Kunoichi: Reinstated

Konoha

June 27th 19:45 ???

The last thing Sakura expected when she booted up her communicator was for Dick to start yelling at her. “Blossom! You’ll never guess what B just told me!” His smile was so wide it made Sakura think the Joker had something to do with it. He seemed to bounce in place, barely holding still.

“I can’t see your eyes Birdie.” Sakura adjusted her screen, leaning back in her chair. Medical scrolls and text books were scattered about her room. Tsunade had ordered her to do some studying and take notes for their next meeting. She had been halfway through the first text when Dick had called her.

“Oh!” Dick picked up his screen and shuffled about before it was placed on his own desk. He stepped back and waved. “How’s that?”

“That’s good.” Sakura smiled and turned back to her scroll.

“Complains about not seeing me and she doesn’t even look.” Dick scoffed to himself.

Sakura laughed. “Sorry. Tsunade has given me homework and old case files to study.”

“Well fine. I’m gonna change out of my uniform anyway.” Sakura glanced over, watching Dick peel the Robin costume off of his torso. She hummed to herself as she took in the new scars on his torso. There were too many.

Sakura sighed as she thought back on her life. After graduating from the Academy she thought she’d go about her life as a shinobi, be promoted to chunin, marry Sasuke, and live happily ever after! But that never happened. After a disastrous mission in Waves, Kakashi had been given a long term mission. His abilities and skills were needed more elsewhere than they were by three children. So, in order to keep their training going and so they wouldn’t fall behind the other genin, Kakashi had arranged for them to train with an old colleague of his. Outside the village.

Genin generally weren’t allowed to know much about the world outside of their villages. It was too dangerous, too unpredictable, too...enticing.

That was where they met Bruce Wayne. He was the CEO of a major company. A charitable man always wanting to give back more and more to his city. He had adopted a poor orphaned child and given him a place to call home. A life better than he could have imagined. He was, by all accounts, a normal civilian. Kakashi’s old colleague had been an enigma. Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura had no idea why Kakashi would send them to someone so…boring to train. When they discovered the cave that dwelled beneath his manor; and all the secrets it contained, it made so much more sense.

And that was when they Batman. Caped crusader and defender of Gotham City. That’s who their new teacher was. Robin and Naruto hit it off; they were both energetic pranksters, it was only natural. Batman’s combat style was interesting and new, and drew Sasuke in without question; he had an authority and a command that Sasuke had respected. While they still preferred Konoha, they seemed to thrive.

But Sakura knew the truth. She knew what the Outside was really like. Her parents were obsessed with it. And she had ended up paying the price for that obsession. So she had refused to be swayed by the shiny toys and the charming front that it gave. But, try as she might, the life of a vigilante seemed to come naturally to her. While Sasuke and Naruto grew tired of Gotham and were anxious to return home, Sakura began to thrive. She had found her place. She was finally in front! Naruto and Sasuke were finally forced to watch her back as she took charge, completely in her element.

But…all good things must come to an end. As is the way of a shinobi. Kakashi's mission had ended, and Sakura was forced to say goodbye.

“-ossom! Blossom! Are ya listening?” Sakura blinked out of her thoughts with a jerk. Dick was looking at her in concern. Gone was his uniform, in place was a red Haley’s circus shirt and blue sweatpants.

“Huh?” She chuckled nervously and rested her chin on her hand. “Sorry Birdie, I was spacing out.”

“No kidding.” Dick scoffed playfully. “So! I have some A-mazing news!”

“Share.” She turned back to her scrolls with a smile. “I promise I’m listening this time.”

“We’re going to Hall of Justice!” Dick cheered. “B and the others finally think we’re ready!”

Sakura’s jaw dropped teasingly. “Birdie’s leaving Gotham? And the big Bat is allowing it?”

“Oh ha ha.” Dick rolled his eyes. “But, seriously Blossom, this is….awesome doesn’t even begin to cover it! The League has treated us like sidekicks for years. Now we’re finally getting the chance to prove ourselves as real heroes.”

“You keep saying ‘we’.” Sakura pointed out. She abandoned her studying once more to give him her attention. “Who else is joining?”

“KF, Aqualad, and Speedy were all approved!” Dick said with a smile. “And you of course!”

“Me?” Sakura looked at him in surprise. “But, I’m not a sidekick.”

“Neither are we. Not anymore.” Dick had a cheeky smile. “But you should totally join us, it would be nice to have you there.”

“As a visitor?” Sakura chewed her lip.

“No! As Kunoichi!” Dick huffed. “God, for being the smart one you’re acting as slow as Naruto. B and the League have extended the offer to Kunoichi.”

“I-I dunno Dick.” Sakura shifted in her seat. She had just gotten started with her training with Lady Tsunade. And she told him as much.

“I’m sure you guys could work something out. Please, Blossom! Be a bat again. We really miss you.” Dick pleaded.

Sakura tightened the grip on her pencil. “I don’t know, Kunoichi was such a long time ago. And I’m really getting into some interesting things here. Besides, it’s not like I can just drop everything.” Her parents would never allow it. Not after last time.

“Oh right, I forgot.” Dick sighed. “This affects your team as well.” Sakura’s face fell and she dropped her head to try and hide it. Right…her team.

“Yeah, I doubt Kakashi-sensei would let me go that easily.” Sakura said. She hasn’t even seen Kakashi in months. Not since everything fell apart. “Naruto and Sasuke are getting pretty strong. I have to be keep up with them.” They’re gone. Sasuke betrayed the village for power. Naruto’s out training to get stronger to bring him back. And she’s…here. Staying still and looking for their backs.

As usual.

“They better appreciate you learning how to heal.” Dick said. “I mean, I know Naruto doesn’t really need it, but still! Sasuke could probably use it though.”

“They do.” Naruto had congratulated her before he left. Sasuke had no idea. How could he?

Dick shifted as his phone went off. “Aw crap.”

“What?” She watched Dick groan and rub his face.

“I have to be up for a thing in a couple hours and I haven’t gotten any sleep!” He laid back in his chair dramatically.

“Go to bed, Birdie.” Sakura said with a smile.

Dick righted himself and looked at her through the screen. “One condition. You gotta think about the offer.”

Sakura sighed. “I will.” She wouldn’t.

Dick pumped his fists as if he had won. “Alright! Hall of Justice, July 4th, 2pm! See you there!” He hung up before she could protest.

Sakura stared at the blank screen with a sigh. There was no talking to Dick. He thought he knew her so well! But he didn’t! He didn’t have a clue.

Konoha

July 2nd 15:36 ???

Sakura gasped for breath as she tore her hands away from the squirrel in front of her. She could feel the sweat soaking through her clothes as it made them stick to skin. It was suffocating. The squirrel twitched, chirping quietly. After a moment it stood up, rubbing its paws over its face. It looked up at her, chirping loudly. After a moment it jumped off her podium and ran into the forest.

“Not bad.” Tsunade handed her a towel. Sakura grabbed it, wiping down her face. Mending such tiny bones had been taxing on her focus. She had come so close to making a mistake more times than she would care to admit. “A bit sloppier than usual though.” Lady Tsunade had no such qualms, unfortunately.

“Sorry. I have a lot on my mind.” Sakura said in place of an explanation.

“You can’t afford to have things clouding your mind.” Tsunade scolded. “Your focus should be on your patient, and your patient only. You’re not good enough to multitask yet.”

“Yes ma’am.” Sakura sighed as she walked towards the bench. She almost collapsed on it. It felt so good to sit down and rest her legs.

“Mind telling me what’s going on?” Tsunade crossed her arms, staring down at her student.

“What are you talking about, m’lady?” Sakura asked.

“You’ve got something important on your mind. What is it?” Tsunade demanded.

Sakura sighed. She should have known better than to try and keep things from Tsunade. Even if she wasn’t her teacher, she was still her Hokage. “It’s…about the Outside, ma’am.”

“What about it?”

“Well, you know that Kakashi-sensei sent us there to train a couple years ago, right?” Sakura asked. At Tsunade’s nod she continued. “Well…I’ve been given an offer to return.”

“Must have been some offer.” Tsunade muttered.

“I…I guess.” Sakura sighed. “I just, I really felt like I thrived out there. I had spent such a long time feeling so useless compared to Naruto and Sasuke, but when we were there…” She shook her head. “I don’t know. Everything just felt right. They were the ones lagging behind me. And now, they’re gone. And I’m still here.” She bowed her head. “I can never thank you enough for agreeing to train me. It’s an honor. You’re teaching me so much, but a part of me still feels like I’m lacking something.” It ashamed her to admit that. She was a shinobi, loyal to Konoha until the end. She shouldn’t be thinking and yearning for a world that didn’t need her.

Tsunade sat down beside her. Sakura was nervous. What was Tsunade gonna do to her? Here she was talking about how she secretly wanted to go back to the Outside to her Hokage of all people. “I spent some time in the Outside once.” Tsunade finally said. “I was in a really bad place and I just didn’t want to be in the villages anymore. So I left.” Sakura looked up at her Hokage in shock. “I felt at home there. I had made a life, as sloppy as it was. I had convinced myself that I was happy there. But, my heart still cried out for the villages, despite how I didn’t want to return. Eventually I gave in and left everything behind once again. My life in the villages was shit. But I was at peace.”

“M-Ma’am?”

“If you’re thinking about this offer, then maybe you should go.”

“But Lady Tsunade! It could be a permanent thing!” Sakura protested. “I love the villages! I don’t want to leave!”

“But you’re not happy here.”

“You said you weren’t either!”

“Sakura.” Tsunade placed a hand on her shoulder. “You are at a cross road. You need to decide which path you want to take. If you choose to stay here, we’ll continue your training. If you choose to leave, these gates will always be open for you; shinobi or civilian.”

“But if I leave…” Sakura trailed off. She’d be like Naruto and Sasuke.

“Listen to me.” Tsunade tightened her grip and stared deeply in Sakura’s eyes. “You don’t want to compare yourself to them. Their path is not yours. You’re free to take whatever path you want.” She stood up with a sigh. “You’re dismissed for the day. Think it over.”

Konoha

July 3rd 8:47 ???

The delicate silk of the fan stretched as Sakura opened it. She stared at it, not really taking in the design as she closed it.

She should stay in Konoha

The fan opened.

But she had always felt so happy in Gotham

Close

She was needed in Konoha.

Open

She was wanted in Gotham.

Close

Sasuke and Naruto were gone. She hasn’t seen Kakashi.

Open

Bruce and Dick were in Gotham, ready to open their home for her.

Close

Gotham wasn’t her home. Konoha was.

Open

Close

Open

Close

With a sigh she looked up, catching her reflection in the mirror. “What should I do?”

“How should I know? This is your decision.”

“You always insist that we’re one, but when it really matters, you back out like a coward.”

“What? You want me to hold your hand?”

“No! Just help me out! This concerns you too!”

“It really doesn't, I could care less either way. This is about you. What do you want?”

“I don’t know!” Sakura cried, gripping her head. With a shout she threw the fan. It clattered to the ground, the design on display as it lay open.

Washington, D.C.

July 4th 13:52 EDT

“Are you sure, mi’lady?” Sakura looked up at Tsunade uncertainly.

“The gate is always open.” Tsunade kissed her forehead and handed over a curved domino mask. “Be happy. Make them watch for your back.” Sakura took it. She took a deep breath and placed the mask over her eyes, letting the spirit gum glue it to her skin. Kunoichi accepted the leather jacket that Tsunade handed her. She fidgeted with it before putting it on over her mesh armor and black bustier. She took her fan out of her shorts, opening it for a second before smiling to herself. She looked up at Tsunade with a smile.

“Alright. I’m ready.”

She turned to look at the heroes that were gathered further away. Unaware of their presence.