"Yes, Mifune-san" Sakura sits straight in her chair while gazing at him "Why did the Hokage choose you as one of her escorts" Mifune gets straight to the point causing Sakura to let out a small laugh "Ah well this meeting is kind of about me and what I asked Lady Tsunade" Sakura rubs the back of her head sheepishly before feeling the rapidly approaching familiar chakra of "Gaara" and almost runs from Mifune's office to greet the boy but Sakura had the grace to wait holding herself on the edge of her chair until Mifune gestured for her to follow him.
Meanwhile Mifune was thinking over Sakura's words as they walked through the halls 'What could cause the Hokage to call a 5 Kage Summit meeting' he thought bowing low to greet the Kazekage while Sakura did the same "Welcome Lord Kazekage" Mifune greets while Sakura practically attaches herself to the red-head "Gaara what are you doing here and is that Baki as the Kazekage" the pinkette speaks rapidly causing the one she was talking to, to pull her into a hug all while chuckling.
"When I heard that it was the Hokage who had called the meeting I was worried about you and I had to find out" Gaara admits while Sakura giggles "Silly I'm just fine" she ruffles his short hair before releasing the boy "If you'd follow me this way Baki-sama I'll take you and your escorts to the conference room" Mifune speaks up after watching all of this before whisking the three away Sakura trailing behind waiting outside the door a moment later Mifune reappears "So you said that you'd be able to find something for me to do" Sakura asks curiously aftera moment.
"Of course how good are you at chakra control" Mifune enquires smirking internally when the girl stares at him in surprise or was that a look of exasperation "I'm the best in my class of graduates and 1 of the three to graduate to chunin" Sakura reels off proudly "Ah I see and how good are you at using that tanto sword on your back" Mifune asks he had seen the sword and wondered how well Sakura could use it "Hehehe well I actually haven't trained with it yet" Sakura admits a little put out at the thought.
"How would you like to learn some sword techniques" he offers the corner of his lips tilting up when she holds back an extremely loud squeal "Of course it would only the best thing ever to learn from a true samurai warrior" Sakura claps her hands together excitedly and let's Mifune lead her to a training room "Ok Sakura-san I'm going to run you through several stances and I want you to repeat them back to me" Mifune orders pulling his own sword from it's sheath and settling into his favorite stance prompting Sakura to do the same flawlessly.
'Hmm it seems she has prior training' he thought interestedly "Sakura-san have you recieved any prior training" Mifune asks his eyebrows furrowing in surprise when she shakes her head no "Then how are you able to copy me perfectly there are no mistakes in your stance at all" Mifune calls out completely confused while Sakura pressed her lips together to keep from laughing at the man "Ah well I'm a quick learner" she sums it up as best she can before straightening and waiting for the next order of instructions from her impromptu instructor.
For the next several hours Mifune ran Sakura through the literal ringer as he made her do all kind of stances or position her short sword this way or that way Mifune had just started teaching Sakura to push chakra into her sword to make it more deadly when they are called away apparently a fight had broken out between the Tsuchikage and temporary Kazekage and they were going to break it up pushing through the doors Sakura winces at the purpling bruise on Baki's face but doesn't walk over to him as the argument was still going on.
While this was going on Tsunade and Mei were watching in amusement and making no move to intervene and stop the fight "Lord Baki, Lord Ohnoki what is the problem if I may ask" Mifune steps forward chakra flowing off of him drawing the two fighting Kage's attention onto him "He insulted Gaara" Baki points an accusing finger at Ohnoki who smirks "Yes because you shouldn't have brought him here that boy has a demon within him and he could kill us all" Ohnoki crosses his arms as if his point had been made.
"Why you stu.." Baki was about to continue seething with anger when a light weight on his arm makes him pause "Sakura-san" he smiles pleasantly at the little girl "Baki-san your the Kazekage now you shouldn't let little things like that get to you besides we know the truth even Gaara knows the truth" Sakura speaks softly dissipating the tension in the room "Your right Sakura-san I'm sorry for reacting badly to your words Tsuchikage-sama I ask for your forgiveness" Baki bows his head causing the others to blink in surprise.
"Why, I, fine your forgiven for you transgressions agaist me the Tsuchikage" Ohnoki sits back in his chair and quiet follows once more "If there is nothing else" Mifune looks around before turning on his heel gesturing for Sakura to follow and exits the room "Would you like to learn that technique now" Mifune asks continuing on as if Kage's fighting between each other were a regular occurence for him "Of course Mifune-san" Sakura keeps pace with him easily and he wonders what else the girl was good at.
"Ok like I was explaining earlier you have to push your chakra into the blade" Mifune instructs showing Sakura first before letting her try it and as he had expected Sakura get's it right immediately what was odd though she didn't have the normal blue chakra instead her's was purple and it crackled like lightning with silver streaks swirling in it every so often mixing together "Did you know that your chakra was purple and silver" he asks suddenly making Sakura lose concentration and look up "Uh no that's the first time I've ever seen it like that before" she admits.
While she was talking to Mifune on the outside, Sakura was also talking to Inner 'Hey Inner what's the big idea why has the color of my chakra changed' Sakura calls out 'Your getting stronger' is all the girl says without appearing conversation over with Inner, Sakura pulls out of her thoughts and focuses on Mifune who after several minutes of being silent was speaking again "It's simply amazing I wonder if your Hokage would be opposed to letting you stay here and train under me" Mifune thought aloud causing Sakura to blink up at him in surprise.
"That's really up to Lady Tsunade" Sakura says reluctantly while scratching her head "You sounded a little reluctant there" Mifune scratches his beard while peering down at the girl in question "Well not that I'm opposed to being trained by you Mifune-san because it's an amazing offer it's just I already have someone I want to train me" Sakura admits with a soft smile "I see" Mifune frowns in thought "Come along I have to make my rounds outside" Mifune orders before leading Sakura from the room and outside.
-Meanwhile inside the Conference Room-
"That child is something else" Mei admits "I've only know her a few short months" Tsunade was quick to join the conversation "We've known Sakura for at least 6 months" Baki admits reluctantly when the two women look at him expectantly "Why is the brat so nice to you" Tsunade blurts out next "What are you talking about Lady Tsunade, Sakura-san has always been kind" Baki stares at her in confusion while Tsunade laughs "Your joking right sure she may act sweet but she's a brat through and through" the woman grumbles out.
"I think she just enjoy's riling you up Lady Tsunade" Baki teases "Your one of those people that she can be herself with" he admits a moment later causing Tsunade to blink in surprise but remain silent in thought "Wait a minute are we talking about Sakura Aburame" Zabuza appears adding himself into the conversation "Yes how do you know her" Tsunade swivels her head around to get a good look at the man "Oh she helped us out a while back" Zabuza shrugged not really elaborating.
"Wait a second Zabuza you mean that's the girl who helped you find Utakata and Gatou" Mei turned around in her seat "Yes" Zabuza answers simply "Was she.. how do I put this was she bratty back then" Tsunade asks leaning forward in her own chair "No in fact she was very helpful and polite" Zabuza finished before disappearing again leaving the rooms occupants wanting more information on the tiny girl that was somehow taking everyone by the storm even Tsunade who would deny it with every fiber of her being.
-Outside-
Mifune was watching Sakura who as scanning her surroundings with a keen perception and an alertness that older shinobi seemed to possess "Do you know your chakra nature" Mifune asks suddenly disturbing Sakura "Ah no I mostly just use my bug summons and taijutsu" Sakura finally says after a few minutes "Bug Summons" Mifune blinks in confusion "Yes plume moth summoning contract" Sakura sits down on a log after answering Mifune's question "How much control do you have over them" Mifune sits once he deemed the area safe while asking his next question.
"Well I've been training with them since I was 7 so a fair amount of control" Sakura thought for several minutes before answering "I have an idea why don't you send out one of your moths to search for Lord Raikage and give him this letter" Mifune pulls a letter out from underneath his armor while giving his suggestion to Sakura who hops up excited to help out "Of course Mifune-san do you want me to tell him to wait for Lord Raikage to send a letter back" Sakura asks thinking past the original suggestion.
"That's a brilliant idea Sakura-san" Mifune gives a smile of surprise while pulling out an extra sheet of paper before pausing "You said him" he asks confused "Oh that's right Tomo-kun" Sakura also pauses in the middle of her handsigns to answer before continuing on before swiping a bit of her blood on her palm and slamming it onto a tree "Plume Moth Summoning Jutsu" Sakura calls out and a poof of smoke "Sakura-sama" a slightly deeper voice calls out respectfully.
"Tomo did you get bigger again" Sakura asks in shock "I'm a growing moth Sakura-sama of course I've gotten bigger" the bug huffs out "Did you have a job for me Sakura-sama" Tomo asks "Ah yes Tomo-kun we need you to go find Lord Raikage and give him this letter also wait unless he wishes to write a response" Sakura orders while tying the letter and an extra sheet of paper around his body "What does Lord Raikage look like" Tomo asks when Sakura was finished who blushes in embarrasment.
"Ah well um what does Lord Raikage look like Mifune-san" Sakura mumbles before turning to the person who was there with her "Like this" Mifune holds up a picture of a dark-skinned man and small onyx eyes "I got it" Tomo announces after studying the picture before zooming off into the darkening sky "Do you think he'll be alright" Mifune asks in concern "Oh yeah Tomo-kun will be fine" Sakura nods "Well I suppose we should head in now it is getting quite dark" Mifune leads Sakura back to the building to get some rest.
-With Ay and his escorts-
"Hey boss why do you think the Hokage called a meeting" Darui rubbed his hands up and down his arms his teeth chattering together as the three of them huddled around a fire Cee had created "No idea if that woman doesn't have a valid reason then I'm leaving" came from Ay when "Lord Raikage we have company" Cee announces being a sensor type was definitely rewarding most of the time like now with those 5 words the three jump to their feet right as a bug the size of their heads comes flying into the clearing.
They were even more wary when the bug stops right in front of Ay "You are Raikage-sama correct" the bugs asks while Ay glares hard at him "Depends who's asking" Ay barks out "I'm sorry my name is Tomo and I have a letter for you from Mifune-sama" Tomo flies low if he had been human they would say he was bowing before landing on Ay's arm so that the man could relieve him of the letter once Ay had read the letter he peered curiously at Tomo not that he would admit it to anyone.
"I've never heard of Mifune having a contract with bugs" Ay asks distrust clear in his eyes "Oh no you've got it wrong Raikage-sama, I belong to Sakura-sama who is at the summit meeting as one of Lady Tsunade's escorts" Tomo responds still sitting on Ay's arm who was about to shake the nosey bug off "I've been requested to stay in the case you wished to write a response" Tomo pipes up when he notices this "I don't just tell Mifune we'll be there tomorrow" Ay growls out and Tomo flies off.
When Tomo got back it was much later than he anticipated but Sakura was waiting up for him "Sakura-sama, Lord Raikage will be here tomorrow he didn't specify what time just that he would be arriving tomorrow" Tomo huffs out exhausted from flying a long distance "Good work Tomo-kun" Sakura pats his fuzzy head a pleased expression on her face before releasing the summons so that he could go home 'I'll tell Mifune-san in the morning' Sakura thought with a yawn she almost layed down but then she remembered she still had to do her ritual.
Sneaking out wasn't easy especially with all of the samurai's patrolling the area but Sakura managed it only to sigh a moment later "Shikaku-san" she called softly and the man appeared from the shadows "Sakura-san are you heading out for your ritual" Shikaku had just caught her again and he was going to get more information out of Sakura this time "Yes, and also to talk to Lord Jashin" Sakura admits walking slowly headed for the clearing that she and Mifune had been in earlier that day.
"Here this will tell you everything you want to know Shikaku-san just please don't wig out and wake up Lady Tsunade when I don't wake up immediately" Sakura turns around suddenly biting her lip nervously while holding out a book for Shikaku to take "I understand" Shikaku takes the book before hopping into a tree to read it while thumbing through the pages and scanning the information Sakura jumps into a tree across from him and begins her ritual only she changes the prayer a bit before falling over in a faint like the other night.
-Jashin's Garden-
"Sakura" Jashin grins darkly at the pink-haired girl whispering her name as if it was poison having expected this Sakura sighs "I know your angry Lord Jashin it's just some harmless information besides at least he believes me" Sakura tried smiling but it comes out as a grimace mulling over Sakura's words Jashin nods before standing "Come there is something I must show you young acolyte" he orders leading the way through his garden of destruction "What is it Lord Jashin" Sakura asks in confusion but follows him nonetheless.
"Before humans existed God's walked the earth" Jashin began "I've been here for millions of years 5 years from now something is going to happen that will threaten this world and destroy it" he finished gesturing for Sakura to sit "Hidan knows this and that is why when you get back from this meeting he will ask your Leader to take you from the village for no more than 3 years to train you in everything he can so that you will be prepared for this threat" Jashin gives a heavy sigh he hated it when he had to be diplomatic.
Reverting back to God of Slaughter was much easier as Sakura digested the new information "I understand Lord Jashin" Sakura bows her head and nearly leaves when the reason she had come here pops back into her head "Oh Lord Jashin there are a couple of questions I'd like to ask" Sakura plops down on the ground in front of his throne while Jashin sat and chuckled darkly "You are an inquisitive child young acolyte for this I will answer any question you'd like" he smiled a sinister smile propping his head atop his fist.
"I never noticed before but now that it has been pointed out to me my chakra has changed colors why would it do that" Sakura reeled off quickly "Your chakra has changed colors because of your temporary immortality the more I give it to you and then take away the darker your chakra will become" Jashin explains "Oh well that makes sense" Sakura nods again before thinking about any other questions she'd like to ask when it becomes apparent her brain was drawing a blank she disappears from the garden.
Sitting up with a groan Sakura rubs her head sending healing chakra to her temples to rid herself of the headache that had formed looking around she found herself back in her bed and it was almost morning eyes widen 'Crap I must've really freaked out Shikaku-san' Sakura thought with a grimace throwing her covers to the side Sakura gives a small hiss at the cold floor before hurrying into the adjoining bathroom for a quick shower before exiting the bathroom.
Making sure her hair was secure in a towel Sakura dresses before drying her hair making sure that it was dry she braids her hair then wraps a piece of cloth at the end tying it off exiting the room she runs into Mifune who gives her a small smile quickly hurrying on his way "Oh Tomo-kun returned last night Lord Raikage send that he would be here sometime today he just didn't specify when" Sakura called out suddenly remembering that little information "Splendid" Mifune marvels as Sakura tags along seeing people stumbling out of their rooms with a yawn.
"I see your finally awake Sakura" Shikaku steps in front of the girl who had tried to give him a heart attack last night "Yeah it took longer than I thought" Sakura admits sheepishly when Shikaku stares her down "I'm sorry" she squeaks out before quickly walking down the hall to catch up with Mifune who had kept walking "Mifune-san do you mind if I practice my own jutsu's today" Sakura ducks under shelf when she almost walks into it "I don't mind I have things that need to get done today" Mifune glances down at her briefly.
"Ok thanks Mifune-san" Sakura skips off heading for the training room 'Today I will summon Rora' she thinks in determination while sitting on the ground "Summoning Jutsu" Sakura calls out slamming her palm down on the ground 'Nothing' Sakura's shoulders droop before trying again and again and well maybe tries later 'NOTHING' she screams in her mind gripping her hair in her hands and tugging "Why can't I summon Rora" Sakura pouted drawing a few chuckles from the samurai's training in the room.
"Did you just say Rora as in the plume moth" the tsuchikage followed by the other Kage's asks entering the room just in time to hear that name "Yeah but no matter what I do or how strong I become she just won't come for me, why do you ask Lord Tsuchikage" Sakura stands stretching "The last known holder of that particular summons was a woman named Yukina Kamizuru" Ohnoki sighs remembering the woman until she went over to the dark side "What happened to her" Sakura asks seeing the expression on the old man's face.
"Some say she gave birth to a demon her lover was the god of slaughter or something to that effect" Ohnoki's eyes cloud over in thought "Actually you look just like Yukina except for the fact you have pink hair and she had purple and your eyes are 3 shades lighter while Yukina had forest green eyes" he lists off from memory causing Sakura to pale at the description "Was her lover's name Jashin" Sakura gulps wincing slightly as Tsunade's neck snaps when the woman whips her head around to stare at her for uttering that name.
"Yeah that's what it was Jashin" Ohnoki remembers suddenly his voice trailing off as he leaves the room the others exiting the room as well 'INNER' Sakura yells slipping into Inner's world with ease 'Yes, Saku-chan' Inner appears looking different than she remembered 'Nevermind' Sakura sighed pulling herself out of her thoughts deciding she had practiced enough for the day she exits the room to head outside when she felt dizzy "Sakura-san, Sakura-san are you alright" a voice was calling to her but she couldn't reach it she just kept swimming.
A few minutes later Sakura comes to Tsunade was leaning over her "Lady Tsunade" she sits up with a groan "Are you alright" Tsunade was tempted to whack the girl over the head again "I'm fine I just think I was thinking to much" Sakura gave small laugh and smiled up at the blonde woman "Well I don't think anything is wrong because I checked and your perfectly fine just don't over do yourself" Tsunade orders before stalking out of the room standing Sakura sneaks out and heads into the forest well not that she was actively trying to hide because everyone knew she had left she just needed some alone time or otherwise she was going to go stir crazy.
Reaching the clearing Sakura lays down in the snow watching the clouds drift by 'I wonder how Shikamaru is doing' suddenly popped into her head 'Will he miss me' came after before Sakura let out a long deep sigh and then "Thinking about Shikamaru" Shikaku asks leaning against a tree watching the girl "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Sakur gives a shriek of surprise she had been so consumed in her thoughts that she had missed Shikaku sneaking up on her "Calm down didn't mean to startle you Sakura-san" Shikaku chuckles out.
"That wasn't funny Shikaku-san" Sakura scolds cutely her nose scrunching up causing Shikaku to chuckle even more "You should be more aware of your surrounds" Shikaku pats her head before sitting next to her on the ground and leaning back to watch the clouds "I used to do this all the time with Shikamaru in the academy during lunch" was said by Sakura several minutes later "I know Shikamaru wouldn't stop talking about you it was really adorable for a kid with zero motivation he sure could get motivated when he was talking about you" Shikaku says fondly thinking of the memories of when the kids were all so much younger and so much cuter than they were "Hehe" Sakura giggles out probably imagining the memory.
Shikaku and Sakura lay there for a while longer before "You really like Shikamaru don't you" Shikaku sighs out "Yes, Shikaku-san I really do" Sakura answers with a sigh of her own "Tell you what when we get back to the village I'll meet with Shibi and draw up an arranged marriage between our clans for you and Shikamaru" Shikaku offers and Sakura stares in surprise "I would like that" she admits shyly sitting up on her elbows to look at the much taller man before they both felt a large chakra headed their way the Raikage had just arrived.