I'm alive!
My sincerest apologies for the long wait, alas I had a severe case of writers block to keep me from writing! However that dragon has been slain and so I shall proceed to post chapters a little more often. Good that I don't have an updating schedule (even though I love having a creative paradigm to work with, my life doesn't actually allow me to schedule updates). However, enough of my rambling, enjoy your well deserved little chapter.

The weeks that followed Sakura's confession to the Hokage turned out quiet and uneventful mostly. The times were peaceful which allowed the shinobi villages to breathe a little. The three genin prodigies continued to moan at the very mention of the tedious D-rank missions they were given and swore that once they moved up in ranks, there was no way they would ever retrieved missing cats or deliver letters from one end of town to the other. It was at times like those that Kakashi took his time to make sure that the triplets understood that even the most insignificant mission contributed to keeping the Hidden Leaf running smoothly. They would pout and grimace at his lecturing but in the end, he was sure that they understood. Obviously those menial tasks weren't what the academy students imagined shinobi life to like, but the youngsters had much to learn before they would become precious assets to the village and a little humility was never wrong if anyone asked his opinion. After all, shinobi were but tools in the greater picture. The means to an end. While Sakura, who continued to excuse herself every couple of days to see the Hokage, reminded their pupils, how important teamwork was and generally defused the sibling rivalry between brothers, he tried to help them see beyond the techniques they practiced. It proved to be quite a troublesome task, since the triplets, despite their abilities, were a stubborn bunch and strongly believed that the best ninja were those who mastered the most jutsu. The ideas of mental strength and will power were foreign concepts to them.

Once, during that very argument between the jounin and his pupils, Sakura had intervened:
"If that's the case, you're being taught by the very best, right Kakashi?"
Before he had been able to answer, three pairs of eyes had beamed in excitement.
"How many do you know?", they had chorused. These three really hadn't known anything about their comrades, except Naruto whom they revered as a hero. Normally he would have lectured them on knowing their comrades and superiors but Sakura answered on his behalf.
"It's said that he knows a thousand jutsu which he copied from other ninja with his sharingan.", she had told them and the copy-nin watched as the two youngest had struggled to keep their jaws from colliding with the ground.
"Iruka-sensei told us in class about Konoha's copy-nin. There's no way that's you, sensei. You fool about too much to be the legendary single-sharingan-user.", Tsurugi had said, his grin arrogant as ever.
That was when Sakura's hand had twitched and seconds later, the mouthy genin had sported a throbbing bulge on his head accompanied by Sakura's lecture on respecting one's superiors and the importance of knowing one's comrades abilities, that matched her fellow teacher's. After ranting on for a full half hour, she had sent the three of them off to the Konoha archives to study the registry on current Konoha shinobi and their abilities. After all they could easily end up fighting alongside them some day.

Kakashi smiled to himself as he walked through the streets of Konoha, enjoying the summer sun rays. It was early September, soon autumn would catch up with Hi no Kuni as well and the days would become shorter. He had always preferred summer to winter, the snow was too much of a bother and made traveling and harder. Plus he was an outdoorsy person, and there was no way he could sit outside, reading when the landscape was snow-covered. He sighed and stuck his hands in his pockets as he walked to the Hokage tower. Tsunade had requested his presence for the first time in weeks and while he had been happy to be off heavy duty for a while, he couldn't say that he didn't miss the adrenaline that only real work shot through his veins. He secretly hoped he would be rid of the terrible three for a bit, after all they really did take their toll on his nerves. Rarely had Konoha seen such stubborn genin and combined with their proficiency within their respective fields, they were a real challenge. He still hadn't decided if he liked them or hated them, however they were increasingly annoying. Maybe he was getting too old to mentor genin. He shuddered at the thought. He was only thirty-three after all. Almost thirty-four. He sighed and brushed away the thought as he arrived at his destination. After a short chat with Shikamaru whom he met in the entrance hall, he hurried to Tsunade's office, knowing that he was hopelessly late, a habit which continuously infuriated Sakura as well. Old habits did die hard after all.

He entered the office with a polite apology for his lateness, and just when he wanted to rattle down a completely fictional story about how a giant tiger had challenged him to a duel on his way here, he noticed that he wasn't the only jounin present. Before he could ask, the Hokage barked at him, her tone indicating no good.
„Better late than never. I don't have time for small talk. Tokuma, Yamato I'm sending you on a S-rank mission right away, Kakashi, you're team-captain. We received a warning from Iwagakure, that Sasuke Uchiha might be headed for Konoha."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed, Sasuke had been off their radar for a considerable amount of time. It was always painful to be reminded that his student was still planning to eradicate Konoha and every one in it.
„He was seen, traveling to the west, he escaped past the border to the Hi no Kuni a few days ago. I need you to investigate his whereabouts and probable destination and send intel back to me. Kakashi, use your ninken for that purpose. Yamato will use his mokuton to blend in with the environment and Tokuma's Byakugan should be able to pinpoint his location once you close in on him."
„Wakatta.", Kakashi turned to face his team members. The team itself was perfectly suited to carry out a mission like this one. And that Tsunade was sending three jonin to gather intel just went a long way to prove how serious a threat Sasuke had become. The three of them were just about to leave when the Hokage spoke again.
„One more thing...", her tone was hard, „Don't mention this to Naruto or Sakura."
Taken aback slightly, the three of them spoke in unison.
„Wakarishimasu."
„Then gather your equipment, you leave within the hour. Kakashi, stay behind for a word."
The Hyuga and Yamato left the room, leaving their taichou behind to talk to the legendary Tsunade.
He waited for the honey-eyed woman to speak, curious as to what more she had to say.
„About Sakura...Leave it to me to explain your absence. It's crucial that she know nothing of this mission. It would kill her." Tsunade's voice was dark, leaving him to think that she wasn't speaking completely metaphorically. He couldn't shake the thought, however stupid it might be.
„I have plenty of D-rank missions for your students to keep them busy, so she should be fine."
„Shikashi, Hokage-sama... It wouldn't be fair to them after all the sacrifices they have made for Sasuke."
Her eyes softened, making her look less like the Hokage and more like a lioness, determined to protect her cubs. Sakura had become like a daughter to her and Naruto reminded her of someone special.
„I won't yield, Hatake. Naruto would run off and try to confront him again. And I can't allow that to happen. Not yet. As for Sakura, it's no less intense. If I didn't know better, I would say that she would try to kill him herself. She can't know. The intel you will be gathering is to her benefit after all."
„How?"
Tsunade immediately went back into Hokage-mode, the softness gone from her eyes.
„I can't tell you. Now go, and remember, if you so much as breathe a word about this mission to her... ."
He was worried considering that Tsunade had indicated that something in this mission was related to Sakura. The girl had become a mystery since she had left and since her slip ups after she hadn't given him any information what so ever. He still yearned to help her shoulder her burden, whatever it might be. After hesitating for an instant, he nodded his understanding, his heart screaming at him. His conscience wasn't pleased to leave in secret, not after what Sakura had done for him over the past couple of weeks. She had made him bento everyday, insisting that friends keep each other from starving and she had taken up cooking him dinner every other day as well. And here he was, skipping off in secret on a mission to investigate her former team-mate and which just happened to have something to do with her. And he couldn't tell her. Tsunade-sama was right, as usual, but still, he couldn't help but feel guilty. He was a rule-abiding and guideline-loving shinobi, he always had been. Still he had learned to put team mates before rules the hard way and he wasn't about to send his principles packing.

He left the office, pondering his dilemma, as he jumped over the rooftops to his apartment to gather a few of his tools. After his kunai were stashed and his rations packed, he grabbed a sheet of paper from a drawer and with a pen quickly scrawled a few lines and folded the paper, addressing it to the pink-haired kunoichi. He then quickly waved a few signs and bit his thumb, pressing it firmly to the floor and mused.
„Kuchiyose no jutsu!"
With a pop, Pakkun the pug appeared, curious as to what the copy-nin might need his assistance with.
„What is it Kakashi-kun?", the canine inquired, looking gruffy as ever.
"Sumimasen Pakkun, I need you to take this to Sakura, I'm going on a recon mission and the Hokage asked for your assistance when the time comes."
The ninken growled in understanding and let the silver-haired shinobi tie the note to his leg. As soon as he was done, the pug disappeared out of the open window in search of the kunoichi.
He then grabbed Icha Icha Tactics from it's place on the shelf and stashed it in his second waist-pouch which he wore solely for that purpose. He hadn't been able to leave without at least leaving word, it would have torn up the fragile balance they had gained in their new-found friendship. Sakura still did mother him too much, considering that he was fourteen years her senior, but he didn't mind it. He swiftly left the apartment, placed a rigged explosive tag on the back of the door as a security measure, should someone enter uninvited, and locked it.
Then, leaping across the rooftops, he soon met up with Yamato and Tokuma near the main gate and wordlessly set out to investigate his rogue student. He had lost count as to how many times he had been part of a mission involving the Uchiha and he couldn't help but hope that it would turn out to be more than a recon mission. He had sworn that he would be the one to take down the monster he had helped create, if it was the last thing he did.

Sakura was at the hospital when Pakkun appeared. She had been helping out with the overflow of dehydration cases, using her medical ninjutsu to replenish chakra and giving intravenous fluids to the more severe ones. Since Yume had fallen ill the previous evening, she had given the team some time off until she was well
enough to train.
She was surprised to see the grumpy pug stretch his leg towards her and giving him a good scratch behind the ear and a treat, she took the note from him. She thanked the ninken, knowing how much he hated being the messenger dog for Kakashi when it wasn't absolutely necessary. Only after Pakkun had disappeared, did she unfold the the piece of paper, revealing Kakashi's familiar scrawl.

"Sakura-chan,
For the next while, I'll be away. Tsunade sent me on a mission, the exact nature of which I can't reveal to you. She asked me to keep it from you, but my conscience disagreed. You, given your history, deserve to know, that the mission is related to Sasuke, who has been sighted in Hi no Kuni. That, however, is all the information that I can disclose and I must ask you to keep this note a secret. Tsunade only had your best interests in mind when she ordered me not to tell you. But she didn't mention writing and as your friend, I felt that you ought to know. As your former sensei and friend, I need you to promise me to stay in Konoha and not to do anything stupid. Don't tell Naruto either. I hope to be back soon.
Ki o tsukete,
Kakashi."

Her heart almost stopped beating when she read his name and suddenly she felt more frightened for her senpai than ever. She had been the last shinobi from Konoha to cross the bloodthirsty Uchiha's path and it had left a mark upon her. She didn't dare to imagine what might happen if Kakashi and his team happened upon him. Why were they sent out anyway? Tsunade wouldn't send Kakashi in an attempt to kill him off would she?
Her hands grasped the paper so tightly that her knuckles went white and before she knew it, she found herself leaping out of the window towards Hokage tower, ready to confront her shishou, ignoring Kakashi's plea to keep the note secret. She felt anger build up inside her, directed at the legendary kunoichi and her secrecy. She was no little girl anymore, she was a full-fledged jounin, who had seen war and practically lived on the battlefield since she was twelve. Her inner self was urging her to go on a rampage but she steadied herself, curious as to how Tsunade would explain herself.

She entered the office without knocking, causing the Hokage's eyes to shoot up in surprise. Her face was twisted in anger and disappointment as she stood before her shishou and her voice trembled as she spoke.
"Tsunade-sama...why didn't you tell me about Sasuke?! You should have sent me to deal with him, I'm perfectly able of doing that myself! I was the last to see him, I know what he is capable of doing! What if they get killed? What if -"
Tsunade slammed her fist onto the desk with full force, causing the massive wood to crack and the table collapsed. The amber eyes of the Godaime were filled with anger, anger that was clearly directed at her subordinate.
"Silence!", she roared, "You know next to nothing! Kuso."
Sakura was dumbstruck for a second, and before she could speak, the Hokage continued.
"I sent Kakashi and his team because they're the best I have! You might be skilled Sakura, but you're nowhere near the level of the jounin I assigned this mission to! And who said anything about assassinating Sasuke? Eventually we will deal with him, but that isn't what I sent them off to do! They're supposed to gather intel only! And even if it were a kill-order, you'd have no right to question my judgment and I will not have you speak to me like in that tone!"
The pink-haired girl was feeling more embarrassed by the second, turning several shades of scarlet and hanging her head. She had been foolish to think that her superior would dispatch a three man cell to take down the nukenin.
"Shinjirarenai! He deliberately ignored my order by telling you and yet he leaves it to me to explain! He'll face the consequences when he returns. As for you Sakura – the intel they are gathering might even help us with your ordeal."
The young jounin looked up at her shishou, curious to know more though she was still deeply ashamed of herself.
"Donoyouni, Tsunade-shishou?", she whispered, careful not to upset her intemperate superior any further.
The older woman sighed and turned to face the window front, overlooking the Hidden Leaf.
"Kakashi, Yamato and Tokuma Hyuga are supposed to gather intel on his whereabouts and intents. The more we know about his plans, the more likely we will learn about his intentions for placing this juinjutsu on you."
Sakura nodded silently, wincing slightly at the mention of her mark. The last few days, it had been acting up again, whenever she felt at peace or just a brief moment of happiness even, the black tomoe on her neck would shoot searing pain through her entire body which at times made her faint. She wasn't proud of that last part – she was a shinobi after all. Losing consciousness over a bit of pain was not an option.
Shizune, who had been silent until then, caught her reaction and didn't hesitate to question it.
"Sakura – has anything changed with your mark?"
She shook her head, not mentioning that the pain had increased in intensity and frequency. The last four nights she had spent on her bathroom floor, curled up in a ball after seeing her reflection in the mirror. She was a strong woman, but seeing herself covered in black markings after waking from her recurring nightmare wasn't something she could handle with ease. But what scared her most, were her eyes when she had seen them reflected in the mirror.

She was called from her thoughts by Tsunade who seemed to wait for an answer to a question which Sakura had failed to hear.
"I'm considering having Kakashi take a look at the curse mark once he returns."
Her eyes widened in shock, and she shook her head rapidly. He was the last person in Konoha who she wanted to see it. He would demand to know why she hadn't told him and she didn't want to burden him any further. She had sworn to help him carry his burden, not to place additional weight on his shoulders, however strong they might be. Their relationship had changed over the last few weeks. He had started to let his guard down around her and she enjoyed the closeness of their friendship. She cooked him meals for dinner frequently and they ate together in silence mostly and both enjoyed the informality of it all. She made always prepared an extra bento for him before she left in the mornings and she knew that he enjoyed it. They had come a long way from being teacher and students. They were friends, perhaps even more like family to another, after all, they both had none left.
"Iie, Tsunade-sama."
The gold-haired woman looked surprised.
"Donoyouni? He was trained by the Yondaime, no one knew more fuuinjutsu than him! And he managed to keep Sasuke's curse mark under control. He might be able to at least suppress the pain and help us understand the juinjutsu itself."
"Demo...His burden is heavy enough already without the knowledge of my predicament. I don't want to cause him anymore trouble."
Tsunade smiled slightly and crossed the room to stand in front of her apprentice.
"Sakura, he's a jounin, just like yourself. Probably the best shinobi we have. He taught you as genin and yet you have learned nothing it seems. Kakashi has one motto. Remember it?"
Sakura's eyes widened as she realized what her mentor meant. The silver-haired copy-nin had always preached teamwork to be the most important attribute of a shinobi. Knowing all about your team mates could prove to save lives in battle. And yet here she was, his former student and yet she kept vital information from him.
"Would you rather he found out himself? He would curse himself for not noticing earlier and he would share your burden either way. I suppose he already suspects something is wrong, perceptive as he is. You have become close friends as far as I know or am I wrong? You both lack family, if he offers to help you, don't turn it down. You can lean on him Sakura."
"Hai..."
She nodded in understanding and turned to leave the office. She politely apologized for her behavior and with her thoughts following a certain copy-nin, she went home, making her way over the rooftops of the Leaf.

So here we are, slightly less eventful than usual but essential anyway. I hope you enjoyed reading the chapter, especially since it took me an eternity to write. Usually I'm fairly adept, writing around 5,000 words and editing them in less than four hours but at the moment I struggle a little. I write original fiction as well, and it keeps my mind fairly occupied, resulting in writers block from hell. I always appreciate feedback and I shall update again in a few days.

SomeShades.

Glossary:

Wakatta : Understood.
Wakarishimasu : I understand. (formal)

Shikashi : But / However
Sumimasen : Sorry / Excuse me.
Ki o tsukete : be careful.
Kuso: Shit / Damn! (cuss)
Shinjirarenai : Unbelievable!
Demo : But
Donoyouni? : Why?
Iie : No.
Hai : Yes.