Disclaimer – I don't own Naruto. Original five chapters by won't be the Victim

A/N – This entire chapter is a flashback.

Chapter 2

The rain kept pouring though the blinds causing the sixteen year old girl to wake from her peaceful slumber. Sakura Haruno had been under Tsunade's wing for 4 years now as a medic ninja, and during that time had surpassed the Godaime in medical abilities and strength. It was quite a feat to do at such a young age but with her chakra control she was able to easily advance in the medical field.

She rubbed her eyes and sat up to look at the old team 7 photo on her bedside table. Sakura picked it up and sighed before placing it gently back down, but stayed there for a few more minutes, just staring at the picture. I wonder how Sasuke is…

Come on I thought you were over the teme!To Inner Sakura, Sasuke was taboo. And how it gave her a headache to discuss these matters with her inner…

I am but he's still my friend. What do you want anyway? Her eyes darted to the mirror and she glared at the jade orbs in the reflection.

Is that any way to talk to yourself

Oh leave me alone!

Fine have piece for now

The rosette stood up and walked to her wardrobe, grabbing her usual black skirt, baby blue top, and fishnet pull over. After changing she slips on her black leaf headband and kunai pouch. She looked at herself in the mirror, satisfied with her appearance. She smoothed down her hair, sighing as a finger traveled down the long bangs, which fall past her shoulders. She was going to have to cut it soon.

Sakura walks to the door and grabs her black umbrella and steps outside into the light drizzle that is soon becoming a downpour. Walking along the pathway towards the hospital, she began to succumb to her thoughts.

It had been 5 years since Sasuke had left the village and Sakura had felt like a piece of her was missing. It hurt, but she always pushed that feeling away and chalked it up as "friendly concern". She sighed and bowed her head and continued her way to work.

"Haruno-san?" a voice called from behind the teen.

She looked up. "Anub-san?"

"Hoakage-sama wishes to see you."

"Alright, thank you." She bowed her head a little to see him disappear with a POP from under her bangs. Bringing her head back up, Sakura frowned. Great! Now what dose she want? She decided not to keep her sensei waiting and quickly ran off towards Tsunade's office.

Sakura arrived at the Hokage tower and folded her umbrella at the door, leaving it in the bucket by the door. She knocked on Tsunade's office door. There was a shuffle before a muffled, "Come in" served as her reply.

Sakura opened the door and walked in to find stacks and stacks of papers piled high on her shishou's desk. The only indication that Tsunade was there were the hiccups coming from behind the stacks of reproduced trees.

"Sh-shishou," she said with a very large sweat drop. "You wanted to see me?"

Tsunade peeked up and over the mounds of paper work and smiled cheerily. "Oh, hi Sakura! Yes I have a mission for you!" She said it with such enthusiasm.

Yep she's drunk, Inner Sakura says with a large sweat drop growing by the second at the sight of the Hokage smiling creepily over a stack of papers.

Sakura looked at her mentor, confused. "A mission, really?" Inner Sakura let out a snort, Better not be paperwork again. Sakura kept a steady face. Last time Tsunade had given her a mission, it was to do all the paperwork that was cluttering the Godaime's desk.

Tsunade smiled and nodded. "That's right." Seeing Sakura's face, she got down to business. "Sakura, your mission is to go to Mist and retrieve a scroll from a man named Kenji Yamato. This is an A-class solo mission, and you have 3 days to complete it. The mission starts tomorrow morning, so be prepared. I'll meet you at the gate at 9 o'clock. Understand?"

Sakura frowned. "But why is it an A-class mission for just a scroll?"

"The scroll is a forbidden scroll that Orochimaru wants. We don't think any sound ninjas know of the scroll yet so it should be simple, but you may need to fight…"

"Don't worry Tsunade. " Sakura said with a smile to reassure her shishou. Tsunade frowned, stood up, and put a hand on her star pupils shoulder. The other hand held a scroll, which the Godaime placed in Sakura's hands.

"Sakura, if the odds are against you, do not hesitate to kill any of them…" she murmured. Sakura looked at Tsunade, somewhat shocked. "…That's an order," the Godaime added before dismissing Sakura with a wave of her hand. Sitting back down, she grimaced. "One more thing."

"Yes?"

"Don't take too long. You've got paperwork to do when you come back," Tsunade told her with a grin. Sakura suppressed a sigh as she nodded and headed out the door.

She said goodbye to Shizune as she passed the woman, then grabbed her umbrella and headed outside. Head bowed down, Sakura kept her pace slow, staring at the muddy ground. The rosette stopped and looked up, turning her head to the side and gravitating towards the lone, unoccupied bench outside the academy. She sat down, placing her head in her hands, massaging her temples as her brows furrowed.

Something doesn't feel right about this mission…

A howling wind blew past her, knocking the umbrella from her hand and sending it sailing through the air. Sakura watched the yellow umbrella fly, following its path until her eyes found the cherry blossoms above her, falling to the ground, heavy and wet with rain. The entire tree seemed to dance to an unheard melody created by the wind and rain. Sakura's hands fell into her lap as she watched the spectacle and ignored all else.

She woke up at 7:30 as was her usual routine – brush her teeth, a bath, getting ready for the mission. She packed what she needed; flashlight, bandages, medical scrolls, kunai, a few shuriken, food, water, clothing, and other necessities.

Sakura had finished packing, she realized, as she dashed around her apartment to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything. Quickly, she stopped in front of the small altar in her room and clapped once, head bowed, eyes shut. I'll be off, Kaa-san, Tou-san.

Beep, beep, beep –

A hand slammed down on the alarm. Sakura rose to her feet, smiling down at the pictures of her parents. "I'm off," she breathed. The medic ninja grabbed her pack and a peach, then headed out to the village gate to meet Tsunade.

Her shishou stood there, eyes focused silently on the large arch that stood above the gate. Sakura kept silent, walking up beside Tsunade and following the woman's eyes.

"Good luck, Sakura."

The girl nodded and dashed off with a quick goodbye.

The rosette was just outside Mist; the guards were checking her papers. With everything confirmed, Sakura quickly found her way to 'Moonlit Tavern,' were she was supposed to meet Kenji Yamato.

She found him sitting in the darker part of the bar. A good-looking man, 5'9, with shaggy brown hair that hung just a little shorter than her own hair. He had chocolate brown eyes and wore a gray top and long white shorts. On the table was a white rose, as the mission briefing had said there would be.

She neared him to discover a few empty cups of sake. "I don't drink," she said quickly, taking a seat and nodding her head at him. "Do you have the doll…?"

He was sweating profusely under the dim light. His breath was rushed. "I see," he gasped, drawing out a small case. "Here's the doll your mother requested. I hope your baby sister enjoys it."

Sakura offered him a smile, wishing he didn't look so nervous. "I'm sure she will."

She was on her way back to Konoha, scroll safely secured in her pack. She had traveled faster than she expected herself to; she had over a day left. Sakura let out a heavy sigh and sat down to take a break. Her stomach was growling for food.

Once she finished her snack, Sakura looked around hesitantly. She had just noticed it; the air was heavy with a sense of foreboding. If this was what Kenji Yamato had been feeling, she couldn't blame him for being nervous. Sakura picked herself up, a kunai in one hand as she walked past the tall trees.

We're lucky we haven't run into any Sound ninjas yet, Inner Sakura commented, sounding relieved. Cue a rustling bush.

Sakura jumped back behind a tree, grabbing another kunai in her other hand, holding one hand in front of her, the other pointed behind her. The rustling continued until a squirrel jumped out and darted down the road. She released her breath and shook her head. Just a squirrel.

Cha! Be scared, damn overgrown rat! Let's skin it!

When did you become so sadistic?

Inner Sakura looked away and whistled. I don't know what you're talking about.

The rosette ninja shook her head and continued down the road. It would be so easy to just add a little chakra and speed up, but she knew better; it wouldn't help if she was attacked.

It was just as she pocketed her kunai that her reflexes screamed for her to jump. Sakura looked behind her to find a kunai embedded in the tree trunk. Damn! Quickly, she scanned her area to find herself surrounded by at least 15 Sound ninja. One of them was forming hand signs. Genjutsu, Sakura concluded, quickly canceling it and charging at the closest opponent. With accuracy that could challenge Tenten, Sakura threw kunai and 3 of the Sound goons, only to have them disappear with a poof. Clones. They were about as skilled as Naruto was after he graduated from the academy.

They were lazy about their weapons, wielding them like little children would; Sakura had seen five-year-olds who could throw shuriken better. She dodged the assault easily, dashing up a tree and activating a genjutsu of her own. The remaining ninja turned on each other once it took effect, slashing at each other until one by one, they all fell to the floor, near death.

Is that all? The medic ninja hopped to the floor, looking around uncertainly before spinning around and sending a chakra-infused punch to meet the cheekbones and the Sound bastard that had decided to creep up behind her. He jerked backwards, flipping back and landing lightly on his feet a few yards away. Almost immediately, Sakura launched herself at him, not giving him a chance to get back into position. Her punches, still infused with chakra, were easily dodged, save the last, which he blocked. The impact kept him off-guard long enough for her to run a kunai through his neck.

There were two more behind her. Sakura sent a sweeping kick in their direction to make sure they kept their distance. It was suicidal to keep fighting, but she had no other choice. There was no backup coming, and to run away would be pointless. These two were on a completely different level than the original fifteen ninja she had found. Almost…

ANBU level, Sakura observed, dodging a punch and leaping into the air. The genjutsu from earlier had taken a lot out of her – more than she expected. The second Sound ninja dropped to the ground, swept her legs out from under her. Sakura fell to the ground harshly, allowing the first Sound ninja to punch her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. She tried to roll around, but they had her pinned down in an instant. There was a smash of gray and black as they hit her again.

The safety of the scroll was what she was worried about. She hadn't expected to win with the strength she had left. In the back of her mind was a jutsu Shizune had taught her not too long ago. Sakura knew she had enough chakra to send the scroll back home. If she did, there was no chance of her escaping.

Not like there was a chance of her escaping like this, even when they really weren't doing anything but happily gloating about how they one. Some victory. It took three Sound ANBU just to get her when one Konoha ANBU could have easily finished the job in record time.

Mission in mind, Sakura quickly began the hand signs for the jutsu, making sure not to get caught by the moron who was trying to crush her ribs by sitting on top of her. It was already difficult to execute the signs while standing; Fatty here made it even more difficult.

She managed to complete the signs nevertheless, and her pack seemed a lot less flat. The scroll was safe; she gave into her body's demand for rest.

"Let's take her to Orochimaru. Maybe we'll get a chance with her, too…"

"Moron. Don't you know who she is? Kabuto needed help in the infirmary, and she's the best medic around…"

Yes, rest was a good idea after that conversation. Her eyes slipped shut and her ears drowned out the stupidity that was their laughter.