Wow, I'm going fast! Good for me and my lazy… erm… butt. I'm not allowed to swear, so there won't be a lot of bad words in my fics. But… yeah. Oh! And I just realized that I forgot the disclaimer for the last few chapters! Bad, bad me! I'm gonna get sued… I hope not.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto! Now I'm safe! …I think. Please don't hurt me!!!!!

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As Sakura finished her last lap, she glanced at the sky and noticed that the sun had not moved much. Inner Sakura told her that it had only been an hour since she'd begun walking. Naruto and Sasuke had finished long since, and to keep them from bickering, Kakashi had told them to spar while he… well, read.

The first think the pink-haired girl noticed was that Sasuke was not moving as quickly as he usually did.

Serves him right, Inner Sakura sniggered. Those weights become him.

Sakura gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. She narrowly avoided hitting her face with the weight bracelet. "Oi, Sasuke!" she called. "Let me take those weights off for you!"

Snarling impatiently at her, the raven-haired teen stomped over to where she stood and held out his arm, with some effort.

"Place your arm on my lap," Sakura commanded. "I can't hold it up." Sasuke smirked at her and complied.

"Kai!" Immediately, as he felt the weight lift, he withdrew his limb and gave her the other arm. While fighting with Inner Sakura, she dispelled the other weight bracelets.

Without thanking her, Sasuke whirled around to face Naruto and they picked up from where they had stopped. Gritting her teeth, Sakura resisted the urge to knock herself unconscious and let Inner Sakura out. She no longer "loved" him – hell, she hated him – but he could've at least shown some gratitude!"

I hate him! I hate him! Let me kill him, Saku-chan! Inner Sakura shrieked shrilly.

We can't do that, sensei would kill us! With that, Sakura stalked over to a practice dummy and glared at it.

Hey, hey, Saku-chan. Sensei said that losing your temper only blinds you. Calm down.

You're one talk, you hypocrite. We've completely switched positions.

Hey!

Anyway, I think my arm's gonna die at any moment now. I still have to do those push-ups.

Wincing, Sakura sat down and slowly and painfully completed the fifty push-ups. Her arms groaned in protest, but she pushed her body, screaming in her head that her arms hadn't done anything the whole day.

Now punches, Saku-chan! We need to work on our control, or else you'll end up hurting someone. Like when you almost knocked your own teeth out.

Starting out slowly, Sakura punched the dummy, increasing her speed – and thus, control – little by little. When her right arm just about fell off, she switched to the left. When that arm "died", she began kicking. Eventually, she collapsed to the ground, dripping with sweat.

Let's take a break, Saku-chan, Inner Sakura suggested. Even the guys have stopped. See?

It was true. Sasuke was leaning against a tree, breathing heavily, while Naruto sprawled, panting, where he had fallen.

"I'm going to walk around," she announced. And get away from you guys while I'm at it… she added in her head.

"Okay, then! See ya, Sakura-chan!" the blond Kyuubi container called, grinning and feebly waving a hand in the air.

Sasuke didn't even give her one of his usual "Hn" s. He just ignored her, looking at his bruised hands. The dark splotches resembled the curse marks that had faded with Orochimaru's death.

He's so absorbed in his own weakness that he can't even say "Hn", Sakura thought bitterly.

Let's go see Tsunade-shishou, Inner Sakura said soothingly. Then we can teach him a lesson.

There was a subtle hint of a promise in her answer, which made Sakura grin. Pushing chakra into her exhausted feet, she broke into a run.

In Tsunade's Office

"Tsunade-shishou!" Sakura flew into Tsunade's office, her eyes sparkling eagerly. "Did you find the jutsu?"

The older woman looked up, chuckling at he apprentice's antics. "Yes, Sakura; I found it," she replied. "Let me show you the signs." Carefully and deliberately, she went through a short set of hand seals so that Sakura could memorize them.

"Like this?" the pink-haired kunoichi questioned, her arms trembling with the effort of holding both hands up.

The Hokage grew increasingly frustrated as Sakura failed to form the last seal correctly. Sighing in exasperation, she finally grabbed Sakura's hands to adjust them. Unfortunately, the young woman's fingers were tightly locked together.

"Sakura, loosen you muscles up. In fact, relax your arms completely," she ordered. "I can't help you if you're all stiff."

Sakura shook her head, smiling. "I don't think that's a good idea," she warned, but Tsunade only snorted.

"Just do it, Sakura!"

"Fine, fine, shishou. Just don't blame me if my arms get pulled out of their sockets." Before Tsunade could demand an explanation to this puzzling comment, Sakura squeezed her eyes shut and released her muscles. She pressed her lips together tightly in order to keep from crying out in pain; she could taste the metallic tang of blood from her lip.

Tsunade hurried over to Sakura, gently holding her arms and guiding them back into place. Frowning as she met resistance (gravity!), she exerted immense, chakra-produced strength and placed Sakura's arms on her desk. Slowly, the kunoichi opened her eyes.

"Ow…" she exclaimed weakly, rubbing her opposite shoulders. "I told you it wasn't a good idea, shishou…"
Tsunade's brow furrowed indignantly. "What has he done to you?" she demanded, scowling. "What happened to your arms?"

Sakura undid the bandages; the white strips fell away to reveal the metal bracelets. Reaching for the wrapping on her left arm, she was stopped by a large, warm hand with painted purple nails. She and Tsunade looked up to meet the red and black eyes of Itachi.

"Leave them," he sighed. "It took me long enough to get those tight enough." To the Hokage, he added, "We borrowed Yamanaka-san's weight bracelets."

"And you're wearing both arm weights?" Tsunade muttered. "Kami-sama, Sakura. I'd hate to be you right now."

Sakura shrugged. "It's not so bad once you get used to it," she replied nonchalantly. "Really." Tsunade snorted for a second time.

"Spoken like Itachi's pupil," she remarked, throwing a look of disapproval in Itachi's direction. "And Sasuke came to me yesterday complaining about those ten-pound weights he had on." She glanced on impulse at Sakura, who blushed and muttered something about losing her temper and Inner Sakura. "He was wearing weights on his legs as well, though."

Itachi pointed at his student's feet. Grimacing, Sakura lifted herself onto Tsunade's desk and swung her left leg into the startled woman's lap.

"He's not the only one," Itachi said smugly. He gestured, and the rosette-haired girl went to his side. "Now, why did you need me?"

"Ah, yes." The Hokage exhaled slowly, leaning back in her chair. "Sakura has the potential to become a great medic – chakra control is essential to the job. I thought that as both training and as a thank-you, Sakura and I could heal your eyes. If you agree, of course."

Itachi bowed slightly, Sharingan eyes betraying nothing. "I would be a fool to decline," he answered politely. Sakura beamed at him.

"Very well, then," Tsunade said firmly, her eyes flickering from Sakura to Itachi and back again. "Sakura, let's try that jutsu again. Lay your arms on my table so I can show you that last seal."

"Hai, shisou!" Itachi decided that he was not need and slipped out the door – though not before sending the back of Sakura's head an almost tender smile, which did not get past the Hokage unnoticed. Then he was gone.

Tsunade smiled inwardly. She deserves some love and recognition, she told herself. If he's the one who can give it to her, then so be it.

"Hey, hey, shishou…?" The blonde snapped to attention as the pastel-haired kunoichi waved a delicate hand in front of her face. "You seemed out of it for a second." Then she grinned mischievously. "Getting senile in your old age?" she teased.

The older woman scowled thunderously. "Sakura…" she warned threateningly. A dark aura surrounded her as Sakura giggled, quickly changing the subject.

"So, do you want to see me do the jutsu, or should I practice first?" she inquired. Inner Sakura, of course, couldn't wait to be let out.

Now, Saku-chan! Now!

The sannin thought for a few moments, lips pursed. "I think you'd better do it now," she concluded. "In case there are… um… unexpected side effects."

"Hai!" Sakura replied happily, going through the hand seals carefully. "Inner Kai!"

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There ya go. Now I've gotta go eat dinner! Ja!