A/N: Thanks for the reviews ! Here is the next chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters.

Chapter 4: the confession

"Captain, we really need to rest," Takeo panted slightly. "Kiyoto is already beginning to get behind." They were running a whole day none stop and it was close to nightfall.

"Just a little bit further," Sakura said, panting slightly herself. She knew that they had to stop soon. Otherwise they would collapse and it would only take more time to recover then. She bites her thump and made some seals, hitting her own hand before concentrating on the road before her. A little shadow tiger sat on the palm of her hand.

"You've summoned me, mistress?" the tiger said looking with her bright blue eyes at her.

"I want you to search for a good spot to settle down for a while," Sakura replied back. The little tiger nodded and disappeared in a shadow of a tree.

"Finally," the rest of the group muttered softly. They knew that their captain didn't mean to push them so hard. This mission was very personal for her, and they didn't have the heart to tell her that she was being reckless. She would figure it out herself soon.

"Kasumi," Sakura called suddenly.

"Yes captain?" Kasumi replied with a hint of surprise in her voice. Even though she was best friends with Sakura, she would still call her captain on missions. She thought that if she didn't call her like that, that it would sound disrespectful.

"I want you to summon your hawk for me to look for enemies that might interrupt us if we aren't careful." Kasumi nodded and began to make seals herself. Summoning the hawk and telling her what to do, the hawk took off.

Kasumi sighed and hoped that Tira, Sakura's tiger, would come back soon with a good location. She was worried about Sakura. She just came back from a mission and was sent away the next day again. If they would run much longer, there was a chance that she would collapse from exhaustion. Looking over her shoulder she saw that Kiyoto had it difficult. 'Just hold on a little bit longer Kiyoto, we're almost going to stop.'

10 minutes after Sakura sent Tira away, she came back. Jumping on her mistress shoulder and told that she found a prefect spot near a river. Sakura simply nodded, "Lead the way." Tira jumped of her shoulder and turned to the left.

When they arrived at the spot, Sakura was quite impressed. The place had dense vegetation and you could easily guard it. A little bit further to the left, there was the river Tira was talking about. She nodded her approval and took off her backpack. "We shall rest here for a while," Sakura said looking at her team. Sakura knuckled slightly when they saw how relieved her team was.

She kneeled down at Tira and petted her a bit. "Thanks for your help Tira," she whispered softly. When her dad first told her about the family jutsu she was so excited. But quickly she found out it was heard working to earn the right to sign the family scroll for summoning shadow cats. At her 16th birthday her father had surprised her with the family scroll. She couldn't have been happier that day. The next day she nearly dragged her father out of bed to help her learn the technique to summon her own shadow cat. The first time she tried it, Tira appeared. Since then they've been friends. 6 Months after that day Sakura became her mistress. And two days after that Sakura got the message that her parents died during their mission.

Tira just smiled and purred when she touched the right spot behind her ear. The first time Sakura summoned her, Tira thought that she wasn't worthy of her time. But when Sakura kept summoning her, she was quite impressed. Sakura was a kind of girl that was loving and caring. Not afraid to stand up for somebody even though she was outnumbered. Even though the girl had quite a temper, she was beginning to like the girl and accepted to train with her when Sakura asked it. 6 months after their first meeting, Sakura summoned her again for training as usual. But this time when Sakura touched her, there appeared a blue light and a Haruno symbol on Tira's forehead and Sakura's hand. Sakura yelped and jumped back, making her to fall down. Paralysed she sat there, looking frightened at her hand where the luminous blue mark on her hand was etched. Tira's eyes went wide. That sign meant that she was her new mistress, bounded to each other forever.

Looking up at her mistress, she knew that something was wrong. Normally her eyes sparkled, but now they were a bit dull and filled with worry and pain. Tilting her head a bit to the left, she looked with a look tell-me-what's-wrong at her mistress.

Sakura smiled softly, she slid her mask to the right side of her head. She knew that it wouldn't take long for Tira to know how she felt. They were bounded after all. She sighed and stood straight up. She would talk to Tira in the evening when her team was asleep. She didn't want to risk any of her team mates hearing their conversation.

She looked around again, and saw the hawk of Kasumi had returned and was sitting on the tree. Takeo was taking up their tents, Kiyoto was lying against a tree with his eyes closed and Kasumi was gone. 'She probably is searching for firewood.' She grabbed some stuff to begin at preparing their dinner. 'I hope you're okay Ino.' Sakura thought miserably. 'I promise I will get you back, no matter what.'

"What you mean Sakura is gone on a mission!" Naruto yelled hard in the Hokage's office. "She just came back home from a 3-year mission. She disserves some rest!"

"Quit yelling Naruto!" Tsunade yelled back at the knucklehead ninja. "Sakura knows her duty and she would have gone on this mission even if I didn't sign her on it."

"And why is that Granny?" Naruto said pouting.

"Because this one is important to her," ignoring his comment.

"Can I ask what the mission is about?" The Copy nin asked. He felt sad that Sakura was gone already. She hadn't even said goodbye to him. The only thing that made him feel better was that she hadn't say goodbye to any of her friends in that matter.

"It's classified, I can't tell you anything." Tsunade simply replied. If Kakashi knows that the Kazekage's wife is captured, he would find out with no doubt about Sakura secret. It's better for them that they don't know anything about it. She was sure that if they knew that they only will be worried too much about her, they haven't even seen her full strength. It was just for the best.

Kakashi looked at his leader. There was something she was holding back. But he wasn't sure if he wanted to find out. He wanted to ask her about it but said instead: "Can you at least tell me when she comes back?"

"Probably over a week, maybe two."

Kakashi sighed. Sakura just came back and left him already. What had he done to deserve that? All the wanted was to hug her and… 'Oh no, it's becoming worse.' After their sparring he couldn't get his mind off of her. He couldn't even read his beloved Come Come paradise without getting thoughts of doing that to her. He shook his head quickly. Trying to get his thought off of it. A cold shower. Yes, a cold shower with be nice right now.

"Anyways, I summoned you two for a B-ranked mission. A wealthy trader has asked for bodyguards to escort him to the yearly Trading Festival in the land of Moon." Kakashi simply nodded. Maybe that is what he needed to get his mind of a certain pink haired kunoichi. And if he gets back from this mission, Sakura would probably be back. He smiled at that thought.

"NOO! KASUMI!"

With a shock Daichi bolted straight up in bed. Tears were streaming down his face. He always had nightmare about Kasumi when she was away on a mission. Especially when it was an Anbu one.

The door flew open and Iruka ran into the room. He saw his student softly crying in his bed. He gaze softened and seated himself next to him on the side of the bed. He turned on the night lamp and wrapped his arms around the trembling boy.

Daichi pressed his head into his chest while his hands grabbed his shirt tight. Unable to say anything or to calm down he just cried in the arms of his sensei.

"Shhh, it's alright Daichi. It was just a nightmare," Iruka hushed. Daichi only tightened his grasp, almost hurting Iruka in the progress. 'It must have been a really bad one.' Iruka thought sadly. It hurted him to see his student like this. Daichi was always smiling and cheerful. But now it looked like that side of him was gone. Crying helplessly about his sister who meant the world to him.

Softly he cradles him. Hoping that the gesture would comfort him and calm him down. Slowly the cries went over to sobs. "Do you want to tell me what the dream was about?" Iruka asked softly, stroking the boy's back.

"Kasumi…" Daichi said softly, just loud enough for Iruka to hear him. "She'd got attacked and she, she…" The boy shuddered and closed his eyes. Crying over the memory of his dream. He saw his sister getting stabbed over and over again. And all he could do was watch how her life slowly was slipping away. And the thought alone was suffocating. He saw the sparkling brown eyes of his sister that he loved so much, full of life and warmth, turning dull, lifeless and cold.

Iruka kept holding him, stroking his back gently, while hushing soft words into his ear to calm him down. "I hate it," Daichi said suddenly. Iruka jumped slightly when he heard his voice. It sounded so hurt and broken. He waited patiently for him to continue. "I hate it when my sister goes on a very dangerous mission. I always get those nightmares about her. And all I can do is watching her leave and hoping that she's coming back." He tightens his grip on Iruka again, afraid that if he didn't he would leave him. "Holding onto hope, to see her smile at me again, ruffling my hair, hear her say kind words to me and laugh at my jokes. I know that it is the risk we have with this profession but I hate it. I hate it to see her leaving," he ended sobbing.

"It's alright Daichi, everybody hates to see his loved ones leave on mission. Hoping that they would be alright. All you can do is enjoy and treasure all those moments with them," Iruka said softly. It remembered him allot about his bond with Naruto. Every time he would leave for a mission he felt the same way without the crying part. But he still felt sad.

Daichi looked up at his sensei and gave a little smile. "Thank you, Iruka-sensei. You made me feel allot better." Iruka smiled back and whipped the last tears away.

"You're welcome. What do you say to a hot cup of chocolate before you go back to sleep?"

"With little marshmallows?" Daichi asked softly, realising the tight grip he had on Iruka. Chuckling, Iruka nodded and stood up.

"As much marshmallows you would like," he replied smiling. Daichi jumped off his bed and walked together with Iruka to the kitchen.

Sakura stared hypnotised into the fire. Poking it softly sometimes with her stick to keep it going. After dinner all her team mates went to their tents to sleep. Sakura didn't mind it at all. She wasn't tired like they were so she offered the first shift to guard the area.

Sighing she broke her daze and looked up into the sky. She closed her eyes while she felt the wind playing softly with her hair. She opened her eyes again and looked down straight at Tira. You almost couldn't see her. Her black fur surrounded by a black glow kept her well hidden but her bright blue eyes stood out. Her eyes locked with hers, tilting her head while waiting for her explanation of her behaviour.

Sakura sighed again. She knew this would come sooner or later. "I'm just worried about our target," Sakura said softly. She knew that Tira wouldn't buy her lie, Tira knew her to well but she still could try.

Tira walked up to her mistress and sat down before her. "I know your looks, Sakura. And I know that look and that look isn't just about worry. So spill it."

Sakura closed her eyes briefly again. Thinking how she could best say this to Tira. "I'm worried that I will fail again."

"Would do you mean with fail again?" Sakura sighed and looked away to the tent she shared with Kasumi.

"I'm afraid that I will fail Ino or my team. Just like I failed at bringing Sasuke-kun back and keeping Team 7 together."

"You know that it isn't your fault. There was nothing you could do."

"Yes, I could!" Sakura bitted back at her angrily. "I could have been stronger. If I wasn't that naive stupid girl, thinking only how great Sasuke-kun was, then he still would be here!"

Tira growled. She knew that this was also bothering her. She transformed into her form bigger and jumped at Sakura. Succeeding at pushing her on the ground, she growled above her. "Stop thinking about the past Sakura! You know that Sasuke would have left anyway, he is an avenger. You aren't weak. Otherwise your father wouldn't have let you sign the scroll. Do you remember what stood on that scroll?"

Sakura was shocked at the attack Tira did on her. Then anger clouded her mind. "Get off me." Sakura said furious.

"Do you remember?" Ignoring the command of her mistress.

"No, I can't remember. Now get off!"

"It said that everybody could sign the scroll, but only the strongest ones could succeed at summoning the shadow tigers. So why are you saying that you're weak, you're known as the fierce less Anbu captain, allot of s-criminals are afraid of you! And I'm bloody prove that you're not weak! Otherwise you couldn't have summoned me."

Sakura just looked at her. 'She's right.' She stopped struggling. "I'm sorry. I'm acting like a little girl," she muttered softly and a little embarrassed. Tira went back to her normal form and licked Sakura's face.

"You just doubt yourself to much. You're powerful and you don't even know it."

Sakura smiled and sat up. Softly stroking Tira threw her fur. "I'm just afraid that I do something stupid, that Ino or my team would come in danger because of me."

"Nonsense, you're not standing on this one alone Sakura. You have team mates on you're side that would follow you to the end. I would follow you till the end."

Sakura stood up and held Tira while walking back to her spot to sit down again. "Thank you." Sakura said softly.

"You're welcome. And there is more, isn't there?"

Sakura looked at her in surprise. "How…How did you know there was more?"

"You're my mistress, you're on open book for me," Tira replied grinning slightly. Sakura laughed at that statement. She began stroking Tira's for again.

"It's a rather someone I like, allot." Sakura began. She dazed off looking back at the stars that sparkled in the night sky. She smiled softly thinking back of him. Tira murmured something and Sakura didn't quite hear it. "What did you say, Tira?"

"It's that silver haired friend of yours, isn't it?"

Once again she was surprised how easily she knew the answer. Was she that obvious? After Sasuke left, she felt broken. Everybody left her and all she could do was watch them walking away out of her life. But a few months before she left on her 3-year mission, she'd began to talk to Kakashi again. Sometimes he came to visit her at the hospital, or just eat dinner with him. They talked about everything and it felt so right. Every smile of him made her heart jump slightly and slowly she began looking forward to the time she spent with him and wanting more. First she just thought it was a little crush she had on him. And that it would leave during her 3-year mission.

But when she came back and saw him standing there, waiting for her, her heart raced and her mouth went dry. He hadn't changed at all the past 3 years. He looked so handsome, even though she never saw his face. It didn't matter for her anymore. She loved him for his actions. How he would ruffle her hair. Or the way he smiled or waved at her. On that moment she knew she'd fallen in love with him. But she wouldn't allow it. She treasured their friendship so much and didn't want to break the bound because of her feeling. So if there was something more between them, she would let Kakashi make the first move. Then she would know that he felt the same about her. Otherwise she would keep it quiet and keep her feelings hidden.

She sighed and looked back at Tira. "Ah, never mind, it isn't that important anyway," Sakura said smiling. Tira simply nodded and crawled closer to her mistress to catch some of her body heat. Tira closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the warmth and caressing of her mistress. Sighing in bliss, she slowly drifted off into sleep.

Two days went by, before they finally reached their destination. Before Sakura walked into the Kazekage's building she changed her chakra signal so they didn't recognise her.

She took a deep breath before stepping into the building and walking up to the office. She knocked slightly before opening the door and walking in.

Gaara turned around and looked at the Anbu captain before him. "So they sent Shadow Sakura to help Suna out. It's on honour to meet you." Sakura simply nodded. Gaara sighed and sat down on his chair. "As you know, my wife is captured. You probably want to sit down, it's going to take a while to go through all the details of this mission and the possibilities.

A/N: R&R! I still wouldn't mind to get tips to get this fic better. The next chapter is coming a little bit later. Because I'm very busy with school.