Different

Different

Hey everyone, the reason I haven't updated for a long time was because I was in Disney World. Right after that, I went to Pennsylvania with my best friend to spend the week at her family's mobile house. I had a great time, if anyone cares. Sorry for not updating.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

"Hi"- talking

Hi- Inner Sakura

Hi- Outer Sakura

Recap: I placed my backpack on the desk and laid down on the bed. Something tells me that this was gonna be a long mission.

Chapter 8: Takahashi Takeo

Sakura's POV

I yawned and stretched my arms. Man, as much as I hate to admit it, this bed was really comfortable. I got out of bed and started to get dressed. However, I didn't put on my regular training outfit. Instead, I dressed formally. Last night, Kakashi-sensei informed us on our plans to keep an eye out for the rouge ninja. We would go out, walk through the streets, and pretend to be normal citizens. That way, we won't draw attention to ourselves, so the enemy won't take precautions when attacking. Now, I was really glad that I packed a couple of my best kimonos. I pulled out my favorite one of the three that I packed. It was white with a light pink trim. Beautiful, pink cherry blossoms and leaves decorated the surface in small designs. I combed my long pastel pink hair. I've always liked my hair long, so I grew it out again after the chunin exams. (AN: know that in the anime, Sakura kept her hair short. But this is my fanfiction and I like long hair, so please, don't comment on my decision!) I pulled it up into a half ponytail, leaving my bangs to frame my face, and tied it together with a thin, white ribbon. Then, I packed a small purse with some medical supplies and poisons. I also packed a scroll, which sealed my weapons, and my headband incase anyone needed to know my identity. Training with Ten Ten sure has its advantages!

I headed for Kakashi-sensei's room. It was the team's official meeting spot during this mission. Both Naruto and Sasuke were already there when I arrived. They looked at me with wide eyes, well everyone but Sasuke, who merely raised his eyebrow.

"What? Do I have something on my face?"

"N-n-no, S-sakura-ch-chan…it's just…why are you dressed like that?"

"Oh, you mean the kimono? Well, all the girls in this town dress this way, and we are trying to fit in, right?"

After a couple more seconds of staring at me, Sasuke looked away and went back to being his emotionless self. Well, Sasuke's Sasuke, and I wasn't really expecting him to act any differently. However, I could tell Naruto was struggling to fight a nosebleed.

"You look pretty, Sakura-chan."

"Hm? Oh, thanks Naruto."

"Good job for carefully thinking over the mission's tasks, Sakura. I didn't expect anything less from you."

Anyone who didn't know Kakashi-sensei well would think that it was merely praise for his pupil. But for those who knew him well, you could tell that he was enjoying the sight in front of him. Why did he have to read those damn perverted books?!

"Uh….thanks, Kakashi-sensei."

"Well, time to head out guys. You all know the plan, right?"

"Hai!"

"Yeah, dattebayo!"

"Hn"

"Okay, now be careful, and try not to draw too much attention to yourselves."

He looked sternly at Naruto when he made that last statement. The poor baka began to sweat from the pressure and attention.

"What?! Why are you guys all staring at me?"

Clueless, simply clueless

"Cause you're the one that's most likely going to mess up the mission, dobe."

"Hey, don't call me dobe, teme! Wait, what was the plan again?"

I take it back, he's extremely clueless. Leave it to Naruto to not be able to remember a single thing after only one night.

"Dobe."

"Stop calling me dobe, teme"

"Dobe"

"Teme"

"Dobe"

"TEME!"

"Dobe"

"TEME!"

"Enough, both of you. We don't have time for fights against comrades during the mission. Now, listen carefully. We'll split up and search the parts of the town individually."

He took out three maps of the town, and handed one to each of us. There were different colored circles that circled some specific buildings on the map.

"You see the red circle, well that's the feudal lord's castle, which is where we are currently located. Naruto, you will cover the north, Sasuke, the south, Sakura, the east, and I will cover the west. The green circles are previous places that the rouge ninja have attacked, so you guys can use today to do some investigation. You'll have to show them your headband for them to let you in. The purple ones are the five top richest houses in the town that have not been robbed yet. These are the households where the rouge ninja are most likely to strike next, so keep your eyes out for them. Finally, the blue circles represent the areas where you should keep also your guard up. Those are the places where there are not many people and the rouge ninja may use them as a hiding place. If you guys encounter any trouble, and require some assistance, here are some wireless radios to contact the rest of us with. Don't let anyone know that you guys are shinobi unless it's absolutely necessary. If anyone asks, tell him or her that you're on vacation. Understood?"

"Dattebayo!"

"Hai!"

"Hn."

From his pocket, Kakashi-sensei handed us each a wireless radio. I fastened mine around my neck. It's a pity that it clashed with my outfit, but better safe than sorry.

The three of us parted as we exited the mansion. I headed west and observed the city. Even in my best kimono, I probably still didn't look as wealthy as most of the town's population. I mean, seriously, some girls had so many expensive accessories and decorations to their kimonos, that they were barely able to walk without dropping a precious piece of jewelry every five seconds. However, I was still able to attract the eyes of majority of the male population. After I reached the age 13, I started developing a fan club back in Konoha, mostly because that was the age that my body finally began to develop. Also, my attitude changed after I got over Sasuke. Others found that I was much easier to talk to when I wasn't thinking about the Uchiha 24/7, so I became pretty popular in Konoha.

I didn't really like the attention I was getting. I wasn't gay or anything, it's just that I wasn't really into developing a relationship at the moment. Besides, it's really hard to concentrate on the mission with attention. I mean the whole purpose of me dressing up was to lessen the attention I would get, not increase it. I wanted to get off the streets as soon as possible, so I headed towards the direction of one of the households that was already robbed.

After showing my headband to the owner, I carefully stepped into the mansion. I pitied the family that lived here, because the house was almost bare. All that was left was some plain, wooden furniture, a couple books, one or two small ornaments, a little food, some paper, two small bottles of ink, and an old wooden brush. Everything from marble statues, to a bed's silk sheets, was gone. There even went into closets and took most of the fancy cloths they wore.

The ninja were stealthy as well. They were careful not to leave a single footstep, and the owner told me that after the theft, the mansion was covered in the strong scent of one of the woman's perfume, which took days to wear off. This meant that even a ninja hound would not be able to sniff out the scent of the rouge ninja. And by the time the perfume completely wore off, the scent would have been gone as well. Very clever.

I left the mansion after promising to the family that my team and I would capture the thieves. They seemed so desperate because they now have as much money as a garbage man. If this went on, the family would have to sell their house and move to another town.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't look where I was going. Thus, resulted to the fact that I bumped into somebody. And I was suppose to be high-ranked ninja,

"Gomenasai, I wasn't looking."

A large hand was stretched out in front of me. I looked up to see a boy about my age. He had light brown hair, hazel eyes, high cheekbones, and an amused smile on his face. He was very handsome, and it took all I had to hold back a blush.

"Well, are you gonna stand up or stay like that forever?"

He had a touch of arrogance in his voice, which I didn't like. I got up by myself without taking his hand. I gave him a neutral face.

"Sorry again for bumping into you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have errands to run."

I started to walk past him, but he grabbed my wrist and spun me around till we were only inches apart. I narrowed my eyes, while he merely smirked.

"Errands, like searching for rouge ninja?"

Nani! How did he know that? I pulled away from him and gave him a cold glare. I began to ponder if I should contact the others, since he knew who I really was, and there could be a possibility that he's one of the rouge ninja.

"Who are you?"

"Me? Oh I'm Takahashi Takeo, nice to meet you.

"Takahashi?! Wait, are you in anyways connected to the Feudal Lord?"

"Yep, in fact, I'm his son.

"Oh…"

I bowed my head in respect and erased my glare.

"Forgive me for my disrespect. I had no idea you were the feudal lord's son.

"Relax, don't make such a big deal about it. Anyways, he told me about a group of ninja from Konoha who came here to get rid of the thieves. One of them, he mentioned, was a pretty little girl with pink hair. I suspect that that's you."

"Yeah…well, I better get going. Maybe we'll see each other back at the mansion."

"Wait, can you at least tell me your name first?"

"…Haruno Sakura."

"Sakura, eh…pretty name for a pretty girl."

He took my hand and gently kissed it. I was shocked, as I felt a blush creeping onto my cheeks. He chuckled at this and winked at me.

"Ja ne, Sakura-chan."

I stared at his back as he walked away from me. What an interesting guy.

AN: Again, sorry for the hold up on updating. REVIEW!!

By the way, if anyone wants to know what Takeo and Daiki means, just check my profile.