DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto… obviously. I'm not making any money off of this story so don't sue. Please and thank you.
WARNING: This chapter is pretty mild and probably won't offend your sensibilities, but the story is rated M overall for mature language and adult situations. Team 7 characters are around 25 in this story, which would put Kakashi and Genma around 40 or so give or take a few years. If you have an issue with the age difference or don't like the pairings, don't read.
Author's note: First, chapter 3 has been updated with a few minor changes. Second, I've deleted my rant in chapter 3. If you don't like the story, then you don't like it plain and simple. I actually like my story and, like a reviewer pointed out, really that's all that matters. Plus the story (main plot) hasn't really even started yet, so please give it some time. Also, I think some of the situations in this story reflect real life occurrences. I like that the drama is more realistic, so it will continue to stay this way. As always I encourage and would love constructive criticism on grammar, character development, and plot, and I love reading your general comments. Thank you to those of you who have sent me constructive and encouraging reviews and PM's. I appreciate everyone sticking with me.
Italics indicate inner dialogue or memories. PM me if you are confused.
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Chapter-4
"SAKURA!" A voice boomed from down the hallway, causing a few pictures on the wall to fall and shatter onto the floor.
Sakura sighed and closed her eyes. Great, now what? She had only just arrived for her shift and already she'd done something to get herself into trouble. That seemed to be happening a lot more lately; a file misplaced here, a report gone missing there. Sakura didn't know what was wrong with her recently, but she just kept messing up.
Of course, these last couple weeks had been hell for her. She felt like she was walking around in a haze. Everything was just so different and disjointed. She didn't know what to think or who to talk to, or even if she should talk to anyone. She even called in sick for the first time since becoming Tsunade's apprentice. The only thing that had finally made her even move was the sound of her door being broken in by Ino who had promptly assaulted her both physically and emotionally and had forced her to eat something. Then they sat down and Sakura told her everything. Once she finished, Ino had sat and stared at her for a full five minutes without saying anything, a feat she didn't think was possible, until Sakura had threatened to put a bug in her trap if she was going to keep that frog of a mouth open any longer. Speaking of frogs, she showed her the note Naruto had given her as well and they spent the better half of an hour dissecting every possible interpretation of the words, which really didn't take too long. There were only so many ways to analyze the words, "I'm sorry."
Eventually she and Ino had a long conversation in which Ino first congratulated her on losing her virginity and then promptly told her she felt sorry for her for not remembering most of it. After a long remorseful silence the nosy blond hesitantly asked if he was any good, which caused Sakura to turn red and glare at her in irritation threatening to pound her into minced meat if she kept up that line of conversation. Eventually the girl chat ended in a lot of tears, mutual reassurances of friendship, and the consumption of copious amounts of sweets before Sakura had decided that enough was enough, she needed to go back to work.
It had been almost a month, and still every time she thought of Naruto and what had happened, it caused her to practically squirm with unease. Maybe she should have allowed him to talk so they could work things out, at least then she wouldn't be sitting here wallowing in self-pity and loathing… Oh wait wasn't Tsunade calling her name?
"SAKURA!" the voice called out again vibrating off of the walls. "GET IN HERE NOW!"
Sighing, she pushed away from her desk and drug her feet silently down the hall before she turned the corner and pushed open the large door to the Hokage's office. Inside Tsunade was hunched over her desk examining a few papers with a scowl on her face completely oblivious to her presence.
"Yes Shishou?" she asked respectively bowing her head, trying to hide the exasperation in her voice but only barely managing to do so.
The Hokage's head rose from her papers and she set them down in front of her and laced her fingers together. "Why hello Sakura," Tsunade said politely with a sarcastic smile spreading across her face as she motioned to the chair in front of her. "Please, have a seat."
Sakura raised an eyebrow in suspicion before walking the distance to the chair and sat down tentatively. Something had to be wrong; Tsunade always just barked orders at her and sent her on her way. Her shishou never asked her to have a seat, hell she wasn't even sure if her shishou ever even smiled.
"Sakura would you like to explain to me what you are doing here?" She asked sweetly motioning her hand to where Sakura sat.
Oh Kami, trick questions were never a good sign. "I'm sorry?" She asked regarding her mentor with a look of confusion. "Did you not just call for me Shishou?"
"Why yes Sakura, I did, but that does not explain to me why you are still here," she replied simply.
"Still?" She said looking around. Was this some sort of game or training lesson? Tsunade was known for her unorthodox training methods, but somehow Sakura didn't feel like she was trying to teach anything to her at the moment. This was definitely a your-in-trouble kind of talk, if only she could figure out what she'd done she might have a chance of appeasing the Hokage's fiery temper before it began. She pulled a blank. Defeated, she sucked in a breath and decided to get it over with already. "I'm sorry, but am I missing something Tsunade-sama?"
Tsunade's smile completely disappeared then and a scowl replaced it as the vein on her forehead twitched in irritation. There was the Tsunade she knew and feared. Sakura gulped audibly.
"You see Sakura, I received an urgent message yesterday that Madam Shijimi has fallen ill. The Daimyo requested that I leave immediately to see to her health, however being the old bat that he is, he's being completely ridiculous of course and his wife is only suffering from a common case of bronchitis, yet he still insists that someone with incredible medical knowledge and talent be sent. I've informed him that because my presence is not needed I would send my apprentice to personally see to her health, for a small fee of course." She stopped then and looked at Sakura expectantly, but for the life of her, Sakura couldn't figure out what was missing.
"So when do I leave?" She asked hesitantly.
"Well Sakura that's the thing, you should have left about an hour and a half ago. I gave you the assignment yesterday as you finished your rounds at the hospital. Although now that I think on it, you have seemed rather occupied these last couple of weeks. Is there anything you would like to talk to me about Sakura?" She asked expectantly.
All the blood had drained from her face. A mission? Oh Kami, I don't remember her briefing me at all, she thought panicking. "No Shishou, nothing important, I've just been a little preoccupied, that's all." She said in a rush and stood up out of her chair. "I apologize, and will leave immediately."
Tsunade looked at her then, a flash of sadness in her eyes before she nodded once and sighed. "Very well," she said pushing a scroll across her desk to Sakura. "Your team will already be waiting for you outside the gates. Here is the information you will need. I'm sending you out with one of my personal guards and two ANBU to insure your safety."
Sakura's eyes went wide. "Is that necessary? It's only a simple trip to the Daimyo's palace. I'm not even leaving fire country."
"Are you questioning me Sakura?" Tsunade asked scowling.
For heaven's sake, she wasn't that stupid. "N…no! Tsunade-sama, of course not, I just don't understand…"
Tsunade sat back in her chair then regarding her student coolly. "And there is no need for you to. I have made my decision. Your team is waiting for you Sakura, I suggest you get moving. You are dismissed."
Realizing that it would not be wise to argue, she bowed a little more deeply than was necessary. "Yes Shishou!" She said quickly, before practically running out the door.
Tsunade sat at her desk in silence staring at the door for a few minutes in a contemplative silence, but then she shrugged and before she could stop herself the laughter started deep in her chest and flowed out of her.
"What's so funny?" Shizune said walking in through the door a stack of papers in her arms. She had seen Sakura fly madly out the door only moments before.
Wiping her eyes Tsunade pulled out a bottle of sake and poured herself a cup.
"That Shizune-chan, is my genius, or possibly madness."
She looked at her crazed mentor a moment doubtingly. "Sakura running out of here like a mad woman is your genius?"
"Yes it is. Compai!" she said happily before pressing the glass to her lips and tipping it back in one swallow.
"What did you do?" Shizune sighed rolling her eyes, but Tsunade said nothing as she raised her glass again gleefully.
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Sakura ran home as fast as she could and quicker than she thought was humanly possible. She practically tore her door off its hinges and ran in and grabbed her pack, which she always kept conveniently ready for situations such as these, before she flung herself out her door and down the path that lead out of Konoha. As she hurried she quietly chided herself. How had she forgotten a mission? She knew she hadn't been thinking straight lately, but this was bad if she was allowing it to affect her work. She could only hope that Tsunade wouldn't be too angry with her when she returned, or worse, dropped her apprenticeship. Maybe she could get her a nice bottle of sake from the palace. That might make her happy enough to forget this whole thing happened, or at least drunk enough that she didn't remember.
She reached the end of the path, past the front guards, and saw three figures standing there waiting for her on the path leading out of Konoha. As she flung herself down the rest of the way the apology was already upon her lips. "I'm so sorry," she gasped bowing as respectfully as she could, putting her hand to her chest as she tried to catch her breath. "I just was, well, whatever I'm here now, so… oh no, not you." Sakura's face drooped as she looked up and saw none other than Shiranui Genma standing in front of her. What was he doing here? Didn't he have some frivolous errand he should be running right now? Like getting coffee or more booze for her shishou?
'I'm sending you out with one of my personal guards and two ANBU to insure your safety,' Tsunade's words echoed through her head. She meant him?
"Well good morning Sakura-chan, it's good to see you too," he drawled sarcastically frowning at her clicking his tongue against the senbon in his mouth in annoyance.
Heat rushed to her cheeks as she took a step backward. "Sorry, it's not that I, it's just…"
Genma's left eyebrow lifted in curiosity with a look of discontent plain on his face.
What the hell did she mean? She opened her mouth willing something clever or at least polite to come out, but it seemed as though her brain and her mouth weren't working properly today. "Oh never mind," she said shaking the thoughts from her head.
Genma sighed unhappily and put his hands in his pockets. This was going to be a long mission…
Sakura fiddled with the hem of her shirt and stared at the ground as an awkward silence fell around them. They stood there, neither of them looking at each other both refusing to be the person who spoke first. Luckily, they didn't have to. A throat being cleared broke the awkward tension and Sakura's head snapped up and she looked over to who had made the sound. A few feet away from her and Genma were two fully armored and completely hooded ANBU guards with their signature porcelain masks hiding their faces. Neither of them spoke, but she could tell neither of them was particularly amused by her and Genma's little exchange.
"Err, hi," she squeaked stepping closer to Genma. She had never liked the ANBU very much. Their secrecy was always a little off putting and ever sense she had met Haku on team seven's first mission to the land of waves and learned about what they did, she had become a little wary of them to tell the truth. Then she saw a hunter squad destroy a body and her cautiousness was replaced by fear. It had been on her way back from a solo mission in Suna. There were three of them and she could still remember the way they had all eerily turned to glare at her in the same moment, like owls looming over their prey as a crackling fire engulfed the corpse sending putrid smells of burning flesh and black smoke into the air. She stood and stared as the burning flesh sizzled into dust, the only thing left of the body was an ash smeared and smoldering forehead protector with a lone leaf symbol gleaming on the front. She had been too shocked to move to realize that one of the figures had stood and was walking towards her. She had seen something she wasn't supposed to, like an intruder walking in on the scene to witness their silent crime. It wasn't until the ANBU had touched her shoulder that it broke her from her own silent nightmare and, before she knew it, she was running desperately away praying that they wouldn't come after her.
Be a good Shinobi or else they'll send the boogiemen after you. She hadn't been comfortable around them since.
How could someone join a group that were known to be little more than glorified bounty hunters and assassins? What was worse was that they were known to be handpicked by the Hokage herself. She took a breath and reminded herself that they couldn't all be that bad, considering that two of her team leaders had been ANBU at one point and time, and they were just fine… well if you considered a lazy chronically late pervert and a scary genetically modified tree man fine. How bad could they be?
Neither of the guards said anything as they just stood there staring at them.
"They're waiting for your orders." Genma said breaking her from her reverie. She jumped a little and stepped into him, and he chuckled as he placed his hands on her shoulders and gently eased her off his foot. "Relax Hana, they're just here to escort us to the palace," he said soothingly.
She took a breath and laughed a little shakily. "Yeah sorry it's just… I had a bad experience with the ANBU once, solo mission to Sand… anyway it doesn't matter."
Genma lifted an eyebrow but didn't ask her to elaborate.
I can't believe I told him that, she thought to herself. I haven't told that to anyone, not even… she stopped herself before she could think his name.
"Right," she said aloud. "So let's go then."
The two ANBU nodded. One took off in front of them as the other waited until both she and Genma had jumped up into the trees, and he followed close behind.
As she flew through the dense foliage she couldn't help but think that this whole situation was strange. Why would Tsunade send two ANBU guards with her on a simple healing mission? And why would she send Genma who was part of her personal guard and was hardly ever away from her side? Perhaps she was really worried about her safety. No, that would be ridiculous, she thought, I'm perfectly capable of traveling by myself. There would be no reason to send them off specifically together. Unless…
Sakura blanched and nearly fell from the tree branch she had pushed off from. Could it be? Sakura felt an odd sinking feeling settle in the pit of her stomach. Tsunade must know what happened between her and Genma. Of course how, she wouldn't know. Then she thought of something worse. Maybe her shishou was sending Genma and her out together so they could have some time alone to work out their feelings or something. Maybe Tsunade thought that she liked Genma. Oh Kami, please don't tell me she's trying to set me up with him, but then why would she need ANBU guards with her? Unless, maybe they were chaperones. Sakura groaned aloud and slapped her hand to her forehead.
Stop! She internally chided herself. She really needed to stop thinking about all of this and focus on the mission. She forced the thoughts out of her mind then and let her mind go completely blank as she continued on through the forest.
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Genma noticed that something was off about Sakura; he'd have to be blind not to notice. First of all she was acting all strange about the two ANBU guards with them. He also couldn't help but notice that she looked like shit. She was still attractive of course, but her hair seemed to be a little wilder and she had gotten a little thinner. More than that, she just didn't seem the same. It was like some of the fire he had liked so much about her had dimmed somewhat. It was hard to explain, but she just looked defeated. What happened between her and Naruto? He thought to himself. From the kid's reaction he could take a guess. Naruto had feelings for her, and Genma had gone and slept with the woman he loved. The thought made him a little queasy. So why did Tsunade send him with her of all people?
It had surprised him this morning when Tsunade had told him he was going on a mission with Sakura, and of course he questioned the decision, but why the ANBU guards? He was more than capable of keeping her safe if it came down to that, he was a part of Hokage's personal guard after all.
All the thoughts jumbled around in his head as he watched her fly through the trees in front of him. What had he gotten himself mixed up with this time? Ahead of him he saw Sakura put a hand to her forehead and groan. Guess he wasn't the only one thinking about things. What he really needed to do was focus on the mission. He couldn't let his own personal drama or hers get in the way of what they were sent out here to do. No matter what had happened between them or the awkwardness it had caused, he had a duty to Konoha to put it behind him, at least for now. Slowly he let his mind go blank as he focused his mind onto his surroundings and slipped into the mind of a Shinobi.
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It was getting late so they stopped for the night. As Sakura set out their bedrolls and made camp, Genma went out to find fresh water and catch some fish. By the time he had returned she had started a small fire. She didn't notice him as he approached until he was beside her. Without lifting her eyes, she smiled and he sat down.
"I've got some fish," he said lifting it up for her to see, but she didn't turn to look.
He sighed while grabbing a few sticks on the ground and skewered the fish and shoved them into the flames. While the sizzle of fresh meat crackled along with the fire and the delicious smell of dinner hit his nostrils, he turned and looked at her.
She was spread out in front of the fire deep in thought. From where he stood he could see the orange cinders reflected in her eyes as the glow washed her hair a soft ember color. How odd that he had never noticed, but she was beautiful, even if she looked a little worse for wear. It was funnier still how he had never thought of her this way before, at least until that day he had a fit of insanity and invited her to Yoshio's.
It had been a very long day. Most of it had been spent at Tsunade-sama's side as she bitched and moaned about all the paperwork she was doing before the arrival of the Kazekage. Konoha and Suna were working on a program that would establish a large medical teaching facility in Konoha that both villages would share, which would revolutionize the world of Shinobi as they knew it. Now when students were young in the academy they would have a choice of becoming fighters or becoming healers. In time it would insure that every team had a qualified healer in their squad, something Tsunade had been working towards for many years, which had the potential to save hundreds of lives, not to mention that it was a huge step in the continuing relationship between the two hidden villages and would promise peace and prosperity. Tsunade really was an inspirational leader. She truly cared about her people and the lives of both citizen and ninja alike, although one really wouldn't notice this behind her tough and drunken demeanor, but Genma saw it. He saw her face problems and make hard decisions that would affect her and thousands of lives every day. Of course right now he wanted nothing more than to knock the old hag unconscious and run out the door screaming.
"SAKURA!" She yelled. A minute passed but the girl did not come.
"HARUNO SAKURA!" She screeched again. Still nothing.
"GENMA!" she bellowed banging her hand on her desk fiercely, which really was entirely unnecessary considering he stood not ten feet away from her.
"Yes Tsunade-sama," he said walking in front of her desk and bowing to one knee.
She placed her hands together in front of her and said, "Please go find my apprentice and bring her to me."
"Yes Tsunade–sama," he said before quickly exiting through the door.
As he made his way down the hall he thought about what he was going to do that night and decided to head to Yoshio's, a popular bar frequented by Shinobi, as he knocked on the door to Hokage's pink haired apprentice's office.
"Come in!" a soft feminine voice called, so he pushed open the door and headed inside.
Sakura was sitting at her desk going over some notes. "Genma," she called warily. "I take it Tsunade shishou needs me?"
"You got it Hana," he said leaning against her doorframe ideally twirling the senbon between his teeth.
Rolling her eyes she said, "Should I be worried?" standing and making her way to the door.
"Don't think so, but she has been cursing a bit more than usual today, not a good sign."
Sakura laughed and shook her head, "No I guess it isn't."
Together they made their way down the hall in silence. It was strange, but she looked different today. He couldn't quite put a finger on it, but she was practically glowing.
"So, how are things Sakura?" he asked casually, focusing intently at the ceiling.
"Fine I suppose, how are you?"
"Fine I suppose," he echoed back to her. There was a long pause. "So, what's new?" he asked lamely, and then immediately chided himself.
This was weird, they never really talked before, which looking back on it was rather strange considering they had been working together for years now, well not together per se, but close to each other at least. He spent most of his time with the Hokage and by extension Sakura as well. He had seen her grow from an awkward teenager to the beautiful young woman walking next to him.
"Are you trying to hit on me Genma?" She asked playfully, completely breaking him from his thoughts, turning around to face him as she continued to walk backwards her hands behind her back with a sly smile on her face.
The shock caused him to come to a screeching halt and he nearly choked on his own senbon.
"What? No, of course not," he sputtered defensively, but inwardly he knew that maybe he was, at least just a little bit. What had gotten into him? This wasn't exactly professional behavior. Although was it really his fault that he had taken notice of her? Perhaps it was hers for standing there glowing and looking good enough to eat.
Something changed in her then as a look flashed through her eyes. Disappointment perhaps? "Oh," she said turning her back to him, obviously embarrassed, and continued walking.
'What the hell just happened?' he thought to himself, before he continued after her.
As they reached Tsunade's door she politely turned to him and gave a short bow. Before he could even think about what he was doing he reached forward and tucked a lock of her bright pink hair behind her ear. Her eyes went wide and her breath caught in her throat as he slowly leaned forward invading her personal space and whispered in her ear.
"I wouldn't dream of flirting with the Hogake's apprentice, especially not here in front of her master's office. However, I suppose nothing could stop me if I happened to see her tonight at Yoshio's." He smiled when he saw the light bumps of gooseflesh began to rise on her skin where his breath was fanning against her neck. Then he leaned back and looked her in the eyes to judge her reaction. A light blush had kissed her cheeks a particularly flattering rose color and slowly he saw the side of her mouth lift up.
"See you tonight," he said coyly, then without waiting for her to reply he walked forward and opened the door and held a hand out for her to walk in, which she did and he shut the door behind her.
For a moment he just stood there smirking but not entirely sure of what had just come over him. Good Kami, he had just asked the Hokage's apprentice and his best friend's student out for drinks hadn't he? She could only be at most half his age. Wasn't there a special place in hell reserved for people like him? 'Well screw it' he thought, because at the moment he couldn't bring himself to care. He always found the chase for women exhilarating, like an elaborate game of cat and mouse, and for some reason suddenly out of nowhere it felt like Sakura was the most elusive mouse of them all, and he wasn't about to let her get away. The game was not over, it had just begun.
Genma was broken out of his memory when she spoke.
"Do you know where the ANBU went?" she asked hesitantly, eyes unfocused as though she were a million miles away.
"They're probably out in the forest keeping guard. They won't bother us, don't worry." His words were meant to sooth her, but they seemed to have made her more jittery. Genma sighed, it was now or never. "Sakura, why did you come to the bar that night?" She flinched and looked up at him bewildered. He said nothing as they stared at each other so long he thought that perhaps he had over stepped his bounds.
What was she supposed to say and how much was appropriate? The truth? There were so many reasons she wasn't sure which she should tell him. Why did she go to him that night? At first she thought she just wanted to forget her drunken tryst with Naruto, to pave over those memories with some new ones, but that wasn't it, not exactly. She didn't want to forget out of anger, but out of desperation. After Naruto left it was like there was a gaping hole in her chest that nothing could fill, not work, not alcohol, not even her friends or her mentors. She needed something else to fill that emotional void so desperately that she hoped it could be Genma. If he wanted her or needed her like she needed that feeling she had with Naruto, then maybe it could be enough. If she was being completely honest with herself she'd admit it was even more than that though. She also slept with Genma because she wanted to and because she was curious. This newfound sexuality within her was interesting. It made her feel powerful in a way her chakra induced strength never had. She wasn't busty or beautiful in the way that Ino and even Hinata were. She was just large foreheaded, strangely rose haired, thin, and angry Sakura. She couldn't feel more strange and plain if she tried, yet he had found her beautiful and desirable in a way no one else really had. Flirting with him was not only fun but exhilarating. It also helped that he was actually really very handsome. He was about the same height as Kakashi but a little bit more built than the rest of the men on her team. His features were sharp and very masculine, even with his medium length brown hair, soft brown eyes, and long dark lashes. He was also intelligent, remarkably cool headed, and down to earth, not to mention a very capable shinobi in a respectable station. Sure he was twice her age, but that didn't bother her. It meant that he had a secure job and a stable life, and after dealing with all the immaturity of the men her age, her date with him had actually been quite refreshing. She was using the term 'date' rather loosely however. It was more like an awkward, flirtatious, drinking session that lead to something more that neither of them had been expecting.
Sakura was gathering her things, it was the end of her shift and she was getting ready to leave her office for the day. As she placed a few scrolls into her bag and picked up some paperwork which had Tsunade's forged signature, per the lazy Hokage's request, her mind reeled with the events earlier that day. Genma had asked her out to Yoshio's. Her! No one had ever asked her out to the bar before, well no one except for Ino. Of course Ino had a questionable reputation for frequenting Yoshio's, so Sakura wasn't sure if an invitation from the promiscuous purple princess of Konoha really accounted for much. She wondered if Sasuke was aware of his wife's licentious behavior. Perhaps she could trip one day in front of him, conveniently crying out "your wife's a whore," as she fell.
"Hey, are you almost ready?"
Sakura jumped and turned to find said slut... err best friend standing in front of her, Ino's beautiful long blond hair flowing over her shoulders prettily. Sakura felt a pang of jealousy over the girl's ability to be ridiculously beautiful in her simple purple two piece.
"Yeah just give me a second, I have to drop a few things off to Tsunade and then we can go," she replied, gathering the rest of the papers in her arms. Ino nodded and coolly told her she would meet her outside when she was finished, but not before she eyed her in annoyed curiosity as Sakura coughed something that sounded suspiciously like, 'slut' as she passed her through the door.
Sakura smiled evilly as she made her way to Tsunade's office laughing internally at the look on Ino's face. Sometimes best friends could be fun, especially when they teased each other, especially when she was the one doing the teasing. When she reached the office she carefully pressed her ear against the Hokage's door checking for any loud complaining or cursing. After she heard nothing to indicate an unhappy Hokage, she rapped her knuckles hard on the worn wood and slowly entered when she heard a loud voice tell her to come in.
"Sakura, there you are. I swear I can never find you when I need you. Where have you been girl?" Tsunade asked impatiently slurring her words drunkenly as she downed what looked to be the remnants of her second bottle of sake that evening. Her eyes were hooded and she had her all too familiar sloppy grin plastered across her face.
Sakura rolled her eyes and scowled. 'Oh yes, I'm so difficult to find in my office. You know the one with my name on it,' she thought. What she said was, "In my office. Here are the papers you asked me to sign for you, Hokage-sama."
Tsunade reached forward to take the neat pile from her hands, but she somehow managed to trip forward out of her own chair and onto the floor with a loud oomph. Sakura rushed forward and looped her sloshed shishou's arms around her shoulders and lifted her with some chakra induced strength over to the couch near the window in the office. Tsunade scrunched her nose in annoyance but allowed Sakura to place her down gently and pull a blanket off the back of the couch and throw it over her body.
"Don't worry about the papers," Tsunade said closing her eyes. "We can go over them tomorrow."
"Thank you shishou," Sakura whispered as she reached over to grab a water bottle and bottle of aspirin that were kept in a trunk kept by the side of the couch for times such as these. "I wanted to leave anyway. I have a date at Yoshio's tonight," she said placing the water and pain killers on the floor next to Tsunade's side. She was use to this little ritual. Ten years of being an apprentice to a notorious alcoholic tends to train a girl on the art of treating hangovers.
Tsunade cracked one eyelid open. "See you tomorrow then," she said lazily giving her a sleepy smile. "Have fun with Naruto, and tell him I say hello." Then she closed her eyes and within seconds she was asleep.
Sakura stared at her mentor in a stunned silence, too surprised and numb to think. Were they really that transparent? Did everyone already just assume that they were dating? Did Tsunade know what had happened between her and Naruto? Sakura shook her head to clear her thoughts. There were too many questions and not enough answers it seemed.
Sighing she stood and walked out the door and headed down the stairs to meet Ino.
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Yoshio's was almost empty tonight, which really wasn't that much of a surprise. It was mostly a bar frequented by shinobi, but every now and then there would be some civilian women, most looking for a cheap thrill and a wild night with a ninja, others looking to catch a husband. 'Good luck,' she thought bitterly. Sakura would say she had no respect for the easy floozies, but considering her married friend was over in the corner with a few of Shikamaru's friends unabashedly flirting with the group while twirling her hair, she figured civilian women weren't that different from Kunoichi.
Sakura sat and played with the top of her drink staring at the shockingly blue liquid as it reflected the light in the bar. She felt numb. It was almost as if her mind was refusing to think about anything coherent as she stared unblinking at the glass in front of her. Why couldn't she feel anything? Maybe she was in shock, she wondered. She had studied about the effects of shock in one of her books about trauma. The notion should worry her, but really it didn't, as a matter of fact she couldn't bring herself to care.
"She's trouble that one," a deep voice said in front of her.
Sakura looked up and saw an older man who was balding up top with wrinkles across his forehead and sides of his eyes staring at her politely as he cleaned a glass with a rather filthy looking rag. Sakura remembered him as Yoshio, the old man who has owned the bar with his namesake for as long as everyone could remember.
"Huh?" she said in confusion, shocked out of her own…. shock.
"That ninja girl, she's a piece of work," he repeated pointing to a table in the corner of the bar. Sakura smiled as she turned and glanced Ino chatting animatedly with the table of fellow shinobi, a drink in each hand which she seemed to be drinking simultaneously through two separate straws.
"Piece of work, that's one word for it," Sakura replied, turning back towards the man in front of her.
"And what would be another word for it?" He asked, a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
"Something that's not polite to say in front of kind strangers," Sakura answered and together they laughed as she brought the glass to her lips and took down the contents in one quick swallow. After she set the glass back down, Yoshio nodded and pulled up two glasses and poured a caramel colored alcohol into both before silently walking away. Then she felt a warm presence behind her and she turned on her bar stool and gave the man before her a pretty smile.
"You're here early," Genma said casually, sitting down next to her and picking up his glass twirling the contents inside. "Eager to see me Hana?" he asked playfully.
"Hardly," she scoffed without missing a beat, picking up her own glass. "I told Tsunade-sama that I was going out to get a drink tonight and she let me off early. She is very proud I'm walking, or is that drinking in her footsteps?"
He chuckled and brought the glass to his lips and noticed she was watching him pointedly.
He faltered. "What?" He asked suspiciously.
"How can you drink with that thing in your mouth?" she asked, staring at the metal ninja weapon hanging between his teeth with curiosity.
"What, you mean with this?" He twirled the senbon moving it to the side of his mouth and pressed his lips together then tipped back his drink, only wincing slightly as the liquid burned down his throat. The senbon stayed securely in his mouth however and he twirled it with his tongue to emphasize its security.
"Fair enough," she giggled, "but it just seems like it would be easier without it," He watched her as she tipped back the contents in her glass smoothly without even blinking. Then she looked at him smirking and made a popping sound with her lips and they both laughed.
Seeing both of their drinks finished, he waved his hand and Yoshio returned with a bottle and refilled both their glasses. Without speaking he raised his glass to hers tapping it gently and then swallowed the drink without taking his eyes off of her. He looked at her triumphantly and only looked slightly put off by the fact that once again she made no indication that the alcohol bothered her at all.
"So Genma, what's new?" she teased suddenly with the same lame words he had said to her earlier that day.
He smirked. "Well there's a new ladies bath house that just opened around the corner from my building today, that's new."
She lifted her eyebrows at him. "Do you often frequent ladies bathhouses Shiranui?" She asked with laughter behind her eyes. What a perv!
"No," he said chuckling raising his hand for another drink for them both, "but I can show you where it is if you like."
She rolled her eyes. Yes that's exactly what she wanted to do, walk around to look at a bathhouse that probably looked like every other bath house in Konoha. Was Genma always this lame, or was he nervous or something? She rather liked the thought that he was nervous around her. "Yeah right, that sounds like a great idea, using a bathhouse next to your building so I can be spied on by you and my perverted sensei," she deadpanned.
Genma raised a hand to his chest pretending to be offended. "I would never dream of doing such a thing," he said with a smirk.
Sakura laughed, "Maybe not, but Kakashi would."
This made him chuckle. "Yeah you're probably right."
They fell into a comfortable silence then as they both finished their drinks. Sakura sat cross legged on her stool as she looked off contemplatively into the distance, her finger gently playing with the edge of her glass. She liked this friendly banter she had with Genma. She didn't have the most experience with men, but she could tell that they were flirting, at least she thought they were, and it was actually kind of fun. She never really got to go on that many dates she came to realize, well if you didn't count the ones she went on with Naruto to Ichiraku's. The thought of Naruto made her frown suddenly. What was she going to do about Naruto? It wasn't like she could avoid him forever. Eventually they would have to sit down and talk things out, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. What was she supposed to say to him? He obviously wanted to talk to her though. She saw him outside the hospital and her office almost every day he wasn't on a mission, but why couldn't he just leave her alone till she was ready to talk to him?
She fought her conflicting emotions as she dipped her finger into her glass in front of her and brought it up to her mouth and spread a few droplets of alcohol across her bottom lip. Then she pulled her lip into her mouth between her teeth tasting its saccharine burn. Suddenly her tolerance for alcohol failed her as she remembered it was this very same sweet plumb wine that she had at Sasuke's wedding that caused the mess she was in to begin with. If only she hadn't drunk so much at the wedding she could have avoided this whole mess with Naruto altogether.
"You look so serious," Genma rasped out next to her.
Her head snapped up, startled for a moment, and then she smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, just thinking," she said pushing the glass away from her. She didn't want to think about Naruto anymore; it was just too painful and confusing.
"Well don't think too hard Hana, you'll give yourself wrinkles."
She snorted. "Shouldn't I be saying that to you?" She asked good-naturedly, bumping her shoulder against his.
"Into older men are you?" He asked turning on his bar stool to face her with a sly smile. He put his elbow on the counter then and rested his head on his palm looking sideways as he clicked the senbon between his teeth.
She snorted again uncrossing her legs and crossing them over again. "Maybe," she chuckled more to herself than to him. Then her smile faded. She stared at him staring at her and it caused a funny feeling in the bottom of her stomach as her blood started to pump faster with adrenaline and her heart rate rose. Around her she listened to bar patrons talk and laugh as the pungent smells of alcohol, cigarettes, and cheap bar food filled her nostrils and the sensation overload caused her to practically jump from her chair. She needed to get out of here.
"So, a new bath house huh? Maybe I would like to take a look," she said hesitantly watching as he visibly blanched. He looked surprised, but he did offer to show it to her after all.
It only took him a moment to deliberate before he spoke. "Well let's go then," he said nonchalantly.
She watched gratefully as he pulled out a few notes and placed them on the bar and gave Yoshio a final nod. Sakura waved at the old bartender and then together she and Genma were walking out of the bar.
Outside the air was warm as their footsteps echoed out into the Konoha night. She brought her arms around herself, but she wasn't cold. Her skin seemed to prickle with his proximity as her heart began to race quicker as they rounded the corner of his building to stand in front of a women's bathhouse. It was nothing special really, just a clean cut girly looking building that had a picture of a rose surrounded by squiggles which must have been steam on the sign out front. It actually looked no different than any other bathhouse, but she feigned interest out of politeness.
"It looks nice," she said noncommittally playing with her hands behind her back scuffing her feet on the ground.
What were they doing? She could tell he was no more interested in the bathhouse than she was, but then what were they doing standing outside of a closed building in the middle of the night anyway? She heard a sound of scuffling feet and looked up to see him walking over to her until he was standing well within her personal space only a breaths space apart. Slowly he reached down and brushed a lock of her pink hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. The breath caught in her throat and her mouth went dry as she looked up at him expectantly. Then he leaned in to her until she felt his breath against her lips.
"Yes it does," he breathed, and then he closed the distance between them and pressed his lips against hers.
Sakura snapped out of her memory when she realized she was no longer in front of the bar that night, but sitting in a stilled silence in front of a camp fire with Genma, who apparently was still waiting for her to answer his question. "I didn't think we'd… you know," she started awkwardly. "You just asked and I guess I was curious."
Genma nodded his head and took a stick in his hands and began to break it into smaller pieces as he thought quietly to himself. Around them the sounds of the forest were coming alive filling in their silence with a trickle of a stream and the chirps of birds and strange insects. "Why sleep with me then if you two were involved?" He asked focusing on the broken pieces of wood in his hands.
"Involved," Sakura snorted. "Look, I don't know, it's all very confusing. I don't exactly have the best track record with love or anything else for that matter you know? I just, I wanted to. I wanted to see if what I felt for Naruto after… you know…"
"Sex Hana, just say it," he interrupted.
"I know!" she hissed uncomfortably, her cheeks going hot and red. "I just wanted to see if what I felt for Naruto after… sex, was different from what I felt with you."
He looked up at her then in curiosity. "And?" He asked trying to get her to continue.
"And it was, okay?" She said in a rush. "I don't know what I feel, all I know is now I feel emptier than ever and I don't want to talk about it." She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest and pointedly looking at the fire ending the conversation.
O.K, Genma thought. If she didn't want to talk that was fine by him. He brought up his hand and scratched the stubble that was beginning to grow in on his chin before he spoke. "To tell you the truth I'm not sure why I asked you to go to the bar that night…" his eyed glazed over then and he looked like he was many miles away and a small smile came to his lips. "but I'm glad I did, I don't regret it."
Sakura blushed again and tried very hard not to look at him. At the obvious expression of her embarrassment he chuckled lightly.
"Don't get me wrong, at first I thought I did after being attacked by Kakashi after I told him.."
"What? You told Kakashi?" She yelled jumping to her feet, all remnants of her embarrassment gone.
Genma looked up at her guiltily, a look of surprise across his face. "Err, yes, not in so many words of course, but I did bring it up."
You Idiot! She thought angrily and then her eyes got wild. "Did he tell Naruto?," she asked in a panic.
"Er, not exactly."
She lifted an eyebrow, and then her eyes went wide in horror, "You didn't?" she gasped.
He put his arms out in defense. "Wha.. no! Well not exactly."
Her face turned a frightening shade of red, and not the flattering color that revealed embarrassment, as she tightened her hands into dangerous little fists. "You had better start making more sense Shiranui or I'm going to punch you clear back to Konoha!"
"Well you see," he laughed nervously, "Kakashi and I were at Ichiraku's, I decided to tell him because he's my friend and your teacher."
She raised an eyebrow at him expectantly, "And?" she asked impatiently.
"And I felt he deserved to know. Look, I wanted to tell him because I knew he would kill me if he found out on his own, and trust me, he would have found out. I just thought that if I brought it up then everything would blow over quickly and we could all move on, but," he trailed off again and started to twirl the senbon in his mouth nervously.
Sakura listened to the metal clanging against his teeth, waiting for him to answer. "But?" she prompted.
He sighed. "But, Naruto was standing just outside the curtain and he heard me."
Her eyes got impossibly huge and the wild look of distress on her face made him panic for a second.
"Sakura, I didn't know he was standing there and before I knew it I was on the ground and Kakashi was being pulled off of me. When I got to my feet they made me tell them what happened and I did, well hinted really, and then suddenly Kakashi was on me again and really the whole thing was a complete mess," he said in a rush, sucking in a deep breath. "Then before I knew it Naruto had run off."
She didn't want to talk anymore. Thinking of Naruto still irritated the fresh gaping emotional wound in her chest. Emotionlessly she reached out and took a fish skewer out of the fire handing one to Genma and taking one for herself before they could burn. She looked at it a while but couldn't bring herself to eat it.
Genma eyed her contemplatively before picking at his fish skewer chewing slowly. He watched as she flipped her own skewer over and over catching it by the ends with her fingertips until finally he couldn't take it anymore and reached out and snatched her hand in his.
"You're supposed to eat it Hana, not teach it circus tricks," he said motioning it playfully towards her mouth with a tentative smile.
Sakura rolled her eyes but brought the broiled meat to her lips and ate it, but tasting nothing. When she had finished she wiped her fingers onto her skirt and threw the empty skewer into the fire and watched it burn into nothing. For a while none of them spoke.
"Genma?" she asked finally.
"Hmm?"
"Have you ever been in love," she asked hesitantly without looking at him.
The question caught him off guard and for a while he sat there mulling over his thoughts before he began to speak. "I think everyone's been in love before by the time they reach my age Sakura, just some of us don't realize it."
"You're age," she scoffed. There was another pause, "So who did you love and not realize it?" she asked sagely, regarding him with a curious look.
The look on her face was so innocent it was practically endearing. It was also rather misleading, there was no innocent twelve year old left behind those soft features. Everything she had done and seen as a shinobi had made sure of that. He decided in that moment that she was not like a Sakura blossom at all, even though she shared the same coloring as her namesake. Blossoms were frail and pretty, but withered away quickly. Sakura was more like a rose. Beautiful yes, but also prickly and enduring. Or perhaps she was nothing like a flower at all, maybe she was more like a rock; a small pretty rock that could break your bones and kill you if it hit you just right.
He smiled at her and reached out and ruffled her hair like he had seen Kakashi do so many times when she was younger. She let out a small cry of indignation as he removed his hand and stood. "You have something special Hana, don't let it go to waste. The ANBU guards will keep watch. You should get some rest."
With that he stood and walked to his tent and disappeared inside leaving her to her thoughts.
XXXX
Sakura watched him go with a mixture of affection and confusion. She liked Genma, he was a good man. She was glad that, out of anyone she could have gone home with that night, it had been him. It was strange to think that things had happened the way they did. She had worked near him for years and then suddenly less than a month after the night of the wedding she found herself in the arms of another man. How could someone who had never shown any interest in her before ask her out so suddenly and then invite her home with him just as readily? Men were strange creatures she was coming to realize. Maybe they weren't that mysterious when it came to the physical aspects of their desires but emotionally they were just as complicated as women, maybe even more so because they were mysteries even onto themselves.
Somehow she would figure out what to do about Naruto and fix this mess she had gotten herself into, but right now she had to focus on her mission and try not to let her thoughts get in the way. Everything would blow over soon, she was sure of it. All she had to do was give it some time.
Feeling a bit more resigned, she raised her hands over her head and stretched languidly. Then sighing she reached into her bag and pulled out a large medical book and a scroll. Studying had always been something that could calm her. It was amazing how going over complicated descriptions of extensive medical procedures and terms could completely drown out the world around her and all her troubles and emotions. She was thankful for it tonight. She flipped through her book's weathered pages until she found a section on respiratory illness and began to read and take notes, drinking in the warmth from the fire as she read.
XXXX
Sorry for the wait, but I hope you enjoyed that super long chapter.
Anyway, Oh Sakura…. she's being all judgy again. She should really grow out of that don't you agree? By the way, I'm not sure if people realize, but I know Sakura is being unfair. I wrote her to be a little immature. I know Naruto is basically the wounded party here. It's called plot and character development. So give me some time to resolve issues here people. We're only on chapter 4.
Also, I didn't post this fanfic to piss people off. I don't like negative reviews any more than the next person. So those of you (I realize it's probably just one person) that keep making different accounts/names to harass me personally, please stop. If you don't like my fic that's fine, but stop calling me names and harassing me. You can have whatever opinion of my story, but under no circumstances do you know anything about me. I don't care what you want I'm not going to stop writing just because you're being a jackass. If you have a critique that's fine, but talking about my orgasms, calling me sick, or a troll, is more than just a little creepy and offensive, it's harassment. You're being completely inappropriate and immature and you need to stop and grow up. You also need to realize that this is a fan site. Nothing I post here affects cannon, so just chill out ok? There are so many other fanfictions on this site you might like. You don't have to like mine, I know this and accept it, now you need to as well and calm down. Again, I'm not trying to offend people and I sure as hell am not FORCING you to read this story. So chill out, it's just a fanfic. I also want to thank those of you who have been supportive of my writing, even if you don't like the story, by giving me constructive criticism. I appreciate your maturity and open-mindedness.
-Cricket