Constant reassurance was helpful but she wouldn't dare rely on it like a crutch. 

That would be dangerous and reckless.

Things a ninja shouldn't be.

But cooking for someone was an area which she had yet fully explored. She was pretty confident about her ninja abilities but cooking was another story since different people liked different things. And even though the gesture itself was kind enough, she would hate to make something the man didn't care for, even if she couldn't have known otherwise. Sakura didn't often go around giving people baked goods, if she did and had outside feedback, she wouldn't be so uncertain but this was meant to be a gesture of good faith and she just wanted to make sure he wasn't being polite because he didn't want to hurt her feelings or anything like that. A teacher and student had to be honest with another and learn to trust one another as well. She gave the man a nod at his words, even though she hoped her second guessing hadn't been taken too heavily.

The last thing Sakura wanted to appear was insecure, as that was what she was trying to shed in the first place.

As well as get stronger.

[b]"Thank you."[/b] She said. Kakashi then went on to say that they both needed each other in a way. That certainly wasn't something the girl was expecting to hear from him. No one really needed her, except maybe her parents. It was true though, that she and Kakashi could benefit from one another, she had just never considered such a thing to happen. It was reassuring, in a way, to know that she wasn't a burden, that he was also hoping to gain something from their renewed alliance as well. [b]"Ah...yes, you're right. I believe we can help each other."[/b] When Kakashi Sensei put it like that, she didn't dare refute him. Looking down at her own lunch, she got comfortable and also began to eat, almost wanting to apologize for her rambling but her inner self forced her to just keep her mouth shut and move on. Her mind thankfully, wasn't too wrapped up in what had just happened, so she was already vaguely sensing something amiss...yet she couldn't figure out why.

The notion that the pups could still sneak up on her, even now, hadn't crossed her mind. She cast a glance toward Kakashi and went back to her lunch as they sat under the tree's plentiful shade. [b]"That is true but I'd also like to figure out my weaknesses and improve those."[/b] She pointed out to him as she closed the lid of her lunch just as she heard something behind. She turned her neck just in time to see a dog coming at her. Sakura didn't vocally react, but instead aimed her chopsticks at it right before it could snap at her arm, thus biting the wooden utensil instead. That was very close. [b]"I have something better for you to snack on..."[/b] She said and reopened her lunch and set it aside for him. She wasn't fond of her chopsticks or her arm being eaten and she wished she had picked up on the ambush sooner, still, she acted which was better than remaining fully oblivious. 

The rest of the afternoon was spent training. A lot of it was dodging and performance while moving around and reacting.

At the end of the day, they parted ways and Sakura was much closer to fully perfecting the jutsu, just as Kakashi had said.

When morning came, she made the lunches, changing a few things slightly before she headed out the door, her body not as worn out as the first day. With luck, she was sure she would be used to everything at the end of the week. As she walked along, she passed Ino who was filling in at the flower shop. Ino mentioned getting more hours at the hospital alongside with more training and Sakura then had her own chance to brag about learning a cool water jutsu that was pretty amazing. Sakura promising to show Ino sometime before she continued to head for the training ground. Before she could actually arrive however, she felt someone take hold of her shoulder and she spun around. Out of habit, she was ready to smack Naruto for getting to close, but those days were behind them now. And Naruto was gone.

[b]"Oh...good morning, are we still on for training...?"[/b] She asked when she saw the person was Kakashi. He quickly informed her that he had been speaking with Tsunade about an important mission and that he wanted her to come back and discuss it with the Hokage herself. Sakura cocked her head to the side, not sure why she was needed. Part of her hoped she could go on a mission but she knew not to get her hopes up so easily. [b]"Sure."[/b] She replied simply and walked back with him towards the heart of the village. Another part of her worried she was in trouble or something like that. The sun was shining brightly and on their way, she kept looking around, not sure if anyone of the dogs were watching them. By now, Sakura had indeed learned the lesson to be very very vigilant. [b]"Ino mentioned this morning, that Lee's recovery is about over and that he was sent on a mission recently with Gai, I guess that explains why it's so quiet and why I don't see them running laps as usual."[/b] It was good see life move on after the attack Orochimaru had launched on Konoha.

Since then, so much had changed.

And Sakura was determined to also change, for the better.