Three days later after a lengthy session of being the most lazy she'd ever been, Sakura was prepared for her new mission "Be ready to see Sand Shinobi, possibly Temari-chan, Kankuro and Gaara" Sakura informed.
When they met up at the gates "What why….what kind of mission is this" Sasuke frowned, having been on edge since learning what had transpired at Samurai HQ, unlike Sakura he hadn't been able to relax even once upon returning home.
Because he was worried that the Zetsu guy would come after Sakura again for who she was "A joint mission between our two villages Sasuke, according to my Dad" Naruto said, having heard from Minato obviously.
Sakura smiled at her brother then turned to sign out "You three take care now alright, I don't want to hear of any of you getting injured understood" Izumo called after Team Seven as they exited the village.
His and Kotetsu's favorite little Chunin waved back "Seriously though I feel like all that's happened lately is that Sakura-chan's gotten injured" Kotetsu grumbled, Izumo unfortunately agreed with him over the entire matter.
There was little they could do about it though as the two of them got back to work and an hour later into Team Seven's trek "Sakura-san I heard you were meant to be going on a training trip with Lady Tsunade" a familiar voice sounded from behind the Chunin.
It was Baki and behind him were his students "Tsunade-sama decided to postpone the trip for another month because there was a couple of missions that required our talents" Sakura explained allowing the quartet to catch up with them.
"Cool, can you believe we get to go on a joint mission together" Temari grinned, pouncing on the pinkette who nodded, rather excited herself and a little relieved if she was being honest, having the Sand Siblings along meant there would be little trouble hopefully.
Baki chuckled at their antics, peering cautiously around "Kakashi-sensei isn't with us so you can relax" Naruto announced, knowing why the Suna Jonin would be nervous, he'd tortured Sakura, Kakashi had been furious at the time.
"Yeah I don't blame you Baki-sensei, their sensei is terrifying" Kankuro shuddered, pacing after the two chattering kunoichi, even though it had only been five days since seeing each other, apparently girls never ran out of things to talk about.
Sasuke grimaced "At least you never had to go through the obstacle course of hell or be chased after by his ninken" Sasuke rubbed his arms in remembrance, now they were on a whole new level of training, their obstacle course days far behind them thankfully.
Kankuro quirked a brow, though didn't ask "Father wished for us to thank you for the seal" Gaara rumbled in his gravely tone, Sasuke and Naruto furrowed their brows but Sakura nodded her head in understanding.
"No problem at least with that we'll receive aide faster on both ends as I gave the other one to Dad" Sakura quipped, her teammates sighed deciding it was better they didn't ask because they would most likely only get more confused than they already were.
With that they continued ambling along the path to reach their destination "Can we stop for a quick snack Sakura-chan, I need fuel" Naruto pleaded when the dango stand came into view a few hours later.
Sakura leveled him a look then looked around at the others to get their opinion "A short break sounds nice" Kankuro hummed, wanting to rest his legs for a bit since they'd been walking longer than Team Seven.
"Quite" Gaara agreed with his older brother and Naruto, Sakura slowed and Naruto did a victory cheer as he raced ahead of them to reach the stand first "Enthusiastic isn't he" the redhead rasped in an amused tone of voice.
And the rosette sighed "He can be exhausting most of the time but we love him anyway, cause he's going to be the Hokage someday" Sasuke smirked, knowing that Sakura hardly denied Naruto anything he wanted.
"Come along then you two" Baki chuckled escorting the kunoichi of the joint mission until they were sat at a table in the sweet stand and the waitress came over to take their orders, Sakura surprised him by getting plum anmitsu instead of dango.
Eyeing her surroundings warily "Are you still worried about that guy who snuck in your room back in Iron Sakura….surely he's done forgot about you now right" Temari frowned, seeing her actions and realizing her friend was still hyper aware of every thing going on around her.
Immediately Baki straightened "Is that what had you so out of sorts the last day we were at Samurai HQ, and I thought no one could get past your barrier seal" Baki questioned, now wary himself of something happening.
She grit her teeth "There are some people who can slip right through barriers apparently but yes, he tried to kill me but I managed to run him off" Sakura admitted still afraid because she never wanted to experience that sort of death again.
"So that's why you stayed the last night in Temari's room….hold on the Tsuchikage wouldn't have been the one responsible for it would he have" Kankuro snapped his fingers and Sakura flinched giving truth to his accusation.
Naruto and Sasuke turned their heads away glaring at the table, "Next time he won't get away with it" Sasuke grumbled, upset with himself, he'd been a room away and still Sakura had gotten killed by someone from the Akatsuki.
Who could prove detrimental to their plan of hiding Sakura's origins from Orochimaru until she was ready to face the snake sannin "One thing I don't understand is why the Tsuchikage targeted you, it's not like you went out of your way to get in his way" Gaara commented.
"Good question, Sakura-chan was on her very best behavior and didn't step a toe out of line, neither did we" Naruto cocked his head to the side in confusion, wondering if someone wasn't controlling the Tsuchikage with a powerful mind control jutsu or some such other thing.
That was something they'd probably never figure out to be honest, just as they were finished up their snack a hand was slammed down on their table, Sakura raised her gaze to spy the guy who'd been eyeing them up upon entering the stand.
And gave him her most unimpressed look "Can we help you…or do you regularly slam your hand down on tables" Sakura inquired, Kankuro covered his mouth to keep from laughing as the audacious idiot stammered for a moment.
Clearly thrown off his game "Uhhh….well you see…that's right, ninja sure have it easy don't they, look at you all carefree without a care in the world, just a bunch of naive idiots you are" the brunet insulted.
Sakura rolled her eyes then turned dismissively "Right time to go now, it's for the best after all" Naruto hummed as he paid for his snack then looping his arm through Sakura's led the way from the dango stand.
They were just about there when the owner called out to them "Excuse me…..but you didn't leave enough to cover your bill" the owner informed and the fool who'd insulted them tried to sneak by thinking he was oh so smart until Sakura shot her hand out.
Gripping him by the back of his shirt "Okay first you insult us, then you try to push your bill on us, so not happening, and I'm going to stand right here until you pay for your own damn food" Sakura snapped, not joking around apparently.
As she thrust him back into the shop and he had to grudgingly pay his bill "Idiot that's why you don't go pissing Sakura off" Sasuke deadpanned as the moron sneered and vanished down the path in the same direction they were going.
"Nothing really surprises me anymore I suppose" Baki shrugged, following after Team Seven and his students who set off down the road so he brought up the rear to keep a look out from behind in case of enemy attack.
Having long since learned to never let his guard down where Team Seven was concerned "By the way what do you suppose that guys problem was with shinobi" Temari commented, thinking it strange that a complete stranger would come up and insult them like that.
"I really have no idea, at this point Temari-chan anything could have been his problem, I'm so use to being harassed that I've just given up caring about others reasoning's for having a problem with us, me or anyone else to be honest" Sakura shrugged.
Temari let out an awkward sounding laugh "People really haven't done you any favors have they Sakura" Temari winced, feeling bad for how much Sakura had blatantly suffered and some of it was her own fault even.
This earned her another shrug "Either way we have a mission to focus on, we're getting close to the address listed in the scroll" Sasuke said two hours later as they entered the Land of Tea and came upon their clients house.
"Boss Jirocho it's been a long time not since we brought Granny Tsunade back to Leaf" Naruto grinned, pleased to see someone familiar, he wasn't to keen on strangers to their group at the moment.
Jirocho chuckled at his enthusiastic greeting "I was surprised to when Tsunade sent me a letter saying that she would be sending you kids and I'm doubly grateful for the extra support from Suna" Jirocho bowed his head at Baki.
As the seven of them sat "Our Father thought it best to further bring our villages together as allies by cooperating on a mission such as this" Gaara explained, glad that Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke seemed to know their client.
Which hopefully would prevent anything bad happening like it usually did "So what's this race all about and who will we be escorting" Kankuro asked, not wanting this meeting to drag on for to long, they had scouting that needed to be done.
"Of course, the Great Todoroki Shrine race, it happens every three years to determine which family gets to rule the territory the Wasabi or Wagarashi and the person you'll be escorting, Idate come in here and greet our guests" Jirocho called out.
The door slid open and Sakura wanted to scream in frustration at the sight of that idiot walking into the room "Idate Morino reporting Boss…ahhh no what are those useless ninja doing here" Idate yelled.
KI leaked out of Sakura in response before she hastily reigned it in, then glanced to Sasuke who nodded "Get use to it, cause we're your escorts during tomorrows race" Sasuke informed bluntly, none to happy himself.
While Sakura delved into her thoughts 'Morino…couldn't be could it that Ibiki-sensei has a brother' the rosette furrowed her brow, concentrating hard on figuring out the puzzle until she remembered something from the bingo books.
And she groaned quietly, Baki heard her aggravated sigh and it wasn't just because Idate was arguing with Naruto and Sasuke, it was about something else to as she drew herself up and glared outright.
Before letting loose "Idate-san if you don't want to find yourself bound, gagged and dragged back to the village please do everyone a favor and be quiet, in fact I have half a mind to just let Ibiki-sensei know your here so he can deal with you himself since he's your brother" Sakura said.
Idate shut up instantly at her words, skin paling rapidly as he sat and remained blissfully silent to her relief because his voice had been giving her one hell of a migraine "Okay how the heck did you know that" Kankuro groaned.
"A bingo book, he along with Aoi Rokusho stole important artifacts from the village and then ran" Sakura admitted, more informed than most thanks to her obsessive studying habits, Sasuke very nearly laughed but he choked it down.
Instead waited to see what the end decision would be in regards to this mission "You couldn't forgive him for me" Jirocho chuckled, eyeing Sakura who couldn't refuse him thankfully as she nodded so the mission was still on.
Even though Idate wasn't very happy about it "Look dude were not happy either you know" Naruto huffed as they headed out to scout now that the meeting was over and the race had been explained in great detail to them.
To Baki's surprise he found himself alone with Sakura "How is it that you always seem to run into trouble on missions" Baki questioned, directing the girl towards an alley because he wanted to speak with her now that he could
She looked up at him tiredly "Unluckiness I guess, just so you know we're more than likely going to encounter Aoi Rokusho, it's a hunch really" Sakura announced, a waning smile on her lips, Baki frowned.
Before bending "You might be right…I've been feeling a foreign jonin's chakra for the past hour since arriving so here's the plan, convince Morino-san to make a break for the other port that we saw on the map, I'll get on the ship at the main dock and keep him busy" Baki whispered.
"Don't hold your breath Baki-san, Idate would do everything in his power to avoid doing anything we asked of him" Sakura scoffed, trying not to let his proximity bother her, Baki wasn't the sort to take advantage of her hopefully.
He pulled back a bit brow furrowed before sighing and rubbing his temples, Sakura smiled apologetically then raised glowing green hands to heal his migraine "Thank you Sakura-san even though I still feel undeserving of your kindness thank you" Baki admitted.
Leaving the alley her on his heels "Leave the past behind Baki-san, you only completed your orders and I can find no fault in that" Sakura scolded, seeing that he was still letting what he had to do to her bother him.
Baki chuckled and gently ruffled her hair as they finished scouting then headed back to Jirocho's house "Geez what took you two so long" Temari snorted having been waiting nearby the door because they'd taken to long.
"Went all the way to the other port that way Temari, it took a bit, my apologies for worrying you though" Baki explained, smiling at the young woman before him, Temari huffed then grabbed hold of Sakura.
Who simply let herself be dragged along "We're rooming aren't we" Sakura guessed when she saw where the blonde was pulling her, Temari grinned and wasn't wholly surprised that her friend whipped out her chakra ink to set up her seals.
"Oi you lot dinners ready" Idate grumbled half an hour later, clearly despising even talking to them because he didn't even wait for them to leave their rooms simply stalked off leaving them to find their own way to the dining room.
Sakura rolled her eyes not overly impressed with Ibiki's brother "So did anyone else sense an annoying chakra while they were out looking around" Kankuro asked once they were all sat around the dinner table.
Eating their fill, Baki nodded as did Gaara, Sasuke and Naruto "Probably the ninja the other family hired to protect their runner" Sasuke said, munching on a tomato, it was his favorite thing after all.
"There's also a probability of this other ninja being Aoi Rokusho, that's why Idate, we're asking you to head for the other port instead of getting on the boat at the main dock" Sakura looked Idate dead in the eyes as she said this.
Idate bristled "Why the hell should I do anything you ask of me, your nothing but a large foreheaded freak" Idate snapped, Jirocho pinched the bridge of his nose in response while Naruto and Sasuke leaped away from their teammate as if their lives depended on it.
The girl in question merely gave him the frostiest glare she could, if looks could kill Idate would be dead at the moment "Stupid" Naruto hissed at Idate when Sakura shoveled the rest of her food into her mouth then disappeared from the dinner table.
Jirocho wasn't about to let Idate get away with insulting them any longer it seemed "Idate that was incredibly rude, I'm well aware of your dislike but they came here out of the goodness of their hearts so I expect you to apologize" Jirocho scolded.
Clearly Idate didn't want to even do that "No, no it's okay, he doesn't have to apologize, I'll protect him during tomorrows race, but I'll also more than likely be telling Ibiki-sensei of his whereabouts when we return to our village" Sakura returned briefly.
Having forgotten something "Your just digging yourself into a deeper hole" Gaara commented when Idate paled then bowed before Sakura uttering apologies, it didn't really seem as if she was listening to him.
Compassionate nature aside Sakura could be quite frigid towards people case and point, her expression flattened as she grabbed what she'd left then turned on her heel, vanishing from the room again.
Sasuke released the longest sigh ever "Me or you Naruto…you, guess that's for the best, good luck getting her out of that mood my friend" Sasuke glanced to Naruto who flashed him a determined grin.
Before hurrying after his sister "Um Sakura-chan, Temari-chan can I come in" Naruto knocked on the door to the room the two kunoichi were staying in, the door slid open a second later admitting him into the room.
Then he took a deep breath stepping towards Sakura who was polishing her scythe, Temari quirked a brow at him but his focus was on Sakura "Listen Sakura-chan I know you've always hated the fact that you have a large forehead" Naruto began.
"And it is large…doesn't mean it's right for people to insult you for it though, anyway here's something for you to think about, every time someone does from now on think about this, that if not for your large forehead, me, Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei would have already been toast at this point" Naruto rambled.
Not very good at making speeches, Sakura looked up at him smiling in amusement "Thanks Naruto, your efforts just now are appreciated" Sakura grinned, heart lightening as she hugged onto her little brother.
Temari smiled at their sibling antics "He's going to be one heck of a Hokage someday that was one hell of a motivational speech just now" Temari whistled when Naruto left their room, pleased with himself for cheering up Sakura.
It wasn't long after they laid down to get some shut eye and after a tense breakfast everyone started lining up to watch the start of the race "Moment of truth will he go for the other port or get on the boat at this one" Baki grimaced.
Watching intently until the signal flare went off "Genjutsu heh those guys, come on Baki-sensei" Kankuro urged as the chameleon jutsu covered the quartet heading for the other port, leaving the four of them to get on the boat with four shadow clones.
Gaara frowned, a profound feeling of worry welling up in him "I think I'll go with them" Gaara rumbled, made a sand clone then disappeared after the others and caught up rather easily since the illusion had been broken.
That didn't mean they were out of danger though because apparently the four of them had gotten themselves caught in a double layered genjutsu that Sasuke swiftly broke them out of and he had to catch Idate before he fell to his death because he refused to listen to Sakura.
"You know I'm glad your here that could have been a lot worse just now" Sasuke commented, glaring at the idiot and getting sick and tired of being insulted by him as were Naruto and Sakura who was berating him for not listening.
A few minutes later they were running again and soon they'd reached the other port where a boat was already prepared for them "Naruto use your wind jutsu to get us across the water quickly, I don't fancy duking it out on the ocean" Sakura ordered.
Naruto grinned widely pleased to have a chance to show off his elemental ninjutsu as he weaved the appropriate hand signs "Futon: Multi-layered Gale Jutsu" Naruto called out, thrusting his hands outwards.
With the powerful blast of wind boosting them the boat lurched forward and shot across the water like a bullet "Not so useless are they" Gaara smirked seeing Idate's pale countenance at Naruto's use of elemental jutsu.
Who repeated the same jutsu "Guess not but I still don't like ninja" Idate scowled, glaring towards the island that was coming up on them rather quickly thanks to Naruto, they were nearly there to but someone just had to rain on their parade.
He meant that literally as a volley of arrows rained down upon them "Looks like their from Amegakure, Hidden Rain Genin, what should we do Sakura" Sasuke deactivated his sharingan as he looked to his teammate.
Sakura bit her lip "Could you use your sand Gaara, to shield us from above and behind, sorry Naruto, we're going the last bit without your jutsu" Sakura requested glancing at Gaara, sand emerged from his gourd.
Shielding them as she asked until they reached solid land "Seems you were right, look ahead of us" Gaara grunted seeing who waited for them at the beach, the rogue Aoi Rokusho, Idate looked sick to his stomach at the sight of the man.
And it didn't take long for Aoi to scare Idate out of continuing the race "Oh and here's a parting gift for all of you" Aoi smirked throwing his umbrella up into the air, throwing needles rained down on them.
One got Idate before Gaara could properly protect him while glaring at the rogue who got away while they were distracted "My sand will be useless for awhile until it dries out" Gaara rumbled once the poison had been dealt with and they'd taken shelter in a cave.
Idate saying that he wasn't going to go back out there, Sakura was getting pretty incensed about his whining until she finally got sick of it "Jirocho's counting on you, you bastard, to win this fucking race and your damn well going to got that" Sakura spat.
After reeling back her hand and slapping Idate clean across the face with a loud crack echoing in their ears "There's Sakura's explosive temper I was wondering when she was going to get tired of your bullshit" Sasuke deadpanned.
Inwardly amused as Idate stared up at Sakura fearfully cradling his broken cheek "Careful Sakura-chan or you'll turn into Hidan" Naruto teased, knowing how foul-mouthed the other immortal Jashinist was.
She rolled her eyes at him in mock annoyance "How can you go back out there knowing what awaits you" Idate asked, leaning far away from the volatile kunoichi as she sneered at him, past her limit of giving him the benefit of the doubt probably.
"Cause it's our job you jackass and if you'd have run when we told you we could have already dealt with that bastard but no you had to whine and cry about it" Sakura ranted, Idate's adams apple bobbed in nervousness.
Gaara was the quiet one as he listened to Sakura terrify the piss out of Idate most likely "There's no way you could have handled him, look at what happened to the others that were with you, they said they would deal with him on the boat yet he still got here" Idate shot back.
Only to regret it as his cheek throbbed and he pressed himself against the wall of the cave when she rounded on him fury etched into her green irises "Don't underestimate my siblings or sensei, they'll get here soon I'm sure" Gaara informed.
Not wanting to see Idate become a splotch of red on the cave wall as Sakura raised her fist threateningly at the idiot "Your utter idiocy is astounding Idate, get this through your pea-sized brain, we're more than capable, we've faced tougher opponents than Aoi Rokusho" Sakura snarled.
Enraged until Sasuke reached out and snagged her wrist to make her sit, the anger melted away in response to the calming touch of her teammate "So what I'm just supposed to leave you to deal with him on your own" Idate asked horrified.
"Basically yeah only took you an hour to get it, plus those three will be here soon I'm sure" Naruto snorted watching as Sakura did a three sixty and healed Idate's broken cheek more than proving her competence.
Probably blowing Idate's brain at her use of the mystical palm "Now that this chat is finally heading in a proper direction we should get back out there you have a race to win" Sasuke stood putting out the fire.
With that the five of them were on their way again until they reached the bridge where they were once again met with Aoi Rokusho, the runner for the other family having already crossed before Aoi cut the ropes destroying the bridge.
"Finally made it, sorry we took so long but this bastard kind of gave us the slip after attempting to poison us, thanks to you Sakura-san however for giving Temari the antidote" Baki wasn't to long in showing up thankfully.
Aoi narrowed his purple eyes on the pinkette "Yeah if not for that we'd have been stuck poisoned awhile longer" Kankuro smirked, reaching for his puppet on his back, prepared to fight now as they should have on the boat.
The rogue's glare intensified "Gaara good to see you doing alright" Temari waved, the only one unconcerned about the entire situation at hand, well that was before something actually happened and Aoi darted towards Sakura.
A burnt flesh smell filled the air as he thrust his stolen thunder blade into the brats chest missing her heart by a mere millimeter then he kicked her towards the cliff where she fell all before Sakura could even defend herself.
Idate puked "Okay I'm really getting sick and tired of people putting a sword through my lungs" Sakura growled as she fell towards the raging river below while healing herself at the same time, it was going to be a painful impact though.
When she reached the river with a loud splash up above Naruto had become infuriated and was losing control over the nine tailed fox sealed inside of him, Sakura swam to the cliff and started climbing it as she pulled out her scythe.
Baki was the first one to spot her and sigh in relief, not feeling any sympathy when Sakura repaid Aoi in kind for the sword to the chest as she thrust her scythe into Aoi's chest, blood burbled from his mouth and spilled down his chin.
"Geez don't scare us like that alright Sakura" Temari clutched her chest having thought the worst for a moment, it was obvious she'd fallen all the way down considering she was soaked but she was glad Sakura was okay.
Naruto calmed down instantly as well to Sasuke's relief "Sorry Temari-chan I let my guard down for a second is all, anyway Idate you have a race to win, so get to it" Sakura apologized, ignoring Idate's gaping.
A bridge made of sand was forged then Idate raced across leaving the ninja to deal with the rogue since there was no one else that could impede his journey now "What are you going to do with him" Baki asked.
Seeing that Aoi was still alive "Take him back to the village, have him face up to his crimes, he was the instigator, Idate's not entirely blameless but his crime is lesser than Rokusho's who manipulated Idate into stealing those artifacts" Sakura explained.
Baki wasn't the least bit shocked "Speaking of artifact I've got the thunder blade" Sasuke informed holding up the blade that was covered in Sakura's blood still, she nodded at him then after cuffing Aoi with chakra suppression cuffs healed him.
"Even though I think the bastard doesn't deserve to live for what he did, your right, this is a much worse fate, being brought back to the village after deserting it to face justice for your crimes" Naruto glared at Aoi as they walked across the bridge.
Heading after their charge "Heh it makes no difference to me…hhngh" Aoi smirked, acting cocky until Sakura jabbed a senbon needle into his side, violet met furious jade, goosebumps broke out on his arms and he tried to make a run for it.
Unfortunately the girl seemed to have a decent hold on him as she didn't even budge "Careful rogue it's not wise to piss her off" Kankuro warned in a knowing tone not wanting the apocalypse to happen.
"Just be lucky she didn't try to break every bone in your body with a chakra enhanced punch" Gaara rumbled in his gravely tone of voice, resulting in a much more subdued rogue as Sakura pushed him along ahead of her.
Before they ever reached the shrine, applause echoed in their ears indicating Idate had won, hopefully "You seven are you alright" Jirocho was the first to spot them, eyeing Aoi warily who clenched his jaw.
Sakura nodded tiredly at him "We're fine Jirocho-san, ready to get home though" the pinkette admitted, looking as if she was about to fall flat on her face out of exhaustion, they had been awake twenty four hours at this point so of course she was ready for some rest.
Idate scowled "Like I believe that Sakura, your not fine in the least, you got a bloody sword shoved into your chest, so there's no way your….huh where's your injury" Idate ranted before staring at Sakura.
Or rather her chest reminding her that her chest was on display, his face turned red, Sasuke whipped off his over shirt and shoved it over Sakura's head and she quickly slipped her arms through the holes covering herself "You can stop staring now" Sasuke sneered.
Protective of his teammate "Right of course…anyway I could have sworn you were going to die, so how on earth did you survive such a thing" Idate nodded, blood dripping from his nose a little bit, incensing Sasuke even more.
At the idiot blatantly flirting with Sakura "Mystical palm Idate, I healed myself then focused chakra into my feet to walk back up the cliff, suppressing my chakra so he didn't sense me coming in order to avoid the attack from behind" Sakura informed.
Sasuke smirked when Aoi bristled at how easily Sakura had gotten the drop on him, a little overwhelmed Idate bid them farewell as they started their trek back home the next morning and Minato was pleased when they brought back Aoi with them.
"And because of your efforts I'm going to let you keep the thunder blade Sasuke-kun, now go on home, I'll have Ibiki come to escort Aoi-san to a holding cell until I decide on what to do with him" Minato declared, handing over mission pay and dismissing the Chunin.
Where they happily headed back to the house, greeting the others still there before lounging on the couches for the rest of the afternoon, which meant someone was sent out to order take out from various restaurants for that nights dinner before everyone went to bed to get some proper sleep.