A/N: Okay so I know this has been on hiatus for waaaaaay to long. I know I only said it would be for a 'little while' wow…how wrong I was. Well lately I've been trying to get into the right state of mind to write this and come up with the plot. You would believe how many different ideas I had while doing this. Also a very special shout to JuliaAbadeerSkellington. Seriously, I want to thank you so much for PMing me about this story. I don't know if I would even be writing this if it wasn't for you. Even all of the other amazing people who reviewed/favorite/followed this story. Thank you! And I'll continue this Author's Note after the chapter because it's already pretty long…
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto gosh dangit!
The Mansion
-Mission Briefing-
'THUNK ..THUNK ..THUNK' Each kunai hit their destination point blank. Sasuke smirked in victory as he turned to his blonde teammate. "Hn. I won. Now you have to shut up for one whole day." Naruto protested loudly. "Just by one millimeter! Come oooon redo!" He wailed while trailing the raven haired teen. "A bet's a bet. Urusai." Naruto was about to whine again when a feminine voice interrupted him. "I think you're going to have to hold off on that bet." Sakura shook her head at their antics. "Tsunade-sama needs to meet with us for a mission signing." Both males nodded and together they walked to Lady Tsunade's office.
When they got there, before they could knock, Tsunade told them to enter. "Hello Tsunade-sama, you wanted to see us?" Sakura said, sitting down in one of the chairs infront of said woman's desk. Naruto sat in the other one while Sasuke opted for standing. "Hai." Clearing her throat, the 5th Hokage began relaying the mission details to the three shinobi in front of her. "You three will be going to Kaminari no Kuni. The Land of Lightning. The name of the man who has requested this mission is Kuroyasha." Naruto and Sakura instantly blanched upon hearing his name. Sasuke frowned. "What's his last name." Tsunade's eyes slid over to the Uchiha leaning against the wall. "I don't know. He never gave me his full name." Sasuke nodded but this time it was Naruto who had a question. "Baa-chan, why aren't Kakashi-sensei, and Sai here?" "Stop calling me that, will you? They're each on their own missions and Kuroyasha specifically requested you three for this. Why, I do not know." All three teammates nodded. "You three will be guarding his mansion. It lies just outside of the village and apparently there have been sightings of rogue ninja and Kuroyasha fears they may be after his rare collectables. You three leave in the morning. Dismissed."
When they exited the tower, Naruto turned to his two teammates to get their attention. Sakura stopped midstride. "What is it Naruto?" She cocked her head to the side. "Ichiraku." Sasuke 'hned' and Sakura smiled apologetically at the hyperactive blonde. "Naruto, it's late and our mission tomorrow…" She trailed off hoping he'd catch on. But knowing him, he wouldn't. "For good luck guys! I mean, what if we don't make it back, huh? This could be our last get together." Naruto stated over dramatically. "Tch." Sasuke scoffed. "We're just guarding a mansion, dobe. It's not a life or death mission." Naruto wouldn't give up too easily. He kept babbling excuses and reasons for going to Ichiraku while Sakura rubbed her temples and Sasuke grit his teeth together in annoyance. "Fine Naruto." Sakura sighed. "We'll all have a bowl of ramen." "Woohoo!" Naruto took off at a full sprint towards said ramen stand. Sakura sweat dropped and tugged the Uchiha along behind her.
Naruto was already chowing down on his second bowl of miso ramen when Sakura arrived with Sasuke in tow. "'Bout time oo got ear!" He tried to say with a mouthful of noodles. "Dobe, chew with your mouth closed." Sasuke sighed. Sitting down, the two each ordered a bowl of beef ramen. Not long after, a steaming bowl was placed infront of Sakura and Sasuke. "Itadakimasu " Sakura cheerfully wished and began eating like the dark haired man to her right. In the midst of eating Sakura realized she wouldn't want to be anywhere else at the moment. Sitting there with her two boys at her sides, bickering about anything they could think of.
She could still remember the day Sasuke was brought back- more like drug back to Konoha by Naruto. It had all seemed to happen so quickly. Unfortunately he was put in jail for a week or so before his court date with the council. All members of team 7 defended Sasuke's case and somehow by the grace of Kami, the village council allowed him to stay in the village and continue being a shinobi. Even though it was nearly two years ago, Sakura still couldn't believe that Sasuke was back. And after that, Sakura couldn't help but notice her friendship with Sasuke was definitely better now that she wasn't constantly fawning over him and asking him on dates. He opened up to her more and treated her with an air of respect. Smiling thoughtfully, Sakura realized she'd finished her bowl. Standing up she stretched a little before turning to Sasuke and Naruto. "Well, I'm going to head home now. Long day at the hospital and I need to get packed up for tomorrow." Digging through her pockets she found the right amount of money to pay Amaya. "Ja ne!" She smiled and exited the stand.
Setting a slow pace she began walking to her apartment. Shivering as a chilly breeze swept around her, Sakura rubbed her hands up and down her arms in an effort to keep warm. Sensing a presence behind her, she stopped and turned slightly, observing her surroundings. Sighing with relief, she saw that it was only Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun, you startled me!" She laughed. "Hn." He grunted as he walked along side her. "Is there something you need?" She asked, turning her head to look to look up at the teen. "The compound is this way." He said. "I knew that." Sakura replied. "You shouldn't be walking alone at night." Sasuke's eyes slid over to her, watching for her reaction. Sakura frowned slightly. "I'm fine Sasuke-kun. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
They walked like that for a while, no one saying anything. Another gust of wind came through and Sakura fought the urge to shake. Despite her actions, Sasuke still saw. "Hn." She heard him grunt. Suddenly a big black lump was shoved into her face. With a curious stare, Sakura looked over to Sasuke who was still holding out the rolled up ball. Was he giving her his jacket? When did he even take it off? "Just take it." Sasuke shoved it into her hands. "A-Arigato, Sasuke-kun." Sakura slid the hoodie over her head and was instantly greeted with the smell of mint and pine. "Hn." "But what about you Sasuke-kun?" The last Uchiha shrugged. "Doesn't matter." They once again lapsed into a comfortable silence.
They finally reached Sakura's apartment. "Goodnight Sasuke-kun." Sakura smiled. As Sakura said that, she noticed a black figure dart into the shadows once her eyes landed on it. Sasuke noticed her eyes widen. "What's wrong?" He turned to look in that direction as well. "I could've sworn I saw someone, but…I don't sense any chakra." She thought for moment. "It was probably just a shadow from a tree branch swaying or something from the wind." Sasuke nodded. "Well, goodnight again Sasuke-kun." She turned and opened her door. "Hn. Night." Sasuke smirked and turned to leave. Sakura stepped inside and shut the door. She realized she still had his jacket on. Throwing the door back open, she tried to tell Sasuke to wait but found that he wasn't in sight. Sakura sight. "I guess I'll just give it back tomorrow." She muttered.
Sakura walked upstairs to her bedroom to grab a change of clothes. Walking into her bathroom she flipped on the shower and waited for the water to heat up. When steam collected on the mirror, Sakura pinned her hair up into a bun and undressed to step under the water streams. She scrubbed the dirt and grime from that day's activities off her skin. Once she was done, she turned the water off and stepped out and wrapped a towel around herself. She hurried and dried herself off and got dressed. She brushed her teeth and released her hair from the bun. She walked our of her bathroom and flipped off the lights, taking Sasuke's hoodie with her.
She was about to lay down when she remembered she had to pack. Sakura threw her pack onto her bed and when about her room packing the necessary items. She folded the jacket Sasuke lent her and tucked it in at the top of the bag. 'I can finally rest!' Sakura thought with glee. Sakura turned her bedroom light off and climbed into her bed, crawling underneath the mint green comforter to get warm. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out like a light.
Unbeknownst to her however, a tall dark figure sat perched at her windowsill peering inside. Smirking, it jumped off the second story window and landed gracefully on the ground in a silent crouch. The figure chuckled. "Yes, it's her. She's the one." Then, as if it was never there, it melted into the ground beneath it.
A/N: I am so pleased with this new version. The original story just makes me cringe. I already have the whole story planned out. Well, kind of. If any of you have any suggestions or requests feel free to tell me and I will do my best to incorporate them into this fic! I can already tell this is going to be fun to write. Review and tell me what you think! And just know that I'm trying desperately to make these chapters long. Just bare with me here.