Hello everyone. I'm back with another chapter. I can't guarantee I'll be able to post it next week since I'm going on excursion with my school and we will do a lot of sightseeing. We're visiting Prague and Dresden so does anyone have any recommendation what I should visit or somewhere to go shopping or maybe eat. We'll stay there for 5 days plus 2 traveling days. I'll try to write a chapter in advance but I can't give my word I'll be able to do that. If I don't succeed I'll upload a bigger chapter next time. That should be all. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

P.S. Naruto unfortunately does not belong to me...

~x~

She had an hour before he should arrive. She started doing taijutsu. Even tho she did practice while she was working in the hospital, it wasn't as efficient. She was working on her speed and punches with no infused chakra. Half an hour later she could feel sweat starting to form on her forehead. She decided to rest a bit since she will need a lot of energy when Neji arrives. She didn't have long since he showed up 4 minutes after.

"You are early" Sakura noticed when he stepped into the training ground.

"I can say the same. How long have you been here?"

"Not for long. Half an hour maybe. I visited academy with Shikamaru. You have quite a few admirers there. Ten Ten better watch out." Sakura snickered.

Neji smirked: "So that's why Shikamaru was late."

Sakura looked at Neji questionably: "Late?"

"Aa, we had some business regarding our last mission. We may have a mole. Somehow enemy groups knew when we would be close to Konoha gates. It's classified but you would have eventually find out since you usually do Tsunade-sama paperwork."

It was true. When there was not much to do in the hospital, Sakura would go and help her shishou with paperwork. She knew almost everything that is happening in the village. Tsunade has outmost trust in Sakura, that's why she is allowed to know along with Shizune.

"A mole? But who?" Sakura was shocked to say the least. Anbu operatives are the most loyal shinobi. Itachi Uchiha is example of that.

"We don't know. We suspect it was someone from the root. When Itachi killed Danzou some of Root operatives started working with us. Every single one of them did prove his loyalty to the Hokage. Those who didn't left the village and are now marked as rouge ninja. But they are the only ones who would be able to do something like that." Neji had angry expression on his face.

There was silence. Sakura didn't know what to think. She had an idea regarding Anbu and she wasn't sure if it would help or be in the way now.

"What's on your mind?" Neji asked looking down to Sakura who was sitting against the tree.

Sakura didn't speak. She didn't know if she should tell him. She wasn't sure if Tsunade will approve in the first place.

"I thought about joining the Anbu." She looked at Neji who had shock on his face which soon turned into anger.

Before he could say anything she continued: "I work at the hospital. I help people. But inside Konoha gates we have 2 of the best medical ninjas. Out there none. Medic's are not allowed to join Anbu. If that attack on you happened a little further from the gates you would have not made it. Sai and Shikamaru would have probably died as well. And if you have a mole, he will be bound to make a mistake when Hokage's student joins the Anbu. It will be big news. You could track everyone much easily since attention will most likely be on me. I can also aid those who get hurt on a missions as well as fight with them. It's a win-win situation." She wasn't looking at Neji, but she could feel his eyes burning holes in her head.

"If I didn't know how smart you are, I would have activated my Byakugan to see if you have brain inside that head of yours. That is completely unacceptable. It would be too dangerous for you to risk your life like that. No one will approve. You are too important to everyone, not only because of your medical skills. You went out for a day when you healed me. If something like that happened on a mission it would be disaster."

Sakura snapped her head towards him. Now she was pissed. "You don't think you are important or Sai or Shikamaru. You think it's okay for you to risk your life like that. It's definitely not. But it's what ninjas do. And I'm ninja, medical or not. As for the seal I think I have found a way. I'll need to discuss it with Tsunade-sama, but if it's possible I will be able to heal fatal wound's and still fight without passing out. And you know that I'm much harder to kill than I look. For fuck sake Neji, I killed Sasori even tho I still didn't have my seal activated. I think I can take care of myself, thank you very much. Even If I get stabbed in the heart, I would survive. Can't say that for many who are in the Anbu and yet they still risk it. You know better than anyone I shouldn't be taken lightly. And if someone has balls to try and hurt the people I care about by leaking the information, I will snap his spine in two myself." She was ragging. Did he really say that she would be burden. Him of all people.

Now was his turn to be silent. She did have a point. She had bigger chance of surviving than any of them. He sat next to her and sighed.

"I can't say you are wrong. I didn't mean to offend you. It's just everyone in the village knows you. Every ninja in the village would help you without second thought. I for one own you everything. Many young girls look up to you. If anything happened to you no one would be able to live with that. Especially not those who were on a team with you. And Tsunade-sama will probably rip their heads off. Everyone knows she thinks of you as her daughter. Everyone know you are more than capable Sakura, but you are always ready to sacrifice everything for others. Many would not be able to sleep knowing you might do just that when you are on a mission." He looked at her with soft look. He was afraid for her. She was literally part of his family. He would be the first one to blame himself if anything happened for her.

"Neji, I know you are afraid. But how do you think I felt when they brought you in. I wasn't sure if my heart has stopped beating or was beating too fast for me to register. I sit in a hospital everyday knowing one of my next patients can be someone from Konoha 12 or some of my former sensei's or someone else I really care about and I might not be capable of saving them because it's too late or something like that. I could never live with myself if that happened. If I knew I could have been there with them to aid them immediately and save their life."

It was true. That event reminded her that by being in the hospital, she can only save them if they live long enough to make it to the hospital. And almost all of her friends who go on a missions are in Anbu. Ino works with her father in Intelligence Division. Hinata has her own genin team, she gave her sister right to become the future head of the clan since that is not what she wanted. Lee is still going on a missions even if he is not in the Anbu, alongside Choji. Ino-Shika-Cho is still assembled for missions sometimes. Kiba, Ten Ten, Shino and obviously Neji, Shikamaru and Sai are in Anbu. If she joins, she can help them during missions. If someone ends up in hospital and it's serious, Tsunade-sama will be there to heal them.

"I know you well enough to know that there is no way I can talk you out of this. My only hope is that Tsunade-sama will. And I'm not the one who is going to tell Shikamaru about that idea. There is no way I'm dealing with that." Neji chuckled. Shikamaru is not going to be happy.

Sakura sent him a big grin "Don't worry, I will talk to shishou about it first. But why is Shikamaru a problem?"

"I'll make a guess and say he will not go along with the idea. Call it a gut feeling" Neji sent Sakura knowing look. She didn't understand what he meant. Sure he won't agree at first, like Neji but she doesn't think there will be any bigger problems.

"Shall we train? I want to see if you are cut for Anbu." Neji teased her.

Sakura looked at him, evil look on her face. "Aa, I'll go easy on you." And with that they started sparing.

3 hours later they were both painting heavily. Neji managed to stop her chakra flow few times but she quickly recovered, as for him she hit him a few times but she didn't break anything. They weren't going to kill each other.

"I must admit, you are better than I thought you'd be considering that you don't leave hospital" Neji said trying to catch his breath.

"I might be spending a lot of time there, but that doesn't mean I don't train. I do it at least 4 times a week." Sakura felt her lungs burning.

" At least 4 times? But I know for a fact that you sometimes don't leave hospital for a few days, until Tsunade-sama makes you go home." Neji was standing straight now, serious expression on his face.

"I go for training when I have breaks or when I'm on my way home when Shikamaru doesn't walk with me" Sakura chuckled" I think that's the reason he does it. It's the only way he can make sure I actually go home and not to the training grounds."

"Sakura, you are seriously overworking yourself. I'm surprised you didn't faint earlier." Neji was still serious. She could see a hint of anger in his eyes. She just waved it off.

"If I'm in the hospital I'll do as much work as I can. But I don't want to slack off with practicing. As I said, I'm medical ninja. I never know when I'll have a mission." She said as she jumped on a branch.

Neji just sighed. She was crazy when it came to overworking herself. At least Shikamaru tried to make her rest.

"Ten Ten and I are going for a ramen. Want to join us?" Neji asked looking up to Sakura. It was already night time and he was sure she was hungry.

"No, it's fine. You two are busy and you don't get much time to spent together. The last thing you need is someone interrupting your lovely-dovley time."

"First of all Sakura, we work and live together. We see each other a lot. Second of all, Ten Ten has been trying to locate you since you left hospital. She was screaming all day how it's harder to find you when you are resting than when you are working. She wants to talk to you and if she wasn't held up in the HD she would have come with me here"

She sighed. She knew he wasn't taking no for an answer. "Fine." she jumped off the branch and with Neji next to her she started walking in direction of Ichiraku's.

When Ichiraku was in the eye sight, giggles could be heard from it. She recognized Ten Ten and Ino and she knew that Sai was with them as well. It was evident that Naruto also joined them when they heard him yelling something they couldn't make out, but they were sure it was aimed towards Sai. He still enjoyed making fun of Naruto. When they entered everyone turned their heads towards them.

"Sakura-chan" Naruto yelled with wide grin on his face.

"Ah, ugly is joining us as well." Sai said with a small smile,but everyone knew it wasn't fake.

"Good to see you too, Sai" she took a seat next to Ino while Neji sat next to Ten Ten, giving her little kiss on the lips. They were so adorable.

"Where have you been Sakura? I searched the whole village and no one knew where you were. Aren't you supposed to be resting?" Ten Ten asked frustrated. Ino shot her head towards Sakura and sent her a glare. She then turned her head to Ten Ten: "Do you still have those chakra chains we talked about?"

"I am resting. You can't expect from me to stay in the house the whole day. I was in the library in the morning than went to academy to visit Iruka-sensei and after I trained with Neji."

"Oh my God, Forehead. Rest means sleep and read books. Not having tour around the village and then training your ass off." Ino shook her head.

"Well compared to what her day looks usually, she is on vacation. If Shikamaru didn't walk her home she probably wouldn't even be there. From what I understood she would go from hospital straight to the training grounds and then back to hospital" Neji said with even voice while looking at her.

"Ugly, you should really rest sometimes. You are going to become even more ugly if you don't" Sai sent her small smile again which she returned with glare.

"Sai's right. If you continue like this you are going to look like hag by the age of 30" Ino stated

"INO!" Sakura looked at her with widened eyes. So much for having her back.

"I agree with them Sakura-chan. Not that you will look ugly but you really need to rest." Naruto butt in. Sakura hit him on the back of his head. She was losing her patience. "Ouch, that hurt Sakura-chaan." Naruto cried out.

"Okay, okay you guys. She will rest how much she needs. If she faints Tsunade-sama will make her go home." Ten Ten sent Sakura apologetic smile which Sakura answered with thankful one.

"Anyway, the reason why I was looking for you was to thank you. If it weren't for you," Ten Ten paused for a few seconds but before she could continue Sakura interjected: "Ten Ten, you don't need to thank me. You never will, none of you. Healing people is what I do. I was lucky that my technique worked, that is all. I will always do everything I can to help." Sakura wasn't smiling. She was dead serious. People need to understand that.

"Sakura, you weren't lucky. You might not want to admit it but you are the best medic out there. I can vouch for that." Ino was looking Sakura straight in the eyes.

"I still need to work on it." Sakura waved her hand in front of her face, almost like dismissing the thought.

"You told me you already have something in mind." When Neji said that all eyes snapped to her.

"Well, maybe. I'm not sure it will work."

"You didn't tell me anything again Forehead" Ino said angrily.

"I thought about it yesterday when I got home. I want to store chakra solely for cases like Neji's. But I already have Yin seal, so I can't make another one. Maybe if I can store chakra in Yang seal, I would have enough chakra to heal someone and still heal myself. I would be able to summon Katsuyu as well."

"But how would that work?" Ten Ten asked, curious look on her face.

"I have Yin and Yang release. Healing requires both. Yin uses spiritual energy and Yang brings life to it. So when I heal I repair dead cells in the body. If I can use chakra from Yang seal, in theory I can bring life to dead cells in someone else's body when I manipulate that chakra in them. I did it to Neji with chakra from my Yin seal and it worked, but it may be more efficient if the chakra comes directly from Yang seal. Yin works with me because it directly heals me. It's a lot harder when it's supposed to do the same for someone whose chakra isn't used for it." Naruto, Ino and Ten Ten looked at Sakura dumbfounded. Neji had a straight face but his eyebrow was raised. Sai just stared at her.

"You might be ugly, but you are extremely smart." Sai said with his face still straight.

"Thank you, I think. But as I said, it's only in theory."

"And how long did you need to come up with this?" it was Neji this time.

"Well I started thinking about it while I was still in the hospital. When I came home I went to library and got few books and scrolls about seals and chakra storing. Even tho I read most of them I want to go over them once more to see if I missed something. And as I said, it came to me yesterday."

"You want to say you needed 3 days to figure all this out?" Ten Ten asked with disbelief in her voice.

"Yes, but it wasn't unfamiliar to me. I have experience with storing chakra so I just had to look it up a little bit more."

Naruto and Ino were silent. They just moved their heads from one person to another as the conversation progressed.

"Now I understand why Shikamaru spends so much time with you. I'm guessing you discuss some tactics together, don't you?" Neji shook his head with his eyes closed and smirk on his face.

"Well, sometimes. Usually when we play shogi." Sakura answered more silently.

"You play shogi together?" Ino shouted.

"Yes?" Sakura raised an eyebrow at her.

"Did you ever beat him?" Ino continued.

"No. He fell in some of my traps but I'm still waiting for my victory." Sakura giggled as she remembered his shocked face when he realised that he fell in her trap.

Sai and Ino exchanged looks with Neji and Ten Ten.

"What?" Sakura asked confused.

"Nothing Forehead, absolutely nothing" Ino answered with smirk on her face. Sakura narrowed her eyebrows. She didn't like it when Ino didn't say what was on her mind, it was never a good sign.

"Naruto, you are strangely quiet, is everything okay?" Sakura just wanted to move on from her and Shikamaru.

"Hai, I'm just trying to figure out all that seal and chakra storing thing. I didn't quite get it when you explained." He scratched back of his neck uncomfortably. Sakura started laughing. That was so like him.

"Naruto you are not only dickless, you are brainless as well" Sai concluded with significant smile on his face. Naruto turned red. Before Naruto could answer Sakura cut in, she didn't need a fight right now.

"Food is going to get cold." She picked up her chopsticks "Itadakimasu".

Everyone did the same thing and they spent the night in a light chatter.

~o~

To say Sakura was nervous was an understatement. Last time she was this nervous was during the chuning exams. She is currently making her way to the Hokage tower. Her intention is to ask Tsunade-sama about the Ying seal and the Anbu. She was mentally preparing herself the whole day. Tsunade-sama might object with the her joining Anbu but it was right thing to do and Sakura knew it.

Once she was standing in front of the Hokage office she took few deep breaths before she knocked. She heard faint 'come in' and she entered. When she walked in she saw Kakashi standing in front of the Hokages table.

"Kakashi-sensei, what are you doing here?"

"Hello Sakura, I just came back from the mission and I was giving my report to Tsunade-sama" he smiled so his eye wasn't visible. Sakura just nodded.

"If this is about going back to the hospital earlier Sakura, it's not going to happen" Tsunade informed her with her fingers interlocked in front of her face.

"No, that's not what I'm here for shishou."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow but nodded, telling Sakura to continue.

"As you know my new technique requires a lot of chakra and I won't be able to perform it on the battlefield. So I have come up with the solution, but I'm not sure it will work"

This caught attention both from Tsunade and Kakashi.

"Continue" Tsunade laid back into the chair, her eyes locked with Sakura's. And so Sakura continued to explain about the Ying seal that she had in mind. When she finished the room was silent. Sakura almost frowned. She was tired of this reaction. Shizune, who was standing next to Tsunade looked at her : "Is that possible, Tsunade-sama?".

"Have you made space for storing chakra Sakura?" Tsunade asked not averting her gaze.

"Yes, but I wanted to talk to you first in case there is something I have missed."

"As far as I'm concerned, it works the same as Yin seal. I just don't know how much time you'll need for it."

"I will need much less, since I have mastered controlling the flow of chakra into the seal. And since I will need it for healing patients, the storage space is much smaller. I think I will need around 6 moths if I don't overwork myself."

Tsunade nodded: "Well Sakura, I'm surprised. I didn't think you will master this technique this fast and especially not find the solution to the chakra deprivation problem." Smirk made its way to Tsunade's lips "I'm very proud of you."

Sakura felt pride build up in her chest: "Thank you, shishou" she paused for a few moments "there is one more thing" she sucked in a deep breath "I want to become Anbu medic"

To this Kakashi's eye widened. Shizune chocked where as Tsunade narrowed her eyes. Sakura felt as the temperature has dropped 10 degrees.

"You are saying you want to leave hospital and take on missions as an Anbu operative?" Tsunade asked with and even voice. Sakura gulped. She slowly shook her head up and down confirming Tsunades words.

"I can't allow that." Tsunades voice didn't change.

"But Tsunade-sama. Village here has you and ninjas out there have no one. Many die on the spot. I have the seal and I'm protected. I can't aid them on the battlefield if I'm in a hospital. Even if I save only one life, it's better than none."

Tsunade abruptly stood up from her chair, making Sakura jump a little.

"Sakura! Word will spread and you will be targeted. You are already in bingo book because you killed Sasori. You might bring more attention to yourself and your squad." Tsunade was shouting now. Sakura just stood there. This was not something where she would back down.

"Shishou, I understand your concerns, but Anbu operatives wear masks. I know about the mole. Me joining Anbu will lure him out. Attention will be on me and you can follow everyone more easily. Plus you will have another set of eyes you can trust in there. I can protect myself Tsunade-sama."

At the mention of the mole, everyone in the room stiffened. Tsunade-sama dropped onto her chair and sighed.

"I can't make any arguments. You are an excellent ninja and the best medic around. If you didn't have the seal I would be able to say that you would be on the side lines and it would be too dangerous. In this situation I can't, but there is one thing. Sakura you understand that Anbu operatives are sent on assassination missions. Do you think you'll be able to do that? " Tsunade raised an

eyebrow, seriousness still present in her eyes.

There was a pause. Sakura sure wasn't a person for that stuff but she killed before. She is ninja after all. And she needed to protect her friends.

"Hai."

Tsunade sighed "Than I can't stop you. All I can say is that I would prefer you not joning ANBU."

Kakashi snapped his head in Tsunade's direction.

"Tsunade-sama?" He didn't expect this reaction from her. He didn't want this reaction. His little Sakura can't join Anbu. She is not for that. She is too caring and sweet for that.

Tsunade stayed silent.

" Sakura, if you want to join Anbu you will take the test in 3 months. I, along with someone else, will test your physical endurance but before that you will have to pass writing exam. Your work in hospital will be limited to 6 hours per day. After that you are to go home, meditate and study for the test if you think you knowledge isn't enough. You are allowed to train 4 times a week. Those are the conditions. Do you accept them?"

Sakura didn't have to think for a second. She was allowed more than she was when she first stated collecting chakra for the Yin seal.

"Hai, Tsunade-sama" Sakura said with perfect posture, her eyes locked with chocolate ones.

"Dismissed"

When Sakura left Shizune turned to Tsunade: "Tsunade-sama, is it smart to let her join. Her medical skills are outstanding. As you said, she will be targeted."

"I agree with Shizune. Anbu is not a place for people like Sakura. She is too soft, caring and –" Kakashi stopped talking. Tsunade looked at him under her lashes with and angry eye.

"Fragile?" Tsunade chuckled " Sakura doesn't have to take the exams. She should be accepted in Anbu immediately. She is a special jonin. She's 18 and she has already modified the seal. She is a prodigy. Her reasons for joining Anbu are good. It's true when she says she has better chances of surviving. I postponed it and made her rest. It's all that I will do. And you need to have faith in her. She's my student after all. If she makes it into Anbu, she will have few months of training to be less... destructive and more subtle as well as all other knowledge that is needed for Anbu. We will keep an eye on her and wait for the mole to make a mistake." Tsunade finished with a smirk plastered across her face.

The discussion ended there, but Kakashi felt uneasy. He promised himself that if he couldn't save Rin, he will make sure Sakura is safe. But now, she will be out of his reach. He won't be able to keep an eye on her. And he didn't like it.

Thank you for reading. I'll talk to you as soon as I can. Kisses