Sakura Shippuden (#2 Sakura Trilogy)

Sakura Shippuden: [Chapter 13]

To Sakura-chan.

Sakura flipped over the letter curiously, Hiroto, Shino, and Shikamaru peeking over her shoulder. "Ramen-boy," she explained, taking a kunai out and tearing the envelope open.

The Nara pshed and turned back to the ragged shogi board, sighing. The other two boys only nodded, then turned back to what they were doing, Shino watching an anthill and Hiroto returning to his game with Shikamaru. Sakura discreetly peered at the civilan before looking down once more to the letter in her hands. Hiroto had gotten along swimmingly with her friends, as she had expected. Out of all the people she was around frequently, they were the most quiet and likely to be accepted by him. Sakura would wait for the others until he was acclimated to their current setting before imposing Ino and Lee onto him.

"Ah." Shikamaru actually looked interested, for once, prompting her and Shino to turn. If the legendary shogi master was surprised, that meant something was going on.

Hiroto sat up straight. "What is it?" He folded one of his legs up to his chest, the other still splayed on the ground. His career-ending leg, Sakura thought, before analyzing the board. Hiroto's face twitched as all their attention was directed towards him. He wilted slightly.

Shikamaru yawned, scratching his head and finding a piece of grass. He pulled it out and rubbed his eye, then pointed towards their game. "That was an interesting move. Not one you see everyday." He eyed his opponent and shrugged. "Whatever. You're definitely better than Asuma-sensei."

Hiroto nodded tentatively, watching the board intently. "Sakura-san lent me a book about shogi. It was a little dry at first, but the voice of the author made it bearable." He offered a courteous smile, picking at the hem of his pants, then moved to pulling out grass. Shino and Sakura redirected their attention to their own tasks at hand.

Hiya, Sakura-chan!

We just passed through Suna and guess what? I had forgotten Baa-chan told us about the new Kazekage, so you can imagine the surprise when I came face-to-face with Gaara! He really has changed, and it's awesome! The people are still scared of him, but I think they'll eventually learn that he's a great guy!

Anyways, what are you up to? Has Baa-chan taught you anything useful? I'm still training really hard, so we can take the next chūnin exam! They've gotta let us enter with a two-man squad, right?

I've gotta go. I don't know where I'm heading next, but I'll send Gamakichi to you when I find out! He's getting pretty big, and I think his attiude is, too.

See ya, Naruto.
(P.S. Sorry my letters have been so short lately. My training has increased even more, and it's getting to be a lot, even for me.)

Sakura stared at the letter, sighed, then looked up to meet curious gazes. She raised a brow, then explained, "Ramen-boy met the recently-coronated Kazekage." Her green eyes slid to Shikamaru. "I am sure you were already aware, though. You are interning at the Hokage's office, are you not?"

He yawned again and nodded. "Yeah. Political relations between the two are crucial. Something bad is in the air, and Konoha allied with Suna is a good thing for the both of us. My team went there to escort one of the diplomats a while ago." Shikamaru stretched. "And it resulted with a treaty, but it's a bit shaky because no one is willing to fully trust the other. It's no wonder, though. If everyone is like that one girl," he shuddered, "then I can understand why."

Shino bobbed his head in agreement. "Her brother Kankurō was a mentionable opponent against my kikaichū." He adjusted his sunglasses and ducked back into the collar of his jacket.

Sakura folded up the letter and packed it away in her pouch just as Shizune approached, the grass rustling as it gave way to her sandals. "Ah, Shikamaru, Sakura. You two are needed by Tsunade-sama." She subdued a squealing Tonton, and smiled apologetically as the lazy boy groaned and leaned backwards, landing on the ground. The grass did little to cushion his fall.

✿ ✿ ✿

Sakura and Shikamaru swiftly left behind their friends and followed Shizune back to the Hokage Tower. "Tsunade-sama will explain everything," she assured them, opened the doors, and left. Alone sat the blonde, nursing a bottle of saké. She quickly opened a file cabinet and hid it safely just in time. "Hello, you two."

"Hn," the teens grunted. It was a village holiday, and that meant no missions or practice...so what were they doing there?

Tsunade smiled and shook her head at their blunt response, but spoke nonetheless. She pulled put a file and handed it to Shikamaru to read. His brows raised as he looked from her to Sakura, then nodded and dutifully stepped next to her desk. "I have news, Sakura."

This caused Sakura's mind to start running different ideas and theories through her head that made her apprehensive, although she didn't show it. Had they found more information about her origin? Was Sasuke returning to Konoha? Did Naruto and Jiraiya become hostages in Sunagakure?

"I have a new team for you, Sakura. You've been cleared to join a team once again, but both of your teammates are absent. We had to improvise."

The pink-haired teenager's facial expression didn't change, but on the inside, Hashirama was excited. That means you have another chance at creating bonds! Sakura, this is important! Sakura nodded, and replied to both people talking to her. "Hai." She was starting to feel a tad disturbed that he could just pop in and out of thoughts when he pleased. The Hokage smirked, then called out for someone to come in. Sakura didn't turn, but waited for the people, two it sounded like, to stand beside her. To her slight satisfaction, they were both males, judging by their height as the two stepped up on both of her sides. Most females were put off by her. She was only just now coming to terms with it, though. Inoichi had told her it was a protective mechanism that allowed her to ignore other people's emotional needs.

"Is something wrong, Sakura?" Her green eyes rose to meet hazel.

"There is not," she replied, seeing the one on her right peering at her curiously.

"Good!" The Hokage laughed, then pulled out a bottle of saké. "You three can leave, then. Introduce yourselves, or whatever. Tomorrow you get your first mission, so there's that too. Make sure to pack for a wet environment." Tsunade tapped her chin, thinking. "Also! Be quiet on the way out. I told Shizune this meeting wasn't ending for another fifteen minutes. And now," she muttered, rubbing her hands together as her eyes gleamed down on the bottle, "it's just you and I." Shikamaru snorted next to her, then opened the window to climb out and find someplace where he could take a nap without being disrupted, dammit. "Not so fast, Nara." Tsunade grabbed his collar and yanked him away from his escape, then saw to the team's absence.

"Hai, Hokage-sama." The man on her left bowed respectfully, along with the person on Sakura's right. However, instead of thinking further on her new sensei, she pondered the obscure idea of her teacher speaking to saké bottles. Perhaps she is not as sane as I initially perceived.

"At least someone respects me, huh, Sakura?" Tsunade laughed and tipped her head back slightly to drink her second cup of alcohol. "You should learn from them." She watched them file out, then turned to Shikamaru, her eyes holding no haze to them. "Has Sakura told you about any encounters with strange people? Say, a certain councilman?"

Shikamaru shrugged out of her grasp and rested his head on his upward arms. "No. She has been more communicative, though."

"Not about everything." Tsunade pulled an additional document from the folder and set it on the desk. "Danzō recounted a recent meeting with her, and has used it as justification for planting one of his own into the new Team Kakashi." The two stared down at the rather accomplished résumé in dismay. A pair of ink-black eyes stared up emotionlessly at them.

[A/N]: Reappearance of Hiroto mixing with friends and also! NEW! TEAM!

Also, just wanted to check up on everyone that's being quarantined right now. I hope this chapter managed to be at least a little uplifting. Anyway, how are you guys? What have you been doing to stave off boredom?