A/N: thoughts in italics, dialogue in "quotes"
Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me in any way shape or form. However this story is mine and mine alone!!!
Chapter 2
Sakura looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing brown cargo pants and a dark green shirt that brought out her emerald eyes. Her short hair hung loosely around her shoulders. She placed her headband on her head and tied it behind her head. Sakura looked at herself in the mirror again and tucked stray pink hair behind her ear and sighed. It had been so long since she had seen her old friends. Sure, she had seen Naruto and Kakashi here and there but only in passing. Never had they really been on a mission together after Sasuke's disappearance. This must be some mission if its gonna take all of us. I wonder why Tsunade-sama chose us to be the ones going on this mission. Sakura looked at the clock in her room. It was eight o'clock. Yikes, I better get going if I want to get there on time. She turned away from her mirror and left.
It was bright and sunny day outside but inside Sakura's heart there was nothing but turmoil. I wonder what he's gonna be like. Not that I care...maybe I do. NO! Definitely not. I'm completely over him. Yeah...he's nothing to me...but I love him. NO!! I used to love him. NO! I didn't love him. It was a crush. An innocent crush. Nothing more, nothing less. Yes, that's it...or maybe I'm just denying it...NO! I'm not I'm...uhh...I'm...ok think about something else now. Naruto has definitely grown. Last I heard he's gotten very powerful. Not to mention he's hot. Not that I like him like that. I think he finally opened his eyes to Hinata. She has always been there for him but that idiot can't ever see what's right in front of him. She'll be good to him. HA!! I bet Kakashi-sensi is gonna be late again!!! I wonder what his excuse is gonna be this time. Sakura smiled but her smile quickly faded when she realized where she was. While she was lost in thought her legs had automatically carried her to the bridge that she remembered so well. The familiar image of her former love...uhh crush... leaning on the railing arms crosses, looking down, his navy hair short in the back but hanging in his eyes all the same. Actually, now that she looked at it his hair was a little longer and roughly cut like he had done it himself. His face was more defined and his body was lean and muscular. Wow!! He looks HOT!! I mean...se-AACCCK!! NO I mean... uhh... good?? Uhh... nice...he he. I have got to stop thinking like this. I'm gonna drive myself crazy. But it's not my fault. Its just this place. Yeah... its the place and the people. This is just my memory affecting my judgment. I can't let that happen, I'm about to go on a mission! I need to focus. Ok breathe Sakura...breathe... he probably doesn't even remember you that well anyway...breathe...Sakura put on the best blank face that she could manage but she couldn't keep the nervousness from her eyes.
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Sasuke could see her approach from the corner of his eye. Ever since he was able to advance his sharingan to the most advanced level without actually killing Naruto, his normal sight had improved as well. She stopped short of the bridge like she just realized where she was. Her facial expression changed countless times before she put on a mock blank face and slowly started to make her way towards him. Sasuke couldn't help but notice with some dark amusement that she was a nervous wreck. She's going to start squealing any moment. Or worse, she's gonna cry.(He scowled inwardly). She's going to act all bubbly and cheerful and she's gonna ask me out again... Ugh... she's so...so...troublesome, as Shikamaru would put it. Why exactly does she have to go on this mission, anyway? Can't Naruto and I handle it ourselves? I mean I guess she got stronger but still... three jonin? Oh no, here she comes...she's gonna... huh?... (blinks)... she didn't say anything. Nothing at all. Actually she doesn't even seem nervous anymore, either. WHA?!? She's completely ignoring me! Like I'm not here at all. I don't know whether to feel insulted or not. Hn... whatever, it's not like I care. She can ignore me all she wants...it was just surprising, thats all. I like the quiet. Kakashi is late again, I see. Some people never change. Sakura, on the other hand, is completely different. She's strong for one thing. I wonder just how strong, though. That was a pretty impressive display yesterday. She's also grown. She looks stunning, though... beautiful... uhh... where did that come from? Well...I guess you could say that she's pretty...but I don't like her like that. She's annoying... not that she's annoying right now... actually I like how it is right now... its very peaceful. But yeah... I definitely don't like her.
It occured to Sasuke that he was staring he looked back down, color rushing to his face. Suddenly the silence became awkward but neither of the two were willing to be the first to say anything.
Say something dammit!! I can't stand this kind of silence anymore... she better say som-
"Sakura-chan!!!!!" called a sing song voice that could belong to no other than a certain blonde ninja running their way. Sasuke's thoughts were cut off by none other than that idiot of a ninja, Naruto. "Hey!! Sasuke-kun long time no see, huh? Wow, this is just like old times isn't it? Wow Sakura!! You look absolutely stunning! Doesn't she Sasuke?? Oh, come on... you know she's pretty. Admit it!"
Sasuke's eyes threw daggers at Naruto. But Naruto just laughed it off. "I bet Kakashi-sensei is late again! Typical old Kakashi. Haha, this mission is gonna be lots of fun, don't you think?"
"You'll never change will you Naruto?" asked Sakura with a smile. He's still his old self. Still trying to be Hokage and all. I have to admit this kid is determined. I admire that about him but I guess I forgot how much he drove me insane. Pwoof!! Out of no where Kakashi appeared holding his favorite book.
"Rrrgh!!! Kakashi!!! YOU'RE LATE!! After all these years you couldn't just be on time for once? What's you're excuse this time?" Naruto yelled, obviously irratated.
Kakashi blinked and then smiled under his mask. "Hello to you too, Naruto. Well, actually I did plan on being on time but you see, I was strolling down the path of life wh-"
"AHHWAH?!?!?! ALL these years and you still use the same excuse? You'd think that after all these years you would want to come early so you could see your old students but no. You decided to be late and on top of that you didn't even bother to make up a different excuse. I mean come on! Is it really that hard to just-"
"You haven't changed a bit Naruto." Kakashi cut Naruto off and continued, "Sakura, you have grown quite a bit. And Sasuke, you look the same as ever but I know that's not the case. All of you have gotten considerably stronger. This brings me to tell you why we are all here." Kakashi stopped and looked at his former students.
Three pairs of eyes were looking back at him very intently. Kakashi took a deep breath and said, "This mission is probably going to be one of the hardest missions you will ever take on. You need to be prepared not only physically but mentally as well. This mission is classified as a Rank B but it may be upgraded to a Rank A based on the information you provide us with. You three have to travel to the Mist Village and collect any information you can on a ninja named Otonashi. Any information you get may be critical to Konoha. All that we know right now is that he and his followers are planning an attack. Something big that's going to include many people dieing. We were sent a message through one of our own ninja who was captured by them, tortured, poisoned and then delivered to our doors. In his dieing state he was able to tell us that the ninja who had imprisoned him had a base in the Mist Village. He said that they were a part of a large, very powerful organization that is secretly getting stronger. Before he died he was able to give us the name of their leader, Otonashi. He also said that he physically was a warning of the destruction that will soon be coming to Konoha. We did some background checks on Otonashi and we think he may have had connections to Itachi."
Sasuke's eyes flared at the mention of his dead brother. He could feel his team's eyes on him, looking at him curiously. "Hn… so you want me on this mission because of what I know about Itachi."
"Precisely" said Kakashi, "that makes you a perfect candidate, not to mention your superior shinobi skills. You are a key to this mission. No one knows your brother like you. We think that after the experience you've had with him it will help you to recognize things that are his doing or things he was involved in. I personally think that Itachi may have been a part of something much bigger. Naruto and Sakura, you are also critical to this mission," he said, turning to them.
"Yeah!! Alright! I knew there was more to this mission. What is it, Kakashi-sensei? What do I have to do?" asked Naruto enthusiastically.
"Calm down, Naruto. This is a spy mission. You have to make sure that you don't call too much attention to yourselves. First of all, you have to learn everything you can about Itachi from Sasuke. And Sasuke, I know it may be hard for you to talk about him, but it is critical that you do."
Sasuke glared at Kakashi. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about his brother to them. "I guess I don't really have much of a choice, do I?" he said, annoyed and angry.
Kakashi looked at him thoughtfully, "As long as you understand what is being asked of you, you should be fine. Your mission is to identify Otonashi. We know almost nothing about him. No physical description, no knowledge of his powers or anything else. Second, you have to find out everything you can about whatever they are planning to do. You should leave tomorrow and I want you to send reports as often as you can without being noticed." He paused, looking at them and said, "I want you all to be extremely careful. I'm telling you this as your teacher and friend. I don't want any of you to die on this mission and, trust me, there will be many opportunities for that."
"Don't worry about us, Kakashi-sensei. We'll be fine," said Sakura sweetly.
But Kakashi was worried. I just hope they are prepared because if they aren't already then nothing I say is going to help them now.
Kakashi nodded, "Your new skills should come in handy on this mission. Well, that's it then. I'll leave you guys to catch up. Be careful!" Pwoof. Kakashi disappeared in a swirl of smoke. The three ninja remained silent, lost in thought.
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A/N: So what do you think?? Now press the little button on the bottom left of the page and REVIEW!!!!! The more reviews, the quicker you find out what's wrong with Sasuke!! If anyone can guess what's wrong with him they will get a super sized cookie and an honorable mention!!! Now REVIEW!
X-AMAYA-CHAN-X: I am sooo sorry. I kno I promised to post this up sooner but school is the home of the devil and I couldn't escape fast enough. I am terribly sorry and I promise I will try to submit the 3rd chapter sooner b/c of this.
