Afraid of the Dark (KakaSaku)

Holding On

Sakura felt herself slipping back into a fitful sleep once she was settled into her hospital room. Her body ached, and exhaustion pulled at her like an anchor. But her rest was abruptly interrupted when Tsunade stormed through the door, her voice sharp and filled with anger.

"Are you out of your mind, Sakura?!" Tsunade's words cut through the silence, though they were laced with an unmistakable undertone of worry. She stood in the doorway, taking in the sight of Sakura—pale, bruised, her body fragile from the night's ordeal.

Sakura weakly raised her hand, as if to dismiss the concern. "Tsunade, I can explain—"

"Explain?" Tsunade's voice cracked with frustration as she stepped closer. "I told you months ago that you could talk to me about anything. So why in the world would you join a covert ANBU operation behind our backs? You left ANBU ten years ago, Sakura—left it behind after hitting rock bottom. You could have gotten yourself killed! And don't even get me started on 'Sukea' pretending to be a patient! You've been absent from work for weeks, and I thought you were just taking time for yourself. But no, you were out infiltrating a drug cartel and putting yourself at risk!"

The weight of Tsunade's words hit Sakura like a punch. She had known this conversation was coming, but it didn't make it any easier. Her body, weak and drained from the events of the night, trembled as she struggled to find the right words. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she whispered, "Tsunade, I know it looks bad... But I thought I had to do this alone. I didn't mean for it to get this out of hand." Her voice cracked as she continued, the truth finally spilling out. "Kakashi—he came to me six months ago, making threats. He said he'd kill everyone I cared about if I didn't stay quiet. I was terrified. And then I found out the truth—about him, about everything—and it was too late to back out."

Tsunade's expression softened as she absorbed Sakura's words. The anger in her eyes gave way to something else—understanding. She had been through her own battles, faced her own demons, and she recognized the same isolation and desperation in Sakura. With a sigh, Tsunade sat down beside her, her features gentler now. Taking Sakura's hand, she offered a small smile.

"You always think you have to face everything alone, but you don't. You're not alone in this. Look at what you've accomplished tonight." Her voice softened further. "You took down Konoha's largest drug cartel, something that's been in the works for years. Do you understand how incredible that is? Don't ever doubt yourself again."

Sakura stared up at her, tears spilling down her cheeks as Tsunade's words sank in. The realization of everything she had done, everything she had survived, hit her all at once. She had been so lost in the chaos that she hadn't stopped to acknowledge her own strength. For the first time in a long while, she felt a weight lift from her chest.

Tsunade squeezed her hand gently. "You did the impossible, Sakura. And as much as I am angry, I'm proud of you."

Sakura let out a shaky breath, her tears flowing freely now. Tsunade was right. She had done something incredible, even if it hadn't felt like it in the moment. And in the warmth of her mentor's words, she finally allowed herself to feel the victory she had earned.

A soft knock at the door pulled them from the moment, and Kakashi slipped in quietly. His eyes immediately landed on Tsunade, who gave him a smirk. "Well, well, 'Sukea'... nice of you to join us," she teased, amusement evident in her tone.

Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling lightly. "You know better than anyone, I had to do it. The mission was too high-stakes for mistakes."

Tsunade approached him, clasping his shoulder with a smile. "Thank you for keeping her safe," she said, her voice softening. "It's good to have you back, Hatake. We all thought you went rogue—disappeared without a trace. I didn't even recognize you."