Hey, I just want to apologize for some of the Japanese, like 'Kumorikage', I don't know if it even makes sense (use of online translating website :P), but it's suppose to mean Shadow leader…it reads 'Shadow shadow', but I'm betting Kage means both, shadow and leader….(hope you get my drift)..and also, the geography of the locations of the villages is TOTALLY wrong….Well enjoy…oh, and one more the thing…I MIGHT add smut to the future chapters, so youngsters..be warned…:p ok, enjoy

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.


'Sakura.'

'Yes?'

'I love you; I don't think I'll be able to live without you. So will you come with me?'

'…Of course…Agito.'


'Usui.'

'Yes sir?'

'Bring Sasuke to me. Tell him that I have a mission for him.'

'Yes sir.'

Usui disappeared in a puff of smoke. A few minutes later, Usui entered through the door to the Kumorikage's office, followed by Sasuke. Sasuke walked towards the couch in the corner of the office and made himself comfortable. Usui went over to his desk, which was at the far right of the room. He moved a few documents on the desk, and sat on the space he cleared. Sasuke looked at the Kumorikage. He was a cheerful man, always laughing. He had a big belly and an almost bald head. He is slow when it comes to office work, but when on the battle field, he is almost invincible. People underestimate him because of his size, but his remarkable strength and speed proves them wrong. Even Sasuke can't understand how he moves so fast. The Kumorikage is a good man. He is a man of justice. He is compassionate and considerate, and he is a good leader. Sasuke really respects him, but he will never admit it to the Kumorikage's face. Sasuke scanned the Kumorikage's desk. Papers and books were piled on top of each other. There was a small space in the centre of the desk, where a document the Kumorikage was currently working on lay. A gold name plate sat at the corner of the desk, it read:

"Shadow Village, Kumorikage: Matsumoto Jin".

To the right was Usui's desk. He was the Kumorikage's assistance. Wherever Jin is, Usui will be right at his side. Usui is a talented young jounin. He and his younger brother, both in their early twenties, are both valuable ninjas to the village. Their only downfall is their perverted nature. They can't walk down a street without checking out at least one women's bust. But Sasuke has to admit, despite being perverts, they are also good people. Sasuke sighed and focused on Jin again.

'You called, sir?'

'Yes I did. I have an assignment for you.' Jin picked up a yellow folder and tossed it to Sasuke.

Sasuke caught the folder and opened it. A picture of a woman with long black hair, wearing a fancy kimino was paper clipped to the document. Sasuke lifted the picture up to see the details underneath it. 'Fujioka Miko, 4th princess of the Mist village, 19 years old.' Sasuke read out loud. Jin nodded and said, 'Your mission is to escort her and her guards from the shadows. You are to assemble a team of 5 people, and if there is trouble, you must help them, obviously.' Jin leaned back on his chair.

Sasuke nodded. 'Ok, so where's the destination?'

'You must escort them from the mist village to the rai village. They will make their own plans to get back. It will take about a 4 days I suppose to get there and back. Be careful, apparently there have been a few rain village shinobis looking for trouble.'

Sasuke nodded again. He stood up and strolled over to the front of Jin's desk. He rested the document on top of one of the many piles on the desk. 'When do I leave?'

'Tomorrow.' Jin put his hands behind his head and grinned.

Sasuke sighed. This is just to be expected of Jin, to give me a mission in such short notice.

Jin laughed, as if he could read Sasuke's thoughts. 'Don't worry Sasuke, I know if it's you, you can pull it off'. Just then, Usui's younger brother, Tamaki poofed in next to Usui. He raised a hand as he walked over to Sasuke's side. 'Yo Jin-sama and Sasuke. What's up?' He ruffled his brown hair, causing a few leaves to fall out.

'I'm just sending Sasuke to escort the Princess of Mist.' Said Jin, and he indicated the location of the document with a movement of his head. Tamaki opened the document and gasped. 'What? He's escorting this hot chick? Why don't you send me? You lucky bastard.' He punched Sasuke on shoulder playfully. Sasuke glared at him, but Tamaki ignored it. 'Hey Usui, have you seen this picture? She's totally my type hey.'

'As long as they don't have a male's equipment they'll be your type.' Usui hopped off the table, and with extremely fast speed, he seemed to have disappeared and reappeared to the other side of Sasuke. Usui placed his arm casually around Sasuke's shoulder and said with smirk on his face, 'Sasuke, you better not try anything to the princess hey.'

'Please, don't confuse me with you two brothers.'

Usui laughed. Tamaki put his arm around the other side of Sasuke's shoulder, so that Sasuke was sandwiched between them. 'Nah, Usui, I think Sasuke is just afraid of getting rejected.' Everybody raised an eyebrow towards Tamaki. 'Oh come on.' Tamaki raised his free hand and dropped it to indicate his exasperation. 'I really think everyone overrates Sasuke. Just because he's skilled, he's cool…he's got one or two girls that fancies him…' They continued to stare at Tamaki in silence. 'Ok fine!' said Tamaki in exasperation. 'The whole bloody female population of the Shadow Village fancies him, happy?!' Jin bellowed out a loud deep laughter. Sasuke smirked. Tamaki raised his free hand again and formed a gap between his thumb and index finger, 'Seriously, if there is such a thing as an ego thermometer, it will probably overload and explode next to you, Sasuke.'

'But Sasuke,' Usui spoke up. 'Just because you have the confidence, doesn't mean you will necessarily get on with it with the princess you know.'

'Usui.' Sasuke warned. 'This is a princess we're talking about.'

'Well, she's not here is she?' Usui shrugged. 'I know you have major self control Uchiha-san, but I really, really doubt you have no deep down desires at all.' Usui patted Sasuke's chest as he spoke.

Tamaki tutted and shook his head, 'Impossible.'

Sasuke grunted, 'Kumorikage, say something towards their attitude.'

Jin was analyzing the picture of Fujioka Miko. He looked deep in thought, while the three of them stood and watched. After a few seconds, 'You know, she has a really big bust for such a young girl.'

'I know right?!' said a suddenly very excited Tamaki, he leaned over the table to get a better look at the picture. 'I'm thinking she's a C cup.'

'No ways.' Usui suddenly had his glasses on, and he stood behind Jin to see the picture better. 'The distance is too big to be a C cup.' Three heads pressed together and towered over the picture. Sasuke grunted again, more loudly this time. Bunch of perverts. He took this chance to take his leave before he could hear anymore of their conversation on the female's body part.

The next day, Sasuke assembled a small group of trained jounins to accompany him on his mission. Tamaki was one of them. Sasuke wore his anbu uniform. His whole outfit is black, to make it easier to camouflage. His katana was strapped to his back. Sasuke pulled his porcelain mask over his face, and was ready to go. The team sprinted and leapt out the village, with Sasuke at the lead, and Tamaki right beside him.

'Hey hey Sasuke, aren't you excited to meet this princess? Cause I am! I can't wait.' said Tamaki as he kept up with Sasuke. Sasuke could tell that Tamaki was energized with excitement.

'I would let you overtake me to allow you to burn your excessive energy, but you don't know the way. So try and keep your energy under control, even when we do meet the princess.' Sasuke warned.

Tamaki laughed. 'Yes sir, I would refrain from doing anything unnecessary to the princess.'

Sasuke smirked. He knew that Tamaki wouldn't do anything unnecessary, but that doesn't mean he won't do anything at all.

At the mist village

'Your highness, it is an absolute honor to meet you.' Tamaki bowed deeply. His head was bowed, but his eyes remained on the front of her chest. Fujioka Miko was loud and gutsy. She ignored Tamaki and walked towards Sasuke. 'You must be the leader.' She leaned in towards Sasuke. 'I'm Princess Fujioka Miko. Pleased to meet you. I thank you for looking after me in this journey to come.' She winked. Behind Miko, Sasuke could see a menacing aura emitting from the still bowed Tamaki.

'Sasuke, what is it about you.' Tamaki said as he chomped on a fish on a stick. They were camping out in the forest for the night. Sasuke and Tamaki sat on a thick branch of a tree nearby, keeping watch.
Sasuke shrugged. 'What do you mean?' He took a bit out of his own food.

'Well, the princess couldn't even see your face because of the mask, and yet she was attracted to you.' Tamaki looked at Sasuke, waiting for a comment. Sasuke shrugged again and finished his food. 'Maybe I just have some kind of attraction aura.'

'You're feeling very smug right now, aren't you?' Tamaki teased. Sasuke smirked. 'But seriously, I've always wondered. You have so many people to choose from, but you refuse to look at anyone. By logical thinking, it should be because of past experiences…maybe you got dumped.' Tamaki laughed at his own joke, but stopped when he realized Sasuke didn't even so much as smirk. There was an awkward silence. 'Ah hem…well, I think I need to go take a piss. I'll be back in a minute.' As Tamaki leapt into the darkness, he heard Sasuke say, very faintly, 'I made a stupid mistake.' Tamaki didn't turn back to ask more, he sensed that Sasuke wanted a bit of time alone.

They arrived at the Rai village on the 2nd day, the sun was beginning to set. They were preparing to leave, when the princess said, 'Why don't you guys stay for the night? You guys must be exhausted. You can leave as soon as you have regained your energy.' All the anbu members looked at Sasuke to give them permission. Sasuke looked at them. Indeed, they were all tired and scruffy. It was a long journey back, and they needed the energy. 'Very well.' Sasuke nodded. 'Thank you.'

'But,' Miko grabbed Sasuke's arm, 'The leader has to protect and escort me, of course.' Sasuke made an attempt to remove his arm from her grasp, and said in an even tone. 'Princess, my job of escorting ended the moment we arrived in the Rai Village.'

'Well, I'm providing the accommodation after all…' her voice drifted off, leaving Sasuke to figure out the rest. Sasuke groaned inwardly and looked at his anbu team. He could almost hear their thoughts, 'Please Uchiha-san, we really need the rest' etc. Their pleading puppy eyes seemed to penetrate the masks. Sasuke sighed and said reluctantly, 'Very well.'

Later that night, Tamaki came out of the building the anbu members were staying at. He looked up at the moon. It was round and beautiful. Tamaki took a deep breath and looked around. He spotted a figure sitting on the roof of a building. Tamaki squinted to distinguish the figure, it was Sasuke.

'What are you doing here alone, Sasuke?' Tamaki landed softly next to him. He saw an empty plate next to Sasuke. 'Dining alone?' Tamaki raised an eyebrow.

Sasuke glared at him. 'I didn't have much choice did I? The princess wouldn't leave my side for even a second. I didn't get a chance to eat since I couldn't take off my mask in front of her.' Tamaki laughed. He sat down next to Sasuke and looked at the moon. Sasuke followed his gaze. They sat in silence as the two of them admired the view.

'Beautiful isn't it?' said Tamaki softly.

'Hm.'

Silence…and then Sasuke said, 'Tamaki, I'm going to leave early tomorrow, you lead the team back to the Shadow Village. I'm sure you've remembered the way.'

'Eh? Why you leaving early?'

Sasuke looked reluctant to answer, but gave in. 'I want to avoid the princess as much as possible. I have a feeling she's not going to let me go that easily. So just tell her an important assignment came up, and I said thanks.' Tamaki laughed loudly. Sasuke glared at him.

'Yes yes Sasuke, I will lead the team back safely.' Tamaki continued to laugh.

The next morning, Sasuke left silently. The only person that knew Sasuke left was Tamaki. When Sasuke left the building as quietly as possible, he saw Tamaki standing outside.

'What are you doing here?' Sasuke whispered.

'I came to send you off.' Tamaki grinned. Sasuke 'hm'ed and walked past Tamaki.

'Gosh, I was just joking. I was coming back from the restroom, and I saw you leaving, so I decided I might as well be a good friend and send you off.' Sasuke ignored him. 'Have a safe trip.' Tamaki called after him silently, still grinning.

Sasuke leapt from tree to tree in flawless motions. It was still really early. Even the animals of the forest were still asleep. The cold air blew against Sasuke's face through the gaps in the mask. His eyes darted from side to side to detect any signs of danger. His ears were perked to any unfamiliar sounds. He listened to the soft chirps of the morning birds, the rustling of the leaves from the wind, the sound of the wind swishing past him and the faint sound of tapping against wood. Tapping against wood? Sasuke stopped on a branch; he pressed himself to the tree trunk and listened. Indeed it was there, the sound of shoes leaping off branches. Sasuke drew out a kunai from his side pocket slowly. He waited. Not long after, a faint figure appeared. It leapt in quick swift movements. The person wasn't far from Sasuke, but they didn't seem to detect him. Sasuke scanned the figure quickly. She was a female. He could tell from how the skin tight black outfit outlined her curves. She wore an anbu mask, and a black hood was pulled over her head. Sasuke moved to see if there was any indication of which village she came from. But his movement set off the rustling of the leaves. The female anbu turned towards the sound, and as soon as she spotted Sasuke, her hand reached behind her back and pulled out 3 kunai's. The kunai's flew in Sasuke direction. Sasuke jumped, he saw the kunai's stab the tree he had been hiding against. Sasuke grabbed a nearby branch and hauled himself up on it. The anbu had disappeared. Sasuke scanned the area carefully, a kunai ready in hand.

Rustle

Sasuke threw the kunai in the direction of where he heard the sound. The figure jumped out, a kunai in each hand, and dived towards Sasuke. Sasuke pulled out his kantana from behind his back and guarded himself against her attack. The kunai and kantana clashed, causing a ringing sound to pierce through the silence of the forest. Startled birds flew up into the sky.

For a female, she's really powerful .Sasuke gritted his teeth as he tried to hold his position. He could feel his own feet sliding backwards. He tried to dig his shoes into the bark of the thick branch to secure his position, but it all just broke under the pressure. Sasuke thought through his options quickly. I'll be trapped if I get pushed against the tree trunk. But if I let loose my katana I'll get sliced…twice. Sasuke thought of the explosion tag in his pocket. I guess I'll just risk getting hurt a little.

Sasuke pushed as hard as he could to get the kunai's as far from him as possible. When it reached a suitable distance, Sasuke pushed himself off the ground, and threw himself into the air. As Sasuke predicted, the anbu swung her kunai at him, the kunai left a long, bloody trail on Sasuke's leg. Sasuke winced inwardly, but he didn't miss a beat. While in the air, he drew out the explosion tag, attached it to a kunai and threw it at the anbu. The anbu tried to leap away, but the force of the explosion sent her flying backwards. Sasuke appeared behind her, and hammer fisted her back. The anbu gasped, and her back arched as she flew towards the ground. Sasuke headed towards the ground as well, to capture the anbu when she hits the earth. But instead of hitting the ground, the anbu repositioned herself so that her hands would touch the earth first.

The movement looked so gentle, and yet so powerful. Her palms were pressed to the ground, her arms bent, the earth cracked and a huge circular dent formed around her. She pushed herself off the ground and did a few flips, towards Sasuke, who was in slight shock to the failure of his plan. The anbu set off a smoke bomb as Sasuke landed on the ground. Sasuke coughed, unable to see anything. Suddenly, he felt huge pressure around his neck. The anbu had hooked the back of her one leg around Sasuke's neck. She swung her leg towards the ground. The earth cracked and dented as Sasuke's head hit it hard.

Sasuke blacked out for no more than 2 seconds. His body was trained to withstand heavy blows. But he wasn't supposed to be blacking out at all. When he came to, he couldn't see, he felt pressure sitting on him, and he was suffocating. Sasuke automatically pulled out a poisoned kunai hidden in the side of his pants for emergencies, and stabbed into the pressure on top of him. He felt the person gasp and collapse. The poison acts immediately, it will paralyze the entire body, and at a later stage, become deadly. Sasuke unhooked the leg from his throat and took a deep breath. He felt for his mask. It was still on his face, but he could feel the cracks in them, as well as blood dripping by his chin from a wound on his forehead. He looked at the motionless figure on the ground. He had stabbed her in the side of her waist, and blood was oozing out from the wound. He turned the figure over, so that she lay on her back. He removed her mask and froze. Long black hair tumbled out, and a streak of blood leaked out from the corner of pink lips. Even though she had a different hair color, he could still recognize her features clearly.

'Sakura?!'

a/n. The action scene is probably a bit confusing… but it was kind of hard putting it in words..

anyways, please review:P