Chapter 1, Assignment:

The night sky was lit up and the ground shook with every explosion that went off. The second ninja war had been going on for about three years now, thus leaving the rookie nine a bit older and more experienced.

Naruto was now a Jounin, leading his own team in this terrible ninja war. Naruto has had to endure losing many rookie ninja's that were assigned to his team regarding the lack of shinobi Konaho had.

Naruto and his group of three students with him, a young black haired child with passionate determination named Z, a very smart and agile child named Kai, and a quick thinker named Sai. Reunion

His team was assigned a task to infiltrate a suspicious camp found a few ways away from the village. They waited until nightfall to begin there operation. All the students and the Jounin checked their equipment one last time before having a moment of silence to pray for a good mission and not losing anyone tonight.

"Tonight, we are tasked with infiltrated and eliminating any enemy presence we find in the camp located just outside our village." Naruto spoke these with determination and some despair. Ever since he was assigned with this task, he couldn't shake the feeling of someone watching him and his team, knowing there every move. This made him even more cautious.

He argued with Tsunade-sama, who was still the Hokage. He insisted that another team go, that his team wasn't pre-paired enough for this mission. Tsunade-sama refused and told Naruto that his team was the only team suited for this task.

After hearing those words, he sighed with anger and left her office.

Nightfall:

Later that night, Naruto met up with his three students at the village gates around three in the morning. The night was cool with overcast weather, perfect for sneaking into a camp site in the dead of night. Naruto gathered around his students and lowered his head, asking them to do the same. "Our orders are to infiltrate the camp site and eliminate any enemy ninja we find. Is that clear?" All three students stood up straight, saluting their loyal Jounin. "Yes!"

With those final words the group sent off in the dead of night with as much confidence as they could find in themselves. Sai, the uneasy one spoke "Sensei, what's going to happen if we encounter enemy ninja?" Naruto replied back in a define tone. "If we do happen to encounter enemy ninja, just remember all the training I have given you and use it to your full potential"

Sai nodded with confidence remembering that her Sensei is the legendary Uzumaki Naruto, the one with the Kyuubi demon sealed inside him. If things did get out of hand, she can count on her Sensei to save her and her teammates. As they were nearing the campsite, Naruto ordered his team to halt and take cover.

His students quickly found cover and waited for their Sensei's next task. Naruto tensed up, knowing he had been being watched ever since he was assigned this task, he feared the enemy knew of their position. As quietly as he could, Naruto grabbed his kunai and held it tightly, ready to fight.

There was some rustling in the bushes next to him. Making a split second decision he flung himself at the bush, tackling the one behind. Struggling to pin the enemy down he heard a familiar voice calling his name. "N-Naruto!!" it was Sai, hoping her Sensei was alright.

As the clouds slowly parted from the moon for a few seconds, the moon brightened the night sky enough for Naruto to recognize the face that was under him. Terrified and stained with blood was Sakura, crying and holding her arms against her chest.

Naruto looked at her with disbelief. Even after all these years Sakura was still not that well experienced. "Sakura, calm down it's me" Naruto said slowly rising off of her. Sakura looked into the face above her and burst into more tears as she wrapped her arms around Naruto's neck.

"Naruto!! I'm so glad you're ok" More tears ran down her cheeks and she tightened her grip around Naruto. "Sakura, what's wrong? Whose blood is that on you?" Naruto spoke these words with a worried tone. He had not seen Sakura since the beginning of the war three years ago.

Sakura wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to speak. "My…team was attacked…and…" Her voice trailed off and she began to cry again. Naruto understood what had happened and lowered him self back down, placing his arms around her, letting her tears fill his chest.

Sakura embraced his hug gladly and buried her head into her chest even more, crying uncontrollably. "Sakura, it's ok, you don't have to say anything more. I understand" Both of the Jounins stayed that way for about ten minutes until Sakura had stopped crying.

Naruto rose to his feet and gently helped Sakura to hers. Naruto took a brief moment to explain to Sakura the task they were assigned with earlier. Sakura offered to help her old friend who she missed greatly.

Naruto thought for a second on how dangerous this task was. Afraid of losing his old friend who he hadn't seen in so long was too much for him. Naruto refused her help.

Sakura began to argue with him about letting her help. She had missed him so dearly and wished to just be at his side now. "Sakura...I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something happened to you". Naruto turned away from her, waving for his three students to gather up.

"Please Naruto...I want to help." Sakura stepped forward towards Naruto but was cut off as a kunai slightly cut her cheek. "Sakura!!" Naruto tackled Sakura to the ground as another kunai just slightly missed her head.

"Damnit!! They found us!" Naruto stood up and quickly checked the area. Seeing none of his students were hit or injured he sighed in relief, but was instantly jerked down to the ground as a kunai flew past his face.

Naruto nervously rubbed the back of his neck and thanked Sakura for pulling him down. "Naruto-kun, please be careful. I can't stand the thought of losing you." Naruto was shocked to hear this.

"S-Sakura?" Sakura was now gazing into her eyes as they slowly began to fill with tears. She then threw herself onto him, crying into his chest once more. "I don't ever want to lose you Naruto-kun!"

Naruto lay there with a shocked expression on his face and confusion on his mind. "Is this really Sakura...so afraid of losing me, after all these years of calling me names and fighting over Sasuke with Ino??" Naruto thought as his head began to spin. "Sakura...please get off, we have to get out of here."

Sakura got off of him and nodded in agreement. Naruto called over his three students and told them its time to retreat and that the enemy knows their position. After a brief moment of silence, all three nodded and the whole group took off back towards the village.