Within a few days of working with Amari and Daichi, Sakura was able to confirm while there was an inherent dislike between the two factions in her hospital (the Old Regime knew the hospital and procedures the best, while the New Regime were open to new ideas and swore they had a better relationship with her), once rumor spread that Sakura was picking an apprentice, the lines were heavily drawn. Each group had members that either wanted the apprenticeship for themself or a family member, and so everyone was making suggestions and changes to both stand out and look competent to their boss.

Sakura had rolled her eyes in exasperation at the two medics as they explained this to her, and Amari seemed near tears as she spoke about how much she wanted to learn from her. She ended the conversation and their work for the evening by tasking both of them with setting the record straight: Sakura was looking to start an apprentice program at the end of the year, not seek out a single apprentice.

Sakura knew even if medics showed a lot of promise and skill, it didn't mean all or even any of them would be able to form the Strength of a Hundred Seal or use the Creation Rebirth technique, much like Shizune couldn't. Tsunade had taken a significant risk by only training one apprentice at a time; while one could learn both through research alone, it was more difficult without expert guidance. Sakura would rather have several medics with the ability than none at all.

"Won't that be a burden?" Daichi asked in clear curiosity.

"On me? Perhaps at first. But having only one person with this skill set puts undue burden on Konoha during wartime or when one of our allies requests my services. It also means less intense work for me in the long-run. If several people can replace me, then our village's health system will remain strong."

Selfishly, more medics like her also meant perhaps one day she wouldn't have such a prominent target on her back, but she knew it would be some time before that changed. She was a powerful shinobi, the head medic of Konoha, both friend and teammate to two of the most feared and strongest shinobi in all nations, and she had studied under the last two Hokages, both of whom had long histories. In short, she had a lot of enemies both of her own and through association.

She, Amari and Daichi worked late into the evening that Thursday, but just before midnight, they declared the recommendation report complete and ready for the Hokage's review.

"So now the council will look at it and approve it?" Amari asked from her spot on the small armchair Sakura had added to the office when she took over.

"I'm going to have Ka-ah-the Hokage review it first in case it needs any changes prior to the council's review. He's worked with them for several years, so he may note some places we need to clarify for their behalf. Then I'll present our findings and recommendations to them, and they will take a vote on whether or not to implement the recommendations," Sakura explained. She completed the title page and then handed it to Daichi to add to the bundle of papers.

"...Oh, you put our names on it as well," he noted, sounding a bit amazed. Behind him, Amari learned forward from her spot to look as well.

"Yes. You both helped put the report together, so you get to share the credit," she explained. "Next week I have another project that will also go to the council, so I will pull two other medics to work with me on it and get their names on a report." And she already knew how she was going to pick them going forward: at least one member from each faction that made up her staff.

Sakura noted they both looked disappointed instead of sour at the idea of someone else having the opportunity they had been given, and it was then she knew she was moving her team in the right direction.

"Don't look so sad, you two," she lightly chided as she re-secured the raw data in her desk drawer. It was time to head home, finally. "I have plenty of projects coming up, including the creation of a team to go help start the clinic in Suna. You two worked well together and have a good work ethic; if you're able to be away from home for six months, I would welcome your applications for that team when I announce it."

As they exited the hospital for the night, Daichi offered to walk both Sakura and Amari home because of the late hour. Sakura declined, confident in her ability to ward off trouble on her own, but was pleased when Amari accepted the offer. As the two set off in the direction of Amari's home, Sakura couldn't stop the self-satisfied grin she wore the rest of the way home.

Sakura 1, hospital politics 0.

"Good morning!" Sakura was all smiles and enthusiasm the next morning as she entered the Hokage office. She had arrived late, determined not to sit with anxious energy while waiting for Kakashi to show up.

Thankfully, if the last seven weeks had taught her nothing else, it was that while Kakashi was typically late to arrive at the office, he was never as late as he used to be when he was Team Seven's leader. An hour and a half was the upper limit of what he allowed himself as Hokage.

She had made a good estimate for the morning because Kakashi was already sitting at his desk when she entered his office with a wide grin and an enthusiastic greeting. He looked up from a pile of scrolls, looking as though he hoped she were there to assassinate him.

"Would you like to read something far more interesting than whatever is in front of you?" she teased, stepping up to the desk and presenting him with the data and recommendation packet.

"Please," he replied, his voice a mix of boredom and desperation. He held out his hand to her, and she handed him the packet.

She tried to remain calm as she watched his eyes move across the page, but by the time he had flipped to the second she was bouncing on the balls of her feet waiting for him to finish. At the fifth, she could tell he was engrossed in the information as he stepped away from his desk and slowly paced about the room as he read. By the last, she could feel the skin of her bottom lip begin to chap in protest as she worried it between her teeth. She had gotten so much better at reading him, but the mask was in place and his expression unyielding.

When he looked up, he stared at her in silence for a few beats, and his expression changed to something she couldn't categorize. Just as quickly though, it shifted to one she recognized, and she smiled in relief. He liked it.

"This is excellent work, Sakura. And your team did a nice job of scrubbing any identifying features in the data," he finally spoke. Sakura was sure Kakashi could identify himself in the report, but it would be hard for a third party to do so. He flipped the pages back in order, tapped the packet with his other hand and then held it out for her to take back. "I'll add this to next week's council agenda. As I warned before, you'll have to present it."

"I understand. I'll do my best." She gave another bounce on her feet, unable to contain her childlike excitement.

"I know."

Before she could think better of it, she was stepping forward into his space and enveloping him in a hug. She inhaled birch and ink as she buried her nose into his chest, her joy over his acceptance momentarily superseding her desire or awkward feelings blooming for him. Around her, she felt the contrast of his muscles coiling with tension and the warmth his arms offered as he returned her hug.

"You are in an extremely good mood this morning," he noted, and then his arms were loosening their grasp and he was putting space between them again, taking a step back and giving her that eye-crinkled smile that was both endearing and frustrating.

"Well, you just approved my recommendation for the agenda, so that's a plus. Also, my team is starting to work better together after I made some adjustments and did some digging. I misread the problem."

Kakashi, now standing behind his desk, opened one of his bottom drawers. "You still need to get it through the council," he reminded her as he shuffled through its contents, clearly still listening as he looked for something. After another few seconds, he pulled out a small packet of cookies. Sakura raised her brow in interest, then shook her head when he opened the packet and held it out in offering to her. Shrugging, he pulled down his mask and popped one of the small treats in his mouth. "What was the problem with your staff?"

"Apparently they were all trying to gain my attention to earn themselves or a family member a spot in my apprentice program." She tried to hide the emotions that rolled through her as said it aloud, but her voice was thick with feeling.

"Not surprising," Kakashi responded when he finished chewing. He smiled at her, and her heart constricted in response. It might always be strange capturing the whole sight of his face, of no longer trying to fill in the void where his mask sat. She watched the flash of teeth, the crooked upturn of one side of his smile, and had to resist the urge to sigh in frustration. Clearly she had a thing for men who were more beautiful than her.

Completely oblivious to the trouble he caused her, he carried on in his explanation. "They know you, Sakura. You're not only the best medical professional in all five nations, but you're easier to work with than Tsunade."

Sakura snorted, finally placing the recommendation packet on the side workstation. Now that it had Kakashi's approval, she would ask Amari to make enough packets for the entire council. "Don't ever tell her that."

"Oh? You wouldn't protect me in return for the compliment?" He popped another cookie into his mouth, and it was clear to Sakura he must have skipped breakfast that morning for some reason.

"Of course not," she lied. He mock-pouted at her, and she laughed while cataloguing the new expression of his.

"Morning," Shikamaru drawled as he came in with their coffees and his own bundle of folders secured under his arm. He held out the cupholder in offering, and Sakura practically skipped to retrieve her drink. Nerves had her up late the night prior, and despite how good she was feeling at that moment, she knew the high was temporary.

"None for her, she's wired enough," Kakashi announced with a finger pointed at Shikamaru.

Sakura turned her head back to stick her tongue out at Kakashi, and then plucked the hot cup with a cute caricature of a flower out of the holder. Kakashi 'tsked' in response, and Shikamaru sighed.

"It's too early to deal with you two," Shikamaru remarked cryptically. Sakura opened her mouth to demand what he meant, but Kakashi cleared his throat to gain their attention.

"Shall we get started? I won't be the only one bored to tears by these C and D-ranked mission requests." He picked up one of the scrolls and waved it in their direction, and with weary sighs, Sakura and Shikamaru stepped over to their usual spots to help.

Week 8

Sakura was all nerves as she waited out the time before the meeting. She hadn't dared to eat or drink anything that morning, and she kept staring at the data rehearsing in her head what she was going to say. She wanted to relieve some of the tension building in her, but she wasn't sure if calming breaths or breaking something with her fists was the better method. Maybe she could fall in between the two extremes: Did she have enough time for a jog around the tower?

"Doing okay? You look pale," Kakashi's familiar lilting tone came from beside her, making her jump. She hadn't heard him come in.

"Yeah..yeah..sorry." She glanced down, trying to gather the papers she had strewn across the clear center of his desk, but the trembling in her hands made it a challenge.

Suddenly she saw his gloved palm next to her hand, upturned and out in offering. She stared at him for a moment in affection: he was never taking, and always asking for permission. Then she placed her hand in his. His fingers gently closed around it, and then his other palm joined on top, creating a protective cocoon for her hand to rest in until the trembling abated.

"You can be nervous, so long as you remember that you're the expert on this issue," he told her with a confidence she didn't then share. She wanted desperately to kiss him in that moment, but instead she nodded, comforted by his words and the solid warmth of his touch.

"Time to go," she heard Shikamaru announce from the doorway, yet neither of them pulled away. When she looked back toward the door, Shikamaru's expression was the epitome of boredom.

"You're ready," Kakashi told her, tone serious.

"Okay," she agreed, and then their hands separated and reached out to gather the papers on his desk.

Sakura had pulled herself back into calm by the time they reached the doors of the meeting room. She knew her data, she knew the recommendations, and she knew everyone in the room. She objectively knew she could answer any question thrown at her.

And then the door opened, and she froze. Behind her, she could feel Shikamaru place a comforting, or perhaps halting, hand on the middle of her back.

The Daimyō was seated at the head of the table. The Daimyō who was not supposed to be at this meeting.

She wanted to turn around and retreat back down the hallway, but Shikamaru's palm was firm against her back, not pushing but also not giving her an inch to move out of the room. He clearly knew this was going to happen.

"Good morning, everyone. Daimyō-sama, I appreciate that you accepted my request for an audience," Kakashi greeted the room as he entered ahead of her. He stepped aside, and now that they had a clear view of her, she knew it was impossible to turn back. Damn him.

She took a step forward, then another, suddenly worried if she was sweating through her shirt or if everyone could smell her. Her eyes fell on Kakashi, who pulled out the chair that she had been occupying the last few weeks. And then he sat down in it. He put his Hokage hat down on his usual chair.

Sakura's jaw dropped in shock. Wasn't it bad enough he invited the Daimyō? Did he want her to present the data standing behind him? She didn't understand...

"Go to the opposite end of the table, Sakura," Shikamaru offered helpfully in her ear, setting a new wave of panic through her. The spot had no chair and was in the direct line of the Daimyō's gaze; there was nothing to catch her if her trembling legs failed her.

She felt a nudge behind her, and then her legs were moving on their own accord. She could hear Kakashi, the traitor, continue with his explanation of her presentation.

"Next week, Haruno-san will bring her recommendations on the appropriate length of leave for recovering shinobi, which we discussed recently. Today, however, you'll see I've added a presentation concerning the current age thresholds for our shinobi ranks to the agenda. Haruno-san and her team were kind enough to put together a report reflecting an analysis of two decades worth of data on Konoha's shinobi. I hope you'll listen carefully and with an open mind."

While he spoke, Sakura made it to the foot of the table and looked down at the awaiting members. They all seemed to watch her, their expressions blank and lacking even the faintest glimpse of encouragement. For some reason, instead of making her feel small and insecure, their expressions bolstered her courage and made her angry. Why were these people so miserable and unwelcoming?

Something must have shifted in her own expression, because as her eyes roamed the table, she saw Shikamaru smirk in her direction. Beside him, Kakashi's eyes never left hers, his gaze sharp and sure.

"Thank you for your time and attention this morning, Council Members; Hokage-sama; Daimyō-sama," she greeted with a slight bow to the group, happy to hear her voice sounded unaffected. She tapped the bundle of documents against the table once, split the pile in two, and held them out to the members closest to her on each side. "Please take one packet each. I will refer to every item by their number, which is clearly labeled on the bottom left of each diagram."

"You haven't brought enough; you don't have one for yourself," Tohru, one of the newer council members, noted helpfully.

Sakura smiled sweetly. "Oh no, I don't need one. I know the data very well."

And then she began.

"Thank you, Haruno-san." Kakashi offered her his trademark eye-crease once she finished her presentation and addressed an hour-long question-and-answer session from the group. He then turned his attention back to the other members. "Now that we have heard this information from the appropriate authority, I propose we take a vote on the matter."

"I second the motion," Tohru spoke up, beating Shikamaru to agreement. Sakura blinked in surprise; perhaps she had a new ally in the room.

"On whose authority? Your assistant's?" The Daimyō inquired, speaking up for the first time and eyeing Kakashi with clear disapproval. A few of the council members colored in embarrassment, and Sakura worked to keep her expression one of neutrality. Of course the Daimyō wouldn't know her official title; however, the slight ignited an annoyance that threatened to consume her, and that wouldn't do in the presence of such a powerful political figure. While still standing, she could see Kakashi staring blankly at the Daimyō, his expression clearly conveying, despite the mask still in place, that he thought the other man an idiot for not knowing Sakura's identity.

"She is Konoha's Head Medical Director, Haruno Sakura," Kakashi corrected, and all the room's occupants shifted in response to his firm tone. It was likely as close to a reprimand as anyone would ever give the Daimyō. "Her knowledge and expertise is equal to that of the Godaime, whom she apprenticed under. We would do well to listen if we want to keep Kohona's forces at elite status."

Sakura had to collect herself to hide her own surprise. Around her, the silence permeated the room; Kakashi was a man of few words in these meetings, especially such passionate ones.

"Well," The Daimyō cleared his throat. "That's worth serious consideration then. Shall we vote?"

Sakura watched, stunned, as they voted in favor of her recommendations. It was unanimous.