The rest of the day for Sakura had been extremely dismal. She returned to her parents house angrily after her confrontation with Tsunade and went straight to her room without speaking to anyone. Of course, her mother came a few moments after Sakura's arrival and knocked on her door, but Sakura didn't answer, and simply cried softly into her pillow as she laid on her bed. She couldn't believe that everyone was against her. She knew her family was wealthy and that she herself would one day need to produce and heir to continue on her line, but all this time, even with her family hounding her about marrying, she thought that at least she would have been able to choose when and whom she married. Apparently though, she had been wrong.

As she laid silently crying into her pillow, images of Sasuke and Naruto training with Kakashi came swimmingly into mind and she began to cry harder. She wanted to believe the boy she grew up infatuated with would one day return her feelings and settle down with her. She wanted to believe that everyone had a happy ending. She wanted to believe that Sasuke would be her knight and shinning armor and protect her from everything and anything...but as she cried, she soon found that all along, she knew these were foolish dreams of a girl long over due for a slap in the face.

But damn, she never realized the slap would hurt so bad. A pang of anguish pinched at her heart, but her sobs soon became slight hiccups and she rolled over to face her bedroom ceiling. She knew without Lady Tsunade's help and training, she would never become anything better than she already was at the healing arts. She knew she would have to face not only her family but her Hokage as well soon enough and perhaps maybe after all this time, she needed to grow up and forget about crazy things she knew were just that, dreams she clung to desperately like a child to a blanket in the dark.

As she laid on her bed, distracted by her thoughts, another knock at her door awoke her to her surroundings and she sat up, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"C-Come in." She muffled a soft sob as her bedroom door opened and her mother entered. Sakura's mother was a surprisingly plump woman with bountiful curves that went on for miles. She had a delightful hour-glass figure that she showed off by wearing only outfits that suited her body type. But today her mother strode into her bedroom wearing a simple blue t-shirt and blue jeans with fuzzy white slippers, and her long pink hair pulled back into a neat bun. She smiled a warm smile at Sakura as she sat at the foot of her bed.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Sakura and her mother hadn't ever been very close, but as mother and daughter, they had a relationship as to where they could at least converse and share their problems to one another when things got tough.

"Mom I-" Sakura began, but her mother cut her off. "It's alright, Sakura. Your a strong girl. Your father told me he and Lady Tsunade spoke earlier about their proposal and you-"

Sakura suddenly jerked upright, "Proposal?" She asked curiously, and her mother nodded. "Of course dear, I thought you knew? Your father and Lady Tsunade made an agreement to find you a suitable husband within the next two months. Because you know that Tsunade borrowed quite a large sum of money from the family and hasn't paid a penny back yet."

Sakura froze in shock. Surely Lady Tsunade wouldn't use her to pay her father back the money she borrowed...would she?

"Oh Sakura, your a bright young woman and the family does need you to continue on the family line after we pass on. I am sorry we've burdened you with this but as you know, I can not bear any more children. When you were born, I nearly died with you still in my womb. We are lucky enough to have you here today."

As her mother spoke, Sakura could faintly hear her mothers voice echoing in her mind as her thoughts stayed on Lady Tsunade. Briefly, she could see why things were going the way they were.

"So I am just a pawn in Father and Lady Tsunade's game." Sakura hung her head with disappointment. How could Lady Tsunade do this to her? Force her to choose between what she wanted and didn't. For years, she looked up to her Hokage, and even went to her as a older sister when she was feeling blue. But this...No! She wouldn't believe it. She couldn't, no...she would confront the Hokage and ask her herself. This couldn't be right!

In seconds, Sakura was already on her feet and heading out the door with a puzzled mother still sitting on the foot of her bed. She would confront the Hokage, she thought opening her front door and taking off like a bat out of hell towards the Hokage's house. Over houses and streets she ran until she was standing back at Tsunade's house with a fiery look in her eyes. Determinedly, she rushed in and up the stairs to Lady Tsunade's office door and pushed it open without even asking permission to enter.

Tsunade stared unexpectedly with Shizune as Sakura entered and strode over to her desk, slapping the table with one hand. "You made a bet with my father?" She yelled, "Tsunade, how could you? Didn't you even consider my feelings?"

Tsunade reclined in her chair and tented her fingers, bowing her head in thought as Sakura stared at her angrily. It was obvious to Tsunade that the young woman knew all about her and her father's little wager.

"Sakura, your as dear to me as a younger sister. But it is in the best benefit of the entire village if you forget about Sasuke and marry to produce and heir. If you do that, I will continue training you and you can become a supreme medical ninja. But these fool-hearty dreams you carry on your shoulders will never happen. Sasuke left you alone. If he wanted you, Child, he wouldn't have done so." Tsunade looked up, meeting Sakura's gaze. "He left you alone here. This is your home, and there are plenty of eligible men here that will court you. Plenty of good men that will be more than happy to marry into a respectable line such as the Haruno's. All you have to do is trust in me, and want to do better for yourself."

Sakura's arm slumped back to her sides as she stared at her Hokage. She knew Tsunade's words struck home and that it was indeed high-time to stop acting like a child.

"Sakura?" Tsunade asked questioningly.

"Alright Tsunade, perhaps you are right."

Tsunade sat upright in her chair and motioned Shizune over, whispering in her ear, and then Shizune scurried out of the room in a hurry leaving Sakura and Tsunade alone.

"I am happy to hear that I have not lost my best pupil, Sakura." Tsunade smiled, and Sakura tried her best to return a smile of her own, but she only managed a slight smirk.

"In two days, Sakura, the Hyuuga's will be hosting their annual Sakura blossom festival, and many eligible ninjas will be attending. Since there is still day light to burn, perhaps you would like to accompany me into town and purchase a new dress to wear."

Sakura nodded solemnly, "Sounds fine, Lady Tsunade. I have saved up quite a bit of money from previous missions."

Tsunade stood just as Shizune reentered the room, "Lady Tsunade, the-"

Shizune turned to Sakura, stopping herself. "What you've asked of me is done."

Tsunade nodded and began walking over to the door with Sakura in tail. "Very good Shizune, please notify me if something big comes up." And with that, Sakura and Tsunade left the room leaving Shizune staring hopelessly at the piles of papers on Tsunade's desk.