Chapter 10

"YOU STUPID FISH STICK, UN!" Deidara yelled. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU LOST THE MAP!"

"Shut up." Kisame shouted. "Calm your tits, no biggie."

Itachi felt another headache coming on. It was only supposed to take a day and a half to get to Otogakure, but with Deidara and Kisame constantly complaining and fighting, it took forever. This was already the fourth argument they've gotten into.

"Kisame, Deidara, you're voices are giving me a headache." Itachi stated. "Please be quiet."

Kisame and Deidara gulped. Whenever Itachi used his irritated voice, shit was about to go down.

"Kisame, we have escorted Sakura-san to Otogakure one week ago." Itachi said.

"Well, about that I forgot how to get there." Kisame said sheepishly.

Itachi resisted the urge to face palm. How did he even get assigned to this mission?

"Well we should go." Kisame said changing the subject. "Kitten still needs to check out Barbie's arm."

"Shut up tuna can, un." Deidara yelled.

OTOGAKURE

Sakura let out a small sneeze as she walked to Daichi's office.

"Looks like someone is talking about you." Rin said.

Sakura hummed in acknowledgement. She felt nervous. Today was the day her grandfather decided what rank she would be and what team she was placed in. what if she wasn't good enough for Chuunin. That would be embarrassing. A sixteen year old girl trained by one of the Legendary Sannin as a Genin? Sakura took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. She wasn't this nervous since the Chuunin exams. She picked imaginary lint off her maroon red shirt and followed Rin to Daichi's office. She knocked on the door. A muffled 'come in' was heard. Sakura and Rin entered the office and bowed down respectfully.

"Sakura Haruno." Daichi said.

Sakura lifted her in acknowledgement.

"Yes Otokage-sama?" she said.

"Yesterday you demonstrated great skill while sparring with Kei. And I expected no less from Tsunade's ex-apprentice." Daichi said.

"Thank you very much Otokage-sama." Sakura said.

"You even defeated Kei. One of Otogakure's best. Even if he was not going all out. You demonstrated high intelligence, great chakra control, and excellent medical skills." Daichi continued.

Sakura felt her heart swell with pride. Her grandfather had praised her plenty of times when she was younger but never so proudly.

"I told you training with Neji and Hinata would help in the future. And I also told you playing Shogi with Shika was also a good idea." Inner said.

"Inner?" Sakura said. "I thought you were dead."

"Ouch. That hurts Saku." Inner said with false hurt. "I would never die unless you do. Plus you need someone to be your brains."

Sakura mentally rolled her eyes at Inner's smugness.

"Sakura Haruno, do you except the roll of being a ninja of Otogakure and follow the laws?" Daichi asked.

"Yes Otokage-sama." Sakura said with excitement in her voice.

"Then I, Daichi Haruno Otokage of Otogakure, present Sakura Haruno with the Otogakure headband as well as being the medic of Team 1." Daichi said.

Sakura squealed with happiness and engulfed her grandfather in a bear hug. Kei and Itsuki got up from behind the desk and shot confetti into the air.

"Congratulations Sakura-chan!" Rin exclaimed hugging Sakura as soon as she let go of her grandpa.

"Come on! Let's go celebrate! I know this great bar a couple blocks from here." Kei said. "You coming Ojii-san?"

"I have to finish this damn paperwork." Daichi grumbled.

Everyone laughed.

"Ok, we'll see you later then." Rin said.

Sakura smiled at her grandpa and waved before letting her new team lead her into town.

WITH KISAME, ITACHI, and BARBIE AKA DEIDARA

"Wow, Kitten wasn't kidding when she said that no one minded criminals here." Kisame said.

"This place is bigger too, un." Deidara said. "It's going to be impossible to find Sakura now, yeah."

"Well, we tried." Kisame said. "Let's go get some sake!"

"I'm with you on that one, un." Deidara said.

"Kisame, Deidara." Itachi warned. "Do not forget why we we're here."

"Just drink a little won't hurt." Deidara added.

Itachi glared at his partners. By 'little drink' it always meant spending hours at the bar, wasting all their money and then going back to the base and have Kakuzu try and rip your guts out till morning. Just as Itachi opened his mouth to say 'no', his partners were already heading to the bar.

"Hurry up Ms. Uchiha." Kisame shouted.

Itachi growled in his throat and followed his partners into the bar.

WITH SAKURA

"Whhhhooooaaaa." Kei breathed. "You really can hold your alcohol."

"It helps that your ex-mentor was a huge drinker and a gambler." Sakura said. "Luckily for me, I didn't inherit her gambling addiction."

Everyone laughed.

"Hey, where's Rin?" Sakura asked.

"We don't know." Itsuki and Kei said.

They sat up in their seats and quickly scanned the room.

"She's at the bar flirting with some guys." Itsuki said. "And she is drunk. She is making a total fool of herself."

"I'll go get her." Sakura said.

She slid off her chair and began to make her way across the bar. The Sake bottle she was drinking is still in her hand.

"Oh man. Who knew Rin was such a light weight." Sakura thought. "Just like Hinata."

Her heart felt heavy all of a sudden. She just left all those who liked her and helped her out back in Konoha. They probably think she is dead. What kind of friend was she?

"No! Bad thoughts! Stop it Saku!" Sakura thought. "I already started a new life here. Found my grandfather, joined the Akatsuki, and in the best ANBU squad there , happy thoughts."

Her thoughts were halted when a drunken female giggle. Rin's cheeks were flushed red and she was advancing on some unfortunate- or very fortunate man.

"Rin!" Sakura called out. "What are you doing?"

"Hey *hic* Saku! Come join *hic* me! Rin exclaimed drunkly.

"Alright, that's enough alcohol for you. Come on." Sakura said as she was slowly pulling Rin away.

Rin just made a noise of protest.

"I'm very sorry about my friend…" Sakura said trailing off. "Itachi?"

"Hn. Control your friend the next time." Itachi grunted.

"I-I'm so sorry." Sakura stuttered. "Wait. Why are you here? Miss me already?"

Itachi chose to ignore the last question. Even though he did miss her secretly but he wasn't going to tell her.

"Leader-sama sent Kisame, Deidara, and me to see you. Deidara needs a checkup." Itachi said.

"Oh already." Sakura said.

Itachi nodded.

"Ok. One second. I need to let my team know." Sakura said quickly scampering off.

Itachi watched her bump into her teammates and explain the situation. Her drunken friend who she had called 'Rin' unintelligibly said something. Sakura's face turned red. She quickly glanced at Itachi and turned even redder. She quickly averted her eyes and gave Rin to a blonde man. She waved goodbye and hurried back to Itachi. He raised an eyebrow at her flushed cheeks.

Sakura shrugged it off and said "Let's go."