If you're reading this, thank you again! I promise it's going somewhere good. Tell me what you think I could do better with please. Any kind of feedback is much appreciated.
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"So, you're certain it was him?" Tsunade's voice was quiet and even, her hazel eyes fixed on the man lying in bed, her hands on her hips.
"Yes, absolutely." The man answered with a slow nod.
The blonde woman turned her gaze to Sakura, and gave a slight nod.
"And here I was hoping you'd be wrong." She said with a huff, bringing a hand up to rub her forehead.
Sakura noticed the man looking in her direction out of curiosity.
"I've never seen anyone with pink hair like yours," He rasped in a strange tone, giving her a weak smile.
'That's a bit random,' Sakura thought before replying with a shrug.
"I got it from my great-grandmother."
"Do you mind if I examine your chest?" She moved closer, changing the subject to the matter at hand.
The man motioned for her to do so, and she began removing the bandage, finding it easier to just cut through it. Once it was off, about a thousand or so more pinprick markings were revealed.
'Holy shit,' Sakura almost gasped at the sight of them, there were so many. Too many. It simultaneously intrigued and disgusted her. She gently placed her hand over the markings, only to feel more of the marble textured lumps. Fascinated, she applied a bit of pressure and the man winced in pain.
"I'm sorry, just trying to figure out what those are. Do you remember how any of this happened?" Sakura asked, pulling the blanket up over him.
"I wish I did, but I was so out of it the whole time. Besides that freaky doctor with the glasses and gray hair, I don't remember much." He replied with dismay, running a hand through his dark hair. Tsunade, who had been silent while Sakura conducted her exam, finally broke her silence.
"We will leave you to rest. You're going to need it."
The man nodded as the two women left the room.
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"From what the nurses have gathered, the toxin in that man's body is something we do not possess here in the village. And when I took a look for myself earlier, I discovered he has become dependent on it," Tsunade explained to Sakura carefully, a worried look on her features.
"If we aren't able to administer another dose of it soon, he could very well die." She continued, closing her eyes momentarily.
"I know it's not going to be your first option, but please reconsider my question from earlier. I know I'm capable, and I have a backup plan already," Sakura said with some hesitation, due to Tsunade's reaction from before.
Tsunade was silent for a few moments, the tension only growing in the room like too much air pumped into a balloon. She tapped her red fingernails on the edge of her desk, weighing out the pros and cons before she finally broke the silence with a sigh.
"I will agree to it on one condition: ANBU will be stationed at four points near the Sound border. I was going to suggest that Naruto join you, but I think I know how you'd feel about that," She began with a small smirk.
"And tell me, what is your plan if this doesn't go as well as you seem to think it will?" She asked her pink-haired student.
"I'll do my best to make them believe I have defected from Konoha. Even if it means becoming involved in something I don't want to, for the sake of innocent lives." Sakura said with a creased brow.
"I'll allow it. I trust you, Sakura, and I hope you don't let me down."
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama."