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As of February 2024, the original version of the story has been discontinued and it is being rewritten under the name ''Stuck Playing Catch-up''. The rewrite can be found [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/53679430/chapters/135884620 here]].
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** [[spoiler:Hyuga Hiashi]] dies abruptly after the WhamLine in Chapter 43.
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** PlayedForDrama in Chapter 43; Sakura decides to target [[spoiler:Sunagakure]] in no small part because she wants revenge for the part they played in [[spoiler:the Konoha Crush and the death of her parents]]. This fuels her [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone horrified self-realization]] that participating in the CycleOfRevenge makes her no better than them.
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* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Sakura gets hit ''hard'' by this after using her SignatureMove on a massive scale to [[spoiler:''drown'' Sunagakure]], realizing the sheer ''scope'' of what she's just done... and how many people she's just killed, specifically comparing herself to Orochimaru and the Suna-nin who'd participated in the Konoha Crush.
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* WhamLine: In Chapter 43, Shikaku comes to a critical realization about what's been happening and bluntly announces "You are under Genjutsu, [[spoiler:Hiashi]]." This immediately triggers [[spoiler:Hiashi ''dying'' due to a trigger within said genjutsu]].
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* TheChainsOfCommanding:
** Shikaku deals with this after becoming the Hokage, especially when Hiashi puts him in a terrible position by [[spoiler:refusing to recognize his daughter's last wishes and accusing Masato of bloodline theft]]. It's made painfully clear that Shikaku completely disagrees with Hiashi, but the Hyuga head forces his hand in ways that make everything ''significantly'' worse for all involved.
** Sakura also feels the weight of her position, all the more so following [[spoiler:the founding of Hanagakure]]. Much like Shikaku, the responsibility sits uneasily on her shoulders, and she has to make decisions she doesn't particularly care for, such as [[spoiler:recruiting a civilian workforce from the Land of Waves through EngineeredHeroics]] or keeping her teammates LockedOutOfTheLoop.
** Shikaku deals with this after becoming the Hokage, especially when Hiashi puts him in a terrible position by [[spoiler:refusing to recognize his daughter's last wishes and accusing Masato of bloodline theft]]. It's made painfully clear that Shikaku completely disagrees with Hiashi, but the Hyuga head forces his hand in ways that make everything ''significantly'' worse for all involved.
** Sakura also feels the weight of her position, all the more so following [[spoiler:the founding of Hanagakure]]. Much like Shikaku, the responsibility sits uneasily on her shoulders, and she has to make decisions she doesn't particularly care for, such as [[spoiler:recruiting a civilian workforce from the Land of Waves through EngineeredHeroics]] or keeping her teammates LockedOutOfTheLoop.
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* LockedOutOfTheLoop: Sakura chooses to keep most of her team in the dark about [[spoiler:Riku's death]], as the truth is an S-class secret that could ''seriously'' endanger [[spoiler:everyone staying in Hanagakure]].
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* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: In Chapter 40, Sakura realizes that [[spoiler:Riku intends to have her assassinate the Fire Daimyo for him in order to set up a cushy retirement for himself in the Land of Fire, with little care for what happens to her and Hanagakure afterwards]]. So she responds by [[spoiler:pulling this trope on him in turn, convincing Ginmaru to help her take down the Mountain Daimyo]].
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* EngineeredHeroics: [[spoiler:Tazuna's village]] falls victim to this in Chapter 40; [[spoiler:Sakura has the leader of a nearby bandit clan put under a genjutsu that makes them aggressive, having them attack the village so that her shinobi can sweep in and save them]].
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* NotQuiteSavedEnough: Done with a dark twist when [[spoiler:Tazuna]]'s village is attacked by bandits. While they appear to be taking advantage of the power vacuum left by [[spoiler:Gato's defeat some years prior]], it's swiftly revealed to the reader that [[spoiler:this was a case of EngineeredHeroics with the intent of recruiting a civilian workforce for Hanagakure]].
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Sakura has a problem. For all his claims that "those who abandon their teammates are worse than trash," Kakashi sure doesn't seem interested in teaching Team Seven how to ''respect'' each other. Or maybe it's just that he doesn't consider ''her'' worthy of respect? When she dares to voice her concerns about signing up for the upcoming Chunin Exams, suggesting they aren't ready to face such a challenge, he stays silent while Sasuke berates her for 'holding him back'... and even ''Naruto'' seems to think she only cares about her ''looks'', not her safety.
While trying to calm down, she comes across an unexpectedly sympathetic ear when her wandering takes her near the unlabeled building that houses Konoha's Torture and Interrogation unit. Morino Ibiki is nothing if not pragmatic, and isn't able to leave problems unaddressed. So he asks her outright: what does she want to do?
While trying to calm down, she comes across an unexpectedly sympathetic ear when her wandering takes her near the unlabeled building that houses Konoha's Torture and Interrogation unit. Morino Ibiki is nothing if not pragmatic, and isn't able to leave problems unaddressed. So he asks her outright: what does she want to do?
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Sakura has a problem. For all his claims that "those who abandon their teammates are worse than trash," Kakashi sure doesn't seem interested in teaching Team Seven how to ''respect'' each other. Or maybe it's just that he doesn't consider ''her'' worthy of respect? When she dares to voice her concerns about signing up for the upcoming Chunin Exams, suggesting they aren't ready to face such a challenge, he stays silent while Sasuke berates her for 'holding him back'... and even ''Naruto'' seems to think she only cares about her ''looks'', not her safety.
their ''safety''.
While trying to calm down, she comes across an unexpectedly sympathetic ear when her wandering takes her near the unlabeled building that houses Konoha's Torture and Interrogation unit. Morino Ibiki is nothing if not pragmatic, and isn'table willing to leave problems unaddressed. So he asks her outright: what does she want to do?
While trying to calm down, she comes across an unexpectedly sympathetic ear when her wandering takes her near the unlabeled building that houses Konoha's Torture and Interrogation unit. Morino Ibiki is nothing if not pragmatic, and isn't
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* FakingTheDead: After the WhamEpisode, [[spoiler:Ibiki himself]] decides to fake their demise so that they can [[spoiler:track down and rejoin his apprentice after her team goes missing-nin]].
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* NothingIsTheSameAnymore: Following the WhamEpisode, Sakura and her teammates [[spoiler:are no longer loyal to Konoha, having been forced to become missing-nin in order to honor Hinata's last wishes for Masato to keep her Byakugan]].
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** The events of [[WhamEpisode Chapter 36 and 37]] drive home just how far this goes, as [[spoiler:Hiashi's refusal to honor his daughter's decision causes Sakura and the rest of her team to choose each other over Konohagakure itself, going missing-nin in order to save Masato's sight]].
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* PointOfDiveregence: In this universe, Sakura is initially reluctant to enter the Chunin Exams. When she expresses this concern to her teammates, their failure to understand her perspective results in her storming off and finding a sympathetic ear... one belonging to Ibiki, who winds up taking her on as his apprentice.
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* PointOfDiveregence: PointOfDivergence: In this universe, Sakura is initially reluctant to enter the Chunin Exams. When she expresses this concern to her teammates, their failure to understand her perspective results in her storming off and finding a sympathetic ear... one belonging to Ibiki, who winds up taking her on as his apprentice.
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* WhamEpisode: Chapter 36 has [[spoiler:the death of Hinata, who passes her Byakugan on to Masato -- a gesture her father refuses to recognize, labeling his possession of her eyes bloodline theft]]. This leads into Chapter 37, with [[spoiler:Sakura, Masato and the rest of Team Three going missing-nin]].
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* BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu: Sakura and her team are able to take down [[spoiler:Hidan during their second encounter]]; however, it leaves the whole group completely ''wrecked'', and [[spoiler:Hinata ultimately succumbs to her injuries, passing her eyes on to Masato]].
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** [[spoiler:Hyuga Hinata]] is fatally wounded in the final fight with [[spoiler:Akatsuki member Hidan]].
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* FamilyOfChoice:
** Sakura's new team gradually develops into one, complemented by her strong bond with Ibiki.
** Team Eight is also shown to be one, which is only further cemented by how they remain close even after [[spoiler:their unit is disbanded]]. Then they [[spoiler:collectively join Sakura's team, aside from Kurenai]].
** Hinata expresses this sentiment about her teammates [[spoiler:while dying]]:
--->'''Hinata:''' [Her teammates] helped me realize that the Hyuga aren't the only family I have. I have all of you, and Konoha itself.
** Sakura's new team gradually develops into one, complemented by her strong bond with Ibiki.
** Team Eight is also shown to be one, which is only further cemented by how they remain close even after [[spoiler:their unit is disbanded]]. Then they [[spoiler:collectively join Sakura's team, aside from Kurenai]].
** Hinata expresses this sentiment about her teammates [[spoiler:while dying]]:
--->'''Hinata:''' [Her teammates] helped me realize that the Hyuga aren't the only family I have. I have all of you, and Konoha itself.
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* MeaningfulEcho: Sakura couples a CallBack with an instantaneous one when Shikaku warns her against [[spoiler:defending Masato from ANBU's attempt to recover Hinata's Byakugan]]:
-->'''Shikaku:''' You're on thin ice, Sakura.\\
'''Sakura:''' You're on thin ice, Shikaku. A Shinobi who abandons their mission is scum. But a shinobi who abandons their comrades is worse than scum. But there's someone even worse than that. And that's a superior who abandons their subordinates.
-->'''Shikaku:''' You're on thin ice, Sakura.\\
'''Sakura:''' You're on thin ice, Shikaku. A Shinobi who abandons their mission is scum. But a shinobi who abandons their comrades is worse than scum. But there's someone even worse than that. And that's a superior who abandons their subordinates.
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* DueToTheDead: When Sakura retrieves [[WeaponTombstone Zabuza's sword]], she makes sure to replace it with another marker in order to show her respect to the fallen shinobi.
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* VillainRespect: Shown by [[spoiler:Kakuzu]] in Chapter 35, when they decide to walk away from Sakura and her team after they are all seriously injured while taking down [[spoiler:his partner Hidan]]. The fact that they do this despite Sakura [[spoiler:having a bounty]] is especially notable.
* WeaponTombstone: While visiting the Land of Waves, Sakura decides to retrieve the [[{{BFS}} Kubikiribocho]] from Zabuza's grave in order to [[spoiler:offer it to Mizukage Mei as part of an alliance proposal]]. She replaces it with a jutsu-crafted headstone, making a matching one to mark Haku's resting place as well.
* WeaponTombstone: While visiting the Land of Waves, Sakura decides to retrieve the [[{{BFS}} Kubikiribocho]] from Zabuza's grave in order to [[spoiler:offer it to Mizukage Mei as part of an alliance proposal]]. She replaces it with a jutsu-crafted headstone, making a matching one to mark Haku's resting place as well.
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* ForWantOfANail: The central premise: Sakura becomes Ibiki's apprentice before the Chunin Exams, resulting in her receiving a ''lot'' of training -- and a lot of pieces getting rearranged on the metaphorical shogi board.
** Despite Ibiki's initial intentions to let Sakura continue training under Kakashi, Hiruzen overrides him; this results in ''Kabuto'' filling the empty slot in Team Seven.
** Kabuto becoming part of Team Seven also means that his original teammates for the Chunin Exams no longer enter. Sakura winds up entering the exams alongside Masato and Nanako, who partially fill in the vacancies.
** Without Sakura present to hold him back, Sasuke goes ''much'' further in the Forest of Death and [[spoiler:literally disarms Zaku]].
** During the preliminary matches, Sasuke faces Nanako, Kankurou faces Masato, and Sakura faces Shino. This results in [[spoiler:Sakura and both of her teammates advancing]], as well as [[spoiler:Ino making it to the next round via a free pass]].
** Following the preliminaries, Sakura signs a summoning contract with [[spoiler:the scorpions]]. This leads to [[spoiler:Baki becoming her first kill when he attempts to retrieve it from her]].
** While she still returns to the village, Tsunade refuses to serve as Hiruzen's successor, focusing entirely on taking over the hospital. As a result, [[spoiler:Nara Shikaku]] becomes the Godaime instead.
** [[spoiler:Sakura herself]] gets promoted after the Chunin Exams and placed in charge of a new team; said team ends up running into [[spoiler:the Sound Four]], which inspires two of its members to start learning how to [[spoiler:fight with swords]].
** [[spoiler:Sakura is also]] put in charge of the Retrieval Mission rather than Shikamaru, and assembles a team made up of [[spoiler:her teammates Shino, Nanako and Masato, plus Kiba and Hinata]].
** Despite Ibiki's initial intentions to let Sakura continue training under Kakashi, Hiruzen overrides him; this results in ''Kabuto'' filling the empty slot in Team Seven.
** Kabuto becoming part of Team Seven also means that his original teammates for the Chunin Exams no longer enter. Sakura winds up entering the exams alongside Masato and Nanako, who partially fill in the vacancies.
** Without Sakura present to hold him back, Sasuke goes ''much'' further in the Forest of Death and [[spoiler:literally disarms Zaku]].
** During the preliminary matches, Sasuke faces Nanako, Kankurou faces Masato, and Sakura faces Shino. This results in [[spoiler:Sakura and both of her teammates advancing]], as well as [[spoiler:Ino making it to the next round via a free pass]].
** Following the preliminaries, Sakura signs a summoning contract with [[spoiler:the scorpions]]. This leads to [[spoiler:Baki becoming her first kill when he attempts to retrieve it from her]].
** While she still returns to the village, Tsunade refuses to serve as Hiruzen's successor, focusing entirely on taking over the hospital. As a result, [[spoiler:Nara Shikaku]] becomes the Godaime instead.
** [[spoiler:Sakura herself]] gets promoted after the Chunin Exams and placed in charge of a new team; said team ends up running into [[spoiler:the Sound Four]], which inspires two of its members to start learning how to [[spoiler:fight with swords]].
** [[spoiler:Sakura is also]] put in charge of the Retrieval Mission rather than Shikamaru, and assembles a team made up of [[spoiler:her teammates Shino, Nanako and Masato, plus Kiba and Hinata]].
** Something similar happens with [[spoiler:Kakuzu and Hidan]]. Sakura is also fully willing to sacrifice herself in hopes of distracting [[spoiler:the Third Tsuchikage]] long enough for her teammates to escape.
* PointOfDiveregence: In this universe, Sakura is initially reluctant to enter the Chunin Exams. When she expresses this concern to her teammates, their failure to understand her perspective results in her storming off and finding a sympathetic ear... one belonging to Ibiki, who winds up taking her on as his apprentice.
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* TakingYouWithMe: During the Retrieval Mission, [[spoiler:Masato]] unleashes a variant of this through their [[spoiler:Fuinjutsu: Mutual Death Technique]], as it puts both the target and the caster [[spoiler:into a coma]].
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* TakingYouWithMe: TakingYouWithMe:
** During the Retrieval Mission, [[spoiler:Masato]] unleashes a variant of this through their [[spoiler:Fuinjutsu: Mutual Death Technique]], as it puts both the target and the caster [[spoiler:into acoma]].coma]].
** When Sakura squares off with [[spoiler:the Third Tsuchikage]], she fully expects to die in the process, and clings to the outside chance that she ''might'' be able to pull this off against him.
** During the Retrieval Mission, [[spoiler:Masato]] unleashes a variant of this through their [[spoiler:Fuinjutsu: Mutual Death Technique]], as it puts both the target and the caster [[spoiler:into a
** When Sakura squares off with [[spoiler:the Third Tsuchikage]], she fully expects to die in the process, and clings to the outside chance that she ''might'' be able to pull this off against him.
* ThinksLikeARomanceNovel: Serves as the FatalFlaw in Naruto's relationship with Sakura; rather than seeing her for who she is, he's caught up in the narrative he's crafted around her, where he and Sasuke are rivals for ''everything'', including her hand. She eventually takes him to task for this, noting that "For you, it was supposed to be like a storybook."
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* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre:
** Sakura and Shikamaru wind up encouraging each other in this fashion after learning about their shared fears of not being good enough to warrant [[spoiler:their respective promotions]].
** Sakura's teammates reassure her in this fashion after one of their missions goes sour.
** Ibiki gives his apprentice a pep talk when she laments her inability to defeat [[spoiler:the Third Tsuchikage]], pointing out just how powerful her opponent was and that she was fortunate to not only escape alive, but wound their ego in the process.
** Sakura and Shikamaru wind up encouraging each other in this fashion after learning about their shared fears of not being good enough to warrant [[spoiler:their respective promotions]].
** Sakura's teammates reassure her in this fashion after one of their missions goes sour.
** Ibiki gives his apprentice a pep talk when she laments her inability to defeat [[spoiler:the Third Tsuchikage]], pointing out just how powerful her opponent was and that she was fortunate to not only escape alive, but wound their ego in the process.
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* AdaptationalVillainy: The tensions between Konohagakure and [[spoiler:Iwagakure]] erupt into outright warfare after the latter hires [[spoiler:Kakuzu and Hidan]] for an assassination attempt.
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* ChekhovsGun: When deciding which summoning contract she wants to attempt, Sakura swiftly narrows it down to two candidates: the owls and the scorpions. The one she doesn't choose comes back into play when it's revealed that [[spoiler:Hinata]] took it up instead.
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* ChekhovsGun: ChekhovsGun:
** When deciding which summoning contract she wants to attempt, Sakura swiftly narrows it down to two candidates: the owls and the scorpions. The one she doesn't choose comes back into play when it's revealed that [[spoiler:Hinata]] took it upinstead.instead.
** Sakura has Oujimari hide in her hair before fighting [[spoiler:the Third Tsuchikage]], enabling them to bail her out by [[spoiler:taking her to the scorpion's realm]].
** When deciding which summoning contract she wants to attempt, Sakura swiftly narrows it down to two candidates: the owls and the scorpions. The one she doesn't choose comes back into play when it's revealed that [[spoiler:Hinata]] took it up
** Sakura has Oujimari hide in her hair before fighting [[spoiler:the Third Tsuchikage]], enabling them to bail her out by [[spoiler:taking her to the scorpion's realm]].
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*** Both Naruto and Sasuke start out as [[ItsAllAboutMe rather self-absorbed]], with both projecting their own ideas of who Sakura is onto her: Naruto sees her as a pretty prize to pursue and 'win away' from Sasuke, while Sasuke sees her as a mere annoyance. However, Naruto's misinterpretations of her are more InnocentlyInsensitive, and once he finally realizes his mistakes, he's eager to make up for them, while Sasuke clings to his original stance even when his thoughts [[DoubleThink completely contradict themselves]].
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* OneSteveLimit: {{Averted|Trope}}; one of Sakura's summons, Ginmaru, shares their name with the head samurai she meets during the Riku escort mission.
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* SignatureMove: {{Discussed|Trope}}; as Sakura notes to Kiba, high-ranking shinobi tend to have at least ''one'' technique that's associated with them in this fashion, so she considers it important to develop one of her own. Eventually, she comes up with [[spoiler:Water/Earth Release: Metamorphosis, enabling her to transmute a water-based jutsu into an earth jutsu or vice-versa]].
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So begins ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/50239912/chapters/126898531 Space to Breathe]]'', a ''Franchise/{{Naruto}}'' fanfic which [[ForWantOfANail explores a world]] where Sakura becomes Ibiki's apprentice. While she hadn't ''intended'' on transferring out of Team Seven, Hiruzen insists on her removal, resulting in her being replaced by... Yakushi Kabuto? Oh, dear...
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So begins ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/50239912/chapters/126898531 Space to Breathe]]'', a ''Franchise/{{Naruto}}'' fanfic which [[ForWantOfANail [[AlternateUniverse explores a world]] where Sakura becomes Ibiki's apprentice. While she hadn't ''intended'' on transferring out of Team Seven, Hiruzen insists on her removal, resulting in her being replaced by... Yakushi Kabuto? Oh, dear...
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* DidntThinkThisThrough: One of Riku's servants tries to get out of litter-carrying duty by telling Sakura that Riku has requested two members of his Konohan escort team carry it instead. Sakura opts to inform Riku ''directly'' that his request has been denied, something the servant hadn't anticipated, which gets him promptly fired.
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* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: As she grows more confident as Ibiki's apprentice, Sakura changes her hairstyle, winding it up in a bun with ninja wire discretely threaded through it. This comes in handy when dealing with opponents who see her hair as a handy handle.
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* ImportantHairAccessory: ''Weaponized'' by Sakura, who threads ''ninja wire'' into her hair so that anyone attempting to grab it receives a nasty surprise. [[spoiler:Hidan]] can attest to its effectiveness.
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* ItsAllMyFault: Sakura blames herself for how poorly the [[spoiler:Sasuke Retrieval Mission]] goes, holding herself responsible for everyone who was injured as a result. For their part, none of the others agree, asserting that they made their own decisions.
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* LoveEpiphany: Sakura is hit by one that leads to her RelationshipUpgrade with [[spoiler:Shikamaru right before she leaves on a long-term mission]].
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* AScarToRemember: Sakura gets a faint facial scar on the left side of her face, just under her eye, as a memento of the [[spoiler:failed Retrieval Mission]].
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** After the Retrieval Mission, [[spoiler:Kiba and Hinata]] are added to Sakura's unit.
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* DoubleStandard: One of Sakura's main issues with Kakashi is how he seemed even ''less'' interested in teaching her than he was when it came to the boys; he wasn't addressing any of Sasuke or Naruto's personality issues, but at least he ''engaged'' with them and had them do more than basic exercises.
* ExplainExplainOhCrap: Sakura vents to Ibiki when they first meet; when he initially advises her to [[JustIgnoreIt just ignore her teammates' stupidity]], she outlines the issues further, only to freeze up when he remarks that it sounds like Kakashi is responsible, belatedly realizing that she's been badmouthing one of her superiors to another Konohan shinobi.
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** While Ibiki initially tells Sakura that all shinobi need to learn how to work with their allies even if they're proving difficult, he still listens to her as she vents and agrees that her concerns are valid, where Kakashi was more than happy to let all of Team Seven's issues go completely unaddressed. Ibiki also openly acknowledges his weaknesses as a teacher and that he's not entirely ''comfortable'' dealing with children, and compensates by asking for help and arranging for others to handle various aspects of her training, rather than letting her go without or neglecting those angles as Kakashi had.
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** While Ibiki initially tells Sakura that all shinobi need to learn how to work with their allies even if they're proving difficult, he still listens to her as she vents and agrees that her concerns are valid, where whereas Kakashi was more than happy to let all of Team Seven's issues go completely unaddressed. Ibiki also openly acknowledges his weaknesses as a teacher and that he's not entirely ''comfortable'' dealing with children, and compensates by asking for help and arranging for others to handle various aspects of her training, rather than letting her go without or neglecting those angles as Kakashi had.
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* PlotParallel: A major one is drawn between Team Seven and Team Eight following the Chunin Exams, as both teams [[spoiler:are disbanded]] due in part to how multiple members have taken up apprenticeships or are otherwise working with specialized individual teachers. However, Team Eight is clearly in far better shape than Seven, due to the latter's interpersonal problems; Team Eight is much tighter-knit, a point which is driven home by how they [[spoiler:remain friends and go out of their way to make time for each other after their team's dissolution]].
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** While Ibiki initially tells Sakura that all shinobi need to learn how to work with their allies even if they're proving difficult, he still listens to her as she vents and agrees that her concerns are valid, where Kakashi was more than happy to let all of Team Seven's issues go completely unaddressed. Ibiki also openly acknowledges his weaknesses as a teacher and compensates by asking for help and arranging for others to handle various aspects of her training, rather than letting her go without or neglecting those angles as Kakashi had.
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** While Ibiki initially tells Sakura that all shinobi need to learn how to work with their allies even if they're proving difficult, he still listens to her as she vents and agrees that her concerns are valid, where Kakashi was more than happy to let all of Team Seven's issues go completely unaddressed. Ibiki also openly acknowledges his weaknesses as a teacher and that he's not entirely ''comfortable'' dealing with children, and compensates by asking for help and arranging for others to handle various aspects of her training, rather than letting her go without or neglecting those angles as Kakashi had.
*** Both Naruto and Sasuke start out as [[ItsAllAboutMe rather self-absorbed]], with both projecting their own ideas of who Sakura is onto her: Naruto sees her as a pretty prize to pursue and 'win away' from Sasuke, while Sasuke sees her as a mere annoyance. However, Naruto's misinterpretations of her are more InnocentlyInsensitive, and once he finally realizes his mistakes, he's eager to make up for them, while Sasuke clings to his original stance even when his thoughts [[DoubleThink completely contradict themselves]].
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* ItsAllAboutMe: Sasuke is ''incredibly'' self-absorbed, much to Kakashi's dismay. Nothing matters more than getting what ''he'' wants, '''now'''; his loyalty to Konoha is practically nonexistent, and he sees nothing wrong with [[spoiler:trying to outright ''murder'' his fellow leaf-nin]] if he perceives them as getting in the way of his desires.
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* ItsAllAboutMe: ItsAllAboutMe:
** Sasuke is ''incredibly'' self-absorbed, much to Kakashi's dismay. Nothing matters more than getting what ''he'' wants, '''now'''; his loyalty to Konoha is practically nonexistent, and he sees nothing wrong with [[spoiler:trying to outright ''murder'' his fellow leaf-nin]] if he perceives them as getting in the way of hisdesires.desires.
** Naruto also has some issues with this, primarily due to how he views himself like a storybook hero and tries to cast everyone around him into suitable roles.
** Sasuke is ''incredibly'' self-absorbed, much to Kakashi's dismay. Nothing matters more than getting what ''he'' wants, '''now'''; his loyalty to Konoha is practically nonexistent, and he sees nothing wrong with [[spoiler:trying to outright ''murder'' his fellow leaf-nin]] if he perceives them as getting in the way of his
** Naruto also has some issues with this, primarily due to how he views himself like a storybook hero and tries to cast everyone around him into suitable roles.
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* {{Doublethink}}: Sasuke engages in this a lot, especially when it comes to Sakura. Specifically, he asserts that she didn't leave Team Seven to pursue better prospects elsewhere; he ''made'' her leave, and was completely justified in doing so, given how she was nothing but a useless weakling who was "holding him back". Yet somehow, she's also entirely responsible for the problems he's encountered since then, even as he insists that she's ''still'' weak and utterly incapable of getting in his way.
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** Naruto also fails to grasp why Sakura left until she tells him outright, chewing him out for not noticing how she'd grown.
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** Naruto also fails to grasp why ''why'' Sakura left until she tells him outright, chewing him out for not noticing how she'd grown.grown.
* EntitledToHaveYou: Naruto displays a {{Downplayed|Trope}} version of this attitude towards Sakura. Even after she leaves Team Seven, he continues to think of her primarily as a prize to be won rather than a person in her own right.
* EntitledToHaveYou: Naruto displays a {{Downplayed|Trope}} version of this attitude towards Sakura. Even after she leaves Team Seven, he continues to think of her primarily as a prize to be won rather than a person in her own right.
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Changed line(s) 78,79 (click to see context) from:
* NeverMyFault: Sasuke refuses to take any responsibility for his own actions, blaming everyone and everything else whenever things don't work out the way he wants. This includes BlamingTheVictim when he gets into trouble for [[spoiler:attacking Nanako with the Chidori]], insisting it was ''her'' fault for [[spoiler:refusing a rematch]].
* OriginalCharacter: Sakura enters the Chuunin Exams alongside two members of the Genin Corps: Shimizu Masato, a sensor-type, and Funai Nanako, Anko's personal apprentice.
* OriginalCharacter: Sakura enters the Chuunin Exams alongside two members of the Genin Corps: Shimizu Masato, a sensor-type, and Funai Nanako, Anko's personal apprentice.
to:
* NeverMyFault: Sasuke refuses to take any responsibility for his own actions, blaming everyone and everything else whenever things don't work out the way he wants. This includes BlamingTheVictim when he gets into trouble for [[spoiler:attacking Nanako with the Chidori]], insisting it was ''her'' fault for [[spoiler:refusing a rematch]].
rematch]], and insisting that ''Sakura'' is entirely responsible for how much worse things have gotten for him after she left their team, while simultaneously insisting that ''he'' abandoned '''HER''' and was right to do so.
* OriginalCharacter: Sakura enters theChuunin Chunin Exams alongside two members of the Genin Corps: Shimizu Masato, a sensor-type, and Funai Nanako, Anko's personal apprentice.
* OriginalCharacter: Sakura enters the
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* TakingYouWithMe: During the Retrieval Mission, [[spoiler:Masato]] unleashes a variant of this through their [[spoiler:Fuinjutsu: Mutual Death Technique]], as it puts both the target and the caster [[spoiler:into a coma]].
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* SelfServingMemory: According to Sasuke, Sakura didn't ''choose'' to leave Team Seven; he left ''her'' behind, and was completely justified in doing so, as "Abandoning something that's only weighing you down is the smart thing to do."
* TakingYouWithMe: During the Retrieval Mission, [[spoiler:Masato]] unleashes a variant of this through their [[spoiler:Fuinjutsu: Mutual Death Technique]], as it puts both the target and the caster [[spoiler:into a coma]].
* TakingYouWithMe: During the Retrieval Mission, [[spoiler:Masato]] unleashes a variant of this through their [[spoiler:Fuinjutsu: Mutual Death Technique]], as it puts both the target and the caster [[spoiler:into a coma]].
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* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Originally, Ibiki intends for Sakura to remain with Team Seven and continue training with Kakashi; however, Hiruzen argues that as the head of T&I, Ibiki has plenty of resources to oversee her development, and that it would be easier for all involved to simply replace her. This results in Kabuto taking her place, making things significantly worse for Team Seven, as that means Kakashi gets blamed for [[spoiler:not realizing he was a traitor]].
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** While Ibiki initially tells Sakura that all shinobi need to learn how to work with their allies even if they're proving difficult, he still listens to her as she vents and agrees that her concerns are valid, where Kakashi was more than happy to let all of Team Seven's issues go completely unaddressed. Ibiki also openly acknowledges his weaknesses as a teacher and compensates by asking for help and arranging for others to handle various aspects of her training, rather than letting her go without or neglecting those angles as Kakashi had.
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** [[spoiler:Sakura herself]] gets promoted after the Chuunin Exams and placed in charge of a new team; said team ends up running into [[spoiler:the Sound Four]], which inspires two of its members to start learning how to [[spoiler:fight with swords]].
to:
** [[spoiler:Sakura herself]] gets promoted after the Chuunin Chunin Exams and placed in charge of a new team; said team ends up running into [[spoiler:the Sound Four]], which inspires two of its members to start learning how to [[spoiler:fight with swords]].
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** Despite Sasuke [[spoiler:not making it past the preliminaries]], Kakashi still teaches him the Chidori. Something he comes to regret after Sasuke [[spoiler:uses it against Nanako, then ''Naruto'']].
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* LaserGuidedKarma:
** Kakashi's apathy and neglect of Sakura led to her leaving Team Seven and being replaced by Kabuto for the Chuunin Exams. This does a number on the Copy-nin's reputation, especially after she performs well in the Exams while Kabuto [[spoiler:betrays Konoha]]. His professional reputation only plunges further after Naruto gets his ''own'' apprenticeship with Jiraiya and Sasuke, the one who learned the most from him, uses the Chidori to [[spoiler:attack another leaf-nin over a personal, petty grudge]].
** Sasuke's arrogance gets the better of him during the Chunin Exams, resulting in him [[spoiler:losing his preliminary match against Nanako]]. His inability to handle this humbling leads to him digging himself deeper by [[spoiler:attacking her in public]], dealing another blow to his ego while tarnishing his reputation.
** Kakashi's apathy and neglect of Sakura led to her leaving Team Seven and being replaced by Kabuto for the Chuunin Exams. This does a number on the Copy-nin's reputation, especially after she performs well in the Exams while Kabuto [[spoiler:betrays Konoha]]. His professional reputation only plunges further after Naruto gets his ''own'' apprenticeship with Jiraiya and Sasuke, the one who learned the most from him, uses the Chidori to [[spoiler:attack another leaf-nin over a personal, petty grudge]].
** Sasuke's arrogance gets the better of him during the Chunin Exams, resulting in him [[spoiler:losing his preliminary match against Nanako]]. His inability to handle this humbling leads to him digging himself deeper by [[spoiler:attacking her in public]], dealing another blow to his ego while tarnishing his reputation.
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* ItsAllAboutMe: Sasuke is ''incredibly'' self-absorbed, much to Kakashi's dismay. Nothing matters more than getting what ''he'' wants, '''now'''; his loyalty to Konoha is practically nonexistent, and he sees nothing wrong with [[spoiler:trying to outright ''murder'' his fellow leaf-nin]] if he perceives them as getting in the way of his desires.
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* LovingAShadow:
** Sakura realized shortly before the Wave Mission that her romantic vision of Sasuke was ''nothing'' like the real deal, and that he didn't actually care about her at all as a ''teammate'', much less as a potential love interest.
** Naruto also fell headlong into this when it came to Sakura, seeing her as nothing more than a trophy he was trying to win from his rival... despite the aforementioned complete lack of interest on Sasuke's part.
** Sakura realized shortly before the Wave Mission that her romantic vision of Sasuke was ''nothing'' like the real deal, and that he didn't actually care about her at all as a ''teammate'', much less as a potential love interest.
** Naruto also fell headlong into this when it came to Sakura, seeing her as nothing more than a trophy he was trying to win from his rival... despite the aforementioned complete lack of interest on Sasuke's part.
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* AdaptationalSkill:
** Sakura picks up several of these, thanks to her new training regimen. She studies genjutsu more, learns how to work with poisons, signs a summoning contract, and eventually starts studying [[spoiler:swordsmanship alongside Shino]].
** The anime mocked Tenten's desire to become as legendary as Tsunade by depicting her as an [[ComicallyIneptHealing incompetent healer]]. Here, Tenten is skilled enough that she provides valuable support when [[spoiler:her team shows up to reinforce the retrieval team]].
** Sakura picks up several of these, thanks to her new training regimen. She studies genjutsu more, learns how to work with poisons, signs a summoning contract, and eventually starts studying [[spoiler:swordsmanship alongside Shino]].
** The anime mocked Tenten's desire to become as legendary as Tsunade by depicting her as an [[ComicallyIneptHealing incompetent healer]]. Here, Tenten is skilled enough that she provides valuable support when [[spoiler:her team shows up to reinforce the retrieval team]].
* DeliberateInjuryGambit: While fighting Kimimaro, [[spoiler:Nanako]] stands their ground and lets him land a kick so that they can catch his leg. They do so anticipating that he'll sprout bones straight into their hands, but hold firm.
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** Naruto also fails to grasp why Sakura left until she tells him outright, chewing him out for not noticing how she'd grown.
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** Naruto also fails to grasp why Sakura left until she tells him outright, chewing him out for not noticing how she'd grown.
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* AdaptationalJerkass: Not only does Sasuke simply not ''care'' about Sakura here, he appears to lack ''any'' kind of MoralityPet or [[MoralityChain Chain]] to speak of, being a completely [[ItsAllAboutMe self-absorbed]] ArrogantKungFuGuy who eagerly embraces the power promised by the cursed seal.
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* BetrayalByInaction: Most of Sakura's frustrations with Kakashi boil down to this. Not only was he an ApatheticTeacher who largely neglected her in favor of the boys, he made no move to correct how they treated her. His failure to step in and defend her right to voice her concerns about entering the Chunin Exams proved to be the last straw, and she vents to Ibiki that "My teammates are so self-centred, and Kakashi-sensei does nothing to even ''try'' and fix it."
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** When Sakura's team unexpectedly encounters [[spoiler:the Sound Four]] while returning from a mission, they swiftly realize that they're outclassed and focus on retreating, with one member sending up a flare for help.
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* DramaticallyMissingThePoint:
** When Sakura protested Kakashi's suggestion that they should sign up for the Chunin Exams, worried that they weren't yet strong enough to tackle such a challenge, Naruto defended her from Sasuke... but then suggested that she was only worried about how competing might mess up her appearance.
** As Kakashi eventually points out himself, Sasuke completely failed to understand his speech about how "those who abandon their teammates are worse than trash", as evidenced by his [[spoiler:attempted assault of Nanako]].
** Sasuke also doesn't grasp the significance of Sakura leaving Team Seven; in his mind, ''he's'' the one who left ''her'' behind, and rightly so, as she was too weak in his eyes to be worth his time. This also folds into his refusal to acknowledge how she's grown since then.
** Naruto also fails to grasp why Sakura left until she tells him outright, chewing him out for not noticing how she'd grown.
** When Sakura protested Kakashi's suggestion that they should sign up for the Chunin Exams, worried that they weren't yet strong enough to tackle such a challenge, Naruto defended her from Sasuke... but then suggested that she was only worried about how competing might mess up her appearance.
** As Kakashi eventually points out himself, Sasuke completely failed to understand his speech about how "those who abandon their teammates are worse than trash", as evidenced by his [[spoiler:attempted assault of Nanako]].
** Sasuke also doesn't grasp the significance of Sakura leaving Team Seven; in his mind, ''he's'' the one who left ''her'' behind, and rightly so, as she was too weak in his eyes to be worth his time. This also folds into his refusal to acknowledge how she's grown since then.
** Naruto also fails to grasp why Sakura left until she tells him outright, chewing him out for not noticing how she'd grown.
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** While it takes a direct confrontation for Naruto to [[JerkassRealization realize his mistakes]], he immediately wants to address those issues and make amends. Kakashi, by contrast, immediately recognized how his poor decisions resulted in Sakura leaving Team Seven, but makes no effort whatsoever to reach out to his former student... and Sasuke, naturally, [[NeverMyFault refuses to admit he did anything wrong]] even when directly confronted with his mistakes.
to:
** While it takes a direct confrontation for Naruto to [[JerkassRealization realize his mistakes]], he immediately wants to address those issues and make amends. Kakashi, by contrast, immediately recognized how his poor decisions resulted in Sakura leaving Team Seven, but makes no effort whatsoever to reach out to his former student... and Sasuke, naturally, [[NeverMyFault refuses to admit he did anything wrong]] even when directly confronted with his mistakes.
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** Kabuto becoming part of Team Seven also means that his original teammates for the Chuunin Exams no longer enter. Sakura winds up entering the exams alongside Masato and Nanako, who partially fill in the vacancies.
to:
** Kabuto becoming part of Team Seven also means that his original teammates for the Chuunin Chunin Exams no longer enter. Sakura winds up entering the exams alongside Masato and Nanako, who partially fill in the vacancies.
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** [[spoiler:Sakura is also]] put in charge of the Retrival Mission rather than Shikamaru, and assembles a team made up of [[spoiler:her teammates Shino, Nanako and Masato, plus Kiba and Hinata]].
to:
** [[spoiler:Sakura is also]] put in charge of the Retrival Retrieval Mission rather than Shikamaru, and assembles a team made up of [[spoiler:her teammates Shino, Nanako and Masato, plus Kiba and Hinata]].
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** Itachi and Kisame still attempt to inflitrate Konoha in the wake of the Konoha Crush, and face ''mostly'' the same opposition, with the addition of Ibiki.
** Despite having a very different opponent during the Retrival Mission, Jirobo hits the same BerserkButton he does in canon by insulting their leader, and faces [[spoiler:another DangerousForbiddenTechnique]] as a result.
** Despite having a very different opponent during the Retrival Mission, Jirobo hits the same BerserkButton he does in canon by insulting their leader, and faces [[spoiler:another DangerousForbiddenTechnique]] as a result.
to:
** Itachi and Kisame still attempt to inflitrate infiltrate Konoha in the wake of the Konoha Crush, and face ''mostly'' the same opposition, with the addition of Ibiki.
** Despite having a very different opponent during theRetrival Retrieval Mission, Jirobo hits the same BerserkButton he does in canon by insulting their leader, and faces [[spoiler:another DangerousForbiddenTechnique]] as a result.
** Despite having a very different opponent during the
* JerkassRealization: Naruto has one after Sakura calls him out on how he ''still'' sees her as nothing more than a prize to be won even after everything she's achieved after leaving Team Seven.
* KnowWhenToFoldEm:
** [[spoiler:Kankurou]] concedes their preliminary match upon seeing that their opponent has [[spoiler:placed an explosive tag on Karasu, not wanting his puppet to be blown apart when he doesn't have all the resources necessary to rebuild them]].
** Along similar lines, [[spoiler:Shino]] surrenders during their match because [[spoiler:Sakura had wiped out most of his kikaichu]], rendering it too difficult to continue. Though it's implied that [[spoiler:he also conceded out of respect for how Sakura apologizing for what she'd done]].
** Sakura notes the wisdom of this when [[spoiler:Shikamaru surrenders during his match with Temari]], musing that if it were up to her, they'd be promoted for showing good judgment rather than pressing forward.
* KnowWhenToFoldEm:
** [[spoiler:Kankurou]] concedes their preliminary match upon seeing that their opponent has [[spoiler:placed an explosive tag on Karasu, not wanting his puppet to be blown apart when he doesn't have all the resources necessary to rebuild them]].
** Along similar lines, [[spoiler:Shino]] surrenders during their match because [[spoiler:Sakura had wiped out most of his kikaichu]], rendering it too difficult to continue. Though it's implied that [[spoiler:he also conceded out of respect for how Sakura apologizing for what she'd done]].
** Sakura notes the wisdom of this when [[spoiler:Shikamaru surrenders during his match with Temari]], musing that if it were up to her, they'd be promoted for showing good judgment rather than pressing forward.
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* TakingYouWithMe: During the Retrival Mission, [[spoiler:Masato]] unleashes a variant of this through their [[spoiler:Fuinjutsu: Mutual Death Technique]], as it puts both the target and the caster [[spoiler:into a coma]].
to:
* TakingYouWithMe: During the Retrival Retrieval Mission, [[spoiler:Masato]] unleashes a variant of this through their [[spoiler:Fuinjutsu: Mutual Death Technique]], as it puts both the target and the caster [[spoiler:into a coma]].
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Added DiffLines:
Sakura has a problem. For all his claims that "those who abandon their teammates are worse than trash," Kakashi sure doesn't seem interested in teaching Team Seven how to ''respect'' each other. Or maybe it's just that he doesn't consider ''her'' worthy of respect? When she dares to voice her concerns about signing up for the upcoming Chunin Exams, suggesting they aren't ready to face such a challenge, he stays silent while Sasuke berates her for 'holding him back'... and even ''Naruto'' seems to think she only cares about her ''looks'', not her safety.
While trying to calm down, she comes across an unexpectedly sympathetic ear when her wandering takes her near the unlabeled building that houses Konoha's Torture and Interrogation unit. Morino Ibiki is nothing if not pragmatic, and isn't able to leave problems unaddressed. So he asks her outright: what does she want to do?
The answer, it turns out, is that she wants to catch up with Naruto and Sasuke. Even if they aren't her teammates anymore.
So begins ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/50239912/chapters/126898531 Space to Breathe]]'', a ''Franchise/{{Naruto}}'' fanfic which [[ForWantOfANail explores a world]] where Sakura becomes Ibiki's apprentice. While she hadn't ''intended'' on transferring out of Team Seven, Hiruzen insists on her removal, resulting in her being replaced by... Yakushi Kabuto? Oh, dear...
----
!!This fanfic includes examples of:
* AdaptationalBackstoryChange: Sakura's father is the only other shinobi in her family here, having suffered a CareerEndingInjury during the Third Shinobi War that leaves him restricted to archival and administration duties. He specialized in Water-based ninjutsu, and eventually passes on some of these techniques to his daughter.
* AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul:
** Sakura's crush on Sasuke has more or less completely dissipated by the time the story begins, due to her realizing how little he actually cared about her as a teammate.
** Sakura's mother doesn't agree with her chosen career path, and their relationship is strained to the point that she actually ''avoids'' Mebuki as much as she can manage. As a result, Mebuki [[spoiler:never appears in person before her untimely death, and Sakura is left deeply regretting how much she'd avoided her]].
** Naturally, Sakura's apprenticeship under Ibiki means that the two grow much closer, and results in her building connections with many of his coworkers and cohorts, such as Anko, Izumo and Kotetsu.
* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler:Zaku is literally disarmed by Sasuke]] in the Forest of Death, forcing them to drop out of the preliminary matches.
* ArrogantKungFuGuy: Sasuke's overconfidence played a key role in driving Sakura out of Team Seven, as he dismissed all of her concerns and accused her of 'holding him back'. In a way, he's right; without her around, his ego swells out of control, to the point that he brazenly assaults [[spoiler:her teammate Nanako]] in the streets when they reject his ''demands'' to fight.
* BigDamnHeroes:
** PlayedWith in the Forest of Death; while Lee and Team Ten still assist Kabuto in dealing with Dosu and his teammates, they aren't aware that [[spoiler:Kabuto was deliberately holding back the whole time]].
** During the Konoha Crush, [[spoiler:Team Eight]] arrives just as [[spoiler:Nanako]]'s last line of defense is about to break, with [[spoiler:Kiba and Akamaru plowing into Temari]]. The rescued ninja even observes that "I thought I was dead."
** [[spoiler:Shino]] goes on to save [[spoiler:Genma]] from succumbing to poison.
* CareerEndingInjury: Sakura's father sustained one to his chakra coils during the Third Shinobi War, severely limiting his abilities. While still able to perform jutsu, his chakra capacity was cut down to well below what average genin are capable of.
* ChekhovsGun: When deciding which summoning contract she wants to attempt, Sakura swiftly narrows it down to two candidates: the owls and the scorpions. The one she doesn't choose comes back into play when it's revealed that [[spoiler:Hinata]] took it up instead.
* CommonalityConnection: Following the Konoha Crush, Sakura and Shikamaru find some common ground in how both feel that [[spoiler:they didn't deserve to be promoted to chunin]].
* DeathByAdaptation:
** [[spoiler:The Sand Siblings' jonin instructor Baki]] dies shortly after the Konoha Crush begins, thanks to [[spoiler:Oujimaru fatally stinging him]].
** [[spoiler:Mebuki and Kizashi]] are among the casualties of the Konoha Crush.
* {{Foil}}:
** Shino immediately recognizes how Sakura has grown after their preliminary match, acknowledging her as a WorthyOpponent and treating her with respect. This contrasts sharply with how Sasuke staunchly refuses to acknowledge how Sakura has grown at all, and how Naruto doesn't really recognize it until Sakura takes him to task for his ignorance.
** While it takes a direct confrontation for Naruto to [[JerkassRealization realize his mistakes]], he immediately wants to address those issues and make amends. Kakashi, by contrast, immediately recognized how his poor decisions resulted in Sakura leaving Team Seven, but makes no effort whatsoever to reach out to his former student... and Sasuke, naturally, [[NeverMyFault refuses to admit he did anything wrong]] even when directly confronted with his mistakes.
* ForWantOfANail: The central premise: Sakura becomes Ibiki's apprentice before the Chunin Exams, resulting in her receiving a ''lot'' of training -- and a lot of pieces getting rearranged on the metaphorical shogi board.
** Despite Ibiki's initial intentions to let Sakura continue training under Kakashi, Hiruzen overrides him; this results in ''Kabuto'' filling the empty slot in Team Seven.
** Kabuto becoming part of Team Seven also means that his original teammates for the Chuunin Exams no longer enter. Sakura winds up entering the exams alongside Masato and Nanako, who partially fill in the vacancies.
** Without Sakura present to hold him back, Sasuke goes ''much'' further in the Forest of Death and [[spoiler:literally disarms Zaku]].
** During the preliminary matches, Sasuke faces Nanako, Kankurou faces Masato, and Sakura faces Shino. This results in [[spoiler:Sakura and both of her teammates advancing]], as well as [[spoiler:Ino making it to the next round via a free pass]].
** Following the preliminaries, Sakura signs a summoning contract with [[spoiler:the scorpions]]. This leads to [[spoiler:Baki becoming her first kill when he attempts to retrieve it from her]].
** While she still returns to the village, Tsunade refuses to serve as Hiruzen's successor, focusing entirely on taking over the hospital. As a result, [[spoiler:Nara Shikaku]] becomes the Godaime instead.
** [[spoiler:Sakura herself]] gets promoted after the Chuunin Exams and placed in charge of a new team; said team ends up running into [[spoiler:the Sound Four]], which inspires two of its members to start learning how to [[spoiler:fight with swords]].
** [[spoiler:Sakura is also]] put in charge of the Retrival Mission rather than Shikamaru, and assembles a team made up of [[spoiler:her teammates Shino, Nanako and Masato, plus Kiba and Hinata]].
* HopeSpot: From Kakashi's perspective, Sakura leaving Team Seven is just the first in a series of blows, as Jiraiya takes Naruto off to train for the third round and Kabuto is [[spoiler:revealed as a traitor]]. But hey, he still has Sasuke, and is able to teach him one of his signature techniques! ...Only for Sasuke to promptly use said technique in an attempted assault on [[spoiler:Nanako, a fellow leaf-nin]] in the middle of Konoha, further destroying both of their reputations.
* InSpiteOfANail:
** Even though Sakura didn't believe that Team Seven was ready to enter the Chuunin Exams, she still winds up participating with two different teammates: Masato and Nanako.
** Dosu and his teammates still harass Team Seven in the Forest of Death, much to Kabuto's surprise. Fortunately for him, Rock Lee and Team Ten [[BigDamnHeroes still intervene]].
** Many of the preliminary matches remain the same, including Lee facing Gaara.
** During the Konoha Crush, Shikamaru still accompanies the group pursuing Gaara, then splits away to distract the ten Oto-nin that were trailing them.
** Itachi and Kisame still attempt to inflitrate Konoha in the wake of the Konoha Crush, and face ''mostly'' the same opposition, with the addition of Ibiki.
** Despite having a very different opponent during the Retrival Mission, Jirobo hits the same BerserkButton he does in canon by insulting their leader, and faces [[spoiler:another DangerousForbiddenTechnique]] as a result.
* ItsPersonal:
** Though she recognizes that it's unprofessional, Sakura can't help drawing a little pleasure from seeing her ''former'' jonin instructor deal with the consequences of his actions and ''in''action.
** Baki takes Sakura's possession of the [[spoiler:Scorpion Summoning Contract]] as a personal insult, as it originally belonged to the first Kazekage. This spurs him to confront her directly in hopes of winning it back [[spoiler:and results in his demise]].
* NeverMyFault: Sasuke refuses to take any responsibility for his own actions, blaming everyone and everything else whenever things don't work out the way he wants. This includes BlamingTheVictim when he gets into trouble for [[spoiler:attacking Nanako with the Chidori]], insisting it was ''her'' fault for [[spoiler:refusing a rematch]].
* OriginalCharacter: Sakura enters the Chuunin Exams alongside two members of the Genin Corps: Shimizu Masato, a sensor-type, and Funai Nanako, Anko's personal apprentice.
* PrecisionFStrike: Sasuke yells "The fuck?!" upon being informed that he's [[spoiler:being reassigned to the Genin Corps while Naruto is getting an apprenticeship]].
* TakingYouWithMe: During the Retrival Mission, [[spoiler:Masato]] unleashes a variant of this through their [[spoiler:Fuinjutsu: Mutual Death Technique]], as it puts both the target and the caster [[spoiler:into a coma]].
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:
** Kakashi berates Sasuke for misusing the Chidori and going against his teachings:
--->'''Kakashi:''' Whilst those who abandon a mission are scum, and those who abandon a comrade are even worse, what does that make you, Sasuke? You are worse than those who are worse than scum. You're a traitor.
** Sakura hits Naruto with one of these when they run into each other for the first time in months and he promptly asks her out, showing how little he's changed:
--->'''Naruto:''' How about we go get ramen to celebrate? C'mon, it can be a date, now that you're not interested in Sasuke!\\
'''Sakura:''' I'm not your teammate anymore, Naruto, but you're still treating me the same as before.\\
'''Naruto:''' But Sakura, I--\\
'''Sakura:''' I left your team. I found a sensei who cared, I [[spoiler:made chunin]], I [[spoiler:became the captain of an actual team]]! I became a real shinobi, one just as capable as you or Sasuke, but you still have the fucking nerve to treat me like a trophy. Like something that you can just leave behind, only to compete for me in some one-sided competition against an asshole Uchiha who cares for nobody but himself! An asshole of an Uchiha who would, and has, turned on his own comrades because his little ego got hurt. Well let me tell you something, Naruto: I care as much about your and your fragile idea of a perfect Team Seven as I do the dirt I left Sasuke on lying on the last time he tried his shit. Team Seven was never going to work, because all three of you were too blind to see past your own idea of it. For Sasuke, it was a stepping stone. For Kakashi, it was a chore. For you, it was supposed to be like a storybook. I was supposed to be some damsel in distress for you to save, Sasuke your best friend and rival, Kakashi an actual mentor. But it didn't work out that way, so stop pretending I'm some weak, fragile piece of glass that can't handle herself. Otherwise, I won't be as kind to you as I was to Sasuke.
* TeamMemberInTheAdaptation:
** Kabuto replaces Sakura in Team Seven after she becomes Ibiki's apprentice.
** In the wake of the Konoha Crush, [[spoiler:Team Eight is disbanded so that each of its members can receive specialized training, with Shino joining Masato and Nanako as the newly promoted Sakura's subordinates in Team Three]].
* WhatTheHellHero: In the wake of the Konoha Crush, Kakashi berates Sasuke for how he used the Chidori against [[spoiler:Nanako, a fellow leaf-nin]], declaring that "I taught you that in the hopes you would use it for Konoha, not [[spoiler:against it]]."
----
While trying to calm down, she comes across an unexpectedly sympathetic ear when her wandering takes her near the unlabeled building that houses Konoha's Torture and Interrogation unit. Morino Ibiki is nothing if not pragmatic, and isn't able to leave problems unaddressed. So he asks her outright: what does she want to do?
The answer, it turns out, is that she wants to catch up with Naruto and Sasuke. Even if they aren't her teammates anymore.
So begins ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/50239912/chapters/126898531 Space to Breathe]]'', a ''Franchise/{{Naruto}}'' fanfic which [[ForWantOfANail explores a world]] where Sakura becomes Ibiki's apprentice. While she hadn't ''intended'' on transferring out of Team Seven, Hiruzen insists on her removal, resulting in her being replaced by... Yakushi Kabuto? Oh, dear...
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!!This fanfic includes examples of:
* AdaptationalBackstoryChange: Sakura's father is the only other shinobi in her family here, having suffered a CareerEndingInjury during the Third Shinobi War that leaves him restricted to archival and administration duties. He specialized in Water-based ninjutsu, and eventually passes on some of these techniques to his daughter.
* AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul:
** Sakura's crush on Sasuke has more or less completely dissipated by the time the story begins, due to her realizing how little he actually cared about her as a teammate.
** Sakura's mother doesn't agree with her chosen career path, and their relationship is strained to the point that she actually ''avoids'' Mebuki as much as she can manage. As a result, Mebuki [[spoiler:never appears in person before her untimely death, and Sakura is left deeply regretting how much she'd avoided her]].
** Naturally, Sakura's apprenticeship under Ibiki means that the two grow much closer, and results in her building connections with many of his coworkers and cohorts, such as Anko, Izumo and Kotetsu.
* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler:Zaku is literally disarmed by Sasuke]] in the Forest of Death, forcing them to drop out of the preliminary matches.
* ArrogantKungFuGuy: Sasuke's overconfidence played a key role in driving Sakura out of Team Seven, as he dismissed all of her concerns and accused her of 'holding him back'. In a way, he's right; without her around, his ego swells out of control, to the point that he brazenly assaults [[spoiler:her teammate Nanako]] in the streets when they reject his ''demands'' to fight.
* BigDamnHeroes:
** PlayedWith in the Forest of Death; while Lee and Team Ten still assist Kabuto in dealing with Dosu and his teammates, they aren't aware that [[spoiler:Kabuto was deliberately holding back the whole time]].
** During the Konoha Crush, [[spoiler:Team Eight]] arrives just as [[spoiler:Nanako]]'s last line of defense is about to break, with [[spoiler:Kiba and Akamaru plowing into Temari]]. The rescued ninja even observes that "I thought I was dead."
** [[spoiler:Shino]] goes on to save [[spoiler:Genma]] from succumbing to poison.
* CareerEndingInjury: Sakura's father sustained one to his chakra coils during the Third Shinobi War, severely limiting his abilities. While still able to perform jutsu, his chakra capacity was cut down to well below what average genin are capable of.
* ChekhovsGun: When deciding which summoning contract she wants to attempt, Sakura swiftly narrows it down to two candidates: the owls and the scorpions. The one she doesn't choose comes back into play when it's revealed that [[spoiler:Hinata]] took it up instead.
* CommonalityConnection: Following the Konoha Crush, Sakura and Shikamaru find some common ground in how both feel that [[spoiler:they didn't deserve to be promoted to chunin]].
* DeathByAdaptation:
** [[spoiler:The Sand Siblings' jonin instructor Baki]] dies shortly after the Konoha Crush begins, thanks to [[spoiler:Oujimaru fatally stinging him]].
** [[spoiler:Mebuki and Kizashi]] are among the casualties of the Konoha Crush.
* {{Foil}}:
** Shino immediately recognizes how Sakura has grown after their preliminary match, acknowledging her as a WorthyOpponent and treating her with respect. This contrasts sharply with how Sasuke staunchly refuses to acknowledge how Sakura has grown at all, and how Naruto doesn't really recognize it until Sakura takes him to task for his ignorance.
** While it takes a direct confrontation for Naruto to [[JerkassRealization realize his mistakes]], he immediately wants to address those issues and make amends. Kakashi, by contrast, immediately recognized how his poor decisions resulted in Sakura leaving Team Seven, but makes no effort whatsoever to reach out to his former student... and Sasuke, naturally, [[NeverMyFault refuses to admit he did anything wrong]] even when directly confronted with his mistakes.
* ForWantOfANail: The central premise: Sakura becomes Ibiki's apprentice before the Chunin Exams, resulting in her receiving a ''lot'' of training -- and a lot of pieces getting rearranged on the metaphorical shogi board.
** Despite Ibiki's initial intentions to let Sakura continue training under Kakashi, Hiruzen overrides him; this results in ''Kabuto'' filling the empty slot in Team Seven.
** Kabuto becoming part of Team Seven also means that his original teammates for the Chuunin Exams no longer enter. Sakura winds up entering the exams alongside Masato and Nanako, who partially fill in the vacancies.
** Without Sakura present to hold him back, Sasuke goes ''much'' further in the Forest of Death and [[spoiler:literally disarms Zaku]].
** During the preliminary matches, Sasuke faces Nanako, Kankurou faces Masato, and Sakura faces Shino. This results in [[spoiler:Sakura and both of her teammates advancing]], as well as [[spoiler:Ino making it to the next round via a free pass]].
** Following the preliminaries, Sakura signs a summoning contract with [[spoiler:the scorpions]]. This leads to [[spoiler:Baki becoming her first kill when he attempts to retrieve it from her]].
** While she still returns to the village, Tsunade refuses to serve as Hiruzen's successor, focusing entirely on taking over the hospital. As a result, [[spoiler:Nara Shikaku]] becomes the Godaime instead.
** [[spoiler:Sakura herself]] gets promoted after the Chuunin Exams and placed in charge of a new team; said team ends up running into [[spoiler:the Sound Four]], which inspires two of its members to start learning how to [[spoiler:fight with swords]].
** [[spoiler:Sakura is also]] put in charge of the Retrival Mission rather than Shikamaru, and assembles a team made up of [[spoiler:her teammates Shino, Nanako and Masato, plus Kiba and Hinata]].
* HopeSpot: From Kakashi's perspective, Sakura leaving Team Seven is just the first in a series of blows, as Jiraiya takes Naruto off to train for the third round and Kabuto is [[spoiler:revealed as a traitor]]. But hey, he still has Sasuke, and is able to teach him one of his signature techniques! ...Only for Sasuke to promptly use said technique in an attempted assault on [[spoiler:Nanako, a fellow leaf-nin]] in the middle of Konoha, further destroying both of their reputations.
* InSpiteOfANail:
** Even though Sakura didn't believe that Team Seven was ready to enter the Chuunin Exams, she still winds up participating with two different teammates: Masato and Nanako.
** Dosu and his teammates still harass Team Seven in the Forest of Death, much to Kabuto's surprise. Fortunately for him, Rock Lee and Team Ten [[BigDamnHeroes still intervene]].
** Many of the preliminary matches remain the same, including Lee facing Gaara.
** During the Konoha Crush, Shikamaru still accompanies the group pursuing Gaara, then splits away to distract the ten Oto-nin that were trailing them.
** Itachi and Kisame still attempt to inflitrate Konoha in the wake of the Konoha Crush, and face ''mostly'' the same opposition, with the addition of Ibiki.
** Despite having a very different opponent during the Retrival Mission, Jirobo hits the same BerserkButton he does in canon by insulting their leader, and faces [[spoiler:another DangerousForbiddenTechnique]] as a result.
* ItsPersonal:
** Though she recognizes that it's unprofessional, Sakura can't help drawing a little pleasure from seeing her ''former'' jonin instructor deal with the consequences of his actions and ''in''action.
** Baki takes Sakura's possession of the [[spoiler:Scorpion Summoning Contract]] as a personal insult, as it originally belonged to the first Kazekage. This spurs him to confront her directly in hopes of winning it back [[spoiler:and results in his demise]].
* NeverMyFault: Sasuke refuses to take any responsibility for his own actions, blaming everyone and everything else whenever things don't work out the way he wants. This includes BlamingTheVictim when he gets into trouble for [[spoiler:attacking Nanako with the Chidori]], insisting it was ''her'' fault for [[spoiler:refusing a rematch]].
* OriginalCharacter: Sakura enters the Chuunin Exams alongside two members of the Genin Corps: Shimizu Masato, a sensor-type, and Funai Nanako, Anko's personal apprentice.
* PrecisionFStrike: Sasuke yells "The fuck?!" upon being informed that he's [[spoiler:being reassigned to the Genin Corps while Naruto is getting an apprenticeship]].
* TakingYouWithMe: During the Retrival Mission, [[spoiler:Masato]] unleashes a variant of this through their [[spoiler:Fuinjutsu: Mutual Death Technique]], as it puts both the target and the caster [[spoiler:into a coma]].
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:
** Kakashi berates Sasuke for misusing the Chidori and going against his teachings:
--->'''Kakashi:''' Whilst those who abandon a mission are scum, and those who abandon a comrade are even worse, what does that make you, Sasuke? You are worse than those who are worse than scum. You're a traitor.
** Sakura hits Naruto with one of these when they run into each other for the first time in months and he promptly asks her out, showing how little he's changed:
--->'''Naruto:''' How about we go get ramen to celebrate? C'mon, it can be a date, now that you're not interested in Sasuke!\\
'''Sakura:''' I'm not your teammate anymore, Naruto, but you're still treating me the same as before.\\
'''Naruto:''' But Sakura, I--\\
'''Sakura:''' I left your team. I found a sensei who cared, I [[spoiler:made chunin]], I [[spoiler:became the captain of an actual team]]! I became a real shinobi, one just as capable as you or Sasuke, but you still have the fucking nerve to treat me like a trophy. Like something that you can just leave behind, only to compete for me in some one-sided competition against an asshole Uchiha who cares for nobody but himself! An asshole of an Uchiha who would, and has, turned on his own comrades because his little ego got hurt. Well let me tell you something, Naruto: I care as much about your and your fragile idea of a perfect Team Seven as I do the dirt I left Sasuke on lying on the last time he tried his shit. Team Seven was never going to work, because all three of you were too blind to see past your own idea of it. For Sasuke, it was a stepping stone. For Kakashi, it was a chore. For you, it was supposed to be like a storybook. I was supposed to be some damsel in distress for you to save, Sasuke your best friend and rival, Kakashi an actual mentor. But it didn't work out that way, so stop pretending I'm some weak, fragile piece of glass that can't handle herself. Otherwise, I won't be as kind to you as I was to Sasuke.
* TeamMemberInTheAdaptation:
** Kabuto replaces Sakura in Team Seven after she becomes Ibiki's apprentice.
** In the wake of the Konoha Crush, [[spoiler:Team Eight is disbanded so that each of its members can receive specialized training, with Shino joining Masato and Nanako as the newly promoted Sakura's subordinates in Team Three]].
* WhatTheHellHero: In the wake of the Konoha Crush, Kakashi berates Sasuke for how he used the Chidori against [[spoiler:Nanako, a fellow leaf-nin]], declaring that "I taught you that in the hopes you would use it for Konoha, not [[spoiler:against it]]."
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