It took Sasuke another twenty-four hours to wake, and Naruto another three on top of that. Sakura had spent that time poking at Anko's seal and getting her whole miserable story along with it.
"I mean it sucks that he placed it on you and that it's been there hooked into your network for years, but it's good that you have resisted using it because it's not tightly tied in as it could have been. Basically the more you use it, the tighter it wraps around your chakra network and buries it's hooks in. I'll need to do a bit of research, and we'd have to use Orochimaru's blood as ink, but I think that we might be able to remove it, and if I think I might be able to remove yours, then I'm pretty certain that we will be able to remove the one Sasuke has. Are you willing to let me put another seal over it?"
"Sakura, if you can remove it, I'll marry you," Anko replied.
"That's not really giving me a lot of incentive if that's my fate. Sorry Anko, you're not my type."
"Oh and just who is your type?"
"Well I had a crush on Sasuke for years. So I guess that would be broody arrogant arseholes."
Anko roared with laughter, and Sakura was kind of proud that she'd made a friend in the crazed, slightly deranged woman. She was a strong kunoichi, and that was something that Sakura aspired to be herself.
"What seal would you place on top of it?" Anko asked as she was calming down.
"It would need to be a containment seal, but only after I figure out a way to draw it's hooks away from your network. It would... need to... unwind, no kai then unwind... maybe draw it to a new source..." Anko watched as Sakura's thoughts turned inward and then as she started scribbling down notes in her journal. She figured that any sealing master would be intrigued by what was in those journals.
She left when it became obvious that Sakura was going down a rabbit hole she had no clue about and couldn't offer any input into. She excused herself to go wait for more teams to arrive and Sakura waved her away absently.
The room Team 7 had been allocated was full of energy and anger when she returned later that evening. She went to her corner and started to organise the weapons she had pilfered from Orochimaru, making sure that they were maintained to her new standards and integrating them into her own supplies once she was happy with them.
"I think we need to have a chat about the future of Team 7," Kakashi announced when they were all about to start eating.
"What do you mean Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked confused. "You mean when we become chūnin?"
"You know that it's not guaranteed that you'll make chūnin even if you complete the exams right?" Sakura asked.
"Of course we will Sakura, how can we not! We're going to beat them all!"
"Actually Naruto, Sakura's right. These exams showcase a lot about not just your abilities, but your attitudes, and your capabilities to lead and your decision making skills," Kakashi said. "So just because you get through these tasks and even if you win your fights, you still might not be promoted if you need to work on other skill sets. Conversely, the opposite is true as well."
"That can't be fair!" Naruto yelled and Sakura glared at him for the volume since he had practically yelled in her ear.
"It might not seem like it at the time, but it means that you're not placed in situations that you're not equipped to handle. But that's not what I meant by Team 7s future. Sakura is going to request a transfer out of the team."
"Who's going to want a weakling like her?" Sasuke snorted.
"This weakling captured Orochimaru, got the Earth scroll he swallowed, then carried all three of you to the tower. I completed the second stage, and if it wasn't for my skills in fuuinjutsu you'd be well on your way to being a slave for that snake. Your avenging days would be over Hime."
"Sakura," Kakashi sighed. The warning in his tone was clear.
"You really captured that creepy snake guy Sakura?" Naruto asked looking at Kakashi to confirm.
"She got in a lucky hit with a seal, but she brought him in." Sakura rolled her eyes at the confirmation, begrudging as it was.
"No way." Naruto sounded like he was impressed but shocked.
"No way." Sasuke just had stunned disbelief. "You? You captured Orochimaru?" Sasuke reiterated more offensively.
Sakura pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, but ultimately stayed silent.
"We're off topic. Sakura wants to leave the team, and the Hokage has asked that I pass on these forms," Kakashi said waving a thin stack of paper in the air. "I believe he has someone already lined up to teach her."
Sakura held her hand out for the forms, but Kakashi ignored her silent request.
"What do you mean you want to leave the team! You can't leave the team!" Naruto yelled, his voice again at full volume.
"So I'm supposed to just sit back and remain unhappy? You'd like me to stay on the team and ignore the fact that my resentment will grow until all I feel is utter loathing towards all of you? Sasuke insults me and is dismissive of my strengths. He is also blind to the fact that I am improving. He thinks I'm so far beneath him and because of that he doesn't see me as a teammate. You are forever trying to save me. I don't want to be saved Naruto, I want to be able to protect myself, and to do that I need to learn how to do things on my own because Kakashi for some reason refuses to teach me. The one-on-one training sessions that you and Sasuke get, the correcting of the taijutsu stances and forms, the instructing on how and where to place your fingers so they don't get sliced by your own throwing weapons. I get none of that. I get 'your reserves are too shallow', 'you need to build up your stamina', oh and my personal favourite. 'Can't you see I'm trying to stop the boys from killing each other? Go run some laps'. So yes. I want to leave the team. I may not be a powerhouse like the rest of you, but you're all holding me back from being the best I can be in one way or another. The forms sensei. Please."
"No Sakura, you can't leave the team," Naruto said seriously. "I'm sorry. I'll, I'll let you fight. Teme won't insult you anymore, and Kakashi-sensei will teach you stuff. Just. Just don't leave. We're a family aren't we?"
Kakashi looked away and Sasuke scoffed at the sentiment. Sakura sighed thinking that if they were, they were the most messed up and dysfunctional family ever.
"Not all families are good for each other Naruto. If you want to think of this as a family you can, but I can't. I refuse to stay where I'm not wanted."
"But I want you here."
"You are not the majority of the team. Sensei, the forms," she snapped. "Please," she added with a growl.
"You're really set on leaving the team aren't you?" he mused. "What happens if you or the boys are unable to pass these exams. You need to be a team of three to sit them."
"What happens six months down the line when we go to sit the exams again and you still haven't taught me squat? When our 'teamwork' is still useless because two thirds of the team are in constant competition with each other and don't believe the last third has anything worthwhile to contribute? No thanks. I'll take my chances elsewhere."
Kakashi sighed and handed over the forms and Sakura tucked them into the well of her crossed legs before clocking out of the conversation to finally eat.
Oooo we're getting into it with everybody. Kinda hard not to when you wake up and realise that you deserve better.
Just like I deserve reviews ;p Keep them coming people. I love that you're all loving this fic.
~G