⁓Fourteen⁓



Sakura can taste metal in her mouth, her lungs are burning, and her taut muscles are on the verge of snapping. She hears high heels smashing against the pebble road and tries to push it further. A bead of sweat rolls between her eyebrows, following the crease formed by her annoyed frown.


"You're in pathetic shape," a woman whispers, close to her ear.


Sakura swirls around in surprise, only to notice she has lost the race, the bet, and the only chance at being someone. She hunches in two, panting, and ducks to the left when the woman lunges forward with a kick. Her tiny fist reaches for her assailant's ribs beneath the voluptuous breasts, but a manicured hand grabs her wrist. Sakura flies backward and tries to regain her footage, and her still glowing fist comes into contact with the earth. A fissure in the ground dashes toward the expensive high heels, but the woman dismisses it by stepping over and advancing on her prey.


"Who taught you this? It isn't even remotely good."


Sakura gulps as she stands on wobbly legs, her cheeks burning out of embarrassment and frustration.


"No one."


The manicured hand snatches Sakura's collar and hoists her up on her tippy toes.


"No one?"


"K-Kakashi-sensei explained to me the basics, but I learned by myself."


She holds the woman's stare in growing fear. When Kakashi had talked to her about Senju Tsunade, he had forgotten to mention her horrible temper and violent tendencies.


The blonde woman releases her, and Sakura falls on her rear with a yelp.


"You're smart. I give you that. Even though you're not doing it right."


She crouches at eye level and inspects the shaken girl with narrowed eyes.


"Your chakra should envelop all your muscles as it flows through you. That will heighten your strength without too much waste. Release it only when you're sure you'll lend a hit or want to impress a handsome opponent."


If the woman sees the flash of hurt that crosses Sakura's face at that last part, she doesn't let it show.


"So you're going to teach me?"


Tsunade leans back, arms crossed.


"You're from a civilian family."


It isn't a question, Sakura notices. She gets up and lifts her chin.


"So what?"


The woman picks at her nails, one hand on her hip.


"I'd have to refuse the Yamanaka girl. The council wouldn't be happy. The Yamanaka is one of the founding families, after all. Although they've never been renowned for their healing abilities. Civilians either," she adds with a pointed look.


"Kakashi-sensei told me I had impressive chakra control. That I could become a medic if I wanted to."


"Do you?"


Sakura cocks her head to the side.


"Of course, or I wouldn't be here."


"Tsk. You could be here for various reasons. Vanity is one—that's Yamanaka's reason, by the way. I can tell. It could be to prove a point. You're a civilian, after all. We both know clan members believe you can't do this. Or perhaps to impress your young sensei. Trust me, I would understand. We all have a thing for Hatake."


The girl's cheeks darken, and she vigorously shakes her head.


"Then why? Why seek the Fifth Hokage especially? Like I have time to take an apprentice, anyway."


"You're the strongest woman on earth."


"Change woman for person, and you'll be closer to the truth."


"And you've saved hundreds of lives."


"Millions. You should double-check your facts next time."


"You get what I mean," Sakura mumbles, crossing her arms.


"No, I don't. I asked why you wanted me to teach you, not why you were president of my fan club."


A firm hand takes hold of Sakura's pointy chin and tilts her head up. Hazel meets viridian.


"Who are you, Haruno Sakura? Why do you want to become a combat medic-nin? Why not a regular kunoichi?"


Sakura diverts her eyes, gathering her thoughts. This is it, her last chance. If Tsunade refuses to teach her after this, there's no place for her in the shinobi world.


"I wish I could say it's because I want to save everyone, but I don't," the girl begins, locking eyes with the older woman again. "I want to be useful for my team and village... for myself. Right now, I'm weak, and I believe there's a lot of wasted potential inside of me. It always felt that way, anyway. I don't want my sensei to worry about me, for Naruto to risk his life on every mission to save me, to watch Sasuke become a powerful weapon without the strength to bring him back."


"That brat," Tsunade interrupts. "Everyone is dying to bring him back. Does he even know this?"


"I don't mean to bring him back as in the village," Sakura explains with a shake of her head. "Although, it would be nice to see him again."


She drops her head at that, and the woman releases her.


"I'm saying to bring him back to his senses and roots, to who I know he really is. After that, he can kill his brother, or become a rogue, for all I care, but at least I'll know he's happy."


"So basically, you don't want to be weak," Tsunade summarizes, hands on her hips.


"I don't want to watch them die without the strength to help them, cannot stand idly by when I know I can be of use with the proper training."


"Don't tell me that behind that pathetic façade, there's a girl who knows her worth."


Sakura ponders the woman's words, biting her lower lip.


Does she know her worth? She knows what she's been through in the past few months and that she survived against all odds.


"I've been killed hundreds of times by the people I love, spit on, called names, yet I never stopped loving them, and I'm still here today."


"Itachi's Tsukuyomi," the woman gasps, and the sharp edges of her face soften. "Have you talked to someone about those days in the genjutsu?"


"It's not their burden."


The woman frowns, but accepts her answer.


"And how are you coping?"


"Are you going to teach me?"


An exasperated sigh escapes Tsunade's lips.


"If you do, you'll have the answer to your question. If not, I don't see why I should share personal information with my hokage."


A bark of laughter echoes through the empty forest.


"You've got fire, girl."


Then the woman steps back to eye Sakura from head to toe.


"You're pretty, tiny, and you love with all your heart. I must say that I see a lot of myself in you, pink head. Of course, I'll teach you."


Sakura's eyes widen as a smile traces a path to her lips.


"God! Never thought those eyes could get any bigger."


The girl pouts.


"As long as you don't comment on my forehead, it's fine."


"Your forehead?" Tsunade's eyes shoot to the girl's brow. "A bit bare for my taste, but that can be arranged."


Then she fetches a flask from an inside pocket and takes a swig of what Sakura can only assume is some liquor.


"By the way," she adds after grimacing. "You got me at that punch. I was playing you."


The laugh that escapes Sakura's lips sounds weird to her ears, yet it feels good, and soon, there's no way for her to stop it. Perhaps this will be her new way of coping, she ponders as Tsunade tries to silence her. Instead of crying herself to sleep, she could laugh herself awake.




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