A/N: Hola guys! Well thank you very very very much for your reviews. I had fun reading them, lol, I mean its my first story on Naruto so I'm sure its very…rusty compared to other awesome ones you've read lol. So yeah I hope you guys will keep reading them and oh, review.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and the rest of its characters. Heck, I don't even own one strand of hair on Kakashi's head.
Chapter 4The empty hallway that led to Ino's apartment seemed further than usual when Sakura walked slowly and zombie-like towards it. It was after all, five in the morning, and everyone who knows Sakura that she is not a morning person at all. Even Naruto knew not to mess with her in the morning, only except for emergencies.
Speaking of Naruto, Sakura thought, hopefully his present to him and Hinata won't get stolen, if she just left it on Ino's doorway. Which is way she's coming here before she meets Kakashi to leave the present.
Her eyes felt heavy like there were stones being placed on her lids and she didn't feel like she was really awake. Her chakra was still recovering after being exhausted yesterday healing people in the hospital, even though she had a mission the next day, her responsibility as a nurse did not get in the way and so she proceeded to do what she always does, evening shifts at the hospital.
But, yesterday, Asuma and his team had gotten back from an S-ranked mission. The mission of course was confidential but it was definitely dangerous. He was internally bleeding, obviously the enemy had inflicted high damage techniques on Asuma. It took Sakura a while to detect where he was bleeding internally, and summoning her chakra she was able to heal him, although the process took her almost an hour. She felt faintish when she had to go home.
Sakura yawned again when she had arrived on that plastic door with the metal bar that were imprinted with the digits 311. Ino's apartment number. A dirty rough mat was neatly placed right in front of the door. Sakura decided to leave the present there, hidden under the day's newspaper.
Just when Sakura bent down to put the object, the door opened, exposing a very wide-awake Shikamaru. He was wearing his home clothes, beige shorts and baggy shirt. He looked at the girl amusingly.
" Trying to steal my paper?" Shikamaru asked lazily.
" NO. I was just…urrgh so can I come in, just for a bit?" Sakura asked annoyed.
Shikamaru shrugged and let the girl enter the doorway; he picked up the paper and closed the door behind them.
Sakura sat herself on a table right in front of the kitchen while Shikamaru slowly sit in the chair opposite of her, opening the newspaper.
" You know, if you're here for free breakfast, you're going to have to wait a while. Ino won't budge till eight thirty. Troublesome woman." Shikamaru said while reading today's headline.
" Can't. On a mission today with Kakashi remember? Anyways, the reason I'm here is because I want to leave you something, so you can give it to Naruto and Hinata." Sakura got straight to the point.
Shikamaru nodded while his brows furrowed while reading the newspaper.
" Okay, so yeah tell Ino okay? Oh, just so you know give it to them at the dinner. Naruto and Hinata are making one, in a party room, inside the bar." Sakura informed.
" Why? Whatever for? Since when did that blonde boy became generous in treating everyone dinner?" Shikamaru raised one eyebrow.
" Uhh, I don't know, I guess they want to treat you guys or something. I don't know." Sakura lied.
" Uh, okay, got it. So, yeah, have fun on your mission. And don't die. It will be troublesome if you do. Speaking on your best friend's behalf." Shikamaru said.
Sakura rolled her eyes and made her way to leave, with Shikamaru behind her.
" You're not really a morning person are you?" Sakura asked, smiling.
" How'd you guess?" Shikamaru said, before shutting the door in her face.
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" Where the hell is he?" Sakura found herself asking that all-too familiar question when making plans with that man.
It was almost seven o'clock. They were supposed to leave around two hours ago. Sakura yawned and sat on the seat made of stone, waiting for the Copy-nin to show up. Sakura looked in her mirror for the tenth time, to make sure she looked okay. She was not as picky about her looks as Ino but she was bored like hell so she spent her time making sure she got all her weapons, her clothing, food supplies and sleeping mattress.
Her long pink hair was neatly put in a bun behind her head. Her hitai-ae headband was well proportioned over her forehead and covered her hairlines. She was wearing her ninja on a mission get-up. It was similar to her old uniform when she was younger. She was wearing a pale pink uniform, behind a lighter pink vest, with three quarter black cargo pants and her ninja sandals. On the hard soil, where she was sitting was her traveling backpack. She decided not to wear make-up, only lip balm was applied to her already pink lips.
But I am still a girl, Sakura surrendered herself to that fact, and could not help bringing her fun clothing, hair-styler set, and tons of make up, along with her basic necessities, having your time of the month on a what could be a dangerous mission is not nice, not nice at all, Sakura frowned.
" Yo." Kakashi popped up in front of her.
Sakura hands immediately made themselves fist and her lips turned into a cute pout. But she was really, really pissed. Kakashi just looked, how he always looked. To her annoyance he didn't even apologize, he looked like he arrived on time. He smiled under his mask at her cuteness.
" Why? Are you late? " Sakura glared.
" Well, this old lady needed my help-"
" Save it." Sakura growled. She punched him in the arm.
" So are we going or not? And where are we going? And why? You didn't tell me anything by the way." Sakura bombarded him.
" Calm down. Follow me, explanations-" Kakashi eyed her outfit, it was so pink, yet it suited her. " Come later."
With that he started walking off.
Sakura frowned but followed his steps as both of them made their way out of the village.
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In a few hours, the sun was already up and burning on Sakura's pale neck. They were quite a distance from Konoha, it was no longer cool and springy, it was rather hot and humid as they were going west. After passing through thick forests, Sakura's forehead was dripping little beads of sweat and her throat longed for water. Sakura took a sip while walking under thick-leaved trees. Her whole body needed a break.
Her green eyes peered at the man in front of her, leading the way to wherever they're going. Kakashi was walking fast but in a relaxed way, reading his stupid old Icha Icha series. Since he was tall, his feet took big strides so Kakashi wasn't tired, in fact, he didn't look tired at all to Sakura's annoyance. Sakura's long legs are still petite compared to her friend Ino's so she had to take few more strides than Kakashi, but she was still behind him. She couldn't catch up to read his latest book title.
Sakura cursed when she nearly tripped over a huge tree branch that had fallen down from one of the trees. Quickly, she removed the tip of the branch that had gotten caught in her sandals. As soon as she was done, Kakashi was so ahead Sakura sprinted till she could get behind him before resuming her original pace.
Her feet were still tagging behind that idiot who walked big strides as if it were nothing.
They entered upon a clearing and kept on walking, and walking.
Just as they were about to enter another forest, Kakashi finally stopped under a huge tree that could provide them shade. He dropped his backpack and sat under the roots, sipping his canteen while reading. Sakura followed his actions and sat down near him, drinking as well.
Sakura could do nothing but stare at the man.
When the hell is he going to tell me what this mission is about? Sakura glared.
After what seemed like hours, Kakashi finally closed his book and started rummaging in his backpack. He took out a scroll and handed it to her.
" Read it." Kakashi said simply.
Sakura obliged and unrolled the parchment. Sakura brought her hand closer to read the small writings printed on it.
Hana Sansuro, 25, Medic nurse of Cloud Village, found dead, in her own apartment. Victim died from internal shock. Suspects unknown. Victim killed professionally.
Sakura raised her eyebrows, but she kept on reading.
Yagami Hotamo, 23, Head Medic, Wave Village missing for three days. Body found in abandoned hut metres away from Village. Died of internal injuries. Suspect: no trace. Professionally killed.
Kahiko R., 21 Trainee Medic, Hidden Hills village, Missing for a week, found unconscious in the forest 200 m away from village. Coma for three days. Currently still in hospital under weak conditions. Obviously been left to die after inflicting attack.
Sakura looked up at her sensei. Her mind was going around like clockwork now. He stared at her back with his black eye, silver hair flopping on one side as his back was lying on the trunk.
" Sakura? How do these people from different villages relate to each other?" Kakashi asked.
He obviously knew the answer, but he was testing his student, her problem solving skills. To become an excellent shinobi, all strengths do not lie on power, mental and spiritual is important as well.
" They're all medic-nins, famous in their villages for possessing tremendous healing skills." Sakura answered.
" Yep. So why do you think we are on a mission?" Kakashi inquired.
Sakura's eyebrow arched higher as she was thinking. There were many possibilities, so she decided to go with the most probably that could happen.
" Um…. I'm a medic-nin. The killer could, um want to kill me? And so, you're bringing me away from Konoha because that's the obvious place the assassin could go to search for me. And, in the meantime, I guess we're going to the girl who is still alive to find out more." Sakura predicted.
" That's my girl." Kakashi ruffled her pink hair.
Sakura blushed at his sudden affection towards her. Obviously, it was just a friendly platonic relationship they have going on. But, still, Sakura just blushed.
" So, like we're going there? Hidden Hills?" Sakura croaked, having not recovered from his gentle touch.
" Hn." Kakashi grunted, which Sakura took as a yes.
" So, rest up, we're going to start again in half and hour. We're not stopping till the sunset." Kakashi said as he took out his Icha Icha book again and read. Sakura read the title, this time he was reading Icha Icha: Chocolate and Strawberries. Sakura shuddered at reading the title.
Ugh, that stupid book is ruining everything. How can I go on? We haven't had a proper conversation damn it, I need to talk to him its so boring! Sakura scowled as she just sat there in front of him and let her thoughts drift.
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A/N: How was it? Not bad I hope? I just needed to get all the basic facts and stuff. Sorry if you're not seeing the spark between Kakashi and Sakura. Cos it's still the beginning lol. Pls read and review!
Nops