Kisame: Damn Pinky, you pack a hell of a punch
Sakura: *eye twitch* Pinky? What the hell Fishy-chan?
Kisame: Fishy-chan? What the hell kind of nickname is that?
Sakura: What the hell kinda nickname is Pinky?
Kisame: considering your hair is pink, it should be obvious.
Sakura: …..hmph, says the guy who's a walking fish
Kisame: …..touché.
Me: you two are so weird *shake my head*
Recap
"Forehead-girl! Is that you?" she asked the cherry blossoms. A voice chuckled.
"Ah Ino-pig, how I've missed you." Sakura's voice said. The cherry blossoms began to swirl and gather in a ball and dissipated as Sakura landed on the field.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto shouted happily and surprised.
Chapter 2: The New Sakura ~Itachi's POV~
"Huh, so there you are." Kisame said, swinging his sword around. Sakura put a hand on her hip.
"Yeah well, I felt I should come back and kick your ass again." Sakura said smirking. I had seen her before, plenty of times. The results of being Sasuke's teammate. She used to have medium length hair and a red mid-thigh dress. Her green eyes were full of innocence, certainly not the eyes of a hardened shinobi. However, that changed after the chuunin exams. I was on an extended mission and so wasn't home when the Sandaime lost to Orochimaru. It was then that I vowed, the next time something happened, I would be there.
Sakura had tried to defend Naruto and Sasuke, who had been bitten by that snake bastard, from Sound-nin. In the process, she had gotten beaten up and had chopped off her hair. Now, I could see that she had changed once again. The training with the Godaime had paid off it seems. Her once short hair had grown out in the years and came to her hips in two braids, which looked much like her mentor. Her green eyes held knowledge, and fierce determination. Her wardrobe had also changed. Instead of being red, she had changed to the standard black outfit of a kuniochi. She wore a tight black kimono top with a short skirt. It was tied in the middle with a white obi that tied into a bow and its end tail hung down to her ankle. It also had an intricate cherry blossom design across it. She had also filled out in the years.
"Hmph, you sure are cocky brat un." Deidara said, his bird drifted closer to the ground in front of us.
"It's not cocky if I can back it up Blondie."
"Oh yeah un? We'll see abou—" Deidara didn't finish as the three Akatsuki members suddenly flinched, and their eyes closed.
"Eh?" Genma questioned, as they came to.
"Damn. And I wanted to kick your ass Pinky. Too bad, it looks like we have to go." Kisame said and they teleported way.
"Hm. Seems like their Leader called them." Sakura mused, and I looked at her.
"Where are the Godaime and Shizune-san?" I asked her. she looked at me and smiled slightly, seemingly able to recognize whom I was, even with my mask on.
"Ah Weasel-taichou. They are already heading back to Konoha if not already there." She told us and Ino huffed.
"Where the hell were you earlier?" Ino asked, more like shouted at the pinkette, who simply blinked.
"I'll tell you later. We should head back to the village and check with Tsunade-shishou so she knows I'm still alive." Sakura just said, rolling her eyes at the end of her sentence and started to walk away.
"What the hell?" Sasuke mumbled confused, but followed, as did everyone else. We made quick work of our trip and were soon walking through familiar gates.
"Ah! If it isn't Sakura-chan!" Izumo and Kotetsu greeted her. She turned and grinned seeing them.
"Hey you two! Still falling asleep on the job?" she teased and waved bye to them. To us she gestured for us to follow. "Let's head to Tsunade-shishou's office." I nodded and teleported us into her office in an instance.
"Can't any of you use the damn door?" A grumpy Godaime greeted us. Sakura grinned and walked over to the Hokage and plopped herself on the table with ease. My team and I took off our masks.
"What's this door you're always talking about?" Sakura asked, smiling even more when Tsunade-sama glowered at her.
"I see you're all here. Good. Shikamaru has already informed me of everything. Report on your mission."
"Hn. It went well." I said, not wanting to go into detail on how much trouble the Daimyo's daughter had caused. However, all of the mens' faces said otherwise. Sakura giggled and shook her head.
"Let me guess. Ayane kept on flirting with all of you. She flirted with Itachi-san the most, Shisui the second. However, Shisui being the boyfriend of Hana, got super pissed. Kiuchi had to forcibly drag Ayane away and you all felt you should distance yourselves for a while." She laughed even more when she saw our shocked faces, of course other than mine. I had grown up keeping my emotions under lock and key.
"Eh? Sakura-chan how did you guess?" Naruto asked dumb-founded.
"I've met Kiuchi-kun and Ayane-chan before when I had to do some stuff for Ieyasu-sama." Sakura replied. My eyebrows rose. How had she gained the right to call them by those honorifics? She must have done something important to them.
"Ugh, you should've been there Forehead-girl. I wanted to slap that girl across the face so badly!" Ino said, pouting slightly.
"Ahem. Catch up later all right? Anyway, you're all probably tired, especially you Sakura. Itachi, Kakashi you and your team will be off for three days. Go to the hospital tomorrow and get clearance from Shizune. Sakura, you are not allowed to work in the hospital for today and tomorrow and I mean it. Get some rest, and if I see you anywhere near the hospital I will strip you of your ninja status for a whole month." The Godaime fixed her apprentice with a look, which she waved off.
"You worry too much Tsunade-shishou. I'm fine." Sakura said crossing her arms.
"You work too damn much, it's time you take time off."
"I haven't even to the hospital in ages! If you've forgotten, we've just come back after nearly three years!" Sakura argued.
"Exactly, came back from training! And you've worked in other hospitals during that time!" this time Sakura pouted, and Genma cleared his throat, loudly enough to catch both women's attention.
"Uh, so are we dismissed Tsunade-sama?" he asked meekly flinching when both women fixed their glares on him.
"Hai hai, you're all dismissed. Now leave so I can drink my sake in peace." Tsunade grumbled, ignoring Sakura's glare. "Don't start with me Sakura."
"Fine, don't drink too much! You have work and I'm going to send Shizune over to check up on you!" Sakura said, walking out the door.
"Ne! Teme, Kaka-sensei! Let's go eat at Ichiraku! I'm starving!" Naruto said disappearing. Sasuke sighed, but followed with Kakashi. I turned around, deciding I would walk home. After all, it wasn't like I was looking forward to see chichi-ue. I was walking with Shisui, Hana had to go home, and Genma just left, when we came upon Sakura talking to Shimura Danzo, one of the village elder. I had only met the man once when I went with my father to a meeting and I hated the man. He had fought against Sandaime for his position and had lost. Something about the man made me wary of him. Sakura looked upset and irritated.
"What the hell do you want Danzo?" She asked, hand on hip. The man chuckled.
"My my, such a feisty girl. Just like Tsunade-hime it seems."
"Cut the crap, we both know your not here to have small talk."
"Intuitive girl, have you thought about my offer?" At this, Sakura laughed bitterly.
"Are you kidding me? There is nothing to think about, you senile old man. Now get out of my way." He didn't say anything, but moved aside anyway and she stomped away. He noticed us and smiled. My guard immediately went up and so did Shisui's.
"Ah Fugaku's son. Nice to meet you again." he said and I nodded curtly before excusing myself.
"Ne, is that really Shimura Danzo?" Shisui asked me when we got outside. I nodded.
"Aa."
"It seems he's taken an interest in Sakura-chan. I didn't even know they knew each other." He mused
"She is the Godaime's apprentice. I'm sure she has had to fill in for her some time." this girl was becoming more interesting. I had never seen anyone, other than the Godaime herself to act so defiant toward Danzo. He had almost the entire council on his side. Yes, I was definitely going to be paying more attention to her. Haruno Sakura.
~Sakura's POV~
"It's been so long! I missed Konoha!" I said, breathing in the fresh air deeply. I missed everything about it. From the rustling of the many trees (we are in the Village of the Hidden Leaf), to the bustling shops and street. The crisp air, to the one filled with oil and ramen.
"Well, it's probably because it's been like three years. Everyone's going to be excited to see you back." Ino told me, snickering at my carefree attitude.
"People missed me? Really?" I cocked my head to the side confused. I mean, I had friends, but I wasn't as popular as Naruto or Sasuke. When those two came back, the whole town was buzzing. Ino looked at me like I had grown another head.
"Are you kidding me Forehead-girl? Of course people missed you! Oh my Kami! We have to spend time with the girls again!" she clapped her hands excitedly. I giggled at her change in expressions. How I missed her, and the girls. Hyuuga Hinata and Tenten. Hinata was in a team with Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino and Kurenai-sensei. I had hoped she'd come out of her shell by the time I came back. Or that Naruto would have gotten a brain and asked her out. Tenten was on a team with Rock Lee, Hyuuga Neji and the Konoha's green beast, Maito Gai.
"We definitely should! Maybe when I have nothing to do, shopping with you it tiring!" she stuck her tongue out at my comment.
"Hey! You get as much stuff as I do sometimes!"
"Yeah, keyword: sometimes!" we stopped at the Yamanaka's Flower Shop, where the Yamanaka Clan Head, Inoichi lived upstairs with his family.
"Bye Forehead-girl! It was nice to see you again!" Ino waved and went inside. I shook my head at her and continued to Ichiraku where I was supposed to meet my team. I had missed my boys so much. When I got there, Naruto had already started eating and I slid in between Sasuke-kun and Kaka-sensei.
"Ah there you are Sakura-san? The usual?" Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku greeted me and I smiled back.
"Yes please, thank you Teuchi-san!" he left to go cook my order. I looked to my right and noticed Kaka-sensei's crinkled eye, eying his ramen seriously. Naruto and Sasuke apparently noticed his expression as well because Naruto snickered while Sasuke smirked.
"Ne, you're all mean." Kakashi finally said, looking at us, glowering at us. After they had returned from their training, we had finally gotten to see Kaka-sensei's real face. He was really handsome, no wonder so many women threw themselves at him.
'More like sexy! I would totally hit that!' inner Sakura drooled and Sakura refused the urge to smack her forehead.
'EW! That's my sensei your talking about!' I shouted in discuss at her, only to have her roll her eyes.
'Uh, more like ex-sensei. Oh! You know who else is totally in Kakashi's lead? Uchiha Itachi!' Inner sighed, filling my heads with images of Itachi. I blushed mentally and berated her.
'Stop that! Besides, he has tons of girls running after him. He wouldn't notice someone like me.'
'You don't give yourself enough credit Saku-chan.' Inner said sadly.
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto's voice broke her out of her trance. She blinked, noticing that even Sasuke and Kakashi were looking at her concerned, though they'd never admit it.
"Oh, uhh, sorry, just thinking to myself!" I blushed and quickly dug into the tempura ramen that Teuchi had put in front of me.
"Anyway, Sakura-chan you have to help me!" Naruto was saying and I cocked my head slightly.
"With what?" he scratched his head nervously and smiled sheepishly.
"Umm, I'm going out with Hinata tomorrow and I don't know whether I should get her flowers or not." My eyes widened and I grinned.
"You finally asked her out? oh thank Kami! I thought you were going to be an idiot forever!" I said more than excited. Sasuke snorted and Kakashi chuckled at my reaction. "You totally should! Ino's shop has Hinata's favorite flower! Ino would be more than happy to help you! I swear to Kami Naruto, you better not screw this up!"
"T-Thanks Sakura-chan." Naruto said, blushing slightly. They finished up dinner, with Sakura and Sasuke holding on to Kakashi to make sure he paid the bill, which he did almost tearing at the dent Naruto made. Hell, he was almost on par with Chouji. He winced, wondering how Asuma could ever afford to pay for Chouji.
"Maa, today was a long day. rest up you three. Naruto, Sasuke, walk Sakura home will you? Jaa ne!" Kakashi poofed away, much to the annoyance said teammates. They nonetheless walked their female teammate to her home, waiting until she went in until they went their separate ways.
~Normal POV~
"Ah, Deidara, Sasori, Kisame, there you are." A holographic man greeted them.
"Say, what was that all about? We were in the middle of something un." Deidara asked angrily.
"That can wait for now. Kisame, you may rest up now." Kisame grunted and bowed.
"Very well Leader-sama." He left into the hideout and Leader-sama focused back on the other two.
"You have a new mission after you rest up." At this, Deidara perked up.
"What's the new mission?" Sasori asked.
"Ah, you are to hunt down the Ichibi, Shukaku. The Jinchuriki is Sabaku no Gaara, the Kazekage of Sunagakure."
"Finally, something challenging un. Can't wait un." Deidara smirked.
"Rest up for now. Begin the mission immediately."
Preview
"What? Gaara got kidnapped by the Akatsuki?" Naruto shouted.
"Calm down Naruto! What happened Shishou?" Sakura asked, worried. She had been to Sunagakure a few times during Gaara's reign as Kazekage to help with their hospital and had bonded with him, as well as his siblings. She considered Gaara a brother.
"Two Akatsuki members infiltrated the village and took him back to their hideout. Team 7, I'm giving you the mission to bring Gaara back. Stop at Sunagakure so they can fill you in more on who you are after." Tsunade said gravely. "Dismissed!"
Kisame: this sucks. I got my ass handed to me!
Sakura: Ah! Fishy-chan! Why are you here? Shouldn't you be with your emo group?
Kisame: *sweat drops* uhh, emo group? what the hell? We are not emo!
Sakura: could've fooled me with your fingernails, rings and black cloaks.
Itachi: *smirks* feisty, I like that
Kisame: *snickers* ah, so the girly Uchiha appears
Itachi: *Veins appear* hn Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu! *burns Kisame to a crisp*
Me: Itachi! Look at what you did! Now he has to go MIA for a bit!
Itachi: Hn.
