Chapter 3 was purposefully ended that way :)
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Chapter 4
The sound of her harsh breathing made her captor laugh. He let her go suddenly and she whirled around with fire in her eyes.
She froze when she saw her would-be tormentor and he took advantage of her confusion by grabbing her bags. She sputtered furiously and ripped the bags back out of his hands, punching him in the arm so hard that he winced slightly.
"Good to see you too, Sakura. I was told by Tsunade that you were considering helping me with my work and I thought I would stop by," he eyed her chest comically and Sakura's eyebrow started twitching.
TSUNADE IS GOING TO GET IT FOR MAKING THIS PERVERT THINK I WANTED TO HELP HIM WITH HIS PORN! SHE DID THIS ON PURPOSE!
"Jiraiya-san, if you don't stop looking at me like that I WILL PUNCH YOU CLEAR ACROSS THE VILLAGE. Do you understand?" Sakura spoke that last part very sweetly and smiled at the old pervert angelically.
"Ahahahahaha, sorry Sakura," he scratched his head nervously as he eyed the pink-haired kunoichi.
"You really do remind me of Tsunade. It seems you not only trained with her but also have inherited her temper," they started walking up the stairs to her apartment as he spoke.
Nothing else was said until the duo entered Sakura's apartment and it was secured. They chatted idly about some of his travels while she put away her items and started the curry.
After they ate, they settled in her living room. Jiraiya was seated on the couch and Sakura pulled up one of her armchairs to sit on the other side of the coffee table.
"As you know, this is not just a friendly visit. I know you have your reasons for either joining or avoiding this task force. I've never been one to sugarcoat things so I'm here to help you make up your mind by giving you more information."
She nodded briskly before asking, "Should I pour some tea?" He looked at the clock behind her and nodded his head.
He crossed his arms and continued as they waited for the water to boil, "Orochimaru is a twisted individual but you know that from your own experiences with him. He has always used people for experiments but the most recent exploitations have been quite…horrendous."
Sakura stood as the teakettle whistled, "I went through the three files you have gathered on his…work and I could not agree with you more. I've never liked the asshole, no offense."
She quickly looked at Jiraiya as she set the teacups down to gauge his reaction. It was no secret that Orochimaru was once a friend and comrade that Jiraiya wished he could save.
The normally jovial Sannin had a serious look on his face and Sakura winced slightly.
"If you join this task force, no one can guarantee your safety in any way. You would be an invaluable member to us but also to Orochimaru if he could capture you."
He rose to leave as he stated, "Many terrible things can happen to a kunoichi when they are captured; however, many terrible things happen to the people he experiments on. It is a matter of how much you want to help others and the Hidden Leaf Village."
He smiled as he left, knowing what her decision would be based on her character alone.
"Take care, Sakura. I'll be in touch."
Sakura cursed quietly as she washed the dishes after Jiraiya left.
At least he didn't stare at my boobs the whole time. Ugh, why did he have to be so convincing?! …now I have to help the task force. If I don't, I cannot really call myself a medic-nin. It's my duty to help those who are injured or sick, no matter their allegiance.
Sakura sighed loudly and turned around to head to the shower. She paused as she felt a presence walking to her apartment and then changed course to open the door.
"SAKURRRAAAAAAAA-CHAAAAAAAAN," Naruto yelled as he barreled through the door.
Sasuke walked in much more calmly and stepped around them to sit on the couch.
"Can't…. breathe…!" Sakura wheezed and Naruto promptly dropped her on her feet while laughing.
"What are you two doing here? Sasuke, get your feet OFF MY TABLE!" Said man 'hmphed' and took his feet off the top of the coffee table while smirking.
"Whatever. Dobe has something he is just dying to ask you," Sasuke said as his smirk grew.
"SHUT UP, TEME! Eh, Sakura-chan. You know how we're like best friends, right? And best friends help each other, right?" Naruto asked while scratching the back of his head and nervously chuckling.
I have a bad feeling about this.
"Well…Neji-san's birthday is coming up and I want to throw him an EEEEEPPPICCC party! I can't do that without you," before he could even finish Sakura was vigorously shaking her head while Sasuke laughed in the background at her retreating figure.
"Absolutely NOT! The last party I helped you with ended in DISASTER! I can NEVER unsee Lee dancing in a THONG! I WILL NEVER UNSEE THAT!"
At that last statement both men turned as green as seaweed and nodded their agreement.
However, Naruto persisted, "But SAAAKKUURRAAAA-CHAAAAAAAN, it's Neji-san! He deserves a GREAT birthday party! He needs to let loose after living with all those cold, creepy-eyed Hyūga all day long! DON'T TELL HINATA-CHAN I SAID THAT. Her eyes aren't creepy!"
Sakura laughed uncontrollably at his description of the Hyūga compound while Sasuke covered a cough to conceal the grin adorning his face.
"What will you give me to help you with this party, Naruto?" Just as she asked, someone appeared in her kitchen clutching their ribs and coughing harshly.
Naruto and Sasuke bristled at the intrusion but Sakura immediately jumped into action.
"Every time I am off duty—" grabs person "—I have someone come to me—" sits person at the table "—instead of the hospital—" takes person's shirt off "—because they are afraid to—" slaps glowing hands on ribs "—let anyone else heal them!"
Sakura glared at her patient as her glowing hands stitched his busted ribs back together. Black, blue, and purple bruises all but vanished and the man's breathing grew steadier by the second.
He was not someone that the members of Team 7 were familiar with.
Sakura sighed and summoned a clipboard out of a scroll on her wall.
"What's your name? I have to report this to Shizune-san."
"My name is Mimura Hamaki," Sakura nodded at him and jotted a few notes down. "Alright Mimura-san—"
"Please, just Hamaki will do, Haruno-san." Sakura smiled carefully at her patient,
"Okay, Hamaki-san. How did you get these injuries?"
Naruto and Sasuke did not like the exchange occurring in front of them. They took it upon themselves to stand behind Sakura and look intimidating.
After a short while Sakura summoned a slug.
"Hello Sakura-chan, how may I be of assistance?" Naruto gagged at the sight and Sakura angrily smacked the back of his head.
"Hello Katsuyu, could you please take this to Shizune-san and tell her that the patient needs to have a physical in one week?"
Sakura removed the medical form from the clipboard and watched Katsuyu absorb the paper. The slug disappeared in a puff of smoke as Sakura dismissed Hamaki.
"Now Hamaki-san, don't let me find out that you missed your physical! You might have more shattered ribs if you do," Sakura cracked her knuckles loudly and the Jonin gulped before he teleported away.
The next day Sakura woke bright and early to find Naruto asleep on her couch and Sasuke in the guest bedroom.
When she opened the door to the guest bedroom, Sasuke was just rolling out of bed in his boxers.
He smirked as she looked at him appreciatively, "Like what you see, Sakura?"
She rolled her eyes and laughed, "Oh, of course I like what I see. Who wouldn't like seeing a legendary Uchiha almost naked!"
He hit her in the face with his shirt and laughed as she ripped it off and flipped him off.
Naruto woke up as she smacked his head when she stormed by and he groaned loudly in protest. Sakura took one look at her pantry and declared that the group was going out for breakfast before they started party planning.
They went to a restaurant called Masa and were quickly seated in a private booth in the back corner.
"So, I was thinking that the party can be private, you know? Like, we could have it at someone's place and decorate it up real nice so we can all drink," Naruto said excitedly as he slurped his food.
"Dobe, who has a place big enough for us to fit the Konoha 12? Also, NO ALCOHOL for Lee. At all."
Sasuke crossed his arms and stared across the table at his yellow-haired teammate who was seated next to Sakura. She started to daydream as the two bickered about the subject until a figure came to stand next to their table.
"Hey little cousin, Itachi was looking for you this morning. He said something about training and needing to kick your ass for one of the remarks you made about him being a momma's boy," Shisui stated, causing Naruto to choke on his food.
Sasuke sulked in his seat when Shisui slid in smoothly next to him. Sakura jolted upright as he spoke.
"Good morning, Haruno-san. I trust you are doing well."
Sakura smiled sweetly at him and said, "I'm great actually but I was wondering if you could do me a favor. You know, kind of like payback for helping you out so much."
The boys looked at her as if she had grown a third head and Shisui smirked slightly.
"The way I see it, it's your duty to help me out. If I do you a favor then you will owe me something in return," he replied smoothly.
Sakura covered her face, furiously fighting a blush when he gently bumped his knee against hers.
"We can negotiate the terms later but we need your place to throw a party," she said quietly.
He nodded once and threw his arm over Sasuke's shoulder.
"If I were you little cousin, I would get in Haruno-san's good graces because Itachi is seriously going to give you a beating." He smiled widely at all of them and stood up to walk away.
Before he was even completely out of the restaurant, Sasuke smacked his forehead and groaned.
"Sakura, are you an idiot? Did you even stop to think about what he might want in return?"
Naruto sputtered at the implications and growled, "Oh, HELL NO! Sasuke, we might have to kill your cousin!"
"Oh, shut up, Dobe! Can't you tell he likes her? He flirts with everyone but… he treats her differently."
Sakura sputtered at this statement and flushed even darker.
"Why the hell would he like me, Sasuke?! How do I make it stop?!" Sasuke gave her an incredulous look and started laughing.
"Oh, I am not helping you get away from Shisui. I value you my life way too much," with that he stood up and walked out.
Naruto jumped up to follow him and left a very confused Sakura all alone just as the food arrived.
She buried her face in her hands again and tried her damnedest not to lose her temper.
Ugh, they left before they ate and they left me with the damn bill! I'm going to—
She jerked her head up as someone slid into the seat across from her, locking eyes with Shisui. Her eyes grew as round as saucers and she blinked owlishly, not knowing how to react.
Shisui chuckled and offered her a pair of chopsticks. "My baby cousin is lacking in manners, Haruno-san. Would you mind if I joined you for breakfast since they ditched you?"
Ducking her head, Sakura brushed her hair behind her ears.
"That would be fine, Uchiha-san. I do understand if you're busy and you can't stay very long."
He eyed her critically and then smiled softly. "I make time for what's important and unlike my cousin, I know how to treat a lady."
Sakura froze at his statement, jerking her chopsticks apart with far too much force. He swiftly handed her another pair, trying not to laugh at the mangled set. Clearing her throat awkwardly, she tried to speak to him normally.
"About using your space for this party, why exactly do you not see this as paying me back?"
Looking up, she saw him smirking, observing her carefully.
"I may be a gentleman around you but I'm also a shinobi. It would be idiotic of me not to use this situation to my advantage." His smirk grew more pronounced as she blushed once again.
"But why me," she blurted out, instantly regretting her brashness. Shisui downright laughed at her outburst.
Sakura pouted as he made fun of her and threw a chopstick at him. Catching it easily, he eyed her warmly and handed it back.
"That, right there is why you're different. Now, please excuse me, I have to watch Sasuke get his ass kicked."
With that Shisui placed money on the table and teleported away. Leaving a very confused Sakura in his wake.