-1Sakura,now 17, is a squad leader of the ANBU Black Ops, as well as many of the others she grew up with, including Naruto. Sasuke is still gone. Everything seems to be normal… until their next mission.

-I do not own Naruto.

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Sakura Haruno let out a relaxed sigh as she lay back in her small private hot spring. Today was easygoing, for once. She had just finished a simple rescue mission, and encountered few casualties along the way. Nothing serious. Now that she thought of it, a jounin could have probably carried out the assignment. She didn't particularly mind, breaks were more than welcome in the generally rigid world of an ANBU member.

She reclined farther where her hair, still cut to the neck, still the color of cherry-blossoms floated in the steaming water, and her body was submerged, her serene face remaining above the surface. She forced herself to think about nothing- no killing, no missions, and one particular person who sometimes had a way of sneaking into her memories. A certain level-headed black haired boy who had a death-wish on his brother. The quiet type that was hard to read, though Sakura knew a great deal about him with the time they had spent together. On all of those missions… he always seemed subtly distraught about something- mostly when that clown Naruto would save her life… once again. A certain longing in his eyes spelled concern, though she could never tell if it was for her, or another reason…

She frowned. She wasn't able to fully relax- not with those thought at often plagued her. They weren't of much concern when she was occupied with something else, but at times like this- times where she was able to drift in her own mind's deep caverns, things like this resurfaced. She had let go, she no longer loved him, but some questions still lingered.

I believe I've soaked long enough, she thought to herself as she glanced at one of her hands, now pruned. Tsunade is likely to already have another mission for us. She arose from the bath, picked up a towel, and went back in her small house to resume her life.

Approximately an hour later, she found herself standing in Tsunade's quarters, flanked by Tenten, Neji, Hinata, and Naruto. Everyone donned their usual white armguards, white vests and masks, some held in their hands, others worn on the side of their heads for the time being. Sakura's mask, resembling a white tiger being decorated with only black paint, was tucked in the red sash that was around her waist which also held her katana behind her back. All members had small black packs strapped between their shoulders.

Tsunade looked her respectfully in the eye as she addressed Sakura and her team. "It seems the number of missing ninja have been accumulating particularly near the Hidden Village of Rock. A few rumors have been circulating that there will be an attack on our village by the gathered nin. They've a small camp between the Rock village and the Sand village, in uncharted territory. You are to investigate the situation and eliminate any who pose a threat to our village."

She dismissed them by standing and bowing, not sitting back down until her bow was returned and everyone had left the room.

The team was off, leaping among the rooftops, heading to the Rock Village.

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Sorry this chapter is short, but this is all the time I have for tonight.