Riptide

“Sensei,” Kakashi greeted faintly.

“What’s wrong?” Umino Iruka asked, brow already furrowing, “Is it Naruto? Sasuke?”

Umino Iruka had been a common sight the first few months after Wave for Kakashi. Naruto had been utterly heartbroken by Sakura’s death and Iruka had been the one he turned to with that grief. Sasuke, though far subtler, was also terribly affected by her death and he’d gravitated towards Naruto in that loss which in turn led him to Iruka. Iruka hadn’t taken that trust lightly and practically moved in with Naruto for the first few weeks, making sure the boys were fed, clothed, and allowed to grieve properly.

“It’s Sakura,” Kakashi said.

“…What?”

“I brought her home.”

Iruka stared at him, and then he was pulling his sandals on.

“Have you told the boys?” Iruka asked, “Will there be another funeral?”

“Iruka,” Kakashi murmured, “She’s alive.”

Iruka froze.

“What?” he asked faintly, sandals half on.

“She’s alive,” Kakashi breathed.

“…What are we waiting for then,” Iruka snarled pulling on his sandals fully and violently.

Kakashi led him across the rooftops to the Hokage’s office where he burst past Kakashi and burst past the doors.

“Where is she?” Iruka demanded the Godaime.

“Getting a quick check-up with Shizune,” Tsunade said easily despite the rudeness.

This was a rough situation and everyone knew how much Umino cared for his students, past ones or otherwise. It was why he was such a trusted academy instructor, why he worked so well at mission desk. Why he was trusted as a temporary guardian for the abused, the broken, the lost.

“Do you know the situation we pulled her out of?” Tsunade asked, folding her hands calmly.

“I can assume some of it,” Iruka said and his tone was sharp but not at Tsunade, “Kidnapped by deplorable men and then held for nearly half a year.”

“She was under Momochi Zabuza’s care actually,” Tsunade said, “and got tangled in the Kiri Coup. So it’s a little more complicated.”

Kakashi watched as Iruka took a deep steadying breath and released it.

“Okay,” he said, “Fill me in. You asked for me right? That means she’ll be under my care?”

“Yes,” Tsunade said, “I already privately talked to her parents. They want to see her of course but they understand that Sakura’s situation is …complicated. We don’t know if she will lash out in any way and so she must be placed with a fellow shinobi guardian for now. Plus, there are those who will mutter about her loyalty when they learn where she was.”

Iruka’s faint snarl was quickly hidden behind a calm face but Kakashi felt relieved seeing it. Iruka was a protector and he would guard Sakura with all he had.

“Kakashi, report,” Tsunade waved a hand.

And so he did. He told them about how she hunched her shoulders but never looked at the ground. Told them how she gripped her hem or her knives when she was nervous. Told them how she followed half a step behind on your heels, half behind you but able to see everything. Told them of how she took touch from those she knew but didn’t appreciate it at all from others. Told them how she brushed off injuries and past hurts and the way she was more concerned with the words you said. Told them about her ragged hair and the clothes she refused to change and the blood hot across her chest and face like freckles. Told them how she was flat and cold and deadly and had a kill count at least in the two digits. Told them how she bared her teeth like a feral animal caught in the corner.

He told them everything he could and when he finally stopped Iruka gave him a very soft nod, expression respectful as he looked at Kakashi like he was trying to convey empathy. Umino Iruka had been a common sight after Wave, taking care of Naruto and Sasuke. He had followed them to training and done the same for Kakashi by simply quietly listening or standing at his side as to convey closeness.

“Iruka,” Kakashi said after almost everything had been reported, “You need to brace yourself for …”

“For?” Iruka narrowed his eyes.

“She’s wearing a collar,” Kakashi finally said.

Iruka hissed, fists clenching.

“She gets defensive if you look at it and we haven’t tried to take it off yet.”

Iruka took another deep breath and then gave a sharp nod.

Sakura arrived not long after that, still dressed in her fisherman outfit with that battered haori and half a step behind Shizune in a way that wasn’t followings so much as watching the woman for movement. They’d scrubbed some of the blood from her outfit but Sakura had refused to give it up when they couldn’t get it all out. The splatter was unmistakable to the shinobi eye and it was easy to see Sakura had slit someone’s throat violently. She was once again missing her shoes but the old bandages had vanished completely and she looked undisturbed.

“All done,” Shizune said with a light cheer, “Fit as a can be considering the circumstances. Though she really does need more fruit and vegetables in her diet.”

“I told her that months ago,” Tsunade snorted, “Didn’t listen eh brat?”

“Fuck you,” Sakura said crossing her arms and glaring at Tsunade.

Iruka and Kakashi had been too braced to react but Kakashi saw something like alarm go through Iruka’s eyes. Kakashi only had eyes for Tsunade.

“Months ago?” he asked and it sounded oddly flat to his own ears.

Tsunade and Sakura ignored him to continue their staring contest, Tsunade’s gaze rather calm but Sakura’s angry. The fact that Shizune didn’t look confused said there was something important here and Kakashi twitched.

“You listen to anything I said?” Tsunade finally asked.

“I don’t have to answer you,” Sakura snarled.

“She is the Hokage,” Kakashi said lightly, offering a smile he didn’t have in him.

“Not mine,” Sakura muttered.

“Ha!” Tsunade barked a laugh that nearly made everyone jump as it cut through the tension, “I guess I deserve that.”

Sakura bared her teeth.

“Here’s how it’s going to go, kid,” Tsunade said, something like a wiry smile on her lips, “You will be staying with Umino Iruka for an undetermined amount of time. You have a scheduled appointment with TI after this and then you will have a scheduled appointment with Inoichi every week after if he deems it necessary. You will stay with Umino for the minimum two-week rest period Shizune has prescribed you and take every vitamin and diet plan we shove at you. You will be allowed supervised visits with you parents and select friends. After two weeks we will see where you stand and go from there. Any questions.”

Sakura eyed her up, teeth still lightly bared. She eyed Tsunade like she wanted to stick a knife in her but also ignore her.

“You said,” Sakura finally said, breaking the silence, “That if I could learn your secret, you would teach me.”

“Good luck with that,” Tsunade smirked a tad mocking, “Maybe if you obey the instructions I just gave you I’ll give you some hints.”

“No,” Sakura told her, “I learned it already.”

Tsunade paused, eyes narrowing as the mocking tone of her voice dropped away. They had another staring contest. Kakashi felt one hair’s breadth away from lashing out. He could see the way they interacted was familiar, like they had met. It wasn’t in her file so Kakashi knew exactly when they must have.

“You owe me,” Sakura said fearlessly, “And I learned. Teach me how to do it better.”

Tsunade folded her hands again and her eyes glittered as she look at Sakura with an unreadable expression.

“You’re on leave, brat,” Tsunade finally said.

Sakura opened her mouth but Tsunade cut her off.

“Two weeks of prescribed rest,” Tsunade said unflinching, “And then we will revaluate. You will show me what you can do when you get the green light.”

Sakura’s posture didn’t change but there was something less aggressive in it as she stared at Tsunade. Tsunade met her gaze and Kakashi wanted to snarl in the silence as the two seemed to have a silent conversation.

“Shizune said you were trying,” Sakura said and her voice was like a knife, “You’re still a traitor to me.”

Anyone else would have lost their head for such an insult and Kakashi twitched, ready for any sign of aggression from Tsunade. Because Tsunade was his Kage but Sakura had already been lost to him once before and Kakashi wouldn’t survive it again. Konoha had demanded much of him, taken much from him, but it would not take this.

“Kid,” Tsunade said and there was something rueful about her face, “I’ll give you that one because I deserve it. When you’re strong enough I’ll even give you a free fight so you can do something about it. But I’m your Kage now whether you like it or not, so show some respect.”

Sakura looked at her, eyes hard and flinty but her teeth weren’t bared anymore.

“A fight,” Sakura said, voice odd, “I’ll remember you owe me one.”

Tsunade gave her a rueful smirk and waved a hand at Iruka.

Sakura turned to face her new guardian (blatantly give Tsunade her back like a taunt).

“Iruka-sensei,” she said, and there was a hint of a smile to it, like she was too used to smiling at him to not do so.

“Hello Sakura,” Iruka smiled softly, expertly dismissing everything previous to this to be what Sakura needed, “I’m so very very glad to see you.”

Kakashi felt his respect for the teacher increase because Kakashi couldn’t do the same thing as he kept an eye on Tsunade, his hackles still raised.

“They said I’m staying with you. Sorry I didn’t ask first,” Sakura said, “I won’t take up much space, I promise.”

“You never need to ask for something like this,” Iruka smiled again, gently, “My home is always open to you. I have a second bedroom that is yours for as long as you need.”

Sakura nodded slowly and offered him a something like a soft smile.

“Let’s go get you settled in,” Iruka said kindly, “We can get you anything you need. I know you parents will have a bag of things for you.”

Sakura looked unsure as she looked of at Kakashi.

“Anything in particular you want?” he asked Sakura cheerfully.

“Can you bring me…” Sakura hesitated, “My mom has probably packed a bag already.”

“We can always grab anything missed later,” Iruka said, “When we go see your parents. We have to go to your other appointment right now but we can figure it out later.”

Sakura nodded looking less sure and when Iruka held a hand out she looked at it carefully for a long moment. No one rushed her as she considered it. Finally she took it.

“Thank you, Iruka-sensei,” she said.

“Anytime Sakura.”

Kakashi watched them leave, had the clone that had been watching over Sakura since they entered Konoha follow them. And then he turned to Tsunade.

“Don’t even start Kakashi,” she cut him off.

“Start what?” Kakashi asked with a fake calm.

“I’m not telling you. It’s between me and the kid until she wants to say,” Tsunade said with an infuriating calm, “Now, fetch the rest of your team and report. Haruno is settled and we need to look at this Kiri agreement.”

Kakashi didn’t move.

“The kid gets a free pass and a fight,” Tsunade said, eyes glinting as she looked at him, “But you don’t. You have your orders Hatake.”

Kakashi snarled, felt the guard ANBU shift, and then turned on his heel to get his team. This wasn’t the end of it but Kakashi knew when to pick his battles, and tired and exhausted from his mission and the trip while on fragile emotional ground was not a good time.

It wasn’t the end of it though.

.--.