Team 7 and Tazuna had quickly departed the leaf with their travel packs and the team remained alert. Sakura continued to notice the puddles and whispered to Kakashi-sensei, "It hasn't rained in weeks…so why are there random puddles?"
Kakashi suddenly stiffened as they walked and looked around before nodding to acknowledge what she had observed. Sakura rubbed her hand over the seal on her arm she had sent yet another message to the Hokage detailing some of the Akatsuki's criminal activities and connections. Itachi hadn't been able to write her a direct note for some time due to his partner having a habit of hovering.
Sakura sighed as she watched Sasuke and Naruto bicker while remaining alert, 'These boys are going to be the death of me one day…mark my words Weasel-chan.' Her seal warmed for a moment almost as if he was acknowledging her feelings. She smiled dryly to herself allowing the distance between her and the client to close.
Finally the boys realized what she was doing and stopped bickering as loudly in order to drift closer closing a circle around their client. Tazuna remained unaware as the kids have moved positions several times throughout the journey.
Just as they crossed the border into wave a chain launched from one of the random puddles and Sakura dragged Tazuna to the ground using her chakra strings to grab the flying chain. Sakura focused on dragging the nin out of the puddle using her chakra strings.
Soon enough the second nin had revealed himself and Naruto and Sasuke double teamed him before the real Kakashi-sensei appeared and dealt with the first nin Sakura had dragged out of the puddle. Together the team tied the two nin up in order to turn them over to the authorities once they arrived to the village.
That was a simple enough event except a known missing nin appeared. Sakura couldn't help but watch the silent killing technique with some admiration and said, "So this is how it works? I wanna try it!" Her words caused Sasuke, Naruto, and Tazuna to look at her like she was crazy. "What like you wouldn't want to complete disappear and be able to hunt your targets without them knowing you were there!" Sakura defended hastily as she kept close to Zabuza who remained on the ground. A clone of the man appeared and Sakura reluctantly destroyed the clone after dodging the first strike with a deadly thrust of the kunai.
Naruto and Sasuke left the client and Sakura alone charging into the mist until it suddenly lifted. Zabuza lay on the ground appearing to be dead and Sakura moved forward pouting. Kakashi let himself gaze at her curious, "What is it Sakura?"
Sakura glared at Kakashi-sensei, "Did you have to bring him down? I wanted to ask him about that mist technique!" Kakashi just looked at her in disbelief as she pouted before a masked nin appeared before them. She noted the location of the senbon and had a gut wrenching feeling that the swordsman wasn't dead. He went to lift the body when Sakura threw a kunai at him forcing him back.
"I am to deal with the remains…you know I am a hunter nin do you not?" The young voice appeared through the mask soft but steady. Sakura nodded, "You may be but, don't hunter nin deal with the remains immediately? They don't carry their prey off when they're dead."
The hunter gave a chuckle, "Reports state that there is information sealed on his body to be retrieved at all costs. I'm afraid I will have to take him first." Sakura looked to Kakashi who nodded in agreement. "Carry on Hunter-san and please forgive my student she's a bit…" He paused as Sakura glared at him, "I'm a bit what, sensei?" she bitterly stated as she waited for his response.
"Unique?" Kakashi said more as a question then a statement causing the hunter to laugh again. "Farewell."
As the group arrived they quickly set to work and once again Naruto and Sasuke continued to train as Sakura was forced to entertain herself while guarding the bridge builder for days. It wasn't long until Kakashi confirmed Sakura's unspoken suspicion that Zabuza was still alive. Naruto and Sasuke only continued to train harder both afraid of the nin as Sakura cheered.
She looked up at her exasperated chaperone, "So Kakashi-sensei….do you think he'll teach me that jutsu?" Her green eyes filled with hope causing Kakashi to freeze in horror. 'What did the Hokage do by giving me this she-devil?'
Time had passed and the boys finally completed their training in the tree exercise and the water walking task began. Sakura once again proved adept at the exercise and looked at Kakashi expectantly waiting for instructions. Kakashi once again chose to ignore the nagging feeling of his pink haired student's gaze and worked on the boys abilities.
Sakura stood patiently smiling while inside her inner raged.
Why the hell are we waiting for this loser to teach us something? We should just go and meditate like Genma taught us to expand our chakra coils.
I was hoping that maybe he would just finally teach me something Inner…we have got to give you a better name Arukas maybe?
Sure why not…still since he obviously has no ideas just focus on you now. Go watch the bridge builder and increase your chakra coils so you can get stronger. Your right Arukas…time for us to go.
Sakura announced, "I'll be with Tazuna-san and meditate since it seems you've failed to provide proper guidance yet again Hatake-san." Only Naruto and Sasuke shared a glance at the disapproval dripping from her tone noticed her change in address.
'Uh-oh' Naruto thought to himself as a dark chuckle leaked forward he didn't recognize before he continued training.
'Kakashi-sensei is so done for when we get back,' Sasuke thought to himself unsurprised as he focused on his training but nodded to Sakura in acknowledgement.