"Congratulations, the worst is almost over."

Sakura tiredly opened her eyes and directed her attention to whoever was talking to her. She'd been in utter hell for days. How long had she even been here; four, five days? However long it was…it was too long. She couldn't eat or drink anything without it coming up in a matter of minutes. She soaked her sheets every night with sweat and had horrible hallucinations that confused her to the point where she didn't know if she was awake or dreaming. If this was what 'getting clean' was all about, she'd gladly pick to stay filthy.

If it weren't for Ino…

Sakura tried to speak to whoever it was but the words wouldn't come. They seemed to be stuck in her throat, like the pain one gets when they hold in a cry. She was so out of energy.

The dark haired woman smiled at the poor girl in front of her, only a few years younger than herself. "Let's get you something to eat." she whispered to herself, as she closed the door behind her in an attempt to feed the girl.

The young nurse began power-walking towards the cafeteria to retrieve some breakfast. She'd been there when she was first brought in. Sakura was respectful enough, but could tell she was into some heavy substances. The first few days were rough for her, but she had hope that Sakura could pull it through.

The nurse frowned to herself a bit, and unconsciously slowed down; Tsunade did say she had too much blind faith in people. She remembered when she first began to work here and saw the same man keep coming back for detox.

"Dr. Tsunade, I don't understand." The young woman said, staring in the direction of the intoxicated man down the hallway.

"What is it that you don't understand, Shizune?"

The woman gasped, surprised that Tsunade…her superior, even bothered to know her name. There were countless other new nurses working under her, it amazed her that she took the time to learn a little about them.

"Well, it's just…that patient, he…he's been here over half a dozen times. He always promises he'll never touch another drink again, but in a matter of weeks he winds up being sent back here. He seems like such an honest man bu-"

Tsunade cut her off with a low chuckle that caught the attention of Shizune. She could see Tsunade slowly shaking her head like she were about to scold a disobedient child.

"Too much blind faith, Shizune. Too much trust. I won't go as far as to say that these people are evil or twisted…but their credibility isn't very high."

"B-But Dr. Tsunade…" Shizune began, shocked a doctor could think poorly of her patients.

"Every patient here no matter how meek or kind would slit your throat in an instant to get a small dose of their addiction, Shizune. Remember that. It doesn't make them bad people but the addiction is still in their minds and they can't help but to succumb to it sometimes, as you can see." She droned disappointedly as she cocked her head to the same hallway.

Shizune dropped her head, ashamed to think she had so much 'blind faith'.

"Though…" the blonde doctor began, striking a small smirk, "There are some goods apples in the bunch." Shizune gave a small smile as she nodded in agreement.

She didn't know it then, but Tsunade had always envied her blind faith. That's why she now worked directly under Tsunade as her prime nurse…she was almost a mother to Shizune.

Shizune passed through the double doors which connected the male and female wings of the large building. She passed by her fellow nurses and patients, all but tripping over a sleeping man in the middle of the corridor.

"Shikamaru!" she scolded the man, as she hopped on one foot while massaging her twisted ankle.

"Eh?" the man grunted, opening one eye at the familiar voice. "Oh Shizune, it's you." He yawned. The man stretched for a second then stood up, evening out the creases in his white uniform.

"What have I told you about sleeping on your shift, Nara?" the woman lectured, as she began her walk to the cafeteria with Shikamaru in tow.

"Something about how I should do it on my own time, I believe." he answered lazily, trying to keep up with Shizune with his hands in his pockets. She always seemed to be in such an unnecessary rush. The patients weren't going anywhere, and unless someone was dying why tire yourself out?

The woman rolled her eyes as she reached the cafeteria. "No matter how many times you repeat it, it never seems to stick does it?" she teased. "Want a bagel or something?"

"No thanks, I already ate. I should go check up on everyone." And with that he dismissed himself; off to the male side of the facility.

Shizune sighed as she grabbed a tray of pancakes and orange juice. Shikamaru: the laziest genius she'd ever met.

Sakura managed enough energy to sit on the edge of her bed. That alone took a few minutes to accomplish. She could've sworn she had died somewhere between the vomiting and the visions.

No one told me it would feel like this…

There was a small knock on the door and a small creaking sound was heard. Sakura turned her head towards whoever it was entering. She prayed it wasn't someone she'd have to fight off; she just didn't have the energy to deal with predators.

"Hello. I'm Shizune." A dark haired woman kindly said as she placed a tray of what looked like, pancakes, on a nearby table. The mere smell of the food made Sakura nauseas, but she figured she should eat something before she died of starvation. "How are you feeling?"

Sakura stared at the woman with fatigue written on her face. She felt dead that's how she felt. If she could wrap up this feeling and put it into a word, it'd be 'shit'. That's it…she felt 'shitty'. She was going through high levels of 'shittiness'.

"Fine." She managed to croak out, surprised by her own raspy voice. She rubbed her neck in an attempt to soothe it, as Shizune walked closer with the tray.

"You may feel sick, but it's crucial you try and eat something. I can give you some medicine to help with the nausea." Sakura nodded, mind elsewhere. She was thinking of Ino, of her apartment, of how disappointed she must be in her. Of how-

"All done." Shizune chimed, disposing of the used syringe in a small plastic bag in her pocket. Sakura looked at her arm, stunned that she hadn't noticed the medicine being put in.

I suppose I'm so used to needles by now…

She stared down at her arms, embarrassed. She hated showing her scarred hideous arms. They were so ugly and mutilated. She used her white sheets to cover up her arms, trying desperately to make it too obvious.

Shizune noticed.

"Well, go ahead and eat, I'll be sitting right here." She said, still smiling as she took a seat on the chair next to Sakura, comforting her.

Sakura gave a small smile, too. "Shizune, right?" she asked, quietly, yet her voice echoed off of the room walls.

Shizune nodded, staring dead at the girl in a friendly manner. She wanted so much for her to get better. She always willed all of the patients to get well.

"I'm Sakura Haruno."

"That was delicious." Sakura gasped, tears almost forming in her eyes. She hadn't tasted pancakes that good in what seemed like years. She wasn't exactly eating well living on her own and this was the best breakfast she'd eaten in a while, ironically.

Shizune giggled and rubbed Sakura's back, "I'm so proud you ate it all, Sakura. You start group therapy today."

Sakura did a doubletake at Shizune, not quite catching what she said; or not wanting to. "W-What?" she asked, hoping she had misheard something.

"Group therapy…you start group therapy with Dr. Kakashi today." Shizune smiled, shyly, knowing full well she was dumping all of this on the girl too fast.

"But I-…I just…" she trailed off, clutching the covers.

Group therapy…so everyone else can see what a wreck I am.

Shizune noticed the depression that seemed to cast over Sakura. Her eye's dropped to the floor, she bit her lip, and she held the sheets tighter. She wasn't too keen on therapy that was for sure. Shizune lifted her hands defensively, trying to explain her side of the story. "It's honestly not so bad! There are a lot of interesting people that attend, many of whom I've talked to privately over the years!"

Sakura scoffed at her statement; for years? She supposed she wasn't much of a therapist then…but Shizune seemed nice enough so there was no reason to be so rude with her.

"What time?" Sakura asked, all joy leaving her voice. Shizune frowned; she supposed there was nothing she could say to lighten the load. "Uum…in half an hour?" she grinned shyly, noticing the anger suddenly pop into Sakura's eyes.

"Half an hour?!"

Kakashi walked into the large white room and sat down in his usual chair. As always, he was late, and the others never ceased to glare at him as he took his seat.

"It's Mr. Punctual." someone scoffed as Kakashi adjusted his jacket and cleared his throat. "Alright…morning everyone." Kakashi said happily as he crossed his legs and laced his fingers. The few people who were sitting in the room returned his 'good morning' with a nonverbal 'fuck you' as they gave him looks that could surely kill.

"Well, aren't we all a bright and shiny bunch today? Well, it's role-call, time." He said spontaneously serious as he dropped the cheery disposition. He picked up his brown clipboard and blinked for a few seconds before reading the names.

"Neji Hyuuga."

"Present." A boy wearing a white collared shirt said pretentiously. He stared in the opposite way, avoiding everyone else in the room.

"Of course you are Neji. Choji Akamichi?"

"Yo!" the tubby guy to the far left of Kakashi waved, much to the disgust of the others. Some grunts were heard around the circle from Choji's happy attitude, which Choji ignored.

"Alrighty…Gaara Sabaku?"

There was no answer as Kakashi peered up from his clipboard to check. "Gaara Sabaku? Gaa-Oh, there ya are." he sighed, noticing Gaara was sitting right next to him, glaring at him the entire time. He wore a black hoody that seemed to envelope his entire frame.

"Nice to see your sunshiny face again, Red." Kakashi teased, smiling under his surgical mask.

"Bite me Snowflake." was Gaara's quick return as he turned to stare out of the window, angrily.

"I'll be sure to get on that…Now, Sasuke Uchiha?"

"Here." came the smooth voice of the raven haired man, sitting away from everyone in the circle.

"Enjoyin' yourself over there?" Kakashi probed, only to get silence in return.

"Okydokey, then…Naruto…Uzumaki?" Kakashi stalled, never hearing that name before. "Aaah, you're new right?" he asked, excitement actually penetrating through his bored tone.

"Uuh, yea." Naruto replied, surprised that he felt shy in this group.

"I see we have another new one on the list, too. Sakura Haruno?"

Hearing a female name sent almost everyone around the room turning their heads to find her.

"Sakura Haru-"

"She's here!" Shizune screamed as she pushed Sakura through the double doors, causing everyone's head to turn towards the noise. "Sorry she's late! It's my fault, really!"

"Whoa…" Naruto quietly sighed as he noticed the girl. She was wearing a black 'Manic Panic' t-shirt that showed a bit of her small stomach. She had on a black and white striped jacket and was wearing light-blue jeans and flip-flops.

"Not bad, eh?" Choji joked, elbowing Naruto.

"Heh, yea…" he said, still mesmerized by her looks.

I wonder what her personality is like…

"First timers get a free-pass so it's all good. Nice to meet you Ms. Haruno." Kakashi smiled under his mask.

Why the hell is he wearing a mask?

Oh, um, you, too." Sakura blushed, noticing she'd been too focused on the mask and had a delayed reaction to his question.

"Well, I'll leave you guys to it then. Good luck, Sakura." Shizune smiled as she gave Sakura one last rub on her back and left.

Sakura turned to Shizune and smiled, only for her smile to fade once reality hit her.

I'm in a room…full of guys?

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