Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

"Haruno Sakura."

The quiet, firm voice drags her out of her fitful dreams and she's quick to grab the kunai from under the mattress and press it against the person's neck. Her breathing is heavy, her eyes wide open and fierce and she doesn't care that all her scars are on display, her tank top and underwear barely covering the worst ones.

Breathing out a relieved sigh when she felt the Kevlar of the ANBU's vest under her fingers and the way their breath quickened, their heartbeat thumping louder in their chest.

"Sorry." Sakura muttered, running a hand through her hair, snagging her ponytail.

She knew she must look like hell—it had barely been two hours that she'd been asleep, the hospital shift and the beginning of Kakashi's physical rehabilitation leaving her chakra drained and her emotions brittle.

(She carefully ignored the hurt that punched at her ribs, reminding her of the two babies they'd lost tonight.)

"You are summoned to the Hokage's office. It is urgent." The ANBU said curtly, probably not haven taken lightly to the fact that Sakura had nearly sliced his throat open without a thought.

Foolish. A snarky voice said inside her head, he should have known better—We are an assassin after all.

Sakura nodded again, drawing herself close, slipping her arms around her middle, not wanting the officer to see the words that were carved there, the silver skin still shining in the moonlight. She watched as he disappeared from sight, leaving a small cloud to disperse in the air.

Sakura stood still for a moment, taking a deep breath and relaxing her shoulders.

Opening her eyes, she tightened her jaw and breathed out.

It was time to put the mask back on.

She ran to the Hokage's office quickly, having tossed on a pair of form-fitting pants and top, layering her breast plate over her thermal shirt and strapping her otter mask to the back of her head. Her katana was strapped to her back in her favorite scabbard for easy access and she made sure to slip her extra kunai into her sleeves the med-pouch at her waist. Knowing that she was going to head over to ANBU headquarters to get ready for her mission, she hadn't bothered with a pack, knowing that everything she would need was probably already in the process of being ready for her.

As the night cooled her skin, she took another deep breath as she neared the tower. It was late at night, early morning and she dearly regretted leaving Ryu at this hour. He had never taken to waking up alone, especially in the first months of the ANBU program and she knew that he had suffered greatly at the sacrifices she had had to make in order for the both of them to survive.

Shaking away the thoughts, she made sure her hair was braided to her head tightly, making the hand-signs for henge quickly, turning it a pretty auburn, her default color when on ANBU missions. It helped that her chakra-control was so good that no one would be able to break it unless she was either unconscious or she did it herself.

Pressing her lips together, Sakura had an inkling about the type of mission she was going to be given tonight. It was this niggling feeling at the base of her back that had her sending her favorite summon to pester Kiba out of his bed and pressing soft, soft kisses to Ryu's head, leaving a quick note stuck to the fridge before sliding another one under Ms. Toya-san's door. While she tried to stay optimistic about her mission success rates, she knew that there was always a possibility that she wouldn't come back.

Her body had been restless for days and not even her baby brother's cuddling and playful eskimo kisses had been able to calm her down. The nightmares, even with Inoichi's intervention, didn't seem to have any intention of fading away and more often than not, she found herself pacing the living room, a silencing seal on all the windows and doors, trying to keep herself from screaming. Her scars had begun to ache again, an old reminder of what Sakura knew was to come.

It is urgent.

Those had been the words that the ANBU had tossed out before leaving and Sakura bit her lip as she passed the water tower. Those words were the ones that had her hands trembling as she ran, that had her pressing back angry tears and dulling her emotions, boxing all her anger, rage and frustrations into a neat, pretty box at the back of her head.

("That will be our code." Boar-taichou had said primly, his blank eyes roving over the cadets faces. "You will of course, be given other missions but when more…delicate methods of dealing with a threat need to be used, those will be the ones you will hear.")

When she had dissociated enough that she no longer really felt the biting breeze on her face or her aching scars, Sakura slipped into the Hokage tower, making sure that her mask was securely over her face and nothing belied her traits. She stalked into the room, closing it with a click behind her and bowing low to the Hokage, her eyes darting to her taichou quickly before clearing her throat.

"Hokage-sama, you have summoned me?" She asked in that familiar deadened voice.

Sakura noticed the quirk to her taichou's mouth and she resisted the urge to slash his throat to feel the blood drip down her hands, warming her fingers.

Sakura did not even twitch as he appraised her.

She remembered Kiba having been shocked the first time she'd come back, his eyes going so wide Sakura thought they'd burst out of his skull. She remembered having taken days to return to her normal self, remembered having to find purpose in life again without the help of her team, to remember that what tools ANBU had given her were not the ones that made her.

"Yes." Tsunade's eyes creased with regret but Sakura was too numb to feel angry or sad about it.

Sakura always knew, straight from the first time she'd snapped a man's neck the moment he pushed inside her, that she was too good at her job to cut loose. She knew that no one else could find their way around a body like she could, couldn't find how to make someone shudder under their hands like putty in under three minutes, couldn't glean secrets from honeyed tongues after paying worship to their bodies.

Sakura had barely been thirteen when she knew she'd always be in the wetworks squad for these types of jobs.

And she would never reveal her secret to anyone.

She remembered the time when she'd been outraged, furious and scared at how good she was at killing her targets after having them touch her body, when she'd raged against the ANBU system, begging to let her transfer to another squad, sobbing her heart out into her pillow when they'd refused.

It had all changed when they'd paid a visit to little Ryu at his daycare, taking him out for ice cream, keeping their filthy hands at the nape of his neck, ready to snap.

Sakura remembered having smiled the next day when turning up for work, before carving the ANBU tattoo into her arm herself, not even bothering numb the pain.

(They had smiled back and told her she was a good soldier.)

"There has been several incidents of murder and our civilian client—A Mrs. Hayuri Tomagoshi—is afraid that it is the work of a serial killer. We are unsure if they are shinobi or civilian as of yet but our spies are gathering Intel as we speak. You will be gone for three days, as we know definitively where they live." Tsunade said primly and Sakura knew she was steeling herself—her Hokage was far too kind to send off people to their deaths but she did her best and Sakura loved her for it.

Still, her heartbeat accelerated in her chest when she heard the word they.

("Remember the code—we use he or she for one." Boar-taichou smiled cruelly, "And they for multiple.")

Swallowing quickly, she nodded and Tsunade continued, her mouth turning downwards into a pitying frown. Sakura ignored it, steeling herself for what her mission entailed. If she wanted to survive this, she would have to be as ready as she could.

Remember. You are an assassin, not a child. She told herself repeatedly to block out the fear that rose the hair at the nape of her neck. You will honor your village. You will keep Ryu safe.

"We will have you fit into the archetype of the victim. You will seduce them and find out if they have any ulterior motives for their actions—we do not want another serial killer on our hands. The uprising in the south has had most of our citizens already very wary." Her Hokage said firmly, her eyes flashing to check if Sakura had understood.

"As my Hokage commands," She said quietly, bowing her head and ignoring the scoff her taichou sent her.

"You will find your equipment ready for you at T&I. You are dismissed, Otter."

Sakura gave a sharp nod and poofed away, not noticing the glistening in Tsunade's eyes and the way the older woman's hands clenched under her desk.

"Honeytrap! You're back!" A familiar voice said jovially, weaving their way through the T&I crowd to sling an arm over her shoulder. "How's my favorite seductress?"

Sakura, against her better judgement, snorted. "Really Anko?"

Anko's eyes gleamed but Sakura could see a glimmer of pity in those dark brown depths. It made her uncomfortable and so she looked away, ignoring the twinge in her chest. Anko had been a stronghold in her earlier years, always making sure to take her out for dango after particularly…bad missions. Sakura had been grateful ever since.

You are an assassin, not a child. She repeated, You will honor your village. You will keep Ryu safe.

"Getting ready for your next mission?" The older woman nudged her ribs and Sakura grunted an affirmative as they moved closer to Ibiki's office.

Shikaku sent her a nod and Sakura bowed her head in return, ignoring Shikamaru's surprised eyes as he lifted his head from his father's desk.

Anko grinned. "You're so much more…expressive when you're not getting ready to kill people, love."

Sakura turned, pinning her under a sharp green gaze, her mouth turning rigid. "I was drunk. And fifteen. Shut the fuck up."

Anko threw her head back and laughed. "You were splendid. I particularly like that thing you did with your tongue. Pretty fancy moves. Could barely walk for a day after that."

Sakura scowled. "I fucking hate you."

Brushing off Anko's arm, she pushed past the masses of people, ignoring some of the curious looks, intent on getting to Ibiki's office before Anko decided to sing her praises to the whole department.

"Can we do it again sometime?" Anko called as Sakura disappeared around the corner.

"No."

Anko just cackled like the crazy bitch she was.

When she finally made it to Ibiki's office she nearly barged in before thinking better of it and knocking politely. She heard a gruff come in and she opened the door quietly.

"Otter. Your things are here. I assume Hokage-sama has told you of the case?" Ibiki asked, sliding his reading glasses up his head, his eyebrow raised.

"Yes Ibiki-sama." Sakura nodded, slipping the heavy pack on, relishing in the feel of familiar olive canvas against her and the smell of weapons' grease. It was good to have an anchor to hang onto. Even if it was filled with frilly garters, push up bras and stacks of makeup.

The interrogator made a face and Sakura resisted the urge to smile a little. He always hated it when she called him that and it amused her to no end. Frankly, even Anko found it hilarious.

Until, of course, she'd asked for Sakura to call her that too.

Anko had proudly displayed the black eye Sakura had given her the day after.

"Well. You're officially set to leave in half an hour but you're cleared to go now. The timeframe is three to four days and you know what to do—use henge, makeup and attitude to cover those scars." Ibiki told her sternly and Sakura purposely blocked out the image of the concerned gleam in those depthless eyes.

"Of course, Ibiki-sama." Then she frowned. "Do you have a cadet to spare?"

"Why?" Ibiki said, raising an eyebrow.

"Hatake-san is just beginning his rounds of physical therapy again and I need someone to go through his exercises with him. Unfortunately, he is severely lacking in the commitment area and I need someone to watch over him to see if he actually does them." Sakura explained frankly, shouldering the backpack better and crossing her arms over her chest.

It had been hell working with Kakashi the last couple of days. Not only was the old man suspicious of all methods of medicine, he was also truly invasive. Sakura had lost count of how many times she had asked him to take up the next stretching position and reflected personal questions with verbal baseball bats.

"Shikamaru's the only kid I've got. That okay?" Ibiki asked, rubbing his chin.

"Yes, Ibiki-sama, thank you." Sakura bowed her head politely.

"Stop calling me that, Otter." Ibiki muttered.

Sakura pretended not to hear him.

The gate was open, the sun dipping out of the clouds, shining down on the Uzushio spiral, illuminating the crimson symbol, making it look like freshly spilt blood. It was a cold morning and Sakura drew her breastplate closer to her, despite the fact that it was freezing from the chilly breeze that lifted her braid and made goosebumps speckle her skin.

"Kotetsu." Sakura nodded at the ninja, "Izumo."

"Heya minnow. You going somewhere at this hour?" Kotetsu raised an eyebrow before letting out a giant yawn.

"Thought you were done for the week. Hokage-sama is always ranting about how you need a break." Izumo grinned, passing her log.

"It was urgent," Sakura said shortly, signing her name on the parchment.

She ignored both of their winces and sobering faces.

"Well," Izumo tried for a smile, "Come back in one piece, yeah?"

"We'll give you hell if you don't! Who's going to buy us anmitsu?" Kotetsu shouted as she began walking away.

Sakura gave a small smile before turning and leaping to the nearest tree in a quick blur, intent on getting to the tiny, rundown town before noon.

It would be a harrowing four days.

Kakashi woke up with the slam of a door.

"Get up!" An unfamiliar voice shouted and he winced as he tried to draw out his kunai, his arms shaking with the effort.

"Oh none of that, Kakashi-san." Said what looked like—to Kakashi's early, blurry vision at least—an old woman. "Honestly, you ninja are all the same. Try to be nice to one and they'll draw weapons on you like white on rice!"

"Who are you?" Kakashi nearly yelled, "Actually no—get the fuck out of my apartment!"

The older woman made a face. "That's rude. And I'm your medic."

For a moment, Kakashi couldn't breathe.

Sakura had left him. She had given him to another medic, finally gotten rid of the last stains of team seven, he thought bitterly, pretending his chest wasn't aching.

("Don't worry kid. She always come back.")

Liar, he thought furiously, liar.

"At least until Sakura-sama comes back. She's got a mission, the poor little bird." The woman said brightly, ripping open the curtains with an almost sadistic kind of glee. Kakashi shuddered and tried to drag the duvet back over his head but the woman was suddenly at his bedside and apparently had an iron grip for a civilian.

A little part of him breathed out at the mention that Sakura hadn't abandoned him. Even though he had no right to feel it. He had abandoned her first after all and freaked out over her scars.

He winced.

That was not going to turn out well in the long run.

"She was up at dawn too. Honestly, the poor little thing is always coming back looking half-dead. Although, she always looks better when she sees little Ryu-chan." The woman began ushering out of bed and at this point, Kakashi had just given up, mulishly following the evil woman who dragged him out of bed just to murder his rest.

Brutally.

With conversation.

"Wait, who the fuck—"

"Language, Kakashi-san!" The woman said primly, sitting him down at his kitchen table.

"—is Ryu?"

The woman blinked. "Well, don't you know? You're her sensei after all."

Ouch. He thought bitterly. Way to make my morning even worse.

"I was at the border for a couple of years." He reluctantly spit out, lifting his shirt over his head to let the older woman check him over with a critical eye.

She tutted at him, disappointment seeping into her eyes and Kakashi instantly felt guilty.

He had planned on apologizing to Sakura a week ago, but she had kept thwarting his plans by concentrating solely on their physical therapy, never once answering one of his questions about what she was doing these past couple of years or how she was now. Kakashi had even decided that he would let her come to him this time and determinedly left his alarm clock off, thinking that if she came into his apartment, he could corner her and finally apologize.

But no. Fate just had to have other plans.

Of course, nothing ever worked out for him.

"Ryu-chan is the cutest little boy I've ever seen. He's got her green eyes too. Black curls though. I think he gets that from the father." The woman explained her chakra lighting up a pale green before running over his arms and shoulders.

"The father?" Kakashi choked out.

"Yes. He's got Sakura's smile. Her twelve-year-old smile, not her sixteen-year-old smile. Boy that girl was the prettiest thing I'd ever seen the first time she pranced into our hospital, a baby in her arms. Features were a little unproportioned, but she was still absolutely gorgeous."

Kakashi couldn't really breathe. His tongue had stopped working and his mind worked furiously, trying to find some sort of solution to this—to this utter shock.

The father? He thought frantically, wondering just when the hell Sakura had a child. The father? Of her child? Of her baby boy?

"No silly." The nurse said, fixing up the damaged nerves in his shoulder. "Ryu-chan's her little brother. It's a shame he never got to meet his parents, the poor thing. Died in the invasion, you see. The girl was crushed."

When he hadn't spoken after several beats of silence, the nurse called his name again.

But he was too lost in his head, grief and surging guilt battering against his ribs as he thought of how many times he was going to fail her before he could finally call himself a good sensei.

When Sakura finally got to the district, breathing hard, she opened her pack and pulled out what she was going to need. She had gotten all of her information from Intel, tracked down the targets a little after noon, and now skulked across the street, hiding in the trees, getting ready.

On the forest floor, there was a loose, white dress with no embroidery or markings, the top cut low but not too low, telling her she'd be playing an innocent virgin. She eyed it critically, before taking a kunai and shredding the bottom, making sure to give it a rushed look, as if she'd torn it off in a hurry.

Sakura decided to forgo a bra as she slipped on the dress, making sure to pinch her nipples into puckered pebbles knowing that the more unaware and unassuming she looked the better. She knew that if they strained against the fabric of her dress, and she stilled looked innocent and pure, she'd look just the part for her targets.

She ignored the squeezing sensation at her ribs as she slowly prettied herself to be—to be raped.

You are an assassin, not a child. You will honor your village. You will keep Ryu safe.

Taking a little pocket mirror out of her bag's side-compartment, she tutted at her brilliant green eyes. They were too noticeable and so she quickly slipped on the dark blue contacts, blinking away the sting of the burn. Her blue eyes roved over her face, trying to figure out how to hide the scars.

A genjutsu was a no, at least for her face. She knew she could cover up the ones on her legs with a quick concealment jutsu and maybe, if necessary, ripped white tights, but there was no telling, even if with her brilliant chakra control, that the targets she'd be seducing weren't shinobi and there was no way she wasn't coming back home.

It would be Ryu's birthday in two weeks and she would not miss it, even if she had to come back from the dead.

Deciding on makeup—thick, untraceable foundation and light powder—she covered up the scars that ran from her temple to the edge of her mouth and the ones that curved over her throat. Figuring that she could pass of the rest of her scars as abuse from a violent father, she decided to let the others that littered her upper thighs, back, stomach and chest be.

Because they targets were interested in the innocent girl, she knew she could play off the scars and the abuse story with ease, probably even getting into their good graces as well as getting closer to them—it was always a good idea to play on protective or possessive instincts.

Smacking her lips as she stretched them out, trying to make them look dry and crackled—she did have to look realistic after all—Sakura used the mirror to look over herself once more.

Sakura had decided on wearing innocent-looking, cotton underwear, as this would make her seem more of a child than if she wore a thong. The mary-jane shoes and the white tights she'd also decided on helped with the look and she was satisfied with how childish and innocent she appeared.

Taking one last look at her face, making sure to outline certain parts to draw away from notifying features that people could look up in bingo books, Sakura caught sight of her auburn hair. With a snort, she ran her fingers through the tight braid, making sure to leave several strands hanging around her cheeks, the locks falling out the braid to look as if she had been messed with.

After raising a fist to her face and hitting herself hard enough to bruise, Sakura hid away the pack, only keeping miniature senbon in her hair, a small, sharp blade in the sole of her shoe and the kunai that lined her inner thigh.

Besides, she thought to herself, I can always use medical jutsu if it gets really bad.

Then, she stumbled off the road, exaggerating a limp and heading straight for the nearest tavern, making sure to let the dust rise from the road and stain her tights.

Leaning heavily on one leg, she burst into the building, plastering on a stricken expression onto her face.

"Help!" She screamed.

So! Finally an update for you hungry readers. Yep, there is definitely an attitude change in this chapter. I wanted it that way cos she's finally going on a mission that we get to tail! She'll be meeting Naruto soon. Hope you all enjoy, thank you for reading! Tell me your thoughts if you wish.