About two weeks passed without news of any kind. They hadn't any further attacks or infiltration attempts. Even the border patrols had returned to being quiet, almost boring, and Sakura appreciated that. At least that's how it was until one day Sasuke woke her up, waiting at her door.

"Team meeting in the Hokage office," he said routinely, and then he looked at her. "Is that my shirt?"

Sakura stood there for a second, trying to get her still half-asleep brain to assimilate the words and for them to come out from her mouth with some logic.

"Good morning to you too," she murmured. She lowered her head and looked at the black T-shirt she wore for sleeping, too big to be originally hers. "I think so. Did you say something about a meeting? When do we have to be there? "

Sasuke, still with his eyes on her shirt and an amused glow that Sakura couldn't decipher, leaned against the doorframe.

"Now."

She rested her head on her hand, tired. "You have to be kidding."

"I'm afraid not."

"It's my day off," she whimpered, trying to look pitiful. Her first day off in two months, to be exact. She was planning to stay in bed all morning, catch up hours of sleep, and then maybe go shopping with Ino. That's how a day off must feel.

"I know," he replied, and Sakura understood. If Sasuke was aware that this was her day off, it was very likely that Itachi knew too. So it must be something urgent if it couldn't wait.

"Fine." She gave up, turning inside the house. "I'll get dressed."

Sasuke followed her inside and closed the door behind them, heading into the kitchen. "I'll make some coffee."

She shot him a grateful look before disappearing into her room. There, she took off her shirt and before putting it away she held it up to her nose. Beneath the scent of her shampoo and the fabric softener, very subtle, there was still Sasuke's scent. So it was his, Sakura smiled wickedly. Well, it's not like he was going to get it back anytime soon, she told herself as she shoved it into a drawer.

"Do you know why he wants to see us?" she asked Sasuke as she entered the kitchen, already dressed.

"No," he replied, and handed her a steaming mug. "I haven't even seen him yet. It was Shikamaru who told me."

She accepted the cup and began to sip thoughtfully.

"Well," she sighed after a while, finishing her coffee in one gulp. "I just hope nothing serious has happened."

.

"Missing?" Sakura repeated, not believing her ears. "An entire team?"

Itachi crossed his arms and nodded, his face serious. "The team I sent to infiltrate Amegakure should have been back by now, or in any case communicated. But since they left we haven't even heard from them. It's too rare to be a mere coincidence. "

Sakura's gaze traveled to Naruto without her being able to avoid it, worried about her friend. In theory, no one should be going after him anymore. But she still had a strange feeling that she couldn't shake off. First the attack a few weeks ago, and now the disappearance of an entire team without a trace. It was not a good sign.

"So we have to go find out what happened?" Naruto asked, cracking his knuckles. Unlike Sakura, he didn't seem concerned, but eager for action.

"No," Itachi replied, shaking his head slightly. "Only Sasuke and Sakura will go to Amegakure."

There was silence in the room for a moment, until Naruto approached the table and slammed both hands on it, leaning over the Hokage.

"That's not fair!"

"Naruto, you will go to Sunagakure," Itachi interjected quickly, before the blonde could continue protesting. "You will bring a message to the Kazekage. Let him tell you if they have had any suspicious attacks, and if they would be willing to help us if the time comes."

Sakura's heart sank when she heard him. The fact that Itachi's suspicions confirmed hers that something bigger was going on didn't reassure her, quite the opposite. Sasuke seemed to notice her concern, because he approached her and took her hand, slowly. She returned the squeeze automatically, a bit calmer.

Naruto drew back, hesitant. "Well... I guess if it's to see Gaara..."

"You will go unofficially," Itachi continued, keeping his gaze on him. "You are not going on behalf of Konoha, you are only going to see a friend, do you understand me? No one should suspect anything. That's why only you can do it."

Naruto nodded seriously, understanding the implied meaning of his words.

"I will leave tomorrow."

"Good. Now, you two, " he said, turning to his teammates. His gaze was still serious, but it softened a bit when it settled on them. "I don't want you to infiltrate Amegakure, just try to find out what happened to the other team. Nothing of ANBU, build a convincing alibi and try to go unnoticed. No fighting if you can avoid it, do you hear me?" he insisted, emphasizing the last words. "At the slightest sign of danger, you turn around. I'm not risking two of my best ninjas."

Not to mention his brother, Sakura thought glancing at Sasuke, and then she realized they were still holding hands. She released hers quickly, remembering the hints Itachi had made not long ago, and she cleared her throat to clear her voice.

"How much time do we have?"

If Itachi saw that, he didn't say anything about it. "I want you to leave in three days. I will leave its duration to your consideration, but it must not exceed one week. That's all."

He watched them leave the room between complaints from Naruto about not being able to go with them and Sakura comforting him, until he was finally left alone. Then a masked head peeked out of one of the rear windows, sneaking through.

"You could have sent me to Amegakure."

Itachi just looked at the papers in front of him, not needing to turn to speak to him. "You are a suicidal, Kakashi. Nothing assures me that you will come back alive from there, you have nothing here that binds you. But they… They will protect each other." He seemed to recall one thing and smiled. "Did you see Sasuke's face when she let go of his hand?"

"I've seen people who knew they were going to die less desperate than him," the other laughed, before asking. "Do you think it will go well?"

He too, in his own way, cared about his former students. Itachi glanced at the door they had disappeared through a few minutes ago and allowed himself a sigh.

"Let's hope so."

.

"Tourists?" Sakura proposed, tapping the white sheet in front of her.

"Sure, because Amegakure is famous, known for its sights," Sasuke replied, sarcasm tainting his voice.

"Brothers?"

He rolled his eyes and caught a lock of her hair, gently tugging at it. "Even if you dyed your hair black, we wouldn't be convincing, Sakura."

She pulled his hand away and snorted in frustration. "At least I have ideas. You could suggest something. "

After the meeting, the three had eaten in Ichiraku at Naruto's request and then the two of them had gone to Sasuke's house to plan the mission. Sakura couldn't stop mulling over what was bothering her, but she was trying to see the bright side of things. It had been a long time since she had a solo mission with Sasuke, and deep down she missed it. A little action wouldn't hurt, she told herself trying to sound convincing.

"Refugees," Sasuke said suddenly, bringing her back to reality. "From somewhere at war, we are looking for a place to live quietly. Something like that."

She wrote it down on the sheet, nodding. "Will work." Then she smirked, before saying, "I hope you like your name, Kyosuke-san."

They had a habit of choosing each other's false names in these types of missions, and although normally it was more fun with Naruto, Sakura wasn't going to miss the opportunity to annoy Sasuke. She knew she had succeded when he frowned.

"No way."

"What's wrong, you don't like it?" she laughed. "Sounds strong, like you."

Sasuke shrugged, seemingly nonchalant. "If you say so... Hana."

She raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Wow, flower. Very original. Didn't feel like thinking or what? "

"At least yours suits you," he replied, pinching her cheeks.

Sakura couldn't help but laugh, trying to free herself from Sasuke's grip. Ah, how she had missed that.

She did not remember falling asleep, but was suddenly awakened by a very rich smell that came from the kitchen and filled the living room. She sat up slightly and realized that at some point someone had put a blanket over her.

"Sasuke?"

"He's out buying a few things for dinner." She heard Itachi's voice from the kitchen.

Sakura flopped back onto the couch, stunned. She had slept more than she thought. She had to have fallen into a very deep sleep not to have notice anything.

"Are you making curry?" she asked Itachi, sniffing the air. "It smells really good. I hope you are making for me too."

He laughed, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Of course."

Sakura nodded to herself, satisfied, and pulled the blanket back around her. God, she was so, so tired. She didn't remember the last time she had slept more than five hours straight. No wonder she fell asleep everywhere.

"Tell Sasuke to wake me up when he comes back," she said quietly, knowing Itachi heard her, and she closed her eyes again. Just ten more minutes, she told herself, before falling asleep again.

The next thing she noticed was someone stroking her cheek and calling her name.

"Hey, Sakura."

With a bit of effort, she opened her eyes slowly to find Sasuke kneeling in front of her, staring at her intently.

"Dinner is ready," he told her, getting back up.

She stood up too and followed him, unable to help but smile. There, at times like that, she felt at home.

Short chapter, I know. I wasn't planning on posting anything because I've been busy, but somehow I managed to scratch time here and there. Also I wanted to end with something sweet before what's coming next, so I had to split it :)

Hopefully I will be able to update more frecuentlly from now on.

Hope you like it!