157 The Flight - 3

Later on that day, Tsunade's inauguration as the Fifth Hokage went surprisingly smooth. With much integrity she introduced herself to the notable jounin and chunin who worked around the office, familiarizing herself with their roles if she didn't already know them.

She had to ask Shizune to bring her some sake several times before the woman did so, and was then waiting in her office for her assistant to return, reading over scrolls outlining the abilities of that year's rookie genin.

After two brisk knocks on the door and Tsunade looked up from the stats on Hyuga Neji, seeing Shizune had returned wearing an exasperated expression, "Well, it's about time!"

Shizune nodded, "Yes, Tsunade-sama, and also there are some boys here to see you."

She supplied that last bit of information with a dry, warning tone and Tsunade grudgingly hid the two bottles of sake in her desk drawer before shouting, "Come in!"

Naruto entered very loudly, "Hey, Baa-chan, how's it going?" He had not come alone.

Shizune left the room after greeting Naruto and his team, smiling, and Ton-Ton trotted along beside her, hoping to get a snack at their next destination.

"I'm fine, Naruto," She rested her chin on her hand, smirking at the newcomers, "And these must be the other knuckleheads Jiraiya's training, eh?"

Haku smiled, liking how she phrased it, "We are, and it's wonderful to meet you at last, Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade turned to Naruto, "Oh! I like him! Why can't you be as charming as your friend, Naruto?"

"I can when I feel like it!" The blonde boy grumbled, folding his arms moodily, "Anyway, this is Haku," He gestured to the tall dark haired boy beside him, "And this is Gaara."

Gaara bowed his head respectfully to the Godaime and she was pleased to see that the other members of Naruto's cell were a far less hyper than he. As well as the fact that Haku was a real sweetheart and sold her immediately.

"Overall you're different than what I'd been expecting, which is a good thing," Tsunade made note of the guarded looks on their faces, finding it amusing, "I think I can trust you three to a C-rank mission today. What do you think?"

"Sounds good to me!" Naruto agreed energetically, "Where's Ero-sensei? I want to get started!"

After setting Team 2 up on their mission, Tsunade sighed gratefully and was just about to open her desk drawer to enjoy her sake when there was another knock on her door, 'It never ends around here, does it?'

"Come in!"

Nara Shikaku entered with his son in tow. She had sent for them earlier on behalf of reports from Anko on the most recent Chunin Exam. Shikamaru looked around the office disinterestedly, clearly unaware of why he had been brought before the Hokage. His father, on the other hand, looked very pleased.

"Nara Shikamaru?"

Shikamaru looked to the Godaime curiously, "Yeah, that'd be me."

Tsunade continued authoritatively, "After examining your assessment from the Chunin Exam you were the only genin recommended to gain the next rank out of all of your peers," Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at her, "I would like to congratulate you on achieving Chunin rank!"

Slightly surprised to find that Haku and Naruto and Tenten or someone of the like was not also in the office accepting such an honor, Shikamaru looked to his father for some direction on the matter, who only nodded to him.

"Er-herm…well, thank you, Hokage-sama." Shikamaru responded, somewhat mechanically, wondering what was going to happen next.

"That over there is yours. It should be about your size." Tsunade gestured to a thick flak vest waiting on a shelf on the side of the room, "You've earned it, Shikamaru."

His father collected the vest for him since Shikamaru was too deep in thought to pay attention, 'Great. Chunin. The only reason I became a ninja was so I could do whatever I wanted and now I've got to kiss up to the Godaime like she's doing a favor for putting me to work? What a drag…'

Shikaku handed the vest to his son, giving him a questioning look.

'This is what happens when women take over high-ranking positions. It can only lead to trouble!' Shikamaru thought to himself, staring down at the chunin vest in his hands, wondering how he'd explain it to his team.

"Well if that's all beat it already!" Tsunade snapped, startling the Nara men, "I've got work to do!"

After that they promptly left and she hurriedly retrieved a bottle of sake from her desk, glad to finally have time to herself at last.

*

After being released from the hospital, Sasuke was even more insistent that Sakura train with him. Sometimes Kiba would join them but Sasuke seemed to favor the pink haired girl's company over his own, so the Inuzuka would often retire early to be out of their way.

They had been working with fuuma shuriken that day, and they had stopped to take a break after Sakura had nearly taken the Uchiha's head off with an overly-enthusiastic throw. She had told him she was sorry several times in rapid succession and he told her it was nothing.

'I'm glad he's doing better, but Sasuke isn't the same since he got into that fight with Itachi…' Sakura thought to herself, settling beside him on a log.

He could sense her anxiety as she passed a water bottle to him, which he quietly accepted. Though her hair was considerably shorter now, Sakura had tied it up in a miniature ponytail after it began sticking with sweat. It gave Sasuke a good view of her slender neck which his eyes scanned over from time to time.

"Maybe that's enough training for today, Sasuke-kun," Sakura suggested after a long silence, "You've been working nonstop since you were discharged. I think you should take it easy for a while. Besides, you've gotten a lot stronger! You don't have to-"

"I'm not strong enough," Sasuke interrupted, bitterness dripping into his tone, "It wasn't enough. I won't be able to kill Itachi until I surpass my limits…I know that now."

"Right…I know. I promise I'll help, but…" The pink haired girl watched him stand, keeping his back to her, "Sasuke, I really don't think revenge can ever make you happy."

"Revenge isn't supposed to make me happy, Sakura, but it's the only thing that can bring peace to my mind. It's something I've gone without for a while." He made his point quite clearly but she was no less worried.

Sakura's hands fisted in her lap, "But there are other ways! I just want you to be happy."

"Thank you, Sakura," The Uchiha prodigy turned to look at her, "I think happiness can wait for me."

She nodded, swallowing her worry, "Okay. Well then, how about we get some lunch now with Kiba-kun? We've kind of been neglecting him lately and I feel bad about it."

Sasuke turned the offer down, "Maybe I'll see you later. Right now I want to think."

Deciding it was better not to pry, Sakura told him that it was fine and that she'd meet up with him in the evening if he wanted. She stood and left, unable to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach.