Disclaimer: Yep, you guessed it, I don't own 'em

Chapter 2: Looking Back

Sakura walked silently through the streets of Konoha that were already filling with citizens and ninja alike doing their Sunday shopping in the market. She saw faces she recognized in the crowd…Ino and Shikamaru…Tenten and Lee…people she was Genin with, Chuunin with, people that used to surpass her when she was young…and weak. She gave a curt nod to Shikamaru, head of tactics in ANBU. As it was Sunday, he was not in uniform as she was. To everyone else, she merely glanced over them, long enough to detect the pity she saw in their eyes. "They think I am not strong enough to handle myself?" She game a small humorless laugh as she thought to herself, "They do not know me."

She reached her apartment quickly, she was tired from her long journey across Fire Country and wished for a hot bath to soothe aching muscles. Her chakra was near depleted, but she used a little more to travel the 4 flights up to her apartment a little quicker. Fumbling inside a pouch for a key, she finally unlocked her door and stepped into the stale air. She'd not been inside for a few weeks.

The apartment was functional, and that was all she needed. A small dark bed was situated in the far right corner, directly across from the small kitchenette. A narrow door to the left led to the bathroom, and there was a chair in front of a closed window. There were no decorations, no pastel colors, only useful items and neutral tones.

Sakura shut the door gently behind her and dropped her small pack to the floor next to the door. She went immediately to the bathroom and turned on the shower water as hot as It would go and began stripping off her uniform and wrappings.

Her body was etched with scars, some deep, some shallow. But 2 were the most prominent. One was, of course, the scar across her cheek, the other a long scar that stretched across her back, extending from her left hip up to her right shoulder. Both injuries could have been healed to where they would know show no scar. She instead refused treatment of both, keeping them as souvenirs, reminders. One was a reminder of why she needed to be stronger, one a reminder of why she needed to be uncaring and cold in her life as a shinobi in service to her country.

Cold. Barely human. A shell, with 2 katanas strapped to her back and senbons at her side. Her large emerald eyes closed briefly as she thought about her past, her friends. The people on the street shied away from her. Everyone knew of the occurrences that have made her into what she is today. Even Ino, once one of her closest friends knew to stay away. The only one who didn't was Naruto, but he was gone, hiding from the Akatsuki while training with Jiraiya-sama. Everyone else was told strictly to stay away from the kunoichi who was in so much obvious pain. The Hokage thought she didn't know about the order, but she'd overheard shinobi.

"Tsunade-sama says to leave her be until she approaches one of us…" That order had been after the first death, the death at her hands, the first person she had ever killed. After the death of her parents shortly thereafter, Sakura threw herself into missions and training, making ANBU at the age of 18, accepting every unranked mission offered and never looking back. No one ever dared approach her. And she didn't want them to. They reminded her of the old Sakura, the weak Sakura. The kunoichi who couldn't even protect her own parents…

She stepped into the steaming shower, the hot water beating against her flesh, feeling like thousands of senbons piercing her skin. Instead of shying away from the painful heat, she tuned her face up into the water, scalding her skin to a painful pink. "Yes…I can feel this…I can feel I still exist…" Sakura closed her eyes and thought back to the day of the first death…

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Sakura jumped out of her bed excitedly and threw back the curtains at her window, staring down at the streets of Konoha in the early morning dawn. She hurriedly put on her brand new Jounin uniform, having earned the rank just the day before. She made certain that there was not a single wrinkle in the black pants or shirt and gave a final tug on the green vest, making sure all her weapons were in place. Her kunai pouch on her left side, her senbons on the right, and a single rose colored katana strapped to her back.

"Sakura! Come down and get some breakfast before your mission!" She heard her mother's cheerful voice from downstairs. Sakura quickly tied her hair back and put on the finishing touch, her forehead protector that announced her as a Leaf shinobi, before bounding down the stairs.

After a quick breakfast Sakura walked through the streets of Konoha leisurely, knowing that in her eagerness for her first Jounin mission, she had left at least a half hour too early. Besides, if she knew her old Sensei, he would probably at least as equally late as she was early. Naruto, who had made Jounin the year before her, she knew would probably be exactly on time, running to get there after an early morning breakfast of ramen. She passed several shops opening as she went on her way, nodding and smiling at all the people out early. "This is what I am protecting." Sakura thought to herself.

She arrived at the Jounin headquarters 25 minutes early and took a seat at a small table inside, relaxing while she waited for her other team members to arrive. While she was waiting, the room slowly began to fill up with other Jounins, some here to meet team members such as she, others here to receive orders. She was thinking of the mission at hand, an escort mission to the Sand Country. A B rank mission, at best, but still her first one in the navy and green Jounin uniform. Her reverie was interrupted suddenly by a pair of strong hands grasping her shoulders tightly before whispering in her ear.

"Sakura-san…the kunoichi of my dreams…"

She turned quickly to see a tall Jounin with chin length chestnut hair grinning at her, his lips playing with a senbon in his mouth. She pretended to glare at him for a moment. "Genma! You scared the hell out of me!"

He threw his hands up in the air. "Hey, no hard feelings. You know I wouldn't upset you on purpose, I'm intelligent, I know you can throw me through that wall." She grinned at him and kicked a chair out for him to sit down.

"First Jounin mission today, eh? Excited?"

Sakura nodded softly. "Just a little nervous…After all the years of getting my ass saved by my team members I just can't help but wonder if…"

"If you deserve the rank? Shit Sakura, remember, I fought you in the final test of the exam, not only did you make me feel as if my spine was broken in a thousand places after you threw me across the stadium, but you came and healed me after!. Don't worry, I know you can hold your own, otherwise I would come on to you a bit more." He winked.

She laughed at him softly as they began to discuss the finer points in their exam battle. They were suddenly interrupted by the appearance of a Chuunin at their side. He bowed to Sakura and said hurriedly, "Sakura-san, Hokage-sama wishes for you to meet with her immediately." Genma raised an eyebrow at her from across the table, she shrugged back at him.

"Guess I better go, If you see Kakashi and Naruto tell them where I am?"

Genma nodded and raised a hand in farewell as she walked quickly out of the building. He leaned over in his chair following her form out of the door. "Damn that pink haired kunoichi, why can't she be a few years older?" He thought to himself, letting out a low whistle.

"Staring at my student?" A figure suddenly appeared beside Genma, his hands in his pockets gazing through his one uncovered eye at the other Jounin lazily. Genma grinned up at him at the protectiveness Kakashi showed for his student.

"Kakashi, on time for once! And hey, she's a Jounin now, no Sensei's or subordinates here. In a couple of years she'll be eligible. How old is she, 16?"

"17."

"Ah, only one birthday then. By the way, she got a summons from Hokage-sama…"

"I know, I received a scroll from the Hokage. She won't be joining Naruto and me today, her med-nin skills are needed elsewhere."

"You seem disappointed." Genma pointed out to the tall, lean figure.

"I was kind of looking forward to being on her first mission, she worked hard for it you know."

Genma stretched his back and grimaced at a popping noise in his spine. "Yeah, I do know. I know those pops in my spine aren't from old age."

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Sakura entered the Hokage's office and bowed to the Legendary Sannin across the desk. She hoped Naruto and Kakashi wouldn't have to wait that long for her. Although Kakashi would of course be late, she was looking forward to going on her first Jounin mission with her former Sensei and teammate. "Too bad the third teammate couldn't be here…" She thought to herself, quickly shaking the thought out of her head. She still loved Sasuke, and missed him. But he had betrayed the Konoha village. It was her responsibility to protect her village, especially now that she had become a Jounin. She knew that if she ever came across the missing-nin, it would be her duty to either kill him or bring him back, no matter what her past.

The Hokage looked up at the pink haired kunoichi and rested her head on her hands. Sakura caught a glimpse of…apprehensiveness in her eyes before they settled back into the cool, calm mask of the 5th Hokage.

"Sakura, your med-nin abilities are needed elsewhere. You may choose to refuse this mission. However, the med-nin assigned is ill and cannot go. This mission is very important for Konoha. Before you decide, I wish for you to know how much we need you for this."

Sakura's face twisted into a confused expression at the Hokage's words. "Decide? I thought we were obligated to do whatever mission we're assigned unless it's…" Comprehension dawned on her face. The only mission that a shinobi could refuse was the top-most level of missions, ones where your information was limited, your enemies were stronger than you, and the chance for survival was small.

"Yes, Haruno. It's an unranked mission."