Predecessor

Wisdom

When school is let out for the day, Sakura first visits Magire in the hospital and sure enough, he's in his office buried beneath a tonne of paperwork. It's not easy work being the Head of the hospital, and while injuries aren't major all of the time, there is still so much to be taken care of.

Sakura knocks twice and then enters his office.

"Sakura-san," he acknowledges, with an almost sad smile. There are bags under his eyes paired with deadly dark rings and stress eats away at his complexion.

"Magire-sensei..." murmurs the Haruno upon closer inspection of the man, "Are you okay?"

"Un, just a slight fever," he brushes off. "I apologise. I don't think I can take our lesson today."

Sakura smiles and shakes her head. "Sensei, that's okay. I was about to tell you that today I am meeting with Tsuna-chan," she informs.

"Ehhh, Sakura-san, you've finally coerced her into teaching you!"

"It must've been Anko, Magire-sensei, this is all happening out of the blue," giggles Sakura, and she's ecstatic. "I just wanted to say, before I go, that my training with Tsuna-chan definitely definitely won't get in the way of our lessons! You will, after all, always be my first teacher."

Magire blinks at the girl in surprise and - for the first time since he has entered his office - he cracks a smile.

"Mou, Sakura-san," he laughs gently, "Tsunade-sama can teach you much more than I."

Which isn't a lie. Magire may be the head of the hospital, but this is only a temporary position since he was the most qualified shinobi at the time. He longs for the days where he can return to the likes of an active shinobi, however doesn't mind the peace of being able to help his people from within. Much better than espionage.

Much better than assassination.

He smiles wistfully and averts his eyes to the left.

"I am a shinobi who specialises in poisons and medical ninjutsu," he reminds her, "Isn't that ironic."

Sakura's brow furrows and she puts a foot forward, unsure of what he's getting at. But judging from the look on his face, she isn't supposed to like it.

"Sensei! You have taught me a lot, too!"

From their very first lesson, it had been clear that Magire had no desire to teach Sakura anything to do with murder. He believes that medical ninjutsu is the only knowledge he should - and will ever - pass down to the next generation. He won't be able to stand it if he knows the type of killer he's made Sakura into. So he most definitely trained her in poison and  antidote recognition.

And she's a lovely girl. She doesn't deserve to know one hundred and one more ways to end a life. Not before her time anyway. She's only in the academy, after all!

"If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been able to hone my medical ninjutsu. I wouldn't be able to control my chakra as much as I can right now," Sakura insists fiercely. Magire's eyes widen. "Magire-sensei, I —!" She stops.

The door opens. It's Anko.

"Sacchan, aren't you going to be late?"

The pink haired girl jumps. "Eh?"

"You're gonna be late and Tsuna-chan will be upset," sings the Mitarashi, and it's enough to shake Sakura to her very core. Immediately, she forgets her conversation with her sensei and bows quickly, excitement fleeting to her eyes.

"Oh no! Magire-sensei, I'll visit again! Thank you and goodbye! Bye, Anko!"

The Haruno darts out the door and as it closes, a sinister aura starts to settle in. Anko zeros in on Magire and leans in close, over his desk.