Ch. 2

She was one of the legendary Sannin. She was the greatest medic-nin in the world. She was the fifth Hokage. She shouldn't have to deal with stuff like this. Her pink haired apprentice and her adoptive grandson were standing in her office and the tension was palpable. Usually when they stood in the same room it was just an uncomfortable silence, Sakura would steal glances at the ANBU and he would look solemn. But no, she was the melancholy one and he was clearly on edge. His back was stiff, arms crossed, demeanor cold. She had hoped that the decision she made today would help these two with their situation, but it seemed like something had happened yesterday... Well, she might as well get this over with.

"I've called you both here for a little announcement." He was paying attention but Sakura still seemed a little out of it. "Naruto, I'm making you a Captain."

His arms dropped to his sides and his head tilted a little bit to the side. Tsunade could tell he was grinning under his mask. Sakura suddenly came back to reality and looked over at Naruto. Tsunade smiled. She was proud of him; he had come a long way since he challenged her to a street fight. Naruto had grown into the best Konoha had to offer, maybe the whole ninja world. He was a hero as a result of his actions in the last war, but despite that he just wasn't as vibrant as he used to be. He had been so melancholy over the past few years, and he and Sakura had completely stopped talking to one another. Nobody exactly knew why either. She had asked the rest of their comrades, but it was no help at all. None of the other 11 had any clues to the reason for Naruto and Sakura's falling out.

"You'll have a week to name the 3 ANBU operatives you want on your team." She began to shuffle papers on her overflowing desk, looking for the forms he would have to fill out requesting his team.

"Neji Hyuuga, Kiba Inuzaka, Shino Aburame." She looked back up at him, she should have known he would pick them, they were the three he trusted the most in ANBU.

"Ok, consider it done, as for your medic..." she looked over to Sakura. She went wide eyed, and stiff.

He responded with a simple "No." She looked back at him and he was not happy, but Tsunade was in no mood to argue.

"This decision is non-negotiable." She replied; eyes closed, hands folded in front of her face.

"What about Shizune-neechan." He wasn't about to give up easily. She sighed because she knew he never did.

"She's running the Hospital."

"Yamanaka Ino?"

"She has a Genin team." He just grumbled, at which point Tsunade smirked. Naruto didn't know the names of any of the other medic-nins in the village. Not making conversation while he was being mended in the hospital these past 3 years had come back to bite him. Tsunade had won.

"Have my team meet at training ground 6 at 10AM tomorrow." He said quickly and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

The Hokage then turned to the other person left in the room. Tsunade studied her apprentice. Sakura was one of the best medics around. She had become pretty well known after defeating Sasori, and her involvement in the destruction of the Akatsuki and the war only added to her reputation. The Konoha 11 were all well known. Sakura had surpassed Shizune and Ino would never catch her. She was her greatest pupil, but right now Sakura didn't look like the proud young woman she was used to seeing. She was looking at her feet, hands in her lap. Tsunade was about to ask the question that had plagued everyone around the remaining members of Team 7. 'What happened between you two?' But before she could say a word, Sakura suddenly shot up from her chair, bowed, and left.

Tsunade opened her desk drawer and removed the sake bottle that she hid there. She was upset that the two were on such bad terms. She looked over to a picture on her desk. It was a picture of her Genin team. She looked at the white haired boy and wished he was there. He would know what to do with Naruto. Jiraiya had a way of getting people to open up and change their minds. She missed him. She remembered when that little toad came to her that fateful day. She knew he was dead, and she was alone. Naruto had gone on to avenge his mentor's death and defeat Pain as well as most of Akatsuki.

But now Naruto had changed, and she wondered what Jiraiya would think of how he turned out in her care. She imagined he would be disappointed. She continued to drink for some time, dwelling on her past, her mistakes. She wondered what her life would be like if she had stayed with Jiraiya. She wondered what it would be like if she had saved Dan. She let out a silent sob as her emotions overwhelmed her. She soon put the sake away. As the sun went down and the day ended, she sent messengers to Naruto's new team telling them where to be in the morning, then proceeded to try and find a mission to give them. Such was the lonely life of The Hokage.

Author's Note

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