Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its awesomness . Anyway, enjoy.
Chapter 1:
Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Yamato cautiously hopped from tree to tree. They were on a mission, ordered by the Godaime herself. Her words earlier that day echoed in his mind, "Find Uchiha Sasuke. The Elder's request his presence for a trial. I am not sure what they plan to do with him, that is out of my hands. It is the duty of you, Konaha Shinobi, to complete this mission."
Yamato took a quick glance at Sakura and Naruto. Could they follow through with this mission without hesitation? He didn't doubt their skills to bring their ex-teammate home, but what bothered him was… could they find the will to do it?
"Sensei, our mission comes first. I will not get in the way of our capture on Uchiha Sasuke, but please…do not doubt my skills as a Konaha shinobi." Sakura turned to face him as they ran side by side. Naruto slightly smiled, glad that someone finally broke the silence.
"I will never doubt the skills of one of my students. You are the apprentice of the Hokage, if she trusts you, so do I." Sakura nodded in understanding. She was a chuunin level ninja now, along with Naruto, and Sai. Working together as a team, was still just as difficult as when they first became the "new" team seven.
"Yamato, what happens if Sasuke, chooses to fight us?" Naruto seemed worried at his own question.
"We will do as we were ordered, Naruto. We will fight him if it comes to that. I assure you, I will not allow any of you to die."
"It's not us I'm worried about… it's Sasuke."
Yamato couldn't bring himself to reply. What could one say in this situation? He knew Naruto cared for Sasuke like a brother. He couldn't just say, Sasuke deserves it, because deep down, he really didn't think so.
"Naruto," Sakura sobered her face, not showing any emotion, and concentrating on her decend through the forest. "Sasuke is an enemy to Konaha, our home. We shall treat him like one."
"But Sakura-"
"Enough Naruto, Sakura's right. This is for the safety of the very village you want to conquer as Hokage. We will bring Sasuke back, no questions asked." Yamato waved them off as they split into different directions throughout the forest.
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Naruto hunched down behind a few bushes. This was the base for Team Hebi, where they would find Sasuke. Sakura was hidden on the Northern side, Sai was West, Yamato East, and he was South.
They were watching for any sense of movement. "See anything?" He heard Yamato's voice through his earpiece.
"No." He responded back.
"Same here." Sai replied emotionlessly.
"Sakura, on your end?"
"I see someone, Sensei. It looks like a man, with a sword, similar to Zabuza's. I'm estimating that his strength is pretty high, and by the looks of it he masters in water-type jutsu. He's moving water around with his chakra. He hasn't seen me yet. Awaiting orders, sensei."
"I see, Sakura go in for a frontal attack, let them know we're here, but as soon as an unknown enemy joins the fight, retreat back into the forestry. Stay on guard, I'll send Sai over. Use him for back-up."
"Very well sensei. Sai, get moving. To the Norhtern side. Okay, here I go." That was the last contact Naruto heard of Sakura, he hoped she would be safe.
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Sakura lunged out from her hiding spot, at the man, armed with Zabuza's sword. She sent chakra into her fist and slammed it into the ground. The man jumped up to a high tree for safety.
"Damn," Sakura heard him mumble. "Well, I don't care how strong you are. That was a big mistake." He swung his sword at Sakura, who didn't even flinch. His sword was blocked by a dark-haired boy.
"Sakura, I'll take it from here, regroup with Naruto and Yamato."
Sakura nodded. "He's all yours, Sai."
"Suigetsu…what the hell are you doing?" Sakura looked ahead to see a woman, who was slightly overweight, staring her and Sai down. She had red hair, and glasses.
"Nothing Karin. I'll take this shrimp, you get the girl. Protect Sasuke, I can tell from their headbands, they're Konaha shinobi."
"How dare you hunt down Sasuke-kun. What's with your hair anyway? It's pink…Ewwww."
Sakura grasped a kunai. The red-headed girl named Karin seriously started to piss her off. No one talks about here hair like that. Just one little cut to the throat, that's all she wanted. Then she could retreat…
"Sakura, no. Get going now. Remember the mission." Sai glared at Suigetsu as he addressed Sakura.
Sakura took another glance at Karin. "Another time then…" she retreated into the forest, to the awaiting Naruto and Yamato.
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"Karin, you idiot, go after her." Suigetsu threw Karin a glare.
"But, what about Sasuke-kun." She questioned, looking at the base.
"I'll be fine." Sasuke replied, "Now what the hell happened out here?" He pointed to the ground that was extremely out of place.
"Well, a girl, did that." Karin slapped Suigetsu.
"You sexist, anyway, Sasuke-kun, they were Konaha shinobi."
"I see… and who's he?" Sasuke gestured to Sai.
"Apparently one of that girl's friends. He came in as a decoy, so she could escape. I suspect they're not alone."
"Sakura will be back to kick your ass, and four-eyes." Sai fakely smiled.
"Sakura? Suigetsu…did that girl have pink hair?"
"Yeah, kinda' weird if you ask me. Never seen anything like it."
"And she was alone? Except for this guy?" Sasuke fixed Sai with a glare.
"Looks like it." Suigetsu just shrugged.
"Haruno Sakura. I expect Naruto to be with her. Karin, can you sense her chakra signature?"
"Yes, it's not far from here, to the North, Sasuke-kun, but why?"
"Juugo." Sai watched as another man emerged from the base. "Track down Haruno Sakura. She's north from here, she stands out because of her pink hair. She knows the location of our base, we cannot allow her to escape."
"What are you going to do to her?" Suigetsu asked, unknowingly.
"Kill her," came Sasuke's blunt reply.