Below is the first chapter except I rewrote it. As you read more, the mystery because deeper and deeper to discover.
Chapter One
Plans
Three years earlier, Sasuke left Konoha for Orochimaru and was brought back by Naruto, Sai, Kakashi, and Sakura two years and seven months later. Some things about the team remained the same while other things changed. Sasuke was more human than before. Naruto was still going strong in his love for Sakura, but Sakura gave up on Sasuke and got closer to the blonde. Sai never left Team Seven after the return of Sasuke and continued to insult the team while Kakashi put his time into making them work almost flawlessly as a team.
The one thing that changed greatly about a year after Sasuke's return was Sakura's closeness to her teammates. She began to distance herself from all her friends. When anyone saw her, she had a tired look, baggy and/or dark clothes, and Shizune/Tsunade with her. All questions concerning Sakura's first A-classed mission alone were sealed shut. Team Seven already tried getting answers, but Sakura wasn't talking and the records were restricted to anyone outside the ANBU and the rank Hokage.
Kakashi found Sakura sitting in the rain about two months since her return to the village. She had a far off look on her face, and the silver haired Jonin knew she had been crying. He walked over and put his hand on her shoulder to get her attention. The next thing he knew was that he was kissing the muddy earth with a scared Sakura running away. He had all he needed to know about the mission, but he couldn't tell the other three boys because they would increase their protection over her. Sakura suffered enough.
Sakura wasn't expecting a message from Kakashi about a team meeting at Training Ground Seven. She held back a yawn and gently rubbed her tummy. She wanted to forget him, but some things weren't leaving her mind. Sighing to herself, Sakura slipped into a pair of dark brown cargo pants, a black t-shirt, and her Jonin vest. She was a Jonin for Christ's sakes, and she should act like one even though she wasn't allowed to work anywhere but the hospital for a while. Tsunade was like a mother to her, and Sakura sighed at the thought.
"He better not be late, or so help me Kami, I'll kill him," Sakura growled as she locked her apartment door. Her zori were outside waiting for her, so she slipped them on and took off for the meeting area the normal way. Tsunade didn't want her to be jumping around like a shinobi. "Sometimes she suffocates me with her worry." Sakura laughed to herself for the first time in two months. Things were getting better, but the pink haired Jonin knew she had to face him someday.
Sakura was ten minutes early, and only Kakashi was sitting there. He smiled at her, and she nodded back. Her ex-sensei stopped training them when they were pulled away for other missions. Sometimes he got the team together for a mission or a vacation at some beach or country. He was always there for them, but Sakura didn't want him around her anymore. She had to keep Sasuke and Naruto away by the use of swords and kitchen knives. The Uchiha probably was still hurting from the knife to the abdomen, close to the groin.
"I'm glad to see you're getting more sleep. Shinobi need sleep, Sakura," Kakashi said. Sakura felt her anger levels rising and wanted to strangle him. He didn't know a thing about the Hell she went through on her last mission. He made her so anger with the world sometimes because he was truthful and honest with her.
"I'm not a shinobi anymore. Tsunade-sama placed me in the hospital staff for now. I just have to wait a year for my shinobi status again, so if this is a mission, I can't go and better leave now," Sakura said. She hated the fact she couldn't fight for her village anymore, but that was her price for not being more careful. Kakashi just nodded as the silence reined over them until the other three showed up twenty minutes later. Sakura didn't yell or hit them, which shocked them.
"Tsunade told me that we all have about a year's worth of vacation saved up except for you, Sasuke. You have six months worth, but we aren't spending a year on vacation. I know of this hot springs/inn that has the best service at a cheap price, so I asked Tsunade. She's allowing us to leave for three weeks. Do you want to go?" Kakashi asked. He looked at his ex-students with a grin. Everyone but Sakura replied with a yes, but Sakura looked like she needed to talk to someone. "Sakura, Tsunade told me about your nasty wound. Don't worry. We won't let you perform any shinobi duties on this vacation, but you better take better care of yourself. If you're going, meet me at the gates tomorrow morning at eight sharp." Kakashi disappeared in a swirl of leaves, and the three boys turned to Sakura, who was walking away. They ran up to her with many questions on their tongues.
"How have you been? Don't see much of you," Naruto said. He looked over at the love of his life, and Sakura glared at him. He took that as a not so good, but he wasn't about to give up. "We care about you, so you should relax at the inn. It'll be the perfect place for us to date." Naruto was kissing dirt once he said that, and Sakura turned to the two others, who looked at Naruto with shock. His head was actually buried in the ground.
"Sai. Sasuke. You have anything to say? I can't do anything right now because I'm on leave for a year. Tsunade-sama said I needed a vacation, but I'm able to work at the hospital for a little while. I better get going before I'm late for my doctor's appointment," Sakura said. She took off before either of them could say a word. Naruto finally got his head out of the ground and looked around before stalking off. Sai and Sasuke looked at each with confusion.
"That was strange. Want to see what Sakura's appointment is about?" Sasuke asked. Sai shrugged as a yes, and the two headed for the hospital. Sakura wasn't going to get away, knowing everyone was worried about her. They didn't want her to get hurt, and they didn't want to be the ones to hurt her.
Sakura sighed as she stared at the wall, waiting for Shizune. The medic came in with Naruto yapping up a storm in her ear. Luckily, the room had no windows and only a door that was slammed shut on the blonde's face. Unknown to the medics inside, he sat there with a glint in his eyes that said he wasn't going to be denied. He had the best hearing in the country for Kami's sake! All he did was place his ear against the door and listened to Shizune and Sakura's broken sentences. He had to get something to tell the others. He heard something that almost shocked him. The door swung open, and Shizune pulled him in. He looked at Sakura with worried eyes.
"Is it true?" Naruto said. Sakura looked into blue, worried eyes and knew he wasn't going to back down from this. He walked over to her and sniffed the air. Ever since Sasuke returned, Naruto had some fox-like qualities and would scare people sometimes. "Just tell me yes or no. I don't need any details because that's up to you to tell me. I want to help my best friend." He tried to smile, but he couldn't figure out why she was so quiet about it.
"Yes. It's true, but you can't tell Sasuke, Sai, or Kakashi. Promise me," Sakura said. All Naruto could do was nod to her because he saw the hurt on her face when she said Kakashi's name. What did that bastard do to her to make her act this way? Naruto tightened his fists and walked out without another word. "Naruto, thank you." Sakura's tears hit the ground like rain falling from the sky to connect the Earth with the heavens.
I really don't know what to say. I know this plot is slightly different from the original, but I want it that way. I would be happy to tell you people that some things will remain the same as the original.