"Sakura pay attention." A sharp voice called out to her.

"Sorry Tsunade." She replied sheepishly bringing her attention away from the clock.

"I said you would be able to do other training as long as it didn't distract you from your current work. Do not make me take back what I agreed to." Tsunade said dangerously to her. Sakura gave Tsunade a curt nod while glaring at the snickering patient. "Now this is a particularly nasty break. We need to set the bone before we can heal it. Hold him down Sakura." Tsunade barked putting her hands on the man's leg. The young ninja's eyes widened in fear and beads of sweat started to form on his forehead. Sakura placed her hands on the man's broad shoulders and gathered her chakra waiting for the single. Tsunade gave her a sharp nod and she pressed him firmly into the bed listening to the bones scrape against each other and the howling pain of the man. It was over in seconds but the man continued to whimper in pain and Sakura released her grip. "Finish the rest and get him out of here. You may leave as well once you are done." Tsunade said quickly while leaving the room.

"Oh hush will you. The worst part is over." Sakura said excitedly at the prospect of leaving early.

"Easy for you to say. Are you sure you're qualified to be doing this?" He whimpered to her. Sakura gave him a lethal glare as she placed her hands over his broken bone and concentrated her chakra there. It only took a few moments for her to mend and seal the bone completely back together and she gave herself a satisfied smile.

"Now this will be tender for a while but other then that you should be fine. Unless of course I messed up. Then we'll have to amputate your leg." Sakura muttered gravely to him seeing his expression change into horror. "I'm only kidding." She giggled slightly and handed him a chart to sign. He muttered angrily under his breath but didn't dare look at her. "Have a nice day." Sakura said in an overly sweet voice making him wince while bouncing out of the room down to the front desk. She completed the chart and handed it to the blonde receptionist. "I'm off for the day so see you tomorrow." Sakura said cheerily and headed out of the door.

Tsunade had only let her go fifteen minutes early but it was still early. She only ever did that if she was impressed with Sakura's work or wanted to start drinking her hidden bottle of sake early, which in this case was probably the latter. She saw Naruto waiting at the bottom of the steps for her and gave him a small wave.

"Hey Sakura." He yelled out cheerfully to her.

"I'm not buying you food Naruto." Sakura replied nonchalantly to him as she passed him on the steps.

"Now why would you say a thing like that?" He asked with a pretend sweetness to his voice.

"Because the only time you come to my work is when you want me to buy you food. I'm not taking you out to lunch because I have things to do like grocery shopping." Naruto's face fell into a gloomy expression as he followed her through the crowded street.

"Fine." He replied sullenly to her continuing to follow her through the supermarket. "Did you know Hinata likes me." He said casually throwing an orange between his hands. Sakura let out a snort of laughter.

"People have only been telling you that for how many years now. You were just to dumb to pick up on any of it." She replied still laughing slightly.

"Shut up." Naruto scowled to Sakura tightening his grip on the orange making it explode in his hand.

"So what are you going to do about it?" Naruto shrugged his shoulders slightly wiping the juice from his face as Sakura repressed a laugh. "Well you better hurry up and make up your mind before some sense gets knocked into her and she moves on to a different guy." She said while handing money to pay for her newly acquired food. "I've got to get going or else I'm going to be late." She mumbled giving him a quick wave good bye.

"Wait what about lunch?"

"I told you no all ready."

"I thought you were joking." Naruto yelled incredulously to her as she weaved her way through the crowded street. Sakura quickly put away her groceries and changed into something more decent for fighting in and tore off for the field. She arrived out of breath from her sprint and clutched her side as she scanned the field.

"Great he isn't even here. I should've known." She grumbled to herself as she inhaled deeply. She paced beside a large tree but finally decided to rest in the shade seeing as he could be awhile. She slid down to the trunk of the tree and propped her knee to rest her hand on. Sakura closed her eyes as her mind raced about the upcoming test. I can't fail this. I won't fail this. I will make myself stronger and Sasuke will recognize my strength. Sakura told herself harshly as she opened her eyes. A little gasp escaped her mouth as she saw Kakashi standing in the field reading his Icha Icha book. "When did you get here Kakashi-se...Kakashi?" She asked pushing herself from the ground.

"While you were daydreaming." He muttered quietly to her. He continued to read but signalled for her to attack him. Sakura felt her anger rise in her. His simple gesture of reading made her feel like she was twelve again and an inept ninja. She hurtled himself towards Kakashi with him blocking her first attack effortlessly. Sakura felt like screaming in frustration as the fighting continued. He never took his uncovered eye from the book and she was sure Kakashi was smirking at her from under his black mask. Her breathing became ragged as the fighting continued and she could feel exhaustion setting in but anger still coursed through her veins. "Emotions Sakura. Keep them in check." He muttered while blocking a fist to the face. She stopped abruptly feeling like she had been slapped in the face and shame burned on her cheeks.

"I'm sorry." She whispered quietly taking deep breaths to calm herself down. Remember your training you idiot. She screamed at herself and prepared to attack again. His eyes never left the book and Sakura couldn't help but feel depressed. Her attacks became more feeble with every strike and she wanted to scream in frustration.

"That's enough for today." Kakashi muttered licking his thumb and flicking the page. Sakura clutched her knees catching her breath. "I suspect you haven't been doing much taijutsu." She could feel her cheeks reddening slightly.

"Well umm no. I didn't think I would need it being a medic nin but things have changed." Sakura said while bringing herself to stand and stare at Kakashi. He let out a small snort and she glowered at him. "Well it's not like all of us can be geniuses like you and have this come naturally to them." Sakura's voice was sarcastic and she continued to glare at him, but Kakashi made no move to reply. She huffed slightly then swiftly turned away from him. "I'll see you tomorrow." Sakura said angrily walking towards the village.

Her training continued like this for two weeks. Kakashi always read putting in little effort to stop her flimsy attacks and it angered Sakura to see how weak she was. She learned to control her emotions by tucking them away and concentrating on her fighting. Sakura pushed her body to the limit each day, but each session ended the same by her being pinned to the ground and helpless to make another move. Sakura could see herself improving each day becoming faster and more forceful with her attacks and noticed small changes from her body as well. Her arms had become slightly more defined and she overall looked leaner and faster. Training consumed her life and she barely saw her friends anymore but they didn't seem to mind . Ino was currently sucking face with only one guy at the moment and Naruto had decided to make his move with Hinata.

It was the beginning of the third week of training with Kakashi. He stood in the field reading his book and Sakura waited to make her move. She was no longer angry at his actions and only concentrated at the task at hand. Today she desperately wanted to land one attack on Kakashi and the desire burned deep within her. She pushed it from her mind and focused all her energy on the copy nin. Sakura sprinted towards him throwing her fist brutally towards his face, but he quickly dodged it. Sakura dropped down swinging her leg to catch his feet, but Kakashi avoided her second attack. With her back now facing Kakashi she launched herself from the ground doing a black flip over his head and landed crouching behind him. She steadied her breathing while Kakashi turned to give her a calculating look. To Sakura's surprise he folded the corner of the page down and tucked the book away in his side pocket. Butterflies raced through her stomach as he signalled for her to attack him again and she pushed all emotion from her mind. Sakura propelled herself from the ground and brought her fist down hard to Kakashi's face and to her surprise his fist reacted trying to catch her in the stomach. She barely managed to block it as she landed behind him again.

"Never leave yourself open to an attack." Kakashi muttered and Sakura only saw a blur before feeling her arms clutched across her body. "Mistake number one is never stop attacking until your opponent is down." Kakashi whispered into her ear. Sakura smiled slightly as she laced her leg around his and gave a hard yank. She felt his grip slacken slightly and slipped from his arms, but quickly turned throwing a punch to his abdomen. Kakashi blocked it and threw an attack of his own at her and Sakura side stepped it while fiercely tried another one. All I need is one. Sakura thought and pushed herself harder. She felt her knuckles graze his cheek but he quickly disappeared and Sakura could sense Kakashi approaching from behind. They continued to attack each other but neither one could land a single kick or punch.

"I told you to go all out." Sakura gasped to him feeling her sides tighten in pain. She felt air gushing beside her ear as she saw his gloved fist brush past her cheek. She threw a kick behind her and gasped when she felt it connect with his body. Sakura stopped abruptly with her chest rising painfully fast and gaped at Kakashi bringing her foot back to the earth.

She scowled at him feeling her anger snap as she tackled him to the ground pinning him to the earth. "I said go all out and then you let me hit you." Sakura muttered through clenched teeth. "How am I supposed to become strong if you won't treat me seriously?" She gripped his arms tighter from her anger while feeling butterflies dance in her stomach and glared at Kakashi. She stopped when she noticed his intense gaze. Sakura felt a slight blush rise to her cheeks and her grip loosened on Kakashi's arms. It was a blur of movement to her but she could feel herself being tipped over him with his weight settling on top of her. Her breath became ragged as her mind raced with new feelings that were beginning to surface. Kakashi had pinned both of her arms above her head and was excruciatingly close to her. Sakura could feel his hot breaths brush against her neck and it sent a shiver down her spine while his body on hers made her tingle. She tried to force the feelings from her mind as guilt took hold of her heart for feeling like this with someone else other than Sasuke.

"SAKURA" A voice yelled crashing through the forest. She tore her gaze away from Kakashi's and felt his weight lift from her being immediately relieved and disappointed at the same time. She shook her head pushing the thoughts from her mind and accepted his gloved hand to see Naruto come skidding to a halt in front of them. "Sakura...we...gates...Sasuke" He yelled voice laced with panic and began tearing through the forest again.

"Wait what?" Sakura called out to him frozen in fear. "What did he say?" She asked Kakashi her eyes wide with alarm.

"I think you should follow him." Kakashi replied quietly. Sakura nodded and sprinted through the forest trying to stifle her fear.

Hope this chapter isn't to long. Review as always.

Cance