Chapter 7:

The mood in the Haruno household dropped to a chilling degree. Tsunade and Shizune placed themselves upon the couch, their eyes sliding over the decorations of their home. Or appeared to do so. Sakura doubted it that they couldn't feel the tension in the air.

Sakura was seated on the other couch, opposite of their visitors. A low coffee table stood in between. Hikaru was seated next to his daughter on the right. His eyes were narrowed and his arms crossed in front of him as he glared at the two females. But his outright hatred and his hostile posture didn't faze the two ladies at all.

Sakura's mother walked into the room, placed a silver platter on the table that was filled with cookies and tea before settling herself next to her husband. Her face was calm and collected, definitely the opposite of her lover. She lay down her hand on Hikaru's knee before she lifted her green eyes on their company. She nodded a greeting, a small smile gracing her lips. But Sakura knew it was a fake one. It didn't reach her eyes at all.

The silence was nearly cutting. Sakura was afraid that if she would make even the smallest sound, the hell would break loose. Nervously she switched her gaze between her father and the two kunoichi's.

Shizune was holding a file, probably about her talents and test results. The grip however she held over the piece of paper was a bit too hard than necessarily.

Tsunade looked rather bored, not infected by the cold and harsh welcome nor treatment. She did notice that her partner was getting anxious and smirked inwardly. Too bad Hikaru had such loathing of ninja. He would have made a wonderful interrogator. He already had the glare and dangerous feel about him.

Her honey eyes shifted to Sakura's mother. The moment she entered the room she felt something off about her. Her hair seemed a bit too pale for a women her age. As if it had lost her glow. Her eyes seemed to be sunken into her skill. She definitely caught something that endangered her life. But she wasn't here about that.

She shifted her attention to the reason why they were here. The girl in question looked nervous, the biting of her lower lip and her sweaty palms were a dead giveaway. But Tsunade felt no guilt in placing her in this situation. A young girl with so much potential, talent in the medical field is rare to find these days. Especially one with such a kind soul as hers. The moment she lay her eyes upon her test results she was certain. This girl would be her apprentice. It would be foolish not to see the strength in the girl. She had been disappointed when Sakura had said no against her proposal. Or the continued ignoring of her calls. But if Tsunade wanted something, she would get it one way or another. Sakura was destined to be great. There was a reason why Kami had placed her upon her path, and who was she to ignore fate's calling? She wouldn't give up on this girl.

"First of all good evening and thank you for having us," Tsunade said politely.

Hikaru snorted. "Like we had a choice. Stop beating around the bush, say what you have to say and leave."

Seeing that Shizune got ready to yell again, Tsunade grabbed Sakura's file from her hands and handed it over to Sakura's father.

"Look into this file, I'll explain it while you're reading it."

With a huff, clearly against his own will he took the file, eyed the Hokage one more time before opening the file. Every little detail about her daughter's kunoichi career was in there he noticed. How old she was when she did the test, her talents and weakest points. Even the test they did on Sakura while she was away on a trip with him. He hated it to say it, but as he read all those details, the highly praise comments that was written next to some situations they tested her on, filled him with, dare he say it, pride.

"You're daughter is an phenomenal student, Haruno-san. She has talent, skills I haven't seen in ages. She has what it takes to be great in this business. As you can see, she has marvelous chakra control that even rivals mine if she continued working on it. If you just let me take her under my wing, I can make her one hell of an kunoichi that would make Konoha proud."

"That may be so. But I won't let you turn my daughter into a murder," Hikaru growled. "You say my little girl has what it takes to take lives of others? Killing people without even feeling guilty! I've seen how you guys work, and I won't let my daughter become a heartless tool for this village." He snapped the file closed, his face like thunder as he stared at them.

"I'm not making her a murder," Tsunade said calmly. "I'm turning her into a healer, a medic. Filled with knowledge to safe lives normal doctors can't even hope to safe."

"Right, and with all that knowledge about the human anatomy, she would become even a more ruthless killer."

"Haruno-san, please," Shizune pleaded. "If you just look at the file again, maybe you can understand what Sakura can achieve under our guidance."

"I understand perfectly," Hikaru spat with venom. He grabbed his daughter's file and threw it into the fires. "That phase of my daughter's life is over. I heard you guys out, but my word is final. I'm not allowing you to turn her into a killing machine nor a tool of this village. Now if you be so kind, get out of my house, and off my property."

With a curt nod, Tsunade stood and moved without another word out of the house, Shizune following closely behind.

The sound of the door closing was deafening, and it chilled Sakura to the bone. She never had seen her father so angry before. It frightened her. He still stood in the position he was in when he threw her file into the fire. It hurt her that he had thrown that part of her life without a final back glance, but she couldn't have expected any less. He loathed shinobi and everything that comes with it. A jolt of agonizing pain ran through her. Did that mean he also loathed her at one point?

"Did you know about this?" her father's voice was deadly calm but cold. It was even worse than his yelling.

"Yes," Sakura answered quietly. Her eyes were casted on his feet, feeling his cold glare on her.

"Why haven't you told me!" Sakura cringed, bracing herself when she saw her father's hand raising up, ready to smack her.

"Hikaru!" her mother called out."Stop acting like a barbarian! You're frightening you're only child, don't you see that!"

Tears of angst streamed down Sakura's cheeks as she was curled up, shivering on the couch. He could even smell the salt of her tears. His dark eyes widened with realization and lowered his hand. Instead he rubbed his face tiredly as he tried to calm down before he once more turned towards his daughter. He reached out his hand to stroke her hair, but drew back his hand as he saw how she flinched at his touch.

"Sakura…"

Green, teary eyes looked up at him. "I called them off for you Dad! I knew you wouldn't like it so I refused their offer. I hadn't said anything because I hoped that if I continued to ignore their callings they would stop. I didn't want to anger you unnecessary. I'm sorry."

With that said, Sakura dashed out of the room before anything more could be said. Hikaru stood frozen as he heard her sniffling, her footsteps on the stairs and landing before she closed her bedroom door behind her.

Kaede watched her daughter go before she to stood up. She took the silvery platter that was unused and brought it to the kitchen counter before she returned to the opening of the living room. Her green eyes took in the frozen form of her husband before she sighed.

"I know that you weren't in your right mind when you moved to struck Sakura. But she doesn't know that Hikaru. I want you to really think about what you've just done."

"I didn't mean to, I-,"

"Losing our son was painful for us both. Especially since Sakura choose the same path he did at her age. But don't take your anger out on her. Those two ladies wouldn't have been here if she would have said yes. She did what she thought that would please you the most. That girl upstairs, loves you, needs you as her father. Not someone that dictates how she should live her life. We're supposed to guide her and support her. Not raising our hands when she does something you don't approve of. Now, I'm going upstairs to comfort my daughter. I suggest you calm down before coming up."

Kaede moved towards the stairs, her eyes filled with worry and pain at seeing the man she loved raise his hand to slap her child. She could still hear the sniffing on her child, trying to muffle her sounds of distress. Her heart ached for her. With a soft knock on the door to warn her of her arrival she stepped in, ready to give all the comfort and warmth she could provide.

xXx

The next morning Sakura moved quietly out of her bedroom. She tiptoed down the landing and stairs before entering the kitchen. She placed her school bag on the dinner table, checking once more if she had all her notes and books she needed for today. With a relief sigh, she closed her bag once again when she saw she had everything. Quickly opening the fridge to grab a bento box she placed it in the side pocket of her bag. She glanced at the kitchen clock anxiously. It would take another half hour before her father would come downstairs for his morning ritual, enough time for her to quickly make some toast, drink some milk before heading off without being seen.

She was just enjoying the first bite of her toast when she could hear the heavy sounds of footsteps on the staircase. Her eyes widened with fright, the toast she held in her hand falling on her plate as she turned her eyes to the clock.

Too early! She still had fifteen minutes before he was supposed to come down. Gulping down her milk, she quickly set her dirty glass into the sink. But as she turned around, her eyes widened to see her father standing in the opening. There was dark circles under his eyes and seeing the black stubble on his lower face told her he hadn't shaved yet. His dark eyes looked at her school bag before turning his gaze on her.

She quickly averted her eyes down, afraid that if she does something wrong he would snap. She looked like a deer caught in highlight, but in reality it wasn't that much off. She was afraid of him, and Hikaru knew that. It disgusted him but there wasn't anyone to blame but himself.

He sat down with a tired sigh, studying his daughter and trying to come up with words what to say. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have directed my anger at you and I'm sorry. I know that you fear me, but please don't. It hurts me that my only child fears me."

Sakura stayed silent, not sure how to act nor what to say. She fidgeted with the edge of her shirt, waiting for her father to say something more, never once glancing up at him. But as the silent between them grew longer, she couldn't resist the temptation and turned her eyes up. His head was being supported by his hand, his eyes cast down on the table. He looked defeated and worn out. He even seemed like an old man other than his normal self. He looked ashamed and his dark eyes were filled with pain and regret.

Slowly she edged towards him and as she came closer, she could see his tears. Carefully she placed her hand on his shoulder, sliding one leg over his before propping herself up in his lap. She hadn't sit in his lap for ages. But now, seeing him so sad, it seemed liked the right thing to do. Throwing her arms around his neck she hugged him and smiled a teary smile when she felt his arms curl around her waist to embrace her back. She could feel the wetness of his tears soaking in her clean shirt, but it was okay. They were even because her own tears soaked her father's robe.

"I love you, you know that right?" Hikaru asked her with a broken voice.

Sakura nodded, nuzzling further into her father's warmth as she felt his grip become tighter. She felt protected and loved more than she ever felt before from him.

"I know Dad. I love you too." She felt him smile, even if she didn't see it. One of his hands came up to caress her hair before his lips pressed upon her forehead.

xXx

With a soft snap she closed her note book. The homework assignments for upcoming week were finished. With a relieved sigh she leaned back against the tree. It was a good idea to get out of home and go to the park to clear her head. Placing the black notebook into her bag she closed her eyes. All she wanted now was to relax and enjoy the warm weather.

"Well hello Sakura-san. I haven't seen you in awhile."

Green eyes snapped open with fright, gazing up the shinobi attire and tanned skin to meet the warm brown eyes of Iruka-sensei. In his hands he held missions reports. Probably on his way for his duty behind the mission desk, Sakura thought.

"Hi, Iruka-sensei," Sakura said politely. She drew her legs closer to her body. He was the last person she wanted to talk with today. He had always been kind and nice to her. Giving her material of the higher classes so she would have a challenge.

"How come that I don't see you at the mission desk anymore?" He asked kindly. He kneeled, going down to her height to seem more personal.

Sakura swallowed heavily. He must have noticed by now she was in casual clothes instead of her usual ninja attire. He probably already expected her situation. "I have quit Sensei," she murmured softly. "I'm not fit for a ninja life."

He frowned, staring down at her as he watched her curl up even more. "Well, that sounds ridiculous. You were one of my most promising students."

He placed his files on the ground before he sat down beside her. "What happened?"

Sakura shrugged. "Naruto and Sasuke are gone Iruka-sensei. Without them the team isn't worth much."

"Don't you dare say that Sakura," Iruka said sternly.

"What? It's true. Otherwise Kakashi-sensei wouldn't have left me alone."

Brown eyes widened with shock. "He did what now?"

"He left me alone Iruka-sensei. I heard it from you that he went on a mission that night. Seeing I wasn't even important to be informed, that says enough about my qualities about being a ninja. I'm not worth it." Sakura dusted her pants off before grabbing her schoolbag. "It was nice seeing you Iruka-sensei, but I need to go home. I promised Dad that he could test me on my big economic test tomorrow." It wasn't the truth, but it wasn't a lie either. She had promised her father that, but that would be tomorrow.

She left a dumfounded school teacher behind, not believing what he just heard. He didn't even know how much time passed by before Asuma and Kurenai walked by.

"Hey Iruka, are you alright?" Asuma called out. He took his last drag of his cigarette before throwing it on the ground and crushing it with the sole of his sandal.

Kurenai's red eyes looked at him worried, and helped him up. "Is something wrong?"

Iruka shook his head, trying to progress the information he had gotten an half hour ago. It felt like he had taken a punch to the stomach. How could he have missed it? He should have known something was wrong when he noticed the red puffy eyes of Sakura that night. He should have contacted the Hokage earlier when Sakura didn't show anymore in the mission room.

Asuma had taken all the mission files that lay on the ground beside him. "I'll carry these," he said casually when Iruka made a grab for them.

Without much protest Iruka let Kurenai take him by the arm, guiding him towards the main path before Asuma fell in step with them, walking towards the Hokage tower.

"Did you guys know?" Iruka suddenly spoke out.

"Know what?"

"That Sakura had quit?"

"She what?" Kurenai called out. She turned her head to look at Iruka, searching his brown eyes to see he was lying, but was astonished to see he wasn't.

"Yeah, that was my reaction too. She had so much potential. It seems she thought she wasn't worth the shinobi life since Kakashi neglected her it seems. He hadn't even given her a message he had gone on his mission."

"You mean that night I saw her standing on the water?" Asuma interrupted.

Iruka nodded. "Yes, three months ago she had quit, and we didn't know anything."

Kurenai sighed. "If I had known, I would have easily taken her under my wing."

"Or I would. Ino is Sakura's best friend, and now that Shikamaru is chuunin, she could have easily filled up his gap whenever he went on his own missions."

"Maybe if we lay down that proposal with the Hokage, maybe Sakura will join us again," Kurenai said thoughtfully.

Iruka and Asuma snorted simultaneously. It was Iruka who spoke out. "Have you met her parents? Especially her father? He would have been in cloud nine to hear his daughter quitting. No, she already enrolled into a civilian school. It's not right to mess up that girl's life any further. Even if I wanted to, she made that choice on her own. We can't force her to come back."

Asuma nodded. "Iruka is right, we can't do anything right now."

"Oh, yes we can," Kurenai said angrily. "The moment that lazy bastard comes back from that mission he will get an earful from me. It's his fault that Sakura had quit, or at least had a part of it."

"Now now, Kurenai, you don't know that for sure," Asuma tried to calm the women down.

"Exactly, Sakura confirmed it," Iruka said. "She told me she was left alone."

"Argh, that bastard is going to get it," Kurenai bristled. She waved with her hand angrily, whilst Asuma and Iruka quickly took a few steps back. They were glad her angry wasn't directed at them, because Kurenai could be really scary when angry. They felt a bit sympathy for their fellow jounin. Only a bit though, because of his doing, one of their promising youngsters had quit. Something that had never happened before for that reason: being abandoned by her active sensei.

To be continued…