Sakura Shippuden (#2 Sakura Trilogy)

Sakura Shippuden: [Chapter 12]

Tsunade folded her hands together as Inoichi entered the Hokage's office, carrying a manila folder in. She reclined back in her chair and sighed, massaging her temples.

"Bad day?" The Yamanaka patriarch inquired, taking a seat across from her. He rifled through the file, pulling out a few individual papers and placing them on her desk.

She leaned her head back, pushing air through her nostrils forcefully. "She's good, that Sakura is. She is good." Tsunade paused, sitting up. "Every task I give her, she accomplishes successfully, every book I assign, she memorizes. I need to push her. How do I break her?"

Inoichi pushed the papers forward. "Sakura thus far has responded well in group therapy, but I think that pairing her with the Harunos had a more positive, educational influence on her. Ino informed me that Sakura is much more acclimated to reading others compared to her Academy days. On top of that, I've also noticed one of my more withdrawn patients in her group speaking to her. Hokage-sama, you don't need to break Sakura. You need to challenge her in what we know she's lacking. Diplomacy. Consideration. Tact." He watched Tsunade scan the papers quickly, the corners of her lips twisting. "She's always learned best in first-hand experiences that have a direct impact on her."

Tsunade shook with repressed laughter, looking up from the documents. "You T&I people are quite the team, I must admit. I'll call Shizune after her shift so she can assist you in compiling a list." She nodded to the second folder. "Right now, though, talk to me about Hatake. I sure as hell want to break him."

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Sakura was a natural, according to Tsunade. With her perfect chakra control mastered at such a young age, and her knowledge under her belt, the blonde was convinced that Sakura would be even better than her in the future. She had left Sakura in her office at the hospital, with large textbooks on anatomy and medical techniques. "Before we move to chakra, you need to know the human body inside and out," Tsunade had told her, then left.

And so, Sakura studied. Most of the information she knew from deep inside her, something she disdained greatly. She was going to become a medic-nin through her own work. Everywhere she went, every second of free time, Sakura memorized and cataloged the information, eager to start her actual training. She was going to be the best damned medic the shinobi world had ever seen, and she wasn't going to be just that. She would be a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, too; Sakura Haruno was going to be a combat medic.

However, the extra time she put into her studies meant neglecting other fields. After a couple of weeks of following the same pattern, Sakura could tell it was off-putting to Mebuki and Kizashi, but they supported her studies nonetheless. Hashirama hadn't contacted her again since her taijutsu training with Tsunade, but she found that the nightmares and whispers became a mere dullness in the back of her mind, although she hadn't been trying nor willing to use her powers for a while. He had told her that she needed something to work towards, and becoming a proficient medic-nin was just that. For the first time in a while, Sakura felt at peace in a way, different from her surprise birthday outing. Since calling forth Shōkuton, Sakura was told that she looked healthier, too.

"Your hair is much softer and your complexion isn't so dull," Mebuki commented, placing a steaming mug on the table, then sat down across from her. She smiled, shaking her head at Sakura's apathy towards appearance. The pink-haired girl continued reading, only nodding in acknowledgement to her words. Not that she had ever looked bad, per se, but she certainly looked better. Sakura's cheeks had a tint to them and she finally had some meat on her bones. Her eyebrow twitched in affectionate annoyance as she thought of Kizashi's new devotion to baking since he learned Sakura liked sweets, partially crediting this discovery for her weight gain. She leaned forward, sipping her from her own mug and looking over the papers being studied.

"Ah. I have started the basics of medical training," Sakura said, looking up. She checked the clock hanging in the living room before shuffling her papers together and taking a large gulp of her tea. "Nothing with chakra yet. Shishou wishes for me to learn how to medically assist others in the case of chakra depletion." Sakura set down her empty mug and pushed back the chair she was sitting in.

Mebuki also stood, taking both their mugs and placing them in the sink. She turned back to Sakura curiously. "Are you going somewhere?" She watched the girl cross her arms in an almost-stubborn fashion.

"Ino and the others have been insisting that I join them for a 'GDO', as she called it," Sakura replied, pulling on her knee-high boots. "I believe she called it a 'girl's day out', although Tenten claimed it meant a 'girl's deadly occupation'." She brushed off her pink medic skirt and then opened the door. "Farewell, Mebuki. I will return in approximately two hours."

Mebuki could barely hide the smile on her face. Thank Kami for Ino Yamanaka, insisting Sakura get out more often. She nodded coolly and said, "Enjoy yourself." She watched her raise a hand in thanks before leaving, her pink hair blown back by the beginnings of a summer breeze.

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Things couldn't really get any worse than being stripped of all shinobi titles and duties, Kakashi had thought, being hauled by two ANBU to the Hokage's office.

He had thought wrong.

Despite having chakra blockers, the Council had taken extra caution with him. His keen eyes narrowed. Compared to what seemed like newly-recruited nin, Kakashi had years of experience that put the odds in his favor, despite having a pitiful amount of chakra in his system. Apparently being confined to his apartment wasn't enough punishment for those sadists, he mused, now standing face to face with the Hokage. He bowed with much grandeur. "Hokage-sama," Kakashi drawled. "To whom do I owe the pleasure of being graciously bestowed with your presence?" He smiled beneath his mask, sensing the ANBU stiffen.

"Shut it, Hatake." Tsunade stood up from her desk and slowly made her way to him. Her amber eyes inspected him closely, then dropped as she turned and meandered to the window. "I'm not going to exchange pleasantries. We both know the only reason your brain hasn't been turned to mush by Ibiki yet is because you're an asset to the village, unfortunately." The blonde moved to her desk and sat down, shuffling a few papers. She made a gesture, and the ANBU left the room.

Kakashi stared at her expectantly. For someone as prideful as Tsunade, it was a shock to hear her admit such a thing. Tsunade cleared her throat, slipping on her glasses. She held the paper back and read: "Kakashi Hatake, age twenty-eight, former ANBU. Former member of Team Namikaze and currently the only surviving member..." She listed off his accomplishments, all feats no mere shinobi could perform, then stared at him momentarily, folding her hands innocently. "All these achievements, and three scrawny genin were your fall?"

He clenched his jaw, his armor chipping. It didn't go unnoticed by her. Checkmate. Tsunade stalked forward.

"What was it about them? Was it that brat, Uchiha? Anyone would have gotten tired of his pissy attitude. Or was it Naruto, son of the Fourth? You couldn't bear looking at the face of Minato, couldn't excuse your abandonment of your sensei's legacy, couldn't help but fear that you would fail him too?" Tsunade stopped in front of him, crossing her arms. "Or was it Sakura? Perhaps you saw something in her that you could never forgive, something you could never forget," she goaded, watching his eyes narrow. "You saw yourself in that girl, and you fucking know it."

[A/N]: Wow I really needed to write this chapter and I didn't realize it until I started typing. I didn't even plan for the chapter to be like this, but I guess I can push off the original plan back a chapter.