Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, they belong to Masashi Kishimoto. However, I do own this storyline. I hope you enjoy!
The sun shone too brightly today, a pink haired kunoichi concluded. It was as if the universe was mocking her, 'See, you hate it and can do absolutely nothing about it!' Haruno Sakura was royally pissed, when she left the Hokage tower, after being waved off by her teammates. Team 7 had been summoned for a mission, a simple B-ranked one. It consisted of nothing more than an escort to Sunagakure, but the three men on her team had forbidden her to go along.
"Sakura-chan, it's too dangerous for you. You should stay here and work in the hospital." "You're annoying." "Sakura, we just want to protect you, it's safer here." She hadn't even put up a fight, with a small smile, she had wished them good luck and exited the office of the Hokage. Sakura knew the men would leave in just a few minutes, and hid in the shadows next to the imposing building, away from the stares of civilians, away from the burning rays of the sun.
Her prediction was correct, within 3 minutes Team 7(minus Sakura) sped out towards the village gates. As soon as they were out of sight, Sakura re-entered the Hokage tower. She made her way towards the double doors of Tsunade's office, being greeted along the way by administrators with polite smiles and occasionally a soft 'Sakura-san' or 'Haruno-sama'. With a soft knock on the door, she entered the bane of existence of her Shishou.
"Shishou, you wanted to see me?" she asked demurely.
"Sakura, take a seat. The summons for ANBU Team One just went out."
"A mission, I suppose?"
The blonde smirked at her student, a rather devious look in her eyes. "Indeed."
ANBU Team One consisted of the most skilled shinobi the Black Ops had to offer. As they had a mission success rating of 99%, very few were able to say it was coincidence. ANBU Captain Uchiha Itachi, heir to his clan and leader of the team was the first to enter the office. He seemed to have developed a relation with the windows of the office, since he'd never entered via the large oak doors. They probably were to plebeian for him, but one never knows.
Seconds after him, another prodigy entered the office, this time with use of a transportation technique. Nara Shikamaru, one of the most intelligent men to have ever walked the surface of the earth. His lazy demeanor was real, but it disappeared when on missions. The tactician greeted the three other with a curt nod. His dark eyes already calculating possible plans.
The last person who arrived, flickered into view, out of breath and grinning. Some people wondered why the hell Uchiha Shisui, menace to the fairer sex and clown of the proud Uchiha clan was able to make it in the Team. Luckily, they didn't know his uncanny ability to spy on anything that existed, let alone his skills.
As ANBU Team One lined up in a perfected fluid motion, they hid their features behind the white clay masks some people saw only once in their life, right before their death.
"ANBU Team One, I have a mission for you. However, it is not one like the previous you have received. It is detrimental the mission is successful, hence the reason you're here. But you have the right to refuse the mission, as it will take at least 3 weeks to complete and you might die."
As one, the team answered her unsaid question, "We accept."
"Very well, Weasel, this is the scroll containing all you need to know, inform the others. Owl, I want a strategy by tomorrow morning. Hawk, get a last check up for that slash in your leg. Tiger, your identity might get known, are you willing to accept that?"
The smallest figure in the line nodded and answered; "I think now is as good as ever, they cannot stop me anyway." Three masks looked in Tiger's direction, their gazes full of pride.
"All right, you leave by tomorrow 8 o'clock. Good luck."
