Chapter 13
Chapter 13: Strange
As promised, Sakura returned the bells to Kakashi, washed and gleaming. With that task behind them, the team began their first real D-rank mission, which, as usual, turned out to be a series of mundane tasks designed to help the village. The first mission, walking dogs, was met with Naruto’s usual curses as the dogs ran wild, tugging him this way and that. Sasuke, on the other hand, sighed in exasperation as they painted a fence for an elderly couple. Kakashi couldn’t help but chuckle at their frustration, flipping through his Icha Icha book while watching his students suffer through the seemingly endless chores.
However, amidst their grumbling and complaints, one of them stood out in a different way: Sakura. She remained quiet and composed, not letting the tedious tasks affect her mood. Kakashi glanced at her occasionally, trying to figure out how to bring up the topic that had been weighing on his mind—how could he convince her to move into his house? She had already expressed her lack of interest in his offer of adoption, and she seemed content to keep her distance.
It wasn’t that she was ungrateful—quite the opposite. Sakura had been kind to him in her own way, especially during his Anbu days and getting healed in the hospital by her—but something in the back of Kakashi’s mind kept nagging at him. There was more to her than met the eye.
The day dragged on, and after hours of D-rank tasks, Kakashi decided it was time to teach them something a little more fun: tree climbing. It was a simple exercise but one that required focus and skill. As the genin began walking vertically up the tree trunks, Kakashi observed their progress with a casual eye.
But then, something caught his attention—Sakura’s chakra.
Kakashi was used to reading chakra, but what he saw from her made him freeze for a moment. Her chakra spiked—flaring up to a level that could only be described as Jonin-level—and then, just as quickly, it settled back down to its normal Genin flow. Kakashi’s mind raced. He had seen this before, in skilled ninjas who had the ability to manipulate their chakra in extraordinary ways. But for Sakura? It was unexpected.
Trying not to draw attention to himself, Kakashi adjusted his headband, lifting it just slightly to reveal his Sharingan. He activated it, scanning Sakura’s chakra network. There was nothing overtly unusual, but then, his eyes froze on something. A seal. A faint, nearly invisible mark on her right foot. It was an odd seal—one Kakashi had never seen before. His heart skipped a beat.
He quickly dropped his headband back down, keeping his cool. Sakura seemed fine, like always, walking up the tree with the same grace as the rest of them. But Kakashi's mind was reeling. If the seal had been there for some time, why hadn’t anyone noticed it before?
He knew he needed more information. This was no ordinary genin, and Kakashi’s suspicions were growing stronger. His thoughts turned to the files he and his father had found—the ones that had mentioned Sakura’s strange connection to ROOT. If Sakura was involved with ROOT, it meant she had been through things no child should ever endure. But what was the truth? How did she manage to hide all of it?
Kakashi couldn’t stop himself from looking closer. He noticed the subtle details in her posture and movements. The way she kept her sleeves long, the way her pants hid the faint scars that seemed to line her arms and legs. These were not the marks of an ordinary ninja-in-training. They were the remnants of someone who had endured harsh training, punishment, or something worse.
Kakashi’s gaze followed Sakura as she climbed the tree, careful not to make it obvious. When she fell—pretending to lose her grip—he caught a glimpse of the scars again, peeking from beneath her sleeve. His heart tightened with concern, but he quickly turned away, making sure his students didn’t catch him looking too closely.
He needed to get to the bottom of this. He needed someone who could help him understand what had happened to her. Kakashi wasn't a medical expert, and while he could read chakra, he couldn’t fully comprehend the damage done to her body and mind. He would need an expert to look at her, someone who could help uncover the secrets she was so desperately trying to keep hidden.
Meanwhile, Sakura walked ahead, feeling the weight of Kakashi’s gaze on her back. She swallowed hard, her throat dry. She could sense his suspicions growing, but she couldn’t afford to slip up. She could climb trees with ease, but she had to make it look like she was struggling. She couldn’t let anyone see what she was really capable of—not yet.
Her heart raced as Kakashi’s eyes remained on her, piercing through her every movement. He knows something, she thought. But what does he know?
She forced herself to fail again, falling back to the ground, trying to make it look natural. She couldn't let her secrets get out. Not yet.
In the distance, Kakashi clenched his fists. He wasn’t sure what was going on with Sakura, but he knew one thing for certain: he was going to find out. Whatever it took, he would get to the bottom of it.
Sakura had been through too much, and Kakashi wasn’t going to let her carry those burdens alone.