A/N: Hi All! This chapter is a bit short but I felt like if I added on too much it would take away from the feel of it. So what I was planning to add on I'm going to make into its own chapter. As always, forgive me for any spelling errors. Now that I have to play "Adult" its even harder to stay up late writing because I have to get up early for work the next day. However...staying up late for this is totally worth it ;)

Enjoy :)

Ino scrunched her nose at the spot she aggressively wiped at on the kitchen counter. Pesky little fucker that spot was. She then licked her thumb nail, and began scratching at the spot with the tip of her nail. She smirked in triumph as she scraped the gunk away. She dusted the scrapes of whatever it was…off of the counter, and brushed her hands together; she made a clapping noise as she did to dust off whatever access dirt that clung to her.

"Ino?" The new slave in the Estate softy called as she walked around the corner into the kitchen.

"What is it?" Ino asked not looking at the other slave right away. When she brought her head up to give the slave her attention, she let an encouraging smile spread across her face at the young girl's shy stature. "Yes?" Ino asked, edging the girl to continue.

The slave blushed a bit in embarrassment but continued. "You're being asked for in the laundry room." She stated in a soft voice. "They are having trouble with a stain on one of the sheets." The young brunette finished. Ino couldn't help but roll her eyes, but then she laughed.

"Well I am the master stain remover." She said stretching her arms in the air. She then placed her hand on her hips and began to tell the younger girl that she would only be a moment when a voice interrupted from behind her.

"Tell them they have to handle the stain on their own." It said. Ino whipped around in surprise at the interruption. Kankuro stood there at the other entrance of the kitchen. He was leaning against one side with his arms crossed in front of him. He held his trademark cocky smirk and his eyes were staring straight at hers.

"The Master Stain Remover has another task that takes priority." He finished, humor glinting in his eyes. After realizing she held his stare for more than a second she immediately lowered her head in a bow in both respect and in apology for her hesitation.

"Y-yes, Master Kankuro. " The shy slave stuttered behind her. Ino winced a bit at the slave's response without Kankuro's permission. Arms clasped on her lap, Ino continued to keep her head lowered, she only hoped the new slave behind her did the same.

"You may leave now." Kankuro said. She then heard the light footsteps of the girl scurry out of the kitchen.. She let out a small sigh of relief. The girl at least waited until he relieved her before she exited. It made info feel relief herself that the young slave wasn't so clueless.

"So.." Kankuro said out loud "…Master Stain Remover…that's why my sheets always turn up clean, no matter what happens in my room, huh?" Still in the bow, Ino cringed her shoulders a bit at the title she gave herself. But her cheeks did not flush at what Kankuro was insinuating with his bed sheets. That kind of behavior no longer surprised her from any Master.

She heard his footsteps walk closer to her until she could see the top of his sandals as he stood in front of her.

"I guess I have you to thank for that?" Kankuro asked in a soft, but teasing tone. Again, Ino kept her head lowered. "Please enlighten me with answers to whatever stupid comments I throw your way today." She heard him say with an exasperated sigh.

"Yes, Master Kankuro." She answered respectfully.

"Good." He said, pleased. She watched his feet walk around her, she guessed for him to get a better look at her. "From what I've seen…" He said stopping behind her. "You're good at removing more than just cum stains from bedsheets." She unintentionally tensed as he placed his hand on her lower back. She quickly relaxed herself hoping he didn't notice her negative reaction to his touch.

She felt him lean closer to her until his breath just brushed against her ear as he whispered

"I saw that you were pretty good at removing…or more like healing wounds too."

She gasped and completely straightened her stance at his comment. She slowly turned her head to face Kankuro, knowing that now it did not matter whether or not she looked him in the eyes. He knew her secret. She was dead.

When her frightened eyes met his , his one brow was lifted in triumph, and he gave her an asymmetrical grin. He bit his lip, obviously enjoying the position he had her in, but softened his voice for her.

"Its alright."He cooed, rubbing small circles in her lower back. "Its a good thing." He said a bit cheery. She continued to stare wide eyed at him, trying to keep her breathing in a normal pace for her own sake. Her brows then lightly furrowed when Kankuro's expression switched from cocky and humorous to solemn as he moved his gaze from her eyes to her back. He trailed his hand from her lower back up her spine; spreading his fingers out as he reached the middle of her back.

"You'll be a a big help to Suna…" He said, his forehead creasing with some hidden turmoil "..thats the big picture to focus on."

Eyes still wide with mixed emotions from this interaction, she moved her stare away from him and lowered her head again. So she wasn't dead…that she could tell. But what the hell was happening?

I—I

"Sakura" The Kazakege called to me, bringing me out of my thoughts. I was standing behind him as I normally did while he filled out paperwork. He had his chair swiveled around to face me and was staring at me expectantly; waiting for a response to the question I hadn't heard him ask. My cheeks flushed, and I lowered my head.

"Forgive me, Lord Kazekage. I…I didn't hear you." I said softly. I heard the Kazekage stand up from his chair and take a step towards me. He placed his hand lightly underneath my chin, and as soon as he lifted my gaze up to him he met his lips with mine. My eyes widened a bit in surprise, but then closed as I leaned up more into his kiss. A delightful shiver ran down my spine as I enjoyed him. My eyes were still closed when he pulled his lips from mine. They slowly opened in sort of a daze to find him simply staring at me, a hint of a smirk on his lips.

Moments likes this were becoming more frequent with the Kazekage; yet even so, each time they equally caught me by surprise. I lived for these new moments we had together. It was in moments like this where I wanted to throw my arms around him and bring his lips back to mine, but I had to restrain myself each time. We were becoming closer, but our statuses did not…would not change. I needed to respect that.

He brushed a strand of pink hair behind my ear.

"Its almost time for your medical training." He said. "Which I wanted to speak with you about." I looked at him quizzically but nodded. He took my hand in his and guided me to his seat. I glanced at him before I sat down to confirm that was what he wanted me to do. He simply nodded. I sat in his chair a bit awkwardly…I mean it was the Kazekage's chair…I shouldn't be sitting here…

He sat, or more like leaned against his desk, his legs were crossed and his hands held the edge of the desk for support. He looked down at me and his eyes were serious.

"You are going to have other students join you today." He said. "Other slaves." He clarified. My eyes widened and my thoughts immediately went to the council meeting from a couple of days ago. They frantically jumped back and forth between the discussion of training slaves in medical ninjutsu, and Sasuke screaming in agony from the pain of his seal. I looked back up at him with wide questioning eyes and he simply nodded.

"Its a trial run." He stated in a monotonously. "The council ruled in its favor and I have to abide by the majority vote." He pulled his gaze away from me and stared out the window behind us. "We've taken a handful of slaves we were able to discover with some knowledge as a healer." He then glanced down at me from the corner of his eyes. "Like you." he said.

I felt my back straighten as I stiffened, but I lowered my eyes.

"Temari will be there to monitor the trainings while I attend to other matters of Suna." He said. "I thought telling you would be best so you would not be surprised when you walked in today."

My hands were clenched as they rested on my lap, my fingers tightly intertwined with each other. I was uncomfortable with the thought of these slaves being subjected to the seal. I felt sympathy rise within me for them until my breath caught in my throat at my next thought.

"Speak your mind, Sakura." He commanded in more a persuading than forceful tone.

"Will I…" I wanted to ask if was going to get the seal too? But I couldn't. I didn't want to hear him say yes. After how everything was going between us it would crush me if he would subject me to it. I would rather just find out when I got there.

"Will I see Sasuke there?" I asked instead. I figured that wasn't a bad question since he already had the seal, he may have been chosen to train with us. I kept my eyes lowered hoping he wouldn't see that my question was a diversion to what I really wanted to ask.

"No." He answered. "Councilman Yura has agreed for me to hold Sasuke for a couple of days to get a better understanding of the seal, but he does not wish for Sasuke to participate in the medical training." I nodded under the shield of my bangs and we were both silent for a moment.

"Sakura." He called. I winced slightly knowing he wanted me to look at him. I slowly brought my gaze to his, praying he couldn't see right through me. He was staring at me intently. "You may visit him tonight if you'd like." He said. I inwardly relaxed that he believed my earlier question, and that I now I also had a visit with Sasuke tonight. I felt warmth spread through my chest at his offer, and gave him a soft smile.

"Thank you, Lord Kazekage." I said genuinely. He nodded and held out his hand for me to take. I placed my hand in his and he guided me to stand.

"Come, I'll walk you to training."

I—I

With a peck on the forehead, the Kazekage turned and left to his other tasks of the day. I took in a breath, then walked through the medical ward to the back where the green room was. Once I entered the room my eyes widened. I was not surprised by the slaves in general; they stood there poise, waiting to follow the directions of Lady Chiyo who hadn't arrived yet. If I had to guess I would say the room was filled with about 20 slaves, so nothing unmanageable. Some had curiosity in their stare, some had fear they were obviously trying to hide, and the others had a simple blank stare straight forward. What caught me off guard was the bright blue eyes staring back at me, just as wide as mine were.

"Ino?" I whispered. Her expression then changed from surprise to understanding; the right corner of her mouth lifted slightly in a solemn smile.

"Even you, huh?" She said. There were dark circles under her eyes, she was drained that was obvious. There was also a nervous glint in her eyes that replaced her usual confidence. It was so unlike her that I immediatly stepped in closer to her, my brows furrowed in concern.

"What happened?" I asked. She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at me.

"What do you mean? You're in this room too so…shouldn't you know? It happened to all of us." She said gesturing to the rest of the slaves. I looked around the room and noticed some slave began shifting their gaze towards me.

"You're here to train in medical. I've been training here a few weeks but…I've never looked or felt like you do now. No offense." I added quickly at the end. She lightly chuckled and brushed her bangs away from her face.

"The seal Sakura, didn't that fuck you up? I mean having it placed sucked, but the testing afterwards was completely…" She trailed off as her eyes began to water. This was what Sasuke was talking about. What I saw in the council-room was apparently Sasuke taking the seal…fairly well…after years of having it I would guess. When I visited him later that same night he didn't have the looks of the slaves infront of me. I looked around the room again at all the dark eyes, and pale faces. As I looked closer I began to see the fear in even the most disciplined ones. I felt my chest cave in I as pained for them. I knew they would have the seal, but the affect it was causing already, I wasn't prepared for. Ino's back straightened at her realization, her eyes were wide and almost accusing?

"You don't have the seal." She stated. I lightly shook my and she turned away from me, staring straight ahead of her.

"Thats great." She said. "I'm glad you were spared." The words seemed forced. I reached out and placed my hand on her shoulder. She flinched, but then sighed and relaxed. She covered my hand with hers and gave it a squeeze before she looked back at me with apologetic eyes.

"I'm sorry, Sakura. I know that sounded like complete bullshit, but I can't help it right now. I'm honestly jealous." She admitted. I nodded at her in understanding and began to remove my hand from her shoulder, but she firmly held it there. I looked at her quizzically to find her gaze filled with sincerity. "I'll be happy for you another day, I promise."

I gave her a half smile. "I know." I said. She smiled back and released my hand.

The doors on the other side of the room opened, and in walked Lady Chiyo and Mistress Temari. We all straightened our backs in attention yet kept our gazes lowered out of respect.

"Well don't I have an interesting couple of weeks ahead of me." I heard Lady Chiyo mutter. "Temari, these slaves look exhausted, how do you expect them to focus in this condition?" Her tone was no-nonsense

Temari paused before she answered. "Well aren't slaves always exhausted? Just carry on like any other day, they're used to it."

"This is not household chores." Lady Chiyo said sternly "This type of training requires intense thinking; it needs a well rested mind to be able to tell the difference between an antidote vs a poison."

"Under the orders of the Kazekage the first day of training begins today; their minds rested or not. I will notify my brother of your concerns, but today you will have to just make do with what you have." Temari retorted back, her higher status spilling into her tone.

"Alright, alright." Lady Chiyo answered with nonchalance. "Orders noted. I'll start off with something small…Hmmm.. Sakura!" I stiffened at her sudden call of my name, but then bowed towards her in acknowledgment.

"Stand up and get over here." She said. I brought myself up from my bow and walked over to her. I normally did not keep my eyes lowered around Lady Chiyo, but I this time I did since Temari was there.

"Since you already pretty much know the basics, you'll be my assistant today. We are going to go over the more practical herbs. You know, the ones you can tell the difference of even if you had my elderly vision." She said with a small cackle. I bowed in understanding.

What an interesting few weeks we had ahead for sure. I thought.

A/N: Thats all for this chapter. I hope you noticed the I-I Page breaks I tried to insert. I had a comment that it was hard to tell when I transitioned from scene to scene. I actually thought this before too, and would put lines in between my scene changes. However, every time I would upload a chapter the lines would disappear, and I got so frustrated I just gave up. But I think this time it kind of worked, right?

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think! All reviews are welcome and read! 3