Author's Note: This is my first Naruto fanfic and my first fic ever (I don't really consider the one I did awhile ago to be work. That's pretty much how bad it was!) I don't have a Beta so I'm on my own for now so be nice! This will be a Kakashi/Sakura story, Sakura being 23 and Kakashi 37 so no pedophile here! But realize that no one really falls in love over night so it will take sometime. Any who please enjoy this and constructive criticism is welcomed along with flames which will be used to light my birthday candles. Also this chapter is mostly a flashback as will be some of the 2nd chapter. So enjoy! BTW I've rewritten the first three chapters so check them out!

Disclaimer: Do you think if I owned Naruto I would be writing this lame story?

Sakura Haruno has changed. No longer does she depend on others but only herself. But when something happens on a mission leaving Sakura blind and in guilt it's only a matter of time before things start to change in more ways then one.

Enigma

Chapter 1- Memories

All you touch and all you see,
Is all your life will ever be.
- - - Pink Floyd, "Breathe"

Waking up to the sound of monitors beeping wasn't exactly what Sakura Haruno wanted to hear. As a matter of fact she shouldn't have been anywhere close to a building which would have such machinery.

But she could hear the dull, annoying beep and she knew something went terribly wrong. The fact that when she opened her eyes and could see nothing began to set warning bells off in her head.

Bringing her hand to her head to try and ease the oncoming headache Sakura could only feel bandages and as she moved her hand around her forehead and eyes that's all she continued to feel.

In a panic, she began to feel like she was hyperventilating as she shakily began to unravel the bandages around her eyes. Feeling the last remaining bandage slip from her face Sakura kept her eyes closed and then ever so slowly opened them.

She regretted it though, because the instant she opened her eyes a bright painful light seemed to explode in front of her, sending a shockwave of pain straight to her brain.

Sakura gripped her head tightly and couldn't help but let out a grunt of pain as it felt like she was getting her skull ripped open from the inside out. Gritting her teeth she suddenly wished to be enveloped into that wonderful world of unconsciousness once again to be rid of this unimaginable pain. But as quick as the pain came it began to lessen to a dull throb in the back of her head.

Eyes tightly squeezed shut, Sakura once again tried to open her eyes only to be met with total darkness.

Oh hell no.

Something wasn't right, why was the room so dark? Why did it seem that even with her keen shinobi eyes she still couldn't see her feet right in front of her? As these questions seemed to barrage her Sakura tried to remember what happened in the first place for her to be laying in a hospital bed with no sense of sight what so ever.

Suddenly like a painful chakra-infused punch to the gut it all came back to her.

----

"Ino-Pig."

"Forehead, just hear me out."

Sakura let out a loud sigh. How many times had she and Ino gone through this conversation? Sakura couldn't even count, it seemed like this was the main topic of conversation that her and Ino constantly shared.

Shaking her head Sakura smirked at Ino's ideas and actions concerning the topic in which they were discussing. "Give it up Pig your wasting your time."

"Aw come on Sakura, you've got guys drooling at your feet 24/7 and you don't even give them a chance, it's utterly sickening", she said with disgust as she casually twirled her hair on her finger.

"You know what I think you just might be a lesbian." Ino said this last part barely above a whisper with a playful twinkle in her eye.

Reaching across the table they were sitting at in Ichiraku's ramen shop, Sakura gave Ino a good flick on the nose. "And I think you just might be jealous Pig".

Sakura couldn't help but laugh as her friend held a look of disbelief while rubbing her nose.

"Yea okay Sakura, who would be jealous of you and that over-sized forehead? I could care less if you have all these hot, single, bachelors flocking after you," she waved her hand in the air for emphasis " I mean come on, I got enough men to worry about I was only trying to get you hooked up cause your just no fun anymore whenever we go out . You seriously need to loosen up girl or get laid". Ino said this last part under her breath as she downed the rest of her beverage.

Sakura gave Ino a smile and shook her head. If Ino wasn't her best friend she probably would of already sent her through a wall but Ino is Ino and by god if she hasn't been tempted before to do it.

It seemed now this was the topic of the day, everyday. Ino was always trying to get Sakura 'hooked up' but Sakura was just way too damn busy.

It's not as if she was isolating herself from the whole male population, heck she'd had a couple of flings over the years. It was just now with her having a new team of her own on ANBU and working at the hospital whenever she had free time, her 'fun time' consisted of having a couple of de-stressing drinks at the local bar . She didn't need a man in her life right now to complicate things. Being a shinobi had its risks and being emotionally attached to someone would be her downfall. Who's to say she might go out on a mission and never come back? Or the other way around. No thanks! She already went through this before with a certain deceased Uchiha.

Sakura was just about to tell Ino her usual 'I don't need a man' spiel but before the words left her mouth a young jounin was crouched before them, seriousness outlining every line on his face.

"The Hokage requests the presence of both of you immediately". With those solemn words said the young shinobi was gone in a puff of smoke.

All traces of laughter and smiles where now gone as the girls simply nodded and followed suit, one disappearing in what seemed pink petals and the other in purple smoke.

Arriving just outside the Hokage's door Sakura and Ino walked in, noticing the 2 members of Sakura's ANBU team standing next to the Hokage's desk, a serious look painting their faces.

"Sakura, Ino" Tsunade said in greeting.

Both replied with a slight tilt of their head.

"I have a mission for you all."

"Ino you will be temporarily transferred to Team Haruno for this particular mission."

Ino gave a curt nod in response to this new adjustment.

Taking four scrolls out of her desk Tsunade each passed one to the four ANBU members. Lacing her fingers together she lent forward, resting her chin on her knuckles. Looking at each shinobi in front of her she began.

"This is a A-Class mission, there is a missing-nin encampment located in The Village Hidden Among the Rocks. Inside your scrolls is the exact where-a bouts of this camp. This group of nin's are holding a scroll, I want you all to go and gather this scroll without notice. No one is to know that Leaf was involved, leave no survivors ".

Nodding their heads in understanding, Tsunade continued.

"I have been told that there is a total of 15 nin located in the camp. Sakura, as Team Leader I expect you to come up with a well endowed plan to obtain this scroll, I know you can do it. You all will be leaving tomorrow at dawn. It should take you no longer then 3 days to gather the scroll and return. If none of you have returned within 5 days I will send out an ANBU squad to retrieve you. Dead or alive" Tsunade sat up straighter at this point and gave a hard, stern look to all of them as if saying' don't even think about dieing'.

Sakura smiled inside at the Hokages way of showing her care. Already though Sakura's mind was spinning with news of the mission. Her body was racing with adrenaline at finally being on another mission! It had been well over 2 weeks since such a mission was granted to her and already she wanted to get moving to the enemy nin camp. Inner Sakura couldn't help but whoop in joy and pound her fists into the air in excitement.

"In this group of missing-nin there is a man named Ryouta Okamoto. He is a ruthless rougue nin and highly dangerous. It is unsure of the Village he is from but it is said he holds secrets of great power and influence. If any other Hidden Village obtains them it could cause serious problems. I want you all to be prepared and ready he is well trained in taijutsu and will show no mercy. I want him eliminated immediately."

Running her hand's through her golden locks, Tsunade sighed in agitation.

"Not only are they holding this scroll they also have been pillaging nearby villages and ruthlessly killing innocent people . Being such high class missing-nin no one has had the courage to stand up to them let alone defeat them in this village. When you arrive in Rock you will meet a man. His name is Sayuki and he will assist you as soon as you arrive."

Sakura gave a thank you to whoever was above for making Lee train her in this area of jutsu, and especially her speed. She winced though at the memory of always putting on those weights around her feet and the countless hours of having to endure them.

"Memorize the information in the scrolls tonight and be well prepared tomorrow, you have much work to do. I wish you all the best of luck and return home safe. You're dismissed".

Turning and heading out the doors Sakura gathered her team for a brief moment around her. Glancing at the faces of Ino and her other two team members, Hajime and Ryou, she couldn't help but smirk.

"Alright, meet at the front gates at 4:30 sharp any later and I will not hesitate to let you know how I feel about tardiness" a brief image of a certain silver-haired sensei flashed in her mind and the beating she never was able to give to him, " be dressed in full ANBU uniform with your mask and cloak." Gaining in return three nods Sakura gave one back before disappearing in a 'poof' of pink.

--

The next morning Sakura awoke at 3 a.m. to prepare for the mission ahead. Dressing, Sakura slipped into her dark black pants, black mesh shirt and the grey ANBU vest. Sitting in a chair next to her bed she finished putting on her attire which consisted of her arm and shin guards and tightly securing her katana around her waste.

Glancing in the mirror Sakura smiled at the reflection before her. How long had she wanted to make a great kunoichi of herself? To finally be able to smile about whom she was? She couldn't be happier, she was the apprentice of one of the 'Legendary Three' and she had an ANBU team of her own! She had wonderful friends that cared for her and had finally matured into the beautiful women looking back at her. But suddenly that smile disappeared for a part of her had been misplaced and probably always will be. Memories came flooding back and she couldn't help this time but let them come. Memories of 'Team 7' but mostly of Sasuke Uchiha.

He was her first love, granted it was a naïve love but a love none the less. What she wouldn't give to see his dark eyes looking back at her, a small smile gracing his lips like old times when her Naruto and Sasuke were together. Whether it had been out training or even at Ichiraku's Ramen Shop. She missed the old days sometimes but she soon found it was never good to dwell on the past because all it brought was pain. And when he had died that terrible day he had took a part of her with him but even so she tried to forget about the deceased Uchiha and move on with her life. She and Naruto were the only members left keeping 'Team 7' alive and that was all that mattered. Naruto and she were best of friends and she couldn't ask for more.

Sakura couldn't help but hate the sting in her eyes at the pain of those memories.

Her love for Sasuke had died but she could never forget him as a companion and as a team mate who had protected her life and Naruto's on more than one occasion. She had come to terms with and made peace with her past, no longer wishing for it back.

In the end the only other person that seemed to disappear from her life had been none other then her ex-sensei Hatake Kakashi. Once each of Team 7 went their own ways it seemed he had just about vanished out of thin air. The only time she ever saw him nowadays was passing him by in the Jonin HQ or in the busy streets of Konoha, every now and then when she did see him all she got from him was a simple wave and a "Yo". To say the least she missed him and his old yet annoying ways.

Shaking her head she quickly dispelled all other memories and thoughts out of her head and tried to focus on the mission. Glancing at the clock she noted it to be 3:45. Good.

Briskly walking towards her door she snatched up her cloak and mask, fluidly slipping each one on before leaving her home and the memories she hoped to forget behind for now.

----

Arriving at the gate a couple of minutes later Sakura gave a sigh of relief in noticing that none of her team was there waiting on her. As leader of her squad she had to make a good impression and uphold her image, she didn't want to end up like another Kakashi that was for sure! She couldn't help but chuckle at his monotonous habits and how surprisingly none of it reflected onto them while training below him.

Relaxing against the front gates of Konohagakure, Sakura couldn't help but adopt one of Shikamaru's bad habits of looking at the clouds in lazy wonderment. It gave her a moment of solace and freedom, knowing that as soon as she looks back down she's back to business. It was little moments like this that she tried to hold onto for as long as possible, just being able to look up at the clear blue sky as the wind swept around you was like heaven in Sakura's chaotic world.

Sensing the 3 ninjas around her Sakura hadn't realized how long she had been day dreaming but knew it was time to go.

"Ready?"

Three masked faces nodded and that was all she needed before they were all gone in a blur.

Little did she know that this one mission was gonna change everything that she once held and knew.