Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters.
A/N Updated on 9/5/15
Chapter Three
Nothing made Sasuke realize how much things had changed in Konoha than seeing his friends prepare for a mission. After Sakura ordered him and Naruto to clean up the mess she created while making breakfast, Sasuke grumbled under his breath and begrudgingly began working with Naruto. They worked together pretty efficiently- something that hadn't changed in all of his time away- and soon the kitchen was spotless before Sakura even shut off the water.
She came out of her room a few minutes later, dressed in a red sleeveless tunic and tight black leggings tucked into her knee-high boots, fingerless gloves reaching her upper arms being pulled on as she approached them. Her weapons pouch was secured on her hip and her medic bag was strapped right next to it. Her kunai holster was attached to her leg and as soon as she tied her forehead protector in her hair, she was ready to go.
Quickly they all jumped from building to building through the rain, heading straight to Naruto's apartment a few blocks away. He jumped through one of his windows to get his things, leaving Sasuke alone with Sakura outside under an overhanging tree. Silence between them had always been comfortable, for which Sasuke was thankful. Needless conversation and small talk were never his strong suit, and Sakura seemed to favor it in the past. But now she seemed to know better than to coax pointless chatter out of him. Being in his presence seemed to be enough for her now, and it was just the same for him.
"I like your hair."
Sasuke blinked a few times and felt his cheeks heat slightly. Unwanted attention, he was used to. Even when strangers would come up to him with hearts in their eyes and giddy little smiles, he could bear it. But when Sakura could compliment him, he didn't really know what to do. It was strange, not because he wasn't used to it, but because she had done it all the time when they were kids and he would brush it off. Now, when those green eyes of hers looked up at him with clarity rivaling that of the emeralds found in the caves of Earth Country, it unnerved him more than he would care to admit.
He was also a little flabbergasted at why she would even compliment his hair at all. It would stick up in odd directions and was a pain to manage, despite its smooth texture. Now it was grown out to his shoulders now and a forelock that he used to push to the side was currently hiding his left eye from view. Usually in his travels he wrapped a thick scarf around his head to act as a hat, and on the days he didn't a long navy wrap was tied around right on his forehead.
He felt that he sort of looked like a vagabond with how ratty it made him look. Unlike her, whose pink hair was smoothed into a clean cut right at her shoulders, parted at the side but not deep enough so her Yin Seal was still shown proudly. It suited her.
Quickly, Sasuke covered up his slight shock and wayward thoughts by clearing his throat and giving her a gracious- albeit stiff- nod, all with a polite smile. He really had to remind himself how to act in situations like this. "Thanks. I like what you've done with yours, too."
And he meant it.
Sakura wasn't as skilled at covering up how flustered he made her, because her cheeks flared a bright red and the corners of her lips pulled into an adorable and bashful smile. She looked away tentatively and began fiddling with the soft tresses he had complimented. "You really think so?"
He nodded again and his lips pulled up at the corner. "Yeah. It makes you look more mature."
Her smile grew, showing off her teeth, and she nudged him with her shoulder. "Thanks, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke nodded and looked away. He tried to hide his satisfaction with making her smile so brightly. Maybe it was a consolation in his mind after making her frown and cry so often when they were younger. It had been five years since he left her on that fateful night and he can still remember vividly how her tears fell down her face when she begged him to stay. Now seeing her smile because of him once again caused that tight feeling that always persisted in his chest to loosen just a bit.
Making her happy made him a little happier, too.
"Sasuke-kun?"
He turned his head minutely in her direction, acknowledging her by looking her in the eye out of the corner of his own.
She visibly swallowed and rubbed her elbow with her other hand. "Do you think Kakashi is going to be send us with you on this mission?"
Sasuke sighed, knowing very well what the answer would be. Based on the missive Kakashi had sent Sakura- knowing Naruto and Sasuke would both be with her- and knowing the severity and importance of this mission, he'd say that the Hokage was indeed assembling Team Seven once more. He regretted knowing the answer, because as much as he would prefer having them with him, he knew that they would be needed in the village to ward off any attack that could befall it. But then again, having them with him to wipe out the problem before it could fester could be the best choice. Sending the best ninja to prevent an attack is pretty smart.
"Based on the timing of his summoning, I'd assume so."
The smile Sakura gave him wasn't missed, and Sasuke almost had the urge to smile right back.
"Team Seven," she mused, almost just to herself, as she looked away with that same grin on her face, "back together again... I wonder if he'll send Sai or Yamato with us."
"Kakashi said that he would be sending a team a four, along with me," Sasuke replied, leaning back against the wall, "so it would be safe to assume at least one of them would probably assist us."
Sakura didn't say anything at first, and Sasuke assumed she was still smiling as she thought about her boys being together with her again. She was always oddly sentimental like that. But when she broke the silence with his name in a tone so far from nostalgic, Sasuke had to blink to realize he wasn't imagining the sadness in her voice.
"Why are you always so formal when you talk to me? I thought we were past that."
Sasuke stared at her for moment, the way her small face was pulled down in an almost disappointed frown and how her shoulders seemed to shrink in to make her look even smaller, and he forced himself to come up with some type of answer. He really couldn't explain why he was speaking to her in such an uptight manner. In the past, it was her that he could speak to with ease and a more relaxed tone. It was her that he could always speak his mind, especially before he left the second time. Now, he had to remind himself that this was Sakura, not some stranger he was assisting in his travels. She knew him. He knew her. There was no reason to be unfamiliar with her.
Just as he opened his mouth to give a small apology, Naruto burst through the door- dressed in a pair of baggy black pants tucked into his sandals and an orange and black thermal jacket zipped up over a mesh shirt. His pack was slung over his shoulder- as if he knew exactly what Kakashi would be requesting of him- and a huge grin was plastered on his face.
"Alright! Let's roll!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes and Sakura groaned, probably lamenting the lost moment she had with him. Instead of commenting, Sasuke pushed off the tree trunk and headed in the direction of the Hokage's tower. Sakura was close behind and Naruto was just itching to get to the Hokage's office, so he was right on Sasuke's heels until he was leading them out into the rain.
As soon as they were on the move, Sasuke didn't miss Sakura's resigned sigh behind him. Nor did he miss the way his heart tugged at the thought of not being able to tell her what she wanted to know.
"Naruto, Sakura. I have an S-ranked mission for you-"
"YEAH!" Naruto jumped in the air and thrust his fist up in a rejoiced punch. "I knew it! So where are we all going, Kakashi-sensei? Is this the mission that Sasuke is going on, too? Back together again! Oh yeah!"
Kakashi sighed and shook his head, obviously tired of Naruto already, and Sakura couldn't help but laugh at how he looked like an exasperated father with a toddler. Next to her, Sasuke was rubbing his eyes with his finger and thumb, taking a deep breath to stop himself from beating Naruto silent. Her smile faded though whenever he sensed her eyes on him and looked up to meet her gaze.
They hadn't finished their conversation earlier and as much Sakura hated to admit, she knew she wouldn't be getting anywhere with Sasuke anytime soon. She was pressing him, sure, but not to the point where he would snap and close himself off entirely. He had opened up slightly to her before he left the village a second time, and so she thought that maybe in time he would return and expose himself to her fully, bare his heart to her like she wished for so wholeheartedly. But knowing Sasuke Uchiha meant knowing that it wouldn't come so easily.
"Naruto," Kakashi replied in a curt tone, but still with a hint of tiredness, "if you'd let me finish, you would have learned that already."
Naruto stopped his excited prancing around the room and muttered a quick apology before leaping back to Sakura's side. As soon as he was silent, Kakashi stood, rounded the desk, and handed Sakura a scroll.
"You two are to accompany Sasuke north to Lightning country," he started as he sat on the edge of the desk and crossed his arms over his chest. "There you will be doing reconnaissance on an unnamed rogue group forming in the area. According to the information Sasuke gathered, they are planning an attack on Konoha, and possibly the other villages. We have no information about their size or abilities, but Sasuke learned that their numbers are quite possibly over one hundred. When deemed necessary, you will take out the group with as little attention as possible. This threat needs to be wiped out before they attack our, or any other, village."
"Will it just be us or will we have others joining our team?" Sakura asked, tucking the scroll into her pouch.
"Actually, Yamato and Sai are out in the northern territory of Fire Country right now," Kakashi replied, pulling out a second scroll and handing it to Naruto. "Give this to Yamato when you meet with him at the border of Fire and Hot Springs. From there, the five of you will move out to Lightning. I will be sending a missive to the Raikage requesting his hospitality before you head to the northern parts of their country where Sasuke met the rogues."
"Kakashi," Sasuke cut in, his visible eye narrowing, "they might not be in that area anymore."
"I figured they wouldn't," Kakashi responded, eyes crinkling at the sides, "and in your scroll are instructions on what to do in that situation. I am sure you are capable of tracking, so I have faith you can succeed if that problem should arise. Sakura will be acting captain, because she is the only jonin for now, but Sasuke will be leading you to where you need to go. Once you meet up with Yamato and Sai, Yamato will be taking charge from there."
"Yes, sir," the three replied in unison.
"I expect news of your progress in two weeks," Kakashi added, standing up straight and walking back to his chair. "If I don't hear word in three, I will send a team to Kumo to track you down and assist you. I have faith that you will take out this group before any conflict escalates. If what they are planning comes to fruition, then we can be looking at another war."
"Are these men as powerful as the Akatsuki?" Naruto asked, suddenly serious.
"That is up to interpretation," Sasuke answered before Kakashi could. "Everyone in this room has defeated at least one member of the Akatsuki. When I fought these men I can say with certainty that they did not put up as much of a fight as any Akatsuki member I had faced. But for all I know, they could have been grunts that had no say and their higher ups could be as powerful as Nagato himself."
"That is why I am sending you," Kakashi said. "We need to know how powerful and how serious of a threat this group is. We can't risk war due to complacency."
"Kakashi, if I may ask," Sakura interrupted, eyes narrowed and brow furrowed in concentration. "If these rogues are located in Lightning country, why are we handling the situation? Shouldn't shinobi from Kumo take care of it?"
All three men in the room turned to her and stared for a moment, then Naruto and Sasuke returned their gazes to Kakashi- waiting for his answer. Their teacher squinted in thought for a moment, measuring the words in his mind and the reasons behind their mission.
Sakura swallowed thickly. She understood why the Hokage would assign them this mission- these bandits attacked Sasuke and revealed plans to attack Konoha. It was only reasonable for Kakashi to send out a team to eliminate the problem before conflict festered. But these men were out in a different country and their plans have not been outright declared to the open. Sending Konoha shinobi into Lightning country might send the wrong impression. Even if Kakashi spoke with the Raikage and the alliance was honored, not everyone would get the message and cooperate by the time Team Seven crossed borders. For all she knew, the Raikage could still have a grudge against Sasuke despite his changing of sides during the war.
Surely he had his reasons.
"Because," Kakashi finally said, eyes closing in the way that meant he was smiling, "I know that you are the only ones in the shinobi world who can do this."
Since the briefing had basically ended, Team Seven began filing out of the Hokage's office- all beaming in their own way at Kakashi's praise. It wasn't often that the Hokage would declare them the only ones suited for such a task. Now, they were all prepared to head out together once more as a team. But to Sakura's slight surprise, they were stopped when Kakashi called out once more.
"Sasuke, can you stay for a minute? I need to speak with you."
Sakura watched as he paused in his steps, sighing as he closed his eyes in resignation and nodded at her and Naruto. They waved goodbye to Kakashi and closed the door behind them, leaving the two shinobi alone. Sakura was pretty tempted to press her ear against the door and strain to hear what Kakashi was saying to Sasuke, but she knew that Tsunade had the doors protected with a sound-proofing jutsu right near the end of her term. Too many nosy ninjas coming around and eavesdropping can prompt anyone to take such drastic measures for privacy.
Naruto groaned and pressed his back to the wall before sinking down and plopping on his behind. "Why couldn't Kakashi ask him whatever he wanted while we were in there? Now we have to wait and I want to leave."
"Be patient, Naruto," Sakura chided, rolling her eyes. "Whatever Kakashi had to ask, it must be important. And not for us to hear. So get over it and just-"
The door swung open and Sasuke strode out, face hard and lips pulled into a tight line. Instinct told her to back away from him and that angry look on his face, but she knew deep down there was really nothing to be worried about. Nothing Kakashi can say would ever make Sasuke go on a murdering spree.
"So what did Kakashi want?" Naruto asked, jumping up from his slumped position on the floor and to Sasuke's side.
Sasuke grunted and turned to walk down the hall. "Nothing to concern yourself with, dobe."
Both Naruto and Sakura frowned at him as he retreated out of their sight. Naruto grumbled under his breath something about shit friends, crossing his arms like a petulant child and stomping towards the exit. Sakura, on the other hand, just rolled her eyes and followed the two children out of the building. Remembering both of their famous tempers, she knew it was best not to comment on either of their attitudes.
Once the three were outside, Sakura followed Sasuke's lead towards her apartment where she could pick up her travel pack. Unlike Naruto, she didn't assume what Kakashi would ask of them and had left her already stuffed bag right by her front door. She admitted to herself that she assumed just in the tiniest bit that she would be travelling with Sasuke, but not enough out loud for the boys to see her eagerness. That's why her pack was still in her house and not on her back, like a certain knucklehead who was practically bouncing in his shoes behind her.
As soon as they arrived, she was in and out and they were on their way to the gates of the village. They all picked up their pace and pretty soon they were in the forests surrounding the village. Sasuke was the first to leap up into the trees and dart to the northeast, Naruto following closely behind and Sakura on his tail. Eventually they settled into a three-man triangle formation with Sasuke at the head, Naruto to his back left and Sakura to his back right.
It would take them a day and a half to get to the border of Fire and Hot Springs if they kept at this pace, and Sasuke showed no signs of wanting to let up and rest. It was already midday when they left the village and before they knew it the sun was starting to set over the distant trees.
Sakura wasn't about to ask Sasuke to stop. She knew he would decline and quite possibly push harder to get to Sai's and Yamato's location before sunrise, even if that was almost impossible. According to the map Kakashi had given Naruto, Team Seven wouldn't reach them until at least midday tomorrow, and that's if they don't stop to rest for longer than an hour.
"Hey, Sasuke!" Naruto had shouted right around twilight. "Let's stop and rest up! We need to eat something other than soldier pills!"
Surprisingly, Sasuke didn't argue and almost immediately halted on a tree branch. Both Naruto and Sakura sped past him and had to completely stop themselves from toppling over some branches and falling to the understory of the forest. Sakura could have sworn she heard Sasuke chuckle at Naruto flailing his arms about to regain his balance, but it was gone immediately after it happened.
Sometimes she wondered if Sasuke did that on purpose.
As soon as they landed on the ground, Sasuke began walking away towards the edge of the clearing. "I'll keep watch. You two get something to eat and rest your legs. We set out again in an hour."
"What about you?" Sakura asked, looking up from her pack.
Sasuke turned and flashed her a granola bar he must have pulled out from his pack. Without a word, he shook it once and continued walking away and leapt up into the trees once more.
She knew he wouldn't be out earshot, but she couldn't help but look at Naruto and say in a low voice, "Is it me or has Sasuke changed a lot?"
Sakura imagined Sasuke bristling- and giggled in her head at the thought of his long hair actually standing up on end like a bird rustling its feathers.
Naruto just shrugged, his mouth pulled into a frown and eyebrows pushed together. The little whisker marks on his face were drooping with the corners of his lips. "We all have changed since we were kids, Sakura. War and the shinobi life does that to people."
"That's not what I meant, Naruto," she sighed softly, rubbing her temple. She pulled out a meal bar and leaned back against the trunk of a tree. "I mean, since he left the last time. There's something... I don't know... just different about him. It's not a bad different, just... it's hard to explain."
Naruto stared at her, pausing before he ripped open an MRE and began prepping it. "Maybe he's always been this way and neither one of us really had the chance to know him in this sense. Remember that when we all became a team, he was already hell-bent on his revenge. Now he no longer has that driving him and his conscience is clear. No one is controlling him or manipulating him to do what they want. He does what he wants now without the darkness. The Sasuke we are travelling with now is the real Sasuke... The one before he lost everything."
Sakura nodded slowly and swallowed her food. "He's still Sasuke. And we still love him."
Naruto took a big bite of his food and grinned at her with full cheeks. "You sai' it, Sa'ura!"
At that moment, Sakura imagined Sasuke smiling, because she hoped with all of her heart that he believed her.
tbc.
A/N an MRE is a "Meal Ready to Eat." It's pretty self-explanatory. But these things are full meals that can be eaten anywhere without heating appliances and it doesn't need to be refrigerated. They're not the best but you can literally slip them in your backpack and you're done.
