Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but if I could, I'd buy Itachi.
"WHAT!?" Tsunade spit out her tea in fury and disbelief.
"You realize how dangerous this is?"
Sakura nodded.
"I'm fully aware and prepared."
The Godaime Hokage tightened her grip on the teacup, causing it to break, splashing all over the table.
"And what makes you so sure that I'd let my prized student run off and do something so dangerous?"
"Because I really think I can do it. And I have to do it!"
"Fine then. Forget me. What about Naruto and Kakashi? Even Sai? You think they'll let you go?"
"Kakashi-sensei and Sai will understand."
"Naruto?"
"We'll just keep it from him."
The busty blonde had to admit it was a pretty decent idea.
"Very well. I will inform The Jonin council and Sai." She gave a concerned look to Sakura.
"But no matter what, come back alive!"
The kunoichi smiled and bowed.
"Hai, shishou!"
Shizune uncertainly watched Sakura happily run out the door.
Wiping the mess off of Tsunade's desk, she worriedly asked, "Do you think she'll be ok? This is Uchiha Sasuke we're talking about here."
Wearily, the Hokage rubbed her temples.
"Who's gonna stop her? She's made up her mind."
Shizune grimaced and dumped the broken ceramic in the trash can.
Humming to herself, Sakura packed for the trip. She knew Sasuke's team was already at Konoha's border. In a few days, they would be at the middle to the forest.
Clenching her fist, she stared at the picture of Team 7.
They had been so happy back then.
She was in the middle, blissfully smiling at the camera, delighted to be next to Sasuke.
Naruto and Sasuke were so busy glaring at each other that they had failed to smile in time.
She wiped away the tear that threatened to fall.
It was all her fault that Naruto was so pressured to retrieve him. No, this time, it was her turn.
Sasuke-kun... I will definitely bring you back!
Shikaku clicked his tongue.
"I still don't think it's a good idea, Hokage-sama. She knows too much about Konoha's security, ANBU, medical info, and well... everything."
"I agree." Danzo was standing in the doorway.
"Tsunade, what were you thinking? You can't let your affection for your pupil get in the way of your duties as a Hokage. You shou-"
"SHUT UP!" Huffing, she abruptly stood up, knocking over her chair.
"I don't need you to tell me how to do my job!"
Danzo merely looked the other way.
"Hokage-sama, may I offer a suggestion?"
Asuma took his cigarette out of his mouth.
She curtly nodded.
"We could place a seal on her, one that won't let her speak of anything that could ruin the mission or expose Konoha's information."
She nodded, pleased with his solution.
"Yes. That would do the job perfectly. Thank you, Asuma."
Inoichi approvingly nodded, but said, "But Sasuke possesses the Sharingan. If he realizes that, it could get troublesome."
"Yes, and what about Sakura's unique Kekkei Genkai? She can show her Air Element, but what about the other… thing?" Kurenai asked.
"We'll seal that information too. And if Sasuke starts showing hostility to Konoha, She wouldn't be with him by then."
Kurenai gave a satisfied nod, and Tsunade spoke again.
"So, are there any objections to this mission?"
No hands rose.
"Good. You are all dismissed. Except for you, Kakashi."
When the room was empty save her and the white-haired jonin, she beckoned for him to sit across from her.
"Kakashi…"
"Yes ma'am?"
"Do you have any personal objection to the execution of this mission?"
He closed his one visible eye and sighed.
"Of course I do. She's my only successful female student, and a friend I cherish. Was it even necessary to ask?"
"I'm sorry. But this is what she wants. Believe me, I don't want her to go either."
"I understand. And this is for the good of Konoha. I can't deny that it would be very beneficial for us if the mission is a success."
She nodded, and said, "You are dismissed."
In a puff of smoke, he disappeared.
She was preparing dinner when there was knock on the door.
Groaning, Ino opened the door. To her surprise, her friend, sometimes enemy, and rival was standing in front of her.
"Hey Ino-pig!"
With steam almost coming out of her ears, she aimed a punch to Sakura's face, and missed.
"What're you doing here, Forehead girl?"
Grinning, the pinkette walked in her friend's apartment and made herself comfortable.
"Ino… this time, I'm not here just to deliver Shikamaru's messages. I'm going on a mission, and it will be a looong time before I get back- if I get back."
She blinked in surprise, blonde head jerking back.
"Wh- what do you mean? Y-you might actually die on this mission?" She shrieked.
"Isn't that what all shinobi risk?"
"B-b-but-"
Sakura smiled.
"Don't worry Ino. I won't go down without a fight. Because… this time, it's for Sasuke-kun and Naruto." She winked. "Sorry, but you'll need to get someone else to be your messenger for Shikamaru!"
Ino was dumbfounded.
It had never occurred to her that she would ever lose Sakura, the little girl she had befriended as a small child.
She would rather eat slugs (no offense meant to Katsuyu) than admit it, but she had always cared for her. The image of a frightened and crying girl never left her mind whenever she looked at her.
Even though she was now the second most powerful kunoichi in all of the Hidden Leaf, known throughout the whole shinobi world as the Cherry Blossom of Konoha, Ino couldn't forget that Sakura was once helpless, and that was what had started their friendship.
"I'll miss you." She sincerely said.
"I will too, Pig."
It was already 9 p.m. when the ANBU showed up at her living room.
"Haruno Sakura, the Hokage requests your presence at her office immediately."
"Got it."
The ANBU faded away and she burst into a huge clump of cherry blossom petals that drifted out the window in the direction of the Hokage Tower.
As soon as the pink petals flew in through her door, Tsunade started talking.
"Sakura, the Jonin Council have all agreed to your mission, and Kakashi is willing to let you go. But there is only one condition.
She was only half recomposed with the other half still a whirl of petals.
"What condition?"
"I will have to place a seal on you."
She frowned.
"What kind?"
"It will seal only knowledge. Whenever you are forced to or willingly reveal information about your hidden yin seal power or Konoha's security, medical, ANBU, military, or protected information, just to name a few, it will take control of you and make you unable to say anything on those topics. If you try to divulge anything, then you will be internally attacked and trust me, it'll be painful."
She bowed.
"I understand."
Before she was even finished speaking, Inoichi and another member of the Yamanaka Clan burst in through the door.
"Hokage-sama, sorry for interrupting, but we finally did it! There are only a few minor glitches and one major problem."
Tsunade smiled.
"Good. Sakura, you may leave, and Inoichi," She turned to him. "Tell me everything."
Confused, Sakura floated home.
Before she fell asleep, she looked at the moon, only a slit on the sky, she let herself think of him for the first time in a long time.
She could still vividly see his inhumanly handsome face, those ebony locks and eyes black as tar. Her heart ached for him, and she knew that he was near, closer than anyone else knew.
Tomorrow, she would head out.
Tomorrow, she would see her beloved Sasuke-kun again.
Tomorrow…
Chapter One, complete.
Hope you liked!