Gomen... This chapter was supposed to be posted last week... But due to unforseen circumstances (ie training) this one is posted a week late... Gomen... (Author bows)

"If only Naruto belongs to me... If only Naruto belongs to me... If only Naruto belongs to me..." author mumbles darkly...

"..." means speech

Bolded words are inner Sakura's thoughts

'...' means thoughts.

"Great you are here. Quick help me look through this pile of papers and that pile of documents." Tsunade pointed towards a corner. Piles and piles of documents have been coming in every morning ever since the battle with the traitor. She returned to the document she was reading. (AN. Do you ever wonder what the documents are about? I mean look at the pile of papers the shinobis bring to her everyday.)

'What do they think I am? I've got only one pair of eyes damm it. Not 2 not 3. Just one! If only there's a freak accident that will burn all these documents...' Tsunade murmured darkly.

Sakura sighed and took her normal place in the office. She sat down and started flipping through the documents. She tried to ignore the dagger stares from Shizune.

'Oh boy. I'm so dead.'

She scribbled something on a piece of paper. She then rolled it into a ball and tossed it to Shizune. Shizune caught it and unrolled it. Then she scribbled something into it, rolled it into a ball and tossed it back to Sakura.

Gomen nasai Shizune-chan. Got something important last night.

No. I wasn't angry. When did I say I was angry?

'You're so definitely dead,' agreed Inner Sakura.

Tsunade looked around the almost empty-of-papers-and-documents office. She stood up.

"Sakura. Training time."

"Hai Tsunade-shishou." She stretched her back to work out the kinks in them.

"Shizune. Please take care of the rest of the documents."

"Hai. Tsunade-sama."

Both master and disciple left for the training ground.

"Sakura! Your reaction time has gotten longer."

'That's because I've been fighting with you for one hour non-stop AND not to mentioned the 100 push-ups, 100 sit-up, 100 lunges, 100 laps before that.' Inner Sakura murmured murderously.

'Shush. I'm trying to concentrate.' Sakura silenced her inner self.

"Suiton! Water dragon no jutsu!" A jet of water with dragonhead shot out from Tsunade's palm.

"Doton! Earth wall shield!" Sakura slammed her hand onto the ground and a wall of earth rose from the ground. The water dragon slowly broke through the wall.

WHAM Sakura slammed into a tree.

"Not bad. You performed the new jutsu almost flawlessly. Okay. Time for a new jutsu." Sakura sat up and dragged herself to where Tsunade sat.

She sat down and started healing herself as Tsunade started explaining the new jutsu.

"Any question before we meet Shizune for lunch."

"Ano... Tsunade-shishou. Why are you endorsing me for ANBU? I mean I'm still a chuunin. I thought you have to be a Jounin in order to be ANBU?"

"As I said before, it's a waste that you are not serving ANBU during this time of need. Furthermore, ANBU is always in shortage of medic-nins. Many times, when a team goes out on a mission without a medic-nin, the team tends to come back with one less person. Work hard. I've got high expectation."

"Thank you Tsunade-shishou for believing my capability."

Sakura was happy at hearing the sentence 'I've got high expectation.' Throughout her gennin years, nobody gave her a second glance, least having any expectation what so ever of her. Whenever they talk about Team 7, it would be "Oh that Uchiha prodigy" and "Naruto" and "The pink-hair girl" or as Sasuke has put it, "Dead-weight". Everyone, well almost everyone didn't think much of her. They thought that she was weak. A burden. She was glad that she found the courage to ask Tsunade to take her as her disciple.

'Yeah. At least you wouldn't be looking at anyone's back anymore. It's time that they took notice of you.' cheered Inner Sakura.

"Another bowl please." Sakura held out her empty bowl to the ramen bar owner.

"Coming right up!"

"Not afraid of gaining weight? Sakura-chan." teased Shizune.

"Need energy for training, medic work and paperwork." Her voice muffled as her mouth was full of ramen.

Tsunade smiled. 'My Sakura has changed. From a nobody to someone whom people can rely on. A responsible Shinobi of Konoha.'

After the trio has finished their lunch, they head back to the Hokage's office.

Sakura could feel the impending doom as Shizune kept quiet.

"Sakura." Tsunade placed a book on her desk.

(Advance healing herbs.)

"Test next week."

"Hai."

"Okay. Time for rounds." The trio left for Konoha's hospital.

Although not a full-pledged medic-nin yet, Tsunade let Sakura took care of several wards and one ICU. Which made Sakura felt a bit proud as this shows that Tsunade is confident of Sakura's skill.

"Sakura, I'm giving you an additional 6 more wards and 2 more ICU to cover." Tsunade gave her the new list of wards she has to go.

"Hai." Sakura went to do her rounds.

'I'm safe for now... I hope...' and she kept her fingers crossed.

A male Jounin patient started hitting on her when she inspected him.

"You shouldn't have done that you know. She is already spoken for." A voice said.

Sakura groaned. 'Here we go.'

"Shizune-chan. Why are you here?"

"Just passing by." she smiled sweetly at Sakura. "You should not hit on her. If her protector knows about it, you're in deep trouble."

"I'm not afraid. I'm a Jounin after all."

"Her protector is an ANBU but I'm sure you will kick his ass. I'll tell him when I get to see him." She turned to Sakura. "He IS back isn't he? Hope he isn't being roughed up to badly, don't you Sakura-chan. But you can always treat him at his house neh?" Shizune grinned.

"Shizune-chan!"

Shizune giggled. "Gotta go for my rounds. Ja ne."

'Oh boy...' Sakura groaned.

Throughout the entire afternoon, Shizune would pop into the wards that she was in and teased her mercilessly.

'The things I endure for love.' Sakura sighed. 'Come save me Kakashi... No wait don't come... You'll make things worse.' She prayed.

Alas, her prayers were not answered. At the end of her shift, Kakashi appeared outside the staff room.

"Yo, minna. Good day Hokage-sama. How was your day?" asked Kakashi.

"Better than someone I know." She knew that Shizune has been mercilessly teasing Sakura the entire afternoon.

"Hokage-sama. You lost. Pay up." Shizune stretched out her palm. "See he's only late by half an hour."

"Next time Kakashi, try to be late for at least an hour." Tsunade told him.

"I'll try my best, Hokage-sama." He bowed, grinning. "But if I let you win, the entire Konoha will be in big trouble."

Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Whatever..."

"Let's call it a day." She stood up and left with Shizune. "And Kakashi, bring her home by 11."

Sakura removed her coat and slipped her arms around Kakashi's.

"Your 'mum' is so strict." He whispered in her ears.

"Yeah. But I do want to go home a bit early also... I've got a test next week and I've covered additional wards and ICU today." Sakura leaned her head on Kakashi's shoulder as they left the hospital.

Flashback Tsunade's POV

"Yamanaka Ino."

Sakura cried even harder. She turned and buried her face in Kakashi's chest. Kakashi held her and comforted her. He stroked her hair murmured into her ears. I walked towards them after the last of the dead was announced.

"Sakura."

She turned to face me but still looking at the floor. Kakashi draped his arm around Sakura's shoulder protectively.

How sweet. When did they become an item?

I reached forward and placed a hand on her cheek.

"Sakura. Do you have any relatives that live here?"

Her head shook.

"You need a guardian. Would you like me to be yours?"

She looked up. With a nod of her head, she moved forward and hugged me.

"Thank you Tsunade-shishou. Thank you," she cried.

I stroke her hair. Kakashi looked at me pleadingly. I guess he's not good at comforting people. I shook my head.

"Hush. It's all right. Let it all out. Don't keep it in. Let it all out and you will feel better." Her sobbing got harder.

When her sobbing changed to sniffles, I tilted her chin up.

"Better?"

She nodded.

"As your guardian, you can stay with me. But it's okay with me if you want to stay at your old home."

"No. Tsunade-shishou. If it's okay, I'll... like to move to your house. There's..." A sob got caught in her throat.

"I understand." I handed her to Kakashi. "I'll go make the necessary arrangement."

I looked at Kakashi. "Kakashi, look after her."

End of flashback

Normal POV

"Tadaima!" The front door opened. Tsunade broke out of her daydream. She stood up and walked to the front door.

"So," she looked at the clock. '10.59'.

"Not bad. If only you're as punctual everyday as you are now."

Kakashi shrugged. "You did gave an order for me to bring her home by 11. How could I not do so?"

"I also gave you orders to be on time for your missions before also..." Tsunade stared at Kakashi, eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Hehe..." Kakashi pulled his collar nervously. 'Never mess with Tsunade-sama, Kakashi' His wise late sensei had warned him. "Opps. Look at the time! Must get going now. Bye Tsunade-sama. Bye Sakura." He kissed her on the forehead.

Poof

"That guy..." Tsunade shook her head.

Haizz... Rewrote the next chapter twice... will be rewrtitting it until i'm satisfied... Man... Need a beta reader... Anyone care to be one?

Next chapter will be posted up next week... Hopefully there would be no more unforseen situations...