"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival." - C.S Lewis

Shimura Danzo supported only half his weight on the cane helping him walk. The frequent reports of his ANBU agents demanded that he investigates the matter. A civilian prodigy. Now that was something rare indeed. Granted, many shinobi families started off that way, with a single member rising above the rest, becoming something...more.

The Yamanaka and the Nara clans were such an example. Either way, he wanted to meet the girl. Test her. See what she was made of. ROOT was always in need of loyal soldiers. The girl's connection with Uzumaki Naruto made it seem like the opportunity of a lifetime.

He would be able to control the Kyuubi in a way he couldn't when Kushina had been its host. All in all, things were looking to be very promising.

"Tell Hokage-sama I'd like to have a word." he ordered one of the ANBU stationed right outside the man's office. The lad did as told before he emerged and stepped aside, allowing Danzo to walk in.

Seeing Hiruzen's tired eyes, grey hair and aged skin reminded the ROOT leader that he wasn't getting any younger himself.

"Old friend." smoke from that damned pipe of his followed the familiar greeting. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Anyone else might have been fooled by the cordial tone, the warmth that seemed to lace onto every spoken syllable.

Anyone but him. Danzo knew Sarutobi better than the old man knew himself. What the Hokage had meant to say, was something marginally different.

"What do you want?"

He didn't waste any time, not when it was so short and precious. Especially for the two of them. "Lord Third." Danzo bowed slightly. "I've heard many things in a very short awhile about Haruno Sakura." a pause. "You suspect her of being a spy? I can't otherwise imagine why you'd order both Hatake and Mitarashi to guard her."

Sarutobi's eyes narrowed to slits. Gone was the mellow man he liked pretending to be. "I do. Children her age..." here, he couldn't help but give him a look. Hiruzen corrected himself. "Civilian children her age shouldn't be this capable. Iruka's evaluation of her skills speaks of a shinobi in all but name."

Danzo nodded. "So I've read." he made sure to add. He enjoyed keeping the Hokage on his toes.

He was the only who can.

Sarutobi's displeasure showed itself clearly. No need for it to be voiced. "Well?" he cocked an eyebrow.

The ROOT leader feigned ignorance for awhile longer. Annoying his old friend resembled a sport he was still good at. "Are you asking for my opinion, Hokage-sama?" he asked, faking humility.

Danzo could almost smell Hiruzen's anger. It pleased him to know he hasn't lost his touch.

"If you'd be so gracious as to give it."

The answer nearly tore out a laugh from him. Nearly. He hadn't laughed in years.

Well played, old friend. Well played.

A well-delivered blow, meant to stroke his ego. Alas, they were no longer fifteen-year-old chunnin but seasoned shinobi in the art of war and manipulation.

"I did a background check on the Harunos. The girl's father isn't a Konoha native. I'm guessing the few times he visited to partake in trade with our village gave him more than enough time to meet his future wife." Danzo said meaningfully. "Sakura comes from a lineage of samurai, Hiruzen. Her grandfather was one. And his father before him and so on."

The man was silent as he contemplated the truth of his statements. "Samurai aren't shinobi."

Danzo hid a bemused smirk.

Skeptical as ever, I see.

"No, but their control over chakra is as good as ours. Sometimes even finer. Countries near the Land of Cherry Blossoms value and rely on their medical expertise. I can think of only one person who eclipses them in this regard."

Opening old wounds hadn't been Danzo's intention but, the Hokage still looked at him as though making him suffer was a life-long goal of his.

"May Tsunade-hime rest in peace." he bowed his head respectfully.

Killer intent surrounded him all of a sudden but, he wasn't the least bit concerned. If Hiruzen had any intention of killing him, he would have done so long ago.

Playtime had officially ended.

"You will be recruiting Haruno Sakura over my dead body, Danzo." he glared. "And stay away from Naruto."

I struck a nerve, it seems. Time to retreat and plan accordingly.

"What do you take me for, old friend? Civilians possess weak minds while jinchuuriki are awfully unstable. I have no place for them." he pretended to glance at the clock strapped on the wall beside him. "You will have to excuse me, Hokage-sama. Konoha requires my services."

Danzo bowed and turned on his heel, not waiting for a response. He knew he wouldn't be getting one.

"Sakura-chaaaan." a high-pitched, painfully loud voice, whined.

Said girl gave him her most unimpressed look.

"No."

"But-"

"But nothing. I'm not joining you in any of your shenanigans again."

Kami knows what happened last time.

Tsunade nursed her aching temples. She would have liked blaming Naruto for her constant headaches but knew he wasn't the reason. A thirty-four year old consciousness trapped into a five-year-old brain was bound to be a recipe for disaster. Sure, the kami had snapped his fingers and worked his magic to ensure her second existence was possible.

But that didn't mean science had nothing to say. Her head felt as though it would burst and no amount of healing chakra was capable of fixing it.

Not the amount she could spare, at any rate.

"Sakura-chaaan."

Her eye twitched. Tsunade had half a mind to knock the brat unconscious. Reading was already a tedious task, she didn't need the extra struggle.

A light bulb went off in her head then and she smirked, lowering down her book.

"Tell you what. If you can climb a tree without using your hands...I will be your pranking partner from now on."

Naruto whooped, bouncing up and down in excitement before his brain registered her words. He abruptly stopped, looking at the trees then back at her. "Without using hands dattebayo?" he scratched the back of his neck, adorably confused.

Tsunade nodded. "Hai, that's my condition."

Shino, who had wisely chosen not to intervene until that moment, leaned closer to whisper. "You are cruel, Sakura. He will never figure out what to do or how to do it on his own." he paused, shaking his head. "And even if he somehow does...chakra control of that level is too advanced for our age."

"This is good for him. It's training." she insisted. "Naruto has to go looking for information. Then come back and try doing it."

Before Shino could have hoped to reply, the Uzumaki goofball seemed to catch onto something because he got into the other boy's face. "You two were whispering about me, weren't you?" he accused. "SHINO, YOU KNOW WHAT SAKURA-CHAN IS TALKING ABOUT, DON'T YOU?"

Tsunade grinned in triumph. Shino looked positively mortified while Naruto refused to back down.

"He does." she chose to confirm for more than just shit and giggles. This generation needed guidance.

And training so demanding that they cried. She had promised Hashirama jii-chan, after all.

The accused whirled around to face her. "Traitor."

Tsunade just laughed.

"Aha!" Naruto pointed a finger in the other boy's direction. "I knew it." Having made up his mind, the blond declared. "You and your flies are going to help me dattebayo." he grabbed at his sleeve.

The Aburame heir glared, personally offended. "It's bugs, not flies." he shook him off.

Naruto waved a hand in dismissal. "Same thing." he flashed the boy his most charming smile."They are both cool animals, aren't they?"

That seemed to placate Shino. Whoever thought the blond gaki didn't know how to manipulate people deserved a chakra-infused kick in the shins.

"Insects." he corrected him with a sigh, but agreed to help nonetheless. "Come on."

Mission accomplished.

Tsunade would have returned to her reading if not for Anko plopping down beside her. "What are you reading brat?"

She sighed.

Goodbye peace and quiet. Welcome chaos.

Tsunade thrust out her book. "The newest discoveries in the medical field." She had been proud to find out that people continued what she had started. It made the countless hours of working and reading, of blood, sweat, tears and curses, worth it.

"Newest?" Anko arched a brow, watching her pointedly.

Shit.

Years of keeping up a facade ensured she'd stay calm and not blow it. "Yeah, newest." Tsunade repeated herself as though she, was the weird one for asking and not the other way around. "I've been learning medical ninjutsu for awhile now." she added with a brilliant smile.

"For awhile now?" Anko echoed.

Tsunade couldn't tell if it was shock the woman was feeling or suspicion.

"Yes." she nodded eagerly. "I want to become a medic-nin."

More like get back to punching and healing people.

Not necessarily in that order.

Anko ruffled her hair. "Noble goal for a gaki." she stretched out her legs and shoved a thumb in Shino and Naruto's direction. "Why aren't you training with them?'

Tsunade bit her lip. Good question. "Uhh...I already know how to climb trees with chakra...?"

She opened her mouth but the five-year-old beat her to it. "And to walk on water."

The purple-haired kunoichi whistled. "You know what, Pinkie? I like you. You've got skill." Anko patted her head. "Smarts too." she paused. "But more important than that any of that is...this."

Looking down, Tsunade noticed where her finger pointed at.

My...heart.

Anko kept talking, gaze glued to the horizon. "You have something I hope time won't take away, Sakura." the use of her first name stunned the slug princess into silence. "Naruto is a good but heavily misunderstood kid and so is that Aburame." she turned back to face her, standing.

Before she could have said something, her should-have-been-shadow-and-not-company rose, gesturing that she does the same. "Get up. Kakashi is back from Suna."

Tsunade didn't know how she felt about those news. "So?"

Anko put her hands on her hips. "What do you mean 'so?' We are going to welcome his ass back home."

She couldn't let such a golden opportunity pass her by. Tsunade made her green eyes as big as saucers before squealing.

"YOU LIKE HIM"

Anko's eyes widened in horror.

"HATAKE? ME AND HIM. HIM AND I. ARE YOU INSANE?"

A beat and then–

"Wait, don't answer that." she rushed to add.

Tsunade smirked evilly. "Pot meet kettle."

"HOLY CRAP I JUST MET MY MATCH THE WORLD IS ENDING."

Messing with Anko was a whole other level of fun.

"YOU LIKE HIM, LIKE HIM. WHY HAVEN'T YOU SAID ANYTHING? LOVE IS BEAUTIFUL."

"HOW THE FUCK DID YOU JUMP FROM LIKE TO LOVE."

It took all of her willpower not to roll on the ground, laughing.

"THE BETTER QUESTION IS HOW DID YOU." she retorted.

Anko was red in the face, redder than Tsunade had thought it possible. Anger or Embarrassment?

Her money was on...

No. Gambling is bad. Bad.

Bad for everyone but especially your own pocket. Holy crap I'm five, bars would kick me out.

"ONE MORE WORD AND I WILL PERSONALLY THROTTLE YOU." Anko barked.

She sounded serious.

Murderous too.

And Tsunade who could sense Kakashi's chakra signature nearby chose to take her chances.

"L-O-V-E." she spelled it, syllable for syllable, as loudly as her vocal chords allowed her to.

"SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR PRECIOUS MEDICAL SCROLL."

wait.

That's not supposed to happen.

Anko looked like someone who had just gained the upper hand, what with the way she was grinning and dangling her book.

Until Kakashi spoke from where he was standing perched upon a tree branch right above them. "Anko, drop the book." he ordered and gave her a sympathetic glance, from one avid reader to another. "You nearly made little Sakura-chan over here, cry."

Tsunade blinked. When the fuck did he get there? And though Kakashi was wrong about the 'crying' part, there were tears in her eyes.

Tears of laughter.

She had to give Anko some credit, though. The young woman didn't faint.

Or panic.

Or scream.

Or cry.

She isn't reacting, period.

Tsunade faced Kakashi, worried. "I think I broke her."

He gave her an incredulous look as if that was downright ridiculous. "Anko breaks people. People don't break Anko." Though he sounded sure, the ANBU agent focused his attention on the purple-haired woman.

"How much did you hear?" she decided to ask. Maybe it'd help.

Kakashi scratched the back off his neck, looking suddenly uncomfortable.

"Maa, enough to know Anko likes or loves someone."

Relief washed over Tsunade.

"She is in denial."

"So I have heard." he mock-sighed, climbing down from the tree. "I pity the man."

The Sannin winced internally. Ouch. She felt bad for Anko. She really did.

I just had to go and stick my foot inside my mouth.

"Oi, Anko is pretty and awesome. Kinda insane but–" Tsunade felt it was her duty to defend a fellow woman.

Kakashi's next words came as a pleasant surprise, though. He arched brow, eyes still glued to his little orange book that he seemed to carry everywhere.

"Did I say she isn't, Sakura?"

She frowned in disbelief. "Well, you said that you pity the man who–

He cut her off.

"For starters, he won't ever be good enough for her. Never." the masked-nin said matter of factly. "Second, the others and I will break his legs and make him eat them if he ever hurts her." A chuckle went past his lips."If she doesn't kill him first, that is."

Kakashi was too focused on his orange book to see it but she did. Anko shed a single tear that she quickly wiped away with the sleeve of her trench coat. There was a genuine smile present on her face.

Tsunade's eyes softened at the sight. She remembered how it was to be young and in love. She brought a hand to her chest, clutching it.

"Trying to get inside my pants, Hatake?"

She had to hid a smirk.

It was a good tactic; hiding in plain sight. It was something that she'd do if she had the patience needed to beat around the bush. Dan had been upfront about his feelings, leaving her no other choice, but to confront hers in return.

She and I are more similar than I thought.

Kakashi closed his book shut.

"Not with Sakura around." he retorted.

Damn, that was smooth.

Tsunade couldn't believe this was happening.

Either the two of them were testing the waters OR this was simply normal banter; no innuendos present.

Anko turned her head sideways, probably hiding a blush if she had to take a guess.

"Sorry to break it to you, Hatake. But I'm too awesome and pretty for anyone." she boasted.

A glance in Kakashi's direction confirmed that he just found something more interesting than his books to keep him preoccupied.

He watched Anko every time she wasn't looking.

Adorable brats.

Tsunade would have swooned were she the type to do such a thing.

"You forgot insane." Kakashi said flatly.

Remembering that she had to play the part of a small and innocent little girl who wasn't supposed to know the meaning of their conversation, she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Get...inside your pants?"

Anko flashed one of her grins, the one that spelled 'trouble' for other people. Kakashi must have recognized that look or he had simply known her for long enough to predict it. Tsunade found herself being shielded by the masked-nin. His hands covered her ears.

Great, now I have to use chakra to keep on hearing.

So, that's what she did.

"Don't you dare. She is five." Kakashi hissed, finally making eye-contact with Anko.

The two of them were staring each other down like they were preparing for battle. Well, Kakashi was. The difference in height ensured that would be the case. Anko, for her part, was amused, eyes sparkling.

"Plenty of time for her to learn what's what."

She called her bluff even if Kakashi didn't. Anko had a soft spot for children, she had seen it during the time they spent together. The purple-haired woman was more than a kunoichi Sarutobi-sensei charged to observe and guard her.

Tsunade had come to consider her a friend. She treated Naruto decently, more than that, she had become an older sister figure to the blond. Anko didn't overlook Shino either and listened patiently when he told her about his bugs. All in all, she was going to gut Kakashi if he broke her heart.

"Anko." as if on cue, he spoke. It was a cross between an exasperated sigh and a warning.

Likewise, she copied him. "Hatake."

"Maa, can't you just call me by my first name? We have known each other for how long now?"

As amusing as they had proved themselves to be, Tsunade had things to do and places to be at. So, she placed her hands over Kakashi's and removed them from her ears.

"I'm going to train with Naruto and Shino." she announced, hands on her hips. If the gaki's loud complaining was any indication, the Aburame heir's sanity was in dire need of rescuing.

Anko approached and ruffled her pink hair.

"Don't go overboard, okay? Starting tomorrow, I want to train the three of you."

Tsunade was at loss of what to say. She hadn't expected that but, the offer was far from being unwelcome.

She flashed her a sincere smile. "Alright, I will let them know." she exclaimed before running off.

A/N: I must say that when I first started writing this story...I hadn't planned for Anko to play a big role. I found out that I liked writing her, though. What's more...I didn't expect to ship her with Kakashi either. That came out of nowhere, but I like it so much that I will continue it. Anyway, thank you for supporting me still. It means a lot. I'd love to hear your opinions.