Expectations

Disclaimer: Naruto and company aren't mine. Nor am I making any financial gain from writing this.



Expectations

Chapter 3: Stirrings



After Tsunade affirmed that Sakura's condition was stable and that she would live, Kakashi pulled Genma and all those involved with the mission into an empty patient room. All six of them crammed into an empty patient room, Kakashi's gaze swept over them showing his displeasure, his anger.



One revealed black eye showed more emotion than Genma ever wanted to see. Mostly he saw a burning fury aimed at the perpetrator, and at him seeing as he was the mission leader, responsible for her and everyone else's safety.



Kakashi's posture, even though he stood slouched against a wall, arms crossed over his muscular chest, his stance utterly deceptive. He was beyond angry. There was no other way to say it...he was pissed!



Tenten moved closer to Neji hoping his built frame would hide her from the elite Jounin's furious gaze. She may have been named Konoha's Weapons Mistress, but that didn't mean she was stupid when it came to a man who was formerly ANBU and at a very young age. You just didn't screw with a man like him. Period. Neji, feeling Tenten's uncertainty lightly grasped her wrist, pulled her behind him, not wanting her to bear the brunt of any of Kakashi's wrath.



Naruto, Kiba and Akamaru stood closest to the exit awaiting the words they all dreaded to hear. Akamaru whined and his owner rubbed his head, speaking calmly in low tones to reassure his friend everything would be fine. Kiba glanced over at Naruto, the duo exchanged a nervous look and wished the older man would hurry up and get the ass-chewing over with.



All five of them: Genma, Neji, Tenten, Naruto and Kiba felt uncomfortable under the close, infuriated scrutiny, hoping Kakashi would keep any and all violence in check. If not...then they were pretty well screwed. But then a gain Kakashi was known for the ability to keep his cool, infuriating others as they lost theirs. The man actually rivaled Ibiki when it came to gathering information.



“Genma, “ his voice low and cool addressed the leader with whom Sakura had been entrusted to, “tell me exactly what happened. Don't forget I've had the abridged version from Naruto, here, but I want it from you, too.” Kakashi's jaw clenched as he waited to hear the chain of events which led to Sakura's injuries.



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A voice called to her yet it was difficult to surface through all the clouds and pain fogging her vision and her head. Struggling to open her eyes, the voice spoke to her again.



“That's it, Sakura. You have to wake up. I have to make sure that everything's okay.”



After several moments her eyes opened and she groaned at the lights that assailed her sensitive eyes. “The light...hurts.” Her throat croaked, parched by the lack of moisture in her throat.



“Shizune, shut the curtain if you will, please.”



Sakura assumed Shizune did as ordered as darkness fell into the large room, no more light to cause pain and sensitivity to her eyes. She felt dizzy as an energy poured into her. Opening her eyes she saw the familiar green light of healing chakra being infused into her injured body by not only Shizune but her teacher, Tsunade.



Time passed and the Hokage and her assistant ceased their healing, both of them appearing tired and pale from their efforts. Palms on her mattress, Tsunade allowed the majority of her weight to rest on her hands while staring at Sakura inquisitively.



Sighing, the busty blond eyed her cautiously and asked, “Sakura who did this to you? Who's responsible? Naruto barely got his version of events out due to shock; so I want to hear yours.”



Her tongue slowly slipped out, wetting her lips, cracked and dry, her voice hoarse as she spoke tiredly, “Sasuke.” Gesturing with her eyes at her battered form; speaking softly she continued, “This was his doing. All of it.” Suddenly her eyes widened and she attempted to rise and leave her bed, only Tsunade and Shizune both ganged up on her and forced her back down to her supine position. “New weapon”, she ground out between her clenched teeth.



Dark eyes met amber colored ones, their gazed locked over Sakura's form. The Hokake anxiously allowed her eyes to return to Sakura, asking her for more information about the weapon.



“It uses chakra. The user is tied down within it's machinery. Then the user activates it uses his or her own chakra, drawing energy and draining their victims of their chakra. Once the chakra is stored in the machine, the user then turns the stored chakra into a weapon which can decimate, entirely, a certain perimeter; turning it into a blackened wasteland.”



Shizune gasped as the implications and the weapons use was made known. “Tsunade-shisou, we must counteract before they have the opportunity to bring it here, to Konoha. If not...our people, our way of life will be completely destroyed with no hope of resurrection.” Her eyes, their black pupils, watched her leader's expression with some anxiety.



Apprehension that had taken hold in her subordinate's eyes reflected steadily in Tsunade's momentarily and then vanished to be replaced with a calm acceptance. A look that stated she already knew what had to be done to save their people and their village.



“Shizune, look after Sakura. I will return shortly”, the blond barked, exiting the room, her green jacket billowing behind her curvy figure.



Shizune and her fellow medic-nin exchanged a glance that stated they were in for deep shit, if their master's look meant what they believed to be rooted deep in her mind. Shaking her head, the brunette placed a palm on her forehead, muttering, “Here we go again.”



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Deep underground in a stone fortress hidden deep in the hills of the land of Sound, a shadow sat perched on a dark throne-like chair, serpents poised and curled from the darkened wood reared in four columns from the chair's head. The sarcastic, evil figure sitting there, his eyes narrowed as he thought on Konoha's attempt to infiltrate his group and discover their true purpose sent a flare of anger through him. A darker figure approached and bowed, showing his respect for the Sannin.



“Was the test successful”, the voice hissed.



Light glinted off the glass lenses that Kabuto always wore. “Yes, master. Sasuke implemented the test phase, the results pleasing.” Rising, Kabuto informed him of everything that had taken place, including that of the Konohan shinobi.



Slamming a purple fist down against the arm of the chair he shouted, “Damned Leaf Village.” Eyes burning with intense hatred he seethed, “Those infernal do- gooders never quite know when to keep their noses in their own affairs. Well, it's high time I teach them their final lesson.”



“You sent for me, Lord Orochimaru”, a new voice asked.



Walking closer to the light, leaving the clinging shadows behind, Sasuke inclined his head slightly toward the snake Sannin. He hated the bastard with almost as much passion as his brother, Itachi. Both men were complete bastards, unfeeling, hateful pricks who deserved to die after all the atrocities they'd committed! One by one he'd take them all, including those who served Orochimaru currently.



Pale hands caressing the sword that usually hung across his back, black eyes observing, his iris' indistinguishable from their pupils, Sasuke's stance was carefree yet deceptive. “And just how do you plan to teach Konoha a lesson?” His tones ,cold as always, brought a smirk to the purple skinned elder.



“I have my ways”, Orochimaru replied as he sat back down, his tongue snaking out over his lips as if scenting something delicious in the air. “It won't be long...Konoha will fall, their strong will bow; their Hokage will swear allegiance to me or they'll all die.”



“Hmmph.” Slipping the blade back into the sheath on his back Sasuke snapped, “Have you forgotten about all the ANBU, Jounin, Chuunin and the Hokage, herself? She kicked your ass last time, didn't she?” Deep, frigid chuckles emanated from his chest, reverberating in the dark area surrounding them.



“That's what I'm planning on, Sasuke.”



Orochimaru then proceeded to inform them on the plot which he'd personally designed for Konoha's fall. And it would be glorious indeed, the snake man thought.



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“...and that's what happened, Kakashi. I swear to Kami if we'd thought that he'd catch up to her and hurt her...we'd never have split from her. Initially, our plan wasn't to split up, but to stand and fight.” Genma glanced at all his team members who backed his story with solemn nods.



Anger wafted from Kakashi, the pulsing emotion so strong it was almost palpable. He calmly asked, “Why didn't you send her with the rest?”



“I-”



Neji stepped forward. Tenten, Naruto and Kiba grabbed for his arms to try and keep him from an act of stupidity, especially when the silver haired ninja was this infuriated. “Kakashi, he speaks the truth. Genma and I are responsible for Sakura. The three of us were running and it is my belief that the enemy split us apart on purpose, the sole purpose of allowing Sasuke to catch Sakura alone; carrying out whatever he had planned.



Tenten, gathering her courage from her partner and friend, stepped forward, also. “Kakashi, she couldn't have returned with the first group due to her injuries. She had to be healed somewhat along the way, most of which she did herself, but Genma and Neji attempted to help however they could.”



Neji signaled to her to be quiet. She fell back, anxiously watching the older man for any signs of violent about to be unleashed. It was strange how everyone could see how much the former ANBU cared about the medic nin, only he wouldn't admit it. Not in front of any of them. It all came down to emotions, and not bearing anything other than a platonic love for any of your friends or team mates. Strange thing about him, though...he'd contradicted himself as he'd kissed her, hugged her tightly before this last mission. Everyone knew. So what was the damned point? In his eyes the emotionally scarred shinobi was prepared to take the hugest leap of all. He was ready to ask her to take the biggest step, in life and love, with him.



At the moment, however, he had to push away all thoughts of it as he dealt with the situation at hand, which wasn't very pretty. He'd tried to distance himself from it, but the moment he'd seen Sakura's pale, still, barely breathing form, he almost lost it comletely. He'd wanted to rend and tear those responsible. And unfortunately for him, feelins such as those didn't belong in a shinobi's life. They could compromise a mission or get others killed. Wasn't that what he'd preached to his younger Team seven?



The door to the room swung open, almost nailing Kiba in the head. He jumped forward to avoid being hit. A figure emerged, voice raised in outrage. “So...who wants to tell me just the the hell happened?”



“Hokage, if you don't mind...I've heard enough of this and I'd rather go see Sakura, if that's acceptable?” Black eye glinting hard, silver hair askew, Kakashi seemed rather eager to see her. To ensure that she was really going to be fine. He wanted to make sure she wouldn't disappear or die right before his eye.



She inclined her head. “Go to her, Kakashi. She's been requesting your presence for quite a while; I believe you'd be rather beneficial to her healing, and her peace of mind.



Flashing everyone a dark look, Kakashi stormed from the room, shutting the door so hard the glass window almost shattered.



A pair of cerulean eyes widened in disbelief. “Damn! I'd hate to have him pissed at me”, he said surprised by his former sensei's display of temper and strength.



“Naruto, you dumb ass, he is pissed at you”, Kiba fired back. “He's pissed at all of us who were on the mission.”



Blue eyes lit in acknowledgment. “Because Sakura was badly wounded.” Broad shoulders fell, guilt swam to the surface. “I don't expect him to forgive me as I can't forgive myself.”



“Naruto, knock off the self-pity. It doesn't become you.” Tsunade angrily snapped at him, bringing him back to focus. “Someone here better start talking. Neji, report”, she ordered, watching his head pop up at the sound of his name.



The handsome Byakugan user stepped forward. Calmly he began his report; leaving nothing out, including the machine he'd seen and the effect it'd been designed to have. “Hokage, it is my belief that it's only a matter of time before they come to Konoha. After all we have seen their weapon of destruction and have gained knowledge of it's capabilities.”



Nodding grimly she said, “Neji, gather all available ANBU, Jounin and Chuunin for an emergency meeting. This is to take place in two hours time to enable you to successfully get the word out.” Her eyes shifted to include everyone else in the hospital room. “Take everyone in here. Use them to help spread the word. Now go”, she ordered.



Quick as a blink, five forms vanished from her sight leaving nothing behind, but the Hokage herself. Sighing, she left in the wake of the five before her to prepare for a possible oncoming war.



Pink hair plastered wetly to her head, jade iris' glaring angrily at the window, upset over her apparent weakness. She expressed her frustration to the only one who could ever truly understand.



“Kakashi, I should've been able to take him! But hell no! I was afraid of him and those damned Sharingan eyes.” Thin arms, decorated with cuts, lay crossed over her bruised chest. “Naruto and I took you on and gave you a good run for your money, so why couldn't I do the same to him?”



Inhaling deeply and praying to Kami she wouldn't react to angrily over his next words, he stated wisely, “You were in love with him.”



Her eyes widened, flames burning in their depths, she shot back, “Just what the hell's that supposed to mean? Huh?” Squirming under her sheets; trying to sit up she cried out, “What? Do think I'm not over him? That lousy, traitorous bastard? What do you take me for, Kakashi?”



“I'm not trying to intimate that you still love him, although a part of you may always do so. He was, after all, your first love. Was he not?” He paused as she nodded sadly, coming off her infuriated high. Kakashi thought about all the time she'd wasted chasing his emotionally frozen ass, ignoring himself, and Naruto; all because of the good looking Uchiha prodigy. She'd never given him a look until Sasuke had abandoned their village, leaving him, Naruto and Sakura to function as a three man cell permanently. She'd been depressed and deeply hurt as a result of his singularly focused betrayal; not giving a shit for anyone but his quest for power. “As much as I hate to say this, Sakura...that part of you may never truly forget him, or leave him behind. You can decide that when you choose to move forward in life, never letting him, and his past with you, corrupt your present and your future.”



Kakashi's words first infuriated her then upset her. Sasuke had injured her in a way no one else had. He'd taught her how to break someone's heart. How to betray someone who thought only the best of you, who lived for you. And most of all...he'd taught her what it was like to claw your way back from the depths of hell. Even if he could somehow return unscathed from his actions she didn't think she'd ever trust him again. Truthfully, she didn't want to talk to him, or be near him. She didn't want the memories or the reminders. Which all brought her back to everything her lover said. In a way he was right. As much as she didn't want to believe it a part of him would always have her heart.



Sasuke, she thought, I hate your fucking guts for everything you've done. Not just to me...but to Naruto, to Kakashi and our whole fucking village! We gave you something you hadn't had since you were a small boy...we gave you a family. And you turned on us all! Apparently, we meant nothing to you, nothing at all. You were nothing but a selfish, revenge obsessed prick, and I hope you find out one day what it feels like to have your heart ripped out, like you did mine.



Deflated, she turned on her side, murmuring, “Damn it! I hate it when you right!”



“Come on, Sakura. You think I'm sexy when I'm always right. Admit it”, he said trying to cheer her. Abruptly he was smacked with a pillow to the side of his face, a grinning Sakura feigning innocence in it's wake.



Climbing on the bed he trapped her limbs; asking her, “Like it rough, do we? I'm ready whenever you are.”



Kakashi leaned closer til he and Sakura were practically touching noses. Staring at her he whispered, “I thought I'd lost you. When I saw you all cut up and bleeding, your chakra almost depleted...I was close to certain that you would die on me, leaving me as everyone else I've loved has done.”



Rearranging his position to sit on the side of her bed, he moved in again, invading her personal space. Gently she wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice low, fatigued as she spoke, “I'm not going anywhere, Kakashi. When I'm out of here you're going to give me a proper welcome home and when I've healed enough...we're going after Sasuke. We're going to beat the shit out of him, kill Orochimaru and defeat his fucking organization, come home and be happy. Is that understood?”



“Yes ma'am”, he replied with a flirty wink and a smirk.



“Next time I'll prove how strong I've gotten. And next time that smug cold-hearted son of a bitch will discover that I'm not the Hokage's former apprentice for nothing. In fact, before I kill him, I think I'll make him swallow his balls. What do you think?”



Kakashi looked a little green at the mention of Sasuke swallowing his balls. Who wouldn't? Any male could easily imagine it happening to him and wince just from the mere thought.



“Come here you big baby.”



She watched in fascination as he slowly pulled away his mask, teasing her with his slow, deft movements. As soon as the scrap lay around his neck, she roughly pulled him down, lip to lip. Heat and electricity arching between them as they shared their love, their relief, to one another.



Meanwhile, a pair of eyes watched them excitedly then pulled his face away from the door. Exuberantly he ran down the hall shouting loudly, “Holy shit! I saw it! I really, really saw it! I saw his face! I saw Kakashi's face!”



His exclamations faded down the hallway along with his steps. He had to go tell someone. He wondered if Shikamaru would be interested in what he'd just witnessed. Deciding to give it a go he headed in the direction of Shikamaru and Ino's place. It'll be time for some of the village assholes, namely Kiba and Neji, to make good on a bet made years ago. Damn! Was life sweet or what?



A/N: I know this wasn't heavy on the Kaku/Saku action, but next chapter will definitely have it...just bear with me and I'll get it out as soon as I can. Thanks!