Gray Clouds
Sakura could feel her sensei’s stare.
She could feel him, mostly because he wasn’t so subtle in his staring. The kunoichi could feel the barely hidden hostility in his gaze, he didn’t believe her and he didn’t trust her. Which was fair, but if anything she should be the one with trust issues! He’s the one that put a kunai to her throat first!
That wasn’t important right now.
Counting the hours that had passed, her husband has been gone for almost twelve hours since they separated. The realization made her more than uneasy, Sasuke was stubborn to a fault and his missing arm is more than proof that he is not so easily swayed once he sets his mind to something. If he got injured during a fight… and he’s out there by himself…
“You look pretty rattled Sakura-chan.” came Kakashi’s voice from next to her, the pinkette sighed. She expected him to jump at the first opportunity for an opening, but she was too worried to really pay him any mind. The gray haired man chuckled, “Relax, you’re among comrades. Right?”
Sakura inhaled, centering herself and dismissing her intrusive thoughts, “Sure.”
“You know, I’ve heard stress isn’t really good for babies while inside mom’s tummy.” Kakashi hummed, the pink kunoichi shrugged. “High stress levels can contribute to a rise in blood pressure and can potentially lead to premature birth, in some cases it does even lead to development of prenatal conditions.” the Jonin gave her a stare, “You asked.”
“So I did.”
The younger team 7 was ahead of the group, chatting and keeping light conversation going amongst them. Well, mostly Naruto and the little her, the tiny version of Sakura’s husband kept to himself unless prompted to talk by the other two. It made her heart warm, but also broke a little at what was to come soon. She knew she could stop it before it happened, but Sasuke had been everyone’s pawn since before the massacre of his clan, if he took a different path or continued on the one he’s already on, he had to choose for himself.
Sakura finally looked to her Sensei, “What is it you really want to ask, Kakashi-san?” he just gave her an empty smile, “Why Sakura-chan~ You’re making this old man feel like he’s the villain here. I’m just looking out for one of my cute students.” he responded with a subtle hint of sarcasm, she smirked at him. “You’re currently 27 Sensei, if you’re old then I must be middle-aged.” His smile faltered, “Not many people know my current age you know?”
“Not many people know you have Uchiha Obito’s left sharingan either Sensei.” she answered with ease, rubbing where her baby was pushing against her.
Sakura heard him stop in his tracks. In hindsight, it probably was too much to say, it was a topic he was terribly sore about still and it was something that only three people knew in his time. Dimension? Well, his reaction would give her a definite answer to that riddle.
Sakura stopped walking and turned around to face the stunned man. He narrowed his only visible eye at her, “Only the Hokage knows where this eye came from. How did you get that information?” The playfulness was nowhere to be seen in his mannerism, he was finally taking her seriously. “From the Rokudaime Hokage himself.” she responded.
Kakashi sneered at her “Sixth? We're still under the Sandaime’s regime, if you want to make your lie believable at least choose the right candidate.” So she traveled backwards, bingo.
Sakura turned around and continued walking slowly, hearing his soft steps as he followed her down the path “And yet, it was Lord Sixth who gave me that information. What you currently know and what I have learned through the years is very different Kakashi-san, much like how you never paid the girl in your team any attention because you assumed she would eventually marry and drop out of duty.”
The morning was still new, but the wind was getting worked up and the clouds in the sky seemed to be heavy with rain. Sakura looked up at the sky, ignoring Kakashi’s stunned look. “It’s going to rain soon, we should keep an eye open for any shelters close by.”
He gave her a small smile, the one she knew was filled with a little regret.“... Yes we should.” he noted with a finality.
It was an hour into their walk when the clouds started to gather closer, she also felt a presence besides team seven’s close by, and judging by Kakashi’s mannerism, so did he. “We’re moving west, keep going as we are.”
Little Sasuke looked at the Jonin, “We’re being followed?” Naruto frowned, “What? But there’s nothing out here!”
The younger Sakura hushed the blond, “Don’t be so loud Naruto!” Sasuke gave him a sharp glare, “You’re gonna give out our location, dobe!” he hissed, making the blonde frown with annoyance. Kakashi gave a nod and followed behind the gening, “There’s at least three of them I can pick up, coming from 0330 o’clock” The older Sakura mentioned, earning questioning looks from the genin.
“She means they’re coming from our right side behind us. Everyone prepare to engage if needed.” Kakashi clarified. As he was finishing speaking, thunder could be heard coming from the grey sky above them. It would rain soon enough on them.
The older Sakura grabbed Sasuke from the back of his shirt and pulled him away from an incoming shuriken, throwing back two kunai to stop the other ones that were following the trajectory of the first one. “Keep your eyes open.” she told him, letting him go and moving behind with Kakashi to lend him some strength.
Kakashi dropped behind, quickly going through hand motions and spitting water bullets towards the enemy. Naruto didn’t miss a single beat and immediately followed after Kakashi, pulling out two kunais “Alright! Time for some action!” Sasuke right behind his trail, “Don’t rush without a plan idiot!” he admonished, his ever present frown on his face.
The younger Sakura hesitated before joining from behind, Naruto and Sasuke had already engaged with one of the enemy ninja while Kakashi entertained the other two. The older Kunoichi kept close to her younger counterpart, “Can you cover me?”
“What?”
“As they are, Kakashi is gonna tire out sooner or later while handling two people. We can go in and engage the third person, but I need to know you can cover me like I will you. Don’t hesitate Sakura, just follow your best instinct.” The younger girl nodded, “Got it.”
Sprinting into action, The older Sakura ran towards one of Kakashi’s opponents while putting on her pair of gloves. Kakashi had kicked one of the ninja away from himself and then proceeded to engage with his second target. Before the first one could get back up, Sakura balled her hand into a fist, appearing right in front of him “SHANNAROOOO”.
Her fist connected straight with his face, dislocating and breaking his jaw while throwing him back through four trees. Leaving the man half alive while stuck on the fifth one, she pivoted backwards on her right foot and aimed a kunai that pierced through the left calf of the enemy Naruto and Sasuke were fighting.
Using the direct hit as an opening, Sasuke kicked the guy in the same spot. “Take this!” yelled Naruto, kicking the enemy in the chest and making them retreat into the treetops. “Don’t run away from a fight you coward!”
The Uchiha quickly pressed his back against Naruto’s “He’s probably gonna try something long-range, don’t lose your focus Naruto!”, the blonde just nodded “I’m on it!”
The younger Sakura joined her comrades, making it so that all three were protecting each other's backs. Sure enough, from different locations they would get kunais and shurikens thrown at their directions. Some even hitting the ground purposely, genin Sakura deflected another one before speaking “He’s trying to separate us.”
“Let’s see him try!”
Sasuke smirked, “Hn.”