DICK-TATOR
"Isn't it a little early for you to be drinking?"
"It is late. Didn't leave. And you should not lecture others about drinking."
"Young people. I don't even remember the days when I could stay in bar for days." Tsunade took seat across Sakura. Their booth was in corner at the end of the bar. It was nice and secluded, perfect for talking. Tsunade had decided to come to see how her student was doing. She was worried about her student. She may have dropped Kakashi thing too suddenly on her. And the report of little violence made her queasy too. She may have pushed her little too much.
"What time is it?" Sakura asked. She was confused as the amount of sun light and direction of it told her it was around noon time but here sitting in front of her was the busiest person in the village.
"It's 11:30 AM."
"Don't you have a village to run?"
"My new assistant can't find any work for me to do. And have you not heard of fifteen minutes rule. If I am not needed for fifteen minutes I can leave." Sakura just rolled her eyes. Just like Tsunade to come up with stupid rules to get a chance to bunk her work and drink. "Someone will come find me if I am needed." Sakura nodded and silence ensued. Tsunade looked around and saw the broken table, glasses and bottles. 'So the violence part was correct.' Tsunade thought and then she signalled the bartender to get her a bottle as well. Sakura didn't seem in mood to part with her's. Bartender promptly brought the Hokage a bottle of sake and a cup. As the bartender was pouring her drink, Tsunade asked "You don't mind?" signalling towards the broken table and glasses.
"Nah, Sakura-san is a war hero. She saved us all in the great war. It is our honor and pleasure to serve her in our bar and you too, Lord Hokage."
"See I am war hero." Sakura said with a proud smile on her face.
"And This is a ninja bar. Anyway these things happen once or twice a week. We have a separate storage for general furniture."
"See, no harm done. Perfectly normal behavior."
"Well then leave us alone." The bartender bowed and left. If the person running the bar has no problem, she does not have either.
"Why are you here, Shishou?"
"I heard one of my favorite student has taken up morning drinking. Thought I might check in and ask what's wrong?"
Sakura rolled her eyes again "You have only two students. Try and guess why I am drinking at 11'o clock in morning." Tsunade opened her mouth but before she could speak, Sakura started speaking again in accusatory tone "Let me tell you why. Four weeks ago I was sent on a protection mission to capital to guard a thirty years old child who proposed to me in six hours of our meeting. To save me from that horrible situation, you insisted I get married to Kakashi who by the way is also my genin Sensei. To make it believable you made me give up my apartment lease and move in with Kakashi. Then at your party you and kakashi had a drunken spat and I got kicked out of my husband's home and I am currently homeless. Then you conveniently opened a can of worms on how Kakashi, your right hand man, is becoming a cold blooded killer and can't be trusted and I have to stick with him even though it is the last thing he wants. And to top it all off you are not allowing me to do one thing that can help me take my mind off how fucked up my life has become in last one month." Anger was seeping out of Sakura which could intimidate anyone except for one person who sitting in front of her.
Tsunade calm as cucumber replied "Well, the last one is not my fault. It's Village policy." Sakura just shot her a dirty look. "The mission was simple. I didn't know that a wimp like him could approach you of all people. And you are not homeless, you are still married to him so he can't kick you out. If he will, I will personally break him in half."
Sakura nodded. Now it didn't feel like a conspiracy or full planning. All her theories goes down the drain everytime she interacts with the either of two. Maybe it was a really just a coincidence as Shishou suggested.
"How long are you going to stay in here, Sakura?" Tsunade was concerned about Sakura's condition.
The question snapped Sakura out of her thoughts. "Till I find some answers. You see till a month ago I had a good life. And now I am in a shit storm which I am not sure is deliberated on your part or mere coincidence. I don't know what to trust and whom to trust."
Tsunade nodded. It will be a conundrum for anyone and Sakura was always kind and soft at heart. She believed in people, everyone of her generation did. But here even Tsunade was not sure about what was going on with Kakashi. He seemed like normal to her and still does to this day. But all mission results and that psych analysis could not be ignored too. She could not be blind to all this and foster another Danzou. She needed someone who can actually get close to him and get the truth out of him. He won't allow her and Guy and Naruto trusted him too much for even doubting him. Sakura was her only option for this. But she is now also sceptical of her.
"If you are looking for answers you won't find them at the bottom of these bottles." Sakura looked up at her Shishou. "You have been blind for long, immersed in your work. Find your answers about me, village, Kakashi and everything else that's been bugging you. You are a kunoichi raised by the Godaime herself." Sakura nodded. She was already in this mess, she might as well clear it. But how? Stealth, spying and information gathering was not her strong suit. She was more of a brawler.
"I don't think it will be as easy."
"Remember Sakura, you are war hero. You are well respected kunoichi. Just ask non-threatening questions and people will answer."
Sakura nodded. "You can always use my name or idiot Kakashi's. He is still your husband after all. Sometimes it can get you out of trouble in certain situations." Sakura just smiled. Sakura placed her palm on her forehead and it started to glow green. She had to burn all that alcohol from her system if she was going to do this.
After she was done, Sakura stood up and started to leave. After so much time she had an exciting task on her hand.
Tsunade was putting all her hopes on Sakura. Whatever she finds at the end, Tsunade will accept that even if she wanted her intuition about him to be wrong.
"Excuse me Mam. You have not paid your bill." Bartender called from behind. Sakura turned to look and turned ashen. The sheer length of the bill was astounding but she had been there for a long time.
A light bulb went on in her head and Sakura smiled. "Put that on my husband's tab."
"Your husband, mam?" Confused bartender asked.
Sakura nodded "Hatake Kakashi."
"Okay, mam. Should I send it to his office?"
"Yeah. Sure." Sakura turned around and started walking. She could hear Tsunade laughing in the background. 'This is going to be fun.'
"Arghh, it is so hard. At least tell me what am I doing wrong?"
"Naruto, I have already told you what you have to do. Why are you even deviating? It's a simple task!" He forgot how tedious it is to teach anything to the blonde.
"It's so hard Sensei." Said the man who created an S-class jutsu just after a week of training.
"I knew you would need incentive to act properly so I brought an assistant with me. He will add one book to your study list for the week everytime you mess up."
"Nooooo... It is not fair." He already had three books for the week. The thought of more books was making him sick in his stomach.
Kakashi nodded. "Add one more book to his pile." And the he looked at Naruto "Now stop whining and do as told."
Naruto gets up and under his breath said "Dictator."
"Dick-tator." Kurama quipped. Naruto giggled at his friend's joke and walked out the apartment to greet them back. Kakashi was tired and running out of patience. Councillors were sitting there feeling frustrated, but they had nothing better to do so they were sticking around. An Anbu was standing in corner awkwardly counting books.
Naruto opens the door, walks in all happy. "Yo, Kakashi-sensei. Yo, Old man councillor and granny councillor." Kakashi just stared at the boy. And it dawned on boy, "oh shit, I forgot." Kakashi face palmed.
This is going to be a long day.
Next time: Lord of wits and charms.