Sakura's POV (Medical Ward of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Sakura's failure in the previous exam had burned in her mind intensely. She knew she could have been a better kunoichi. She was nothing in combat compared to Lee. But she had figured she could struggle and overcome things as they went, especially with the support of her teammates. Yet she had been outclassed by nearly every participant. She had been helpful in combat to some degree, but it wasn't enough. Was that all she was? A supportive member of the team unable to stand on her own merit? It had been easy to decide to play a supporting role on the team. Kiba and Lee were both quick and punishing close-range specialists. How else could she contribute with her meager chakra reserves? Gai had suggested it to her heavily, using it to slowly grow them, with the plan in mind to slowly develop her combat skills. Sakura had thought differently than him. Stiisls, who got her this far, would probably be best.
It was only now she recognized how stupid she had been. While her time to be promoted had gone, Sakura had been determined to grow anyway. Sakura had taken training with Lee in Taijutsu. It would be a waste of time and effort for her bombastic teammate, but it had already made her feel more substantial. Less fragile and helpless, now if someone attacked her, she need not worry about her only defense being meager genjutsu and intelligence. Well, somewhat, anyway.
Sakura shook her head as if to shake off such thoughts. She continued on towards the Medical Ward. The hallways between separate sections were sparse, scrubbed meticulously, and lightly colored gray. There were the occasional paintings of various famed Samurai and Land of Iron politicians. But they did little to give energy to the otherwise spartan hallways. Once Lee had been heartbrokenly defeated, Sakura decided to visit both of her teammates. Her grappling with her own defeat could offer her the wisdom to ease the pain of Lee and Kiba.
Sakura saw the entrance of the Medical Ward, a locked set of white double doors guarded by two armored Samurai. Seated to the right of the door was an old, bald, petite man in a simple yellow robe who sat at a simple table. On the said table were a clipboard and two weapon racks next to it.
"Hello, young maiden." The man said with a polite smile. "Are you here to visit or be admitted to the Medical Ward?"
"Visit, Sir," Sakura said with a small but not submissive bow. She had heard people of the land of iron respected manners and confidence. "I hope to see my teammates Rock Lee and Kiba Inuzuka."
"Very well, some minor things we need to discuss and do, of course." The old informed. "Firstly, it seems clear to me you are a shinobi. That is fine, of course, but some complications must be addressed. Firstly, we need access to your Shinobi ID number to verify your identity and have it on record of your visit. Secondly, we'll need you to vacate any weapons on your person onto the racks before you and consent to a search. No need to worry; we have a proud female Samurai who can do such." Said a female Samurai guardian at the door, who bowed at this. Finally, we will take down your name and the time of the visit. Is that all ok with you?"
Sakura affirmed such, offered her a Shinobi License, and removed the couple of kunai she always kept on her person. The search was done, and nothing was found. As that concluded, the man finished noting her details and nodded her on.
The halls of the Medical Ward were nearly identical to the previous hall, except the walls' top and bottom were striped red to indicate where she was. And if possible, it seemed only more spartan. Only nurses and doctors walked around on their way to tasks or paperwork. Doubtless, some of them had helped her teammates, so Sakura ensured to bow to each of them as a show of thanks before she arrived at Lee's room.
When she entered, she had expected to see Lee doing some absurd training. The young man had always seemed tireless and ever diligent. Something Sakura had grown to appreciate over time. One could hardly find a more reliable teammate than the faithful Nice Guy Rock Lee. Yet she was puzzled upon walking into the room and seeing Lee sitting calmly on his bed, facing the window. It was a grim sight, further enhanced by the white and sterile room. Perhaps he was still in pain?
"Lee? Are you ok?" Sakura asked gently. Being a teammate of Kiba had schooled Sakura in the school of male pride. Few could claim to be as proud as either of her teammates. As such, she knew to approach the topic of failure cautiously. Lee doubtless wouldn't snap at her; he seemed to lack such cruelty. But she would prefer not to offend the kind man if possible.
Lee didn't respond so deep in thought he was. Sakura saw this and resisted the urge to sigh. Lee had overcome much in his life, often due to factors outside his control. His new defeat, likely defeated before he could do whatever he had in mind, had only shamed and disappointed him more.
"Lee… you know you did well, right? I doubt too many could've done much to her." Sakura reasoned as she sat next to her teammate. Lee continued to stare out the window silently. Sakura could see Lee's eyes becoming watery, yet the proud man would likely not let a teardrop. Ironic since he cried openly nearly every day. "I mean," Sakura continued, recognizing Lee would not respond. "Fuu was absurdly powerful; she could fly and apparently is as tough as a mountain-"
"I appreciate you, Sakura; your wisdom is only matched by your beauty," Lee said simply. "But the others… Gaara… Naruto… Sasuke. They surely wouldn't have been defeated with such ease as I… I let you down, Kiba, and myself; I even let down Gai sensei." Lee replied sullenly. "If only I could've used my technique…"
"The gates tear your body apart. If you had accessed Gate Four or Five, maybe, but the cost…" Sakura replied sullenly.
"I had a different technique in mind… something Gai Sensei didn't teach me." Lee countered. "But it didn't work." Lee frowned, something Sakura couldn't claim to have seen often. He said no more, too down to force conversation. Sakura racked her brain before she decided on a method of cheering him up.
"Do you remember our first week as a team?" Sakura said, breaking the silence that had filled the room. "Gai Sensei had us running drills endlessly. Apparently, we needed bodies worthy of the shinobi we would become."
"Of course, I always listen to the wise words of Gai Sensei," Lee replied, seemingly confused.
"Well, only you could keep up with it when we started. Kiba did marginally worse, but I couldn't do it at all. Every day, twice a day, for two weeks, I would collapse well before the exercise was over. I almost quit being a kunoichi." Sakura explained with a small smile. "It seemed impossible; how could I ever keep up? The question seemed so obvious to me that I couldn't, but each and every time I nearly gave up, you and Kiba would help. Cheer me on, help me finish, support me the whole way."
Lee blinked, confused. "Of course we did; you are our precious teammate, " he confirmed.
"I remember at first I resented you two. Why did you both try so hard? Why were you both so much better than me? Yet as I struggled, and you two helped, and I overcame my previous limits, I realized something. Something I think Gai has been trying to teach us from the start." Sakura explained as she leaned her head against Lee's shoulder. She usually wouldn't do such, especially with Lee, who held his torch for her plain as day. But she trusted he would know she meant it as supportive instead of affectionate.
Lee was now not so down, distracted by the idea that he had yet to grasp a teaching. Was he indeed such a bad student?
"It's something you know, just have forgotten in the moment. Failure is merely a part of growth. It only is a true failure if we fail to learn a lesson." Sakura finished with a smile.
"Gai Sensei said that at our first meeting… he always says it. I see you are most youthful, Sakura." Lee said as he stood, his eyes containing some of the fire they had lost. Clearly, he was still down, but at least he seemed determined again.
"Thank you, Lee," Sakura said as she got up and walked to the door. "Let's go visit Kiba now, alright?"
"YOSH!" Lee yelled as the two marched on. They briefly discussed various topics, but they soon arrived at the door. Lee, ever the gentleman, knocked on the door and waited for Kiba's answer. Sakura frowned as a minute stretched over with no answer. She walked past Lee and opened the door herself. Unlike Lee's room, Kiba's room was somewhat destroyed. The bed was untouched; the walls and ceilings were torn as if a giant beast had been in the room. On the bed lay an emotionally miserable-looking Akamaru. Kiba was nowhere to be seen.
"Kiba? Did his Youth overcome him? Perhaps he went to train." Lee reasoned.
"That's something only you do, Lee," Sakura said. "Why isn't he here? What happened here?"
"My dear students! I understand you may be down, but fret not! Gai Sensei will ensure such misfortune will never befall you again!" Gai roared as he posed at the door. The alarmed Sakura and confused Lee met his gaze. Gai, perhaps by instinct, knew something was wrong. His gaze slid around the room, taking in the state. "Where is the youthful Kiba?"
"We… don't know," Sakura answered honestly.
Gai grimaced before his face became stony. "Sakura and Lee, both of you spread out and look for Kiba. We're not on home turf; he must be found. Otherwise, he may be in danger. Go forth with Youth." Sakura and Lee, rarely hearing such a severe tone from their sensei, raced off to do as he ordered.
Gai Sensei waited a moment before he, too, raced off. He couldn't help but worry that Kiba might need help.