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Merry Christmas to you all! And a Happy New Year! Hope everyone has been well and enjoying the holiday. And now, without further ado, please enjoy this chapter.

"Do you feel in charge?"

- Bane

Kage Level

Shaky rooftops, throngs of even shakier people, and an air of something sinister. As Jiraiya stood on the edge of a rooftop overlooking the city below, he could see it all. The throngs of people looked like lazy ants, walking around slowly and not quite wanting to tackle their day; a thin beige film of dust fogged the atmosphere in dense and not-dense clouds; and the broken houses and missing rooftops didn't do much to hide the city's lack of real infrastructure. It was so different from Konoha, and from many other places he had visited, and that was why he hated it. But despite what one may think, his ire wasn't due to the fact that the city was so far behind the curve, nor was it a result of having to work in dust land central (Suna was worse in that sense), it was more due to the fact that the city being so far behind the curve meant working in it was a very literal nightmare.

Any place lacking in such critical areas was a major pain to work in and even harder to track someone through. Ergo, Kimyona was so chaotic that picking up a trail was almost always a chore, and the general air of craziness surrounding the village meant gathering information was always a Kage level pain, the only useful people being the ones with some fleeting trace of sanity. Most times you asked someone if they had seen something in particular, they'd tell you about the weather or the dirt or some other stupid thing. It was infuriating. And even worse, it meant that tracking could rarely be done through the usual channels like word of mouth and village talk. You had to know people, people with sense that is, and also people who made it their business to know what was going on around the village. Unfortunately, that also meant you had to be willing to pay a very high price. And by very high price, that meant the obnoxiously high cost the sane ones charged for their intel – one of the benefits of sanity being a very rare commodity.

Sighing, he looked around and behind him, then back down into the village, the gray eyes still focused and sharp. His contact should've arrived by now. He had sent out a frog over an hour ago, yet still nothing. His eyebrows creased and the corners of his lips stretched downwards. Patience was always one of his stronger realms of expertise, but even for him, this was pushing it. With one failed attempt on the books, and Ryoshi on his tail, time was an absolute commodity, maybe even more than sense, which in this town was saying something. It was worth mentioning though that his contact's delay had allowed him the necessary time to send a letter back to Tsunade updating her on his progress – shameful progress, but still.

"Ah, the perv-man!" exclaimed a voice in the wind. "So it is you."

Jiraiya turned over his shoulder at the sound, unsurprised to see the burgundy hair dancing lightly in the wind. He was also tossing a coin haphazardly, watching it as it spun in the air and fell back into his hand. "Top of the morning to you, my guy. Always pleased with a visit from my favorite S-rank pervert."

"Dizeju."

"Skip the formalities, Jiraiya. We've known each other long enough." He eyed a nearby crate and spun it under him recklessly before plopping down. "Kick back and relax a little."

"If you got my frog then you know this is business, and important."

"Of course it is."

"Do you have anything I can use?"

He tossed up the coin he had been fidgeting with and caught it, his grin sly and dazzling white. "Of course I do…for a price."

"I think you're forgetting that you owe me a favor."

"Yeah, which I repaid a few moments ago when I got your frog and sent word to my guy not to kill the kid. We're even."

"You were gonna kill him?"

"After he broke into my warehouse and half blew it to Suna, yeah, I was thinking something like that."

"Who'd you send after him?"

"Dajji and Ratta."

"Those idiots would never be able to take him down."

"Why not?" His grin turned sly again, and he rose to his feet. "Cause you couldn't?" He snorted a laugh. "Yeah, that's embarrassing."

"Because I trained him myself," Jiraiya countered, his voice inflecting a bit upward. "Now tell me where he is so I can handle this."

"Oh, Jiraiya," he chuckled. "Trained him yourself… A nice try, and probably even a convincing half-truth. As always, you're a very clever liar, but still not able to fully conceal the truth."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that when he nearly blew my warehouse to pieces, I sensed something." He crossed his arms, grinning an odd grin. "You see, Jiraiya, I had the kid dead to rights, with my hand around his throat, and then, it's like this dark chakra starts rising from deep within him. Next thing I know, an explosion of red and I'm left groaning on the floor with my head in a spin. So after I sent Dajji and Ratta after him, I kept thinking to myself, 'Where have I sensed that before?' And then I realized…I hadn't. And we both know that despite my relatively short life, there aren't many things I haven't encountered in this strange shinobi world." His grin faded, and his eyes grew sharp. "So are you going to confirm his identity, or do I have to lay it out for you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Insult my intelligence again and there won't be any price you can pay to buy what I know."

Jiraiya's gaze never wavered.

"Now, let's talk business," he continued. "Since you're actually chasing a jinchuriki, which I assume is Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, my price just quadrupled."

The sharp gray eyes grew sharper.

"Oh, don't give me that look. We both know you've got the money." He waved a hand in the air absentmindely. "You're one of the legendary Sannin, you're selling novels left and right, you're basically loaded. And now I am too. Well, technically, I already was…" A dazzlingly innocent grin played on his lips. "But a little more never hurt."

"This isn't a game, Dizeju."

"Of course not," he said, grin disappearing all at once. "It's business, and I know what my intel is worth… You should be happy, Jiraiya. I could've charged you a lot more for trying to hide his true identity from me. But we're old pals, so my offer stands, 500,000 Ryo, or you find the kid on your own."

With a scoff, Jiraiya turned away. "That's ridiculous."

"Well, if you think so, I'll just find someone who can see it's worth. Now that I think about it, I hear that old dog Ryoshi's in town."

"What?"

"Yeah, word is he's chasing some kid through the forest and the trail led him here. That wouldn't happen to be the same kid you're chasing, would it?…" His grin was sly once again, and his head in a slight tilt. "I'd hate to see what might happen if he gets to him first."

There was a pause, and then the gray eyes darted away, moving back and forth in rapid bursts. Looking back to the burgundy haired extortionist, he asked, "Where is he now?"

"Hold up," Dizeju chuckled. "Wait, wait, wait." His grin took up more than half his face and the many teeth in view showed how close he was to boisterous laughter. "You won't pay me what I'm asking for now...and you want...even more info?"

Jiraiya scoffed. "Fine. Cut the price in half and we'll say I owe you a favor."

"Aw, come on, Jiraiya, you know I can't do that."

"Then at least drop it by a third."

One side of his face twitched. "Nah, you're being cheap. A fourth is the best I'll do, and that's only if you throw in an early copy of one of your novels. Signed!" he emphasized. "You can make it out to Dajji and Ratta."

"...Fine. I have a contact passing through here a week from now. I'll let him know to see you."

"Shake on it?" Dizeju said.

Jiraiya reluctantly accepted the hand.

"See how good that works?!" Dizeju smiled. "And now that that's out of the way, the kid is in Kimyona's general hospital located on the east side of town." He pointed towards a pile of rising smoke clouds coming from a rooftop. "If you go just past the smoke coming from that house, you'll have a clear line of sight."

"You sure?"

His straight lipped side frown was telling. "The heck type of question is that? If I said he's there, he's there, and if he moves, I'll find you."

"You better."

A grinning huff and he turned away. "Pleasure doing business with you, old man." Then, like a flicker in the wind, he was gone.

Jiraiya's frown remained in place as he turned his gaze to the rising smoke. Well, he was officially down 375,000 Ryo, but at least now he had something to go on. The hospital… It made sense actually. Naruto was hurt pretty badly when they fought; without proper treatment, he wouldn't be able to go much longer. This was his silent moment. Inhaling deeply, he vaulted over the ledge of the building and fell onto one that was immediately adjacent. With a sigh, he fell into a light jog, then it was a mild sprint, then a solid run. Time was of the essence. Last thing he needed was for Naruto to move again, especially with Ryoshi so unexpectedly near. He'd have to hightail it and end this. There was no other option. This chase had already gone on too long. It was time to accomplish his charge and duty, the one he owed not only to Tsunade and everyone back home, but, most of all, to himself.

...

The various pictures and relics hanging on the walls of the Hokage Office building usually escaped Sakura's attention...usually. The walls were a simple, drab brown and everything on them blended in more than they stood out. As such, ignoring them was easy most days. You weren't here for them; you were here to get your mission. To serve your village. To make a difference in the world. Today, however, Sakura Haruno was walking the dimly lit halls for a very different reason, namely, to have a talk about whether she would even be able to continue serving said village or whether her career as a shinobi would end in the most horrid of fashions. Oddly enough, this change in general purpose was enough to open her eyes to that which they had not at all been open to before.

Perhaps it was the effect of nerves messing with her mind, or maybe it was the fact that this could be her last time in here as a ninja. Whatever it was, she could see them now. The odd relics like axes and shields hanging on the wall; the various artifacts and keepsakes like decorated kunai that she knew nothing of; the line of Hokage portraits lining a particular hallway in order of their tenure. One with long brown hair, the other with spiky white. Then came the passed on Third and the much revered fourth. A slight squint creased her eyes at the corners. It was funny what you noticed when you actually took the time to look. He kinda looked like Naruto, a more grown up version at least.

It wasn't long after she had walked the decorated halls that she arrived at the Hokage Office door. Sighing deeply, she lifted one hand and gave the familiar wood three loud knocks.

"Come in," beckoned a voice from inside.

As the door opened, she saw Tsunade seated behind her desk, the familiar blond strands draped over her face as she looked down at scattered papers all around, the familiar brown wood covered with messy, scattered white. Silently, she let the door click shut.

"Please," Tsunade said, motioning to the chair in front of her desk absentmindedly. "Sit."

Walking forward, she did just that.

After leaving Sakura sitting for what felt like an eternity, the worn out Fifth jerked her head up and sighed, the tired face emerging from behind the blond bangs as she gave her head a quick shake. After slamming a bundle of papers on the desk to get them into alignment, and stashing them away in one of the desk drawers, she began. "Now," she said, still not looking up. "We have much to discuss, and it starts-" She slammed the file cabinet shut and hazel brown finally met emerald green, her fingers intertwining in front of her face as she rested her elbows on the desk. "With a talk about your actions recently. More specifically, your acquisition of classified information outside your rank through subterfuge and guile."

Sakura's jaw clenched, and the pink bangs fell forward as she let her gaze fall away.

"It is my understanding that while Kakashi Hatake was out of the village you impersonated him, using his rank as Jonin to acquire information you would not otherwise be privy to. Is this true?"

"Yeah," she lowly acknowledged. "It's true."

"It is also my understanding that you were able to do this and not be caught due to your exceptional level of chakra control."

Sakura nodded.

"And you acted alone?"

"Yes."

Inhaling deeply, the hazel eyed blonde sat back in her chair, it's joints lightly squeaking as she did. "Well, that leaves me with a dilemma, Sakura, because I'm sure you're aware that Konoha's ninja code dictates the removal of a ninja from Konoha's ranks if said ninja uses their prowess as a ninja against the village in any way shape or form."

"Yes." she said quietly.

"And I'm also sure you realize this is the case we're now dealing with as it relates to you."

"Yes..."

"But you see," she said, leaning forward and clearing her throat a bit. "The problem is that if that weren't the case…you actually did a good job."

The pink bangs jostled as her head jolted upwards, her eyes shimmering a dark green in the dim office light.

"A fact that both me and your sensei agree on," Tsunade continued, cracking her neck both ways. "So," she reclined back into her chair and spun on it a bit, "What do we do, Sakura?"

Opening her mouth and closing it several times, she finally replied with a tentative shrug. "I don't know..."

"I thought you might say something like that," Tsunade replied, straightening up. "Which is why I've come up with a plan of my own, with a little nudging from your sensei."

"A plan?"

"Yes, which you will be a part of in exchange for us...overlooking…recent events. Now, me and Kakashi are the only two who know about what you did recently and we'd like it to stay that way, but we need something from you in return, which is why due to current circumstances, and at Kakashi Hatake's request, I'm moving up your training to S-rank."

Her eyes went wider than a fish in hot grease. "What?..."

"You will eventually train under multiple Jonin, but for now, it will just be me and Kakashi. I will teach you to master your chakra control, which your sensei says is one of your greatest strengths, and I will also teach you the way of medical ninjutsu since those with good chakra control are exceptionally good at it. Your training under Kakashi Hatake was formerly genin level. From now on, he will come at you with no restraint and with every tool in his arsenal."

Her bottom lip still dangling a bit, she asked, "All this because I was good enough to get some books?"

"No, Sakura. All this because we now have two rogues with the potential to become greater than Kage level threats down the line and we need people who are willing to see what needs to be done and do it. Right now, me and Kakashi see a problem, one that we won't be able to solve in the future if we don't act now. This is why your training is being expedited. The skills you learn over the course of your training will be tailored and specifically crafted to counter Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, exploiting their weaknesses and nullifying their strengths. Should we ever find ourselves staring down imminent war with either or both of them, you will be one of the pieces we play to ensure they find nothing in Konoha but a rude awakening."

All Sakura could do was stare, eyes still glued to the woman a few feet away, bottom lip still dangling haphazardly.

"The chakra training you receive from me will help you harness your strength so that you can fight in a class that rivals them, and when I said Kakashi will be using every weapon in his arsenal a few moments ago, I also meant his Sharingan."

"The Sharingan?! But Kakashi-sensei has seen over a thousand jutsu!"

"Yes, and if Sasuke ever returns with a score to settle, he'll probably have seen just as many. So you will learn the way of the Sharingan, it's strengths, it's weaknesses, it's everything. And you will be prepared to counter it if the need ever arises. As you train, I will heal you in between battles, maximizing your progress and learning potential as we continue on."

In her voice was an uneasy stutter and then a violent shake of the head. "N-n-no. I-I-I can't. I mean, back when I was on the team with them, I looked up to them. They were in a class all their own. They had high level jutsu I could only dream of. How could I ever-"

"You can," Tsunade intejected. "And you will. Let me be clear. This is not a request. If you wish to retain your rank as a ninja in Konoha's ranks, these are the terms. If not, turn in your headband, hand over your gear, and don't ever come back again."

With an uneasy swallow, Sakura fell silent.

The hazel eyes were hard for but a moment, and then they softened in the slightest. Finally, a tired sigh left the Hokage's lips. "You're hesitating because of many things, Sakura, your insecurities being the greatest of them. But you're stronger than you know. Trust me on that. I know the hidden gems when I see them. If you would only believe in yourself, this decision would actually be a very easy one to make. If you could see the need to steal a book to satisfy your insatiable curiosity, you can surely see that one day this village may need protecting and that you have the capacity to prepare for that day by doing what needs to be done now."

Sakura's gaze rested on Tsunade for but a moment, then fell towards her knees, the weight of all that'd been thrown at her hitting her all at once. Yet Tsunade gave her no time to mull it all over.

"So?" the blonde-haired Hokage said. "What's it gonna be? You gonna be the raging kunoichi I know you can be or you gonna back down for good?"

First, her gaze lifted, then it trailed off to the side. At the very same moment, she could feel something knotting in her stomach, and then a swallow in her throat. She had walked into the Hokage Office only moments ago timid and fearful, now she was all those things and more. Her training was being moved up to S-rank? Kakashi and the Fifth Hokage both in the mix? Unrestricted training with an active Sharingan? It was unbelievable. To go from a relatively basic shinobi career to something so grand in an instant… She wasn't even sure she could do everything they wanted her to do, or become everything they wanted her to become. Yet despite all those things…she could feel something building in herself. Something she hadn't at all expected. A resolve… For what exactly, she couldn't quite put into words, but as it did, something unreadable started to settle in her eyes, like a depth that hadn't yet been touched and a flame that would no longer be quenched. As the seconds passed by, she fell into a trance of sorts, both her eyes shimmering a dark green in the dim office light. Only when she spotted the hazel eyed Hokage tilting her head slightly to the side did she break from her stupor.

"So?" she asked silently. "You in?"

Lifting her face a bit, she faced forward, eyes now appearing a dark jade. With a calmness she didn't know lay in her, she made her resolve known. "When do we start?"

...

As Sakura stepped out into the open air outside the Hokage building, she wasn't surprised to see her sensei sitting lazily on the railing of the building steps, gray hair twisting in the wind, gaze on that little green book she supposed was his favorite book of all time. A somewhat flat frown on her face, she took to walking in his direction. Before she had gotten too close, he spoke into the wind.

"Sooo?" he asked.

Pulling her lips to the side and arching one eyebrow, she answered, "Tsunade told me you put in a good word."

"I did."

"She also forced me into accepting what sounds like the most brutal training I've ever heard of."

"That doesn't sound right," he chirped. "She made it sound like you'd have a choice."

"Yeah," she drawled. "Lose your ninja career or do my bidding."

Pausing for a bit, he shrugged nonchalantly and leaned down to read his book better.

Shaking her head a bit, she grinned and crossed her arms. "Guess it's better than nothing."

"A lot better than nothing actually. We're gonna be able to beef you up a little."

"I'm not already beefy?"

"Not beefy enough."

Her head fell a bit and she grinned a silent chuckle. Silently, she looked off into the distance, gaze falling solemnly serious. The reply was soft on her lips. "I agree…"

Kakashi's gaze only flitted over to her for a moment, then it was back on his book.

Sighing a bit, Sakura continued. "Even after all this craziness, you're still the same sensei, huh?"

"More or less."

Leaning on the railing next to him, she gave him a small nudge. "You didn't have to scare me like that though. Thought I'd get kicked out of the academy or something."

His grin was sly and visible even under his mask. "Breaking the rules gotta have some consequences, no? Also, I wasn't sure what she'd do in the end, and I didn't want to break protocol."

"Coulda at least given me a heads up."

Pushing off the railing onto his feet, he replied, "The way I see it, I followed protocol, didn't break a single rule, and got you something of a promotion." His eye-closed smile returned as he turned to her and leaned down to her height. "In words similar to yours, I cleverly went about achieving my goals." The finger gloved hand came out like clockwork, giving her a few pats on the head. "Now get some sleep, Sakura. Your training starts tomorrow, and it will not be easy. That is an explicit truth."

Smiling, then bowing respectfully, she replied, "Yeah. Got it. Thanks, sensei."

Only nodding a single nod, said sensei disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving Sakura standing alone in the wind, pink bangs dancing lightly to one side.

Without meaning to, a shaky sigh left her lips, and her body pressed more against the railing, the weight of everything finally starting to sink in in her mind. Somehow, her life had gone from much too complicated to exponentially more so in a matter of minutes. Training with a Sharingan wielding legend and one of the Legendary Sannin at the same time while simultaneously being healed so she could keep fighting without even really taking a break? Talk about taking it up a notch… It was all so much to take in. But still, her resolve remained, and it was starting to dawn on her that something deep within her relished the opportunity. For once, she wasn't cowering in a corner or hiding behind her team. She was in much over her head, but maybe in just the right way...

On her way out of the Hokage office, she had realized something. That resolve she couldn't put into words, it had finally come into focus, and the truth was now clear in her mind. She could see this mandate from Tsunade as a bane and a curse and a bitter pill. She could whine and cry and say it's too hard, or...she could see it as a chance to do something. To no longer stand by and watch from the sidelines. To leave behind the crybaby and be something more. To become the person she so desperately wanted to be. To step into the call that seemed greater than herself. Resolve settling on her features, she balled one fist and lifted it to her face. Her decision had already been made in that dim office room, and her resolve had only hardened in those dark office halls; now it was time to take it out into the light. Today would be the day she chose her strength, and the moment the world was put on notice. Sakura Haruno was taking the field, and the sidelines just weren't gonna cut it anymore.

Author's Note:

Hope you all enjoyed this little chapter. Lots of important stuff going on and things are gonna be picking up really soon since we are entering the deeper parts of the story. If you liked, be sure to review! I'd appreciate it very, very much! :) In any case, that's all for now. See you all in the next one. Peace!