A Month in Your Shoes

Disclaimer: as applies to all others – Naruto is not mine.

"Speech"

'Thinking'

'Inner Sakura'

Chapter 1

'45…46…47…48...'

Sakura continued to count in her head as she did her daily scaling of the stairs up to the Hokage's office. However, unlike all the other times, she had Tenten at her side which she found quite distracting. It may have seemed like a pointless act but for Sakura it wasn't something she decided to do just for kicks. No, this was much more significant; it helped her to build up the mental preparation needed for the onslaught of the sake stench that always wafted towards her delicate nose first thing in the morning. There was nothing more disgusting than smelling someone's drunken night the next morning. But unfortunately, as the apprentice of the Godaime Hokage, it was something she must grin and bear.

Today was a turning point in her life. After her and Tenten had agreed to switch teams yesterday afternoon, Sakura felt like she could start over with a somewhat clean slate with two team-mates who didn't know her as the annoying and weak Haruno Sakura. Instead, the Hokage's apprentice, and an independent, strong-minded teen.

Knocking twice on the door, Sakura warned Tenten to brace herself, after all, not many people got to see their Hokage in her morning glory, which she believed was better that way.

"Haruno Sakura and Tenten entering!" Sakura shouted just in case the knocking didn't do the trick. There was a brief ruffling noise followed by a failed attempt to sound sober when the Hokage yelled 'enter.'

Traces of saliva had been hastily rubbed off her face though white dried pieces still clung to her face. Blonde hair shoved behind her ears looked in need of a good brushing while her breasts seemed as if they were about to fall out. Other than that, Sakura would say her shishou appeared as if she had actually been doing the work that she always claimed she does.

"Sakura, Tenten – what brings you here?"

Stench forgotten, both females grinned at the Hokage as thoughts of being relieved from their respective- and annoying- teams, and showing the other just how wrong they were about their prodigies filled their minds. Sakura stepped forward, volunteering herself to put forth their request as she knew the woman better than Tenten and thus, had a better chance of persuading her if worst came to the worst.

"Shishou, Tenten and I wish to temporarily switch team for the duration of a month."

Normally, Tsunade would have questioned their motives for such a request, but right now, she could care less considering that fact that she was suffering from the biggest hangover of her life- maybe a bit of exaggeration here- and wished to return to her quiet haven behind her stacks of paperwork...

"Very well, Sakura brief me on the matter later when you finish your shift in the hospital. The change will be effective on Thursday, seeing how the proper paperwork must be attended to and both sensei to be informed," at this, both of them nodded and exited the large room after they were dismissed.

Since it was only Tuesday, this meant that they had at least another two days with their respective teams before they would switch.

"Tenten, should we tell our team-mates or just leave it as a surprise for them to deal with?" Sakura knew Naruto would play twenty questions about why she was switching, especially whether or not it had anything to do with 'Sasuke-teme.' Therefore leaving Tenten with that mess would be too cruel.

"Well I guess we should tell them that we're switching but I don't think they would approve on why we swapped, so we should probably come up with a good reason." It sounded like a logical plan, Sakura could envision Sasuke-kun looking at her in disappointment for bringing both teams into such a stupid argument.

"What should we tell them then?" Sakura heard the town clock chime twelve o'clock noon, both teens had left straight from training to come visit the Hokage, so it would only leave them tomorrow to deliver the news.

"I know! You know how when we become more experienced as Chuunin we don't do as many missions together with our teams?" Sakura paused and continued as Tenten nodded in confirmation. "Well, by that time, most people tend to have picked a partner making them a pair instead of the original three-man-cell. So basically, we could just say that we're trying out our teamwork with other people." Tenten grinned at her brilliant idea.

'Hm…What would be the best way to answer all of Naruto's questions? Knowing him, he'll moan about why I am trying other teams instead of being with him, or just remain the team that we've always been.' Sakura pondered.

'Cha! Just tell him it's obvious that if he was to pick a partner he would definitely go with Sasuke-kun seeing how close they are.'

'But you know that Naruto would protest and say that it's not true.'

'Then act sincere and reply- 'I just want to try it out, it's not like I'm definitely going to pick one of them.'If he still whines about it then go and complain how he's been on missions with other people all the time. It's ingenious, we can't go wrong.'

'I guess, but if all else fail, we'll have to wing it.'

'Hell yeah!'

"Oh, sorry Tenten I need to go! I have a shift at the hospital soon. And um, I'm really sorry for zoning out on you again." Sakura said sheepishly rubbing the back of her head, while yelling inwardly at inner Sakura for distracting her when she was talking with someone.

"It's no problem, I'll see you tomorrow?" Tenten smiled. Sakura could tell Tenten was trying to hold back a laugh at how her expression changed when she was speaking with her inner self.

"Yeah, definitely."

Running off to her shift, Sakura reminded herself to visit Tsunade-shishou afterwards to discuss the purpose of this switch. Sometimes, Sakura was glad Tsunade got drunk so much; it made it so much easier for Sakura to ask all sorts of things during those mornings when she got those huge hangovers such as the one earlier.

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"Sakura, I expect a full explanation on why you and Tenten wish to swap teams, it's not something that usually occurs," even though Tsunade was like a second mother to Sakura, she felt that her mentor would not appreciate the real reasons and would undoubtedly reprimand her to not compromise their teamwork for something so foolish. Honestly, sometimes Tsunade was such a party pooper when she wasn't drunk, but then again, she did act like a real Hokage so it was to be expected.

"Tenten and I, as two young chuunins, wish to experiment our teamwork with other members so we can pick a good partner to be with for missions." Sakura explained staring straight into her Shishou's eyes without wavering. It was amazing how good she had became at lying.

Across the desk, a well groomed blond eyebrow was raised. Suspicion was evident. "And how exactly did you and Tenten come up with this idea?"

'We didn't.'

"Tenten, being one year my senior, was talking about choosing a partner for missions. She wanted to try out other combinations whilst she had the chance, and seeing that I was the one she was discussing this with at the time, she proposed the switch to me and I accepted."

'And the lies keep flowing.'

"I'll admit that sounds like a good plan, though there's something you're not telling me, isn't that right Sakura?" Sakura continued to stare unwaveringly at her shishou, despite the fact that her hands were starting to drench in sweat and her heart beating rapidly against her chest. "Even so, I will allow this plan of yours to continue for now. After all, it does serve a good purpose." Sakura bowed her head and discreetly let out a sigh of relief, though she could still feel her shishou's suspicious gaze on her.

"Thank you shishou." Sakura turned and was about to leave when she heard the sound of a voice clearing itself from behind her.

"Where do you think you're going Sakura? Switching teams requires paperwork, and I'm definitely not in the mood to fill out more at this moment."

Sighing in defeat Sakura turned knowing what had to be done. Although, a couple hours later she would wonder how one piece of paperwork on switching teams turned into a stack full of paperwork regarding other menial missions.

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Sakura sat on the railing of the red bridge. A smile adorned her pale face, as she swung her legs lightly back and forth. This wouldn't have been an abnormal behaviour for her, if Team Seven's sensei was not beginning to push his current lateness record of three hours and thirty seven minutes. Her team-mates were already annoyed at their sensei's tardiness.

"God, what is taking him so long!" Naruto complained. Even though he had matured greatly from his three years away from Konoha, there were a few traits he did not seem to have grown out of. Naruto was currently in the same rank as her, a chuunin, but Sakura had no doubt that was only because he missed the jounin exam when it took place. Else, he would be a jounin like Sasuke and Neji were.

"Ne Sakura-chan, how can you be happy at time like this?" Sakura debated whether or not to tell them. Knowing the outcome and the headache that went with it, she was extremely tempted to just keep her mouth shut.

'Just spit it out! And there's no use in sugar coating it. Naruto would never understand unless you told it straight to his face.'

'Well then, here goes nothing.'

"Naruto, Sasuke-kun, Tenten and I are temporarily switching teams for a month."

'That wasn't so hard.'

'No, no, just wait. This is going to get annoying in three, two, one…'

"NANI?!" Naruto yelled, even Sasuke lifted an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Ano sa, ano sa, Sakura-chan, if it's me, I promise I won't be as annoying and Sasuke-teme will even help, right?" Naruto was baffled to why his only female team-mate would want to switch teams.

"Dobe, stop saying things for me," Sasuke cut in.

"Don't worry Naruto, it's not you or Sasuke-kun."

'Well, it sort of is Sasuke-kun but I can't tell him that.'

"If it's Kakashi-sensei then..."

"NARUTO! No one is to blame on this team, it's not you, it's me."

'Oh way to make it sound like we're breaking up!'

"Then why Sakura-chan?"

'Where is Kakashi-sensei when you need him?"

As if some deities above decided Sakura had enough pestering, Kakashi finally turned up with only a couple seconds to spare before breaking his previous record.

"Yo!"

Thankful that the attention had been taken off her, both her and Naruto did their typical 'you're late!' and waited for his sorry excuse of a reason.

"I actually have a good reason why I'm late today – you see, I've just received word from the Hokage about Sakura changing teams." It was too bad for her that those deities only wanted to give her hope just so they could smite it.

"Well, Tenten and I just thought it would be a good idea to test our teamwork with other people. It's not as if there's something wrong with our teamwork! It's just that I want to try training and missions with other people- like you have Naruto, Sasuke-kun." Sakura added as an afterthought knowing what Naruto was going to say, thus tactfully putting both him and Sasuke in a situation where neither of them could complain.

So far, the thought was sinking in and seemed to be working. Not chancing for another barrage of questions, Sakura hastily changed the subject.

"Kakashi-sensei what are we going to do today?"

"I was just going to do a friendly spar, but since it's Sakura's last day with us, I guess we will do some hard training today," two identical looks appeared on Naruto and Sakura's faces.

'Why is he so mean?'

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Tenten sat down and tried to catch her breath. Even after having Gai as a sensei for over three years, his fitness training still made her wanted to cry. Lee, as always, was unaffected and yelled to do more. Why was he so crazy? Knowing that Kakashi wasn't a big fitness teacher, Tenten pitied Sakura, this would be true hell for her. Especially since she was a medic-nin and that taijutsu was her weakest area- sure, she had monstrous strength but it wouldn't save her here. But knowing Sakura had been learning genjutsu from Kurenai, Tenten knew that if she did survive the training, they would become a well balanced team, with Lee specializing in taijutsu, Neji with ninjutsu, and Sakura at genjutsu.

The grass next to her ruffled a bit as Neji sat down beside her. Tenten was well aware that he wasn't satisfied with the reason she told them, even though Gai and Lee were proud of her for taking the initiative to spread her youthfulness with others; which- just to clarify- was not the reason she gave. She could still hear those awkward and embarrassing phrases in her head when Gai came over and told them of the exchange.

"Alright Team Gai, Tenten is being sent to my eternal rival's team to spread her youthfulness. But don't fret, Haruno Sakura will be also be temporarily sent here, so she may regain her youth!" And then his did his dreaded nice guy pose.

"Sakura's youth is fine, Gai-sensei! Stop making the situation sound weird!"

"Alright, that's all! Enjoy the rest of this beautiful spring day!" Gai shouted and Tenten and Neji were only too glad to get out of there before he cried out more awkward phrases.

"Neji." Tenten said, stopping her companion in his tracks.

"Yes?" rang his deep baritone voice.

"Please don't treat her too badly. I know how you can be with changes." Neji began to walk away again as if he hadn't heard her. However, she knew he had, and hoping for the best, Tenten hurried after him.

Neji didn't warm up to people easily, that was if he actually warmed up to anyone at all. Although he may have said that Sakura was a competent medic, which was a huge complement coming from him, Tenten wasn't sure how well he was going deal with her fighting skills. Furthermore, Sakura came from two civilian parents, while he, part of the branch family or not, was from a well known and powerful clan with a kekkai genkai. Tenten knew there was nothing she could say that would change his mind. Neji was going to withdraw to himself- not that he hadn't begun doing so already after the announcement- and despite the fact that she had no doubts he would be polite to Sakura, Tenten feared the pink haired kunoichi might not be able handle the inevitable polite yet bitingly harsh words that would be directed at her by none other than the Hyuuga prodigy.

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Thanks for the reviews. The actual switching of teams will happen next chapter, however that will come out a bit later seeing as I will be quite busy these next two weeks.

dwango

Congratulations to ArT-tHoU-StRaNgE for being the only person to get the riddle.

The Hikari Within – what a weird idea, never would have thought of that.

sUsHi lOVER – close but not quite right.

And all the others who saw/ attempted to answer riddle, close, but better luck with this one.

Previous Riddle Answer: His plan is to dig the tunnel and pile up the dirt on the bed to climb up to the window to escape.

Riddle: A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together.
How can this be?

Thanks to my beta YufVin-Valentine, who does an amazing job.