senbons were once sewing needles

The walk home was an uncomfortable one. Dirt covered Sakura's body and was glued on by a layer of sweat. Her hair was matted with twigs that scratched her scalp. Worst of all, Sakura's prized cheongsam was tattered and stained with blood. 

The light of dawn peaked above the trees, and its blend of dark night blue followed by bright morning orange forced her brain to process what had just happened... and what was to come. Will this old man be enough? Can his teachings even allow her to graze the backs of Sasuke and Naruto? Sakura was trapped in this line of thought as she stuck a small stone on her toe with chakra. She had been practicing her chakra control ever since Wave. Despite its uselessness at the time, this power was all she had. It was the only thing that was hers in this cruel, shinobi world. 

She tried to shake away the doubts in her head, but returning to her house made her marinate with them longer. It wasn't just the emptiness that bothered her, the mundane routine she had ever since she was in the Academy had eroded her will like stones in a creek. Much to her dismay, the only thing that changed this time was the fierce scrubbing at the white accents of her cheongsam. Sakura hung her dress outside before sliding into bed and closing her eyes. She focused on the whining of wood as the house settled for the night. She didn't want to think any longer, but her mind was never the kindest. Maybe it was the nerves of tomorrow, but she blamed her lack of sleep on the tightness of her old pajamas. 

She prayed it was a sign of upcoming change.

❀

The old man's notes had a map to Training Ground 44— the most dangerous and difficult training grounds in Konoha. Sakura had only heard rumors of the place, and from what she picked up, she could very much die if her new sensei was anything like Kakashi. She stood outside the entrance of the training grounds as she waited for her new sensei to arrive, her legs too heavy to set foot inside the infamous area. Sakura knew that rumors didn't originate from thin air. However, there was another reason why she was nervous.

She didn't know her sensei's name.

Sakura groaned. She should've asked for his name yesterday. She was a ninja for Sage's sake— her job was gathering intel! If what she thought was true, her sensei had to have been a very powerful ninja if he's lived for this long. For him to be able to thrive enough to grow old, he had to have his name out there. Could he be a higher-up? ANBU Commander perhaps? It would make a lot of sense since no one sees the Commander except ANBU, and Sakura couldn't recall seeing the old man anywhere before. Thinking of the man, she recalled the bandages over his right eye. Sakura wondered how he lost his eye. Was it in one of the Shinobi Wars? She hummed at the thought. He looked old enough to serve in all three. 

That brought her to his walking stick. Did he have a limp? At yesterday's meeting, Sakura only saw the old man take a single step— and that was to give her the note. If he had a limp and could still maneuver soundlessly, the kunoichi assumed he must have been very powerful at his prime. The thought made her heart skip a beat. 

She was going to be taught by a strong shinobi!

She could feel Inner jumping in joy at the thought, and it took everything for her not to join her. Sakura was given the opportunity to train under someone powerful, and unlike her strong jounin sensei, the chance of her new teacher actually being interested in her and her abilities was tangible enough to get her blood pumping. However, to keep that interest, Sakura would have to push herself. 

And she would give it her all.

The hair on her arm stood, sensing him before she saw him. The old man was dressed in the same garb as last time, white top and black robe accompanied with a cane and bandages that continued under his clothing. Now that they weren't meeting in the dark, she could see the definition on his face. He looked as old as he sounded. His wrinkles were deep near his mouth and forehead. Inner airily observed that he lacked crow's feet. However, it was pushed to the side as the old man approached her. Sakura noticed a limp— as she hypothesized. The man stopped in front of her, and for a moment, she felt as if the old man was breaking her down and seeing what he shouldn't. She rubbed her clammy palms against her tights. 

The senior broke the tension by lifting his head slightly, easing off the intensity of his stare. "Hello, Sakura."

She bowed at a perfect 90° angle— manners are important —and greeted, "Hello, sensei."

"Follow me," he commanded. The man stepped onto the training grounds without looking back. Sakura took the time to observe Training Ground 44 as they walked through the foliage. Through the leaves, Sakura could spot an open area surrounded by trees. So far, it seemed like any other training area, but as the pair got closer to the open area, her mind started to race. We're about to start soon. I can't let sensei down. Newfound determination surged within her, and even when the old man stopped in the middle of the grassy field, her determination did not waver. Her sensei put his cane in front of him, clasping it with both hands. Sakura could feel the authority radiating off of him. 

"Do you know why Training Ground 44 is said to be dangerous?"

Sakura stiffened— was this a test? Swallowing her nerves, she responded, "According to the rumors spread by genin and chunin, Training Ground 44 is primarily used by jounin and ANBU. Some say there are giant creatures in here that prey on humans, like in the Forest of Death. Others say that the terrain is so harsh that only jounin and up can handle it." She took a moment to glance around once more, "But I don't think that's true."

"Rumors tend to become more ridiculous the more lack-luster an answer is." Danzou hinted, pushing his cane forward as a sign for her to continue. 

There must be something hidden that the average shinobi couldn't notice at first glance. Sakura scrunched her face in thought, hoping she looked childishly charming rather than nervous out of her mind. She decided to be honest, "I know there's something I'm missing, and I know it's on purpose. There must be a trap that only powerful shinobi can evade."

"Not quite."

Sakura visibly wilted. If the old man noticed, he said nothing and continued, "All around these grounds are traps: all ranking from genin to jounin levels of difficulty. Most traps have some chakra embedded in them in the form of fuinjutsu."

Sakura's interest peaked. Would she learn how to make traps? She knew her trap work was decent for a genin, but it was still far from jounin level. To her surprise, her sensei revealed that building traps would not be on their agenda. "Today, I will teach you how to sense these traps. What do you know about chakra sensing?"

Oh this is even more exciting! Sakura studied nearly everything she could on chakra and its various uses, and sensing was one of her favorite topics. "Chakra sensing is the ability to detect chakra— whether it's a chakra signature or chakra residue. Depending on how skilled the user is, chakra sensing can detect chakra levels and signatures. Like chakra control, chakra sensing can get better with meditation, but some people are born with an innate talent for it."

He looked pleased with her answer. "Correct. Although, it's a very textbook answer, I can see that you've studied hard."

Sakura could feel the wetness behind her eyes. It felt nice to have her hard work acknowledged. She blinked the tears away before they could emerge. She'd dissect the warm feeling in her chest later. 

Her sensei tapped the ground with his cane. "Sit here and meditate. Don't move an inch."

Sakura followed his commands and closed her eyes, sitting in a textbook-perfect meditation pose that Iruka would be proud of. She heard the old man say, "Good. I know you understand the basics of close-range sensing since the Academy covered it, however, we're going to take it a step further." Sakura bristled, eager to start. "Spread your chakra a meter from your body, as done in the Academy. Right now, your chakra is like a sphere. I want you to flatten that sphere and use the excess chakra to widen your area of coverage. I want you to tell me how many chakra signatures are within these training grounds."

She stiffened at his request. Sakura was following along well until the last part. It was impossible to cover the entire grounds with chakra reserves as small as hers. However, she didn't relay her thoughts out loud. 

Sakura took a deep breath. She couldn't let this faze her. Sakura had to impress her sensei if she wanted him to stay. Steeling herself, Sakura went further into her meditative state. A soft buzz loitered in her abdomen. Despite her eyes being closed, she could see her chakra. Its bright blue core was surrounded by a dancing mist that stayed in a neat, tight ball. The smell of grass and spring dew invaded her senses. Sakura grimaced— too much sensing inwards. She had to push her chakra out. However the only technique she knew on wide-range sensing required a large chunk of chakra she simply didn't have. Her chakra control could allow her to spread her chakra into a very thin circle, but there was a reason why powerful sensors were rare. Usually those with precise chakra control had small reserves and vice-versa. Sensing required a balance of both, and the amount of shinobi with both a large chakra supply and high chakra control was very low. 

Which sucked for Sakura. 

Small chakra reserves— the curse of having near perfect chakra control, Inner joked.

Sakura grimaced, Not right now, please.

Pushing herself to her limits, Sakura's chakra reached the corners of the open area. Immediately, Sakura's senses were overwhelmed. Nearly a hundred chakra signatures lay on the ground around her and her sensei. She released her chakra with a gasp and gaped at the old man, "What was that?"

Her sensei did not react to her surprise. "Traps."

"That many?" Sakura nearly exclaimed. 

The elder nodded. "By the end of this week, you will be able to navigate Training Ground 44 with ease."

The kunoichi stared at him dumbfoundedly. "That's in five days."

Is he crazier than Kakashi-sensei?! Inner whined.

The old man merely nodded again. "Five days should be sufficient. I trust you can do it."

Sakura's breath hitched. He trusted her. Not like Kakashi who 'trusted' her to watch the bridge when there was no real danger, but a genuine trust in her abilities. Her shoulders felt heavy at the goal of mastering sensing in five days, but she reveled in the feeling. It finally felt like she was getting somewhere. 

He may not be a traditional sensei, but I won't let him down.

A messenger hawk landed on her sensei's shoulder, interrupting her thoughts. He untied the note on the bird's leg. Sakura studied his face as he read— gauging his reaction. Even though there wasn't a change in his expression, she hoped it wasn't anything bad. The old man burned the note when he finished reading, and looked back at Sakura. "I won't be available until our last day of training. Make sure you practice here until I return."

Before he left, Sakura called out, "Wait— What's your name?"

The old man didn't miss a beat, "Prove to me that you deserve to know my name."

He left the same way as he did at their first meeting. Somehow, the leaves that settled on the ground fueled her determination more. 

❀

Four days had passed since their first training session, and Sakura had mastered chakra sensing.

Albeit in a non-traditional way , the kunoichi amused. The same day her sensei left, Sakura had thrown herself into training, and when she returned home, she would stop by the library to research more on chakra sensing. In no time, it became her new routine: wake up, train, study, repeat. On her second day alone, she had met a very... peculiar shinobi at the training grounds. It wasn't that he was creepy, rather he was overly charismatic in a way that made Sakura outwardly cringe. The green-clad shinobi had practically materialized in front of her when he noticed her presence. 

"You're Kakashi's student, aren't you? What are you doing on this day full of youth and excitement by yourself?" At that moment it clicked:

Might Guy. Leader of Team Guy.

Or better known as Lee's binary fission. Sakura gave Inner a stern look. What? It's true! Guy-sensei is Lee's carbon copy.

More like Lee is Guy-sensei's carbon copy . The kunoichi had heard of Might Guy from Lee primarily. He had practically said that his sensei was his savior, and that he wanted to be exactly like him. 

Not wanting to seem as if she spaced out, Sakura quickly answered, "I'm training my chakra sensing. I was told Training Ground 44 was the best place to practice."

Guy released a hearty laugh, "I expect nothing less from one of Kakashi's students! Both he and his pupils are full of youth!"

Sakura forced a smile. "Thank you, Guy-sensei."

The green-clad man nearly jumped in joy. "How do you know me, Kakashi's kunoichi?" Sakura wanted to end this soon. Guy was definitely... too much for her.

"Lee told me about you, but your challenges with Kakashi-sensei are known by all the shinobi in the village." From what she's heard, Guy and Kakashi's challenges were well-known for not only their extreme skill, but what entailed in these challenges in particular. It was said if you didn't want your day to be ruined, stay in your home when the two jounin had a day off scheduled at the same time. Recently, that strategy changed after the Shinobi Residential District was wiped of their onions. Apparently, Guy said it would prove who was better at reconnaissance and 'tactical acquisition.'

Or as Sakura knew it as— stealing.

Guy's chuckle pulled her from her thoughts. "I see we have made a name for ourselves. I expected nothing less from my Eternal Rival!" He placed his hands on his hips. "So what did my rival teach you about chakra sensing?"

Well, for one, her sensing teacher wasn't Kakashi. Second, the old man didn't explain anything. Rather, he wanted her to figure it out on her own. But, it sounded exactly like what Kakashi would have done, so she didn't bother correcting the overhyped jounin if it meant getting some help. "He told me to meditate and spread my chakra."

For a second, Guy's brows furrowed, but it was quickly replaced with a bright smile. "Well show me what your youthful self can do!"

Which led to the present.

She sat in front of the old man. Since he was standing, his words seemed to hold more weight. "Can you earn my name today?"

Sakura nodded in earnest. She's been training nearly non-stop these past few days, and the results have proven fruitful. Yesterday, she counted all of the chakra signatures with her chakra sensing— she was certain she could do it today. Sakura spread her chakra in the way Guy suggested, and she was ecstatic that her chakra control from yesterday wasn't a fluke. When it came to chakra sensing, having an abundance of chakra was necessary since most naturally-born sensors had less chakra control due to their high reserves. However, Guy stated that the best sensors had better chakra control since they are able to preserve more chakra for widening their range. The green-clad shinobi stated rather than an unmalleable blanket, she should think of a rubber band due to her low reserves. His advice was groundbreaking, and the moment she thinly spread her chakra into a long, thin line, she was able to slowly spin it around the training grounds. It took most of her reserves to achieve it, but she focused on the easiest issue to fix. The rest of her days before her sensei's return was spent on spinning her chakra line faster. It worked closely like a radar.

Sakura, full of pride, coolly answered, "375 chakra signatures are within Training Ground 44." She decided to take it a step further. She was always an overachiever. "Out of 375 chakra signatures, only 351 are traps. The rest is chakra residue from the shinobi who trained here throughout the week."

To her delight, her sensei seemed satisfied with her results. Your name will be ours! Shannaro! Inner cheered. 

Sakura giggled to herself, You're starting to sound like Naruto . The kunoichi could feel her second personality's disdain. 

However, before Inner could retaliate, the elder spoke up, "Good." Sakura's short celebration was quickly destroyed. "Now for the second test." 

She deflated. What did it take to learn a name?

The sound of her sensei's cane hitting the ground removed her from her loathing. He continued, "What is my chakra affinity?" 

Sakura nodded as a heavy gulp stung down her throat. She hadn't tried sensing for affinities since it was out of her skill range. Sakura shook her head. Her sensei believed she could do it— he wouldn't have shown up otherwise. The old man was no fool at his wise age. Sakura spread a thin string of chakra towards her sensei. She could feel that there was the chakra of a person, but there wasn't much else. There was no point in spreading her chakra more, so she used excess chakra to heighten her senses. Immediately, she could feel fuming heat that was stirred by a ragging gale. The power was nearly suffocating, but she answered despite the pressure, "Fire and wind, sensei."

"Danzou."

"Sorry?"

"My name is Danzou."

❀

The field was clear. The only sounds present were the soft chirp of the birds and the stagnant buzz of bugs. Keeping her chakra suppressed to the size of a squirrel, Sakura observed Training Ground 44 from her vantage point in the trees. From her far right, she heard a twig snap. Swiftly, Sakura sent a thin line of chakra to the sound. Her mind was racing as her chakra inched closer. This was guaranteed to be a trap. Although it was only her third week of training, the kunoichi felt as if she had a firm grasp of her sensei's character. 

Danzou, in Sakura's eyes, was a strategist. He was the type of man to plan every step— even a blink had a purpose. It amazed her how everyday, for the past week, her sensei would curate a new, complex plan for their spars, and unlike most teachers, Danzou never held back. If he saw the chance to strike, he would take it. It didn't matter that Sakura was a genin born in a time of peace. Her sensei often said, " All blood bleeds red in war. Anyone can kill you if their kunai is on your neck ."

Her chakra reached the area of the snap. Sending a quick pulse through her chakra, she gained a rough image of the area. Rather than sweep a line of chakra around, she decided to send a thin ring of chakra out instead. It required less concentration and exerted less chakra if used infrequently as she learned through her training. Sakura pinpointed various chakra signatures and residues. However, the faint flicker of the twig's chakra signature caught her eye. Investigating further, Sakura felt her sensei's chakra residue. If she assumed correctly, Danzou most likely snapped on the twig as a diversion, and while she searched, he shunshin-ed somewhere nearby. Sakura knew that Danzou already had an idea of where she was at, and by following her string of chakra, he would find her. In her peripheral vision, a flicker of light caught her attention. The kunoichi leaped to another branch.

If she hadn't dodged in time, a kunai would've been lodged deep in her skull.

Taking that as her cue, Sakura followed the trajectory of the kunai. There was no point in hiding. Danzou knew where she was, and if she wanted to have another chance to regather herself, Danzou needed to be distracted. Ram Snake Tiger. A perfect duplicate of Sakura appeared without smoke. For the past three weeks, Sakura had been perfecting the Academy Three— to the point where no chakra was wasted. She told the clone to hide in the trees until Sakura's signal.

The real Sakura stood on the forest's ground. In order for her plan to work, Danzou must find her first. A bird sand, and the leaves behind her rustled. Turning quickly, Sakura launched a shuriken into the undershrub. The sound of steel against steel rang through the forest. Her teacher emerged from the leaves with a kunai in his hands. "You know a shuriken does nothing if I block it, Sakura," his voice was commanding. The music of the forest hushed. 

The kunoichi held her head up high. Her plan would be futile if she didn't act her part. Steeling her nerves, Sakura launched at Danzou. A high kick followed by a left hook was blocked seamlessly by the old man. A fist flew towards her face, and after a quick duck and a leg sweep, Sakura was put on the defensive. She parted her legs and sank close to the ground. The stiffness of her body relaxed, remembering the movements from her training with ease. Rather than use the new taijutsu style Danzou had introduced, Sakura stuck with what she knew best— for now. The genin required no openings in her form, and the Academy katas prioritized defense, whereas the aggressive, hybrid taijutsu Danzou taught her prioritized offense. According to her sensei, the technique was used in the Second Shinobi War, and it incorporated aspects of Sunagakure and Konohagakure due to the two nations over-analyzing each other's techniques. The combination resulted in a fighting style that prioritized the speed of Fire and the brute blows of Sand. Although the technique died out in both nations, older shinobi in Amegakure, the nation caught in the cross-fire, keep it alive.

Since the hybrid technique was hard on the body, Sakura had to build herself up. Before her training, Sakura's taijutsu was abominable— her sensei had said so himself. As a result, Danzou made her undergo a strict training regimen that could rival Might Guy's. She had wanted nothing more than to complain, but her sensei's piercing eyes made her throat dry. Sakura didn't question his training, and at this moment, she was glad she didn't. As she and her sensei fell into a comfortable rhythm, Sakura was surprised to see she could keep up. However, as sweat beaded down her forehead, she knew she had to initiate the second part of her plan. Sakura was tiring out too quickly and was lagging slightly behind. Her sensei had a high endurance despite his limp, and Sakura wasn't in the mood for just a taijutsu spar. 

Danzou's form was perfect. Not a single opening was available, but that was to be expected. Sakura decided to create that opening instead. Going on the offensive, Sakura threw a punch at Danzou's face— leaving her side open. Her sensei, as presumed, saw this, and sent a solid kick. She folded in on herself and felt her stomach rise up her throat, but it was worth it for this moment. Out of the elder's gaze, Sakura signed in quick succession: Tiger Boar Ox Dog Snake . Using more chakra than necessary, the kunoichi substituted herself as a leaf in front of Danzou. A large cloud of smoke covered the lead, and her clone, who was in the trees, launched herself at her teacher's back. Danzou whipped around, using his forearm to block the clone's flying, downward kick. With her sensei distracted, Sakura released the Substitution jutsu. She grabbed a kunai from her thigh holster— aiming to place it on his trachea. 

Sakura saw black.

The pinks and purples of the evening sky greeted her first. A massive headache addressed her second. Grasping the side of her aching head, Sakura sat up from the forest floor. The setting sun blinded her from the gaps in the trees and every sound screamed in her ear. Pushing herself to stand, the kunoichi winced as the world seemed to spin around her. She definitely had a concussion.

As the world slowed down, Danzou simply said, "You have to try harder to trick me. Sometimes a quick strike with an elbow is more efficient than a jutsu to dispose of an enemy."

The oversaturated forest dimmed to normal, and Sakura held her head down. Although she knew her chances of tricking her sensei was slim to none, the genin still hoped it would work. Danzou pulled out his cane from a sealing scroll and whacked her shin with it, making her yelp. His eyebrows furrowed slightly and the corner of his lips went faintly downward. Had it been anyone else, they wouldn't notice the minute change of his expression, but Sakura could tell he was upset. Tears sprung from the corner of her eyes. The genin thought she had done fairly well regardless of her competition. Sakura opened her mouth, but the apology was stuck in her throat. 

"There is no use in moping. You did well."

Sakura felt as if spring had come. A blossom of warmth spread through her body. The ache of her head was far away, and despite her low chakra, she never felt more full. Her sensei said she had done well ! Knowing Danzou, an esteemed council member and 3-time veteran, that was high praise. For the first time since joining Team 7, her skills as a shinobi were commended without an ulterior motive of stirring a rivalry behind it. Sakura cracked a shy smile. 

"However, your endurance was less than satisfactory. Continue your training."

A chuckle spilled from her lips. Sakura had only known Danzou for three weeks, but she had never felt closer to a teacher before. It was just so... Danzou to always point out where she went wrong, and although she hated criticism, Sakura held onto her sensei's every word. She felt as if he truly wanted the best for her. 

However, the antagonistic voice in the back of her head asked the question she had been avoiding— why? Why would he train her of all people? What was so special about her? Was it out of pity? The thought caused a bitter taste to sit on her tongue. She didn't want to know, but Sakura had been curious from the moment they met. The light from the setting sun casted a bright aura around Danzou. A God had given her a chance, and as a devotee, she had to find her purpose. 

"Why are you training me?" Her voice was soft--- insecurity meddled in her tone. Sakura continued, "There are so many other shinobi that are better than me. What do I have that sets me apart?"

The aura around her sensei seemed to glow brighter, but the slight smile from her sensei blinded her the most. "Your mind is untouchable."

❀

"Sakura-chan!"

Slowing down to a stop, Sakura investigated for the person who called her name— her evening laps around the village could wait. (She wouldn't say it out loud, but Sakura praised the Sage for the break from her training regimen.) The wave of a large man with familiar, platinum blond hair caught her eyes. "Inoichi-san!"

The kunoichi ran up to one of her childhood figures with a smile. Sakura had always looked up to Ino's father. He was the one who gave her dango after a nasty fall during her and Ino's games of Ninja-Tag. When her parents couldn't sign off on Academy papers, Inoichi used his influence to let the paperwork through. He had always been a present figure in her childhood. However, Sakura hadn't heard much from him after her and Ino's falling out, but she assumed his obligations increased for Ino's training— she was the next clan head, after all.

"Man, you are hard to catch! I went to your house, and it was empty. I practically searched the entire village for you!" Inoichi let out an exuberant laugh, "I'm glad that you're out training. I wish Ino had the same conviction."

Sakura twitched at Ino's name. She didn't know how she felt about the blonde. On one hand, Ino had been her best friend, and despite their rivalry, Sakura still looked up to Ino. She was everything Sakura wasn't. On the other hand, Ino had clearly drawn the line between their relationship. The days of 'Ino and Sakura' were over. The Chunin Exams completely erased their relationship. Ino was terrified of Sakura, and in the corners of her soul, Sakura felt a surge of pride at beating Ino. However, it made her feel dirty, so she aimed a bright smile at Inoichi instead. "Well, the rest of my team is training hard for the finals. I promised myself I wouldn't fall behind!"

If there was any doubt on the Yamanaka's face, he didn't show it. The corners of his pupilless eyes crinkled from his smile. "Of course, Sakura-chan! You've always been very headstrong."

The genin blushed bashfully at his praise. She had always been told she was stubborn. It was a part of her she didn't like. A good shinobi never questioned orders. The Shinobi Rules Danzou often recited said so. Inoichi continued, "To be honest, Sakura-chan, I need your help." Sakura stood a little straighter. Someone was counting on her.

"I'll do my best!"

Inoichi ruffled her pink locks. "Let's head to my office."

The walk through the evening lights of Konoha reminded Sakura of simpler times. Her and her parents shopping for late-night snacks. Her and Ino playing hide-and-seek at the market. Her and Team 7 eating at Ichiraku's after a tough day of D-ranks. Nostalgia coated her words as she caught Inoichi up on her life with her new team. It hadn't even been a month since Team 7 parted, but her stories about her genin team seemed so long ago. As they walked, Sakura couldn't help but think how grateful she was for Inoichi's presence. He was a parental figure she'd like to keep— she didn't have any left from her childhood.

The duo's conversation continued until they sat in Inoichi's office. If she remembered correctly (which she always did), Ino's father ran the T&I department. Glancing at the placard on his mahogany desk, Sakura was proven correct. Maybe if her help was enough, she'd be given a minor position with T&I. She was too squeamish to be an interrogator, but she wouldn't mind helping Inoichi out with mundane tasks. Team 7 might be split after the Chunin Exams, and Sakura needed to earn money. Future Sakura would kill her if she didn't plan ahead.

The two sat across from each other. White static filled the room for a few minutes as Inoichi tidied his desk— nonchalance oozing from his pores. 

"Could I look into your mind?"

The question made Sakura shift. The clan head's cadence had a relaxed rhythm. He asked as if he wouldn't be committing a major invasion of privacy. Her throat went dry at the question. 

"Did I do something wrong?"

Did Kakashi request her mental evaluation? It wasn't likely, but it was the only option she could think of. Why else would the head of the T&I department want to search her mind?

A soft chuckle cut through the tension between Sakura's shoulders. "Your imagination remains as vivid as ever, Sakura-chan. I was just curious on how you broke the Mind-Body Transfer jutsu. You see, no one has ever broken it before. It would mean a lot to me if you agree to help. The Yamanaka will forever be in your debt."

A wide, genuine smile spread on Sakura's face. She was glad she wasn't in trouble. "Oh Of course—!" She paused. Something wasn't right. "What do I get out of this exchange, Inoichi-san?"

If the change in attitude phased Inoichi, he didn't show it. His bright smile remained plastered on his face. "Whatever you desire."

Sakura took a second to answer. Inoichi's phrasing revealed that he underestimated her desires. If she were any other civilian, she'd wish for money, and it felt as if Inoichi saw her that way. However, Sakura had the better end of the deal since they needed her more than she needed them. 

"I want the support of the Yamanaka clan. Funding, influence, power— anything you provide for your clansmen. You can think of me as an honorary Yamanaka. I would be providing the ultimate defense of your clan's technique and would contribute more to the Yamanaka than anyone else in the village." One of the most important aspects of negotiation is image. Despite the Haruno clan's skill with clothes, someone also had to sell them, and her father often advised to use her innocent looks to sway customers. Drawing on childhood memories, Sakura's smile resembled red ribbons. "All I ask is for your clan's support."

True to his interrogator instincts, Inoichi knew when to change tactics. His eyes softened and a grim smile took the place of his cheerful expression. Twiddling an ink brush, the blond looked away from Sakura. His sigh was dipped in dismay, "That is something I can't do. Since this would fall under an apprenticeship, the clan's elders wouldn't approve. If it were under other circumstances, things would be different."

It wasn't difficult to read between the lines:

If you were from a shinobi clan, I'd accept.

Sakura grimaced. She should've known. Apprenticeships, in the shinobi world, were used for both teaching and politics. The act of an apprenticeship was a commitment, and to many shinobi, it was nothing to scoff at due to the necessity of the Hokage's approval. More often than not, apprenticeships would occur between two members of the same clan, for it kept clan techniques within the family. It would also strengthen the military power of their clan--- an important factor in wars. Rarely did two shinobi from different clans have an apprenticeship. Clan politics forbid it. The only times two differing clan shinobi had an apprenticeship was when the Hokage took on a student. Apprenticeships between non-clan shinobi were nonexistent due to the lack of ties to the Hokage. The exception to this, however, was the Toad Sage and the Fourth Hokage. This was only because Jiraiya had a direct connection to the Hokage and was a well-respected shinobi in the general public. 

Apprenticeships between a clan shinobi and a civilian-born have never occurred in Konoha's history.

The Yamanaka clan head's voice pulled the cannon fodder kunoichi back to the conversation, "I'm really sorry, Sakura-chan."

Fake. Fake. Fake. 

All of it was fake. 

"Don't pretend you care." Her words were sharp— politeness was pointless now that Inoichi's true intentions were on display. 

He placed his hands up as his eyebrows rose up in sympathy. "I'm truly—."

"Cut the act, Yamanaka-san," Sakura spit out. She stood from her seat and walked to the door. When she grabbed the door knob, she looked back at the man who was once such a big part of her life. "Thank the Sage that Ino isn't a snake like you."

The negotiation was off, and so was Inoichi's sympathetic gaze. His face fell flat— any sign of emotion was gone. It seemed as if there was no need to act anymore. 

The man from her childhood was replaced by a stranger. 

Sakura ran down the halls of the T&I building. Jade eyes darted around the blank, white walls of the hallway she stepped into. Her throat tightened, and with each step away from Inoichi's office, the sensation increased. She had no one. The empty hallway closed in on her. She clawed at her throat, urging herself to breathe. 

Sakura wanted to cry. She wanted to stand on the Hokage Monument and scream her complaints at the village and the world. She desired nothing more than for someone to hear her voice— for someone to listen to the cries of a civilian-born. But as she stumbled through the endless corridor, her raspy breathing was the only thing that echoed. 

" If the world is unforgiving to everyone, but to us civilian-born, the world is ruthless. Never forget your place in the world. That is the fuel of desire ." Danzou's words rang through her mind. Her claustrophobia grew stronger, and in a blind panic, Sakura released strings of chakra to scour Konoha.

When she found Danzou's signature she dashed out of the T&I building. With her brain occupied on finding her sensei, her anxiety provided adrenaline to push her forward. She dashed on the rooftops, and the night lights from her walk with Inoichi seemed blinding now. She sprinted through the forest on the outskirts of the village near the main gate. The genin's eyes landed on the silhouette of her savior. She scurried to his side and dropped to her knees, peering at him with large, teary eyes. 

"Please." Sakura wheezed, grasping his robe, "Please train my mind."

Danzou looked down at the girl— surprise flashed across his eyes. Her presence was unexpected. 

"This is what you meant earlier, right?" Sakura gasped for air. She asked with a higher inflection— full of questions and doubts, "By my mind being untouchable?" Anxiety roped around her lungs. What if she was wrong?

The councilman placed a hand on her head. He didn't ruffle her hair, but his warmth was enough for Sakura. Ignoring her question, he answered her plea instead, "If you truly want to grow, I will provide you with what you need."

Sakura wobbled as she stood up. Her scratchy throat caused her to whisper, "Please help me."

She didn't know if it was the moonlight, but Danzou almost looked sympathetic. "Meet me after the Chunin Exams— you know how to find me."

The soft chirps of the birds warded off the monsters of the night. Sakura looked up at the dark shy. The stars twinkled, and the genin liked to think they were cheering her on.

❀

Sakura never knew the Chunin Exams contained an invasion as one of its tests. 

Sasuke had completely shattered Gaara's sand dome, revealing her teammate's hand lodged in the Suna nin's shoulder. The red dripping from Sasuke's arm looked ethereal with the falling white feathers. Her eyes felt heavy, but the thin layer of chakra wrapped around the genin's brain was far too uncomfortable to go unnoticed. A quick Kai! was all it took to release the genjutsu. It was obvious that the technique was designed to cover large areas rather than create layered illusions. One quick glance at the spectators in deep slumber confirmed that fact. 

A shuriken grazed the top of her hair. Realizing she needed cover, Sakura dragged herself and a sleeping Naruto under their seats. Shikamaru, who was next to Naruto, was 'awoken' by a twitchy, pink-haired genin with the poke of a kunai. He slid off his seat, still pretending to be asleep, and settled with the duo. Sakura would've found it comedic if she wasn't in the middle of a potential war. The main thoughts driving through her head were the tales of the Shinobi Wars Danzou participated in. She had to do her best for Konoha and decreasing the enemy's forces would help that cause. 

Her teacher's war stories were brutal. Demolished homes. Plague and starvation. International poverty. Rarely did his stories describe big moves and flashy jutsus— most were about kunai and the will to survive. There were rarely any exaggerated feats of heroics, and that only proved to her that Sakura could only rely on her wits and skills.

Sakura grasped Naruto's forearm and looked at Shikamaru. "Capture him in your shadow so he doesn't reveal our hiding spot." 

His face sagged into an exasperated expression. It was followed by a small puff of air— as if sighing was too bothersome. The lazy genius responded, "This is going to be a drag."

Sakura brightened. Albeit it was a nonconventional phrase of agreement, but it was still confirmation.

Sakura pushed her own chakra into Naruto's system and forcibly stopped the flow of his chakra. The blond shot up, but was stopped midway by Shikamaru. Sakura used the arm that was still on Naruto to turn him towards her. Blue and green eyes locked on each other, and she could see the clear confusion on his face. He was about to open his mouth when Sakura interrupted, "Naruto, I need you to be serious right now." His eyebrows furrowed even further. Her nails dug into his bicep and hissed, "We're being invaded right now. We need to make a plan— but be quiet."

Naruto nodded slowly, and Shikamaru released his shadow. The brunette said in a low voice, "Suna and Sound are attacking us. We need to find one of our senseis before we act. I personally don't want to die because I got in someone's way." Sakura sweeped the stadium with a thin string of chakra— a large pulse would reveal them. One of her strings caught onto the electric flare of Kakashi's chakra. Despite the Chidori being an assassination technique, it was blinding to a sensor's radar. 

She relayed her finding, "Kakashi-sensei is behind us, but he's fighting two other shinobi."

Naruto softly declared, "We need to help him!"

The hand on Naruto's arm dropped. "He's a jounin, Naruto. His opponents are chunin at best. We'll only get in the way if we try to help."

She felt the chakra signature of one of the enemy nin pick up in speed before slowing down to molasses. The last shinobi endured for another second and met the same fate their comrade did. She cocked her head in the jounin's direction. "He just disposed of the other shinobi. Let's go."

The trio dashed to Kakashi's side, dodging stray weaponry as they went. It seemed the jounin had sensed them before they arrived since he turned to them the moment they arrived. He barked, "Sasuke went after Gaara. Go follow and stop him— that's an order."

❀

Sakura killed five shinobi with ease. 

A group of Sound nin followed the trio into the forest of Konoha. Sakura volunteered to stay back since Shikamaru would conjure a better strategy than Sakura ever could. If she went, they were guaranteed to fail. Naruto had protested, but she stressed that she could handle it. Her blond teammate's hand felt warm on her shoulder. His words were surprisingly serious. "Kick their ass, Sakura-chan." With a nod of her head, they left, and Sakura sent out a string of chakra through the trees. 

Six shinobi were hurtling through the greenery. There were three genin and two chunin, if no one was hiding their chakra levels. Sakura was positive that if she set up traps, she could stop them. She went to work, and used her knowledge of the traps littering her usual training grounds as a basis. She spread them throughout the forest. No spot was left uncovered, unless it led into another trap. There were some that were decoys that were followed by the actual traps, causing a domino effect. Once the explosive tag was triggered, the next trap automatically released kunai, shuriken, and senbon. They were structured in a way that covered all-grounds— there was no escape from her web.

She hid herself in the trees, far away from the traps. If there were any stragglers, she would stop them. The ground shook and the leaves rustled from multiple explosions. She sent out a pulse of chakra. Five signatures had vanished, but the last one flickered. The kunoichi knew they weren't dead, and leaving them alive would only hinder her mission.

Sakura ran silently on the tree branches. Gunpowder filled her lungs as she got closer to the final shinobi. Chunks of flesh and meat littered the forest floor, and the smell of cooked corpses made her barf. Sakura didn't know if she could stand the sight of blood and guts and death much longer, but she wiped her mouth and continued. In the back of her mind, she was grateful the shinobi died on impact.

She heard the wail of the last shinobi before she saw him. He was crouched over the body of his unrecognizable comrade. The Sound nin held the only intact part of the body. Dark, brown hair nearly covered the tears streaming down his face as he held a burnt hand. Sakura ignored the silver band on the charred finger in favor of repeating Danzou’s favorite phrase:

Sacrifices must be made in war. Sacrifices must be made in war. SACRIFICESMUSTBEMADEINWAR.

The man whipped his head towards Sakura. His misty, purple eyes pierced her soul. He held his hand towards his chunin vest as he sneered at her, “You killed him… YOU KILLED CHŪNFĒNG!” The man’s purple eyes shifted to a frigid blue. The pores of his body opened— releasing a deafening whistle. Her insides were on fire. It felt as if her organs were melting, and when she looked at her skin, she found it was translucent. Her Chakra Pathway System was completely visible. The man unsheathed his Húdié Shuāng dāo from a single scabbard as he stood. Sakura had heard of the weapon before, but they weren’t as popular as the standard, shinobi weapons. The blades were primarily used for close combat, and due to less versatility in range, were less popular than the average kunai and tanto combo. 

The dāo glinted a green sheen under the sunlight, and despite the staggering steps he was taking towards her, Sakura sweated from the polarizing killing intent. The man screamed— his voice scratchy from the gunpowder, “I’LL KILL YOU! YOU FUCKING BITCH!” The chunin stumbled at the girl, “I’LL KILL YOU!”

Despite the countless injuries, the Sound nin crouched low as he spun with his dual dāo. Sakura leaped to another branch swiftly, and flung one her final three kunai at the man’s vital points. She hit his chest with fearsome accuracy, but the weapon lodged itself on the bone— not reaching his heart. The blades she bought were dull from the countless owners before it. D-rank mission only paid so much, and without a clan to provide pristine weaponry, she was stuck with pre-owned blades. 

The man laughed hysterically, and it chilled Sakura to her bone marrow. “Are you serious?! A genin with shitty fucking weapons killed my Chūnfēng?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!” He clutched his stomach in pain from the laughter but stopped suddenly. Through his dark bangs, rageful, golden eyes seemed to glow. He ran a finger across a single blade, and a glow of green followed his swipe. “Let me show you a real blade.” 

With a burst of newfound speed, the man tackled Sakura to the ground from her branch. She landed on the forest floor with a harsh thud. Her back and head felt as if they would burst as she coughed up bright blood. The chunin held Sakura with his legs around her small body and playfully dragged his blade across the skin of Sakura’s arm. Only the skin was cut, but she felt a sharp burst of pain litter down her limb. He chuckled at her scream. “Don’t worry, little girl. I won’t cut you to pieces yet. I still have to slice and dice every chakra capillary in your body!” 

Sakura visibly paled, and she shrieked when the man ran the dāo over her leg. Another laugh echoed through the empty forest. If he sliced her one more time, she would’ve passed out from pain. The chunin hovered the tip of the blade over her heart. “Should I do what you tried to do to me? The medical chakra infused in this dāo would easily end your life…” He sighed as if the idea was too mundane. Golden eyes sharpened as he flashed a feral smile— baring his fangs. “No, no. That can’t do. You have to suffer!”

He raised the weapon above his head, eyes jumping from one visible capillary to another. Before the blade could reach her, Sakura grasped his wrist with her untouched arm and twisted the dāo from his grip with the use of chakra. The men yelped and dove for the blade. However, Sakura snatched the weapon, and with adrenaline coursing through her body, swung the blade at his neck. 

There was no blood— only purple, dying eyes and breathless grunts. 

She didn’t know if she should be grateful for the lack of gore. 

The man collapsed on her, and his corpse felt much heavier than when he was alive. Bile ran up her throat, and with a chakra-infused leg and arm, pushed him off to vomit stomach acid. The world was spinning, and her ears rang loudly. The lack of food and chakra was not a good combination with a concussion. In her haze she heard Danzou, “ As unsavory it is to kill, know that they will find peace in the Pure Lands. ”

Golden eyes, silver bands, and sharp teeth flashed through her mind.

Sakura grabbed the dual blades from the man’s hands, and felt a phantom touch run up her arm. 

She hoped the hospital could fix her up soon. 

❀

Time flew by quickly with each petal picked. 

He loves me not. The Sandaime’s funeral was basked in rain and tears. Confused children grasped the black cloth their parents wore. Sakura let Naruto latch onto her sleeve despite the soreness of her bandaged arm. His sniffles were quiet, and his blonde hair looked dull as it covered his eyes. She didn’t say a word. Neither did he. Sakura hoped her presence was enough. 

He loves me. Kakashi caught her injured arm after the funeral. His visible eye was feral, and the intensity of his dark eyes overshadowed the pain shooting up her limb. She was scared that he knew what she had done. Could the Sharingan peer into her mind? Could he see how easy it was for her small hands to explode bodies and slice necks like butter? Apparently not since her team leader had exposed her for using Training Ground 44. ( “Sakura-chan,” she frowned at the title, “using jounin training grounds is not something a little genin should do.” ) His posture was rigid, and when Sakura had retorted back, she was afraid he would snap like a rubber band under too much tension. ( “I’m sorry, sensei, but Training Ground 44 can be used by anyone, and despite its dangers, it was necessary for me to grow my skills.” ). The genin politely bowed and told Kakashi goodbye— nervous sweat dripped from her forehead. Keeping her eyes on him, she walked away, but his hand gripped her arm tighter. ( “Rin…” Her stoic leader’s eye was fogged over. Kakashi’s chest rose quickly with each breath until he yelled— his snarl visible under his mask, “Stop being reckless!” ) Sakura stood deathly still. Golden eyes replaced black. Her brain was telling her to run, but predators react to movement. Suddenly, he pulled out his bright book and dropped her arm as if it was burning. The Icha Icha’s risque cover hid his face. ( He spoke in a voice all too small, “I’m sorry for being a terrible sensei.” ) In a blink, he was gone. A single leaf was the only proof of their conversation. 

He loves me not. Naruto had left with the Toad Sanin to find the legendary medic-nin, Tsunade. Sakura was told tales about armies of slugs and obliterated mountains. Before the exams, Danzou had said the first time he felt the Earth crack under his feet was one of the few times he had been truly surprised. Sakura loved her teacher’s stories of Tobirama and Tsunade because they were the only tales Danzou had told with a semblance of a smile. The kunoichi thought there was a small amount of hope in his voice. 

He loves me. Sasuke and Kakashi lay still in the bright sheets of the hospital’s beds. The antiseptic scent gave her a massive headache as she sat next to Sasuke’s side. She didn’t care about Sasuke’s aloof attitude or Kakashi’s awkward breakdown. The lone genin would forget about the favoritism Kakashi held towards Sasuke if that was all it took for them to wake up. Hell, she’d probably cry with joy if her crush woke up and called her a weak civilian with no talent. Her insecurities would mean nothing as long as they came back to her. 

He loves me not. Tsunade strode into their hospital room along with Naruto and Jiraiya. Her white, lab coat was like wings as she placed a glowing, green hand on Sasuke’s head. After a few moments, she whistled lowly and turned to face everyone in the room. “Itachi really did a number on these two,” her next words were music to Sakura’s ears despite the medic’s crassness, “It’ll be fuckin’ tough to wake them from their comas, but it can be done.” Before Sakura and Naruto could bask in delight, Tsunade kicked them out to operate. Blue and green eyes met with a smile. Despite their matching bruises on their foreheads (they were thrown out with a flick from Tsunade’s finger), the duo laughed in relief. 

He loves me. The screech of wind deafened Sakura. Flashes of lightning blinded her eyes. Strong, powerful chakra weighed the girl down, but she willed herself to move. Time slowed as she ran towards her boys. If they killed each other she’d be abandoned. Again . Each step was harder than the last, but she pushed her muscles with chakra and determination. Her team, despite their ups-and-downs, was one of the few things she had left, and as her arm stretched to intercept the blow, she internally apologized to Danzou for not seeing him after the exams. Electricity singed her hair and wind slashed her skin— until it didn’t. Kakashi had split the boys apart with a harsh kick and punch. The boys flew to either side of the roof. His yell terrified his genin, “YOU COULD’VE KILLED HER!” He glared at both boys— animalistic and mean, “You are a team . Using A-rank jutsus to settle a stupid rivalry is something I never expected either one of you to do— especially when your other teammate was about to die trying to stop you.” He continued with a snarl, “Those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum. Don’t you ever forget.” He shunshin-ed from the roof, and the three genin reflected in their silence. 

He loves me not. It seemed words of comradery fell flat to Sasuke as he stood by the main gate. Sakura was on her nightly run when she spotted him. It was odd to see anyone here at this time, but what made the hair stand on her arms was the lack of shinobi guarding the gate. Her crush called out to her, and she walked towards him— her hand brushed against her kunai holster. Not beating around the bush, Sakura asked if he was leaving. She already knew the answer, but she wished for anything other than that. The stars dimmed at Sasuke’s ‘yes.’ The kunoichi brandished a kunai and fell into a defensive stance. Sasuke narrowed red eyes. He looked at her with contempt, but it didn’t bother her as much as it should. Sakura had a single mission, and she couldn’t fail. Her kunai flew, but Sasuke was much too fast ( You knew he was too fast. ) He flashed before her and almost kicked her in the gut. She narrowly blocked it— he was much more agile than the chunin. A series of punches, kicks, and blocks were exchanged in a furious taijutsu bout. ( Don’t break him. ) Her arms ached from the abuse, but it didn’t matter. She was keeping up with him, and it made Sasuke infuriated. “Just give up already,” his Sharingan spun faster, “Let me leave and prove myself!” She sensed him before she felt him. ( If you turn around now, nothing will stop you from slicing his neck .) Her crush’s breath tingled her neck, and if his hand wasn’t about to hit her pressure point, she could pretend their position was romantic. (d angerdangerdangerDANGER! KILL HIM NOW LIKE YOU DID WITH CHŪNFĒNG! ) A simple ‘thank you’ was all her crush told her before meeting unconsciousness. 

He loves me. She was blank. Naruto had come back from the rescue mission with her classmates in the hospital and a missing Sasuke. When she first heard about the mission, she begged Shikamaru to take her. She needed to prove herself to her team. She might have messed up once, but she wouldn’t do it again. She needed her boys to stay with her. The Nara refused. She was too weak if she failed already. Sakura watched the team go. Her skin had felt so dry and uncomfortable then, but now, her body was on auto-pilot. Since Sasuke’s defection, Kakashi had disappeared into ANBU. She wanted to cry and beg for his return, but with Sasuke gone, she didn’t dare seek him out. Pink locks blocked her sight as she held her head down. Glazed eyes met the ground as she effortlessly glided through the crowd of the main market-place. She was a ghost in her emptiness. She passed by her home without a glance, and her feet finally stopped when she saw the bottom of dark robes and a cane. His cane lifted her face from her chin. Lifeless eyes were all that was left.

“It was necessary.”

❀

Sakura was led to a dark, underground maze by her mentor. He told her about ANBU ROOT, an organization that protects and serves Konoha’s needs— no matter the cause. Danzou invited her to join, and she accepted without hesitation. He said it would be the most strenuous training she would receive, but Sakura didn’t care. She wanted to stay with the only person who cared enough about her to not leave. 

They walked deeper into the base. Shinobi clad in the ANBU gear were the only signs of life in the damp, dim hallways. The pair reached a door ( it was the same as the past 40 doors ), and Danzou led her to a large, spotless desk. The room was small despite his status as the leader. There wasn’t a single place to hold files or papers, and Sakura found it odd that he considered it an office. She pushed the thought aside and sat across from her teacher. 

Danzou went straight to the point. “I have your first mission for you. You’ll train here for a month on espionage before going to the Hokage. You must do anything to become her apprentice. Gain her trust, and come back to me to report her every move.” 

Sakura recalled stories of slugs and strength and asked, “Why?”

His lips fell into a grim line. “I thought she would be more like her grand-uncle, but her ignorance falls in line with her grandfather. She sent genin on a mission that was at least B-rank. If she had sent just one ANBU or jounin team, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Sakura had thought the same thing, but had been told every shinobi that was tokubetsu jounin or above was collecting funds for the village. “Tsunade-sama had said all of her high-ranked nin were sent out on mission, Danzou-sama.”

He dismissed her words with a wave of his hand. “Does that really matter when it comes to the Uchiha? He’s the last of the Sharingan, and letting him run to Orochimaru was the worst decision since Sarutobi became the Sandaime. She could have easily told a team to intercept the boy.”

Sakura understood his logic, but was still confused at his sudden change of heart. So, she asked, “But I thought you liked Tsunade-sama? You always spoke highly of her.”

“That was true— until now,” his voice dipped in disappointment. “Even when she abandoned Konoha, I respected her choice. War destroys wills. It’s understandable to try and run away from it.”  Her sensei’s dark eye gleamed in empathy. “The Will of Fire was never unshakable.” 

He continued with fire in his lungs, “However, as Hokage, she should have dictated with an iron fist— no matter the situation. If Tobirama-sama were here, things would have been much different.”

The conversation clearly made Danzou upset since his eyebrows were slightly furrowed. The slight glare he held made Sakura’s stomach drop. She didn’t want to anger the only person she had left, so she quickly said, “I’ll accept the mission, Danzou-sama.”

The glare was replaced with a slight upturn of his lips. He reached under his desk and pulled a black uniform accompanied with a blank, white mask. As she grabbed her new uniform, Danzou’s small grin faintly widened. 

If her sensei was happy, she was happy.