"I love you." Sakura said firmly to her bed. She wrapped the furry blankets around herself, relishing the warmth it gave her. Her pillow was just at the right height and the fluffiness and gods, she was ready to go to sleep.

It had been a very long day as she pieced people back together in the hospital. Two Genin teams came back from their missions almost shredded apart, and Sakura had to meticulously attempt to return them to a functional state- and that took intense concentration and chakra.

But now, all was done and she was slipping into the brilliant world of hazy sleep which she had been looking forward the whole day.

"Sakura" A distinctly male voice called out, pulling her away from her well deserved sleep.

Sakura toyed the idea of driving her fists through the intruder's face but then, it would require that she actually moved.

So she did the next best thing, pretending like she wasn't awake. There was no urgency in the tone that he spoke, so hopefully he would understand Sakura really needed this sleep.

"Sakura." He said, but this time much more firmly.

Sakura let out a pitiful moan. She was so close to resting and had been craving into sleep but now, she could already tell she wasn't going to get any at least few hours.

"Sasuke." She mumbled out.

The dark haired male sighed. "I require your help."

"Come back tomorrow." She muttered out, giving a biting edge to the tone, hoping that the bloody Uchiha realised how much he was annoying her.

"It's important." Sasuke paused and Sakura felt the man's gaze sweep over her form. "Sakura." He repeated but this time, in an exasperated voice.

Sakura could never deny a chance to be useful, especially to her friends so unfortunately, she languidly leaned herself on the headrest, trying to clear her mind. Her eyes focused on the Uchiha dressed in full ANBU gear with the cat mask attached to his legs.

"Happy?" She said, crossing her arms in annoyance. "Now speak."

Without a pause, the Uchiha started speaking. "One of my teammates are unable to join the mission. I require your presence at the border patrol."

Oh sweet God. "Border patrol? Really?"

"Well, there is a high chance that Ishinins are trying to slip through our borders so I want a aggressive team in case a fight broke out."

Sakura snorted. "It's flattering that you think I'm capable enough to help. But I am not going to any help in this state. Take Ino.

Now, Sakura fully expected the raven haired shinobi to go away, but instead he pulled the blankets away from her, exposing her suddenly to the cold air.

"Okay." Sakura gritted out. "I'm going to start breaking your every bone, starting from your bloody toes."

She felt a smug sense of satisfaction as Sasuke unconsciously backed away in caution. "You're the only nin with enough clearance and expertise to join this mission." He explained.

Now this interesting. "Brief me."

"You know I can only do that if you accept the mission."

Sakura gave a heated glare. "Your every bone, Sasuke. Starting from your metatarsals."

The Uchiha sat on the windowsill- presumably that was where he came from. "We have on good authority that Ishinins are setting up a bunker in Konoha territory. We're leaving in two hours."

"And you need me because…?"

"We suspect that the Ishinins are setting up underground bunkers, and your skills will be greatly appreciated."

Sakura laughed, momentarily forgetting about the fact that she was rudely woke up in the middle of the night. "Is the mighty Uchiha planning to rest while I smash and upturn rocks?"

Sasuke blinked with utmost innocence. "Efficiency is the key, is it not?"

"Yes, leaving the village in a quest to find himself is so very efficient." She snarked, swinging her legs over and stretching. She winced as her back cracked in almost spectacular fashion.

A small smile tugged on the Uchiha's face. "It all worked out at the end."

"Of course. Come in, I'll give you some tea." Sakura said, making her way to the kitchen.

She couldn't help but to muse over the fact that she felt comfortable in front of Sasuke with just a shirt. It was ironic that ten years ago, she would be literally dying to get to this position. But now, Sasuke and Sakura was in the train of friendship heading to platonicville and she loved the dynamic.

"So what's with Hinata?" She asked, putting a small amount diluted soldier pill on the in the kettle, not forgetting to put a dash of honey to make the taste better. She found that the diluted soldier pill gave a healthy kick to her system and had relatively small amount of drawback.

Sasuke seated himself on the corner of her sofa- that was practically his spot. "She has an impromptu clan meeting."

"Mm, it's about changing her last name. She came for advice few days ago."

"She's missing out on a mission just to change her last name?" He asked with a hint of incredulousness.

Sakura smiled. Yes, this was typical Sasuke with the inability to grasp human emotions. "Well, if she wants to be able to change her last name to Uzumaki if she marries Naruto. I think the elders are violently against that premise."

"Ah yes." The Uchiha said in the clear tone of I-don't-really-understand.

Setting a teacup in front of him, she settling herself next to him. "Tell me about the mission."

Sasuke pulled out a mission scroll to show that it was black- ANBU mission. . "Shino and Sai have gathered that Ishinins have infiltrated and placed a underground bunker in our borders. Since Ishigakure (Land of Stone) is now closely allied with Iwagakure, we don't want to leave anyone alive."

Sakura nodded in understanding. "You want them to disappear without proof that we were the ones who made them disappear. Since in all technicality, Iwa can declare war with us saying we engaged with their ally."

"This is a sensitive mission. ANBU clearance is set since we don't want someone to leak Sai and Shino as our source since they're technically spying. However, I highly doubt that the actual engaging with the enemy will be hard."

Sakura tried not to think how Sasuke practically jinxed their mission by saying that the fight won't be hard. "That's very good. Who else is coming?"

"Kiba and Yamato."

"Yamato-senpai, Sasuke." She corrected in mere habit.

As always, Sasuke ignored and continued on. "We're meeting at the gate at four. It's approximately a half-day mission."

"Team leader?"

Sasuke let out an amused smile. "Me of course."

Now, Sakura let out almost a whimper. From her previous experiences, she knew that Sasuke as the team leader was brutal in all aspects. Since Sasuke was literally like a brick in mission, it was always boring- unlike going on missions with Gemna-senpai for example.

Of course, that would be fine if Sasuke haven't learned how to lead from Kakashi-sensei and Orochimaru, who differed in literally all aspects except one. Pace. When Sasuke lead the team, he was a vicious leader, keeping them at a high pace and giving small breaks in between. It was always efficient but breathtakingly brutal.

"I'll like to proposition Yamato-senpai for the team leader. He has much more experience and his Wood Release will be very useful in this mission." She deadpanned.

The Uchiha merely replied in a pleasant sunny tone, clearly knowing why Sakura suggested this. "No."

Sakura rolled her eyes at how Sasuke enjoyed her discomfort. "Well then, Taishou, I'll have to report that my chakra reserves and ability to concentrate are lower than usual since I've performed three major surgeries today. So it is with great remorse I say that you can't whip us like circus animals."

Sasuke raised his eyebrows. "Duly noted. Was it the genin team that came in today the team that you perform surgery on? They seemed to be in bad shape."

"The genin teams. It was a C-mission that got out of hand and Lee's and Moegi's team almost got wiped out."

Sasuke gave a surprised look. "Someone beat Rock Lee and two genin teams? Who?"

Sakura winced. Someone beating Rock Lee- one of the highest skilled shinobi in the village was indeed a surprising idea but the fact that he lost with Moegi and his genin team was almost outrageous. "Ishigakure shinobi."

"Ishigakure seems to be a threat."

Sakura gave a hum of agreement. Ishigakure was a small hidden village but it had one of the biggest ratio of kekkai genkai ninjas. Since the Five Great Shinobi Nations were now busy sorting out allegiance and free trade, it was understable that some village will try to weasel its way to the top.

"I'm sure Shikamaru have already written a report and planned our move." Sakura replied evenly.

There was absolutely no doubt about that fact. "Then we'll have to capture a Ishinin in our mission for information. Do you happen to have a spare Body Storing Scroll?"

"I don't think so, I'm pretty sure Naruto raided the last of mine."

"Of course the dobe did. You better get ready then. We need to get the scroll and sub you in for Hinata in the mission roster."

"You owe me one." Sakura reminded him as she went to her bedroom to change.

It felt a pleasant glow in her chest knowing that Sasuke picked her for this mission. No doubt that there was other shinobi who were available but Sasuke phase basically decided that exhausted Sakura with low chakra levels was better than anyone.

Not to mention that it probably also helped that she was the only person who can literally smashed through the floor and wipe the whole entire base without breaking even a sweat. Other shinobi would have to use some kind of Earth Release for that scale of destruction.

With a satisfied smile, Sakura stripped on her standard Konoha ANBU gear and put on her bird mask. The mask didn't really do anything because Sakura had a very distinctive coloured hair that most ninja recognised, so it was mainly just part of the procedure.

"Where are we having.. very early breakfast? Very late dinner?" Sakura asked. It was customary for Team 7 to eat together before a mission, and even if Naruto wasn't here, they still proceeded.

Sasuke placed his own masks on his face. "Takeshi's or Akino?"

"Akino. And you're paying since you dragged me out of bed."

"Of course. I am so sorry for the inconvenience." He said with the sarcasm thick in his voice.

Sakura ignored his snark because she was, of course, a warm and kind individual, and followed Sasuke as he hopped out of her window.

They raced towards the Hokage Tower because they were competitive teammates and thus, arrived almost mere minute later.

Waving by Administrative nin- Ichimuru Aoi - who looked very bored behind the desk, they made their way to the Jonin commonfloor.

Unsurprisingly, there were few people in loitering around. Anko-senpai was on the couch, reading through a scroll and speaking to her snake summons. Two Jonins who she haven't seen before were standing in front of the fridge, having a passionate argument about something. Sakura also noticed few gray strands of hair peeking out from the arm chair, and she guessed Kakashi-sensei was here as well.

Not making eye contact with Anko since making voluntary eye contact meant that you either wanted sex or a fight, they swiftly went to the ANBU mission roster. Of course, ANBU's roster technically should not be here since not every Jonin had to be an ANBU, but that being ANBU was like a secret requirement of becoming a Jonin.

Being an ANBU meant that you were either a very good shinobi, or that you were very good at a special field. If you were a good shinobi to the point that you were accepted to ANBU, that meant that you were already up to Jonin standard. If you were very good at a field and were accepted to be ANBU, that meant that you were ready to be a Special Jonin.

So, having the ANBU roster at a different place was basically just an inconvenience for everyone and thus now lived in the Jonin floor.

As Sasuke flipped through the file to take Hinata's name out, she tried to ignore the stares that the unrecognisable Jonins gave them. She could see that they have stopped arguing but starting whispering something fervently to each other.

"It's an A-rank and a clear on destruction." Sasuke informed her.

"Isn't that music to my ears." Sakura purred. As a person who had a very aggressive style of literally punching and kicking opponents with super strength, her environment tended to get literally destroyed after a fight.

"I hope you two aren't going to destroy a whole section of the forest like last time." A jovial voice interrupted.

Sakura let out a cheery laugh. "Don't exaggerate, sensei. It was three quarters of a forest."

Kakashi sensei poked his head from the chair to face her. "I'm sure the unskilled genin team who had to clean it up cared much about that distinction."

Spying the lack of the normal orange book in her sensei's hand, Sakura felt a sense of satisfaction. "Well, obviously the unskilled genin team succeeded tearing your book away."

Immediately, Anko stopped speaking to her snakes and the two jonins froze to look.

She watched in amusement as Kakashi-sensei's face turned from surprise to a feigned blank face. "That's not very nice of you." He spoke in a dangerously low tone. The dangerous glint in his single exposed eye made Sakura smile even wider.

"Well sensei, when you spread rumours that I am dating Sasuke, you should be prepared for the repercussions." She added in an even sweet tone. "Naruto was also more than happy to fund the mission as well. Something about handing an important mission report late?"

She heard Sasuke snicker slightly. "I wasn't aware that it was you, Kakashi, that made Rock Lee challenge me everyday."

Anko chuckled while eavesdropping. "They're definitely your students, Hatake." She mused.

Her sensei scratched his head in a sheepish manner. "Sakura, if you're going to be this way, I'm going to have to take actions."

"Actions? I'm very threatened Sensei." She said, while cracking her knuckles to remind him that she possessed skills that would make it hard for him to take actions.

Kakashi-sensei gave her an innocent one eyed smile. "Actions such as accidentally dropping your old love poems to Sasuke that you wrote when you were a genin. It would be a shame if I dropped it Naruto's office."

Sasuke made a choked sound and stared at her with astonishment while Sakura matched her sensei's innocent smile. "It would be a bigger shame if I accidentally tell Ino that you and Anko-senpai are in an interesting kinkyfling with each other."

"It is time to leave." Sasuke said flatly, his ears slightly red from the Sakura's remark. "I like to retain my sanity and not hear about Kakashi's sex life."

Sakura stared at her frozen ex-teacher while Anko burst into loud peals of laughter. "I like you kid! You raised a fine one, Hatake."

Sasuke tugged her arm in an insistence to go, and Sakura let out a dramatic sigh. "Unfortunately, I need to go to a mission. See you later, Sensei!"

As the Uchiha practically dragged her out of the building, Sakura reached to ruffle his hair. "Is the young Uchiha having a hard time hearing my derogatory remarks? You didn't seem this shy when you kissed Naruto way back." She teased.

Sasuke immediately swatted her hand away and glared. "That was an accident. Telling you about it was also an accident" He gritted out.

Sakura just laughed at annoyed Sasuke. If Sasuke was going to enjoy torturing her under his command this mission, she was going to enjoy annoying Sasuke right now. "Of course, of course." She dismissed him.

With his eyes almost starting to bleed red, Sasuke started to retort back. "I guess you're saying that you don't need a Body Sealing Scroll but want to carry the Ishinin? As a captain, I accept your request."

Oh shit. "Sasukeee." She whined. Carrying someone wasn't a hard thing but the sensation of carrying an unconscious person flopping while you run wasn't a pleasurable experience.

Sasuke looked down to his wrist- devoid of a watch. "Oh look. We only have time to eat. I'm glad you volunteered to carry the Ishinin. Thanks Sakura." He said in choppy cross sentences.

Sakura would've stuck her tongue out if not for the mask.. "Grumpy Uchiha." She commented.

The raven haired Shinobi ignored her and stiffly made his way to Akino restaurant.

Staring at the taunt and reliable back of her teammate, Sakura let a small fond smile blossom. Even if Uchiha woke up at ungodly hours in the morning, she still loved him as a friend. And she would trade everything in the world to make it stay that way.