Disclaimer: I am not even remotely creative enough to own Naruto/Naruto Shippuden or any other component of the franchise. That being said, be respectful and no stealing.

Prologue

Sunagakure - Six Years Ago

'Panax ginseng is an adaptogen. It is a useful ingredient when making tonics for hospitalized patients and shinobi returning from long-term assignments. Despite its benefits, I have had trouble convincing our ninja to drink the tonics I've brewed - it would seem the younger generation cannot consume it without retching while the older shinobi have refused my requests outright. Cowards, the lot of them. Ideally, I would like to find a way to concentrate its immune-boosting and psychotherapeutic properties to make field nutrition supplements to support our shinobi away on assignments. Thus far, I have made attempts to combine the roots with-'

KNOCK. KNOCK.

Looking up from the old research journal in her hands, Sakura spotted the head of one of her students, a young chuunin with sandy-blonde hair and dark green eyes, peeking into her temporary office.

"Ah, Kanushi-san," she greeted politely, setting the worn notebook she was reading aside and motioning for the boy to enter, "Please, come in."

"Of course, Haruno-sensei," replied the medic-in-training, nodding respectfully to her before stepping into the jonin's modest workspace and quietly shutting the door behind him.

Once he had turned back to face her, Sakura asked, "So, what can I do for you, Kanushi-san?"

"I have decided on my research topic, Sensei."

Smiling, Sakura reached for the stack of files sitting on the corner of her desk and pulled out the folder labeled with his name. "Alright then, what did you decide?"

Barely a day over fifteen and a newly minted chuunin when he joined her first class six months ago, Kanushi Tora was one of her youngest and brightest students. His natural affinity for chakra control and his abilities as a sensory type, though, had made him natural when it came to medical ninjutsu and his quick acquisition of her lessons had allowed him to climb quickly through the levels of her curriculum with ease. So, when it came time for her star pupil to choose a field for his month-long research assignment, she was extremely interested in his decision.

"Poison squad, Sensei," he replied confidently.

Sakura smiled.

It wasn't particularly a surprise, and perhaps she'd even seen this coming. After all, Tora had excelled during their medicinal herbs and toxicology units and had expressed a great admiration for the late Lady Chiyo and her grandson, Sasori. Although, considering the ill fate that had befallen the last two students that had been allowed to work in Suna's poisons research lab - inadvertent self-poisoning - Sakura wondered which supervisor had been brave enough to sign-on as his preceptor.

"And you have an approved supervisor?" she asked as she flipped through the pages of his student file.

"Yes," Tora said with a nod. "It's Kankuro-sama."

Now that was a surprise.

"Really?"

Tora nodded adamantly before reaching into his hip pouch and withdrawing a small scroll. "He signed the preceptor forms and everything, Sensei."

Raising an eyebrow, Sakura silently accepted the scroll and unrolled it immediately. Her eyes scanned through the official preceptor request form quickly, making sure everything was filled out properly, before checking the obnoxiously large signature located at the bottom. Sure enough, there was the middle Sabaku sibling's signature along with a short message:

The kid's got guts, Haruno… but I guess that's to be expected of your students. Let's hope this one doesn't accidentally poison himself, too. Third time's a charm! - Kankuro

Sakura resisted the urge to snort at the note - because Kankuro would make a joke about that.

"Alright, then," she said as she signed the scroll and set it aside. "Touch base with Kankuro-san to find out when he wants you to start. I look forward to reading about your experience in a month."

Tora smiled brightly at her approval. "Thank you, Haruno-sensei," he said happily before bowing deeply to her. "I promise, I won't let you down."

"You're welcome, Kanushi-san," Sakura said, smiling lightly at the boy's excitement. "Feel free to let me know if you have any questions or if any issues arise during your assignment."

"Of course, Sensei." And with that, he was gone, practically dashing out the door to find the resident puppet master and poisons specialist to start his training. Luckily, he was polite enough to close the door on his way out.

Sakura stared for a moment longer at the place where her student once stood before giggling softly. "Never thought I'd see someone so excited to work with Kankuro."

Putting Tora's student file back where it belonged, Sakura was just about to pull out the research journal she had been reading earlier when the air in her office shifted and a familiar voice filled the room.

"That's because he doesn't know what Kankuro is really like."

"Well, I'm sure he'll find out soon enough," she said with a shrug and a light laugh. Then, after closing her desk drawer once more, she looked up at her unexpected visitor and smiled. "It's nice to see you, Gaara."

The redheaded Kazekage replied with a small nod. "I wanted to see how the classes were going," he said in way of explanation, answering the unspoken question in her gaze.

"It was a bit rocky at first, but things are running smoothly now," Sakura replied as she leaned back in her chair and folded her hand over her stomach. "I anticipate being able to graduate the advanced class by the end of next month."

Although his expression remained, the small upwards curve of his lips told Sakura that Gaara was more than pleased with the news.

"Thank you for doing this, Sakura," he said suddenly, the minute softening of his gaze conveying his gratitude. "Since the war, I have been worried about Suna's ability to provide medical care to its people. Knowing that we will soon have shinobi with skills that meet your standards puts me at great ease."

Say what one may about the former Ichibi vessel, the love that Gaara had come to hold for his village was immeasurable and on full display with every silent nod and firm order he gave. So, when she had received the mission request six months ago to help restructure Suna's hospital system and train new medic-nin, the decision wasn't a hard one to make.

"You're welcome, Gaara," she replied gently, smiling warmly up at the normally stoic man before turning her attention back to more important matters.

Leaning forward to prop her elbows on her desk and her chin in the palm of her hand, Sakura raised a slim pink eyebrow curiously, "Now then, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Kazekage-sama? After all, it's quite rare for you to visit me at the hospital."

Gaara nodded in agreement, letting the use of his title slip for the time being - he had scolded her for using it when she first arrived in Suna, stating that they had been friends long enough to drop the formalities. He then moved through the hand seals for a sound proofing jutsu. Once it was complete, he presented her with a small black scroll.

"This scroll was found amongst Chiyo-sama's personal belongings. It is another portion of her research... one which I believe would interest you."

Interest piqued, Sakura glanced down at the scroll for only a moment before fixing her attention once more on the man in front of her.

"What kind of research?" her eyes asked.

"It relates to a particular type of transmutation jutsu," Gaara said calmly, watching as Sakura stared dubiously at the scroll in his hand before he continued. "One that can reverse certain seals and uses chakra to transform wood and metal into skin and bones."

Sakura's eyes widened.

It is her research about Sasori.

She looked at Gaara in disbelief.

"Gaara, I can't possibly accept this," she began, her heart beating furiously in her chest as the memories of her fight against the deceased Akatsuki member flooded her mind.

Gaara shook his head. "You are the only one who has the right to accept her research, Sakura."

Brow furrowed, Sakura shifted her attention from the Kazekage standing in front of her to the small black scroll in his outstretched hand. She didn't dare to accept it though; at least, not until she had more information about it.

"Look, just because Chiyo-sama granted Shishou her research and she passed it to me, does not mean I have a right to this research." Sakura eyes narrowed as she glanced at the scroll again. "And frankly, I don't even want any research related to him."

Gaara shook his head. "She would have wanted you to have it, Sakura."

Sakura looked at the redhead skeptically. "And how could you possibly know that, Gaara? I hadn't even met her until..."

Her words left her the moment she remembered who she was speaking to. Guilt and sympathy replaced the confused anger bubbling in her chest as she watched a tight but perfectly neutral expression overtake her friend's face. It was one thing to talk about Kankuro's poisoning and Gaara's abduction by the Akatsuki in hushed whispers where no one could hear you; but it was entirely different to mention it to the Sabaku siblings themselves.

"I'm sorry, Gaara," she mumbled, gaze softening as she watched the stiff countenance slowly dissolve into the familiar calmness she had grown accustomed to seeing on the Kazekage's face. "This is just a lot to take in."

Thankfully, he nodded in understanding.

"When she healed me… she used her chakra to leave a message," he explained softly, his gaze shifting to the black scroll sitting in his hand. There was a hint of pain evident in his eyes as he recalled the memory. "She told me to look after the village… and to tell you to keep working hard."

Eyes watering at his words, Sakura swallowed past the lump in her throat and took a deep breath. Although she hadn't known the Suna elder for very long, she had grown to admire the quirky woman in the short time that they spent together and even moreso as she read through her research. It still pained her to think of the older kunoichi's death.

Gaara seemed to mirror her actions before continuing, "… she also asked that Sasori be given another chance if the opportunity arose."

Sakura looked up at the Kazekage with a start, staring at him with wide eyes full of uncertainty.

"Gaara… you couldn't possibly be thinking of resurrecting him… could you?"

The sharp, almost murderous, glare that he sent her was the only response she needed. However, his next sentence put her on edge for an entirely different reason.

"I believe her research might be the key to restoring dead tissue."

Sakura's heart stopped.

Naruto.

Gaze flickering to the black scroll in Gaara's hand, Sakura willed herself not to panic. This was what she had been searching for ever since the end of the war, a way to restore Naruto's arm. And this scroll – this damn scroll - was the best chance they would ever have at developing the medical ninjutsu they needed to help not only the Hero of the Fourth Shinobi War but countless others.

Reaching out, Sakura hesitantly took the scroll from Gaara before setting it on her desk.

This was the opportunity she had been waiting for ever since she asked to become Tsunade's apprentice all those years ago…

Expression unreadable, she looked up at the Kazekage and spoke.

"You want to use Sasori as a test subject." It wasn't a question, and his nod only confirmed her suspicions.

"I will have to discuss this with Tsunade-sama," she said carefully, watching the shinobi leader across from her nod in understanding.

"I have made her aware of the situation. You are free to return to Konoha to consider your options, but she wants you to decide for yourself."

Sakura stared at Gaara for a moment before speaking again.

"Will I be working alone?"

"Kankuro has offered to assist you, seeing as he has the most extensive knowledge of both Sasori and how to make puppets."

Sakura let herself feel somewhat relieved by the notion of having a partner, especially one whom was a good friend and someone she trusted.

"Where will we be working? Surely the Suna Council would want nothing to do with this."

Unsurprisingly, Gaara nodded. "Chiyo-sama had a laboratory located in the desert outside of the village. It is isolated and well-hidden, you will work there and only there."

"And what of the other Kages?" she asked, because this would no doubt be considered an international act of treason if left a secret. "I can't imagine you would bring this idea to me without their approval, given the potential consequences" - like reviving a psychopathic mass murderer.

"The other Kages have been informed that this is purely an experiment meant to develop an advanced form of medical ninjutsu. Their approval hinges on your assurance that, should this be a success, you will work to develop it into a jutsu that can be taught to a select number of medic-nin for use by the allied shinobi nations." When she nodded, he added, "They also expect regular progress reports."

Nodding faintly, Sakura listened as he explained some of the additional details regarding needed supplies and obtaining resource materials. When he finished, she had only one question left.

"When do we start?"

Well then... Let's see where this goes, ne?

Let me know what you all think :)

~Smash41KMF

- 11.23.2020