Disclaimer:
I don't own Naruto: Shippuden, it belongs to Kishimoto and Jump studios and lots of other people far richer than I am. And while I normally claim to be able to make better filler arcs than the latter, I think I'll withdraw that usual comment in lieu of the rather good Shippuden stuff. I still wish I could see this story animated, however.
Summary:
A plague has broken out on a border town of the Fire Country, and a Sakura is dispatched to the aid medical ninjas there. As well as given an armed escort to protect her and the supplies. When they arrive, however, Sakura and her team discover there is more at work here than a simple plague. Rated PG-13 for some light cursing, action violence, and some descriptive illness symptoms.
Near the border of the Grass Country, there existed a small town. Nothing particularly noteworthy about this town. It had stone buildings (most no higher than two stories), reasonably content people, and beautiful scenery. It's primary source of income was lumber, and it's people were hardworking and prosperous. If there was any fear of their neighbors in Hidden Grass, or even further northwest, in the rocky country of Earth, they were dispelled by the comforting thought of Konoha's shinobi keeping watch over their town. Takaki, for such was the towns name, continued its blissful existence, safe under the watchful wing of the Fire Country, yet far enough away from the capital and the Village Hidden in the Leaves that such events as the Sound and Sand Battle, as well as the Kazuma's Undead Invasion went on without affecting them. Even the Kyuubi's attack, over a decade and a half ago, was little more than a bad rumor.
However, these days the people of Takaki had a new fear.
An unseen menace had slipped into their peaceful town, bringing them to their knees in little more than a fortnight. Not ninja, this foe was far more sinister, and killed its victims far more slowly. And much more painfully.
Disease.
It had started out innocently enough, a few individuals caught in the trouble. The overworked, the elderly, the young. Small coughs and headaches easily explained as common colds. But these persisted, growing worse by the day, and then by the hour. Soon full-grown, healthy men and women began to come down with the illness. No one is quite certain who first coined its moniker, but within a short while it had become known as the Crimson Plague. So named because during the latter half of a victims infection, their body broke out into horrible red splotches, their temperature climbed, and eventually they succumbed to a raging fever. Once they hit this stage, they rarely lasted more than a day or two.
The plague spread quickly, and more and more of Takaki's populace was infected. Acting quickly, the Fifth Hokage dispatched medic-nin to try and cure the disease, or failing that, to quarantine the small town until a cure could be found. Takaki was closed off, armed shinobi posted at every entrance, no one was allowed in or out save the medic-nins. Signs were posted along the road, warning away travelers and merchants, telling them to detour around the plague town for their own safety. And within a day, Takaki was closed off from the world.
Days stretched on, with still no cure found. At least two thirds of the population was sick now, and the supplies of the medic-nins began to run low. So it was time to send a team to deliver more.
Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, the Legendary Sannin (as well as the legendary sucker, or so she was known in most gambling circles) heaved a great sigh as the latest report fell from her hand, joining a number of others on her desk before her. Pinching her brow did little to relieve the growing sense of a headache. Not for the first time, she wished she could smuggle some sake into her office, but Shizune had been getting rather sharp at finding it, and for some reason her protégé never failed to give her an earful when she felt she wasn't living up to her expectations as Hokage.
Worse still, she was right.
Pushing aside the paper and drawing out one of her desks drawers, she flipped through a pile of cards she'd been keeping there. But these weren't playing cards (something else she missed a great deal) but contained small profiles on Konoha shinobi and their abilities. She'd found organizing them like this helped her focus on whom was where and doing what, and how to pick a new team in short order for a new mission. Like the one she had now.
Sakura was a dead obvious, and thankfully still available, since she'd been working mostly at the hospital for the last few days. Sai and Naruto she quickly added to the pile, but Yamato's card was out, so he must've already been assigned to another mission. S-Class, Tsunade remembered. Something quick but vital. Kakashi was likewise occupied. So were half the Jounin she had available, and many of them weren't suited for the mission in question. Kurenai was still out on maternity leave, she remembered. Due in a short while, if Tsunade recalled correctly. A faint smiled graced her lips. She was going to look forward to the delivery.
But just Sakura, Sai, and Naruto was not going to be enough for this mission, she sensed. So it was she plucked another card, and added it to her little hand. Nodding in satisfaction at its contents, she called in one of her aids and presented it to him.
"I want these four in my office within the hour," she stated in no-nonsense terms.
"Right away, Lady Hokage!" he said with a salute, blurring out of her office.
Satisfied that was taken care of, Tsunade plucked up the next report, and began to peruse it, her brown eyes wandering over the form. It was a request from a nearby clan of wandering cat-ninjas who'd requested to take up permanent residence in Konoha. Idly she smirked, just thinking of the trouble the Owani would cause if they settled too close to the Inuzuka's...
Locating Sakura and Sai were rather straightforward for the aid. Sakura was at the hospital, and only a short while after she'd been found, Sai had found them. It was uncanny, sometimes, how much the smiling boy just seemed to know when a mission had come up. Almost like he was stalking his teammates. But the aide let that drop in favor of the rest of his mission. He directed them both to the Hokage as he worked to track down Naruto, although that was even easier for him, since it was noon.
At this point in his life, virtually anyone in Konoha could tell you where to find Uzumaki Naruto at noon.
Ichiraku Ramen Stand.
By the time Tsunade's aid had found Naruto, he was deep into his third bowl of ramen, slurping down noodles with wild abandon, as if he had been starving himself for a week and only just managed to get there. Shaking his head, the aid lifted up the flap and stepped inside, greeting the younger shinobi.
"The Hokage has an important mission for you, Naruto," he said. "You're to report to her immediately."
"Aww man, I was just in the middle of lunch," protested Naruto. But duty came before ramen, even for the young Uzumaki (it was a close call though) and he reached down to find his frog-wallet. The aid waved him away.
"Go, I'll handle this," he replied, deciding that the sooner Naruto reached the Hokage, the better. The way she'd made her request had made it sound urgent. The blonde Uzumaki was off like a shot after downing his last bowl.
"... and that's where you and your team come in," stated the Fifth Hokage, leaning back in her chair. "You're to deliver the medical supplies to our team already out at Takaki and provide any other assistance that Otohime and her team that may be needed. Shizune here has the particulars," she added, motioning forward her aid. The dark-haired protégé of the Legendary Sannin stepped forward, handing a piece of parchment to Sakura with the mission particulars, in case anything had slipped past her. Tsunade privately doubted it. Her student had remarkably good recall. Even if she didn't, she half-suspected that Sai had a photographic memory. Either naturally or had ingrained into him by that Root bastard Danzou.
"All the supplies you'll need are already waiting by the western gate with Izumo and Kotetsu," Shizune added as she passed along the mission profile.
"Understood," said Sakura. "We'll leave at once."
"Hold on," interrupted Tsunade, as Sai and Sakura turned to leave, bringing them both a halt. "This mission is vital. The village of Takaki supplies most of the lumber used in construction from one end of the Fire Country to the other. If they're cut down the entire economy could be threatened. Besides," she added, just a hint of humor coming to her eyes. "... those medical supplies are heavy. I wouldn't dream of making you carry them all by yourself, Sakura. So just wait until your other teammates arrive, and then you can depart."
"Teammates?" asked Sakura. "Danzou-taicho or Kakashi-sensei?"
"Neither," replied Tsunade.
A respectful knocking came at the door, almost on cue, and after Tsunade bid its owner to enter, the door swung open wide to reveal...
"Konoha's Beautiful Green Beast, Rock Lee, reporting for duty," stated Rock Lee, as he stepped into the room, offering a salute to the Hokage. Sakura blinked in mild surprise. She hadn't seen Lee in some time... since their two teams had converged to try and rescue Gaara from Akatsuki.
"Rock Lee will be accompanying you to protect you and the shipment, Sakura. He... er..."
"... cheerfully volunteered," supplied Shizune diplomatically. She and Tsunade shared a glance, and Sakura barely managed to avoid grimacing with Lee standing so close to her. She could imagine perfectly well what had really happened.
Sai, somewhat oblivious to the subtle interplay of emotions the others were showing, studied Rock Lee with a practiced eye, wondering what sort of shinobi he was.
Sakura brushed aside any reservations she had, smiling broadly as she bowed her head in gratitude to her newest teammate. "Thank you for agreeing to come with me, Lee-san," she said.
"I'm glad to, Sakura-san. Rest assured, no harm will come to you or the shipment. I will protect you with my life," he stated one of his legendary 'nice guy' poses and flashing his teeth.
As one, Sakura, Tsunade, and Shizune sweatdropped. Sai's estimation of his new teammate dropped a notch.
Tsunade cleared her throat, dispelling the awkward silence that followed. "Sakura is to be the leader of this team, since she is the one most experience in the medical arts, and this is first and foremost the priority of the mission. She will be in charge. Anyone who questions her authority answers to me when you return to Konoha. Oh yes, and there's one other coming with you," added the Fifth Hokage, almost as an after-thought. "Idiot needed something to do to keep from training so damn much," she muttered under her breath.
Sakura's emerald eyes grew wide, a sinking feeling already creeping over her. "Not...?"
"Saaakuuuraaa-chaaaannn!"
Sakura slapped her hand against her forehead, groaning in frustration. "Naruto..."
"You leave in the morning," stated Tsunade, already turning back to her paperwork.
As the sun began to rise in the east, painting the dark skyline its first hues of pink and yellow, the small, four-man team stepped out of the shadows of the western gate of Konoha. The sun at their backs, they started off on a brisk walking pace along the road, heading towards the town of Takaki.
Out in front, setting the pace, was a blonde, spiky-haired boy of no more than sixteen years. On the tallish side and muscular, with distinct whisker-marks on his cheeks and a pair of bright blue eyes. He was clad in a bright orange jacket and trousers, both of which were trimmed in black, bearing a red swirl on the back. A holster was strapped to his leg, a pack rested on the back of his waist, and a forehead protector showing his allegiance to the Leaf village was across his brow.
Beside him, also enjoying the brisk pace, was another boy, a few inches taller and slightly thinner, with a wiry frame showcased by a skintight, green spandex suit. His black hair was cut into a distinct bowl shape, and his large eyes and fuzzy eyebrows were at sharp contrast against an otherwise plain face. A flak jacket covered his torso, a forehead protector was slung across his waist, and his arms were heavily bandaged. A pair of orange legwarmers covered his legs from knee to ankle, making an almost inaudible 'clink' with each step he took. He too wore a hip pack and a holster strapped to his leg, and a pack rested on his shoulder as he took proud strides forward.
A short distance behind them was a girl (or perhaps more properly, young woman) whose hair was a most unusual shade of pink, with eyes like jade chips. A forehead protector was draped over her head, drawing back her lightly crimson locks to expose her overly wide forehead. She was dressed in a red, sleeveless shirt with a white circle on the back, and a tan skirt. She too was armed as a shinobi, and carrying a pack slung over her shoulders, though a much lighter one than her comrades.
Behind them all came another boy, pale and dark-haired, in a black suit which curiously left his midriff bare. In a way that was functional for a ninja, but most definitely unfashionable. He too wore a forehead protector on his head, and a short blade was strapped to his back. Two packs rested at his sides, containing his equipment. He wore a smile on what could've been called handsome features, had not all the color been leeched from them, but he wore it as an after-thought. There was little depth to it.
Together, the foursome set out along the trail to the plague town of Takaki. Their spirits were high, their morale practically in the clouds. It was promising to be a beautiful day, and they had a mission ahead of them. They were in the springtime of youth, whether they realized it or not, and firmly believed themselves to be invincible to any sort of danger or harm.
They had no idea what awaited them at the end of their journey.
High up in the distance, atop of the Hokage's Mansion, Tsunade and Shizune watched as the Genin team quickly faded into small dots on the horizon, then vanished. Behind them, the silent, stone faces of the former Hokages seemed to do the same, as their great eyes of rock watched over all in the village of Konoha. Those who came and went, who lived and died and worked in the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Doing the very same thing they had done in life, and would continue to do in spirit until the end of time.
"It's a good team you picked," remarked Shizune pleasantly, as if chatting about the weather. "Lee and Naruto won't let Sakura come to any harm. Not if they have anything to say about it."
"I'd like to think that the same could be said of anyone I assigned," replied Tsunade thoughtfully.
"Those two will approach it with more... enthusiasm, perhaps," Shizune said, smirking a little. Tsunade returned the expression, well aware of what it was like dealing with idiotic-teammates. "And Sai should be able to keep them all focused on the mission. It is his specialty, after all. Tsunade nodded, well aware of how right her apprentice was. Or at least she hoped she was. The last thing Sakura would need on this mission was for Lee and Naruto to get into a squabble for her affection.
"But if I may ask," continued Shizune quietly. "Why did you send Sakura? She's been going through a rough patch ever since..."
Tsunade's smirk faded, then turned to a frown as the last visages of the foursome vanished into the tree line and out of her sight. "Because being a proper medic-nin cannot be taught wholly in books and hospitals. She has to learn how to work in the field when life and death hang in the balance. And she has to learn some lessons that may well break her. But if she doesn't... then there is no future for her... or those she cares about," remarked Tsunade quietly. "This is as much a test for her as it is a mission."
"But she's been in the field before," Shizune started to protest. Tsunade cut her off with a look.
"And she's done well. That's not the issue. And you and I both know it."
Shizune nodded grimly, but felt it was her place to make one last effort to defend her pink-haired little sister-of-the-medical arts. "And what happens if she fails?"
"... let's just hope she doesn't," replied Tsunade. "She has to learn. I just hope she deals with it better than I did," she added with a heavy sigh. As always, thoughts of Sakura and her training tended to bring back bittersweet memories of Dan. Brushing them aside, Tsunade turned sharply on her heel and made her way back down the stairs, Tonton following closely behind. "Don't we have paperwork to do?" she asked brusquely over her shoulder.
The dark-haired medic-nin grimaced, but nodded, scurrying after her mentor. She was only doing what she felt best, after all.
Author's Notes:
Takaki roughly translates as Tall-tree, or some such, and seemed appropriate for a town in the Fire Country, which is heavily forested.