Bring her back

Chapter 19

Naruto and Sasuke walked in silence next to each other towards Tsunade's office still trying to process the information, the sobbing Sakura shared with them a few days ago.

Kakashi and Tsunade just got back to her room, when they saw her crying and telling the guys about the rape. Naruto and Sasuke got extremely furious and were determined to find Ren immediately and beat him until he regrets the day he was born. Tsunade refused to tell them where they kept him and she and Kakashi could barely hold them back from storming off in search of him.

Now as they were walking, they weren't as angry as a few days ago, they rather felt helpless and were blaming themself for not being there for her when she needed them the most. It all could have been prevented if they'd had paid more attention to her and the signs that something was not right.

Kakashi was walking at the front with his hands in his pockets and was thinking about the exact same things as the guys behind him. He was furious at Ren and disgusted by his act while being worried about how will she recover from something like that.

The last time he saw her she hasn't spoken much and was smiling constantly but her gaze was glassy and empty. She looked so broken it hurt him deeply. The only thing he wanted to do was make her feel better and take away all her pain.

The three of them finally reached Tsunade's office, they knocked and then they entered the room.

"There are a few things I need to discuss with you." She started as she looked up from the papers on her desk. "Sakura's case was handled as high priority and luckily we didn't needed her testification, because we had strong enough pieces of evidence against Ren, so the decision has been made. The official judicial decision says Ren got a life sentence in prison, because of a murder attempt of a fellow leaf shinobi intentionally without her committing any crime and also because he..." she stopped as her fist clenched in anger" because he rapped her. He's already in his cell with maximum lock-down in the highest security part of the prison."

All three of them felt the weight fall off their chest. Finally, it's over. He won't be able to get to her in any form anymore. She will be safe.

"Finally some good news" Naruto sighed relieved and his mouth turned into a slight smile. "That means, that Kakashi is clear as well, isn't it?"

"Yes of course. His innocence wasn't even questioned after I found out about the poison" Tsunade answered

"What about those who were spying on her by the order of Ren? Those could be still out there." Sasuke asked

"Ibiki got the information out of Ren and they've been captured. They were genins with special hiding capabilities of the village who he paid to spy on her, so now that he's in prison and can't contact them they have no reason to continue what they did. Although they will be in prison for a few months, where they'll get some sense beat into them, so they will never ever think about spying on her or harming Sakura again." she answered.

"So she will never have to see him again" Kakashi said calmly "Maybe this will give her closure and she will realize there's nothing to be afraid of anymore."

"I hope so" she answered "Although it will surely take her time, so please be patient with her. I had a long talk with her yesterday about what really happened to her in the last few months. She had several panic attacks as she just recalled certain memories trying to tell me. I've never ever seen her that frightened and shattered in her life. In fact, that's the other thing I wanted to talk to you about. As you see yourself she's been completely broken down to the ground mentally. Fighting our inner demons is not an easy task, especially alone, but you all know that you've all dealt with your own demons. All of us did." she said thoughtfully

"I think someone should be there for her throughout her recovery. I consider her a strong woman, but I think she will process all the things she went through a lot faster if she has someone who she trusts enough to talk to about what's going on inside her." she continued

"I was thinking about the same thing" Kakashi said " She's awfully broken, we shouldn't leave her alone in a condition like that"

"I'm glad you said that, because I was thinking about you to help her, Kakashi" Tsunade looked at him "She decided to open up about the situation she was in for you. She trusts you. Hopefully, she will tell you how she feels now."

Kakashi looked up surprisedly at the blonde woman but nodded agreeably.

"I don't think she would open up to anyone else right now as she lost her trust in people" She added

Kakashi was glad he could be the one to be there for her throughout her recovery. He would have been there for her anyway but he was happy that no one who she doesn't feel comfortable around would bother her with questions. He started to get the idea of how he can talk to her in a way that she feels comfortable enough to open up.

"She looks up to you, because of the way you handled your past and became the man you're today. I'm sure she will take your pieces of advice." She said and Kakashi's eye opened up in surprise.

"Don't be so surprised Kakashi, I'm telling the truth, she told me that personally a few months ago!" Tsunade chuckled at him

Although both Naruto and Sasuke were annoyed they couldn't help their teammate in her recovery, they understood why Tsunade choose Kakashi. It will be best for her, and that was the most important thing at the moment.

"Naruto, Sasuke! Please be kind and patient with her. It will surely take some time for her to heal, but your friendship and presence mean a lot to her. When you have the time, please visit her and do stuff with her she likes. Try not to make her feel like a victim or someone who constantly needs to be checked on because it will make her feel worse. She will feel weak and pathetic. Treat her like you used to, it will help her get back to herself. Kakashi will make sure to check on her mentally. One person is more than enough to do that."

"We'll do our best, to cheer Sakura-chan up!" Naruto said with a wide smile, while Sasuke nodded

"She'll be released from the hospital in the next couple of days. I'll call for you to escort her home, because of the lack of chakra she has." Tsunade said. "Now you're dismissed"