And here I am, once again!

Disclaimer (I forgot it again last chapter!): Me no own Naruto. Why would I want to own a fish cake anyways…?

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Saku-chan, he did it again! a voice complained. Sakura groaned as she noticed that her body was moving at Inner Sakura's command once more.

Did he attack us? she demanded.

What do you think!? There was panic in Inner Sakura's reply. Hurry up! I'm gonna lose control soon!

Sakura snapped to attention. "Sensei, please stop attacking me so early in the morning," she begged, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Looking at Itachi, she noticed something.

Hey, it's a clone!

She sent a shuriken at him, which resulted in a large poof. A not fluttered to the ground.

Cherry blossom:

Your team is training – go join them. Yamanaka-san will find you

there and give you my instructions.

I

Sakura carefully tucked the note beside the leaf she'd kept from the previous day. Then she changed and sprinted to Team 7's training grounds. Spotting Ino, she trotted over to her aqua-eyed friend and slung an arm around her shoulders.

Ino stared at her. "How can you act so casual with those things on?" she demanded quietly. "I remember otou-san complaining for a week!"

Sakura winced, removing her arm. "Inner Sakura helps," she admitted, grinning ruefully. "She screams at sensei until I can't think about anything but her voice. That helps."

Ino rolled her eyes. "Of course," she said sarcastically. "So!" She brightened up. "Your sensei said we should spar together." Sakura stretched, but Ino hung back.

"Okay!" the pink-haired kunoichi chirped, skipping to an open area. "What are you waiting for?"

Ino raised an eyebrow. "How will you move with those weights on?" Her voice bordered on hysterical. Kakashi poofed in behind her.

"What's wrong?" the silver-haired jounin inquired lazily.

"What's wrong?" Ino shrieked. "She wants to spar and you ask me WHAT'S WRONG?! I'll tell you what's wrong! She's – "

Sakura had clamped her hand over Ino's mouth and was dragging her away when Kakashi appeared in front of her.

"Sakura, you can talk to me, you know."

Oh, sure. I'm being trained by an S-class criminal and I just happen to have fallen in love with him. Can you help? I don't think so.

She said nothing.

"Sakura, what's – " She threw a fist at him, powered by Inner Sakura's chakra. The jounin caught it but staggered back a few steps. What they could see of his face registered shock.

"Ino, if sensei says spar," Sakura hissed to her friend, "then I'll SPAR. If sensei says I won't kill myself doing this, then I'll believe him."

"Aren't you dedicated to your sensei?" Ino muttered back. "Become another Rock Lee, will you?"

"…"

"Fine, already! See, he's rubbing off on you already! Let's spar, then!" the blonde cried, throwing her arms up in defeat. "Come on, then."

Sakura's lips quirked up in amusement. Just as she was about to speak, a single leaf touched the ground. The kunoichi hurried forward and snatched it.

"Ino." Her voice was quivering with barely concealed excitement. "Shishou wants us now."

"Then what are we waiting for?" the aquamarine-eyed teen next to her demanded eagerly. "Let's go!"

In a whirlwind of cherry petals, they were gone.

Kakashi collapsed in a heap; Naruto rushed to the older man's side. "What happened, Kakashi-sensei?" he asked anxiously.

The jounin pulled himself to his feet, leaning on the blond boy's shoulder. "That…was not…Sakura…" he said weakly.

"Of course it was, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto cocked his head in confusion. "What made you say that?"

"Since when…" Kakashi wheezed, "has Sakura possessed such strength?"

"What do you mean?" Sasuke demanded sharply, stepping forward.

Kakashi's eye narrowed. "The only person I've ever seen that kind of power from is the Hokage!"

"What!" Both Sasuke and Naruto's eyes snapped onto him.

"And who is this 'shishou' person?" the silver-haired man continued.

"Hn… You're right. We should investigate," Sasuke agreed. Naruto shook his head, cerulean eyes wide.

"Nuh-uh! I trust Sakura-chan, and if there's something going on, I know she'll tell us when we need to know!" With that, he was gone.

Sasuke snorted and turned to Kakashi. "So, what do we do first?"

At the Hokage's Tower

"Shishou? You called?" Sakura and Ino skidded to a halt in front of Tsunade's desk. "Or was it sensei?"

Tsunade smiled at the panting girls before her. "I thought that today would be a nice day to begin your training," she beamed. "Itachi is here, all ready to begin."

"Ano… Excuse me, Tsuande-sama…" Ino began nervously. Tsunade faced the blond kunoichi.

"You're wondering why you're here as well," she said calmly. When Ino nodded, she pulled out a bottle of clear liquid. "Sakura is going to become a medic-nin. Once I have taught her to heal, she will need practice. This is where you come in."
Sakura's eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to protest. Tsunade held up a hand. "Of course," she added quietly, "only if you are willing. You will take one drop of this potion, which will numb the pain, cut yourself, and Sakura will heal you. You will feel nothing and do not need to see anything. I'm sure Sakura will be able to cut you." Seeing the look the pink-haired kunoichi threw at her, she frowned. "You will see blood as a medic, Sakura. Think of it as training." Sakura looked down.

"Hai, shisou. I just don't want to hurt my friend."

"But I won't feel anything, forehead girl!" Ino reminded her quickly. "Very well, Godaime-sama. I'll help Sakura." Cheerfully, she accepted the potion, tucking it safely away.

"Now," Tsunade concluded, "Itachi is waiting for us to begin. Ino, you may go, or you may stay and watch."

"I'll stay and watch," Ino answered, squeezing Sakura's hand gently. "I have a feeling she'll need it." Sakura smiled gratefully at her friend.

"Arigato, Ino."

Two Hours Later

Tsunade wiped sweat from her forehead and stepped away from Itachi. Ino managed to catch Sakura as she fell; her legs had given way.

"Take her home," the older woman murmured softly. "Itachi will be along in a little while."

The black-haired man in sitting in front of her stirred, standing unsteadily. "I'll meet you at Sakura's house," he said. Then he disappeared. Shaking her head, Ino got Sakura's arm slung over her shoulder and led her out the door.

"Of all the… Males and their stupid prides…" Tsunade could only agree.

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And another, slightly longer chapter is typed up! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yesterday I got sugar high. You can tell when I start chanting about packed powder, Taken (it's an alien movie that we all hate), buns (food!), and straws. Then I burst out laughing at the word "pretzels". Yep, it's fun being sugar high.