Chapter Four: An Executive Decision
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!
Sakura answered the door the next morning to find Kakashi on her porch.
"We have practice today." He told her.
"I know, I have a hospital shift." She replied.
Sakura knew that he checked her schedule before arranging group training but she hoped he wouldn't call her bluff.
"Well, if yours ends early, try and stop by."
After much thought, Sakura decided she wasn't going to lose practice over Sasuke and grabbed her gear.
It only took a few minutes to reach the training grounds and they were still tossing weaponry at targets, so she hadn't missed any of the sparring.
"I see you got out early." Kakashi said with an eye crease.
"Yeah. Slow day." She smirked.
"You're just in time for our hand-to-hand matches." He added.
"Great!" She shrugged.
"Alright…Sai, I want you with Sakura and Naruto can go with Sasuke."
They paired off and began…each eager to hone their skills a bit more.
And although Sai was nervous at first, he quickly realized that she wasn't going to use anything more than basic taijutsu.
Naruto, noting the absences of successive earthquakes and chunks of flying earth, called to her—asking if she was alright.
"Why?" Sasuke inquired, noticing nothing abnormal.
"Well, usually…"
"Naruto!" Sakura snapped.
The blonde turned to Kakashi, who nodded in agreement with the kunoichi.
So Naruto dropped the subject completely.
And Sasuke felt a little more alienated.
Tsunade had expected bad blood between plenty of people. But she need her best cell back in the field. She hated to do it, but she needed to…
Calling for Shizune, she signed the missions sheets and scrawled in the cell number and members.
Tsunade concluded the briefing, handed out the scrolls containing missions parmaters and asked if there were any questions.
"Yes," Sakura volunteered, "I don't believe that this is an effective cell and would like to request a transfer."
"I'm sorry, Sakura, but you're the only combat nin'i on call." The Fifth replied.
"Now, if that's all, please be ready for departure this evening." She added.
As was expected of her, Sakura was at the gate—her supplies tucked neatly in her pack—ready for dispatch. And so were Naruto, Sai, Sasuke and Kakashi.
"Good. Now, get going." Tsunade smiled as she waved them off.
TBC