The next morning after breakfast Sakura and Karin hurried to their training grounds, where Cee was waiting for them and upon seeing the blonde Sakura couldn't help herself as she practically jumped the man.
"Cee-sensei thank you so much, you have no idea how much those books mean to me, getting them back after all these years is not something I ever expected to happen so again thank you truly and those books won't go to waste" Sakura declared.
He stared down at her in confusion "What did you not see what was on the books Cee-sensei" Karin hazarded a guess and nearly laughed when Cee shook his head, looking even more confused when Sakura giggled.
Before the pinkette deigned to tell him "That village you found Cee-sensei was the one I lived in for three years, those books use to belong to Isha-sensei the pharmacist that took me in" Sakura explained.
Realization dawned in charcoal irises "I had no idea, I only gave the contents of that box a peek and saw that they were books, I didn't know what they were or whose they formerly were" Cee admitted.
It didn't seem like Sakura really cared to be honest how he came across them as she wasn't pressing him for details "On that note we should get to training" Cee cleared his throat reminding the girls that they were wasting training time.
Both immediately straightened "Right" Karin nodded, ready to get back into the swing of their regular training schedule as Cee made them show him their progress on handling their weapons of choice until he was satisfied.
A bit of taijutsu was next on the agenda "Alright seeing as you have done well and haven't slacked on your training any, we'll switch things up a bit, so I want you both to focus a bit of chakra into these nature sensing papers okay" Cee informed.
Not wanting the girls to get bored with the training, imagine his surprise when Sakura and Karin turned out to have the same exact natures as one another "Uh is that normal" Sakura asked looking extremely confused.
"Well not usually but it does make things easier if I'm teaching you the same jutsu's, though since I don't have the same natures as either of you it will be difficult, however I can recommend one person for your water natures" Cee held up his hand.
Seeing that they were about to speak, before he could even do anything Darui was stood next to him "Yo as if I haven't seen you enough this past week and a half" Darui greeted with a two fingered wave.
Prompting giggles from Karin and Sakura "Okay time to get serious I guess, though it's gonna be drab why don't you come on over here and face these targets for me then practice these hand signs for Water Style: Raging Waves" Darui instructed.
Gesturing the rookie kunoichi over to him lazily, not that he had to worry about them disobeying him or anything as the girls ran over with eagerness on their faces, clearly ready to learn their first elemental jutsu.
So for the next ten minutes he made them practice hand signs for the jutsu he was teaching them until Sakura and Karin could repeat the signs back to him flawlessly before having them try the jutsu "Suiton: Raging Waves" they called out in near perfect sync of one another.
Darui watching closely to figure out which girl needed more instruction as water spewed from their mouths, Sakura had clearly used less chakra as the target only broke in half, while Karin used way to much.
"Find a medium don't use to much or to little chakra otherwise your jutsu's will be dangerous or ineffective now try again" Darui requested after scolding the two for a second, while setting up two more targets for them to practice on.
And for the next hour they trained until Cee saw fit to interject himself "That's enough, you don't want to get chakra exhaustion so I'm stopping you here and from this point on, you'll meditate for thirty minutes to expand your chakra reserves" Cee informed.
Karin and Sakura were obviously glad to sit down and meditate for a bit while Darui waved and headed off before it was lunch and then off to the hospital for the rookie kunoichi "Sakura, Karin what are you two doing here" Omoi greeted.
When they appeared in the hospital lobby "Here for work Omoi, just a bit earlier than we normally come though, remember how we told you our schedule yeah" Sakura explained and Omoi nodded in remembrance.
As he did indeed remember them telling him and Karui they did work at the hospital twenty hours a week "Never mind that what are you here for Omoi" Karin questioned while waiting patiently for her turn to sign in.
Omoi winced "Karui broke her arm, Samui-sensei had us working on climbing tree's with just chakra, Karui fell and landed on her arm so I've been waiting here for a couple hours while it's healed" Omoi admitted.
Sakura grimaced "Yeah I know what it's like to have a broken bone that's not fun anyway we have to go in now so see you later Omoi" Sakura waved lightly, heading through the doors at the back of the lobby that was for employees and patients.
"Hey wait up for me, see ya Omoi-kun" Karin sped after her adoptive sister while waving at Omoi before the two of them were gone from sight, where they did their four hours before finally heading back home to their apartment to eat dinner and rest up.
Elemental ninjutsu training continued the next day and the day after that and so on until a week had gone by before Cee nodded, pleased with how far they'd come under his constant instruction so decided it was time to take them on that C rank mission.
So right after their latest session had ended sat his genin down "Listen up Sakura, Karin, tomorrow the three of us are going on a mission, it's C ranked and I expect you to be on your best behaviors understood" Cee announced.
Just hoping he wasn't making a mistake with this by taking them out on a higher ranked mission so soon even though it had been a month and a half since they'd graduated, he felt it might be to early but at the same time he wanted to give the girls a chance to prove themselves capable.
As they listened attentively to him "And because I want you well rested, no D ranks for today or work at the greenhouse, so make sure you pack for at least two weeks got it" Cee declared, then turned on his heels and left.
Leaving them sitting there sharing uncomfortable glances with each other "Is it bad of me if I say I like D ranks more than the idea of going on a C rank which will take us out of the village for two weeks which actually terrifies me" Sakura asked.
Shaking slightly "It's not just you Sakura, I'm scared to" Karin admitted, linking hands with Sakura as they began their walk home, clinging to each other to comfort themselves "But I also want to see if we can do it you know" Karin added as an afterthought.
Her trembling lessened some "Yeah your right, we're being given a chance to prove our worth now as genin and possibly be recommended for the Chunin Exams whenever they are" Sakura nodded, excitement shining in her verdant orbs.
With that all their concerns disappeared as they hurried the rest of the way home to begin preparing for their mission "First it looks like we need to get new backpacks cause these won't cut it anymore" Karin suggested.
Pulling the old backpacks that were falling apart at the seams out of the closet "Good point" Sakura deadpanned even as she reached for her wallet in the shape of the two-tailed cat, apparently Kumo gave fan service for Jinchuuriki.
By making plush toys that resembled the two tailed beasts that were apart of the Kumogakure shinobi forces and other things like wallets and key-chains "Lets make a list" Karin exclaimed even more excited now.
"Okay, first clothes, two weeks worth with a spare set just in case, an extra set of sandals, scentless waterless shampoo and condition, with scentless wet wipes, laundry detergent, a comb, compact mirror, toothbrush and toothpaste and I think that's it for that" Sakura listed.
Karin blinked at her "Course I don't know why I expected any different from you" Karin rolled her eyes lightly after a moment in which she realized Sakura was completely serious, Sakura shrugged before heading to her bedroom to collect what was needed.
When all that was gathered and piled in the middle of the living room Sakura sat down to right an actual list of groceries and other supplies they would actually need on their mission because no doubt Cee was expecting it of them so they had to do their best to prepare appropriately.
"I think that's it" Sakura said, as she straightened up from her bent over position at the table and handed over the list to Karin who nodded in agreement, so after grabbing her wallet again they left the apartment and headed to the market this time.
The first they got were two brand new backpacks, one was dark yellow for Sakura and the other dark purple for Karin "Say Sakura why are you so obsessed with that color anyway" Karin couldn't help but ask.
Having noticed that Sakura got a lot of things that were yellow "Huh oh probably because of that ribbon, though my actual favorite color is red" Sakura admitted sheepishly, most likely she hadn't even realized that she bought things that were yellow.
But with their new backpacks bought they headed for the next store and paid for a couple of sleeping bags that were neutrally colored to better blend in, followed by everything else that had been written down on their list.
And after returning to their place, they packed away everything they needed in the backpacks and set them by the door "So what do we do now" Karin pondered aloud, not use to simply having time to do things.
Much like Sakura "No idea, uh oh we can let the complex owner we'll be gone for the next two weeks since it overlaps with the time we have to pay the bill for rent and other such stuff and maybe pay ahead of time or leave the money" Sakura clapped.
Remembering they'd be gone past the day their rent was due "True, I can't believe I almost forgot about that until you said something just now" Karin nodded as they headed back out to the main office of the complex and worked out a deal with the owner to pay their rent.
Though now they had to figure out something else to do to fill the time "How about we go uh customize our headbands" Sakura suggested, having thought really hard for that one and because she knew exactly how she wanted to change her hitai-ate.
Karin furrowed her brow in confusion for a split second before realizing what Sakura had meant as they returned to their apartment, though the task took little time as they sewed new clothes onto their headbands.
For Sakura it was the faded yellow ribbon she'd had since she was five and for Karin it was a dark purple ribbon "Ugh I never thought I'd say this but being lazy sucks, I don't know how anyone can do it" Karin groaned half an hour later.
When boredom finally got to her since they didn't really have anything else to do "We could meditate, that's still resting but also training as well without having to waste our chakra" Sakura mused also bored.
Because from the time that she was five she'd been on the move with something to always constantly to do "Guess that's as good as I'm going to get" Karin sighed as they cleared a space in the middle of their living room to sit and meditate.
Until lunch and finally dinner where afterwards they happily cleaned up meditated for a couple more hours even after doing so for nearly the entire day, took separate showers before going to bed early.
Midway through breakfast the following morning, Cee showed up at their apartment "Keep eating, I'll explain the details of our mission" Cee instructed, having known that his genin would still be eating breakfast so they didn't go hungry so soon on the mission.
"We'll be going to Tea Country, where there is a variety of medicinal herbs that our hospital needs, the reason it is ranked higher than D is because there is also a possibility of danger from not just rogue shinobi but Leaf Shinobi as well since Tea borders Fire so closely" Cee informed.
Leaving the rest unsaid "That's pretty close to Kusagakure as well" Sakura caught on easily, shooting concerned glances at Karin who inhaled and exhaled to quell the rising panic within her, Cee pursed his lips.
And Karin instantly calmed "I'll be fine, we can handle my old village if they find out I'm nearby" Karin declared, not wanting Cee to think he was making a mistake in giving them this mission, after a moment he nodded.
Eight minutes later they'd finished eating and cleaned up, then after grabbing their packs they exited the apartment and locked the door behind them as they headed for the village gates to exit Kumogakure for the first time in four years.
Signing out only took a minute and within fifteen they were well on their way to Cha no Kuni "You two doing alright, no problem keeping up with this pace is there" Cee asked an hour later when they'd walked a fair distance from Kumo already.
"Just fine Cee-sensei" Sakura assured as she took a moment to warily scan her surroundings, Cee nodded once more then sped up even more forcing them to use chakra to boost their speed in order to keep up for the time being.
It was like stamina training only on a hardcore level, unbeknownst to them Cee knew that the new pace was grueling and that they were also using chakra and smirked inwardly but kept at the pace he was at now.
Until well into the evening after only a short stop to eat and quickly at that "Mean" Karin sniffed lightly with a smile on her face when Cee deigned to finally stop and let them rest for longer than a few minutes.
While he disappeared into the forest leaving them to make camp and get a fire going, survival instincts coming back to them quickly despite how long it had been that they'd actually had to survive and fend for themselves.
Thirteen minutes later Cee was back with a couple of boar piglets strung up on ninja wire "Prepare them as a soup Sakura, Karin with me to secure the area and set traps" Cee barked at his most unrelenting now that they were away from the safety of the village.
Neither girl argued merely did as ordered as Sakura set to skinning the boar piglets and removing their innards while Karin followed after see to scout the area they were setting up in and place traps to ensure their protection throughout the night.
By the time they got back Sakura was cutting up some vegetables to add to the already bubbling pot over the fire for flavor most likely "Efficient, nice, tomorrows dinner will be on you Karin, you both need equal experience" Cee informed.
Karin practically melted into a sitting position now that she could and watched Sakura intently as she cooked the evening meal until it was finally ready to be eaten "You know one thing I never asked back then, what made you come into Lightning Territory" Cee inquired suddenly.
Remembering that one question that had use to always nag at him before he'd forgotten it altogether until now "Oh uh well I thought it would be safer since it's well known that Cloud Shinobi don't like foreign nin in their country" Sakura admitted.
Giving her reason for entering such a dangerous place as a child "So you thought that if you came here to Lightning that you'd be safer from any Kusa-nin that might still be looking for Karin" Cee guessed easily.
Chuckling to himself that even while so young Sakura had been tactical and could make such strategic moves like that to ensure her and another child's safety "I bet you'd be able to outmaneuver a member of the Nara clan" Karin chimed in.
"Mid-chunin to low Jonin level Nara perhaps but the Head of the Clan is the Jonin Commander and also helps out at Leafs Torture and Interrogation Unit and there is no way I would ever be able to outsmart him intellectually or strategically" Sakura shot back.
As she finished off her bowl of soup "Rest up both of you we're well protected tonight and I don't sense anyone around for miles so there's no need to keep watch" Cee said when her verdant orbs focused on him.
With that Sakura cleaned up by sealing the rest of the soup away in a scroll before curling up in her sleeping bag "Goodnight Sakura, Cee-sensei" Karin yawned barely getting the same thing back from Sakura who was already half way to dreamland.
It had been a long exhausting day and when he was sure both of his genin were out cold snoring the night away, Cee stood and made one more circuit around the area just to make sure he hadn't missed anything before doing the same as Sakura and Karin.
Three days later they reached their destination after carefully crossing Lightnings border that led into Fire Country, past Konohagakure to a day away from Cee's most hated village then finally into Cha no Kuni to Tea.
"So now what do we start looking for the herbs, did the hospital give you a list Cee-sensei" Sakura questioned as she calmed her erratically beating heart from dodging a team of Konoha-nin that had to be on their way back to Leaf from a mission completed.
Cee gave a little jerk as if just remembering they were with him before nodding "Yes they did, we'll split it evenly in half and know that you don't have to get all of them today because I know some of them will be difficult to find" Cee explained.
Writing a separate list with half of the medicinal herbs they needed for their hospital on it "Does that mean we're splitting up…yep we're splitting up" Karin asked only for Cee to vanish on them in the opposite direction without answering.
Which pretty much spoke of his answer even without him speaking "Come on Karin-chan, oh and keep your senses spread alright" Sakura sighed, grabbing her sisters hand to lead her towards their first herb.
It was only a few feet away thankfully "I'm kind of glad that you know most if not all plants, especially the medicinal ones and can recall them at a moments notice Sakura-chan otherwise this would be a lot harder" Karin said.
Spreading out her senses in all directions to make sure no one was trying to sneak up on them as Sakura worked to collect the amount they needed for the hospital "Not to mention I spent seven years studying them and their properties as well" Sakura reminded.
Moving on to the next herb on the list, it was a little harder to find but find it she did, by the time it was evening Cee had come back to find them looking for the sixth herb on their separate list "Leave it for tomorrow" Cee ordered.
Leading his genin into the village to the inn he'd found and rented two rooms for the next few nights "Well he's in an even fouler mood than usual" Karin huffed lightly when Cee disappeared into his own rented room.
Leaving them to acquire dinner for themselves "It's cause we're so close to Leaf, sensei really doesn't like Konoha-nin" Sakura reminded gently as she pulled back the covers on the bed and crawled beneath them to get some shut eye.
Prompting Karin to do the same thing only to wake up and repeat their actions of the day before until they'd found all but one herb on the list "Okay I know Cee-sensei said that some of them would be really hard to find but seriously this is ridiculous" Karin grumbled.
Trying to spy the plant they needed to cultivate but unfortunately she couldn't even recall what it looked like so she wasn't much help to Sakura who had wandered a ways away from her "Nobody ever said hard work was going to be easy Karin-chan" Sakura snickered lightly.
Glad for the small distraction as she looked up at her adopted sister only to see her growing pale rapidly, she saw the shadow encroaching on her position and lunged into a roll away from the arms that had just tried to wrap around her.
"Wait please Sakura don't you recognize me" a voice from another girl called out as Sakura rolled onto her feet in a uncoordinated movement to whip around and stare at a blonde with pupil-less cerulean eyes.
Then Sakura registered that the other girl had said her name when she had never met this girl before and realized "Y..You know me" Sakura inquired hesitantly as she took up a defensive stance in front of Karin.
Who gripped her sleeve tightly unsure of what the proper protocol in this situation should be most likely "Of course I know you, there hasn't been a day in these past seven years that I haven't once thought about you my best friend who I thought was dead" the blonde cried.
One of the most heart-broken expressions ever on her face "Ino what are you doing get away from that Cloud Shinobi now" a man with a goatee and chocolate brown orbs ran over upon seeing his student so close to a ninja from another village.
That were known for their attempted abductions on clan children "Asuma-sensei you don't understand, I know her, that's Sakura Haruno, we have to bring her back to Leaf where she'll finally be home again" Ino informed, desperate to have her best friend back apparently.
Asuma paused before setting his sights on the pinkette "Your absolutely sure its her Ino" Asuma questioned wanting to make sure and Ino nodded sharply, because there was no one else who could have pink hair and not be Sakura Haruno.
When his chocolate brown orbs narrowed Sakura knew that there was going to be trouble, especially as he took a deliberate step towards her "Sakura we have to get to Cee-sensei" Karin hissed not sure how they were going to get out of this situation.
Sakura was torn but she knew her place was no longer in Konoha "I'm sorry Ino-san for being unable to remember you and I'm sorry but I can't let you take me either" Sakura apologized glancing to the man Ino had called Asuma.
Before throwing down a smoke bomb, grabbing Karin's hand and running as if the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels while towing along someone behind her who was running at the same speed leaving behind a trail of dust.
"Uh what just happened" Asuma scratched his chin in confusion, never having seen someone disappear as quickly as those two girls had, Ino burst into another round of tears, so he instructed his student to remain with her teammates while he went after them.
He knew it wouldn't be easy dragging the girl back to Leaf with them especially if she was part of Hidden Cloud but he'd heard his Father speak about Sakura Haruno enough to know that Hiruzen felt guilty about not having ever found the girl.
So he felt that it was his duty to assuage that guilt in the Hokage by bringing Sakura back to the village she was born in, though by the time Asuma actually caught up with the pinkette she was stood behind a blonde.
A jonin from Kumogakure "What do you want with my students Leaf Dog" Cee sneered at his worst because of the Konoha shinobi standing in front of him after chasing his kunoichi with intent as they'd tried to explain what was going on.
Asuma winced at the derogatory name "Just her, Sakura Haruno, she is formerly a member of Hidden Leaf and I'll see her brought home to where she belongs" Asuma informed pointing to the rosette who was hiding behind the blonde.
Cee jolted "Did you actually ask her if that's what she wanted Dog, no you pursued her with the intent to push your will on her regardless" Cee spat, looking like he was about to commit murder on the man across from him.
For causing distress in Sakura and Karin as well "Okay so I did chase after them, probably not the wisest idea but Sakura belongs in Leaf" Asuma admitted that much before pinning the blonde with a look that said he better hand the girl over.
He was just getting ready to push his luck when an exploding tag attached to a kunai flew between them and was set off causing a massive explosion and a body went sailing through the air "SAKURA-ONEE-CHAN" the redhead screamed.
Watching Sakura slam face first into a tree and slid down to the ground in an unconscious heap even as she was pulled into arms and dragged away by familiar shinobi from her own past village "We've just been waiting for you, you little bitch" the Kusa-nin smirked cruelly.
As he forcibly pulled her away from the one that had never once turned on her who was now hurt and she still couldn't do anything, anger and desperation boiled in her veins "You let me go" Karin turned and bit down.
Biting into the mans arm until she tasted blood silently enjoying the way his face twisted in pain, it was payback for when she'd been forced to heal people against her will by being bitten as she was dropped only to spin on her heel.
Whipping out her metal fans and swinging them while pressing the trigger to unleash a barrage of paralysis poison dipped senbon on the Kusa shinobi in front of her before making a mad dash over to where Cee was already tending Sakura.
There was a black bruise on her forehead indicating a skull fracture, "Good job Karin, you did well" Cee nodded in relief that she was alright as she took up a protective stance in front of them, glaring at the unfortunate Grass Shinobi.
Until her gaze switched to the Leaf Shinobi who was clearly hurt some but not much from the blast of that exploding tag, Cee growled in frustration "Here let me" Karin offered, bending down, raising her sleeve at the same time.
Cee watched in horror as Karin lifted Sakura's head gently who was barely conscious and already resisting Karin as the redhead put her arm in front of the pinkette's mouth instructing her to bite down "Do it, I'll heal her after" Cee ordered.
Grudgingly smiling at Sakura's stubbornness over the matter, peridot orbs flickered towards him briefly, glinting with defiance before Sakura relented by gently biting Karin's arm and sucking the girls chakra out to heal herself.
"It's okay Cee-sensei, this one scar I'm going to be proud of for the rest of my life because not only did I stand up to those bastards over there but I repaid the debt I owe Sakura for saving my life four years ago" Karin refused.
When Cee's hands glowed green with medical chakra "Brat, you good Sakura, think you can sit up or even stand now" Cee snorted, before lightly ruffling Karin's hair and turning back to Sakura who was carefully inching herself into a sitting position.
Being mindful not to go to fast or possibly be sick "I…I remember Cee-sensei" Sakura intoned flatly unsure how to really feel now that she had her memories back, apparently all it had taken was some head trauma.
The same injury that had caused her to have amnesia in the first place "Well damn, it's not that I didn't want you to ever remember, it's just those memories now complicate things you understand" Cee sighed.
Realizing he was probably going to have to let go of his grudge and hatred towards Leaf Shinobi to work out a deal with them about Sakura for Sakura's sake "So you admit to remembering now when earlier you said you didn't remember" Asuma stood slowly.
Making them remember he was still there "She really couldn't remember earlier, in case you didn't realize Mr, Sakura-chan was just hurt" Karin rounded on him, puffing up angrily and Cee had to bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.
"Look let us finish our mission here and go back to Cloud in peace, I'll speak with Lord Raikage about all of this, until then get back to your students" Cee grunted, forcing himself to play nice for the time being.
Asuma scratched his chin at that "How do I know your not lying" Asuma commented knowing better than to trust the word of a Cloud Shinobi who obviously clearly hated Leaf Shinobi and now all of a sudden he was changing his tune a bit, it was highly suspicious.
Cee practically growled at him "Because my word is as good as gold no matter how much I loathe you Leaf Dogs, Sakura nor Karin have the heart for the bias, they don't discriminate unfortunately" Cee snarled.
With that and only his words to trust in, Asuma nodded, glanced briefly to Sakura before turning on his heel and heading back to his students while Cee finished collecting the last herb that was needed.
And half an hour later they were back on their way to Kumogakure after collecting their belongings from the inn they'd been staying in and paying their rent for the past four nights that they'd been there.