[Sakura]
My dizzying encounter with Naruto sets the tone for the rest of the day.
I had arrived at my office just before eight only to see my assistant, Mizuki, fluttering nervously just outside by the door. Upon stepping through the doorway, I realized why - Tsunade was sitting calmly at my desk, flipping through a magazine that I had thrown into the recycling yesterday.
Her expression was serene, which was, as a general rule, not a good thing.
Somehow, no projectiles were thrown and I wasn't given janitorial duties like last time. But there was a glint in her eye that has stayed with me afterwards and has haunted me ever since. Something just so off about her smile and words of forgiveness - I've been walking around all day with a figurative anvil hanging over my head, just waiting for it to drop. It would just be a matter of time.
That time is now.
I've been summoned to her office and I'm sitting on the other side of her desk, opposite to her. I'm trying not to fidget in my seat as Tsunade sits in front of me taking a long drink of sake. Shizune's been standing silently by Tsunade's elbow, waiting, like me, for Tsunade to just do something. She catches my eye behind Tsunade's shoulder, looks to Tsunade's half-empty bottle of liquor and nods slightly at the clock. It's only four in the afternoon, but it's five o'clock somewhere I suppose.
"Sakura." Tsunade finally decides to speak. Instantly, I snap to attention.
"Hai, shishou."
"The annual gala is coming up in a few months." She pauses, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
She's referring to the gala held each year among the five great shinobi villages, and hosted by one of the kages, in celebration of the unification of the nations. It's a glitzy event, and mostly civilian, meant to impress the daimyo, landlords and wealthiest businessmen of each country. The annual kage summit also happens the night before the event - a new tradition since the end of the war.
This year's gala is being hosted by the Sand village, which makes this year special to those of us in Konoha, even though we aren't the host. Sand is a particularly dear ally of ours. As a result, Konoha has been actively involved in the planning stages with Sand for the last year. I've been minimally involved, but I do hear pieces of it here and there from Kakashi. Shika and Ino also mention it once in a while - they're working closely with Gaara and the sand officials from the security perspective.
Tsunade's been attending every year since its inception. And she's been trying to get out of attending one for as long as she's gone.
She stops rubbing her chin and turns her eyes to me, making me sit straighter in my seat.
"Sakura, you're going to go in my place this year."
I gape at her like a fish out of water. I know she doesn't want to go. But I certainly don't want to go either. I have better things to do than to make nice with everyone there.
I sputter. "Why me? I'm not the right choice for -"
Tsunade cuts me off with a slam of her sake cup on her desk and my mouth clicks shut obediently.
"Sakura, you're the head of Konoha hospital, and Konoha is at the forefront of medical advances." She begins, eyes closed. She's revving up for a speech, and there's nothing I can do to stop it if I value my life.
"You," she says, jabbing the air emphatically, "are Konoha's next generation of healthcare and medical research. A symbol of our strength."
She opens her eyes as she leans forward at her desk, lacing her fingers together and staring deeply into my eyes. "A strong healthcare system is one of the marks of a great village, which is why I've been attending even after Kakashi took over as kage."
That's nice, really. But I still don't want to go.
"How about Shizune then?" I point at her hopefully. "She's more than qualified, and she knows more of these people than I do."
I studiously ignore Shizune's glare as I give Tsunade my most earnest look. It's true - Shizune has been by Tsunade's side from the beginning. All the important figures that attend these functions already know her and she's much more comfortable doing these kinds of things than I am.
Tsunade, however, brushes me off with a wave.
"No. It's going to be you. You're the head medic of Konoha hospital, and you're the next generation, Sakura." She leans back in her chair as she continues seriously. "We're at peacetime, and we can only hope there's no war in our distant future. But don't forget, we are always on display, whether to the other shinobi villages or to the daimyo of each country." Tsunade takes another swig of her sake. "We need to send a message that our village is vibrant and young. With talented young leaders."
She pauses for a moment before continuing. "Besides, Shizune has recommended that you go."
Now it's Shizune's turn to avoid my look of outrage. Before I can utter another word, Tsunade stands up from her desk and walks around it towards me.
"Sakura." She looks me in the eye. "It's a big responsibility, heading up the healthcare regime in Konoha. Most of the time, we can stay comfortable - in our medic uniform, in the lab or in the clinic. But sometimes it gets political. This is one of those times. But I mean it when I say that you'll be an ideal representative of our village and our spirit."
At her words, a warm feeling rises from my stomach all the way to my heart. Tsunade rarely gives endorsements like these. Even though I know she has mixed motives, she only says what she means, and I can't help but feel the swelling of pride at her confidence in me.
It softens the blow that she's just pawned off her leaderly duty to me, and I really have but the illusion of choice.
"Hai, Shishou."
Tsunade's eyes soften as she smiles at me. "I am proud of you, you know." She reaches to pat my shoulder gently.
It evokes a smile out of me in return. "I know."
Maybe it won't be so bad.
After a beat, Tsunade jumps back into business. The moment is over.
"Ah, one more thing, Sakura."
"Yes?" I answer.
"Here." In one swift motion, Tsunade dumps three huge binders brimming with papers into my arms. She then walks back to her desk. "You'll want to memorize all those faces, names and details. Don't let anyone think you don't already know who they are. Egos are huge at this kind of event."
Mother fucker.
"Oh, and Sakura?"
"Yes, Shishou?" I respond, tight-lipped.
"Don't be late to training tonight."
"Hai."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I arrive on the training grounds at 6:01 pm. Exactly one minute late, which gives me the satisfaction of having defied Tsunade's orders, but not so obviously so as to face the brunt of her wrath.
Upon entering the clearing, my eyes narrow when I realize that Tsunade is not alone. In fact, she's accompanied by three other people.
Naruto's standing there in the center of the clearing next to Tsunade, with his arms crossed, watching me as I approach.
He's in more clothes than he was this morning, thankfully. A flicker of excitement sparks deep in my gut within me, and I try my best to tamp down on it before it turns into something more dangerous - like interest. Or attraction.
Earlier today, between Tsunade's sweetly reception in the morning and my preparation for this training session with her, I had given myself a pep talk. That is, a reminder to myself to keep my head on my shoulders around Naruto. But it's easier said than done, and I'm having a moment as my eyes try to disengage with him. He's wearing the standard shinobi attire - black sweatpants, topped by a black cotton shirt with the Konoha patch sewn onto both arms. A green flak vest sits over his shirt, making his chest seem even broader than I remember. The metal of his headband winks in the sun, as do the metal plates on each of the fingerless gloves on his hands.
Somehow, the jounin uniform looks like it was made for him, even though it's just common attire that comes in generic sizes. I try hard not to notice that his frame fills the space next to Tsunade, or the fact that the top of Tsunade's head doesn't even reach his chin.
His presence fills the air around me and compels me to look at him, even though I don't want to. I swear I can smell him, that warm sun-kissed smell mixed with a summer breeze and a hint of cedar and cinnamon. Don't be dumb, I tell myself. There's no way I could smell him from here. Annoyed, I chide my imagination and tell it to stop overreacting, as it seems determined to do whenever he is near me.
What is clear as day though, is the sense of chakra flowing through his body, vibrant and buzzing. He must have been masking his chakra before. Shinobi often do, when they don't want to be noticed or when they're off duty.
He looks and feels utterly powerful.
"Knowing how punctual you are, I bet you intentionally got here a minute late." He drawls, lifting an eyebrow.
I flush at his comment. We may be strangers, but he still knows me a little too well, even after all these years.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I mutter.
Shika and Ino are there too, and they greet me with a friendly wave.
"Sakura, I am so excited for this." Ino exclaims merrily, bouncing from side to side. Shika offers a lackadaisical smile next to her.
I look from one person to the next before my eyes settle on Tsunade.
"And what exactly is… this ?" I ask suspiciously. It's unusual to have an audience.
Tsunade opens her mouth to speak but is interrupted by a puff of smoke. Now Kakashi has also arrived, wearing the hokage robes and his mask, although he's foregone the hat, as usual.
"Mah, sorry I'm late, everyone." He lifts a hand in a small wave as he crinkles his eyes sheepishly.
"Based on your standards, you're practically early." Tsunade deadpans.
Tsunade turns to me, beaming, and goose pimples rise on my entire body. I don't like that look. The last time I saw that look, she nearly put me in the hospital with her bright idea.
Clearing her throat, she speaks.
"Sakura, you've done very well under my tutelage."
Her words are unexpected and my suspicion instantly skyrockets. A compliment from Tsunade is like a compliment from Kakashi. It rarely happens. To put it into perspective - I was once in the Hokage's office dropping off some hospital paperwork when a visiting official in the room commented to Kakashi that he must be 'so proud' that he had personally mentored and trained both Naruto and Sasuke. It went unsaid, but the implication was clear that it was quite a feat to have trained two of the strongest ninja known to our side of the world.
A normal human being would be touched by such flattery. Instead, Kakashi just looked the man dead in the eye and said, "I guess they did ok." The conversation died after that.
Worse, when Tsunade does give a complement, it's usually double-edged, the prefix of something else.
I sense a 'but'.
"But-" Ah, there is is. "- there's only so much you can learn under me."
I tap my foot impatiently.
"Shishou, where is this going?"
Tsunade grimaces at being interrupted, but continues.
"What I'm trying to say is, you need to learn from different people."
My suspicion has now exploded into a deep foreboding pit in my stomach. With the timing of this speech, and the return of a certain someone, and spectators, I fear I know where she is going with this.
"Anyway", Tsunade continues, ignoring whatever mixed emotions I have playing across my face, "I've asked Naruto specially to come to your training session today. I want you to spar with him."
I pin Tsunade with the most volatile, piercing stare I can channel. She must be nuts - he could crush me if he wanted to! Our brief altercation this morning just proved how skilled he was, and we both know he wasn't even going that hard.
Naruto is gazing steadily at me now, his expression neutral and impassive. Like the consummate professional.
Feeling uncomfortable, I do what I do best - flounder.
"Why the hell is he dressed as a jounin?" I start by pointing out the obvious. "He never took the exam - he's not even a chunin!"
Now he's glaring at me. But I can't be bothered. He's a big boy, he'll be okay.
"The council and Kakashi decided that, given the circumstances, he could be awarded the status of jounin without the usual testing. We didn't think anyone would take issue with that." Tsunade responds dryly.
I don't disagree, though I wish I could. I sputter instead, trying to think of something smart to say, but nothing is coming to me. Damn Naruto effect.
"Besides," she continues airily, "We're doing it out of mercy to the poor young shinobi who would have to face off against Naruto if he did to go through the exams."
Another fair point.
"Now if you don't have any more objections," Tsunade's expression becomes more serious. "Naruto has agreed to spar with you. There are two reasons why I asked him here. First, I want to see how you do against him."
I look up at him again. His expression has calmed and he looks almost bored, that bastard. He knows as well as me how this sparring session will end.
She pauses, then continues. "And I want to see what he's learned over the last four years."
I gulp. Spare me.
"Isn't there someone else that would be more qualified to let Naruto showcase his talents?" I hedge. "What about Kakashi-sensei? Or Sasuke should be coming back in a couple weeks."
Naruto's eyes tighten when I mention Sasuke, but I ignore that too. I do, however, shut up at Tsunade's warning look. No, I don't want to fight Naruto, but I definitely don't want my ass handed to me by Tsunade. Naruto might be a brutal sparring partner, but I know for a fact that Tsunade can be downright sadistic.
"I chose you for a reason." Tsunade points out. We're all listening now, intrigued, but she seems satisfied with her own response, and none of us are willing to question her on it.
Ino calls out. "Hey Naruto, go easy on Forehead, will ya? She's my best friend."
I mutter, embarrassed but touched at her rare display of support. "Really, Ino, you don't need to -"
"I don't want to deal with her piss poor attitude, like every other time she loses a match." She finishes.
Rude.
Amusement flickers across Naruto's face, so quickly I might have missed it if I hadn't been watching him warily. His eyes have been on me the entire time and it's unnerving, making me self-conscious.
"Oh, and one more thing, Sakura." Tsunade adds. "Go all out. And I mean all out."
That gest my attention. I turn to her, shocked, and she returns my look meaningfully. It's beginning to dawn on me why she chose me to spar with him.
How interesting.
No matter how you frame it, Tsunade takes risks, and she's not that unlike Orochimaru when it comes to her thirst to understand the human body and its limits. She just wouldn't outright create her own humans, resurrect the fallen or needlessly murder innocents along the way. But she's played god in her own ways multiple times.
Tsunade must be betting on the fact that Naruto is damn near unkillable. Because if she wants me to try that new jutsu, she knows fully well that if done improperly, it would kill a person.
That is, if Naruto doesn't accidentally kill me first. Fuck.
Taking a deep breath, I release it slowly and ground my focus. So be it. I can be the guinea pig. But there better not be anyone at my funeral questioning my contributions to society.
Nodding slightly, I look at Tsunade. But I'm still confused about the other attendees here.
"Shishou, why is the rest of the peanut gallery here?"
"Oh don't mind me, you know, just your everyday leader of the village." Kakashi sniffs.
I roll my eyes, though not without humor.
"I called them over for the same reasons that I want to see you spar with Naruto." Tilting her head towards Ino and Shika, she continues. "They're here as officers of the Intelligence Unit. The intel they gather from this fight will inform their safety protocols and risk analyses." Ino gives me a wink and a thumbs up, mouthing 'We're cheering for you!'.
Tsunade continues to speak. "Kakashi is here because he is the hokage, your former sensei, and because he came up with a wonderful sparring idea for you and Naruto."
At this, Kakashi steps forward, extending a closed palm. As I lean forward, he opens his hand, revealing two shiny bells.
"You want me to steal the bells from Naruto?" I ask.
"Not exactly." Kakashi replies. He then separates the bells and holds one up in each hand. "I want each of you to wear one bell at your hip. The first one to steal the other's bell will be the winner of the sparring match."
This is interesting. In an all out power battle, Naruto would win hands down. But this sudden death structure evens the playing field somewhat. It involves more strategy and an ability to evade the opponent, two of my strengths. And, now that we're out in the open, I'm free to use my chakra however I want, unlike this morning when any wrong move could fell an apartment building or in the least ruin Sasuke's accommodations.
Naruto or not, I'm still a jounin, and I'm the apprentice of the fifth hokage, goddammit.
I take my gloves out of my kunai pouch and begin slipping them on.