So I realized I haven't updated… I am having difficulty with the second half of this chapter so I am going to post this part and work out the rest later. So this is shorter than I wanted.

Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 4 Part 1

Moving as fast as she could through the slow moving mass of people along the main road of the capital. As soon as Madara had tossed over the coins for her own room, Sakura had grabbed her room key and headed out. Her job was to make sure that the elders made it from point A to point B and back, alive. No more no less. If she stayed any longer with the creepiest man on earth or the squabbling married couple; heads would roll. Hers especially, as her entire mission would be ended due to her own actions.

Sakura pivoted on her heel slipping through a gap that was closing between a slow moving group of elderly women, and a group of teenaged girls that had randomly stopped in the middle of the street. Sakura overheard one of the old woman made a pleasing comment to her friend about Sakura's hair color, bringing a small smile to Sakura's face. That was how old people were suppose to act. Kind, slow moving, and adorable. Mayuri could learn a thing or two and it would make the shared room experience much better.

The flow of traffic in the street slowed in the intersection. Sakura took the time to consider her options. Where would the library be? Is there even the concept of a public library? It was too late to go back to the inn and ask someone. When Sakura had left, she simply informed Madara she was going to look around, and left without waiting for permission. Going back only might give him opportunity to tell her to stay.

Looking around the crowd she spotted a nerdy looking man about her age with books tucked under his arm trying to push his way towards the street on her right. He was headed away from an outdoor market so hopefully he was headed towards a public library, census office, university, or at least a very well stocked room of books.

Changing course Sakura kept next to a heavily ladened wagon on the opposite side of the street. The wagon moved slowly but it was fine as the man got trapped as the flow of people slowed to a halt. She laughed to herself watching the man start in multiple directions only to stop his face turning red with frustration. Where was he trying to go in such a hurry? The lanky man began hopping trying to look over the heads of the people in front of him to see why everyone had stopped.

Slightly ahead of him now, Sakura was at a better angle to see what it was. Her eyes widened and she gasped, contributing to the low murmur of people around her. The street ahead was parted only a trickle of people circling around a group of unsavory looking men who was facing a tall woman with long pale blonde hair, her back to Sakura. Raising an eyebrow Sakura wondered what exactly was she witnessing. A hold up? Ex-lovers getting ready to argue? Was it a pimp getting payment from a prostitute? - The terrible gossip in her was anxious to see how this jucy scene would unfold. The woman's figure looked quite good - a little on the willowy side - but she was probably beautiful enough to make it as good as any of the soaps she was missing in her time.

From this distance Sakura couldn't make out if either party were talking so she pushed forward through the crowd. Yes, she needed the library; but it wasn't like a library could be broken up at anytime by the police. The one on the far left withdrew a dagger and took a threatening step forward, causing those around to gasp in alarm. The woman drew up a slim shoulder in a defensive action. Well, that escalated quickly, thought Sakura, a bit off put that she had missed their verbal sparring.

Bending quickly in a crouch she channeled her chakra, leaping up and over the remaining group of people in front of her to land between the woman and the armed man. Her feat of athleticism caused the spectator to murmur and gasp again. By any of her peers standards it wasn't that amazing, but it was nice to be complemented. If only they fought more often around common people, Sakura could get compliments all the time. Well, she knew why they didn't, but wouldn't it be nice.

Lifting her hands in placating manner Sakura spoke, "This is enough, let us all leave and take a breather why don't we. Cool our heads." Sakura made sure she was between them and the woman. She heard someone behind her scoff but didn't turn around.

"Girly, I don't think you know exactly what you are getting into." The man in the middle, a beefy looking man whose nose look like it had been broken at least more than twice. "I think you, should turn around and walk away."

Sakura bared her teeth in a snarl.

The man shrugged, "It is your choice to be involved. But please understand - when you lose we will take," He paused for dramatic effect. "Everything…"

Sakura rolled her eyes, then lunged at the man on the far left, who had clearly put his weight too far back into his heels. He was the only one who was clearly armed, his knife dropping as he feel to the ground. Sakura did not even let it touch the ground before she snatched it up. Rolling to her feet, she fluidly threw the new knife at the man on the far right hitting him in the shoulder of his dominant arm. Using the momentum of the throw she somersaulted forwards and pushing the pressure points of the man she had tackled to make him fall unconscious.

Two out of the way her odds were much better. However the red faced man was ready when Sakura charged at him. With surprising agility for a man his size he sidestepped her and just as surprisingly slammed an elbow into her back. Sakura cried out as her muscles seized from the blow, and fell to her hands and knees. The man let out a bark like laugh and grabbed her by the back of her neck pulling her up and jabbed her in the stomach. She cried out and sagged back down to her knees. This was not turning out like she planned. It was turning out quite embarrassing actually. She had started this fight too cocky and at these hooligan's level. Now disadvantaged, she needed to pull herself out of this mind game and actually perform at the caliber expected of herself.

As the man slowly circled her, the murmurs of the crowd around her were drowned out by the deep laugh of another man somewhere behind her. Once again back on her feet she turned to glare at whoever thought this situation was funny, only to be shocked to see that it was the woman. Well… who she had thought was the damsel in distress. Sakura felt her jaw drop slightly at seeing the what she could only describe as the most beautiful man she had ever seen. Beatiful, much more beautiful than her, but clearly a man.

Controlling his laughter, his beautiful lips raised in a smirk (which she had to grudgingly observe was just as beautiful as the rest of him). "And I thought you were here to rescue me. I must say you are doing a lousy job of it."

"Shut it, Yamanaka. I will get to you soon." The man interrupted.

The Yamanaka clan member rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. "Oh well then - please continue by all means" He said sarcasm dripping from his words. His voice is surprisingly deep, Sakura thought to herself before focusing her attention to the thug. She needed to end this fast, she had already embarrassed herself and her skills. In front of a ninja clan member that they needed to try and convince to join the village no less.

Wasting no more time she took two measured steps, closing the gap between her and the thug. His dark eyebrows lowered and quickly wiped his arm back and punched towards her face. Sakura grabbed his fist crushing it with her enhanced strength. Keeping her grip on his hand she hit his clavicle with enough force to push his body back. However as she still held onto his arm he only whipped back, the force dislocating his shoulder with a loud pop. His resulting cry and groan was either due to his injured hand, the bruise that was probably quickly forming near his chest, or his dislocated shoulder. Sakura didn't care, she was done with this embarrassing fight and she smiled as she dropped her grip. The man groaned as he slumped first to his knees then rolling onto his back clutching his arm.

"How boorish." The Yamanaka sighed behind her. Sakura turned and glared at him.

"You would think for someone who I just saved - you would be a little more thankful." Sakura bit back. "Besides I thought you were a woman that needed help."

The Yamanaka raised an impossibly dainty and slim eyebrow. Did he manicure those? "And here I thought the same of you. " He chuckled.

That raised her blood pressure, his taunts were almost worse that Ino's. It must be genetic. Gnashing her teeth together she took a threatening step forward. The Yamanaka continued ignoring her anger. "Are you always so harsh against your own sex? Women can't protect themselves?" He inhaled, making a disapproving noise through his teeth. "What archaic opinions you have. You think as brutishly as you fight."

She realized then how she sounded but as her anger and embarrassment rose Sakura could barely form words. "You- I was- You didn't understand-" Sakura struggled to express herself, stamping a foot in a juvenile manner, but the man simply interrupted.

"Utterly insightful, truly." He snapped open a fan he had produced from inside his blue robes. "As entertaining as it is to see you try form a complete sentence I have much more meaningful things I must get to."

"You aren't even going to thank me? If anyone has a lack of manners..." Sakura trailed off threateningly. She was angry but didn't know where to go with her taunt. Sakura was just not good at coming up with insults on the spot, if he only gave her thirty minutes.

He twisted his long blond hair over a shoulder and smiled at her with a feral grin. A look unfortunately did not diminish his overall beauty. "Eloquent." He taunted. Sakura let out a growl not caring anymore, and was about to lunge when armed soldiers pushed through the crowd around them.

"Halt. What is going on here?" Came the muffled command of one of the city guards.

Before Sakura could formulate a response the Yamanaka clan member stepped towards the men regally. "Oh thank goodness you are here." He raised a hand to gesture at Sakura. "Those men on the ground around us were threatening that unfortunate looking young woman right there. Prostitution I think - the dear must have been desperate."

She felt a vein on her forehead throb in anger.

"Thank you Yamanaka-san. You and your clan have always cared for this city and it's citizens." The captain gestured for his men to begin arresting the thugs who were sprawled around Sakura. "And always so generous to the unfortunate - it is truly noble of you." The captain continued. Was he flirting? Sakura wondered as she watched the Yamanaka smile charmingly at the captain. It almost seemed so.

"I would suggest captain, that you take her in too. I think she needs a bit of mentorship to get her off the unfortunate path that she was about to follow till I stepped in."

The captain nodded. "Thank you again Yamanaka-san, you are truly generous."

One of the captains subordinates grabbed Sakura by the arm. She tried to tug it out but he held his grip. Looking up at the Yamanaka clansmen she shot him a glare while he chuckled to himself and disappeared into the crowd.

"Ma'am please come with us." The man holding her commanded adding more pressure to her arm. Sakura sighed and relented, this was not going well. They escorted her through the remnants of the crowd. jockeying her between them it took all her self control not to roll her eyes. The sass wouldn't help their already low opinion of her.

The group of old women she had passed earlier had finally caught up. Still chatting away, walking side by side taking up most of the street. The policemen stopped her and stepped in front of her, to the side to let them pass.

Seeing her chance she seamlessly created a clone and modified her appearance enough so that someone not looking closely would see a little old lady. They didn't even notice as the clone followed the two lug nuts silently and the real her went the opposite direction. She kept the agonizingly slow pace of the grannies, periodically checking over her shoulder until the police and her clone disappeared in the crowd. Sakura knew her jitsu would last only a few minutes, if that.

Embarrassed Sakura dropped the illusion and picked up her pace. She only wanted to increase the distance between her and everyone she had met in the last hour. She only made it a few meters before stopping in the middle of the street her eyes meeting the dark eyes of Madara.

Shit.

Thanks for reading! Hopefully this second part will come up soon…