Yeah Chapter three!! It's the weekend so I have lot's of time to write but there's work on Monday so I don't know how much I'll get done so if you are enjoying the story then enjoy these quick updates! Please R&R I want to know how I'm doing!

Chapter 3: Tales From a Mission

At first walking down the streets of Konoha together at 6:45 in the morning there was a bit of an awkward silence between the two ninjas, both slightly disturbed by the series of events that morning. Sakura peeking in at his window and then leaning her warm soft cheek…

"No!" Kakashi thought sheepishly, "no thoughts like that! Young former student! She was just sleeping and her head fell over and the reason she was peering at me through my window… Ok I can't imagine why. Well I can but…NO. No thoughts like that! Start talking and change the subject man!"

"Kakashi," thought Sakura, "I've missed you so much these past two months. I guess that now that you were home and I knew that you were ok I just felt safe. Your hand was so warm and gentle, but also firm and- NO! No thoughts like that! Former Sensei! Smart, skilled, reliable, hot-"

"Hot!" screamed inner Sakura, "Where the hell did that come from girl! You're too tired to think straight! It's been way to long since you had a boyfriend!"

"I know, I know!" argued Sakura with her inner self, "This silence is making me have crazy thoughts! We've got to start talking about something else!"

Simultaneously Sakura and Kakashi said, "So the mission!"

Laughing, slightly nervously, with anime style sweat drops and head scratching for both they continued their walk to a little bakery and tea shop that they had gone to eat at together for years.

"I have some news that will interest you Sakura," Kakashi told her.

"She'll totally forget about that situation this morning after I break this news," Kakashi thought, perhaps a little disappointed.

"Let's go in and eat and we'll talk about it," Kakashi said as he held the door open for her and they took a booth by the window so they could see the sites of Konoha waking up and beginning to bustle.

"I wonder what he's going to say?" thought Sakura as she took a menu from the waitress and looked unreading at the page.

"Rice soup please," said Sakura.

They came here so often and she knew what she was in the mood for this morning, she didn't want to eat too much and spoil their practice later.

"Miso soup and rice for me," requested the Jounin, "also, pickles, fish and some natto. Oh and green tea for both of us please."

"Hungry are we?" asked the waitress with a smile as she took their menu's back and went to place the order.

"Little piggy are we?" smirked Sakura as Kakashi scratched the back of his head again.

"I haven't eaten for a long time, I wanted to get home as soon as possible," replied Kakashi, "Besides you know how hungry I get after being healed, I'm surprised that you're not eating more after healing me."

"We have training today Kakashi, I know that you're able to read your books while you spar with us, but we have to work," answered Sakura remembering her new Jitsu and hoping that maybe she would be able to get the famous copy-nin away from his annoying orange books today.

"That's true, you will have to work pretty hard this morning," Kakashi replied with a hint of amused cockiness.

"Right," snapped back Sakura, "So what's your news?"

"Right," said Kakashi getting serious, "Sakura, I'm not sure how this news is going to effect you so just prepare yourself, ok?"

"Ok," said Sakura nervously.

"Why do I need to prepare myself," she thought, "Kakashi just returned from Sunagakure, could it be about Gaara? Is he sick? What was his mission about?"

"Sakura," the Jounin said seriously wondering just what this would do to the pink haired Kunochi, "There's news about Sasuke."

"Sasuke…"whispered Sakura as all the emotions the thought of the dark young genius always stirred in her washed through her like a flood.

"It seems that there has been some activity between Akatsuki and Orochimaru. We're not sure of the details but it seems that there was going to be some sort of collaboration between the two for an unknown purpose. From our intelligence gathering it looks like Sasuke highly opposed the dealings, presumably because of Itachi and had a falling out with Orochimaru. We know that there was a battle but we don't know the outcome for sure. We do have reason to believe that one of the two was killed. Sound country, Otogakure, has been very close mouthed on the whole thing. We were collaborating with Sand to find out what happened but after two months that's all we've been able to come up with. Akatsuki seems to be unharmed but there are rumors of great instability within Otogakure. I made the report to Tsunde last night as soon as I got back. Sakura…We're not sure but, my guess would be that Sasuke would have been the one destroyed, Orochimaru should have been to powerful for him to handle," Kakashi finished with a whisper as he studied the reaction from the young Kunochi.

Sakura found herself remarkably numb. Secretly she was always afraid that something like this would happen and she had cried over it for years, but it seemed now that after all that crying before, she just couldn't cry about it now that it had actually happened.

"I suppose it's for the best," Sakura said quietly as their food was set down on the table in front of them.

Sakura began to pick at her soup as she tried to let her brain catch up to her body after a knockout like that.

"Maybe he was able to weaken Orochimaru somehow," Sakura thought out loud, "Maybe there is a chance that we can take him out now."

"Perhaps," the copy-nin replied studying her carefully.

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"I was almost sure that she'd break down over this news," he thought, "Maybe after all these years she's really moved on."

As if hearing those words Sakura said, "You expected me to start crying didn't you?"

"Well…" replied Kakashi.

"It's been four years Kakashi, I've had other crushes. True they went almost as badly," Sakura blushed wiping out the memories, "and it's true in a way I still have…had…feelings for Sasuke but recently they were mainly to try to save him from himself and less like, well, the way they used to be. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah, I understand Sakura," Kakashi said quietly, "I'm really proud of you you know. You've grown up so much."

Sakura smiled slightly.

"You have no idea," she replied. "But maybe during practice you'll get a better one."

End of chapter 3!! Hope you enjoy! R&R