Sakura wasn't looking forward to part two of 'Just please let me explain myself'. She said her part and gave the information she deemed necessary. There was nothing else she could tell them, aside from her reason of feeling like she had no other place in Konoha any longer.

She kept a perfectly neutral face as the team was let into the office. It was just like one of the owls reported: one with bugs, one with long blonde hair, the one who attended the Summit, and one with dark, heavy chakra.

Very heavy chakra.

Sakura pulled on a placid smile like the one she used professionally. Kabuto stood at her right side, and Kisame sat on the window sill with his feet propped up on the desk and a sharp grin plastered on his face.

"Welcome to Otogakure." she greeted, "To what do I owe this visit?"

"There's an issue regarding psychoactive drugs." Shikamaru began. Sakura motioned Kabuto to have him seal off the room, "It's being smuggled into the village. There's a trail we're following and it leads right to you, and suspicion has been raised."

Sakura's eyes lit up mysteriously.

"What does the drug look like?" she questioned. He took out a small plastic bag with three dark purple tablets and placed it on the desk. Sakura took one glance at it before reclining in her seat and folding her hands in her lap.

"Give me three days." she said, "And I'll have something for you to report to Kakashi-san. I'll have accommodations set up for you until then."

Shikamaru nodded.

"Thank you."

That was supposed to be it. The meeting was meant to be short and sweet and this was going to be as peaceful as possible. It was fine. No one acted up. At least, no one should have. The team was about to take their leave when Sasuke abruptly turned around. He walked up to Sakura's desk and stared her down with blazing eyes.

"Fight me."

Ino grabbed his shoulder.

"Sasuke, what are you doing?!"

He didn't budge. He kept his glare locked with hers, getting more and more worked up when she didn't give the slightest reaction. There person who dared to defend that murderer hadn't even flinched at the challenge, merely tilting her head.

"Kabuto."

"Ma'am?"

Her eyes glittered.

"When am I free?"

::

Sakura walked more on the side streets of Otogakure as to not too much attention to herself. She waved and exchanged a few pleasantries with the people she passed on her way to the downtown area.

She recognized the drugs Shikamaru provided for her. They used to circulate in Otogakure when she first arrived, but quickly ended their production when she won that poker game the day Zetsu came for the month. She didn't know if it was the exact same substance, but she already made it top priority for them to be decoded at the labs. If the drug was in fact theirs, then she'd have to send spies out to track down the fool who tried to frame Oto for this new smuggling business.

A sigh slipped past her lips. She felt like something along this line would happen after revealing herself to the world. It had to be someone who didn't like her ascension to the current position of Kage. And right now, only one viable suspect came to mind.

Someone she wouldn't mind killing, really.

Sakura slowed her steps to a stop. She felt no need to turn around to see who had followed her all this way.

"Did you need something from me?" she questioned. Ino rubbed the side of her arm, eyes dropped to the side as she bit the inside of her cheek.

"Foreh--Sakura...s-sama. Could... Is it possible for us to talk? Just for a little bit, I promise I won't take up too much of your time." she said. Sakura could hear the quiet hurt in her voice and gave a silent sigh. Ino was one of the many people she didn't wish to hurt because of her decision. It was a ridiculous dream to think of an outcome like that, but she supposed she could use this time to tie together some of the bond she severely severed.

"I have some business at the moment. But I'll be available at about six. There's a shop called Bubble's Mochi at the west side. We can meet there."

Sakura didn't turn around once. Ino watched as she walked away, wondering-- hopelessly wondering-- how that little girl who was bullied because of her forehead had turned into... this. She didn't mean it in a bad way, it was just that Sakura was different now. Calmer. More easy-going.

Is... this was eight years does to a dead person?

::

Sakura stepped into one of the older bars, waving and going over to the small bartender. He was a man in his early thirties with a baby face, standing at 5'0" exactly and always having a bright smile on his face.

"Evenin', Sakura-sama!" he chirped, "He ta' see Aihara-san?"

"Mm. Keep an eye out, Akihito-chan?"

"Yes ma'am!"

She smiled before traveling deeper into the bar. Aihara Arata used to be the leader of one of the most prominent drug rings in the village. They met in the August near the mark of her two-year stay with a bet. He wins the poker game, she gives two million and leaves the gang alone. She wins, his dissolves his gang and turns over any and all drugs he has access to. She won.

Now Sakura wasn't going to rub that victory in his face, nor boast about the loss of his whole syndicate. Actually, she thought it would be too much to take all he ever worked for away from him. So she offered him a deal.

He would cease all illegal activity-- drugs, theft, prostitution, and others along the same road-- but would be able to keep the entirety of his gang, as long as he kept his primary allegiance under her. Aihara would still be a prime figure in the underground system and inform her of anything odd or suspicious, with her paying him for their services, of course. He would also still be able to take jobs as long as he had her seal of approval.

How could he refuse?

Sakura opened one of the back doors and stepped into the dimly lit room. There looked to be a whole other bar in here with rougher individuals and another bartender, Akihito's identical twin, Akihiro. He nodded once in her direction before continuing to clean glasses. She walked to the far corner of the secret bar to where Arata sat, clean cut and in a custom tailored suit. Every person she passed bowed their head in respect.

"Sakura-sama." Arata greeted, "It's been a while since you've come. Couldn't find the time to pay a visit to little ol' me?"

Her whole demeanor suddenly changed, taking on something darker as she flashed a teasing smile.

"Sorry that you don't enjoy the peace, princess. Luckily for you, something's come up. Your happy pills are back on the market, all over Konoha's streets turning baby habits into the real deal." she informed. He frowned.

"You've had all of them ever since we got batted out. You sure that no one's snuck into your inventory to take some bags?"

"Everything's there and accounted for. And from what I saw, they weren't blanks. Seller's probably making a fortune."

Arata scowled. He made the formula for those pills himself. Who wouldn't think he'd get ticked off for someone getting all the credit?

"I want you to find out what going on down there." she continued, "Every little detail, every person involved, and anything else that you might find interesting. Any of you get caught, I'll bail you out no big deal. I need this all in three days time, no later than five sharp. We clear?"

He sipped at his drink.

"How much?"

"A million in your hand tomorrow morning. And an extra five hundred thousand if no one's suspicious."

He smirked and shook her hand.

"Always a pleasure doing business with you, Sakura-sama."

Some people might call her interactions with black market members dirty, which was something Sakura had to scoff at. Eight years in a village used to thrive on crime really opened someone's eyes, especially if that someone had fought against everything to make the village as great as it was now. Nothing was pretty in this line of work.

She was a shinobi, for fuck's sake.

She couldn't get any dirtier than that.

::

Aihara Arata first appears in the chapter August in Otokage.

Also, I don't think I've mentioned this, but I really do appreciate all your comments! Any language or length, I read them all and you guys have really helped me to keep writing. So thank you!