Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 19
The tension ran high in the hokage's office, even Naruto was silent for the first time. Nothing could hide the anxiety and anger on his face as he awaited for Tsunade's instructions.
"Kakashi has been sent on another mission so this S rank will be given to you three." Tsunade said in a grave tone as she stared at the three ninjas before her. "Sakura will lead this mission, since I trust her the most."
Sakura stood up straighter.
"You will travel to Sand, since our intel tells us that they have hints of where Akatsuki might be." Tsunade focused her attention to Sasuke. "And if you meet up with Uchiha Itachi bring him back to Konoha using any means possible."
Pulling out a small scroll from within her desk she beckoned for Sakura to approach the desk. "I think you know what to do." She handed the medium sized green scroll to the girl.
Giving the Hokage a curt nod, she returned to her team.
"Bring him back."
All three ninjas gave Tsunade a bow before exiting the office.
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"Sakura is it true?" The three ninjas stopped their fast pace towards the village gates, and turned towards a frantic looking blond girl. "Gaara...he...is he…?" She let her sentence hang in the air.
"Yes."
"I'm coming with you." Said Temari as she grabbed her giant fan and followed after team 7. So it seems like her superstitions were right. The teacups that have been cracking around her did mean something.
Trailing after the team they made their way towards the large village gates. However before exiting Sakura stopped and turned towards her team.
"Sakura-chan…"Naruto began as he impatiently tapped his foot eager to get a move on. Sakura held up a hand to silence him.
"We are facing Akatsukis so that means that we must be on out A game." She directed her stare directly at Naruto for this part of her speech. "That means that Naruto you will listen to orders given out by me or Sasuke-kun. No going off on your own."
Naruto opened his mouth to retort, before Sakura's glare shut him up.
"Naruto they are after you as well. So I am not going to ending this mission with us not being able to rescue Gaara and you being taken as well."
Naruto mumbled a small grumble but nonetheless agreed to Sakura's conditions.
"All right lets go."
The three days they spent traveling to Sand was in complete silence. No one exchanged a single word...surprisingly not even Naruto. But of course who could blame him. Gaara was his friend, and there might be a possibility that he was dead.
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When the large sand dunes finally came into view Sakura let out a sigh of relief, at least they were now one step closer to finding Gaara.
Running through the sandy desert, they made their way closer to the village gates. A group of jounins were there to greet them.
"Temari-san!" One of the jounins ran towards the them. His eyes completely bewildered. "Kankuro-san he's dying."
Temari felt that same dread that spread through her in regards to Gaaras news resurface. She was going to lose two of her brothers.
"Sakura can you…" Temari turned towards the pink haired medic. After all during her stay in Konoha news of Sakura's medic prowess travelled fast.
"I can try."
A loud agonizing scream was heard from behind the emergency room door, as medics rushed in and out from it.
"In here." The sand jounin said as he pushed open the doors to allow the team in. Temari was automatically by Kankuro side. Her eyes filled with worry as she watched her brother thrashed in pain on the bed.
"You guys wait here." Sakura told Naruto and Sasuke as she handed her ninja pack to them and hurried off to Kankuro's side.
Shouldering Sakura's pack, Sasuke dragged Naruto to one of the nearby chairs and patiently waited for Sakura to finish.
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"You're the Uchiha boy."
Sasuke turned his head to the new voice beside Naruto. An elderly woman sat there staring at him with narrowed eyes.
"I fought against a couple of your clansmen back in my younger days."
"No you didn't" A feeble male voice rang out beside the old lady.
The elderly woman turned her head towards the elderly man beside her and gave him a small wink. "Heh, heh just kidding."
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Pulling her hair into a short messy pony tail she stared at the male before her. Her green eyes narrowed as she scanned his body. Carefully she used her fingers and lifted open the man's eyes. His pupils were unfocused. Next she forced open his mouth and peered inside. His tongue was completely swollen, it was a miracle he was still breathing. Taking her hand's off his mouth she lowered her head to his chest and listened. She could hear the irregularities in his heart beat.
Lifting her head she turned to the medics around her. "He doesn't have much time, the poison has spread to all of his major organs."
Taking the sheet of paper from the small table beside her she jotted down a couple of ingredients. "Can you prepare this for me?" She asked as she handed the paper to one of the medics beside her. With a nod the brunette grabbed another medic and dragged him off to the green house.
"Temari-san, do you have restraints?"
The blond gave her a confused look.
"It's going to be a painful procedure and I can't have him moving."
"Right." Temari pointed at two medics to fetch the leather bindings.
After securely tying down the struggling brunette they waiting for the two medics to come back with the ingredients.
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Once the two medics came back with all the necessary material, Sakura immediately got to work. She gathered all the medics around her and showed them how to mix the ingredients. The ending result was a yellowish liquid.
"I'm going to need quite a few basin's of this so keep them coming."
"Hai." Two of the medics replied as they busied themselves with the next batch.
Gathering chakra to one hand, Sakura dipped it into the liquid. Carefully raising it she watched as the liquid from the basin form into a bubble under her hand. "This will hurt Kankuro-san." She gave a small mumble of apology to the male before pushing the bubble of liquid into his chest.
A loud scream filled the operating room.
With her other hand she placed it on the other side of his chest and dragged the yellow liquid out. Inside the bubble there was the remnants of the poison. "I need the poison separated." She barked out the order as she deposited the liquid back into the empty basin. One of the free medics grabbed the pan and immediately started to isolate the poison.
"Next."
Another basin of the yellowish liquid was place down beside her. Gathering it under her hand like before she moved down his torso, carefully removing the poison from his liver, intestine, and stomach.
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The elderly woman watched the young pink haired medic work. She reminded her of a certain slug princess.
"Sakura-chan's amazing isn't she." Naruto commented as he watched in admiration as his female teammate gave out orders to the many senior medics around her.
Sasuke followed Naruto's gaze. He knew she was head of the Konoha hospital so that meant that she was really good, but he never actually watched her operate till today. A twang of nostalgia resonated within him. That little girl that always depended on him was now a fully grown woman capable of leading others. His lips curved upward. "Yeah."
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After a long three hours, Kankuro was finally out of the woods. His breathing became more regularly and his heart beat slowed down to a normal pace.
Taking off the latex gloves, Sakura turned to the medics and gave them a smile. "Well done."
Sighs of reliefs were heard.
"Have him drink this formula twice daily and within two to three days he should recover." Sakura handed another sheet of paper to the head Sand medic.
"G-G-Gaara" A low mutter was heard from Kankuro and he slowly regained consciousness.
"Don't try to talk." Sakura urged as she pushed Kankuro back on the bed.
A clacking sound was heard behind her. "Karasu got a piece of that Akatsuki's clothing." Kankuro weakly managed. "Pl-please find Gaara." He forced out before sleep over took him.
Turning around Sakura picked up the small piece of purple cloth that laid inside Karasu's hand.
"Can you track them from that?" Temari asked as she stared at the tiny piece of clothe.
"Yeah." She gave Temari an encouraging smile.
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Exiting the operating room, she greeted by cheers from Naruto. Who pranced around her commenting on how awesome that was.
"Do you know the slug princess?"
Sakura pushed the eager Naruto away from her face and stared at the elderly woman. "Yes, she is my shishou."
"hm.." The woman narrowed her eyes as if contemplating something.
"Sakura what is that?" Sasuke interrupted the conversation between his teammate and the crazy old lady, and pointed at the piece fabric in her hands.
"Right." Sakura turned towards Sasuke. "Can you hand me the scroll that Tsunade-sama gave to me before we left."
Sasuke opened her ninja pack behind him and pulled out the green scroll. "What is that?"
Taking the scroll from his hands, she opened it and placed it on the ground. Biting her thumb, she slammed her hand down on the paper. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu."
Eight nin-dogs appeared.
"Yo!" Pakkun lazily drawled out from on top of one of the larger bull dogs.
"Can you track this?" Sakura held the tiny piece of black fabric out in front of the dogs, and waited for them to finish sniffing. Once they finished, they disappeared.
"On my down time, I've been learning the kuchiyose jutsu from Kakashi-sensei, and I haven't completely gotten it down yet, so that's why I need the scroll." Sakura explained to Sasuke as she rerolled up the scroll, and placed it back into her bag.
"ALRIGHT LET'S GO FIND GAARA!" Naruto shouted as he picked up his pack, ready to leave.
"I'm also coming." Temari said ready to follow after Naruto before she was pulled back by Baki.
"Sand need you right now." He gave her a stern look.
"But Gaara." Temari half shouted as she tried to break free from his grip.
"I'll go."
All heads turned towards the elderly woman that spoke.
"It's been a while since I saw my grand son."
Baki looked flabbergasted. "Chiyo-san y-you."
Chiyo wagged a finger in front of the man and tsk-ed. "The village doesn't need more old fools like me."
"ALRIGHT IT'S SETTLED LETS GO." Naruto was starting to get impatient...again. Sakura rolled her eyes and grabbed his collar prevent him from leaving.
"Calm down Naruto, we have to wait for Pakkun to get back with their location."
Naruto mumbled something unintelligent under his breath as he crossed his arms and slumped back down on the chair. He wanted to leave...right now. Gaara could be dead by now.
"Dobe." Sasuke scoffed before closing his eyes and leaning back against the wall.
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"Can you take me to your green house?" He cracked open an eye when he heard his female teammate talking to one of the medics.
"Yeah follow me."
He watched as Sakura trailed after the Sand medic. Pushing himself off the wall, he silently followed after them.
"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked quizzically when she saw him falling them.
"Hn."
"OI TEME WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" Naruto shouted after his raven haired rival as he watched him leave with Sakura.
"OI, TEME? TEMMMMEEEEEE!"
Ok so this chapter was filler-y but i think in like a chapter or two ITACHIIIIIIII XDXDXDXDXD
Anyways, thank you to all those who reviewed and enjoy this story.
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