Combat Medic

Summary: What can one measly child with a medical background in another life and foreknowledge of plot do when growing up in the third war? A lot less than you think. Cannon is here and Ren is about damn ready to change something, starting with Sakura.

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Ren leaned her head back and sighed. She had survived years of helplessly watching death, her first life ending at war and in her next life growing up in it. She died a soldier and was born a soldier, combat medic from one life to the next. She had foresight that others could only dream of, yet still was unable save her sister's life. Finally, this was her chance at making a difference. She had made the first step; her first move in all twenty-eight years of this life that directly, successfully changed the timeline. Ren's head fell forward in a defeated droop as she listened to her new apprentice, Haruno Sakura, prattle on about her crush- and asked the gods for patience.

A few days earlier~

"An apprenticeship?" Sakura's father asked curiously. "That's quite an honor. What do you think Sakura-chan?"

Said girl fidgeted nervously in her seat, brows furrowed. "I- I-," She blushed and ducked her head. "I'd hoped to get onto Sasuke-kun's team, but-,"

"The chances of that happening are very slim." Ren smoothly lied. "The Uchiha is most likely going to be put on a front-line team and you are hardly compatible with your skill sets."

"O-oh." Sakura looked dejectedly into her lap.

"Your potential as a field medic, however, is unparalleled." Ren nodded in satisfaction when this got the girl's attention. "You have a great mind, are academically inclined, have perfect chakra control and are studious and caring. The amount of lives you could save with the right training is astronomical."

Ren left that meeting with a new apprentice and an uncertain view of the future. Who knew how this would affect the plot? Who would fill Sakura's spot on team 7? How would Naruto and Sasuke's lives differ without her in it? Ren didn't know and she really didn't care. For once in her life she had made things go differently, had grabbed onto a modicum of control. Sakura was hers now and Ren swore she would give the girl everything she deserved.

The day of team assignments came and though Sakura already knew what her situation would be she couldn't help but think wistfully of Sasuke's stoic façade; imagining what it would be like to be on the handsome boy's team. She spotted her rival walking down the hall and scowled, speeding up. As long as Ino wasn't on his team, she would be fine. The two girls locked glares and suddenly the walk to class became an analogy for the race to Sasuke's heart. They both barged in; chaos ensued; Naruto accidently kissed Sasuke and they all somehow settled down when Iruka came in to finally give them their team assignments.

"First off, I'd like us all to congratulate Sakura-chan for achieving highest paper grades in the class and having talent worthy of being scouted for apprenticeship." Iruka proudly announced. Everyone turned to look at her and Sakura blushed at the attention. Seeing Ino's gaping face she sent her a smug grin. Then Sakura noticed a pair of black eyes boring holes into her head and she blushed crimson again. Sasuke-kun is staring at me! Maybe he would finally be impressed and even respect her. And then he would trust and admire her and Sasuke would let her in on his darkness. And then Sakura fantasized how she would heal and soothe him and take away his pain. Sakura loved him and someday she wanted to save him. She may not be as strong or talented as him but she would save him the only way she could. Yes that was her dream: Sakura wanted to be Sasuke's prince.

Iruka continued heedless of Sakura's fantasies. "I'm sure you'll become a fine combat medic under the tutelage of Ren-sensei. Now, continuing on, team one will be…"

The teams were listed out and Sakura was surprised and gladdened to hear that Sasuke would be put on a team with Naruto and some boy named Sai. No other girl would get a chance to get close to him.

When the jonin started coming in to take their students away, Ren was one of the first to claim Sakura. "Come along then." The older kunoichi grunted, hand on her shoulder. "Let's get to my place where we can start going over the schedule and syllabus." Sakura smiled happily as she followed her new sensei along, a skip in her step. She couldn't help but tell her Ren-sensei all about how Sasuke-kun had stared when he heard of Sakura's apprenticeship and she was sure he would love her in no time. Ren-sensei was a good listener, nodding and humming along and in her lovesick trance Sakura barely noticed that the woman briefly sighed up at the sky and hardly actually said anything until they made it to her apartment.

Sakura followed Ren in, removing her shoes and waiting patiently for her sensei to lock the door behind them. With a crack of her neck, Ren turned while allowing her appearance to change. Sakura's eyes widened as she watched black hair and eyes lighten to brown, skin tone warm and clan markings appear on previously unmarred cheeks. "Sensei?" She asked confused.

Ren smiled at her student's surprised expression. "Oh, that. I wear a henge in public."

"Why?" was Sakura's expected incredulous response.

"I'm not a spy if that's what you're thinking." Ren joked as she led her charge to the kitchen and began making tea. "Of course that's exactly what a spy would tell you isn't it?" Sakura furrowed her brow and opened her mouth; no doubt to interject another question but Ren interrupted. "A fellow jonin has a panic attack whenever he sees my face so I keep it on for convenience's sake."

If possible Sakura's eyes widened further. "A fellow jonin? Just from seeing you? What-?"

Ren interrupted again with a loud sigh. "I didn't do anything to him, if that's what you're asking. My twin sister was his teammate and he accidentally killed her. At the time I didn't want to deal with him freaking out whenever he saw me while I myself was grieving. Unfortunately lack of exposure has done nothing to desensitize him and I find myself unwilling to be used to rehabilitate his trauma." Ren grimaced. "I've tried once or twice to get him used to it, showed my face by mistake a few more and each time had to deal with the emotional mess it left afterwards. So it's easier for everyone involved if I wear a disguise."

By the end of her story Sakura's hand covered her gaping mouth. "That's awful!" She exclaimed. "Sensei, I'm so, so sorry, I feel terrible, I-,"

Ren waved her off with another hand. "Don't worry about it. You didn't know. It all happened a long time ago, before you were born." She looked off into the middle distance. "I've forgiven him. All there is now is the inconvenience." She made a face at her student. "He really is a wreck though, can't even hear my name without freezing. It doesn't help that my sister and I had such similar names." She scoffed. "My parents were really into the twin thing."

"What was her name?" Sakura asked softly.

Ren smiled, bitter sweet. "Rin." She said. "Her name was Nohara Rin."

A moment of silence followed her confession until Ren loudly clapped her hands. "Now!" She said, "On to less depressing matters." Sakura shivered at the sinister look she suddenly received. "Welcome to boot camp."