Introduction:
They left me alone for three years, they all did. They left me in the dust and they never looked back. Since he returned and I wondered if things would go back to normal, but I doubt it. I've been so lost. I've traveled down a wrong path, a different path than what my density had originally laid out for me. It's been six months since Naruto has returned to the village and I was placed on team seven once again, though this time is different. There was still no Sasuke. Sai and Captain Yamato were added to make a team of four, or for one of them to replace me, I haven't quite figured it out yet. Team seven did not know my dark secret, none of the Konoha 11 knew and I was fighting like hell to keep it that way, to keep things like they were before but of course Danzo had other plans.
Sakura's POV:
It has been six months since we saved the Kazekage from the Akatsuki. I couldn't help but think of Gaara day and night. Gaara and I had grown very close to each other, even before the Akatsuki had attacked. Within a year of Naruto taking off to train with Jiraiya, Tsunade had finished training me in medical ninjutsu and sent me off to Suna to help train their nurses. Within two weeks of being in Suna I could see Gaara begin to break down the walls around his heart. Temari and Kankuro had welcomed me with open arms, just like they did when we were kids and my parents would take me with them on their missions to Suna. The only time I felt like I could be my true self was around these three. They all knew my dirty little secret and accepted me anyways, especially Gaara.
I was looking up to the stars as I walked out of the hospital as I made my way down to the Foundation, wondering if Gaara was looking at the same stars so many miles away. In the last letter he sent to me he expressed how he was worried about the treaty between Konoha and Suna. The elders and council members in Sunagakure were worried that the treaty between us was not strong enough. They worried that if war broke out or if Gaara was to be replaced by a different Kazekage then the treaty between the two villages would be voided. I couldn't help but agree. While Suna rushed to help us with Sasuke situation five years ago and Team 7 was sent without question to save the Kazekage, our two villages haven't always been on the best terms. Under the Fourth Kazekage, Gaara's father, our village was attacked by the Sound and Sand and during the chunin exams which ended in the death of our beloved Third Hokage. While many people, like the Konoha 11, have forgiven them, the elders and Danzo have not. I was trying to think of different ways our two villages could strengthen our bond when I was pulled out of my thoughts by a certain loud mouth knucklehead.
"Sakura!" Naruto gripped my shoulder and whipped me around only to reveal Kakashi, Yamato and Sai standing behind them.
"Hey" was all I could manage, my thoughts were still else were and now I was worried I was going to be late, and he did not like to be kept waiting.
"We were all heading to Ichiraku's if you would like to join us." Sai stated with that fake smile of his. It was always plastered on his face, that stupid fake smile of his, but I couldn't blame him. He grew up in the Root and was taught that emotions were useless and that shinobi should live without them. He was still trying to learn and understand all these new feelings, and I knew how tough it was. How tough it was to pretend and fight to be someone you simply were not.
"I'm sorry I can't" I started to walk away when a gloved hand grabbed mine stopping me in my tracks.
"Sakura, we hardly even see you anymore unless we are training or on missions. I'm worried. You are always at the hospital, too much work is not healthy for you. You need to take a break every once in a while. Come with us to the ramen shop, my treat." Kakashi gave me a one eye smile and I felt my heart beat quicken. Where was his concern three years ago? Why was he not there to stop me, to stop him? Kakashi-sensei had always put the two boys ahead of me and I was okay with that. He never noticed my potential, but I did not need his approval to know I had the power to protect this village. When Naruto left, he stopped hanging around me, there was no longer a reason to I guess. In fact I went three years without seeing Kakashi, it wasn't until Naruto returned that I saw Kakashi again, but by then the damage was done, the mistake had been made.
"I'm late, maybe around time." And before the four boys could get another word in edge wises I disappeared, leaving only a cloud of smoke and a few cherry blossom petals behind.
I appeared in front of the Foundation pissed off. He did not care about me back then, he does not get to care about me now. The boys had made me late and I could already feel the angry seeping out of the room as I made my way to the office. I knocked three times at the door and waited for him to come in. I opened the door and instantly felt his hand across my face.
I stood still. I did not cry, or whimper like I would have three years ago. I did not dare raise my hand to wipe always the blood that dripped down my lip. Nor did I speak. I stood perfectly still, my feet together, pointed slightly out, my hands balled into fists placed firmly at my side with my thumb perfectly aligned with the steam of my pants. My head was held high and my eyes were locked forward not daring to look around. I stood as a perfect solider because that was what I was molded to be.
"You're late" his voice was laced with venom as he sat back down at his desk.
"What did you need?" I ignored his statement, knowing he had called me here for a reason, probably another mission.
"You mission is to take out the group of rouges hanging around the outskirts of the village. They have a camp about 30 miles north of the main gate. Leave no traces behind." I walked forward to pick the yellow folder he had in his hand. Once I took it I quickly skimmed over the information that been gather by another team of anbu a few days ago. There were about twenty rouges reported being at their base camp with high chakra capacity. I understood why I was called into the office. No one was better suited for this mission than me. This was my typical type of mission. I was sent to do the things the normal Leaf Ninja could not done. I was sent on missions the Leaf would never claim to have been involved in. I worked from the shadows, and surprisingly I was okay with that. I knew up on Team 7 in the shadows of Sasuke and Naruto. Being in the shadows was the only thing I ever knew.
"And blossom" I turned around to see his back to me looking out the window. "Do not disappoint me, you know what happens when I am angry."
I nodded, knowing he wouldn't see it and teleported myself back to the front of my apartment building. I gripped the yellow folder tighter remembering the last time I disappointed him. I spent three weeks in the hospital when I failed to kill a kid. Back then I had more humanity, I saw more gray areas but now two years late I see only black and white. I had to see only black and white, it made my job easier. For I was the Great Dragon Blossom and I had to do the things other were unwilling to do in order to keep my village safe.
"Do you think she will be mad at me Temari?" Gaara stood on the roof on top of the Kazekage building staring off in the direction of the Village Hidden in the Leaves.
"Gaara…" Temari paused trying to find the right words. She had become extremely worried about her pink haired kunoichi. She was worried that Sakura has pushing herself to hard and that sooner or later she would wind up dead. "I think this would help with her situation."
"But do you really think she would be willing to become the ambassador for our two villages? I wonder if she would be willing to spend half her time here. If she was here I could protect her from him. Here he couldn't get to her, I wouldn't let him. Here I could protect her, watch over her, make sure she was safe and happy."
Temari couldn't help but smile at her younger brother. It was no secret that Gaara and Sakura shared a special bond. Both ninjas had been used by their village, both had done things that they weren't necessarily proud of. Both knew that their density was to be used as a tool for their village and both of them had accepted that. Sakura had changed Gaara so much since coming to train their nurses three years ago. Gaara was finally human. Gaara cared about those around him and was more than willing to put his life on the line to protect his village and his people, the attack from the Akatsuki proved it.
"Why don't you send a message to Lady Hokage and see what she thinks. I'm sure she would jump at the idea to strength our two nations."
Gaara didn't rely, he just simply nodded still looking in the direction of the Leaf. As Temari left the rooftop to begin to draft the letter, Gaara couldn't focus.
All he kept thinking was please be safe my blossom.
~~~
Sakura POV:
I jumped from tree to tree as I made my way back home. Home? I guess I could call it that, but that's not where my heart was anymore. These last three years have changed me. I am no longer the same bubbly cherry blossom that I was when I was originally placed on Team 7. Now I was much cold. Now I knew nothing but war and blood thirst.
I was about ten miles from the main gate and I was hoping the two gate keepers were asleep at their post again. I had used a lot of charka to dispose of the group of rouges outside the village and I did not have enough to teleport back home.
I pushed my mask tighter against my face, not wanting anyone to know it was me. Not that someone could really guess by looking at me. I was covered in blood. My once pink hair was now stained red and the small gaps between my pieces of clothing did not show white. I must have looked like a creature out of the village children's nightmares.
My father's sword hung on my hip and I could feel the weight out it. How many people have I killed with this sword? I honestly couldn't remember, but the scream of my newest victims still rang in my ears. I had a few cuts and bruises here and there but nothing compare to the sensation I still felt on my check from earlier. My check was swollen. The swollenness made my check slightly push against my mask, making a stinging reminder of the incident the entire way home.
It was 6am by the time I came to the main gate. Luckily the two idiots who were left in charge of making sure no unauthorized ninja entered into the Leaf were fast asleep. I smirked as I quickly jumped from rooftop to rooftop making my way to my apartment. No one besides a few shop owners were ever up these early, let alone on the main streets, so I was free to move to my apartment without fear of being noticed.
"I'm home!" I yelled as I entered knowing I wasn't going to get a response back. It had been two and half years since they were killed, yet I enter every time expecting to be greeted home. My heart sunk lower in my chest when I didn't get a response. I walked into my bathroom and quickly discarded of my now useless anbu uniform. Leave no traces. His words echoed in my head. If I kept my uniform, even if I washed it there was still a small chance their blood could be found on the articles of clothing. No, every time I came back from one my special missions, my uniforms had to be burned.
I quickly performed a justus on my clothes as I waited for the water to warm up in the shower. The showed took an hour. It took an hour to get all of their blood off of me. My long hair now showed their pink color once again. Though I showered for an hour I still didn't feel clean.
I felt dirty. I was his go-to, his favorite kunoichi and I was always the one to do the most of his dirty work. I felt dirty and used. I didn't want to look at myself in the mirror but I knew I had to if I was going to try and heal my check and busted lip.
My left side of my upper lip was cracked and raw. A nice brown and yellow bruise appear on my check. It looked about as good as I felt, terrible. I was about to apply on ointment when a knock at the door came.
"Hold on a moment, I'll be right there." I quickly dressed in my normal uniform and ran a brush though my hair.
I opened my front door expecting to find of one his soldiers who were sent to get the mission report. When I stuck out my hand to hand over the yellow folder I quickly retracted it seeing no other than Kakashi standing at my front door, his eyes wide.
"What the hell happened to your face!?" Kakashi didn't wait for me to rely as he pushed me back in to my apartment closing the door behind him.
"Why are you here sensei?"
"What happened?" He gently reached out to put a hand on my check but I stepped back avoiding his gaze. After a few moments I didn't answer and he became pissed. While my eyes were still looking at the floor I could see him raise his arms and cross them in front of his chest. "Who did this to you?!" He voice held nothing but anger, but it wasn't his place to be angry. He gave up any right for caring about me the day Naruto left and I was once left behind in the dust to fend for myself.
"I was sparing and I did not block a punch in time." My eye meet his glare daring him to call me a liar. "I was on my way out to hospital. I would like to be on time to my shift unless you are here to tell me I needed somewhere else."
"Lady Tsunade requested your presence immediately in her office." I nodded, as we walked out and he waited for me to lock my door.
"Sakura…you would tell me if you were in trouble right? You know I am always here for you." All I could do was nodded as I made my way to the office. Sorry to disappoint you Kakashi but I was no longer that weak fan girl that couldn't hold her own. I was now an anbu captain, I could handle myself. I didn't need protection form anyone, never again will I need to be saved. Besides this bruise on my check was Team 7's fault. They made me late and I had to take the punishment. I ignored his constant staring as I walked into the office only to reveal Tsunade, Danzo, the elders and the rest of Team 7 in the room.
This can't be good as I bowed to both of my senseis before me.
"About freaking time you two got here! Baka-chan wouldn't tell us why we were called in until you came!" Naruto's voice echoed in the room. Naruto was on my good side and I was grateful he hadn't noticed the bruise yet.
However, I wasn't so lucky with Lady Tsunade. Her glaze meet my check and her eye brows raised. Before she could say anything I shook my head no and placed my hand on the back of my neck and gave a light smile. This was always my way of letting her I had over done it during training and not to worry about it. She shook her head slightly, I knew she didn't buy my story but she wouldn't question it in front of Team 7. Team 7 was never informed that I had reached anbu. Not only was I Danzo's go-to solider but I was Tsunade's as well.
"Ma' Lady you requested my presence." I bowed once more as a sign of respect for not questioning my story.
"Yes, well I need Team 7 to travel to Suna and speak with the Kazekage."
"Yes! I can't wait to see Gaara and show him the new moves Kakashi-sensei and Captain Yamato showed me I-"
"Will you shut the fuck up and let her finish talking." I didn't mean to snap at Naruto but I couldn't help it. I wanted, no needed to know what was wrong with Gaara. Had something happened? Did one of the sand siblings get attacked again and needed me? Did they need me and I was not there to protect them?
Naruto was quickly silenced but my comment. Even Yamato to and Sai looked stunned at my sudden outburst and I could feel Kakashi's glare at the back of the head.
"As I was saying, I need you five to go to the Sand Village and talk with Gaara. He was sent a proposition and the council and I can't help but agree with him." My eyes darted to Danzo, his face was stone, I couldn't read any emotion off of him. I turned my attention to the elders and they were both glaring at me. Did they know? Did Gaara tell them? No he wouldn't it there must be something else going on.
"Baka-chan that still doesn't explain why we are being sent." Naruto nervously looked over to me to see if I was going to flip out but I kept my mouth shut as I studied the three council members standing in front of me.
"Gaara wants Sakura-"
"What does he mean want? He can't have her. She is a part of this team." Tsunade was now pissed. She could almost take getting interrupted by Naruto but by Kakashi and even before she could finish.
"ONE MORE FUCKING WORD OUT OF ANYONE BEFORE I FINISH WHAT I NEED TO EXPLAIN WILL BE AT THE TOP OF MY FUCKING SHIT LIST!"
The boys are my team all stood wide eyed and I could hear Shizune mutter under her breath about how they never learn.
"Anyways, Gaara would like Sakura to become the Ambassador between Suna and the Leaf. Since she has made a strong connection with the people of Suna and has proven that she is dedicated to not only the people of Suna but to the Kazekage's family."
I opened and shut my mouth a couple of times not knowing what to say. Gaara what the hell were you thinking? As if he would let me be away from the village long enough for me to fulfil my role as Ambassador. I would feel nine pairs of eyes staring at me, waiting for my response. I felt my stomach twist into a knot. Fuck me!
"Sakura this would be a great opportunity between our two villages." Tsunade stood up from her desk and made her way over to me. I was frozen, like a dear in headlights, I didn't know the correct answer to this problem. If the council all agreed to it, did that mean he approved it? She placed her hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes searching, for what I don't know, maybe fear or doubt.
"I am been training you for over three years. I have already taught you everything I could possibly teach you. You have excelled in your roles in Konoha. Sakura you are my apprentice, and I honestly couldn't think of a more suitable person for the job. You do not have to give me an answer today but I would still like you to go to Suna and talk with Gaara. In his letter he said the only person he feels comfortable enough to work with is you and would not agree to anyone else."
"Haunro." Danzo voice pulled me from my thoughts. I straighten up and locked eyes with him. "Lady Hokage might be giving you a choice but the members of this council are not. Put your feelings aside girl. The Kazekage has personally requested you. Tensions between the two villages have been raising and I will not tell him no. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir" I balled my fists, I was pissed. Before anyone could tell Danzo off, he disappeared in a cloud of smoke along with the elders. Those sneaky fucking bastards. They are up to something, but if they think I am going to hurt Gaara or Suna then they might as well kill me because I refuse to.
"Lady Tsunade surly you can't make Sakura take on a role she-"
I raised my hand silencing Yamato. "When do we leave Ma' Lady?"
"An hour. You are all dismissed until then."
I quickly turned on my heels and headed out of the door. Once I made it into the hallway I bolted. I did not want to deal with the thousand questions the boys had for me. I did not want to deal with the high probability that this was all a trap. That they were planning to hurt Gaara. I ran to my apartment and began to prepare for the worse.
Kakashi POV:
I was the first to arrive at the main gate which is so out of character for me. Maybe I was hoping she was going to already be here and I could talk to her. Who the hell does Gaara think he is to request an eighteen year old girl to leave her home. What was Tsunade talking about Sakura going to Suna? I know I was gone for three years but I had just assumed that Sakura had stuck with Tsunade day and night. It's been six months since we were all placed back on the same team and why am I only seeing how different Sakura is now.
I knew Sakura had become stronger, stronger than Tsunade but how much had Sakura really improved? Where was she when she was not with us or at the hospital? How could I have been so blind to not see my cherry is no longer my cherry.
But more importantly why was I so pissed when Tsunade said Gaara wanted her. Yes she is my student and I have always cared for her, but would I have been as pissed off if Gaara had requested Naruto?
Sakura went from being the weakest link on team seven to this beautiful grown women. How did I not notice it sooner? Why was it not until I thought Gaara was interested that I noticed those beautiful curves of hers?
"Senpai, what do you think is going on?" Yamato was the second member on Team 7 to arrive. Both senior members were early. They had both hoped they had a chance to talk to the pink hair
kunoichi.
"I do know, but did you see that look in her eyes. It wasn't fear." I hung my head low I felt like I was failing her all over again.
"Come on now senpai, don't tell me you think she is in some type of danger?"
"Tenzō…she has been acting strangly lately. The odd Sakura would have jumped at the chance to go out to dinner with the team, espically if I was the one paying…."
"What is it?" Tenzo stepped forward placing his arm on my shoulder.
"Did you see the way she looked at me the other night? She looked pissed to have ran into us. She looked pissed that I was touching her." Tenzo shook his head as if to tell me I was over reacting. "This morning when I went to get her, she opened the door and looked disappointed to see me. Did you see her check?" Tenzo nodded.
"I didn't think it was the place or time to question her about it."
"I asked her what happened, I went to touch her face to make sure she was okay and she pulled away and wouldn't look at me. When she was younger and she got hurt I was the first person she ran to. When she was hurt I would reach out and hold her and let her cry it out. I would always be the one she ran to when she needed to know everything was going to be okay. But this time she pulled away. She told me it happened during training and the look she gave me held so much hate." I shock my head. What was going on?
"Ehh Kakashi-sensei! Captain Yamato!" Naruto walked up with Sai smiling. "Where is Sakura-chan?" Both boys looked around searching for her.
"I'm sure she just got lost on the path of life. I'm sure she will be here soon." I tried my best to hide these feelings that I didn't quite understand. Five minutes passed and I was starting to get worried, Sakura was never late, in fact she was almost always early.
But before I could start thinking about leaving the group to go find her. I saw a pink and yellow blur walking in the distance. She must have went back to the Hokage's office to talk with Tsunade.
"Sorry I'm late. Are you all ready to go?"
"Damn right we are all ready! Let's go I can't wait to see Gaara again, I have to spare with him and show him how much stronger I am now!"
I shook my head. Sakura ignored Naruto and started to walk out of the villege, not looking back to see if we were following. I went to walk off when Tsunade grabbed both me and Yamato.
"Look after her. Something is not right." We nodded and follow the younger memebers of Team 7 out of the village.
If Tsunade is worried, that means I should be to. I promise you Sakura I will find out what is happening.
Sakura POV:
We had been traveling for eight hours before they decided to take a break. I was exhausted. It had been five days since I had any sleep and I was never able to catch my breath from the last mission I was sent on. Solider pills and caffeine could only do so much before your body crashed and mine was getting very close. I popped another pill in my mouth before the boys could realize what I was doing and spiked my chakra in hopes of getting my body to wake up.
Eight hours, I went eight hours without talking to them. Naruto spent most of the time talking, mostly about how excited he was to finally see Gaara again. Sai kept him busy by calling him dickless every now and again, getting Naruto all worked up every time he did. Yamato and Kakashi talked among themselves but not to me.
Occasionally Naruto would try and talk with me but I would simply reply with a nod, I was too tired to talk. I was afraid once I started talking I would lose all the focus to stay awake and I was afraid of them asking questions. I knew Kakashi had a million of them but I probably had only one or two answers and I didn't want to try and think of the rest.
I walk to a tree and leaned against it. Slowly I allowed my legs to give out as my back slid down the truck until my ass was on the ground. I was panting, panting hard. I was trying to focus on breathing but I was shaky and I was trying my best to hide it.
I raised my hand to my check only to find it didn't hurt as bad when we first left on our journey. When I left the office, the first thing I did when I went home was treat my wounds. I was able to heal the busted lip, but the bruising would take time. I could only be grateful for makeup. Naruto never notice it, because he would have never shut up about it until I told him what happened.
"Sakura-chan how are you feeling?" Kakashi bent down eye level to me holding out a bottle of water.
"Thank you" I took the bottle and drank half of it before I looked into his gaze. His eye almost never showed emotion, he almost always had a clam demeanor about him but he seemed off. Maybe I had been too hard on him earlier. "I'm fine, just a little tired is all." I gave him a smile as I finished drinking the rest of the bottle.
"Why didn't you say you needed a break earlier?"
I looked down. I knew I wasn't weak anymore, but I thought asking for a break would make me appear weak. Besides I wanted to get Suna as fast as possible. "I'm fine Kakashi-sensei I just needed to catch my breath, thank you again for the water." I stood up and walked over to Sai and Naruto, Kakashi watched me as I walked away shaking his head.
We traveled another eight hours before stopping to set up camp. Kakashi assigned the different tasks needed to set up camp. Naruto was in charge of firewood, Sai was in charge of setting up dinner, I was in charge of starting the fire while Kakashi and Yamato were in charge of clearing the area and making sure there were no threats around us. By the time they came back our camp was set up and dinner was made.
The boys sat around the fire eating their instant ramen talking about a variety of topics. I jumped up on one of the trees around us and took a seat on one of the branches. Gaara what is your game plan?
I was staring off in the distance and I felt my eye lids grow heavy. I was at my limit. My body was tired and sore. My heart was heavy and my mind was running a million miles an hour. I felt my body go limp as I slowly drifted off to sleep.