Sakura looked back at the burnt body once more before leaving to retrieve Tazuna.

The way I fought and killed that man was very different from what I am usually like. If I am to act like that another time, I should not rely on merely taijutsu alone. As Kakashi suggested, perhaps I should learn ninjutsu.

Yeah, but... The voice had finally returned. You tried ninjutsu at one point, but it wasn't effective. However, you seemed compatible with my Mokuton. It was not as complex as I expected for me to heal you using the little chakra I have.

...Who, or what, exactly do you identify as?

I suppose there's no point in hiding it any longer. I am Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage of Konohagakure. I'm not exactly sure how I was trapped inside your mind, nor do I want to, for now. Let's just focus on the mission. How much do you know about your own identity?

I do not know much, Sakura admitted to her 'Inner' as she slowly sidled a log and then swung over to avoid opening her wound in her thigh even more. The doctors did not want to spend much time around me. The Hokage of your village has hidden much from me, and kept what I believe you call, 'tabs' on me.

I know why I was created, which most definitively goes against what you have done, but I do not care. I am aware I do not have parents, although it does not make sense.

*thinking* 'So Sakura doesn't know that she's made from my cells, or that she was artificially created. Or at least, not all of the truth about it. If she's made from my cells, doesn't that make her a Senju?

'If so, shouldn't she have a special ability from my clan? She was compatible with my healing jutsu, so that means she could if she wanted to...Perhaps—that's why other ninjutsu is inefficient for her use...'

Are you still there, or have you retreated back to the depths of my mind?

...

Sakura grunted as more dirt got into her wound, but kept running back to the shore.

:::

Pakkun sniffed the area, certain that Sakura had been there. Suddenly, a waft of what smelled like burnt flesh made its way to his nose. He whined slightly—the stench was so overpowering—but continued.

Soon enough, he found a body, black as his owner's eyes, with at least twenty kunai and ten shuriken embedded in the left over skin that hadn't fallen off after being torched.

"This girl is trouble," he muttered, recognizing a foreign torture technique he himself had witnessed when summoned by Kakashi when he was on an ANBU mission. Otogakure, maybe? Either way, he would definitely tell Kakashi.

Pakkun bolted from the scene, wanting to get the lasting smell out of his fur before it became permanent.

:::

"What's that smell, Kakashi-sensei?" One clone helped the grey-haired man up.

"Yeah, —ttebayo! It smells like something's burning!"

"..." Kakashi glanced upward to the sky, seeing a thin veil of smoke already beginning to disappear. Sakura...

"Never mind that, we've gotta find Sakura-chan!" The first clone stared at Pakkun expectantly, wanting to know where the pink-haired girl was.

The jōnin shot a sharp look to his summoning, and the dog nodded solemnly. "She's already heading back, I believe," Pakkun lied smoothly, then poofed away.

"Let's hurry back, then, —ttebayo!"

The two clones helped Kakashi as he hobbled slowly across the bridge, back to the house. Carefully, he looked around, and spotted a black figure making its way to a small shed on the pier, then looked away.

:::

"I see 'em, 'Nari!" Genta exclaimed, shaking his friend. "They're back!"

Naruto immediately shot up, while Sasuke removed himself from the couch calmly, and they both made their way to the door. Black eyes narrowed when they spotted only his sensei and Naruto's clones.

"Hiya, guys!" Naruto greeted his own clones, and then dispersed them. Tsunami helped the injured Kakashi back into the house once again, and Sasuke stood there, waiting in the dim light from the lanterns at the front porch, hands in his pockets.

"Where's Sakura?" He asked Naruto, knowing he had information from the clones he made.

"I'm not sure, —ttebayo." The blonde frowned, and the younger boys whined. "Kakashi-sensei said that she was here already..."

"Kakashi?" Sasuke asked. "He said that she was back already?"

"...Ano..." Inari and Genta tugged on the Uchiha's white arm warmers, much to his displeasure. "Where's Sak'ra/Sakura-nee?"

"Hn," Sasuke grunted, unsure as well.

"Uh, let's go inside," Naruto suggested, so disappointed and worried he left out his signature catchphrase. "We'll wash up for bed and then see if she comes then."

"Okay..."

The blonde and dark-haired boys exchanged knowing looks: Kakashi was lying.

:::

Sakura knocked on the door of the rickety shack. It was now after dark, and Tazuna would be scared, especially in the dark. Not that I care whether or not he is scared, Sakura decided as the door opened a crack.

"Bridge builder. It is I, Sakura. I have defeated the enemy. Let us go, now."

The old man did a double-take at her appearance—she looked like a piece of burnt toast he had produced the one time he attempted cooking—and then nodded wearily, opening the door entirely before stepping out, trying to ignore the sickening scent coming from his guard, and the body that was now half-washed away by the high tide.

They traveled in the dark, and in silence, neither saying a word until they gained sight of the house about 200 metres away. "It is approximately 11:00 at night," she spoke, her voice raspy from not speaking for so long and the stomach acid that still burned her throat. "They will most likely be asleep by now."

Tazuna nodded. "I do not want you to tell anyone of my injuries, nor what happened, other than that we were attacked by two men, and that I lead one off, causing our delay." He nodded again, then studied the girl in front of her. With his untrained eyes, he could see her limp, and a piece of her left ear missing, dry blood still there. The old man shuddered slightly, thinking of what else the soot hid from his vision.

Spoilers: Kakashi does get better, but it may take a while. Also, SasuSaku fluff next chapter!

Why did Kakashi lie?

Did he think it would be better if Sakura didn't live?

How will Sasuke react?

Will Sakura say anything to Kakashi?