I. A Step in the Right Direction
At first, she doesn't fully realize it. Her place within the team. She knows only of her aptitude for creating illusions and book smarts. She doesn't realize how far behind she is, doesn't realize how much potential she has to become something more. Sakura focuses on Sasuke, because why wouldn't she? Blinded to the obvious neglect of her sensei. Not that he's that much better with training the boys, but still. The wave mission comes, and Sakura is glad to be out of the village if only to stop Naruto from whining.
She soon wishes that they were still safe and secure behind Konaha's walls. A split second has her in front of Tazuna, shaking with fear. I'm about to die, she thinks in apt horror. Kakashi grabs the two enemies round the neck in a moment, saving them. Sakura's still shaking. Soon she becomes sick of it, comedically annoyed almost as she ducks to the ground pulling the bridge builder with her. Then as she guards him while the boys fight. The realization comes slow but not without impact. I'm weak.
Her chakra control is near perfect. For a moment she sees the shock in her sensei's visible eye as she walks up the tree on her first try. Not a drop wasted. But it goes so fast the Pinkett thinks she must have imagined it. Anger and hurt bubbles in her when instead of recognizing Sakura's accomplishment like he does when the boys do well, she's brushed off as nothing but another challenge for them. It's not outright said but Sakura can hear it in-between the lines of his words. Don't let a girl like her be better than you. So, Sakura hurts. When it truly clicks is when Tazuna is attacked on the bridge, and she's shoved aside for "guard duty", something that might have made her proud (since she was in charge of the targets safety) if not for the fact that it was merely a way to get her out of the way; if the enemy got past the boys the two of them would be toast. And they all know it.
Sakura uses her mind. Her greatest weapon. The boys and the enemy are distracted with one another, should one of the boys fail it was all over. She could try and sneak past.... She shakes her head dismissing the thought in an instant. No way, they'd notice the two of us for-sure. There's only the edge of the bridge behind us, and water below. No way around and everyone else is occupied. But I have to get Tazuna out of here, if something happens, we're sitting ducks. Sakura runs scenarios through her mind, ideas; until finally something clicks. Of course! Kakashi sensei and Zabuza were both able to walk on the water, so if I can get down there by doing the same as tree walking, I can get Tazuna and I away!
Determined, Sakura grabs the bridge builder's arm, making the universal shh, sound when he tries to protest, and sneaks to the edge of the bridge. When they get to the edge of the bridge she whispers, "get on my back."
"What! There's no way you can carry me, little girl."
Sakura smiles re-assuring. "Ninja, remember?"
There's a strain to her smile that she hopes he doesn't notice. In truth she's going off of nothing but Genin clearance library knowledge and guesswork. Grumbling, he climbs onto her back and Sakura nearly falls over from the sudden weight. Reaching for the small pool inside of her, Sakura channels small amounts of chakra into her legs and feet, re-enforcing them and sticking them to the bridge. She takes a deep breath, staring down at the mist below the edge. Carefully, she steps a foot onto the side feeling out the amount of chakra necessary to stick. It's surprisingly even easier than the tree and takes even less chakra.
Tazuna gasps as they walk over the side. If she were to look, she'd see his eyes blown wide with amazement as this pink haired child walked vertically down a pole with him on her back. Sakura bites her lip in concentration. One step after the other, she can hear the waves grow louder and louder below. Inner cha's triumphantly in her head. Reaching the water is the easy part. The rest is another story.
Unlike the pole and the tree, the water is constantly changing flow. The first time she puts her foot on the water, clinging to the pole with both her hands and other foot, it sinks in, and the second time, and the third. But each time comes closer than the last. Until she feels the water with her chakra, finds it responds to her with ease. Sakura commands the small area calm. It listens. She tentatively puts a foot on the small area of still surface. It doesn't sink in.
The taste of iron filles her mouth as she walks across the water. Forcing that small area where she's about to step to calm before placing her sandaled foot down the last inch onto its now easy surface. Again and again, she repeats the process. Her meager reserves are draining faster and more than ever before, it makes her head pound and body ache with the strain. When the shore comes into view almost a hundred feet away Sakura feels likes she's about to black out. Dark spots and bright flashes dancing in her vision. Only her precise chakra control and iron resolve keep her going. It's a struggle. Fifty feet. Forty. Thirty. Twenty. Only ten more....
It's too much.
She can't even see anymore.
A spike of drowsiness hits her, Sakura feels the last remnants of her strength evaporate into nothingness. Then she feels no more.