Sakura

"Now, about what you saw last night Sakura" started Tsunade with her back to me as she looked out upon the village from her window. Outside it was another warm day. It was mid morning and the sun was warm and bright. It made me dislike being inside at the moment but Tsunade had requested me to meet her this morning after the incident with the cloaked people and naked men from last night.

"Yes my Lady?" I asked in hopes of making her continue.

"Second told me that one of the men last night, the one they say they eliminated attacked you?" she asked half turning to me.

"Yes my Lady" I replied with a nod.

"Hmm, I can see you did a good job healing your burnt neck"
I nodded again.

"Tsunade," it always gets her full attention when I call her by her name rather than her title or lady, "who were those people? The naked men and the cloaked people?" I asked. I was hoping she was in a sharing mood.

"The two men are what are known as contractors – "

"What are contractors?" I burst, but Tsunade glared at me for interrupting her.

"You will find out what contractors are soon enough," I wanted to ask out right about what she meant by soon enough but held my tongue as she continued, "As for the group of cloaked people, they are Lady Blue's troops"

As soon as I was sure Tsunade had finished I bombarded her with my questions.

"Who is Lady Blue and why were her troops here?" I started, trying to keep calm as my head was racing with questions. I was having a hard time picking out the important ones.

"Lady Blue is the ruler of a fortress and her troops track contractors"
That answer would do for now. Didn't want to push her too much.

"Why were the men naked?" THAT was one of the less important questions and I was a bit ashamed that it escaped my lips.

"I don't know" I was expecting Tsunade to have cocked an eyebrow at my question but she seemed as puzzled as I was about it. I chose to move away from the topic of naked men quickly.

"Ok. And what did you mean by soon enough?" THAT was a much better question. I couldn't help but to feel a little bit proud.

Tsunade sighed and returned to sit behind her desk.

"You are being temporally deported" the word deported shot through me like a bolt of electricity and reminded me of Naruto's absence.

"Deported?! To where?"

Tsunade waited till I had calmed a little before she answered my outburst of a question. "You are going to Lady Blue's fortress to help them find your attackers partner" I recalled the second naked man that disappeared into thin air last night and knew exactly who she was talking about.

The doors opened and closed behind me and I turned to see one of the cloaked figures. I wondered if it was the commander of the team. I so desperately wanted to see his face. The person lifted a gloved hand to pull back his hood that shaded his face in black even in the sunlight to reveal his blonde hair and blue eyes. He was a handsome man. He had a scar along his right cheek that ran from under his eye to his chin and it was pink and shiny, obviously from years ago. His blonde hair was mainly flat except for the odd spike hear and there, probably messed from wearing a hood the whole time.

"Nice to meet you" he said and I immediately recognised his voice from last night. He had spoken to Tsunade. Their commander hadn't spoken, so this was one of the troops, not the man who had stopped to help me last night. I found my mind drifting to ask myself why I was so interested in their commander, but I brought myself back to attention.

"You too" I replied feeling a bit awkward about how long it took me to reply to him, but he didn't seem to notice and shot a smile my way. He wasn't the most attractive guy, but he was alright. Ino would still go for him.

"Sakura, this here is Eric. One of the people from last night. He is to escort you the Hell's Gate" stated Tsunade moving to stand again.

"Hell's Gate?" I asked but it was Eric who answered me.

"It will all be explained once we arrive" he said with another smooth smile and I nodded.

"How long am I being deported for?" I asked turning back to Tsunade.

"Until the job is done or until I or Lady Blue say otherwise" replied Tsunade. It sounded cruel but she softened it with a smile that assured me that if I asked her she would give me permission to leave when I wish. I returned the smile to her. I knew my master well.
"You will leave as soon as possible" announced Tsunade, "so go home and gather your gear. Don't worry about your hospital shifts or teaching. That will all be cared for" continued Tsunade with a smile. "Just one thing," her tone turned serious, "no one is to know where you are going or know anything to do with these contractors. If anyone asks were you are going you tell them it is a secret mission. No one besides a select few no anything about contractors or Hell's Gate and we wish to keep it that way"

"Yes my Lady" I replied with a brisk nod and turned to leave for home to prepare, Eric close on my heels.

Naruto

We weren't too much north, but north enough for it to be cold outside, continuously. I miss the summers of home. And funnily enough I really miss the sounds of the cicadas in the trees, though I'm sure I would become irritated with them soon enough. I missed my friends more though. Of course I had made new friends, but I miss the old company too.

It has been two years since Tsunade sent me here, well it was more my choice than anything, but still. Sort of serves me right for eavesdropping on her discussion with Kakashi….again. But in the end it was my choice. It would be nice if I had the permission to return home, but I still have another three years service here before that becomes an option for me and it will just mean someone else will be chosen to replace me.

I made it to my room and jumped into bed, rugging myself under the covers to get warm. Usually the cold didn't bother me, but going from somewhere warm to somewhere cold….well you tend to notice the cold a hell of a lot more. It would be dinner time soon, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to get out of bed to eat. God that doesn't sound like me at all. Perhaps the change in temperature was making me sick. I put a hand on my forehead, but my hand was freezing so it was no use anyway. Instead I allowed myself to sink deeper into my bed. I had it pretty good where I was, but this place lacked FUN. I couldn't run around like I did. There weren't many hiding places where I could be alone and I wasn't allowed to leave the city without permission. The only things I could do was to spar with someone, train, work (which wasn't even my option. I could get called out at midnight and no one would care) or sleep, which I did the most. I have never slept so much in my life, and that's saying something. Here I sleep whenever I can. I never knew when I was being called out for a mission so sleeping was vital.

Now where was I…..oh yes…..sleeping…..