A/N: I'm really sorry it took me so long to update. I've been very busy with holidays and all. Since I feel so guilty, I've rewarded you with an extra-long chapter =D Enjoy!

You may tire of me

As our December sun is setting

Cause I'm not who I used to be

"Would you like sugar in your tea?"

Shikamaru blinked his eyes open groggily at the sound of Tenzou's voice. Confusion swept over him momentarily, but it was quickly replaced with annoyance as he recognized his surroundings. He sighed, peering up at his comrade tiredly.

"No, thank you."

It was the third time he had nodded off today. But who could blame him? He was tired of strategy and planning. He was tired of battle tactics and jutsus. But most of all, he was tired of Uchiha Sasuke. If he never heard that name again in his life he'd be the happiest man alive. Unfortunately, that was not likely as he was given the blessed task of assassinating the asshole. What a waste of time…

Neji, Genma, Tenzou, and Shikamaru had been holed up in a small, private office in the Hokage tower for six hours attempting to gather information to formulate a decent assassination proposal. Unfortunately, they didn't have many leads to locate Sasuke's current location, so it was a little difficult coming up with a tactical plan. In fact, the only man who knew as much about Sasuke as possible was Kakashi, and he was nowhere to be found. It didn't seem like him to turn his back on a mission, especially a mission as important to Konoha as this, but the fresh news about Sakura's pregnancy was sure to rattle his bones a little. They knew he just needed time to let it soak in. It wasn't easy losing yet another former student, especially under such appalling circumstances. However, he was Hatake Kakashi; he could never turn his back completely on a mission. He would come around eventually. Unfortunately they were running out of time quickly. Their two week deadline was approaching fast, and they hadn't made any critical progress. As much as they hated to admit it, they needed Kakashi. It was a blow to their egotistical shinobi pride, but it was obvious that Kakashi was the commander of the mission. Other than Naruto, he knew Sasuke like no other; Tsunade was blatantly aware of that, so it was no surprise when she assigned Kakashi to the mission. She trusted Kakashi enough to put the fate of Konoha in his hands, and that was an honor that any shinobi would die to carry. For that they knew he would come around eventually… at least they silently hoped.

Shikamaru sighed, watching Tenzou busy himself with the tea kettle. As much as he wanted to hate everything about this mission, he knew it was detrimental to Konoha—his family and his home. Sasuke was a sick twisted soul driven by vengeance and hate only. His hatred for Konoha had only grown ten-fold after he killed his brother, Itachi, and discovered the truth behind his brother's intentions to slaughter the clan. Itachi hadn't acted independently; it was the council that had given him the orders to wipe out the Uchiha clan. Inevitably, when Sasuke realized the horror behind his error he vowed to repay his brother's life and ultimately revive the clan. At first, Konoha was vigilant, keeping watch every night and following every lead that indicated Sasuke's location. But years passed and nothing happened. Too much time and money had been wasted and Tsunade was forced to withdraw Konoha from its search for Sasuke. And then, right when Konoha had erased all memories of Sasuke and the history of the Uchiha clan, he struck. In the middle of the night, he swept in and annihilated every member of the council and all their family members—27 people in total. On his way out, Sasuke left a message of flames burning in the trees of the abandoned Uchiha estate: Konoha falls, Uchiha reigns. Immediately, Tsunade dispatched every jounin to search for him, but there was no trace. Over a year has passed, and the trepidation in the hearts of the people in Konoha has only increased. No one spoke of it, but everyone knew he'd be back again someday.

And then, out of the blue, he appeared at the edge of Fire country. Neji, Genma, Tenzou, Shikamaru, and Kakashi moved in immediately, but they were unprepared and caught off guard and Sasuke retreated easily. As he slipped away, he chuckled sarcastically and taunted them: the day of revenge will fall upon you soon; finish your business and say your farewells.

And now, they knew they had to buckle down and finish the job. The fate of Konoha was at stake, and they'd be damned if they let it fall over a sick, sadistic stab of revenge. It was unfortunate that Sakura's condition had to occur at the same time, because they needed Kakashi 100% into this mission. Time was running out, and although they did not speak of it, their confidence was wavering. The reality of the situation was bearing down on them and squeezing the air out of their lungs. They knew Sasuke could be capable of anything, and it was alarming to think about what he would do next. He would surely hit them where they least expect it.

"It's a shame isn't it…?"

Shikamaru blinked furiously, trying to force his mind back to reality. Glancing over his shoulder, he noticed Genma lounged against his chair, clicking his senbon and shaking his head lightly. Neji glared back at him annoyed, and it was then that Shikamaru realized it was Genma who had spoken up. He wasn't sure why, but he suddenly felt interested in what he was saying.

"What are you saying over there baka?" Shikamaru said, faking an uninterested aura.

Genma stood suddenly, removing his senbon and studying it between his fingers casually. "That Haruno girl… it's such a waste. I didn't even have to the chance to get it in…"

Neji pulled his slate blue eyes into a dark glare. "You're such a Neanderthal."

Shikamaru frowned, leaning his head into the palms of his hands lazily. "What's it to you anyways, Genma?"

He wasn't sure why he said that. It wasn't his business to defend Sakura, but for some strange reason he felt peculiarly sorry for her. Especially because her problems were also Kakashi's and it was influencing his participation in the mission. He just wanted to get the damn thing over with…

Genma chuckled. "Getting defensive, are we Shika-kun?"

Shikamaru sighed heavily, ignoring the impolite pet name and letting his eyelids fall shut. "Not really. But I don't see how it affects you, either? If you wanted Sakura, you should've done it by now."

Genma scoffed, shaking his head. "I never thought anyone could get inside that chastity belt she wears. I wonder what lucky chap got the chance..."

Tenzou returned from his position and sat down in the chair adjacent to Shikamaru. Placing the steaming cups of tea in front of his teammates, he finally caught up with the current conversation. "Please, can we refrain from talking about my former comrade that way?"

"Who cares anyways? It's Sakura's business, not ours." Neji spoke from beneath the raised cup of tea in his hand.

Genma ignored their comments, pulling the chair up and plopping down on it backwards. "So who is your guess? My shot's Naruto… he's always wanted that chick. Or maybe even Kiba? The prude ones always go for the animalistic type."

Shikamaru shook his head, feeling very disgusted with the conversation. He didn't want to think about Sakura that way… especially with Naruto. She was definitely an attractive woman, but she felt like more of a sister to him. It made him sad to think of how driven she was and how successful she had become—it was all just an afterthought now. She'd most likely end up just like Kurenei, scraping to pay her bills and having to pass up her shinobi career completely for an annoying little tot. What a waste of talent, he pondered.

Neji gritted his teeth, growling under his breath. "Just drop it, Genma. We have much more important things to tackle right now."

Genma held up his hands. "Alright, alright… Still, you can't help feeling sorry for the poor girl."

Genma had an annoying habit of always wanting to have the last word in the conversation. Normally it would aggravate the hell out of Shikamaru, but right now something troubling was settling in the pit of his belly. He kept thinking about Sakura, about the intensely sad look on her face the night before, about the fear that swept in her eyes briefly before she left with Tsunade—it all seemed wrong to him.

Something deep in the back of his mind was telling him there was something much more enormous behind Sakura's pregnancy…

Shizune sat precariously at the desk in the corner of the Hokage's office, watching the madness unfold in front of her. Kakashi had shown up a few minutes before, and as she had expected, he had argued relentlessly against Tsunade's decision of Sakura's fate. Tsunade was quickly losing her cool, though, and Shizune was beginning to fear the fate of her existence. She cowered deeper into her desk, folding her palms over her ears.

"Tsunade-sama! This is insanity! You can't send a pregnant kunoichi on that long of a mission!"

Tsunade glared darkly at the silver-haired man in front of her. "I really don't appreciate you disputing my orders so disrespectfully! I understand completely what I'm doing, and it's for the better of Sakura and Konoha."

"Is it really that easy to put your best medic in danger that way?"

Tsunade stood abruptly, slamming her palm onto the pile of scrolls scattered on her desk. "Silence! How dare you speak to me that way? Do you think I haven't thought about this carefully? Do you think I haven't mourned over the loss of my best apprentice as well? This doesn't just affect you, Kakashi! Think about Sakura and her fate! Think about that young girl being forced into motherhood without a single choice!"

Tsunade's voiced echoed loudly in the room, and Shizune ducked haplessly behind her desk. Silence descended momentarily as two chestnut eyes held one coal-colored eye in an intense, foreboding gaze. Kakashi remained unmoved, returning Tsunade's stare with an equal coolness.

After a long, endless moment, he spoke silently. "I have thought about it, my lady… more than you can imagine. That's why I can't let you send her on that mission alone."

Tsunade sighed, sinking in her chair in defeat. She was too tired to deal with Kakashi today. The news of Sakura's pregnancy had sucked the life straight out of her. She wasn't even sure how she would make it through the rest of the day without losing her mind completely.

"Fine. I will send an escort with her. But only an escort. Once she is there, she will be on her own. It's only a simple medic mission so she shouldn't be in any danger."

"But-"

"No buts Kakashi! I've made my decision and it's final!"

Kakashi let his gaze fall to the floor. Something inside of him was twisting and squeezing his insides and making his head spin. He couldn't let this bother him… not with the Sasuke assassination mission around the corner. But it was too hard losing two students at the same time, especially when one just happened to be his favorite. How could he handle letting Sakura walk out of Konoha for an extended amount of time without any clue of her return? Would she be gone the whole pregnancy? Even after the baby was born…? At that thought his stomach lurched and flipped on itself, making the nausea rise in his throat.

A question popped in his head, and he surprised himself when his voice spoke. "Why are you sending her away instead of keeping her here where she'll be safer…?"

Tsunade was gravely silent for a moment, and she leaned forward, folding her hands in front of her face solemnly. "My job isn't to look out for Sakura's well-being. Firstly and lastly, my job is to ensure the safety of Konoha."

A dizzying surge of emotions washed over Kakashi as he absorbed the seriousness in Tsunade's words. He remained frozen, completely and utterly aghast. After a moment, realization struck him so hard he felt the floor beneath him shift.

"Tsunade-sama… you aren't thinking…?"

Tsunade narrowed her eyes slightly. "Do you think I'm a fool? I know my student more than anything. This situation isn't the result of a lapse of principles. Sakura herself told me she doesn't remember having sexual relations. This is a very serious situation. One that makes me believe this isn't any accident…"

Kakashi's jaw fell open. "An infiltration…?"

Tsunade nodded. "This is why I can't let Sakura stay here. I need to keep her distanced from Konoha. I have to ensure that unborn child doesn't come anywhere near this village until we can decipher the meaning of its existence…" She paused as a dark, somber look swept over her face. "Even if it means putting the well-being of our best medic at stake."

Kakashi shook his head, his mind reeling with the fresh realization. "But why not get rid of the fetus now before it develops?"

Tsunade chuckled mockingly. "You do realize who you are talking about, right? Sakura's heart is too big; she could never willingly end the life of an innocent child."

"Why not just order her to? Sakura may have a big heart, but she would never go against your word."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes darkly. "I may seem cold, Kakashi, but I'm not that cold. I won't go to that extreme until I know this holds any true danger. If I did that, I'd lose my best medic no matter how this plays out. Sakura's timid, but she's determined when she believes in something. You of all people should know that."

Kakashi frowned, pondering the truth in her words. If Sakura was anything, it was determined. Once she put her heart into something, there was no backing down. He knew how she felt about the value of life. She could kill without skipping a beat during a mission, but he'd known her long enough to notice the way her eyes softened with sorrow afterwards. It was much more fitting seeing her as medic. She was able to pour her heart and soul into saving lives, and he knew how satisfied that made her. There was no doubt that she would have trouble viewing her pregnancy as a nuisance.

Kakashi sighed, feeling that familiar crushing feeling in his chest. "Tsunade-sama… please. Let me escort Sakura on her mission."

Tsunade growled angrily. "How many times do I have to go over this, Kakashi? You've been assigned to the Uchiha assassination mission! Your duty belongs to that mission first!"

"I understand, but-"

"You will not dispute me any longer! I will ensure Sakura's safety on the journey to her destination and I will regularly keep in contact with her. These are my final words on this matter, so unless you have something else to tell me, you'd find it in your benefit to leave me be."

A flash of anger flickered in Kakashi's eyes, but he quickly diverted it with a curt nod. Spinning on his heel, he turned briskly, starting towards the door. As he neared the doorway, Tsunade spoke suddenly, making him freeze in his tracks.

"What happened on that mission?"

Kakashi didn't move, he remained frozen, his back to the Hokage. His shoulders slumped forward in understanding—she didn't have to specify. He knew exactly what she meant.

"I think we both know that's irrelevant, my lady."

Tsunade growled, clenching her fists tightly. "If you're keeping something from me Kakashi, I assure you I will find out and I will not hesitate in punishing you."

Kakashi was solemnly silent for a moment as he pondered the right words to say. After a few stifling seconds, he spoke in a hushed tone. "All details of that mission are included in the report I turned into you. If you find anything suspicious, I will gladly explain it to you."

Without waiting for an appropriate dismissal, Kakashi briskly exited the room, sliding the door shut behind him a little too roughly. The door snapped shut with a loud bang, and Shizune yelped instinctively. Realizing her foolish slip up, she shuffled the scrolls on her desk clumsily, attempting to look busy. After a moment, she realized Tsunade hadn't even noticed her existence, and she glanced over at her superior curiously. Tsunade sat in a frozen position staring hard at the doorway Kakashi recently exited. Her eyes were hollow and cold, and the fatigue was showing in the darkened rings underneath her usually exuberant eyes. Shizune frowned, feeling as if she was placed in an alternate dimension. Awkward wouldn't even begin to describe how she felt. She knew she should say something to cheer Tsunade up, but at the moment, nothing even remotely appropriate seemed to come to mind. So, instead, she continued to shuffle the scrolls, hoping that the passing time would alleviate the stiff aura in the room. Unfortunately, it didn't…

After a long, passing moment, Tsunade spoke, her voice barely a whisper. "He doesn't understand…"

The shaky edge in Tsunade's voice startled Shizune, and she paused, letting her eyes drift towards her superior. Her breath caught in her throat when she caught sight of the billowing sadness in Tsuande's eyes.

"My lady?"

Tsunade seemed unmoved by Shizune's voice, as if she weren't even present in the room. She continued to stare blankly at the doorway, her eyes glassy and desolate.

"Things can never be easy…"

After a moment, Tsunade blinked rapidly, abruptly returning to reality. She turned towards Shizune knowingly and shot her a look of exasperation. "Ah, Shizune—fetch this old lady some sake immediately."

Shizune blinked, obviously confused by the hasty change in Tsunade's disposition. She nodded hurriedly and scurried out of the room. After a brief moment, she returned with a tray carrying a bottle of sake and two glasses. Tsunade never liked to drink by herself, especially when she was stressed. Although Shizune never liked to drink at such random times of the day, she was smart enough to never question the Hokage. That's probably the main reason they got along so well.

"Your sake, my lady…"

Tsunade quickly snatched the bottle and poured an equal amount of sake in each glass. Slamming the bottle down clamorously, she reached forward and downed the glass in one, swift gulp. Shizune watched wide-eyed as she poured another glass shakily and repeated the same performance. As Tsunade poured yet another glassful, Shizune reached forward tenderly and placed her hand on Tsunade's wrist, stopping her.

"Tsunade-sama, that's the last bottle you have. You shouldn't waste it that way." She said, peering worriedly at her superior. Shizune knew that fact was entirely irrelevant, but she needed something to say—anything to break Tsunade's reckless train of thought.

Tsunade sighed, releasing her grip on the glass and rubbing her face with her hands. "Shizune, I appreciate your concern, but I'm old enough to take care of myself. I know sometimes it seems I can't, but I can assure you I'm extremely capable."

Shizune frowned, reaching forward and grabbing her glass of sake. Taking a quick sip, she sunk into the chair next to Tsunade, sending her a look of understanding. She knew how hard all this must be on her. Despite her hard exterior, Tsunade really did care about the people of Konoha, especially the shinobi who worked and braved their lives for the village. Sakura was no exception—she had wheedled her way into the Hokage's heart with her resilient determination and caring will to protect those around her. She also happened to be extremely gifted and talented—something that should never be overlooked. Tsunade had embraced that and spent years cultivating Sakura's talents until she had molded her into an exceptional medic—one that was in line with surpassing the Hokage herself. Tsunade would never admit it, but she was proud beyond words in the development of Sakura. She saw her as a daughter she never had, so it was inevitable that the news of her pregnancy would disappoint her. Tsunade felt as if it was entirely her fault, and that all blame should be placed on her. Shizune wished she knew a way to tell her she was wrong, and that as much as she wanted to, she could never completely protect all the ones she cared about.

Tsuande chuckled, breaking Shizune from her thoughts. "It's funny how these things happen… Right when you think you've got a handle on things, life swoops in and sucker punches you."

"Tsunada-sama, there isn't anything you could've done to prevent this from happening."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes at the rim of her glass. "There's always something you can do…"

Shizune shook her head, setting down her glass. "None of that matters now. You need to focus on how to fix the situation at hand. I think you're doing a fine job handling all this. Don't let Kakashi get to you…"

"I can assure you, Kakashi isn't what's bothering me right now. Although, his sour attitude isn't exactly helping…"

Shizune smiled stiffly. "Yes, that's true. But you know how defensive he can be. There may not be many people who can find their way into his heart, but those that do are extremely important to him. He doesn't take that lightly."

Tsunade nodded, but didn't answer. Instead, she stared blankly ahead, idly sipping her glass as she slipped deeper into thought. Shizune fingered the hem of her kimono, desperately searching for the courage to say the words that would quell her curiosity. Since she found about Sakura's pregnancy, she was dying to know what she had told Tsunade. From bits and pieces of conversation, she had gathered that something had to have happened on Sakura and Kakashi's previous mission—it was the only scene she could have been in if she was 12 weeks pregnant. But what? Did Sakura remember anything at all?

Shizune cleared her throat awkwardly, and tried out her voice. "Tsuande-sama, would it be alright if I ask you something?"

"Hmm?" Tsunade blinked, turning towards her dark-haired friend. "I suppose. Nothing's stopping you."

"Well, forgive me if I seem intrusive, but what did Sakura tell you? Does she remember anything…?"

Tsunade pulled her lips into a tight frown, narrowing her eyes slightly. "She didn't tell me very much, only because she knows about as much as you and I. Apparently, she doesn't remember anything that could've put her in a situation where she was alone. She said the mission with Kakashi was very routine, and that nothing out of the ordinary happened. However…" Tsunade paused, letting her voice trail off softly. "She told me something happened between her and Kakashi recently."

Shizune's eyes widened. "What…?"

Tsunade shook her head lightly. "Nothing like that, of course. She said she had confronted him about the mission, demanding him to tell her if anything could've happened to her. She said he acted… strange—very suspicious, and that he even turned his Sharingan on her."

"Oh my… Do you think…?"

"I don't know for sure, but I don't think so. That doesn't seem like something Kakashi would do. But, even so, it's obvious he's hiding something. The question is—what? And why?"

Shizune nodded, slipping deep into thought. It all seemed unfathomable to her. First, Haruno Sakura was pregnant, and with no knowledge of how. Now, Kakashi was going against the Hokage and hiding things from her, which was entirely out of character for him. He was always a strict rule follower, especially when it came to the details of a mission. There wasn't any other who could take a mission more seriously than Kakashi, so why was it that he was so easily defying what he usually stood strongly for?

Shizune gulped, peering up at Tsunade worriedly. "Are you really going to… punish him if he doesn't tell you?"

Tsunade sighed. "No, I will let all of this play out first. Maybe we'll find the answers first. But if at any moment I feel I need to know, I will make him tell me. I just hope it doesn't get to that point. Hopefully this whole situation isn't as big of a problem as I think it is."

Shizune nodded in understanding. "Yes, I hope so too…"

Sakura choked back another sob, rubbing her eyes until the flesh was raw. She was tired of crying—tired of feeling sorry for herself. It had been over a day since the meeting with Tsunade. But as she sat there, trying desperately to will the tears away, she knew she didn't have the strength—not at the moment anyway.

She had been sitting at the village center over an hour, sipping her favorite hot chocolate from the local coffee shop. She had found herself there in search of the warm, liquid treat in hopes that it would help bring some cheer to her rather gloomy disposition. But despite her efforts, she felt just as awful as she did in the first place. Adulthood often deprived the happiness from simple things, and at that moment, Sakura felt frustrated with the constant reminder of it.

Sakura sighed, squeezing her eyes shut as another barrage of Tsunade's words filtered into her mind. Somehow, she knew everything would be uncovered eventually, but not like this—when she was so unprepared. She was hoping that she could make sense of everything in her mind first before she was forced to explain such a startling change in her life. It's a sickening but inevitable trait of mankind to demand answers. But how could she provide answers when she knew as much if not less than the rest of society? She searched the depths of her mind, swimming in confusion until a daunting thought pulled her up short. No… not all of society is clueless. There is someone out there that knows what happened, and, for some reason, the image of a certain silver-haired man popped in her mind immediately. And with that thought, a flash of fury spread inside of her violently. Suddenly, bits and pieces of the conversation with Tsunade attacked her thoughts. Tsunade's jarring and stony voice echoed mockingly: "Why didn't you say anthing, Sakura?" "Disappointment doesn't even begin to describe how I feel." "How are you planning to handle this situation?"

But there's one thing that stands out more and continuously plays over and over in her mind, laced with the sinking feeling of betrayal: "Kakashi approached me this morning and requested that I look into what's causing your strange behavior…"

The words rang in Sakura's ears like the repetitive, dark cackling of a crow at night, and, instinctively, she reached up to clamp her hands over her ears, as if it would make it all go away. She couldn't even begin to comprehend what was going on. Somehow, the safe, cookie-cutter relationship between Sakura and her former sensei had evolved into something much more dark and mysterious. The events of the past few days felt like the chaotic tumble of an avalanche. Everything kept building on itself, falling to the ground at incomprehensible speeds until suddenly, all she could feel was the suffocating sensation of being buried. Buried by confusion, buried by regret…

But, mostly, buried by the fear of the future. Of what will come after all the rocks stop falling and the smoke has cleared. If there was anything that made sense at all to her, it was the she was sure that her life would never be the same again. She was just hoping for some chance to get everything back to some semblance of normalcy. And for now, she'd just have to accept Kakashi enigmatic attitude if she wanted to keep herself on track. Yet, still, she found it hard to not be angry at him. If he really cared for her as she always thought he had, why was he having such a hard time being there for her in a moment like this? Why did he go to Tsuande before confronting her first? In combat, he was always there to back her up, no questions asked. But now, he was doing the opposite of that. If anything, he was betraying her—going behind her back and doing the worst thing possible by treating her like mere a child and not the adult she really was. Maybe she would always just be a thirteen year old girl to him…

No… there was something hidden behind his eyes that suggested otherwise. And for some obscure reason buried deep in the back of her mind, she found herself desperate to discover it.

Sakura growled under her breath, throwing her mind back into the realms of reality. She didn't have time to think about things like that right now. Of all the things she talked about with Tsuande, that wasn't exactly the most pertinent. The kunoichi in her should be endlessly consumed by the thoughts of her upcoming mission—the mission that just might save her sanity in this situation. Any normal pregnant woman would be thoroughly upset to hear she was being sent on a mission far from home that could possibly last months—even a year. But Sakura was nowhere near a normal pregnant woman, and to her this seemed like a ticket to freedom—a chance to avoid the prying eyes of Konoha as she fattens up and nurtures a bastard child growing inside her. It would be the perfect opportunity to let everyone forget about her and her situation, and after she delivers the child and gives it up for adoption, she could finish her mission and return home as if the gossip and talk of her pregnancy were all just a weak tale from the past. Somehow, though, a nagging feeling in the back of her mind wouldn't go away. It stayed there, throbbing continuously behind her temples, and warning her that the situation she's in is more suspicious than that, and surely wouldn't bury itself that easily either.

Sakura quickly whisked that thought away, though, as she picked up the manila envelope in her lap and carefully dumped the contents in her hand. A small thin, scroll slipped into her fingers, followed by a few photographs that fluttered to the ground at her feet. She quickly stooped forward and snatched them up, stuffing them back in the envelope without even a glance. Her attention was focused on what was hidden inside the scroll. Tsuande had mentioned a few brief details about the mission, including that it was a simple medic mission that would require absolutely no shinobi skills. But she didn't mention what her job would entail. Surely she wouldn't be accompanying anyone on a mission as medic. So maybe she would be sent to gather supplies and herbs needed for the hospital? But that would only be a mission that would last a few weeks, not months. Tsunade was very clear when she said the mission would be extremely lengthy, with no visits back to Konoha. Curiosity was getting the better of Sakura, so without any more thought, she snapped the scroll open and let her eyes roam over the details.

At the top of the paper, there was a large M marking the class of the mission. M was used to represent a mission that required extensive medical skill only, and was rarely used. Any mission that required any ounce of shinobi skill was marked D, B, C, A, or Srespectively. So Tsunade wasn't bluffing when she said it was entirely a medic mission. Sakura wasn't sure she had ever been on an M mission. Her multi-faceted skills as a medical kunoichi always landed her on the missions that required the healing of banged up ninja in battle. She knew M missions existed, but they weren't common because most people who needed medical care would travel to the nearest village for it. The only time M missions were assigned was when the sick or wounded were too ill to travel, or when death was imminent and medics were requested to make the passing as easy or comforting as possible. Sakura gulped, suddenly retracting her theory that this mission could be a ticket to freedom…

Though reluctant, Sakura read on, taking in every detail of the mission:

Destination: Sasaki Estate, Fire Country; 3 km west of a small, remote village named Harin

Client: Sasaki Karako, 29 years old, female

Patient: Sasaki Chiyo, 7 years old, female

Details: Sasaki Chiyo is the only daughter of Sasaki Karako, a widow of late Sasaki Hokuto who disappeared tragically a year before. Since then, young Chiyo's health has been declining, and doctors are unable to pinpoint a diagnosis. Research suggests the possibility of the cancer, although the true diagnosis remains unknown. Karako approached Konoha in desperation, hoping for a medic that could give daily chakra therapy to young Chiyo. The conclusion of the mission will remain in the hands of the client, or if deemed necessary by the Hokage. All orders will be given by the client, but must remain within the law of Konoha and will be related to the patient only. Any other orders must immediately be reported to the Hokage, whom will then determine the strength and need of the mission and the true desires of the client. Weekly reports written by the medic must be sent to the Hokage via mail service and labeled confidentially. Any violation of these terms could terminate the mission immediately.

Sakura paused, suddenly feeling the weight of the mission on her shoulders. A 7 year old girl. Possible cancer… just the thought brought sudden tears springing behind her eyes. Here she was, wallowing in her pity party, when her problem was far less dire than this 7 year old girl who was fighting for her life. The details of the mission suddenly gave her a different outlook. She could do this. She could make it through these next few months by pouring her heart into the Sasaki family. They deserved a second chance, especially little Chiyo. She deserved the most of all—she deserved life.

Sakura lowered the scroll in her lap, feeling the strength of determination flowing in her veins. This mission was exactly what she needed. She needed the time away, and with such a monumental task at hand, she could lose herself in someone else's needs and easily forget about her own problems; Tsunade knew that, of course. She was giving Sakura the gift of fortitude, and it was more than anything she could ask for at the moment. In the end, Tsunade was supporting her, despite her trying situation.

That thought filled Sakura with so much bursting happiness, that she had almost forgotten the sadness in her heart until the loud, rumble of voices caught her off guard. Peering up from the scroll in her lap, Sakura frowned at the sight of a building crowd in the village center. She had been so lost in the details of the mission, she hadn't recognized the time—it was lunchtime, and consequently, large groups of shinobi and townsfolk were gathering for a quick bite to eat. Fortunately, she didn't recognize most of the faces, and she was easily forgotten by the crowd. She wasn't exactly ready to face anyone she knew. In fact, it was the first time she had ventured into society since the Konoha Winter Celebration the night before. The faces of shock on her friends still burned behind her retinas and made her insides shudder. She knew everyone would be appalled to hear the news, but the reality of their reactions was still too much for her to handle. However, she was very surprised that Naruto hadn't approached her once. For some reason her heart throbbed painfully at that thought. She was wholly expecting him to beat down her front door and demand answers like no tomorrow. In fact, she found herself waiting for him all night, teeth clattering nervously, her mind racing with the right words to say to her comrade—her best friend. Time passed and he never showed, and for some reason Sakura felt empty... Emptier than she ever thought possible. Had he been too disappointed in her? Was he so angry he couldn't face her before burning off steam?

Sakura's brow furrowed as she fought back another fresh wave of tears. She couldn't think about it any longer; Naruto would face her when he was ready, and she could sort out her feelings then. Right now she had to get out of the open before anyone saw her and ruined her newfound determination for the upcoming mission.

With that thought, Sakura gathered her things quickly and slipped into the crowd silently. Years of shinobi training taught her how to be indistinct and she moved lithely through the crowd, remaining completely unnoticed by the lunch crowd. Sakura traveled quietly for a few minutes, ducking behind the nearest group of townsfolk at any sight of a shinobi uniform. No one seemed to notice her though, so when Sakura neared the street that led to her apartment, she made the mistake of stepping out in the open to cross the village center. Almost as if on cue, the crowd parted in her wake, and the sun shined down brilliantly on her pink hair, illuminating her existence for all of Konoha. Within seconds it was over, her cover completely blown, and all eyes seemed to shift on her. Déjà vu of the night before struck her hard, and she felt as if she was re-living the whole nightmare over again as Ino pushed her way roughly into the open.

"Sakura!" Ino's shrill voice carried above the crowd, and anyone who hadn't taken notice of the pink-haired girl before was now acutely aware of her.

Sakura groaned inwardly, letting her head droop forward. Over and over in her mind, she repeated the same thing—I can do this—as she awaited the wrath of her very blonde and very furious friend. It was now or never…

"What is your problem? You don't trust your friend enough to tell me something that important?"

Ino stalked closer, her posture rigid like steel. Her hands were clenched into tight fists at her sides, and Sakura was sure she could see her trembling. But behind the fury, Sakura noticed something else hidden behind Ino's brilliantly blue eyes—anguish. Of course Ino would be upset that Sakura didn't tell her. They were best friends and even sometimes rivals, but no matter what, they always told each other everything. It was a hidden decree they shared, and it had never been broken before—until now.

Sakura frowned, steeling herself. She'd have to hold her ground and take the affliction from Ino if she cared at all for their friendship. It would be hard, though, considering Sakura's own hotheadedness. After the smoke cleared, Sakura could apologize and explain everything, and maybe Ino would take it all back. Hopefully, they could return to the friendship they used to have…

Sakura trailed her eyes up, locking them on Ino's. Ino had closed in now, and was standing right in front of her, piercing her with hardened eyes. Sakura gulped, searching deep inside for her voice.

"Ino… maybe we can talk about this somewhere else…?"

Sakura chanced a glance behind Ino's shoulder. The crowd had grown silent, forming a perfect circle around the two girls. Their eyes were watching intently, as if they were waiting for something—something obviously worth their time.

Something fierce flashed in Ino's eyes, making the cerulean blue of her irises darken. "No, Sakura! Let's talk about this now! You had your chance to tell me in private, like a good friend would…"

Ino's voice tapered off slowly, showing the true sadness behind her words, and Sakura cringed, suddenly realizing how much her actions really hurt Ino. For a moment, she turned the tables in her mind, and pictured Ino in her situation. She couldn't lie that it hurt her to think of Ino hiding something that important from her—and for so long.

Sakura gritted her teeth and took a deep long breath, filling her lungs with cold, wintry air. Releasing the air in one, swift whoosh, Sakura spoke softly, hoping to hide their conversation from the prying crowd. "Ino, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. It's just that I have no idea what's going on either. I know about as much as you do. Trust me… Please."

Ino faltered momentarily, as if she were searching for the truth in Sakura's words. But in an instant her demeanor froze over again, completely disregarding the pleading tone in Sakura's voice. "Oh, please Sakura! Don't pull that damsel-in-distress shit on me! The only way to get pregnant is to have sex. Don't tell me you have no idea what's going on!"

Sakura sucked in a breath as the crowd leaned in closer, obviously becoming more beguiled with the current conversation. "Ino, please. I don't want to do this here…"

Ino threw up her hands. "What? What difference does it make? Are you too ashamed of yourself to tell everyone who the father is? Is that what it is?"

Sakura choked on the burning sensation in her throat. She was trying so hard not to cry, but it was taking everything inside of her not to burst into tears. "No…"

Ino leaned in closer, pointing an accusing finger at the trembling pink-haired girl. "Then tell me!" She paused, sweeping her arms out. "Tell us all! We'd all love to hear about the man who finally captivated the Haruno virgin."

Sakura let out a sob as the tears finally sprung from her eyes, streaming down her face like spilled ink. The crowd was so silent, so captivated that a meteor could strike the earth and no one would know. Sakura knew she was on stage for all to see; she knew it was her chance to tell the truth once and for all, but for some reason the words never came. Instead, the only thing her voice managed to release was, "I can't…"

Ino growled. "You can't?" She chuckled sarcastically. "You hear that Konoha? Haruno Sakura can't tell us who the father of her baby is! Obviously this must be good if you're that willing to hide it…"

Sakura shook her head, pushing away the sadness. She narrowed her eyes at Ino as the anger began spreading inside her like wildfire. "Stop it, Ino. You've no right to ridicule me like this!"

"Oh, really? Like you have no right to hide things from me?"

"It's my business, not yours! Butt out!" Sakura spat through gritted teeth.

The muscles in Ino's face twitched as a whole new darkness covered her features. "Tell me, now, Sakura… Who is the father of your baby?"

Sakura opened her mouth, ready to scream, ready to yell, anything to quell the fury building inside her, but something black and orange in the crowd flashed in the corner of her eye, stopping her. She turned, and all the blood drained from her face when she caught sight of him—Naruto. He was standing beside her, staring intently with a sharp edge of seriousness in his eyes that she rarely encountered. The planes in his face were hardened, making his usual cheery features seem fierce and intimidating. Sakura felt mesmerized as she stared back, losing herself in his gaze. Something inside of her was screaming with fear, but it was quickly stomped out by the overwhelming rush of disappointment. Never in all her years with Naruto had he ever looked at her that way…

Ino remained oblivious to Naruto's presence, though, and she reached forward to grab the collar of Sakura's shirt, but something grasped her wrist tightly, stopping her. Ino turned, ready to dismember whoever interrupted her, but she gasped when she caught sight of the intruder. Naruto's eyes bore deeply into her face with so much fury she remained frozen, retreating her previous heated demeanor.

Sakura watched the events unfold with utter bewilderment. Everything seemed to slow to a stop, and every little detail of the scene before her came into focus so fast she felt dizzy; she saw the crescent moon marks on Ino's flesh as Naruto's nails dug in deeper; she saw the wrinkle in the skin of Naruto's furrowed brow; she saw the white glint of Naruto's canine as his lip pulled over his teeth in a frightening scowl. And then, like a wind-up toy suddenly taking off, reality came rushing into view as Naruto released Ino and said the two words she'd never, ever imagine.

"It's mine."

All at once chaos broke out in the crowd as everyone gasped in unison. Ino's jaw fell open, and she faltered, taking a step back.

"What?"

Naruto narrowed his eyes and everyone fell silent. For a moment, all Sakura could hear was the heavy rise and fall of Naruto's chest. It consumed her, hypnotized her until her mind was completely frozen, patiently awaiting whatever he would say next.

And then, after an eternity, his words fell out like daggers, swallowing her whole.

"You heard me, the baby is mine."

Something unrecognizable flashed in her mind—a disjointed memory breaking through the surface—a pair of gloved hands against a patch of creamy, ivory skin. And then everything went black as the consciousness slipped away from her, entirely out of reach.

A/N: AHHH! Cliffhanger! Sorry about that, but this chapter was long enough, I had to end it somewhere ha ha. I promise I will make up for it. Please review if you can!