Chapter-17

Kakashi looked at her like she was an enemy. Well, it was obvious according to his nature but Sakura hated that look more than anything. He was doubting her. One wrong move and he would go as far as killing her. This was not the time to be sentimental but Sakura couldn't help it.

"Don't make me repeat myself. Who are you?" said Kakashi. Apparently, she had been quiet for a while now. She had to play this correctly. Kakashi sensei warned me not to tell anybody about my seal. I can't tell him anything.

"I'm Haruno Sakura of Team 7. That's all I can tell you. I'm not your enemy or of the leaf village. I'm your ally." Finally said Sakura.

"And why should I trust you?" Kakashi asked suspiciously.

"Because I have no ulterior motive. I have nothing to gain but everything to lose if I get caught. I'm a part of Team 7. Team 7 is my home. That's all." Said Sakura with a painful look.

Kakashi was lost. He knew he shouldn't trust somebody like her but the look she had right now, he hated it. And he hated himself more to be the cause of it. He couldn't help but feel bad for her and he didn't know why. His sharingan was throbbing again. He felt like the bad guy in the situation. He wanted to soothe her not hurt her. Finally, he spoke,

"As a shinobi, I can't trust you to have my back or protect the village."

Sakura felt hurt but she knew he would say that. She asked,

"And as a sensei?"

Kakashi was shocked to hear that. He was torn. His heart kept saying to trust her but his mind was saying not to. She said team 7 was her home. But the team was formed just 1 month back. Even Naruto and Sasuke don't feel like that who actually don't have homes unlike her. His throbbing was getting worse. Finally, he said,

"As a sensei, well I have to trust my student who put her life on the line for the team. But I still can't trust you. You're going to have to earn it. You have time till this mission is over and we head back to the village. If I still find you untrustworthy, I'm going to have you put behind bars. You have a hefty amount of questions unanswered for me."

Sakura looked up and smiled at him with such innocence that he felt like his heart would clench. How could she smile in a situation like this? Didn't she know that she was the one at loss here? It's like she knew what I was going to say.

"Make sure Naruto and Sasuke don't find out. You can train however you want." After saying this, Kakashi walked away with a troubled expression. She's a total mystery. Why does my sharingan throb whenever I'm near her? Something's going on. With these thoughts, Kakashi headed back to see Naruto and Sasuke's progress.

When Kakashi neared them, he saw they had achieved climbing half the tree. Not bad for the first day. They'll catch up soon.

"Yo! How's it going for you two? It seems you're making some progress."

But Naruto and Sasuke were bickering and ignored Kakashi totally. They were arguing about who was ahead. These two are too ignorant. Thought Kakashi with a deadpanned look.

"OII! Listen to me!" said Kakashi loudly. At that, both Naruto and Sasuke sat up straight while continuously glaring at each other.

"It doesn't matter who's ahead. What matters is if you get the technique or not. Understand?"

Both nodded but then again glared at each other and started running towards their trees.

Well it seems my work is done. I should head back to the house. Kakashi started walking towards the house. When Kakashi's chakra was gone from the forest, Sakura took a sigh of relief. She was in trouble now. Kakashi was doubting her. It was only a matter of time before he found out about her. But strangely, she didn't mind if he found out. She knew he would trust her. But the problem was, how would she make him trust her right now, before the mission ends? Hm, this is a pickle. But she decided to think about that later as she now could train as per her will.

She decided to train her chakra control in medics with fishes. So she started fishing. It also reminded her to heal Kakashi at night when everyone was asleep.

Evening came and Sakura decided it was enough for today. She started heading towards Naruto and Sasuke to see their progress. She saw that they were trying hard but were stuck at the length of half the tree. On top of that, they kept bickering about who went higher. They were totally exhausted but still kept going. Sakura smiled at them from behind their backs and started going towards them.

"Hey, you idiots. Were you two fighting?" she asked politely.

At her voice, both of them froze up. When she asked again, they both violently shook their heads in denial. They didn't want a taste of her power punches.

"Well looks like you guys are having fun!" she said with a chuckle.

Naruto screamed, "NO IT'S NOT FUN! THIS IS TOO HARD!" it was rare of Naruto to whine while training but well this was his first session and chakra control wasn't always his strong suit. Plus, he was always competing with Sasuke so he was drowning himself out even though he had more chakra than anybody here.

Sasuke on the other hand, looked downright pissed. He was stuck and Naruto was irritating him by catching up to him. And Sakura could do this in one go so that pissed him off even more. He wanted to ask her how to do this but he was embarrassed. And in front of Naruto? No way.

"Ne ne Sakura-chan? How did you do this in one time? Can you teach me?" asked Naruto while Sasuke was busy ignoring them. His ears pricked up at that question. He also wanted to know but he had to play it cool. Sakura saw Sasuke's eagerness in wanting to know and decided to have some fun.

"Sure Naruto. I'll tell you the trick." She said and gestured for Naruto to come closer. Sasuke was getting pissed at their closeness. Sakura hid her mouth and slowly explained the trick to Naruto in a low tone. Sasuke's jaw dropped at that. WHAT THE HELL! he said in his mind and his expression showed the same. Sakura saw that and chuckled.

"Oh! So that's how it is. Okay, I think I can do it now. Thanks a lot, Sakura-chan!" Said Naruto enthusiastically.

"Good for you, Naruto! Hope you can catch up now." Said Sakura smilingly. She then looked at Sasuke and asked him

"Do you want any help too, Sasuke?" she asked mischievously.

Sasuke glared at her and twisted his neck with his characteristic 'Hn'.

"Why would I need any help from you? Go away." He said egotistically.

Sakura chuckled and looked at him with a soft expression. You never were good at asking for help. Idiot.

"All right. If you say so. I'm going back to the house. You guys better come before dark." She said and left. Now I hope they get along.

When she started walking away, Sasuke felt torn. He either had to ask Naruto or he would be left behind by him. Damn it, Sakura. What am I supposed to do?! I can't be left behind by Sakura and Naruto too! So after training for half an hour and making no progress, he finally decided to ask Naruto. I'm gonna pay you back heavily for this, Sakura.

"O-Oi Na-naruto!"

"Hm? What?"

"You asked Sakura about tricks to climb easily. Can you tell me those too?"

At hearing this, at first Naruto was shocked. Sasuke's asking for help? From me? And then he replied with a sly expression

"haah? You're asking for help? I thought you were good at everything. I guess I was wrong. Fine, if you want to learn so desperately I'll tell you."

Sasuke got pissed as expected. This idiot! Now I can't ask him! He glared at his sly face and replied

"No. I'll figure it out myself."

Naruto smirked and asked

"Are you suuurree?"

Veins started popping out of Sasuke's face. "I said I'll be fine, you bastard."

"Hahaha! I'm never gonna forget this!"

Sasuke continued to glare at him like he was going to kill him.

They both soon returned to training themselves to death and stopped when they reached at equal heights. It was dark now. Sakura was going to kill them. A chill ran down their spines.

"I hope we'll be left alive…" said Naruto dreadingly.

"Hn."replied Sasuke but he was scared too.

They both reached the house and got two hits on their heads as soon as they entered.

"I told you to return before dark, didn't I? You two are completely out of chakra! Now come in and have dinner. You better not fight." Said an angry Sakura.

Both of them rubbed their heads and sat at the table. They were glaring at each other continuously as they ate. Sakura sighed but smiled. Kakashi was glaring at her and her expressions. She is hiding something big. But she's not tense at all. She's calm and collected. She looked… happy. And Kakashi was not bothered by it. The question was why?

Everyone was asleep now. Sakura slowly walked across the room and sat by Kakashi's futon. She started healing him and halfway through it, a hand caught her wrist. It was Kakashi. He was drowsy but he asked, "Who in the world are you?"

Sakura looked at him and smiled. "Someone with a responsibility. Given by you."

Kakashi's eyes opened wide and he sat up in his futon panting. He was sweaty and breathed heavily. His sharingan was throbbing too much. He looked out the window and it was dark, everyone was asleep. He looked for Sakura and found her in her place, sleeping. He looked at his hands and held his head. What the hell was that? A dream? A vision? I can't understand what is what! Sakura is sleeping. She couldn't have come to me. She was doing something to me. Something green was there on my chest. That's when Kakashi realized that he felt a little better. His limbs didn't ache anymore and his chakra reserves were replenishing smoothly. He looked at Sakura again but found that her chakra was calm and resting. Ugh… I need a walk. When Kakashi left the house, Sakura peeked at his futon and sighed relievingly. Safe for now. Good thing I knocked him out after healing him.

When Kakashi went outside, he saw Inari perched on some planks and crying while looking out at the sea. Kakashi decided to talk to him.