Naruto childishly twiddled his thumbs together as he walked beside the silent but deadly Hokage. Don't get him wrong or anything, he was as fearless as fearless could get. But crossing with Tsunade when she was super pissed? Now, that was just stupidity.
Through the corners of his eyes, he could see that she was attempting to cool off her temper by breathing through her nose in deep inhales, but it was having little effect on her boiling blood. He had so many questions to ask her about the mission, but knowing that she wasn't in a patient mood, he decided that it was best to save his life by keeping quiet.
Naruto struggled to keep up with her speedy walking pace without falling over. He could run a marathon race for three days straight without getting tired, but the simple task of staying side-by-side with the baa-chan while she power-walked-THAT, was a work-out. The fifth Hokage stomped as if it were nothing, as her eyes remained shut. For the short walk to her office, the both maintained their quietude.
When they had reached her familiar double doors to her office, she placed her hand on the brass handles and pushed open. Naruto squinted as the light flooded into his ocean eyes.
When he had adjusted to the light, he could see a figure sitting casually on the couch beside Tsunade's desk. The boy turned around at the commotion.
"Oi! Shikamaru!" Naruto exclaimed in excitement to see his old friend and commander. Shikamaru smiled and he altered his green vest collar.
"Well, if it isn't Uzumaki Naruto. It's good to see you again." He said through the toothpick jammed in his mouth. It was obvious that he hadn't changed much either. Naruto quickly forgot his awkwardness with the angry Hokage and ran to poke Shikamaru's vest.
"HO! You're a jounin already? You're the same as Iruka-sensei now!" he chuckled with pride for his friend. Shikamaru pointed to the wall behind the opened doors.
"I'm not the only one." He mused. Naruto glanced at the direction he was pointing and discovered a tall, muscular man standing there with his arms crossed and eyes closed. The man had long chestnut brown hair tied into a braid, and wore a green jounin vest over his black and red ninja outfit. On his forehead was the Honoha crest head protector. When he opened his eyes, there were no pupils, but instead, piercing hazy purple. There was no mistaking it.
"Hyuunga Neji." Naruto breathed in amazement at how much he had grown. Neji walked over to Naruto to shake his hand, and Naruto felt like he was instantly shrinking. Neji had gotten a lot taller over the years and more muscular than he remembered. He still carried that cold demeanor, but it was more of a solemn look than an arrogant one. He too, did not change much.
"Uzumaki Naruto. Welcome back." He simply said with a nod and firm handshake. He turned to Tsunade. "We're wasting time. We should start now."
Tsunade nodded and led them over to the circle of couches that were set around a small glass coffee table. Naruto inwardly laughed at Neji's straightforwardness. Other than people who got in his way, Neji's biggest pet peeve was wasting time. And he would let it be known bluntly to anyone when they were wasting his time, including the Hokage.
They all took their seats and exhaled. Tsunade picked up the folder that was placed faced down on the coffee table.
"As you all may be aware," she began, "We have decided to resume the failed mission to the village of Sound, unaccomplished two years ago." This was no surprise to the three shinobis. They had figured out that much when they saw each other.
They kept listening.
"We had been given the two years to advance our ninjas, but we cannot forget that they also had two years to become stronger as well. We will expect this mission to be much more life threatening than the one prior, I guarantee you." She continued, shuffling through the document papers. "You three, I have selected as the leaders. Shikamaru, of course, will call the shots and be in charge of strategy, but I trust that you three work together to lead the team. I can permit only three more shinobis to accompany you, but no more. We need to build up our defenses after you have gone.
"Sasuke, as we speak, is being prepared physically and mentally for the body transfer of Orochimaru." The boys flinched at this. "He is much stronger than any of you can imagine. Do NOT, by any circumstances, underestimate him. He may have been from Konoha, but he will betray you and kill you without hesitation if given the chance. You cannot, WILL NOT give him the chance. Understand?"
They all nodded.
Tsunade wiped the perspiration from her brow. Thinking about the mission had made her quite nervous and terribly afraid for the boys, but she knew as a Hokage that what must be done, must be done.
"Your mission is to get Sasuke and bring him back ALIVE by any means. You may bring him at the brink of extinction for all I care, just bring him back with breath. I will take care of the rest. I have an idea that might put an end to Orochimaru." She instructed. Naruto couldn't help but blurt out his curiousity.
"But what will you do to him?" he asked. Neji crossed his arms in quick annoyance as Tsunade kept her eyes on the documents, pretending to read.
"Like you, Naruto, I've also been developing new techniques. But just trust that to me. Your only concern is to come back from this mission alive." She said, closing the folder and placing it back down on the coffee table. She got up and flattened out her wrinkled shirt. Walking over to her desk, she pulled out a series of manila folders and slapped them down on the coffee table in front of the boys. "Here are the profiles of ninjas eligible to assist you on this mission. Once your have your team assembled, you may leave right away."
The boys immediately began rummaging through the files to select the candidates. Before Tsunade had gone through the door, she overheard Naruto's voice.
"I wonder if Sakura-chan's profile is in here…" he contemplated. Tsunade froze, back facing the boys.
"Haruno is not permitted to assist you on this mission. You will follow my orders carefully to make sure that she does not insist on pursuing you." She barked fiercely.
As the door closed indicating her departing presence, the shinobis stared at each other blankly, unsure of why the Hokage specified such a ninja to be denied. Especially, since Naruto had witnessed the opposition of Sakura. The blond pursed his lips. There was something the Hokage was not explaining…
Naruto's thoughts were interrupted by the sudden exclamation of Shikamaru, upon finding a suitable ninja's profile.
"Chouji! I thought he was out doing a mission at Sound!" he said picking up the folder and placing it in a new pile. "He's my pick. How about you guys? Found anyone yet?"
Neji kept his arms crossed and scanned the table with his Byaakugan. When he came across a folder, he blinked his special eyes away, and picked up the document. After a moment of reading the profile, he deposited it on the pile Shikamaru made.
Neji returned to his crossed-arms position.
"Kiba and Akamaru worked with us last time, so they'd know how the strings pull." He said in a deep voice. Shikamaru nodded.
"Good choice." He said and then turned to Naruto. "Found one yet?"
Naruto took a while to leaf through the biographies before stopping at a particular one, in which he examined for a while. After reading to the second page, he smiled, closed the folder and added it to their pile.
"Fuzzy eyebrows will owe me big." He chuckled, crossing his arms like Neji. Shikamaru nodded and made a move to get up, tucking the folders under his arm.
"Chouji, Kiba, and Lee, it is." He decided as the two other shinobi followed him out the door to prepare. "The old team, reunited. This should be fun."
-
Sakura flinched as a burning sensation bit her knuckles upon the impact between them and a stone pillar. 289, 290… she counted, alternating fists each count. Sweat trickled down her temples as she panted in correspondence to every punch.
She dropped to her rear upon reaching the 300th count. Letting herself catch her breath, she opened and closed her fists, stretching out her bloody knuckles. Sakura glanced at the orange sky and sighed.
"I think that's enough for today."
The kunoichi had unsurprisingly accomplished all she was assigned to do by the fifth Hokage. All 500 push-ups, 600 crunches, and 1000 laps around the stadium. She even had time to practice a couple of hundred punches, squats, and high kicks. Her muscles ached with the strain she had put on them, but it did not bother her. Not as much as the unfair denial Tsunade had replied to her request.
Sakura slowly removed her gloves to reveal sweaty and calloused hands, oozing with fresh blood and puss.
"Great…" she muttered. Wincing, she formed three hand seals. Dog, monkey, rat. She inwardly recited. Chakra began to engulf her wounded hands. Within seconds, the cuts, bruises, and blisters vanished, leaving nothing but dried blood.
Sakura half smiled. Regenerative technique. It was one of the first things she learned as Tsunade's apprentice, and it was one of the most useful. Although it was a primitive technique in her case, it was extremely difficult to succeed for even someone as great as Kakashi-sensei. It was because she was a special ninja type that she could accomplish this technique with ease. This made her feel a tad superior in a way.
That quickly evaporated as soon as she remembered her raging energy that allowed her to complete her training for the day. She couldn't understand why Tsunade had restrained her from going on the mission. She knew full well that they were to retrieve Sasuke. Why couldn't they let her go? It wasn't as if Sakura was arrogant, but she knew that she was more than ready to go. She was an excellent medical ninja, whom they would rely on during the mission. Tsunade had even said herself that Konoha needed to train more medical ninjas to assist on assignments. Haruno Sakura was trained! Haruno Sakura was good! And Haruno Sakura was hell pissed that she was denied.
The pink-haired kunoichi sighed an irritated sigh as she lay on her back, gazing at the sky. How she would give anything to be included in a mission, to be relied on by fellow teammates… To bring back Sasuke.
Sakura quickly shook off that thought. She wanted to go on the mission to prove herself-NOT to fall for that arrogant Uchiha again. Sakura slapped herself on the cheek. She had not allowed herself to think of him for two full years. Why had she all of a sudden remembered him now?
While she was decided whether or not to keep training, Sakura overheard voices on the other side of the Stadium doors. Instinctively, she walked towards the commotion, and laid an ear on the doors.
"Listen up," said a voice. Sakura quickly identified the speaker as none other than the great Shikamaru. "We're going to change the formation up a bit. Instead of a line, I've devised a diamond pattern. Here, this'll show you."
Sakura pushed the door open a bit in curiosity, hoping that it would not make any noise. It was times like these when she wished that she had the Sharingan or Byaakugan or something. Unfortunately for her, not everyone could be so lucky.
The kunoichi's emerald eyes managed to get a glimpse of Shikamaru's scroll with his plan sketches. Shikamaru pointed to each figure with his kunai, explaining them as he got to it.
"At the very front is Kiba and Akamaru, since they can sniff out any traps. The row following will consist of two people: Myself and Chouji. After that, I want Naruto and Lee to proceed to inspect from the sides, and Neji at the back, so his Byaakugan can spot any pursuers from behind."
Sakura craned her neck to peek at Shikamaru's selected team. A tingle of envy coursed through her body as she watched them nod in comprehension. It was completely unfair. She wanted to be with them. She wanted a place on the formation, and she wanted a duty on which they could rely on her. Shifting her weight off her numb leg, she fought every urge to jump out and demand to be included. Shikamaru continued with this plan.
"We do this swiftly and silently as possible, avoiding any distractions whatsoever. Remember, we are a team, so we might as well be considered one person. If one of us fails, we all do." He preached. Each of the shinobis knew that Shikamaru was not intending on putting so much pressure on them, but they couldn't help but feel its weight. Last time they were all more than lucky to have survived. This time, one could only guess at how their fates would all be decided.
Shikamaru rolled up the scroll and stored it in his pouch.
"Are we ready?" he rhetorically asked, already assuming they were. Before taking any steps, the commander took out a kunai from his pouch and poked the sharp tip on his palm. With his other hand, he squeezed the area around the new cut to force the blood out. A scarlet pool formed in the palm of his hand.
"Whatever we do," he began, drawing the Konoha symbol and using his blood as ink, "We do it for Konoha. Put all your selfish ambitions aside. This mission, for the time being, is our life. Do it for the honour of this village."
The rest of the team took out their kunais and did the same. When they had drawn the leaf symbol, they all placed their hands on top of one another, as if a soccer team preparing for a game. Glancing at each other, they smiled.
"For Konoha." They chanted in unison and broke away.
As the team neared the border of the village, they quickly moved to their formations behind the line. Adrenaline rushed through their veins as if it were the final moments before the gunshot of a hundred meter dash. Each of them silently counted down the seconds until their departure, and perhaps last view of Konoha.
Three…Two…"MATTE!" a desperate voice pleaded in the background, nearly startling them all to death. The shinobis let out an irritated breath as they turned around to discover who had been their disruptor. A slender figure came running toward them, pink hair swooshing back and forth. This was beginning to be a terrible repeat of the last time they set out.
Sakura stopped a few meters behind them, panting in fatigue. She wore a pained look on her face, mixed with anger and jealousy. Shikamaru became impatient.
"Sakura, you cannot come on this mission. That's final." He simply said, too exhausted from sudden the adrenaline pump to go into detail. Sakura shifted her eyes to look at Naruto and completely ignored Shikamaru's instruction. Her eyebrows lowered in anger and concern.
"I promised you the last time, that I'd join you. I do not go back on my word. It is my ninja way." She spoke firmly. Naruto inwardly melted. What was he to do? A ninja's way was a ninja's way. There was no changing that. Especially since he had the same determination.
Naruto glanced at Shikamaru for help, but he only burned with more irritation.
"Sakura, the decision has been made. Tsunade has denied your permission to come. Do us a favour and stay here where you can't get in our way." He barked. It was a bit harsh, they all admitted. But someone had to tell her sooner or later. Sakura, however, was untouched and still stood her ground.
"A promise is a promise!" she challenged.
"And an order is an order!" Shikamaru yelled back, raising his tone more than he had wanted. "Go back home! We don't need you."
His statement hit a nerve and Sakura broke. She angrily pounded her fist on a tree and it reduced to nothing but sawdust. Sakura was panting again in fury. The rest of the team were silently amazed but preferred not to let it be known.
Shikamaru, however, was unmoved.
"You think breaking a tree will prove anything?" he scoffed as the others sank back. 'Breaking a tree' was putting it mildly. She disintegrated it! Shikamaru coldly turned his back on the desperate kunoichi. "I'm sorry, Sakura. You were denied. Be respectful to your Hokage and go home. We're finished here."
Sakura's eyes welled up with hurt tears but she refused to surrender to their threatening fall. She would not be the weak one anymore. Never.
The other five ninjas watched her in unspoken pity as she clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. Her glossy eyes were full of overwhelming rage. Each of them knew how horrible it was to be dismissed without being given a chance to prove worthiness. Watching Sakura's dilemawould not be so easily erased in their minds.
They observed the kunoichi as her panting slowed. She gradually composed herself and closed her eyes. With one poof, she vanished into a cloud of smoke, leaving the boys unsure of where she had gone.
Shikamaru remained his position, his back facing them.
"We've had enough distractions for the day. Let's go."
With that, the six ninja's disappeared into the horizon…
...Beyond the Konoha gate.
Author's note: This chapter's a little more exciting than the previous ones. I hope you're all enjoying it so far. If I made Sakura sound like a biya in this chapter, it was definitely not intended. She will be kick butt later, don't you worry, Sak-fans. As for the love strings? They'll all be tied together in the future. Patience, patience, please! Anyway, hope you liked! Reviews! Reviews!