Pink Dust

3. A Change of Plans

The sun had begun to set, blanketing Konoha in an array of autumn colors befitting of the current season. There was a slight chill in the air as if announcing the arrival of winter. September was coming to an end and so were the hot days and warm nights. The beautiful thing about the forest surrounding Konoha, however, was almost all of the trees remained evergreen, which is the reasoning behind the dubbed name 'Village Hidden in the Leaves'. The birds had settled in their nests, ready for well-deserved rest. In doing so, giving the crickets and cicadas willing to brave the chilly air free reign of the night. They could be heard chirping shrilly.

A beautiful young woman of eighteen, Haruno Sakura, sat in her window, leaning her back against the frame, knees up and slender arms wrapped snugly around them, witnessing the end of another day. It was the main reason why she loved her little apartment. It was on the third floor and provided a generous view of the village; the weathered stone faces of all the Hokage, watching over the village standing out proudly, eternally.

An occasional breeze stirred her long pink hair. She didn't mind the cold; it was comforting and making her senses tingle pleasantly. The remnant warmth of the sun's rays caressed her face like a lover's parting touch. Her delicate features seemed carefree as she looked on at the fading sun. Yet, a sudden deep sigh escaped her pink lips, betraying her cool façade. She wasn't nervous about the mission; quite far from it. In fact, every time her thoughts fell on the mission, she felt this intense excitement bubbling up from her core.

And yet...

There was something else; another feeling. Something she couldn't place. It was nagging at her insides, just outside the far reaches of her conscious mind. Just on the tip of her tongue so she couldn't name it. But it was there, weighing heavily on her heart, almost like dread. A deep dread of something that has not yet come to pass. There was no particular reasoning to this sudden invasion of fearful apprehension. Was it her fate lying so heavily on her mind? The unknown vice grip of her impending future wrapping its fingers around her throat, squeezing ever so slightly and draining her life force steadily.

She shook her head slightly to dispel the sense of foreboding. And noticing the sun had almost set completely, she glanced at the digital clock on her nightstand and realized she'd been sitting there for over an hour. It was nearing eight o'clock and Sakura had to hurry if she didn't want to be late for the mission briefing. Bringing her feet down to hang on either side of her window sill, straddling it, she couldn't help but swing her feet to and fro like a school girl would on a swing.

Sakura sat in silence for a moment and then stretched her arms above her head, curving her back like a cat until a series of satisfying cracks were heard from her stiff joints. It had been a rough day at the hospital, she was thankful her schedule cleared early so she could go home and take a nice long soak in her tub and maybe a well-deserved nap. Well, the soak was nice, but as soon as she laid her head down, she was wide awake. Her body was tired but her mind seemed to be unable to relax. Sleep did not come easily to the kunoichi, not for a long time now...

'Dammit!' It was now seven forty-five! Where did the time go? She had to get a move on. She got up on the window sill and jumped to the nearest branch outside her window and gracefully landed on the ground. Grabbed her ninja sandals from the porch and headed to the Hokage tower. The night air was cool as it whipped through her long hair, luminous under the silver moon, as she jumped from rooftop to rooftop.

Tsunade would not be so lenient if she was late like Kakashi. It was one thing that aggravated the Hokage to no end. But they had solved the Kakashi-being-hours-late-for-everything-problem long ago. They simply told him the meeting would be a different time to what it actually would be. Which was just a few hours before the actual time. Still feigning outrage at his tardiness all the same so he doesn't catch on and ruin their plan.