Chapter 2

Backup was requested.

While Sakura was confident that Hideki wouldn't awake for another hour or so if she took the young girl back to base, she didn't feel comfortable leaving him behind unattended. TenTen informed her over her phone that Neji would be there within a span of five minutes. The pink haired ninja felt lucky that Neji was already in the area finishing a mission of his own. "Arigatou, TenTen." "No problem. Should I inform the medical team about the girl?" "I'd say so." "Got it. Need anything else?"

"No. Thank you TenTen. You've been extremely helpful." "Anytime." the girl said, Sakura practically hearing the smirk within her response.

Putting her phone into her purse once the call ended, Sakura glanced in the direction of the young girl. No longer shackled, thanks to her lock picking skills, she sat freely within the kitchen. However, the young girl seemed skittish sitting at the white marbled kitchen island. She took nervous quick sips of water from the glass Sakura had given her not too long ago. And her hands shook aggressively as she constantly looked over her shoulder. As if waiting for something or someone to attack her. Sakura's hands curled into tight white knuckled fists.

Bruises and burn marks and welts were apparent on the girl's dark skin. As Sakura had worked on the metal cuffs that were on the girl's wrists, she had noticed the vass array of marks upon her that ranged in age and severity. Giving her a blanket, providing her some decency besides the rags she wore, Sakura could think of nothing else to do beyond giving her water.

While her initial instinct was to comfort the girl, she winced with any movement she made when Sakura neared her. Meaning Sakura was best keeping a physical distance away from her. Seeing as this was a mission, and she would have to report about this incident before it was all said and done, Sakura intended to switch tactics and gain information. Her name, how long she was held captive, her age, where she was from, etc. However, the girl remained silent. It wasn't that she was being difficult, it was apparent she was overwhelmed. While grateful, the girl was on obvious edge. Sakura couldn't even begin to imagine what was going on in her head.

The marks alone on her small body indicated she had to have possibly been held captive for at least a month or so. Years wouldn't dare cross her mind. Even if it were a possibility. Although Sakura had no way of knowing about the girl when she was assigned her mission, she felt personally responsible with the delay of her rescue. Having been on this case now for a little more than three weeks, she mentally berated herself for not moving faster. Not "bumping" into Hideki sooner.

While she knew she was being ridiculous, it went without consequence. Looking at the girl before her, so obviously distraught and broken, Sakura couldn't help but think of all the ways she could have accelerated her investigation. Though, she knew too that she was efficient in every task that brought her here. That was why she was given this case in the first place. She could have done nothing more than she already had to quicken her progress.

Tink. Tink. Tink.

Both females looked in the direction of the sound, the balcony. Staring through the glass door was Neji. A statuesque man in black with long flowing brown hair and pearly white eyes. The girl jumped from her seat and ran behind Sakura, frightened. While clearly not fond of human contact, Sakura perceived herself a safer bet than the strange man on the balcony.

"It's alright. He's a friend." Sakura stated softly, looking down at her with a small reassuring smile. Brown innocent and frightened eyes stared back at her. "I'm going to let him in. He's here to help, okay?" The girl nodded slowly.

Neji was soon on the end of the door and within the apartment. "Wasn't expecting for you to take the balcony route." "I figured since you're still undercover, it would be best if I didn't come here from the entrance. Not looking to alert the security or bring attention to myself or you." "Right."

Neji's ghost white eyes glanced at the girl. "TenTen gave me the gist of what's going on. What do you need me to do?" A part of Sakura wanted to ask Neji to take the girl back to base while she finished her search within Hideki's penthouse. Though, one glance at the young girl, who now had a vice grip on her wrist, and she knew that would be impossible. Sighing, Sakura asked Neji to finish the inspection of the penthouse for her.

"And Hideki?" Neji asked. "We have enough evidence to have the police take him into custody for the time being. The moment you're finished, call TenTen and she'll alert the authorities. By time they arrive, the sedative I gave him should be wearing off."

"Understood. Though, how do you plan to leave with her undetected? One sight of her and security will be here in seconds." "I know. I figured maybe we can get a little creative in that department."

Sakura walked casually with a large black suitcase trailing behind her. Smiling at the receptionist as she headed to the entrance, she released a mental sigh of relief. As TenTen promised, there was a car waiting for them courtesy of the agency. An inconspicuous black car. Neither luxurious or rundown. Everything about it was meant to be mundane and inconspicuous. Putting the suitcase in the back seat first, she quickly followed. Only once the door was closed and they had driven a short distance from the apartment complex did Sakura deem it safe to open the luggage.

The girl slid out. Her eyes wide. Her entire body shaking. "You're alright. You're away from the bad man." She nodded in understanding, though the shaking did not stop. Her terror proceeded throughout the thirty minute duration of the drive back to base. A large building thought to be another police station. In reality it was a front.

Hiding in plain sight was one of the largest ninja headquarters in the country. As their driver parked, Sakura turned to the girl. "You've been very brave through this whole thing. Now, I just ask you to keep that up, okay? Everyone in there is very nice and only want to make sure that you're alright."

While the young girl seemed to dislike Sakura approaching or touching her, she seemed keen to holding onto Sakura's wrist at the mention of strangers. "I'll be with you every step of the way until we figure out how to best care for you, alright?"

She nodded. It was the only main form of communication they had. Sakura would take whatever she could get.

As their driver parked their car in the garage, Sakura's phone dinged. She had a message. Glancing at her texts, she saw that Kakashi, her boss, had messaged her. "Sakura, TenTen has informed me of the situation. Once you're finished at the clinic, do come up to my office." "Yes sir." she responded quickly.

Reaching the fourth floor, Sakura admitted the girl into the clinic. As the medics tended to her, Sakura glanced at her phone while sitting a short distance away.

This time she had a message from Neji. "Finished. TenTen has been informed. Authorities will be contacted within five minutes to line up with the time Hideki's sedative will be worn off." "Perfect, thank you Neji." Not even a full minute went by and he messaged her, "I've found nothing more within his apartment. Though I will send a full and thorough report to both you and Kakashi once I reach headquarters. Do you require any further assistance with your mission?" "No." "Understood."

"Miss Haruno?" Sakura gaze moved from her phone to the medic before her. It was a man she was vaguely acquainted with. He wore seafoam scrubs and had a friendly disposition. "May I speak to you in private?" he asked. Sakura gazed at the girl from the open door who was having her heart listened to through stethoscope. "I promised her I'd stay in sight."

"Very well, I suppose this will have to do. As you can see, right now we're doing a basic check up on her. However, she will need a more thorough physical exam as well as a full psychological review. It is visibly apparent that she has had various beatings and has experienced some forms of torture. While we understand that she has experienced trauma...We don't know the full extent."

"Then what do you propose to do?" Sakura asked. "We'd like to keep her in custody for the next 24 hours, at minimum." "I'm assuming you're not asking for my permission?" "No. This is all a form of formality since you brought her in and you're obviously concerned for her wellbeing." Running thin fingers through shoulder length pink hair, Sakura sighed. "I suppose there's nothing I can do on the matter. Just... Please make sure you use only female doctors." "A fair request. I'll make sure to do my best to oblige."

Sakura wanted to think she could do more for the young girl. Though, she knew in her heart that the extent of her aid had been accomplished. She brought her back to headquarters, she did her part. She could do no more. Even with her good intentions, she was limited. "After we finish her basic examination she will be sent to the hospital. Do you wish to speak to her before then?" "Yes." "In another five minutes, then."

Grabbing her hair tie from her bag, she pulled her short hair into a high ponytail. Looking at her cocktail dress, she felt overdressed in the listless empty hallway. Peeking at her phone she realized it was nearing 1 AM. It had been a long night, and the fatigue was slowly starting to sink in.

"Miss Haruno." She glanced at the female nurse who stood in the entryway of the room the girl was in. "You may speak to her, if you'd like." Standing up, the young ninja walked the short distance from where she initially sat and to the young girl's bed. The girl, while visibly terrified, seemed to have calmed a bit compared to when she first found her shackled within the closet. One of the doctors or nurses seemed to have given her a juice box. She sucked on the straw of her apple juice with an adolescent contentedness.

"Hey," Sakura said lamely. The girl turned her attention to her, though still didn't utter a word. "You seem to be doing well." The girl didn't respond verbally or physically, her staring ensued. "...I was told that you'd be moved to a hospital. They're going to take care of you and make you all better." Make her all better? It sounded wrong even to her own ears, despite it being the truth. She needed help. But would she ever be "all better". One could hope, but neither of them could be sure.

She frowned. "Y-You won't be with me anymore?" "Right." The girl looked down, accepting this information. "I'll check on you when I can. But I can't help you anymore than I have." "What will happen to...him?" Hideki.

"He's being arrested. He won't and can't hurt you or anyone else anymore." Again, the girl didn't respond, but she seemed to relax a bit. Hesitating, Sakura sat down beside the girl on the small bed she was on. "Ne, what's your name?"

Mirroring Sakura's hesitation, the girl stared at her bare feet for what felt like a minute. Reluctantly, she turned to Sakura and answered, "Sawatdee." "Well, it's a bit late to do this, but what better time than now. Nice to meet you Sawatdee, I'm Sakura." A tired though genuine smile spread upon Sawatdee's lips. "Nice to meet you too."

A female nurse entered the room. "It's time." The smile disappeared from Sawatdee's face. "Stay strong." Sakura whispered to her as another nurse entered the room. Sawatdee nodded, a sudden strong front hardening on her features. Sakura felt a whelming of awe and respect.

While it was true humanity could be immensely and heartbreakingly cruel and selfish. Sakura could not deny the level of resilience that people had in the face of hardship. The sense of hope that people kept, even when there were numerous reasons to abandon it. The young girl, who she'd known for less than two hours, and the nameless nurse, left the examination room. Afterward, Sakura sat upon the bed within the empty examination for a full minute to grab her bearings.

The sound of Sakura's black leather high heels echoed within the halls of the fourth floor as she neared the elevator. Within minutes she was back on the first floor and in her superior's office. Kakashi Hatake respectfully put his infamous orange novel away in his top drawer and regarded Sakura warmly.

"You've had quite the night." As if him pointing at as much, Sakura's shoulders sagged slightly. "Yes." "You've done well. At face value, we have enough evidence to put Hideki away for a long time. Human trafficking, abuse of a child, providing a minor alcohol, pursuing a minor with the intent of sexual intercourse-" "But we haven't found out whether or not he killed Asuka!" Sakura interrupted, despite herself. While she was pleased that she had gathered enough evidence to expose and condemn Hideki… She would not be satisfied with her mission till she found out the truth.

And if Hideki was responsible for Asuka's untimely demise, then she would make sure to bring her the justice that she deserved. "This is true. You're investigation will continue. Though, for tonight, you should give yourself time to recuperate. You've infiltrated Hideki's home, saved a young girl, and have handed him to the cops. There is no way he'll be able to bribe or bully his way out of the trouble he is in."

"Word from the authorities?" Sakura asked. "Hideki was blindsighted. Obviously, he claimed his innocence to his charges. However, once word came of the girl that we found in his bedroom closet, Hideki demanded his lawyer be present during questioning and remained quiet. His silence is pointless, of course."

"Where does that leave us?" "He'll be in jail for the time being. And he is set without bail. The Land of Fire doesn't take human trafficking lightly. So, that leaves you with the fortune of continuing your investigation without worrying about him potentially assaulting another woman. Or, if he is guilty of killing our victim, murdering anyone else."

Sakura nodded. This was her first big solo case. She wanted everything to go smoothly and perfectly. So far, things had taken an unexpected turn. Though, she was grateful that at least Hideki was out of the way while she continued her mission.

"However, I didn't ask for you to come to my office to discuss Hideki." Sakura arched a pink brow, "Oh?"

"I'm assigning you another mission." Two missions at the same time? "I don't understand," Sakura began. "Why are you assinging me two missions?" "Well, because the second mission is of A rank and of high priority. No one else can complete this task safe for you. And it's urgent that we get you started."

Sakura could not deny the whelming of intrigue that grew within her stomach. "Alright." she urged Kakashi. "Konohagakure Private High School is being threatened. Or, more specifically, Sasuke Uchiha is being targeted." Sakura wouldn't have been able to hide her surprise even if she wanted to.

'Uchiha?'

"I don't understand. What does this have to do with me?" "You will be keeping surveillance of him while he's in school. The school offers superb security, seeing as how it is brimming with children from the elite and the wealthiest families of the city. However, all security is trained at a civilian level. We're suspecting that this is a ninja matter."

"And the Uchiha can't protect himself?" she asked confused.

"Exactly. For whatever reason, Fugaku Uchiha has decided not to teach or introduce the ninjutsu way to his second son, Sasuke Uchiha. Meaning, the second heir to arguably one of the most powerful ninja clans in the world is a prime target for people interested in attacking the Uchiha family." Sakura couldn't even think what to say. So, she listened as Kakashi continued.

"Fugaku intends to keep an eye on Uchiha at all times. Even whilst he is in school. We've both agreed that if someone would stage an attack or an abduction, their best chance would be on school grounds. Meaning, we needed to even the odds in our favor. You're the only capable ninja within our roster who is of age to enter not only the school, but also his class. You'll be his security until the threat is eradicated."

"Y-Yes." she responded dumbly.

"You'll be enrolled later on today. Seeing as how your investigation went on late this evening with the Asuka mission, you may start tomorrow, if you so desire." "And my mission with Asuka?" "As I said from the beginning, you'll be doing both missions. The mission with Sasuke Uchiha will solely be from Monday-Friday from 8am to 4pm, only during school hours. You may resume your other mission once class ends. Fugaku's people will take over for you the moment Sasuke Uchiha leaves the school's grounds."

Sakura's mind was reeling with this new information. 'School? Uchiha? What!?' "But...Kakashi. I've already graduated high school." "I understand as much. You went through homeschooling and graduated two years ago. However, this is irrelevant to the case at hand. If anything, it works in your favor. This particular high school is known for teaching their students at college level. I told you, you were the only capable ninja of age. You'd have to be able to keep up with your classmates."

Sakura mentally groaned, though she dutifully nodded to her superior. "Do you have any immediate questions?" "No...sir." "Perfect. This mission is top secret besides to the people who are working on this mission with you. As of now, the informed are the following: Fugaku Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha, TenTen, and Neji Hyuga, Operations management and you. You are dismissed." he said with a grin. Sakura wearily walked out of Kakashi's office and towards the Tech department, specifically seeking out TenTen. After dropping off the hacking device she used on Hideki's computer, Sakura eventually drove home. Thoughts of her upcoming mission with the Uchiha all the while occupying her mind.

She was a no name ninja. She wasn't putting herself down, she just knew she had limited experience in her field. The idea that she would bodyguard the second heir to the Uchiha Clan was maddening. She was not someone who was known for her abilities. So the thought that such a task belonged to her...seemed outrageous.

Though, what better of a chance to prove her abilities and make a name for herself than now, right? Although Sakura did not currently have any goals for what she wanted to do within her ninja career, getting on the good side of Fugaku Uchiha didn't seem like a bad idea. Parking her car in the driveway before her house, she smiled to herself.

This was, in a way, an extreme honor. And while she didn't exactly want for anyone to follow through with their attempt of harming Sasuke Uchiha, the fact that she was acting independently as a bodyguard excited her. She wouldn't underestimate this mission and take her task lightly. However, she felt confident that she would do well. While he was unaware of it, Sasuke Uchiha was counting on her to keep him safe while he was attending school.

And she wouldn't let him down.