Chapter 4: The Mission to Show


Sakura's eyes slowly flickered to life and her emerald eyes widened. She sniffed and let out a little sneeze as she examined her surroundings. She had a blue blanket over her and was on a small couch. She didn't know where she was or how she got there.

Sakura slowly sat up and pushed the fleece blanket off her. "Hello?" she said a little loudly, unsure about what was going on. "Heeellooo?" she said a bit louder, now off the couch and looking around the house. Sakura looked around at the kind of dark house. The kitchen was beautiful and was very well organized. She examined the beautiful old plates and bowls as her fingertips dragged over them, making small chiming noises. Sakura turned her head to the wall and saw a small frame hanging up, but it was covered with dust. She walked over to the frame and took it off the wall and held it in her tiny hands. She took her hand and rubbed over the dusty surface, her palm now covered in gray dust.

The picture was of a family. A happy family. Sakura smiled as she looked at each of the figures. There was a a father with hair that went no farther than his shoulders. He was wearing a dark blue rope and had lines on both sides of his nose. He had a small smile on his face, emphasis on the small. Next to the male figure was a slender woman with long dark blue hair. She was wearing a dress and had an apron on and she smiled beautifully. In front of the mother was a small boy who was smiling. He had a strange hair-doe and had black hair with a dark blue tint to it. He was wearing a blue shirt and white pants that went down to his knees. The mother was holding onto the small boy's hand. Next to the small boy was a very different figure. He was taller, maybe in his 15's or so, and had hair similar to the father's. He had lines on both sides of his nose and he the ends of his lips were curling into more of a smirk than a smile. Sakura scrunched up her nose thinking about the older boy. Who was he?

Sakura then directed her attention to a small label on the frame.

"Uchiha Family. Power Shared."

Sakura's hands let go of the small frame and it began to fall from her hands. She quickly reached down and regained her grip on the picture. She quickly put the picture back up on the wall and walked quickly back to the couch. She was in Sasuke's house. She sleeped on Sasuke's couch. She had no right to sleep her, and she knew that. She wanted to leave as fast as she could. Sakura quickly folded the blue blanket and put it on the couch neatly, making sure to make it look perfect. She stumbled toward the door and she reached her hand out for the golden handle.

"Sakura," she heard a dark voice behind her say, making her freeze in her tracks, "what're you doing?"

Sakura quickly turned around to see a very tired Uchiha. He was wiping his eyes with his knuckles and had loose blue pants on, but-uh, no shirt.

"Sasuke, I uh- I was just-"

"Sakura, I brought you here. Don't freak out. It's annoying. Just relax and you can stay here until you find a place to sleep, okay?" he said cold-heartidly, like he just wanted to get the damn thing over with.

"Uh-yeah," Sakura said, brushing her pink locks out of her face, "Thank you."

Sasuke let out an assuring 'aa' and slowly walked over to the kitchen. He opened a cabinet and pulled out 3 ongiri. He was holding on in his mouth, and the two others in his hands. He held his hand out to Sakura, but Sakura staggered a bit.

"No. I'm not hungry," she stated, even though she could hear her stomach growl. Sasuke moved the ongiri in his mouth so he could speak.

"Sakura. Eat. Now." he demanded, holding out the ongiri again. Sakura obediently took the ongiri and sat down at the small dining table. She silently ate the ongiri, even though she really wanted to scarf it down as quickly as possible. Sasuke, too, was eating the ongiri he placed in his mouth, the other ongiri in the middle of the table.

"You can have the last one." he huffed, leaning back in his chair. "No-you can have it." Sakura replied, not wanting to cause him any more trouble. Sasuke pushed the ongiri towards her. "Just eat the damn thing."

Sakura grabbed the ongiri and ate it obediently-but a little bit faster than the last. Sasuke seemed to be amused by this because he made a small smirk and let out a 'hn'. 'Smart alic,' Sakura thought, her Inner Sakura blazing at Sasuke's naked chest.

Once Sakura was done with the nice rice treat, she stood up from the table and quietly walked to the door. "I'm going out. I have no clothes. I'm going to shopping."

Sasuke looked up at her and raised an eyebrow. "You have no money," he stated, letting out a small huff. Sakura bit her bottom lip and smiled. "Uh- I'll just steal the stuff."

"I don't think so." Sasuke said, walking over the counter. There was a small wallet on the counter and he opened it. Inside he pulled out some money and handed it to Sakura. "Don't complain, don't over-react. Just take it."

Sakura obediently took the money and walked out of the house. Sakura sighed, realizing how Sasuke treated her. 'Don't complain, don't over-react. Just take it.' Those words played over and over in her head. Does Sasuke still think that she's a over-reacting total downer? That she still depends on others too much? Sakura slumped down the village. She entered the Shopping District as around her were multiple shops. She clutched the money in her hand and bit her bottom lip. She didn't want to be extra baggage anymore. She was going to show him that she's changed.

Sakura walked into a small shop titled, 'Flower Fashion'. Inside there were multiple clothing lines and the place smelled like roses. Sakura sniffed in the whiff, but she smelled the scent of daisies in the air. Sakura turned her head to see a blond-kunoichi with a high pony tail. She was exposing her stomach and was wearing a purple top with a mini skirt. "Ino-pig!" Sakura exclaimed, running toward the girl.

"Billboard brow!" Ino said in return, "What're you doing here?"

Suddenly, a little lightbulb flickered over Sakura's head. "Holy shit, Ino! Here, take this money and buy me some clothes! After that bring them to Sasuke's house and leave them on the porch!" Sakura shouted at the girl, stunning her with her demands.

Sakura smiled widley and ran out of the store, leaving a very confused Ino.

'Bring them to Sasuke's house?' Ino thought, wondering what the cherry blossom haired girl was thinking. Suddenly an image of Sasuke is womanly clothes popped into her head, but she shook her head, making her mind rid the thought. No way Sasuke wanted girl clothes... why did she want her to bring clothes to Sasuke's then?

Ino just ignored the thought and went about with the money in her hands. Ino had a mission to do. Ino smiled and held the wad of cash in her hands. 'Time for an A rank mission! Buy Sakura Clothes!'


Sakura was zooming up the stairs to the Hokage's office, running as fast as her legs could take her. She came up with the perfect idea, the best idea ever! It's so simple, she didn't know why she didn't think of it in the first place! Sakura reached the floor where the Hokage's office is. She walked over to the wooden door and was about to knock on it but heard bustling voices inside. Sakura put her ear to the door and listened obediently.

"Naruto! You can't have a mission! You need to train a whole lot more if you think I'm just going to give you an A rank mission right off the back!"

Sakura cringed at the powerful yet womanly voice of the Hokage- who was yelling at no other than Naruto.

"But come on! Puh-lease Granny Tsunade! I really need a mission! I'll go with Team Guy! Yeah! That'll work! Where're they?" she heard the very energetic voice plead.

"Naruto, Team Guy is on a mission in the Demon Country, they won't be back for weeks! There is simply no one who would go on the mission with you!"

Sakura burst through the door and ran up next to Naruto. Naruto and the Hokage were very surprised to see Sakura suddenly run in. Naruto's eyes widened as he had a confused look on his face.

"Hokage-sama, I would gladly accept to going on a mission with Naruto. In fact, I think we, Team 7, should get a chance to engage in missions once again. It's been a long time since we've gone on a mission, and I think it will be healthy for our teamwork. Naruto and Sasuke should get used to working together, because obviously we will be working on protecting the village in the future. So, please Tsunade, we need to reunite Team 7. Besides, I haven't been on a mission in so long because I've been working overtime at the hospital! I haven't been able to use my medical skills in action!"

Tsunade was taken back by Sakura's speech, but Sakura was standing up tall and looking her in the eye. The Hokage's honey orbs met Sakura's emerald ones as their eyes did a silent battle. Naruto just stood their silently and obediently, his head going back between Sakura's and the Hokage's.

The Hokage finally let out a breath and she looked up at the two shinobi. "Fine." she finally said.

Naruto jumped up in the air in glee and Sakura's eyes shone with joy. "Yay! Finally I get to get out there and kick some ass!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Your mission will be B rank. You guys need to-"

"Awwww come on Granny Tsunade! That mission is for Genin!" Naruto complained, but Sakura punched him the jaw.

Tsunade shook her head and raised an eyebrow at Naruto. "You're a Genin, too, Naruto. Same with Sasuke. Sakura is the only Chuunin in your group and so she will be leading the mission."

"Hai." Sakura said, smiling at the Hokage.

"As I was saying, You guys need to get used to each other's skills before rising up to an A rank mission. This will be sort of a warm-up mission for you guys. Hope you enjoy it."

"What mission will we be going on?" Sakura asked, her eyes widening in suspense.

"You guys will be traveling to the Land of Bringing to help with a-well, issue. The Land of Bringing is going through bad economical times, and the raids going on down there aren't really helping. Your job is to stop the source of the raids and help the land. Simple. If you guys fail this mission, It'll be B rank missions and below until you all of you become Jonin!"

Sakura and Naruto both embraced and jumped around the room, chanting 'Mission! Mission!'. Tsunade sighed and ruffled some papers on her desk. "Shizune! Get these two brats out of here!"

Shizune entered the office quickly and instructed the two to leave. "By the way guys, leave to the Land of Bringing 6 A.M. tomorrow!" the Hokage shouted right as the two were kicked down the stairs.


Sasuke sat on the couch, throwing kunai at the ceiling. He was using two kunai in total for this little game of his. He threw a kunai up and it stuck to the ceiling, then he threw his 2nd kunai as it took the place of the 1st kunai and it stuck while the 1st kunai fell. The kunai fell and he grabbed it effortlessly, throwing the 1st kunai up at the 2nd as it stuck to the ceiling as the 2nd fell. This was little game of consentration Sasuke did every once in while. But, even though he threw the kunai up multiple times, it only left one or two holes in the ceiling.

Sasuke walked into the kitchen, holding one kunai in his hand as he spun it around on his index finger. Sasuke put down the kunai on the counter as he turned his attention to the wall next to him. He raised an eyebrow at the small frame on the wall. Sasuke hadn't touched the frame since before he left to go with Orochimaru, but for some reason the dust was completly gone. He hadn't touched it. But, who did then?

Sasuke's thought were interrupted as he suddenly felt the presence of someone on the door. The flowing chakra walked up to the porch, but disspeared. Sasuke walked to the door, the kunai in his hand. He opened the door- no one was there. Sasuke's eyes flowed down to see some clothes with a small note on it.

Sasuke picked up the small note as he smelled the scent of daisies.

Dear Sakura,

Here are the clothes you asked me to buy! By the way, why did you have all that money? I thought you lost everything with the-uh, well you know.

Anyways I hope you find some place to stay- if you need to stay at anyone's house I'm available!

By the way I bought you all the clothes you wanted me to buy- all in your favorite colors! (Pink, Red, White, Black)

The colors of Sakura! Hope you like the clothes- and if you don't too bad! ! !

See you Billboard Brow!

*~Ino~*

P.S. You have to fill me in later why you made me bring this stuff to Sasuke-kun's house!!!!

Sasuke crumpled up the letter in his hand and threw it into a bush. He picked up the clothes and walked back inside. He threw the clothes onto the couch and sighed. The girl spent all his money? Stupid Ino... unless she kept the money left over...

Sasuke huffed and sat down at the small dining table. On the table was a small candle and some rice crumbs from the breakfast he and Sakura had this morning.

Sasuke's mind wandered to the night when he found Sakura in her house when it was on fire. She is always so helpless, hasn't she learned to grow up after so long? He and Naruto have been working their butts off, and hell Naruto even brought him back! How could Sakura not even get the least bit emotionally healthy? You'd think after 3 years she'd change a little bit. And all that time he thought that Sakura would get her act together and try to make things easier for Naruto, but she hasn't changed one bit at all. Sasuke sighed and rolled his eyes. Guess some things don't change, and people who are annoying never change either.

Sasuke fiddled with a kunai in his hands and decided to go get some training in. Sasuke went to Training Ground 7, where Team 7 used to practice all the same, hence the name Training Ground 7.


After Sasuke threw his kunai and made 67 bullzies in a row, he grew tired. He walked over to a tree and sat in the shade, watching the clouds.

This act made Sasuke think about one of the Rookie 9, but he couldn't remember the shinobi's name. The guy who always watched clouds and always hang around with that fat guy- what was his name? Sasuke couldn't remember, but he just imagined this thin guy with a spiky pony tail and lazy eyes. Sasuke snickered wondering if that one shinobi ever amounted to anything- or if he just spent the rest of his shinobi days sleeping. Sure- the guy got to be a Chunnin, but come on! He could never amount to anything.

"Hello, Sasuke."

Sasuke jumped and looked over the other side of the tree to see a smiling silver-haired sensei.

Sasuke let out a welcoming 'Hn' and sat back against the tree.

"How've you been?" the sensei asked, sitting next to his long-time student. Sasuke didn't reply- and Kakashi suspected he's just been bored and has been thinking.

Kakashi just sighed and decided to leave the thinking shinobi alone. "If you ever want to talk, Sasuke, I'm always here."

Sasuke just ignored him again. He closed his eyes and put his hands over his head, pretending to of drifted instantly to sleep, even though he was obviously awake.


Sakura was walking slowly home, a small bounce in her step. She was finally going to prove herself to Sasuke! She was going to show him how a real kunoichi should act! How Sakura Haruno should act! Inner Sakura was squealing and jumping up and down. 'Cha!'

Sakura decided to go get some ramen, which was surprising because she was going by herself- not with Naruto. When she entered the stall she saw Kakashi-sensei sitting there. "Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura squealed, scurrying over and sitting next to him.

Kakashi looked up at the pink-haired girl and smiled under his mask. "Hello, Sakura."

Sakura smiled back and ordered a small bowl of ramen with pork. When her food arrived it reminded her so much of Naruto. She smiled and split apart her chopsticks and dug in while her sensei watched.

"So, Sensei, what're you doing here?" she asked, her mouth full of ramen and pork bites. "Just catching up on my reading, y'know?"

Sakura scrunched up her nose. What a pervert reading those gross Itchi-Itchi novels!

"You need a better hobby, Sensei." Sakura declared, shaking her chopsticks at her sensei. "You don't understand, Sakura. This book is a true novel filled with plot and interesting character! But, I guess you'd never understand good literature."

Sakura was taken back by her sensei's sudden defence, but she just smiled and directed her attention back to the ramen. Sakura sipped the last bit of brawth and set the bowl down on the table, staring at the empy bowl. Sakura mind suddenly wandered to when she saw Sensei comming back from the mission to bring Sasuke back, and he came back only a bit scathed.

"Sensei," Sakura began as her Sensei put down his book and directed his attention to her, "I know it's not my place to stick my nose into, but you can back from the mission to save Sasuke barely hurt and Naruto was compeltly ripped apart! I just want to know, how did you guys bring Sasuke back? What happened while you guys were gone?"

Kakashi sighed and put his hands on the table, folded. "Well...."


A/N; Kind of a cliff hanger, but I got really lazy and decided the next chapter will tell you what happens when they went on their mission. And Sasuke of course still thinks Sakura is an emotional wreck and annoying- sorry guys! But come on, I got to keep Sasuke in character, not like other stories where he's all mushy right off the back!

The next chapter will probably come out soon- I hope.