Disclaimer: AgainI'd like to say that I do NOT own Naruto. This is just my fan fic and any and all reviews would be nice seeing as this is my first series and I'd apperciate the advice. Read. Enjoy. Review.
Cherry Blossoms
4
The ANBU team arrived in the fifth Hokage's office. Papers were scattered and she looked... upset.
"Shizune!" Lady Tsunade yelled.
"Y-yes?" Shizune stepped forward.
"What happened to the paper I just had about this situation?!" Tsunade glared at Shizune.
"Um, isn't that it in your hand?" she was afraid to speak it. Tsunade, as many knew, had one nasty punch.
"So it is," she seemed to cool down. "Team Seven, glad you could make it."
Naruto tried to sneak into the room, hiding behind Kakashi. Tsunade didn't pay attention to him.
"You sent for us?" Sasuke got to the point.
"Yes," Tsunade pushed other papers aside to place the one with mission details in front of her. "I've received news that we lost two outposts located just outside of the village. I sent a small team to investigate and the news they brought back was bad. Team Seven you're going to visit the village in which both outposts were in contact with. It is them we've ultimately lost contact with. Because of that we have no knowledge of the status of the village. Currently so many ninja's are on their own missions, otherwise I'd send more than just your team."
"Oh, man," Naruto spoke up. "I suppose this is an ANBU level mission?"
"Naruto!" Sakura and Shizune shouted finally noticing him.
"You're not supposed to be here!" Shizune said.
"It's fine Shizune," Tsunade held up a hand. "I've considered the ranking. Naruto I'm considering the ranking of this mission to be ANBU or at least jounin. Neither of which you are."
Naruto grumbled under his breath.
"Lady Tsunade," Sakura spoke up. "Because we don't know the circumstances shouldn't we take as many as we possibly can to aide this search and recover mission? Other teams surely will be coming back soon-"
"No! Not them! Take me!" Naruto let slip. "Tsunade please! Their my team!"
"I wasn't finished Naruto!" Sakura yelled. Sasuke rubbed his temples, the yelling was hell on his head. "When those teams come back they can be here to act on emergencies and protect the village, then Naruto would be free to come with us. We're all highly skilled Shinobi, we are more than capable of finishing the mission and protecting Naruto should he get in danger."
Sasuke held back a laugh. If Naruto should get in danger, the kid throws himself into the enemy's line of fire and somehow manages to make it work. Any of us being in danger is inevitable.
Tsunade smiled, "Well said Sakura. Naruto I grant you permission to assist your team. It will not be classified as an ANBU mission so wear your usual mission attire. You'll leave tomorrow bright and early, head first to the outposts then follow their maps to the village."
Everyone in Team Seven nodded.
"Dismissed," Tsunade waved.
Moments later...
Sakura stopped mid thought. The overwhelming smell of flowers wafted through the air to her. She noticed her aimless walking had brought her to her old friend's flower shop. Ino, Sakura thought.
Without second thought Sakura pushed the door and a friendly familiar voice rang out, "Welcome to Yamanaka Flowers!"
"Hey Ino Pig!" Sakura said cheerfully.
A blonde head popped up from behind a row of flowers.
"Hey Billboard Brow!" she smiled big and waved at her old friend. "I heard!"
Sakura just smiled.
"Come here a second," Ino commanded. Sakura followed her voice and walked past the flowers. Along the way she held out hands to let her fingers touch the soft petals of the flowers, until her finger got pricked on a thorn.
"Ow," Sakura said softly. "Darn thorns..."
"Here!" Ino put a small pink flower in Sakura's hand. "It's to congratulate you on becoming an ANBU member! It's pink because, well, so are you!"
"Thanks Ino!" Sakura smiled as she looked at the small flower.
"Now that will be $.50," Ino smiled a mischievous grin.
"What?!" Sakura's smile fell. "I thought it was a gift!"
"It is," Ino sounded confident. "It's employee discounted, that's the gift."
Sakura sighed, rolling her eyes. This is something Ino would so do.
For a moment Sakura counted the money and Ino waited patiently. Suddenly she looked impatient. When Sakura handed her the change Ino ran past her.
Sakura turned to see what caught her attention so.
It, of course, was Sasuke. Sakura made a face at her friend's obvious flirting.
"Here Sasuke," Ino handed him a bright yellow flower.
"What's this?" he looked confused, and not to all together fond of the flower.
"It's a congratulatory gift for making the ANBU ranks," Ino smiled big.
Sakura was walking out when she over heard this. "Hey Ino?"
"What Sakura?" she sounded irritated at the pinkette's interruption.
"Are you gonna charge him for that?" she asked out of curiosity.
"Of course not!" Ino looked insulted. "It's a gift! Why would I charge him for it?!"
Sakura's face began to twitch from irritation as she walked away. She grumbled many things and she had a twinge of something else. She forced herself to push that last thought out of her head.
"You could put that in your house, spruce it up a bit, add some color," Ino suggested. "I could even come by and plant some out front if ya like."
"That's, uh, nice Ino," Sasuke looked slightly uncomfortable. "Only problem is I don't garden... much. They wouldn't survive."
Ino smiled, unfazed by his comment, "No problem. I could come by in the mornings and water them for you."
"Sasuke," Ino said loud enough for Sakura to hear. "Why don't you tell me about your last mission?" Sasuke walked with Ino, this he actually enjoyed. Bragging about himself.
Sakura looked back once more before grunting unladylike and walking away. Ino of course still loves him, Sakura thought
Kakashi happened to walk to his friend Asuma's to see if him and his team was back from their mission yet. He knocked on the door, when he heard no answer he was about to turn around until he heard the familiar voice, "Out back!"
Kakashi lazily walked out back, his hands in pockets to see Asuma and Shikamaru in an intense shogi match. "I thought your team was still in the mountains Asuma."
"Well, we got back this morning," Asuma laughed lightly as he moved a shogi piece. "Ino's parents had her tend to the shop after she napped, and Choji is still probably celebrating with his family on a mission well done. They went to his favorite BBQ joint. It's expensive for us all to eat there. Shikamaru and I were just passing the time with shogi."
Shikamaru lazily waved at Kakashi as he moved a piece across the board. "I win Asuma-sensei."
Asuma sighed, "Good game Shikamaru. Well played as always."
"So whats up with the other teams?" Kakashi leaned against a tree as Asuma went to stand and talk to his friend.
"Kurenai's team is off with Guy and his team," Asuma explained. "See Kurenai's pregnant. They went on a mission out into the east some time back. We've got regular reports coming back from them. Last I know they sent one in two days ago saying it should be wrapped up soon."
"I see," Kakashi brushed the back of his head off where he thought a bug crawled on his headband. "So are you two going to marry before the baby is born or after?"
Asuma smiled, "Before. Boy Kakashi you sure don't miss anything."
"Well it's obvious to those who know you both well," he laughed at his friend's comment. "It's good to see you both tie the knot."
Naruto headed for the training fields where he found Sakura fighting a punching bag. He watched for a second until he realized that she was upset. She didn't punch that hard unless she was mad, like Tsunade.
"Sakura!" Naruto shouted over the noise.
Sakura gave one last heavy punch to the punching bag before the bag ripped open and the sand poured out. She turned to his direction and squinted. "Yeah Naruto?"
"Uh," he hesitated. "Wanna spar?"
The corners of Sakura's lips curled up in a grin.
"Go easy on me!" she shouted back.
"Right, me go easy on her," he said sarcastically as he approached.
The next morning...
Naruto yawned and stretched as he waited along with his teammates for Kakashi to arrive. "Gosh Sakura you really left bruises."
"Well, you didn't dodge very well!" she reasoned with him. Moments later, "Gosh Kakashi needs to buy a watch!"
It was six am and they were supposed to be gone already.
"He hasn't changed a bit," Sasuke said in his annoyed voice.
"He does take his time," Sai smiled.
"What took you all so long?" Kakashi walked up from behind them. He of course was teasing but Naruto had an outburst.
"Us?! Kakashi you've never been on time for anything in your life!"
"That's not true," he barely tried to defend himself. "Your all early."
"Shall we get going then?" Sai spoke up.
"Might as well," Sasuke sighed and they followed Sasuke as they left the leaf village.
Thanks for reading, remember to review!
