Chapter Text
Sakura's head hurt. A lot.
that was the first thing she noticed when she opened her eyes, wincing at the bright sky and normally mundane sounds of nature that were all but pounding into her head.
Where the fuck was she?
She moved to sit up, but her headache was having none of that, and she suppressed a groan at the pain. She reached an arm up to her forehead and didn't even bother closing her eyes as she alleviated the headache, biting her lip to make herself focus on the situation at hand.
Aside from the headache and a light soreness covering her body, she felt fine. She didn't bother healing the soreness. She could barely notice it anyway, war does that to a persons pain tolerance, and she didn't want to waste the Chakra before she even knew the situation. She soundlessly leaped into the tallest nearby tree and looked around the land.
With trees like this, she was definitely still in The Land of Fire, which wasn't much but it was Something, at least. Better then nothing. Her eyes scanned the landscape for familiar landmarks, which shouldn't be hard. Like most Konohan Shinobi, she knew the forest like the back of her hand.
There was something about the land though, something throwing her off. It looked a little wonky, felt a bit wrong. Every-time she was sure she knew where she was, she saw a tree that wasn't supposed to be there, or a rock formation that should be collapsed, or burnt soil where there should be foliage. it was disorientating, and there was no way it could be a good sign for her. How long was she out?
Suddenly, there was a burst of Chakra and killing intent, a distinct taste of o-zone warning her of Raiton as she ran towards it despite a voice in the back of her head that sounded like Shizune chiding her for running into danger. And to think she was the one with the most self preservation on her team (To be fair, it is a very low bar). But what was she supposed to do? it was the closest thing to a lead she had as to whats happening. And this felt Important in a way she couldn't place.
She stuffs all her Chakra away, makes sure no one could sense her, and changes course right as she gets to the battlefield, because she can hear a child sobbing and she could smell blood and that took immediate priority. Probably. As long as it wasn't anyone she knew she'd regret healing. Kabuto came to mind, though she's fairly sure he's dead. Point stands.
Instead, she sees a girl trying and failing to hold back tears staring helplessly at a boy stuck under a small hills worth of boulders, Leaf headbands firmly on them both.
Were Sakura a lesser Kunoichi, the sight would make her vomit. The Boy was so obviously in so much pain, stubbornly clinging onto life, and she could all but see the will of fire flickering out in his eyes. He was trying to smile at The Girl, blood splattered across his teeth and chin, and his eye was also bleeding, very tightly squeezed shut. It seemed like he was using every last bit of his strength to grip The Girl's hand, and The Girl's breath hitched every time the grip loosened, bit by wretched bit. Fear was so painfully visible despite his attempts to cover it, to be strong for this girl in what he must believe to be his last moments.
Literally everything about this made Sakura seethe, and Inner was screaming to find the person that did this, but Sakura knew she couldn't afford to. This boy didn't have very long; hours, at a very hopeful most.
She couldn't afford to lose her temper, though. The Boy's life depended on her. instead, she took a deep breath, calming herself as much as she could as she tied her hair up, and let loose a spark of Chakra in warning as she jumped down.
The Girl was on her feet immediately, posture shaky with grief and probably Chakra exhaustion, if Sakura had to guess. Despite that, her eyes were steely and her grip was sure on her kunai. Her mouth was even trying to quirk into a taunting smirk, trying to make herself the Target. Draw attention from The Boy. 'Me, Not Him' was written all over her stance in an achingly familiar way, despite the fact that there's no way she could think The Boy could make it out alive. She doesn't care, because she has to do something.
Ok, maybe she should pull back a bit. That sounded dangerously close to projecting, and she can't afford the clutter of nostalgia and emotion if she wants The Boy to have any chance. She needs to get to work.
She moves suddenly, pushing The Girl to the other side of the small cave with enough force to knock her down for a few seconds. She knows better then to underestimate a Shinobi because they're young, so she keeps the girl in her sight-line as she lets Inner take the catharsis of lifting the small hill's worth of rocks off of the boys half-broken body and throwing it as far as she could away from the fight outside with a cry of "Shannaro!", begrudgingly admitting that the reward of maybe hitting the fucker responsible was far outweighed by the risk of hitting literally anyone else that could be out there.
She turns to The Girl as she stands, Sakura kneeling next to the boy in an empty spot where there had just been boulders. The Girl looks very pale now, eyes flickering between Sakura and The Boy with only the barest attempt at subtlety.
"Rin...?" The boy mutters, fingers twitching and mouth marred in confusion. "Rin, are...you ok?" He gasps, suddenly tense and scared.
"Yeah." She assures the boy quickly, eyes not leaving Sakura, which was Impressive, really; were Sakura's boys anywhere close to this injured, she wouldn't be this calm, especially not when she was as young as The Girl looks. "Wha- What do you want?" The Girl (Rin?) Demanded, fearlessly storming over, kunai still at the ready, despite just watching Sakura throw a few tons of solid stone. Sakura gave the softest smile she could (much closer to a grimace) and tapped her own headband tied around her arm. She liked this girl.
"To help. Can you let me do that?" Sakura requests, as patiently as she can, though her fingers are itching to start her work. The Boy needs her now and, she almost hates to say it, but she can't waste time easing The Girl's (justified) suspicions.
They're interrupted just as the girl is about to answer (or Sakura's about to knock her out and get on with it) by a boy with silver hair and one Sharringan.
Sakura's breath hitches because what the actual fuck, but she can't lose focus. She feels a small army of Chakra coming their way, and (can't be Kakashi not Kakashi not Kakashi-) Hatake must feel it as well, because his eyes narrow on her in what he must feel is a far too quick threat assessment. He's breathing heavily, more exhausted then the girl no doubt, but moves to pick up The Boy (Sakura feels dread pooling in her stomach as Inner pieces things together and starts swearing up a storm, but Sakura very purposefully ignores whatever her revelation is) despite his fatigue. Sakura frowns, debating the merits of arguing with Hatake about his health, and then almost laughing aloud at the thought as she dismisses it.
"Hatake-san," She started firmly, ignoring the discomfort she feels at the words, "Hide. Don't be dumb. I swear if I have to heal your fatally Chakra exhausted ass on top of whatever the fuck happened to your friend, I will throw you through a mountain." She growls, because she can see in his eyes that he's still itching for a for a fight and she needs to shut that shit down. Hatake's eyes widen at the threat (and the back-hand offer to heal The Boy), probably used to more respect (fear?) than that, but she doesn't care. "Don't give me that look, I fucking will. Find a nice tall tree that these Rock-heads wouldn't think to climb and suppress your Chakra until you feel like a newborn squirrel, and wait."
Hatake glares, eyes sharpening, Sharringan spinning sporadically (don't think about it). "I don't take orders from you." He all but snarls, and The Girl is looking very unsure what exactly she should be doing.
"Oh, my bad Hatake-Sama," She drawls, resting a hand on The Boy's chest and doing everything she can to stabilize the boy, wringing every second until the enemy arrives for all it's worth expertly. Towards the End, seconds of healing could be and more often then not were the difference between mobile and dead. She doesn't break eye contact with Hatake as he readies for an attack. "I'll just leave you to it then. Let you watch your teammate die because you're too damn proud to take orders." she smirks, talking a little slow because Fuck, this wasn't meant to heal fast and if she were anyone else it wouldn't, but she pulls her arm away, satisfied that she's given the boy another half hour at least. She could work with that. Hatake's eyes boggle as The Girl gasps behind her as breath comes to The Boy just a bit easier already.
The Boy almost ruins her demonstration as he starts hacking a laugh at Hatake's expense in light of the mocking. his right eye is twitching until it finally opens, searching as discreetly as it can until it lands on the girl, who looks crossed between amused, horrified, and hopeful.
"Name. Name and rank." Hatake demands with more confidence then he probably feels, voice even for the most part as he tears his eyes away from her frankly fantastic miracle work. She's almost a little insulted, as she rolls her eyes. They don't have time for this.
"Ah yes, because you are obviously the one in the position to make demands here." She presses, "It's not like I literally have his life in my hands. Or like you both aren't dead on your feet with Chakra exhaustion and absolutely no chance against the incoming Iwa-nin." and stares into his black eye, blown wide with fear. Of her or the incoming attack she isn't sure, but she sees the second he breaks, staring at the mangled-almost-corpse of his teammate.
"Fine." He grits out, glaring at her as he walks over to the boy as Sakura takes a step back. He dead lifts the boy, arms shaking, and doesn't seem to notice or care about the fact that he's reaching his absolute limit.
"That's what I thought. Take this and Hide." She ordered, handing The Girl a bag of Chakra hiding seals. She only takes a moment to recognize them before she nods, hope-caution-fear fighting in her eyes as she gently pulled Hatake away until he starts to walk on his own, legs shaking with exhaustion but hold of The Boy never faltering.
Sakura nods, cracking her knuckles and Henge-ing herself into Hatake. It was hard to Henge a Sharringan, so she didn't even bother. She would need every scrap of Chakra she could get for the healing of The Boy. her goal here isn't really to trick them into thinking she's Hatake, anyway. It's to kick their asses and get back to her patient.
She runs through the trees, projecting as much fear as she can and acting oblivious to the few dozen Iwa-nin on her tail, wrapping her excited thrill up as tight as she can.
She's got a plethora issues with this situation, full Chakra reserves, something to protect, and a Konoha-Standard indoctrinated grudge against Iwa-nin. These bastards won't know what hit 'em.
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