A/N: Thanks for the Reviews! Here's another chapter.
Dislcaimer: If I owned the Naruto series...I would be the happiest person..not in the world..but i'd be pretty excited...so there it is.
Enjoy!
Behind The smile
Chapter 11: Mission: Laissez Faire
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As her emerald eyes fluttered open, they caught sight of the wooden ceiling above her. Her nostrils inhaled the numerous amounts of fresh air, as her lungs filling with a long, deep breath.
The rays from the sun were shining through the open window, brightly lighting up the accomadations to the small room she occupied. She was alone it seeemd. And it was that same thought, alone, that had allowed her mind to retain memories. Memories of when she was not alone.
And it was then that she bolted up into a sitting position. The sudden movement caused her to hiss in pain as her abdomen burned. She looked down to see the bandaged wound, and her half naked body. In embarrasment she brought the sheet covers up to her, eyes darting around to once again confirm that she was alone. And search for the clothes once adorning her body. They were completley clean, and looking to be slightly damp from what must have been a recent wash.
Her emerald eyes wavered for a moment before she pushed herself off the bed.
She left the wooden door slightly ajar as she slowly walked outside, her curious, wary eyes transitioning around the small clearing, only focusing on rabit suspended above a recently burned out flame as the smell invaded her nostrils. The same wavering shook her eyes as she looked at the expertly skinned rabbit. Ther person who had done so took a lot of time to do so; capturing the rabit, skinning it, cooking it.
She looked around more, noticing other conveniently placed things, however, there was one that was not.
Sasuke..
She had the overhwhelming feeling to find him. Find out what was going on.
An unreadable emotin flickered in her curious eyes as she looked around, letting herself travel around the clearing. Her last stop was back into the cabin. She stopped at the doorway, letting her solemn gaze carefully transition around its inside. She caught sight of the uncanny folded paper resting at the foot of the bed, something she hadnt noticed earlier. She slowly walked over to it, picking up the oddly colored paper to slowly ufold it from its creases.
It was a map.
And as she lowered herself to the ground, and splayed it out on the tiled ground, her emerald eyes scanned it, noticing the various markings amidst it. Drawing a path straight to the Hidden village of the Leaf.
There was an unreadable expression on her face as she looked ahead, crumpling the map in her hands before throwing it to the side.
Her face hidden from view, she slowly stood up. She stood there for a moment, silently. And only when she bolted from her position, running out the cabin doorway, was the blank expression on her face noticeable. She continued running, making her way out of the large forest clearing, and into the depths of the deeper parts of the forest, surrounding by countless trees. Her emerald eyes were darting frantically around, searching even as she didn't know where to search.
She had continued running blindly, only slightly slowing down as her breaths became ragged, as the wound located on her abdomen started to bleed through both the bandages and shirt she was wearing. She had stopped when she had come to what looked to be a fourway intersection, each path barely discernable from the other.
Her heart thumped her in chest, and her feet felt like lead as she slowly turned in her stationary posistion, her chest heaving up and down with each breath, the corners of her eyes twinkling with a watery substance.
She bore no facial expression as her knees literally buckled underneath her. She dropped to her hands and knees, and only then did her emerald eyes begin to waver as she stared at the ground. With no motivation, and almost as if her mind was completly void, she tried to get up, but her body did not listen to the commands of her brain. She let out a barely audible huff as he lowered herself to sit on her knees, hands barely supporting her at her side.
It was then that her lips pursed into a smile. And she sat there for a few more moments before the first barely audible grunt of amusement sounded. Before the first tear rolled down her cheek.
..ooo000ooo000ooo..
Tsunade looked around the room at all the questioning gazes that were directed at her.
She stared into the deep cerulean eyes of Naruto, the village's number one loudest ninja. He had a bored and impatient look on his face, most likely because his daily ramen routine had been interrupted by this sudden notice. Nevertheless, he remained quiet. He wouldn't for long though, the news she had would no doubt upset him, no to be more precise, enrage him. Despite his loud mouth, he was very strong. One of the strongest here in Konoha.
To the right of him sat Hinata. Her pearl eyes showed concern and worry. Tsundae could easily assume that she was the shyest ninja of the village. She couldn't recall if she had ever heard her speak a single word. But then she flashed back to when HInata warned her that Sasuke was with the Sound. She was very skilled despite her courtesy and self-doubt.
To Naruto's right she was met with another set of pearl eyes. But unlike the gentle shyness of Hinata's eyes, these were stern and almost cold. They were void of much emotion. They could actually be intimidating, of course not to her, but to the enemy. Hyuuga Neji. Next to Sasuke he was the number one rookie of Konoha. Now he was along the top line of the strongest for his age. He was as strong as any other jounin, even ANBU.
She looked past Neji into the chocolate eyes of Tenten, the weapons master. She had trained herself to become worthy of the title "Weapons Master." Her skills were exceptional.
This lead her to her next pair of eyes. A deep charcoal color, adorned with long eyelashes. Taijitsu specialist Rock Lee. Despite his inability to perform ninjistu techniques he was as good as any other shinobi. His skills were beyond exceptional, both in strength and speed. Sakura was also very dear to him as well, so he might not take the news well either.
Tsunade looked into the slitted eyes of Kiba. She couldn't forget his partner Akamaru either. Together they proved to be lethal to the enemy, with their many techniques. They would help this mission even more so.
The next person she was greeted with dark sunglasses. Shino. The bug manipulator. He was very skilled, despite her dislike of bugs or any kind of insect.
Next to Kiba was Chouji. Surprisingly he did not have a bag of chips with him. He sat up straight like all the other's and waited for her to begin her speech. He had stayed in the same form he had on the mission many years ago to retrieve Uchiha Sasuke. He was skinny, even handsome now.
Next were the light blue eyes of Ino. She was once at the level Sakura was, but when Sakura had gone under her for training she had surpassed Ino's levels.Her and Chouji weren't as skilled as all the others, but together with another ninja, they were deadly. Besides a so called " lazy ninja" worked better with her on the same mission. This lead to her searching for the eyes of this last ninja.
The last person she had not been greeted with eyes , they were covered by eyelids. Nara Shikamaru, by far the laziest ninja she had ever met. But he was a pure genius. Smarter than anyone she had ever known. " The genius of Konoha." Despite his laziness, he gets things done when needed to. He was skilled in battle and tactics. Even more so than Sakura. But his laziness is just overwhelming.
With stern eyes Tsunade stared him down. Shikamaru lazily opened one eye halfway, sensing that Tsunade was staring at him. With a sigh he opened both eyes, but did nothing to change the position he was in. He was kicked back, lounging all over the chair. No wonder he was so comfortable.
Seeing that she had gotten everyone's attention Tsunade cleared her throat, and laced her hands together, putting them in front of her.
"I suppose you all are wondering why I called you here on such urgent notice. I have some very important information to tell you all, which leads into the discussion on a new mission. I have chosen you all specifically, taking into mind your abilities and your relationships with Haruno Sakura.." She paused a moment for more affect, noticing the change in their postures, and gazes as she mentioned the pink-haired kunoichi's name.
"What about Sakura-chan?" Naruto questioned, his voice was serious. He knew now that this was no game.
"Yes, this mission is the retrieving of Haruno Sakura. She has gone missing and we have reason to believe that she is being held by the same ninja who they were sent on the mission to eliminate-."
"Why did you send her!" Naruto interrupted. He stood up from his seat." Couldn't you get someone else to?" Neji gave Naruto a glare that told him to shutup but Naruto ignored him and opened his mouth to rant again.
"Sakura wasn't-." Naruto started at the same time Tsunade did but she cut him off.
"Sakura was more qualified than any other in this village. Her skills surpass even mine in the medical field, and her combat skills are like that of mine. Sakura accepted my request for her to be in this mission."
Naruto said nothing and just stared Tsunade down. " Naruto-kun.." Hinata stated. She touched his arm, which caused him to relax immediately. He sighed heavily and plopped back down into his seat.
Lee squeezed his fists, but said nothing. Tenten glanced at him, noticing the change in his posture. She gave him am apologetic look. Sakura and her had gotten closer as well.
"Sakura and five other ANBU were on a mission to kill an assassin. He was a holder of the Sharingan,"
Everyone in the room let out suprised, but muffled noises.
"Seeing as the Sharingan is only possessed within users of the Uchiha clan, and the only known survivors of that clan are Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi, we assumed that he is one of those two people. We have also been informed on the appearance of The Atkatsuki Nine.."
"Then the assassin must be Itachi, not Sasuke!" Naruto hollered out.
"That's what we had thought at first.." Tsunade replied.
"At first?" Tenen questioned.
"Yes. We all know that Uchiha Itachi is among the Atkatsuki Nine. We do not know if he is leader or not, but we know he is in high ranks. Most of them are known to stick together, which was another reason to believe that it was him. But.." Tsunade had a feeling she knew who it was though.She paused for a moment not wanting to say futher.
"But?"Neji enticed her. Tsunade sighed.
"The Atkatsuki are not allies with the Sound. Or have never been in cooperation with Orichimaru. They have no need to be. So there would be no explanation as to why one of them was in Sound territory without any quarrel… and as you all know Uchiha Sasuke was once or still may be in alliance with the Sound-."
"But Sasuke told me and Sakura that he was not with Sound anymore! He even killed the ones that were in front of us!" Naruto interrupted again.
"He was with Orichimaru Naruto. Whether you like it or not, the Sound are under Sasuke. Whether or not that is the case, both Uchiha's could be in the same area. If the Atkatsuki are there, Itachi is there, and if Sound are there, or even Itachi, Sasuke is there. That's all there is too it."
"So your saying that Sakura has been captured by either Itachi or Sasuke?" Lee asked.
"That would be preferable." Tsuande bluntly replied.
"What do you mean preferably! So your saying its okay for Sakura to be-." Naruto strated but Tsunade interrupted him.
"I would prefer that over Sakura being dead." That shut his mouth. " The remaining ANBU behind me," They all looked to three ANBU standing silently behind Tsuande. " were only able to find the ANBU mask that they had given to Sakura in order to hide her identity. They did not find her body anywhere near for a radius of 100 square feet."
"They had to abort the mission due to serious injuries, but one stayed behind to look for her further while these three came back to get reinforcements, you all, to go back and look for her."
"How troublesome…," Shikamaru muttered. " And we have no choice in the matter do we?" He asked Tsunade.
"It is by your choice whether any of you wish to join this mission. It'll be very dangerous, whichis why I want you all to come by choice." Tsunade replied. " All of you who will be coming on this mission please stand up. Don't feel bad if you do not I'll understand."
(Song: Naruto Strong and Strike Long Drums: )
The first ones to stand up were Naruto and Lee. They shot up the moment she asked.
Next was Hinata who shyly stood up.
Kiba stood up right after her.
After a few moments Neji stood up as well.
Then Tenten.
Then Shino.
Ino stood up as well, grabbing Chouji by the collar and bringing him up as well.
All of them eyed Shikamaru. After a moment he looked at them all with a lazy glare. Then Ino discreetly kicked him in the leg. He looked up at her gaze that commanded him to get up.
With a sigh Shikamaru stood up.
There they all stood, looking at Tsunade with serious but gently gazes. They were all going on the mission.
Pride welled up inside Tsunade seeing all of them accept the mission. Her eyes began to water just a little bit. All the ANBU behind her all had approving smiles on their faces.
"So these are shinobi that are going to change our future." Takashi stated, almost in awe. The ANBU all observed as the shinobi all shared smiles and been discussing with Tsunade the plan.
"Don't forget, were missing one." Hirigashi replied. He was referring to Sakura.
"Won't be for long." Himura replied.
They all kept on smiling, having a feeling that this mission was going to be successful.
..ooo000ooo000ooo..
From her position on the ground, her voidless emerald eyes stared up to the sky above her. She had been laying on her back for quite some time now, and only when her ears picked up on a twig snapping, and the rustling of low-hanging tree branches did she lift herself up into a sitting posistion.
She tensed even more as the rustling persisted, her grip on her kunai becoming even tighter. She saw the form of a person making it's way out of the forest and into the clearing where she was. She lifted her hand about to throw her kunai until the voice stopped her.
"Sakura?"
Thanks for reading! -
I hope you guys enjoyed this Chapter. Just know that there is going to be MAJOR action next chapter. I'm going to take my time making the battles intense and detailed for you guys. So be prepared! I'll update soon like i did with these ones.
There's also going to be the appearance of new characters too. Not OC characters, just ones that you haven't heard from yet. Hint Hint, they're mentioned in this chapter.
