Savior in the Shadows

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"Do what she says," a familiar voice rang out from the back entryway. The men turned toward the voice, blocking Sakura's view. "Oh yeah? Why would we do that? Mind your own business," her dance partner spat.

Sakura craned her neck to see who had spoken, and her heart nearly stopped when she saw Kakashi Hatake. Despite everything, she felt an immense wave of relief at his presence. A sharp whistle cut through the air, followed by the thud of two kunai embedding themselves in the men's shoulders.

"I guess I didn't make myself clear enough," Kakashi said casually.

"What the fuck, man?!" one of them shouted, clutching the kunai in his arm. The other man, seething with rage, spat, "Oh, you fucked up now, big man," as he lunged at Kakashi.

Kakashi lowered his stance, his demeanor nonchalant. "I'd back down now if you have any brains," he warned. 

As the man charged, Kakashi swiftly dropped low, sweeping his legs out from under him. The man crashed to the ground, and Kakashi delivered a hard punch to his temple, the crack of bone echoing in the night. The man lay unconscious at Kakashi's feet. He turned to the other, his eyes cold. "Next?"

The man's eyes widened with fear before he turned and bolted down the alley. Sakura slumped against a nearby light pole, shaking and dizzy, but she could finally breathe again. Kakashi had just saved her.

Kakashi approached her, extending a hand to help her to her feet. "Are you okay?" His voice was softer than usual, though his eyes remained sharp and unreadable. Sakura's thoughts were a jumbled mess, and it took a moment before she could respond.

"What are you doing here, Hatake?" she finally asked, her voice trembling. He smirked, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

"No 'Thank you for saving my life'?" he teased.

Sakura furrowed her brows, confusion and frustration mingling. "Are you... following me?"

Kakashi chuckled lowly. "I was in the area, and it's a good thing I was." His cheeky attitude irritated her, but she couldn't deny her gratitude. She inhaled sharply, catching the scent of her own soap on him. She glanced at his appearance—still in the same clothes as before, with bandages peeking through a tear in his shirt.

"Have you not been home to change?" she asked, noticing how worn out he looked.

"I've been busy," he replied with a shrug. Sakura could see the dirtied bandages in need of replacement. She bit the inside of her cheek, torn between wanting to keep her distance and the urge to help him. The least she could do was offer to patch him up.

"Those bandages need changing. I can do that for you," she offered quietly, her eyes studying his features.

Kakashi clicked his tongue, glancing down at his injured side. Sakura's phone buzzed with a text from Ino: "Sorry, Forehead, I'm with Sai! Have a great evening for me ;)." Frustration welled up inside her. She had risked her safety searching for Ino, fearing the worst, only to find out she was just with Sai. Sakura sighed, her emotions a mix of relief and irritation. Kakashi stood in front of her, watching as she replied to the text.

"Your place? To change the bandages, that is," he asked, his voice unexpectedly soft, almost hesitant.

Sakura managed a weak smile. "It's the least I can do."

The two of them walked in tense silence to Sakura's house. Her mind swirled with conflicting emotions—the man who had been the source of her terror had just saved her. As they reached her door, she unlocked it and led the way inside, the silence following them like a shadow. The realization hit her: this time, she had invited him in.

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