Team Thirteen had now been in Sunagakure for over a week and by that point they were comfortable with their surroundings and able to navigate themselves through the village properly, which meant the mission Rasa had mentioned.
"As previously mentioned there is a nest of poisonous snakes nearby just outside the village that I'd like you to take care of, Gaara will show you the way…..be safe" Rasa informed once the three were before him.
Along side his youngest "Sure thing Kazekage-sama and even should anything happen, Sakura's more than competent at crafting antidotes on the spot" Haku smiled kindly, praising the pinkette's abilities.
Sakura blushed softly in response to the compliment she'd just been given, Rasa quirked a brow at this but didn't ask merely waved his hand dismissing them from his office "This way" Gaara rumbled, directing his cousin and her teammates towards the entrance of the village.
Karin was the last to sign out "Come to think of it, how big is this nest exactly" Sakura questioned suddenly when they went past the guards keeping watch and started going around the outside of the village.
He paused for a moment"I'm not sure of that myself" Gaara admitted with a frown but continued walking until they came upon a cave that was filled with snakes and only then did they realize exactly how dangerous the area was.
When Karin almost got bit, Sakura was quick though and snatched the viper up then crushed it's head instantly without thought "Thanks Nee-chan" Karin grimaced, relieved that the disaster in the making had been quickly averted.
"No problem Karin….so do either of you have an idea of how we want to do this" Sakura glanced between her teammates, wanting to hear their opinions first so that they could decide on an appropriate plan of action.
Letting them work, Gaara stood off to the side "Well I don't fancy let any of them escape, so maybe Gaara could use his sand to close the cave until we're ready" Karin spied the other redhead looking bored.
Immediately Gaara perked up, grateful that he'd been asked to help somewhat as he blocked the entrance of the snake nest with his sand and then listened as the trio bounced idea's off one another until finally Haku came up with the best plan.
His argument had been that since they were going to use the snakes to make jerky it was best to freeze the reptiles "And later on we can thaw them out" Haku offered, ready to make use of his kekkeigenkai for the sake of the mission.
"Probably for the best, especially if we want to remove the skin and collect scales as well" Karin shrugged, agreeing to the plan, snakes weren't her favorite thing, considering their whole ordeal with Orochimaru, even she'd almost gotten kidnapped by the bastards subordinate.
With that Gaara removed the sand blocking the cave and Haku swept in with his ice release jutsu freezing the insides of the snakes individually something he had to barely concentrate on in order to do and in a matter of minutes their mission was complete.
Gaara wasn't holy surprised that it had taken them so little time to carry out their orders, Team Thirteen even did extra by sealing all the snakes in a scroll and grabbing up any scales that had dropped from the creatures.
And less than half an hour after leaving the village they were on their way back to the gates and signing back in, and eight minutes later Team Thirteen were before the Kazekage again "What exactly did you do" Rasa asked.
In an incredulous tone at the Chunin before him "Used my kekkeigenkai to freeze their insides" Haku answered simply because it hadn't been that complicated of a process to be honest, though of course he should have expected.
That the Kazekage would be shocked at the mention of having a bloodline limit "Care to demonstrate….we'll go to my personal training ground for it even, I'm sure your all itching to get in a little bit of training" Rasa stood.
Deciding to take a break from doing paperwork for a little while, smirking inwardly when Sakura grinned in excitement "Sounds like fun Kazekage-sama" Karin snickered, obviously eager to get in some exercise herself.
Rasa nodded, pleased that he didn't have to exert to much effort into coercing the trio into demonstrating some of their skills to him and ten minutes later they were doing stretches to prepare themselves for an impromptu training session.
Of course as curious as they were Temari and Kankuro also joined them as Team Thirteen readied themselves to practice as such Haku was the first one who weaved a familiar set of hand signs "Hyoton: Crystal Ice Mirrors" Haku breathed.
Making his usual dome of mirrors "Intriguing what is it meant for if one of you don't mind demonstrating" Rasa prodded, walking around the outside of the dome but not touching the ice mirrors because he could feel the cold emanating from them.
Sakura stepped forward "Being the best on this team at evading I'm the only one who can successfully help Haku demonstrate his jutsu" Sakura said as she walked to the middle of the dome and to everyone's awe.
Haku merged with his jutsu and began raining senbon down upon Sakura who twisted agilely out of the way of each deadly needle, she wasn't perfect but the most debilitating hits she did dodge while few made their mark in her flesh until the end of the demonstration.
"Between the two of you who is the heaviest hitter on the team" Kankuro questioned, having seen the jutsu in action before but now he could understand it's uses for the most part, at his question Sakura raised her hand.
Indicating she was the heavy hitter "Nee-chan's always in the front, the first to launch an attack against any enemy or opponent, I'm in the middle, the sensor of the team and Haku can play defense or offense when or if necessary" Karin chimed in.
Kankuro frowned at that "Why you first Sakura, why do you have to put yourself in the most danger all the time by facing the enemy head on before anyone else acts" Temari demanded to know from her little cousin.
Who smiled calmly "Simple Temari, I'm a close range fighter, I'm good at watching the enemies movements, coming up with a plan is my job on the team for the most part, Haku likes to play long range and Karin-chan's not much of a fighter herself so yeah" Sakura answered.
Both redheads listening could understand that explanation "One thing I'd like to ask before I let you practice for however long you want, Haku-san where are you from originally" Rasa turned his attention on the teenager.
A look from Sakura told him it was okay "Land of Water, not Hidden Mist, more that I was born in a small village near Kiri and after awakening my abilities was found by Zabuza Momochi then trained as his apprentice for 7 years before going to Konoha" Haku informed.
Deciding to be honest and while it was clear the Kazekage wished to ask more, Rasa nodded in understanding then left them to do what they wanted having spent half an hour just standing around speaking to them.
Leaving Team Thirteen and the Sabaku siblings to train for another hour before heading off to do their own thing now that they didn't need an escort around the village before regrouping at the house "Is that the new thing your making Sakura-chan" Karin flopped down next to the pinkette.
Once they were gathered together and lazing about in the house "Mhm, snake skin mesh socks to protect your feet from makibishi spikes just in case, I don't know how popular they'll be here but I'm going to sell them anyway" Sakura answered.
Mostly focusing on her work "Then I might as well come up with something new as well, like for example exploding scales, I can draw the explosive seal on them, enemies will be unprepared for a such a thing and won't know to avoid the scales" Karin snickered.
Ruby orbs glittering with mirth "I guess if your both going to make something out of the snakes I should come up with a new item to, fang earrings" Haku declared, not wanting to be left behind so he and Karin immediately got to work on their new projects.
And a few days later they hit the market with their new products and snake jerky "You know I don't think I'll ever understand how you three do this" Kankuro shook his head, mostly amused but also partly awed that Team Thirteen worked so well together.
At basically everything they did "Thanks" Sakura smiled at him sweetly, deciding to take his comment as a compliment, Haku chuckled at the wide eyed look Sakura got back when she wasn't looking from Kankuro.
Temari hid a smile behind her hand as she watched Sakura give the plants in the greenhouse a generous helping of water that was infused with her chakra and nutrients needed to help the herbs grow and they were, beautifully.
It was as they were preparing to go explore the village more that Gaara tensed unexpectedly "Uzumaki and Uchiha their chakra is headed this way" Gaara rumbled out, able to sense the familiar chakra.
So Karin closed her eyes and focused on spreading out her own senses "Gaara's right, their also being pursued by three….no four and these guys aren't Kusa-nin, their really strong, they have the same kind of chakra that was once in your curse mark Sakura-chan" Karin informed.
"Go Sakura, Karin, Haku, we'll inform Father" Temari urged the trio off, Haku flashed through hand signs, grabbed Sakura who flinched at the wolves, something she'd have to ask the girl about later as the team took off on the back of Haku's summons.
Leaving her and her brothers to let Rasa know what was going on "Are we going to assist them again Kazekage-sama" Baki questioned, he didn't get a verbal answer but the Kazekage's actions of grabbing a gourd told him all he needed.
That yes they were going to help out Team Thirteen who were already halfway to Naruto and Sasuke's position and upon arrival Sakura leaped from Zoge's back and delivered a punch to the two headed guy with blue/grey hair.
Sending him flying backwards "There you are, while not the initial chosen, you are Orochimaru-sama's next vessel but we were ordered to bring all five of you with us to him to serve him as his subordinates" the four armed guy paused.
Not looking back at his teammate who'd got thrown with a single hit and had landed in a heap on the ground "So your with Orochimaru huh then I won't have a single regret taking you sick bastards out" Sakura cracked her knuckles at him menacingly.
Immediately Karin went to assist Sasuke who had a gash on his side while Naruto made a hand sign and in a poof of smoke there were fifteen shadow clones guarding his teammate and the medic healing him.
Feeling much better now that they were being backed up by their friends "Where's Nawaki, I'd have thought he'd be with you two" Karin asked in the midst of mending the injury on Sasuke who remained still for her.
"Off on a different mission with Kakashi, he got promoted to Chunin, Naruto and I didn't, and on our way here these guys showed up, Naruto managed to send a message with one of his toad summons but that was a day and a half ago" Sasuke answered.
Karin eyed Sakura who nodded "Help is probably on it's way from Konoha and I think I know who might be sent, and don't worry help will arrive earlier as well, I can sense Kazekage-sama, Baki-san, Temari, Kankuro and Gaara headed this way as well" Karin said.
Glad that they weren't being left to handle everything on their own "How the hell is the Kazekage alive in the first place I thought Kimimaro and Lord Orochimaru killed that fucker" the lone kunoichi cursed.
Just as said man touched down in front of her "I was healed, you won't have such a luxury, coming into my territory, after those that are considered allies to myself, your penalty is death" Rasa announced.
Manipulating his gold dust to restrain the shinobi in league with Orochimaru all of whom he recognized as the ones who guarded the Snake Sannin and were part of his most trusted inner circle of subordinates.
It was apparent a moment later that none of them were going to go down without a fight as the one that had got punched earlier made a mad grab for Haku "Wrong choice in hostage" Haku smirked and released chakra from his tenketsu.
The very same kind of chakra that formed his kekkeigenkai and agonizingly slow the idiot who'd grabbed him began to freeze from the inside out turning into a human icicle "Well that was horrifying" Naruto shivered.
Slightly cold from Haku's use of his ice ability and somewhat horrified that Haku hadn't even thought about it before basically killing the enemy who had hold of him "That's two down though" Sakura said.
Unable to feel bad about the loss of life Haku's action had resulted in, "I'm gonna kill ya" the orange haired guy snarled, chakra flaring wildly as he activated his curse mark and took on his second stage form.
Which ultimately led to him breaking free of Rasa's gold dust allowing him to charge at Sakura who dodged prompting the others who were behind her to scatter like ants in order to get out of the teenagers way.
One of them was to slow and Karin was grabbed, arms pinned to her sides despite her squirming and he began squeezing, crushing her body with his abnormal strength, causing the redhead to cry out, Sakura whipped around.
KI emanating from her "Gale Style:….Sasuke what are you doing" Sakura began speeding through a set of hand signs, and Sasuke who couldn't quite remember the hand signs she'd used before for that one gale style jutsu stopped her.
"Are you trying to hurt Karin in the process" Sasuke snapped at her and she blinked at him dumbly for a moment "Isn't that the gale style jutsu you used on me during the Chunin Exams" Sasuke frowned.
Sakura actually rolled her eyes at him "Idiot did you think that, that was the only one I learned while gone training…baka I missed my chance to rescue her before she got hurt by him even more" the pinkette whacked the Uchiha over the head.
Glad for his little moment of stupidity, it had allowed her to calm down and think a little more rationally, a plan came to mind almost instantly as she spied Naruto and his shadow clones "Leave these two to us, you just focus on her" Gaara rumbled.
Catching the glance sent his way "I'll help Kazekage-sama keep those two detained since their slightly tougher opponents than usual" Haku smiled, self-assured that Karin would be properly rescued.
All they needed was patience "Good…Sasuke here's the plan, distract him by charging in head first got it…Naruto lend me some of your shadow clones" Sakura called, suppressing her chakra and scent completely.
So not a trace of her presence could be felt, the orange haired bastard who had Karin in his clutches sneered in disgust at what he thought was their futile attempt of rescuing his captive when the Uchiha his master wanted ran straight at him.
Lightning crackling in the palm of his hand "Chidori" Sasuke thrust his hand forward, aiming at his opponent and taking his attention away from Sakura because now he had to focus on the one in front of him.
Taking that moment of distraction Sakura raced over to Naruto's position who had already instructed a couple of his clones to do whatever she asked of them "Just tell us what you need Sakura-chan" the blonde saluted.
Happy to do whatever was necessary to help save one of his friend "You, help Sasuke distract that cretin, provide Sasuke cover via smoke bombs and I need you to transform into me and get behind him alright" Sakura instructed.
"Okay but how do I know when to attack or do whatever it is I'm supposed to behind him" the clone frowned in confusion not understanding what was wanted of him until Sakura properly explained.
Baby blue eyes widened in surprise "That's ingenious Sakura-chan, I'm off then and good luck" the clone saluted, in a poof of smoke there was another Sakura for only a brief moment until the real Sakura transformed into Naruto.
While the clone hurried to get in position Sakura played her part as a Naruto clone well, confusing nearly everyone, the enemy most of all, with a hand signal, the clone disguised as her launched his attack.
Giving her the chance to prepare her jutsu "Okay get out of the way Sasuke…..Gale Style: Laser Circus" Sakura called out, unleashing the precision jutsu the second Sasuke leaped out of the way right as the Sakura he'd seen turned into a Naruto clone.
And gripped the enemy around the middle, Karin who was somehow still miraculously awake, clenched her eyes shut seeing the elemental jutsu heading straight for her on what looked like a collision course.
Even the Kazekage looked suitably shocked until at the last moment the jutsu swerved around her and into the one holding her captive, "I've got you Karin" Sasuke grabbed the redhead as she was released upon the jutsu's impact with her captor and body flickered over to Sakura.
Before Rasa could move to incapacitate the teenager, another appeared and swiftly dispatched the Oto-nin "Everyone's alright, right" Minato asked, looking around only to see Sakura with her hands glowing green and healing Karin.
She was gritting her teeth and looking a little pale indicating that she'd gotten hurt "Tou-chan" Naruto waved pleased that his friend had been right about helping arriving very soon from Konohagakure.
Minato smiled then frowned "How bad is it, do I need to take you back to Leaf to be healed by Tsunade-sama" Minato inquired, leaning down to look Karin over himself but he couldn't find any surface wounds.
Which meant her injury was internal "No I'm okay, Sakura's pretty much gotten my broken bones covered" Karin assured, relaxing as her pain went away under the expert healing of her sister and a moment later she was back on her feet, dusting her clothes free of sand.
Only to be immediately hugged by Temari "Geez could have warned us that you had such a jutsu up your sleeve Sakura" Temari turned on her biological fifth cousin a second after, still not releasing Karin from her hug.
Sakura smiled innocently "Ah but if I'd told you ahead of time Temari-chan then it wouldn't have been as shocking and that guy probably would have tried to avoid the attack" Sakura shot back, verdant orbs twinkling with mischief.
Sasuke rolled his eyes but suppressed the urge to groan in frustration, imagine his surprise when Haku face palmed and groaned himself "I thought you were a healer to Karin" Kankuro asked as their group slowly headed back towards Sunagakure.
After the dead Oto-nin were buried underneath the sand via an earth jutsu courtesy of Sakura "Yes but not nearly as good as Sakura, sure I have my special healing but I'd have to bite myself which would make things hurt even more" Karin said with a little shrug.
Minato felt his heart drop into his stomach at the admission even though it had already been explained to him, it was still horrifying to hear about "So not that we're not happy or anything but what brought you two out here to Suna in the first place" Baki inquired.
Relieved as the lot of them reached the safety of the village "I'm the requested help that they asked for a day and a half ago so I wasn't given details of their mission" Minato held up his hands when the Suna Jonin eyed him.
So Rasa focused his attention on the two boys "We were sent to deliver this, an official letter of apology from our Daimyo, he gave your Daimyo a stern talking to about giving missions meant for Suna to Konoha, which he said he'll be refusing from now on" Sasuke declared.
Placing an official looking scroll down before the Kazekage "And to strengthen our newly reformed alliance by undertaking any missions you'll allow us ranging from D-C only since we're still only genin" Naruto chimed in.
Behaving a lot more maturely now "That's surprising….hmm very well, for now I believe you should rest after the trouble you went through on your way here, we'll speak more tomorrow" Rasa waved his hand dismissing the duo.
Sakura smiled kindly at the Kazekage and bowed lightly before ushering her teammates and friends from Rasa's office "What a troublesome girl" Baki shook his head with half laugh/half sigh sound falling from his lips.
His leader couldn't help but agree "Perhaps but for all her troublesome qualities she is an analyst with one hell of a tactical mind, it's no wonder how the whole of Team Thirteen were promoted to Chunin given how they react to her" Rasa nodded.
Having watched how Sakura had immediately come up with a plan after the little Uchiha had stopped her from using her jutsu the first time and how they'd simply done as told no questions asked mostly even Haku who'd focused his attention on keeping the other Oto-nin from retaliating.
Letting Sakura work until Karin had been rescued "True Kazekage-sama, those three will go far, to places no one else have ever been possibly" Baki said, bowing and taking his leave of his leader who returned to doing boring paperwork.
Meanwhile Team Thirteen had led Naruto, Sasuke and Minato to the house they were living in "Pretty awesome isn't it Naruto….and Sasuke if you don't stop eyeing Gaara like that I'm going to poke you in the eyes" Sakura snickered at the blondes awestruck gaze.
Before glaring at Sasuke who was giving Gaara one of his patented Uchiha scowls though at her threat he quickly lowered his gaze not wanting to get hit again "Still though who knew you had such a jutsu" Sasuke forced himself to say.
So that he would stop glaring at Gaara, someone who was family to Sakura he had to keep reminding himself "Learning it was no piece of cake ugh the other one as well" Sakura snorted lightly.
Drawing attention to her tattoo something Minato frowned at "Other one…oh you mean that black lightning jutsu you used" Temari scrunched her forehead before remembering the black panther lightning jutsu that Sakura had used on that Kusa-nin.
"Black Lightning I had no idea there was such a thing how do you learn it, do you think you could teach me Sakura, I mean it's nice having Chidori but what if I could combine that black lightning with the Chidori and kind of make it my own jutsu" Sasuke practically pleaded.
About to get down on his hands and knee's when Minato jumped in interrupting Sakura's answer "That's a Kumo exclusive jutsu, created by the Third Raikage if I'm not mistaken, how did you get permission to learn it" Minato asked.
Briefly forgetting what he'd been told by Fugaku about how Sakura had lived in Cloud for four years and had been considered a Kumo-nin alongside Karin "The one who taught me it asked if he could do so of course, but Lord Fourth is right Sasuke I doubt if I'd be allowed to teach you" Sakura explained.
Giving Sasuke an apologetic look "Cheer up Sasuke-san, I bet with your talent you can come up with several different ways to use your lightning nature to make new jutsu" Haku pat the Uchiha on the shoulder gently.
Seeing the slightly upset glare in his eyes "Haku's right Uchiha, you don't have to strictly use Chidori as it is, so I bet if you use that brain of yours, you can find a new way to use that jutsu" Kankuro chimed in.
"By the way Sakura you don't have to be all proper, you can just call me Minato if you want" Minato said, a bit uncomfortable from the use of his former title as the 4th Hokage, Sakura blinked up at him before nodding in understanding.
And a moment later they were inside the large house/mini mansion as Naruto would call it "She really is kind, to accept me as her family and defend me from one of her friends as well" Gaara commented.
When it was just he and his siblings in the living room while the others were upstairs being shown the guest rooms "Though I would like to know why she flinched seeing Haku's summons" Temari added, remembering her thought before rushing off to inform her Father of the previous situation.
Just then Karin padded down the steps having left Naruto to unpack his things in the guest room "It's because Sakura-chan is afraid of large animals, mainly canines, it's not as bad as it use to be, but she still freezes briefly upon seeing one" Karin explained.
Having heard Temari's question "My question is how did Sakura become afraid of large canines in the first place" Minato appeared down in the living room a second later, making use of his seal to get around.
Since he'd placed his seal already in the living room after passing through it about ten minutes earlier "A D rank mission in Kumo had us searching for a mini horse sized canine named Shun, he tried to bite her once" Karin answered simply.
The frown deepened on Minato's face "Sakura and you have really been through a lot huh…..well as your cousins we should do our absolute best to make sure you and her have a blast while your here" Kankuro vowed.
"Thanks Kankuro, you two as well Temari, Gaara" Sakura said, halfway down the stairs, Naruto, Sasuke and Haku on her heels, verdant orbs twinkling with happiness at the siblings as she came to a stop before them.
Temari couldn't help herself as she threw her arms around the pinkette and squeezed her into a hug before releasing her a second later "I remember when you rejected hugs from everyone but Karin and Ino" Naruto teased.
Feeling comfortable in doing so when Sakura huffed at him "Wait what how could you not want to be hugged" Temari intoned incredulously, though upon remembering Sakura hadn't grown up in a normal way she supposed she could understand.
"Kumo-nin aren't exactly the hugging types, I can count on one hand how many times Cee-sensei or even Darui hugged Karin or I and that was about three times in all the time we were in Kumo, Atsui liked to mess with our hair and Samui was more careful about it" Sakura admitted.
Naruto smiled sheepishly "I wouldn't worry about it to much Naruto" Sasuke nudged his blonde teammate in the side gently with his elbow because he knew Sakura cared about the both of them now compared to when they'd first met.
The blonde nodded in understanding "Anyway I'm sure your all hungry so why don't I go make lunch…dinner considering it's that late already" Minato clapped, Sakura and Karin blinked at him in surprise.
Even his own son stared at him in shock before Haku chuckled "You're a guest here Minato-san, Karin, Sakura and I will cook" Haku said, remembering to not be so formal with the man at his request from earlier.
"Who normally cooks" Minato asked and Sakura raised her hand "I guess what Fugaku said about you being more mature than most for your age was true, you don't consider something like that a chore" Minato commented.
Trying to figure out a way to get Sakura to leave the cooking to him, "Nope it's not a big deal Minato-san so just sit back and relax" Sakura smiled kindly at the man before disappearing into the kitchen.
Cousins as Kankuro had called himself to the pinkette on her heels "Don't take it to personally, Sakura-chan just loves cooking and finding new ways to cook recipes" Karin said when Minato took a seat on the sofa with a sigh.
"Yeah Tou-chan and Sakura-chan is amazing, I'd never had so many different things before until she cooked them for me" Naruto raved enthusiastically, laughing entered his ears from Sakura who was more than likely amused.
At what she called simple stuff "By the way how long are you two here for" Haku questioned, looking mostly at Sasuke, since Naruto was chattering incessantly to his Father, Minato listening with rapt attention in response.
Sasuke perked up "Two weeks, what about you guys, in fact I didn't even know you three were here in Suna in the first place, considering you just vanished from the village rather silently" Sasuke commented.
Earning an amused chuckle "A few months Sasuke, while you two are here to help with the mission situation we're here for the financial issue Suna is experiencing which will be a lot harder to rectify" Karin piped in easily.
"I think I understand, basically your establishing a trade route between our villages right so that more foreign stuff can be sold down in our market and stuff from Konoha will be sold here while also expanding your company, I bet you have loads of things to make and sell now right" Naruto said.
Minato's head whipped around to stare at his son in surprise "Correct Naruto, among other things, dinners ready by the way" Sakura emerged from the kitchen to let everyone know that dinner was ready to be eaten.
With that Temari, Kankuro and Gaara made their departure of the house leaving the six to eat their dinner, lounge about for awhile longer if they wanted, take showers or baths and finally go to bed after a long day.