Disclaimer: "Naruto" is property of Masashi Kishimoto, Studio Pierrot, Viz Media, etc.

In the afternoon Sakura was free to do what she wanted. Most of these instances gave her time to practice or study medical ninjutsu on her own, but on other days she ran errands or whatever else she liked. Today that meant she would be taking a walk through the village. She didn't have any particular destination in mind. Just wandering the streets of Konoha, watching the other villagers going about their business amidst the buildings lining the path provided her a casual entertainment.

Through the light crowd Sakura recognized a girl her age wearing a grey hooded coat, her hands clasped neatly in front of her. "Hi, Hinata! Are you waiting for someone?"

She was slightly startled by Sakura's unexpected presence at her side, but quickly recovered to answer her. "Y-Yes, Shino and Kiba." Hinata made a faint gesture to the family restaurant she was standing in front of. "Kurenai-sensei is treating us today."

Sakura's expression softened. "Hmm… that sounds nice…" There weren't many times she could remember spending causal time with her own team. She wished they could have. Sasuke abandoned the village; Naruto was on a three-year training journey; and she had no idea where Kakashi could be. Who knew when they would be together again…

"Sakura, are you alright?" Hinata's voice cut through her thoughts.

"Oh – yeah!" Sakura forced a cheery expression. "I'm fine, Hinata." Her reply did nothing to change the worried look Hinata had. She was suddenly frightful of the Hyuga's pale eyes, imagining they could see not just her chakra network, but her very soul. She excused herself and said goodbye, walking past her and down the street.

Her stroll wasn't the same as before, and Sakura was very conscious of it. She had been walking by herself, but she didn't feel the sense of solitude that she did now. It was too much to bear.

- - -

The Hyuga compound was quiet, familiar. He often sat outside on the veranda, emptying his mind, meditating. It was part of his own training that he did on a regular basis. Yet, he had never had this much of a problem clearing his mind. Neji would close his eyes, blanking his inner eye into nothing but white space, thinking of nothing; but then someone would intrude. Not physically, but mentally.

Into the white space, like a painting on a canvas, a girl with brunette hair, dark brown eyes, and a carefree smile would swirl into view. It bothered Neji that his subconscious was allowing her to constantly intrude on his meditation. He was lost as to why this was happening. Perhaps it was because of their cancelled training sessions; but a reason like that only annoyed Neji.

He closed his eyes and tried again. She appeared again. Well, if she would not go away then Neji decided he would stare at her and will her to; but holding her image did not have that effect. Instead of disappearing, she began doing other things: walking, leaping, throwing kunai, talking, laughing. Neji frowned.

Finally, she was still again, and waving. For a split-second he had the idea that maybe it was him she was waving at, but then someone else joined her in the white expanse; a boy with a bowl cut wearing a green jumpsuit.

Neji snapped his eyes open and scowled. This was ridiculous.

- - -

"She's been discharged??"

"That's right. She's been out of the hospital for a few days now."

Sakura stood shocked in front of the reception desk. Amidst her tangle of emotions she groped for something to say. "But… why?"

"The Hokage decided she was well enough for it." The nurse tilted her head to the side. "I thought she would have told you. You'd visited so often."

A thick pain coursed through Sakura's chest and throat; an unexpected and upsetting reaction. She left the hospital feeling more miserable than beforehand.

What was she thinking going there? She had wanted company, any company. Tenten was the first person to come to mind. Sakura shook her head. Just because they had spent some time together it didn't mean they were friends… but it did mean something to Sakura. Her gloom was replaced by bitterness, although she wasn't sure who it was toward.

She began a resolute route to the Yamanaka flower shop. She didn't know what she would say, but she needed to be with someone. It should have been Ino anyway. They were childhood friends, renewed friends. Ino would be there for her…

The shop didn't look busy. Sakura was glad for it. She opened the door and saw Ino sitting at the counter leaning on her arms. Blue eyes flicked up and looked at her. Sakura smiled and pushed the door open, but was suddenly pulled back.

The next thing Sakura knew she was being dragged down the street, running to keep up with the person who had grabbed her hand. Sakura blinked in confusion as she focused on the figure, and nearly gasped when she realized who it was. She was so stunned she didn't even notice the villagers they passed by giving them queer looks. "T-Tenten!"

"Sorry about this, but there's something I want to do," she replied without looking back.

Sakura felt annoyed at her then for several reasons, but she couldn't think about it for too long. She was close to nearly tripping several times. "W-Wait! You're going too fast!"

Tenten suddenly stopped running and Sakura bumped against her. She turned and looked at Sakura. "Does that mean I'm faster than you are?"

Sakura thought it was a strange question to ask in this situation, almost random. There wasn't a trace of anything in her voice that suggested she was trying to tease her however, so she admitted, "Yeah, I guess so."

A gradual smile spread across Tenten's face. "Well, we'll see."

They were standing in the middle of the street, and while they were still Sakura finally noticed the onlookers they had been attracting. It was terribly embarrassing to think that all these people had been watching them running through the village hand in hand. Hand in hand… Tenten was still holding Sakura's hand. It didn't feel like soft flesh. She looked down and saw Tenten's hand was wrapped in a bandage that went up to her elbow.

She was about to ask about it when Tenten let go of her and cool air replaced the warm contact. What really threw her off though was Tenten bending down with her back to her and grabbing her legs. Sakura shrieked as she was lifted onto Tenten's back and she reflexively threw her arms around her neck. "Wait, what are you doing??"

"I'll carry you there," replied Tenten, rising to pick up Sakura from the ground.

"I can follow you by foot!" she desperately countered, but Tenten was already on the move.

"This way is better."

'Better for who??' Sakura inwardly screeched. The villagers were again staring at them and Sakura felt mortified. Tenten was either completely oblivious to the attention or was ignoring it. She really didn't understand her.

Pressed against Tenten's back, Sakura was close enough to say whatever she liked and Tenten would have heard it. She could continue arguing with her; ask about the bandage; inquire as to where they were going; get an answer as to why she said nothing about her hospital release. Sakura gripped Tenten's shoulders – bare, because her shirt was sleeveless; soft and delicate, because she was a girl.

"Don't drop me."

"Of course I won't."

Tenten carried Sakura out into the forest where the oldest trees resided, and she bent so Sakura could slip off her back. The trees towered over them, large and expansive with the branches blocking their view of the sky.

"Okay!" Tenten held a hand out to the one with the greatest trunk. "We're going to race up this tree!"

Sakura goggled at her. "Huh? Why?"

"Running along surfaces such as walls or water requires decent chakra control. Use of medical ninjutsu needs even greater control. If you're training under Lady Tsunade that must mean you're very adept at it. I want to see it for myself."

"Chakra control is one thing but a speed race… I already said that you're faster."

"I carried you here, so I'm a little out of breath. It'll balance itself out."

'Really, I'm not sure what the point of this race is…' Sakura gazed up at the tree. She was already here and Tenten had gone to the length of abducting her to have a race. Her eyes settled on Tenten who was smiling at her. She gave in. It had been a while since she had any physical exercise anyway.

She took her place at the base of the tree with Tenten and waited for her to count down. 1… 2… 3! The only sound in their ears was that of their feet clapping against the tree trunk. Sakura concentrated on waving through the branches, having only a vague idea as to where Tenten was; but it was always further ahead. She wondered if it would be possible to surpass Tenten… another rival.

"Forehead Girl!"

Sakura's focus wavered and her foot slipped against the tree bark. She yelped and fell back, forgetting to keep the chakra flowing into her other foot. The branches she tried to grasp only smacked her arms. Air was rushing past her, blowing her hair into face so she could barely see how much further down she was. Gravity was rapidly bringing her closer the ground, and she prayed that Tsunade would be able to heal whatever injuries she would gain.

Something cool and solid snaked around her ankle. There was a slight jerk, and Sakura was not longer falling. She was dangling in the air by one leg and looking upside down at Tenten. The elder girl was holding the sharp end of a kusari-gama and the chain leading overhead was taught. Then the other end must be…

"Are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah," Sakura replied, although she could feel the blood rushing to her head. "Thank you."

"Can you pull yourself up?"

"I'll try." She leaned up and put all her upper body strength into reaching for the chain at her leg, and started when a pair of hands pushed up against her back. "Ino?"

She heard Ino's slightly strained voice reply, "Hurry up and grab the chain!"

Sakura obliged and gripped the chain, hoisting herself to her ensnared ankle to unravel it. When she succeeded she swung herself to the safety of a nearby branch. "Thanks for the help."

Ino huffed. "I can't believe you fell. I didn't know you were so clumsy."

Bristling, Sakura opened her mouth to snap back at her.

"I don't think she's clumsy."

The girls turned to Tenten, who had just about finished gathering the chain of her kusari-gama.

"I think she's just easily distracted."

It seemed as though Ino had momentarily forgotten about her presence. Now that Tenten was in full view, her hands clenched and her brow furrowed. "You!" Ino's tone was accusatory. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Excuse me?"

"You kidnap Sakura in broad daylight and then parade her around the village making a spectacle of yourselves!"

Tenten didn't look the least bit offended. Resting a hand on her hip, she quirked an eyebrow. "What are you talking about? She didn't have to come with me if she didn't want to. We're not even doing anything wrong."

To this, Ino couldn't find the words to respond. She gritted her and silently fumed.

"Ino…" Sakura had leapt to the branch where she stood. "Did you follow us here?"

Ino turned her face away, feeling quite pathetic under their gazes. "… I'm sorry for interrupting. I should be heading back."

Sakura called out for her to wait but Ino had already jumped down from the tree. She stared after her, saying, "I don't get it. Why did she come here?"

"She was probably worried about you."

"Worried?" Sakura repeated, her eyes wide. "About me?"

"Why do you sound so surprised?" There was a laugh laced in Tenten's words. "You're friends, aren't you?"

"Well… yes, but…"

"Then that's all the reason she needs. You should go talk with her."

"Huh? What about our race?"

"We can do that some other time. Clearing things up with Ino should come first."

Sakura dropped her gaze. A small part of her wanted to stay with Tenten. It was her she wanted to see in the first place after all; but she also knew she was right about Ino. "Yeah… thanks, Tenten." She started hopping down the tree branches, wondering how much distance Ino had managed to put between them so far.

"By the way," Tenten added before she was out of earshot, "why did she call you 'Forehead Girl'?"

Sakura would have answered but she stopped short. Tenten was looking at her with absolute innocence. It was incredible. She shook her head and said, "Never mind."

- - -

Ino purposefully stomped her way back home, feeling all at once irritable and stupid. She had seen Sakura at the door to her family's flower shop, and seen her get carted away before she could even say hello. It was strange. She wanted to investigate. Her father forced her to stay and deal with the current customers before he would allow her to step out, but as soon as that was done Ino took to the direction Sakura had disappeared. Along the way she had asked bystanders if they had seen her, and it was then she found out that the one who had taken her was Tenten.

At first Ino didn't know what to think. She recalled Sakura's disappearances after lessons, and how it was so she could see Tenten. Rivals, she had said. Ino had been mildly concerned. What was it Tenten had in store for Sakura this time that would compel her to abruptly make off with her – when it looked like Sakura was intending to visit Ino.

She sighed. There was no reason to make big deal over it. Sakura could be with whomever she liked; she could have as many friends, as many rivals…

"Ino!"

A tingle prickled the blonde's skin. It had been a while since she had heard Sakura call her name like that. Not since they were young children when Sakura tagged along with her. It even sounded childlike.

Sakura caught up to her, slightly panting from having rushed. "Ino, what's going on?"

Ino continued walking and Sakura followed. She was considering how to reply to Sakura. Her problem was trivial, uncalled for, and admittedly embarrassing. Running after Sakura was as bad as Tenten hauling her off.

She looked at Sakura with an aggrieved smile. "Ah, it's nothing. I was making a fuss over nothing."

"Are you sure?" Sakura was frowning.

Ino puffed herself up. "Of course I'm sure! So, why were you coming by the flower shop?"

"Oh, I… I was coming to see you."

"Alright, let's go." Ino reached over and gave Sakura a slight push from behind, surprising her.

Sakura stumbled but caught herself, and she shot Ino a confused look. Ino was simply content.

"Well, are we going or not?"

Sakura suddenly felt like a kid again, with Ino at her side ready to cheer her up. She wasn't as lonely as she thought.

- - -

"Two meat and two red bean, please."

The shopkeeper placed the steamed buns into a paper bag and passed it to Tenten, who dropped some money on the counter in exchange.

After things with Sakura hadn't gone as planned, Tenten wandered back into the village to settle her empty stomach. An immediate snack, and maybe some for later, would do the trick, so she stopped by the manju shop. Apparently someone else had the same idea.

"Sweet, red bean!" A hand reached into the bag in her arm and plucked one of the buns.

Tenten's mouth dropped open in astonishment. She whirled around and found the thief already biting into the pallid dough. "Anko-sensei!?"

"Yo," Anko mumbled through her mouthful of manju. She swallowed. "Fancy meeting you here."

Tenten frowned; now more bothered than anything else. "You're paying me back for that, aren't you?"

"Thing is, I would, but I don't have any money on me."

'Then why are you here??' Tenten ruefully hugged the bag to her person. She didn't have any more money so buying a replacement was out of the question. She started walking away. "Ahh, being a special jonin must not be that great if you're mooching for food."

Anko followed her, popping the last remnants of the sweet bun into her mouth. "Hey, c'mon, don't be like that." She glanced at the kusari-gama slung around Tenten's waist. "What have you been up to?"

"Training," Tenten automatically replied.

"Ah, boring."

"How in the world did you become a special jonin?" She sensed Anko looking at her sideways. She stopped to face her and blinked. Anko's demeanor had changed from miscreant to a somber adult.

Slowly, Anko let herself smile a mirthless smirk. "Well, wouldn't you like to know?" She threw her hands up in a shrug. "Can't you just attribute it to my awesome skills and intellect?"

Tenten rolled her eyes. Evidently modesty was not part of the criteria when designating special jonin.

"You know, you could probably become a special jonin if you wanted to."

The suggestion took Tenten aback. "… What?"

"You specialize in weapons, right? That can come in pretty handy." Anko impishly eyed her. "Plus, I like a girl who has an affinity for sharp, pointy things."

"… You're not getting my other red bean bun."

"I'll pay you back, I really will."

"Yeah, sure you will… Hey! Stop that!" Tenten twisted the bag away. "Don't touch my buns!"

Anko stared at her. Then, a more mischievous smile than before graced her lips. "Now, when you say buns…"