Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Puppet in Pink

3. By Degrees

...wait for the new year,

For spring to come... melting

The old year away...

...-but revenge

Came first, settling the bitter feud...

She planned, she waited, wove plans

And waited...

...and the time

Had come...

-Beowulf

"Hey...where's Sakura-chan today?" Naruto asked in a tired voice, still yawning and stretching. "She's always here before us, even when she's sick...Sasuke-bastard, are youeven listening to me!"

Sasuke groaned. He didn't care what happened to that stupid whiny kunoichi wannabe. In fact, secretly he was quite glad that Sakura was absent. The girl was always so damn clingy and annoying...he hoped she had fallen off a cliff. It'd serve her right.

It was obvious that something was wrong when Kakashi finally showed up at the training grounds, and Sakura was still nowhere to be seen. "Kakashi, you're late again—AND WHERE'S SAKURA-CHAN!" Naruto yelled at the sight of the silver-haired teacher.

So Sakura didn't come...Kakashi wasn't surprised.

"Listen, Naruto, Sasuke...Sakura's mother died yesterday on her way home from work. Cut her a little slack," Kakashi said quietly.

"Oh..." Naruto looked sheepish, then ashamed. He was also a little puzzled...Sakura hadn't stayed home when her father died..."We should go see how she's doing ...maybe cheer her up too..."he decided.

"No need to do that, Naruto. She's right here."

Naruto, Kakashi, and Sasuke looked around to see where the voice had come from. None of them could sense any chakra.

"Above you."

All three glanced upwards, to see a female figure standing on a thin tree limb. She had pink hair.

"SAKURA-CHAN!" Naruto exclaimed. The girl jumped down and he ran to hug her. In a very un-Sakura-like movement, she flipped over his head as he flew past, and, in one fluid motion, stopped him from running into a nearby tree with one finger. Even Sasuke was a little surprised. When did Sakura get so...fast?

"Sorry Naruto, but no hugs today," she sighed, weighting her voice with dregs of sadness. Her face was shadowed by her hair- nobody would see the way her eyes glinted maliciously. Couldn't show her true feelings here or now; someone would get suspicious... Before Naruto could blink, Sakura was standing in front of Kakashi.

"With your permission, sensei, I'd like to take a month's leave from training," she said in a monotone.

So she is grieving...Kakashi nodded his assent. And without another word, Sakura vanished in a swirl of mist.

This is excellent! she thought, walking into her now-empty house. Which was empty for good, she hoped. Training with those children would make me weaker, not stronger.

Kakashi had given her a month. That was all the time she needed.