Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto…yada-yada
Chapter 2: Meeting the Team
A rather large building was coming into view by now, the young medic-nin had been walking for some time now, and the very same ANBU building was only a few feet away. Memories still flooding of that day.
Sakura still felt like crying, even to this day, though she remembered to show no emotions, for by showing emotions you would show weakness. And you should never show your enemy that you are weak, or that you have any weakness at that.
Waiting at the gates, she merely stared. A few ANBU members passed by her appearing rather confused, for they were not wearing a mask. It was not necessary on the ANBU headquarters of the hidden leaf village.
Shaking her head as if to remind her to snap back to reality she rested her hands on the back of her head, and walked in taking a deep breath.
She read her notice and found herself walking through many various halls and down and up a cornucopia of stairs only to find a single room with nobody yet there. What a let down, she'd thought that after finding herself completely lost and confused that there would have been somewhat of an excitement at the end of her journey, and this was all it was. An empty room with three chairs.
Each chair had a number on it, she skimmed over and found the number that was on the top of her letter, assuming that this was corresponding to the chair, she took her spot.
Two others walked in the room, one of whom she already knew, her former Sensei. Standing up to greet the two she smiled to the man who adorned silver hair, "Kakashi-sensei, I haven't seen you in…so long." She said slowly.
Kakashi smiled and sat down to his corresponding chair on the opposite end of the line and pulled out an all to familiar book.
Turning to the other man, Sakura smiled, "I am Sakura Haruno, I will be the medical ninja on this mission." She said holding out her hand to the man.
The man in front of her smiled, his name was Haku, and though that was all the information he would give her. He was a striking man physically speaking, well built, Kakashi's height, and black hair, very similar to a young boy she used to have a crush on, Sasuke Uchicha.
Shaking the girls hand before sitting down beside her, "Kakashi-Sensei?" Well that was certainly interesting, something he would not have expected. He turned to his old friend; "You never mentioned that one of your students made it into ANBU."
"Not One." Sakura interjected before Kakashi could answer, "Two," Her voice was quiet, she didn't much like talking about Naruto, "He was one of the best." She finished, though she was not looking at him, for her line of sight was directed at the floor almost in a cold stare.
"Was?" Haku asked curiously looking at Sakura, but when he received no answer from the girl he turned his question to the man Sakura had called Sensei.
Kakashi remained silent a moment, "He died on the field. An Honorable death." Though that was all Kakashi would say knowing that it was painful for Sakura to listen to such conversation about her friend.
Haku stopped his questions; the look he received from Kakashi told him he'd better not continue it.
"Well, it looks like-" Haku was cut off by another man walking in the room, he stood in front of them now watching all three of them.
"You will be a team." The man said finishing Haku's sentence, "You are being sent on a mission to receive a stolen scroll. The Very same scroll a young boy was tricked into stealing many ages ago." Pausing only a moment he smiled, "I believe you know this boy, Uzumaki Naruto."
Sakura was dying, so it seemed everybody wanted to talk about Naruto Today! Could this day get anymore annoying?
"The Village hidden in the mist has stolen it, why we are not sure, but they have stolen it none the less. I want you to infiltrate the village, but do not make it noticeable that you are from our village."
"So…we are undercover?" Sakura questioned to make sure she fully understood what the purpose of their mission was.
The Instructor nodded, "Yes, and if you can gain the scroll any other way besides physical violence, then do it. Use that as a last result, we do not wish to wage a war, we shall not worry our village."
A puzzle then…this should be interesting enough.' Sakura thought with a smug look before nodding to the man standing before them.
Haku and Kakashi following suit.
"Then you will leave by nightfall, therefore you will have the cover of darkness." And with that the man left.
"Shall we prepare tactics for our mission then?" Kakashi asked the group only to receive a nod by the group.
"Then it is settled. We might on the roof of the ramen shops near the heads of the hokages in one hour." Haku added, with, once again, an agreement nod.
"Do not come clad in your ANBU uniforms either, try to blend in." Kakashi said, though mostly for Sakura's sake.
The room was once again empty as Sakura headed for her home, ready to think of anything that would help this mission move along.
Authors Note: Sorry, It's a lot of fluff. But I'm trying to get the thing going. I'll try to post another Chapter tomorrow, so please review! Thanks!
-Katsuhiko Koboyashi