Hey! so this is my first ever fanfiction, in fact, my first attempt at writing at all, so go easy on me. This story takes place directly after Sasuke tells Sakura that she's worse than Naruto after she asks him out (yet again)after their mission to the Land of Waves. And because I'm lazy, you can go read the synopsis then come back here. This I how I wish Sakura's character had progressed/had been structured. Im assuming you all know what the character look like so I'm not bothering to describe them, unless its necessary to the story. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto blah blah blah.

"Thoughts"

"Speaking"

It was late in the afternoon, the sun just beginning its descent over the horizon. A pair of blue sandalled feet dangled above a slow moving river. These feet belonged to one Sakura Haruno, a currently depressed kunoichi of the Village Hidden in the Leaf.

"He's right you know. In all our missions, I'm the one who does the least. The one who always has to be protected." She thought, releasing a long sigh.

For once, her inner persona was silent.

"Is this where we really want to be? Sasuke-kun and Naruto are just going to continue to grow and we're going to be left behind."

"Maybe if you start now, you can catch up."

Sakura released another defeated sigh. Thinking, "But I have no talent! I'm smart, that's about it! The boys are way ahead of me in everything else!"

"You idiot!"

Sakura flinched at the volume. Inner Sakura probably would be slapping her if she could.

"We have a gift that most people don't! We, or, I guess you, are a certifiable genius! With intelligence, everything is made easier. You can develop physical capabilities, but it's much harder to develop mental strength."

Sakura was shocked. "Where did all this come from?" she queried.

"It's always been here. This is that nagging feeling you always had, but were too overwhelmed with Sasuke-kun. Now that you're actually thinking about this, I can bring forth what you already know."

Sakura pondered this for a moment. Furrowing her brow in confusion, "You know, I don't think we've ever been over this. What are you exactly?" She asked, curious as to where the ditzy, Sasuke obsessed inner went.

"I am you, but I am not you."

"That's helpful." Sakura frowned.

"If you would let me finish..."

"Oh. Sorry." She blushed.

"As I was saying, I am you in the sense that your goals, wishes, desires, essentially, what makes you, you, are also what makes me. However, I am not you because I am also capable of independent thought. I don't know how or why, but that's that. Whenever you think of something, even just your subconscious, it's as if my mind is synced with yours but we take alternate pathways from then on. Like a tree."

"Ah. I see. The roots and trunk being the starting point and the branches being the separate ways we think about them?"

"Yes. So now, because you're actually thinking about improving yourself, so am I. Sasuke-kun aside."

Sakura was starting to get a headache thinking about this. Pushing her obvious mental illness aside, she pondered the idea of her actually training. Part of her had always been afraid, afraid to fail, so she never bothered to try. But now, realizing that it was get better or be left behind, there was significantly more motivation. With a determined gleam in her eye, she turned inward.

"Okay, we've determined that there are more important things than Sasuke-kun. So, what's the plan?" She asked, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders as she let herself let go of her childhood crush. It wasn't as hard she she thought it would be.

"Easy. We train. Physically, spiritually, mentally. Physical training in the morning, meditation in the afternoon, weapons and ninjutsu in the evening, and scrolls at night."

Sakura nodded and stood up, stretching slightly. She then strode off to Hokage tower to talk to someone who had a vast amount of knowledge that she could utilize.

"Sarutobi-sama." Sakura said, bowing politely. Luckily the tower was relatively empty.

"Ah, Sakura-chan, what can I do for you?" The old man said kindly, from behind his mountains of paperwork.

"I would like access to the scroll vaults, as many as I can get. I'm looking to increase my training," She explained. She quickly added, "I promise I'll take good care of them!" Seeing the Hokage's observing stare, she began to fidget.

"Uhm...Sarutobi-sama?" She asked timidly.

The old man started, "Ah yes! My apologies Sakura-chan, I was merely observing what a change a little determination can make in a person," he said, smiling wisely. He handed out a small slip of paper. "This will get you access to vaults 1 and. Now I know they're below your level, so just go though them and check if there's anything you missed or need a refresher on. Then come back and see me. I'll write you another slip for vaults 3 and 4."

Sakura stood, shocked. She grasped the paper, checking to see that he was indeed telling the truth. She had honestly expected to be declined.

"B-but sir... vaults 3 and 4 are for high ranking chunnin and low ranking jounin! Even vault 2 is designed for a chunnin!" She exclaimed, flustered.

Sarutobi smiled, "Yes, that's true, but you are good enough to handle higher level scrolls," he remarked casually, "just promise me you'll work hard."

Sakura nodded vigorously, still in shock. With a final smile, Sarutobi returned to his paperwork, an obvious dismissal. Sakura exited the office, hearing a final, "good luck," before she closed the door. After a couple minutes, the information finally sunk in. Sakura grinned, letting out a small girlish squeal, to which Inner Sakura raised an eyebrow. She quickly raced off to the scroll vaults to pick up her new treasures.

After getting some strange looks, she exited with three new scrolls. One each for taijustsu, genjutsu, and ninjutsu. Sarutobi was right however, these vaults were too low ranking for her mind. She had quickly ran through vault 1, finding nothing she didn't already know from reading and watching other shinobi train. Vault 2 was better, but not by much. She would be done in a few days.

Nonetheless, it was a great way to end the first day of the rest of her life.

Hope you liked it! Short chapter, I know. Please review! Or don't, but it would be nice if you did.