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Sasuke left.
She tried to stop him. To show she would listen to him and his problems and that she cared about him and he blatantly ignored her and left her on a cold hard bench overnight defenseless. Like she meant nothing.
Sakura were many things. Not all good she knew that. Annoying and sometimes useless. But she was not ignorant and she would not let people walk over her. She was a ninja too. A strong kunoichi of the hidden leaf. And when she made up her mind she was determined.
But this , this blatant show of disrespect to her safety even though he was supposed to be her teammate and supposed friend. Even though they grew up together and he was the ‘Amazing Uchiha’. Someone that was supposed to have her back.
It made her cringe just thinking about how devoted she had become and how she had practically thrown herself at him. And for what because of his looks. He didn’t even look that good. Somewhere in her head she wanted to berate herself for insulting Sasuke. But it was true. She couldn’t find a single reason that would explain the crush she had on him.
Was it because the other girls were chasing after him or did it begin when Ino suddenly had a crush on him. That was another one of her long list of regrets. Ino was her best friend. She pushed the bully’s away and made her feel good about herself. Then why did she turn her back on her. Was it because of her insecurities?
Soon enough Naruto was gone too and she didn’t have a team at all. But did she ever really have a team? She berated Naruto every chance she got. She practically physically and verbally abused the boy. She only cared about Sauke ‘kun’ and kakashi. Well, the favoritism was very obvious.
The man was always helping Sasuke. She tried to reason it was because of the sharingan but then Sasuke showed up to the Chunin exam with his new trick and she knew there was more to it. If he showed attention to his other students then it was a rare occasion.
The first thing Sakura did when Naruto and Jiraya had left the leaf village and were too far to see at that point. Was to go see lady Tsunade. She needed a teacher, someone who would actually teach her and not go easy on her.
Sakura stood firm, her chest puffed out and her arms rested at her sides. No matter how much she wanted to fidget with her fingers. “Why are you in my office?” She asked in a loud tone, demanding her head not even snapping up from whatever paper that was settled on her desk.
Sakura swallowed the lump in the back of her throat. She would just have to get this over with if she wanted to become stronger. “I’m here to request you as my sensei Hokage Sama '' Tsunade paused before she looked up her attention now on Sakura.
“What about Kakashi?” She quickly asked with a gruff voice and eyebrow quirked up. The pen in her hand now sat down on a tall stack of papers. And another couple of stacks were sitting on the floor next to her desk.
Sakura’s heart was hammered. She was scared she would turn her down. Tell her she wasn’t worth the time. “He’s still recovering in the hospital” She reasoned, voice firm and professional. The rest of the Genin had Sensei’s but her. Even Naruto had Jiraiya. A sanin at that.
“Then tell me why I should waste my time doing that” Sakura bit the inside of her cheek so hard she thought it might bleed. The nervousness bubbling up in her stomach like hot lava. But Tsunade was clearly messing with her smirk and questing eyes on her face.
She had to be careful with how she responded next. “I’m not learning anything from him and the village could benefit from another medic user” She said while even letting her emotion get the best of her and just how much she wanted this. She would’ve continued but Tsunade cut her off, clearing her voice.
“Okay” She relented, rolling her shoulders back. Grabbing her pen and writing something really quick. “From here on you will be training as my apprentice. The training will be rigious and I hear a single complaint. I will drop you. '' She said sternly.
Sakura’s eyes widened in hopefulness. But her stomach still felt like it was tied in knots. “Yes, Tsunade Sensei,” She said, nodding multiple times.
“Be back here tomorrow six am” After she dismissed Sakura she leaned back in her seat, spinning around slightly so she could look out the window with one hand coming up to hold her nose. This was just going to be another load of work.
The next day Sakura did exactly as told she ate breakfast and hurried to the tower. With ten minutes to spare. Because being on time was late and being early was always the right thing to do. Her mothers own words.
That day Sakura began her lessons. Firstly she was given a stack of books from Shizune. The woman gave her a sympathetic smile before jostling off to her next task. She found a quiet place inside the tower, a room where nobody seemed to be used and placed herself inside.
Sitting on a lounge chair Sakura tucked her knees underneath her. First off was the basics of medical ninjutsu. It wasn’t a hard read, it was almost basic things that she had learned from the academy. Plus Sakura loved reading. She had always loved reading ever since she learned how to soak up all the information she could.
It wasn’t until a little past ten am when Sakura finished all five books. With a stiff neck and hurt back to go along with it. Her back hadn’t felt like that since the mission in the land of waves when she had to sleep on the floor.
The mission. It only reminded her of her team and when they were all together. It had only been a day since Naruto left. Kakashi was still in the hospital and Sasuke. She wasn’t sure… But even so she tried not to dwell on it though instead she sat up and gathered all the books and left to find her sensei.
“You read the books?” She asked her head not even looking up to meet her. She had her head on the desk in her arms. Empty bottles littered around her desk on the floor. Clearly a hangover. Sakura looked around the room before inching closer to the desk.
She shook her head before clearing her throat and speaking up. “Yes, Tsunade sensei,” She confirmed, nodding her head. The five books still wrapped securely in her arms.
The woman only hummed acknowledging before sitting up massaging the temple of her head. She set her hands then on the surface of the desk. “Then we're going to start with the basics,” She said before pushing herself up.
Sakura followed after the lady tsunade. The woman walking as fast as her long legs would take her. Surprisingly fast for someone that was hungover. Or else it felt that way. When she walked into the room. She couldn’t help but be in awe. She had no clue the Hokage’s tower had a library and such a big one. The walls were covered in books.
Tsunade stopped at a table almost shaped like an altar waiting for Sakura. So she dropped the books off at a table and followed suit standing across from the woman. “Huh, a fish?” She asked confusingly.
There laid a fish on a scroll. It was clearly dead. It was out of water of course but still it wasn’t moving. Tsunade laid her hands over the fish just inches apart. “You're going to channel your chakra into it” She said as she demonstrated a green chakra emitting from her palm.
Surprisingly the fish began moving flopping back and forth. Sakura let out a small noise of surprise and looked back up at Tsunade. She had seen Medic ninjas in hospitals but something about this was different. Maybe it’s because she was learning how to?
Tsunade stepped back and away only to fall back onto the small couch. Her arms leaned against the side and an unreadable expression across her face. There the two stayed in the small library Sakura reading different books issued to her alongside her attempt to revive the dead fish.
It was the fourth day and Sakura was beginning to get used to her schedule. She wakes up early and makes breakfast. Then heads to the Hokage tower for Medic training with Tsunade. But today something different happened.
She was practicing the same assignment from the first day. Trying to heal the fish. When Shinuze busted through the doors. She honestly thought something was wrong, maybe another invasion or kidnapping. But instead she revealed that Kakashi woke up.
And he left the hospital.
It was the second week. The usual routine Sakura standing in front of the table with her hands out in front of her except this time a small green light escaped them. A hard concentration expression shows on her face her eyes narrowed and nose scrunched.
She had slowly begun getting better at it. Sure she thought she’d be further because of her excellent chakra control. The tree walking was easy wasn’t it? But this was different: this was transferring chakra into another organism. A totally different concept.
Finally it fell. Her concentration busted. Her arms twitched and fell against the table, her shoulder relaxing. She released a sigh and wiped her forehead. It was progress. Two weeks ago she couldn’t even admit any chakra through her hands.
“Sakura”
Subconsciously she stood straighter. She didn’t want to be caught taking a break or slacking. Before she turned and looked. Tsunade and Ino were standing there by the doorway. “Ino will be training with you,” Tsunade said, not even giving her a moment. She only looked at Sakura with a raised eyebrow waiting for her to disagree. But she knew better than that.
“Forehead” Ino greeted a small smirk on her lips. Sakura's lips twitched and she was about to call her the usual term. “Ino pig” The usual anger and annoyance there in her tone and body language. Maybe even shake a fist at her.
But she couldn’t remember why else she had a problem with her. The only reason she and Ino weren't talking was because of Sasuke. How could she let a stupid boy get between their friendship?
“Ino '' She greeted even launching forward wrapping her arms around Ino’s neck. A flash of surprise crossed Ino’s face before she went back to normal. She shrugged the girl off, giving her a confused expression.
Showing up at Ino’s wasn’t exactly a part of her plan. But Sakura really did miss her friend and she needed somebody to talk to. Somebody that wasn’t her sensei and being in the same room for days without saying anything un work related didn’t help.
Sakura opened the door and as soon as Ino heard the door chime she straightened up but then her eyes narrowed as she realized who it was. A strained expression washing over her features. “What are you doing in here forehead?” She taunted trying to get a rise out of her. She hadn’t understood what had changed with Sakura.
“I wanted to apologize for everything” She said, just ripping the bandaid right off. There wasn’t a point in beating around the bush anyways. Ino was probably already suspicious of her showing up all of a sudden. She hadn’t been in the flower shop since the fight between them.
With a hip cocked to the side and a hand held onto it she only let out a small snort. Amusement was clear in her eyes. She’s heard that one before. “Is this another trick?” She asked eyes searching into sakura’s own eyes for any tell tale of a lie.
She only shook her head walking closer to her at the counter. “No i’m being serious” She said with more firm anger slipping into her tone for only a second. Ino laughing as she tried to be serious pissed her off. “I don’t really know why I liked him,” She admitted.
Ino dropped her arms, the defensive expression dropping from her face. “Oh wow you're really over him” She said, voice softer than before but still somehow hard.
“Not after he left me” The un-left words left a meaning. Not after he left me on the bench. Not after he became a terrorist to the hidden leaf. Not after he betrayed my team.
Ino ever the present to sense a drop in the mood changed the subject. “If i’m being honest i only liked him because you still did” Sakura only nodded she was right, it was just a competition. Neither girl actually liked the uchiha. Somehow that made her feel worse all that time spent could’ve been together.
“He wasn’t even good looking,” She admitted with her nose upturned. That only caused heat to the fire. Sakura chuckled before they were both in a full blown fit laughing. They were like a bunch of school girls giggling over nonsense.
She nodded in agreement, her hands running through her long hair laid over on her shoulder. “Naruto’s way cuter than him” Sakura stuck her tongue out at that a gross expression crossing her face. She could never imagine Naruto in any romantic way. He was like a brother to her.
Ino only laughed at Sakura. When the two’s giggling began to calm down once more they were just standing there in the flower shop. A silence washing over them but no awkwardness, something more akin to comfortableness. “I missed us being friends,” Sakura admitted somewhat shyly now.
“Me too” Ino agreed softer than she ever spoke in the last couple of years.
After Ino finally admitted the words tumbling out of her mouth pretty quickly. The two fell into an easy conversation with smiles on their faces. Sakura and Ino talking about things they missed in each others life’s gossip they each heard around konoha and even their training and how hard it was. She almost forgot how it felt to have a best friend.
It was nice.
It had been two months since Lady Tsunade had taken Sakura under as her apprentice and now Ino was learning just as quickly beside her. Progress was running smoothly. They were becoming almost mini Tsunades.
She had even begun to talk to Ino more. The two were getting closer almost like before. It shocked everyone around them but their parents were just thankful they were talking again. Especially Inochi.
But today they were doing something different. They were going to be following Lady Tsunade around the hospital. They were going to shadow her. In hopes they could learn something.
They were still outside the hospital. Standing right by the door. But Tsunade had a few things she needed to go over. “You will see many things,” She began.
“You will see blood,organs, you might even see bodily fluids” Ino couldn’t help but cringe. But she quickly hid it before Tsunade turned towards her. “I want your patient bedside manner pinnacle today” She ordered turning to eye both Sakura and Ino. She didn’t want a patient complaining about one of her students.
“That is if you speak to a patient” She mumbled before pushing the double doors open.
Shadowing Tsunade was almost like the chunin exams. It evolved into a lot of walking and more running. It might’ve been worse. It just renewed her respect for Medic nin and other Ninja related. They weren’t given the appreciation they always deserved.
It was towards the end of the day and they just had to wait for Tsunade. She finally appeared from a meeting room. “Good work tomorrow y'all will begin clinic work” She praised with a proud smile before walking towards the exit.
When Tsunade was out of sight the doors closed behind her. Ino groaned. “My feet are killing me” She said as she laid her head over onto Sakura's shoulder, her eyes already beginning to shut. It was already dark out.
But Sakura decided that she liked the hospital. Not because of the sick and injured people. But because of the business and rush of it all. She was learning to become a doctor and she was there to help save people’s lives. What’s more exciting than that?
It took a lot of support from Ino to do this. But when she asked Tsunade to train her she meant she wanted to learn everything about the Medic and Combat portion. “Tsunade sensei i want to learn Chakra enhanced Strength” She said out rightingly asking. But clearly less nervous than the first time.
Tsuande spun around in her chair so she was facing forward. Her eyebrows pinched together and her jaw clenched. “Sakura, what are the three rules of a medical nin?” She asked in an unreadable voice.
Sakura stood up straighter lips pressed in a firm line and shoulders upright. “No medic shall ever stop performing medic treatment until the lives of the patient have come to an end” She repeated like she was reading from a book.
When Tsunade made no voice of interrupting she continued. “No medic ninja shall ever die until they are the last of their platoon” But when she tried to say the third the words fell from her mouth. Like she didn’t know how to speak.
“And the third?” She asked in a loud voice and eyes narrowed. She knew Sakura and Ino knew the rules. She drilled them into their heads from day one.
Given the order, Sakura continued reluctantly. “No medic ninja shall ever stand on the front lines”
Tsunade stood up and in one movement slammed her fist on her desk. “Then why do you want to know combat?” She asked in a voice roaring loudly, absolutely pissed.
“I want to be someone people can rely on. I want to have my teammates' backs” Tsunade sat back in her chair, sighing. This girl was going to be the death of her. If not her than Naruto. They were a couple of trouble makers that she was growing attached to.
Sakura leaned up on the toes of her feet and back on the balls of her feet. Rocking slightly. Obviously not phased by her previous temper tantrum. “Kakashi did mention i have good Chakra control” She said in a light voice smiling at the hokage. When tsunade nodded her eyes were tightening. An obvious hint that she was strategizing and thinking she knew she had won her over.
“Learning the chakra enhanced strength will be much harder than medical ninjutsu” She warned.
That’s how it started. She still learned Medic ninjustu with Ino from Tsunade and went to the clinic. But she also learned her Chakra enhanced strength technique. She was almost always tired and it left no room for her to train on her own.
It wasn’t but a number of months later that Tsunade had suggested she take the Chunin exams with Ino and Choji the next year. As a genin or even in the academy Sakura didn’t expect to take the Chunin exams. Not before her teammates. It’s not like she didn’t have high hopes for herself. It just never came up and plus she didn’t even have a team!
She had only been a Chunin for a week when it happened.
Sakura really hadn’t planned on being called into the Hokage's office, not today and not for a mission. Not when she’s missing two thirds of her team. Sure she took an occasional D rank mission for money. For clothes and weapons of course.
Sakura opened the door and tried to hurry to the tower. But she didn’t expect to be called in on her off day. She was almost worried there was something wrong. Something maybe wrong with Naruto even. She hadn’t even heard from him in months. “Great Sakura,” Tsunade said, clearing her throat.
“Tsunade Sensei” She greeted bowing her head slightly but when she did she noticed a figure off to the side. Shikamaru Nara. His hands in his pockets and his shoulders slumped. He looked care free like he couldn’t bother to be there.
“Now that you're both here I have a mission for you, it's only a C rank” Sakura paused as her eyes widened. The last time Sakura went on a C rank mission it turned out to be an A rank mission and she and her team almost died even Kakashi had a few close calls.
“Now I know we are not finished nor even close to done with your studies Sakura” The girl could only nod now that she was talking to her. “But this could be a good ..test for you,” She said, almost fumbling for the right words.
Leaning back into her chair. Her hands resting on the arms rests. “Plus I could use a break,” Tsunade said dramatically, waving her off nonchalantly. Sakura could only roll her eyes internally. She wouldn’t dare actually.
“You both need to deliver this scroll to Suna i appoint Sakura mission leader” Sakura blinked her eyes widening almost comically. Her mission leader. But Shikamaru didn’t seem to react; he only nodded his head slightly, queuing that he was listening.
But she still didn’t think it was a good idea. Sure she was a Chunin now. But she hadn’t ever led a mission before. “Excuse me, Tsunade Sensei wouldn’t Shikamaru be more suited?” She asked, voice full of skepticism.
“Not for the mission you will be going on” She answered but that’s all she said. She gave no details or help. It only annoyed Sakura even more.
Tsuande finished going over the mission details. She reached down into a drawer of her desk and pulled a roll out and tossed it to Shikamaru. To which he caught with ease an annoyed expression flickering across his face.
“Yes Lady Tsunade,” They each replied.
After the door shut. Shikamaru automatically turned towards her. “Let’s meet by the gate” He stated almost questingly. Waiting for her to answer.
She nodded, agreeing easily. “I’ll meet you at fifteen” That should give her enough time to pack and tell her parents off …and Ino. If she left without telling her bye she wouldn’t want to come back.
By the gate. Before they left, Tsunade popped in and handed over the scroll; it almost looked identical to the mission scroll except it was blue on the outside. Sakura nodded and secured the scroll into her back pocket.
They hadn’t left the village for ten minutes. Having to choose to take to the trees and use chakra to hop. It was far easier than walking out in the open and it would’ve taken longer.
Sakura glanced over. Shikamaru had a concentrated expression on his face or else that's what it looked like. “What do you think about the mission leader thing?” She asked, trying to breach the topic carefully.
Shikamaru shrugged his shoulders loosely. “I think she has a reason for everything” He said simply.
She hadn’t ever been to Suna. But Tsunade said that a guide was supposed to meet them both near the edge of the map.
“What’s Suna like?” She questioned. Trying to make small talk and get a little information out of it.
“Hot and sunny” Sakura was ready to roll her eyes and say something sarcastic until he continued. “The sand itself feels like fire so it’s best to stay covered” She nodded taking the information in. Sure she had read about Suna. She read about all the hidden villages. It was practical knowledge.
“Have you ever been?” She asked, continuing. His lips stayed closed and after a moment she sighed and turned back forward. “I’ve only been once” He finally answered.
They had stopped to take a break, Sakura taking a sip from her bottle and Shikamaru doing the same. It was getting dark soon. The sun was already beginning to go down. It didn’t take a genius to know they needed to stop soon.
Shikamaru had shoved his bottle back into his bag and came up next to her. “What do you want to do?” He questioned. She looked at him with confused eyes. Like she wasn’t sure why he was even asking her.
“Me?”
He nodded. His lip up turning slightly at her shock. It was kind of amusing. “Your mission leader,” He explained, shoving his hands back into his pants pockets one hand fidgeting with the cigarettes in his pocket.
Sakura straightens back out her shoulders upright and her chest out. He was right, it was her call. “We should stop for the day and continue early tomorrow” If they continued on she would only be risking one of them slipping and falling off a tree.
Shikamaru only nodded easily and accepted that. No complaints. But really now that she thought about it Shikamaru never complained. Not about important stuff. Sure he always said that catch phrase ‘what a drag’ but she didn’t think he meant half of what he said.
Soon they had quickly fallen into a quick routine.It was the next day and they had been running for a few hours already. Now and then either of the two bring something up. It was Sakura to start it a simple would you rather. She must’ve been around Naruto and Ino for too long. She lost the ability to handle silence.
“That’s easy, I would just retire,” He answered between leaps. Tree branches passing him with each jump. She only laughed at him.
“That's such an easy answer," She teased.
"Oh yea well it would you rather have the ability to see the future or read people's minds” She hummed under her breath thoughtfully before she finally decided. “The future” She answered confidently.
“Really why not read minds' ' He asked somewhat curiously. He assumed everyone would want to read another person’s mind. She only chuckled under her breath. “I wouldn’t want to know what go’s on in everyone’s mind that’s for tif (torture interrogation force)”
They were reaching the edge of the forest and entering the desert. Sakura put a hand above her eyes. Blocking the sun away. She could see a dark figure standing there. When they finally got closer her eyes grew wider in realization of who it was.
Blonde hair. Pigtails and a fan on her back. It was the Suna girl from the chunin exams. Temri if she remembered right. “I’m your escort. '' She said, face full of blankness. Clearly she did not want to be there.
Sakura knew gaara took the seat as Kazekage after the fall of his father and being controlled by orochimaru. But it was still weird. Not because he tried to kill her and her friends and how unstable he used to be. But how young in age he was. Tsunade was well. She didn't know how old her sensei was but she had to be well in her fifties.
As soon as they walked into his office. Gaara stood up. His brother Kankuro stood behind him by his side. The responsibilities of being right hand man. He had his arms crossed but no puppet by him.
The mission was simple, no secret agenda or some missing nin trying to kill them just like Tsunade said. It had taken three days just to get there. It actually felt like a D rank mission.
He opened the scroll, took one look and and his lips upturned. Sakura wouldn’t admit it but it was still weird to see him smile when the back of her neck was cased in goose bumps. When he finally looked up he was folding the scroll back in. “Please stay another day” He requested.
She smiled her arms still at her sides. “I’m sorry Kazekage but we have to get back to the village” She said, trying to politely decline him. But he was the Kazekage. That was like the Hokage asking her to stay.
“It’s past noon you’ll have trouble out there” He said basically waving her off.“I can talk to your Hokage if that would help” He said clearly not taking no for an answer. She would admit the offer was tempting after traveling for so long.
Sakura turned to look at Shikamaru but he only shrugged one of his shoulders. Not trying to speak out in front of others. She was the mission leader. She internally groaned this was turning into a political mission but still she bowed her head.
“Thank you Kazekage we would be grateful” He smiled, waving her up. Informatilies weren’t his thing. He was still getting used to the waay being friends work. “None of that Temari will show you where you will be staying”
It was a simple house if you could even call it a house; it was more like a hut. Temari stopped before she walked away feeling the need to explain themselves. “It’s still hard for him,” She said in a soft voice.
But before Sakura could reply. Shikamaru beat her to it. He shook his head. “No this is great, thank you” Temari nodded uncertainly, a smile greeting her face before she finally walked away going the same cobble stone path she came from.
Inside the hut it wasn’t much better from the outside. It was basically one big room. A bed off to the corner and a small wooden table near the wall with a candle on top and books stacked onto it. They looked worn and weared like they had been out in the wilderness.
Sakura sat down at the desk. “Well that was easy” She finally said in her voice the only sound in the hut. Shikamaru collapsed onto the bed. “Were you hoping for something harder?” He asked intrigued.
“I don’t know, I thought It would be more exciting” She said in a quieter tone. A wrinkle was on her forehead showing she was thinking. There they sat in silence. Shikamaru with his head resting on his elbows as he stared up at the ceiling. “Do you think the ceilings going to collapse on us”
“I don’t know” She sighed, the stress clear on her face. “We might have been better off traveling back to Konoha”
But Shikamaru was quick to rebuke her. “No we wouldn't, we'd sure have gotten lost in the dark” He said quickly easing her worries. Sure it was a simple mission but being a leader took a lot out of her. Knowing you have responsibility for other people’s lives by which decisions you make.
After that neither person spoke. Sakura had taken one of the old book’s out; it had a leather cover and no title. But after reading it she learned it was about the medicinal use of herbs. She quickly became engrossed into it.
“Are you ever gonna go to sleep?” She turned around in shock. Her hand held her place in the book still. She had long figured Shikamaru had gone to sleep. It was already night out.
“There’s only one bed” She said somewhat confusingly.
He rolled his eyes. His head still on his arms but shoes and kunai missing. His hair wasn’t up any more; it was splayed across the pillow below him. “I don’t have cooties Sakura” He said sarcastically but a small grin was tugging at his tired face.
She looked at the book once more before looking back at him. Well she was tired. She’s had to sleep in worse situations before in the same room with Naruto and Sasuke. Even on the bare ground with not sleeping mat.
She took off her sandals, keeping them by the desk chair, then next her kunai on her thigh and pouch on her back. Slow movements until she was standing and getting up so she could climb into the small bed slipping under the cover.
Shikamaru turned around first so he was facing the wall. He didn’t press against her. He gave her room. “Goodnight,” She whispered. “Goodnight Sakura” He whispered back into the night air.
When Sakura woke up she was warm. Like really warm. She wasn’t in her bed that was for sure and she wasn’t in Ino’s either. She had the mission in Suna. That’s right. Then Gaara wanted them to stay. They were in the hut. Which meant she was in bed with shikamaru.
He was still asleep when she woke up so she got up and out of the bed putting her shoes and weapons back on. But by the time she was putting her last shoe on he woke up. She looked up when she heard him yawning. “Morning,” She said.
“Good morning” He replied sitting up. His long hair falling over onto his shoulders. But he quickly grabbed a hold of it and pulled it back up to make her shift her attention elsewhere.
They both finished getting their gear on and ate a portion of their rations. A granola bar and an apple. Shikamaru was standing by the door waiting for Sakura. But she had turned back towards the desk and the book she had left on the desk. “Do you think Gaara would mind if I bought this with me?” She asked, glancing at him.
He only shrugged his shoulders. “It wouldn’t hurt to ask” He answered and that was good enough for her because she grabbed the book shoving it into her bag and after one last look at the hut everything looked the same as before they arrived they left.
After leaving the hut and reporting back to the Kazekage. She had one more thing to ask. She never did get to finish that book from last night until this morning she was too distracted. “I can’t ask to take it with me but-”
Before she could finish Gaara cut her off. “Take it; it’s yours” He said, flashing her a friendly smile. Sakura nodded at him pulling the leather bound book closer to her chest. A happy feeling blooming into her stomach. “I’ll give it back the next chance i see you or Temari” She promised a happy smile on her lips.
“I’m not worried” He said once more before sitting back down at his desk. He had a small stack of papers on his desk to do as well. Papers backed up from the week before.
Ever since the mission Sakura began hanging out with not only ino but shikamaru and by default that meant Choji on her time free from hospital duties and training. Which meant not much free time left at all.
She continues her chakra enhanced training and Medic Ninjutsu training. Now she was spending a lot of her time in the hospital since she was Tsunade's apprentice after all.
Then she spent time with Ino at the flower shop and talking. She and Choji spent time together in the kitchen going over shared recipes and perfecting them. Then Shikamaru didn't have a specific thing they did together. Sometimes they spared or played shoji and sometimes they watched clouds or ate dango.
She just enjoyed his company.
She hadn’t ever had a mutual crush before. How embarrassing is that?
With no idea what to do. Sakura did the next best thing she could think of, she went to Ino. “I think I might like Shikamaru,” She said as she fell onto her bed stomach first. Causing a noise to slip out of her mouth.
Ino sat at her vanity and turned to look at Sakura with a blank look. Like she couldn’t believe she was being serious. “Took you long enough,” She said, turning back towards her mirror. While her fingers worked to untangle the braid in her hair.
A confused expression crossed Sakura’s face. Her eyebrows knitted together. “What do you mean?” She asked. Ino only rolled her eyes. “Please you’ve practically been throwing heart eyes at him” She accused sassily.
“I have not” She defended weakly.
“Okay last weekend when we all went to eat Ichiraku ramen i don’t think you ever looked away and at me and Choji” Sakura wanted to defend herself saying that’s because Shikamaru was sitting next to her but Ino was to her left.
Sakura turned over onto her back feeling self conscious now. She let out a heavy sigh and she could hear Ino chuckle at her. Was she really being that obvious? She wasn’t trying to not after what happened with Sasuke. “Do you think he’s noticed?” She asked quieter.
“No, because he’s been too busy doing the same thing” She huffed between complaints and he hadn’t bothered telling her anything. You would think after being on a team with someone for so many years you would tell them things like this.
“You two are like a couple of academy students” She complained loudly before grabbing her hair brush. But Sakura was only focused on what she first said. Shikamaru liked her too. Or might. Ino wasn’t always right. Sometimes she was dead wrong.
Over the two almost three years Sakura had changed and not only personality wise. The dress was no longer practical after beginning to take combat lessons with lady Tsunade. She had torn it one two many times her father could only do so many repairs.
Instead she shifted towards a dark pink shirt and tight grayish pants with her clan symbol on her thigh. The pink bandana from Ino wrapped right above it. A symbol of their friendship. Her medic and tool bag hung on her lower back. It was just a simple gray tint bag. Black open toed boots that reached just under her knees and matching long gloves.
Nowadays she keeps her short hair in a side high ponytail upright with her Hitai ate tied around her head. It was almost like a symbol. The short hair that is. She was over him and she was not going to change herself even if it was something as small as her hair for a person.
Sakura was walking around the village on her way to finish a couple errands simple things like grab groceries and along the way she stopped to talk to Kotetsu and Inzumo. It was a daily routine by now. Before Konohamaru and his friends decided to follow her. They were kind of attached to her.
But instead of the usual greeting and maybe a new joke they came up with she was greeted with news. Naruto was back. He was somewhere in the village. Without wasting a second Sakura took off, not even slowing down for Konohamaru and his friends. She wanted to see him apologize for how she treated him. Make amends.
“Naruto” She hollered her hands cupping around her mouth.
He jumped down from the pole and when he stood in front of her. He looked almost exactly the same. Maybe a little taller but still the same smile, blue bright eyes. “When’d you get back to the village?” She finally asked her to breathe a little out of it.
“Not too long ago” He answered somewhat vaguely. He seemed calmer, maybe more mature. Sakura reached out and hugged him; he only stood there, his eyes widened before he returned. “I missed you” She said when she finally released him. He looked at her surprised for a moment.
But he quickly tried to change the topic. “I’m going to bring him back,” Sakura’s smiled faltered. But she couldn’t be mad at him. Not at Naruto who was simply grinning at her. He was trying to tend to everyone’s needs and wants. Trying to make everyone like him.
“Worry about yourself Naruto” She said the words sounding harsher than she meant. His smile faltered and confusion took over his features. “But he’s our team mate”
She nodded. He was right. She wasn’t abandoning Sasuke. Sasuke abandoned them. This wasn’t about her any more. She needed him to see her point. “Your my team mate too”
“But he’s sasuke,” He said voice getting louder. Sakura stepped closer. Her heeled boots tapping against the ground harshly. “And your Naruto” But her voice was spoken softly with no malice.
An annoyance took over his features and he shifted his attention over to Konohamaru. The boy had been begging for his attention the whole time. Even if Naruto got annoyed with her she’d say the same thing over again. She might’ve not noticed but Jiraya was giving her an approving nod from the side.
Somehow she made the two come with her to see Lady Tsunade. Naruto was still beaming with excitement after getting back to the village and Jiraya well he was happily obliged to go see Tsunade.
Naruto swung the door open and Tsunade picked her head up from the stack of papers she was staring at. But the annoyance disappeared from her face and a softer expression reappeared. "Naruto glad to see you back" She bellowed.
"Grandma I missed you too" Tsunade smiled, her eyes softening at the boy, then her attention shifted to the man beside him. He looked the same white spiky hair and even the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes.
The door opened and Shikamaru and Temari walked in. But they stopped not too far away from the door standing side by side. Awaiting for their hokage to notice and give them orders.
Sakura smiled, waving her hand slightly at Shikamaru. Just enough to get his attention. He was about to return the wave when Naruto jumped in front of Sakura. His excitement is getting the best of him. "Hey, does this mean you're my opponent?" He asked.
Shikamaru's brown knitted together clearly trying to stifle his annoyance. "I don't know what you're talking about" But Temari seemed to simply enjoy the show. She put a palm to her mouth and let out a small chuckle in amusement.
Clearing her throat, Tsunade decided to finally butt into the conversation. Despite her own amusement. "Not in here Naruto, look out the window," She said but she continued to look at Sakura. She knew her apprentice wasn't going to like this.
Naruto turned to her with a raised eyebrow but automatically jumped out the window in excitement. His feet carried him away and out of her sight. Sakura looks over to Tsunade in confusion, her eyebrow curling downward. "Kakashi sensei!" He yelled.
But she frowned slightly. Sakura hadn’t spoken to Kakashi in a while. Not since she bumped into him on her way to leave the tower and even then he didn’t say much. Personally Sakura didn’t have much for the man.
He wasn't much of a teacher before when team seven was together and wasn't there for her after when team seven disbanded. She didn't expect him to hold her hand; he was in the anbu after all. But was a little comforting too much to ask for?
The fight with Kakashi was quick of course. Naruto was a jinchuriki for the nine tails fox. He had spent almost three years training with the frog sage. And she had training with a sannin as well and the hokage. They both had grown further than anything he would have taught them.
Soon after the trial run with kakashi. Sakura and Naruto were summoned into Tsunade's office. They hadn’t been reunited for two hours and they had a mission. Team seven except there was no sasuke.
Sakura grabbed a spare uniform from her closet and turned towards her bed dodging Shikamaru who was leaning against the frame of her window with his arms crossed. He was waiting for Sakura to continue.
"I just don't want to hurt him," She said a little louder than her usual tone. The conversation had been going on ever since she had gotten home. Shikamaru thought she should be upfront about Sasuke. About what she wanted.
"Yea well Naruto's a big boy Sakura" She rolled her eyes. ‘Barely’ She couldn’t help but think. He hadn’t been inside the konoha for ten minutes and he was using his sexy jutsu. Still she continued to move around the bed and rummage through her dresser drawer.
He waited patiently and when she finally found the extra salves she had hid in her drawer she turned towards him. "They're my teammates," She argued. He stepped closer with his hands now in his pockets. "Who's going to protect you?" He asked, pressing further.
They had been through this same conversation before. Sakura was not sure if she made the right choice. Feeling like she was betraying her teammates. Just because she didn’t want to chase after Sasuke. But he had done that years ago.
"I don't need protecting" But when she looked over to him he was gone. That man could get on her nerves. But he was right, she wasn't going to follow along with Naruto. Risk her life for a guy that left her on a bench to join an enemy nin to her home.
The mission wasn’t simple and way more important than the last mission with Shikamaru. She had to Save Kankuro. She was the only one that knew how out of her team hell even in the village it was between her Tsunade and Shizune and maybe a few other Medic Ninjas like Ino.
They got their. Suna was just as hot as she remembered, maybe even hotter. Temari greeted them there but her face was disheveled. A frown on her lips and her hair messy. Gaara was kidnapped by the akatsuki and her other brother poisoned.
Sakura did what she could; she used herbs from their greenhouse creating an antidote to fight the poison. Putting her hair up in a ponytail she put her hands over Kankuro's chest just like she learned with the dead fish. But instead of a green chakra emitting from her head, black liquid emitted from his body and to her hands.
She saved Kankuro and she defeated an Akatsuki member. She helped save the life of the Kazekage. In only a span of days. She did things some shinobi could only dream of accomplishing but all her work had paid off.
The War was messy
Of course war was always going to be a horrible tragedy no matter what decade it happened in. People die, families are ruined. Life's changed.
She told her parents goodbye before she left the village. They were both civilians. A doctor and a sewer, they had no shinobi training. She told her friend's goodbye. She knew she wouldn't see them for a while if not at all.
Or ever again.
She had a job to do. Stay off of the front line. She promised Tsunade when she began teaching her. Unless she was absolutely needed out on the field. Keep the combat ninjas alive. Save lives. ‘Everyone had a job’.
“What about Shikamaru did you see him?” She asked, trying to keep the franticness out of her voice.
"I don't - I don't know Sakura," She said, snapping slightly. Sakura frowned, slowing down her movements. Shizune turned around rubbing a hand over her face tiredly. She just had so much to do. "Look I'm sorry I'll let you know once I know something" She said after letting out a sigh. A small forced smile on her face.
Sakura only nodded and watched the woman walk away. She continued on as a new patient was being delivered to her tent. Even if she knew there were a dozen if not more waiting for her outside the tent.
It didn’t take long until Sakura was forced into combat. A Zetsu infiltrated the camp pretending to be Neji. Then soon she was out in the field with the rest of the Allied Shinobi forces.
It was dark by now. Sakura was standing on a tall cliff. She had her hands to Naruto’s back as she tried to heal him with some of her remaining energy Sasuke dropped down in front of her view. Team seven was reunited.
But still she couldn’t help her eyes when they glanced at the ground and at him. Relief washing over her. Naruto was alright, her friends were alright, Shikamaru was alright. He could only look back at her nodding before he turned back towards his team mates.
The genjutsu fell and everyone began to wake up. Sakura did her part as a medic nin she healed Naruto and Sasuke's arms the best she could then when help arrived she ran back the other away until she was on the field.
Everyone was still waking up and coming out of the cocoons. Some people were injured and some people died. But when she spotted the man she was looking for she took off. She collapsed onto him making a sound escape from him.
"I was worried, '' she admitted. The surprise on his face quickly vanished and a softer expression replaced it. There they stood arms wrapped around each other on the battlefield. Bodies littered around them. Blood and dirt littered across their clothing.
"I can't believe you'd have such little faith in me" He said, making Sakura snort and shove at him slightly. Not pushing him far, especially since she was still holding onto his shirt.
Seconds passed before finally Sakura released her hold on him, breathing out a sigh. But she didn’t get up from her spot in front of him. “You looked like you were going to die dummy” She said sniffling slightly.
Shikamaru leaned his head back so he could get a look at sakura. To see if she was actually crying. Hell he felt like crying they just won the fourth great ninja war. His father was dead. “You know i always have a back up plan” He said as he rubbed his hand up and down her arm like he was trying to comfort her. But really he could use some comforting as well.
After the war Konoha was under construction for a while and still under construction after the attack from pain. Buildings were destroyed, important documents, even things less important but still significant and not replaceable were destroyed.
The shinobi and civilians came together to help rebuild their village. There were even some ninjas from other villages that came out to help. Some Suna ninjas, some hidden cloud ninjas. The alliance wasn’t over after the fourth great ninja war.
Sasuke being back was weird. But then he was gone as soon as he returned. He never stayed in Konoha for long, just long enough to get a new mission from kakashi. It was his way of redeeming himself, Naruto explained.
Sakura watched the ceremony with a big smile on her face. Happy for her best friend. Even if her eyes were beginning to get teary. She just wiped the corner of them with her thumb, the water dropping onto her pink gloss coated nails.
If Sakura was honest she never believed Naruto would be the first out of the Rookie team to get married. But then again she never thought she’d be where she was now, not in a million years ago. But still she wouldn’t change a thing.
After the war Sakura and Shikamaru moved in together in a weird way. The war gave them a push to get together. Even if they were together in a sort of way. Seeing their friends and family dying around them. It was just a reminder not to waste any time they could die at any moment.
Sakura walked into the bathroom picking at the hoop earring on her ear. “It was a beautiful ceremony wasn’t it?” She asked before dropping the earring onto the sink causing a slight clunk in return.
After getting her second eating out she frowned when there was no reply. He was just behind her. Switching the light off she walked out wondering why Shikamaru wasn’t answering her.
“Shikamaru?” She whispered.
In front of her Shikamaru was kneeling on the carpet of their bedroom. Still in his suit from earlier except his tie was nowhere to be found. He had a small black box open and a ring propped out the palm of his hand.
“I'm not very good at speeches but- " Sakura could only chuckle at him but tears had begun to fall down her cheeks making her eyeliner smear slightly. They were happy tears of course.
It was all just so overwhelming. She reached out and graced the box with her fingers before she ran her hand up so that she was holding onto his wrist. Fingers squeezing three times.
"I used to think I wanted an easy life and to settle down" He admitted looking down at the floor then back up at her. Like he was trying to gather the courage or the words. "But then I realized what I was missing without you"
"What I'm trying to say is will you marry me Sakura?” He asked with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He always liked to surprise her and throw her off her game. Well she was definitely surprised she could barely come up with words.
Nodding her head quickly. Tears pricked at the corner of her eyes. “Yes,” She answered, in a whispered tone before she said it louder, until she was yelling at that point.
Before throwing herself down at him. Falling to her knees he held her by her waist with his free hand. So she grasped the back of his neck with one hand the other running through his hair messing it up as she leaned in to kiss him, melting into the kiss.