Afraid of the Dark (KakaSaku)

Worse than Death

Kakashi stood in his kitchen, staring down at the syrupy plate left on the island. His thoughts were tangled with images of Sakura—no matter how much he tried to push them away, she always seemed to creep back in. He needed her to follow orders; he felt a sting of guilt for dragging her into this mess, but there was no other way. She didn't know it, but both of their lives were riding on these drops. With a heavy sigh, he grabbed the plate and began washing it in the sink, the silence of the house pressing down on him like a weight.

"You were in Anbu?" Her words echoed in his mind. He had wanted to avoid that subject, but he should have known better. Nothing got past her. She had picked up on the smallest details, and given her background, he should have anticipated her questions.

He made his way up to his bedroom, pausing at the sight of the unmade bed and scattered clothes. As he methodically tidied up, his phone rang. The number was unrecognized, but only a select few had access to this line. After a moment of hesitation, he answered.

"Hatake."

A cold voice responded, "We have Dr. Haruno. If you want her alive, you'll do exactly as we say." Kakashi's pulse quickened, but he kept his tone flat. "And why would I care? She means nothing to me."

The voice chuckled, a sinister sound. "We know who you are, Hatake. Come and get her," The line went dead.

Kakashi stared at his phone, processing the situation. He had just walked Sakura home three hours ago. He muttered a curse under his breath, quickly dialing another number as he headed back to his room to change.

"Why are you calling me?" Iruka's voice answered.

"Listen, I fucked up. They have her." Kakashi's words hung heavy in the silence that followed.

"You were warned not to get her involved," Iruka replied, frustration evident. "We could've found someone else to make the drops."

Kakashi inhaled sharply, his patience thinning. "I make the decisions, and she was the best option. I need your help, but I'm going in regardless."

Iruka's tone grew firmer. "Hatake, think about this. You're risking everything."

"I know what I'm doing," Kakashi snapped. "I'm on my way."

He hung up and grabbed his vest and the duffle bag of drugs, heading out of the house. He had a good idea where they were holding her, and a simmering anger settled in his chest as he moved. He made his way toward the north side of Konoha, adrenaline surging through his veins.

Reaching the vicinity, Kakashi took to the roof of a nearby building, surveying the area. Four guards were stationed at the entrance—armed and alert. The sun was dipping lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the village. It was late afternoon, and he knew he'd have to wait until nightfall to make his move. His patience was wearing thin, but he forced himself to stay calm. If he wanted to get Sakura out alive, he'd have to be smart about this.

Kakashi lay in wait on the rooftop, the hours stretching interminably. Iruka had joined him, both men staying low to avoid alerting the guards below. "How many inside?" Iruka asked in a low whisper.

Kakashi considered for a moment. "Four outside. Six more inside, from what I've counted. But those are just the ones who've shown themselves. We should prepare for at least fifteen, maybe more."

Iruka groaned, frustration evident. "You couldn't have just kept her locked up at your place?" Kakashi shot him a glare but didn't bother to respond. As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, shrouding them in darkness, Kakashi and Iruka readied their weapons. "I'll take the front," Kakashi directed. "You go around back. Move quietly, stay alert. Priority is getting her out alive."