Chapter 3

Before I Come Undone

"Well, that's fine then, if he comes here! Saves me the trouble of finding that jerk!" Naruto pounded one fist into his palm to demonstrate his excitement. Kakashi pushed off the wall with his shoulders and stood erect.

"Naruto's right. If Sasuke thinks he can come here and take revenge on Konoha just like that, with all of us here, he'll just be walking into his own death. He may be strong, but he'll never beat all of us by himself." Naruto grinned. It wasn't often he was told he was right.

"But he's not alone. He's got others with him. He's assembled a team for the sole purpose of taking on Konoha. They're all very powerful. And...he's got the Akatsuki on his side too." Naruto's grin quickly faded. They all knew how powerful each and every member of the Akatsuki was.

"Still, Konoha's stronger than Akatsuki. Stronger than Sasuke and his new friends. We can still take him down!" Naruto tried to remain hopeful, but they all knew that there was a good chance he was wrong. Konoha wasn't as strong as it used to be.

"We can't take that chance." Tsunade said directly. "We can't let him reach Konoha." She straightened, "So! I'm putting together two teams! One will intercept Sasuke and stop him from reaching Konoha, while the other will search out any remaining Akatsuki members and destroy them. This is a battle that we cannot afford to have take place here. Orochimaru nearly took down Konoha for good, and Sasuke's the one who beat him. Who knows what he could do..." Sakura looked at her sheets again, trying again to think of how the person they had once called comrade could be the one trying to destroy them.

"We're not taking any chances this time. Shizune, who's available right now?" Shizune was startled as the conversation suddenly turned to her, and it took her a minute to find her voice. She fumbled through the pages of her clipboard before speaking.

"W-well, let's see. Shikamaru's leading a B-rank mission right now. And Gai's team is also off on a mission. Most of the jounin and chuunin in the village are also taking care of their own missions...um...we're just stretched too thin Lady Tsunade." Tsunade didn't look pleased.

"I didn't ask who wasn't here. I asked who was available. Who ido/i we have?" Shizune quickly thumbed through more papers.

"Uh...Kurenai's team is on standby. So is Team Kakashi of course. Akimichi Chouji and Yamanaka Ino are here too. Um...other than that...there isn't really anyone else..." Shizune bit her lip at the facts that had left her lips. Tsunade sighed.

"Damnit...this is not a good time for everyone to be gone like that." She muttered, then louder, "But it can't be helped! Then it'll have to be two teams of four!"

"Four?!" Sakura exclaimed, "But, if that's everyone, that makes nine of us!" Tsunade shot her a glare.

"You're in no condition to be fighting Sakura. I'm not letting you go on this mission. You've done your part." Naruto's brow furrowed.

"But Grandma! Sakura wants to stop Sasuke too! She deserves-"

"I understand." Sakura's whisper somehow cut off Naruto's outburst. Naruto looked at her, bewildered.

"I'm sorry Naruto." She said once again, tears sparkling in her eyes, but this time a small smile stretched her lips. "I know...I know I promised that next time we'd do it together but..." She paused, choking up a bit, "Just...just bring him home, okay? Don't...don't kill him unless you have to..." Naruto nodded.

"Don't worry! I'll bring that idiot home no matter what! Promi-"

"No. No promises." Sakura again cut him off. The energy drained from Naruto's body, "Not this time. I don't know if...if I can take any more disappointment..." She laid her hands in her lap, "This time...I won't be expecting anything..." Her smile grew a bit somehow, even as the tears spilled onto her cheeks, "Just...do your best! Okay?" Naruto looked down, but he soon returned her smile.

"Okay."

"Now," Tsunade continued, "In order to find the Akatsuki, that team needs to be able to track people very well. So, I'm assigning Kurenai's team to that task since they have the best abilities to do that. Then the other four that will intercept Sasuke will be Naruto, Kakashi, Chouji, and Ino. Got it?" Naruto moved his hand to salute the Hokage, eager to start the task, but a voice, normally quiet and unsure, froze his hand midair.

"No!" Hinata suddenly shouted out. Upon hearing the news of the team assignments, she had been disappointed not to be paired with Naruto yet again, but besides that, it ruined her chances of doing what she had decided she could still do. The group looked at her, surprised at the voice that came from the shy girl. Hinata's face immediately turned red from the attention and she looked down.

"I-I mean..." She shook her head furiously, fighting off the embarassment. It was now or never! "If I could...I would like to be on the team that goes after Sasuke." Tsunade raised an eyebrow and placed a hand on her hip, surprised mostly at the girl's objection. Though, she could see the reason why, or so she thought.

"And why is that?" The Fifth prodded, expecting the girl to blush and look away. But...she didn't.

"Because..." Hinata looked Tsunade straight in the eye, "Because Naruto and Sakura have been through so much because of Sasuke. I...I just want to do what I can to help them win this time. As it stands, Sasuke's group could very well sense our approach long before we reach them, and then simply avoid us and continue on. If I...if I went with them...I could help...with my power I could make sure we find him..." Her resolve was teetering, but Hinata stood firm. If it was for Naruto, she could do it. She had to...

"I'm sorry...but, I need to do this..." Hinata said a bit more quietly, "If I don't go after Sasuke...then I will have to...I'll refuse the mission!" She finished strongly. Naruto was in awe at the girl, as were most in the room.

"Hinata..." Was all he could manage to say. It was unexpected to say the least, to see the Hyuuga girl speaking up so defiantly. Usually she just went along with everything. Tsunade still didn't look sure though. Sakura could see though, and she understood Hinata's reasoning perfectly. This was about more than just finding Sasuke. It was finally time. Hinata had finally decided to do the thing she couldn't do before. She just needed this chance.

"I agree." Sakura said suddenly. Tsunade looked at her questioningly. "With her eyes, Hinata could ensure that they find Sasuke before he reaches here, better than Ino could. And isn't stopping Sasuke more important than finding Akatsuki? We don't know for sure if Akatsuki is coming to Konoha as well. The priority is stopping Sasuke, who iis/i on his way here as we speak, is it not?" Tsunade let out another sigh.

"Fine. Hinata will replace Yamanaka Ino on this mission, and vice versa. Are we all satisfied then?" She asked impatiently. After a few nods Tsunade folded her arms.

"Then split up and get prepared. I want you all out of here as soon as you are able, got it?" There was a chorus of yes's and the ninja began to leave the hospital room. Hinata took a glance back at Sakura, having realized Sakura's reasoning for backing her up, and gave her a thankful smile. The pink-haired kunoichi just nodded and smiled warmly.

"Naruto!" Sakura called out one more time. The boy stopped at the doorway, and looked back. "Good luck!" He grinned.

"Yep!"