Apparently no one seems to review me from my last update, so I decided I should update this chapter just in case. Sorry it took me this long, so I hope to those who still like this story enjoy.
Days had passed after Sakura left the village to live with her mean aunt in the other village. Team 7 is still bummed for her absent, especially Naruto, since he missed her the most. Though, Tsunade so happens to know a friend in that village, a come up with a plan in order to…
Village, Ichiraku's (I finally remember the name)…
Team 7 came back from their training as they're at the Ichiraku's for some ramens, though Naruto doesn't seem excited and hyped-up as usual whenever he comes here.
"Training today is still a bit rough, but with a few more sparing would bring it up," Kakashi said to his fellow comrades, though noticed silence between them, they're hardly argued like they usually do even after training. They sat on their seats, as they're ready to order something, "Hey, I heard that there's going to be a cherry blossom festival taking place at the Land of Tea this week," he said trying to make a conversation with them,
"Sakura-chan loves festivals," Naruto said as he's now sad, Kakashi sighed, "Naruto, I know you're still upset ever since Sakura left, but you have to learn to deal with it," he said. "I know, but I missed her," Naruto said as he's looking a bit depressed, "We all missed her, and I'm pretty sure she doesn't want you to feel sad. So how about some ramens you always loved, just like old times," Kakashi tried to cheer him up. "You mean… those beef-turkey, shrimp-chicken, pork-roasted beef ramens I usually get…? I'LL TRADE THAT FOR HER TO REMEMBER ME, so that she can come home and we could be a team again!" he yelled as he's really upset. Kakashi and Sasuke turned to him,
"Listen Naruto, there's nothing I can do to bring her back, she's safely living with her aunt in another village, where she's safe from any harm. Plus, I'm sure she'll remember us 'eventually'," Kakashi said and thought. Naruto wanted to protest but it'll just make things worse, then Teuchi (I remembered his name) came and asked,
"Hello Team 7, what shall I get you guys today? Your usuals? Because this week our specialties are…"
Ayame held out the specialties, "Herbal creamed muffins, and sweet fresh dumplings," he said. Which is a very bad idea, cause…
"Dumplings are her favorites," Naruto said as he's sad again, then he got off the chair and left the stand,
"It's not the same… everything reminds me of her," he thought as he head straight home, leaving Kakashi, Sasuke, and everybody else behind.
Kakashi sighed, "He's really taken this hard," he thought, "Say, what's with Naruto? This is the fifth time he skipped out on my ramens this week," Teuchi asked, "He's having trouble dealing with a teammate of ours," Kakashi answered. Then he turned to Sasuke, as he's sitting quiet, but not his usual quietness, "You hardly said a word ever since this morning Sasuke, is this bothering you too?" he asked. "It's just… everything is quiet," Sasuke answered, "I've always thought you like it quiet," Kakashi said, "Yeah but…" Sasuke turned to the two empty chairs where Naruto and Sakura usually sit, "Not this quiet," he said. "I guess you missed her as much as Naruto does," Kakashi said, "… It's just that… I've always told her to leave me alone… but sometimes I didn't really mean it, let alone like this," Sasuke explained. "…I see," Kakashi said, as it show that with Sakura's absence, it effect Team 7 of ever moving on.
Naruto's apartment…
Naruto came to his apartments few minutes later, he jumped on his bed, with his head on his pillow, then he turned, looking at the photo of Team 7, with Sakura smiling in the middle. He started remembering the good old days…
Flashbacks…
Training ground, the bell test…
Sakura handing over her food tray to Naruto, even though he's all tied up to a log for breaking the rules, he smiled at her, "Sakura-chan" he thought. Sakura smiled back at him as well.
Training in the Land of Waves, the chakra control while walking up a tree…
Naruto fell and hit his head on his first try, then he, along with Sasuke and an injured Kakashi, looked up at the tree where Sakura is sitting on a branch above them. Looking down at Naruto and Sasuke with a smile, a giggle, and her tongue stinking out with success,
"Alright Sakura-chan, way to go!" he cheered for her.
Back in their Village…
"YOU BAKA!" she yelled with anger and…
PUNCH!
Punched him in the face, which flew his to the opposite direction until he hit the fence.
Village, before the Chunin Exam…
"Are you Sakura?" Lee asked, "Yes," Sakura answered, then Lee made a thumbs up, a smile and a wink at her, "Please be my girlfriend, so I can protect you with my life," he said with a shine in his smile. Sakura made an awkward look on her face when he asked her thought, "Definitely… not," she answered, which breaks Lee's spirit, "W-why not?" he asked sadly, "Cause you're a weirdo," she answered, then Lee had his head down with disappointment. "Haha," Naruto laughed after that.
In the room, filled with other ninjas from other villages…
"Naruto! You baka!" Sakura said as she angry and grabbed Naruto's neck from behind, choking on him, "Are you trying to get us all killed?!" she said while still choking him.
In the Forest of Death…
Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura are at the middle of the forest, then Naruto ran towards the bush, "Excuse me, I need to…" he said as he's about to unzip his pants. Until Sakura came from behind and…
Punch!
She whacked him on the head,
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! NOT IN FRONT OF ME YOU DON'T, GO FIND A BUSH OR SOMETHIN'" she yelled at him and points to the direction away from her.
"Ow!" Naruto said as his bump on his head started to swell.
Village, all alone…
"If it's nothing, I'm going home now," Sakura as she started walking away, "No wait," Naruto said as he grabbed her shoulder, and pulled her. Sakura lose her balance as she's about to fell on Naruto.
"Yes, this is it…" he thought as he smiled, "Here I come, Sakura-chan," he thought as slowly stuck his arm out to hug her. But didn't succeed, as Sakura quickly saw what he's about to do, and…
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?!" she yelled with anger, and clenched her hand into a fist, "BACK-OFF!" she said, and…
PUNCH!
She punched him in the face, hard enough make him fly backwards, until he hit the ground hurt.
"CHA!" she yelled with much anger in her, then left the ally and Naruto behind, still pissed off.
Flashbacks over…
He remembered the good, the bad, the painful times, and other times he tried to block, but he can never block his beloved pink-haired kunoichi. "It's just not the same without you," he thought as he placed his faced down on his pillow, feeling down in the dump.
Hokage's office…
Tsunade was filling out some papers, as usual, until she heard someone knocked on the door, "Come in," she said, then a Jounin entered with a scroll,
"A message for you, from the Cloud village," he said as he handed the scroll to her. Tsunade opened and read the scroll, she made a small smile and said to the Jounin, "Summon me Hatake, Uchiha, and Uzumaki, this instant," she said,
"Hai," he said as he left her office.
Buffet…
Team 8 are at the buffet, as they, mostly Choji, are having some roast steak and everything, Choji was eating most of the steak and beef. Shikamaru ate some, yet Ino hardly touched her food,
"You okay Ino?" Shikamaru asked,
"Yeah I'm fine," Ino answered,
"Then why aren't you eating?" he asked, Ino sighed,
"I guess I'm not that hungry," she answered.
"I'll eat it for you," Choji said as he took her plate,
"Is it about Sakura being gone?" Shikamaru asked,
"… Yeah," Ino answered, "I'm mean, with her gone, who am I gonna spar with or go shopping with?" she said as she missed her best friend/rival. Then she turned and looked at Shikamaru,
"Don't even think about it," he said as he knows what she's thinking, Ino sighed, then she spotted Asuma as he just appeared,
"Asuma-sensei," she said.
"Ino, I need to have a word with you," he said, then he and Ino left Shikamaru and Choji to went somewhere for them to talk.
Hokage's Office…
Kakashi, Sasuke, and Naruto were summoned in the Hokage's Office,
"A C-rank mission?" Kakashi said,
"Just some assistants in the Crujai restaurant, current employers were transferred to another village, and they required new…" Tsunade said, until…
"Not gonna happen," they all turned to Naruto as he interrupted her,
"Besides, I'm not all that excited for a mission anyway," he said a little discouraged. Seeing him like this bothers Tsunade a bit, ever since Sakura's absents, he hardly complained or argued with her for days, it was nice at first... but it gets boring,
"You sure, because I promised a friend who…" Tsunade said, until Naruto interrupted again.
"Like I said, I'm not all that excited for any missions, it won't be the same," Naruto said then started leaving, turning his back on her. Just when he was about to open the door, Tsunade smirked and said,
"Very well then, I'll send someone else to the Cloud village and…" Naruto immediately stopped and turned to her when she said 'Cloud village'.
"Did you say Cloud village?" he asked,
"That's what I said, I was hoping you guys are qualified for this mission, but since you're not going, I'll just find another group and send them ther--" she said until Naruto interrupted her,
"No wait! I was just kidding, I'm up for this mission," he said as he changed his mind,
"I figured he would," Tsunade thought, as it cheered him up big time, since they know that Sakura is in that village, and they're going to see her.
"Very well then, I want you all to leave tonight along with your third member with you," Tsunade said,
"Third member, you mean, a replacement for Sakura's?" Kakashi asked,
"Not to worry, I'm sure you wouldn't mind having her along," she said.
Nighttime, at the Gates…
Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi made it to the front gate, and noticed someone is there,
"Hey, someone's already here," Naruto said, as they got closer to the figure and saw…
"Hey guys!" Ino said to them with a smile,
"Ino, what are you doing here?" Naruto asked as he's a little surprised to see her here.
"If you must know, I'm joining you on your mission to the Cloud village," Ino answered,
"So wait, you're taking Sakura's place?" Sasuke asked,
"That's right, all in the order of Lady Tsunade; at least, that's what Asuma-sensei explained to me this morning," she answered…
Flashback…
"I'm taking Sakura's place on what mission?" Ino asked,
"Just a C-rank, it's only temporary of you filling-in her absent," Asuma explained to her,
"Then, where in this mission taking place," she asked,
"Somewhere at the Cloud village," he answered.
"The Cloud village!" Ino said
"I don't know how long, though--" Asuma explains until Ino interrupted him,
"I don't care how long, I get to see Sakura there," she said. Then she gave her sensei a hug, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, sensei," she said, Asuma didn't hug back, but patted her head, "You don't need to thank me, it's all in a order from the Fifth Hokage; though I would suggest you start packing, you and Team 7 are leaving tonight," he said.
"Tonight?!" she asked after she let go of the hug,
"That's what I said, and I would recommend you meet them at the front gate early, no later than that," Asuma explained,
"Yes sensei," Ino said as she raced back home to started packing and meeting Team 7 at the front gate tonight.
Flashback over…
"So you don't to worry, now that I'm here, you'll have no problem at all," Ino said,
"Sure," Naruto said sarcastically, "I rather not know why Grandma choose her for this mission," he thought,
"Very well then, let's head off," Kakashi said to his team, and Ino.
They finally left the village, and started their mission to the Land of Lightening, of the Cloud village.
"We're coming for you Sakura-chan, and I will get you back," Naruto thought as he, along with Sasuke, Kakashi, and Ino left the Leaf village to the Cloud village.
Morning, at Cloud village, in the Garshima manor…
"Achoo!" Sakura sneezed,
"Hold still Ms. Haruno, you don't want your dress to be ruined," her dress designer said as she's sewing some design on the pink dress Sakura's wearing, while standing on a small chair,
"Sorry," Sakura apologized, "Strange, I felt like someone was talking about me," she thought. She turned to her dress designer,
"Um… Chiju," she said,
"Yes Ms. Haruno," Chiju said while still sewing her dress,
"Do you by any chance know where aunt Egamai is?" Sakura asked about her aunt.
"You're aunt left for a meeting over an hour ago," Chiju answered,
"What meeting?" Sakura asked,
"I wish I knew, but I'm sure it's nothing for you to worry about, though she informed me to tell you that you must go to the Crujai restaurant to invite Mr. Pogu, the head chef and owner of the restaurant, this Friday, for the Saturday picnic," Chiju explained.
"She wants me to invite a restaurant owner?" Sakura asked,
"That, and, maybe, invite some of his staff," Chiju said as she's finishing the last touch,
"…Okay then," Sakura said, she sighed a bit then she thought, "I've been here for over a week, yet none of it seems familiar to me at all." She turned to the window, "Though I have this feeling in my stomach that I missed something…" she thought, then… she pictured a certain blonde knuckle-head in her mind, "Though I do missed someone," she thought as she blushed and smiled a bit thinking of him.
"All done Ms. Haruno," Chiju said as she finished the dress, then…
"Morning Ms. Haruno," Sakura turned to her butler,
"Breakfast is served," he said,
"Oh… thank you," Sakura said as she stepped down off the chair, "And thank you Chiju," she thanked her dress designer, "My pleasure Ms. Haruno," Chiju bowed to her. Then Sakura left the room, following her butler for breakfast. As they're walking to the hall way leading to the dining room,
"Huemagi, when will aunt Egamai return from her meeting?" Sakura asked,
"I'm afraid I can't inform you with that Ms. Haruno, you might not be aware that when it comes to important meetings, Ms. Garshima won't allow any notification on any of them," Huemagi explained.
"Oh…" Sakura replied, "She has been going to her meetings ever since I got here, but I think Chiju is right, it's nothing for me to worry about," she thought as she continue following Huemagi for breakfast.
Meanwhile…
In a hidden headquarters beyond the mountains, the Klustas Trios are there as they're up to no good,
"Well done you two, now that phase two is complete we'll move on to phase three," the leader said, while looking at the Cloud village, where there target's at.
"As long as we kill, we'll be ready," Asmai said sitting on her chair, urging to kill more weaklings,
"Doesn't matter to me, by the time we completed this plan, I wouldn't mind playing with some cute guys," Kizu said as she's daydreaming.
"You are so naïve," Asmai said as she's being annoyed,
"Well excuse me for having a little fun; and besides, if I get bored to them I can always kill them," Kizu said.
"Settle down you two, as of now, we must focus on the plan," the leader said while looking at the blueprints, the exact duplicate of the blueprints Shizune and the Anbu Black Ops found back at their old head quarters before they blew it up, and kill all the Anbus, except Shizune and Tonton.
"I already calibrated the exact time for the clouds to appear at the main perimeter near the target area," the leader explained,
"What about pinky?" Asmai asked, the leader smirked,
"Now that she's out of that Leaf village, she a sitting duck, waiting to be blown away," the leader said.
"So you want us to take her down now?" Kizu asked,
"Not necessarily, I already assigned it to my three students," the leader said, then turned to the door.
"You may enter," the leader said; the door slid open, as three young students appeared in the room, three boys to be exact, each carry deadly weapons. One carrying a sword, the other carrying arrows and a bow, and the other carrying nunchaku; plus they're both martial art fighting with/without weapons. They all bowed to the leader,
"Morning sensei," they all said at the same time,
"You may rise," the leader order them, they did as they're told,
"You three are assign to terminate a certain someone I know a long time ago," the leader said,
"Anything for you sensei," the first boy said, then the leader pulled out a small photo,
"She's your target," the leader threw the photo at them, the second boy caught the photo, as he and the other two look at the photo of… Sakura!
"She's our target?" the first boy said as he's a little unpleased,
"She's pretty cute for a target," the third boy said as he smirked a bit,
"You think every girl is cute," the second boy said.
"Not every girl, have you seen that red-head from the Stone village, she has hair on her upper lip," the third said,
"Don't be ridiculous, it's more like a mole," the first said,
"More like a hairy mole," the second said.
"Silence you three," the leader said to them, ending their conversation, "This is an important mission, which you both shall not fail," the leader stated,
"May I asked, why you want this girl to be terminated?" the second asked, the leader became silent for a moment when he asked that… then said, "It's a very long story, and I don't feel like telling you about it; but right now, I want that brat eliminated before the plan is complete," the leader said.
"Yes sensei," the students said at the same time,
"Good, be ready by Saturday at the picnic, she'll be there," the leader said,
"Hai," the boys said then they left the room.
"You actually think those brats can easily take care of pinky?" Asmai said,
"From my point-of-view, she'll be gone by the end of this week; since she's unguarded, unprotected, and unsecured by anyone, she's good as well dead," the leader said with an evil smirk.
To be continued…
Again, sorry it took me this long, the reason was I was busy with the other chapters on one of my three stories; of course, some of you might already know that. So please-please-pleeeeaaassseee!!!!! Review; PLEASE and thank you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.