office and headed towards Naruto's home, Sakura couldn't shake the weight of the challenges that lay ahead. The uncertainty of Kakashi's condition, the safety of Yumi, and the strain on their once-strong bonds weighed heavily on her heart.

The night passed with Sakura in a guest room at Naruto's house, the sound of the village settling into a quiet rhythm. Yumi, tucked into a bed nearby, slept peacefully. Sakura, however, found sleep elusive as she replayed the recent events in her mind.

The next morning, after a brief discussion with Hinata, Naruto left for the Hokage's office, determined to gather information about Kakashi's recent struggles. Sakura stayed with Yumi, providing a sense of stability and reassurance in the midst of uncertainty.

Hours later, Naruto returned, a somber expression on his face. Sakura, awaiting his update, looked up with a mixture of hope and anxiety.

"I've talked to some ANBU and other sources," Naruto began. "It seems that after stepping down as Hokage, Kakashi became a target for the Council of Elders. They've been pressuring him relentlessly, blaming him for issues that were beyond his control during his tenure. The political climate in Konoha has become increasingly hostile."

Sakura frowned, absorbing the information. "But why Kakashi? He did his best when he was the Hokage, and he's not in that position anymore."

Naruto sighed, "The Council is trying to find a scapegoat for various problems. Kakashi's leadership decisions are being questioned, and they're making him the fall guy. The stress and pressure have taken a toll on him, and he's isolated himself. He's afraid that involving others, especially those close to him, will only make things worse."

Sakura's worry deepened, and she clenched her fists. "So, what can we do, Naruto? How can we help him?"

He sighed. "I need you to stay with Kaka-sensei. I'm sorry Sakura, I know I said that you shouldn't be there. But no one can get past his defenses."

"Okay. I'll try." she conceded.

Naruto nodded, his expression grave. "Be careful, Sakura. Kakashi is not in a good place right now, and he might resist any attempts to help. But you know him better than anyone. Try to reach out to him, let him know he's not alone."

Sakura took a deep breath, steeling herself for the challenging task ahead. "I'll do my best, Naruto. Yumi and I will stay with him, and I'll try to break through to him. We can't let him face this alone."

Naruto placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Thank you, Sakura. I appreciate your willingness to help. And if things get too difficult, don't hesitate to reach out. We're all in this together."

With a determined nod, Sakura left Naruto's house. The journey back to Kakashi's residence was filled with a sense of purpose and apprehension. The weight of the situation pressed on Sakura, but the thought of helping Kakashi propelled her forward.