Standard disclaimer…blah blah. I'm hope you enjoy the longer chapter guys
Chapter 2 – You're my Partner?
Sakura woke up to the annoying buzzing of an alarm clock and slammed her fist down on the loud object. "Damn thing." She mumbled as she pulled herself out of the suddenly warm and inviting covers.
"Why am I getting up before the damn crack of dawn again?" she whined, "Oh to practice in the old field." (A/N: What I have a foul mouth in the morning too when I get up.)
Sakura showered for thirty minuets allowing the warm water to wake her skin. Once she left the shower and dressed she cooked a simple breakfast of toast and bacon with a glass of orange juice. Once again after do the dishes Sakura darted to the training field to practice and meditate.
When she arrived the cold dew tickled her exposed toes while the cool breeze nipped at her bare arms. Sakura was in the field just at the perfect time to watch the amazingly glowing sunrise. She sighed contently at the breath taking sight. I know why I woke up so early. Quietly Sakura sat on the damp ground. Soon she focused her mind and mentally prepared for the mission. Sakura inaudibly meditated and ran all possible scenarios through her mind until she felt a presence behind her. Swiftly she kicked the unsuspecting intruder's feet from underneath them.
"Damn…" the person mumbled when realizing there was a sharpened kunai to their throat. Sakura's eye were blank not recognizing friend or foe. She shook her head and the confusion left her mind.
"What the… oh Sasuke. What are you doing on the ground?" Sakura asked dumbly. Does she not see the kunai she holding to my throat? "What does it look like I'm doing?" Sasuke asked dryly and Sakura retracted the kunai.
"Well you shouldn't have snuck up behind me while I was meditating." Sakura stated matter-of –factly as she stood up and offered Sasuke her hand to pull him up.
"Do you really think someone will attack you at this time?" He questioned further while patting his clothes and circling her like prey.
"I never know when someone will attack and both Kakashi and you told me to by no means to drop my guard. Now you know I don't." Sakura stated proudly.
"Even in familiar territory?" Sasuke inquired additional like a pop quiz.
"Especially in familiar territory because if the enemy knows your guard is down they will attack." She recited from memory. Jeez he acts like he's my sensei or something. Sakura mentally sighed. He walked six paces away.
"Correct answer." Sasuke said while throwing a kunai at Sakura. She barely dodge the knife and the blade cut her slightly on the arm.
"And never let your guard drop even around allies and friends." Sakura said distastefully as blood slowly dribbled out of the cut. "Thanks for offering to be my sparring partner." She added with a playful wink.
"No problem." Sasuke said while jumping back to add more space.
*5 hours later*
Breathing heavily Sasuke spoke, "Okay you fought well now go back home and rest before your mission."
"Yes sir." Sakura replied breathlessly before walking home. How come everyone is aware of this mission? Inner Sakura bellowed. Sasuke knows because he is the leader of ANBU right now and he probably told Naruto about the mission. Not everyone knows …yet. Inner Sakura continued to complain. Anyways…I meditated for three hours and sparred for five after I woke up at five thirty this morning. Kami I need another shower, then I'll probably wrap things up around the house and nap before midnight.
**That night**
"Eleven forty five. Why did I show up early? I don't know if my partner will be late, early, or right on time. Hell I don't know who my partner is." Sakura huffed behind her mask. She enjoyed the way her ANBU uniform fit her she could move just as easily as before in her shorts. I don't think I could've handled pants anyway. Sakura thought while leaning against the gate entry way.
"Good you're early." A voice called from the dark shadows.
"I'm just glad I don't have to stand here for fifteen minuets and look stupid." She replied.
"Since we're ahead of schedule lets move." The man said in a whisper again. At least my partner is a guy.
"Before we leave tell me who you are. I can't work well with someone I don't know." Sakura said nervously.
"Later when we camp I'll tell you. You might be surprised Sakura." The reply hushed Sakura as the man walked out of the shadows. He was masking his chakra.
"Fine." Was the testy reply the guy received. It's so not fair. This guy already knows who I am. Good thing the mask hid her glare or this guy would have a hole burned through the back of his head. Sakura growled in her throat as they jumped through the shadows on the high tree limbs. Sakura zoned out mentally but she could attack subconsciously.
"Sakura get beside me. We need to move as fast as possible." The mysterious man called to her.
"Huh?" she responded in a daze.
"Get up here now." The man growled while grabbing her arm and speeding her up beside him.
"Okay!" Sakura whispered harshly through clenched teeth, "If you would've me who you are at the beginning this mission would go a lot faster." She only received a soft chuckle as a response. Infuriated, Sakura jumped and ran faster without the use of her chakra. Jerk! Who does he think he is?! Thoughts like this buzzed through her mind a million miles per hour while she ran and leapt. Out of nowhere a hand clenched her arm before she realized she had run out of tree limbs to jump on.
"Whoa!" came the whisper, "Oh my kami!" Sakura cried silently to her rescuer, "Thank you." She clenched his hand harder as he pulled her up.
"We've been running for five hours straight, let's rest a bit." The voice said calmly.
"Sure." Sakura said breathlessly while clenching the place over her heart.
"I need my hand and you're breaking it." She released his hand quickly.
"Sorry." Sakura smiled nervously behind the mask. Not even a fire was built. Both only drank water and ate a small snack, "How far away so you think we are from the Mist Village?"
"Only three hours. Them we will set up camp." The man replied.
"Alright lets go." Sakura said while packing up her gear.
"Two hours of travel is across the fields." He said with a bit of sarcasm in his voice.
"Oh crap that means we have to be even quieter." Sakura growled which got a chuckle from her partner again. This infuriated her again and she marched up to him and jabbed in the chest with her finger, "Now tell me who you are or this mission will not go any further." There was fire in her voice and again she was laughed at. Sakura pushed her mask up with her eyes closed tight, her nose twitched and she was restraining from growling like a dog.
"Some ninja you are. You can't even figure out who I am and you've known me for years." The guy huffed as he pushed up his own mask.
"Sasuke…" Sakura whispered. He genuinely smiled at his old friend.
"Still an airhead I see." She blushed with embarrassment from his comment.
"Sadistic jerk." Sakura mumbled under her breath.
"Yes I'm still one of those." Sasuke retorted, "but we can talk later at camp now we need to." He said while placing his mask back on.
"Yes lets go." Sakura agreed doing the same. Wow! I really lucked out. Uchiha Sasuke, the Captain of ANBU is my partner. Me a newbie. This is amazing. Why would Tsunade make me Sasuke's partner when there are other stronger ANBU members? I'm probably just for medical purposes. That's depressing I just passed the ANBU test and became a member and everyone still thinks I'm weak.
~Camp~
Sasuke was becoming more restless as time ticked by so he observed Sakura. She was distressed. Something is bothering her. What has she been thinking about? For a brief second Sasuke caught her gaze and noticed sadness darkening her eyes. Sakura must think she's only here for medical purposes. Barely shaking his head he laughed mentally.
"Sakura…" she looked up as a response," Why do you think you're my partner." Sasuke asked and pushed up his mask after starting a small fire.
"For medical purposes." Sakura huffed with a pout while hiding behind mask.
"No." Sasuke said while pushing up her mask. "You're my partner because I trust you." He lightly grazed her cheek while retracting his hand.
"Why me? Am I not weak like people think I am?" Sakura asked in disbelief.
"I chose you because you would protect me with everything you've got as I would do the same for you. We have each others' back. You've changed so much since we were twelve. I'm sure if you had to you could kick my ass." Sasuke said sincerely while setting a few traps in case of unwanted visitors. "When I left Konoha Sakura you decided to become a stronger ninja. I'm grateful you did. I've asked Tsunade if we could be permanent partners."
Sakura tried to hide her blush but couldn't because even the light radiating from the small fire revealed it to Sasuke. "I'd like to be your permanent partner." After seeing Sakura's blush Sasuke turned a light pink as well. "I'm glad."
She smiled and rolled out her bed mat. "So in the morning what's the plan?" Sakura asked sleep heavy in her voice. "We will sneak into the town and head for the Hokage building." Sasuke chuckled. "That not what I meant and you know it. I mean how we are going to sneak into the village?" she huffed while glaring at him.
"How about we disguise ourselves as middle class merchants and you're burdened with child to add the sympathetic touch?" Sasuke smirked. He's so arrogant that jerk. Sasuke is joking around so it's my turn to put him in an uncomfortable position. "Sure." Sakura agreed happily with a smile. Sasuke took a double take. Did she just agree?!
"What?" he asked in disbelief. "Lets go along with your idea of me pretending to be pregnant. That would make it easier to enter the village, but if you don't act like a husband then they'll be suspicious."
"You know--" Sasuke began to explain. "Oh it's a great idea. So how far along should I be in the pregnancy and what color should I make my hair?" Sakura asked sweetly. This is going to be entertaining.
"I…um…maybe." He sighed in defeat. She smiled slyly to herself. "Okay just to mix things up you'll be brunet with shoulder length hair and dark brown eyes, try to look like you're in your late twenties. I'll look like I'm in my early to mid twenties with waist length black hair and azure eyes." Sakura said while practicing the hand motions for the transformation jutsu.
"Why do you want me to be a brunet?" Sasuke asked with slight distaste. (A/N: no offense.) "You can be blonde if you want." She said while shrugging her shoulders. "No way, I don't to ever have the same hair color as Ino or Naruto. My IQ would drop." Sasuke grimaced. (A/N: no offense again.) A thought came to him, "So why do you want black hair?" he asked smirking. "Because it's a drastic change from pastel pink and I'd like to know what I'd look like with black hair if you don't mind." Sakura reasonably explained while keeping her blush to a minimum. "Now if you don't mind I'd like to sleep for a few hours." She stuck her tongue out at him playfully. "I agree lets sleep." Sasuke yawned.
Both slept until one o'clock in the afternoon…
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