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The Price of Success	By : Shortcake Category: Naruto > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 11494 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 14
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- 16
It was almost four o’clock when Sakura received the summons to Tsunade’s office. She didn’t mind another mission, but she was dead tired after last night’s “training accident”. She was glad it worked out okay, but a mission now? She just wanted sleep.
Kakashi and Shino were already in the hall outside the Hokage’s office when she arrived. She raised an eyebrow, they both shrugged, and Tsunade called them in.
“I have a mission for you three. I’m seriously getting tired of these lords wanting ANBU for simple tasks, but they pay the highest prices, so here you go. It’s an escort mission. Should be easy money.” She handed Kakashi the mission scroll. “You leave in the morning, be careful, you know the drill. Now get going.” She shooed them along. “Sakura, a word please.”
Kakashi and Shino walked out the door. Kakashi looked at Shino, “Sure would be nice to be a fly on the wall there.” Shino nodded, “Indeed.” He sent out a small beetle and made some hand signs.
Tsunade motioned for Sakura to sit. “I hear you were involved in a ‘training accident’ last night.” She eyed the young kunoichi for her reaction.
Sakura was uncomfortable. She’d done what she had to do, but would her hokage understand? “Shishou, evidently someone missed the memo about not needing to visit me anymore. So, I simply made sure there would be no future misunderstandings.”
Tsunade jumped up from her chair and pumped her fist in the air, “YES!” She hooted and did a literal happy dance around her desk, throwing Sakura up in the air and high fiving her. “That’s my girl!”
She eventually returned to her seat. “Sakura, I’m proud of you. And even though this is highly unprofessional and something you should never ever do, I have to share with you something a patient told me.” Sakura raised an eyebrow. Her mentor went on, “It’s been a long day. You see I was rousted from bed at about 4 am with a call from the hospital. I was needed for a complicated re-attachment surgery. I was there when the patient regained his speech and gave his statement to the authorities before the procedure.” Sakura’s eyes widened at the implications. “The patient wanted to speak to me personally before he went under, and of course, I indulged the man. He said, ‘Tsunade, you know how I feel about my work and all of our colleagues. I want you to know, if anything should happen in the surgery and I don’t come through. Yes, I know it’s remote in your excellent care. Still I would be remiss if I did not report this. Sakura Haruno is competent to do my work in my stead.’ Those were his words.”
Sakura was flabbergasted, she knew she’d played him at his own game, but she didn’t think it was any big deal. Her mouth was hanging open as Tsunade continued, “There are a few things you should know. First, that is high praise from this person. To my knowledge, he has never said that of another leaf shinobi. Second, the operation was a success and he will make a full recovery. Third, if you ever become as sick and jaded in your soul as that man, I will personally pound your ass into the ground, is that clear?”
Sakura hugged Tsunade tightly, “Yes, shishou. That is clear.” She looked up at the clock. 4:30. There was time if she ran. “Shishou, there is a somewhat urgent errand I should attend to before this mission. May be dismissed?”
Tsunade motioned her away, “Go on kid.”
She nearly ran over Kakashi and Shino where they were spying. “Ramen at 6 pm before we head out guys? See ya there!” Kakashi and Shino shrugged at one another as the pink blur passed them by.
She’d just made the flower shop before they closed. When she got to the hospital, she found Ibiki heavily sedated. She placed the bouquet of six white roses on the bedside table along with a small card that read, “Get well soon. Your colleague, Sakura Haruno.” She sat at his bedside for a moment holding the hand that was not heavily bandaged. “I don’t know if you can hear me or not Ibiki. But I want you to know that I did learn some important things last night. One of them is why you are cranky so often. Raidu was so slow witted! And you indicated that sort of thinking speed is common in your work. I had no idea. Anyway, if you ever need a sympathetic ear in that regard, I do hope you’ll hit me up. And I’m glad that Tsunade’s surgery for you went well.” The hand she was holding squeezed hers lightly. “Well, I have a mission. Gotta go, sir.” She kissed his cheek lightly and breezed out the door. She missed the tear that ran out of his eye.
…
Kakashi, Shino and Sakura were fairly quiet as they ate their ramen. It had taken about 2 minutes to cover everything important about the mission. Fancy lord who wanted only the best to provide security as he traveled to a wedding. Bring a dress. Two weeks away. They finished up their ramen and were about to part ways. “Kakashi said, 7 am at the main gate then?” Shino nodded and just as they were about to leave Sakura reached out and grabbed each of them by the hand. She was shaking, but somehow, she couldn’t speak. She couldn’t breathe. Kakashi looked her in the eyes, “Sakura? What’s wrong?” Her world went black.
It was good to be a ninja when someone passed out. Kakashi caught Sakura instantly and Shino hopped behind her so no one would see. The two men exchanged a glance and with one on either side of the unconscious kunoichi they carried her up to the rooftops and over to her apartment. They laid her on her couch. Shino sat next to her. Kakashi headed to the stove, “I’ll make tea.” Shino was sure that Kakashi was single handedly keeping the tea trade going. It was his response to the slightest bit of drama. Perhaps it was a wise response. This was something he’d need to ponder more carefully. But Sakura, the bold, beautiful and brilliant woman he adored from afar, was not well. Something of the past day had caught up to her. She was human, even if Kiba did call her a goddess. Even if she did possess many goddess-like qualities, all humans had weaknesses. They were her friends and her teammates. They would cover for her weakness. That’s how teamwork works.
Shino asked, “Do you think it’s exhaustion?”
Kakashi had the tea kettle whistling, “Nope. 90% sure that was a panic attack. Of course, she was assaulted less than 24 hours ago, had an intense ninja battle, healed herself through some crazy stuff, had sex with Kiba, and put on a stellar act for the cops to avoid prison time. That’s a lot of trauma and drama for one person in one day.”
Shino considered Kakashi’s words. “Indeed.” He replied. “Sakura has had a very busy day.”
Sakura’s eyes fluttered open. Her hand went to her head, “What happened?”
Shino’s face was just above hers, “Sakura! You’re awake. That’s good. Oh. You fainted. Kakashi and I brought you to your apartment. Kakashi is making tea.”
Sakura sat up and Kakashi handed her a cup of tea, Shino a cup of tea, and sat down in a chair with his own. “I find tea soothes rattled nerves.”
Sakura set her tea on the coffee table and groaned. “Ugghhh. I had a panic attack didn’t I?”
“Yep.” Kakashi could be relied on to be brutally honest. “Sakura, if you were your patient, what would you tell you?”
Sakura put her head in hear hands and groaned again. “Ugghhh. Damn you Kakashi. You make me so mad when you are right all the time.”
Shino was confused, “Actually Sakura, that is an excellent logical technique for problem solving.”
“Shino, if you were Naruto, I’d punch your face for saying that. As it is logic has nothing to do with this problem.”
Shino was shocked, “But, Sakura, all problems are solved by logic. How can logic not be useful? That… defies logic.”
“Shino, please shut up before I punch you through a wall.” Sakura’s fury was clearly illogical, yet knowing her penchant for putting Naruto and even Sasuke through walls and trees, Shino held his tongue and looked to Kakashi for support.
Kakashi sighed. This really was not his best thing, but he was here, so he would have to suffice. “Sakura, come here please.” Kakashi motioned her over. Sakura got up, took two steps, curled into a ball on Kakashi’s lap, and cried. And she cried. And she cried some more. Kakashi held her and would say, “there, there Sakura” and “It’s okay to cry” and patted her on the back. Meanwhile, he motioned Shino to hand him his tea, get him a refill, and bring the tissues at various times. Shino was in awe. He watched carefully to learn from the master of dealing with feminine emotions. Finally, her crying came to a stop and Sakura was just sitting in Kakashi’s lap like a tired kitten. “Sakura dear?” Kakashi looked down, hoping the tears were done for a while. “Yes, Kakashi?” “May I please use your bathroom? Three cups of tea…”
Sakura moved back over to the couch, “Oh, of course.”
Kakashi got up stiffly, “Fuck. Leg’s asleep. I feel old.” Sakura giggled.
Shino shook his head in disbelief. “I do not understand.” Sakura giggled some more and patted Shino’s arm gently.
“Let me see if I can explain. When Kakashi asked me what I would say to myself if I were my patient, it was a rhetorical question because he’s heard me say it in the field and in the hospital to other people dozens of times. I give the same speech every time. ‘I can heal your physical wounds, but your emotions will take time. You must give yourself permission to take time for emotional healing’” Kakashi recited the speech with her in a chorus like manner. “And I have not been following my own advice, until just now.”
Shino adjusted his glasses. “Thank you. Now I understand… Sakura, what do you need?”
Sakura thought a minute as Kakashi emerged from the toilet. “I need to not be alone. I think the panic attack was triggered by the prospect of suddenly being by myself for the night. I don’t feel safe alone yet. Kakashi, can I stay at your house tonight?”
Kakashi shrugged his shoulders, “Sakura, mi casa es su casa. Why don’t you go pack your things? And I’ll tidy up the kitchen.”
Shino stood, relieved by Kakashi’s sense of hospitality. He adored Sakura, but in a worshipful, unrequited love sort of way. He had no idea what he’d actually do if he were physically close to her. Probably just have a heart attack and die. “well, I’m heading home then. See you two at the gates at 7.”
Sakura returned with her pack. She yawned, “Kakashi, I know it’s only 9 pm, but I’m dead tired.” They barely spoke on the short walk to his place.
Kakashi saw Anko sitting on the stoop the instant they rounded the corner. “Shit. She’s pissed at me.”
- 14
- 15
- 16
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The Price of Success