Author's note: I should probably say this now before it gets confusing. I will try my best to do it this way - every other chapter will be called "Then" which will follow the series of events of the past that has led up to the current day and the other chapters will be "Now" which will be the current events of what is happening. There may be times I do more than one then or now in a row but I'll try my best to stick to this format as well as giving prospective from both Sakura and Kakashi - that part, however, may be harder for me to give an idea as to how I'll format it but I'll try my best to make it consistent. Please feel free to give me some feed back as to how you guys like it and if you have any suggestions! Helps me write better! Well thank you all who read this and with out and further ado:

~Then~

"Why didn't you say anything? " Tsunade questioned, ember eye staring at her former apprentice. "You could have gotten your self killed and the whole mission jeopardized!"

"ENOUGH!" Roared Naruto's voice, his blue eyes furious and icy. Tsunade pursed her lips as her eyes remained on a shunned Sakura, the Jounin staring at her lap as her former teacher and her best friend ( and new Hokage) both watched her intently.

"I'm sorry." The words came out as a whisper, "I shouldn't have made such a stupid mistake.. I shouldn't have tried to take on more than I knew I could.. I just thought.. that compared to everything else this wouldn't be so hard." The words were true, compared to the years she put into training and fighting and the missions she'd gone through - a simple seduction mission didn't seem that hard.

She of course forgot about the part that more times than not, one would have to go all the way in order to get the information that was needed and while Sakura could definitely seduce anyone.. she had never slept with another person in her life. During her younger years, she saved herself for Saskue but when that chapter of her life ended, she had decided to just not pursue anything with anyone. She didn't want to share such a thing with anyone, something that required letting someone close and letting them see her without all the armor she wore every day. She couldn't do it and so she never did.

Naruto sat down in his chair behind his desk, his gaze going back and forth between his best friend and his predecessor. Two very strong and amazing women, both with tempers that even Naruto never dared test - and he was feared by many as much as he was respected. "Tsunade, you're just as much to blame on this as Sakura is, if not more." Before Tsunade could say anything Naruto cut her off, "Sakura was YOUR apprentice. She was under your tutelage - you should have known what she'd been taught and what she has yet to learn. You're the one who assigned the mission and yet you failed to ask if Sakura was comfortable with taking such a mission not to mention if she'd even been taught how to handle such cases. It was YOUR responsibility - not someone who would do as told by their leader regardless of what they felt.

"And if you did not know what she'd been taught, it was your duty to find out. I know Sakura had made it her mission to seek help from many other ninja in the village regarding her skill set - which was and is more than admirable - but it was still your job as her instructor to keep track of what she has been taught and what she has been teaching herself. Just because you haven't taught her some thing doesn't mean she hasn't learned it else where and some times the opposite is true, maybe because she hadn't learned from you, she hasn't learned it at all yet."

Sakura sat in shock, Naruto was defending her even when something as serious as this was marginally her fault, but she could also see what Naruto was saying. When a student failed, it was not always because of just the student's doing, but sometimes because of the teacher as well. Tsunade sat there, her back ramrod straight and a cluster of emotions flickering over her face, Naruto was right, she concluded; she herself was also to blame - if not entirely. Before she even knew it, Tsunade had turned to her student, "Forgive me, please. I failed you and it could have led to your harm and a failed mission. Please forgive me."

Sakura stared at Tsunade, her jaw almost hitting the floor, it wasn't that Tsunade had never apologized to her before, because of course she had, but this felt... wrong. She didn't like this at all. "Shishou.. Please don't. Please don't apologize. Nothing happened and now we can learn from it. Please." Sakura's voice was shaking as she reached for her master who was more of a mother to her than she'd have the pleasure of having. Naruto watched with an intensity that could sear through walls. Even when Sakura should be upset and angry with someone, she was still kind.

Naruto cleared his throat to get both women's attention and once he gained, he gave instructions. "Sakura, you are a prized jewel in this village. You were not only the Godaime's apprentice, but you have also surpassed your master. You are the best medic in all 5 nations and one of the best Genjustu masters I've ever seen and one of our top noch ANBU. You are a well rounded ninja and person. I do not see having the necessity of you going on any of these sorts of missions ever again when your skills could be used for so much more. I promise you, here and now, as your Hokage and as your friend that I will try my best to never have you sent on one of these assignments again should there be someone else that can go. I cannot promise to never send you because you are a ninja and sometimes your specific skill set may be needed, but I will do my best. This I promise."

Although Naruto had nothing but the best of intentions, Sakura felt enraged - namely at herself. She felt as if she was that 12 year old girl from her past being put on the side lines and protected because she could not be counted on to not fuck up. The anger grew and grew and when the meeting was over, all Sakura saw was red.

For hours, Sakura took out her anger in the training fields. Throwing every part of her into the motions until her body screamed at her to stop. Sitting on the obliterated training grounds (which none would be the wiser seeing as no one really used these specific grounds anyway) Sakura took long drags from her water bottle, her body reveling in the showering of hydration. Now that the steam at been let off, she decided she'd need a drink to cool down. After picking up what she could of the training grounds and heading home for a shower and change of clothing, Sakura found herself at a bar she often frequented when home.

Walking into the bar, the Pinkett found herself gaining some unwanted male gazes. What did she expect when she put on a pair of black short shorts, a dark green blouse that both hung off her but also hugged her petite frame at the same time and had her feet in a pair of black pumps that made her legs and ass look like the epitome of sexual desire?

"Looking sexy, forehead!" Cheered Ino who sat at the bar with Shikamaru and Choji. Sakura smiled as she walked over to her best friend/ nemesis.

"Pig, Shikamaru, Choji. When did you guys get back?" Asked Sakura as she sat beside Ino. Both men greeted the Pinkett as she ordered her drinks.

"We actually got back today. A couple hours ago. Boring ass mission. Decided to come let some steam off before we died of boredom." Ino admitted as she took her shot in hand as offered by Sakura and continued to do her shot along side Sakura. "You?"

Sakura shrugged, "Got back early. They didn't need me after all." She didn't really feel like talking about her failures, not that she could even as she wanted to - it was against protocol to tell anyone about missions while being a member of the ANBU.

"Any way. Didn't come here to Talk about that, pig. I came here to get fucked up!" Smiled Sakura as she took another shot and then another. Ino cheered once more as she and the two men beside her also took a shot. It wasn't until a few hours later, when both women decided to head back to Sakura's house to crash that Sakura noticed her former teacher, Kakashi, sitting at a table near the back of the bar watching her. Sakura felt the heat rise to her cheeks as she could just imagine how she looked. He was probably disappointed at how sloppy she allowed herself to become at the bar. Shaking her head to herself, Sakura grabbed onto Ino and Ino grabbed onto Sakura as they made their way out the bar and into the cool night's air.

It took a little while longer than it should have to get back to her apartment that was only a few blocks away from the bar, but eventually they found their way inside. Expelling all her clothing and shoes, Sakura jumped into bed and left Ino to her devices which ended up being her also expelling her clothing and climbing into the bed in Sakura's guest bedroom which was just Ino's unofficial second bedroom.

The morning came too fast and Sakura was none too happy about it. Grabbing a baggy shirt from her dresser and a pair of sleeping shorts, Sakura dragged herself to her bathroom in hopes of a hot shower. She was not disappointed when the onslaught of hot water sprayed down on her, soaking her naked from in minutes. She hummed lightly as she went about washing her hair and soaping up her body then rinsing off. After some time, Sakura got from her shower and brushed her teeth then dressed in her pajama clothing. It was a day off she hadn't planned for and at that moment, doing nothing all day sounded amazing.

Sakura hung up her towel and headed out into the living room.

"Oi! Forehead, I thought you'd drown in there!" Cried Ino snaking herself into the bathroom, no doubt for the same pleasantries Sakura had just enjoyed. After about half an hour, Ino joined Sakura in her kitchen as Sakura finished setting out a breakfast for the two women. "Any plans for today?" Ino asked eyeing the Pinkett's pajamas. "Mmmm, no." Sakura hummed happily as she enjoyed her creamed coffee.

"Lucky. I've got training with Shikamaru and Choji later then I promised Hinata I'd come by and help her pick out some flowers for their new garden."

Sakura smiled, she hadn't seen Hinata in a while; between both of them having such busy schedules they only saw each other long enough to say a few greetings and have small talk before having to return to their busy days. Shaking her head lightly, something dawned on her, she'd made it a priority to find someone help her train in seduction missions and she knew Ino had fine many of them successfully. Turning to her friend, Sakura sighed deeply then let the words come out, "I need to learn how to seduce.." Ino almost choked on her eggs due to Sakura's bluntness.

Before Ino could ask, Sakura shook her head letting her know that she couldn't talk about it, only that she needed help. Nodding to herself, Ino thought for a long moment. "I would have suggested going to Kurenai, but with the new baby and all.. she probably doesn't have any time, honestly. And I can't really teach you because what I learned, I learned from her and I don't think it's proper to share another person's teaching.. and you know I would if I could." Ino bit her lip in concentration. "There are a few... other prospects." Ino said softly, eyeing Sakura. Sakura cocked her head to the side, "Such as?" Sakura questioned.

Ino debated on answering, but she knew Sakura was serious about this. "Well, I known Ten-Ten would be willing seeing as she learned from someone else, but she's away on mission for the next two months I believe. There's Guy..." both kunoichi looked at each other and shivered shaking their heads at that idea. "There is one person left that I know of.. but he hasn't taught this in a long time, and you may not be willing to ask him anyway..." Ino eyed Sakura once more as she considered asking.

"Who?" Came Sakura's soft voice.

"...Kakashi-sensei." Came Ino's response.