Sakura Shippuden (#2 Sakura Trilogy)

Sakura Shippuden: [Chapter 16]

Sakura had thought she would get along with her new teammate, and it wasn't that she couldn't stand being around him, but there was something that disturbed her. She felt herself stiffen whenever he looked at her, or when his eyes met hers. Sakura just didn't know what it was. All because of a few hours ago.

Sakura took her time wandering the village, still having some time before her meeting with her team. It was early enough in the morning that there were others out and about, the sun only now beginning to rise. She watched the beginnings of purples and pinks tint the sky from the Hokage Mountains, her mind at peace.

When she had risen and returned to the inner village, to the Hokage Tower, Sakura stopped when she caught sight of a figure underneath a tree. She crept closer, curious. They were sitting and leaning on the tree with their back to her, but because it was only the early morning, she was not able to make out the person's identity. Sakura blinked.

The figure turned and gave her a closed-eyed smile that required too much effort. "Hello." Sai's dark eyes looked over her person before returning to whatever was in his lap.

Sakura approached, then crouched to see what it was that had him so focused. As it turned out to be, it was a sketchbook, and the drawings inside were almost as if looking at a picture. She watched him record the shading before the sun obscured his drawing, then stated, "I did not perceive you as an artist." After a moment of still silence, she tried again. Talking to a person about their interests was a good way to have them open up. "Artists name their pieces. What are you going to name this particular piece?"

Sai turned his head once again and gave her a smile. "I do not name my works. I complete them and then move onto the next." He went back to drawing, putting in the finishing touches as the sky was now an orange-red color and the had sun risen even higher. True to his word, he drew in the precise lines for the Hokage Tower, then shut the sketchbook without signing it. He stood, placing his sketchbook into his red bag, then stared at her. "Why is it you are so invested in me? Do you have romantic feelings for me?"

Sakura scrutinised him blankly, dumbfounded. She crossed her arms, shook her head, and said, "I do not. I am under the impression that you are attempting reverse psychology on me. Are you sure it is not you that has romantic feelings for me? If so, I am friend-zoning you." The pink-haired girl watched for a reaction, but received nothing in return. She still wasn't used to someone not showing their emotions like her.

Sai smiled again, tilting his head. "You are under the wrong impression. I do not have any feelings towards you, romantic or platonic, Homely." Then he promptly hopped onto the roof of the Academy, then the staircase heading up to the Hokage Tower for their debriefing.

Sakura nearly slipped on the mossy branch she had landed on after fleeing the scene. She was currently hiding in the branches of the same tree she had been under minutes ago, waiting for Yamato to show up so she wouldn't have to face Sai alone and thinking of a suitable nickname for him. Tactless, maybe? Her nickname didn't really matter to her, because she was a shinobi, and shinobi are merely tools. At least, that's what she used to think. Sakura's friends and family constantly drilled her with terms such as 'self-care', 'beauty routine', and more. She couldn't help but feel uneasy of the small, wriggling feeling that had managed to escape her mind's grasp, but she quickly squashed it, instead reconsidering the reasons behind her nickname. As time continued to pass, the chatter in the streets grew as more and more vendors and markets started to prepare for later.

He was an odd person and, like her, impressionable. If Sai had been misinformed on the meaning of a nickname, then it would explain his for her. There was always the counter argument that perhaps it was her that had it wrong, but she also had friends and family that happened to be very well-acquainted with emotions.

She watched the tire swing below her sway lazily in the wind before her attention was snatched by a figure climbing up the stairwell. Yamato. Sakura quickly hopped down, then followed him all the way to the office. The ANBU stationed stared straight ahead, not batting an eye as she trailed in behind her team, and finally standing on her opposite side of her new sensei.

Sakura momentarily pushed away her scheming because there were a few interesting things already happening in the Hokage's office. She was surprised to see Tsunade awake early in the morning, but more importantly, she was talking to a blue and white blob on her desk. The pink-haired girl considered the occurrence and came to two possible conclusions: either Tsunade was indeed not as sane as she had hoped, or the blob was actually able to speak. Still, both explanations weren't very plausible.

Tsunade brightened, sitting up in her chair as all three shinobi stood attentively. "Hello, Team Kakashi. I'm assigning your first mission together as a squad. Yamato will be leading as superior, and Sakura and Sai, you two will abide to his rules." She folded her hands and gestured to the blob on her desk. "This is Katsuyu, my summon." The blob turned and waved its antennae slowly at them. "She has kindly agreed to host you three as the first people to visit the Shikkotsu forest. The objective of this mission is for Sakura to learn chakra-applied healing with Katsuyu. Yamato and Sai will be accompanying her. You'll be staying there for as long as it takes, so I suggest you cancel plans for the next month, at least."

Sakura, Sai, and Yamato stared at her blankly. They were all non-socialising shinobi that had much in common, even if they refused to see it.

Tsunade coughed awkwardly. "Right. This is a B-ranked mission, as it is pertinent that Sakura learns how to manipulate chakra in a medicinal manner." She reached over her desk and handed Yamato a scroll, who scanned the information quickly, memorising it, then burnt it after he was confident he understood. "Any questions before we proceed to the next step?"

Sakura stared at the slug, its antennae still moving curiously. "Why is it necessary that I do not learn from you?" She had waited long for her shishou to finally let her learn medical jutsu, so why was she just now being told she wasn't going to be taught by her?

Tsunade rested her chin on her hand. "Katsuyu here is a legendary entity that excels in healing. Also, Shikkotsu forest will be an ideal environment to practice control over Shōkuton." Before anymore inquires could be made, she gestured away. "Before Katsuyu can perform Gyaku Kuchiyose no Jutsu, she'll need to be signed to one of you." She paused. "And by one of you, I mean Sakura."

A cloud of white appeared, revealing a scroll. "You must sign in blood, Sakura-san, in order to have a contract with me," the slug spoke softly for the first time. "You can summon me anytime, as long as if your chakra availability allows you to. If you wish to sever our contract later, you only need to tell me so." Katsuyu's antennae bobbed as she spoke.

Sakura stepped forward, opening the scroll. There were a few names, but she recognized only two: Tsunade and Hashirama's. She bit her thumb, a bead of blood already forming at her fingertip, and quickly signed her name. With another poof, it disappeared after she finished.

Katsuyu spoke again, her mouth puckering. "The reverse summoning requires you, Sakura-san, to connect with your teammates so you aren't the only one being transported. A warning, though; it is known to give some aftereffects such as nausea and headaches. I hope you're ready."

Tsunade smirked, watching all three hold hands in a circle, enjoying how uncomfortable they all seemed. She gave a small wave before leaning back in her chair. "Do well, Team Kakashi. Remember your objective." She locked eyes with Yamato and nodded solemnly just as all three disappeared. The blonde looked down at the slug. "Don't go easy on my student, Katsuyu."

Katsuyu gave a slight nod. "I wouldn't dream of it, Tsunade-sama." And then she disappeared too, leaving the Hokage alone once again in her office.

[A/N]: I'm very excited to create a visual of the unknown Shikkotsu Forest. Also, there's some friction between Sakura and Sai?