Chapter two
Intrusive thoughts
Flashback 4 years ago
Sakura stood there, pink hair short with the black and white of the ANBU uniform clashing against her pale skin. The smile that adorned her face, all the work all the time all the effort she had put in finally paying off. She stood next to Ino her best friend, whose own pale hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. Both of them stood with their fingers clasp behind their back. Ready to receive their tattoos and blank masks.
"Most people who reach this rank, are much much older than you." Lady tsunade said, hands on her desk in front of them, smile also wide at her young apprentice. She has succeeded her in many more ways and she could ever believe. "But the fact still remains that you two stand here in front of me, that means that you've earned it."
"Hai, hokage sama." Kakashi said stepping off the wall. "They have." In his arms were two animal masks. Both porcelain white. His own gear matching theirs, his mask tied to the side of his head, resembling a dog.
"These are you masks." The hokage said as kakashi handed Sakura Hers, and the other to ino. Sakura looked down on the mask that looked almost like a cat. Her slim fingers brushed the edges, caressing the fine details. "It's up to you if you want to paint them. You can always change it, but the shape and animal remain the same. Along with your code names." She pulled out two pieces of paper. Gesturing to the girls to step forward.
As they did kakashi stepped up behind them, and put a hand on either girls shoulders. The pride in this gesture alone had Sakura beaming.
"Yamanaka ino." She pulled the application out and appraised it. Putting it to the desk and scribbling something, then looking into the girls eyes. "You will be known as 'Delilah'." She nodded to Sakura, paper set down in front of her. "Haruno Sakura." She smiled at the pinkette. "You will be known as 'blossom'." Both girls nodded in acknowledgment. "While you are in front of myself, and only myself, you may remove your masks. But from this day forward. When In ANBU gear, on a mission, or during training with said gear, you are to wear your masks at all times unless I tell you otherwise." Both Kunoichis looked at one another.
"Hai." They said in unison.
"Await further instructions from your team captain." Tsunade dismissed them. Both girls looked confused.
"Hokage sama," ino started. "Are we on a team together?" She looked to her hokage then to Sakura.
"Yes yamanaka san. As of today, you two and your captain will train and complete missions until you pass your six month initiation period. After that, if one or both of you show promise you will complete your Captains training to lead your own teams, or you will be placed into a partnership with another team." She waved her hand. Both girls, if possible, grinned wider.
"Thank you shishou!" Sakura bowed low. "We will make you, and konaha proud!"
"Oi. Both of you need a good nights rest. Meet me tomorow in training ground nine at 4:30am." Kakashi said from behind them.
Sakura put her mask on. Righting the straps in place. Ino next to her did the same.
"Meet you? Wait…" ino trailed off.
"That's right. You can call me 'taichou'" he gave his eye crinckle at that last part, flipping his dog mask in place.
"Oi, sensei, I think not." Sakura said from behind her mask. Getting used to the feel of it. Ino laughed.
"Mah! Sakura, you wound me." He sighed. "In all seriousness. The battles not over just because you passed the tests." He said, turning to the open window letting in the night breeze. "I will teach you to truely know what it means to be elite shinobi of Konahas ANBU special forces." With that he gave a bow to tsunade and flickered out the window. Both ino and Sakura in tow.
"Aye. I hope they can handle him." Tsunade rested her chin in her hand, watching the pinkette and blond disappear into the night. "Hell, I hope they can handle the pressure and pain that comes with this." She looked over the applications and test scores. Sakura showed true promise of captain ship in six months time, yamanaka and her worked well together on the six month course. She would likely appoint her to sakuras squad when all was said and done.
She pulled out her sake and a glass from the drawer on the bottom left. Poured herself a full glass and downed it. Standing to walk to the window and enjoy the view.
"Take care of them kakashi. I trust you to do them right." She spoke to the breeze.
Present day
She jogged, the morning dew still hanging on the spring air. Kakashis presence a mer whisper next to her pakkun on her heel. The electricity of aching muscles burning her as she continued on.
The wonderful thing about running with Kakashi, was the silence. He never prodded her with questions like lee. He didn't poke at her wounds like Naruto. He left her with her thoughts, let her run her heart out, keeping pace with her.
Nowadays she could out run the man, he and she both knew it. But it had been so long she kept herself in check. Letting the ease of the run jolt her calves, loosen her body up, revel in the feel of blood pumping in her system.
It was wonderful. A smile graced her lips momentarily. Fading quickly as they reached their fourth lap, coming into a brisk walk as they reached the bridge. Their bridge. Team sevens bridge. Finally dwindling down they stopped.
"Well." He breathed. "I didn't know you could keep an old man like me in check." Kakashi gleamed up at her, a slight sweat on his brow. Pakkun all but keeled over.
"Your not old sensei," she smiled, not in the slight put out by their pace. "Your only seven years my senior." Her mood dramatically changed with the fresh air.
"Mah. Pup, that's like, 139 in dog years!" Pakkun groaned.
Kakashi stretched his neck giving it a pop. Sakura stretched her arms over her shoulders poping her own in turn.
"Well if you put it that way." Sakura laughed. "I guess you are old sensei." Her features shined with the sun, closing her eyes and feeling the warmth on her skin.
"Coffee?" He smiled at her, pointing a finger over his shoulder. "My treat."
"Wow, who are you and what have you done with my taichou?" She shook her head.
"Mah Sakura. You wound me! I can do nice things for my number one student every now and again." He feigned hurt, turning on his heel.
"Oi, but usually you run off and leave us with the bill. You sure a frog didn't steal your wallet sensei?" She grinned up at him, following his lead.
"No no, I have my wallet. My treat, seriously." He put both hands in his pockets, pakkun catching up and falling in step with the two nins. Casually they made their way over the bridge.
"Hai, I remember meeting here often as genin." She sighed, hands coming behind her back as she absorbed the old haunt.
"I remember you always showing up first. A new technique to practice."
"How would you know? Sensei? You were always late. Half the time you didn't show up until we were in the training grounds." She giggled. "Like that one time, you showed up four hours late, what did you say?" She put a finger to her chin. "Oi! That's right. You said a wicked mage showed up and transported you to Lightning country. That you had to battle him and run all the way there. Then you made us buy you ramen. Naruto and sasuke were both mad as hell." She chuckled.
"Mah. They weren't mad at me, they were mad you beat them in taijustu. Then proceeded to best them with genjutsu." He gave her an eye crinkle.
"And you know that because you were in training field three with guy sensei most that morning getting your ass handed to you." She grinned at him.
His face fell. "No. I defiantly beat him. The mage as well. I never finished that story, you see after battling him, saving two kittens from a burning building AND running back from lighting country. I beat might guy. It was truely one for the history books." He shrugged. Slowing a bit to look out onto the water.
"Hn." Sakura smiled, looking over the side to the bridge. "You know what they say sensei, a lie gets halfway around the world before truth gets a chance to put its pants on." Continuing their pace and stepping down off the bridge and into the market district.
"Oi. I have heard that." He dead panned. "The truth is, it was only one kitten, and guy may have gotten in a single hit." He followed her.
"Sure sensei. Sure." She laughed again.
Sakuras eyes shot up. "What did you just say?" her iced carmel macchiato untouched in her hands. The condensation on the outside of her cup wetting her gloves.
"Mah. Sakura. I'm supposed to be the old one here." Kakashi dead panned. "I said," he enunciated. "Sasuke, and itachi, should be arriving at the front gates this afternoon." His one visible eye watched her closely, the loose strands of her bangs framing her face. Her eyes unwavering.
"Wow." She stated, runnning her fingers over the ledge of her cup. She took a long sip. Enjoying the separation of espresso and milk mixing on her tongue. "I'm surprised naruto didn't tell me this morning." She put an elbow on the table, resting her chin in an outstretched hand.
"I doubt he knew. Itachi sent word to tsunade sama yesterday." He took his own mug and sipped through his mask. "Are you ok?"
"What?" She stopped head popping up a bit. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, Sakura," the waitress came over and handed Kakashi a plate of peanut butter cookies. "Hn?"
"Ordered them for pakkun." She replied, setting the plate down for the rambunctious pug.
"Thanks pup!" He replied cheerfully scarfing down a few and choking a bit. Sakura set down a mug of water as well.
"Well, Sakura." He started again. "You haven't seen him since he left five years ago."
"A lot has changed since then Kakashi." She smiled scornfully. "I'm no longer that girl. That torn little fragile girl. I'm ANBU now. A damn good medic, and I'll be damned if I let that boys actions turn me back into a mushy teenage angst brat again."
"Well. Your still a brat." He gave her a signature eye crinkle. She laughed. "But I guess your right. You most definatly have grown." He pulled out his orange icha Icha book.
"Really Kakashi?" She rolled her eyes. "Im pretty sure you can recite that edition at this point."
"What can I say? I came for the porn, stayed for the plot." He said not dropping his book down. Pakkuns feroucious munching continued.
"On that note." She peered down at her watch. "I'm going to go get some practice in before I have to see tsunade shishou."
"What time do you meet with her?" His dark charcoal eyes met her dim green. "Still working on that move?"
"Same time as every week. She wants me in at 10." She pulled out her wallet. "Also, yes, I almost have it down. Trying to figure out how to use less chakra and pin point the Trajection."
"No. I said It was a treat, I meant that. Also, your not tipping I am." He pushed her money away.
"At least let me pay for pakkuns cookies." She pouted.
"Mah. Sakura. I can take care of his bill too. I owe him anyways." He waved her off.
"Arigato Kakashi senpai. If you get a chance, I wanted to get dinner with naruto sometime this week. I need to make more of a point if I want to keep him from breaking more doors." She smiled, as she collected her belongings and cup.
"You can say that again." He said, sipping more coffee. "Also, make sure to give him the key. Don't forget."
"Hai. I'll track him down later, promise." She held her pinky out, giving a slight bow as she stood and turned to leave. "See you later taichou!" She waved. kakashi put the book down on his chest.
"See you later Sakura." He wondered why she was still going to see tsunade. Didn't her therapy sessions end a few months back? He looked to pakkun. Who laid stretched out on the floor of the coffee shop. Empty plate by his head.
"Pakkun." He said.
"Yes boss?" Pakkun stood to attention
"I want you to follow Sakura." He said, looking the ninken in the eye. "Report back to me later."
"Mah, You that worried boss?" Pakkuns brows furrowed.
"Not particularly. I just feel something is off. She's been off active duty for a year now." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Tsunade won't tell me where she's at mentally." He sighed. Putting his book in his pocket. He pulled out his wallet and dropped the ryo on the table. Leaving a bit over for the tip.
"Aye. Boss I got you covered." The ninken turned to leave.
"Pakkun." The pug stopped and looked at kakashi. "Try to find out what's being discussed with her and tsunade." Pakkun nodded and took off.
Kakashi stood, finished his coffee and tossed out the foam cup. Mind still focused on the pinkette.
Sakura stood still hands outstretched, fingers poised. Rolling her shoulders back. She lifted one knee to her chest and crouched. Sliding her foot back a few inches as she formed hand seals.
Purple chakra ebbed to view as her arm tightened with the force of it, she channeled it out above her newly formed fist, creating an edge. Razor sharp.
She swung, pushing more chakra outwards. A chirping noise rang from her arm as she charged the tree, slicing up and flipping backwards into a dive at the ground. The burst of sharpness made a crackling noise as the tree snapped in two.
Landing with her fist pushing into the ground and creating a hole the size of her thigh that went deep into the ground. Purple chakra dissipated in waves over the rocky terrain.
"Hai. That's almost what I wanted." She had tried to cut the tree cleanly, and the top half should have splintered into thousands of pieces. Creating a wooden senbon strike. The hole in the ground was supposed to create a wave effect. Causing ripple effect.
She almost had it down. A move of her own. The idea had come to her awhile back, after trying the chidori out for the first time. Kakashi was so stunned she had gotten it so fast. Only took her two trys. They were both surprised her lighting was purple. Apparently purple was rare for lighting users.
She backed up. Feeling the weight of the chakra. Dispersing it to her limb again. Forming the hand signs. The sharp edge of purple chakra, she swung, cutting the air the bird song louder this time. Slicing the tree this time she pushed the chakra up and forward, like putting your finger against a strong spout of water, the tree splintered as it split. She dove back and landed on the rock. A small wave bounded as a earth shattering fist smacked down.
"Hai!" She yelled. Her sweat breaking heavy plastering her bangs to her forehead. Too much to disperse at once. She was making progress, she just had to figure out how to cut down the amount of chakra she was dispensing.
"That was impressive." A calm voice called from behind her.
She turned. Spotting sai sitting on a branch schetch pad in hand about 20 yards away.
"Hai. Thank you sai." She huffed.
"I see you've pinpointed it." He nodded to the tree. The one that looked like it had been through a wood chipper. He continued scethching on his pad as he hopped down to the training field. "Looking better and better blossom." She was glad he had stopped using the term "ugly" to refer to her.
"But I still can't seem to cut down the chakra usage." She tugged her gloves higher on her bicep. Flexing her fingers. The tension popping in her nuckles.
"That is true. I guess Lightning release Jutsu uses more chakra at command. He continued until he stood next to her finishing his drawling. Then turned it towards her, a scratch mix scratch of a girl flying backwards in a twirl, hands positioned perfectly for a counter attack. She was gracefully turning her hips in a arch, as if to land a move in a entertainment production.
"Wow sai. You some how seem to capture the best moments of my practice and turn me into an ethereal dancer." She appraised the drawling with a sharp eye. "How ever, you've made my chest bigger than it really is. Also my legs are not that long."
He gave her a flat tone. "Hn. Blossom, it seems you don't have a mirror at home. I captured you exactly." He turned the pad back to look it over. "I assure you, your body and physique are exact." He closed the pad. "Have you eatten?"
"Hai. But not since breakfast." She looked at her watch. "Fuck. I'm also late. Maybe after my meeting we can grab lunch?" She gave him a smile, one that almost reached her eyes.
"Only if you stop doing that." He pointed to her face as she picked up her training weapons and started to seal them in her storage scroll.
"Stop doing what?" Her brows furrowed.
"I told you. Even I, who don't really understand people, can tell a fake smile from a real one. I told you then, and I'll tell you now. If you have to fake it, don't smile." He stared at her.
"Well." She blinked. Face going blank. "Fair." She sighed. Putting the scroll away. "I have to go sai. I'll meet you for lunch at ichirakus for lunch in an hour, hour and a half?" He nodded. "If you see naruto, tell him to come along. I have to give him something." She waved, "see you later!"
He waved back, as she dove off in the direction of the hokage tower, unknowingly to her Pakkun taking up her flank.
