Sakura and Kakashi sat quietly together beside a small fire as the trees rustled gently is the calm breeze. A thick canopy of leave covered the four ninja as they rested for the night. Neji and Shikamaru had both retreated to their sleeping bags earlier and left Lord Aso bound to a tree, still unconscious. Sakura eyed the fire as it danced across the logs and Kakashi quietly read his book beside her.

A gentle hum broke Sakura's concentration as Kakashi turned a page. She eyed him, silently watching the fire cast shadows across his face and his visible eye slowly scanning the pages. It quickly flicked her direction and she met his sideways gaze. He hummed again.

"Something interesting, Sakura?"

Sakura furrowed her brows and let out a soft huff and a smirk.
"You're being too loud over there, I can't concentrate."

Kakashi closed his book and let it rest in his lap as his head turned to face her.
"You seem to be doing a pretty good job despite the distraction."

Sakura rolled her eyes and looked back at the fire.
"It's getting late, do you want me to take first watch?"

"Sure, wake Neji for the second shift."
Kakashi grunted quietly as he stood up and ruffled Sakura's hair as he walked by her to his sleeping roll.

Sakura sat silently watching his retreating form as he made himself comfortable in his bed for the night. Only after he had adjusted himself to face away from her did she look back into the fire, once again concentrating on the flames dancing across the wood. They had managed to make it back into the Fire nation before setting up camp so they weren't too worried about being spotted by enemy ninja so she kept the fire going low for her watch shift. Sakura's eyes shifted between the forest, the fire, and Kakashi's sleeping form for the following hours before she stood and stretched out her unused leg muscles. Making her way to the edge of camp, she made a short patrol, quietly checking on their prisoner before moving to Neji's sleeping roll. She crouched down and gently touched his shoulder. Slowly, violet eyes met green ones and a soft smile graced Neji's lips before he realized what was happening and quietly schooled his features back into an indifferent look.

Sitting and adjusting himself, Neji cleared his throat quietly.
"Give me a moment, and I will be ready for my shift."

Sakura nodded and began to set up her sleeping roll a comfortable distance from the other two sleeping shinobi. Neji began to stretch and walk around camp, poking at the fire before making his way to Sakura. She looked to him as she finished adjusting her soon-to-be bed.
"Shikamaru will be good for the next shift. Kakashi fell asleep kind of late."

He nodded and crossed his arms.
"Can I ask you something, Sakura?"

"Yeah, I guess. I'm kind of tired so if you can make it quick."

Neji hummed softly.
"Are you considering taking the upcoming Jounin exams?"

Sakura's face twisted in surprise.
"I hadn't thought of it, why?"

Neji smirked.
"It might be good to start thinking about it. It would be good to find yourself an instructor before it's too late."

Sakura sighed and crossed her arms.
"Are you implying that you want to be my instructor for the exams, if I even participate in the upcoming one?"

Neji kept his eyes locked with hers and relaxed his body as Sakura shifted her weight between her feet.
"Not at all. While I would be a likely candidate, someone with more…" He glanced to Kakashi briefly, "Experience, might be preferable. I trained under Gai Sensei while I was preparing for my exam, maybe someone of equal skill would be best."

Sakura's eyebrow twitched in annoyance.
"Listen Neji, not that it's any of your business, but I think I am perfectly capable of choosing a good instructor for myself."

"I have no doubt about that. I just wish to encourage you to take the exams." He looked between her and Kakashi once more. "I believe that you are destined for this path."

Sakura sighed and laid down for the night.
"Thanks for the encouragement. I'm going to bed."

Neji stood in the spot that Sakura had occupied during her watch and gazed into the fire.
Quietly, he whispered to himself. "This is not a path that I hope they break from"

"Thank you Kakashi. We'll take him from here."

Two Jounin in Tsunade's office carried Lord Aso out of the room as Tsunade sat with a stern look on her face, directed towards Kakashi.

"That wasn't exactly as quiet as I wanted it to be, Kakashi. News of the compound's destruction has already spread. I wanted to avoid that as much as possible."

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head.
"Sorry, things just kind of happened."

Tsunade slammed her fist on her well beaten desk as she stood and leaned forward to shout at him.
"Things can't 'just happen', Kakashi. Damn it." She sat down with an exasperated sigh exasperated and rubbed her forehead. "I don't know why I expected more from you four. You're dismissed."

Kakashi nodded but hesitated for a moment.

Tsunade glared at the man standing in her office.
"Is there something else, Hatake?"

Kakashi's hands found their way into his pockets as he slouched any gave her a bored look.
"Actually, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind me putting in a recommendation for me to train Sakura for the Jounin exams."

"Kakashi, you know that you need to get her permission before I can do anything about that."

"That's not what I meant."

Tsunade raised a questioning eyebrow.

"I mean, could you put in a personal recommendation to Sakura for me to train her. She really admires you, Tsunade. You probably realize that she has been heartbroken over the fact that you two don't spend as much time together."

Tsunade nodded.
"Yeah, I know. But she knows how busy I am." She sighed. "The next time I see her, I'll throw your name out or something. Now get the hell out of my office."

Kakashi smiled to her before walking out and throwing her a backwards wave.

Tsunade grabbed a bottle from under her desk and took a long swig.
"Kids these days…"

"What? Are you serious? Neji actually said that?"

Ino almost coughed out the tea she was drinking while Sakura giggled at her.

"I know! Can you believe that guy? Trying to tell me to take the exams. Last time I checked, that was my choice." Sakura stuffed another sweet dumpling in her mouth.

"Well you know, Forehead, if you take the exams, I'm going to have to take them with you. There's no way I can let you surpass me like that." Ino gave Sakura a sly look.

"Whatever, Pig. I'll be a Jounin long before you. By the time I'm done you're going to be begging me to train you!"

Ino shot up from her chair and threw some money onto the table.
"In your dreams! I'm going to go start training now, and you're going to be eating my dust!"

Sakura stood quickly to meet Ino's challenge.
"Not a chance pig!"

The two girls quickly raced out of the tea house and parted ways at the exit, Ino taking to the roofs while Sakura ran down the streets.

Before long Sakura had found herself at the training grounds where Gai and Lee were having a one armed pushup contest. The two were dripping with sweat and staring each other down with serious expressions.

Sakura approached the two and Lee was the first to address Sakura.
"Lovely Sakura! Come over here and sit on my back so I can beat Gai Sensei!"

Sakura continued to walk towards the two as Gai smiled to her.
"Welcome Sakura, Lee and I were just in the middle of five thousand pushups."

Sakura crossed her arms skeptically.
"Five thousand, huh? How long have you two been out here?"

"Almost four hours now. Lee and I agreed that whoever made it to the training grounds first would pick the exercise, and since we tied, we are competing to see who will break the tie. Then we can begin training."

The pushups continued as Sakura stared in disbelief.
"Your training hasn't even started yet? Are you keeping hydrated?"
Sakura knelt beside Gai and began to examine the Green Beast of Konoha.

Gai laughed at Sakura as she gave him a concerned expression.
"Don't worry Sakura, Lee and I are just fine. We're both healthy and handsome!"
He and Lee gave her a sparkling smile.

"Right, sure you are. Do you mind if I just check your vitals really fast?"
Sakura began to place her hands on Gai's back as he nodded to her.
"Go right ahead, Doctor Haruno, you will see that Lee and I are as fit as racehorses!"

"Yes, Sakura! Gai Sensei and I are very healthy. This morning we ate ten thousand cloves of broccoli!"

Sakura gave a disgusted look between the two.
"Is that what that smell is?"
She moved to Lee and began checking him over.

"No, Sakura. That is the smell of the success of a splendid ninja!"
Lee smiled to her as her green chakra flowed from her hands and into Lee's back.

Still skeptical, Sakura left the subject be as she finished.
"Well, you two look fine. Just remember to keep drinking water. I don't need any 'splendid ninjas' on the hospital beds because of dehydration." She paused a moment and addressed Gai. "Hey, Gai Sensei, you wouldn't happen to know if any Jounin have the time to train me for the upcoming exams, would you?"

Gai looked Sakura in the eye as his face fell hard in concentration.
"So, you are going to be participating as well. Sakura, you are already a great ninja, however I am not sure if any of the usual Sensei are available." He flashed her a smile. "Why, I would train you myself, but Lee is also going to be taking the upcoming Jounin exams and I can't have you two knowing your secret abilities. Right Lee?"

Lee shouted in return.
"Right, Sensei!" His tone calmed. "I am sorry Sakura, I have already taken the best Jounin as an instructor."

Sakura raised an eyebrow at the two.
"For some reason I am not terribly heart broken about that. But thank you anyways Gai Sensei."

"Any time Sakura." He flashed her another blinding smile. "Keep looking around, I am sure someone will be able to help you."

Sakura waved to the two as she started to run back to town. She knew of one person that was for sure to help her.