Chapter 1: Decisions

Sakura P.O.V.

On the night it all began, there was no moon. In other words, it was a new moon. A time for new beginnings, to wash away the past and start again.

This, in my case would be a blessing.

When I was seven years old, I saw a poster on a dress shop window, inviting children to the Konoha Ninja Academy, to train and learn to be a shinobi and loyally protect their village. At the time, I got so excited about doing such an amazing thing, but my mother didn't think the same way.

After many attempts of asking and pleading her to accept going to the orientation day, she finally said yes.

Little did I know, from then on I would be protecting the village with my life, but be known as a traitor to it in the future.

It was 2:30am in the morning and I had just finished a sixteen hour shift at the Konoha hospital. Let it be known that being a full-time ANBU operative and a full-time medic-nin at the age of 17 was in itself an amazing accomplishment, but the non-stop training, missions and work was extremely draining.

'In other words, WE FEEL LIKE CRAP.'

Ah, Inner Sakura, the voice of my true thoughts and expressions, and the most unnerving and annoying thing on my mind.

'Well if I don't express my emotions, you never will.'

That was true. Believe it or not, this Sakura Haruno has her emotions in check. No smiling, frowning, sadness or happiness on this face, just a blank expression.

I guess that's what ANBU training does to you.

I walked up the stairs of my apartment, stopped at the front door and quietly opened it and snuck inside. Weird right? A ninja using the front door.

I threw my bag on the floor and slipped off my boots, travelled to the couch and fell onto it.

'Now to get some lovely TLC from this beautiful, soft couch.'

Inner was right. When was the last night I actually slept? Maybe I should ask for a vacation, sleep and relaxation were needed for this fleshy suit of pink.

As I closed my eyes and felt myself drifting to sleep I heard the sound I was dreading the most.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I sat up and opened my eyes and looked sleepily over at my window. An ANBU operative in a frog mask was waiting for a response.

I stood, walked over and pushed open the window.

"Lady Hokage wishes to see you immediately," said the mysterious frog man in a deep monotone voice.

I nodded, and he took that as confirmation and disappeared from sight.

'Are you freaking kidding me? Can't this wait until morning…'

Nope. The village comes first, no matter what hour of the day, even if it was really, really, early and I felt like punching Tsunade in the face.

I grabbed my boots and slipped them back on and decided to leave out the window. I jumped onto the roof and began making my way to the Hokage tower.

The street lamps lit my way through the village as I jumped from roof top to roof top.

The brightest ones were in front of the hospital. I had only finished my night shift there less than an hour ago. Maybe there was a medical emergency and Lady Tsunade wanted me to help out? I certainly hope not. I may be a qualified medic-nin but that doesn't mean I like to work over time.

Perhaps it was an urgent mission?

'It better not be either, I can't handle any more work than we already do!'

I arrived at the tower and landed just outside of Tsunade's office. I knocked twice on the window and Tsunade turned around in her chair to acknowledge me, and with a small hand gesture summoned me to come in. As I let myself in, I noticed someone else's presence in the room.

"Shikamaru," I said nodding to him as I walked closer to the Hokage's desk.

'Why the hell would his lazy ass be here so early in the morning?'

"Ah, you're here too, Sakura? How troublesome." He replied with a yawn.

Shikamaru was as stoic as ever, but looked worn out.

'Probably just woke up.'

I walked to stand beside him and looked up at Tsunade. She also looked tired, but that's what you get for becoming Hokage. And the sake bottles hidden behind those stacks of paper on her desk were not helping.

"Okay, now that you are both here, let's begin," She said with the sound of impatience lingering in her voice, "What I am about to say here is completely and utterly confidential. I have an S-ranked mission for both of you to undertake, but it will mainly involve you, Sakura. It will be highly dangerous and there is a strong possibility that you could die."

"What will this mission involve Shishou?" I asked in a bored voice.

"The Akatsuki," She replied.

There was dead silence throughout the room.

'Could this be related to Naruto? Could they be planning something to hurt him or the village?'

"What does the Hokage of the Leaf want us, a chunin and a jounin, to do with the Akatsuki?" Shikamaru asked.

He had a point. Even though I am only known as ANBU to few, to take on the Akatsuki seemed insane.

Lady Tsunade cleared her throat and continued. "The council has taken a vote. The Akatsuki organisation needs to be eradicated, and I have had to formulate a plan that will do just that. The Elders have been pushing a decision for weeks. So I have chosen you two for the job. You will be infiltrating the Akatsuki, and taking their organisation down from the inside. Once you gain their trust, I will be the one to give you the order of when to eliminate every single one of the traitorous bastards."

I stared at Tsunade. Taking down the Akatsuki? That's extremely extreme. The largest criminal organisation in the world, to be taken down by two shinobi of Konoha? That's just plain fishy.

'Elders pushing for a decision, my ass. They're up to something.'

Probably correct, but I shouldn't question Tsunade until later.

"I'm sorry but, Shishou why would the Akatsuki even be dumb enough to accept both of us into their ranks?" I asked.

"They aren't that stupid," Shikamaru stated as if it was a world known fact.

"Correct. Shikamaru will be staying here, in the village. You, Sakura, will be gaining their trust. Shikamaru will be a liaison for you in connection to me."

"Why me, Shishou?" I asked, "Aren't there jounins further qualified for this mission?"

"Sakura, you are a qualified jounin and medic-nin with ANBU experience. You are one of the few I can trust with this mission," she sounded sincere, "But it's not just the mission, the Elders cannot be trusted. There has been evidence brought to my attention regarding many cases of jounin such as yourself going MIA (*Missing-in-action) on missions under their orders."

'Well that's new…'

I'll say. The Elders are part of the council. The council is supposed to protect the village. Who is going to protect the village if the council is corrupt?

Tsunade continued, interrupting my stressful thoughts, "To continue with the briefing, we must make sure you are recognised as a missing-nin Sakura, so you both must complete this task before Sakura leaves." She handed both Shikamaru and I a small green scroll.

I opened mine up and skimmed the page.

'Whoa, stealing a scroll? This is S-rank? HAHAHA!'

I agree, but if this is what needs to be done, then why not?

"Once you steal the scroll, Sakura, you will sell it to a business man outside of the village, also known as Shikamaru and he will bring it back to the village under secrecy. That way you won't actually be stealing our prized scroll of sealing."

"How will Sakura keep in contact with us?" Shikamaru asked Tsunade.

"By using the Swift Wind Commute Jutsu that Sakura and I developed four months ago. It is very simple and undetectable. So in other words-"

"-Sakura won't be in danger of getting caught contacting the Leaf under the Akatsuki's watch."

"Exactly, and you, Shikamaru will be in charge of her supplies in the field. Such as depositing money, information and anything she needs, at safe points on this map here."

She presented a small map of the nations on her desk.

"Study them, seeing as your life may depend on it, Sakura." Tsunade stated.

"Hai, Shishou." I replied, glancing at the map. I already knew the map of nations off by heart, but the safe points were another problem.

Tsunade let us mull over the information for a few minutes. Then came the question.

"Well? Do you accept the mission under the terms that you know you may not be coming back from this Sakura? Will you fulfil the elements of this mission by becoming a missing-nin agent for the Leaf Village? Will you serve this village as its protector no matter what?"

This felt like the most vitally important decision anyone could ever make. Would I survive under the risks? And be able to live with the fact that I may never be able to come back to the village due to treason?

'Take the risk Sakura. You never know, maybe this will be the most fun we've ever had on a mission yet? And just think, you will get to protect your village the best way you can.'

What about the down side of it all? I would become an S-Class Missing-nin and be hunted by any and all other villages. I could die and never see Naruto or Kakashi or Sai or my mother or even… Sasuke ever again. I would be betraying everyone I know. How is that for the better?

'You could see Sasuke again. Being on the run, you can meet a lot of people.'

What about Naruto? It would ruin him. Both his best friends would be traitors to the village he loves and protects. He would hate us.

'But you would be protecting it as well Sakura. More than Naruto ever could. The Akatsuki are after him and he can't do anything to stop them. At least you could.'

…..

…..

…..

"I accept the mission, Shishou."

Hey Everyone! I may have edited this chapter again... and again... BUT THE NEW CHAPTER WILL BE OUT SOON PROMISE.

Read & Review! Any feedback would be lovely x

-Sweet