Our Journey (Sasusaku)

Chapter 4: "Special Mission"

        Sakura locked herself in her old room. She has her own apartment now but she occasionally comes home and stays. But tonight she was forced to stay by her parents. Although she is an adult now and hailed as one of the strongest she still cannot disobey her parents just like that. They raised her and sent her to the academy. They gave everything she wanted. She respects and loves them.

"But all my life this is what I wanted... to be with him." tears started to roll down her face again. She was still holding the box.

     She wiped her tears and put the small box inside her pocket attached to her black obi. She opened the glass door of her room's veranda and she jumped off and went away from her parent's house.

     Sasuke was packing his things when he heard a loud knock on his door.

"Teme you there!" shouted the man behind the door.

"This idiot!" Sasuke opened the door and looked at Naruto with a frown on his face.

"What do you want half-wit? This is not a good time." said Sasuke. He went back to arranging his thing in his bag.

"You are going? But you just arrived today!" Naruto shouted. He put his arms behind his head and sat on a stool.

"I have no reason to stay..." Sasuke whispered.

"I heard what happened..." Naruto said.

     Sasuke stopped what he was doing and looked at Naruto sharply. "I don't need your sympathy now."

"I don't care dattebayo! It's just you will give up just like that?! Man, you're such an asshole!"

     Sasuke just sighs. "A lot of things had changed now. I don't want her to have a miserable life."

"You know that ain't happening because Sakura-chan is strong! And she loves you! And she waited for you for so long... you will just give up on her just like that?!" Naruto raised his hands in the air with disappointment on his face.

"I'm not giving her up. Her parents had made a decision. I will wait." Sasuke wore his black cloak and wrapped his sling bag around him.

"What if they will not change their mind? What if Sakura-chan can't wait anymore?" Naruto looked at his best friend with a worried face.

    Sakura can be sometimes as impatient as Naruto. She sometimes impulsively makes decisions. Sasuke sigh. The truth is he also doesn't know what to do.

"Anyway, I'm taking you to Kakashi sensei." Naruto stood from sitting and walked toward the door.

"Why?" Sasuke asked.

"He said he has a special mission for you. It's urgent so come on dattebayo! And besides it's almost midnight, Hinata is waiting for me so hurry up dattebayo!"

    Sakura packed her things in her apartment and walked carefully in the darkness. She doesn't want anyone to see her. She is going to Sasuke's place and she will secretly follow him. She knows Sasuke will not allow him to come with him in their current situation.

"I know you will come here young lady." whispered a voice behind her.

    Sakura was so startled she slowly turned around to greet the man behind her. "S-sensei..."

"So you are really planning to go?" Kakashi asked his former student. His arms are inside his pocket.

    Sakura didn't respond. She was looking at her feet and feeling guilty.

"Do you know the possible consequences of your actions? You will be tagged as a missing ninja and sooner you might be listed as a rouge ninja. A kunoichi like you has tons of gold in the head."

"I know the consequences of my actions Sensei..." Sakura whispered.

"Then why are you doing it?"

"Because I love him!" she burst into tears.

"Can't you wait?" Kakashi asked.

"I know them. They will never change their minds."

      Kakashi put his hand on her head and gently tapped it. "Hush now, come on we'll meet him in my office."

Sakura wiped her tears, "B-but why Sensei?"

"You'll find out." he winked at her.

   Sakura saw Sasuke and Naruto inside the Hokage's office.

"There you are! We waited forever here dattebayo!" shouted Naruto with a sour expression at their former sensei.

"Well, I had to sneak out Sakura from her parent's house." Kakashi answered.

      Sakura blushed slightly upon remembering what happened.

"Well, I guess I have to go now, my duty for today is over!" Naruto said and he yawned.

"Okay! Thank you, Naruto. Dismissed." the Sixth Hokage said.

      Naruto left but before he closed the door he smiled broadly to his two best friends and gave a thumbs up.

"Hmp. Idiot..." Sasuke grunt.

      Kakashi sat on his chair and took a scroll from his table. He handed it to Sasuke.

"I have two special missions for both of you. First, I want to let you know Sakura that your proposal on building Children's Mental Health Clinics and the improvement of medical facilities over the ninja world has been approved. The department had already settled the budgets for your travels and negotiations with the other country."

     Sakura's eyes widened with happiness.

"Sasuke will be your bodyguard for your first mission."

"S-sensei..." Sakura whispered as she tried to swallow her tears.

"And your second mission is still related to your specialty as a Medical Ninja. I need both of you to investigate all of Orochimaru's remaining abandoned lab just to make sure we will not have problems in the future. And since  you Sasuke are familiar with Orochimaru's hideouts you have to assist Sakura okay." Kakashi added.

      Sasuke just nods.

"Details of your mission are in the scroll. This will be a two-man team, each other's lives are in your hands. Make sure to protect and cooperate. Now, I don't know much about your personal relationship with each other but make sure that it will not affect your missions do you understand?" Kakashi asked.

"Yes Lord Sixth." Sakura answered.

     Sasuke just nods.

"Now go back to your homes and rest. You will have to start your mission the day after tomorrow.

     Kakashi looked at Sakura and smiled. He can't resist his only female student. She always has a soft spot in his heart and he can't bear seeing her cry.

     Sakura smiled at her sensei. At that moment she wanted to hug him and say thank you.