The third stage of the Chunin Exams snuck up on her, though she was sure Shikamaru was fairly counting down the days. Sakura took her place next to Tsunade, smiling at Shizune on the Hokage's other side. Her eyes brightened as she saw Hachiro across the dais next to Onoki and she waggled her fingers at him as she caught his gaze. When he recognized her, his face lost all color and he wavered slightly in his seat, looking ill.

Tsunade noticed this exchange and raised an eyebrow at Sakura. She smiled innocently at her mentor. "Yes, Tsunade-sama?"

The eyebrow stayed in place. "Now I know something's up, Sakura. You look far too pleased with yourself."

She laughed behind her hands, unable to contain herself. "I was just giving our esteemed guests a lesson in how to look underneath the underneath. All in the interest of international cooperation, of course."

Tsunade was skeptical. "Of course." Further conversation was derailed as the ANBU guard behind them motioned to her that they were ready to start. Tsunade rose from her seat smoothly and gave a short, precise speech about the qualities necessary to be a successful shinobi and then gestured to Shikamaru to announced the first match. She sat and watched the proceedings with detached interest, though she sent Shizune down to aid in the healing of an unfortunate genin from Taki after he lost brutally to a sharp-toothed Mist girl.

Sakura eyed the boy with a smug air. "If you think about it, it was really his own fault. I'm sure all those cat-calls about her flat chest weren't necessary."

Tsunade snorted. "That girl would have broken him no matter what. She looks like one of Mei's protégés." The Mizukage had declined to attend the exams, though she allowed three of her teams to apply. To absolutely no one's surprise, they had all passed through the first two stages and were now equal to the number of Sand and Konoha genin who were lined up to fight.

Shizune returned after a quick check on the boy. "There sure are a lot more genin than usual. Older, too."

Tsunade nodded. "I wanted to keep our genin with their instructors longer, so I requested that they keep their teams for at least eighteen months before nominating them. For many of them this is their first test. For once, we're not in the middle of a massive crisis and we don't need to push children through the ranks."

Shizune made a pleased noise and Sakura could only agree. "That is an excellent idea, shishou."

"I occasionally have them," Tsunade said, wryly. "I imagine that's why they let me keep this job."

Sakura laughed and turned her focus onto the matches. She was thankful that they were mostly uneventful; she didn't think Shikamaru would appreciate a rereun of their own first exams. Speaking of … I wonder where Naruto and Sasuke-kun are right now?

She had seen Sasuke several times over the past few weeks, working on healing his eyes and trying to subtly probe him psychologically, since she knew he would just shut down for a traditional mental health examination. Sakura didn't want to think that he had been irreparably harmed by his past trauma, but he was so close-mouthed that it was impossible to tell. To her relief, he hadn't brought up the idea of marriage again and she could only pray that it was because Naruto had talked some sense into him and not because he was preparing a sneak attack on her.

I should ask Naruto what Sasuke-kun said when he mentioned it.

Sakura and her new patient had formed a tentative sort of bond while she talked at him about all the things he had missed during his time away and he grunted in acknowledgement every so often. She was professional when necessary and teasing when she could get away with it. Sakura was sure Sasuke-kun had never really known her any more than she knew him and the fact that she had a personality outside "infatuated fan girl" or "angry at Naruto" was an everlasting, yet hastily hidden, surprise to him.

She was brought slightly out of her reverie when a shuriken came flashing toward her face, its initial trajectory in the ring thrown off when the Suna genin it was aimed at displayed a surprising aptitude for wind chakra. She plucked it out of the air and spun it around her fingers distractedly, still half-thinking about her friends.

Tsunade and Shizune just shook their heads and the Hokage nudged her. "Sakura, no daydreaming about lover boy when you're in public. Keep that to your bedroom."

"Huh? Shishou! I wasn't!" Sakura was turning as pink as her hair now. Tsunade was one of the few people who could still embarrass her noticeably, something the woman took great pride in doing constantly. Sakura groaned and dropped her head into her hands. "You're the worst. I was just wondering what Sasuke-kun was up to."

Her mentor pursed her lips. "I told Naruto to keep the Uchiha busy during the exams. I don't want him screwing things up for us. He's still considered a criminal."

Sakura heaved a sigh. "I know, but I still can't help but worry about him. Them. I probably always will."

"Ah? And how does Shikamaru feel about that?"

She scowled at Tsunade's smirking face. "Shikamaru understands that our team is all sorts of messed up and accepts me anyway."

"Hmm. You caught yourself a good one. Much more rational than most boys your age." Tsunade looked over at the Gaara, who was placidly sitting in his full Kazekage robes next to Temari. "And not prone to extremes."

Sakura followed her glance and smiled. "You know, I think it would do wonders for our alliance if Gaara, or maybe his siblings, found someone here." She had pointedly raised her voice slightly so that the ANBU stationed behind them could hear it. "I told Temari I would introduce her to someone, but he was sent on a mission before I could grab him." She knew that Genma had just returned yesterday, sunburnt and scratched, but otherwise unscathed.

"Oh? I'd like my shinobi back in one piece and I'm not sure you can promise that with Temari involved." Despite her words, Tsunade was actually very fond of the kunoichi, who was a relatively familiar face in Konoha due to her position as Suna's diplomatic representative.

"She did promise not to break him. Much." Sakura shared a grin with the two women. Shizune burst into quiet laughter, trying desperately to hide behind her hands. Sakura tipped back to look at the ANBU member in the bear mask, giving him a thumbs up. She knew Genma was listening and hoped he would take the initiative.

The matches seemed to drag on the most of the day and the winning genin were starting to flag as they had to get up and fight after shorter and shorter rest periods. Finally, the winner of the third stage had ultimately come down to the sharp-toothed girl from Mist, Nomura Tomi. Sakura made sure to remember the name, because she felt sure this kunoichi was going places.

Tsunade had slowly drifted over to Onoki with Shizune once the matches were completed, but Gaara was still in his seat while Temari was speaking to him in low tones. Sakura had really wanted to go throw her presence in Hachiro's face again, but she knew that the Sand nin were leaving soon and she wanted to say goodbye.

"Temari! Kazekage-sama! Good ending to our most recent Exams, yes?"

The blonde nodded. "No one died, so I'll count it as a win."

"Are you excited to be going back home? I know you've been here for nearly two months setting this up."

Temari shrugged, but it was Gaara who answered. "She is missed in Suna."

Sakura grinned. "Such sibling devotion! Kazekage-sama, you'll make Temari blush with all your words of affection." He stared at her, blank-faced as ever.

Temari had clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles. When she regained control over herself, she waved a hand between them and said, "Are you sure you don't want to come with me? That offer is still open. We can trade you for Kankuro." Gaara's brow furrowed at her words, confused.

Sakura put her hands on her hips. "I don't think Konoha would consider that a fair trade."

"Fine, we'll give them his puppets too."

"You drive a hard bargain, Temari. But I don't think Shikamaru would appreciate you trying to steal me away for Gaara." At this Gaara's eyes widened a fraction, taken aback as much as he ever could be. Sakura smiled cheekily at him, but was interrupted in her explanation by the man in question.

"It's true. Kazekage-sama will have to find his own woman." Shikamaru nodded in greeting to Gaara and slid his arm around Sakura's waist. "This one is taken, despite your best efforts."

Temari just huffed. "Oi, you make it sound like I'm trying to take her for myself." Her face twisted into a devious grin. "If that were true, she'd already be mine."

Shikamaru pulled Sakura closer to him while she shook with laughter, enjoying the way her curves fit against his side. "I'd like to think that she has better taste than that." He squinted in thought. "Though considering her track record …"

Sakura elbowed him in the ribs and he grunted in pain, letting go of her to rub at them with a frown on his face. She just put her nose in the air and said, "One day I'm going to accidentally break them and it will be your own fault."

He chose not to respond to that. "Should we go meet with Tsunade-sama?"

She looked at him suspiciously. "Why are you suddenly so eager to play politician?" Sakura looked over Temari's shoulder to where Tsunade was still standing Onoki, surely hearing all about his aching bones and bad hip. She saw Hachiro trying and failing to charm Shizune, who was stone-faced and only distantly pleasant. "Oh, I see now." Sakura grinned at him. "Shall we, darling?"

Temari laughed and tugged at an unmoving Gaara, who eyed her with reproach. "We'll come with you. It will be good for … diplomatic relations." She sent a pleading look to her brother, who stood with a imperceptible sigh, his robes falling into straight, unwrinkled lines.

They approached the other group and Shizune set a look of mute appeal to Sakura over Hachiro's shoulder and she smiled viciously. Oh yes, I'm coming to help.

"Hachiro-san! It is so nice to see you again!" The man started at his name and turned around with a practiced smile, only to freeze when he saw Sakura on Shikamaru's arm. "I was just telling Shikamaru what a shame it was that we didn't get to say goodbye to you at the party!"

The man looked ready to bolt. "Ah, Sakura …-san. Yes, how lucky for us that you are here today."

"Well, I did have a responsibility to my shishou, after all." She nodded at Tsunade, who was valiantly faking interest in Onoki's health concerns while Gaara stood with them stoically.

"I wasn't aware that Hokage-sama had two beautiful apprentices."

Sakura shrugged modestly. "Shizune is very talented and Tsunade-shishou relies on her for many things. I'm still learning."

The man brightened, sensing weakness. "Ah, so you are just starting out?"

Shikamaru had to cut in. "Sakura has been training under Hokage-sama for five years, Hachiro-san. She's very much in demand in the field." Sakura shot him a look and he just smiled blandly at her.

Temari was not to be outdone. "Yeah, they just send her out when they want someone pummeled." Shikamaru nodded in confirmation and two of them grinned at Hachiro while Sakura just rolled her eyes. Shizune was slightly confused at the way the conversation had turned, but didn't question it. Hachiro had been oily and insincere the minute she and Tsunade had arrived to speak with the Tsuchikage; it was in her best interest not interfere with driving him away diplomatically.

"O-of course. You must a very capable kunoichi, Sakura-san."

Sakura casually cracked her knuckles and then looped her arm back through Shikamaru's and smiled at him daintily. "I get by, Hachiro-san. I just enjoy being given the opportunity to meet so many new and interesting people."

Shizune was happy to introduce a new topic of conversation. "This is very true, Hachiro-san. Why just last month, I met a wonderful woman, Madame Fujiwara, who is a veteran of all three shinobi wars. The stories she could tell!" She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "You know, she had a tattoo on her forehead like Tsunade-sama's seal, but she would never tell me what it did."

Hachiro inched backwards slowly, looking for an escape from their gleaming eyes. "Saburo!" he nearly screamed as he recognized his cousin across the room and bowed to the group hastily. "I should meet with him before we depart. It was a pleasure meeting you all." He left swiftly, before any of them could respond.

Shizune cocked an eyebrow at the three younger people as they all cracked up laughing, attracting the attention of their kages. "Sakura?"

Sakura was bent double and lifted an arm toward Shizune, flapping it uselessly while she trembled with mirth. "J-just an inside joke." She straightened and then leaned heavily on Shikamaru, who had recovered from his own bout of laughter. Temari was wiping tears from her eyes.

Their leaders had joined the group with Gaara eying his sister curiously. Onoki grumped at them irritably. "Where did my idiotic cousin get off to? I'm tired of standing around."

"He went to go find Saburo-san, Tsuchikage-sama." He ambled off without another word to them, grumbling to himself.

"Well," Tsunade said. "It looks like you three were having a fine time here."

Sakura nodded sagely. "A rousing discussion of the importance of first impressions."

"Mmm," Tsunade didn't look convinced, but she didn't pursue the thought and turned to Shizune. "Come on, it's past my drinking time." Gaara and Temari also made their excuses to leave, needing to sleep for their early morning departure back to Suna.

Sakura waved as they left and then looked around the arena, seeing that it was mostly empty except for a handful of straggling Konoha genin and a few chunin who were cleaning up. "Looks like they all abandoned you to me."

Shikamaru pulled her close. "I'm doomed."

He meant it sarcastically, but he felt like maybe it was also a serious problem. Sakura had dominated his thoughts the entire time they were apart, when he was doing paperwork, when he was playing shogi with his father, especially when he was alone. Their transition from friends to dating had been so smooth, he had nearly forgotten that she had not been his for all that long. He knew that she felt strongly for him, though they hadn't spoken of it since she had confessed to him before she left for Suna months ago. In fact, he never even told her how he felt. He just assumed she knew and Sakura had never pressed him for more. It was a habit of hers.

"Sakura, I think-"

"Sakura-chan!" Shikamaru just dropped his head to her shoulder as she looked around to see who had called her. What have I done to deserve all these interruptions? I try to be a good person.

"Kakashi-sensei!" At least it's not Naruto this time.

"Yo. You doing okay?" Shikamaru was vaguely impressed that the man managed to use only one eye to convey a casual threat when he saw someone who was not Naruto draped over Sakura.

"I haven't seen you since you got back from your last mission!" Sakura narrowed her eyes. "Especially strange, since I'm sure you needed to come to the hospital."

"Maa, Sakura-chan. I'm fine. No need to worry." She disengaged from Shikamaru's arms and patted Kakashi down, ignoring his words.

"That eye of yours is a chakra drain, sensei. I can't not worry about you." She finished her examination and smiled at him. "Speaking of, I've been having great success with Sasuke-kun's eyes. If you let me take a look at yours, I can try to modify my treatment plan."

He rubbed the back of his head. "Eh, you know I don't like hospitals, Sakura-chan."

"Come to my apartment. Or I'll go to yours. I don't care. I just want to make sure you don't collapse of chakra exhaustion in the middle of nowhere again." She pointed a finger at him accusingly. "Don't think I don't remember what happened in Wave Country!"

"Fine, fine. Whatever you say, Sakura-chan. Speaking of my apartment, though …"

Listening to them speak so familiarly, Shikamaru was starting to feel like an intruder, something he hadn't felt since he had first come upon her in the forest. Naruto's close friendship with Sakura had never felt threatening to him, but the relationship she shared with Kakashi was clearly different.

"Shikamaru helped!" Sakura had grabbed his arm and dragged him into the conversation that he had lost track of.

Shikamaru shook his head. "I don't know what she's implying, but it's probably not true."

She glared at him and said, "Kakashi-sensei asked about his beautiful new planter."

"Ah, that. I definitely had nothing to do with it." He moved away before she could elbow him in the ribs again and continued. "I am a law abiding citizen of Konoha."

"So this hideous planter just magically appeared in my very much still locked and trapped apartment? And my laundry cleaned itself miraculously?" Kakashi looked at Sakura skeptically, not buying their denial for one second.

She shrugged. "Weirder things have happened."

He sighed, knowing that she wasn't going to crack. "I wish I could refute that." Kakashi looked between them and said, "So this is a thing now?"

Sakura pouted at him. "Do you have a problem, Kakashi-sensei?" Shikamaru felt a stab of alarm. Sakura's attachment to all her teammates was a defining part of her personality. What if the Kakashi said he disapproved and she felt like she had to leave him? Objectively, he didn't think there was anything wrong with him, but this was Hatake Kakashi, the Copy Nin. Who knows what his standards were for someone as precious as Sakura?

His fears were eased somewhat as Kakashi said. "I'm just happy to see you're over Sasuke. He was never going to be right for you."

Sakura huffed. "He's barely right for himself." She lowered her voice and leaned toward him. "He wants to resurrect his clan now, you know."

The man rubbed his masked chin. "He did say that was a goal back then, didn't he?"

"Yes! The worst part is that he asked me to marry him."

"Huh. Makes sense."

"What?!" Her hand tightened where it was still wrapped around Shikamaru's arm.

"Well, who else was he going to ask? Naruto?" Sakura went still and his eye widened. "Don't tell me he-"

"No, of course not! But maybe they should, you know, think about it."

"Sakura-chan, what are you up to?"

Sakura met his gaze defiantly. "Naruto and Sasuke could really work. They'll figure it out eventually. I'm just trying to make sure it's sooner rather than later."

Kakashi addressed Shikamaru directly for the first time. "Can't you stop her?"

Shikamaru just shrugged. "It makes her happy. Plus, have you tried to keep Sakura from something she wanted? I don't recommend it."

He grunted his agreement and sighed in resignation. "Konoha is doomed the first time they have sex."

Note: I hate everything about this chapter.