The fifth Hokage shook her cramped hand after completing what seemed like the hundredth form she had to fill. Placing the folder in the "finished" pile, she sighed as she looked at the still towering pile of "to-do" forms to her right. She hated filling out paperwork. This was not what she expected when she agreed to become Hokage.
The door burst open as her attendant, Shizune, scurried through the door. She had an urgent look on her face and an important looking envelop in her hand.
"Lady Tsunade!"
Oh no. Not more paperwork… Tsunade thought to herself. "What is it Shizune?"
"It's… the Akatsuki." She offered the envelop to the Hokage.
Tsunade was visibly relieved; she wouldn't have to be filling out more forms, as her attendant constantly forced her to do. She took the envelop, flipped it over and, sure enough, sealing the envelop was a red cloud, symbol of the Akatsuki. What do they want this time? she wondered. She tore into the seal and read the message within.
Shizune watched with apprehension. Every moment her master spent scanning the page in her hand, she became more and more worried. Until finally…
"Shizune?"
"Yes milady?"
"Go get Sakura."
Shizune blinked, a little confused. "S-Sakura, milady?"
Tsunade nodded, smirking a little. "The Akatsuki need another medical ninja."
Sakura Haruno, after a lengthy surgery, finally exited the operation room. It was the third surgery this week, and Sakura was starting to worry that the Leaf Village was getting less and less effective during their missions. Injured shinobi were coming into the hospital left and right and Sakura could hardly keep up.
"Hey Sakura!" A blonde ninja shouted, approaching her. It was none other than the number one knuckle-headed ninja and her team mate, Naruto Uzumaki.
"Hey Sakura, how's it going?" Naruto shouted, even though he was now right in front of Sakura.
"You idiot. Don't you know not to bother me while I'm working? You aren't going to try to ask me on another date, are you?"
"Er…no. Well, only if you want to…"
Sakura groaned and walked away. She decided it would be better if she just left it alone. She walked towards the front desk to fill out the required paperwork.
"W-wait, Sakura! I was just…kidding? Yeah, I was kidding! Heh, heh…c'mon," Naruto sputtered, pursuing her. Sakura continued ignoring him. "What's the big deal about a date with me anyway? C'mon, it's just one date-"
Sakura promptly knocked him flat on the floor with one swing of her fist. "Ouch! Sakura!"
She sneered at him. "C'mon, Naruto. It's just one punch."
"On second thought, I don't want to date you. You're too violen-ow!" Naruto was interrupted by a punch to his shoulder.
Sakura harrumphed at him, continued her work.
"Anyways, Sakura, I didn't even come here to ask you on a date. I came here to deliver a message from Grandma Tsunade," he grumbled.
Sakura perked up. A message from her master? Maybe it was about all the injured ninja returning from missions lately. "What does she need?"
"She wants to see you," said Naruto, still rubbing his shoulder.
Sakura said goodbye and quickly walked to the office of the Hokage. She was hoping she could help resolve the matter of injured ninja. Anything to help the village.
Soon, Sakura found herself at the door, knocking. "Enter," she heard Tsunade say.
The door creaked open and Sakura found herself in a room filled ANBU ninjas. Their various animal faces stared blankly at the Hokage as she relayed instructions. Then, they simultaneously turned to look at the new entry to the room. Sakura suddenly felt like she was on the spot.
"You're dismissed for now. We'll discuss this later," Tsunade told the ANBU, and they promptly vanished.
Sakura approached the desk. "You wanted me, milady?"
"Yes Sakura. I have a new mission for you."
Sakura hesitated. The rest of Team Kakashi wasn't present, so this mission must pertain to the crowded hospital. Or so Sakura believed. "If it's about the hospital…"
"It's not," Tsunade answered, reading Sakura's thoughts. She closed her eyes before continuing, "There have been many incidents during missions, but I have the ANBU looking into that."
That explains the creepy animal parade, Sakura thought.
"Your mission, though, is something entirely different," the Hokage paused and looked intently at Sakura. "It's just as important, however."
Now Sakura was on the edge of her seat. What is it? What is it?
"You will be working with… the Akatsuki."
Sakura was shocked. The Akatsuki? A group of former S-ranked criminals, the Akatsuki were no longer technically enemies of the Leaf, Sakura knew that much. But still…The Akatsuki were considered last resort: they did the dirty jobs no one else wanted. And there was still plenty of controversy about the Hokage even allowing them that much.
"They need a medical ninja. Their last one…well, he's been taken off-duty for health reasons."
Just perfect, Sakura thought sarcastically.
Tsunade read Sakura's anxious face. "Look, Sakura, you're the only one I trust to do this. I'd send Shizune, but I need her to help run things here," Tsunade explained, glancing painfully at the pile of papers on her desk. "It's not just to play doctor: I need some one to keep an eye on the Akatsuki."
Sakura suddenly understood. "You think the Akatsuki might be-"
"It's a possibility," Tsunade finished. "I don't know what's going wrong during these missions, or who's causing it, so I have to follow every lead I can."
Sakura sighed. She would much rather stay here and continue running the hospital as best she can. But Tsunade had a point: Sakura was the best person for this job. And she had wanted to help, now she was given the chance. She agreed to Tsunade's request.
Tsunade nodded. "Pack up. I want you to leave for their hideout immediately. I'll expect frequent reports, even if there's nothing to report."
"Yes, milady," Sakura consented, then turned to leave.
"Oh, and Sakura?"
"Hmm?"
"Be careful out there."
Sakura smiled. "Of course, Lady Tsunade."
