Over the table in front of them, Tsunade's finger flew, pointing out various locations on the diagram that was embroidered into the tablecloth. Sakura, straining her concentration to the limit, strove to remember on the fly all she had learned in the past two years. "Sternum! The fourth keirakukei channel! Renal vein! Brain stem! Sciatic nerve! Keimon, the Gate of Joy!"
"And what does it do?" Tsunade demanded to know.
"Keimon limits the amount of chakra flowing through the abdomen."
"Why couldn't a chakra infusion be attempted through the Gate of Joy?" Tsunade prompted her.
"Bursts of chakra cannot be suddenly fed into any of the gates without serious damage being done to the patient. However, it can be fed slowly into the tenketsu or keirakukei."
"Then why do chakra infusions exist, if they're proven to be so hazardous?" challenged Tsunade.
"They are to be used as a last resort, if it is determined that the damage caused by a chakra infusion would be outweighed by the damage of another injury."
"And why don't infusions threaten a dying patient?"
"Because the gates open when the body senses that death is imminent," Sakura finished. She was thrilled that she had been able to remember everything from the medic scrolls, and Tsunade seemed pleased, too, in her reserved way.
"Since the discovery of chakra, many great medical advances have been made," she said. "But remember that chakra is not an instant miracle-worker. It has rules that govern its use, and it could kill just as easily as it could save a life." She stared at Sakura soberly. "That's why you have to know all this by heart—not only that, but remember it with perfect clarity, even when there are lives in the balance. The knowledge required of a medic ninja is far greater than that needed by an ordinary shinobi." She pulled a wry grin. "That's why I wondered why you wanted to become my apprentice in the first place."
"I want to heal and help my fellow shinobi, Lady Tsunade!" Sakura declared earnestly. "Someday, I'll be as gifted a medic as you are!"
"Yes, you will," Tsunade mused. "You don't have a huge level of chakra, but your control of your chakra is phenomenal. And you can memorize terms faster than anyone I've ever met. You're the perfect kunoichi to be my apprentice. At your current rate of progress, you'll probably surpass me eventually."
"Really?" Sakura said delightedly. "Thank you, Sensei!"
"It's not flattery; it's the truth," Tsunade told her. She got up from the table and stretched. "Aah, all this drilling makes me dizzy. We'll call it a day." She left the room, calling over her shoulder, "Review the clotting procedures once more before you go."
"Yes, ma'am!" Sakura replied. She pulled the practice dummy out of the corner and laid it on its back. As she pressed her hands into the dummy's upper arm, practicing the chakra application for a severed brachial artery, Shizune walked in.
"Hard at work as usual, I see," she remarked with a smile. "Don't forget that you have to keep up the pressure, even if the victim asks you to stop. And keep your hands steady— sometimes the blood makes things slippery." Sakura sat back on her heels and decided to ask the question she had been wondering about for some time.
"Lady Shizune," she began, "why do I have to use this mannequin?" When Shizune looked puzzled, Sakura went on, "I mean . . . why haven't I practiced on a cadaver yet, or even done internship at Konoha Hospital? I know it's hard to see surgical procedures and injuries up close," she conceded, "but how am I ever going to learn—how can I become an asset to the Medical Corps—unless I'm allowed to get hands-on experience?" She bit her lip. "Doesn't Lady Tsunade think I'm ready?"
Shizune seemed rueful and almost embarrassed. "No, that's not it, Sakura. Actually, you should have graduated to cadavers some time ago. It's just that . . ." She sighed deeply. ". . . with Lady Hokage's fear of blood, well . . ."
"Lady Tsunade has hemophobia?" Sakura ejaculated incredulously.
"Yes," Shizune admitted in a low voice. ". . . And that's why she hasn't gotten any cadavers from the morgue. She struggles against this innate fear—and she's afraid for you, too. You see, oftentimes when medical apprentices get their first glimpse of blood and sutures . . . when they see firsthand how brutal the field of battle can be . . ." She shrugged helplessly. "They back out of training. And that's why m'lady is . . . holding you back. She just doesn't want a student with so much potential to be dropped from the program."
Sakura was touched by this information. "Thank you," she murmured. "I'm happy both of you have such confidence in me." She stared at Shizune. "But I can't let myself be slack in my training. I have to keep getting better and better. You understand, don't you, Lady Shizune?"
"Yes, I do. Maybe we can help Lady Hokage see things your way." Shizune smiled and helped Sakura to her feet. "You're one of the most promising students Konoha has seen in many years, Sakura. You know that?"
"I'm glad you think so," Sakura mumbled, blushing. "I'm doing my best."
They went downstairs, and Shizune left to find Tsunade. When a knock came from the front door and Sakura opened it, she was glad neither women were there. It was Hirota Tatami, a fellow medic student of hers studying from a master next door. She got the feeling he was sweet on her, but she couldn't bring herself to resist his company. The brown-haired boy was good-natured and enjoyable to be with. More importantly, he was just as earnest about his training as Sakura was, and they had gotten into many a discussion about the fine applications of medicine to the ill and wounded. His eyes brightened when he saw it was her. "Hey, Sakura. I got off about an hour ago, and I figured you'd still be at it, the way Master Tsunade works you." He grinned to show he was teasing. "Can I come in? Or better yet, can you come out?" Sakura laughed.
"Sure. Come on in, Tatami."
"So what have you been studying?" he asked as he came inside.
"Just simple identification—anatomy labeling, that sort of thing," Sakura told him, trying not
to sound embarrassed. Her current work was meant for younger apprentices—practically beginners.
"You haven't gotten your hands dirty yet?" He kept his tone light, but she could tell he was surprised. She was supposed to have moved on months ago.
"Well, Lady Tsunade doesn't seem to think I'm ready," Sakura explained awkwardly. She would never be so impudent as to speak out against her teacher, but deep down, she was impatient to be given training for which she could actually rise to the challenge.
"That's a shame," Tatami remarked. "I mean, it's no picnic or anything, working with the wounded. I have to be the best I can possibly be, and sometimes it's still not good enough. Good thing I have Master Igaku watching my back." When he saw the disheartened look on Sakura's face, he said quickly, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been bragging."
"No, it's all right," Sakura assured him. "I wanted to know what it's like."
"Well, do you want to go out?" he asked her, changing the subject. "Even us medic students have to take a break once in a while, right?"
"Yes, I'd—" Sakura stopped when Tsunade entered the room. "Oh, m'lady!" she greeted her master, and both she and Tatami instantly bowed. "Th-this is Hirota Tatami," Sakura introduced him, hoping Tsunade wouldn't be angry. "He . . . he invited me to go out with him." She shut one eye and waited. Either Tsunade would berate her for the suggestion of slacking off, or she would permit them to leave. As it turned out, she did the former.
"Sakura, you're fourteen years old now," she pointed out impatiently and waved her hand. "Act your age." Stung by her master's criticism, Sakura went red and bowed her head.
"Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry." She turned in disappointment to Tatami and said quietly, "You'll have to leave now. I must get back to my training."
"Sakura!" Tsunade sounded more irritable than before, and Sakura snapped to attention.
"Yes, Sensei?" But she was surprised to see that Lady Tsunade was smiling.
"Didn't you hear what I said?" She gestured at the door. "Go act your age." At last realizing what her teacher meant, Sakura beamed.
"Thank you, m'lady! I won't stay out long, I promise."
"Good," Tsunade agreed approvingly. "Because when you get back, I'll take you over to the hospital. It's high time you started training with the real thing." Sakura's grin became even wider as she left the Hokage's palace with Tatami. She couldn't picture a more perfect birthday present.