Chapter 1 The Mission
8am the clock flashed beside the bed next to the
picture of Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, and kakashi in the back. Sakura
sighed and looked at the clock then to
the ceiling. She didnt
have to go to work at the hospital till 11am. "2 hours" she
said. Sakura slipped off her covers. Her feet touching the ground
walking
towards the bathroom. Cold and hot water ran through her
pink hair as shampoo went down the drain. When finished she went
traveling around town and went to the
ramen shop. Now in her 20's
she was fully developed and every guy had terrible nose bleeds.
Sasuke has been gone for years. People finally stoped looking for
him.
Sakura sat eating her chiken and egg ramen. She saw Gai walk
off with a ramen to go. Word around town was he got sick and was bed
rest. Sakura of course knew this
because she told him to. After
her brunch she walked around town. Shizune bumped into Sakura and
blinked. "Sakura! I was just looking for you." "you
were?" She
asked. "Hai! Lady Tsunade said to meet her
now." Sakura didnt know if this was good or not. She looked at
her watch. 10:45am it said. "Shit!" she said in her head. I
still need to get my uniform and clock in. Instead she went to
see Tsunade-Sama. Sakura knocked on the door. "Come in!"
Tsunade said. "You wanted to see me Tsunade-Sama?"
"Hai!"
she said. I have a mission for you. Sakura blinked. "What kind?"
She asked. Tsunade looked up with folded hands to her chin. She
smirked. "B rank, trade and
information. You are to sneak
into town, find the Akatsuki, gather information then capture Miren,
Shiho and bring her back safely. She holds power almost as good as
yours, Sakura. In return you trade...yourself." Sakura
looked completly shocked, she couldnt speak. So Tsnuade carried on
with the details. "Kakashi and Neji will
be going with you.
Your mission will start in the morning." There was a knock at
the door. It was Neji and Kakashi, they walked in. "Yo"
Said the silver haired ninja
said. "Late as normal"
Tsunade said. "Sorry Kakashi was reading Icha Icha Paradise and
sorta fell." Neji spoke. "Hello, Sakura" Kakashi said.
They all looked at her. Her
mouth was open with quivering lips.
That shocked look never left, fear was now in her eyes.
"What's
with her?" Neji whispered. "I just told her the details
about the mission." Tsunade said. Kakashi grunted looking at the
scroll of the mission.
He then handed it over to Neji whom had a
straight face, looking it over then kakashi sighed. "When do we
start?" he asked. "7am at the gate" Tsunade said.
Everyone looked at Sakura who was still standing in shock and
part fear. Her mouth still open shaking a bit. She then closed her
eyes tightly biting on her
lip before coming back to reality.
"Sakura.." Kakashi spoke but Tsunade put a hand up to stop
him from talking. "She'll be fine." The Hokage said with a
thin smile. She knew what was keeping Saukra from wanting to go
on this mission, but she had to face it. Her fears of returning to
Akatsuki, of seeing that
bastard again. Her blood boiled in anger
and fear. Sakura then turned on her heel and walked out of the room
silently, with everyone watching her. They all
then sighed. Soon
as she got out the door of the builing, she ran. Hard and fast. She
sent chakra ino her legs as tears poured down her face as she
ran.
"Hey, Sakura!..." Said Naruto but she kept running
ignoring him, along with everything and body else. She was blocking
out the world. The blond stood there
dumbfolded and ran toward the
Hokage's building. "Granny Tsunade!.." he said forcing the
doors open with a loud Bang! That made everyone look at the blond
who
was beathing hard. "I just saw Sakura running through town...she
was crying.." he said in worry, concerned for his friend.
Tsunade gave a deep sorrowful
sigh, resting her chin on her folded
hands. "I know.." was all she said. Kakashi and Neji
remained silent. "What's going on..?!" the blond asked
with
more worry. "Sakura, is about to go on a mission in the
morning. One she doesnt want to go on, but she has to go for her own
sake.." The Hokage said.
"What kind?" he asked.
Kakashi looked at the floor as did Neji and spoke up for the first
time. "Its a difficult mission, Naruto. You see..Sakura, had
something
bad happen in the past between her and Akatsuki. Because
of this she doesnt want to go. But the only way to over come fear, is
to face it again." the ninja told
his student. Naruto's brows
folded together in confusion then looked at the floor. "What
kind are we talking about kaka sama..?" Naruto and Sakura were
now
old enough to be on their own with the need of a sensei
anymore. Naruto and Sakura being 23. "Ten years ago as you can
guess when all of you were 13, Sakura
was sleeping in her bed, she
was kidnapped by a Akatsuki member. It wasn't mentioned because we
didnt want anybody to worry or panic. So we all made it seem like
she
was on a mission with a ANBU member. We found her back in her
apartment by herself. Later we brought her to a meeting to question
her." He said with a slight
pause making sure the blond was
listening. Then Tsunade Sama contunied for him. "We asked her
all the questions in a normal kid napping. When we asked her who
it
was that took her, she said it was no other than Sasori,
Itachi, and Kisame. She broke down in tears, but we werent done yet."
She sighed rubbing her temples.
"We asked her what else
happened, what Sakura said made our breath hitch in our throats and
send chills down our spines. She said she was raped by Sasori. She
said
it was only him. The others left no harm to her." The
blond looked shocked while Neji tried to hide his disgust from the
story. This was the first time hearing it.
"Its no wonder she
reacted like that.." Neji said. Kakashi shook his head hearing
the story for the second time now, it still upset him to hear it
again. Naruto
balled his hands into fist as a few tears shed from
his eyes."I will not let them get away with what they did to
her!. If its-" He was cut off by Tsunade then
continued the
story. "Sakura has a scar barely seen to the human eye, on her
hip down to her inner thigh and pelvic bone from the rape. Apparently
she was hurt by
a sharp object. With Sasori being a puppet he
could have easily hurt her with his joints that clamped onto her
silky skin. This was easily fixed with a medic jutsu.
She is left
emotionally scarred and there's no way of erasing that kind of
abuse." The woman said. Sakura ran past everyone, she didnt want
to return home thats where
they'd look for her, she ran to the
outskirts of town and jumped up into a tree bringing her knees to her
chest crying silently to herself.
"Cha, youre such a
pain." Inner sakura said to the water works, but even she didnt
want to return back there either. The emotional pain was harsher than
she thought
it ever would be. The thought of the physical pain she
felt while losing her virginity to a puppet boy made her wince. The
forest sarted to grow dark as night fell
all across the sky. "The
stars are beautiful." She thought looking up at them through the
leaves. Its been hours since she ran out of town. "Well what are
we suppose to
do?" Naruto asked. "There is nothing we
can do.." She said. "Bullshit!" The blond yelled at
her fusterated by the whole situation."Watch it, you little
brat!" She spat at
him. He then cringed to a very angry
Hokage. "Sorry granny Tsunade.." he whispered calming down.
"She will still have to go on this mission with Neji and
Kakashi. To
receive Shiho." she spoke calmly despite the
headache she was getting from the blond. Naruto hung his head then
walked out of the office. Soon as he was outside he
looked up at
the stars. Kicking a rock he headed to Sakura's place. He knocked on
the door a few times, without answer he went to her window. The
lights were out with no
one inside. This worried him more, so he
went and sat in front of her door. Half an hour later Kakashi came by
to see him slumped against the door. out cold in a deep
slumber.
"Naruto, what are you doing here?" he asked. "Its a
hour before 7am" he looked up at his former sensei. "I was
waiting to see if Sakura was alright.." he mumbled.
"Sakura,
didnt come home?" the silver haired ninja asked shocked. The
blond shook his head. "Sakura, where could you have gone?"
he asked himself. She yawned and stretched
even i,n a tree she got
a good nights rest, but still had a deep feeling in her chest and a
lump in her throat. "Today, I go back there.." She thought.
Shaking her head she
bit her lip to keep from crying again. Now a
half hour before leaving for their mission Kakashi was back in the
Hokage's office. "SHIT!" she said pounding her fist on
the
oak desk. "Where the fuck could she have gone!?" she
asked now fuming. "Even Neji couldnt detect where she's hiding."
he said with a hollow voice. "She's our best medic
nin and
not to forget best fighter Konoha has.." she muttered. Sakura
just sat there in the tree. Her presence hidden as she kept her body
from letting off any Chakra.
Allowng her to stay hdden. She didnt
want to go back again but she knew if she didnt Tsunade sama would be
pissed and most likely make a punching bag out of her. It was
still
too early for anyone to be up so she silently snuck into her
apartment without anyone noticing. She quickly showered, changed, and
ate before leaving. This time she
would be going into her own
death bed. So she wrote out a will and few notes placing them in a
drawer in her desk that was always unlocked with other materials she
used
for her reports and such. Sneaking back outside prepared, she
went back to the outskirts of the village waiting for her life to
end; to leave on the mission. She sighed
then started to walk
towards the path that'll lead her towards the Akatsuki hide out.
Tapping her nails on the desk as Kakashi and Neji stood there they we
staring at a
chair that was smashed, Shizune sent for a new chair.
"Even with this mission sucessul, doesnt she know we'd bring her
back. Right?" Neji asked the fuming Hokage, pissed at
her
prized pupil for her actions. "I suppose so." She said.
"Only matter is finding her." Again the doors burst open,
only instead of just Naruto, Sai was with him this
time. "I
dont think you'll find her in the village or around here." Sai
said. Naruto nodded. "What's this?" she aked the two boys.
"I knew she returned to her place early
this morning, knowing
no one would be up she snuck in. She ate, showered, and got dressed."
They said. "Naruto checked her windows again only to see a towel
on her bathroom
floor, and cereal on her table that wasnt there
lastnight. Her kunai and everything was also missing.." The
Hokage stared at them in shock. "Look around the village.
Then
report back to me!" "Hai!" Sai, and Naruto
said then disappeared. She swung her chair to look outthe giant glass
windows. "Sama, what are you thinking?" Kakashi asked.
Ten
minutes later the boys returned. She shook her head. "Sakura
youre going alone, arent you?" she mumbled. Everyone looked at
her in surprise.
For three hours she's been running. Her feet
leaping off of the branches in her path. "Just a bit further"
She thought to herself. Already she was past Konoha boarder,
heading
towards Suna. There she ran into one person; Temari. They almost fall
off of the high branches catching their balance. "Oh Sakura!"
she spoke almost out of breath.
"What are you doing this far
out?" she asked curiously. "Im on a mission" she
whispered. Temari's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "What
about you?" Sakura asked."Im on
my way to Konoha, about
a report." she said back to the pink haired girl. "Come
with me for a little while.." Sakura asked her then set off
again. Puzzled the blond
followed her. When they reached the the
enterance she released the seal and turned to Temari. "I need
you to take someone back with you to Konoha.." she said,
Temari
nodded to this then hid. Sakura enter and walked through
the dark tunnel showing her the way to her destination. When she
stepped into the light everyone but one person
turned and looked
at the pink haired intruder. "Its so nice to see you
again...Sakura." The voice spoke sending chills down her spine
as a maroon haired boy said with a
smirk, knowing one day she'd
return. Back in Konoha No where was Sakura to be found around or near
the village of the hidden leaves. "Damn it! She did go by
herself."
Kakashi said. With Neji, Sai, and Naruto to look
down afraid for the pink haired friend. "She's strong.."
Tsunade said with a dry smile, but she had faith in her
student.
"Hai" they all said. "Lets just pray, she
doesnt get hurt." Sai said. They all nodded. Waiting pactiently
outside like instructed Temari hid waiting for the person she was
to
take back with her to Konoha. A pale but fair skinned girl looked at
Sakura half scared and half happy. "Im here for Shiho."
Sakura said firmly. She looked at the girl
with silvery pink hair
with black streaks and green eyes. She walked over to Sakura's side
silently. She was afraid, and she had a right to be. These were S
ranked
criminals in the bingo book, they were Akatsuki members,
most wanted missing ninjas who left and betrayed their villages. She
was staring dirently at the man who have
kid napped and rapped her
ten years ago. "Shiho, I want you to go towards that tunnel and
run. Keep running until you are in the trees. Youre free from here."
She said
firmly not moving a inch since she walked into the huge
room. With a nod the girl did as she was told. Outside Temari saw a
scared girl run from outside the entrance
looking back to see if
she was followed and ran into the trees hidding behind one. Temari
approached the girl and said she would take her back o the hidden
leaves and to
not worry. Everyone was looking at the brave girl
who entered their hideout without permission. Her chest dropped as
her heart beated faster. He slithered behind her
grabbing her arms
that made Sakura stiffen as he wispered in her ear making her close
her eyes. "I knew youd return, I knew it. I saw it and here you
are back here again
all by yourself with no place to run to."
he hissd at her as a few members laughed. Her breath hitched in her
throat and he kissed her kneck then tossed her into a chair.
Despite
all that gone on, with the girl running they forgot about her and
went back to what they were doing. Nervously Sakura looked around
spotting Itachi sitting in a
corner of a table by himself
watching her with those ruby red sharingun eyes with a normal stoic
face.
With the hideout far behind them Temari asked the girl
her name as they ran across branches nearing Konoha. "My name is
Miren, Shiho. I am the daughter of a famous man."
she said
barely above a whisper. Running into the entrance of the village they
headed towards the Hokage's office passing Kakasahi and Naruto along
the way. Who turned and
looked at the two girls running at full
speed through the streets. They looked at each other then ran the
same way. "Thank you Temari." Tsunade said to the blond
girl.
"Youre welcome Tsunade Sama." she said wih a
smile. Kakashi and Naruto passed through the door to see what was
going on. Naruto looked at the silent girl with a curious
eye.
"Also Tsunade Sama, behalf of Suna, KazeKage Sama would like to
know if the mission between Suna and Konoha was ready to take place."
She nodded. "Yes, Temari you can
KazeKage that its ready and
we can leave the day after tomorrow." Mission? Konoha and Suna?
Naruto was dazed by what he was hearing. "Granny Tsunade, wheres
Sakura? Wasnt
she suppose to bring this girl back?" Tsunade
bit her lip to the question while Temari blinked and looked at the
Hokage. The silent girl looked at the ground. "No" was
all
she said to the boy. He blinked bewildered to the reply."NO?!"
he shrieked at her. She shook her head. Both girls stared at her in
amazment while Kakashi kept his say
out of the situation. Tsunade
couldnt bare telling Naruto his comrad wouldnt be returning. Kakashi
finally spoke up. "When do we go to get her?" He asked with
Naruto
nodding his head. "At the moment you wont."
Everyone but Shiho was shocked. "Sama, I saw Sakura. On my way
here. She told me to bring Shiho back with me." Tsunade
nodded.
She knew why she asked Temari. "Yes, Temari. I know.
And at the moment Sakura, wont be coming back. She probably wont
ever, even with me having faith in my prized pupil.
She wont be
here again." She said clearly. Temari nodded, Kakashi sighed and
Naruto hung his head clutching his hands into fists again. The girl
shifted in her seat that
brought everyone attention on her, she
blushed and looked at the ground again. "Our biggest thing right
now, is to get Shiho back to her home." everyone agreed.
Naruto,
Sai, Temari, and Kakashi all went with the girl to take
her back to her home, where she beonged. "To bring the girl
back, and to trade herself over to Akatsuki for the safe
return of
Miren, Shiho?!" Temari, and Naruto asked. Kakashi sighed. "Yes."
was all he said. Shiho clung to the copy ninja for life while they
ran quickly. Sai remained
silent then softly spoke up. "That
is what the whole ANBU was told too. That Sakura might not return,
for her mission being complete as soon as the girl was outside
and
away from the criminals." They were entering a wealthy
village as they headed to the temple. They all stopped at the door
letting the girl down. "Were from Konoha and Suna"
Kakashi
said to the man. Everyone bowed in respect as Shiho's father thanked
them for the safe return of his daughter.
