CHAPTER 4

Team 7 found themselves in the Hokage's office, in front of a serious Tsunade. All four of them, Kakashi, Sai, Naruto and Sakura had questioning looks on them, as they stare on Tsunade.

"I got missions for you," she started, "as you may well know, two ANBU platoons have been ambushed on their way back from the recon mission I have assigned them, near the borders of Fire Country and Wave Country," she threw two scrolls on her desk, "I want you, Kakashi together with Sai and Naruto to go there. I'll discuss this to you later,"

Kakashi nodded lazily, while Sai remained silent.

"Also—"

"Wait, Tsunade-baa-chan, what about Sakura? Isn't she with us in this mission?" Naruto said, cutting off Tsunade, who stood, giving him a death glare. Naruto on the other hand backed off. It was clearly that Tsunade wasn't on her fairest mood this morning.

"What about me Shishou? What'll I do?" Sakura said.

"If you two don't keep interrupting me, I would have told you already! Have you been listening? I said missions, with an 's', meaning plural?" Tsunade barked at the two, spitting daggers on them. Yup, she's not in the mood alright! She huffed and slumped back to her swivel chair, "anyway, Sakura will have a different mission from the rest of you, a solo one," she said. Then gave a meaningful glanced to Kakashi who caught her eyes.

There was something odd on this; Tsunade is a bit reluctant and uneasy. Kakashi thought.

"Ehhh, why is that? Why does she have to go solo, while we do a boring recon mission on the borders? The ANBU had been there right? So why should we do a follow up?" Naruto blabbered, giving a scowling look.

"Shut up Naruto! You're giving me headaches okay?!" Tsunade shouted, "Shizune! Where's my tea!"

Ah, right. Sakura thought, rolling her eyes. A hangover. Geez.

Yup, a hangover. She must have been drinking last night. Kakashi thought, opening his favorite orange book. He then buried his head on it. Just then, the door opened, and came marching in was Shizune with her usual tray of pot of steaming tea and cup. Behind her was Ton-Ton.

"Here," Tsunade threw one of the scrolls to Sakura, "It's an aid mission on Firefly Village1 at the north west of Fire Country, lying between Kusagakure, Takigakure and Amegakure. It's a small village that has been caught in relentless conflicts between its surrounding villages, receiving the pitiful state it's always in. That was before, now they're okay, but lately, doctors and medical aids have been scarce, and this village has no doctors at all. Health has been a big issue and death has inflated in alarming rate lately. So I'm gonna send you there, and do all that you can to aid them. Security is not an issue, besides a few rogue ninjas I'm assure you can manage it with minimal effort. I have already sent there a notice about you, and an old man named Minoru will help you. Consider this an A-rank."

Sakura do a quick ran on the scroll then folded it again. She'll read the full details later. "Yes, shishou!" she answered, "How long does this mission take?"

"A week or two, with your excellent skills, I know you can lend them a hand. Leave immediately after your preparations. You're dismissed!" Tsunade said.

"Hai!" she bowed.

"Aaaah, Sakura-chan, you're lucky!" Naruto complained, "You get to save a whole village! That'd be so cool, unlike us doing a boring mission!"

"Naruto!" Tsunade shouted.

"Hai, hai~" Naruto said, scowling his face more. Sakura smiled.

"Sakura, leave now," Tsunade said.

"Hai, shishou," she said then turned to Naruto, "See you soon Naruto. Kakashi-sensei, goodluck! Sai, take care okay?" she said as she went to the door. Just then, a knock came from the door and was opened. It was Hinata, "Hinata-chan,"

"Sakura-san, ohayou," Hinata meekly greeted her then turned to the rest of them, "Tsunade-sama, you summoned me?"

"Hyuuga Hinata will be Sakura's temporary replacement in your team, Kakashi,"

"Hinata-chaaan! Glad you'll come with us!" Naruto shouted with glee.

"I understand," Kakashi said, closed his book, and inserted it back on his pouch.

Sakura finally exited through the door. She was glad Hinata will be working with Naruto.

She went home and started pulling off her large bag and put in the various stuff she'll need on her mission to Firefly Village. It includes a few scrolls, medical equipments, shuriken, kunais, paper bombs, soldier pills, a few shirts and pants, shorts and under wears. After checking that she didn't forget anything, she went to the couch and read the scroll mission once again. She then picked up her bag, locked her apartment and marched her way to the Yamanaka flower shop. She has to bid farewell to Ino or she'll never hear the end of it.

~SxS~

"So, what's with this mission," Kakashi said, sounding so serious that Naruto had to look at him. Tsunade sighed in resignation, as if she's too wary and tired.

"What do you mean, Kakashi-sensei? Isn't this a normal recon mission?" Naruto said, then turned his head towards Tsunade who had the face of dead seriousness.

"Well, let's hear it Tsunade-sama," Kakashi said, "It has something to do with the recent ambush, right?"

"Yes. And there's more into it," she paused, looking directly to Naruto, "it has somewhat connected to Sasuke,"

Naruto went dumbstruck, his jaw dropped and there's an obvious shock on his eyes. He realized it. That name had always have an that impact on him. How he had struggled to find him after all of these years. He felt a rage, building inside him, an excitement and an overwhelming feeling, twisting each other. He could feel a surging feeling on his gut, and his expression changed, his brows furrowed, and there's that glint of excitement on his eyes. Tsunade's lips curled up to a smirk.

"We have been following leads after leads of Sasuke's whereabouts, information on his hiding place. Of course, we can't spare few of Orochimaru's former hiding places, like the ones in Sound. It finally came into fruition when news arrived, that Sasuke was spotted near the southern border. So we sent two ANBU platoons to investigate. Upon their return, they have been ambushed…by apparently, one of Sasuke's new team member,"

"New team member? What do you mean by new team? He isn't with team Hebi anymore?" Naruto said.

"We can't be sure about that. We have limited info about him after all. After the war, Karin had escaped, and Juugo and Suigetsu have been last spotted in the country of Mist. We have lost track on them since then,"

"Then, how do you know that it was Sasuke who had been spotted there? It could be a decoy or something," Naruto asked again, getting impatient.

"It's because of this," Tsunade threw a dry, crinkled film-like item on her desk, "we have tested and confirmed it,"

"What is that," Sai asked, finally spoke after listening to them.

"Snake-skin…" Naruto muttered, looking at the object.

"Right, and based on our laboratory tests, the result matches to the type that Sasuke summoned. Same as Orochimaru's," Tsunade said putting her fingers linked together. Her head rested on her hands, "it was left by the guy who ambushed the ANBU's. He has…'spared the platoons life to send Sasuke's message to Konoha', and left this with them," Tsunade pursed her lips into a thin line, "It's clearly a warning. He's declaring war on Konoha,"

Naruto flinched on her words. So Sasuke finally decided to move and have his revenge on Konoha.

"I don't care if he had gotten strong, or he had gained comrades to wage his war to Konoha. I'll defeat him this time, protect Konoha, and make him come back to this village once and for all!" Naruto shouted, determined to put an end on this hatred and vengeance.

Kakashi smiled on his declaration, same with Tsunade.

"Hm, that's why I want you to go there, scan the area. Find Sasuke and stop him before he can do his plans," Tsunade said.

"You got it!" Naruto shouted, pumped up and excited.

~SxS~

Sakura arrived in Hotaru no Sato (Firefly Village). It was surrounded by mountainous range of landscape and forest. It seems that agriculture was the village's main source of living. It was small, but serene and beautiful like in a country side. She noticed that it was settled behind a mountain.2

"Well, this village seems nice. Now, on with the work," she gleeful looked for anyone to ask around. She saw a brown haired girl, who passed behind her. She was carrying a jar with her.

"Hi, excuse me, but I'm looking for Minoru-san. Do you happen to know him?" Sakura merrily asked. The brown-haired girl, who was probably around 12 years old, looked at her, bemused. Nothing in her life she had seen a hair with the pink color!

"Ne, is that real?" the little girl asked, pointing a finger on her hair. Sakura, puzzled at first on what was the girl pointing at, then realized it, a vein popped visibly on her forehead. Fuck it, why did she notice my hair of all things?

Well, if you didn't know, your hair was screaming to be noticed, said her inner self.

She rolled her eyes in protest. True that she had the most unique hair color in Konoha, probably in the whole world. Who else had a pink mane in the shinobi world again? Yeah, she remembered one, back in the Snow Country during their mission to overthrow the government and save Princess Kazahana Koyuki**. One of their enemies was a woman with a pink hair. She knows it's weird, but her mom once told her, she should be proud of it, afterall she inherited that shade from his father.

She smiled sweetly to the girl, "Yup, its real. Now, do you know Minoru-san?"

"I do, he's my grandfather," the little girl replied.

"Oh, great! Can you take me to him? By the way, I'm Sakura. You?"

"Chisa," the girl blushed.

"Nice name, Chisa. It's beautiful,"

Chisa giggled, "So is your name, nee-chan. Come, I'll introduce you to grandpa,"

Chisa held her hand and drag her towards a pathway that leads to a house with a large waterwheel at the back. There's a stream behind the house. Chisa put down her jar near the wooden door.

"Grandpa, someone is looking for you!" Chisa shouted. The creaking door opened and came out an old bearded man, with a cane on his left hand. He was puffing a cigarette in a pipe.

"Good afternoon. I'm the medic-nin sent by Konoha. Haruno Sakura," she bowed politely at the old man. He's face, wrinkled; showing the years of hardship and experience, still has those soft features on him. His eyes were that of gentle and caring man.

"Ah, I never thought that Konoha will sent such a young woman to aid our suffering village,"

"Yes sir, but even though I'm young and may look unreliable to you, I assure you that I compensated it with a thorough study and research, with various experience on hand. I have my Shishou, the Fifth Hokage, to back me up and helped me nurture with what skills I have now with her rigorous and scrupulous training," she said with a serious face.

The old man looked at her, and then puffed a smoke from his mouth.

"Well, I can see that. Konoha will not send some crappy quack doctors aren't they? I know Tsunade so don't be stiff. I'm complimenting you. Enough with the serious face, it would be such a waste if you have wrinkles at your age," the old man said then gave out a vigorous laugh. Sakura relaxed her shoulder and started to giggle.

"Grandpa, is she the doctor you said that will save Mama and Papa?" Chisa asked.

"I am," Sakura smiled and faced Chisa and ruffled her hair, "I'm gonna save your mama and papa and the other villagers. So I might need your help okay?"

"Un!" Chisa cheerfully answered.

"Come inside, and let's discuss everything here. I know you are tired, but time is as of essence," Old Minoru said, glancing at them as he walked inside the house, "Chisa, prepare something for Sakura,"

Sakura and Chisa followed the old man inside.

"Sakura-nee, are you a ninja?"

"Yup, a medical ninja,"

"Is it hard to be a medical ninja?"

"Hmm, kind of…it's like you are having two jobs at the same time,"

Chisa fell into a deep thought. "Hmm, you are great Sakura-nee. You must be very strong. I don't want to be a ninja, but I want to be a doctor. When mama and papa fell sick, I couldn't do anything…at all. So I want to be a doctor and cure them" she said, sadness plastered on her cute face. Chisa have a set of clear amber eyes that showed her emotions so well.

"You can if that's what you really want. You know, I never thought that I'd become a medic-nin myself before. But then, if I don't do something, then I can't help and save a friend. I was weak. So I dream. And had hold into that dream like it was my life. I want to improve myself so I can help and won't be a burden," Sakura stopped walking and squatted, leveling herself with Chisa, "it'll all starts here," she softly pushed a finger towards Chisa's chest, "with your heart. Your determination to save the people you love, and your dream. Hold unto it and it will come true,"

Chisa's eyes sparkled with hope, "Yes! I will do my best. I will become a doctor someday!"

"Come to Konoha if you want to study. We have awesome mentors who'll teach and guide you there,"

"I will!" Chisa gleefully said.

Both of them walked in the hallway from the entrance and turned into the corner. They faced another hall and saw Minoru waiting for them in front of a door. Chisa walked on, probably heading towards the kitchen. Sakura stood beside the old man as he opened the sliding doors. It was a room and she saw two futons lying side by side. There were people probably sleeping under the sheets.

"They're my son, Toru and his wife, Hitomi, Chisa's parents," Minoru told Sakura. The mednin became serious and entered the room, unfastening her baggage. She approached the bodies and began examining feeling the pulses from Toru's wrists. She pulled out a few equipments from her bag, "I'm sorry Sakura-chan, I knew you just came, and must be exhausted from your travel—"

"Don't worry, Minoru-san. It's my job and the earlier I determine the cause of the disease, the faster we can administer the cure," she said as she opened Toru's eyelids checking his pupil, "please enlighten me with the village's status and how this all happened, what are the symptoms, everything," she opened Toru's mouth and check the nodes just under his jaw.

"It began almost 4 months ago. It started off as a slight fever. They vomit a lot and can't eat properly. They complain of dizziness and sometimes they fell unconscious. Eventually, they felt weak and they become like that. It will stay like that, but most of them didn't make it in two weeks. Many of the villagers ended up with no clues what kind of punishment this is. The gods must have hated us, and abandon us," Minoru angrily spat the words.

"God has nothing to do with this!" Sakura said in a tone that made Chisa jump. Sakura grunt to herself, "How long does Toru-san and Hitomi-san been like this?"

"F-four days…" Minoru said.

"Then we have no much time. I need to have a place where I can do some test. I also need to know your available herbal collections in this village,"

"Y-yes, we have a place like that, just outside the village. We have already prepared everything you might need in there. The greenhouse is also there as well," Minoru said, now more composed. He had become furious awhile ago, not sure on who to blame about the situation they were in. He was upset. He is the chief, yet there's nothing he can do about his village.

"Rest assured Minoru-san, I'll save them. We're gonna save them!"

Minoru's teary eyes lighted up with a new found hope, "Thank you, please…I beg you. Help them, help the villagers!" and he kneeled, dogeza-style3

"Please don't do that! I would appreciate it instead if you can help me do a few researches on those who had fallen with the sickness,"

Chisa came with a tray of warm tea on her hand. She watched as Sakura grabbed her mother's wrist and observed her pulse.

Sakura's hand glow a beautiful green because of the infused chakra on her hand and run them on Toru's chest. She concentrated on checking him. Weird, I can't determine the cause. It's not bacterial-infected disease and I can't see anything wrong with his system. She pulled a syringe with an attached small vial on it. She's gonna need to do a blood testing.

"Please bring me to the facility. I need to run some test immediately," she said, as she put the syringe back to its box and shove it down to her bag, together with her other stuff, "the earlier I checked these, the better,"

"I can lead you up there," Chisa volunteered.

~SXS~

At the same time, Kakashi's team almost reached the south border. The sun had almost set down in the horizon. But Naruto was still blazing with excitement. The feeling of being so close yet so far was etching on his gut, tingled his senses with raw fury and determination. He's going to end the long years of chasing, of hide and seek, of painful waiting. This time, its gonna be the final…their moment.

And at the same time, near the border of Ame, strong jounin and ANBU ninjas of Rain Village were chasing one particular ninja who had infiltrated their village and stole a scroll…his hair thrashing swiftly with the wind, as black as the darkness of the moonless night, his eyes bleed crimson, his fair skin that glows with the setting sun behind him. A very beautiful man, created by god, but tinted with the devil himself.

Uchiha Sasuke.

TBC

010613.7.10 edited

Notes:

1 Hotaru no Sato or Firefly Village is my own fictitious

2 I got the idea of the firefly village from Kurosawa's 1954 film, the Seven Samurai. If you haven't watched it, do so. It was one of the most epic movies I've watched. You'll get the idea of the village there and its geographical features.

3 dogeza – the lowest form one could ever muster to plead or ask someone. It's almost as if you lowered yourself, and your pride with it. It's the same as kneeling, with hands spread wide into the ground, bowing your head, touching the ground.

*I made up the disease-thing. Whatever comes to mind.

**Naruto Movie 1 – Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow.

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