Healing the Scars

Chapter Nine

A/N ~ I know I know, I promised an update soon and I didn't give it! I'm sorry guys! School started, so did sports and blah blah blah I apologize! I do not own Naruto.

Sasuke's POV

We ran to Hokage Tower, eager to find out what the mission was. It was curious, as I hadn't been here very long. I didn't know how she was so eager to let me go outside of the walls of Konoha so soon. Didn't they want the Sharingan to stay in Konoha? I turned to look at Sakura, who had fixated her hard gaze on the road ahead, obviously embarrassed by what had just happened.

I wasn't upset, in fact, I was ecstatic that she wasn't hiding behind a façade any longer. It made me feel a bit like I repented for some of the sins I had done. Now though, we were back to square one. She wouldn't look at me on the road to Hokage Tower as it came into view. She didn't look at me until we pushed open the doors to Tsunade's office, who was promptly downing a glass of sake.

"Sakura, Uchiha, sit down." She pointed to the seats in front of her.

"What is this about Shishou?" Sakura asked politely.

"I have a mission for you. I need to two to go and you two alone. It involves a high ranked ninja, who may be invaded to get a scroll I need delivered to Suna." We nodded in approval over the idea of a mission.

"Who's the ninja in question?" I asked,

She took a deep breath and looked me square in the eye. "Uchiha Itachi." I swore under my breath as my eyes narrowed and fists clenched. Tsunade turned her head to Sakura and gave her a look I couldn't decipher before handing her two scrolls. "The first is the mission scroll, the second scroll contains important political information for the Kazekage. It needs to remain safe under all circumstances."

I could feel Sakura's eyes boring into my head, which was turned from her.

"Sasuke, it's of the up most importance that you keep your cool on this mission. We just need to get there and back alive. Alright?" She was trying to keep me from killing Itachi when I had the chance. I simply nodded as we started to get up.

"You leave tonight." Was all we heard from Tsunade before we walked out to pack our things.

Sakura's POV

I couldn't believe I was stuck on a multiple day A-rank mission with HIM. I mean, of all people! I wondered why Tsunade wanted us to go so soon, but I guess she was doing Sasuke a favor, letting him pursue his own brother. Maybe she assumed he'd protect me, which I didn't need nor want him to do. I didn't expect him to whatsoever, Uchiha's aren't caring individuals.

We were silently packed back at the house, and I kept eyeing the scroll. I wanted to read it, and see what all the fuss was about, but I knew I couldn't do that. I had to stay focused, because I knew Sasuke would be all over the place, whether he admitted it or not. I was embarrassed about earlier, and was working harder to make sure I didn't slip up again.

I gave him a silent nod when I was ready, and he lifted his pack and we headed for the door. It was starting to get somewhat dark, and even though we knew we had to get this scroll to Suna asap, I also knew we would have to stop at some point to rest. Itachi was no shinobi to mess with, and the sooner we delivered the scroll, the safer we would be.

We passed the village gates and started out running at a nice, even pace towards Suna. I didn't know what to think, and the forest was deadly silent. It was almost haunting, like it was foreshadowing that something was about to happen. That made me nervous, like I should just turn back now and not even try. I had to keep pursuing, keep moving and not look back. That was what was best for everybody. Just keep looking forward.

"What's your favorite color?" I asked. He snorted and looked at me incredulously. "What? It's a valid question!"

"I don't know. Navy blue maybe?" He answered, seemingly confused. I laughed so hard that I had to cover my mouth and stop running for a moment, almost losing my balance on a tree.

"I'm sorry, wow. We can keep going now." I apologized, still chuckling a bit as he smirked at me.

And so we kept running.