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Two hours. Two hours Sakura had been waiting patiently for the privilege of conversing with the all honorable and wonderful Hanabi Hyuuga.

Kami, Sakura had half a mind to punch the little brat. She was tiny, soft spoken, and still could kick most missing-nins ass on a bad day. She also had certain…erm…traits that Sakura could not help but envy. Just a little bit.

She had already contacted Lee-kun and Gyaro-san. Lee was eager, as always, and Gyaro was intrigued by the notion of training an Uchiha. Sarunte would learn easily. He was certainly a bright kid. Haruna on the other hand…

Hoo boy. This was either going to be incredibly painful for her, or down right hilarious to watch. Haruna, in some green jump suit, going around Konoha 100 times, in a hand stand…

OK, so Lee was not going to be THAT tough on the girl, but the image still greatly amused Sakura. Perhaps more than it should have. Maybe she was catching a fever. She would have to look into that.

"Haruno-san." Said a young child. Goti Hyuuga – if Sakura remembered correctly, he was due to graduate from the academy this year. A rival for Nara, one day, perhaps. Maybe even a sparring partner in the present. She could certainly use it. Nara needed to learn how to fight people who were rivaling her skills. She was far too used to planning how to fight people she could never actually beat; if the right mind set could be instilled, and then maybe Nara would not rely on her hit-and-run strategy so much.

"Yes?" Sakura answered the twelve year old.

"Hanabi-sama will see you now…uhm…you should go do that." He stuttered over his words.

Hm. Perhaps her first impression was faulty. Or perhaps Goti knew how to respect adults. Or maybe Sakura REALLY needed to check for that fever…

Sakura was accepted into Hanabi's quarters, and the two of them sat down. It was awkward, to say the least. Sakura really was not keen on groveling or paying Hanabi much respect. She was far too stubborn for that sort of thing.

Hanabi said nothing. Sakura said nothing. For about two minutes they just stared at each other, never breaking eye contact. It was almost some sort of challenge, to the two shinobi.

Finally, Sakura bit the bullet. "Nara Uzumaki needs a trainer."

"No." Hanabi said bluntly.

"You don't really think I am going to just walk out with that answer, do you?"

If Hanabi was annoyed, she did not show it. She continued her ever penetrating glare towards Sakura. "I had sincerely hoped you would, but I see now that will not be the case."

Sakura smirked. "I'm not leaving here till Nara gets a teacher. Doesn't need to be Neji, but she needs one just the same."

"No." Hanabi's tone did not even falter.

Sakura took a deep breath. Keep face. Keep face. No need to shannaro this delusional witch back into the first ninja war. She was silent. She needed to think.

"Why not?" Not the best question in the world, but it would get her somewhere.

"We have already permitted her to remain in the village, free from Hyuuga customs, with all of our secrets stored in her eyes. It would be foolish to teach her even more of them." Hanabi replied, in the same blunt tone. Geebs, Sakura would hate to see Hanabi in a bad mood…

"Wouldn't she be less likely to die and give away all your secrets if she knew how to best use her Byakugan?" Sakura shot back.

"That is a fallacious argument." Hanabi replied, and did not bother to elaborate.

Sakura groaned. She stood up, time to channel her battle self. She would need it for this task.

"Listen you" Sakura started, "Nara Uzumaki is part of Konohagakure, just as much as you are a part of Konoha. Now, I am not versed in legal wordings and stuff like that, but I CAN tell you I can make your life a living hell. Your little title? Biologically, Nara's. Now, you can make a case that it is yours. It probably IS yours, but there is just enough fuzzy area that I could easily have you in court for months, if not years. It will waste your time, it will waste your money, and you know that if this gets publicized, the Hyuuga's reputation will be in question, at the least. So, I say it again. Nara Uzumaki needs a tutor."

Hanabi was silent. She folded her hands together, and propped her elbows so her hands blocked her mouth's expression. She closed her eyes, as if deep in thought.

"You will have your tutor." She said, slowly.

Sakura could not help but smile widely, and she was only barely able to resist pumping her fist in the air.

"And that tutor, shall be me." Hanabi said in a barely audible tone. In fact, it was so quiet, Sakura almost thought she had been hearing things.

But Hanabi was firm. She repeated her statement. Hanabi then stood up, and left the room without a word.

If it had not been clear the conversation was over, the return of two Hyuuga members to instruct Sakura to leave now was quite clear. Sakura did as the members had instructed her to, and left without another word. She had gotten Nara her tutor. That was what she called a job well done, personally, even if Hanabi volunteering was fishy even at the most optimistic angle.

She would have to keep tabs on Nara's training progress, to make sure Hanabi did not have any tricks up her sleeves.

With Nara's training taken care of, all three ninja-bakas were set to go. If only that meant a break for Sakura. She'd probably be sent on some s-rank mission. And it would suck.

"Sakura-chan!" a voice called in the distance.

Ino.

Ino had gotten far in life. She had never been much of a fighter, so instead she focused her talents elsewhere. She was a tokubetsu jonin, but one Sakura would not particularly want to cross on a good day. She had Ibiki-san's old position. She did not have the scars that Ibiki had, and yet, that made her all the more scarier. She did not deal with physical torture. Why should she, when she could commit far more painful and horrifying acts, all within the confines of one's own mind?

Sakura smiled. "Ino-pig." She replied, with a hint of affection.

"Oh shut it billboard brow. I haven't been able to talk to you in ages." Ino giggled cheerfully. "I just got off duty, and you and I are gonna catch up."

Sakura frowned. She had paperwork to do, ninja-bakas to slap into shape, and a hospital to keep track of. And yet…

"Sure Ino-chan. I'd love to."

"Yayyy!" Ino squealed, grabbing Sakura's hand, and making a dash for one of their favorite cafés. The most cold blooded and horrifying interrogator in Konoha, and she was currently skipping, with a huge grin on her face, making very squealing-esque noises.

Sometimes Sakura wondered if it was not her sanity she should question, but the world around her.

At the café, Ino and Sakura chatted like they were 16 all over again. It was nice that they could do this, usually going out involved bringing along the whole gang – and if you wanted Chouji to be happy, you WOULD go to the Korean BBQ restaurant, no ifs ands or buts about it-, which was always a more hectic, less personal ordeal.

Ino was chatting about the usual things. Her clothes, her work, her love life, when suddenly, she paused. "Sakura-chan. You listening to me?"

"Yeah. Yeah I'm listening to you." Sakura replied absent-mindedly, briefly taking a sip of her tea.

Ino rolled her eyes. "Sakuraaaaaa," she whined. "What is WITH you?"

Sakura shrugged. "Just tired and stressed from handling three bratty kids."

"That huh?" Ino frowned, "Y'know, I don't even know why you applied for a genin team. You HATE kids."

"I do not hate kids." Sakura growled back.

"Yeah. Yeah ya do." Ino retorted. "You can't fool me. I KNOW you, billboard-brow, and the only time you can tolerate kids is when they are in a sick-bed, in a coma."

Sakura shrugged. "Your point?"

"BAKA!" Ino yelled (earning several looks from the passersby), "You know EXACTLY what my point is so don't even try to play it off like it's nothing!"

Sakura sighed. "Quiet down, Ino. People are staring."

Ino groaned and rolled her eyes upwards. "Yes Sakura. Because clearly, people's reactions to me are the first type of pressing thought that comes to me at times like this. No. Just…just no! You're my best friend and something is clearly wrong with you, and you are going to come first no matter WHAT happens! Shikamaru-kun could barge in right now, tell me my dad's flower shop is on fire, and that the color purple has been eliminated from the planet, and I would still make sure you were OK first!"

Sakura could not help but laugh at that. "Oh don't be so dramatic. All it would take is ONE good sale and you'd be gone."

Ino opened her mouth to reply. "What do you take me for? Stupid? I'd drag you there with me so I could do both!"

Sakura sighed happily and looked at Ino. "All right Ino-pig. I'll tell you what's wrong."

"Good. Cause if you weren't, I'd have half a mind to find out myself." Ino chirped, only half-joking.

Sakura looked down at her cup of tea. "I…I think I'm falling apart."

Ino raised an eyebrow. That was rather quick. Not to mention rather dark.

"I mean, I've never really been able to get over the deaths of my teammates. Not really, anyway. Then I found out about Nara, and I felt just plain old confused. Eventually, I decided that I needed a way to ground myself back into reality. I was focusing too much on work. Living from mission to mission, just waiting for the next adrenaline rush to make me forget what a sorry state I was in. I needed something to care about, y'know?"

"You could always go take up Lee-kun on that offer." Ino said, gently-teasing.

"He's too good for me." Sakura reflected. "I'd only abuse the poor guy. Plus, he's nice and all, but I don't think I could handle him 24/7."

"So…have you…have you ever…y'know…you and Lee…"

"Ino!" Sakura cried out from embarrassment. "That has nothing to do with this!"

"Uh-huh. Yeah." Ino assessed, a little private smile on her face. "Sorry, I interrupted you, didn't I? Go on."

Sakura narrowed her eyes, glaring at Ino, but continued just the same. "So anyway, I figured I might as well kill two birds with one stone. Apply to teach genins, maybe by some miracle actually learn to like the little baka-heads, and also, maybe, get closer to Nara, and just get some closure on Naruto-kun."

Ino said nothing else, but smiled and nodded. The two finished the tea in comforting silence. Once they finished their drinks and paid the bill, Ino grabbed Sakura's hand once again, and dragged her off to some distant location.

"C'mon billboard-brow. You're coming with me."

"Inoo!" Sakura lashed out. "I have WORK!"

"Well, now you don't. We're gonna go and have fun for the rest of the night, and that's all there is to it. You're one of the closest people to the Hokage, and I have my own division! No one is gonna stop us! Now let's GO!"

And so Ino dragged poor Sakura off for a night of some kicking back and relaxing. It would entail much clothes shopping, spa-esque escapades, and flirting with random hot guys just because.

And despite the shallowness of it, and the sheer pointlessness of it all, Sakura had to admit, she had the most fun that night than she had had in a very long time.

The next morning, Sakura met her three students, to inform them of where they would be going for exam-training.

"You mean…ya mean I get ta go wi' RENI-KUN?" Sarunte shrieked with glee, his eyes growing wide, and sparkles emitting from his pores.

"Reniko Nara will probably be training off on his own as well, Sarunte." Sakura pointed out, but Sarunte was not so easily swayed.

Haruna was skeptical, "Who's Rock Lee?"

Time to work her magic. "Rock Lee is a very famous and world-renowned shinobi, Haruna. He's even participated in ANBU missions, and is even superior to some of their operatives, in some ways." Sakura replied.

It worked. Haruna's eyes widened in shock and awe. This Mr. Lee sounded like an INCREDIBLE ninja. She could probably learn all SORTS of things from him!

Nara chuckled to herself. She decided it would be more beneficial to Sakura if she refrained from mentioning some of Lee's other traits as well. Her father and mother both knew Lee quite well, and had quite the opinion of him.

Of course, that chuckling stopped once she heard who would be helping HER prepare for the chuunin exams. Nara was quick to protest.

"Sakura-sensei, you cannot be serious!"

"Regrettable, I know, but you should be honored. Hanabi is quite talented in gentle fist."

"But…" Nara trailed off.

"Yes?"

"I was hoping…uhm…Neji-sama would teach me." Nara quietly muttered, pushing her two forefingers together awkwardly.

"It was either Hanabi-san or no one. You should be thankful you even have a teacher willing to help you, considering your state of events." Sakura replied, not in the mood to debate this point all over again.

Nara raised several more protests, but Sakura refused to give Nara as much as an inch.

Nara finally gave up, and fell silent. She was still not very pleased. Hanabi was Hinata's sister. Her mother had never been mean about Hanabi, or very nice about Hanabi either. She was just sort of…there… in the stories her mother told. Nara knew nothing about Hanabi Hyuuga.

Furthermore, Hanabi Hyuuga WAS head of the Hyuuga clan. Which meant that Hanabi was the one responsible for the problems she had been given ever since she had come to Konoha. Why would Hanabi want to teach HER? It made no sense! Something was up. This was bad.

Nara's thoughts were interrupted, by a yell in the distance.

"HELLOOOOOOO SAKURA-CHANN!"

From the distance, a figure leaped into the air, flipped twice mid-air, before landing with his arms outstretched, and his knees bent. His hair was black, shiny, and in an odd haircut. He was also wearing a green jumpsuit with black stripes, and what looked like dark orange leg warmers on his arms and legs.

"Hello yourself Lee-kun." Sakura smirked at him. Leave it to Lee to make an entrance.

Lee gave her a thumbs up. "I have travelled from across Konohagakure to accept the task of training one of your students, Sakura-chan! In two weeks time, you will have a warrior with a heart of fire, and a youth like you've never known!"

At that point, Sarunte burst out laughing, Nara covered her mouth to stop from giggling, and Haruna stared at her tutor with the utmost of horror.

HE was her tutor? He…he looked like a freak! An ugly, scary, stupid, freak! What was this?

Sakura noticed Haruna's expression. She smiled threateningly. "All right Haruna, you're going to train with Lee-kun now. You will do what he tells you, and above all, you WILL be polite to him, and if I get ONE report of you acting cheeky, you won't see so much as a D rank mission for the rest of your pathetic little life."

Haruna paled. Her face painfully contorted, as if she was wrestling with her desire to obey Sakura, and her desire to run away from Lee and never, ever look at him again.

Her goal to become a chuunin prevailed in the end, and with an emotionally-neutral face, she left the site with Lee.

"Sarunte." Sakura said, once Lee and Haruna were out of sight. "You know where Mitsu lives, correct?"

"Yep!" Sarunte cheerfully answered.

"Good. Head there now. You'll meet Ketsuki-san there."

"YES!" Sarunte crowed. Sarunte waved good bye to Nara and Sakura-sensei, and took off eagerly.

Nara looked around. "So…where is Hanabi?"

"I don't think I ever actually informed her of the time, I was just happy I got someone to teach you gentle fist. We'll go to the Hyuuga grounds now." Sakura replied in a matter-of-fact tone, and the two left for the Hyuuga compound.

Hanabi, as it turned out, had been expecting Nara.

"Thank you Sakura-san. I will require nothing else; you may leave now." Hanabi said, when the two shinobi entered the opening courtyard.

Sakura resisted the urge to strangle the bitch. Think about this rationally. She had to. Hanabi was probably not used to being polite. At least, not in a situation like this.

She would have to be the mature one here. She HATED it when she had to do that. Sakura left, leaving Nara and Hanabi all alone in the walled in yard.

"Hello, Uzumaki Nara." Hanabi spoke slowly. "I expect this will be a very important and educational experience – for the both of us."

Nara looked around. It was strange, she was more trapped than she had ever been in the walled in confines, and yet, with what was to come, with finally being able to complete her unfinished training, and learn the way of the Hyuuga and the gentle fist technique, Nara could not help but feel freer than she ever had been.

To Be Continued