A/N: Hey guys, thanks to the four people who reviewed, I really do appreciate it! Just to clear a few things up, this is NOT a Kakashi/Sakura pairing okay! I am going to pair Kakashi with someone though, but you'll have to read to figure it out. Please continue to R&R! Thanks again for your reviews!

screamingcrazyproctorlady

Chapter Two: Getting Started-Late as Usual

Sakura, Anko, Naruto, and Tsunade were all sitting on a secluded bench, near the outskirts of Konoha, waiting for Kakashi, who was (as usual) late.

"That maggot!" yelled Anko angrily. "Can't he ever be on time?"

"I'm sure he'll arrive soon," said Sakura a little dully. She had known Kakashi to be twenty-four hours late, so she had (logically) not expected him to be on time.

"He had better!" said Tsunade-sama through clenched teeth. She was impatient, and it did not help that she had 'gone out' last night.

Just then, Kakashi finally decided to show himself. Amazingly, he was just two hours late (a first for him). His grey hair stuck up at very strange ends, even for Kakashi.

"Sorry I'm late everybody, I had some stuff to attend to," said Kakashi in an off hand way.

"LIAR!" yelled Sakura and Naruto in simultaneous amusement.

"Well I…" Kakashi started.

"Now that all of our team members are here," said Tsunade-sama looking pointedly at Kakashi, who averted his black eyes. "We need to make sure that you all understand the magnitude and importance of this mission.

We need to find, capture, and (if possible) kill Itachi Uchiha. This will not be easy; he is cunning and clever."

"Yes Tsunade-sama," said the group in unison. All of them had grown very serious. This was a mission they could not fail. They would all have to be on their guards-otherwise who knows what could happen.

"Are you ready to leave," Tsunade said, it was not a question.

"Hai (yes)," Said the Kunoichi and Shinobi.

As they sped through the forest that surrounded Konoha, Anko couldn't help but feel they (or she) were being watched. She could sense that they were not the only ones on the hunt.

"How far out do think the maggot is?" Anko asked, trying to take her mind off of the tight feeling she had in her stomach.

"I don't know, most people wouldn't be able to make it out of here in a day, but were talking about and Uchiha here so…" Kakashi answered. In truth, he had the same foreboding feeling that his teammate did.

"Even so, it would take even an Uchiha a minimum of a couple of days to get out of here," said Sakura. She didn't seem to notice that someone or something was following them. All she knew was she wanted to get this mission over with-quickly.

"We should probably stop here," Kakashi said, sounding exhausted. They had been traveling for most of the day, and they could see the red sun sinking down into the purple horizon.

"I agree with the silver-haired maggot," said Anko, sounding equally tired (though she would never admit it). They were surrounded by trees; it was almost like an alcove. They would be safe here-or so they thought.

"All right, who's going to take first watch?" Kakashi asked, taking charge.

"I will," said Anko, even though she was worn out.

"All right, Anko, you take first watch and I'll take the second. Wake me up in about three hours," said Kakashi lazily, his eye drooping.

"All right, you lazy maggot," said Anko, a shadow of a smile behind her insult.

It was really quiet. Anko could feel the cool breeze on her face, and closed her eyes, welcoming the soothing feel of the light wind. Right now, it was hard to imagine that she was on a dangerous mission, more like one of her walks.

-FLASH BACK-

"Anko," whispered a snakelike voice in her ear.

"What?" said a child's frightened voice-her voice. "Please don't hurt me again sensei!"

"Not this time. I'm here to teach now," said Orochimaru.

"What?" asked Anko, excited that she wasn't going to experience pain again.

"The wind, do you feel it?" The twisted sensei asked.

"The wind? Well Yeah," said Anko, a little confused.

"Yes, the wind carries feelings and scents. Sometimes, if you really concentrate, you sense an attack from the breeze."

-END FLASH BACK-

Anko jerked her head at the sound of a snapping twig. She stood up, getting herself ready just in case. She closed her eyes and concentrated. She could feel someone just beyond the trees, watching, waiting to strike. She opened her eyes, and looked closely at the trees. Just beyond the shrouded area, she could see a dark outline of a person.

Then the person walked out. "Hello Anko," said the voice of, non other, than Itachi Uchiha.

"Well, if it isn't the very person I wanted to see," said Anko, a slight smile playing on her lips at her little joke.

"Don't play with me," said Itachi, a smirk appearing on his own mouth. "I know what you've been expecting. You've been expecting me to be far from Konoha so that you wouldn't have to do anything." He chuckled softly.

"What you didn't know, was the prize I seek is standing right in front of me," Itachi said, taking a step closer to where the Kunoichi was standing.

"What are you talking about?" Anko asked, picking up her kunai.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Mitarashi," Itachi replied, taking sadistic pleasure in their little conversation, and taking a step closer. "I'd put those away if I were you, we don't want a fight."

"You think I'm not going to defend myself? Think again you maggot," said Anko fiercely.

Then, he disappeared in a poof of smoke. Anko looked around, knowing he hadn't gone anywhere, that he was just out of sight.

"Yes, I did expect you to defend yourself," said a mocking voice in her ear, "Too bad I was disappointed!" Anko only mustered a small scream before she plunged into blackness.

A/N: Well, what did you think? Didn't I say it was going to get better? Please R&R, like I said before, I really do appreciate reviews. I can take the heat (but I like compliments too!). Thanks for reading!

screamingcrazyproctorlady