Note: Spoilers for manga chapter 245 and on. Don't want it spoiled, please don't read on.

For the readers: Sakura (19) is a medic-nin, Gaara (19) is Kazekage and the ranks of other main characters (of this fic) will be mentioned and explained. Also, Kankurou is 21 and Temari about 22. Any other ages should be easy to figure out with that.

Prolouge

It was four in the morning and most shinobi and families still residing in the Hidden Village of Sand were asleep. But of course, the village's Kazekage was wide awake, buried behind a tower of scrolls and tedious paperwork. Scrolls containing intelligence, recent missions reports, past mission reports that needed second looks, random notes scribbled by Kazekage himself which he no longer understood or cared about, and one particular scroll that the Kazekage regretted being given to him. It was a detailed outline of the next Chuunin Exam, set to be held in the Hidden Village of Grass. Being the small village it was, there was a request for shinobi of participating nations to travel with potential chuunins, for security purposes.

"They're still afraid of attacks," Gaara said to himself as his empty eyes skimmed skillfully over the scroll.

"Feh," another voice protested. "The attack on Konoha was years ago. What are they still afraid of?"

Slowly, the scroll rolled closed and Gaara brought tired eyes up to the visitor. It was his brother, Kankurou, with yet another scroll to add to the pile. Great. Kankurou, sensing his little brother's agitation of the extra paperwork he would produce, smirked at Gaara triumphantly.

"You wanted to be Sand's Kazekage," he commented dropping the familiar item from his hand to the cluttered desk before him. "I guess you didn't think about the paperwork?"

Kankurou's smirk dropped as he surveyed Gaara's face. He was more than agitated. He could almost hear Shukaku ordering Gaara to kill Kankurou on the spot. Yes, he's angry but Kankurou knew Gaara could easily silence the demon. Even before he became the Sand's protector, it was a skill he possessed, Kankurou no longer feared his brother the way he used to, many years ago. From time to time, Gaara was still a ruthless killer but only when the situation called for it; when he needed to protect his people. Otherwise, the trademark glare Gaara put on, well, most of the time was the only indicator that he was severely annoyed. Kankurou was glad Gaara had finally silenced the voice in his head. That meant he can bug his little brother like a big brother should. With this last thought, his lips upturned once more but in a joyous smile. Brother...

"Take a break or something, will ya? I don't ever see you outside of this office," Kankurou said shifting around the heavy pack on his back.

"You've been requested."

Kankurou waited patiently for Gaara to continue. He sure had a really bad habit of saying something important and waiting too long to explain what he meant.

"You've been requested to join our prospective chuunins on their travel to the Hidden Village of Grass to participate in this year's Chuunin exams. They leave tomorrow morning at seven. I trust you'll be available?" Gaara said after a while.

It was his turn to smile. Kankurou had not been requested specifically but putting him on the spot like this was payback. Gaara had entrusted many a mission in Kankurou's hands. He was more than able, being an elite Jounin, and to tell the truth, it's not like he could refuse. Not only was this the Kazekage, but family. Check and mate.

"Are we talking this morning or actually tomorrow?" Kankurou asked, recognizing Gaara's act of throwing his words in his face with another mission. Oh yes, he had realized he had gotten a lot more missions from his brother. That rat. Tanuki, whatever you want to call him.

"Tomorrow, of course. I'll allow you a good night's rest, brother."

The last word was stressed and a quirky grin from Gaara made Kankurou's skin crawl. The sarcasm and laughter in Gaara's voiced dripped from every word. 'He's going to hear a few choice words if this sucks as much as I think it will.' Kankurou thought, bearing a pleasantly sour smile on the outside. He bowed as he left the office of the Kazekage and silently cursed the Gods for putting his brother in office.

"Someone really hates me up there."

"Just a little more..just a little..just!" Haruno Sakura's hands flew above her head as the rabbit beneath her fingers squirmed and jolted back to life.

"Shh," she soothed as she smoothed the animal's fur. "You're alright now. I'll take you back home once I see that everything's ok. Is that alright?" she asked, as if the rabbit would respond.

With missions becoming less and the number of medic nin becoming more, Sakura found her duties becoming scarce. People were a priority but injuries were few and most not too serious. Her medic abilities, she decided, would not go to waste and be learned for naught. She settled on animals.

She picked the rabbit up carefully and placed it back into one of the many cages in the room. Relieved that the last of her strays was finally safe, she sighed in great relief.

"It's only 10:30, jeez. Well, maybe I can check in with Tsunade-sensei," she thought out loud.

She removed her apron and washed her hands thoroughly before waving goodbye to her caged friends. On her way to the Hokage's building, she caught site of a few of her friends, enjoying breakfast or going off to train. She did not stop to talk though. She threw around the idea that something was up in the Hokage's office. Something she wanted to be informed of. She wasn't considered a nuisance to Tsunade-sensei as some may have suggested, but a relief. Tsunade really required two Shizune's and Sakura considered herself accessible enough. They had become very good friends over the years.

After entering the building, Sakura made her way quickly to Tsunade's office. She knocked the familiar rhythm of an accepted guest and opened the doors.

"Sakura!" Shizune said as her head snapped to the open doors.

Tsunade looked to her attendant and smiled brightly. "Brilliant! Sakura is a great choice for this mission!"

"No, Tsunade-sama. Sakura," Shizune remarked pointing to the doors.

"Oh, Sakura! Come in, come in. I have a great mission for you!" Tsunade said jovially, getting up from her desk and ushering Sakura into the room.

"Good morning to you both," Sakura mumbled confusedly as she was dragged to the front of Tsunade's desk. Shizune looked almost guiltily at Sakura then quickly looked to the pig in her arms.

"I need you to go to the Hidden Village of Grass with this year's hopeful genins. They leave tomorrow at seven, to get to the Grass Village in time, so I'll need you to meet them all, and their senseis at the front gate. Alright?"

Sakura's head took a minute to catch up to the words Tsunade had said. Mission to Grass, seven, front gate, tomorrow.

"Sure thing Hokage-sama," Sakura said with a bow.

"Good. You'll be going with Inuzuka Kiba and Akamaru, whom I can trust you'll talk to about the mission because I sure as hell can't. Ugh, a failed mission, first one in months and my God the paperwork it causes. Shizune! I'm thirsty again." Tsunade looked pointedly at her attendant.

"Coffee, Tsunade-sama? I don't think you should have anymore," Shizune said clutching Tonton to her chest protectively.

"Then get me sake or something. Anyway, Sakura here's your info and give this scroll to Kiba when you see him, ok?"

Sakura bowed once more and was escorted out by Shizune. Once safely outside the doors, Sakura let outthe breath she had been holding.

"What did you put in her coffee?" Sakura questioned Shizune curiously.

"I think too much sugar."

Shizune shook her head apologetically and bowed to Sakura as she did the same and left.