Chapter One: Receiving

Sakura felt the sun beating on her back as she walked through the streets of Konoha. She saw familiar faces pass by her; the same faces she saw nearly everyday. All faces she knew, but not one in there was the face of the one she really wanted to see…the one she searched for nearly everyday; Sasuke-kun's. She sighed and ran her fingers through her fuchsia-colored hair. Her hair had gotten longer over the years, now reaching the bottom of her shoulder blades.

When Sasuke left, she refused to cut it but after 3 years of constantly searching for him with Naruto, and finally finding him with Sai, she gave up, and let it grow out. Her short hair was nothing but a constant reminder of the only one she gave her heart to, and he didn't seem to love her back or acknowledge her even as a friend. But for some reason, the constant cold glares and such he gave her when they were together, and the betrayal of him to the Village, his friends, her and ultimately her heart, didn't seem to make her fall out of love with him, but make her fall deeper in love with him, because she didn't have him and that's what she wanted.

It was now 4 years after she decided to let her hair grow out-making her 19, turning 20 tomorrow. She had done well under the influence of Tsunade-sama, and under her she had even surpassed Tsunade's skills. She had the powerful punch, which made Naruto cower everytime he playfully insulted her or made a move on her, much to her annoyance, and her medical jutsu skills had improved and were top-notch, making her one of the best medicalnins in Konoha. She also had filled out an application for being a part of Anbu, like many of her friends had including Naruto, Ino, Kiba, Neji, Ten Ten, Lee, Shikamaru and Shino. The rest were going to train more and have teams to take care of. Sakura's skills as a ninja had improved as well, and she learned more then just taijutsu, but more ninjutsu and genjutsu. She was finally becoming a successful and productive kunoichi, including her doing a project concerning Konoha's defense system and completing over 15 A and B-ranked missions which she completed with her allies.

Over all, her life was still happy and fun-filled, despite Sasuke not being there. But it's not like she was the only one. Whenever all the teams got together to hang out, there was always an empty space there that everyone could feel that should have been Sasuke. In the group, she had many relationships- friendly, and intimate. She had dated Neji, and Kiba and even Lee after he had bugged her enough, but she felt he deserved it after saving her all those times. The relationship only lasted 1 day, after he had totally screwed up their date and left her begging for someone to take her, which is where Neji came in. Lee didn't seem to mind, because TenTen asked her out the next day, and he accepted.

Naruto had become her best friend, their relationship tightening after all they had been through…missions, secrets, heart ache, and their familiarity of having their hearts broken; Sakura had lost her crush, Naruto a brother-like figure and through that they found a bigger relationship then just love/hate.

Thinking of this reminded her of why she was walking- she was meeting Naruto for Ramen. When she got there, she greeted Naruto and she sat down, ordering and started to talk to Naruto. They laughed and talked for a while before Shikamaru came in. "Oh, Sakura-chan, ohiyo."

"Ohiyo, Shika-chan." Sakura said, laughing as she teased him with her nickname.

"I told you not to call me that…" he said glaring at her. "I came here to tell you Tsunade-baachan needs you. I was in the office getting a mission and she asked me to get you. Something about a new mission and it's an independent one." He said.

"Oh. Thank you for telling me, Shika-chan, you can have the rest of my ramen." She said, laughing as he growled, mumblind obsenities as he sat down to finish her meal. "Sorry, Naruto-kun, I'll have to hang out with you some other time. Thank you for treating me to it." She bowed quickly and ran to the office.

"H-huh? I never said I'd pay for it!" Naruto yelled after her, growling angrily.

Sakura giggled and finally made it to the 5th Hokage's office. "Tsunade-sama?" Sakura asked, walking into her office.

"Ah, Sakura-chan. Shikamaru-kun found you." She replied. Tsunade had not changed much over the years, but after constantly using her jutsu to stay young, it was finally weakening and you could tell by the shallow but appearance of wrinkles on her face and the way her skin seemed to wear down at some places and was almost transparent, like her hands.

"Yes, Shika-chan found me." She laughed.

Tsunade smiled but it was almost…empty. Sakura frowned. "Is something wrong, Tsunade-sama?"

"No, Sakura-chan. The council has…discussed it and we have found you the best candidate despite some of the other talents of the other shinobi here. We hand you your next A-class mission, which is to get close to the Akatsuki, find their locations, get information, and kill Uchiha Itachi." Tsunade said grimly.

The name Uchiha made a small gasp fly from Sakura's mouth. "I-Itachi? But isn't he a powerful S-class criminal? I couldn't possibly, he'd know my every move, he'd be sure to know I'm there…any other shinobi BUT me could do it, I'm really surprised I was even a candidate to begin with…I ca-"

"I've already tried, Sakura-chan. The elder council believe you can do it, and somewhere under all my doubts arising because I care about you almost like a daughter…I believe you can do it to. It's already been decided and you've already received it, so I expect you to report to the front gate at 7:00 sharp tomorrow. Oh, and by the way…Happy Birthday." Tsunade said, and dismissed her.

End of part one, sorry it's so short, but aren't all introductions? Sorry that Itachi wasn't in this one, but she is sure to meet him in the next one

MoonlitXkoinichi