Sakura sank lower into her tub watching the short strands of her hair float aimlessly around as the water settled just below her nose. She sighed audibly through said nose, the rush of air causing the hot soothing pool to dip and ripple slightly.

'What should I do?'

'Just relax, enjoy the warm water. It's not what you're thinking. It doesn't mean they've found him….it doesn't mean they're going to get him. Just because you overheard them say his name doesn't mean anything other than they talked.'

Sighing once more, Sakura pushed her feet against the end of the tub. Her rigid frame resembling a washboard while the swashing water shifted against it. Her eyes slipped to the side towards the beaded bar of soap she had been given earlier by Ino. The past year they had begun a little tradition of gift giving. Deciding to base the size of the gift based on the ranking of their mission. Sakura's forearm waded through the slowly cooling water as she reached for the bar. Her eyes following its movement as she brought it to an end of her collarbone and began gently massaging in circles. The tips of her hair dropped down as she tilted her head back slightly. She closed her eyes, tried to focus on the brisk feel of the soap's exfoliating beads. Eventually she made her way to the other end of her collarbone. Reaching the end was enough to cause her focus to waver though; her brows knitted together, lips curved into a small frown, and her arm plopped back into the water uncaringly.

'If only I had the chance to hear more than "Sasuke." If I hadn't been distracted by seeing those Shinobi from Kumo…..I would've paid more attention….I would've been able to stay hidden longer and listen instead of loosing my hold…. I wouldn't have lost my grip on that branch…. wouldn't have been clawed by that stupid cat. I wouldn't have had to catch myself on the roof. I could have stayed. I could have heard everything. Learned more. What can it be? What about Sasuke? Does it have to do with those other shinobi? If so, then what do they have to do with him?'

Sakura's brows knitted even further. The creases between them deepening as they came closer together. The corner of her lips dipped into a scowl

'…. Even though you were able to keep us from crashing completely on the roof, the landing still created enough sound for Kakashi-sensei to hear…. He more than likely knows who it was… So he'll most likely be by soon. He'll know you heard something…. The question is, how much? Then again there's the off chance he didn't notice….?'

Settling her back against her tub once more Sakura sank back into the water. Pausing for a moment to contemplate everything swirling through her head. Before swiftly standing up and turning to look as she used her toes to unplug her drain.

'No he'll try to look underneath the underneath. He's going to try asking me questions so he can figure out what I know without giving anything away…..I would have been there if I was supposed to know. That's why Shishou was so short with me earlier. She was concerned she wouldn't have been able to say much without telling me something subconsciously…..'

'….That would make sense, so what do we do when Kakashi-sensei gets here?'

Sakura stepped over her tub with ease. While simultaneously grabbing her towel, which was hung to the side, and fluffed her body dry. She tilted her head while dapping the ends of her hair, soaking the curled wet ends up in the micro soft cloth, a small smile crept into the corner of her mouth.

'Look underneath the underneath.'

Kakashi's run by with Tenzo was simple. The familiar wood user accepted the news with clarity. Even though he was obviously annoyed about getting assigned a mission at such short notice. A chuckle rumbled through Kakashi's chest as the memory of his friends initial reaction about getting to leave resurfaced. Tenzo's face instantly lit up before he realized what he was doing and clumsily regained his composure.

'He's probably just grateful he doesn't have to play grand architect for a bit.'

A branch creaked and groaned beneath the force he left behind as he jumped from tree to tree. Pakkun had successfully found Sakura before coming to inform him of her whereabouts. The furry fellow claimed he would have scratched at her door to be let in and keep her company, but could smell that she was in the bath and didn't want to disturb her. So many things were happening at once, making Kakashi leap to the ground and reposition himself. Deciding that walking the rest of the way to Sakura's would be best while reprimanding his thoughts of her soaking in a steamy bubbly bath.

'You really need to get over it. Even if it's fun to tease her….in the end nothing would come of it. Besides she's probably so wrapped up in thinking about Sasuke that all of those things….whatever they were….are long gone now.'

He sighed and shook his head.

'I really do need to look into getting a date once all of this falls over. It's rather sad how much an inexperienced girl has consumed my thoughts with just a few moments of…..no it doesn't matter.'

Of course he knew he was only lying to himself, this was Sakura after all. Nonetheless, he decided to officially lock it away. He needed to think how to breach the topic about eavesdropping and how impolite it was.

'I could just ask her questions? Maybe pick on her a little until she spills what she heard….beat around the bush and look underneath.'

He hunched even further into his slouch and sighed once more. Stopping in his tracks altogether; his charcoal eye bore into the grained dirt.

'No she'll be expecting that. The most I can do for her now is damage control. If I've learned anything over the years about Sakura is that it's best to just get straight to the point. Though that's hard for me to do.'

His steps picked once more, strides reaching a little longer than before. He didn't have much time left to think. Tenzo… no, Yamato would be waiting for him along with Naruto soon.

Sakura had just finished slipping on her overskirt when she felt the familiar presence of Kakashi's chakara. The sharp echo of her window being tapped and tuft of unruly hair as she looked confirming her suspicion. She smiled politely at him before shrugging her shoulders as if she had no intention of opening it. He only stared at her in a way that made it look as if he was saying "really" but she could see the small glimmer of amusement in his eye. A giggle escaped her lips as she opened the window, stepping to the side as he slid his long legs in. Forgoing entering fully by sitting on the pane instead. His hands ran through his hair, a large breath releasing through his nose as he glanced her way. She was staring at him expectantly, though he could see she was trying to conceal her need to question him.

"What brings you here Kakashi-sensei? Back for more teasing?"

Her tone was playful, and he swore he saw a little hint of mischief in her eyes. However, he didn't have time for games or questions beyond what needed to be discussed. Though a little voice in the back of his mind, the one he decided to keep in a box, was thinking….

'Would you like for me to tease you Sakura?'

Of course, he only smashed the thought away. Scratching beneath his chin before smiling at her in his familiar way and moving to hold onto the frame so he could slouch with ease.

"You know Sakura, it's rather rude to eavesdrop during a private meeting."

'A little teasing never hurts though ^.^ …. Kami I really am depraved.'

To say the least Sakura was embarrassed. Her face and chest flushing instantly. She laughed nervously, and looked to the side while scratching the back of her head.

'Well, I wasn't expecting him to be so frank.'

'Maybe it would be best to just ask him outright?'

'Maybe….'

Her eyes peaked at him from the side, seeing he was giving her his full attention. Which certainly didn't settle well. Her stomach felt heavy like lead and she sore her throat was constricting. She had gone to spy after hearing the other nin talking about the warrant out for Sasuke's arrest, and Kakashi's earnest stare only made her symptoms worse.

"I won't try denying anything…. I needed to know if it was about Sasuke, but I didn't get to hear anything beyond his name."

Her hands began clenching into the hem of shirt, still unable to look at him fully. She didn't know what to think, and Kakashi's gaze only became thicker. Boring into her with a question she wasn't sure she wanted to answer, so she changed her train of thought.

'I didn't even think to see if Naruto knows yet. He's going to be pissed.'

Kakashi's gaze drifted aimlessly into her open kitchen, his head turning with him.

'Only his name huh?...I could easily tell her it was only a precautionary meeting….'

Then his eye slid over, gazing at the kunoichi from the side once more.

'But in the end…even if she doesn't know about his warrant yet…. the moment she discovered both Naruto and I were out of Konoha….

He sighed

'She would put two and two together.'

"What would you do if I told you it was about Sasuke, Sakura?"

There was no hint of emotion behind his question. Only an analytical shine to his eye, but it was more than enough of an admission for Sakura to understand his meaning.

Out of all the things she thought she would say in this moment, not once did she think nothing would come out. Only silence surrounded the room. For what seemed like a lifetime they stared at the other, both searching for answers that continued to be hidden. Even with trust such habits were engraved into their being, one wasn't meant to be read easily. Sakura was the first to break, turning away from her reclusive teacher to walk towards her kitchen. Yet still neither spoke. Kakashi was waiting for her answer patiently; too afraid to speak without disrupting her thoughts. Which she very much appreciated, considering hers were currently racing to the point she couldn't think clearly. Her hands swiftly began the task of acquiring a glass of water for her drying throat, but as she brought the glass to her lips her movement ceased. Her arm lowered, hand still gripping onto the perspiring glass as its bottom rested on top of the counter. Her other hand gripped the edge, her shoulders tensing as its hold tightened enough for her knuckles to turn white. Out of all her thoughts, if Naruto knew, if it was a rescue mission, whether or not they would be able to bring him back, and so forth…. The one that kept ringing incessantly in the back of her mind was a single question, and the answer that most likely followed. Why wasn't she at the meeting? The answer she kept coming to only made her furious, but she hoped. Hoped that she was wrong. In the midst of her inner tyrant Kakashi had moved from his seat, he could see the stress setting into her core, and without thinking gently placed his hand on her shoulder. She flinched but didn't move otherwise, so he felt it was safe to squeeze her shoulder just a little. Spoke as gently as he could.

"What are you thinking Sakura?"

"I'm thinking that you're going to try rescuing him, but I'm not allowed to go with you." Then she scoffed. "I'm not even supposed to know, am I?"

For what seemed like the millionth time that evening Kakashi sighed once more, shoving the hand that was on her shoulder into his pocket while turning his head to look at the clock on her wall.

"I wouldn't really say rescue in the since of bringing him back to Konoha, more of changing the conditions of the warrant out for his arrest. Yamato, Naruto, and I have been tasked with trying to change the Raikage's mind on the matter. As for you knowing about all this, no, you weren't supposed to find out. At least not now, from me. I'm sure Tsunade would have told you once we left."

Once more she scoffed, her arms crossing her chest defiantly while doing so.

"That's bullshit Kakashi-Sensei. I would have been there otherwise.

'Well now I know why those nin from Kumo are here…. but…'

"Unless… there's something you're not telling me…?"

Sakura's eyes narrowed, the slight twitch in Kakashi's jaw telling her she must have hit a nerve.

'He's definitely not telling me something….'

"There is isn't there?"

Kakashi took his time trying to figure his way out of the hole he seemed to have dug himself into. No matter how much he knew that saying anything to her would turn catastrophic…. He couldn't stop himself, and now the information she truly didn't need to know was the elephant in the room. No matter what though, he couldn't tell her the full truth. Even when he knew she would more than likely figure it out before he left. Which needed to be soon, he was probably already running late considering the time, and there was probably no way to salvage their conversation now.

"Sakura don't go looking for trouble in places you shouldn't. I can't tell you more than I already have, and you know I shouldn't have even done that."

Her emerald eyes began watering, her face scrunching as she fought her oncoming tears. Her arms dropped to her sides, hands balling into fist.

"Sasuke is going to be there isn't he, at the summit?"

Kakashi's hand began lifting on its own accord, reaching for the top of the intelligent kunoichi's head like he had multiple times before.

"Sakura I'm sorr—"

Her hand quickly smacked his away. Stopping whatever he thought he needed to say

"Don't. Just don't."

Tears began falling from her eyes

"If he's going to be there, then why are you guys not going after him?"

Her fists became even tighter.

"What if you guys run into him, then what?"

Her voice louder.

"I worked and worked, trained harder! But no matter how much I prove myself it's never enough!"

Her face demanded recognition as she stood her ground before him, her tears filled with nothing but anger and desperation.

"Let me go with you. Do you really think so little of m—"

Before she could even react, Kakashi had closed in on her, his arms wrapped awkwardly tight around her smaller frame.

"I would never think that of you Sakura."

He released her slowly, moving his hands to rest on her shoulders as he looked at her directly. Her tears had stopped falling, but oddly enough a stray was left sitting on her chin. His thumb went to wipe it without his approval. Leaving a dusting of a blush to cross her cheeks. All the while her shining eyes looked up at him pleadingly to let her go too. If it wasn't for the current situation, he was sure he would have ended up doing something to get thrown out her window. Instead he removed his hand while moving the other to ruffle her hair like old times. He needed to get his mind back on track.

"I know you are more than capable Sakura, but this is not your respon—."

"But I'm just as responsible Kakashi-sensei! I'm a member of team 7 too!"

His hands went up, palms facing towards her, as they gestured for her to stop where she was going placatingly.

"I'm not saying otherwise Sakura, just listen for a moment. I should have already left to meet with the other guys. I can't stay much longer."

He gave her a second before continuing, letting her clean the streaks that seemed to linger on her face.

"Sakura, both Naruto and I made a promise to you before…. I'm sure you remember right?"

"Yes, but I already told Naruto that I didn't want you guys to do it alone anymore, please let me go Kakashi-sensei."

"I can't do that Sakura…when I made that promise I planned on keeping it, but now is not the time. He is too strong right now Sakura, you must understand. I know that I once told you everything will be alright. I know that it has been a very long time considering, but I stand by what I said."

Once more he placed his hand on the top of her head. He wanted to caress her face, tell her over and over that none of this was because he thought her to be inferior. That he wanted to save her from the heartache because, no matter what was happening with him, he knew she still loved Sasuke. But he couldn't. It honestly scared him that he was even thinking of these things.

"Everything will be ok soon Sakura, I promise. Just…. just give us some more time ok?"

As much as she wanted to keep arguing with him that she didn't care, that she should still be allowed to go….Sakura knew he meant well, and that he really needed to go from the continuous glances he kept throwing at her clock when he thought she wasn't paying attention. So, she conjured up what she could in hopes she would be able to smile for the man.

"I understand Kakashi-sensei…. you can go now, I imagine you've kept them waiting long enough."

His eye searched hers for some time before he seemed to accept her answer and started to make his way back to her window.

"Thank you, Kakashi."

He smiled at her ensuringly, at least that was how it seemed from what she could see. So, once more, she did her best to recuperate his, but failed miserably. Which caused his smile to falter as he braced himself back onto her windowpane sideways. Sakura gave him a little wave, ushering for him to go, silently telling him to not worry. So, he too smiled at her once more, grateful that she understood, and turned his legs so they were dangling outside. Kakashi's head turned to the side as he spoke.

"Don't let yourself dwell on it Sakura, nothing good ever comes from doing so."

And then he was gone. Leaving room for all her feelings of self-doubt to come running back. She stood still; eyes fixated on her windowpane. Her words to be heard by no one except herself.

"You should know I won't be able to, even when I know its not good for me…."

Meanwhile, Kakashi was running to the group's meeting point as fast as his legs would take him.

'Please don't dwell Sakura…. I failed you guys as a teacher….it wasn't anyone's fault but my own…. Sasuke is my responsibility and mine alone.'

His speed picked up from a seemingly invisible force.

'And I promise I'll take care of him…. No matter what.'