After dinner, Sasuke went to the bathroom to take a bath, leaving Sakura in the kitchen to wash the dishes. As she was washing the dishes, she started to recall the mission that Kakashi asked them to complete.

few days ago...*

During the peak hours of the night, Sasuke and Sakura were awaken by a call of a bird.

"hmm. What was that?" Sakura asked as she yawned, feeling exhausted.

As they got up from their sleeping positions, Sasuke manage to get good glimpse of the figure flying in the night sky. It was one of Sai's ink messenger birds.

Noticing think bird coming closer to them, Sasuke quickly grab a empty scroll from his pouch and opened it, allowing the ink bird to dissolve into the parchment, revealing a message from Kakashi himself.

"It's a message from Kakashi." Sasuke said as he scan through it.

"Kakashi-sensei?" What does it say?" Sakura asked, walking to Sasuke's side to get a closer look.

"It says," Sasuke began to read ,"Dear Sasuke and Sakura,

I hope you guys are having a good time travelling together. I apologise if I woke you two up but I have a mission for both of you. A receive word from a far that a village around the borders of the Land of Fire may be holding important information regarding the Sage of six paths. I want you two to help investigate the village for me and sent me a report once your done with your investigation.

I would also like you two to help me negotiate an alliance between the village and Konoha. From what I heard, their vast agriculture might serve great help to incease Konoha's food supply.

I will sent you a map of the location of the village in the morning. And I hope I will see you two again.

Yours Sincerely,

Kakashi-sensei

Present day

That right Sakura thought Kakashi-sensei sent me and Sasuke-kun to this village to investigate. I guess I was so interged by this place to nearly forgot about the mission.

"Hey Sakura!" Sasuke called out as he exit from the bathroom ,"It's your turn to wash up."

"Oh okay." Sakura replied.

花

"Uh Sasuke-kun?" Sakura stammered.

"Yes." Sasuke replied.

"Why is there only one futon in the bedroom?"

After her bath, Sakura entered the bedroom only to find Sasuke sitting on the floor drinking a cup of warm tea and a queen size futon. I swore earlier there was two separate futons in the room.

"Oh yeah," Sasuke said ,"I prepared it while your were taking your bath."

"Huh!" Sakura gasps softly, beginning to get flustered Sasuke-kun, your so sneaky.

"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked ,"Your face is all red."

"It... It's nothing."Sakura replied as she cup her blushing face,"I'm just surprise because...I didn't think you would...want us to...sleep together you know."

Seeing that she is nervously hesitating, Sasuke gave a small giggle she's cute when she blushes like that.

Sasuke stood up from his seating position and made his way to Sakura." You must be feeling exhausted, you could go to bed first. I have to do some paperwork outside."

"Uh...Okay." Sakura replied as she stammered.

With his cup of tea in his hand, he left the bedroom, leaving a dumbfounded Sakura alone. He is really serious about sleeping with me. What has gotten to him.

She face the futons again and gave out a silent sigh well, I am to tried to argue with him. I should probably go to bed.

She laid down onto the left side of the futons and covered the blanket over her slender figure. She slowly close her eyes, expecting an utterly dreamless night.

樱桃

Indra!

"Ah!" Sakura cried out as she jolt awake. Ah, it's just a dream.

As she rubbed her forehead, she looked around her surroundings, only to realise she is not in the bedroom. Instead, she now sitting up in a white, empty void.

"Hello!" Sakura cried out ,"Is anybody here! Sasuke-kun! Are you here!"

There was no response. Suddenly, a flash of light appeared out of no where shinning brightly. "What is that thing."Sakura asked herself ,"Is it dangerous."

It's time you know the truth. The bright light spoke.

"It can speak!"

The bright light shown brighter and brighter, blinding Sakura. I wasn't long before it stopped shinning. As she slowly recovered from being temporaryly blinded, she gasps in surprise as a she found herself lying on a field of flowers in a unfamiliar terrain.

The area was covered in lush green grass with patches of wildflowers. There were very few trees and the river flowing through the field gave if a fresh vibe.

Not only was the surroundings different but Sakura was also now dressed in a green coloured yukata instead of her sleeping ropes.

Where am I Sakura though I have never seen this place before.

As she got use to her new surroundings, Sakura soon spotted a merchant wearing a bamboo hat walking on the trail Maybe he would tell me where I am.

Sakura stood up from her sitting position and made her way to the merchant. "Eh excuse me," Sakura said nervously ,"I'm lost. Could you tell me where I am right now."

She waited for a reply but the merchant said nothing and continued walking the path What a rude man.

"Hey! I'm talking to you." Sakura soon loss her patience and tried grab the man by the shoulder, but instead of grabbing his shoulder, her hand passed through the man.

"What the!" Sakura gasped as she stared at her hands and notice that she was translucent,"What the hell is happening?!"

Okay. I got it. Is just a silly dream. Once it's morning, I just wake up and forget all of this. PROBLEM SOLVED!

It wasn't long before she felt the ground beneath her vibrate and heard the sound of trotting What is that sound.

Sakura slowly turn her body to the direction of where the sound is coming from. Her predictions were right. Soon, a group men riding horses came to full view and at high speed. Sakura gave of a shriek, quickly jumping to the side to prevent herself from getting trampled on. She was going to yell at them before she realise her mistake Oh yeah, I invisible to them. They can't see or touch me. Just calm down Sakura. You can figure out what to do.

Sakura quickly got up onto her feet and ran back onto the pathway once it was clear. She manage to steal a quick glance at the men (and maybe women) riding on their horses. Long enough for her to see the armor they are wearing.

"Wait a minute," Sakura said to herself,"The armor they are wearing. It's the same type of armor warriors wore a millenium ago. And the symbol on their armor, its the same symbol of the Nadeshiko village" Kusa-san did mention that the village is a millennium years old.

Sakura's eyes widened in realisation as she put all the pieces of the puzzle together ,"Am I...in the past."

No. That is not possible.

As the horse-back riding warriors slowly came out of sight, Sakura remembered what the orb of light told her earlier 'It's time you know the truth',what is that suppose to mean.

It wasn't long until a thought came to mind What if the orb wants to show me something. Maybe secrets about the Nadeshiko village that no body knows. But what secret is it? Sakura turn to the direction where they were heading to The only way to find out is it follow them.

花

"Okay. That was a bad idea." Sakura scolded herself as she tries to catch her breath. I should not have ran that fast. This outfit isn't meant for running. But I had to catch up to them.

After catching her breath, she stood up properly from her crouching position. Sakura then realized that she was now in the middle of a small village.

Despite its overall size, the village had an endless numbef of paddy fields spread around the area. There were a few wooden huts around the area where the villagers lived in. However, the main attraction of the village was right in front of Sakura.

Sitting right in front of her was a huge and magnificent ninja house that is surrounded by wooden fences. Despite its dull appearance, the ninja house looked intimidating to the eye. Almost looking like a fortress.

"What's going on."One villager said

"Who is that?" another one said. In a matter of seconds, a big group of villagers began to curiously surrounded the group of visitors who have stop in the middle of the path.

"I'm sorry but would you kindly refrain from coming closer to our horses. Your presence may agitate them." A deep, raspy voice from the visiting group. The owner of the voice slowly came down from his horse, revealing a man in royal-like garments.

He does not seem like much but...Kusa-san did mention that Nadeshiko village was once a small kingdom. So...He must be the king or Lord of Nadeshiko at this time period.

"May I know where your leader lives?" He ask the group that are gathered around him and his group. One of the villages pointed to the large ninja house in front of them,"There. That is is where Hagoromo-sama lives with his sons.Most of time he is teaching his disciples so I don't recommend you should bother him."

Wait. The said 'Hagoromo-sama'. Which means... Sakura's eyes widened in realisation I'm now in the village of Ninshu.

Kakashi-sensei did said that the Nadeshiko village is rumored to have connections with the Sage of six paths but I never thought it would be true. That brought another question into Sakura's mind But in what way.

"You don't have to worry." The man said in a raspy but friendly tone as he got of his horse ,"Your leader is already expecting my visit."

As he made his way to Hagoromo's estate, two smaller figures followed the same procedure as their leader did. Revealing two little girls no older the age of fifteen and twelve.

Those little girls must be his daughters. Sakura thought.

From what Sakura could see, the older girl had beautiful long, chocolate-brown hair that is losely tied at the bottom and was wearing a blue and black yukata. The younger one however was hard to make out how she looks like. Sakura could see that she was wearing a red and white yukata but the hood she is wearing covered up her features. From her gestures, Sakura could tell that the younger daughter was trying to hide her face I wonder what she is trying to hide. A birthmark on her face. Maybe a scar.

The rest of the visiting group started walking to the grounds of the ninja house, leaving a group of villagers behind. The villagers began to gossip among themselves, wondering who the mysterious visitors were.

Sakura however continued to follow the group from behind unseen thank kami I'm invisible or would have been caught right away. She made her way to the grounds.

樱桃

Outside the ninja house, Hagoromo stood patiently waiting for the visitors with a serious look on his face. To his left and right, his two sons, Indra and Ashura. Indra stood quietly like his father while Ashura keep tucking Hagoromo's robes.

"Otou-sama, are they coming soon?" Ashura impatiently asked his father. Hagoromo smiled to his eleven year old son and pet him on the head ,"Be a bit more patient my child. There coming."

And he was right. In a few minutes, the visitors from another land arrived. Indra and Ashura eyes widened in awe at the armor the warriors were wearing. What was more interesting were the clothes that the leader, Lord Ohoyama, was wearing. Perfectly detailed. Perfectly sewed.

"Lord Ohoyama," Hagoromo bowed politely the other man,his sons following his action,"Your presence honors us. Welcome to the village of Ninshu."

"It is also an honor to meet you again, Sage of six paths," Lord Ohoyama replied in a friendly tone.

From a distance, Sakura observed the conservative going on between the two lords There is clearly no hostility between the two. They seem really friendly with each other. Almost like they are friends.

"I take it that you have accepted the agreement?" Lord Ohoyama asked, the tone of his voice now more serious.

"Yes. I have. May I suggest that we take our discussion inside." Hagoromo suggested.

"Yes. We may." Lord Ohoyama was about to walk up the entrance of the ninja house when he felt a slight tug in his cloths.

He turned around to see that his younger daughter tugging his robes. A small smile appeared to his face. He crouched down to her and place his hand on her head ,"You don't have to worry. You will be fine. Your sister will be with you. You don't have to be scared, okay?"

His little daughter nodded her head in agreement. Lord Ohoyama stood up from his crouching position and made his way into the ninja house with Hagoromo, leaving his daughters, Hagoromo's sons and the warriors of Nadeshiko outside.

"It is nice to meet you," The first one to break the silence was Ashura as he approached the two sisters."I'm Ashura and that is my brother, Indra." Ashura introduced as his brother bowed down to the sisters.

"It is also an honor to meet you," The older one replied ,"I'm princess Iwana. First Princess of the Nadeshiko province.

And she is my younger sister, princess Sakuya."

Wait Sakura eyes widen in shock that girl hiding under the hood. That is Sakuya-hime.

And that is a wrap for chapter three.If your wondering, the story's future updates will vary if I'm able to complete the chapter early or later.

I hope you guys have enjoyed the so far and hope will be enjoy future chapters.

-Gi