So the songs used are "Nobody" from 'Bandstand: A New American Musical' and "To Sir, With Love" from the 'Glee Cast'
Chapter 12
Sakura decided to meet with Naruto for dinner after practice one night, a few days into the month. He had missed the day before and she was worried. When they sat down at Ichiraku's and ordered Naruto told her about his new teacher, Jiraiya.
"Wait," Sakura raised her chopsticks and used them to gester. "You're telling me that Kakashi-sensei called in the Sannin Jiraiya to teach you? That is so not fair, he just got me Gai-sensei."
Naruto raised his hands in defense, "I think he called him to check out what Orochimaru did to me that made me pass out. It was only after he lost a bet to me that he decided to train me."
Sakura paused. "Oh, that's okay then. Anyway, Naruto? I can tell that you're having some trouble remembering the steps and the lyrics, do you need some help?"
"Of course not Sakura-chan! I can…" at Sakura's deadpanned look, he lost the forced cheerfulness he was using. "Yeah… I might need some help. I'm no good at these kinds of things."
"Well, lucky for you, I am." Sakura couldn't help but posture. She knew that her father did all of this because she liked it. "We can stay after everyone leaves and practice some more. That way, even if you miss a practice, you won't be too far behind. And," she got a sly look on her face, "you'll be doing better than Kiba."
"I'm in!"
And so, that's what they did. Their moves weren't as hard as Teams 8 and 10, What with them having another person, but as they both passed, they got most of the spotlight. Sakura could already see some paparazzi beginning to cross her path a lot more than usual, and that had nothing to do with their practices and everything to do with her beating the Yamanaka heiress and her being on a team with Sasuke becoming common knowledge. Even Naruto was getting attention, not all of it good, but he was. They weren't the only ones to get attention, the teams that passed were also getting a lot more attention. While the heirs were used it it, Ino had told Sakura that it was getting worse for her and Hinata, since Ino had a civilian beat her and Hinata had a branch Clan member beat her, despite Neji's insistence that 'It was fated that she would lose to me.' Sakura didn't put much faith if fate, she liked to think that humans were given free will for a reason.
She and Shikamaru also managed to have a conversation about what happened in the Forest. It was after a long day of training and Gai had left to go see how Lee's was doing in the hospital and Sakura was lying on the ground, unable to move when Shikamaru walked up to her head and looked down at her. Sakura opened her eyes and groaned, flopping an arm over her eyes before peaking it from under it to stare with narrowed eyes at the Nara heir. At his insistence, she forced herself up and followed him to the Nara Forest behind his manor. After Shikamaru decided that they were far enough away from anyone to overhear them, he turned to the pinkette.
"Are we going to talk about what happened in the Forest?" Sakura folded her arms over her chest. "Are you going to explain about how you made the ground move without a jutsu?"
"Are you going to explain how the water was absorbed into your skin and healed your cuts?" Shikamaru fires back before sighing. "Troublesome. I've always been able to do that, but only with earth and wood. No one knows, not even my father, which was hard enough to do."
Sakura smiled, "I can control water too! Well, only sometimes. It's temperamental and doesn't always like to do as I say,but if I'm in danger, it tends to kick in. I can also use the moisture from the air around me to get some water, but that takes a lot more energy." Sakura widened her eyes to empathize her point before sighing. "Great, now I have to tell Kakashi-sensei." She was not looking forward to that conversation.
Shikamaru started, "Why do you have to tell him anything?" His anger was palpable as the ground shook under her.
"Because he can control fire and lightning, just like we can control water and earth." At her explanation, the ground stabilized. "My powers are the real reason why I'm training with Gai-sensei. I need a fighting style that I could incorporate my powers with. Kakashi-sensei did that when he was younger and recommended I do the same." Suddenly realizing who she was talking to she added sternly, "Don't use this against me if we fight each other and I won't do the same."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "I thought that was obvious." Sakura flushed before nodding to herself. "I have a question though."
"Shoot."
"I don't know how to get around Dosu's sound attacks. Plugging my ears won't work, as evidenced by Chōji's fight with him."
Shikamaru closed his eyes for a few moments before opening them and Sakura knew he had a plan. "See if you can put water in the holes of his arm."
Sakura smiled and thanked him before realizing the time as hurriedly made her excuses so she could get some rest for tomorrow. Of course, the next day came with the news that Dosu had attacked Gaara and was nearly killed because of it. He was in a coma in the hospital and therefore, unable to fight Sakura. She was not supposed to fight whoever won between Shikamaru and Temari.
—
"I can't believe today's the day." Sakura looked away from her reflection in the mirror to look at Ino, who was staring at her own reflection. "You know, it's on days like this that I regret chopping my hair off. I mean, look at Hinata and Tenten! Their long hair is gorgeous for this style." She turned her gaze to the other girls and had to give Ino her point. Hinata's hair was in the petite victory curls with dark makeup that made her light eyes pop while Tenten had curled her hair before putting it up in a low ponytail while the front of her hair gave the illusion of having bangs as was curled back, also with dark makeup. Ino's hair, on the other hand was in the candyman curls and Sakura had the suicide roll hairstyle, both girls with light makeup. With dresses and high heels, Sakura had to admit that they looked good. Ino turned her head to meet Sakura's gaze and winked, pulling her glossy lips up in a smile and Sakura went breathless.
The music started and she looked at the monitor in the room as the camera showed the outside of the stadium before panning through the halls underground and going through the open door to the boy's dressing room, where Naruto was standing in front of a long mirror, fixing his suit jacket. "You know who tells me "no"? You know who tells me "I don't think so"? You know who tells me "no"? Nobody." Naruto walked out of the room and was replaced by Neji and Shino, also in suits.
"You know who tells me "wait"?" Neji started, checking his cuffs.
"You know who tells me "that ain't so great"?" Shino added, fixing a scarf that he was able to get around his neck to cover his mouth. Sakura thought it was lucky the mic was attached to his cheek instead of the top of his head like everyone else.
"You know who tells me "wait?" Neji continued before sharing a look with Shino.
"Nobody." They sang together before moving into the hallway where Naruto, Chōji and Kiba were waiting.
"So, get out of my way." The boys intoned as they quickly walked towards the outside before turning towards Neji, who was in the center of the formation.
"'Specially if you don't have something nicer to say." Neji spread his arms festering before they turned to continue walking.
"Go try to break someone other."
Ino tapped Sakura on the shoulder, whispering a good luck before the girls left to get into place leaving Sakura alone as Shino sang on screen, "Go find yourself someone else to smother!"
"No, nobody. No!"
Sakura took her cue, knowing her father was perfectly on schedule. She looked at herself in he vanity, sweater on before intoning, "You know who tells me "slow"? You know who tells me "that's a no go"? You know who tells me "slow"? She peeled off the sweater and put it on the chair as she finished, "Nobody."
Walking out of the dressing room, she met up with the girls as well as Shikamaru. He took her hand as he started, "You know who tells me "quit"? You know who tells me-"
"You ain't worth spit!" The girls sang along with Shikamaru as he twirled Sakura forward towards outside before continuing solo.
"You know who tells me "quit"?"
"Nobody!" By the time Sakura's group finished the word they were at the doors, praying that Naruto's group was at the other side of the arena. Sakura and Shikamaru opened the doors as Neji and Shino opened theirs and everyone finally sang together.
"So, get out of my way! Find somebody else who gives a fig what you say. Go discipline someone other, last time I checked you were not my mother!" As they were singing, they made their way to be center of the arena and got into places.
As one, they leaned back, hips first and shuffled forward as they sang, "You know who tells me "stop"? You know who tells me" Here they stopped and pointed at the crowd, ""You don't have what it takes and you will never reach the top"!" You know who tells me "stop"? Nobody!"
Here the teams split off and started swing dancing. Sakura had been dreading the dance break, but Naruto was holding strong. She had thought that he would choke, but it turned out that the crowd was feeding his need for attention. The lift that he kept missing was coming up and although she kept a smile on her face, Sakura's eyes spelled death if he dropped her now. He lifted and threw her and caught her, her legs wrapping around his waist as the first piano rift started and let her arms go and let her torso drop from left to right, before picking herself up and dropped again, this time from right to left as the second piano rift occurred, Naruto's arm holding her steady, before unwinding her legs and kicking back before landing back on the floor flawlessly. Her beaming smile turned real as Naruto led her to where a jōnin put a microphone on a stand and the two began to dance around it until their cue to sing into the microphone came up while everyone continued to dance. "So get out of my way. Find somebody else who gives a fig what you say. Go discipline someone other. Last time I checked you were not my mother."
The others danced around them as everyone continued, "You know who tells me "stop"? You know who tells me "You don't have what it takes and you will never reach the top"?" You know who tells me "stop"?"
Sakura continued alone, "Nobody."
Sakura and Naruto sang together, "Nobody."
Everyone continued, "No, no one tells me no. No one tells me no."
The boys started, "No one tells me."
Then the girls, "No one tells me.
Back to the boys, "No one tells me."
Then the girls, "No one tells me."
Finally they finish together, "No, no, no, no, no, Nobody!" The last few notes were overshadowed by the last lifts of Hinata and Ino standing on their teammates shoulders and Tenten sitting on Neji's shoulder while Sakura and Naruto spun away from the microphone to the center of the formation back to back. They held positions for a few seconds as the crowd went wild. The girls dropped to the ground and the genin looked at each other in ecstasy. This was a lot more exhilarating than they thought it would be.
—
By the time everyone was dressed in their regular fighting clothes, they had learned that the proctor had changed from Hayate to Genma Shiranui. Sakura looked at the senbon wielding jōnin with suspicion. She didn't like how it was just announced, like something had happened to Hayate recently. She shook it off as Naruto and Neji started their battle. Neji was going on and on about how fate couldn't change and that's why Naruto will lose before he took off his headband and the bandages on his forehead and began to explain about how the Branch Clan was exploited by the Main Hyūga Clan by putting a seal on every Branch Clan member that causes them excruciating pain and, even in some cases, death. "That is why," Neji concluded, "no one can escape fate. And your fate is to lose to me."
"As if! Carpe diem and all that." Naruto looked uncomfortable with the speech as he looked from Neji to the head of the Hyūga Clan in the audience before looking back at Neji. "My destiny is what I make it. I won't lose to you!"
As Naruto attacked Neji and Neji's chakra flared in response starting the Hyūga famous fighting style, Sakura noticed that every time he hit Naruto, he missed yet, it always seemed like he connected. She narrowed her eyes and watched Neji more closely. The air around him seemed to be more volatile, not seeming to want to hurt both people, but ultimately harming Naruto more than Neji. With a subtle flick of the wrist, Neji had driven Naruto down into the ground, the air around him still whirling, before seeming to disappear in an instant. Sakura shared a look with Shikamaru - they knew that this was not usual of the Gentle Fist style. Sakura had a thought forming and could tell that Shikamaru was already a few steps ahead of her before she was distracted by Naruto shooting yo from the ground and punching Neji hard enough to knock him out. There was silence before a roar of approval came from the crowd.
"Yeah, Naruto! Carpe that diem!" Kiba's voice came through and Sakura laughed along with Ino.
Sakura leaned her head towards her friend, "Do you think he knows what that means?"
The blond shook her head, still laughing. "Think He was just," she smiled secretly, "seizing the day."
—
Sakura was annoyed. First, Sasuke and Kakashi took forever to get there, to the point where she almost had to fight Shikamaru right after his own fight, which wouldn't be fair, but then Gaara decided to go crazy after he got hurt by Sasuke and his siblings took him and left, the Sasuke made the brilliant decision to go after him alone.
Sakura instinctively dispelled the genjutsu that was coming over the crowd. Quickly ducking from a swing, she took Ino and rolled out of the way and into the aisle. Waking up Ino, Sakura told her to wake up anyone who could fight and to help out the civilians and go to the academy just in case. She then woke up Shikamaru, who was sleeping instead of under the genjutsu, and Naruto before reaching Kakashi and telling him that Sasuke went after Gaara, "Like an idiot." Naruto added helpfully.
Kakashi nodded before he got distracted by another attack, "Go, Sakura!"
The three genin jumped out of the stadium before running towards where they last saw Sasuke. They were running for a while before Shikamaru stopped on a branch. Sakura and Naruto stopped ahead of him, looking back at him. "There's people following us."
"How many?" asked Sakura.
"Twelve, thirteen I'm not entirely sure." Shikamaru tilted his head, his eyes on the ground. He nodded to himself. "Leave them to me. I'll make sure they don't follow you."
Sakura met his eyes and purses her lips, not liking her options while Naruto was saying how they wouldn't leave him behind. Sakura appreciated the sentiment, but she knew it was the only option that made sure they would make it to Sasuke. "Okay."
"But Sakura-chan-!"
"Just don't die on us. Ino would be a wreck." Sakura smiled so Shikamaru knew she was joking. She then turned her back to him and started running, Naruto hot on her heels.
Shikamaru watched them run away before reaching in himself where his powers were located. He jumped down and slid one foot in front of the other to get a better stance before yanking his arms up, making a wall of earth between himself and his friends, then he moved the tree branches to block the way, which had the added benefit of giving him more shade. He was panting by the time he was done, and the Suna nin hadn't even caught up to him yet. He turned and got ready for his Clan jutsu to get him out of this mess.
By the time the two had caught up with Sasuke, Kankurō and Shino were fighting because Shino didn't like the fact that Kankurō had refused to fight him. Sakura had rolled her eyes over Shino's pettiness but, let him fight Kankurō if it meant that her and Naruto got to Sasuke first.
When they got there, Gaara was about to kill a downed Sasuke if not for Naruto distracting him so Sakura could grab him and move him out of the way. "What the hell is wrong with you?" She couldn't help but yell at her teammate. "The Suna have sided with Otogakure and are attacking the entire village, but you decided to go after someone who was already unstable and without backup!"
Sasuke flushed a little before muttering that he didn't know that they were attacking, he just thought that Gaara was a coward.
Sakura got an unimpressed look on her face. "Really? Gaara's a coward? The guy who nearly killed two people in a month."
"I wasn't thinking ok?!"
"I know you weren't! That's why I'm mad at you!"
Sasuke was about to say something back but Naruto landed in front of them. "Can you guys stop fighting for, like, two minutes and actually help me fight the transforming person in front of us?"
Sakura and Sasuke blushed and Sasuke made his last chidori while Sakura took out Kubikiribōchō and a water bottle from the scroll and got into position. She opened the water bottle and let the water cover the blade in a thin layer and concentrated to freeze it, since she figured that ice was just frozen water. It wasn't all that smooth, but it was sharp.
By the time the ice formed, she was panting and Sasuke was falling. Catching him, Sakura gently put him down by Temari, who was watching the ongoing fight between Naruto and Gaara, before jumping into the fray. Gaara has already half transformed into something and all Kubikiribōchō could do, despite her flurry of hits, was make a dent in Gaara's sand and the ice shattered, but it annoyed him enough that a sand arm came and grabbed Sakura by the chest and pinned her to a tree, forcing her to drop the sword. Her last thought was that she hoped Naruto would be able to seal it back before anyone came after he beat Gaara, before the pressure on her chest tightened and she fell unconscious.
—
Steady beeping. That was the first thing Sakura heard as she woke up, along with the smell of antiseptic spray. Her thoughts were fuzzy from the lack of oxygen and her throat was sore and dry and she couldn't breath! Why couldn't she breath?! She tried to grasp at whatever was stopping her from breathing, but something on her wrists stopped her. Then, a calm voice came to her ears.
"Calm down. Stop trying to breath on your own, let the machine do it for you." Sakura opened her eyes as someone, probably a nurse if she has a breathing machine, said that she was going to tell the doctor that she was awake and retreating footsteps. Sakura blinked as she was assaulted by white.
"Maa, maa, Sakura-chan, look what you did. You scared the poor nurse. What has she ever done to you?" Kakashi's amused voice met her ears as she looked around the room and spotted her Sensei at her bedside. His smile diminished a little as he continued. "You had two broken ribs, a broken collarbone, dislocated shoulders and a broken wrist. You're lucky that we have some medic nin, otherwise you could never be a ninja again. You have to take it easy for a few days while everything settles, but you're also very lucky that Gaara didn't shatter the bones like he did with Lee."
Sakura stared at him. It was all she could do, she couldn't speak yet as the doctor had yet to come in the room. She thought that he was lucky she couldn't speak, otherwise she… she didn't know what she'd say, but it would be bad. The doctor came in and after an evaluation, she took out the breathing tube. She told Sakura to still take it easy, even after she healed the damage done by the tube.
When the doctor left again, Sakura look at Kakashi and asked what happened. Her stomach dropped when he told her that everything was orchestrated by Orochimaru in order to kill the Sandaime Hokage, which he succeeded to do. Kakashi didn't do too much into detail, as they were now classified by the Godaime Hokage runner up, Danzō Shimura. "And… Naruto and Sasuke?"
"They're fine." Kakashi suddenly looked exasperated. "Naruto saved Gaara with the power friendship!" The sarcasm was palpable and Sakura giggled before regretting it. "Sasuke brought both of you back while Temari brought back Gaara. Turns out, Gaara grew up alone and created like Naruto and through their mutual childhoods, they bonded and now Gaara's a friend."
Sakura shook her head and opened her mouth to say something when Kakashi looked at the door and said, "Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Hello, Gaara."
Gaara stood in the doorway, looking uncomfortable and was looking off to the hallway before a familiar hand pushed him in the room. Gaara stumbled in before freezing. Kakashi got up and left the room and outside the door a yelp sounded as Naruto was dragged away. Gaara and Sakura looked at anything but each other in an awkward silence before Sakura couldn't take it anymore.
"I'm sorry." Gaara looked shocked at the words that came out of his mouth. He swallowed hard before continuing, "I didn't realize that you were one of Naruto's precious people and I apologize."
"Do you why you're apologizing? Or is it because Naruto told you that it would make him feel better?" Sakura was genuinely curious of his answer.
Gaara rolled the words in his mouth, considering them before he spoke. "I'm apologizing because I feel bad for what I did to you. I shouldn't have let Moth - "he took a deep breath, "Shukaku, talk me into trying to kill you. I actually like you, you interest me. I'm trying to not scare people and kill them first."
"Well, you're doing a great job of it so far." When Gaara looked at her in suspicion, she smiled and patted on the bad next to her and he sat down, too shocked to say anything. "So, tell me about you, Gaara? What do like?"
"...I like cacti. Especially the blooming ones."
Sakura brightened before babbling about how Ino's mom owned a flower shop and how she knew a lot about flowers from Ino and maybe the three of them can get together before he and his siblings leave. She pretended not to notice how he relaxed and got more enthusiastic as the conversation went on and smiled to herself. Gaara noticed, "Why are you smiling?"
"No reason. I'm just glad to make a new friend." Gaara's answering smile was blinding.
—
Sakura had been out of the hospital for three days, which was five days after the Konoha Crush, as the civilians are now calling it. Sakura was told that so many people had liked the Konoha 11's performance so much that they wanted them to sing for the Sandaime's funeral. Naruto opted out, but everyone else was in and while Sakura loved Naruto, she wanted to do something for the fallen Hokage and agreed.
The now Konoha 10, now with the addition of Lee in a wheelchair, were busy nonstop for the three days, with everyone contributing to the lyrics before going to Kizashi and asking him if he could arrange it. Then, all too soon, the day arrived. After the memorial, the 10 walked up to the stage and sat on stools that formed a half circle, microphones in hand. The music started, a slow ballad. Sakura put the microphone to her lips and began, "Those schoolgirl days, of telling tales and biting nails are gone. But in my mind I know they will still live on and on."
"But how do you thank someone who has taken you from crayons to perfume?" Ino continued.
"Oh, it isn't easy, but I'll try." Lee sang in a surprisingly high voice.
Sakura, Ino, and Shino sang above the rest while that all sang, "If you wanted the sky, I would write across the sky in letters that will soar a thousand feet high. To sir, with love."
Hinata and Kiba started the next verse in sync. "The time has come for closing books and long last looks must end."
"And as I leave I know that I am leaving my best friend." Ino and Chōji smiled bittersweetly as they grasped hands.
Tenten took over, "A friend who taught me right from wrong and weak from strong, that's a lot to learn."
"What can I gift you in return?" Neji intoned.
"Oh!" Sakura started before everyone sang the chorus one last time, Sakura's voice rising along with Ino's and Shikamaru's.
"If you wanted the moon, I would try to make a start. But I would rather you let me give my heart. To sir, with love."
Sakura saw her teammates leave from the back of the courtyard and vowed to talk to them in the morning.
—
"What do you mean they're gone!?"
Sakura stared at Kakashi. He was lying comatose in a hospital bed Naruto and Sasuke apparently gone somewhere without telling her. She listened as she was told that Kakashi had been attacked by Itachi Uchiha and his partner Kisame Hoshigaki, looking for Naruto, who went with Jiraiya to search for the Slug Princess Tsunade so that she could become Hokage. When Sasuke had heard that it was Itachi, he immediately left.
Her hands clenched in fists of rage. She hated being left behind, and they kept doing it! Sakura found herself wandering towards the training grounds in a rage. When she got to one that she thought was empty, she let loose, destroying as much of the training grounds as possible.
"What's wrong with you?" A voice broke through the red haze enough for her to look in the direction it came from. Shikamaru was at the entrance to the training ground, confused as to why the pink haired girl was destroying the field.
"I'm in a rage!" She yelled out. "This is the maddest I've ever been!"
Shikamaru hummed before creating a wall in the entrance of the training ground before shooting a large rock towards Sakura's head. She dodge rolled to the side before grabbing some water from a nearby stream and retaliated. She and Shikamaru shared a dark grin before continuing to blow off steam, never realizing the light eyes of a certain Hyūga was watching from the sky.
A few hours later, Shikamaru was halfheartedly fixing the ground while Sakura put the water back in the stream. She looked over at her partner in crime. "Thank you. I really needed that."
Shikamaru moves the last boulder into place before turning to her. "You about to tell me what you were mad about?"
"I think I can answer that." A haughty voice pierced the air and Neji tumbled out of the sky. He stumbled to a stop and bent his knees for balance. "That… that should have been a better landing." His face burned red as Sakura burst out in laughter and Shikamaru sighed, holding his head.
Neji righted himself before explaining, "Naruto left with Jiraiya to go find Lady Tsunade so that she could become the next Hokage and Sasuke went after him, but only after he found out that his brother was looking for Naruto."
"Thanks for reminding me!" Sakura felt her temper flare before brutally putting it down.
"But that isn't really what you're here for, is it?" Shikamaru said knowingly. "You're here to tell us that you can do this too." To prove his point, Shikamaru levitated a rock from the ground and kept it floating in his hand.
Sakura took his cue and grabbed some water from the stream and kept it moving in a ball above her hand. Neji looked between them before compressing enough air to make a ball and keep it rotating. "Now what?" He couldn't help but ask.
"Now, we wait for Kakashi-sensei, he's fire," she added to Neji and he nodded in understanding. "After, who knows."
—
That night, Sasuke was brought back in critical condition. Sakura assumes that he fought Itachi and lost, because of course he would. She sat at his bedside, hating that she couldn't do anything. She used a little bit of her water healing, but she still wasn't that great at it, and it was less effective than medical jutsu. Now, Konoha needed Tsunade to heal four people instead of just two. Fuck Itachi.
"Hey! Watch your mouth!" Inner snarked, already knowing that this was going to be a bad trend.
Oh, like you could talk! Sakura couldn't help but snark back, needing a distraction that wasn't Neji attempting to be a better person, Shikamaru groaning about his teammates, or Gaara talking about plants.
"Hey… How is he?" Sakura turned her head to the doorway and there was Ino.
"Same old same old." Sakura smiled bitterly. "I hate not being able to do anything"
"I know, trust me, I know." Ino and Sakura sat there for a few seconds, letting the silence grow before Ino started, "Oh! I almost forgot, Jiraiya and Naruto were able to convince Lady Tsunade to come back. They should be here in a couple of days!"
After Ino's announcement, the days seemed to get shorter until Naruto was back. Then, everything went to hell again. After Tsunade healed up Sasuke and Kakashi, Sasuke went back to his old asshole self, like all their team bonding never happened, and he refused to tell anyone what happened with his brother. This festered until Sasuke and Naruto decided that killing each other on the hospital roof was a good idea. Sakura watched from the sidelines, again, as her boys - no, her teammates - tried to use their strongest attacks on each other. She knew that it was futile, but she started running, trying to get them to stop. Then Kakashi arrived, saving all of their lives.
Naruto tried to apologize, saying that he couldn't stop while Sasuke looked away in shame that he tried to hide, but Sakura didn't care. "Friends aren't supposed to try and kill each other, and neither are teammates. You both could have killed all of us, and the only thing you seem to care about is that you would have killed me, not each other. I - I can't right now."
Tears ran down her face as Sakura ran as far as she could and Naruto and Sasuke didn't come after her. When she became aware of where she was, she was in front of the Hokage Tower. Wiping her eyes, she went inside until she reached a door. When a woman told her to enter, she opened the door at stared with desperation at Tsunade for a few seconds before opening her mouth, "I want you to take me on as your student! Please!"
Tsunade didn't look surprised, she steepled her fingers in front of her face. "And why should I do that?"
"Because I'm tired of my teammates leaving me behind. Naruto and Sasuke are always leaps and bounds ahead of me and every time I think I'm catching up, they just keep going and I'm sick of it. I want to help them in anyway I can, but I can't if they think I can't handle myself." Sakura was out of breath after the triad, but refused to show it.
Tsunade was silent, though her eyes showed interest when she mentioned who her teammates were. "If I do take you on as my apprentice, it will not be easy. You will still be required to train with your team and go on missions as a team. Do you think you can do that?"
Sakura's face hardened with determination. "I know I can."
Tsunade's lips broke into a bloodthirsty smile. "Then call me Shishou."
