The next morning came too soon after a night of hard liquor and harder sex. Her bleary eyes betrayed too much pain for her liking, but she ignored it. Brushing back a lock of split ends, she dressed once more. The ritual just kept going on; a routine that would eventually kill her.
--
"Sakura, Ino. I'm glad you've arrived on time." barked Tsunade, her lips moving statically. The words pounded into the hungover girl's ears, while the rosy locked girl listened intently. Her master was speaking and as a loyal dog she would command all her attention to Tsunade. The previous day's worries had been erased by softer liquors and hugs from her best blonde friend... Naruto.
"What is our mission, Tsunade-shishou?" interrupted Sakura, hunter green eyes shining with excitement. To Ino, it looked like malice. Dully, she jumped onto Sakura's sentence. "Yes, what is it?" she droned, mouth feeling dry.
The busty woman shifted her gaze to Ino. Her eyes hardened instantly. "Well, as young kunoichi it is your duty to seduce your male counterparts. And we have word that Sasuke has joined Akatsuki. I know that both of you have been, to say the least, infatuated with him. At this point in time, he is a virile young man. That may be his only weakness."
Sakura paled instantly, while Ino's eyes flickered, as she grew more attentive. "Sasuke-kun..?" whispered Sakura, lips open wide. Ino was disgusted to hear the suffix on the tip of her new partner's tongue. "I don't need Sakura for this. As the whole village knows, I'm am able to seduce him easily. She doesn't need to see that..." she trailed off. 'Piece of trash. Besides, if I bring his head home she won't have to think about him anymore. I could at least have her know I'm better than him, even if she blames me. It's still something.'
Tsunade shifted. "I think it would be best if Sakura were to come along. At the very least, she could heal you after you complete your... services. You two will be gone as long as needed, and you are to leave tomorrow evening. This mission is of the utmost importance, Sakura. We need to bring him back. Dead. "
"Hai, shishou. Ino... We had better prepare."
