Naruko hadn't been sure what to expect, after a month of therapy and sessions with the Yamanaka Mind Healer, a pleasant man named Inoichi who had looked horrified at realizing his daughter Ino was practicing using T tactics on mentally provoking and breaking people down on others her age, but she hadn't expected Sayuri and Sakura to look... well, traumatized was the only word to describe it.
Sakura's long hair was cut short, her normally light make up conspicuously absent, her eyes scanning the training ground cautiously. She looked exhausted, and her outfit looked as if she had thrown it on in the last minute.
Sayuri looked even worse. Her face was pale, her eyes sunken, her black eyes looking almost dead. If not for her breathing and the barely conscious motions of her hands twitching toward where her kunai pouch used to be, Naruko would have thought she was dead.
"Hey guys, you okay?" Naruko asked slowly. One does not startle a shinobi.
Sakura burst into tears, and Sayuri just stared at Naruko, her normally aloof gaze now looking at Naruko as if she had never seen Naruko before.
"Kakashi-sensei didn't die, did he?" Naruko whispered, horror at the thought. After all, Kakashi had been the one to teach her how to escape from being tied against the post, even instructing her on how to flood chakra down into her hands clenching the ropes to shred them as a last ditch effort if she got trapped.
Kakashi spoke up behind her. "Naruko, I'm pleased to hear you were worried about my wellbeing, but nah, I'm fine. I had Sayuri and Sakura take turns pretending to be you for an espionage practice." Kakashi cheerfully said behind her.
Naruko went still. Terror, shock, and confusion went through her.
Sayuri spoke up quietly. "Naruko. I'm donating most of the Uchiha District for the needy and the orphans. Everything is built up to code. You can get first pick of the house you want."
Naruko's face flushed as she felt a sharp spike of embarrassment and gratitude. "Uh, thanks Sayuri but I'm already moving in with Shikamaru and the Nara Clan. I'll put a good word in for Tenten though!" She said cheerfully. Tenten was always one of the nicer orphans, and she ran the weapon shop often to pay rent. Hopefully it would help with that if she lived in one of the Uchiha houses.
Sayuri nodded solemnly. "I have great respect for you and your patience in not murdering the village. If that changes however, I suggest you approach me for help." She said with a monotone voice.
"Uh, thanks." Naruko said lamely. She wasn't sure how complaining to Sayuri about the village would help but maybe bonding with her over the annoyances in the village would help them grow as a team!
Sakura stopped sobbing, her green eyes filled with tears as she choked out. "I'm so sorry about your apartment." She bawled.
Naruko frowned. "You guys didn't burn down the complex, did you? Granted, the only thing I care about in the apartment is my book 'Tale of a Gutsy Ninja' and a photograph of me and my grandfather."
Sayuri winced. "I'm sorry Naruko. The book didn't survive."
Naruko sighed. "Damn. It's about that time of year for me to reread it too. It always felt like a good luck charm. It just appeared in my apartment one day. Worked great for reminding me to stick things through. Determination and all that." Naruko shrugged.
Kakashi spoke up, his voice rough. "I'll get you another one, signed by the author if I can." Naruko felt bad. Poor Kakashi had a cold.
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei." She smiled as Kakashi smiled back and nodded. Well, his eye sort of smiled? Close enough.
"Naruko. I need to know. How did you handle the icy cold water of the shower?" Sayuri interjected.
Naruko frowned. "What do you mean? I use the cold water to fill a pot. Throw it on the stove, gotta crank the heat to max or else it won't start, and also cause the cockroaches like to hide inside the oven beneath. Once the water boils, use some of the red gunk to mix. It dissolves in the boiling water. Strain it with a shredded paper bag, and now you have hot water. I prefer baths cause it's easier, but a string and a half shredded paper bag works if you want to make it a shower..."
Naruko's voice trailed off as Sayuri walked off to a random tree, and started stabbing it rather viciously. Repeatedly.
"Say, Naruko, I'm thinking you can work out a good deal with the Aburame on the bed bugs and the cockroaches. They're always on the lookout for rare and invasive species of insects. You could make some serious money. Same thing with the red gunk at the hospital... and T ." Kakashi said cheerfully.
Naruko's smile could've powered the village. "That's an awesome idea Kakashi-sensei! You're the best!" She crowed. That'd go a long way to paying Shikamaru back for the therapy sessions and the rent! She owed them so much backpay!
Kakashi nodded. "I am the best. I'm glad one of you acknowledged this. Now, today we're going on a light mission exercise. Naruko, I'm going to teach you how to turn a Shadow Clone into a bomb, and the more chakra you put into it, the bigger the explosion, and Sayuri/Sakura can learn to play their job of dodging the bomb."
Naruko decided today was the best day in Team 7 ever... eh, so far. She could always look forward to them all eating ramen with her in the future!
Sayuri whimpered as Sakura's face lost all color when Naruko recommended Ichiraku later.
Kakashi decided that it was an excellent idea for lunch. On Sayuri's dime this time, of course.