"Disbanded?" Hearing Tsunade-sensei say the word confirmed the faint feeling Sakura already had.
"Yes," Tsunade nodded. "Naruto has left the village with Jiraiya to train, so Team 7 must be temporarily disbanded."
"Lord Jiraiya isn't in the village anymore?" Sakura actually felt a pang of regret hearing that. Jiraiya was quite amusing, and she'd found being around him surprisingly comfortable.
"That's right," Tsunade confirmed, then steered the conversation back. "Now, about you."
"Wait, what about Sasuke?" Sakura asked.
"Sasuke is currently being trained by the Third Hokage. Lord Third intends for Sasuke to join the ANBU for further training. It probably won't be long before Sasuke takes up the position," Tsunade explained.
"That doesn't seem right. Sasuke's still a Genin, isn't he?" Sakura questioned. "Can Genin even join ANBU?"
"Of course not!" Tsunade replied. "However, based on Lord Third's assessment, Sasuke already possesses the qualifications of a Chunin. Therefore, Lord Third made a special exception and submitted a request for Sasuke to enter ANBU. Now, let's talk about your situation. What do you plan to do?"
Tsunade looked expectantly at Sakura.
Sakura fell into thought. With Team 7 disbanded, she didn't really have anything lined up. Her master probably wouldn't trust her to lead a team just yet, especially after the recent mission mishap. It seemed most likely she'd just be assigned to another squad to fill a spot.
"I think it's best if you decide, Master," Sakura said resignedly.
"I'll give you two options," Tsunade said, looking seriously at Sakura. "One, form a team with other shinobi and continue taking missions. Two, go work at the hospital to train."
"I choose to team up with other shinobi!" Sakura declared without a moment's hesitation.
Going back to the hospital? No way! Sakura admitted to herself that her initial reasons for becoming Tsunade's apprentice had involved some ulterior motives – namely, learning the Yin Seal and Creation Rebirth. She hadn't really aimed to become a master physician; back then, she just wanted the Yin Seal to compensate for her own chakra deficiency.
"You don't want to go to the hospital?" Tsunade frowned. "Medical-nin don't need to fight on the front lines. Besides, you've already learned the Yin Seal and Creation Rebirth. I believe you should use this time to properly improve your medical skills."
"No, Master! I'd rather fight on the front lines!" Sakura insisted, shaking her head vehemently.
"Alright, I understand," Tsunade waved a dismissive hand. "Report to the hospital tomorrow."
"Okay—" Sakura started to agree, then her expression froze instantly. "Wait... didn't you say I could choose?"
"That's right!" Tsunade nodded, stating it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "But I make the final decision!"
"Master..."
"No more discussion," Tsunade cut Sakura off. "Remember to report to Shizune tomorrow. You're dismissed!"
Seeing the absolute determination in her master's eyes, Sakura knew the decision was probably final. Dejected, she bowed her head and trudged out of the Hokage's office.
Once Sakura had left, Tsunade remained alone in the office. The original plan had been for Sakura to lead Sasuke and one other member on missions for a while after returning, continuing Team 7's activities. Tsunade knew Jiraiya had long planned to take Naruto away for training.
However, the Third Hokage's sudden proposal for Sasuke to join ANBU had thrown a wrench in Tsunade's plans. After reconsidering, Tsunade decided it was best for Sakura to use this time to refine her medical skills. After all, from a technical standpoint, Sakura was a medical-nin.
Sakura had already met Tsunade's core requirements by mastering the Yin Seal and Creation Rebirth, but paradoxically, her combat abilities now outstripped her medical expertise. Sasuke joining ANBU simply provided Tsunade with a convenient reason to push Sakura back towards her medical training.
Leaving the Hokage's office, Sakura felt completely out of sorts. She couldn't believe she'd been assigned to the hospital. She had more or less guessed Naruto would be leaving, but she'd figured they'd just add a new member to the team. She hadn't expected Sasuke to be recommended for ANBU by the Third Hokage.
Still... maybe it wasn't entirely unacceptable. She did have plans to open a beef shop in Konoha. Working at the hospital would mean fewer missions outside the village, giving her more time to manage the business. Initially, she'd thought about having her parents run it, but perhaps that wouldn't be necessary now.
The Ninja Academy was right next to the Hokage Tower. Might as well go see if Junko is out of class yet, she thought. It had been over a week since she'd last seen her.
As she walked along the road leading to the Academy entrance, still some distance away, Sakura suddenly noticed someone leaving the building. Seeing the person, Sakura's pupils contracted slightly. She had never met this man before, but she recognized him instantly. It was Danzo.
The arm held in a sling around his neck and the bandages covering his right eye screamed his identity. Sakura took a shallow breath, composed herself, and continued walking towards the school nonchalantly. I have no connection to him. I'm the Fifth's disciple. What can he possibly do to me?
The road in front of the Academy was much quieter than during the New Year festivities; most of the personnel usually assigned elsewhere had departed again. As Sakura and Danzo were about to pass each other, Danzo abruptly stopped.
"Haruno Sakura!"
Hearing Danzo suddenly call her name, Sakura's muscles tensed instinctively. She stopped and turned to face him. "What do you want?"
Danzo turned his head slightly to look at her. "The Fifth Hokage's disciple. The Storm Release user. You... are quite impressive."
With that, Danzo turned and walked away without another word.
Huh? What did that mean? As Danzo departed, the tension drained from Sakura, but his actions felt baffling... Wait... Sakura realized. My reaction just now was the strange part.
It hit her suddenly. This was the first time she had ever met Danzo face-to-face. He couldn't have failed to notice her instant tension. Furthermore, her response clearly indicated she wasn't surprised he knew her name. Danzo undoubtedly knew this was their first meeting too. Yet her reaction practically screamed that she, Haruno Sakura, already knew who Danzo was and was inherently wary of him.
It wasn't strange that he knew who she was. But for her to show recognition and suspicion upon their very first encounter? That didn't add up. Sakura had only been back in the village for eleven months in total, and even less time when factoring in missions abroad. These details were easily verifiable.
Crap. He's noticed me. Sakura felt like her run of good luck over the past few years was definitively turning sour. Now it was just one unlucky thing after another.
"Sakura-senpai, is that you? What are you doing here?"
A clear female voice interrupted her thoughts. Sakura turned to see Junko.
"It's Junko," Sakura said, her bad mood making her tone sharper than intended. "How many times do I have to tell you? Don't call me senpai, call me Nee-chan!"
"Okay, Sakura-senpai!" Junko replied obediently, though the address remained unchanged.
"Never mind," Sakura sighed, shaking her head helplessly. "I just got back from a mission and came to see how you were doing. Speaking of which, how are things at the Academy? Feeling confident about the graduation exam?"
"My teacher said I'm already performing at a Genin level with my skills. I think the graduation exam should be fine," Junko replied.
"That's good. All that hard training hasn't gone to waste then," Sakura said. "Come on, let's head home."
"Okay," Junko nodded, falling into step beside Sakura.
They walked in silence. Sakura was preoccupied and still feeling thoroughly miserable, saying nothing. Junko, for her part, had become withdrawn and taciturn ever since her grandmother Rika had passed away.
"Um..." Junko suddenly spoke up. "Earlier, at school... someone came looking for me."
Sakura, who had been mentally brainstorming names for her beef shop, was pulled back to the present. "Hm? Who came looking for you?"
"It was a man... with bandages over his right eye. He said his name was Danzo," Junko answered.
"Who? Danzo?!" Sakura exclaimed, shocked. "Why was he looking for you?"
Startled by Sakura's intense reaction, Junko hesitated for a moment before continuing. "He said... he could make me stronger... He asked me to go with him..."
"And what did you tell him?" Sakura asked, frowning deeply.
"I said I needed to think about it. Then he just left," Junko replied.
Danzo tried to recruit Junko? Sakura couldn't believe it. Why would Danzo target her? Junko's talent was decent, yes, but certainly not top-tier material that would normally attract such attention.
"Can... can I go with him?" Junko asked timidly, her voice barely a whisper.
"You—" Sakura started to launch into a reprimand, but she stopped short, catching the flicker of intense longing in Junko's eyes. Danzo must have said more than just that, Sakura realized with a sinking feeling. Something happened that Junko doesn't want to talk about. And Sakura knew she couldn't force it out of her.
"No," Sakura replied firmly.
"Why not?" Junko asked, looking surprised.
"Because! Danzo, he's—!"
Suddenly, like a flash of lightning, Sakura understood. That's why Danzo was interested in Junko. It wasn't her talent; it was the darkness inside her. The darkness that allowed her to go against her beloved Grandma Rika's dying wish – her hatred of shinobi – just to pursue vengeance. The darkness that could transform an innocent young girl into someone capable of killing without hesitation.
Sakura had hoped to gradually help Junko heal that darkness, bit by bit. She had never, ever imagined that Junko would be targeted like this. Sakura hadn't even considered the possibility. But somehow, Danzo had noticed this quiet, broken girl and the darkness she held within. Was his intelligence network truly that meticulous...?
"I understand," Junko murmured, lowering her head.
Looking at Junko's subdued posture, Sakura had a strong feeling that she hadn't truly accepted the refusal at all...
Seriously, Sakura thought grimly. When it rains, it pours...