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I Missed Again
25. Surreptitious
Kakashi saunters up the steps with his book out and his gait completely relaxed, he twists around the other shinobi in the corridor before eventually reaching a natural halt outside her door, knocking swiftly he enters upon hearing a response,
"What time do you call this?" Tsunade perches her elbows on the desk in front of her as rests her chin on her clasped hands, her expression unreadable but a clear undertone of displeasure hadn't bothered to be hidden;
"Uhh…Twenty to four, Hokage-sama?"
"Mmhmm, and precisely what time did you ask to see me?"
"Ah, at half eleven…" Tsunade sighs heavily as she averts her eyes from him in frustration, "Ahaha, my apologies, Hokage-sama, you see as I was leaving my apartment this morning, I happened upon-"
"Save it, Kakashi, just get on with why you're here," She returns her gaze to him as he clears his throat, (thankful he at least bothered to pocket his book before he entered, he really does need Tsunade's cooperation);
"I've been speaking with Sakura recently, and although she's still a little… down I think she's making good progress,"
"…But?"
"I am concerned that her day-to-day of hospital shifts punctuated by me forcing her to attend Team 7 training sessions is hurting as much as it's helping,"
"How so?"
"I think that she's right back into her normal, un-dangerous routine makes her feel more guilty."
"You're aware that Keisuke died quite some time ago?"
"Yes, but now that I know, the status-quo has been changed and I'm pushing for her to transform out of the the way she'd learned to cope with it initially and I think forcing her out of her comfort zone in other ways – which are removed enough from Keisuke-san and Renshi-san would prove beneficial," Tsunade eyes the shinobi in front of her, she knows Kakashi cares deeply for his teammates and has Sakura's best interests at heart; true as well that Kakashi is someone the Hokage has great personal respect for, but he's no medic.
So he must be speaking from personal experience, the Godaime knows Kakashi's past well and that it was Obito's death which drove him to join the ANBU. Maybe an easy mission with her old team would be of benefit to her, Kami knows that if Naruto and Kakashi couldn't cheer up Sakura between them then there really will be no hope for the girl.
But what sort of mission would be appropriate?
"Alright, Kakashi, Team 7 can have a mission… A semi-long term one perhaps would be best, a couple of weeks, maybe," The Hokage begins to rifle through the scrolls, but nothing immediately springs to mind, "Well, I'll look into it and let you know before the end of the week. Thank you, Kakashi,"
"Hokage-sama… You know, when I first noticed that Sakura was looking a little… worse for wear, I wondered why no one else seemed to care," Tsunade gives him a wry smile,
"Please, Kakashi, as Hokage, her shishou and as a medic myself, there's very little about Sakura which slips by me… But you can't heal someone who doesn't want it. You have to make her want to get better for any improvement can be made,"
"I'm aware, Hokage-sama,"
"Dismissed,"
"Oi, Naruto," Kakashi's voice easily cuts through the gentle hum of the people around them,
"Mmphf?" The younger male responds, through a mouthful of noodles, as the half-turns in the direction of his old sensei's voice just as said shinobi appears next to him taking a seat at the stool, "Oh, Kakashi-sensei are you here for lunch?" The mischievous grin on the blonde tells Kakashi that he cares whether he's eating for the opportunity it presents; resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the younger's never ending quest to see his face, he responds:
"No, I just came here to tell you that we have a mission, it'll be approximately two or three weeks long; we need to escort one of the Daimyo's sons and a few of his advisors to the Earth Country, where he'll be getting married,"
"Wow, cool!" Naruto's eyes immediately sparkling, "I've never been to Earth Country, will be get to see the Hidden village there?"
"Iwagakure? No, the Daimyo of the Earth Country lives far outside of the shinobi village, we will be heading much further north on from Iwa," Naruto nods and takes another slurp of noodles, "Sakura will be joining us for this mission too, will you find her and let her know?"
"Whoa! For real? Sakura's coming too?" Kakashi nods, pleased that the younger male looks so happy at the prospect of her re-joining the team,
"That's right, will you let her know the mission details and that we'll be meeting at the gates, along with Sai, tomorrow morning at half-seven – we're to head to the Daimyo's residence first to collect his son and then the mission will begin as we escort him to his wedding," Naruto nods enthusiastically, as Kakashi finds his feet, "Unfortunately, there are a few last minute things I need to organize, so would you mind finding both Sakura and Sai?"
"Sure, Kakashi-sensei, no problem,"
"Great! Well, I'll see you tomorrow morning, then," Said sensei then promptly disappears in a puff of smoke (as is his typical style) leaving a still munching Naruto and a grumbling Teuchi – annoyed that the man took up a bar stool but didn't buy anything.
Eventually, Naruto rises to his feet, his hunger finally satiated and ambles away with the intention to find Sakura, he thinks that the hospital will probably be the first place to find her, his feet easily carrying him towards the building. Entering the building he immediately turns to the two people at the desk,
"Hi, is Sakura here?"
"Haruno Sakura? Sorry no, she's just finished her shift – she left about two minutes ago,"
"Oh, okay then, thanks," He grins and dashes away, his eyes scanning over the streets as he takes to the roof tops, it isn't too long before he spots a pink head of hair and leaps down to her side,
"Hey, Sakura-chan,"
"Eh? Naruto?" He grins as they come to a halt and the Kuniochi looks at him expectantly,
"Kakashi-sensei asked me to find you, we have a mission tomorrow to escort the Daimyo's son to his wedding somewhere in the Earth Country, Kakashi-sensei said it will take a few weeks," He'd already started to step away before he'd finished speaking, "Meet at the main gate at half-seven tomorrow,"
"Hey, wait, Naruto, why am I being made to join?" He shrugs,
"I dunno, but I'm glad you're coming with us, Sakura-chan – see ya, I gotta go find Sai," He's runs off, waving behind him,
"But, wait… Naruto!" But he's already gone, sighing heavily, closes her eyes in frustration, "I bet this is either one of Tsunade-shishou's or Kakashi's supposedly bright ideas…" She turns back and continues to walk the remaining distance to her apartment, wondering why the hell she's needed to for an easy mission like this or, if it was some idea of Kakashi's what could possibly be the reason for it.