Neji Hyuuga and the rest of his team went to a Class S mission five years ago. It was highly confidential and not even Sakura, the head of the ANBU squad knows about it. Maybe because she was a little bit involved in it.

"Shizune, could you tell Neji's team to return a day before Sakura would arrive?"

"And why is that Tsunade-sama?"

"To ready themselves."

"We can't."

"Why not?"

"They can't move that fast. They're wounded."

"Oh crap."

A few days later…

"TSUNADE-BAACHAN! WE'RE BACK!" Naruto's loud voice echoed through out the office as a vein popped out of Tsunade's head. Naruto had grown, he was really handsome, and the ANBU outfit suited him well. They were back from a Class S mission that took them five years to fulfill.

Hyuuga Neji and Nara Shikamaru followed soon after. Tsunade gasped at Neji. His hair was now short, and he looked more handsome than before. And the same happened to Shikamaru. They took off their masks.

'Whoa! All of them had become more handsome!' Tsunade thought as the non-member of Neji's team came in. Tsunade wore a smirk.

"Welcome back…" Tsunade said. The handsomest one nodded. He had raven hair and onyx eyes.

"Uchiha Sasuke, we have been expecting your return to Konoha for years now. And yet, don't expect that you won't have a punishment."

"I know about that."

'SHE'S the new Hokage?'

His hair wasn't spiky anymore. Instead, it was laid down. He wore a black shirt with the Uchiha symbol at the back of it and a pair of cargo pants.

"All of you, welcome back and Neji, I want a full report of your mission in two days. I want it lying on my desk by that time. Understand?"

"Yes Tsunade-sama."

"And Naruto, you're still the same."

"YOU BET I AM!" Naruto yelled happily. Shikamaru sighed.

"Troublesome."

"And also, your team needs a…"

The doors of the office opened as a female wearing a blood stained ANBU uniform and a tiger mask came in accompanied by two other male ANBU's. Everyone inside the office looked at her, as Sasuke's eyes widened.

'What the? Pink hair? It—It can't be…'

The two ANBU escorts went outside the office as they closed the door. Tsunade stood up as Neji and Shikamaru bowed at her.

"Good afternoon Sakura-sama." The two of them said in unison. Sasuke's eyes widened even further. Neji noticed that Sakura was smiling at her behind her mask. Shikamaru noticed that too.

'New hairstyles huh? They have changed a lot. I can't wait to see Ino, Hinata and Tenten's reaction.'

'Sa—Sakura? THE Nara Shikamaru AND Hyuuga Neji called her SAKURA-SAMA? What the hell is going on! And I can't believe she's an ANBU!'

"SAKURA-CHAAAAAAANNNNNNN!" Naruto yelled as he ran towards Sakura.

"NARUTO!" Neji barked as Naruto stopped in front of her. Naruto scratched his head and bowed.

"My apologies Sakura-sama." He said as he straightened himself up. Sakura took off her mask as she smiled and hugged Naruto tightly.

"I missed you so much Naruto." Sakura said as Naruto hugged her back. Sakura still hasn't noticed Sasuke. When the two let go of each other, Sakura saw Sasuke. She stared at him as everyone in the room gulped. Soon, her eyes diverted to Neji.

'WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING IN HERE!' Inner Sakura yelled as Sakura glared at Neji.

"Neji, don't tell me that your mission was to retrieve HIM." There was a drop of venom when she said the last word. Neji gulped again. Sakura looked at Tsunade, who was looking nervous as well.

"Why didn't you tell me Neji? After all, I AM the ANBU squad's head and I have every right to know about all the missions that every ANBU does." Sakura said. Sasuke slightly gasped.

'SAKURA! SHE'S THE ANBU SQUAD'S HEAD?'

Sakura looked at Sasuke.

'HA! NOW WHO'S THE WEAKLING!'

"Sa-Sakura… We didn't tell you because… Because I was afraid that you would get mad and stop this mission." Tsunade explained.

"Tsunade-sama, why did you even bother to bring him back? They wasted five years for this useless mission. And where is Giru?" Sakura asked. Shikamaru yawned.

"Troublesome. Giru was assassinated on the way here Sakura-sama. That's why we're wounded." Shikamaru said as Sakura noticed the numerous cuts and bruises on their bodies. Soon, Sakura sighed and smiled at the three.

"I bet that you three are wondering where your partners are. They're at the 3rd ward on the 3rd floor inside the hospital. There was another attempt of an ambush when we were still on the way here, they were rogue ninjas to be precise. They're unconscious, but they're fine. I suggest you let some medics to tend your wounds because I'm still busy and you could proceed to the ward afterwards."

"Thank you Sakura-sama." Neji nodded again. Sakura looked at Sasuke, then to Tsunade.

"And Neji, I also want a report concerning your mission. I want it on my desk in two days as well. You may leave, I'll go to the hospital later." Sakura said as the three nodded at her, and nodded at Tsunade, who nodded back and exited the office. Soon, there was a moment of silence.

"I demand an explanation." Sakura said, gritting her teeth. Tsunade sighed.

"Sakura, he himself surrendered to Neji's team." Tsunade said, as Sakura glanced at Sasuke, who was leaning on the wall with his arms crossed.

'Sakura? Is she the Sakura that I once knew? Maybe she finally got over me… But I must admit, she looked more beautiful now, and I like her being semi-serious. But, why am I feeling disappointed on the fact that she's not smiling at me? She's now extremely strong, and even the strongest ninjas in Konoha bows down to her.'

Sakura shook her head slightly and pulled out a black scroll. Tsunade took it and nodded.

"Good work Sakura." Tsunade congratulated, as Sakura nodded.

"I will give the report to you tomorrow." Sakura said, as she placed her ANBU mask back and exited the room. Sasuke's eyes followed her and when the doors closed, he looked at Tsunade, who sighed in relief.

'I really thought Sakura would be REALLY angry.' Tsunade thought. Soon, she looked at Sasuke.

"I bet you're wondering how Sakura became the ANBU squad's head." Tsunade said, and Sasuke didn't say anything. Tsunade knew he wanted to know about what happened when he left.

"Sakura… after you left her she got so mad at you that she refused to eat anything for days. She got malnourished after that, and Kakashi and Naruto were both worried for her."

"…"

"After that, every time she hears your name, she gets really angry, not to mention scary. I realized that Sakura had perfect chakra control, that's why I myself trained her. More like tortured her. Sakura would be such a waste if she would give up as a ninja." Tsunade chuckled.

"The rigorous training did a great job at her. She passed the Chuunin Exams, and after a few months, she became extremely strong that she even defeated me." Tsunade smiled to herself.

'Maybe her hatred was the one who was pushing her to become stronger.' Sasuke thought.

"The first two months after you left, she was cold and really serious. Until she slowly warmed up by the help of her friends, and instead of taking the Jounin Selection Exams, she skipped to the ANBU exams and passed it with flying colors."

'What? She passed the ANBU exam THAT easily!'

"She became interested in healing people, until she became the best Medic-Nin around. After a few months inside the ANBU squad, I promoted her as her team's captain. Neji was still the head of the ANBU squad at that time." Tsunade said, and she noticed that Sasuke was actually listening to her.

"She was so determined to show you that she wasn't the old Sakura anymore, not the twelve year old girl who was always seeking for help on missions. She was now one of the most feared and strongest ninjas in ninja history. All of that because of hard work."

"And after five months of relentless hard work, when she was an ANBU, she defeated Neji five times in battle."

'WHAT!'

"Naruto couldn't be the head, because he was still clumsy sometimes. So because of losing to Sakura, I appointed her as the ANBU squad's head."

'So, she hates me now…'