Okay, two things. One-This is the revised version, it is tweaked a bit, not exactly the same as it was on the first post. I apologize for any inconvenience. 'Thing two' still applies.

Two- you don't have to read the prologue. It's simply a bit of back-ground. The first chapter is more eventful, so if you do read this and loose interest because there's not Sasuke-kun yet, then switch to the next chapter. Once Sasuke is introduced into the story, there is much more Sasusaku related stuff.

"Sakura, Shikamaru, Neji," Tsunade was sitting in her desk, a serious mien filled the room. Her elbows rested on the desk supporting her hands as the entwined fingers rest on her chin, "We've gotten word on Uchiha Sasuke's location." Sakura bit her lip, the hands that she held beneath her cloak tightened. She had heard that there was new information about Sasuke earlier that day from Yamato when he took herself, Naruto and Sai to get ramen. Though he only leaked the information when Naruto was in the bathroom, inevitably from eating so much ramen in the past week. Shikamaru and Neji stood without much reaction as the Hokage continued, "He's said to be heading into the far end of the sound in search of a member for a team he's gathering. I've pulled you three together based on your skills." She looked toward Shikamaru to the left, "Shikamaru, for your skill in tactics and shadow cloning, Neji, for you birth given byakugan, and Sakura," she allowed a small smile to taint her lips "for your advanced proficiency in medical chakra control."

"Tsunade-sama, are you saying that we're the team to go and find him?" Neji questioned before reacting to her affirmation, "Would this not be a job more suitable for ANBU? Or shouldn't a jounin come with us?"

Tsunade nodded, "perhaps, some may think that, but I'm entrusting that Shikamaru's leadership is proficient enough to act as commander. As well as with your skills and knowledge of Sasuke, you will be able to complete this mission."

"I will perform to the best of my abilities Hokage-sama." Shikamaru lowered his head.

Sakura felt a slight abundance of emotions stirring in her core, memories of Sasuke playing back relentlessly. "Tsunade-shishou, are we to capture him?"

She shook her head, her hands parting from her chin and resting on the table, "I want you three to track him. Do not, approach him and be as concealed as possible. If he's killed Orochimaru, then he has substantially grown in power. I don't want to risk young lives. That is also though, why I am asking you three to trail him."

Sakura felt a rush of blood circulating through her head. She was going to be tracking Sasuke? Why would Tsunade assign her a mission she knew would be pulling at her strings the entire time? Simply following behind as she had to watch him walk further and further away from Konoha, she would lose it.

Shikamaru and Neji nodded in response, the golden haired hokage noting her star pupils tense reaction. "Sakura-chan, I know this may be a difficult mission, but I trust you to approach it as best you can."

Sakura looked down nodded, taking the small moment of gracious silence to think. Three years. It's been three years since he's left. Eight months since our last encounter with him. If there is any chance of getting him back, even if it means pulling myself apart from having him so close at hand, I have to be strong. I've trained under one of the best. It's my time to show for it. "Hai, Shishou." Sakura bowed her head, Tsunade taking the moment to look at how her pupil had grown. A once demure, introverted naïve child, she had ripened into a student she saw the most potential in. Her newfound courage and acumen simply proved her to be one of incessant aptitude.

The hokage stood, walking in front of the desk and in-front of the three of them. It almost looked as though her hands were shaking, but they quickly regained composer. She pressed a small but thick scroll into each of their hands, "This paper has been concealed with a jutsu, once a piece is ripped off and written on, it will make way to Konoha. If at any-point, you need to contact us with either information, or anything, please do. Keep it by your side at all times." She finished, Shikamaru examining the scroll before putting it into his vest pocket. Sakura slipping it into her inner cloak pocket while Neji concealed it in his hand. "Leave as soon as possible. I prefer that you tell no one of your mission details, if anyone questions, simply say that you're on routine assignment."

The newly formed team nodded with understanding, heading outside of the Hokage's office.

Sakura looked toward her team mates, "I'll just need to gather some medical supplies and some other things, and then I'll be ready."

"We'll just go pack too. Lets meet by the gate before dusk." Shikamaru nodded off to Sakura and they parted.

As Sakura packed, she ran a finger across the top of a frame, the frame holding the seemingly recent, but that was all a phantasm. That youthful free smile that was spread on Naruto and her own face hadn't been seen on either of them for some time. As for Sasuke, the displeased visage that adorned him in the center was from what she could tell, the last time he was ever really innocent, to be bothered by such a petty thing as a team photograph. The utter sense of any emotion was most likely foreign to him now. Unless it was hate.

Her preparation was proficiently quick; she stepped out of her small apartment, locking the door. Not realizing that she wouldn't be unlocking it for quite some time. The three members of the newly methodized team met at the gate, Sakura set out with them without bidding anyone a farewell, aware of the secrecy of the mission and knowing how Naruto would have reacted. It was a decision that she later came to regret profusely.

Thought they were coherent of their task and limitations, what they didn't know, was of the future of the mission. Which they later learned would certainly come to take the mission in a different direction, for the last thing Sakura would have expected to happen, would.