Thank you to everyone who has read this. I'd really appreciate it if you guys would leave a review...no need to be shy. I hope you guys are enjoying this, but I'd really love and appreciate some feedback :). If you leave me a review I promise to do the same to one of your stories! Let me know if you love it, hate, or want me to change something. I'm also open to ideas if you think I should take this story in a different direction. On a side note Blue Hawaii has become my new signature drink (a change from my usual Goose and cranberry...I need to start making them myself rather than going to the bar...).
I do not own Naruto... le sigh.
Of Rank and Team Dynamics
He looks so respectable now, Inner Sakura voiced amusedly.
Sakura silently agreed with her subconscious as she found herself standing before her former sensei dressed in the formal robes of the Hokage. Even though he had obtained the highest status of respect her village had to offer, he still kept his face covered to hide the shameful resemblance he had to his father. He also wore an eye patch to cover his ever active Sharigan eye.
Sai was standing a few feet away from her, his posture rigidly at attention as he awaited further instruction. He wasn't alone. He stood between two other ANBU members, one standing in a slouched position with the mask of a sloth covering his appearance while the other stood as rigidly as Sai wearing the mask of an eagle. Both had familiar hairstyles. Sakura immediately recognized them as Shikamaru and Neiji, but made no move to acknowledge either one. She doubted they would have responded to her greeting anyway.
"At ease," said Kakashi with an amused look in his eye. "You always make me so nervous standing there so seriously."
"My apologies Hokage-sama," Sai and Neiji said simultaneously, removing their masks and relaxing their postures.
"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered before removing his mask as well. His posture remained in the same relaxed slouch he had entered the office in.
Sakura risked a glance at the three ANBU members from the corner of her eye. As she scanned each of their faces she realized that they were purposefully ignoring her, refusing to look in her direction. Sakura felt the familiar pang of loneliness squeeze around her heart.
I guess they're still resentful, Inner Sakura commented dryly.
Desperate to prove that sinister voice wrong, Sakura let her gaze rest on Sai, hoping that the emotionally handicapped youth would glance in her direction and show that he still cared for her as a member of Team Kakashi. Sai, however, did not acquiesce to her imploring gaze.
"I want to start by apologizing to you Sakura," Kakashi began, drawing her attention back to her former sensei.
"You have nothing to apologize to me for," Sakura cut in, giving him a confused look.
Quiet! Let the man grovel, Inner Sakura hissed. It should be fun to watch him crawl beneath us.
"I have failed you as a sensei multiple times," Kakashi continued, none the wiser to Sakura's internal voice. "But I refuse to fail you as your Hokage."
"I still don't understand," Sakura said.
"I've ignored you one too many times. I refused to acknowledge you as a kunoichi and I left you alone when you needed me most. I'm not going to let that happen again," explained Kakashi.
"What happened was my own fault," Sakura said quietly, unable to meet her former sensei's gaze. "My break down was due to my own inability to accept my failure of that mission. I couldn't kill Sasuke..." his name came out in a whisper. Sakura had to take a deep breath and gain control of her emotions before she could continue.
Don't you dare fucking lose it! One sign of weakness and they'll send you right back to the loony bin, Inner Sakura demanded.
"I'm better now," Sakura said, more to her inner voice than to the shinobi listening.
"I'm glad to hear that," Kakashi's eye crinkled, indicating a smile hidden behind his mask. "I've already talked with your doctors, but I need to hear it from you, will you be able to continue life as a kunoichi? No one here will think any less of you if you decide civilian life would be better for you."
Hear that? He thinks you can't handle life as a kunoichi. I ought to rip out that precious Sharigan of his, stick it in a box, and mail it off to Sasuke. He needs to replace his eyes in order to stop from turning blind right? I guess one good eye will be better than having no good eyes… Inner Sakura trailed off in a contemplative tone.
"I can't go back to life as a civilian. If I do that, then that means admitting to defeat and I refuse to do that. I have to redeem myself after that failure," Sakura said quickly, ignoring the voice in her head.
"Then you shall be reinstated with your current rank as chunnin," said Kakashi. Relief visibly washed over her face. She had been allowed to resume life as a kunoichi and would be able to keep her rank. "However," Kakashi's voice cut in, Sakura's eyes quickly glanced up to meet Kakashi's gaze. "You must be able to achieve jounin status by the end of this week if you want to be able to continue going on missions, otherwise I will just assign you to duties pertaining to the hospital here in Konoha."
Well what do you know? Fail to commit suicide and they give you a promotion. Now that's an awards system I can really get behind, said Inner Sakura, the sarcasm in her tone sharp enough to slice its way out of Sakura's brain.
"Excuse me for interrupting Hokage-sama, but what did you want to speak with us about?" cut in Sai. To Sakura's dismay, he continued to refuse to glance in her direction. She vaguely wondered if he had interrupted because he was angry that she would be allowed to keep her rank.
"As you all are aware, your team is incomplete," Kakashi said, fixing Sai with a stern glare. "I was considering having Ino complete your team as your fourth member."
"But you'd rather have Sakura fill that position," cut in Neiji.
"She is the better medic-nin," added Shikamaru in a bored tone. Sakura glanced at the lazy prodigy, wondering if he truly meant the compliment.
You bet your ass she's Ino's better, Inner Sakura gloated.
"I think Sakura will be the better fit for your team. Her capabilities qualify her for the position. However, if she is unable to reach jounin status by the end of the week then Ino will complete your team," said Kakashi. "Do you accept these terms Sakura?"
"I do. Thank you Hokage-sama," Sakura answered in a quiet voice.
"Then seven days from now, report to Training Grounds 2 at noon to begin the jounin examination. You are all dismissed," declared Kakashi, turning back to the paperwork on his desk.
Sakura quickly turned around and walked out of the office without a backwards glance. A whirl wind of emotions danced through her heart. She was elated that she had been given a chance to be able to prove to all of Konoha 11 that she deserved to be a kunoichi. However, she was nervous about obtaining the jounin rank. She had been inactive for a whole month.
Don't worry, mused Inner Sakura, I'm not going to let you lose to the Pig.
"I'm sure you won't," muttered Sakura.
"Who are you talking to?" asked Sai, his cold voice made Sakura jump in surprise, and she whirled around to meet her former team mate's expressionless gaze.
"No one important," Sakura answered, breaking the uncomfortable eye contact. She had thought Sai was making progress as far as being able to express and share his emotions openly, but now he seemed much like he was when she first met him, cold and distant.
Sai merely blinked in response and walked passed her.
"Sai, wait! I-"
"If I were you," he cut Sakura off, pausing his step but refusing to look at her, "I would be more concerned with training right now. If we do become team mates again, then we'll talk as team mates do. There is no point in discussing team dynamics with someone whose affiliation has yet to be determined." Ending the conversation, he resumed walking. It wasn't until he rounded the corner, and was gone from her line of vision, that Sakura was able to let out the breath that she had unknowingly been holding.
And here is where I beg for a review...I'm down on my knees, please review me! Love you long time...
