Team 7...almost...UNITE!

[lady_haruno]

Characters: Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi
Setting: Slums; Woods
Rating: PG-13; violence
Warnings: None.
Summary: Sakura is saved by Kakashi and asks him to take her away from Konoha. Naruto arrives and believes he is simply a kidnapper...



Sakura walked along the alleyways of Konoha, later than she should have, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand every time she heard a sound similar to a foot step or the squeal of a rat most likely digging in a pile of garbage for dinner. Clinging to the side of a stone building, she focused ahead of her hoping she would get home without being confronted by anyone or anything creepy or out of the ordinary.

As she approached a corner however, she heard a loud thump noise behind her, causing the girl to stop with a slight squeak emitting from her throat. She covered her mouth and turned around, coming face to face with a suspicious gentleman, a devious grin spread across his hideous features, a huge gash on the lower part of his face. Not feeling at ease, Sakura took a slow step backward followed by another slow one, each step quickening in pace. Her heart beat harder and harder in her chest as her breathing became heavier and quicker. Pleaaaase let him just be a beggar.

She swallowed hard when she bumped into something behind her, something warm and hard. Shit. The woman spun around quickly, the strands from the brown wig swinging in the air behind her. Stepping away from him, she realized she was caught. Why...

Getting into a fighting stance, she decided it was the only thing left to do. There was no way in hell she was going to let anyone take her without a fight. They, however, appeared amused and unfazed by her attempt at defense and continued approaching her like a pack of hungry wolves. Sakura gulped when the pack began to grow. Men entered from alleyways and rooftops, closing in on the helpless, young woman. There were probably only about five men, however to Sakura it appeared as if there was no way of escape. Well...I suppose I can at least try.

She ran with all her might into the man with the gash on his face, catching him by surprise and decking him to the ground. Trying to run past him, however, a goon decided to take hold of Sakura's wig, ripping it right off her head. Hah! It looks like there's more than one use for a disguise! However, the victory lasted only a short while when her last wall to freedom jumped in front of her, cracking her on the head with a cobblestone he seemed to pick up from the street. She fell to the ground unconscious, blood slowly seeping from the impact on her forehead.

Quickening his pace, Kakashi stifled a sigh as he continued to slip through the dirty streets, his cloak held tightly around him and the hood hiding what little skin his mask left open. He never liked sneaking back into the city-effortless as it usually was for him, there was still just something about being there that felt like someone was rubbing his fate in his face. True, he had chosen this path, but that was little comfort. If an emergency hadn’t called him into the slums, he would never have gone back there willingly; such was always the case.

But he was done for the day-at least, until something else came up-and so he was heading for the quickest way out of the city, already trying to decide if sleep or food was more appealing for when he got back to the Butterfly, when he heard something like a surprised yelp from what sounded like a street over. Kakashi's head instinctively snapped towards the sound, irritation rising in his chest.

As if things aren't bad enough already... Crime wasn't new to him, but criminals seemed to have been on the rise ever since the beginning of Akatsuki's reign. There was nothing to say that this was one of those times, but now that he suspected, there was no walking away at this point. Turning around, Kakashi went back the way he had come, searching for the first opening that would lead him to the next street.

It took no time finding the source. Moving at a brisk pace, he had rounded the street corner in seconds, his single eye flying to where a group of rough-looking men seemed to have congregated. For a moment, it appeared to be nothing more than a crowd gathering around a street fight (which also wasn't uncommon), but then one of the figures in the center stumbled, and that same eye widened in surprise at a flash of pink among the dull and dirty earthen colors of the surrounding men.

Hair. Long hair.

A woman?

The thought had barely crossed Kakashi's mind when he saw one of the men leap into her path, stone in hand--a terrible cracking sound echoed over the streets, and her body crumpled listlessly to the road. The attacker let out a raspy jeer and leaned over, his large hand extending towards her form--

--and a second later blinked in confusion as strong fingers closed around his thick wrist, stopping his advance. He looked up, and his shock turned into fury when his eyes found Kakashi's face, but that was the last thing he would be seeing for several hours. Kakashi's movement was swift and strong: his fist slammed into the man's right cheekbone, literally wiping the angry expression from his face as his consciousness slipped away in the blink of an eye. Kicking him away, Kakashi rounded on the others, a challenge in his glare and in his words as he asked,

"Anyone else care to give it a try?"

Kakashi was fortunate in two aspects: first, these thugs weren't magic users. He never liked using offensive spells too close to the city limits--they almost always called attention to the user and would often produce a sort of "magic signature," which, by the right person, could be detected and used to track down whoever was emitting it. As an ex-member of the royal guard, Kakashi's signature would likely be recognized by anyone acute enough to sense it. These guys, however, were far from knowing any decent magic, if any at all; and from the way that they moved, he deduced that he had probably known more about fighting at six years old than they knew now.

Kakashi's second advantage was that the group seemed to be under the impression that it had an advantage in numbers. There were one, two, three...six men total, not including the one he had just dealt with, only two of whom were visibly armed. From experience, Kakashi could guess that the worst weapons in their possession were probably knives, occasionally a sword or even an axe. He himself had only a few knives at his disposal, but he doubted they would be needed.

Two of the men rushed him. One came within reach about half a second before the other; sliding out from under the man's arched fist, Kakashi caught him by the back of the cloak and propelled him into the other, using the thug's momentum against him. They both went down momentarily, but that was more than enough time for Kakashi to act. He whirled around, caught another attacker's fist in his open hand, forced it down, and took the opening as a chance to deliver his own heavy blow to the man's gut.

One down.

Three attacked this time, one with a knife, another with a club. Kakashi dodged the latter's swing at the last second, simultaneously planting his foot before the man's legs, tripping him up, and sending a swift fist into his temple and shoving him towards the others. One was hit, but the other--the one with the knife and a large scar on the lower part of his face--dodged and ran at him. Kakashi allowed him to get within swinging distance before letting loose a short burst of speed that put him at the man's back. Taking advantage of his enemy's bewilderment, Kakashi seized him around the neck, and his free arm shot outward to do the same to another man who had attempted to sneak up from behind. With both men in tow, Kakashi brought his arms together.

Crack.

They slumped down to the ground in a heap.

Four down.

Luckily, two of the remaining three weren't as dumb as they looked. When the fifth thug went soaring and Kakashi stood up from his crouch, his joined hands separating as he looked at who remained, the two took it upon themselves to turn tail and run without another word.

Exhaling heavily through his nose, Kakashi moved back over to the unconscious girl and knelt beside her. He brushed her hair from her face, examining the damage to her forehead as he pulled his hood down. She certainly didn't look slums-material...but then again, he couldn't figure out why anyone aside from the rebels would voluntarily come here, and her obvious lack of fighting skills told him she couldn't possibly be one of them.

Carefully, he gathered her up into his arms and stood, hardly feeling the extra weight. Years ago, he could have just taken her to the noble's court and left her there in hopes that someone would recognize her, but that was out of the question these days. If brutes like these didn't get a hold of her, there was nothing to say that Akatsuki wouldn't. The best bet would be to treat her injuries himself--medicine wasn't his specialty, but the wound looked minor. He wouldn't take her to the rebel camp unless absolutely necessary; he had helped her, but that didn't mean he trusted her.

Kakashi glanced briefly around the street, and when nothing in sight offered to claim the nameless girl, he turned and went on his way. In minutes, he had taken one of his usual routes out of the city--through a few alleyways, a deserted street, and a hidden, makeshift entrance on the southwest wall--and entered the surrounding forest. Holding the girl close, he leapt into the nearest tree, propelled himself to the next, and was gone.

Sakura winced as she felt the wind in her face, a warm presence close by. Very close by. Opening her eyes, Sakura realized she wasn't surrounded by those thugs anymore, much to her relief, however she wasn't on the ground either. Wh-what!? She glanced down, realizing just how far away the ground actually was. Was she flying? That was when she noticed the arms that wrapped around her, preventing her from falling to her death, or maybe just a broken leg or two. Wait... Sakura thought for a moment. What happened to those thugs?

The pink-haired girl's eyes widened, Did he save me? Or... Or was he someone who simply stole her for himself? Or was he a co-conspirator? Or... Her thoughts ran wild, and she couldn't think of what else to do, so she screamed. That was the proper solution, right?

Although he had taken into account just how the situation might look to her when she woke up, the scream was no less startling. Kakashi cringed as her high-pitched voice cut into his right ear, causing him to momentarily lose his balance and miss the branch he had been aiming for. Recovering instantly, he made up for the fall by landing--less elegantly than he would have liked--on a lower branch, a short pain shooting up both of his legs at the abrupt touchdown.

Still clutching her tight, he dropped down to the forest floor in a crouch. He shifted her onto his knee and relinquished his grip just slightly, allowing room for her to stand if she chose but still holding her up in case she was woozy.

Sakura clung to the mysterious man on the way down, her screaming switching from an 'Oh my god! Who the hell are you!?' to an 'Oh my god! Save me!' squeal. Catching her breath after they somehow managed to land, in one piece, on the ground, Sakura jumped up, stumbling backwards a fair distance, but trying to keep a somewhat less fearful appearance. Pointing an accusing finger at the silver-haired man before her she asked, "Who are you? I demand you tell me, and don't take another step closer!" There was nothing to threaten him with but words, besides, Sakura's vision was slightly blurry from being literally stoned to unconsciousness.

She stood there, finger still pointing, her mouth still open from after shouting at her napper...or whatever the hell he was!

Well, that certainly didn't surprise him. Kakashi studied her face, which was a mixture of shock, confusion, and suppressed fear--mostly suppressed, anyway. Out of habit, he began to look her over, searching for any injuries he might have missed before, but then stopped himself when he realized that the girl already looked scared out of her mind. Giving her a reason to think she might have been better off with the thugs probably wasn't the best way to go.

His head tilted just slightly at her use of the word "demand." If he had any doubt pertaining to what class she came from, that pretty much dispelled it. The tone of voice she had taken as well as the stance she had assumed, even if she was still visibly dizzy, told him enough. He let his eye wander away from her, trying to emphasize that she wasn't the entire focus of his attention.

"You're a noble, right?" Kakashi had ignored her question on purpose.

"Eh?" As if it weren't any more obvious, what with the way she spoke and appeared. It wasn't everyday that someone ran into a girl with bright, pink hair, and bright green eyes. Then again, Naruto was also an exception to the typical person who wandered the slums. Well, there was no point in denying it, besides, she was at his mercy anyway out in these woods. And she hated it.

"Yes. And why do you ask?" Her tone turned very harsh for a moment, forgetting her manners and what the gentleman before her could very well do to her. Perhaps it was because that question was asked just about everyday and it really began to bug her when people spat the word 'noble' in such a way, that it sounded like a disease rather than a human being.

Kakashi caught her frustration and almost smiled in spite of himself. It was good to see that she was well enough to walk, talk, and think, even if that consisted of backtalking, as well. He hadn't meant to offend her, but he understood her lashing out; he had been raised in the same environment, after all.

"I'm just wondering what business a lady would have in such a bad part of the city." His eye returned to her face. "That's not something you see every day."

Sakura sighed. Yet again, another question she was asked just about every time someone confronted her. Her intended scowl turned into a slight groan, deciding it wasn't the man's fault that she hated being asked these things all the time. This time, however, she decided to play a bit, it wouldn't hurt, besides she just may get some information that she needed out of the man. Whether he was a friend or a foe. "Well, wouldn't you like to know?" she spat, crossing her arms with her stubborn attitude.

His eyebrow raised. If she wanted to play that game, she could be as stubborn as she wanted. He was a patient man and had nowhere to go at the moment, and he didn't particularly care whether he knew her name or not. She was alive and well, and that was all he wanted. He could leave at any time now.

But playing wouldn't hurt. Again, he had nowhere to go.

"Not really, no," he answered honestly, standing up. "But that remark was a little immature for a well-bred lady, don't you think?"

"Well bred? Is that what people call us? As if we're some kind of superior form of humanity?" Sakura laughed for a moment, then continued, "And call me immature all you want, because it never fazed me when they call me stupid, blind, or day-dreamy. They laugh at me for wanting to protect the lives of the people of Konoha. And they, those damn Akatsuki bastards, laugh at me for threatening them directly to their egotistical, bastard-like faces." The young woman huffed, out of breath, letting out all her irritation at once. She didn't know what got into her, but damn did it feel good to release all that tension after so long. "You know...so what if I was born a 'maiden of nobility,' I don't care! But don't throw me in with the lot of them!"

It was then that she realized she was nearly shouting directly in the man's face. How she managed to stride up to him surprised even her, but she decided it would be best not to back down. Instead she glared at him, her eyebrows turning downward in irritation.

Kakashi hadn't budged when she approached him, but simply took the verbal abuse with a straight face, not moving except to prop his chin on his fist as he listened. He allowed her to go on, waiting for her to calm down, and when she finally quit talking, a stiff silence lingered between them.

"...You have nothing to fear from me," he said at length, gentle but firm. "My loyalty does not lie with the tyrant who claims kingship of Konoha...and I do not look to ostracize you for your birthright." His gaze moved to the wound above her eyebrow. "You can trust me as a concerned citizen, if you wish. And if that is not enough for you, then just know that you and I were in the same place for the same reason." He would never have been so blunt about his allegiance if he wasn't positive about where the girl stood; he had doubted from the beginning that she was an Akatsuki spy, since he had detected no transformation spells and he knew better than to think that Akatsuki would sink as low as recruiting the help of a young noblewoman. The group was too proud for that.

And while Kakashi normally wasn't one to be moved by pity, he felt that her outburst was genuine. Few would speak of treason so openly, especially to someone they had just met and who could easily be a spy, but her anger and passion had been real, most likely up to the point where she had spoken without thinking. That, or she was a very talented actress.

He searched her eyes, looking for a sign of trust. That was another problem since Akatsuki had seized the throne--confidence was hard to come by.

Sakura raised a brow, not knowing whether to believe him or not. She heard many stories before, and yet she believed them all. Naruto, 'Robin,' even the dark-haired lad who called himself 'Sai.' Perhaps, she was being too trusting. But where would the world be without trust? she asked herself, wondering if she was correct to even trust one of them. Nodding to herself, she decided to take the chance once again. "Alright. I believe you." She crossed her arms, staring him straight in the face, not giving in by looking away. "But don't think I trust you completely."

She huffed, turning away, proceeding to walk in an unknown direction. "Where were you taking me, anyway?" The girl glanced upward, trying to recognize her surroundings, but found them unfamiliar. Is he a rouge? Taking into account what he said about his alliance not being with the 'Sir Leader' of Konoha, she nodded. Well...it does seem to be a possibility. "Who are you?" she asked, a little afraid of his answer.

He watched her walk away, making no effort to stop her. If, for some reason, she did choose to take off, he could overtake her in about a second, anyway, but Kakashi had the feeling she was smarter than that. She had no idea where she was, meaning he was her only source of information. And safety.

At her last question, he hesitated, but only for a second. There was no turning back at this point; she knew his face--so to speak--and that description alone would easily be enough to pinpoint his identity in Konoha. His name was more or less useless.

"A friend," he answered simply, glancing away, but knowing she wouldn't be satisfied with his dodging the question a second time, he added, "Hatake Kakashi." He didn't expect the name to mean anything to her; she appeared too young to have heard much of his family's history.

"Hatake..." Sakura stopped walking, placing a finger to her chin in contemplation. Sounds strangely familiar. I believe I've heard the name mentioned once or so in the council, but never really payed attention beyond that. Shrugging, Sakura turned around to face the stranger, "And do not call yourself my friend, sir. You are still very much a stranger to me." She paused, crossing her arms over her chest, her eyes looking away from the silver-haired man before her. "However, since you gave me your name, I suppose I should only give you mine in return. Haruno Sakura is my name, and do not forget it, for I shall not say it again."

He recognized the surname. "Haruno Sakura," he repeated, giving a single nod in acknowledgement. "I'll remember it." Dropping what little formality he had mantained during their conversation, Kakashi scratched absently at the back of his head, wondering how she would take what he had to say next. "Well, stranger or not, I don't like the idea of leaving your injury untreated. How about you let me take care of it, and I'll answer any questions you have?"

Within reason, he put in silently. Anything concerning the Rebellion would, of course, be said as nothing more than what a normal citizen would have heard on the street.

The girl took an involuntary step backward, still a little wary of the gentleman before her. Perhaps because he appeared much older than the men she met before on the streets, but also due to the fact that they were alone, in the middle of what Sakura recognized as 'no place good.' However, the pain continuously throbbed in her forehead, feeling like a hammer that continuously smashed against her skull. Reeling a bit, she fell to her knees, gripping the spot as if she could just grab a hold of the pain and rip it out. "Geez..." Lifting her hand away from the injury, she glanced at her palm which was now a slight red, more so brown, from the nearly dried blood. "Well, shit..." she grumbled, glaring at Kakashi.

Close enough. He dropped to her side--slowly--and at first only looked at the cut, letting her get used to his presence in such close proximity. After a few seconds of this, he reached out--again, slowly--and paused when his fingers drew close to the skin of her forehead to see if she would recoil.

Sakura simply stared, letting the man examine her wound, no matter how frightened she was around the stranger. She stared directly into his dark orb, fighting the urge to slap his hand away and reprimand him for getting so close. Gulping, she shook slightly like a frightened animal, but realizing he was actually concerned about her state, calmed down a bit, allowing him to do whatever he felt needed to be done to inspect the injury.

She had relaxed. Good. Kakashi took that as a sign of consent, and at that reached into the pouch hanging on his hip to draw out a small glass vial and a thin roll of gauze. He was getting low; he'd have to make a trip to one of the usual merchants.

"Herbal ointment," he explained, and held up the vial so she could see it. "Medicine isn't my specialty in magic, but I can do my part." His eye curved into a friendly smile. "I apologize if my hands are a bit rough; I'm not used to treating others." With that, he tore off a corner of the bandaging and used it to wipe away the excess blood that had collected over the wound. Once this was done, he unscrewed the lid on the ointment and applied a small bit to the tip of his finger. "This'll sting," he warned, "but it helps." Quickly and before she could object, he pressed his fingertip to the wound, running it along the split skin to cover every inch of it with the medicine.

Sakura ground her teeth together, hissing through them, trying to ignore the pain. It wasn't intense, but it did hurt pretty, damn bad. Eventually she became numb to the ointment, and stared gently into the gentleman's eye, the stubborn attitude slowly fizzling away. Still not sure what to say to him, she remained silent, waiting for him to ask questions or make light conversation.

Glad she hadn't attempted to slap or claw at him, Kakashi worked swiftly through the rest of the process: clean, dress, tighten. The bandage looked a little awkward and out of place on her smooth, light skin, but it would do the job until she saw a real doctor.

The fact that she stared at him through the whole thing told him she was out of things to say. Once he drew back, returning the materials to his pouch and putting what he thought might be a more comfortable distance between them, he finally spoke up. "Seems you chose right in trusting me, after all. If you hadn't, I could have told you that walking around with an injury like that is much more difficult than it looks." His tone changed, losing the slight teasing note that he had put into it. "I understand you're not about to tell me what you were doing when I found you. It makes no real difference to me." His eye hardened a little as he stared at her. "But if you value your life, I'd advise against you speaking so bluntly against Akatsuki. Noble or not, disloyalty is not something that the king will overlook for long."

Sakura supressed a laugh. Oh if he only knew. The girl had spat nonsense all her life, yet no matter what she said or did, the Akatsuki never bothered her, seeing her as no possible threat to their power. "Well, though I do thank you for helping me, I'm pretty sure I can take care of myself when it comes to them. You see, I've dealt with them for several years already. I'm pretty certain I can handle them for a few more."

She frowned, not really wanting to see their faces again, or hear their nonsense and insults. "And...I think I can trust you..." Cracking a smile, Sakura nodded to the gentleman before her. "So, may I request something of you, Sir Hatake?"

He couldn't help but be moved by her tone when she spoke of Akatsuki. Drained of anger, there had been only despair and sadness--this girl had grown up under their rule. She had no way of escape like Kakashi did, even if it was an escape riddled with danger and unknowns, a life that had him looking over his shoulder and constantly on guard everywhere he went. She seemed to genuinely care about her kingdom, and he couldn't imagine how it felt to be locked within its very walls with no power whatsoever over what was going on around her.

At her question, he kept his visible eye passive. "And what might that be, my lady?"

Enjoying the lighter feel of the atmosphere around them, Sakura dropped her guard, sitting more comfortably on the ground, hands resting in her lap. "Kidnap me. Take me far away from here." She stared at him, her expression serious. If there was one way to escape the tragedy of Konoha, this was her one way ticket out.

He raised his eyebrow a second time. Of the few things he had been expecting, hearing the words "kidnap me" from a girl who, minutes before, had regarded him as though he would jump her as soon as look at her certainly hadn't been one of them. Not that her request puzzled him; he could guess easily enough. If he had been in her place, Kakashi might have attempted the same.

His surprise went unseen on his face. He only continued to observe this girl, wanting to ask if she knew just what she was requesting of him. To avoid patronizing her, he only said hesitantly,

"That's a large request to make to someone whom you only 'think' you can trust."

"Let's put it this way," Sakura stood from her position on the ground, swatting the dirt off of her leggings. "I trust you more than I trust them." Though her words did not express her urgency to leave Konoha, her eyes did, betraying how desperately she wished to escape. She was too afraid to leave on her own, afraid she may run into a suspicious stranger, like she believed Kakashi to be at first. However, something tugged inside of her, telling her to trust him, no matter how...unique his appearance may be.

It was then that she started to analyze her possible 'savior,' looking him up and down. Silver hair was the first thing she caught sight of, that would have easily been called gray with its slight dullness. He appeared taller than her, by about a foot or so and definitely broader, portraying him as a strong individual. There was an aura of mystery about him that Sakura found slightly uncomforting, yet she welcomed it. Mysterious people have always intrigued Sakura, and no matter how much her senses told her to stay away, she was compelled to learn more. Hoping he didn't notice her staring, Sakura continued speaking, turning quickly to hide the blush from appearing on her face. "Please, take me with you. I...don't want to go back."

She had to know what she was getting into. The look of complete earnesty--of doubtless, sincere truth in her words--was not something that he interpreted as the rushed wish of an immature child. Sakura had obviously seen the effects of Akatsuki's ambitions, whatever those were, and she obviously wasn't afraid to speak her mind about it. He may have only just met her, but Kakashi couldn't imagine her saying something like this without having an idea of what it would mean.

And if she was choosing to hook up with someone like him, she had to be desperate. The way she had said "take me with you" indicated that she didn't plan on parting with him anytime soon, meaning the choice was just as much his own as it was hers. It would mean taking her under his wing for the time being, a responsibility he hadn't had to shoulder for a long, long time other than when he participated in the Rebellion's missions.

The Rebellion. Taking her would inevitably mean drawing her into that conflict...the Rebellion was his life now. If Sakura chose to be a part of that life, even if only briefly, she could well end up getting dragged into the anti-Akatsuki cause. Kakashi could see her jumping at the chance to be a part of it, but if she hadn't even been able to defend herself from a group of mediocre fighters like those thugs...how would he protect her from that?

He waited a few seconds after she had turned away before replying. "...I trust you know just what this means. If you choose to stand by me, you'll be leaving behind everything you know. My life is no easier than yours. It's unpredictable, to say the least." Kakashi's eye narrowed. "It's only fair for you to know that I'm a wanted man in more countries than one. I'll do my best to protect you, but I can't promise that will always be enough. You'll have to depend on yourself and your own skills, as well."

The thick forest tore at his skin and the cold air made his breath rough and heavy, but still he ran. If only he'd gotten there in time, if only he'd been more careful. He tried to tell himself it wasn't his fault, that he didn't even know she was on the street tonight, but she was his friend, damnit, and he couldn't help but feel responsible when he saw a lanky, silver-haired man carrying her, prone and limp in his arms. The kidnapper. The bastard, who had the audacity to hurt one of only a handful of people Naruto cared about in the world, and even less that cared about him. So, the minute he saw that flash of pink in the night, he'd been off like a shot.

But the man had been fast, and as they entered the forest, leaving the familiar streets of Konoha behind, Naruto started to succumb to dout, to fear of ever catching up, finding them, or finding her just too late. Luck, though, was on his side; the piercing moon had led his way and then, there they were, paused in a clearing. They were talking, she was awake, but he couldn't tell what, didn't care, didn't think, just acted. He always acted. Wasting time was for the weak.

So he burst from the underbrush, eyes wide and wild, clothes ripped, torn, dirty, breath in ragged pants and only one thing tearing loose from his throat: a fierce, feral cry. "You let her go!"

Having sensed the boy's presence and heard his ungraceful approach seconds before he barged into the clearing, Kakashi broke immediately from his thoughts, stood, and moved before Sakura, body tensed and ready for a fight, by the time their follower stopped to cry out. At first, Kakashi thought he was one of the thugs; he certainly looked the part. But then he noted that the boy's face wasn't familiar, and what he had said didn't coincide with the attitudes of the men from before. "You let her go" were not exactly the words of a ruffian after some easy prey, and only a fool would charge blindly after a grown man in the dead of night without a valid reason--of course, having a reason made one no less of a fool.

Sakura turned, eyes wide, staring at her blond friend who charged her 'kidnapper' with all his might. "Naruto, wait!" She helplessly held her hand out in an attempt to stop him, knowing he misunderstood the situation. This...isn't going to end up good! Biting her lip she closed her eyes tight, waiting for the clash.

He heard Sakura's cry for halt probably just too late, but tried to stop himself, anyway, skidding through the dirt and bushes and eventually falling forward onto his hands. Throwing his head up, he glared daggers at the tall man before him. "Sakura...who is this guy? Ain't he tryin' to snatch you? I saw him carrying you like you were dead, or knocked out!" Oh, yes, the man certainly had some explaining to do, and Naruto stood up, fists tight just in case his explanation was less than satisfactory.

Waving her hands frantically, Sakura ran up to the blond, helping him up from his crash. "Naruto, are you alright?" She pulled a stick from the boy's hair, curious about how the boy managed to find her...wherever they were. "You mean...you followed us all the way out here?" The pink-haired girl frowned, wiping a smudge of mud off of the young man's face. She didn't like when people worried about her, then again she did put herself in a very dangerous situation, so he had every right to hunt her down like he did. She smiled on the inside, her exterior still expressing worry.

"Well, I wasn't just gonna let some freakshow snatch you away without a fight!" he snarled in the man's direction. He clenched his teeth and spat on the ground, eyes still burning, just like his lungs, muscles, everything. But all the discomfort was ignored and he stood tall. He wasn't going to stand down, not a chance. "So come on, friend, got a name? Or were you just gonna...kill her and rob her, huh?"

Kakashi remained silent throughout the exchange between the two, only observing and quickly recognizing the situation as their conversation made more and more sense. Not until the newcomer turned to him did he speak, choosing to answer his question without any foreplay. "Hatake Kakashi," he said flatly, as if not interested in the boy's accusations. Which he wasn't. Shrugging, he glanced at Sakura. "As you can see, this young lady is unharmed. No need to worry."

The girl sighed, frowning at Kakashi, "You tell him your name so much easier than you did me." Glancing back at Naruto she smiled, "It's alright. He doesn't plan on harming me, at least, from what I gather. Please, don't worry about me anymore. I'm fine, just like he says." She gripped the boy's hand gently, taking comfort in his company. If there was anyone she was thankful for right now, it was Naruto. Most likely, without him, she would still be a nervous mess underneath whatever mask she tried to create, to keep herself calm. He was a sign of safety and comfort, and was afraid of letting go. However, a problem still remained and must be dealt with.

"Sir Hatake." She turned to face Kakashi, Naruto's hand still firmly in her grip. "Do you accept my plea?"

Taking his time, Kakashi looked around the clearing, noticing that their small amount of moonlight was diminishing as clouds continued to drift across the bright sky. He raised a clenched fist to his masked mouth so that his thumb and first knuckle rested on either side of his lips. Focusing briefly, he blew sharply into his hand, opening it palm-up a second later as a flame the size of his fist burst silently into existence inches above his glove.

He had refrained from using it before, afraid of startling the already uneasy Sakura, but even after gaining her trust, he had simply forgotten. Kakashi was accustomed to working in the dark, so the light hadn't been a necessity. Although small, the fire cast enough light for the three to see each others' faces clearly, and Kakashi turned his focus to Sakura as he considered his words.

"...I will," he said after a few seconds, "but on one condition."

A gasp managed to escape from Sakura's mouth as her eyes widened from the hot burst of flame that emitted out of nowhere. This act made her partially frightened at what the man was capable of, yet peaked her interest in the silver-haired individual. A magician... She never noticed the smile that erupted on her face. "And...what is this condition you speak of?" Sakura took a step closer, as if being pulled in by a magnet of some sort, her need for escape growing more and more by the second.

He saw the delight in her eyes as she locked onto the fire in his hand, her smile almost making him to do the same, but his words were serious. "You seem to be an honest woman, so I'll take you up on that. I don't expect you to follow orders and I don't like to give them. Even so, I'm asking for your cooperation." He stole a glimpse at the boy, Naruto, before looking back. "If something ever happens and I tell you to run, I don't want any deliberation on the matter. I say run, you run. I say hide, you hide." Kakashi dropped some of the firmness in his voice. "I've been doing this a long time. I ask only that you trust me. I know you have no reason to regard me as a friend at this point, but this won't work if we remain strangers." Cocking his head in thought, he added, "If it helps, I suppose you could think of me as...a teacher of some sort. Whatever will convince you to believe in my choices." His eye moved back and forth between Sakura's two as if searching for her answer. "Will that work for you, my lady?"

"W-Wait," Naruto stammered, speaking up again. "Sakura...you're going with this guy? Where...Where are you going?" Desperation flickered in his eyes, fear, his only friend on the verge of stepping out of his life so soon after stepping in. Was it for real? He whirled on the man called Kakashi again, and a determined look flashed over his face like lightning's flare, burning bright, sudden, fierce. "Take me too, then! I don't care where, I don't what I have to do, but I'm not gonna let you just take her away!" Without thinking, on instinct, his body shifted in front of her, hand swinging up as if to block the magician's path. Did he stand a chance in a fight? It wasn't likely.

But Naruto Uzumaki never stood down.

Kakashi observed the boy, passive. "You're brave," he commented with a genuine smile. "But you're letting your haste cloud your judgement. You're no use to anyone if your courage lacks a head on its shoulders." He looked back at Sakura. Agreeing to take her was enough responsibility, but two? And this boy was only tagging along because he was worried about his friend...but then, that in itself said something about him. "What's your name?" he asked, looking at the boy again. "Your full name."

Naruto looked almost defiant, as if wounded by the comment, but he fought it back, refusing to let his pride get in the way. "Naruto Uzumaki," he said at last, brash, proud, chin thrust out and standing to his full height. "Some call me King of the Streets. An' I'm the guy with the most knowledge of Konoha you'll ever find." Boasting was his way, and he certainly wasn't going to let this scarecrow of a sorceror think he was just some standard street rat.

If it wasn't already obvious that this boy was a bonafide street rat, his bragging told his story for him. Kakashi didn't know the surname, but really, he hadn't expected to. "Hmm. Well, Naruto Uzumaki, I admire your integrity. She must mean a lot to you for you to follow me as you did."

Sakura blushed at the comment, 'She must mean a lot to you.' The only person who worried about her as much as Naruto had was 'Robin.' It made Sakura wonder how people such as they could so easily worry about someone who was almost a complete stranger to them. And because of his dedicated friendship towards here, there was only one thing to do. "Please Sir Hatake. Allow Naruto to come with us. I will take responsibility over him if I must. And I promise that I will follow your every request of me....within reason." Sure, she was desperate to leave Konoha, but to submit completely was something Sakura would never do for anyone.

He hadn't foreseen her agreeing totally to his request. Frankly, he would have been worried if she had. Her use of the words "within reason" gave Kakashi a little more hope for the girl--she was definitely independent. She would need that quality if she came with him. He looked Naruto over as if sizing him up; there was no way the boy would back down now, and he doubted that Sakura wanted it any other way. Sure, Kakashi would be there for her, but she still needed a friend, someone she could identify with...and he had planned to spend at least a few days with her before trusting her with the knowledge of his involvement with the Rebellion, anyway. Things would likely go smoother--for both of them--if she was with someone she knew during that time.

Shrugging again, Kakashi turned his back on both of them, hand outstretched in front of him to light his path. "Do what you will. Simply being with me could be enough to label you both for treason...if you ever return, it would be in your best interest to forget everything that happens after tonight." With that final warning he began walking, knowing they would follow.

Naruto sighed and hung his head slightly, before tightening his fists again and thrusting his jaw out. "I'll come with you, but I'm not gonna abandon my city, either! I'll...I'm gonna knock out the Akatsuki if I have to, and you're...are you part of...the Rebellion?" He finally said, finally came out with it. Treason wasn't rare these days, with the Akatsuki's violent policies, but few were so bold, or sounded so proud. He had heard whispers of rebels in the forests, too, with powerful fighters and magicians in their ranks. If Kakashi wasn't a prime candidate, well, Naruto didn't know who was. "Well? Are you?" he demanded.

Kakashi stopped and looked over his shoulder, staring at both of them. He had been rather careless with his identity before now, but he hadn't thought that the kid would pick up so quickly... They were bound to find out eventually if they stuck with him, so it was no heavy risk; even if one of them went back and leaked that bit of information, it certainly wouldn't be news to the enemy.

He smiled as though Naruto had said something funny, his voice light and careless as he replied, "Yes, I am."

"Then," Naruto started again, tongue nervously wetting his lips as he tried to think of where to go next. "You take us, you're signin' us up, right? To fight Akatsuki?" Breathing deep, he barelled on, as if he'd actually waited for the answer he had a good idea was coming, or at least hoped. "Let me stay in the city! I swear, I know it better'n anyone, and that's no lie, no boast. I can get from one end to the other in a half hour on a good day. I'd be the perfect agent for you there, you know? It's not...it's not like anyone'd believe a street rat anyway, right? And...I'd never tell, anyway! You know that, you can trust me! So...please, I wanna be on your side, and I wanna save my city!"

Tears burned in his eyes. Emotion burned in his throat. But he refused to break, refused to blink, just faced Kakashi down with his feet planted, sturdy as rock and iron will.

This time Kakashi turned fully around, silent except for the low crackling of the fire in his palm. If this boy was telling the truth, he deserved a response that was just as honest. "I had planned on watching you two before telling you," Kakashi told him, smile gone. "If you know anything about what I do, then you can understand my taking precaution."

In truth, he disliked the idea of letting the boy go back. Taking him off to some distant camp where no one would miss him was one thing; sending him into the lion's den, asking him to risk his life, was another. "...And that's also why you should understand me when I say no. We've lost too many good people who died doing what you're proposing. Even I only venture into Konoha when it's absolutely necessary." He fell momentarily silent, choosing his words, but they were still somewhat harsh when he spoke. "It's not a matter of trust, Naruto. This is more than just running around and delivering messages and spying around some corners. It means putting everything on the line. If you were caught, you wouldn't be the only one affected." Almost undetectable, Kakashi's gaze flickered to Sakura and back. "Your life isn't always the worst thing to lose."

Sakura nodded, "I have nothing to lose." She wasn't happy living in a Konoha that existed as it did today. She had to change it, no matter what got in her way. Even if she were caught and punished for treason, she didn't care. At least she took a stand. Walking up to Kakashi she stopped beside him, turning around to her blond friend. "I must go. This is important to me." Please, don't stop me.

Naruto could feel himself tearing in two. His first friend was on the verge of leaving, possibly forever, and risking her very life for a man she'd met five minutes ago. But his home was behind him, now, a tyrant on its throne and he could help, could fight, but could he leave it behind? Leave Iruka, Konohamaru, the people he'd come to know, serve, sometimes almost respect? It was his land, his kingdom, and he'd have to step outside it to save it, that's what Kakashi was telling him. A Devil on one shoulder, an Angel on the other, and he wasn't sure which was which. Step forward or turn back. Either way would leave him throwing a torch upon the wooden bridge, and make him watch it burn away.

But he grit his teeth, steel in his marrow, and stared Kakashi down again. Determination, although some might call it stubbornness, was not something he was short on. "I'm not afraid," he hissed. "Not of anything. And...you wanna save a place, and not even know what's goin' on in it? You need someone on the inside, and you know that, don't you? I won't even follow you know, I'll turn back. But let me help." Let me see you again, he wanted to say, but didn't. That was too much.

"I'm not asking if you're afraid," Kakashi almost snapped, his anger showing--vaguely--for the first time. "Stop thinking about yourself in this situation. If Sakura does follow me, she may well end up placing her life in danger. Are you telling me you're prepared to shoulder the responsibility of both yourself and your comrades?" He was going too far, but Naruto had to hear this. Kakashi wasn't sure how to get through to him otherwise. "If I were one of the Akatsuki--" In a minimal blur of motion, Kakashi's free hand slipped into the pouch on his side, withdrawing a knife, and his arm snaked around behind Sakura's back to place the tip against the area between her neck and shoulder. "--And I told you to tell me the place where you met the rebels, would you be willing to make that decision?"

That single glittering point became the sole focus of Naruto's world for a split second, heart freezing, eyes nearly tearing loose from their sockets. It seemed like the color had been sucked out of the world, the sweat from his mouth, heat and sound gone in a flash. Then he swallowed, and the sound of his heart raced to his ears, pounding, deafening, making it so he couldn't even hear himself shout. "You let her go this instant!" But it was feeble, menace vanishing as he found himself rooted to the spot, unable to do anything. He couldn't help, couldn't stop him, the gap was too far and the knife was too close and Kakashi was too fast...!

The question was gone, faded, absorbed by the miasma of fear, but as it started to clear again he heard it, ringing in his ears, and felt his teeth grind together, hard. "I...I wouldn't sell you out!"

The pink-haired girl smiled, knowing Kakashi was merely testing him to see what he would do if a situation like thus ever occurred. She would admit that the sudden feeling of something sharp pressing lightly against her scared her, but being around people she felt that she could trust made the feeling of unease quell into something less frightening.

Kakashi sensed Sakura tense and then relax, but his focus was entirely on Naruto. "Tell me," he repeated, no less callous than before, "or she dies. All it takes is a few words, Naruto. A few words and she'll go free." He glared. "Why sacrifice the life of your friend for a group of traitors that's bound to be wiped out eventually? Tell me that. Tell me," he stressed, the knife skimming her skin.

There was a sick feeling in the pit of his gut, but Naruto's gaze didn't waver, hands didn't shake. He refused to back down, ever back down, no matter what the situation, and this was the highest test of his courage yet, even more so than facing up to drunks and soliders and guards and angry merchants. All his life he'd been preparing and he didn't know for what, but now it seemed to have fallen into his lap. He wasn't going to choke.

"Because it's right," he spit back. "Because I ain't a coward, and I'd rather get blood on my hands than yellow on my back!" Rage, fear, hatred, and, more than anything, pride rang from his words, dripped like a caustic acid.

Holding Naruto's smoldering gaze, Kakashi returned the glare, waiting to see if the kid would back down at the last second. Kakashi may have been cruel in his methods, but he wasn't stupid. He spared no details because that's how life was, that's how Akatsuki was--there was no time for doubt or thinking when the occasion arose. You had to be prepared, or else be prepared to die. Not every matter would end in the absence of bloodshed, but there was more at risk than individual lives. As much as Kakashi enforced that principle, he despised it, but this was war--they were fighting for a purpose greater than themselves. They were fighting for a future.

Instantly, his hand fell away from Sakura. "This is also why you can't always hope to depend on yourself. You say you're willing to work alone, to risk your life, and I believe that..." His expression softened. "But that's what teamwork is about." Kakashi put a little distance between himself and Sakura as he put the knife away. "That situation was one of the worst. I pray you'll never find yourself in it, but it's always possible. That's why I stress cooperation--don't be afraid to swallow your pride. The very thing you just showed me could ultimately be the end of you..." His lips twitched in an invisible semi-smile. "But...you're not selfish, Naruto." Kakashi had seen the pain on his face as he was torn between his choices; seen and recognized it. But the boy had gone straight through it, hardly faltering. "Just keep your friends close to you," he finished. As cryptic as that last part had been, he didn't think Naruto would understand it completely, but it had been directed more towards himself than to anyone else.

Kakashi exhaled heavily and turned to Sakura. "Well," he said, considerably more lighthearted, "shall we? The night's wasting, after all." His eye fixed on Naruto. "For you, as well. I can't say when, but look for me in the future."

Sakura nodded, turning around to walk with her new mentor. Not looking over her shoulder she spoke to Naruto, "Naruto, even if you do not decide to come with us..." her voice trailed off, trying to find the words. "Know that I will never forget you, and that I will think of you always. You are my first friend Naruto. And you always will be my friend." she continued to speak, her tone expressing neither sadness nor happiness. "Please. Never forget me."

"What," Naruto began, voice just barely crackling with emotion as he looked at her. "Think you can get rid of me that easily? Not a chance." The grin was lopsided but genuine, even if there was a sadness tinging the blue of his eyes. "You're my friend, too, after all. I ain't ever gonna let you go. No way." He lingered with his gaze on her for a moment before turning to Kakashi, shouting after him.

"I'll keep my eye out, scarecrow!" he called. "An' mum's the word, I got it!"

He stood there for a moment, almost rooted to the spot, just watching them disappear into the gloom. Tears were flecking in his eyes again, and he reached up to rub his eyes furiously on his arm. Just another minute, then he'd leave. Just one more minute.

Sakura stopped, turning around to glance at Naruto once more. When she would see him again, she was not sure, but a single tear managed to slip down her cheek. "Goodbye..." She turned and was gone.