Chapter 1 – Simple Beginnings

It started out with a simple enough mission. The Kazekage was in need of a medical teacher to train some workers at Suna's main hospital. Sakura was the best Konoha had, excluding Tsunade. When Sakura had arrived at Konoha's hospital at 7 am sharp for her shift, one of the women at the reception desk informed her that Tsunade had requested her presence in her office. As Sakura walked down the large white halls of the hospital, she brushed through her silky pink locks with her fingers and patted out the few wrinkles in her long white medical coat. "I knew I shouldn't have left it lying on the couch last night!" she mumbled quietly to herself.

Arriving at the large set of double doors at the end of the hall, she knocked lightly and waited. A few seconds later, Tsunade called for her to enter. Upon opening the door, Sakura quickly took notice of every detail within room. Tsunade was sitting, hunched over at her desk with her head in her hands and an open bottle of sake. There were two other people in the room as well, one Sakura had recognized as Temari from Suna, and the other was an unknown male ninja. Sakura didn't even need to see the man's headband to know he was from Suna. Slightly baggy clothes that seemed to wrap around most of his body, dusty brown hair, sun-tanned skin – there was no other village he could have come from.

Turning her attention back to her sensei, Sakura asked with mild curiosity, "What is it you called me for, Tsunade-sensei?" The busy blonde woman looked up from her hands and sighed heavily.

"Sakura-san, Suna is in desperate need of some medical assistance. They have agreed to send over a handful of soldiers and some high-class representatives in return for a small medical squad." Sakura nodded curtly.

'So she would just like my recommendation for who we should send. Let's see, Yuri is quite skilled at teaching how to control the chakra flow when healing…and Ino, stupid pig, is nearly unparalleled at knowledge of human anatomy. Natsu is quite good for-'

"I need you to select two other qualified members of our medical staff and accompany Temari-san and Katoru-san to Suna. There, you will be teaching a small group of their most talented doctors and return once you see them fit to be on their own. I estimate this mission should take you roughly 3 months, give or take a week, and you're leaving in 2 hours. Please inform me of who you'd like to choose so I can inform them as well, and then go pack immediately. A nurse will be sent from the hospital to take care of your mother while you are gone"

Sakura's mind when from confusion, to understanding, to frozen, to conflicted in a matter of seconds. Rational Sakura began thinking of all of her patients that she had been working with who weren't fully healed, of her mother who could barely walk by let alone take of herself for that long, of her friends who she had plans with this weekend. But Inner Sakura was raving about finally having a mission, being able to get out and stretch her muscles, wanting something to go wrong so that she could engage in fight once again.

"Yes Tsunade-san," Sakura replied, almost automatically. She shook her head lightly, closing her emerald orbs for a second to clear her mind, before opening them again. "I would like to recommend Ino Yamanaka and Natsume Hiroshi." Tsunade scribbled down the names and then nodded, signaling Sakura's dismissal. As she turned to leave, Temari added, "We'll be waiting at the village gates in exactly two hours; please don't be late Sakura-san." Sakura turned back briefly.

"Of course not Temari-san. Two hours." And boy did those two hours pass fast. Sakura had just finished packing her basic medical supplies, scrolls, weapons, and expenses when she looked over at the clock and saw that she only had half an hour left. Sakura slid out of her medical coat and scrubs and walked over to her dark wooden dresser. Pulling out the very bottom drawer, she bent down to pick out a long-sleeved black shirt and tight black pants. After stepping into the pants and pulling the shirt over her head, she plopped down on her fluffy queen-sized bed to pull her ninja sandals on.

With a huff, Sakura laid back on her bed and stared at the ceiling for a moment. She let her mind go completely blank as she snuggled into her soft white comforter. It was going to be a couple months until she got to lay back in this bed, her bed.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she rose again and went back to the dresser. She pulled out the drawer next to the one previously opened and removed five pieces of shining silver armor. There were two shin guards, two forearm protectors, and a chest plate. It took her all of 3 minutes to strap everything on. Last but not least came her Anbu mask. A small, sorrow-filled smile crept onto her face when she looked at it. A fox, with small pointy ears, squinted and flared eyes, and those trademark whiskers. It was Naruto's old mask.

Sakura slid it onto her face and inhaled deeply. No matter how many times she wore it and washed it, his scent always lingered within. The slight salty smell of ramen, mixed with his own musky scent, and her sweet one. She absolutely loved it.

Sakura grabbed her backpack and slid it on, adjusting the straps so it sat higher on her back, that way the added weight didn't throw off her center of gravity. Next came the kunai holster on her right thigh, and the little pouch for shuriken on the back of her left hip. Sliding a senbon needle behind each of her ears, she bid her mother fare well and left to the village gates.

It only took her 10 minutes by rooftop to arrive. Ino and Natsu were already there, dressed exactly the same as she was, except with different masks. Sakura gave them a small nod, handing each a little earpiece before slipping one into her own right ear. She turned to Temari and Katoru, offering them earpieces as well. Katoru took his silently but as Temari reached for hers, Sakura pulled her into a tight hug. "It's good to see you again Tema-chan." Temari smiled, hugging back briefly before pulling away and leading the party through the gates and out of the village.

"You too Sakura-chan. We'll catch up more once we reach the village tomorrow." Sakura nodded and followed her out, moving to stand beside her as they began the small trip. Once up in the trees and into full travel, their group took the normal formation. Sakura and Temari were up front, with at least 20 feet in between them. In the middle was Natsu, 50 feet back. 50 feet behind him were Ino and Katoru, again with at least 20 feet between them. With a quick click of her earpiece, Sakura called out, "Checking all headsets, is everyone working?"

Temari was the first to answer. "Temari, here."

"Natsume, ready to go."

"Ino, I'm all set."

"Katoru, check"

"Great. Temari, what's the risk of ambush?" Sakura asked, scanning as far as 100 feet ahead of her.

"Bandits 60%, Rogue Ninja 35%, Assassins 12%." Temari answered after a pause. Sakura chuckled silently to herself as she pictured Temari counting on her fingers as she called out the numbers.

"Looks like we're in for pretty smooth sailing" Ino buzzed in Sakura's ear.

"Yeah, those are pretty good odds for a B level mission!" Natsu laughed.

"Well just in case, be on alert. Temari, let's get everybody to Suna safe and fast, yes?" Sakura called, smiling lightly as she raced across the treetops.

"Wouldn't have it any other way!" Temari called back, the lightheartedness evident in her voice.

Their first break was 5 hours later. After a bit of arguing over when to stop, who was hungry, and how bad Natsu had to pee, Temari and Sakura finally settled on a brief 20 minute break. Suna was still a whole 23 hours away and that was with no breaks. They were all professional ninja and could easily make that run non-stop if they had to, but the casual air around this mission made it easier to take breaks and even probably stop for the night and sleep.

Sakura's earpiece buzzed again as she heard Temari's voice come through. "Katoru, go with Natsu to pee. Sakura, you and I will do a perimeter check and Ino…stand there and look pretty, you'll be our landmark." Sakura nearly busted out laughing, as did the rest of the team, and Ino leaned against a tree with big smile.

"Will do Temari-chan!" Ino laughed. Sakura got to 200 feet out and started making her roundabout perimeter check as Temari did hers at 100 feet out. Three-fourths of the way through her check, Sakura came to an immediate halt.

"Everybody, quiet!" she hissed through the speaker and she crouched down, completely still on the tree branch and listened. Her earpiece went silent and Sakura turned her head slowly to scan the area. She has heard a small noise, almost like scratching on a door. After a couple seconds, she heard it again, but louder and closer. A couple seconds later, her eyes connected with a small pair of ravens in the distance.

As she watched them, one opened its beak and let out a loud CAW. So that was the noise she heard…it was just a bird. Smiling, Sakura shook her head and rolled her eyes. "My bad guys, false alarm. It was just a couple of birds. Stupid ravens scared the living-" Sakura froze again, her eyes widening in fear.

"Sakura…" Ino called through the earpiece. "Sakura…ravens aren't indigenous to this forest. Sakura stood up, stretching a little and hiding the terror that was setting into her bones.

"Sakura, you know what this means-" Temari began, but Sakura cut her off as she began to finish her perimeter check.

"They scared the living hell out of me! I've never been much a fan of birds." Sakura faked a small chuckle. "Well, my perimeter check is almost done, and then we can take our break and be on our way. It shouldn't be long until we're in Suna." Sakura called.

"But Sakura, those ravens mean that-" Natsu whispered in a panicked voice.

"Enough Natsume. We will discuss that when we regroup." Sakura's words were harsh, but they did there job because her earpiece went silent again. Finishing her part of the check, Sakura returned to her group. Landing down on the forest floor with an almost inaudible thump, Sakura looked at each member of her team and smiled. "I know what those birds mean. We have 10 minutes to rest, then we continue on. We don't stop until we get to the Sand Village. If we're lucky, we'll all make it there unharmed. But just in case, be ready to engage in battle. Mask your chakras and prepare your weapons." She said, her own fear slipping through as she spoke. "We very well might soon be facing Akatsuki."