Gosh…. I haven't posted in forever! Sorry about that! ^ ^'''' *rubs back of head* I couldn't think of what I would put in the next chapter, but I'm on a writers something rather…. I don't know what to call it, I just wanna write….. badly!

OK… So I'm gonna go all out as much as I can! OK? Here we go!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer- I sadly do not own Naruto, that was not my gift in life… *sniff* darn….

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Sakura blinked, her brow furrowing. "Your diamond? Isn't that where you store chakra?" she asked, pulling up old knowledge.

Tsunade nodded, smirking. "Yes. Did Naruto ever tell you about how I used this, during the fight of the three Sanin?" she asked, leaning back in her chair, the alcohol calming her still.

The pink haired kunoichi nodded. "Yes… He said you released it to heal your body, from the ghastly wounds from both Kabuto and Orochimaru." She said, repeating what Naruto had told her all those years back.

The Hokage nodded again, smiling this time. "Exactly."

Sakura's brow furrowed deeper, showing her confusion. "So what does it have to do with me?" she asked, frowning.

Tsunade rolled her eyes, rubbing her temples. "Really, Sakura.... Has the alcohol gone to your head and made you dense like Naruto? You must really be off today..." she scoffed, but trailed off, seing Sakura's expression.

Sakura looked like she was caught between tears, no longer able to hold onto her cold demeanor. She didn't feel strong, she felt like a crumpled piece of rice paper, ready to tear if someone pulled gently. Clenching her fists, she tried to control her emotions, but found it impossible. Today had been the day that she had been left on that bench. That horrid bench.

He had left her there that day. THe one where she had pleaded him to stay. How much she loved him, she had said so. Sakura had repeated it many times, trying to keep him from leaving. But she had not been able to, and it tore her to pieces.

"Oh..." that single gasps escaped the older woman's lips as she rose from her desk, considering wheather or not she should consult her prized student.

Sakura raised her clenched hand, unwrapping it to open it, nail marks scoring her palm. "No. PLease, sit down...." she whispered, tears running down her pink cheeks. Sniffing lightly, she calmed herself, trying to remember that Tsunade was allowing her to be apart of the ANBU. She thought of that, and how much stronger she would get, how much better she would become.

Tsunade took her seat once more, frowning with concern for her dear pupil.

Taking a deep breath, she soothed herself enough to remain normal. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen. I need more control, which is another reason why I need the ANBU. I find that I am in more control when I am on missions. PLease continue." she exaplained, taking a seat before her legs gave out from beneath her.

She had had nothing to eat that morning, not feeling hungry, and she had been training all the day before. Indeed, she was tired.

The blond, still frowning in dissaprovement, cleared her throat, beginning again. "I would tell you I am sorry, but I know how you hate sympathy, so I will just go on. I believe you are strong enough to carry the same mark as me. And by mark, I mean the..." she trailed off, waiting to see if Sakura was listening.

"The diamond on your for head that holds chakra. Yes, I know and get it, Tsunade-shishou." she murmured, focusing on the older woman, trying not to cry still.

Sucking in a deep breath herself, Tsunade nodded. "Yes. Of course, you will not have to have the diamond as I do. It will be your choice of what symbol you prefer to have and where it will be put. Usually, its whatever you're thinking of most at that time. So when the operation is in act, you are supposed to think of the symbol you want, and where, and it will appear there." she explained.

Sakura nodded, frowning. "So let me get this straight. If I think of what symbol I want and where, during the procedure, then it appears there?" she repeated, summing up the information.

"Correct." Tsunade said simply, smiling. Sakura caught on quickly, even if the day was of a horrible memory. "But it will be quite painful. Shizune and I had many failed attempts on this before, and you're the only other one, besides Shizune, that I trust enough to carry this mark." she advised softly, her brown eyes boring into jade.

Sakura nodded, understanding the situation. "Yes, sir." she murmured, just as softly. "When will this take place?" she asked, her brow still furrowed in concentration, figuring out everything.

The older woman sighed, but didn't look away. "Do you agree to this procedure, Haruno Sakura." she said in her Hokage voice, sounding more powerful than ever.

The pink haired kunoichi stood, arms by her sides, feet shoulder width apart. "Hai." she said simply, tearing her faze from the Hokage's to look above the chair, out the window.

Tsunade nodded, slamming her palms upon the desk, she stood, leaning forward. "Alright then. The operation is to be performed tonight." she bellowed out in the same voice.

The younger kunoichi's eyes widened slightly at the news. "But thats when-" she was cut off by Tsunade's raised hand.

"Yes. I know. It was when he left. BUt I believe that that will be the best time because your emotions will be at their strongest, and your body prepared. You can do this, Sakura. I know you can." she said, her eyes soft with love for the girl.

Sakura sucked in a deep breath, as if she were about to go into the operation just then, and to prepare herself. Holding it deeply in her chest, she closed her eyes momentarily, mentally preparing heself. When she opened her eyes, her jade orbs bore into her mentor's.

"Alright. I trust your judgment, Tsuande-shishou." Sakura murmured, though her eyes had grown dull and lost their spark slightly.

The older woman stared at the girl, eyes still glowing with warm love for her, but they were concerned at the same time. She had seen the change in her student's eyes, and it worried her. But before she could say anything, Sakura cut her off.

"Tsunade-shishou?" she asked, a little more quietly and shakily than she would have liked.

The older Kunoichi tried not to look surprised at the sound of Sakura's voice, but she managed her expression just in time. "Yes, Sakura-chan?" she asked, and nearly palmed her face for letting the suffix slip. So much for trying not to show her concern or pity.

Pity was a no go with Sakura.

Said Kunoichi narrowed her eyes slightly, hearing the suffix, and it greatly annoyed her. Deciding to ignore it, for the moment, she went on. "I wanted to ask you if I needed anything to do so that I could prepare for the operation. And if not, if I could leave and go home to rest." Her cold stare continued.

Tsunade didn't flinch, but she was saddened on the inside. "Don't eat anything, because you might become nauseated. Rest will be a good thing, because you will need your energy to stay awake and alert throughout the operation." Tsunade advised.

Sakura nodded, awaiting Tsuande's dismissal.

Realizing that it was once again her turn to speak, Tsunade stood up, doing her signature trade-mark by slamming her hands down on the large desk. "Alright, Sakura Haruno! Dismissed!" she said in her loud booming voice.

The younger woman nodded in response, turning to leave without saying a word.

Part of her departure saddened Tsunade's heart, but she guessed she deserved it. Sakura was probably going to hate her anyways after tonight. Thinking of how Sakura wanted to join the ANBU, scared her, and she wasn't all sure if she would nominate her to be a captain. But she had trust in Sakura not to do anything rash, so she probably would nominate the girl.

"Rest well, Sakura-chan." the Hokage murmured under her breath, her hand sneaking out once more for the sake that wasn't there. "Damnit." came the response, a curse muttered with venom.

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Meanwhile, Sakura walked away from the monument, feeling brighter, and sadder. She had announced her request for being an ANBU Operative to Tsunade, and she was also going to receive a gift from the woman. But the timing of it was horrible. She didn't agree with it at all. In fact, it worried her greatly. She was afraid that she would begin to cry or break down.

Sighing, she headed back for her house to rest, and she would begin to prepare herself physically and mentally, knowing the operation would take a toll on her body. It would also include a serious strain.

Slipping into her bed, she sighed again, her eyes closing. Finally, she collapsed in a deep sleep where no dreams could reach her.

Or could they?

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YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!!!!! Sorry I hadn't posted in forever…. Time has been tight, and I need to work on all my stories…. Idk which will be next, my NaruHina story, my renNaru, or this new story I've come up with………

Alright! Thanks for reading!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Domo Arigato.

Ren Mizuki

......................Oh..... wait..... now that I look at it, this chapter is extremely short.... I'm sorry guys, I didn't mean for that to happen. I thought it was much longer..... sorry..... usually I try to make my chapter atleast over 3,000 words long, but this one came out to about 1, 834. Sorry...... -__________________-

Well, if you can forgive me for this flaw, I'd love for you to review. Thankyou.....