Sakura stepped out into the cold morning air pulling her heavy winter coat up higher on her shoulders. It was a beautiful day in the Village Hidden in the Leaves; the sky was clear and the sun was a friendly counterpoint to the chill breeze that whispered down the street. Far off into the distance, towards Otogakure in the Rice Country, thick heavy clouds sat dark and heavy in the sky.
Once again the girl thought of her teammate, Naruto. He had been assigned to an escort mission along with two other members from Team 10. They were heading into Lightning Country to Kumogakure, the Hidden Cloud Village, escorting a dignitary to some delegation. I wonder if they're on their way back? It was a simple B-rank mission, but knowing Naruto, He'll screw it up somehow. He'll insult someone or pick a fight—or just do something Narutoish.
Sakura soon reached her destination, Yakumura's Flower Shop. As she entered through the doorway, a small bell rang with an almost comical tone announcing a customer, or in this case, a visitor. The store was warm and humid so she removed her coat and hung it on a rack by the door. Behind a tall counter lined with potted flowers, spindles of seed packs and random items with red tags, sat a girl with long white hair pulled back into a ponytail. One unruly lock had escaped and hung freely over her forehead and across her nose. She wore a sleeveless outfit consisting of purples and light pinks under a white smock that was slightly dirt stained. She sat leaning out over her elbows with her head propped in her hands; a bored expression marred her exquisite face.
As Sakura walked to the counter, the only acknowledgement she received was a snort from the girl blowing the loose strand of hair from across her nose to the side of her face.
"Good morning Ino!" Sakura said loudly. A slight smile twitched in the corner of her mouth as the girl behind the counter slowly rolled her eyes.
"I'm soooo bored," Ino said, as she let her elbows collapse bringing her hand and head flat on top of the counter. "Everyone's out on a mission or having time off … and I'm stuck watching my parent's shop. It's not fair."
Sakura, trying to seem sympathetic asked, "When will they be back?"
"I don't know… Stupid aunt has to have a stupid baby and I get stuck behind this stupid counter because SHE doesn't know how to use stupid birth control." It was an unfair accusation and they both knew it, but Sakura wasn't about to say anything. Ino's aunt, her mom's youngest sister, had been trying to conceive for years but it was only with the Hokage's help and medical expertise that she was finally able to have a baby. Ino's parents had traveled to the southern village to welcome their new nephew and to take a much needed vacation together. Ino had been left to run things until their return and had been given exception from missions by the Hokage. Naruto had been selected to fill in her spot on the three-man team during this time.
The two girls chatted about this-and-that for quite some time before Ino brought up the subject of her team's mission and her substitute, Naruto. "Aren't they back yet? I thought it was a simple B-rank escort mission?"
"That's what Tsunade-sama said, but you know Naruto…"
Ino sighed heavily and again lowered her head back to the counter. "If anyone can screw up a simple mission, that knucklehead sure can."
Sakura made a small giggle. "True, true. But he always manages to pull himself and everyone through. I just wish I could have seen him in the kimono he had to wear." Both girls laughed at the impossible image of Naruto in a formal kimono.
"So Tsunade did make him wear one?" Ino asked.
"Mmhmm! And I bribed Choji with a bag of chips to take a picture of him for me!" Sakura had big plans for that picture, not the least of which included some subtle blackmail. Her friend, knowing her all too well, laughed along with her.
"You're mean Sakura," Ino said smiling. "Still, I wonder what's keeping them? It's been about two weeks since they left hasn't it?"
"Over two weeks now," Sakura said with a nod. She paused with a slow frown before adding, "It's strange, but I woke up thinking about Naruto."
"Haha! Sakura's in love with Naruto."
"THAT'S NOT FUNNY PIG!" Sakura practically shouted it at her.
"Wow! Someone's touchy…" she said, the corners of her mouth tightening upwards.
"Ino," Sakura's asked innocently. "Do you remember the Chunin exam?"
Ino frowned in confusion but answered, "Sure. Why?"
"Unless you want a repeat of our match, I suggest you keep that smirk off your face and your comments to yourself." It was said softly, but there was steel in her words.
"Anytime forehead… Anytime…" The two stared hard at each other before laughing again. They continued talking. Ino shared with Sakura details on which shinobi had come in to buy flowers and who she suspected they were for. Sakura informed her friend of her mission with Kakashi and how he had been to cheap and lazy to stay one more night.
"But I'm still going to make him pay. I wrangled him into buying me lunch today!" Sakura said triumphantly.
Ino shook her head, "You screwed yourself, you know? He's always late. You'll be waiting for him to show up for hours."
Sakura grinned and reached in her pocket pulling out two small wireless radios. "Got it covered. Now I've just got to give one to Konohamaru and I'll know when to show up." Sakura new the mischievious boy would do it for her if she told him it was an "undercover mission." The boy, too much like Naruto, couldn't possibly pass up such a mysterious challenge.
"Speaking of which," Sakura continued, "I've got to go find the squirt soon." They said their goodbye's just as a customer walked in the door.
Ino caught her friend's shirt with a tug as she turned to walk away, "Tell Naruto I said, Hi." It was said with a lilt of emphasis and the smirk reappeared on Ino's lips. Sakura just tugged herself free and stormed out the door. Ino couldn't be sure, but she thought she might have heard, "Bitch," as she left. Ino just laughed and turned to greet her customer.
....
Sakura had no problem finding Konohamaru and as she suspected the squirt was eager for the assignment. This freed Sakura to wander the village and shops at leisure without worry of the time. It was close to three o'clock when she got the expected call that Kakashi was nearing the bridge, Team 7's meeting spot since their group was formed. Breifly she wondered how many wasted hours they had waited for their ever late sensei to arrive? I don't think he was ever on time!
Pouring on speed, she raced to reach the bridge first and was leaning against the rail with a look of impatience as Kakashi arrived. He approached nose deep in a book that was held before his face in one hand, the other tucked in his front pocket.
"You're LATE!" Sakura said, as she imagined how angry she would be if she really had waited there for three hours.
"Sorry-sorry," he said. Then his one visible eye seemed to glitter with mirth and his eyebrow shot up as he produced from his hip pouch a small wireless radio. "Konohamaru asked me to give this back to you." He knew! The cocky bastard knew!
"Oh… Uh, thanks," she said with embarassment at having been found out. Trying for casual she accepted the small radio, slipping it into her coat pocket. "Soooo… Where are we going for lunch, Kekashi-sensei?"
"I was thinking we might go to Ichiraku Ramen." He paused and then added, "It'll drive Naruto nuts to learn we went there without him." Nuts? He'll be furious, she thought. They both seemed to grin at each other before heading off.
....
Up to the North, on a ledge covered high in snow, behind a door made of ripped clothing—frozen solid from the nights rain and cold. Naruto continued to wrestle with his delirium, the red chakra still glowed about him, but just maybe it was a bit less consuming than it had been earlier that morning. Just maybe….
