VOODOO
Sakura looks over to Kakashi from her spot on his couch debating to go for the truth or make a bullshit story up. She really hasn’t had the chance to come up with anything as she has been trying to get over the shock that this may possibly be real to begin with. After the long day she had though, getting kicked out and then getting beat up by Team Seven she has a good reason to believe this is actually real.
That these people are living and breathing and have gone through their own history, one where she is a completely different person.
“I know you’re curious about my new found talents, Kakashi… Sensei.” She drops and looks at him. “But you just gotta look underneath the underneath, right?”
Kakashi stares at her for a minute and leans against his wall, right near the front door. Sakura knows he is doing this as a way for him to stop her from thinking about leaving. Her plan to not be homeless and having nowhere to go aside from her ex-Sensei, not really ex-Sensei's house, hits her like a train. She walked right into a trap without even knowing. She feels embarrassment creep up on her. Maybe his Sakura wouldn't have fallen so easily.
“You don’t even know just how much of a complete 180 you are right now, do you? If it weren’t for your reaction towards Naruto I would have thrown you in T&I by now.” He asks while rubbing his masked face. “I’m still thinking about it..”
Kakashi watches as her face loses all trace of humor in it. All her jest is out the window and she looks wooden. Whoever is imitating his student knows his threats aren’t just for show. They also have a hard time calling him Sensei which is another red flag.
“Changed? As if you really know me Kakashi.” It's a risky statement but she continues, "How about you accept that your female student has finally surpassed the other goofballs on the team and call it a day? Deal?"
“Well that doesn’t sound like a deal to me.” Kakashi softly chuckles, “How bout you tell me right now or I WILL bring you to T&I. Our T&I force say it takes on average a minute to have prisoners spilling their nations secrets. I've already given you a day and my patience is wearing thin.”
“Or… Or how about-“ She stops as Kakashi stalks over to her and sits besides her while twirling a kunai. She startles and inches away from him but he grabs her arm holding her still. His body pressing beside her. When was the last time she was this close to Kakashi? Did he survive their last attack, or did he fall apart at seeing the last of his team dead? She's beginning to feel extremely nauseous.
“Now you’ve been edging around this for long enough. I gave you time, a little too much when I think about it.” Kakashi says blandly. “Regardless, I know now that you are not Sakura and you have managed to weasel your way into my team.”
Sakura decides not to say anything which she decides may be the only smart thing she’s done so far.
“No one fucks with my team.” He growls.
She should be scared, but it brings her joy to hear him say that, even if it isn't really referring to her. And also his protective growl, reminds her of his pack, she wonders if he still has his pack here and if so why hasn't she seen Pakkun or the others yet... She bites her twitching lip trying her hardest not to smirk, so she forcefully frowns and turns her head closing her eyes.
“You think this is funny?” Kakashi stands up asking.
“Stop Kakashi… Geesh, calm down.” Sakura huffs and crosses her arms, “I wouldn’t fuck with those whacko’s anyway! No one in their right mind would! And I might seem different to you but don’t insult my intelligence to insinuate that I would fuck with your team! They fuck themselves enough as it is!”
She storms over to his book collection and randomly grabs one from the shelf before going over to his couch and tossing herself on it. Kakashi just stares at her ready to disarm if she so much as thinks to rip any of his precious books.
“You can bring me to T&I tomorrow, but can you lay off? I’m so tired!” Sakura takes the book opens it then places it on top of her face.
“Why does it seem you’re not denying that you’re just a poor imitation of Sakura. Who are you?”
“Poor imitation, thanks a lot... and I really am exhausted can you leave me alone?” She mumbles. Sakura grimaces under the book, she knows she’s pushing this unknown version of Kakashi but if there is one thing she needs to find out, it’s if she can trust this one. If he does bring her to T&I then that would easily show her his colors… if he doesn’t…
Kakashi growls again and crosses the short room and takes the book off her face and slapping it down on the floor without any care. Sakura’s eyes snap open not expecting Kakashi to ever mishandle his precious books, that has her attention.
“And now I feel the need to ask, who are you? Kakashi would never slam Ichi Ichi Paradise on the ground like that.”
“That’s not Paradise, thats Violence.” Ahh… well that’s why.
“What’s your name?” Kakashi’s voice shifts to one that commands respect, the one he uses in Anbu missions but in her time was one he used specifically while they were in ROOT. A voice that has been ingrained in her to show nothing but obedience, and submission.
Her time while in ROOT when Danzo ruled meant hours of drilling and programming. Even without the seal, all the programming they were all forced to go through was meant for the shinobi of Konoha to obey at all costs from their commanding officer and Danzo. Fortunately Kakashi was Team Sevens commanding officer at that time, Sai didn’t need to go through that training, but he was there for them.
It wasn’t only rough on Naruto and herself, but it was also hard on Kakashi who had to report to Danzo regarding how much they showed progress and real life results. Danzo’s fucked up tests were lethal and hard to pass if they were trying to bullshit him. To the point where their bullshitting didn’t work, lessons were learned, and they had no choice but to undergo a ‘system change’. All of the Konoha eleven suffered and no one came out unscathed.
‘This is what happens when you don’t obey your superior officer’ Naruto was lying on the ground a bloody mess staring up without emotion, broken. ‘I am your superior officer, Sakura, you must never forget this.’
Sakura shudders as Danzo’s voice rings through her. His overbearing presence was one she had to get used to as he wanted her close to him to use her medical prowess. She always reported to Kakashi anything she could… in the end it didn’t matter. Tsunade Shishou never came back, too broken herself to do anything, and war raged on.
Kakashi watches curiously as Sakura goes from stubborn to sitting straight up and staring at him full attention, eyes slightly glazed over.
“Sakura Haruno.”
“Your ninja ID?”
“0021400523.”
“And where did you learn the jutsu you displayed?”
“I learned… I learned…” Sakura begins to breath heavily, “Tsunade-s-sama.” She stutters out. Unable to stop herself, “And you, you trained me too. I must obey your direct orders.”
Her stony face staring blankly at him waiting for his next question.
Kakashi reaches over and touches her face. “When were you…, you’ve been programmed.”
He gets up and walks away hearing Sakura’s heavy breathing. Was it possible the Hokage trained and conditioned his student without his notice? No. His own experience knows that her whole being did a complete change overnight and that isn't how fast shinobi changed going through that kind of training. But if it's true? Why would Tsunade keep it a secret. He sighs and thinks he should have gone to the Hokage about this way before now but if this wasn't meant to be revealed then maybe it's a good thing he held off. Unless this girl is lying. Nothing about this is adding up.
“Kakashi,” He hears her softly call.
He’s looking out his window when she says it, he catches a glimpse of his reflection. She acts like his student, but there is no way the real Sakura was taken without his notice and programed to react like that. This isn’t his student.
“Who conditioned you?”
She stares at his turned face. He’s not even paying attention it looks like but she knows he’s not really looking out at the trees. He's planning something.
“Kakashi,” Is she addressing him? Or answering him?
There’s a knock on the door and Kakashi goes over to see who it is. Sakura silently fumes at herself for her ingrained reaction to Kakashi, her brain that went from freedom to the restriction of obedience in seconds. She rubs her eyes and tries to shake it off. Fear grips her thinking what this could mean if Danzo is here and if he got his hands on her once more. Never again!
Sakura stands up at the ready.
The open door reveals two blondes at the entrance. Minato dressed in casual clothes and Naruto in his orange and black outfit that resembles like the one he wore in her life when he came back with Jiraiya-sama.
“Naruto!” She says, surprised to see him. The young man grins and goes to her with no hesitation, she senses the other two are displeased.
“Hey Sakura, so I was telling my dad how you’re gonna teach me that cool flash step thing and wanted to come see you! I went to your place but your dad said you left? When did you move in with Kakashi Sensei?” Good ol'Naruto, same rambling idiot. She could hug him right now but holds herself back, and she really could throw up right now, this is too much.
“Oh yeah!” She says, her eyes glue on Minato’s face. The rock version of his face simply does not do him justice. She flushes and bows politely to the man.
“Hokage-sama, my apologies.” The silence is so thick Sakura could cut it with a kunai. Ahh... so she once again made another mistake. Fuck sake.
Naruto bursts out laughing, “You’re so funny, hey Sakura, want to go try that new ramen place with me? But I don't think we should tell Teuchi, ya know! He was yelling about it yesterday.”
Sakura laughs and rubs the back of her head, thanking Naruto silently for his nonchalant change of the subject. So who is Hokage? Is it still Tsunade Shishou? That would be nice.
“Naruto, I need you to do something for me.” Minato takes a scroll out and hands it to his son. “Bring that to Bird.”
Naruto takes the scroll and stands straighter, “Sure thing, Old Man! See you guys later!”
When Naruto leaves it’s like all of the safety nets from before disintegrate and she is now in a room with two shinobi who are likely going to continue to interrogate her. She has to think of something before this continues. What are the chances she’s in yet another Tsukuyomi?
Mind scrambling to the time she died next to Naruto, trying to remember who they were fighting. Who finally killed them off? Who had that kind of power?
They took care of Madara years ago, and they took care of Obito/Tobi, but that doesn’t mean anything to her. She watches Kakashi and Minato silently talking to each other occasionally throwing hand signs she couldn’t interpret.
The real question is, to tell the truth or not? What would Tsunade Shishou advise her to do?
Probably have a strong drink and lay it all out.
What does she have to lose?
Everything, all over again.
What does this world offer if not just another horrible delusion where she has to watch everyone she loved be someone different from the ones she knows are dead and gone? Sakura brings her hand to her head and tries to rub away the headache that she’s had since coming here.
Deep down the feeling that this is not a shitty jutsu isn’t comforting in the least and because she cannot verify this, and is only 70 percent sure… If that’s the case, how fucked up can her existence here alter their future.
“Where are you from?” Minato’s voice has her turning towards the man.
She stares at him, his blond spikes and face resemble Naruto so much it hurts. He’s not wearing his standard shinobi uniform so he’s giving nothing away. She sighs and slowly walks towards Kakashi’s kitchen table.
“Can I have some tea or something stronger before we do this?” Sakura asks and sits down looking up at Kakashi.
“No.” Kakashi says sternly. “Maybe once you tell us some information…”
“We should be getting help soon.” Minato says and something in that sends a shiver down her spine.
Who was Bird? She's willing to put money down that it's Itachi. She feels her throat and mouth get dry, her hands becoming sweaty. Her time is running out and she hasn’t made her decision yet. This is all so ridiculous that her brain has no power to come up with a real plan, she’s too late to run.
“I’m from Konoha, I am Sakura Haruno.” She says again this time her voice wobbling.
“I’ll believe that after we get someone inside that head of yours.” Kakashi goes to her and ruffles her hair. It’s unnervingly similar to her Kakashi but this action is one of malice. “Like I said, you don’t fuck with my team.” He grips her hair and pulls back her head so she’s staring at him.
His sharingan is still covered, she senses Minato open Kakashi’s back door and a black figure comes walking in as a blur. Kakashi tightens his grip on her, using his other hand to push her down by the shoulder. If he didn’t she would have already been up and running. That chakra is no one other than Itachi. Her mind envisions his red and black cloud cloak that is missing here.
Something about this Itachi though, did he kill his clan? Did they let him stay? Is Danzo even in this world? OF COURSE HE IS! Her mind screams red. Did he disobey Danzo?
Disobey Danzo? Her mind stutters to a blank and she feels him stand before her with his eyes already full sharingan. “No.” She whispers. “Please, don’t,”
“Got a good grip on her Kakashi?”
“Please-“ She tries and finally starts to struggle, deciding once again too late that she should have tried to run before he had her by the hair. Panic shoots adrenaline into her and she uses her strength throwing Kakashi off of her, his surprise at being tossed only giving her a second ahead as she tries for the exit.
Minato steps in front of her and maneuvers his leg around hers sending her to the floor. She rolls to her side coughing as both Minato and Kakashi press their hands on her holding her down. Itachi bends down and grabs her face forcing her eyes open with his fingers.
She catches sight of the twirling tomoe before her world goes black.
Minato looks over at Kakashi while Itachi is doing his interrogation with his son's 'friend'. "I’ll let the Hokage know your team will not be available for the mission tomorrow. Another team will go out."
Kakashi nods in thanks and continues to stare at the girl on the floor.
"This isn't your fault Kakashi." Minato sighs. "We will figure this out."