Stream of past

Hell to Your Doorstep

"Did you know?" was the first thing Sasuke asked once it was clear Sakura was gone. "Answer me, Hokage-sama, did you know?"

"Yes." said Tsunade before holding up a hand to stop the upcoming questions. "Let me explain first. When Sakura's body was brought to the morgue me and Shizune were the ones to do the autopsy. We noticed a number of inconsistencies such as a height difference and missing scars. Eventually we found surgical scars near the temple. It was obvious it was a body double. At the time we believed it to be Orochimaru's doing so I sent a team of ANBU to Oto. However recently I found out that that was not the case."

"What did you find out?" asked Ino.

"That Danzo was the one who abducted Sakura. He orchestrated her death in order to have her become a member of the ROOT."

"I thought ROOT was disbanded." said Guy.

"It was not, Danzo continued his operations in secret for all these years. During Sora's stay in the village, Danzo was detained for 24 hours due to suspicious behavior, this window of time allowed Sakura to gather as much evidence as she could on that scum and bring it to me. For the past month, me and Shizune have been looking through it and devising a plan to bring him down. We have his schedule, the schedule of his guards and just a few minutes ago, Sakura brought me the layout of his base. She unfortunately had to return as to not arouse suspicion."

"So what does this all mean for us?" asked Chōji.

"Well, first of all Sasuke you are going to contact you brother. It seems I was given false intel, Hiruzen was not the one who ordered you brother to massacre your clan. It was Danzo."

"What." said Sasuke.

"He blackmailed Itachi with your death, he was forced to make an impossible choice between your life or that of your clan. My theory is that he refuses to return to the village because of Danzo."

"Oh my sage..." said Tenten. Everyone in the room stared at Sasuke in shock, not knowing how to react.

"So what you are saying is...every misfortune that has befallen my clan is because of Danzo."

"Yes and I promise you, he will face justice. Now, there are two reasons I asked you here. The first is to make a plan of attack based off the information Sakura has gathered for us. The second one, well..." Tsunade rose to address them. "In two days I will meet with the jonin and ANBU commanders to tell them about Danzo and in 3 days our Konoha forces will gather in secret to attack the ROOT hideout. Officially I will ask them to bring Danzo in alive so he may stand trial because that is what is expected of me. However, if any of the people in this room were to, have an accident so to speak, when they encounter Danzo and kill him, they will be free of any repercussions and at most will receive a verbal reprimand, understood?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

"Good, now I will tell you all the information Sakura has gathered on that scum and Sasuke? You might want to sit down."

...

Kakashi had been dead silent since leaving the compound. Some of the kids had been discussing in hushed whispers what was happening but Kakashi was dead silent. His mind was running at light speed screeching a chant of Sakura, Sakura, Sakura. He was basically walking home on auto-pilot. A hand landed on his shoulder and startled him.

"You good, Kakashi?" asked Guy. The silver haired man could only nod. "Let's get you home."

They entered the apartment and Guy led him to the couch before leaving to make some tea. Kakashi couldn't help but bring his gaze to a particular picture on his wall. It was one they took when Sakura had become Chūnin. It was the one and only time she wore her vest. Naruto and Sasuke were lifting her up and presenting her to the camera, Sakura was mid laugh with her mouth wide open and her eyes closed, Kakashi was behind them, with a hand on Sakura's head. She looked so happy and carefree in that picture, not at all like the hardened kunoichi they saw in the Senju compound. Her light had been so dim in that moment.