Chapter 02

Sakura woke up that day, hearing the wonderful chirping of the birds through her open window. It sounds like tiny ripples of water in high notes, sync to create a joyous melody to her ears. She smiled and slowly opened her eyes. She was facing her window and she could see the sun's light through the dancing white curtains, as if it was being playfully tagged by the soft wind. This should be how mornings are, she thought.

She stretched her long legs, as well as her arms. Then she purrs like a cat. As she stretched, the comforter that covers her was kicked and her whole body was now exposed to see. She's only wearing a tight grey sleeveless shirt paired with her grey underwear. Not that she mind how she looked, it's comfortable to sleep on that after nights and nights of wearing her nin get up during missions, and for once, getting her body to breath once in a while is considered a luxury for her, in the comfort of her own place. She could only do that in her own private place though, that's why, after every mission, she wants to dash home. She had long been independent from her parents as her duties and responsibilities keep piling up after another, and she could no longer take up her parent's kindness and sheltering. She'd like not to bother them when ANBU's came popping up out in their doorway, even in the dead of the night just to notify her of when something came up or when she's needed or deliver urgent messages. The Haruno couple didn't mind it really, they were more than prepared the time they took and enroll their little girl in the academy, that sooner or later, she will do great as one of the most promising nin in Konoha. She's also on that age, where it's time for her to take care of herself, do things by herself, and prove to her parents that she can do it alone. So, after saving up from the money she earned from taking missions, she finally was able to buy her own apartment. During the rehabilitation of Konoha, and it was still on-going mind you, she was granted a privilege as a nin, and apart from many to mention benefits she had since she became a Jounin, so taking her own place now was but a breeze. And she took pride on her little sanctuary. It was small, just the right for her. It was situated in a nice and quiet neighborhood, not too far from the hospital and the Konoha tower.

Her dainty feet carried her to the bathroom. She looked herself in the mirror and she was stared back by a girl in her 17. Her eyes were a big shining orb of jade, her face was smooth and white as a pearl, with the lively vibrant of rose tint on her cheeks. Her lips, full, luscious and red as cherries, that promises a thousand and one sensations if kissed. Her hair, so distinctive with that baby pink color, she had grown them in the past years, and now they reached up to her waist once again, shiny and smooth to touch. She runs her fingers to the wild strands that went to her face. Her reflection gave her a smile, sweet and innocent. Who says she's not beautiful?

Her eyes darted to her slender neck, down to her breasts. She's not wearing any bra, though they're in average size, they're perky and full. She went further down to her slim waist, her firm stomach that lacks any fats, down to her hips and her pair of luscious long legs. Aside from a few obvscure scars down her arms and legs, everything about her is almost perfect. Well, almost…

She had changed. She's far from the cry-baby, little Sakura, who was bullied by her classmates in the academy back when she was still five. She's far from that girl, who was called 'billboard forehead', who only sulked and cried over it because she did have a wide forehead. She was more confident on herself now. Knows when to fight, and knows how to carry and handles herself with confidence. When people still joked about her forehead, she will just answered them that, intelligent people tend to have huge forehead because they have bigger brains than the average people who has nothing inside their mushy brains but insult other people. Then she follows it with a laugh. It didn't bother her now, and that everything started because Ino, her best friend, was there to guide her, protect her. It was Ino who taught her to believe in herself.

Then, a flashback came up with her. It was the time during the academy lesson on flower arrangement. They were in the outskirt of a flower field in the village. Their sensei told them to pick some flowers, and that they'll be learning the art of Ikebana. She remembered their conversation that day.

"The secret to Ikebana is to find the main flower, and then add others to compliment it. For example, the cosmos flower. If the cosmos is the main, then look at that boneset," Ino said pointing at the cluster of white small flowers Sakura picked, "that one will be the extra,"

"Ino-chan is amazing," Sakura thought as she looked at Ino admirably, "she knows everything, she's so fashionable and pretty. Her ninjutsu is cool. Compared to her…I am…" she looks on her hand now busy twirling the cluster of boneset.

"Ino-chan is like the cosmos…and maybe, I'm like the boneset," Sakura voiced out sadly.

Ino eyed her intently. Then she smiled. "What are you talking about? If you ask me, you aren't even a flower. You're just a bud," she said, smiling sheepishly at her.

She admits, she was hurt by that comparison by Ino. She didn't understand her words then, why she was compared to a bud. She came to realized, when she tried to ask her then, why she gave her a red ribbon on one beautiful afternoon.

"Well, I just thought…that it'll be a waste if you'll just remain a bud. A flower is meaningless unless it blooms right?" she said, as she looked to Sakura, "Also, it could end up being a flower more beautiful than a cosmos,"

She had cried then, able to understand what she meant. Since that day, she knew she had changed a little. She clung into Ino's words, believed that one day she'll definitely bloom into a beautiful flower. And she was more than grateful to her, because Ino was her goal then. And everything, started on that day.

Then she suddenly saw him in her mind, the unmistakable raven colored hair and the obsidian eyes that remind her of an endless pit of darkness…darkness that will turn as red as blood.

She shut her eyes and diverted them on the floor. Her brows furrowed.

"Damn it, why did I suddenly remember him?" she hissed on herself. She put a hand on her head, as if that simple gesture, could deny the truth that showed on the reflection on her eyes in the mirror. She missed him! No. Not only that. She is longing for him. Because in the deepest recesses of her heart and soul, there is only one man she ever devoted herself. There is only one man she cared. And there is only one man she ever loved.

She inhaled deeply and shook her head, trying to clear her mind from the sudden intrusion on her memories. If there's one thing she can be proud of herself, that is despite all this years, she survived a broken heart by trying to forget the pain, the loneliness, and the longing for him and move on with her life! Because she knew, she already accepted the truth, he won't come back. And she can't keep on dreaming forever.

After analyzing herself in the mirror, and seemed satisfied on what she saw, she went ahead to the shower area, and went on with her morning routines. Today, she'll go straight to the Hokage tower and will discuss her findings about the 'red demon' disease, and will ask another solo mission to Tsunade. Anything will do, just as long as it keeps her busy and occupied.

Because whether she admitted it or not, being busy with other things, taking up missions to divert her attention, was her way to forget him…Uchiha Sasuke!

Hokage Tower – Hokage office

Tsunade was busy signing and stamping her paperwork as usual when she heard a knock on the door.

"Come in!" she said, as usual in her harsh voice.

Came walking in the door was the heavy built, scar-faced man, Morino Ibiki. "Excuse me, Tsunade-sama,"

"Ibiki, what brings you here?" she asked without lifting her eyes from reading her documents. Honestly, if only she could burn all the papers right now, she would gladly do it. Being a Hokage was not an easy task indeed. Running the whole village was okay. Signing and reading scrolls after scrolls of documents every single day was another story. Office work was never her thing to begin with! That's why Tsunade kept a bottle of sake in her drawers.

"I just received Intel reports. We got a lead to him" he said. Tsunade's hand abruptly stopped mid-air. Her head shoots up to look at Ibiki. He reached up to his coat and retrieved a scroll and world map as he walked towards Tsunade's desk, "three days ago he was last spotted in the southern border, near the Water Country,"

Tsunade looked at the map and then opened the scroll Ibiki handed out to her. She read the report, running her eyes on every word written on it. As an unconscious habit, she bit the nails on her right thumb.

"He's that near already! But this was three days ago! He might have already entered the border and was already inside the Fire Country, tch…" she said as she absent mindedly nipped her nails. When she did that, she was already in her 'thinking' mode.

Sasuke was still an avenger. He already achieved one of his goals when he killed his older brother, Itachi, in exchanged for a sad and painful truth. Konoha was behind, rather played a role on the massacre of his clan. Despite how much Itachi had told him that it was to deflect the rising greed for power within the Uchiha people, Sasuke's deft to his explanation. He still insisted that Konoha made Itachi suffer, and with that, he will kill those who made his brother suffer. After the war, he swore he would get his next goal. Destroy Konoha and re-establish his clan. Because of the threat, and the knowledge how powerful Sasuke has become, Konoha strengthened its borders. Search has also been conducted throughout the years, sniffing his hideout, and gathering reports about his every move. The last they knew, he broke into the Hidden Grass's impregnable prison and was gathering rogue and powerful nins to aide on his side. No actual report as to who have followed him though. The least they worried about it now was when it would be another Pain incident, where Konoha was almost destroyed. Right now, they have to find him while he's still far away from Konoha. They need solid evidence on his whereabout, or it'll be too late.

"We have ANBU's stationed and guarding the borders. This report still needs confirmation for its reliability though. Since everyone could give out false claims on his whereabouts because of the large reward on his head,"

"There's still that! I wish the stupid daimyos would stop poking their nose where it doesn't belong! They only makes things go complicated than they already were. Just perfect bastards!" she shouted then slapped her desk.

Ibiki flinched. Here she goes again, he thought, controlling much not to roll his eyes.

"If only I'm given a chance, just a one in a billion chance, I'm going to wring the necks of those shitheads who only knows how to give orders around!" she shouted as she stood up, banging her desk with her two hands now. Ibiki just eyed her and thought, the desk must've been made with the strongest material as it could withstand her enormous strength. He almost took pity on the poor table though, being the shock absorber of her stress every day. Then Tsunade inhaled deeply and resume her seat again, "good heavens, it already ruined my day!" she mumbled to herself. Then she looked at Ibiki again, "then?"

Ibiki was slightly off guard with Tsunade's little musings. He was wide-eyed, but he immediately composed himself with a clear on his throat.

"I've already sent a group of ANBU to check this report and to scout the area, just to be sure,"

"Ah… that would be good. If there's one thing that Orochimaru taught him well, that was the ability to hide this good. And as usual, report directly to me for any small or even the slightest news you have gathered. I don't want this to leak out especially around those two wrinkled councils. I have enough of shitloads already to even bother myself with them," she said, ending their conversation, just as a knocked was heard through the door. Tsunade puts her open palm in the air towards Ibiki, telling him to shut up, "Come in!"

It was Sakura. "Tsunade-sama?"

"Ah, Sakura. I told you yesterday you need not to report today," she said. Sakura entered and closed the door behind her.

"Yeah, I just need to submit this written report," she paused and looked at Ibiki who gave her a slight nod towards her as soon as their eyes met as a gesture of greetings. She bowed towards him too and gave him a smile, "Ohayou Ibiki-sensei, did I bother you?" she asked Tsunade as she handed out her scroll.

"No, not at all. He was about to leave when you came," she said and opened her scroll and gives a thorough run on her report.

"Yes, please excuse me," said Ibiki who bowed slightly towards them and threaded himself towards the door.

"What was that about?" Sakura asked curiously.

"Report on some nukenin (rogue ninjas) being seen lurking in the southern border," she said without looking at her.

"Ahh…," she said, losing the interest on it. Rouge ninjas, trying to terrorize small villages are not new to them. Genins were usually sent to apprehend this kind of cases. It is considered under a D or C rank missions, depends on how tough the missions or how strong the reported nukenins were.

"About your discovery…"

"Ah, yeah. I'd like to personally do the presentation please, it'll start in 30 minutes, I was told," Sakura said.

"Shizune can do that, she already did the necessary preparations," Tsunade said in a stern face, looking directly to Sakura's eyes.

"Yes, but this was my discovery, and I think it's my right to present it myself,' she said with that confidence in her voice. She knew Tsunade being a prick sometimes. And she needs to show her that sometimes, some things won't go the way her Shishou wanted it.

They do the staring contest for a while, jade eyes versus honey-colored ones. Sakura was determined. It clearly shows in her eyes. Tsunade gave up with a sigh.

"Aa…I got it, I got it," she said as she wave her hand and slump herself backwards to her swivel, her chin rested on her right hand, elbows were bend and supported with the armchair, "can I bribe you with this?" Out from her drawer was a small bottle of perfume. Sakura noted, it was a famous brand from the Water Country and was out lately in limited stocks, "the Mizukage, Mei gave this to me y'know, just thought you might want it,"

"What do you think I am, a six-year old kid!?"

"You're still a kid,"

"I'll be 18 next month,"

"That's still a kid,"

"No, it's a coming of age. And stop insisting with it, I would still say no,"

"I'm kidding okay? I'm going to give this to Shizune instead," she said, eyeing her as she played the bottle with her left hand, pouting her mouth.

"Mou~" Sakura retorted as she rolled her eyes. Sometimes, she questioned her Shishou's rank as a Sannin and now a Hokage. But well, that was a part of her charm. And she loved her like she was her mother. This was one side of Tsunade she rarely showed towards other people.

"Well, then. Do the presentation," she said as she stood up, "Impress me and I might change my mind and will give this to you instead," she said giving her a wink as she pocketed the small bottle on her sleeve, "let's go!"

Sakura sighed and shook her head, smiling as she followed Tsunade outside the door. The meeting with the panel of board for medicine, the doctors, researchers, the two council and a few people in the medical line were going to be held in one of the conference rooms of the Hokage tower. When they arrived, the room was already packed with the necessary people, and everything had already been set-up by Shizune. Tsunade called on to Shizune and whispered to her about the changes. Sakura apologetically bows to Shizune which was reciprocated with a smile. Tsunade went to her designated chair, following behind her was Shizune. As soon as Tsunade sits comfortably on her chair, everyone in the room silently finds their own seats.

Sakura started the meeting and presentation.

TBC 010413.6.36P edited