Rewriting Naruto Shippuden

Chapter 9

Naruto was on his knees and started to fold in on himself. 'I failed... again... I'm... powerless...' Naruto started to sob. Sakura looked at her friend and tried to hold back tears. She turned away and started rubbing at her eyes, saying, "Crying... won't bring him back to us!" Ino walked over and hugged her friend. Sakura started to stutter through the sobs she was trying to force back, "I'm st-still with you... We'll g-get st-stronger... t-together!" As Sakura buried her face in Ino's shoulder and hugged her back, Ino thought, 'You still love Sasuke a lot... even after all this time, don't you Sakura?' Sai looked at the two then said, "You've still got about six months. And since three's better than two, and I'm pretty strong as it is." Sakura left Ino's embrace as Shikamaru said, "It's a drag, but I think you can make that seven." Choji nodded while helping Asuma to his feet. Naruto wiped his eyes but didn't stand back up. Sakura looked at everyone with a still slightly sad smile, "Heh, thank you. Thank you for everything."

Tsunade nodded after hearing the team's report of their failed mission, "I see." She looked over the team again and asked, "Well?" Naruto firmly answered, "We're not giving up." Tsunade smiled, "Heh... Okay then, I've actually already got another mission lined up."

Sai kneeled in front of his superior. "It's very unlike you to fail, even a little bit." Sai stated, "I have a request." Danzo asked, "A request?" Sai nodded, "Yes." He looked Danzo in the eyes and asked, "May I keep this name, and remain with team Kakashi for a bit longer?" To Danzo's surprise, Sai had a genuine smile on his face. 'That smile...' Danzo said, "That is something up to Tsunade. Just remember, Sai, emotions breed hatred and hatred breeds war." Sai thought back to Sasuke's words, 'I have a bond... one of hatred for my brother.' "I suppose that is true," Sai agreed. 'But...' He thought back to his time with the team and more specifically, Haruno Sakura. 'She's someone that I was finally able to... connect with.'

Sai looked down at his newly completed picture book then over to the scroll with the word "comrade" on it. He set them both down to the left of him. He stared at the word while thinking of team Kakashi and remembering his brother. Sai smiled then turned to the canvas in front of him, picking up a paint brush. He then heard a yell from outside his window, "HEEEEEY! SAAAAAAAAIIIIII!!!" He walked over to the open window to see Naruto yelling to get his attention with Sakura and Yamato behind him. Sai grabbed his mission bag then walked out his front door to leave.

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The team just finished up a simple escort mission to the land of rivers. Naruto and Sai broke off from the group while Yamato left to turn in the mission report. Sakura followed him, "Captain Yamato!" Yamato asked, "Yes, Sakura-san?" She reminded, "Captain Yamato, if it's at all possible, could you please find some time in your schedule to teach me how to suppress the kyuubi's chakra?" Yamato sighed, 'I was kinda hoping she forgot about that.' Yamato started, "The issue isn't the lack of time, the issue is I don't believe it would be possible for you." Sakura said, "But we won't know for sure unless we try, please Captain Yamato." Yamato commented, "You truly are adamant about this aren't you..." Before Sakura could respond, Yamato asked, "Just how do you plan on drawing out enough chakra for the technique while sending chakra to the 100 healings seal all day?" Sakura, who had already prepared for this question, answered, "I'll find a way to funnel chakra into the seal in my sleep. I'm not certain it's possible, but in theory it should work and I think I know a way to make it work." Yamato said, "In theory and in practice are two different things." Sakura's face showed her disappointment before it rehardened, she was still determined, "I understand that." Yamato said, "Many people have attempted to control chakra in their sleep, but everyone has fail-" Sakura said, louder than she meant, "But I haven't!" She took a deep breath to calm down, "Captain Yamato, please, all I'm asking is that you give me the chance to try. So... please." Yamato thought, 'Sakura, are you-?' "One week." Sakura let out an audibly confused, "Huh?" Yamato continued, "If you can find a way to funnel chakra in your sleep within a week, I'll happily teach you the technique. If you fail, you won't bother me about this again, it's not up for debate. Okay?" Sakura's face lit up and she turned around to run to start training. She yelled back, "Thank you, Captain Yamato! I won't let you down!"