Shattered Dreams

Notice: Some course language in this chapter.

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As they travelled through the trees at top speed there wasn’t any room for chatting. They were all far too impatient to get to their destination and find Kakashi. They’d begged the Hokage to allow them to search for their beloved sensei but she had refused every time telling them she had ANBU members searching for him constantly and if they couldn’t find him how on earth did they expect they would be able to?!

They had of course responded very impassioned and all at the same time (even including Tenzo) that they knew him better than anyone and if anyone would be able to find him it would be them.

Her response was to yell as loud as possible “Tenzo how dare you of all people question my authority?!”

His reply had been swift and rather cutting “Because your forces haven’t found Kakashi yet! What kind of ANBU are they?! Seems like anyone can get in these days! No wonder he’s been gone so long!”

Tsunade looked ready to kill him on the spot and he knew it but they were all so fraught with the worry of Kakashi not returning that none of them, Tenzo included cared much anymore. Eventually she sighed however and sat down with her head in her hands, after a few seconds she looked up at him with her hands together and her fingers laced through each other.

“I understand how you feel, I really do, he gives me the worst head aches ever, but we all miss him terribly. Please remember I am trying my best here!” she slammed her hand down on the table in frustration causing the others to jump before softening her voice once again in a rare moment of kindness “I know how you all miss him, we’ll find him somehow, we will find him!” she ground out. “You are dismissed!”

“Yes Lady Hokage” Tenzo sighed dejectedly.

Sasuke scowled darkly, Naruto looked about ready to scream at her and Sakura burst into tears. Sasuke put an arm round her shoulder and led her out of the building as Tenzo gagged Naruto and dragged him kicking and screaming from the building. Sai had looked at her with a look of deep uncertainty, but hell he wasn’t about to argue with her in the mood she was in. He slouched out of the room and followed the others unhappily.

They’d made it their mission to ask every day after that. Until she had told them, one very annoyed, badly hungover day that if they barged into her office unannounced once more she would personally oversee the torture for the rest of their natural lives and possibly even beyond, before banning them from her office until they saw fit to see that she was doing her utmost to have Kakashi return safe and well. That hadn’t gone down well with Naruto. Tenzo, Sasuke and Sai had all had to tie him to a tree and sat guard to make sure he didn’t get away that day. They tried letting him free once, and Sasuke had ended up having to sit on him.

“Listen idiot, do you really think killing the Hokage is going to help us be able to search for Kakashi? You kill her or rather she kills you and then how are you supposed to go find him then? Loser!” he muttered

“Shut up defector!” Naruto screamed twisting underneath him to be set free.

Sasuke’s eyes flashed dangerously and he jumped up, of course freeing Naruto at the same time as they faced off. Sakura ran between them, screaming at this point, tears streaming down her face as she hit Naruto repeatedly with her fists before collapsing into a heap. Sasuke however was quick and grabbed her before she had a chance to fall completely and scooped her into his arms with a scowl at Naruto. Naruto took one look at Sakura and reached for her hand apologising for upsetting her further. Looking up at the pair of them she wiped the tears from her face and a look of thunder spread across it as she blew up into a furious tirade over their behaviour.

“You two, do you ever stop fighting?!” she screamed pulling away from Sasuke. “All you ever do is bicker! Kakashi’s missing, presumed dead and all you can do is scrap like a pair of hungry dogs, over a piece of meat that some other dog took while you two were to busy arguing about it!! Your pathetic you know that?! Sasuke came back didn’t he?! Well didn’t he?!” she glared at Naruto.

“Well… yeah but Sakura…..”

“And you!” she said whirling on Sasuke jabbing him in the chest “Do you have to constantly belittle him and call him a loser?! Kakashi’s missing and all you care about is your childhood squabbles?! You disgust me the pair of you. I’m going home before I kill the pair of you!” she yelled turning on her heel, disappearing in a split second.

Tenzo and Sai had stayed quiet during this entire outburst, lest she start on them next for god knows what. They exchanged looks after her departure that seemed to convey their astonishment and fear. Yes fear, for they had to admit they had faced many dangers but like hell were they getting in the way of that kunoichi on a good day but on a bad one? They were just glad she was on there side and not the enemy. Tenzo and Sai breathed a sigh of relief once she was out of sight.

“Thank god that’s over.” Tenzo said to Sai.

“Yeah you can say that again.” He replied “Have I ever told you how I don’t want to be in her way if we get into a fight on the next mission?”

“Yeah, you and me both” he nodded.

“Come on asshole, we best go apologise.” Sasuke sighed helping Naruto back up from where he’d fallen when Sakura had advanced on him.

“You think that’s a good idea ass wipe?”

“Do you wanna find out what she’d do to us if we don’t?” he asked raising an eyebrow and looking at him disdainfully.

“No” Naruto sighed. “Let’s hope she doesn’t kill us before we get the chance.”

“Most likely she will, but we have some making up to do don’t you think?”

“Yeah...” Naruto said clearly seeing this as not a good idea but knowing not apologising left him open to far worse fates than just plain death.

Sasuke slouched off with his hands in his pockets and Naruto ran to catch up, as they tried to figure out where Sakura would be. Suddenly it seemed Sasuke had an idea where and he took to the trees, with Naruto hastening behind him.

“Good team dynamics huh?” Sai shrugged

“Yeah… great!” Tenzo uttered before they headed off to find somewhere to relax anywhere would do as long as it wasn’t here.

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Sakura remembered how Sasuke and Naruto had come to her practically begging forgiveness. She had found it rather amusing and it certainly cheered her no end to force them onto their knees before she would forgive them. A sly smirk forced itself to appear on her face as she travelled.

“What’s so funny Sakura?” Sai who’d been travelling next to her asked.

“Oh I was just remembering that day Tenzo yelled at Tsunade, and how Naruto and Sasuke came to me practically on there knees begging forgiveness and how I actually made them get on their knees and beg.”

“You made the Sasuke Uchiha get on his knees and beg forgiveness?” Sai asked incredulous. “Naruto to?”

She turned her face to his and just smirked in response and Sai’s opinion of his team mate rose dramatically, not to mention the slight tingle of fear when he thought on the fact that she’d had the last Uchiha on his knees in apology.

“You’re a surprising girl Sakura Haruno.” He said shaking his head and laughing at the thought of Sasuke Uchiha begging forgiveness, especially from a girl. She blushed and grinned back in thanks.

“Tenzo-sensei?”

“Yes Sakura?” he asked not even turning or breaking his stride.

“How far is the place where Kakashi-sensei might be?”

“Three days travel.” He replied turning to look at her finally. “Don’t worry we’ll get there soon.” He smiled un-characteristically.

Sakura smiled in thanks and they continued on their way at break neck speed. They didn’t say another word for the next few hours as they were travelling at such a speed that if they lost concentration they would fall and most likely be killed before Sakura even had a chance to get to them let alone heal them.

As it started to turn late afternoon, they all realised they’d have to rest soon. They’d need to eat eventually but they were so intent on reaching their goal that even Naruto wasn’t complaining about the lack of food, until they began to slow down. Eventually they conceded defeat after another hour and sat down to eat something.

Sakura reached into her pack and pulled out an apple, she permitted herself to nibble it until surprisingly Sai sat down next to her and offered her half a sandwich saying

“Sakura, what good to us is our medic if she’s fainted from hunger and worry hmm?”

Sakura smiled sadly and realised she had to eat something. Thanking Sai she began to eat properly as she lent her head on his shoulder. Sai almost jumped up in shock at first from the unwarranted and unusual physical contact, but hid his reaction and shifted so that she would be more comfortable, he felt happy to finally feel a part of the team. As soon as everyone had eaten and been given a chance to stretch and rest for a short time they took off at the same furious pace once again.

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Many, many hours later, once it became so dark that it was dangerous to travel at their previously murderous speed they set about building a fire and resting for the night. Tenzo had told them in no uncertain terms he would not be using his skills to create a house, and they would have to camp out. Sakura had retreated from the boys once the camp was set up and said she was going for a quick relax in the river.

“Ooh, I’ll come with!” Naruto yelled jumping up and down.

“Anyone else?” she asked rolling her eyes.

“I’ll go” Sasuke drawled lazily.

Sai looked decidedly unhappy and rather left out to be honest. He sat stiffly ignoring the eye of the other three. Sakura looked at him wondering why he didn’t want to come and she realized he thought he wasn’t welcome. She looked over at Tenzo and said

“You’re ok on your own, if we all just go to the river for like 15-20 minutes right sensei?”

“Yeah no worries just stay where I can see you ok?” he said checking the camp was safe, and prodding the fire. Seeing as the river was so close since they were following it to their destination it wouldn’t hurt to let them clean up abit.

“Sure sensei” she replied turning to Sai with a smile and holding out her hand for him to come with her.

Sai looked up, astonished that they were asking him to go with them.

“Come on Mr Art Master, I wanna have a wash some time this year.” Sasuke said shrugging.

Sai gave them a true smile and took Sakura’s hand as they all headed to the river. Since it was a hot night they knew they wouldn’t have to worry about being cold afterwards. As soon as they reached the river Sasuke took off his pack, stripped off his t-shirt, stretched and then dived straight into the river. Naruto of course not one to be outdone and refusing to allow Sasuke to win by looking the most manly, stripped his pack and top off and dived straight in only to come back to the surface shivering. Sakura laughed at her friends idiocy then turned to see Sai looking wary. She guessed he must be feeling self conscious, as was she. She had no time to think on it however she felt grubby and was desperate to get in the water and feel refreshed. She unzipped her top and shrugged it off, pulled her skirt off, and stood by the side of the lake in just her shorts and her bindings. Sasuke and Naruto stopped trying to dunk each others heads under the water and stood transfixed. Sakura started to get paranoid as she noticed that even Sai had stopped moving and was just staring open mouthed. She looked round at them all once more before she moved quickly into the river and made sure she was completely covered by the water. Sasuke still had his hands on Naruto’s head about to dunk him and Sai still had his hands on the hem off his shirt about to pull it off.

“You’re all a bunch of perverts!” she growled menacingly before sinking beneath the water to rinse her hair out.

Slowly they began to move again. Sai stripped of his top and threw himself into the river where he was promptly attacked by Sasuke and Naruto attempting to dunk his head under the water.

“Hey!” he said unhappily.

“It’s your proper induction to the team!” they laughed dunking him again.

Sakura made use of the boy’s distraction to grab her soap and shampoo and washed herself from head to toe. She was just struggling to wash her back when Sasuke appeared behind her.

“Hey, want me to wash your back?”

“Would you?” she asked gratefully handing him the soap.

“Sure” he replied grinning. He washed her back gently but quickly and then asked to borrow the soap.

“Thanks” she grinned. She left the boys to wash and muck about as she got out of the water and threw her top and skirt back on before leaning against the nearest tree trunk with her eyes closed. All she could think about was Kakashi.

“I will find you” she whispered seeing his face before her. He was alive she was certain of that fact, but why hadn’t he come back to them? To her?! She took another deep breath and wished that he had never been sent on that damn mission. ‘Why do you always have to do everything your village expects of you?!’ she thought angrily. She knew the reason, of course she did. He’d always do everything anyone ever asked of him for his beloved village. ‘Couldn’t you have just said no for once?’ she sighed knowing the answer was the same for that question to.

Sasuke looked up at one point and saw the pained expression on her face. He knew she missed Kakashi more than the rest of them and if he was right (and he knew that he was) in a different way than the rest. She missed him as a teacher, their leader like they all did but also she missed him well as a lover would, he guessed. He knew how much she’d missed him for all those years, so she must be feeling at least something like that. He didn’t know how bad though because he had no idea how deep her feelings for their sensei ran. He sighed and thought it was about time they got out of the water.

The boys left the water and they all gathered up their things and headed back to the campsite. Tenzo was there waiting and keeping the fire burning. He looked up when they got back and stood to make his own way to the river.

“You best get some good sleep tonight” he said picking up his own pack and heading off, were gonna be leaving at first light. I want to get there as soon as we can.”

“Yes sensei” they chorused.

Naruto sat down with his back against a tree and Sakura moved to sit between his legs and rested against him. Sasuke moved to sit at her outstretched feet playing with a piece of grass. Sai looked a little awkward for a second before coming to sit at Sakura’s side. She turned to smile at him as he did so and he grinned back. As soon as Tenzo came back they all moved to bed determined to be awake as early as possible, to continue their journey and fell asleep soon after.

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At first light they all awoke and began packing their things away and covering all evidence of the camp. Sakura grabbed her hair brush, brushed her elbow length hair and quickly tied it up into a bun again. She shoved her brush back in her bag and took the apple that Naruto offered her for breakfast. As soon as they were done eating, she took their apple cores and buried them beneath one of the trees before they moved off at top speed, hoping to cover more ground than they had the previous day. It seemed their absolute determination to get there was definitely going to pay off, within a few hours they had managed to cover twice the amount of ground Tenzo had thought they would manage. He was pleased about this, the air around the entire village just felt wrong without Kakashi. And one look at the grim faces of his team showed they felt the same. They were more than determined to find him and return him to their midst.

He chanced a glance at Sakura and the look of concentration and seriousness conveyed her feelings clearly. She wouldn’t be giving up until they had Kakashi back, that much was for sure. Once again he thought to himself ‘Glad I’m not on her bad side, if she was on anyone else’s team I’d be terrified purely by the look on her face right now.’ There was something he was missing about why she seemed so much more hurt by his disappearance than everyone else but he wasn’t entirely sure why. ‘Maybe… No don’t be silly Tenzo’ he told himself ‘there’s no chance of that.’ He shook himself and returned his total concentration to the journey ahead.

They continued on in complete silence just like the day before. Every now and again one of the boys chanced a glance at Sakura. The look on her face was enough to deter them from even attempting to check on her, hell it was enough to kill and anyone who was stupid enough to get in her way right now wouldn’t live to tell about it. They always turned to look ahead again, they had no desire to die at the hands of Konoha’s pink haired, number one most violent female, well apart from the Hokage herself of course.

After many hours of travel it became late afternoon again. Tenzo almost didn’t dare to say they should stop and eat but he knew they needed to rest and get something inside them. Praying that he wasn’t killed on the spot he turned to the team and said “We should stop and refuel.”

The general consensus was that he was perfectly right of course but that didn’t make it any less of an annoyance that they had to stop. They sat down and ate in silence again a testament to the fact that they had no desire to stop really they were just doing this because they had no choice. Naruto walked over to Sakura and looked down at her, she looked back up and returned the smile he gave her but her smile didn’t light her eyes. She was really determined and deeply upset he realised.

“We’ll find him” he smiled at her.

“Thanks Naruto. I just wish we could get there sooner.”

Naruto bent down and squeezed her knee before they cleaned up their rest area and headed off again. Sasuke took his place beside Naruto, Tenzo was of course out in front and Sai hung back with Sakura in the formation they had adopted since the start of this mission.

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It started to get dark again and Tenzo had to admit he was a bit disappointed. They only had a few more hours travelling left but it wasn’t wise to push themselves when who knows what was ahead of them. Sighing he slowed down before stopping and scanning the area for an appropriate camp. Spotting a small clearing in the trees up ahead he jumped down and the others followed him. They went about setting traps and making sure the area was clear and safe, once they were satisfied it was safe they sat down to rest and eat something.

Sakura sat slightly away from the main group, and refused to eat at first. They knew better than to try and force her but they also knew she’d need to eat soon and with so many things that could be ahead of them tomorrow they knew they had to do something. They argued quietly over who was to go and try and persuade her to eat the fish Naruto had caught from the river. In the end it fell to Sasuke to do it since he’d drawn the short straw.

“I’m going to haunt you all till you die after she kills me!” He hissed menacingly.

They all just looked at him and the looks on their faces said sorry. But of course none of them was prepared to switch places, they didn’t envy him at all. He cautiously made his way towards her, once he got within hitting distance of her, he stopped to regard her.

“Sakura” he said as he bent down to look into her face moving a little closer. As he’d suspected her fists came flying for his face but he reached out with both hands and caught her wrists. Holding her still he moved even closer, looking straight in her eyes.

“Sasuke, let go of me now or you’ll regret it.” She snarled.

“Sakura, I have no doubt that you’d quite happily kill me right now but we need to talk.” He said keeping hold of her wrists and moving that little bit closer.

“Sasuke, I’m warning you!” She growled.

“Yeah, I know but like I said I think we need to talk.” He replied with a shrug. “I know you’re nervous, we’ll be there tomorrow and then the search starts, plus we might have to fight but I also know the other thing that’s bothering you.” He said bringing his face right next to hers and whispering those last words in her ear.

A sharp intake of breath from her proved him totally right, as he’d known he was.

“Sasuke?...” she asked looking scared.

“Shh, don’t worry.” He said moving to sit in front her to hide the conversation from the others. “I know why you’ve been so on edge every time anyone mentions Kakashi’s name. You’re in love with him aren’t you?”

Sakura put her head down and a tear began to leak out of her eye as she replied almost inaudibly. “Yes”

“How long?” He asked gently.

“Two years…” She replied glumly.

“Doe’s he care for you?”

“I… I don’t know!” she said raising her voice a little but not enough for the others to hear.

“Well hopefully you’ll find out the answer to that tomorrow.” He said smiling at her gently. “But right now you need to eat Sakura.”

“I can’t! I feel sick every time I think about it. I’m scared, scared that he’ll be dead, scared he’ll hate me if he finds out I like him, scared about possibly having to enter a big battle. I don’t know what to do!”

“Sakura, you’re the most capable kunoichi I know. You’ll do fine.” He said truthfully. “I’d hate to be fighting you, the way you are now.” He grinned.

“Thank you.” She whispered smiling through her tears.

“Now dry your face and come and eat some fish. Despite it being Naruto catching it, it’s actually rather tasty.” He said holding his hand out to help her up with a smirk.

She took the proffered hand and allowed Sasuke to lead her back to the fire and the food. As they sat eating, Tenzo outlined the plan for tomorrow. They listened intently, for they had no plans to allow anything to go wrong tomorrow.

“We have a few more hours travel ahead of us before we reach his last known location, once there we are to make our way straight into the cave at the foot of the mountain there. Sai, Sakura you are to stand guard outside while Naruto, Sasuke and I will enter the cave and begin our search for Kakashi. If we locate him we will bring him straight to you Sakura, for a check over and in case he needs healing. Understand?”

“Yes sensei!” They responded.

“If there’s any signs of enemies outside while were in the cave, Sai you and Sakura are to take care of them. We cannot help you once we’re in the cave, we need to locate and return Kakashi at all costs. Is that clear?”

“Yes” Sai replied

Tenzo turned to Sakura and saw she had paled so much she looked ghostly in the moonlight shining on their camp. He was worrying about the Hokages decision to send this girl on a mission like this but just as he was about to voice this, and thank god he hadn’t done, so she looked up, stared straight into his eyes grim determination clearly visible on her face and replied

“Yes sensei!”

“Good, now we have no idea what awaits us in the cave, or whom for that matter and we definitely have no idea why Kakashi has not returned to us, but we will over come any obstacle’s we need to, to recover Kakashi. Now this may well end badly for one or even all of us but we have to try right?”

“You bet!” Naruto yelled.

“Yes!” Sai said.

“Hmph!” Sasuke nodded.

“Cha!” Sakura replied looking him in the eyes so intently he chuckled to himself ‘God help any enemy we may encounter tomorrow. We can handle it but still, there’s no way I want to within ten feet of her if she’s in this mood tomorrow, and if something has happened to Kakashi I truly pity the person who’s left even the tiniest scratch on him.’

“Right, now I know we’re very close to our goal and it’s difficult but you all need to rest and get some sleep. This is our most important mission yet.”

They all nodded and settled down to rest. Sakura lay on her side with Naruto facing her. She reached out her hand and grasped his squeezing tight. Sasuke lay down behind her, placing his hand on her waist. She reached her other hand across her stomach and gripped his hand tight, as Sai moved and led down near her head, sensing her anxiety and realising that though the other three had been a team long before he came along, they had accepted him now. They were all in this together, and besides they were all adults now, he placed his hand on her head and felt her nuzzle into the touch like a newborn puppy searching to rest next to her mother.

Tenzo looked over at them all and thought to himself ‘Well Kakashi, I hope you’re proud of your students. They’ve overcome all their differences, become a true team again. No more than that they’ve overcome every obstacle in their way to become friends, and its all for the sake of you.’ He couldn’t help but think how Kakashi would say something sarcastic like ‘Well I’m glad you’ve all sorted your differences and I’m grateful that Sakura loves me, but I’m not sure how I feel about you guys loving me. I mean I’m flattered but I prefer women you know?’ he chuckled quietly to himself and settled down for first watch.

After a few uneventful hours he woke Sai and asked him to take over last watch. Sai moved his hand from the top of Sakura’s head causing her to cuss him in her sleep. He grinned a little before heading over to the tree Tenzo had recently vacated and settled down to watch over the camp. Everyone appeared to be in such a deep sleep, he wondered how he was going to wake them. However as the first rays of the sun hit the clearing they all arose and set about sorting everything out. ‘A testament to their determination to find Kakashi’ he mused.

They packed and cleared everything away faster than he thought humanly possible and they stood reading to go within a very short time. Tenzo nodded to each of them before saying

“Are you all prepared for today?”

“Yes!” their unified chorus rang out.

“Then lets go get Kakashi back” he said as they turned as one and headed towards where they hoped they would find Kakashi safe and well.

Sakura’s mind wandered as they travelled. She was intent on keeping her eyes and ears open to intruders and for any signs of anything wrong. Those weren’t the only things on her mind however, she was terrified that they would get there, find Kakashi and she would tell him her feelings only to have him shoot her down in the harshest way possible by saying something along the lines of him never having thought of her in that way, and that he never could or would. She was a child to him and a silly one at that and that he couldn’t possible be interested in her as she was his former student and besides she was nowhere near as pretty nor as sexy as the women he’d bedded in his travels. She sighed, she knew he would never be that cruel and he would let her down gently but it would hurt just as bad, that much she knew.

Why did she always fall for the wrong ones? First Sasuke who although he had warmed to her in the last six months and had become her best friend as well as Naruto’s, he was still at the moment at least, incapable of true love, that much she was sure. He’d never love her in the way she’d once loved him. He couldn’t, his heart had been broken when Itachi killed his family and she wandered if it would ever heal. She’d fallen for him like a ton of bricks and he’d brushed her off like she was a very annoying fly. She guessed in some way he had loved her, Naruto to but not in the way she’d wanted him to.

Kakashi she felt would have the same feelings upon the sharing of her feelings that Sasuke had all those years ago. She didn’t know if he was ever capable of loving someone either. He seemed to prefer those damn books of his to proper relationships. She hoped for both their sakes that that wasn’t true and he was capable of at least caring for her for a while at least. She’d be heart broken but she hoped that at least for a time no matter how short they could help each other cope and overcome the loneliness she knew they both felt.

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Tenzo stopped up ahead of them and they realised they must be there. Sakura’s heart beat faster than she thought was ever possible. She realised to be of any use to anyone she had to quell her feelings for Kakashi as a friend and possible lover and concentrate on the mission. She began breathing slowly to keep herself calm while Tenzo issued the orders.

“Sasuke, Naruto and I will go down first and check the coast is clear. Sai, Sakura you are to remain here while we scout the area and keep watch. Once we know its safe we will proceed with the plan. Is everyone clear on their roles?”

“Yes sensei!”

“Good then lets get on with it” he said as he jumped from the tree branch he was on to the ground, followed immediately by Naruto and Sasuke.

Sakura and Sai crouched down next to each other on a branch high in the tree and kept their eyes peeled to the ground and surrounding tree tops as the other three made their way towards the gaping hole in the rock face. After a few moments they declared it safe and they motioned for Sai and Sakura to join them. They jumped down from their perch and headed straight for the rest of the team.

“Ok lets do this” Tenzo said as he prepared to head into the cave, while Sakura and Sai set up guard outside the entrance.

“Be careful” Sakura whispered as they made their way in. “Bring him back safe.”

“You bet we will!” Naruto said grinning

Sasuke nodded to her as he followed Tenzo, Sai and Naruto into the surrounding darkness.

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Using his Sharingan, Sasuke was able to see his way better than the other two, so he set off ahead of them and they followed his exact steps cautiously using their charka to walk along the surface of the river that led right into the cavernous entrance. After three hours of walking around in the darkness an ethereal light gently lit up the way ahead of them, growing stronger as they made their way forward more cautious than ever.

As they got close to the source of the light they stopped and stared in astonishment. In front of them, perfectly still was… Kakashi! Sasuke scanned the area with his Sharingan but couldn’t see anything, never the less he felt deeply uneasy about the whole thing and they hung back unsure of what to do.

It appeared that Kakashi seemed to be quite literally frozen in time. How and why or what had done this was of complete mystery to them all.

“What the hell is that?!” Naruto asked

“I haven’t got a single clue” Tenzo replied confused. ‘What the hell could have done this?’

“It’s something… well… supernatural. It’s not of a natural origin at all.” Sasuke said knowing how stupid it may sound but he just knew he was right.

“What?!” Naruto asked practically jumping around and staring at him in open mouthed shock.

“Are you sure?” Tenzo asked looking at the dark haired man, as Sai just stood there expressionless as always.

“I’m sure.” He replied resolutely.

“Well then what the hell are we gonna do now?” he asked speaking more to himself than to the others.

“I’m pretty sure it’s run its course.” Sasuke answered. He didn’t know how he knew this but he just did. “It still holds Kakashi frozen in time but we can move him without being affected ourselves.”

Tenzo and Naruto looked over at Sasuke in shock. ‘How the hell does he know this?’ Naruto asked himself. Tenzo was thinking the exact same thing but despite the young Uchiha’s past everyone knew, he always knows exactly what he’s talking about, he is a genius after all.

“Ok” he said warily but trusting that Sasuke wouldn’t lie to them over this. He moved forward, Sasuke and Naruto followed and they moved to Kakashi’s side.

“He’s still alive” Sasuke muttered checking him over. He had a pretty bad gash on his leg, and another on his arm but they were something Sakura could heal in minutes so they didn’t worry too much and besides everything about him was frozen, including the blood flow, and the healing or deterioration of the wounds.

They picked him up from the ground where he lay so peacefully and hoisted him on to Sasuke’s shoulder. As they did so the ethereal light began to wane and within seconds had completely vanished, plunging them in total darkness one again causing them to gasp.

They made their way back to the cave entrance more cautious than ever, Sasuke having to use more charka than before to walk on the surface of the water due to the added weight of carrying Kakashi. But they reached it pretty quick and without any mishaps. Well apart from Naruto stubbing his toe on a rather sharp rock anyway, which brought a slight grin to Sasuke’s face of course.

As soon as they reached the sunlight Kakashi began to stir. Sakura ran forward in alarm as she saw them emerge. They decided to move away from the strange cave a bit before putting Kakashi down slumped against a tree so that Sakura could heal his wounds.

“Strange…” she muttered as she bent over him to check him over. “…his wounds weren’t so bad when they first brought him out. But the longer he’s out here the more his wounds bleed.”

“Will he be ok?” the other four crowded round her as she began to work.

“Yeah he’ll be fine.” She said concentrating hard. She’d managed to heal the wound on his leg and moved to heal his arm.

“Sakura!” Naruto yelled as a kunai came straight for her head. She moved to the side in a flash, pulling Kakashi with her since he wasn’t awake enough to move himself. The kunai failed to hit the mark but it did scrape a long cut down her arm causing her to cry out as she fell against Kakashi, crushing their bodies together. As their wounds touched, Kakashi groaned in pain.

Sakura turned to find Sasuke, Naruto, Sai and Tenzo engaged in combat with five very dangerous looking shinobi. She squeaked when she noticed a sixth masked man heading her way. ‘Pull your self together Sakura!’ she scolded herself pulling a kunai out of her thigh holster and standing guard over Kakashi.

“Sakura” he moaned as his vision came back to him and he saw the ninja advancing on her dangerously.

“Shhh. It’s ok” she said as she turned to look at him for a second before she turned her attention back to the shinobi facing her. She moved away from Kakashi, the shinobi following her. Her arm ached badly but she just didn’t have time to heal herself. She gripped her kunai as hard as possible while the blood ran down her arm and onto her hand.

“Give it up little girl” the shinobi said laughing at her.

Her eyes flashed dangerously turning the darkest they’d ever been. They were no longer green at all they had actually turned so dark they were now blacker than midnight. Her four team mates took one look at her and decided now was the time to get out of the way, out of her way. They jumped back from their assailants and landed in the trees above hoping to be out of the danger of Sakura’s attack.

“Aw look even your little boyfriends know that they can’t win they’ve run off” he said derisively again as the other shinobi abandoned the boys and advanced on her. “Why don’t you do the same huh?”

She growled as they prowled closer. Kakashi who was now fully awake but unable to help her as his body still wouldn’t move when told to, stared in horror. ‘How could those thoughtless bastards abandon her like this?!’ he thought worrying for her safety more than he’d ever done.

“Come on sweetheart, we all know you’re too weak to win. You can’t fight me let alone all of us. Just give it up and let us kill you quickly and painlessly. Since you’re a little girl I’ll make sure were gentle.”

At this last remark she flew into a complete homicidal rage and raised her arm high in the air before slamming her hand down onto the ground with more force than she’d ever hit anything her life, her open palm hitting the ground before she’d had a chance to think on it and close her fist. It could have been highly dangerous, for the impact alone should have shattered every bone in that arm and yet as it turned out it was a good thing after all…

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The ground flew apart and shook like a thousand earthquakes, causing the enemy to fly high into the air with the explosive force of the impact and out of the holes she’d caused in the ground flew five large, heavily muscled, fawn coloured bull dogs. They leapt for the shinobi, pinning them in seconds and ripping out their throats with just a snap of their jaws.

Kakashi hardly dared breathe as he watched this spectacle in awe. She’d done it, she’d managed the summoning jutsu and not only that she’d called some of the most powerful dogs he’d ever seen. Although judging by the look of shock on her face she didn’t know how she’d done it and it certainly wasn’t on purpose.

Naruto nearly fell out of the tree in complete and utter shock, Sasuke and Sai looked over at Sakura in awe and Tenzo just stood there and uttered “Wow! She mastered Kakashi’s summoning jutsu?”

The remaining ninja advanced on her menacingly, his eyes shining with murderous intent.

“So you’re a more dangerous enemy than I pegged you for huh? Killed my entire team, I think it’s only fair I rip your throat out now.” He ground out, advancing further while circling her. He ran at her intending to kill her but was stopped by a sixth dog, bigger than all the rest leaping from the ground in front of her and clamping down on his hand and arm as he made to stab her.

Sakura’s confidence grew as the dog let go and disappeared again to reveal a huge open wound covering the entire lower left arm of the shinobi.

“Bitch!” he hissed as he ran at her again. As he did so the enormous dog ripped from the ground once again and attached to his other arm, growling deeply. The shinobi screamed and fell to his knees as Kakashi tried to stand to reach her. The other members of Team 7 jumped down from their vantage points and ran over towards her. As the dog let go and once again sank back into the ground the shinobi made to advance on her still. He still seemed to have some use of his arms and he prepared to use them to form hand seals.

Sakura realised this in a split second and ran forward, her kunai clutched in her hand so hard her knuckles had turned white with the pressure. She slammed into him full force, knocking him to the ground, as she rammed her kunai straight into his throat, killing him instantly. She looked up as the men arrived at her side and wiped a hand over her forehead pushing back her hair and smearing blood from her cut across her face in the process.

“Sakura?” Naruto said in disbelief.

“Sakura are you ok?” Kakashi asked as he attempted to walk towards her. The entire group turned as one to see him stagger over but his eyes were fixed on Sakura alone.

“Kakashi!!” she cried running to him and wrapping her arms around his neck. Kakashi was slightly taken aback by this, but realising she was pretty much ok and very much in need of comfort, he grabbed her tight and wrapped her in a bear hug. Besides he could never refuse her anything. How could he when she meant so much to him? Of course he felt the same about all the members of Team 7 but being the only female and now such a beautiful woman he knew he’d never be able to refuse anything she asked of him. No matter how it may have seemed she’d always been special to him.

“Sakura” he whispered running his hands through her hair, which had fallen from the bun and now splayed over her shoulders. “I was so worried when I saw him go for you.” He said pressing his mouth to her ear.

“I… I’m fine” she said her voice muffled as her face was pressed to his chest, tears rolling down her face.

“Come on” Tenzo said moving back a little. He used his Wood Release technique to create a house on the edge of the clearing and said “We’ll be staying in here tonight. Sakura please take Kakashi into the bedroom on the left and heal him and heal your self while at it.”

“Yes sensei” she replied walking towards the house with Kakashi leaning on her as she went, confused by Sasuke being there and wondering what on earth was going on but deciding that right now was not the best time to try and figure things out. She entered the house and walked him into the left hand bedroom, with Naruto, Sasuke and Sai following close behind. They laid out a sleeping bag on the floor and lowered Kakashi onto it. Sakura sat down next to him and began to heal herself, Kakashi meanwhile had collapsed again in exhaustion.

Naruto leaned forward and was about to yank Kakashi’s mask down, while Sakura was busy. Sai and Sasuke stood with baited breath, awaiting the moment they’d finally get to see Kakashi’s true face.

“Hey!” Sakura yelled gripping his hand and stopping him from pulling it down. “Get out now!” she yelled glaring at them all menacingly.

“Aww come on Sakura, even you’re dying to see it.” The blonde haired shinobi whined.

“OUT!” she snarled.

They quickly backed off, and left the room, shutting the door swiftly behind them. Various words and snatches of their conversation floated back to her as they walked off in a huff. “Witch!” “Moody cow!” “Must be her time of the month” were just some of the insults they threw at her.

“I can hear you!” she screamed, then laughed as they ran away fearing she might just set the dogs on them if they said anything else.

She healed the wound on Kakashi’s arm and started to feel very tired. She checked him over thoroughly and realised he had a rather bad wound and a cut on the bone as well from what she could feel with her charka. She felt rather embarrassed as the best way to heal this wound would be if she was atop him, purely to see it better of course. She blushed furiously as she straddled his hips and bent over to heal the wound near his shoulder. She’d cleaned and healed every wound and now she was absolutely exhausted.

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Kakashi began to come round and looked up at Sakura just as she turned to him about to apologise for the rather awkward position when she collapsed forward, she’d expended an awful lot of charka and she just didn’t have the strength to stay awake any longer. He quickly reached up as she fell and gripped her tight, to stop her from being hurt as she fell.

“Sakura” he whispered, as he pulled her down to embrace her again. He knew it might not actually be appropriate but once again he didn’t really care. He groaned and quickly moved her, laying her down next to him. Dear god why did he have to wake up to her on top of him like that? Was she trying to give him a heart attack?

‘Sakura why do you always have to do this to me?’ He thought glumly. He turned away and got slowly to his feet willing his half formed erection away as he did so. He opened the bedroom door dizzily and followed the voices into the next room. On the floor in front of him were Tenzo, Sai, Naruto and Sasuke.

“Yo.” He muttered leaning against the door frame.

At the sound of his voice they all turned to look at him in surprise. He should be resting and why hadn’t Sakura stopped him?

“Kakashi-sensei!” Naruto cried jumping up and fussing over him.

“It’s good to see you to Naruto.” He chuckled “But can I please sit down? I am rather tired you know.”

“Huh? What? Oh, uh, yeah.” Naruto said moving away to allow Kakashi to move towards the others and sit down.

“So Sasuke” he said turning to face the raven haired shinobi. “Returned to us then have you?” he grinned happy to have him back.

“I could say the same thing to you.” He replied looking at the older man and smirking.

“Ah, your right of course but I do believe I asked first.” He chuckled.

“Yeah well someone had to keep the knuckle head in line.” He laughed pointing at Naruto, who gave him a dirty look “and Sakura needs someone to fawn over right? Although I do believe I’m no longer in favour. She’s given her affections to someone else I’m afraid, leaving me quite heartbroken.” He said raising an eyebrow at Kakashi and smirking again.

“Ah, such a terrible event for you I’m sure” the older man chuckled. Sasuke laughed loudly.

“Good to see you Tenzo, Sai.” He said nodding at each of them in turn.

“Damn good to have you back Kakashi” Tenzo replied

Sai nodded at him and gave a semi familiar and very real grin, “Kakashi-sempei”

“So, how long have I been gone anyway?”

“Two years” Tenzo replied as they all looked at the ground unhappily.

“Two years?!” he spluttered.

“Yeah…” Tenzo replied unhappily again.

“We tried sensei!” Naruto yelled. “Grandma Tsunade refused to let us come looking! She told us we had to leave it to the ANBU!”

“We argued about it, she threatened to kill Tenzo at one point, she banned us permanently from her office…” Sasuke muttered.

“Ok, ok I get the point you tried. At least someone finally found me.” He grinned, his eye crinkling as usual.

“What’s all this noise?” groaned an unhappy, dozy voice from the doorway.

They looked up to see Sakura standing in the doorway looking very tired and rather unhappy but also rather adorable.

“Oh you know, Naruto flying off the handle as always, making as much noise as possible, the usual.” Sasuke said sounding bored but smirking all the same.

“Oh” she groaned again with a slight twitch of her lips.

“Sakura you ok?” Naruto asked worried and ignoring Sasuke’s jibes for once.

“I’m fine just tired that’s all.” She said.

Sasuke held his hand out to her and patted his knee, motioning for her to come and sit with him. She moved towards him, reaching out to squeeze Kakashi’s shoulder as she did so, grinning at him. He grasped her hand for a split second before she moved on to Sasuke. She took his hand as he helped her down to the ground, and she lay down putting her feet near to Kakashi and resting her head in Sasuke’s lap. He began to absently minded run his hand through her hair.

Kakashi stiffened slightly at this and Sasuke smirked. Kakashi had just confirmed his suspicions, and that talk was most definitely called for at some point. He watched as Sakura fidgeted and Kakashi moved so that she could rest her feet in his lap as be began to massage them without thought. Nobody paid any attention to this however, so he felt safe to continue.

“So, what happened Kakashi?” Tenzo asked. I thought this was just a simple reconnaissance mission.”

“Yeah, you and me both.” He sighed “So, I guess you all want the gory details then?” he grinned.

“Yeah well you know only if you feel like it.” Sai said sarcastically.

Kakashi smirked at that and prepared to tell them all what had happened and why he had vanished.

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