Author's Note: This is my first story that I am posting online. I am very pleased, to say the least, that I am now posting such fanfiction here. I hope you enjoy and feel free to review with any sort of comments.
Disclaimer: Naruto characters do not belong to me, but the story plot does. Thank you.
Chapter One
Slowly, she cracked open her eyes. The morning rays filtering into her vision blinding her momentarily. She narrowed her eyes abruptly and tried to focus. She gathered her chakra from the soft center of her being and let the silk-like energy flow through the pathways in to circulation. Her blood warmed and she began to mold the chakra in her hands slowly.
Closing her fists, she dispersed her chakra letting it rest. Lazily, she unraveled her legs from the blankets, leaned her head back, and arched her back like a feline awakening from an afternoon nap. Her toes curled and uncurled, her muscles tightening and unclenching. Opening her eyes, she lifted her head from the green pillow and pushed herself into a sitting position. Blinking with calculating eyes, she studied her living quarters and listened to the chirping of the birds. She gazed from her bed at the clock perched above the desk across the room.
Reading at six fifty-seven, she watched as the hands shifted and the clock ticked. Glancing at her scroll covered desk, she sighed. Shifting her body around, she placed her feet on the floorboards. The coolness finally running up her legs into her body. She stood slowly as to avoid becoming dizzy, the floorboards creaked and she winced.
If there was a being in my apartment, they would know I was here for sure, she thought.
As quietly as she could, she paced out of her room into the hallway. Taking a quick, sharp turn she entered her bathroom. There she ran her hands through her soft, pink tresses and gazed into the person staring back at her.
I look like shit, she thought staring at the purple bags under her eyes, and the grease in her hair.
Closing the door she stripped down, throwing her white nightgown into the hamper by the edge of the counter. Having no chest bindings on, she slipped out of her underwear throwing it with the nightgown. Quickly, she went to the shower, pulled the curtain aside, and grasped the nozzle. Adjusting it to a warmer temperature, she entered slowly letting the water cascade down her body.
After her shower, she looked in the mirror. Refreshed as she was she still felt a sort of nagging sensation. Pushing aside everything else, she reached under the counter and grabbed a towel. Tightly wrapping it around her petite, lean frame, she opened the door and exited the bathroom. She grabbed new bindings as she reentered her room, and walked to her closet.
Gazing at her wardrobe, she disregarded her chest bindings in favor of a long-sleeved fishnet shirt. Slipping it over her head, she pulled the shirt down and over her breasts comfortably in place and unrestricted. Quietly, she slipped on baggy, black sweat pants that just went past her knees. Pulling her hair out of the way, she pulled on a green Junín vest and zipped it up to the valley between her vests. Walking back to her desk, she located her black fingerless gloves and strapped them on.
Stretching her fingers, she grabbed her kunai pouch and strapped it around her right leg. Grabbing some senbon needles, she scurried to the kitchen all the while hiding the needles in her hair. Once in the kitchen she proceeded to gather fruit. Glancing at another clock, she finished eating her fruit, savoring the sweet taste of strawberries. Quickly, she headed to front door of her apartment, slipped on her traditional sandals, and left her tiny apartment, locking the door.
Pushing herself faster she ran down the stairs and stopped at the street. Bustling by, she pumped small amounts of chakra into her feet. She had a summoning from the Hokage, and wished not to offend her former sensei by being late.
Such was the daily routine of this said shinobi. She had grown since her genin days and was no longer the naïve child at the age of thirteen. Now, five years in the making, she had surpassed her sensei, one of the great Sanin and the current Hokage, and now was a special Junín. She usually worked in the hospital, but occasionally would go on a mission of various rankings. Not only did she grow in strength and intelligence, but physically. Standing five foot five inches, she was lean. Her skin stretched over taunt muscles and was slightly tanned from her training outside. Her forehead was no longer huge and excessively large and she possessed a small button nose that drew down to supple lips.
Shifting her gaze up she climbed the steps of the Hokage Tower, stopping once to greet a fellow officer. Reaching the large oak door, she paused to knock. After hearing a 'come in', she opened the door to look at her old sensei.
"Tsunade-sama seems you have yet to complete all those mission statements." She said teasingly with a glance at the hordes of scrolls on the large desk.
The busty blonde glowered up from her work straightening slightly, "Blame it on Shizune. She's the one who took the sake away."
Tsunade looked at her with identical eyes of mirth and called her forth with a wave of her hand. She stared with brown eyes as her once pupil started forward and stopped in front of her desk. Tsunade leaned back in her chair, bringing her hands together.
"Sakura."
Sakura stared forth, her face still, and it reminded Tsunade vaguely of a porcelain doll she seen at a shop front the other day on her way to get the sake. Such a shame Shizune found it.
"Yes, ma'am."
"In the summoning, I mentioned you'll be sent on a mission, correct?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes cautiously.
"Hai." Sakura recalled the scroll she left open on her desk.
Tsunade carefully analyzed Sakura.
"I will be sending you on a two week long mission to Kiro no Kuni: the land of Mist and Fog." Tsunade gazed at her quietly for a moment, "Understand that this mission is top ranked, first priority. You will be heading over to heal a political leader called Hiroshi Diacho. He is in good standing with the Lord there and I would appreciate if we can forge an alliance."
"So I will be reinforcing diplomatic strengths, in other words." Sakura asked balancing herself on her feet.
"Yes. Now be prepared to leave as soon as possible. I want you out of Konoha by the end of the day." Tsunade stated rubbing her eyes, she said, "Be prepared for anything. Akatsuki has yet to be found and eliminated and there are many who wish for us to not excel."
"Hai. Sensei, I shall leave as soon as I am prepared. Will I be leaving with a team or a partner?" Sakura leaned forward slightly, inclining her head.
"Just by yourself. No team, no partner, no help. I trust you to complete this mission with a success." Tsunade straightened her aching back, reaching for another mission statement.
Sakura, taking this as a dismissal, turned on her heel and started to mentally note all possibilities and supplies she would need. She dared not to miss something as important as this was. She knew how long it has taken Konoha to come to good terms with the Land of Mist and Fog. She wished not to destroy such a new and unstable relationship.
"Oh, and Sakura?"
Sakura stopped at the door, her hand resting on the knob. Turning her head, she watched the Hokage over her shoulder.
"Be safe." Tsunade said, worry evident in her face, but not in her voice.
"Hai." Sakura let a small smile lift her lips and shifted to take her leave.
Sakura closed the door quietly behind her and began, with a steady pace, back home. As she made her way down the steps of the Hokage Tower, she took note of the stirring of the citizens. Even at such an early hour, Konoha was starting to bustle with activity. Shop keepers began setting up shop, and early risers began their routine exercise. She watched as some citizens jogged together or offered each other some assistance with regularly hard tasks. She smiled.
What a wonderful home, she thought, how wonderful indeed.
Sakura once again dragged her focus back to her current situation. She trudged down the many steps quicker this time, recalling her new task.
A two week mission to a possibly savage village with nothing more than a small meager chance to enforce a potential alliance, she thought shaking her head, this is going to be hard.
The journey would be rough. Having to cross most of Fire Country and dangerous waters, she began to plot her own route. She would head toward the coastline and catch a ferry across the sea to the small island. From there she would travel across two unstable borders, and catch another ferry to Mist.
Quickly, she was snapped out of her thoughts when she felt a small nagging in the back of her mind.
Chakra, she thought.
Hurrying, she pumped chakra into the soles of her feet and pushed forward, the wind grasping her long hair. She leaned forward to give her a bit more edge, and dodged a well aimed kunai. Twisting, the kunai barely grazed her hair. Sakura growled low. Before she knew it, she had produced a kunai in her hand, the cool metal calming her rage. She began to think. Kunai came from the right. Glancing, she noted the chakra signature had vanished.
Her eyes wandered up the wall, and then back in front of her. The air stilled, it almost became suffocating. She slowed down the chakra flow to her feet, and focused on finding where the chakra signature last came from. Scanning quickly, she quieted her heart's loud thumping. The air shifted, as did she. She listened to the sharpness of the air, and the whizzing as another projectile was launched at her.
Dodging, she pushed herself from the step, leaping into the air from the Hokage Tower steps. From the left! she thought erratically. She turned her body midair toward where the projectile came from and saw a moving figure, a dark splash against the gold morning hue. Quickly, she aimed her kunai and flung it. Landing on her feet in a crouched position, she stilled her body. A smirk crept onto her features.
"Kiba, you'll have to try better than that." Standing from her crouched position, Sakura shifted her weight to her left leg.
Laughing, he landed not too far from her. He stood slowly, his eyes glinting in the sun light. His teeth protruding slightly over his lips, he laughed again. Shaking his head, he grinned at her. He stretched his fingers, clenching them again.
"I'm just testing to see if you'll be able to handle me," he laughed, his brown hair ruffled by the wind.
She laughed out right, and draped her right arm down the length of her right leg. Her smirk widened as she watched his eyes trail her movement. Startled, he let his eyes glide back up the stretch of her body to her face and then grinned, his taking on a predatory glint.
"Come on, Kiba. You know I'm the one who should be testing you." She laughed tilting her head, "Besides, you know I'm not that interested in just casual sex."
His face dropped, his grin dropping to a frown. A thought occurred to him, and he once again was grinning.
"But it won't be just casual. It would be so good; I'll have you begging for more." He stepped forward.
"I'm not some dog that can be trained, Kiba." She turned to the side, and went to begin descending the stairs, when she was suddenly stopped.
Kiba flung himself at her in a blur, pushing her body into the wall. He growled lowly, and trapped her in between his arms. Sakura leaned into the wall, keeping her body from touching his solid built one. His open jacket brushed the sides of her legs as he leaned his face closer to her. Her breath hitched as she gazed into the intensity known as his eyes.
"What about that one night? What about that one kiss?" Kiba growled softly.
"It was my birthday. Naruto had just come home. I was drunk." She reasoned, trying to ignore the warmth of his body heat. "Besides, it was just one kiss."
"You can't tell me you didn't enjoy it. Admit it. Admit that it was an intoxicating kiss. Admit that you want to do it again." He leaned in further, his lips close to hers.
She studied his face, his eyes half-lidded, his mouth slightly parted as he panted, and how the red paint was a splash of color dripping down his cheeks to his jaw. Her breath hitched again in her throat. She was drunk that night and just wanted to have fun. She wanted nothing more than to watch such delicious men, such as Kiba and Neji. She did. She wondered if they would taste as good as they looked. And she found out.
"I will repeat again. I was drunk." She sighed, "I have to go. We'll play this game of yours when I come back."
He growled louder. Pushing himself away from her as though he was burned, he turned to leave. She leaned forward slightly, but kept herself close to the wall in case he had something in store for her. He stopped and she grew anxious waiting. He growled again and looked over his shoulder at her.
"It's not a game, Sakura, fucking is not a game. " He hissed through clenched teeth.
Her temper flared. It grew in her chest until she couldn't contain it. She clenched her fists tightly, her teeth practically grinding together.
"Then what is it?" She tightened her muscles and said, "What the hell is sex?"
"It's a conquer."He growled with so much venom she was sure he would be spitting acid.
Her temper flared to life again, and before she could retort back, he leaped from the steps off into the streets. Good, she thought, just where that flea bag belonged. She clenched her fists, and pumped chakra into her feet once again. Running she bound over the steps and onto the rooftops on her way back to her apartment.
--
By the time, she reached her apartment the streets were bustling with life. The once cold, empty streets were now crowded and filled to the brim with people. She glanced around the people and watched with smiling eyes the trades the people practiced. She squeezed through the throng of people to the steps of her apartment. Already pulling her keys out, she shuffled up the steps to avoid being called upon. But to her dismay, she already had been.
"Sakura-chan!"
Hunching her shoulders down, she sighed. But then she smiled. Naruto was exactly what she needed to brighten her sour mood. Quickly, she turned her body just in time to be entrapped in the blonde's arms.
"Naruto!" She laughed patting him on the back almost awkwardly.
"Sakura, I missed you! The mission was so long and boring, I thought I would never see you again!" He cried out, finally releasing her.
She laughed softly, "Naruto, you just miss the ramen."
He seemed to think for a moment on it, scratching his head, and then his bright cheery smile filtered into place.
Just where it belongs, she thought smiling up at him. Gosh, has he grown.
He was practically a head and a half taller than her now. And he grew into his face. The whiskers on his cheeks, the strong bone structure, his gleaming blue eyes, it all seemed to fit him.
I would have it no other way.
"Well, I did. I think the ramen just a bit more so than you." He laughed.
Faking anger, she lightly punched him on the arm and he squealed and laughed. She shook her head and opened the door. She looked at him and he gazed back his eyes soft.
"Want to come in?" She gestured, opening the door further.
"No, I promised Hinata that I would take her to get something to eat. I just wanted to stop by and say hello. You know, see how you are doing." He smiled.
Narrowing her eyes, she scolded him, "Take her somewhere nice! And make it your treat! Pay for her, and don't be cheap and get her ramen."
He chuckled and turned a bit to the side.
Waving he said, "It's our one year anniversary. I'm not that slow!"
Before she could them him that he wasn't slow, he ran off waving behind him. He almost ran into a civilian and apologized profusely. Laughing softly, she entered her apartment shaking her head.
Locking the door, she slipped into her bedroom. Grabbing a traveling pack, she scurried around the house picking up essential items that she would need for her two week trip. Soap, check. Toothbrush, check. Hair brush, check. Extra clothes, check. She stood still thinking about what she could possibly be missing. Oh! She thought. She grabbed a few of her scrolls, and a few blank scrolls to jot down anything important on her travel. Smiling softly, she zipped up her traveling pack, having already placed her medical bag in her pack.
Scanning her apartment, she locked all the windows, closed the curtains and quietly left. Making sure to lock the door, she hurried out. Pushing herself, she headed toward the main gate being extra careful as to not attract any unwanted attention to her. In what felt like no time, she reached the main gate.
"Genma, it's always a surprise to find you here." Sakura said, stopping in front of the guards.
He laughed around his senbon, he moved away from the wall he was currently leaning against. She smiled, and glanced at his partner. His partner kept glancing around with swift nervous eyes. She noted his stiff shoulders and his posture.
Nervous, must be new to this position, she thought studying Genma's new partner.
"Want me to tell Tsunade that you passed through already?" He asked, lazily.
"She told you I would?" Sakura asked, narrowing her eyes letting her smile transfer to a frown.
"She said to let you pass today any time you pleased without a fault." He said, his senbon moving around his mouth easily as he talked.
Nodding, she kept walking on through the gates. Staring into the forest, she extended her chakra into threads to scan for any possible danger that she could not detect by sight or sound. Feeling no threat, she bound into the trees, the forestry disguising her.
--
She sighed. It's been hours since she last stopped and she was almost to the coastline. Why couldn't I be closer? Huffing, she dropped down to the ground. The air had turned moist almost thirty minutes ago, she thought adjusting her pack. I should be there within a matter of minutes.
Slowing her pace, she scanned her surroundings. The tree line had begun to fade and the smell of salt filled her senses. Looking up, she watched the sky as best as she could. It was starting to darken. Rather quickly, she noted to herself.
Looking back at her trail, she quickened her pace. The edge of the trees is right there! She thought. Sakura started to jog slowly, and as she passed the last tree, she smiled sadly. The coastline always made her think of her first mission as a genin with Kakashi and Team 7. What idiot we were, she thought. It never ceased to amaze her how such a beautiful tragedy the event turned out to be. How one can give such undivided care and love to another. Haku was more than just brave or loyal, but a real example.
Shaking her head, she dispersed the image of Haku's dead body and the look in Kabuza's eyes when Haku passed. She could only dream of dying with such honor of a shinobi. And I will, for my country, for my sensei, for my friends, she thought.
Turning, she let her body carry her onto the worn path toward the small port. Her body continued on and she let her mind wander. She thought of how everyone grown into such wonderful, powerful people. She thought of the names and put faces to those said names. She thought of Naruto and his blind faith. She thought of Sasuke and his deceit. She thought of Ino and her compulsive nature. She thought of Shikamaru's upcoming marriage to Temari of the Village of Sand.
Before she knew it she was in the small port. The smell of fish, salt, and water made her scrunch her nose in distaste. Quickly, she headed in the direction of the small station where she could find out when the next ferry would be arriving.
This small port was not very well known. It was small, only a small number of people actual lived in the surrounding area. However, the area was great for catching fish or rare type, but due to undermined wages, the port could not prosper properly. She usually enjoyed the port; just she preferred it better when it wasn't summer. Fish in the heat do not mix.
Approaching the director, whom she recognized, she smiled.
"Sakura, why are you here so early in the year? I usually don't expect you until late fall." The old man smiled, waving her over.
He was old, in his late sixties she presumed. He had worn a white button up shirt with brown overalls, and his traditional hat. She smiled, still the same.
"I'm on a mission to the Land of Mist and Fog. Want to give me a lift?" Sakura laughed.
"Well, you better get on fast. It's about to leave in about fifteen minutes and the next one won't be here until later tonight." He pulled out a small ticket, as she pulled out enough coins.
Making the exchange, she bid him farewell and headed quickly to the dock. Presenting the ticket to the small boy, she smiled. But as she climbed into the ferry, she couldn't shake the feeling that something, if anything, was off. Shrugging it off as if it was the horrid smell of fish in the summer time, she adjusted her pack.
She leaned on the railing and settled herself in for the long hours to the small island not far from the Kiro no Kuni: the land of Mist and Fog. But as she dazed off, she didn't notice the suspicious air growing thicker and the lack of other passengers.
--
A.N: Well, I think I am done for today. As I said, this chapter is now longer. I aimed to show a development in her character and, as I hope you noticed, she didn't dwell on Sasuke. I wanted to focus on her, not so much on him. I hope to update in a week or so. It really depends on the growth of popularity of this story. So please do leave reviews, good or bad, it all helps out in the end. Check back soon though for updates, if any. Happy reading.
I will NOT update, if there are no reviews.