Perfect Them

Being betrayed was better than this -- than that thing on her finger. [Sasuke/Karin[Onesided Sasuke/Sakura

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Author's Note: Third installment. Just Sasuke and Naruto left.

---Concentrate---

I have, I have you breathing down my neck, breathing down my neck,

I don't, don't know what you could possibly expect under this condition

If you've ever been alone you'll know dark blue,

If you've ever been alone you'll know, you'll know

--Jack's Mannequin, Dark Blue

"Concentrate Sakura," Tsunade tells her softly, as she searches inside herself for the small pool of her own chakra. It's there, rippling softly, almost as though it waits for her command. Sakura touches the pool, pulling the chakra up and through her body, pushing back into the small animal below her. "Slow down." The older woman admonishes, and Sakura instantly obeys.

The animal twitches and she knows that she's still going too fast, hurting it more than she is healing. So she slows, listening to the soft thrumming of the air conditioner over head, and Tsunade's easy breathing behind her. The animal's chest slows it's rising as it calms and Sakura gives way to a small relieved smile before frowning and concentrating once more on healing the long gash.

Muscles are rewoven and flesh knitted back together. When she's finally finished, three hours later, sweat soaking her shirt and sliding slowly between her shoulder blades her teacher speaks again, sounding proud. "Excellent, Sakura, you're showing vast improvement." Sakura flushes, feeling happiness bubble over exhaustion.

-------

Karin is standing at Tsunade's desk, the smug look rooted in her crimson eyes, and Sakura tenses. "Shishou?"

Tsunade looked up slowly from the scroll before her, sighing and motioning for Sakura to sit, the pink-haired girl does so cautiously, fear rising in her throat. "Sakura," the woman begins carefully. "Karin has made a request - I looked into it and her chakra background--"

Sakura can almost guess what's coming, and the blood begins rushing in her ears, making her feel light-headed and woozy. Karin's smiling sweetly and Tsunade's voice grows stronger.

"Sakura, Karin is going to be my student as well now. You'll be working together. Unfortunately, I'll have to help her catch up for awhile, so for that time, you'll have to work alone." Tsunade looked at her with a somber expression and Sakura forced herself to meet the woman's eyes, pushing down the rage that threatened to swallow her whole.

"I understand, Shishou."

-------

It's been three weeks and the bitterness is growing within Sakura, though she fights it wholeheartedly. If Sasuke really loves Karin, then she'll smile kindly and offer to take the girl for lunch, when she comes round to study Sakura's station at the hospital with a snide look. If Tsunade really thinks she has potential, then Sakura will put her life on hold and wait while Shishou teaches her.

She has a hard time calling Tsunade her teacher anymore, and she wonders if the woman even notices. Sakura's learning to grow on her own without the help of another. It's harder, but she can do it. Because, the more Karin is around, the more the girl steals away everything she's ever had; Sakura realizes she's been relying on those around her too much.

Sakura closes her eyes and concentrates, opening them slowly. It's time she started walking on her own, without hands waiting to catch her. Because the hands are quickly disappearing, and she'll need to learn now or fall.

-------

Tsunade called her bitter when she mentioned that she hadn't been taught anything in a month. Sakura said nothing, but she knew being bitter was better than letting herself be forgotten.

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Alright, done and done. Remember to review!

Beta: SkippingAlice

Manga Girl -- MoonVeil

Giggle Snort of the Chapter: "Strangely, in slow motion replay, the ball seemed to hang in the air for even longer."
- David Acfield