I have no rights to Naruto.

Enjoy.

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Leaning her hands against the counter of the Yamanaka's flower shop Sakura rolled her eyes as once again Ino spaced out. The blonde Kunoichi more distracted than usual and barely conversing on her favourite topic, men – civilian versus Shinobi. But mentioning the Kunoichi that had been attacked in the last few weeks had made the blonde clamp up.

"Ino what's wrong?"

With a start the blonde looked at Sakura, shoulders slumping as she admitted " Nothing . . . . everything."

Frowning Sakura reached out to rub her friends shoulder. Since Kakashi, Naruto and Sai had been sent on a long term mission and Yamato had been ordered back into ANBU, the pinkette had found herself spending more time with the other teams when she was out of the hospital. Sighing inwardly she wished she could meet with Shizune, spend a day bitching about the hospital and lament about Tsunade's never ending bad habits as the rightful Hokage continued on in her coma.

"Ino."

Both girls turned to see Inoichi standing at the doorway into the back of the shop. "Your Mother wants you."

Face torn Ino looked from her Father to Sakura, biting her lip as very nervous habit as the blonde always said it would ruin her lips.

"Pig?"

"Forehead . I"

Inoichi came to stand by Ino's side a loving hand placed on his daughter's shoulder interrupting the two young women. "Go to your Mother Ino, I will walk Sakura home I need to speak to her."

After a searching look the blonde nodded and bade her pink haired friend goodnight with a soft smile.

Walking with Yamanaka Inoichi was tense, the medic wondering at the unusual vibe coming off the older man, a man who had acted like a father figure at times for her since her own parents had died.

"The Clan is arranging Ino's betrothed."

"Oh." Sakura was shocked, of all things she wasn't expecting that, thinking her friend would have a few years left and be allowed to choose herself. But the way Inoichi spoke there obviously wasn't a list of candidates to choose from.

"I would hope you support her."

"Of course." Sakura smiled up at the blonde man, the weak smile he returned unusual.

"Clan duties mean she may not be around Konoha much and it will be a few months before you can have your girly weekends again."

Reaching her home Sakura bowed in thanks, a flash in Inoichi's eyes prompting her to ask. "Yamanaka-san is everthing okay?"

Hesitating Inoichi reached out and squeezed Sakura's shoulder. "Take care of yourself Sakura."

Tilting her head Sakura watched him walk away, pushing the strange farewell from her head as she went to collapse on her bed before her next shift.

Over the next few days Sakura was unable to pin down any of her friends.

Neji and Hinata were cloistered inside the Hyuuga Compound, the stoic guard staring Sakura down until she left after informing her they were unable to meet her. Ino had been sent to Wave for month long negotiations, Chouji accompanying her with their parents, the InoShikaCho trio broken as Shikamaru was heading on a diplomatic mission.

TenTen's parents had informed Sakura she was busy, Shino was deeply involved in Clan rituals, the periodic binding of the Kakaichu occurring at a strange time to Sakura's mind but she shrugged it off. Inuzuka Tsume had nearly snarled at her when she asked for Kiba to let her know when he would like to train.

After a few days it was nearly two weeks, then over a month and though she tried to convince herself she was jumping to conclusions Sakura could not help but feel her year mates and their parents were giving her the cold shoulder.

Walking down the streets Sakura laughed with delight as she spied a green figure and heard the loud exclamation. "My Beautiful Blossom."

She gratefully sank into Lee's arm, the brushy browed Shinobi exchanging a look of surprised shock with his Mentor before enjoying the embrace and then giving his beloved pink haired friend a quizzical look.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you Lee, you too Gai-sensei. Everyone's on missions or caught with clan duties, you're the first member of our rookie year that I've laid eyes on in weeks, or come near enough to me to talk."

Listening to his pupil reassure his rivals student Gai frowned remembering Ibiki's warning last month, an uneasy feeling settling in his stomach.

"Sakura." He interrupted the duo, his serious face wiping all smiles from Lee's. "You have heard of the attacks on the Kunoichi's?"

"Hai Gai-sensei."

"These are dangerous times Sakura, you need to be careful."

Smiling at the care coming from the taller man she reassured him. "Don't worry Gai-sensei, I'm careful, anyway Hokage-sama has me off the mission roster until the hospital is at peak sufficiency. Which will be never." Sakura scowled at the end.

From that moment Lee magically popped up when Sakura was lonely and many times either he or Gai were waiting at the hospital to walk her home and once or twice carried her after long Chakra exhausting shifts.

Until they were sent on a mission by the Hokage and an ambushed ANBU team were brought in forcing Sakura to spend twenty two hours in surgery and walk home alone.

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Dia Duit,

Gai is too honourable not to warn Sakura and I love the idea of the two of them protecting Sakura until Danzou got rid of them. Hope you enjoyed.

Lots of Love,

The Rose and the Dagger x x x