Chapter 2: The Mission

Sakura sighed happily to herself as she sipped her steaming green tea. She sat across from Ino, who was telling her how she finally got Shikamaru to take her on a date.

"He's taking me to Arashi's next week! The slacker has finally gotten the hint," Ino finished.

"I'm happy for you Ino, you'll have to let me know how it goes." Sakura surveyed the blonde across from her as they ate breakfast. Her friend was beautiful, with long blonde hair and blue eyes. She was honestly surprised that Shikamaru took even this long to ask her out. Ino wasn't exactly being subtle about her interest in him.

"I will, and you have to let me know how your mission goes. I can't believe Kakashi was so against you going. I mean, you can break boulders with those fists of yours!"

Sakura's eyes narrowed. "He clearly still sees me as how I used to be, even if he says it's because of 'following orders." Sakura bit out, imitating Kakashi's voice at the end.

"You've definitely filled out on top. I was worried when we were 16 you were going to be flat as a board the rest of your life! But you at look like a woman now forehead," Ino teased.

"Funny, I was worried for your flat pancake ass back then too!" She quipped.

Ino's eyes narrowed at her remark. "I did not have a pancake ass billboard brow!" Sakura smirked, "Sure, sure."

"Sakura! Is that you?" A voice called excitedly. She looked over and recognized a guy she'd seen sporadically over the years. Time appeared to be good to him; he grew up quite handsome.

"Hi Sota, I'm doing well! It's lovely to see you again." His looks reminder her a bit of Sasuke actually. He had dark eyes and hair, and aristocratic features. However, unlike her ex-teammate, his eyes were open and kind.

"You are quite the sight for sore eyes aren't you. You're even more beautiful than the last time I saw you, which I didn't think could be possible," he flirted.

"You're so full of it," she giggled. She appreciated the attention since she honestly didn't receive it too often. Not to say she was unattractive or anything but being friends with Ino made her invisible to the opposite sex, or so she assumed. She finally stopped holding on to her feelings for Sasuke a couple years ago. However, that didn't mean she's been lucky in the dating department.

"I don't think so! You should know just how radiant you are!"

Sakura smiled and responded, "Thank you Sota, that's sweet of you. Do you go to this tea shop often?"

"On occasion when I'm back from missions. Actually, if you aren't busy, perhaps this week you'd be interested in…" He trailed off as a body suddenly plopped itself on Sakura's side of the booth her and Ino sat at.

"Yo."

She looked over in alarm since she didn't even sense him at first. There, Kakashi-sensei sat, his eye crinkling at her

"What are you doing here?!"

"You need to always be on your guard Sakura. I shouldn't be able to sneak up on you so easily." He patted her thigh lightly in a teasing manner.

"And do what do I owe your…. unexpected company?"

"Well, I was in the neighborhood and to my surprise saw you sitting in this fantastic tea shop. So of course, I had to drop in and say hi to my favorite kunoichi didn't I?"

"And?" She rolled her eyes because there's no way this was simply a social call. In her irritation with him interrupting her being asked out, she failed to notice he didn't remove his hand from her thigh. Ino didn't miss it and her eyes zeroed in on his hand. It didn't seem to her a touch that a sensei would do, it looked possessive.

"We have a mission, we leave in four hours," Kakashi said.

"Really?" He chuckled in response to her surprise, and she looked at Ino and then Sota.

"Oh, by all means, finish your breakfast with Ino. It could be a few days before you two see each other again." He looked past her at Sota in acknowledgement. "And, who's this?"

Ino looked at what she could see of his face, and he looked impassive. Yet, she couldn't help feeling he was warning him off Sakura.

"Ah, this is Sota. Sota, this is my sensei Kakashi," Sakura introduced. She sighed internally in annoyance. She had a feeling she wasn't getting a raincheck on that date now.

"Kakashi of the Sharingan. I know your reputation, it's an honor." He smiled a bit forcefully. "Well, it was nice seeing you again Sakura." She recognized that as dismissal. "You too Sota." She was 18 and still hadn't gone on a first date yet. She must be cursed.

"Thanks a lot, Kakashi-sensei," She growled out after the door shut behind Sota.

"No problem! For all the trouble you went through I figured letting you know was the least I can do." He said, feigning ignorance.

"I meant for scaring Sota off by being yourself!"

"Did I really do that?" She could see the amusement on his face. "Ugh, you're so annoying! I'm going to end up an old spinster because of you!"

He raised his eye at her. "An old spinster? You're being a bit melodramatic, aren't you? Besides, if he scares off that easily I did you a favor."

"I'd like to go a date sometime in the next year if possible! Stop butting in!"

"If that's your problem I'd be more than happy to take you on a date Sakura-chan." She swung at him, which he deflected easily. He was still laughing at her.

"Goodbye sensei! I'd like to finish my breakfast in peace, without any more meddling on your part."

"Fine, fine. I'll see you in a few hours at the front gate. Have a great morning!" Just like that he was gone as quickly as he appeared. The nerve of that man. He wasn't just trying to control her life as a ninja, but her personal life as well.

"Idiot, why can't he mind his own business," she grumbled to herself. She looked up and noticed Ino had a peculiar look on her face.

"Sakura, does he always do that?"

"Ruin my life? Yeah, it's been a pastime of his lately," she responded sarcastically.

"Don't you think that was odd though? I mean, it seemed like he did that on purpose…"

"No kidding, I know he did it on purpose. The bastard can't help himself." She didn't think Sota was her future husband or anything, but it was nice to get asked out for once by a handsome guy.

"Don't you think there's more to it than that? He was acting weird," Ino persisted.

"That's how he always acts, just what are you getting at?" Sakura questioned.

"I… well I guess I don't really know him as well as you. He just came across a little jealous to me?"

Sakura looked at her in amazement. Kakashi, jealous, of her? The world would have to be ending before such a thing would occur. She started laughing. "Come on Ino, the great Kakashi, jealous of me going on a date? The guy can somehow have any woman he wants. He just has no interest in romantic relationships for whatever reason."

Ino stared in disbelief because Sakura completely misunderstood what she meant. Was it that unbelievable he'd have more than platonic feelings for Sakura? He didn't seem to have strong attachments to anyone, but of the women he'd reconsider that resolve for, Sakura seemed the most likely. She was his teammate, and he spent the most time with her. Now, that her friend was an adult she was quite accomplished as a ninja. She was one of the most powerful kunoichi in the village. She was also drop dead gorgeous, Ino admitted begrudgingly.

"The first time a guy shows me interest and he ruins it!" Sakura complained.

"The first time?"

"In case you haven't noticed Ino-pig, men tend to go for you," she said matter-of-factly.

"Forehead, that isn't because I'm cuter you know!"

"Of course it is. I just need to go out on my own more often, so you stop hogging the men," Sakura teased. "Well anyway, I guess I really should get going to pack for this mission. I'll see you when I get back okay?"

"Sure Sakura, see you then." Ino waved goodbye to her naïve friend. Sakura still hasn't realized the reason men don't tend to approach her is because she's extremely intimidating. She's powerful and beautiful and was The Hokage's apprentice. Men aren't comfortable pursuing women they think are better than them. It doesn't help she also has the Copy Ninja hovering around her either.

Speaking of which, she was worried her friend was going to be blindsided by him in the future. Despite what Sakura thought, it really seemed to her he was possessive of Sakura. And unlike a lot of the other men in the village, he wasn't intimidated by her at all. Kakashi was a catch, objectively speaking, no doubt about it. He was 8 years older than her sure, but that really didn't matter in the shinobi world. Few people have seen his face uncovered but based on the rumors he was apparently ridiculously attractive. She always thought of him as a laid-back prodigy, but after today she had a feeling there was more to him.

Sakura stepped out of the shower and looked herself over critically. She supposed she was pretty enough. She wasn't as endowed as Ino or Hinata, but her breasts weren't exactly small. They were a good handful now. Her body looked like it was supposed to as an active ninja – athletic and lithe. She did have a rather nice butt she supposed. So, she would say she wasn't unfortunate looking. She may not be a curvaceous knockout like Ino, but she was cute. Attractive enough that she should have some dating experience at this point. But it seemed life was conspiring against her. Now, she had her annoying sensei sabotaging her pitiful love life too. As if he wasn't causing her enough grief as it is.

She packed an assortment of clothes and weapons since he really didn't specify how long they'd be on the mission, or where it was. When she got to the entrance Naruto and Sai were waiting there as well. Of course, Kakashi was late as always.

"So, you're joining us for the first time ugly? How'd you manage that?" Sai asked.

Sakura has learned over the years to ignore his 'nickname' for her and responded, "I went to Tsunade-sama, and he had no choice."

"Kakashi-sensei doesn't get forced to do anything," Sai said astutely.

Sakura said nothing in response to that since he was right. "Well, hopefully he doesn't keep us waiting too long."

"Yo!" She turned and saw their sensei perched up on a tree branch nearby. She wondered how long he was there. It was really unnerving how she can't sense him right away.

"We're heading west. I'll fill you in on the way there."

"You're not going to brief us now?" Sakura questioned. "I mean, we don't even know where we're going?"

"No, not now." She looked over at Naruto and Sai and noticed neither of them seemed confused. I guess this was an example of how he did things.

"Alright then, lead the way."

She finally learned they were headed to villages near the border of Rain country. Apparently, there were several instances over the last couple weeks of rogue shinobi ransacking them and killing many. It was their job to get a lead on who was behind this and why. The problem was, they had no idea what they were up against. Kakashi believed they weren't random attacks, and this may be the work of some kind of criminal organization composed of missing-nin.

After traveling all day, the sun was beginning to fall in the sky. Though the day was hot, being late summer, the air was cooling as they lost daylight. Kakashi called for them to stop and make camp. She started making the fire and that's when she noticed everyone was awfully quiet. Naruto was far less animated than usual. She couldn't put her finger on the reason for the change. Nothing has happened yet; they won't get to the first village until midday tomorrow.

"Tomorrow we'll split up in pairs. Naruto and Sakura, and Sai and myself." They all nodded in acknowledgement. 'At least he wasn't insisting on shadowing me like some absurd chaperone,' Sakura thought to herself.

"Refrain from confronting the enemy directly without me should you encounter them." He looked directly at Sakura when he said that.

"Of course, though in certain circumstances that may be unavoidable," She responded.

"Unless they're attacking you personally you will not engage."

"But what if they're hurting a civilian?" She couldn't help but ask. "I don't care," he said bluntly. Sakura looked at him in disbelief at his callousness. "What if they're killing someone? Am I really supposed to stand by and do nothing until you get there?"

"They aren't residents of our village, so their safety isn't the bottom line in this mission."

"But if I can do something then shouldn't I try?"

"What did I just say?" Kakashi's gaze was hard as he looked at her. "Are you refusing to obey my orders Sakura?"

She bit her lip at that. His words from last night were still fresh in her memory. "No sensei."

"Good, glad we understand each other."

She glared at him but didn't argue. She observed him as she stoked the fire. Looking at his face he appeared to be staring absentmindedly into the forest. His masked face was illuminated by the fire light, and though she has never seen him mask less she had a feeling he was handsome. She caught his eye and knew he noticed her staring at him, so she quickly looked away. He beckoned her over to him with his fingers and she hesitantly walked until she stood in front of him. She noticed him perusing her slowly and her eyebrows raised in response.

"If you must, you can use your looks to our advantage to get information. I'm sure there's a strong likelihood of you encountering someone that may have something useful to say with the right motivation."

"I'm not exactly sure what you mean Kakashi-sensei?"

He looked at her flatly before responding, "Come now Sakura, you know exactly what I mean. Just don't go over the line."

She stared at him in bewilderment before looking at Naruto. "He means you're really pretty Sakura-chan," Naruto supplied. She looked back at Kakashi who gave her the same indifferent stare. He sure didn't look at her as if he thought that. In her opinion, that's the reason he's been such a thorn in her side, because he sees her as an immature young girl. Not an adult woman with feminine wiles.

"As I said Sakura, just don't go over the line if you utilize that particular angle."

"What exactly does over the line mean anyway?"

She felt his fingers dance softly up her arm before cupping her jaw. Her breath hitched at his touch as she raised her eyes to meet his. His touch was gentle as he stroked her jawline softly. "This," he said.

She gulped in nervousness. She felt strange having him touch her that way. Even though she was an adult, and he was simply making the point, it still felt strangely intimate.

She stepped back from him slowly and his hand slowly fell away from her face. He still watched her with a strange intensity, as if he could see right through her. She didn't like that at all.

The next day her and Naruto made their way into the first village. Sakura could tell by the fearful looks in people they passed by that strangers weren't welcome there. She saw a mother hurry her son back into their home at the sight of them. She slipped into a bar with Naruto following behind. Bars were the best establishments in gaining information based on her experience. A little alcohol in someone tended to relax their tongue a bit. She found someone promising as she surveyed the place, leaning against the wall at the end of the bar table. She made her way over casually as Naruto took a seat at a high-top table.

She stood next to the man and ordered chilled sake from the bartender. She could see him looking at her with interest before telling the bartender to put her drink on his tab.

"Why thank you! That's sweet of you," she flirted. She made sure to push her chest out a little as she turned to him.

"You can thank me by keeping me company lovely," he grinned impishly. "Oh, well alright then." She smiled at him and sat down next to him, cradling her sake in her hand.

"So, what brings you here? I can't remember seeing you around before, and I don't think I'd forget a face like yours in a hurry."

"I think just passing through. I was planning to stay for a few days at least, but I honestly don't feel too welcome here. It doesn't seem this village likes visitors."

"Well, we had some trouble here a little over a week ago, so people are still a little wary. You can't hold it against us," he explained.

"Trouble? What kind of trouble?" She made sure to lean forward so he could get a view of her cleavage.

"We're not sure, ninjas by the look of them. They were looking for something and thought they might find it here in the village. Well, I reckon they didn't find it right away because quite a few men were killed."

"Wow, that's so scary! What did the ninja look like?" Sakura inquired.

"Definitely not from around here. They wore these weird cloaks with red clouds. The one guy was massive and had a huge sword he carried. The other guy looked pretty normal, except for his eyes; blood red they were like a demon," he finished enthusiastically.

Sakura thought what he said over. Blood red eyes? If she didn't know any better that sounded like the Sharingan.

"And you don't know what they were looking for?"

"No idea, a person by the sounds of it. Can't tell you any more than that."

She hummed in reply and then felt his hand on her knee. "Enough about that though, how can I convince you to stay a few days? I can give you a personal tour of our village," he said as he stroked his thumb over her skin.

She inwardly rolled her eyes before replying, "oh you don't have to go to all that trouble for me."

"Nonsense, I'd love to get to know you better anyway. I promise I'm great company!"

Before she could respond she felt Naruto's hand on her shoulder. "Come on, we have to leave," he said curtly.

"Hey buddy, get lost, I'm talking to her!"

"We're done here Sakura, let's go." She felt him try to pull her up and she started getting irritated. As much as she was trying to exit this conversation, she wasn't a girl who got manhandled.

"Alright Naruto, you don't need to be so pushy. I can get up myself you know!" She snarled before turning to the guy, "it was lovely talking to you." She would at least be nice since they guy gave them a description to go off. When they got outside, she glared at Naruto.

"You were going to get in trouble Sakura, he was touching you. Besides, I think I saw someone." She was about to retort before she saw who he meant. A man, ninja by the way he walked, at the shop across from them. He was wearing a long black cloak that had red clouds scattered over it. He wore glasses and had silver hair. He glanced over at them and something in his expression made her realize he knew they were ninja, because he took off. She made a move to go after him before Naruto pulled her back.

"You heard Kakashi-sensei; we're not supposed to fight them without him."

"I'm not going to fight him, I'm going to follow him," she replied cheekily before shrugging off his grip and sprinting off. She heard Naruto calling after her but ignored him. She caught sight of the man she was pursuing in a clearing right outside the village.

"Sakura Haruno of the Leaf Village, apprentice to The Hokage herself if I'm not mistaken? Your pink hair gives away your identity."

She looked at him in surprise that he knew who she was. He wasn't a resident of the Leaf Village. Nor did she have a reputation that would get her in the Bingo Books. This was her first A-rank mission after all.

"And Naruto Uzumaki. I'm particularly honored to meet you I must say."

Before Naruto could respond their sensei's tall figure appeared in front of them.

"Kabuto Yakushi, a rogue ninja who left the village some time ago."

"Kakashi of the Sharingan. I wasn't expecting to see you so soon." Sakura noticed he was more on edge than he was with her and Naruto.

"Your luck must have run out in that case."

"I'd say it hasn't quite yet." He looked at Naruto in a strange way as he said that, which didn't escape Kakashi's attention.

"Why are you so interested in Naruto?"

"You know I'm not going to talk, even if you kill me."

"You'll talk before I kill you."

"I'm not easily broken Kakashi."

He didn't respond but smiled darkly. Sakura didn't have to wonder long how Kakashi was going to make this guy talk. As she watched the very one-sided battle it was clear who was superior. And then she saw a very different side to Kakashi.

She knew torture was a necessity at times to get intel from the enemy. That wasn't especially surprising to her that he would use that tactic. What was surprising to her was the look of demented happiness on his face, as if he was enjoying inflicting pain. She watched him start breaking each little bone in all of Kabuto's fingers one-by-one. Kabuto screamed in pain but was immobile, due to the Chidori restraints pinning him to the ground.

"You value your hands both as a medic and ninja, right? It would be a shame if you were to lose them."

Sakura saw him slash one hand off with a kunai and watch it drop to the ground in mild interest.

"That came off pretty easily huh? I wonder if the other one will come off so quickly?" He could be talking about the weather for how nonchalant he sounded. He then started cutting into the other wrist, but purposely stopping his sawing before starting again.

"Oops, sorry about that. My hand isn't very steady this time," Kakashi mocked. She saw Kabuto convulsing on the ground in agony. To his credit though, he still didn't relent.

"I'm not telling you anything, I can handle pain," he bit out.

"Hm, you know you may be right. You are taking this rather well it seems. Even if I cut off one limb at a time you'd probably bleed out before you'd say anything to me." Kakashi didn't seem concerned and finished hacking off Kabuto's other hand dispassionately.

"I wonder though, if you can go through this 50 times, 100 times, maybe even 1,000 times? What do you think?" Kakashi asked pointedly.

It was then Sakura notice Kabuto pale more in color. It seems even he had a limit. "Let's put it to the test for a few days and see where we're at."

She knew he was about to put him under the Tsukuyomi technique she always knew he had, but never saw him use personally. After only a moment passed Kabuto was a quivering mess on the ground.

"So, let's try this again, why are you interested in Naruto? We can always do a couple more days in my Tsukuyomi. Only a second passes in our world, so believe me I have plenty of time."

"He's…..one of the…..jinchuriki," Kabuto managed to get out.

"And? Why exactly do you want them?"

"I don't know… leader's plan…." Kabuto gasped.

Kakashi shot his hand through Kabuto's chest and appeared to have his heart in his grasp.

"What's the name of your organization? Where is your base?" Kakashi demanded.

"Don't know much…leader…doesn't tell….me. Called Akatsuki….."

"Who else is in this organization besides you that you know of?"

"I only know of two…. Orochimaru and… Itachi…Uchiha…." Kabuto managed to say before seeming to lose the remainder of his strength, Kakashi pulled his hand out of his chest and his body fell limply to the ground. Sakura couldn't help but stare at his arm. It was soaked in blood. She saw him turn and look at her, and his eyes narrowed.

She felt herself being lifted in the air as Kakashi held her by the collar of her shirt. She cried out in alarm as she stared at his angry face.

"You disobeyed me Sakura."

"No, I wasn't attacking him! I was just following him to see if he'd lead us anywhere! He just noticed me," Sakura quickly explained. He wasn't cutting off her air supply, but this was still an extremely vulnerable position to be in.

"Your cheekiness won't get you anywhere with me."

"I swear, I was just trying to follow him! I wasn't disobeying your orders."

I like it when you beg Sakura. I'll overlook this one time since it's your first mission. And we did get some intel out of your blunder." He dropped her and she fell ungracefully to the ground. He looked down at her with that same mad expression.

He seemed to remember Kabuto because he walked back over to him leisurely, as if he was simply taking a walk through the park. When he reached Kabuto, he put his hand back through his chest. She saw Kabuto's body twitch in response, and he managed a weak yell, before Kakashi pulled his beating heart out. She felt sick as he held it out in his hand in front of him. He closed his fist around it, and it exploded in a mess of blood all over his face and Kabuto, before he tossed what remained of it onto the ground. She saw him wipe his face slowly before putting his hand in his mouth, licking off the blood.

He didn't look normal; this wasn't normal behavior at all. He looked deranged as he sucked on his fingers, as if he was savoring the taste of the blood. He looked back at her before wiping the rest of the blood off on his pants.

"Don't do it again Sakura."

She nodded slowly, too terrified to speak. He cocked his head in contemplation, noticing her response to him.

"I told you there was a reason I didn't allow you on these missions, didn't I? I did try and warn you."

She started crawling slowly backward, even though she knew it was foolish. Her body just wanted to put some more distance between them.

"Like it or not, I suppose there's no need for the mask now, is there?"

She still couldn't respond to him; she didn't even know what to say. He shrugged before walking off to presumably wash the blood off.

This is Kakashi? Everything she knew about him started to seem like a lie. The same sensei that was notoriously late, never took anything seriously, skipped out on bill, and read porn in public? The same person who has always been overprotective of her and an asshole at times, but she never expected this. After this mission, she realized she didn't know Kakashi at all. He was right, the mask he always wore for her had indeed come off. She wanted to laugh at her absurd reality; she always wanted to see him unmasked after all.

Thank you for the feedback on the first chapter! Please review :)