Afraid of the Dark (KakaSaku)

The Beginning of the End

The moment the blinds shifted in the upper floor window, Kakashi gave the signal. ANBU moved like shadows, swift and silent, as they infiltrated Nagato's heavily guarded headquarters. Within seconds, the first line of defense crumbled under their precise assault. The guards never stood a chance.

Beneath an ANBU mask, Kakashi led the charge, his chest tight with anxiety. Sakura was inside, and every second felt like an eternity. What if the sedative hadn't worked? What if something had gone wrong? He pushed those thoughts aside—there was no room for doubt now. Every step mattered.

The team split into two groups—one securing the perimeter while the other headed for the upper levels. Kakashi, with the most skilled operatives, moved swiftly through narrow corridors, disabling guards and taking control of security systems. The building's dimly lit interior was no obstacle to them; they operated with the single-minded focus of trained predators.

As they reached the top floor, Kakashi's heart raced. Sakura's signal had come from here, but they couldn't storm in recklessly. "Alpha, secure the east wing," Kakashi ordered, his voice distorted slightly by the mask. His team nodded and broke off into smaller units.

At Nagato's room, three heavily armed guards stood watch. Kakashi and his team dispatched them without a sound, clearing the last obstacle. He pressed his ear against the door. Silence. Too quiet.

With a swift hand signal, two ANBU operatives positioned themselves to breach the door. Kakashi stood ready, kunai in hand. The door was kicked open, and the team surged inside, weapons drawn.

The scene that greeted them was chilling. Nagato lay slumped on a couch, unconscious, his shirt torn and body limp. He was breathing but completely unresponsive. Nearby, on the floor, lay Sakura—her shirt thrown on hastily, her pink hair splayed out on the cold floor. She looked as if she had collapsed while trying to escape.

Kakashi's breath caught in his throat. "Sakura," he whispered, fear gripping him. He knelt by her side in an instant, checking her pulse. It was faint but steady. Relief surged through him, but time was running out. She was still under the effects of the sedative, her breathing shallow, her body limp in his arms.

"Secure the target," Kakashi commanded, his voice sharper now. Two ANBU operatives moved in, quickly binding Nagato in restraints. Despite his immense power, the sedative Sakura had given him kept him completely incapacitated.

"We need to move. Now," one of the ANBU urged, hearing footsteps echoing down the hallway—reinforcements.

Kakashi nodded, gently lifting Sakura in his arms, cradling her head to his chest. She was barely conscious, but there were signs of life, small movements that gave him hope. He would not leave her behind—not after all she had endured to ensure this mission's success.

As they moved quickly through the building, the distant sounds of fighting grew louder. The remaining guards were aware of the ANBU's presence now, but they were no match for the elite force already securing the compound. Kakashi led his team through a side corridor, avoiding the bulk of the resistance. His mind was focused solely on getting Sakura to safety, but anger simmered beneath his calm exterior—the bruises on her body, what Nagato had done to her, it all clawed at him like a festering wound.

There would be time for reckoning later. For now, his priority was her.

They reached the lower levels, heading for a hidden exit where additional ANBU guards stood waiting. As Kakashi stepped out into the night air, still holding Sakura tightly against him, the coldness of it grounded him, reminding him that they weren't finished yet. More medics were waiting, their equipment ready to tend to Sakura.

"She'll be fine," a medic assured him as they rushed to his side. Kakashi nodded, but his eyes never left her. The mission was over, but something deeper had changed within him. He had been prepared for the risks, but not for the weight of seeing her like this.