Note: I do not own Naruto or anything that is related to it. This is a work in progress and it is very much my first fan-fiction.
Reviews are greatly welcomed and my inbox is always open to requests (as long as you're willing to wait your turn)
Rating is NC-17 and it will contain lemons. It wouldn't be a juicy fanfic without some.
Pairing: Ita/Saku - I figured I'd get that out of the way but enjoy. I know it isn't an odd pairing but I figured I'd try something out of the norm..
Weather in the Waterfall country was moody; rain that never let up but could slack enough for one to see in front of them. Sunshine didn't dare try and creep through the heavy gray clouds, asides from the occasional clap of thunder, lightning proved the better victor. A mission in this forsaken place was something she hadn't seen coming.. at all...
Several weeks before, the sunshine -that she was missing now- shone with warm, Summery brilliance throughout the Hokage's office, casting it through the bay windows. Lord Seventh had thumbed through a stack of papers and mission scrolls while lazily using the side of the his index to rub tiredly across his half-open eye. Shikamaru, with a cigarette between lips, peered over Naruto's shoulder before he lifted his gaze to her.
She kept still; the white flak jacket of her Anbu uniform raised slowly with the calming intake of oxygenated air as the katana strapped to her back rustled with the motion. It gave her flashbacks from when she joined, against Kakashi-Sensei and Lady Tsunade's pleas; when these two men across from her were the only ones willing to acknowledge her decision. Sure, she was Lady Fifth's apprentice and one-third of the new Legendary Sannin but she had craved something more. Something exciting.
However Naruto had been fair. He granted her three years time, "to get it out of her system." Their concern had been the pink color of her hair, a true testament to who she was. Anbu were ghosts in the dark and it had called anonymity. So she had took seven months to grow it out, prastising the same jutsu that Tsunade used - the simplest of chakra manipulation to change near waist length hair into a duller, duskier shade of lilac. She had changed, drastically.
Behind the animialistic shape of her Anbu mask, she had waited. Waited patiently as Naruto read over an open scroll before he sighed.
"I received a hawk from the Village Hidden in the Waterfall. It is requiring a medical nin along with some supplies.." She felt a but coming, "But.. this is a highly classified mission and, honestly, I'm surprised this was sent."
They all three knew what it meant. It was rainy season where the Village was located but the mission wasn't exactly near any civilization besides smaller, more spread villages. From villages to tiny townships to huts. A trip that could easily surpass a month worth of travel to get there and another month returning; no telling how long this mission would last.
"Surprised, how?" She inquired, the Fox mask tilting to the side.
"Shortly before coming into office, Lord Sixth had received word that a group of masked bandits were terrorizing the countryside. Whispers of wars and upheaval sent most locals into high alert. Trades slowed, the ports closed one by one. As quickly as it began, it stopped," Shikamaru replied, continuing after taking a drag from his cigarette, "Fast-forward to a few weeks ago, apparently, the rumors are back. Luckily for us, Kakashi thinks fast on his feet. He sent a spy; an Anbu like yourself."
Naruto shuffled the paperwork, searching for the name of the person. Giving a bit of an amused whistle as those blood-shot eyes found what he was looking for. "Matter of factly, he's an Anbu captian.."
Her mind wandered, searching through the faces of her superiors. None of them standing out as absent but then again, this captain would have been there since Kakash's reign as the Fire Shadow. Keeping her demeanor lax, she didn't want them to see how the unknown was eating at her.
"You are to go and assist him," Ah, there it was again. A play of words that were unfolding the mission within the mission, "But... once there, Sakura, you will take on the role of his wife."
"Excuse me?" Finally, they had gotten a reaction from the medic. Jaded eyes narrowed at the two; both men lowered their heads in unison. "Exactly how long am I going away for, Naruto? Shikamaru?" She glanced from one to the other, glad that her mask shielded the look of confusion and upset upon her face.
"It's coming up on your last year and a half.." Naruto shuffled uneasily.
"You said.. In need of a medic and supplies! Not a mock marriage to aplease the fucking neighbors!" Her voice pitched, disbelief that he could've said this before hand. Granted, she was overreacting but still.
Shikamaru quickly came to Naruto's defence, his arms outstretched and hands lightly waving. "Listen.. Listen! The captain has been there for several years.. There's an appearance to keep up, Sakura and being that you are the finest medical ninja we have.. We thought of killing two birds with one.. Kinda. It's a small village, it's population is of about 150 people or so," Satisfied she wouldn't kill them, he crossed arms over his chest after snuffing out his cigarette butt, "They expect him to gain a wife especially since he isn't trying to marry any of the women in town. We will send a hawk back, announcing the so-called marriage arrangement. Shortly after.. You arrive and the mission begins again. All for show and the show must go on, in order to track down information and gather intelligence."
She was fuming. Her whole body vibrated with annoyance causing powerful hands to clench tight. A whole year and a half pretending to be some man's wife. She knew nothing of her counterpart - what if he was one of those higher-ups that she and Ino-pig had occasionally muttered between themselves about being a crazy psycho rapist? Or hell, being a complete and utter douchebag? Multiple possibilities ran through her anxious mind. Just.. who exactly was running this show from the Hidden Waterfall?
Inhaling deeply through her nose and exhaling through her mouth, Sakura managed to calm her down enough to think clearly. After several minutes, with both men waiting, she finally spoke.
"This captain.. Who is he?" The question was bitten, a snap given in her superiors' direction. But.. it hadn't prepared her for the name that Naruto dropped.
"Uchiha Itachi."
"Have you gone mad?!" She spat.