Disclaimer: Me no own Naruto!
Note: The person is not who you think it is!
Chapter Eight: The Wind of Change
Sakura stood there for a good ten seconds, just staring at the intruder on her bed. The kunai was still in her outstretched hand. Slowly she lowered it, but did not put it up in case it was a trick. There, sitting cross legged on her bed, with her own kunai spinning in her hand, was Temari. She grinned. "Registering by the shock on your face, I would say you are surprised to see me. You also missed me, I can tell. Well, I certainly missed you, that's why I rushed to get here earlier than I said I would." Temari cocked her head at Sakura's stony expression, and then her eyes turned mischievous. "Who were you expecting? Your dear Sasuke-Kun?" That woke Sakura up. "How dare you! Coming in and plopping down on my bed in the middle of the night unannounced, and while I'm not here either! Also, I was not expecting that Uchiha, I'm over him!"
Temari burst out laughing. "Ha ha ha ha. As if! You should have seen your face when I said that!" Still giggling she reached behind her and pulled out her big fan. "Here can you put this up for me. I don't want it to get bent." Sakura sweat dropped, face still red. Sheesh, how can she be laughing one minute and be all serious the next? It's like she has a multiple personality disorder. Where did that fan come from anyways, it's so huge! Sighing Sakura took the fan and placed it in a safe corner with her weapons. Hearing a sound Sakura turned back around. She sweat dropped again. Temari was already snoring away on her bed. Shaking her head, she went up to her and pulled the covers around her. She did have a long trip. Running at high speed here didn't help matters either. She finally took a quick shower, and fell asleep on a futon. She would surprise the girls tomorrow.
Bang! Clang! Sakura fell out of her futon. What the heck is that noise? Getting up she followed the sound into the kitchen. Sakura's eyes widened. It looked like a tornado had gone through it. The walls were covered in flour and egg yolk, the floor was flooded around the sink, and the stove looked like it was boiling over. The countertop did not look much better either. Looking past all that, she found the source of the commotion. Temari was banging pots and pans together trying to find the one that she wanted. She looked up. "Oh, good morning Sakura, do you happen to have a pan larger than this? I'm trying to fix some breakfast." Sakura cocked an eyebrow. What would she need with a pan that is larger than my biggest one, is she trying to cook an elephant? "Temari." She looked at Sakura. "Yes?" "You don't know how to cook do you?"
Temari glared. "At least try it first!" She thrust the egg pan under her nose. Sakura went cross eyed. Sighing she picked up an egg and gingerly placed it in her mouth, and chewed. She tried to cover her grimace when she swallowed it. It tasted like rubber. Rubbing the back of her head she said. "I'm sorry Temari, but cooking is not your strong point. At least you know how to defend yourself in a fight." Temari's head drooped. "You don't like them? Gaara and Kankuro don't either. They actually throw up." Looking back up at Sakura she smiled. "Oh well, at least I tried. I'll clean this kitchen up and then we'll go meet the others." Sakura nodded. "From now on, I'll make breakfast." They went to work. Temari started cleaning while Sakura did the cooking. Her pancakes tasted pretty good. After the kitchen was clean and they ate, they went out to see the girls.
A few minutes later Temari and Sakura were both lying under a pile of excited girls. "When did you get here Temari?!" Screamed Ino. "Yeah, we weren't expecting you until later!" Tenten exclaimed. Sakura huffed. "You can ask questions as soon as you get off of me!" They did not listen. They were to busy fussing over Temari. Sakura just plopped down resigned to her fate. Speaking of fate, the one who talks about it the most grabbed her hand and pulled her out. Huffing, she looked at the person who rescued her. It was Neji. Shikamaru was there with him. "Thank you Neji, I was thinking I was going to be squished like a bug." Neji cocked an eyebrow. "You're welcome…what is going on here by the way?" Sakura looked over at the still squabbling girls. "They are excited because their long lost friend, Temari, came for her training." Shikamaru sighed. "What a drag."
The stampede finally broke up. About time, Sakura thought. I never knew they could get so excited about Temari showing up. Walking over to them, with the two guys in tow she asked. "Are you just about finished?" Hinata nodded sheepishly. "H...hai, and he...hello N...Neji, Sh...Shikamaru." They nodded to her. "Shika! What are you doing here?" Ino shouted when she saw him. Shikamaru winced. "I came to see what all the commotion was about, and don't call me Shika you troublesome woman!" Ino turned red. "What did you call me?!" Tenten and Temari went between them. "All right, break it up you guys; we don't need a fight right now." Tenten told them. "Yeah, I just got here." Temari said. They huffed and looked away. Sakura stood against a wall with her arms crossed. "Can we start now?" "Shikamaru, Neji, you need to leave."
Three weeks later the girls were showing progress. Sakura taught them all that she knew, and they even said she was the best sensei they ever had. Sakura blushed at this. She continued teaching Ino her medic nin classes along with controlling her chakra element during those three weeks. Temari didn't have very much more to learn about her air element, and Tenten was already making the earth move. What made Sakura mad though, was that Ino purposely used her lightning element to set her hair on fire. Hinata then had to put it out with a water jutsu, resulting in Sakura being soaking wet. All in all she was proud of her "students". They were coming along well, and she even told them that they would make a killer team. They were sad when Sakura told them that she had nothing more to teach them. They would continue learning more themselves since they knew the basics.
It was two weeks after she finished training them that she heard a knock on her door. She wasn't expecting anybody so she wondered who it could be. When she opened the door she got a pleasant surprise. Her new teammate, Sai, was standing there with an actual real smile on his face. "Hello hag, how are you." "Sai! I'm so glad to see you. I'm doing great, why don't you come on in." Sai went in and Sakura shut the door behind him. She followed him to the living room and sat down across from him on the couch. "This is a surprise, what brings you here?" Sakura asked. "Well, I'm not here to see you if that's what your thinking, hag." Sakura glared. "Get on with it, and don't call me hag! How many times have I told you that?" She reached over and bonked his head. Sai winced and rubbed his head. "You have told me way too many times to count."
Sighing he lowered his hand. "Actually, I was sent here to get you by Tsunade. She wants us both in her office pronto." Sakura's brow furrowed. "What could she want us for?" Sai shrugged. "She probably wants us for a mission." Sakura became even more confused. "But, if it was a mission why just us...what about Naruto, Kakashi, and Yamato?" Sai shook his head. "Don't ask me; ask her, she's the one who called us there." Sakura looked down, thinking. I don't mind going on a mission, if that's what it is. It's been so long since I've been out of the village and I have nothing else to do. Why would she want just me and Sai though? Oh well, guess I have to find out from her. Speaking of Tsunade, she will be mad if she has to wait too long. Looking back up at Sai, who was watching her, she told him, "Alright, I'll go with you, I have nothing better to do anyway." Sai nodded and they hopped off to Tsunade's.
When they got there, Sakura knocked on the door. "Enter" came Tsunade's voice. They went in and stood in front of her desk. "I suppose you're wondering why I sent you two here without the other three." Sakura cocked an eyebrow. Can she read minds? "I am sending you two on a mission, but it's not really a mission. You will understand when I explain. The two looked at Tsunade expectantly. She smiled. "As a reward for Sakura training the girls so well, I decided to let her have a five week break from everything." Sakura's eyes widened. "Five weeks?!" "Hai, and I want Sai to go along with you so you don't decide to stay there longer, or get hurt. He was the best choice because he won't question you like the other three. I know you miss your family, so I decided to let you go to the Elemental Village."
Sakura stood there, shell-shocked. Go visit my family? Go back to the Elemental village where I was born? I wonder how much the others have changed. It's only been two and a half years since I last saw them, but things can change. Me, go back to see my parents, my sisters and my brothers? This is the best thing that Tsunade could have given me...even if it is just for five weeks. When she finally looked back up at Tsunade, she had tears in her eyes. "Sniff, thank you so much Tsunade, you don't know how much this means to me." She smiled at her warmly. She had nothing else to say. Sakura turned to Sai. "Now I know why she didn't sent Naruto or the others. You are the best person to come with me." Sai almost blushed. She smiled. "Well Sai, it looks like were going on a trip tomorrow." "I can't wait Ugly." Sakura was too happy to even hit him.