Sakura Hatake

Age: 7-8

"Remedial Class!"

Sakura joined the academy later than her friends who have been enrolled for the past two years. So when Iruka Umino, her new sensei, motions for her to stay after class for remedial lessons, Sakura wasn't terribly surprised.

"Good luck, Sakura. Although you're pretty much caught up, I hope your teacher can quickly catch you up to the curriculum." Iruka says almost apologetically, smiling at the young girl sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"No, I'm sure there is still much for me to learn, Umino-sensei. Thank you for all the help you've given me so far." Sakura replies, bowing down in gratitude.

Iruka was a bit unnerved by her overtly formal and distant interactions with people she wasn't well acquainted with. He just sighs and shakes his head, hopefully she becomes more comfortable as she goes through the academy curriculum. Though Iruka wasn't kidding when he thought that remedial classes weren't really needed for the pinkette; In terms of practical skills she was a little ways ahead from what her original batch mates are currently at.

Nevertheless, orders are orders.

"Okay, well I'll leave you to it then. Your teacher should be arriving soon."

"Thank you once again, Umino-sensei."

Sakura cracks open one of the academy tomes, reading through the contents in a perfunctory manner. Imprinting the words into her mind, going through them again and again to grasp their meaning. Books have always been a constant comfort to her, even before her disappearance; books didn't have the ability to hurt her, only enlighten.

It wasn't long before the classroom doors slid open. Sakura glanced at the clock to her left, observing that her teacher was only a little bit less than thirty minutes late. Definitely more punctual than her 'Kashi.

"I'm very sorry I'm late! The orphanage had a bit of a problem right as I was leaving. "Smiled a brown haired woman, her emerald eyes shining with repentance. She wore rectangular framed glasses and totted a black gown with a white apron tied around her waist. It was Sakura's first time encountering a nun, 'Kashi wasn't really much for religion, but do nuns customarily teach the shinobi arts?

"It was no problem at all…Sensei."

"Ah, yes, where are my manners? My name is Nono Yakushi and I'm your remedial teacher, please treat me well." Replied Nono, smiling in a more collected manner down at the pinkette.

"My name is Sakura Hatake, It is a pleasure to meet you Yakushi-sensei. I look forward to learning from you." Sakura told her, bowing at the waist, her response perfunctory.

"Ahaha, you are much too formal Sakura-chan. Just call me Nono-sensei, okay?"

Sakura was at a loss but reluctantly agrees.

"Alright, now that introductions are out of the way, let me ask you a couple of questions first in order to asses where you are in terms of academic knowledge." Nono starts, seating herself right beside the pinkette.

Sakura is a bit unsettled at the proximity and familiarity the woman was exhibiting but nods and adjusts herself to become more comfortably seated while facing her new teacher.

"Who was the Third Hokage?"

"Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Professor. He lead Konoha Shinobi during the Third Shinobi War."

"Correct, very good Sakura-chan." Compliments the brunette while reaching out and ruffling the pinkette's hair. Sakura is further astonished by her new teacher's lack of regard for personal space but chooses to store such observations to scrutinize at a later date.

"Next, What do you know about ROOT, Midori?" Nono asks, her visage still calm and welcoming.

Sakura on the other hand felt her body freeze, breaking out in goose bumps. She feels herself getting dizzy and slowly but surely blacking out.

Nono continues to smile, calmly waiting for the little girl to come to, her hand still on the pinkette's head, supporting her limp body.

A few beats passes and the pinkette's eyes open once again, her jade eyes looking dull.

"A separate faction of ANBU, independent from the Hokage's influence. Lead by Shimura Danzo-sama."

"Very good. Hello Midori, I am Nono Yakushi and I will be continuing your ROOT training."

"Hai, Yakushi-sensei."

"You've been doing rather well Sakura-chan!" Compliments her brunette teacher as she packs up, ending their session for the day.

Truthfully Sakura feels as if she's learning in a really slow pace. She thought she'd be done by now, it's been a month since the start of her remedial lessons but whenever she thinks too hard on it she gets unbearable bouts of nausea and headaches, so the pinkette always waves the thought away.

"Thank you Nono-sensei, but I was wondering—"

"Ah, I know! Since we ended rather early today, why don't I bring you along to introduce you to some of the kids from the orphanage I was talking about? I'm sure you'll get along well. How about it, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura didn't really have anywhere to be and she was a little bit curious as to what kind of kids Nono-sensei raised at the orphanage. Truthfully, Sakura is very curious as to how she would have turned out had she been put at the orphanage rather than taken in by 'Kashi. What was it like to live in an orphanage with other orphans like herself?

"If it's not too much trouble…"

"This is Sai."

"Nice to meet you, my name is Sakura Hatake."

Sakura met Sai for the first time but this was not the first time Sai has met the pinkette.

"Sleeper agent Midori is now set in place. She will be relaying intelligence every week starting from now till her use has expired."

"And the Hokage?"

"Unaware. Remedial classes aren't looked too closely in terms of implementation."

"Her progress?"

"She has retained peak physical condition, will continue to motivate her in improving physique. Taijutsu is her weakest area because of her small stature and inadequate academy curriculum when it comes to practical application. Has proficiency in Genjutsu. Ninjutsu is also above average, however her arsenal is severely lacking. She exhibits vast intelligent capacity and great chakra control."

"Continue to train her in the shinobi arts and report of her progress. I grant you liberty to teach her useful ninjutsu; preferably the kind that will help maximize her usefulness to ROOT."

"Hai, Danzo-sama."