Chapter 40

Sometimes their sensei would say the most childish things, be the biggest ass she'd ever known, then he'd be show a level of empathy she didn't expect in him. Then there were times like this. Blunt and to the point. He clapped his hands.

"Oi oi oi, don't be so bummed out. The world's a terrible place, but it doesn't mean you have to be so gloom and doom."

"But," Sakura looked him dead in the eye, "if it really is that bad, then how do we move on?"

He smiled. "You find something. Something you really, really love and you keep that picture in your mind. And you tell yourself, no matter what shit the world throws at you, you're gonna throw it all back. Because at the end of the day, you gotta have something special for yourself. Your little slice of heaven. Keep that in mind, and build around it. Add more to it, and you'll find yourself something to look forward too when you get back in the village."

Sakura find herself smiling at the words. It wasn't overwhelmingly motivational, but those were the right words. "You can be very inspirational when you're not acting out, sensei."

He gave her a deadpan look. "I'll be upping the training levels, by the way. If you're gonna be diving into a tournament filled with death, torture, interrogation and sneaky-sneaky underhanded tactics, then I'm the best teacher you can have. Oh and it starts in about a minute. So breathe in."

"Sensei," Sakura bowed her head, "please not today. You already beat us today."

Ino followed. "My delicate body can only take so much."

"We need time to…cope with this information." Sakura was sure all of the information Hinata spoke of didn't exclusively include just the Chunnin exams and their training session fatigue.

"All of you make a fine case," Naruto motioned for them to raise their heads and for a moment Sakura felt so relieved. Until she saw him take a stance. "But I really don't give a fuck."

After what felt like 2 hours of trying (they really tried) to dodge sharp metal objects, sleek razor wire, and fists made of cast iron, Sakura Haruno found herself in the hospital again. The doctor from before, Chizuru Kagura, was attending to her wounds again. Several cuts (not too threatening), pain everywhere and a shadow clone who kept mentally rubbing it in.

"Kagura-san," the clone chirped, "I was more merciful on them this time. I think I was."

"I can tell," the doctor replied having finished her work and again, Sakura found herself fascinated at the healing jutsu she used. Chizuru Kagura gave her an inquisitive look. "Have you reconsidered my advice?" She didn't sugarcoat it and cut right to the chase.

"Yes," Sakura didn't mince her words either and the doctor went back to writing something. She was doing this for a number of reasons: to be better, to prove people wrong and throw back a punch in her sensei's face one of these days.

"See, Kagura-san," the clone spoke again, this one was way too cheerful compared to their sensei. It was like they had their own personalities. "I told you, beating the shit out of my genin will change their minds. I specifically hit her in the head too."

"You do realize that's not how it works?"

"Oi, oi, Kagura-san, I've made so many people change their minds hitting them in their heads. You remember, right?"

"Yes, Naruto, I remember. Way too clearly."

"Excuse me and I'm really sorry for asking," Sakura said absorbing the teeny bit from the interaction she saw, "but do you know sensei? I mean apart from the hospital visits."

"Yes," the good doctor answered. "One of our team members was injured and couldn't attend the Chunnin Exams, so we needed a third member. Naruto was recommended to us since he was without a team and needed to pass the exam for his paperwork."

"Paperwork? No team?" Sakura grew more confused. "Wait, you're older than him. You can't be his teammate."

The doctor didn't seem to like that. "Yeah, I'm older." She pointed at Naruto. "Apparently he's considered a prodigy."

"Oi, Kagura-san," the clone had a look of disgust on his face, "you know I don't like being associated with that word."

"Doesn't change the truth though." Kagura continued. "He was years younger than us, but he was the strongest member in our team, including our sensei. So in a way we got all the way through to the final rounds thanks to him. And he needed the Chunnin exam certification, so he won the tournament. Without a scratch on him."

"That's…so cool." Sakura admitted it out loud as the clone seemed to beam from that. A question rose. "Wait, so afterwards he left your team?"

"Yes, but he made the trip quite memorable." Dr. Kagura handed her the paper, filled with a nutrition plan. The woman then looked at Naruto, shaking her head. "Why did you have to anger the Raikage like that?"

"Wait what?"

"Meh, meh, he was giving me this mean look throughout the tournament." The clone spoke without care. "Like I did something wrong."

"You did do something wrong."

"What did he do?" Sakura was so curious as to what their sensei did to earn the ire of the Raikage. The man was renowned for being immensely strong and fast, as all Raikage were. Just what could a genin do to make a Kage angry?

"He slept with the Raikage's daughter."

"…what?!" Sakura's shout was loud and echoes reverberated through the room. "Sensei! Why?!"

"In my defense," the clone started, "I was young and stupid, and so was she. Plus I didn't know she was the Raikage's daughter."

"Like that would've stopped you," Dr. Kagura faced Sakura and pointed at the clone. "Never let your guard down around him. He's a filthy womanizer who'll never shy away from sleeping with a pretty girl once he puts his mind on it."

She didn't need to be told that. In fact it was one of the main reasons she hadn't moved in yet. Hinata had been the first to shift, long before the Wave mission. If anything the girl seemed more fit and gained more stamina than usual, though Sakura suspected that had something to do with her genes. Ino moving in was shocking to say the least. Did Piggy not care what Sasuke-kun would think? What society would say? Regardless, Sakura didn't see the need to move in, especially given how her sensei was something of a hot commodity to kunoichi. Sure she was curious, but not that curious.

"I know." Sakura pointed at him along with the good doctor. "Sensei is a lecher."

"Lecher?" The clone looked apprehensive. "Just because I was taught by a few of them doesn't mean I am one."

"They really rubbed off on you, whoever they are. Given the beast you are." Dr. Kagura was so brave in Sakura's eyes. She didn't have time for any of that bullshit her sensei put up, well his clone at least.

"Beast, huh?" The clone shrugged. "Eh, better a beast than a grunt. Besides, what's got you raging? Been having trouble with the missus?" The doctor smacked her sensei with the clipboard which didn't do much, but he rolled his eyes and opted to stay quiet. Sakura pondered on the words the clone said. Oh, she's on the other team. After a few more clash of words, they left and as it had been since the case ever since they returned from Wave, her sensei's clone would escort her to the house. Every day. Talking to her. Despite all the tongue in cheek sassiness, the constant jokes about her being ragged around like a doll and being told she's still continent miles away from landing a hit on him, Sakura appreciated it. As much as she hated to admit it, this distracted her from the thoughts of Sasuke-kun having his way with Inari's mother back in Wave. Part of her even thought that her sensei knew, and he'd endlessly rant on about random things to switch her mood from a downward spiral to a storm of fury.

"And then I told him, 'You cannot be serious'," the clone regaled a tale of before he was their sensei. "I mean no offense, he saw him turn one of his teammates into a shish kebab, you'd think he'd choose one of the two: avenge his friend or turn tail. Imagine my surprise when he pissed himself. Word to the wise: should you see a Iwa shinobi unit, call them miners. They get really riled up."

"Sensei, that's racist."

...

80 Chapters and Bonus Stories on Ko-fi !

Ko-fi.com/xanaxOD

Your Support would mean a lot