Isn't this enough?

the so called 'mission'

Moderation, mediation. Sakura repeated these words again and again, if this would get her through the shift and through the suns cycle that day, it would be enough.

Grab the rag, rinse. Helping clean up the hospital after 5 pm was not on my works schedule but that was the reality of working the life of a medical ninja. Not only that, but my lady Tsunade was drowning in mission assignments and pleads from the nearby villages. It felt like damn near every few months some disaster happened at the Hidden Leaf, when was it going to calm down? Body after body being wheeled in, at some point you start to get desensitized when you see the tears of your teammates and the blood of your comrades on your hands.

The mundane tasks of this village were fine at first but was constant killing, running off to chase a dream of some other shinobi or town was no longer fulfilling. Was it my age? Couldn't be, being 21 isn't ridiculous, but knowing people that have lost their lives much sooner isn't exactly easy to ignore. Well Sasuke and Naruto were the same age along with her best friends Ino, Hinata, and Ten Ten, what amazing kunoichi they have become. I mean, there was Kakashi he was alive and stable enough, how bad can being a middle-aged shinobi be?

"Sakura, you're still here?" Shizune came dragging into the patient's room Sakura had previously in.

"Obviously I can't leave you with all the bullshit this place has been lately" Sakura sighed, realizing how late it had gotten. "Well, I guess I'll start to collect my things and head off, guess I'll see you in 12 hour-".

"No, you will not" Tsunade snapped with her village famous eye roll. Fuck, no way was she here and in that shitty attitude she had been wearing lately. Biting back her tongue she gave turned her eyebrows as if to ask what that meant. "Now don't get mad at me, I've kept you in this hospital for long enough you need a break."

Sakura snarled, "I am not going on another mission to some random village to heal some 'great shinobi' that turns out to be a total asshole and some narcists."

"Sakura, no that's not what I am asking... well not specifically. I need you to leave this place for a little while, come with me to my office."

Tsunade sat across from Sakura at her Hokage table where Sakura sat adjacent from her. The typical place that set the scene for her future every so often. Nothing would change that today as Tsunade forced Sakura to speak about the reality that was her mental health, how deeply she had been forcing herself into her work. The reality she tried not to accept but was obvious and unspoken.

"You need to leave, not forever you just need to leave for a while. When I was some years around your age, I was out gambling around the country but I was happy. I was figuring out what needed to happen after being considered such an asset to the village that didn't feel like real until I was brought back and met you and the people I would die for here." Tsunade continued, "This isn't forever, but I need Haruno back, t

he girl that came to me with great presents, that new exactly what she wanted to be and who she wanted."

"Are you suggesting Sasuke again? I told you I am not getting pregnant from that damn Uchiha after he abandoned me, that snake. Blah blah Uchiha blood or not, I know better." Sakura snapped, stunned that she would even suggest such an idea.

"I've moved on from that. I am sorry for the past suggestion, what I was looking toward is that you find someone-"

"Lady Hokage, what does this have to do with me" The tall silver-haired ninja appeared in the front of the room. How long had he been there, Sakura pondered leaving her embarrassed that he heard any of that even though it was common village gossip. Her sensei had never changed since she was young, yet she had let her guard down and not even recognize he was even in the room prior, if he even was.

"Perfect timing actually, Hatake." Tsunade paused, "You two are to leave the village together, consider it a mission for some soul searching. Hatake and Haruno you both are so emotionless it isn't healthy especially for two of the people I need most."

Sakura peered at Kakashi, he stood tall and straight staring deeply into Tsunade as if to figure her out, to speak, or protest her decision. Sakura knew better, saying anything wasn't going to change her mind for a minute. But why now? Why with him? Why him?

"So, you want us to go frolic around in random villages and territories just for the hell of it, with all due respect I feel like my days could be used better getting intel or work at the academy." Kakashi sighed, still holding the eye piercing contact with Tsunade.

"Pack your bags and do what you need to do, you will leave tomorrow afternoon. But let me tell you both right now you better update me. Sakura, I'll leave that up to you. Figure this shit out and come back, I am not fucking around you hear me? Figure. It. Out." Tsunade dismissed Sakura and left the disobedient shinobi alone with her.

"Kakashi Hatake, I don't give a fuck what you think about this mission you will take care of her. She is like my own daughter, she can handle herself, but I know you have a way with your team... Anyways, figure it out and come back."

Kakashi was confused, hadn't he been one of the most essential members of the village how could this be happening. "Yes ma'am, but we'll be back soon, this so called 'mission' isn't going to change my attitude." He remarked, gesturing air quotes.

Sakura slowly made her way back from the village, who knows what other info she was telling Kakashi that she couldn't tell her, she thought. What was with the intensity in the air during that conversation

Numb, that's all she felt while she packed her typical mission bag, regardless of if it wasn't a normal mission. Is it this really happening? Sakura thought, processing how fast everything changed in the span of an hour was hard to accept. Had she had this planned, what will I tell the rest of the fellow Konaha 11? Thoughts of saying goodbye, traveling to who knows where, and oh- that's right with my ex-sensei. Graduating from labels, we were all called team seven including Sai and Yamato, but Kakashi insisted that he is no longer our sensei.

Oh, that's right, Kakashi.

He did seem different, more depressed then normal, which is definitely hard to beat. Was that how, I am? Sakura wondered, slowly throwing in her toothpaste and hairbrush. While lost in thought someone had knocked at the door.

"Who is it?" Confused at the late-night door knock, it was Ino. Letting her in, Ino immediately started rambling,

"So you were just going to wonder off with some man for who knows how long and not tell me? Damn I see how it is now." Ino huffed as she crossed her arms while letting herself in.

Sakura, not even phased by her finding out without her telling, Sakura gave her a big hug in an attempt of a half-ass apology. Sitting on the counter next to Ino, Sakura let out a sigh, "Of course I was going to tell you, I just don't understand why I am being punished."

"Punished? A break from that jail cell you call the hospital is a gift from my lady. You're free, but like how long and by yourself?" Ino asked.

"Whatever, you actually get to go on life changing, life threatening missions all the time. I'm used to staying in the village now a days. But I am leaving for I don't know how long and with Kakashi." Sakura trailed off as if to be done with the mission before it had started.

"Take me instead of that man, all he'll do is read those horny books and be overprotective of you"

"Overprotective?"

Ino, realizing she had overstepped and retraced, "Well at least pack some nice clothes and relax, I'll miss you come back all in one piece" She hollered as she walked back through the door she had just came through.

And just like that, Ino was gone, and it was time for Sakura to pass out. All she could think of was what was to come on this adventure mission and how weird it would be with Kakashi, maybe Ino was right.