I know, Bad me. I haven't been updating. Sorry :( Life just gets in the way. But here it is at long last. Enjoy, and don't forget to review :)

As you already know: I Do Not Own Naruto (but I continue to wish)

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Chapter 3: A New Kind Of Education

Thoughts in Italics

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Sakura walked silently down yet another identical hallway. Her body cast distorted shadows along the barren stone walls. The dim track lighting did little to remove the ominous feeling deep in her gut. If she didn't know better she'd think her guide was intentionally trying to confuse her. But I don't really know that she's not. She turned another corner following the long green ponytail as it swayed back and forth. Her eyes followed it hypnotically, like the pendulum of a clock swing to and fro. Kabuto probably told her to make sure I get lost. Jerk. She rolled her eyes. She tore her eyes from the back of her guides head and focused on the stone work beneath her feet. The only sound was the padding of sandaled feet on cobblestone. She thought back to when she had first meet her silent companion.

XXX XX Flashback XXXXX

It was the morning after she and Sasuke had survived their little encounter with the Snake Lord. She woke up and found herself alone in her room. Disappointed, but not surprised, she found that Sasuke's side of the bed was cool, the warmth of his body long faded. Propping herself up on her elbow she scanned the room for any sign of the missing boy. "Sasuke?" But the room was empty. A frown creased her pretty face. He didn't even leave a note.

She climbed out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. After splashing cold water on her face she appraised her self in the mirror. The swelling had gone down from most of the left side leaving her face a rainbow of bruises ranging from dark purple to the palest shade of pink. It was too soon for the yellow and green that she knew would soon follow. "Oh well, at least I match my dress." She laughed at her own pathetic attempt at a joke. Thinking about her new wardrobe brought her attention to her body and she attempted to smooth the wrinkles from her clothes. But it was hopeless, it looked like exactly what it was, clothes that had been slept in. "This outfit was obviously not designed with ninja practicality in mind." She groaned, "It would never last on a mission." Sighing, she wondering if she would ever go on another mission again. It made her miss Team 7: Naruto and Kakashi. She even missed Ino. Snap out of it. I've made my choice. No going back now. Out loud she said,"I'll have to ask for some pajamas. I can't walk around everyday wearing wrinkled clothes." A quick run through her hair with the brush and she was ready to face the day.

She opened the door and nearly ran into the young woman standing there. She held a tray in one hand, the other poised to knock. Her long green hair was pulled back into a severe pony tale, leaving her striking face unobstructed. Dark brown eyes were framed by a fringe of thick lashes. A small upturned nose and a perfect cupids bow mouth finished off her face. Her expression was blank. If she was startled by Sakura's sudden appearance, she didn't show it.

Sakura however was an open book, her shock clearly painted on her face. "Oh, Hello." Her eyes traveled to the tray ladened with a bowel of diced, mixed fruit, two pieces of wheat toast and a glass of orange juice. "Is that for me?" She groaned inwardly. Stupid question Sakura. Of course it's for me, she was outside my door getting ready to knock. Who else would it be for. To Sakura's surprise, the young woman simply nodded and passed the tray over. Balancing it easily on one hand.

"Thank you." Sakura mumbled awkwardly.

The young woman, who appeared to be only a few years older than herself nodded again before gracefully folding herself into a seated position on the floor. Sakura blinked in confusion. "I guess your staying then?" No response. Leaving the door open Sakura mirrored the other girl's movements, holding the tray with both hands, careful not to spill her breakfast. "I guess it will be nice to have some company while I eat." She gave her best bright eyed smile. "I'm Sakura." Still no response. "But I guess you already knew that right?" The green haired beauty smiled politely, but made no move to answer. Great Sakura, your babbling. Just eat, and stop making a fool of your self. Picking up a pair of chopsticks she speared a piece of melon and shoved it into her mouth. It was good. Just ripe enough not to be overly sweet. A bit of juice dribbled down her chin and she wiped the back of her hand across her chin to remove it. Chewing silently she reached for a slice of strawberry and noticed a slip of paper sticking out from under the bowel. Her heart fluttered as she reached for the note that hopefully from Sasuke. Setting her chopsticks aside she quickly unfolded the thin parchment. Disappointment flooded her as she read the message written in ultra precise script:

Follow Aya and meet me in my lab after you have eaten.

Your training begins today.

Don't keep me waiting.

–Kabuto

Sakura swallowed uneasily. He hadn't even bothered to address it to her. As if her name were unimportant to him. He probably doesn't even remember my name. She refolded the note and stuffed it into her pocket. She picked up her chopsticks and quickly finished eating. Even though the note had been short and not openly threating, the last line scared Sakura. She didn't want to find out what would happen if he got impatient. She handed the now empty tray back to the young woman in front of her. Aya, the note had called her.

Tray in hand she stood and began walking down the hall, not waiting to see if Sakura was following. Things just keep getting better and better. Sakura quickly fell in step behind her.

She tried to keep track of the twists and turns as they moved through the monochrome halls. But with no luck. Within moments she was hopelessly lost. Since it was no use trying map out her surroundings, she let her thoughts wander. When Aya stopped suddenly in front of a plain wooden door, Sakura stumbled into her from behind. The force almost caused the tray and dishes to tumble to the floor, but with the reflexes of a ninja, Aya swiftly rebalanced the load.

Sakura turned red. "I'm so sorry. I should have been watching where I was going." She continued to mumble apologies, but Aya simply cocked her head slightly and smiled. It was supposed to be friendly and reassuring, but it came across slightly creepy. Sakura let out a nervous laugh. I wonder if everyone here is so weird?

Her head still angled in an unnatural puppy dog tilt, Sakura noticed a thin, neat scar running along the upper portion of Aya's neck. It was shiny and white, obviously an old injury. When she straightened her head it became almost invisible. It made Sakura feel a little better about not noticing it earlier. Sakura opened her mouth to ask about it when Aya knocked on the door. Two quick raps, before turning on her heel and disappearing down the hall.

"Come in." Kabuto's voice brought Sakura's attention back to the door in front of her. Gripping the handle tightly she drew a deep breathe and opened the door.

Kabuto was standing in a brightly lit medical lab. Multiple shelves lined the walls filled with medical books, gauze, healing ointments, creams, salves and various other medical supplies that Sakura was familiar with. Others housed glass jars of colorful liquid, that seemed to change color in the light.

Kabuto looked up from his work bench. "So how do you like it here so far?"

Sakura didn't really think her cared, but she answered anyway. "The food is better that I expected."

"What were you expecting, water and stale bread?"

Sakura's cheeks flushed. "No." Thats exactly what I was expecting.

Kabuto read her expression and let out a genuine laugh. "This isn't a prison Sakura. Even though it may resemble one." He adjusted his glasses. "We want our people strong and healthy." He eyed her bruised face. "Speaking of healthy. I think I can do something about that face of yours."

Sakura remained in the doorway, her arms held nervously behind her back. "Well don't just stand there." Kabuto motioned her in to the room. "Come in and close the door. We have a lot of work to do."

Obediently Sakura did as she was told and approached Kabuto where he was working. On the table were rows of highly polished scalpels that glowed with a soft blue tint. Sakura studied them for a moment. "Why do they glow like that?"

Kabuto pushed his glasses up his nose. "They are infused with my chakra. It's a special technique I developed. I use these instead of kunai, and being infused with my chakra allows them to do more damage to my enemies."

Sakura's eyes lit up. "Chakra scalpels. Thats pretty impressive."

"Yes it is." Kabuto's expression was smug. "Although I already use that name for one of my other abilities, it will serve for todays lesson."

He reached out and placed his hands on Sakura's face. "Now hold still, this won't hurt a bit." His hands began to glow softly and Sakura felt a tingling sensation flow through her face. "I'm focusing chakra into my hands and sending it into your body to repair the damaged blood vessels and lessen the bruises." He explained the process to Sakura while he worked.

When he finished Sakura's face was was smooth and perfect once more. She ran her fingers over her cheek, and smiled. "Thats amazing. Will you teach me to do that?"

"In due time." He reached into a drawer and removed four ordinary non-glowing scalpels and placed them in front of Sakura. " I believe that you have an affinity for healing. With the proper training and lots of practice I believe one day you may even become as good as me."

Sakura didn't know what to say. She didn't think Kabuto was the type to just freely hand out complements. "Thanks."

"But first you have to forget any of that nonsense you already learned about healing." He pointed to the scalpels on the table. "By the end of the week I expect you to be able to infuse these four blades with your chakra."

Sakura's mouth hung open. She tried to protest but Kabuto cut her off. "I don't have time to waste on the untalented. If you don't posses the skill to do what I ask within the next four days, I will request that Lord Orochimaru reassign you."

It wasn't an out right threat, but Sakura didn't want to meet Orochimaru again anytime soon. She was left with no choice but to try her hardest to succeed. Chewing on her lower lip she nodded in silence.

"Excellent." Kabuto removed several books from the shelf behind him and handed them to Sakura. "These should get you started on what you need to know." He wrapped the scalpels in a thin cloth and handed them to Sakura, who placed them in the pocket on the front of her dress. "Be sure to practice what you learn on those."

The books were actually thin hand written journals all in muted shades of brown, blue and green and looked old and well read. Sakura lifted the cover of the top book and instantly recognized the precise writing from the note that Kabuto had sent her earlier. "Did you write all these?"

"Thats very observant of you."Kabuto nodded approvingly. "I did write quite a few of those, but some were passed down to me by my mentor many years ago."

His mentor? It was an intriguing thought for Sakura. She wanted to ask more but she could tell she wasn't going to be getting anymore information the medical nin. "Now if you don't have any questions, I have work to do."

Sakura knew a dismissal when she heard one, but she had several thing she wanted answers for: What would Orochimaru do if she failed? Why doesn't Aya speak? Why did they want Sasuke? "I do have a question. Where is Sasuke? He was gone when I got up this morning."

Kabuto gave a knowing smile. "Not to worry. Sasuke is perfectly fine. You'll see him after lunch for a training session together. We want to keep your body and mind in top shape."

"Ok." Sakura didn't know if she trusted that Sasuke was really ok, but the thought of seeing him soon calmed her and it would be nice to get in some exercise.

"Aya will show you back to your room. I'll send for you again later." On cue the door opened and Aya stood there ready to lead Sakura back through the endless tunnels.

Sakura turned to follow Aya then stopped , and looked over her shoulder at Kabuto. She had forgotten to ask about the pajamas, but she didn't want to push her luck by bothering him again. "Um, Kabuto."

Kabuto sighed, obviously becoming irritated. "If you need something Sakura just spit it out. You and Sasuke are not prisoners here. If it is something we can manage we will try to be accommodating."

"Well, I was wondering where I could get some sleep clothes?"

"Aya." Kabuto spoke past Sakura to the girl waiting outside. "Take Sakura by the supply closet and see that she gets whatever she needs."

Aya nodded and motioned Sakura out the door and into the dim hallway.

XXXXX End Flashback XXXXXX

Sakura had spent the rest of the day, and all of her free time in the days after reading the journals and practicing the techniques in them. They were different from the medical books she had begun reading at Hokage Tower. They seemed more focused on the damage one could inflict with medical chakra rather than its healing properties. There were techniques for cutting through muscle and tendons, ways to use chakra to shut down your opponents internal organs and even how to draw blood from someones pores. Sakura hoped she would never have to use those skills.

Once again she stood in front of the wooden door that lead to Kabuto's workshop. The last four days had passed in a blur and she still wasn't able to consistently infuse her chakra into the scalpels. She also hadn't seen much of Sasuke. He barely spoke at lunch, when he bothered to sow up at all, and there wasn't much time for conversation during practice. He also hadn't returned to her room since that first night. She shouldn't have been surprised, Sasuke had always been distant, but somehow it hut more now they were away from the village. She tried not to worry about it. After all she had been busy with her lessons with Kabuto and they were both trying to adjust to their new lives and roles as rogue ninja.

"Are you going to stand there all day. Or are you coming in?" Kabuto's voice interrupted her musings from the other side of the door.

Gathering her nerve Sakura opened the door and entered the now familiar room. One her third visit she had discovered that it was also the compounds clinic, where Orochimaru's henchmen came to receive a variety of treatments. Today it was empty except for Kabuto.

"Hurry up. We don't have all day. Lord Orochimaru wants a progress report as soon as we are done." He flashed her one of his signature 'I know something you don't know' smiles, and said. "If I were a betting man I'd think that he wanted you to fail." He shrugged his shoulders. "But thats just speculation."

Sakura shuddered. She could not fail. "I'm ready."

"Excellent. Show me what you've got."

Closing her eyes Sakura took a deep breath and centered herself. She searched inwardly for the ball of green fire that represented her chakra. Exhaling she visualized that energy flowing down her arms, into her hands and through her fingertips where it attached itself to the scalpels that rested on the table.

"Ok tone it down a bit. I would like to be able to see after this." Kabuto said.

When she opened her eyes the room was bathed in a blinding green light. The scalpels were lost in the glow. "I did this?"

"Yes. Now concentrate and shut it down or you will drain your chakra supply."

"Right." Quickly Sakura centered herself again, this time she imagined the flow slowing and returning back to her center. When she finished all that remained was a pale green glow. "I did it!" She jumped around the room throwing her arms in the air.

An odd sound filled the air and Sakura realized Kabuto was laughing. Not his usual fake or half hearted chuckle, but genuine side splitting laughter. Instantly she felt self conscious of her self. "Sorry."

Wiping his eyes Kabuto regained his composure. "You passed. Now tomorrow the real training begins."

Sakura resisted the urge to jump around again. "Thank you Kabuto."

"Call me Sensei."

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Ok so I know I took forever to get this out and I'm so so so so sorry. Did I mention I was sorry? I have not given up, I promise. Things are just so crazy. But I will be doing the next chapter soon. It will have more Sasuke, their training, and some of the other people who live in the compound. So please Review. Thanks. Love you all so much :)