- S -
Sakura always loved working with students as she saw herself in them. Where she had lacked direction and passion on Team 7, she had made up for it ten times over when becoming a medic. The girls rapidly asked questions on topics from bedside manner to complex surgeries. She was aware it was unlikely the girls had seen any of the procedures they asked about, more than likely they had just read about Sakura's work with such things.
That tugged at her heart with a sweetness she felt only around students.
"Will you both be shadowing my training?"
"We haven't been permitted to do so, Miss Haruno." Mae responded with a tone of disappointment she failed to mask.
"Our supervising medic will be the one under your teaching." Nagase added.
"I don't mind two extra sets of eyes in my lesson." Sakura's heart further warmed at their excitement as they entered the main hospital doors.
The two medics in training led her to a conference room where several head medics of the hospital were waiting. They all bowed when she entered, and she removed her pack to fetch the scroll. A whiteboard, markers, and a podium were positioned at the head of the table and she placed the scroll atop the podium, clearing her throat. She had grown accustomed to teaching medics of all ages, especially with Konoha's strength in medical research yielding a variety of new techniques each year that other nations bartered to be taught.
It was rare that Konoha accepted a request and Sakura knew her mentor had kept that in mind when deciding to go ahead with this exchange that was in the favor of Suna. Sakura knew her mentor would never do anything to put Konoha at risk and a positive relationship was going to be built, but her decision to initiate this exchange was closely timed with Sakura's research of poisons.
Most of the medics seemed prepared to begin their training, some with excitement and others with calm, professional interest. The minority, all being at least a decade above her, looked at her with contempt. The negative perceptions often were a result of jealously or doubt in her skills. Once trainings began it usually became clear who fell into which category.
"I would like to thank all of you for partnering with Konoha hospital to exchange information and practices. I look forward to learning from you all as I share my knowledge.
"As we all know, the current limitation of infants' immune systems make it impossible to immunize them against major diseases via vaccine. However, Tsunade-sama and I, along with the aid of Shizune, have developed a new form of administering the dead or dormant vaccine without compromising the health of the child." The two categories of skeptics became clear. While some shifted their demeanors upon hearing the name of her mentor, those who would doubt her skill, some remained rigid in their frustration – those who were jealous of accomplishments they did not achieve themselves.
"By administering the vaccines with one's own immune cells, your cells can facilitate the response of the child's immune system while ensuring there are no failures in their system to address the antigen." Sakura lost herself in the lesson on linking one's own immune system and healing chakra to a vaccine in order to allow an earlier age of administration to increase herd immunity.
The afternoon melted away for her with medical diagrams and holding her temper against 'students' of her lesson who seemed overly enthusiastic to question her skill.
- N -
"Gaara I think a good way to start a conversation with a girl is to ask if her curtains match her drapes – a classic joke – but before you answer, tell her yours do! It's funny and then she wants to see you naked!" The blonde exclaimed, fully believing he was dispersing critical information to his friend.
Temari entered the room in time to send a kunai flying at Naruto who barely ducked the blade so it only skimed the tips of his hair.
"Does Sakura know that you're giving Gaara sex advice? I'm sure she would love to hear about it. Was it a red head joke? I think she'd love a pink haired spin off." Temari spoke with humor, but sadistic humor that was imagining Sakura smacking him halfway back to Konoha.
Naruto began to spew out an apology when he suddenly stopped. "Temari, can I ask you a question?" The kunoichi was thrown off by his sudden seriousness and nodded.
"Do you know what could be wrong with Sakura-chan? She's acting weird - quieter, more cautious, and hitting me less. Which is nice and all, but I'm worried. Y'know?" Gaara appeared to be uncomfortable with the topic, especially since it was only the three of them in the room.
Temari took her time and looked thoughtful before she replied. "I would assume something had happened that was making her more cautious and withdrawn. The only person who could really give you an answer would be Sakura." Naruto looked somewhat disappointed in the vague response but appreciated some information as it was more than none.
That night they all dined together and Temari threw Naruto to Sakura's mercy by telling her of Naruto's 'sex advice'. He was promptly thrown across the room with a chakra strengthened fist. All of her teammates noted the return of her fiery temper and, despite not fully being herself, through the combination of her temper and passion for her lessons with the medics they saw their teammate's odd mood begin to dissipate.
- S -
On the fifth day in Suna and Sakura's first day working with the poison specialist, Mizutani Kazumi. Sakura was gaining knowledge as well as samples provided by the herbalist including nightshade, hemlock, and various base compounds not available in plant format.
All of the compounds had the potential to be significant in her research, but working with the poison specialist was the only way to be sure which substances she needed to focus on. Every piece of data and every specimen she gathered would benefit Konoha, but she also had her personal agenda which guided her focus. Sakura retained a respected reputation throughout Suna, but those working with the poison division almost treated her as a worshipped figure. Everyone knew about her saving Kankuro's life. Every medic in Suna, whether they liked her or not, had a certain level of respect for her after that deed alone. Saving the brother of the rage prone kage was no small feat.
Examining petri dishes, mixing solutions, and grinding herbs were all second nature and allowed Sakura to relax and find her focus as she flipped through a variety of medical texts and conversed with Kazumi-sama.
- S -
On the sixth day, still working with the poison specialist, Sakura found her work to be disturbed by a sudden increase in chatter followed by sudden sounds normally not found in the lab. Giggles?
An ashen tone fell across her face when she recognized Kankuro walking through the lab. Right towards her. She pulled on a diplomatic smile and kept a beaker in one hand with an herb mixture in the other. Full hands meant no shaking hands or hugging or physical contact at all.
"Always a pleasure to see such beauty lighting up our hospitals." I liked him better unconscious. Sakura knew Kankuro was not a cruel or poorly intentioned man, but having male attention was putting her on edge. She couldn't afford to have her limited time in Suna be less productive because she was too busy watching her surroundings and not working.
"The pleasure is all mine, I am very grateful your Sunakage has allowed me to work closely with the esteemed medical professionals of Suna." A little ass kissing never hurt. She wanted to be welcome back in the future to continue the relationship between Suna and Konoha. Plus, she found slight humor observing the reactions people had under praise.
He moved closer and she found her spine pressed back into her work bench, but still looking for a way to become further from him.
"I didn't get to fully appreciate the view since I was unconscious last time we met." He winked and she felt her normal rage light at his obnoxious flirting. It was overpowered and dropped from the forefront of her mind. "I can tell you're busy, but I look forward to seeing you at dinner tonight." Shit.
Medics whispered and giggled as he made his way out while she put down the objects she held in order to grip the surface of the lab bench. She steadied herself with an iron grip on the edge and repeated her newfound mantra. Just today. Make it through just today and go from there.
- K -
While Kakashi was not surprised to see the Kage's second sibling join them for dinner that night, he was interested to meet the man. He knew of Sakura saving his life, but otherwise didn't know much of the man and Kakashi noted Kankuro's beeline towards Sakura as soon as he entered the room. Sakura was to Kakashi's left and his Naruto to his right. The Kage sat at the head of the able next to Naruto with Sai directly across from Naruto, Temari from him, and Kankuro's seat across from Sakura. Sasuke had excused himself to sleep early, clearly not interested in casual dinner conversation
"After a long day it is nice to see such a beauty at my dinner table." Kakashi was aware that men, and women, felt attraction towards his female student. She was highly accomplished in her work and her figure was no longer that of a young girl. However, she hadn't been hit on in front of him and he found himself annoyed at dark haired man.
Kankuro moved to take his seat across the table where he had direct view of Sakura. He used this positioning to send her many obnoxious winks throughout the meal.
"Sakura, I hear you have made progress with our medics. I hope our facilities and knowledge are serving their purpose in exchange for your lessons." Gaara spoke with such formality to everyone who wasn't Naruto. Sakura matched his respectful tone.
"Everything has been incredibly helpful, and I thank you again for allowing me to work with multiple specialists in my time here, Kazekage-sama."
"If I may ask, what are you looking to do with the work you're conducting with our herbalist and poison expert?" Gaara's tone was genuinely one of curiosity, but Kakashi felt Sakura stiffen.
"Tsunade and I have taken an interest in using non-lethal poisons in the field to subdue enemies without mortality that can also act as a psychological agent. It will expand our ability to bring enemies in for interrogation without putting our shinobi at risk." Gaara seemed satisfied with this answer, having fulfilled the social obligation to show interest in what Sakura was doing. He turned to initiate private conversation with Naruto. Temari began to speak across the table about the possibility of visiting Konoha to see a particular Nara male. She asked for details on local dining and shopping spots.
Kakashi ate quietly and wasn't paying mind to conversation until he felt an invasive foot brush against his leg. He glanced to Sakura noting how rigid she had become while Temari continued to talk, oblivious to the change in Sakura. Leaning his leg towards Sakura's he found his suspicion confirmed. The puppeteer was flirting under the table – or at least trying to. Kakashi felt no movement on her end and, without thinking, he swiftly swung his leg out to kick the man in his knee yielding immediate results. Kankuro pulled his leg back in pain uttering, "Ow."
It caught Temari's attention enough for her to pause conversation. "What?"
Under Kakashi's hard stare the man muttered, "I bumped my leg."
"Dumbass," the fan wielder remarked before resuming her conversation with Sakura, oblivious to the heated glances the two men were exchanging.
As dinner progressed, Kakashi began to wonder if his aggressiveness was out of line or if it would cause trouble with Gaara. Sakura could determine who she wants to play flirtatious games with. However, that doubt disappeared when she whispered, "Thank you" as they all separated for the night.