Addicted to writing even at the road!
Please R and R and tell me what you guys think! Thanks a bunch!
I heard Tsunade-sama sigh as she closed her eyes for a couple of seconds. As she opened them, her eyes pierced mine as if trying to send me a message.
"I'm gonna be alright, Tsunade-sama." I assured her.
"I've called other ninjas who were available as well. A few accepted but they start to turn it down when I get to tell them the part about the mission having a high chance of death." Tsunade-sama crossed her arms.
We headed straight to the office and she threw me a brown scroll.
"Wait," I studied the scroll in my hands. "This is a forbidden scroll, right?"
"It doesn't really contain much of a technique but it's still a forbidden one." Tsunade-sama explained.
I nodded. "So, this is gonna be my entrance ticket to the Akatsuki?"
"That's right." Tsunade-sama sat at her chair behind her desk. " ANBUs heard of an Akatsuki member recruiting new members in the country of Tea."
"Hey, is that where Idate lives? Ibiki-sensei's brother?" I asked.
Tsunade-sama sighed at her seat. "Your mission starts tomorrow evening. Don't tell anyone where you're heading or what mission you're doing."
I nodded as I placed the scroll into my pouch.
"If anyone asks you, tell them you're just going on a regular mission in the country of tea."
"Okay." I said. "I wonder what will I look like wearing the Akatsuki uniform?" I said just to lighten up the mood a bit.
Tsunade-sama chuckled. "Yeah, with all that nail polish and hat and your hitai-ate slashed."
"That must be a sight." She continued chuckling.
"I'll send you a picture as soon as I get my uniform." I nodded. She continued laughing.
If you listen to our conversation, it's like I'm just going on some vacation while the truth is where I'm heading is far from vacation.
"Sakura," she said as I was about to turn around to face the door.
"Yes Tsunade-sama?"
"I'll just tell you tomorrow evening. Good night." She said then she turned her gaze to her desk where a folder was placed.
I nodded then I left the office. I walked slowly towards my house. The streets were empty and the wind was blowing a little harsh.
I shivered a bit. Last night at Konoha.
I entered my apartment then fixed my stuff. Weapons, clothes, and other necessities. After I finished packing, I threw myself at my soft bed then stared at the ceiling before I drifted off to sleep.
My last sleep at Konoha was uncomfortable. I was restless all night. My head was filled with nothing but them.
The morning rays of the sun entered my window and danced on my face. I pulled my blanket to cover my face then I sighed. I removed my blanket on my face then turned my face on my right to stare at the two pictures on my bedside table.
I smiled but my smile turned upside down as everything sunk back in my mind.
The mission.
Akatsuki.
My duty to Konoha.
The day they all left me.
I fixed myself then ate some breakfast. I left my house then walked around Konoha.
The people of Konoha were busy. I continued walking until I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Ino and Shikamaru.
"Good morning Sakura!" Ino grinned.
"Hi Ino, Shikamaru." I smiled.
"I'm having a big dinner tonight and you guys are invited!" Ino smiled at me.
"Ino, you see...uh, I have a mission late this evening." I admitted. It was the truth anyway.
"Aw... that's a bummer. I was really hoping you would come." Ino pouted.
"Maybe next time." I smiled at her.
"Then it's settled then! When you come back from that mission we'll have a slumber party!" Ino made a 'nice Gai' pose then pulled Shikamaru by the wrist.
"Come on lazy ass! I need to tell everyone about the slumber party on Sakura's return! Come on!" And with that, Ino and Shikamaru were gone.
I sighed. Now I feel a bit awful. Ino's gonna expect me to come back which I won't in maybe a few or so years since I'm gonna be an Akatsuki.
I started walking again. I passed by the training grounds and saw Gai-sensei's team. They were training. I was about to walk off when I heard Lee shout my name.
"Sakura-chan! My beautiful blossom of youth!"
I turned around and smiled at Lee. "Good morning Lee."
"Every morning is good when you smile!" I'm sure gonna miss this even though it gets pretty annoying sometimes.
I giggled then I saw Ten-Ten dragging Neji towards us. "Good morning Sakura!" Ten-Ten greeted.
I smiled, "Good morning to you two."
Neji nodded. "I heard from Ino, she's throwing a slumber party when you return from your mission." Ten-Ten mentioned.
I groaned. "Well, you know Ino."
"Where's your mission anyway?" Lee asked.
I was gonna answer when Gai-sensei walked towards us and threw me a sad look. That's odd, I'm sure he'll be shouting something with the word 'youth' in it.
I turned back my gaze to Ten-Ten, "To the country of Tea."
"Ah..." She nodded. "Good luck then Sakura! You better not be late when you come home! You know how Ino gets when someone doesn't go to one of her parties."
I forced a smile. "Yeah. I'll try and come back as soon as I finished my mission."
"Well, I'm off now. Bye Ten-Ten, Lee, Neji." I waved then I nodded at Gai-sensei.
I hate lying to them. They were the only friends I got and I'm lying to them. Well, not that much actually. I did have a mission but the returning part...
I sighed as I continued walking. I decided to spend time with Tsunade-sama at her office. I started heading towards the Hokage tower when I bumped into Kiba.
"Sorry" I muttered.
"Hi Sakura-chan!" Kiba grinned. Akamaru barked beside him.
"Good morning Kiba, Akamaru." I said.
"Have you seen Hinata?" Kiba asked.
"No, why?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"We were supposed to have a team meeting but she's an hour late and this is the first time that's happened. Kurenai-sensei asked us to find her." Kiba explained.
"Oh, I haven't seen her yet. Maybe Neji knows. Why don't you go ask him? He's at the training grounds with his team."
"Thanks Sakura-chan!" Kiba and Akamaru ran off.
Hinata's been... different since Naruto left. I mean, Hinata and Naruto were at the stage of being more than friends. Neji even asked me a favor to talk to Hinata week after Naruto left. Neji told me she wouldn't eat or come out of her room.
Luckily, us girls, Ten-Ten, Ino and me, convinced Hinata to eat so she can be sent search missions. After hearing that, she started eating and training hard.
Things were different as Naruto and the others left. Tsunade-sama even misses Naruto's pranks.
What happened to us?
-
I entered the office and found Tsunade-sama writing some things. "Morning Tsunade-sama."
"Sakura, I see you're excited." She joked.
Who would be excited in this mission? Really.
"I just want to let time pass by. I don't really have much to do." I sat at a chair.
"Well, you could stay here and help me with these paperwork." She offered me a stack of papers.
I rolled my eyes then took the stack from her hands then started arranging them.
"I was gonna tell this later this evening but since you're already here, then what the heck." Tsunade-sama said.
"Shoot." I told her without looking.
"I decided to..." I glanced up and saw her stop writing while she stared at me.
"Decided to...?" I waited.
"Decided to..." She paused. "To announce everyone that you died, on your mission after three days."
I stiffened. I didn't expect that. Me? Fake dead?
"Why?" I asked.
"You see, it'll be better off that way. Everyone here won't suspect something that will risk your state. If they knew what your real mission is, they might start looking for you without my permission and that will risk everything."
I stayed silent. "Whatever it takes for my mission to succeed. Go ahead." I nodded.
"I'm sorry Sakura, but it is your decision." She sighed shaking her head.
"I know. I guess..." I paused. "I guess it is better off that way Tsunade-sama."
Silence came back to us as I worked on her paperwork again.
I feel so awful right now. I feel guilty betraying my friends like this.
I shook the thoughts off my head.
No! This is for everyone! For Konoha!
I tried to repeat that thought over and over to ease off my mind.
"Have you heard anything from Kakashi-sensei?" I asked Tsunade-sama.
She stared at me. "You're still waiting for them, huh?"
"No." I answered too quickly. "I... just. Well, they are still missing-nins and they might cause trouble for Konoha."
"Sakura..." She sighed. She knew me better.
"Well," My tears were beginning to build up.
I stood up then placed the arranged paperwork on top of her desk. I took a deep inhale.
"Well, see you later in the evening!" I spin around and ran away.
Tears were running down my face. Why did I have to cry?
I ran where my feet took me.
After a few minutes of running, I stopped panting in front of the beach. I slowly walked over to the shore. Then I gasped, sitting on the sand was Hinata.
I fixed myself then walked over to her. "Hinata?"
I heard her gasp then turn her head on my direction. "S-S-Sakura-chan, what a-are y-you d-d-doing here?"
Her voice was all cracked up. She was crying.
"Are you okay?" I faced her as I sat beside her.
"O-of c-course." She faked a smile.
"Kiba and the others are looking for you. They're so worried." I told her.
"I-I'm s-s-s-sorry S-S-ak-kura-ch-chan." She cried as she suddenly hugged me.
I hugged her back and patted her back.
"It's alright Hinata." I tried to sound okay but I think my voice was betraying me.
Suddenly, Hinata stood up then ran away. I glanced at her then turned my gaze back at the horizon when she was out of sight.
What have you done Naruto?
"I'm so gonna beat him up when I see him." I hugged my knees.
-
Time passed by quickly and I was at the gates with Tsunade-sama.
I double checked my backpack and the scroll on my pouch.
Tsunade-sama, Shizune, Gai-sensei, Iruka-sensei, Azuma-sensei and Kurenai-sensei were all here.
"Well..." Shizune teared up as she hugged me tight.
"We will see each other again!" I assured her but something inside of me wanted to scream that they shouldn't count on it.
"Oh Sakura..." She sighed.
"Sakura, I want you to know that we are proud of you. You've proven to everyone how brave and strong you are. Thank you for doing this for Konoha." Kurenai-sensei hugged me tight and I hugged her back.
"Thanks Sensei." I whispered in her ear.
I fought back my tears and I won this fight.
"Good luck Sakura." Gai-sensei and Azuma-sensei said.
I nodded at them. Then suddenly, Tsunade-sama hugged me.
"I'm sorry Sakura. I'm sorry you have to do this." She whispered in my ear.
I smiled at her. "It's my choice Tsunade-sama."
She let go of me then suddenly Iruka-sensei and the others turned to their battle stance and went in front of us.
"What's wrong?" I asked them, then as I felt the chakra of the ones entering the village. I gasped then I stiffened.
It can't be... IT CANNOT BE!
Out from the darkness came four figures.
"No way in hell..." Was all I managed to say.
Cliff hangie again! It's a long chapter made during a road trip using the powerful laptop and a 'plug-it anywhere' internet cord.
I love technology... please review!