The wind blew strands of pink hair whipping it back and forth in the dark. The hair seemed almost fluorescent compared to the darkness of the forest and the figure's outfit.

In one moment the hair flashed in one spot, and somewhere else in another. The behavior continued without pause and never in the same spot. As the figure continued, the first lights of dawn broke through the horizon, framing the large wooden and stone gates of home.

With an almost inaudible sigh, the figure quickened her pace through the tree trops and stopped abruptly in front of the closed gates. With a gentle, but firm knock, the figure, decidedly feminine in the morning light, waited patiently for the door to open. Almost immediately, a guard with dark, disheveled black hair opened the door, and after a quick chakra scan of the figure, smiled. As she passed him through the small hidden door he came out of, he said, "Welcome back, Sakura."

With a soft, tired nod she replied in a low voice, "Thanks Kotetsu. Please tell Tsunade-shishou that I'll give her my mission report later in the afternoon."

Realizing she did not want to be bothered by mindless chatter right now, Kotetsu replied with a nod and wished her some well-deserved rest.

Sakura transported home with her remaining energy and collapsed onto bed without changing out of her clothes. She only paused momentarily to take off the mask covering her face. Breathing in the clean scent of her sheets, she allowed herself to fall into a deep unconsciousness to rejuvenate her depreciated energy and chakra levels.

Nothing like home sweet home.

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For this new story, I'll be updating in smaller intervals making it easier for me to update! Thanks! Hopefully I can use a more mature style of writing compared to my previous story.