A/N: Date stamps are critical to this story; they will help with following along since there will be time jumps.
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September 4, 2015 6:30 AM
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Sakura loved the morning. There was something so refreshing about seeing the Sun another day, breaking through the darkened night sky. It was a welcoming sight that comforted Sakura to no ends. In a way, it was understandable. The morning sky was what kept Sakura going throughout her difficult days working long, exhausting shifts in the Konoha University Medical Center Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics department; she was practically surrounded by a rather gloom atmosphere on the daily, so seeing the sunrise was therapeutic.
Unfortunately, today Sakura woke up only to hear the clinks of raindrops tapping on her window sills and the vehicles that sat lonely just outside of her apartment complex. Normally, this wasn't something to ruin her love for the morning, but after the bizarre shift she had taken on just yesterday, she really wished she could've woken up to something more pleasant.
Dragging her feet towards her bedroom door, she flicked a switch that controlled the blinds in her room, revealing enough of the window to allow her room decent lighting. The pink haired beauty squinted as the minimal yet blinding light still managed to hurt her eyes, and held her arm up to shield them. With a few seconds to adjust to the lighting, she finally made her way to the bathroom to tidy up.
In fifteen minutes, Sakura took a shower, her hair smelling of mint from her shampoo. Her skin no had regained a lively color to it with the heat of the water that left her face lightly flushed, now that she was wide awake with blood flowing freely. Looking into the mirror, she contemplated how to style her hair before deciding on a towel dry and combing it with her fingers just to tame her mane a bit, knowing full well that it would dry well early on in her shift today. She slipped into her medical scrubs before taking one last look into the mirror, giving herself a nod of approval.
Prepared at last, Sakura headed out the door and strolled down the streets to a nearby café. There she met with her long-time best friend and formal 'rival in love' for Uchiha Sasuke, one of the many Uchiha 'gods' who worked at Konoha Metropolitan Police Department. The blonde, Ino, also worked with the police department in their Interrogations unit.
They stayed at the café sipping on their respective drinks and eating their pastries as they caught up over the week's events. Some thirty minutes later, they parted ways as they both headed to work, but not before promising to meet up again tomorrow, Saturday, for some girl time.
"Morning, Doctor," Sakura greeted Shizune, one of the attendings.
Shizune, gave a warm smile, tucking back some of her jet-black hair that had fallen over her right eye.
"Good morning," she greeted back as the girl slowly strode off into the hallway that led her back to the employee locker room. "Sakura! I received word from the Director. She wants to have a word with you. Please see her as soon as you get settled in."
Sakura jolted her head to face the older brunette, giving her a nod in confirmation. "Will do! Thank you," she responded with a wave.
Sakura placed her bag into one of the lockers along with her windbreaker. It was getting windier outside as the Autumn season approached. She gave herself a final glance in the locker room mirror, straightening out her scrubs where it bunched up around her underarms and chest. Satisfied with her look, she stepped out of the room, ready to start her day.
Sakura made a few turns down the halls and up the elevator, navigating her way towards Tsunade, the hospital Director's office. She gave two knocks before she heard the confident voice of her top boss and second mother figure gave permission to head in.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Sakura! I see Shizune got the message to you quickly today."
"She did! What's up?"
Without further words, Tsunade pulled open one of her desk drawers and fished out a manila folder resting on top. She peeked in it, fanning through the papers inside before closing the file back up and sliding it towards Sakura.
Minor confusion struck Sakura. "What's this?"
Tsunade released a brief, devious chuckle. "Take a look for yourself." She smirked.
As instructed, Sakura took the file in her hand and flipped through the pages, scanning the words quickly. Upon reaching the end, her breath hitched.
Tsunade watched as Sakura's eyes shifted up a few lines as she reread the part that caught her off guard.
When she finished, her mouth was agape. "I… I can't believe this. When did you…?"
"I thought about it for a while before accepting the proposition. Eventually, I agreed that it could be beneficial for them," Tsunade answered.
"Wait, does this mean-?!"
"The Konoha Police Department, under the Criminal Investigations Bureau," Tsunade's voice grew grand as she continued, "through partnership with Konoha Medical Center, will now host their own internal medical examiner; they're looking to us for staffing."
Sakura's lips parted dramatically slow as her eyes widened.
"Haruno Sakura, you were my primary choice for this."
"You can't be serious?!"
"Oh, I'm dead serious and you know that as well. Sakura, you're twnety-nine, a young and brilliant doctor on your last day of your pathology residency. You were meant for this. I went ahead and recommended you."
"Director, I don't mean to question your choice as I'm very flattered you want me to be a part of this, but aren't there others more qualified for this than myself? What about the medical examiner they were already working with externally?"
"Are you joking? You're practically a prodigy in pathology. There is no one better suited than you for this," she said proudly. "As for their current external medical examiner, for now, he is willing to continue his work for them. However, he has expressed interest in resigning sooner rather than later." Only half listening, Tsunade shuffled in her seat and rummaged through the same filing cabinet in her desk from where the first manila folder was pulled from. She smirked victoriously as she seemed to spot another much needed folder and threw it open towards Sakura. "Well? Do you accept?"
The younger doctor's eyes widened even more as her eyes skimmed the new page. A wide grin spread across her face. "How could I not?"
Her mouth hung open at the papers as Tsunade spoke.
"You have a year to complete your fellowship. Your last day in this wing begins now."
