I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 13: Test One and Revelations
Sakura had felt slightly bad about telling Naruto she couldn't make the sparring today because of hospital duty, although it was not a complete lie. As she arrived at the training grounds, she saw Kakashi and Tsunade talking to each other. Tsunade nodded her head when she saw Sakura arrive. As Sakura approached she could feel Kakashi observing her. Know that he would pick up any similarities between herself and this new medic that was being tested Sakura made a conscious effort to change her walk ever so slightly.
Tsunade began going through the rules of the spar.
"Kakashi, as you know the reason I choose you to test most of the medics is because of the vast array of jutsu that you can use. One of the main skills a medic needs is defensive tactics. The purpose of this spar today will be you trying to break through the medic's defenses and land a debilitating hit – not lethal. Do you understand?" Kakashi nodded and the medic nodded. Tsunade then stepped away and signaled for the spar to begin.
Sakura had to constantly remind herself not to rely on her strength during the spar with Kakashi as that would be a dead giveaway as to who she was. The jutsu that Kakashi was using were not that hard to avoid especially because she had been through this test once before as herself. Seeing Kakashi turn toward Tsunade, Sakura knew he was asking for permission to use his sharingan. Taking a deep breath Sakura prepared herself for failure.
Once several seconds had passed since Kakashi had activated his sharingan and he did not say anything the fighting recommenced. After several more jutsu by Kakashi, Tsunade called an end to the fight.
"Very good, I will give you both two hours to shower and eat then meet me at my office."
Three hours later, Sakura was sitting in front of Tsunade waiting for Kakashi to arrive. Both had agreed that if Kakashi could see through Sakura's jutsu he kept that fact very well hidden. Finally, a cloud of smoke announced the chronically late jounin's arrival.
"Now that you are here Kakashi, I want to hear your report before I make my final decision."
"She evaded every jutsu I performed with relative ease. I would have no problem having her as the medic on my team. Can I ask one question first?" Tsunade nodded, slightly concerned. "Did she train with Sakura at all because many of their skills are very similar?" Tsunade and Sakura both released the breath that they were holding and simultaneously burst out laughing. Kakashi stood there looking slightly put out, but patiently waited for an explanation. Once the laughter had died down he asked what was so funny.
"Well, Kakashi, you have to promise not to get mad, but you were used in an experiment this morning."
"What do you mean?"
"The medic you sparred with was actually testing a new henge technique against your sharingan."
"I did not notice any henge."
"That is good, we were hoping you wouldn't. What was so funny was the mention of Sakura and this medic's similarities."
"You see Kakashi-sensei, I am Sakura." Kakashi looked at the medic confused until she removed her mask and released the jutsu. Slowly the medic's features phased into the more familiar features of Sakura. Taking several seconds to comprehend what was going on Kakashi finally sat down and waited for an explanation.
Once Sakura was done explaining the jutsu Kakashi felt several emotions. Shock, awe, and pride were among them. Sakura and Tsunade were patiently waiting for Kakashi's reaction when Sakura got the shock of a lifetime. Kakashi hugged her.
"I am so proud of you, Sakura. Not many can come up with a jutsu on their own let alone one as powerful as the one you just displayed. But where is the mark?"
Sakura lifted her shirt to show Kakashi the Konoha symbol on her torso. He saw it and smiled.
"Perfectly placed over your chakra core so there is just more chakra and not a visibly different chakra pattern. Well thought out." Just as Kakashi was going to ask more about the technique, an ANBU messenger came into the office. Hokage-sama, we just received word that Hawk's ANBU squad was intercepted by cloud ninjas after they retrieved the scroll just outside of our borders. Tsunade and looked at Kakashi and Sakura.
"You two head out now, I will send two squads to follow." Both nodding they took off through the window towards the last known coordinates of the ANBU squad.
When Kakashi and Sakura reached the ANBU squad they saw that the squad had it mostly under control, although one of the members was injured and taking cover behind a tree and the captain – Hawk – was fending off two rogue ninja by himself. Kakashi nodded at Sakura and then took off to help the ANBU captain.
Sakura cautiously approached the injured ANBU as to not startle him.
"Haruno-sama, I am glad to see you." Sakura was startled for a minute when the ANBU identified her because she and Kakashi had decided to go as ANBU both in their masks and full gear. "Your hair gave you away." Sakura smiled – normally she would have worn a special hood with her mask to conceal that identifying factor, but because she sparred with Kakashi right before coming she did not have it on.
"Just relax, Wolf is helping with the fight and more back up is on the way." While Sakura healed the injured ANBU, Hawk, Kakashi, and the other two ANBU team members were finishing the fight with the remaining rogues. After the rogues were taken care of Sakura healed the remaining two members of ANBU before approaching Neji.
"Hawk, do you have any injuries that need to be healed?" Sakura was asked although she was slightly confused with how tense Neji was as she approached him. He shocked her even more when he brushed passed her and gave the sign to move out. Not sure what was going on Sakura and Kakashi nodded at each other and followed the ANBU team back to Konoha.
Tsunade dismissed Neji's ANBU team after hearing the report, but asked Neji to stay along with Sakura and Kakashi.
"Neji, why are your injuries not healed? From your report Sakura did not fight and should have had plenty of chakra to heal you." All three individuals in the room turned towards Neji awaiting his response. Sakura was holding her breath – he had not even looked at her the entire trip back to Konoha.
"I would prefer to have another medic heal me Tsunade-sama." Tsunade raised her eyebrows in question, Kakashi narrowed his eye slightly and Sakura looked hurt.
"Neji, did I do something to make you mad at me? If I did please tell me what."
"Tsunade-sama, I will not have a medic who deceives me heal me."
"What do you mean 'deceives you'?"
"How long have you been in ANBU, Sakura? And when were you planning to tell me?" Sakura inhaled a sharp breath. She had forgotten that she did not have a chance to tell him before he left for this mission.
"Neji, remember when I said I wanted to speak with you before this mission? I was going to tell you then."
"How long, Sakura?"
"Two years." Neji nodded, then turned to Tsunade.
"May I take my leave, Tsunade-sama?" Tsunade looked at Sakura and her heart broke. She knew that Neji saw this as a betrayal of trust and by the look in Sakura's eyes, so did she.
"You may, Neji. I will give your team 48 hours rest before returning you to the mission roster." Neji bowed and left, not sparing Sakura a look. Sakura held herself together until she heard the door shut, then she collapsed in the chair and began to sob.
Kakashi nodded at Tsunade who nodded back. He then left through the window intent on talking to a certain Hyuuga. Tsunade walked around her desk and tried to comfort Sakura.
Kakashi, knowing that Neji was not going to go to the hospital, made his way to the front of the Hyuuga compound to wait for him. Hyuuga Hiashi, who was informed by the guards that he was by the gates, came to speak with him.
"Kakashi, is there some reason you are standing here?"
"Hai."
"May I inquire as to why?"
"I need to speak with Neji."
"He is on a mission."
"He just returned."
"Did he?" Kakashi nodded. Hiashi was slightly disgruntled that Kakashi was not giving him any information. As he was about to ask another question Neji strolled, more like stomped, up to the gates.
"Neji."
"Uncle. Kakashi-senpai." Neji began to make his way through the gates.
"She was going to tell you."
"But she didn't."
"You know as well as I do that she could not tell you for various reasons."
"Are you saying I cannot be trusted?"
"No, but you are forgetting who she is. Member of Team Seven, apprentice to the fifth Hokage who inherited her strength and surpassed her skills as a medic, and killer of Sasori. She already had her own page in the Bingo book, what would have happened had she made public she was also ANBU's top medic?"
"So she is the top medic in ANBU, not just a medic."
"Neji." Kakashi began, but hesitated. He knew he couldn't just change Neji's mind and that if everything was going to work out he and Sakura had to work things out on their own. "Don't make any hasty decisions." With that last bit of advice, Kakashi disappeared in a swirl of leaves, and Neji walked silently into the Hyuuga compound.
For his part, Hyuuga Hiashi just watched the entire time, and gained quite a bit of information. The first bit of information upset him some because he felt Neji was being slightly unreasonable, for he agreed with Kakashi. The other part of the news was interesting – head medic. He smiled to himself. The last few Hyuuga elders holding out would now have no excuses for not accepting Sakura for Neji. Now the two just needed to work things out.
Neji spent the night staring at his ceiling trying to decide what to do. Prior to what happened today he would have said he loved Sakura and wanted to spend his life with her. But she lied to him, and that still stung. He took a deep breath and remembering Kakashi's words decided that he would ask Tsunade to assign his team border patrol so that he can sort his feelings for Sakura out.
Two days later he was running through the forests of Konoha with his ANBU team and a medic.
A/N. Only one or two more chapters. I have the ending written, but I don't like the way it goes right now and want to re-work it.