Sakura groaned and raised a hand to block the sun. Her body shifted and she frowned at the hardness of her bed. Reaching a blind hand for her blanket, she frowned more.
That's when her eyes snapped open. She jerked up and looked around the street before the tears started to fall down her face again.
He's gone.
Her mind raced for what to do. She had to tell Naruto, she had to tell Sasuke's parents, Kakashi, but more importantly.
Not five minutes later she was knocking harshly on a bright red door.
"Yes?"
She burst through to see the Hokage rub her eyes and yawn. Looking at the clock, she saw it was five in the morning.
"Hokage-sama!"
The words caught in her throat however. Fresh tears fell from her eyes and the Hokage was alert and by her side, wiping them away.
"What's the matter Sakura?"
"Sasuke-kun, he left last night!"
"What?"
Tsunade sat her in a chair by her desk and pushed a button by a phone.
"Shizune, gather the Uchiha's, Naruto, and Shikamaru. Now."
"Hai, Hokage-sama!"
The phone call ended and Sakura sat with her hands in her lap. She was nervous now about Sasuke's parents.
"Do you know why he left?"
Slowly she shook her head.
"I told you, last week about what happened in the forest of death, and the battle with Gaara. He feels responsible for bringing Itachi back. And he hasn't been the best in our team anymore. At least in his eyes. He just found out about Naruto's demon, but I don't think he understands what that means for Naruto. He has blinders!"
Tsunade quieted her before she could get worked up. Just then Shikamaru and Naruto arrived, rubbing their eyes.
"Sakura-chan! What are you doing here?"
Without thinking, she launched herself at him, feeling his arms wrap around her questionably as she sobbed. At that moment Mikoto and Fugaku arrived inside the office, as well as an ANBU ninja.
Mikoto immediately started to rub her back, whispering kind words before the question came.
"Have either of you two seen Sasuke-chan? He wasn't home this morning."
With that Sakura sobbed harder before spewing out 'I'm sorry' again and again.
"Late last night Uchiha Sasuke left the village."
Fugaku stood at attention so fast, she could have sworn he was controlled by a puppeteer.
"And if I'm not mistaken, he's heading toward Otogakure."
"Why?"
"No! He's just missing!"
Mikoto stepped closer to the Hokage's desk.
"He was invited by Orochimaru."
Shikamaru stepped up.
"Wait, wait a second! Why would he get involved with a dangerous guy?"
"That doesn't matter. It is something that I will talk to with Fugaku and Mikoto alone. Shikamaru, assemble three more nin for this mission. You are in charge. Naruto is your second in command. The mission title is simple, bring back Uchiha Sasuke. But you must be aware this is easily a B class mission, bordering on A class."
Naruto pulled away from Sakura and nodded before wiping her eyes.
"Right."
"Sakura. You aren't going on this mission."
Her heart sank."What do you mean-"
"Shikamaru, you have thirty minutes to be at the gate with three more chunin. I'll see you there. Sakura, leave. Go home, get some sleep."
xxXXxx
Sakura stood with Mikoto and Fugaku as Shikamaru stood with his team. Choji, Naruto, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Neji are the official 'Sasuke Retrieval Squad'.
"The only plan I have right now is to play Offense. The enemy may be anticipating us however, so we must be careful. The way we will travel will be in a line. Our front man will be Kiba. He has traveled the country every year for five years. Akamaru can pick up on Sasuke's scent. I'll be next, being the leader. I can give orders to Kiba from the front. To the back I can give signals to those in the back with hand signals.
In center is Naruto, for his kage bushin technique that can aid all in case of danger. The fourth will be Choji, who doesn't have speed, but does have pure physical strength. Finally, you Neji. I will as of you as my senior to do one of the most dangerous tasks. By using your Byakugan you'll be able to scan and check the area. This is my plan."
Sakura marveled at how well Shikamaru was able to form a plan with random people and on the spot.
"I do have another thing to say. I do not have a personal deep attachment to Sasuke. But he is a comrade. I ask you do this for the village, for yourselves, not him. I ask you to do this for the Uchiha family, for Naruto, and for Sakura. I'm asking you to put your lives in my hand. In turn, I'll get us all back safely, including Sasuke."
She looked to Naruto who was deep in thought with his fists clenching. A tear fell down her face.
That's when Shikamaru turned to her.
"I'm sorry Sakura, but I can't have you on this mission. Do not follow us. I will not be responsible for you and your actions. You were not enough to keep Sasuke in the village, so don't try to bring him back. We will, even by force. Your chance is over."
Her body began to shake as she bowed her head to hide her eyes behind her bangs.
"Naruto, please! Please bring Sasuke-kun back!"
Naruto walked up to her and pulled her chin up with his finger before grinning at her widely.
"Sakura-chan, you love Sasuke, don't you?"
Her breath hitched as she watched his eyes close from her, only catching a glimpse of the slight sadness in the depths of blue.
"Don't worry. Stop crying. Just know this."
She looked up back into his eyes to see them determined.
"I will definitely bring back Sasuke! That's the promise of a lifetime!"
Her arms wrapped around him, and he hugged her back before pushing on the top of her head, leaving a kiss at the crown before pushing her shoulders. She caught his infections grin and returned it.
"Do your best you guys! I believe in you!"
A hand was pressed on her shoulder. The team disappeared to the trees and she finally turned around. Tsunade had her hand on her shoulder, and offered her a smile.
"They'll succeed, don't worry. The jonin will be back tomorrow. Be sure to meet with Kakashi."
The Uchiha's were already down the street, Fugaku having a strong arm around Mikoto's shoulders, that were moving slightly, obviously holding back sobs.
Both of her sons have left without warning.
That poor woman.
xxXXxx
Hours later Sakura sat at her kitchen counter, cup of tea getting colder by the minute as she stared off into nothing.
"Sakura?"
Her head snapped up to the blonde in her doorway. Her brows knit in confusion but nodded for the blonde to close the door.
She sat at the barstool across the counter from Sakura and kept her hands in her lap.
"Sasuke-kun left last night hm? Not too many people know, Shikamaru stopped by my house with a short note. It didn't share much."
Sakura looked at Ino sitting across from her. She was casually dressed as well, and fiddling with her long blonde hair.
"I know, it's sudden, but I want to amend things. Right now, you need a friend. And with Shikamaru gone, so do I."
Sakura dumped her tea and redid a batch on the stove before pulling out another cup.
"What kind of friend could I be to you, when I couldn't stop one from leaving?"
Ino sighed and sat up straighter, now resting her elbows on the counter.
"Sakura, what happened?"
A tear slipped down Sakura's cheek and she rubbed it harshly.
"You think I'd be out of tears by now."
Ino moved from her seat and stood a foot from her, unsure if a hug would be appropriate between them. Could a friendship be mended after three years of hateful words and slurs?
Just then her heart clenched and she stumbled forward into Ino's arms.
"Sakura?"
"Something's wrong. It's Sasuke, I know it! They did something to him!"
"How could you know?"
"I don't, but I feel it."
"Write a note to the Hokage, she'll decide from there. I'll get the tea."
Sakura moved from Ino's arms and grabbed a piece of paper before scribbling down a bland note and not signing it. Doing a few hand signals, she knew it would reach Shizune's desk by the end of the day.
Taking the cup of tea in front of her, she motioned Ino into the living room on the couch, where they sat sitting towards each other.
"I told Sasuke I loved him last night."
Ino sipped her tea.
"Did you mean it?"
"I'm scared, because I'm sure I do."
"I can tell you everything will be okay, but it may be a lie, because I don't know. It may take a bit, for us to get comfortable again. But I have to tell you, those 'friends' I had in the academy don't speak to me anymore."
"Because you were able to become a Kunoichi. I get it. I'll tell you what happened last night if you promise not to leave me."
Ino held out her pinky and winked.
"Sakura don't go thinking I have a hidden objective. I promise not to leave you if you promise not to leave me."
Sakura hooked her pinky onto Ino's.
"Ino, you love Shikamaru, don't you?"
The blonde turned bright pink before waving her hand.
"Hey now! That's for another day, don't leave the subject! Tell me what happened last night, and why Sasuke's been strange ever since the chunin exams."
Sakura sighed before taking a deep breath.
xxXXxx
Sakura sat back as Tsunade filled Kakashi in with the events of the previous night, the morning, and now the message that Gaara had given her.
They were going to help Shikamaru and the others fight, and to help bring back Sasuke. At first Sakura took this in relief, but as the sun started to shift into setting, she realized that it wasn't just in case, it was necessary. Something had changed, something had happened.
"I understand."
"You will leave this village immediately. I'm sorry, you've only just returned. But if anyone can push Sasuke to come back with force, it would be a jonin."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
"Sakura, you are not to leave the village, understand?"
She nodded and bowed her head before taking her leave.
As she walked home, she felt someone following her.
"Who's there?"
"Relax."
Kakashi appeared from the shadows, arms crossed.
"Kakashi-sensei."
"Get into your ninja gear. You're coming with me."
"What?"
"As my support. Go on, go."
She nodded and jumped up to her window, closing it before throwing off her sundress. She shimmied into her black shorts and black shirt, slinging the belt across her hips that held the ninja pouch. Zipping up her black boots, her eyes caught a picture on her desk. It was their first day being a team, and they had gotten a picture together at the academy.
"I don't see why I have to be next to Sasuke-teme!"
"Like I want to stand next to a loser like you?"
Kakashi rubbed the back of his head with one hand before placing both of his hands on their heads and separating them, motioning for Sakura to stand in the middle.
"Say cheese!"
But instead Sasuke glared and Naruto, and Naruto glared at Sasuke. Sakura and Kakashi however gave polite smiles. Kakashi's was only noticeable by the little eye crinkle.
Sakura grabbed it and sighed before kissing the frame and putting it down. Opening the window, she closed it behind her and jumped down, walking with Kakashi to the gates.
He pulled out a scroll and bit his thumb. After opening it just a smudge he traced a path of blood and formed a few hand signals.
Two dogs appeared, and he gave the orders to lead them to Sasuke, the quickest way possible.
"This will be a long run, can you handle it?"
She nodded and gathered her chakra to her feet.
"Yes."
"Let's go then Sakura."
One dog would follow up faster than the other, checking for traps and traces of Shikamaru's squad.
The sinking feeling in Sakura's stomach resurfaced, leaving her in a constant state of worry.
xxXXxx
They traveled for hours. Their last known information was that Gaara and his siblings sent out to help Shikamaru and his team. Finally, close to the edge of the land of fire a dog had returned to Kakashi.
"They're in Shumatsu no Tani. Also, there are many injured."
"Got it. Rush back to Konoha. Call for a full medical squad. Pakun, continue to show us the way please."
"Right."
"Got it."
Sakura bit her lip as they traveled even faster.
The roar of the waterfall wasn't far off though.
Storm clouds roared overhead, threatening rain.
They saw the heads of the two statues, the founders of Konoha, and when they stopped, they could hear the deafening cry of the final attacks.
"Chidori!"
"Rasengan!"
Without thinking Sakura ran over the edge. What she saw, in that split second wasn't real. The red chakra surrounding Naruto gave him a fox like appearance with claws and bright red eyes. Sasuke had dark skin, long hair, and two hands out of his back like wings. She didn't remember crying out. She did see their eyes, and in a second Kakashi was beside her.
Her shoulder hit Sasuke's hard, and his attack grazed her arm with a harsh burn. She winced, but when she opened her eyes, he wasn't transformed anymore. His black eyes held shock, anger, and relief hidden in their depths. She saw him close his eyes and for a second, she did too.
They broke through the water's surface, the cold tingling her skin. Her hands grabbed at his shirt, and rested for a moment before pulling them both up to the surface.
"Sakura! SAKURA!"
"Kakashi-sensei! We're fine!"
"Same here!"
She swam to the edge and Kakashi pulled Sasuke out of the water. Sakura followed suit.
"I'm sorry, Sakura."
"Hm?"
"I didn't get to him in time. Once he's healed, Sasuke and I will be taking an absence from the village. From six months, to a year."
Her breath caught. But she nodded.
"Jiraiya will be taking Naruto, to train him and help him control the nine tailed fox inside. However, Orochimaru will try and bring out a war."
"A war? What for?"
"Control. And he plans on using Sasuke as a tool."
"What could Sasuke have that Orochimaru needs? He's pretty powerful on his own."
"Simple, he wants Sasuke's body."
xxXXxx
There it is!
I want to point out that I did upload all ten at once simply because I was bored. But I would like to know what you think of it! I'm not one of those who needs 100000000000 reviews for a new chapter, because the fact is I'm on chapter 18 already, soon to be starting 19.
I just love hearing from you all!
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