The morning began as many had for the last four months. With four birds perched at the crack of dawn on the windowsill of each member of team 7, alerting each ninja that once again the alarm that they had set (or two had set) would not be needed. And that Tsunade wanted to see them, so they better move fast.
Well, moving fast was a matter of opinion anyway, and when one team member made an effort to be as royally late as possible (and beat yesterdays time) and another had the memory of a goldfish, Sakura reasoned that the remaining two could surely be allowed a lie in, and held a pillow over her head to ignore it. If it were important, Tsunade would've sent people instead of birds and most likely would've looked for a more punctual team first… if such pleasing do-gooders could handle it. Kakashi may be late, but he was never too late top save their asses. He would always protect his team.
This thought was often what comforted her most. While… some were built for the destruction of other, weaker beings, her Sensei had always placed his own life on the line to save others, to protect them. And this made her feel stronger. The amount of 'powerful' beings was to numerous to give a value, but to truly control that power and use it selflessly was something that the pink haired warrior had always admired. He always kept his cool. He never lost his dignity.
Sighing as she pulled her head out from under her chocolate coloured pillow, Sakura dragged herself into a position where she still lay face down but now her arms supported her upper body. She barely opened her eyes properly before she flopped back down. She hated mornings. The bright daylight caused her vision to turn pixilated, and the long break from food gave her nausea, and in turn made her not want to eat breakfast, which just made it worse. Her senses awoke before her, she cool feel the slight sweatiness of her skin against the soft covers, hear her nails scrape slightly on the sheets and, when she looked up properly, see yesterdays clothes discarded on the otherwise pristine floor. All of it made her want to go back to sleep. But right now, Sakura decided as she stretched her arms above her head, she needed to train.
After a rather hurried breakfast of scalding coffee and a half eaten breakfast bar, the slender woman slipped silently through the door to the living room. Albeit not huge, the room did have enough space for a punching bag on one side and still a sofa, coffee table and T.V. on the other without being too dangerous….
Well, there was a reason she had bought a cheap T.V. rather than a pretty one.
Angling herself into a good position she measured her fist up against the heavy bad and gave a couple of light hits with each hand before moving her whole body into it and working up a rhythm. Her hits were light but fast as she with held charka and moved herself around in the process; there was no point aiming for a target if she could only hit it when standing still. She kept a defensive stance as she trained, her eyes focused on how the bag responded to each punch and occasional kick, her mind recording it archiving every response to the tactical area of her mind. For just over thirty minutes, she worked with an eerie unbroken concentration before leaving the room still breathing lightly. Once turned away, she did not spare another look back at her still swinging opponent.
20 minutes, a shower and a warm wind jutsu later, Sakura was out the door with warm, dry hair, and a much more relaxed, awake expression. It was without pause or change of pace that she leapt up from the ground to rooftop, to glide over buildings and trees towards her destination. Unfortunately for a certain silver haired shinobi, Kaka-Sensei's home was on route, and the lazy teacher was going to find himself dragged out by the ear. Again.
Kakashi only put up a minor resistance as she swung into his bedroom, a token effort of wrapping his arms around his head and whining at her to leave. Just for the routine.
"Sakura, this is highly inappropriate and-"Sakura snorted.
"By now, Sensei, you cannot class almost anything as inappropriate!"
"I might have had a girlfriend over, then it would have been highly inappropriate!"
Sakura paused her battling and frowned at him.
"Sensei, I've never seen you with a girlfriend."
"I'm not an exhibitionist, so I should hope not."
Sakura whacked him fairly lightly on the arm. "That's not what I meant!" She leant back slightly, and her expression sadly mimicked one that Naruto often wore. "…Are you gay?"
One look at her face told him that she was being serious. He stared directly back at her fixated gaze without blinking.
"Yes, Sakura, I'm gay." He paused, hiding a grin under his mask."I also know Tsunade's bra size and read Make Out Paradise, but you're right. I must be gay."
"Oh." Sakura looked slightly stumped now, and continued to evaluate him before nodding with her conclusion. "You prefer fantasy romance to real life." She nodded sagely. "Got it."
Kakashi sighed as he picked up his duvet from where it had fallen during their scuffle and made his bed. "Actually, I prefer student who let me get up of my own accord."
His reply was his headband hitting his face.
"Time to go."
He thought his day couldn't get any worse…
Then they were given The Mission.