Act 8: Mission Commence.
"YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT!" Sakura scowled!
"Neh Neh, Sakura-chan! It's not that bad." Naruto said trying to reassure his teammate.
"It's degrading!" She snapped crossing her arms and frowning at the idea. "Can't we just ambush him when he comes out!"
Jin shook his head "Sakura… if we do that we'll be out numbered. Think about it. Please"
She didn't like the idea one bit.
"Sakura-san," She turned to look at him. As usual, Sasuke was in his stance, pushed up to a tree, arms crossed, eyes closed, and head tilted down. He was wearing all black… actually they were all wearing black jounin uniforms except for Sakura who was wearing her usual ANBU outfit, holding her cat-mask in her hand. "You can kill him easily in an isolated room and get out unnoticed."
"And his guards? Did you think about that Sasuke-san?" She shot back at him. However she did sound a lot calmer than before.
"Leave that to us." He replied coolly.
"Sakura, all you have to do is sing, dance, flirt and lure him into a hotel room" Naruto stated chirpily.
"He has a way of simplifying things doesn't he?" Sakura thought sarcastically. She didn't say anything though, and thought it over. Planning it out no doubt. Over the past few years, she had developed quite a reputation for her strategies.
"Well?" Jin asked, "Will you? It was your plan anyway."
She didn't answer… she didn't think they'd like her plan. Anyway she thought it would be amusing to have Naruto do it with his Sexy-no-jitsu.
"If you like Sakura-chan, I can still do it with my Sexy-no-jitsu!" Naruto gave her a thumbs up, he didn't like this new serious and cold Sakura, and he missed the old Sakura. The one who would most likely hit him for ever mentioning that ridiculous immature jitsu of his.
"No, it's too risky" Sakura said, playing it out in her head. "I'll do it…" She still wasn't happy about it.
After talking about their plan in a more detailed and professional manor, they all went into their tents. Sakura could hear Naruto snoring loudly and she could tell that Jin was asleep too. But she couldn't sleep at all. So she decided to go out and sit by the fire. She gazed into the flames drifting in a clutter of thoughts.
"This feels so weird…" Sakura thought to herself. "The 3 of us being on the same team…" She wasn't referring to the old ex-members of team 7, but to Jin, Sasuke and herself. It was like her childhood days all over again. Except this time instead of Sasuke VS Naruto for strength, it was Sasuke VS Jin for her love. "Rivals…jeez… That Jin, Sasuke doesn't even feel for me that way. BAKA!" The truth was she didn't know who she loved more.
Sakura continued to drift off in a trance where she sensed something flying at her face. She reached out and caught a kunai between her palms, she looked up to see where it came from and who threw it. Her eyes widened.
"Sasuke-san?"
"So now I have your attention." He said grinning mischeviously.
"You could have just called me by name." She said throwing it back at him.
He caught it in his hand and put it back in his pocket.
"I did. You wouldn't answer me Sakura-san."
She studied him. During her few days back in Konoha, she never really took the time to look at him, she couldn't bring herself too. But now, she looked at him. The moonlight highlighted the tips of his dark hair silver and outlined his toned muscular body perfectly. Even his facial features seemed to come alive in the moonlight. He was definitely something. She blushed slightly, but then shook it off forcefully.
"Still, you didn't have to throw a kunai at me." She snapped doing her best to look intimidating. He just smiled at her. "So much for that" She thought as Sasuke took a seat on the small log next to hers. "Why are you calling me 'Sakura-san'? You've never called me that before."
"Why do you call me 'Sasuke-san'? You've never called me that before." He replied chucking her question right back at her. "It's like you don't know me anymore. Don't you remember me?" He looked at her, trying to study her by her expressionless face.
"What are you talking about? Of course I remember you…Sasuke-san." She replied.
Sasuke wasn't convinced. "Again with the 'san'. What the hell?" He wasn't happy at all with her answer.
Out of nowhere, he pounced on her pinning her onto her back against the cold forest floor. She was startled. But she looked up at his face. He was serious, and disturbed, confused even. Sakura gazed at his face. "He's really handsome…" She thought. His face was lit up by moon beams and framed by his long black bangs. His face only a nose away from her own.
"Sakura…" She looked into his onyx eyes as he called her name. Something she hasn't done in such a long time. Sakura could feel the warmth of his body against hers; she could feel his heart beat again. Just like before in that sweet embrace. She felt her cheeks burning bright red. Her eyes shut closed tightly and she looked away embarrassed.
"Sakura…" He called her name again… memories and images of her childhood days flashed in her mind. "Sakura…" His voice echoed in her mind as she reminisced her chuunin years moving to her jounin days and the times she was with him when they were ANBU together.
Noticing her discomfort, Sasuke pushed himself up and off her and sat there facing her. "Sakura… do you remember me?" His eyes narrowed. She opened her eyes and looked at him. She has never seen emotion overcome his face other than anger or rage. He looked… touchable… approachable…gentle even. She sat up, her eyes were watering now.
"Sakura… please… I need to know… Do you really remember me?"
Sakura bolted forwards and hugged him tightly around his neck, her fragile body pressed against his, she started to cry.
"Sasuke… Sasuke-kun…" Sakura sobbed.
Sasuke smiled slightly. He closed his eyes taking her in. "She does remember." He thought happily, he then wrapped his strong arms around her and held her dear to his heart.
"Sakura…"
