Warning: this chapter contains a bondage lemon (not too explicit), if you don't want to read it, I have marked its start and end with ().
A/N: sorry about the delay, I've had a few holiday days. I will try to update weekly from now on, but it is possible that some chapters will take me two weeks instead of one.
I'm trying to write the story from a realistic point of view so, given the line of work of ninjas, there will be some psychological issues.
Also, in this chapter I finish to present Sakura's background, so the story will develop faster in the following ones. :)
Thank you very much for your comments, follows and favorites. :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor any of its characters.
—————————————————————————
CHAPTER 7:
The investigation wasn't going very well. Kakashi and Sakura spent their days at the library and the only thing they had concluded was that a Hyūga should see the chakra stealing process with their Byakugan for them to know how it worked.
Kakashi didn't try to confront Sakura anymore, but he took the time to observe her. She was
very reserved with him, barely talking about herself and focusing on the research at hand. He could determine that she was intelligent and had a highly analytical mind. That was something that hadn't changed from her genin days, but apart from that, she was a completely different person for Kakashi. Either that or he didn't get to know her at all, to begin with.
Every little detail that sakura let Kakashi saw of herself, he absorbed it eagerly. He could establish her main personality characteristics: she was determined, dedicated and stubborn; she had a strong character which showed when she was angry or frustrated, but she was fast to control it and suppress it with iced calm.
From her side, Sakura was starting to know Kakashi, as well. He never offered personal information to her when he was her sensei, and it wasn't that he was now an open book, but he provided droplets of his history and private persona to Sakura. She knew he was trying to get to know her as the woman she had become, and it made her feel a little strange.
On one hand, it was flattering. Even though she thought that she didn't care about his opinion of her anymore, it flattered her that this man was interested in her skills and her as a whole. He still was one of the best shinobi in the world, after all.
But, on the other hand, she felt resentful because this attention arrived too late. She was able to recognize that when she first became his student, she was not worthy of the kind of attention she was receiving now, but she also knew that she hadn't deserved the amount of indifference he showed to her back then.
Sakura was not vengeful and she knew forgiveness and second chances, Naruto was a clear example, but she believed that second chances had to be earned, and not given for free, in order for them to work out. Everybody made mistakes, but they will continue to make them without thinking about the consequences if people let them and forgive them without any effort by their side.
So, Sakura didn't hide herself from Kakashi, but she decided to be cautious around him. She couldn't fight to like certain aspects of his character, though. He was intelligent and had a vast knowledge of ninjutsu, seals and shinobi's history, he was always relaxed, or at least it seemed so, but he had a black sense of humor and a quick tongue to make fun of any kind of situation.
As the weeks went by, Sakura was starting to feel the pressure of their lack of results on the research. She felt frustrated and found it more difficult to keep her emotions at bay. She started to spar with Naruto from time to time in order to let the tension go, but it only helped to a point.
Then, one afternoon, while reading some ancient scroll about chakra exchanging, a nurse appeared looking for Sakura urgently.
"Haruno-san, there's an emergency in the hospital and you are required. An anbu team has arrived and the situation is critical." She urged Sakura to go with her.
Sakura stood up and left the library in a hurry with the nurse. Once they arrived at the ER, the medic in charge briefed her about their patients' condition.
"They don't have any physical injury or wound, but they are dying from chakra depletion, the three of them." The doctor told her, perplexed.
Sakura approached one of the unconscious men and surveyed him with her chakra. The diagnosis from her colleague was correct, he hadn't any wound, external or internal, but his chakra was almost depleted. She had a bad intuition about this, maybe caused by all those days submerged into the research, but if it wasn't related, it was a huge coincidence, and coincidences of this kind were extremely rare.
They tried everything they could think of: providing them their own chakra, inducing coma for them to rest and recover, administering soldier pills… But they only managed to save one of them. The anbu agents' chakra level wasn't incrementing in two of them and they passed away when it wasn't enough to maintain the vital functions of their bodies. The third shinobi was barely alive, and it was only because he was the one with the highest amount of chakra, he had been the one carrying his two teammates to Konoha; he was alive but he wasn't out of danger.
A while before losing two of their patients, Sakura called for Tsunade to assist them, as they weren't being successful with any of their ideas. The Godaime arrived a moment later, but not even her was able to do something more.
Once their third patient was stabilized, Tsunade required Sakura to meet her at her office and called for Kakashi to join them. She explained that the anbu team had been sent to investigate the syndicate in Grass country and that they must have been victims of the chakra robbery. Sakura was indicated to monitorize the surviving shinobi and to report his condition directly to the Hokage, Kakashi should continue with the research aiming to find some clues.
It was two days after the arrival of the anbu team that the only survivor awoke. Sakura tested him and found out that his chakra level had not decreased, but it hadn't either increased. He had now the chakra amount of a civilian, and he wasn't able to perform even the simpler of jutsus.
Tsunade told her to go back to the research but to consider it from a defensive point of view. She asked Sakura and Kakashi to think of a possible way to avoid the loss of chakra, to protect their shinobi against this unknown attack.
Sakura was really affected by the death of the two anbu agents. Kakashi saw how she fought her sorrow and guilt. They were both frustrated at the lack of advances in their research, but it was affecting Sakura the most.
One night, Kakashi invited her to a drink at the pub, intending to clear their minds for a while.
"Come on, Sakura, we need to take a breath for us to be able to think clearly tomorrow." He coerced her.
She only nodded slightly and followed him through Konoha's streets to the pub, where they took seats at a corner table. Kakashi ordered two beers and looked carefully at her. He wanted to help her, but he didn't know how, he didn't know what to say to her to make her feel a little better.
Just when the copy-nin was going to start a light conversation, Naruto and Sasuke joined them at their table.
"Good night Sakura-Chan, Kakashi-sensei!" He greeted them. "What's with the serious faces?"
Sakura just looked at him with unfocused eyes. She seemed lost in her defeatist thoughts.
"We aren't finding anything useful on our research." Kakashi provided.
"Do you need help? I'm not very appropriate to documentary investigations, but I could try to help you with whatever you need." Naruto offered.
The approaching of Kiba to Sakura's side stopped Kakashi from answering. The Inuzuka called for her attention by posing a hand on her shoulder and she looked at him, he looked very concerned.
"Sakura, I heard what happened at the hospital. How are you?, How's Inner?" He asked her.
Sakura tried to smile at him, but it came as a grimace more than a sad smile.
"Don't worry, Kiba." She said with a weak voice. "Inner is still missing, as it should be. I'm just overwhelmed by the whole situation."
"Who's Inner?" Naruto voiced what the three men from team seven were questioning.
"I'll tell you another day, Naruto. That's not a story for today." She provided.
"You know what you need to do, Sak. Don't delay it anymore." Kiba said, recovering her attention. The kunoichi sighed, nodded and stood. "I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow at the library, Kakashi."
"Are you going to be ok?" Asked Sasuke, surprisingly.
Sakura looked at him showing no emotion at all and answered him: "Yes, Sasuke, I'm going to be fine. I'll see you guys another day." She surveyed the pub and made eye contact with Genma, who was observing her unusually serious. The jounin approached their table before she was able to move.
"What's the matter, Pinky?"
"I need your help, Genma." She said looking at him with pleading eyes. Genma's visage changed to one of gravity then, but he nodded and guided her outside.
The four remaining men at the table followed them with their sights and, just as the pair exited the pub, Naruto turned to address Kiba.
"What was all that about?" He asked, very confused.
Kiba sighed and said: "She needs to let out what it's eating at her now, and Genma is the only one able to help her when she is so affected." He looked resigned, but not so concerned anymore. "I should go, too. See you."
Once Kiba had left as well, Sasuke asked Kakashi: "Do you know what's going on here?"
"Sakura lost two patients last week, two shinobi who were victims of the syndicate we learnt about in our last mission." Provided Kakashi.
Understanding filled Sasuke's and Naruto's eyes and they didn't add anything more to the conversation. Sasuke understood how frustrating it all had to be for Sakura, or anyone else for that matter; Naruto determined to visit her the following day to offer her to spar with him, see if he was able to cheer her up a little.
Kakashi felt relieved that someone was able to help Sakura to overcome these moments, but he couldn't have imagined that Genma would be the one with that ability. He supposed that this was the nature of their friendship, but it was a little strange for him to understand why Genma and not Kiba or Ino.
()
Sakura was naked and bound to the bed. Her wrists were locked by padded handcuffs over her head and her ankles were fixed to the headboard the same way. She was completely exposed and vulnerable, but that was the objective of this all.
Genma stood at the bed's foot, looking at her seriously. He was clad on loose grey tracksuit pants and a black sleeveless T-shirt.
"You know how this goes." He told her. "If you feel it's too much at any moment, use the safe word."
Sakura nodded and he approached her. He started teasing her, arousing her with his hands and mouth, but stopping just before she was able to reach an orgasm. He used this strategy until he determined that she couldn't take any more caress without coming, hypersensitive at any contact. He was a bit distant but gentle and thoughtful.
Then, he made her cross the edge and she had a massive orgasm. He continued stimulating her with the help of several sex toys, and made her orgasm again and again. Sakura reached a point in which she felt overwhelmed by the physical sensations.
"I can't take any one more, Genma, please." She begged him.
"No." He denied harshly. "You can continue. You would have used the safe word otherwise. Come on, Sakura, don't fight it, let the sensations take you whole. Once more. " He commanded.
Genma undressed and positioned himself on top of Sakura. He entered her and picked a hard and fast pace. It was this time with him, which managed to break her, and just as she reached a particularly intense orgasm, taking Genma with her, she screamed her peak out and broke down crying. Just as she started sobbing violently, Genma released her wrists and ankles and hugged her, caressing her hair and talking soothingly to her.
"That's it, Pinky, let it all out."
They remained this way until she started to calm down and fell asleep. Genma kissed her forehead, came out of her and let sleep overtook him as well, keeping her hugged to him.
()
Sakura woke up surrounded by Genma. She used to feel uncomfortable the morning after their sessions, but not anymore. She remained still, enjoying the feeling of safety and peace for a moment, before facing the world again.
Where Kiba was warmth and fun to Sakura, Genma was release and confidence.
Sakura had learnt many years ago that she felt too deeply. It didn't matter what kind of feeling: anger, sadness, happiness… She was an extremely emotional person, and it was counterproductive for a ninja, so she had to learn how to control and restraint her feelings, she had to steel herself. But she found out, as well, that it was necessary for her to let out her repressed emotions, or they started to provoke problems to her.
She used to force her body to its limits while training in order to reach the release point. But then, she met Genma in that first seduction mission and he told her about all the coping mechanisms he knew. When destroying training fields stopped working to make her feelings surface, she first asked Kiba to do this to her, and he tried, for her he tried, but it didn't work. Kiba cared too much for her to be able to make her reach that point.
That was when she took the courage to ask Genma. She needed someone able to break the wall around her emotions without breaking her in the process, someone who had experience in this kind of therapeutic sex… And that person was Genma for her.
They hadn't done this many times, as this was the third one in more than a year, but it always had managed to let her release her feelings and tension, and refocus. It was comforting to know that the possibility was there for her to take.
Sakura supposed that if she ever found a man who was able to make her feel by his own what Kiba and Genma did by separate, she would fall head over heels for him. But she hadn't met anyone like that yet.
Feeling Genma moving at her back, she came out of her head.
"Good morning, Pinky." He told her, sounding sleepy. "How are you feeling?"
Sakura smiled at his concern and answered him: "I'm much better, thank you." She turned in his arms to look at him.
He returned her smile, and with a poke on her nose, he provided: "Anytime. You know I don't enjoy the reasons to do it, but I do like the effects it has on you, and I will always prefer you coming to me, because I know I am capable of handling it."
"I know." She said, still smiling softly and relaxed.
"Why don't you take a shower while I prepare breakfast?" He proposed.
Sakura's smile widened and she nodded. This was what she liked the most of being with Genma, she felt protected and taken care of. With most of the rest of the people it was her who played the caring role, but with him she could relax and be pampered. She could let him take the reins and guide their movements, she felt safe with him. This was why he was her usual partner when she was assigned a seduction mission.
They both got up from bed and, while Sakura entered the bathroom, still naked, to take a shower, he got dressed in his jounin gear and started to cook breakfast.
Genma was pouring coffee in two mugs when he heard a knock on his front door. He headed to his apartment entrance and opened the door.
"Yo." There was Kakashi standing.
"What are you doing here?" Asked Genma, surprised to see his friend at his home. "Are we requested by the Hokage?" It was the only plausible explanation for his presence, as the copy-nin wasn't one known to pay visits for company.
"No, I want to talk with you about something, may I pass?"
"Ummm… this is not a good moment, Kakashi." Genma said, producing a senbon from his pouch and playing nervously with it in his mouth.
Kakashi inclined his head, analyzing the causes why he wasn't welcomed, and he was able to hear the shower's water running.
"Ahh, you have company." He said, mischief in his eye. "I can come back a little later, if"
"Genma! Do you have an extra toothbrush?" Asked Sakura at the moment, exiting the bathroom. She had her hair damped and a towel wrapped around her body. She stiffened when she noticed Kakashi at the door, but she decided that they had nothing to hide, so she greeted him, although a little shyly: "Good morning Kakashi, it seems you don't stop to catch me in compromising situations." She tried to joke to lighten the mood in the room.
Genma relaxed a bit at her teasing mood and explained to her: "Kakashi is here to talk to me. You can find a new toothbrush on the top drawer."
"OK, I'll get dressed and get going. I have to go to the hospital first and then to the library. This way you two can talk in private." She grabbed her clothes and went to the bathroom again.
Kakashi was flabbergasted. He never took Genma's bluffing into consideration, so seeing Sakura at his apartment in these circumstances was the last thing he had expected.
"OK, come in, then." Said Genma, moving to the side of the entrance to let him in his home.
Kakashi entered and headed to the small kitchen in his friend's apartment. Genma's home was a loft, with the main area being a living room with a sofa, a coffee table, shelves with books and a TV; an open kitchen with a small table and two chairs was placed in the opposite extreme of the entrance, the bathroom on the left front corner from the entrance and a curtain ,which served as a wall to separate his bedroom, at right hand as you entered to the apartment.
The copy-nin took a seat at the kitchen table and let his sight sweep the place. He suddenly stiffened and his one visible eye widened. Genma followed his gaze and hurried to close the curtain Sakura had not completely closed when grabbing her clothes. He knew that what had made Kakashi suddenly even more uncomfortable were the handcuffs still hanging from the headboard, which were visible by the gap left by the curtain.
"It's not what you are thinking, Kakashi." Hurried to justify Genma. "I'll explain as soon as Sakura leaves."
Kakashi clenched his teeth but said nothing. He glared at Genma and was opening his mouth to retaliate to him when Sakura exited the bathroom once more, this time fully dressed.
"OK, I'm going now." She said. Kakashi had to admit that she looked much calmer than the day before.
"Don't you want something to eat first, Pinky?" Asked Genma from the kitchen counter while plating an omelette.
"No, I have a busy morning and I want to give the two of you space." She answered while approaching him. Then, she tiptoed, kissed Genma on his cheek and said goodbye to both of them. "Thank you, Genma, I'll see you later. I will be at the library in about an hour, Kakashi." She left after that.
Kakashi looked at Genma and arched his brow, commending his friend to explain himself.
"OK, where do I start?" Asked Genma to himself, his visage resigned. He seemed to be ordering the thoughts in his mind, took a coffee and the omelette and sat down on the free chair next to Kakashi. "I was Sakura's partner in her first seduction mission." He began and took a sip from his mug.
"That I had already figured out." Kakashi said abruptly.
"Yeah, well." Genma tried to continue, sending his friend a look that asked him to let him finish his explanation. "I gave her the usual advice and it went well, but on the returning trip, she was upset. I supposed she felt a little dirty, although she wasn't a virgin before the mission and she understood the motives to do it, so I talked to her, tried to make her see that it had been the same for all of us and told her about the coping mechanisms the different shinobi use. I mentioned her quite a lot of methods to overcome the aftermath of certain missions, but submission sex must had rung a bell on her head.
A month later, she asked me to meet with her to talk over a coffee and I agreed. I thought she wanted to let her preoccupations out, and it was the case, but to a certain extent. She told me that she had had problems managing her intense emotions. You know how deep she used to feel, and how it is a great disadvantage for a shinobi to let their feelings rule them." Genma looked at Kakashi's eye trying to get him to understand.
Kakashi just nodded and stared at him, so Genma took another sip of his coffee and continued.
"Sakura told me that she had managed to control her emotions but that sometimes she had to let all out, clean the board, for the repressed feelings to be released. She used to manage it by training until she was dead tired, wreaking havoc at training fields, but that it wasn't working anymore for her lately, so she wanted to try something new and she wanted me to help her.
I was shocked at first and told her no, but she got angry and asked me if it worked for me and that if I had done it before. I had to admit to her that it is something that indeed works for me and that I had done it for a few partners as well.
She asked me to try once and, if it was too uncomfortable, she wouldn't ask me never again. She looked very troubled, Kakashi, she desperately needed a release from the tension she had built inside her, so I agreed.
It was not easy for me to play that role with her, it still isn't easy to force her to break and cry, but I know if it's not me, she will look for someone else, someone that maybe wouldn't provide her closeness and wouldn't soothe her after."
Genma took another sip from his mug and looked determined to Kakashi.
"So, now you see. When she really needs it, she comes to me, the same way I go to Anko when I need it." He concluded.
Kakashi didn't know what to think, how to feel. It certainly was an activity that some shinobi used for their benefit, but it was a coping mechanism that he associated with people his age, not Sakura's.
"Why didn't she go to Inuzuka?" He inquired.
"She tried, at first, but he wasn't able to do it." Genma answered, understandingly. "You know not all people have the guts or the inclination to do it properly. The same way as you know there are sadists who enjoy it too much."
The copy-nin nodded and furrowed his brow. He surely didn't want Sakura to end at the mercy of a sadist who would break her instead of help her. But it still didn't make him like the fact that it was Genma who played that role for her. The senbon wielder was a few years older than him and it was a little hard to associate Sakura with him in a relationship of this kind. He knew that age for shinobi was not an issue once they were of age, which for ninjas was at the tender age of sixteen, as they were all required the same responsibility and were granted the same consideration. He also knew that Sakura wasn't precisely a child anymore, she was almost twenty years old now, but he couldn't avoid to feel strange about it all, he had a lot to think about.
"I don't know, Genma, I understand everything you have explained, but…" Kakashi tried to express his objection, but he himself couldn't put his finger on the emotion he was feeling at that moment.
"But you don't like it." Provided Genma. Kakashi only shrugged. "Well, I am sorry to be the one to say it to you, my friend, but you have nothing to do with it. You are just starting to know her."
The copy-nin didn't like that fact much more. Maybe he didn't know Sakura as well as her current friends, but he had been spending a lot of time with her due to their research and he liked every aspect he discovered of the woman. He felt that it should be him helping her to overcome her difficulties. It wasn't that he wanted to perform the sensei role for her, he had already proved that he was not the most indicated for it, and it wasn't that he wanted to compensate her for the years of indifference neither, he knew that it had no meaning now that she had overcome that episode of her life; but he felt drawn to her, felt the impulse of becoming someone important to her, and he had to analyze why.
Kakashi stood up and sighed. "I have to go Genma, I'll think about all that you have told me today."
"Are we ok?" Asked Genma, doubtful. He could sense that there was a turmoil inside his friend.
"Yes, we are ok. It's just… I don't know." Kakashi confessed, clearly confused about himself.
Genma contemplated the copy-nin and a surprise gesture crossed his face as an idea came to his mind. "You like her." He said, astonished.
"What?" Kakashi asked, a little shocked. He quickly cooled and provided: "I like the person she had become, if it's what you mean."
"No, no." A smug smile appeared on Genma's face. "I mean that you are jealous, my friend, that you feel attracted to her, that's why all this situation is so conflicting for you."
"I don't think…" Kakashi started saying, but then he got lost in his thoughts, contemplating the senbon wielder's suggestion.
"Think about it with a cool head." Proposed Genma. "You like her personality, you feel protective of her, you're making an effort to get closer to her, which is a rarity for you, you are behaving quite extrangely about our relationship, and you have to admit that she is beautiful." He said looking intently to the copy-nin. "When was the last time you felt that way about a woman?".
"Umm, never?" Admitted Kakashi, more and more confused. Then, he tried for an escape: "But it doesn't have to mean that I like her in that way. Maybe I want to be her friend."
"Yeah, her friend my ass." Genma laughed. "Just think about it, and don't discard it, Kakashi. Maybe she is the one who'll get the great copy-nin to fall on his knees." He added teasingly.
Kakashi rolled his eye and headed to the apartment's door. "I'll see you later Genma. And i'll think about it, but I still don't think it's what you are suggesting."
Genma looked at his friend exiting his home and smiled to himself. He didn't know how Sakura felt about Kakashi, but it was going to be interesting to see how their relationship would develop, that was for sure.
--
Later that day, Kakashi and Sakura were at the library looking for possible ways of protection against the chakra stealing. They hadn't talked too much, but he could see that she was more focused and relaxed today. He, on the other hand, felt on edge, so he decided to get the topic out.
"Are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?". He asked half serious and half teasingly.
Sakura rolled her eyes and answered him: "You are the only one who feels that elephant, Kakashi. I'm sure Genma has already told you about the kind of relationship we have. It's nothing to feel ashamed for, although it's private and I would appreciate it if you would keep the information for yourself."
He nodded and looked at her curiously. He was going to suggest to her to go somewhere for lunch to be able to talk in a non-work atmosphere, when Naruto entered the room.
"Hello, Sakura-chan, Kakashi-sensei!". He greeted cheerfully. He approached the kunoichi and put a hand on her shoulder. "How are you feeling today?".
Sakura smiled sweetly at him and provided: "I'm feeling much better, Naruto, thank you."
"Great! I'm here to take you out to lunch." He started with a wide smile. "You're welcome as well, Kakashi-sensei."
"It's OK for me, we were about to take a break, anyway." Kakashi was quick to agree to go, seeing Naruto as a help to dig into Sakura's mind. Both men looked at Sakura expectantly.
"Perfect, then. Let's go." She said standing up.
The three of them directed to Ichiraku, it was a must when having lunch with Naruto. They seated, ordered and then Naruto addressed Sakura.
"Sakura-chan, I can see that you're feeling quite better than yesterday. Can I ask you something that kept me wondering last night?". He asked respectfully.
Sakura seemed to consider her options and the circumstances and finally shrugged and answered him: "Sure, go ahead."
"Who's Inner?". He asked curiously.
Sakura doubted and looked covertly at Kakashi, although the copy-nin noticed it. She was unsure of confessing something this private in front of him, but she got to the conclusion that he could figure out the way to learn about it if he was willing to, anyway. This was what Kakashi had expected and listened intently to what she explained.
"Well…" She started, organizing what she wanted to say in her head first. "Do you remember how I used to be when we were genin?"
Naruto took a moment to reminiscence and nodded.
"I was obsessed with Sasuke and tried to behave as I thought he liked girls to do: I was superficial, cared more about my hair than my performance as a shinobi, played the supporting and caring role for him… I repressed all the characteristics of my personality that I thought he would dislike, but they didn't disappear. I had a dissociation and provoked a second personality inside my own head who possessed all the characteristics I had suppressed of my showing personality, I used to call her my 'Inner'. I learnt that it was a psychological trastorn when I started to learn a bit of psychology during my medical training, and I spoke about it to Tsunade-Shishou. I went to a therapist following her advice and worked on it, and when I learnt not to repress any part of my mind, Inner disappeared."
Naruto was surprised by the information provided by Sakura about herself. He remained pensive for a moment and then frowned and asked: "And why was Kiba worried about her returning last night?".
Sakura sighed and explained: "I learnt how to not repress any characteristic of my personality, but I had to learn how to keep some of them at bay, too. I'm a person who feels intensely and I'm very empathetic, Naruto, and it's not the best of features for our profession. Therefore I walk on a thin line, I have to control my emotions, but I have to let them out when I start to repress instead of to control, for Inner to not make her appearance again. I'm sure you had to work on your patience and enthusiasm as well."
Naruto nodded seriously and said: "I did, and it wasn't easy, it still isn't. I understand, Sakura-chan." He smiled sweetly at her and she relaxed. She hadn't noticed that she had been tensely waiting for his reaction.
Sakura looked at Kakashi then, she hadn't made eye contact with him during her explanation and found an extrange look in his eye. The copy-nin was astonished to find out what she had overcome and how deep she had got to know and manage herself. It was something that usually took decades to most of the people. He certainly had a lot to think about.
Their food arrived and they started eating in silence, each one deep in their thoughts.
"I'm glad you are better now, Sakura-chan." Said Naruto cheerfully to alleviate the mood. "I can go to spar with you whenever you need it if it helps." He offered.
Sakura smiled sweetly and answered him: "Thanks, Naruto. It helps sometimes." But she knew that there were other times when it just wasn't enough.