Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto

Chapter 7

The Mission

PAST…

Itachi walked towards the door and opened it. He went inside and closed the door after he came in.

The Hokage's office looked simple. There was just one table and two chairs on either side of it. The Hokage sat in one of the chairs while the other chair remained vacant.

There were picture frames that hung on the wall. Those were the pictures of the past Hokages of Konoha.

"I'm glad you came," Sarutobi said, while arranging the important documents he was signing a while ago.

Itachi bowed down to him as a sign of respect.

Sarutobi then showed Itachi a folder containing important information about his latest mission.

"Those are the Kazekage's children," the third Hokage said, handing him a picture.

Itachi took it and looked at it. He saw a little girl with her blonde hair tied in two and she was smiling. Next to her stood a boy with dark brown hair and he looked serious. The third child had red hair and a pair of ocean blue eyes. He looked sad and was standing away from the two.

"You would not have any problems about the oldest child, Kankurou because he would not be coming here to Konoha. Your main concerns here are Temari and Gaara Sabaku," the Hokage told him, emphasizing every word. This mission was important so he wanted Itachi to hear each word clearly.

Itachi was a smart shinobi. Ever since his friend told him that his next mission would be to care of children, he immediately began to have doubts.

"There are so many shinobis who can take care of children so why me?" Itachi asked.

Sarutobi smiled. 'So he also noticed.'

"The true purpose of this mission is not only for you to take care of the two siblings but for you to keep a close eye on Sabaku Gaara," the Hokage said, pointing to the picture of a little boy with a flaming red hair.

"Why? Is that little boy dangerous?" Itachi asked curiously.

The Hokage thought for a while before answering his question.

"That boy has Shukaku the Ichibi (One-Tailed Demon Tanuki) sealed within him. He is too young so he can't control the power of the demon sealed within him yet. What's troubling me is the fact that the demon took over him when he was young and it killed his mother using sand," Sarutobi explained.

"So, the sand is protecting him from harm?" Itachi concluded.

"Yes and you are needed for this mission because I believe that you can control him in case something bad happens. The demon inside him is powerful and you are one of the strong shinobis here in Konoha who can match that kind of power. What do you think?"

Itachi thought for a while but he finally gave in. "I accept the mission."

"So be here tomorrow at 7:00 in the morning," the Hokage reminded him.

Itachi was about to go when he remembered something.

"Er… I would be with TWO children tomorrow right?"

"Yes."

"Can I bring someone with me? It's because I can't look after both of them if I'm alone," Itachi asked.

"As long as you fulfill your mission, it's alright," the Hokage said.

'Great! I can bring Sakura with me tomorrow' Itachi thought as he walked out of the office of the Hokage.

PRESENT…

"So you're the one responsible for Sakura's condition. What do you want this time?" Tsunade asked Orochimaru angrily.

Orochimaru didn't pay any attention to her. Instead, he looked at Sasuke who was glaring at him.

"I'm so sorry Tsunade but you are not the reason why I'm here, it's Sasuke-kun." Orochimaru replied.

Sasuke flinched as soon as he heard Orochimaru said those words. He had already told him that he would not go with him when he found out what his real intentions are.

"What a nice reunion. It's just sad that Sakura is not here," Orochimaru said as a cunning smile crept into his lips.

"You bastard!" Naruto yelled at him as he grabbed hold of a kunai and got into a fighting stance.

Sasuke on the other hand, activated his Sharingan. He wanted to attack Orochimaru but he stopped himself since he believed that his anger couldn't do anything to help Sakura.

Orochimaru looked at Sasuke's blood red eyes.

'I want those eyes. I would make him stronger and when he is strong enough, I'll take over his body. But he wouldn't let me. Ever since he became a member of team seven and he met that kunoichi, he became different and that is not good.' Orochimaru thought.

Suddenly, he felt the tip of a kunai in his neck.

"You will go with us and you will reverse the jutsu you did so that my student would wake up," Kakashi warned him. He was standing behind him, holding the kunai.

"I will only do it if Sasuke will come with me."

"I wouldn't let you hurt any of my students. If you do that, I'll kill you."

Orochimaru remained calm. It seemed as if he didn't care.

"You are really stupid, Kakashi. You want your students to be safe and yet you didn't assign any ANBU to guard your female student. You'll regret it."

With those words' Orochimaru disappeared, leaving a puff of smoke.

"It's just a bunshin," Tsunade said.

"Sakura-chan is in the hospital and Shizune-san is the only one there," Naruto shouted worriedly.

"Gomenasai Kurenai-chan. Now I know that it's not your fault," Tsunade told the REAL Kurenai.

Then they all rushed outside and ran towards the hospital. All of them hoped that Orochimaru would not do anything to hurt Sakura.

PAST…

It was already 6:00 in the morning when Sakura woke up. She took a bath and afterwards, changed her clothes.

By the time she finished doing those things, it was already 6:30. She went down the stairs to the living room. She looked around and saw that no one was there. She went in to the dining room and there she found Itachi sitting on one of the chairs and Mikoto who was busy cooking their breakfast.

"Sakura-chan you're awake. Here have a seat. The breakfast is almost ready," Mikoto said, motioning Sakura towards an empty chair.

Sakura wanted to help Mikoto but she insisted that she would be the one to do it because she was their guest.

So Sakura just sat down on a chair in front Itachi. Somehow, she felt a little bit awkward. She opened her mouth to say something to him but she couldn't think of something. That was why she felt relieved when Itachi was the first one to talk.

"Ohayou, Sakura," Itachi said, smiling at her.

"Ohayou, Itachi-kun," Sakura answered back, still a little bit nervous.

"Um… I have a favor to ask from you."

"What is it?" Sakura asked him.

"Well… I have a mission today and I need your help."

Sakura was a bit surprised. 'Itachi Uchiha, asking for help? Impossible. He is strong right? Why would he ask me for help?'

As if reading her thoughts, Itachi continued.

"As you can see, this is not an ordinary mission. It doesn't only involves strength but special skills as well and I think I'm not that good with it," Itachi explained.

Sakura was still confused.

"Ummm… special skills? Like what?" she asked again.

"Like taking care of a child," Itachi said, as his face turned red. He never imagined himself to be taking care of children. Well, he had a little brother but that was different because he was a family member. This time, he would be dealing with children he didn't know.

At first, Sakura was shocked then suddenly, she laughed which made Itachi blushed harder. He didn't want to say or do anything stupid in front of her.

'Why is she laughing at me? Did I say something stupid? This is so embarrassing,' Itachi thought.

"Well, it's alright if you don't want to come help and me" Itachi said with bitterness in his voice.

As soon as she heard that, Sakura stopped laughing.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to laugh at you. I was just surprised."

"So… Will you come?" Itachi asked again.

"Hai!" Sakura said, which made Itachi smiled.

And Sakura found herself smiling back at him.

"Aniki, onee-chan can I come?" asked a little voice.

They both turned around and they saw Sasuke standing by the door. He woke up later than Sakura and he had just finished taking a bath. After putting on clean clothes, he proceeded to the dining room where Sakura, Itachi and Mikoto were. He had no classes for today and was hoping that his brother would teach him how to practice throwing shurikens. He heard Itachi and Sakura's conversation about the mission and Sasuke decided that he would just go with them since Itachi had no more time to teach him.

He walked towards them and he sat beside Sakura.

"Sure, otouto you can come. You're my favorite brother so you must be there," Itachi told him.

Sasuke pouted. "But, aniki, I'm your only brother."

"Let's eat," Mikoto said as she cut Sasuke and Itachi's conversation.

"Where's otou-san?" Sasuke asked, looking around.

"You wouldn't find him, otouto. He already went to his work," Itachi said as the four of them started to eat.

PRESENT…

Tsunade and the others arrived at the hospital. They immediately proceeded to Sakura's room but they didn't find her there. Instead, they found Shizune lying on the floor, unconscious.

PAST…

"okaa-san we'll go now," Itachi and Sasuke said at the same time.

"Be careful all of you and Itachi take care of Sasuke and Sakura," Mikoto said as she waved them goodbye.

They all started walking towards the Hokage's place. It was already 6:50 in the morning and Itachi's troublesome mission was about to start.