In the shadows
Chapter 1
A/N: This is a Sasusaku story. All characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto. Please review.
Sakura hummed as she walked to the Hokage tower. It had been 4 months since Sasuke left the village and after weeks of depression, she was finally beginning to regain some of her past cheeriness.
Tsunade had called Sakura to the Hokage tower for an urgent meeting. She wasn't sure who else was going to be there but she figured that if she was being called, the rest of the rookie nine would be there as well.
She knocked on the door to Tsunade's office and opened it seeing exactly the people she expected. She slipped into a space between Naruto and Kakashi and looked at Tsunade expectantly.
"Now that you're all here. I have a mission. It's a long-term S-rank." Said Tsunade while rubbing at her temples.
"Get to it Tsunade. Why are so many people here." Said Jiraiya.
Tsunade hit him on the head and said, "I'm getting to it."
"Anyway. It's a mission to track down Sasuke" Naruto perked up at this, "and I called so many people here because I want Kakashi and Jiraiya to pick people to go with them. Naruto, I know that you were going to leave with Jiraiya to train but this mission came up, but Jiraiya will be going with you so he will train you in the time that you will be away."
"How long will you expect this mission to last?" drawled Kakashi.
"No less than two years. It will take time." Kakashi nodded and turned to face all of them saying.
"Naruto, your one of the strongest here so you will be coming. Neji, your byakugan will come in use. Kiba, you will be good at tracking. Ino, your mind transfer will come in handy. Shikamaru, you'll be good for strategies. I'm going to take a couple of other people as well," He looked at Tsunade, who nodded approvingly, "Chouji, Shino, Tenten, Lee."
Sakura looked at him expectantly but he turned away and said, "Make sure to pack what you think you will need over the next 2 years." They all nodded and Sakura was about to speak but Kakashi turned around and said, "That's everyone, Tsunade. When do we leave?"
"What about me sensei? Am I not going to go?" Sakura questioned. Kakashi turned to her and said, "Sakura...What could you do on the mission?"
Sakura opened her mouth and said, "Heal." She had been training with Tsunade since Sasuke left a couple of months ago.
"Yes, I know that Sakura...but what else?" Sakura stared at Kakashi blankly, "Exactly Sakura."
"Face it forehead, you'd just be a burden." Said Ino.
It was as if Sakura hadn't even heard Ino's remark. She just stood their drinking everything in.
She turned to Naruto who said, "Sakura...I don't want to risk your safety."
Sakura clenched her fists and bit her lip. She turned away from them and realized that Hinata hadn't been picked either.
"U-um, c-can I-I not go?" asked Hinata timidly.
"Hinata, you heard what Naruto said to Sakura...same here." said Kiba.
"Hinata. I don't want to risk yours and Sakura's safety and to put it bluntly, you would merely be a burden." Sakura gasped and Hinata looked at the ground in an attempt to stop anyone seeing her glassy eyes.
Tsunade stood up and said, "Kakashi, that's enough. You can go now. Be at the gates to leave at 10 o'clock tonight." Kakashi nodded and threw one last concerned glance at Sakura and Hinata and left with everyone else.
Naruto stayed and looked at Sakura with an almost pleading look in his eyes, "Sakura please, I just want you to be saf-" Sakura walked right past him and Hinata stayed for a while before doing the same.
After Sakura left the Hokage tower, she broke into a run and arrived at her house.
She ran past her mother and slammed her bedroom door before laying down on her bed and staring at the ceiling. She just stared at the ceiling for a while before she felt two tears slide down the sides of her face. She blinked and realized that the few tears had turned into a stream. She buried her face in her pillow and let out a choked sob.
/
Naruto looked in the direction of the village when they reached the gates.
"Kakashi-sensei, don't you think you were too harsh? Sakura didn't show up to say bye!" said Naruto.
"I know Naruto but it was the only way to ensure her safety and everything I said about her and Hinata was true." Said Kakashi.
The disagreeing look could be seen in Naruto's eyes.
One by one everyone arrived and finally Tsunade did.
"Okay, be careful on this mission." Tsunade looked apprehensive as she said, "and come back alive."
Everyone nodded and Naruto asked, "Where's Sakura, Tsunade no baa-chan?"
Tsunade and Shizune shared a look and she answered, "Um...I think she was busy at the hospital." Tsunade could guess where Sakura really was.
Naruto didn't seem to buy it but he said, "Okay!" anyway.
They all turned around and walked out of the village gates.
A/N: Sorry that this chapter was short but I just wanted to do a prologue. The real story will begin when they all come back but these first few chapters will just be building up to that. Please review.
