Sakura was sitting at a table at the library, reading over the third of four scrolls that Tsunade had given her about a month-and-a-half earlier. At first, she had trouble wrapping her head around the new ideas, but after a while it became easier. After only two weeks, she started noticing major differences in her medical abilities; she was able to heal more serious wounds, and could work for longer periods without succumbing to fatigue or chakra exhaustion.
"Hey Sakura, what'cha reading?"
Sakura looked up to see Ino sit down on the other side of the table.
"I'm reading over the scrolls that Tsunade-sama gave me. I'm really starting to understand it now!"
"Really? I didn't know that there was anything else to learn."
"Oh, there are a lot of new techniques to learn. Tsunade gave me these four scrolls, and they turned my world upside down."
"Fine, tell me something that you learned."
Sakura rolled up the scroll and placed her arm on the table. "Ok. Let's have you start. Increase the circulation in my arm."
Ino shrugged and placed her hands over Sakura's exposed forearm. She closed her eyes and concentrated on channeling her chakra into Sakura's capillaries, causing a soft green glow to emanate from her hands. Slowly, Ino sensed that Sakura's blood vessels were opening up, allowing more blood to flow through. "Ok, there. So what was the point of that?"
"Put your arm on the table, and I'll do the same to you."
"Are we just going to practice these basic skills, or is there actually something I'm going to learn here?" she asked as she lay her arm down.
"Just watch, and feel." With that, Sakura took Ino's arm in her hands. However, Sakura held it differently than Ino had. Ino placed both of her hands a few inches above the top of Sakura's skin. Sakura held Ino's arm with both hands, one hand on the top of her arm near her wrist and the other hand underneath near her elbow. Sakura closed her eyes, and Ino began to feel a tingling sensation in her arm. She also noticed that Sakura's hands were not glowing. Ino suddenly realized that the tingling in her arm was her chakra moving down her arm, from one of Sakura's hands to the other. Once all of Ino's blood vessels were opened, Sakura opened her eyes and removed her hands.
"What… What did you do?" Ino asked.
"I used your own chakra to increase your circulation."
"You used my own chakra?"
"By placing my hands on the different parts of your arm like that, I can direct your own chakra to performing the healing, rather than using my own chakra stores."
Ino's eyes were wide with shock. "Wow… I guess I have quite a bit to learn."
"I'll talk to Tsunade-sama about letting you read over those scrolls."
"Thanks, Sakura. So, is there anything else that you can show me?"
Sakura smiled and was about to open one of her first scrolls when an ANBU appeared before them.
"Haruno Sakura, the Hokage has requested you for a mission briefing. Please report to her office immediately." Just as suddenly as he had appeared, the ANBU vanished in a cloud of smoke.
Sakura looked at Ino, sighed, and packed up her scrolls. "Sorry Ino, maybe another time."
Ino stood up and helped Sakura gather her things. "No worries. Missions are missions, and you are needed. Try not to have too much fun, ok?"
Sakura laughed quietly and headed on her way.
"Ahh, Sakura. Just in time," Tsunade said as Sakura opened the door to her office. "I was just about to go over the mission with your teammates."
Sakura closed the door and saw Hinata, Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru looking back at her. She bowed slightly before turning her attention back to Tsunade.
"This may be a simple mission, but it may also be extremely difficult." Tsunade takes a deep breath before continuing. "As you know, Naruto has left about six weeks ago."
As soon as Tsunade mentioned Naruto's name, Sakura's heart began pounding, and she began to feel nervous. "Is he ok? What happened to him?" Sakura asked, panicked.
"I'm about to get to that, Sakura. As I was saying, Naruto left about six weeks ago to collect information from an information route that Jiraya had created. He would normally send me a messenger toad two times a week. However," Tsunade continued, "I have yet to receive word from him in the past week and a half. He may be busy and hasn't had time. Perhaps he's not in a position to send me a messenger toad yet. But with Naruto being the last of the Jinchuuriki, we must be cautious." With that, she pulled out a map and beckoned for the four ninja to look it over. "Naruto's last report was sent from this village," she started, indicating the small town on the map. "From here, Jiraya would have gone this way, passing by these three towns on the path." Tsunade's finger moved across the parchment along one of the paths. "Your best bet is to start from the first town and move your way down the path. Hinata, Shino, Kiba; you have been chosen due to your reputation as trackers. Sakura, you have been chosen because you know the most about Naruto, and would know where he would most likely be." Tsunade rolled up the map and handed it to Shino, who placed it in his backpack. "Shino will be the team leader for this mission. Any questions?" The four shook their heads 'no'. "Very well, then. I would like for you to leave imm-"
"You will need more than those four ninja, Hokage-sama."
Tsunade and the chuunin turned to look at a strange man standing next to the window. He was wearing a plain brown wanderer's robe with his hood up, hiding his face. Sakura noticed that he appeared to be unarmed, but she knew better than to let that lull her into a false sense of security. "Who are you, and what business have you sneaking into my office?" Tsunade asked the stranger.
"My name is Hogosha. I am a wanderer, tied to no one village."
Kiba and Akamaru immediately took fighting stances and charged at the newcomer. An instant before they hit their mark, Hogosha sidestepped their attack, sending them crashing into the wall behind him.
"Hokage-sama, I advise that you have your ninja stand down."
"Kiba! Akamaru! Leave him be for now. Hogosha, you said?" She asked, turning to the robed man. "You must have had a reason for coming to Konoha and sneaking in though my window. Why are you here?"
"Yes, of course. However, I can only reveal this information to you. I must ask that these four, and the dog, wait outside until I am finished."
"What're you, crazy? I'm not leaving just because some strange guy in a hood tells me to!" Sakura yelled at him. "Why're you wearing that thing, anyway? If you want us to trust you, start by showing your face."
"Very well then. You would like to see my face, you shall see it." Hogosha pulled his hood back and revealed himself. His skin was a very dark tan, and he had brown hair. What surprised everybody, though, were his eyes. Or, rather, the inability to see them. He wore a thick black headband with a blank steel plate that covered his eyes; similar to the steel plates on the Konoha forehead protectors, but with no village symbol, and crafted to fit around the bridge of his nose and to cover his forehead. "Now," he started, breaking the silence, "if you would please give your Hokage and I some time alone, I must speak with her about some pressing matters."
"What is so important that only Tsunade-sama is permitted to hear it?" Sakura asked.
"It is information regarding one Uzumaki Naruto," Hogosha replied calmly. Sakura's knees felt weak, and she felt tear come to her eyes. "If you would like to know more, please gather your other friends and bring them here." They all looked at him before quickly running out the door in search of their friends. Once they all left, Hogosha closed the door and lowered all of the blinds. Once he was sure they were alone, he pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to the Hokage. "Please read over this; as soon as you are done, burn the paper. Do not repeat anything that was on there, and act like it was never given to you." Tsunade looked at the man strangely before scanning over the paper.
"Out of my way!" Sakura yelled as she ran through the streets back towards the Hokage palace. Sakura and Team 8 had found everybody else and were now headed back to Tsunade's office to find out what the strange man had to say about Naruto's whereabouts. Sakura ran down the narrow corridors and barged in through Tsunade's closed door. "There, I've collected everybody! Now tell me where Naruto is!" she panted, trying to catch her breath.
Hogosha waited until everyone had entered before once again closing the door. "What I am about to tell you all may worry some of you…"
"Just tell us already!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Very well. You have all been brought here, but you do not know why. I have recently come across information regarding Uzumaki Naruto, and you will all be needed for this next misson."
"Why do you need all of us?" Shikamaru asked.
"Because Uzumaki Naruto… has been captured by Akatsuki."
