Choice:

A Terrible Splendor

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I'm glad that I have the ability to make even the first chapter into a tear-jerker. You guys really make me feel good about myself, so thanks a lot for that. I hope you all love this next chapter!

Act II: Balacing Act

4:30 AM. Shikamaru rapped lazily on Sakura's door, yawning so widely he thought he felt his jaw crack. Why had he been given the task of escorting her to the Hokage's Tower? And second, why couldn't she just walk there herself? But no, Tsunade just had to insist that he would walk with her to the Tower to meet Hyuuga Neji. He'd protested, of course-- actually, he protested vehemently. She was Konoha's top kunoichi, and he had to guard her while she walked the half-mile to the Hokage's Tower.

But, eventually, Tsunade had cracked her knuckles, and Shikamaru had no choice but to accept.

So here he was, knocking repeatedly on the door, never breaking his rhythm, and examining a shuriken held in his other hand.

"NARA, IF YOU DON'T STOP KNOCKING I'M GOING TO BREAK YOUR HAND!" Sakura's shout jarred him, making him quickly withdraw his fist. There was a muffled thumping and angry muttering for a moment, then she opened the door with such force he was afraid it would rip from its hinges. "Damn, Shikamaru-san, can't you wait a minute? I couldn't find my gloves." Said fingerless black gloves were now being tightened on her hands with her teeth as she adjusted the metal plate on them.

"You should have packed last night," he muttered, looking her over with a hidden smile. Sakura was definitely dressed for a mission, at least. She was wearing a black mesh shirt under a green, Chinese-collared, no-sleeve shirt that bared her stomach and went down at the neck enough to reveal some of the mesh, and over that was the standard ANBU vest. She wore black, baggy shorts with many pockets that went down to just above her knees. She had numerous pouches filled with weapons and a couple scrolls hanging from her belt. She was wearing regular ninja sandals and the fingerless gloves she'd just finished tightening.

Releasing her teeth from the fabric, she scowled at him. "I did pack last night. I just forgot these. And don't you say a thing about how a ninja is supposed to be observant," she added quickly, "because I was a little preoccupied last night."

Shikamaru, slightly surprised that she had guessed what he was going to say, merely shrugged. "Understandable."

"Why are you here, anyway?" Sakura asked as they started walking, slinging a bag over her shoulder. "I can walk to the Hokage's Tower by myself, you know." She looked slightly amused.

The lazy jounin sighed. "Your troublesome teacher threatened me with one of those damned punches if I didn't walk you there."

The jade-eyed kunoichi giggled weakly as she put her hair into a ponytail, putting her hitai-ate in its usual place and putting her ANBU mask around her neck. "Ano... Tsunade-shishou has her ways of persuasion, doesn't she?" She shook her head. "Shikamaru-san, why do you think she wanted you to walk me? I mean... it's not like Orochimaru is going to jump out from behind Ichiraku and throw a kunai at me, is it?" A frown marred her nearly-perfect features.

Shikamaru gave a halfhearted sigh, shoving his hands into the pockets of his pants. "Who knows? She's probably just worried. Either that," he mused, "or she wants us to get better acquainted before the mission. We haven't been on a mission together since that one last year, and a lot's changed since then."

Sakura nodded thoughtfully. "Good guess." She gave him a small smile. "So... let's start. I've heard from Ino that you and Temari-chan aren't-"

"No," Shikamaru interrupted with an irritated sigh, "we were never 'going out'. Just good friends. Rather like you and the Hyuuga."

Sakura's eyes widened comically. "People think we're going out?"

Shikamaru nodded absently. "Hai, Hyuuga and others..."

"Others!"

"Uchiha, Naruto-san, the Kazekage..."

"The Kazekage? Gaara-san?" Sakura let out a stream of laughter that made Shikamaru want to step back a little. She stopped walking for a moment and continued laughing, holding her stomach and wiping little tears from the corners of her eyes. Shikamaru couldn't help smiling. Her happiness was contagious, and the way she was bent over, smiling in ecstasy and mirth, was really kind of cute...

Wait, what?

I didn't just say that, Shikamaru thought hastily, shaking his head. "Are you quite finished?" he asked, eyebrow raised.

Sakura smiled. "Ohh, Shikamaru-san, you've made me laugh more than I have in weeks." She put a hand on his shoulder. "Mou... Gaara-san and I are good friends, that's all. I mean, I saved his brother's life and helped him recover after Chiyo-baa-san died, and I've been on missions to Suna for a long time."

Shikamaru looked at her hand and suppressed a grin. "Glad to have made you happy," he said, "but we'd better start moving again before the shop owners realize that it's 4:49 and start throwing things at us for waking them up."

"Good idea," Sakura said, still giggling slightly. She removed her hand and started walking faster, Shikamaru smiling softly behind her. This girl... no wonder she was friends with everyone. It was impossible not to be. The way she acted around you... like she was already your best friend, the nicest person in the world. No wonder even the cold Kazekage had melted under her friendly gaze.

As they neared the Tower, Sakura's face gradually changed from one of happiness and carefree humor into something worse. She was frowning slightly and biting a fingernail nervously. Shikamaru's own brow creased with hers. "Sakura."

"Hm?" she replied halfheartedly.

Shikamaru grasped her wrist and pulled her to the side of a building. "Are you okay? Two minutes ago, you were dying of laughter, and now you look like you're about to faint."

Sakura, to his immense surprise, leaned her head against his chest, the top of her pink-haired head only reaching his chin. "Shikamaru-san, I'm nervous."

Not knowing what else to do, the brown-haired ninja put a hand on her shoulder. "Everyone is, Sakura-san. Don't worry about it. We're all here with you, to help."

"I know," she said, "and I appreciate it more than you know. But I just... I just feel like something bad is going to happen."

Shikamaru shook his head. "Troublesome women superstition," he said dismissively, leading her back out to the open road, where Neji was waiting for them. "There's no stock in it."

Sakura rolled her eyes and playfully punched him in the arm. "You sexist pig."

"Ow!" Shikamaru rubbed his shoulder. "I thought Ino was the pig."

The jade-eyed girl punched him again. "I'm the only one who gets to call her that, you."

Neji smirked slightly at the exchange between them. "Come on, Sakura, don't injure him before a mission. Beat him up when we're done."

Shikamaru shot him a glare. "Your support overwhelms me," he said sarcastically.

Tsunade emerged from the building with tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. She surveyed the group carefully: tall, proud. Ready to fight for Konoha, even at the risk of death, she thought with a small smile. "Are you all ready to go?"

"Hai!"

The Godaime Hokage sighed softly and nodded. "Good luck, you three. Remember: a week. Then you come back home."

Sakura nodded. "Tsunade-shishou. Sayonara!" The three leapt into the trees, distant specks of white and pink and brown, vanishing into the slow sunrise like ink on paper. Tsunade smiled.

"Sayonara."

For a long time, the only sounds Sakura heard were the light taps of their feet against the branches, the whoosh of wind in her ears, and the rustling of leaves as they brushed past. They were familiar sounds, and she was grateful for them. How many times had she set off on a mission hearing these exact same sounds? But this was different somehow. Maybe because of her ominous feeling? Maybe because Orochimaru was now targeting her? Maybe because this was S-class? Or maybe because of something more... something deeper. This was no regular investigating mission. This was life-or-death, contamination-or-cure, save-or-condemn.

For the first time, the entire gravity of the mission was pressed fully on the pink kunoichi's shoulders. If they didn't find a way to stop the disease, it would spread to Konoha. If they didn't capture Orochimaru, he would continue to terrorize them, probably spreading worse diseases or sending Kabuto to do his dirty work or persuading another poor, misguided youth to join his own little Crew of the Damned. And if one of their own caught the disease...

That won't happen, Sakura thought vehemently. I won't let it. It can't. I'm a medic nin; I'll be able to do something.

Her senses piqued suddenly, and she turned just in time to see a kunai headed in her direction. Letting out a yell, she quickly grabbed one of her own and deflected. Her shout had caused her two companions to turn, and they were now next to her, weapons in hand. "Byakugan!" Neji exclaimed. Chakra veins puffed around and inside his eyes, surveying the perimeter. "There are twelve of them. Sound."

Sakura closed her eyes briefly, trying to sense them. What had Tsunade said? Expand her senses... 'look' for anything out of place. Opening her eyes, she grabbed a handful of shuriken and let them fly. As they hit trees and air, a group of shinobi leapt from the trees, landing in a circle around the three and immediately throwing weapons. Shikamaru cursed, deflecting them and rushing towards the shinobi nearest him. Neji did the same, sliding easily into taijutsu.

Sakura's group closed in on her, punching and kicking all at once. The top kunoichi quickly ducked and doged, wove her way through the fists and feet. She grabbed an outstretched leg and threw it into three others. "Strike," she taunted, fists flying towards the others. They dodged quickly. One, with red hair, grabbed her fist and sent a knee into her stomach, only to be met with a rather large stick. The real Sakura flew from the ground beneath them and punched. At the sound of a neck snap, the still-standing shinobi rushed towards her.

The bout of taijutsu was quick and lethal, and it took Sakura a lot to keep up. "This is ridiculous," she snarled angrily, Inner Sakura ranting inside. She back-handsprung away from an oncoming fist and leapt into the tree canopy. The ninja leapt after her, only to be stopped by a fierce shower of kunai and shuriken. Pinned to trees, the Sound shinobi could only watch as Sakura ran towards them, fist coiled and ready to strike.

Her first punch had such force that the tree the man was pinned to fell over onto his companion. Turning quickly, Sakura smiled. Neji's shinobi were piled almost neatly to the side, and Shikamaru was yawning against a tree. Neji suddenly frowned. "There's one missing."

Sakura's eyes widened as she sensed a prescence behind her. Shikamaru dove at her, all laziness forgotten, and they rolled as the Fuuma Shuriken that was about to go in her back landed harmlessly in a tree. Neji leapt forward, grabbing the Fuuma Shuriken and throwing it himself, striking the man in the stomach so hard the end of the weapon protruded from his back.

Sakura winced as blood and other fluids gushed from the man, only now realizing that she and Shikamaru were in a rather compromising position. He was on top of her, knees on either side of her legs and face only inches from her own.

Neji cleared his throat, an amused look coming into his eyes. "I think she'll be okay now, Shikamaru-san."

Shikamaru muttered under his breath as he released her. "Feh." A small tint appeared on their cheeks, and Sakura cleared her throat.

"So..." She looked at the corpses and littered bodies with seemingly intent interest. "Do you think this was a direct attack from Orochimaru, or just a coincidence?"

Neji frowned. "Where Orochimaru is concerned, there are never any coincidences. But it's hard to tell. They could be shinobi sent to Konoha, but we intercepted them."

Shikamaru shook his head. "They wouldn't have done that well in Konoha, not with Naruto and Uchiha and all the other high-rankings. If they couldn't get past all of us... they look like high chuunin level. They should have known they couldn't have been able to take a village of ANBU jounin and chuunin."

Sakura bit a hangnail. "If they weren't going to Konoha, then they must have been intended for a small group, or maybe they were just wanderers. But either way, we have to assume the worst: that Orochimaru knows who is coming and when. And if he knows that, then there's no telling what else he'll send to us."

Neji nodded. "We'll have to be on our guard at all times. What time is it?"

Shikamaru looked at his watch. "Eleven-thirty. Camp at ten PM?"

"Sounds good," Sakura said, checking for injuries. "Anyone hurt?"

"No, they were pretty mediocre,"Shikamaru replied casually. "Should we keep going?"

Neji nodded. "Double-time. They put a crimp in our schedule. This day counts as one of seven, and half of tomorrow will be spent on the journey, too."

As they took off, Sakura once again became lost in her thoughts. It seemed extremely possible that those chuunin had been sent by Orochimaru... but why? Did he want to take them out before they even got there? Unlikely, considering his message had said that he wanted to see her. Maybe their mission had been to kidnap her, but if it had, they would have lost. Sakura could have taken all twelve of those idiots with little difficulty. Sakura frowned, her forehead puckering in thought. Maybe... maybe it was a test. A test to see how strong they really were, to see how many obstacles they could overcome. If that was so, he must have known that they would defeat the group of shinobi... and so risked their lives with that knowledge. Ruthless bastard snake, Sakura thought angrily, tugging on her shirt to stop her fists from pounding into the nearest tree.

How could he do this? How could he ruin so many lives? She thought of Sasuke. Naruto. Tsunade. Jiraiya. How many deaths had he caused, and how many more would he? How many tears will he wallow in?

Sakura smirked slightly, determination radiating from her eyes.

Not mine. Never mine.

"Toad beats slug. Slug beats snake. Snake beats toad. Those are the rules," Sakura explained, stifling a yawn. Neji slept soundly next to them while the moon shone through gaps in the trees, illuminating Shikamaru and Sakura's tired faces. Because of the increasing risk of attacks, they decided to double up the watch. "I can't believe you've never played this, Shikamaru-san."

He shrugged halfheartedly. "Not my fault."

"Seriously," Sakura huffed, "all you ever play is shogi." She brushed a strand of pink hair from her face and smiled. "Ready to play?"

"Iye."

Sakura face-planted into her hands. "Shikamaru-saaaan! What now?"

"Why does slug beat snake? That's not how it goes in the real world. Slugs don't eat snakes. Snakes don't bother slugs. Actually, except for snake beats toad, the whole game doesn't make sense." He leaned against the tree, watching as her hair shone from the moon's white light.

Sakura sighed and flopped over, onto her sleeping bag. "Maybe the game isn't meant for analyzing, Shikamaru-san. Maybe it's made for actually playing, instead. Besides, I kind of like it like that."

"Why?"

She closed her eyes, hiding the jade orbs from view. "Simple: it's a balance of power. That means that no one can ever be more powerful, right? If the toad gets out of hand, the snake keeps it in check. If the snake suddenly tries to rebel, the toad and slug crush it. It's a nice way to keep balance, don't you think?"

"If the world was ruled by toads, slugs, and snakes, then I guess it could."

Sakura giggled. "Well, I like it because it reminds me of the three Sannin. You know-- Tsunade-shishou as the slug, Orochimaru as the snake, and Jiraiya-sama as the toad."

"Then it should remind you of Team Seven, as well, shouldn't it?" Shikamaru asked, propping his feet up on a low branch.

His companion looked up. "Why do you say that?"

"Oh, come on, Sakura-san, you've never realized it? You three are following the paths of the Legendary Sannin. You're all training under one, or were,you all have the same skills as your respective teachers... pretty much the same personality, too." The strategist yawned and stretched.

Sakura was silent for a moment. "You really think that Sasuke will follow in Orochimaru's footsteps?"

Shikamaru looked at her. "I used to. Not anymore. He seems changed, don't you think?"

Sakura nodded, biting her lip. "That's what I thought, too."

A pregnant silence filled the air.

"I'm sorry you guys had to go through all of that," Shikamaru said, trying to be indifferent and failing miserably. Sympathy and care shone through his voice. "It must have been troublesome."

Sakura smiled warmly at him. "It was troublesome, Shikamaru-san. But we got through it in the end. And now all we need is for someone to defeat the snake."

Shikamaru looked at her. "Slug beats snake, you know."

"Hai, Tsunade will probably be the one to defeat Orochimaru," Sakura said thoughtfully. She smiled suddenly. "I'm going to wake up Neji and get some sleep, okay? First watch is over." She smiled warmly at him. "Arigato. For, you know... talking with me."

"Troublesome girl," he muttered, but he was hiding a smile, and she knew it. She flicked him on the head anyway and shook Neji, taking his place and turning over so the moon wouldn't be in her eyes. Wouldn't that be wonderful? she thought wistfully, playing with the corner of her blanket. Tsunade defeating Orochimaru? Probably with Jiraiya's help, of course... and all of Konoha's. Naruto and Sasuke would definitely go into battle... so would I... and Kakashi-sensei, and Asuma-sensei, and Yamato-sensei... She smiled slightly, closing her eyes. It's good to have a united village, isn't it? Gives a sense of security. Slug beats snake. Snake beats toad. Toad beats slug. A balance. We all need a balance...

Kakashi's feet touched softly on the floor of the Hokage's Tower, his mask not revealing anything. The moon shone in from the windows, and Shizune jerked awake from her chair, moving into the light to see better. "Kakashi-san?"

"Shizune-san." Kakashi bowed slightly. "Is Tsunade-sama awake? I need to speak to her."

The black-haired woman shrugged. "Probably. She's been worrying about Sakura-chan and their mission for the better part of the day."

"Arigato." Kakashi knocked on the door, and Tsunade's tired voice sounded from behind it.

"Come in."

Kakashi walked in, bowing to the Hokage and sitting down at her gesture. "Tsunade-sama, I haven't seen Sakura in months."

"Hai, you were on that Suna mission, weren't you?" Tsunade rubbed her eyes wearily. "Why?"

The silver-haired jounin fiddled absently with his glove. "I want to know if she was truly ready for the mission. What all does she know? I know she's improved greatly, but..."

"Kakashi..." Tsunade paused, biting her lip. "No offence to you; you're a wonderful teacher. But your attention was more focused on Sasuke and Naruto's growth then hers, wasn't it?"

Kakashi bowed his head. "An error I sincerely wish I could reverse."

The Godaime nodded in understanding. "You tried to protect her. As... as did I. It was wrong of both of us." Another pause, this one longer. "Eventually, I realized that she... she's surpassed me, Kakashi. She's the best kunoichi I've ever seen." Tsunade shook her head, a faint smile of pride on her face. "I taught her Kuchiyose no Jutsu. She can now summon Katsuyu." She looked up to the amazed jounin. "Her medic skills are exceptional." She hesitated, but then leaned back in her chair, nodding confidently. "Hai. She was ready."

Kakashi smiled, standing. "Arigato. That's all I came for."

He began to walk out, but was stopped by Tsunade. "Kakashi! Matte."

"Hai?"

The Godaime Hokage smiled slightly at him. "Don't worry. She loves you like a father... she said as much to me."

Kakashi looked slightly shocked, but slowly, his visible eye crinkled in a warm, relieved smile. "I'm glad for it, Tsunade-sama. Very glad."