Title: The Mission From Hell

Author: JackieLupin

Disclaimer: Kishimoto-sama owns all!

Rating: Light R for suggestive language, swearing, and battle scenes. And maybe some sex later on.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THIS STORY: This is an AU, which means an "Alternate Universe." In this story, Sasuke never left Konoha and never attacked Naruto at the hospital after the Chuunin Exams. Also, I'm making The Hidden Sand Village an ally of Konoha; therefore, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro did NOT attack the Hokage Sarutobi with Orochimaru, and the fight between Team 7 and Gaara/Shukaku never happened. However, Orochimaru did manage to kill the Sandaime, so Tsunade is now Godaime. Sakura has trained underneath Tsunade for four years, so Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke and the Rookie 9 are now 17 years old, while Neji, Tenten and Lee are 18. Yamato-taichou and Sai are also around, but probably won't have major roles in this story. Akatsuki is NOT involved, so Itachi and the other misfits of the gang will NOT be in this story.

If you have any questions, please contact me and I'll do my best to set everyone on the right track! Thanks!

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CHAPTER SEVEN

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A few hours later after catching up with the new Jounin team that had joined them - not to mention after all the teasing, the laughing, and the trading of old mission stories had worn out - the cool, night air saw seven Konoha shinobi sitting in a loose circle on the top of the small mountain where Sakura and Sasuke had trained only two days before. Surprisingly, the only shinobi absent was Kakashi; giving a vague excuse about scouting, he had settled farther down the mountainside, most likely to read his porn in peace and quiet. Sasuke, after attempted to avoid the group of teenagers for an hour or two, eventually had been roped in by Naruto to join them, albeit grudgingly with a scowl fixed on his face.

Sakura sighed, wondering for the millionth time why her traitorous heart had chosen someone as distant and calculating as Uchiha Sasuke.

But she couldn't dwell on it for long, because five minutes ago, Naruto had a brilliant plan; a good natured spar against each other, like a very small scale of the tournaments that they would hold in Konoha. "No aiming to kill," Naruto said, laying down the guidelines, "We'll each spar with one other person, and whoever wins continues. Whoever loses will battle the others that lose as well. This will just be taijutsu; no other jutsu will be used, since Kaka-sensei said we need to conserve chakra."

Shikamaru sighed and remarked dryly, "That sounds troublesome." He reached up to scratch his head, waiting for their companions to argue for the tournament.

Sakura laughed at the exasperated expression on the Nara genius' face before Naruto could leap on him. "Only if you have to fight against Lee," she teased, rubbing her arms to generate warmth as a cool night breeze whipped around the cliff of the mountain. The small fire flickered and almost puttered out, but at the last moment the embers caught flame again. Sasuke, realizing the problem, knelt down near the fire and made the seals for one of the Katon jutsu, effectively causing the twigs to catch fire anew.

The green-clad shinobi sitting to Sakura's other side laughed as he stretched his arms, "I'll wear my weights," Lee said to the wry amusements of his companions, "That way you won't be at a disadvantage by not using any chakra."

Neji merely raised an eyebrow. "I know for a fact that my taijutsu skills rival yours, even without your weights."

Naruto choked on the ramen he was eating. "How modest, Neji!" her blond teammate guffawed once he caught his breath, but immediately shut up when Sasuke punched him.

"Let's just spar," Shikamaru sighed again, crossing his arms behind his head, an action that mirrored Naruto, "What a drag; I was hoping to rest."

Kiba got to his feet and belted on his shuriken holster and his kunai pouch while his gigantic, fuzzy companion raising his head to glance at his packmate and alpha. "Well, if it's an open match," the Inuzuka teenager said, waggling his eyebrows with a saucy grin, "Lee, I'll take you on!"

As Kiba and Lee began to spar, Sakura snuck a glance at Sasuke out of the corner of her eye as inconspicuously as she could, for he was usually very perceptive. His attention at the moment, however, was not fixed on her - to both her relief and disappointment - but instead on Lee as the energetic shinobi all but dared Neji to go up against him. She had to hide her smile; the thin line of Sasuke's mouth and the slight furrow between his eyebrows told her that Lee's actions were annoying to him. That, and the murderous glare he was throwing his way, the one that never failed to send small, involuntary shivers up her spine in anticipation. But then by chance, Sasuke's gaze left Lee's and settled on her. Sakura didn't look away, knowing that the damage was already done. Instead of smirking, Sasuke's expression was... confused. Puzzled. Completely contradictory of the predatory smile he had given her after their spar...

She offered a hesitant smile his way before quickly averting her eyes and turning back towards the others. But for long moments after she had looked away, Sakura felt his eyes on her. Great... he knew she had been staring...

Their relationship had always been undefined. Sakura had no way of knowing what she was to him, if anything. She was a teammate, sure, but was she a friend? Acquaintance? Did he respect her abilities as a kunoichi? Did he realize how hard she had worked just to be recognized? He had turned down the power offered him by Orochimaru, and even the private teacher Tsunade-sama had offered, so Sasuke had to care a little to remain in Konoha and wait to go after Itachi until he was ready!

Maybe he wanted someone beautiful...stunning... Sakura knew she was decent looking, almost plain if not for the vibrant green of her eyes of the cool pink of her hair, but was she remarkable enough to be able to turn the head of the stoic Uchiha?

Sasuke had made it abundantly clear years ago that he had just two goals: slay Uchiha Itachi and restore the Uchiha Clan to its original splendor. Even though Sakura knew she could never be with Sasuke unless he truly cared for her, she couldn't help but wonder if Sasuke had ever considered her as a possibility for a wife. She may not know how to arrange flowers or even cook proficiently, but she did know how to defend herself and the ones she loved! A fault of hers could be said that she was too loyal in some respects - evident in the long shifts she would pull at the hospital until she nearly collapsed from chakra depletion or the fact that even though he had never encouraged her at all, Haruno Sakura was still in love with Uchiha Sasuke?

Sneakily, Sakura glanced back over at her dark-haired teammate when she didn't feel his dark stare on her. The way his onyx eyes glinted as he plotted inside his head, watching the strategies of both Rock Lee and Kiba and Akamaru as they sparred and making a mental note on any flaws or weaknesses caused her heart to clench painfully inside her chest. His aristocratic features were shadowed by the fire, throwing his face into sharp contrast until it seemed his eyes glowed.

She longed to be at his side...she longed to feel his arms wrapped around her tightly, the feel of his skin on hers... and she wanted his trust. She wanted to be the one he turned to when he was unsure, longed to be the one he would confide in. But maybe she was just kidding herself. After all, that wasn't Sasuke, at least not the one the world knew. A tangled mystery lay behind that apathetic facade, and Sakura was determined to break his defenses down. If hers weren't already so vulnerable against his mere presence.

Sakura got to her feet abruptly, causing Neji to glance up at her inquiringly. "Where are you going?" he asked as she hesitated slightly, unsure why she had stood up. The others turned to look at them at the sound of the Hyuuga's voice, sans Kiba and Lee. Sakura could feel Sasuke's gaze especially, hard and unyielding as he stared at her.

"I'll be right back," she excused herself hastily, "I, uh, need to check something."

Shikamaru nodded, though the gleam in his sharp eyes told her he was skeptical. "Alright."

She hoped that as she ambled away from the group that they did not see the tense line of her shoulders or realize that her retreat had been rather hasty. Now alone in the cool twilight air, Sakura took a deep breath and sighed. "I can't let this affect me," she told herself in disappointment, "My friends are here, and the only thing I can think about is him. The mission comes first..."

Sakura didn't make it very far before she heard the telltale scuffs of footsteps against the dry earth. She closed her eyes and sent a small thread of chakra out to see who it was and immediately choked. "What are you doing here?" she muttered to Sasuke in annoyance, praying to Kami he didn't notice the red that flamed on her cheeks or the subtle shaking of her hands. Quickly she pressed them together.

He halted a couple feet away from her. "What's wrong?" he demanded gruffly, crossing his arms in that patronizing manner of his that never failed to annoy her. Sasuke awkwardly waited, refusing to meet her eyes. Sakura knew that he was not good at social interaction, and trying to figure out what was wrong subtly was never going to be one of his strengths.

Sakura huffed and began to walk away from him. "Nothing." Her ears furiously listened for any sound, any sense of movement from him, but for a few long moments, he remained perfectly motionless, no doubt watching her back retreat further and further into the night.

"Fine!" Sasuke spat after her, and then a second later, she heard his feet crunching their way across the scratchy undergrowth and sands of the desert. He headed back to the cave, however, not back towards their friends and fellow shinobi.

Sakura blinked furiously as tears began to form in her eyes. What was wrong with her? She should be happy! Shikamaru and Neji were here, and having Kiba and Rock Lee along as well would keep Naruto busy and give her some time with the two strategists of the Konoha Twelve. Right now, Lord Igarashi and his men were planning an invasion, most likely now with the help of Kakashi, who, if she was correct, was now joining them in the cave. And Sasuke too, she was sure, would have some input. And as soon as they captured Maeno Montaro, this mission would be over!

Well, the least she could do was find Shikamaru and Neji. She had longed to spend time with her friends and sparring partners for this entire mission, only if Neji's sarcastic humor and Shikamaru's blunt observations allowed her to relax in their company. It took the guesswork out of dealing with Sasuke, anyways. But before Sakura could find the two jounin, they found her.

"Kakashi-san called us," Neji informed her promptly, already turned towards the cave. She smiled; after growing close to the Hyuuga genius, she could read his emotions despite his apathetic appearance that gave no hint to what he was feeling. Right now Neji was irritated and tired, not to mention edgy, noticeable only by the slight tension of his shoulders.

Shikamaru shook his head as they began to walk back. "What a drag," he sighed, "I wanted to talk about the mission in the morning."

Sakura smiled at them. "I guess Igarashi-sama found it important to tell you. After all, I know we're going to have to infiltrate Iwate within the week. The supplies for the camp won't last too much longer, not to mention the fact that if we stay here for more than a week, there is the possibility that Maeno will send more shinobi to try and eliminate the threat we pose."

Neji appeared at her other side and casually tugged on a lock of pink hair. Sakura suddenly felt dwarfed, standing between two shinobi masterminds who both were at least a head taller. If the landscape wasn't so distinctly different from the temperate climate of Konoha, she would have thought she was merely walking through the training grounds with her two friends. But there were no trees, no grass, none of the undergrowth that made up the fast forests surrounding Konoha. The river that flowed through the center of the village was absent, and the houses upon houses and the numerous restaurants, food stands and scroll shops were nowhere to be seen.

Sakura was suddenly hid with a bout of home sickness as they continued back to the cave for the first time on this mission. She missed being able to go home to her apartment and fix herself something to eat before collapsing onto the couch in front of the television and spending the remainder of the night there, either alone or with Naruto, who lived only two blocks down. She missed having the lunch dates with Ino, Hinata and Tenten, and she missed finding Kakashi snooping outside of the book shop, waiting frantically for the new Icha Icha to be brought up from the storeroom.

And hell, she even missed spending training sessions with Sasuke. At least she was positive she would see him every morning when Team 7 met at the bridge. Here, they had been forced to spend hours upon hours together because of the mission, not because Sasuke wanted to be in their company for prolonged periods of time.

A sudden arm that wrapped around her shoulders broke her out of her thoughts. Sakura glanced up at Shikamaru, who was frowning down at her. "You think too much, Sakura. Besides, I know what you're thinking of."

Sakura nearly choked. "Y-You do?"

The dark haired Nara smirked. "We know you too well. When are you going to give up on Uchiha?"

"There you are!" Naruto called out, running through the dark towards them, panting, "Kaka-sensei told me to come get you! He said to stop fooling around, it's important-" Once he reached them, his bright cerulean eyes fixed on Sakura's face. "Hey, you okay, Sakura-chan?" He pried Shikamaru's arm off of her and slipped his own arms around her comfortingly.

Sakura closed her eyes and turned her head away, though she didn't make any move to escape from Naruto's tight, brotherly embrace. Why was she so easy to read?

"What did you do?" Naruto demanded to Neji, who immediately glowered at the younger shinobi.

The Hyuuga shinobi merely shook his head. "Why did you automatically think that I upset Sakura?" Neji crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. "We'll discuss it later. Kakashi-san is waiting for us."

Silently the four shinobi made their way to the cave, where the remainder of their companions were waiting for them. Kakashi was the only one who was standing, looking uncharacteristically tense as his lone eye glared at his surroundings. "In two days time, Iwate will be Igarashi-san's once more," he said without ado as soon as they were in earshot, "No jutsu, no using chakra. We will need to be in top condition. On dawn of the third day, we attack. There will be two teams; Team Alpha and Team Beta. Team Alpha will enter the outer ring of the financial and government districts and search for Maeno and eliminate any threat. Team Beta will sneak into the control tower and activate the gate control, allowing Team Alpha to slip inside to the inner government ring to seize control of it, and Team Beta will provide assistance and necessary diversions when necessary, as well as gathering any intelligence on Maeno Montaro's location, if it happens to change. I won't lie to you; both missions are going to be close to impossible."

"Why do you say that?" Neji asked, pale eyes flickering in the darkness.

"Igarashi-san just informed me that he has a contact in Iwate. Maeno spends his days in the government district, in one of the meeting rooms in the inner ring. According to this contact, Sound shinobi patrol along both rings of the government and financial districts in squads of six. We'll be lucky to make it through there alive. Right now, Igarashi-san and I are working to find some way around. Shikamaru, I require your assistance as well. I will lead Team Alpha, you will lead Team Beta. Understood?"

"Hai, hai," the lazy jounin said, "Just tell me what I have to do."

Naruto stepped forward, a frown on his face. "Who will make up the teams?" he asked uncertainly.

Kakashi sighed at this. "I've made my choice already, Naruto, and Igarashi agreed based on my description of each shinobi here. Naruto, you, Rock Lee and Kiba will be on Team Alpha, my squad. Sakura, Shikamaru, Neji and Sasuke will make up Team Beta."

"You can't just split up Team 7!" Naruto shouted angrily, "We work best when we're together!"

"That is true, but the teams were designed specifically by their talents. Team Alpha was designed to be able to be able to handle the most resistance, while Team Beta was designed to be able to slip into Iwate undetected. Naruto, besides myself, you have the largest reserve of chakra, and your Kage Bunshin no jutsu is perfect for our job. Kiba and Akamaru have a strong bond, which enables them to effectively eliminate enemy shinobi together. And Rock Lee is an exceptional shinobi for his taijutsu alone. We need the combination of all of these skills to be able to succeed, for where you and Kiba have a large amount of jutsu, your lack of taijutsu is balanced by Lee's skill."

Naruto was placated, but only slightly. "Well, what about Team Beta?"

"Sakura is very skilled with genjutsu, which makes her the ideal choice to neutralize guards without causing a ruckus. She also can use her chakra to knock through doors, steel or wood, very easily. Neji and his Byakugan will make sure that Team Beta can slip through the inner ring of the financial and government districts to reach the gate tower without running into trouble. If necessary, Sasuke is there to handle any guards with his Sharingan which, as we know, is deadly. Not to mention Shikamaru, who will be the squad leader, who can think his way out of anything and can immobilize guards with his Shadow Bind."

Sakura gasped as Naruto suddenly grabbed her tightly. "Sakura-chan," he murmured into her neck, "I'll kick your ass if anything happens to you or Sasuke."

She merely laughed. "Right back at you, Naruto-baka."

Over Naruto's shoulder, she met the hard gaze of Sasuke. He nodded his head once at her in affirmation of Naruto's statement: Sasuke's own way of telling her that they had all better be careful.

-

The next two days, on Kakashi's orders, Team 7 and the jounin squad rested. The hours passed by far too quickly for Sakura; she enjoyed the time she spent with friends she hadn't seen for many weeks due to her hectic hospital shifts and the unpredictability of missions. But underneath the jokes and conversations, there was an undercurrent of tension and anxiety that hung over Igarashi's camp. Behind the mens' cheerful and friendly facades, there was fear. Fear that Maeno would survive their attack, fear that families would forever be separated. And now, Maeno knew shinobi were present in Wind Country. Their enemy knew they were coming, and they would be waiting for them.

It was near dusk on the second day when Sakura considered it safe enough to find the Icha Icha book she had hidden deep within the confines of her pack. Naruto was napping quietly beside her in his bedroll, one arm thrown haphazardly over his eyes. After making sure he was actually asleep and after scanning the wave with her chakra for any other chakra signatures - especially the elusive dark-haired teammate of hers that had disappeared off the face of the earth after Shikamaru, Neji, Kiba and Lee arrived- Sakura silently dug into her pack and took out that small orange book that had plagued her thoughts. Hesitantly, Sakura opened to a random, illustrated page near the middle of the book. Here, the woman was holding on to her handsome partner as the man pressed kisses against her naked body... Sakura felt a hot blush spread across her cheeks, mortified and fascinated at the same time. But to make it worse, her treacherous brain caused the picture to shift... and instead of the blond man kissing the brunette's body, it was Sasuke, kissing her own...

"C'mon baby," she breathed, tangling her fingers in his thick hair, "Let's go somewhere else, where they can't find us..."

He growled against her skin, licking and nipping lightly down her navel. "I don't care if they find us. You're mine, and I want everyone to know that."

Snap!

Sakura threw the closed book back in her bag and threw her spare set of clothing over it in a huff. She couldn't believe that she had just imagined that! Kakashi was a horrible influence, and she was going to tell him that immediately and demand that he take his perverted, disgusting book back and never let her lay eyes on it again-

But then she sighed. She was the one who wanted to learn more about... passionate encounters. That was probably the one thing in life that she was absolutely clueless about, apart from the medical perspective of intercourse and what came out of it. Ino had told her of her...adventures with the other sex, but Sakura knew that everything was over-exaggerated... As for her...well, she hadn't even been kissed before. At seventeen, that was just odd.

Sakura was just about to retrieve the Icha Icha book again when a shadow fell over her and Naruto's sleeping form. Glancing up, she was surprised to see Sasuke standing over her, his hands shoved deeply in his pockets.

"S-Sasuke," she started, "What're you doing here?"

He scoffed. "I can't spend time with my team?" he asked coldly, though the way he kicked at a rock with his foot betrayed the awkwardness and tension of the situation. Without waiting for a response, the Uchiha sat down in front of her and leaned forward to hit Naruto's leg roughly. The blond merely grumbled and turned away from them with a soft, sleepy sigh. When the action failed to cause the desired response, Sasuke too sighed and made himself comfortable.

For a couple of moments, they were both silent. Sakura waited for Sasuke to breach the silence, unsure what to say or do that wouldn't scare off her reticent, reclusive teammate. But the dark haired Uchiha seemed content to merely be in her and Naruto's presence; he had taken out his kunai and katana and began sharpening them.

Sakura, who had been eyeing him tentatively, was about to grab her pack and take out her own weapons for maintenance when Sasuke's voice stopped her.

"What are your parents like?" Sasuke asked quietly, running the sharpening stone down the sharp side of his katana carefully and efficiently. He paused for a moment to test the blade against his thumb, then, dissatisfied, ran the stone along its edge again, waiting calmly for Sakura to respond.

If Sakura hadn't seen his lips move along with his words, she would have sworn that she was imagining things. "Well," she began softly, "My mom is pretty normal, I guess. She likes to cook, and her garden is beautiful. When I was young we used to garden together. That's how I know so much about different kinds of medicinal herbs- Mom taught me. After I moved into my own apartment, she moved next to the Yamanaka family; I still see her about twice a week. Her and Ino's mom are childhood friends, so at least she isn't alone."

"What about your father?" he probed.

Sakura shrugged lightly. "My father hasn't been around for a long time. He left my mom and I when I was three, so I don't really remember him or know what he looks like, except for the pictures Mom keeps in her bedroom. Mom told me he was sent on a mission and never came back. Actually, Tsunade-sama let me look in the records of all active shinobi, and he was listed as MIA, not KIA. I guess Mom still hopes that he'll come back, even though its been nearly fourteen years."

Sasuke looked up from his task and met her eyes, his gaze rather soft. "I'm... I'm sorry."

"It's okay, really," Sakura assured him gently, turning a kunai over in her hands to inspect the hilt, "I didn't really know him, so there isn't really anyone to miss."

He reached out a calloused, tanned hand, and for a moment, Sakura was confused as to what Sasuke wanted. But when he put aside his katana, she realized he was silently offering to inspect her weapons for her and sharpen them. She handed them over with a soft, "Thank you."

"What... what were your parents like?" Sakura asked hesitantly, wincing inwardly as he tensed visibly. For a terrible moment, she feared she had gone too far and pried into business that shouldn't concern her anyway. She wasn't ignorant; she knew what had happened that night, she knew all about the Uchiha massacre.

Just when Sakura opened her mouth to apologize, Sasuke answered. "My father was always busy with the police force... and with Itachi." The name was spat out bitterly. "He taught me how to throw kunai when I was five, but... I still rarely saw him." The words began to rush quickly out of Sasuke's mouth, as though it was relieving to speak of his childhood. "My mother, though, was always around. She taught me to read and write when Father was out... Mother liked to garden, too. Ours was very beautiful, and we would always bring the flowers to my aunts and grandmothers after Clan meetings."

She smiled at him. "What did she look like?"

Sasuke turned his head to look at her again, his expression thoughtful and slightly sad. "She had long, black hair... and very blue eyes. When she was angry, they were like ice. But when she smiled, everyone else smiled."

"She sounds very lovely," Sakura assured him, "I'm sure she loved you very much."

Sasuke nodded, then glanced over at her beseechingly. "Do you... do you think that they would understand? That I need to - to kill Itachi?"

Sakura was speechless for a moment, trying to wrack her brain for something to say to him. Here he was, Sasuke, lowering his defenses and showing her a side of himself that he usually kept locked far inside behind a cool, collected facade... "Yes," she answered honestly, "They would understand. They loved you."

"Yeah," Sasuke sighed, looking back to the kunai lying scattered around him in a heap, "I... I wish I had known. Who he really was... what he was really like. Then... then maybe I could have stopped them."

Sakura was silent; her nerves hummed agitatedly, and hastily, she spluttered out, "Will you take us with?"

His mouth fell open slightly. "W-what?" he asked, obviously confused.

"When you go to kill Itachi... will you take us with?"

"Why?" The defenses were back in place, for the emotion in his eyes disappeared as cold replaced it. His scarred hands gripped the handle of the kunai until his knuckles turned white with the pressure.

"Friends help friends!" she cried out, throwing aside her back to scramble to her feet, "Naruto and I, we can help you! You won't have to be alone when you face your brother! We can help you!"

Anger flared up in his face. "I don't need your help," he spat out, though his hands were steady as he sheathed his katana and handed over her kunai, "I have to face him alone." He got to his feet to leave.

"No, you don't," Sakura said, reaching out to grab his arm, "Sasuke, listen to me! Naruto and I, we care about you! Revenge isn't going to bring you the peace you want, living will! Itachi is an S-class nin, Sasuke! No matter how strong you get, Itachi will always have more experience. But with Naruto and me, we can take him down together, and you can avenge your family!"

Sasuke was frozen where he stood, his eyes fixed firmly ahead of him.

The silence was broken by a sleepy whisper. "Wha's goin' on?" Naruto mumbled.

"Nothing." Sasuke broke free of Sakura's grasp and disappeared. She didn't see him for the remainder of the night.

-

It was time.

Sakura got to her feet, fully clothed in her shinobi gear. Her pack was strapped firmly on her shoulders, carrying only her most important antidotes and weaponry. She checked the ties on her boots and double checked that her senbon were safely in their holster on the top hidden strap of her right boot. These senbon were dangerous; they each were dipped in a sedative strong enough to drop two Kakashis' worth of shinobi. She hated killing, so these were a rather reasonable alternative to ending a life. These would be used to successfully stop any civilian guards on their way to the control tower.

She swallowed thickly as Naruto came up to her. Don't cry, she told herself as she saw tears well up in her teammate's blue eyes. Naruto threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly, a hug which she returned just as fervently. This would be the first time that she would be apart from Naruto - on a mission anyway - and even the fact that Kakashi-sensei wasn't going to be with them left a small ache in her chest of worry. She'd rather have the two in her sight so she could keep them out of trouble!

"We'll be okay," Naruto mumbled into her shoulder quietly, then released her to look at her. "Take care of Sasuke-teme for me, will yah?"

Sakura managed a shaky laugh. "If Kaka-sensei goes comatose, I'm holding it against you! But if you all come back with only minor injuries, I'll treat you to as many bowls of ramen you'd like! You can even host a wild party at my apartment"

Kakashi came up from behind them, his lone eye wide. "Sakura, that's a lot of money. I hope you know what you're doing!" His tone betrayed his amusement. "I've finally gotten used to having you kids around; let's keep it that way."

Sakura hugged him. "Don't worry, sensei, we've gotten used to having porn around us."

His eye crinkled at her little hint. "I'm glad."

Shikamaru and Lee arrived moments later, both dressed and ready to go. Sakura's heart clenched at the sight of them, knowing that Team 7 only had mere minutes before the attack would commence. This was it, the moment that they had been waiting for, through tears and blood and sweat.

Wildly, Sakura looked around for Sasuke. It was now... or never. This wasn't just a practice session where everyone would return to their homes when it was over, and there would be no buffers or friendly competition. There would be sharp kunai and weapons thrown to kill, wild flurries of ninjutsu and taijutsu, anything to beat the enemy to merely stay alive-

When Sasuke walked slowly out into the morning light, Sakura felt her heart clench in her chest for the second time that morning. He glanced over where the remainder of Team 7 stood and hesitated, as if he were unsure whether he were welcome or not. Naruto was the first to move, grabbing Sasuke's arm and dragging him into a hug. "Teme," he laughed, "Keep Sakura-chan safe."

Sakura snorted. "I can take care of myself, Naruto."

Sasuke glanced over at her. "I'll look after her if she looks after me." His lips twitched slightly in a tiny smile that Sakura couldn't help but return.

When Naruto finally released Sasuke, Sakura nearly jumped at the opportunity. Without a second thought, she threw her arms around his neck and embraced him tightly. For a moment, nothing happened, but then she felt his large hands rest gently on her back. Inside, she was grinning from ear to ear; outside, she managed to keep her expression neutral.

The odd look in Sasuke's eyes when they parted caused Sakura to catch her breath; she didn't know what it meant. In a flash, whatever that look meant was gone when Neji and Kiba - along with the gigantic Akamaru - joined the group. Kiba walked over to where Team 7 stood and clapped Naruto affectionately on the back. "I would tell you to 'take care', but since you're gonna be with me, you'll be fine," he teased. The Inuzuka teenager nodded at Sasuke and Kakashi, then hugged Sakura. "I will tell you to take care, Sakura. We'll see you on the other side."

Sakura smiled weakly back at him, suddenly wishing they were going to the bar for drinks instead of going on a mission that could bring them to their deaths. "Sounds good, Kiba." She knelt down to bury her hands in Akamaru's shaggy fur and said goodbye to Kiba's furry companion as well. Akamaru yipped and licked her.

"Sakura-san!" Lee called, pulling her to her feet while she inwardly cringed, "My cherry blossom, we will be triumphant and return Iwate to its legendary and honorable leader! I know I am leaving you in good hands, Sakura-san!" His teeth flashed in a grin, and for the thousandth time, Sakura wondered with a touch of envy how he kept his teeth so white and shiny.

She smiled tightly. I can take care of myself! "Take care, Lee."

Reluctantly, Sakura cast one bright, cheery smile towards her teammates, closing her eyes against her sudden tears. Never had a mission seemed so utterly hopeless to her, even with the arrival of four friends and fellow shinobi. She felt like this was the end, and sincerely hoped that her intuition was wrong. It was going to be odd, working as a squad without Naruto and Kakashi. She had trained with Neji and Shikamaru before and knew of their skills and prowess, but fighting alongside them was a far different story. Sasuke, too, usually would be seen at the front of a fray, while Sakura, though her punches and chakra control required her to fight at a close range, her most deadly specialty - her skill with genjutsu - required her to be far from a battle for her concentration. Pairing with Shikamaru would be a good idea, while Neji and Sasuke would work off of each other.

She walked over to Shikamaru nodded at him before turning around to gaze longingly at Kakashi and Naruto. Naruto sent a weak smile her way, looking just as lonely and isolated as she felt. Neji placed a hand on her shoulder, a subtle encouragement that he would never voice. Sasuke joined them, his dark eyes glued to the desert ground. He obviously was not happy with the arrangement either.

But there was no time for any more talking; Kakashi walked around, passing out microphones so that Team Alpha and Beta could communicate on the same level. "Make sure to turn the volume down," he added with a roughish wink as they hooked the mikes around their ears.

A voice from their right commanded immediate attention. Lord Igarashi stood there, looking more like the man they had first met than the one they saw after the attack on his people. Once more, his clothing was immaculate, his hair braided down his back. Nothing was out of place except for the graveness in his slightly wrinkled face. "May Kami watch over you and guide you," he said quietly, "Fate is on our side. Evil is not meant to endure, and suffering is meant to be brought to an end. I only wish for the happiness and contentment of my people. And I thank you, shinobi from Konoha, for your help in my endeavor."

The eight shinobi bowed respectfully in return to Lord Igarashi. "We will take Iwate for you," Naruto promised, his blue eyes glittering in his tanned face, "I promise that, Igarashi-san."

-

Sneaking into Iwate was surprisingly - and suspiciously - rather simple. Team Beta was the first to move out, as their goal was to secure the defense tower and unlock the gates to the inner offices of the government district, where Maeno was most likely to be working, according to Igarashi's mysterious contact. They had made it through the first gate of Iwate undetected; the amount of bustling people in the streets hurrying to work made it rather easy to blend in with the crowd, even in their shinobi gear and even with Sakura's rather conspicuous pink hair.

Shikamaru, leading Team Beta, held up a fist: the signal to stop. Sakura crouched down behind a crate, peering around at their surroundings and wondering why they had stopped. Neji too, confused, activated his Byakugan immediately. "Nothing," he whispered, "All clear."

With a nod of the Nara genius' head, Team Beta was on the move again. Sakura fell behind slightly, allowing Sasuke to follow Neji as she took the back of the line. He glanced at her curiously, but anything he was about to say was cut off when Team Beta felt a large chakra signature blossom in the air and stopped dead.

"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, lighting his cigarette and taking a few deep puffs of it.

"What the hell?" Sakura hissed, hand immediately inching towards her shuriken pouch, "Where are they?"

Neji shook his head furiously. "I don't see anything, but I can sense it. The signature must be coming from a distance away. I hope Team ALpha hasn't encountered any trouble yet."

"Team Alpha, come in," Shikamaru muttered into his microphone, "Everything clear over there?"

The communications link was silent for a few moments. Sakura sighed in relief as Kakashi's voice came in. "We're fine, Beta. Our presence hasn't been detected yet. We're past the first ring of the government district; are you close to the Tower?"

"Two hundred meters," Sasuke answered, his gaze red with his Sharingan. Sakura glanced over at him; every muscle in his body was tensed and ready to fight. The strong flare of chakra had every hair on her body standing on end, and even Shikamaru was moving his weight from side to side, clearly unsettled. Only Neji remained still, though he too was scouring the area for any trace of the shinobi.

"Shikamaru?" Sakura pressed, "Should we keep going?"

The Nara nodded. "We don't know where that chakra signature came from, but if it hasn't spotted us, then maybe we can avoid whoever it is. Let's just continue and open the gates for Team Alpha, then get the hell out of here."

The three teenagers nodded, then swiftly followed Shikamaru to the tower. They circled the tower twice in an attempt to find an entrance, but there wasn't one. Surprised, Sakura stopped and pressed her hand against the wall of the tower. A strange tingling sensation travelled through her arm and hastily, she yanked it away. "Anti-chakra walls," she whispered angrily, "We can't climb, there are no doors, and the nearest window is too far away. How do we get in?"

Neji had the answer. "Sasuke, climb on my back," he commanded, and surprisingly, the Uchiha nodded without question. "Now, Shikamaru, then Sakura." Using the wall to brace himself, Neji held strong as first Sasuke, then Shikamaru, stood upon his shoulders. With help from Sasuke, Shikamaru climbed up on Sasuke's shoulders. "Sakura, you're next," the Hyuuga grunted.

She pulled a face, then as carefully as she could, hoisted herself up against Neji. "Sorry," she muttered as she accidentally hit his face with her knee. Sakura was forced to grab onto Sasuke or fall over backwards; her face was now pressed into his stomach. Ignoring the sudden fluttering in her stomach and the heat from his body that was seeping into hers, she quickly stood on Sasuke's shoulders as Shikamaru made room for her.

"Okay, Sakura, when you get on my shoulders, you'll be able to grab the window, then pull us up," Sasuke said from underneath her. Sakura was glad that she had not worn her skirt today; she didn't want anything...embarrassing... to occur.

Finally, she reached the window, and pulled herself through it, thankful that it was open slightly already. Turning around immediately, she grabbed onto Shikamaru's large hands and yanked the skinny teen through, grabbed onto Sasuke's larger hands after her teammate released Shikamaru and, with help from Shikamaru, managed to pull Sasuke and a slightly disgruntled Hyuuga through the window.

Sakura suddenly frowned. The control room was completely empty.

Shikamaru inspected one of the screens. "That's odd," he commented dryly, "I can't believe that there isn't anyone around."

"Neither can I," Sasuke said, taking out a handful of kunai and crouching down in a defensive position, "Hurry, Nara. I don't like this."

"Hai, hai," the Nara genius sighed lazily, then sat down in one of the chairs and glanced at the vast board in front of him. There were lights and buttons of all colors, as well as some handles that had words such as "Fifth Level" and "Basement" on them. Whatever they were for, Sakura had no idea.

There was silence for a few moments as Shikamaru scrambled to figure out what was what.

Sakura grinned at Neji as he scowled off into the distance, his Byakugan activated. "Oh, come on," she teased quietly, "This'll be a nice change from hanging out at the Hyuuga compound all day!"

She received a small smile from the Hyuuga genius before he turned back to scouting the area to the east of their espionage group. "If you say so, Sakura," he drawled, "We're okay, Nara. All I sense are personnel moving in the building beneath us, and a couple of birds in the rafters across from us." Sakura watched him, fascinated; it was incredible how the Byakugan could be used to see any trace of movement over vast distances!

"Be quiet, you two," Shikamaru snapped from the corner of the room, playing with the controls of the gate, "I'm trying to concentrate." Growling, Shikamaru spit out his cigarette and quickly tapped a series of buttons. One light pinged green- one of the security override passwords had worked!

"Sorry," Sakura whispered back, smiling at her lazy friend. Sasuke, she noticed, looked slightly put-out with the good-natured bickering between them. He obviously hadn't thought that they were comfortable joking around each other, even though he knew they usually practiced together daily. Instead, the Uchiha busied himself with rigging the doorway; if any shinobi came to investigate, charges strong enough to completely knock down the tower would go off. Sakura hoped they were far away if - when - that happened.

Just then, another green light flashed: the second password had accessed the controls to the gate! "Let's go!" Shikamaru commanded, and the four-unit team hurdled out of the tower and back into the dark, endless network of corridors. "Team Alpha! Team Alpha, come in! All clear, I repeat, all clear! Gate controls activated and unlocked! The inner chambers are open! All exits to Iwate are also blocked! Team Beta to destination point two!"

"Thanks for the heads up, Beta," Kakashi muttered over the communications link, "Alpha is now heading to destination point one. Be advised, enemy shinobi have been spotted heading to your location-"

"Time to leave!" Neji cried, slamming open a door and hastily scanning the corridor for any signs of life or traps, "Alpha, I repeat, Beta now heading to destination two! How many are headed our way?"

The communications link went mysteriously silent.

For five minutes, all Sakura saw was door after door. What could all these rooms be used for? she thought. Then, a faint trace of something pricked her awareness. "Stop!" Sakura cried, flinging her arm out. Sasuke collided into her, and she was shoved forward a couple of feet with the force of his body hitting hers. Sakura was forced to grab onto his shoulder to steady herself as he grabbed her wrist to avoid falling over. "Genjutsu!" It was only then they realized that they had been holding onto each other; Sasuke shoved her away, his cheeks tinged red.

Shikamaru immediately began the release seals. "Kai!" he shouted, and with a gust of air, the dark gloom left the corridor and the illusions dissolved. Instead of the hallways filled with office rooms, they had emerged into the mess hall, and what looked like a dining room to the right.

"Where are we?" Neji grumbled, already surveying the surrounding area.

Sakura frowned. "I think we're back near the inner part of the building. Wait... I recognize the hall from Igarashi-san's description! Dammit, we've gone too far! We need to head west; his chambers are that way!"

Again, they took to flight, retracing their steps at an alarming speed for any civilian. Mere moments later, Neji halted them. "There! Through that corridor!"

"Hang on!" Sasuke called, grabbing Neji's arm as he moved to pass him, "I'll check the courtyard and secure it; we could be walking into a trap!"

Sakura growled. "Shikamaru, go with Sasuke! We have no time to waste! Neji, c'mon, let's go!"

With a nod, Shikamaru and Sasuke separated from them and ran down the opposite corridor. She watched them go, hoping that they would not walk straight into an ambush of Maeno's men. Then again, she hoped that her and Neji didn't walk into a trap either.

"Wait," Neji said when they reached the gold gilded door at the end of the vast hallway. Sakura frowned and glanced at him, but then immediately complied as the Hyuuga, his Byagukan activated, threw a kunai at the door, an exploding tag flailing along behind it. A split second later, there was a flash of light and the sound of wood splintering as the door was blasted into oblivion. Uncovering her eyes, Sakura kicked away the remains of the door and entered the room, kunai in one hand and chakra forming a second blade in her other hand. Neji was right behind her.

But when the dust finally cleared, all Sakura saw were expensive furnishings, an oversized, canopy bed and a now destroyed, dark chest that had blocked the door. Maeno had disappeared. A second glance at the armoire in the far right corner told Sakura that their prey had scrambled around for his belongings, for an empty katana scabbard and a few pieces of paper were all that remained.

"He was here," Neji growled, kicking away a piece of wood that lay in his path, "He ran."

"Where did he go?" Sakura asked frantically, racing over to another door and kicking it open. She was hoping to find another exit to the long corridors, but only found an empty bathroom. "Dammit!"

While Sakura kicked around in the bathroom, Neji was surveying the building with his Byakugan. "I sense him, but its faint. I can't tell where he is going, but I know where he was! He must have cloaked his chakra signature. I can still sense him, but only just. Like a whisper."

Just then, Shikamaru and Sasuke burst into the room, out of breath. "The courtyard was clean," Sasuke panted, brushing hair back from his eyes, "Did you find anything here?"

Sakura shook her head, and Shikamaru sighed. "Nothing."

"Well, what do we do now?"

Neji's question was suddenly answered.

"Team Beta, can you hear me?" Kakashi called over the microphone, the speaker crackling and popping, "The financial district was clean, but Sound shinobi have blocked our way; six have stayed to stall us, and six others went with Maeno! They are headed to the West Gate! Transportation is waiting for him there to get him out of Iwate! Dammit! You need to take him down! What- oh shit! Naruto, I need-"

The message cut out and turned to static.

Sakura turned to stare imploringly at Shikamaru. "We can't just leave Kakashi and the others there without backup!" she cried, "I know finding Maeno is our priority, but those who don't help their teammates are worse than trash!"

The Nara genius pinched the bridge of his nose and clenched his eyes tightly shut. Sakura was silent, knowing he was trying to come up with an idea that would work for this situation; she glanced over at Sasuke and Neji, who were standing still, waiting for orders. Sasuke looked over at her and gently, awkwardly, placed his hand on her shoulder. "Kakashi and Naruto are strong, and Lee and Kiba aren't pushovers either. We're not leaving without them, I promise, Sakura."

Shikamaru's eyes snapped open. "Sasuke, you and I will go find Team Alpha," he snapped decisively, his dark eyes hard and sharp, "Sakura, you and Neji will track Maeno. You will need the Byakugan to help, and you two are best matched in terms of your fighting styles. As soon as Team Alpha is free, we will join up with you and find Maeno Montaro together. Do not take on Maeno yourselves. Understood?"

The three nodded, but no one moved yet.

Sakura wrapped her arms around Shikamaru and hugged him tightly. "You be careful, you lazy arse," she whispered teasingly, "Or I will tell Ino about your so-called heroics."

Shikamaru chuckled. "Maa maa, she'd kill me. Remember what I told you." Always wait for your opponent to make the first move. With a nod to Neji, he turned around, clapped Sasuke on the back, and then snuck out of Maeno's chambers into the next corridor to scan the area while Sasuke said his goodbyes.

Hands firmly grabbed her shoulders and spun her around, and when Sakura looked up, she met the blood-red irises of the Sharingan. "Sakura," Sasuke murmured, staring down at her, "Be careful." His dark eyes despite the Sharingan, she noticed, were unnaturally warm and steady.

She smiled up at him, though it wavered slightly. "I've got Neji with me, I'll be fine."

Sasuke intently searched her face, his grip on her shoulders loosening ever so slightly. "If anything happens to you..." he began softly, lowering his face close to hers, "I'll bring you back and kill you myself, you infuriating woman!" And then he captured her lips in a heated kiss. Sakura, stunned, merely allowed him to kiss her for a few moments before she regained her bearings and slowly kissed him back. He crushed her against him, her chest and stomach tightly pressed against his. She felt fire wherever her skin hit his, savoring every moment of it and storing it away to remember for always. It was like a blanket of warmth slipped over her at his touch.

"Sasuke..." This was... what she had always wanted. But the feel of the kiss was bittersweet; this was it, the end of the mission. It either ended in victory...or in failure. This could be their last moment together...forever. This kiss didn't feel like a beginning to something else...it felt like a goodbye.

She wasn't aware of the tears that had flooded her cheeks until Sasuke broke the kiss. He glanced down at her encouragingly, his eyes conveying what his face didn't as a rough thumb brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face. "Don't cry," he murmured awkwardly.

"Sakura," a voice interrupted them sharply, and Neji appeared in the doorway. "We have to go," the Hyuuga added gently as he took in their disheveled appearance and proximity. Sasuke looked over at Neji, and some understanding must have passed between them, for Neji nodded once, his eyes grim.

"Sasuke!" she choked out after a tense moment, "Take care of yourself!"

With one last, swift kiss, Sasuke released her and followed Shikamaru around the corridor, disappearing into the darkness. Sakura stared after him for long moments after he was gone for sight, unable to command her body to move. "Kami," she whispered heatedly, "We can't lose!" She squeezed her eyes shut against the new torrent of tears that threatened to erupt.

"Come," the Hyuuga said again, steering her away from the corridor, "Sakura, we have to go. Don't worry, we'll see them again." Obediently, Sakura allowed him to lead her to the end of the corridor where the halls took a sharp left turn. She hoped his words weren't empty promises. With a growing pain in her stomach from a mixture of fear and hope, Sakura followed Neji, hurdling down the murky corridors after her teammate while her heart went with Sasuke in the opposite direction.

"We can't lose."

-

Thanks for all the lovely reviews! You guys are great!

So, finally, Sasuke stops resisting Sakura's charm! About time, right? The tension was nearly unbearable for me to write. :D

I kinda lied when I said this chapter was gonna be ALL action... I hope its got enough for you! The invasion begins, but Team 7 gets separated into two squads! I decided that Kakashi, as the most experienced shinobi there, would lead one of the teams while Shikamaru would lead the other.

Any comments on the Avatar finale? I was kinda hoping the story line would shift to Zutara, but I guess having the world safe and sound is good enough! And does ANYONE know what happened to Zuko's mother? The story ended before he could find her! Gah! You think all the loose strings are gonna be tied off, then BAM! The end.

Heh, enough of an author's rant. Please, read and review!