Tsuki: Well well well, here we have chapter two. This one may have more chapters than the first, but I'm not sure. I don't really have much of a plan except the plot, but it'll turn out good! The disclaimer for this chapter is Neji, so give a round of applause!

Neji: Tsuki doesn't own Naruto.

Tsuki: *sweatdrop* wow, blunt… Anyway, good job Neji! You're so cute~

Neji: What the heck, I don't even know you?!

Tsuki: On with the story, yosh~! *everybody sweatdrops and falls anime style*

^..^

Kunai? Check. Shuriken? Check. Sleeping mat? Check. Water, extra cloths, and healing kit? Check check and check! Sakura had all her necessities for the mission that was most likely going to be today or tomorrow, yet it was almost one and Naruto hadn't shown up. He's probably just late or something… She decided.

Jinxy had stayed with her that night, and though she couldn't understand, Sakura told her she would not be around for a while, and that she'd just have to stay with Sasuke for the time being. The cat probably wouldn't mind though, after all, it was a cat. She'd miss the little thing though.

"Oh, Jinxy…" She hugged the black kitten, and it mewed softly, tail swishing irritably. The doorbell rang and Sakura knew it was Naruto. With Jinxy in hand she went to the front room and opened the door for her friend.

"Hey Sakura-chan," Naruto pat Jinxy on the head and she purred, "hey there Jinxy. Okay so Sakura, you ready?" She nodded.

"Yeah, hold on, let me grab my bag." She put the cat down outside with a final squeeze. "Bye Jinx. See ya soon!" She waved and the cat leapt off down the road, as if it knew just where it was headed. Sakura went to her room and grabbed her bag, then went back outside to join Naruto. They exchanged small talk, but not much else was said on their way there. They were passing the compound when Sakura asked:

"Hey Naruto, I'm going to go say bye to Sasuke. Hold my bag, I'll be right out." The Kyuubi-wielder nodded, and watched as his teammate strode into the main house.


The moment Jinxy waltzed into the house, outside, and onto Sasuke's lap, he knew something was up. The look in Jinxy's eyes told him exactly what: Sakura was leaving for the mission now. And he was even surer of it when she walked into his house.

"Hey Sasuke." Her voice was quiet, and she thought back to the time when she promised Sasuke she'd come back every day. "I hope you'll be alright while I'm gone. It'll only be a few days though, promise. Then I'll go right back to coming over here." She waited for approval from him, but he was silent, and hadn't even looked at her yet, he was just stroking Jinxy. Not sure what else to say, she stepped back towards the door. "So, I'll see you soon, okay?" Sakura turned, but was stopped when she felt rough hands grab her shoulder. Sasuke… She turned around, and his face was a little dark.

"Don't." Was all he said. It was enough for her to know what he meant.

"Sasuke, it'll be fine, it's only for a little while." He glared.

"I said don't." His tone was more demanding now. "Not now. Not ever." Okay, well now she was a bit confused.

"Sasuke, don't end up like Naruto, trying to tell me what I can and can't do. I don't listen to him, and I won't listen to you." His tone darkened now.

"I'm not Naruto, and you will listen to me. Don't." She roughly shrugged out of his grasp.

"Don't talk to me like that! Goodbye Sasuke, I will be back in a few days."

"If you leave, I won't be here when you get back." A thousand things went through her mind when he said this. It was like the day he left her, but now switched. She was leaving him, but not forever. Just a few days, was that too much to handle? She knew he was lying when he said it though, he wouldn't leave. "Do not leave."

"Watch me." She scoffed, and he glared menacingly, hurt slightly by her decline to stay. As she walked towards the door, Sakura turned her head slightly, and what she said broke his heart to an extent. "Hurts to be left, doesn't it?"

His pulse went cold, and he shuddered as the door slid closed. Sasuke fell back onto the couch and felt his heart begin to beat at an incredible rate. The flashbacks began again, his fever did too. Only now Sakura wasn't here to help him; just ninja. So many faces of ANBU surrounded him. So many faces of people he didn't know. How could they possibly ease this feeling of loss?


Too cold Sakura, too cold. Albeit she was angry at herself for saying something so hurtful to him, Sakura couldn't help but think that maybe he deserved it. Naruto was leaned against the fence waiting for her, and stood, handing her her bag.

"How'd it go?" He asked nonchalantly.

"Fine." Her face was shaded and they made their way to the tower, without the least bit of conversation between them.


Tsunade was pleased with the number of ninja who had shown up. There were fourteen; including Sakura, Naruto, Kakashi, Neji, Kiba, Lee, and a few others whose names slightly slipped her memory. They were the only ones off duty for the next few days, as others had been assigned to various missions that had been postponed due to the complications earlier.

"Alright, is everyone prepared?" Tsunade was answered by a wave of nods. "Good, so here are the further details of this mission.

"First off, this is an assassination mission, our main target is Kabuto Yakushi, but killing his guards and allies is recommended. I would assume this mission will take about two or three days, and it is ranked as a B. Nothing to major should happen, along with any deaths if you work together, and stay on top of it. We do not expect them to be too strong, but it is wise to be cautious. By further investigation, we've learned there are a total of twelve at the camp, just twenty miles south of the west, including Kabuto. Annihilation should be easy enough.

"Protect on another, and be on your guard. I have assigned Kakashi to be serving as your Capitan for this mission. You are dismissed." They nodded, pulling down their masks, and then disappeared in a cloud of dust.

"Do you think that this will go as well as you said, Lady Tsunade?" Shizune stood with Ton-ton in her arms.

Tsunade folded her hands in front of her and glanced at her paperwork. "Yes, I believe it should."


Kakashi and Naruto appeared at the Uchiha Compound, both deciding they would visit their raven-haired friend before they left. When they entered, Sasuke was sitting on his couch with a shocked expression, Jinxy nowhere to be seen.

"Oi, just stopping by to say goodbye for the time being, Sasuke." Naruto pulled up his mask, and Kakashi did the same, though his blue one underneath still covered his face. He said nothing for a moment, and then asked:

"Do you…" he seemed to be having trouble with his words. "Do you think this will be a dangerous mission?" Both Kakashi and Naruto knew he was asking this because of Sakura.

"Sasuke, don't worry, Sakura will be fine, we promise." Kakashi's eyes wrinkled in a smile.

"Yeah, she's strong! She'll come back no problem! We'd never let anything happen to her!" Sasuke nodded, and gave a silent goodbye. They respected his space, and left without another word.

He trusted them.


The group reappeared at the gates of Konoha, one of them going off to open them. Sakura, with her neko mask, looked to the fox-masked boy next to her.

"Ready Naruto?" Her voice sounded strange coming from beneath the mask.

"Are you kidding? Of course I am!" She could hear the smile in his words. The gates creaked open, and they all jumped out, going from tree branch to tree branch. It would only be a matter of time before they reached Kabuto.

-

As night fell, they stopped in a clearing to rest. The group had walked most of the time, and wanted to stop early so they'd be in prime shape to fight the next day. Sakura sat by the fire with her mask tossed lazily next to her. Bright red flames danced along her green eyes, making strange arrays of colors. Naruto went over and sat next to her.

"Hey, what's up?" Her eyes didn't leave the fire as he said this. She had no answer, most likely she was lost in thought as she so often was nowadays. "So, I take it you in Sasuke had a little argument before you left?"

"How'd you know?" She looked up in surprise.

He laughed. "You aren't exactly quiet all the time, you know? And I could just tell by the way he looked when I went to see him with sensei before we left. He asked if you would be alright, too. That kind of surprised us." She smiled.

"What'd you tell him?"

"We told him we'd protect you no matter what." Her eyes flashed and he quickly added: "And that you were strong enough to take care of yourself now."

"That's right; I can stand on my own two feet now, without any help at all!" She laughed and laid back.

"So, you miss him?"

"Naruto we just left."

"I know, but you look like you miss him."

"When'd you become so smart?" She jokingly hit him on the shoulder and he smiled down at her, but soon became serious again. She sat up.

"I'm guessing you love him, too." She nodded; it would be stupid to deny it now. There was no reason to.

"Don't tell him, kay? I want to." He nodded. "I'm going to go set up my tent. Night Naruto." She gave him a light, friendly kiss on the cheek.

He smiled and bid her a goodnight as well, then looked into the fire. No matter how over you I get, you still make me get butterflies, Sakura. He thought, laughing at himself. He was over her, he had moved on accepting that she would always love Sasuke, but maybe some of his childhood still roamed deep in his mind.

^..^

Tsuki: Another so-so chapter, but the next ones going to get intense! You won't be there for the battle, but it'll be explained to you.

So as for this one, I thought it still wasn't my best work, but thanks to those who keep reading! I promise with all my heart the next one will be better!!! Pinky swear!

Alrighty, well don't forget to leave your dear old pal Tsuki a review! *wags tail and gives a silly, cute look* Ciao for now! Haha, that rhymed sorta…