Authors note:

Italics- followed after Flashback means well flashback

-also means thoughts

"Anything in quotes obviously means speech"

'You will also find italicized thoughts in this form of quotation'

Mild language ahead

Disclaimer I do not own Naruto or its characters they strictly belong to Masashi Kishimoto

A mission Gone awry

Chapter 2

When Sakura finally left a whining Naruto on the step of her apartment she had already become two hours late to see Tsunade-sama.

'Good grief she's gonna be pissed!' Inner Sakura chirped in.

As they arrived at her office however Inner Sakura was beyond helping her outer counterpart. Her shishou was beyond pissed and looked ready to kill.

"Just where the hell have you been Sakura!" the blonde snapped. 'Just great I'm gonna die on my birthday' Inner Sakura whined.

"Gomen shishou-sama Naruto held me up a bit." 'A bit?' snorted Inner Sakura 'He held us up for two hours! And you're calling that a bit!' But as soon as that thought was over Sakura realized Tsunade's rage warm up at the mention of Naruto's name. 'She has such a soft spot for him.'

"Well don't let it happen again." She said voice much calmer than it was.

Sakura was here for an apparent update on her mission and was feeling slightly nervous. The new look on Tsunade's face didn't help either since it seemed to change from soft to worried. 'This has to be something bad, otherwise shishou wouldn't look so sick.'

"Sakura-san I have just been informed that Sasuke was spotted in the area you're heading to." She paused letting the first bit sink into Sakura's mind. Sakura almost instantly tensed and her fists tightened, her face contorted as well. When once you would have seen admiration glow on her fine cheeks now her look seemed to be held by… no it couldn't be… rage?

'Hn well if that bastard stumbles upon me again his ass is mine!' Inner Sakura raged. 'I don't care if he's still seen as an asset to the elders what he did was…' Inner Sakura's thought was cut off by Tsunade's impatient sigh.

"And if that isn't bad enough it seems that certain Akatsuki members have been spotted in the area as well…"

This bit had Sakura's mind spinning 'wait she's not implying…'

"Hoshigaki Kisame and Uchiha Itachi are the ones mainly spotted yet others seem to show up from time to time."

'What's she getting at with this?'

"Be careful Sakura, I can't back you out of this now but it could be a trap." The color left Tsunade's youthful, worried face.

'Fu…' Sakura cut off Inner Sakura because Tsunade left her desk and was coming towards her.

"I know you hold ill will towards Sasuke but don't do anything rash. It's a long mission and you're not supposed to contact me but…" Tsunade was in front of her whispering in her ear. "If anything goes wrong contact me with this…" She handed her a small earring. "And I'll send someone to you right away." Then she hugged her in a warm embrace.

"Does this mean I'll have to pierce my ears?"

Tsunade laughed at this releasing some of the tension in the room.

"Yes, oh here…" She handed her a matching one. "I want you to rely on your skill if you have to survive, and be cautioned if you run into an Akatsuki even if your mind says 'fight' I want you to get away from them."

'What! Why is she treating us like some baby! I can kick the Akatsuki's asses any day…' Inner Sakura continued to rant as Tsunade kept talking.

"They are almost always in groups of two's and I'm sure some of them aren't happy with what you did to Sasori of Suna, It's an unfair fight if they're out for your blood. Be careful" She hugged her tightly and was tremoring slightly. 'Poor shishou she really didn't want to send me.' "I know I'm worried sick but well Sakura…" She added timidly. "I won the lottery this morning."