Darkest Before Dawn

Two More Years

   "Well, well, well! Is that Sakura-chan I see? Sakura-chan~! Look at who's found you~!"

   Sakura turned around curiously to see two shinobi leap down from the branches above. The one who called her out walked up to her with open arms.

   "Sakura-chan~! Come here and give me a really big hug!" he exclaimed, "Actually, no. Give me a HUGE hug!"

   "No."

   "Sakura-chan~!" he pouted.

   "No. What are you doing here Shisui-san?" she questioned. She looked over at the man behind the Uchiha and gave him a small wave, which he returned readily.

   "Sai and I here are on a mission, simple stuff. Oh yeah! Sai, this is Sakura Haruno, the one who went on leave for five years. Sakura-chan, this is Sai. He's the one who goes on all the missions with your old team. Y'know, Team 7." Shisui explained. Sakura approached Sai and shook his hand in greeting.

   "I've heard many good things about you." Sai said, a smile on his pale face, "Naruto talks about you all the time. You have... two years until you have to return to Konoha, correct? I'm sure that they'll be happy when you come back. Is there anything you'd like me to say to them for you?"

   "Or for me to say to Itachi!" Shisui interrupted.

   Sakura shook her head.

   "There's nothing, really. I'll be home soon enough. And don't mention meeting me, would you?"

~

   The Drapturn flower. It was said to only bloom at midnight on July 16th in the hot sands of Wind Country. All of them would bloom at the same time in an enormous meadow. Not many people knew the exact date it would bloom, and hell, not many people knew the Drapturn existed, but good remedy maker would jump at the chance. By the time Sakura got there, a Sunagakure shinobi was already sitting near the field.

   "I take it that you're here for the Drapturn." he commented leisurely. Sakura took a seat beside him. It was currently 11:55.

   "Yeah. How long have you been waiting here?"

   "Ten minutes, just about. I'm starting to get irritated by how long I have to wait. It was my own idiocy to arrive so early." he grumbled. His half-lidded eyes stared boredly at the field. Sakura chuckled.

   "Rather impatient, aren't you?"

   "Can it, brat."

   "Whatever you say, old man. And I bet you are old judging by how young you look."

   "Where's the logic in that sentiment?"

   A full minute passed, and at the stroke of midnight, the entire field blossomed, creating a sea of deep maroon. Both of them stood, slipped on their latex gloves, and began to harvest the flowers. This species was similar but stronger to its cousin, the Autumn Crocus. Both were one of the most endangered plants in the world and could cause reduced blood pressure and cardiac arrest. Plus, there was no antidote for the poisonous plants.

   "I fail to see a hitai-ate on your person, brat, and you're definitely not a civilian. Any specific reason for that?" he questioned. Sakura opened a jar and placed the Drapturn inside.

   "I'm not a missing-nin, if that's what your implying. I just have permission to leave my village for a few years. Actually, I've got a couple of years before I've got to head back. And 'brat' is not my name, old man. It's Sakura Haruno." she introduced.

   "Sakura." he mused, "I suppose that it fits that ridiculous hair of yours."

   "It's natural!"