Despite Kakashi's initial unease about the temporary split of team 7, the next few days pass by in relative ease. The only noteworthy thing to happen is that Ebisu somehow manages to wriggle out of his commitment of teaching Naruto by foisting it off on Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin. It does give him some new respect for Ebisu, and perhaps it is for the best. Naruto can't be much safer than in the company of Jiraiya, after all, and especially so if Orochimaru really is after him.
It takes a Sannin to beat a Sannin, and all that.
So Kakashi shrugs, decides to never ever get on Ebisu's bad side again and returns to training Sasuke. Which is proving to be more of a headache than Kakashi had anticipated.
"I've been doing these stupid chakra control exercises for over a week now! I've improved tree climbing and water walking, I even did it on my damn hands! Now give me something real to learn!"
It is probably bad karma coming back to bite him for his own childhood sins, Kakashi thinks as he watches his protégé's impatient and demanding expression. Sasuke is glaring at him, arms folded and mouth pinched in that particular way that indicates that he will walk out on training if Kakashi doesn't comply with his wishes. Knowing how he himself worked at that age, it's not even an empty threat. And considering that there might be a Sannin after him, Kakashi can't really allow Sasuke to walk out on him. Even if he's proving to be a headache.
"Alright, I suppose we will move on to the next step," he sighs, putting away his book.
"So what jutsu are you going to teach me?" Sasuke asks, perking up but still impatient.
Kakashi can't help himself. It's too easy really, especially knowing how he himself would have reacted to teasing not that many years ago.
"I didn't say I would teach you a jutsu," he points out. "I simply said we'd move on to the next step."
Sasuke's eyes narrow dangerously.
"Then what's the next step?"
"Meditation."
Sasuke looks about ready to blow a fuse at that, and so Kakashi waves his hands placatingly at him.
"Fine, fine, we'll skip the meditation. Though really, it would be ideal for you to become at least somewhat familiar with chakra meditation before we continue with your training."
"Why?" Sasuke asks suspiciously.
"Glad you asked! Chakra meditation is a method of becoming more in tune with yourself and your chakra, and the best way to figure out if you have a particular elemental chakra affinity."
"I already know my chakra affinity. It's fire."
Again Sasuke folds his hands, giving Kakashi a very condescending look. Kakashi nods, because Sasuke is technically correct.
"That's true. Most, if not all, Uchiha do have an affinity for fire," mentally he winces, because that statement was much better back when there were still other Uchihas around. There being a grand total of two of them left in the whole world makes his statement rather superfluous. "However, many also have a secondary elemental affinity."
When Sasuke doesn't say anything else Kakashi takes that as prompting to continue.
"There are five basic chakra elemental natures: fire, water, wind, earth and lightning. These form the basis for any of the more advanced jutsu you will learn and face someday. I'm sure they taught you at the academy about fire jutsu being weak against water jutsu but strong against wind jutsu and so on?"
Kakashi pauses, giving Sasuke time to nod his understanding before he continues. Because it is Sasuke - who likely remembers at least most of the lessons taught at the Academy - Kakashi doesn't go into detail explaining precisely which elements are weak or strong against which element. That is basic knowledge, after all, and he expects both Sasuke and Sakura to know these things.
"As you can understand, a good shinobi needs to master a variety of different jutsu or risk being caught wrong footed when faced with an enemy with a stronger chakra affinity. Say for example that you are fighting an enemy with a water affinity. You know plenty of fire jutsu, but those wouldn't do you much good in that situation."
"Or I could just use a bigger fire jutsu," Sasuke points out.
Kakashi raises an eyebrow, giving Sasuke a pointed look. Reluctantly, Sasuke backs down.
Technically he's right, of course, but that's not the point Kakashi is trying to make.
"So you are going to teach me another elemental jutsu?"
"Yup."
Relaxing somewhat at this Sasuke unfolds his hands again, mollified by the prospect of learning new elemental ninjutsu.
"So what will you be teaching me? Water jutsu? Earth?"
Both are good options, but Kakashi has something else in mind. Something which may prove to be either a very, very bad idea, or a very, very good one.
"How about lightning?"
"I'm not sure I have seen any lightning jutsu before." Sasuke's tone is contemplative, his gaze momentarily unfocused as he tries to remember if he has ever seen anyone use a lightning jutsu.
"Lightning jutsu are not that common in Konoha. It's more common in Kumogakure."
"So, what are you going to teach me?"
Sasuke is drifting, pulling at the reins in order to grow stronger, more powerful, in order to achieve that one goal of his. Kakashi has seen others in similar states often enough, but that does not mean that he's even remotely qualified to deal with such things. That would be more along the expertise of the Yamanaka. And though Kakashi tends to avoid the Yamanaka almost as much as he avoids the other Hatake-clan members, he has managed to pick up enough to have at least a vague understanding of how to go about these things. Emotional availability, openness, vulnerability and all that.
Offering up something about yourself in order to get others to open up and so on and so forth.
Well, Kakashi can't get much more personal than offering up his own jutsu, right?
"I'm going to teach you a jutsu of my own making," he explains, stepping back a little and broadening his stance in preparation. "The hand signs are as follows-"
Semi-slowly, so that Sasuke is able to follow the sequence, Kakashi runs through the signs - Monkey, Dragon, Rat, Bird, Ox, Snake, Dog, Tiger, Monkey.
"Then I focus chakra into my right hand and change its nature into an electric current."
As Kakashi demonstrates the process the lightning gathers in his hand, bolts of it flying wildly around him and making his hair stand on end. The sensation in his hands is tingling - far from the painful peeling of his own skin that it used to be back when he was still mastering the jutsu, but an echo of it nonetheless - and a sound not unlike chirping birds penetrates the otherwise silent air.
"It looks impressive and is able to cause some damage on its own, but the true danger of the chidori is the speed at which it is used," Kakashi explains.
Continuing his demonstration he charges at a nearby tree, quickly pulling up his headband to allow his sharingan to guide him. Strictly speaking it probably isn't entirely necessary when charging at a tree on a training ground within Konoha walls, but it's a habit by now and also serves a point in his demonstration.
The attack makes a rather impressive hole in the trunk of the tree, if Kakashi might say so himself. Pleased with himself he turns back towards Sasuke, pulling his headband down again.
"This is where your sharingan is useful," Kakashi finishes his explanation. "The speed is the biggest asset of the Chidori, yet it is also its biggest drawback. Without the sharingan you'll get tunnel vision and be vulnerable against attacks as you charge."
"Got it," Sasuke nods decisively. "Focus chakra into my hand, change its nature into an electric current and charge as fast as I can."
"Exactly. However, you need to be aware that the chidori requires an extremely large amount of chakra, which places a limit on how often you can use it in one day. When I first started learning it I could only use it twice in one day."
Watching as Sasuke runs through the hand signs and tries to figure out how to properly channel his chakra and manipulate its nature, Kakashi leans back against a tree. There is a glow of determination in Sasuke, but there is a certain darkness too.
Kakashi can only hope he's not making a mistake in teaching Sasuke his own jutsu.
After her first, mostly successful day with the Genin Corps the weekend arrives. Sakura spends most of it in her room in the Genin Corps' dormitories: sleeping, mending her old clothes, organising her weapon's pouch five different ways and staring at the stupid sealing scroll that isn't really hers. She makes a handful of trips outside of her room; to the mess hall for meals, to the tailor to showcase her sewing skills and get his approval to hem and mend her own clothes, and to the showers.
Mostly though, she spends the weekend missing Ino and the rest of team 10. They're still busy with the second stage of the Chunin Exam, and she can't help but worry for their safety.
The Genin Corps' Headquarters is calmer on the weekend, though far from empty. Their work continues, though on a diminished scale. Most of the Genin Corps have the weekends off, and only have to work the occasional weekend. Instead the members go to visit with family and friends, or travel or whatever else one is supposed to do.
Hajime, Sakura discovers, spends the weekends drinking. She learns this on Saturday morning already, which is when he returns after a long night at the bar. Because his door is just opposite of hers she wakes to the noise of him trying to figure out how to unlock the door. He's quieter when he emerges again sometime in the late afternoon, and then she doesn't hear him again until Sunday morning when the same scene repeats again.
Other than Hajime, she's not sure what the others do. She doesn't see Tomomi, Hiroshi or Takeshi at all, and only sees Aimi from across the mess hall once. Neither one of them tries to approach the other, and Sakura is left with a knot in her stomach afterwards.
When did she become such a boring person? She can't even remember what she's supposed to do for fun, outside of dinners and sleepovers with team 10. Somehow it seems that all she does, as of late, is missions with Naruto and Sasuke, studying in the library and weekends spent trying to keep herself busy with chores.
When did she become so lonely?
She frowns at the stupid scroll that isn't really hers and wonders what team 7 does in the weekends. Sasuke-kun likes to train, she knows. She's seen Naruto at Ichiraku Ramen with Iruka-sensei sometimes. Kakashi-sensei probably likes to read his stupid book.
Come Monday morning she's almost relieved to get back into some semblance of a routine, finding Hajime and Tomomi in the mess hall as usual - and isn't it strange that it's "as usual" after only one full working day with the Genin Corps? Aimi, Hiroshi and Takeshi join them a bit later, and then they split apart for missions, Sakura once more going with Hajime and Tomomi.
Monday is spent in a strange kind of funk; somewhere between happy to be among people again and longing to be able to head back to the solitude of her room again.
If Hajime or Tomomi notice her strange mood neither one of them comment.
After dinner she's relieved to be able to return to her room again, physically and mentally exhausted, but Hajime reaches out to catch her arm before she can go.
"Oh no Pinky, no running off tonight. Tomomi and I have something special planned for you guys!"
Reluctantly she lets Hajime steer her back towards the group.
"We've reserved one of the training grounds for tonight," Tomomi explains, looking first at Sakura, then Aimi, Hiroshi and Takeshi. "Hajime and I'll be helping you with your tree climbing, and if you've improved enough we'll move on to walking on water."
The other three look excited at the prospect, so Sakura hesitates before she speaks up.
"I already know tree climbing. And how to walk on water."
"Come along anyway. Perhaps you'll learn something anyway."
Aimi stares at Sakura as they leave the Cenin Corps' Headquarters, heading towards the general training grounds at the edge of the village. Hiroshi is eyeing her too, she notes, though he's more discreet about it. Takeshi catches her gaze as she glances in his direction, scoffing scornfully before pointedly turning away from her.
"Since members of the Genin Corps don't have the privilege of a jounin sensei, we're big on us older members mentoring you younger ones," Hajime explains, his hand still on Sakura's arm, gently pulling her along. "Tomomi and me have been helping your classmates out since they joined us, and now that you're here we'll do our best to help you as well."
It's both touching and nerve wracking at once, their concern making her feel strangely warm inside while the memory of training with the other three back in the Academy makes her stomach twist nervously. Sakura's not sure what to make out of it, honestly. Mixed with the strange mood she's been in all day - or all weekend really - she would rather just return to her room and spend the evening alone.
"I bet Forehead is too good to train with us mortals," Aimi comments sarcastically to Takeshi, just loud enough for Sakura to hear.
"Must be good to have a jounin sensei fawning all over you to teach you things," Takeshi replies, equally quiet.
They both glare at her over their shoulders.
Hajime's hand tightens on her shoulder, and when she glances up at him he gives her a comforting smile.
"Distancing yourself from your peers will only feed their misconceptions about you," he tells her quietly. "And yours about them, for that matter. More often than not, it's best to face your problems and deal with them properly. Sometimes you might even find that they're not that big after all."
They reach the training ground a couple of minutes later. It is similar in size as the one team 7 usually uses, mostly wooded and with a streamlet running through it. Hajime and Tomomi set them to running laps around one of the clearings, then doing a series of situps and pushups before gathering at the edge of the clearing.
"Alright, let's see how that tree climbing is going!" Hajime declares, giving them all expectant looks.
Seeing as how she's new to the group Sakura hangs back, allowing the others to go first while watching them curiously. Back in the Academy Hiroshi was always stronger than her - though nowhere near as strong or skilled as Sasuke-kun. Aimi and Takeshi used to be at about the same skill level as her, though once she started dieting their skills grew past hers.
It's a marvel, the kind of connections she's able to make now that she's no longer under aunt Kasumi's influence. She wants to smack her past self for ever being stupid enough to believe that she needed to diet. Then there's a smaller part of her that wants to feel guilty for how well she's been eating for the past few days, the large portions she has allowed herself, but she pushes that part down to the deepest, darkest parts of her mind where all of her unpleasant thoughts belong.
Anyway, though Aimi, Hiroshi and Takeshi have been continuously besting her in the Academy sparrs for the last couple of years, Sakura has always retained higher scores than them in the academic subjects, much to their dismay.
Now all three of them take sight on a nearby tree each and charge at it.
Takeshi is the fastest, charging at a full run, making it about halfway up before his feet start to slip on the bark and he has to reach for the nearest branch to avoid falling. With a satisfied smile he pulls himself up and sits down on the branch, watching his two teammates.
Hiroshi is the second fastest to reach his tree, charging at more of a comfortable jog, which he maintains until he reaches a branch about three-quarters of the way up, where he finally falters and comes to a stop on a nearby branch, turning to look at the last member of their team.
Curiously enough Aimi does not charge at her tree like the other two, but walks up to it with a focused frown on her face. She then proceeds to slowly walk up the tree, using sheer chakra control to climb. Only when she starts to reach the same height as the boys does she falter, eventually stopping at a branch about halfway in between the boys.
"Your turn, Pinky," Hajime states, turning towards her.
Sakura tilts her head, studying the others. From this brief display it's clear that Takeshi is the weakest of the three, having needed the most speed and having had the most trouble to reach the top of the tree. Hiroshi, by contrast, reached the highest point and - to Sakura's admittedly mostly untrained eye - displayed a greater chakra control than Takeshi. Aimi, however, displayed better chakra control than either of the boys, So why then did she falter, when she should've easily been able to climb much higher than Hiroshi or Takeshi?
"Sakura?" Tomomi says.
"Bet she can't even do it," Hiroshi snickers.
The familiar taunt abruptly pulls her out of her brief reverie, and she shakes her head to clear it. He's taunting her? Doubting her abilities? Well, he might have beaten her at the Academy training grounds countless times before, but Sakura is no longer the same little girl she used to be. Why, she even learned to walk on water faster than Sasuke-kun did!
Taking aim for the nearest tree she proceeds to walk up it in a calm, carefully controlled stride, all the way up to the top and then back down.
A rational part of her mind knows that it's been over a month since Kakashi-sensei showed her how to climb a tree. It's nothing new and despite everything else going on, she's been privileged to have a jounin sensei to teach her such things. Gloating is bad form, regardless of whether she's a shinobi or a lady. She doesn't need to prove herself against these people, regardless of their past history.
Regardless of Hiroshi's taunting echoing in her mind, joined in by that of Takeshi and Aimi and Sasuke-kun and Kakashi-sensei and anyone else who's ever doubted her.
It just feels so very, very good to boast at least this much!
Continuing to move she makes her way over to the streamlet and walks straight out onto it. It's not big or deep; two steps is enough and she's at the deepest part. Once there she twirls around and, for good measure, offers a small bow in the direction of Aimi, Hiroshi and Takeshi.
They're staring, she notes with some pleasure. Aimi's mouth is even slightly agape, while Hiroshi's lips are tightly pressed together, as if he's tasted something sour.
"Well done, Sakura," Hajime says, though his frown is mildly disapproving. "Please come back here, and you can share your water walking skills with the rest of us."
Something within her deflates at the tone and the look. He's not shouting, he's not scolding her but there is some sort of hidden sharpness in his voice, and abruptly she's reminded of Kakashi-sensei.
Admit that you're lying, or you're off the team.
A long, cold, one-eyed stare. Hard and unyielding, enough to make her want to run and hide.
Go. Don't come back unless you're ready to tell the truth.
Swallowing nervously, she heads back towards the side of the streamlet, forcing herself to breathe deeply and focus on her chakra output. She's comparably confident in her water walking skills, but if she allows herself to get lost in the memories she'll lose focus and fall in. And despite the warm summer evening she's not eager for a bath. Even if the water probably isn't much deeper than knee-deep even at the deepest point.
"Walking on water is much like walking up a tree," Tomomi explains once they've all gathered again. "The principle of focusing chakra to your feet is the same, except it requires a lot more finesse and a different output."
"It's not an easy skill," Hajime continues. "It takes time and hard work to master, isn't that right, Sakura?"
His voice is calm, but there is an edge to the look he gives her that makes her hesitate before nodding in agreement. When he raises a questioning eyebrow she ducks her hear, and manages to say:
"Yes sir, that's right."
Then her cheeks abruptly heat with embarrassment. What is she doing calling him "sir" like that?
Tomomi takes over again, taking a slow step out onto the water while explaining what to do again. Sakura listens with half an ear, glancing between Tomomi and Hajime. He's still looking strangely at her. Is he angry with her? The thought cuts deeper than it should, especially considering the fact that she hasn't even known him for more than a week. Less than that even. But Tomomi and him have both been kind to her, nice even, and she'd hate to lose that. Having Kakashi-sensei angry with her had been bad enough, but he'd never paid her much attention to begin with. Having Hajime being angry with her somehow seems worse, illogical as it should be.
What's wrong with her, being unable to stay with a group of people for a week even before having them angry and disappointed with her? Suddenly the evening feels cold, and she wraps her arms around herself to avoid shivering in the breeze.
"Sakura?"
Hajime's voice is different this time, softer and more worried than sharp. Abruptly she realises that her feet are wet, and hastily she adjusts her chakra output, pulling herself out of the water. She's wet up to her ankles.
"Sakura?"
This time she looks up at Hajime, and he gestures for her to follow him a bit further up the stream. She glances back towards Tomomi and the others, but they're all busy trying to figure out how to walk on water, and so she follows him.
"Are you ok?" he asks once they are far enough away that they have at least some illusion of privacy. "You looked like you were about to cry there for a moment?"
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
The question is confusing enough to further pull her out of her own mind. What is she apologising for?
"You're angry." She glances up at him again, before averting her gaze. "I'm sorry."
Hajime takes a breath, as if he's going to say something, but then he doesn't. He's silent for a moment, and then he joins her on the surface of the water. A gentle hand on her chin forces her head up, and then he's looking down at her with worried eyes.
"I got a little bit angry, yes," he says softly. "Surely that's not so bad?"
Sakura isn't sure what to reply to that, so she just shrugs her shoulders helplessly.
Kakashi-sensei had wanted to throw her off of the team when he was angry with her.
Even though she'd passed his bell test with Naruto and Sasuke-kun, and even though she'd abandoned her clan to stay a shinobi. To stay with him and team 7.
She'd just been trying to do her best, and he'd gotten angry and told her she was off the team.
Hajime sighs and releases her chin, allowing her to lower her gaze again.
"You were showing off," he tells her. "You've been with your jounin sensei ever since graduation, enjoying a mixture of missions and one-on-three attention and training from him."
Sakura bites back a retort about how little of Kakashi-sensei's attention she has been getting. At least in the positive sense. Up until a couple of weeks ago he didn't even want her on the team.
"The others haven't been afforded that same privilege, but have had to contend with whatever Tomomi and I have been able to teach them in the evenings, after full days of missions. You having learned more than them isn't a victory on your part. It's just a result of your different circumstances, and nothing you should be gloating about."
Hajime's voice is still gentle, lacking that earlier sharpness, but Sakura still feels her eyes tear up at the scolding. She'd known all of that, of course. Known it, and she'd done it anyway. And if she is to be honest with herself, it wasn't even because of Aimi, Hiroshi or Takeshi. Not really. A little bit because of them, and because of Hiroshi's comment about her, but mostly because she's so tired of being the weakest link of a team and had seen a chance to shine. To feel superior to someone for just a little bit.
Instead she'd trampled all over people who hadn't been afforded the same kind of opportunities as her.
She really is hopeless when it comes to teamwork.
No wonder Kakashi-sensei didn't-
"I'm sorry," she repeats, mentally forcing the thought aside. "I won't do it again."
"Good. And for the record, it's not the end of the world even if I get angry with you. Alright?"
She looks up at him then, and he smiles back at her. It's almost blinding in its authenticity.
"Everyone makes mistakes. Besides, you noticed and you stopped gloating, so that's good."
Somehow it's impossible not to feel at least a little bit better when Hajime smiles at her like that, and his reassuring words warms something deep within her.
They turn back towards Tomomi and the others, and Sakura realises that they're still struggling. Aimi is frowning deeply and lightly resting her foot against the water, the only one of the group seeming to make any kind of progress at all. Hiroshi is knee-deep in water and looking frustrated, while Takeshi seems to have given up on water walking altogether and instead experiments with sticking his feet to the wet stones next to the water.
"It's really not that difficult though," Sakura comments quietly, for Hajime's ears only.
Even Naruto had been able to figure out how to take a couple of steps pretty quickly.
"It's their first time even trying," Hajime points out. "It'll take them a while to figure it out, just like I'm sure it did you."
Sakura's stomach flutters uneasily, remembering her own first experiments with walking on water.
Could it be that she's the abnormal one?
"How about you take advantage of the opportunities given to you and share your knowledge with the others?" Hajime quietly suggests.
Startled, she looks up at him. Her, teaching the others?
"The Genin Corps have no strict teams or hierarchies," Hajime points out. "We're all about helping each other out, wherever we can. If you've got something you're good at, you share it. Unless it's a special clan jutsu or such, of course."
He grimaces at the last part, making her smile a little despite herself.
Alright, she tells herself. She'll try to help - if only to make sure that Hajime won't stay angry with her.
As they approach the others again Hiroshi's glare quickly turns Sakura away from helping him, almost reminding her of Sasuke-kun's ferocity. Better not to poke that wasp's nest.
Tomomi is helping Takeshi, so Sakura steps closer to Aimi and watches her for a moment. The girl is using a similar approach as Sakura used to, hovering her foot just at the surface of the water and trying to figure out the correct output of chakra.
"It's not just about finding the correct output," she quietly points out.
"Then how else am I supposed to do this, Forehead?!" Aimi snaps, glaring at Sakura.
Sakura takes a step back, a part of her wishing that she hadn't spoken up to begin with. Then she catches Hajime's encouraging gaze over Aimi's shoulder, and she mentally steels herself. She'll try to be civil. If Aimi won't be civil back, then that's on her. At least Hajime will see that she tried.
"The water is moving," she points out, trying not to sound like a know-it-all.
"No it's not."
Aimi gestures at the shallow water and the mostly still surface.
"It is though," Sakura insists. "Even though it's shallow, there's still currents from the deeper parts. And it's reacting to your chakra as well. A tree is too firm to react much at all, unless you use way too much chakra, but the water is much more sensitive."
"Doesn't that just mean that the output has to be that much more perfect?"
"In a way. But because the water is allways moving and reacting, your output has to do the same."
Aimi frowns, trying again.
"Do you feel it?" Sakura asks. "That momentary feeling of stability, and then it's gone? Almost as if you're walking on something really slippery?"
Aimi's frown deepens.
"Sort of?"
"That means that you've got it at that moment. But since the water's reacting to your chakra you can't just keep doing the same. You have to adjust your chakra output to match the water, even as it shifts."
"But that's impossible! I can't just focus on that all the time!"
"It gets easier. Once you've figured it out you won't have to focus as much."
Hajime gives her a thumbs up from behind Aimi, and Aimi obediently tries to adjust her chakra. She bites her lip in concentration, Sakura notes.
"There, you had it longer this time, didn't you?"
Aimi looks hesitant, but tries again. And again.
By the time Hajime and Tomomi call an end to their training Aimi has managed to take a few, wobbly steps on the water, Takeshi is looking slightly more steady walking on the wet rocks and Hiroshi has managed to only sink in halfway up his calves standing still.
"Well done everyone!" Tomomi exclaims, looking supremely proud.
"All of you did good," Hajime agrees, giving Sakura an approving look.
The walk back towards the Genin Corps Headquarters is slower on the way back, but the atmosphere is somewhat more relaxed. Hiroshi and Takeshi are in the front, talking quietly, with Tomomi and Hajime walking behind them and Aimi and Sakura awkwardly bringing up the rear. Sakura glances at the other girl, part of her expecting a rude comment or for Aimi to run to catch up to her teammates. But instead Aimi lingers at the back of the group with her, occasionally glancing at Sakura.
"Thank you," Aimi says at last, much to Sakura's surprise. "For helping me, I mean."
"No problem." Somehow that feels like too little to say, and so she hesitantly offers; "I can help you again some other time, if you'd like?"
Aimi smiles gratefully back at her.
"I'd like that! Tomorrow?"
Sakura hesitates, glancing ahead at Hajime and Tomomi. Considering Hajime's words earlier about distancing herself from her peers, they probably won't let her get away with hiding away in her room. It's not an unpleasant thought. Warmed by that realisation she nods her head in agreement. As long as Aimi stays somewhat civil Sakura can do the same, right?
A call from Takeshi has Aimi hurrying to catch up to the boys.
"So, Pinky, anything in particular that you need help with? Given that you didn't really get the chance to learn something new tonight?" Hajime asks, falling in step next to her.
Looking at Aimi's back Sakura can't help but think that maybe she did learn something new after all.
Tomomi falls in step on Sakura's other side, giving her a curious look. Sakura pouts, thinking about it for a moment as she watches Aimi and the boys. They're too far ahead for her to hear what they're talking about, but Hiroshi seems angry about something.
"I'd like to learn how to run in the trees," she finally says. "And on the rooftops, like you two do."
"I think we can teach you that. Right, Hajime?"
"Definitely. So, your sensei taught you tree climbing and water walking but not running in the trees, huh? What else did he teach you?"
Sakura shrugs, thinking back.
"He mostly just left me alone to figure out tree climbing," she admits. "And I read about walking on water in the library and figured out the basics on my own."
"Not a very hands-on sensei, huh?" Tomomi says sympathetically. "Must've been tough,"
"So how long did it take you to figure out how to walk on water, little miss it's-not-really-that-hard?"
Hajimes voice is teasing and his smile jovial, taking the edge off of his words. Sakura frowns though, recalling the obvious trouble of Aimi, Hiroshi and Takeshi. Come to think of it, even Sasuke-kun had struggled.
So why hadn't she really struggled? It hadn't been easy, per se, but she'd figured it out while dinner was grilling. True that she'd gotten an unintended bath for her efforts but that was only because she'd grown overly brave and ventured out into the deep part of the river. And when she'd practised again with team 7 the next morning it'd felt like getting back on a bike, and she'd grown more and more confident quickly.
"Not that long," she answers vaguely.
Hajime and Tomomi exchange looks over her head, but don't pressure her to be more specific, for which she's grateful.
Could it be that she's somehow doing something wrong after all? That she has somehow discovered a way to cheat at tree climbing and water walking? Kakashi-sensei had been very convinced that she couldn't possibly have learned to climb trees as quickly as she did. But she's doing it, so how can she possibly be doing something wrong if it's still working?
"I think it's time for a break."
Sasuke ignores him, completely focused on the task of trying to both focus chakra into his hand and changing the nature of said chakra into the necessary electric current. From experience Kakashi knows how difficult this is, especially in the beginning. It took him a long time to perfect the jutsu. Between the large amounts of chakra that the jutsu requires and the intense focus necessary for focusing an elemental manipulation of chakra, it is a difficult jutsu. Especially for a boy just months out of the Academy.
"Sasuke," Kakashi urges again, raising his voice a little this time. "Time for a break."
"I can't keep taking breaks, I need to get stronger!"
Despite Sasuke's intent the momentary distraction causes the chakra to waver and disappear. Like a child he groans in disappointment and glares. Kakashi almost expects him to stomp his foot in displeasure, but thankfully that doesn't happen.
"Let me look at that," Kakashi says, gesturing to Sasuke's hand.
Reluctantly the boy holds his hand out, wincing a little as Kakashi gently grasps it in his own hand, inspecting the damage done by the jutsu. Kakashi politely pretends like he doesn't notice Sasuke wincing. Blisters are covering the hand, caused by the electric chakra peeling away at the very skin of an inexperienced user's hand.
"You should stop by the hospital to have that looked at once we're done for today."
He carefully keeps his tone neutral and bland but Sasuke still stiffens and pulls his hand back.
"I'll be fine."
"I'm sure. However, the pain you feel now is nothing compared to what it will feel like to fry half-healed blisters tomorrow. Trust me on this."
Reluctantly Sasuke nods. Kakashi hands him a bottle of water in reward, watching the boy eagerly gulp it down.
They've been at this for several hours already, which is quite impressive considering how much chakra the jutsu requires. Ironically, as Sasuke grows better at focusing his chakra their practice will have to be cut shorter due to Sasuke's stamina. Kakashi himself is able to use the jutsu four times in a day. Though Sasuke has the potential for much larger chakra reserves when he grows up a little, he's still little more than a child. It is unlikely that he will manage more than two chidori in a day.
As of yet though, the amount of chakra that Sasuke is managing to focus into his hand is not nearly enough to drain him in two attempts.
"You should probably rest a little bit more," Kakashi warns as Sasuke puts the bottle away.
"Resting doesn't make me stronger!"
Sighing, Kakashi watches Sasuke perform the hand signs again. He doesn't like the growing darkness he sees in the boy. There is more than sheer determination in those dark eyes; there's something bordering on madness present there that doesn't bode well. Since the failed chunin exams, that something only seems to grow stronger.
He should probably mention that to the Hokage. Or bring the boy to a psychiatrist or something. Except both of those would likely force Kakashi himself to approach the Yamanaka, and he's not going to do that. Still, if things get much worse he might have to make some personal sacrifices for the god of Konoha and his student.
For now though-
"I know that you have an ambition to "kill a certain someone" and all that, but from one shinobi to another -" he pauses, making sure that Sasuke is listening even though he's trying very hard to pretend not to. "- let it go. Forget about revenge."
"What?!"
Completely losing control over the jutsu, Sasuke turns fully to Kakashi, glaring as if he has just declared that Sasuke will have to repeat all of his Academy education.
"Believe me, I've seen a lot more than you have. For those who follow the path of revenge things never end well. You'll only tear yourself apart."
Seeing as Sasuke is still glaring speechlessly, Kakashi continues.
"And even if you do succeed and get your revenge, what will you have then? Nothing. Emptiness."
"SHUT UP! You don't know what you're talking about! You have no idea ..!"
"Calm down," Kakashi urges, seeing that his good intentions are quickly making the boy work himself into a frenzy.
"Maybe if I were to kill the most important people in your life - everyone who's ever meant anything -! Maybe then you'd understand!"
There is a queasy feeling in his stomach that he doesn't quite know what to make out of. Somewhat like what he had felt like after his first kill, or coming home and finding his house far too quiet and his father dead on the floor. There is a certain inevitability there, along with the urge to do something about it.
"Interesting theory," he says, still keeping his tone calm and trying to calm the angry boy down. "However, I'm afraid you're a little too late to put it to the test."
To his relief the boy deflates somewhat at that, allowing Kakashi to continue to drive his point home.
"Everyone you're talking about has already been killed."
The surprise is evident on the boy's face. Kakashi takes a step forward, awkwardly placing a hand on Sasuke's shoulder in an attempt at comfort.
"I've been around a lot longer than you have, kid. You're not the only one who's lost somebody. Revenge won't give you relief. Only moving on and finding other people to fill the void can do that."
Such as his teammates and teachers, but Kakashi doesn't specify that out loud. From the chastised look on Sasuke's face the message had gone through anyway.
"The chidori is an awesome power," Kakashi finishes his little impromptu lecture. "It is not meant to be used as a tool for revenge or against comrades. If you choose to use it for that anyway it will destroy you."
Of course, the chidori itself will do no such thing. It's more a matter of collecting bad karma that will eventually catch up to you, Kakashi has learned. Such as spending far too much time in his youth looking down upon people around him and then being saddled with an angsty teenager with dreams of fratricide.
No longer meeting his eyes, Sasuke nods towards the ground.
Uncomfortable with the openness and physical closeness Kakashi choses to retreat, giving Sasuke some time to collect himself as he settles down against a tree to read Icha Icha.
"Alrighty folks," Hajime says as usual the next morning, scanning through the two missions given to their little group. "Do you want to clean up trash from the river-"
"Oh, I'll do that one!" Aimi exclaims. "And Forehead can come too, right?"
Sakura chokes on the last of her morning tea from the sheer surprise of Aimi volunteering to spend any time at all with her, sending her into a coughing fit.
"-or help refresh the paint on one of the shops down at the marketplace?"
"I think I'd prefer the second one," Hiroshi drawls. "What about you, Takeshi?"
"Yeah, I think so too."
Aimi's smile wavers.
Sakura reaches for a glass of water, trying to soothe the ache in her throat.
"Alright, so you guys take the painting-mission and Tomomi, Sakura and me'll clean up the river then?" Hajime suggests.
Hiroshi and Takeshi nod in agreement, standing to put away their dirty dishes, but Aimi doesn't join them.
"That's not fair," she pouts. "I wanted that one. Would've been the perfect opportunity to practise walking on water too."
"Well, Takeshi and I are in agreement, so …"
Hiroshi doesn't finish the sentence, letting it hang in the air as he raises a pointed eyebrow in the most condescending manner possible, Sakura thinks. Apparently Aimi finds him condescending too, because when she speaks again her voice is defiant.
"Then why don't you guys go paint or whatever, and Sakura and I - and Tomomi-san too! - can clean the river?" Aimi looks first at Sakura, then Tomomi, excitedly. "It'll be an all-girls mission!"
"Sounds fun," Tomomi agrees. "What do you think, Hajime?"
And thus it is that Sakura finds herself heading off to work that morning, not with Hajime and Tomomi like usual, but with Tomomi and Aimi instead.
The morning isn't spent slacking off, per se, but Tomomi definitely winds up doing the lion's share of the work, while Sakura somehow winds up spending most of her time coaching and encouraging Aimi. Sakura feels guilty for not doing her share of the work, but whenever she tries to leave Aimi's side Tomomi soon finds an excuse to send her back. Which she does with a smile, so Sakura doesn't think that she really minds, but still.
By the time the river is clean again Aimi's skills have improved greatly, to the point where she's even brave enough to venture out onto the deeper parts of the river.
"You're not too bad, Forehead," Aimi says as they start to head back, depositing the trash.
Sakura flushes a little at the words, which are indeed high praise coming from someone like Aimi. "Thanks. You're pretty good too."
"I am, aren't I?" Aimi grins widely. "How long d'you think it took me to master that? A couple of hours last night and then again today? A day in total?"
She snickers excitedly, though not in the mean-spirited way Sakura is used to seeing from back in the Academy. Instead it's the kind of snicker that draws her in, making her smile too.
"You got it almost as quickly as Sasuke-kun did," she admits.
It is Aimi who flushes then, her eyes widening in excitement.
"I did?! Man, I knew I was good but not that good!"
Apparently caught in the good mood she throws an arm around Sakura, pulling her closer as they continue to walk.
"You know, it's funny. I know Hiroshi wasn't anywhere near as good as Sasuke-kun back at the Academy, but I always thought he was still better than me. He always won, whenever we were paired at sparring. But having been on the same team as him for a couple of months now-"
Aimi gives Sakura a serious look, her face a little bit too close for Sakura's comfort even though she's still smiling, Aimi's good mood just that infectious.
"-he's really not that special, you know? Sure, his taijutsu is pretty good, but that's mostly because his parents used to teach him. Now that his dad's off on border patrol and his mom's taking on more missions again he's not really improving much. I could probably take him, in another couple of months."
"You can definitely take him in a fight on water!" Sakura smiles.
Aimi laughs at that, her laughter loud and boisterous and echoing between the houses.
"That I could! And probably in tree climbing as well, for that matter! Man, I wish it'd been Sasuke-kun on my team, instead of stupid Hiroshi!"
Remembering her brief confusion last night, Sakura frowns.
"I thought you looked like you did better than him when climbing that tree," she comments. "Why didn't you climb all the way to the top?"
Aimi's smile falters, and she pulls away, dropping the arm previously wrapped around Sakura's shoulders.
"Sorry. It's not really my business."
"No, it's ok." Aimi shakes her head, giving Sakura another smile. Smaller this time, more vulnerable somehow. "It's just … the nail that sticks out gets hammered down, and all that, you know?"
"I never liked that saying," Sakura frowns.
"I guess I can see that," Aimi agrees, gently tugging on a lock of Sakura's hair. "It's how it is though."
"It just seems stupid that we shouldn't be trying our hardest, for fear of standing out! I mean, Sasuke-kun doesn't hold back, does he?"
"No. Neither does Hiroshi, for that matter. But they're different from us, aren't they?"
"Are they though?"
Frustratedly Sakura runs her hands through her hair, which is in a disarray. She should probably start tying it up or something, at least while on missions.
"Of course they are! They're boys and they're good and-and …" Aimi falters, apparently searching for words.
"Except you just said Hiroshi isn't really that good!" Sakura points out. "And quite frankly -"
She hesitates, something within her rebelling at the thought that has formed in her mind, never mind voicing it out loud, which would undoubtedly mean tilting the world as Sakura knows it on its very axle. And Aimi is looking at her, her face open and honest and curious in a way that's just so endearing.
"- neither is Sasuke-kun," she finishes, the words tasting like blasphemy and truth.
Aimi's face flushes with anger. "But Sasuke-kun is-"
"- is just plain fucking stupid sometimes!" Sakura interrupts. "Not to mention how arrogant he can be!"
"But he's so good! If you're as good as he is, it's not really arrogance, is it?"
"Except that he gets pummeled by Naruto half the time, and he pretty much sucks at teamwork and even I did better than he did in the Chunin Exams!"
Awkwardly she realises that her voice has risen to awkward levels, some of the people around them now staring, and hastily she ducks her head, her cheeks burning. Her breath comes out ragged, as if she's been running, but she does not regret the words she has just spoken.
Aimi just stares at her, her mouth opening and closing, with no words coming.
"I think what Sakura is saying," Tomomi says, grasping their shoulders and gently steering them away, "is that everyone has their weaknesses. Even boys. Even good looking boys from the big shinobi clans with too much skill for their own good. And she's right."
Sakura straightens at that, smiling proudly.
"However, Aimi's also right that those who stick out tend to get hammered down," Tomomi continues. "Not all of those clan kids take easily to being bested by someone without their background, and especially so if you happen to be a girl and they a boy. So sometimes it's just easier not to provoke them."
Recalling Sasuke-kun's anger at her and his unwillingness to accept her help, even when Kakashi-sensei gave them a written exam which she'd aced, Sakura can only agree. She doesn't like the thought, but she can't deny the truth of it either.
"Which is why we work as hard as we can and choose our fights," Tomomi finishes. "Bite your tongue today, kick their ass another day."
Both Aimi and Sakura laugh at that last part, the tension somewhat relieved.
"We should go on all-girl's missions more often!" Aimi says as they finally approach the Genin Corp's Headquarters again. "Good thing you're here, Forehead, so we'll make a nice, even three-woman squad!"