"What's the matter Kakashi, are you afraid that my overpowering vibrancy of youth is too much for you to handle in a little rematch of our last challenge in eternal rivalry?!"
Gai said giving his trademark sparkling grin, "...Did you say something Gai?" Kakashi said drifting his only visible eye from his book for a moment before continuing reading.
"GAH YOU ARE SO HIP! THAT IS WHY YOU ARE MY RIVAL HATAKE KAKASHI!" Gai screamed digging his hands into his surprisingly shiny black hair.
"Why does it always have to turn out like this? Whatever happened to going to get a mission?" Tenten said, clearly annoyed and already bored of the so called "rematch". Neji chose to not say anything, but it was obvious he was agreeing.
"It seems Gai-sensei might not win this time." said Lee, unconsciously shaking in excitement at the rivals match.
Tenten face palmed herself and groaned, "Lee...they haven't even STARTED yet…" Before Lee could give his response an ANBU member appeared in front of them, blocking the view of Kakashi and Gai.
"Rock Lee?" The muffled masculine voice behind the bird mask asked. "Hai" Lee said, giving the messenger his complete attention.
"Hokage-sama wishes to speak to you in her office immediately regarding a new mission." and after that, the ANBU performed a seal and shunshined away.
Tenten learnt from years of working together with Lee that standing next to him when an announcement like this was suddenly given, it was best to get away from him since the last time she didn't resulted in a ringing in her ears which lasted several hours. She barely made it in time as she almost seemed to jump a few feet away from Lee's shout, "HAWWW! Hokage-sama wishes to speak to me about a new mission!" He shouted waving his fist in front of his face as if he was addressing someone to a fight.
"Excellent work Lee! Now don't keep Hokage-sama waiting, go! And remember what I said to you earlier." Gai shouted out at near equal volume, giving his nice guy gesture.
"Hai Gai-Sensei!" Lee said and took off towards the Hokage tower, leaving behind a trail of dust in his path.
Gai then turned back to face his rival, "Now where were we my arc--…" Before Gai could finish his sentence, he noticed that Kakashi wasn't in front of him anymore.
Tenten face palmed yet again, "He left when you started shouting Gai-sensei…." She muffled through her hand.
"…."
Gai started shaking, with his fists clenched, "SO IT'S A MATCH OF HIDE AND SEEK IS IT KAKASHI!!" Gai screamed out that caused villagers within a kilometre radius to turn their head in Gai's direction, "ALRIGHT, IF I CANNOT FIND YOU BY SUN SET KAKASHI, I WILL CLEAN UP THE ENTIRE MARKET PLACE WITH MY TEETH!"
Had this been any other time, Neji would have his jaw hitting the ground in disbelief and such a stupid announcement, but spending over three years with Gai taught him to 'look underneath the underneath' so to speak with this situation…and he discovered one thing.
"What a troublesome imbecile."
Tenten couldn't help but chuckle at the saying coming from her usual silent teammate, "Isn't that something Shikamaru would say?"
Shizune sighed as she entered the hospital and walked to Sakura's office. Something told her that this was not going to be a fun little job...not as if she would need to speculate, Tsunade usually was asking for assistance from either herself or Sakura most of the time anyway. Reaching Sakura's office, she knocked and waited, only for no response to come after several moments. She tried again and tried the door, only to find it was locked.
Maybe Sakura called in sick? Turning to leave, she then spotted who she was looking for through the window. Sakura was in a deep discussion with Moegi, while Konohamaru looked like he was trying something, while Udon sat back and showed his disapproval. It brought a smile to Shizune as she walked to the entrance and opened the door to let herself out.
Now being able to hear what was going on, she shook her head while chuckling, "Watch Sakura-neechan! This time I will create half a dozen kage bunshin's."
"Oh? At least we are in the hospital then for when you faint...you baka."
"Sakura-neechan!"
Shizune's laughter got the others heads to turn, "Konohamaru still going at that again is he Sakura?"
"Hai...I swear he is Naruto the second."
Ignoring Konohamaru's pout, Sakura addressed Shizune, "What do you need Shizune-sempai?"
Shizune's delight disappeared with a frown, "Tsunade-sama needs our help for some reports." If she wasn't also suffering the same fate, she would see the comedy behind how instant of a dissatisfied groan escaped through Sakura's forming cringe.
"How many?"
"...The medical reports."
A second groan escaped, while the mutter of 'not again' was whispered through it, "Give me one moment Shizune-sempai."
Shizune nodded quizzically, as Sakura quickly returned to her discussion with the displeased Moegi, "Now Moegi-chan, if you are serious I will be more than happy to help you. I am not as good as Tsunade-sama or Shizune-sempai though, so you will have to put up with me."
Moegi didn't seem fazed though with a wide smile, "You mean it Sakura-neechan?!"
"Of course I do." Shizune smiled at Sakura's surprised expression when the genin hugged her saying thanks like a broken record, but soon she recovered and returned the gesture.
'I wonder what Sakura agreed to?'
Breaking apart Sakura chuckled, "Follow me, I will get you started right away." The genin only went agape, but Shizune could easily determine how happy she was. Saying goodbye to Udon and snickering at Konohamaru, who was spinning dizzy after creating four kage bunshin's, the three kunoichi re-entered the building. Shizune decided to halt her question for later, as Sakura quickly went into her office and came out with a medical book Shizune recalled herself reading so long ago.
"This book discusses all about the body and how chakra works, you need to understand this first before we can do anything Moegi-chan."
"Hai Sakura-sensei!" Shizune couldn't hold back the laughter as Sakura went red in the face.
"D-Don't call me that, you're only three years younger than me!" She scolded, recovering from her embarrassment, she continued.
"I will test you on this later on, so make sure you know it well."
"Hai, thank you again Sakura-sen-" The eye twitch from Sakura hinted she shouldn't finish her statement and quickly corrected herself. "-I mean Sakura-neechan."
"Good, now go make sure that idiot Konohamaru is still conscious." The genin nodded her head and disappeared, holding the book as if it was a prized possession.
Shizune then eyed the smiling Sakura and chuckled, "Sakura-sensei?"
At the mention of the suffix, Sakura hissed, "Shizune-sempai!"
"So you want to fill me in on what you agreed to?" Sakura rubbed her neck as she followed Shizune through the hospital.
"Moegi-chan asked me about learning medical jutsu, she told me she wants to be able to help Konohamaru and Udon when they are in trouble...which knowing Konohamaru, is very likely to happen."
Shizune nodded with a proud smile, "That was nice of you to accept teaching her." Sakura nodded while averting her gaze to her feet.
'She reminded me of myself...I couldn't refuse.'
"However I am not exactly qualified as a 'professional' medic-nin, I hope I don't make a mess of it."
Shizune raised an eyebrow at Sakura's fear, "I am sure Moegi could find no better a person to ask for help. Don't put yourself down so much Sakura."
Sakura sheepishly grinned, "Thanks Shizune-sempai."
In memory of what Sakura mentioned before, Shizune decided to voice her thoughts, "Only six months until Naruto returns now hey Sakura?" Shizune blinked at the sudden tenseness flicker across Sakura's body at mention of the blond, but Sakura recovered with a neutral nod.
"Something wrong Sakura?"
'He contains a Bijuu within him, and he never told me. Yet regardless of that, he never treated me wrongly despite how I treated him?'
"Nothing Shizune-sempai." She said simply, while continuing to walk towards the hokage tower.
Shizune gave it some thought and smiled, "Miss him?"
Shizune asked knowingly, although she was not aware of Sakura's real cause of her silent attitude. Sakura recalled the hyperactive blond with his fox like smile and formed one of her own, and answered the question in a different way from what she remembered.
"Ah...I really do miss him."