"I'm tired" she announced "what is it Ino-chan?"

The Hokage remained tired. It was as if she was meant to be exhausted on purpose. It was a difficult challenge. How long could the Hokage take it until she blows?

After discovering Naruto's the letter, Sakura had slacked off more than usual. It was all that focused on her mind. Sasuke. Naruto. Sasuke. Naruto.

Come back…

The Hokage also had a very big disadvantage in his or her village. She or he must remain brave for her village. She couldn't cry or show any emotion. She must remained unbiased of such things. She couldn't speak to anyone about her personal affairs. Not even to her best friend.

"The hospital" Ino declared "It needs you"

The hospital forever desired her. She carried the dilemma of countless things.

Why the hell did Naruto want this job again? she wondered

"The shinobi in the hospital are in very critical condition" Ino kept urging Sakura to come. "Please Sakura, I'm asking you this as Hokage."

Ino never really minded Sakura becoming the Hokage. Shikamaru told her that it was bound to be her anyway because she was Tsunade's apprentice. She hated him when he was right.

Sakura never treated her any differently. They occasionally were brought back to the times when they named each other "forehead girl" and "Ino-pig" This moment, Ino was pleading for Sakura's presence at the hospital. She never would have accepted this request from anyone else's on her busy day.

"Okay, Ino" she agreed "I'll be there"

Whoever assumed that the position of Hokage was effortless was a big fool.

"Tell me the current situation" Sakura demanded from one of the nurses. She hurriedly strutted in the halls of the hospital going room by room, healing person by person, and receiving thanks for them. The nurses crowded her by side stating her specific duties at the hospital. The shinobis of Konoha were smart. But it wasn't as if they were faultless on their missions.

"This guy was stuck in two vital parts" the nurse announced "he's currently a chunnin on a B-ranked mission"

Sakura learned not to assign missions so absentmindedly. She felt that this was half her fault so many of the ninjas were injured today. She gave out missions without hesitation.

I'll need to improve myself on that! She tried motivating herself.

She opened the door to an infirmary and went up to one of the shinobis. The chunnin was half-awake. He felt slightly relieved that the Rokudaime was there by his side. And he knew that in no time, his wounds would knit back up. Sakura examined his deadly injuries but showed no worries about them. She only focused on the process, making sure that her patient wouldn't panic.

"Ah" Sakura noticed him right away. "You're injuries are severe. You'll need to mold my charka with some of your charka if you want this operation to move quickly. It's my own personal jutsu. "

The chunnin nodded briefly—he couldn't talk. The Hokage could comfort him with just one single smile. It was one thing that made him believe in her.

"Very well" she assured him. "Focus your charka on your vital areas. Stay calm"

The patient nodded again.

Sakura observed blue charka glowing mostly on his chest and arms. She formed her own charka on the palm of her hands. Focusing on the deepest wound on his chest, she was able to knit it very quickly.

She took a deep breath after the procedure. "There you go" she assured him. She then turned to the nurse. "Apply that medicine on his wounds just incase it reopens"

Reopen. She finds herself revolving around that certein word. If she had let Sasuke stay in Konoha, he would only unlock the same wound, dig deeper into it, and make it worse. She was afraid...of being happy.

"Sakura-sama!" one of the nurses hauled across the hallways. "It's someone!"

"Someone what?" she asked irritated. She had just ended her long shifts at the hospital just as a nurse pulled her aside.

"We're not sure of his name, but he's in crucial condition!" the nurse explained "We found him lying unconscious and splattered with blood everywhere near the woods."

"Who is this man?!" she demanded. "I'm not going to treat him if I don't know him!"

"Please Sakura-sama!" the nurse pleaded. "Just..look at him."

Sakura sighed hurriedly rushing for the the medical wing that read "Intensive Care: Unit 7"

The dark room had an intense aura. Several medics surrounded the unknown man's bed. The medics lifted the curtains to reveal the man's defeated body. Sakura stumbled and nearly fainted.

"Sasuke-kun.."

A/N Yes, I know I promised the previews, but a whole other plot came to mind. I'm not deleteing those scenes--I'm just delaying them later in the story. I promise that I'll update a lot quicker when I finish this ShikaIno fan fic. Anyways, thanks and keep reviewing please!