"Kakashi?" Sakura called out to the man wo had been hiding in their room the whole day. She wiped her hands on the kitchen towel. "Kakashi."

When she did not hear any response from the said man, she went to their room. When she opened the door, she immediately heard his soft snoring. Then, she saw him splayed on the bed. His arm resting in his eyes to block out the afternoon sun.

Kakashi refused the Hokage position, and the elders are livid. But he didn't care. He refused it and continued to serve the village as a jonin. After the war, the five nations became friendly which each other. But paranoia is something that cannot be remove to the system easily. So as a payback for his refusal, the elders worked Kakashi like a dog in running the perimeter.

Sakura sighed and approached the bed where Kakashi was peacefully sleeping. She could see the fatigue etched on his face, a result of the relentless tasks assigned to him by the elders. It angered her to see him being treated this way, didn't he already paid his dues to the village. Why do they have to treat Kakashi like a slave?

She approached the bed and laid next to him. Kakashi, as if sensing that she's there, turned to his side facing her. He draped his arm in her middle and pulled her closer to his chest. Then she heard him murmur her name and sighed, 'Love you.'

Sakura's heart swelled with a mixture of love and concern for Kakashi. She gently brushed his silver hair with her fingers, marveling at the fact that even in his sleep, he sought comfort in their closeness.

"Kakashi," she whispered, running her fingers along his cheek. "You're working yourself to exhaustion. This isn't fair to you."

But Kakashi didn't even stirred. He continued his peaceful slumber and his soft snores echoed inside their room.

She buried her face to his chest and the beating of his heart lolled her to sleep. When she woke up, the sun had already set and the moon is high on the sky. And Kakashi is not by her side.

"Kakashi?" she sleepily called out to him. "Kakashi!"

And the said man just burst into the room frantically looking at her. "Sakura! Why? Are you hurt?" he asked.

"No. I'm looking for you. I woke up without you by side."

Kakashi's eyes softened with relief as he realized Sakura was unharmed. He quickly moved to her side, his hand gently cupping her cheek.

"You scared me. I thought something happened," Kakashi admitted, his visible eye filled with genuine concern.

Sakura smiled at his worry, appreciating the depth of his care. "I'm sorry for worrying you. I thought someone summoned you again to run the perimeter."

Kakashi let out a tired chuckle, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "Well, they did. But an hour on the shift and Tenzo is ready to imprison me with his wood style jutsu. He demanded I return to you, and he will take over for me."

Sakura's smile faded, replaced by a frown of worry. "Kakashi, this is too much. You're overworking yourself, and I hate seeing you like this. You deserve better than this treatment."

Kakashi sighed, running a hand through his unruly silver hair. "I know, Sakura. But I can't just abandon my duties. The village still needs protection, and I can't turn my back on that responsibility."

Sakura sat up and looked at Kakashi with a determined expression. "I understand that, but this is no longer about duty. The Elders are using their power to manipulate you. They are making you miserable for choosing me."

Kakashi's gaze hardened, a mix of frustration and resignation in his eyes. "I know, Sakura. But I can't let the village be defenseless. I made a promise to protect it, and I can't break that promise."

Sakura placed a hand on Kakashi's cheek, her touch gentle yet firm. "I'm not asking you to abandon your duties. I'm asking you to stand up for yourself. The Elders are taking advantage of your sense of responsibility, and punishing you because you refused being the Hokage, it's not fair."

Kakashi looked into Sakura's eyes, his visible eye reflecting a complex mix of emotions. He knew she was right, but the weight of his duty and the ingrained sense of responsibility made it difficult for him to take a stand against the Elders.

"Sakura, it's not that simple," he said, his voice weary. "I can't disobey the Elders now. If I did, it would only worsen the situation."

Sakura reached out, her hand gently tracing the lines of exhaustion on Kakashi's face. "You don't deserve this, Kakashi."

Kakashi closed his eye, leaning into Sakura's touch. "I appreciate your concern, Sakura. But this is my choice. I won't let them break me. I'll endure whatever they throw at me."

"But Kakashi, you don't have to face it alone," Sakura pleaded, her voice filled with frustration. "I can take over some of your shifts. The hospital doesn't need me now that Lady Tsunade took over."

In reality, the elders sacked her. Probably for the same reasons that they are punishing Kakashi. But Tsunade promised her that she will reinstate her as Chief Surgeon in two years. Just enough time to have the elders get off of her back.

Kakashi's gaze softened as he looked at Sakura, touched by her willingness to support him. He reached out, cupping her face in his hands.

"Sakura, you've already done so much for me. I can't ask you to sacrifice your own well-being for my sake," Kakashi said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I appreciate your offer, but I'll find a way to handle this. I don't want you to be burdened by my choices."

Sakura's eyes reflected determination as she met Kakashi's gaze. "Kakashi, we're a team. We face challenges together. I don't want you to carry this burden alone. If you continue doing this, you're going to die. I love you, and that means sharing the load, even if it's just taking over a few shifts. I can't stand seeing you like this." Sakura insisted. "It's breaking my heart to see you like this. It's not healthy, Kakashi. You're not a machine and I need you. I need you alive and healthy not half-dead because of exhaustion."

"I will be fine, Sakura." Kakashi insisted. "Two more months and my punishment is over. Just try to understand. I don't want you to get involved in this. And I am not letting the elders think that they won. Just have some faith, Honey." He cupped her face in his hands. "I'll always come back to you. Just let me have my pride now."

Sakura sighed, her frustration evident. She understood Kakashi's pride, but she couldn't bear to see him suffer in silence. "Kakashi, I have faith in you, but I also can't stand idly by while you're being treated unfairly. We're a team, and I want to share the burden with you. Let me help, even if it's just a little."

Kakashi looked into Sakura's eyes, his visible eye softening. He could see the sincerity in her gaze, the genuine concern and love she felt for him. "Sakura, the fact that you're here. That you stayed for me is enough. You don't need to pick up my shifts. I will look like a weak person, and that I am using my girlfriend to get out of my responsibilities."

She looked at him straight in the eyes and willing her voice to convey all the love and concern she have for the man. "No, Kakashi. You won't look weak, for me, admitting that you cannot do everything and needs help for other things talks about your strength. Because it takes strength to admit that you have moments of weakness." She explained to him. "And if Yamato-taichou can help you, why can't I?"

Kakashi sighed, realizing the depth of Sakura's determination. He knew she wouldn't easily back down, and he couldn't deny the logic in her words. With a reluctant nod, he conceded, "Alright, Sakura. If it means that much to you, you can help. But only for a short while, and only when it doesn't compromise your well-being. And only a few shifts. I don't want you to overexert yourself either. We'll face this together, but I won't let you carry the entire weight."

Sakura smiled, a mixture of relief and determination in her eyes. "Thank you, Kashi." When Kakashi heard her use her special nickname for him, he knew, he made the right decision. "We'll get through this, and I'll make sure you're not shouldering it all alone."

"I know, Sakura." Kakashi said, pulling her closer to him. Their dark room seems fading away as he pressed his cloth-covered lips to her temple. "You make impossible things possible for me."