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Shogi Anyone?	By : Shortcake Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 13931 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or anything Naruto related. I make no profit from this story.

Chapter List
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Author's note: short chapter to move the plot along.
Sakura made her way to breakfast the next morning searching for coffee. Jiro, the cook smiled at her as she poured herself a large mug. “Ah, a new guest.” He smiled brightly at her, “What would you like this morning? I’ve made bran muffins this morning. We also have scrambled eggs, rice, and toast.”
Sakura sipped her coffee. It was hot, rich and darkly flavored. “Oh, this coffee is heavenly… a muffin would be lovely, thank you.” Sakura smiled back at the cook. He had a friendly face. The man looked to be in his 50s with salt and pepper short hair under his cook’s cap. He was a stout man who undoubtedly enjoyed eating as well as cooking. She bowed to him, “I’m Sakura. Thank you for the meal.”
Jiro nodded in return, “The pleasure is mine, Sakura. If you need anything at all from the kitchen, just ask.” He smiled and returned to something simmering on the stove top.
She sat next to Temari at the long dining table adjoining the large kitchen. “Good morning Sakura” the blonde wind user smiled, “Did you sleep well?”
Sakura spoke over her coffee, “Yes, thank you. And you?”
“Yes, although I thought I heard some noise during the night, but it must’ve just been the wind.” Temari continued. “You have a busy day ahead?”
Sakura held back a cringe at the mention of noise. “Yes, my schedule will be pretty full while I’m here. I do have a question for you though. About training. I’m going to be here for six months and I’ll need to keep up my conditioning and skills. What do you recommend?”
Temari smiled. She looked friendly, but beneath the surface she was grateful for the opportunity to plant a seed. “Well, even though the hottest part of summer is past, it’s still wise to keep strenuous physical activities to early morning or evening hours. Of course, you can spar with any of the shinobi you like, but I think you should join Gaara, Kankuro and I for training. I’m sure you can keep up and we’d really enjoy someone new to spar against.”
Sakura replied, “Oh that’s kind of you to offer. When do you usually train?”
“Tuesday and Thursday at 6 am. It gives us plenty of time to train and shower before breakfast. Will that work okay for you?” Temari took a sip of her own coffee as she looked over to her leaf ninja friend.
“That sounds like a plan Temari. I look forward to kicking your ass.” She smiled as she teased the other kunoichi.
“Oh, then you’ll be looking for a long time my friend.” Temari taunted back.
…
The first few days at the hospital were fraught with stress. After morning rounds the first day, Sakura had assembled the staff to announce her plans. Dr. Ito (or Dr. Asshole as she now referred to him in her thoughts) was the first to voice opposition. She crushed him mercilessly with a flurry of sharp words. The head nurse smiled. And there was no vocal opposition after that. However, Dr. Ito was dragging his feet and making the nurses duties difficult at every opportunity. On Saturday, Sakura had called him to her office for a lengthy meeting. Sunday morning when she posted the duty roster for the following week, she’d assigned him the night shift every night in the ER. He would learn to respect her or continue to get every shitty assignment and duty she could scrape up for him. The good part about him being such an ass was no one else wanted to draw her ire. She would keep her foot on his neck as long as necessary and the rest of the staff respected her for it. Well, at least they feared her. She’d take fear for now; it was effective.
After rounds Sunday morning, she looked at the stack of papers on her desk with dread. She still had to finalize the class lists for tomorrow, her lesson plans, and review a host of staff reports. She took a deep breath. “I need to meditate.” She said to no one in particular.
Sakura walked over to the charge nurse. “I’m going to take a lunch break today, Emi. I’ll be back shortly.” The nurse nodded at her as she walked out of the hospital and down the road to the cemetery.
Although it was fall, the bright Suna sun was bearing down with the desert’s midday heat as she walked thoughtfully to visit an old friend. Sakura noticed a piece of quartz by the path and picked it up as she entered the solemn resting place. She sighed wistfully, placing the stone on the memorial as she spoke, “Hello Chiyo. I hope you are resting well. I’m sorry it’s been so long. There was another war and well, you know how things can get busy… I wish you were here. I could sure use your advice. Of course, if you were here, they wouldn’t need my help because you’d have whipped them all into shape weeks ago.” Sakura chuckled lightly at the thought of how Chiyo would deal with Dr. Asshole Ito. She heard a cough and spun on her heal straightening up to see none other than the Kazekage a few yards away as he approached.
“I’m sorry to disturb you Sakura. Nurse Emi said you’d gone for lunch, so I just followed your trail…”
One look at him told her all she needed to know. His left eyelid was half closed and his head tilted just slightly to the right. He had a headache. “It’s fine Gaara.” Sakura spoke reassuringly as she quickly wiped a tear from her face, hoping he was in enough pain to not notice it. “Please, come here.”
She motioned him to stand in front of her. Gaara did notice her tear though. He had only read the reports and heard the stories of Sakura’s time with Chiyo. She’d saved his brother Kankuro, and the two of them had taken down Sasori. And of course, Chiyo’s sacrifice was the only reason he was walking the planet. The guilt of it all only fueled the pain behind his eye. “Thank you, Sakura. I… appreciate your assistance.” He couldn’t manage more as he felt her long, nimble fingers laden with chakra against his temple.
“It’s no trouble Gaara” There was a sadness in her voice as she spoke. She hadn’t meant for him to see her like this. She didn’t like anyone to see her at such a weak moment.
“You miss her.” Gaara said with a statement that was also a question.
“Yes. I only knew Chiyo for a short time but… well, I guess fighting together makes a bond, you know?” As a shinobi, she felt sure that Gaara would understand what she meant.
Gaara nodded. “Indeed, it does. I miss her too. I often wonder if she chose wisely.”
Sakura’s eyes widened at his words. “She was a very wise woman Gaara. Please, do not disturb her rest with such a foolish idea. Suna needed you then and it needs you now. We couldn’t have won the war without you.”
Gaara sighed. Who was this woman? She had just called him a fool and absolutely essential with the same breath. At least the headache was gone. But this kunoichi stirred something else inside him. Something he couldn’t quite place. “Of course. Please forgive me… have you eaten your lunch yet?”
Sakura looked to the side, “Well, I was just going to skip lunch actually.”
Gaara raised an eyebrow, “Sakura, I’m not a medical ninja, but skipping meals is unwise. You must keep your strength up. Come with me. I know just the thing.” He held out his arm to her.
Sakura sighed and took his arm, “Well, I can’t disregard an order from the Kazekage, now, can I?”
They walked quietly for a short distance and Gaara led her to a seat at a ramen stand. “Naruto found this place. And it is quite good.”
Sakura laughed, “Naruto does love his ramen. Why does it not surprise me that he showed you the best ramen in your own village?”
Gaara allowed himself a small smile. “Naruto does have a way with such things.” This woman was intriguing. He would need to keep his guard up with her. That much was certain.
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Shogi Anyone?