"Ugh. If Gramps sends us out on another d-rank mission, I'm going to quit. Believe it." Naruto groused as Team 7 walked towards the mission office. They were all rather sweaty and scruffy from their morning sparring session. Sasuke had insisted that they practice their Taijitsu at least as often as Sakura educated them on all the diverse subjects of a paper ninja. It meant Sakura went to bed sore and aching most nights, but she couldn't deny that her stamina was beginning to increase.

"Really, dobe. Quit?"

"Yeah- how am I supposed to become a super powerful hokage if all I'm known for is babysitting brats and weeding gardens? We should be hunting down criminals and- and- why are you so happy Sakura-chan?"

It was true that Sakura was grinning. But she shook her head when Naruto asked if she liked D-rank missions now.

"Nope!" She chirped, "Boring as hell." Naruto was rubbing off on her; she was beginning to swear out loud rather than as Inner Sakura.

"I don't get it." Naruto mock-whispered to his other teammate.

"Dobe, her mother's returning."

"Ohh! That's right!" Naruto brightened like it was his mum coming home, "She's been gone for ages! How long now?"

"67 days," Sakura replied promptly. Not that she was keeping track or anything. "Almost 5 times longer than she should have been deployed."

"Yeah! Because she kept finding all those rumors about kids who had been stolen- ow!" He complained as Sakura thumped him on the head.

"Naruto-" she scolded, "If you're just going to blab anything classified, I'm not going to tell you any more secrets."

"That was classified? What? I thought it was just cool news! You're mom's like a hero!"

"She told you it was classified." Sasuke rolled his eyes as he held open the mission door for them. Kakashi gave him an amused look as he slunk in behind them, nose in his book.

Naruto had proven to be fascinated by everything to do with parents. During their late night conversations at Sakura's house, he had asked dozens of questions about everything from chores to family traditions. Sakura, never one to shy from bragging about her parent's work, had talked about her mother's work, then current mission, then why that mission had been extended- from what she understood of the brief messages she received from her mother.

"Ohhh, right." Naruto pulled an apologetic face as he led them up to the mission room. "Hey- hey Sakura-chan, does that mean we'll have to move out now?" Ever since the disastrous Rookie Reunion Lunch, Sasuke and Naruto had been staying over on her parent's pull out couch in the living room. It had been exhausting- Sakura barely had a chance to relax into reading between Naruto's conversation and Sasuke presence. But it had also been strangely nice. Sakura was an only child and when she saw the families full of siblings and close cousins, she had been jealous. Her family had been so quiet by comparison.

"Well…" Sakura paused in front of the mission room when the Chuunin guard held up his hand. "Maybe soon?" Honestly, she had hoped Sasuke at least would have picked up the hint that they should leave before her mom returned, but he had remained startling obtuse about the, admittedly, subtle hints.

"Awww.." Naruto slumped against the wall. "It was a lot of fun having a sleepover. And your house is way nicer than my apartment." If Sakura thought her house was lonely when one or both parents were on a mission, she couldn't imagine how bad it would have been to grow up without anyone to meet you at home. Or, she amended glancing over at her expressionless team mate, how it was to only have memories of how it was.

She was prevented from folding and allowing them to stay as long as they wanted, but the door opening and Team 8 trooping out. This was the first time the two teams had met since the lunch and Sakura bristled at the sight of Kiba, stepping slightly in front of Sasuke as if to shield him. For his part, Kiba blanched when he saw them, shoulder slumping slightly.

"Kakashi," Kurenai greeted their teacher, then turned to her team, "Kiba, I believe you had something you wanted to say?"

Kiba very much looked as though he wanted to learn a douton-jutsu and disappear into the earth, but he took a shuffling step forward. Akamaru hid behind his legs, with a drooping tail.

"Yeah, about that lunch-"

"That's enough." Naruto growled, stepping up to the boy, "You should watch what stupid comes out of your mouth."

Kiba looked relieved to be distracted from his point, "Big words from the dead last-"

"Why you flea-"

"Kiba." Hinata's voice cut across the brewing argument, firmer than Sakura had ever heard it. "You were going to apologize."

"Yeah- yeah-" Kiba scooped Akamaru up and scratched behind his ears, "Sorry for saying that stuff about your family, Sasuke. It was dumb. And rude. And, man, you should have seen Hinata afterwards! She tore me a new one! I didn't think she could get that worked up about anyone but Na-"

"We are very sorry." Shino cut in as Hinata went first deathly white and then bright red. "Social interactions are still our team's weakest point. Why? Many reasons. Will you accept our apologies?"

Sakura glanced behind her at Sasuke whose expression, even to her, was unreadable. Finally after a moment, he shrugged. "Whatever."

That was probably the best they were going to get and Kurenai knew it.

"Well, it was fortunate we were able to run into you," She said, "Perhaps we can meet for lunch again. Last time was very instructive."

Sakura was torn over her protectiveness of Sasuke and the social conditioning that meant accepting any apology offered. Finally politeness won out. "That would be nice," She agreed after a moment of awkward silence. Kurenai accepted her answer and herded her team down the hall. After a moment, Sakura realized Kakashi was watching them.

"What?" she asked.

"You guys get into such interesting adventures without me."

"You could always show up," she reminded him.

"I could," He mused, "but there are so many old ladies to help cross the street." He shook his head sorrowfully as though the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. Sakura rolled her eyes and followed her team into the Mission room.

0X0X0X0X0

"Absolutely not." Naruto X-ed his arms and shook his head in firm refusal. The Hokage raised his eyebrows.

"Oh? I thought you didn't want any more D-rank missions."

"I don't!" Naruto agreed just as firmly.

"But when I give you a C-rank mission you refuse?" He asked. Naruto nodded.

"We can't do that one."

"And why is that?"

Sakura was astounded, once again, at how much patience the Hokage extended towards Naruto. If any other genin tried to get away with calling the most prestigious ninja in the village gramps or talking back to him like this, Sakura didn't want to know what would happen. But the Hokage just seemed delighted by the conversations.

"Sakura's mum is coming back today. We can't leave on a mission."

"Naruto-" Kakshi's voice was cool.

"Nope! She's been gone for 67 days and Sakura's missed her lots and-"

"Naruto, it's fine." Sakura was amazed at how steady her voice was. When the Hokage had offered them a c-rank mission, she had been elated, until she found out that they were expected to leave that afternoon.

"But Sakura-" The look he gave her was tragic, but she forced a smile on her face.

"We're ninja, Naruto. Our duty to the village comes first," Even if it meant shepherding drunk old bridge builders around the country. "My mum will understand."

"But-"

"Thank you, Hokage." She bowed to the older man, "We are happy to accept this mission."

0X0X0X0

Naruto had been so devastated on her behalf, that it wasn't until she was back in her room, packing up a travel case, Sakura felt any of the disappointment. It was like a sucker punch to the stomach. Disappointment. Sorrow. Even if her mission only lasted the two weeks it was supposed to, who knew if her mother would still be here when she returned. She could be sent on another mission or her father could be or-

Sakura sighed and focused on folding her sleeping clothes into neat rolls that wouldn't wrinkle with travel. She was a ninja. Her mother was a ninja. This was part of the ninja life. Sometimes months would be spent away from your family with only your team as company. Her father had understood when she called him. Her mother would understand too.

She glanced around the room to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything.

Medpack- check.

Extra weapons pouch- check.

Blank scrolls and pens if necessary- check.

Extra clothes- check.

A towel- check.

Book for the road? Sakura hesitated at the bookshelf. It might not seem like much weight now, but if she was forced to carry it for hundreds of miles, every pound mattered. A light one? Of poetry? Her fingers traced over the spines and then hesitated at her time travel book.

Ever since the first message, she had checked inside diligently to see if her future self had left any other messages. There had been nothing for the last two months, but she hadn't checked while Sasuke and Naruto were here.

Eh, what the heck. She pulled it out and flipped to the back page.

Her eyes widened. Her breath hitched. There was another message. But this time it wasn't an instruction.

What is a ninja?

Signed with a flower.

A/N: And back. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and favorited this fic! I appreciate all the words of encouragement and suggestions for improvement!

This is the beginning of the wave arch which will have less fluff, more plot, and possibly more philosophical considerations. This is also the arc where Sakura starts deviating from cannon tweaks and into a character that can rival the Naruto/sasuke godhood. (at least my take on it. I'll give more warnings as the story continues)

A quick discussion: I read a LOT of Naruto fanfiction. Many of the stories are so wonderful and the ideas so exquisite that I end up forgetting what is cannon and what is the work of some author's imagination. For instance, in Evil-is-a-relative-term's "Kill Your Heros," (which if you haven't read, please, go do so right now) Sakura's mother raises a messenger hawks. Evil-sama came up with this idea first and it became part of my subconscious. I only realized this about three days ago.

It's never my intention to plagiarize, so if you notice that any ideas are seeming suspiciously similar to another author, let me know via PM and I'll try to either give credit where credit is due or change the story.

Thank you very much and enjoy!