Author Note: Thank you for reading my story this far! Here is chapter three! Enjoy!

Chapter Three

I was in and out of it for the next few hours. It was like looking through a tunnel. It was hard for my eyes to adjust to the bright white lights above me. Am I dead?

I heard voices and sensed movement around me, but I couldn't make out anything. It all sounded panicky and urgent. It was making my already pounding head hurt more. And why did it feel like I just kissed the sun? I feel so hot and dehydrated.

I open my eyes and see the worried faces of my mother and big sister. And then Sakura came into view. But she wasn't looking at me. She was looking at a syringe in her hand and was calibrating how much morphine she was going to give me. Then she looked down at me and smiled.

"You'll feel better after this Kiba. I promise." She then gingerly picked up my arm and penetrated the soft flesh in the crease of my elbow. She disposed of the needle and put her cool hand to my forehead. She brushed my shaggy hair out of my eyes and gave me a sweet smile.

Then, all of the sudden, I didn't even notice the pounding headache or the burning sensation. Nor did I hear my mom and sister fret over me anymore. I just notice Sakura and the way she looked and the way she smelled. Then all of it faded away and I felt better. I felt relieved. Maybe it was the morphine that was working. But I wasn't feeling sleepy. Then it was all gone.

I laid still in case any slight movement caused my aliment to kick back up again. But it didn't and I sat up despite my mother and sister's attempt to push me back down.

"He's fine. I gave him the antidote to the poison that was affecting him. He practically as good as new; although you shouldn't be moving around too much, I'll give you that."

"What kind of poison was it?" asked my sister.

"Lady Tsunade and I are not sure yet. We are still conducting tests on it, but even though we don't know about its origins, or makers, we were able to make an antidote. I'll expect you tomorrow for a checkup Kiba."

"Thank you very much Sakura." My mother gave her a hug, which she awkwardly returned.

"You are welcome Mrs. Inuzuka."(I know a lot of you writers use the Japanese honorifics, but I just don't want to mess with them. I was born in America, and I will use our honorifics.)

"Please, call me Tsume you saved my sons life. You are forever in our debt. That is an Inuzuka Promise."

"Alright, Tsume, make sure your son gets to the hospital tomorrow so I can examine him." She looked at me one last time before she gave me a sweet smile and left my bedroom.

The next day, my mom dragged me to Haruno's appointment and she gave me a clean bill of health after poking and prodding me. A few weeks pass and I haven't been given a mission since and I was really on edge. But that doesn't mean me and Akamaru can slack on our training. We were at the training grounds when an Anbu officer 'dropped' in.

"Inuzuka. You are to report to the Hokage's office immediately." I turned around to see an
Anbu standing a little ways beside me. I knew it was Neji, even though he tried to disguise his voice. I nodded my head and stood up. It still bothered me, that even with my heightened senses that I could still be snuck up on.

"Come on Akamaru. Looks like we've got another mission!" About damn time! She must need a tracking team. We take off toward the Hokage's Office, and I can smell that Sakura has been this way recently. Maybe we are going on the same mission together? Nah. I highly doubt it. She doesn't really have any experience with tracking.

I enter the Hokage building and run up the stairs and to the office where I can smell Tsunade and Sakura. I can smell anticipation and adrenaline. And maybe a little bit of fear? I open the door and step in. I bow to the Hokage, and stand up.

"Inuzuka, how nice of you to join us so quickly." Tsunade said. I walk to her desk and stand with arms by my side.

"We have a problem. A major problem. It seems that a crime lord has decided to make a new weapon."

"What kind of weapon?"

"A new poison. At first, when it was created, it was so harmless. It was only meant to stun a person so that one would be able to get away, and or disable a person quickly who is too dangerous to get to close to without causing too much unnecessary death or injury. But now it has been altered to a very high level toxic gas." She said gravely.

"Luckily I had some Anbu retrieve some and Sakura and I were able to find an antidote."

"That's what it was! How come you wouldn't tell me what it was?" Sakura exclaimed.

"I didn't want you to get too involved." Was all she said.

"So, where do I, Akamaru, and Sakura come in?" I ask.

"You and Akamaru are to track down these makers and stop their production of this toxic weapon and be the primary attackers. Sakura well come as the healer and the backup." Well, at least I'll have back up.

"Any questions?"

"Yeah," said Sakura. "When do we leave? And who is the team captain?"

"As soon as you are both ready. And Kiba will be the team captain. Sakura, your dismissed. Kiba, I want to give you some details about the mission." Sakura bowed and left in a flourish.

"Kiba, this mission might or might not be dangerous, that is why I am sending Sakura." She tells me this as she hands me a scroll with all the mission details. I understood that much. She was a very strong fighter, so I would have help in that department, and she was a very good healer, should I or Akamaru get injured, so I had help in that department. But why would it be dangerous?

"I don't understand what you mean."

"This crime boss is unknown, so we don't have in records in the Bingo Book about him, nor can we look him up. But we do know that he has ties with the most deadly ninja that are in the Bingo Book. S ranked criminals." She said gravely.

"So are you saying that he might have hired muscle?" I asked, confused.

"That's exactly what I am saying. And what I am getting at is don't tell Sakura unless it is absolutely necessary."

"Why?"

"Remember when Team Kakashi left to retrieve Gaara from the Akatsuki?"

"Yeah. So? What does this have to do with anything?" I am really confused now.

"What I am about to tell you is extremely confidential information. If this got back to the Akatsuki, there is no telling what they will do." She paused, and dragged out the anticipation.

"And?" I have a mission to go on woman! Hurry up! I don't have time for the suspense.

"Do you know of Sasori of the Red Sand?"

"Yeah, he was partners with Deidra."

"With the help of Lady Chiyo of the Sand Village, she and Sakura killed Sasori." A few bugs must have flown into my mouth because my jaw hit the floor.

"You must not tell anyone this information. It is to protect Sakura's life! Do you understand, Inuzuka?" I snapped out of my trance.

"Understood." I nod my head at her and gave her a determined look.

"You're dismissed." I turn and call Akamaru to follow me.

"And Inuzuka." she calls while pulling out her sake.

"Yes?" I call back over my shoulder.

"Don't fail me."

"Yes ma'am." I smile.

"Come on Akamaru lets go." I only stop by my home long enough to tell my mom that I was going on another mission and didn't know when I would be back and to repack my supplies.

"Are you ready Akamaru?" He barks at me and giddily walks ahead of me and waits for me to catch up with his tail wagging excitedly. We make our way to the gates in record time. Sakura is there leaning against the tall wooden gate, waiting for me.

"You ready?" She asks. She pushes off the gate and waits for me to come stand in front of her.

"As ready as I'll ever be." I adjust the straps on my backpack and motion for her to lead the way.

She gives me a funny look and says, "Um, Kiba, I would love to lead the way, but seeing as your team captain and everything, you also have the mission details, such as where we are headed. . ." Boy did I feel like an idiot now.

"Um, right. Heh heh heh. I knew that." I clear my throat and I start leading the way.

"I'm sure you did." She teases me.

"Whatever, Red." I ignore her teasing.

"Red?" Opps. Did I unintentionally give her a nickname?

"Your shirt." I thanked all the Gods out there for my tan skin; otherwise she would have seen my blush.

"Oh." And that was the end of our conversation for the next four hours.

AUTHOR NOTE: So sorry about the wait, but here is chapter three!