"Kakashi," a soft voice whispered softly. Kakashi opened his eyes, only to be welcomed by a blinding light, "Don't hurt yourself," she laughed softly as a searing warmth spread throughout his cheek. Kakashi closed his eyes once again, feeling a different warmth drip down his cheeks. "Why are you crying?" Alarm and concern laced within her voice.

Kakashi smiled under his mask, knowing full well whom the voice belonged too. His body felt numb, yet he reached up to touch her hand, warmth moving through him; any sensation was better than none. "I just watched someone I love die," he muttered softly as he imagined her face.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips as Kakashi felt his mask being tugged down slowly. The warmth that her touches held brought his body to life once again, and made him feel more alive than he had all night; the numb sensation slowly fading. "How do you know that they're dead?" she questioned softly as Kakashi felt her breath dance across his lips.

He felt his tears begin to dry, knowing her lips were only a paper's width away from his, "Sometimes, you just know," he muttered softly, the smell of strawberries lingering within his nostrils.

He couldn't think of her as the woman he had seen hours ago, but only Sakura in her purest form; glowing emerald eyes, swaying tendrils of pastel hair, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she shook her head in quiet disbelief. Another chuckle escaped her lips as she teasingly whispered, "We're shinobi, Kakashi," her voice wavering as she whispered this simple, yet meaningful words. Warmth engulfed him suddenly, her arms wrapped around his waist, "But I could never leave you, remember that."

"Kakashi!" A piercing voice echoed through the room, snapping Kakashi from his day dream. He was shaking, trembling as everyone else in the room stood frozen; the pinkette still on her knees. Kakashi, tearing at the paralysis that ached through his bones, turned to look at the woman who had called his name. Kamiko looked at him with begging eyes as her lips trembled; her control slipping.

Takemaru's golden eyes darted around the room, his shoulders rolling back as his chest puffed out in pride, "Do you see this? Your new Hokage is going to die, and none of you can do anything about it!" He sneered as a grin slowly tugged at his lips.

Naruto's eyes sharpened as his muscles began to spasm benieth his skin, "Why are you doing this?" he snarled as het let his sapphire eyes pierce into his student's back. "What did Sakura-chan ever do to you!"

Takemaru's eyes narrowed as turned towards his sense, "It didn't have to be her," he chuckled as he watched the blood drip from his scythe, the pinkette silent in front of her, "I would have killed you, if your name had been chosen, sensei."

"Shut up."

Takemaru's body jolted at the woman's voice, turning to the Hokage-to-be with vengeful eyes. Blood dripped from her lips as she slowly looked up, her rosette hair falling from its place. "What did you say?" He snarled as he stepped closer, grabbing a fistful of her hair and pulling her hair back so he could look at her face.

Kakashi's eyes began to burn as he watched the young man roughly pull his kunoichi's hair. Sakura's lips trembled softly as they tugged into a smile, "I said shut up," she growled softly as her eyes fluttered open; turning and catching Kamiko's eyes. "Please, if anything happens, get him out of here," she whispered quietly, tears beginning to pool at the corners of her glimmering eyes.

In a single moment Sakura stumbled to her feet, blood dripping down her arms and legs, and turned towards Takemaru. The red haired boy smugly took a fighting stance, "You cant beat my speed."

Sakura held her side softly and shook her head, a small smile , "Let me speak with him," she whispered as she slowly began stumbling towards Kakashi.

Kamiko, seeing the woman stumble through the crowd let go of her hold on Kakahi; a soft sigh escaping her lips. Please listen to me, Kakashi-san…

Tears began to brim the copy ninja's eyes as he watched the young woman stumble closer, crimson beginning to engulf her ivory skin, "Sakura," he gasped out as he felt his body begin to free itself. That's too much blood… she's not going to survive this… Shaking his head, the silver haired man began to fight against the paralysis, his muscles freeing themselves quickly, "Sakura!" he screamed as he ran to the pinkette.

Naruto's eyes widened as he watched his stoic sensei wrap his arms around the pinkette, falling to the floor with her. "Teme… do you see this?" He whispered quietly as he watched the scene unfold.

Kakashi's eyes clenched tightly as he held the pinkette in his arms, "Don't you die in front of me too," he growled quietly with a fake smile tugging at his lips. Softly he ran his thumb over her blood spattered cheek, "I'd do anything for you, so don't die on me."

Sakura smiled up at him softly, cupping his cheek tears began to stream from her eyes, "smile for me," she coughed quietly. A single tear fell from the Copy ninja's face as he hooked his finger in his mask; slowly pulling it down for her. Enjoying the fake smile that graced his lips, Sakura opened her eyes; glistening in the dull light, "Forgive me," she whispered quietly as her lips trembled, her soft fingertips growing cold against her skin. His brow frowned together as she whispered the simple words; her hands falling into a seal he had never seen. "Forbidden Technique: Destiny bond."

Takemaru's eyes widened as he heard the words, snarling as his heels kicked off the floor, "You bitch!" His eyes glowed in the light as he ran at the woman. Kakashi's head snapped up as he glanced around the room; using his Sharingan to catch the crimson haired boy.

"Take- maru-" a soft voice croaked out, quickly gaining Kakashi's attention due to the close proximity. He looked down slowly, feeling Takemaru standing over him hesitating to strike. Kakashi looked down into his arms and felt a weight plunge into his stomach; shock reverberating through his bones. No longer did he look down into shimmering pools of green and gold, but of crystal coated navy and silver. The pastel hair had darkened, long tendrils now a soft shade between red and maroon; darkened only by the blood spatter. "I asked you to forgive me, Kakashi-san," the brunette chuckled softly as her body ached in pain.

The soft clang of Takemaru's scythe echoed through the room, "Tamori-chan," he gasped out as his eyes widened; trembling in shock as his eyes ran over the woman again and again. "Y-You used Destiny Bond," His hands began to visibly tremble, eyes wide with fear, "We're all going to die with you," he breathed out as he stared at the blood on his hands.

Kakashi's eyes softened as he stared down at Tamori, who had a smile across her lips, "Where's Sakura?"

Everyone in the room was silent, the Copy Ninja's words bouncing off the walls as if they could find the kunoichi. A soft click of heels was all he got in return, the sound of velcrow attaching as the soft clicking began to echo. "No one's going to die, except for the traitors." Sakura's strong voice echoed throughout the banquet hall. Kakashi felt his body lighten as he looked at the kunoichi with hope gleaming in his eyes. Emerald eyes soften as she looked over to the silver haired man, subconsciously her hand reaching up to the necklace, "Kamiko… let everyone free but the traitors."

It didn't take a minute for Kamiko to listen to the ruling kunoichi, setting free every chakra in the room apart from Takemaru and his group. Sakura's eyes widened as her body was incircled by her teammates; Naruto holding her protectively close, while Sasuke hung his arm loosly around the two of them. "We'll take care of this," Naruto coughed out, tears streaming from his eyes, "Go, get out of here."

"but, Naruto-" She choked out as her eyes landed on the frozen Takemaru.

"I said go!" Naruto snarled as he shook his head, "And take Kakashi-sensei," he whimpered as his arms constricted around her; holding her tight. "He'll keep you safe."

Sasuke's hand rested atop Sakura's head, only for a moment, as his eyes flashed with a bloody crimson, "We'll take care of this."