Another note penned in refined handwriting was found adhered to her door.
Still munching on a cereal bar half-heartedly, Sakura scanned the text in a matter of seconds.
The Hokage wants Team Kakashi to be at her office at 8. She seemed very uptight. Latecomers will not be dealt with leniently. See you, Sakura-san.
Latecomers will not be dealt with leniently?
Sakura raised a skeptical eyebrow at her master's orders. Was she in a bad mood again? Or did she lose money during her smuggled sessions of gambling with citizens and ninjas alike around the village?
Heaving a sigh, she was just about to crumple the flimsy piece of notepaper and allow it a smooth descent into her wastepaper basket when she hesitated.
She would leave the house after leaving the elegantly written note on her desk. Pretty things have always held a fascination for her.
Sai looked down on the form Naruto Uzumaki lying sprawled across the small bed of an apartment in disarray with the smell of stale snacks hanging in the enclosed space.
Always he wondered how the blonde would be able to live in such a messy space, and leaving biscuit wrappers and ramen cups with some of the soup still inside adds to the suffocating factor.
To his surprise, Naruto was already sitting at the side of his bed, staring up at Sai sleepily with his eyebrows raised in suspicion.
Sai flashed his trademark smile at Naruto. "We're needed at the Hokage's office,"
Snapping out of his former groggy state as the words were uttered, Naruto jumped up from his bed and disappeared into the bathroom and emerged fully-clothed and equipped.
"What are you waiting for, Sai? You wouldn't want to suffer the wrath of Old Lady Tsunade. She's like another version of Sakura-chan, just about a thousand times worse, give or take."
Sai felt a lump forming in his throat and followed the eager blonde out of the cluttered apartment.
Tsunade sat at her desk scanning over the cryptic letter in her hands, biting a perfectly manicured nail in frustration and anxiety. She even had to perform an unsealing technique on it, thus showing how important Jiraiya's message was.
On the piece of paper was a drawing of a dead snake impaled by a sword that was fizzling with lightning. The second part of the message was instructions to summon a certain toad from Mount Myoboku. He did not state which frog were they supposed to summon, but Tsunade knew that the only person who could summon toads from Mount Myoboku was none other than Naruto.
Tsunade never knew Jiraiya to be one of the secretive ones. For an occasion that Jiraiya would go to the length of embedding two unsealing techniques into a scroll- a difficult and tiring task to perform, served as some ominous prophecy. She was itching to know what important information that her former teammate had unearthed.
She was surprised when she deciphered the first part of the message.
So the Uchiha managed to eliminate Orochimaru, and that provided her with a clear understanding of his current power.
The Hokage dug her nails into the mahogany desk. Orochimaru had no trouble dealing with Jiraiya and her combined, and the both of them were of worthy power. If Sasuke's power have exceeded that of Orochimaru's …
She didn't even want to think about the consequences. She wouldn't have thought that the stoic young prodigy would turn out to be a full-fledged criminal, now released onto the world, ready to wreak bloody vengeance.
Rubbing her temples, she took another sip of tea while she waited eagerly for Team Kakashi.
The sky turned a depressing shade of grey and the first few drops of rain started to plummet from above. Kakashi prompted his team to quicken their pace up the stairs leading to the Hokage's office. He knew of the troubling situation, and he was worried on how his former students would react to the latest news.
As disconsolate as he was over his prized student's decision to walk such a dark path, he could not deny the sliver of pride that he felt towards the Uchiha prodigy. Stories of his incredible abilities were already circulating the five nations at an alarming speed, resulting in unrest and upheaval among the village leaders.
Maybe that boy would just succeed in fulfilling his lifelong goal.
Sakura walked next to him, and he could see disturbance written all over her face, though she was attempting to paint on an emotionless and nonchalant expression.
"You seem troubled," Kakashi momentarily shifted his gaze towards her.
Sakura let out a nervous laugh. " You could always read me like an open book, huh?"
He nodded in agreement. " The reason?"
"I'm not sure myself. I feel some uncomfortable feeling that's keeping on edge, and when I do feel that feeling, it's always because something bad is about to happen,"
Kakashi shrugged nonchalantly. "Don't sweat over it. We're about to find out in a short while,"
Team Kakashi passed on their greeting to the Hokage as they filed into the office in a single line, then arranged themselves neatly before Tsunade.
The Sannin eyed the five people with concern, especially the two of them.
After the years of taking Sakura in as an apprentice, she had learnt to read her like an open book, and Sakura's emotions betrayed her discomfort.
A tense air circulated around the office as the silence dragged on. Perturbed glances were exchanged. Uneasy expressions were plastered across faces, anxious and eager.
Tsunade decided it was time that she disrupted the soundlessness.
"Orochimaru's dead."
The previous uneasy expressions registered to those of shock and disbelief.
"He was murdered by that younger Uchiha prodigy," she drummed her fingers once more on the desk.
This time, Naruto's jaw hung open; Sakura put a hand to her mouth to stifle a gasp; even Kakashi's eyebrows shot up. Only Sai and Yamato retained their composure.
Neither of them offered any comments regarding the incident.
Tsunade knew there was no time. "I'm sure this has given all of you a very clear picture of what sort of power it is that the younger Uchiha wields. He's now roaming the world, recruiting shinobi of unbelievable power to achieve one objective, and-"
"We have to track Itachi down," A soft whisper escaped from Sakura's lips. Her face started to take on an unhealthy shade of white, probably at the thought of encountering Sasuke again.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow at her, clearly expressing her wariness, and nodded.
"The five of you will be tracking Itachi Uchiha, and I want him to be captured alive,"
All five pairs of eyes widened in shock at her words.
Kakashi calmly protested immediately. "Lady Tsunade, I don't think five of us will be enough, and you know of his incredible abilities,"
The Hokage silenced him with a glare. " I'll be sending reinforcements after a day or two. The village cannot afford to send out any more military power at this time. I've already sent a message to Shikamaru's team, and they're rushing back as quickly as possible. You leave tomorrow morning."
Her tone made it final. They were going on a mission to track that dangerous criminal down.
The five of them turned to leave, one after another, until it was Sakura's turn. Tsunade told her to stay where she was.
The Sannin walked out from behind her mahogany desk until she stood before Sakura. Extending her palm, she produced two vials of black liquid and handed it to her apprentice.
"I've been experimenting in the lab these days, and I'm glad to say I've come up with an antidote that can cure a large number of illnesses, but I have not documented them since I did not have enough time," Tsunade gave Sakura a stern look. "I sincerely hope that this will save your life in times of danger."
The pink haired kunoichi did not bother to engage in the formalities at this time and stepped forward to hug her mentor like a child would hug her beloved mother. "I'm eternally grateful, Lady Tsunade,"
Tsunade was taken back with the sudden display of affection, and reluctantly put a hand on Sakura's shoulder.
"You should leave now, go and make preparations," came her response.
Sakura nodded, smiled brightly at her mentor and turned to let herself out of the room.
Tsunade sighed and eased herself on her chair, and wheeled it backwards so it overlooked the village.
The rain had stopped and the sun had just began to set, casting a purplish orange tinge over the buildings and trees of her home.
She reached over to her desk and took a sip of green tea. How she wished she were able to indulge in the solace that alcohol would always seem to provide her with.
Just like how she wished that she didn't have to send her most beloved apprentice on a dangerous path that might potentially result in a one-way ticket to the realm of death.
I'm sorry for posting up really late chapters! If you have a little time to spare, please consider sharing your opinions regarding the story below! Thank you guys ^^