Chapter 5 The Mission Briefing Part 4

Sakura usually is more than happy to help Tsunade out with anything, but that doesn't mean she wasn't allowed to hate the task she was lifting from her Sensei's shoulders. She read over the medical report once again before signing her name where required, then placed it in the start of a new pile, then almost robotically reached for the next report and began reading.

Sakura's office wasn't exactly large, but considering that this was the first office ever appointed to her, she by far didn't complain, especially since it was usually given to the head doctor of the hospitals department. The office contained a small rectangle desk, which contained a small shelf with pencils and other instruments. On top of that shelf was a two sided photo frame, inside it was a picture of her parents and herself on the left, and a picture of team 7 on the right. On the right side of her desk was a lamp.

The desk had two seats on the opposite side for addressing patients, there was also a large shelf to her left side filled by numerous well used medical books that Tsunade had passed to her. On the right side of the room, there was a small coffee machine, which she found always needed repairing from extensive use. To be honest the whole feeling of having an office to herself at such a young age terrified her, but Tsunade insisted that she would benefit from the experience.

Sakura let off a sigh, and then signed the report, while repeating the same process again. Occasionally Sakura would glance at the photo frame, more particularly the team 7 photo. Usually depending on what mood she was in she would either have good or bad memories from their time almost reaching two years ago. Luckily for her, today was a good memory. She remembered the time when Naruto had somehow convinced Sasuke and herself, to attempt to discover a mystery that still hasn't been solved today, the mystery of what was behind Kakashi's mask.

They had tried numerous things which resulted in complete failure and partial humiliation as well. Finally they resorted to just asking their sensei up front. The result was what neither of the three predicted…there was ANOTHER mask behind Kakashi's mask. At first Sakura would claim that was the most humiliating day ever in her life, but now has come to recognize that this was one of the best memories of team 7.

A knock on her door brought her back to reality, "Come in" She called, while quickly signing the next report. She wasn't expecting Tsunade to walk in, especially during the busiest hour of the day, for the Hokage at least.

"Tsunade-sama?" She asked with clear surprise on her face.

Sakura was rewarded with a smile from her sensei, "How are the reports going Sakura?"

Sakura put on her most concealed forced smile possible, "They're going alright, I only just got here a few minutes ago, but they are coming along."

Tsunade read her apprentice like a book but decided to tease, "Is that so? I guess then I won't lighten your load then and ask Shizune to go on this mission the-"

"NO! I-I mea..." To say Sakura was embarrassed was an understatement, and refused to look her sensei in the eye.

That changed soon however when her sensei began laughing, "Sakura it's alright, I'm just teasing, you need to work on your fake smiles more if you want to fool old me, Shizune is becoming a veteran in that department. You are practically an open book to me...as always."

Sakura decided to at best drop the topic, before she embarrassed herself more, "Would you like some tea? It will help with the sake?"

Tsunade took a seat and crossed her arms giving a harsh stare at her apprentice, "Who says I have been drinking sake? Really Sakura I do not drink when on duty…"

The result was her apprentice meeting her gaze with a smug grin, followed by what appeared to be a long staring contest, "You need to work on YOUR fake scowls I believe Tsunade-sama."

"…I suppose some tea would keep me awake." Tsunade said in defeat.

Sakura chuckled as she got up and started making Tsunade and herself some tea, "You said something about a mission Tsunade-sama?" Sakura enquired, as she handed the cup over to her sensei.

Tsunade took several sips before answering, "Yes, I would like you to join a team consisting of Nara Shikamaru, Rock Lee, and Uzumaki Naruto." Tsunade chose then to stop and wait for that piece of information to sink into her currently wide eyed apprentice. Many things flew through Sakura's mind, but she voiced out her biggest question.

"Naruto? But what about…"

Tsunade sighed, "Jiraiya apparently has an important issue that he wants to handle without Naruto's presence. Coincidently this mission was discovered soon after Jiraiya was trying to find something for Naruto to do."

'But since the Akatsuki may be after him soon within the next few months, it is too dangerous to leave Naruto alone.', Tsunade finished in her head, since she received Kosuke's second letter before arriving at the hospital.

Sakura knew her sensei well enough to know when she was hiding something and was about to speak but then quickly hesitated.

Tsunade gave her apprentice a questioning gaze, "What is wrong, Sakura?" Sakura hesitated again, nibbling on her lower lip wondering if it was right to voice what she had done.

'The file was in her office...'

Sakura eventually responded, "Is this to do…with the Kyuubi?"

Tsunade almost fell right out of her chair in shock, "How the-when did…Sakura…" Her apprentice was avoiding Tsunade's shocked gaze.

After a brief pause to calm herself, Tsunade spoke calmly, "Sakura, h-how do you know about Naruto's…" Tsunade voiced the first assumption that came to her head in a rush.

"He told you?!"

The slight glimpse of hurt flashed over apprentice's eyes, but she shook her head. Sakura had trouble keeping eye contact with Tsunade but she spoke apologetically, "I was browsing around in Naruto's medical history by accident while tidying up your office that time I broke my arm, err the first time. I was interested to find out about how Naruto was able to have such a ridiculous amount of stamina and how his wounds seemed to heal faster than normal. I honestly thought It was some rare type of Kekkai Genkai…and I just wanted to know him better...I'm sorry Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade's mouth was agape, but quickly recovered and sighed, "Sakura…what are you apologizing for? It was clearly my fault for leaving that file out in the open. If it makes any difference, I myself looked at my other teammate's medical histories as well but for not finding out about their state of health."

'I just wanted to know how it was possible for somebody like Orochimaru to exist…and if being a pervert was hereditary.'

"However Sakura, I have to ask you this."

Sakura finally met eye to eye with her Sensei, "Did you talk to anybody about this?" Sakura shook her head, her hurt eyes being revealed again.

"Naruto didn't tell either me or Sasuke-kun…so I assumed he really didn't want anybody to know about his burden."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow at her apprentice's choice of words, "Burden? Does that mean..."

Sakura rarely showed any signs of anger towards her Sensei, but the scowl Tsunade was receiving sure was giving a lot of it, "Of course I don't think Naruto is a demon! He is my teammate and my friend. Last time I checked, demons do not risk their lives to protect others, nor do they care to help the people around them, even if they are being treated like an outcast." Sakura said, but quickly realized who she was talking to, and averted her eyes to the floor.

Before she could mutter her apologies, Tsunade beat her to it, "Well said."

Sakura was honestly caught off guard and returned her gaze to her Sensei slightly shocked, before calming down into a soft smile, and drinking some of her tea.

Tsunade decided to bite on her curiosity, "That sounded a lot like an apology to my ears though Sakura."

Sakura nodded slowly, earning her sensei to shake her head, "You are still blaming yourself aren't you?"

"I-I know you told me not to, but I really just feel that way."

"You know he never hated you for the way you treated him, as exaggerated as you make it. I won't scold you this time, you know what I told you about this before...is finding out about the Kyuubi why you always have been so quiet when I dropped his name?"

Sakura nodded earning Tsunade to sigh, "I see...my answer to you before still stands though, but if you really feel you want to apologise to him, be my guest."

Dismissing the topic Tsunade asked her apprentice, "I am sure you have a lot of questions you have wanted to know for some time?"

Sakura took a moment to adjust to the topic change, but nodded, "I have so many...but I feel I should ask Naruto, its only right if I do...so what is this mission really about Tsunade-sama?"

Tsunade decided to start from the beginning, telling Sakura about the mission of Wave and then her new discovery, "I suppose there is no point in lying to you anymore Sakura. To be honest I thought this was one of Jiraiya's plots to continue his so called 'research' until I received this message from a toad on my way to see you." Tsunade lifted a folded paper from one of her pockets and passed it to Sakura. Sakura unfolded the message and recognized the hand written clearly as Jiraiya's.

Tsunade,

I will keep this brief, let's say I forgot to attach this letter to you as well with the mission report

My spies have gotten word on the whereabouts of a possible outpost used by the Akatsuki. According to the information my spies have discovered, they have several locations scattered around each country. While I need to investigate this, I don't want to carry the risk of Naruto's being captured if something was to happen. I expect to spend approximately a week to reach the destination and return to Wave. In case I take any longer, I have instructed Naruto to follow your appointed team for the mission back to Konoha.

Take care of the Gaki for me, and you will hear from me again soon,

Jiraiya

As Sakura read the letter, Tsunade observed her apprentices expression change numerous times. Once Sakura was finished she glanced up at her sensei puzzled, "What is Akatsuki? And what does Jiraiya-sama mean by Naruto's capture?"

Tsunade finished the rest of her tea in one large gulp then began, "Akatsuki is a group of S classed missing-nin who has joined together as a group to capture the jinkuriki."

Before Sakura could ask her next question Tsunade answered, "Jinkuriki is basically a name that was made during the early times of the third shinobi war, for people who have a Bijuu sealed within themselves."

Sakura frowned, clearly disapproving the sound of the word, the thought of labelling somebody like Naruto as a type of 'weapon' or 'thing' was something she detested strongly.

However Sakura chose to say nothing and allowed Tsunade to continue, "We still do not know their goals, but we know their objective is not the people themselves, but their...tenants. Jiraiya has discovered through his spies though that they have some means of extracting the Bijuu out of the person."

Sakura released the breath she was holding in unconsciously, then wondered, "But would that relieve the person from their burden?"

Tsunade shook her head and showed a grim expression, "Unfortunately, no Sakura. You see, since a Bijuu's chakra is so unstable it requires to be sealed within a new born child, when as you know, their chakra coils haven't developed, meaning there is the ability for the coils to change depending on circumstances. Once the child's coils develop, they develop around the Bijuu's chakra, meaning they are constantly relying on it."

Tsunade noticed her apprentice's eyes widen and she skin paled to ghostly white, Sakura knew then exactly what would happen then if the Bijuu was successfully extracted from the person.

"T-That means..." Sakura couldn't even finish her sentence due to the shock.

Tsunade chose to nod her head without giving an answer, although she was growing worried judging by her apprentice's sudden change in mood.

'He kept this from us...People were hunting for his life, and he didn't tell us!'

Finally Sakura spoke just above a whisper, "Tsunade-sama...how long have they been after Naruto?" At first Tsunade was going to lie, but knew better, although she knew her apprentice wasn't going to like what she was about to hear.

"...Nearing three years now-" Before the incoming storm of a panicked apprentice could surface, Tsunade quickly barked loudly, "However!" Then spoke in her normal voice, seeing as her apprentice was choosing to wait, although the noticeable twitching on Sakura's face showed she was growing impatient. "...Because of Jiraiya's presence and some unknown factors, they haven't' attempted to capture Naruto for the entire time of his training, nor will they attempt to capture him again until several months later...and you shouldn't be mad at him for not telling anybody about his situation."

Sakura's eyes widened slightly more, and Tsunade gave a small smile, "You're a book... he doesn't want his friends to get involved or hurt for his cause or issues. Since you are his teammate, you should know that better than anybody else."

Sakura winced as Tsunade finished her scolding, but none the less agreed, "Yes Tsunade-sama, you are right...but three years!" Sakura shook her head frantically, as if all her musing for the year overwhelmed her.

"Why...did he not tell us?! Why?! What was he trying to prove? That he didn't need help? Why was he so scared to trust Sasuke-kun and me?! Was it because of the way I treated him...Why?!"

Tsunade decided not to talk, understanding that Sakura was venting out so many questions that had built up over time.

Finally calming she recomposed whipping away a stray tear, "Sorry Tsunade-sama."

"It's fine Sakura, it's fine." Tsunade said comfort, not knowing when she came around and patted her apprentice's back, which succeeded in calming her nerves.

"I am just so angry...but at the same time so confused. I see Naruto's reasons why he didn't tell me, I really do, but at the same time it hurts."

"People do dumb things to protect those important to them Sakura."

'That is something I can speak from experience.' Tsunade mused, remembering all the times Jiraiya and even Orochimaru protected her from danger at their own expenses.

Sakura slowly nodded her head, "I know...I will talk to Naruto when I get the chance to."

Tsunade smirked, "Talk?...you liar."

Sakura formed a grin and shrugged, "I promise not to hurt him too much." Tsunade gave an amused 'Hmmph' while glancing up at the clock on the wall.

"Well I'll be we have been here for almost an hour, and I told your other two team members I would be right back in ten minutes…not that I think Shikamaru would mind. Hell, he probably is thankful, but the thought of Lee not doing well…anything for an hour is something I don't think is possible."

Tsunade patted her apprentice on the back once more in comfort, before gesturing her to stand, "We better get going." Sakura obliged, paying one last glance at her desk as she began summarizing all the new information she had just been told, further filling in blank holes in her mind, but at the same time opening up new ones.

'We are going to have a long talk about this Naruto.'