Chapter Seventeen
Unexpected Turn of Events
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Konoha no Sato
Konoha during the fall season was beautiful, the colors that surrounded the village and the weather that passed into the country was perfect. The nights chilled to the point of a nice sweater, the days warm enough to wear mesh tops and spaghetti straps. Konoha was beautiful truly it was Tsunade thought as she stared at the yellowed scroll in front of her.
The words inside driving her mind absolutely insane as she tried to decide whether or not she was about to make the right choice.
"Hokage-sama did you hear me?" Hyuga Hiashi asked as he kept his eerie pearl gaze on her.
"If we do this we are risking everything, we could even loose the trust of the Uchihas'." Nara Shikaku added.
"Tsunade what are you thinking?" Jiraiya asked her in a low whisper.
She hesitated before she answered. " ... How is it possible for such a beautiful country to sire such disgusting people?" She asked carefully.
"Tsunade-Hime?" Shizune asked carefully in a confused tone.
Tsunade stood up as she took in all the clan members of the village. Taking a deep breathe she began in a clear voice hoping that the outcome would be alright.
"Team Seven in coming out of retirement and with it, Haruno Sakura & Sai will be taken off the front lines, Uzumaki Naruto, Mokuton no Tenzō & Hatake Kakashi will be brought to my office immediately and Uchiha Sasuke will be brought out prison instantly. With this new development they will bring back Konoha nukenin Yakushi Kabuto for the assassination of the Fire Daimyo."
Kemuri Settlement
"Are you serious?" Sakura asked the small slug as she stared down at it with wide eyes, it was finally happening she was being brought out of hiding for a really good mission, S-Class through and through. "Hai Hime-sama, Tsunade-Hime is asking for Sai-san and yourself to return immediately." The small slug continued in that small gentle and soothing voice.
"Now what about Kemuri?" She asked suddenly giddily to be able to get back to fighting true fighting and not barking orders at other shinobi.
"She said that she will keep Uchiha-sama here to continue the negotiations." Replied the slug.
"Has Sai been informed on everything yet?" Sakura asked hoping Tsunade had sent many of the little slugs as messengers so as to not waste any time. "He's being pressed as we speak Hime-sama."
Sakura nodded her head letting the small slug know she'd heard what she said, this time though a thought flew out of her mouth. "Wait. If this is as urgent as it suppose to be how does she expect me to get there so soon."
"She's waiting for the two of you at the Swamps Hime-sama there Katsuyu will be using the Gyaku Kuchiyose no Jutsu to send the three of you all back to Konoha at the same time." The slug explained.
"I have to let Ino know then, she'll freak if I just up and disappear." Sakura said as she got up from her bed to leave her room.
"There's no time Sakura-hime-sama, we need to leave now." The small slug said. Sakura sighed before she turned away and walked over to the small slug. "Fine then lets get going."
The small slug nodded her head and with a poof of smoke Sakura found herself surrounded by large trees that nearly looked dead and were crawled upon by slithery snakes. The water deep and mucky, a blackish brown color. Sakura tried to keep in her screech, she never liked the Swamps but she kept her cool as she walked upon the water finding her way to the large temple where all the slugs were coming and going from.
The temple was beautiful but was also was quiet very repulsive as it was blanketed in layers and layers of thick greenish-yellow slime substance. Her face contorted into that of nausea and she kept her hurling in check as she walked in and found her Sensei and Sai waiting on her next to the golden alter in the far back of the one room building.
"Tsunade-sama." Sakura said as she stood next to her.
"Sakura, come we must be on our way." Tsunade said as she grabbed her shoulder and Sais' as well before nodding at Katsuyu, and they were brought to the office of the Hokage.
Ichiraku Ramen Shop, Konoha no Sato
Naruto spit his ramen out as he stared at the small slug watching as it stared at him with its' dot like eyes while it waited for him to speak.
"Seriously?!" He asked in an excited tone, everything was falling into place, and soon everything would be back to normal ... Almost everything at least, but they'd be a team again.
The slug nodded its head. "Hell yeah!" He said as he threw an arm into the air in excitement.
"Tsunade-sama has already sent another slug to inform Hyuga-san of your mission." The small slug said.
Naruto nodded his head in understanding. "Okay then let me just finish this bowl and we'll be on our wa-
-ay." Naruto said as he found himself now standing in the Hokage's office with Sakura and Sai who sat in the chairs before the Hokage's empty desk.
He stomped his feet in anger as his face grew red. "I could've at least been allowed to finish my ramen."
"Baka." Sai said as he shook his head and Sakura giggled softly at the sight of him.
Naruto smiled happily as he bounced over to Sakura in excitement and pulled her out of the chair and into a tight hug. "Sakura-chan you're back!"
Uchiha Compound, Konoha no Sato
"Are you sure about this Tsunade?" Jiraiya asked as he stopped at the gates and looked up at the gloomy grey walls, of the Uchiha Compound that was buzzing quietly with the estranged Uchiha Clan behind them.
"We have to, he and his team know the most about Kabuto as well as Orochimaru, it's the only way."
"I still suggest having a back up team." Jiraiya said.
"I'm on it, I had Kakashi and Yamato to put a team together quickly and accurately, they've already sent the dogs to the others' already, it wont be long till everyone's there."
"That girl is staying behind right?" Jiraiya asked. Tsunade replied quickly with a look of hate thinking he'd expect her to treat the red-head like a piece of trash because her apprentice didn't like her. "Of course. I can't have a pregnant woman on the field, only a monster would do such a thing."
" ..... I was only asking, don't want Sakura to kill the girl before she gives birth to Fugaku's first grandchild."
Tsunade scowled at her old teammate before her attention was diverted away by the sound of chains.
"Get those things off him now." Tsunade ordered and watched as the two Uchiha men took their time to take off the chains and handcuffs restraining Sasuke.
"I said now!" Tsunade barked angrily.
This time they hurried as they took notice of the anger in her voice. "What is going on?" Sasuke asked quietly.
"We have a mission that requires your attention." Tsunade replied.
Hokage's Office
"Sakura it's going to be so fun, Team Seven and Team Kakashi will be amazing and sooner than anyone can think we'll be unstoppable taking on only the best missions ever." Naruto continued on Sakura yawned as she waited for Tsunade to return with the her former teammate.
The door opened and she watched as Yamato enter the room along with Kakashi, and then entered Jiraiya and Tsunade, and lastly Sasuke.
This mission was going to fail horribly she knew, but she knew that if she voiced this nobody would be listening to her.
Might as well just let the plan unfold right in front of them.
A knock at the door and Tsunade allowed the people entrance. Sakura lifted a brow as she watched two of Sasukes' followers walk into the room like they owned the place, it must have been a Orochimaru henchmen trait, because obviously they were all full of themselves. 'Well the short one at least.' Sakura thought as the sword boy gave her a toothy smirk, she frowned.
This mission was going to fail so badly.
Another knock and this time her eyebrow lifted even higher as she watched Shisui, Kisame, Deidara, and Itachi walk into the room as well.
This mission was doomed.
Tsunade cleared her throat as she grabbed their attention and Sakura slumped into the chair. Trying her best to become invisible, the mission was now not looking so hot as it all came together in front of her very eyes, falling apart just as quickly.
'Might as well say 'Hey you bad guy while the lot of us are fighting amungst each other you can take the opportunity to run far far away from us if you'd like, but if you would we would truly appreciate it if ya just stood there and let us apprehend you.'" Sakura thought cynically.
It was then Tsunade decided to take the floor as she started talking. "I've called you all here today because all of you are the most familiar with Konoha nukenin Yakushi Kabuto." She paused as she looked around the room watching their reactions.
Sakura began to rub at the sides of her temple feeling the beginning of a migraine coming on.
Oh this mission was just not the kind of mission she was looking for, and Tsunade had known that, yet she still chose to put her on the team with all the guys.
"Sakura come here now." Tsunade barked. Sakura's head snapped up and she looked up Tsunade in confusion before she got up slowly. She could feel all those male eyes on her as she walked over to her Sensei, Tsunade wore a frown upon her youthful face as she watched her carefully and Sakura didn't know whether or not she should be afraid or happy at the thought of her Sensei being cautious of her.
Tsunade signaled to get closer to her and Sakura got on her knees ready for Tsunade to start whispering something to her.
" No matter how long it takes, if this mission fails, you are to abandon all of them and continue it on your own by whatever means necessary."
Sakura snapped her head up with wide hopeful eyes. Maybe it was okay if it was doomed, she could take on Kabuto by herself she'd studied hard on his profile just for an opportune moment such as this.
"Hai Hokage-sama." Sakura replied.
Tsunade smirked down at her and grasped a chunk of her hair and pulled her foreward again whispering childishly into her ear.
"When you get back you are going to tell me everything that happened between you and the U-chi-ha."
Sakura pulled away from her again before she glared at her sensei at the mention of something she was trying to forget. "Of course, let us hope I haven't forgotten by then." Sakura replied quietly not caring if anyone heard her words.
Slap! Sakura grabbed her head in pain and looked up shocked at Tsunade. "Ow!" She said, and she knew that the absurdity in her voice was amusing the others in the room.
"Oh don't you start with me young lady!" Tsunade began to reprimand.
"That hurt like hell!" Sakura replied as she rubbed her head, now she knew why Naruto ran when he got them mad, that stuff really hurt.
"Be glad I didn't ask you loudly!" Tsunade said.
"I'm glad, I'm glad!" Sakura said in a sarcastic tone as she continued to rub her at the spot where she knew a bump was beginning to take form.
"Get up and take your post behind me." Tsunade said in a more gentler voice.
Sakura did as told and took her post on the side in back of her Sensei where Shizune stood, the dark brunette looked at her gently before she took a green hand and tapped Sakura's head gently. The soothing feel of the chakra numbed the bump and Sakura stopped rubbing at it and silently thanked Shizune. She mother her reply silently as she waited for they waited for Tsunade to get her bearings together again. It was obvious that the woman had one to many drinks before all of this had began and it was starting to take it's effects on her.
"Now as I was saying, You are too go and capture Yakushi Kabuto and bring him back here to Konoha to be served his death sentence. We've taken him off the bingo book in order to lessen the traffic that would usually be in your way with such a heavy bounty. He is to come back alive."
Tsunade stopped whens she saw Naruto's hand go up and she groaned as she called on him. "What Naruto?" She asked.
"Why now are we all of the sudden being called to bring him back, I thought he disbanded from the village six years ago?" He asked innocently.
" He betrayed Konoha long before that Naruto also Konoha nukenin Yakushi Kabuto has assassinated the Daimyo of the Fire Country." Tsunade replied and watched as Naruto, Kakashi, and Yamato looked shocked before their expression took on a determined mask. The others' more interested in capturing him not caring what it was for.
"Seeing as this is the case, we are being forced by his son, the new Fire Daimyo, to hurry and catch him and serve his death sentence now. .... That is why I called you all. There will be three teams, Team 1 will consist of Uzumaki Naruto, Yamato, Sai, and Hatake. Sasuke you will keep with your companions and help team one on finding Kabuto. Uchiha Shisui you will command the third team, Kisame, Deidara and Itachi, you all will be back up if anything goes wrong."
"What about Sakura-chan?"Naruto asked.
Sakura wondered the same thing wasn't that why she was their, she was to join her own team and fight with them.
Tsunade's next words though were like a dagger to the back. "Haruno Sakura you will be the active Medic-nin on this assignment. You are to stay out of fights in order to keep a good balance on your chakra levels so you can heal your teammates .. all of them." Tsunade said.
"What!" Sakura screeched and she could see Sasukes' smirk forming at her and Sakura moved to look at Tsunade.
"You heard me Sakura." Tsunade said.
"But Hokage-sama I can do so much more, I'm more equipped for such a mission to fight being as Kabuto is a medic-nin as well-
-I'm well aware of this and that is why you are to stand aside and let the others' take care of him-
-They'll all get seriously injured fighting him, he knows their fighting styles all of them, and he's just as skilled if not better at medical jutsus then I-
-that is why you are to stand aside Sakura, there are no other medic-nins that will be able to help you if you are injured during a fight there for, I am ordering you to stand aside." Tsunade said.
"Hokage-sama-
-I said what I said Sakura, that's an order." Tsunade said.
Sakura sucked in a deep breathe waiting for her temper to cool down. "You are all dismissed I expect all of you to be at the gates in thirty minutes before sunrise, prepared for the mission."
"Hai." They all said Sakura kept quiet and not wanting to say anything for fear she lash out.
"You're all dismissed." Tsunade said as she waved them off.
Sakura stormed passed everyone quickly before anyone could call her out, leaving the office she walked down the winding hall slowly, hoping that her anger would simmer down.
"Sakura-chan!"
Sakura stopped mid-step, praying that he would feel her aura and just leave her be, the last thing she wanted was a self-esteem talk from Naruto. Least of all from Naruto, he didn't know what it was like to be set aside and just have to watch, he knew nothing of it because he was so adamant on being the star on the battlefield.
"Hey Sakura-chan are you okay?" He asked as he came up to face her from the front.
Obviously him an Ino just couldn't feel her massive angry aura that was clear as crystal. "Sakura there's nothing to be mad about, If I could do the things you could I would be proud."
"I am proud of my talents." Sakura replied calmly.
"You can break walls with a pinky. you can pull out weapons from that tatoo of yours, you're immune to the Sharingan-
-and yet I'm still being shoved to the side all because you have the kyubi and Sasuke is an Uchiha, Yamato's element is wood, Kakashi is the infamous Copynin, and Sai is from ROOT, and I'm just Sakura." Sakura cut off as she walked passed Naruto.
"Sakura calm down." Kakashi said as he came up behind them. Sakura rubbed at her temples again knowing she was going to get chastised for being too smart for her own good.
"I'm calm." Sakura replied.
"Good, now let's go get our stuff and head to the gates-
- Hey beautiful." A rough voice said as it headed their way.
Oh the ache in her head was becoming worse. "You know just to make sure you have something to do while on this mission I'll be sure to get injured as many times so you can patch me up." The White haired male said as he pulled her into him.
Sakuras stomach twisted painfully and she felt like she was going to puke. "Please shut up." Sakura said as she grabbed his hand and pulled away from him, then she turned to walk away.
"Sakura-chan!" Another male voice rang and she was beginning to think that this team was created to bug her to death.
A strong tanned arm wrapped around her shoulders this time and she watched as Shisui smiled down at her. "Sakura-chan isn't this great another mission together!" He said excitedly.
She really wanted to wipe that smile from his face, but thought better of it as she watched Itachi and the other two round the corner.
'Yup definitly made to annoy me.' She thought to herself.
"Sakura you got the best seat in the house, you get to see us in our most vulnerable and weakest states." Shisui continued on and Sakura briefly wondered how he was even an Uchiha, or if he even was a true Uchiha at all, Shisui was just so odd, and annoying.
'Naruto as a brunette.' Her mind said.
She wouldn't say it outloud Naruto didn't like being compared to anyone, no matter if they did come from a respected and mostly feared clan.
Sakura smiled at Shisui as she gripped his hand and squeezed it with quiet the force she watched as his face contorted into pain. "Shisui get off me before I beat you down." She said as she pulled his arm off her.
"Ow Sakura that hurts." He cried.
"Good."
"You've got quite the beautiful name Sa-ku-ra." That white haired boy said as he got in front of her face this time.
Sakura stepped away from him not wanting to be anywhere near him. "It's Haruno-san to you, and please stop flirting with me, it's very unprofessional to flirt with a teammate." Sakura replied.
"Hypocrite." Sasuke said with a smirk.
They were ganging up on her and enjoying it too, how could Tsunade put all these alpha-males and lackies on the same team, it was as if she wanted the mission to fail.
"The names Hōzuki Suigetsu beautiful." Suigestu said.
"Kid, you should really stop barking up that tree." Kisame warned.
Suigestu waved him off and Sakura rolled her eyes as she spun around and continued down the hallway, she watched as Kakashi poofed out as well as Yamato. She stopped as she watched a puddle of water slide in front of her, she watched as it began to transform into Suigestsu and she wondered briefly if he even had a brain, or even some type of common sense. Anyone could tell that she was obviously not interested in him in the least bit.
"Perhaps you and I could maybe get together in a bit and I show you a good ti-"
Sakura didn't give him time to finish his sentence as she slammed him hard against the wall, causing a crater to form into it.
"Listen well you ugly thing, I do not want to hear another word from your mouth that has anything to do with sex, or is at all a flirtatious remark, and no gestures or letters either do you understand?" Sakura asked as she held him up by the collar of his shirt.
He grinned madly down at her and she wondered if he had a death threat. "I like a girl who takes control." He said.
She slammed him against the stone again and this time she watched as he literally slipped from her hands.
She turned to find a terrified Naruto and a puddle with Suigestus head sticking out with a smirk still on it.
"Good god you could be the one I've been looking for my entire life." He said to her as he took form before again.
Reaching for her tatoo with a chakra palm she pulled out a katana as she threw Suigestu into the wall, pointing the tip at him.
"Once more and I just might get rid of you here." Sakura said as she made a slash at his cheek, she could feel the venom began its toture and as the smell came into her nostrils he hissed in pain as she watched him with envy colored eyes.
"Sakura." Sasuke called.
"It's just a bit of venom, nothing that will hurt him, that is if he doesn't make any quick movements." Sakura said as she continued to watch Suigestu shiver.
"Sakura-chan." Naruto called trying his best to bring her out of her dark moment.
The front doors opened and Sakuras' head snapped to the side and her eyes widened as she found herself staring at identical green eyes.
She looked away from the elder man quickly before escaping in a whirlwind of moon dust and fire lilies.
A sigh escaped the old man, and Naruto took in a deep breath as he straightened up and held his head high waiting for the old man to say something.
"Naruto-kun .. Sai-san." The man with the long black hair with white streaks said as he stared at them all.
"Haruno-sama." Naruto said as he bowed at the man.
"Why are you bowing to him he's obviously civilian." Suigestu said carefully as he gripped at his cheek in pain.
Narutos' eyes widened as he turned to look at the white haired shinobi in shock. He said nothing though as he watched the green eyed man walk over to the stiff shinobi.
He reached into his robes and pulled out a vile before handing it over to the young ex-Kirigakure nin. "This is the antidote." He said carefully.
Suigestu stared at the clear liquid and the man continued his stare just as lost as the green eyed beauty that caused him the pain in the first place. "All her weapons have some sort of poison on them, her particular favorites are simple venoms from scorpions lately." The man continued.
Sasuke sighed as he moved over to the older man took the vile from his hands. "Forgive him Haruno-sama, he hasn't been briefed on our customs yet." He said as he bowed.
"Here I was told by your father that you forgot how to show your respect." He said to Sasuke before turning away and turning to the other older men in the room.
"Haruno-sama." Shisui said as he bowed.
"Hoshigaki and Tokushima you will come with me, I am the head of the Haruno Clan-
-Wait Haruno like Haruno Sakura?" Deidara cut off.
The man clicked his tongue at the sheer rudeness and his eyes brightened immensly as he replied quickly. "As I was saying my clan has offered to expense and house the two of you until you can do so on your own, if you will me meet at the armory in a few minutes so I can prep you before your mission." He said before he spun on his heels and walked out of the building.
Naruto let out the breathe he was holding. "I swear he can be scarier than Sakura & Tsunade put together." He said.
"Who was he?" Kisame asked as he stared at the doors the old man had left through.
"Sakuras grandfather." Shisui replied.
"That's impossible that man's has to be in his forties at the most, not to mention he dresses as civilian." Kisama said.
"Trust me he's old, some say he's only a decade younger than the Shodaime." Shisui said.
"That would mean he found immortality." Deidara said.
"Which he did." Itachi said finally.
"A civilian can't be immortal." Kisame said.
Itachi smirked at his companion. "He wasn't always a civilian." His lips twitched as he got a horrible idea, knowing the pretty pinkette was going to kill him if she found out it was him. "You know sometimes I wonder if Sakura is as old as she says she is, I mean her father was born in the same year as the Sandaime and he was only in his early twenties when his father passed on the family secret, and passed away twelve years ago looking as if he was only thirty-five years ..... Wonder if he was willing to tell Sakura?"
Naruto smacked his head before he let any minds wonder on the thought Itachi just implanted.
"You two should really get going, Haruno-sama isn't the most patient of people ... I'll show you the way to the armory." He said.
Sai stepped up finally though. "I'll take them Naruto-kun, besides I read in a book that it's customary for a man to see his woman before a mission." He said.
Naruto nodded his head before he left the building. Sai turned to the others' with his fake smile in place once again. "Follow me please." Sai said before he turned and began walking to the doors.
Shisui turned to Kisame and Deidara then. "Be grateful that the Haruno Clan is taking you in, despite Sakura being as humble as she is, the clan she's from isn't and because nearly all of them are civilians they tend to be a bit racist towards the shinobi community.... If you thought the Uchiha Clan was estranged to Konoha wait till you meet the Haruno Clan, with those words, I'm telling you to stick very close to Sakura, she's probably the only one in that clan you can trust." He said before pushing them down the hall and out of the building.
"So how long till you think Sakura figures out that it was you who gave them the impression that she was old?" Shisui asked.
"Few hours." Itachi said.
"Bet?" Shisui asked.
Itachi smirked and began walking down the hall and out of the building. He watched from the corner of his eyes as Sasuke followed him.
"Father won't be pleased when he finds out that you supplied them with Uchiha materials." Itachi said to his brother.
"I don't care." Sasuke said as he pushed passed Itachi, Suigesti and Jugo following him away from the building.
"This mission is going to be awesome don't you think?" Shisui said as he walked alongside Itachi.
"It's going to fail." Itachi replied.
"What with all of us on the same team? I highley doubt it." Shisui said.
"You do realise, Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun don't take orders, Hōzuki and Jugo are blood thirtsy, Kisame drinks quite too much, Deidara complains more than anything when it comes to missions and only Sakura, Yamato-san, Sai-san, Hatake, You & I are the only ones who can actually go with protocol."
"You might want to take Sakura off the list, she's in a bad mood, she's going to make sure she does all she can to annoy us some way now." Shisui said.
"She's not the type to allow emotions get in the way of such a high class mission." Itachi said.
"She was just reduced to being our maid, I think she'll be making sure that we never want her as our medic again."
"She won't because she like everyone else that's in a clan won't want to disgrace her family name."
Shisui snorted at the thought.
Sakura looked around her room going over her mental checklist. She had everything in her bags.
She sighed as she moved her bed out of the way and revealed the hidden compartment beneath it, opening the hatch she dropped into the small compartment, four walls and four hatches surrounded her opening the one in front of her she picked up the scroll and opened it, placing it back into the hatch she placed one of her bags onto the parchment and sealed it into the scroll, bringing her wrist up to her mouth she bit down and let the blood fall onto the parchment, using pulling out one of her senbon's that she used as chopsticks. She used the tip and drew the kanji for fresh onto the scroll for her clothes and washup necessities. Turning to the hatch next to her she began the process all over again with her water supplies placing the kanji for water onto the scroll, doing the same with her medical supplies as well this time the kanji for healing was used, the last was her chakra nourishment supplies, taking out a chocolate bar from the bag, she proceeded with her routine before sealing it under the kanji for nourishment.
She sighed as she reached up and picked up her twin scrolls, using her blood as ink she began writing down the kanjis in larger forms and drawing a line to seperate them, closing it shut she opened the secret hatch in her compartment next to her feet and placed one into the small slit before closing it, using her hair as a wrap she placed the other one in her hair, securing it with the chopsticks making sure it wasn't loose enough to fall out. Lastly, taking a chakra enhanced hand she swipped it across the four walls before bending down and placing chakra into the hidden hatch and and then up into her hair where the other scroll was.
Picking herself out of the hidden compartment she was in, she shut the hatch and locked it with seals, placing a concealment jutsu onto it she moved her bed back over the hidden compartment.
Turning to her room she made sure everything was in its proper place before she slid her bedroom door open and locking it shut as she closed it, walking down the large hallway, she stopped at the large screen doors before her. Taking a deep breathe she slid it open and walked into the quiet room, watching as the aged and wrinkled woman with a hairless face and head slept in the bed.
Sliding the doors closed before she walked further into the room and sat next to the sleeping figure.
Grabbing the weak hand in hers she gripped it lightly as she bent forward and kissed the sleeping elders forehead.
A tear slipped from her eye as she took in the state of the woman before. "Forgive me for not being here Obaa-san." Sakura said as she sat back.
Taking a green glowing hand she pressed it to the womans' chest, her another tear escaping her as she chocked back a sob. "I swear on my life as soon as this mission is over I will find a cure." She said in a whispered voice.
Soft footsteps could be heard her head snapped to the screen doors and she watched as her grandfather came into view, quickly and quietly she disappeared from the room in a flurry of green and pink shimmers, and fireliliies.
The man frowned as his green eyes watched as a flower dropped onto the lap of his sleeping wife.
Walking foreward he placed the flower onto the nightstand.
Sakura walked foreward and began to unwrap her chocolate bar taking in sweetness with delight. Wiping her eyes with chakra laced fingers she walked towards the forming group and watched as they talked amugst each other.
It was so weird not too long ago they were all enemies. Now it was like they were all pals.
Her attention was taken away as she watched from the corner of her eye as Sai came up to her joining her in her small walk.
"Ready to go Sakura-san?" He asked with a frown on his face.
"Always." Sakura said before she took another bite out of her chocolate bar, th best invention from the Akimichi Clan had to be this very chocolate bar. If shinonbi actually paid attention to what the medical institution said they would have figured out that the Akimichi Clan had made a new recipe to replenish chakra and energy levels quickly, safely and in the most delicious way. Unlike real medics who couldn't cook for crap thus why their first try at nourishment bars was horrible, same works just the taste was horrible, the reason why shinoni never used them. Though it was a good thing other shinobi didn't pay attention to the medical institute, if they did Sakura wouldn't be the only one with good chakra levels after any fight or any during any mission.
Passing her chocolate bar to Sai she spoke again. "Here take this, you look to skinny." She said with a small smile on her face.
Chocolate was so good for the soul.
Sai shrugged his shoulders and threw the bar into the trash they were passing, as always when she tried to offer him the sweet goodness. She shook her head.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto said loudly as he jumped towards her, dragging Hinata with him.
She smiled widely at the pretty couple. She was envious, they were so good together, Hinata was Naruto's calm side, and Naruto was Hinata's energy, they gave each other strength, and always they showed that they knew each heart and mind, body and soul.
Something she had always wanted in her life, someone so perfect and loving to stand next to her.
There were only a handful on Naruto's out in the world and the one standing before her was taken away from her because of her stupidness and ignorance. It was fine though, Naruto needed someone that was completly opposite him, someone better than her, he deserved only the best with all he had and was going through because of the village.
"I was just introducing Hinata-chan here to the others'." Naruto continued on.
Sakura could never understand though was how Hinata could stand his constant gabbing. Only someone truly in love could really put up with their loved ones imperfections.
"Sakura." Tsunade called and Sakura quickly made her way towards her mentor.
"Hai." Sakura said.
"Remember what I said earlier, stand to the side, when the missions over you can return home."
Sakura nodded her head, she couldn't understand what was going on. Tsunade just created a team that was filled with Alpha-males, and idiots, none knowing how to fight Kabuto without possibly having a stroke or heart attack.
Did she want the mission to fail?
"Hai Hokage-sama." Sakura replied.
Tsunade turned away from Sakura as she went back to speaking to Jiraiya and Sakura turned to Shizune with a frown covering her face.
"Don't make faces Sakura, it's not a cute look for you." Shizune said as she smiled softly at her.
Sakura rubbed her temples before she looked at the sun, it was nearing dawn and the sun was going to be up soon. Kakashi was goint to be in so much trouble for being late again.
A poof and she knew he was there finally.
"Your late again!" Naruto said angrily.
"Sorry I was being saving this child from being hit by a bicyle that was coming down the road much to fas-"
"Liar." Naruto said.
"Now that you're all here, remember bring him back alive, he's not in the bingo book making it all the more easier to catch him." Tsunade said.
"Don't take him lightly he's trained in medical jutsus, be prepared for him to pull something nasty." Jiraiya told them all.
Sakura blocked them out trying to figure out why they wanted this missiont to fail so horribly, yes she could take on Kabuto on her own possibly. Kabuto was smart, he wasn't cocky like Orochimaru, he knew who to fight with, and he knew who to avoid a fight with, he was an expert when it came to fighting with medical techniques. Why didn't Tsunade let her fight, this was a mission for her not the others, she knew she could bring him back alive on her own, it wouldn't be hard to do.
Sakura watched as the others began walking and she did as well. Tsunade nodding her head at her a sign to not forget what she'd said.
"Sakura-chan!" Shisui said as he once again pulled her close to him as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She sighed.
'What is it with men and wanting their bodies too close for comfort?'
"May I remind you, your enganged and I don't believe that your fiancee would find it so cute if she saw you on me like this." Sakura whispered to him, knowing Ayame was most likely watching them.
Shisui smiled and continued walking next to her. "Sakura where's all your stuff?" Shisui asked as he tilted his head and took in her form.
Sakura tapped onto her hair letting him get a good look at the scroll wrapped in it. "Right here, unlike you all, I believe in quickness, and carrying heavy stuff will only slow us down." Sakura replied softly.
"What about tents, blankets, money and food?" Shisui asked.
"Sai carries a tent just in case Yamato is too tired or doesn't feel like using Mokuton: Shichūka no Jutsu, and I use my cloak for warmth, as I said earlier carrying to much will only slow us down. We won't be needing money, and Naruto has enough provisions on him to last an entire year." Sakura replied simply as she walked alongside the talkative Uchiha.
"Sure about that?" Shisui asked.
"Positive." Sakura replied.
"Are you a hundren percent positive?" Shisui asked.
"Keep talking and I won't hesitate too hurt you." Sakura replied.
Shisui chuckled at her ruffling her head, messing with her pontail, Sakura sighed as she stopped and undid they pony tail letting her long hair fall graciously and the scroll drop, catching it as she fixed her hair up again.
She stopped walking though as she remembered that Kakashi usually stopped to give orders by now, and she wasn't disappointed when he stopped abrupty and spun around to face them. Looking around the area she saw a boulder and walked over to it, and using it as a chair she dropped onto it with folded legs.
"Three teams remember everyone, that means three captains, Myself, Shisui, and Sasuke are in charge of this mission, any suggestions will be given to one of us, all orders are to be followed by us, understood."
"Sasuke we need your information on Kabuto." Shisui said.
Sasuke shrugged his shoulders as h began to speak nonchalantly. "Didn't pay much attention to the guy."
Sakura sighed again as she rubbed her temples. "Wish to say something Sakura?" Kakashi asked as he turned to look at her. Another sigh and Sakura looked over at Kakashi"Absolutely, but I doubt that anyone will listen to little ol' me." Sakura said quietly.
"Try me." Sasuke said.
"Fine then ... My suggestion abort mission now and avoid humiliation alltogether." Sakura replied.
"Sakura this is Kabuto were talking about, he wont be that hard to catch." Naruto said.
They were underestimating Kabuto because he was one of Orochimarus henchmen, as well as a medic-nin. Such a rookie mistake.
"Kabuto is smart, now with Orochimaru dead, he has no one to follow making him very dangerous. He's a sadistic and intelligent shinobi, he likes mind games, and loves to bring out the nightmares of others' and make them real and basking in the delight of his opponents weakness'. ... He usually is polite, but can't stand for direspect. .... and always there's an ulterior motive for every move he makes, meaning that the assination was most likely a trap for someone on this formation." Sakura replied.
"She's right." Yamato said.
"Yes I can see that." Kakashi said.
"Sakura how do you know so much about Kabuto?" Naruto asked.
"We've only had to deal with him more than plenty of times, and he was involved with Orochimaru, so I started paying attention to him and studied the profile that was made on him." Sakura replied softly.
"He was devoted to Orochimaru he'll most likely be somewhere at one of the bases." Sasuke said.
Sakura smirked as she watched them begin to argue on which hideout to look to first, maybe just maybe she could use them all as entertainment, being a medic-nin was so boring, and with an oppotune moment like this she couldn't pass it up.
She was going to have so much fun. "He won't be at any of the hideouts." Sakura spoke up.
Sasuke crossed his arms as he spoke. "Where will he be then huh? I lived with him longer than anyone I think I would know something about him." He said.
Sakura shook her head as she replied. "He wasn't devoted to Orochimaru, he followed him because Orochimaru payed him with specific corpses he wanted to study. Not even the snake sannin knew what was going on with his followers mind. Orochimaru amused him and spoiled him like, this shown obvious by his threats he gave to you for disrespect to himself and Orochimaru, and Orochimaru would never allow someone to threaten his vessel in any way." Sakura replied.
"I was never threatened by Kabuto."
"Yes you were, your arrogant and pompous and your an Uchiha, even a clown can put the math together and realise that at one point or another you pushed your bounderies with Kabuto which is why he'd threaten you."
"Sakura cut down the cynicism." Kakashi said.
Sakura sighed again. "We're going to have to go to th closest hideout we need some sort of clues." Shisui said.
Why tell them somthing if they weren't going to listen to her in the first place. "We're going Otogakure." Kakashi said.
"Are you sure this is a wise move? With Orochimarus death don't you think it would be unwise to go there?" Yamato asked.
Standing back up Sakura didn't pay attention at all to what they were saying she slipped her cloak on though as she waited for it all to be over.
"It'll be fine, most of the people that are their were all under threat, with his death it'll be easy to go there." Sasuke replied.
Their voices were phasing out and she was reminded of the old days, when she was forced to the side to watch their backs. She'd trained so hard to make sure that it never happened, she broke so many codes, so many promises, she'd done so much to gain the strength and power she had. Yet she was once again thrown to the side like some cheer squad.
She was not just a pretty face she could do more than stand aside and cheer.
"Sakura." She heard a voice calling her and she grabbed the hood of her cloak pulling it over here.
"Sakura." They said again, she knew they weren't calling her merely talking about her for one reason or another.
"Sakua." Again they said. It reminded her of a marry-go-round as they repeated her name. Pulling out her pure black mask she stared down at it remembering that the elder woman who had been sleeping in her bed, had given her the mask when she was promoted to Elite Jonin.
It was the same color as her cloak so it blended looking like there was no face, so hauntigly beautiful.
"Sakura." A voice lulled and she snapped as she spun around with a growl. "Shut up will ya!" She said to them, she was annoyed there was no need for them to continue to talk about her.
Just like the old days, they were wondering who was going to protect her.
"Sakura, are you sure your up for this mission? You seem a bit off today." Kakashi said.
Sakura took another deep breathe. 'Why ask if you know I'm not happy, you know me, you should've said something in that damned room and spoke up for me you jerk." Sakura thought to herself.
"I'm fine." She replied coldly.
Kakashi nodded his head at her before he went back to the conversation before hand, purposely lowering his voice so she couldn't hear them.
She continued walking knowing that they would catch up to her. She wasn't disappointed either as she saw them brake apart, Shisui and the others jumping into the trees around them. Her hand still holding onto the mask.
Why would Tsunade do such a thing to her knowing how much it hurt her, how much it humiliated her. She wanted to prove something to these people on this team, she wanted to shine as well, but she was always going to be pushed aside.
Ex-Akatsuki members, former Orochimaru henchmen, the golden child, Uchiha prodigies, Konoha elites, former ROOT memeber and she was still Haruno Sakura, that girl on their team.
..... What was her grandfather thinking when he made such a team in the first place?
She could understand Sasuke, Naruto and Kakashi, but her, she was normal save for her chakra control back then, and it took a while for her abilities to really get working properly after the seals broke on her.
Hinata and Yamanka were better for the position. But she'd never let them know that she thought that way back in the days.
She could feel them all around her, suffocating her and trying to protect her like they were supposed to.
Why do such things when there was no need, she was strong, she could take care of herself.
But she was a medic-nin and she was cursed to stand aside and watch their backs like all other medic-nins. If she had known that she was going to be put to the side, she would've just stopped and did as her grandfather asked becoming a civilian like he's asked of her when she was younger.
She could still become a civilian, though for some reason she couldn't do it, it would mean giving up her life at the hospital, it would mean marrying a boring civilian man. It would mean being thrown to the side like a candywrapped because she wasn't useful to the clan.
It's what happened to all the women that gave up the shinobi life.
He watched her with those eyes that stared before her at nothing in front of her, her eyes gone lost somewhere none could reach. Itachi had seen her trying to act cold and detached and she was good at it, this though was something he'd never seen on anyone, it was a look all hers.
The desire to know what was going on in her head, what she was thinking at this very moment was so strong.
Yes she was attractive but at the moment she was just so helpless and lost that he found himself intranced by the pure beauty of her.
What Tsunade had been thinking when she created the formation of the team was unknown to him, but he knew that placing Sakura on the side lines was the worst thing to do, especially when she's been at the front lines of a war the entire time.
He watched as the others' caught up with her, their masks and cloaks in place they walked up to her, giving her a small brief that she wasn't even paying attention. After a while she nodded her head and placed her mask on.
It was weird her mask, he'd never noticed the mask before and now that he had he realized that it was a cloaking mask, you couldn't see where the cloak began and where the mask ended. Distribution had stopped on those masks quiet sometime ago, he couldn't help but wonder where she got one.
"You keep staring at her I'm going to assume that the relationship between you is more than it appears to be." Shisui said quietly.
So much for being left to his thoughts. "I've never seen her like this before." Itachi replied.
"She knows what's going on around her, see it, hears it, smells it, feels it, she doesn't know what's going on inside here though." Shisui said as he tapped at his chest, where his heart was located at.
"What do you mean?" Itachi asked confused.
"She's intelligent and she's loving, but the girl is so terribly lost, I've been with her for a couple of years now and she'll go through months not even remember what week it is, or what year it is, and it because she's got so much thoughts in her head, she doesn't say what she really wants to, she doesn't feel what she wants to. Like right now, I can tell you that she wants to scream at Kakashi and Sasuke for the way they aren't listening to her on how Kabuto works, I know can tell you that she wants to cry because she's mad at Sasuke for putting them through nothing but pain and humiliation, she wants to run away from this mission because she doesn't feel it's going to end well, because she knows for a fact that she can fight alongside us ... But she doesn't act on her emotions because she like us is filled with pride and has a family to represent."
Shisui looked behind him glancing around the area before he looked back to the group of shinobis that had started walking already forward.
"Come on, we should go now." He said before he jumped away from them.
Itachi sighed as he pressed onto his neck and began speaking. "End is secure." He said before he followed suit and caught up with Shisui.
Okay so I had this story all planned out and then all this crap started happening, well not all crap but you know going on vacation, my computer crashing continuously, changing from XP - Vista - XP - Vista and so on and so on till I got 7 - then had to switch back to Vista - Then finally went back to 7 and the whole time I was loosing my materials and everything and now I'm Microsoftless and I had just gotten Microsoft Office 2010! But during all this I started looking at other stories and reading over my own and then I just got tons of other ideas, so when I finally got my computer fixed for good I decided to twist up my stories, all of them. And their going to stay with the same story lines and plots but just from different situations now. Only bad thing I'm still Microsftless! I'm using WordPad I know right horrible.
But I hope you enjoyed this chapter I'm sure you all understood the chapter name.
.Lady Crux.
serbian savior
stargazing-sweetie
ANBU Allysa = Yes/No He did it because he wanted to be better than Itachi who is childless, womanless, and the heir of the family as well as Fugakus favorite son, Karin was chosen because she was
the closest willing female, but also because of Sakura's disability. Sakura is not engaged to anyone in this story mainly because she does not want an emotional relationship with
anyone; because in her point of view she fears that if she does become attached to the man they'll want to leave her the moment they find out she's incapable of conceiving an heir for
them, so she would rather skip the pain of heartache rather than have to go through it all and be once again 'abandoned on a bench'.
TJD41066 = I'm always glad to see someone pointing out what I've done wrong or missed in my editing so thank you very much for pointing them out.
Akatsuki Sakura Uchiha = The 'Sasuke keeping Sakura away from Itachi moments are coming soon.'
NEVERMORE DARKNESS
omnipotent Porunga
Takila
Dante96 = I'm looking for a Beta at the moment & I've sent many emails out. But if I don't see anything soon I would be pleased to have a helping hand in this story, but for now thank you but no thank you.
annarolls
Toylet-thug = What does 'string' mean?
itachimeri1989 = As you can see there will be no more scenes placed in the make believe village of Kemuri, hoped you enjoyed the update.
kitten652 = Of course you're on here, I try to make sure I mention all those that reviewed. And thank you on the comment on how I percieve the Akatsuki, I try to make them human but also try to keep them in the antagonist rode.
RozenMaiden14
musa uchiha = I totally know what you mean I have like thousands of stories on alert and only about ten are constantly updated, but I can't say much it's been nearly a year I think ..... sorry.
shadow miko
JigokuShoujosRevenge = You know I always wondered that until I went into a mood where I was always mean to my brothers and then I realized something. It's easier to be a bad guy then a good guy ... Being a good guy means having to follow rules that have been put into place, and being human makes it extreamly hard to keep up with all these rules ... It's as if they want us to go to the 'dark side' - hahaha I like that I just might put that in one of my stories.
Sakudragon
xxxVanstarxxx
Hao'sAnjul
minniemousemom
Lady Recondite = If you like the story line so far you're gonna love what I just came up with.
Midnightweasel
Thank you all for your patience and reviews.
.Lady Crux.