Chapter 51

Kakashi noticed something odd the past couple of weeks. Sakura was stalking medical ninja, watching them with sharp, analytical eyes, or most importantly, Lady Tsunade. For the past few weeks Lady Tsunade had been in the hospital, tearing apart the birthing wards, (she had gotten rid of all the restraints which had almost made Kakashi cheer) yelling at staff, firing those she loathed, and retraining many others. Then there had been the caves. Lady Tsunade freed the prisoners that had been held hostage in those caves and judged them accordingly. Most were sent back home with their pups, or sent to a new prison if there crimes were too grave, those prisoner's pups handed to the care of the orphanages.

Kakashi hadn't known how to react at the time. He was horrified and disgusted to see the prisoners, because yes, they would have been raped and forced to have those pups. The ones who were of Konoha made him almost vomit in fear, because that could have been him one day. He could have one day been forced into those caves despite the fact that he had a mate once, but he had died fighting a world war.

Many people (mostly Omegas, but still) had come to Lady Tsunade, thankful that the caves were gone, some of them even in tears. Shikaku and Lady Tsunade had been in many meetings with Danzo, who had been furious, but with the last two members of the small council against him, there wasn't much Danzo had been able to do to stop Lady Tsunade. There was a rumour he was trying to get the clan heads to side with him in a clan meeting, but most of them had rejected him. (Yes, why would most of them side with Danzo over Shikaku?)

Kakashi approached Sakura's place hidden behind a wall, where she peered round to watch Lady Tsunade.

"You can go and talk to her."

Sakura jumped, and smiled nervously at him. "K-Kakashi sensei, hi! It's good to see you. Are you here to see Lady Tsunade?"

"Yeah, I've got a glucose screening to do," Kakashi said. "And I've been seeing you around here more and more often, despite your little team for Sasuke's rescue mission all sent home now. How about you join me? I'll have to wait an hour anyway."

"Alright, that would be nice." Sakura smiled.

"Ah, Kakashi!" Lady Tsunade placed the restraints she had gathered down on a side table, instead of launching them out a window again. "I've got your sweet drink ready for the screening."

"You seem to be clearing things out well, Lady Tsunade," Kakashi said, taking the glass a nurse passed over to him. He sipped at it, and whatever it was, he liked it. He liked it a lot. It was delicious and he needed to find out if he could get more.

"Those old bastards have been treating Omegas like crap." Lady Tsunade shook her head. "How is anyone supposed to have a comfortable pregnancy and birth with all this shit hanging around?" She scowled. "So many rules I've got to change, and thankfully I've only got one annoying voice bitching at me instead of multiple."

"Danzo?" Kakashi grimaced.

"Exactly." She put on a whiny voice. "Oh no, don't tear down the caves, Tsunade, we need more pups!', 'Oh no Tsunade, we need all these restraints for resistant Omegas!" She snarled. "As if all that is going to stop me!"

Kakashi sweat dropped.

So instead of dealing with any of that, he gently nudged Sakrua forward. "She wants to become a medical ninja."

Sakura froze.

"I was wondering why you've been stalking my staff and I all week," Lady Tsunade mused. "You've been studying us."

"Y-Yes, Lady Tsunade. I have a request!" Sakura's eyes hardened. "Please, take me on as your apprentice!"

Lady Tsunade studied her thoughtfully. Kakashi sipped at his drink, watching the pair stare each other down. Something seemed to change between them, Lady Tsunade almost smiling.

"Alright, kid, but first things first." Lady Tsunade glanced over Sakura's long hair. "Tie your bloody hair back before it gets caught up in something. I'm not having my medical ninja running around with a health risk like that!"

Sakura flushed. "Ah, right!"

"Braid it, put it in a bun, whatever, just don't let me catch you on duty like that again." Lady Tsunade scolded. "We're starting right now. I won't be an easy teacher on you, not like Kakashi here is-"

"Eh?" Kakashi blinked.

Sakura shrunk, nervous. "H-He's not really that easy going-"

"He's a pushover. If you kids are too tired, he'll let you take a breather, if you're upset, he'll give you time to calm down, I won't. I'll be turning you into a medical ninja worthy of respect, especially as my own apprentice!" Lady Tsunade barked.

Kakashi whined. "Why am I being picked on?"

"Sip your juice," Lady Tsunade ordered sharply, then returned her gaze to Sakura. "Kakashi has told me good things about you. So let's see if he was simply being too kind, or if you are worth my time and effort."

Sakura let out some kind of strangled noise of excitement, and her nod was eager. Kakashi jumped when she suddenly turned around, gently squeezing him with a hug.

"Thank you, Kakashi sensei!" Sakura giggled, pulling away.

Kakashi had no idea what was going on. Why was he being thanked?

Sakura quickly put her hair into a braid and bound the braid back into a bun. "I'm ready to begin!"

"First, you're going to wash your hands thoroughly, then we'll start on the basics while we wait for Kakashi's glucose screening." Lady Tsunade eyed him. "I assume you're going to read that awful book of Jiraiya's?"

"Elizabeth and Tristin have a beautiful and passionate relationship!" Kakashi defend it, holding his book protectively, because if she tore this copy apart he might just cry again.

Lady Tsunade groaned. "Right, sure."

.::.

Tenten approached Neji slowly. He was hammering away at the wooden posts, his fists sparking with shaky chakra he had clearly been overusing.

"Neji..." Tenten reached out hesitantly. "Maybe you should take a break."

"Because I was so weak Lady Hinata is blind!" Neji spat. "She shoved me out of the way. She took the blow that would have killed me. Lady Hinata saved my life!"

"And yet you're angry?" Tenten shook her head. "Why?"

"Because I'm supposed to protect her. My father gave his life to protect her and the head of our clan, our clan's pack leader, and yet she nearly threw away her life to protect me." Neji punched the post, nearly breaking it in half, his chakra flickering dangerously. "That can never happen again!"

"The healers said Hinata will be alright. That she just needs to rest," Tenten soothed. "Just like Shikamaru. They need to rest and heal." She threw Neji a small smile. "Besides, she's got Kiba and Lee helping her."

Neji scoffed. "That mutt."

Tenten sweat dropped. "You really don't like Kiba, huh?"

"He is not a suitable mate for Lady Hinata. He is a brute," Neji huffed. "And Lee should be resting too. He's still recovering."

"I think he's just happy that he's no longer poisoned," Tenten said sheepishly.

"He's an idiot," Neji sighed, stepping back from the post. "Tenten, I cannot afford to be weak. When Naruto bet me during the tournament, it opened my eyes somewhat, despite his whole posturing and annoying speeches. I am not strong enough yet, but I will become better."

"And I will help, but right now you really need to rest," Tenten insisted.

Neji frowned. "Perhaps."

Tenten smiled and grabbed his arm. "We'll go get some tea together. How does that sound?"

"I suppose a short tea break would be acceptable."

"And then we can train together properly," Tenten reassured.

Just like they were supposed to.

.::.

"Hello!" Lee waved cheerfully as he, Kiba and Hinata made their way inside the cafe where he could see the Sand siblings sitting.

Kiba grimaced. Really? Lee wanted to sit with the creepy redhead who was a bit murder happy?

Gaara's scent grew happier, even if his expression didn't change which Kiba thought was creepy as all hell. Kankuro patted the seats, grinning widely. Ah shit, right, this guy had saved his life, although that wasn't the main problem. It was the going back home that had been the issue.

Kiba had said a lot of things in his pain addled mind that he regretted telling Naruto and Kankuro. A lot. A lot of sappy stuff about Hinata.

"Hey, Gaara's mate and the kid I saved from before, get over here you three! Join us for some food."

"I have a name," Kiba groaned as they helped Hinata find her seat.

He made sure she was seated and comfortable before taking his own beside her. Temari ordered for them all, and soon they were sitting with tea and snacks, all paid for by the Sand siblings. Yes, Kiba liked that part, but if Kankuro didn't keep his mouth shut Kiba was going to kick his ass.

"Thank you for helping Kiba," Hinata said softly.

"Saving Kiba." Kankuro's grin widened.

"Helping!" Kiba scowled.

"I regret missing out on such a mission with my fellow genin," Lee admitted. "I wish I could have been there with you all."

"You were still recovering, and as Tenten likes to remind me, you still are recovering," Kiba grumbled.

Tenten had threatened bodily harm to him if he allowed Lee to overdo it, before grumbling about Neji and storming off to go deal with 'that problem'. Tenten was kinda bossy, but guess she had to be when she had two crazy green ninjas and an uptight Hyuga on her team.

"Tenten is just fretting. She's worried I'll overdo it, but I feel fit and ready to take on the world!" Lee cheered.

Kiba sweat dropped.

"Still recovering?" Gaara frowned.

"Ah, yes, the poison had gotten a bit too deep into me so not even the antidote was enough anymore," Lee said, smiling apologetic. "Don't look so distressed though, Gaara. If you hadn't given me that antidote I might not..." Lee grimaced. "Might not be here today..." He brightened up. "So thank you for saving my life."

Gaara stared wide eyed at him. It looked like Lee had broken the poor guy.

Kankuro sighed. "Gaara's still getting used to emotional stuff, and well you, Lee, you're a bit of an emotional guy."

Lee grinned. "I'm full of youth!"

"Yeah, that is gonna take a while to get used it," Kankuro muttered, then grinned wolfishly at Kiba, who couldn't help but scowl at the look. "So I guess you're looking much better after you got your ass kicked, huh kiddo?"

"Asshole."

"Aww, don't look at me like that," Kankuro cackled. "You're blushing in front of your girlfriend."

"He is?" Hinata reached for his face, but Kiba caught her hand with a nervous laugh.

"No, no, don't know what he's talking about!" Kiba glared daggers at Kankuro.

"Yeah, you should have heard him, Princess, he started going on about you and how pretty you are when he was passing out on the way back-"

Kiba booted him under the table, earning a strangled yelp.

Temari sighed. "Kankuro, stop winding him up."

Hinata smiled behind her teacup and Kiba flushed at the sight, his heart hammering in his chest.

"Look, he's making that puppy dog face at the princess." He heard Kankuro say, which made Kiba choke.

"No I'm not!" Kiba protested. "I'm looking... Manly?"

Everyone remained silent for a moment before Kankuro howled with laughter. Kiba felt his face burn as he laid it on the table, groaning. Why? Why couldn't he ever look manly around Hinata without acting like an idiot?

Hinata's hand clumsy tapped his shoulder, brushed over his neck, then finally patted his head soothingly. That felt nice. Hinata was always so nice. Unlike these assholes all laughing at him. They were assholes.

"I think it's sweet," Lee said cheerfully.

"Do you..." Gaara began hesitantly.

Kiba had to admit, he was way too curious and had to look up. Gaara was shifting, eyes firmly locked on his plate. Kinda weird seeing him look so nervous after all the blood thirsty looks he had thrown at everyone during the exams, but guess he liked Lee too much to look crazy around him.

"Do you think I should act 'manly'?" Gaara asked.

Temari's and Kankuro's jaws dropped.

Lee tilted his head, pondering, then beamed and threw Gaara a thumbs up.

"I like you just the way you are now!"

Kiba cackled as Temari and Kankuro collapsed on to the table in shock. Gaara looked flustered, hesitantly meeting Lee's eyes then flushing bright red. Almost as bright as his hair even. Kiba couldn't help but stare at the Sand kids in a mixture of horror and curiosity. They were so bloody weird!

"Who needs saving now?" Kiba grinned at Kankuro.

"H-How is this guy Gaara's mate? He's so positive..." Kankuro whispered weakly.

"I don't get it either..." Temari admitted, shaking her head. "Konoha Omegas are so strange."

"A-Are we really that different?" Hinata asked quietly.

"Most of our Omegas are sweet, quiet things like you, and like to deal more so in poison if they ever fight. Most don't tend to though, our Omegas are far less intense than your lot," Temari said.

Lee grinned brightly at them and gave them all another thumbs up. "I am just full of youth! And Gaara, you might want to take a drink, or even lie down! You're rather red!"

"You're the one doing that to him," Kiba pointed out.