"Kakashi!" a voice called out. And Kakashi turned to look at the newcomer. It was Genma.
"What is it?" he asked coldly. He had been hiding in the forest where he and his father used to frequent when he was still alive. Only Genma and Gai knew about that place.
He can't face anyone now.
"You have to go home." He panted, but Kakashi just turned his back on him. Genma forced the man to look at him. "You have to go home, Kakashi. I just run into Yamato, he had been tailing Sakura for over two hours. She... she looks like a mess." he told him. "No, not a mess. She looks like a crazy person wondering the streets. And she is chanting your name. What happened? Did the two of you had a fight? Whatever it is that you two fought about, talk to her! It looks like her sanity is only hanging by a thread."
Kakashi's expression remained stoic, but a flicker of concern crossed his eyes at Genma's words. He reluctantly tore his gaze away from the memories lingering in the forest and focused on his friend.
"What are you talking about, Genma?" Kakashi's voice betrayed a hint of confusion, his mind racing to understand the gravity of the situation.
Genma sighed, a mix of frustration and empathy etched on his face. "I don't know the details, but something's seriously wrong with Sakura. She's been acting strange, chanting your name like a mantra. Yamato said he tried talking to her but it was like, she just shut off the world." He slightly shook Kakashi. "Kakashi, you're my friend. But Sakura-chan is my friend too. Talk to her."
"I won't." Kakashi simple answered. He can't bring himself to face her.
"Kakashi, she's losing her mind looking for you!" Genma's frustration grew, and he grabbed Kakashi's arm, holding on firmly. "You can't just ignore this, Kakashi! Whatever happened, she needs you. Sakura is not just 'someone,' she's your friend, your partner and right now, she's hurting. You can't just abandon her when she's clearly falling apart."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed, a mix of emotions playing across his face, but Genma held his gaze, refusing to let go. "You can't keep running away from your problems, especially when someone you care about is suffering. Whatever it is, facing it head-on is the only way to make things right."
"I can't face her, Genma." He said in a measured voice. "I can't. And you said so yourself, she's your friend. Take care of her for me."
Genma tightened his grip on Kakashi's arm, his frustration giving way to a more serious tone. "Kakashi, I get it. But you can't just pass this responsibility to someone else. Sakura needs you. Whatever happened, it involves both of you, and running away won't solve anything."
Kakashi's gaze dropped to the ground for a moment before he met Genma's eyes again. "I can't face her now. Not like this."
"She's looking around the village for you!" He shouted at the man. "She looked like a mess. Her hair looks like a bird's nest, her face is red and puffy because of her tears. She had been walking around the village, chanting your name. Like you're some forgotten god!"
Genma's words struck Kakashi like a blow, and a shadow of guilt crossed his eyes. The image Genma painted of Sakura searching for him, distressed and disheveled, tugged at something within him.
"Kakashi, she's out there, desperately trying to find you. You can't turn your back on her when she needs you the most," Genma pleaded, his grip on Kakashi's arm unyielding. "She's not looking for some distant deity. She's looking for the person she cares about, the person who matters to her. You can't just abandon her like this."
Kakashi sighed, a conflicted expression on his face. "I can't, Genma. I can't!"
Genma just shoved him slightly before he released him. "If something happened to Sakura, it's your fault." He accused him. "If she dropped dead out there, it's your fault. If she lost her sanity, it's your fault." The accusatory words hung heavy in the air as Genma glared at Kakashi. The tension between them crackled, a palpable force that seemed to echo the gravity of the situation. "You know what, if you can't care for her the way she deserved, you should have just let Uchiha pursue her."
Genma's words lingered in the air, a cutting indictment that struck Kakashi deeply. The accusation of responsibility weighed heavily on him, and for a moment, the gravity of the situation seemed to close in around them.
Kakashi's visible eye hardened, a mixture of guilt, anger, and internal turmoil evident in his expression. Genma's accusation had hit a nerve, and the pain of his own perceived failure gnawed at him.
"You think I don't care?" Kakashi's voice, usually calm and collected, betrayed a raw edge. "You think I want her to suffer?"
Genma met Kakashi's gaze, unyielding. "Actions speak louder than words, Kakashi. And right now, Sasuke would be a better match for her. Not you."
Kakashi's eye narrowed, his stoic demeanor cracking further under the weight of Genma's statement. The mention of Sasuke, a figure from their shared past, added another layer of complexity to the situation.
"You think I haven't considered that?" Kakashi's response was sharp, a defensive edge to his words. "But it's not that simple. Sakura deserves someone who can be there for her, I know that. But right now, I can't be that person."
Genma's frustration deepened, and he shook his head. "Kakashi, she's out there, pouring her heart out, searching for you. If you care about her, even a little, you'll face whatever it is that's tearing you apart and talk to her."
A heavy silence settled between them, the weight of the unspoken emotions suffocating. Kakashi's internal struggle was evident, torn between his past, his fears, and the present reality of Sakura desperately needing him.
"Where is she?" Kakashi finally asked.
Genma's expression softened slightly at Kakashi's question, recognizing a subtle shift in his friend's demeanor. Without a word, Genma pointed in the direction of the village, his gaze urging Kakashi to act swiftly.
"She was heading towards the marketplace," Genma said, his voice a mixture of urgency and concern. "You need to find her, Kakashi. Talk to her. Whatever's going on, you can't let her face it alone."
Kakashi nodded, a determined glint in his eye. Without another word, he darted away, disappearing into the shadows of the forest and then reappearing on the outskirts of the village. The urgency in his movements spoke volumes about the internal battle he was waging.
Genma watched him go, a mix of emotions crossing his face—concern, frustration, and a lingering hope that Kakashi would find the strength to confront whatever demons haunted him.
As Kakashi vanished from sight, Genma let out a heavy sigh and muttered to himself, "Don't mess this up, Kakashi. Sakura deserves better."